ay • February 20, 1998
ONE STAR LOWDOWN
Opinion
Crimes of the Heart
\amora case exhibits consequences of immature devotion, acting on revenge
Mandy
Cater
opinion editor
ITs fair in love and war.
At least, that’s what the
jid adage says. But, as
e Zamora recently dis-
red, the repercussions for
of passion can have dev-
|ting consequences,
iane Zamora had every-
ggoing for her: she was a
Jng, Naval Academy mid-
Iman with a promising
tore.
gut Zamora, like so many
]pgo astray, had one fatal
That weakness has now cost her everything —
I, [could have cost her her life. Zamora would find
[the hard way jealousy and revenge often come at
o ighacost.
lamora fell prey to circumstances not unlike
"iy other young women — she fell in love young
she fell hard. Her then boyfriend, an Air Force
lemy cadet named David Graham, was the cen-
fher world.
he two became engaged and seemed like a per-
couple. Except, that is, for a dark secret the two
hidden.
iee, Graham apparently had a bit of a wandering
One night, this wandering led him into the arms
iiother pretty young girl, Adrianne Jones. Gra-
|iand the young woman apparently had an affair
nethat would have tragic circumstances,
praham kept the affair secret for months, not
itingto disrupt his relationship with Zamora,
tually, though, his guilt must have gotten the
erofhim, and he told his lover of the fling,
hfortunately for all involved, though, Zamora
not take the news too well,
rcording to the prosecutors, this is the point
re things went awry.
mora’s reactions would lead to devastating con-
ences for the three young people. Prosecution
aments say Zamora wanted Graham to prove his
RSPECTIVES
love for her in an extremely violent manner.
Reports say Graham went to Jones’ home, picked
her up and drove her to a secluded area nearby. Un
known to Jones, Zamora was hiding in the car, as
well, ready to get even with what she considered an
attack on her relationship.
Some time that night, 16-year-old Jones was
killed — beaten with a weight and later shot.
If prosecutors are correct, Zamora and Graham
simply cleaned up and walked away, somehow be
lieving the act strengthened their ties to one another.
They go off to their respective military institutions
and pretend nothing happened. Then finally, Zamora
cannot keep her secret any longer and she confesses
to fellow cadets.
This tragedy is not only saddening, but frankly, pa
thetic. Here is a young woman with a promising future.
She has a high school boyfriend and thinks she’s in love
with him... just like almost every high school girl feels
at one point or another. She’s not around one night and
he wants to sow some wild oats, so he picks up a pretty,
young thing, sweet talks her and sleeps with her.
This is not a case where anyone should have died.
Nobody should have gone to prison. One straying
young guy simply deserved a swift kick out the door,
and the entire situation could have been resolved.
Graham was a cheater, plain and simple. Zamora,
like so many people who are disappointed by their
significant others, chose to ignore the possibility
their relationship was not as strong as she believed.
Instead of walking away and having some pride,
she lashed out against someone who happened to
be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Jones was
not to blame here, Graham was. He was the person
who claimed to be committed to Zamora, and he
broke that commitment by sleeping with someone
else. Jones did not weaken the strength of the bond
between Graham and Zamora, Graham did.
Now, a beautiful 16-year-old girl is dead. Zamora
was convicted of the murder and is not eligible for pa
role for 40 years. Graham goes on trial later this year.
The irony in this situation is Zamora and Graham
HIMlllllteiwi
are each trying to sell the other down the river, pass
ing the blame in hopes of getting away with murder.
The lesson here is this — love can be temporal and
situational, especially at such a young age. If someone
cheats with somebody else, let that somebody else
have them. If somebody asks you to kill someone to
prove your love for them, your relationship has a few
issues with trust and probably is not very stable.
The bottom line is this: a lover’s quarrel is not
worth killing for. It is not worth going to prison and
ruining any chance at having a normal life and fami
ly for. Because when the gavel goes down, and the
bars are closed, you’ll be alone and that “love” is not
going to count for much.
