• March 7,1996
nage
rom Page 1
these areas are
i the proposed
udes creek and
sments, enlarg-
id building de-
ands are created
[ areas to slowly
r into nearby
ms.
is are expected
[lion a year for
lext five years,
a yearly budget
) fund drainage
ed money comes
that voters ap-
>ring. No utility
:ntly imposed for
present the City
a rate resolution
lishing what the
ty charge would
ts if the plan is
rings before the
ie held in June,
:il is expected to
m in October,
rage utility plan
College Station
vill include the
vhich is expected
' month for a sin-
dence.
this fee is based
int of run-off a
es, which will be
ay the square
ildings on given
leant lots will be
amily residences
same rate based
;e square footage
imily residence,
.ment complexes
3 based on the av-
botage of a single
it.
al properties will
ised on the actual
ge of the struc-
iven property,
lliham, College
ic relations and
anager, said the
3 public’s input in
•ates.
aing our research
zens to get their
! said.
is conducted focus
participants from
3 prone to flooding
»se that are not. A
~vey is being con-
eek.
i said that ai
ling affects only
3 city, everyone
.ribute because
s a community
r to swallow if we
a little piece of the
pay the same
police and fire
.hough (most of
imr had a fire in
Vi campus con-
ae drainage prob-
3ge Station. Nu-
dings and large
s prevent water
' into the ground,
re run-off to sur-
:as.
d he hopes to ne-
atually beneficial
ith A&M.
an impact that the
as on the city, and
don’t have the re-
eal with that im-
l.
e a community
solve, and since
d of the communi-
to work as a part-
n.”
lid negotiations
irted, but the city
izes the Universi-
ns.
to be sensitive to
ity’s) budget cycle
ire that they know
re of their budget
he said.
aid A&M would
>e College Station’s
ling-utility payer,
e are alternatives
University,
iton, vice president
nd administration,
icipates there will
ions between the
i University about
ge program. “The
proposed this to us
lal way,” he said,
r and the Universi-
ved in several col-
efforts, and this
e one of them.”
lid the city could
empt the Universi-
y drainage fees if
eloped its own
in.
te law that allows
this utility allows
e who we want to
1 not exempt,” he
LONG ROAD
J.J. Matzke's dream of playing
A&M baseball is now a reality.
Sports, Page 6
TABOO TOPIC
Nolen: Although it is illegal, a new law says abortion
is not a suitable topic for the Internet.
Opinion, Page 5
GOTHIC GROUP
A&M students study the behavior
of vampires and werewolves.
Aggielife, Page 3
The Battalion
n?
SPy
HIP
102, No. 109 (6 pages)
Serving Texas A&M University Since 1893
Friday • March 8, 1996
A&M joins military in technology research
Jlhe Center for Electronic
Manufacturing will attempt
to integrate technologies
used for commercial and
military purposes.
!yCourtney Walker
Iffi Battalion
National military budget cuts have
led Texas A&M to contribute to the
tpening of a Center for Electronic Man
ufacturing, which will produce electron
ic products for both military and com
mercial manufacturers.
A&M joined the University of Texas at
El Paso, the Georgia Institute of Technol
ogy and Sandia National Laboratories in
a partnership to integrate technologies
once used solely for military purposes
with the commercial electronic manufac
turing market.
Researchers from A&M’s Departments
of Computer Science, Engineering Tech
nology and Industrial Engineering are
participating in the center’s creation.
The same technology the military
uses to make missile warheads and cir
cuit boards will be used to make com
puters, robots and televisions for com
mercial manufacturing.
Dr. Jorge V. Leon, principal research
investigator from A&M and an assistant
professor of engineering technology, said
the same circuit board that operates a
tank for the Department of Defense can
also operate robots.
Leon said the center’s goal is to in
crease efficiency by developing technolo
gies that military suppliers can use dur
ing an armed conflict, such as Desert
Storm, or use in the production of equip
ment for the commercial market.
“With budget cuts, the military cannot
have a lot of equipment in stock sitting
idle; we need to upgrade equipment for
our dynamic environment,” Leon said.
Three schools are involved in the cen
ter, but Leon said he is trying to get oth
ers in on the action.
“We want to eventually get other
schools involved in the program, but
right now we are just starting the center,
so it will take time,” Leon said.
Brett Peters, a member of the A&M
research team and an assistant professor
of industrial engineering, said the De
partment of Defense was looking for ex
pertise from a university environment.
A&M and other university faculty
members responded to this need with a
proposal and were given a grant.
Leon said one objective A&M has for
the program is the establishment of
courses in electronic manufacturing so
that students will have more attractive
resumes when they graduate.
“Currently, there is little to no curricu
lum for electronic manufacturing, but in
formation will be incorporated into the
industrial and engineering technology
classes because of research done in the
center,” Leon said.
Leon said that with the electronic in
dustry flourishing, A&M must conduct
research to improve education and job op
portunities for students.
