4 '
Forum
The Battalion
Page 6B • Thursday, April221
University traditions
MAIL CALL
are most important
Terrorists think
they are right too
In response to Mike Walters'
April 20 column:
CHRIS
MAHAFFEY
W hen walking around
Northside, it is not
uncommon to see
students walking around in
shirts that read “No Frats.”
And many members of the
“close-knit” community feel
that fraternities and sororities
are diluting the Aggie Spirit
by not putting Texas A&M*s
traditions foremost in their
group. However, if the same discerning eye was
turned back onto many residence hall groups, a
compelling hypocrisy would be revealed.
• Many fraternities, sororities arid the like cele
brate their own traditions that are not associated
with A&M, such as singing
songs and memorizing
famous names from the
group’s history. In a similar
fashion, most halls have
their own yells and tradi
tions, which date back a
number of years. The fact
that both sets of groups pos
sess such traditions is not a
bad thing, but when these
traditions trump the tradi
tions of A&M, it tears the
Aggie Spirit apart.
According to the 1933-
34 YMCA-sponsored
14
Surely the A&M students
of the 1930s... would rather
an Aggie be at a fraternity
party than defile timeless
songs of Aggie pride with
egocentric, boastful or vulgar
statements.
would rather an Aggie be at a fraternity party
than defile timeless songs of Aggie pride with
egocentric, boastful or vulgar statements.
Another criticism often heard is that a majori
ty of those involved with fraternities and sorori
ties do not attend traditions such as Midnight
Yell Practice. And while a lack of participation
in our most celebrated traditions is by no means
excusable, some of the Aggies critical of others
for skipping yell practice choose to stumble to
yell practice, reeking of booze, on the border of
illegal intoxication.
As an A&M student at yell practice, we are
representing the University to all families, guests
and media present, and frankly, I would rather
have Aggies not participate than participate in a
state of mind and body that
is embarrassing to fellow
Aggies. I would imagine that
the first Aggies would agree.
Some halls and Corps of
Cadets outfits have the right
idea. Most halls focus
intensely on teaching basic
A&M traditions, the yells
and the songs to the fresh
men in their halls before the
first yell practice. The Corps
works diligently to ensure
that its fish know a number
of facts about Texas A&M.
The yell leaders also are
The column sounds great and
impulsive though it is a myopic
vision. If the author quotes "Doing
right thing is often a lonely...” the
same strategy or policy is being
used by the enemy too.
It doesn’t sound pleasing but if
we could look at it from the terror
ist’s point of view, definitely he
thinks the same. He is very sure of
what he is doing and also thinks
that what he is doing is the right
thing. So, the people who are fight
ing for terrorism would act accord
ing to the same ideology as the peo
ple who are for fighting terrorism.
Let us give a thought to it if only
Iraq was as big as America.
Secondly, if Uncle Sam is sup
posed to be one of the most ration
ally-thinking nations in today's
world, and if he wants other nations
in the world to revere the United
Nations for whatever decision it
makes, then he should take care of
his part and act accordingly. That is
the way other nations should look
up to the United States.
long-distance communication at
all. Even the most esoteric astro
nomical data helps refine our
knowledge of physics and help cre
ate stronger alloys and plastics and
faster computer chips.
Compare the amount of money
spent on the space program to the
amount Americans spend getting
their hair styled or on alcohol.
You’ll find it’s barely anything at
all, and the space budget gets
slashed all the time. Never mind
that every dollar spent in space
comes back seven times over in
spinoff technologies and new jobs.
Hunger, poverty, and overpopula
tion have been problems for b long
time. They aren’t going to go away,
and waiting until they’re gone
before doing anything else means
nothing else will get done. However,
space exploration has brought
about massive improvements in
quality of life even for the poorest,
and can be used in many ways to
hold back overpopulation, protect
the environment and bnng back lim
itless supplies of metal ores without
requiring strip mining or risking
using up the earth’s resources.
Made possible only by
So what can pia^T,
ration do for you, M r , %
Well, by the middle of 1J
nuclear energy without!]
waste will be made ryJ
using helium-3 mineU
moon. Enough fuel top „ ■
entire United States grid{X
year supplied byaminH-
delivery once a year. Hji p C
the money you’ll save! \i1l
making you and your^|a jc
richer everyday and is
enriching investment.
