Wednesday, May 31,2a
y boom
foam
when the Legislatuiil
d in 1993 to allow restai
> brew their own be®®
Libs opened the nextyeari-
alone.
a result of development
ose, the craft beer industaj
annual sales voluiti
es ranging from 25 toS
t from 1992 through 1%
nvth slowed to 5 percent
vas flat in 1998 and gains
only 2 percen;
last year.
Along
way, Tew
beers such j
Ba I cones Rei
Granite, mai
in Austin,endd
production.
Closings wen
inevitable, sait
David Edgar
director at Ik
Institute ol
Brewing Studie-
in Boulder, Cole
He predidec
sing 1 e-digil
fcdnesday, May 31,2000
THE BATTALION
Page 5
ing
love
ent
\de.
c
se
orester
ing Co.
ummer learnin’
instead of complaining, students
Ishould see pros of summer school
\ among craft brewers fo
ct several years,
iiink what you're findingi:
gment of the beer mark
nore of a flash in
aid Skip Carpenter, an ani-
t Donaldson, Lufkin i
e. Several years ago, mam
ers thought microbrev
grab up to 10 percent of tk
al beer market, but then
led stuck below' 3 pens
i product that costs mw
ne brand names and has
helf life.
solve
e James
a judge cleared the way, rw
ig remains from a North Tea 1
unding his death,
ury Cemetery' and subseqitf
nes' reputed descendants,
he famous bandit wasbtinei
nother day,
another se
mester be-
ins in Aggieland.
housands of Ag-
ies reluctantly
ruck back to Col-
ege Station to be-
in another agoniz
ing summer school semester. For many,
he mere two weeks' rest and recoup
me between the spring semester and
he first summer session simply does
aot suffice. Groans fill the air as the
bought of tedious reading, writing
ind testing fills the minds of tiresome
tudents. But instead of complaining,
itudents should look at summer school
,n a new light — not as a hindrance,
aut rather as a golden opportunity.
The efficiency of summer sessions
ar exceeds that of the monotonous,
lever-ending fifteen-week semesters.
Although fall and spring semesters al
ow more time between tests, the
weariness they induce on student body
ventually takes its toll on the campus
morale. Summer school provides am
ple opportunity to retake classes that
had been dropped and to improve
one's grade-point ratio.
The benefits of attending Texas
A&M in the summer months provide a
more pleasant academic environment
for students. Distractions tend to be
fewer without as much pressure to hit
Northgate every night. The campus at
titude is more relaxed and laid back.
This less-hectic atmosphere presents
more time to study, and maybe even
The possibility of achieving that oh-so-
precious 4.0. Considering the fact that a
tudent is allowed to take a maximum
f seven hours per session, naturally
the mind has less to consider
and fret over, thereby reducing
the level of stress among the
student body.
Fewer hours allow for a
more focused area of study —
even if a student has a sum
mer job, the burden of having
to balance study time for six
classes no longer exists. Most
summer students take two,
maybe three classes, which
creates a more in-depth, enjoy
able learning experience with
out the overload.
Although going to class
every day may seem a tad re
dundant, this level of rein
forcement results in students
actually learning the material
and getting their money's
worth for their education.
Obviously, the more stu
dents are exposed to a subject,
the more likely they will ab
sorb the material, thus making
an "A" more attainable. Sum
mer school may get tedious;
however, classes do not linger
like regular semesters. Sum
mer session classes are com
pleted, and hours earned in
only five weeks — three times
faster than fall and spring. Although
intense, summer sessions provide a
more compatible learning environment
than the academic year. Fewer organi
zational responsibilities demand stu
dents' time, and Aggie sports fans are
forced to take a break, Thus, schedules
are free and study time is readily avail
able. Basically, there is not a darn thing
to do over the summer at A&M except
hang out with friends and study. At
tending summer school creates a sense
of productivity and a deeper feeling of
accomplishment.
As summer comes to a close, stu
dents can be ahead of the rest of their
class and be prepared for the upcoming
fall semester. Study skills are refreshed
and perhaps even enhanced. Students
may complain about early hours and
going to the same class five days a
week however, these schedules help
prepare students for the inevitable real
RUBEN DELUNA/The Battalion
world where there are very few
"MWF" jobs.
Students who have enough intelli
gence to get accepted to one of the na
tion's finest universities should learn to
use time wisely and efficiently. Aggies
who buckle down and take some sum
mer classes stand to gain far more than
they lose.
Amber Rasco is a junior
journalism major.
