Vol. 93 No. 86 (8 pages)
The Battalion
1893 — A Century of Service to Texas A&M — 1993 Wednesday, February 2,1994
University attempts to polish tarnished image
By Chris Whitley
The Battalion
After suffering a series of public
relations nightmares over the past
year, Texas A&M University finds
litself facing an image problem.
The University has endured alle
gations of unfair business dealings
[by the Board of Regents, NCAA
[sanctions on the football team for
[improper payments to players, the
rings and reassignments of three
op officials in the Food Services
Department and a government in
vestigation into a federally-funded
A&M study about turning mercury
into gold.
"I think it has made A&M look a
little bad," Student Body President
Brian Walker said.
The Food Services incident was
first reported by the Associated
Press in October.
Margaret Freeman, the execu
tive director of the Aggie Mother's
Club, said the story has taken away
from the school's image.
Her group has been critical of
the way the administration
handled the firings in
Food Services and have
pressed for an outside
investigation into the
matter.
"I think we need to
restore the integrity and
the values that we've had
at the University," Freeman
said. "We've always lived by the
Code of Honor, which says Aggies
shouldn't lie, cheat or steal. We
need to restore those values."
The investigation and punish
ment of A&M's football
team by the NCAA has
been covered by news
organizations around
the nation.
A story in The Dallas
Morning News in De
cember, 1992 about a
booster paying players for
work they did not perform
resulted in a year-long probe into
the matter. The NCAA ended up
banning the Aggies from a bowl
bid and all television coverage in
1994.
Douglas Slack, chairman of the
academic affairs committee in
A&M's Faculty Senate, said he has
seen how this story has plagued the
school and thinks it doesn't truly
represent A&M as a whole.
"We're a public institution,"
Slack said. "TTiere have been activ
ities here that have caused press
around the U.S. Some members of
the public have gauged the school
by unflattering headlines."
Slack said he questions whether
or not the disaster had a serious im
pact on the image of the University,
even though it might be fuel for
jokes.
"When someone says, 'You got
any summer jobs available?', does
that have an impact," Slack said.
These series of incidents might
even have an impact in Austin.
Rep. Steve Ogden said he is con
cerned about how A&M's image
has been affected. He has talked
with the Speaker of the House and
the Chairman of the House Appro
priations Committee about all of
See Image/Page 8
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Sorority to lose
after decline in
5 By Eloise Flint
The Battalion
The Texas A&M chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority
/ill lose their charter at the end of this semester because of
(a continual drop in membership.
National representatives of Alpha Gamma Delta an
nounced last weekend at a Panhellenic Convention in Dallas
[that A&M's chapter will reor-
Iganized in the fall.
The sorority will give up
lits charter and the girls will
go on alumni status at the
lend of this semester.
Alpha Gamma Delta mem-
Iber Angela Amshoff, a
Isophomore bio-engineering
Imajor, said they are not hap-
[py with the decision.
"Members of the sorority aren't in support of national's
^decision," Amshoff said. "They promised they wouldn't
jclose us down, and now they have."
Carrie Beyer, Panhellenic President, said the national of-
[ficers have put a lot of consideration into this decision.
"The national officers want the chapter to remain at
lA&M, but there has been a lower number of girls joining re-
Icently," Beyer said.
charter in May
membership
Lanita Hanson, Greek coordinator at A&M, said they
have been dealing with this decision one step at a time.
"The most important thing is to make sure the girls are
handling it well," Hanson said. "We want to make it clear
that this is very much an organizational and not a personal
decision."
Hanson said national organizers will start with a clean
slate and hope to receive their charter back.
"As far as reorganization
"They promised they wouldn't close
us down, and now they have."
- Angela Amshoff,
Alpha Gamma Delta member
goes, the intentions as an en
tity are to remain a presence
on campus," Hanson said.
The Panhellenic Council
will determine Feb. 9
whether Alpha Gamma
Delta will be permitted to re
organize. If this occurs,
Hanson said they will not be
part of the formal fall rush.
"They will participate in the first round of rush, which is
an informational, to let the new women know what is go
ing," Hanson said.
Beyer said national officers will take control of the colony
rush from that point with a big public relations push.
Hanson said no decision has been made as to what will
happen with the sorority house in the event that the request
to reorganize is denied.
udge to grant injunction against KKK
The Associated Press
AUSTIN — A state judge Tuesday
agreed to grant a temporary injunction
aimed at keeping members of the Ku
Klux Klan from intimidating or harass
ing residents of a desegregated housing
project in Vidor.
District Judge John Dietz listened to
testimony of a state investigator and a
frightened resident of a previously all-
white public housing complex in Vidor
before making his decision.
Dietz said he wanted attorneys to
hammer out details of the injunction be
fore he issued a formal order, possibly
Wednesday.
His ruling is the latest court action
in an investigation by the Texas Com
mission on Human Rights into al
leged civil violations of the Texas Fair
Housing Act by two factions of the
Ku Klux Klan. The civil penalties car-
ffry fines up to $50,000. No criminal
pcharges have been filed.
Previously, the Commission on Hu
man Rights has attempted to gain the
membership lists of the White Camelia
Knights and the Texas Knights of the
KKK. The commission is attempting to
determine if threats against residents
and supporters of the desegregated
housing project are coming from the
two groups.
Dietz's Tuesday ruling related only
to the White Camelia Knights of the
KKK. He is expected to issue a similar
ruling after a hearing Wednesday in
volving the Texas Knights of the KKK.
Vidor has long been a Klan recruiting
hotbed and members of the group have
held rallies criticizing the desegregation
effort by the U.S. Department of Hous
ing and Urban Development.
