The Battalion
Vbl. 102, No. 159 (6 pages)
Serving Texas AdrM University Since 1893 THE BATT ON-LINE: http://bat-web.tamu.edu
Wednesday • July 3, 1996
Yeltsin, Zyuganov
face off in election
MOSCOW (AP) — A tumultuous
five years after abandoning commu
nism, Russians voted today whether
to re-embrace Soviet-style controls in
a presidential runoff that will deter
mine the fate of democratic reforms
in the world’s largest nation.
President Boris Yeltsin smiled and
spoke animatedly as he cast his ballot
near his home outside the city. His
failure to appear as scheduled at a
Moscow polling station had resurrect
ed fears about his
health and ability
to govern should he
defeat Communist
leader Gennady
Zyuganov.
Yeltsin’s often-
shaky health
threatened his
campaign when he
canceled public ap
pearances during
the final week. But YELTSIN
he went into the
vote the favorite in a country that
has endured but not prospered under
his wrenching free-market reforms.
Tension, tears and heavy security
were in evidence for one of the most
pivotal elections in modem history
— Russia’s first presidential vote as
an independent country.
Voters faced a sharply contrasting
choice: Yeltsin, and an endorsement
of Western-style democracy. Or
Zyuganov, and a return to more re
strictive ways.
Zyuganov looked confident as he
voted, telling journalists that early
reports from his election observers
were encouraging. Of Yeltsin’s
health, he said that “in the last four
or five days he hasn’t seen anyone
except his inner circle. ... It shows
the situation isn’t very good.”
Thousands of armed guards pa
trolled Moscow’s polls and subway.
Huge Russian flags hung from build
ings along boulevards. Banners and
posters everywhere urged people to
vote. Nervous, pro-
Yeltsin Muscovites
said they wouldn’t
sleep until they
knew the outcome.
Scores of jour
nalists waited for
hours for Yeltsin to
appear as planned
at a polling station
in northwestern
Moscow.
ZYUGANOV “It was his deci
sion. It’s closer,”
Prime Minister Viktor Cher
nomyrdin said of Yeltsin’s voting in
stead in the small village of
Barvikha outside the capital.
The first results from the 93,500
polling stations were expected late to
day. Yeltsin’s forces hoped for a large
turnout among the country’s 108 mil
lion eligible voters to carry him past
the Communists’ rain-or-shine voters.
His campaign said a turnout of 60 per
cent or less — down significantly from
69.8 percent in the first round —
could give Zyuganov the race.
Three football players
bid A&M farewell
McMullen, Colon brothers
make new plans for '96 season
By Ray Hernandez
The Battalion
In only two official days as a member of
the Big 12 Conference, the Texas A&M foot
ball team has already suffered three losses.
Last season’s starting strong safety Typail
McMullen and reserve quarterback Kevin
Colon will be transferring to other schools by
the end of the week. In addition, Colon’s
brother Chris, a reserve linebacker, said he
would not be returning for the fall season.
McMullen, who was dismissed from the
team by coach R.C. Slocum June 20 for vi
olating unspecified team rules, said Tues
day he will transfer to Sam Houston State
University after being contacted by sever
al programs.
“I felt like I was being recruited again,”
McMullen said. “I took a trip there (Mon
day) and had good communication with
their coaches and liked what I saw.
Everything should be official by the end of
the week.”
Although the reason for his dismissal
was unexplained by Slocum or the Uni
versity, McMullen admitted to breaking
team rules.
“I was at fault, and all the blame falls
falls on me,” McMullen said. “I was not as
responsible as I should have been. I didn’t
do the little things right as far as working
out, going to class every day and doing
things the coaches wanted me to do.
“I have nothing against the coaches. I’m
just going to learn from my mistakes and
put this behind me.”
Kevin Colon, a sophomore quarterback
who was Corey Pullig’s backup last season,
is in the process of negotiating a fall transfer
to Texas Christian University in the fall.
Kevin would have likely served in the
same role this season under junior transfer
Branndon Stewart, but he believes he will
have an opportunity to start at TCU.
“I had to weigh all the plusses and mi
nuses and TCU had what I wanted, espe
cially since they recruited me heavily out of
high school,” Kevin said.
“I’m going to go and sit out for a year
and learn the offense and get used to it. I
think I have a good chance to start with
three years remaining.”
History is on Kevin’s side. Matt Miller, a
backup to Jeff Granger and Corey Pullig in
1992, transferred to Kansas State in 1993
and developed into one of the top-rated
NCAA quarterbacks in 1995.
Kevin said he leaves A&M harboring no
resentment toward the University or the
See Football, Page 4
Battalion file photo
Former A&M quarterback Kevin Colon
warms up at a '95 practice session.
Shane Elkins, The Battalion
BLADERUNNERS
Students in a physical fitness class rollerblade across from the MSC Tuesday afternoon.
