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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 1994)
y 1 Vol. 93 No. 114 (10 pages) nm Texas A&MT^ _ _ *V • Tne Battalion Serving Texas A&M since 1893 Tuesday, March 22, 1994 Nuclear friction heats up between Koreans The Associated Press tiilvii tt, ^ Uni- \«| SEOUL, South Korea — The ground that had been gained in resolving the North Ko rean nuclear dispute washed away Monday under a wave of threats, canceled talks and revived plans for war games and Patriot missile deployment in South Korea. North Korea issued a strong warning that it would follow through on its threat last year to pull out of an international nuclear controls treaty. Hours later, South Korean President Kim Young-sam announced that joint military exercises with the United States will be held this year, after all. The games had been canceled as part of an attempt to coax the isolated, hard-line Communist North into cooperating with in spections to determine if it is building nu clear w'eapons. North Korea refused inspectors access to a critical laboratory this month. That prompted the inspectors’ boss, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to re fer the issue Monday to the United Nations Security Counci, which could impose sanc tions on North Korea. Sanctions could make the xenophobic North feel increasingly beleaguered and worsen its already struggling economy. The United States canceled talks with North Korea that were to have opened Monday in Geneva. The talks were sought by the Pyongyang government, but were canceled because North and South Korea failed over the weekend to exchange envoys on the nuclear issues. Each side accused the other of causing the breakdown in the envoy exchange. The talks were to cover improving eco nomic and diplomatic relations, as well as the nuclear issue. After the North-South talks broke down Saturday, Seoul’s chief negotiator quoted his North Korean counterpart as saying: “Seoul will turn into a sea of fire.” South Korea lives in chronic fear of at tack by its heavily armed arch-enemy. North Korea in turn contends that the pres ence of 36,000 U.S. troops in the south and their yearly joint exercises are threatening. “Our security should be perfected to cope with every possible emergency,” Kim said during an emergency national security' meeting in which he announced the re sumption df the “Team Spirit” exercises. See Korea/Page 10 a $ Mr Oofis ! nut at least no one was hurt JL I Con artists receive A&M mailing lists By Nicole Cloutier The Battalion is agairj facilitl >asketb| ry suittl NBA ari :ntury. that Ti:|| are oi e-of-thtl ential I fane li face i: I Some Texas A&M students are finding out that the University provides mailing lists not only to legitimate businesses and researchers but to potential scam-artists as well. John Rich, a senior management major, received an offer in the mail from National Management Scholarship Program, which had obtained his name and address from the University. The letter he recieved promised him a list of guaranteed scholarship options if he sent them a check for $ 10. When Rich did not receive anything for months after sending his check, he investigated the company. He found that no such company existed. Banks do not require an endorser on checks for $ 10 or less so the check could not be traced, he said. According to the Texas Open Records Law, any state institution that maintains records is required to make those records available to the public, and to commercial and internal users for a fee. Sometimes illegitimate businesses purchase these lists. Although University officials claim these instances are few and far between, it only takes one to be a costly mistake to students and their families. Students can take steps to have their names and other information blocked by filling out a form in the registrar’s office. Nadalyn Miller, special requests programmer for the Student Information Management System, said although by law they have to provide the information to the public, grades are never included, and the student information office always respects privacy restrictions when a student applies for a block in Heaton Hall. The process for obtaining these mailing lists is simple, Miller said. Any student, faculty member or outside organization can fill out a written request in the student information office. The University Police Department, the Better Business Bureau and the registrar receive many complaints about scam artists obtaining the names and addresses of students, but there is litde they can do to prevent the lists from getting in the wrong hands. Lt. Bert Kretzschmar of the UPD, advises students to use common sense when responding to mail items. "If you get something in the mail saying that you have won some prize, but you have to mail in a $ 1 0 handling fee, you had better seriously reconsider why, if you won something, you have to pay them money upfront,” Kretzschmar said. Once they do receive a complaint—most of which occur at the beginning of each semester—officials work with the postmaster, the attorney general and the Federal Trade Comission to shut down the operation. Officials