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WEATHER
TOMORROW’S FORECAST:
Partly sunny
HIGH: 64 LOW: 36
College Station, Texas
Thursday, February 22,1990
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The first case of measles at Texas
&M since 1971 has been diag-
osed.
Dr. Kenneth Dirks, director of the
A P, Beutel Health Center, said the
icalth center on Wednesday re
ived positive results of the labo-
atory test. The lab test was sent to
Austin for analysis and confirma-
on.
A&M sophomore accounting and
and bastHnance major John E. Carroll II,
final mBho works at Duddley’s Draw, ap-
â– arently contracted the disease from
e boardi His children, Dirks said.
?nated â–  He said health center officials be-
tedaiMeve Carroll, 20, has had contact
lalsscort i, |ith about 600 A&M students with
jliom he attends classes.
I Dirks said the T exas Department
o! Health is sending the University
|()0 doses of measles vaccine that will
bt administered,ait no cost to those
â– ho have class with Carroll.
I His classes are: Acct 230-501, In-
â– oduction to Accounting; Econ 203-
107, Principles of Economics; Soci
105-506, Introduction to Sociology;
dts, a A nth 201-502, Introduction to An-
|Hitopology; That 101-501, Intro-
innings tiHuction to Theater; and Kine 199-
thesto,-' jl6, Archery.
lughesn Dirks also said the Brazos County
but didiiBealth Department is looking into
opsidedaBvoviding vaccinations for those who
Sgies artsoiight have come into contact with
I at llit:Hie virus at Duddley’s.
ffhasiHThe regular vaccinations are
in l.v jklMR vaccines, for measles, mumps
itwillkMtd rubella, and usually are avail-
ist th- aisle at the health center for $26.
However, Dirks said, the center is
Hying to obtain vaccines for measles
alone, which could be administered
fora lower cost.
Students who come to the health
Suiter for a vaccine should bring
'Mieir immunization records.
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Students should consider
measles immunizations
Measles, known as rubeola, red
measles, big measles or 10-day
measles, is present on the Texas
A&M campus, according to a
memo distrubuted by officials at
the A.P. Beutel Health Center.
The immunization schedule
for measles prevention is a two-'
dose regimen with the first vac
cine aaministered at age 15
months and the second dose be
tween ages 4 to 6.
This immunization is recom
mended by the Immunization
Practices Advisory Committee as
published by the Centers for Dis
ease Control of the U.S. Depart
ment of Health and Human Serv
ices and the Texas State
Department of Health.
If you have had the measles
and recovered, you generally are
considered to be immune to this
desease for life. If you were born
before 1957, you are probably
immune.
Persons born in or after 1957
who received a measles vaccine
prior to 1968, and those born in
or after 1957 who do not have
documentation of immunity to
measles should be immunized.
If you never have had the mea
sles or have not had a second dose
of measles vaccine since 1980,
you are strongly advised to come
to the health center or see an
other physician for consideration
for a dose of the measles vaccine
as soon as possible.
If you are not sure of your im
munity to this disease or think
you might have been exposed to
someone with the measles, you
should receive a vaccine within 72
hours of such exposure.
The vaccine is offered for
by the health center.
Special note: A woman who
thinks she might be pregnant
should consult her physician re
garding the type of measles vac
cine preparation she should re
ceive. She should not receive a
preparation containing rubella,
also known as German measles or
three-day measles.
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Dirks said Carroll, who is from
Troup, first developed measles
symptoms on Valentine’s Day. He
went to the health center Saturday.
Sandra Juarez, director of per
sonal health at the Brazos County
Health Department, said measles is,a
very contagious disease.
“A person is contagious five days
before the rash breaks out and five
days after it goes away,” Juarez said.
The symptons for measles are de
ceptively similiar to flu symptoms.
“You will experience a runny
nose, fever and a headache,” Juarez
said. “What happens is people think
they have the flu and go about their
business. In doing so they expose
many people to the disease.”
