Page 4
The Battalion
Wednesday, May 2,1! We
FLOPPY Joe *5
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NOW AVAILABLE!!
Macintosh IBM
• Public Domain • Wolfpack
Nintendo • Balance of the Planet
• Super Mario III • Shufflepuck Cafe
693-1706 Culpepper Plaza
C&€ Crawfish Farm
Live, purged, farm raised
crawfish
Call and order now
for Graduation Weekend!
Lunch
Buffet
(11-2 Mon.-Fri.)
(11:30-2:30 Sat.-Sun.)
w/coupon
W/FREE ICED TEA
Different Items of Food, Salad
and Fruits
Offer Expires 05/09/90. No Coupon Necessary.
Pacific Garden Chinese
Restaurant
Between Chimney Hill Bowling & The Hilton
Need
Sell Your Old Bike
Contact
Valley Cyclery
for details
3122 S. Texas
College Station
764-2000
ALPHA GAMMA DELTA !
Wishes all of its Fall ’89 and Spring ’90 pledges a wonderful sum
mer. We love you, ’cause you are the greatest! Each and Every
One!
FALL ’89 PLEDGES
Margarita Barcena
Paula Blanchard
Suzanne Chambles
Connie Fulps
Rachel Flynn
Lynette Miedziejko
Hilary McHenry
Dee Dee Pena
Stephanie Reber
Michelle Scott
Liz Smith
Laurie Stober
Cyndi Tompkins
Diane Waldrop
Charlotte Walker
Jessica Ware
SPRING ’90 PLEDGES
Lori Allison
Bonnie Beard
Donna Beasley
Diane Blanton
Grace Brown
Wendy Coolidge
Julea Dupont
Tricia Elrod
Loren Haveman
Holly Hill
Tracey Hunziker
Cathey Mahand
Tara Mays
Melissa McSpadden
Lorie Robinson
Crispin Rummel
Julie Ann Rychetsky
Jana Watts
ROTHER’S
BOOKSTORE
We pay megabucks for ALL books!
(textbooks, paperbacks, studyguides, schuams outline, cliff notes)
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Bring them to Pother’s and
Spin to Win on our Wheel of Fortune!
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OPEN LATE FINALS WEEK
901 Harvey Rd.
Woodstone Shopping Center
340 George Bush Dr.
Accrocs from University Police
Police Beat
The following incidents were re
ported to the Texas A&M University
Police Department between April 17
and April 25.
INDECENT EXPOSURE:
• Two students reported that
while doing their laundry in a room
in Rudder Hall, they heard a tap on
the window. When they looked in
that direction,' they observed a nude
man with a shirt covering his face
and his hand on his penis.
ASSAULT:
• A woman was struck by a water
balloon while walking with a friend
on the south side of Moore Hall.
• A woman was assaulted in Park
ing Area 3 by a woman and a man.
The altercation was the result of a
parking dispute.
• A man was struck on the arm by
an identified male at the Langford
Architecture Center.
• A man reported that while he
was having lunch at Sbisa Dining
Hall, he had an argument with a
Bryan resident over seating at his ta
ble. After the verbal exchange, they
met outside where the man punched
him in the neck and kicked him in
the back.
TERRORISTIC THREAT:
• A woman said she was threat
ened in her Davis-Gary Hall room by
her boyfriend, who was upset at her
for picking up her belongings from
his residence while he was away.
VIOLATION OF PARKS AND
WILDLIFE CODE/KILLING MI
GRATORY BIRDS OUT OF SEA
SON:
• A man killed a dove with a rock,
placed the head above his door in
Dormitory 4 and stapled the body of
the dove to a bulletin board. When
confronted with the information, the
suspect admitted that he killed the
dove and did the things described.
MISDEMEANOR THEFT:
• Eleven bicycles were stolen
from areas around campus.
• A woman reported that some
one tried to grab her purse as she
was walking in front of Fermier Hall.
A struggle for the purse ensued and
the suspect fell to the ground. She
kicked him in the side as he got to his
feet. He ran from the area to a wait
ing vehicle parked on Rose Street.
The purse contained her glasses,
Texas driver’s license, A&M ID card
and wallet containing $ 15.
• A man reported that five pairs
of size nine footwear were stolen
from a shelf outside his apartment.
• Six maroon and gray court
bags, six travel bags, four Mikasa vol-
leyballs and a pair of Reebok shoes
were stolen from the womens’ volley
ball locker room.
• A Sony Walkman AM/FM cas
sette player, a Technics CD player
model SLX-P5 and 10 compact discs
were stolen from a desk in the open
studio area of the Langford Ar
chitecture Center.
• Two wallets were stolen.
• A 3-M overhead projector was
stolen from a room in the Zachry En
gineering Center.
• A Macintosh Plus Computer
with keyboard and mouse control
was stolen from a room in the Lang
ford Architecture Center.
• $50 was stolen from an unse
cured residence hall room in Dormi
tory 4.
• A Panasonic VHS VCR was sto
len from a room of the Vivarium
Laboratory.
• Three engineering textbooks
were missing from a room in the
McNew Engineering Laboratory.
• Two backpacks were stolen.
