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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1993)
Campus Page 2 The Battalion Thursday, September 16, University to install new computer system By Mark Smith The Battalion Networking on Texas A&M University's computer system will be come much faster and more reliable in the next few months, said the director of computing and information services Wednesday. The network, which now uses the Ethernet system, will be com pletely switched to a system built by the Office of Computing and In formation Services. The new network will be based on the Fiber Dis tributed Data Interface media, or FDDI. "The (old) network had basically just grown out of control and ex ceeded all of its capacities," said Dr. Dave Safford, director of comput ing and information services. "This project, which is about halfway done now, is a complete rebuild of the system." "The (old) network had basically just grown out of control and exceeded all of its capacities... this project, which is about halfway done now, is a complete rebuild of the system." -Dr. Dave Safford, director of computing and information Dr. Willis Marti, director of computing services for the computer sci ence department, said the improvements will aid students and faculty because it will operate smoother and faster. "It (the new network) will effectively relieve congestion," he said. "It's like expanding Texas Avenue to six lanes." The installation of the network is being set up parallel to the existing system. Some of the network services have already been switched over to the new system. The new network will be 10 times faster than the old system and will also provide for a more stable and reliable network. "In the past, if a single building lost electrical power, then the whole campus network went down," Safford said. The new system proved its reliability when the Zachry Computing Center, one of the main campus computing centers, lost power several weeks ago with no effect to the network. "That was an actual stress test to the system," Safford said. The network provides a number of access services to students and faculty. Electronic mail is the most popular service, Safford said, fol lowed by news and file transfer. News is a service where subscribers can read stories about a particular subject area they are interested in. Marti said he receives more than 100 messages by E-mail everyday. "It's a lot easier to exchange E-mail than to play telephone tag," he said. The network also has access to a number of databases that run through a system called Gopher. Through the Gopher system, a user can view the policies and procedures and see the calendar of events for the University. Marti said by using the resource utility on the network, students and faculty can access lists of documents at Sterling C. Evans Library as well as several other libraries around the state. Students can also see copies of documents instead of just the bibliographic information. A&M Christian organizations unite students Aggies For Christ recognized by A&M after 26 years By Jan Higginbotham The Battalion Aggies For Christ (AFC), a non-denominational Christian organization at Texas A&M Uni versity, offers students of any background, even those who don't attend church regularly, a chance to hang out with other students in a relaxed Christian atmosphere. Katie Beauchamp, a member of AFC, said the new club cannot be considered an organization but instead a "group of people with a common goal." "We want to provide a place for students who want a Christ ian influence, but wouldn't nec essarily go to church," Beauchamp said. "Everyone and anyone is wel come," she said. "There are no restrictions and no boundaries. This is a real diverse group of See AFC/Page 1 V Students from various campus Christian organiza- Wednesday. Christians from around the country tions prayed around the Academic Plaza flag pole gathered at 7 a.m. and noon to pray for the world. Freshmen gain leadership skills through student groups By Jacqueline Mason The Battalion Four Texas A&M University student orga nizations are preparing freshmen not just for their first year of college, but also for the rest of their college careers. Sonya Masten, a counselor for Aggies Lead ers of Tomorrow (A.L.O.T.), said she likes to pinpoint freshmen and let them know exactly what A&M has to offer. "It gets them ready to take over A&M," she said. Other associations exclusively offered to freshmen include freshmen Leaders in Progress (F.L.I.P.), Student Government's freshmen Programs (Fish Aids) and the Aggie Fish Club. Aggie Fish Club, created in the spring of 1992, is the newest of the freshmen organizations. "The purpose of Aggie Fish Club is to create a group of freshmen dedicated to leadership training, group strength and unity," said Ag gie Fish Club Director Steven Mathews. The group distinguishes itself from other freshmen organizations by emphasizing broad-based leadership training, he said. The other groups teach students leadership skills for particular positions, Mathews said. Marisa Baie, a former Fish Aid, said Fish Aids get the upper-hand on Student Govern ment activities. Fish Aids are required to work three hours a week in the Student Government office and join another Student Government group such as Big Event or Muster. One disadvantage is that the freshmen Pro grams cannot choose