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Battalion/Page 3
February 1, 1982
FREE TRIP TO MAZATLAN, MEXICO
DURING SPRING BREAK 1982!
Last year we took over 4,000 students in 6 weeks from 50 |
Colleges and Universities. We need reps on campus that i
are
willing to work during their spare
time in return for a free trip. The
trip for Texas A&M is March 11,
12, 13 or 14 through March 18,
19, 20, 21. For more information
call Tony or Dennis on our toll
free watts line at 1 -800-528-6025.
See you in Mazatlan!
The First Spring Semester
staff photo by Peter Rocha
A. C. Holder, of the grounds maintenance department, Center. The glue and rock mixture is being tested as a
puts down some epoxy rok near the Memorial Student substitute for Prarie film.
Meeting is...
Feb. 4th ★ 7:30 p.m. ★ 301 Rudder
Our Guest Speaker will be
JACKIE SHERRILL
New Aggie Head Coach dc Ath. Director
Come to the meeting and sign up to help with final Ball
preparations and Ball set-up!!!
ew solutions studied
m'w *r^r : w w * ^
n
Glued rocks rolling
jaw
by Greg Trest
Battalion Reporter
The gravel holes and pebbly
sijewalks around campus can
turn a simple stroll to class into a
strenuous walk through an ob-
se — all because of
■noft °
stacle (oursi
Prarie film.
ion.
IIS to
IPrarie film is the brand name
ofthe epoxy resin and rock mix
ture used for some sidewalks on
n—* campus.
I The rock originally was in-
[S t0 kdstalled on campus to let air and
r | ;r water reach the root systems of
the campus’ approximately
2j$0() live oak trees, which are
yytorth about $10,000 each. It
was never intended for use on
Ktjor pedestrian and vehicle
on?" thoroughfares, said Eugene
islyil Rav, director of grounds
Jilteaij maintenance.
ffenselH l ^ e abuse it receives
from vehicle traffic and exces
sive pedestrian use is one reason
tie Prarie film is in such disre-
loun p a j ri j ie sa j c | explaining that
aveWf some ofthe older film does not
have adequate base material to
)uldi support the heavy traffic.
■ The first Prarie film was laid
in 1974 by contractors who used
aloose gravel base instead ofthe
crushed limestone that is now
used. The gravel base did not
compact enough to provide a
firm foundation, Ray says. In
stead, it tended to spread out
under pressure, resulting in
Racks in the top layer of film.
I Crews are repairing some
ts nit
SWOT
patches of Prarie film around
campus; however, he says, the
repairs can be made only under
certain conditions. For example,
the film has to be laid in temper
atures averaging between 60 de
grees to 80 degrees to bond cor
rectly.
Furthermore, funds for the
material and repairs must be lo
cated. The money allotted for
epoxy repairs this fiscal year
already has been spent. Repairs
will not cease, Ray says, but only
major problem areas can be
fixed since funds must be drawn
from other sources.
The grounds maintenance
department is also testing alter
nate methods of repair, which
may solve the problem more
cheaply, he says.
One such method is overlay,
in which more epoxy and gravel
is laid over the hole in a thick
layer to provide a strong bond
instead of digging up an entire
section and starting from
scratch, Ray says.
Also being tested is a different
brand of aggregate called
Epoxy-rok, which, he says, is
cheaper than Prarie film.
The maintenance depart
ment has also found that using
smaller rocks in the mixture
provides more contact, or bond
ing points per square inch. This
makes the new material stron
ger, Ray says.
In the future the department
will experiment with Turf Paver
Blocks — large perforated con
crete blocks that are laid in the
ground to absorb most of pedes
trians’ weight. The blocks pro
tect the root systems of trees
from compaction and allow
grass to grow through the holes.
But in areas where trees will
not be damaged, the old Prarie
film is being torn up and re
placed with cheaper cement.
CASA CHAPULTEPEC
1315 S. College
AGGIE SPECIAL:
3 Cheese Enchiladas — Rice —- Beans
Beef Taco — Chile Con Queso — Tostaditas —
Hot Sauce — Iced Tea
$2.69
Reg. $4.30
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GET A DEAL LIKE THIS?
Monday through Friday 779-5116
Prepared Fresh Daily!
^ ^ ^ 1
World Travel
steamboat springs, Colorado
March 13-20. 1982
Package Includes:
• Roundtrip airfare
(Houston/Denver)
via Continential Airlines
• Roundtrip motorcoach
transfers
(Denver/Steamboat)
• Seven nights lodging/
Rarnada Inn
• All hotel taxes
• Six days lift tickets
• Full in-flight meal service
$595.00 per person
7 Nights/6 Days' Lifts
World Travel
3201 S. Tex. Ave.
(713) 779-3333
state. I
rox >1
policl
son iif
aloi^
arefl
• 110 l ‘l
[pies I
ft b
eeni 1 !
to k|
/
graptym
DO* 1
are If
[lei^l
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If. J
s as Iff
to: if
U'.'lf
(/Ui
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I'bf*
lim 1 ' lj
presented by MSC Town Hall
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26
G. Rollie White Coliseum
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $9.50, $9.00, $7.50
available at MSC Box Office
For more information:
845-2916