Mandy Cater is a senior psychology major.
oman famous for abortion case visits with change of heart
John
Lemons
columnist
ne of the
most signifi
cant Ameri-
softhe twentieth
turywill be in
Wer Theater
ight. This per-
’s actions created
and death deci-
is for millions of
ericans. Yet, de-
eher impor-
e, this person is
a politician, or a
inessperson or even a religious figure,
[act, the vast majority of Americans do
know her real name. They only know
by her pseudonym, Jane Roe.
istory identifies Norma McCorvey as
JeRoe, the centerpiece of the 1973
ireme Court appeal that legalized
Wion in the United States. McCorvey is
aging a message to Texas A&M Univer-
'Americans would do well to heed. It is
iTUDENT LIFE
a message that states it is never too late to
have a change of heart. If Americans listen
well enough, the name Roe may cease be
synonymous with death to become an in
spiration for change.
McCorvey is one of those rare people
whose legacy molds an entire nation. For
tunately, she is one of those even rarer
people who get a chance to remake their
legacy for the better.
McCorvey never got the abortion she
sought through the courts. She gave that
baby up for adoption, because the courts
progressed slower than her pregnancy.
She did, however, work in abortion clinics.
That changed in August 1995, when she
converted to Christianity, quit her job as
marketing director at a Dallas abortion
clinic and began working for Operation
Rescue, a pro-life group. Today, McCorvey
is touring the country speaking out
against abortion and promoting her new
book Won by Love.
Lauren Donohue, class of ’97, is the Co
ordinator of St. Mary’s Catholic Church’s
Respect Life Commission, who is sponsor
ing McCorvey’s talk. Donohue said Mc
Corvey has a unique perspective on the
abortion issue that needs to be heard.
“We are all looking for people and for
stories that can motivate us,” Donohue said.
“Hearing the fact that Roe changed her
mind and joined the pro-life movement is a
very strong source of hope and motivation.”
Indeed, the idea of people having a
changed of heart for the better is a powerful
message, especially in a place as resistant to
change as A&M. Unfortunately, Aggies
seem to be skeptical about the concept.
Consider the recent brouhaha sur
rounding Karla Faye Tucker. Tucker was
executed earlier this month for murdering
two people with a pick-ax in 1984. Tucker
sought clemency for her death sentence
on the grounds she had “found God” and
was a different person.
What was truly tragic about the situa
tion was not the debate over the justice or
injustice of the death penalty, but the reac
tion of Aggies toward Tucker’s claim.
On the whole, Aggies were cynical to
ward Tucker’s claim of a change of heart.
Many speculated Tucker was lying about
her conversion or she was just trying “to
play the system.”
This cold cynicism is disturbing. Sure
ly, a dying woman deserves the benefit of
the doubt. Certainly, Tucker’s alleged
making peace with God and apologizing
to the families of her victims is preferable
to a murderer who unrepentantly goes to
the execution chamber. Although nothing
can be done to bring back her murder vic
tims, at least she recognized her wrong
and made some small attempt to rectify it.
Likewise, for all of wickedness un
leashed by Roe vs. Wade, at least Jane Roe
is making some attempt to rectify it. Cer
tainly, this is preferable to a Jane Roe who
crusades for the abortion industry.
The United States would do well to em
brace the idea of a change of heart. There
are many issues on which it could stand to
have its convictions altered. Americans’
inclination for divorce, their frivolous
treatment of sex and embracement of
abortion are all issues warranting changes
in perspective.
It is somewhat ironic Jane Roe is
scheduled to speak out against abortion
during the very same week this communi
ty learned of plans to build an abortion
clinic here. Perhaps, Bryan-College Sta
tion should listen to McCorvey’s story be
fore they passively accept Roe vs. Wade’s
results in their own backyards.
Twenty-five years after Roe vs. Wade,
Jane Roe is changing her legacy. Norma
McCorvey is showing Americans good can
be salvaged from an evil situation if they
are not too cynical to believe it.
If Americans are smart, they will take it
to heart.
John Lemons is an electrical engineer
ing graduate student.
&M offers students valuable network of people, resources
Len
Callaway
columnist
nee an Aggie, always
| an Aggie.
Hiis expression speaks vol
es about one of the ideals
Dived with belonging to the
as A&M family. A&M, as an
itution, has come to mean
nydifferent things to many
erent people, but most Ag-
recall their days at A&M
h fondness.
students at A&M, we
'e collectively made the de-
onto take personal responsibility for our individ-
destinies and stand firm in our resolve to im-
ive ourselves and our University.
