Page 2 • The Battalion
(^AMPUS &: RATION
Thursday • January 26,15
Fate of Aggie Bucks on hold until
sda]
ruling by Texas Attorney General
Q State AG to decide
if University debit
card system violates
banking regulations^
-By Gretchen Perrenot
The Battalion
Texas Attorney General Dan
Morales has yet to make a ruling on
whether A&M can continue its Aggie
Bucks system.
The debit card banking system is
under review to determine if it vio
lates banking regulations. If the sys
tem is continued, A&M may expand
the system, allowing off-campus busi
nesses to accept Aggie Bucks.
Ward Tisdale, a spokesman for
the Attorney General’s Office, said
the case is pending before the Attor
ney General.
“It is impossible to predict when a
decision will be made,” he said.
Several off-campus bookstore own
ers want the system to be expanded
to allow them to accept Aggie Bucks
and have met with Morales and Uni
versity officials to
discuss the matter.
Texas Aggie
Bookstore owner
John Raney said
the Attorney Gen
eral said the ruling
will probably take
months rather
than years.
Dr. Jerry Gaston,
interim vice presi
dent for finance and
Morales
administration, said he does not
know what the decision will be, but
he expects the Aggie Bucks system to
continue in the foreseeable future.
“Students like Aggie Bucks,” Gas
ton said, “and we want to do whatev
er we can to continue them.”
Raney said his and other bookstore
owners’ interests are centered around
the exclusivity of A&M’s contract with
Barnes and Noble Bookstores, Inc.
Currently, Barnes and Noble has a
contract with A&M until 2005 to be the
only bookstore to accept Aggie Bucks.
Gaston said all contracts have a
provision to be modified and the mat
ter must be discussed with Barnes
and Noble.
Allowing the off-campus book
stores to use Aggie Bucks will also
depend on the outcome of the Attor
ney General’s decision, he said.
The Aggie Bucks system came un
der review after concerns that uni
versities with debit card systems
profit from the interest earned from
the money the students put into
their accounts and may be violating
banking regulations.
In a letter sent to Morales last
April, Texas Banking Commissioner
Catherine Ghiglieri asked the Attor
ney General to decide if the debit
card systems used at some state uni
versities should be regulated.
Three state universities, Texas
A&M University, Stephen F. Austin
State University and Texas Tech
University, have established debit
card systems.
Being taken for a ride
Nikki, a springer spaniel, takes time out
from her hectic schedule to relax and
watch the traffic with her owner outside of
G. Rollie White on Wednesday afternoon
Amy
Batt
Unintended experiment, study questions
safety of controversial AIDS vaccine
Police Beat
Patient still healthy after exposure to weakened version
BOSTON (AP) — One
man’s HIV infection over a
decade ago is giving scien
tists their first evidence of
the safety of an AIDS vac
cine that has been consid
ered too dangerous for some.
In a kind of unintended
natural experiment, the
man caught a genetically
weakened form of the AIDS
virus. It is virtually identi
cal to the weakened virus
used in the experimental
vaccine, which works well
on monkeys.
Typically people fall ill
within 10 years of contract
ing HIV. But this man,
now 44, appears to be per
fectly healthy at least 12
years after getting infected.
About 5 percent of HIV-
infected people show no
signs of immune system
damage more than a
decade after catching the
virus. Understanding the
factors that keep them
healthy is a major goal of
AIDS research.
The study is the first to
show that long-term HIV
survival clearly may result
from catching a crippled
version of the virus.
Certainly, one healthy
patient does not prove safe
ty. And it also does not
demonstrate whether the
vaccine wards off other HIV
infections, although the re
searchers said it may have
kept the man, a hemo
philiac, from getting
more lethal forms of
the virus from his clot
ting material, which
was produced before it
was routinely
screened for
HIV.
Recently, doc
tors discovered
that the man’s virus
was crippled by a mutation
in one of its nine genes. By
coincidence, this mutation
is identical to the one delib
erately engineered into an
experimental vaccine for
SIV, the monkey form of
the AIDS virus.
Scientists showed two
years ago that giving mon
keys this weakened form of
the virus protects them
from catching the lethal va
riety, despite deliberate ex
posure. Yet it does not
make the monkeys sick.
The case of the man
who was inadvertently
vaccinated was described
in Thursday’s issue of the
New England Journal of
Medicine by researchers
from the New England
Regional Primate
Research Center and
the University of
Massachusetts Med
ical School.
