The Battalion
Ityjfliursday • July 2 1998
PINION
n|f you can’t take the heat...
% plj:
posed to
withso-
[uldbeii
?n Lopt
snderte
arm mi.;
-Trj
pan Em:
piter,
stCluh.
ation.i
[.'red to:
(plans t:
h high-
'justtt
| ;s;
(but k
Students dissatisfied with the university they attend should go elsewhere
.
s
'
i
B ashing Aggieland. For some
people, it is a hobby. What I
do not understand is why
these peo
ple stay
here. Or,
why did
they even
chose to
come here
in the first
place?
Many of
the people
who are
unhappy
here have
Joe
Schumacher
columnist
the same complaints. "A&M does
not have diversity. A&M is too
conservative. Texas A&M is too
country," and so on. It also seems
that the same people that are com
plaining are people who have
come here only because they did
not get into the University of
Texas, and people who are only
concerned with their standard
college education.
I am not a "Howdy-Whoop-
Gig 'em" person. I am not going
to tell these malcontents to go join
the Howdy Club or some other
organization to give their exis
tence at this campus some mean
ing. If these students would quit
complaining for a few minutes
they would probably find what
they are looking for.
As far as diversity goes, one
will never have 40,000 of the same
type of people in one place. Any
one who has been to an MSC
Open House can see the diversity
of A&M. Organizations ranging
from the business oriented, to the
zany, to the down right bizarre are
here at A&M.
Additionally, when a person
strolls across this campus, they
can see hippies playing hacky-
sack in the front of the MSC, then
later see members of the Corps of
Cadets drilling with rifles. That
alone shows the spectrum of di
versity at this campus.
A&M has a diversity of its
own, it is just a different brand of
diversity. By the way, the same
people that complain about the
"frat boys, rednecks and cadets"
at this campus would complain
about "goths, punks and 311-es-
que kids," at any other school. (I
am willing to bet that the "other
school in Texas" has a greater
abundance of these kinds of peo
ple.)
If these people are looking for
diversity on Northgate, chances
are they are not going to find it.
The "freaks," as they would be
called, probably have better
things to do with their time than
be gawked at by a bunch of most
ly middle-class suburban kids.
Also, this is the smallest cam
pus of 40,000 one will ever attend.
A person could play "six degrees
of Joe" on this campus if they
chose to.
This also is one of the friendlier
campuses one could attend. As if
there isn't the Howdy Club, dedi
cated to saying "Howdy" to
everyone who even sets foot on
this campus. If one makes eye
contact with most people on this
campus they will say, "Hi" (or
howdy, or hola or some sort of
greeting), or at the very least
smile.
As far as being conservative
and country, that should not come
as a surprise to anyone going here
or planning on going here. A&M
does not hide its conservative na
ture. This is a school that prides it
self on tradition, a trait that is
greatly associated with conser
vatism. One of the biggest depart
ments on this campus is the agri
culture school. Our mascot is a
farmer ("Farmers Fight!") so the
"rural" appeal of this school also
should come as no surprise.
The school of business is an
other prominent department. The
College Republicans is one of the
larger organizations on campus. It
should not be shocking that Old
Navy is one of the popular brands
on campus or that Hootie and the
Blowfish would probably sell out
if they ever come to College Sta
tion.
On a final note, if someone
chose to go here for the wrong
reasons: all their friends went
here, this is where their parents
went, they did not get into the
University of Texas, now is the
time for them to grow up and
transfer to where they will be
happy.
if someone is not happy here
they really should look into trans
ferring.
This is not an "I- bleed-ma-
roon-so-love-Aggieland-or-Ieave-
it" nationalistic mentality, just
common sense.
There is no point in shelling
out some serious cash to go to a
school that does not meet their ex
pectations.
This school is not for everyone.
A&M does have a lot to offer, but
a person can receive an education
at any school.
]oe Schumacher is a senior
journalism major.
overnment should brush
p on computer knowledge
Jeremy
Valdez
columnist
ttorney General Janet Reno does not know a
hard drive from a soft drive.
Further, it's safe to assume the rest of the Jus-
ce Department isn't an army of
Bberts either. That's why it's
(orrisome that the feds are so
ctively pursuing misguided
fust-busting battles against Bill
|tes and Microsoft.
E Misguided" is the operative
r ord. I he Justice Department is
|ht to be watching Microsoft
Kea hawk. Any company that
tos gotten so far in this society
|thsuch an impotent-sounding
tome needs a little chaperoning,
■cause they've probably cut at
test a few deals with the devil.
I But to better police the software giant, the depart-
jpit needs to hire some cops with more technical
because the current ones can't really see what
icrosoft is doing wrong.
That is why the Justice Department lost one of its
| es las t week. A federal appeals court reversed a deci-
[ 0n that said it was illegal for Microsoft to force com-
|ter manufacturers to package its Web browser, Inter-
|tExplorer, with the Windows 95 operating system.
I Shortly before the appellate court's reversal, the
i^'ernment tried to force Microsoft to package
Idscapc Communicator with each operating system.
| That idea is just an embarrassment. That would be
fe trying to force RCA to sell each of its televisions
Pth a remote made by Zenith.
| Assuming a television would respond to either re-
jjote, and that the presence of one remote wouldn't
ohibit the use of the other, RCA's packaging of its
'rith its remote would not be anti-competitive.
