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The Battalion
Serving the University community
Hu I
ifol. 76 No. 89 USPS 045360 20 Pages In 2 Sections
-
College Station, Texas
Thursday, February 3, 1983
arine halts
sraeli tanks
United Press International
WASHINGTON - Marine Capt.
mrles Johnson, 30, commander of
'Lima Company,” halted tanks that
trying to cross American lines in
1 L:Hut Wednesday by climbing
jjboanl the lead tank with his pistol
Irawn and ordering the Israelis to
eave the area, the Pentagon said.
■The three British-built Israeli Cen-
urion tanks departed without furth -
iriru idem, ending a 50-minute stare-
lown, the Pentagon said.
‘ ‘ Bsrael flatly denied there was any
ittejnpt by their tanks to cross the
American lines and said the confron-
I mi U n P r °bably was the result of new
tries governing patrols in the area.
|The incident was the sixth and
viHt serious confrontation between
T^fcli and American forces in the
., ■'^■ut airport area south of the city,
rlil’ JW'ense Secretary Caspar Wein-
i “^»er, who is uncomfortable with
he Marine presence in Beirut as part
if the multinational peace-keeping
orce, cited Johnson as a hero.
“I find it very disturbing and a con
tinuation of a set of problems both
unnecessary and damaging to the
prospects of the president for seeking
peace,” he said. “I think the Marine
captain behaved not only correctly
but with extreme courage.”
He said he would recommend a
commendation for Johnson’s actions
in the face of threatening moves by
the Israeli tanks.
The Israelis said their tanks were
not trying to cross U.S. lines but were
on a routine patrol in an area permit
ted to them by an agreement worked
out Friday between U.S. and Israeli
officials and suggested Johnson was
unaware of the new rules.
“These recurring challenges by the
Israeli forces are unacceptable,” State
Department spokesman Alan Rom
berg said. “They endanger the safety
of the troops involved and hamper
the peace-keeping efforts of the mul
tinational force. We view such inci
dents very seriously.”
Vandiver names
interim provost
'Uitl photo h\ Orluvio (.art ia
osts may not fall
»vith utility ruling
United Press International
AUSTIN — State utility companies
* lave dismissed the elimination of the
12T- uel adjustment clause by the Public
^pfjp|tility Commission as a cosmetic
hange that does little to alter current
^^ulilling procedures.
Bh really doesn't change hutch ex-
to make something already com-
^rntted even more complicated,”
■ham Painter, a spokesman for
ouston Lighting & Power Co., said
'ednesday. “We don’t see how
ten s any real benefit to the cus-
mer.
B'We haven’t seen anything that
^^■Id reduce the cost of fuel or the
Tost of electricity,” he said.
■The new rule, adopted unani-
by the commission Tuesdav,
'/ tould maintain the current fuel ad-
yiwstincnt clause until Septembei. 1 he
,Tile also,is subject to a 30-day public
fomment.
he fuel adjustment clause is the
jng proceed tire through which the
:l|ctnc utilities are allowed to auto-
®cally pass fuel costs on to consum
ers. The amount charged under the
ilause appears separately on electric
tills and often exceeds base rates.
jPJnder the new rule, beginning
Bril 1, utilities w ill be required to f ile
I month estimates of fuel costs
Sch can include monthly or quar-
Jy adjustments within the one-year
gfriod. The yearly fuel estimates will
Ke commission review before inclu-
»n in the utilities’ rate bases in Sep-
V fftiber.
Under the new scheme, the fuel
I' 1!
lin
factor would be excluded for profit
purposes and utility companies would
be bound to produce electricity as
economically as possible. T he rule
establishes a 1 percent allowable mar
gin for overcollection or undercollec
tion of estimated fuel costs.
The rule also requires utilities with
billings over the margin to refund the
extra collections plus interest to rate
payers. Billings under the margin
w'ould entitle utilities to recover fuel
costs through a surcharge.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Mark
White, who campaigned on a promise
to abolish the clause and reform the
PUC, said the governor w r as con
cerned the PUG had given consumers
too little.
