Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1986)
Thursday, January 30, 1986/The Battalion/Page 9 the evi- j he od«r | them M [ ? a P. . /hileikff d. eGuenn I itors if : lear he | ice dit't tick ti res I ound i n the® in 3 ve World and Nation Respect shown with vigils, silence Americans mourn loss of crew Associated Press “Why did all these good people have to die? Why now? Why them?” The unanswerable questions of a 10-year-old Minneapolis schoolgirl reflected the anguish of a nation Wednesday as families, friends and admirers grieved for the seven vic tims aboard the shuttle Challenger. Wall Street tickers briefly halted and flags fluttered at half staff. Ra dio stations, schools and legislatures observed moments of silence. And bells rang on campuses such as Texas A&M throughout the nation. At the White House, President Reagan pledged to continue the space program, then turned to the sad task of telephoning families of the victims to offer his condolences. Fifth- and sixth-graders at Barton Open School in Minneapolis had lis tened to the launch over the class room loudspeakers, and heard the horrified reaction of spectators at Kennedy Space Center. Ten-year-old Liza Moscovice said, “I couldn’t believe it. It seemed un real. I could hear the screams of ag ony over the loudspeaker, the crying and moaning ... I could feel what they must have been feeling. It was terrible. “Why did all these good people have to die? Why now? Why them? It was like a nightmare come true.” Residents of Illinois and Evansville, Ind., were urged to turn on their porch lights for 12 hours starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday to honor the Challenger crew. The porch-light vigil originally was intended to honor McAuliffe as part of a nationwide effort pro moted by state school superinten dents. It was to have taken place on the eve of McAuliffe’s lessons from space, to symbolize the illumination of teaching and learning. Mike Brasher, general manager of KANW-FM, a public radio station operated by Albuquerque Public Schools, was the man who suggested live lessons from space for school children. Brasher said he was “sickened” when he saw the shuttle explode, but said he hoped they’d try again. On Wall Street, trading stopped, tickers froze and the shouts of trad ers faded away when a bell clanged twice at 11 a.m. signaling a minute of silence. New York Stock Exchange spokesman Richard Torrenzano said, “It’s not often that we do it, but I think it’s important that some re spect be shown. ...” Executive director Richard Mac Leod in Colorado Springs, Colo., said, “People around the country have been asking what they can do or how they can get involved in the wake of this tragedy. McAuliffe’s peers confront anger over death k saic |: oyable I 1 thinll ter in-1 ” in Mill I s tied “A B udent's I eminar j n Tea-1 io. The [ r hieblj teach-1 emistn i ttendec i bought [ activate 1 : doing ii I use nit | h person- the dy-11 us have j ssor of | J heart | nd said rit. I rnely it- e I showed I magitj e is ® j: Iked of I rest. F nt style method, Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. — Adults and children in the city where Christa McAuliffe taught school cried openly Wednesday as they con fronted their anger, sadness and dis belief over the death of their col league and teacher. “The teachers seem to be more upset than the students,” said John Reinhardt, coordinator of school psychology and guidance programs for the Concord school district. “They are closer to her, her col leagues and personal friends,” he said. “The kids for the most part seem to be handling it well.” Twenty-five psychologists, guidance counselors and therapists went into the public schools to help the 4,500 students deal with their grief over the death of McAuliffe. Classes were canceled at the high school where McAuliffe taught, but teachers and counselors were avail able, if students wanted to come in and talk. Reinhardt said that other school districts across the nation might be doing the same thing, depending on their students’ reaction to seeing the explosion, which killed McAuliffe and six astronauts. “It affects every child in the coun- Many students expressed sympa thy for McAuliffe’s family including her two children, Scott, 9, and