Along with the flu-like symptoms
conies the appearance of a red pin
point-like rash.
“Most people will not recognize
the rash because there are so many
kinds of rashes you can contract,”
she said. “It’s very easy to confuse it
See Measles/Page 12
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Photo by Fredrick D. Joe
Carol Augustine, a freshman education major from Austin (left),
and Matari Jones, a freshman journalism major from San Anto
nio, exit The Underground. The two live in Davis-Gary Hall.
egents, voters consider plans to lower roads, tracks
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Of The Battalion Staff
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If the plan to lower four miles of Wellborn
Road and the adjacent railroad is approved
by the Board of Regents and College Station
joters, a mile of road and track in Bryan will
be lowered and added to the original plan.
A four-mile stretch from Villa Maria Road
to Farni-to-Market Road 2818 is under con
sideration to be lowered.
I For almost 12 years, the State Department
of Highways and Public Transportation has
:en studying ways to deal with problems cre-
jjjjfed by the existence of Wellborn Road and
: adjacent railroad, said Carol D. Zeigler,
jstrict engineer at the State Department of
Highways and Public Transportation in
Bryan.
I “Anytime you have a high-volume road,
such as Wellborn Road, and a railroad, plus a
Jarge number of pedestrians crossing the
street, you have a potentially dangerous situa-
. tion,” Zeigler said.
He said Texas A&M officials see Wellborn
Road and the railroad as barriers to campus
development.
The highway department also studied the
possibility of raising the railroad tracks or
moving, the tracks farther west. Now, how
ever, lowering the tracks is seen as the best al
ternative.
Lowering the tracks and the road would
create a tunnel without a top, for cars and rail
traffic.
If the tracks and the road are lowered,
walkways will be built across the gap created
on campus.
However, before construction begins, the
City of Bryan, the City of College Station,
A&M and the highway department must ap
prove the project.
The highway department has approved its
part of the project and so has the City of
Bryan.
In 1984, the City of Bryan approved a
bond issue to create a grade separation, rais
ing the road over the tracks at Villa M^ria to
help facilitate traffic flow.
1 However, the plan was put on hold when
the State Highway Commission began study
ing the possibility of lowering the railroad
tracks in College Station, Bryan Mayor Mar
vin Tate said.
“We asked the State Highway Commission
to extend the low-track project from F&B
Road to past Villa Maria Road (in Bryan),”
Tate said. “This will help traffic flow in
Bryan, enhance the overall low-track project
and we get two grade separations instead of
one.”
The commission approved the addition,
and the City of Bryan agreed to apply the
money authorized to be spent on one grade
separation toward the overall low-track pro
ject, if the project is approved.
The regents must approve the project and
appropriate funds for A&M.
Zeigler said members of the Board seem to
support the project. He said that in January
1989 the regents named the low-track project
as their preferred alternative to solve the
problems created by the railroad tracks and
Wellborn Road.
However, College Station Mayor Larry
Ringer said he is not sure College Station vot
ers will support the low-track project.
The City of College Station must sell bonds
to raise money for the project, Ringer said.
Voters must approve the sale of bonds.
A committee is putting together a capital
improvements program so voters can choose
how money should be spent. Other programs
See Tracks/Page 12
Racist letter
upsets, shocks
A&M student
By SUZANNE CALDERON
Of The Battalion Staff
A letter containing derogatory ra
cial statements was mailed Saturday
to a Texas A&M student.
After hanging pictures of famous
African-American leaders on her
residence hall door under the head
ing, “It’s a black thing ... you
wouldn’t understand,” an A&M stu
dent received an anonymous letter
titled, “It’s a White Thing You Just
Wouldn’t Understand.”
The student, who wishes to re
main anonymous, said she decorated
her door with pictures of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. and other promi
nent African-American leaders in
honor of Black History Month.
