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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2000)
OPINION ursday. February 17. 2000 THE BATTALION Page 9 n ad). This rate applies get an additional 5 uled to end to qualify ; PETS 'Speck", stiichesisk son area. Call Pr AL ESTATE )OMMATES house. CH&A, w/d, fenced lo $250*futil -KJeposit Ion to August Fult. /mo. +1/31)1118 ; bigs Double seems that every where one looks, American society is sessed with female bits — how they dress, sak and portray them- ves in public situations. Entertainers such as itney Spears and Christi- Aguilera seem to take brunt of the criticism. They are constantly ac- sed of setting a bad example for their teenage JESSICA CRUTCHER standard in a bottle, baby What a girl wants is for critics to judge entertainers the same, regardless of sex dog leaching service. _ . rethods 260-dogs lowers because of skm-baring costumes and ggestive lyrics. In a recent interview w ith Peo- ; magazine, Britney Spears defended accusa- ms of being “too sexy, too soon." But Spears should never have had to defend her in. large fenced h»Jage in the first place. The real question is why AHord & company Reel]?! ma ] e artists should he expected to provide whole- me examples for teenage girls, while it is pertect- acceptable for male artists such as Ricky Martin gyrate their hips in motions that would make vis blush. Critics should either complain about the bad in- tence of both genders of entertainers equally or avethem all alone to do their job: t is understood that female entertainers are :ld to a higher standard than their male conn H Jamie castliio ? $=* Itc parts. An excerpt from a recent letter to the Apartment CJitor j n Rolling Stone magazine stated “1 know leaded ASAP to share 4tir /mo+util+deposit. 696-82C reeded ASAP! 1434 ends might I elp you n $200 deposit. $&' bdrm/tbth S162 50/n Six blocks from o«t/2bills Call ie [Jewel] doesn't want to be a role model and ever sought it out. but she is one ... 1 resent ewel’s seemingly flippant and unnervingly avalier resolutions to ‘start smoking and exer- iseless’... her words will have teenagers light- ig up....” It is disturbing that a female entertainer hould be criticized for joking about smoking Jigarettes, while Kid Rock a much more ligh-profile entertainer — sings about daigs nd flashes obscene gestures at the camera with relatively little comment from anyone. Presum ably, people recognize that he is an entertainer, a job requirement which he seems to be meeting quite well. Female entertainers should be grant ed the same respect of being left alone to do their job in relative peace. Female entertainers undeniably help mold society’s idea of what the “perfect” female should look like. However, Spears’ bare midriff and Aguilera’s semi-suggestive dance moves do more to mirror contemporary teen culture than to change it. Some people argue that it is excusable to hold female entertainers to a higher standard be cause teenage girls are more easily influenced than teenage boys. This would be a logical argu ment if female entertainers influenced only teenage girls and male entertainers influenced only teenage hoys. But people of both genders listen to, and perform, pop music. Male enter tainers have just as great an influence on teenage girls as do females. Ever since Elvis, male entertainers have been known for the obsessive effects they have had on teenage girls. One only has to look at the many “biographies” (which happen to be filled with color photos) of male groups such as ’N Sync and the Backstreet Boys to realize the fascination teenage girls have w ith male music groups. It is impossible to acknowl edge this fascination and simul taneously say that males are not equally capable of being just as negative role models as females. Ricky Martin sings a song called “Shake Your Bon Bon.” Imagine the furor if a female artist produced a song dedicated solely to shaking a certain body part. And on the subject of making girls feel they must fit a certain ideal, look at the appearances of the girls that boy groups “date” in their videos. Showing a regu lar guy with a gorgeous woman has more power to make a teenage girl feel inadequate than the thinnest super model ever dreamed of having. One example is the song “Summer Girls” by the group LEO. The song, sung by an un deniably attractive group of men, includes the lyrics “1 like girls that wear Abercombie and Fitch....” At least Britney Spears and Christina Aguil era stop at promoting a certain image and do not go on to lyrically recommend a certain brand of clothing be worn in order to gain acceptance. Female entertainers may not promote the image every mother wants for her teenage daughter, but they are no more deserving of crit icism than their male counterparts. Critics of teenage culture should either com- RUBEN DELUNA/Thk Battalion plain about both genders of performers equally or leave the entertainers alone and let them do their job. Jessica Crutcher is a sophomore journalism major. ASAP 1 2bdmV2ba. Call Maes ERVICES ICORE GUARANTEED! istruction. 