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Luv Ya Maroon

Aghast Aggie: This story ["Rotten to the Corps," by Paul Knight, January 24] has my blood boiling. As a graduate of Texas A&M University, I could not be more appalled, ashamed and amazed at the events that have taken place.

These are the kinds of stories that need/require national press coverage. Can somebody, anybody please contact Mike Wallace yesterday, and get this on 60 Minutes­?

Clearly the "good ole boy" network is alive and well in College Station, Texas. People need closure to things, and clearly the Corcorans have none, nor does it appear that they will get it anytime soon.

And what of the two men that attacked him? What have they learned from all this? Oh, I know, the Corps is just as powerful and corrupt as it's ever been, operating in a cocoon of secrecy, and above the laws that govern the rest of us.

Can you imagine what would have become of my black ass had I and my black friend beat some white student mercilessly — in College Station, Texas, no less? I know lynchings are no longer commonplace, but you get the idea.

I was never a member of the Corps, but these guys are an absolute disgrace to the uniform. They will live with that for the rest of their pitiful, sad and sorry lives.

I just hope that they don't have to endure the same pain that the elder Corcoran had to, has to and will forever have to. I'm a father of a seven-year-old son, and if anyone were to ever harm him, particularly physically, and with absolutely no provocation...God help them.

The other thing I noticed is that this should qualify as a hate crime — that's right, a hate crime. Didn't they say that they thought he was gay? Now, a sober, clear-thinking individual does not make that stretch. But to these two drunk idiots, Corcoran, sporting female shades, probably looked like Richard Simmons sans workout gear.

Well, congratulations to the two dumbest Aggies on the face of the planet, along with the other dumb Aggies who have helped them along the way. Today is a sad day for me. I'm proud to be an Aggie, a graduate of what will always be, at least to me, one of the greatest institutions of higher learning in the country — in the world, for that matter. It's an institution rich in traditions and passionate about building and shaping young minds. So I'll continue to wear my Aggie ring with pride, because I know that one — or, in this case, two — bad apples can't spoil an entire harvest.

Hugh Tillman
Class of '88
Houston

Toxic waste: This is absolutely the most irresponsible and criminally negligent article I have ever seen written by this paper. Has Paul Knight worked as a journalist for long? His one-sided story and hallucinogenic accusations would lead one to believe so. A man was stabbed outside a Northgate bar six months ago by a marine — where was Mr. Knight on that one? What does any of this have to do with the actual Corps? What a waste of paper...

Anthony Borski
Spring, TX

Online readers weigh in below. For many more comments on this story, visitwww.houstonpress.com.

Outrage: After reading this article, my feelings for Texas A&M have changed a lot. Allowing these two guys to get off the hook with no punishment is an outrage.

Comment by Paul

Hell school: I have known Zach all of my life. He is one of my dearest friends and has always been like a brother to me. It is an absolute tragedy that Zach was caught in this situation. He wore a patch over his eye for six months. To hear Helle's and Ramirez's attorney call them victims is absurd. They literally crushed Zach's face in. Do you know what kind of beating that requires?

But as someone who is in the legal field — I'm a practicing attorney in Corpus Christi — I feel that the way in which A&M and the district attorney's office addressed the issues involved is even more outrageous. What a total disregard for justice, a total lack of care for innocent people.

The Corcorans are a great family and have never done anything to hurt anyone. They simply want answers and have been denied them.

I have total disgust for A&M. I will never allow my children to attend that "hell school." It lies in the pit of Texas, and I wish it would fall into oblivion. Let them keep their damn dog and all that comes with it.

Comment by Clay

A Dip in Dry Creek

Meat of the matter: After reading the review of Dry Creek Café ["Keep Houston Weird," by Robb Walsh, January 24] in this week's Houston Press, I was a little concerned. I appreciate hearing your opinions on what you like and don't like, because this is America and you have that right. But when you write statements like the one below, I have to correct you.

You wrote: "It wouldn't take much work to improve the food at Dry Creek Café. How hard would it be to get some fresh, never-been-frozen meat and some buns that didn't fall apart in your hands? Wouldn't it be great if a cool hangout like Dry Creek Café served fresh-made spicy burgers like the ones at Tornado ­Burgers?"

Our meat is never frozen, and our bread comes in fresh every day. We do take the extra expense and effort to make sure both our meat and bread are fresh. Sure, we could use frozen meat and/or bread to make a profit, but we do not.

As a customer, if I was paying $8.50 plus tax for a burger and my bread "disintegrated into powdery pieces," I would look for a manager and inform him or her of this matter, without a doubt.

The pen is mightier than the sword. I just needed to let you know that the information you gave can affect one's business, especially if it is untrue.

Chris Webb
Manager
Dry Creek Café

Editor's note: Robb Walsh called the restaurant and spoke with an employee who said the burgers had been previously frozen. The information was incorrect, and we regret the error.