—
EDITORIAL
Answering the call
Aggies should remember fallen
fellow students at Muster
Of all of the deeply rooted and admirable Texas A&M tradi
tions, the call to Muster is one tradition that touches the
hearts of all Aggies. Muster is an annual event that calls for
the remembrance of all fallen Aggies. As in years past where
the country has been involved in international conflict, Muster
takes on a special role this year as it reminds us that Aggies
are currently giving their lives for their country.
Today, Aggies at home and abroad will embrace each other
as they remember their fallen classmates and comrades.
In addition to Muster, there are other Aggie traditions that
have special meaning during a time of war. The campus is rich
when it comes to reminding its visitors how committed Aggies
have been now and in the past to serving their country.
The Corps of Cadets is where many Aggies who are serv
ing in Iraq right now began their military careers. There are liv
ing memorials such as the Memorial Student Center for all
those Aggies who have served and died in combat. In addi
tion, the trees surrounding Simpson Drill Field as well as the
flags on top of Kyle Field stand to honor the Aggies who died
in World War I. One does not have to look far to see the
abounding honor and service associated with this University.
Muster, as well as many other A&M traditions, will remind us
all not only of the Aggies who have fallen but of the ones who
are currently giving their lives in battle. It is our responsibility
as members of this University to always hold in our hearts the
memories of those Aggies who have lost their lives and to
take this time to revere the A&M tradition of service and duty
to country.
The Battalion
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor in Chief
Managing Editor
Opinion Editor
Metro Editor
Elizabeth Webb
Kendra Kingsley
George Deutsch
Melissa Sullivan
Opinion Asst.
Member
Member
Member
Matt Rigney
Collins Ezeanyim
David Shoemaker
Chris Lively
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 opinion editor
reserves the right to edit letters for length, style and accuracy. Letters may be sub
mitted in person 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 77843-1 111. Fax: (979) 845-2647 Email: mailcall@thebattalion.net
Opinion
The Battalion
Page 9 * Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Riding the rail
High-speed rail line would benefit the Brazos Valley
O n May 10, 1869,
the first transcon
tinental railroad
was completed, thus lay
ing the tracks for a new
era in American trans
portation. Over the past
135 years, the method of
traveling by train in the
United States has largely
been abandoned to give
way to travel by air and by car. Now in
2004, there are hopes of resurrecting this
great lost method of travel.
The April 13 Battalion reported the pos
sibility of completing a high-speed rail
from Killeen to Houston approximately 20
years from now. According to the Texas
High Speed Rail and Transformation
Corporation (THSRTC) the Killeen-
Houston rail would be part of the “Texas
T-Bone” which would connect San
Antonio, Austin, Fort Hood, Killeen, Waco
and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There are
numerous economic, social, academic and
practical benefits that can come from the
completion of such a project.
Currently, unless one drives excessive
ly over the speed limit, it takes approxi
mately 90 minutes to reach the western
edge of Houston from College Station. It
is projected, however, that a high-speed
rail system could shorten travel time to a
mere 20 minutes.
This alone would help A&M and
College Station by allowing more people
to come to the community for leisure,
especially sporting events, and would also
increase faculty base. Someone in the
Houston area could work at A&M without
the hassle of moving, even if they were
currently employed at another university.
There are many dedicated Aggies who
would love to attend A&M home football
games and other sporting events.
However, many times the travel can be
too tedious and prevents them from com
ing to the games. The proposed rail sys
tem would make their trip much easier
and, in turn, since more people will come
to the games, Kyle Field and the Twelfth
Man will grow. It is also important to
keep in mind that the students at A&M
now are the ones who would be using and
enjoying a high-speed rail system 20
years from now.
A&M’s academic reputation would
also increase by bringing in professors
from schools such as the University of
Houston and Rice University to give
guest lectures, talks and presentations.
Due to time and fuel constraints, these
women and men who might not otherwise
be able to visit A&M would now be able
to come with greater ease.
