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Page 11 • Monday, September 28, 1998
ter registration deadline for November elections approaches
ANDREW
BALEY
n important day
is coming soon.
This Saturday,
:t. 3, is the last day to
’ii&ter to vote in this
Bmber’s election.
In order to influence
looming elections,
idents must register
■ than 30 days be-
Hhey vote. Registra-
n is the primary obstacle that keeps
idents from voting.
Many students are registered only in
air tome counties, preventing them
im easily reaching the polls. In order to
te i i their home county students must
hei order an absentee ballot, skip
tool on election day or travel back
■ during early voting.
■e simplest way for students to cast
■rallot is to register in Brazos County.
Hallows citizens to register in multiple
iinf es — as long as they only vote once
rlection. Voter registration does not af-
jt residency or dependent status.
Hdents should exercise their rights,
Hiat means they need to register to
telefore Saturday.
By November, the people will decide
iclwill conduct the business of govern-
t The political careers of numerous
essmen, governors, lieutenant gov-
and various hopefuls will be de-
| by those who are registered to vote
lo so.
Voiers will use their democratic
t, a right that should be exercised at
opportunity.
This election is a bit different than
normal elections. The political atmos
phere is very tense due to the
Clinton scandal. Virtues and
morals are going to, at
least for a while, play a
large role in the
world of politics
and elections.
Because of the
recent scandal,
numerous citi-
zens have
been turned
off by poli
tics and
govern
ment in
general.
It is
sad to see
society’s
view of
govern
ment slip so
far. Because
of one man’s
mistake, the
entire reputa
tion of American
government
should not suffer.
Citizens have to play
a role in one of the
world’s few governments
where everyone has a voice.
Let yours be heard.
The first reason to register to
vote is because it is easy to do so. Just
Graphic by Robert Hynecek/Tiii: Battalion
go to any local post office or library, fill
out the registration card and send it in.
Numerous campus political orga
nizations also have members
who are authorized by the
local voter registrar to
register voters. These
options are simple,
fast and leave no
excuses.
The second
reason to reg
ister is
Americans
are a privi
leged peo
ple even if
they do
not real
ize it.
People
all over
the
world
would give
anything to
have a voice
in how their
governments
are run.
The theory of
democracy is rule
by the people. When
the people cease to
rule — for example when
they choose not to vote —
democracy dies.
If any Americans has doubts as to
the significance of democracy or they
do not appreciate it, let them visit a so
cialist country. It would not be long be
fore they would hurry back to the land
of the free, the brave and the voting
with a new appreciation of the democ
ratic process.
The last reason to sign up is to help
usher renewal into our government. Our
representatives work for us. We have let
them forget that their actions are ac
countable to us as a populace. All of their
actions are accountable, including their
platforms, votes, honesty and integrity.
It is time to remind office seekers
they owe their community respect and
integrity. Americans have turned a
blind eye, and just like children, the bad
apples of the government bunch got
greedy and stupid.
But, with Clinton’s antics, Americans
have turned around and are beginning
to let politicians know they are being
held accountable for all of their actions
while they serve as representatives.
Elected officers should be representa
tive in every way. One key way to keep
officials accountable is to use the vote.
Many students are only recently eli
gible to vote. They should take the time
to register and vote because it is easy to
do, they have a right to do it and our
country needs them.
Student concerns should not be put on
the back burner. The Aggies’ spirited
voices should be heard, and with action,
they will be in November.
Andrew Baley is a junior
political science major.
mica,.ik
eer, "Wii
U!”
ty of thr
a this cat
of Hou;
?nd.
ened bat
res and
party.
iversity requires
n mindedness
ponse to John Lemons’
24 column, “Play Abuses
Speech
me of our greatest leaders
red organized religion. To
a few: Freud, Nietzsche,
and Voltaire,
tould we disregard their
[fits and theories because
lo not agree with them?
|e First Amendment gives
ns the right to free speech,
s and assembly. Lemons’
imn describes the play “Cor-
Christi” as abusing the free-
of speech. The play simply
a different portrayal of
istthat he does not agree
|An opinion cannot abuse
eedom of speech,
te live in a country influenced
MAIL CALL
by many cultures and religious
sects, making it a unique nation.
We can pretend to live in a
world where everyone thinks and
acts alike or we can open our
eyes and learn from the diversity
surrounding us.
Jennifer Nevill
Class of ’99
Playwright earns
praise, not hate
In response to John Lemons’
Sept. 24 column, “Play Abuses
Free Speech”:
In Lemons’ column, he claims
the play "Corpus Christ!” is an
abuse of free speech because the
main character, a Christ-like fig
ure, is gay. Well, so what?
