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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1992)
) \ Local Page 2 Hundreds oppose bullet train at rally THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUSTIN — Hundreds of people protesting the Texas bullet-train project rallied at the Capitol Mon day to petition Gov. Ann Richards and applaud lawmakers who sup port their aims. "Before it's too late, stop the Texas High Speed Rail," said a sign at the rally by DERAIL, which stands for Demanding Ethics, Responsibility and Ac countability in Legislation. The group presented petitions to Richards' staff that they said were signed by 17,665 people against the project by Texas TGV Corp., a private consortium of French and American investors. "It's a boondoggle," West phalia resident Jerry Thornton said. And he said farmers and ranchers aren't the only ones con cerned about the proposal and its possible impact. "This is not a group of pitch- forks and hoes trying to keep everyone off of their property. What we're asking for is justice," Thornton, an administrator for a Waco medical practice, told the crowd estimated at about 40t) by Capitol police. Thornton said he believed it was closer to 650. Those at the rally were de scribed as mostly from rural com munities along the bullet train's route, but DERAIL members said people from various backgrounds oppose the project. "This is not a rural versus ur ban issue. It's a right versus wrong issue," said Gail Randle, who owns a Geronimo feed store. She said protesters don't oppose the idea of high-speed rail but are against the current project. Among other items, protesters said they were concerned about the way the franchise was award ed by the state High-Speed Rail Authority, which is an appointed rather than elected body; and the project's potential impact on property values and access to land. They also said Texas TGV should be required to meet a Dec. 31 deadline to come up with $170 million of financing for the $6.8 billion project, which is proposed to connect Dallas, Houston and San Antonio with trains that could run 200 mph. The corporation earlier this month said it wouldn't meet the deadline because of holdups, that were not its fault. Texas TGV President David Rece defended the project, saying the franchise was awarded after an extensive and careful process. The corporation has said it will work with landowners to mini mize harm. The project is meant to meet Texas' transportation needs and would create jobs, Rece added. He said of the protesters, "Just because they don't agree with the decision, they want to discredit the people who made the decision." DERAIL gave its petitions to Clint Winters, Richards' trans portation adviser. There were boos at his name from people apparently dis pleased that Richards herself was not present. Richards had prior commitments, said Joe Holley, a spokesman for the governor. FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDY ABROAD | LOANS Q£ g GRANTS x u cn Cheri Zdziarski, Study Abroad Financial Aid Advisor, hosts an Informative Meeting for students studying abroad on Texas A&M Study Abroad Programs. Come, Listen, Learn how Study Abroad can be financially in reach for YOU! Tuesday, October 13 3:00-4:00 pm 251 W. Bizzell Hall Study Abroad Programs, 161 W. Bizzell Hall, 845-0544 The Battalion ATLANTIS TILLMAN. Editor in Chief STEVE O’BRIEN, Managing Editor JASON LOUGHMAN, Opinion Editor GARY CARROLL, City Editor MEREDITH HARRISON, News Editor J. DOUGLAS FOSTER, Sports HEIDI SAUER, News Editor Editor TODD BLACKMON, Arts & Entertainment CHRIS WHITLEY, Sports Editor Editor RICHARD S. JAMES, Photo Editor Staff Members Reporters — Melody Dunne, Mark Evans, Todd Stone, Brandi Jordan, Cheryl Heller, Tanya Sasser, Robin Goodpaster, Juli Phillips, Tanya Williams, Julie Chelkowski, Monique Lunsford, Mack Harrision, and Will Healy. News desk — Kyle Burnett, Tracia Newbold, Jennifer Mentlik, David Thomas, Lance Holmes, Lauri Reysa and Jennifer Smith. Photographers — Darrin Hill, Jenny Matlack, Randy Nichols, Sandra Alvarado, Billy Moran, Jennifer Lockard, Ricardo S. Garcia and Robert Reed. Lifestyles writers — Susan Owen, Anas Ben-Musa, Tricia Martinez and Julie Polston. Sports writers— K. Lee Davis, Michael Plumer, Don Norwood and Ruly Medrano. Columnists — Anthony LoBaido, Stacy Feducia, Dwayne Purvis, Shawn Ralston, Matt Dickerson, Robert Vasquez, and Toni Garrard. Cartoonists — William Harrison, Thomas Deeney, George Nasr, and Clay Welch. Clerks — Darra Dees, Pejcharat Harvey, Shelley Rowton and Jamie Anderson. The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods), at Texas A&M University. 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. 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. Newsroom phone number is 845-3316. Fax: 845-2647. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the Opinion Page staff or the contributor and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Texas A&M Battalion editors, student body, administration, faculty or staff. 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. The Battalion Tuesday, October 13, Health Tips Tuesday Health Center warns against effects of iron deficienc By KRISTY GAMBRELL A.P. BEUTEL HEALTH CENTER Feeling tired and run-down lately? Weil at Texas A&M, logical explanations for that might be the test you spent all night studying for, the party you attended or Midnight Yell Practice. Another factor you might consider, though less likely, is your daily intake of iron. Of all the essential vitamins and minerals, iron is the one nutrient people have the most difficulty satisfying. The Recommended Daily Allowance is 10 milligrams for men and 15 milligrams for women. In the body this mineral plays an impor- buildir tant part in oxygen transport, tissue buUdmg, lipid homeostasis and healthy immune sys tem maintenance. If intake is too low, howev er, your body may respond, and you could feel the effects of iron deficiency anemia. One or more common