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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
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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
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Con artists receive
A&M mailing lists
By Nicole Cloutier
The Battalion
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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.
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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.