Jesus has been subject to inter
pretation since the beginning. Even
the gospels do not agree entirely
on Jesus. There are non-canonical
texts that describe Jesus engaging
in homosexual behavior.
I understand people might be
upset by this portrayal, but it is
not an act of bigotry. Terrence Mc
Nally has won three Tony awards
and is an esteemed playwright.
He would not write this play with
out personal meaning as simply
an attack on Christianity.
The gay community suffers
constant attacks by the religious
community. Where were the repri
mands when Pat Robertson
warned Florida of disaster be
cause of Disney’s support of the
homosexual lifestyle? Apparently
there is a one-way street but I do
not believe it flows in the direction
you seem to think it does.
Jason Romero
Class of ’98
ns jraternity death exposes
iter
STEWART
PATTON
Life
fairs
:ott
a Krueger, an
rgranti 18-year-0ld
?nt at the
achusetts
ute of Tech-
;y, became
ler victim of
nale Greek
m last Sep-
ier when he
from alcohol poisoning,
leger fell into a coma and
cation fer recovered after he was ai
rily forced to drink excessive-
at the Phi Gamma Delta house,
fraternity he was pledging.
Jiis case, however, is differ-
rom the many other deaths
■have occurred as a result of
jrnity drinking. In this case,
ental istrict Attorney Ralph Martin
e not to indict the fraternity
bers or the people present
the party, but rather chose to
the Phi Gamma Delta or-
[visiflr Ozation itself.
Jhe indictment of Phi Gamma
ta is the first step toward the
ation that alcohol abuse is
ent in social fraternities and,
ed, may be the sole reason
their existence.
Jocial fraternities have a long
py in America beginning in
[1700s. Many of America’s
s of state and other promi-
I personalities were active in
peek system when they at-
led school. The unavoidable
h, however, is fraternities in
[1990s have almost completely
[owed their focus to two activ-
[: drinking a lot of beer and
pig a lot of women.
|n their Website, the members
[hi Gamma Delta say the
up prides itself on its dedica-
to scholarship, community
rice and the building of life-
R friendships among members,
pi honest observer would be
edto admit, however, that the
ity of fraternity life diverges
ply from these lofty goals.
In most fraternities, the grade
point ratio necessary to remain a
member either equals or barely ex
ceeds the standard set by the uni
versity to remain enrolled. Pledges
are usually the only members of a
fraternity who actually perform
any official function relating to
scholarship through mandatory
pledge study hours. Older mem
bers are too busy planning parties
and initiating pledges to the rigors
of fraternity life to be bothered by
difficult academic goals.
Community service is another
area in which the rhetoric does
not match reality. Again, pledges
are often the only members of
the fraternity who perform com
munity service, such as visiting
the section of highway the fra
ternity adopted. Pledges also
generally serve the community
by mowing lawns, buying gro
ceries and washing cars — all
for the benefit of the older mem
bers of the fraternity.
Additionally, it is a shame
some fraternity members must
die for the others to develop “life
long friendships.” With friends
who force each other to drink
enough alcohol to cause death,
who needs enemies?
Freshmen who enter college
do not join fraternities out of their
zeal for academic excellence or
their desire to better the college
community. Simply enough,
freshmen see a fraternity as an
easy way to get beer.
The first step in fraternity rush
each semester is to get drunk
with the young hopefuls and gan
der at the lovely “Little Sisters” or
“Sweethearts” who appear at
every event. The freshmen who
attend these parties only learn
about the fraternity’s commit
ment to high values and academ
ic integrity later when they are
probably surprised to read these
goals in their pledge books.
Is it really all that bad to join
an organization for the sole pur-
deeper flaws
pose of drinking with a group of
friends? After all, many college
students drink with friends all of
the time, but in a less formal set
ting. The problem with fraterni
ties is that they do not own up to
their motives. Instead, they sur
round themselves with an aura of
achievement and values that they
do not fulfill.
Phi Gamma Delta’s charter
states that the fraternity “exists to
promote lifelong friendships, to
reaffirm high ethical standards
and values and to foster personal
development in the pursuit of ex
cellence.” Scott Krueger’s mother
believed Phi Gamma Delta’s
rhetoric: “We thought he was safe
in that frat [sic] house.”
Had the fraternity been honest
with themselves and the rest of
the world this tragedy may well
have been avoided. A more ap
propriate charter for Phi Gamma
Delta might have included the
fact pledges had to drink a re
quired amount of alcohol before
the older members allowed them
to leave a party.
