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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 1995)
210 West 26th St.. Bryan (409) 775-2984 Browse in our store for ii uifferent II^iq^esVcoil'ktibuII shopping experience! Sundays by chance THIS WEEK AT THE Cantina 823-2368 Downtown Bryan and virus-free. Try before you buy? Software Salas and Bental Cash for Used Softwaro and Hardware CSOFTUUfiR€ QCCHflNGO Northgote, behind Lou pot's 846-1763 10-7 Mon. - Sat. 12-5 Sun. Universal Computer Systems, a Houston based company, is expanding to include College Station. We will need 100 part- time employees starting Fall ‘95 to work in our new office. NO COMPUTER EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. Flexible days/hours. $5.50/hr. To apply, please call our Recruiting department at 1-800-883-3031 no later than 7/21/95. UCS hires non-tobacco users only. EOE. PART-TIME JOBS ISE OUR AD EVERY TUESDAY IN THE BATTALION! \ For private parties call Willie at822-3743 Drink Specials Wed. & Thurs. 5-10 pm Open 5 pm - 1 am Wed. - Sat. 18 and older welcome THURSDAY 07/20 THURSDAY WIND DOWN W/POWER 94 Hair Show Styles for the Summer urban contemporary now every thursday at the Cantina FRIDAY 07/21 Omar & The Howlers Blues $6 SATURDAY 07/22 Dixie Theatre 106 S. Main St., 822-0976 Located in Historic Downtown Bryan I For private parties call Willie at 822-37431 Happy Hour: Mon. - Fri., 4-8 pm Drink Specials • Pool Tables 18 and older welcome WEDNESDAY 07/19 HIP HOP NIGHT w/Power 94 $3 cover before 10:30 / $5 after THURSDAY 07/20 VERTICAL HORIZON w/Bee Stung Lips Rock $6 FRIDAY 07/21 Joe “King' I'tS! Carrasco is „. S w/Pushinonkey 1 Salsa Rock $5 SATURDAY 07/22 Rock $5 Page 6 • The Battalion NEWS Defense Department reveals privatization plan WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pen tagon's plan to privatize Air Force de pots in Texas and California may put pressure on the three remaining depots in Georgia, Oklahoma and Utah to cut back or be privatized as well, some observers predict. The Defense Department last week unveiled a blueprint that would spare thousands of jobs at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio and McClellan AFB in Sacramento, Calif. The "privatization in place" plan hastily assembled by the Clinton ad ministration would lessen the hit on vote-rich Texas and California follow ing an independent commission's rec ommendation to close the depots. Some 16,000 of Kelly's 18,000 jobs and 8,700 of McClellan's 1 1,000 workers would be spared for five years, after which privatization would begin. Defense officials estimate few er than 3,000 Kelly jobs and 4,700 McClellan jobs would be lost when operations go private. DPS begins courses for firearms instructors AUSTIN (AP) — Instructed to check their guns at the door, 160 people armed with notebooks and pens packed the auditorium at the Department of Public Safety Training Academy on Monday to learn how to teach Texans to properly carry concealed handguns. The trainees represent every region of the state. The vast majority - 130 people — already are certified to teach other types of firearms courses. Many are law enforcement officers. Still oth ers have never taught a handgun class but know how to use a gun. All are hoping to grab a piece of the action when Texans begin applying for concealed-gun permits on Sept. 1. Anyone teaching the state's con cealed-handgun course must be certi fied as an instructor by the DPS. Appli cants pay a $100 nonrefundable course fee and travel to Austin to at tend the course, which varies in length depending on experience. Those already certified as firearms instructors undergo about 25 hours of instruction, while the others undergo 40 hours of training. Credit agency gives NRA lowest possible rating WASHINGTON (AP) — A major credit-rating agency has given the Na tional Rifle Association its lowest pos sible ranking after studying the gun lobby's financial records. Dun & Bradstreet, which evaluates the financial strength and credit wor thiness of corporations, businesses and municipalities, gave the NRA a rating of nine on its scale of credit risk. Such a rating generally is reserved for companies with extreme financial difficulties and could make it harder for the organization to do business with banks and contractors. By con trast, a rating of one would be assigned to the most financially sound entities. The Dun & Bradstreet report, pre pared June 30 for an