Independence Day lives up to expectations
Independence May i „~
Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman
and Jell Goldblum W
iffng sUNWollywood 16
****wfuut of five!
By Nick Georgandis
Special to The Battalion
Believe the hype.
With an ad campaign that began
on Super Bowl Sunday and continued
to awe audiences throughout the year
with its special-effects-enhanced
trailers, Independence Day has a lot
to live up to.
The modern-day, aliens-invade-
Earth film delivers its goods with a
vengeance, dazzling the senses with
the most comprehensive collection of
special effects in motion-picture histo
ry and capturing the essence of patri
otism as the Fourth of July holiday
weekend gets underway.
The sci-fi epic begins with a shot of
the plaque left where Neil Armstrong
and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon
— perhaps mankind’s greatest
achievement ever. The plaque and
the American flag beside are sudden
ly dwarfed and shaded by an im
mense shadow cast by one behemoth
An alien spacecraft launches an attack on the White House in Independence Day.
of a spaceship headed toward Earth.
Within hours, military and scien
tific sites pick up the object on radar
as it breaks into 15 smaller pieces —
each of which begins heading for a
major world city.
In Washington, D.C., President
Andrew Whitmore (Pullman) remains
optimistic about the spacecrafts’ in
tentions and urges the American peo
ple to resist panic. Only when David
(Goldblum), a wasted prodigy, relays
a countdown hidden in the aliens’ sig
nal to Whitmore does the President
realize the aliens’ true intentions: an
all-out attack.
Within moments, New York,
Washington and Los Angeles are
smoldering piles of rubble, victims of
massive fire storms rained down by
the giant spacecraft in the form of
piercing blue lasers. Whitmore’s first
reaction is to strike back, and the
United States launches an assault at
the mothership over Los Angeles —
led by ace Marine pilot Capt. Steve
Hiller (Smith).
Hiller’s squadron finds the aliens
See Independence Day, Page 6
CELEBRATING
I HDEPENDEITC
By Melissa Nunnery
The Battalion
T he cities of Bryan and College Station are busy
preparing community celebrations for Independence
Day this Thursday.
Fourth of July celebrations will be held at Olsen Field,
downtown Bryan and the College Station pools, providing
games and entertainment for families, children and students.
The College Station Noon Lion’s Club is sponsor
ing the I Love America Celebration at Olsen Field.
The celebration will kick off with a parade at noon.
John Happ, co-chairman of the 1996 Bryan-Col-
lege Station I Love America Celebration, referred to
the parade as a “folks march.” He said anyone is
welcome to participate.
“The parade is just local residents who wanted to
come out and show how much they love America,”
Happ said.
“Right now we have the two mayors, Miss Bra
zos Valley, a couple of antique cars, fire trucks,
miniature ponies and some Little League all-stars
in the parade. We’re looking for more participants
for the parade.”
The entertainment will include games for children
and skydiving by Aggies over Texas. KBTX weatherman
Bob French, Brazos Valley Choral and the Rockefellers
will also perform. A professional fireworks display is set
to begin at 9:40.
Happ said there have been problems with traffic con
gestion in previous years.
“If people will be courteous and patient, there
shouldn’t be a problem this year,” Happ said.
The City of Bryan is also sponsoring a Fourth
of July celebration. The festivities will take
place on the streets of downtown Bryan begin
ning at noon and ending at 6 p.m.
There will be games for children and a bicy
cle parade. Entertainers will include Ruthie
Foster and HYPE, a Hispanic dance troupe
from Bryan High School.
Mary Bryant, chairman of the Fourth of July
celebration, said the celebration attracts fami
lies and A&M students.
“We’ll probably have between 800 ahd 1,000
people,” Bryant said. “We would like everyone
to be more aware of downtown Bryan and the
progress we’re making.”
The College Station pools will also be
open. Early in the day, admission prices
will be reduced, and there will be games
and activities. Representatives from local
radio station Mix 104.7 FM will be at the
Adamson Lagoon providing food and
drinks for pool guests.
College Station authorities encourage
people to attend professional fireworks
displays instead of trying their own.
Fireworks often become a problem when
people do not use them responsibly.
Lt. Raymond Olson of the College Station Fire
Department said people who use fireworks should follow di
rections and use common sense.
He said some areas of the state have banned fireworks because of the drought.
“There have been concerns and warnings, but no bans (in College Station) due to dry
ness,” Olson said.
According to the city code, it is illegal to carry or discharge fireworks within the city limits.
Lt. Mike Matthews of the College Station Police Department said police will confis
cate illegal fireworks and may give citations.
He said the police department is discouraging use of fireworks.
“There’s a fireworks display at Olsen Field,” Matthews said. “People would probably
be better served by going there.”