A.&M a popular stop for birds
The Battalion
Serving the University communily
78 No. 18 USPS 045360 12 pages
College Station, Texas
Monday, September 26,1983
Lebanon announces ceasefire
United Press International
BEIRUT — Lebanon announced
Sunday a cease-fire with Syrian-
backed rebels would take effect on all
fronts early Monday, but a final bom
bardment sent shells crashing into
army positions, Christian suburbs
and the U.S. Marine base.
One Marine was wounded in the
bombardment unleashed hours be
fore the truce was to go into effect on
all fronts at 6 a.m. Monday (midnight
EDT Sunday). Two others were
wounded in fighting before a sche
duled cease-fire that never took hold.
“After a long series of gentlemanly
negotiations we have arrived at a solu
tion in the middle of our pain and
wounds and we can say to all
Lebanese that a cease-fire has been
agreed on for 6 a.m.,” Prime Minister
Chefik Wazzan said.
The cease-fire announcement
came at the end of the 22nd day of
fighting in the war between Druze
Moslem militiamen and Lebanese sol
diers in the mountains overlooking
Beirut.
Figures compiled by the Red Cross
and other relief agencies showed
more than 700 people died in the
latest spate of civil warfare and 2,500
were wounded.
Four U.S. marines attached to
Lebanon’s multinational peace
keeping force were killed and 35
others were wounded in the weeks of
strife, which saw U.S. warships bom
bard Druze Moslem positions in sup
port of Lebanese troops.
U.S. Ambassador Robert Dillon
said the truce agreement called for
restraint in the hours before the
weapons were officially silenced, but
the final barrages pounded the U.S.
Marine base in the south of the
capital.
One Marine was slightly wounded
Sunday by artillery attacks and con
tinuing rocket fire kept U.S. forces on
Condition 1 maximum alert throught
the evening.
Two other Marines were injured
earlier in the day in fighting with the
Shiite Moslem militia surrounding
their base. One was wounded by
shrapnel and one by a sniper’s bullet.
A statement read on official Beirut
radio after Wazzan’s speech said the
cease-fire would take effect on all
fronts.
All warring factions were men
tioned in the agreement, and the offi
cial statement called for neutral
observers to monitor the cease-fire.
Addressing one of the key prob-
Hoping to combine strengths
lems facing a nation that has known
war for eight years, the statement said
the government would facilitate the
return of all refugees since 1975 to
their original homes.
The agreement was announced af
ter a new round of talks in Damascus
between a Saudi mediator, Prince
Bandar Bin Sultan, Syrian Foreign
Minister Abdul Halim Khaddam and
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.
A cease-fire scheduled to take
effect at 9.30 p.m. (3.30 p.m. EDT)
Sunday was “totally ineffective,” in
the words of senior Gemayel aide
Ghassam Tueni.
The truce agreement followed con
tacts by U.S. and Saudi negotiators
during the day with the Lebanese
government’s opponents to reach a
compromise over who would be in
cluded in the post-cease-fire national
reconciliation talks.
staff photo by Dean Saito
Yell leader s huddle
UT, A&M administrators meet
to discuss academic cooperation
The Texas A&M yell leaders
post-game yell practice Saturday.
Oklahoma State Cowboys 34-15.
turn to page 9.
huddle up after the
The Aggies lost to the
For details of the game
Regents to vote
^ 3n building plan
by Karen Schrimsher
Battalion StafT
The Texas A&M Board of Regents
11 vote Tuesday on the approval of
Jeveral items including preliminary
ilans for a $19 million chemistry
milding.
The building, which will be on the
orner of Ross and Spence streets,
ould house all undergraduate edu-
ational laboratories with the excep
tion of the large freshman chemistry
irogram.
Representatives of Pierce Good-
kin Alexander of Houston, an en-
ineering firm, told the planning and
aiding committee Sunday that their
aiding design would add 116,000
quare feet of laboratory, classroom
md office space to the existing che-
nistry facilities. Still, then? was a con-
roversy over whether the proposed
milding would be large enough.
Dr. Joseph Natowilz, head of the
hemistry department, said the prop
ped number of six classrooms is
mailer than he would like.
We had hoped to put in a building
hat would do away with night labs,”
te said.
The money appropriated for the
iroject was insufficient, and there will
" be a few laboratory classes sche-
iuled at night if the preliminary de
ign is used.
If the board approves the design,
he building could be occupied by the
all of 1986.
Also discussed were plans for ex-
erior repairs and renovations of the
narried student housing apartments
)n College Avenue. The apartments
vere built in 1974 at a cost of
>2,770,000. They have leaky ceilings,
balconies, and rain-warped ex-
:enor covering. The proposed re
novations will cost an estimated
$975,000.
