Page 12/The Battalion/Wednesday, August 10, 1983 Reagan administration ignores prime rate hike United Press International The Reagan administration played down the significance of an increase in the prime lending rate, but the National Associa tion of Realtors blamed the rise on the president and Congress for not dealing with huge budget deficits. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones average plunged to a four- month low Monday because of the first raising of the prime in terest rate by the nation’s major banks in 18 months. The prime rate hike was long expected following recent sharp increases in other interest rates. Economists say the prime rate could climb to 12 percent in the next few weeks before easing again later in the year. But presidential spokesman Larry Speakes said, “We would be hopeful this does not indicate a trend.” Speakes, echoing a view ex pressed by the Treasury Depart ment and the Council of Econo mic Advisers, said the increase “basically brings the prime rate into line with the recent rise” in market interest rates and charges paid by banks. “The best way to keep interest rates down is to keep inflation under control by appropriate monetary and fiscal policies,” Speakes said. Economists say the higher prime rate and the rise in other interest rates will likely squeeze some of the steam out of the Economists say the higher prime rate and the rise in other interest rates will likely squeeze some of the steam out of the robust economic re covery. robust economic recovery. “There’s no question the eco nomy is going to slow down,” said Washington economist Michael Evans, president of Evans Economics Inc. The real estate association, in a statement issued Monday, said Congress and President Reagan have “failed to offer any hope that they will start solving the HAVE IT ALL at nrtn 1 Bdrm 1 Bath $290.00/month 2 Bdrm 2 Bath $375.00/month FREE CABLE and HBO On shuttle bus route Fool Adjacent to Oaks Parks Parties and Contest See Us Now For A FREE Woodstone Nautilus Membership! II 811 Harvey Rd. College Station 693-4242 Metro Properties Management, Inc. Presents Tues: FARM RAISED FRIED CATFISH ALL YOU CAN EAT 95 Wed. & Thurs.: CHICKEN FRIED STEAK 95 11-2 M-F 5-10 11-10 SS Townshire Center 2025 Texas Ave. 775-7642 LUNCHEON SPECIALS DAILY ESI IfliYfW-fNTRODUCTION ID IKM StMY .. J /td Gsieat fe&fate}/ LSAT Call 696-3196 for complete information KflPLflN EDUCATIONAL CENTER TEST PREPARATION SPECIALISTS SINCE 1938 707 Texas Ave. 301-C In Dallas: 11617 N. Central Expressway federal budget deficit crisis any time before the November 1984 elections.” Jack Carlson, chief economist for the association, said, “Lower interest rates mukt be achieved if this recovery is to be saved.” But Speakes insisted Reagan has pushed a fiscal program leading to declining deficits. He dismissed the rise in the prime rate as a short-term phenome non that will not disrupt either the economy or the administra tion’s economic policy. As an indicator of the recov ery, construction of new hous ing units rose 82 percent in the second quarter of 1983 over the same period in 1982, F.W. Dodge, a division of McGraw- Hill, reported Monday. “The nation’s rebound from the recent economic recession is largely responsible for the second quarter’s homebuilding surge,” the report said. The last time the prime rate went up was February 1982 when it moved to 17 percent from 15.75 percent. That in crease briefly interrupted the general decline in the prime rate since it reached a record high of 21.5 percent in December 1981. The Dow Jones industrial av erage fell 20.23 to 1,163.06 Monday, the lowest level since it closed at 1,156.64 on April 13. The average of 30 blue-chip stocks has dropped 80.63 points in the past two weeks. SinciitN <• r' (BBg'altlio":/ Pll|s I”- 11 S1 *V lt ; ,us i i ZMMsm ■etf-'nan EyfcjM £ m ■ ( . th;H ■ jpfjfHi s* v< - - ■ . lover staff photo by Brtniji Gloria Ovalle, a senior elementary education major from Corsicana, takes time to prune a flowering garden. Gardening in ‘ small pots a favorite hobby of many college students, Churches call for world seminar by Bat On Aug. 1 en ts will de United Press International VANCOUVER, British Col umbia — Delegates to the Sixth Assembly of the World Council of Churches have approved a plan that could