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TATE & LOCAL
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ednesday, May 3,1989
Surprising response
inspires formation
of ecological society
By Julie Myers
STAFF WRITER
A local radio personality an
gered by the March 24 Exxon
Valdez tanker accident is at
tempting to organize “Aggies for
Mother Earth,” an environmental
society concerned with the
Earth’s welfare.
Radio station KTSR personal
ity and Aggie Hour host Dan
Rush is encouraging his listeners
to attend an organizational meet
ing tentatively set for 6:30 p.m.
Saturday at Hensel Park.
“It was an idea I conjured up
over the weekend and initiated
Sunday night,” he said. “I tossed
the idea out and the phones lit up
like a Christmas tree ”
In the tanker accident, 10 mil
lion barrels of oil spilled into
Alaska’s Prince William Sound.
Response to Rush’s initial an
nouncement concerning the
group was so overwhelming he
decided to increase his visibility
See Earth/Page 6
Senate OKs $500 million increase
to develop equity in Texas schools
professor earns honor
for work with insects
AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas Senate on Tues
day approved a $500 million increase in public
education funding over the next two years aimed
at bridging the gap between poor and wealthy
school districts, an issue that is now before the
Texas Supreme Court.
Sen. Carl Parker, D-Port Arthur, said his bill
represented the first outlay of a $2 billion state
commitment over the next five years to try to
erase the disparity between schools in poor and
rich areas of the state.
“The longest journey begins with the first
step,” Parker, chairman of the Senate Education
Committee, said. “This puts us on the road to
equity.”
In addition to the school funding increase, the
Senate passed measures that would provide state
support ] for the construction of school buildings
and regard school districts that improve student
academic performance.
The Senate approved Parker’s funding in
crease and sent it to the House on a 31-0 vote.
Sen. Carlos Truan, D-Corpus Christi. voted
for the increase, but said, “obviously we need to
do more than $500 million.”
He and other members of the Senate Hispanic
Caucus issued a statement saying their support
for the increase “should not be misconstrued as
support for the proposition that this bill will
bring the Legislature within its constitutional
mandate.”
The state is the target of a lawsuit by poor
school districts who claim Texas’ method of
funding public schools discriminates against
them because they are unable to raise as much in
local tax dollars to supplement their schools as
wealthy school districts can.
In 1987, a state district court judge agreed
with the poor districts and declared the state’s fi
nancing system unconstitutional. An appeals
court, however, said it was up to state lawmakers
to correct the problem. The case is pending be
fore the Texas Supreme Court.
“I am also persuaded that if we do nothing this
session that the Supreme Court will uphold the
state district court’s decision in some form,” Par
ker said.
Parker said more education funds are needed,
but that only $500 million was available without a
tax increase. Gov. Bill Clements has said he will
veto any tax increase this session.
He said he hoped districts receiving more
money would use the funds to increase teacher
salaries.
An organization comprised of poor school dis
tricts said the funding increase was inadequate,
but would help.
“It’s like you’re dying of hunger and you get
another meal, so you’re going to live another
day,” Craig Foster, executive director of the Equ
ity Center,said.
Foster said there was no assurance future Leg
islatures will accept funding provisions that
would add about $2 billion to equalize funding.
“Legislatures could simply reduce those num
bers in future years. Unless the Supreme Court
rules, the promise of future additional funds is in
jeopardy,” he said.
3y Selina Gonzalez
REPORTER
ng wl
•|
| A Texas A&M distinguished pro-
* , *l[e ssor of entomology became the
I fourth member of the National Aca-
Jemy of Science from Texas A&M
enttkliApril 25. Dr. Max Summers has
en honored for his pioneering
ork on insect virology, or the study
f viruses transmitted by insects.
The National Academy of Sci-
nces is a private organization of sci-
ntists and engineers dedicated to
oil Science and its use for human wel-
Jare.
Summers joins A&M University
System Chancellor Dr. Perry Adkis-
son, Deputy Chancellor Dr. Charles
Arntzen and inorganic chemist Dr.
». Albert Cotton as campus mem-
be rs of the academy.
“I was extremely pleased,” Sum-
‘‘ "TBners said. “It is a very significant
' an rjrhonor for a professor in the aca-
nder demic and research community.”
lawyer The A&M entomologist’s research
ad fist ocuses on the molecular biology of
nsects. Summers’ investigation re
ad
nancii c
lates to how insects transmit disease
to man, animals, plants and crop sys
tems. Summers said he thinks insect
research will be important over the
next decade.
