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The Battalion
Vol. 102, No. 153 (6 pages) Serving Texas AdrM University Since 1893 THE BATT ON-LINE: http://bat-web.tamu.edu Monday • June 24, 1996
GOP anti-abortionists claim victory
Hutchison was selected as a delegate
despite her pro-abortion stance
SAi'J ANTONIO (AP) — U.S. Sen: Kay
Bailey Hutchison may have succeeded in
representing Texas as a delegate to the
Republican National Convention, but GOP
anti-abortion forces who opposed her are
claiming victory.
The Texas GOP Convention ended Sat
urday with abortion opponents winning a
majority of the state’s 123 national dele
gates and vowing to force presumptive
presidential nominee Bob Dole to pick a
strong abortion foe as his running mate.
“This sends a very clear signal to Bob
Dole to stop his meandering around about
the pro-life plank and make up his mind
about giving us a pro-life presidential run
ning mate,” said Bill Price, president of
Texans United for Life and the most vocal
opponent of Hutchison, who supports re
stricted abortion rights.
Texas GOP Chairman Tom Pauken said
he felt sure the delegation was united
leaving the convention.
“We came together most of the time,”
Pauken said. “I feel very good about the
entire convention.
“These are people who have committed
to vote for Bob Dole when they go to San
Diego, and I’m confident they are going to
do that,” Pauken added.
Despite the vocal support of U.S. Sen.
Phil Gramm, U.S. House Speaker Newt
Gingrich and Gov. George W. Bush,
Hutchison barely survived a voice vote at
the convention that some said was too
close to call.
“In spite of the fact that we were up
against the might of the Republican Party
establishment, we got close to and maybe
over 50 percent of the vote,” Price said.
Pauken said the vote was 60 percent in
favor of the at-large slate of delegates that
included Hutchison.
“I think it’s a strong delegation ... that
includes Senator Hutchison,” Pauken said
after the vote. “I think most elements of
the party were reasonably satisfied, some
were not and these are good sincere people
and I understand that their frustrated.”
Abortion became a lightning rod at the
Texas GOP Convention after Dole requested
a “declaration of tolerance” on the issue.
Texas Republicans balked at the re
quest, responding by toughening their
See Hutchison, Page 6
Ags attend state convention
Stacy Stanton, The Battalion
Sbanna Nugent, Allen Watson, Richard Holt and Jeff Livingston were among the
Aggies to serve as delegates to the Texas GOP convention over the weekend.
By David Taylor
The Battalion
SAN ANTONIO — Several Texas
A&M students got hands-on experience
with democracy over the weekend at
the Texas Republican Convention.
A number of Aggies served as
delegates or alternates to the GOP
convention.
Megan Machemehl, a master’s
student studying educational human
resources development, attended her
first convention.
“When I first sat down in the
Alamodome and realized that I was
a delegate whose vote could make a
difference, I was almost over
whelmed,” Machemehl said. “I was
reminded that age has nothing to do
with having an impact. Anyone can
get involved in the party and have
an impact.”
Jeff Livingston, president of the
Texas A&M College Republicans and
a senior electrical engineering major.
said power seemed to be in the peo
ple’s hands at this convention.
“I’m actually really impressed
with the grass-roots power individu
als seem to have at the convention,”
Livingston said. “I think it’s an hon
or that Brazos County let some col
lege Republicans come. That proves
that the county and the Republican
Party are wanting, to reach out for
* See Ags, Page 6
Gwendolyn Struve, The Battalion
I WAS COUNTRY WHEN COUNTRY WASN'T COOL
Bobby Richardson, a senior agricultural business major, and Chad Ripple, a freshman agriculture development
major, practice some of their favorite country songs Sunday afternoon.
Fish Camp workday promotes unity
Rony Angkriwan, The Battalion
Cary Lasher, a junior chemical engineering major, Michelle Brueggings, a
sophomore elementary education major, and Bernice Odom, a sophomore
speech communication major, work on a Fish Camp poster Saturday.
By Heather R. Rosenfeld
The Battalion
The loud music, paint-splattered
legs and bustling bodies found at a
Fish Camp workday may have lead
an observer to think it was nothing
more than a wild party. A closer
look at the gathering found in
Zachry on Saturday revealed a
much different purpose, however.
Although workdays are designed
as general preparation time for camp,
Robyn Johnson, Fish Camp director
and a 1996 graduate of A&M, said
planning and decorating often take
secondary roles at a workday.
“They (workdays) build camp
Unity, and people working together
is key in doing that,” Johnson said.
'It is a time when a camp comes to
gether as a camp, they aren’t just
individuals anymore.”
Todd Donohue, Fish Camp direc
tor and a senior accounting major,
said he understands the impor
tance of bringing a camp together
during the summer.
‘The freshmen can tell the difference
if a camp is close or not,” Donohue said.
Of the 500 students that are in
volved in Fish Camp, some stu
dents have been preparing for the
arrival of the freshman class since
September, and the workday is one
of the many events that anticipate
the six sessions held in August.
The workdays also allow time for
those involved to reflect on the rea
sons behind their dedication.
Allison Carter, co-chair for Camp
Carrington and a senior elementary
oducation major, said that she
wants to ease the difficult transi
tion from high school to college.
“It’s very hard to leave home
because you are leaving your com
fort zone,” she said.
