The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, October 6, 1988 Page: 2 of 8
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Page 2/The J-TAC/Thursday, October 6, 1988
Opinion
Editorials
Registration deadline
approaches for election
i
Approximately 50 percent of the 18 to 24 age group voted when the
national voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1972. The percentage
dropped as low as 39 percent in 1980.
Based on past performance, expert predictions estimate that only 16
million young people will vote in the 1988 General Election.
Once registered, 80 percent of students and youth vote, a percentage
equivalent to other age groups.
Voter registration procedures range from Minnesota, which allows elec-
tion day registration, to Arizona, which has a registration deadline 50
days before the election, Texas offers a compromise in that voters must
register only 30 days prior to election day. ,.
With more and more people attending college, tnfe; public policy con-
cerning higher education, such as Pell grants and government loans,
becomes increasingsly important to student voters.
Texas law provides that individuals must register 30 days prior to the
election to be able to vote. That date is approaching rapidly. Most all
forecasters predict the 1988 Presidential election to be extremely close.
Every voter counts as long as they register to vote 30 days prior to the
election and then go to the polls and cast their ballot. Don't be left out.
THR0tf5 A *Ty
AND PLAYS
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Name change reflects trend, not student opinion
' /
The Real McCoy
Dan K. McCoy
Editorial Page Editor
An administrator mentioned to me
last week that the University is con-
sidering a name change, again. He
proposed the possible switch might
be something like "Texas A&M
University at Stephenville."
As long as I have been a student
at Tarleton, this issue has been
discussed annually. But this time I
sensed a renewed vigor among the
advocates of the change.
Many students feel that the name
would add more prestige and respect
to their diploma. They argue that
Tarleton State University is not as
well known as Texas A&M and
therefore would not be percieved
with as much dignity, a point that
many could argue.
Students contend that the change
would allow greater job oppor-
tunities and more acceptable
graduate school offerings. No doubt
it would reflect the current trend in
Texas to assemble all colleges under
one title.
Those opposing the measure state
that Tarleton would lose its identi-
ty as a university. That the campus
would just become an extension of
A&M and nothing else in the
public's eye. Most alumni that I talk
to balk at the idea. They feel that
their alma mater would have disap-
peared into thin air and their
diploma would only be a relic from
some past civilization.
Personally, I oppose the name
change too. I see no added pro-
minence to being called blatently a
part of the A&M system. When I
came to this university as a
Freshman, I came to stay and take
my degree. A degree from Tarleton
State University. I have no doubt
now or did I then about the accep-
tability of my transcript.
Tarleton offers its student body
something that A&M cannot
even imagine. It houses a closenit
faculty and student body that allows
the educational experience to be
broadened and include everyone as
individuals. Students at TSU are not
lost in the crowd nor or they forgot-
ten in classes of four hundred.
Tarleton offers advantages that
establish its very own prestige and
heritage. I will never be ashamed to
say, "I am a Texan."
. "The University of Texas at Arl-
ington" is still known as an exten-
sion of the BIG UT. And true
University of Texas students (those
from Austin) reel at the thought of
mixing the two. Why should we
think that a quick name change
would immediately allow for more
acceptability?
One student said that a com-
promise might be in order to main-
tain at least a part of the Tarleton
legacy. She said that the name might
be changed to "Texas A&M
University at Tarleton Station." I'd
hate to try to find "Tarleton Sta-
tion" on a Texas map, but maybe
we could convince Steph©nville to
change thier name too.
Besides if we are convinced to
change our college name, we should
be original. The Massachusetts In-
stitute of Technology has no trou-
ble establishing both respect and in-
dividuality. May be Tarleton could
use the same technique as M.I.T.
I can see the banner across the
sheep skin now, "Tarleton State In-
stitue of Technology." We would
be known world-wide as T.S.I.T.
Oops! That could be confusing.
There are already enough diesel
mechanics in the world.
Rumor makes reporter a Nazi war criminal
Ben Tinsley
Guest Columnist
What is a rumor?
Well, the Random House College
Dictionary defines a rumor as "a
story or statement in general circula-
• tion without confirmation or certain-
ty of facts."