more than 40 Fish Aids, she said. "Only 40 freshmen get picked," she said. "There are usually about 300 applicants." Likewise, the other freshmen groups limit the number of members. Masten said A.L.O.T., which prepares stu dents for positions in the MSC, has decreased the number of members from 100 to 56 to en able the group members to get to know each other better. Mathews said in big groups, students tend to lose their motivation and drop out. "We start out with 50 freshmen and we want to end with 50 freshmen." Through organized meetings and social re treats and activities, members create relation ships they will keep through their college years. "It's like we are all best friends," Mathi ewssaid. (foaibrn ICtij Naftmtal Mnwr Campus Awareness Information Booths: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Wednesday, Sept. 15 - MSC Hallway Thursday, Sept. 16 - Zachry Lobby Friday, Sept. 17 - Blocker Lobby First Meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 21st 8:30 pm Rudder 402 | \ € I | I V | I For More Information: Call Cl. ns Mason at 847-0879 Come Grow With Us! BACK TO SCHOOL BLITZ BUY YOUR BIKE WHEN YOU GET TO A&M Save on Close-Out bikes at the largest Trek dealer in the area. We have the lowest prices on Trek Bicycles in the Nation. Shop and compare and you will find unbelievable prices on high quality Trek Bicycles at VALLEY CYCLERY Trek 800 • 18 Spd. Shimano Index • Alloy Rims • Chromoly Frame • Available in three different colors • All sizes available Men and Women Reg. $ 334 00 U-Locks at $ 19 95 3122 S. Texas College Station (409) 764-2000 693-8880 CYCL-EFnr Valley Cyclery Price f SELECTED FOR THE DIRECTOR'S FORTNIGHT 1993 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL “ABSORBING MD RELENTLESS... After this Film about a ymm^ African American man tiTtnj to break out of hie existence r as a hustler on the mean streets of Watts you might feel as If you've done a tour of duty. * Welcome to LA. - the other LA." -D«rnDJ»otoon,DnAnSMAQiZIBl mt e naac mr m mucrm jc all eights hssiivk > f » i. me cinema MSC FILM SOCIETY OF TEXAS A&M Persons with disabilities please call us 3 working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our ability. Thursday @ 8:00 Friday® 7:00 & 9:30 Saturday @ 9:30 Presented in Rudder Theater Complex ADMISSION: $2.50 Advance tickets available at MSC Box Office Questions? Call... MSC Box Office 845-1234 Film Society Hotline 847-8478 MSC Student Programs Office 845-1515 .jyL. ^ Memorial Student Center Student Programs Committee DOLLAR SHOTS! Attention all classes: From Sept. 6 to Oct. 8 just $1 gets your shot in the 1994 AGGIELAND yearbook. Pictures are being taken at A R Photography, located at 707 Texas Avenue S. near Taco Cabana, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 693-8183. If you did not purchase your shot in the Aggieland during teleregistration, it can be purchased in 230 RDMC. Yearbooks can be purchased in 015 RDMC. A 1994 /Aggieland We need 52 ACE's. Could one of them be YOU? A atm ACE Aggie Counseling Experience WJ.V Student Counseling Service y Aggie Counseling Experience Student Volunteer Program The Aggie Counseling Experience is a student volunteer program -at the Student Counseling Service. ACE volunteers represent a variety of majors and interests. If selected, you will be given training in presentation skills and listening skills, and you will learn how to help students improve their academic performance and explore information about possible majors and careers. Interviewing NOW ! Application DEADLINE Friday October 1, 1993 Pick up an application and brochure on the third floor of the YMCA Building. Student Counseling Service 845-4427 ...A Department in the Division of Student Services The Battalion CHRIS WHITLEY, Editor in chief JULI PHILLIPS, Managing editor MARK EVANS, City editor DAVE THOMAS, Night News editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Agg/e//Ye editor BELINDA BLANCARTE, Night News editor MICHAEL PLUMER, Sports editor MACK HARRISON, Opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, Sports editor KYLE BURNETT, Photo editor Staff Members City desk - Jason Cox, April Arias, James Bernsen, Michele Brinkmann, Lisa Elliott, Cheryl Heller, Jan Higginbotham, Jennifer Kiley, Mary Kujawa, Kevin Lindstrom, Jackie Mason, Kim McGuire, Jennifer Mentlik, Carrie Miura, Stephanie Pattillo, Geneen Pipher, Melinda Rich, Jennifer Smith, Mark Smith and Michelle Tremblay News desk Robert Clark, Jennifer Petleway, Khristy Rouw and Heather Winch Photographers - Mary Macmanus, Tommy Huynh and Nxole Rohrman Aggielife - Dena Dizdar, Jacqueline Ayotte, Margaret Claughton, Melissa Holubec, Lesa Ann King and Joe Leih Sports writers Julie Chelkowski, Matt Rush and David Winder Opinion desk - Toni Garrard Clay, Tracey Jones, Jenny Magee, Melissa Megliola, Jay Robbins, John Scroggs, Frank Stanford, Jason Sweeny, Robert Vasquez and Eliot Williams Cartoonists Jason Brown, Boomer Cardinale, Clifton Hashimoto, George Nasr, Gerardo Quezada and Edward Zapeda Graphic Artist - Angel Kan Clerks Grant Austgen, Eleanor Colvin, Wren Eversberg, Carey Fallin and Tomiko Miller 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 numlter is 845-3313. Fax: 845-2647, Advertising: For campus, local and national display advert sing, 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. 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