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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1990)
■pWTexasASMlQ M ^ 1 lie Battalion 1 Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute Local musicians pay homage tonight at Mama’s Pizza. See Page 3 ol. 89 No. 193 USPS 045360 12 Pages College Station, Texas x* • n i _ Wednesday, August 29,1990 . * |y JULIE MYERS pThe Battalion Staff 1 Texas A&M students, faculty and staff mployees in the reserves could face active uty if they are called to supplement active I uty personnel in Saudi Arabia and short- landed military installations around the I Inited States. I President Bush last week called for the Ictivation of 40,000 reservists. Bush has the I uthority to activate up to 200,000 reserv- I its. 1 Dr. John Koldus, A&M’s vice president or student services, said there is no Univer- Jity policy regarding students in the re- lerves who are called to active duty because I here has not been a need in the past. I Instead, students who have questions I bout their status should contact the Dean’s liffice of the college in which they are en- I oiled and the office of student services, I (oldus said. “We will try to be flexible and adaptable n working out each student’s problems,” foldus said. Maj. Jake Betty, a U.S. Army cadet train- ng officer in the Corps of Cadets Comman dant’s Office, said there had not been a count of the number of reservists in the Corps, but said that there were quite a few. Betty is also a reservist with the 75th ma neuver area command in Houston, an in fantry unit. Betty said he does not expect he will be called to duty. Bush’s decision to authorize the call up of reservists for military duty was the first such action since 1968 when President Lyn don Johnson activated reservists after the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. President Richard Nixon also called up reservists in 1970 to help deliver mail dur ing a postal strike. Betty, Class of’73, said before now there had not been a need for a policy concerning the activation of student reservists in the Corps of Cadets. At the time of the last call up in 1970, stu dents could not be in the reserves and the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the same time. Reserve units provide drinking water, road construction, maintenance of vehicles, medical support and truck transport. Statistics compiled by the Brookings In stitution in Washington, D.C., show that THE PERSIAN GULF only 33 of the Army’s 100 truck companies are active-duty units. Such companies are crucial for distribution of goods and sup plies to front-line units. 'ms art for in to dt- dine s firedt- old in ifirei ic dost n realii [ore bodies found at UF GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Two ore bodies were discovered in this iniversity city Tuesday, two days af- ,er three women students were bund slain and mutilated in their apartments, setting off a wave of carat the start of the school year. “It’s clear this part of the country mssome maniac on the loose,” Uni versity of Florida President John Lombardi said during a staff meet ing. “It reminds us of a natural catas trophe. The killer is selecting victims by criteria that are not clear to us.” The bodies of a man and a woman were found together Tuesday morn ing at a student apartment complex near one where two bodies were found Sunday, said Alachua County Sheriffs Lt. Spencer Mann. Police set up a command post be tween those off-campus sites and about two miles from the apartment where a third body was discovered early Monday. man- situation in Washington, D.C., show that piles to rront-iine units. go Bush praises national unity, warns Iraq of ‘stiffer price’ WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush, applauded House Speaker Thomas S. Foley, D-\ Ft t on ctT'ot-*arr\r ia/o t~i-iIvan o Inn orcir! TA11 c Fi in f li n Pis* nin#=»t Rnnm c Of the 100 maintenance companies in the Army, only 11 are active duty units. All 100 railroad units are reserve elements. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Patricia L. Couger sent a memo Aug. 20 to all A&M system personnel offi cers concerning military leave. The State Auditor’s Office has deter mined the crisis in the Middle East consti tutes a national emergency in the context of leave without pay privileges for reservists called to active duty. Additionally, the memo said if the Presi dent calls reservists to active duty, even if it is not specified as a national emergency, the same rights to leave apply. The memo also stated that reservists: • can use the unused portion of the 15 days of paid reserve duty leave prior to going on leave without pay or terminating employment. • can use the 15 days of paid leave up to Sept. 30 and then use next year’s allocation of 15 days starting Oct. 1. • cannot return to LWOP status if they go on leave without pay and