Forum
The Battalion
Page 6 • Friday, October 3,2(
Beyond race
International students help redefine
Texas A&M’s concept of diversity
W hen one thinks
of diversity,
the first
thought that often comes to
mind is related to race or
skin color, a misconception
that must be changed once
and for all by the Texas
A&M student body.
Diversity encompasses
much more than just skin
Julio Jana
color. It relates to everything from gender, age and
minority groups to the potential for intellectual
growth achieved in a higher education system.
When Vision 2020 brought a clearer definition of
diversity to the University, many argued that if
A&M implemented this idea, the University
would lose the sense of uniqueness upon which it
was founded. But what many fail to understand is
that diversity is not a new concept,
nor should it be.
Let’s not forget that one of the
greatest presidents to ever lead
this University, General Earl
Rudder, was also criticized dur
ing his term when he approved
women’s admittance into A&M.
Decades later, his decision has
proven to be one of the
University’s greatest changes. It
was certainly a challenge for
Rudder to promote diversity
then, and it remains a challenge
| their home countries and
their beloved ones to come
to a whole new world?
How often has an effort
been made to understand a
different point of view on
the world? There are many
things one could do to
increase his intellectual
potential and awareness of
world issues.
the International Student
a
It is up to us, the
students of A&M, to
help Gates make the
vision of a diverse
student body a
reality.
On behalf of
Association, I urge you to join us in promoting
international awareness during the third week of
November by wearing a piece of clothing or
jewelry of international origin. Our goal is for
you to educate others about the significance of
your article of clothing as well as the culture
from which it originates.
International students are here
for many reasons, but 1 believe
we all share the same willingness
to expose our international point
of view. We do this by sharing
our customs while at the same
time assimilating into the tradi
tions found at A&M without vio
lating the unique image the
University has held for so long.
We are all fortunate to be able
to exchange our experiences.
Let’s hold on to that feeling of
being part of one big family.
for our current president, Robert M. Gates, to
do the same now. It is up to us, the students of
A&M, to help Gates make the vision of a
diverse student body a reality.
More than 3,700 international students
attend A&M, and how many times has their
presence been acknowledged? How often has
anyone stopped to ask why they would leave
Together, we can make A&M not just one of the
top 10 universities in the country, but the best
university in the world.
International Student Association President
Julio Jana is a senior
agricultural economics major.
It's time tv act
tjour copu.
P ICKING UP your 2003
Aggielandyearbook is easy. If
you ordered a book, look for the
distribution table in front of the
Reed McDonald Building. (Goto
the Reed McDonald basement in
case of inclement weather.)
Please bring your Student ID. If
you did not order last year's
Texas A&M University yearbook
(the 2002-2003 school year), you
may purchase one for $40 plus
tax in Room 015 Reed McDonald.
Hours: 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday. Cash, check,
VISA, MasterCard, Discover and
American Express, Aggie Bucks
accepted.
2003 Aggieland
MAIL CALL
Religion should be
taught in schools
In response to a Sept. 24
mail call:
For nearly two weeks now
I’ve read the debates between
designer theory and evolu
tionary theory, and it occurs to
me that the real debate is
between science and religion.
On that note, there is a funda
mental concept many people
miss: Science is not religion.
Science is the study of the
world and universe around us,
and it gets its foundation from
constant observation and
testing. Science doesn’t men
tion a god or gods because
we have no observational ref
erence to ethereal concepts.
Does that mean that science
supercedes religion? Hardly,
but comparing the two is akin
to relating apples to oranges.
Teaching designer theory in
schools as science is, there
fore, the dumbest thing I’ve
ever heard. Should it be
taught anyway? I think so, but
not as science.
I never understood why reli
gion isn’t taught in school.
“Separation of church and
state” is a declaration that
those in charge won’t let their
own beliefs interfere with their
duty to take care of their con
stituents. However, I think if
people were educated in the
religious and social concepts
of different cultures we would
n’t see the violence between
religions that we see now.
Thomas Critz
Class of 2005
Atoning for the
actions of others
I recently wrote a letter to
The Battalion concerning a
theft of Aggie folding chairs
after the Utah game at the
RV lot.
On Saturday after the Pitt
game, a gray-haired gentle
man from Virginia said to me
“You must be Raul, who
wrote to The Battalion about
the chairs.” He told me th
Friday afternoon, a your
man named Chris ha
approached him and asked
he had two Aggie chairs
stolen during the Utah week
end. He responded “no,”how'
ever he had read the letter,
too. Chris, an Aggie, had
come to the RV lot with two
Aggie chairs that he was
going to give to me to replace
the ones stolen!
Thanks, Chris — I am glad
to see that at least one Aggie
respected the traditions of
Texas A&M and was willing
to atone for the misdeeds of
another.
I am sorry I did not get to
meet you. Of course, I would
not have accepted your offer,
as much as it was appreciat
ed. I have already replaced
the lost chairs, but I was real
ly hoping that the thief would
have felt bad enough to return
to the scene and return the
chairs — no questions asked,
as I had promised.
Raul G. Villaronga
Class of 1959
Cloth
T exas A&
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While the Univer:
ments over the ye
own support of sv
of Latin America
aren’t aware that :
are manufactured
If A&M is truly
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must play an activi
that continue to pr
The Memorial 5
A&M logos made l
According to the A
Industrial Organiza
other countries thrc
versity logos under
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Domingo in the D
work of up to 56 I
average baseball c
workers earn aroui
$1.50 in licensing
the pay at these fai
wages to provide f
ment’s own standa
A&M’s Athleti.t
uctsmade in repre
of Asia. According
shoe factory in Vie
they were forced t(
concluded that wot
the age of 25, worl
in deplorable work
their families.
Reasons for
In response to St
lam not offering
as an explanation
team win or lose
Saturday really did
thirddeck, there is
deck, nothing to bh
Many of the Agg
at halftime were ju:
to cool down and c
ond half. Two of th
leave at the begir
because they wen
that the medics in
you that they had £
Yes, Aggies do
however, it is also v
to point fingers at P'
the situation. For t
were losing, they £
ihose of you who tr
heat, thank you f
Aggie tradition.
Bus drivers
leave game!
I would like to spe
drivers who attend £
are not “two-pei
leave the game whe
in the fourth quarter
arrive at our buses a
when the final cann<
am sure every
ild be upset if t
after yell practice ai
e I understand
approximately 100 f
toward the end of th
fact when you
leaving the game.
Aggies are c
After reading Moi
further sickened
Pittsburgh. The mi
was how much ene
bashing other Aggie
school and environ
tions, and I’m not la
Monday’s articles,
d be exerted
ig apart. I staye
game, but only beca
to yell my loudest tf
seethe point in wieli
my fellow studenl
a few “red asses