The Battalion 1893 — A Century of Service to Texas A&M — 1993 Wednesday, November 24,1993 Fightin' Texas Aggie Bonfire burns tonight

what race, creed, religion or what­ are kept clear. site, said although he will be unable said. "It is a tradition that has been By Geneen Pipher ever can come out here and work "Last year we experienced great to sell gasoline during this time, he here longer than I have, so there's The Battalion together as one group and build amounts of parking problems," plans to make up for lost sales with no use bucking the system. I am The 1993 Fightin' Texas Aggie something great." Newton said. "We are trying to re­ the sale of other items. standing behind it 100 percent." Bonfire will be set ablaze this This year the City of College duce congestion on minor roads "I know that the road in front of Connie Gibbs, general manager of evening at 8 o'clock bringing to an Station, in response to numerous that could block not only public me will be closed, so obviously Taco Cabana, said she too is not con­ end nearly three months of work by complaints about parking, is beef­ safety vehicles but also the normal there will be no gas sales, but I an­ cerned about a loss of business and is more than 5,000 students. ing up security and will be shut­ citizen who lives in that area." ticipate making up for lost sales in excited about the week's festivities. Junior yell leader Scott Whitaker, ting down roads as of 6 p.m. in or­ Despite road closings that could gasoline with the sale of conve­ "I think it is the most exciting a wildlife and fisheries major, said der to make the event safer and cut off many establishments on nience items," Wachel said. thing that hits our town every year," the tradition proves that Aggies more accessible to spectators and Texas Avenue from potential pa­ Wachel said he is not concerned Gibbs said. "It's a fantastic tradition from all walks of life can work to­ emergency vehicles. trons, most local business owners in about the loss of business or the and contrary to what you might gether for one common cause. Maj. Mason Newton, of the Col­ the area said they are in full support parking problems often associated think, it actually picks up our busi­ "What Bonfire means to me is lege Station Police Department, of the tradition. with the tradition. ness around here. 1 think everyone spirit," Whitaker said. "It signifies said officers will patrol the areas James Wachel, owner of Wachel's "I am not at all upset about the on the strip here thinks it does a lot the fact that all Aggies no matter around Bonfire to make sure roads Exxon, located across from Bonfire roads closing for Bonfire," Wachel of good for the community." Angel Knn/THE Battalion

Elephant Walk------'We took a big step in saving the tradition' This year's event cleaner, leaders say By Cheryl Heller

