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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2003)
m THE BATTAU d by ama nzar to show ther t to Paya. Alacaz nilitaries took n as they atta, bout 12 miles in that he later escaj y sources specu! nilitaries wanted Indian villagefo operation with It: n guerrillas, ities reported y phone was on d attempts tocor were unsucces also said t! an Indians were om Paya during id may have It it report couldna however, ities searching 5 nd another ban I been attacked.i the body of onet e. a rushed squad the Paya region inday's attack. Tt nanent police is there a high to the rest of irder area has k f frequent incur;:: ibian paramiliu ing Colombian g cent years. om page 1 e Gulf War, when ■d access to the fc the Pentagon w mber of journalist' is sent into comla Iraq, and their rep: >red. something w we allow unfettf ic can judge whi lach their own coa' k ed from page ij EDITORIAL Achieving diversity Forced multiculturalism will fail The controversy sparked by Walton Hall's "ghetto Party" has been use ful as a focusing event — underscoring why race lingers as a difficult issue at Texas A&M and identifying the two main obstacles to achieving a truly diverse and welcoming environment. Racial insensitivity toward minorities is an old problem, and one that the Aggie community has worked tirelessly to eliminate. The alleged activities that took place at the "ghetto Party," not to mention its timing, are certainly inappropriate and encourage the perception that the University is hostile to minorities. Yet, there is no reason to believe the organizers' intent was malicious or racist: they publicly apologized for any misunderstanding and reaf firmed their commitment to making all Aggies feel welcome. This situa tion should be viewed not as a setback, but as a teaching opportunity to increase cultural sensitivity. However, comments made by those such as Dr. Marco Portales, an A&M English professor, to The Bryan-College Station Eagle represent a more alarming threat to genuine diversity. Portales said the students involved in the "ghetto Party" should be expelled, adding that if a view point is maligning without provocation, it is not constitutionally protect ed. Statements like these give rise to fears that recent diversity initiatives are little more than political correctness run amuck. Those who, in the name of diversity, would punish views they deem unacceptable, do more to create an atmosphere of intolerance on campus than the organizers of the "ghetto Party." Forced adherence to a dogmatic multi culturalism will stifle free debate and breed division and rancor. Diversity must be a positive force for change - an appeal to reason and con science, and should not degenerate into a purge of unorthodox or even distasteful opinions. A&M President Dr. Robert M. Gates has reassured critics that his efforts to lure more minority students are aimed at making Aggieland a more welcoming place and do not involve quotas or preferences. Gates has presented a positive agenda worthy of support, but students and facul ty should repudiate those such as Portales who advocate coercion and intolerance to advance the cause of diversity. True diversity and plural ism must be built on consensus. THE BATTALION Editor in Chief Managing Editor Opinion Editor Neivs Editor EDITORIAL BOARD Brandie Liffick Asst. News Sommer Bunge Member George Deutsch Member Sarah Walch Member Melissa Sullivan Brieanne Porter Matt Maddox Rolando Garcia 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 submit ted 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 77843-11 1 1. Fax: (979) 845-2647 Email: mailcall@thebatt.com Opinion The Battalion Page 11 • Wednesday, January 22, 2003 Percentage plans Top 10 percent plan poor way to diversify campus ■■■■BBHIlHHHHnm WT~..... J.U:.. 1, I, 1 inHivirliinl cr-hrvrtl’c frtn ctiirle>nfc ’LL nii£>ctinn muct ncV STEPHANIE PALMER 'magine a student in high school with aspira tions of becoming a surgeon. He wants to .attend the best university to prepare for med ical school, so he is likely to choose Texas A&M. He knows that to be assured acceptance he must graduate in the top 10 percent of his class, so he decides not to take aa anatomy class because it is impossible to get a grade higher than a B. There is no need for him to worry, because it is not a requirement to graduate. Besides, he only need outrank other minorities to be in the top 10 percent of his class. This should not be too dif ficult, because they are all struggling through Advanced Biochemistry Honors. While a bit exaggerated, this story illustrates the mind-set of many students who must deal with the realities of Texas’ top 10 percent law. Unfortunately, the arguments supporting the Texas state law, which allows high school stu dents in the top 10 percent of their graduating class automatic admission to public universities, are convincing, but truly flawed. The well-inten tioned main objective of this law is to counter the disbandment of affirmative action laws in regard to college admissions by augmenting the number of minority students in the nationVpublic univer sities. Currently, the issues of affirmative action and college admission standards are in the midst of political debate due to the Michigan court cases, Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger. President George W. Bush has said on numerous occasions that he adamantly believes the racial quotas used by the University of Michigan are unconstitutional. The president’s assertions are correct. In a nationally televised