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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 1991)
Campus | |page2 The Battalion Friday, November 8,1&91 UPD hopes to educate bicyclists about Editor's note:The following article is part two of a two part series on bicycle safety at Texas A&M. Part two addresses possible solutions to bicycle problems at A&M. By Troy D. Hall The Battalion Educating bicyclists about state traffic laws and safety precautions is a primary goal of the University police. "We want to make bicyclists aware of state laws and educate them about these laws," said University Police Lt. Bert Kretzschmar. And educate is what the University Crime Prevention Unit intends to do. They have de clared November "Bicycle Safety Month." The operative word is voluntary compli ance, Kretzschmar said. "If bicyclists would use the bike lanes and obey state laws these complaints would de crease," he said. He said that bicyclists should use the bike lanes and stay off the sidewalks when a bike lane is provided. Tom Williams, director of Parking, Transit and Traffic Services, said the bike lanes are 98 percent complete on the central campus. "I am pleased to see most of the bike lanes being used," Williams said. "For the first time bicyclists have a place of their own on campus streets." Past studies have estimated that about 12,500 bicyclists commute to the University. Because of such a high estimate, Williams said these commuters need their own place also. Kretschmar said it is important that bicy clists not ride on pedestrian sidewalks when a bike lane is provided. Bicyclists should use the bike lanes, he said, "that is why they were put in." When bike lanes are not provided, students must ride with the traffic flow and stay to the far right for their own safety, Cpl. Betty LeMay of the University Police Crime Prevention Unit. "Unfortunately there are a couple of places where bicyclists do have to make unsafe ma neuvers to get where they need to go," LeMay said. She said it is especially important that bicy clists follow traffic laws when making these maneuvers. Most citations are given for not stopping at stop signs, not yielding to traffic and not hav ing a light and reflectors on their bicycles, LeMay said. According to Texas traffic laws, all bicycles must be equipped with a lamp on the front of their bicycle visible from a distance of at least 500 feet and a red reflector on the back of the bicycle visible from distances between 50 and 300 feet. "It is very important for all bicycles to have a light and reflector," she said. "It is hard enough to see a bicyclist at night with a light, but if they don't have a light or reflector they are really risking getting hurt." Kretzschmar and LeMay agree that the laws are made for everyone's safety, whether a person is the bicyclist, motorist or pedestrian. "It is important for bicyclists to realize that we enforce these laws to keep people safe, not for revenue or because we enjoy it," LeMay said. Bicycle safety should not be practiced by just the bicyclist, though. LeMay said pedestri ans and motorists should also respect the rights of the bicyclist. By following some of these tips, campus ac cidents could be substantially decreased and even become non-existent, she said. • Pedestrians should use cross walks when crossing streets. Some of the accidents that oc cur on campus are the result of pedestrians not paying attention when crossing the streets. • Pedestrians should yield to bicyclists as well. • Motorists must be aware that A&M has a tremendous amount of pedestrians and bicy clists. They should anticipate a bicyclist's moves. LeMay said that if everyone works together and obeys the laws the continuing complaints and accidents could be eliminated. "We should work together and exercise common sense, courtesy and obey the law," LeMay said. state traffic laws Department dedicates month to increasing safety awareness By Troy D. Hall The Battalion Texas A&M's University Po lice has declared November "Bicy cle Safety Month" to make faculty, staff and students aware that they too must abide by Texas traffic laws when cycling on public streets or they risk the same penal ties as a motorist. University police will dedicate November to educating A&M fac ulty, staff and students about bicy cle laws, safety and security. The department is sponsoring a bicycle seminar targeted toward adults. The seminar is part of the Texas Department of Public Safety bicycle safety program, said Cpl. Betty LeMay of the University Crime Prevention Unit. Trooper Eddie Carmon, trainer of the DPS Crime Prevention Unit, will conduct the seminar from 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in 301 Rudder. She said this type of program educates not only the people who attend, but these adults also filter what they have learned to their children. "If we educate the adults, they will in turn educate the children," LeMay added. The seminar is part of a Uni versity police effort to end traffic accidents involving bicycles. "Some of the worst accidents I have seen since I began working with the University police have in volved bicycles," she said. Up until now. University po lice have only been issuing warn ing citations to bicyclists not abid ing by the law. "Very soon, we will start issu ing Justice of the Peace citations for persons breaking Texas traffic laws," said Lt. Bert Kretzschmar of the University police. Office aids students with learning disabilities By Susan Maguire The Battalion Dyslexic students at Texas A&M might not realize that services are avail able to them through the Texas A&M Support Services office that will help make their college career a little less stressful. The office currently helps 76 students with learning disabilities, which include dyslexic students, by offering such things as extended time tests, a volunteer read ing program and help in finding tutors. Gail Walters, coordinator of Support Services, said her office has no way of knowing how many dyslexic students choose not to use the service. "Students must voluntarily come in and register," she said. To receive help, once admitted to the University, students must bring docu mentation of their disability to the office on the north side of Hart Hall, she said. Walters said learning disabilities in clude developmental problems in read ing, writing or math, or any combination of the three. "The beauty of our program is that we provide an individualized approach for each student," she said. "We will help students negotiate with professors, to find the best way for students to perform." Walters said her office will help stu dents find note takers or tutors if they are needed, and the Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC) will provide the fund ing if the students fall under TRC guide lines. Walters