“He is pleased to see the situation
has finally gotten the PUG’s atten
tion,” said Ann Arnold, W’hite’s press
secretary. “He is concerned they are
not going far enough, partieulary in
that they are not ensuring there are
detailed audits of fuel expenses.”
The new rule, which now' under
goes a 30-day public comment period,
grants utility companies the right to
seek adjustments on an emergency
basis, with the commisson bound to
act on the request within a 20-day
period.
The commission Tuesday pre
sented the Senate Finance Gommittee
with a supplmental appropriation re
quest seeking $2.1 million for the
next biennium to hire 18 additional
staff members to investigate utility
fuel costs and transactions.
Finishing Loaches
Jay Medor, a senior theater arts major from Houston, puts the
finishing touches on a section of one of the props to be used for
“Blood Wedding,” a play presented by Texas A&M Theater
Arts Program. The play, directed by Bob Wenck, an assistant
professor of English, will run Feb. 9 to 12.
Women’s dorms
to get lock system
Dr. Gordon Eaton, who has served
as Texas A&M dean of geosciences
for the past 16 months, has been
named interim provost and vice presi
dent for academic affairs University
President Frank E. Vandiver
announced Wednesday.
Vandiver said he will request that
the Texas A&M Board of Regents
confirm the appointment at its next
meeting. The interim appointment is
effective immediately.
“Dr. Eaton is an able scientist who
brings extensive experience to the key
academic position on campus,” Van
diver said.
Eaton, 53, succeeds Dr. Charles E.
McCandless, who has headed the
University’s academic division on an
interim basis for 13 months. Dr. J.M.
Prescott resigned the position in 1981
to direct the new Institute of Occupa
tional and Environmental Medicine
in the College of Medicine.
McCandless will serve as associate
vice president for academic affairs —
a position he has held since 1979 —
and also will be associate provost.
The faculty-staff search committee
appointed by Vandiver recom
mended Eaton af ter screening nomi
nations and applications from across
the nation.
Eaton said: “I am excited by the
prospects afforded by this position,
and I look forward to working direct
ly with President Vandiver ... We are
armed with all the right people and
resources to make this the pre
eminent university that we all aspire it
to be.”
Eaton was named dean of geosci
ences Sept. 1, 1981, after serving as
associate chief geologist with the U.S.
Geological Survey’s geologic division.
He earned national recognition for
his research on the origin of volcanic
rocks in Yellowstone National Park
and for tectonic studies in western
portions of the nation.
He holds graduate degrees from
the California Institute of Technolo
gy and an undergraduate degree
from Wesleyan University in Connec
ticut.
Eaton announced that Dr. Melvin
Friedman will serve as interim dean
of geosciences. Friedman now serves
as associate dean and has been a facul
ty member for 16 years.
Chagra
nearing
trial
close
by Stephanie M. Ross
Battalion Reporter
A new security system is almost
ready for the modular residence halls
and Legett Hall.
As soon as the physical plant staff
prepares the keys and installs locks on
dormitory doors, new security sys
tems will be effective in Clements,
Haas, Hobby, McFadden, Neely,
Underwood and Legett halls. The
new system should be installed in ab
out two weeks, said Ron Sasse, associ
ate director of student affairs.
When the new system is installed,
outside doors to the dormitories will
be locked during non-visitation hours
and each resident will be issued a door
key. Telephones will be installed out
side the dormitories so residents can
call their roommates if they forget or
lose their keys.
Because the modular halls only
have two entrances, the student
affairs department thought security
problems could be solved first in these
halls, Sasse said.
A push-button combination lock
was installed in Briggs Hall this
semester. To unlock the door, the
correct combination must be pun
ched.
Sasse said the system has not been
as successful as it could have been be
cause residents have given the door
combination to friends rather than
going to open the door for them.
