Vol. 93 No. 55 (12 pages)
The Battalion
1893 — A Century of Service to Texas A&M — 1993
Friday, November 12,1993
A&M leaders to attend
higher education summit
By Kim McGuire
The Battalion
Several Texas A&M University
administrators and student gov
ernment leaders will be attending
a higher education summit Friday
at the Texas A&M University —
Corpus Christi campus to discuss
issues that will affect the Univer
sity during the
next meeting of
the Texas Leg
islature.
State Rep.
Todd Hunter,
chairman of the
house appro
priations sub
committee on
education, organized the summit
in order to inform University ad
ministrators and students about
legislation concerning higher edu
cation that will most likely be dis
cussed at the next meeting of the
legislature in January of 1995.
Hunter said the summit will
help University administrators
approach the legislature in a posi
tive manner.
"The summit is an important
method of discussing higher edu
cation issues facing the state of
Texas prior to the legislative ses
sion," Hunter said. "It is a posi
tive way of developing future leg
islation that is well-thought out.
The summit will be a great way to
prioritize higher education fund
ing issues for the future, as well as
serving as an effective way to de
velop interim studies on higher
education issues before the legis
lature meets."
Summit participants can
choose between seven one-hour
discussion groups led by adminis
trators, faculty and staff from dif
ferent Texas universities and col
leges. Some discussion group top
ics include: "Technology in High
er Education," "Formula Funding
and its Future Role in Higher Ed
ucation in Texas" and "How Clin
ton's Health Care Plan Affects
Texas Health and Medical Institu
tions."
Also during the summit, John
Sharp, comptroller of Public Ac
counts, will give a report concern
ing higher edu
cation, and
members of the
Appropriations
Subcommittee
on Education
will respond to
issues dis
cussed at the
summit.
Russell Lan
gley, Student Senate speaker, said
he looked at the summit as a
means of obtaining useful infor
mation about the next meeting of
the legislature.
"We hope to get a feel of what
will be going on during the next
meeting of the legislature," Lang-
See Summit/Page 12
"The summit is an important method of dis
cussing higher education issues facing the state
of Texas prior to the legislative session."
- State Rep. Todd Hunter
Bush emphasizes state education,
justice system in gubernatorial race
By Mary Kujawa
The Battalion
Emphasizing changes in education, the criminal
justice system and the state budget, George W.
Bush spoke of his candidacy for the governor of
Texas to an enthusiastic crowd at
Easterwood Airport.
This was Bush's fourth stop
on a five-day, 27-city tour of
Texas to officially launch his
candidacy for the Republican
nomination for governor.
"If you want someone to tin
ker with the current system. I'm
not the person," Bush said. "I'm
the person for new ideas. Funny
sound bites are not my mission.
My mission is to change the
state of Texas."
Bush acknowledged that it
will be a tough race because he is running against a
well-liked person.
He asked the crowd if the schools were better, if
the funding system was fair or even understand
able and if the people were happy with the leader
ship in Austin after four years.
Resounding "no's" echoed through the room in
response to each of the questions.
"Everywhere I go, I hear the same answer, from
all kinds of people, in all kinds of places," Bush
said.
"People want a change. People want new lead
ership. So I am confident that m 363 days, we will
be celebrating a victory for Texas because 1 am^go-
ing to win."
Bush said government leaders should be held
responsible for their individual behavior.
"Government must be open and honest," Bush
said.
"We simply cannot tolerate leaders who imply
the lottery will fund education and then it doesn't.
We simply can't say as a state we don't like Robin
Hood I, but here comes Robin Hood II."
One of Bush's top concerns is education. He
said education is to a state what national defense is
to the federal government.
"Right now, we do it backwards in Texas," Bush
said.
See Bush/Page 9
Bush
War veterans remembered
Ami/ Brouming/lhit Battalion
Adam DeMasellis, a freshman geology major of the Academic Building Thursday. The flags
from Marshall, takes the flag down from in front flew half-staff in observance of Veterans Day.
Minors in possession face major fines
More jail time, longer suspensions in store for violators
By Michele Brinkmann
T 1
;
Tm Battalion
'he drinking laws have
changed for minors and le
gal adults.
Under the new law, which
went into effect in September,
students under 21 who are cited
for MIPs (Minor In Possession)
could face higher fines, and if cit
ed for a DWI (Driving While In
toxicated), they may
face longer suspen
sions and a lower
blood alcohol con
tent to be convicted.
However, the fines
and jail time for
adults cited who re
ceive DWIs have de
creased.
