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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1991)
I The Battalion Vol. 90 No. 107 USPS 045360 8 Pages College Station, Texas Tuesday, March 5, 1991 POWs reach Jordan Red Cross verifies good health of former prisoners RUWEISHED, Jordan (AP) — The first 10 allied prisoners of war released by Iraq crossed the Jorda nian border to freedom Monday. The former POWs, including an American woman, apparently were in good condition. “They’re very happy to be here, but they’re worried about the col leagues they left behind,” said U.S. Ambassador Roger Harrison, who was on hand to greet the returning POWs. They then were flown to a Jorda nian air force base, where the six Americans boarded an Air Force C- 141 transport plane scheduled to fly to Bahrain, officials said. U.S. offi cials said the Americans will board a U.S. hospital ship, the Mercy, off Bahrain. The plans for the other former POWS — three Britons and one Italian — was not immediately clear. Earlier Monday, the 10 left the Iraqi capital of Baghdad after receiv ing Swiss chocolates, Pepsi Cola, cheeseburgers and a medical check by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Wearing yellow jumpsuits bearing white and red badges with the letters “PW” on their shoulders and backs, they departed Baghdad by road af ter being handed over to Red Cross representatives. In Jordan, they were examined and given bread, cheese and oranges. Then they changed into gray track suits, Harrison said. “The first batch of allied prisoners of war was only made as a good-will gesture by the Iraqis and they have to work out plans for repatriation of the rest of them,” said Andreas Wig- ger, the agency’s chief delegate in Baghdad. Wigger said the Red Cross would meet with Iraqi officials to discuss the repatriation of all the allied POWs. He said that so far, the Red Cross did not have access to the other POWs, and did not know how many there were. However, Angelo Gnaedinger, a Red Cross delegate for the Middle East and North Africa, said in Bagh dad that all allied POWs were in sat isfactory health. The allies have said that at least 13 prisoners were taken by Iraq during the Persian Gulf War, and that more than 60,000 Iraqis were taken pris oner. At least 54 allied troops were listed as missing — 35 Americans, eight Britons, 10 Saudis and one Italian. In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Com mand said 300 Iraqi POWs would be freed Tuesday. The statement said the time and place of the release had yet to be determined. Red Cross representatives in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, however, said they foresaw some problems, in cluding making sure that the Iraqi POWs actually want to go home. “Something will happen in the next 24 hours,” Jean-Claude Mulli, medical coordinator agency in Ri yadh, said Monday, “but you can’t expect it all to go as planned. I wouldn’t even want to say the figure is 300, as that might raise false ex pectations.” Among those released Monday were Army Spc. Melissa Rathbun- Nealy, 20, of Grand Rapids, Mich., the only female allied soldier listed as missing in action, and Navy nav igator-bombardier Lt. Jeffrey Nor ton Zaun, 28, of Cherry Hill, N.J. “We’re going to have one heck of a 21st birthday party for her when she’s home,” Rathbun-Nealy’s See POW/Page 7 Republican Guard launches crackdown on Iraqi protesters SAFWAN, Iraq (AP) — Iraq’s Republican Guard launched a fierce crackdown on protesters demanding the overthrow of Sad dam Hussein and the establish ment of an Islamic republic in fraq, witnesses said Monday. The Guard was reported to be turning some of its remaining tanks and guns on the demon strators, who are apparently dis gusted with Saddam’s handling of the Gulf War and sense that he may be vulnerable. There were reports of protes ters killing government officials, including the mayor of Basra, a governor, and a son of Saddam. Witnesses said demonstrations had erupted in at least eight Iraqi cities, stretching from Iraq’s sec ond-largest city, Basra, to the holy city of Kerbala in central Iraq. They said that in some places the Iraqi troops were shooting women and children. “The special forces are de stroying everything in front of them,” said Mahar Hakawati, 24, a Jordanian photographer who came to Kuwait from Basra. “If anybody shouts from a building they knock it down.” Hakawati said he saw Republi can Guard tanks moving through the streets of the southern Iraqi port town. He said the military nad surrounded the city. Many people in Basra ap- See Iraq/Page 7 Lecturer discusses gender bias By Timm Doolen The Battalion The American educational system is causing harm to women and it doesn’t even know it’s doing it, a na tionally known researcher of gender equity and education said. Speaking in Rudder Tower Monday night, Dr. C h a r o 1 Shakeshaft said the root of the problem is men are valued more in society than women and this is reflected in the nation’s schools and educators. She said gen der bias is evident in newspapers, magazines, literature and especially the English language, with the prev alent use of “he” and “mankind.” “That tells me women are of less value," she said. She said she does not believe it when people tell her the nuances of See Gender/Page 7 Shakeshaft Silver Taps ceremony honors one The solemn sound of buglers playing “Taps” and the sharp ring of gunfire will be heard on campus tonight as one Texas A&M student who died during February is honored in a Silver Taps ceremony at 10:30 in front of the Academic Build ing. The deceased student being honored is: • Stacy Alan Kirtley, 22, a senior economics major from Conroe, who died Feb. 18 follow ing a motorcycle acci dent in College Station. Dating back almost a century, the stately tra dition of Silver Taps is practiced on the first Tuesday of each month from September through April, when necessary. The names of de ceased students are posted at the base of the flag pole in front of the Academic Building, and the flag is flown at half-staff the day of the ceremony. Lights will be extinguished and the campus hushed as Aggies pay final tribute to fellow Aggies. The Ross Volunteer Firing Squad begins the ceremony, marching in slow cadence to wards the statue of Lawrence Sul livan Ross. Shordy after, three volleys are fired in a 21-gun sa lute and six buglers play a special arrangement of “Taps” three times — to the north, south and west. Taking in some rays Dr. Jan Leighley decided to take advantage of 489 class outside of the Academic Building Mon ths sunny weather and hold her political science day. Sunny weather should continue this week. UPD gives tips on protection, preparations for spring break By Julie Hedderman The Battalion With spring break