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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1983)
ll ;ncei<: ibused ifyorli parens :y.| is imm ild aba irhoob insist c tiere, it tom nuniti vant to ■ms,ial ring in t ton The date of bonfire has been moved to Friday, Nov. 25, but the cutting schedule is unchanged see page 7 The first black woman to earn an MBA at Texas A&M will be given her degree Saturday V|gT| f Wmm , see page 5 l i- The Battalion Serving the University community ivetb! fol, 76 No. 150 USPS 045360 32 Pages In 2 Sections College Station, Texas Friday, May 6,1983 'Connor leaves irector’s post by Dena L. Brown Battalion Reporter |The resignation of Dr. Rod 1 on 10 Connor as First Year Chemistry imuni® 0 g rani director was accepted % t°Biursday afternoon by Chemistry I and»p artment head Joseph B. Nato- nentstBtz, minalf'H Although O’Connor submitted repeati* resignation as director, he said • owndH w ill remain on the faculty next ener; Harand teach what he is assigned. > tw O’Connor is a tenured professor. ilityoM O’Connor submitted his res- jncfd ljgii;uion Wednesday after con- oversy over a committee that is tbusdifevievving anc i suggesting changes in the First Year Chemistry jrcoifflBogram. 100 [■ The committee, composed of dldrt r jchemistry f acu lty members, was law formed to evaluate the strengths io and weaknesses of the present case jp r i nn and offer suggestions on An) improvement. good® Th e committee surveyed soph ’ll an omores who participated in the ■emistry program, reviewed eva- tythi ]u;iiion forms from classes this uspecBar and interviewed faculty mem- loei'. who have taught in the prog- lam during the past five years. I A draft report of the commit ters findings was submitted to Natowitz on April 29. A finalized feport will be submitted to Nato- yit/ within a few days. O’Connor said that when he fas hired, he was assured no changes would be made in the program he was starting unless he agreed with them. Fie said Nato witz has not assured him that this situation will remain the same in the future. Natowitz said he doesn’t know what changes will be made in the program, but the changes for the 1983-1984 school year will not be major. Natowitz said the problem is that O’Connor feels that either he makes all the decisions himself or someone else should do the job. John Fackler, dean of the Col lege of Science, said that when O’Connor came to Texas A&M 10 years ago, the department needed someone with full authority. Now, Fackler said, the chemistry depart ment needs to take responsibility of the program. In earlier remarks, O’Connor said, “The day I want a job badly enough to agree to do something that will hurt students will be ex actly two weeks after hell freezes over.” Natowitz said O’Connor has a sincere interest in the students, but so does the committee. The first year program is based on written learning objectives that students are given at the beginning of the course and are later tested over. O’Connor’s resignation will be effective August 31. Reagan hopes to restore defense budget cut later United Press International WASHINGTON — President Reagan is disappointed by the House Armed Services committee’s decision to cut his defense budget by more than $10.5 billion and hopes to re store the money in later legislative ac tion, his spokesman says. The committee Thursday approved a $188 billion defense au thorization bill for fiscal year 1984 — a real growth rate of 6 percent — after refusing to eliminate money for the MX missile or the proposed B1 bomber. The committee also added $1.2 billion to provide military and civilian personnel with a six-month pay raise. The administration requested an overall increase of 10.2 percent. The committee made cuts in all the major categories — $5 billion in pro curement, $2.8 billion in research and development, $2.1 billion in opera tion and maintenance and $53.5 mil lion in civil defense — and cut the administration’s request to beef up the military by 39,300, holding troop strength at current levels. Unemployment down, lowest in 7 months Traveling with Reagan in Phoenix, Ariz., Thursday night, deputy press secretary Larry Speakes said the administration was “disappointed” by the action and hoped later action in Congress would put back the money. The vote was on the final package was 41-3. Those voting against the authorization were Reps. Ronald De- Hums, D-Calif., Patricia Shroeder, D- Colo., and Dennis Hertel, D-Mich. Chairman Melvin Price, D-Ill., said in a statement, “The committee has attempted to tailor the authorization bill to Congress’ clearly expressed in tent to cut defense spending.” The committee reduced money for MX research and development by $1.4 billion from the request of $3.4 billion and provided $2.46 billion for 27 missiles and $98 million for spares and repair parts, a reduction of $310 million. The committee said the reductions were in line with the recommenda tions of the Scowcroft report on the MX and the proposal to base the mis siles in existing Minuteman silos. 