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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1985)
MHHB Propositions to be approved or nixed by voters Tuesday — Page 7 wmmmmimmmmmBm mbbhhhmhhhi Aggies harness Mustangs with late Franklin field goal — Page 9 Man Texas m a m • The Battalion Vol. 81 No. 46 USPS 075360 12 pages College Station, Texas Monday, November 4,1985 Straight Slate seeking city ouncil seats Associated Press HOUSTON — City Council lembers touched off a maelstrom months ago when they adopted a Bv rights law barring sexual dis- rimination in municipal hiring. Incensed, a citizens’ group gath- ied 63,000 signatures to force a ref erendum and city voters threw out ie ordinance. From that emerged e Straight Slate, eight political ^tvcomers running for City Council ats to protect the populace from at they consider the rampant ipread of AIDS. 'The Straight Slate candidates eking election Tuesday want food ftndlers, blood bank personnel and daycare workers to be issued health 'cards indicating they are free of ac- liiired immune deficiency syn- ome. Having failed to convince the council, they believe they can push through their plan by winning at last eight of 14 council seats. T he Houston City Council has 14 mem bers and a voting mayor. I Few of the incumbents targeted b\ the Straight Slate seem overly worried about losing to the political lophytes, but the AIDS issue in- flamea an election already heated by i homosexual controversy in the lavoral race. 1 Former mayor Louie Welch has sought to align incumbent Kathy Whitmire with the city’s gay commu- |iity and Whitmire, who supported the anti-discrimination ordinance, has retreated from political links with the gay community, f But when Welch’s joking solution to the AIDS problem — “shoot the flueers” — accidentally went live be- i)re a televised interview, he re ceived death threats and had to have expanded police protection. I The Straight slate has endorsed \Veich, Houston’s mayor from 1964- 1974, over Whitmire, who is seeking her third two-year term. 1 “Our main issue is health cards and AIDS,” says council candidate O.J. Striegler, a spokesman for Straight Slate. I Striegler said the slate supports the reinstatement of the health cards (ised to combat tuberculosis in Hous ton from 1941 to 1978, but with two hanges — checking for AIDS and e-testing every six months. Leap For Joy Photo by BILL HUGHES A&M punter Todd Tschantz (4) carries kicker Eric Franklin (47) in celebration of the game-winning field goal against South ern Methodist University Saturday. See story page 9. U.S. proposes freeze on missiles in Europe Associated Press HELSINKI, Finland — The United States has proposed a ceiling on American and Soviet strategic bombers and a freeze on nuclear missiles in Europe as part of a new arms control accord with Moscow, a senior U.S. official said Sunday. Other key elements of the pack age now before Soviet negotiators in Geneva include a ceiling of 3,000 on long-range nuclear warneads and no limits on submarine-launched cruise missiles. The official, who spoke on condi tion of anonymity, said there is “compromise” in President Reagan’s proposal to overcome what he de scribed as “hookers” — snares — in the plan Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev submitted five weeks ago. For instance, the ceiling of 3,000 on intercontinental ballistic missile warheads is 500 higher than the ini tial U.S. position in the Geneva ne gotiations. It would allow the Soviets to retain more of their land-based missile arsenal, the heart of Soviet nuclear strength. Gorbachev called for a 3,600-war head limit on strategic ground mis siles, bombers and nuclear subma rines. The U.S. official said that if the Soviets accepted the American pack age deal, there would be no mobile Soviet strategic missiles or any new heavy intercontinental ballistic mis siles added to the superpowers’ arse nals. This presumably would prompt the United States, in return, to scuttle the single-warhead Midget Man, which has stirred complaints by some members of Congress. The Soviet SS-24 missile and §S-25 mo bile missile are much more advanced than the Midget Man, which still is on the drawing broad. But the outlook for an early agreement appears dim. Secretary of State George P. Shultz, who is ex pected to discuss prospects for an accord during two days of talks in Moscow beginning today, told re porters the two sides remain “quite a distance apart.” The main stumbling block is a So viet demand for a “total ban” on all arms in space. The senior official said Moscow’s definition encom passes all U.S. attempts “to counter objects in space.” It is aimed at stop ping Reagan’s Strategic