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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1997)
The Battalion olume 103 • Issue 113 • 10 Pages The Batt Online: http:// bat-web.tamu.edu Friday, March 21, 1997 edia lecture centers on science \ditor stresses importance of research in journalism By Mait Weber The Battalion e relationship between the scientific munity and the media was the topic of eech delivered to graduate students in ■esentation Thursday in Rudder Theatre. e presentation, titled “Science and the dia: What Graduate Students Should )w,” was brought to Texas A&M Universi- is part of the Science and Technology malism Lecture Series, and was held in ijunction with the Graduate Student uncil’s 3rd Annual Research Competition. The speech was delivered by Dr. Julie n Miller, editor of Science News maga- ie. Miller spoke to graduate students in ence and Technology Journalism about ! importance of open communication ween researchers and the press. Dr. Barbara Gastel, an associate profes sor of journalism and humanities in medi cine, said Miller’s strong background in sci ence writing made her an especially good choice as a speaker. “Dr. Miller, I think, is one of the leading science journalists in the nation... consid ering her background,” Gastel said. Miller defined science journalism as the “presentation of science literature to the general public by someone other than the scientist.” She said the purpose of science journal ism is to inform the public and promote ra tional thought, and at times protect read ers from "bad science” — incomplete or incompetent research or findings. However, Miller said, mistakes are not limited to scientists. “Sometimes being wrong is as much a part of science writing as it is writing,” Miller said. She discussed the steps required to pro duce a science-related article. Along with writing the story, authors also must do re search of their own. She said most articles begin with finding and choosing relevant topics from science journals, conferences, interviews with re searchers and even other media sources. Once chosen, a science writer must do their own background work on the subject before the article is written. Although science journalism often fo cuses on topics considered “dry” and com plicated by the general public, Miller said, writers must be able to make their stories interesting and relevant to readers. See Lecture, Page 10 •if,?- H / i. ■ V ‘ ^ ''•A. W " iHfcy ? * „V ,'-V , ■•.esS&kA m® f ip ; Derek Demere, The Battalion Making the Play Anne Harry (left), a junior botany major, and Kristen Anton, a freshman animal science major, practice with other members of the women's lacrosse team for their games against UT and Trinity this weekend. Students to compete in Fish Olympics By Benjamin Cheng The Battalion Freshmen at Texas A&M will have the lance to dunk the yell leaders in a water nkand compete in a clothing relay in the ishOlympics tomorrow, from 9:30 a.m. to 30 p.m. at Simpson Drill Field. Freshmen can compete in teams of lends, residence halls, Corps outfits or her organizations. The winning team will ceive a trophy. There is no cost to partic- ate and a free lunch will be provided. Joseph Piotrowski, Fish Olympics direc- rand a senior finance major, said the 'eat provides freshmen the opportunity ittieet other freshmen. They compete against each other, but Tn good fun,” Piotrowski said. Events include Aggie Trivia, sumo wrestling, flag football and spirit games such as Bonfire building and a traditions re lay. Piotrowski said some of the events have a twist to them. “It’s kick ball, but it’s three-legged kick ball,” he said. Mark Whitt, a junior biomedical science, said freshmen from residence halls and Corps outfits came together during last year’s Olympics. “I think that’s very neat,” Whitt said. “You don’t see that very often.” Whitt said over 100 freshmen com peted last year, and he expects around 200 this year. Piotrowski said letting freshmen know about the Fish Olympics is hard becausd the event is in only its second year. “Nobody has heard about it,” he said. Matt Montgomery, a freshman business administration major, said he plans to par ticipate in tomorrow’s games. “I heard from people that it was fun last year and you get to meet people,” Mont gomery said. Carl Koehler, a senior elementary edu cation major, got the idea for the Olympics when he saw the Aggie Fish Club hold a similar event. “I thought it would be good to develop it for the freshman class and have fun,” he said. Koehler said at first he wanted a Univer sity-wide Olympics, but the idea was im practical at the time. “My dream is to have a clash of the class es where all the classes get together to com pete,” he said. For more information about the Fish Olympics, freshmen can drop by the sign-up desks in the MSC, Sbisa and the Commons. ► Wiley Lecture Scries