individual in volved in the NRA's operations, was obtained by The Associated Press. The Dun & Bradstreet evaluation comes on the heels of an AP report that showed the NRA has depleted its cash and investments by more than half since 1991 and has been running in the red for the last four years with a cumulative deficit of at least $60 million. GOP resumes drive to cut spending on cultural aid WA$HINGTON (AP) — With con servatives pressing for further slashes in federal cultural aid, the House began a week of debate Monday on Republi can-crafted spending legislation that would cut the size of government. The House debated a measure pro viding $12 billion next year for the Inte rior Department, cultural and other pro grams - $1.5 billion less than they re ceived this year. The National Park Ser vice, the Fish and Wildlife Service and energy conservation would be cut; the Bureau of Mines would be eliminated. Among the prime targets were the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Hu manities. Both have long been criti cized by conservatives upset with pro jects they finance. Second round of hearings on Whitewater opens WASHINGTON (AP) — In a second round of hearings into Whitewater, Senate Republicans will try to cast doubt on presidential aides' assertions that they didn't tamper with docu ments in the office of White House lawyer Vincent Foster. The hearings opening Tuesday are part of a one-two Republican punch aimed at the Clinton White House. House hearings begin Wednesday into the government's deadly 1993 siege at Waco, Texas. The Senate Whitewater committee will focus on the late-night search of Foster's White House office after his sui cide in a Virginia park on July 20, 1993. Presidential aides have admitted they removed the Whitewater docu ments from Foster's office two days after his death, taking them to Presi dent and Mrs. Clinton's White House residence. The records were later turned over to prosecutors. Tuesday • July 18,195: Tenure Continued from Page 1 bers that are being reviewed for promotions. Dr. Sam Cotner, head of the horticultural sciences de partment, said his depart ment’s evaluations often focus on research. “In this department we of ten look for quality of re search done,” Cotner said, “but excellence in teaching has always been rewarded.” In the teaching category, seven additional examples of criteria were recommended. They include invitation to teach at a domestic or interna tional institution, receiving awards for research or academ ic performance by directed stu dents and participation in the University Honors Program or related mentoring programs. Other additions in the schol arly activities and service cate gories would include editing a scholarly book and professional service to the Bryan-College Station community. The changes were proposed by the Academic Affairs Com mittee of the Faculty Senate. Oberhelman said the sugges tion for changes came from two areas. “The International Pro grams Committee noticed that there really was no place in the list for recognition of interna tional work,” Oberhelman said. “It seems only proper that fac ulty who do work internation ally should be recognized.” The Academic Affairs Com mittee wanted to make changes to the criteria as a re sult of changes made to a sep arate document regarding teaching effectiveness. “The list did not do justice to the full purpose of teach ing,” Oberhelman said. “Cer tain aspects of teaching need ed to be stressed.” Dr. John Weese, head of the engineering technology depart ment, said that effective teach ing has always been an inte gral part of his evaluations. “The faculty has always been aware of the need to be competent classroom teach ers,” Weese said. “Careful con sideration of teaching has al ways been there.” Dr. Don Hellriegel, execu tive associate dean designate of the College of Business, said that despite the recent focus on teaching, faculty members still are evaluated on a broad scope. “We have to have a balance among all categories,” Hell riegel said. “Policies ought to be open enough in terms of a combination of achievements.” The Faculty Senate ap proved the proposed changes last week. The revisions will now be given to Dr. Ray Bowen, Texas A&M president, for fi nal approval. Family brings foster children to court to press case on interracial adoption x □ A lawsuit has been filed seeking a ruling that delaying or denying adoption based on race violates the