Clinton disbarment justified by past actions
ge Linda Steen in Marche®I
grave identified by historiaitj
aands of Bob Ford on April.’
ipparent death in Missouri *
the assumed name of J. Fraii
was always a big fan of President Clinton. When he
made his first run for the presidency, 1 was only in
■JLeighth grade, but nevertheless very interested in
ith what is known of the H p 0 iitj cs . ]-[i s ideas on abortion rights, education, gays in
the military, everything, it all seemed so perfect, like he
would be an ideal leader for the nation.
Now, nine years later, I, like many of his supporters,
realize that everything he said sounded so perfect be
cause Clinton is the purest of political animals: He tai-
. ' , , , | lors his viewpoints to his targets,
ns rot er ran an per ® After 1995's devastating Republican overthrow in
aember and collect the$10,• ,, .. i i .
Congress, Clinton quickly went to the center, shedding
3 . , I, j T a lot of the values Democratic purists had been so at-
digelow, resembled Jamesa® ’
; outlaw. The gang's plaiJ traCted t0 during Ws firSt P residential run '
ig the reward and dividing Before that ' he had alread y disappointed by not re-
■ ally following through on his promise to lift the ban on
ng at his own funeral thene»T a y s in the military, and-his health-care ideas, while
ndlebar mustache to go uJ Wel1 intended, never even got off the ground.
But still I defended him. I supported him through
v James and devoted yearst| Gennifer, Paula and yes, even Monica, because I re-
ctive Agency had gonealoi membered the enthusiasm, intelligence and heart he
had during his campaigning.
ed in Granbury in 1951 bel® I supported and defended Clinton while he went
hrough his embarrassing impeachment ordeal, be-
m ranch land "west of Fo cause it was simply a case of his enemies trying to smear
Hood County area, with it 1 his name for their own benefit.
But the recent decision by an Arkansas Supreme
ourt that Clinton, who was once the attorney general
f Arkansas and taught law there, be disbarred for ly-
ng about his sexual relations with that woman, Moni
ca Lewinsky, gave me pause.
. It is obvious that the majority of Americans are pret-
' boat sinks
:hannel
)USTON (AP) — Part of
ition's second-largest port
aralyzed Tuesday when a
oat sank in the Houstofi
Channel, causing the IT
Guard to close off parto*
aterway.
e 77-foot tug Uh
rian was reported sun 1 "
the Washtmrn Tur
6:20 a.m. Tuesday.
'o crewmembers were sakI
cued by another tug, tl^^K
G. Morgan, Lt. Robert
n said. Fuel cleanup ane
;e operations were unde 1
uesday morning, althou;
n said he did not knp"
gment would be reopen#
‘ Wednesday.
aw and appearing under
ibitions.
ty happy with the way the country is being run, even if
they do not like the man who is running it. True, Clin
ton's possibly being disbarred does not stem from any
shocking new developments about the president; it is
Clinton got off pretty easily
in January 1999. He
should just count his
blessings and accept
his disbarment
just the same old garbage that everyone is tired of hear
ing about anyway. But the news of the proposed dis
barment made me reconsider exactly how I feel about
this president whom 1 once so admired.
I still do not think he should have been impeached.
I think lying about a mistake, especially if it is an em
barrassing sexual mistake, is somewhat forgivable. But
1 agree with the Arkansas Court — Clinton should nev
er be able to practice law in this country. Not after the
example he set.
I realize this logic sounds contradictory: Someone i
not fit to hold a lawyer's license but is morally fit to be
the leader of the Free World. However, the impeach
ment charges were largely thrown together as the Re
publicans' last-ditch effort to embarrass the president
... mission accomplished.
Clinton's lying was repugnant, but not as much as
American high-tech
jobs risked by bill
F or many Aggies, the future is in the high-
tech world where programming skills
and knowledge of computer languages
are hot commodities. Many analysts believe
graduates with computer science degrees will
have employers beating down their doors, but
if legislation that is currently on the floor in
Congress is passed, employers will have less
motivation to hire American workers.
Company demands for high-tech employees will be filled by
people holding H-1B visas, which are for foreign workers with
high-tech experience. The computer industry is claiming a labor
shortage of qualified hardware and software engineers and is
pushing for more visas to be issued to meet the industry's labor
needs. The industry is working to bring in foreign workers and
will be able to pay those workers less than their American coun
terparts. This will affect graduates of A&M, who plan to find jobs
in the computer industry.
Yet, evidence shows that there is no labor shortage. According
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent figures, the average
increase of programmers' wages in 1997 was only 7 percent. If
there were a labor shortage then companies would be paying more
money to hire and retain these programmers. A 7-percent increase
does not support the existence of a shortage of high-tech labor.
Also, according to the Department of Labor, there will be ap
proximately 138,000 job openings per year, while there will be
162,000 graduates with associate's, bachelor's or graduate degrees
in the needed fields. The industry is using this nonexistent labor
shortage to allow lower-paid foreign workers into the country.
