Forum
H
The Battalion
The road ahead
Page 4B • Thursday, March 4,20
A worthwhile debati
Many issues that affect students’ lives
remain unresolved this semester
Gay marriage discussions are need?
MATT
JOSEFY
A s the spring semester
approaches the halfway
point, questions and
evaluations of the year begin.
This past weekend, nearly
600 delegates from 106 schools
and 37 states converged at
Texas A&M for the Conference
On Student Government
Associations, one of the largest
student-run conferences in the
nation. After visiting with other student body
presidents, 1 left with a sense of gratitude for
what we have in terms of student involvement
and representation at our University.
A list of our accomplishments will soon be
available on the Web site, http://sga.tamu.edu,
but more importantly, we as a student body must
look at the critical issues that will face us the
rest of our time at A&M.
1.) Traditions: For the remainder of the
semester, saying “Howdy,” attending Muster,
Silver Taps and Parents’ Weekend are absolute
musts. Being a part of the Twelfth Man at the
remaining sporting events is also important. A
critical part of this is creating a welcoming envi
ronment for all students.
2.) Faculty Search Processes: While students
will sit on few search committees, it is vital
that they play a role in the hiring of faculty.
More than 400 faculty are to be hired in the
next four years, which could drastically alter
faculty attitudes toward student involvement,
traditions, classroom teaching and individual
student relationships. It is imperative that stu
dents approach department heads about being a
part of breakfasts or lunches during candidates’
visits to campus.
3.) Vice President of Student Affairs: The
search committee will announce dates to meet
potential candidates.
4.) Built Environment: As evidenced with
Hotard and Cain Halls, there are decisions being
made now about the future of the campus.
Reviewing the Campus Master Plan displayed
on the first Boor of Rudder Tower and viewing
the reallocation documents on its Web site will
give ideas of buildings that could be constructed
or modified in the future. The future of Leggett
Hall is one issue that may arise.
5. ) Student Service Fee: It is important to
know the details of the issues students vote on
when a referendum occurs during the student
body elections.
6. ) Diversity and Recruitment: We must
assess the perceptions and realities of A&M's
receptiveness and welcoming of the most quali
fied high school students from across the state
and continue conversations on how this can best
be accomplished. We must convince Texas that
A&M is the best place to get a higher education
and that we welcome the most qualified students
into our learning community.
7. ) Bonfire Memorial Dedication: On Nov.
18, we will dedicate what will be a permanent
place on the campus landscape to remember the
students who etched a place on the landscape of
so many hearts.
8. ) Parking: If we don’t reassess parking,
there’s no assurance that we wouldn't lose spots
to newly hired faculty. Please talk to Residence
Hall Association or Student Senate representa
tives to learn more.
9. ) Communication: We are an empowered
student body, but we still have tremendous room
for improvement in communicating and acting
on issues of importance. The student body must
pay attention to issues that affect the
University’s future, not just pay attention when
something affects us directly.
I invite you to send me an e-mail at
sbp(2)tamu.edu with your concerns and sugges
tions about any topic as we approach the home
stretch of what has been an outstanding year.
JOSH
PESCHEL
L ast month, a Texas
A&M graduate student
and his partner walked
into the Brazos County
courthouse to request a mar
riage license. They were
kindly refused but are not
alone. Incidents such as this,
with many being successful,
have been occurring across
the United States, and it is
leading the country into a debate of historic
significance. Some A&M students have
claimed to be tired of the constant mentioning
of same-sex marriage; yet the reality is, this
debate has only begun.
Regardless of your current
views, we as students and cit
izens must be willing to
openly and thoroughly dis
cuss this issue.
As a married student, the
issue hits close to home. My
wife and I have been married
for more than a year, and we
have enjoyed our time togeth
er, along with the rights and
responsibilities that accompa
ny our union. We have per
sonally engaged in the ability
to make medical decisions for
(4.
Those students who
choose to be disengaged
from the debate or use
personal religious beliefs
as their sole argument
are committing the
greatest sin of all.
mony. Subchapter E of the same code
a procedure for us to become legally marriti
Texas without a formal marriage ceremony.
Citizens are fortunate that the state ofTe»
cannot legally discriminate against them if
do not want children, or if one possessesd
ferent or perhaps no religious beliefs at all.
In the end. this is a legal debate with an
obvious religious component. Those studen
who choose to be disengaged from the debs
or use personal religious beliefs as theirsoli
argument are committing the greatest sinoti
They are using God as a political tool tofu
ther their own religious beliefs. Traditional
social conservatism adamantly opposes go«
ment intervention on the
topic of same-sex tnarria«i
A common sentiment is
the government to restrici
same-sex marriage while
maintaining strong opposi;
to government involvemet!
Replacing the term ‘same-
sex’ with ‘interracial’
an equivalent sentimenttk
reminds us of a recent past
There is no doubt
same-sex marriage isconei
versy, but it is a discussion
that we must all be
take part in. As students,«i
Afatt Josefy is student body president.
one another, the opportunity to have an equal
share in jointly held property and the legal
right to take a leave of absence from work to
care for the other when a serious illness occurs.
These are only three instances from more than
1,000 federal rights and responsibilities for
which my wife and I are now automatically eli
gible, simply by signing our marriage license.
When my wife and I decided to get married,
having children was a shared goal. We also
wanted to have a religious marriage ceremony.
Many consider these as prerequisites for mar
riage, but we were never able to locate either
on our marriage license. Furthermore, Chapter
2, Section 2.205 (a) of the Texas Family Code
expressly prevents any religious discrimination
by the person who conducts a marriage cere-
have chosen A&M as a path of educationfoi
learning and growth which should take us
beyond the boundaries of our previous etpei
ences and expectations. Your very
toward the outcome of this issue could affec
the future lives and well-being of a family
member or another Aggie. We mustalsobe
cognizant that this is the United States. lf»:
were anywhere else in the world wherechun
and state officials are not separate, this cok
and your responses to it might not even be
allowed.
Josh Peschel isf/rntda
of the Gmduate Studeni Gun
A-
T
I sa
iec
U.S.
newt
catioi
polici
Clinh
millk
natioi
expar
the fn
Unfoi
chanp
outso :
Ne
Presic
the jo
jobs tl
the si;
indust
cheap
Many
the lai
Party
is no s
0fBU!
recent
eood I
v Ms
Amen
lost th
salon.i
aren’t
servici
persor
instru(
is age
ing to
of job
being
Qualifying you to specialize in Podiatric Medicine
You ’re considering a career in medicine
but want to do something a little different.
Consider the exciting field of podiatric
medicine. Whether managing your own
practice or working in a hospital or clinic,
as a podiatric physician you will be able
to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases,
disorders, and injuries to the foot and.
ankle. Barry University is one of only two
podiatry programs nationwide affiliated
with a comprehensive university. So, you
benefit from extensive research facilities,
our unique hospital and medical center
affiliations, and excellent opportunities
for residency programs and externships
from coast-to-coast. Visit us online at
www.barry.edu/podiatrie to learn more
about how we can help you succeed in a
career in podiatric medicine.
monsh
officer
in the
risk. R
relinqi
where you belong
BARRY
UNIVERSITY