The Battalion
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olume 103 • Issue 35 • 10 Pages
Friday, October 18, 1996
The Batt Online: http:/, bat-web.tamu.edu
lorDS donates to MDA Yeltsin fires security chief
’ MOSCOW (AP) — Sacked The dismissal came just Pegged by many ;
The Battalion
tuations where® By Laura Olivhira
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and disrespectful,
Dave House, The Battalion
ngela Wrigglesworth
a j 'as diagnosed with mus-
"rlar dystrophy at 1 6
lonths of age.
by asking for donations for
the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
The aim of the fund-raiser
is to increase people’s aware
ness and raise money to fight
the disease.
Matt Chilek, Corps univer
sity relations officer and a se
nior computer science major,
said they want the fund-raiser
to be an all-around success.
“It is the middle of the se
mester, so we know students
are low on cash,” he said.
“But if we don’t raise a lot of
money, at least we can raise
awareness.”
Every major unit of the
Corps is participating in the
fund raiser. All donors will be
“tagged” with a sticker to
show their support.
Angela Wrigglesworth, a
sophomore management
major, was diagnosed with
the disease at 16 months of
age and has been in a
wheelchair for the majority
of her life.
Wrigglesworth said past
contributions to MDA have
been helpful and said she be
lieves the Corps’ fund-raising
effort will make even more
advancements possible.
“There have been so many
progressions and we are so
close,” she said. “I hope peo
ple go out there and donate
what they can.”
Wrigglesworth said her
disability is not what makes
her unique.
“It is so important to
have self-confidence,” she
said. “I want people to
know I have self-confi
dence and that is what
makes me who I am.”
Wrigglesworth became ac
tive in Student Government
as a Fish Aide her freshman
year and said her experiences
are ones she will cherish.
“Being a Fish Aide was a
great experience,” she said.
“Now I have 40 awesome
friends who were Fish
Aides with me.”
Wrigglesworth has
stayed active in Student
Government. She said she
does it for self-satisfaction
and to prove that disabili
ties can be overcome.
“It is such a waste not to
get involved,” she said. “I do
it because I feel a responsibil
ity to show people that re
gardless of disabilities you
can accomplish anything.”
Wrigglesworth said her
positive attitude about her
disability stems from the
support of family and
friends.
“I feel so blessed to have
my roommate, Stephanie
Hall,” she said. “People say
they would do anything for
someone. She does do any
thing for me.
“I have overcome my dis
ability but, without the help
of other people, I would have
never made it.”
MOSCOW (AP) — Sacked
by a livid Boris Yeltsin amid
charges he was plotting a
coup, national security chief
Alexander Lebed wasted no
time Thursday serving his
own gruff notice: He will be
out to campaign for the ailing
president’s job.
The Kremlin, rent by
power struggles as Yeltsin
prepares for heart surgery,
turned out to be too small
for the aspirations of both
these high-powered lead
ers, who feuded openly
during Lebed’s four-month
stint in the Cabinet.
Although Yeltsin gained
office with help from the
widely popular, 46-year-old
Lebed, the relationship paid
off for Lebed, too. Pursuing
his own designs on the presi
dency, Lebed increased his
popularity by reaching a
peace agreement with
Chechen rebels; he raised his
profile by incessantly criticiz
ing — and infuriating — his
Kremlin peers.
The dismissal came just
a day after Lebed’s bitter ri
val for authority in security
decisions — Interior Minis
ter Anatoly Kulikov — ac
cused him of plotting to
form his own 50,000-man
army with sights on seizing
power in a “mutiny.”
No evidence surfaced to
back this sensational
charge, and Yeltsin ignored
talk of coups when he an
nounced Lebed’s ouster on
national television.
Scowling, moving stiffly
but speaking clearly and
more resolutely than he has
in recent appearances, Yeltsin
declared that Lebed’s unilat
eral actions, excessive ambi
tion and outspokenness were
damaging to the country.
“I can’t tolerate the situa
tion any more,” Yeltsin said,
slowly and deliberately sign
ing a decree dismissing
Lebed. He spoke at the health
spa where he has been rest
ing up for heart bypass
surgery next month.
Pegged by many as
Yeltsin’s likely successor,
Lebed was characteristically
unbowed. He announced
plans to start campaigning
soon to replace Yeltsin, who
many suspect is too ill to
serve out the rest of a term
that lasts until 2000. Lebed
denied the coup allegations,
and has insisted he wants to
gain office only through the
ballot box.
He said he would not
launch his campaign while
the president is alive. “Today
he’s an elderly and ill person,”
Lebed said. “It’s not for me to
kick the one who is down.”
