r 10,21
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Page 9 • Friday, September 10, 2004
Pace Design • MATT RICNEY
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Women should be allowed or
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lance m.
The war in Irttq has been a po
litical hot potato due to the upcom
ing election, but while politicians
and citizens debate the need lor a
war, one issue goes unnoticed: the
role of women in combat.
Fox News reported there have
been 24 female soldiers killed
inaction in Iraq, 15 from hostile fire. Although the
death of any soldier, is tragic, the deaths of these
women have been regarded as a great stride on the
long road toward gender equality.
With rumors still circulating of the draft being
reinstated, one would think it is time to open the
ranks to women. Americans go to war with notions
of serving and protecting their country, so why
should women be given fewer opportunities to do so
than men?
It would be unfair to say women are completely
denied from serving their country. Women serve as
pilots, sailors, nurses and other positions that do not
require them to be exposed to enemy tire. In tact, 10
Navy vessels are under female command.
However, women are restricted from infantry, artil
lery, tanks and submarines. The military has loosened
the rules that restrict women from direct confronta
tion with the enemy, but there is still room to grow.
Although direct combat is reserved for men,
women serving in Iraq have been allowed to par
ticipate in field activities such as patrols and raids.
Army Specialist Theresa Lynn Flannery was recom
mended for the bronze star. America’s fourth high
est military honor, for her valor. While under fire,
Flannery gave medical attention to her wounded
comrades and fired back at the enemy. She also
received the Purple Heart.
Obviously, women can handle the mental stress
and pressures that are typical of conflicts such as
the one Flannery experienced, but other reasons for
excluding women are abundant. Some say women
can't handle the physical requirements, but a study
by the U.S. Army proved that women who adhere to
a regular schedule of physical training can achieve
the same physical standards as men. including run
ning with a 75-pound ruck sack through a two mile
wooded course. The Sunday Times of Lortdor
reporting on a similar study, said “by usi
methods of physical training, women can In
to the same levels of physical fitness as men oft
same size and build.”
Some traditionalists claim men would instinc
tively try to protect their female peers in combat
an argument cleverly refuted by Medal of Honoi
recipient. Dr. Mary Walker, who said “You men
not our protectors... If you were, who would
there be to protect us from?”
1 he fact of the matter is some
men would never touch a gun,
vomit before considering tly- /
ing and cower at the thought
of close combat and some l
women are just the opposite. V
Generally, women can bet
ter withstand the high speeds
of fighter jets, but men have slightly
more control in heavy bombers.
When it comes to the more grue
of combat, such as Special Forces,
is favored. According to Captain B
USAF (Ret.), “1 think it takes a par
ality type — almost on the edge of
one — to even want to become a tr
can have appeal for both men and \
fully very few of either sex."
The ultimate question is: Why w
built on the ideal that all citizens ai
rights deny half of them the right tc
country? Tactics and weapons used
changed drastically compared to th
former male-only military. As Ami
and technology advances, tradition,
ing must not prevent women from <
if they are qualified and capable.
/ini Foreman
mechanical engine
. ■"* •
Brandi Dunn • THE BATTALION
Gender segregation Are dr
serves schools well
in
O
ERIC
BROWN
hroughout
history,
society
has gone through
many phases
dealing with
i societal norms
ml in areas
of education,
culture, religion
and morals.
Sometimes these
phases are cyclical, which can be a
good or bad thing.
The recent trend is single-sex
education in public schools. After
nearly a 40-year ab-
| sence, people are start
ing to realize that the
(education system that
w as in place for the
last part of the 10th
century and the first
.half of the 20th cen-
Ky was successful.
The bottom line is
the same: Separate the
| gnls from the boys.
There are many
factors influencing
success. For instance,
whenever the distrac-
tl0n ot ' boys is taken
away from girls or
Wee versa, students no longer have
o worry about how they dress, who
’ey have to impress or who their
••ends are. Instead, they are able to
C0 '’ centrate more on academics.
i °’ ' n single sex classrooms
uachers can focus on the environ-
jnent in which the particular gender
^arns better. Dr. Leonard Sax, a
Maryland physician and psycholo-
§ ls t, found in a study that girls tend
0 eai 'n in a quiet and slower paced
environment and liked to be called by
, eu ^ rst names whereas boys like
I mgs energetic, fast paced and pre-
er to b e called by their last names.
bis is a nationwide trend re-ap-
Pcaring with the number of single-
I j' Cx Public schools increasing from
°ur to 140 over the last eight years,
according to Sax. And the trend
e Ps growing. CNN reported at least
Slr >gle-sex schools were to open
this fall in Texas, Ohio, Pennsylva
nia, New York and South Carolina.
This trend has such a positive im
pact on public schools that the U.S.
Department of Education is looking
to change parts of Title IX, the law
that bars sex discrimination.
