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
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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.
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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.”