Battalion
ar
o nmhln
■e Hurricane ft
. County eme^t
ie center o(the
eston.S.C.m
vard the noi
ed, was forecas
nal Hurricane
near Cape Roi
■sterday aftenwj
idfall nearthe
■ late yesterda;
affect fromSai'
apical storm»
as to theViigi
to Savannali,Ci
o
PINI
11 • Monday, October 18, 1999
ontrolling the image
I Gore's newest revamp will not help campaign
alifor
MARK
PASSWATERS
after she was
the blaze, Rose
lifornia Depaf
id.
? was 20-pen
erday, and fit
expected by!
d. Some 940
1 blaze.
? began at 4:
nned by wind
; by yesterday
i million,
umbers of
rid likely not bfi
mes were earn
said.
\ meric
:y miglii
ecently
the debate
between
(lutionists
|1 creationists
r the appear-
:eof humans
Jthis planet
^accelerated,
lose obser-
on of the American political
jtie would seem to give science
edge over faith at this point. Af-
all, isn’t Vice President A1 Gore
living before the public's very
h eyes?
the start of Gore’s campaign
| the Democratic presidential
ination, it appeared he was in-
Ived not in a race but in a coro-
ion. There were no clouds on
§ horizon for Gore, who had the
port not only of his party but
bthat of the presidency.
|ln spite of all this, however,
ire’s bandwagon has rapidly fall-
apart. Challenged not only by
orge W. Bush on the Republican
lebut also by fellow Democrat
II Bradley, Gore’s stroll to victory
s become a political Bataan
ath March.
Much has been made of both
[ire’s charisma problems and the
rmful effects of “Clinton fa-
on his campaign. These
ood deal'orta'I
toll found.
i or daughter*,
r the military,m
i or suggest a dife
WcMSW
ttainly have taken a toll, but
[ere is a far simpler reason why
eGore campaign has gone from
ggernaut to jughead. Gore and
handlers have run an inept
impaign, lacking focus on major
ues.
Gore’s lack of charisma is well-
cumented. Instead of evoking
lemories of Reagan or Kennedy,
Is stiff, monotonous style has led
|comparisons to a certain golden
fluent in over six million
irms of communication.
Sensing this undercurrent. Gore
; las tried to change his character. A
tvho once seemed addicted to
notecard use. Gore can no longer
be found behind the podium. He
now moves around the stage, like
Jerry Springer on PCP.
If shoe-pounding, a la Nikita
Khruschev, were still in vogue,
Gore’s docksiders would be in
jeopardy. Going from one extreme
to the other may show the nation
Gore is not a human cinderblock,
but it may also make him out to
be Pinocchio.
Such a dramatic change does not
show Gore’s human side but in
stead shows he is willing to do any
thing, including changing his per
sonality, for votes.
Bradley, by no means a charis
matic man, is comfortable with
who he is, and it has helped him
cut Gore’s national lead in the
polls from 33 to 11 percent in one
month. Or could Bradley’s sudden
gain be attributed to something
else, like his willingness to talk
about issues?
Another contributing factor in
Gore’s problems can be traced back
to his boss, one William Clinton. In
the year since Clinton’s impeach
ment, the vice president often has
mentioned how proud he still is to
serve with him. With polls showing
over half of the American people
(between 53 and 58 percent) are
sick of Bill Clinton and want him to
go away. Gore has abruptly
changed his tone. In an attempt to
distance himself from Clinton, he
has moved his campaign headquar
ters from Washington, D.C., to
Nashville, Tenn.
However, Gore says he would
continue on the path Clinton has
charted. Since his re-election, Clin
ton has been impeached, ordered
the bombing of Serbia and fought
with the Republican Congress.
His inability to do anything of
substance domestically, while not
entirely his fault, is not a sign of
great leadership.
But poor leadership, Gore’s most
pressing problem, has little to do
with Clinton. His advisers, who
seemed woefully unprepared for
any sort of challenge, have coun
seled Gore to make these abrupt
personality changes.
Making A1 into Oprah or the Anti-
Clinton will do little good at this
point because the public has seen
the real Gore for the past eight years.
Gore’s only hope is to pay attention
to the issues — something he has
not yet done.
Social Security reform is a hot is
sue around the nation, but Gore
would rather be on TV talking
about how he inhaled marijuana
and how his wife Tipper calls him
the “Energizer Bunny” because he
is such a stud. Gore could merit
votes by making a stand on cam
paign finance, but instead he went
on stage in Iowa and yelled at
Bradley, “calling him out” for a se
ries of debates.
Gore could come up with his
plan to balance the budget, but in
stead he mentions how great it is to
be in a dogfight for the Democratic
nomination for president.
