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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2001)
:aa y, Februajv iday, February 6, 2001 Opi NION Page 5B THE BATTALION . [ hose fault is it? \hould 12-year-old be held fully responsible for wrestling murder of friend? frm blooded murder. As CNN’s Mark avoid consequence. There would be ■ n July 1999, Potter said, “Wrestling was not on no end to this behavior if the jury 1 Tiffany Eunick trial, violence in sports was not on had not acted according to Florida | died of horri- a®** f { trial, there was no excuse for what law and found Tate guilty. ble injuries in- E fei this was — murder.” ti This set of circumstances was a flicted on her by rjfF Many argue that Tate’s mother combination of misdirected blame, ] 2-year-old Li- was to blame for Tiffany’s death. ignorance and irresponsibility. Ju- one 1 Tate who CAYLA CHRIS CARR They say she was present when the veniles and children must realize sa j ( j was j m j_ murder occurred, and, Eunick had the severitv of murder, think twice CARTER \P)-R iday in thtBl orders of- J.S. embasjlten make tutors poJlthe head- ; part ofaspes, especially )rist masiflen those mur- o kill Ame:Is are commit- s about toslby children. complicJt society has r Paul Bui-l grown im- ment. fune to such atrocities or solved ingateac:|ie problem of kids killing kids. ■ men codBtead, it finds a scapegoat. With de-long te-lh case, some new outside influ- dkening ua is blamed. In July 1999, 12- nts he dr Mr-old Lionel Tate wrestled 6-year- icd the tel Tiffany Eunick to death. Tate he end,2-lmed he was imitating wrestling i died andij|ves he saw on television, rica wouLwfate was recently found guilty id- “FortiMnurder in the first degree. Al- • lugh sentencing does not begin botnMj] March, first-degree murder in -I Daresm r jda carries a mandatory sen- :arly siMB ce 0 j.- ijf e i n prison without pa- people - jpp Meanwhile, many people are mencans ■ncjerjng if this immature youth Juld have been prosecuted as an -ck-flt and spend his entire life be- :d\ ouiv jjy ij ars j us t because he was imi- -cuajng wrestling moves he watched ;iated •television, ion a t j ^jg ar g Umen t was echoed by '! .! 10 j S i»e’s defense. Jim Lewis, Tate’s ai de, said.® , . . dt “The went so ^ ar as to re< J uest outasmiB es ^ 0Iia ^ wres ^ ers to testify, but : „„'ipe judge denied him the opportuni- P any people are outraged that hild would be sentenced to life son. But sentencing for Tate not begin until March 2, and dren dten, CNN experts say it is y citizen, unlikely that he will be given attorney JiiP e term - endant Pf^hat will happen to Lionel Tate? iixedexp^|PP ears that the jury made an ex- out of him. This jury took all biastte/^ngs into consideration and right- t thegl<](M , tily ( coiwicted Tate. Society is bo- ptting increasingly unsympathetic , someoneI'ard murderers regardless of their hat hewalb- It is time to quit treating juve- id. “He is dibs like children if they harm lers. Murder has consequences, icpartid])®! Tate should deal with the conse- - - ftnces of his actions. ’an Jan.31 It was never in question whether las beenllmel Tate killed Tiffany Eunick. terroriscp debate was whether Tate in- d Tradeiffided to kill her or killed her acci- d sixpeojffiitally. The accident theory is a X)0 othffi|etch. ■The prosecutors pointed out that ■fany’s injuries were extensive, M experts testified that the injuries J||/Bre comparable to falling from a ’^e-story building. If Tiffany had i ictually fallen from a three-story I Clllti ^ ^ ate s > ntent may have L^UBmed more accidental. But since ■ injuries were a result of his de- rerate brutality, there is no doubt DS Icommitted first-degree, cold- 4P) - J ints toacfj fhecoiq Resident Bowen should not incM liave banned Bonfire logo use autercte’ cecutives fallen asleep upstairs, while babysitting Tiffany. The mother is partly to blame, and she will be punished by her son’s incarceration. She had the chance to accept her son’s violent actions, but she re fused. Prosecutors offered a reason able plea bargain for Tate, consist ing of a three-year sentence plus 10 years probation if Tate pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and it was quickly turned down by him and his mother. The defense attorney used Tate’s age and vulnerability to violence in television to argue innocence. Tate’s mother used her irrespon sibility and ignorance to believe in her son’s innocence, and Tate tried to use his immature and naive be havior to act as he wanted and before acting and refrain from television influence. The lesson is t^at parents should become more aware of their children’s actions and familiarize them with the real ity of murder. If Tate was found innocent, he would have acquired an even more inaccurate sense of right and wrong. It is time children leave their fantasy world and learn that murder is not a fantasy — it is a serious act that deserves terrible