Battalion
PINION
Page 5 • Thursday, July 15, 1999
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ATTLERS
rents should be alerted to alcohol violations
n e as the
11 to Dr. fl
ith the increasing num
ber of irresponsible ac
tions committed by to-
ie withi h) ’ s younger generation, a
f sexual E.B ,a t e lias emerged over the
' 'Mses of and potential solutions
Ryan
GARCIA
Aaror
cene-stu : or these often unnecessary ■
'son Hanil edies -
band ne-'H^ 0 matter t 10w many differing
date, leasable 8 ai ' e introduced into this
ig f 0 r a j r mate, increased parental in-
vi e jog, mo vement is the one remaining constant that all sides
ell, Adamil? 6 on -
nhe the W odow ' n 8 the lead of several universities, such as
es fjiiss^Mbniversity of Michigan, Texas A&M University has
the scri 0 « en a P roact ' ve approach to insure parental involve-
l )e " ; nent and support in dealing with alcohol-related vio-
, (•: nenc " aflons occurring on-campus.
to rj As now ’ P' ans are in effect to send a letter to the
m a k M dent: ' S P arent or guardian from the Coordinator of
‘ . : : \1':ohol and Drug Education Programs or the Director
1 ™ seenijf jtudent Life when a student is found in violation
vec ‘- jy ra( k)f fexas A&M’s Student Rules regarding improper
I ssession or use of alcohol or an illegal drug.
(This worthwhile endeavor by the Department of
dent Life clearly demonstrates that Texas A&M has
ced an emphasis on its students’ well-being and is
pared to deal with an issue that remains problem-
for universities across the nation.
A&M University Police Department crime sta
ges reveal that over 80 percent of total arrests
jthe past year were liquor law offenses, not
eluding Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
iffenses and public intoxication.
While opposition to such a plan may
(in popularity with the student body, it
uld neglect the students’ best interests,
ith the parental notification plan,
^as A&M is attempting to foster a part-
ship with the parents of troubled stu-
its.
Notification would include an outline
)u r tes> suggested steps students may
girlfriend»'«ke to remedy the situation with the
n Road, student, and a request for parental sup-
‘pon in the matter. Involving parents in
me to benlsuch issues far from eliminates students
the end,®! from dealing with the resulting conse-
terrifying quences on their own, but rather pro-
s. ‘motes a supportive foundation that insures
t fabulousperiteissue will be dealt with adequately on
es is not wljll levels.
^obbins.lnf This is not an ambush on students’ rights,
and A&M does not intend it to be. ■.
Prior to the implementation of this plan, Texas
fully intends to notify all students and par
ts or guardians of this change in the parental no-
ication policy.
Texas A&M has made all efforts to take various
lenarios in account, proving that this is course of ac-
n has been thoroughly examined.
The Department of Student Life has shown cultur
al sensitivity in planning for situations which might
equire notifying guardians of international students
vfhose religious beliefs prohibit the use of alcohol.
When it would not be in the students’ best inter-
|ts to contact their parents, A&M again exhibits fore-
ht by retaining the right to withhold information re
ading student use and abuse of alcohol and illegal
drugs from any parent or guardian if the University
suspects the release of the information may cause
harm to the student.
Accepting its role as a world-class university, A&M
realizes that it must not only educate, but also take
responsibility for the well-being of its students.
The notification of parents, while unpopular, is
crucial to addressing the alcohol problems of this uni
versity and others across the nation.
Parents remain the closest people with any sem
blance of authority over potential offenders. As im
mature as it makes the student body appear, if more
parents were made aware of their children’s inappro
priate behavior, the problem, in most cases, would be
corrected.
Unchecked, the behavior can become a less than
beneficial habit, self-destructive to the student.
Students can be responsible for own behavior
A
Aaron
MEIER
11 hail the grand wisdom of
the University administra
tion.
Bow down before their superi
or knowledge and quietly surren
der your rights upon admission
to this institution of higher learn
ing.
Once again, Texas A&M, in its
continuing belief that “adminis
tration knows best,” has decided
to send letters to a student’s parent or guardian
when that student has violated student rules regard
ing alcohol and drugs.
