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The Battalion
[Vol. 93 No. 103 (8 pages)
1893 — A Century of Service to Texas A&M — 1993
Monday, February 28,1994
TEXAS
DA says more to come in A&M probe
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Massacre ignites
West Bank rioting
HEBRON, Occupied West Bank
— A Jewish settler's massacre of at
least 40 Muslims in a West Bank
mosque set off rioting across the
occupied territories and imperiled
the Mideast peace process.
PLO leader Yasser Arafat sum
moned Palestinian peace negotia
tors back to Tunis to discuss a re
sponse to the killings, PLO offi
cials said today.
Scattered stone-thro wing
clashes were reported Sunday de-
spiite a military curfew in the oc
cupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Troops in riot gear threw up bar
ricades around Jerusalem, barring
Palestinians from entering.
Violence swept the occupied
territories Friday after an Ameri
can doctor gunned down rows of
worshippers at a tomb, revered
by both Muslims and Jews as
Abraham's burial place.
Clinton opposes
exporting toxics
WASHINGTON - The Clin
ton administration wants to stop
U.S. companies from sending tox
ic wastes overseas, especially to
Third World nations where envi
ronmental and safety controls of
ten are less stringent.
Administration officials said
the White House will ask Con
gress this week to impose the ban,
and plans to press other industrial
countries to take similar actions at
a conference on toxic waste next
month in Geneva.
"We're taking a strong position
and it's going to have an impact
on whai Europe does and what
other industrial countries do,"
said one of several senior official
who spoke on the condition they
not be identified.
The policy on waste exports
represents a marked shift from
the Bush and Reagan administra
tions, which opposed interfering
with toxic-waste exports.
Branch Davidians
claim trial victory
SAN ANTONIO - The rem
nants of David Koresh's flock
won a measure of vindication Sat
urday when a jury acquitted 11
cult members of murder, rejecting
claims they ambushed federal
agents. Five were convicted of
manslaughter.
Two other Branch Davidians
were convicted of weapons
charges. Four were acquitted of
all charges.
The verdict came almost exactly
a year after a botched raid by the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms that left four agents and
six cultists dead and escalated into
perhaps the nation's most closely
watched law enforcement fiasco.
Defense lawyers promptly de
clared victory Saturday, noting
the longest prison sentence any of
the seven convicted Davidians
can receive is 10 years.
-The Associated Press
By Kim McGuire
The Battalion
The two Texas A&M Board of Regents
secretaries indicted Thursday on felony
charges of tampering with government
documents surrendered to local authori
ties Friday and are expected to return to
work today.
See Related Editorial/Page 7
Vickie Running, Board of Regents secre
tary, and Sasha Walters, an administrative
assistant to the Board, were released Friday
afternoon on their own recognizance after
posting bonds of $20,000 each set by U.S.
District Court Judge J.D. Langley.
The indictments follow an ongoing in
vestigation by the Texas Rangers and FBI
into allegations of misconduct by several
University administrators.
Coaches, students
say Big Eight move
will benefit A&M
By Jose de Jesus Ortiz
Thi. Battalion
Athletic and student leaders at
Texas A&M said they were pleased
A&M's Board of Regents accepted
the Big Eight's invitation and leave
the Southwest Conference.
A&M, with its many traditions
tied to football season, probably
won't have a problem persuading
head coach R.C Slocum, who has
coached in the SWC 21 years, about
the move.
"I do have a lot of sentimental feel
ings/' Slocum said, "and any change
is difficult, but this option holds a lot
of promise.
"it seems to have a natural align
ment and it will give us more expo
sure by playing in different states/
Head basketball coach Tony Barone
also was pleased with the move.
"With these schools (Texas Tech,
Baylor, Texas and A&M) the Big
Eight is adding," Barone said, "it will
give the conference - whatever they
end up calling it - tremendous credi
bility in basketball.
"1 don't think it will have any effect
on traditions. Traditions at Texas
A&M will be known by a larger base
of people because of this new league."
Barone said he hopes A&M's new
exposure will help recruiting those
players who shun SWC basketball be
cause of i ts all-Texas makeup.
"One of the reasons kids say they
don't choose A&M is that they want
to play in a conference that includes
more than one state/' Barone said.
"Kids seem to be interested in play
ing outside of Texas.
A&M student body president Brian
Walker said he saw the change as a
way for A&M to spread Aggie spirit.
"The change will not affect our
traditions/' Walker said. "Our tradi
tions will never waver. It is an op
portunity to forward the Aggie spirit
to other parts of the country.
"I think it is an opportunity for
A&M to grow and associate with fine
academic institutions. Overall I think
this is a fine step. There is an oppor
tunity to grow and change, and 1
think the regents were wise for that."
Student leaders in Texas A&M's
Corps of Cadets also were pleased
with the decision.
Regiment executive officer Tony
Eolendo said he was waiting for the
move to come a long time ago and
not affect the Corps or its support for
the Aggies.
"It is a good move for us, both ath
letically and economically," Polendo
See Big Eight/Page 8
Indictments leave A&M community with questions
By Kim McGuire
The Battalion
The indictments last week of two
Texas A&M Board of Regents secretaries
is yet another controversy to rock the
University and has left many students
and others with ties to A&M with
doubts, confusion and many unan
swered questions.
