The Battalion
Vbl. 102, No. 145 (6 pages) Serving Texas A&M University Since 1893 Monday • June 10, 1996
Democrats avoid gun control, abortion issues
Victor Morales was chosen as
the party's U.S. Senate nominee
DALLAS (AP) — Texas Democrats, in
their drive for a “mainstream” party plat
form, on Saturday rejected putting gun
control in the document laying out their
party positions.
Neither the new slimmed-down party
platform, which gives general positions,
nor detailed issue papers that accompany
it mention an assault weapon ban or the
Brady Bill handgun control.
Both measures are supported by Presi
dent Clinton and by Democratic U.S. Sen
ate nominee Victor Morales, who trucked
into the convention in his trademark
white pickup.
“The government of the United States
is not going to take my gun, and I have no
fear about that,” Morales, his 9-year-old
son by his side, told the convention.
But when Texas Democrats consid
ered their platform, a move to add sup
port for gun control to the position pa
pers failed. Opponents
said it’s a divisive is
sue that would cause
candidates to distance
themselves from the
platform. Support for
an assault weapon ban
was part of the 1994
platform.
The two-page plat
form also doesn’t
mention the issue of
abortion rights. But MORALES
support for abortion
rights is mentioned in the more spe
cific issue papers, which were adopted
with the platform.
“It doesn’t signal a retreat from pro-
choice,” Democratic spokesman Joe Cut-
birth said of the move. He said Texas
Democratic Chairman Bill White want
ed the platform to be a “clear and con
cise statement of what the Democratic
Party stands for.”
White was elected without opposition
to head the party Saturday. He took
over the chairmanship late last year, af
ter 15-year chairman Bob Slagle
stepped down.
The two-page platform lists “core
values” — opportunity, responsibility,
family and community, security, free
dom and fairness — and notes “Democ
rats will debate how we will accomplish
our mission.”
Accompanying issue papers go into
more detail about education, fiscal
policy, criminal justice, jobs, worker
safety and rights, agriculture, health
security, the environment, civil rights
and other issues.
First lady addresses
Texas delegates
By Stacy Stanton
The Battalion
Thousands of Democrats chant
ed, “Four more years!” as Hillary
Rodham Clinton took the stage at
the 1996 Texas Democratic Conven
tion Friday night.
Clinton’s speech highlighted
challenges her husband set before
the nation in his State of the Union
address in January.
“This election is about meeting
the challenges of our time,” Clinton
said. “Cherish our children and
strengthen our families. Strive for
economic opportunity and security
for all workers. Take back the na
tion’s streets from crime and drugs.
Ensure peace and freedom and
prosperity for all.”
The first lady cited a few of her
husband’s presidential successes,
such as the passage of the Family
Medical Leave Act, which she
said, “has affected nearly 3 million
See Clinton, Page 2
Running pleads ‘no contest’
to records tampering charge
By Melissa Nunnery
The Battalion
Felony charges against Vickie Running were
day after she pleaded no contest to a misde
meanor charge of tampering with records.
Running, executive secretary of the Texas
A&M University Board of Regents, received
six months deferred adjudication probation
and a $500 fine.
“Rather than go through the time and ex
pense of a trial, I have decided to accept the
dismissal of the felony charges by the state,”
Running said in a news release.
“[Running] was originally indicted on the
felony charge of tampering with records and a
misdemeanor charge of the same offense,” Bra
zos County District Attorney Bill Turner said.
The misdemeanor charge will be dismissed after the successful
completion of her punishment.
Turner said Running was accused of altering government
documents that were obtained by a newspaper reporter and
subsequently published. The documents contained informa
tion concerning the source of funding for alcohol purchased by
the Board of Regents.
The documents originally stated the alcohol was purchased
with funds from the special concessions account, but when the
documents were released to the media, they stated the money
came from the institutional development account.
Mary Nan West, chairman of the Board of Regents, and Dr.
Barry B. Thompson, chancellor of the Texas A&M University
System, released a joint statement Thursday saying “The Texas
A&M University System is pleased that after a very short peri
od of informal supervision, all alleged charges against Ms. Run
ning will be dismissed. We are very glad this unfortunate
episode is at an end.”
“I believe it is time to put this behind me and move forward
with my life,” Running said in the news release.
