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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1994)
/TV'*'* Texas A&M MM Tf • Tne Battalion iL93 No. 143 (10 pages) Serving Texas A&M since 1893 Tuesday, May 3, 1994 Athletic Department defends policies As FBI investigation continues, officials claim money spent within NCAA, University rules ItJan Higginbotham 'n Battalion Despite recent investigations by the FBI and the tus Rangers into the allocation of funds, officials in ie Texas A&M University Athletic Department said :ere have been no illegal or unethical actions taken See Editorial/Page 9 I members of the department. Questions have been raised after two assistants to kA&M Board of Regents were indicted for alter- government documents. The athletic department is under scrutiny for the ise of funds received through participation in foot- ill bowl games and for funds used to purchase al- ohol. Penny King, assistant athletic director for busi- tss, said the department is complying with the Hand the Texas Rangers in their investigations. “There is a total commitment within the depart- jEtu to comply with all the regulations,” King said. There has not been any intentional abuse within ie athletic department.” King said some money was used to purchase al- :ohol, but the majority of the expenditures were for ilcohol used for cooking purposes in the cafeteria. Some alcohol was purchased for entertainment purposes, but, she said, those were small purchases and the money came from a non-restricted fund. King said these purchases were a courtesy made by the department, but steps are being taken to ensure further problems do not arise. “We have changed our policies,” she said. “We were told in 1991 that alcohol could not be purchased by funds allocated by the Athletic Depart ment. Measures have been put into place to prevent such purchases.” Wally Groff, athletic director, said Groff changes were made in 1991 after an internal audit showed purchases were not being made according to state law. Groff said the department has been careful to adhere to all related policies since that time. An official from the FBI confirmed Monday that the bureau is conducting an investigation into the misapplication of money by the department. The group is looking at how A&M is spending state and federal dollars and if any laws have been broken by officials. The use of revenue from football bowl appearances was brought into question earlier this week by a re porter for The Dallas Morning News. Groff said every expenditure made by the depart ment is within University and NCAA policies. “We do have a vyritten bowl policy,” Groff said. “We adhere to that. The important thing to realize is that nationwide bowl games are a reward.” The NCAA sets a limit of $300 that can be spent on any student athlete. Groff said the University is careful not to exceed that limit and usually spends between $290 and $300. The Dallas Morning News questioned the use of bowl funds for purchasing memorabilia items for boosters. King said no purchases are made for individuals who are not members of the University staff. “This is a reward for people who work hard all year,” she said. “This is very common, very accepted with all Division I schools that are successful in their football programs.” Lynn Hickey, associate athletic director and head women’s basketball coach, said the expenditures made by the department are not unusual practices. “You spend the money, you pat people on the back,” Flickey said. “I don’t see anything tmethical about it. It may be a litde frivolous but not unethical.” The Dallas Morning News criticized the Athletic Department for not using the revenue from bowls for other sports, namely for the funding of wom en’s scholarships. But, King said, this is not a realistic argument because all women’s scholarships are already fund ed. “All of our scholarships are fully funded within the NCAA regulations,’ King said. “All of that comes through the 12th Man Foundation in the form of contributions.” King said all of the revenue made after bowl ex penses goes into a general fund for the Athletic De partment and that money is used to support all athlet ic programs. Groff said the football program funds most of the other sports. “Football brings in about 85 percent of our rev enue,” he said. Hickey said the football program keeps everybody else in the department afloat. “This is a business,” she said. “There are parts of the business that make money, and there are parts of the business that don’t.” Mandela, ANC win landslide in all-race S. African elections ! lie Associated Press JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -Nelson Mandela proclaimed ictory Monday in his lifetime cru- ide: a non-racial democracy for iouth Africa. As his supporters let loose in ecstatic celebration, the sation’s first black president de- ilared, “Free at last!” 'This is indeed a joyous night for the human spirit. This is your dory too,” said the 75-year-old ; Mer. ' Supporters shrieked with joy in 1 tkel ballroom draped in the Ipn-gold-and-black colors of Mela’s African National Con- (ress. The celebrations spilled over io the black districts of Soweto aod Alexandra, where thousands of people poured into the streets dancing ecstatically, laughing and waving ANC flags. Mandela himself joined in the jubilation with Coretta Scott King, widow of U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaun- da. A choir sang the praises of “Madiba,” Mandela’s traditional clan name. Earlier, President F.W de Klerk of the National Party acknowledged defeat in South Africa’s first democ ratic elections. He praised Mandela as “a man of destiny" and pledged to work with him in the new gov ernment of national unity sched uled to be installed in eight days. Mandela in turn congratulated de Klerk “for the many days, weeks and months and the four years that we have worked togeth er, quarreled, addressed sensitive problems, and at the end of our heated exchanges were able to shake hands and to drink coffee.” The two leaders navigated the country through an extraordinary transition in which an oppressive white minority surrendered its privileges to the black majority. Both sides promised to forgive the past and build one nation. ANC officials stood before their new national flag and raised their glasses in a toast in honor of out going President de