7764-0080. Drk g. Lots-of-fun, LaujM icount. M-T(6|wS!» &Sat - Fri(6pm-8pm) 4Sat(lO :30pm) Inside BankofArs' Lowest price aiimw dea that something Ste 217, 846-8117. Stiow , }1 s seriously wrong es/Grooms! i address with their town and can 485-0490. : [hey go to extreme lengths in the futile 1 tempt to fix it. School drug tests violate students’ rights R: LJ\ very so of ten, small town resi- lents get the crazy live? www.housinglOl RAVEL .i*. vwlh | CHRIS HU FUMES ig break Potrero Chico 6 les and equipment provided tours com Break!! Luxurytownhousesla er, Angel Fire, Rio Costilla, or Tommy 846-8916, ook at Salem and witches. In response to a perceived drug itoblem the school board of Lockney, r exas has begun requiring drug testing tthe beginning of the school year for II students and random monthly testing iroughout the rest of the term. This dth Padre island Irom $1591 Came about because a COl.ple of Best oceanfrom hoteis/cog earsago 13 residents who were not ven students, were indicted for distrib- tingand using cocaine and marijuana tthe town of 2,243. Brady Tannahi 11, a 12-year-old stu- it, is the only one of 339 students re using to take the drug test, and he is iow being punished as if he had taken he test and it came back positive. What reafenergy bo“S heSch ° o1 board ° f Lockney is doing is se delivery in B/cs. checks-’ lot only unconstitutional, it rips at the abricofthe educational system. Tliis policy is unconstitutional for iteed! www.breakerstravet 3HT LOSS s. in 30 days. 800-571-TfW it. Wanted: 43 people lo mended, #1 in Europe wilh 99. Open 24/7 695-6983. Break for 16 Years! BREAKM Breckenridge : Vail Beaver (reek 1 Kevstone A-Basii 1 EACH-BII (1 .BOO.232.242® wo distinct reasons. The first is that this irocedure violates the students’ right to irivacy. The school has no probable :ause to force the students to be tested or drag use. In addition, the students have no iioice but to take the tests. Enrollment n school is mandatory, and short of at- ending private or being home schooled both expensive, difficult options), stu- lenfs are basically required by the gov- itybeachclub.coi]j| fffment to take drug tests. This is ille- . Mandatory drug tests are a requirement of some jobs and extracur ricular activities, hut no one forces an individual to accept a particular job or to participate in a particular activity. Employment and extra-curricular activ ities are optional, and the drug test is an unfortunate consequence of choosing to take advantage of the option. School is not an option, and requiring students to take drug tests is forcing the students to give up their right to privacy. Further more, this pol icy is uncon stitutional because it as sumes guilt. The Constitu tion guaran tees all sus pects are innocent until proven guilty. However, Tan nahi 11 is being punished as if he had tested positive for drugs. Tan- nahill refused to submit to a humiliating, illegal procedure, and is being punished as if he is some washed-up dopehead. Ain’t Lockney justice grand? While police officers arrest and pun ish suspects who refuse to take a breath alyzer test, officers do not pull over everyone on the highway and request a test. They wait until they have probable cause to believe a suspect is drunk be fore they even think about testing. Many parents, and many conserva tives for that matter, would say that stu dents in school do not have significant rights, and should be quiet and enjoy the free education. It is taie that the Supreme Court has found students do leave certain rights, most notably free speech, at the schoolhouse gate. How ever, these rights are only abridged if doing so is in the interests of education. Student newspapers (in high school, not at a university) can be prevented from criticizing the school if the principal be lieves the censorship is in the interest of education. Is testing students for drugs in the best interests of education? Is forcing every student in grades six through 12 to urinate into a little plastic cup, just be cause some people got caught with drugs a few years ago, in the best interests of education? Is punishing a 12- year-old student for standing up for himself in the best interests of education? Lockney residents cite the arrests and the increasing use of drugs in small town America as ample justification for their policy. This same logic states that, because 35 students were scholastically dishon est last year, and