VIOLATION OF UNIVERSITY
REGULATIONS/FAILURE TO
PRESENT IDENTIFICATION
UPON REQUEST OF A UNIVER
SITY OFFICIAL:
• A subject, found in the Wisen-
baker Engineering Research Center,
refused to identify himself.
HARASSMENT:
• Four students reported being
harassed.
BURGLARY OF A HABITA
TION:
• A 1990 Aggie Class Ring was
stolen from a room in Dormitory 2.
• Rockport leather docksider
shoes were stolen from a room in
Wells Hall.
• A compact disc player, AC
adaptor, seven compact discs and
$20 were stolen from an unsecured
room in Aston Hall.
BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE:
• A wallet was stolen from a Mer
cedes Convertible in Parking Area
69.
BURGLARY OF A BUILDING:
• The Olsen Field Press Box was
forcibly entered and the keyboard to
the electronic score board and a
handset from a Canon Fax 270 fax
machine were stolen.
UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A
VEHICLE:
• A woman was contacted by the
Bryan Police Department concern
ing her moped, which was found in
the possession of a College Station
man. The man said a friend let him
use the moped, and he was unaware
the moped was stolen. The woman
did not file charges against then
CRIMINAL TRESPASS:
• A Caldwell man was arresiet
the Sterling C. Evans Library for
lating a Criminal Trespass Wai
that previously had been issuei
him.
• Two students were detectft
the steam tunnel leading to the
denfels Building. The subjects
arrested, charged with Crirt
Trespass and jailed in the
County Jail.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
• A 1988 VW Jetta was sera:,
in Parking Area 56.
• Derogatory notes were pli|
on a man’s residence hall dor
Hart Hall. When the notesweit£•.
covered, the man demandedthatj
perpetrator remove them. The i*
prit complied with the requests
removed the notes.
• A 1988 Chevrolet Beitjj
parked in Parking Area 61 1
coated with a tan, greasy substJ
in several areas.
• A window was broken in |
derwood Hall by a water balloon
• A glass door in Heldenfels
broken.
• A right rear window of a
BMW, parked on Joe Routt B
vard was shattered.
• Graffiti was spray painted
several items along Utilities
Road and at the Off-ShoreTeck
ogv Research Center.
DRIVING WHILE INTO!
GATED:
• Someone u.is i barged, ana|
and jailed in the Brazos Count)j
f or Driving While Intoxicated.
TMA files three lawsuits
against insurance firms
AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas
Medical Association said Tuesday it
has filed the first three of a series of
lawsuits against insurance compa
nies and so-called “hired guns” re
view firms for allegedly denying or
reducing workers’ compensation
medical claims without basis.
The suits include two in San Anto
nio and one in Dallas, with $130,000
involved, said Austin attorney David
Bragg, who represents TMA.
But Bragg said, “We have reason
to believe that this is the tip of the
iceberg.”
He said within 60 days “a num
ber” of additional suits are expected
in various parts of Texas.
“I think it would be safe to say
we’re talking about millions of dol
lars that’s been held up in the sys
tem,” Bragg told a news conference.
Named in the San Antonio law
suits were CIGNA Insurance Co. of
Texas in Irving; Texas Employers
Insurance Association of Dallas;
Health Benefit Management Inc. of
Austin; and accuMed Inc. of Hunt,
Bragg said.
The Dallas suit names PRNA Inc.
of Dallas, he said.
TMA President Dr. Max Butler of
Houston said by “manipulating
claims information, these companies
are determining not only the level of
payment, but whether an injured
worker gets care at all.”
The review firms are hired by in
surance companies to screen hospi
tal admissions, medical tests, and
other services provided by physi-
I think it would be safe
to say we’re talking about
millions of dollars that’s
been held up in the
system,”
—David Bragg,
Austin attorney
cians to cut health costs, the TMA
said, but the firms are not regulated
in Texas.
“This is strictly a hassle to save the
insurance companies’ money,” But
ler said.
Bragg said, “We can’t find any
rhyme or reason for the amounts —
it just seems to be arbitrary cuts.”
Alleged violations in workers’
compensation cases have been sin
gled out, Butler said, because a fee
schedule for health care providers
has been in place since September
1988, but legitimate claims under
that schedule are being denied.
PRNA executive officer Tamala
Miller said she had not even been
notified of the lawsuit and could not
comment specifically, but added,
“To tell you the truth, I’ve expected
something like this. The fee sched
ule is in an uproar right now, and
the physicians don’t like it.”
Dr. Ronald Luke of Austin, chief
executive officer of Health Benefit
Management, said many physicians
“resent the whole notion of review,”
but added, “We try to keep reviews
from the complaint stage.
“We’ve had relatively few com
plaints,” Luke said. “I believe we’re
doing a pretty good job.”
William Huff, executive vice pres
ident for Texas Employers Insur
ance, said he had not seen the suit,
but said, “Our people have made a
real attempt to work with the doc
tors. We’ve cut far less than 50 per
cent of the bills.”
