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Opinion
The Battalion
Page 1 1A • Thursday, September 5, 2002
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A disrespectful tradition
meniors on the field at halftime make too much noise leaving their seats
LINDSAY AIELLO
A s the
2002-2003
football
Hason begins,
Hany seniors are
excited about the
opportunity to carry on another one of Texas
A&M's great traditions: Boot Line. Every sea-
sion hoards of soon-to-be graduates clamor
down stadium seats to line up at the players’
entrance onto the field for the start of the sec
ond half. While this anticipated event is a
d ance for seniors to greet the players in a
sl ow of support for Aggie football, eager stu-
■ents noisily disregard the Fightin’Texas
4ggie Band still on the field.
I Our University has proudly been recog-
lized as having some of the most polite,
respectful students of any college campus. A
walk to class is always met with calls of
‘iHowdy!” from fellow Ags, and traditions
such as 12th Man and Silver Taps show our
utmost respect for every current or former
member of the Aggie family.
The tradition of seniors greeting the players
w as designed for this purpose, but its intent
has been lost over time — a show of respect
for one has led to a show of disrespect for
another. At the heart of this campus is The
Corps and Aggie Band, and there is no deny
ing the majority of students loudly show their
support as the band performs. But students,
■parents and former Ags sitting in all sections
of Kyle Field have complained of not being
able to hear all the band’s performance as sen
iors scramble down metal stairs trying to be
first in line.
The noise is unintentional and not meant to
e disrespectful towards anyone. Moreover,
their excitement is understandable as all stu-
lents anxiously wait their turn to take part in
this tradition. However, the noise is loud and
distracting. One problem may lie in seniors’
confusion over the event, such as when to exit
their seats. Senior marketing major Amy Kiehn
says she is unsure of when to descend onto the
field and heard this sentiment echoed by last
year’s seniors. In this case, racket is inevitable
but not an excuse. It should be made clear
when seniors are to leave their seats.
On the other hand, the problem may just be
a result of students’ excitement overshadowing
their acknowledgement of the band’s perform
ance. Countless times spectators’ eyes have
been unavoidably averted from the band’s
incredible formations to the mass of animated
students at the north end of Kyle Field. This
is not the only problem. In addition to the
noise, seniors exacerbate the situation by turn
ing their backs to the band when they reach
the field. One anonymous Aggie parent and
season ticket holder notes, “While every other
student and parent stands to show support, the
leaders of A&M rudely disrespect the band by
ignoring their performance. It seems so out of
character for Aggies; to visitors, it looks like
our students do not support one another.”
When asked about the situation, junior CBS
Sergeant Major Robert McClelland said he has
noticed this and wondered about it in the past.
However, McClelland said he respects the tra
dition and understands the excitement it brings
to seniors and players alike.
Most seniors look forward to greeting the
football players back onto the field. However,
seniors must contain their enthusiasm until the
Aggie Band has finished; its hard work and
dedication deserve at least that much.
Lindsay Aiello is a sophomore
journalism major.
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SARAH FOWLER • THE'BATTALION
South Florida professor deserved termination
Tenured professor fired after connections to terrorist organizations were revealed
SARA FOLEY
W hen Dr. Sami Al-Arian
earned his tenure at the
University of South
Florida (USF), he may have thought
any chance of him being fired had
vanished. However, problems arose
when his terrorist ties were discovered at a time when a lack of
sympathy exists for anyone who has a history of supporting
Muslim activist organizations. Although not convicted of any
crimes thus far, Al-Arian has a past filled with terrorist connec
tions, according to a letter explaining the reasons behind his firing
issued by USF. These offenses included membership in the contro
versial Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group that may be partly
responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, according to CNN.
In 1991. he used the university’s name in booking a conference
where money was raised for causes later associated with terrorist
activities. In addition, USF claims Al-Arian wrote a letter asking
for financial support for suicide bombers in 1995. The event that
eventually caused enough public attention for USF to take legal
action occurred shortly after Sept. 11. Al- Arian appeared on “The
O'Reilly Factor” on Fox News, where he was questioned about
known terrorists, as well as tapes filmed years before, on which he
was recorded saying “Death to Israel” in Islamic.
Al-Arian maintains he is merely professing his political beliefs
and should not be punished for expressing them. However, Judy
Genshaft, president of USF, did not see it as a situation of free
speech but of security and political safety. This presents a problem
because Al-Arian has been on staff for a number of years and has
earned his tenure.
If Al-Arian had been a member of another professions, the
issue of his firing would most likely have been of little conse
quence; a small price to pay for ensuring American security.
However, since dismissing a professor who is tenured is a difficult
process, Al-Arian stayed on paid leave. In fact, Al-Arian is still
being paid for causing bad publicity for the school. It has come to
the point that Genshaft and the university are suing for the rights
to fire the professor.
Currently, the professor holds too much power over the institu
tion. The condition has become a situation where the employer,
USF, has to seek legal approval to pick and chose its own staff.