The search for a
human AIDS vac
cine has been
disappoint
ing. Giving
dead fragments
of the virus does
not appear to stimulate the
body enough to ward off in
fection. Yet giving a weak
ened but live virus —
called an attenuated vac
cine — is considered too
risky because of the chance
it will cause the disease it
is intended to prevent.
Dr. Ronald C. Desrosiers
of the primate center said
many scientists agree that
a live attenuated AIDS
vaccine is likely to be the
most effective at prevent
ing infection.
“But the big concern is
safety, safety, safety, safe
ty,” he said. “This guy is
doing fine. This is evidence
of sorts that it can be safe.”
In an accompanying edi
torial in the journal. Dr.
David Baltimore of Massa
chusetts Institute of Tech
nology wrote that “contin
ued study of an attenuated
vaccine is reasonable.”
He noted that a still-un
published study, conducted
by Dr. Ruth Ruprecht of
the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute in Boston, found
that the crippled virus
caused AIDS when given to
baby monkeys.
Because infants’ immune
defenses are immature, a
virus that is harmless to
grownups may be lethal to
them. Her study raises the
possibility that mothers who
get an attenuated vaccine
might pass the AIDS virus
to their babies.
Dr. John Sullivan of the
University of Massachu
setts said he thinks re
searchers should try to test
such a vaccine.
The following incidents were reported
to the University Police Department be
tween Jan. 13 and 17:
for underage possession of an alcoholiJ
beverage. They were also issued CrinJ
nal Trespass Warnings for being inside;|
posted area
[less. 1
i;e it c
Disorderly Conduct
Arson
Between Parking Area 2 & 3: North
side of Walton Hall - Three individuals
received citations for urinating in public.
Misdemeanor Theft
West side of Commons - A black 21-
speed Bacini bicycle was stolen.
Dunn Hall - A red Nishiki Back Roads
15-speed bicycle was stolen.
Mclnnis Hall - A green 15-speed Mur
ray bicycle was stolen.
The Pavilion - A black Huffy 10-speed
mountain bicycle was stolen.
Schuhmacher Hall - A red 10-speed
Sterling Mega 650 mountain bicycle
was stolen.
Dormitory 4 - A security officer on k|
patrol observed a student set firetoi
napkin in a trash can on the first floors
Dormitory 4. An individual following tt{
student reached in the trash containei
and extinguished the napkin.
[SCI
Inesd
High 1
)lems
Driving While Intoxicated
Parking Area 40 - An intoxicated
torist was arrested and incarcerated
the Brazos County Jail.
[own .
(main
feotyp
istry.
11 th
and
sic,” C
Ithov
Burglary of Habitation
ung c
2S of i
lary I
led tl
rj Jcu
inste
Minor in Possession of Alcoholic
Beverage/ Criminal Trespass
Spence Hall - A Texas Instrument,!
calculator was stolen from the victim*
third floor room.
Spence Hall - A Texas A&M Univers:
ty residence hall telephone and a
Two individuals were issued citations
South answering machine were stoki'
from the victim’s third floor room. i
Correction:
In a Page One article Tuesday, The
Battalion incorrectly reported that
Highway 60 would be a shortcut to
Highway 21.
Instead, Highway 47 is being formed
as a shortcut between Highway 60 and
Highway 21.
Also, the $11 million allocated tos
Bryan branch of the Texas Departn
of Transportation is for farm road :
tenance for the ten counties in
Bryan District.
■ FAST REFUNDS * PROMPT RETURNS * ELECTRONIC FILING ■
| BRENDA OWENS * KAY Me WILLIAMS * JOHN L. LEGE |
STAFFORD OPERA HOUSE
I
or
B-CS TAX GROUP, INC.
505 UNIVERSITY DRIVE EAST SUITE 203
BY FOX & HOUND
COLLEGE STATION, TX 7 7840
(409) 691-2134
$10 COUPON WITH THIS AID
1
ON ONE 1994 FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN
VOID AFTER APRIL 1, 1995
APPOINTMENTS ACCEPTED * WALK-INS WELCOME
“LET US HELP YOU KEEP MORE OF WHAT YOU EARNED”
INDIVIDUAL * BUSINESS * CORPORATIONS * ESTATES * PARTNERSHIPS
Saturday, January 28
Chris Duarte
Tickets on sale at
Marooned Records
846-0017
WANT YOUR WORDS IN THE
’95 AGGIELAND?