Constitution. AUSTIN (AP) — Six-year-old Joseph and his 2- year-old brother, Matthew, came to court Monday looking spiffy: blue shirts, black pants, shiny shoes. The boys are at the center of a battle over inter racial adoption that’s winding its way through the legal system, and the couple that wants to adopt them say it’s important for them to be there. “I feel that it’s their case. The children need to be seen,” said Lou Ann Mullen, holding Matthew on her lap, surrounded by reporters in a hallway outside the courtroom. Later, two reporters knelt to interview Joseph, while Matthew said “Hello” to the cameras. Monday’s hearing in the case ended up being pushed back until November. But when it recon venes, Mullen said she’ll be back with the boys. She and her husband, Scott, allege that state social workers have delayed their adoption of the boys because the children are black and the couple are not. Mullen is American Indian, and her hus band is white. The two are on track to adopt Matthew and Joseph, who are living with them in Lexington, east of Austin in Lee County. Assistant Attorney General Toni Hunter, repre senting the state, said the adoptions should be completed by the end of August. But that hasn’t stopped the lawsuit filed on the Mullens’ behalf, seeking a ruling that delaying or denying adoption based on race violates the state and U.S. constitutions. “There are other children out there that need to be saved,” Mullen said. The Texas case is part of a broader legal attack by the Washington-based Institute for Justice against states accused of impeding interracial adop tions. A similar lawsuit has been filed in Tennesss «■■■ Lawyers for the Mullens want their case to ;- N certified as a class-action lawsuit, meaning;»° ‘ r would include all the non-white children awaiticj adoption throughout the state. Hunter, who says the state doesn’t discrk nate based on race, plans to ask for the lawsc to be dismissed. A 1993 state law, which was strengthened tis year after publicity about the Mullens’ case, b® the state from denying or delaying adoptions j® because the prospective parents are a differe: race or ethnicity than the child. The Mullens have cared for other foster cli- dren, including two other black youngsters wht: they also hope to adopt. They also have a biologi:: daughter and an adoptive daughter. Sti By Amy < "he Baui "The children need to be heard." — Lou Ann MiA foster mother seeking to adopt two chilkl Stude they are the genei nation be Some The couple began taking care of Matthew after his birth in 1992. They contend that wk they said they wanted to adopt, case workers: them a black family would be considered first. The Mullens say Matthew was removed fc their home last summer to live with Joseph the home of a black adoptive family. Whentt didn’t work out, the children were placed with black foster family before being returned to: Mullens in January. Hunter said the state disputes there was a; lay in adoption proceedings. If there was, shesa it was based on trying to keep Matthews: Joseph in the same family. She said the Mulk initially didn’t express an interest in both boys. Mullen, who said the couple did want to ac both children, called the situation frustrating. “It shouldn’t take this long for children tofr a home that they can live in and call home for? er,” he said. er seme hey fear ut of scl astical Dr. Rj osed Jt rom the $26 per s 96, whicl ™ The ii Race Continued from Page 1 keep on going and running good, teamwork was essential. I be lieve the competition made me a well-rounded individual.” Bates said that besides diffi culty with tires, the team expe rienced no mechanical or elec trical problems. The production team chose to use bicycle tires because of the light weight, but the tires tended to wear out quickly. Baron Hall, a senior mechan ical techno' >gy major, said he was shocked when they re ceived the Outstanding Team work Award. “We were out on the road for nine days; it was not easy,” Hall said. “It was engineering by seat of your pants. When so: thing went wrong, you had to it right then and there. “You think you know a about teamwork until you; thrown into a situation wh you have to rely on it. “I had to learn everyth: again. It was a once in a ! time experience.” The Sunrayce ’95 competit was held June 20-29. crease p 1996-97. Earlie was nece not appr for, creat Bower maintain “It’s a $aid. “We - the qu; the facuh Carreatf ASL Continued from