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Opinion
The Battalion
Page 9 • Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Dropping
Grade forgiveness concept should be
F
oral least a year now, the Texas A&M
Student and Faculty Senates have
been considering a new grade policy,
tat nothing has been passed. Last spring,
llieproposed “Modified GPR Calculation
Resolution” was stopped just short of being
put into action, according to The Battalion.
Although the Faculty Senate passed it.
University President Robert M. Gates did
it because there were complica-
s that the implementation task force ran
, along with some dissension from some
Senate members. The resolution would
have allowed a student to drop a class in which he
hadreceived a ‘D’ or ‘F’ during the previous semes
ter, as long as he acts within 15
days of the following semester of
ibad grade.
This topic, however, hasn’t died
yet.Along with the resolution from
last year that’s still up in the air,
three concepts have been discussed.
Of these concepts, grade forgive
ness is the best fit for students.
As noted before, the first idea for
consideration is grade forgiveness,
where a student can just drop a poor
grade from his transcript. This is
great for getting rid of unwanted
grades and getting multiple chances
tostart with a clean slate. This con
cept is partly embedded in last
year's proposed “Modified GPR
Calculation Resolution.”
The second is grade replace
ment,where the student could replace a bad grade
wtahe retakes that class, instead of just averaging
outthe two grades. For example, say a student had
toretake a physics or calculus class. The first time
hegota'D,'the second time a ‘B.’ Instead of aver
aging the grades to get a ‘C’ for the class, he would
ilaway with a ‘B.’ This is fair because the stu-
denthasshown that he knows the material.
The third idea is changing the current Q-drop
policy so that a student may use a Q-drop at the
end of the semester. Pretend again that this stu-
dentisina chemistry class and is sitting uncom
an ‘F’ three weeks before the semes-
LHis instructor has set up the class where
(deiMisSO percent of the course grade. So if
can ace the final, he can wind up with
bad grades
incorporated into current Q-drop policy
DAVID
ECE
tfthe grade
forgiveness concept
was incorporated
into the Q-drop
policy, students
could erase a few of
those needless
dasses along with
their bad-grade
baggage.
a decent grade. With this new Q-drop pol
icy, he can sweat it out till the end of the
semester to see if he passes. If he doesn’t,
then he may Q-drop the class on the last
day of the semester.
The problem with all of these plans is
that they can easily lead to abuse.
Administrators and other critics say the pol
icy changes will encourage laziness. But
many students would say the University
should encourage success, not punish them
for a mess up during freshman year. Both sides
have a point.
Ideally, the grade forgiveness component
should be incorporated into the current Q-drop
policy. Pretend this time that a stu
dent is trying to get into graduate
school. As a freshman, he found
himself making a few ‘D’s as a
mechanical engineering major, so
he switched to business. Since
then, he has done well. He aspires
to get an MBA, but his freshman
past is coming back to haunt him.
Those classes he made ‘D’s in are
holding him down. They don’t
count for anything toward his
major, just extra hours that show
up on his transcript. But they are
lowering his GPA significantly
enough to where he might not be
able to fulfill his ambitions.
If the grade forgiveness concept
was incorporated into the Q-drop
policy, students could erase a few of
those needless classes along with their bad-grade
baggage. This new policy would help students suc
ceed, without encouraging students to be lazy
because they know that they only have a limited
number of Q-drops. If nothing else, at least the
“Modified GPR Calculation Resolution” from last
year should be pushed through and signed.
With Student Senate elections coming up, voters
should put pressure on senators to prove that they
really do represent the students and support a logi
cal new grade policy that helps students succeed.
David Ege is a junior
computer engineering major.
2004
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MAIL CALL
Persecution is questionable
In response to a Feb. 24 mail call:
Hound Mr. Moore's recent mail call in which he
tlaims that Christians are persecuted just as much
as homosexuals somewhat unconvincing. First of
ill, I question the accuracy of the statistics he quot-
id regarding the number of Christians killed in
1599, Although plenty of people mentioned it with
rarying numbers, I couldn't find the actual study
anywhere; no one bothered to reference the actual
we (other than saying it was from "Regent
taersity"). Perhaps Mr. Moore could send me a
copy, because I'd like to see their methods. The
we is also questionable, considering Regent
University is a Christian university run by Pat
fiobertson, one of the most fundamentalist
thristians in America. I would be much more willing
toaccept a study by an independent group.
Second, those numbers, if correct, would be
wldwide, not in America. They also say nothing
olhow many other groups are killed for their reli
gious beliefs. Regardless, the issue is persecution
inAmerica, and I apologize if I'm not sympathetic
toyour claims of persecution when almost every
political office is occupied by a Christian. If
Christians are being persecuted here, then it is by
other Christians.
Lastly, the difference between "straight pride" and
"jaypride" is in connotation. "Gay pride" events are
intended to teach tolerance, while "straight pride"
wntsare about being intolerant. A straight person
cangotoagay pride event and be accepted, while
ahomosexual attending a straight pride event would
keinsulted and told to leave.
Thatiswhya "straight pride" day is bigoted.
Adam Kemp
Class of2005
Gays want to marry gays
In response to a Feb. 23 mail call:
Your argument is absolutely ludicrous, and I won-
iler sometimes if people who support your position
tealize how absolutely hypocritical you are being.
Homosexuals don't want the right to marry.
Ihey want the right to legally marry the people
iotheylove. It is pointless and absolutely stupid
bfyouto say that a lesbian can marry a man, or
latagayman should marry a woman, because
iis is not who they love; this is not who they wish
to enter a committed relationship with. This is
iboutthe government saying what homosexuals
tan and cannot do.
