Page
ember 6, 19!
The Battalion
/olume 103 • Issue 49 • 12 Pages
Thursday, November 7, 1996
The Batt Online: http://bat-web.tamu.edu
egents to decide on hearing
(General Use Fee
for Top Ten Texas
Public Universities
University
S’pr. ’2Z
1. UT Austin
$32.00
2. U. of Houston
$30.00
3. Texas Tech Univ.
$28.00
4. UT Dallas
$26. SO
5. UT San Antonio
$26.00
UT Tyler
$26.00
7. UT Arlington
$25.00
ETSU
$24.00
10.TAMU Galveston
$22.00
$ GUF Is per credit hour. $
By Melissa Nunnery
The Battalion
The first step in increasing the Gen
eral Use Fee by $10 has been set in mo
tion by Texas A&M University System
Chancellor Barry Thompson, who has
called a meeting of the Board of Regents.
The Board will meet via telephone
Nov. 19 to determine whether System
universities may hold public hearings
regarding a fee increase. Texas univer
sities are required by law to hold at
least one public hearing before fee in
creases are approved.
If the hearing is approved, Texas A&M
President Ray Bowen will propose a $10
per semester credit hour increase in the
fee effective Sept. 1, 1997. The increase
would raise the fee from $24 to $34 per
semester credit hour.
This increase would generate an
additional $11 million in revenue for
the University. Ten million dollars
would be used for faculty and staff
salary increases.
The use of the remaining $1 million
would be determined at a later date.
Jim Ashlock, executive director of
University Relations, said the money
could be used for classroom improve
ments or academic enhancements.
Dr. J. Malon Southerland, vice presi
dent for Student Affairs, said the A&M
faculty and staff members have not
had a raise since September 1995.
Final approval of the fee would have
to be granted by the Board of Regents.
If the fee increase is approved,
Southerland said, faculty and staff
would receive a 2 percent merit-based
raise in March. He said they would get
an additional 3 percent merit-based
raise in September.
See Hearing, Page 5
Officials suspend
Kappa Alpha Order
By Brandon Hausenfluck
The Battalion
The Texas A&M Chapter
of the Kappa Alpha Order
was suspended for three
years Wednesday by national
Kappa Alpha officials and
the University’s Interfraterni
ty Council Judicial Board.
The chapter had its char
ter revoked for violating na
tional fraternity risk man
agement policies, University
rules and Interfraternity
Council hazing regulations.
The national chapter
headquarters in Lexing
ton, Va., suspended the
A&M chapter until Aug. 1,
1999. The chapter will not
be recognized as a unit of
the national fraternity, nor
will it be allowed to hold
any organized functions
until the suspension peri
od has expired.
The suspension resulted
from of an incident at a fra
ternity function at which a
pledge sustained an injury to
the groin area. As a result of
the injury, a Dallas physician
surgically removed one of
the pledge’s testicles.
Larry Wiese, executive di
rector of the national Kappa
Alpha Order, announced the
sanctions to the fraternity
Tuesday night.
The A&M chapter, Wiese
said, will be shut down with
in the next couple of days.
“We’re in the process of
basically closing the chap
ter,” he said. “[The A&M
chapter] will be returning
any property that belongs to
the national chapter.”
See KA, Page 10
'atty Groff strives to
evelop work force
e House, The Battalios
This is the last in a series
profiling wives of the leaders
of Texas A&M.
By Carla Renea Marsh
The Ba italion
Life could not be any better for
Fatty Groff.
t * Many people recognize her as the
ife of Texas A&M Director of Athletics
ally Groff, but in addition to that po-
■ - ftition, Patty Groff has many titles.
M Slae is Patty Groff — supportive
lours after Gram
the winner,
er,” he promise;
i owd at a downturn Ivife, mother of three, grandmother of
four, literacy volunteer, Chamber of
on stage by ^Commerce member and manager of
eis. Morales said ^Work-force development at the Brazos
then elfoits a ™v a ii e y Development Council,
up porters to stay Groff, who is most active at her
i‘ political process. Brazos Valley Develop-
>me mnacle Pl%| e nt Council, said she is opti-
; pull Inis out .. ni j s tic about the work programs
° hack to cynicismh er jqB facilitates,
to apathy, he sa»l “vVe open career centers for anyone
s about our ligrr* looking to find jobs, or jobs seeking
o mattei wbat® Isomeone for employment,” she said,
oui head up highgli j^ er organization is similar to the
exas Employment Commission, but
aintains a national presence.
Groff said she is proud of her hus-
i a rematch over Gai band and supports him, but many of
first black electedfe the things she involves herself in re
solve around her own objectives,
ling new terms indij
IcConnell of Kentu||
iis third; Thad Codi'
hofe in Oklahoma,!
son in Tennessee, al
’ete Domenici won!
rner’s victory was!
lection in Idaho,
e included Kerry®
ing his fifth term;0
lay Rockefeller ofM
te. Sen. Paul WellsM
engeto win his seed!
; third, and Sen. i
Dave House, The Battalion
Patty Groff is the wife of Texas A&M
Director of Athletics Wally Groff.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of him
(Wally Groff), and die supports me 100
percent,” Groff said. “But we have two
separate lives.
“When we both get off work, we’re
together as a family.”
Wally and Patty Groff have been
married 34 years.
Groff said she considers herself
lucky concerning her marriage.
“We have known each other since
the fourth grade, and have dated each
other since I was a sophomore in high
school,” Groff said.