Lebed’s departure could
end, for now, the noisy Krem
lin infighting that has created
a widespread impression of
chaos. But with Yeltsin side
lined from full-time duty un
til at least early 1997, the gov
ernment is likely to remain
weak, beset by internal bick
ering and external criticism
bound to increase now that
Lebed is on the outside.
Jim Dull
Classtl
ask
force for Greeks formed
in encourages letteisto
nust be 300 worts oil!
e author's name,
editor reserves the
length, style, and acM
e mailed to:
attalkm - Mall Call
Reed McDonald
s A&M University
lege Station, TX
77843-1111
npus Mall: 1111
(409) 845-2647
itt@tamvml.tamu,ell
lirect your question tilt
Courtney Walker and
Meredith Stewart
The Battalion
loan effort to evaluate the
^ek system at Texas A&M
submitted in persoull its relationship with the
i with a wild student mi iversity, a Greek Life task
:ehas been formed for the
00 students in sororities
I fraternities.
The task force is com-
sed of faculty, staff and
lent representatives. Stu-
task force members in-
/etter policy,pfesif 16 members of the Order
Omega, the Corps of
lets, the Panhellenic
noil, the Pan-Hellenic
mcil, Interfraternity
Beil, and Student Body
ident Carl Baggett,
ott Lovejoy, former IFC
iident and a senior busi-
s major, said the task force
help unite the three gov-
g councils of Greek life.
We’ll be having all three
groups work together toward
common goals,” Lovejoy said.
“It will also coordinate all
other (sorority and fraternity)
groups together.”
The task force was
formed Oct. 15, and will
function until May 1, 1997.
The task force will address
four main areas: standard
excellence, leadership de
velopment, new member
education and development
of the Greek community.
Goals and guidelines cre
ated by the task force will be
used to unite all sororities
and fraternities on campus.
The task force will also aim to
increase relations between
Greek organizations and the
University.
Lanita Hanson, assistant
director of student activities,
said there was a need for for
mal structure because the
Greek life involves so many
students.
“The Greek system at
A&M has been in existence
for a while, and we need the
task force so there are mutual
expectations on issues in
stead of letting things hap
pen by chance,” Hanson said.
There are eight predomi
nantly black fraternities and
sororities, 11 national sorori
ties, 23 fraternities and three
unaffiliated sororities at A&M.
Jan Winniford, associate
vice president for Student Af
fairs, said the task force is im
portant because the Univer
sity needs to recognize and
acknowledge Greek life as a
part of campus.
“Sometimes Greek organi
zations have problems with
hazing, alcohol and risk man
agement, so we want to be
pro-active and evaluate the
Greek life and study the issues
involved,” Winniford said.
Taking disciplinary action
against Greek organizations
is not a responsibility of the
task force.
"We don’t take action as
much as we look at the
process of things,” Winniford
said. “If a fraternity or sorori
ty had a problem, we might
evaluate if the best way to
handle it was going before
the Interfraternity Council or
if there’s a better way to han
dle the situation.”
The Greek Life task force is
one of three new task forces
to be implemented by the
Department of Student Af
fairs. An MSC Basement task
force and Alcohol Abuse task
force are also being formed.
The MSC Basement task
force will evaluate how base
ment space is being used in
the MSC.
Winniford said all the task
forces are being established
to evaluate and examine is
sues, then make recommen
dations for improvements.
oss Volunteers inducts 72 new members
4
By Wesley Poston
The Battalion
fhe Ross Volunteers inducted 72
Bbers Thursday evening at the Clay-
Williams Alumni Center,
e Ross Volunteers is named after
first president of Texas A&M,
rence Sullivan Ross. The RV was
ed in 1887, making it the oldest stu-
torganization in Texas,
minor Graham, RV executive offi-
and a senior biomedical science
lor, said each member of the com-
iy strives to be “soldier, statesmen
knightly gentlemen.”
You're a representative not only of
state of Texas, but of Texas A&M Uni-
lity,” he said.
aj. Greg Johnson, military adviser
ie RVs and an assistant professor of
tary science, said the company is
the honor guard for the governor of
Texas. RVs also act as the the firing
squad and buglers at Silver Taps and
campus Muster.
The identities of the cadets partic-
“You're a represen-
tativenot only of
the state of Texas,
but of Texas A&M
University. ,,
Connor Graham
RV executive officer
ipating in Silver Taps and Muster are
kept secret, Johnson said.
“They don’t want any accolades for
what they do,” he said. “They aren’t
looking for a pat on the back.”
Graham said the details of the two
ceremonies are also secretive.
“That’s something that’s not dis
cussed, even within the company,” he
said.
Johnson said applications to become
an RV are designed by juniors in the
Corps of Cadets each fall. Senior mem
bers of the company read every applica
tion and vote on who will become the
new members.
