The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, December 04, 2001, Image 13

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    iv, Decemberi;;
Fuesday, December 4, 2001
THE BATTALION
Page 5B
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The time
has passed
Passwaters bids farewell
E very Battalion opinion writer gets the chance to write
one final column when he or she graduates. My time
has arrived. Usually, these columns are a chance for
the writer to settle old scores or complain about the things
they hated at A&M. If you are waiting for
that, quit reading. Go back to the cross
word. I enjoyed my time here, and I am
going to say so — in just a minute.
First, a parting nod to our fine foes in
that cesspool known as Austin and that
fourth-dimension hellhole known as West
Texas.
It is a good thing the University of Texas
adopted the Longhorn as its mascot,
because only stupid cattle would mass around the 40 acres of
urban sprawl. I could not have gone to that school, as I do
not believe in Maoist values or that piercing one’s nose
brings us closer to the deity of the week. You are not Texas,
you're Beverly Hills, 90210. Like, oh my ga!
As for you brain-dead Red Raiders, thanks for showing us
that it is possible to devolve. You wonder why nobody takes you
seriously? It is simple: every time you get a chance to prove to
the world that you are not a hunch of community college rejects,
you blow it. Do not whine or complain, either; I do not reaci hate
mail written in crayon.
A&M truly is a special place. In spite of how many times
that is said, it’s still true. Aggies, by and large, respect them
selves and other people. They believe that things like
courage, commitment, courtesy and respect are not to be
laughed at. People say Aggies are different. 1 say, so what?
We know what we are doing. Do you?
The greatest thing about A&M is its traditions. Outside of
Aggies by and large, respect themselves and
other people. They believe that courage,
commitment, courtesy and respect
are not things to laugh at.
Muster, Bonfire is the most important of these traditions.
That is why Bonfire must continue. If A&M President Dr.
Ray M. Bowen is going to make cost an issue, current and
former students should find the money to keep it burning. It
can and must be done safely, and it can be done. The students
and the administration should have the guts to stand up for all
Aggies and ensure that it does.
When people grumble about The Battalion, it irks me a lit
tle. If people are not willing to apply and try to change things,
I do not want to hear the whining. The application process is
open, and who knows what you may end up doing. I got to
meet a couple of presidents, a governor or two and a bunch of
celebrities while working there. 1 also got to meet people who
were truly inspiring: folks like Lanny Hays, who nearly died in
the Bonfire collapse but is ready to get back on stack today;
the Kerlee family, who embraced the community where their
son died instead of avoiding it, and Travis Garren, who lost his
brother in a tragic accident but became an emotional rock for
other people.
As I go, a few final things; political correctness is
garbage. It was a method of suppression started by Stalin,
and that is all it is today. For those of you out there who say
that Gore was robbed: Bush won, every time. Get over it.
I think Saddam Hussein has to be killed. I did not before,
but I do now. Sept. 1 1 changed everything. It is a very sim
ple equation: Either the terrorists and their supporters die, or
we die. I have no intention of dying anytime soon. Saddam
can join Bin Laden someplace where it never gets cold, and I
do not mean Brownsville.
It is time for me to go. I have enjoyed my time here. For the
liberals who celebrate my departure: My brother Lee will be
here in two years. He knows your names. God bless all of you.
Gig ’em. Aggies.
Mark Passwaters is a senior-
political science major.
CARTOON OF THE DAY
Hit the road. Jack
Highway 6 should be a
road traveled by naysayers
T exas A&M is going through a
period in which a lot of changes
are being proposed. A group of
students has strugglod to m
create a competitiv 6 cheer- I «
leading squad, and as a
result have been chastised I
for being destructive to A&M s ■
rich tradition. The Residence ■
Hall Association encouraged stu- 9 richard
dents to sing the first verse of the * bray
War Hymn” instead of singing the sec
ond verse twice, as Aggies have done for years. This
suggestion was been met with resistance in the name
of traditions.
Whenever such suggestions are voiced requesting
change, some misguided Aggie invariably responds with
a statement to the effect of, If you don’t like the way we
do things here, then why don’t you just leave? When such
statements are ignored for the brutal stupidity that they
are, the people who asked the question think that they
have somehow won the argument.