stressed that all of the learn ing disabled students who visit her office must meet the same standards as other students when being admitted to A&M. "The students here are qualified stu dents with a handicap, and we try to ac commodate those students," Walters said. Debbie Gerick, a dyslexic student, said she needs three or four hours to take tests that would take a normal student one hour, and said she must have someone rewrite her papers for her. "If I didn't have someone do that for me, they would be unreadable," she said. "I drop letters and reverse letters all the time." Gerick said she takes between 12 and 15 hours each semester, depending on how much time she wants to spend on her classes. She estimated that she studies three hours for every hour that a non-dis abled student would need. She said Support Services has also served as a liaison between her and pro fessors when she ran into trouble with them. "Some professors don't understand, and that is very frustrating." she said. "Ninety-nine percent of them are excel lent though." Gerick said that she likes going to Support Services because of their reputa tion. "Tests come in to the office sealed and tests go out sealed," Gerick said. Friday, phili Allan Rinat casin and: Date more 260-' more EUR 1 part) Jean more CAM meet more INTE inten givin scho 11/8 or 11 215 more UNI Fellc Acac A&H 694C BAF prait Call MUt pray Reg at 4 torn DEI Appl Wor Nov Hill serv TE) natr cost p.m boo 845 OFf Ros info INT Me< 2nd wel Coi Bull CHEESE i BREHDSTICKS ! MED $4.85 I LG $6.25 I Call 76-GUMBY SS | Above Prices Do Not Include Tax. Offer May Expire w/out Notice ■ The Texas A&M University Student Publications Board is accepting applications for Editor, The Battalion Spring 1992 The spring editor will serve from January 19, 1992, through May 8, 1992. Qualifications for editor of The Battalion are: 2.0 overall and major GPR at the time of taking office and during the term of office; At least one year experience in a responsible editorial position on The BatUiUon or comparable student newspaper, OR At least one year editorial experience on a commercial newspaper, OR At least 12 hours journalism, including JOUR 203 and 303 (Media Writing I and II) or equivalent. The 12 hours must include completion of or enrollment in JOUR 301 (Mass Comm Law) or equivalent. Application forms are available in the Journalism Depart ment office, 230 Reed McDonald Building, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Completed forms must be submit ted to Francia Eldridge, 230 Reed McDonald, by 5 p.m. Friday, November 8, 1991. Applicants will be interviewed during the Student Publications Board Meeting on Wednesday, November 13. GET ADVICE FROM SUCCESSFUL JC. FORMER AGGIES 'Tfr at - *- 'Tfr THE MSC MBA/LAW COMMITTEE SYMPOSIUM WHERE: MEMORIAL STUDENT CENTER WHEN: NOVEMBER 9, 1991 TIME: 10:00A.M. TO 5:00P.M. ***** ‘TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. OR AT TABLES IN THE MSC. BLOCKER. AND ZACHRY JUNIORS Have your picture taken for the 1992 Aggieland Right Now! at AR Photography ' 707 Texas Ave. Next to Taco Cabana M-F 9am-5pm v. Buy your 1992 Aggieland in 230 RDMC! The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of: Associated Press Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Texas Intercollegiate Press Association The Battalion Editorial Board Editorial Policy Editor-in-Chief Timm Doolen Associate Editors Holly Becka Todd Stone City Editor Sean Frerking Lifestyles Editor Yvonne Salce News Editors Douglas Pils Jason Morris Opinion Editor Carrie Cavalier Photo Editor Karl Stolleis Sports Editor Scott Wudel The Battalion is published daily except Saturday, Sunday, holidays, exam periods, and when school is not in session during fall and spring semesters; publication is Tuesday through Friday during the summer session. The Battalion is a non-profit, self support ing newspaper operated as a community ser vice to Texas A&M University and Bryan-Col- lege Station. The Battalion news department is man aged by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student Publications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. The newsroom phone number is 845-3316. ICoupon Expires 11-30-911 ROCKYANOS PIZZA! PIZZA • BAKED PASTA • SALAD • DESSERT! ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Low Prices Every Single Day 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Now Serving Beer and Wine • Big Screen TV Carry Out and Delivery • Come By or Call Us ”We Won’t Stick You Up!” 1037 S. 1 EXAS • 693-4-188 Across from Main Campus Entrance AGGIE RING ORDERS Orders will be taken on the 2nd Floor of the CLAYTON W. WILLIAMS, JR. ALUMNI CENTER until November 15. 1991 for March '92 delivery. Undergraduate students may order a ring if they have: 1. 95 credit hours completed or will be completed at the end of this semester. ( If you are including hours registered for Fall '91, they must be from A&M only.) 2. 30 credit hours must have been completed in residence at A&M prior to Fall '91, if you are a transfer student. ( Hours registered cannot be considered completed.) 3. A 2.0 cumulative grade point average at A&M. 4. Your transcript docs not have any registration or transcript blocks for past due fees, loans, parking tickets, etc. Graduate students may order a ring if: 1. You are a December '91 degree candidate. ( Your order will be accepted contingent upon your December '91 degree being conferred.) 2. Your transcript must not have any registration or transcript blocks for past due fees, loans, parking tickets, etc. Come to the Ring Office in the Alumni Center no later than November 14. 1991. to fill out the form for an eligibility check to be made. However, we suggest you come in as soon as possible, in the event a problem exists. This may afford you an opportunity to resolve it by the November 15 deadline. When you come into the office and fill out the form, you will be given a date to return to check on your status and order your ring, if qualified. V The full amount is due when ordering, payable in cash or by check only. J Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Texas A&M student body, administrators, faculty or the A&M Board of Regents. Subscriptions Advertising Advertising information can be obtained from the advertising department at 845-2696 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by visiting the office in room 015 Reed McDonald building. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. Phone: 845-2611. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843- 1111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. Advertising Manager Patricia Heck Adviser Robert Wegener DE Enl Bac Dei info DE Apf Rex No leai on Mo Ap cla: Stu 1.1.1 U Conti i in acti and tb Wi also e show thefts. 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