1*P United Press International WASHINGTON — The nation’s civilian unemployment rate declined slightly in April to 10.2 percent, the lowest in seven months, but jobless ness among black workers returned to a record level, the Labor Depart ment reported today. The March unemployment rate, adjusted for seasonal factors, was 10.3 percent, a slight drop from the 10.4 percent level of both January and February. There were almost 11.4 million American listed as officially unemployed, with 1.8 million others not counted, but listed as “discour aged workers” who have given up looking for a new job. A Labor Department report Thursday, however, showed a mas sive increase in the number of long term unemployed Americans receiv ing jobless benefits — up 352,000 over the previous week — even though there was a decrease in new claims under regular state programs for the second straight week. /Vhite dramatizes budget issue, ays teacher pay raises needed AUSTIN — In an effort to natize the need for teacher pay es, Gov. Mark White conducted veekly press briefing at the oldest iinuously operating public school he state Thursday. Speaking at the 107-year-old Pease nentary School, White chided |slators for being “short-sighted” at education and said he would them new alternatives to fund aises. )fhite said he was preparing for an Iress to the Legislature next week Ich would include new ways to fund the his proposed 24 percent teacher pay raise over the next two years. In his budget message to the Leg islature earlier this year, White said the raises could be financed by a “sin tax” on things like liquor, video games and cigarettes. Thursday White said his new proposals would include “additional alternatives in addition to those taxes.” White accused the Legislature of ignoring both his earlier proposals and pre-election promises they made to voters. “I told them where we needed the money and where they could go to get it,” White said. “I guess they’ve for gotten what they promised in November.” White acknowledged many legisla tors also made campaign promises of no new taxes, but he said a change in the state’s economic health merits a change in political thinking. Since January, State Comptroller Bob Bullock has lowered the esti mated state revenue available for appropriation for the next two years by $3.3 billion, prompting legislators to pare teacher pay raises out of prop osed budgets to avoid a tax hike. “The needs are still there,” White said. “The money isn’t. We’ll be tell ing them where they can get it.” White’s news briefing came as the House prepared for a second day of debate on a budget bill that includes no money for teacher pay raises. The Senate already has approved its budget bill, which also is void of new pay raises for teachers. White met with several House members Thursday to discuss ways of funding the 24 percent hike, which would cost $964 million over the next two years. staff photo by Barry Papke Stepping Stone Karen Williams, a graduating senior from Baytown, helps sort clothes at a rumage sale sponsored by the Stepping Stone, a long term care facility for teenage boys and girls. Money from the sale will help fund the program. The rumage sale, located at 3219-A Texas Ave., will continue through Saturday. Students are urged to volunteer. sleeve (i day* -13/11 % Women, active in Editor’s note: This is the final part >fa two-part series on the future >f the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. by Diana Sultenfuss Battalion Staff The six students who enrolled in he Corps of Cadets in the fall of 1876 became charter members of a ?roup whose membership would xceed 8,000 before mandatory membership was abolished in the 1960s. But like many traditions here, he Corps has been forced to change with the times. Women — mice excluded from the Corps — gradually are becoming more ac- ive in the organization. The number of women in the Corps peaked three years ago at about 80, and now fluctuates be- ween 60 and 80, Corps Comman- ant Donald L. Burton said. The wo women’s units had about 70 members in the fall semester, and ivillend the year with 59 members. “I think that as far as the women’s units go, we’re going to ieesome growth,” Burton said. “I hink that notable change in the ittitude of the Corps of Cadets in icceptance of women is going to play a big role in that, but beyond :hat I see a growing popularity throughout the nation among minorities more Corps of Cadets women about ROTC. It’s just an option that women are beginning to recognize as a career oppor tunity. “Since there’s no military obliga tion, I think we’ll see more and more women coming in to learn about the military as a career. ROTC is still one of the best ways to become an officer; it always has