I was sitting in on last Saturday's
football game in the press box, as
befits all journalists, with my good
friends and co-workers when a high
ranking student body official, whom
I shall call "Master Cylinder" for
the sake of anonymity, dropped in
on us in the press box; he informed
us that "a group of Nazis" were
running amok on campus.
One thing you'll have to unders-
tand about die-hard journalists:
when they hear anything resembl-
ing an interesting story, they will
follow that story to the pits of
Hades.
Master Cylinder told us that these
"Nazis" were probably behind the
defacing of the Texan Mosaic on the
pavement in front of the Student
Center.
Master Cylinder informed us that
the "Nazis" had posted a flyer writ-
ten in German on bulletin boards in
the Humanities Building. These
flyers read: "Die Juden" in bold
print.
The lettering below the bold let-
ters were written in German script.
Cylinder told us that this was, in all
probability, a pro-Nazi circular
stating that only 4,000 Jews died
during World War Two.
According to Dr; Gary Floyd, in-
structor of the foreign languages
lab, this is not what the article said.
Floyd informed me that it was in
reality, a pro-Jewish article cir-
culated by a pro-Jewish organiza-
tion called "The Central Union of
the German Citizens of the Jewish
Faith."
Master Cylinder steered me
towards a school official whom I
was led to believe might be able to
provide an insight into this "Neo-
Nazi group." This poor individual
was sucked into this sick, sordid
drama by circumstances beyond his
control, and I feel for him. I really
do.
I called this gentleman on the
phone and asked him if he knew
anything about this "Nazi" pro-
blem. I received a very puzzled "I
don't know what you're talking
about," and embarrassingly hung
up, mumbling my apologies. Some-
where, someplace, Master Cylinder
was laughing his head off.
Apparently, this poor man
misunderstood my questions and
thought I was implying that he was
the next Adolph Hitler. He asked
another student leader, whom I shall
call "Racer X" for the sake of
anonymity, to find me and clarify
exactly what the heck I meant when
I called him.
Racer X found me in front of
Davis Hall, and informed me that
I had made a bad political move.
Desperate not to be misunderstood,
I rushed around campus with Racer
X by my side, trying to find the man
I had unknowingly wronged.
I found him in the library, ex-
plained my true intentions, shook
the man's hand, and made
everything right with the world. It
was a comedy of errors, but it could
have ended my college career right
there.
There are no facts to substantiate
whether or not there is or isn't a
Neo-Nazi group running around
campus. For all I know the Fourth
Reich is being organized right here
at T.S.U. But I doubt it. All par-
ties involved, except for Master
Cylinder, have agreed that the flyer
posted in the humanities building
was probably a prank inspired by
the upcoming Halloween season and
the close proximity of the Presiden-
tial Election.
The point is, whether or not we
are under siege by stormtroopers,
the rumors of such a "clan," par-
don the expression, could brew and
fester and be blown up into
something bigger that it could ever
possibly have been before.
Let me tell you a story relating
to this problem.
When I was in my early High
School years, a wee lad of 14 years,
I briefly attended a boarding school
in Mayer, Arizona.
Anyway, this school had a man-
datory Sunday night church service
with rotating guest ministers of dif-
ferent religions each week.
One week, we attended a Jewish
ceremony presided over by a Rab-
bi. For an hour we had to listen to
him ramble on about the economy,
the state of Israel, blah, blah, blah.
It seemed the only thing he didn't
talk about was religion.
Righteously angered, we drew up
a petition to present to the Head-
master, asking that the Rabbi not
return until he was ready to talk
about his faith instead of his politics.
The petition circulated around cam-
pus, gathering signature upon
signature, until it fell into the hands
of some Jewish students.
Holy Misinterpretation, Batman!
The next thing I knew, I was stan-
ding in the headmasters office, be-
ing questioned about why I wanted
the Jews and blacks to leave the
school. They thought I was the
ringleader of this "band of
Racists." It wasn't even my idea!
Needless to say, I appeared before
the student body and cleared my
good name. The whole bloody mess
was straightened out, but it got nasty
there for a while, and it could have
been avoided. Even after that, I got
dirty looks from the Jewish folk
around campus up until I was
dismissed from the school for
sneaking into the girls' showers.
