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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1996)
I The Battalion 171*12117171^^ Jj D It 1IL I 111 \r Pagi Friday • December 13,1 ► Campus Memorial service to be held for student A memorial service for Ryan Alspaugh, a senior finance major who was killed in an automobile accident Dec. 8, will be at 6 p.m. today in the All Faith’s Chapel. The public is welcome. Alspaugh will be honored at Sil ver Taps on Feb. 4 and at Muster on April 21. ► Nation Government seeks more organ donors WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s not just an arm and a leg. The government wants you to give up your liver and heart, too. The 70 million Americans who receive tax refund checks next year also will receive information on how to become organ and tis sue donors upon their death. They will also receive donor cards. Legislation signed by Presi dent Clinton in August, making Because of the holiday break, The Battalion will not be printed again until Jan. 13, 1997. health insurance portable from job to job, included a section di recting the secretary of the trea sury to include the information with refund checks mailed be tween Feb. 1 and June 30. “This new effort will expand the pool of donors, increase the likelihood that families will autho rize donation upon the death of a loved one, and reduce the num ber of people who die while wait ing for organ transplants,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., the provision’s sponsor. California Condors released in wild VERMILION CLIFFS, Ariz. (AP) — For the first time in 72 years, the largest and rarest bird in North America took flight over Arizona’s red cliffs and canyons Thursday in an effort by scientists to bring Cali fornia condors back from the brink. For thousands of years, condors flew over these craggy sandstone cliffs and fed on carcasses of woolly mammoths and saber- toothed tigers. Then hunters and other hazards of humankind pushed them to near extinction. Seventeen condors from a cap tive breeding program that began in the 1980s have since been re leased into the wild in California, and the government wants to es tablish a second wild population in northern Arizona. Following a countdown led by In terior Secretary Bruce Babbitt on Thursday, a biologist atop the 1,000-foot cliffs opened a pen on a rocky ledge where six young con dors have lived since Oct. 29. The baldheaded fledglings walked out a few minutes apart and surveyed their surroundings to the cheers of 500 birdwatchers below. Ten minutes later, one condor turned into the wind and lifted its 9-foot wings, flapping awkwardly to a ledge 50 yards away. The crowd let out a whoop. The rest, all 6- to 7-months old and weighing about 20 pounds, soon followed with short aerial spurts among the rocks and junipers. “I’m standing here trying not to cry,” said Robert Mesta, condor pro gram coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We couldn’t have sculpted it any better — birds flying, sun shining, blue sky.” Top executive Ovitz leaves Walt Disney LOS ANGELES (AP) — Holly wood power broker Michael Ovitz is leaving as Walt Disney Co.’s No. 2 executive after trying for a year to share power with Michael Eisner at the entertainment giant. Ovitz is the latest top Disney ex ecutive to leave in recent years af ter growing frustrated under Eis ner’s apparent unwillingness to cede control to lieutenants. The company has grown dra matically, particularly with the addi tion of the ABC television network earlier this year. Only Time Warner, with the purchase of Turner Broad casting, is bigger among the world’s entertainment companies. Through a spokesman, Ovitz said he was not moving to another company, but would be inclined to start his own business. “It is important to recognize when something is not working,” Ovitz said in a statement released by Disney. “I hope that my decision to leave will eliminate an unnecessary distraction for a great company.” Valley fever cases continue to rise ATLANTA (AP) — A deadly lung infection caused by a soil fungus in the Southwest is on the rise in Arizona, preying on the elderly and those with the AIDS virus. The number of cases of valley fever in Arizona jumped from 255 in 1990 to 623 last year, the Cen ters for Disease Control and Pre vention reported Thursday. Valley fever caused 134 deaths in Ari zona from 1990 to 1994; figures for 1995 aren't available. Arizona’s recent weather pat terns and changing demographics are to blame, said the CDC’s Dr. Rana Hajjeh. Valley fever begins as a fungus that grows in the ground, usually after heavy rains. Long dry spells cause the fungus to become air borne, where it is inhaled. Also, the number of people 65 or older and those who have tested positive for the AIDS virus increased in Arizona from 1990 to 1995. The disease is called valley fever because it