symptoms include feeling tired, weakness, difficulty concentrat ing, sensitivity to cold, and decreased resis tance to infection (colds and flu). The incidence of iron deficiency anemia ranges from 10 percent to 20 percent in devel oped countries and is even higher in develop ing countries. In our society, several factors contribute to this problem. High consumption of snack foods which are often low in iron is one. For women, low-calorie dieting and monthly iron losses through menstruation play a role. Vegetarians are at risk because of the lack of meat in their diet. Special care must be taken for them to get the right combination of plant sources of iron. Athletes should also be aware that research has found iron losses to be higher in athletes than in nonathletes; heavy training increases the excretion of iron through sweat. If you feel your condition needs attention, a visit with your doctor is recommended. In general, most Americans should try to eat well-bal anced meals adequate in iron-rich foods. The best sources of iron are lean meats, dried beans and seeds and fortified cereals. Some fruits and vegetables such as raisins, strawberries, watermelon, spinach and broc coli also supply the mineral. For example, a meal consisting of three ounces of lean beef, one cup of cooked spinach, three-fourths cup of carrot-raisin sal ad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert will supply 11 milligrams of iron. Another meal of three ounces of bali cod, hushpuppies, and tossed salad, unfm nately contains very little iron, only abo: milligrams. To increase your body's abst? tion of iron, watch out for iron promote inhibitors. Foods rich in vitamin C enhance): body's use of iron, including them with): meals can be beneficial. Animal soura iron are more easily used by the body, if and tea, on the other hand, get in the way iron absorption and should be consumedlt tween meals if you have iron-poor blood The Health Education Center at theA: Beutel Health Center offers a variety of grams on health topics and maintainsaii source file of health information in many eas of health. Tours of the health center arealsoavai able Aggie R.E.A.C.H. (RepresentativesEd: eating About College Health) is a volunls student organization which helpspresa? health programs to other college students, Visit or call the Health Education Cents: room 016, A.P. Beutel Health Center,(I 845-1341, if you have general questionsak your health or need information for a da. paper, speech or report. Texas A&M receives computerized rehabilitation system By JACQUELINE MASON Contributing writer to THE BATTALION With a new muscle testing and training sys tem Texas A&M physical therapists can more easily and accurately administer physical ther apy to students, said an A&M physical thera pist. The $43,000 system, KIN-COM 125E Plus, is a fully computerized rehabilitation device used to test muscle strength. KIN-COM is good for any kind of injury in which a patient needs to strengthen a muscle, said Kelly Roberts, A&M's only full-time physical thera pist. It helps determine when a muscle be comes strong enough so that therapy is no longer needed, she said. KIN-COM consists of a computer terminal and a large, padded chair where the patient re ceives treatment. The Dynamometer Head, connecting the terminal and the chair, moni tors the patient's movement. When a patient applies force to KIN-COM, the device signals a range of motion, muscle tension and speed. "With the system you can exercise at specif ic speeds, and it tells you how much force you are exerting throughout a predetermined range of motion," Roberts said. The device can determine how much strength a person has from the hip to the an kle, for example, but it does not operatemEi neck or back, she said. It is a very safe madia because patients cannot overexert themsete The system also aids in comparing strengths of muscles, Roberts said. If resiil show the right leg is weaker than the left instance, then the therapist can determiaeiwi much therapy the right leg needs. KD can also compare a patient's strength mal values, Roberts said. Any A&M student, paying the healtliJ vices fee, is entitled to free physical therap sistance at the A.P. Beutel HealthCeft However, permission from the student's^ tor is required. £ > Plain a sor Don T is: plain a "99% i music is s though hf "The n putting s< Tomlinso class at B: position. "Songv evolution process. He saic borrow fr "Songv steal therr Tomlir Foster, wl Pride. "When anything linson sail eras soap them ve d< once Arts Society presents Street Jazz Workshop taught by Davyd Suber, a professional choreographer 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, October 12 in Read 268 free to Dance Arts Members only others $3.00 /f he Sc Make a Difference... roll roll mer rod Chairperson Application riow available^/ J ■d-xd’ Room 131 Student Services Buildiii {Fish Gamp office) For more information call 845-16? V Lev r pr MSC Political Forum Presents: The Politics of Race A Mr. John Impson of the Texas A&M History Dept. Speaks on the race issue and its effects on the Southern politics of the 1990*8. To be followed by an open discussion. Bring your own ideas and an open mind. Wednesday, October 14th in Room 231 of the MSC from 4:30 - 5:30 PM The views represented at this program do not necessarily represent those of the MSC and MSC Political Forum. J IMPERIAL CHINESE RESTAURANT "Everyone knows the importance of getting good value, but everyone knows the importance of comparing the difference® get good value." TRY IMPERIAL, YOU WILL KNOW THE DIFFERENCE! ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET Luncheon and Dinner 7 Days a Week 20 Different Tasty Foods & 8 Different Fruits Only OnePric* Luncheon 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 5 | Dinner 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. —- NIV -— Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. HWY30 Friday & Saturday ^ 1102 Harvey (409)764-0466 College Station, Texas 77840