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Z, No. 141 (8 pages)
Serving Texas A drM University Since 1893
Monday • June 3, 1996
ioenig optimistic as condition improves
ie former
as injured
student body president
in a rafting accident
trling Hayman
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Toby Boenig is in good
iij while he continues to re-
'from a rafting accident
pleft him partially para-
;two weeks ago.
enig is now undergoing
ical therapy at Warm
ifs Rehabilitation Center
azalez and has regained
control of his right arm
limited movement in his
lower body.
Joyce Boenig, Toby’s mother,
said her son’s recovery is progress
ing fairly rapidly and his legs now
respond to reflexive stimuli.
Boenig dislocated his C4 and
C5 vertebrae, located in his
neck, when he hit his head on a
rock while diving headfirst into
the Guadalupe River.
Doctors fused the two verte
brae together using a bone graft
from Boenig’s lower body. How
ever, the injured area around
the spinal cord still suffers from
swelling, which prevents Boenig
from regaining full mobility.
Doctors expect the swelling to
subside within two to three weeks.
Joyce Boenig said the doctors
are pleased with Toby’s progres
sion and expect him to make a
full recovery.
“The physical therapist’s
prognosis is that Toby will be
100 percent after the therapy,”
Joyce Boenig said.
Boenig was rafting with
friends on the Guadalupe River
during the weekend after gradu
ation when he injured his spinal
cord after diving into the river.
Joyce Boenig said Toby dove
off the raft to
cool off and hit
a large rock
under the
river’s surface.
Because of
the recent
drought, the
Guadalupe Riv
er has a lower-
than-normal
water level.
Two of
Boenig’s
friends, both experienced life
guards, immediately pulled
Boenig to shore without moving
his neck or spine.
BOENIG
Joyce Boenig said a house near
the location of the accident belongs
to an emergency room doctor at
McKenna Hospital in New Braun
fels. The doctor, along with two
nurses who were tubing behind his
party, provided Boenig with med
ical care at the scene until hospital
officials arrived.
He was then airlifted to
North East Baptist Hospital in
San Antonio. After recovering
from surgery, Toby was trans
ferred to Warm Springs Reha
bilitation Center in Gonzalez.
Joyce Boenig said her son re
mains optimistic despite the se
riousness of the injury.
“Toby just believes that what
ever happens, God will be there
with him,” Joyce Boenig said.
“He’s really been in good spirits
the whole time.”
Joyce Boenig said the family
has been very appreciative of the
support it has received from
A&M’s students and administra
tion throughout the ordeal.
Texas A&M President Dr.
Ray Bowen, Dr. Malon Souther
land, vice president for Student
Affairs, and many friends have
traveled to see Boenig on numer
ous occasions while he recovers.
Joyce Boenig said Toby has re
mained strong throughout the ex
perience and constantly looks for
the positive side of the accident.
“He feels that he’s going to be
a stronger person after this is all
See Boenig, Page 6
Verassignment policy
rises student concerns
;iima Wiggins
hUALlON
ay Texas A&M students would advise
ling freshmen seeking on-campus hous-
apply through early notification,
learly-notification freshman were among
any students who received letters of hous-
erassignment for Fall 1996.
it Saunders, an incoming freshman, reg-
pfor housing through early notification,
not receive a permanent hous-
agnment.
ilways had heard you had
in early to get a dorm
Saunders said,
nigh Saunders did re-
idmission to the Univer-
ewas surprised to be put
assignment when oth-
iceived housing assign-
after him through regu-
iistration.
aSasse, director of
%K:e Life and Hous-
iaid that there are
freshman admission
ories: January re-
early notification,
review and provisional,
order of their application dates, the
percent are selected from each cate-
ieaving 20 percent of every category
on overassignment.
“If 100 people apply through early notification,
80 will receive housing and 20 at the tail-end will
be placed on overassignment,” Sasse said.
Saunders said that much of his effort was
wasted and that he would have fared better
by enrolling through the regular program.
“It’s a nuisance,” Saunders said. “It would
have been better for me to not even get in early.”
Chareny Rydl, associate director of Resi
dence Life and Housing, disagreed saying
there are many benefits from regis
tering for housing through early
notification.
“People often make that as
sumption, but it’s not necessarily
true,” she said. “Most of our
housing spaces are given out
to early-notification incom
ing freshman and the cut
off dates and percentages
* differ every year.”
Forty-seven percent of
total housing space will go
to early-notification students
in Fall 1996, Sasse said.
Some believe incoming fresh
men admitted through early
notification should be the first
to receive permanent housing.
“If you meet the better requirements, you
should get in [to a residence hall],” Saunders
said. “If [the University] wants the best
See Overassignment, Page 6
Shane Elkins, The Battalion
SUMMER DAYS, DRIFTING AWAY
Brian Guyton, junior kinesiology major, and Meridith Hunt, sophomore speech communication major, enjoy a
picnic at Research Park Sunday afternoon.
