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Opinion
The Battalion
Page 5B • Tuesday, May 4, 2004
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Students and faculty must give Transportation Services parking plan a chance
A fter much discussion and several false
starts, the new student parking plan has
been approved. Faculty, however, have
yet to be fully incorporated into the new park
ing scheme. Despite what some students might
think, faculty leaders and Transportation
Services are working to develop a process to
adequately meet the needs of both the faculty
david and student body. Students should not think
shoemaker that faculty will get a park-anywhere pass
while students serve as guinea pigs, and faculty
members should not fear that a poorly-conceived plan will sim
ply be thrown at them. TS Director Rodney Weis’ plan looks to
he fair to all parties, and as such, everyone should be willing to
jive it a chance.
The faculty had two main problems with the original
plan, according to Joseph Newton, dean of the College of
Science. The first was that faculty felt that they had not been
ronsulted sufficiently during the initial process, and the second
was that the process outlined by TS would not be flexible
tnough to accommodate special cases for faculty parking.
Both of these are legitimate concerns that the deans must
xldress to accurately represent the needs of their departments
aid employees.
The first problem can be solved relatively easily by increas
ing communication. TS’ predecessor. PTTS, was not renowned for
nnmunicating policies to students and faculty. Although TS has
Ken proactive on the communication front, it needs to remember
tail will have to go the "extra mile” to make sure the students’
lid faculty’s opinions are heard. TS still suffers the poor service
(fits predecessor, which was trusted by no one on campus.
However, Weis has shown a willingness to listen to and try to
iddress problems brought to his attention.
This willingness to work with others will be key in resolving
He issues the deans have had with the flexibility of the faculty
Biking plan. The system would be the same as the one for stu-
itnts, where one enters his NetID. and then selects his top six lot
Voices. What worries deans such as Newton is that in special cir-
msiances, there will be no way to override the automated sys-
anand provide parking. A newly-hired professor of high status
;ould be at the bottom of the list, or staff with unusual working
Imurs or access needs would be unable to get parking to meet
ik needs.
• There are many possible solutions to this problem that TS
•ouid do well to consider. One way could be that a dean could
kiit a list of his staff with special parking needs to put near the
apof the list. Or perhaps faculty could be given a pool of spaces
anearby lots, allocate the ones they need and return the rest to
iegeneral pool for the lot. Regardless of the method to be select-
id,the result will be the best that the deans and TS can do, as both
groups are committed to finding an acceptable solution. parking is an issue with imperfect solutions. Ask anyone who has
That solution, much like the changes for students, may require tried to park in the downtown of a major city recently. But
a leap of faith in TS on the part of students and faculty. Many are regardless of their feeling on the matter, people should give TS
distrustful of TS, but they should let TS earn or lose their trust on the benefit of the doubt that it is trying to improve the parking sit-
its own. Change can be hard to deal with, especially when it goes uation at A&M.
against an ingrained way of doing things, but the parking situation
at Texas A&M became untenable. With luck, the new plan will
alleviate many problems.
However, with any new plan, it is not perfect for every person. David Shoemaker is a junior
Not everyone will get to park exactly where they want and may management major.
have to get used to walking a bit. But even in the outside world. Graphic by Chris Grijfin
MAIL CALL
Column an example of
liberal propaganda’
In response to John David Blakley's
W 29 column:
Blakley's column on April 29 was an
acellent example of liberal propaganda. I
iin sorry to hear that a student at our
icliool was at a march to support the
ingof unborn children.
By his own statement, he is a man, and
lenhave no understanding or say in the
subject of abortion. Therefore, he should
We kept quiet about it. Apparently, the
Wement that men don’t understand
ibortion only applies to those who dis-
igree with him.
There is a concept that apparently Mr.
llakley and the rest of the marchers need
Hearn, that of "personal responsibility."
“you are past the age of 7 or 8, you
should be aware of the fact that babies
sse a result of sexual relations. Knowing
bat, if a person makes the decision to
lave sexual relations, then they have to
accept the possible consequences, one of
»hich is pregnancy. If that person refuses
taaccept these consequences, then they
be no right to engage in the activity.
I understand that there were not a lot of
Mfe supporters at the march. That is
feuse most pro-lifers actually work for a
feg and cannot take the time away from
family and jobs.
Timothy Cook
graduate student
Elective abortion isn’t
a reproductive right
Mr. Blakley and the near million others
»ho marched two Sundays ago deserve a
big thanks for their defense of women’s
reproductive rights. This is a very impor
tant right to protect. A woman ought to
be able to decide when to become a
mother. A woman must be trusted with
tier own body.
But to my chagrin, I found that Mr.
Blakley and the other marchers vehe
mently defend elective abortion, which is
not an issue of reproductive rights.
Freedom from rape is a matter of repro
ductive rights. Freedom from incest and
sexual abuse are matters of reproductive
rights. Our nation is responsible to pro
tect women and men from and adequate
ly punish sexual criminals.
But abortion isn't a reproductive right.
