Page 2 • The Battalion
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Chicken, beef both important part of
every nutritious, well-balanced diet
Q Chicken and beef may
have their differences, but
both are important.
By Brad Dressier
The Battalion
Many people debate the nutritional, economical
and environmental benefits of chicken over beef,
but experts say it is not an easy comparison.
Many people assume chicken is more
healthy than beef.
Dr. Dana Smith, lecturer in the department
of Animal Science, human nutrition, said
the question is much more complex than
most people think.
She said many factors are involved, including
the particular cut of meat or poultry, the prepa
ration of the food and the method of cooking.
"Beef and chicken are comparable in many
ways," she said. "Each is high in protein and
iron. Beef is known to be a high source of B-vita-
min complex and zinc, while chicken is a good
source of niacin and polyunsaturated fats."
It is important that people compare sim
ilar types of beef to chicken, she said.
"While both can be relatively low in fat and
cholesterol, preparation and the kind of meat are
extremely relevant," Smith said. "Comparing a
fried, fattier cut of beef to a roasted, skinless
chicken breast is not an adequate comparison."
Sarah Birkhold, assistant professor and
Texas A&M Extension poultry specialist, said
choosing between meat and poultry is an ex
tremely important factor.
"A relatively equivalent comparison would
be a boneless, skinless chicken breast to a pop
ular beef product, such as a strip steak," she
said. "Something people may not consider is
the fact that with beef, you must pick a low fat
cut in the store, while with chicken, consumers
can remove the skin and much of the fat in
their homes."
Dr. Dan Hale, Texas A&M Extension meat
specialist, said that economically both chick
en and cattle have individual strengths
and weaknesses.
"Chickens have a much shorter turnover rate
from birth to market, yet they have a higher
cost for feed and other care," he said. "Cattle
have a long turnover of fifteen months. But
cattle can be raised mainly on an otherwise un
used resource — grass."
Hale said the consumer, on average, is going
to pay less for chicken in the current
marketplace.
Environmentally, many people have the mis
conception that cattle grazing can ruin the sur
rounding environment, although recent devel
opments in the agriculture industry have led to
a program which balances cattle development
with the environment, he said.
"Integrated resource management balances
the needs of the cattle industry with respect to
the environment and surrounding - wildlife,"
Hale said. "The cattle are prevented from graz
ing to the point that it desecrates the land. Cat
tle grazing can actually allow the grass to grow
back fuller and healthier — much like weeding
a garden."
Smith, Birkhold and Hale all said chicken
and beef have individual strengths and weak
nesses in all areas. Essentially, they said that
the specific choices of cut, preparation and
method of cooking are the key elements.
"Everyone should understand that a well-
rounded diet is the most important thing,"
Smith said. "One cannot live on one
single food alone."
Lamb
Chicken
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Comparison of KCals from lean only, cooked,
oz serving of beef, pork, lamb and chicken.
Comparison of cholesterol from lean only, |ore
cooked, 3 oz servings of beef, pork, lamb and
chicken.
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Pesticides, methods of bug removal
still improving for earth, people
Q Experts say using
beneficial insects to combat
pests is an environmental
alternative to pesticides.
By Brad Dressier
The Battalion
Pests have plagued people, particularly farmers,
since the dawn of time. Pesticides seem to be the an
swer, but many people wonder exactly how safe the
most current pesticides on the market are.
The Environmental Protection Agency deals
with pesticides by level of toxicity. Teddi Brown,
EPA Project Officer for the Texas Department of
Agriculture, said that pesticides and their uses
have improved over the past five years.
“The overall picture has improved,” she said.
“Communication has played a key role in direct
ing attention to the effects on the groundwater
and on the workers that handle pesti
cides, which in turn has brought about im
provements in safety.”
Dr. Rodney Holloway, Texas A&M Pesticide
Assessment Extension Specialist, said the agri
culture industry and others involved with pesti
cides are well aware of the misuse of pesticides
in the past.
“There is a high awareness of how pesticides
have been misused and therefore where to
focus attention for current and future re
search,” he said.
Besides awareness, many of the more
recent pesticides are much less toxic, Hol
loway explained.
“Across the board, the most recent pesticides
are much less toxic to humans,” he said. “In
particular the synthetic pyrethroid group, a
man-made derivative from chrysanthemums, is
a good example. Many of the recent pesticides
also have a much shorter residual life, which
helps to reduce some danger and misuse.”
Bill Plapp, a retired professor in the Depart
ment of Entomology, said the recent develop
ment and use of integrated pest management
gives the agriculture industry an alternative to
the usual pesticides.