The National Academy of Sci
ences membership adds to Sum
mers’ string of awards. In 1983,
Summers received the Faculty Dis
tinguished Achievement Award in
Research from the Texas A&M For
mer Students Association.
In 1987, Summers became the
holder of the chair in agricultural bi
otechnology.
Last year, the entomologist ac
cepted an outstanding faculty mem
ber award from the Alumni Associa
tion of Wilmington College.
Summers also received the first
J.V. Osmun Alumni Professional
Achievement Award in entomology
from Purdue University.
Earlier this year, Summers was
elected a Fellow of the American As
sociation for the Advancement of
Science.
“My future goals are based upon
my past goals, which allowed me to
receive this recognition,” Summers
said.
‘Habitat for Humanity’ group tries to build
new affiliation, homes for poor in B-CS
By Cindy McMillian
STAFF WRITER
ihip
i, bi
American dream, but an organiza
tion called Habitat for Humanity
hopes to make housing a reality for
families who can’t afford it.
Habitat for Humanity, a non
profit ecumenical housing ministry,
builds and restores homes for peo
ple with substandard housing or no
housing. A&M students and area
residents hope to establish a Bryan-
College Station affiliation of the pro
gram and help local families.
Bryan has about 3,000 substan
dard houses and 250 families wait
ing for government housing, Heat
her Hilton, organizer of the Bryan-
College Station affiliate, said. Hilton
and seven other members of a steer
ing committee hope that by linking
up with the Habitat program, they
can provide houses for these families
with donations and volunteer work
ers.
Cindy Flippen, also a student
member of the committee, said she
has been in contact with people liv
ing in Bryan housing projects and
witnessed the poor conditions of
some of the buildings. She said she
has seen residences in Bryan where
rats chew through the walls and
floors.
“I think it’s terrible that people
live in such conditions,” she said.
“This program gives them a choice.”
Hilton said Habitat uses no gov
ernment funds in its projects. After
the houses are built using volunteer
labor and donations, they are sold to
a needy family at no profit. A small
down-payment is requested, and the
family has 20 years to pay the inter
est-free mortgage. All mortgage
payments are used to build more
houses.
Hilton told about 20 students and
residents at an informational meet
ing Tuesday night that the commit
tee hopes to establish an local affilia
tion by August 1, the next deadline.
Representatives from several cam
pus organizations, including student
members of the National Association
of Home Builders and the Associa
tion of General Contractors, showed
up to hear about the program.
If Habitat approves an affiliation
in Bryan-College Station, a campus
chapter may also be formed, Hilton
said. Habitat requires affiliates to
form four committees, elect a board
of governors and collect $3,000 in
donations, she said.
See Habit/Page 6
Clarification
The Christian residence hall'
opening to students in Fall 1989
is sponsored by ACTION ~~
American College Teams in
Other Nations —and is not affil
iated with the Residence Hall As- i
sociauon.
Contact ACTION Director
Dan Cummins at 696-1376 or at
P.O. Box 1144, Lindale, Texas
75771 for more information.
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Some
Things
m B ■ if Bi B j|^^T
Are Worth
Waiting
For.
And Sandstone Center is one of them.
Providing treatment programs for emotional
illness and chemical dependency.
Serving children, adolescents and adults.
We are pleased to extend a warm invitation
TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ON THE
OCCASION OF OUR OPENING CELEBRATION.
Sunday, May 7, 1989
Open House 1:00 to 5:00 pm
Dedication 3:30 pm
Private lours can be arranged anytime during the
first two weeks of May,
THE
SANDSTONE
CENTER
Oh sure. Studying Conversational
Swahili: 101 can be big laughs. But
when your day of academia is done,
why not drop everything, and add
Whataburger, to your curriculum.
They’re 100% pure beef. Hot. Fresh.
And made just the way you love ’em.
Whataburger. Because you
sometimes hunger for more than
knowledge.
Free Whataburger!
Present this coupon when ordering a regular order of
fries and a 16 oz. soft drink and get a Whataburger.
free.' Offer good only at the Whataburger restaurants at
105 Dominik in College Station and 902 Texas Avenue
in Bryan. May not be used in conjunction with any
other offer. Offer expires May 31. 1989.
WHATABURGfR
HOT, FRESH AND MAOC TO ORDER.™
Call battalion Classified
845-2611