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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 1993)
ly 21,1993 nale Iroud Rosas iric? o«timu€P. up' military po- adishu. The eported sta- i main U.S. ice June 5 in \egade clan itrols south- Idiers have ipter attacks by Aidid's ualties and t excessive >resentative os-Ghali in argely con- capital. 1 'ere an at- r n life and ible person vould have mte felt all ne. "Self strong in- >red these 5 a school on which tten, "If I Jill Turner 's testimo- "Dante was feigning luence her led that af- •s in a pro- vould take ration that in order to le day was ony from ates about in the rival elaney had the court- •oceedingS/ to respect icnwood s ; who were of Green- i the morn- ante acted , r "he was ssing with oing to kill g the wit- i over to a wrote the mderlined s expected after the final argu- The Battalion i'ol. 92 No. 178 (6 pages) 1893 — A Century of Service to Texas A«&M — 1993 Thursday, July 22,1993 Mo verdict yet in Greenwood trial Prosecutors reject claims of self defense By JASON COX Vie Battalion Jurors failed to deliver a ver- [ctWednesday in the trial of kerron Dante Greenwood, a 16- tar-old Bryan youth accused of lurdering his classmate, Billy C. iiams, last March. After five hours of deliberation, dge John Delaney allowed ju- irs to break for the evening ound 11 p.m. They reconvened lismorning and will possibly mdera decision sometime today, jurors heard arguments from le State claiming that Green- ood habitually looked for and irticipated in fights. Prosecutors said Greenwood id alternatives other than mur- erin dealing with the alleged treats and abuse of Williams and isgang, the Squab Mob. District Attorney Bill Turner and an assistant attorney went over the legal definitions of mur der and voluntary manslaughter, a lesser charge that Greenwood must still overcome in order to be acquitted. Turner said the claims that Greenwood was acting in self de fense became invalid when he started the fight and p>rovoked the use of force that resulted in Williams' death. "This case is about account ability and responsibility," the prosecutors said. "What are go ing to be the standards for this community?" Prosecutors went over the testi mony of previous witnesses and stressed that the "Squab Mob" of ten retreated when threatened with weapons. They said friends of Greenwood who were also taunted by the gang never felt the need to arm themselves. "Dante Greenwood went armed, looking for a fight," they said. "His predictions became a reality that morning. He said he'd kill somebody, and Billy just hap pened to be that somebody he came in contact with." Michelle Esparza, Greenwood's lawyer, said jurors shouldn't con vict someone based on communi ty standards, but on law. She said the government chose to bring a 16-year-old boy to court and try him as a man. Esparza said by noon on the day of the murder, the hysteria of the government and media hype had already convicted Green wood. Dante Greenwood w-as guilty of poor judgment, she said, not murder. Other witnesses "lied and lied and lied for a day and a half," Es parza said. One spectator left in disgust after hearing the defense refer to members of the "Squab Mob" as thugs. Esparza said the prosecution based its case solely on the testi mony of the Squab Mob, and begged jurors to keep the promise they'd made to during the voir dire examinations to exactly ad here to the law. The defense outlined the rules regarding the law of self defense and criticized the prosecution for not summoning any adults. They said Greenwood was targeted by the Squab Mob because he wouldn't be intimidated by them and stood his ground. Rebels attack Nicaragua city THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANAGUA, Nicaragua — About 200 rebels attacked the north ern city of Esteli on Wednesday and engaged government troops in fierce fighting, in the worst outbreak of violence since the country's civil war ended in 1990. One attacker was killed and one soldier wounded in the assault, about 60 miles north of Managua, the Interior Ministry said. The army sent tanks, attack helicopters and troop reinforcements to put down the attack, which reportedly cut power in some parts of the city. "There is fighting inside the city. They have taken over some in stallations of the National Police, and have others under siege, but army installations have not been affected," army spokesman Lt. Col. Ricardo Wheelock told the leftist Sandinista movement's Radio Sandino. "Right now (the rebels) are machine-gunning the residences of the police chief and the military district chief," he said. The attackers also kidnapped Nicaragua's ambassador to Hon duras, Noel Rivas Gasteazoro, who was on the Panamerican High way near the town on his way back to Honduras, Foreign Minister Ernesto Leal