Until recently, the government dictated what gays
)nd lesbians could and could not do in their own
komes, What they want now is the power of attorney
mdtostop hiding who they are because of bias. It's
lesaying that an African American cannot marry a
white person. Nowhere is there a legal basis for this
definition of marriage that you cling to and if you
pull it out of scripture, realize that there is a lot in
the law that Christians do not follow, and stop your
hypocrisy before you show it to the world.
Sarah Fremgen
Class of 2004
On March 9, Aggies should cast their vote for Dot
Snyder for Congress. When it comes to District 17,
we need a representative who will truly represent
our conservative values in Washington. As former
Waco ISD board president and member, she helped
take WISD from $3 million in the red to $14 million
in the black.
Dot Snyder’s work towards ending the practice of
social promotion in WISD served as the example
that then-Gov. George W. Bush used throughout
the state of Texas. She was also appointed, by
Bush, to the Texas Healthy Kids Corporation Board
of Directors where she helped return $9 million to
the taxpayers.
As a rancher, Dot Snyder is passionate about pro
tecting Second Amendment rights, private property
rights and permanently repealing the death tax. Dot
Snyder has a proven record of action with results
and is an unwavering pro-life conservative
Republican. Dot Snyder has the experience and wis
dom necessary to resolve the problems facing
District 17. I encourage all Aggies to cast their vote
for Dot Snyder.
Charlie Leal
Class of 2003
As a TAMU bus operator, I have noticed a few
things about campus that needed to be brought up.
Look both ways before you cross a street. This sim
ple rule should keep us from adding a name to the
Silver Taps list.
Now, we are all grownups and do not need to be
walked across the street, but we did learn in kinder
garten to look both ways before crossing and do not
step out into traffic. Also, for you bike riding Ags:
Remember that bicycles have to obey all pedestrian
and traffic laws. For example, STOP SIGNS. If you
are riding in the bicycle lane and a bus is unloading
or loading, please slow down or stop as to not mull
over a passenger, especially if the doors are open
and the flashers are on. These are common courte
sies you can convey to your fellow Ags. Simply put,
do not walk into traffic, and pay attention to what
your are doing.
L. Reynard
Class of 2005
Dot Snyder a good choice
Some courtesy rules to follow
Despite the criticism,
‘Passion’ is accurate
Movie doesn't smear Jews or distort facts
N ews of Mel Gibson’s much-antici
pated movie “The Passion of the
Christ” has been circulating for at
least a year, and just about everyone has
an opinion on it. A motion picture, some
thing as regular in America as hamburgers
and Coca-Cola, has taken on a fiercely
controversial atmosphere because of the
main character, Jesus Christ. The film is a
graphic portrayal of the last 12 hours of
Christ’s life, from his arrest to his trial and
subsequent execution. Many think the movie will
be one of the greatest cinematic epics of our day.
Others oppose its release, saying it might ruffle
the feathers of various religions.
Many of the attacks on the movie come from
the Jewish community. The Anti-
Defamation League, a Jewish
watch group, condemns the pro
ject’s “poisonous accusations”
saying that it is an inaccurate por
trayal of the events and will cause
animosity between the movie’s
viewers and members of the
Jewish faith. The contention is
that the movie portrays Jewish
people as largely responsible for
the environment and public opin
ion that led to Jesus’ execution,
and they say it is wrong.
This is an issue that the
Christian church has addressed in
the past. The Vatican, in an attempt
to foster respect and understanding
between the two faiths, issued an
opinion as part of the second
Vatican Council of the 1960s.
The Vatican said, “What happened in His passion
cannot be charged against all the Jews, without dis
tinction,- then alive, nor against the Jews of today.”
Clearly, its mandate, which everyone should
embrace, is that not all Jews in the world were
responsible then, and more importantly, the Jews
of today should not be held personally responsible
for events that occurred more than 2,000 years
ago. This principle is almost common sense and is
extended to many other groups in society today
such as descendants of slave holders or tyrannical
governments.
Sadly, these arguments miss the point of the
life and death of Jesus Christ.
“The Jesus of the Bible came into the world to
die,” said Matt Graham, Class of 2003.
“He died for the sins of all of mankind, so
in that light we are all equally responsible
for his death. It doesn’t matter who was
actually there that day.”
Mel Gibson agrees, saying in an inter
view with ABC news that he would be
first in line of people responsible for
Jesus’ death. In fact, the only place in the
movie where Gibson appears is when his
hand is shown in a close-up nailing Jesus’
hand to the cross, a deeply symbolic role.
The next logical step for attack is to say the
story that Mel Gibson followed in his development
of the script is not historical fact. The story in
question is the Biblical summary of Jesus’ life in
the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Unfortunately, this argument
hits a dead end here. The validity
of the gospels has been proven
repeatedly by historians and
archaeologists. In fact, there are
more than 100 times the number
of manuscripts of the Bible as
there are of the writings of
Aristotle, 99.5 percent of which
say the exact same thing, word-
for-word, according to
www.cann.org. This information
led Sir Frederic Kenyon in his
book “The Bible and
Archaeology” to summarize, “The
interval then between the dates of
original composition and the earli
est extant evidence becomes so
small as to be in fact negligible...
Both the authenticity and general integrity of the
books of the New Testament may be regarded as
finally established.”
With both the social acceptability and historical
accuracy of Mel Gibson’s movie verified, his film
should be viewed and meditated on rather than
attacked and feared. Since the original crucifiction
took place 2,000 years ago, Jesus has been the
most controversial figure in recorded history.
Aggies should see this movie for the purpose of
deciding for themselves whether they believe
Jesus is who he says he is. The real question is not
who killed Jesus, but instead, why did he die?
Joshua Langston is a senior
biology major.
JOSHUA
LANGSTON
With the social
acceptability and
historical accuracy of
Mel Gibson's movie
verified, his film
should be viewed
and meditated on
rather than attacked
and feared.