The A&M system released a state
ment regarding the indictments saying,
"We are shocked and disappointed that
this action has occurred.
"Mrs. Vickie Running and Mrs. Sasha
Walters are fine employees and are uni
versally respected by their colleagues
and friends throughout the A&M Sys
tem. We have sought to fully cooperate
and will continue to fully cooperate
with the Brazos County grand jury and
the Texas Rangers in this matter and in
the investigation."
Ross Margraves, chairman of the
Board of Regents, said he was greatly
saddened by the matter.
"Tve known these women since I be
came a regent five years ago and have
known them to exhibit nothing but high
moral character," he said. "Every board
member loves them, supports them and
will continue to do so even if they’re
convicted."
Margraves added the only thing Run
ning and Walters were guilty of was do
ing their job.
"They were only handling things the
way they had been handled prior to
See Community/Page 6
Bill Turner, Brazos County district at
torney, said the indictments should not
be taken as a conclusion to the investiga
tion, and both the FBI and Rangers antici
pate that further presentations will be
made to the grand jury.
"This is not the end of it by any
means," Turner said.
Running and Walters were charged in
two separate indictments and, if convict
ed, the two women could face punish-
See Indictment/Page 6
Aggie Band turns 100
Sttnv Milne/Thl Battalion
The Aggie Band played Friday night in Rudder Auditorium
as part of tour celebrating it's 100th anniversary. The band
also played at the Myerson Symphony Center in Dallas on
Saturday and performed in Houston on Sunday.
Fliers warn students about safety
By Jennifer Smith
The Battalion
The Department of Student Affairs is
posting fliers around the Texas A&M
campus warning students to take precau
tions after a female student was kid*-
napped and assaulted Thursday night.
The student, who is 20 or 21, told the
Bryan and University Police Depart
ment that she was abducted at knife
point as she approached her car at the
Northgate Post Office at about 10:40
p.m. The man forced her into her car
and told her to drive.
He took her to the 2100 block of West
Villa Maria Road, where he choked her
until she lost consciousness. He then
stripped her of her clothing, stole some
jewelry and scratched her, police report
ed.
When the victim regained conscious
ness, she put on a jacket and drove to a
convenience store to call police.
The fliers, which are titled "An Urgent
Message for Safety's Sake," remind stu
dents that A&M is not a "safe haven."
Also on the flier. Student Affairs ad
vises students to never walk alone on
campus, especially at night, and to report
any suspicious people to UPD or their
residence hall staff.
Bob Wiatt, director of University Po
lice Department, said the student was
assaulted, but she was not sexually as
saulted.
Wiatt said University Police are now
investigating the incident.
Assault victim receives $418,000 in lawsuit
By Angela Neaves
The Battalion
An assault victim was awarded
$418,000 in a civil suit involving five
Texas A&M students and former stu
dents.
John Morris Walker, a former student
currently attending Sam Houston State
University, sued two A&M students and
two former students for assault.
A 12-person jury decided the four
men, Kevin Neil Ormston, a former stu
dent, Stephen Swan, a senior finance
major, Gregory Pappas, a graduate agri
cultural economics student, and Earl
Amerman Dyke, a former student, con
spired to assault Walker and all actively
participated in the assault.
The jury deliberated all day Friday
and came out of deliberation late Friday
evening.
The distribution of the settlement be
tween Ormston, Pappas, Dyke and
Swan will be decided in the two weeks.
Walker's attorney, Chris Kling said.
Swan says he plans to appeal the de
cision.
"I can't speak for everyone, but I'm
planning to appeal," Swan said.
"I still never hit him. I never
touched anyone."
as.
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Brazos«
InterfuvtlotuUs 'WeeJt *>
Students open 15th annual event today, 'Discover the World' theme
• Oj>wiUuj CermvoHj/ •
Feb. 28 — Speeches and music introduce the
week's theme, "Discover the World at A&M."
* CodturaL r t>Uj>iaj/s •
Feb. 28-March 1 — Over 45 international student
clubs will have craft and art displays throughout the
day in the MSC .
* InterKAtional; tuffet*
March 2 — Food from over 30 different countries
and live entertainment. Starts at 7 p.m. in the second
floor of the MSC.
• Consuls’ tarujuet •
March 3 — Consuls General from over 45
countries will come to A&M to attend a luncheon
with international student leaders (By invitation
only).
• Talent 6hour et Taskions •
March 4 — A two hour presentation of cultural
fashion, music and dances from various countries.
The show starts at 8 p.m. The expected attendance
will be 2,500 people.
• CLosUiy Cererwony •
March 4 — Awards will be given to outstanding
country displays and performances. Food and
refreshments will be served. The ceremony will begin
at 11 p.m. in Northgate Cafe.
All proceeds from sale of arts and crafts will be donated to
U.N.I.C.E.F. and the Watkins International Loan Fund.
Tickets prices: $8 — Buffet, $4 — Talent show or $11 —
combined.
Children tickets for the buffet is only $4 at the door.
Tickets available at Rudder Box Office. Call845-1234 for
more information.
Inside
Sports
•Lady Aggies crush Lady
Mustangs
•Men's basketball team falls
into first place tie with UT
Page 3
Opinion
•Editorial: Students should
not let regents investigation
end
• Vasquez: Should sex make
the person?
Page 7