It could be argued that one
cannot understand the Greek sys
tem if he is not a part of it. How
ever, it is clear to anyone who has
spent any time at all on a college
campus that there is a distinct dif
ference between social fraternities
and organizations that truly sup
port academic achievement and
community involvement.
Additionally, non-involvement
in Greek life may be a key factor
in truly understanding it.
The man or organization liv
ing a lie will not only hurt oth
ers, but will wind up hurting
himself. It should be the hope of
all Aggies that the indictment of
the Phi Gamma Delta organiza
tion brings the truth to light and
helps save the lives of many oth
er young men.
Stewart Patton is a senior
sociology major.
McGwire’s nutritional supplement use
blemishes race for home-run record
T he mar
velous
home-run
race is drawing to
a close, and Mark
McGwire has tak
en an astonishing
lead — with a lit
tle help, that is.
With a count of
70 home runs to
Sammy Sosa’s 66 and only one ball
game to go, McGwire’s place is vir
tually secured in the record books
as baseball’s greatest home-run hit
ter. But if there is any justice in this
world, McGwire will share his
record. Oh, he will probably not
have to share the record with Sosa,
but with androstenedione.
Androstenedione, sometimes
called andro, is the muscle-build
ing supplement that McGwire took
throughout the baseball season in
an attempt to improve his perfor
mance. McGwire’s andro use,
however, has tainted his impres
sive achievement. Undeniably,
McGwire is juiced up on some
thing. The man is enormous. Even
body-builders appear somewhat
small and girlish next to him.
McGwire’s action-figure pro
portions are unnatural. Indeed
looking at him, one wonders if he
is going to rip a home run or leap
tall buildings in a single bound.
When McGwire faced Houston
Astros pitcher, Randy Johnson,
two weeks ago, it was a match-up
that was best described as He-
Man versus Skeleton
McGwire’s use of the hormone
is not cheating — major league
baseball has not banned the sub
stance. However, andro use skirts
pretty close to being cheating. It
offers an unfair advantage for
McGwire over players who wisely
choose not to risk themselves at
the hands of andro.
Andro is a precursor to testos
terone. Thus, when taken, theo
retically at least, it is converted
into testosterone. Increased
testosterone levels are a linked to
increases in muscle mass and de
creases in body fat.
The problem with andro use,
however, is nobody knows exactly
what its long term effects are. So,
there is no telling what andro use
today will do to its users tomorrow.
This is a frightening prospect,
especially when companies are
using McGwire’s success to mar
ket the supplement. McGwire’s
hero-status makes andro attrac
tive to young athletes who are
willing to risk their health to max
imize their athletic abilities.
Many have tried to justify andro
by noting that it is a legal nutrition
al supplement. But if andro use
was completely innocent, then it
would not carry so much contro
versy, nor would it be banned by
so many sports organizations.
Andro is banned by the NFL,
the International Olympic Com
mittee and the NCAA because of
its unknown health risks. Last
week, after initially agreeing to
show andro advertisements,
ESPN and Fox Sports Net banned
andro commercials on their re
spective channels.
Furthermore, major league
baseball is considering banning an
dro. Last month, Baseball Commis
sioner Bud Selig and Union Chief
Donald Fehr announced that a
committee of doctors would be in
vestigating the hormone.
“Obviously, the health of our
players is of vital concern for all of
us, and we want to take every pre
caution to assure they receive the
most accurate medical and scientif
ic information,” Selig said.
The worst consequence about
McGwire’s andro use, however, is
not its effect on McGwire’s
record, but the message it sends
to the nation’s children.
McGwire’s run sends out the
message that it is ok to do any
thing to get ahead, even if it
means risking one’s own body.
This is a dangerous lesson to
teach kids.
Outside of his andro use, McG
wire could make a great role-
model. He is amiable and a good
sport. When he tied Roger Marris’
home-run record three weeks ago,
the first thing McGwire did after
running the bases was pick up his
son in his arms.
It is too bad he has compro
mised that image. One would
hope the lesson McGwire would
teach the nation is that success
comes with hard work and deter
mination, not elevated testos
terone levels.
McGwire is a national hero, al
beit a tainted one. His accom
plishment is admirable, his use of
andro is not.
In taking the single season
home-run record by any means
necessary, McGwire will have
shown too much testosterone is
never a good thing.
John Lemons is an electrical
engineering graduate student.
JOHN
LEMONS