speech. Bush said, “The method used by the University of Michigan to achieve this important goal (racial diversity) is fundamentally flawed. At their core, the Michigan policies amount to a quota system that unfairly rewards or penalizes prospective students based solely on their race.” Bush is opposed to racial quotas, but he endorses Texas’ top 10 percent law. As a result of legacies and other forms of institution alized racism, affirmative action is perhaps the more equitable solution. The alleged benefits of the top 10 percent law often backfire and cause deeper problems for students. Those in favor of this policy believe that it rewards Texas’ top high school students for their academic superiority. One major flaw is that it does not reward the state’s top students but rather Minority students who attend predominately white or diverse high schools that cannot attain a status in the top 10 percent may he tempted to take yy easier courses. each individual school’s top students. The question one must ask himself is, “What if the student attends a challenging school?” It is quite possible that a student who performs only in the top quar ter at one school would perform in the top 10 percent at another. Furthermore, this can only aid minorities if Texas’ schools are subject to de facto segregation. This may be true for inner-city schools but this is not a statewide case. Although the state’s top universities are in need of diversity, racial segregation is not a sit uation that deserves incentive by law. People who defend the law may argue that it urges students to excel to reach the top 10 percent of their class. While some may strive for excellence, others will be encouraged to take an easier course load fo maintain their class status. Where is the incentive for students to take college preparatory classes if it will hurt their chances of getting into college? Unless high school students are forced to compete on an equal playing field, they will continue to find shortcuts. ThiV-sitUation causes more damage to minority retention rates. Minority students who attend pre dominately white or diverse high schools that cannot attain a status in the top 10 percent may be tempted to take easier courses; Students who have taken an easier course load may gain admission, but it is unlikely that they are prepared for the demands of college life. V. ifr The University Texas has boasted of restoring its minority enrollment^o pre-affirmative action level but at the cost of dramatically lowering the academic qualifications of entering freshmen and rejecting oth ers who are adequately qualified. If minority stu dents are not qualified, retention rates are lowered and, in the long-run, minority enrollment will also drop. gj I “The twin goals of equity and high quality schooling have profound and practical meaning for our economy andlsociety,” stated The National Commission on Excellence in a press release. “We cannot permit one to yield to the other in principloor in practice.” In principle, this laws seems credible, beneficial and equitable, but in practice the faults become evident. Americans must exam ine the laws that govern their society and trust the reality, not the fallacy. A law that harms the people it was intended to help is not worth the paper on which is was written. Concerned citizens must petition the government to amend this law. Stephanie Palmer is a junior journalism major. Graphic by Angelique Ford. \ software tecta elp military plain 1 and gather infer r San Diego-b aid. is survived by aughters, ages 12 stry spokesmansi re stunned by ict of violence w a great man m our family," mg. Tapestry MAIL CALL Ghetto party in no way supported racism aiti security c shooting was The government denounce the o portray it as ent. puty prime min® gn minister, dimed A1 Sabah,? es to Secretary n Powell, expres? “strong conde®: :h criminal acts historic relations I s between the: itions.” Parliament Sps 1-Kharafi said as “an act of an if doesn’t represent the Kuwaiti peop critical to any 1 ' st neighboring If welcomes Amerk gering gratitude led coalition raqi invaders in War. e only Persian lere large number ground troops; r desert warfare' tack on Iraq. o-American attW my of Kuwait^ izens is unusual aslini world, wf entiment and opf in Iraq run high its prove the eim' une to attacks, sf 1-Qaida. Marine was k ; »nd wounded Od i Kuwaiti Mu , who were ned fire on eak from trainini When is the oversensitivity going to end? Any reasonable person would realize that the ghetto theme planned for Walton's party did not show support for racism, honor past wrongs, or say anything negative about any one at all. It didn't hurt anybody but instead provided a way for all races to come together laugh ing at the old misguided ways. Outrage over this kind of thing only ) increases racial tensions, carrying forward ill feelings that would otherwise fade out. As a minority student myself I’d encourage Walton to proceed with such plans in the future despite criticism. They are, after all, the ones who will lead to true healing. Chris Carlin Class of 2003 Apologies stemming from ghetto party warranted The opinion of Boo Boo Davies, in response to the "ghetto party" is not repre sentative of the opinion of the majority of the black students on campus. We do not believe that the whole thing was blown out of proportion and all apologizes were war ranted and necessary. Jessica Thompson Class of 2003 Planned Parenthood is pro abortion, not pro-choice As the anniversary of Roe v. Wade arrives, I ask that everyone consider this: "is Planned Parenthood