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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1994)
hurstlay, April28,fflt ter scale in 1931, basing itoo| g-zag line generateill)'i a a quake, years, assigning to soil lie range of 2 to 3 nils s up to 7 or 8, orhijlia , die public becameto ;ments of definite it solemn intonatioo in the middle iswltiti Lehtonen said, "fmiij ader out to get aro| am privately owned,m ranagement compati)' ;n said the extra koil cover tax increases i ty rates. e Hill, manager ofTilm ts, said they basetw narket surveys in Brfiii I a little underpricedk| •e in Bryan, but 111 tation rents areoi fill said. is a step in therigliil should be to helpTeit ito the next decade. 1 ' egents recognize tlieid on the high road," It attention to ihebnsins and stay focused. Wet i new president comiij id go forward.” i® 1» «1 m pi * wmm Source: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE l-w Texas A&M _ _ "W • he Battalion lol. 93 No. 141 (12 pages) Serving Texas A&M since 1893 Friday, April 29, 1994 overnor seeks Regent chairman replacement By Kim McGuire Battalion [Although no short list has been submit- ■d for consideration, Gov. Ann Richards las in mind what qualities she wants in lithe new Texas A&M regent who will re- llau Ross D. Margraves. ■ “I have some specific attributes in Blind,” Richards said. “I’d like for the lew regent to have some banking experi- lice. The future of the university often ipends on the regents’ knowledge of of ithe financial institution.” Richards said she keeps a list of i who are good to serve on boards and committees and hopes to make a decision soon before the regents’ May meeting if she finds a qualified candidate. Margraves resigned Wednesday because he felt it was in the best interest of the University. “Much to my, and many others’ dismay, for the past several months Texas A&M University has been under attack,” Mar graves said in a statement released Wednesday. “I have fought to the best of my ability to defend my University and to remove the cloud hanging over it, and will continue to do so. “Because of the many distractions, I have concluded that I have become too much the focus of attention. In order for this University and System to move for ward, and do that which they do with ex cellence - teach and research - a new ap proach is needed. “New blood is needed, someone from outside the Board of Regents, without in volvement in the events of past years.” Margraves made headlines in Septem ber when an anonymous letter was sent to Gov. Richards accusing him and several other high-ranking University officials of personally benefiting from A&M business deals. Richards forwarded the letter to the Texas Rangers and the FBI who have since began an investigation. Margraves and Robert Smith, vice presi dent of finance and administration, were under scrutiny for accepting trips to New York paid for by Barnes and Noble Book stores while Margraves was negotiating a contract with the company. He said there were at least four trips in July 1990 including stays at the Waldorf Astoria and the New York Helmsley Hotel, which are considered two of the city’s finest hotels. However, the Texas Ethics Commission has ruled the trips were not illegal at the time. The law has since changed. Margraves’ integrity has also came un der fire since a Brazos County grand jury See Regents/Page 6 orps expansion forces Gainer Hall residents to move A little leisurely reading ■Juli Rhoden M Battalion rREASURES FROM THE AND BAZAAR OF r ISTANBUL ' Fill. JEWELRY S Gins AROUND THE WORLD mwm msmsmma BUY USED D'S FOR Dr trade 2 fori SED CD'S 99 or LESS 58-0154 downstairs at [Residents of Gainer Hall have to 1 a new place to live after the De- Irtment of Student Affairs in bed them the hall is being reas- d to die Corps of Cadets in the |A letter to residents from Dr. J. Ion Southerland, vice president |ir student affairs, told students could relocate to Kiest Hall or ive into another residence hall. Southerland said the Comman- iit's office submitted information mday saying Corps enrollment is bwing and they need another irm. George Thomas, Corps area co llator, said there are 750 fresh- ItR entering the Corps next fall. H‘‘We did an evaluation on the th of the Corps, and the Com- ndant’s office decided to expand Ing situations,” he said. “The iversity has a long-standing com- itment to the Corps of Cadets re- ■fing occupancy of the entire 12- |rm area. 'This commitment has been al- in the past only when the ex ited occupancy by the Corps was 'Wn and the demand for housing Ira other students was present.” |Ron Sasse, director of student af- [rs, said they considered the needs of Gainer residents in the decision. “We are going to make every ef- t to either relocate the residents I release them from their con es,” he said. Gainer residents held a meeting ednesday night to discuss prob- ns and answer questions about le decision. J Christa Noland, a resident advis- [for Gainer Hall, said a majority of le residents were outraged. “This hall is like a family,” she 1. “Everyone has already signed tontracts to live here in the fall, so le move is unexpected.” Since contracts and room assign ments are set for next year, his deci sion was more difficult, Southerland said. “Please understand that this deci sion was not taken lightly and we hope to properly accommodate your (the residents’) needs,” he said. Gainer residents will be reas signed to the top three floors in Ki est, and the Corps staff and guard room will be assigned the first floor. “The University has a long-standing commit ment to the Corps of Cadets regarding oc cupancy of the entire 12-dorm area.” - George Thomas, Corps area coordinator Noland said residents are not an gry with the Corps or with the ad ministration but at the way the situ ation is being handled. “Everyone wishes they would’ve been told sooner so they could make other arrangements,” she said. “Since all of the paperwork is in place, people assumed they had room in Gainer.” Sasse said they are listening to student concerns and trying to make the transition as smooth as possible. “The