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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1997)
J today • August 11, 1997 The Battalion Life’s true heroes: parents ‘Daddy's little girl’ proves to be a true representation, not another cliche Sports Editor Kristina Buffin Senior journalism major I have always had this im age of my father: strong, stern, dependable, car ing and most of all, military. My dad has always been the epitome of what it means to succeed in life. He has always done his very best — whether it be on the job or just doing yard work. He never com plains and always gives I, rerything 100 percent. [have always considered myself fortunate. [y parents have been together for over 25 years, | tc h id because my father is in the military, I nave ad the chance to see many different places. | jg ow many people by 10-years-old, have lived in si urope and been to North Africa on vacation? had a rough bunch of teenage years; after |loifl,who doesn’t? I didn't respect my parents, ad my relationship with my father just came |e part. He was always proud of everything I did; was sort of an overachiever, and I cared what ethought about me. To some degree, I was [61 jaddy’s girl. But during this rough period my father was a urden, someone who wasn’t cool, the father T ho was always traveling and the man who lade and enforced the rules. I probably didn’t ave a real conversation with my dad for about ij, flveyears. And I now wonder why all I get are I |neword answers from him. I In high school classes we were asked to name ||eai|hero or an idol. Everyone, including me, |amed a movie or rock star. But deep down, I al- ays wanted to put my father. I worship my fa- er, even though he does not know it. I strive to ccomplish the things he has and prove myself the world like he has. My best friend has always joked that my parents re aliens. That is because they both have highly lassified jobs. I never knew what my dad did for a ving, never went to his office; all I knew was that lemajored in aerospace engineering at Texas A&M. Opinion Editor James Francis junior English major S moking cigarettes, you know those “cancer sticks” that cause severe health problems, and what most people began puff ing away on just to be cool, clears the mind. Al though many people have said this same sen timent, its truth value is remarkably accurate, de spite the cigarette fumes cutting off their air supply and convincing them that smoking is making their thoughts organize in a more flu id manner. Today, I have devised a game of smoking cigarettes. For each drag taken, a new University problem arises, but as the smoke is exhaled, the problem will be solved — it’s as easy as that. So I stroll on over to the local Zip ’N and pick up a pack of Camel Special Lights. I’m walking down University, passing the aromat ic winds from Zonko’s and packing down the tobacco in my hand. I pull out one cigarette, pop it in my mouth and light it up with my neon-green, clear plastic lighter. Before I cross the street, I inhale a deep drag; my mind clouds over, and in the distance I can see the stadium seats of Kyle Field. In my thoughts comes the picture of Reveille VI, the “grand lady” of Texas A&M I can imagine the pain she must feel from knowing that her past Reveille title holders might soon see their graves being moved in "ider to complete expansion of Kyle Field Reveille VI and the other collies have made ii great contribution to the University — tradi non As most students would say, this school was built on tradition, so how could the ad ministration even consider moving the 11 seems to be an extremely complex situation, but as the smoke returns to the at mosphere from my lungs, a brilliant quote s feins to conclude the entire issue- “Let keeping dogs lie where they may” C,toS Zy ' andtheRsh DlillTe ™ Iteing this and hazing that. It seems that is he ( ^ nf 1 ta ' k about - The Fis h Drill Team has |X ( n disbanded, and that is unfortunate; an- should adl /. 10n h . aS been lost But hazin 8 shoniHH be f^ ted ’ and if h is to continue, s ould be acted out in the open, where all n hethertl nd ° ffiCIalS ^ JUdge f ° r them selves , et her the actions committed were too As lar as I’m concerned, Student Fee outs should be considered hazing; Voi ^ ou 1 ece i ve the bill, everyone around voto 8 to s hare in the pure terror of seeing D . ace turn green and witness the eventual tog ou t- if people must display their reac- (b University bills and policies, so should Ir _ lsb prill Team, the Corps of Cadets and all cm- V that commit acts of hazing. Anoth- p. lu Iwind of white smoke leaves my mouth. ;i l, "tally. I am at the stairs of Reed McDon- 'j c . and uiy cigarette is almost out. I take a fi- <i diag, the same process occurs. Before my - Ves c l°se, I take notice that PTTS has not giv- 11 "te a ticket for being in a 15-minute load- It was not until May, when my dad retired, af ter nearly 30 years of service. The ceremony was eye-opening. My mother had always told me that my father was a great boss and everyone who worked for him admired him. I just accept ed that, but it wasn’t until his colleagues got up to speak that I realized what he has contributed to this world. As college students, we are trying to figure out what our purpose is in life, what we want to do and where we want to go. It is definitely a con fusing time. But as I listened to the ceremony, I realized that what gives us a purpose is doing something we love and doing our best. My fa ther made me realize this after 21 years. My father was praised left and right, and he was rightfully a little embarrassed by all the praise. But he deserved it. I sat there and thought, what about 30 years from now? Will people be holding a ceremony to celebrate my years of service? Will I feel