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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1994)
State & Local Page 2 Batt writers hit top 10 in national editorial V. • • • • • • ' • . ' . . : • writing competition By Lisa Elliott Thc Battalion Two staff members of The Battalion gained national attention after placing in the top ten of the William Randolph Hearst Foun dation competition in editorial writing. Robert Vasquez and Chris Whitley, both senior journalism ma jors, took seventh and eighth place respectively in the competi tion. Vasquez's winning column, titled "Acquaintance Rape: Cross ing the Line Between 'Yes' and 'No/" is about a friend's experi ence with date rape. ■ Vasquez said the column means a lot to him because it focuses on an important topic that doesn't get enough attention. "It was how others reacted to it that made me realize it was important," he said. The article caused students to talk about the problem, and Vasquez said many women confided in him about them own per sonal experiences with date rape after the article ran. "The colurqn helped confront the topic and that's why it means so much to me," he said. "It was important to get the word out that no means no." Whitley's winning column, titled "Ageless Woman Stands Test of Time," was a reflection on the life of his grandmother, written a week after her death. Whitley wrote that his grandmother found the fountain of youth by living a simple life away from the stresses of the mod em big city. He said winning the award for this particular column means a lot to him. "It was more of a form of release than a column to me," he said. "To win an award for it was personal gratification to me." Vasquez and Whitley will receive $500 each for their columns, which were selected from 92 entries from around the country. The Associated Press DALLAS — Sporting pocket protectors and glass es, they've peeled away from their keyboards and emerged from darkened computer rooms by the • .thousands to urate. , . ^ For these sei£-pro(*Taimed computer'nerds, lire thicker the-eyeglasses $md"the bigger-the assortment^ of pens and pencils in shirt pockets, the better. Their first "Nerd Weekend" held by one employer. Com puter Associates International Inc,, ended Monday. Nerds have come a long way since Dr. Seuss, also known as Theodore Geisel, introduced the word in his 1950 book, "If I Ran the Zoo." Even though the word is sometimes seen in the company of worse-sounding labels like geek and dweeb, computer types — who also like to call them- .selves "technologically advantaged" — insist being a nerd is chic these days. Britta Hoffner of Frankfurt, Germany, says she's a nerd and proud of it. The support engineer and about 2,000 other com- Nerd is the word at first 'Nerd Weekend' conferenc "The problem with nerds is that they work in extremely focused and limited situations — staring at computer screens.' -Hesh Kestin, spokesman for Computer Associates puter company employees attending the conference frorh across the nation and 26 other countries are try ing to shirk the dictionary definition of nerds as un sophisticated and dull. "The problem with nerds is that they work in ex tremely focused and limited situations — staring at computer screens," said Hesh Kestin, spokesman for the Islandia, N.Y.,-based Computer Associates. "Sometimes they don't know what is going on elsewhere in the company," he said. The company's chairman and chief executive offi cer, Charles B. Wang, wrapped up the three-day,pro gram Monday with a "nerd power rally" an'd farewell address. Everyone got official pocket protec tors from the event. » ' 'WeftTg named a former Texas resident, Billy Keefqr t Nerd of the Year. "The n-word is no longer an insult," said Keefer, 39, the company's technical support manager in Slough, England. Keefer, 39, is a Texas Christian University gradu ate who has lived in Killeen and Mount Pleasant. "We chose Billy because he's not only a super nerd who's passionate about technology, but because he's totally unaware of it — there's nothing nerdier than being a nerd and not knowing it," said Wang. Keptin claimed that the nerds' gathering was the first ohits kind. "Usually companies do this for their sales staff to motivate them," he said. "Computer Associates did it because we wanted to make sure all ourt gy people in 27 offices around the world allfc same vision of where the company is going.” The gathering was also called "Nerdstock • a Woodstock celebration for computer jocks, R: they've been donning goggles to pursues targets in three-dimensional .worlds through:; reality machines. But they may still need some work to bJ trendy. For Saturday night's entertainment, fe ed Computer Associates business software.A'j bar featured only nonalcoholic wines and bee: Nerds were in their environment during! puter trivia contest, JeopNerdy, on Sundaynigi "They were all questions about computers ogy, including one about what operatingsye the equivalent of neutered servants," saidKes:' The answer? Unix (sounds like eunuchs) isi: ter computer control system popular with sot and universities and developed in 1969 b) 1 which licensed the product to other companies Only a nerd would know that, Kestin says. €1) WAREHOUSE WE