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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1994)
■ W 5,1994 had the ity’s his- est seed- to reach 1 tourna- d with a Source: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FTTW Texas A&M "W^ _ _ "W • The Battalion )1,93 No. 146 (10 pages) Serving Texas A&M since 1893 Friday, May 6, 1994 forward but will 4ity, and >est job I finitely a it will be :en many at A&M, imitment iwth of s been a ihe said, el to all en almost for a new nediately. ■ created, assistant .s ex post who will terms of he said, eason we have now, rd to sell nt Coach :andidate irsue the iouse approves assault—style weapons ban e players ad called {Associated Press ailies. ere quiet e said, she said. ;roup of WASHINGTON — The House voted trowly Thursday to ban 19 types of as- ult-style weapons, a major victory for tsident Clinton and law enforcement oups lobbying for the bill. Ihe 216-214 vote had a dramatic end- 1, as one lawmaker — Rep. Andrew Ja- Jsjr., D-lnd. — switched in favor of the i. The vote was a crushing defeat for the aional Rifle Association. The vote means that both houses now le passed similar weapons bans. The fi nal language must be worked out in a House-Senate conference. Only last week, backers of the ban were 15-20 votes behind. By the start of this week, the number dwindled to under a dozen. And as the vote neared, even as lawmakers confronted each other in floor debate, a parade of ban supporters stepped forward to announce their new positions. The measure would stop future produc tion and sale of the 19 weapons, but would not affect legally owned guns on the list. Clinton gave convert Rep. Stephen Neal, D-N.C, a starring role in a joint Rose Gar den appearance. The president called Neal’s change in position “an act of conviction and courage,” as he called for “a dramatic strike against these deadly weapons.” On the House floor Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Ind., said he voted against a 1 99T at tempt to impose a similar ban, which failed 247-177. “This bill ... is very different,” Roemer argued. “It does not take guns away from anybody in this country. It does not retroactively go after the guns owned by legitimate gun owners of this country.” Debate was punctuated with sharp ex changes, especially one between ban op ponent and the sponsor of the ban, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., held up a mug shot of a man he identified as Russell Obremski, who Hunter’s staff said was from Oregon. “Let me show you an assault weapon,” Hunter said, reciting a list of crimes that included statutory rape, murder and sodomy against a 4-year-old girl. “You’re not going to get a phone call from Russell Obremski and his colleagues ... saying we saw that legislation pass and we’re ready to turn our guns in.” Rep. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., shot (instruction causes parking, traffic problems Melissa Jacobs \iBattalion Alas poor Fido! I knew him, Horatio i the ap- who be- vear. :e of 16th Lies’ ook has The expansion of Texas A&M’s Ltrmal utility distribution capaci- which provides heating and cling to campus buildings, has used parking and traffic prob- ms for many residents of north- le halls. The construction will continue id July, and various parking and iffic changes will be made iroughout the period of con- juction. On May 1, Parking Area 77, inch provides staff parking, was iosed and staff members were in- acted to park in the Wellborn portion of Parking Area 30, iich is a residence hall parking This will continue through lie 30 and students are not to ark in this area during business burs. In a letter to The Battalion’s Hal Call, 104 signatures accompa- ' a letter from Ed Williams, of‘96, complaining about ie changes. Blaine Holbrook, parking coun iat Parking, Transit and Traffic Jhices, said students are being sightly inconvenienced, but they ffien’t had too many students call aid complain about the changes. “Staff members are being moved to Parking Area 30,” Hoi- kook said. “Unfortunately a lot if students are having to move be- ause of this.” Night privileges will be avail able for residents with hall parking permits Monday /through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. Vehicles parked in the restricted area will be relocated or removed at the owner’s expense. The re served areas will be strictly en forced. “Unfortunately cars are going to be towed,” Holbrook said. “We’ve already had some com plaints about cars that have been towed.” For the duration of the con struction, the University Drive en trance to Parking Area 7 7 will be closed. Parking Area 2 and 3 en trances on University Drive should be used instead. Left turns from Wellborn into Parking Area 77 will be prohibited, and cars exiting Parking Area 77 will not be able to turn left onto Old Main. Drivers on Wellborn Road wanting to en ter Parking Area 7 7 will have to circle the Bell Tower and return to the entrance. PITS officials suggest that dur ing peak traffic times, drivers leav ing campus use Clark Street and Joe Routt to alleviate traffic con gestion. Asbury will be closed from May 16 through June 24 at Hogg Street. New Street will be closed at Ireland, which means traffic for North Side Garage will be unable See Parking/Page 10 Eateries sign on with A&M for underground food court Texas A&M signed licensing agreements with Chick-Fil-A, Whataburg- trjaco Bueno and Alonti’s Deli that will enable construction of the food Hurt to begin as early as the end of August. In a statement released by University Relations, Dr. Rick Floyd, associ- jte vice president for finance and administration and interim director of food services, said Texas A&M’s Food Services Department will operate ie branded food court. The licensing agreements, which were signed last week, allow the bod Services Department to use the names, products, preparation tech- iques, signage, menus and pricing structure of the four nationally and regionally known fast food chains. Floyd said renovations of the food court, which will be located in the bsement of Sbisa Dining Center, will begin shortly. “We plan to have the food court up and running by the time the stu- ients return for the start of the fall semester,” he said. ■A : Tim Moog/The Battalion ^ggielife Cartoons Opinion Sports Pg.9 Pg.7 Matt Carpenter, a junior biomedical science major from San Antonio, reviews the bones of a dog's head at Research Park as he prepares for his anatomy final exam. back, “The whole idea of our bill ... is very simple — to prevent people like Mr. Obremski from getting