“This is my way of celebrating
Black History Month, honoring the
people who came before me and
paved the way,” she said.
The racist remarks in the letter
the student received included
statements such as: “The KKK will
never be destroyed!”; “Mandela
should burn”; “What color were
Adam and Eve?”; “Who was freed by
the white man?”; and “What color is
the bad guy portrayed in?”
Dr. John Koldus, vice president
for student services, said he has a
tough time dealing with that type of
correspondence.
“The letter is rude, crude and
most inappropriate,” Koldus said. “I
don’t see now any human being can
find it in their heart to write that
kind of letter to someone.
“It’s the kind of letter that reaches
down and grabs you. It gets you in
your heart as to how can people take
skin color, or anything for that mat
ter, and put people down.”
The student who received the let
ter said she was shocked when she
read it.
“When I first got it I was upset,”
she said. “Whoever wrote it knows
who I am. But if they felt so strongly
about what they wrote — what they
wrote were very strong words — at
least they could have had enough re
spect to confront me face to face.
Mailing it shows cowardice on their
part.”
She said she has no idea who sent
her the letter and has no knowledge
of anyone else receiving a copy.
The student said she reported the
incident to the Department of Stu
dent Services, and Koldus said there
will be an investigation.
The student said her only clue for
the investigation is the postmark on
the letter. The letter is postmarked
Friday, she said.
She said Friday was the day a let
ter to the editor in The Battalion dis
cussed a T-shirt bearing the same
slogan as the one on her door: “It’s
A Black Thing ... You Just Wouldn’t
Understand.”
Roland Martin, junior journalism
' major and vice president of the
National Association of Black Jour
nalists, said the slogan is not meant
to be racist.
“Whites can empathize with blacks
See Letter/Page 12
tudents debate Greeks at A&M
Society sponsors discussion of University recognition
fits and
By SELINA GONZALEZ
Of The Battalion Staff
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I “No frats” may be considered an Aggie tradi
tion since 1876 by some, but many Texas A&M
students believe that the University is right in
recognizing fraternities and sororities.
^ At a debate sponsored by the A&M Debate So
ciety Wednesday, the advantages and disadvan
tages of University recognition of fraternities
and sororities were discussed,
p Brock Nelson, who spoke against the Univer
sity recognition of the Greek system, asked stu
dents to judge each Greek organization on its in
dividual merits to decide if it should be
University-recognized. Terris Burton, speaker
for the recognition of the A&M Greek system,
said fraternities and sororities allow for diversity,
which is important at this traditionally conserva
tive University.
g Nelson said some Greek organizations do not
abide by all University regulations.
“Greek organizations are not like all other or
ganizations,” Nelson said. He cited discrimina-
: tion as one difference.
BAt a Greek-sponsored softball tournament two
UQy years ago, Nelson said, he noticed a lack of mi-
J nority participation.
Jm “We noticed that there were two Blacks, one
OvF 1 ! Hispanic and no Orientals — this is out of the 20
fraternities and sororities that were present,”
Nelson said.
jBurton said African-American Greek organi-
ftions provide a needed cultural outlet for Afri-
p-American students.
^ ( J'African-American students, and other mi-
a ftli'^onties as well, find that many of the traditions
held at Texas A&M are not culturally relevant,”
-/-MBurton said, speaking on behalf of the African-
'^yAnerican Greek letter organizations.
“As a result, we find ourselves culturally and
socially isolated. African-American Greek letter
organizations provide the resources through
which they can eliminate this isolation.”
Most of the social and cultural programs are
sponsored by Greek organizations, Burton said.
Nelson said through a subjective selection
E rocess, fraternities and sororities discriminate
y denying some the opportunity to join.
A Fall 1989 article in The Battalion about an
African-American student pledging an Interfra-
ATM
/is
ORGANIZATIONS
termty Council organization inaicaied discrimi
nation in the Greek system, Nelson said.
