Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1991)
□ □□sElcaJcs Back to School SrEXs>[jrCi3 tow 70& Texas A&M Dance Club prepares for another year page3 Aggie Football ’91 University Student Life Lifestyles .....Section B Section C Section D Section E Lady Aggies off to a bumpy start pages The Battalion Vol. 91 No. 1 USPS 045360 College Station, Texas "Serving Texas A&M since 1893” 5 Sections, 44 Pages September 2,1991 Summer '91 wrap-up; budget worries, TCA vs. MTV, etc. policy. Editor's Note: The following is a brief ivrapup of the summer's top stories as seen in The Bat talion. May 29: REGENTS COULD FACE LEGAL AC TION "Texas A&M's Board of Regents could face legal problems because of a possible violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act, in which the Board dis cussed a harassment and discrimination policy in executive session. The Board, which met May 16 and 17, discussed a System-wide statement on ha rassment and discrimination during a closed executive session. The measure was later approved. Texas' Open Meetings Act states exec utive sessions are for specific personnel matters, litigation or real estate matters. An official with the Freedom of Infor mation Foundation said he believes the regents violated that law by acting on the June 6: FACULTY SENATE ELECTS FIRST FE MALE PRESIDENT "Diversity will come up at least once in any conversation with Dr. Patricia Alexander — guaranteed. It does because the 43-year-old pro fessor of curriculum and instruction is ab solutely and definitely committed to di versifying Texas A&M... Alexander earned her Ph.D from the University of Maryland in 1981 and head ed straight for A&M. Ten years later, she is leading the Faculty Senate — the first woman ever to do so." June 26: TCA CABLE TO CANCEL MTV "Negotiations between TCA Cable and MTV Networks could result in the cancellation of the popular rock video channel throughout the Brazos valley. said Randy Rodgers, general manager of TCA Cable. Rogers said TCA Cable officials have been in negotiations for several months with MTV Networks, which also controls Nickelodeon and VH1. He said TCA is willing to provide MTV on request and not as part of the basic cable package, but MTV has not responded favorably." SEE WRAP-UP/Page14 Coup flop may prove beneficial WASHINGTON (AP) - The Kremlin coup that flopped may be the best thing going for America's unemployed. Not to mention for Democrats looking for a domestic political opening against President Bush, and a way to spend more on fa vored domestic programs such as health care, education and even tax relief. The prospect of food, medical and energy shortages in a chaotic, splintering Soviet Union already has sparked debate over sending U.S. aid. Democrats are banking that many Americans will want another question answered: Where's mine?" "It's time to help here at home ... help those thrown out of work in this recession," said Rep. David Bonior, D-Mich., who takes over as House majority whip shortly af ter Congress returns from its sum mer recess next week. The first offensive planned by Democrats is a new push to send help to the jobless whose benefits have run out. Just before the summer recess. Congress sent Bush a bill extend ing the duration of unemployment ; aid. But Bush was able to kill it — ^ without having to exercise a possi- ,y politically embarrassing veto j- through a loophole in the bud get process. ’ The next version isn't likely to allow him that sidestep. And, opening a broader politi cal front, many Democrats see the apparent demise of a Communist threat in Russia as providing a popularly acceptable reason to tear up the five-year budget agree ment reached just a year ago. They want to cut defense spending and spend some or all of See Kremlin/Page 13 KARL A. STOLLEIS/The Battalion Think Fast While many students were busy moving in and getting language major, takes time to play catch with a friend in ready for classes, Joe Fletcher, a sophomore modern the courtyard next to Keathly dorm. War leaders invited to celebration Schwarzkopf may attend Desert Storm Day to honor A&M's Gulf War veterans By Chris Vaughn The Battalion Gen. "Stormin'" Norman Schwarzkopf, Gen. Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Dick Ch eney have been added to the Uni versity's Desert Storm Day invite list which already includes Presi dent Bush. Texas A&M System Board of Regents Chairman Ross Mar graves said on Thursday that he has invited nine more national and state leaders, including Schwarzkopf, Powell and Cheney, for the huge event planned for Sept. 28. Margraves said he also invited Democrat U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, Republican U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, U.S. Rep. Greg Laughlin, D-West Columbia, and Gov. Ann Richards. President Bush was extended an invitation to the ceremonies in July. A month of activities to honor students, faculty, staff and alumni who served in Desert Shield or Storm culminates Sept. 28 at the A&M vs. the University of South western Louisiana football game at Kyle Field. Malori Southerland, associate vice president for student services and chairman of the committee planning the event, said the USL game was selected for several rea sons. "The USL (game) was really convenient because it is in September and it provided us with some options that other games would not, like each hon- oree receiving two complimentary tickets to the