Discussion focuses on risk of NATO expansion By Joey Jeanette Schlueter The Battalion The threat of World War III has caused concern in the eyes of countries who wish to gain membership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A lecture titled “Russia Versus NATO: the New Cold War?” addressed the topic Wednesday as part of the Wi ley Lecture Series. Eastern European coun tries such as Hungary and Poland are eager to gain membership in NATO be cause of potential Russian aggression and lessons learned from their difficult pasts. Membership would mean these countries would have defense against Russia in the event of an attack. Dr. Lawrence Kaplan, di rector of the Lyman Lem- nitzer Center for NATO at Kent State, led the discussion of the problem with the expan sion of NATO. Kaplan previously worked in the Department of Defense, where he gained insight into the problem. “For these countries to join NATO, it would mean an increased cost for the organization, mainly the United States,” Kaplan said. Kaplan said NATO wants an expansion, calling it “enlargement” instead. “They (NATO) can continue to strive to ward membership,” he said, “but Russia can make life difficult if they do.” Kaplan explained that Russia would be “I urge our leaders to think long and hard about the proposed risk of NATO expansion/’ Dr. Chester Dunning Associate professor of history threatened if NATO expanded to its borders. Dr. Chester Dunning, an associate pro fessor of history at A&M, joined Kaplan in the discussion. He received his Ph.D. in Russian history in 1976. Dunning gave a perspective of how Rus sians see NATO expansion as a way to hu miliate their country. “As an American citizen concerned about reducing the risk of nuclear war with Russia, which still, even in its decline, is capable of destroying all of us and our children,” Dunning said, “I urge our leaders to think long and hard about the proposed risk of NATO expansion. We should not provoke Russia.” The United States is a su perpower ordered by coun tries without large military forces, Dunning said. He warned the audience of Rus sia and its evil ambition of becoming a superpower once again. Retired Gen. Edmond Solmosy spoke from the viewpoint of Hungary. Solmosy was born in Budapest, Hungary, and be came a naturalized U.S. citizen. He helped coordinate military policy toward NATO. Solmosy clarified the steps in becoming a member of NATO. Countries must be de mocratic: have economic stability reform and civil control over the local military; have good relations with neighbors; value human rights and work well with NATO. See Discussion, Page 1 0 Tug-of-Honor aims for unity Event will include pulls between non-regs, cadets By Laura Oliveira The Battalion Tugs, food and music will bring Texas A&M students from around campus to Dun can Field Sunday afternoon in an effort to unify the campus. The Tug-of-Honor, host ed by the Resident Hall Asso ciation, includes six co-ed pulls, including Northside vs. Southside, non-regs vs. Corps and upperclassmen vs. underclassmen. Nicole Rippole, director of programs for RHA and a sophomore chemical engi neering major, said the event began with only the best two out of three non-reg vs. Corps pulls, but has grown to attract more participants. “In the fall, Bonfire brings the campus together and there are separate programs in the spring that do so,” she said, "but there is not one single event in the spring that brings everyone together.” Last year the “traveling trophy” went home with the Corps. Tase Bailey, Corps repre sentative for the Tug-of-Honor committee and a sophomore aerospace engineering major, said the trophy will remain with the Corps. “I have the trpphy sitting in my room right now,” he said. “We will work as a team, as the Corps always does, and win it again.” Michael Hoy, a sopho more mechanical engineer ing major and a resident of Lechner Hall, said the Corps vs. non-reg pull will be the most exciting of the tugs be cause of the trophy involved. “It is Northside and Southside against the Corps, so it will be a common chal lenge that unites Northside and Southside.” Each tug will allow for 150 participants on each side, and any interested student may volunteer. Jesse Czelusta, RITA presi dent and a senior agriculture economics major, said the event breaks down the sepa ratism on campus. “When it comes right down to it, we are all Aggies,” he said. “This (Tug-of-Honor) shows we can have fun together and still have that friendly rivalry.” Tnniu Elizabeth Schmidt, a mem ber of Corps company A-1 and a sophomore math major, will participate in the competition. She said the friendly rivalry al lows for healthy competition. “It (friendly rivalry) makes you do the best you can, but it doesn’t hurt anybody,” she said. Competition will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 4 p.m. Barbe cue plates can