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EDITORIAL
Denying deregulation
Students must voice concerns
about deregulation at forum
Tuition deregulation is perhaps the most criticized educational
idea of the year, and for good reason. The concept would shift
the cost of public higher education from state tax dollars to stu
dents' pocket books. This would likely place the expense of
attending Texas A&M out of reach of many middle-class students
who do not qualify for financial aid. It would also remove
tuition-setting power from elected representatives and give it to
an unelected boards of regents. Unfortunately, Texas lawmakers
don't seem to have the students' best interests in mind.
State Sen. Florence Shapiro has submitted legislation provid
ing for boards of regents to raise tuition "an amount not to
exceed three times" the level students are currently charged.
Rep. Geanie Morrison, chairwoman of the House higher educa
tion committee, has submitted a bill that would empower
boards of regents to set tuition levels and require that schools
provide increased financial aid to low-income students. Rep.
Fred Brown, who represents the district that includes A&M and
its students, has proposed the most atrocious bill of all. It allows
boards of regents to set tuition at any level, without interference
from elected officials.
Tomorrow, at 6 p.m. in Rudder 301, students will have a
chance to voice their opinions on tuition deregulation at a
Student Government Association sponsored forum. Aggies
should attend this forum to ensure that the student leaders who
serve them represent their views, and make sure that the lead
ers they vote into office this week agree as well. Tuition deregu
lation is not inevitable, and students and elected officials alike
must work to stop it in its tracks.
Opinion
The Battalion Page 11 • Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Blame the parents
Parents’ hiring practices led to Smart abduction
T he nation rejoiced this
month when Elizabeth
Smart was returned to her
family after being snatched from
her bedroom nine months ago.
Her small community in Salt
Lake City, Utah, celebrated in
jubilation at Liberty Park, the
same park where a candlelight
vigil was held the day after
Smart was abducted. But this is where
the happy story ends.
There is a darker side to the case of
Elizabeth Smart. It begins and ends with
her parents, Ed and Lois Smart. They
have tirelessly and defiantly fought for
the safe return of their daughter, yet it
is hard to pity a family who has no one
to blame but itself for the tragedy that
has haunted it for the past nine months.
Parents have a responsibility. A par
ent is responsible for rearing a child to
the best of his ability so that the child
will be able to understand this horribly
complex world in which he lives.
Parents silently pledge to protect and
guard their children from any harm that
may endanger them.
What parents do not teach their chil
dren to avoid talking to strangers, or to
accept things from people they do not
know? These common sense lessons are
taught to children to protect them from
becoming another kidnapping statistic.
They must have the ability and knowl
edge to act should they ever find them
selves in a threatening situation.
Ed and Lois, who themselves are
well beyond the ages of simple children,
have no excuse for disregarding com
mon sense. Some may describe them as
compassionate because they self
lessly try to take care of the dis
advantaged by offering work.
However, in they do so at the
expense of placing their own
children in danger.
Imagine a crowded downtown
sidewalk. A man stumbles for
ward asking for a small handout.
This same scenario happened to
Lois Smart.
Instead of simply giving the man a
a
There is darker side to the
case of Elizabeth Smart. It
begins and ends with her
parents, Ed and Lois Smart.
They have tirelessly and
defiantly fought for the safe
return of their daughter, yet
it is hard to pity a family
who has no one to blame but
itself... '
few dollars, she invited the man to earn
some extra money by helping her hus
band repair the roof — at her home —-
while her children were there.
What a wonderful world this would
be if people could unquestionably trust
everyone they encounter. Unfortunately,
they can’t. The man who Lois Smart
invited home turned out to be Brian
Mitchell, the same man who abducted
Elizabeth Smart.
In a report in The Salt Lake Tribune,
Lois Smart said, “He seemed like an
awfully nice person,” and later added
that she was never able to gather much
personal information about the man.
How naive can the Smarts possibly
be?
But this is not the first time the cou
ple has brought home a drifter. Not too
long before Brian Mitchell, there was
Richard Ricci. Ricci was hired as a
handyman to do odd jobs around the
house. It was not until Ricci had been
dismissed for stealing from the family
that his past criminal record of burglary,
aggravated robbery and attempted mur
der was revealed.
Naturally, the Smarts were shocked.
In a June 2002 article on CNN.com, Ed
Smart characterized Richard Ricci to
seem “nice enough.”
It seems as though the Smarts contin
ue to fall into the same trap. Their com
passion to help out “nice people” has
stung them not once, but twice, and will
continue to do so unless they open their
eyes. Bringing individuals into their
home without any concern for their
background and character has left them
prey to misfortune.
There is no doubt that the Smarts tell
their children not to talk to strangers.
It’s time these parents practice what they
preach.
Melissa Fried is a sophomore
international studies major.
MELISSA
FRIED
MAIL CALL
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lAntiwar protesters going too
far, war a necessary evil
I am troubled that some Americans do not
share my same respect for others and the prop
erty of individuals or the state. It seems that
some of these antiwar protesters have no
regard for their fellow citizens and are willing to
trample on others' rights just so that they may
be heard. They forget that we are entitled to our
opinions as well. I realize that many people will
^argue that burning the American flag is an act of
symbolic speech and should be protected as
free speech. However, that flag is an icon, a
; I symbol. It represents America and the freedoms
1 that we all are entitled to and enjoy.
I It also represents those who risked it all to
6 preserve those freedoms. I feel that no one
should show such disrespect for our fallen
â– heroes. I also find it ironic when these "seekers
of peace" burn old glory as a part of their rallies
and demonstrations because in a sense, they
are destroying the very thing that represents
f their right to have their own opinion.