Page 1 gree and allow students with proficiency in ASL to take a credit-by-examination test to fulfill foreign language re quirements. Several universities across the country have ASL pro grams, including the Universi ty of Texas, Baylor University, Southwest Texas State Uni versity, Harvard University, the University of California system and Massachusetts In stitute of Technology. Madeline Maxwell, professor of speech communications at UT, was one of the founders of UT’s ASL program. Students in UT’s four-semester program can earn 16 hours of foreign language credit. About 150 stu dents enroll in ASL classes each semester. Maxwell said the program benefits students, the hearing impaired and the community. “Priority goes to students who will be teaching deaf chil dren,” she said. “American Sign Language is also impor tant to the intellectual commu nity because it stretches the concepts of language.” Irene Talamantes, with the communication disorders de partment at SWTSU, said that since the four-semester ASL program began at SWTSU in 1989, the sign language classes have gained popularity. “There is a very big demand for the classes,” she said. “We have a waiting list to enroll in a sign language class.” Rene Harris, accommoda tions coordinator for A&M’s Support Services for Students with Disabilities, said an ASL program at A&M would be beneficial. “There are some students who simply have a hard time learning a different language,” Harris said. “Sign language of fers a unique alternative to typical foreign languages.” Support Services for Stu dents with Disabilities current ly provides hearing-impaired students with services such as note takers, hearing devices and preferential seating. Har ris said it is hard to gauge how many students with hearing impairments attend A&M be cause most students do not re port their impairment. The ASL program will not be initiated until the study is completed, Oberhelman said. Constructio: Continued from Page 1 Closing these parkinglo has been frustrating for the s dents and faculty who frequeE ly park in the lots. Thomas Whitworth, at search scientist with the Depa.' ment of Oceanography, said felt the amount of manpoffj used for the repairs was noted sistent with the number of peo; displaced by the lot closures. “It appears that in an eft to save money, they have: come callous to the needs of: faculty and students,” he said Whitworth observes thee# struction of lot 55, beside: Eller Oceanography and Met rology Building, from the w dow in his office. He saidthei which was recently under c: struction, was closed forth and a half days, and only t> workers were assigned to repairs to the lot. “If the University would one lot at a time rather th close all the lots, they mif inconvenience fewer people he said. Williams said that in order accommodate students andfe ulty on such a short notice, t bonfire site will be opened parking and traffic officers« direct the drivers. Sk@tt(£h By Quatro w/i-t- the: endeavor of ACHIEVING A 3.6 G PA EUUOE ME FOf<E-VER?\\ BUT SEE , THE TH/AJG XS, X TOLD r-vr DAD THAT X WANTED A NEW MUSTANG GT, NOT TUST A PUAI/N Oi-D MUSTANG. I S/MPLY I DON’T KNOW WHAT XT IS ... X CAN EAT AND EAT AND EAT All day long , But X Just CAN’T SEEM TO <3AlN xt/yeah ... I KNOW 1 ANY weight.'// Come . ; EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN^^ /r WANT TO KNOCK Ithe snot out of you ! Toshihik 1 berthy d ‘ looks or The only time available make the repairs is duringt summer, he said, when it is ti least disruptive. Dave Ryan, a junior bio-erj neering major, said students not warned about a parking: before it is closed. “They had barely posted d signs when they closed the: the first time,” Ryan said. Ryan said the lot across ft the Zachry Engineering Get appeared to be left alone after was closed. He said he s: workers repairing lot 51, the served staff lot across the str from the Wisenbaker Engine- ing Research Center, but ne saw them working on thes: dent lot. Robin Woods, a junior E: ; lish major, said she does not-]:; derstand why PTTS did nott : f lize the two weeks prior to-: first summer session ort weeks following the seconds'-^ mer session to make repaire the parking lots on campus. Woods said that studeM are not given warning enough in advance. “Maybe PTTS should conH er telling students about 1 -! construction when they their parking permits,” Wo : said. “That would allows: dents to plan their sumff" parking ahead of time.”