Not only was the government proposal unnecessary,
I'vas unfairly arbitrary because Netscape isn't Mi-
psoft's only competitor in the browser market. Return
's to the remote analogy, it would be unfair of the gov-
rinent to favor the distribution of Zenith remotes
® Sony, Magnavox and GE also make remotes,
jmilarly there are tons of different web browsers
‘tollable for Windows. Netscape's and Microsoft's (in
tot order) just happen to be the most popular. If Mi-
^soft was unfairly trying to dominate the browser
ar ket, Netscape isn't the only company that would
es !T Ve reparations.
he Justice Department's successful campaigns
!d * ^ cros °ft have been few and far between. The
^ 8 did succeed in blocking Microsoft's purchase of
jv'T rna ker of the Quicken financial management
are ' big fear was that Microsoft would find a
y to dominate future commerce over the Internet
^rising ubiquitous Quicken-like software to siphon
a y fractions of each electronic transaction,
im T victor y was pretty meaningless. Microsoft
P y developed the software that it couldn't buy,
ear °f global domination of e-commerce has yet to
develop.
If the Justice Department paid attention to the neti-
zens of America, they would realize that Microsoft's
real sin is that it sometimes tries to deny other compa
nies, such as Sun Microsystems, the chance to profit
from new intellectual property.
If you want to hit Microsoft, hit 'em where it hurts:
intellectual property issues. Any software company's
profitability is directly related to its ability to keep
users and other companies from using for free.
That's why it angers Bill Gates that Bill Clinton
can't walk through China without slipping on a pirat
ed copy of Windows. And that's why Sun Microsys
tems has a right to be upset with Microsoft.
Sun makes Java, a net-friendly language designed to
run on any computer platform. Microsoft licensed Java
from Sun, added a little of its own Sweet 'N' Low, and
produced a subtly different cup of coffee, Microsoft Java.
That's the crime, right there. Microsoft was right to
fear Java because the language has the potential to make
Windows unnecessary in the years to come. But instead
of playing nice and finding new ways to use Java, Mi
crosoft is just going to try and steal its thunder.
In the meantime. Sun stands to lose profits, and
computer users could be subjected to a Java war to see
which of the two standards will win out.
If all this information is over the head of the typical
reader, you can imagine what a tough time the Justice
Department is having with it.
The computer revolution of the past 20 years need
ed Microsoft — warts and all — and America still
needs Microsoft.
But it also needs to recognize where Microsoft's
real skeletons are buried. By chasing after ridiculous
product packaging cases, the nation's trust-busters
have become oblivious to real anti-competition ac
tions. Many don't even involve Microsoft.
They've given hardly a look-see to all manner of
scary big bank mergers. They seem to think there's
nothing wrong with the merging of titanic entertain
ment and publishing companies. And they're not the
slightest bit concerned that my long distance company
is passing out credit cards.
Microsoft creates tools that affect the flow of infor
mation, and that flow is changing the way we think
about money and intellectual property. But Microsoft
isn't the only company out there that's trying to con
trol the driving forces of our economic emulsion, so
the federal government better get wise and get effi
cient with its regulations.
Otherwise 10 years from now we'll be paying a $5
service fee to withdraw $20 from the UniBank ATM so
that we can buy an $18 ticket to the latest flick from
All-Is-One Studios, and the government still will be
trying to understand the difference between Microsoft
and Netscape.
Jeremy Valdez is a graduate student in
chemical engineering.
THIS merger
CREATES A
DYNAMIC
SYNERGISM-
V-
S»3h)s
SCRevVs
SUCH
2m
HI
MAIL CALL
Fish Camp helps
students develop
In response to Chris Martin's June 23,
column, "Something's Fishy":
I am about the biggest die-hard
Aggie that anyone could possibly
be, and I am extremely proud to say
so. Attending Texas A&M, for me,
was the greatest experience of my
life. I am not brainwashed about the
environment or traditions that sur
round A&M in anyway. I do realize
A&M may not be the place for every
young person to attend school, but I
do believe A&M helps develop
young people in a way that other in
stitutions cannot.
If that is brainwashing then so be
it. At A&M, there are several differ
ent types of students. We have peo
ple like myself who bleed maroon
and will do so until the day they die.
We have people that appreciate the
Aggie experience for the opportuni
ties it provides to the for their careers.
Then we have people like Martin
who obviously do not appreciate
anything this school has to offer. God
bless them all.
I am not gullible enough to be
lieve A&M is perfect in every aspect.
There are problems here at this insti
tution just like everywhere else.
However, no one is made to come
here and no one is made to stay. As
an institution of higher learning,
A&M has a responsibility to provide
the best educational experience possi
ble to every student.
If a person can get the education
they desire somewhere else and be
more comfortable in that environ
ment, that is their decision and their
prerogative. Over the years, I have
read some articles in The Battalion that
have thoroughly disgusted me as a
person and as an Aggie. I believe
most of the time people just want to
gain attention and cause trouble.
They go on some mission to prove
they are "journalists" and know
something the rest of us obviously
don't. I put Martin in this category. I
do not know Martin, nor do I have
the slightest inclination to make his
acquaintance, so I will not speculate
on his character. All I can say is I am
glad he is a senior and will not have
to put up with the brainwashing that
occurs at A&M much longer. 1 hope
that he can find a nice job with the
National Enquirer or some other
worthy magazine that will allow him
to use his degree he earned at A&M.
Lastly, to all of the incoming Ag
gies out there, don't let people like
Martin tarnish the love and admira
tion you either have or will develop
for A&M.
Leman H. Wall, III
Class of'94
The Battalion encourages letters to the
editor. Letters must be 300 words or less
and include 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 McDonald with a valid student ID. Let
ters may also be mailed to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
013 Reed McDonald
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
77843-1113.
Campus Mail: 11,1.1,
Fax: (409) 845-2647