“Integrated pest management is essentially
the use of beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, to
dispose of undesirable insects,” he said.
Integrated pest management is an area that
shows much promise, yet has some crucial fac
tors to make the program effective, Plapp said.
“There are factors to be considered, including
the determination of when would be the best
time frame to initiate the management program
and knowing that other pesticides cannot
be used that would harm the beneficial
insects,” he said.
Ailing dog wants one more chance
More donations are needed to keep goodhearted pooch alive
SAN ANTONIO (AP)— A
four-legged volunteer whose
196-pound body belies his gen
tle nature, Duke the Great
Dane is devoted to brightening
the lives of the sick and elderly
at nursing homes.
ment is too steep for his own
ers, Bill Ralls — a recently
laid-off auto parts salesman
— and wife Rita.
For the childless couple,
who consider Duke one of
their children, the loss
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"It's just like having another member of the
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—Bill Ralls,
Dukes owner
But now a painful, degener
ative hip disease threatens to
rob Duke of his own life and
the joy he gives others.
Medical technology offers an
operation that would make
Duke as good as new, say vet
erinary experts at Texas A&M
University.
Without it, the 2-year-old
harlequin eventually will have
to be put to sleep.
But the estimated $4,000 for
surgery for a total hip replace-
would be heartbreaking.
“It’s just like having another
member of the family when
they’re that large,” said Ralls, 44.
Since the day he was
bom, Duke has been special.
He was born dead due to
birthing complications but
Ralls brought the pup to life
by clearing its fluid-filled lungs
and performing cardiopul
monary resuscitation.
About six months ago, the
Rallses began taking Duke
to nursing homes and chil
dren’s hospitals.
Alicia Gonzales, Momingside
Manor activity coordinator, said:
“Dogs and children, they’re the
best therapy.”
On his visit Jan. 12, Duke
was good-natured as usual, but
the pain from his hip ailment
was evident. Often, he would
yvalk away from the circle of
admirers and lie down.
His pain medication is up to
three pills twice a day. When
Duke eats dinner, Ralls has to
hold his pet’s legs up.
In hopes of saving their pet,
the Rallses have started a
not-for-profit “Save Duke ^
the Dog Foundation.” Butin
the past month that donation
jars have been out, less than
$200 has been collected.
Duke’s cause has been taken I
up by Jeanne Caudle, a
owner who learned
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Duke’s plight from one of
the pet stores.
“The joy that this dog
brings, we just can’t let him
be put to sleep.”
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Curfew effectiveness questioned as juvenile crime increases
Ordinances continue despite lack of results
HOUSTON (AP) — Juvenile crime continues
to escalate in Houston, despite a teen curfew.
Nevertheless, Harris County wants state per
mission to extend the curfew to all unincorporat
ed areas around Houston.
Many law enforcement officers and elected of
ficials say a youth curfew helps curb overall
crime and protects innocent youth, but they ac
knowledge that, at best, it only reduces
crime’s growth rate.
“As unfortunate as it sounds, juvenile crime
would be even worse if there was no curfew,”
said Houston Police Chief Sam Nuchia.
But one researcher is skeptical about the
value - of teen curfews as a weapon against
juvenile crime.
Jajnes Pilant, a doctoral student in criminal
justice at Sam Houston State University in
Huntsville, has studied curfews for a year.
“It’s an urban myth,” he said of the deterrent
value of curfews. “I have yet to find a curfew
that made a significant difference.
“I don’t like to disagree with police, but
when you do something this sweeping, there
ought to be some evidence that crime is
declining,” he said.
The Houston City Council adopted a night-
and-day curfew in October 1991, followed by sub
urban Pasadena, Baytown, La Porte, Jacinto
City and Brookshire. Dallas, Fort Worth and
Austin have also adopted curfews.
Ordinances vary, but they typically ban teens
from the streets and most public places during
late-night and early-morning hours. Exceptions
include going to and from work or school activi
ties. Some ordinances, such as Houston’s, also
cover school hours.
Harris County officials want legislation to al
low them to impose a curfew in unincorporated
areas. Counties, unlike cities, cannot approve or
dinances and must get legislative permission on
an issue-by-issue basis.
Nevertheless, juvenile arrests for aggravatedj
assault increased in Houston by about 50 per
cent between 1991 and 1994. Juvenile robbery,
increased by about 40 percent, burglary by about!
20 percent, and theft by about 10 percent.
Law officers in several Texas cities say cur
fews have led to sharp drops in burglaries, gang;
graffiti and overall property crime. In Houston,
the burglary rate plummeted almost 25 percent;
between 1991 and 1992.
