Page 4/The Battalion/Wednesday, March 9, 1983
local state
Greek system
debate tonight
DA: Witnesses feel guilt
for not reporting deaths
by Michelle Powe
Battalion Reporter
The value of social fraternities
and sororities at Texas A&M will
be debated at 7 tonight in 701
Rudder Tower.
Two Texas A&M students
will participate in the debate
which is sponsored by the Texas
A&M debate team.
Teresa Barr, a junior agro
nomy major from Maryland,
will argue that social fraternities
and sororities at Texas A&M are
detrimental to the spirit and tra
ditions of Aggieland.
Karen Pirtle, a sophomore
accounting major from Houston
and a member of Chi Omega
sorority, will defend fraternities
and sororities.
After both women have
spoken, members of the audi
ence will be allowed to express
their opinions. The audience
will be divided into two sections.
Those in favor of fraternities
and sororities will sit on one side
of the room and those opposed
will sit on the other side.
Anyone who changes his
mind during the debate can get
up and move to the other side.
At the end of the debate, the
audience will vote on the issue of
Greeks at Texas A&M by voice
count. When the debate is over,
people will be asked to leave
through certain doors depend
ing on how they voted. This will
allow the debate team to official
ly tally votes.
United Press International
SAN ANTONIO — District
Attorney Sam Millsap says hos
pital witnesses testifying to a
grand jury investigating infant
deaths feel guilt because they
failed to come forward earlier.
The grand jury heard testi
mony two weeks ago from a doc
tor and a nurse, both of whom
were employed by the Bexar
County Hospital District when
the mysterious deaths occurred.
It reconvened to hear testi
mony from other witnesses
Tuesday.
“There’s a certain amount of
guilt that they didn’t come for
ward earlier to tell the things
they heard,” Millsap said.
“It’s not so much a cover up
(but being involved) in the pro
cess of something unfolding and
not recognizing its significance.”
Millsap said the witnesses
would not be identified because
of possible harrassment “from
people who have interests in this
matter who are adverse to the
state.
“Their (witnesses) concern is
about privacy,” Millsap said.
“Their concern is our concern.
With all the attention there’s a
certain natural reluctance to be
come involved.”
The special grand jury is look
ing into the possibility that
homicide was involved in the
deaths of infants and children at
Medical Center Hospital’s
pediatric care unit from 1978 to
1982.
Chief Deputy District Attor
ney Nick Rothe declined to spe
cify the number of deaths the
grand jury was investigating.
According to hospital re
cords, a total of 2,064 patients
were admitted to the unit during
the period in question. Of that
number, 122 infants and chil
dren died, indicating a survival
rate of about 94 percent.
An internal hospital investi
gation, reportedly prepared by
Pediatric Department Chair
man Dr. John Mangos, indi
cated that only 10 to 13 deaths
were questionable. But other re
ports have stated that the grand
jury was investigating up to 42
suspicious deaths.
Mangos refused Tuesday to
confirm or deny that he con
ducted an in-house investiga
tion, citing a promise of secrecy
to the grand jury.
Attorney Bill Chenault, who
represents a registered nurse
who testifed before the grand
jury two weeks ago, said that no
wrongdoing on the part of hos
pital personnel had been estab-
lishecl so far.
He also said he believed the
grand jury had narrowed its in
vestigation to only three ques
tionable deaths.
Millsap said the grand jury
will reconvene next Tuesday.
There's always something happening at
VIDEO GAMES
49
MOn.-FRI. 4:30-6:00
A GREAT LUNCHEON BUFFET $
(All You Can Eat) — Pizza, Spaghetti & Salad Bar
Old Time and Current Movies
(Three Stooges, etc.)
Every Tuesday Night is Spaghetti Nite.
To Go Pizza — you bet. All Stores have drive thru win
dows. We also deliver.
University Square 846-3412
Shiloh Place 693-0035
Private Meeting Rooms for a cozy 12-15 or a 80 seat
banquet. Please call for information.
Hot check fees
don’t stop abuse
by Kimberly Hix
Battalion Reporter
Increased returned check fees
in the local area have not helped
merchants curb the number of
bad checks they receive, but one
Texas A&M official says the
University’s fee is effective.
The increasing number of
students and the recent econo
mic recession should result in
more bad checks despite the
high fees, said Bob Piwonka, stu
dent financial services manager.
“But the number (of re
turned checks) is running close
to the same as before,” he said.
“That in itself is an improve
ment.”
The fee for bounced checks at
Texas A&M increased from $15
to $20 last September. Fees for
checks not cleared within 15
days increased from $25 to $40.
Another increase in the fee is
not planned, but if the number
of bad checks does rise, an in
crease may be considered,
Piwonk,a said.
