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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1995)
JS/L U N R T Y Jeneiiu, fact H E llingsit scritni! s like II we mis and tli I for wk fing sai: IT UP Sponge thrives on smaller shows during its college tour. Aggielife, Page 3 Change of heart? Hill: Don't believe r ml ^ SAYta/G' ^ militias that say they are 'A changing their ways. Opinion^ Page 7 Mi |:,1 tim I Walkin’ tall Junior Larry Walker II spearheads A&M's great corps of linebackers.!^ ./ Sports, Page 5 ..—Jr AT TALI O Vol. 102, No. 40 (8 pages) Established in 1893 Friday • October 20, 1995 ctrical!; others.' Shamburger convicted of capital murder lass of thin; iley □ His defense told the jury during sentencing Thursday that evidence will prove the defendant should not receive the death penalty. becomirj is to Cal Berkeli gradual! le natfc nia. iM, eng By Lisa Johnson The Battalion Ron Scott Shamburger was found guilty Thursday of capital murder in the death of Lori Ann Baker, a Texas A&M accounting major. The sentencing phase of the trial began immediately af ter the verdict was announced and will continue today. Shamburger faces the death penalty or life in prison. The verdict was reached after 30 minutes of deliberation by the jury. Both sides presented their closing argu ments after listening to a taped confes sion made by Shamburger to detective Pat Massey in which Shamburger con fessed to having robbed other homes in addition to Baker’s. The defense presented the tape to show Shamburger’s familiarity with Bak er’s home. The tape was played to also demonstrate a contrast in Shamburger’s behavior when he confessed to Steven Biles, a youth minister at the Hillcrest Baptist Church in Bryan, and when he discussed the incident with police. Shamburger told police that he felt “empty.” Police described Shamburger demeanor as “nonchalant.” In closing arguments, prosecutor Vanessa Muldrow, assistant district at torney, pointed out that Shamburger had repeatedly admitted to killing Baker and that he had irrevoca bly placed himself at the scene of the crime when he left his keys behind at Baker’s home. “Ron Shamburger has cheapened the sense of security that we cherish and de serve,” Muldrow said. “It is in your hands to carry the burden of personal security and to enforce the law.” In his closing argument, defense at torney Steven Losch said the jury had already made up its mind. “I don’t feel that you need to hear an Shamburger argument to make your decision at this point,” Losch said. “But because the state has made their argument, I will make a few comments.” He said the prosecution was making the situation “seem worse than it really is.” The defense also tried to downplay Shamburger’s guilt by presenting his attempt to turn himself in as an act of remorse. Losch also pointed out Shamburg er’s concern over his name appearing in the paper, indicating that he was ashamed of what he had done. In con clusion, Losch asked only that the jury render a fair verdict. As soon as the guilty verdict was an nounced, Judge Caroline Ruffino called the defense to make its opening state ments for the sentencing phase, and all witnesses were asked to leave the court room until they could be recalled for testimony. During the portion of sentencing completed Thursday, the prosecution presented credit cards stolen by Sham burger and the items he purchased with those credit cards found by police in searches of his home and car. The defense told the jury during sen tencing that the evidence presented to the jury will show that Shamburger has committed no other acts of violence and is undeserving of the death penalty. “There will not be any evidence to kill Ron Shamburger,” Losch said. “You will find that the sentence of life impris onment is ... sufficient for society.” The sentencing phase of the trial will continue today at 8:30 a.m. in the 361st district court at the Brazos County Courthouse in Bryan. a College Republicans send rove tk ^^ 3 to ski -| "| • • 1 i J - second mnd-raising letter istie To;; os* 0 / □ University officials are unsure if the letter will result in more violations. ■■i By Kristen Homyk The Bati align Despite allegations of violating University fund-raising guidelines, Texas A&M College Republicans ^ mailed another letter this week, this time to Brazos County Republicans. The letter, signed by College Re publican President David Brown, re sponded to the University’s charges. The mailing also asked local repub licans to send donations and sup port College Republicans in its ef fort to rid A&M of “revisionist histo ry and liberal politics.” “The Texas A&M College Republi cans are diligently applying the means to stop political correctness on the A&M Campus,” the letter said. “We are on the offensive. We are con tinuing to fight the good fight.” See related EDITORIAL, Page 7 The letter defended College Re publicans against charges of know ingly providing misinformation to possible donors in previous mail ings, saying, “I don’t care if Lydia [Percival, former president] claimed that the University was run by Hitler, Elvis, Hoffa and Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother dis guised as tenured professors; the University has no right to censor our fund-raising efforts on the ba sis of content.” The letter publicized recent and future College Republicans activities, and quoted Battalion articles from 1987 in order to represent the trend toward multiculturalism and political correctness at the University. Dr. Richard Stadelmann, College Republicans adviser, said the letter has a dual purpose. “One is to raise money, and two is to correct the number of false statements that have been made about the College Republicans,” Stadelmann said. The situation is ironic, Stadel mann said, since the University’s charges about College Republicans mailing this summer have made it necessary for the group to solicit more money