Wednesday, September 28, IQSSA'he Battalion/Page 3
State and Local
Temptation’ audiences small
as protesters voice objections
Photo by Mike C. Mulvey
Irean Beckie, from liryan, participates in the Bryan Catholic Church
protest against “ 1 he Last Temptation of Christ.” The group will con
tinue protesting the movie as long as it plays in the area.
By Richard Tijerina
Staff Writer
The opening of director Martin
Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of
Christ” has sparked a wave of con
troversy throughout the Bryan-Col-
lege Station area, with disputes
about whether or not the movie
should be banned.
The movie, which opened last Fri
day at the Plitt Cinema Three, was
viewed by unexpectedly few people
over the weekend, and was protested
by picketers at each showing.
Protesters said that their presence
at the theater was in part responsible
for the scant weekend crowds, and
that the protesters not only affected
attendance at “The Last Temptation
of Christ,” but at all the other movies
showing at that theater as well.
“I think our presence really af
fected (attendance),” graduate stu
dent Mike Lawson said. “They had
really poor ticket sales all weekend at
that theater, and not just at ‘The
Last Temptation of Christ.’ People
just didn’t want to go to that thea
ter.”
Lawson said many groups pro
tested the movie. He was the leader
of just one of those groups.
Protests against the film have ari
sen over scenes in the movie that
portray Jesus Christ having sex with
Mary Magdalene.
Lawson said that particular scene
was not the only complaint he had
about the movie, however.
“In my view, I have two problems
with the movie,” he said. “It is de
stroying the concept that Christ was
sinless. The dream sequence says
that he was tempted and that he
gave in to the temptation of lust. But
the whole reason why he was able to
die and save people was because he
was without sin.”
Lawson also pointed out that
scenes in the movie showed Christ as
being out of control and filled with
anger, a depiction Lawson said is in
accurate according to the Bible.
Lawson was referring to a scene in
which Christ becomes angry with a
money changer, picks up a table and
slams it into a stone wall.
“(The scene) portrayed that he
was actually out of control, that he
was a man with rage,” he said.
“There is nothing given in the scrip
tures that he was a man filled with
anger or that he was out of control.”
Lawson said that he had not yet
seen the movie and that he probably
would not.
The controversy sparked such an
uproar that Texas A&M’s Debate
Society is planning a public debate
on whether or not the movie should
be banned from campus.
In an audition Monday to select
the two debaters, members of the
Society gave assenting or dissenting
opinions on whether or not the
movie should be banned.
Of the ten speeches given, nine
opposed the proposition of banning
the movie.
“When we allow this film to be
banned, we have gone over the line,”
Society member Ellen East said. “We
need to draw that line again and say
it’s not going to happen. Give people
all the information and let them de
cide for themselves.”
Murder conviction
overturned by court
AUSTIN (AP) — The Court of
Criminal Appeals today over
turned the conviction and death
sentence of a man tried in the
screwdriver slaying of a Houston
tavern owner.
The court said Sam Edward
Gumbo’s lawyer was improperly
forced to use a peremptory chal
lenge to eliminate a potential ju
ror who was biased against the
defendant, then later accept an
other juror who was objectionable
to the defense.
The case was returned to the
trial court.
Gumbo had been convicted in
the September 1985 slaying of
George Nick Voinis, owner of the
Tip Top Lounge in downtown
Houston.
According to court records,
Voinis normally went to the bank
between 11 and 11:20 a.m. each
day. On Sept. 12, a neighboring
businessman saw Voinis return
from the bank with a money bag.
As he was unlocking the gate to
his lounge, a man ran up to him
and demanded the money. The
businessman saw the assailant be
gin to stab Voinis with a shiny ob
ject.
The witness, George Stafford,
and his wife, Louise, ran to Voi
nis’ aid and began striking the at
tacker. A third person joined the
struggle, and the attacker fled.
One witness saw the attacker dis
card a screwdriver as he ran
away.
In an opinion authored by Pre
siding Judge John Onion, the
Court of Criminal Appeals noted
that Gumbo didn’t challenge the
sufficiency of the evidence to sus
tain the conviction.
However, Gumbo’s lawyer did
contend that several errors were
made by the trial judge during se
lection of the jury. Gumbo’s law
yer exhausted his 15 peremptory
challenges to jurors, causing him
to have to accept a juror he con
sidered totally unacceptable, the
opinion said.
Modular dormitory construction
promotes new plans for campus
By Fiona Soltes
Staff Writer
Construction of five modular dormitories is causing a
chain reaction of modifications around the Texas A&M
campus.
Keith Chapman, manager of construction at A&M,
said that the dormitories — one near Sbisa Dining Hall
and the others in the Commons area — have led to
plans for a satellite utility plant, expansion of the Com
mons dining area and a new parking lot.
“All of the people who will be needing a room to stay
in will also need a place to park, a place to eat and a util
ity plant in operation to cool them off with air conditio
ning,” Chapman said.
The satellite utility plant, to be completed by Fall
1989, will be located south of the Military Sciences
Building.
“We need additional air conditioning capacity, and
we plan to start construction within the next 40 to 45
days,” he said.
The Commons dining area will be expanded to seat
the additional students and new equipment will be
added to the kitchen, he said.
Construction at that area, also scheduled to begin in
40 to 45 days, should be completed at the same time as
the utility plant, he said.
