Page 2 • The Battajlion
state Sc local
T hursday • March 23,195
i&jSSx • •• r •'
Thursday
House considers juvenile crime reform
□ The proposed bill
seeks to lower the age
at which an adolescent
can be tried as an adult.
AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas
House on Wednesday began de
bating sweeping reforms to the
state’s juvenile justice system
that aim to curb the skyrocket
ing number of crimes being com
mitted by teens.
Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Ar-
lington, said his bill would send
a message to youths that “if
they commit a violent crime in
Texas ... they’re going to do seri
ous time in the Youth Commis
sion or in the adult system.”
The bill would lower from 15
to 14 the age at which a juvenile
could be tried as an adult,
toughen sentences and expand
the list of offenses for which
youths could be incarcerated for
a fixed period of time.
“For the last decade in Texas,
we have had an explosion of ju
venile offenses, both petty of
fenses and serious offenses,”
Goodman said, citing statistics
showing violent crime arrests
among youths have risen 282
percent over the last decade.
“We need to treat violent ju
venile offenders like the preda
tors they are, and we need to
save the ones that we can
save,” he said.
But some legislators said
the proposals were too severe
and would not help rehabili
tate violent teens.
Rep. Sylvester Turner pro
posed retaining 15 as the age
at which juveniles could be
tried as adults, saying lower
ing the age would do nothing to
help curb crime.
“There is no reason to lower
the age from 15 to 14 ... except
for political purposes,” said
Turner, D-Houston. “At some
point in time we must send
some positive message from this
House, and lowering the age
when there is no reason to do it
continues to send negative vi
brations to our children.”
Turner also criticized a provi
sion that would lower from 18 to
16 the age at which juveniles
would be eligible for transfer to
the adult prison system.
“We are opening the doors to
start sending kids to the adult
criminal corrections system at
the age of 16 when TYC is set
up specifically for purposes of
dealing with these kinds of chil
dren,” Turner said.
Rep. Allen Place, D-
Gatesville, said the provision
was necessary to show teens
there is “some price at some
point that’s out there.”
“We’re not getting the mes
sage to kids that in fact if you
continue with violent behavior
that something is going to hap
pen to you and there is a price
to be paid for that type of be
havior, whether you’re an adult
or whether you’re a juvenile,”
Place said.
Juvenile crime reform be
came a major issue during last
year’s gubernatorial race, and
Gov. George W. Bush has made
it a top priority this legislative
session.
Numerous reform measures
have been proposed in the
House and Senate and are likely
to be hammered out later in a
conference committee.
Goodman’s bill would cost the
state about $60 million over the
next two-year budget period and
require another $15 million to
fund the construction of 1,700
new beds for juvenile offenders.
Under the bill, the list of of
fenses for which juveniles could
be incarcerated for a fixed peri
od of time would be expanded.
Currently
youths are sen
tenced to Texas
Youth Commission
facilities for an un
specified period of
time unless they
commit one of six
offenses, which in
clude capital mur
der and murder.
The bill would
add to that list a
dozen more offenses, including
aggravated robbery, manslaugh
ter and indecency with a child.
Youths would face sentences
ranging from 10 to 40 years for
those offenses and would have to
serve minimum sentences rang
ing from one year to 10 years.
The measure also would cre
ate a computerized information
system that would allow author
ities to share information about
juvenile offenders.
Another provision would es
tablish a seven-level “progres
sive sanctions” program that
would allow local juvenile
boards to increase punishments
for repeat offenders.
"We need to treat violent juve
nile offenders like the predators
they are, and we need to save
the ones that we can save."
— Rep. Toby Goodman,
author of the reform bill
Medical students journey across
U.S. border to provide for needy
Q During spring break, 31 students
from the University of North Texas
gained valuable, practical experience
providing care for people in Mexico.
REYNOSA, Mexico — While multitudes of col
lege students were partying on South Padre Island,
a group of Fort Worth students on spring break
was quietly crossing the U.S. border 70 miles to the
west, taking medical care and hope to some of the
poorest people in this dusty, crowded town.Last
week, 31 students from the University of North
Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth and a
band of volunteer doctors, interpreters and nurs
es traveled in a convoy of vans across the Interna
tional Bridge at Hidalgo in the morning and re
turned well after sunset each night for four days.
Most of the students are in their second year of
medical school; their previous experience had
been with textbooks and lab apparatus.
In Reynosa, working at four sites a day, the
Americans treated about 1,200 people, performing
a social service that would be impossible to provide
for their own country’s needy residents because of
liability concerns, program supervisors said-
The medical students set up shop in one-room
churches with no electricity or water, in aban
doned buildings where missions had been estab
lished, or in a shantytown near railroad tracks.
