Battalion
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WEATHER
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TOMORROW’S FORECAST:
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HIGH: 96 LOW: 74
jVoi. 89 No.2 USPS 045360 10 Pages,College Station, Texas
Monday, September 4,1989
New policy restricts
on-campus smoking
to permitted areas
By Kelly S. Brown
Of The Battalion Staff
Where there’s smoke, there’s
usually a smoker — and it’s a sight
that may become rare at Texas
A&M.
In response to a proposal made by
the Faculty Senate in 1987, the
Texas A&M University Board of Re
gents adopted a restrictive smoking
policy Friday, which will give prefer
ential consideration to nonsmokers
whenever it is clear that they are be
ing exposed involuntarily to smoke.
The policy, which will be imple
mented immediately, is as close to
smoke free as practicable as it pro
hibits smoking in indoor locations
where smokers and nonsmokers oc
cupy the same area. Such areas in
clude classrooms, libraries, lecture
halls, computing facilities, research
laboratories, health facilities, office
reception areas, auditoriums, the
aters, exhibition areas, public seating
areas in athletic facilities, and offices
with multiple occupants in which
one or more occupants is a non-
smoker.
Smoking is also prohibited in cus
tomer service areas, conference
rooms, seminar rooms, com
mon/public areas icluding hallways,
stairwells, elevators, lobbies, waiting
rooms, locker rooms, restrooms and
all Unviversity vehicles in which at
least one person is a nonsmoker.
For fire and safety reasons, smok
ing is prohibited in storage rooms,
rooms containing flammable liquids,
toxic chemicals radioactive chemicals
or biohazards, as well as other areas
in which a fire or safety risk exists.
In conjunction with the appropri
ate unit heads, building proctors can
establish certain locations as “Smok
ing Permitted” areas. Signs will be
put up to distinguish the areas.
Smoking is allowed in residence
hall rooms if all occupants in the
room agree, and specific lounge
space will be made available in a par
ticular building for smokers.
Up to 25 percent of dining rooms,
large lounges and other large open
spaces may be designated as “Smok
ing permitted” as long as there’s ven
tilation. If smokers in private offices
have adequate ventilation so that
smoking does not intrude on per
sons in adjacent areas they may
smoke, however, they must have an
air filter-cleaner in the room.
President William H. Mobley, who
smokes a pipe, said the new policy
may force him to quit.
“The policy is not a total prohibi
tion,” Mobely said. “I think it’s a fair
policy that recognizes both the rights
of smokers and nonsmokers.”
Mobley said the policy was created
in response to requests from various
faculty, administrative and student
groups, and “reflects the findings
and recommendations of a campus
wide committee as well as input from
other key groups that were given the
As stated in the guidelines, the
policy is to be enforced by “the
thoughtfulness, consideration and
cooperation of smokers and non-
smokers for its success. It is the re
sponsibility of all members of the
campus community to observe the
provisions of these guidelines and to
direct those who choose to smoke to
designated smoking permitted
areas.”
This may bother some individu
als, like it would anyone who is told
they can’t do something they want
where they want.
But Carrie Donalds, a senior busi
ness major who smokes, said she’s
not going to look at the policy like it’s
a vendetta against smokers.
“I knew it would happen sooner
or later,” she said. “It’s happened in
industry and academia places alike. I
know it’s going to be frustrating at
first — worrying about where I can
See Smoke/Page 10
Emergency personnel now
three digits from students
Police arrest 58 as thousands
march on ‘whites-only’ beach
By Todd Swearingen
Of The Battalion Staff
The steady growth in student enrollment at Texas
A&M University has resulted in an increase in the num
ber of incidents on campus requiring emergency assis
tance.
In response to the increase in emergencies, A&M has
implemented the more efficient “911” emergency serv
ice to better handle such emergencies.
On campus, one must dial 9-911 to contact the Emer
gency Assistance Operator, while those living off cam
pus need only dial 911. It is important to provide the
name and exact location of the victim, a brief descrip
tion of the incident, identification of the caller, and
phone number.
The new system was implemented to remedy past
problems associated with contacting emergency person
nel.
Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. John J. Kol-
dus said, “We had two exchanges on campus. I know
that was a problem for a period of time. So if you had
the 260 exchange, you had to call a certain way. If you
had the 845 exchange, you had to call another way.”
The situation has been further improved by replac
ing the 260 exchange with an 847 exchange that brings
all campus phone lines onto a single network. The new
system also eliminates an inherent problem caused by
separate phone networks.
“Those people with the 260 number calling it just the
way we had it set up for the 845 number would hit the
city, which would pull the city in to the campus,” Koldus
said. “And what we were trying to do was take care of
our own geographical area.”
Koldus explained that the University works in coop
eration with the City of College Station in the event that
“W “e had two exchanges on
campus. I know that was a problem for a
period of time. So if you had the 260
exchange, you had to call a certain way.
If you had the 845 exchange, you had to
call another way.”
— John J. Koldus
A&M services break down or are busy with other emer
gencies.
Under the new system, an operator refers the call to
both the University Police and Physical Plant, depend
ing on the nature of the emergency. The Physical Plant
is responsible for handling such emergencies as fire,
flooding, and electrical problems.
Once emergency personnel have arrived at the scene,
it is their responsibilty to determine how the victim will
be transported and whether the victim will be taken to
the University Health Center or a local hospital.
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) —
Thousands of blacks marched, pic
nicked and waded at a “whites-only”
beach Sunday. Police made 58 ar
rests, but waited more than two
hours before breaking up the pro
test.
The crowd, estimated at 5,000 to
10,000, stretched for more than a
mile along the shore, the biggest
beach protest ever in South Africa.