USF not only has the right to fire Al-Arian, but it should be
allowed to do so without having to answer questions from out
siders. Instead of claiming this to be an issue of free speech, the
focus should be the threat of terrorists. The investigation of Al-
Arian's terrorist activities should be the legal debate of utmost
importance, instead of the university’s firing. Even if the universi
ty sued him for having tenorist links and operating under the name
of the school, that legal battle would make more sense than the one
going on. This is not a matter of racial or religious prejudices. This
is national security. This is an effort to remoye further problems in
the future and protect the general public. If the allegations are only
accusations, it still would have been worth the remote possibility
that the connections between him and the terrorists were true and
security had been increased.
Instead, Muslim and Palestinian groups are objecting, and the
university must fight for its legal right to terminate the employ
ment of someone they chose to hire in the first place. The reason
behind this is simply that the professor had been at the university
long enough to establish his tenure, and thus became untouchable.
Hopefully, the impending trial will prove Al-Arian is not as invin
cible as his title might imply.
Sara Foley is a sophomore
journalism rruijor
3
m
Taking a shot at bin Laden
T he Supreme Court
is currently being
asked to consider
whether shooting at pic
tures of Osama bin Laden melissa fried
and Saddam Hussein dur
ing target practice is an expression of free speech or a
dangerous drill that could lead others to kill real peo
ple. With the so-called intelligence that exists in the
highest court of this land, we must ask ourselves how
such a preposterous case could find its way onto the
October docket.
Not only is this case completely unfounded, it rais
es the question of how much political correctness is
too much. After the attack on the World Trade Center,
fundamentalist Muslims took to the streets to rejoice
and celebrate the devastation that killed thousands of
people and left even more displaced. They showed no
mercy and no remorse then, and will show none in the
future. It is ridiculous to preserve the sanctity of
heinous criminals who are capable of carrying out the
lowest of crimes and to fight to protect the images ol
the very people who wish to destroy us.
Most people who sign up for target practice are law
officials and those interested in learning how to use a
gun for self-defense purposes. Opponents, however,
are trying to ban shooting at cardboard images because
it may lead to killing real people. When is the last time
a cardboard image ever talked back, fought back 01
even showed a remote sign of being wounded? II any
thing, this is probably the healthiest form of angei
management because people are aiming at a solitary
figure (a vile one at that) instead of turning their Lus
trations on friends and family.
Many Americans believe any depiction of violence
correlates to actual violence. This is called the hypo
dermic-needle model, in that any sort of media shoots
their potent effects (in this case, violence) directly into
unsuspecting victims. The same excuse parents have
created to protect their children from playing violent
video games is being presented to protect fully aware
and responsible adults because they might harm others.
The First Amendment says government will not
abridge the “freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble.” However,
in the past, courts have passed rulings where any type
of speech that could potentially harm national security
can be curbed.
Shooting at images of bin Laden and Hussein pose
little threat to our national security, thereby making
this another one of those harrowing and annoying free
speech cases. It has almost evolved into a catch-22.
We are bad Americans if we do not want to hate them,
but if we do hate them and aim to kill (or trash images
of them) we are also bad Americans because we are no
better than they are.
The Supreme Court should throw this case out due
to its lack of credibility and focus its attentions,
instead, on cases that directly impact the welfare of
American citizens. Osama bin Laden and Saddam
Hussein do not deserve a place in the American court
system - not today, not ever.
Melissa Fried is a sophomore
international studies major.
MAIL CALL
Traditions can fade if not
maintained each year
In response to Lenti Smith's Sept. 3
column:
I fully agree with Lenti Smith that a
tradition can fade away once it is
ignored, and commend her courage in
stating the truth. Traditions are immortal
insofar as they are always understood
and practiced by those who love them.
The traditions of A&M will survive if, and
only if, they are taught with passion to
each and every successive freshman
class. Sadly, "Howdy" is being heard less
and less each day, and Bonfire is perish
ing because of administrative cowards
that cover their own tail, then bail. I see
more and more people not going to
Midnight Yell and even Silver Taps due
to laziness and ignorance. I would be
very surprised if the percentage of Ags
that don't participate in traditions is still
two percent. A new parking garage, a
better business school and a more
diverse student body is not the answer.
Charlie Bee!
Class of 2005
Aggie fans have a right
to boo mediocrity
In response to the Sept. 3 mail call:
It really upsets me when I read opin
ions like those of Joel Anderson. He
thinks those Aggies that booed at the
football game against Louisiana
Lafayette are not real Aggies.
I think anyone who was at the game
Saturday could feel the change in
momentum that Reggie McNeal brought
in with him. It is something that our
team has been lacking for several years:
leadership and confidence. All too often,
we slip into this feeling of "oh we had a
winning season and then we went to
another mediocre bowl game." The
Aggies who accept this and cheer have
forgotten what the true Spirit of
Aggieland is. As Aggies we often boast
of being a great school, with great
accomplishments and great people.
Accepting mediocrity is not part of being
a real Aggie. We have done that for too
long already.
William Charles Macaulay
Class of 2002
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 editor 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:
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