According to the THSRTC, the popula
tion of Texas is expected to double to
more than 30 million people. A statewide
high-speed rail system will help alleviate
and prevent highway traffic problems and
will allow for the expansion of cities.
People will continue spreading outward
and living in the suburbs of the major
cities. Jobs can often be limited in these
areas; a rail system would increase the
opportunities any particular individual has
to find adequate work. No longer will he
be restricted to work only within a 30-
minute to one-hour drive.
A&M students already seem to be tak
ing to the idea. Sophomore sociology
major Christine Stockholm said, “I
believe overall that (the rail system) will
be a good thing. It would be a lot easier
to commute to and from places and would
cut down on the traffic. However, 1 don't
think that many people will use them.”
This is certainly a legitimate concern.
Why spend the money on a project no one
will use? However, unlike the light-rail in
Houston that covers a small area and
serves a small portion of the population,
the proposed high-speed rail system
would cover central and southeast Texas’
vital cities. Given the opportunity to get
to San Antonio, College Station, Austin,
Houston or Dallas in a matter of minutes
and without the hassle of the airport,
many people will surely take it.
Like the creation of the interstate high
way system, high-speed rail has the
potential to revolutionize travel. Aggies
and Texans should embrace the rail and
return the “station” to College Station.
Cody Sain is a junior
philosophy major.
Graphic by Rylie Deyoe
Aggies responsible for
honoring fallen today
It is once again April 21 in
Aggieland. For some Aggies, this day
will be somber as they remember a
lost loved one. For others, it is a day
of celebration. I encourage every
Aggie out there to make this day spe
cial by taking part in Aggie Muster.
The March 1923 issue of the Texas
Aggie magazine urged, “If there is an
A&M man in 100 miles of you, you
are expected to get together, eat a lit
tle, and live over the days you spent
at the A&M College of Texas.” There
are tens of thousands of Aggies in
his town.
A very special group of Aggies in
town is the Class of 1954, who is cel
ebrating their 50th reunion. They will
be attending the Camaraderie
Barbecue at the Academic Plaza
:oday. Make an effort to say “howdy” to
them, and get to know them. These
Aggies have some of the best stories
you’ll ever hear. Some of them won’t
recognize most of the newer buildings
ion campus, but they will definitely rec
ognize the spirit. Give up 30 minutes
f your day to sit down with them at
he barbecue and get to know them,
bu won’t be sorry.
The Muster ceremony is tonight at
p.m. Be there. Every other institu-
ion in the world strives to have the
ond that Aggies have, some col
leges have even started their own
usters patterned after what we do
ere (The Citadel, for example).
Reed Arena was not full last year,
hether you are Old Army or new
rmy, Corps or non-reg, straight, gay,
lack, white, green or purple, we’re all
ggies. Some Aggies cannot return
or Muster this year. Death has taken
hem from our ranks. Each one of
hem is leaving behind a story, a fam-
ly and values that were significant to
them. In Aggieland we celebrate
these stories, these families and
)hese values by answering “Here!” for
hese people at Muster. We say to
he world that we will do our best to
arry on that person’s legacy in our
lives. Their spirit will never die, you
and I will carry the torch for them.
Make this day special for all Aggies.
Invest time in the lives of others. Be
bold, be proud, and be Aggies.
Andy Luten
Class of 2005
Exploration of Mars
offers America little
In response to Collins Ezeanyim’s
April 19 column:
I found it quite amusing that in the
midst of the war in Iraq people still
want to talk about going to Mars.
In Collins Ezeanyim’s article about
the Hubble, he writes that the gains
are enormous for us as mankind, yet
with trillions of dollars spent we only
found out the age of the universe and
the fact that there are black holes.
WOW! Money well spent?
I think not. I think it is horrible for
President Bush to want to spend so
much money for minimal gains of
knowledge about Mars. They said
there was water on the planet at one
time. Big deal.