lead to a major breakthrough in healing centur ies of division within Christ ianity. With an overwhelming vote of approval, the 835 delegates agreed to call for a major world conference — to be held in 1987 or 1988 — on faith and order at which churches could take steps to announce their agreement on the divisive issues of the doc trines of baptism, eucharist (the combination of the liturgical proclamation of Scripture and holy communion) and ministry. “This gives us the potential of resolving the differences in a way that is unparalleled in his tory,” said the Rev. Paul Crow, a Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, delegate from the Un ited States and a key figure in the church unity movement. Crow made his comments at a news conference after the Assembly ended the 16th day of its 18-day meeting — sessions marked by some of the World Council’s most intense involve ment in theological matters since its founding in 1948. Tuesday, the delegates from the council’s 300 member com munions, were expected to deal with several other issues, includ ing increasing participation in the church, relations with the Roman Catholic Church and statements on secular political issues such as Central America and Afghanistan. Acceptance of the report on unity, however, was somewhat overshadowed by a plea from dissident church members in the Soviet Union to the World Council to aid them in their struggle against government re strictions and repression. It is an issue that has threatened the council for two decades and has hovered on the edges of the Vancouver meeting since it began July 24. The letter', oy Deacon Vladi- iy’s growth mir RusakoftheRussu: (They will tlox church, was madep.;j n( l propos Keston College, a primByear capi ish-based group that inlTbonds w religious repression in idling and ei n bloc countries. Rr’s facilities Rusak said a historvh(l|'he 10 boi ing of the church isbei^tl two seci pressed by the KGB and Mains five officials. yell could The WCC, he sanl $ 0 ik1 sectic expand its mandate to the vital principle o against disbelief and tht of believers wherever ains to t ity’s tax he reve rights are violated. U.S. forces deployed to region mprovei water s also w participa [construe fsewer lir President keeping tabs on Cha jhe reven de funds 1 I utility s tide add ace. The s United Press International WASHINGTON —President Reagan stayed in touch Tuesday with the situation in Chad where a spokesman said Libyan forces and Libyan-backed insurgents are poised to attack the northern oasis of Faya-Largeau. Deputy press secretary Larry Speakes said the White House had no specific reports of ground fighting, and added that the two Airborne Warning and Control System surveillance planes and eight F-15 fighter jets sent to the Sudan to help Chad keep an eye on Libyan planes had arrived. As required. President Reagan complied with the War Powers Act and notified Congress Monday the AWACS had been dispatched. Speakes declined to go into detail about the operation of the giant radar planes. As for the situation in Guate mala, where Brig. Gen. Oscar Humberto Mejia Victores over threw the government of Presi dent Efrain Rios Montt Monday, Speakes said the United States understands that Mejia “has pledged to continue the process of democracy and pluralism.” Repeating a State Department statement of Monday night, Speakes added, “We would wel come any concrete step to set up an orderly process for a return to democratic rule.” Speakes also said the United States understands the deposed Guatemalan president is safe but his whereabouts are un known. If the American aircraft come under attack, the “normal rules of en gagement’’ will prevail, said deputy press secret ary Larry Speakes. Speakes said there have been “some private contacts” with the new government in the after- math of the coup d’etat in Guatemala City, but said that Ambassador Frederick Chapin has not yet met with the leaders. The three Central American de fense ministers met with senior U.S. officials in Honduras Sun day, but he said the meeting was “totally unrelated to other events” in Guatemala. Meantime, Reagan arranged to gather with the National Security Council, but Speakes steered reporters off of specula tion that the war in Chad or coup in Guatemala were on the agenda. In a letter