consequences. It is unfortunate that Tate is so young and is faced with life in prison. It is more unfortunate that Tiffany Eunick was so young, and now has no life at all. Cayla Carr is a junior speech communications major. sional wrestling moves. The New York Times reported that prosecutors in the subsequent criminal trial likened the damage sustained to Tiffany’s 48-pound body to what would be incurred by that of “falling out of a three-story building.” The medical examiner’s report found that Tiffany had a lacerated liver, a fractured skull and more than 30 other bruises and broken bones. Upon being questioned about Tiffany’s death, Tate claimed that he had only grabbed the girl in a bear hug but then accidentally dropped her, causing her to hit her head. After further prodding from in vestigators, Tate testified that he had swung Tiffany around and hit her head on a cast iron railing. On Jan. 15, a jury convicted Tate, who stood trial as an adult in Florida, of first-degree murder af ter only three hours of deliberation. Moreover, according to The New \6rk Times, a Florida child-abuse law was invoked so that the jury did not have to conclude that Tate had meant to kill, only that his ac tions were “intentional and abu sive.” With this conviction, Tate, now almost 14 years old, faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. Though it is undeniable that Tiffany’s death was outrageously savage, the constitutionality of Tate’s trial and conviction must be closely examined. Upon Tate’s indictment, prose cutors quickly worked to allow him to be tried as an adult, even though he was more than four years younger than the usual limit for prosecution as an adult. Because of the emotional outrage over the de gree and nature of Tiffany’s in juries, prosecutors secured a first- degree murder charge against Tate within a year of the girl’s death. By foregoing Tate’s rights as a child, his right of equal protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment was usurped by the state of Florida. Tate’s capacity to stand trial as an adult was not judged by his cogni tive development but by the grim details of his crime. Despite his adolescence, Tate was viewed as a person with the mental capacity of an adult. He was held to of all the standards and re sponsibilities of an adult, like being able to separate fantasy from reality. The fact remains that Tate com mitted this act when he was 12 years old and was judged for his ac tions as if he were 17 years old and of sound mind at the time. Evidence strongly suggests that Tate did not have the mental capaci ty of an adult at the time of the mur der, nor when the case went to trial. The prosecution asserted that Tiffany’s death was the result of a crush Tate had on Tiffany’s mother and said that he wanted to get rid of the young child. Tiffany’s mother, Deweese Eu nick, testified to the jury that upon hearing of her daughter’s death, Tate shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes. The next day, she said, Tate asked her if he could move in with her and have Tiffany’s toys. At'trial, Tate sat in neat slacks and a long-sleeved shirt and drew on a pad of paper through much of the testimony. The New York Times said, in the courtroom, Tate “seemed still to live in a world of make-believe.” Tate should be held accountable for his actions but only as account able as someone of his legal stand ing. Tate is a juvenile, and he should be subject to the laws and regulations of the juvenile justice system, despite the terrible details of his crime. It is doubtful that, had Tate stolen a car or gotten in a fist fight after school, he would be charged with grand theft auto or assault. In stead, he would be sent through the juvenile justice system. The law exists to protect defen dants and victims alike. Though the law must seek atonement for Tate’s crime, it should also shield him against the lynch-mob mental ity stirred by gruesome injuries to a 6- year-old girl. Chris Carter is a senior speech communications major. Mail Call J/n response to Mariano Castillo’s Feb. 5 article. hecorpofl President Bowen has most definitely over-stepped it’sfopfs boundaries this time in placing a ban on the Bon- Dsedlyf'fre logo. Yesterday’s article in The Battalion does not ll Dr. Bowen’s reason for placing such a ban on the icygroupfnfire logo, but it’s all too obvious as to why he tiewmetiteuld choose to dictate policy like this. It is just one - W ork. < ^ ore ste P ^ the administration to get rid of all remories of the way Bonfire used to be. ■ I understand that it’s not ethical for people to 1 r Jake money off a tragedy. The money raised by the Tgie Moms’ Clubs, however, is used to fund student polarships. Also, the selling of Aggie Bonfire mem- abilia is not profiting from a tragedy but rather from reat tradition that is now part of the past. In a school where tradition is so important, it’s hard s. retap, ifficialSi ) gather?; ss