said. Leal said the rebels were also holding Rivas Gasteazoro's wufe Olga and their driver, David Delgado. Firefighters compete in annual / Olympics / Bush looks forward to library STACY RYAN/The Battalion College Station firefighter Larry Wentrcek shoots an arrow at a deer-shaped target during a simulated hunting event at the 1 1th Annual Texas Firefighter Olympics. More than 1,500 firefighters and their families are in town this week to participate in the activities. iarly hours upset custodial workers By LISA ELLIOTT The Battalion Texas A&M custodial workers were apparently JPset last week about new work hours imposed by University, but Physical Plant Director Joe Sugg the new hours were being tested on a voluntary ^is only. The new hours required custodial workers to '°rk from 4 a.m. until 2:30 ■it. four days a week 'her than 6 a.m. until 2:30 l| n.five days a week. Chemistry Professor graham Clearfield said Has heard the custodial 'Hers talking about the Convenience of the new %s, but no one was illing to make a formal Hplaint. Clearfield began a peti- H to send to The Battalion concerning the new Hs. He said the letter expresses the feelings of the -stodial workers, but it is signed by 17 members of ^chemistry department because none of the custodi- : 'Yorkers want to step forward and be singled out. “They congregate in hallways and talk about it jjjher than talk to their supervisor," he said. "They ^en't complained to management. Management is surprised because no one said anything. Custodial workers are afraid." Sugg said since the letter ran in The Battalion, the Physical Plant canceled the program and this is un fortunate for those who wanted to participate in it. "People that wanted to do it won't be able to do it," he said. "The letter was totally' misrepresenta- tive, and it wasn't even written by the people that it directly involves." Clearfield said the new policy was extremely hard on the workers with families because they had to get up at 2 a.m. The hard part is find ing a babysitter that will work at that hour, he said. Clearfield said it is also hard on those workers who depend on car pooling be- "They haven't complained to management. Management is surprised because no one said anything. Custodial workers are afraid." a 1 7 /—*7 n i j ueutnu un ecu ut? -Abraham Clearfield, cause the y f in d it very diffi chemistry professor cult to find rides at that - ' hour of the day. Sugg said the policy' was just being tested and was totally' voluntary. "Workers agreed before the decision was made," he said. Sugg said he w r as disappointed to have to read about the workers' unhappiness in the newspaper. "I encourage anyone who is unhappy with a poli cy to call me up personally to respond," he said. Former president to invite world leaders to Texas A&M By REAGON CLAMON The Battalion Former President George Bush said in a newly completed video interview presented Wednesday to the Republican Women of Brazos Valley that he is looking forward to visiting and working at his presidential library center and hoping to bring other world leaders to Texas A&M Uni versity. The video interview, produced by A&M's University Relations and KAMU-TV from interviews at Bush's office in Houston, was in troduced to the public by Dr. Don W. Wilson, the executive director of the George Bush Presidential Library Center. In the video. Bush said he would like to use the library for his own research. He said when he gets a little older he plans to do some writing at the library and possibly teach. Bush said he would also like to see some other present and former world leaders come to A&M. Bush said he has mentioned the idea to some of the leaders he forged relationships with while he was president. "I have talked to them about coming to A&M and meeting the students and maybe having seminars and discussing events past and future in that very friendly A&M environment," he said. "I am pre pared to do w'hat I can to encourage that kind of par ticipation of world leaders." In addition to presenting the video, Wilson dis cussed a meeting he attended last Thursday with the president at Bush's home in Kennebunkport, Maine. The meeting was the first of the George Bush Presi dential Library foundation board of trustees. Wilson said Bush indicated in the interview in Houston that he had a difficult time choosing Texas A&M as the site for his library'. Wilson that said in the end. Bush felt A&M proposal was the best. "Well, it wasn't a clear and easy call," Bush said. "Some of my friends at Rice and the University' of Houston made a good proposition, but I have an affinity for Texas A&M." Bush said in the video interview he wanted to be sure the library did not stand out too much on the University campus. "I'm more interested in the scholastics than the bricks and mortar," Bush said. "I