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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1996)
News Page Wednesday • October23, Order for sex offender questioned DALLAS (AP) — A judge who ordered an admitted sex offender to post a sign at his home identifying him self says she isn’t trying to brand the man, but, to borrow a phrase from director Spike Lee, do the right thing. Parents may welcome the notice, but others wonder whether the get-tough approach is a long-term solution. The district attorney in Tarrant County, where the case originated, has asked Attorney General Dan Morales to determine whether a judge can require such a notice. State District Judge Sharen Wilson said Tuesday she believes it’s appropri ate in certain instances to require a sign be posted, especially if the offender has a child in the home. Morales, who hasn’t reviewed the case pending before the opinions com mittee, said Tuesday he isn’t aware of any specific constitutional violation. Forty-nine states already operate or are establishing their own registries to track sex offenders, as mandated by the 1994 anti-crime law. Texas law requires residents to be told when sex offenders move into their neighborhoods. But at least one report earlier this year suggested that the legislation hasn’t made the intended impact. Wilson isn’t alone in meting out unusual punishment. Two years ago in Houston, a piano teacher accused of fondling two students was ordered to give away his $12,000 piano and post a sign on his house warning children to stay away. In New York, a judge ordered a man with six drunken driving convictions to put a license plate that reads “CON VICTED DWI” on his vehicle. Sometimes, neighbors take matters into their own hands. In Detroit, hand- painted signs screaming “Child Molester Lives Here” drove a man from his home in 1994. A year earlier, a house in Lynnwood, Wash., where a convicted child molester had moved after his release from prison was torched. In this latest case involving a Lewisville man, Wilson ordered that he post a 2-foot-square sign reading: “A person on probation for a child sex offense lives here.” Ricky Lee Shields, 37, was given a choice in July of going to jail for violat ing his probation or placing the sign in his yard, said his attorney, Albert Perez. “Of course we opted for the sign knowing his exposure was up to 99 years. Wouldn’t you do the same thing?” Perez said. Shields is serving probation for a seven-year deferred sentence for a 1994 charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He violated the conditions of his sentence when he picked up his daugh ter from day care after his wife’s car broke down, the attorney said. “Of course, he feels terrible about it,” Perez explained of his client’s view of the sign. “There are a lot of ramifi cations. What about his family, his kids who go to school? If he should choose to move out of his house and go into isolation, who is going to want to rent to him?” Neighbor John Veenker, who has a 4- year-old son, said he appreciates know ing the background of the man who lives two doors away but might wonder if he were selling his home about the affect on his investment. “The sign is good to let the public know. Are there other ways to let the public know? 1 don’t know,” he said. “Should he go out and hand out brochures himself? I don’t know. Public humiliation is getting a good rap these days here in Texas.” ► Tobacco Lobby Candidates look to The following are responses of the major presidential candidates to the question: “Should your party continue to take con- ON THE ISSUES fli CAMPAIGN tributions from tobacco companies?” Bill Clinton “The question we should ask is whether contributions have an adverse impact on policy. That is why my dis agreement with the Republican position is about their tobacco policy, which 1 believe is wrong. The prob lem is that 3,000 children start smoking every day and 1,000 of them will die sooner because of it. We must do something to stop it, and I want to keep our attention on this issue. The tobacco industry is wrong in fighting our proposal to cut off chil dren’s access to tobacco products and reduce appeal to children.” Bob Dole ‘As president, commission to campaign finance One of the primary refot that I will push for is toil ish soft money contrita from corporations andlii unions to federal cani: or parties to influencefai al elections.” Ross Perot “Reform Party cani: will not accept anykir special interest money, party will be financedbyi lions of hard-wo!ikj u ‘ s ^ riet ] Americans sending in sa interet j a ct contributions.’ Perot builds up Reform Pan Wildfires Forum Continued from Page 1 Thousands of people fled their homes, schools and businesses in four counties Monday as flames exploded, propelled through the canyons by winds that gusted as high as 71 mph. By Tuesday, many were learning the worst. “I saw the news and they were standing in the rubble of our home,” said Lou Stark, who lost his Carlsbad home. His wife wasn’t sure. “She said, 'Maybe it’s not ours.’ I said, ‘Yes, it’s ours.’” Carlsbad was the site of the worst fire, a fast- moving blaze that burned at least 60 houses and 10 other structures over 8,592 acres in the 65,700-resident suburb on northern San Diego County’s seashore. Just east of Carlsbad, authorities ordered evac uations early Tuesday for parts of San Marcos, a retirement community of 42,800 people. In the celebrity seashore enclave of Malibu in Los Angeles County, flames charred 13,650 acres and destroyed five houses and a mobile home, and more than 1,000 people were evacu ated during the height of the fire Monday. Marine volunteers were sent from Camp Pendleton to help the firefighters. Huge air tankers bombed the flames with water sucked from the ocean and reservoirs, joined by cargo-hauling helicopters fitted with big water tanks. Eleven aircraft made repeated flights near Malibu, including two Air National Guard C-130s, each dumping 27,000 pounds of fire retardant. Continued from Page 1 “Any work that we do has to address the human condition ... and offer our hand at improving [it],” she said. “We need to be leaders in the nation, and together we can do it. We can’t afford to stay isolated. We can profit together.” Ashley Peterson, co-chair of the Brazos County Domestic Violence Task Force, said Tuesday’s forum bridged the gap between the University and the community. Peterson said both have resources that can help in the fight against domestic violence and the forum revealed