I realize that war is a terrible thing, and I wish
[that none of us would ever have to experience
the horrors of it. Even so, the reality is that when
. all other means have been exploited and diplo-
• macy has been blocked again and again,
nations must go to war to defend those who
| cannot. Other nations must also ensure that
I murderous regimes abide by rules and regula-
jltions. Sometimes war is necessary and is the
only alternative. Who of you Americans would
l argue that war is never necessary? Well, then
l you might want to consider changing your place
of residence because this nation gained it's
independence through war. Or you might try
: telling thousands of Jews to go back to concen-
J tration camps because we made a mistake in
fighting a war against Hitler. Or try telling a
mother who saw her child used as a human
| shield by a dictator's personal army that she
must simply live with it.
Regardless of your viewpoint on whether war
is necessary or if Saddam should have been
gone a long time ago, you should show your
support for our troops. You must show compas
sion for these men and women who are risking
their lives in fighting for our nation. Pray for
them and their families. Pray that the Lord will
I bring our soldiers back home safely. Also He will
f give the leaders of our country guidance and
; wisdom as they make difficult decisions each
and every day.
Proud to be an American where at least I
know I'm free...
Curtis Copeland
Class of 2006
Students can send packages to
troops amid security concerns
Recently, The Battalion has printed a number of
letters to the editor for and against the current
war in Iraq. Both sides have expressed respect
and concern for our troops overseas. However,
what’s the best way to show support for our
troops? In the past it was possible to send care
packages and letters addressed to "Any Service
Member." However the world has changed, and
amid security concerns the Department of
Defense and the United Service Organizations
ask that such anonymous packages not be sent.
Instead it is possible to send an e-mail to the
men and women of the military via the USO and
the Department of Defense using
OperationDearAbby.net and DefendAmerica.mil/,
respectively. For other ways to donate time
and/or money to support out troops, go to
www.usmcmccs.org/news/supporttroops.asp.
Regardless of your feelings for the political
powers that be, our troops abroad need to
know that they haven't been forgotten by the
American people. It takes less than five minutes
to send a message of support, even if it only
says "please come home quickly and safely."
Those five minutes of your time can make the
day of a lonely pfc stationed in unfamiliar terri
tory so many thousands of miles from home.
Kelly Soltysiak
Graduate Student
Bush can't ignore economy
during war with Iraq
In response to March 21 mail calls:
This is getting out of hand. I full-heartedly sup
port peoples' right to protest, and you are right
that those brave men and women of the past
did fight for the right to protest, but for protest
ers to have the nerve to call themselves patriots,
that is the real joke here, not these protests.
As far as the tax cuts go, I suppose it is hard to
believe that something as complex as the U.S.
government could possibly multi-task. It's as if
you think the functions of the government
should just come to a halt and all attention
should be paid to the war effort. The only prob
lem is that if that were to happen, you would cry
about us not dealing with anything else. Having
nothing positive to say, all you do is criticize the
government and its leaders while at the same
time not offering any solutions. It's not about
tax cuts as you would make it seem, its about
not liking the current administration. Justin Hill's
answer to everything: It is all the Republicans'
fault.
Finally, you asked what we are sacrificing here.
That’s an excellent question, thankfully, the
answer is very little. I have the luxury of sitting
over here and so do you, because there are
many hundreds of thousands of brave men and
women willing to make the sacrifice for me.
That may sound selfish, but its the same way
things have always been, the many find reward
in the sacrifice of the few. I have never served in
another area, but many of my family members
have, and many of my friends now are, and one
question that they have never asked is 'What did
you sacrifice?' They would rather just hear thank
you and be on their way.
I fully support my president, my country, and
the brave men and women of U.S. Armed
Forces. I pray for them all, and hope for a
speedy return. I do not live in fear for I know
that they will protect us with their own lives if
necessary. May God’s blessings be with them all.
Michael Carson
Class of 2002
Time for antiwar protests is
over, troops now need support
To all the "American" protesters: shame on
you. You all complain about war supporters
talking trash about you, but this freedom of
speech thing you talk about works both ways.
You may say you do not believe in the pur
pose of this war, and I may say I do not like
you, because I certainly do not. As far as I am
concerned, those who are still protesting are
traitors to our country, and should be shipped
to Iraq, where they can see firsthand the bru
tality of Saddam's regime.
Furthermore, there comes a point when good
judgment and respect should overcome your
personal convictions. Think of how our troops
feel, the very ones willing to die for any one of
us, when they hear that Americans may not
believe in their cause.
The time for protest is over. Shut up and sup
port, or leave the United States. I quote Merle
Haggard in saying "If you're runnin' down my
country, man, you're walkin' on the fightin' side
of me."
Ryan K. Rosborough
Class of 2002
Brown looks to ACLU for help
though endorsed by Texamlner
Okay, so Ed Brown egregiously violates cam
pus campaign laws by accepting an endorse
ment from the far right-wing "Texaminer," and
who does he run to for legal help? Pat
Robertson's legal shock troops at the American
Center for Law and Justice? The "independently"
operated Young Americans for Freedom? No. He
goes to that bane of conservative existence, the
American Civil Liberties Union.
Perhaps the next time those "independent"
conservative voices (for those who don't know,
that alleged "journalistic" endeavor is one of
many projects funded by the far right)in the
"Texaminer" complain about the evils of the
ultra-liberal ACLU, they will keep this in mind.
How an SBP can forward the "Texaminers"'
conservative goals is lost on me anyway.
Perhaps they would pull out the campus wel
come mat, because of the way evils like diversi
ty have increased student awareness of the
world around them. Perhaps they will force
Aggies to carry a 3.0 average or higher so as not
to waste tax-payer dollars. In any event, while
the upholding of civil liberties is always impor
tant, those who opt to do so should be wary of
the potential for hypocrisy.
Nicolas Rangel Jr.
Lecturer/PhD Student
Department of Communication