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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 1997)
The Battalion 997 londay - June 16, 1997 SI aces in a crowd lomen in history n°t given due acknowledgment Bm Columnist Then Roman soldiers invaded J Celtic Britain many tribes were i pillaged on their way. Bodaicea, icqueen, witnessed the raping and mg of her daughters. In response, lisedan army of 80,000 tribesmen, jpting to hold her attackers at bay preserve the integrity of her land, erthan granting the Romans the iyof her capture, she sipped a poi- akingher own life, lonot be surprised if you have [heard the story. It is called toryfor a reason. koughout the ages, women have been (forces in changing eras. They have poets, religious leaders and revolu- iries. Women have been monarchs, iers and healers. No matter what isdistinguished women across ihough, one common trait has idthem: their erasure from die sofhistory books, istory, as most people rec- 2e,isa very subjective con- tHistory is interpreted; it necessarily fact. Many ms, including ethnocen- tand chauvinism, (been defining forces beway history is ndedand taught, fetem history is liouslybiased. It #ily male-cen tal Euro- fridnher es- Jmrda m-Cen- iUniversity, me Rich said i-centered uni- jtf common today ithes‘facts’ generated by a itintellectual tradition.” In itrwords, actual events are often Ijsdinorder to glorify particular groups. mare spoken of only in passing. Educa- sieach of Elizabeth I, Cleopatra and Betsy Ross, teen these are treated as token figures, alesofhistory are taught without even a whis- nale existence. It can be assured that for Kptnan spoken of in mainstream history j Iwtere are dozens of others whose contri- iiisare just as noteworthy, tespoken of are .the likes of Victoria Wood- lie first female presidential candidate who iKi'thFrederick Douglass on the Equal Rights la Also invisible is Hypatia of Alexandria, one- stChair of Platonic Philosophy at the ancient Mandy Cater rrmr r University of Alexandria. Her govern mental influence and paganism so in timidated the Bishop of Alexandria that he encouraged fanatical monks to hack and burn her body. Herein lies the predicament. In or der for the experiences of women to be accurately portrayed, some un pleasant periods warrant evaluation. There are the witch hunts of Europe in which thousands of women were mas sacred for deviating from gender norms." Also deserving mention would be the Tailhook scandal. One might even have to men tion the innumerable women who died or had permanent health damage due to unwanted pregnancy in the days before Margaret Sanger and her pioneering for birth control. So to answer any lingering questions one might have as to why women’s experiences are virtually ab sent from history texts and lectures, here goes. The history of women is not as easy to stomach as main stream history. It does not often involve the glories of war and political power. Women were denied the right to vote and banned from realms of academia. Women were the ones who were prostituted, raped, captured and burned at the stake. In order to accu rately chronicle women’s experiences, then, one would be forced to face centuries of misogyny. Instead, women’s history is accounted in bits and pieces. Douglas Carlson, author of “Discovering their heritage: Women and the American past,” said, since “the male world is the point of reference for traditional history... females become peripheral.” This fragmentation of women’s history has nu merous repercussions for females today. With out history, a group has no sense of community and co hesion. Feminists and scholars alike have noted this need for common female experience. Since the 1960s, a surge has been underway to rediscover women’s col lective pasts. This “new” subject is often referred to as “herstory.” Many main stream classes and texts keep their doors and minds shut to the acceptance of herstory. To compensate, a number of deconstructionist history books have been written and campuses across the nation, including Texas A&M, have cre ated Women’s Studies programs. Acceptance of herstory is not without road blocks, though. Texts and classes chronicling women’s lives are often accused of brainwashing students and having “feminist agendas.” Once women were worshiped and revered as goddesses, today students who seek to discover their female heritage often face derision, being called “radi cals,” “dykes” or “feminazis.” It is time that women are included in our discussions of the past. Though their pres ence may not have always been that of prominence or power, it is important to realise that they Were actually present. Herstory may be uncomfortable, but it is essential in giving students a reference point. Only then can we see how far we have come, and Graphic: Brad Graeber how far we still have to go. hen The Battalion Established in 1893 Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of the editorials board members. They do not necessarily re flect the opinions of other Battalion staff members, the Texas A&M student body, regents, administration, facul ty or staff. Columns, guest columns, cartoons and letters express the opinions of the authors. Contact the opinion editor for information on submitting guest columns. Editorials Board Stew Milne Editor in Chief Helen Clancy Managing Editor James Francis Opinion Editor John LeBas City Editor ad Publicity, Not Students, Motivates A&M 8)'reversing the cancellation of “continuing passes” to the Student leation Center, Texas A&M has proven how easy it is for such an enor- Usentity to escape the fallout of poor decision-making unscathed. Hie University has emerged from this fiasco smelling like arose. Stu lls will likely forget how the Rec Center silently withdrew continuing Is without their input. Students only will care that the pass policy 'restored, thanks to the “compassion” of the administration. iutA&M deserves no credit for responding to the needs of students, '(sponsive — or rather, responsible — administration would have isnlted students before canceling the passes. Reversing this decision dimply a good public relations move. The administration only seems Clinton-Jones trial reveals true face of political agendas General Franklin Columnist, history major to consider student opinion when burned by the fire of bad publicity. Both A&M and continuing students win; Aerofit and Gold’s Gym are the real losers. These businesses, rightly trying to retain a fair share of the fitness market, were unfortunately trapped between the interests of fee-burdened students and an administration quick to succumb to pub lic pressures. The University will stay afloat, regardless of whether the Rec Center profits. Local gyms do not have the luxury of such financial security, especially during the summer. Continuing students should have access to the Rec Center during the summer. Students, however, should question the intentions of leaders who make snap decisions based on outside pressures. T he Paula Jones episode has re vealed two distinct ideas. In nuendo can be elevated to substance with the