“Curfew has helped, but it’s certainly not the;
only factor,” Nuchia said.
“There’s no question that we need a curfew,
Klevenhagen said.
c
PU
AGGIE RING ORDERS
THE ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS
CLAYTON W. WILLIAMS, JR. ALUMNI CENTER
DEADLINE. FEBRUARY 7, 1995
Indergraduate Student Requirements:
1. You must be a degree seeking student and have a total of 35 credit hours reflected on the
Texas A&M University Student Information Management System. (A passed course, which is
repeated and passed, cannot count as additional credit hours.)
2. 3Q credit hours must have been completed in residence at Texas A&M University. However, if
you did not successfully complete one semester at Texas A&M University prior to January 1,
1994, you must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours in residence. Should your degree be
conferred with less than 60 Texas A&M University resident credits, this requirement will be
waived after your degree is posted on the Student Information Management System.
3. You must have a 2.0 cumulative GPR at Texas A&M University.
4. You must be in good standing with the University, including no registration or transcript
blocks for past due fees, loans, parking tickets, returned checks, etc.
Graduate Student Requirements:
If you are a May 1995 degree candidate and you do not have an Aggie ring from a prior
degree year, you may place an order for a ‘95 ring after you meet the following requirements:
1. Your degree is conferred and posted on the Texas A&M University Student Information
Management System; and
2. You are in good standing with the University, including no registration or transcript
blocks for past due fees, loans, parking tickets, returned checks, etc.
If you will complete all of your degree requirements prior to February 3, 1995, you may
request a “Letter of Completion” from the Office of Graduate Studies. The original letter of
completion may be presented to the Ring Office in lieu of your degree being posted.
Procedure To Order A Ring:
1. If you meet all of the above requirements, you must visit the Ring Office to complete the
application for eligibility verification. Although February 7, 1995 is the deadline to apply
for this ring order, it is highly recommended that you complete this process by
January 31. 1995.
2. If your application is approved and you wish to receive your ring on April 18, 1995, you
must return and pay in full by cash, check, money order, or your personal Visa or
Mastercard (with your name imprinted) no later than February 10, 1995.
Men’s 10KY-$308.00 14KY - $420.00
Women’s 10KY - $174.00 14KY - $203,00
Add $8.00 for Class of ‘94 or before.
The approximate date of the ring delivery is April 18, 1995.
For Help When the
Flu Gets You!
TVo Appointment Necessary
10% Discount with A&M Student I.D.
696-0683
Texas Ave. at S.W. Pkwy.
College Station
Open until 8 p.m. - 7 days a week
'Li ii; L£a i i7\i ion
MARK SMITH, Editor in chief
JAY ROBBINS, Senior managing editor
HEATHER WINCH, Managing editor
JODY HOLLEY, Night News editor
TIFFANY MOORE, Night News editor
AMANDA FOWLE, City editor
STERLING HAYMAN, Opinion editor
ROB CLARK, Aggielife editor
NICK GEORG AN DIS, Sports editor
DAVE WINDER, Sports editor
STEWART MILNE, Photo editor
Staff Members
City desk— Stephanie Dube, Kasie Byers, Lynn Cook, Brad Dressier, Dana Jones, Lisa Messer,
Cretchen Perrenot, Tracy Smith, and Wes Swift
News desk— Kristi Baldwin, Michele Chancellor, Kristin De Luca, Kristen De Rocha, Libe Goad,
Robin Greathouse, Zachary Toups and James Vineyard
Photographers—Tim Moog, Amy Browning, Robyn Calloway, Blake Griggs,
Nick Rodnicki and Eddie Wylie
Aggielife— Michael Landauer, Amber Clark, Margaret Claughton, Amy Collier and Jay Knioum
Sports writers— James Anderson, Kristina Buffin, Tom Day, Shelly Hall, Robert Hanson
and Robert Rodriguez,
Opinion — Erin Hill, Drew Diener, Laura Frnka, Zachary Hall, David Hill, Kyle Littlefield,
Jenny Magee, Jim Pawlikowski, Elizabeth Preston, Gerardo Quezada, David Taylor
and Amy Uptmor
Cartoonists— Greg Argo, Brad Graeber, Alvaro Gutierrez and Quatro Oakley
Office Assistants— Wendy Crockett, Heather Fitch, Adam Hill and Julie Thomas
Writing Coach— Mark Evans
The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring
semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer sessions (except University holidays and
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News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the
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Reed McDonald Building. E-mail: BATT@TAMVM1 .TAMU.EDU. Newsroom phone number is 845-
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For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call
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