and support. College Republicans do not fear any new charges being brought as a result of the latest letter, he said. “If new charges are filed, it’s es sentially the same as the former charge,” he said, “and that is a vio lation of the First Amendment.” Stadelmann said the actions of College Republicans in both cases are protected under the group’s First Amendment rights, but the Universi ty is intent on restricting those rights to campus organizations. “It’s quite clear that free speech is limited or charges wouldn’t be brought against us,” he said. David Brown, College Republicans president, said the recent letter’s chief purpose is to “raise money.” “We’re getting pretty low,” Brown said. “Fights with the Uni versity cost money. I hope that they (the letter’s recipients) send us a check, and I hope that they call [A&M’s president].” College Re publicans in tend to pursue their rights, Brown said, even if the University finds them guilty of its charges. “We’ll take them to court immediately,” he said. “I have to make it clear, though, that I don’t really want to hurt the University any more than I have to,” he said. “I love A&M.” Dr. Ray Bowen, A&M president, responded to the new letter, but did not comment on whether the letter would lead to new charges against the group. “If they [College Republicans] did it outside of the context of their relationship with Texas A&M, then See Letter, Page 4 "The Texas A&M College Republicans are diligently applying the means to stop political correctness on the A&M Campus." —from Letter written by David Brown, president of College Republicans College of Liberal Arts celebrates 25th anniversary at Texas A&M □ The college's dean said liberal arts is becoming increasingly important in today's changing environment. By Heather Pace The Battalion Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the College of Liberal Arts has made a name for itself, even though much of A&M history has focused on the agricultural and mechanical aspects of the school. Although liberal arts classes have always been taught at A&M, Woodrow Jones Jr., College of Liber al Arts dean, said the college has only evolved to its current status within the last 25 years. “Twenty-five years marks the birth of the College of Liberal Arts as we know it today,” Jones said. “But the liberal arts has a long, dis tinguished history at A&M, dating hack to its formation. In fact, the college is the root of many of the dis ciplines now taught on the campus.” A&M first offered a liberal arts degree in 1924 and allowed Mary Evelyn Crawford, the first fe male graduate, to receive the college’s first bache lor of arts in 1925. Until World War II, enrollment in the College of Liberal Arts was less than 10 percent of A&M’s total enrollment. Today, en rollment has increased to 5,366 undergraduates and 745 grad uates, 14 percent. Jones said the college has become progressively important, especially as students enter today’s changing environment. “Increasingly, we are finding that our students are better able to ad just to the world because they have a multitude of skills,” he said. “We firmly believe that the liberal arts empower students to broaden their lives to something magnificent.” Over the years, the character of the college has changed immensely as its role in the University has evolved. “The college has moved from be ing a service college to holding a po sition of intellectual leadership in the University,” Jones said. “With out excellence in the liberal arts, no university will ever be recognized as great. Thus, the College of Liberal Arts has, in many ways, become the jewel of A&M.” Seeking to help stu dents of all majors produce humanistic learning, the col lege is unique in that most stu dents, regardless of major, typically take an average of 2.5 liberal arts classes a semester. Nancy Joe Dyer, associate dean of the college, said many skills learned in the liberal arts can be ap plied to any field of study. “Liberal arts students learn criti cal thinking which can be applied in many domains; it empowers you to think on your own,” Dyer said. Dyer said the college tries to See Anniversary, Page 4 Robyn Calloway, Thl Battalion Drunk driving deterrent Andy Butler, a senior psychology major, inspects one of the cars on display at Rudder Fountain Thursday afternoon. The cars are part of Alcohol Awareness Week. Dandiya Nile offers spiritual, social opportunity for students □ The event will offer music, food and dancing in an effort to raise awareness of the Hindu culture. By Lori Young The Battalion The Hindu Students Council, the India As sociation, the Hindu Society of Brazos Valley and the MSC Jordan Institute hope to raise awareness of the Hindu culture and traditions at Texas A&M with tonight’s Dandiya Nite. Niharika Gupta, vice president of Hindu Student Council and a sophomore zoology major, said that because the Hindu Students Council is a relatively new group, members want the A&M community to recognize the organization’s formation. Dr. Nagamangala Anand, president of the Hindu Society of Brazos Valley and an associ ate mechanical engineering professor, said tonight is a spiritual and social opportunity for Hindus to get together. Dandiya Nite provides the A&M commu nity with a fun atmosphere to “find out what our basic beliefs are and find out about us,” Anand said. The event begins at 6 p.m. in 212, 224 and 225 MSC with a Mela, a type of carnival with games, Indian food and raffles. A Dandiya dance, a traditional Hindu folk dance in which participants dance with sticks, will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until midnight. Live music will be provided by a Houston band. See Dandiya, Page 4 Midnight Yell Practice Battalion File Photo Midnight Yell Practice for the Texas A&M-Baylor game will be held Friday Oct. 20 at Waco’s Indian Springs Park on Washington Avenue, between the Waco Convention Center and the Brazos River.