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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1987)
THe'Battalion Vol. 83 No. 14 GSPS 045360 16 pages College Station, Texas Friday, September 18, 1987 y) “Biden defends acts Irom law school past T) D ✓) D WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Jo- Biden admitted Thursday that I committed plagiarism in law , school 23 years ago but dismissed y the furor over his f ailure to attribute r the words of others in his speeches as “much ado about nothing.” ^^At a Capitol Hill news conference, Vthe Delaware Democrat and presi- Adential hopeful released law school ( uMCords that disclosed his plagiarism at Syracuse University in 1965 and “I did not intentionally move to p mislead anybody.” • .■l did something very stupid 23 V'Veaiv ago,” Biden said. “Little did I r know I would be standing before the whole world acknowledging the fact I <fid not know how to write a legal f/memorandum and the mistake is costing me as much as it is costing * 1 mej” ^Biden also admitted a series of er- ■k in not attributing quotes cor- '5 Igily in several campaign speeches ■■ year. But Biden said fellow pres- idehtial hopeful Jesse Jackson called to say he also uses phrases Biden has been accused of lif ting. Saying all candidates use “certain generic quotes” from past leaders, he charged that the controversy is meaningless. And Biden declared he will fight on for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. “I want to tell them all,” he said. “I’m in this race to stay. I’m in this race to win. And here I come.” Biden repeatedly suggested that the sources of the stories about his speeches and law school record came from his opponents, although he said he could not identify any one campaign. Republican or Demo cratic, as the source. “He is absolutely, totally credible,” Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz, said.“. . . He is a very strong, honest man. I hope he doesn’t recuse him self.” Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., another E residential candidate, said, “Joe has een doing an outstanding job in these hearings, and doing so under ? [reat pressure. I have complete con- idence in Joe Biden’s integrity and ability.” Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., added, “I think it’s always a good idea to attrib ute quotes, but I don’t think he de serves capital punishment for run ning a red light.” The furor surrounding Biden marks the second time in the 1988 Democratic presidential campaign that questions have been raised about the character and integrity of a candidate. Former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart was driven from the race in May after a controversy over his relationship with a Miami model and his explanations of it. Biden detailed how he lifted five pages from a law review article for a brief he wrote in a legal methods class. He did not quote or footnote the material, an omission noted by a classmate who critiqued his paper. When he was confronted by the law school dean, Biden admitted his actions and asked for a chance to ex plain them to the faculty. He wrote a two-page letter on his mistake and asked the faculty for a chance to re coup. (/>:? «> 0 tPi’ Bork frustrated by ‘attacks’ of key senators in hearings - rr a 1 3 ? co 2 % 3 5 1 sT < 5" ^WASHINGTON (AP) — Sup reme Court nominee 22.3S-: >3 ft $ 5^5; ,WA5Hli\l. 1 U;\ (AB) — bupr< ' fc- 0 *1-;: Robert H. Bork, complaining of unfair attacks by crit- ^ bJ. 3?ngr ; i CS) bristled yesterday over an accusation he favors un- “ ^ crT'bridled presidential power and complained that his re- ‘ -(2 0cord is being misrepresented. (t cf: Bork, in his third day of questioning by the Senate C/)< ;. Jt^iciary Committee and facing a fourth day today, en- Qfi | gaged in a tense exchange with Sen. Edward M. Ken- 0 7; nedy, D-Mass., over his views on presidential authority 5f '*( and expressed frustration about a news report describ- 3 £ ing his denial that he is a racist. 3? m I. ^eanwhile, two senators who are key swing votes on ^ 3 ^ ^ thjfc committee expressed fresh reservations. K *Where’s the predictability in Judge Bork?” Sen. Ar- len Specter, R-Pa., asked. “What troubles me is the very significant pronounced shifts” Bork has made in a 25- ^Hr career as lawyer, scholar and federal appeals-court 1 > 4 £?? d u % e > Specter said. = 3 Kk ^ ft;; ’He added that Bork’s testimony before the commit- f ^ C raised doubts about the nominee’s assertion that his I Cl 3 D 21 $ ' judicial philosophy rests on interpreting the intent of i 5’ 0"® ?c th| Constitution’s framers. ! q oa ^ Q St: Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz., also considered un- J 3 ? decided, praised Bork for forthrightness. But