Nation The Battalion Federal government sued by bomb victims OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Victims of the Oklahoma City bombing filed claims Wednesday against the fed eral government, contending officials could have prevented the tragedy. Others condemned the claims. “Anytime there’s a tornado and someone’s killed, are we going to then sue the National Weather Ser vice?” asked Mike Lenz, whose wife was killed. The claims were filed by 34 peo ple, including relatives of people who died in the April 19, 1995 bombing. The claims are needed to preserve the right to sue the government, which expires this year on the bomb ing’s second anniversary. Each claim seeks $25 million in damages. “The United States government neglected to protect persons in and around the Murrah Building despite knowing that terrorists had dis cussed plans for violence before April 19, 1995," attorney Richard Bieder said at a news conference. T jT f ill 1 ' , , < ¥ Simple precautions such as ban ning parking near the building or blocking off the street could have foiled the plot to bomb the building, Bieder said. Among those filing claims were Glenn and Kathy Wilburn, whose two grandsons, Chase and Colton, died in building’s day-care center. “We want the truth. We want every facet of the truth brought out,” said Wilburn, who maintains federal offi cials had some form of warning. Federal officials have repeatedly Yahoo! — Stanford benefits from gift SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Jerry Yang and David Filo’s business cards gleefully describe each as “chief Ya hoo.” But the young entrepreneurs are hardly uncivilized. Filo and Yang, the founders of Ya hoo! Inc., know how to say “Thanks.” They’ve given $2 million to endow a chair at Stanford Uni versity, where as students they de veloped the idea for the Internet di rectory that made them rich. “Obviously, Yahoo! wouldn’t be around without Stanford,” Yang said. “As reasonably soon as possible, we wanted to give something back.” Filo, 30, and Yang, 28, are the youngest people to endow a chair at the university. Their gift will establish a position formally know as the Yahoo! Founders Professor of the Stanford School of Engineering. For its part, Stanford, delighted and surprised by the gift, hopes other for mer students who make good will be inspired to similar acts of generosity at a young age. And no, those fuckers aren’t trying to push anyone’s buttons — being ya hoos, so to speak — by putting their company’s moniker on the professor ship. In fact, the two offered to find an other name if Stanford had misgivings. Not to worry. “We thought it was great," said Lau ra Breyfogle, spokeswoman for the School of Engineering. “It shows oth ers that philanthropy can be fun.” Dry frats challenge drunken stereotypes CINCINNATI (AP) —- Hang up your togas: The days of animal houses are endangered. Two major fraternities have be come the first in the nation to ban alcohol in chapter houses, and more are expected to follow suit. The new policy by Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Nu is aimed at a new breed of frat boy more serious about earning a degree than chug ging beer. The ban is supposed to go into effect by the year 2000. “They’re coming to school to get an education and they need a fam ily and some friends. They want a clean, safe house where they can study and hang out," said Robert Pasquinucci, a spokesman for Phi Delta Theta, which announced its policy this week. Excessive drinking at fraterni ties over the years has led to deaths and injuries and ruined aca demic careers. A spot check of University of Cincinnati’s fraternity row found few brothers willing to embrace the new trend. “It’s a fad. It’s all politically cor rect,” scoffed Eric Thurston as he tossed a football Wednesday out side the Alpha Tau Omega house. “I’m 21 years old,” added chap ter president Raj Ghia. “Why can’t I have a beer?” Robert McKay, The Battalion Weather ► This day in history Clear and sunny with north winds at 5-10 mph. Tonight Clear skies with calm winds. Tomorrow Partly cloudy with winds becoming southerly from 5-10 mph. Highs & Lows Today’s Expected High 77°F Tonight’s Expected Low 53°F Tomorrow’s Expected High 82°F Tomorrow Night’s Expected Low 55°F Information courtesy of TAMSCAM (AP) — Today is Thursday, March 20, the 79th day of 1997. There are 286 days left in the year. Spring arrives at 8:56 a.m. EST. On this date: In 1727, physicist, mathematician and astronomer Sir Isaac Newton died in London. In 1976, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was con victed of armed robbery for her part in a San Francis co bank holdup. In 1977, voters in Paris chose former French Prime Min ister Jacques Chirac to be the French capital’s first mayor in more than a century. In 1995, in Tokyo, 12 people were killed, more than 5,500 others sickened when packages containing the poi sonous gas sarin leaked on five separate subway trains. Ten years ago: The Food and Drug Administration ap proved the sale of AZT, a drug shown to prolong the lives of some AIDS patients. One year ago: A jury in Los Angeles convicted Eii Lyle Menendez of first-degree murder in the shotgui ings of their millionaire parents. The British govemmerj that a rare brain disease that had killed 10 people wasi ably linked to so-called ‘mad cow disease." ► Today's birthdays Producer-director-comedian Carl Reiner is 75. Nixon White House aide John Ehrlichman is 72. CW TV host Fred Rogers is 69. Canadian prime minister Mulroney is 58. Country singer Don Edwards is 58. try singer-musician Ranger Doug (Riders in the Sky) Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bobby Orr is 49. Actor William Hs| 47. Rock musician Jimmy Vaughan (The Fabulous!] derhirds) is 46. Country musician Jimmy Seales (SI# 1 doah) is 43. Movie director Spike Lee is 40. Actress’fal sa Russell is 40. Actress Holly Hunter is 39. Law Schools take your LSAT SCORES VERY SERIOUSLY. So DO WE. We’ve redesigned our course for killer improvements ! • 46 hours of instruction plus free extra tutoring. • 4 full-length LSAT’s administered under test conditions plus computer analyzed score reports. • 10 additional real LSAT’s. • Maximum class size of 15, grouped according to shared strengths and weaknesses. • Effective LSAT taking skills. Classes start April 5th, 12th, 19th! Call today! THE PRINCETON REVIEW (409) 696-9099 • info.cs@review.com 3 Days until 2 nd Annual TUG OF HONOR Non-Reg vs Corps Tug oS War & BBQ Sunday, March 23 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Duncan Field (behind Duncan Dining Center) -j’hirt' Buttons, ^ ef ‘"able Mug Be sure and validate your ID at one of the dining halls the week before or pay a $5.50 fee for BBQ Help and continue a new tradition. Do you have what it takes to tug? IB******. •" fttarcKMMMl ; , ~ *«>*• Mo* onra«-«- , J/ 8 *- .\llwNr«»4>nV 4|i_ ntbo-’NHKMMm AGGIECON XXVIII Presents on March 20-23: Drew Hayes Poison Elves Bruce Sterling Difference Engine Dave Doorman Artist - Star Wars Arthur C. Clarke Phone-In Interview Brian Stelfreeze Artist - Shadow of the Bat Plus: Gaming, VLARP, Falkenstein LAPP, Movies, Panels, Art Show, Dealers Room, Anime Room, Network Gaming, Masquerade Ball, and Charity Auction to benefit Scotty’s House! For More Information Contact MSC Cepheid Variable at 843-1515 Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special iw needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities. ^ r Q (A (A