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The Battalion
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Friday, September 5,2d 1
A&M must strive for change
N ever before at Texas A&M has there
been a time in which students have
had as much opportunity to make a
lasting impact on its future as right now.
There have been a number of marked changes
throughout
A&M’s history, Editor’s Note: This is the
including a name first in a series of columns
change and the written by student leaders.
admission of These columns will run
women and each Friday on the Forum
minority stu- page.
dents. There
have been years that produced new traditions,
and we fondly recall those classic Aggie stories,
stories of the 12th Man and, more recently,
Maroon Out. There have been University presi
dents, including Lawrence Sullivan Ross and
General Earl Rudder, whose contributions will
never be forgotten.
But the first few years of the 21st century will
make an indelible impact on the future of our
University, and we’re right in the middle of it.
University President Robert M. Gates is fin
ished with his rookie season
and has his running shoes
laced up and ready to go.
While a university is per
petually in a state of flux,
the attitude of change per
meates all facets from aca
demia to student services
and from student involve
ment to athletics, which is
most visible with several
Matt Joscfy
new head coaches and a new athletics director.
In the midst of change, students must seize
an open window to speak up. Students will sit
on at least four major search committees, from
deans in geosciences, libraries and A&M at
Qatar to the vice president of student affairs.
Students will have the opportunity to work with
the vice president and associate provost for
diversity in shaping the initiatives and success
of this newly established position
Students should seek ways to play an inte
gral role in the hiring of more than 400 new fac
ulty before the Class of 2007 graduates.
Others will give input on
how to improve aspects of
Transportation Services,
including a potential over
haul of the parking plan.
The Campus Master Plan
will provide a roadmap for
additional construction that
students should give close
attention. Furthermore, we
must carefully evaluate and
speak up on the budget concerns, requests and
information presented as possible tuition
increases or fees are proposed.
With these opportunities comes a tremen
dous amount of responsibility. If we fail to
come together, we will have failed not only our
selves but those who will follow us. All of us
have a unique viewpoint and response to every
situation. Therefore, being educated on all of
these issues is critical. Go to the Student
Government Association Web site
(sga.tamu.edu) and read about some of the
issues at hand. Communication must be an
underlying t
heme f
or ail
stu
dents and siiii
leaders. Fill
out sug
gestio
n ai
td comment a
around canif
>us. E-i
n a|
ppropriate stu:
leader or adn
ninistra
tor if y
ou
have ideas or&;
to improve a
situatic
)ll.
Any stude
rnt can <
ETOmpli
lin
or be frustraif.
is essential
that th
is yea
ir*s
students due
their concert
is throu
igh the
■ rij
*ht avenues. Ii,
do our home
work, ’
which
is i
not a referenc;
the problems
i assign
ed in <
:las
s. we will he a
to convey 01
r s in a
1 w
ay that result.j
action and in
ifluence
While it i;
s norma
tl to fo
CUH
on our own sL
circles of inf
lucncc i
and ge
t be
>gged downira
individual ta;
sks and
respor
isib
dines, wchavq
obligation to
i think
about
the
global issue-
our campus.
Our ma
irk on
can
ii pus can bet?i
deeper than a
i name <
:arved
on
a desktop, so :
get started.
Student Body President Man
is a senior accounting *.
Stud
w
forced to m
people wen
department
the Dairy C
architecture
have enrolh
and the agri
a scare earl
mented, the
pinch as tht
As A&M
the Universi
ones getting
dents across
attempt to o
And stuc
Students
shortfalls; t
blamed on i
MAIL CALL
Bus Ops forced to change service
In response to Sept. 3 mail call:
I am a former employee of “Bus Ops,” now called Transit Services,
and I find the Sept. 3 mail call uncalled for. To set things correct, it
is not Transit Services that is implementing the bike racks, it is
Transportation Services. These bike racks are well needed and long
overdue. Secondly, with a University-wide mandatory budget cut,
Transit Services had no say in its reduction of operating expenses.
Like any other business or department, Transit had to reduce its
expenditures to comply with the budget cut. Weekend services
were not cost effective and were actually costing Transit Services
money, and in the long run they were costing students. Transit is
doing its best to help students and is always more then willing to
hear every student’s opinion.
Cooper Lumsden
Class of 2002
Designated driver stereotype offensive
In response to the Sept. 4 Dunn Boyz comic strip:
The Battalion is normally filled with inspiring and praiseworthy
articles, but on Thursday my viewpoint of the entire paper was tar
nished by the ideas expressed in one comic strip. Will Lloyd's “Dunn
Boyz” made a mockery of the moralistic act of designated driving.
His attempt to give advice for “partying on your first Thursday night
at college” took a stab at a group of people whom this community
is in desperate need of. The cartoon’s third tip was to find “nerds,
geeks, and guys who got suckered into staying with their high
school girlfriends.” To stereotype this giving group of individuals in
this manner is uncalled for. Without designated drivers, this town
would have even more drunks on the roads than it already does.
Designated drivers should be commended, not ridiculed.
Gerod Rush
Class of2005
state legisla
College-;
Wasting students' time and money I groups Dur
'SMjSflH 24-year-old;
I am currently a Spanish 101 student. We were informed*-* llaivarc * 1 11
every student who has had any Spanish class in high schoo*:® t,cnts sa y 1,1
pay $25 and take a placement test to see if we should be mw:H voter P^'tici
to the second level of Spanish classes. Why would we pay a;: fhe state
imately $300 to take Spanish 101 if we didn't need tt7l0Qrtifl altect ''tude
the head of the department of Modern and Classical Languao; fl creativity to
find out. His response was that some students took Spanishf f offered pub
school and are only in Spanish 101 to get an A. 1 make up tin
I had Spanish six years ago and I don’t remember more thar J Students
to say hello and goodbye, and many of us don’t have an extra;
just lying around and an extra two hours to spend staring a! at' •
that we have no idea how to read. And most of the tests areofe
at only one time. Why should I W3St0 my time and money? I k !
the department will rethink this ridiculous policy.
Loren 0 ■
Class of % ‘
Feeding 5000 and Shamrock
Fall Fraternity Recruitment Concert
Friday, September 5 th 5:30 p.m.
Rudder Fountain
■ Find out about the Fraternities of Aggieland
■ Consistently higher GPA than all men’s average
■ incredible leadership opportunities
■ Make lifelong friendships
■ All but two US Presidents since 1900 were Greek
■ 85% of Fortune 500 Executives are Greek
■ 75% of the US Congress is Greek
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Call us-> (979)862-5636
E-mail us-> greeklife@tamu.edu
Register on-line -> http://greeklife.tamu.edu
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PG laTPARENTS STRONGLY CAPTIONED
Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13
~CRUDE& SEX RELATED HUMOR, LANGUAGE 8 DHUG REFERENCES U
For rating reasons, go to www.filmratings.com
MinflllFsIIlllE
SOUNDMACK MfiUM AVAIIABIE ON HOUYUIOOD RECORDS
DickieRoberts.com
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IN THEATRES SEPT. 5
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