Forum
The Battalion Page 4B • Thursday, February 19,2004
Cultures must
be accepted
Many students tend to attach labels and
stereotypes to international students. These
preconceived notions are often judgments of
others’ appearance, customs and beliefs. We
live in a society where such stereotypes are
extremely hard to overcome. In the United
States, we claim to live in an indivisible
nation; however, the reactions of some to
events such as Sept. 11 proves otherwise. We
must not mistreat individuals simply because JULIO
they resemble those who acted against us. It is Jana
our duty to strive for a better world where dis
crimination of no kind is accepted. As Aggies, we pursue an
individual education, surrounded by traditions that unite us into
one big family. It can be difficult to get acclimated in the
American culture. International students experience a variety of
feelings and reactions after they arrive in the United States.
These feelings vary from long lasting euphoria to acute depres
sion. But, when arriving in a welcoming environment, most do
tend to get acquainted with the “new” culture more rapidly and
comfortably. As Aggies, we should try to always provide a
happy and welcoming place for internationals. Together we
must work to change our campus’ environment to a better place
where we will judge and be judged by the content of our char
acter rather than our skin color, clothing or beliefs.
Stereotypes are indeed hard to overcome. They exist, in this
case, due to the lack of understanding of other cultures. We are
fortunate to be part of an institution that strives for diversity and
unites more than 120 countries as the Texas A&M student body.
Emphasizing demonstrations and incentives such as the recent
March for Diversity show international students that they are
welcome and that Aggies are reaching out to them rather than
making judgments based on where they come from. To further
support international awareness among us, the International
Student Association is proudly sponsoring an entire week of
events to expose the many cultures represented here at the
University. The affair will target all audiences, especially those
who wish to overcome cultural stereotypes, by personally expe
riencing the art and individuality of various cultures. During the
first week of March, events such as the talent show, Dress
Parade, International Buffet and Cultural Display will be the
main channel of communication used by international students
to reach out to the community in an attempt to share their cul
tures and hopefully break down wrongful stereotypes. For more
information on about International Week, please visit:
www.tamu.edu/isa. ISA has brought and will continue to bring
students together, promoting respect and international aware
ness for all.
Julio Jana is a junior
agricultural economics major.
MAIL CALL
Snapshot served no
purpose for students
In response to Evan O’Connell’s Feb.
17 photograph:
I am disappointed with the inappropri
ateness displayed in the photograph
shown. It was unnecessary and served
no useful purpose to students of Texas
A&M to see a picture of the police officer
carrying the weapon with which he was
killed. That is not the Aggie way of being
respectful to a fellow student who passed
away, regardless of the cause, or means
used. Christopher will and should be
honored with the same regards as every
other student who has passed away.
Please remember that while it may be
The Battalion’s responsibility to report the
news, it is also the responsibility to be
mindful of appropriateness of pictures
included with the articles.
Katy Robertson
Class of 2004
Photograph portrayed
situation accurately
Authors of Feb. 18 mail calls suggest
ing that The Battalion was insensitive to
have shown a picture of a wrapped
weapon being carried away from the
Southside garage are unjust.
It is sad and disheartening that
Christopher Lawler chose to take his
own life, but the picture shown is a vivid
truth of the reality that it depicts. To show
a picture of a bright and lively individual
would not be true to the incident.
The Battalion should not be criticized
for its betrayal of reality if for no other
reason than the deterrent factor that this
picture and pictures like it present. It
sends a message to others who would
err in suicide that your actions will be
shown to be as they are — unflattering,
debasing and cowardly.
Furthermore, The Battalion article itself
reached out to those who may have been
harmed psychologically by Lawler’s death.
Those who say The Battalion has a lust for
morbidity must have overlooked the large
front-page picture of Girl Scouts and the
articles on diversity, Barbara Bush and
scholarships. If the Aggie Family really
wanted to support those who need it dur
ing this difficult time, they would do best to
divert their energies from whining to con
soling the bereaved and reaching out to
those who might end up with a picture of
their own demise on the front page.
Dalton Vann
Class of 2002
Morbid image was
taken out of context
The Battalion’s coverage of Christopher
Lawler’s death was not inappropriate in
any way. The decision to use the photo
of the police officer carrying the firearm
used by Lawler was not in bad taste.
Would one accuse his local news sta
tion of immoral reporting if it aired
footage of a murder scene swarming
with squad cars and bound in police
tape? I think not. Did the same Aggies
who wrote in complaining about the
cover photo find it absurd that newspa
pers across the globe showed the knife
from the O.J. Simpson murder case in
their pages? I think not.
The Battalion is doing its job. The pho
tos used for Lawler’s death and the
deaths of previous Aggies depict the
awful truth of suicide: It happens, and it
can happen on our streets and in our
residence halls. The Battalion’s job is
not to paint a pretty picture of Aggieland,
and it does not have a “lust for morbidity.”
If anything, I’d think our paper has a lust
for serving Aggies truthfully and report
ing the news.
Aaron Alford
Class of 2005
Diamond Darlings
should support team
I came back to College Station last
weekend for the opening weekend of
Aggie Baseball, and I was severely dis
appointed. Not with the team, the team
did awesome. I wasn’t even disappointed
with the weather ... well, maybe a little
bit, but at least it was dry. I was disap'
pointed with the Diamond Darlings.
After the final game of the weekend, as
we exited Olsen Field, the Diamond
Darlings were stationed at the gates to
“hand out promotional items” (as stated
as one of their duties on the
sports.tamu.edu Web site) in theformol
posters: posters of the Diamond
Darlings. Correct me if I’m wrong, but
isn’t the purpose and mission of the
Diamond Darlings to promote Aggie
Baseball? Then why in the world were
you handing out posters with picturesot
yourselves on them?
Granted, it did have the baseball
schedule printed on it, but it was barely
noticeable if one wasn’t looking for it! I
didn’t drive more than four hours from
Corpus Christi to sit in 30 degree weath
er and yell until I lost my voice to seethe
Diamond Darlings.’ I came back to
Aggieland to see the baseball team beat
the hell outta TAMU-Corpus Christi.
Christy Chan
Class of 2002
Wohlgemuth is the
candidate for Aggies
In response to Anthony Woolstrum's
Feb. 11 article:
I choose Wohlgemuth, an Aggie mom,
for Congress.
Wohlgemuth has appeared on Texas
Monthly’s top 10 best legislators list for
helping balance the state budget with no
tax increase. Wohlgemuth saved the
state $1.1 billion as the state legislature
was trying to get rid of a $9.9 billion
budget shortfall.
In addition to being an effective con
servative legislator, Wohlgemuth is no
stranger to Texas A&M. She has two
daughters and a son-in-law who have
graduated from here. She understands
the values and traditions that makefe
university great.
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Class
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SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
Navah Perlman, pianist
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Rudder Auditorium
TICKETS: 845-1234
or www.MSCOPAS.com
LAGNIAPPE LECTURE SERIES:
Join us for an informal discussion previewing the concert!
Part of The OPAS Guild’s Patricia S. Peters Lagniappe
Lecture Series, the discussion will be held prior to the
performance at 6:30 PM in the Forsyth Center Galleries
of the Memorial Student Center.
MSC
OPAS
buy tickets,
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