Construction cutbacks
Cheney’s proposals opposed
WASHINGTON (AP) — Texas congressional lead
ers voiced dismay Tuesday that Defense Secretary Dick
Cheney considers the naval homeport near Corpus
Christi and others in the Gulf of Mexico as likely candi
dates for construction cutbacks.
Cheney extended a 3-month moratorium on new
military construction for another 45 days and ordered a
' review of 207 projects, including Naval Station Ingle-
side, and refurbishments at Bergstrom Air Force Base,
Fort Hood and Red River Army Depot.
“I’m deeply concerned about Ingleside,” said Sen.
Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas. “It’s going to be a very tough
fight when Secretary Cheney lists it as one of those
that’s subject to cancellation. When he does that ahead
of knowing what Congress is going to appropriate in
the way of funds, it’s obvious, in my opinion that he’s
made up his mind.”
Texans Bentsen, Sen. Phil Gramm, Rep. Solomon
Ortiz and other members of Congress from Gulf Coast
states told Navy Secretary H. Lawrence Garrett III
Tuesday afternoon that they objected to Cheney’s ac
tion.
Garrett reaffirmed his support for the homeports at
Ingleside; Mobile, Ala.; Pascagoula, Miss.; and Staten
Island, N.Y., lawmakers said.
“He said he was arguing for the homeports as early
as this morning,” Bentsen said of Garrett.
Cheney’s midday announcement fired the debate be
tween lawmakers interested in squeezing the military
budget and those who want to protect local jobs.
While the Gulf Coast legislators were drumming up
support for naval homeports, Rep. Charles Bennett, D-
Florida, and Rep. Pat Schroeder, D-Colorado, intro
duced legislation to close the four mentioned on Che
ney’s list and those at Everett, Wash., and Pensacola,
Fla.
“I want to assure you that as I live and breathe that
will not become the law of the land,” Gramm said of the
House legislation.
In addition, Ortiz, a Corpus Christi Democrat, said
he could not support a House defense budget proposal
that is more than $20 billion below President Bush’s
recommendation if it harmed Ingleside.
“I’m going to have to make a lot of calls before I vote
on this,” he said.
Gramm, a Republican, expressed confidence the
homeports can be saved, saying, “I know we’re going to
have a reduction in defense. But if we can have an or
derly, 5-year build-down, homeport can become a real
ity.”
Experts unvd
new high-tecl
hospital mode
DALLAS (AP) — Hospia
must use a smorgasbord of ted
nology to combat rising healtl
care costs, according to expen
who unveiled a vision Tuesday
the “Hospital of the Futurc
crammed with high-tech g
to help keep track of and treaty
tients.
The hospital, as designed
Andersen Consulting with t
help of the American College
Healthcare Executives, will it
everything from bar codes
handheld computers, fro
“smartcards” to pneumatic tub
from voice recognition to fil
optics, to cut time and moml
spent shuffling around infora
tion.
“Forty percent of a nurs
time is spend doing ad mink
live and clerical chores,” said
Toole, Andersen’s partner
charge of healthcare.
But hospitals have lagged
hind industry in taking advanti |
of technology, Toole said, spei®
ing only 3 percent of their
gets on information hand!
compared to between 8 pei
and 10 percent for the haul
and insurance industries.
The technology may be
reeled more towards sav
money than saving lives, To|
said, but it nevertheless w
give healthcare workers time
practice their craft and impri
the quality of care.
“Information technology !j
done little to help knowli
workers like nurses and doctoi
he said.
While most hospitals alre;
have their financial operatia
computerized, and may alsoi
computers in clinical or patii
care, there has been little coraffi
nication among the areas,
Gene Handley, education dirt
tor of the American College
Healthcare Executives.
“We have to achieve great
economies in the area of inforr
tion technology,” he said. “We
looking for economies that
one system to communicate" )
another system.”
Andersen Consulting, a subs; f
iary of Arthur Anderson &C |
accounting firm, invested $7n
lion in its “Hospital of the F
ture” display that opened Tut
day, showing how those systei
can be tied together.
S -
n
Protest
(Continued from page 1)
can be excused from paying the bills
everybody else has to pay,” Ringer
said.
Schoonover, who owns a local
computer software company, said
his hunger strike is to attract atten
tion to what he calls the city govern
ment’s uncaring attitude.
“The government doesn’t care,”
he said. “I can’t offer any solutions
because I don’t know. But I want to
say, ‘Look your system is broke.
Come out of your ivory towers and
look around.’ ”
Schoonover said he is staging the
hunger strike on behalf of his
friends who can’t.
“I’m not doing this for myself,” he
said. My friends are dying. I can’t
just sit by and watch it happen.”
Schoonover, who is confined to a
wheelchair, said the city also ignores
handicapped people. He said there
are not enough sidewalks and the
regular trolleys which service Bryan
and College Station don’t pick up
handicapped people.
The transit system does offer a
special service for handicapped peo
ple, but it requires a person to sched
ule ahead.
Ringer admitted there are not
enough sidewalks and the city is at
tempting to correct the problem, but
he said the trolleys are operated by
the Brazos Transit Authority and
not the city.
“He’s not being reasonable with
what he’s demanding,” Ringer said.
“He’s right about some things. But
the utility thing I just couldn’t get
him to understand.”
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