right political al lies and the aid of the Supreme Court. Secondly, Clinton’s lack of courage and candor has extended this charade while entrenching the public and the presidency in contro versy irrelevant to the momentous issues facing the country and world. Paula Corbin Jones is an ordinary woman, bearing the potential of over shadowing the presidency and its du ties for the next few years. This entire saga has demonstrated how the explo sive mix of enemies, money and sala cious rumor can legitimize the most defamatory and baseless accusations. According to Jones, during a May 1991 conference, then-governor Clin ton summoned her to a hotel room where he exposed himself, making a “blunt sexual proposition.” Following the incident, she immediately in formed four witnesses including her sister Charlotte Brown and her broth er-in-law Richard Brown. Do not let these events fool you, the case’s credi bility ends here and rumor pervades. Instead of notifying the police of this incident, Jones sat on these charges until it became financially viable for herself and politically vi able for her allies. In May 1994, Jones first emerged with charges of harassment against the president, three years after the supposed incident at a Washington, D.C. meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee. When challenged about her delay in com ing forward, Jones claimed fear of Clinton retaliation since he was in a powerful position as governor. The falsity of this claim is obvious since no signs of Clinton intimidation oc curred as Jones received several merit raises and promotions in the time between the “incident” and the leveling of the charges. Another blow to her harass ment claim came from one of the four witnesses with whom she confided after the incident with Clinton. Jones’ older sister said in a June 1994 New Yorker article how Jones was motivated by money to pursue litigation against the presi dent in May 1994. Furthermore, Brown maintains how Jones said she was “flattered” by the flirtation and believed the incident, as Jones put it “smelled of money.” Further tearing her case apart are the people Jones aligned her self with to bolster her charges. Her chief counsel are two Republi can attorneys, Joseph Cammarata and Gilbert Davis, the latter of which is a candidate forVirginia attorney general. Also, Jones made her first charges against the president at a partisan event hosted by the conservative Le gal Affairs Council whose leader, Ronald Deglardio, hopes this inci dent will lead to the impeachment of Clinton. Unabashed about their in tentions to destroy the president and perhaps the institution along with it, the shady motives of other Jones ad vocates like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell is to exploit the lies and slan der of Jones’ claim to advance their own power and influence. Shortly after the filing of the law suit, three years following the inci dent, militant anti-abortionist Patrick Mahoney, leader of Operation Res cue, established the Paula Jones Legal Defense Fund, whose donor list reads like Clinton’s enemy list. Obviously, the political entanglements of Jones have evaporated whatever thin layer of credibility her charges of harass ment had. Presently, the entire spec tacle is just an attempt to use slander to weaken and paralyze the presi dent’s agenda and influence in the fi nal years of his t enure. In a world where everything and everyone has his price, Jones has demonstrated a willingness to profit at the cost of her self-respect, the in stitution of the presidency and, above all, at the cost of the American people, on whose time this entire fi asco seems determined to unfold. Apart from these dubious politi cal alliances and fading truths, Jones’ claim has won legitimacy by virtue of the Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the Court ruled the president was not immune to civil actions un related to presidential duties. Their mistake was to rule for precedent rather than examining the specific details of this claim to make a more narrow ruling. Frankly, the Supreme Court should have decided that only important matters of presidential power and duties are worthy of liti gation during a president’s term. Everything else should be postponed until Clinton’s exit from the national and global political arena. Basically, private conduct and its litigious consequences should be setded on Clinton’s time, not the public’s, as he has pledged to repre sent the United States in affairs of national and global significance. Unfortunately, the high court’s de liberations must have included a perusal through "Hard Copy” archives, because there is hardly any credible justification for their deci sion. In fact, the decision threatens to undermine Clinton and future presidents as political opportunists see litigation as a vindictive, but ef fective way to reap financial rewards while limiting the influence and scope of presidential power. Clinton’s lack of candor and courage has allowed the scintillating rumor to churn and build without any clarifications. Only truth can tackle lies and thus far Clinton has proven incapable of shedding light on this incident because he is more concerned with pride and favorabil- ity ratings, rather than the prospect of a publicized legal proceeding. Ultimately, Clinton must decide whether his ego is worth damaging American prestige and the presi dency, as the most powerful man on the globe may face questions about harsh rumors, bereft of truth. He, not his lawyers, must set the record straight and now. 4ail Call and ownership 'moralizes America tyonse to Chris Brooks’article on Mean property ownership woes: Itis my opinion that the gov- lient is finally coming Ind to the realization of pri- !f property (which is an oxy gon in a free country) abuses. ; 'think Brooks misses the 'tit of why private property fewere mentioned in the Wtitution. It was a safeguard kep the government in the jf % of the rich. To be able to Jin our country, you could J hold property and by “•ng those amendments, it ,llr ed the rich, white, male property owners the privilege to set laws in our country ... not to protect individual freedom. A truly free country is one without fences and without property owners holding shot guns, ready to shoot a trespasser (or legally fine the person). By selling and fencing off land to anyone with money, we are slow ly losing every inch of America. The government must now pro tect natural wonders from devel opers trying to make a buck by sub-divisioning it. It is only now correcting past wrongs. Johnny Line Graduate Student HE COMES WITH k RIFLE, HELMET AMD PENMN& SEXUAL Misconduct , ftLRsiKcMisrmmtfei The Battalion encourages letters to the ed itor. Letters must be 300 words or less and in clude the author’s name, class, and phone number. The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters may be submitted in person at 013 Reed Mc Donald with a valid student ID. Letters may also be mailed to: The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-1111 Campus Mail: 1111 Fax: (409) 845-2647 E-mail: Batt@tamvml.tamu.edu
