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8:30 pm
Monday • September 4, 1995
Texas juries awarding less in damage
settlements despite state’s reputation
□ Last year, Texas plaintiffs won 42
percent of the time, compared
with 46 percent in 1991.
DALLAS (AP) -- There’s at least one thing
plaintiffs lawyers and defense attorneys agree
upon: Texas jury awards aren’t what they used
to be.
The state's reputation — deserved or not -— for
outlandish awards in lawsuits appears to be suf
fering a backlash in some jury rooms.
This summer, jurors hearing a case where a
woman was sued over a 1991 Dallas traffic acci
dent tried to award her damages because it con
sidered the lawsuit frivolous.
In late June, a jury found Occidental Chemical
Corp. grossly negligent for releasing potentially
toxic irritants into the air in Robstown near Cor
pus Christi. But the first 12 of almost 8,600 peo
ple who sued didn’t get the S120 million they
were seeking. Instead, jurors said seven plaintiffs
should get nothing and gave five others only $300
to $1,000 in actual damages.
Rather than let that same panel reconvene to
consider punitive damages, the two sides settled
everything — about 15 separate cases — for
$65.7 million. That’s far below some predictions,
given the number of plaintiffs.
Last year, Texas plaintiffs won 42 percent of
the time, compared with 46 percent in 1991, ac
cording to Jury Verdict Research, a Pennsylva
nia-based legal data firm. Across the nation in
.1994, plaintiffs won 55 percent of the time, about
the same as in 1991.
Regents: McClure moved to table the measure
Continued from Page 1
McClure said. “After reflecting
over 18 years and having served
on the Board of Regents, I think
differently now.”
The tabling is the latest ob
stacle in the 20-year struggle by
A&M Student Government
members to have a student re
gent. Two years ago, Student
Government leaders changed
their strategy, instead asking for
a liaison rather than a regent.
The liaison would have have
all the powers of a full regent,
except the power to vote or at
tend closed sessions.
Regent Robert H. Allen said
the issue of a student liaison is not
something to take lightly.
“We must keep in mind the
magnitude of this subject,” Allen
said. “The regents are appointed
by the governor of the state of
Texas, and the enabling power is
in the constitution.”
Allen said agreeing to a liai
son would be beyond the right of
the the Board.
“It would be a circumvention of
the spirit of the legislation
and the constitution to ap
point a sort of quasi-mem
ber,” he said. “We ought
not adopt the proposition
presented to us.
Huddleston said the
Board members were too
"We ought not adopt the
proposition presented to us."
— Robert H. Allen
Texas AdrM System Board of Regents
worried about impressions to ac
tually bring the measure to a vote.
“I was extremely disappointed
that they tabled this instead of
just giving us a vote,” he said. “I
think they were politically moti
vated. I think they’re trying to
show a bleeding heart.”
shutting out the students forev
er, she said.
“My door, as long as I am
here, is always open to any stu
dent who wants to come by,” she
said. “You will have time on the
Board agenda as long as I am
here — always.”
Center: Dial-A-Nurse implemented on trial basis
Continued from Page 1
day,” Carman said.
Several students, however, said they think the
decision to make health care services available
only during the day is a mistake.
Kristi Edwards, a sophomore kinesiology major,
said she used the health center’s urgent care ser
vice last year when she spilled boiling water on
her leg late at night.
The health center was the only place for Ed
wards to receive treatment because she was alone,
did not have ice in her dorm room and was in too
much pain to drive.
“I’m not sure that Dial-a-Nurse would have
been much help,” she said. “Access to things like
ice isn’t something you can get over the phone.”
Rhonda Wheeler, a senior kinesiology major,
said she thinks elimination of urgent care services
will hurt the reputation of the health center.
“People don’t stop functioning after 5:00,”
Wheeler said. “Lots of accidents happen at night.
Dial-a-Nurse is a good idea, but not as a replace
ment for emergency care.”
West said she attempted to
find a way of bringing the bill out
to the full Board for a vote, but
said parliamentary procedure
prevented her from doing so.