In 1993, the Orange County Housing
Authority moved four black families
into the previously all-white 74-unit
apartment complex.
By late summer, all four had left,
claiming racial slurs made living in Vi
dor unbearable. The last to leave. Bill
Simpson, was killed Sept. 1 in what po
lice said was a random shooting less
than 12 hours after he moved to nearby
Beaumont.
On Jan. 13, four other black families
moved into the Vidor complex under
the protection of Justice Department of
ficials. There are now six black families
living in the Vidor complex.
Bill Hale, who heads the investiga
tion by the Commission on Human
Rights, testified Tuesday that he sought
a temporary injunction against the Klan
after threats continued to be made
against residents of the housing project.
"There is clear evidence that since
last September there continues to be in
timidation by threat of force from mem
bers of the Klan," Hale told the judge.
Hale said Klan members have dri
ven by the housing project on a bus,
prominently displaying a gun. And
Linda Bagwell, a white resident of the
housing project, said her daughter
was offered $50 by a Klan member to
beat up black children.
Radioactive to the core
Tim Moog/THE Battalion
Bill Asher, manager of operations, removes a sample of Argon 41 gas from the core of
A&M's nuclear reactor Tuesday afternoon. The core is surrounded by a 108-thousand
gallon pool of pure water. The water is kept at a constant temperature of 34 F. The
plant is open to the public for tours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
cost,
o:
Disability Awareness Day
Today is Disability Awareness Day on the Texas A&M campus, and
I two programs will be presented to educate the University community
I about the daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
The Gary Gray Emergency Contact System, a two-way radio that will
| allow students with physical disabilities to summon aid on campus, will
I be dedicated at 10 a.m. in Room 206 of the MSG.
Gary Gray, Class of '80, who died in 1982 after a life-long battle with
muscular dystrophy, was an advocate for students with disabilities.
1 This program will also honor a student and faculty member who have
| worked to increase awareness of individuals with disabilities and to elim
inate barriers for them. The student will receive the first Gary Gray
1 Memorial Recognition Award, and the faculty member will receive the
1 first Partners in Learning Award of Excellence.
Another event, Access Challenge, will allow students, faculty and staff
the opportunity to experience a simulated disability for 30 to 45 minutes.
I Participants may go to Rudder Exhibit Hall from 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
-•w* «
Inside
Campus
•Events planned for Black
History Month
Page
Sports
•Lady Aggies basketball
takes on Baylor tonight
Page
Opinion
•Editorial: University needs a
student regent
Page 7
Aggie 8 may see 'green' in Commons Lobby
Approval of ATM
installation offers
easier cash access
By James Bernsen
The Battalion
outhside residents on the
Texas A&M campus may
not have to walk farther
than the Commons to get money
if University officials decide to
install an automatic teller ma
chine in the lobby.
Jennifer Enos, acting director
of facilities and operations for the
Residence Hall Association, said
the ATM would help students
who currently do not have easy
access to a machine.
"If you live in the Quad, you
can go to the MSC and if you live
on Northside, you can go to E-Z
Mart," she said. "The people liv
ing on Southside need one too."
Enos said the RHA has re
ceived several requests to install
an ATM in the Commons.
The issue has been discussed
at numerous RHA meetings, and
it was approved with little oppo
sition.
"It's just something the resi
dents want, and that's what
we're here for," she said.
The proposal was sent to Dan
Mizer, assistant director of Resi
dence Life, who requested the
machine from Finance and Ad
ministration.
First American Bank is con
ducting a study to determine if
an ATM would be profitable,
Mizer said.
Jane Schneider, senior man
agement analyst of Finance and
Administration, said the study is
being done to determine if an
See ATM/Page 8
UT-Dallas gives fresh start to some freshmen
The Associated Press
DALLAS — Some University of Texas at
Dallas freshmen are getting a second chance
after the college decided not to use first-semes
ter grades in determining who keeps their
scholarships.
The move has some students crying foul,
accusing the college of coddling freshman. But
university officials defend the decision, saying
UTD was remiss in not implementing the idea
initially.
School officials had high hopes last fall for
young scholarly recruits, but nearly a fifth of
the 265 scholarship freshman failed to meet the
university's expectations.
Initially, students were required to maintain
at least a 3.0 GPA and carry at least 12 semes
ter hours, or about four courses to keep their
academic scholarships.
Now the university has decided to give
them a fresh start.
Hobson Wildenthal, vice president for acad
emic affairs, said the shift from high school to
college can be tough for some, especially stu
dents used to getting high marks without ben
efit of study. He also said UTD is not alone in
giving freshmen a break.
Students at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, for example, get only pass or fail
during their freshman year.
UTD chemistry professor Lynn Melton,
president of the local chapter of the Texas Fac
ulty Association, said she doesn't have a prob
lem with the fresh start approach.
"But if somebody continues to screw up
and doesn't get their ship sailing right, you
quit investing in them,” she said.
Some students, though, view the move as
unfair and complained the university is "baby
ing" the students.
"It's almost like the university is lowering
its standards to account for the big acquisition
of students," said Brit Zindel, 18, who earned a
3.75 grade point average last semester.
Wildenthal estimated that a "couple dozen"
students didn't maintain the GPA and a like
number didn't meet the required 12 hours,
about twice what officials had expected.
Some school officials said that immaturity
contributed in large part to poor student per
formance. Wildenthal said some freshmen
didn't routinely show up for class, so atten
dance now will be a factor in deciding who
maintains a scholarship.
Last year, UTD announced $1 million in
scholarships that provide free tuition, housing
and money for books for students getting top
marks on a standardized test.