The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, March 20, 1997, Image 2

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    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.
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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******.
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*«>*• Mo* onra«-«- ,
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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
<D
c
A
T
Get a head start on your MCAT pis!
Early Accfss OptioIi
• Take a full-length diagnostic
MCAT
• Receive a detailed score
analysis
• Participate in 9 hours of
classes designed to teach
verbal reasoning and study
skills applicable to all 3
sections of the MCAT
THE PRINCETON REVIEW
MCAT Program is endorsed by:
• I
American Medical Students Association
Call today for schedules
AND INFORMATION
(409) 696-90M
info.cs@review.com
The Princeton Review is not affiliated with AAMC or Princeton
The Battalion
Rachel Barry, Edtor in Chief
Michael Landauer, Executive Editor Wesley Poston, City Edeor
Tiffany Moore, Managing Editor Kristina Buffin, Sports Em?
Stew Milne, Visual Arts Editor Alex Walters, Opinion Editor
John LeBas, Aggielife Editor Chris Stevens, Web Editor
Jody Holley, Night News Editor Tim Moog, Photo Editor
Helen Clancy, Night News Editor Brad Grabber, Cartoon EdiW
Staff Members
City Desk - Assistant Editor: Melissa Nunnery; Reporters: Rebecca Torrellas, Brandon Hausenfluck, Kevin Cummings,IT
Oliveira, Erica Roy, Graham Harvey, JoAnne Whittemore, Jackie Vratil, Benjamin Cheng, Shikonya Curetonjoey
Schlueter, Kathleen Strickland, Marissa Alanis & Shea Wiggins
Aggielife Desk - Assistant Editor: April Towery; Feature Writers: Aaron Meier, Shea Wiggins, Michael Schaub, Daphne
Phillips, Brandon Truitt, Missy Price, & Karen Janes; Page Designers: Artie Alvarado & Daphne Phillips
Sports Desk - Assistant Editor: Paul Mitchell; Writers: Jamie Burch, Sara Duesing, Jeremy Furtick, Matt Mitchell,Co#
Lyons, Dennis Ramirez, Chris Ferrell, Lara Zuehlke & Nicole Smith; Page Designer: Eric Proctor
Opinion Desk - Assistant Editor: James Francis; Columnists: Jon Apgar, David Boldt, Mason JacksonJenne Hamlin,SW’
Llano, Joshua Hill, Steve May, Heather Pace, Donny Ferguson, Kate Shropshire, Dave Johnston, Glenn Janik,Gene"-
Franklin, Robby Ray, Courtney Phillips, John Lemmons, Brandon Hausenfluck, Travis Chow & Jeremy Valdez
Night News - Page Designers: Jennifer Bishop, Angie Rodgers, Joshua Miller, Lisa Wells & Michele Chancellor
Copy Editors - Elisa Douglass, Missy Davila, Shea Wiggins, Gina Panzica & Matt Weber
Visual Arts Desk - Assistant Photo Editor: Dave House; Photographers: Rony Angkriwan, Patrick James, Derek Demeie,
Robert McKay, Ryan Rogers & Amy Dunlap; Graphic Artists: Jennifer Maki, James Palmer & James Vineyard; C»ro-'
ists: Michael Depot, Chad Mallam, David Hoffman, John Lemons, Ed Goodwin & Quatro Oakley
Webmasters - Dusty Moer, Sara Candy, David Friesenhahn & Daniel Holwerda
News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student M*
cations, a unit of the Department of Journalism. News offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building. Newsroom P f;f
845-3313; Fax: 845-2647; E-mail: Batt@tamvml.tamu.edu; Internet Address: http://bat-web.tamu.edu.
Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus
cal and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call 845-0569. Advertising^
are in 015 Reed McDonald, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-2678.
Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy offlie Bi-
ion. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year.To charge by Visa, Mass'
Card, Discover or American Express, call 845-2611.
The Battalion (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semester a'
Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) atlexasM 1
University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. Postmaster: Send address changes to Tie
talion,015 Reed McDonald BuildingJexasA&M University, College Station,IX 77843-1111.