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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1983)
The Battalion Serving the University community — f ol 78 No. 35 USPS 045360 16 pages Getting it right p Kurt Ragas, a sophomore petroleum engineering student I from Houston casts a line into the depths of the soccer 1 fields next to Cain Hall Thursday. College Station, Texas Friday, October 14,1983 Victim ignored threats by Brigid Brockman and Michelle Powe Battalion Staff Friends of Juan Garza say he wasn’t afraid of his brother-in-law’s threats and ignored their warnings to call police until Tuesday afternoon. By late Tuesday Garza and his wife Esther were dead of gunshot wounds, and Eliseo Moreno was in police cus tody. Moreno was charged Wednes day with aggravated kidnapping and five counts of capital murder. When Alejandro Veliz, a close friend and neighbor of the Garzas, visited the couple Monday evening, Juan Garza told him he was waiting for Moreno to come to his apartment so they could settle a tire slashing inci dent. Garza believed Moreno had slashed his tires the previous weekend because Moreno was upset that his wife, Blanca — Garza’s sister — had left him. Garza wanted Moreno to pay him for the tires, Veliz said Thursday. According to Veliz, Moreno told Garza “if he were man enough” he would wait for Moreno Monday night at the Garza’s Doux Chene apart ment. But Moreno never showed up on Monday. Garza’s friend Hector Nieto urged him Monday afternoon to call the police and not to try to “handle this on his own.” Garza told Nieto he would call the police Tuesday if Moreno still hadn’t shown. Garza did call police Tuesday — but too late. Shortly afterwards, Garza and his wife were dead. Their two children ran to neighbor Zell Hodge’s apart ment for help saying there was a “crazy man over there trying to kill some people.” Jessica Garza, 6, and Juan Garza, 1, stayed at Hodge’s apartment until they were taken into custody by the state Department of Human Re sources. They were later released into the custody of family members. Nieto said Moreno told friends that if he and Blanca had another fight, he would kill her family — starting with Garza. Both Veliz and Nieto said that although Garza wasn’t afraid of Moreno, Esther Garza was afraid of him because she knew he had guns and knives and was afraid of what he might do. After the shooting, Moreno drove to Hempstead where he is accused of shooting a DPS trooper, and three elderly people who would not let him park behind their house. The trooper and two of the elderly people died. One of the women in the house sur vived. Ann Bennett, 70, was in critical condition Thursday night at Her mann Hospital in Houston. Moreno also is accused of taking a family of five hostage in Hempstead as he tried to flee police, but all were freed unharmed. Moreno drove through Pasadena where he allegedly took a driver hos tage and forced him to drive to Whar- ton, where he was finally apprehended and arrested. Moreno is being held without bond in the Waller Gounty Jail in Hemp stead. He is charged with three counts of capital murder in Waller Gounty for the death of the DPS trooper and two elderly people. He is also charged with two counts of capital murder in Brazos Gounty for the Garza deaths. Brazos Gounty District Attorney Travis Bryan said he expects Moreno will face trial first in Waller Gounty for the death of the state trooper. If he is convicted of capital murder, he could be sentenced to death. Watt’s successor nominated United Press International WASHINGTON — President Reagan announced Thursday that he will nominate William Glark, his na tional security adviser and a longtime aide, to succeed the controversial James Watt as secretary of the in terior. “He is a God-fearing Westerner, fourth-generation rancher and a per son I trust,” Reagan said in springing the announcement at a meeting of evangelical Christian women. “And I think he will be a great secretary of the interior.” Reagan also paid a final tribute to Watt, saying Clark would be “succeed ing a very fine secretary of the in terior.” Watt announced his resigna tion Sunday after a swirl of controver sy over his characterization of the members of an advisory panel as “a black, a woman, two Jews and a cripple.” Reagan said Clark, 51, was selected from “more than two dozen” candi dates. His chief spokesman, Larry Speakes, said 28 names, including those of women, blacks and Hispa- nics, had been “under active consider ation” by Reagan aides. In the end, Reagan turned to a trusted associate — a friend and poli tical ally who served on his staff when he was governor of California and was plucked from the