Opinion
iday, November 5, 2001 t THE BATTALION
Page 9
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ith the full blessing of its misguided legislature, conser
vative Utah recently became the nation’s first state to
v institute a government position devoted solely to filtering
and banning pornographic images — a porn czar.
As is so often the case, people have let their
good intentions render them completely mind
less, because no state, regardless of its heavily
religious population, will ever be able to suc
cessfully legislate morality.
So what exactly does a porn czar do? Aside
from wasting taxpayer dollars, a porn czar,
whose official title is Obscenity and Pornography
Complaints Ombudsman, attacks bookstores and
sites in an effort to protect people from the “evils” of the
an body. Paula Houston, a celibate, never-married 41-year-old
devout Mormon, was Utah's hands-down choice for the job.
be burning question is this: what, if anything, can a libido-
,celibate 41-year-old add to this country’s ongoing debate
r pornography and indecency? Absolutely nothing. Houston is
io way qualified to make any kind of educated decision regard-
| pornography. Her job is nothing more than a laughable, use-
position created so all of Utah’s housewives can sleep a little
re soundly at night.
ecause, in all fairness, the only pages turning in Utah come
jmthe Book of Mormon, not Hustler or Penthouse. In fact, the
yidea that Utah has a pornography problem is utterly ridicu-
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EDITORIAL
Texas A&A1 University— Celebrating 125 Years
THE BATTALION
EDITORIAL BOARD
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Brady Creel
Mariano Castillo
Cayla Carr
Jonathan Jones
Rolando Garcia
Editor hi Chief
Managing Editor
Opinion Editor
Opinion Editor
News Editor
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No Class
Texas Tech fans should be
ashamed of themselves
Texas A&M was not the only
oser in Lubbock Saturday.
Hundreds of Red Raider fans
lowed unbridled, juvenile emo-
bn to eclipse good judgment
iihen they stormed their own
and tore down the goal
in a post-victory melee.
Dr. Mike McKinney, chief of
aff for Gov. Rick Perry and
ather of Aggie center Seth
McKinney, was injured as he
to stop the childish stu-
tents from carrying the goal
rosts into the stands. He
eceived eight stitches. Many
nore could have been seriously
^ njured by such a stupid and
isgraceful action.
Red Raiders, you should be
pshamed.
Texas Tech fans should be
ishamed that the student
have said so publicly. But some
Tech fans have absurdly
claimed that this behavior was
in response to their reception
in College Station last year.
While a few Tech fans may
have had a bad experience, the
number pales in comparison to
the number of people who laud
Aggieland for its hospitality.
Just ask a Notre Dame or Iowa
State fan. They actually want to
come back.
Aggies would never do some
thing as dangerous and classless
as what happened in Lubbock
this weekend. These actions
were also disrespectful to the
more civilized parts of the Red
Raider community.
The actions of some Texas
Tech fans are not necessarily
indicative of campus-wide senti-
Aggies would never do something as
dangerous and classless as what
happened in Lubbock this weekend.
3ody’s display of coordinated
ichool spirit entails destroying
part of an already decrepit
Stadium. They should
ilso be disconcerted that many
itudents charged Aggies in the
lands with the goal posts and
-—rllrexas Tech administrators and
sava Voga-A) lf , r . .... . ,
H>olice officers did not, or could
lot, stop them. But most of all,
led Raiders should take solace
n the athletic victory over the
Aggies this weekend, because
he Texas A&M program and its
ans have far more class.
Aggies expect to win at home,
nd Tech should, too. To tear
own the goal posts when you
re favored to win is both stu-
id and wholly unnecessary.
To be fair, many Tech alumni,
tudents, administrators and
thletic department officials
re rightfully embarrassed by
:he actions of the fans and
ment. But in this case, the vocal
few speak for the crowd. Until
the Red Raiders can demon
strate they can accept victory
graciously, Aggies should stay
steer clear Lubbock. A&M fans
should have neither the time or
tolerance to be associated with
those who act as if they are still
in middle school.
The Big 12 Conference should
take action against Texas Tech
for not guaranteeing the safety
of visiting fans. The lack of prop
er police and university supervi
sion is unacceptable, and could,
in the future, materialize into a
serious safety problem.
When the Red Raiders visit
College Station next year, they
should come prepared to take
notes on civility and class.
Texas Tech, the eyes of Texans
were upon you this weekend,
and they glared with shame.
lous. As Joe Santilli, a writer for Utah’s Desert Tribune, put it,
“This would be like appointing a pom czar in the Vatican, where at
least it is regarded as normal that [tbe] middle-aged are celibate.”