Other proposals presented to the
committee were:
• Bids for approximately $2 mil
lion worth of modifications on the
Veterinary Medical Complex. Three
laboratories are to be renovated, and
additional laboratory furniture, and
equipment will be purchased.
• Bids for a nursing facility at
Prairie View A&M University.
• Bids for an Agricultural En
gineering Research Laboratory to re
place the metal shop which burned in
Dec. 1982.
• Requirements for a new stallion
barn at an estimated cost of $200,000.
• The renovation of the Animal
Industries Building for use by the
range science department. The phy
sical plant plans to spend $194,000 to
make repairs, buy laboratory equip
ment, and turn the slaughter room
into four classrooms.
• The appropriation foraTarleton
State University central receiving
warehouse, and preliminary design
for physical education and intramu
ral facilities.
• The appropriation of $150,000
for 35 microcomputers for the expan
sion of the Dick Smith Library at Tar-
leton State University.
A proposal to establish a chair in
floral design to honor the late M.
“Buddy” Benz, Class of’32, was pre
sented to the committee for academic
campuses by President Frank E. Van
diver
by Michelle Powe
Battalion Staff
Texas A&M and the Universi
ty of Texas have begun meetings
to open lines of communication
between the two universities and
discuss ways they can cooperate
in academics.
Administrators from both
universities have met about once
a month since about the first of
the year.
Texas A&M System Chancel
lor Arthur G. Hansen says the
administrators of both schools
“are still just getting to know
each other right now,” and ex
ploring ways the two schools can
combine and play to each others’
strengths.
“Texas A&M and UT are the
two flagship universities of the
A&M lecturer
suffers stroke
William M. Reed, an electric
al engineering lecturer at Texas
A&M, died of a stroke Thursday
morning in a Houston hospital.
Reed, 50, was a member of
the Class of ‘54. He was cadet
wing commander in 1953-’54
and the Ross Volunteers com
mander and a distinguished
Corps of Cadets graduate in
1954,
Born in San Antonio, Reed
served in the U.S. Air Force for
23 years before retiring as a
Lieutenant Colonel and moving
to Bryan six years ago.
Reed is survived by his wife,
Mary Jo Reed; his two daugh
ters, Patricia Anne Reed and De
borah Susan Armstrong Reed;
and two nephews.
Dr. W.B. Jones Jr., head of
the electrical engineering de
partment, said that all of Reed’s
classes will meet as scheduled
this week.
state,” Hansen said, “and if we
can work together and cooper
ate, everybody gains.”
UT System Chancellor E.D.
Walker said the goal of the meet
ings is to establish a good work
ing relationship between the two
schools and enable the schools to
combine their strengths but not
“violate the integrity of either
university.”
Hansen and Walker stress
that both schools could benefit
academically and financially by
combining resources. The joint
utilization of facilities “permits
us to develop programs which
individually we could not sup
port,” Walker said.
One such program that Texas
A&M and UT are considering
for joint support is a telecom
munications network between
the two schools.
Texas A&M and UT also are
finalizing negotiations for a joint
marine operation. Walker said
the two schools would be
cooperating in marine sciences
and not competing. Instead of
both schools using ships in Gal
veston or Port Aransas, Walker
suggested, they could share one
for research.
As far as projects already
accomplished — the two schools,
working together — succeeded
in striking a deal with the Mic
roelectronics and Computer
Technology Gorp. this summer.
MCC, headquartered in Austin,
is conducting more than $50
million in research.
Bobby Ray Inmar, MCC’s
chief executive officer and pres
ident, said MCC plans to “draw
off of UT and Texas A&M” for
manpower and other needs.
The schools’ administrators
also have discussed sharing ex
penses on study abroad prog
rams. Hansen said if only a
handful of students from Texas
A&M and UT are studying in
another country, the two schools
could save money if they shared
resources on such things as liv
ing accomodations for students.
Walker said there is no speci
fic list the administrators use
during the meetings. New items
come up and are cnscussed at
every meeting, he says.
Artist’s interest mixes
art with architecture
inside
Around town.
Classifieds ...
Local
Opinions ....
Sports
Stale
Whafsup....
4
10
3
• 2
9
7
5
Forecast
Warm today with temperatures
approaching the upper 80s. Cooler
and dear tonight with a low of 69.
Tentative speakers
for SCONA set
by David Manning
Battalion Reporter
Five top television commentators
and executives, a Harvard law profes
sor and a U.S. senator are among the
possible speakers for the annual Stu
dent Conference on National Affairs
in February.