The Battalion Efforts on the part of the Class of '94 and '95 councils to keep this year's Elephant Walk clean paid off better than expected, student lead­ ers said Tuesday. In the past, the junior class has thrown mud, syrup and mustard on the seniors as they march through traditional campus sites during Ele­ phant Walk. But senior class president Chad King said this year things were different. "It went better than expected because of a smaller amount of junior antagonism," he said. "We made it the whole way through the walk untouched, and at the end of the line there were a few attacks, but they were mostly seniors against seniors." King said he was concerned there would be trouble at Elephant Walk because of fights between the juniors and the seniors in the past. "In the past, there have been some problems, but this year we took a big step in saving the tradition," he said. "There was a lot less junior involvement, and the Class of '94 service committee and Alpha Tau Omega will have a lot less to clean up on campus." Class of '95 President Jeb Jones said planned activities for the ju­ niors were the reason for the virtually attack-free Elephant Walk. "We had over 600 people at Kyle Field to listen to Frank Cox speak about how traditions have evolved through the years at Texas A&M, and we formed a huge 95 on Kyle Field from sideline to sideline," he said. The turnout for the junior activities has never been as high as it was this year, Jones said. "We had a few juniors leave Bonfire and not show up at Kyle Field, but the vast majority showed up there," he said. "In years past, the largest turnout the junior class has ever had at Kyle Field was about 60, but we had an estimated 10 times that amount this year." Jones said he thinks the junior activities were a significant step toward cleaning up Elephant Walk, and also helped bring the class together. "The juniors had a good time at our activities, and we did a great job," he said. "It brought the class closer together, and I think it will help make our Elephant Walk that much more special." King said this year's Elephant Walk went exceptionally well, and he hopes it will set the standard for the future. "This year was a giant improvement, thanks to the work of the class councils, who really worked to educate the students," he said. "Every­ one should be commended for a great Elephant Walk, because a lot of Kyle Burnett/l'HE Battalion organizations went a long way in saving the tradition." A senior gets a closer look at the mud around Bonfire site courtesy of a few of his friends. For the most part, the event was cleaner this year. I Brazos Valley group to help feed area hungry during Thanksgiving Thanksgiving in the Brazos Valley. dressing for the program, and men's Morrison said they are expecting aJm War ! ^ By Michele Brinkmann Since the organization began in 1984, basketball coach Tony Barone and the about 200 volunteers and are planning to The Battalion the group has helped thousands of peo­ men's and women's basketball teams serve about 1,000 meals this Thanksgiv­ Dueling editorial boards This Thanksgiving, one Brazos Valley ple in the Brazos Valley. will be volunteering. ing — 100 more them last year. organization is hoping to feed those in The organization now includes sever­ Barone said this is the first time that he "So many people want to assist, and fight it out in the need and make the community aware al community charities such as Meals on and the basketball team will volunteer at we will not turn anyone down," he said, annual WAR OF THE WORDS. Wheels, Hospice, Elder Aid, The Pantry Fannin Elementary School in Bryan. and no one will be refused a meal either.' that there are people who need help on a daily basis. and local churches. He said he started volunteering "You don't have to qualify for a meal, See The Battalion staff "We want to feed everyone in the Bra­ Morrison said the Texas A&M com­ around the community because he want­ anyone who needs a meal will get one," defend Aggieland against zos Valley that otherwise would not munity has been heavily involved in this ed to "put something back in." he said. The Daily Toxin Texan on have Thanksgiving," said Danny Morri­ year's Thanksgiving program. "Some people think that athletes are Feeling bad that he had no family to son, the organization coordinator for This is the third year that Sbisa Din­ bad people and we wanted to prove that Page 11. ing Hall has cooked the turkey and this wasn't true," he said. See Thanksgiving/Page 4 Inside Rice students argue over 'salute' to Aggie band By Jennifer Smith Farnham said many students Football fan says Nazi gesture meant have told her the uniforms and Photo Page The Battalion the appearance of the Aggie Band Texas A&M University is the as a mockery of 'wanna-be soldiers' make them look like the Nazis. •Bonfire! A look at the center of a war of words being their show, I saw the Rice stu­ compliments from former A&M "But it was not meant as an in­ construction of this tradition waged on the Rice University dents doing something in uni­ students who support him, but sult," Farnham said. "It was Page 3 campus. son," Istre said. "At first I most of the students at Rice stand meant as a joke." Farnham said the serious na­ Football Preview During the A&M-Rice football thought they were doing a mili­ firm behind their action. game Oct. 23, many Rice students tary salute. "They don't regard the Corps ture of the Aggie Band makes it in the stands performed the "Sieg "Then I realized they were do­ as anything more than an ROTC an easy target. •A&M-Texas football Heil" salute while the Aggie Band ing the 'Sieg Heil' salute," Istre unit," Istre said. "They don't real­ "And Rice students spend a lot preview: 100 years of rivalry was performing. This sign was said. "I was aghast." ize these guys have made a com­ of time spoofing people," she said. Page 5 used in World War II to salute Istre said this action was inap­ mitment to the military." ■ Jason Hearnsberger, comman­ German dictator Adolf Hitler. propriate because many Aggies Julia Farnham, president of stu­ der of the Aggie Band and a se­ Opinion In a letter published in The Bat­ served with distinction in World dent government at Rice Universi­ nior finance major, said it is not talion's Mail Call section, Mitchell War n. ty, said the Rice students acted unusual for other schools to •It's back! And it's bad! Istre, with the Office of Comput­ "Knowing that this salute is a "all in fun." heckle the Aggie Band during Expanded Mail Call! ing Services at Rice University, symbol of hatred and racism, I "No one takes anything too se­ their performance. Page 12 apologized for the actions of the thought it was totally out of line," riously around here," Farnham "Some sort of negative crowd Rice students. Istre said. said. "Sarcasm is very big on this "When the Aggie Band started Istre said he has received many campus." See Rice/Page 4