California Supreme Court to become deputy secretary of state in 1981. Clark, in a written statement, said he was “pleased and honored” by the nomination. “As an American who believes in our society, I pledge that if confirmed I will do all that I can to preserve and enhance our natural heritage,” he said. Watt said in California, where he is on vacation, “Bill Clark is a fantastical ly fine guy, couldn’t be a better appointment. In my judgment, just a prince of a fellow. I just think the world of Bill.” White House officials said no timet able had been set for finding a succes sor to Clark, who joined the adminis tration as a novice in foreign affairs and through his close ties with Reagan became one of the most powerful fi gures in the administration. Speculation focused on Clark’s de puty, Robert McFarlane, who has been serving as Reagan’s special en voy to the Middle East. He is sche duled to meet with Reagan Friday morning. )ites for parking, bell tower considered Regents approve $21 million bond sale by Karen Schrimsher and Hope E. Paasch Battalion Staff [The Texas A&M Board of Regents ipproved Thursday the sale of $21 million in fepmanent University Bonds to low-interest nclder Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc. of few York. ■The corporation’s bid was 8.45 percent. ■ Clyde Freeman, executive vice chancellor 'or administration, said, “In today’s market, t’s a good price.” Hie said the board was expecting an in- ;erest-rate bid of between 8.5 and 8.55 per- ffit' ■ The Permanent University Fund is a per- ffiment land endowment designed to provide astable source of funding for permanent im provements and enhancement of the quality dFeducation within the Texas A&M and the pniversity of Texas systems. One way the university systems benefit from the PUF is through bond sales. PUF funds are used as collateral for the bonds, and the bond proceeds may be used for construc tion and other permanent improvements. Freeman said construction for next year will exceed the $21 million mark, but that the difference will come from other sources, such as student building use fees. In other business, the planning and build ing committee heard a report from Barton and Aschman Associates, Inc., a Houston con sulting firm specializing in traffic-flow prob lems. The report outlined proposals for solv ing campus parking problems, including the possibility of raised parking structures and remote parking areas. Possible sites for remote parking included the Hensel Park area, an area north of Uni versity Drive near Gollege Avenue, an area between Avenue A and Texas Avenue and the proposed location of the special events center. The proposed site of the special events center is immediately west of the Penberthy Intra mural Genter and Olsen Field. The committee accepted the firm’s recom mendation that the remote parking area be constructed on the site of the planned special events center. An open area would be left in the center of the lot where the events center would be built. The recommendation includes a proposal that buses be used to transport people from the new lot to the main campus. The proposed bus route would drop passengers at several locations on campus, including the northeast side near Zachry Engineering Genter. The planning and building committee re commendation will go before the board at its next regular meeting on Nov. 13. Also during Thursday’s meeting, the re gents approved a $975,000 appropriation for renovations to the College Avenue Apart ments. The apartments, which were con structed in 1974, are in need of roof and bal cony repairs. During a 30-minute recess, the board toured the campus to look at and discuss three undisclosed possible sites for the Albritton Tower, a gift from former regent Ford D. Albritton. Albritton, a 1943 graduate of Texas A&M, attended the regents meeting to accompany them on the tour. The 130-foot tower will have a clock on its four faces, and will contain a carillon — a group of 47 bells. Prior to the meeting, possible alternate sites included the plaza on the west campus and the grassy area between the O&M Building and the Langford Architecture Center. Although the regents said they would de cide on a site after viewing an artist’s rendition of the tower in each of the possible locations, Albritton and the regents seemed confident which site would be selected. “We’re 98.6 percent certain as to where we are going to put this,” Albritton said. He said the project has his full attention, and the bells have been ordered from France. Other action by the board included author izing Chancellor Arthur G. Hansen to award construction repair contracts for Texas A&M at Galveston. Hansen