don't want some glass palace." Overall, Bush said he saw the library as a lasting monument. "When today's A&M student is in their 70s and looks over their shoulder, they'll be able to say' this library stood the test of time," he said. On May 3, 1991, Bush announced his presidential library' would be located at Texas A&M. The library and museum will include items from Bush's White House years, as well as from his public service career in Congress, the Central Intel ligence Agency, China and the United States. The library opening is scheduled for 1997. Bush Athletic director search continues By JAMES BERNSEN The Battalion Texas A&M officials released 15 more names of applicants for the position of athletic director Wednesday, increasing the total number of applicants to 31. Two of the candidates have ex tensive experience with the posi tion. Bryan Mayor Marvin Tate was athletic director at A&M from 1978 until 1981, and served as associate athletic director before that. Wally Groff has been working at A&M for 28 years, and has been working in the athletic department since 1966. He became associate athletic di rector in 1988 and is currently serv ing as interim athletic director. Groff said his career at A&M makes him well-qualified for the position. "A working knowledge of A&M and its programs, 1 think, would be critical for the job," Groff said. Tate also said A&M experience could be crucial for a new athletic director. "As an Aggie, I think A&M is a unique place with unique tradi tions," he said. "I think it's im portant to have someone w'ith a knowledge of that." Groff said a new athletic di rector should stress graduation rates, gender equity issues and financial stability. "Some improvement is needed, but I think we're heading in the proper direction," Groff said. "Fi nancially', we're in the best shape we've ever been." Tate says that as director he stressed academics and compli ance and w'ould do the same were he to be hired again. "I'm a believer that you can have a good athletic program and good academics and do it within the rules of the Southwest Confer ence and the NCAA," Tate said. Tate and Groff both said gen der equity issues will be s&me of the more important things facing a new athletic director. "I was in the athletic depart ment when Title IX came into ex istence," Tate said, "everybody is going to try to continue equity." Title IX is a federal statute that prohibits gender discrimination in federally funded universities. Groff said although the depart ment has a long way to go on gen der equity, A&M is doing rela tively well when compared to other schools. Tate said he decided to pursue the position because he missed be ing involved in college athletics. "I feel that since I've been out and had experience in the private sector. I've learned some things that would help me in the posi tion," Tate said. According to athletic depart ment criteria for the position, a successful candidate must have a good background in fiscal man agement, a strong commitment to athletic achievement, a record of supporting ethnic, cultural, race and gender diversity' programs and an unblemished background in complying with the rules and regulations of the NCAA and all prior conferences and universities where employed. Dr. Thomas Adair III, chairman of the search committee, said all applicants are being contacted, and all are being looked at equally. "We're looking for a person of high integrity who has goals of having an athletic department that is one of the best in the nation, in cluding academics," Adair said. The search committee will con tinue to narrow the list down un til a short list is drawn up, which will be submitted to A&M Presi dent William H. Mobley. Mobley', who has been working with the committee, will make the final decision. Mobley' said he expects the short list to be given to him by the end of August, but said there is no rush to make a decision before the end of the fall semester. "I think we need to find the best candidate that meets the cri teria, internal and external," he said, "I think the process is work ing well." Adair said the list may even be decided on in the next two weeks. The candidates have various amounts of experience in athletic department positions, he said. One candidate. Brad Hovious, has withdrawn his application for the position, Adair said. Inside Sports ►Patrick Bates signs $4.74 million deal .with Raiders ►Three Aggies off to San Antonio for Olympic festival Page 3 Aggielife •Stronger trees - A&M scientists discover stress-resistant genes •Review: StageCenter's 'Mystery of tne Black Abbot' Page 4 Weather ►Thursday: partly cloudy with isolated showers, highs in the mid 90s •Forecast for Friday: partly to mostly cloudy, highs in the 90s Texas Lotto •Wednesday's winning Texas Lottery numbers: 2, 4, 7, 23, 34, 40