Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1991)
2 State & Local The BattaitorT^M^ Academic freedoms stifled, activists say Groups debate 'political correctness' SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Advocates of minority sensitivity say they are being wrongly portrayed as prejudiced amid claims that "political correctness" is stifling academic freedom on university campuses. "Those of us committed to valuing and spreading cultural diversity are being charged by some with engaging in exclu sion of persons and opinions different from our own and attempting to close off debate," said Maggie Abudu, a race rela tions researcher. Abudu, executive director of the South west Center for Human Relations Studies at the University of Oklahoma, predicted battles over political correctness will inten sify. And as those battles are fought, she said, race relations are likely to worsen on uni versity campuses. Some academics complain that "political correctness" has taken hold in a climate that encourages non-traditional studies, in cluding works of women and minorities. Some who favor traditional teaching say they are labeled politically incorrect. Disputes over political correctness have divided the academic community and have helped turn the affirmative action debate into a First Amendment argument. President Bush, in a commencement ad dress in May at the University of Michigan, entered the political correctness fray, say ing, "What began as a crusade for civility has soured into a cause of conflict and even censorship." Some academics have complained of a "McCarthyism of the left," saying some who favor traditional teaching of basic Western thought are labeled politically in correct in a climate that encourages non- traditional studies in the works of women and minorities and mixing of social issues in curricula. About 1,500 university teachers have formed the National Association of Schol ars to oppose political correctness. The 3- year-old group warns that teachers or stu dents who don't advocate politically cor rect notions are denied tenure, given lower grades or publicly humiliated. Just last week in Austin, English profes sor Alan Gribben, a respected, tenured Mark Twain scholar, announced he is leav ing the University of Texas. He claimed to be a victim of political correctness and mul- ticulturalism. Gribben, who taught at the university for 17 years, said some members of a politi cally correct movement hurt his reputation after he opposed the inclusion of certain works by women, minorities and homo sexuals into the English curriculum solely for their political content. Asthma Study Wanted: Individuals 18-50 years of age with asthma to participate in a short clinical research study involving an investigational medication in capsule form. Pauli Research International® l$xoo 776-0400 $zooJ S) BYTE BACK! One-week classes for those who want to learn these popular personal computer programs COST $35.00 Make sense of computers at the library Lotus 1-2-3 Jun 17-21 4-6 p.m. Jul 8-12 3-5 p.m. WordPerfect 5.1 Jun 10 -14 2 - 4 p.m. Jun 14 - 28 4-6 p.m. For more information and registration forms, go to LRD, Room 604 or contact Mel Dodd at 845-2316 SAVE 50 % ■ ON FILM DEVELOPING 1 WHILE YOU SHOP! One-Hour Service • In The Mall Each picture is the best it can be or we reprint it free...now! Offer applies to regular one-hour prices. No limit on number of rolls discounted with this coupon. 4x6 color prints (print length varies with film size). Offer applies to first set of prints only. 041 in lab process. Cannot be combined with other film developing offers. Coupon good through August 20,1991. 11010603 One-Hour Services: photo finishing • enlargements reprints • double prints Also Available: wallet photos • film instant color passport photos video transfer copies from prints cameras and accessories E-6 slide processing Post Oak Mall south entrance near cinema CPI photo f inish * one hour photo ^ bJS. a Professional Computing HAS A CALCULATOR FOR TOO! COMPLETE LINE OF HEWLEH PACKARD CALCULATORS FOR BUSINESS, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING HIP CsiEcwEsitlcwirs - tub® IbxBsti fdDir ydDwir swgccbsSo PLUS ALL ACCESSORIES INCLUDING EXPANSION CARDS AND DEVELOPMENT LINKS FOR THE 48SX [BEST (PROOES ANYWHERE BUSINESS HOURS M-F 8:00-5:30 SAT 10:00-3:00 ce HEWLETT PACKARD Authorized Dealer 505 CHURCH STREET COLLEGE STATION (409) 846-5332 House majority leader supports oil import fee AUSTIN (AP) — Legislation to set a $20-per-barrel floor price for oil through an import fee is pick ing up steam in Congress, U.S. House Major ity Leader Richard Ge phardt told oil industry offi cials. Gephardt, speaking to the Texas Inde pendent Pro ducers & Roy- Richard Gephardt alty Owners favors a fee on im- Association, ported oil to set a also said Presi- floor price, dent Bush's national energy strategy falls short of helping the economy or reduc ing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. He said a fee on imported oil to set a floor price is crucial for the nation's economy and security. "It's not hops or barley," the Missouri Democrat said. "It's a se curity asset. We need an energy policy in the United States that is in the self-interest of the United States on that national defense re quirement alone." His comments Monday came before the Organization of Petro leum Exporting Countries opened its summer conference in Vienna, Austria. The average price of OPEC crudes was $17.68 a barrel last week, after surging past $37 a bar rel in October. The average for the year so far was $18.58 a barrel, compared to $22.26 for the same period in 1990. Prices for light American and Children vaccinated after playing with bat SULLIVAN CITY (AP) — At least three Rio Grande Valley chil dren are