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93 No. 71 (8 pages)
1893 — A Century of Service to Texas A&M — 1993
Wednesday, December 8,1993
jSecret radiation testing exposed
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The government has
concealed more than 200 nuclear weapon tests
since the 1940s and conducted about 800 radia
tion tests on humans, some of whom were un
aware of the risks, the Energy Department ac-
cnowledged Tuesday.
"It left me appalled, shocked and deeply
saddened," said Energy Secretary Hazel
TLeary about information she learned only
recently that 18 civilians had been injected
nth highly radioactive plutonium in the 1940s
determine what doses workers might be ex
posed to safely.
"It is apparent that informed consent could
lot have taken place," she said. All the indi-
/iduals are dead, although many of them lived
|for years after the experiment.
Learning of the plutonium tests "just gave
le an ache in my heart," she said.
Launching a new era of openness about the
weapons programs, her department released
summaries of previously secret information
about nuclear tests in Nevada, the amount of
plutonium produced and currently located at
weapons factories, and limited information
ftbout government tests during the 1940s and
|50s on humans to determine the health effects
of radiation doses.
The dejaartment did not release plutonium
stockpiles at the Pantex weapons plant near
Amarillo, where thousands of warheads are
being dismantled, because the number might
provide clues as to the number of weapons in
the nuclear arsenal.
O'Leary said she was personally stunned by
information she has received about the human
testing, although she said she was prevented
by privacy laws — and an ongoing internal re
view — from disclosing details at this time.
The Albuquerque Tribune reported the test
ing last month and identified five of the 18 in
dividuals, including Elmer Allen, a former
railroad porter from Italy, Texas. Those five
people were injected with plutonium as part of
work being done by the Manhattan Project in
the 1940s in the development of the first atom
ic bomb.
O'Leary directed that as much information
as possible be released, perhaps as early as
next June, on the tests involving the 18 people
as well about 800 other radiation tests involv
ing some 600 individuals.
The fact that some tests were done on hu
mans in connection with the government's nu
clear program has been known for years, but
few details have been available and officials
have said the participants always were aware
of the potential danger.
O'Leary said in the case of the 18 individu
als whose cases are being investigated she
would not rule out a possible lawsuit against
the government by survivors. The last of the 18
died two years ago.
Tara O'Toole, the DOE's assistant secre
tary for environment, safety and health, said
some of the 800 tests on which documents
are being assembled were "perfectly legiti
mate, perfectly valid" but that others — es
pecially those involving plutonium doses —
were clearly questionable.
O'Leary said of the plutonium-related tests
"the majority of the experiments were clearly
below ... the standards of correctness."
Meanwhile, the department said it conduct
ed 204 more underground nuclear tests be
tween 1963 and 1990 at its Nevada test range
than previously had been announced, or about
one-fifth more than officially acknowledged
over the years.
Thirty-four of the tests resulted in some re
lease of radiation into the environment, but of
ficials said in each case the contamination was
confined to the vast Nevada test area and did
See Radiation/Page 4
Final exam schedule
7:30-9:30 a.m.
10 a.m.-l2 noon
12:30-2:30 p.m.
3-5 p.m.
Friday, December 10
Classes meeting MW 5:45-7 or later
Classes meeting MWF 8
Classes meeting TR 9:35-10:50
Classes meeting TR 11:10-12:25
8-10 a.m.
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Monday, December 13
Classes meeting MWF 9:10-10
Classes meeting MWF 12:40-1:30
Classes meeting TR 8-9:15
Classes meeting MW 4:10-5:25
8-10 a.m.
10:30 a.m.-l2:30 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 14
Classes meeting MWF 10:20-11:10
Classes meeting MWF 3-3:50
Classes meeting TR 3:55-5:10
Classes meeting MWF 1:50-2:40
8-10 a.m.
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 15
Classes meeting TR 12:45-2
Classes meeting MWF 11:30-12:20
Classes meeting TR 2:20-3:35
Classes meeting TR 5:30-6:45 or later
How much do we get paid for this?
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Heather and Tyson Hann of College Station help at the Lady Aggie basketball game Tuesday night,
keep the court clean during a break in the action Heather is seven years old and Tyson is nine.
University prepares to renovate
Sbisa Food Court over holidays
Plan awaits expected approval by Board of Regents
By Kim McGuire
The Battalion
The construction of the Sbisa Underground Food
Court is set to begin during the holiday break fol
lowing the plan's expected approval by the Board of
Regents Thursday or Friday.
Andy Cronk, Food Services facility manager, said
the Physical Plant has already assessed the facility
and has begun making renovations.
"Since Sbisa was built in 1912, we obviously have
some repairs to do before the construction of the
Food Court begins," Cronk said. "We've already
started repairing a few groundwater leaks, leaks
from the ceiling and air conditioning."
