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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1996)
m ♦ V 3 Sports' ograms. t of Rec of spirited its, faculty free Agent, nformation ices Desk. ates e/Team $10 $30 * Free Free $15 $10 $30 Free intramural Innertube Polo ICE COLD The Texas Longhorns roll over the Aggie Basketball Team, 86-70. Senate recharges iiealth requirement jA proposal to replace a kinesiology credit with lone-hour health class was originally rejected by i&M President Ray Bowen. lyMichelle Lyons Ihe Battalion Texas A&M Faculty Senate members reiterated their vow to pur- siethe implementation of a proposed kinesiology course that Uni- rersity President Flay Bowen rejected at the end of last semester. The Senate decided in November to request that Bowen reconsid- | frthe course’s merit this semester. Almost all Senate members favor incorporating a new health and ftness requirement that would cover nutrition, cancer prevention, seiually transmitted diseases, alcohol awareness and HIV/AIDS awareness, into the University’s Core Curriculum. He (Bowen) ought not to have his personal opin ion override all the research and work done by so many people." — Dr. Larry Oliver associate professor and Faculty Senate member The course would count as one of four kinesiology credits re quired to graduate. In statements to the Senate, Bowen said he opposed the proposed course for philosophical and financial reasons. “The reality is that I am struggling with an appropriate response to this existing campus and community problem, while at the same time staying within my view of appropriate academic policy,” Bowen said in his rejection statement. Dr. Larry Oliver, an associate professor of English and a Faculty Senate Executive Committee member, said he was disappointed with Bowen’s decision. Oliver, who served on the HIV/AIDS Awareness Subcommittee that initiated the course proposal, said it is a misconception that the course would deal only with AIDS awareness. “President Bowen says he does not want to add a mandatory course that addresses a social problem, but that’s not what this is,” Oliver said ‘The course was developed by the people in the health and kinesi ology department, and it would ensure that all undergraduate stu dents get important health information. “He (Bowen) ought not to have his personal opinion override all the research and work done by so many people. I hope President Bowen does reconsider this proposal seriously.” Dr. Pierce Cantrell, Faculty Senate speaker, said Bowen is right to be concerned with the financial aspects of the course’s implemen tation, but that personal concerns should not have been a decision making factor. “The recommendation was narrowly construed to be just an HIV/AIDS course because it was generated under the HIV awareness See Health, Page 5 THE END OF THE LINE POOR PLOT Stidvent: Long lines at The Pavilion can be vexing, Demaya: Two if by Sea suffers especially when the short lines lack a clear purpose. from weak plot. Opinion, Page 11 Aggielife, Page 4 Battalion Serving Texas A&M University Since 1893 Wednesday • January 17, 1996 Evan Zimmerman, The Battalion DOUBLE DRIBBLE Eight-year-old Brandun Douglass plays basketball Tuesday on the Northside court during his extended holiday. New Aggies adjust to U.S. culture □ International students received lessons on living in America during a special orientation. By Kendra S. Rasmussen The Battalion Many students have difficulty cop ing with their first semester at Texas A&M, but for international students, concerns about their new home can be overwhelming. A&M’s International Student Ser vices (ISS) helps 2,500 students rep resenting more than 106 countries overcome cultural barriers and adjust to campus life. Each semester before classes start, the ISS tries to ease the transition for students by hosting a New Interna tional Student Orientation. Suzanne Droleskey, ISS director, said the orientation helps ease inter national students’ transition to A&M. “We go through various types of cul tural information,” she said. “We make sure people understand the kinds of things that can happen here.” The program begins with an im migration workshop to verify that students have arrived with correct documentation, such as visas and proper immunizations. ISS then refers students to the A.P. Beutel Health Center or the Social Security office if necessary. The orientation program covers topics ranging from financial tips and campus safety to car-buying hints. “All of the activities are to ensure (that the students) are going to have a successful time while they are at A&M,” Droleskey said. ISS helps international students to settle in by providing transportation for shopping trips, Droleskey said, be cause many international students arrive with only a small suitcase and no means for getting around town. International student Ning Ouyang, a senior chemical engineering major See Culture, Page 5 Laying Down the Law We ucted in the )fficials learn jreat resume i become an ou get paid, tion Meeting Center Center Center information artment of ecreational id advanced s, pool-side iter MemjJ er n swimming i recreation. 