Caro line, 6. Reinhardt said children at the Kimball Elementary School, where Scott is a classmate, asked the coun selors for every bit of information “NASA public relations did a tremendous job in publi cizing the event, emphasizing the educational benefits. This flight was part of the students’ curriculum. ” —John Reinhardt, coordinator of school psychology. try that “Christa saw it,” Reinhardt said, was dynamic, down to earth. She spoke in a language chil dren could understand. NASA pub lic relations did a tremendous job in publicizing the event, emphasizing the educational benefits. This flight was part of the students’ curric ulum.” they could get: Why did this hap pen? What caused the accident? Clint Cogswell, the principal at Kimball who had been in Cape Ca naveral to witness the launch, spoke to all of the classes, describing every thing that happened. Eighteen children in Scott’s third grade class who also had flown to Cape Canaveral to watch the launch were given the day off Wednesday because they returned home so late Tuesday night. “They feel the event is almost like a dream,” Reinhardt said. The psychologists and other spe cialists were encouraging the chil dren to talk about their feelings and to accept them, rather than trying to explain them away or think they should feel differently. “We are trying to encourage them to be open and honest and to under stand that time heals all wounds,” Reinhardt said. “Every tragedy becomes a focal point of problems in their lives,” Re inhardt said. The psychologists, guidance counselors and therapists first met privately with the teachers to help them with their own feelings and to prepare them to deal with their stu dents. 12-year-old Resnik curious about space MEXICO CITY — A rabbi here who knew astronaut Judith Resnik, killed in Tuesday’s explo sion of the space shuttle Chal lenger, says as a bright 12-year- old she was concerned whether Jewish law permitted space travel. Rabbi Samuel S. Lerer said in an interview with the English-lan guage daily The News that he told her that the Bible’s story of creation shows God gave man do minion over the world. Lerer said he told the girl this meant “we have a right ... to seek, to learn and to know the whole universe.” “I trained the little girl, and I feel that I was instrumental” in her becoming an astronaut, Lerer, rabbi at the Beth Israel Community Center, was quoted as saying. Lerer has a 1962 newsletter from the Akron, Ohio, syna gogue where he was Resnik’s in structor for her bat mitzvah, the ceremony for 13-year-old girls. Resnik, one of seven killed in the first fatal accident in space for an American craft, was the first Jewish astronaut. NASA guards stand watch outside astronauts’ homes Associated Press SPACE CENTER, Houston — Families of the Chal lenger astronauts were in seclusion Wednesday as NASA guards stood outside their homes and friends, colleagues and officials from the space community sought to comfort them. Bonnie Jo Allen, the wife of former astronaut Joe Allen, said, “There are no words adequate to describe how we all feel for the crew and their families. “Nothing will compensate for their loss, but we’ll be there supporting them if we can. The families have given a lot to this country, and we should be thinking about these people.” Local churches scheduled special tributes to the fallen astronauts and NASA announced that President Reagan and the first lady would attend a memorial service for the Challenger crew Friday in Houston. The families of several crew members returned to their Houston homes Tuesday night, just hours after seeing the space shuttle carrying their loved ones ex plode in a gigantic fireball off Cape Canaveral. Friends and colleagues from the Johnson Space Center closed ranks around the grief-stricken families. Armed NASA security officers stood guard outside their homes to prevent unwanted visitors from intrud ing. Though familiar with tragedy and danger, the men and women of the U.S. space program were still stunned by the loss of Challenger and its seven crew members barely a minute after Tuesday’s flawless launch. “This is the first time it’s happened in 19 years,” said Barbara Schwartz, a NASA public affairs officer, recalling the Apollo 1 ground fire in 1967 that killed three