“I was scared that I wouldn’t find
my niche, but it’s not that way. There
is a place for everyone at A&M.”
Although many long hours of un
paid labor have been spent to ensure
success this summer, Suzanna Hen
derson, head director of Fish Camp
and a senior English major, says it all
comes to fruition with the arrival of
the incoming class at camp.
“I think it is the enthusiasm and
excitement of the fish during the
four days at Fish Camp that makes
every minute of time, and every dol
lar you spend, worth it,” she said.
Johnson agreed with Henderson
and furthered the reasons for such
dedication to the organization.
“All these students are working to
welcome the Class of 2000,” she said.
"... It’s great to see high school seniors
suddenly turn into Texas Aggies.”
Carter said seeing her coun
selors work together as a team at
the workday really highlights Fish
Camp’s message that every individ
ual is important.
“They (freshmen) soon realize
that they can be themselves and
will be accepted,” Carter said.
Taking a break from painting a
banner, Amanda Barneycastle,
Camp Jones counselor and a se
nior accounting major, was able to
sum lip the essence of Fish Camp
in one sentence. “Fish Camp is
simply Aggies welcoming new Ag
gies into our family.”
Handgun class offers
new perspectives
W hen you pull the
trigger to fire a
gun, you cause an
explosion. Once the bullet
leaves the barrel of the
gun, you can’t get it back.
You are responsible for the
bullet until it stops.
1 learned about gun
safety, target shooting and
the legal aspects of carry
ing a gun when I took the
concealed handgun license
training class last week. I
wanted to see who is carrying a gun and why.
I expected the class to be full of big, burly-
looking men, but instead saw average-looking
people you would meet every day.
There were five men and four women in
my class. I was the youngest person and the
only A&M student taking the class. Classes
have typically been small since the concealed
handgun law went into effect.
Most people who take the class want to
keep a gun in their car for protection when
they travel. Parents want to protect their
children, and business owners want to pro
tect their businesses.
To get a concealed handgun license, you
start by taking the class. The class consists of
12 hours of classroom training, a pretest and
a final exam. Then you go to a shooting range
and qualify with a handgun.
The Department of Public Safety does an
extensive background check on applicants. A
felony conviction, being a fugitive from jus
tice, being currently charged with a class A
or B misdemeanor or being of unsound mind
can keep a person from getting a license.
This screening should help ease the minds
of those who are afraid the concealed hand
gun law will arm criminals and crazy people.
The instructor did a good job of teaching
us the legal aspects of carrying a gun. No
one missed more than one question on the
written test.
Shooting a gun was the hardest part of the
class. Having never handled a gun before, I
didn’t know what to expect.
The first shot was loud, the gun kicked
back and the empty shell hit me in the fore
head. Once I knew what was coming, I was
even more afraid. I pulled the trigger with
my eyes closed and missed the target a lot.
By the time I took the test, I was less ner
vous and hit the target almost every time. I
realized the gun wouldn’t bite me, and I was
n’t going to shoot myself.
Even though I qualified to get a license, I
don’t think I’m prepared to carry a gun. You
must have a plan of action for shooting a gun
and decide if you are capable of taking a life.
I haven’t done either of these things.
It takes a lot of practice to become a good
shot. Shooting accurately is important, be
cause if you miss an attacker and hit an inno
cent bystander, there is no legal justification.
Most people who take the class want to
know where they can carry a gun. I thought
you could carry a gun anywhere with a license,
but you can’t. Churches, synagogues, race
tracks, schools, polling places, businesses that
derive 51 percent of their profits from the sale
of alcohol, government buildings and secured
areas of airports are some of the places where
handguns are banned even with a license.
Because of my misconception about the
kind of people who take the concealed hand
gun class, I didn’t expect to learn how to
peacefully resolve a dispute. I thought we
would learn to be vigilantes.
The instructor said you should either try
to talk your way out of a situation or retreat
before shooting. It is very important to take
note of innocent bystanders, the kind of
weapon the attacker is using and where you
are before you take out your gun.
The concealed handgun class prepares rea
sonable, logical people to protect themselves.
Rony Angkriwan, The Battalion
Thomas Archer practices hitting a target during
the handgun license training class Saturday.
Melissa
Nunnery
CITY REPORTER
Illegal handicapped parking
may result in $100 citation
By Tauma Wiggins
The Battalion
The search for a parking space represents
an annoying inconvenience for many Texas
A&M students, but for disabled students,
finding that spot is imperative to their safety
and health.
Sean Merrell, a Parking, Transit and Traf
fic Services (PTTS) officer, said he has ob
served many A&M students parking illegally
in handicapped spots.
“To me this is really serious,” Merrell said.
“A lot of times students will park in a handi
capped parking spot and run into class.”
Merrell said many students put their handi
capped tag on only after seeing the officers.
“I’ve seen some students pull into a handi
capped parking spot, and then, as soon as
they see me, they put up a tag,” Merrell said.
Merrell said PTTS does not prosecute but
does give a $100 citation for illegal handi
capped parking.
Gary Jackson, PTTS manager for parking
services, said it is difficult to prosecute an in
dividual parking illegally in a handicapped
parking spot because University Police De
partment (UPD) officers must be present.
“We’ve had two cases where we came close
to prosecuting, but it’s not easy,” Jackson
said. “The UPD has to be on the scene.”
Jackson said the medical community
See Parking, Page 6