It can’t be, simply because abortions are
performed after reproduction is complete
(the moment of conception being its com
pletion). Since it is scientific fact that a
new, unique human life begins at concep
tion, abortion is murder: the immoral ter
mination of an innocent human life.
If we are truly concerned about women,
shouldn't we see to it that they are fully
informed of the realities of abortion? How
are we protecting women’s rights when we
mislead mothers into blindly murdering
their own children (and the life-long guilt
and anguish that choice may cause), all
under the guise of reproductive freedom?
David Dunton
president, Aggies for Life
Palestinian side of Israel
issue is often ignored
In response to Nicholas Davis' April 30
column:
After reading your opinion column enti
tled "A policy worth backing," I was very
angered to see that you neglected to
show both sides of this issue and pre
sented a clear bias. I will admit that,
being a Palestinian myself, I also possess
a strong bias. However, I will present you
with a few facts.
First, you mentioned that nary a day
goes by without bloodshed and death of
"innocent Israeli citizens." I am not an
advocate of terrorism, but I think that
both sides should be shown, which is not
the case on American television.
Between 1993 and 2002, 615 Israeli cit
izens were murdered. How many
Palestinians? During those years, 1,671
Palestinians were murdered, but of
course this is rarely shown in the
American media. Since Ariel Sharon took
office, the per annum death count of
Palestinian citizens has doubled.
Furthermore, you portrayed the 1948
occupation of Palestine to be a peaceful
and simple takeover. This is far from the
truth. More than 10,000 Palestinians
were murdered, and all males over the
age of 18 were placed in concentration
and work camps (including both of my
grandfathers).
It's ironic that the Jews would do this to
a group of people, when the reason they
took Palestine was to escape the same
persecution in Europe.
Although you say that the Palestinians
have been offered portions of land (quasi
independent, I might add), think about it
like this. If somebody invaded the United
States, and took over, then offered us
Texas back as a compromise, I do not
think it would go over very well.
Throughout history, people have used the
Palestinians as a scape goat, and Zionism
has been the popular belief. I wish you
and people like you would take the time to
research the facts and not just what they
see on the evening news. I think you will
find it to be very enlightening.
George Akra
Class of 2007
Assassination of world
leaders isn’t justified
In response to a May 3 mail call:
If I understand Mr. Sewell correctly,
he seems to think that there is a moral
justification for murder carried out with
the ultimate wisdom and discretion of
George W. Bush. When you say America
acts with the interest of establishing
law and order, you forget that by partic
ipating in any way in the assassination
of any international leader, the presi
dent is in violation of Executive Order
12333, which forbids involvement in
any such activity. What a great example
we are setting.
In likening "Islamic militants" to
convicted killers and the United States
or Israel to the all-knowing Judge, he
has erroneously assumed that we are
the virtuous and innocent motherland,
acting in the best interest of everyone
involved. In reality, our hands are just
as dirty as theirs.
During major combat in Iraq, reportedly
as many as 6,000 innocent civilians were
killed. These were not even "enemy com
batants," who themselves have no rights
to fair or humane treatment. They were
merely citizens of Iraq, perhaps Islamic,
and thus fell victim to the "swift hand of
American justice."
Assassinating world leaders is murder.
America must respect international law
and condemn anyone who partakes in
such enterprises. We cannot expect to
achieve peace if we don't practice it.
Brad Ray
Class of 2007
President Bush has
been acting as a ‘tyrant’
Our government is acting as a tyrant
now, especially the commander in chief
President Bush.
I would consider myself more conserva
tive than liberal in most cases, but the
acts of President Bush are going unno
ticed by Congress because they are also
Republicans.
I hate it when people in the current
administration blame 9-11 on Clinton and
his administration. Excluding the fact
that Clinton left Bush a surplus of $540
billion, which now is gone, the economy
was good and America was not invading
any countries for false pretenses.
Yet when Clinton fouled up in the oval
office and received special benefits from
his intern he gets impeached by the
Republicans for lying.
But when Bush lies to America and has
laid over 600 American soldiers to rest
because he lied, where is our great
democracy and justice? The Republicans
are not going to do anything. I will be vot
ing for Kerry in the election because Bush
will take us nowhere but lower with his
"gaining respect by striking fear into oth
ers" plan.
Jordan Chambers
Class of2003
Battalion fosters debate
on academic dishonesty
Thanks to The Battalion for its clear and
accurate coverage ("Week aimed at aca
demic dishonesty, plagiarism," April 15)
of Academic and Professional Integrity
Week. The Battalion played an important
role in this university-wide conversation.
I greatly appreciate your help in inform
ing the A&M community not only about
this event, but about its key message:
Integrity is the foundation from which a
university derives its authority. Yet, integri
ty doesn't just happen. That's why the
week's events looked beyond detecting
and punishing academic dishonesty to
focus on creating a community that fos
ters integrity at all levels. Teaching, mod
eling, and affirming inquiry, intellectual
freedom and responsible scholarship will
move us forward toward meeting the
goals of Vision 2020.
Dr. Michelle Hall Kells
associate director,
University Writing Center
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