Deadline to prepay
tuition approaches
JTexas Tomorrow Funds allows
benefactors to pay tuition and
fee costs now for future college
students.
Lisa Johnson
k Battalion
Though a new state program available
through Texas A&M’s Student Financial Aid
ice would not benefit current students, it
mild make college more affordable for stu
dents’ younger sib 1 ings.
For a limited time, the state comptroller’s
office is offering prepaid tuition and fee plans
tostadents under the age of 18. The deadline
lor purchasing a plan through the Texas To-
smw Fund is March 31.
This is the first time people have been
ahle to purchase Texas Tomorrow Funds,
which were originally proposed by* State
Comptroller John Sharp in 1994. The Texas
Legislature passed the bill during its last
legislative session.
Anyone may purchase a plan for a benefi-
tiary, provided the beneficiary is under 18
[ears of age and a Texas resident at the time
»tthe purchase. Non-resident children of
Texas residents are also eligible.
The plan pays tuition and required fees for
students when they enter college. Food, hous
ing and non-required fees not included.
Beneficiaries must take advantage of the
plan within 10 years of graduating from high
school, or the funds are void. Should students
decide not to go to college, the purchaser of
the plan can name another beneficiary or re
ceive a refund. The money will not be refund
ed to the beneficiary.
Carmen Luevanos, state comptroller’s of
fice spokesperson, said these options are the
best feature of the plan because they prevent
student abuse of the funds.
“The fact that the money reverts to the
person who purchased the plan, rather than
to the beneficiary is great,” she said. “That
way, if a student graduates and decides to go
off to some foreign land ‘to find themselves’
for a couple of years, they won’t have access
to all that money that’s been paid in for them
to attend school.”
Four types of plans are available: a senior
college plan, junior college plan, junior-senior
college plan and a private college plan.
The junior college plan pays for up to 64-
hours worth of tuition and required fees at
any state junior or community college and
costs between $2,334 and $2,375, depending
See Tuition, Page 2
Stephen McGinnis, a full-time supervisor at the ACC in Blocker, puts computer printouts in the slots as Ben
Howard, a sophomore chemical engineering major and member of the Texas Aggie Band, picks up his English
210 project Thursday afternoon.
Dole gains another win in New York
^Buchanan and
forbes hang on in the
GOP race.
NEW YORK (AP) — Bob Dole
'on a landslide victory Thursday
dhe New York primary, open-
a resounding lead in the Re-
Hblican presidential race. He
id it was “time to start the fight
Lf November,” but Steve Forbes
•nd Pat Buchanan vowed to bat-
ion in the upcoming GOP pri
maries.
“When it comes to picking the
publican nominee, it’s over —
^ Bob Dole,” said Gov. George
â– ataki, a Dole partisan.
Dole cast his big win as an
overwhelming statement of Re-
oilcan unity” and said it was
Oe for Republicans “to defeat
il Clinton and return conserva-
“veleadership to the presidency.”
In an interview with The Asso
ciated Press, Dole said it wasn’t
for him to tell Forbes and Bucha
nan to quit the race, but suggest
ed they take a long look at the
lopsided New York results.
“Let’s move on and recognize
it’s time to start the fight for No
vember,” the Senate majority
leader said.
New Yorkers braved snow or
chilly rain to vote, and many had
a humdrum attitude about a race
that was without a front-runner
less than a week ago.
“You pick because you have to,
but it’s not much of a choice,” said
Maria Avellino, a 22-year-old
mother of three in Brooklyn who
voted for Dole.
New Yorkers voted for dele
gates — not directly for candi
dates — but a voter survey
showed that 53 percent favored
Dole, compared to 30 percent for
Forbes and 14 percent for Bucha
nan.
As a result, Dole took a daunt
ing delegate lead over Forbes and
Buchanan: He won at least 90 of
the 93 delegates on the New York
ballots, bringing his national total
to 380. Forbes had 72. Buchanan
was third at 62, with 996 needed
to clinch nomination.
Tf the others want to stay in,
they ought to focus on Bill Clinton
and not kick me,” Dole told AP
from Florida.
Speaking via satellite to a New
York victory rally, Dole chastised
Clinton for vetoing GOP plans to
balance the budget, cut taxes and
reform welfare.
But his rivals weren’t willing
to quit, even as they acknowl
edged the long odds.
Forbes said he would contest
the Super Tuesday primaries
next week, move onto the big
Midwest states up next and then
make a major push in California
at the end of the month. He con
trasted his “vibrant vision of the
future” with Dole’s “politics as
Delegate
totals
Delegates who have pledged
support for the Republican
presidential candidates. A total
of 996 is needed to secure the
nomination.
Dole 377
Forbes 72
Buchanan 62
Keyes 4
Uncommitted 16
Associate Press
usual” but would not say how
much more of his personal for
tune he would pour into the race.