U.S. astronauts at then Cape Kennedy. In Lafayette, La., Mark Grissom, the son ot Apollo 1 victim Gus Grissom, called Tuesday’s episode tragic. “I know what the families are going through,” he said. “I hope they can find comfort in what I took comfort in — that these people died doing something they loved doing.” Schwartz indicated there was little NASA could do officially for the families of civilian astronauts except process financial forms and help arrange for insur ance and other benefits. Military benefits for survivors of active-duty service men and women include “death gratuities,” burial as sistance and up to $50,000 in life insurance. The amount of assistance depends on factors such as the person’s rank and length of service. Killed in the massive explosion Tuesday morning were Flight Commander Francis R. Scobee; pilot Mi chael Smith; schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe; engi neer Gregory Jarvis, and mission specialists Judith Resnick, Ellison Onizuka and Ronald McNair. Scobee, Smith and Onizuka were in the military. Space agency officials did not disclose what finan cial benefits exist for relatives of the Challenger crew but said Scobee, Resnik and McNair received annual salaries of $54,004. Smith earned $53,343 a year and Onizuka $48,398. The astronauts were eligible for government-spon sored life insurance equal to double their annual sala ries, but NASA officials said it was unknown if they had taken out the policies. A spokeswoman said such information was confidential. McAuliffe was covered by a $1 million insurance policy, a gift from a Washington satellite insurance company. NASA doctors and nurses offered medical support to the families in the aftermath of the tragedy. CONCERT Monday, February 24,1986 Texas A&M University Rudder Auditorium 7:30 p.m. $5 in advance $6 at the door Presented by Inter-Varsity Chris tian Fellowship For Information Call John at (409)260-1033 Ticket Outlets Brazos Valley Christian Bookstore Scripture Haven Carter Creek Scripture Haven Post Oak Mall MSC Box Office IKT iKT Phi Kappa Tau presents “A Charter Year” SPRING RUSH ’86 *Thr. Jan 23 Phi Tau Open Mon. Jan 27 Happy Hour at Zephyr's WecJ. Jan 29 Pizza Party w/Delta Zeta ‘Thx. Jan 30 Late Ntte vr/Phi Kappa Tau Sun. Feb 2 Fajita cookout -w/Alpha Gamma Delta 'Parties begin at 8:00 at Treehouse Appartments Party Room All others begin at 4 pm For More Information Call- Rush Chairman Joe CanneUa 693-2588 President Kyle Robinson 696-6627 1KT iKT m M US Z3M 1909 1984 'Toward The 21st Century' Sigma Alpha Mu 1986 Spring Rush Schedule ►Saturday, Feb 1-Party at Treehouse Phase I Party Room at 9:00 pm Information Call: David Goldstein 846-2957 Jay Katz 696-4152 Lippman Music Co. THE MUSICIANS MUSIC STORE Back to School SALE MAKO GUITARS-UP TO $300 OFF! All strings & sticks: Buy 2 get 1 FREE SAVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE ON: COMING SOON! ROLAND IBANEZ &TOA MARSHALL FOSTEX KRAMER DEAN MARKLEY TAMA KORG Lessons and rental available CULPEPPER PLAZA 696-1379 We Double Dare You! WORMS SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE—YOURS MAY VARY Dos Gusanos [Two Worms] Mezcal wants to party with you! The question is—are you ready to take the dare? To eat two honest to goodness Agave worms? There’s nothing like authentic Mexican Mezcal to turn an evening upside down. Pass the bottle around and see who the real party warriors are. But don’t forget, at the bottom lies the real treat. Not one, but two Agave worms. You won’t find a prize like this in any cereal box! So c’mon! Take the dare and repeat after us. “I love my Dos Gusanos.” Now, worms away! Dos Gusanos Mezcal. 80 proof, bottled in Mexico and imported exclusively by David Sherman Corporation. (TWO WORMS) MEZCAL. THE LOOK THAT’S RIGHT FOR TOU! Tailored to Your Personality Guys and Gals! Come on in and find your true identity. See what a.new hairstyle can do for you. We specialize in latest precision cuts. FUROPF.AN M HAIR DESIGNS ^ ' Park Place Plaza 696-3870 Come by and meet our talented staff: Theresa Hair Stylist Zippi Hair Stylist Eddie Hair Stylist Lori Hair Stylist Facial Manicurist Mr. Jorgen Owner & Hair Stylist $3.00 Off Haircut & Blowdry $10.00 Off Perm & Haircut $5.00 Off Reiaxer with coupon Good thru February