Monday, Reagan formally informed Congress he has sent two AW AC surveillance planes and eight F-15 fighter planes to Sudan in response to an urgent request from the be- >de a centr; leaguered governmen tc unty of s “The government ofRhe tax b has requested the govfttBimprove of France and the Unittdpj parks a to assist in its self defenstfStreet im armed aggression by Bbty forces and Libyan-supp*® le 1 sur gents in Chad,’ wrote. Notification he sent,# con: |he over; ante to a war zone:isK! under tire War Powei^' I f t he American aircri under attack, the"nonri of engagement” will p|P deputy press secretary gj Speakes. Reagan said it was no! hie to predict how long® forces would be deploy* region. LzNm' TumuT # tou^fi of de, Feature Their PRIME RIB includes: soup ox salad, [railed potato, triead [utter (or fresh creqetaLie *7 95 Monday-Thursday This in addition to a variety of other menu selections. 403 Villa Maria • Reservations Accepted • Phone: UA blks West of Texas & Villa Maria 775-1531 Frailest of quintuplets ^critical following surge United Press International INDIANAPOLIS — The frailest of quintuplets born last week was in critical but stable condition Tuesday following abdominal surgery performed rforated intestine. complications, it should have no long-term adverse effect on her. It’s not a rare kind of thing.” to correct a peri Doctors were examining X- rays Monday when they disco vered the perforated intestine and decided to operate, she said. PLAKIWrilWJ A move? Move with TJ-Haul! Let Dealer of 23 years in Bryan save you money. Please reserve your equipment now. Call 822-3546 ox- come by 2010 South College — Bryan Ashlee Charlene Gaither, who has been on a respirator for all but eight hours since birth last Wednesday, was listed in very serious condition before the one-hour operation, said In diana University Hospital spokeswoman Jan Michelsen. “Her condition is critical but stable, but otherwise she’s real active and appears okay,” Michelsen said. “Barring other Ashlee has been fed intrave nously since birth and the opera tion will delay the start of nor mal eating for the baby, Michelsen said. The infant was the first of the quints born last week to Suzanne Gaither, 21, and her husband, Sidney, 33, at the IU Hospital. The Gaithers Monday changed COMPARE COMPARE COMPARE COMPARE the middle name of (M quints, Brandon, jam in to Burr us. 3 Ashlee was kept on J ator until Monday, "bj tors allowed her to trybtfj on her own. After an test, the child was put^ the machine becausetlif c | level in her blood was» enough. “It may be a few days] she can go off the respit' good,” IU Hospital woman Wendy Wiseniai , | said Monday. The decision to pi 11 ■] back on the respiratorf what doctors called a J period of steady imp#] during the weekend. Paige said doctors wofl tinue monitoring the 1#| Compare the cost of a complete meal at the Memorial Student Cen ter with the cost of a similar meal anywhere else. Compare the cost of a complete evening meal at the Memorial Student Cen ter with the cost of a ham burger, cola, and french fries anywhere else. Compare the nutritional value of an evening meal at the Memorial Student Cen ter with a snack for the same or similar price anywhere else. IF YOU OPEN Compare the cost of an evening meal at the Memo rial Student Center Cafeteria with the cost of a meal prepared at home. Many agree that it is less expensive to dine at the MSC. MON.-SAT. 6:30-7 p.m. SUN. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CAN FIND A BETTER OFFER, LET US KNOW OPEN ^ OPEN MON-SAT 6:30 A.M.-7:00 P.M 7:00 A.M.-7:00 P.M “QUALITY FIRST” MON.-SAT. 6:30-7 p.m. SUN. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. “QUALITY FIRST” OPEN M0N.-SAT. 6:30-7 p.m. SUN SUN. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. “QUALITY FIRST” “QUALITY FIRST’ ygen levels of the infant I on 24-hour watch at tkj Hospital for Children T he children were W] Hospitals. Doctors said Ashlee'^l ing weight faster than tl'l four babies — JoshuiJ Johnson, Renee Brook" Frances and Brandon BA — because she was being 1 travenously. Gaither did not use j drugs but had a familyB' 5 multiple births. The the first quints born in I* — were delivered six w^l maturely by Dr. Frank J 0 ' Johnson said he belie'] Gaither children were J lion’s first black quints