State & Local
8§™
Page 2
The Battalion
Wednesday, October 14,
VVed
JENNIFER IOC CARD/Thc Battalion
Stacy Konderla, a senior elementary education
major from Bryan, takes time out to read a
children’s book at the book fair sponsored by
the TSEA located at the base of Harrington
Tower. Books are supplied for school ages
ranging from kindergarten to high school, and all
proceeds are to benefit TSEA. The fair will last
until Friday. For more information about the
TSEA, call Amy Melbar at 696-3368, or ask for
information at the fair.
Health Tios
Al
Roommate remedies
By AMY LAMB
Special to THE BATTALION
Is the space in your dorm
room not big enough for all
three of you? Are you and your
roommate complete opposites?
Are you considering moving?
Before you make any drastic de
cisions, try these suggestions to
make your life and your room
mate's easier.
Discuss personal expectations
with your roommate. Find out
what things make your room
mate happy. Ask about personal
space and how he or she handles
stress in daily life.
You might want to sit down
and just talk about the above
suggestions and any other diffi
culties you might have. For ex
ample, inquire about personal
values such as smoking, drink
ing, study habits, sleeping
habits, overnight guests, and ex
tracurricular activities. The ma
jority of problems can be re
solved if you talk them out.
If problems do arise, try these
solutions for arguments: When
you complain about a problem,
have a plan to solve it. Be patient
and listen to what is being said.
Make sure when an argument
does arise, that you discuss it in
private.
Consider the act of compro
mise with each other. With com
promise neither roommate has
to fully give in. The solutions
may not be right for you, but do
not neglect the problems by ig
noring them.
Being able to live together re
quires working together and ac
cepting your differences in a
positive manner.
Negative feelings thatan
should be discussed and unie
stood. One way of fulfilling
requirement is by fillingoi
Roommate Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights lists spetf
rights to be discussed byej
roommate. It includes info®
tion about study times, clean
vironments, when to host guest
and personal privacy.
This is a helpful docume
that eliminates unwanted sties
sors.
These are availablefrc;
your resident adviser,Tem
A&M Counseling Services®
the Health Education Centeii;
the A.P. Beutel Health Center.
For additional assistance
please contact yourarearesi
dence hall or come by the
Education Center, Room014,1
the health center.
Supreme Court upholds rulings on flag burning
[ustices reject attempts to overturn previous decisions in Texas free speech
t- tt ^ ^ - ^ down a law passed by Congress written on them. "The state of Texas ha
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS a
case
WASHINGTON - The
Supreme Court on Tuesday re
fused to strip away the free-
speech protections of those who
bum or deface the American flag
as a political protest.
Rejecting without comment an
invitation to overturn its previous
rulings, the court turned down a
bid to revive a Texas ban on flag
burning.
The state law was enacted
shortly after the court invalidated
an earlier version in 1989.
The high court extended consti
tutional protection to flag-burning
by 5-4 margins in 1989 and 1990.
The second decision struck
down a law passed by Congress
after the earlier ruling on the
Texas law sparked a firestorm of
criticism.
Since the two rulings, two jus
tices who voted in the majority in
both cases — William J. Brennan
and Thurgood Marshall — have
retired and been replaced by Jus
tices David H. Souter and
Clarence Thomas.
The new Texas law makes it a
crime to damage, deface, mutilate
or bum the U.S. flag or Texas state
flag.
Robert Lynn Jimenez was
charged in Midland with violating
the law in February 1990 when ar
rested for possessing two U.S.
flags and two Texas flags with ob
scenities and Satanic symbols
written on them.
A trial judge and a state appeals
court ruled that the law violated
the First Amendment, which
guarantees freedom of speech.
The Texas Court of Criminal Ap
peals rejected the Midland County
prosecutor's appeal.
The appeal acted on Tuesday
urged the justices to reverse their
previous rulings.
"While defacing and mutilating
the United States nag may involve
some form of expressive conduct,
it is clear that not every form of
expression is protected by the
First Amendment," county attor
ney Mark H. Dettman said.
He cited rulings that upheld
bans on child pornography,
"fighting words" and defamation.
"The state of Texas has a legiti
mate interest in preserving the
symbols of national and state uni
ty," Dettman said, adding that
"flag desecration represents that
type of violent assault upon the
deepest feelings and sensitivities
of our citizens . . . sufficient to jus
tify the protection of our national
symbol of unity."
Both the 1989 and 1990 deci
sions were authored by Brennan.
He had been joined by Marshall
and Justices Flarry A. Blackmun,
Anthony M. Kennedy and An
tonin Scalia.
Chief Justice William H. Rehn-
quist and Justices Byton R. White,
John Paul Stevens and Sandra
Day O'Connor dissented in both
cases.
Promotion policy
for Dallas police
unfair, judge says
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Treaty prompts interest in border woes
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON— The proposed trade
treaty with Mexico is far from a reality, but an
already realized gain is the heightened focus
on the U.S.-Mexican border.