Everybody loves a tattletale.
For the first 18 or so years of our lives, students
have been under the supervision of parental units.
But at some point, hopefully
soon after birth, the umbili
cal cord was cut indicat
ing a sort of indepen
dence.
Apparently
somebody did not
tell the task force
that decided to
institute this
policy.
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And when a potential problem can be alleviated
with the help of the family unit, it would be a shame
for parents to learn of their children’s possible sub- .
stance abuse for the first time when it drives them to
harming themselves or committing suicide.
Ryan Garcia is a senior journalism major.
Jeff Smith/The Battalion
Maybe if this group kept at it, they could institute
an A&M PTA and our parents could come to Open
House every semester, meet our teachers and make
sure we know our homework assignments.
Face it, there has to be a time when people,
whether they are students or not, are made account
able for their own actions.
One of the basic tenets of going to college is.
“You’re an adult now. You need to be able to take
care of yourself. ”
But the University does not seem to think so.
It seems eerily like the reinstatement of in loco
parentis that was done away with in the early 1960s.
What all that fancy Latin means is that back in
the day when today’s parents were drinking illegally
in their own residence halls, the University acted in
place of their parents.
The school could instill curfews and generally
make life as miserable as possible.
That policy changed, but this new policy seems to
want to bring it back. So why does A&M want to run
off and tell mommy and daddy when students drink
in the residence halls?
A memo from Dr. Brent Paterson, director of the
Department of Student Life, said the idea is to pro
tect the health and safety of the students.
This is the same school that does little to cure the
fact that its on-campus medical facility is known as
the “Quack Shack.”
In today’s Battalion, Paterson said the purpose of
the memo is not for the individual student, but for
the good of the University community as a whole.
This idea is as laughable as last semester’s grand
idea to require all Northgate bars to have-a kitchen
as a way to reduce drunk driving.
Because when Johnny Freshman gets a Public In
toxication citation for doing the backstroke in Fish
Pond, we all feel the the very fabric of our universe
ripped to shreds.
How can the task force draw a lir\e saying when it
comes to alcohol and drugs, students should be
treated as children and have their parents no
tified, but when it comes to other matters,
say for example, accidentally sleeping
through class, they will treat students as
adults?
The plan treats students differently
than it would treat everyday citizens.
If an 18-year-old received a Minor in
Possession (MIP) citation from a non-uni
versity law enforcement agency, the parents
would not be involved. This is because it is a
matter between the adult — note the word
“adult” — and the cop writing the ticket.
A further display of the omnipotent adminis
tration is a clause that makes an exception to the
policy if notifying the student’s parents places
them at risk.
What exactly is “at risk?” Would seeing the vein
in my dad’s forehead pop out qualify me as being at
risk, or is it something more quantifiable?
When mom and dad find out their money is go
ing to late night drinking binges or dime bags of pot,
every student is placed at risk.
The University needs to return to what little sense
it has left.
No good will come from ratting out alcohol and
drug violations on campus.
As an adult, it is the student’s responsibility to
make the decision to either tell mom and dad or
keep quiet and learn a lesson about prudence.
The University should not be making that deci
sion for us.
Aaron Meier is a senior political science major.
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md. Advantage — Bush.
• Education: Both Bush and Clinton
e graduates of Yale. Bush got his mas- #
Mark
PASSWATERS
(These efforts have brought us the con-
t in Kosovo, and even a break with Vice
isident A1 Gore.
Within the past week, Clinton has
de what can be considered his most
the-wall move, stating that Gov.
/ her colfcrge W. Bush, the man who may well
Jace Clinton in the White House, is a
ne of himself.
Clinton says everything about Bush,
m his attitude to his political stance, is
don’t Wily reminiscent of himself. So a “corn-
people >sionate conservative” now equals a
"ew Democrat?”
What an interesting political time we
ein.
But this brings us to an important ques-
n — is President Clinton grasping at
Jaws, or are there really that many com-
(risons between the two?
Would it be an even better idea if Gin-
hoped that people thought he was
re like Bush?
