19!)
er
ynday
August 28, 1995
Campus
Page 9 • The Battalion
Confidence carries Thompson through first year
s to cm
^' atti iThe Texas A&M chancellor re-
! up set.
ch asaJtcts on the past, present and fu
nic, pa tire of the A&M System.
'gyshotJ
Patient By Wes S''' 1 ”
e clinic The Battalion
readm
onttf |The most noticeable thing about Dr. Bar
ry B. Thompson is his attitude,
leringr $The Texas A&M chancellor speaks about
anclinii hite first year at the helm of the A&M Sys-
tei i with a zeal that is confident, like an old
a direti gunslinger who shoots from the hip, because
ice you he knows he is the quickest gun in the West.
■ “I have very high expectations for my-
tatode sif,” Thompson said when judging his per-
eveninj foi nance over the last year. “I know I can
e futun perform at a higher level and I intend to.
^ almost I’d give myself an honest B+ [this year],
||!Hd I think next year I’ll earn an A.
limitei i “I make 25 to 30 major decisions a day, so
ind oirfiey’re not all good ones,” he said. “But most
said, olthem are by far.”
its stii I Thompson became the System’s 10th
healtk wancellor on Aug. 18, 1994, after retiring as
■lest Texas A&M’s president,
your so He entered amid a whirlwind of controver-
i park' sy that shuffled the leadership of both the
Sy iem and its largest school, Texas A&M.
■ The controversy began when Robert
Smith, then A&M’s vice president for fi
nance and administration, came under fire
in an investigation by the Texas Rangers
that suggested that he solicited gifts during
negotiations with Barnes and Noble Book-
sjiores, Inc. Smith was later convicted in No-
vlmber 1994.
I The System’s reputation suffered another
blow in January 1994, when state auditors
criticized former A&M administrators like
irdi e
ing tk;
irs
:al Ser-
ices 21
lodifiti
id
Smith and Ross Margraves, chairman of the
A&M Board of Regents, for mismanagement
and unethical practices.
One of Thompson's first challenges was to
help the System recover from the controver
sy the audited created.
A year later, Thompson proudly said he
always stuck to his guns, and never felt in
timidated by his job as chancellor.
Tve been a combat general — so to speak
— for many years, so I was never intimidat
ed,” he said. “But I was always challenged,
because when I make a bad decision it im
pacts negatively so many people and I feel
that responsibility.”
Thompson said he was prepared for the
scrutiny he came under as chancellor, be
cause he entered a similar situation at West
Texas A&M University.
“I’ve always been watched extra close,” he
said. “When I went to West Texas A&M, it
was in absolutely the worst situation, so I’ve
been conditioned in the crucible.”
“I was not at all resentful, nor am I today,
of the scrutiny,” Thompson said. “I think
when you’re a public official, with the re
sponsibility I have, that’s a given.”
He also had to provide stability to a Sys
tem that had been playing musical chairs
with its top administrators. When Thomp
son took office, the System had had three
chancellors, two chairmen of the Board of
Regents and three A&M presidents in the
last five years.
Another challenge came during the 74th
Texas legislative session last spring, when
the System was at risk of losing substantial
funding because of the audit controversy.
The System, led by Thompson, came out
with their political guns blazing and got
through the legislative scare with only a few
See Thompson, Page 11
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Dr. Barry Thompson has just completed his
first year as Texas A&M chancellor.
heifc
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Dr. Malon Southerland, Vice President for Student Affairs, will be
having luncheons this year for freshmen and new transfer students at
Texas A&M. The program is designed to welcome new students
and have interaction on their experiences at A&M. The luncheon
will be at the Memorial Student Center and will include an open-end
ed discussion and questions and answers. If you would like
to attend, complete this form and return it to:
Dr. Southerland
Vice President for Student Affairs
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-1256
(or Tenth Floor, Rudder Tower)
You will be contacted as space is available.
Name
Address.
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.Freshman/Transfer Student (circle one)
★ ATTENTION OVERASSIGNED CAMPUS DORM RESIDENTS ★
Friday
IF you are upset about being crowded and cramped in small rooms with 2 or 3 other students...
IF you are upset and feel you were deceived or misled during your orientation by the Texas A&M Housing Department by being told you would be
out of overassignment within 2 or 3 weeks after classes begin, only to now or recently learn from Texas A&M that "students should be prepared to
be in on overassignment space longer than three weeks and possibly until the end of the Fall semester"...
IF you do not want to compromise your privacy and education.JF you value your privacy and education...
IF you do not want a negative housing experience at Texas A&M in your freshman year...
Call Dr. Malon Southerland, Vice President of Student Affairs, at 845-4728 and Ron Sasse, Director of Student Affairs, at 845-3111 and ask them:
O Why you were not told all of the facts and what are the real answers?
3 How long will you be in overassignment? Triple occupancy? A study room?
3 What assurance is there that you will be moved to double occupancy? To another room?
3 Why did they allow the massive, unprecedented, number of overassignments and triple occupancies?
You should get these answers to decide if you want to accept the Housing Assignment Office offer for a full refund of your $200 housing deposit
and cancellation of your campus housing contract.
Then, if you want to consider your private dormitory and apartment options, WE CAN HELP. Call us for a positive experience and environment:
N
A Forum
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Tower
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TEXAS
ASM
3 UNIVERSITY TOWER, located at Texas Avenue and University Drive across from Texas
A&M (846-4242) with auaranteed double occupancy in rooms much larger than campus
dorms, all with private bathrooms, air conditioning, color television, fully furnished...and
guaranteed double occupancy. We never overassign! One semester, academic, and full year
leases are available;
O Or call THE FORUM (823-8131) with rates, including full meal plans, lower than the Texas
A&M modular dorm rates;
3 Or call THE COLONY APARTMENTS (693-0804). Recently remodeled and conveniently
located at 1101 Southwest Parkway.
YOU DESERVE THE BEST...WHY PUT UP WITH OVERASSIGNMENT AND 3 OR 4 PERSON OCCUPANCY IN SMALL R00MS...ACT NOW.