at the Better Business Bureau say these scams can usually be avoided by simply calling to verify the company’s background, and to see if previous complaints have been filed. Although the local bureau only maintains files on area counties, they can assist and direct students to the appropriate office. The Better Business Bureau also suggests students check with their office for previous complaints before sending money, and be weary of companies that say they are sending out a "runner” to pick up a check. Kretzschmar said students should always make the check out to a company name rather than an individual, and never give out checking account or credit card numbers unless the student trusts the salesperson. Miller said she hopes students don’t allow themselves to be taken advantage of. “I feel really bad about this, but whenever it does happen, regardless of how small the amount, we always want them to notify someone, either myself at the SIMS office or the registrar” she said. m 9 i m wm m. m J "AA.v A AA: : : : A °■ A\. % a ■■ v T? a:A-A- A ■ AyA .A ■ .A''. ; .AAf AAA-V: ■ :■ .Ac Aggielife Sports pg. 3 Opinion pg. 7 What's Up Pg- 9 pg. 10 Two-year-old boy found dead in car; grandmother missing The Associated Press LANCASTER — A 2-year-old boy, missing with his grandmother since Saturday morning, was found dead about 5 p.m. Sunday in the back seat of a car in the nearby Red Oak community. The body of Kasey Wyatt was strapped into his child safety seat. There were no apparent signs of trauma, and police theorize he died as i result of being left in the car, parked at an apartment complex, while temperatures rose into the high 80s on Sunday. Temperatures inside the closed car could have been well over 1 00 degrees, officials said. A nearby resident told police he was sure he saw the car in the parking lot about 9 p.m. Saturday, but officials were unsure how long the vehicle had been there. The child and his grandmother, Robbie jean Biggar, 53, were reported missing about 5 p.m. Saturday. Family members said she had been baby-sitting the child over the weekend but was supposed to take the child with her Saturday morning to Lake Whitney, where she was to meet her boyfriend. Lancaster Police Chief Mac McGuire said his department’s efforts are concentrated on finding Biggar, who was described as about 5-feet-6 with dark brown hair and brown eyes. “We’re assuming foul play because the situation is so out of character for Ms. Biggar,” McGuire said. Parents of the child are Kevin and Cheryl Roberts, who live in Mabank, about 40 miles southwest of Lancaster. Roberts is a police officer in Mabank. The Roberts said they returned from a shopping trip Saturday afternoon and found two messages from Biggars’ boyfriend, Larry Samples, wanting to know what had happened to Biggars and Kasey. Mrs. Roberts said Samples told her he had last seen her mother at 10 p.m. Friday and that she told him she was going to do some last-minute shopping. That was unusual, Mrs. Roberts said, because her mother “is the type of person who usually calls me when she leaves the house.” She said she,had talked to her mother and to her son Friday night and was under the impression they “were going to bed” to be ready for Saturday’s trip to the lake. “My mother said, ‘Good night.’ And Kasey said, ‘Good night. Mom. I love you. Sweet dreams.’” She said she spoke to her son about five minutes and told him to be careful at the lake on Saturday. Red Oak, where Biggars’ car was found, is about 5 miles south of Lancaster A College Station paramedic helps Karly Stoeher, a student at Texas A&M, out of her car after an accident at the intersection Blake Griggs/T/M? Battalion of University Drive and South College Avenue. No one was hurt during the Monday afternoon accident. Experts weary of relations with Russia By Eloise Flint The Battalion Two experts on Russian relations discussed the rising threat of the future of the United States’ relationship with the former Soviet Union in a presentation of the Wiley Lecture Series Monday night in tire MSC. Larry Napper, Director of the Office of Independent States and Commonwealth Affairs in the U.S. State Department, said we are facing a revolutionary upheaval that is unprecedented in scope, scale and speed. "Two American administrations, a republican and now a democratic one, have argued it is in the United States’ interest to assist their sovereignty and help reformers to build a democracy and a market economy,” he said. “We do it not only out of fidelity, but because success of the reformers is fundamental to American security interests.” Dr. Ariel Cohen of the Heritage Foundation is concerned about the reforming of the Russian Empire. “I am very cautious and afraid of the reassemblance of the Russian Empire because such an empire is going to present a threat to all lives in Eastern Europe and eventually Western Europe,” Cohen said. “It will also endanger Turkey, Pakistan and maybe Kuwait.” Cohen said the powers in Moscow today are reformers and want to make Russia more modem and competitive. “They understand international relations, the real threat comes from those that might replace Yeltsin,” Cohen said. Napper said the United States needs to continue its support for the Russians. “I think it would be wrong to terminate or cut back support for reform on the former Soviet Union,” Napper said. “We need to become more creative, more active and more committed on behalf of the reformers.” Both Napper and Cohen said it is necessary to focus not only on Moscow, but also on the relations with all independent states of the former Soviet Union. “We can’t concentrate on Moscow only,” Cohen said. “We have to go to the regions, and work with the non-profit and private sectors.” Napper said it is crucial to remember that although Russia and the United States are trying to work together, there is always the chance a discrepancy might arise. “In both countries the U.S.