assault weapons. He should be locked up, but if he’s not and people like him are not, they will not have assault weapons.” “Mark my words, this will turn out to be a- centipede of shoes dropping,” with gun control bills coming up every six months to a year, Rep. Gerald B. H. Solomon told the House. The New York Republican cited FBI fig ures that rifles are used in only 3 percent of homicides while knives are used in 1 5 percent. Student candidate for city council reaches end of campaign trail By Angela Neaves The Battalion Texas A&M student Jimmy Stathatos’s campaign for the College Station City Council will come to an end at the polls Saturday. Stathatos, a senior political science major, said students and non-students have been receptive to his candidacy. “The campaign is moving along steadily,” Stathatos said. “We got a lot of people registered to vote by setting up oooths in the MSC and handing out reg istration cards on the quad.” Stathatos said he has registered about 1,500 students to vote, but he cannot be sure of the number because citizens mail in their own registration cards. Stathatos said community members also are showing support. “A letter from a College Station citi zen was published in the Eagle support ing me,’ he said. “It made me really hopeful because it showed that I am making an impression on the communi ty” Ron Going, a sophomore political sci ence major and member of Aggie De mocrats, said having a student on the city council is logical and needs to hap pen. “Students don’t get the respect they should as residents and citizens,” Going said. “We don’t need preferential treat ment, but we do need a voice. Some stu dents stay here much longer than four years. They deserve a voice. Going said although Stathatos is a strong candidate, the odds are against him because of student apathy. “Student apathy is a problem not only on the local level but also on the national level,” Going said. “The Battalion’s mail call shows that students are disgruntled with the community, but they may not get out and vote. It is both sad and iron ic.” Stathatos is not running as a student. Going said, but as a resident who hap pens to be a student. “Jimmy is not going to only represent the students,” Going said. “What is unique about him is that he will equally represent students and other members of the community. He will keep all citizens in mind.” Jim Gardner, a former city council member and a candidate in the election, said having a student on the council is a good idea as long as they are not the ma jority. “A good mix of citizens is a good idea,”Gardner said. “However, students don’t usually make College Station their permanent home, so they should not compose the council.” Connie Hooks, of the College Station City Council office, said 30,764 citizens are registered to vote in the election. See Election/Page 3 Spring 1994 Finals Schedule Protecting the environment ntewatioml hco<r iratti 7:30-9:30 a.m. 10 a.m. - noon 12:30-2:30 p.m. 3-5 p.m. 8-10 a.m. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 1-3 p.m. 3:30-5:30 p.m. 8-10 a.m. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 1-3 p.m. 3:30-5:30 p.m. 8-10 a.m. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. . 1-3 p.m. 3:30-5:30 p.m. Friday 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 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 Classes meeting MWF 10:2011:10 Classes meeting MWF 3-3:50 Classes meeting TR 3:55-5:10 Classes meeting MWF 1:50-2:40 Wednesday 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 Texas Forest Service operates through A&M to help timber industry By Mary Kujawa The Battalion From timber harvest to urban forestation to wild land fires, the Texas Forest Service serves as a guardian of the timber industry in Texas. The state agency operates in the Texas A&M Universi ty System. “There axe only six forestry agencies associat ed with a university in some way in the United States,” said Bruce R. Miles, director of the Texas Forest Service. “This provides us an opportunity to have interaction with the forestry service on campus. It’s good for our agency and the Uni versity.” The agency was created in 1915 because of concerns of the amount of timber being harvest ed in East Texas. At the turn of the century, tremendous amounts of timber were being har vested as major cities, such as Houston and Dal las, were being built. Construction of railroads also was using large amounts of timber. “We’re in our fourth forest today in East Texas,” Miles said. Today, Texas harvests $300 million standing trees annually. This amount increases to $5 bil lion as the timber progresses through the indus- try. “Our role is to protect the environment as well as the economy of East Texas,” Miles said. A major part of protecting the environment includes education for those in the timber indus try. Part of that education includes proper cutting methods to protect water quality. If timber is not cut properly, erosion occurs and allows sediments to flow downstream. The Texas Forest Service also encourages pri vate landowners to leave tree seeds when harvest ing their timber. If tree seeds are left on the land, replanting is not necessary. Last year, 37,000 acres were harvested by pri vate landowners. “We need to be planting twice that to keep up with the demand,” Miles said. “The Texas Forest Service has a responsibility to do that. The Unit ed States does the best job of replanting.” At the Forest Service’s nursery in Alto, Texas, 25,000,000. seedlings for trees are provided to private landowners. “The industry is moving towards education,” Miles said. “Texas has no forest practices act. The educational process will educate landowners in order not to restrict them in their timber prac tices.” The Texas Forest Service received recognition last year from the Environmental Protection Agency for their work in educating landowners in proper methods of timber harvest. Another important and fast-growing aspect of the Texas Forest Service is urban forestation. Ur ban forestry now exists in all the major cities of Texas. “We have volunteer tree planting groups in all cities,” Miles said. An urban forester is usually employed to help volunteer groups generate a tree planting pro gram. Trees in the urban forest have to live in a harsh environment. The Urban Tree Program allows nurseries to take seedlings and plant them in test areas. The Texas Forest Service also provides all the seeds for 400 Christmas tree farms in Texas. These farms generate a million dollars in sales each year. The Forest Service also addresses problems See Forest/Page 10