The rejection of a student liai
son does not mean the Board is
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REC SPORTSoX
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Intramurals • Sports Clubs • Outdoor Adventures • Fitness • Aquatics
Outdoors
with Patsy
W hen I was growing up, my
family didn't spent much
time in the outdoors. It wasn’t
until I was in college that I
became hooked on nature.
I went to school at Southwest
Texas State and as a P.E.
requirement I was looking for
something different. I noticed
they were offering canoeing. I
think that class is what made
me realize that there is some
thing more to do, recreational
wise, than just sports.
College students have so many
opportunities to try things. The
TAMU Outdoors program has a
good variety of activities. We
offer backpacking, canoeing,
rock climbing, kayaking, and
even hang gliding. Ninety-five
percent of TAMU Outdoors
activities are geared to begin
ners. We teach what you need
to know to have a great time.
It's to get away from school
Go For Fitness At The Rec
U ntameable energy flowing
through their bodies, a deter
mined look in their eyes, and an
excited grin from ear to ear is the
way many Aggies are eagerly
sculpting away the dreadful fresh
men 15. The opening of the new
Student Rec Center, also begins
Rec Sports’ new diverse aerobic
and fitness programs. Currently,
Rec Sports offers 78 classes a week.
“The Rec Sports facility is now
large enough that we are able to
offer a variety of exercise classes
at many times during the day that
will meet everyone’s schedule,”
said DeAnn Woosley, Rec Sports
Fitness Coordinator. “People will
be able to cross train by using
strengthening apparatus for mus
cular endurance or taking classes
in high level, slide, step or water
aerobics. We have it all!”
Rec Sports hires well qualified
fitness instructors who undergo a
vigorous Rec Sports training orien
tation. All instructors are nation
ally certified or have prior teach
ing experience. Woosley stressed
that Rec Sports will adhere to the
high quality of their programs and
staff.
“Our facilities are the best!”
Woosley said. “We have state-of-
the-art (low-impact) floors, brand
new slides, steps, weights, and tub
ing. We have great sound equip
ment, and we are committed to be
on top of every fitness trend.”
Woosley said that Rec Sports
aerobic and fitness classes are af
fordable. Rec Sports classes are a
$1.50 a class, and students can buy
as many classes as they feel they
can afford.
“If students can afford ten classes
for now, they pay for ten,” Woosley
said. “If they can afford $50, then
they can go to an unlimited num
ber of classes seven days a week.”
Students can try out one class
with the aerobic One Day Pass.
Woosley added that one free class
is offered every day, including a
water aerobic class during the
weekend.
Rec Sports schedules most
classes during prime time, 4:00 to
9:00 p.m. Rec Sports also offers a
6:30 a.m. early bird, and noon class
every day, and a 10:00 a.m. class
three days a week. Woosley feels
that Rec Sports offers a class to fit
everyone’s needs.
“I hope to see many males take
advantage of our new Total Body
Conditioning, and Power Hour
classes,” Woosley said. “These
classes increase muscular endur
ance through a variety of exercises
like slide and step. In other cities
across the country, there are a lot
of men in aerobic classes. I think
if men would try the classes they
would like them. They need to get
past the false stereotype that
aerobics is lead by an empty
headed blonde in lycra doing a
cheerleading routine.”
Rec Sports gears classes for be
ginners wanting to learn the ba
sics, students who love to dance,
intermediate and advanced exer
cisers, and students with little or
no coordination who just want to
work out.
Signing up for classes is easy.
Members need to go to the Mem
bership Services Desk in the Stu
dent Rec Center lobby to pick up
their schedule and pass.
Woosley said that Rec Sports of
fers other types of instructional
aerobic classes that deal with walk
ing, running, bicycling, swimming,
and health and fitness. On Thurs
day, Sept. 21, Rec Sports’ aerobic
and fitness department features
ninth degree Black Belt martial
artist J P Burleson’s class on
Women’s Self Defense from 7:00 to
10:00 p.m..