game," Southerland said. "Also, the LSU game did not give us enough time to pull this off." Southerland said the Universi ty will be honoring about 100 stu dents who withdrew from school and about 25 faculty and staff who took leave when their reserve units were called up. Also being honored are immediate family members of faculty and staff and about 500 former students. See Desert Storm/Page 14 University to face tough year, administrator says By Tammy Bryson The Battalion Texas A&M will face unprecedented chal lenges this year in maintaining its current level of service and the quality of instruction now avail able, said Robert Smith, A&M's vice president of Finance and Administration. Smith said A&M is in the midst of an unset tled economic situation and must deal with the distinct possibility of substantial budget cuts. "What we're basically facing this year is the challenge to do more with less," he said. The University's main concern right now is the effect these cuts will have on the students. Smith said. "We cannot continue to turn immediately to the students for additional fees without having some negative consequences," he said. Students could face increased prices for room and board if the state cuts are severe enough, he added. "If resources are taken away from us then we will not have the ability to maintain the facilities in a manner that the students are accustomed to," Smith said. "There is no question that we'll have to consider increasing room and board costs, but we'll do everything we can to minimize those in creases." Smith said he also believes that if some of the budget proposals now "on the table" in Austin are adopted, there will be an increase in tuition rates along with room and board. "There will definitely be higher tuition, not this year but soon," he said. "The question now is how much of an increase there will be." Smith added that A&M is still trying to recov er from a previous budget crisis that occurred in 1985 which had a negative impact on A&M. "One of two things has happened as a result of that situation - either we've become much more efficient or we've become much less effective," he said. "It is probably a combination of both." Finance and Administration at A&M contin ues to look for new ways to operate while saving money and time in the process. * "The people of Texas expect us to operate in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible," Smith said. "That's our job here — that's what they pay us for." Smith said he will continue to think positively about the budget situation and is confident that A&M will survive with minimal damage. "Our job is to provide the best environment for young people in the state of Texas to come learn, grow, mature and become productive citi zens,'" he said. "If we achieve that goal, that is all we can ask for." Regents name Engineering dean new A&M System chancellor Editor’s note: The feature on Dr. Ed Hiler on page 3C went to press well before Dr. Herb Richardson was named chancellor for the Texas A&M system. Hiler was interim chancellor for the University at press time. By Chris Vaughn The Battalion After a year-long nationwide search, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents filled its chancel lor position Thursday with some one who has been on campus the whole time. Dr. Herb Richardson. Richardson, who was dean of the College of Engineering and deputy chancellor for engineering, as sumed the top System job im mediately. He replaces Dr. Ed Hiler, who served as inter- Richardson im chancellor for eight months. "After conducting a nation wide search, our conclusion was that we have the right person for this key position already on our staff," Board Chairman Ross Mar graves said. "He has the creden tials, the experience and vision for the future that is needed for the opportunities and challenges ahead." Margraves said the Board unanimously chose the 60-year- old Richardson for his strong aca demic standing, his service in A&M's engineering programs, and his knowledge of state and federal government. Richardson said he is honored and enthusiastic about his new job. He said his No. 1 challenge as chancellor is working with the eight System universities and eight System agencies to overcome the troubling financial situation. He also said he would like to con tinue to build A&M University. The New England native came to A&M in 1984 to be dean, vice chancellor and distinguished pro fessor of engineering. Since then, he has changed titles to deputy chancellor and become director of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station. "Richardson is an excellent person for the System's top position, and that is partic ularly true in the national and international environ ment in which the System is operating." A&M president William Mobley Before coming to College Sta tion, Richardson was an associate dean of engineering and mechani cal engineering professor at Mas sachusetts Institute of Technology. University President William Mobley congratulated Richardson on his promotion and said his ex perience makes him well-suited for the job. "Richardson is an excellent person for the System's top posi tion, and that is particularly true in the national and international environment in which the System is operating," Mobley said. Dr. Pat Alexander, speaker of the Faculty Senate, said on Friday she — and probably the whole Senate — is pleased with Richard See Richardson/Page 14