to fu 11 >out hi* I never 3 r, unless odearf ARTOON OF THE DAY phenK?' " • the P"' ! to understand how a University president can get away with making policies that have the goal of destroying even the memory of our school’s great history. When Bonfire fell, the tradition changed forever. As much as we would like for this to be the case, the truth is that Bonfire will never be the same. All that we have left of this great tradition are our memories of what is now “Old Army Bonfire.” Yet, the administration is making an effort to steal those memories from us. They tell us it’s wrong to let our fish know what Bonfire was like and they discour age dorm unity, saving it’s Bonfire related. Our Bonfire is gone, our friends are dead, our dorm unity is falling apart and now the administra tion is trying to takeaway even our precious memo ries of it all. Pretendtpg something didn’t happen has never helped anyone to heal. What the administra tion is doing is only Causing more pain. Becky Bartschmid Class of ’03 Quiet please Breakaway service does not interfere with Silver Taps social nver, leer I t the # er Call' 998. Tf® nation 1 t aboui' i! j the Pn 1 wiretap;; oirifl 1011 ’ op/’^ jidviruy nat’soj nj tos ee , fackS' ILL HvJfFABD ?V)fF ANt> BUAfJ THE1P, tfoOSE 'TU£ Rt6C>N/\vf- 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 Reed McDonald 014 with a valid student ID. Letters may also be mailed to: The Battalion - Mail Call 014 Reed McDonald Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-1111 Campus Mail: 1111 Fax: (409) 845-2647 E-mail: battletters@hotmail.com S ince Texas A&M was estab lished, it has grown to become a University rooted in tradi tion. Among these traditions is Sil ver Taps, a memorial to enrolled Aggies who have died during the year. The first Silver Taps was held in 1898 to honor Lawrence Sulli van Ross, a former governor of Texas and president of the A&M College. People gather to remember Aggies, reflect and pray; the Ross Volunteers offer a 21-gun salute; and Silver Taps is played. Silver Taps is held on the night of the first Tuesday of every month. This is also when Breakaway Ministries, a Christ ian worship service for students, meets for its weekly worship. Many Aggies believe Breakaway interferes with the Aggie tradition. Despite falling on the same day as Silver Taps, it does not interfere — rather, it promotes attendance at Silver Taps. There has never been a shortage of stu dents at Silver Taps, and Breakaway does not hinder students’ abilities to attend the ceremony. If there ever were a problem with a lack of students attending Silver Taps, it would not be the fault of Break away but rather the fault of the student body itself. Gregg Matte, director of Breakaway Ministries, said every effort is made to give students the opportu nity to attend both Breakaway and Silver Taps. “We support Silver Taps 110 percent,” Matte said. Students who wish to attend Silver Taps are asked to sit near the aisles, where they may leave without disturbing others. Breakaway promotes attendance at Silver Taps by reminding those attending, who may have forgotten, that it is a Silver Taps night. There has only been one incident when Breakaway interfered with Silver Taps, and it was not even a sig nificant occurrence. The last Silver Taps of Fall 200 was interrupted by music from the Breakaway service at Olsen Field. The worship service, which is usually held in Reed Arena, took place at Olsen Field that night. As people began to congregate for Silver Taps, the sounds of gui tar music and singing broke the traditional silence. Breakaway did not intend to interrupt the Silver Taps ceremony. Matte apologized for any disturbance. “I am so sorry and I take full responsibility. It completely slipped my mind that it was Silver Taps night,” he said. When it was brought to Matte’s atten tion that Silver Taps was about to begin, he pulled the plugs and ended the worship service. “I didn’t realize that the sound would travel so far,” said Matte. “I am terribly sorry.” It is understandable that this incident would upset those attending the memorial service. Once Breakaway Ministries realized its folly, it rectified the situation im mediately. The sound of worship music breaking the si lence is not half as bad as the incessant drone of train whistles that oft en plague Silver Taps. It is evident that a ceremony held outside will be ac companied by noises and distractions that cannot be helped. This year there was no Bonfire. Losing one of the school’s most cherished traditions left many students with a sense of emptiness. Even the use of “howdy” has become rather nonexistent amongst the student body. Take pride in the traditions of this University. Break away Ministries does its part to help keep Silver Taps an important tradition at A&M. It is important that all Aggies work to keep alive the traditions that unite A&M as a family. Will Knecht is junior journalism major.