receiving rabies vaccina tions as a precaution after playing with a dead bat at school, health officials said Tuesday. A total of 32 children touched the bat, and all of their parents have been advised to consult a doctor about the possible rabies threat. The fourth- and fifth-grade stu dents at Benavides Elementary School tossed the bat around the playground May 27, said Dr. Charles Wilson, head of the Hi dalgo County Health Department. Wilson said a boy had found the bat and brought it to school. "You know how kids are with creepy, crawly things," Wilson said. "They started playing with it and throwing it at one another. The school nurse found out about it and realized the possible dan gers." Bats can carry the rabies virus, which is fatal to humans when they are not vaccinated. In South Texas, there have been 24 con firmed cases of rabies in animals so far this year. The bat was sent to the Texas Department of Health, but tests were inconclusive because the ani mal had been dead too long, Wil son said. "So we don't really know if the bat was rabid or not," he said. "But with rabies you don't take any chances. It's 100 percent fatal. Once you get it, you die." The children's parents were no tified in writing last Friday of the possible health threat. Benavides Elementary is in northern Hidalgo County in far South Texas. JOCK ITCH AND RINGWORM STUDY Individuals 12 years of age and under with "jock itch" or "ringworm" are being recruited for a research study of an antifungal medication.$125.00 will be paid to volunteers who complete this study. CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH®, INC. 776-1417 ATHLETE’S FOOT STUDY Individuals 12 years of age and older with "athletes foot” are being recruited for a research study of an antifungal medication. $150.00 will be paid to volunteers who complete this study. CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH®, INC. 776-1417 r DEPRESSION STUDY J Individuals are being recruited for a research study on depression. If you have been diagnosed with depression or would like to find out more about this study, call VIP Research. $125.00 will be paid to qualified volunteers who enroll and complete this study. CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH®, INC. 776-1417 European crudes are generally several dollars higher. Gephardt said Bush's energy strategy presented in February does not adequately address filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is needed to prevent price shocks. He said that if the U.S. had used the reserve after Iraq invaded Ku wait last August, oil prices, which shot up for several weeks, may have remained steady. Gephardt urged TIPRO mem bers to support his legislation for a floor price for oil, and added that northeastern states, which typ ically fight proposals that could in crease the cost of home heating oil, are starting to support the measure. Wednesday, Junes, 1991 Judge: City must release complaints against police SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A state district judge in Austin ruled the Texas Open Records Law requires the city of San Antonio to make public the details of police brutal ity complaints. State District Judge Jeanne Meurer of Travis County an nounced the decision Monday. The San Antonio Light fought the city for almost two years to open the records. Meurer ruled the San Antonio Police Department must surrender disciplinary records to the news paper. The lawsuit arose from the Light's request for the disciplinary records of two officers alleged to have engaged in an ethnically mo tivated beating in July 1988. No action was taken against the officers. The Police Department declined to provide the newspaper with copies of the complaint by the alleged victim, the officers' re sponses or details of the alleged assault. Media organizations applauded the judge’s ruling but called it a costly victory. Meurer did not im pose sanctions for violating the Open Records Act. "Obviously we are very pleased that the judge saw fit to uphold both the spirit and the intention of the Open Records Law," said Nancy Monson, executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The judge did not require the city to pay the Light's attorney's fees, which a judge may award to the prevailing party in an open re cords case. What’s Up Wednesday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: General discussion at noon. Call Center for Drug Pre vention at 845-0280 for more information. LUTHERAN STUDENT FELLOWSHIP: Evening prayer at 6:30 p.m. atthe University Lutheran Chapel. Call Richard Manus at 846-6687 for more information. Thursday ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS: General discussion at 6 p.m. Call COPE at 845-0280 for more information. GAY AND LESBIAN STUDENT SERVICES: General meeting in 507AB Rudder. Call 847-0321 for more information. CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST: First summer meeting! Everyone welcome at 7:30 p.m. at Rumors. Call Pat Roach for more information. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: General discussion at noon. Call CORE at 845-0280 for more information. Items for What's Up should be submitted to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, no later than three business days before the desired run date. We publish the name and phone number of the contact only if you ask us to do so. What's Up is a Battal ion service that lists non-profit events and activities. Submissions are run on a first- come, first-served basis. There is no guarantee an entry will run. If you have ques tions, call the newsroom at 845-3316. J _M S C. AGGIE CIM.MA P R E 5 E NTS JUNE 5 At The Grove Starts at dusk (about 8:45pm.) Tickets are $.50 with TAMU ID $1 without ID. For more information call 847-8478