“How can this be big news if it is prominent
and discrimination doesn’t occur in the fraterni
ties and sororities?” Nelson said.
Nelson said some Greek organizations violate
University regulation regarding student organi
zations in their adherence to the alcohol policy.
According to the Policy and Procedure Man
ual, recognized student organizations can hold
events involving alcoholic beverages only if non
alcoholic beverages and adequate food are avail
able at the same place.
Nelson said he remembers seeing only beer at
the fraternity rush parties before the fraternities
elected to have a dry rush policy.
Burton, however, said that Greek organiza
tions have aspects that are beneficial to the cam
pus and community.
“All five of the African-American Greek orga
nizations participate in service projects that are
aimed towards African-Americans that haven’t
achieved the high economic, social or political
status,” Burton said.
Nelson said the negative aspects of fraternities
and sororities outweigh the positive ones. For ex
ample, although illegal, hazing still exists within
the Greek system and therefore is in violation of
University guidelines, Nelson said.
“I have a roommate who is currently pledging
and I keep hearing about black marks,” he said.
“He has to work off the black marks.”
Still, Burton said, participation in Greek orga
nizations might prepare students to meet the de
mands of the future.
“Students should be exposed to as many facets
of life as possible,” Burton said. “By participating
in a fraternity or sorority, one may attain some
valuable interpersonal and organizational skills.”
It would be unfair for A&M to deny these stu
dents the resources that the University has to of
fer, Burton said.
Burton said advantages of Greek membership
are the business contacts that are met and the
support group the brotherhood provides.
“I realize that this type of support group may
not fit into the traditions of Texas A&M but I
pose this question: What does one call it when
those in power object to the coming of a new
group of individuals simply because that group is
not like the status quo?” Burton said. “I see this as
nothing more than a manifestation of prejudice.”
COSGA ’90 delegates
arrive for annual meeting
By JILL BUTLER
Of The Battalion Staff
Texas A&M’s 10th annual
Conference on Student Govern
ment Associations will be Satur
day to Tuesday and include 375
delegates from 84 universities
around the world.
Delegates from universities in
Greece, Switzerland and Canada
will attend the conference this
year.
Each university, including
A&M, is represented by four to
10 delegates who are involved in
some form of student govern
ment, Wendy Turk, director of
COSGA ’90, said.
“We don’t tell other schools
how to choose their delegates,”
Turk said. “But usually the stu
dent body president is a delegate,
along with a few other student
government officers.”
Although other universities
have similar student government
conferences, Turk said, A&M’s
student-run COSGA is unique.
“About 10 years ago, some stu
dent government officers were
tired of going to conferences or
ganized by other universities,”
Turk said. “They decided that a
conference run by students could
give student government leaders
a better perspective on the prob
lems faced by students, and
COSGA was created.”
COSGA is run by six executive
officers, who serve as committee
heads. Forty-three committee
members and five hosts and host
esses, none of whom have to be
involved in student government
to have a position, also partici
pate.
COSGA’s purpose is to give
student leaders at different uni
versities a chance to share ideas,
experiences and areas of
strength, Turk said.
“We hope the people who
come to COSGA will leave feeling
they had fun and that they
learned something new from
other delegates,” she said.
Speakers at COSGA will in
clude Robert Goodwin, executive
director of the White House Ini
tiative on Historically Black Col
leges and Universities; Lt. Gen.
Peter T. Kempf, commander of
the 12th Air Force; and Logan
Hampton, coordinator of Mi
nority Affairs at Texas Christian
University.
A wide range of topics will be
discussed, including on-campus
prejudice, responsibilities of stu
dent government leaders,
Aquired Immune Deficiency Syn
drome (AIDS) and student drug
abuse.
COSGA presentations are not
open to the public.
Delegates who attend COSGA
must pay $120, which includes
some meals, a T-shirt, conference
materials and ground transporta
tion from airports in major cities
to A&M.