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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1992)
State & Local Mond; Page 2 The Battalion Monday, Aprils Teachers remember Perot's efforts to change education AUSTIN (AP) - Those who fought alongside and against Ross Perot as he tried to change public education in Texas are not surprised by the Dallas billionaire's flirtation with a presidential bid. Perot's last crusade, however, left the two sides with different Perot impressions. His leadership of the Select Committee on Public Education suggests how Perot might act on the national stage, as his supporters try to get him on the November ballot as an independent presidential candidate. Perot spent more than $1 million in the school reform fight. Imagine what he could do with a $100 million campaign and targets such as Congress. ''His dogged determination is his greatest strength," said Raymon Bynum, who was sacked as Texas education commissioner in the wake of Perot's reforms. "It's also his greatest weakness." Many people liked Perot because he got results. Others felt alienated by his autocratic methods. "He was exciting and dynamic and very surprising," said John Cole, president of the Texas Federation of Teachers, the only teacher group that supported Perot's education battle. "It will be well to remember that hurricanes and tornadoes could also be described by those adjectives." In 1983-84, Perot blew away the state's education establishment after Democratic Gov. Mark White named him to head a committee on education. Perot attacked the premium placed on athletics: coaches making more than teachers, students playing sports despite failing courses, class time lost to pep rallies and extra activities. When the Texas Education Agency hesitated to tell Perot how many principals had previously been coaches, he made up a number. "1 started saying in speeches it was 80 percent," Perot said at the time. "That got 'em jumping. 'No way,' they said. 'It's only a little over 50.'" Perot championed the controversial "no pass, no play" rule that bars students from extracurricular activities for six weeks if they fail a class. Tornado touches down in Trinity HOUSTON (AP) — A tornado touched down north of Houston in Trinity Sunday afternoon, causing a three-hour blackout in most of Trinity County and damaging the local high school and several homes, police said. No injuries were reported from the tornado that was spotted at 5 p.m. said John Raiford, a dispatcher with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office. However, electricity was knocked out for most of Trinity's 2,648 residents for about three hours, Raiford said. Windows and the roof of the gymnasium at Trinity High School were damaged, forcing officials to cancel Monday classes, said County Judge Jimmy Thornton. Several homeowners also reported some damage, Raiford said. Elsewhere, a thunderstorm near Fulshear, about 30 miles west of Houston, produced 60 mph winds and golf ball-size hail. Orchard in Fort Bend County also reported similar storms, west of Houston. No injuries or serious damage were reported at any of the sites, according to county officials. The Jasper Sheriff's Office reported hail 11/2 inches in diameter in Ebenezer, 10 miles northwest of Jasper. Jasper is about 130 miles northeast of Houston. m ?f-rf GN, j • V. / :>',f ■ w .. 'Ik >Vi. BILLY MORAN/The Battalion Puttin’ on the Ritz Bobby Hayes, 12, of Bryan practices his putting at the Texas A&M golf course clubhouse Sunday. Hayes has been playing golf for four or five years and is on the Sam Rayburn Junior High School golf team. Truck cm awaits tria for bus era City council to vote on rebuilding beach GALVESTON (AP) - The vanished beach below the island city's sea wall may be rebuilt if a city council vote goes as ‘expected this week. I The council is set to approve building a new 300-foot-wide beach from 10th to 61st Streets along Seawall Boulevard by next spring. Officials foresee the $5 million, 4-mile project as just a first phase in rebuilding all of Galveston's eroded beaches. Residents have long talked about restoring the seashore, the last vestiges of which were ripped away by Hurricane Carla in 1961. Supporters of the renourishment plan believe the council action would be the first step toward bringing the resort town out of the economic doldrums and spurring Residents look forward to restoration of shore; official evaluates economic benefit for Galveston renewal along its shabby eastern beach front. "I cannot think of a project under consideration now that will have a greater economic benefit for Galveston and Galveston County than new beaches in front of the sea wall," said state Rep. Mike Martin, D-Galveston, who has helped bring the project financing to a vote. "When you put a 300-foot beach in there and people find out about it, they're going to flock to the coast." Finally getting the concept off the ground took years of work by ardent advocates such as Russ Eitel, co-chairman Beach of the Galveston County Preservation Association. It also took last year's passage of the Texas Coastal Zone Management Act and the vigorous support of Col. Brink Miller, the Galveston U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district commander. And it took an unprecedented consensus of the island's often-fractious interest groups to agree on a way to raise the $2.5 million local share of the project cost. The federal government would pick up the rest of the tab through the Corps' ship channel dredging budget. The Coastal Zone Management Act allows issuance of Texas Water