Forbes blamed his resounding
defeat on the New York GOP es
tablishment — led by Pataki and
See New York, Page 2
G.S. soldiers convicted for rape of Okinawa girl
JThe sentence of 6 1/2 to
fven years is considered
•High by Japanese standards.
NAHA, Okinawa (AP) — Three U.S. ser-
%en were convicted and sentenced today
s 61/2 to seven years in prison for raping
11 Okinawa schoolgirl, a crime that ignited
'% of the harshest anti-American senti-
^tin Japan since World War II.
The sentences, considered tough by
J Panese standards, were handed down by a
?Pel of three judges at the Naha District
%t. The verdicts, which can be appealed,
'Howed six months of unprecedented
^tests against the U.S. military bases on
^southern island.
"This was an extremely heinous and bold
Jhe,” presiding judge Shinei Nagamine
^ the court. “It was all the more serious
^use it was carefully planned.”
None of the three GIs — Navy Seaman
’ 9 fcus Gill, of Woodville, Texas; Marine
Pfc. Rodrico Harp, of Griffin, Ga.; and Ma
rine Pfc. Kendrick Ledet, of Waycross, Ga. —
showed any emotion at the sentencing.
All three had admitted some involve
ment in the attack, though only Gill had
confessed to rape.
"This was an extremely heinous
and bold crime."
— Shinei Nagamine
presiding judge
Prosecutors said the three forced the girl
into their rental car on the night of Sept. 4
as she left a stationery shop after buying a
school notebook. They beat and bound her
as Gill drove to a deserted road in fields of
sugar cane.
The girl was raped there and aban
doned. Still bleeding, she wandered to the
nearest house and tearfully called home.
Military police arrested Gill, Ledet and
Harp two days later.
The court sentenced Gill and Harp to 7
years, and Ledet to 6 1/2 years. The sen
tences will be served in Yokosuka prison,
just south of Tokyo. Rape causing injury car
ries a maximum sentence of life in prison;
prosecutors had asked for 10 years.
The defendants have two weeks to appeal.
All three confessed to some role in the at
tack. Gill said that he raped the girl. Ledet
and Harp denied raping her and said they
helped abduct her only because Gill bullied
them into it.
The court, however, ruled that blood
stains from the victim found on Harp’s un
derwear proved that he, too, raped her.
The judges concluded that Ledet was un
able to go through with the rape after realiz
ing how young the victim was, and therefore
gave him a slightly lighter sentence.
Japanese officials and citizens said the
sentences were either justified or not
harsh enough.
“The penalty was too light, I almost wept
See Rape, Page 4
A&M to increase
Internet access with
additional modems
â–¡ The University
plans to increase the
number of campus
computer modems to
626 by Fall 1996.
By Danielle Pontiff
The Battalion
The Texas A&M Computing
and Information Service plans to
improve student access to the In
ternet by installing more tele
phone-line modems for off-cam
pus computers.
A recent failure in the tele
phone dial-up modem pool, which
connects off-campus computers to
the A&M computer network,
prompted the decision.
Dr. Dave Safford, CIS director,
said the board of modems that ac
cepts 48 telephone lines failed re
cently because of an increased de
mand for network access.
The University has 386 mo
dem lines available, Safford
said, but studies conducted by
CIS show that this number
needs to be doubled to handle
network traffic.
“We have statistics on how
many calls come into the system
each day,” Safford said. “The
numbers show we should have
800 modems available to handle
the increased demand for net
work access.”
Three different levels of
modems are available in A&M’s
dial-up pool.
The 28.8 kilobyte modem is
the highest speed available, al
lowing students to transfer 3,600
bytes of information per second.
The 14.4 kilobyte modem trans
fers 1,800 bits per second, and
the 2.4 kilobyte modem transfers
300 bits per second.
The CIS has approved, for im
mediate purchase and installa
tion, 96 more 28.8 kilobyte
modems and will add another 144
in the fall. This will make 626
modems available to students
and faculty by Fall 1996.
Dave Duchscher, CIS network
analyst, said expansion of the mo
dem pool is necessary so that
more people will be able to get
through to the A&M network.
“There is a lot of demand on
the system,” Duchscher said. “Too
many people are trying to get in.
Students have modems but can’t
do their work.”
Feng-pin An, a sophomore
mechanical engineering major
who works in the West Campus
Library computer lab, said it
takes a long time to get into the
A&M network from telephone
line modems.
“I can remember times when
I’ve spent about two hours trying
to get into the A&M system from
my modem at home,” An said.
“An increase in modem lines
will reduce the computer lab load
for network programs like Inter
net. People who need to concen
trate on other programs will have
better access to the labs.”
Safford said the modem expan
sion will be paid for by a CIS cap
ital fund that provides money for
computer systems campuswide.
The CIS plans to install 100
modems every 7 year for the next
few years until there are up to
1,000 modems available for off-
campus computers, Safford said.
“More people will be able to
work from their computers at
home,” Safford said. “Our main
concern is convenience for the
students and faculty.”