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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1997)
-vay to a :h a Fit- mology is em- maging nd pro- ogram, ices S bers by the ept. ot lore -3995. rs. h "39 :es olume 103 • Issue 73 • 8 Pages The Batt Online: http://bat-web.tamu.edu Thursday, January 16, 1997 Corps focuses an scholastics By JoAnne Whittemore The Baftalion Accolades and disbanding busied the Dtps of Cadets this week as a second outfit asde-activated and cadets were recognized rthe highest average grade point ratio in al- iost 30 years. The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets demon- rated a commitment to academics last se- lesterwith an overall grade-point ratio of 2.6. Corps Commandant Major General M.T. fed” Hopgood Jr. said he is pleased with the idets' scholastic performance. ‘Tm delighted,” he said. “I think it’s reflec- veof the focus and hard work of the cadets in le Corps.” Steve Foster, Corps Commander and a se- iorpolitical science major, said the reason for lehigh GPR was cadets’ increased interest in academic affairs. The cadets are taking their grades more seriously, he said, studying hard er during their call-to-quarters and are more focused during finals. “The Corps understands that grades are im portant,” he said. “As every semester goes by, more and more people realize this.” Foster said the Wing division of the Corps averaged over a 2.7, which boosted the Corps average substantially. Lee Mayo, a sophomore industrial distribu tion major in company K-l, said his grades have improved this semester because he has put more effort into his work. The Corps stress es academic achievement, he said. “The Corps puts a lot of emphasis on mak ing good grades,” he said, “and it is important to attain that goal.” See Corps, Page 8 Conference devoted to unity By Kevin Cummings The Battalion Students from all over the country will gather in College Station this weekend for the Southwestern Black Leadership Conference. The conference was originally es tablished for the students of the old Southwest Conference schools, but the conference now draws students from as far away as California. The conference begins in Rudder Auditorium on Thursday and contin ues through Sunday. The theme for this year’s conference is "Unity of spirit to soar beyond an un certain future.” Tamera Jenkins, a junior journalism major, said the weekend conference will be an opportunity to pool the re sources of participants. “SBSLC is dedicated to addressing and solving major issues as well as bringing a spirit of unity among stu dents and leaders of all levels.” Wi i Southwestern Black Leadership Conference Students attending the conference can attend luncheons, a career fair, an oratorical contest, religious services, socials and workshops with guest speakers. The workshops will be the focus of the conference and will cover topics such as affirmative action, unity, per sonal finance and the information su perhighway. One workshop will be presented by guest speaker Mohammed Bilal, from MTV’s The Real World. Bilal will share what he has learned about the negative effects of racism and violence on the youth of today. Other speakers, including former mayor ofWashington D.C. Sharon Pratt Kelly, will address civil rights, justice and unity. Several events are open to the pub lic this weekend. For $3, students can attend the MSC Film Society’s presen tation of Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in Rudder Audi torium. The public can also attend the Ca reer Fair Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Rudder Auditorium. The fair will in clude representatives from the U. S. Navy and Texas Instruments. Vendors with a variety of Black art, books and clothing will be in Rudder Exhibit Hall both Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A church service with Reverend Melvin Cooper, Pastor of St. Matthews Baptist Church, will be held Sunday. Students who are interested in infor mation concerning the conference or attending next year’s conference should contact the SBSLC office at 845-4565. Defying Gravity George Plomarity, a junior international studies and political science major, skates at The Grove Wednesday afternoon. After a harsh cold front left the area, students enjoyed sunny weather. Student Government plans for new year Campus leaders prepare to work with other Universities on shared issues By JoAnne Whittemore The Battalion Student Government officials lan to continue the previous tester’s successes into the ew year. Carl Baggett, student body resident and a senior account- ig major, said Student Govern- lent will concentrate its efforts ttwo areas. "We have two processes,” he rid. “One is issues we have 'ought about prior to this se- 'ester and the second is issues 'at will come up this semester.” Student Government is work- 'gwith other Texas universities to nite on several issues they wish 'put before the State Legislature, aggett said. Compensatory funds, to help Indents finance their education, ndfee simplification, to help stu- ents understand what their fees are being used for, will be among the issues addressed. The General Use Fee will be another issue dealt with this se mester, Baggett said. Student Government will conduct a scientific telephone survey to register student opin ion of the GUF and to inform the student body about the workings of the GUF, he said. To counteract the effects of the Hopwood decision last year, Stu dent Government will gather a list of minority applicants and contact them by telephone in hopes of re cruiting them for the University. Baggett said A&M students reaching out to potential A&M stu dents is “the best means possible.” “Aggies talking to Aggies on a personal level can make a differ ence,” Baggett said. Will Hurd, executive assistant to the president and a sophomore computer science and internation al studies major, said A&M will also be targeting schools it normally does not recruit. A&M does little re cruiting, Hurd said, so students are unaware it is open as an option. "We need to get an image of A&M out there,” he said. "That’s why we want to target some of the schools A&M hasn’t initially gone out to recruit.” Student Government wants to set up the framework to continue its efforts through the next stu dent body presidency, Hurd said. Baggett said because of the success of such programs as the summer escort program and the Executive Council, created last semester, Student Government wants to ensure that the pro grams are continued. “The Executive Council in Stu dent Government has done a terrif ic job in representing the students in all its capacities,” Baggett said. The Executive Council has ad vocated security on campus, the development of the summer es cort program, and has acted as a representative of the University and a resource for different stu dent groups, he said. Chris Reed, the Speaker for Stu dent Senate and a senior finance major, said the Senate plans to keep up with the Legislature proceed ings and the fee increases that have been proposed. Senators are following individ ual pursuits, he said, such as com munal bikes for all students to use while on campus and keeping the Pavilion open on a 24-hour basis for study hall purposes. Months after raid, marijuana club reopens ^ A new measure allows Cannabis sativa to be legally sold for medical purposes with doctor's confirmation. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Milahhr Kemnah strode into the Cannabis Cultivators Club on Wednesday, handed over-a $10 bill and got two plastic bags of low-grade Mexican- grown pot, becoming the first per son in the United States since the 1930s to buy marijuana under the protection of state law. “I feel glad and I feel lucky. Histo ry is being made,” Kemnah, who has AIDS, declared before rolling a joint. The Cannabis Cultivators Club reopened on Wednesday five months after state nar cotics agents raided it and shut it down. But voter approval in No vember of Proposition 215 — a measure legal izing marijuana for medical uses — and a judge’s ruling last week allowed the club to get back in business. Before the raid, the club had operated ille gally for years, but po lice in San Francisco looked the oth er way. Would-be pot-smokers lined up to get membership cards on opening day of the Cultivators Club, which will sell marijuana to people with AIDS, glaucoma and other serious illnesses to relieve their symptoms. Prospective members had to bring doctors’ notes, diagnoses and identification. Club organizers called doctors to confirm the docu ments were legitimate before issuing computer-generated ID cards with photos and a bar-code strip. The next step was purchasing the pot from “bud tender” Randi Webster, who had six types available, from Mexican- grown to top-quality California “quad.” Prices ranged from $5 to $65 per one- eighth-ounce bag. Also for sale were marijuana cookies, truffles and vials of mari-; juana tincture that can be dropped into tea or coffee. “Is everyone getting confirmed?”^ club founder Dennis Peron said. “If not, relax, sit down. In the end, we’re going to get ahold of your doctors. And if we can’t sell you marijuana today, we’ll sell you marijuana tomorrow.” The United States outlawed mar ijuana in 1937 except for approved research. Possession of marijuana remains a federal crime, but it was unclear how federal drug officials would react to the club’s reopening. “We can’t comment on it as a spe cific case,” said Bob Weiner, speak ing for the Justice Department and Office of National Drug Control Pol icy. But he added: “We will continue to enforce federal law, and we are re viewing the administrative, civil and criminal options right now.” Attorney General Dan Lungren has re luctantly acknowl edged he is bound by Proposition 215 but warned he will keep watch on the club to prevent abuses. His spokesman, Steve Telliano, said state narcotics agents will not disrupt the club’s operations as long it keeps proper records and does not make a profit. The club’s attorney, J. David Nick, said that while it is technically vio lating federal drug law, a raid is un likely. “It would be a very despicable act, especially since these individuals are acting in accordance with state law,” Nick said. “But God knows, if a new president were to be elected and a new attorney general appointed by the president, this whole thing could turn around in no time.” Some researchers say marijuana can relieve eye pressure in glauco ma, reduce nausea in cancer pa tients on chemotherapy, and com bat wasting, a severe weight loss associated with AIDS. “I feel glad and I feel lucky. History is being made.” Milahhr Kemnah AIDS patient A&M computer ► Due to complaints from students, the number of available modems will increase from 576 to 912. By Kathleen Strickland The Battalion Computing resources for Texas A&M University students on and off campus will be easier to access this semester through modems and dial up telephone lines. The number of modems available will be increased from 576 to 912 in January. The new modems should be installed and available for use this week. The in crease resulted from the large number of access boosted by new modems complaints from students who could not get access to dial-up modems during the past semester. John J. Dinkel, the Associate Provost for Computing and Informa tion Services, said CIS was aware of the growing need for modems and the limited resources available for the large number of users. “The ability to get access will be much greater,” Dinkel said. “There will be far fewer busy signals this se mester.” However, Dinkel said, there are still not enough modems for a campus of A&M’s size. “We need in the range of 2,000 modems for this campus,” he said. The addition of these modems is part of a long range process. The first step is the immediate purchase of more equipment, such as the modems. The next step is the cre ation of a long term plan for funding. Currently, there is money set aside from student computer access fees for special projects like the modem increase. However, CIS needs to find fund ing for the annual operating cost that will increase with the number of, modems. CIS must also invest in changing technology that often quickly becomes obsolete. “This is a long term approach,” Dinkel said. “As the services improve, demand will increase, and the need for more modems will increase.” A log-in restriction will continue to be in place ensuring the maximum availability of access. The limits are two hours during busy hours and four hours during slow periods. In addi tion, there are 32 modems reserved for express connections with a 10 minute time limit. Schedule Change The fourth day of class, Tuesday, Jan. 21, will be the last day to drop classes with no record. The fifth day of class, Wednesday, Jan. 22, will be the last day to add classes, enroll in the University and will begin the Q-Drop pe riod. The two days missed due to bad weath er will not be made up. All other calendar dates will remain the same. The Battalion INSIDETODAY HEARTBREAKER Horns run past Aggies in overtime, 86-76. Sport^Page 5 Aggielife Page 3 Opinion Page? State Page 8