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EDITORIAL
Reflect on MLK
Sometimes, positive initiatives can emerge from misconcep-
|tions. The Battalion is optimistic, after meeting with represen
tatives from the African-American Student Coalition (AASC),
that the controversy raised over a cartoon called racist will be
■such a case. The celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on
[Monday creates the proper atmosphere to reflect on the realities
of the racial climate and racial perception at Texas A&M.
Students easily recognize MLK Day as one of the select holi
days that merits a day off from classes. Unfortunately, many
Aggies do not take the time to consider why the MLK holiday is
significant. King was one of the most influential leaders of the
■20th century. He led the civil rights movement during its most crit-
lical time in U.S. History, and inspired millions of people from all
■ races to seek to understand each other and break racial barriers.
The Battalion maintains that the cartoon was not meant to be
■ interpreted as racist. But in a world where perception is every-
■thing, Mariano Castillo, Battalion editor in chief, is committed
■to modifying the factors and criteria that are considered before
■ publishing a cartoon. Cartoons that may lend themselves to mis-
lunderstanding will be avoided, as The Battalion stands for
■diversity and equality.
The ideal of progress in racial equality that King fought for
■resonates strongly at A&M, where great strides have been
■achieved in the last decades. There is still work to be done, but
■those who believe that A&M remains an intolerant place or that
■certain groups feel unwelcome in the Aggie community are
■simply ignorant and small-minded. As The Battalion learned
■ from the cartoon that ran Monday, perception is a measuring
|stick to judge by. If students and administrators perceive that
Iracism is an ingrained part of Aggie culture, it perpetuates the
■problem. The climate of equality that King sought is not a lost
■cause at A&M. It just needs some direction and a clear defini-
Ition of what the real issues are.
For this reason. The Battalion has proposed a forum for
■minority leaders on campus, where the issues that were brought
lup by the cartoon can be examined and discussed. What do dif-
Iferent groups perceive as racist? What are the biggest chal-
Jlenges our University faces regarding race? How can under-
Jstanding be fostered among all Aggies? These are the types of
■questions that the forum will address, and that will be reported
|by the newspaper. It is unfortunate that a controversy arose over
a cartoon, but it is refreshing to see mature leadership seeks out
|the positive opportunities that may come of it.
We urge all students to reflect about the meaning of MLK
Day and how it relates to campus life.
“How far have we come?” was one of the points King often
stressed. The Battalion honors King’s memory by offering an
answer in light of the recent controversy: We have come far
enough to respect open dialogue and work together to raise the
understanding of race on our campus.
THE BATTALION
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor in Chief Mariano Castillo
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j Managing Editor
[ Opinion Editor
News Editor
News Editor
Brian Ruff
Cayi.a Carr
Sommer Bunce
Brandie Liffick
Member
Member
Member
Member
Melissa Bedsole
Jonathan Jones
Jennifer Lozano
Kelln Zimmer
the Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 200 words or
less and include the author's name, class and phone number. The opinion edi
tor reserves the right to edit letters for length, style and accuracy. Letters may be
submitted in person at 014 Reed McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters also
may be mailed to: 014 Reed McDonald, MS 1111, Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX 77843-1111. Fax: (979) 845-2647 Email: mailcall@thebatt.com
MAIL CALL
Cartoon raises
more controversy
RD In response to Jan. 14 car-
, n toon of the day:
chooseJrtnn
*ucks, I believe the point of the so-
js called "offensive" cartoon was
Internet l# criticize airport security. The
11^ race, ethnicity or religious
beliefs of the characters meant
absolutely nothing. For people
to totally miss the concept of
the joke, and twist it into some
thing racist, is absurd. I guess
this means that all forms of
humor must not only depict
white males so as to not offend
anyone, but I don't think that
tudent Rule: ^ me(; jj a ' s portrayal of every
:ur over th person as "white" is a way to
isions will d'show that ASflVl is a "truly wel-
xgie Hotline coming place for all people."
?b. Approve^
tudent Rule:
aeginning tK
^ules
ed
Chris Sana
Class of 2002
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:udent Life a 1
•edu.
■I write in support of the
African-American Student
Coalition's contention that the
Jan. 14 cartoon published in The
Battalion deserves a formal pub
lic apology. The saddest truth in
this and similar incidents that I
have witnessed during the 10
years I have taught on campus is
that enlightened Aggies cannot
recognize, and apparently even
reject how such a cartoon can
be considered racist - even
when that fact is pointedly
underscored for them.
Education transforms people,
that is, we should allow what
we learn in class and in what
people tell us to enlighten us. If
our educations do not change
how society encourages some
of us to think, what are we
doing at Texas A&M? When will
formal education begin to show
up in the ways we see and treat
people who are different from
us? Diversity is central to the
American dream.
Marco Portales, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Texas A&M University
Bonfire survey
receives criticism
This survey is a joke. It's a
perfect example of everything
that is wrong with the bureau
cracy at a large institution. The
administration talked at great
length about wanting students
input. Yet, when one actually
attempts to respond to their
appeal, it becomes plain that
any dissenting opinion is
unwanted. The very first ques
tion simply asks if you acqui
esce to all of the criteria dictat
ed by the "unbiased" review
committee. If you actually take
the time to read the terms and
comprehend their meaning, I
find it hard to believe that any
one would get past the first
question.