like I have done something important? I hope so. Although my father’s life was somewhat se cretive (this is what fueled the alien theory), it did not matter what exactly my father did. In fact, he could have been a trash collector, a tax collector or even a dog catcher — it did not mat ter. What did matter was that he cared about what he did and did it well. That is the lesson that we all need to take away. m ...can help solutions to University problems Graphic: Brad Graeber ing zone for over two hours. Students on this campus walk, bicycle and drive. For each of these modes of trans portation, a person can be ticketed — jay walking, not conforming to the bicycle lane and parking illegally. But the most common run-in with PTTS involves students who want to whine and complain about receiving tickets when they know they have parked illegally. Since this sit uation has a simple solution, and because the smoke is choking me from inhaling so deep. I’ll make this a no-brainer. Don’t park where you are not supposed to park. And if you do get a ticket for illegal parking, don’t complain about it—just laugh and say to yourself, “What a moron I am for parking illegally.” \ The smoke pours into the air, and I walk to the bottom of the stairs. I flick my cigarette butt into the ash can outside the basement door that leads to The Battalion. Only three drags ... it’s been a long and stressful day. My last puff of smoke is gone and I casually walk to the back of the newsroom where my desk awaits me. As I plop down into my swivel chair, I think how easy it was to solve the problems of the University. If only others would listen to my reasoning, then they would understand that A&M can be “world class”; it just depends on the students. But then again, I am the Opinion Editor, control ling the voices of the masses for this school. And if np one wants to acknowledge me in person, there’s always Mail Call. Mail Call Drill Team disbanding dishonors University While I am not a former Fish Drill Team member, as an ex- Cadet, I am disheartened by the events leading to its disbanding. I believe the things that made the University unique were its traditions, traditions which arose from isolation on a prairie, and a sense of esprit de corps that was felt by the student body, which at the time, was 100 percent Corps of Cadets. In case you didn’t know, esprit de corps is defined as a common spirit of devotion and enthusi asm among members of a group. It was this spirit that led to the development of our traditions, which were developed by mem bers of the Corps, the Corps that produced John David Crow, James Earl Rudder, eight Con gressional Medal of Honor win ners and more commissioned officers in WWII than any other school, including West Point. I contend that the traditions that the Corps keeps (includ ing disciplinary ones) are not just about the Corps, but about being an Aggie. There is a “spirit that can never be told” is the best way I can explain it to my University of Texas friends who don’t understand what we’re about. It saddens me to see the Fish Drill Team disbanded. The entire school (not just the Corps) is be ing punished for a situation only involving a few individuals. I am sorry for these cadets because I believe that they were not trained properly, nor did they receive the same discipline that I received in the Corps. The Corps is not about hazing; it is about discipline and tradition. This is why I participated, even though I had no interest in a military commission. I can truly say that it was the best experience that I have ever known. I encourage you not to think negatively of the Corps, for it truly is a “spirit that can never be told.” What I believe to be negligent Trigon leadership and undisci plined behavior on the part of a few cadets, this whole situation has brought dishonor to the Corps, the Fish Drill Team should not be disbanded and the Corps must move forward. I leave you with the advice given to graduating Aggies by Governor Coke (c. 1878): “Let your watchword be duty, and know no other talisman of success than labor. Let honor be your guiding star in your deal ings with your superiors, your fellows, with all. Be as true to a trust repose as a needle to the pole, and stand by the right, even to the sacrifice of life itself. And learn that death is prefer able to dishonor.” Anthony H. White Former Corps of Cadets Member Class of’88 Church worship calls for diversity In response to David Recht’s August 7 column: Recht failed to make a dis tinction between one’s belief and worship style. Our beliefs and creeds are di rected by The Bible and The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, not The United Methodist Hymnal. When I joined the United Methodist Church, I vowed to confess Jesus Christ as my per sonal Savior, put my whole trust in His grace and to serve Him as Lord. At no time does a United Methodist commit to a particu lar worship style. It is our belief in Jesus Christ that unites us as a denomination, not our differ ent worship styles. In fact, Jesus unites all Christians into one universal church. The church must appeal to all Christians. There is a reason that eight different United Methodist churches exist in this area. As David said in his col umn, “People become comfort able in how they worship their God.” Each church has its own worship style, it is this differ ence in worship that keeps the church alive. The same Jesus is being praised as we sing Jars of Clay music or a song from the Hymnal. Many college stu dents enjoy singing contem porary Christian music while others enjoy songs from the Hymnal. It would be a shame for us to pick one type of mu sic to sing exclusively because many would feel uncomfort able and not join in our Christian Fellowship. Alan McGrath Class of ’98