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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 1994)
Vuuy qjQOl Vol. 93 No. 79 (12 pages) The Battalion 1893 — A Century of Service to Texas A&M — 1993 Monday, January 24,1994 w eekend rap-up Savalas dies at 70 of prostate cancer LOS ANGELES - Telly Savalas, the gruff, bald-headed ac tor who became a television fa vorite as the lollipop-loving New York detective in the 1970s series "Kojak," died Saturday of prostate cancer. He was 70. Savalas died in his suite at the Sheraton-Universal Hotel in Uni versal City, said his spokesman, Mike Mamakos. "Who loves ya, baby?" which Kojak muttered to fellow cops and assorted hoodlums, grew into the detective's signature and a national catch-phrase. "Kojak" broke into the top 10 rated shows in its first season, 1973-74, and Savalas won an Emmy as best actor in a dramatic series. After "Kojak" ended, Savalas remained active in films and televi sion, including returns in his Kojak role. GM says supplier to blame for recall DETROIT— General Motors Corp. blamed the supplier of a fuel system part for the recall of 120,000 new GM compact pickups that could explode in side-impact crashes. The safety defect was discov ered in GM's Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma trucks this month by the National Highway Trans portation Safety Administration. The agency said the fuel sys tem leaked more than allowable under federal standards when it rolled over. Leaking fuel can cause explosions and fire. NHTSA and GM traced the leak to a joint in the fuel system. GM spokeswoman Linda Cook said Friday that the supplier — which she refused to identify — switched the method of making the joints, making them less resis tant to heat. Bobbitt committed to mental hospital MANASSAS, Va. - Lorena Bobbitt was committed to a state mental hospital for a psychiatric evaluation after a jury found she was temporarily insane when she cut off her husband's penis with a kitchen knife. Defense lawyers had argued that Bobbitt was a battered wife seized by an "irresistible im pulse" to cut off her husband's penis on June 23 after he came home from a night of drinking and raped her. Prosecutors called Bobbitt's at tack a calculated act of revenge. Doctors will decide if she pos es a danger to herself or others. They must report back to the judge within 45 days. L.A. churches cope with quake LOS ANGELES - Before makeshift altars in church gymna siums and tent cities Sunday, An gelenos gave thanks for what they'd salvaged and gathered strength to plunge back into an earthquake-twisted v«rsion of normalcy. St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church in Santa Monica, dam aged in the 1971 Sylmar earth quake, was closed again after Monday's $30 billion quake cracked walls and sent frescoes tumbling onto the altar. The 5,000-member parish held Mass in the gym — and planned 11 baptisms Sunday. It was a scene repeated across Los Angeles as thousands dis placed by the quake struggled to find temporary lodging or get their own homes habitable again. -The Associated Press UPD investigates System funds scandal Lobbyist allegedly took System funds for personal use; A&M Board of Regents under scrutiny for liquor purchases The staff also provided five separate bills from J.J.': r ic a nnfilir nffirial if i<; rViarcrprJ I T i<5 nwnpH hv T T Pnffinn and list! By Kim McGuire The Battalion The University Police Department is investigating al legations that a Texas A&M lobbyist took money from the Texas A&M University System funds for personal use. According to an article in The Dallas Morning News, Brazos County District Attorney Bill Turner confirmed a top attorney with the System appeared unannounced at his office Tuesday to turn over an internal file on sus pected theft by lobbyist Timothy L. Shaunty. Bob Wiatt, UPD director, said the file was referred to his department later that day for review. "We will thoroughly review the case and determine if criminal theft took place," Wiatt said. "If it did, we will turn the results of our investigation back to Bill Turner's office, who will then determine if indictments are war ranted." The article said Shaunty, the chief of legislative staff for the System, is under investigation for allegedly re ceiving funds from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station to furnish and lease an apartment in Austin, and then billing the system for daily expenses, including lodging costs. Wiatt said if the allegations against Shaunty are true, it would constitute felony theft between $750 and Malls adjusting to stop gang violence Post Oak: no gang clothing ban By Karen Broyles The Battalion Gang violence has become a problem at shopping malls throughout the nation, and Post Oak Mall in College Station is no exception. Ann Kyle, manager of Post Oak Mall, said security of ficials at the mall have attempted to stop gang violence before it gets started. "They do come through, but the mall has been neutral territory so far," Kyle said. "If they even so much as try to start a verbal fight, our security officers escort them to the edge of the property and ask them to leave." Lt. Raymond McCarver, head of mall security, said he has not seen a major problem with gangs at the mall. "We know who they (the gang members) are, and we keep an eye on the problem," McCarver said. "The gangs have come to the mall to spend money and have not caused any trouble so far." In response to gang violence, some malls have imple mented dress codes banning backward baseball caps, bandannas and other clothing associated with gangs. Post Oak Mall currently has no dress code banning gang-associated clothing. "We see no need for it at this point," McCarver said. "The only dress code we have is that no clothing with blatant profanity may be worn." McCarver said the mall has no written policy on deal ing specifically with gang violence, but the company that owns the mall does have guidelines on dealing with vio lence. McCarver has received correspondence from the se curity company since the Dec. 27 shooting of Kevin Ba con, an Irving Mall shopper caught in the crossfire of teenage gang members' gunfire in the mall's food