“We’re here to provide a ser
vice,” he said. “It is cashing
checks. Stricter rules would be a
hassle, which is not fair to the
students who don’t write bad
checks. We just have to penalize
those who do.”
Local merchants also are
looking for ways to reduce the
number of returned checks, but
say returned check fees are not a
deterrent.
Owner of Rother’s Book
Store, Dennis Rother, said the
$ 15 bad check fee does not help.
“Most of the checks we get
back are honest mistakes —
bank errors. Dad doesn’t get the
money in on time and that type
of thing,” he said.
There are a few people who
continually write hot checks,
Rother said. As a solution, he
suggested that local stores de
velop a list of habitual bad check
writers.
CUSTOMER INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS
HOWTO
STOP DRUNK DRIVING.
TOUGH LAWS MAY HELP’ BUT WE ALSO NEED TO CHANGE OUR ATTITUDES.
Do you know anyone
who’s in favor of drunk
driving? Not likely. And yet
many people have driven when
under the influence of alcohol,
or will do it at least once.
Take a look at some
chilling statistics. One out of
every two of us will be in
volved in an alcohol-related
accident sometime during our
lives. Last year alone, more
than 25,000 people died in
such accidents; an additional
1.5 million were injured. A
disproportionate number of
those killed were under 25
years old.
The cost of drunk-driving
accidents amounts to over $24
billion every year in property
damage, loss of wages, medical
and legal fees. Not to mention
the emotional pain to the vic
tims’ families and friends.
What is being done
about it? Over the years,
many different approaches
have been tried: mandatory
jail sentences, stiff fines,
license suspensions, alcohol-
rehabilitation programs, and
higher drinking-age laws.
No single countermeas
ure seems to do the job by
itself. Tough laws, unless they
are supported by equally tough
enforcement and the certainty
of punishment, don’t seem to
work over the long run. Even
with all three, probably the
most effective single thing we
could do is to examine our
own attitudes about drinking
and driving.
How much do you really
know about the effects of
alcohol? The facts may sur
prise you. For example, a lot
of people believe that beer
and wine are less intoxicat
ing than other drinks. In
fact, a can of beer, a glass
of wine, or a l^-ounce drink
of 86-proof liquor are all
about equally intoxicating.
A lot of factors deter
mine how quickly youll get
drunk. Your body weight, how
much you’ve had to eat, and
the number of drinks you have
over a specified time all make
a difference. That’s why it’s
so hard to know when you’ve
had too much.
A common legal defini
tion of intoxication is .10 per
cent blood-alcohol level. For
a 160 lb. person, it takes about
four or five drinks in the first
two hours on an empty stom
ach to reach the legal limit,
compared with three or four
drinks in the first two hours
for someone who weighs 120
lbs. Of course, your judgment
and reaction time will be
impaired well before you reach
the legal limit.
At General Motors, we’re
very concerned about the
effects of drinking on driv
ing. Over a decade ago, we
developed a device that tests
a driver’s reflexes and motor
responses before starting the
car. The Department of Trans
portation is now field-testing
that device.
We also strongly favor
all efforts that focus attention
on the problem such as the
Presidential Commission on
Drunk Driving. Make sure
your friends and family know
the facts about mixing alco
hol and driving. Drunk driv
ing will only stop when we
all decide it isn’t socially
acceptable. Be self-confident
enough to admit when you’ve
had too much to drink to drive
safely.
Meanwhile, seat belts
are still your best protec
tion against drunk drivers.
They can’t prevent an acci
dent, but they will help save
your life during a serious
crash— whatever the cause.
This advertisement is part of
our continuing effort to give
customers useful information
about their cars and trucks and
the company that builds them.
MARK OF EXCELLENCE
Chevrolet • Pontiac
Oldsmobile • Buick
Cadillac • GMC Truck
Around tow
ei
: Unitec
TEN I
Cadet receives Phi Eta Sigma aivardy^
trol at
Brian Terrell, a junior agricultural economics major[rF ea ' * 1
Plainview has been presented the Phi Eta SigmaOutsufj 6 ,^ 11
ing Sophomore Award. The $300 award is presented cia s
year to second year college students enrolled at TexasAigt' 1
with high academic and leadership qualifications. tnor,ul<
Terrell currently has 63 semester hours anda3.936t!f8 1
He is a member of the Corps of Cadets, is in the Collect{ ® 11
Agriculture and is Speaker of the Student Senate. Be ic< r r
Applications for membership in Phi Eta SigmaarerP'fS u
lx*ing accepted for any freshmen with at least 13 seniKE^j'S
hours and at least a 3.5 GPR. Qualified |>ersons
contact Dr. C. F. Lard.
leratin
ter
Last V
sion gr
ng toj
Zachry to speak tonight in Rudder heif-it
finding
H.B. Zachry,distinguished Texas A&M alumnus,will:
at 7:30 tonight in Rudder Forum on how economksof
and economics of the future relate to modern construi
Zachry s speech, ‘'Today’s and Tomorrow’s Econom
Relates to Construction,” is sponsored by the Constn
Management Association and is open to all students.
