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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1997)
Page lay • January 31,1! drill * in shot The Battalion Volume* Issue* 84 • 8 P<ifje*s The Batt Online: http:// bat web.tatnu.eclu Monday, February T, 1997 to insulin may allow uf or stop their insulin e diabetes. Hazing allegations lead to suspension University officials have temporarily suspended the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. B The drug stimulates a to produce mor t insulin-controlte proteins, giving insulin more opportunity tow By Marissa Alanis The Batfalion Phi Gamma Delta fraternity was temporarily suspended be- -ause of an alleged hazing inci- .?ftent on Jan. 8, 1997. The incident is under investiga tion by the Brazos County Sheriff’s Department and Texas A&M Uni versity officials. The campus chapter was sus pended after University officials discovered that the Brazos County Sheriffs Department was conduct ing an investigation based on a re port that pledges were subjected to a “hosing down” with a water hose outside the fraternity house. Jon Price, A&M Interfraternity Council adviser, along with the De partment of Student Life, launched a joint investigation into the alleged hazing incident based on the find ings of the sheriffs department. “When there are any concerns of an improper activity, as a condition to join an organization or affiliate with it, that is grounds to initiate an investigation,” Price said. The fraternity is temporarily suspended by A&M and its nation al chapter pending the results of the investigation. Members of the fraternity de clined to comment. On the day of the alleged hazing incident William Walker III, a Phi Gamma Delta fraternity pledge, died at Columbia Medical Center in College Station after suffering an acute asthma attack. So far, there is no indication that the two incidents are related. Chris Kirk, Brazos County sher iff, said the department must deter mine whether the two events were related by reviewing evidence such as the medical examiner’s report. “Did the incidents that occurred that day contribute to his death or cause his death — are among the number of things that we’re investi gating,” Kirk said. Kirk said Walker’s death initiated an investigation, since the depart ment is required by state statute to investigate any unattended death. Kirk said the sheriff’s depart ment’s investigation will not be con cluded until a secondary forensic pathologist’s report arrives. The case will then be presented to the grand jury, which will determine if any criminal offense occurred based on the testimony and evidence. “They either come back and say there was no bill (criminal offense) or true bill,” he said. Kirk said when criminal statutes such as hazing, are violat ed certain elements need to be proven to determine if there was a criminal offense. One of the elements the grand jury will need to prove is the “culpa ble mental state” of the fraternity members — whether they inten tionally, knowingly or recklessly contributed to Walker’s death. Price said the University is re sponsible only for investigating pol icy violations and is not responsible for investigating criminal activities. University regulations define haz ing as “any intentional, knowing or reckless act occurring on or off the campus of Texas A&M University, by one person alone or acting with oth ers, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization... ” See Suspension, Page 4 ot alarming, arned that the rescribed with can with advanced hei :, because animal ignals the drug m rgans. It caused flut increased heart sit : the FDA said thoi not been observe! have tried the drug Campus groups plan Black History Month celebrations, events By Marissa Alanis The Battalion r JED fbKei*rtTA 1 Ho ft ^ SPEAKS ElHUII 1 DU MUSTySat It... ATHLETIC Knowledge and enrichment of the minds of individuals at Texas A&M is the puipose of Black History Month, celebrated throughout Febmary. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson established the first Negro History Week Celebration during the second week of February. The week later expanded into a month. In conjunction with the theme of “Uplift ing the lives of African-Americans, Enriching the minds of all,” the week of Feb. 10-14 was designated Knowledge Week by the MSG Black Awareness Committee and the A&M chapter of the NAACR Donavan Wheatfall, president of the A&M chapter of the NAACP and a junior business analysis major, said Black History Month al lows African-Americans to reflect on their past so they can use it as a guide for the future. "We always talk about history in the con text ofyesterday,”Wheatfall said. “That’s what we’re focusing on. How do we use the history to help us now?” Wheatfall said a book titled Miseducation of the Negro discusses how African-Americans were knowledgeable about European philoso phers and inventors, but did not know about their own history. "To be truly educated is to know about yourself,” he said. A showing of the movie Sankofa on Feb. 10 II give African-American students at A&M the opportunity to learn about their history. The movie illustrates the modern reality of African slave descendants. Wheatfall said celebrating Black History Month does not mean African-Americans are trying to be superior, but rather, it shows what African-Americans have contributed to society. “We always talk about history in the context of yesterday. That's what we're focusing on. How do we use the history to help us now?” Donavan Wheatfall A&M chapter of the NAACP president Wheatfall said many people have no prob lem saying things like ‘Michael Jordan domi nates the basketball court,’ because they ac cept that he dominates the NBA. He said, however, some people do not want to admit that African-Americans excel in other areas. “I dare them to say African-Americans dominate the hospital room or courtroom,” Wheatfall said. Tonya Moreland, committee director of publications and a junior speech communica tions major, said Black History Month teaches children about the African-Americans who have made contributions as astronauts or in ventors, rather than focusing on entertainers. See History, Page 4 }uatr ITSE IT’S SEOM# IMAN d from Page never have been a*;' ix years to A&M it not been formyl ” she said, mm will not end iced by the new^ ae already has is chairman ofth c restock Exposition the purpose of the 5 le scholarships fo 1 ng a degree in i ition. West also professorial chaiti 11 agriculture, she hopes to >r their education, it the past 30 years'" ! young people, tryi 1 ' ucated,” she said. I Financial Aid Office holds 'Money Gras' By Rebecca Torrellas The Battalion Financial Aid Awareness Week begins to day, and the Texas A&M Student Financial Aid Office will participate in ‘Money Gras’ to edu cate current and future college students about financial aid. Free programs will be held this week and on Feb. 13 for