V
The Battalion
Vol. 92 No. 107 (10 pages) 1893 - A Century of Service to Texas A&M - 1993 Thursday, March 4,1993
Bill gives A&M name to 4 schools
Students, alumni have differing opinions regarding proposed identity change
By JENNIFER SMITH
The Battalion
A rider attached to a state Senate appropri-’
ations bill that would change the names of
four Texas A&M University System schools is
causing mixed reaction throughout the state.
Richard Haas, who serves on the board of
directors of the Texas A&M Association of
Former Students, said giving A&M's name to
these universities does not benefit Texas
A&M.
"I don't think A&M is getting anything
from this," Haas said. "These schools are not
part of A&M, and they have built reputations
of their own."
If the name changes go into affect Texas
A&I would become Texas A&M University at
Kingville, Corpus Christi State University
would become Texas A&M University at Cor
ns Christi and Laredo State University would
ecome Texas A&M International University.
Some former students from these universi
ties oppose the name change.
Doug Vannoy, who served as the executive
director of the Texas A&I Alumni Association
from 1980 to 1991, said it is absolutely op
posed to the idea of adding A&M to its name.
"Texas A&I has a tradition of its own,"
Vannoy said. "Putting A&M in the name
makes us start off from scratch."
West Texas State University, which is
scheduled to become West Texas A&M Uni
versity on June 1 after 15 months of debate on
its name, would become Texas A&M Universi
ty at Canyon, according to the senate propos
al.
Dr. Barry Thompson, president of West
Texas State University, said after 15 months of
considering a name change, he would like to
see the system keep the name West Texas
A&M.
"Our name is now West Texas A&M Uni
versity," Thompson said. "We're proud of be
ing West Texas A&M University just like
A&M is proud of being Texas A&M at College
Station.
"That's the name that was chosen, and
that's the name we want to keep," he said.
"Since 1910 we've had West Texas in the
name, and that's what we support."
See Name change/Page 4
Religious cult leader waiting
on Instruction from God'
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WACO, — Authorities ap
peared to settle in Wednesday
for a long wait to the end of a
stalemate with a heavily armed
cult whose leader, the FBI said,
was awaiting "further instruc
tion from God."
Court documents used to
charge two elderly cult mem
bers with murder describe the
Branch Davidian cult as a well
trained, committed fighting
force with a "massive weapons
cache" at its disposal. The
charges against the women
were later dropped, although
they remained in jail as material
witnesses.
Negotiations continued a day
after cult leader David Koresh
had promised an immediate,
peaceful end to the deadlock if a
58-minute taped statement were
played on radio stations. Court
documents said Koresh "has
told federal law officers words
to the effect that they would
fight to the end."
FBI Agent Jeffrey Jamar said
Wednesday, "Koresh stated he
had received a message from
God instructing him to wait."
Jamar told reporters officers
are not contemplating storming
the compound.
Mobley memo limits
graduation guests to 6
during May ceremony
By ROBIN ROACH
The Battalion
Texas A&M students graduating this May will be limited to inviting
six guests to their commencement exercise. University President Dr.
William Mobley said in a memo to vice presidents, deans and depart
ment heads.
Each graduate will receive six tickets to distribute to their guests for
the graduation ceremonies, according to the Feb. 25 memo.
The tickets will guarantee guests entry into the ceremony at G. Rol-
lie White Coliseum but will not designate specific seat assignments.
Because of the large number of graduates, Mobley said in the memo
that distributing admission tickets is the best alternative to better ac
commodate guests .
"It's often the case that people arrive late and can't get a seat," said
Dr. Daniel Fallon, dean or the college of liberal arts. "The rationing
scheme is first come, first serve and some people just can't get there
early."
Fallon said he has not perceived the change as a difficult issue, but
he does not know exactly how the college of liberal arts is going to in
form students of the change.
"It seems to be a better solution," Fallon said. "It strikes me as be
ing very reasonable."
j The decision to limit the number of guests admitted into the colise
um was made because of past concerns with overcrowding and violat
ing safety precautions.
"Seating capacity is limited, and some safety concerns were raised,"
Donald Carter, Texas A&M registrar, said. "If an emergency occurred,
it could be very much a problem."
A ticket exchange will be implemented to allow students access to
additional tickets from graduates who do not use all six of their allot
ted tickets.
Dr. John Koldus, vice president of student services, said the ticket
exchange is an important aspect to the ticket system because not every
degree candidate will have six people attend the ceremony.
Michelle DuChamp, class of '93 social secretary and a graduating se
nior, said she thinks the graduates should have been given earlier no
tice of the change because many students have already made plans for
family and friends.
See Graduation/Page 5
r
Singing cowboy entertains international kids
DARRIN HILL/Tlw Battalion
David White, a College Station resident, plays guitar and harmonica Discovery program, a church-sponsored program for international
while singing cowboy songs to an international group of children wives and their children. The program lasts from September to May.
and wives or students that attend A&M. The group is part of the About 200 women and 100 children attend the weekly meetings.
Student Senate passes vendor bill
Resolutions introduce off-campus caterers, minority loans
Bosnians lose U.S. air-drop to Serbian attack
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TUZLA, Bosnia-Herzegovina
— Cold and hungry Bosnian civil
ians, unable to withstand a vicious
Serb onslaught despite air
dropped U.S. aid, braved deep
snow and fighting Wednesday on
a desperate trek to safety.