Believe it or not, students who propose changes do love
Aggieland. In fact, they probably love Aggieland more
than those who sit idly by and accept every aspect of
the University because it is "tradition.” It is entirely
possible for Aggies to respect A&M’s multitude of
traditions without holding every aspect of this
University near to their heart.
Those who love A&M want it to
be the best it can be. They
are willing to take a
logical look
at their school and take the good and
the bad. They are willing to acknowledge
that both aspects of this University exist,
and they want to do what they can to
improve upon those bad aspects.
Telling these people to either keep silent
about their views or to leave the University
does Texas A&M no good. A&M is not com
posed of just conservative middle class third-
generation Aggies. Aggies include those whose
views differ from the norm. Aggies also include
those who would like to create new traditions, such
as competitive cheerleading organizations.
These individuals have just as much right to be here
as any Aggies, past or present. The different opinions
expressed make the University stronger, not weaker
Even worse is the ridiculous nature of expecting someone
to leave A&M simply because their ideology does not match
the majority. A&M is strengthened by the diversity of its stu
dent body. Improving diversity has become a primary con
cern of the administration, as evident by Vision 2020.
By suggesting that students who want to change some
things should simply leave A&M, Aggies perpetuate the
feeling that outsiders are not welcome. As a result, they
exemplify one of A&M’s greatest weaknesses and do
nothing to contribute to the friendly atmosphere that
attracts so many students.
Richard Bray is a junior
journalism major.
CHAD MAI.LAM • THE BATTALION
EDITORIAL
Texas A&M University — Celebrating 125 Years
THF RATTAI TO
EDITORIAL BOARD
Brady Creel
Mariano Castillo
Cayla Carr
Jonathan Jones
Rolando Garcia News Editor
Editor in Chief
Managing Editor
Opinion Editor
Opinion Editor
Sound Off for Bonfire
Students should applaud administration, stay the course for 2002
The first Aggie Bonfire burned as a small
pile of trasb and brush in 1909. Since then,
what became one of Texas A&M’s most cher
ished traditions evolved into a display of spir
it, pride and unity, and then into the
University’s greatest tragedy.
Controversy has ensued concerning the
details of the next Bonfire, and understand
ably so. Ten lawsuits have been filed by fami
lies of the victims, several students have con
structed their own bonfires and administra
tors have been accused of delaying Bonfire
2002 or wishing it canceled altogether.
Fortunately, many Aggies and former stu
dents feel passionately about Bonfire and
have made their voices heard. Above all, they
want it to return on schedule, If that is to
happen, students and alumni must meet the
administration halfway, because the time has
come for students to play their role.
Last week, the University took a big step
toward Bonfire 2002 wherr potential designs
were presented to the Student Senate, and
the A&M community should give credit where
credit is due. A&M administrators and lead
ers have been the brunt of profuse criticism,
which they have heeded. Now, they should
be commended for facilitating development
of three designs that meet the parameters set
forth by A&M President Dr. Ray M. Bowen —
a tremendous boost in momentum.
But if any one of those designs is to
become a reality, student voices must extend
beyond complaint and criticism. Students
will be given an opportunity to vote and pro
vide feedback on the designs Jan. 16-18.
This period is key to the success of Bonfire
2002 and beyond. Dr. Bryan R. Cole, steer
ing committee facilitator, has said feedback
will gauge student interest. If not enough stu
dents respond, Cole said, the committee will
■y y. - :• . *V , -r . '<20 ■/
be forced to weigh for itself student interest
in the future of Bonfire.
That must not happen.
The likelihood of student apathy is fright
ening, though. For the last two years, only
about 10,000 students have voted in the
spring student body elections — less than 25
percent of the student body. Apathy next
month would be unacceptable and unchar
acteristic of the Aggie spirit that successfully
fueled Bonfire for 90 years.
Aggies, the days of spirit, school pride and
unity that Bonfire brought need not end. Fill
out surveys and make your voices echo off
the walls of Jericho. Planning for Bonfire
2002 involves more than student leaders
and a task force. It involves student senti
ment, too. It involves you.
The University has done its part, and now,
you must do yours.