Organizers claimed a victory over
segregation and vowed further acts
of protest during a nationwide defi
ance campaign.
Several dozen whites, some carry
ing whips and wearing “whites only”
T-shirts, yelled abuse as the throng
paraded along the segregated sec
tions of South Africa’s most heavily
used beachfront. Other sections of
the hotel-lined shore have been
opened to all races in recent years.
One angry white man barged into
the crowd, yelling and pushing, but
police said they could control the sit
uation on their own. Some whites
yelled to the officers, “Shoot them
dead.”
At one point, police arrested
about 10 black youths who unfurled
a flag of the outlawed African Na
tional Congress guerrilla movement.
They remained in custody late Sun
day, but police said the other 48 peo
ple arrested during the course of the
rotest were released after a few
ours.
The police contingent of several
hundred officers was equipped with
shot guns and a water cannon, but
they made no efforts to stop the pro
testers from moving onto segregated
Addington Beach.
In contrast, police used clubs and
whips and arrested 500 people Sat
urday in Cape Town while breaking
up a planned protest march to Par
liament.
White lifeguards remained at
their posts during the beach protest
and white surfers continued to pad-
No grace period
for helmet law
given in B—CS
Although the University Police
Department is granting a grace
period on the new helmet-use
law, both College Station and
Bryan Police officials have stated
ticketing has been left to the indi
vidual officer’s discretion.
The Department of Public
Safety has designated a 90-day
grace period during which time
warnings rather than tickets will
be issued to offenders, but this
grace period is optional to local
law enforcement agencies.
Due to the law, which took ef
fect last Friday, operators and
passengers of a motorcycle or
moped must now wear a Depart
ment of Transportation-ap
proved helmet.
Violation of the new law, a class
C misdemeanor, carries a maxi
mum fine of $250.
Three south Texas universities join A&M system
By Holly Becka
Of The Battalion Staff
Texas A&M University System
Board of Regents on Friday offi
cially welcomed to the A&M System
three south Texas universities, end
ing a year and a half of work by Uni
versity System of South Texas and
A&M officials.
Corpus Christi State University,
Laredo State University and Texas
A&I University in Kingsville were
ushered into the A&M System dur
ing a meeting with A&M regents,
System officials, presidents of the
south Texas universities and Sen.
Carlos Truan, D-Corpus Christi,
who sponsored the bill creating the
merger.
The south Texas system was dis
solved Friday morning because of
the merger.
Board of Regents Chairman Wil
liam McKenzie said the merger of
the two university systems was his
toric and marvelous.
“We have just passed a resolution
adopting and merging the two sys
tems, and this is truly a red-letter
day,” McKenzie said.
“It’s a great day for higher educa
tion in this state. It’s good for Texas,
Texas A&M and its System.”
Bias Martinez, chairman of the
south Texas board of regents, said
south Texas brings the best in edu
cation to the A&M System.
“It is indeed a great privilege for
us to be here at Texas A&M Univer
sity, what we consider now as the
best university system in the United
States,” Martinez said.
“It is a bright day for south Texas
because we have done something
people thought could not be accom
plished,” he said.
“We are pleased, and proud (of
the merger), and I think that south
Texas brings to the tables of the
Texas A&M System the best caliber
of students, faculty and the best sys
tem and universities in south Tex
as.”
Truan said he initiated the study
for the merger to “join hands for the
betterment of everyone concerned.”
“I know I speak for my colleagues
at the legislature, that the support
(from the state legislature) came
about because we saw the need to
join hands, and as we say in Spanish,
‘Ahora nuestro casa es su casa’ —our
home is your home,” Truan said.
Manny Ibanez, president of Texas
A&I, said he was confident about the
merger.
“I joined Texas A&I as president
because I knew today was going to
happen,” Ibanez said.
“The fact that we’re joining the
A&M System will be for south T exas'
the major event of the 1980s and the
event that will set the academic cal
endar for the 1990s.
“We subscribe to the flagship con
cept, and we respect Texas A&M be
cause of the marvelous institution
See System/Page 10
Photo by Mike C. Mulvey
Regents announce new schools in the A&M System.
die off the shore while black chil
dren splashed nearby.
After about 2'/a hours, police offi
cers announced that the protest was
illegal and began moving the crowd
away.
At a news conference later, pro
test leaders said they considered the
event a success.
“It’s the dawn of a new age,” said
the Rev. Stanley Mogoba, a promi
nent Methodist leader.
.More than 1,300 people, includ
ing prominent activists such as An
glican Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
have been arrested since Wednesday
in connection with the defiance cam
paign. Most have been released pen
ding possible court action.
The defiance campaign began
Aug. 2 and has intensified steadily in
the days leading to Wednesday’s seg
regated parliamentary elections,
which exclude the black majoritv.
A two-day national protest —
probably including a general strike
— is planned for Tuesday and
Wednesday by major anti-apartheid
groups.
By law and custom, apartheid es
tablishes a racially segregated society
in which the 28 million blacks have
no vote in national affairs. The 5
million whites control the economy
and maintain separate districts,
schools and health services. .
Clarification
Texas A&M became the only
university in tire United States
with a land, sea and space gram
on Thursday after Aggie officials
received word the University had
been chosen by NASA to receive
a space gram.
A&M is one of 21 universities
and 18 private companies that
forms the Texas consortium of
the National Space Gram and
Fellowship program. A&M Sys
tem universities Texas A&M in
Galveston, Prarie View A&M and
Texas A&I are among the partici
pants in the consortium. The
Texas consortium is one of 17 na
tional groups to obtain space
gram status.