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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1997)
The Battalion /olume 103 • Issue 75 • 12 Pages The Batt Online: Bat-web@tamu.edu Tuesday, January 21, 1997 linton kicks off second term DFF ducts. lected products. JWASHINGTON (AP) — William Jefferson Inton began his second term as president pnday, promising a turn-of-the-century gov- pment that “does more with less.” In a day of augural fanfare and political reflection, he Jged an end to Washington’s “petty bickering Id extreme partisanship.” |The nation’s 53rd inauguration stretched from ousing morning prayer service to all-night rev- fat 15 black-tie balls. (Five minutes after noon, as a warming sun lone down on the chilled Capitol audience, linton put his left hand on the family Bible lid by his wife and raised his right hand to re- |te the 35 words spoken by every president dee George Washington. [ "Good luck,” Chief Justice William Rehnquist lid when the president finished the oath. ] The crowd broke the silence with a roar of jieers. The president turned and swept up Hillary fcdham Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, in a jro-armed hug. Cannons fired a military salute. Clinton will be the first president of the 21st century and the approach of a new millennium was very much on his mind at the rebirth of his presidency. Clinton’s vision of his second term was one of practicality. “As times change, so gov ernment must change,” Clin ton said. “We need a new gov ernment for a new century.” He said government cannot solve everyone’s problems but it should offer the tools for people to help themselves. In a 22-minute inaugural address, he envisioned a gov ernment that “is smaller, lives within its means and does more with less.” “Our land of new promise will be a nation that meets its obligations, a nation that balances its budget but never loses the balance of its values; a nation where our grandparents have secure re tirement and health care.” In a capital city often torn by dark political Clinton division, it was a bright day of unity and recon ciliation. Republicans and Democrats tipped hats. Clinton was ushered to the podium by Re publican nemeses, House Speaker Newt Gin grich among them. Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla., praised the tone and the substance of Clinton’s speech. “It was clearly one given with an outreached hand, I be lieve, to all of us to work together. I thought the inaugural was very positive, almost spiritual... and hopefully a healing event as well.” In the spirit of the day, Gingrich presented Clinton and Vice President A1 Gore with flags that had flown over the capital that morning. At a lunch in Statuary Hall, Gingrich said the flags were a reminder that “while we may disagree about some things, here you’re among friends.” Gingrich would benefit from political recon ciliation. On Tuesday, the House was to vote on penalties for Gingrich over ethics violations. Clinton’s first official act was to sign a procla mation declaring Monday a national day of hope and renewal. President looks to 21st century By Graham Harvey The Battalion Yesterday at the U.S. Capitol, President Bill Clinton began his second term as the 42nd Presi dent of the United States. Under cold, cloudy skies, thousands of visitors gathered in Washington, D.C., between the Washington Monument and the Capitol building, to witness the 53rd Presidential Inauguration. Sen. John Warner, chair of the Senate Joint Inaugural Commit tee, served as master of cere monies, proclaiming the peace ful event to be a “tribute to the Providential vision of our Founding Fathers.” The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham de livered the invocation, in which he recognized Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. See Inauguration, Page 12 OFF mdise. IAVEH partment fire kills student, orces residents to relocate ) FF dise. HESS OFF dise. :e! AARK By Marissa Alanis The Bait align An early morning apart- nent fire killed one Texas l&M University student and ijured two other residents of Kensington Place Apartments College Station Saturday. Twenty-three students vere forced to relocate to va cant units for safety reasons Hafter the blaze caused the ^electricity to be cut off in 10 '^apartments. One upper-level ipartment unit was de frayed, and two lower-level inits received water damage. PauiL. Meloeny, a sopho- nore electrical engineering major from Seabrook, Texas, was found lying dead on his bedroom floor. His roommates, Alexan der Clinton and Brandt Beal survived by escaping through a back-bedroom window from the second floor. Jon Mies, the College Sta tion Fire Marshal, said the preliminary autopsy per formed on Meloeny ruled cause of death as smoke in halation and hot fire gases. “It appears he was awak ened,” Mies said. “He opened his bedroom door, and he was exposed to the fire.” Clinton, a sophomore en vironmental design major, was transported from Co lumbia Medical Center in College Station to Hermann Hospital in Houston. Micheal Togliatti, a media marketing specialist at Her mann Hospital, said Clinton suffered from first- and sec ond-degree burns over 35 percent of his body. Togliatti said Clinton is list ed in stable condition, but that it will be difficult to determine when he will be released, since his injuries are unique. “With burns, you just take it by a day-to-day ba sis,” Togliatti said. Beal, a sophomore elec trical engineering major, re ceived medical treatment for smoke inhalation and was released from Columbia Medical Center. Mies said the fire originat ed in the proximity of the liv ing-room sofa. Since the damage is extensive, the cause of the fire will never be determined, he said. “Due to the damages, we’ve ruled out an electrical malfunction,” Mies said. The American Red Cross of Brazos County provided beds, toiletries, food and clothing for the residents who had to evac uate their units. See Fire, Page 12 NAACP Group promotes 'no fear' attitude i% nery and :kers. )NERS By Erica Roy The Battalion The Texas A&M chapter of the NAACP jpports the organization’s theme “no ar of violence” through on-campus nd community