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1.93 No. 145 (8 pages)
Serving Texas A&M since 1893
Thursday, May 5, 1994
Sovernor appoints new A&M regent
Rim McGuire
'wBattalion
Gov. Ann Richards appointed a Dallas
inker to the Texas A&M University Sys-
jn Board of Regents Wednesday to fill
:seat vacated by Ross Margraves who
igned last week.
Gerald J. Ford, chairman of the board
downer of Madison Financial Inc. of
illas, will serve Margraves unexpired
trm which extends to Feb. 1, 1995.
Ford, 49, is also chairman of the board
if First Madison Bank, Millennium Mort-
Company and Madison Realty Advi-
ars, Inc.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in eco-
omics and law degree from Southern
Dallas banker to fill seat vacated by Margraves’
resignation; background is ideal Gage says
Methodist University and was a member of
the Texas Tech University Board of Regents.
In addition, he is director of the School
of American Research in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, a member of the board of trustees
at SMU, and vice chairman of the execu
tive board of Dedman College.
Chancellor William FI. Mobley said
Ford came to the board highly regarded.
“Mr. Ford has an outstanding reputa
tion as a business leader and was highly
regarded for his service as a Texas Tech
regent,” Mobley said. “We look forward
to working with him and benefiting
from his experience.”
Interim President Dr. E. Dean Gage said
although he does not know Ford, he has
heard good things about him and thinks
he will make an excellent regent.
“His background is ideal in banking
and investment and he has the experience
and vision to take the University in the di
rection it needs to go,” Gage said.
Gov. Richards said at a press conference
last week she wanted a regent with bank
ing experience.
Dr. Ray Bowen, newly appointed Uni
versity president, said Ford’s background
adds to the diversity of the members of
the board of regents and described the
qualifications of a good regent.
“They have to be someone who loves
the University and has the lifestyle to al
low them to spend time with the job,”
Bowen said. “And it’s important to have
appreciation for other universities in the
A&M system.”
Margraves quit last week saying he
thought his resignation was in the best in
terest of the University.
He was the subject of an anonymous
letter sent to Richards accusing Margraves
and other high ranking A&M officials of
personally benefiting from University
business deals.
Richards forwarded the letter to the
Texas Rangers who began investigating the
allegations and have since been joined by
the FBI.
In February, a Brazos County grand jury
indicted two Board of Regents secretaries
for altering documents to conceal alcohol
purchased for the regents.
University officials
welcome upcoming
management audit
By Jan Higginbotham
The Battalion
Stew Milne/'/Vie Battalion
Santiago Rames-Albritton (left), an international finance major from
Madrid, Spain and Brian Schwertner (right), an accounting major
from Lake Jackson view the A&M recruiting film at the Les Appelt
Visitor Center in Rudder on Wednesday between classes.
Hickey takes shot at higher athletic position
Former women’s
basketball coach looks
forward to challenges
I By James Bernsen
1 The Battalion
Lynn Hickey gave up her responsibilities as
head coach of the Texas A&M women’s basket-
Hall team Wednesday to accept a promotion as
j senior associate athletic director.
The new position was created by Athletic Di-
I rector Wally Groff as part of a continuing effort
Jtoreorganize A&M’s athletic department.
The move will make Hick
ey, who currently serves as as
sociate athletic director, the
second highest official in the
department.
Groff said he realized when
he took over as interim athlet
ic director last May that the
position was too much for one
person.
“The one area I was con
cerned about was administra
tive support,” he said. “I realized that I could
n’t do it all.”
Hickey said she postponed the decision
until the conclusion of the basketball season
Hickey
and recruiting.
“I had a group of young ladies I felt very com
mitted to,” she said. “But I think it was the right
decision and a good move for my family.”
Hickey said many of her duties as associate
athletic director were neglected because of her
coaching position, and she has known for a long
time that the two positions should be separate.
“If there’s a time to step down and let some
one else take the reins, I can’t think of a better
time than right now,” she said.
Hickey said she considered many options,
including waiting until the younger members
of the team graduated. But she said that would
have been selfish.
See Hickey/Page 8
Texas A&M University officials are gearing up for an audit of manage
ment controls used within the school and the System.
Carl Parker, a state senator from Port Arthur, requested the state audi
tor’s office to perform the audit quickly.
Texas A&M officials said the audit, which will attempt to determine
whether management controls are in place to measure efficiency and
economy of operations, is a routine procedure.
Raul Fernandez, vice chairman for the A&M Board of Regents, said
the audit is standard procedure which has been set up for a long time.
“Since October 1991, the state auditors have had a charge,” Fer
nandez said. “They have been performing these types of audits at sev-
“We welcome this audit. Regents sleep at
night because we have these audits.”
—Dr. E.Dean Gage, interim president
eral state schools.
“It’s not like it is something we have never done before. We welcome
this audit. Regents sleep at night because we have these audits.”
Dr. E. Dean Gage, interim president of Texas A&M, said the audit is a
welcome opportunity for the school.
“We welcome the management audit,” he said. “We look forward to
benefiting from the findings.”
The audit was originally scheduled to begin in 1995, but Parker’s re
quest moved the audit up to this summer, Gage said.
Terri Parker, director of communications for the chancellor’s office,
said the audit will begin the second week of June.
“It will focus on three areas: System administration and general of
fice, the Board of Regents, and Texas A&M University,” Parker said.