really pro-choice or merely pro-abortion?" To truly be pro- choice, Planned Parenthood should allow women to be fully informed about abor tion and accept their decision to either have the child or have the abortion. However, women will often pull into Planned Parenthood's parking lot, come to those of us praying on the sidewalk, and ask for some of our information. Planned Parenthood has a woman whose job is to intercept her from us and instruct her to give the information back. This is not pro-choice as the woman isn't being allowed to be fully informed on both sides of the issue. How can an organization that is "pro- choice" be angry with someone's choice to have a child? Cody Sain Class of 2006 President Lieberman? Religion, bipartisan dealings hold him back W hen former Vice President A1 Gore publicly announced he would not run for president in 2004, his former vice presiden tial running mate. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D- Conn.) announced that he would. Freed from the impro priety of running against his for mer running mate, Lieberman believes he has what it takes to win the Democratic nomination bid and march his way into the White House to “fight for what's right for the American people.” It would be a major improvement to American society to have a presi dent who could do just that, but it will not be Lieberman. Lieberman’s primary faults lie within his multi-faceted political agenda, among other things. He tickets himself as a “different kind of Democrat,” whatever that means. Perhaps it is supposed to be a euphemism for his mostly traditional values within the Democratic Party coupled with his Republican tendencies. It is true that to be an effective policy maker, politicians need to cross partisan lines and compro mise to create effective govern ment for all Americans. At the same time, too much middle ground implies an insin cerity of a party member toward the party’s goals and objectives. Playing the part of the conserva tive Democrat, Lieberman looked into efforts to suspend parts of Bush’s tax cut and was a major player in calling together hear ings on homeland defense and Enron’s collapse. Switching hats, however, he is the leading proponent of war in Iraq within his party, wants to see Democrats speak out more about faith and morality, has pro-busi ness economic views and even puts himself at odds with the lib eral wing of his party by condemning the enter tainment industry for its use of sex and violence. Conservative Democrat or liberal Republican? Your guess is as good as mine. Politics aside, Lieberman’s major hin drance will not be his fence straddling, but his religious fervor and how this could poten tially cause harm to the Democratic Party. The debate stems from the 1960 presidential election when John F. Kennedy Jr. became the nation’s first Catholic president. Many thought that the pope would control Kennedy and lead this largely Protestant country astray. That did not happen and he won anyway. This time, it is not the general public that is shying away from Lieberman, but American Jews. “Joe Lieberman speaks too much of religion and faith. Jews were always the first ones to defend the 'sacred' separation between religion and state,” according to a report from the Jewish Post of New York. This thought was shared by Abe Foxman from the Anti-Defamation League who praised the historic choice of Lieberman as a candidate for vice president in 2000, and now criti cizes him for endangering the vital separation between religion and state. Lieberman openly told the press that he is not running on his faith, but that his faith is at the center of who he is, and he is not going to conceal that. That is admirable and noteworthy of a man who only 50 years ago would have received maybe only 40 percent of voter support because of his Jewish back ground, but Lieberman is no Kennedy and there are some examples where his religion will clash with his politics. The first and most obvious is his dealings with the Middle East. People must first establish the fact that not all Jews are pro- Israel, and not all who are pro- Israel are Jews. Lieberman is both Jewish and relatively pro- Israel. Many American Jews are unhappy with Lieberman’s criti cism of Bush’s policy toward the Middle East and were thrown into a spin when Lieberman expressed support for a Palestinian state, something a true pro-Israel supporter would never stand for. Regardless, he still receives an estimated $86,000 from pro-Israel political action committees. “For Orthodox Jews, Lieberman is not pro-Israel enough. For extreme anti-Israel critics, he is too pro- Israel,” wrote Seth Gitell of the Boston Phoenix. Something else that is bother some about Lieberman’s entire religious stance is his blatant hypocrisy. He observes the Sabbath, he believes in faith, morality and values. But when asked about whether a Lieberman White House would have a Christmas tree, he responded by saying “Obviously, I'm running as an American who happens to be Jewish and not the other way around.” But if his faith is the center of who he is, as he says it is, then such an attempt at main stream assimilation negates his personal moral convictions, espe cially as an Orthodox Jew. If Lieberman is as observant as he has claimed to be all these years, then we should expect to see a White House Passover Seder in lieu of the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Lieberman is not the Democrats answer to George W. Bush. Let’s hope they find one. Melissa Fried is a freshman international studies major. MELISSA FRIED