return to a pay status on Oct. 1 to use next year’s 15 days for reserve duty. • may have a right to leave without pay if they volunteer for military service. A CEO may grant a LWOP, but is not re quired to do so under the law. • have re-employment rights both for those who volunteer and those ordered to report to duty. The Texas Veteran’s Employment Re storation Act assures re-employment rights of individuals entering the military service either voluntarily or under orders. The law states re-employment is guar anteed if the individual returns to state em ployment within five yuears of enlistment as long as the military discharge or separa tion is under honorable conditions and ap plication is made within 90 days of separat ing from the armed forces. • can use accrued annual leave and com pensatory time before going on LWOP sta tus, but cannot go on LWOP and still be paid a lump sum for accrued annual leave. The memo also told employees to check the APRM B.9.8, Leave of Absence for Mil itary Training and Duty for additional guidance, or to call 845-2026. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush, applauded by Congress for his Persian Gulf strategy, warned Iraq on Tuesday that it will pay a stiff price for occupying Kuwait and “an even stiffer price” by broadening the conflict. “Let no one abroad doubt our national unity or our staying power,” Bush said. The White House reacted cautiously to an announce ment from Iraq that all women and children foreigners would be allowed to leave the country beginning Wednesday. “Our position has always been that everyone should be allowed to leave,” said White House deputy press secretary Roman Popadiuk. Bush reiterated earlier statements he has made. “When it comes to the safety and well being of Amer ican citizens held against their will, I will hold Baghdad responsible,” he said. The pi esident, breaking away from his summer vaca tion in Maine, flew to Washington to consult with con- f ressional leaders and brief members of the House and enate Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, App'ropria- tions and Intelligence committees. House Speaker Thomas S. Foley, D-Wash., seated alongside Bush in the Cabinet Room, said Congress supports the president’s moves. Even so, some lawmakers have raised questions about the cost, size and duration of the massive buildup of American troops in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon on Tuesday estimated the total cost of the U.S. deployment at $2.5 billion through the end of September, nearly double the previous estimate of $1.3 billion. Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said the in creased costs can be attributed to the expense of calling up reserve and National Guard forces, increased opera tions for ships and aircraft and to increased fuel costs. Williams also said Iraq’s troop strength in and near Kuwait had increased to 265,000 soldiers. „ Bush got a standing ovation from more than 170 law makers — Republicans and Democrats alike — assem bled at the Old Executive Office Building for their first meeting with the president* since he sent American combat troops to Saudi Arabia to deter Iraq after its Aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait. Rudder’s Rangers fight mock air battle Rudder Ranger members John Hester and Blake Alexander, with the rest of the outfit, stand at attention after their attack exercise Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack at the Duncan Field Tuesday afternoon. They are standing in the smoke of their smoke bombs used in the raid. By TROY HALL Of The Battalion Staff Helicopters, smoke and gunfire filled the air Tuesday afternoon at Duncan Field as Texas A&M Rudder’s Rangers members led a mock air attack against a “Middle Eastern” stronghold. Rudder’s Rangers, a student organization sponsored by the A&M ROTC program, had its annual quad assault to recruit new mem bers from the Corps of Cadets. John Arthurs, Rudder’s Rangers training officer, said the Middle Eastern overtone made the mock attack more interesting for ca dets. “We thought this would make it more timely — with the ‘enemy’ wearing Arab out fits,” he said. A five-member opposing force wore Arab turbins while a Soviet flag flew over the mock stronghold. Tuesday’s quad assault consisted of light in fantry tactics. Two helicopters, each with a squad of six, landed at Duncan Field to inter cept an opposing force of five. Smoke bombs made visibility difficult when the helicopters landed to drop off the squads. Gunfire rangTn the air for several minutes, and the event ended when the opposing force was killed and their supply tent blown up. “Your blood is pumping and everything is moving fast,” said Roy Tisdale, a junior ani mal science major from Alvin. “It felt like a real combat mission. You’re up above and then all of a sudden you’re down in the mid dle of gunfire. There