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Solution to close quarters
of G. Rollie White in sight
Proposed events center to seat 15,000
By Stuart Vorwerk
Hepnrtct
The rramped seating condi
tions of C. Rollie White Coliseum
have frustrated many an avid
sports fan, but a remedy to its ca
pacity problems is on the horixon
Plans to build a special events
center that would seat approxi
mately 15,000 have been pro
posed to the Texas A&M Board
of Regents, said Wesley fc. Peel,
vice chancellor for faedmes plan
ning and construction
The center would be designed
by Crain/Anderson Inc. and
would be built on the east side of
Beef Cattle Road, across from
Kyle Field and adjacent to the
Anderson Track ami Field Coan-
^ 11 would double G. Rollie
e*s capacity of 7,500 to
15.000
WH said plana to build the cen
ter have been put on hold and
they haven't been formally ap
proved, but he feels they will be
authorised soon
Funding is the biggest obstacle
to the center's development, he
said, because most of the esti
mated $54 million needed to
build the center must come from
sources other than state revenues
But this has been partly solved.
Peel said, with donations from
former A AM students, such as
Cheater Reed, who has donated
land to AlcM, appraised at about
$15 million at 1985 rates
Although A&M basketball
would be played in the center.
Peel said, the primary focas of
the center would be rommumts
use
The larger seating capacity
would enable A AM to draw more
well-known rock, pop and coon-
try/westem groups to perform
concerts.
The center also would provide
the opportunity to host National
Invitational Tournament and Na
tional Collegiate Athletx Associa
tion basketball tournaments, as
well as professional exhibition
games of the Houston Rockets.
Dattas Mavericks and San Anto
nio Spurs
Other sports, such as voitry-
halt. wresCMtg and gymnastics,
also could take place at the cen
ter.
The proposed 20,000 square-
loot area could host other events,
such as circuses, professional ro
deos. ice shows, exhibit and trade
shows. Peel said.
The center also could make the
staggermg of AAM graduation
commencement ceremonies un
necessary. Peel added.
Shelby Metcalf A AM head
liaskethall coach, said, “I would
be verv happy for them to have a
new one (special events center)
because it would help recruiting. ”
However, Metcalf made a
point to say, **I love playing in G.
Rollie White, and until the new
one (special events center) is built.
G. Rollie White is the greatest
place to play a basketball game in
the world, i
about it."
New fiber-optics probe designed
by AAM graduate awaits FDA OK
*y!
Moody
blood must
nth emphysema
constantly he che
whose
he checked."
and that's how I feel
A fiber-optics probe invented by a
former Texas AAM graduate stu
dent and used to measure chemical
levels in blood awaits approval by the
Food and Drug Administration.
AAM graduate David Costello
said the probe is inserted intrave-
neously and works like the pH indi
cator that tests swimming pool wa
ter. Made from tiny, clear-plastic
libers, the probe can be inserted
through s hypodermic needle
slightly larger than one used for rou
tine injections, Costello said.
Light is reflected through a sec
tion of the l ' shaped tube containing
c hemicai indicators, which react with
the ion concentration of the blood,
causing the light to change colors.
The color change is analyzed by a
microprocessor and results are dis
played, Dr. Charles Lessard, profes
sor of biomedical engineering, said
“The new device may one day al
low doctors to obtain instantaneous
blood readings without having to
wait two to three hours for a lab re
Hi," said Lessard. who was Costel-
' s advisor “This would be useful
during surgery or for patients, such
Costello wanted to find a way to
test chemicals without dactrkity. He
invented the device while working
on a master's degree in bioengineer
ing at AAM He then proposed his
idea to the Hyperbancs Division of
the U S. School of Aerospace Meth
ane in San Antonio, which financed
its development for $75,000
AfWr graduating, Costello snd
three partners. Lss Schfaun, AAM
graduate Steve Spar and Mark
Abrams, founded Optcx Biomedical
in Houston Costello said the firm
hopes to gam FDA approval for the
probe and begin prodo< non by the
end of 1987
port.
Id’s i
AAM holds patent rights on the
probe and . will receive royalties
from sales. Taylor Morgan. System
Patent Administrator, said. A defi
nite use for the income has not been
designated, but Morgan said it may
go back into research.
The fiber-optics device also may
be used to monitor chemical reac
tions in operations such as those
used in breweries and food proc
essing plants, Costello said
Nine death row inmates face execution soon
HUNTSVILLE (AP) — Nine death row in
mates. including a man who killed a highway
patrolman during a crime spree and a former
janitor who says he is innocent of a rape-mur
der, face executions between now and April,
officials say.