must have board approval to award contracts totaling more than $100,000. Almost $500,000 is needed to repair damage from Hurricane Alicia at Peli can Island and Fort Crockett. The board also approved the purchase of a five-acre tract of land near the Veterinary Medicine Complex at a cost of $82,500. Freeman said the purchase is part of an effort by the regents to acquire land in that area. Service planned lor former dean by Elaine Engstrom Battalion Reporter I memorial service for Dr. Earl F. I ok, former dean of the College of I oscieuces, will be held at 10 a.m. I lurday in 701 Rudder. H Four men will give eulogies for Midnight yell I tonight in Waco I, Yell practice for the Texas A&M- Baylor game will be held in Waco tonight across the street from the convention center on Washington Street. inside Around town 6 |Classified 6 local 3 [National 16 [Opinions 2 Bports 13 itate .... 4 What’s up 16 forecast Fair with clear skies — lows in the mid-forties. Cook, who died Tuesday morning from a heart attack. Speaking will be Dr. Gordon P. Eaton, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Campbell Pennington, geography professor; former student Michel T. Halbouty; and Dr. Melvin Friedman, dean of the College of Geosciences. Cook, 63, came to Texas A&M in 1965 as associate dean of the newly- formed College of Geosciences. He became dean of the college in 1971. In 1981, he was named Harris Pro fessor of Geosciences and Disting uished Professor of Geology and Geography, and was awarded the gold medal for distinguished achieve ment by Texas A&M’s Geosciences and Earth Resources Advisory Council. Cook taught geography courses dealing with man and his relationship with nature and energy. He also taught courses on resource depletion and human welfare. Among his pub lished work is a book titled “Man, Energy, Society.” Cook was instrumental,in develop ing a geography department here, said long-time associate Dr. Clarissa T. Kimber, professor of geography. “Previously geography and geolo gy were together in one department,” Kimber said. “He (Cook) was associate dean during the time we put together the proposal for a separate geography department.” Cook made many contributions to his field and to the University, Kim ber said. A test of staff photo by John Makely strength Cross country running is a test of both mind and body. This runner takes on the challenge of the roads west of the Texas A&M campus. Standards poor, say educators by Christine Mallon Battalion Staff The president of one of the most prestigious educational foundations in the United States said Thursday that education is slipping on all levels, but espe cially on the high school level. Dr. Ernest L Boyer, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, said the quality of teaching on the secondary level has de creased drastically since the 1960s. The main problem with teachers these days is that good teachers aren’t rewarded enough, he said. “They don’t necessarily have to be rewarded financially,” he said. “Sometimes the best re ward a teacher can receive is gra titude from a parent or stu dent.” Boyer addressed faculty members and several students as the keynote speaker in a System- wide symposium held in Rudder Theater. Most of his address was a response on the report of the National Commission on Excell ence in Education. Boyer criticized the strict cur ricula in public high schools. “At least one-third of a stu dent’s high school curriculum should allow for electives,” Boyer said. “This is the student’s first chance to make a decision as to what courses he is interested in taking.” Priorities are different in ev ery school district, he said, but the most important part of an early education is the learning and understanding of language. Boyer reminisced of his early school days when students were excited about learning. He said learning to read and write is not as much fun anymore because most students already have some background, which mainly comes from television. “Education on the college level should prepare students for a world of high technology,” he said. “I just don’t feel elemen tary school is the place for com puter teaching.” In order for universities to produce quality teachers, Boyer said, most colleges of education around the country need to be strengthened. Following Boyer’s remarks, a panel of Texas A&M System officials added additional com ments. Dr. Thomas Cleaver, acting executive vice president for academic affairs at Prairie View A&M, agreed with Boyer about the weaknesses in colleges of education in the United States. “At most colleges around the country, the colleges of educa tion are low on the totem pole,” Cleaver said.