is often found in the dusty soil of the South west, Mexico and Central and South America. Community unites against vandals NEWTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Hanukkah candles are flickering alongside Santa’s reindeer, wreaths and Nativity scenes in some windows of this Philadelphia suburb, in what neighbors call a show of force against hate. Early Sunday morning, after the third night of Hanukkah, someone threw a rock through the Markovitz family’s front window, grabbed the electric menorah that had blazed from within, and smashed it to the ground, breaking all nine bulbs. “Have you ever seen real fear and devastation?" asked Margie Alexander, 36, a Christian ne who saw Judy Markovitz: hours after the vandalism.' real pain. You don’t see soir« like that and not do sometlt So she did do something so did her neighbors. And neighbors. On Thursday, the to-last day of the eight-dayJi Festival of Lights, 25 Chri: homes in the well-to-do neif hood had menorahs burnil their windows. And the vandals never retry “It just blossomed," said| Keeling, 35, a former policeci who raced from store to ste| search of scarce menorahs fori bors to display before candefn time arrived at sundown. ‘I sai going to get a menorah. if it’s going to help — but they have another person totai I ran out right away.” Markovitz, a 42-year-old two, immigrated to the United Si from the Ukraine as a cape persecution in the forme? et Union. Markovitz’s motheil Holocaust survivor, and her fatlj dentist, was unable to practe| cause he was a Jew. She did not know of the borhood menorah effort un returned home Sunday nighti saw the orange bulbs burning, I “It actually brought tears‘.f eyes,” Markovitz said. 1 ► This day in history (AP) — Today is Friday, Dec. 13, the 348th day of 1996. There are 18 days left in the year. On this date: In 1577, Sir Francis Drake of England set out with five ships on a nearly 3-year journey that would take him around the world. In 1642, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman arrived in present-day New Zealand. In 1769, Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, received its charter. In 1862, Union forces suffered a major defeat to the Confederates at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit Europe while in office. In 1928, George Gershwin’s musical work An American in Paris had its premiere at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 1944, during World War II, the U.S. cruiser Nashville was badly damaged in a Japanese “kamikaze” suicide attack that claimed 138 lives. In 1978, the Philadelphia Mint began stamping the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which went into circula tion the following July. In 1996, Amy Collier and Gretchen Perrenot say good bye to The Battalion, one of the best college newspapers in the country, after working there for two years. ► Today’s birthdays Country singer Buck White is 66. Movie producer Richard Zanuck is 62. Singer John Davidson is 55. Singer Ted Nugent is 48. Rock musician Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (The Doobie Brothers; Steely Dan) is 48. Country musician Ron Getman (The Tractors) is 48.Actor Johnny Whitaker (Family Affair) is 37. ► Weather Today Mostly sunny with light northeast winds. Tonight Increasing cloudiness with light winds. Tomorrow Highs & Lows Today’s Expected^ 74°F Tonight’s Expected 56°F Tomorrow’s Expected Higl: Partly cloudy with light southeast winds. 75°F Tomorrow N Expected Lon 55°F Information courtesy of TA! , Columni Junior Journalism PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN COLLEGE STATION! Universal Computer Systems, Inc. has been the premier provider of business software systems to the automotive industry for the- past 26 years. Continued growth has created opportunity in our Software Sup port Department. We are looking for graduating seniors who want a full-time career in College Station with a stable, innovative, and conservative company. UCS has immediate openings in our newly created College Station Client Support Center for bright, outgoing individuals to analyze and troubleshoot software problems for our clients. Professionalism and ex cellent communication skills are required and any customer service ex perience is helpful. Business degree preferred, but others will be consid ered. No sales involved. For more information about the Client Support Representative position, please call: Universal Computer Systems, Inc. (713) 718-1400 or (800) 883-3031 http://www.ucs-systems.com Full paid training provided. Bachelors degree required. We have a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, direct deposit, 401K and semi annual performance evaluations. UCS promotes a healthy lifestyle by sponsoring a variety of sports events and hiring only non-tobacco users. EOE. The perfect place to study for finals: 1. is quiet 