The Trip. Date
Entries Qp?n
Fee*
Inlro to Sailing Sept 17
Aug. 28
$18/22
Windsurfing Sept 17
Aug. 28
$18/22
Beach Camping Sept 23-24
Sept 4
$40/48
Kayak Roll Clink Sept 28
Sept 11
$12/15
Rock Climbing Trip Sept 29-Oct 1
Sept 11
$54/64
*Rec Membeis/Non Rec Members
More trips planned for fall and winter break. See Outdoors
schedule available at the Rec Center
and enjoy the outdoors. You
meet all kinds of people, and
make many new friends. You
might get hooked on an activity
that turns into a lifetime
passion.
For more information about
the TAMU Outdoors Program,
come into the new Rec Center.
These activities are open to
students, faculty, staff and
community members.
Faculty/Staff Can Still Join, Students Already Members
Ri
Fresh
penc
W ith all that it has
o offer, it is easy
to see how the new
Student Rec Center
has quickly become
one of the most popu
lar places at A&M.
Since its Grand Open
ing on Aug. 26, an av
erage of 6000 people
have visited the Rec
Center each day.
“We really like it. We’re moving
in!” said Freshmen Beth Robinson
and Andrea Brockman who were
impressed with the weight room.
“There’s directions on all the ma
chines which make them really
easy to use.”
Yet with all this excitement,
there are still many students that
are unaware of their automatic
membership.
Once a student at A&M registers
for at least six (6) credit hours of
class, payment of their Student
Fees makes them eligible to use all
of the facilities located at the Rec
Center at no extra cost.
Students who come by for drop-
in recreation are often surprised to
find out what a great place the Rec
Center is. “I love it. It’s great!” says
Mark Grady, a Freshman Business
Major. “The size and amount of ev
erything that they offer surprised
me. All of the equiptment is really
nice.
What’s nice to know is that it’s
already paid for. It’s not an added
extra cost. You don’t have to sort
of count on extra money just for
this.”
Although some of the organized
activities, such as aerobic classes,
intramurals and TAMU Outdoor
Trips, often contain an additional
fee to cover the cost of instructors,
officials and transportation, the
costs of these activities are paid
only by the students that use them.
Even most of the items at the
Equiptment Desk can be check out
at little or no cost. Basketballs, vol-
leyballs and soccerballs are free
and items for racquetball, ping
pong and badmitton are only $0.75.
Even faculty and staff are im
pressed with the facilities made
available to them through the pur
chase of a membership.
“I am absolutely, totally im
presses with it,” said Basketball
Coach Tony Barone. “It’s a top of
the line building with incredible
facilities. It amazed me that build
ing of such immensity would be so
easy to get around in. Instead of
being intimidating, this place has
a great feeling of friendliness.”
Faculty, staff, their spouses and
dependents can still get one of the
approximately 400 memberships
that are available by coming to the
Member Services desk in the Rec
Center and with a
blue or yellow park-
ing permit, they
can use parking lots
103 and 104 that
are located on the
facility premises.
“These facilities
are unbelievable,”
said Dr. Doug Cook
of Plant Pathology.
“Everyone should
take advantage of
what this place has
to offer.”
Even with every-
Intramurals Registration Dates
Sport
Open
Close Fee
CoRec Indoor Soccer
Today
Sept. 5 $30
CoRec Two-Pitch Softball
Today
Sept. 5 $20
Preseason Flag Football
Today
Sept. 12 $10
Flag Football
Today
Sept. 12 $30
Whiftleball
Today
Sept. 12 $ 5
Long Driving
Tbday
Sept. 12 Free
Biathlon
Sept. 11 Sept. 19 Free
Horseshoes
Sept. 11 Sept. 19 Free
^An
classi
for in
B V Javi<
t he Ba-
thing that is already availiable,
there are still many things mem
bers have to look forward to.
The opening of the Nautitorium
in late September, the use of Aggie
Bucks in the Center and the open
ing of the outdoor facilities are just
a few of the upcoming additions
that will continue to make the Rec
Center a favorite among students,
faculty and staff.
/Pec Sports is a Division of Student Affairs
Paid Advertisement
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