Former CBS President Fred
Friendly, former CBS anchorman
Walter Cronkite, Harvard Law
School professor and television host
Arthur Miller, co-host of PBS’
McNeill-Lehrer Report Jim Lehrer
and U.S. Senator John Tower tena-
tively are scheduled to address the
29th annual SCONA conference.
Alan Hill, SCONA chairman, said
the tentative topic of the four-day
conference is “The Media and Its In
fluence on Society.” Since 1984 is an
election year, he said, the media will
play a crucial part in the state and
national political battles.
“Since the topic of the media is so
broad, the final topic will not be deter
mined until the speakers are con
firmed,” Hill said.
Senator John Tower, R-Texas,
who has announced he won’t seek re-
election in 1984, is being sought to
discuss the media’s responsibility in
reporting on domestic affairs and
legislation.
Hill said SCONA and the depart
ment of business administration have
convinced Ted Turner, owner of
WTBS-Atlanta, to attend the confer
ence. Turner said parts of the confer
ence possibly could be televised on his
nationwide cable station.
Although SCONA has received
statewide media coverage in the past,
Hill said, Turner’s offer to broadcast
the event nationwide via cable televi
sion would be a good way for Texas
A&M to receive national attention.
Cronkite, Friendly, Miller and
Lehrer also have been contacted; but
none have made commitments, Hill
said.
Hill said this year’s SCONA budget
will be about $100,000 which is
$15,000 more that last year’s budget.
SCONA’s funds come sources out
side of the University such as small
businesses, large corporations and
former students, Hill said. It’s the
SCONA members’ responsiblity to
raise the money necessary for the
program, he said.
“The money we raise pays speakers
and covers housing and meal ex
penses for more than 200 delegates
from other universities who visit our
conference,” Hill said.
SCONA 29 will be held on campus
Feb. 15-18.
by Kathy Wiesepape
Battalion Staff
When the temperature reaches into
the 90s and the muggy air settles over
the Texas A&M campus like a hot
sticky blanket, most people head for
the relief of air-conditioned build
ings. But Houston artist Steve Bessel-
man stays in his lawn chair in front of
the Academic Building, no matter
how hot it gets, with his sketch pad on
his lap and his tackle box of pencils by
his side.
Besselman has a good incentive.
Former Texas A&M student Richard
Bischoff is paying him a $5,000 com
mission for his pencil drawing of the
Academic Building.
Bischoff, Class of ‘70, is the presi
dent of Universal Services, a con
struction company in Houston. He
says the drawing will hang in the con
ference room of his new office build
ing, which is scheduled to be com
pleted in January. When the building
opens for the first time, he said, the
finished drawing will be unveiled.
Meanwhile, Besselman sketches
from 9 a.m. until dark. Dressed in
shorts and a short-sleeved knit shirt,
he says the heat doesn’t really bother
him. Working outdoors is one of the
favorite parts of his job. He hates
working from photographs in a stu
dio, he says.
“The fascination of doing the art is
the experience of being out here like
this,” he says.
Besselman primarily does pencil
drawings of architecture, especially
historical buildings. St. Charles, Mo.,
his home town, has a number of
beautiful old buildings, he says, and
that’s where his interest in combining
art and architecture began.
He’s loved art all his life, he says,
even though he never took any for
mal lessons. But until six years ago
drawing wasjust a hobby. He received
his degree in restaurant management
from the University of Michigan and
studied for two additional years in
Frankfurt, Germany.
“So, after I get my education,” he
says, “I know how to run a restaurant,
Houston artist Steve Besselman
front of the Academic Building
works on his drawings in
but I’m not particularly excited about
it.”
Besselman says he used his draw
ing to vent his frustrations with his
career. Ironically, he says, he was
fired for trying to move up too fast,
for being too vocal and aggressive. So
he gave up the restaurant business
and turned to art.
“This hobby of mine, which has
turned into my career, is wonderful,”
he says. “This is heaven come true.”
Besselman exhibits his work in the
Sportsman’s Gallery and the Du Bose
Gallery, which he says are the two
most prestigious galleries in Houston.
See Artist, page 12
Baylor grad killed Sunday
United Press International chute-diving accident. He was 43.
PHILADELPHIA *—Jim O Brien, \ native of Houston, O’Brien
Philadelphia’s leading television attended Baylor University in Waco
weatherman and anchor man for a and began his career in 1961 as sport-
decade, was killed Sunday in a para- scaster for KWTX-TV.
O’Brien was dead of injuries short
ly after the accident at 12:15 p.m.
near New Hanover Township airport
in Montgomery County.