15-7826 15-0526 15-4917 I5-9655 15-4511 15-2625 15-0737 New gun law receives mixed reviews Q Opinions varied about the effect legal concealed handguns will have on the campus and community. By Pamela Benson The Battalion Bob Wiatt, University Police Department director, said that although a new state law went into effect Jan. 1 that allows Tex ans to carry concealed weapons, A&M students should remember that handguns are still forbid den on campus. “Students, under no circum stances, should have a handgun or any other weapon on cam pus,” Wiatt said. The new Texas Concealed Handgun Law allows certified Texans to carry handguns in ap proved locations. However, the Texas Places Weapons Prohibited Statute makes carrying a gun on campus a felony, even for students with handgun licenses. The penalty for students vio-' lating this statute is two to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. Wiatt said UPD will have to implement this law with a cer tain amount of flexibility. “It all boils down to conduct,” he said. For example, Wiatt said that if a student gets into a fight and de cides to pull a gun, the student will face very strict consequences. However, if a student simply forgets he or she has a handgun in a backpack and appears apolo getic, Wiatt said the student would probably receive a citation or warning. If police suspect a student is carrying a concealed handgun, officers have the right to detain the student until they get a search warrant. UPD is not naive, he said, and the department realizes there will be some students, faculty, staff and administrators who will feel the need to carry guns for protec tion on campus. Allen Robertson, a senior psy chology major, said he fears being caught in a situation where he is unarmed and wants to be able to protect himself from others carry ing concealed handguns. “If there happens to be a situa tion in which gun fire breaks out, I want to have a gun too,” Robert son said. “It’s almost like having a beeper. Everyone has one, so everyone feels like they need one.” Sgt. Choya Walling, an officer with the Bryan Police Depart ment, said many questions have been raised about the effect con cealed handguns will have on crime rates. Walling said he thinks con cealed handguns will not have a tremendous impact on crime in this area because there are other many factors contributing to the crime rate. Some aspects of the crime rate might even decrease, he said. “I personally believe the num ber of car jackings will drop be cause criminals will have to pick and choose their victims very carefully,” Walling said. In order to legally carry a handgun, applicants must take a licensing course. Bryan-Col- lege Station firearms dealers said 125 to 160 people have in quired about hand gun classes since early September. Dave Beavers, an employee at Patriot Supply in Bryan, said the majority of people taking the classes are senior citizens and professionals. “The median age (of someone taking our classes) is around 40,” Beavers said. But another large group of handgun certification seekers are between the ages of 21 and 29. In order to keep guns out of criminals’ hands, one-third of the states have adopted laws requir ing citizens to pass background checks and take safety classes be fore they can obtain a permit. Wiatt said Texas’ requirements are more stringent than those of other states. More than 35,000 Texans have applied for concealed handgun licenses. Students give dififering reactions on need to speed □ The Brazos Valley DPS reported that despite the raise in the speed limit, traffic fatalities did not increase during the holidays in 1995 compared to 1994. By Courtney Walker The Battalion Texas A&M students driving to and from Bryan-College Station on state High ways 6 and 21 said they are enjoying the new 70 mph speed limits, but some are wary that police will now be stricter with speed violations. President Bill Clinton’s decision to repeal the national speed limit, which had been 55 mph since 1974, went into effect Dec. 8. The new law gives each state the au thority to set its own speed limits. Brazos County roads affected by the speed-limit change are state Highway 6 from Old San Antonio Road through Bryan-College Station and state Highway 21 from Bryan to Caldwell. Keisha Hulsey, a junior business admin istration major, said she enjoys the free dom to drive faster even though she sus pects the temptation to break the speed limit will result in more speeding tickets. “Before, they (police officers) were pret ty lenient and would let you get away with 60 or 65 (in a 55 mph zone), but now they will probably stop you if you are going 72 mph,” Hulsey said. Christian Hampton, a senior psychology major, said he believes many drivers will get tickets because the highway speed lim its fluctuate in different areas. “Going to Houston, Highway 6 is 70 mph,” he said, “but when you get to 290, which has more traffic flow, the speed limit goes up and down.” Police, public safety officers and some students said they are concerned about speed limit changes for safety reasons. Eddie Carmon, a Brazos County Depart ment of Public Safety trooper, said the in- creased speed limit will make traveling more dangerous. “When the speed limit was raised to 65, there was an increase in fatalities on those roads,” Carmon said. “People just don’t have as much time to react or maneuver at higher speeds.” But the number of Brazos Valley traffic fatalities this holiday season was lower than that of 1994. For 1995, DPS reported 19 automobile fatalities on Christmas Day and 25 on New Year’s Day. In comparison, 25 people died in auto mobile accidents on Christmas Day and 27 on New Year’s Day in 1994. Shelah Dunagin, a junior psychology See Speed, Page 5 "People just don't have as much time to re act or maneuver at higher speeds." — Eddie Carmon Brazos County DPS trooper