The sponsors of these bills have stated that they put safeguards
in place so that foreign workers will not become cheap labor.
However, these safeguards do not protect American workers from
the wage differences. According to the bill proposed by Senator
Phil Gramm (R-Tex), foreign workers must be paid a minimum
annual salary of $60,000, including bonuses. These salaries are
supposed to be a quality-control device for the industry. Accord-
The industry is using this
nonexistent labor shortage to
allow lower-paid foreign workers
into the country.
the Republicans' desire to gain from someone's bad
judgment, especially when so many of them had equal
ly mortifying skeletons in their closets.
It would not have been right, especially when the
majority of the country was so against the idea, for Clin
ton to be removed from office. His censure was his pub
lic humiliation.
But there is no getting around the fact that Clinton
basically lied in a court of law about his relationship
with Lewinsky. Lying in a court of law is not acceptable
for a lawyer who wants to keep his license.
Of course, Clinton has said he will appeal the deci
sion to the Supreme Court, but it is not believable that
his legalistic arguments are going to save him forever.
Clinton got off pretty easily in January. 1999. He should
just count his blessings and accept his disbarment.
Lord knows he will probably have his work cut out
for him raising money for his presidential library, and
it is not like he was planning on practicing law again
anyway. Who knows, he might be a Senate Spouse — if
Hillary lets him in her house.
Taking this punishment would help Clinton main
tain the little bit of integrity he has left. Maybe doing
this would keep him from being seen as a complete fail
ure in the eyes of history.
The most disappointing thing about Clinton is real
izing how much hope many people had for him, and
his potential to be a good leader. 1 have come to the re
alization that it will be a relief when he is gone.
Kate Kompas is a columnist for f/ze Iowa
State Daily at Iowa State University.
ing to Gramm's bill, the salary will be used to hire "geniuses."
Contrary to Gramm's belief that this proposed minimum salary
will defer cheap labor, that amount of money is not the salary of so-
called "geniuses" but is in fact closer to the median salary nation
wide for all information technology professionals according to a
survey done by Datamasters.
The same survey lists the going salary for those considered to be
"geniuses" as $100,000 or more. The safeguard is not a real safe
guard, but rather an opportunity for the industry to pay less for the
same skills.
Many supporters of the bill argue that refusing to allow foreign
workers to come to the United States does not hold to the image of
an equal-opportunity country. Yet, an equal-opportunity country
does not mean qualified applicants are not hired because they cost
more. A truly global community would offer the same wages to
equally qualified people regardless of their citizenship.
By paying less for foreign workers, these companies are not
helping create a global community but rather they are exploiting
qualified foreign workers. It is not a matter of just protecting U.S.
citizens' jobs; it is also a matter of discrimination and a lack of re
spect for both American and foreign applicants.
Another argument for allowing more high-tech foreign worker
visas is that U.S. companies should not discriminate against quali
fied applicants because of their ethnicity. Both sides agree on that
ideal, but the companies could potentially end up discriminating
against American applicants if companies will have to pay them
more. It should never be a problem or a chore to hire American
workers who are qualified for the job.
By passing this legislation to increase H-1B visas, the govern
ment would be doing a disservice not only to qualified American
workers but also to foreign workers.
This legislation would encourage companies to pay less for the
same work. This bill will affect not only those already in the high-
tech field but those who will soon be graduating with these de
grees, which include many Aggies.
- Brieanne Porter is a sophomore
chemical engineering major.
I
'Sd
;
MAIL CALL
Faculty’s bonfire recommendation
should be second to student opinion
In response to Maureen Kane’s May 30th article.
I feel that the opinion of the faculty senate should have little in
fluence on the decision that is to be made by the administration on
the future of Bonfire.
Instead, I feel that the decision should be focused on the opin
ions of the students and the former students. As Aggies we have
created and maintained the traditions that make this school spe
cial, and as a result, we are the ones who own the traditions at
Texas A&M, not the employees.
Many of the faculty members received their degrees from other
schools and have never participated in any of the traditions that we
hold so dear to our hearts. Why should we let people who are not
even Aggies decide the fate of one of our most revered traditions?
The decision on the future of Bonfire is outside the jurisdiction
of the faculty because Bonfire is an extracurricular activity, not an
academic activity. I am sure that the opinion that will be submitted
to the administration will be appreciated, but why should professors
be involved in student affairs outside of academics? Texas A&M*s ,
traditions belong to the students and former students, and Bonfire's
future should rest in the hands of Aggies, not the faculty senate. ■ j
Justin Seal l
Class of ’00
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 words or less and in
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may be submitted in person at 013 Reed McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters may also
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