The new parking lot, located near Duncan Field, will
be reserved for the dormitory students, but it will be
complete within the next few weeks, Chapman said.
“We needed a lot to take care of the problems that
come with construction,” he said. Chapman said the
cost of the project will be close to $30 million by the
time it is completed. Funding for the project will come
from University bonds.
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A
Scholastic Opportunities
For Outstanding Undergraduates
The following scholarships are currently open for competition:
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Truman Scholarship
Sponsored by: Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
For: Current college sophomores intending to pursue ca
reers in government service of all kinds, including scientific
research.
Terms: Up to $7,000 annually for tuition, fees, room,
board, books for last two undergraduate years and up to two
more years of graduate study.
Application Procedure: By nomination of Texas A&M
University.
Application Deadline: October 31, 1988.
National Endowment For The Humanities
Younger Scholar Awards
Sponsored by: NEH
For: Current Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors
Terms: $2,200 for Summer research and writing in the Hu
manities; $400 of which is allotted to your advisor for the
project.
Application Procedure: Direct application by student and
advisor.
Application Deadline: November 1, 1988.
Time College Achievement Award
Sponsored by: Time Magazine
For: Juniors
Terms: One time cash award of $3,000.
Application Procedure: Direct application, applications
will be available in the Honors Program Office late in the
Fall term.
Application Deadline: February 1, 1989.
Smithsonian Internships
Sponsored by: The Smithsonian Institute
For: Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Terms: Stipends vary with program, positions are 3-4
months in duration.
Positions: Hirshhom Museum and Sculpture Garden; Na
tional Air and Space Museum; National Museum of African
Art; National Museum of American Art; National Zoolog
ical Park; Office of Architectural History and Historical
Preservation; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Application Procedure: Individual Application
Application Deadline: Vary according to position
Smithsonian 10 Week Graduate Student Fellowships:
Sponsored by: The Smithsonian Institute
For: Individuals formally enrolled in a Graduate FYogram
and who will have completed one semester of such prior to
the appointment period.
Terms: Stipend of $250 per week for 10 weeks. Travel to
the Smithsonian to conduct research.
Application Procedure: Direct application and faculty
evaluation of proposal.
Application Deadline: Postmarked by January 15, 1989.
Mellon Fellowships in the Humanities
Sponsored by: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
For: Current college seniors.
Terms: $11,000 annually plus tuition and fees for up to two
years (possibly three) of graduate study in History, English,
Philosophy, Languages, or American Studies.
Application Procedure: After nomination by a faculty
member (no professor may nominate more than two stu
dents.)
Nomination Deadline: November 7, 1988.
National Science Foundation
Graduate Fellowships
Sponsored by: NSF/National Research Council.
For: Current college seniors.
Terms: $12,300 annually plus up to $6,000 for tuition and
fees for students pursuing graduate study in science or engi
neering.
Application Procedure: Direct application by student.
Application Deadline: November 14, 1988. Applications
available in the University Honors Program Office in early
October.
National Science Foundation
Minority Graduate Fellowships
Sponsored by: NSF/National Research Council
For: Current college seniors of American Indian, Black,
Hispanic, Native Alaskan, or Native Pacific Islander back
ground.
Terms: $12,300 annually plus up to $6,000 for tuition and
fees for three years for minority students pursuing graduate
study in the sciences or engineering.veterinary medicine.
Application Procedure: Direct Application by student.
Application Deadline: November 14, 1988. Applications
available in the University Honors Program Office in early
October.
Ford Foundation Doctoral Fellowships for Minorities
Sponsored by: Ford Foundation/National Research Council
For: Current college seniors of American Indian, Black,
Hispanic, Native Alaskan, or Native Pacific Islander back
ground.
Terms: $10,350 annually plus up to $6,000 for tuition and
fees for up to three years of graduate study in the humani
ties, social and behavioral sciences, engineering, math
ematics, or physical and biological sciences.
Application Procedure: Direct application by student.
Application Deadline: November 14, 1988. Applications
available in the University Honors Program Office in early
October.
Committee on Institutional Cooperation
Graduate Fellowships For Minorities
Sponsored by: Committee on Institutional Cooperation
For: Current college seniors and masters students of Ameri
can Indian, Black American, Mexican-American or Puerto
Rican background.
Terms: Full tuition plus a minimum stipend of $8,000.
Application Procedure: Direct Application by student.
Application Deadline: Early January. Applications avail
able late in the fall term.
Eisenhower Graduate Scholarship
Sponsored by: Eisenhower Memorial Scholarship Founda
tion
For: Seniors/others who will be full-time graduate students
in 1989-1990.
Terms: Minimum award of $1,000; maximum of $3,000
per year.
Application Procedure: Applications requested, direct ap
plication by student.
Application Deadline: February 1, 1989.
Rhodes Scholarship
For: U.S. Citizen, unmarried, senior status, 3.75 or higher
Terms: Tuition, fees, and maintenance allowance. Tenable
at Great Britain’s University of Oxford.
Contact: Dr. John Reading, 505 Physics, 845-5073 or 696-
9190.
Application Procedure: Brief resume and personal
statement due to Dr. Reading by 5:00 p.m., October 1, in
order to schedule interview.
Detailed information and applications are
available through the University Honors Program,
room 101 of the Academic Building. See Scott Shafer
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