Klerk, incom ing President Mandela and the “new South Africa.” “I stand before you filled with deep pride and joy — pride in the ordinary, humble people of this country, ’ said Mandela. “You have shown such a calm, patient deter mination to reclaim this country as your own” Although ballot officials re mained less than halfway through the counting, an ANC landslide was indisputable. With about 44 percent of the estimated 22.7 million votes counted, the ANC had 62.6 per cent to 23.7 percent for de Klerk’s National Party. The Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party was a dis tant third with 6.2 percent, fol lowed by the pro-apartheid Free dom Front with 2.8 percent. Bonfire move pushes up cut days, Elephant Walk date remains same HyJames Bernsen h Battalion Organizers of next year’s Texas A&M Bonfire said the anual event will not change despite its move to Nov. 3. John Barr, head stack for bonfire, said A&M’s enthu- tan will ensure the event is similar to previous years. “Everything is going to be built exactly the same,” tesaid. “It will be just as big, burn just as long and jtst as bright.” Bonfire, which is usually held before the A&M- Tniversity of Texas football game on Thanksgiving, ras moved because UT decided to reschedule the kylor University game for Thanksgiving Day. This move was made by UT officials after A&M ras banned from television for a year following TCAA sanctions against the athletic department. Zack Cbapland, chair of the University Advisory Committee for Bonfire, said the University is making every attempt to coordinate its activities for the event. “We’ve been real supportive of them (the senior redpots), and we think they’ve got a good plan,” he said. “1 think it will take the student body working closer together because of the tight schedule.” Coapland said he is confident the leaders of bon fire will accomplish what they need to make the event a success. Barr said the only significant change is the time schedule. “Cut will be two weeks short,” he said. “But, it’s nothing to worry about. We always have more than enough wood.” See Bonfire/Page 10 tygielife Cartoons Pg. 3 Opinion Pg. 10 Sports Pg* 9 Pg. 7 May showers drench A&M Amy Browning/7Vie Battalion Monday's showers forced students to pull their day's weather brought heavy showers and golf umbrellas out when they ventured outside. Mon- ball-sized hail to the Brazos Valley. A&M’s Koriyama campus to shut down Japanese city refuses to supply needed funding, school to lay off teachers By Angela Neaves ’Ihe Battalion Many professors at Texas A&M’s Koriyama campus will be forced to find new jobs once tie school closes after only four years of classes. Rene Henry, executive director of Univer sity Relations, said the Koriyama campus pro ves jobs for 15 A&M faculty and staff and tight English language instructors from the United States. Tenured employees will be transferred to other areas, and contract employees will not We their contracts renewed, he said. Dr. Jerry Gaston, executive associate provost, said the employees should have no trouble finding a new job. English instructors travel all over the world teaching the language, Gaston said. “I’m sure they will have no problem find ing other contracts,” he said. “English lan guage instructors are in high demand all over the world.” The campus was the product of an agree ment between the University and the city of Koriyama. It will be forced to close at the end of the summer for political reasons. The decision was made mutually University and Japanese offi cials last week, Gaston said. “This program is very expensive to main tain,” he said. “Of course, the University does not contribute monetarily. The previous mayor was very supportive of the program. When he was replaced, the new mayor de cided the city would not continue to provide financial support, and the assembly agreed. With the loss of financial support, we cannot continue to operate.” A decline in college students and Japan’s economic situation contributed to the deci sion, Gaston said. The University is interested in engaging in a similar educational opportunity in Japan in the future provided the financial support comes from the city, Gaston said. “We are open to discussion,” Gaston said. “Although we are not negotiating, with any one currently, we are willing to explore op portunities.” The University is responsible for academic programming and planning, and the city of Koriyama is responsible for funding, facilities and student recruitment, he said. The Texas A&M Koriyama campus opened in May 1990. The campus offers a 27-month undergraduate program with classes in busi ness administration, science, engineering and liberal arts. The classes are taught by University faculty and are fashioned after classes taught in Col lege Station. There are currently 1 5 0 students on the Ko riyama campus. Ninety students have already relocated to College Station. Students must complete 3 5 hours at the Japan campus before relocating to College Sta tion to complete their degree programs. Michigan jury acquits ‘Dr. Death’ in assisting suicide The Associated Press DETROIT — Dr. Jack Kevorkian was acquitted Monday of breaking Michigan’s assisted suicide law after a jury concluded he was only trying to help a gravely ill man end his suffering, not cause his death. After the verdict, the 65-year-old retired pathologist challenged doctors who have secretly supported his crusade to go public. “I know there are doctors who want to come forward,” Kevorkian said. “I want this intimidation by medical politicians to stop.” Kevorkian also said he is still receiving letters from sick people who want his help, but refused to say whether he would resume his assisted suicide practice any time soon. “I think this opens the floodgates for Jack Kevorkian,” said Lynn Mills of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue. Kevorkian was charged in the Aug. 4 death of Thomas Hyde, 30, who suffered from the degenerative nerve disorder Lou Gehrig’s disease. By the time Kevorkian hooked Hyde up to a canister of carbon monoxide on a mattress in the back of his old, rusty van, Hyde could barely walk, talk or feed himself. Kevorkian, who had faced up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine if conviaed, acknowledged he supplied the carbon monoxide and placed the clear plastic mask over Hyde’s nose and mouth.