anyone seeking information about scholarships, grants, loans and stu dent employment. Stephanie West, a financial aid counselor, said this event will answer any questions students may have about different kinds of financial aid. The purpose of this is to help current and prospective students and parents find out about the opportunities for school finance based on their specific offers,” West said. An open house on Tuesday will feature in formation booths, a scholarship drawing, mu sic and door prizes. Separate sessions during the open house Will cover planning for application to college, tuition, general financial aid, the federal stu dent aid application, the loan process, schol arships and student employment. West said the Student Financial Aid De partment awards more than $2 million in scholarships. “More than half of all college students receive some form of monetary assistance to help them pursue their education,” West said. “Without it, many students simply wouldn’t be able to attend an institution of higher learning.” There will be information tables at the Memorial Student Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week for students and parents seek ing information and advice on scholarships, grants, loans and student employment. Several events are planned during the week to help students obtain information about financial aid. A scholarship search open house will help students learn to use a national data base to find scholarships that are best suited for them. A financial aid teleconference will help students fill out the federal student aid appli cation via video teleconference. A hot line sponsored by the Texas Associa tion of Student Financial Aid Administrators will be in operation Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8 and 9, to answer questions about the finan cial aid process. Financial Aid Awareness Week Schedule • Tuesday, Feb. 4 - A scholarship search open house will be held at the Texas A&M Stu dent Financial Aid Office in The Pavilion, room 208, from 5-8 p.m. •Thursday, Feb. 6 - A financial aid application teleconference will be held at Bryan High School from 6:30-8:30 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8 and 9 - A student financial aid hot line will be in opera tion from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. •Thursday, Feb. 13 - A financial aid open house will be held on the second floor of the MSC from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Game Day Rogge Heflin, The Battalion Nate Hillard, posing as "King Dreagon" in the black suit, defends himself against Hans Ratliff, posing as "Simon Dracol" in the red suit, during a flourentine sparing exhibition at Simpson Drill Field Saturday. The exhibition is part of WarCon '97, a gaming convention sponsored by MSC Nova. Regent Brisco ends six-year term By Erica Roy The Battalion Alison Brisco’s term as a member of the Board of Regents will end this year. She served the Texas A&M University System for six years. BOARD OF REGENTS Cl lANGING OF THE GUARD Gov. Ann Richards appointed Brisco and Chairman of the Board of Regents Mary Nan West to the Board in 1991, mak ing them the third and fourth women ap pointed to the Board. Regents appointed in the past have al ways been A&M graduates. Brisco and West were not. Brisco said despite not being an A&M graduate she was able to take part in the activities and spirit of A&M. Brisco “I think we (West and Brisco) are leaving now, six years later, with both of us feeling very much connected to the institutions and traditions,” she said. Brisco, an invest ment banker and vice president with Lehman Brothers in Houston, chaired the Finance and Audit Committee for four years. Brisco said, as a banker, she was interested in the way A&M conducts business. She has tried to open up opportunities for the Universi ty to work with more minority- and women-owned businesses. “I’ve worked really hard to make sure we (A&M System) have the reputation of being open and accessible...,” she said. Dick Lindsay, the deputy chancellor for finance and operations, said Brisco was responsible for increasing invest ments from $450 million to almost $900 million while she chaired the Finance and Audit Committee. Lindsay said Brisco’s efforts helped im plement private housing on four of the A&M System campuses. Lindsay said Brisco is also one of the cam pus leaders responsible for getting Martin Luther King Jr. Day recognized as a holiday. “I’m going to miss her terribly,” he said. “She’s done a super job. She has been both a great leader and supporter of what we have tried to do.” Brisco said the most rewarding as pects of being on the Board of Regents were bringing a different perspective and point of view to the Board and help ing the A&M System. See Brisco, Page 4 Business Student Council hosts career fair By Jackie Vratil The Battalion Motorola, Northwestern Mutual Life and Perot Systems are among the compa nies that will visit the Texas A&M campus this week for the 1997 Spring Career Fair hosted by the Business Student Council. The fair will provide booths for 100 companies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the day in the Wehner building. Students can buy tickets to at tend banquets in the evenings at the Hilton and spend time familiarizing themselves with a specific company. The Spring Career Fair is one of two the Business Student Council hosts; the oth er is in the fall. Michelle Skinner, publicity chair for the fair and a senior marketing and Eng lish major, said in addition to the two ma jor fairs, campus business societies bring in speakers and recruiters to provide in formation about companies seeking fu ture employees. Skinner said the company booths and banquets are a great way to put a face with a name. “The banquet gives the students a chance to talk to the recruiters more on a one-to-one basis,” she said. “It also is a chance to talk to the recruiters with out having five other students waiting behind you.” Ryan Hill, president of the Business Student Council and a senior accounting major, said A&M’s fair is one of the only career fairs directed by students. “They (companies at the career fair) have even told us that we are more pro fessional than some of the other fairs where adults were in charge,” he said. “Other schools have even called us to find out how we do it so they can do it, too.” Skinner said businesses involved are pleased with the student-run event. “When the recruiters find out we put the whole thing on, they are impressed,” Skinner said. “It reflects positively on the University and therefore makes the re cruiter more apt to hire.” One of the Business Student Council’s major goals is to emphasize that the fair is not just for graduating seniors. See Fair, Page 4 The Battalion INSIDETODAY Strip-O-Gram: Local strip pers put a new twist on the traditional singing telegram. Aggielife, Page 3 Weather Sports Opinion Page 2 Page 5 Page?