growth of the Corps is pos itive for everyone at A&M, ’ he said. “And since Gainer is part of the original 12 Corps dorms, we’re glad to be reassigning it.” Southerland said there will be a review July 20 to make sure every thing is ready for the Corps and the students who are relocating. rh pril 29 ELL | u o xJ) University correctly handles asbestos, health officials say By Angela Neaves The Battalion iliflll Amy Browning/TTie Battalion fleaitfi Tips ports Pg.2 Pg.7 Opinion What's Up Pg.11 Pg.3 Robert Hobbs, a junior English major, browses through a box of books Thursday afternoon during a used book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Sterling C. Evans Library. Texas A&M health and safety officials say the University’s procedure for handling as bestos on a pipe in Hotard Hall was not against the law. Dan Mizer, student development special ist, put duct tape on part of a pipe contain ing exposed asbestos in the hall s basement laundry room. Thomas Carney, a training specialist with the Texas Engineering Experiment Station who conducts asbestos handling classes, said this procedure is not against the law. “Using duct tape is effective if done properly,” Carney said. “It is important that the handling of the asbestos minimize the release of fibers. Duct taping is definitely better than doing nothing until hard casting can occur.” Carney said although licensing is re quired to handle asbestos, in emergency situations, the licensing can be waived by the state. “The state wants you to protect the health and safety of the environment,’.’ Carney said. Asbestos does not have to be labeled in community buildings and colleges, Carney said. However, in public and private schools with students in grades kindergarten through 12, asbestos must be labeled. The University is also not required to la bel it, he said. “There is no specific mandate to inform anyone about asbestos,” he said. “It is a good idea to inform residents, and service personnel are typically in formed.” Carney said there is no law requiring that asbestos be removed. “Asbestos is only required to be re moved in demolition and restoration pro jects,” Carney said. “Even then, it depends upon how much the project will disturb the asbestos.” Carney said asbestos is not as unsafe as people may think. “As long as asbestos is managed and handled properly, it can be a very usable material,” he said. A regional asbestos inspector visited A&M last week to observe the asbestos in Hotard and in underground tunnels. According to a work request submitted by Mizer, asbestos in Hotard restrooms was encapsulated in January 1993. However, asbestos in the basement laun dry room has yet to be encapsulated. An estimate of the cost of encapsulation has been requested from the physical plant, Mizer said. Richards hopes to get ‘in touch* with community By James Bemsen ’ ■ ■ ■ ’ The Battalion kingW GUEST , Amy Browning/lTie Battalion Gov. Ann Richards says the Pledge of Allegiance before a Town Hall meeting with Btyan-College Station residents Thursday night. Richards discussed education, health care and the environment among other issues. By James Bemsen The Battalion Residents of Bryan-College Station expressed a variety of concerns to Gov. Arm Richards, who brought the heads of most state agencies to the area Thursday night during a Town Hall meet ing. A teacher in the audience expressed concern that the lottery has failed to produce the desired results. Richards said the lottery was never meant to be a cure-all for the educational system’s fund ing problems. “The naive assumption is that if public schools had the lottery, then they’d he fine,” she said. Richards said a lottery often earns much money in its first year, and then revenues drop off, and therefore it would not be able to meet the funding needs alone. Lottery funding goes into the general rev enue fund, she said, and about one half of that goes to the schools. Another citizen asked what the current state of recycling efforts by the state is. Garry Mauro, the Texas Land Commissioner, said the goal of the state is to reduce its solid waste by 40 percent by next year. “We are about half way there,” he said. “Un less yard waste is reduced as well, we won’t make it though.” Mauro also discussed advances in the state s alternative fuel program. “If you use natural gas, you create 90 percent See Richards/Page 6 Police continue search for student’s stalker By Jan Higginbotham The Battalion Many crime victims are never able to recover from the effects of the crime, but this is not the case for one Texas A&M University student. Julie Dalton was the victim of a stalker for about a year and a half. Af ter Kevin Smith, as he called himself, attempted to assault her Feb. 15, she left College Station and the school she loves to get away from him and to be with her family in Houston. Julie’s mother, Wanda Dalton, said Julie seems to be doing much bet ter. “Things like this cause you to really evaluate what is important to you,” Wanda said. “It makes you aware of the importance of each day.” Wanda said Julie has been undergoing counseling to deal with the ef fects of the stalking, and she has gotten a job in Houston to help occupy her time. Julie was not available for comment. Kevin, Julie’s stalker, has not been in contact with Julie or her family since the night in February when he attempted to assault her outside a local grocery store. Local police have been unable to locate the man because they have few leads in the case. Detective Donnie Andreski, of the College Station Police Department, said there are currently no suspects in the case. “We have had a couple of calls, but none of them worked,” Andreski said. “We don’t have any open leads at this time.” Andreski said the case will remain open until Kevin is found. “The longer you wait, the more the chances of finding him decrease,” he said. “But you never know what can happen. Things are going to have to go our way. We need more information.” Wanda said they are still hopeful that Kevin will be found, but they realize their chances of doing so are decreasing. See Stalker/Page 10