Since taking office, Houston has done nothing to benefit socie
ty. So far, her meritless attacks have centered around Victoria’s
Secret ads and Redbook and Cosmopolitan magazines.
Her worst case to date has dealt with the removal of a mall
advertisement in Provo, Utah. The ad in question depicted a
model covering her breasts with her hands, and is the same pic
ture used in malls across the country.
Despite of her official title, the former lawyer has very little
power, which makes her $80,000 annual salary look even more
like a handout. In fact, she does not even have the authority to
prosecute obscenity cases, assuming that one would be willing to
accept her definition of “obscene.”
The only thing obscene is that Utah has an official pornogra
phy czar in Houston. In the name of decency, she shuts down
newsstands and destroys companies’ legitimate advertising cam
paigns, all the while patting herself on the back and telling every
one how much good she is doing. That is more destructive and
vulgar than pornography can ever be.
Many critics consider her actions thus far grossly counter
productive, and rightfully so. “She’s focusing attention on
pornography, and that is good for us,” said Hustler publisher
Larry Flynt. He also noted that the people of Utah buy very few
issues of his magazine anyway.
But there are larger concerns than drawing attention to pornog
raphy. Free-speech advocates realize that an ill-informed moral
watchdog like Houston poses a legitimate threat to the First
Amendment and due process. As Carol Gnade, executive director
of Utah’s branch of the American Civil Liberties Union noted,
“This position isn’t necessary, [because] there are laws in existence
to help protect citizens from pornography.”
Though they can be tasteless at times, porno
graphic images are already heavily governed and
they do not really pose a significant threat to any
one, much less an entire state. The destructive force
at work in Utah is not pornography. It is intolerance.
George Deutsch is a junior
journalism major.
CHAD MALLAM • THE BATTALION
MAIL CALL
1
Actions of Red Raiders
an embarrassment
I would like to write to apologize,
on behalf of my fellow students here
at Texas Tech, for our classless
behavior on Saturday. I must say
that I was happy with the game until
our fans displayed their inability to
take a win with grace. This is an
embarrassment for our entire school.
I can understand how your school
must be angry, and believe me, I
would be too. However, I plead with
you all not to judge our school based
on the actions of a few of our students.
Whether anyone is willing to believe
this or not, the vast majority of our
student body was disgusted with those
who chose to represent our school so
poorly after the game. In a time when
we would all normally be thrilled after
defeating such a great team, we are
all silenced by the realization that our
fellow Red Raiders participate in such
mindless acts.
Again, it is our hope that our
school will not lose anyone's respect,
although, I will not be surprised to
see Texas Tech University ridiculed
in the future. Please do not let your
opinion of my school be shaped by
those few students who conduct
themselves in an immature manner.
Clayton Nash
Texas Tech sophomore
I'm a Tech alum, and I would like
to apologize to the A&M communi
ty for the Tech students' behavior
after the game on Saturday. The
excitement was understandable,
but the behavior was not, and I
am extremely embarrassed by the
way they acted.
Many of the students at the
game feel the same way, and we
would like to let you know that.
We have great respect for the
fans and the students of A&M,
and I am so sorry that they were
treated so poorly.
Lenae Moore
Texas Tech graduate
I would like to apologize for the
act of immaturity and disrespect
of the student body of Texas Tech
University. I am sad to say that my
fellow students were as childish as
they were Saturday following the
game. There was no need for the
reaction that the students gave. I
would like to say that on behalf of
the rest of the student body who
was not involved in that act of stu
pidity I am very truly sorry.
I have spoken with other Tech
students about what had hap
pened and I can tell you that a
large majority of the Tech campus
does not feel the way that was
shown on Saturday afternoon. I
pray that you accept this apology
and understand that what
occurred was not representative of
the entire student body. Please
accept this apology. I pray the
next time you visit Texas Tech you
will be treated with more respect
than was shown Saturday. Once
again I am very truly sorry.
Abby Marcum
Texas Tech junior
After reading about the disgust
ing antics of Texas Tech "fans," I
feel compelled to write. I am an
Aggie, but also a Tech parent. I
was not overly excited when our
daughter decided to attend that
CARTOON OF THE DAY
school, but soon saw that that
the campus atmosphere was
what the "college experience"
should be.
To me, it is obvious that "the
other education" is lacking at
Tech. By that, I mean the part that
makes a young person an adult
with good values. At Kyle Field,
opposing schools and their fans
are treated as guests in our house.
My two personal experiences at
Jones Stadium, one in 1963 and
one in 1999, were enough for me.
I shall not return.
Tom Phillips
Class of 1967