According to studies done by the
National Association for Single Sex
Public Education, over the last 40
years, co-educational schools may
have done more damage than good.
To a point, these schools help rein
force gender stereotypes rather than
breaking them down.
The single-sex school trend
is seen in other
countries such as
England, Australia
and Jamaica. Stud
ies have shown the
difference between
co-educational
schools and single
sex schools has
been significant,
mainly in the areas
of standardized test
scores and grades.
The single-sex
public schools are
producing higher
grades and test
scores than co-edu
cational schools.
If these schools are as successful
as people perceive them to be, one
must hope that eventually colleges
will continue the trend. That is where
the history of the success of single
sex education is, especially at A&M.
The single-sex education trend
should not be mistaken for some
passing fad. Separating the sexes
has positive, long-term impacts
that universities around the na
tion — maybe even Texas A&M
— should consider.
com
remt
drug
ness
olnn,
mbc
u n ha p|'
, using
he
o comba
:wer eith
idictro
lution to addiction?
I lowever, patients and doctors must not fall into the mis
taken idea that drugs provide instant cures to problems as
sociated with not only physical but mental disease as well.
While it is true that addiction and dependence have physical
causes, they also involve a strong mental component. And
while drugs can heal the body, healing the mind requires the
use of psychology.
Dr. David Gastfriend of Massa
chusetts General Hospital exer
cises this principle, as he works
with alcoholics. In his treatment of
these addicts, he prescribes them
Naltrexone in the form of a pill.
“The pill requires a daily aware
ness that this is a dangerous disease
and a rational disease to take the
pill,” Gastfriend told the AP. “The
problem with this illness is that on
any given day, a person can feel,
‘No, it would be better if I could
< s recreational drug
1 u >t cure unhappiness
problems, using drugs
t o combat addiction is
of the answer either.
idea, there is
government z
same drug ha
under the nan
a pre
ppn
Zyban
en mar
Wei lb
If these schools
are as successful
as people perceive
them to be, one
must hope that
eventually colleges
will continue the
trend.
Ig is
dnu
new trick.'
existing d
In additio:
already provide
side effects.
There are so
addiction thera
one that treats i
sociated Press,
sponsoring studi
for other purpos
Perhaps one o
patients strugglir
taming tede
dicaper than
s that have l
doctors with
ie medicatu
y programs
ocaine addii
he National
to
lind
drink.’ So you take the pill the first day, and you have to
make 29 more decisions (the rest of the month).” Rather
than simply giving his patients the once-a-month shot and
hoping they stick to their commitment the rest of the month
as other doctors do, he rightly recognizes that curing addic
tion isn't just about throwing dings at people.
With any luck, this new approach to treating drug ad
diction will help those who have made poor decisions and
become dependent on various medications, but are seeking
to right their wrong. While doctors and researchers tackle
this issue together, it’s ideal that they will follow the lead of
Gastfriend and treat these men and women with a holistic
plan that involves not just medication, but psychology and
counseling that can help these people heal their illnesses
and lives.
Mike Walters is a senior
psychology major.
MAIL® CALL
9/11 rememforan*
wasn’t wanted
In response
Call:
to
Sept.
Eric Brown is a student
of post baccalareate studies
in education.
The Red, White and Blue Towel Out v.
created by a group of student leaders w
generous help from the 12th Mar iui
Foundation. These groups worked w
the idea all summer long, but f jy
countered substantial neg o feedt
from faculty members, -tuc 1 its sd
administration regarding the idea
felt that although it would be a g .. .
play of Aggie pride, it might take
from the “specialness" of the T
Red, White and Blue Out. Contro >f
project was given solely to the 12th
Student Foundation, and they decided
go for the commemorative towels, wh
; • .onally think is a fantastic idea.
<:.!U lose faith in Aggieland, Ms. Grigg.
a:: Red, White, and Blue Towel
- ' r came to fruition, the Spirit is
still there.
Stacy Reeves
Class of2006
BMfire cannot be
p aced by Yell
1 to Emily Guevara’s
. ' .y surprise when I opened
; 1 on Wednesday to read
mil was “created to replace
Jo ti, camaraderie...”
r:\n anyone expect one night to re-
' " year of friendship, work and
unity? There is nothing on campus that can
replace that. Some students may work for a
few months to prepare for the night of First
Yell, but Bonfire was a year round effort.
Even in the spring, Pots and Chiefs were
preparing for the fall. And in the fall, even
the average student had an opportunity to
go out and cut.
Not every student can be involved in First
Yell. First of all, not every student always
has money to go, and not every student can
get a ticket because of limited space. Aggie
Bonfire was free, built by Aggies for Aggies.
Not to mention no ticket told you where
to sit. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed
going to First Yell in the past. And I agree
that Aggie Spirit is lacking. But it is wrong
to even think that it could ever replace the
hole that has been left by the absence of
Aggie Bonfire.
Laura Laubach