is a high intensity the entire time.” Rudder’s Rangers members join the organi zation to supplement their ROTC program and prepare for ROTC Advanced Camp. This ultimately could decide the type of See Rangers/Page 12 Telephone survey shows Williams leading race By BILL HETHCOCK Of The Battalion Staff Democratic gubernatorial candi date Ann Richards trails Republican candidate Clayton Williams among Democrats and Independents in Brazos County, according to a hone survey released Tuesday by S. Congressman Joe Barton. Barton said the survey of 4,500 Democrats and Independents showed 34.5 percent supporting Williams, 29.5 percent supporting Richards, 14.7 percent undecided and the remainder refused to re spond. “We’re not calling Republicans, and Ann Richards is still behind,” Barton said. “Ann Richards would lose in Brazos County if the election were held now, even if no Republi cans voted.” The survey does not reflect opin ions of Texas A&M students, who were not contacted because many were out of town when the survey was conducted, Barton said. Barton said Richards has turned to negative campaigning to win over Williams supporters. He pointed to the Democratic and Republican primaries as evidence that negative campaigning is coming from the Democrats. 1 “Look at the Republican and Democratic primaries,” Barton said. “We had spirited campaigns on both sides, but the negative campaigning was on the Democratic side.” He said Richards is resorting to negative television, radio and news paper advertisements because she is behind Williams in the polls. “When people decide to go neg ative, it’s usually a sign they’re get ting desperate, and I think that’s the case here,” Barton said. Williams campaign officials have contacted Richards’ headquarters and requested both sides stick to pos itive, issue-oriented campaigning, but Richards refused. Barton said. Brazos County Democratic Chair man Bill McGuire denies the Demo crats were the ones “slinging the mud” first, and said he doubts a phone survey was even conducted in the local area. “After the primaries, Williams said no more mud,” McGuire said. “But then you’ve got Williams ads on the radio saying prisoners are for Ann Richards and stuff like that. “Then he was approached by Battalion file photo Sen. Joe Barton Richards and she called the situation to his attention and he said, ‘That’s not my ad, it’s a Republican Party ad.’ Same difference,” he said. McGuire said the second round of Williams’ TV ads accuse Richards of doing a poor job as state treasurer. “There has never been any hint she has not done well in the trea sury,” McGuire said. “They have come out again with negative ads and now that we’re refuting those ads, they’re trying to point the finger at us. All we’re trying to do is point out what Texans need to know about Williams. “Williams has been sued for de ceptive trade practices as reported by the Associated Press and now they’re trying to take the focus off that by having Joe Barton make this announcement about the phone sur vey,” he continued. “I don’t even think there was a phone survey, and if there was, I doubt you’ll see any cold, hard facts.” As a result of the newest Demo cratic ads, Williams is preparing “response ads” to counter attack, Barton said. McGuire said Brazos County resi dents should realize Richards wants to address the issues. “Richards challenged Williams to a debate and his handlers told him not to debate her because they know he’ll lose.” Construction begins on System headquarters Price approved at $10.7 million Texas A&M University System of ficials were present Tuesday as con struction began on the System head quarters on Tarrow Street near the Hilton Hotel in College Station. The site of the state System head quarters is presently a shell of a building, formerly the seven-story Woodbine Financial Center, behind the Hilton. The A&M headquarters building will be approximately 129,000 square feet and cost $10.7 million to complete. Paul Pogue Inc. construction com pany of Sherman was selected by System Chancellor Perry Adkisson to do the work. The Texas A&M Board of Regents approved the company during a July meeting. Base construction costs for the headquarters totaled $8.5 muiion, but the regents approved additional money to add 12 ornamental fea tures, including elevator paneling, granite tile floors, extensive mil- Iwork and TAMUS seals around the building. The System bought the partially completed building and 4.2 acre site- several years ago to move the chan cellor and deputy chancellors’ of fices as well as all other TAMUS administrative and general offices off the main A&M campus. In addition, the building also will house the offices of the Texas Forest Service, Texas Engineering Exten sion Service and several small class rooms and meeting facilities. The building is expected to be re ady for occupancy by December 1991.