Defense Ini tiative, which envisages using futu ristic technology in space to intercept and destroy attacking mis siles. After a rest stop here, Shultz leaves for Moscow Monday morning to discuss preparations for the Nov. 19-20 Reagan-Gorbachev summit meeting with Foreign Minister Edu ard A. Shevardnadze and Gorba chev. Shultz made a courtesy call Sun day on President Mauno Koivisto and Foreign Minister Paavo Vayry- nen. Finland is neutral in East-West disputes. The ceilint proposed bv avy i Dy Keagan is 3o0, the offi cial said. They could carry up to 1,500 air-launched cruise missiles. By U.S. count, the Soviets now have 375 Backfires, Bisons and Bears. The United States has 263 B-52s. Gorbachev’s call for a total of 6,000 nuclear “charges” lumped bombers in with all kinds of nuclear weapons, from potent globe-girdling missiles to mines. American and Soviet interme diate-range missiles in Europe, meanwhile, would be frozen at 140 under the U.S. proposal. This would require a reduction of 103 Soviet SS- 20 missiles and no reductions by the United States in the Pershing 2 and cruise missiles deployed among NATO allies. However, the United States would not build up to the 572 total ap proved by NATO by 1988. The U.S. quota would include 108 Pershing 2 ballistic missiles and 32 low-flying, pilotless cruises. But, the official said, U.S. negotiators were prepared to “discuss the mix” with the Soviets. Voters to decide fate of Texas water plan Associated Press AUSTIN — Officials predict only 11 percent of the state’s vot ers will go to the polls Tuesday to vote on a variety of issues, includ ing a $ 1.43 billion statewide water development and conservation plan. State lawmakers debated and negotiated the plan for much of their 140-day legislative session in 1985 before finally sending the is sue to voters. Legislative leaders and the gov ernor are behind the plan, on the ballot as Amendments 1 and 2. A Gulf Goast senator and some environmentalists oppose it, while others, including the Sierra Glub, remain neutral. Amendment 1 would authorize issuance of $980 million in bonds for construction of reservoirs, pipelines, treatment plants and nood-control projects statewide. It also would create a $250 mil lion state insurance fund to guar antee water bonds issued by cities and other local government units, enabling the local governments to sell their bonds more easily. Amendment 2 would authorize another $200 million in bonds, with the proceeds financing low- interest loans to farmers who buy water-saving irrigation equip ment. A separate law that would take effect only if the amendments pass woula place conservation re quirements on cities seeking state aid for water projects and would provide for special local districts to control groundwater pumping. The new law also would restrict reservoir construction near Gulf Coast bays to protect fish and shellfish that depend on rivers to carry freshwater and nutrients to the sea. “It’s a far better plan than none at all, and it’s probably better than we’re likely to get in the fu ture,” Gov. Mark Wnite said. “It provides for (environmental) protection of the bays and estua ries that no prior plan has.” LSG: schools haven’t felt full effect of tuition hike By FRANK SMITH Staff Writer A report issued last week by the islative Study Group says the full effects of the Texas Legislature’s de- ision to triple the tuition rate at itate universities are yet to be felt. However, the report does cite the enrollment decline and drain on li- lancial aid at Texas A&M as initial ;onsequences of the tuition increase ere and warns of the possibility of future legislative attempts to gener- ite more state revenues at the ex- jense of students. The enrollment data at A&M hows decreases in each undergrad- tate class. The combined totals for Wth graduate and undergraduate tudents show a loss of 1,152 stu- ients, which represents an overall leclineof 3.13 percent. A&M did gain minority students. Black enrollment increased 9.8 per cent from 601 to 660 students and Hispanic enrollment rose from 1,688 to 1,788 students. The report attributes these in creases to an added emphasis on mi nority recruitment at A&M. The LSG analysis also examines the larger percentage reduction of students successfully making the freshman-to-sophomore transition this year. Freshmen entering A&M in Fall 1983 numbered 7,142. By Fall 1984, this class had 6,206 students — a 13.11 percent decrease. The 7,276 freshmen who entered in Fall 1984 saw their ranks shrink to 5,730 this semester — a 21.25 percent de crease. The report does not fully attrib ute the additional 8.14 percent re duction in students making the freshman-to-sophomore transition