Other systems are being sought.for
the women’s dormitories in the Com
mons area and the balcony-style halls
on the north side of campus, he said.
Mosher and Krueger halls pose dif
ferent security problems than the
modular halls because of their size
and number of entrances, Sasse said.
Other types of locking systems, in
cluding a magnetic lock system and
push button locks, are being sought
for those dormitories. Video cameras
also are being considered as a security
measure, he said.
The balcony-style halls — Keath-
ley, Fowler and Hughes — pose diffe
rent security problems because of
their construction, Sasse said. Entire
ly different systems will be consi
dered.
T he student affairs department
also is stressing student awareness,
Sasse said.
The security awareness committee
has urged students to lock their
doors, report suspicious activity and
take a f riend when going anywhere at
night. The committee also wants to
inform students of incidents that
occur on campus, Sasse said.
The department also has consi
dered such security improvements as
increased lighting in certain areas of
the campus, Sasse said.
United Press International
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —An attor
ney for Jimmy Chagra presented his
defense against charges Chagra
arranged the murder of a Texas fed
eral judge in just 15 minutes Wednes
day after prosecutors spent a month
presenting their side.
Defense attorney Oscar Goodman
called two witnesses: Jerry Ray James,
former cellmate of Chagra’s at
Leavenworth Federal Prison in Kan
sas and the government’s star witness;
and Marvin Finney, of Austin.
James testified earlier that Chagra,
39, a Las Vegas, Nev., gambler and
convicted narcotics trafficker, told
him that he had ordered the assassi
nation of U.S. District Judge John H.
Wood Jr. of San Antonio.
On Wednesday, James repeated
his testimony that Chagra also told
him he killed a man named Mark Fin
ney in Austin.
Finney, who has a felony convic
tion for marijuana possession, then
testified that he knew Chagra and had
met with him three times — twice in
Austin.
Goodman asked, “And I assume
you are alive and well?”
“I feel pretty good,” Finney said.
Goodman has contended all along
that gny statement Chagra made
while in prison was merely a boast to
win favor with his fellow inmates.
For four weeks, prosecutors had
called 85 witnesses and played more
than 12 hours of tape-recorded con
versations before resting their case
Wednesday.
The government’s case, which cost
several million dollars to put
together, stretched over four weeks.
The evidence included charts, maps
and a scale model of Wood’s tow-
nhome.
Prosecutors charge that Chagra
paid convicted hitman Charles V.
Harrelson $250,000 to assassinate
Wood.
The judge, who was scheduled to
preside at Chagra’s trial on narcotics
charges, was shot once in the back
with a high-powered rifle as he was
getting into his car May 29, 1979.
The government contends that
Chagra feared a long prison sentence
from Wood, whose nickname was
“Maximum John.”
U.S. District Judge William H. Ses
sions scheduled final arguments for
9:30 a.m. today. Before excusing the
jurors for the day, Sessions told them
to bring a packed bag in case they
have to be sequestered overnight.
Before recessing for lunch
Wednesday, Sessions denied defense
motions for a directed judgment of
acquittal and dismissal of the four-
count indictment against Chagra.
Goodman, a Las Vegas attorney,
argued that court rules enabling pro
secutors to withhold witnesses’s state
ments to the FBI until 24 hours be
fore their appearance prevented him
from conducting adequate cross-
examinations.
ay Student Services continues battle for recognition
by Kim Schmidt
Battalion Staff
[The Gay Student Services orga-
|zalion is continuing its seven-
year battle to gain recognition at
Kxas A&M by appealing a federal
"Iclge’s dismissal of its suit last
fm^y-
T The suit, filed in 1977, claimed
Je University’s refusal to grant
irecognition to the group was a
Halation of the members’ First
Amendment rights of free speech
and assembly.
■ But the suit was dismissed in
May 1982 by U.S. District Judge
Ross N. Sterling who said the Llni-
vprsity had not violated those
jghts.