BUY USED CD'S FOR $4;00 or trade 2 for 1 USED CD'S $8.99 or LESS 268-0154 (Now located downstairs at Northgate) VISIT US I Pi THE FALL AT THE TX. REPiAISSAPiCE FESTIVAL visit us now / in oownrown BRYAn BEAUTIFUL 6f UnUSUAL JEWELRY Sf GIFTS FROM AROUnD THE WORLD tSt floppy Joe’s 5 o f + w cc i- * t o & £3 We have New & Used Software! PHI ETA SIGMA OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS TO MEMBERS Phi Eta, Sigma National Honor Society will this year award $44,000 in graduate and undergraduate scholarships and awards to selected members of Phi Eta Sigma across the nation. The twelve $2,000 graduate scholarships are for the first year of full-time graduate or professional study, or undergraduate, and the $1,000 undergraduate- awards are for fUll-time study also. Any eligible senior member of Phi Eta Sigma may apply for one of the graduate scholarships. For the undergraduate award, however, the applicant must be nominated by the local chapter. Any eligible member of Phi Eta Sigma who is interested in applying for one of the scholarships or awards should obtain a scholarship application from cubicle IX in the John Koldus Building. Selections for the awards and scholarships will be on the basis of the student’s scholastic record, participation for success in chosen field, and character. National deadline for nominees for the undergraduate awards and for applications for the graduate scholarships is March 1. Return completed application forms to Room 111, Agriculture Building. Local deadline for submission of applications is Feb. 23, 1994. tgb Take $1.00 off any $10.00 purchase Expires: 03-15-94 Got a CD Rom Drive? We RENT IBM and MAC CD's!! £3 £3 1705 Texas Ave., Culpepper Plaza 693-1706 Announcing the establishment of the Texas A&M University Student Microbiology Scholarship Criteria: 1) Microbiology Major 2) 3.0 GPA 3) Full-time student in Fall 1994 Two $300 scholarships will be awarded in lateApfi Pick up applications in Office of Professional: Advising (Academic Bldg. 203) Ca Deadline: March 25, 1994 at noon. Contact Ketan Sukkawala, 693-8726, for further information NORTH GATE ATHLETIC CLUB NGAC NO INITIATION FEES, NO CONTRACTS, NO HASSLES .00 FOR THE REST OF THE SEMESTER or $24.00 A MONTH (Offer good through March 3 rd ) THERE IS STILL TIME TO LOSE WEIGHT TO FIT INTO YOUR SWIMSUIT. SPRING BREAK IS LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY! FREE WEIGHTS MACHINES WEIGHT LOSS & WEIGHT GAIN PROGRAMS * BICYCLES * STEPPERS 201 COLLEGE MAIN (BEHIND LOUPOT’S AT NORTHGATE) 846-6795 Forging a Reunified Germany Featuring: £ Dr. Hildegard Boucsein, Permanent Under-Secretary for Federal and European Affairs with the Berlin Senate A discussion on the tension caused by German Reunification Thursday, Feb. 24, 4:<)<) PM 302 Rudder Tower Sponsored by the MSC L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities. The Battalion t JULI PHILLIPS, Editor in chief MICHAEL PLUMER, Managing editor KYLE BURNETT, Agg/e/i'/e«)iw BELINDA BLANCARTE, Night Nevys editor DEN A DIZDAR, Aggielife editof HEATHER WINCH, Night News editor SEAN FRERKING, Sports editof TONI GARRARD CLAY, Opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, Photo« JENNIFER SMITH, City editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Special Section^ J Staff Members City desk -Lisa Elliott, Juli.Rhdden, Kim McGuire, Eloise Elint, Jan Higginbotham, GeneenPipher.tanptl Angela Neaves, Mary Kujawa, Karen Broyles, Melissa Jacobs, Stephanie Dube and Joseph G/eenslade News desk - Rob Clark, Andreana Coleman, Josef ElrHahan, Mark,Evans and Drew Wasson , Photographers - ^\my Browning, Chari Cooper. Robert Punkih,, Mary Marmanus. Jennie Mayf.> Milne, Tim Moog, Gus Morgan, Ni.rlc Rodnlcki, Amanda Sonley and Blake Griggs . , Aggielife - Margaret Glaughton, Jennifer Gressett, Paul Neale, Traci Travis and Claudia Zavaleta Sports writers — Mark Smith, Drew Dinner'. Nick Geofgandis ! Jose De Jesus Ortir-and Stewart Dot# . Opinion desk - Jay Robbins, Lynn goofier, Roy Clay, Erin Hill, Michael Landauer, Jenny Magee. Mt * Megliola, frank Stanford, Jackie Stokes, Robert Vasquez anti Dave Winder Graphic Artist - Pey Wan Choong Cartoonists - Boomer Cntdinale, Chau Huang, George Nasr, Kalvin Nguyen and Gerardo Quetadt Clerks- Eleanor Colvin, Wren Eversherg, Jennifer Kerber, Tomiko Miller and Brooke Perkins -, . ..J The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring^ and Monday through Thursday during the .summer session (except University holidays and exam Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77R40. \ POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas ASMU?** College Station, TX 77843. News: The Battalion news department js managed by students at Texas A&M University in the DW Student Publications, a unit of the Deparlment of Journalism. Editorial offices are in 013 RtedH'^ Building. Newsroom phone number is 84.S-331 3. Fax: 845-2647. , j; Advertising: For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified adeerftl 845-0569. Advertising offices are' in 015 Reed McDonald and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondat* Friday. Fax: 845-5408. < Subscriptions: Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. Tod( by VISA or MasterCard, call 845-2611.