Gore’s actions may be good for
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin, but
they are not good for a presiden
tial candidate. A man running for
president must have a campaign
that has not only style, but also
substance. Currently, Gore’s cam
paign has neither.
It would not be inaccurate to
compare Vice President Gore’s
presidential campaign with a ship
taking on water — he has no mo
mentum, while his opposition con
tinues to make great strides. There
is still time for the S.S. Gore to be
righted, but his campaign must
drop anchor on a clue quickly.
Otherwise, the campaign will
slip out of sight with nary a chuckle
from the public.
Mark Passwaters is a graduate
student in electrical engineering.
4&M policy allows little
olerance for gay Aggies
InPEJS
I
L c
JESSICA
CRUTCHER
ensions between
homosexuals
and heterosexu-
Ihave risen steadily
ed adults fromal ipr tHp lact fp\A/
7-24 by ICRolMeCi ,er lne
empie causeresuwiars, and the amount
id be obtained if c' ^anti-gay-related dis-
mination and vio-
t crime is shocking.
As homosexuals
_.V6 made their lifestyles more public
ND UOSAPP pti-gay crimes have become more
BT1 "My | eva * ent - The issues of anti-gay dis-
| j' BJ nmination and hate crimes currently
Hi Bl fe ' n ^ le news because of the trial of
B ^4 p| e second suspect in the murder of
[atthew Shepard, a college student
utally murdered
?cause of his sexual
fientation.
To prevent intoler-
htacts against ho-
losexuals, Texas
&M University re-
intly considered
Ipplementing the
Ihool’s existing
pi-discrimination
blicy with a clause
tfCERl
&M
IMA
!DAY0Ct!3
please call the
35) 325-3838.
es and concert
our web site.
edu
oncert
Bowen's decision^
however as
well-intentioned it
may have been,
is lacking
in consideration.
brbidding discrimination based on sex-
ial orientation.
However, the proposal was not ap-
toved, apparently because University
resident Dr. Ray M. Bowen decided it
ias not important to guarantee in
writing the protection of homosexual
ggies.
Bowen’s decision, however well-in-
ntioned it may have been, lacks con-
ideration. Pretending a problem does
iot exist will not make it go away.
Homophobia and its tragic results will
iot be things of the past until the law
Drees others to treat homosexuals equally.
The current A&M discrimination pol-
cy states discrimination “could include
Hit is not limited to: race, ethnicity, re
gion, gender, disability, age, the right
ofree speech, and the right to freedom
ifthe press.”
The policy obviously is intended to
Totect people from discrimination
based on physical characteristics or
fetyles. Excluding homosexuality
bom the policy ignores a lifestyle that
desperately needs legal protection.
According to the FBI’s collection of
te-crimes statistics, anti-gay hate
crimes accounted for 13.7 percent of all
1997 hate crimes. This ranks anti-gay
crimes as the third most common cause
of hate crimes reported to the FBI —
below race and religion, but 3 percent
above ethnicity.
Race, religion, and ethnicity all are
included in A&M’s discrimination poli
cy — a hint A&M’s anti-discrimination
policy is itself discriminatory.
Even more disturbing, A&M’s dis
crimination policy follows the example
set by the state of Texas. Texas is one of
20 states in which hate-crime laws ex
clude sexual orientation.
The Texas law is conveniently
vague, referring to hate-crime victims
as those chosen
“because of the de
fendant’s bias or
prejudice against a
person or group.”
But even this stipula
tion would be prefer
able over A&M’s
current policy.
According to the
National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force,
voters have repealed gay-rights laws or
enacted anti-gay rights measures in 45
communities nationwide since the ’70s.
In 1996, Colorado passed an amend
ment banning laws protecting homosex
uals from discrimination.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court re
voked the law, the fact it was enacted
at all further illustrates the need for an
anti-discrimination policy at A&M.
Anti-homosexual discrimination
will continue to be a problem until
there are policies banning it. Bowen’s
recent decision further enforces the
common view homosexuals do not de
serve legal protection.
Just as ending racial discrimina
tion and religious persecution re
quired years of legislation and in
tense political struggle, ending
anti-gay discrimination will require
straightforward legislation.
Hopefully, public leaders such as
Bowen eventually will learn from past
mistakes and work to end discrimina
tion instead of blatantly allowing it.
Jessica Crutcher is a sophomore
journalism major.
Prolife flyers torn down
On the night of Oct. 13, someone went
around the campus and removed from
bulletin boards flyers posted by Aggies
For Life which were in accordance with
the rules of the University.
These persons then placed flyers ac
cusing Aggies For Life and the Brazos Val
ley Coalition for Life of preventing poor
women from obtaining health care.
