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The Battalion
Volume*
Issue* 84 • 8 P<ifje*s
The Batt Online: http:// bat web.tatnu.eclu
Monday, February T, 1997
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Hazing allegations lead to suspension
University officials
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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
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Campus groups plan
Black History Month
celebrations, events
By Marissa Alanis
The Battalion
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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
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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
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