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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.