scholastic dishonesty as a whole is on the rise in the country, every student at Texas A&M should re ceive a strip search immediately before each exam because somebody might have hidden crib notes. Such a program would be beyond absurd, just like Lock ney’s drug tests. What is perhaps worse is the hypocrisy displayed by the school board and superintendent Raymond Lusk. While speaking to CNN, Lusk respond ed to questions concerning lawsuits by saying, “If it’s the right thing to do, you don’t let the threat of someone suing you stop you.” This must only apply to grown-ups, and not students. Lusk can do “the right thing,” but Tannahill is condemned to in-school suspension for upholding ex actly the same principle Lusk is patting himself on the back for. The educational system serves the triple purpose of giving students knowl edge, instilling the ability to think, and helping them develop character. The constant interruptions of drug testing, combined with the blatant lack of trust displayed by the school toward its stu dents and staff, will hurt the first two tenets of education. The hypocrisy shown by Lusk de stroys students’ faith in the faculty, which could bring about the moral breakdown that the citizens of Lockney fear. Students who feel like they are not trusted will not be able to form the at tachments to adults that help foster moral character. No trust means no morals. Lockney’s citizens are not only be ing hypocritical and untrusting; they are wrong. These drug tests are unconstitu tional and must be stopped. Students in public school are not automatically criminals, nor should they be treated as such just for standing up for them selves. Brady Tannahill is being pun ished for taking the principles he was taught to heart by the very people whose duty it is to teach him. At least they are not burning him at the stake. Chris Huffmes is a senior speech communication major. reat t you run a it you'll get work and l have a to fill a job ting less 0569. Aggie Christians more tolerant than stereotype nresponse to Julia Recindus’ Feb. 11 article. 1 The article entitled “Testing the Waters of | : aith” contains well-developed points about low minority religious groups are oppressed by ithers. I would not argue with these points, lowever, the article crosses the line into stereotyping all Christians at Texas A&M. It seems the article failed to recognize that here are campus religious organizations who ire committed to religious tolerance and reli gious rights on the A&M campus. For example, the Campus Ministers Associ- ition includes approximately 15 A&M religious organizations who choose to adhere to its ‘code or ethics.” Among other values, these organizations are committed to respecting “the values of all People regardless of religious background [and] the right of every person to retain his/her own belief system ... and to make their own tecision in freedom.” These groups are committed to religious fights, namely “the right of religious groups to speak freely about their beliefs and faith in a Planner consistent with the solicitation policies ofTAMU and CMA Code of Ethics.” I would encourage editors of The Battalion MALL CALL to include viewpoints from organizations asso ciated with the Campus Minister’s Association in order to embrace the diversity of religious perspectives on the Texas A&M campus. Rev. Kyle M. Walker campus minister Mock wedding immoral, offensive to Christians In response to Brooke Hodges Feb. 15 article. Valentine’s Day will never be the same. A day that normally instills feelings of love and laughter now brings to mind images that are not only obtrusive and offensive, but they vio late the very laws of nature and our God. The mock weddings that took place on Mon day brought not only indignation and degenera cy to the tradition of Valentine’s Day but to the entire Texas A&M campus. I am astonished that such blatant disregard for both God’s laws and the feelings of many students was demon strated and am disappointed with administra tors who allowed this show on campus. Marriage is a sacred institution designed by God to unite a man and a woman as one flesh. In 1 Corinthians, the Lord gave us instructions on how to conduct ourselves in marriage. They were given to husbands and wives. There is an obvious abhorrence for all sexual immorality, including homosexuality.The Lord does not con done same-sex relations, nor does he condone a false prophet like the “reverend” who per formed these “mock ceremonies,” blasphem ing his name for all to see. It is not for me to judge, but it is that for the Lord. For when the roll is called, you will be separated from the flock as the left is separated from the right. Jessica Andrews Class of '00 Accompanied by 4 signatures 