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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1993)
State & Local Page 2 The Battalion Monday, June 21,1 Collider future depends on House fish New representatives to vote on $10 billion atom smasher's fate Thursday YHE ASSOCIATED PRESS makers, who constitute more than arguments in their arsenal: that the Staub says Clinton's suppor WASHINGTON - The House's 113 freshmen hold the key to the super collider's future. Critics and supporters of the giant atom smasher agree they are entering the final days before Thursday's critical House vote neck-in-neck among lawmakers who have committed their vote. The big question mark is how the freshmen, many of whom were swept into office on their promises of cutting government spending, will vote on a project now estimated at $10 billion or more to build. Opponents are turning up the pressure on newly-elected law makers, who constitute more than a fourth of the 435-member House. “We have suggested to them that this is one of the first big-ticket items that they can vote to cut," says Rep. Tim Penny of Minnesota, a leader of conservative Democrats. Says Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R- N.Y., a collider critic: “We are giv ing them an opportunity to partici pate in change. People back home don't want sanctimonious sermons about balancing the budget by peo ple who aren't willing to cut fund ing for low-priority projects." But backers of the collider un der construction in Texas have been knocking on freshmen's doors for months and say they are swaying many of them. The key arguments in their arsenal: that the collider accounts for only a fraction of federal spending, its loss would cripple high-energy physics re search and cost the U.S. standing in the world scientific community. Supporters suggest that Presi dent Clinton's reaffirmation of support for the collider in a letter last week to Congress brings new momentum. Gerald Staub, head of the Na tional Association for the Super conducting Super Collider, pre dicts Clinton's words will be heard by the freshmen. “I think a lot of them were waiting to see what Clinton was going to do be cause the rumors were he might take a walk on it," he says. Staub says Clinton's support goes beyond the letter, noting that White House lobbyists and the president's science adviser, John H. Gibbons, have been on Capitol Hill talking up the project. The well-heeled lobbying effort deployed by industry, the scientif ic community and others with col lider ties has also attracted Boehlert's attention. They have mustered “more paid lobbyists per square inch on Capitol Hill than any other project has evidenced in the immediate past," he contends. “We're going to win. We're go ing to kick butt," says Staub, one of the few on either side willing to predict Thursday's outcome. nday, ] Juneteenth Continued from Page 1 One example he used was professional athletics. "Jesse Jackson has been fight ing to get more black men into coaching positions," he said. "My thinking is there are enough black men in sports that are rich enough to buy their own team. If you don't own, don't complain." White said Juneteenth is tra ditionally a Christian celebra tion because slaves, at the time, were only allowed to express themselves in a religious man ner. In celebration of Juneteenth, participants sang spiritual songs, prayed and read scrip tures with various pastors from the area. Sonic people see Juneteentt not only as a religious celebra tion, bu t also as a chance to cele brate their African heritage, Leon Anderson Jr., leader of PAPE' Y PADE', the Pan African Percussion Ensemble and Pan African Dance Ensem ble from Austin, said many chil dren find it hard to believe thev are African. "They think of themselves as just American," he said. "ButI tell them elephants may be bom | ee ^ en at zoos but still be from Africa !| er i n g 1 This celebration is a way fori| n ’ ver - them to keep their roots." Hv er y 11 Kim Rucker, College Station i| e g a n t resident and East Texas State o: rn y d University student, said June- | a 't do teenth is like the Fourth of Julyl vv a v to black people. gob But most importantly, June-line of teenth brings a sense of blackPPP>’ " 1 unit}', Rucker said. l ears ■bees. lather Nuclear plant employees charge safety violations Diversity Bid all. I Any\ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HOUSTON — Four employees at the South Texas Nuclear Plant have testified that some security managers repeatedly ignored safety violations and spied on workers, according to a published report. The Houston Chronicle, in a copyright story Sunday, reported that depositions also showed security managers ordered covert videotapes of workers erased. The workers from the Matagorda County plant, operated by Houston Lighting & Power Co., also said Speakout, a confidential employ ee complaint program, has been used to identi fy whistle-blowers. They said the telephones at the plant were rigged so conversations could be secretly monitored. The newspaper said the sworn testimony was taken as part of a U.S. Department of La bor whistle-blower discrimination case filed against the company by two former security workers, David Lamb and James Dean. The men contended they were fired last year because they raised safety concerns with Speakout and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC referred