Zachry received a bachelor's degree from Texas Al
civil engineering in 1922 and operates H.B. Zachry
pany which is based in San Antonio. Zachry Engine
Center is named after him.
Prof to speak on language origin
ds ex
i com
nerous
i of due
, c < >o I i
em.
A 11
hsev, st;
tiohalh
'comp;
ctors a
iniL's s<
lamsey
were si
Dr. Lee Pearcy, professor in the Department of CL
the University of Texas at Austin, will speak tonighta
in 204B Sterling C. Evans Library on the origin of sc
language in ancient Greece.
The speech is sponsored by the 1 exas A&M
department, modern languages department and the
ophy department.
The speech is free and open to the public.
defects
l hired
lo the c
jatui e c
le also
ndj to I
Md have
tl inspe
i\Y
Sports Event scheduled /br SafurdaiFjp
ill
The Vietnamese American Student Organization
the 1983 Sports Event this weekend.
To kick-off the weekend’s activities, a Welcome Patty
be held at Rumours, located behind the post office al
Memorial Student Center. Opening ceremonies wi
Saturday morning at 8 a.m. All indoor sports willtakey
in East Kyle from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. followed by anavc
ceremony and a dance at 6:30 p..m. on the second [la
the MSC.
The outdoors sports will be held on Sunday, j
For more information contact the Vietnamese Ante! 'e they
Student Organization. Ef^ v * a
ines sai
If you have an announcement or item to submit fortes ^of c
column, come by The Battalion office in 216 ReedM 'tn the
nald or call Tracey Taylor at 845-2665. r 'ng a
n lion, v
Unite
HOUS-
er that
Hous
rport at
ns, and
rmissio
-sed
Police beat
Tnh
Ye grov
The following incidents were
listed in University Police De
partment records for March 7.
THEFTS:
•A 10-speed bicycle was
taken from the bicycle racks
near East Kyle.
•A Schwinn 10-speed bicycle
was taken from the hits stop in
[h (legr
parking lot 60. ft, so n
•A Huffy 10-speed ay with
was taken from a walk-n succ
Fowler I fall. Last y<
•A motorcycle ms d killed
from t he cast parkingartifphrl (
Academic and Agency In'E for tl
It is .1 I'177 1 ItHul.i.» partme
license plate number3Hion, s;
Former dean
will talk on oil
i get its
port pi
er on tl
A spoil
' the Pr
annals ;
-propo
guns i
ne end
trnals.
by Scott Griffin
Battalion Reporter
The recent oil depletion and
its effect on Texas A&M re
search will be the subject of a
speech tonight by Dr. Earl Cook,
distinguished geography and
geology professor at Texas
A&M University.
The speech is part of this
year’s University Lecturer series
and will be at 8 p.m. in 601 Rud
der Tower.
Cook’s speech, “Marooned in
Aggieland,” will deal with the
function of the University in the
state’s economy and what the re
cent decline in oil tax dollars
means to the school and the
state.
Cook, who served as dean of
the College of Geosciences from
1971 to 1981, says he has seen a
dilemma evolving whits
mately affects Texas Ail
the state.
he
New method help
This dilemma, he sad
fact that high oil priceswH
state and t lie University.^ Q
tier the economies of thos® J
not producing oil. L,
Cook came to Texas.® y\T
1965 as associate dean®
College <>( Geosciences y nite(
1969 to 1971 he served AUSTI
ctor for the Universh'sore G
vironmental Quality projundsot
H e now teaches and ills wit]
research in environment® city
resource decision-makii'- Speak
has had several articlesptnierc
lished in various science epiion
zines. JUonai
Cook has also publi'jinessd
book titled “Man, Enerfpa nil
Society.” Bowl
^strial
30s.
'‘For th
: New
an
Is," W1
West Texas aquifrz:
1 3 a lau
United Press International
LUBBOCK — Preliminary
tests indicate that a new air injec
tion technique could provide a
feasible way to recover water
trapped in the wet sands above
the Ogallala aquifer, the mana
ger of the High Plains Under
ground Water Conservation
District said.
Dwindling water supplies are
a major concern farWesllM ^
farmers and ranchers. |$ : W
By injecting air that is®
pressure into the formatio®
district has been success®
breaking the surface teK,
the water held by thel
grains. Then, the waterd
released and How by f
down to the currentwateff
formation.