just around the corner, Texas A&M students leaving town should make preparations to protect themselves and their homes. Lt. Bert Kretzschmar with the University Police De partment Crime Prevention Unit says spring break is one of the most critical times for students to be con cerned about their property and personal safety. Students should stay alert and trust their instincts, he says. They should know where and with whom they are staying. They also should have extra money in case of an emergency. One of the biggest problems students have during spring break is drinking too much, he says. This can im pair reasoning and use of normal faculties. Kretzschmar says “con artists” also can take advan tage of spring breakers during this time. He say these criminals are difficult to identify, and students should be careful of people who try to become instant friends. “Beware of a stranger who is overly friendly,” he says. “Once he’s got your confidence, you’re hooked.” Students can protect themselves from pickpockets by knowing where their purses or wallets are at all times and by leaving expensive jewelery at home. Before leaving on vacation, students can protect their dorm rooms or apartments by making sure all windows are closed and locked and door locks deadbolted. If ground floor windows are left unlocked, it is easy for someone to crawl in and burglarize the place, he says. Kretzschmar also suggests taking valuables home for spring break if possible. Operation Identification is another way students can protect their property. Engraving or using a waterproof marker to mark their driver’s license number on the back of their prop erty makes identification easier if a home is burglarized. Students should write down the serial numbers of their property and keep them in a safe place. Kretzschmar says students should not leave a mes- See Spring break/Page 7 Clevenger lobbies for support of Student Government plans at monthly faculty conference By Julie Myers The Battalion Texas A&M faculty members should voice their opinions to the administration because faculty and students share many of the same concerns, the University’s stu dent body presi dent said. Ty Clevenger addressed the Faculty Senate Monday during its monthly meet ing to gain sup port for initia tives supported Clevenger by Student Government. These initiatives include: • easing requirements on interna tional travel by faculty; • increasing recycling efforts; • integrating minorities, interna tional students and athletes into campus organizations; • organizing student groups in Texas to present views to the Legis lature; • increasing or at least maintain ing the present level of funding for faculty salaries; • placing faculty members on the boards of regents in Texas public in stitutions; • seeking lower prices for food, supplies and services offered to stu dents by Business Services; The University administration has not supported some of these initia tives, Clevenger said. He said he can prove that high- level administrators have violated Texas Open Records Laws. “They said it was not the informa tion we needed, that we wouldn’t un derstand it, or that it was proprietary when it was clearly public informa tion,” he said. In addition, he said administra tors “severely misrepresented” his position to Food Services staff. He said it was made to sound like he criticized the personnel and the qual ity of food and services offered by them. This is untrue, Clevenger said. “They (Food Services personnel) are underpaid, don’t have enough benefits and some have told me per sonally that they do not feel appre ciated,” he said. “My loyalty to this institution has been questioned and I’m sick of it,” Clevenger said. “I’m not trying to cause trouble.” Clevenger said Student Govern ment’s new motto sums up his atti tude towards activism. “Our motto in Student Govern ment used to be, ‘It’s better to have tried and failed than to have failed to try,”’ Clevenger said. “Now our motto is, ‘Better to have aimed for the stars and missed than to have aimed for a pile of cow manure and succeeded.” He said the University is on its way to being known as an Ivy League school of the South. “People don’t laugh out loud any more when we say that,” Clevenger said. As proof of A&M’s growing repu tation in the academic community, he cited the performances of the Bolshoi Ballet last November and possible location of the George Bush Library at A&M. Presently, Clevenger said he re mains hopeful the Legislature will pass a bill placing non-voting stu dent members on the boards of re gents of all state schools. Presently, however, some legis lators think students do not fully support the measure because many versions of the same bill have been sponsored by different representa tives, Clevenger said. These representatives, mostly from college areas, are trying to grab the credit for getting the bill passed, he added. Clevenger said he will go to Aus tin soon to help straighten out the bill so everyone will agree. Clevenger said it’s an exciting time to be at A&M. “The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves, and that is clear at A&M.” Faculty Senate speaker emphasizes elections for ‘qualified’ nominees By Julie Myers The Battalion The speaker of the Faculty Senate stressed the importance of upcom ing elections for Senate positions during the Senate’s meeting Mon day. Dr. Bill Stout, professor of agri culture engineering, said senators should nominate qualified faculty for vacant senate positions. The nominating period ends Fri day at 5 p.m. Absentee balloting ex tends from March 25-29 and the election will be April 1. Faculty Senate actions approved by President William Mobley since the Feb. 11 meeting include: • Adding a bachelor of arts in In ternational Studies, B.A. in Agribu siness, revising the WFSC teaching option, and changing the B.S. in bi ology to a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology; • Changes recommended by the Rules and Regulations Committee. In other business, the Senate ap proved: • Requests from the Rules and Regulations Committee to make changes in the 1991-92 Texas A&M University Regulations; • Requests from the Graduate Council to add a Master of Science Degree in Architecture, ARCH 648 Building Preservation Technology, GEOP 672 Principles of Geomagnet ics and Paleomagnetism which will be cross-listed with OCEN 672 Prin ciples of Geomagnetism and Pa leomagnetism; • Requests from the University Curriculum Committee to add ENGL 339 African-American Liter ature and to drop two civil engi neering courses, two forest science courses, one industrial engineering course, two mechanical engineering courses and five mining engineering courses; All action taken by the Senate must be approved before being en acted.