-Russian parmership is coming to be questioned, but we must recognize we are two great nations, not enemies, that have our own interests and at times they will coincide, but they may also differ,” Napper said. Cohen said the United States has stated it’s vital interests in this issue. "We want to prevent a nuclear attack against the U.S. by controlling weapons,” Cohen said. “We need to prevent the weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists, and prevent a military hardline threat to Europe and the Middle East.” Cohen said Russia is involved in a conflict in every independent state along the perimeter of Russia, and it is leading to violations of the high standard of individual rights. “What we hear from Moscow is it is our responsibility. Let us create an international organization with the power to send Russian troops anywhere in the former Soviet Union,” Cohen said. “In my opinion when you get power to send troops And do whatever you want, you are recreating an empire, and from an American view you are creating a Frankenstein monster that one day will get up and hit you in the face.” Napper said this is a complex situation and the United States ifc looking for resources to reform because the Russian military has virtually collapsed. Mobley announces new vice chancellor Texas A&M University System Chancellor William Mobley announced Monday the selection of a new vice chancellor and general counsel for the System. Mary Elizabeth Kurz, general counsel and vice president for legal affairs at Michigan State University, will assume her new duties at Texas A&M on May 1, upon approval of the Board of Regents this Thursday . Kurz will be replacing James Bond, who left the position last fall to become vice chancellor for state and public affairs for the System. As the top legal advisor for the System, Kurz will be a member of the chancellor’s executive staff and will be responsible for all legal matters affecting the System. She will manage the day-to-day operations of the Office of the General Counsel. Kurz has served as general counsel and vice president for legal affairs for Michigan State since 1987. Previously, she was legal counsel for the University of Montana and, prior to that time, she was the assistant attorney general for the State of Maryland. Kurz served as assistant legislative officer to the governor of Maryland during part of that Tech burn experiment goes awry; range blaze devours 25,600 acres The Associated Press GUTHRIE — Helicopters dropped 300- gallon buckets of water Monday on a range blaze sparked by Texas Tech University’s weekend burn experiment. Officials said winds had fed the flames that devoured 25,600 acres in two counties east of Lubbock. About 300 firefighters — including squadrons from the National Guard — managed 70-percent containment over the fire by noon Monday, the Department of Public Safety reported. In Lubbock, DPS Trooper C.B. Baiza expected that the fire would be put out by late Monday. “They seem pretty confident, but they’re not sure yet. It depends on the wind and availability of water,” Baiza said. “It’s just so widespread.” The blaze in King and Knox counties started Saturday when flames jumped safety barriers set up by Texas Tech University students on the Masterson Ranch. “We were doing a prescribed burn to basically control the brush and increase the grass production,” said Henry Wright, a professor of range and wildlife management. “The purpose was to get rid of the juniper and enhance the grass production.” Wright blamed an unexpected ‘‘fire whirl” that spun across a precautionary fire line 400 feet wide. Winds up to 20 mph whipped the flames beyond what Tech’s pumper crew could reach, he said. The fire consumed pastures and drifted into canyons east of Guthrie, about 1 20 miles east of Lubbock. “It’s in some real rough country,” King County Sheriff Jim Waller said. One man suffered smoke inhalation while battling the fire. Waller said. No other injuries were reported, although some cattle died, officials said. Some barns and at least one crawler-type tractor used to combat the blaze were destroyed, Waller said. No homes were destroyed in the sparsely populated area. Elmo Adams, a customer at Babe’s Cafe in Guthrie, said he could see smoke and flames Sunday night from his front porch 20 miles away. Knox County Judge David Perdue said the biggest challenge was just getting to the fire.