“I was shocked at the conditions we had to
work under,” said Chris Pratt, a second-year stu
dent from Richardson.
Their patients, as young as 13 months and old
er than 70 years, waited outside for hours. Many
were diagnosed as they sat on church pews that
had been removed from the buildings to make
room for the one-day clinics.
They also treated people in their homes, men
and women who could not travel to the
makeshift dispensaries.
“It’s been humbling,” said Chimene Willis, a
23-year-old first-year medical student.
Willis and the other medical students are
members of the Christian Medical and Dental So
ciety, which sponsors an annual trip to aid the
Rid Grande Valley Baptist Association’s mission
ary work along the border.
Although a primary goal was to promote
Christian beliefs, the sheer volume of medical
work the students performed quickly displaced
any such effort.
“That’s a disappointment,” said Matt Click, a
student organizer for the spring-break mission
out of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
at the UNT-Fort Worth campus. “But I also know
I can’t touch someone’s spiritual needs without
meeting their physical and medical needs.”
Each day, the students and their volunteer
physicians, nurses and interpreters crossed the
border with a trove of pharmaceuticals and med
ical supplies donated by doctors, pharmacists and
hospitals in Tarrant and Dallas counties.
Despite that bounty, they faced frustrating
ironies as they worked in the colonies of Reynosa,
a city of 360,000 people.
True, they gave immediate care to several hun
dred people.
But they struggled with what turned out to be
a shortage of medications, with the knowledge
that their patients would probably not get follow
—- up care, and with the realization that their ef
forts were often temporary at best.
“What we’re doing doesn’t matter if they can’t do
something else to improve their conditions,” said
Pamela George, 25. “I found myself just wanting to
give them something, anything, to help them. I re
alized how we’ve become so reliant in our society on
drugs to do the job. These people need more.”
“You learn they’re people, too: The poor are
people, too, and not just in Mexico,” said Lori
Miller, 27. “I’ll take that back with me.”
Senators lash out against casino
lobbyist for ‘outrageous attack
□ Senators debate the integrity of
comments spoken and actions tak
en concerning the defeated
amendment to legalize gambling.
AUSTIN (AP) — Texas senators on Wednesday
lashed out at a pro-casino lobbyist over what they
described as an outrageous attack on the Senate
parliamentarian, whose sons represent an anti
casino group.
They said the comment by lobbyist Lloyd
Criss seems aimed at calling into question
the Senate’s integrity.
The uproar comes in the wake of an 8-4
vote by the Senate State Affairs Commit
tee against a proposed constitutional
amendment to legalize casino gambling.
Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, in declaring the
issue dead for the session, this week
criticized those he called “greedy” casino
lobbyists for seeking a public hearing
Senate. I’m here to tell you, and I want everyboj;
to know, that that ain’t true.
“If they want to say that about the lieutenai
governor, I question their intelligence. If the
want to say that about the parliamentarian,
think it’s cowardly,” he said.
Sibley said Johnson was in the job because
love for public service and good government.
Other senators also chimed in to praise Johi
son and Bullock, defend the Senate’s integrity an
disparage the job pro-casino lobbyists had done
pushing the issue.
Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, called th
comment “unforgivable.” Sen. Ken Armbristei
D-Victoria, called it an “unprofessional, ml
statement.
Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, spoi
sor of the casino gambling measuri
said the comment was “very stupid
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo,
she joined in “outrage that such a fu
man would be insulted.”
without having enough support for passage and
before work was finished on other issues of
statewide importance.
The Houston Post reported that, in reaction to
Bullock’s comments about fees paid to casino lob
byists, Criss said, “How about the tens of thou
sands of dollars being paid to (the Senate) parlia
mentarian’s sons and to his ,px-top employee Jack
Roberts to oppose this issue?
The law firm of parliamentarian Bob Johnson’s
sons represents Gulf Greyhound Park in La Mar
que, which opposes casinos. Criss accused Bullock
of pushing an “agenda” because of ties to anti
casino forces, the Post reported.
Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, was the first of 15
senators who stood Wednesday and blasted the re
mark, saying the parliamentarian had never spo
ken to senators on the casino gambling issue.
Sibley said of Criss’s comment, “When some
body says that, what they’re implying is ... that
there’s something crooked going on in the Texas
They ended by giving Johnson
standing ovation.
Bullock, asked if casino proponents had
long-term damage to their cause, said, “I’ve
long-term memory.”
He said he has been opposed to the issue ai
that although he would look at the issue in tin
1997, “I don’t know whether my positic
will change.”
“When I do what I think I’m going to do in 19S‘
don’t want you to think I’m prejudiced,” he toldta
Senate, but would not later explain the remark.