Back on Earth, you,
alarm’s going off cause o.i
burned another batch of®
cheese. Seems NASAjujfl
your life yet again.
pnov;
brojec
Imm
laslc
Political cartoos “
all about presidf tc no
I’ve always been a fan;
political cartoons whether
with or against my poke
acds c
laid h
c m
Since The Battalion has heeTr
Eric Aley
Class of 2003
Shhari Vempati
Graduate Student
Space exploration
serves a purpose
“Student’s Handbook,” an Aggie, among other
things, “learns the college songs and yells as
soon as possible.” Many Northside residents are
quick to criticize other Aggies for not learning
our songs and yells, and, to some extent, they
are right; if we wish to preserve A&M for future
Aggies, we must do our best to learn the yells
and songs that have been shouted and sung on
this campus for so many years.
However, many of these students, in the
same breath used to criticize Greeks for not put
ting A&M first, will lake an Aggie song or yell
and add the name of their hall or a string of epi
thets. Surely, the A&M students of the 1930s,
the first classes to be referred to as Aggies,
holding fast to tradition. I will never forget the
Arch Yell last year when people were deviating
from the prescribed yell and a yell leader was
quick to reprimand them, telling them to do the
yell correctly.
The attitude of these spirited Aggies is the
one that has preserved our traditions thus far and
will continue to save them for future Aggies. As
for the others; Forgive me for not being able to
discern lack of spirit defined by lack of partici
pation from a lack of spirit defined by selfish,
immature motives.
NASA deserves
the money it gets
In response to an April 21 mail
call:
Chris Mahuffry is the president
oj the Residence Hall Association.
Is spotting asteroids really all you
need NASA for? I suppose then that
you never use computers, tin foil,
or saran wrap. You’ve never seen
the benefit of heart monitors, night
vision cameras, or solar power. You
don’t bother with weather fore
casts, cell phones or any sort of
The Mars mission and explo
ration in general is of monumental
importance and foundation to the
continuing evolution of American
and global society.
NASA has a huge influence on
the future of communication. Lets
start with your TV. which I'm sure
you admire more than say. Neil
Armstrong, even though you two
have a lot in common being that
you both love sitting there staring
into empty space. Satellites play a
huge role in broadcast television,
not to mention your cell phone.
ning Mike Luckovich’s ca
have been less than humod
out of ten of them beat I j
dead horse; Bush and M
takes” with 9-11 and
Luckovich has redrawn fei
so many times that I can $1
money on whattomonw's3® ,,ls
will be. What about tte w^ 0
events taking place in feiBt s >:
USA Today ran five political
today, and only one of (tier ditioi
tered on Bush. There are Mi\ n
major events occurring i-Hnt c
saying that this cartoonslnil Of
completely discontinued, till 1 the
haps The Battalion sWI Itho
another artist's wdi J ied <
Luckovich fails to come up! ^ed
new material. v
i n ■
Doug Haskovec
Class of 2005
Are You Getting Your Aggie Ring Today:
The Aggie Ring is a treasure. This Ring
symbolizes pride, tradition, and honor.
This Ring represents your hard work and
connection to the Aggie Family.
: WVi
Matt Josefy
Student Body President
Jack Hildebrand
Student Body President-Bed
When you place This Ring on your finger, you will
stand as an ambassador of Texas A&M University.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Today is a day to celebrate! While you celebrate, we
encourage you to do so responsibly to
ensure your safety
and the safety of your fellow Aggies.
Kelli Hutka ‘97
Director of Campus Prog^ 5
The Association
of Former Students
Linda K. Hill
President
Federation ofTAMU
Mother’s Clubs
httal
bnt
rthd
ien
!>ge
}se<
b 0
| Ur
juld
Id k
lee
|r ic
[ms
;Ea
linn
|s t<
leni
]N(
joy
t
Aggie Decisions
Office of Greek Life
ro
as
]ln r
Collegiate Panhellei®
Council
AOLP
Aggie Orientation
Leader Program
CAR
MWWWWWWPi
-9905