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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1989)
FINAL SKI CLEARANCE SALE 30% TO 50% OFF ALL SKI PARKAS, BIBS, POWDER JACKETS, AND PANTS, SKI CAPS, GOGGLES, GLOVES, EAR MUFFS, NECK WARMERS. Sale Ends Sat. March 11th Open 9-6 Mon.-Sat. 846-1947 ACCRDSS FROM CHICKEN OIL CO. tri-state SPORTING GOODS 3600 Old College Rd. Bryan, Tx 77801 Page 4 The Battalion Monday, March 6,1989 College crowds hit Texas coast for spring break Warped ^33 WHY WAIT FOR YOUR TAX REFUND WHEN YOU CAN GET YOUR MONEY EAST! Use H&R Block's Rapid Refund Program It’s a loan against your expected federal income tax refund. Available whether H&R Block prepares your tax return or not. New location in College Station In Culpepper Plaza (behind Holiday Inn) Open 7 days 693-2739 Also, located in Sears during regular store hours 764 0395 H&R J> -Sr n. ^ Here’s Your Chance FARMER’S MARKET HAPPY HOUR Buy 1 Submarine Get 1 FREE Mon., March 6-Fri., March 10 5-8 p.m. Dine in only Equal or less value. Not available with any other discount'- or coupons. Northgate 846-6428 GALVESTON (AP) — For the second straight year, Galveston’s beach bosses have organized two weeks of free music, surfing and sand-sculpting contests, tennis and volleyball tournaments and other ac tivities for the hordes of book-weary students expected to stream onto Galveston Island this month. It’s spring break time at colleges across the state and nation, and that means party time on the beachfront at Galveston and other Texas coastal cities. “The out-of-staters are already starting to come in,” Lt. Vic Maceo, commander of the Galveston County Sheriffs Beach Patrol, told the Houston Chronicle. “And a lot of schools get out on Friday. The next weekend will be the biggest, when most of the South west Conference schools — UT, A&M, Rice, University of Houston, SMU — will get out.” Many high school students are ex pected to join the older crowd as well, Maceo said. Just how many young people will be swarming across the 1-45 cause way to Galveston is unknown but, barring bad weather, this year should bring bigger crowds than last. “We had 50,000 kids in R.A. Apf- fel park for one concert last year and it went real smoothly,” beach parks supervisor Bill Spencer said. “We had relatively few problems and we’re looking for a good event this year.” Bands scheduled this year are Killer Bees, Vixen, Book of Love and Red Flag, Spencer said. At Padre Island, about 200 miles down the coast, similar plans are un der way for spring break visitors. Lanette Nolle, manager of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau at Port Aransas, said the first signs of spring for her are not heralded by birds or budding bushes. They waft, instead, from the boom boxes blaring from the ferries that chug across Corpus Christi Bay, carrying collegiate hordes on break from schools in Texas and the Mid- A&M scientists research effects of alcohol on brain Biologist says dehydration causes intoxication By Fiona Soltes It ai hing tf or to s; STAFF WRITER “I still get a thrill hearing the loud amplifiers going when they (stu dents) get off the ferry,” Nolle said. The amplifier-carrying crowd keeps the cash registers ringing. An estimated 100,000 college stu dents will flock to Nueces County beaches this month, spending be tween $40 and $50 a day, officials say. ATTENTION ALL ON-CAMPUS RESIDENTS On March 21-22, students living on-campus in a non corps Residence Hall will be required to notify your Hall Staff of your Fall 1989-Spring 1990 housing plans by renewing your contract or cancelling your space. Information will be distributed by your Hall Staff con cerning: RESERVING YOUR CURRENT HALL/ROOM ROOM CHANGES HALL CHANGES NEW MODULAR HALLS NEW COED HALLS DEPOSIT REFUND INFORMATION Check the bulletin boards in your hall for more details. BEGIN MAKING PLANS NOW!!! In Galveston Saturday, Texas A&M University-Galveston will sponsor a surfing contest. Bands will provide background music for the milling crowds at East Beach, or R.A. Apffel Park, on March 12 and 19, the two Sundays of spring break. Consumers of alcohol may not consider themselves “dry,” but Texas A&M scientists are trying to prove that intoxication actually is caused by dehydration in the synapses of the brain. Dr. William Klemm, a cell biologist in A&M’s Veteri nary Anatomy Department, said when gangliosides, a chemical found in humans, rodents and other mam mals, were injected into laboratory mice 12 to 24 hours before alcohol consumption, effects of the alcohol were reduced greatly. The effects of alcohol on the gangliocides led to the idea that gangliocides could be replaced as an antidote for intoxication. An explanation for the mechanism of intoxication also came into view. “The heart of my theory takes place in the water of the synapse, or the junction between nerve cells,” Klemm said. “Gangliosides gave me the clue.” He theorized that sialic acid, a component of the gan- glioside molecule, helps the gangliosides attach to syn aptic membrane proteins. The gangliosides and pro teins are held together by water found