)ntm
said
e top
and
be in
jut to
ayers
THE VOICE OF AGGIELAND
liaison represents student interests
? inNorthgate revitalization project
A&M student dies in car accident
By Ann Marie Hauser
The Battalion
Amy Protas
K Battalion
f Bul-
this
it in
k the
i Don
rl
I
to
ill
Utf
om
jAndrew Pavlinski, a junior environ-
fntal design major, will serve as the
of Texas A&M students on the
irthgate Revitalization Board, which
established in March to monitor
ritalization efforts.
Pavlinski said his task is to serve
a liaison between the students and
e board.
'My role is first and foremost to rep-
Sent the views of the students,”
Minski said. “I act as a link between
s views on campus and the city of
lege Station.
I’m also a voting member of the
Hmunity on anything that comes
ross the table for review like zoning
i whatever development will be go-
? on in the area. Changes in facades
11 have to conform to guidelines that
ivebeen set up for Northgate.”
.The board is made up of Northgate
Wy owners, merchants, churches, an
ihitect and a real estate professional.
( Hub Kennady, City of College Sta-
n council member, said a student rep-
entative was necessary on the board.
"I think we needed to have the in-
it from people that are affected by
e decisions that are made there,”
itinady said. “The council felt it was
iportant to have representation
to the students. There were nu-
erous applications and many quali-
! d students applied.”
Because Pavlinski believes that
5 rthgate revitalization is important
students, he would like to elicit
Ore student input.
Tve been fielding ideas with the
'Srd on how to get more input,” Pavlin-
dsaid. “People come up to me and sug-
■st ideas in conversation. I want to
a way to inform people of what’s
Opening and what’s not happening.”
Pavlinski moved to College Station
Mother’s Day ended in tragedy for
the Ibanez family of Falcon Heights,
Tx. when Jose “Chema” Ibanez Jr., a
fourth-year member of the Aggie
Band, died in a head-on collision
along with five others.
Ibanez had participated in the Corps
of Cadets Final Review the day before.
One of the first things Ibanez did
upon his arrival at home in Falcon
Heights was display his senior boots in
his bedroom. On the evening of May 12,
he joined four childhood friends to cele
brate their graduation from college.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Ibanez’s vehi
cle was struck head-on by an oncoming
car that crossed over into their lane.
The driver of the second car, an ac
quaintance of Ibanez, was traveling at
approximately 120 miles per hour. All
six people died on impact.
“He was one of those guys that no
body disliked,” 1996 Band Comman
der Will Koeck, a senior biomedical
science major and close friend of
Ibanez, said. “He always had a smile
on his face and he always had such a
Photo Courtesy of AR PmotograVhy
Jose "Chema" Ibanez died in a head-on
collision May 1 2.
positive attitude.”
It is unknown whether Ibanez and
his friends were wearing their seat
belts. Evidence of alcohol and drugs
was found in the car of the single dri
ver. Other alcohol involvement has
See Student, Page 6
Venue’s closing frustrates local bands
Stew Milne, The Battalion
Andrew Pavlinski, the student representative on the Northgate Revitalization
Board, will serve as a liaison between A&M students and the board.
fc
with his family 16 years ago. He said
the changes taking place in the city
prompted him to join the board.
“I’ve seen College Station changing
and I wanted to be involved in that,”
Pavlinski said. “It’s gone from a college
town to being really prosperous. Being
an environmental design major, we talk
about trends in architecture and how
the buildings lose their meaning. North-
gate is an area of town where College
Station’s roots actually started.
“I knew it was going to change over
time and with this change it doesn’t
have to become a commercial area that
loses all meaning.”
Revitalization of Northgate is the city’s
second strategic issue of importance.
Joey Dunn, staff planner for devel
opment services for the city of College
Station, said the plan incorporates
several aspects of the Northgate area.
“The board oversees the implemen
tation of the redevelopment plan that
was adopted in January,” Dunn said.
“It is the master plan for future
See Northgate, Page 6
Stew Milne, The Battalion
Northgate Cafe closed in April and the
owner reopened the Cow Hop.
By Amy Protas
The Battalion
For three years, Northgate Cafe has
served as both a restaurant and a
showcase for local bands. In April, how
ever, the owner of the restaurant and
bar, Ahmed Moaty, decided it was time
to move on and reopen the Cow Hop.
Moaty said financial concerns as
well as mounting responsibilities mo
tivated him to close Northgate Cafe.
“The main reason we closed is be
cause there were too many responsi
bilities,” Moaty said. “I was looking for
some other ideas to do. I wish I could
keep it, but it’s a bar business and it’s
tough competition. There’s not that
much money to be made in beer. I did
n’t see that much income.”
The closing of Northgate Cafe has
left some local bands wondering where
they will have the chance to be seen.
Brett Tohlen, guitarist and vocalist
for the band Lewis and a senior bio
chemistry major, said local bands are
sad and frustrated about the closing.
“That’s where we played all the
time,” Tohlen said. “There’s no place
where we can say 'Hey, we just want to
play.’ I think everyone was disappoint
ed because it was the hangout for local
See Closing, Page 6