Just answer one or more of the following questions.
•What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you
while attending Texas A&M? • What is the strangest or weirdest
thing that has ever happened to you while at A&M? • Who is the
best professor you have had? Why? • If there was one thing you
could change about Texas A&M, what would it be? • What is the
worst thing to ever happen to you at A&M? • What is the nicest
thing that has happened you at A&M?
Responses may be turned into Reed McDonald 012. Pe sure
to include your name, class, major, and hometown.
SPRING BREAK ‘95
Bahamas from
Cancan from
7 CiicjhtG. hotel (oifh air( 7 (Vujhte hotel coith air(
$379
$V09
TAKE A BREAK
STUDENT TRAVEL
li/e- p'/v-e* pea tie, usor/r/..
can ?3[doenturc TRAVEL today!
313-B College Main College Station, TX 77840-1225
(409) 260-1131
All flights to Cancun and Nassau are Public Charters. The charter operator is R&R International, Inc. (d/b/s
Take A Break Student Travel). The direct air carrier for these flights Viscount, Air. An Openings * Option Plan
Contract is required. Prices do not include $35-$38 departure taxes and $6 document delivery fee. All trips
are capacity controlled and not all cities are available for each week of spring break. Please call for exact avail
ability and pricing.
110% LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE!
Alpha Kappa Psl
National Professional Business Fraternity
SPRING RUSH ‘95
Informational Rush
Monday, Jan. 30th
Rudder 601
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Casual Attire
Professional Casual Rush
Wednesday, Feb. 1st
Memorial Student Center
Room 206
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Professional Casual Attire
Professional Rush
Thursday, Feb. 2nd
Clayton Williams, Room A
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Professional Attire
Social Rush
Friday, Feb. 3rd
Time & Place T.B.A.
*Invitation Only
For more information, call:
Kristy Hood 696-8664
Kevin McCutcheon 696-971 1
Victor Trevino 691-2901
‘EXCELLENCE TAKEN TO EXTREMES!’
The L£a i i /\i ic
MARK SMITH, Editor in chief
JAY ROBBINS, Senior managing editor
HEATHER WINCH, Managing editor
JODY HOLLEY, Night News editor
TIFFANY MOORE, Night News editor
AMANDA FOWLE, City editor
STERLING HAYMAN, Opinion editor
ROB CLARK, Aggie!ife editor
NICK GEORGANDIS, Sports editor
DAVE WINDER, Sports editor
STEWART MILNE, Photo editor
Staff Members
City desk— Stephanie Dube, Kasie Byers, Lynn Cook, Brad Dressier, Dana Jones, Lisa Messer,
Gretchen Perrenot, Tracy Smith, and Wes Swift
News desk— Kristi Baldwin, Michele Chancellor, Kristin De Luca, Kristen De Rocha, Li be Goad,
Robin Greathouse, Zachary Toups and James Vineyard
Photographers— Tim Moog, Amy Browning, Robyn Calloway, Blake Griggs,
Nick Rodnicki and Eddie Wylie
Aggielife— Michael Landauer, Amber Clark, Margaret Claughton, Amy Collier and Jay Knioum
Sports writers— James Anderson, Kristina Buffin, Tom Day, Shelly Hall, Robert Hanson
and Robert Rodriguez,
Opinion — Erin Hill, Drew Diener, Laura Frnka, Zachary Hall, David Hill, Kyle Littlefield,
Jenny Magee, Jim Pawlikowski, Elizabeth Preston, Gerardo Quezada, David Taylor
and Amy Uptmor
Cartoonists— Greg Argo, Brad Graeber, Alvaro Gutierrez and Quatro Oakley
Office Assistants— Wendy Crockett, Heather Fitch, Adam Hill and Julie Thomas
Writing Coach— Mark Evans
The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring
semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer sessions (except University holidays^
exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas
A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the
Division of Student Publication, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial offices are in
013 Reed McDonald Building. E-mail: BATT@TAMVMLTAMU.EDU. Newsroom phone numbe'
is 845-3313. Fax:845-2647.
Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion
For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call
645-0569. Advertising offices are in 01 5 Reed McDonald and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-2678.
Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up 3
single copy of The Battalion. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and
$50 per full year. To charge by VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express, call 845-261 1
(E
EYE
$
1
eyel