The construction will consist of three phases: re
pairing the facility, relocating the present retail mar
ket and constructing the Food Court.
Cronk said the Underground Market will relocate
to the North Dining Hall, a dining facility currently
not used except for meetings. The dining hall is be
hind the west wall and is accessible through the
main entrance.
"We're hoping to keep the retail market open as
long as we can while it's being moved," Cronk said.
"It should be open by the time we start construction
on the Food Court."
Wes Gideon, assistant facilities manager, said the
department will receive input about the design of
the Food Court from the vendors and Food Services
management.
"Everyone is so excited about this, especially the
vendors," Gideon said. "They have been extremely
cooperative. They've offered to help with the design,
telling us what's worked best for them in the past
and offering to help us train the employees that will
be working in their locations."
In a previous interview with The Battalion, Dr.
Richard Floyd, interim Food Services director, said
Chick-Fil-a, Whataburger, Pizza Hut, Taco Bueno
and Columbo Frozen Yogurt have given final com
mitments to operate in the Food Court.
The construction of the Food Court includes
widening the foyer area and enhancing the seat
ing area.
"We definitely expect a huge flow of people when
the Food Court opens next fall semester," Cronk
said. "We'll widen the foyer area when you first
walk into the facility to accommodate the immediate
masses and are thinking about adding an exit near
the dining area."
Gideon said the kitchen used by the current Food
Court will also be used by the new vendors.
"Most of their food preparation will take place
there," Gideon said. "The vendors have all said the
kitchen will be a great help to them because they
won't have to bring in their outside equipment."
Gideon said he expects the prices to be the same
as in any other of the vendors' locations, and each
3
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The proposed floor plan of the Sbisa Food Court.
vendor will determine their menu items.
"They know what works best for them," Gideon
said. "I expect they'll be trimmed down somewhat to
what sells best for them."
Gideon said Little Bernie's menu will also be al
tered to best accommodate the students.
"With Pizza Hut coming in we'll have to make a
few changes," Gideon said. "Pizza Hut will special
ize in their personal pan pizzas which they have told
us is one of their best sellers and Little Bernie's will
still offer the larger pizzas."
Gideon said the Columbo Yogurt stand will prob
ably be like an ice cream bar.
"It won't be a help-yourself format," he said. "Most
likely, it will be a small kiosk, and possibly in the fu
ture, it may offer gourmet coffees and pastries.'
Gideon said the vendors will establish their
own hours.
"I would imagine the hours would be later than
normal for some and earlier than usual for some of
the ones that will serve breakfast," he said. "But, it is
really up to them and what the students want."
Cronk said the University hopes to make the
Food Court pleasing to everyone.
"We don't want this facility to be haphazard,"
Cronk said. "Our ideal goal is for the finished prod
uct to be something all the students are proud of."
” I New editor hopes to make The Batt more reader-friendly
By Jan Higginbotham
The Battalion
The Battalion will have a new
face next semester, or at least a
new face in the editor's chair.
Juli Phillips, editor in chief for
the Spring 1994 semester, said
she already has many plans for
the Texas A&M University stu
dent newspaper next semester.
Phillips will move up from the
position of managing editor to
fill the spot of editor.
Phillips said she has made
many contacts throughout her
year-and-a-half of work at The
Battalion and through her activi
ties in several on-campus student
organizations. She hopes these
contacts can be used to help in
crease the paper's news coverage.
Phillips said her knowledge of
Texas A&M will help her make
the paper more reader-oriented.
She has already decided to
publish the Aggielife section twice
a week, instead of once a week,
and to include more special sec
tions covering items such as Black
History Month and health issues.
"I want to hit features a lot
harder," Phillips said. "It will be
more than doom and gloom."
The new editor said these ef
forts should help the paper seem
more "friendly" to readers, fulfill
ing one of the newspaper's roles.
Phillips said she sees the role of
The Battalion at Texas A&M as an
important one: informing students
about the events that affect them
and giving them a forum, through
the Opinion Page, to comment on
these events.
"We have to keep the students
informed about what's directly
going to affect them," she said.
Dr. Benton Cocanougher, se
nior vice president and provost,
approved Phillips for the position
of editor last week. Texas A&M's
Student Publications Board, a
group made up of students, teach
ers and administrators, nominated
Phillips to the position.
Phillips started work at The
Battalion in the summer of 1992
See Editor/Page 4
Inside
5358
State & Local
• 1 994 Cotton Bowl Update:
Tickets, Midnight Yell
Page 2
Sports
•Lady Aggies beat Lamar,
roll to 6-0 on season
Page 5
Opinion
•Editorial: A&M should leave
Southwest Conference
Page 7