Development Board bonds for erosion control projects such as the Galveston beach renourishment plan, Martin said. The plan calls for issuance of $2.5 million worth of bonds backed initially by part of the city's hotel-motel tax revenues. HOUSTON (AP) -1 driver charged inthedea; Rio Grande Valley stui awaiting trial nearly after Texas' worstsdi; accident. Ruben Perez, 28, is ate running a stop sign whit; a 22-ton Dr Pepper tracts; The truck collided*!; Mission Independent! District bus on Sept. 21,® Plea negotiations aresii conducted. But a public tug between Hidalgo Counfti Attorney Rene Guerra presiding judge in the destroy any plea-bargar The Houston Chronide in Sunday editions. A May 4 trial date has but more than 100 motions filed by Perez Joseph Connors, may trial back. The judge earliest his court scheduk allow for a lengthy trial is or October. Guerra said he has three plea-bargain including a deal thatwi Perez to plead guilty misdemeanor and sene si as 90 days in jail. In the accident, 83-passenger school bus- aboard veered off the plunged into a flooded drowning 19 studenS causing the deaths others. There have been sh hearings since Perez was on 21 counts of invo manslaughter in Novembrj He is free on bond. But as the matterdi appears Perez may not jail time. The prosecutor, t vowed that Perezwoi time in prison, nowsayslifl will probably be disp through a misdemeasi plea. VEGE meat- Chris NATL ASSO oppor inforn 847-5 CARE this s prepa strate Servic semin benefi p.m. ii for mo AGGII promo are at i PI SIC 50CIE :all M Mayor Barbara Crews said Friday she expects council members to vote to finance the project this week. The sand for the new beach would come from up to 1.5 million cubic yards of dredge material from the Corps' regular 1993 dredging of Bolivar Roads, the entrance to Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico, and from an anchorage area in Bolivar Roads used by ships awaiting berths at area docks. CORRECTII A headline in Fill Battalion incorrectly! Donnie Bowman was2 to a state office, when actually appointed I Texas office a federal c The Battalion re error. The Battalion USPS 045-360 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. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-1111. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student Publications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building. The newsroom phone number is 845-3316. Fax: 845-2647. A University Lecture WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO THE BUFFALO A NEW INTERPRETATION r Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the contributor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Texas A&M student body, adminis trators, faculty or the A&M Board of Regents. Advertising: For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call 845-0569. Advertising offices are in 015 Reed McDonald and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-5408. Subscriptions: Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 845-2611. Prof. Dan Louie Flores Texas Tech University DEPRESSION STUDY Are you currently taking Prozac* to treat your depression? VIP Res is recruiting individuals who are currently taking Prozac* to partidp! a research study of an investigational antidepressant medici Participants who qualify and complete the study will be paid$12(!| more information, call CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH, INC.® 776-1417 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 301 Rudder Tower Reception immediately following CarePlus Medical Center's new location at 2411 Texas Ave. & Southwest Pkwy. in College Station. CarePlus Medical Center is moving to a new location at Texas Avenue and Southwest Parkway in College Station. Improved facilities and parking mean added service and convenience for our patients. As always, CarePlus Medical Center offers affordable medical care plus professional service. Open 7 days a week until 8 p.m. CarePlus^tft Medical Center Currently at 1712 Southwest Pkwy College Station 696-0683 Interested in Public Relations? The MSC Public Relations Committee is now accepting applications for membership Pick up an application at the information desks at either entrance to the Student Programs Office f216 MSCJ. Applications are due Monday. April 20. by 5 p.m. J r GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER STllf Individuals are being recruited for a research Generalized Anxiety Disorder. If you experience^ or would like to find out more about this study, Research. $200.00 will be paid to qualified vol who enroll and complete this study. CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH, INC.® 776-1417 ULCERATIVE COLITIS VIP Research is seeking individuals with ulcerative cols| you've been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and you're • years of age or older, you may qualify for a five monthstudjij a currently available medication. $200.00 will be paid to IW who complete this study. CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH, INC.® 776-1417 rr GENITAL HERPES INFECTION Individuals with genital herpes infection are being recruited!o i: | research study of an investigational antiviral medication, would like to find out more about this study, call VIP,Reseat A monetary incentive will be paid to qualified volunteers* enroll and complete this study. CALL VOLUNTEERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH, INC.® 776-1417 BRA2 Lectur 5.m. a lore i 3APTI fellows Oollec liscipl lain. ExCE EDUC applic Respo the 92. Ap Mu Depar ervic 862-2( in of ALCOI 111:30 < for mo CLASS com mi the cl: