Opinion
THE BATTALION
Page 7
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The veil of secrecy
MSC should not operate behind closed doors
T
he Memorial Student Center shrouded itself in a
cloak of secrecy again this week when it appoint
ed its new council president, Jennifer Brashares.
Voting in closed session, the
MSC council appointed
Brashares to the spot left vacant
by Josh Rowan, who
resigned during the appeal
process of a post-sum
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sexual advances during a University-
sponsored trip to Italy.
Regardless of what Rowan did on that
trip, he and Brashares are not wrong in
this case — they are victims of circum
stance and a bureaucracy rife with politics
and misplaced priorities. Rowan’s
alleged indiscretions may have tarnished
the legacy of A&M student leaders, but
they are eclipsed by the mis-manage-
ment and spiteful nature of MSC and
University officials, all of whom have
given the MSC a black eye. Students and
alumni should be outraged.
All proceedings involving Rowan’s
removal and Brashare’s appointment were
done in secret, outside the eye of the student
body and media. State law mandates that state
agencies must conduct business in open session.
But all business surrounding the MSC president
has been behind closed doors, and MSC and
University officials should be penalized for that.
The MSC Council and MSC administrators are
spending Students Services Fee money and $50-
per-semester University Center Fee, and students
have a right to know how and why.
But evidently, the MSC has something to hide.
The University claims documents
related to the investigation into Rowan’s
actions are protected by the Buckley
Amendment — a federal statute protecting student records
— because they are educational documents. To make such
a claim is a disgrace. The University has withheld minutes
of meetings, voting records and a report prepared by the
Division of Student Affairs — none of which are related to
Rowan’s academic performance.
Hopefully, the attorney general’s office will realize the
ludicrous facade being orchestrated by the University and
order the release of those documents.
Within the microcosm of the A&M community, student
leaders are subject to scrutiny within the public eye. The
actions of student leaders are unrelated to their perform
ance as students, and Aggies have a right to know what
their leaders are doing. Academic records should be,
indeed, protected by Buckley, but the University’s poor
attempt at image management with legal wrangling is
pathetic. If that is what A&M officials want to do, they
should appoint leaders instead of electing them.
MSC Director Jim Reynolds will tell students he is
doing what A&M System lawyers have instructed him.
But this case is not about tipping the balance of jurispru
dence. It should be about doing what is right, and student
leaders should be held accountable to those who have
elected them — they are always in the purview of their
constituency. Anything that negates that foundation of
democracy is a disgrace to the University and Aggies.
Texas is a state where laws guarantee access to docu
ments produced by governmental agencies. Texas A&M
is such an agency, and should comply with all state
open-meetings and open-records laws. But A&M has
chosen to exempt itself, allowing only the release of doc
uments that propagate a positive image of the University.
But this fiasco is anything but bright light. In fact, it is a
pretty dark day in A&M history.
Whatever the MSC administration is hiding will be
uncovered, rest assured of that. In the meantime, if
things continue as they are, A&M’s spin doctors and
their proteges should prepare for the wrath of the state
attorney general, because if they keep secrets from stu
dents, their day is coming.
Brady Creel is a junior
journalism and management major.
elevision should acknowledge September terrorism
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ith the horrific attacks of Sept. 11, many
people turned to television for information
and comfort. In response, some television
amas have rushed to address this need. While tele
vision is not based on reality,
many shows, such as those that
take place in New York City, seem
odd and far-fetched the longer
they continue without addressing
what has happened. TV shows can
help America deal with what has
happened and should address the
terrorist attacks.
The television drama “Third
e, Sublease available 5
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'atch,” which is about New York’s fire fighters,
lice officers and paramedics, rushed a show
lout Sept. 1 1. The show’s characters are shown as
:al life people on the day of the attacks and what
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thing news programs can never portray — the
emotion and pain. According to Caryn James of
the New York Times, “Doing what fiction does
best, and what news rarely can, these episodes
recreate the profound
emotional effects of a
life-changing tragedy.”
“Third Watch” contin
ues in the aftermath with
an episode about the psy
chological consequences
of that day. Other shows
hastily put references to
what happened without
directly addressing the
attacks. “N.Y.P.D. Blue” inserted references about
the attacks into an already-scripted episode of the
show. These awkward references are better than
what most other shows have done — nothing.
While television is not based on
reality, many shows, such as those
that take place in New York City,
seem odd and farfetched the
longer they continue without
addressing what happened.
Other shows, which take place in New York,
have yet to address the attacks. While television is
escapism, audiences can only suspend their disbe
lief for so long. With everything that happened
and the role the attacks
play in the media, it
seems strange that shows
based in New York go on
without any acknowledg
ment of this American
tragedy. These attacks
have changed American
life unlike any event
since the surprise attack
on Pearl Harbor on Dec.
7, 1941. For most of tele
vision to not respond to this change is irresponsi
ble. Television shows are seen as a response to
what the American people want. At this point in
history, people desire a sense of understanding
and truth in whafthey watch on television.
“The events of Sept. 11 were of such magni
tude, and the aftermath so preoccupying, that war
and now bioterrorism have become part of the fab
ric of television,” James said.
While television shows have a cushion in that
they are fictional, this cushion does not protect
them from not addressing something so life-alter
ing. This change has not affected a few people, but
the nation and the world in general.
Shows such as “Third Watch” and “N.Y.P.D.
Blue” are right and in-tune with what the public
wants by making reference to the attacks. Other
shows need to follow suit and address what has
happened. These events have changed the core of
American life and television needs to respond
more thoroughly to this change.
Brieanne Porter is a junior
political science major.
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rSiimS N' 5 blatant disregard
tor the Supreme Court
>i_RVICES iij|i n g banning any kind
oetensive Driving. ^ of prayer in school,
lot!! Ticket dismiss ■ r By ignoring this ruling
%,i. 8 sa?S-i W <^"8 part in a
3o P m), sat(8am;:-' : pstian prayer during
I mandatory school
ssembly, our governor
Set a terrible example
T ,, „._-r the children present
gestation 695-919/- : || nd made a mockery of
is position.
According to Gov.
erry, the law is some-
jhing to be obeyed,
Jinless of course, you
pally disagree with it.
It is good to see that
he children learned
omething at the
ssembly.
'UTORS
ble, many subjects'
Lee Bacon
Class of 2002
MAIL CALL
Pro-life is not
the only free
speech at A&M
The University's appar
ent bias towards the pro
life group, which was on-
campus Monday, was
very disappointing. That
the pro-Life people were
able to reserve the area
in front of the academic
building for their purpos
es alone is abhorrent.
What is free speech
when all groups who have
positions on a subject are
not allowed to voice
themselves in the same
venue and conditions?
While the Aggies for
Life comfortably protest
ed near a building that
symbolizes this campus
and encompasses a
variety of disciplines,
the pro-choice Aggies
setup a table by the
MSC, blending in among
many other groups.
May I remind the
administration that our
Supreme Court struck
down “Separate but
equal" legislation
because separation
implies inequality.
It was the university’s
duty to place these
groups next to each
other and give the
impression that both
had legitimate argu
ments. I want to be
clear here, I am not
speaking up because I
am pro-choice, I am
speaking up for freedom
of speech.
To correct this prob
lem, the university
should make the area in
front of the academic
building issue based,
instead of reserved for
one group.
Therefore, anyone who
would like to provide
alternative views on a
subject could do so with
out feeling discriminated
against. Furthermore, if
the university wants to
preserve this constitu
tional right then it should
make sure its actions do
not insinuate bias on any
issue.
At a university as large
as this one, in a nation
as diverse as the United
States must be recog
nized that there will be
multiple perspectives on
every issue.
More than any time in
history we must
embrace this strength.
Ryan McLemore
Class of 2003
EDITORIAL
Texas A&M University — Celebrating 125 Years
EDITORIAL BOARD
Brady Creel
Mariano Castillo
Cayla Carr
Jonathan Jones
Rolando Garcia
Editor in Chief
Managing Editor
Opinion Editor
Opinion Editor
News Editor
Where There is a Web,
There is a Way
Congratulations to A&M’s new online registration
Texas A&M students this week had
the option to register for classes via
the Internet — the first time at the
University. This is a welcome change
from past semesters where frustration
from hours of busy phone lines was
the norm.
Although there were a few kinks in
the system, including an hour and a
half on Monday when the system was
closed, online registration has been a
resounding success thus far.
The Office of the Registrar,
Computing and Information Services
(CIS), the Office of the Provost and
everyone else who contributed to this
success should be be commended for
initiating and implementing online reg
istration. This service is a welcome
and necessary addition to student life
at Texas A&M. With the advent of the
Internet and explosion of its usage
among college students the past
decade, Web registration is long over
due and a welcome.
Aggies should be proud to join other
universities who utilize this method as
a way to decrease the hassles of sign
ing up for classes.
On Monday, the first day this service
was available, 1,541 of the 3,401
Aggies who registered for classes used
the Internet. This number will increase
dramatically in the future. Proponents
of this long-needed service deserve
congratulation for organizing and exe
cuting the logistics of the operation.
With more than 40,000 potential
users, the possibility for glitches were
many. But CIS responded in an efficient
manner to eliminate the problems.
There will be much smoother sailing for
registering students now and hereafter,
a much welcome change from frustrat
ing phone registration.
As a result, students will have one
less headache to deal with as the
semester winds down.