DeCon- : cr. ^ fl'p.S cini, during a break in the hearings, said in response to a reporter’s question,“I understand his explanation to day but I can’t say I’m more satisfied.” During questioning by the committee, Bork ex pressed frustration over a news report, suggesting it made him sound defensive by failing to point out his comment on not being a racist was merely an answer to a direct question from a senator. “All of a sudden I’m denying something I wasn’t ac cused of,” Bork said. He was, however, again accused of softening some of his views to win the Senate’s approval — a phenomenon Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called “confirmation conver sion.” Bork said he had stuck to “a number of positions that are controversial.” And in other areas, he said, he was not changing his original views but rather accepting Su preme Court decisions as “settled law.” Bork, a former Yale University law professor, also said some liberal groups that have analyzed his record have done sloppy research. Prompted by a supporter on the committee, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Bork directly challenged one organization’s published report that he almost always votes for the government and big business, and against individuals. rue ^ t-'b 3# Where’s the party? Joshua Moore, 2, shows his opinion of the balloon launch that celebrated the “Bells Across America” show sponsored Thursday by the political science Photo by Robert W. Rizzo honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha. The launch was held at Albritton Tower and consisted of 200 bal loons brightly colored in red, white and blue. f CL c* $ </! 1 ; Police save woman from severe torture of four-day captivity y * A ?3J:: n I McDADE (AP) — A woman was in an Austin hospital Thurs day after being so severely tor tured during four days of captiv ity that she wasn’t able to speak or move after her rescue, authorities say. 1 The 25-year-old woman was |inable to tell officers what hap pened, said Bastrop County sher iff s spokesman Jay Beggs. I However, from marks on her liands and feet, it was apparent she had been tied with electrical wiring, Beggs said. ; Officers “couldn’t touch her right away for her moaning,” Beggs said. The woman was in se rious condition with a head in jury, a broken left arm and wrist and bruises. Authorities said that during the captivity, the woman was driven around in a car trunk and tied to a chair in her two-story home’s attic. Blood-stained wire and bloody clothes were found in a trash can outside the farm house, Beggs said. Two people were arrested at the farmhouse Wednesday and two others were arrested later at a Bastrop residence in connection with the abduction. Pamela Hanson, 31, who shared the house with the victim; and Kenneth Kutalek, 30, of Smithville were arrested during the raid at the farmhouse two miles northeast of McDade. Brian Hopson, 22, and Craig Walker, 18, were arrested in Bastrop. Legislature asks Texas colleges to use suspension in drug Philadelphia throws party to celebrate Constitution Philadelphia (ap) — The (birthplace of the Constitution threw / a button-popping party Thursday to 5celebrate the 200th birthday of a : ^ 0 * <9 L. ,—I ^3 ^ 3" 0> _ p) CO 3 * <0 - * -1 ■ 2 a. j See related story, Page 11 rs :•§ 0> 0 document President Reagan hailed Ji? Pls as“the triumph of human freedom.” ^ Former U.S. Chief Justice Warren ^ ' jvBurger, w h° turned 80 Thursday, p ^ Jed an international bell-ringing cer- 3. (0 ;emony at 4 p.m., the precise time the ^4,453-word Constitution was signed 0 i after four steamy months of hot de- j \bate two centuries ago. g'lJpThroughout the land and military installations around the world, other * P fV c 5bells great and small chimed in. g.3 \m J £ 2 ft Burger likened the Constitution to a bridle that harnesses a horse. “The government could pull but not push the people,” said Burger, head of the federal commission celebrat ing the bicentennial. “It marked the beginning of the end of the idea of the divine right of kings.” The city’s $6 million bash fea tured a parade, picnic, pageantry and seven barges of fireworks to honor the day when the Constitution was signed by 39 of its 55 designers. Speaking in front of Indepen dence Hall, Reagan called the sign ing of the world’s first constitution an event “that would profoundly and forever alter not just these United States but the world.” By Janet Goode Staff Writer In a push for harsher drug-free policies at Texas’ state-funded col leges and universities, the Coordi nating Board, Texas College and University System has been prompted by the Texas Legislature to draw up guidelines for an auto matic suspension penalty. The Legislature adopted a resolu tion in May urging