But lawyers say some of the condemned
wiU receive stays of execution as their appeals
proceed. Of those with execution dates, Eli-
seo H. Moreno, 27, has said he does not wish
to appeal his March 4 execution
Texas has executed 21 prisoners — tops in
the nation — since the death penalty was re
sumed in 1962
Moreno, who had no prior prison record,
was convicted of capital murder in the Octo
ber 11, 1965, shooting of state trooper Russell
Bovd near Hempstead.
Boyd, 25, was one of six people who pros-
iringa I
crime spree that began at College Station with
the slayings of his brother-in-law, Juan Garza,
50. and Garza’s wife, Esther. 51.
Moreno also was charged in the shooting
deaths of James Bennatt.62. his sisser-m-law,
Ann Bennatt. 70; and Aliie Wilkins, 79, in
Hempstead
According to investigators. Moreno forced
a family of five to drive him to Pasadena and
subsequently abducted a Friendswood man.
whom be forced at gunpoint to drive him to
ward the Rio Grande Valiev State troopers
arrested him at a roadblock in Wharton
County.
Clarence Lee Brandlev. who received his
March 26 execution date Friday, was con
victed of raping and killing Cheryl Dee Fer
guson, 16, at Conroe High School on Aug.
25, 1960. The student, a manager for the Bel
Ivtttr High School volleyball team, was at the
school for a scrimmage
Brandlev, 55. who initially had been sc bed
tiled to die two years ago. received his exacu
bon date as about 200 supporters protested
outside the Montgomery County (xiurthouse
Hu attorneys maintain that another janitor
lulled the girl
Elliott Rod Johnson, 28, u appealing hu
case to the U.S. Supreme Court for the exrcu-
tion-style shooting death of Joseph Granado.
a Beaumont jewelry store owner, during a
robbery April 8, 1982. He u scheduled to die
before dawn Wednesday
Fletcher Mann. 25, is scheduled to die Feb.
25. He was convicted of captial murder in the
Sept. 11, 1980, shooting death of Christopher
Lee Bates in Dallas
Those scheduled to be executed in March
include Clifton Russell Jr., March 10; and
John H. Selvage, March 12; Raymond
Landry Sr., March 16; Larry Anderson.
March 17; and Jerry L Hogue, March 24.
Russell, 25. received the death penalty for
the Dec. 5. 1979 stabbing death of Hubert
Otha Tobey, an air traffic controller in Abi
lene. Tobey was found scabbed outside an
abandoned bouse with has skull crushed
Selvage. 36, who has had two previous exe
cution Oates, was convicted in the July 50,
1979, shooting death of Harris County sher
iffs deputy Albert Garza, 46.
Landry, 57, was convicted of shooting 55-
year-oid Kosmas Prims, a Houston restaurant
owner, to death during s robbery on Aug. 6,
1982
The Medical Sciences Division of
Johnson Space Center also has ex
pressed interest in the device, which
could be used in space to monitor
environmental conditions in cellular
chemical experiments, such as pro
ducing insulin. Lessard said
Houston odds
incentives
to convention
HOUSTON (AP) — In a last min
ute effort to gain the 1968 Demo
cratic National Convention, cky offi-
ciah have turned to a $5 million
insurance policy issued by Lloyd's of
London to back a promise to the
party.
Cky officials are hoping die potiev
will defuse Democratic National
Committee Chairman Paul G. Kirk's
objections to the unfinished George
R. Brown Convention Center.
Houston's host commmittee chair
man. Joe Russo, said Saturday that
Houston will sweeten a $5 million in
surance policy that is payable to the
party by guaranteeing that the cen
ter wilt be fully operational by Jan
uary 1968.
That would be more than seven
months before the Democrats meet
in July 1988
Under the new plan, if the center
is not completed or if any system in
the center is not working by Jan. 1,
the Democrats will be $5 million
richer.
“We’re trying to plug any remain
ing hole,” Russo said *We f re trying,
to add more belt suspenders to our
proposal."
Russo has written a letter explain
ing the policy to Kirk and members
of the site selection committee. The
party is expected to announce the
host city Tuesday. Houston and At
lanta are the apparent front-run-
""
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Years & Older Welcome
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Dinner
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Drinks
SIGN UP!
INTRAMURAIVREC SPORTS
SPORT: Softball
DIVISION: CoRec A, B, C
DATE: through February 10
TIME: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
PLACE: IM-REC Sports Office
SPORTS: Volleyball Triples
DIVISION: CoRec A, B, C
DATE: March 2-March 10
TIME: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
PLACE: IM-REC Sports Office
TEXAS A&M IM-REC SPORTS DEPARTMENT
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
• MAFM INC 1986
General Motors is proud to
sponsor your campus intramural/
recreational sports.
JOIN THE FUN
Read the information above and
sign up with your Intramural/Rec
reational Sports Department today!
EVERYONE CAN PLAY
All students, staff and faculty
are eligible.
MfVWOlET
PONTIAC
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GAAAC
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