Abortion is not healthcare. Abortion is
a risky elective surgery sold to women in
a crisis using high-pressqre sales tactics.
Healthcare claims to cure or prevent dis
eases or injuries. Pregnancy is not an in
jury or a disease.
If these people are really “pro-choice,”
wouldn’t they want pregnant women to
know all the options available to them in
the community, not just abortion?
That is what pro-lifers do outside
Planned Parenthood each Tuesday —
they offer alternatives. All student orga
nizations rightfully defend their free
dom of speech.
No group should be allowed to take
down information posted by another
group just because they disagree with
what the other group is saying.
Or are pro-choice groups afraid that in
the battle for the truth about abortion and
Planned Parenthood they will lose if they
let pro-life groups get their message out?
Amber Matchen
Class of ’00
accompanied by 122 signatures
Team should join rest of
student body after game
I am writing about the football games I
have attended this year. I am out of town
this semester doing student teaching in
San Antonio and always look forward to
coming into town to watch our beloved
football team.
But there is something different this
year. During all the years I have been
here, when the game is over, the Fight-
in’ Texas Aggie Band plays the War
Hymn as the 12th Man sings and “saws
Varsity’s horns off” together.
This still happens, but the football
team this year excommunicates them
selves from the 12th Man and hightails it
off the field in the middle of the War
Hymn. I realize that it only a song to
some, but when I see the badly defeated
Baylor football team join THEIR student
body for the Baylor song, it makes me
wonder if the A&M football team feels
above the rest of us.
MAIL CALL
I didn’t go to the football game for my
health — I went to support the Aggies.
I don’t think it’s too much to ask for
the football team to at least pretend to be
a part of the student body.
Kischel Arellano
Class of ’98
Friendship not shallow
In response to Jeff Wolfshohl’s Oct. 12 article.
In his article, Jeff Wolfshohl attempts
to define friendship. As a junior in college
reading this article, I was surprised at the
shallow examples used to describe what
was considered friendship.
Many of the supposed friendships I
read about were nothing more than su
perficial acquaintances.
One should be able to distinguish true
friends from drinking buddies or fellow
members of an organization.
With the people I consider friends, we
jokingly talk about taking a bat to some
one’s head for one another. However, in
all seriousness, I can easily see these peo
ple laying down their lives for me.
It is common to find difficulties in
friendships, like in any relationship, but
friends, by the true definition, will over
come them.
“Greater love hath no man than this;
that a man lay down his for his friend.”
— John 15:13
Matt Hince
Class of ’01
accompanied by two signatures
ResNet pom avoidable
In response to Chris Huffines Oct. 13 column.
Huffines’ opinion on pornography on
ResNet is wrong. His suggestion freedom
of expression and due process should not
be extended to purveyors of pornography
shows a complete lack of understanding
of these freedoms.
They are here to protect those who
do and say unpopular things, like
pornography.
Also, community sentiment on an is
sue should have no bearing on the lives
of students or on A&M policies. If com
munity sentiment turned and no longer
supported animal cloning, should A&M
stop doing it?
If the community does not like porn,
then they should not look at it and leave
those who do alone. While it is true
A&M is supported by state money, it is
supported more so by student money.
And so if students want to parlay porn,
the University has no right to stop them.
Huffines’ idea CIS workers should delete
unacceptable files from students’ com
puters is laughable.
He might as well suggest the Grounds
Service go and count all the leaves of
grass on campus. In short, if you don’t
like the pornography on someone’s com
puter, then go somewhere else.
Terrell Robb
Class of ’03
Surplus does not exist
In response to Ann Hart’s Oct. IS column.
Where did Ann Hart get her informa
tion? She demonizes Republicans for not
balancing the budget by taking out of the
Social Security “surplus.” What surplus?
Social Security is on track to be entirely
bankrupt within fifteen years.
She also claims money the wealthy
saved on taxes was supposed to “trickle
down” to the common man did not.
Again, she is entirely wrong. In the
’90s, it is the poor who have benefited
more than the middle class, even with
“heartless” Republicans gutting their
much-needed welfare.
I volunteered this summer with kids
from working poor families who had to
suffer with their $100 Nikes, Starter jack
ets and replica uniforms.
It nearly broke my heart to see their
daddies didn’t buy them an Abercrombie
and Fitch uniform or late-model Mustang.
The.families who can barely scrape up
money to buy food in America need
blame only themselves for their own fis
cal incompetence.
_ Brian Shelley
Class of ’99
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.
Letters may also be mailed to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
013 Reed McDonald
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
77843-1111.
Campus Mail: 1111
Fax: (409) 845-2647
E-mail: battletters@hotmail.com