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 per son 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 Debate on wedding counterproductive W hen singing “Spirit of Ag- I gieland,” Aggies tell outsiders Texas A&M is a university where all students are unified. A&M is known for events such as Big Event, Muster and Bonfire, for the sole purpose that we work, remember, and desire together as a family. But despite these ideals, A&M students stand divided over the issue of discrimination against the gay and lesbian students on this campus. On Monday, two female stu dents, Natalie Wilson and Amy Hinze, participated in a mock wed ding ceremony at Rudder Fountain. There were two types of people at the event: Aggies with smiles and Aggies with frowns. As two students pledged their mock vows to each other, students representing the “Aggies for Life” organization passed out chastity rib bons and pamphlets discussing how “God made the woman's body to fit perfectly with the man’s.” So, those watching without a strong opinion of the marriage of gay and lesbian couples, suddenly were laced with a decision. Either clap and whoop for the couple bold ly taking a stand for their life choic es or put on a ribbon and follow the advice of “Aggie for Life” and “just pray for them.” The question of whether it was right or wrong that this event has occurred on our campus can be ar gued over and over, with great points on each side. But the prob lem at Rudder Fountain on Monday was the division that this issue has caused on our campus. There should not be sides work ing only for themselves and against the other simply because everyone on this campus does not share the same opinion. It has been forgotten that Aggies are supposed to all be on the same team. Yes, at the turn of the century it is time that the world accepted different choices of sexual orientation and the students at A&M acknowledged these choices on our campus. But, at the same time, Texas A&M is a school known for its con servatism and to host this event con tradicts many of the beliefs from the student body. The problem is no that the wed ding occurred, it is that this group of people feels so under represented and neglected that it was necessary to take these drastic measures to be heard. How can a school that claims to be one of the friendliest campuses in the nation be shunning some of its own family? Not everyone has to take a stand on this issue, but do not let it contin ue to divide the campus. There is no need to stage a heterosexual wedding because there is an understanding and acceptance that they exist. This does not mean that all the students on this campus promote and agree with heterosexuality or that they are “right” or “wrong” in their beliefs, it just means that Aggies un derstand it. The students participating felt the need to host this wedding due to a lack of understanding or accep tance that they feel from this campus. There will always be students that desire to be at A&M for its conserva tive atmosphere, as surely as others desire to attend the University of Texas because of its liberal attitude. But, equally, there will always be exceptions to the stereotypes, and those people should be accepted just the same. Vision 2020, an attempt to make our campus one of the top ten universities in the United States, aims at creating an all-accepting en vironment in which every Aggies can live and go to school. It also explains the hopes that Texas A&M University will not be a place where people leave because of discrimination issues. The ideals have been written to make this school one of the best. Now it is up to the students to let go of the un necessary hostility undermining these problems, and put Vision 2020 into action. No one will ever be right or wrong here, but until Aggies can have an open mind, both sides of the battle will have lost to this issue. Texas A&M, although known for its conservatism, is also known for having graduates that are described as lacking in their knowledge of di versity. Here is the chance to change that. It is time to prove these studies wrong and show the world that Texas A&M is accepting environment for all different kinds of Aggies. If the gay and lesbian students felt accepted by this campus, there would have been no need for this exploita tion of their sexual orientation. But there is a need for accepting the choices of each Aggie on this campus. A need for understanding that all students are not the same here at Texas A&M. Most of all a need for the realization that this issue is di viding a campus that could easily be unified. It is time to be “true to each other” and realize that when stand ing unified as one, Aggies are at their strongest. Melissa Bedsole is a sophomore general studies major.