the cases to the U.S. De partment of Justice for possible criminal prosecution. Following the cases, the agency was expect ed to announce this week whether South Texas would be placed on a problem plant list, which would subject it to additional federal scrutiny. The newspaper said Gary Pomeroy, HL&P senior security coordinator, testified that securi ty officers told him to erase more than 100 sur veillance videotapes, some of which were se cretly recorded and labeled with Lamb's name. Pomeroy said he was told to erase the tapes so they could be reused. Tanner Garth, a Houston attorney represent ing Lamb and Dean, said the tape erasures indi cate to him that HL&P was destroying evidence. The plant security director said the cameras and phone taps were designed to guard against employee wrongdoing. But some employees told the Chronicle in April that managers may have been seeking out “troublemakers." The newspaper said Ramon Lala, an HL&P foreman, testified that David Sheesley, who re placed Lamb as an HL&P security supervisor, improperly canceled nearly 200 of 300 back- logged repair requests for security equipment. “It's not normal; it's never been done," Lala testified. Lala said he is still being harassed by his managers for raising concerns about the secu rity system. Some plant workers criticized Speakout's supposed anonymity. “A lot of times, confidentiality just flat isn't maintained." testified William Smith, an HL&P training instructor. Continued from Page 1 experience it for ourselves." Present and future students as well as graduates of A&M would benefit from the requirement, she said, and called it "a chance to go out and show society what we've learned." Student Body President Brian Walker said he would have liked for the council to postpone the de cision until fall, allowing more time for student input. "I wish the opinion of thesti dents could have been obtained.^,, ,, he said. "I can't speak for the s »]gtj ( , n dents without their input." K, er ^ Jody Withers, executive vi.C , , chairman of the College Reputm .’j cans of Texas, also criticized '' timing of the council's decision ll L ( 1 "It was conducted under::|* shadow of secrecy," he said. , ' Withers mentioned the moticl , . ^ 1 before the Faculty SenatefoiF j ' similar University-wide requiri|| ment, saying he wonders J ou "we're going to have a conflictiF 1 ' 1,1 8 r dueling multicultural requit*, 1 ’ 11 ^ a ments." I 01 ' 6 ™ [lived th Itud" K Bicycle lie Persi you differently, but you aresuT Well, Continued from Page 1 Smoke cessation clinic offered with Campus News Briefs new campus order The Human Resources De partment is offering a smoking cessation clinic in connection with the new smoke-free campus order. The clinic will begin on July 6 and will consist of seven ses sions. Limited space is available for anyone interested. Contact Bonnie Corbett, pro gram coordinator, for more infor mation. to the advancement and growth of the industrial engineering pro fession through research. A&M names Iowa professor head of anatomy dept. Industrial institute honors Dr. Wysk with Baker award The Institute of Industrial En gineers is honoring Texas A&M Engineer Dr. Richard A. Wysk with the David F. Baker Distin guished Research Award. Wysk, director of the Institute for Manufacturing Systems in the Texas Engineering Experiment Station, was presented the award at the institute's international conference in Los Angeles last month. The award recognizes individ uals who contribute significantly Texas A&M University's Col lege of Medicine has named Dr. James R. West, a professor of anatomy at The University of Iowa, head of the department of human anatomy and medical neurobiology. West is an expert in brain-re lated birth defects. His current research includes studies of the effects of alcohol and cocaine on brain development. West will assume his new po sition Aug. 1. Catherine M. Reiley has accepted a new position of assistant vice chancellor for engineering for the Texas A&M University System. Reiley will coordinate plan ning within the Engineering Pro gram of the Texas A&M Univer sity System as well as lead strate gic planning for the College of Engineering and TEES. Reiley is a 1977 graduate of Texas A&M and also received a masters in political science from the University in 1979. • Dr. Paul Fryxell, USDA/ARS botanist for the de partment of soil and crop sci ences • Dr. Philip Berke, associate professor of urban and regional planning * • Dr. Lee Cronk, assistant professor of anthropology • Dr. John Shadduck, dean of the College of Veterinary Medi cine ^ • Dr. Williaih Stewart, assis tant professor of recreation, park and tourism sciences • Dr. Larry Yarak, associate professor of history A&M announces 1993-94 Fulbright Scholar recipients Anthropology program one of 10 most improved TEES asst, director accepts position of asst, vice chancellor Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) assistant director Seven Texas A&M professors have been named 1993-94 Ful bright Scholars and will soon re ceive grants to study, teach and conduct research at different lo cations around the world. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries. The A&M recipients are: • Dr. Arnold Krammer, pro fessor of history Texas A&M's Department of Anthropology was named as one of the 10 most improved pro grams in the country, according to the Society for American Ar chaeology. The archeology department was established in 1981 and now offers undergraduate and gradu ate degrees. Southern Methodist Universi ty was the only other university in Texas mentioned for its im provement. classes and has been funded by the state to put together a new program. "As a part of our research, we have staked out areas on campus that are very busy and we have observed the actions of cyclists, motorists and pedestrians," he said. "I don't believe people un derstand the importance of safety, just from the way bikers get out in the middle of the road and some pedestrians walk out into an in tersection reading a newspaper." Campbell said they hope to distribute bookmarks with safety tips on them and use radio public service announcements to pro mote their message. "Our goal is to try to get peo ple thinking about bike safety and things they can do to protect themselves," he said. Officer Darrell Luedke of the College Station Police Department said there are many steps an indi vidual can take to protect them selves while riding a bicycle. "Your parents may have told posed to ride with traffic, and« nst '* 1 '^' close to the curb as possible," lii ot § et e said. "Obey all traffic laws, stcr would signs and signals. Use handsi» e coulc nals and be observant of yoursii’P 10 back roundings." lyery ni Campbell said although m( W§ e ^ er people are reluctant to wear saf* laster tl ty gear, it is an important part(|| or kso bicycle safety. I Even "Wear a helmet," he sar ^’ose b "Sure helmets don't look tJornethir good, but it comes‘down to yoifiatural 1 looks or your safety. The woril 0 Dad accidents could be prevented witBuprove the use of helmets." Ia d enc Campbell said cyclers can afe la rd to avoid potentially hazardoui routes to decrease their chancesfl ving in 'aseball he wori Now ittle ag( having an accident. "Regardless of how careful yoi are, you should try to take bad roads instead of major streets ant intersections,"Campbell said hys anc "Texas Avenue forbids bicydes lad wa and that is probably a good idea Students need to take responsi bility for their own safety, he said "You only have one life,' Campbell said. "You can be sen sible and stick around a while oi you can go out and be reckless and lose it fast." Correction An article about breast cancer that appeared in the June 8 issue of The Battalion incorrectly reported that women are not considered to be a high risk group for breast cancer until they reach their late 20's and early 30's. In fact, women are not considered high risk for breast cancer at any age without other associated risk factors. The Battalion regrets the error. CarePlus^frf Presents Roc, The Good Doc ‘Roc, the good Doc, is in at CarePlus. Roc, the good Doc at CarePlus Medical Center is in. In fact, he's available seven days a week without an appointment to all you Aggies who want quick, convenient, quality medical attention. A&M students even get a 10% discount at CarePlus. So next time you're ill, chill out and come see Roc, the good Doc, at CarePlus Medical Center. CarePlus^fH 2411 Texas Ave. and Southwest Pkwy • College Station, TX 77840 696-0683 I SCOTT & WHTTE CLINIC, COLLEGE STATION Announcing Weekend Clinic Hours for Urgent Care 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Scott & White Clinic, College Station, is now offering weekend Clinic hours for urgent care by appointment \ only! The Weekend Clinic is conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Clinic Annex building located across the street (Glenhaven Dr.) from the main clinic. By Appointment Only (409) 268-3663 A Scott & White Annex UNIVERSITY DRIVE EAST Scott & White Clinic, College Station 1600 University Drive East The Battalion JASON LOUGHMAN, Editor in Chief MARK EVANS, Managing Editor STEPHANIE PATTILLO, City Editor DAVE THOMAS, Night News Editor KYLE BURNETT, Sports Editor MACK HARRISON, Morning News Editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Aggie/ife Editor BILLY MORAN, Photo Editor Staff Members City desk — Jennifer Smith, James Bernsen, Michele Brinkmann, Reagan Clamon, Jason Cox, Lisa Elliott, Laura Haley, Janet Holder, Carrie Miura, Susan Owen and Geneen Pipher News desk - Lisa Borrego, Joe Holan, Susan Owen and Denise Wick Photographers — Richard Dixon, Mary Macmanus, Nick Pena and Stacy Ryan Aggielife — Jacqueline Ayotte, John Bayless, Margaret Cbughton and Jennifer Salce Sports writers — Roy Clay, Matt Rush, Mark Smith and Tom Sullivan Opinion desk — Shashi Nanjundaiah, Matt Dickerson, Tracey Jones, Frank Stanford and Robert Vasquez Cartoonists — Boomer Cardinale, George Nasr, Joe Reyes, Sergio Rosas and Paul Stroud Graphic Artist - Angel Kan Clerks- Grant Austgen, Alishia Holtam and Lisa White The Battalion (DSPS 045-360) is publshed daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters a*! Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second dass postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. hat pre iractice. learnec Jened to new ba hat. I gi Prob; vith the ind sorr ogether ng or g \ ••mrsi the cent vorkso POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M Universify, 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 845-3313. Fax: 845-2647. Advertising: For campus, bcal and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For ebssified advertising, ccd 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. 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