This year the
Texas Legislature
raised the fine for
subsequent MIP con
victions to $500-
$1,000, the exact
amount being up to
the judge. First offenders will
still pay the $25-200 fine but will
now also have to attend an alco
hol awareness course.
Previously, drivers under 21
needed a blood alcohol content
of .10 to be convicted of a DWI,
but under the new law, minors
onlv need .07 to be convicted.
Minors can now have their li
censes suspended for up to one
year if they refuse to take the
breath alcohol test, compared to
90 days, under the previous law.
The new DWI laws for adults
take effect September 1994.
County Attorney Jim Kubovi-
ak said the laws have been
changed to reflect the penal code.
Flying and boating have been
added to the DWI laws, but
Kuboviak said the biggest change
is in the smaller range of punish
ments. Fines and jail time have
also decreased.
Cpl. Betty LeMay of Universi
ty Police Department said the
new laws will affect many stu
dents because UPD has been is
suing more citations to minors.
"We have very aggressive en
forcement," LeMay said. "Our
job is to help keep peace and
save lives.
"Curtailing the amount con
sumed by minors will decrease
things such as accidents, alcohol
poisonings, dropout, assaults
and date rapes," she said.
Justice of the Peace George
Boyette said that although he
doesn't see many second offend
ers, he will be forced to give a
minimum fine of $500.
"I can't say that I will max the
fines, but they will be heavier,"
he said.
During the first two months of
the 93-94 school year, 166 MIPs
and 13 DWIs have already been
handed out. Last year, 289 MIPs
and 91 DWIs were issued.
LeMay said because Bonfire is
approaching and it is the time of
year when most MIPs are given,
she wants the students to be
aware of the new laws.
"We want students to under
stand the new laws
before Bonfire," she
said. "Students
should already
know alcohol is not
allowed on campus.
That is in the Uni
versity Regulations."
During last year's
Bonfire, the College
Station Police Depart
ment issued 49 MIPs,
the Texas Alcohol
Beverage Commis
sion issued 92, and
UPD issued 90.
"Lately, we've
seen more sensible
students at Bonfire because of the
risk of losing it," LeMay said.
"Each year we have fewer prob
lems.
"Those that stay sober can look
back at Bonfire with fond memo
ries rather than remembering a
hospital or jail stay," she said.
Boyette said he will keep his
office open until 9 p.m. the day
of Bonfire to handle inquiries
about tickets.
"Since most students will be
leaving town the next day, and
the office will be closed for the
See Laws/Page 9
Conflict Center
to help resolve
alcohol offenses
By Carrie Miura
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
students who are charged
with alcohol-related offenses
on campus will now have to
contact the Student Conflict
Resolution Center to resolve
the matter.
Eugene Zdziarski, coordi
nator of the center, said the
Student Conflict Resolution
Center hands down punish
ments to students who break
University regulations. "Stu
dents do not realize that
when they receive an MIP on
campus, not only are they
committing a criminal of
fense, they are also violating
University Regulations,"
Zdziarski said.
Dr. Bill Kibler, interim as
sistant vice president of stu
dent services, said students
who are issued alcohol-relat
ed citations on campus must
go through the SCRC.
"Any student who vio
lates disciplinary policies on
the campus, whether it's
during Bonfire or anywhere
else, the student must face
two jurisdictions — the
SCRC and appear in court."
This year the University
Police Department will issue
citations with a note ort the
See Center/Page 9
Reveille VI to make first
public appearance at game
By Jennifer Smith
The Battalion
Reveille VI will make her first public appearance as Texas A&M's
new mascot at the A&M-Louisville football game Saturday.
Reveille VI will not officially take her position as the highest ranking
cadet in the Corps of Cadets until after the Texas A&M-University of
Texas football game on Thanksgiving Day. Reveille V, who has served
as A&M's mascot since 1984, will retire after this game.
But Reveille V will probably make another appearance at A&M's
bowl game.
The new mascot is a 10-week-old American collie from a litter of six.
Company E-2, the company responsible for taking care of Reveille, de
cided last spring to retire Reveille V.
The search then began for her replacement.
Members of the Mascot Company contacted breeders across the
state and nation to find a replacement for Reveille V.
They found her in Plano from a man named Pat Marshall.
She was chosen based on her background, medical history, coloring,
physical features and personality.
Reveille V recently had surgery for a stomach ailment, but this did
not play a part in the decision to retire her.
Inside
\
State & Local
►Computers make finding
scholarships easier
Page 2
Sports
•Pullig prepared to lead
A&M against Louisville
Page 9
Opinion
•Pro/Con: Should Packwood
be forced to submit diaries?
Page 11