It won't be until next summer that Congress
will vote on the North American Free Trade
Agreement, which would eliminate over 15
years barriers to the movement of goods, ser
vices and investment across the' continent.
But lawmakers from border states already
are using the pact as leverage to gain congres
sional approval for programs to improve the
border's environment and maximize trade op
portunities. One of those is Rep. Kika de la
Garza, who, as chairman of the House Agricul
ture Committee, is playing a leading role in
consideration of the free trade agreement.
The South Texas Democrat last week urged
the Bush administration to modify the 2,000-
page accord to give a higher priority to pesti
cide issues. De la Garza, who represents a ma
jor horticultural growing area, is advocating
the creation of an independent pesticide com
mittee to arbitrate differences between the
United States and Mexico.
While he has yet to achieve that goal, de la
Garza this year successfully pushed through
Congress proposals to establish a government-
citizen environmental panel and a free trade
think tank.Both measures are part of de la
Garza's Enterprise for the Americas Initiative
Act of 1992, which House aides said President
Bush is expected to sign.
The "Good Neighbor Environmental Board"
would advise the president and Congress on
environmental and infrastructure needs along
the border, issuing reports on an annual basis.
"We need a formal mechanism by which the
people who live along the U.S.-Mexico border
— who breathe its air and drink its water —
can participate in the decision-making
process," de la Garza said.
"This legislation will ensure public input
into the setting of government environmental
and infrastructure priorities in the states along
the border."
The board would consist of representatives
of federal and state agencies, as well as repre
sentatives from community development, aca
demic, health, environmental and other non
government orgamzations.
"I think there is definitely a need for such a
panel and for citizen involvement," said Peter
Emerson, an Austin-based senior economist
with the Environmental Defense Fund.
Emerson said the environmental board
should include Mexican input.
"What they do affects us, and what we do
affects Mexicans," he said. "If we are to be ef
fective with these transborder problems, we
have to involve both countries."
But a spokesman for de la Garza said that's
not possible. "Mexico is a sovereign country. The
Mexicans will create most likely an environmen
tal board for themselves," he said, speaking on
condition of anonymity.
DALLAS — A judge on Tues
day struck down as discriminato
ry the police department's policy
for promoting officers, saying the
system is unfair to blacks and oth
er minorities.
Visiting state District Judge
Robert Moss, a former state family
court justice in Dallas, said the
promotions system also discrimi
nates against white officers.
But he added that the black
plaintiffs proved discrimination
against them.
"This process is obviously
flawed by the lack of standards
and needs correction," Moss said.
"In sum, the plaintiffs have met
their burden of proving a prima
facie case of discrimination."
The judge's ruling freezes pro
motion for sergeant and orders
the city to bring the court a new
system for approval.
Police Chief Bill Rathburn re
ferred all questions to the city at
torney's office, which did not im
mediately return a telephone call
from The Associated Press.
The Texas Police Officers Asso
ciation, the black police group
that brought the case, said it has
waited for decades for such a rul-
that are not working righl
police department right now.
Moss set a Nov. 3 hearinji
the department to present as
promotions plan.
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The ruling is the latest oi supplif
versy surrounding the force.
Demonstrators havegatta try, Ric
at the Dallas police southeastst
station every Saturday since 1
bor Day weekend to
they contend is unfairtreatme
of black officers
There have been controvers
arrests at the pasttwoprotefs
eluding, the arrestfifcityca
format
suranc
ting an
Cun
by the
control
man I )on Hicks, who isblad by the
weekend
Hicks, who says he after!
the rally in his official capes - cized tl
charges that he was arresfel
"payback” for the protests,
He has said he plans tolilij
complaint with the U.S.De|®
ment of Justice.
Rathburn on Mondavi)
Hicks' arrest "should neveiki
occurred" and ordered an in®
investigation.
But he refused to blameif*
vidual officers, adding(1^
"should not have been
ing.
"I think it took a lot of courage
on the part of this judge to stand
in the face of the citizens of Dal
las," said TPOA attorney Donald
Hill.
"There is this presumption that
the police department does every
thing right. There are some things
position."
Rathburn angered poto 1
Oct. 3 by ordering the release*
black demonstrator whohad^
arrested for striking an office*'
Rathburn said he ordered*
man released because
riot.
The City Council scheduled
emergency public hearing^
Tuesday afternoon to discuss 1
problems.
The Battalion
ATLANTIS TILLMAN, Editor in Chief
STEVE O’BRIEN, Managing Editor
JASON LOUGHMAN, Opinion Editor
MEREDITH HARRISON, News Editor
HEIDI SAUER, News Editor
TODD BLACKMON, Arts & Entertainment
Editor
GARY CARROLL, City Editor
J. DOUGLAS FOSTER, Sports
Editor
CHRIS WHITLEY, Sports 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, Pavid 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.
LONDON » PARIS ♦ WASHINGTON
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B OSTON
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