Rony Angkriwan, The Battalion
hv StPO I Students hurry up the stairs to their classes in the Civil Engineering Building on Wednes-
Lv:| day afternoon.
ft net)
Loop 300
■ Follow Highway 6 North
■ Exit Loop 340 North
■ Cross 1-35
■ Exit Waco Dr/ Franklin Ave.
■ Across the street from mall
■ At Payless Cashways next
to Whataburger
“Bill Clinton
tried to talk like
a Republican
and it worked
for him.”
Jeff Livingston
College Republicans
lion Reactions
“Fm very proud |
that I helped
and I can’t wait
to help A1 Gore
in four years.”
Kristy Perez
Aggie Democrats
The Corps of Cadets
March-In will be televised
by cable Channel 6 out of
Waco. Step Off coverage
will begin at 11 a.m.
Republican students focus
on GOP control of Congress
County, campus Democrats
celebrate Clinton’s victory
The Battalion
TODAY
iSack Attack
Students return to
[’80s form and kick
old hacky sack back
In style.
Aggielife, Page 3
lutch Time
he sixth-ranked A&M
Soccer team travels to
St. Louis for the Big 12
Championships.
Sports, Page 7
Pepperoni
u purchase
ge Deluxe
izza
saccompany order
■ any other offers
-Out only.
3 11-20-96
2ge • 268-8888
airspray
Baxter: Cure-all to bad
lair days saves money
Ind guarantees in-
reased social life.
Opinion, Page 11
By Laura Oliveira
The Battalion
The Republicans may have lost the
presidency in Tuesday’s election, but they
retained control of Congress and carried
Texas precincts.
Kimberly Desiderio, vice president for
programs of the College Republicans and a
senior English major, said the mixed results
have left her with bittersweet emotions.
“I am disappointed with the outcome of
the presidency, but I am excited about the
House and the Senate,” she said.
Other Republican students said the Repub
lican Congress may cause problems.
Justin Wood, a sophomore agriculture
business major, said the Republicans’ con
gressional victors will slow any effort to
better the country.
“The difference in parties will provide for
good checks and balances,” he said. “But if
everything is vetoed by the president or
counteracted by the other party it will be
hard to get things done.”
Wood said Dole’s experience in the Senate
would have allowed him to lead the country
with cooperation from the Legislature.
“Dole has so much Congressional experi
ence and he has worked with the Senate for
many years,” he said. “I think he would have
been beneficial as a president.”
See Republicans, Page 10
By Marika Cook
and Brandon Hausenfluck
The Battalion
Democrats from around campus and
the county gathered at the 3rd Floor Can
tina in Bryan Tuesday night to celebrate
the victories of President Bill Clinton and
other local Democratic candidates.
Kristi Perez, president of Aggie Democ
rats and an educational psychology grad
uate student, said she is excited about
Clinton’s re-election.
“This re-election is representative of
what people really want for the future, es
pecially for the students,” Perez said. “I’m
very proud that I helped and I can’t wait
to help A1 Gore in four years.”
The Democrats watched President Clin
ton’s victory speech on TV, in which he
aimed to rally Americans.
“If we stick to being Americans ... there
is nothing in our way,” President Clinton
said. “When Americans roll up their
sleeves and work together, Americans al
ways win.”
Jeff Miller, vice president of Aggie De
mocrats and a junior management major,
said Clinton will continue his fight to bet
ter the country.
“This is a big advancement for Ameri
ca,” he said.
See Democrats, Page 10
Candidates, registration process discourage students from voting
By Wesley Poston
The Battalion
Bill Clinton won the presiden
cy and Bob Dole won Texas, but
many Texas A&M students voted
for neither.
Some students did not vote in
Tuesday’s election because they
were not registered to vote in
Brazos County. Others difl not
want to see either mainstream
candidate in office.
Danny Thompson, a senior
industrial distribution major,
said he did not vote in Tuesday’s
election because he is registered
in a San Antonio precinct.
“I was going to go back one
weekend, but I went hunting in
stead,” he said.
Marriage recently changed
Melissa Fisher’s last name and
kept the senior math major from
being able to register.
“I wasn’t able to register at
home,” she said.
“I wasn’t really certain who I
was going to vote for.”
Karrie Needham, a sopho
more elementary education ma
jor, said she did not vote because
she could not decide which can
didate to vote for.
“I felt that if I wasn’t sure, I
shouldn’t vote,” she said.
Other A&M students were un
able to vote because they are not
American citizens.
Zhou Huixia, a graduate stu
dent from China, said she did
not follow the election closely
but was interested in the elec
tion process.
“I’m interested in the system
here,” she said.
Eduardo Garza, an industrial
engineering major from Mexico,
said he did not prefer any one
candidate over the others.
"The issues were pretty im
portant,” he said. “I think that’s
what won it for Clinton. I think
most people voted for the lesser
of two evils.”
Other political parties also re
ceived votes from A&M students.
Annie Gosschalk, a freshman
biomedical science major, said
she voted for Ross Perot’s Reform
Party because she did not agree
with Dole or Clinton.
“I wish you could vote against
someone,” she said. “I didn’t
want Clinton to get it.”
Mary Patterson, a sophomore
biomedical science major, said
she voted for Perot in the 1992
election and again this year.
Patterson said she supports
Perot’s stand against political ac
tion committees.
“As long as there is one paid
person like that, this is not my
government,” she said.
Patterson said she was expect
ing Clinton to win the election
and expects him to see further
legal trouble from Whitewater.
“I’m expecting his resigna
tion,” she said. “I voted for
Nixon in ’72 and I’ve come a
long way since then. I decided
not to be politically ignorant
ever again.”