efforts as they continue ) protect personal rights. Donavan Wheatfall, president of the &M and state chapter of the National ssociation of the Advancement of Col- red People and a junior business analy- s major, said the A&M chapter of the ssociation endorses the theme of no >ar of violence, crime, gangs or poverty. “We’ve adopted that same philoso- hy by giving back to the community, ad helping younger people understand ie choices they have,” Wheatfall said. During the fall semester, the A&M IAACP sponsored a canned food drive irthe Brazos Food Bank. This April, the University chapter will old a local book drive during the lAACP’s national book drive called Books for Tots.” The book drive en- ourages giving books, which last a life- e, to children rather than toys. The organization is raising funds to erect a statue in honor of Matthew Gaines, a Texas senator during the 12th legislature, who helped obtain die land grant for Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M. A Bryan-College Station firefighter, police officer, teacher, clergy member and an outstanding student will be hon ored at the NAACP Image Awards during NAACP week in February. Wheatfall said they are trying to es tablish a civil-rights officer in the office of the University President. This officer would aid people who feel their person al rights have been violated. Wheatfall said the NAACP considers itself the guardian of individual’s per sonal rights, despite race or gender. “What we have been fighting for is not just for black people,.but the end of a white, male-dominated society,” he said. “Everybody plays a part.” Wheatfall said the NAACP wants to help anyone who has been discriminated against, not just African-Americans. The chapters want to change their image of being primarily a black organization. “Everybody has color, from flesh-tone peach to mahogany brown,” Wheatfall said. Kyana Herbert, a NAACP member and freshman sociology member, said the NAACP does not just focus on as sisting African Americans. “There are many things we are trying to do,” she said, “not just for African- Americans, but for the entire campus.” Historically, the NAACP has respond ed to perceived injustices by openly questioning laws and politicians and bringing crucial cases to court. The A&M chapter has been involved in protesting the decision of the Hop- wood case, which does not allow Texas universities to use race as criteria for See NAACP, Page 12 Heads Up Tim Moog, The Battalion Christy Reinoehl, a sophomore biomedical science major, throws a disc past Michael Haughey, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, in an Ultimate Frisbee game Monday after noon at Simpson Drill Field. i brand family. y- Gillian Williams speaks with several students who attended the Southwest Hack Student Leadership Conference Saturday. A total of 1,100 students, from as far as California, attended the conference at exas A&M last weekend. Students attended luncheons, an oratorical contest, re- gious services and workshops with guest speakers. One of the highlights of the the weekend conference was the appearance of iharon Pratt Kelly, the former mayor of Washington, D.C., who spoke Saturday n Duncan Hall at the conference luncheon. The former mayor gave an inspira- ional speech, applauding the conference for this year's theme, Unity of spirit to .oar beyond an uncertain future. Kelly urged students to remain active in their ommunities, and to be leaders of America in the next millennium. Long weekend hurts Open House attendance Laura Oliveira The Battalion MSC’s Spring Open House gave 9,500 Texas A&M students the op portunity to find their niche at a uni versity with over 900 organizations. Sunday’s turnout was half that of Fall Open House. Laura Frnka, vice president of MSC public relations and a senior journalism major, said the decreased attendance was not surprising. “It was a lot less packed than the fall,” she said. “The two ice days, the three day weekend and the fact that it is just smaller in the spring all contributed to the low atten dance. But considering those three factors, all went well.” Harvey Castro, president and founder of American Medical Student Association Premed and a senior bio medical science major, said those in attendance were fresh targets. “The three-day weekend killed us, but we are a new group,” he said. “We are trying to recruit the Amy Dunlap, The Battalion Heather Johns performs with the Singing Cadets at the MSC Open House on Sunday. people that are here and those coming in from Howdy Camp.” Matt Rosin, an active member of Fledging Records Supports Local Music and a sophomore philosophy major, said their organization pur sues students following local music. “We help advertise and book lo cal bands,” he said. “There is really no one around that touches the lo cal music scene. So we are here to fill that niche.” TAMU Judo Club enticed hesi tant passers-by with a film that showed kicks and punches from judo competitors. Jackie Bayard, an active member of TAMU Judo Club and a freshman psychology major, said this visual brought many students to their table. “Some people were not sure about Judo Club,” she said. “They did not know how organized it was.” Business majors were able to visit the Hispanic Business Stu dent Association. Velda Pena, vice president of the as sociation and a junior management major, said their organization is oblig ated to many social events in the fall. “Spring is directed toward profes- sionad career development more so than in the fall,” she said. “We are try ing to maintain our current members and recruit new members.” Throughout the day, students were entertained by Silver Spurs, Bal let Folklorico and the Singing Cadets. Kyle Gibson, a Singing Cadet and a senior industrial distribution major, said Open House gave them an opportunity to entertain as well as promote their organization. “We love to sing for people, and right now we are taking auditions,” he said. “This is a perfect opportunity to reach a lot of people.” The Battalion INSI DETODAY FERGUSON: Clinton’s | bridge to the 21st cen tury is not quite long enough. Opinion,Page 111 What's Up Page 6 Sports Page 7 Aggielife Page 3