be purchased for $5.50 between 12:30 and 2:30, and students may use their meal plans. Rippole said she encour ages all students to follow the trail of maroon and white bal loons leading to the event. “We want to continue to add to the Aggie traditions and hope this will become a strong one,” she said. Regents to vote on raising Student Services Fee for revenue By JVIarissa Alanis The Battalion A recommendation to increase the Stu- ent Services Fee from the current $99 per tester to $108.90 will be voted on at the oard of Regents meeting next week. After last semester’s deliberations, the 6-member Student Services Fee Allocation Part four in a series of four. hrd decided on the new fee figure for fis- ilyear 1998. The fee is projected to gener- i $8.8 million in revenue. The recommended fee would affect stu nts taking 12 or more credit hours. Stu- pnts taking fewer hours would pay less. Faye Little, Student Services Fee Alloca- m board chair and a junior agricultural tsiness and finance major, said students ay see the recommendation strictly as an crease in the fee and not see the reason- ag behind the decision. I “They see fee increase and that’s it,” Ittle said. “It’s very easy to see a $9 in lease and say, ‘Nothing’s going to change, [don’t see why they’re making me pay lore money because I don’t see any of Shese changes.’” I Little said if students saw the process and the specific descriptions of where their money will go, they would gain an educat ed perspective. “I don’t think they see it (the money) cut up,” she said. Last semester, 20 departments funded by the fee submitted their budget requests to the board. Members reviewed the requests and decided which request to support. State legislation authorizes the Univer sity to raise the fee by no more than 10 per cent each year. Greater increases must be approved by student referendum. Little said A&M is fortunate to have stu dent input decided on, because the fee can be raised yearly by administrators without student input. "We’re the only school in the Big 12 that has an all-student run and staffed board for their fees,” Little said. Dr. J. Malon Southerland, vice presi dent for Student Affairs, said the admin istration was pleased with the board’s recommendations. “I think there will be less complaint,” Southerland said. “I think the students have a good feeling in what all this money is spent for.” Little said Southerland analyzes each specific request of the board’s final recom mendation before approval. “He’s never changed the bottom-line fig ure (the fee amount), although he has switched some monies around,” Little said. A new addition to the Student Service Fee recommendation is the Child Care Cen ter, which would provide part-time child care for children of students and full-time service for children of faculty and staff. A recommendation of $10,000 was made for the project. “This money from Student Service Fees is strictly for scholarships for that part-time center so those children of students that go will receive some subsidy,” Little said. About 80 percent of the Student Services Fee goes toward funding the salaries of A&M administrators and staff. Laurent Therivel, vice president of finance for Student Government and a senior mar keting major, said the fee increase will help cover the increase in salaries of A&M staff and administrators it affects, but the benefits will not be seen for several years. “You’re basically investing in the quality of your diploma down the road,” Therivel said. Little said when determining the amount of money allocated to each de partment, the board considers such factors as student participation, the amount of stu dents affected, past endeavors and how they are planning for the future. j-vt., .. x rv ifglis J Fa a -Mica ^ A ■ -rCluOn Department / Program $ Final Rec. $ Difference % Difference Memorial Student Center 1,790,000 117,673 7% Student Counseling Service 1,680,000 178,901 12% Recreational Sports 1,370,000 75, 716 6% Student Activities 838,882 70,000 9% Bus Operations 800,000 95,300 14% Student Life 628,000 59,732 11% Multicultural Service 340,000 29,220 9% Aggie Band 50,000 15,000 43% Student Handbook 30,000 ' 30,000 n/a $ generated at a fee of $108.90 Revenue Generated = $8,812,368 Large allocations of money were recom mended for departments such as the Memorial Student Center and Student Counseling Services based on these factors. “Historically they’ve provided that amount of service,” Little said. Little said increasing the fee is a way of en- Source: Student Service Fee Allocation Board suring a world-class education for students. “it’s just a fact of life — prices increase,” Little said. “ And to continue the level of ed ucation and the wonderful precedent we have set here at A&M, eventually we can’t slop it off in the next ten years of classes. We need to start preparing for that now.”