in the spaces between the cells. Klemm’s theory stated that when alcohol is con sumed, it gets into the spaces normally filled with water. The enzyme sialidase is then allowed to separate the si alic acid from the molecule and destroy the acid. Without the sialic acid, the molecule changes shape and is unable to bond with the synaptic protein, caus; blocking or distortion between communications ctu nels, he said. The breakdown in communication aus “drunken” behavior. “Research had been done on dehydration befort Klemm said. “But most people had ignored the stud:: No one had thought about it taking place within the sue itself.” Results of this research may lead to tests on thegi gliosides as the ingredient of a “sober-up” pill, but process won’t be easy, Klemm said. “Good research is driven by a good theory,” Klee said. “The research we've done might point to B mechanisms we need to look at to find the pill, hu relate to the dehydration process. If so, we need, learn how to reverse that process.” But Klemm said even if a pill was discovered, peo| might not see it as desirable. It may induce alcoholics drink more and wouldn’t protect heavy drinkers fra alcohol-related liver disease, he said. Klemm has presented his theory to the Texas All hoi Society, where it was received favorably. He plans present it to the international alcohol community June during the Research Society on Alcoholismm# ing. Historian challenges legends about Alamo battlf SAN ANTONIO (AP) — On the 153rd anni versary of the fall of the Alamo, a historian says his new book about the famous battle will destroy many of the legends about the fight that led to Texas’ freedom from Mexico. Today commemorates the day in 1836 when, after a 13-day siege, the Alamo defenders died fighting Mexican troops led by Gen. Antonio Lo pez de Santa Anna. That bloody battle and another defeat at Go liad inspired Texas troops led by Gen. Sam Houston to defeat Santa Anna at San Jacinto in April 1836 and eventually led to Texas’ indepen dence from Mexico. But Richard Santos, a linguist and former uni versity lecturer and Bexar County archivist, says his book, “Alamo Countdown,” which is sched uled for release in mid-April, will show that according to a letter from Houston, Alamo com mander William B. Travis didn’t die fighting, but committed suicide. Samos also says that Travis never drew a line on the compound ground with his sword, asking those who wanted to stay and defend the Alamo to cross it. Santos, 49, says that the Alamo defenders may have numbered more than 189, that there were four male survivors, and that Mexican troops numbered dhly 1,800, not the up to 13,000 that is in history textbooks and encyclopedias. He also says there never was a man by the name of Moses Roses, who reportedly was the only one who did not cross Travis’ line and fled the Alamo a few days before it fell. Santos reiterates that Davy Crockett did not die fighting a la John Wayne, but was captured and executed on orders by Santa Anna. Santos, who has been on various radio talk shows talking about the book, says most of the re action has been favorable. “But at the same time I do expect the folklor ists and the defenders of the myth, those who prefer to see Crockett dying like John Wayne, to come after me,”he said. “That is to be expected. “It is unfortunate that the distortion of To history and the battle of the Alamo has been great that the story of the battle of the Alamo been written by people who were not presd who did not participate, about incidents tl never occurred.” he said. “I welcome the criticism because then it woii mean that scholars and historians would have go do the same research that 1 have doneinffj der to prove me wrong,” he said. Santos, who in 1968 wrote “Santa Anna'sG paign Against Texas,” said the new book is base on more documents and correspondence, both English and Spanish, that he discovered sinceh began the latest project five years ago. The Alamo, reportedly the No. 1 tourist traction in Texas, is owned by the state, butsiiK 1905 the Daughters of the Texas Republicha'i been the curators of the shrine. Billie Averitt, president general of the DRl declined to comment about Santos’ upcomici book. MSC JORDAN INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS JORDAN FELLOWS LECTURES March 9, 1989, 8:30PM, Memorial Student Center, Room 206 Christopher Boyett: William DiBrito: Kristin Johnson: People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Republic of China Portugal Spain, Federal Republic of Germany These presentations relate recent student experiences of research and study in preparation for careers concerned with international affairs. Friendly Atmosphere * Caring Stylist * No Rush Jobs HAIR PRO'S University Inn/Uoraer of Tx Ave. & University I>r. Look Great for Spring Break with our March Specials! Call Today 846-1843 Shampoo, Cut, & Style MEN-glO.OO WOMEN-^12.00 appt. necessary for Specials offer good t hru March Perm, Cut & Style 835.00 Paul Mitchell Matrix A basketful of cash is better than a garage full of 'stuff' Have a garage or yard sale this week - Call 845-2611