court. The correspondence contained instructions on dealing with potential gang violence. See Gang Violence/Page 12 $20,000. "Since Mr. Shaunty is a public official, if he is charged with felony theft, the charges will automatically be en hanced by one degree and he could face two to 20 years in prison," Wiatt said. Terri Parker, system communication director, told the media Friday that Shaunty indicated he would resign, but she could not confirm the System had received his resignation. Shaunty assists the System in forming requests for state funds and then lobbies on behalf of Texas A&M. He had also served as assistant deputy chancellor for agricultural programs and assistant director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment System. In addition. The Dallas Morning News article reports state law officers are investigating whether state funds have been used illegally to buy liquor for the A&M Board of Regents and other University officials, and whether invoices were altered to conceal liquor purchas es. The published expense vouchers total more than $4,900 for items purchased in 1992 from a business listed as Ruffino Catering. The staff also provided five separate bills from J.J.'s Package Stores. J.J.'s is owned by J.J. Ruffino and lists the same address as the catering business. The article reports the bills from the liquor store item ize purchases of Budweiser and Miller beer and wine. However, the regents' staff listed the items on official vouchers as "food, soft drinks, ice and cups for the Board of Regents." An invoice from J.J's Package Stores reflects the sale of seven cases of beer at a cost of $113.66 on January 17, 1992. Another invoice published in The Dallas Morning News shows a State of Texas purchase voucher autho rized a check the same day for $113.66 to Ruffino Cater ing and does not reflect the payment of beer but rather "food, soft drinks, ice and cups." Texas law prohibits the use of state funds to buy alco holic beverages. However, the article reports A&M offi cials said the funds came from the Texas A&M Develop ment Foundation. James Bond, system chief legal counsel, told The Dal las Morning News that gift money or contributed funds may be spent on alcohol, with the donor's permission. See Funds/Page 12 A few good Aggies . The Fish Drill Team practices Saturday afternoon in the rain on Duncan Field for the upcoming Mardi Gras competition. The so-called 'ripple effect' will Stew Milne/The Battalion be a part of the teams drilling arsenal, that will al low. The all-freshman drilling unit is a nationally ranked drill team. Fraternities hope new approach helps image By Laurel Mosley The Battalion Texas A&M University fraternities continue their 1994 spring rush this week and hope to improve the image of Greek life with a new and different approach. Donald Eknoyan, president of the In terfraternity Council and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, said the new tent set-up last Wednesday, the first day of rush, encouraged more people to come out. He said about 250 students expressed an interest in fraternities during this event. Changes in spring rush activities to make Greek life less formal for prospective rushees Eknoyan said people are less intimi dated by an easy-going activity, and it makes fraternities seem less formal. "It shows people they don't have to be dressed up in a coat and tie to be a frat man," Eknoyan said. Eknoyan said people believe in a myth of what a fraternity man is, and the reali ty doesn't always match the myth. "I see fraternities as just another vehi cle to the undergraduate experience," Eknoyan said. "They are just another way to get involved." Chris Giessinger, president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, said the big turnout to his fraternity's activities leads him to believe people are more accepting of fra ternities than in the past. He said he wants more people to give fraternities a chance, and there is a frater nity out there for almost everyone. "I think more people need to come out and Jook at it," Giessinger said. "1 don't think we are a typical fraternity. We Houston engineer j oins A&M Moore wants to bring colleges together with center By Laurel Mosley The Battalion An engineer who helped design the Houston Astrodome and The Summit, has joined the fac ulties of the College of Engineering and the Col lege of Architecture at Texas A&M University. Dr. Walter P. Moore, Jr., a Houston engineer, said he will attempt to bring the two colleges to gether with his leadership. Dr. Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe, head of the de partment of civil engineering, said he is happy to have Moore as a colleague. "Dr. Moore has a high reputation," he said. "He is a magnificent addition to the depart ment." Rodriguez said he hopes Moore, who will be involved in construction research and technolo gy, will bring fresh new leadership to both de partments. Moore said he is excited about his appoint ment to both colleges and would like to see the two work together more. Moore said he would like to begin what he calls a center for building design and construc tion. This center is one way of having faculty from both colleges, as well as other depart ments, work together, he said. "I vision it as an interdisciplinary center for academic activity," Moore said. The center would have classes mostly in building design, Moore said. It would also be involved with research and graduate students. See Professor/Page 3 Inside Sports • Weekend basketball wrap-up •A&M track team competes in Oklahoma Page 7 Opinion •Editorial: Mall dress codes are misguided •Megliola: Too many univer sity employees go unac knowledged Page 11 have a lot to offer a lot of different peo ple." King O'Shea, a member of Kappa Sig ma fraternity, said his fraternity accepts many different types of people. "A fraternity is not renting a friend. I believe it is a lifelong commitment," O'Shea said. Activities this week include date par ties, billiards and informational meet ings. It all culminates at "Bid House" Fri day at 5 p.m. at the Systems Administra tion Building, when the students partici pating in rush find out which fraternities want them to join.