The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, May 03, 1994, Image 1

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    /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.