The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 22, 1988, Image 5

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 22, 1988, Image 5

Newspaper Page TextFriday, January 22,1988/The Battalion/Page 5 lass takes contracting into international arena By Jeff Pollard Staff Writer Amid the cries and complaints bbout the United States losing ground in the international trade community, one department at [Texas A&M is teaching its students hew ways to compete in an old field, construction contracting. Dr. John Epling, associate profes sor of building construction, is the developer and teacher of the Inter- Inational Construction Contracting class, COSC 689, where students are Itaught the delicacies and potential Iproblems that are a part of interna- Itional contracting. “The need to educate not only our lown students but the construction [industry in general in . the interna- [tional arena is overwhelming,” [Epling said. As old as the idea is, the field of [study is extremely new. The course Itaught at A&M is the only one of its type in the nation. Steve Katz, an international-con- I trading lawyer in Vienna, Austria [and member of UNCITRAL (the jUnited Nations’ Commission of In ternational Trade Law), said he is surprised at the progress A&M has | made. “It is amazing that Texas A&M has accomplished in such a short time what the UN and others have been trying to do for years,” Katz re marked. It is this kind of recognition, along with A&M’s accomplishments in this field, that have earned an interna tional reputation for the University and Epling. For this reason, Eipling’s talents are in demand worldwide. Epling, along with 15 other lead ing international-contracting law yers from around the world, was in vited by the American Bar Association to analyze and discuss the United Nations’ guidelines for international-construction contracts. Epling was the only university in structor invited to speak. “Communication is the most im portant part of international con tracting,” Epling said. “There has to _ : W SIGMA iVU OPEN PARTY 8 P.M. SN Lodge 811 Harvey- Sundance Apts. Everyone Welcome For Info: Warren 764-1869 Ed 268-0580 Photo by David Elmer Dr. John Epling discusses international construction’s potential. be a meeting of minds. That’s tough to do when you are dealing with someone who speaks another lan guage and comes from a different ethnic background.” To avoid this type of problem, Epling has traveled as a representa tive of the International Law Insti tute to lesser-developed countries in Asia and Afxica. His most recent trip was to Ammon, Jordan where he ran a seminar on international construc tion project management. “We have a great deal of capacity that is sitting idle,” Epling said. “We need to go out and Compete for work in other countries. We need to export what we’re not using to make the most of w'hat we have.” Epling said the United States can not just sit back and be content with being where it is. Americans have to remember that they are no better than anyone else; all people are equal, he said. To compete in the fu ture, the United States must up grade its current system, he said. “A few' years ago, if you could find a Toyota in this country, you laughed at it,” Epling said. “Now ev eryone is laughing at General Mo tors.” Welfare officials ban spankings in South Texas foster families Your Credit Union Has the Best Financial Deals In Town: ■ Free Checking (with a $500 min balance)* ■ Hi-Yield Savings Accounts ■ Hi-Yield Certificates of Deposits ■ Hi-Yield I.RA/s ■ Low Cost Loans ■ Maroon MasterCard 'Under $500. $5 a month service charge Welcome Back aggies* Texas Aggie Credit Union member ship is open to all Former Students, Faculty. Stott and Students of Texas A&M University and members of their families. Ask About Our How Preferred Membership Package TEXAS AGGIE CREDIT UNION 301 Dommik Dr College Station. TX 77840 (409)696 1440 toaurect fcy NattonotCredtf t&ior) A'lmioistrnhDn mcUA ' EDINBURG (AP) —Spanking foster children has been banned in foster homes in South Texas, according to a new rule issued by ! state welfare officials. “We’re trying to teach the chil dren and the parents that there are j other ways of dealing with children ! than pulling out a belt and spanking I them,” said Richard Mendoza, a child placement worker in the Re gion VIII headquarters of the Texas Department of Human Services in Edinburg. The new rule applies to foster parents in a 26-county area from Webb County in the west to Jackson County in the east. More than half of the state wel fare department’s 12 regional offices now forbid corporal punishment in foster homes. Waldo “And the other five are moving in that direction,” said Dixie Camp of DHS state headquarters in Austin. Camp writes state policy manuals in various areas of child welfare. At least one Corpus Christi family has left the welfare department’s foster care program because of the new rule. Arredondo of DHS said, “We have some foster parents who are not able to accept this.” by Kevin Thomas HI/ I'M TEDDY ^ TRUCKSPIN ! i WILL YOU BE / BUT YOU MV FRIEND?/ CAN PROGRAM LOVE... D o o J3 700)'’ .:f2 IjJ w 7 * M S C S.IETY SMC Audition Applications Available Now Room 216 M S C pa$> etec- All nts* gite iTEtf i i Warped TJ by Scott McCullar THE Follow is A WRPP SPECIAL gULLET/N. 600D EVE.NIM6. THIS 15 A TEST OF THE WRPP electric rdwek tool WARNING SYSTEM. FOR THE NEXT 30 SECONDS THIS CABLE STATION WILL BE TESTING AN ELECTRIC POWER TOOL. fsl // Welcome Back, Ags! -We have expanded our variety of fish! -10 gal. tanks $5" Challenger I pumps $4" Whisper Power Filter 1 $19" -Look for our "in-house" specials ANIMAL WORLD // Wltesia Peti PtUdhz' Manor East Mall 822-9315 tgma JKlpfja spring JRusfj ’88 & I!*ok.CM* At the XAJB House Friday, January 22, 8:00p.m. Beef & Mollusk* Ribs & Oysters at the House Saturday, January 23, 1:00 p.m. dTust Guys Slide Show at the Hilton Ballroom Tuesday, January’26, 7:30 p.m. Attire: Coat & Tie ■ | t y. ' . • : , . • , .#-Mike T^ux^er: Kush Oiaihh'att 822-S470 ' Bill Maddox: Vice Chairman 846-9268 2AE House: 822-1377

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 22, 1988, Image 5

Are you interested in including a title to our archive?

Follow us!