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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1997)
Monday Pagti February 2V[ Boys say they were molested at prison ) Scientists don adult mammal! ► The juveniles were on a 'scared straight' field trip. DALLAS (AP) — State officials are investigat ing allegations that some boys were sexually mo lested by inmates on a recent “scared straight” field trip to a prison. Five or six boys enrolled at the Country Place Child and Adolescent Treatment Center in Collin County said they were molested by prisoners at the state’s Eastham Unit near Lovelady. Larry Todd, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman, said his department is taking the allegations seriously. Investigators are inter viewing the field trip participants, correctional officers and inmates at the unit. “In those interviews, we want to confirm whether the allegations are in fact as the juve niles stated,” he said. “If the allegations have any validity whatsoever, and we have no reason to doubt them at this point, it is not the kind of ac tivities that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice permits.” About 15 of the center’s 21 adolescents went on the Feb. 14 field trip. The boys were taking part in a “scared straight” program where inmates discuss prison life candidly. Michael Hannah, the treatment center’s pro gram director, said one of the boys has left the center as a result of the alleged abuse. After the three-hour prison visit, the adoles cents went on a weekend camping trip and re turned to the center on Monday night, Hannah said. The abuse was reported when the boys met with therapists. The two staff members who attended the field trip said they did not witness the abuse. The staff was with the kids during the entire visit, Hannah said. Other participants did not see it happen ei ther, he said. “I trust our employees, and they are saying they didn’t see these things,” Hannah said, who would not say if he thought the allega tions were credible. The center’s former director of therapeutic ac tivities, David Pavelka, encouraged the boys to file a grievance. He said he was present during the therapy sessions when the boys complained about the abuse. “This was not a group of kids getting together and making up a story. This was three separate therapy groups and the same story was coming out of each one,” Pavelka said. “You can’t believe how much it shocked me. This is not supposed to hap pen. These children are our responsibility.” Pavelka said the boys told him although the staff members saw what happened, they did not stop the abuse, which is alleged to have in volved fondling. “These kids were traumatized. They are feel ing totally helpless.” he said. “My concern is how much they are going to sweep under the rug.” Pavelka was fired Thursday. Hannah said the action had nothing to do with the allegations, but he would not talk about the firing. Country Place is a residential facility for boys and girls with psychiatric and substance-abuse problems. It has residents aged 12 to 17. China prepares for Deng's cremation Felicia Moon counsels prisoners BEIJING (AP) — Police blockaded a cemetery for revolutionary heroes Sunday, keeping back hundreds of curious Chinese citizens while sol diers made final preparations for the nation’s farewell to Deng Xiaoping. Deng is to be cremated today, hours before U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrives in Bei jing on the last stop of a nine-coun try around-the-world trek, sources at state-run TV said. Eulogies praising Deng’s exploits and his economic reforms, which raised tens of millions of Chinese from poverty, gushed Sunday from government television and media. Soldiers, meanwhile, solemnly rehearsed, carrying an empty, see- through bier at the cemetery for Communist veterans where Deng is to be cremated in Babaoshan, a neighborhood in western Beijing. Police blocked a side road to the cemetery and kept back crowds of about 200 people from its front gate, where a flag flew at half-staff. At one point, a stream of about eight black limousines sped out of the cemetery. Deng died Wednesday at age 92. His family asked that his ashes be scattered at sea after a Tuesday memorial attended by 10,000 peo ple. A casket containing Deng’s ash es will be covered by the red Com munist flag during the memorial, which marks the last day of a six- day mourning period. Although no foreigners have been invited to the memorial, Deng’s chosen successor, Commu nist Party Secretary and President Jiang Zemin, is likely to welcome Al bright’s visit as an opportunity to highlight international recognition for his leadership. Albright has compressed her meetings into one day so she can leave before the memorial. No