At least 18 people were report
ed killed in the eastern enclave of
Konjevic Polje when they tried to
collect food and medicine
dropped by U.S. planes. An un
confirmed Bosnian news report
said 1,400 people were missing
and feared dead in nearby Cerska.
Thousands of other residents
reportedly were under fire in the
Cerska-Konjevic Polje area after
Serb fighters drove them from
their homes and burned their vil
lages. A U.N. official said some
refugees were headed toward Tu-
zla, 25 to 30 miles away across
rugged terrain.
The local military in the region
said of the U.S. aid: "We feel like
animals to whom bait is being
thrown to kill us with grenades."
United We Stand establishes Brazos chapter
BY MATARI JONES
The Battalion
A resolution that would allow off-campus ven
dors to cater on-campus events as well as a resolu
tion to establish a fund for minority scholars domi
nated Wednesday's Student Senate meeting.
One of twelve resolutions that passed supported a
policy allowing off-campus vendors, such as Red
Lobster or Tom's Barbecue, to cater on-campus
events held in the Memorial Student Center and the
Rudder Complex.
"The university will be the middle-man from now
on," said Senator Jimmy Stathatos, who introduced
the bill.
Although the bill will not take effect until Fall
1993 and then only on a trial basis, Stathatos said
MSC Food Services will purchase the food from out
side vendors and prepare and serve it as well.
Senator Chad King said the days of $30 bowls of
punch are over.
Two bills that dealt with minority issues dominat
ed the meeting.
Student Resolution 93-9 introduced legislation
that would establish a minority scholars loan fund
for graduate students in the fields of science, engi
neering and mathematics.
Senator Russell Langley, who introduced the bill,
said the fund would be supplied through grants and
private donations. It differs from other loans in that
the government would pay the interest, and the re
cipient of the loan would have to teach at the Uni
versity from which they received the loan — or at
least teach in the state of Texas, Langley said.
During a heated debate the bill was finally ap
proved on the fourth attempt after three defeats.
When it seemed like the bill was not going to be
passed, one senator emphatically stated his point.
"'Minority' has become a four letter word," said
Senator David Butler. "Just remember, this is a loan
and not a scholarship."
The Minority Doctoral Incentive Program passed
much easier. With this bill, the student senate agreed
to positively influence legislation at the state level re
garding this issue.
The bill is designed to provide loans to minority
students pursuing doctoral degrees.
See Senate/Page 10
By STEPHANIE PATTILLO
The Battalion
United We Stand, America, a grass roots political
party started by former presidential candidate Ross
Perot, now has a chapter in the Brazos Valley.
Paul S. Van Dyke II, the organization's local chair
man, said the group's main concern is government
reform.
"We hope for the benefit of future generations
that we will have success at putting pressure on con
gress and the rest of the government to behave re
sponsibly," he said.
United We Stand, America/Brazos Valley
(UWSA/BV) will seek a line-item veto that takes a
two-thirds vote in both the house and senate to over
turn, Van Dyke said.
UWSA/BV will also pursue electoral reform. Van
Dyke said.
"We think the politics has got to be eliminated,"
he said. "We think candidates should be given ac
cess to TV time at reasonable rates in order to offset
See United/Page 4
DARRIN HILL/The Battalion
Brett Lemoine argues with David Swanson and Scott Sonju during a
standing-room only debate Wednesday about the existence of God.
Religion debate attracts 600+ crowd
By BELINDA BLANCARTE
The Battalion
More than 600 people attended
a standing-room only debate
Wednesday night between the
Texas A&M University Agnostic
and Atheist Student Group and
the Campus Crusade for Christ
about the existence of God.
Each group had a panel of four
members who asked and an
swered questions from the other
group during the debate at
Heldenfels Hall.
"I'm pretty much impressed
with both sides," said Brad Putty,
a freshman biomedical engineer
ing major who attended the de
bate. "It was more objective than I
thought it would be."
The Campus Crusade for
Christ explained the Christian
view of Jesus as God.
"Jesus made the claim that he
was God and backed it up with
the resurrection and other mira
cles that people witnessed," said
David Swanson, graduate student
and leader of Campus Crusade
for Christ. "The New Testament
documents are the most reliable."
Gary McBride, a junior com
puter science major and a panelist
for the Agnostic and Atheist
Group, said other historical sto
ries similar to the story of Jesus
also exist.
"Krishna is the closest exam
ple," McBride said. "There are
more than 30 historical stories like
Jesus'. What we're looking at is
non-unique."
The groups also disputed the
story of creation from the Bible's
book of Genesis.
McBride said the world could
not have been created in six days
as the Bible suggests.
"The story of creation goes
against the laws of nature," he
said. "Atheists assert that univer
sal laws exist."
Swanson said the six days it
took to create the earth should not
See Religion/Page 5
Inside l
Sports
•Lady, men's basketball face
tough times on the road,
lose to Tech
Page 7
Opinion
•U.S. aid drops add fun to
Bosnian lifestyle
•Problems follow Bush
Library director Don Wilson
Page 9