There is another word for rumors
called "gossip" ,and it is becoming
all too common around small,tight
knit communities.People need to
understand that just because
something is said out loud, it isn't
nesessarily gospel.
Letters
Student is disappointed
with The J-TAC coverage
To The Editor:
So far this year, I have been somewhat disappointed with the school
newspaper. I though maybe it was because of a new editor and a new
advisor and that it would slowly get better. The J-TAC has been improv-
ed slightly from the first edition this year, but is still not like The J-TAC
of past years. But this is not my main complaint. v
I was disappointed with the way The J-TAC has reported on Tarleton
students who have recently passed away. They have been somewhat brief
in text to say the least. The articles in recent J-TACs have not even publish-
ed a picture of the student. I do not always remember names, but I do
remember faces. The main article that really upset me was the article
on Richard Blaine Hasty.
Not only myself, but the whole school lost a friend in a very tragic
car accident. The J-TAC was somewhat inadequate in reporting the loss
of one of Tarleton's students. I refer you to the copies of the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram, the Hood County News of Granbury, and the Stephen-
ville Empire-Tribune all who carried the story with a great deal more
information. The main fact that was left out that I hope is published in
the J-TAC very soon was that the driver of the vehicle did not stop. If
anyone has any information concerning the accident, they should con-
tact the Department of Public Safety in Granbury at (817) 573-1878 or
Hood County Crime Stoppers at (817) 573-TIPS,
Gary W. Thomas
Midwestern student says
she is really a TSU Texan
To The Editor:
I recently spent a weekend back at Tarleton visiting friends and atten-
ding the TSU vs. Sul Ross game, congratulations on k'"great game!
I attended TSU from 1986-1988 and would like to tell you.fchfit you
are attending the best school in Texas. The people go out of their way
to be friendly, the campus is like one big family, the students are very
informed on what's going on by The J-TAC, student center calender,: stu-
dent handbooks, posters, and you can't help but get involved in activities
and organizations. '
In the two years I attended TSU I was involved in the student social
workers association and held offices in the Betas, T-CAB, and BACCHUS.
I left TSU to get married and now attend Midwestern State University.
To say it is an unfriendly and unspirited university is an understate-
ment. Be proud to be a Texan, its the best th^re is! My money goes to
Midwestern, but my heart belongs to TSU!
Sincerely,
Paula Anne Bryant Watkins
Want to express your
opinion in The J-TAC ?
What's your view? We invite you to write a letter to the editor ad-
dressed to: The J-TAC, Editorial Page Editor, P.O. Box 98, Tarleton
Station, Stephenville, Texas 76402. Letters can also be brought to the
newspaper office in person on the third floor of Davis Hall. Only signed
letters can be considered but the author's name can be withheld by re-
quest. Please include an address and telephone number at which you can
be reached for verification. Letters are subject to editing and condensation.
The J-TAC Staff
Editorial Page Editor
Dan K. McCoy
News
Jayme Bullard
Ben Tinsley
Christine Hancook
Advertising Sales
Cindy Prestridge
David O'Haugherty
Circulation
John F. Hughes
Editor
Tiffany P. Hall
Sports Writers
Mike Marbach
Gayden Hays
Lance Moore
Advisor
Charles Reynolds
Sports Editor
Clay Rasmussen
Photography
WayneBriggs
Dana Brinkley
Melanie Martin '
Ross Canion
Typography &
Graphic Art
Cathy F. Hope
Dusti Pounds
Greg Mefford
Liz Dawes
The J-TAC is published each Thursday during the regular semesters, with the exception
of University holidays and examination periods. ,The printer is the Stephenville Empire-Tribiine.
The J-TAC is a non-profit organization. The U.S. postage is paid permit number 133,
Stephenville, Texas 76402,
Only articles under the Editorial section of this page express the opinion of The J-TAC.
All other columns do not necessarily represent the opinion of the University or this newspaper. -
Deadlines are noon Monday for advertising and noon Tuesday for articles and letters to
the editor. Inquiries may be made by telephone to: Editor, 968-9056; Newsroom/Editorials/
Advertising, 968-9057; Faculty Advisor, 968-9058. . '
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, October 6, 1988, newspaper, October 6, 1988; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141685/m1/2/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Tarleton State University.