2. has free coffee and hot chocolate 3. has lots of room to spread out books 4. is not my room PERFECTION IS HERE. MSC Forsyth Center Galleries (across the hallway from the Aggieland Post Office) Special Study Hours for Fall ‘96: Thursday, December 1 2 8pm until midnight Sunday, December 1 5 6pm until midnight Tuesday, December 17 8pm until midnight FREE ADMISSION Students are always welcome to come in and study, wander or look at art! Regular Hours: Mon-Fri Sam - 8pm; Sat-Sun noon - 6pm. Please call 845-9251 for more information. ^uve! Getting into law school can be an overwhelming experience. Before all the essays and recommendations, you’ll need a 5 top-rate LSAT score. Why not focus on the test a little earlier and | really give it your best shot? I Our proven techniques and personal. resulLs-oriented I instruction have given thousands of law school students a fearless, I confident edge, and first-rate test scores that open doors. 1. Classes start in January so give us a call. * THE PRINCETON REVIEW HAVE A S/\F£ HollPAYl (800) 2-REVIEW info.cs@review.com GMAT * LSAT • GRE • MCAT * BOOKS • SOFTWARE Ypu are cordially invited to YEARS Live u featuring iecember 31 • 9:00 pm • Garden in the Heights $45 per person includes: L YOU CAN DRINK . | Beer & Wine with a Champagne Toast at Midnight! i MAKE RESERVATIONS ASAP A^ SEATING IS LIMITED! (713) 867-7973 Send check payable to: Mew Years Eve Live 6126 Queenswood Houston, TX 77008 Open House! Dec. 19th 4-8 p.m. Come by for Hot Cider and Cookies, Register for Drawing'. XV Travel Sk Tours AGGIE OWNED AND OPERATED. CALL LYNDA, CHRIS, or SHERRY AT 696-5000 2551-J Texas Ave. S. (Behind College Station Library) Open Late Thursday Night. The Battalion Michael Landauer, Editor in Chief Amy Collier, Executive Editor Kendra Rasmussen, City Ed» Gretchen Perrenot, Executive Editor Tom Day, Sports Editor Heather Pace, Opinion Editor Stew Milne, Visual Arts Eoiron Rachel Barry, Aggielife Editor Chris Yung, Web Editor Tiffany Moore, Night News Editor Tim Moog, Photo Editor Helen Clancy, Night News Editor Brad Graeber, Cartoon I Staff Members City Desk - Assistant Editor: Ann Marie Hauser; Reporters: Marika Cook, Brandon Hausenfluck, Melissa Nunneiy. Laura Oliveira, Wesley Poston, Erica Roy, Courtney Walker & JoAnne Whittemore Aggielife Desk - Assistant Editor: Libe Goad; Feature Writers: James Francis, Kimber Huff, John LeBas, Aaron*' Joseph Novak, April Towery & Shea Wiggins; Page Designer: Michele Chancellor Sports Desk - Assistant Editor: Kristina Buffin; Writers: Jamie Burch, Sara Duesing, Jeremy Furtick, Colby Gains Ross Hecox, Matt Mitchell, Dennis Ramirez & Nicole Smith Opinion Desk - Assistant Editor: Erin Fitzgerald; Columnists: Jon Apgar, H. Baxter, David Boldt, Bryan Goodwin,SfA non Halbrook, Michael Heinroth.Aja Henderson, Jennifer Howard, Mason Jackson, Stephen Uano.Sean#' ter, Chris Miller, David Minor, & Jeremy Valdez Night News - Page Designers: Marissa Alanis, Jennifer Bishop, Michele Chancellor & Angie Rodgers Copy Editors - Katie Arnold, Brian Gieselman, Shannon Halbrook & Matt Weber Visual Arts Desk - Photographers: Rony Angkriwan, Jennifer Fredrickson, Dave House, Pat James, Rachel Redii & Ryan Rogers; Graphic Artists: Jenny Maki, James Palmer & James Vineyard; Cartoonists: Michael Goodwin, Dave Hoffman, John Lemons & Quatro Oakley Web Masters - Terry Butler, Dusty Moer &TungTran News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student cations, a unit of the Department of Journalism. News offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building. Newsroom phone: 845-3313; Fax: 845-2647; E-mail: Batt@tamvml.tamu.edu; Internet Address: http://bat-web.tamu# Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus,*) 6 and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call 845-0569. Advertising offeesss’ 015 Reed McDonald, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-2678, SuBscRipnoNs: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of llie^ ion. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. To charge by Visa, Card, Discover or American Express, call 845-2611. The Battalion (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesteisa 6 Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) atTexastf University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. Postmaster: Send address changes toIlie^ talion,015 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-1111. Band: v m, s 199 Tiodera years forefront of it lead. Music ht Maybe it ha fyou needed; Stone Tem truggle with 1 Her tour oper )f the heroin : Jf Tiny Music lecause SIP v lang Baby”). But Stone Ti his year. The 1 Hreer peak, tf :essful double i# Jiggest doubh hey lost keybe nsult to injun f#|>ossession anc Sublime, an omia, lost its Uiis was quite ieath, spawne Depeche M lead this sun leroin overdo; ered the folloi ^le seem to b< ind now mam )ot and all tha