In keeping with the spirit of improving our beloved
ool, Aggies often call attention to perceived or ap-
ent shortcomings and areas or policies in need of
Movement or reevaluation. As students, it is our re-
msibility to take an active interest in A&M while
tking to improve our environment, however, the
of critical commentary is often rendered from an
erently negative and downtrodden perspective,
is, at times, causes the multit ude of positive A&M at-
mtes to be lost or temporarily forgotten in a haze of
'Otional rhetoric.
Constmctive criticism followed by a positive alter-
tive is a healthy and necessary action in order for
organization or individual to improve and excel.
On the other hand, criticism simply for the sake of
criticizing can only serve to demoralize the constant
quest for improvement. There is after all, a difference
between a critique and criticism.
Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the pos
itive qualities A&M has to offer so we may remember
why we critique in the First place. One would assume
because our University is a cut above the rest, we
criticize to ensure it stays that way.
The moment students were given the opportunity
to become Aggies they were also given an extraordi
nary opportunity to secure and make use of an abun
dance of resources and people in hopes of achieve
ment and accomplishment to come only through
diligence and dedication to their personal cause.
A&M is one of the largest universities in the nation
in land mass, touting some 5,200 acres as a main
campus. A&M also boasts a diverse student body of
45,000-plus, making it one of the largest universities
in enrollment as well. Our diverse student body al
lows for the opportunity to learn and benefit from
the ideals and experiences of other people.
Students at A&M also have an immense system of
specialized student organizations from which to
choose in order to further their position and potential
for tremendous success after graduation.
People such as Vice President of Student Affairs J.
Malon Southerland and MSC Director Jim Reynolds
are prime examples of resources students should
use for their insight and personal attention. Each
year these men spend extraordinary amounts of
time focusing on ways to bring students and distin
guished alumni together through events like the
MBA/Law Symposium and the Former Students
Leadership Conference.
These events focus on personal marketing, net
working and the opportunity to benefit from the expe
riences of those who have gone before us. The alumni
who take the time to participate are not compensated
in any way other than the satisfaction they get from
helping young people succeed.
A&M is located in one of the last true “college
towns”, and the list of benefits and possible relation
ships is simply too great to adequately discuss.
A&M has an excellent athletic program which
helps to invite and promote spirit and camar aderie in
the student body, while encouraging student athletes
in their various endeavors.
A&M boasts an accomplished and attentive faculty
who more often than not will do anything in their pow
er to help students succeed in the classroom.
Perhaps the single greatest benefit or opportunity at
A&M lies in the simple ideals upon which A&M’s phi
losophy is based. Words like “honor,” “integrity,” “dedi
cation” and “ethic” rest on the cornerstone upon which
the A&M system has been built.
Students have the opportunity to experience a
unique sense of organization and loyalty through our
collective tendency toward friendliness and our dedi
cation to one another.
A&M has been nurtured by generous alumni over
the years, and as future alumni, it becomes incum
bent upon today’s Aggies to continue the pattern of
generosity and interest displayed by so many of our
predecessors. Due to the Former Students Associa
tion, alumni interest and the sense of “Aggie Family”,
A&M is able to have one of the largest annual private
endowments of any public university.
The dedication, hands on interest and guidance of
alumni set the precedent long ago that Aggies have
the ability and responsibility to contribute to and su
pervise A&M’s growth and academic prowess.
The A&M experience, by nature, demands a
proactive approach to education from its students.
This cannot be overstated.
Each student surely has ideas and suggestions re
garding changes that could vastly improve an already
superior University. The important facts to keep in
mind, however, are the positive aspects of A&M far out
weigh any negative ones, and in order for positive
change to continue, students must engage A&M’s lead
ers with constructive criticism and positive alternatives
in hopes of proliferating a healthy and earnest dialogue.
As President of Former Students Association Dr.
Fred Palmer said, “As alumni our education has
served us well, but the A&M experience overall has
served us exceptionally well. Students have a
tremendous legacy to fulfill and the resources are in
place to all but guarantee success.”
The greatest resource available to Aggies is simply
die innumerable resources to be found in one anoth
er. Through positivity and thoughtfulness A&M’s fac
ulty, students and alumni can work together to
achieve all of our respective and collective goals.
Len Callaway is a junior journalism major.