Neither Running nor her attorney could be reached for fur
ther comment.
dismissed Thurs-
RUNNING
Planning for the future
Program lets parents get head
start on college tuition costs
Stew Milne, The Battauon
Nicole Rich, a freshman biomedical science
major, is the first participant of the Texas To
morrow Fund to attend college.
By Amy Protas
The Battalion
f icole Rich and her parents
\j have one less thing to
t worry about.
Under the new Texas Tomorrow
Fund, Nicole can spend her time
studying instead of trying to figure
out her next tuition bill.
Nicole, a freshman biomedical
science major, is the first participant
of the Texas Tomorrow Fund to at
tend college. The fund, brainchild of
Texas Comptroller John Sharp, al
lows parents to prepay their chil
dren’s tuition from the moment they
are bom.
Sheila Clancy, spokesperson for
the State Controller’s office, said
the fund prevents parents from
having to worry about fee increases
that occur throughout a student’s
college career.
“The fund is a new state program
that lets people prepay a child’s tu
ition,” Clancy said. “It locks down
the tuition at today’s rates. For a
newborn, you could pay the price of
tuition. When they’re ready to go to
college at 18, the tuition and manda
tory fees are paid for. Parents don’t
have to worry about inflation.”
Four different plans are available
through the fund. Parents can desig
nate tuition for private or public
school. They can also choose to pay
in one lump sum or over an extend
ed period of time.
Clancy said Texas's plan is the
most flexible in the nation.
“There are about eight other
states with the program,” Clancy
said. “The rules vary from state-to-
state, and we believe ours is the
most flexible in the country. You
can even transfer it to an out-of-
state school.”
“There are lots of payment options,”
Clancy continued. “They can pay on,
say, a ten year plan. They can pay out
over a then year time span and can
make monthly payments until their
child goes to college.”
The only costs the fund will not
cover are lab fees, books and
room and board.
Sharp established the fund in Jan
uary to help middle-class parents
with the cost of tuition.
See Tuition, Page 6
Orientation program makes improvements
fylauma Wiggins
Ihe Battalion
The Texas A&M New Student Confer
ences are underway and orientation leaders
ere enthusiastically setting out to welcome
foe incoming class of 2000 with an empha-
is on increasing parent involvement.
Cynthia Hernandez, a member of Stu
dent Life Orientation, said A&M’s orien-
^tion program has undergone many
Ganges in an effort to include parents.
“Something new we’re doing this year
s trying to expand parent orientation as
"'ell as student orientation, where the
Parents are just as involved as the stu-
^nts,” Hernandez said. "When a new
%dent comes in, we adopt the entire
'amily, not just the student.”
Darin Vickery, Howdy Barbecue Coor
dinator and a junior genetics major, said
there will be several additions to this
year’s orientation program aimed at more
effectively informing Aggie parents.
“Kind of a small thing we’re doing this
year is having a t-shirt designed especial
ly for parents that says ‘Aggie Parent
Class of 2000,’” Vickery said. “It makes
them feel more involved.”
Another way to include and inform
new Aggie parents is the addition of a
parent-student leadership panel.. The
panel will operate without the presence of
administrative figures so parents can feel
free to ask questions, Vickery said.
See Orientation, Page 6
Gwendolyn Struve, The Battauon
Orientation leaders guide future Aggies on
a campus tour Sunday.
Gwendolyn Struve, The Baitai ion
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Dimitri Millas, a sophomore business administration major and forward
for the A&M Soccer Team, practices on Simpson Drill Field Saturday.
Recruiting company
attracts new cadets
Gwendolyn Struve, The Battauon
Mark Macicek, class of 2000, watches his older brother, Mike Macicek, a se
nior accounting major and a member of the Recruiting Company.
By Ann Marie Hauser
The Battalion
For most of the Corps of Cadets,
summer means a time to relax and
take off the uniform for a while.
However, about 80 volunteers will
spend their summer in uniform
working to attract new cadets.
These cadets form the Recruiting
Company. The outfit was organized
in the summer of ’94 with the goal of
maintaining a visible campus pres
ence for the Corps of Cadets over the
summer term.
Heath Larkin, Recruiting Compa
ny Commander and a senior busi
ness analysis major, said there are
many advantages to having the spe
cialized company.
“Before the recruiting company,
there was a lack of organization,”
Larkin said. “Now we can regulate the
cadets’ attendance and how effectively
See Recruiting, Page 2