Opinion
The Battalion
Page 9 • Monday, February 16, 2004
Defeating discrimination
uult of homosexual man on Northgate mars A&M with an atmosphere of hate
JON
STEED
IE BATTAUDi
loma guon
turday.
ER
ooo
r EEKLY
r est, Bryn
i-0999
rHRUSUNM
ts
ecently, a former Texas
A&M student was attacked
on Northgate simply because
iewas gay. Though the assault was
mprovoked and clearly motivated
(iitofhate for people who are or
ippear to be gay, nobody attempted
lassist him. Instead, according to
((victim, people actually drove by
puraging such violence, an
rlion reprehensible to anyone with
limon decency.
Those who listen to or read the news have heard of
ihattacks taking place around the nation. The most
d-known hate crime involving homosexuals
(ccurred in 1998 against a young college student
led Matthew Shepard. Shepard was tied to a
min Laramie, Wyo., pistol-whipped and left for
tad in the freezing night. Six days later, he died of
ijuries resulting from the attack. While the
ioithgate incident didn’t result in death or even any
fethreatening injuries, the message of fear and
tasment it sent to the gay and lesbian community
lA&M is clear: You are not wanted in Aggieland.
The attack represents blatant ignorance about
not only human rights in general, but also about
rlatitmeans to be an Aggie and how students
tending A&M should treat others. Freshmen
tending New Student Conferences are taught in
igemeetings and forums that Aggieland is a com-
mmity of respect. The reason so many students
tbsetogo to A&M is because of its reputation as
jfhendly campus. The actions of the two men who
laded the former student contradict the values and
beliefs that make A&M what it is.
According to the FBI, there were more than 1,500
latecrimes committed against homosexuals in the
year2000. While statistics for the last few years are
still being reviewed as cases are investigated and
through the legal system, this number
probably hasn’t changed much. But 1,500 hate
isf,500 too many. People seem to think that
these sorts of incidents happen somewhere far away from their
community. Yet, the disturbing fact remains that the attack
against the gay former student happened at A&M’s front door.
In a society and democracy that upholds equality, lib
erty and justice, such attacks must be prevented in the future.
Regardless of whether people think homosexuality is moral,
every person who values the principles of human rights, such as
those championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Ghandi,
must do their part to make sure hate crimes never happen in our
community again
However, some questions still remain. Where were the police
when this attack happened? Surely their time would be
better spent monitoring the activities taking place on
Northgate, where excessive alcohol consumption can
lead to bar fights and even hate crimes, than hand
ing out noise citations and MIPs.
Furthermore, why didn’t anyone stop and help this
person? Instead, people drove by encouraging the
aggressors as they attacked the victim. If people stand
by and watch such an attack take place and refuse to
offer aid or at the very least alert law enforcement, they
are aiding and abetting the crime itself.
If people attend A&M partly because of its friendly
atmosphere of respect and integrity, they must do their
part to make sure that environment remains. Ignoring
such incidents not only demolishes the good reputa
tion A&M has as a friendly campus, but it also sends a
message to those who would discriminate against oth
ers of different sexual orientations that their violent
actions are tolerable.
As Aggies, students need to do their part to help
A&M keep the amiable tone it has. As Americans, citi
zens need to speak out against all types of hate crimes and
violence. By working with local law enforcement, the
owners of bars and restaurants along Northgate and other
members of the student body, Aggies across this campus
can send a strong message that hate might be tolerated in
other parts of the world, whether in Iran or in Wyoming, but
that it will not be tolerated on our campus.
Jon Steed is a senior
political science major.
Graphic by Rylie Deyoe
MAIL CALL
"1
15 , v ^representations abound
| In response to a Feb. 13 article:
1 The Feb. 13 Battalion article on SGA's
I teion to withdraw its co-sponsorship for
1 fieFeb. 18 "Compelling Interest" diversity
I rallycontains numerous misrepresentations
i ollbe facts.
Vj As members of the planning committee for
. ^ lerally, we categorically deny the allegation
| made by a student senator that the Faculty
I Committed to an Inclusive Campus (FCIC) had
| a'bidden agenda."
| Ourgoalfrom the outset was, and still is, to
II plan and coordinate a broad-based rally in
• | support of diversity.
I Our rally is not in opposition to President
I Cates; indeed, we have worked with the upper
1 idministration as we planned the event, and
| fe President James Anderson is scheduled
I)make remarks prior to the unity march at 3
J pin. More than 30 other campus groups and
organizations are co-sponsoring the rally.
Please do not allow inaccurate information or
false rumors to discourage you from participat-
ogin the event. Join the rally and march on
Feb. 18, and help show the world that the
Texas A&M community is committed to a
diverse and welcoming campus environment.
Brenda Bethman, Coordinator of the
Women's Center
Harris Berger, Associate Professor of
Performance Studies
Joseph Jewell, Assistant Professor of
Sociology
Larry Oliver, Professor of English
Religion really unimportant
There is simply no connection between the two.
For evidence see Hitler (Christian), or Gandhi
(non-Christian). The religion of a candidate
should never be considered in an election.
Adam Kemp
Class of 2005
Wohlgemuth a bad choke
When Aggies go to the polls March 9, they
should shy away from Arlene Wohlgemuth.
Wohlgemuth is no friend to A&M and has voted
against students multiple times, voting for the
bill to deregulate tuition and the appropriations
bill cutting state funding.
Wohlgemuth was ranked twice, in 1997 and
1999, by Texas Monthly Magazine as one of the
10 worst Legislators. They said, “Arlene
Wohlgemuth, whose name is enshrined in the
legislative hall of infamy as the symbol of wan
ton, pointless destruction,” and “She violated
the spirit of civility of the Legislature.”