for eigners were invited because Deng, who retired in 1990, was officially a private citizen with no higher title than “comrade.” Hong Kong’s Sunday Morning Post said the political infighting that some expected to sharpen with Deng’s death had begun. The news paper said Communist hard-liners were circulating a 20,000-word crit icism of Deng’s policies, in defiance of Jiang’s orders. MISSOURI CITY (AP) — Felicia Moon once accused the criminal justice system of meddling with her family life after she accused her husband, NFL quarterback Warren Moon, with beating her. Now, one year after a jury acquit ted Moon, his wife is back in the criminal justice system. But this time she wants to be there, ministering to inmates in the state’s prison system. “I feel what the trial did was real ly free me to be able to help other people,” Moon said. “When it was over, my heart wanted to give back and do something for people like me and my husband who have made mistakes. “I often tell people I don’t think there’s much of anything you can’t overcome.” Next month, Moon and her hus band, who is now a free agent, will launch their Rock of Faith Prison Li brary Project, which will place faith- based libraries in prisoners’ reach. The first one — with 1,000 vol umes waiting in storage — is sched uled to be in place March 15 at the Jester Units in Fort Bend County, where the couple lives with their four children. “When someone comes from out side and believes in us, it gives us hope,” inmate Isaac Smith, 32, serv ing time for a robbery-by-threat con viction out of Galveston County, said. As she tells the prisoners she counsels, a person cannot hide from tough times. “If you mess up, face it, deal with it and move on,” she said. Last year, Moon dressed in bright red every day of the eight-day trial, saying it represented Jesus’ blood and forgiveness. Fort Bend prosecutors pur sued the case, even though the couple said they were reconciled and Moon did not want to prose cute her husband over the July 18, 1995, incident at the couple’s Mis souri City home. She believes faith, prayer and hope can work miracles in lives, and said God led her to the prison ministry as a place to make a difference. “They feel like they can look at me and know that I’m somebody who has gone through some of that same pain — a woman who knows that her husband’s com mitted adultery, for instance, or a woman who has had problems with alcohol, drugs or depression or violence,” she said. NEWYORK (AP) — Researchers have cloned an adult mammal for the first time, an astonishing sci entific landmark that raises the unsettling possibility of making ; copies of people. Scientists slipped genes from a 6- year-old ewe into unfertilized eggs and used them to try to create preg nancies in other sheep. The result: A lamb named Dolly, born in July, that is a genetic copy of the ewe. Experts said the feat opens the door to cloning prized farm ani mals such as cattle, and should make it much easier to add or modify genes in livestock. d “I can think of no I ethical reason to I apply this technique I to human beings.” Carl Feldbaum Biotechnology Industry Organization president It is also scientifically stunning. Researchers used DNA from the ewe’s udder cells, proving mature mammal cells specialized for something other than reproduc tion could be used to regenerate I an entire animal. Scientists had thought that I was impossible. Experts said the same tech nique might make it possible to clone humans, but emphasized that it would be unethical to try. “There is no clinical reason why you would do this. Why would you make another human being?” said Ian Wilmut, one of the scientists who cloned the sheep. “We think it would be ethically unacceptable and cer tainly would not want to be involved ! in tliat project.” Carl Feldbaum, president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, which represents about 700 compa nies and research centers in the Unit ed States and abroad, agreed. “I can thinkofnoethicalrf to apply this technique total beings, if in fact it cant he said Sunday. “The biotechnology indd exists to use genetic infomq to cure disease and improve^ culture,” he said. “WeopposriJ man cloning when it wasail Now that it may be possible, urge that it be prohibitedbyt A report of the sheep don will be published inlhursda) sue of the journal Naturtl Wilmut and colleagues atj Roslin Institute near Edinbuf Scotland, and others. Before the new work, scieij had been able to take tissuetf adult frogs and create] identical tadpoles. Butthetadpl never developed fully into frosi To do the sheep cloning s lists took cells from theeM'dl der tissue and cultivated then] lab, using a treatment thatosf the cells essentially dormantl also took unfertilized sheepij