Bush should be thinking about how
to conserve the natural resources on
our own planet. With the population
growing exponentially, we should
worry about people not fighting over
fresh water one day. The gains are
minimal in space except for the fact
they might tell us if an asteroid is
coming. That is the only reason I need
NASA.
Jordan Chambers
Class of 2003
Saddam is inhumane,
not President Bush
In response to an April 19 mail call:
Mr. Bisrat’s comments that
President Bush has led Iraq down an
“inhumane path” are completely
unfounded. I’m sorry if I appear
MAIL CALL
dense, but I have trouble seeing how
any of our actions in Iraq have been
inhumane. Maybe Mr. Bisrat was
never informed of the numerous
crimes against Iraqi people that
Saddam Hussein committed. The
only inhumane actions that have
been taken since Saddam’s deposi
tion have been taken by Iraqi citizens
themselves. Mr. Bisrat, didn’t you
hear about the four Americans who
were recently killed? President Bush,
to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t
ordered U.S. troops to kill or mutilate
any innocent people.
Then, of course, there is the argu
ment that the United States had no
business invading a sovereign state
and we failed to find weapons of
mass destruction anywhere in Iraq.
But, Saddam was an oppressive
ruler who had no business governing
Iraq. He repeatedly violated the sanc
tions imposed upon him by the
United Nations by repeatedly refus
ing to allow U.N. weapons inspectors
to do their jobs. Why would Saddam
have refused to allow weapons
inspectors to inspect if there was
nothing to hide? Most people would
draw the conclusion that Saddam
was hiding weapons of mass
destruction from that information
alone. The United Nations refused to
enforce their own sanctions, so
America enforced them itself.
Lastly, Mr. Bisrat’s assertion that the
United States’ actions in Iraq “will only
breed more deadly anti-American vio
lence and instability in that troubled
nation” is far too sympathetic toward a
people who continue to attack and kill
the very soldiers who risked their
lives to give them freedom. Mr. Bisrat
may not agree that all President
Bush’s reasons for liberating Iraq
have been completely without fault,
and that is a valid point.
But to say that our actions in Iraq
have been inhumane while excusing
the actions of a nation who attacks,
kills and mutilates the bodies of those
offering aid is ignorant at best.
William Shattuck
Class of 2006
Kerry denies threats
posed by terrorists
In response to Mike Walters’ April
20 column:
Thank you, Mr. Walters, for stating
an opinion in the paper that is shared
by many Americans but that rarely
sees the press.
John Kerry and the left end of the
political spectrum — along with much
of the media, it would seem — has
lost touch with the fact that there is a
large group of individuals in the world
called terrorists whose perverse pur
pose in life is to kill Americans, like
you and me, at any cost, even wast
ing their own lives.
Thankfully, we currently have a
president in office who realizes the
roots of evil that have been laid down
in places such as Iraq and
Afghanistan, and has therefore taken
actions to not merely cut off the top,
but dig down and fully uproot the
forces aligned against us before they
again encroach upon our borders.
To fully accomplish this task will
take time, but America will suffer hor
rific losses if it isn’t willing to make the
sacrifices required to do it right.
Your editorial is one of the first I
have seen that doesn’t play to human
impatience, and rather focuses on the
merit of what is being done in Iraq.
Thank you.
Ross McLendon
Class of 2006
Poor designs chosen
by energy committee
In response to Natalie Younts’ April
20 news article:
I am totally disappointed with the
poor quality of the designs picked up
as winners by the TAMU Energy
Conservation Committee. I am cer
tain that the quality of the submis
sions might have been commendable
given the amount of time that the con
testants had at their disposal, but the
final choices were far from laudable.
The winning slogan proclaiming
“Energy Conservation: The New
Aggie Tradition,” exposes the fact that
we as Aggies had never given a
thought to energy conservation ever
before! Similarly, the mascot design
and the logo design do not reflect any
creativity, class or thoughtfulness.
Amitava Sinharay
graduate student
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