Lastly, Arlene Wohlgemuth wrote the bill that
cut over 100,000 low-income children of work
ing parents from the health insurance roles.
Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, asked her,
“You cut 130,000 kids off (the health insurance
program). Are you proud of that? That we can
fund roads and the governor's program, but we
can't fund kids' — poor kids' — insurance? Are
you embarrassed by that at all?"
"No, not at all," Wohlgemuth answered,
according to the San Antonio Express-News.
As a “symbol of wanton destruction,” and a
fighter against poor children and university stu
dents, Aggies should unite against candidate
Wohlgemuth.
Robert Edmonson
Class of 2007
In response to a Feb. 12 column:
vef
Mr. Sain’s article about politicians using reli-
Sioo for personal gain fell short of the whole
problem. First, you complain about people who
Jretend to be religious just to get votes, and
tien you imply that voters should care about
»bat religion a candidate is. Unfortunately, the
inly reason candidates do pretend to be more
'eligious is because of people like you who vote
irthe most religious person regardless of the
ssues. We live in a society where it is impossi-
fefor a non-religious (notice how I didn't say
inti-religious; they're not the same) person to
jetelected. This is very sad. Instead of com-
ttng about politicians pretending to be reli-
jous, why don't you tell people to pay attention
ole issues so that the candidates don't have
fa pretend?
There is nothing inherently wrong with a non-
faligious or non-Christian candidate. Once
%e for the record: Christianity does not imply
Wily; morality does not imply Christianity;
Morality does not imply non-Christianity; and
^•Christianity does not imply immorality.
Goodbye, Coach Watkins
It's very simple: Any time a team goes 0-9 in
conference play, it is time to reevaluate the
coach's position. The fact that this campus was
in an uproar over Coach Slocum's job last
year, yet the cries for Coach Watkins' head are
silent is appalling.
If A&M is ever going to achieve Vision 2020,
it is going to have to be without Coach
Watkins.
Clinton McCoy
Class of 2005
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 opin
ion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length,
style and accuracy. Letters may be submitted in per
son 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: (979) 845-2647 Email:
mailcall@thebattalion.net. No attachments accepted.
Many problems with
proposed fee increase
A fter the $9 per credit hour
tuition increase that went into
effect in January, students may
have stifled their complaints with the
hope that they had seen the end of esca
lating tuition bills, at least for their
time at Texas A&M.
Unfortunately, it may only be the
beginning.
On Jan. 27, University President
Robert M. Gates announced a proposal
to increase tuition in the fall by 21 percent, total
ing about $300 more for a 14-hour semester.
When the motivations and reasoning behind
the proposed tuition increase are examined, it
seems obvious that faulty logic and ignorant
blind-sightedness toward Vision 2020 are at the
root of the problem.
The additional tuition funds would mostly
be put toward increasing the number of faculty
and encouraging diversity, but a large chunk of
it will go toward scholarships,
the foremost one a “Regent
Scholar Program.” The program
guarantees $5,000 a year for stu
dents who are first generation
college students and whose par
ents make less than $40,000
annually, according to The
Houston Chronicle.
While the scholarship does
provide substantial relief for
some, it cuts off others who may
need scholarships just as badly,
granting preference based on
factors that one cannot control.
Many students who come from
middle class families do not
qualify for need-based scholar
ships but still struggle to pay
tuition and are now left with few options. The
$2.8 million allotted to Regent Scholar students
would better serve the majority by lessening
the tuition burden for all.
In his Jan. 27 presentation. Gates stated that
the University’s main areas of focus would be
faculty, students, diversity and space. Closer
examination of these admirable goals reveals
the money spent on diversity initiatives could
be invested in the hiring of faculty.
Diversity, in theory, is not a bad thing. It is
the skewed definition that Gates and other
administrators have of diversity that creates a
problem for the students whose money goes to
pay for the recruitment of a designated racial
group. True diversity through majors, home
towns, cultures, talents and backgrounds is
favorable to all. Racial diversity should be the
overflow of that, not the target.
Gates attempted to soften the blow
of the increase by pointing out that 70
percent of A&M students receive some
form of financial aid. This fact only
confirms the dramatic effect the
increased tuition would have. If 70 per
cent of students already need financial
aid to pay their tuition and bills, the
escalating prices will only worsen the
problem. The majority of those who
receive financial aid do so in the form
of student loans. The tuition increase would
add more debt to be paid off, but with interest.
The other large group of financial aid recipi
ents is student workers. If administrators
expect student workers to pay 21 percent more
for tuition, their salaries should increase pro
portionately.
While it is clear that A&M does have a
need to increase the number of tenured faculty
members, doing so only to improve A&M’s
rankings among similar colleges
is frivolous. The constant com
parison with other large state
universities is meaningless
unless Gates addresses the needs
of A&M students as his utmost
priority.
In his Jan. 27 presentation,
Gates attempted to justify the
increase by comparing tuition
prices with A&M’s counterparts,
but overlooked the fact that the
tuition increase will cause cur
rent students to pay for improve
ments to the University while
most of them will not directly
receive any of the benefits.
Unfortunately for underclass
men, Gates is not done. Had it
not been for the students on the Tuition
Advisory Council requests, the increase would
have been more drastic. An increase for 2005
has already been mentioned.
When Texas legislators chose to deregulate
tuition this summer, they simultaneously prom
ised not to slap students with dramatic tuition
increases. Unfortunately, the situation is out of
their control due to the power given to the
Board of Regents, which will vote on the
tuition increase March 25-26.
Should the Regents choose to implement the
increase, students will not only have been lied
to, but will be forced to pay for changes they
didn’t request.
Sara Foley is a junior
journalism major.
SARA
FOLEY
If 70 percent of
students already
need financial aid
to pay their tuition
and bills, the
escalating prices
will only worsen
the problem.