P State & Local Page 2 The Battalion Monday, November 11, 1991 Institute gives world-wide view A&M foundation deals with international affairs, issues JAY JANNER/The Battalion Ron Hatchett, deputy director for programs at the Mosher Institute. The institute informs people about international policy. By Melinda Cox The Battalion It's located at the entrance of Texas A&M's Research Park and its sole concern is international affairs and issues. It has helped establish the A&M campus as a center for in ternational research and could link the University with the rest of the world. It is the Mosher Institute for Defense Studies and Dr. Ron Hatchett is its deputy director for programs. Hatchett says the primary ob jective of the institute is to help inform people on issues the country is facing in international affairs and policy. He says this form of education is important because the better informed peo ple are, the better decisions they will make. The Mosher Institute devel ops its objective and helps in form the public through the re search done by “think tanks," Hatchett says. Think tanks are small groups of people who analyze and re search different regions of the world and the governmental, cultural and economical aspects of that region. Research is con ducted on all levels of the gov ernment from local to federal. Members of think tanks are not elected by the government to conduct research; they are hired by institutes or organizations. Cory Ortigoza is a member of one such 'think tank.' He is an undergraduate student who works for the institute and fo cuses on the Soviet Union, con centrating on the country's do mestic situation. Ortigoza has published sever al articles in rtewspapers around the country, such as the Hous ton Chronicle and the San Diego Union. He says he pollects most of his research from the Sterling C. Evans Library and personal con tacts of his own or through Hatchett. He says he plans to ac company Hatchett on a trip to Russia in November to gather more research and establish more contacts. Hatchett says the research done by think tanks is important because the demographic center is shifting to the Sunbelt states and Texas needs an articulate in ternational voice. This voice comes from com mentary and published articles researched at the institute by think tanks. Because valuable re search is being published by those involved with the Mosher Institute, the voice that is need ed comes from A&M. He says A&M is an appropriate area of focus for this international voice. "No university has a better record than A&M in terms of. servicing the national interests and servicing the national de fense interests and so it seems to me that Texas A&M is the logi cal place for that focus," Hatch ett says. He adds that A&M supports this idea with a variety of inter national programs and educa tional connections with universi ties around the world, but says the University needs a center for international security and for eign policy. Hatchett says he wants the Mosher Institute to be the nucle us for that element of A&M's in ternational character, adding that he believes the University should have a degree in Interna tional Studies. Hatchett says the school should emphasize international policy and affairs because of the attention these areas receive from President Bush. It would not be hard to struc ture such-a-school because the University^Tf+eady has many staff mem tiers ca pab^pf putting together an integrated program that would result in students re ceiving training for international relations, Hatchett says. But such a program requires money and that is what the insti tute has little of. Hatchett says the institute re ceives no money from A&M. All funds are provided by Ed Mosh er, Class of '28. The institute was established in 1988 and Mosher donates $175,000 a year and will until 1998. The idea for the institute came about at an A&M football game. Mosher was talking to then A&M President Frank Van diver, and asked him what the University wasn't doing to be come a top school. Vandiver said the University wasn't focus ing on international issues. This gave Mosher the idea for the in stitute. Budgetary restrictions are one of the reasons A&M doesn't provide funds to the institute, he says. But Hatchett says he is en couraged that changes might be made because Mobley has the vision and knows an interna tional focus is the way to go. However, Hatchett adds that A&M cannot have a strong inter national voice unless the insti tute is provided with enough funds to do the research. "The lack &f sufffwrt from governmental agencies and the university limits the institute in what we are able to do," Hatch ett says. Redistricting plan faces unsure future WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department is expected to rule Tuesday on the validity of Texas' state House redistricting plan, but the verdict is far from the end of the road for the controver sial map. Even if the Justice Department decides the plan does not dilute minority voting strength, several legal hurdles must be cleared be fore it can be used. The House plan is one of four approved earlier this year by the Legislature. Only the state Board of Education map has not drawn the ire of minority groups and Re publicans, who are fighting the legislative and congressional plans in several legal venues. Challenges are under way in a South Texas state district court and federal courts in Austin, Brownsville and Washington, D.C. The Justice Department, which will rule on the three other maps later this month, likely will find the House plan invalid, some con tend. "We think we're going to pre vail not only in the Department of Justice but in the courthouse/' said Fred Meyer, chairman of the Texas GOP. An attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Edu cational Fund, which also filed suit against the House plan, agreed. "I don't think they are going to preclear the House plan," said MALDEF's Judith Sanders Castro. But the attorney general's office expressed confidence that no ma jor stumbling blocks will block ap proval of the plan. "What we are hoping is that if there are any objections that they will be minor objections and that we can resolve those problems (and) make whatever correction or compromise we need to make with the Justice Department," said Ron Dusek, a spokesman for Texas Attorney General Dan Morales. Galleries reopen MSC Forsyth Center features glass artwork By Melody Dunne The Battalion The MSC Forsyth Center Gal leries celebrated its grand reopen ing this weekend, showcasing the glass art collection of Bill and Irma Runyon. Runyon, Class of '35, donated the works in 1988 which feature a variety of 19th and 20th century glasswork.The Forsyth Center Galleries opened in Febuary 1989. Timothy Novak, curator of the galleries, said the Runyon's art collection is the largest monetary gift Texas A&M has received. The galleries closed early dur ing the summer and reopened al most one month ago after con struction was completed on dis play cases. Novak said he would like peo ple to know that there are many new things to see in the collection. Of about 1,140 art objects, only 150 have been seen before due to space in the galleries. Glass cases have been built in the galleries to allow the smaller objects to be ful ly seen. Included in the collection are a diverse collection of American paintings and one of the world's best collections of English Cameo glass, Novak said. The painting collections consist of western scene paintings from many major artists including Rem ington and Sharp. American Impressionists from Mary Cassatt to Childe Hassam are also included in the collection. The MSC Forsyth Center Gal leries are located in the southwest corner of the MSC across from the post office. Admission is free. Monday M SAN patients i Texas Bi mental ; using ps atrists a avoid he Thet ny denk some of atric ho; of payi' and keej against lectinsu Sinci has pro' for abo membei Plan, a 1 NA slu by CAP -NAS. sail wit and uni tial. Th money. Shu order ec percent cuts be start of sponse shortfal "A f eared udget last we< Wei era, an lining, penny-; drastic mothbc ties, sir shuttle and tr flights. "Fc shuttle pabilit ware, t the kn< flights said \ NASA' tT ULCERATIVE COLITIS If you’ve been diagnosed with proctitis, colitis, or left sided inflammatory bowel disease, VIP Research is seeking partici pants for a one month research study. Participants can qualify either on or off of medication. $400.00 will be paid to those individuals who complete this study. CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH, INC. V 776-1417 ' Do YOU have the RIGHT STUFF to be the first Mr. AGGIE? Applications due: Monday, Nov. 11 at 5 PM Please pick up and return applications to the Miss TAMU Pageant Committee cube in the MSC Student Programs Office (MSC 216). For more info, contact Penny Ditton 845-1515. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY The University Chamber Series Monday, November 11 - Rudder Theatre, 8:00 p.m. Pianist 1 Pianist Abbey Simon Internationally renowned concert and recording artist “Phenomenal! Dazzling!” New York Times “A spellbinder!” New Yorker “Aristocratic Playing” Los Angeles Times “Phrasing as natural as breathing... relaxed eloquence and command” London Times Philips, EMI, and Vox ! Turnabout Records Tickets available at the MSC Box Office and Foley’s. Adults $8.00 Students & Senior Citizens $5.00 Parking available in the new University Center Parking Garage. (50