The GSS, after receiving funds
qom the Texas Human Rights
jpundation to help pay court
sts, filed an appeal of the dismis-
I. Briefs in the appeal case are
Jie to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court
Appeals in New Orleans by
■uesday.
Despite previous setbacks in the
^Hurtroom, GSS spokesmen said
are optimistic about the out-
®me of the appeal suit.
M. Robert Schwab, president of
pe Texas Human Rights Founda-
bn who spoke for the GSS at a
|ress conference Wednesday, said
ecent rulings in other cases have
Bvored gay rights. He said he is
. Hopeful that the same will prove
rue in this case.
Jo Katherine Foy, treasurer of GSS, left, and M. Robert
Schwab, president, the Texas Human Rights Foundation.
The key ruling favoring gay
rights was made in a September
1982 case in which a federal dis
trict judge in Dallas struck down
Texas’ Homosexual Conduct Law.
This move has made it illegal to
penalize consenting adults for pri
vate homosexual relations.
Although the striking down of
Texas Penal Code 21.06 has made
GSS members more optimistic of
their chances of winning the
appeal, they agree that a final
Approval of their organization
could take some time. “I think we’ll
win eventually,” said Jo Katherine
Foy, treasurer of the GSS.
Foy said the GSS is seeking Uni
versity recognition for several
“We feel our organization is
very much needed on campus, not
only for the support of each other,
but also for the political statement
of our rights,” she said.
Foy said that “the majority of
gay people come out during their
college years.” At this time, she
said, gay students may need coun
seling with peers to help them ad
just and “accept their sexual orien
tation.”
Recognition also would help the
GSS initiate a long-term strategy
for growth and public education
about the gay community, Foy
said.
The 38-member GSS also wants
University recognition so it can
have the same privileges as other
recognized organizations, includ
ing access to phones, reduced
mailing costs and office space on
campus.
Texas A&M officials, however,
said the GSS does not qualify for
University recognition or pri
vileges because it is a social rather
than a service organization.
GSS members and supporters
disagree.
“The real reason the University
won’t recognize the GSS is because
it wants to deny gays exist and that
their needs are valid,” Schwab
said.
According to Schwab, services
are provided for such groups as
international students, but the
University’s gay students are not
receiving services.
“This case is another clear
travesty of discrimination against
gays,” Schwab said.
“For the University to recognize
other groups, political and various
other groups, and to deny gay stu
dents the right to have their own
service or social organization flies
in the face of other court decisions.
It also defies reason.
“If the First Amendment has
any meaning whatsoever, freedom
of expression and association
should be allowed at a state univer
sity,” he said. “To infringe on
those freedoms is to allow the state
to control too much.”
Schwab said that one considera
tion in the suit will be whether the
GSS is a social or service organiza
tion. And, if the GSS is a social
organization, whether the Univer
sity can deny recognition to social
organizations.
The appeals court may choose
to decide these questions, Schwab
said, or it may choose to remand
the case. If the case is remanded.
Judge Sterling would hear the case
again, he said.
“We’re only asking equal treat
ment,” Schwab said. “We’ll accept
nothing less. It’s time.”
The GSS controversy began in
April 1976, when the group asked
for official University recognition.
The group’s request was denied in
May 1976.
inside
Classified 8
Local 3
National 9
Opinions 2
Sports 11
State 7
What’s up 14
forecast
Partly cloudy and becoming mostly
cloudy today with a high of 57. The
winds will be north at 10 mph.
Mainly cloudy tonight with a low of
39, and a 50 percent chance of rain.
Cloudy with a 60 percent chance of
rain on Friday, and a high of 48.
almanac
United Press International
Today is Thursday. Feb. 3, the
34th dav of 1983 with 331 to follow.
On this date in history;
In 1978, Egyptian President
Sadat arrived in Washington and
urged the United States to become
the arbitrate!’ in the Arab-Israeli
dispute.
A thought for the day: As Ger
trude Stein once said to Ernest
Hemingway, “Remarks are not li
terature.”