been. So I would guess that we’re going to see an increase over this year for next year.” Bonnie Krumpotic, the first woman oft Corps brigade staff, agreed that the Corps will grow because of the economic influence. “With the economy the way it is, a higher percentage of college stu dents are going into the Corps looking for ajob,” Krumpotic said. “We have a really strong recruit ing program now. Also, female cadets are beginning to establish a strong rapport, and so more women are joining.” Krumpotic said that usually a high percentage of women take a military contract. “The women, in order to stay in the Corps, usually have to have that ulterior motive as a motivating factor,” Krumpotic said. “But, a lot of freshmen women are in the Corps simply because they enjoy it. “I think there are two factors changing it. First, there seems to be a stronger academic push with in the Corps that makes it easier for someone who’s not militarily committed to stay in the Corps and make good grades. “The other thing is that we are a little bit more accepted now. The women are actually enjoying being in the Corps now.” But the acceptance of women in the Corps has been accompanied by problems. When female cadets were admitted in 1974, the change was greeted with resistance by some male cadets, who responded by harassing the new “Waggies.” Women cadets were not allowed to join the Aggie Band, which still has no female members, or the Corps’ honor organizations. To protest this policy, Melanie Zentgraf, first sergeant of Squad ron 14, filed a lawsuit alleging dis crimination against women by the University and the Corps. The Jus tice Department intervened in her behalf, citing Title IX of the Civil Rights Act. This case, which has not been decided, was the first time the government tried to en force Title IX. “Changes as controversial as women in the Corps ... are hard to See CORPS page 16 Begin summons special session as Israeli army casualties mount United Press International With Israeli army casualties mount ing in Lebanon, Prime Minister Menachem Begin summoned his Cabinet into special session today to consider a U.S.-proposed agreement on the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country. Secretary of State George Shultz, whose Jerusalem-Beirut shuttle pro duced the draft accord, was flying to Amman today for talks with Jordan’s King Hussein and then was heading for Damascus Saturday, U.S. sources said. The Damascus visit will give Shultz a first-hand opportunity to gauge Syria’s willingness to withdraw its 40,000 troops from Lebanon along with Israel’s 30,000 soldiers and the Palestine Liberation Organization’s 10,000 guerrillas. Israel Television forecast just two negative votes on the agreement — from former Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, the architect of last year’s Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and Sci ence Minister Yuval Ne’eman. In Beirut, Lebanese President Amin Gemayel ordered his forces on alert today and demanded Syrian in tervention to stop the heaviest fight ing between rival militias in three months, official news reports said. At least five people were killed and 20 wounded Thursday as right-wing Christians traded artillery and rocket- fire with Syrian-backed Moslem lef tists in Lebanon’s Shouf mountain re gion, controlled by Syria. One Israeli soldier was killed and nine others wounded in the Fighting, the Israeli military command said. Since the invasion, 481 Israelis have been killed in Lebanon. In the last three days, 21 Israelis have been wounded there. In Amman, a Jordanian official said Thursday “there are no pros pects for the resumption of a political dialogue between Jordan and the PLO at present on formulating a joint stand to enter the peace process.” The statement delivered another blow to Reagan’s Sept. 1 Middle East peace plan, which envisions a link be tween Jordan and a Palestinian entity in the occupied West Bank of the Jor dan River and the Gaza Strip. Graduation to begin Nearly 3,000 Texas A&M students are expected to gradu ate in three commencement ceremonies to be held today and Saturday in G. Rol- lie White Coliseum. The follow ing is the schedule of graduation dates and times: •2 p.m. today — bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral candi dates in agriculture, geosciences and liberal arts. •7:30 p.m. today — under graduates in architecture and engineering. •9 a.m. Saturday — under graduates in business, educa tion, science, veterinary medi cine and undergraduates at Texas A&M University at Gal veston. inside Around Town 4 Classified 12 Local 3 Opinions 2 Sports 13 State 4 National 11 Police Beat 4 What’s up 9 forecast Partly cloudy skies today with a high of 86. Southerly winds of around 15 mph. A 20 percent chance of showers or thunder showers tonight with a low near 63. Skies becoming clear Saturday with a high near 83. %