Jimmie Hayes
Class of 2002
Misguided youth
Suicide plane crash was act of tragedy, not terrorism
o:
KELLN ZIMMER
n Jan. 5,
15-year-old
Charles
Bishop flew a
plane into a sky
scraper and drove
a knife into the
heart of an already splintered American psy
che. This incident was treated like every
other news story in the last several months,
immediately swinging to the possibilities of
terrorism. Beyond the news, the chilling
realization with Bishop’s actions is the
American youth’s slide beyond school shoot
ings to a much more visible, unthinkable
way of ending their lives.
As Bishop stole and proceeded to crash a
small plane into a 42-story skyscraper in
downtown Tampa, Fla., news outlets imme
diately churned out stories reporting the pos
sibility that Bishop was linked to terrorism,
and then quickly they reassured the
American public that he had acted alone.
This was merely a suicidal flight. Bishop's
flight opened the floodgates for scrutiny on
the security of the aviation system. He effort
lessly stole the plane from the private airport
and citizens and legislators called for a
closer look at the world of private air travel
and its security.
Aside from the startling fact that a 15-
year-old breached a heightened state of
national security, the real devastation of this
suicide flight is its illustration of the bleak
state of America’s youth and the measures
they will take to display grief. After the
Sept. 1 1 terrorist attacks, the logical thought
process of Americans was undeniably
altered. Unspeakable horrors like this are
immediately charged as attempts at terror
with grand motives and a larger intent to
harm. Bishop and any ties he had to terror
ism can be refuted thanks to the fact that
Bishop’s fatal flight occurred on a Saturday
evening, when few people would be in the
building. He only hurt himself.
Bishop is thought to have taken contro
versial acne medication. Accutane, which
was investigated under charges that patients
can become depressed or suicidal while on
the medication. There are conflicting reports
as to the personality and mental state of the
teen, but in any case it is unfortunate that a
15-year-old has the insight and the will to
end his life in such a terrible way.
Rather than focusing on terrorism, the
media and the public should reach into the
issue and realize what kind of a world has
been created when a teen-age boy has the
insight and the means to crash a plane to end
his life. In the last decade, continuing into
this week, school shootings have plagued
America and its youth and children live in a
society their parents never dreamed they
would see. The focus of America must be to
save its children, for they are doomed under
a black cloud of fear. Unforeseeable events
caused the nation to spin out of control and
forget what living in America means.
Tragedy does not equal terror. Bishop was
a product of America and unfortunately his
death was glazed over to ensure the safety
and sanity of a country rather than awaken a
nation to the dwindling state of its youth.
Kelln Zimmer is a junior
english major.
ADRIAN CALCENAO • THE BATTALION
Leggett’s morals deserve praise
Formerly jailed author sets an example for all
MELISSA BEDSOLE
I n a world where marriages are requiring pre-nuptial agree
ments and there is paperwork to be signed for everyday
arrangements, giving someone your word has become mean
ingless. However, there are still people who believe in having
morals and sticking by them — regard
less of the cost. Vanessa Leggett is one
such person and deserves to be recog
nized for her superior display of
morals and trust.
In July 2001, Leggett was arrested
for refusing to surrender notes she had
taken from a conversation with Roger Angleton, a suspect in the
murder trial of his sister-in-law, Doris Angleton. Courts subpoe
naed Leggett’s notes from an interview with Angleton after he
committed suicide in jail, and
when Leggett refused to release
them, she was held in jail on
charges of contempt.
The prosecutors fighting for
Leggett’s notes argue that the laws
that apply to journalists should not
protect her, since she has not been published. Despite prosecu
tor’s attempts not to consider Leggett a journalist, her position as
a writer is real and the responsibility of keeping one’s word
should apply to everyone. As a journalist, she has a legal respon
sibility of confidentiality, but Leggett has gone well beyond any
legality at this point.
Plain and simple, the person she was responsible to is dead.
Leggett would not be in any legal trouble for releasing her doc
uments; she was protecting her own morals and that is what is
so honorable about her situation. In her mind, keeping her
word is the ultimate responsibility and she will go to any
length to do just that.
It is time that someone stand and applaud this amazing
woman. Children and adults everywhere have the chance to learn
that being true to yourself and believing in your own morals is
worth everything — in this case, even one woman’s freedom.
Leggett was recently freed after the term of the grand jury
expired, but she knows there is a possibility of her notes being
requested again. She said she would return to jail if she must.
After being released from the Houston Federal Detention Center
she explained, “If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes.”
Leggett has made quite a
statement and it is not just her
own principles that she is stand
ing for, it is the freedoms that
Americans are supposed to have.
She told reporters during one
of her interviews, “This is not so
^ much about me. It’s about the
public right to a free and independent press.”
Leggett still intends to write a book on the case concerning
the murder of Doris Angleton. In the end, this book, or others
like it, may reward Leggett for losing five months of her life.
However, having peace of mind for her actions and knowing that
her morals set quite a standard, Leggett has already received her
greatest reward.
Leggett has made a statement and it is not
just her own principles that she is standing
for, it is the freedoms that Americans are
supposed to have.