“I think it’s a disgrace,” Bullock said. “They
take their 20 pieces of gold and go home.”
Criss, a former House member, stood byi
comment and said the senators were overreact:
‘They attacked me pretty bitterly. It just kinc
proves I was right on target with what I said,” Cr.
said. “If it was something frivolous, it wouldn’tk
er ’em. The fact that I hit home is what got ’em.’’
Criss also accused Bullock and Johnson of
chestrating Wednesday’s speeches. Bullock spoil
woman Cindy Rugeley said that wasn’t true.
1
Senate approves anti-crime packagi
□The measure increases
penalties for evading ar
rest and tightens law for
repeat offenders.
AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas
Senate, in a drive against crime,
voted Wednesday to increase
penalties for evading arrest and
passed several measures that
are part of a package known as
“Ashley’s Laws” in memory of a
murdered child.
The package by Sen. Florence
Shapiro, R-Plano, and the evad
ing arrest measure by Sen. J.E.
“Buster” Brown, R-Lake Jackson,
were prompted by the deaths of
innocent victims, backers say.
The measures now go to the
House for consideration.
Brown, whose bill was amend
ed to address some senators’ con
cerns that it was too harsh.
Currently, evading arrest is a
misdemeanor punishable by up
to 180 days in jail and a fine of
up to $2,000.
Under Brown’s bill, approved
30-0 by the Senate, the maxi
mum punishment would be in
creased to one year in jail and a
fine of up to $4,000 if someone
used a vehicle to flee.
Repeat offenses would usi <
state jail felony, punishable' 1
confinement in a state jail for
to two years and a fine of. .
to $10,000. By Mich
If someone suffers seric. The Bait
bodily injury as a direct rei
of the person fleeing from;:
officer, it would be a second-:
gree felony, punishable by t’
to 20 years in prison and a f:
of up to $10,000, according 1 uJ’i iy
Brown’s bill. ; Dac «
If someone is killed as a: T\ e sai
suit, the offense would be afe - n f 3
degree felony, punishable byf 81 *l ls ‘ ae
to 99 years in prison and a: ^ thin
W
of up to $10,000.
The following incidents were reported to the
University Police Department between March 14
and March 21:
street,” h
Benne
in his vis
I John Wil
| House. F
April, an
pand.
Misdemeanor Theft
Walton Hall - A black 10-speed Huffy Mojave
bicycle was stolen.
Krueger Hall
was stolen.
- A hot-pink Huffy bicycle
Moore Hall - A black Schwinn High Timber bi
cycle was stolen.
Dunn Hall
was stolen.
- A black Roadmaster bicycle
Ireland Street Bicycle Racks - A blue Roadmas
ter Isolation Peak bicycle was stolen.
Moore Hall-
was stolen.
A white Ross Diamond bicycle
Evans Library - The victim reported the theft
of her backpack and its contents. Those items: Willia]
elude: a Hewlett-Packard calculator, Sony Was Still bein
man cassette radio, four cassettes, headphonfibut it is ‘
student I.D. card, driver license, $21.28 in cash,! Benne
physics book and a notebook. |running
sic diver!
Harassment | The Si
Heaton Hall - The victim has received sever; Veed pla;
annoying phone calls from an ex-boyfriend. The n<
month w
Assault club and
Walton Hall TV Lounge - A dispute over wfc Benne
channel to watch resulted in a subject being strue add a liq
on the head, choked and knocked to the ground. : They wil
change t
Burglary of Habitation fplace to i
Schuhmacher Hall - The victim reported that Each <
green Polo bag was removed from his secure The ai
room. L gmnge-a
|to chang
Public Intoxication ffriore sel
University Drive - An intoxicated indivkto; “It i en
was arrested and incarcerated in the Brazof
County Jail.
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Parking News:
March 25 - The University Center Garage will be reserved for OPAS.
March 26 - Parking for the 2:00 p.m. performance of “Cinderella” will
be on a first come first serve basis.
Shuttle Bus News:
cn One-ride bus coupons may be purchased from our cashiers at the
Koldus Building in Room 118, or purchase coupons with your Aggie
Bucks at the new ticket dispenser at the Gig’em bus stop by the
Psychology Building. This is a great way to get to and from
campus!
Bus operations will be accepting new driver applications
March 27 - March 31.
Applications are available at the Bus Ops facility on Agronomy Rd.
VX'atch for PTTS updates in the Battalion, each Monday and Thursday!
We’re doing our best to keep you informed of activities and events that could
impact your parking and transportation needs. For more information, call our
parking counselors at 862-PARK or Shuttle Bus Operators at 845-1971.
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The Battalion
MARK SMITH, Editor in chief
JAY ROBBINS, Senior managing editor
HEATHER WINCH, Managing editor
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