this year to the tuition increase. However, it does say other condi tions that would contribute to stu dent attrition remained relatively stable for both classes. Also, the report observes that sophomore-to-junior and junior-to- senior transitions were stable. “By the time a student has reached the upper-division level, a great deal of money and time have been invested toward his education,” the report says. “The impetus exists to fine! additional means of support to remain in school. “With the underclassmen, this commitment is generally not as pro nounced and as a result other alter natives to attending A&M are ex plored.” Another topic studied was the availability of financial aid to stu dents affected by the tuition in crease. UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT COMPARISON ( BY CLASS) 1984-83 SESSION □ 1983-86 SESSION 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 1000 FRESHMAN CLASSIFICATION The LSG advocated all tuition revenues be spent only for higher education. A second preference was to set aside 25 percent of the tuition revenue as financial aid. Alan Moore, LSG public informa tion coordinator, said, “The LSG said, ‘(If you) raise our tuition, let’s keep it in higher education.’ And then it eventually became, ‘Well, let’s keep at least 25 percent of it in higher education so we can still go to school.’ ” The Legislature opted to include a provision within House Bill 1147 (the tuition bill) to set aside 15 per cent of all resident tuition to be used for financial aid. Twenty percent of that 15 percent was designated as an Emergency Loan Fund. In addition, 5 percent of non-resident tuition revenue was set aside for financial aid. The LSG report says all of these funds have been allocated for the se mester. The LSG analysis also examines See Tuition-hike, page 12 Roil to be located in MSC State elections are Tuesday, and Texas A&M students registered to vote in Brazos County can go to the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Students should bring their voter registration card and vote at. the precinct indicated on their card, said County Clerk Frank Boriskie. “It’s best to have your voter regis tration card with you,” Boriskie said. “But, if you don’t have it you can check with the registrar’s list and your name should be on the list if you are registered to vote in Bra zos County.” . Voter registration clerk Tracy hnit said approximately 6,500 to A&M students are registered vote in Brazos County. Many students are registered in precinct 20 and can vote in 228 Me morial Student Center. Other poll ing places include precinct 21, the Hensel Park Apartments; Precinct 9, the College Station Community Center; precinct 10, the College Station Police Station; precinct 34, the College Station Central Fire Station; and precinct 35, the Col lege Municipal Building. Campus election coordinator Jennifer Noyt said this year marks the first time a precinct lias been lo cated on campus for a constitu tional amendment election. Charity meets 25 percent of goal CROP Walk turnout disappointing By RICHARD PEARCE Reporter Despite the good weather Sunday afternoon, turnout for the seconcl annual CROP Walk to fight Brazos Valley and world hunger was lower than expected. Organizers of the walk said they had expected 1,000 walkers and hoped to raise $20,000. Final count, said walk treasurer William Wilkinson, showed they had met only one-fourth of their goal. After the figures had been to taled, 240 walkers had participated and $5,722.83 in pledges had been received. “We thought participation from campus organizations alone would amount to a couple of hundred walkers,” the Rev. Bill Youngkin, pastor of Friends United Church of Christ and coordinator of the walk said. Donations to the Brazos Food Bank, which walkers had been asked to bring to benefit the Foodshare Program, also proved disappointing. “We filled only three boxes,” said Mike Stecher of the food bank. “But that is more than we had before.” Even though the showing was not impressive as was hoped, organizers of the walk are grateful. “Yes, I was a little disappointed, but we did three times what we made last year,” Rev. Youngkin said. “Wish we had a few more (people). We didn’t go backwards, but a few steps forward, and that is what counts.” The first Brazos Valley walk in 1984 had 100 participants and raised $2,700. “We expected a few more people, but we think the bad weather of the F irevious days discouraged a few rom coming,” KKYS radio disc jockey and celebrity walker Donna Biante said. “We are pleased with the results of this walk not only be cause it is a significant increase of walkers and money raised from last See CROP Walk, page 12