Dr. William Mobley, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System,
said in a statement released Wednesday that the school is planning to co
operate with all of the auditors’ needs.
“We will continue to fully cooperate with the state auditors and have
made our internal audit staff available to assist as needed,” Mobley said.
Mobley’s statement said the audit will give the University an opportu
nity to address recent problems in the System.
“The audit will provide a mechanism for accurately and fully ad
dressing recent media reports about practices and procedures at
A&M,” he said.
“It also will facilitate a broader appreciation of the strategic planning,
strong investment and cash management results and high bond rating of
the A&M System.”
Brooke Leslie, 1994-95 student body president, said the audit will
be a chance for A&M to step back and look at the procedures used
within the System.
“Any kind of analyzation of a structure would be good. Anything like
this is positive,” Leslie said. “This will be really beneficial to Dr. 'Bowen,
the incoming president.”
NCAA rulings spark committee’s creation
W I® ? s§
PIP
A _ ■ /' > x >.' ,
By James Bernsen
The Battalion
Texas A&M officials announced
Tuesday the creation of a committee
to determine how the University can
more adequately inform sponsors
aad alumni about NCAA regulations.
Rene Henry, executive director of
University Relations, created the
committee in response to one of the
penalties handed down by the
NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.
The committee ruled A&M
should continue to improve its sys
tem of distributing information con
cerning NCAA rules and regulations.
The ruling was part of a general
investigation into A&M athletics that
resulted in a five year probation by
the NCAA.
“There are no requirements
about what we are supposed to do,”
Henry said. “I looked at these, then,
with no guidelines.”
Henry said 1 6 nationally recog
nized professionals and communica
tors have volunteered their time to
serve on the committee.
“Our communication was every
where, yet the NCAA didn’t cite why
we are deficient or how we could
improve,” he said. “This committee
will look at what we did and make
recommendations on it.”
The committee will consist of ex
perts in the field of public relations
and communications.
Henry said a third party separate
from A&M will be able to more ade
quately assess any problems the Uni
versity may have.
Wally Groff, A&M athletic direc
tor, said the committee will serve as
a fact finder.
“Communication is always a
major issue,” he said. “There’s no
guarantee when yoiu have
1 7 5,000 former students that
you’ll reach everyone.”
Groff said he didn’t know of
any specific problems that were
caused by bad public relations,
but the committee’s work will
still be important.
“We want to make sure we’re do
ing everything we can to make sure
this sort of thing doesn’t happen
again,” he said.
A meeting of the committee is set
for June 28 in Houston to review
what the University has done in the
past and is doing now to communi
cate NCAA regulations to its alumni.
Cartoons
Opinion
Sports
Pg. 3
Pg. 7
Pg* 5
Skaters banned from University Complex
By Kim McGuire
The Battalion
After much debate Wednesday night, the Stu
dent Senate outlawed skateboarding and
follerblading near the University Center Complex.
The Senate passed a bill supporting a Uni-
v ersity Center Advisory committee recommen
dation prohibiting any type of roller blades,
roller skates or skateboards inside the Universi
ty Center buildings, or on or above the stairs,
ramps, walls and benches in the plaza areas sur
rounding the complex.
The bill also recommends the Recreation
Sports office designate a location for students to
s afely enjoy skating.
Sen. Ryan Shopp said the purpose of the bill
was to decrease the danger he believed the
skaters caused.
He said people who attended OPAS events
were placed at risk when passing through the
plaza area and cited an instance in which a
woman was struck by a skater.
“You’ve got people walking through that
area to get to the theater and at the same time
you’ve got people flying through the air,”
Shopp said. “It’s definitely dangerous.”
Brooke Leslie, student body president, said she
asked Shopp and Sen. Pete Manias to write the
bill because the University could be held liable
for future accidents if no policy were in place.
Sen. Owen Ross said he supported the bill
because of safety hazards skaters imposed and
other factors.
“I support this bill for three reasons,” Ross
said. “First of all, there’s safety. Second of all,
there’s got to be some damage occurring to the
building with jumping on it going on. Then
you have to remember it is a memorial.”
However, not all senators agreed with the bill.
Sen. Ross McGlothlin said although he
agreed with the theory behind the bill, he had
some questions about the feasibility.
“If they want to skate, let them skate,” Mc
Glothlin said. “I feel awfully sorry for the old
See Skaters/Page 8
Spring 1994 Final Schedule
Friday
7:30-9:30 a.m.
10 a.m. - noon
12:30-2:30 p.m.
3-5 p.m.
Classes meeting MW 5:45-7 or later
Classes meeting MWF 8 a.m.
Classes meeting TR 9:35-10:50
Classes meeting TR 11:10-12:25
Monday
8-10 a.m.
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Classes meeting MWF 9:10-10
Classes meeting MWF 12:40-1:30
Classes meeting TR 8-9:15
Classes meeting MW 4:10-5:25
Tuesday
8-10 a.m.
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Classes meeting MWF 10:2011:10
Classes meeting MWF 3-3:50
Classes meeting TR 3:55-5:10
Classes meeting MWF 1:5 0-2 :40
Wednesday
8-10 a.m.
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Classes meeting TR 12:45-2
Classes meeting MWF 11:30-12:20
Classes meeting TR 2:20-3:35
Classes meeting TR 5:30-6:45 or later