and removed the nucleus,! cells’ central control roomi contains the genes. Then they put the udderu together with the egg cellsd used an electric currenttomi them fuse. The eggs, equipped with a nucleus, into embryos as if they had fertilized. The embryoswerej into ewes to develop. The process was horrendous^ efficient. Of277 fused eggs,only! led to a lamb. Wilmut said he expects died ciency to improve. Somedayae farmer, for example, might taJ few clones of cows that are esd ly good at producing milk,re$n disease and reproducing, hesa: j A farmer would not wantei herds of identical animals ' cause populations needadfi genetic makeup, he said,Will that diversity, a lethal disease? struck one cow might wipeol the clones, too. Sponsored by McDonalds Jam Pack$6.99 20 piece McNuggets 2 large french fries 2 medium drinks (valid thru: 3/5/97) Aggie Bucks “Accepted At These Locations • University Drive •Southwest Parkway •George Bush Drive •Post Oak Mall \vV. Fitness FT .mi This Ain't No Ordinary Dance Glass . jr-J? experience it savor it: love it Golf Course Department Scramble ChallengeAnotherDepaitment^ $30/Player with cart includes ditty bag Deadline for entries is 3/1/97 For more information, call 845-1 723. Whether you have the groove or not. this class is for you! Planet Funk Fitness is a mix of the best in high energy hip-hop moves and choregraphy into an organized fitness class. A very Funky, Crazy, Explosive Class. Come try it. You're going to love it! Only $15 for Rec members. Non-memeber Texas A&M faculty & Staff and community prices are available. Class and Workshop Saturday, March 1,1897 3 6pm Rec Center For more information call 862-3995 or visit the Rec Center Memcbr Services Desk 1AMU Outdoors Sprirg Break Trips Backpacking/Canoeing Mar. 8-14 $250/288* You've always wanted to try back packing, but have been hesitant to do something new on your own. Now is your chance to strap on your backpack and go outdoors to Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas with TAMU Outdoors. ar~: ^ Aiy - non-Rec Member Price Spring TAMU Outdoors Schedule Horseback Riding Mar. 12-16 $362/398* Join TAMU Outdoors and explore the Big Bend area horseback riding. Visit ghost towns, and mountain-top vistas. Get out and enjoy the beauty of West Texas with TAMU Outdoors and Rec Sports. mmmm Event Date Register Fee*/** •Rock Climbing Clinic Sport Lead Feb. 25 Now-Feb. 24 $20 •Rock Climbing Trip Feb.28-Mar. 2 Now-Feb. 24 $65/72 •Backpacking Trip March 1-2 Now-Feb. 24 $45/54 • Hofseback/Hiking Day Trip March 1 Now-Feb 24 $36/43 •Kayak Roll Clinic March 4 Now-March 3 $12/15 •Rock Climbing Clinic Basic Movement March 4 Now-March 3 $20 Spring Break Trip • Backpack/Canoe Ouachita Arkansas •Wilderness Horseback Trip Mar. 18-14 Mar. 1 2-16 Now-Mar. 3 $250/288 Now-Feb. 27 $362/398 ^Students & faculty with Rec Memberships **Faculty/staff without Rec Memberships and Bryan/College Station Community Members Intramurals More Than Just Fun and Games Run Over to the Rec and Register For Kyle Field Ramp Romp FEES: $7 Rec member $10 non-Rec member Prices above are valid thru Mar. 18 $12 Late Registration* $15 Race Day Registration ‘Begins March 19 Run a beautiful 5K course around campus and then challenge yourself with a mile run on the Kyle Field Stadium ramps. Choose from a variety of divisionso( competition. Come to the Rec Center and pickups Ramp Romp registration form. Satuniav. March 22, 9:00am Intramural Registration Dates Sport Badminton Pickleball Kyle Field Ramp Romp 4-on-4 Flag Football CoRec Indoor Soccer *$10 for non-Rec Members Registration fee Feb. 1 7-25 free Feb. 17-25 free Feb. 17-Mar. 18 $7* Feb.24-Mar.4 $20 Feb.24-Mar.4 $35 Sport Clubs Come Cheer Your Team to Vidoif Archery Indoor Nationals Come see archery here at the Rec Center Friday-Sunday, Feb. 28-Mar. 2 Judo Tournament Witness Japanese wrestling this Saturday, March 1 at the Rec Center-court 6. Men's Rugby Came Come experience tough competition this Saturday, March 1 against Southeast Louisiana on the East Campus field Rec Sports FREE Healthy Living Lecture Series You Need To Know yNertnestiny 5:3O-6:30p 281 Rec Center February 26 Eating Disorders Dr. Jane Cohen and Debra Shipley will discuss anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and obesity. Learn the theories of causes and recognize the warning signs. Watch For This Upcoming Seminar March 5 Running For Fitness Running done incorrectly can do more harm than good. Come learn the proper ways to run. "A' McRib is Back! Super Size any Extra Value Meal for 39c Have you had your break today? For a limited time enjoy the great taste of McRii) available only at McDonald's. McRib Sandwich $219 McRib Extra Value Meal $3 49 Sandwich Large French Fries Medium Drink Foraiimii« i,,n ’ e