some of those resources. Phoebe’s Home offers shelter to abuse victims until they make alter nate living arrangements. The shel ter also counsels victims and helps them obtain referrals to find jobs. Peterson said Bryan-College Station law enforcement officials are aggressive in their treatment of domestic disputes. The Family Violence Unit, run by the Brazos County attorney’s office, provides protective orders for abuse victims. Peterson said distributing infor mation and educating people about the resources available to them is the key to combating domestic abuse. “The more the victim knows about the services and where to go to get help, the more likely they are to leave their abuser,” she said. Domestic abuse occurs world wide, and Thomas said the United States should use its posi tion with the United Nations to encourage other countries to confront the problem. “One of the things we have to do as a country is encourage (other countries] to take a more proactive stance toward human rights and peace,” she said. Thomas said attitudes about abuse vary worldwide, necessitat ing the development of culture- specific counseling. “Race and ethnicity are very important issues to look at in approaching domestic violence because of the cultural signifi cance and contribution (to abuse),” she said. "But at the same time, we have to look beyond that (race and ethnicity) to the broader social context.” The forum was co-sponsored by the University, Phoebe’s Home in Bryan, the Women’s Studies Program and the A&M chapter of Race and Ethnic Studies Institute. DALLAS (AP) — Even as his drawing power in the presidential race is diminish ing, Ross Perot is trying to build the influ ence of his new Reform Party by parceling out endorsements in congressional races. Last year when he founded the party, Perot said it would endorse House and Senate candidates pledged to work for issues such as campaign and lobbying reform. In the final weeks of the campaign, the endorsements are coming from party leaders in individual states. “More than anything, people are begin ning to realize this is about something so much larger than any one or two people," said Bob Belcher, party chairman for Alabama and Mississippi. “This is an inde pendent movement that is likely to rock the status quo.” The state parties, expected to make their endorsements over the next week or so, are using different methods to make their decisions. Some invited candidates to speak, a few states invited candidates to attend state conventions, others set up committees to interview candidates, many distributed questionnaires. In all the states, candidates for endorsement had to sign a pledge to run a positive campaign and take positions on seven “principles of reform.” These include their positions on redesigning federal entitlement programs, ethical standards for government, campaign finance reform, a balanced budget, a new tax system, creating U.S. ]obs and renego tiating trade agreements. All of the state parties are expected to endorse candidates in congressional races and some will make choices in state By Bran T> \ Texas A& jonate to ional coo )0 entrants ;indy Kov jor, said s whim. said national million w die sales legislative races. “1 think some of the states w the state levels, especially someofthei mature organizations, dinator RussVerney. Whether the Reform Party ments will have an effect on the races unknown. Perot, who captured ]9pei of the vote nationally when he ran ini now registers in single digits and it'shari gauge whether a Reform Party ment carries weight. In ILxas, Democratic Senate candid Victor Morales is exactly the kind of cam date the Reform Party likes. Hewontacce money from political action commi and he’s an anti-establishment alternaiii to COP Sen. Phil Gramm. Morales’ campaign coordinator Kovar’s en n and rice iatoes, oni' e x-Mex Sak The contes usekeeping 0 r Paul Ne of food pr Newman f irgt Weiner said the c ampaign believe ft „ izat i ons h By Chri Thi With elec leks away, Reform Party’s endorsement, announte last week, could pay off. “In all the polls we’ve seen, thereare substantial number of undecided vote and we think this is a good signal,"hesail Gramm spokesman Larry think the Reform Party’s endorsementw have any effect. He said Gramm dell ately ignored the Texas party's question naire because he supports BobDoleam wanted no confusion. SupportforPeroli not a requirement to obtain the Party’s endorsement. Endorsements have already beenir,aft jng studei flection p Members liege Repul inton have inis to vote in some states. In Minnesota, wherej^then, pa tallied 24 percent of the vote in 1992, up m a jor- pa rty ca nd idates courted the Reid Party by attending its state convention! June, answering questionnaires and ri ing presentations to party caucuses. ucating citi2 itforms thr d literature tthe Brazos )eff Livings leRepublica engineerin ib’s involve icess as a cy «suBwnv* GOOD AT ALL 9 LOCATIONS • 330 George Bush Drive • Parkway Square • Woodstone Center • 3601 E. 29th St. • Northgate Store - University Drive • Post Oak Mall • 2500 Texas Ave., Bryan • 100 N. Main (Downtown Bryan) • Texas at Deacon (Now Open) FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE Receive Free one 21 oz. soft drink and one bag of chips with purchase of ANY of our foot long sandwiches at regular price. Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Not good with SUB CLUB CARD or with any other discounts. Expires 12/31/96. BUY ONE ENTREE, GET SECOND ENTREE Campus Location Only Pick Up Special Lunch (t^FT 99 ^ Dinner ^ # Buffets for Includes: Soft Drink or Tea Coupon must accompany order. Not valid with any other offers. Dine-ln only. Expires 11-6-96 107 S. College • 268-8888 One Free Medium Pepperoni when you purchase One Large Deluxe Pizza Coupon must accompany order. Not valid with any other offers. Carry-Out only. Expires 11-6-96 1.07 S. College • 268-8888 FREE (Second entree must be of equal or lesser value. Coupon value up to $7) Valid anytime except Fri. & Sat. after 6 p.m. Not valid with special lunch menu or other entree specials. Dine in only. One coupon per table. VALUE MEXICAN RESTAURANT 607 E. University Drive * 846-5333 Exp. 11/6/96 Cowboy 303 University Downtown College Station,TX. 846-8806 1/2 lb. of handpatted lean ground beef with spicy mustard & mayo, lettuce, tonmto, pickles, and red onion. You get your choice ofwhite, or whole wheat, bun, and your choice of tea, sofi drink, or 16 oz. 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