all state colleges to suspend on-campus drug users. The resolution specifies that any student caught with an illegal drug on campus should be suspended, but the length of the suspension is left to school officials. Texas A&M’s current handbook of rules and regulations prohibits the use, sale or distribution of illegal substances, but doesn’t specify terms of punishment. Punishment for people caught with illegal substances on campus is instituted by two entities at Texas A&M. Bob Wiatt, director of security and traffic at A&M, said if the police find illegal drugs in the possession of a student on campus, criminal charges are filed. These cases, he said, are automatically referred to ( the Student Affairs Office. Wiatt said a student affairs officer usually follows the student’s trial to see what happens through the jus tice system. If the student is found guilty, the judicial affairs officer may punish the student furthur by taking disci plinary actions, such as probation or suspension from the University, he said. Dr. Brent Paterson, judicial af fairs officer at A&M, said when an individual is referred to him, pun ishment is determined on a case-by case basis through a hearing. Paterson said the University will follow this “normal disciplinary ac tion” until new guidelines are estab lished. “If it’s a person’s first offense and only a small amount of narcotics is found in their possession, this would fall under “personal use” and would typically result in “conduct proba tion,” Paterson said. Someone on conduct probation, he said, is “not in good standing with the University.” A student on conduct probation can’t hold office at the University, represent A&M at any offical func tion or athletic competetion or apply for a scholarship, he said. Students involved in the distribu tion or sale of controlled substances, Paterson said, could be suspended for a period determined by the se riousness of the case. Dr. John J. Koldus, vice president for student services at A&M, said de ciding on new guidelines is a real “gray area.” The Coordinating Board is working with a mandated suspension rule, but wants to pre serve fairness on the part of the stu dents, he said. Graphic by Susan C. Akin “We feel like we should be no dif ferent in our actions than the judi cial system of our country — that one is entitled to a hearing,” he said. Wiatt said there have only been three criminal charges filed for ille gal drug possession during the last school year. “What doesn’t show up in stati- sics,” Wiatt said, “is when we tow a car and we have to do an inventory search of the contents. “In those searches, we frequently find narcotics. The problem is we can’t file criminal charges because the law says a person must “possess” the drugs. “When we tow such a car, there is no one around. When we contact the owner, he invariably states ‘I don’t know who put that in my car. It must belong to the person who drove my car last, of whose name I can’t re member.’ “We can’t charge or arrest the car. “This is when we give matters to student affairs and let them take whatever action is necessary. “We feel that student affairs should know that the student’s car had a controlled substance in it. “In this case, the officer would probably call the student in to the of fice and emphasize that his actions are not to be tolerated.” Wiatt said it is difficult to monitor drug abuse on campus. “We have 10,000 students to mon itor, which is done mostly through the residence hall advisers,” he said. “They are supposed to report inci dents to us. What they report is that residents do not indulge in drug abuse — at least not in the dormitory area where they can be detected. “A lot of them (drug users), if they are going to do it, will go somewhere like the golf course at night to smoke a joint.” Paterson agrees with Wiatt that a lot of kids who use drugs may decide to live off campus to avoid any possi ble conflict with the University. Wiatt says A&M’s real drug prob lem is that, “We’ve only arrested three people.” To inform students of any changes or additions to the hand book, the resolution asks the presi dents of state universities to send let ters to students outlining their decisions no later than the end of the 1987 fall semester. Koldus said President Frank E. Vandiver is waiting until the Coordi nating Board’s October meeting to send the letter. When a letter is sent, he said, it may be in the form of an advertisement, since this would be the least expensive option and would reach the most people. Ron Brown, director of student affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, said its president’s ad is going to run in the Daily Texan in a few days, mandating an automatic one-year suspension for the offense.