Let’s examine various areas of each
n’s life.
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Family: Bush is from a well-known
|d established family with a record of
blic service. His father was the Presi-
fnt of the United States, and his mother
ns a literacy foundation. One of his
lothers is the governor of Florida.
Clinton never knew his father, and his
brother is in a rock band. A very bad rock
band. Advantage — Bush.
• Education: Both Bush and Clinton
are graduates of Yale. Bush got his mas
ter’s degree at Harvard Business School,
while Clinton went to Oxford University
on a Rhodes Scholarship. Bush hung out
with Yankee snobs, while Clinton hung
out with English snobs. In a close one, ad
vantage — Bush.
• Military Service during the Vietnam
War: Bush heroically reached new
heights by zooming around Houston in an
F-102 belonging to the Texas Air National
Guard. Clinton, in England at the time,
reached new heights without the use of an
airplane. Think about it. Advantage —
Bush.
• Partying Record: Bush admits that
he drank too much in his younger years,
and he may or may not have danced
naked on a table.
Clinton says that he did not inhale.
If there was public nudity, then neither
deserves the advantage. If everyone kept
their clothes on, the advantage belongs to
Bush.
• Washington Experience Before Run
ning For President: Bush was one of the
heavies behind the scenes in his father’s
administration, making many of the tough
decisions.
Clinton was involved in George Mc
Govern’s campaign for president in 1972.
McGovern had Watergate on his side and
was still blown out. Advantage — Bush.
• Experience in the Private Sector:
Clinton taught law classes in the early
1980s after losing the Arkansas governor
ship race and was a middling lawyer.
Bush became wealthy in his own right,
and he became a major owner of the
Texas Rangers. Teach law to people who
have not seen daylight in 14 years, or
George W. Clinton
or
Bill Bush?
hang out with Nolan Ryan? Advantage —
Bush.
• Marital Status: Bush is happily mar
ried to a beautiful woman and is the fa
ther of lovely twin daughters.
Clinton has a wife in New York and an
intern doing things that would be interest
ing on a resume. Blue dress or not, the
advantage goes to Bush.
• Experience in Public Service before
running for President: Clinton was a
popular governor of Arkansas, Bush was a
popular governor of Texas. That is like a
Pop Warner team playing the Denver
Broncos. Advantage — Bush.
• Knowledge of Whitewater: Bush
knows that there is some in the rapids of
the Red River. Clinton, through his
lawyers, denies any knowledge. No ad
vantage.
• Ability to Communicate With Other
Nationalities: Bush speaks fluent Spanish.
Clinton gets money from people who
speak Chinese. Advantage — Clinton.
• Abraham Lincoln: Bush knows Lin
coln was the 16th President of the United
States. Clinton knows Lincoln’s bedroom
brings in big bucks from contributors. It is
important to know your history, so the ad
vantage belongs to Bush.
• Vice Presidents: Bush does not even
have the Republican nomination yet, so he
has no selection. Clinton has Gore. Advan
tage — Bush.
• Red Badges of Shame: Bush has ad
mitted that he drank quite a bit during his
youth. He has since changed his ways.
President Clinton has been impeached for
lying under oath and obstructing justice,
but does not see this to be a very big deal.
Advantage — Bush.
To this point in time. Bush has at least
shown himself to be a decent human be
ing who believes in most of what he says.
He has also not disgraced the office
that he has held with his personal proclivi
ties. Many Americans, whether they sup
ported impeachment or not, were embar
rassed by what was revealed during Clin
ton’s scandal. The best way to prevent a
repeat performance is to elect someone
who probably would not act so foolishly.
As a result, morality and the personal
integrity of the candidates has become
one of the most important issues in the
2000 Presidential Campaign.
The reason for this can be traced right
back to William Jefferson Clinton and his
actions.
George W. Bush has come up with very
high marks on this issue in the eyes of the
public and has translated that into a com
manding lead in the polls.
Bush — a Clinton clone?
Maybe it would be wiser for Clinton to
be a Bush clone. After all, this seems to be
the new route to the White House.
Mark Passwaters is an electrical
engineering graduate student.