Jim Harrison, RV commanding offi
cer and a senior business analysis ma
jor, said his induction last year was a
huge honor.
“It’s probably one of the biggest hon
ors I’ve ever had,” he said.
See Members, Page 5
Battalion
TODAY
lental Mettle
Corps Commandant raises
PMC grade requirements
By Carla Renea Marsh
and Marika Cook
The Battalion
The minimum grade re
quirement for participation
in Parson’s Mounted Caval
ry has been raised, and
stricter requirements for
the Fish Drill Team are un
der consideration.
Maj. Gen. M.T “Ted” Hop-
good, commandant of the
Corps of Cadets, enforced
higher grade requirements
for PMC this fall.
Chris Clinkscaies, Corps
scholastics officer and a se
nior biochemistry major, said
the change is a move in the
right direction.
“The primary directive of
the Corps is to make grades,”
Clinkscaies said. “It shouldn’t
be hard to maintain.”
Sophomores are now re
quired to have a 2.15 grade-
point ratio for admittance
to PMC. Upperclassmen
must maintain a semesterly
GPR of 2.0 and a cumula
tive GPR of 2.2.
The purpose for raising
the requirements is to up
grade the Corps’ image.
Hopgood said grades are
the number-one priority at
Texas A&M.
“I think the current grade
requirements are too low,”
said Hopgood. "I want to em
phasize academics.”
The current grade require
ment for the Fish Drill Team
is a 2.0, but Hopgood said he
is still considering raising the
prerequisite.
Col. Lee McCleskey, chief
of operations and training,
said the Ross Volunteers, Fish
Drill Team and Parsons’
Mounted Calvary are the pri
mary Corps specialty units.
McCleskey said he be
lieves the Cavalry is the
only unit with a new grade
requirement because
sophomores, juniors, and
seniors have a better han
dle on academics and
should have better GPRs.
“When considering differ
ent grade requirements, you
have to consider which unit
you’re talking about,” Mc
Cleskey said. “It seems logical
not to have an unusually high
grade requirement for Fish
Drill Team."
Jason Hansen, Fish Drill
Team senior adviser and a se
nior marketing major, said
what the team has to offer is
just as important as grades.
"This experience makes
the fish year complete,”
Hansen said. “We don’t need
to babysit these cadets.”
Specialty units empha
size academics and provide
different opportunities for
the members.
See Grades, Page 5
r
Dave House, The Battalion
~T’t Lauren Shofner, a sophomore history major, buys a football tick-
I iLfVCri. I 1111^1 e t from David Boerm, a senior finance major Thursday afternoon.
Its Atlanta, NY in Fall Classic
Braves to face Yankees after historic blowout
ATLANTA (AP) — This wasn’t a comeback,
this was a wipeout.
The Atlanta Braves unleashed all their
fury in the biggest blowout in postseason
history, trouncing the St. Louis Cardinals 15-
0 in Game 7 of the NL championship se
ries Thursday night to complete a
startling rally from a 3-1 deficit.
Pitcher Tom Glavine hit a
bases-loaded triple that
capped a six-run first in
ning, and 52,067 crazed
fans spent the rest of the
evening partying as the
Braves earned a chance to
defend their World Series title.
Game 1 will be Saturday
night in New York against the Yan
kees. The Braves have reached four of
the last five World Series, making it this
time by outscoring St. Louis 32-1 in three
straight games.
After Atlanta good-luck charm Francisco
Cabrera threw out a first ball — and before
the fans started singing “New York, New
York” — Glavine shut out St. Louis on three
hits for seven innings. He got support from
two-homers by Javy Lopez, Fred McGriff and
Andruw Jones — at 19, Jones surpassed
Mickey Mantle as the youngest player to
connect in a postseason game.
The painful loss, making the Cardinals
the only club to blow a 3-1 edge three times
in the postseason, meant the end of Ozzie
Smith’s career.
The future Hall of Famer, who has an
nounced his retirement, fouled out as
a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning.
The 41-year-old shortstop waved
his helmet to a standing
ovation, and drew hugs
from his teammates in
the dugout.
Though Marquis Gris
som began the rout by sin
gling on Donovan Osborne’s first
pitch, the Braves’ playoff come
back clearly started before then.
It may have begun back at Busch
Stadium when Dennis Eckersley pumped
his fist forcefully in the air after a Game 4
win that gave St. Louis a 3-1 lead. The
prompted the Cardinals to put 20 cases of
champagne on ice in anticipation of a
clincher that never came, and seemed to
anger Atlanta.
The Braves came out the next night and
scored five runs in the first inning on their
way to a 14-0 rout behind John Smoltz,
sending the best-of-7 series back to Atlanta.