Texas A Si M University
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Today Tomorrow
See extended forecast, Page 2.
103 • Issue 147 • 6 Pages
College Station, TX
Thursday, June 12, 1997
mJEWS „
« Briefs
Inn students can
| ln giA&M computers
wsA&M students enrolled at
mollege for summer school may
■use computer labs on the A&M
.1
Ipus.
Ifitfithe new password log-on sys-
Jstudents previously had to be
tiled in summer courses at A&M
I access to the computers,
flijp Student Government worked
tComputing and Information Ser-
f/^iStoprovide computer service for
■students who need to use the
|ws.”i(iiiters during the summer but
maJakingclasses at Blinn.
id accuse the computers, Blinn stu-
|y havT'-eed to go to the Teague Building,
pn ihe
ilmptroller Sharp
t l bounces candidacy
I (AP) — State Comptroller
nSharp announced his candida-
fjf lieutenant governor Wednes-
ipromising to make the Legisla-
a place “where good ideas can
me good government.”
said he will focus his cam-
Jion innovative ideas and concrete
(osalsto meet the demands of the
sfng Texas economy,
tan for his dramatic cost-cutting
ares, Sharp said his annual
Performance Review,” which
•sforways to make state govern-
Jtmore efficient and less expen
ds saved taxpayers $8.5 billion.
Tie Democrat had been touted
ont-runner in the bid for gov-
in 1998, but Sharp told his
ist week he’d be running for
i.2j6b after It. Gov. Bob Bul-
ckaonounced he would be ending
ar political career.
Tornado touches
near Amarillo
lELA(AP) — Several tornadoes
Reported in the eastern Pan
tile on Wednesday night, and at
stone twister damaged property
Icaused injuries along Interstate
authorities said.
Tie National Weather Service said
'letornado passed over Wheeler
% about 100 miles east of
, and touched down near the
% about 7:30 p.m.
fteeler County sheriff's officials re-
totake calls Wednesday night,
they were too busy. A police dis-
ferin nearby Shamrock said there
‘some injuries on the highway.”
TadjacentCollinsworth County, sher-
Jspataher Paula Chambers said the
fage in tiny Lela was serious.
Jj'ltflattened one house, it turned
Jkseveral big trucks," Ms. Cham-
ssaid. “It’s a pretty bad storm.”
Authorities said there were more
adozen tornado sightings in the
item Panhandle on Wednesday,
ire were no other reports of
%s touching down.
LIFESTYLES
card crisis: Students
infront consequences of
tying with plastic.
See Page 3.
OPINION
fernative medicine methods,
^ancements have public
in mind.
See Page 5.
'Wbat-web.tamu.edu
si t The Wire,
Te n >1 I
s ^4-hour
i'ne news
Wee.
Enrolled faculty staff must pay fees
The legislation might affect recruitment
By Erica Roy and Matt Weber
The Battalion
Beginning the second summer term,
Texas A&M faculty and staff enrolled in
courses at the University will not be ex
empt from paying fees due to a ruling by
the Texas attorney general.
In November 1996, Attorney Gener
al Dan Morales ruled that the governing
boards of state universities cannot
waive mandatory or discretionary fees
unless authorized by statutory law.
In March, legislation passed through
the Texas Senate giving such governing
boards the authorization to waive cer
tain student fees, but the bill failed in
the House of Representatives.
Before the rulipg, A&M faculty and
staff paid tuition for the courses they
were enrolled in, but they were not re
quired to pay fees such as the General
Use Fee and the Recreation Center fee.
Bob Piwonka, the manager of Stu
dent Financial Services, said the fee
waivers were designed to help the fac
ulty and staff continue their education
while working.
“Waiving fees for the faculty and staff
was a very positive thing to do,” Piwon
ka said. “It was good for the University.”
Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, au
thored the bill and said he hopes to get
a similar bill passed during the next leg
islative session.
“We tried to see if we could help em
ployees at state universities,” Lucio said.
“We thought it would be a valuable way
to reimburse state employees.”
Over 500 A&M employees are en
rolled and received the fee waivers this
summer term.
Dr. Wayne Wylie, Faculty Senate
speaker and an associate professor of
health and kinesiology, said requiring
employees to pay the fees will not affect
the quality of teaching at A&M, but
it will have a disheartening effect on
the faculty.
“Even if nobody was using this
benefit — which was not the case
— the fact that it was jerked out
from under you is demoralizing,”
Wylie said.
Although fee waivers provided an
incentive for faculty and staff to fur
ther their educations, Piwonka said
the decision will not affect the cal
iber of A&M faculty.
“We’re going to continue to hire
good people and encourage contin
uing education,” he said.
Wylie said the absence of fee
waivers might effect the recruit
ment of faculty because it takes
away an inducement for faculty to
teach at A&M.
Please see Fees on Page 6.
* **
Graphic: Brad Graeber
The cannon and rifle:
preparedness
and defense \
The crossed flags:
allegiance to US.
and Texas \
Legacy of the Aggie Ring
Symbols recognize
school pride, honor
The eagle:
agility and power
The 13 stripes:
original states and
/ patriotism
wmm $
Xs? w * ■
t ■*-'?■■■*.’ * „ ’ A ■/ ) ■
■'M Tmmmi
The encircling ribbon:
unity of strength
and achievement
i, ' n'r.^V'-w ■>' // ■
rhe saber: /
valor and confidence
The five stars on the shield:
mind, body, spirit, poise and integrity
The live oak leaves:
strength to fight
The star:
achievement and peace
Graphic: Tim Moog
By Jenara Kocks
The Battalion
iamonds may be a girl’s best
M m friend, but to Aggies, nothing
shines brighter than the gold
in their senior rings.
Cecil Bleiker, a senior kinesiology
and sports management major and
a student worker in the Sports Infor
mation Department, said the rings
mean so much to Aggies because it
takes so much work to get one.
“I don’t think a lot of people real
ize how hard it is to complete 95
hours at (Texas) A&M (University),”
Bleiker said.
Undergraduates must have 95 cu
mulative hours, 60 of which must be
completed at A&M, a 2.0 GPR and be
in good standing with the University
to buy a ring.
Carolyn Swanzy, director of the
Aggie Ring Program, said thousands
of students buy rings each semester.
Between 2,200 and 2,500 students
bought rings from late May to June.
Students who qualify and have
filled out audits at the Ring Office in
the Clayton Williams Alumni Center
have until Friday to order their rings.
Rings will arrive September 11.
Swanzy said A&M probably sells
more rings than any other school in
the nation. She also said prices for
the rings are quite a bit cheaper than
those at other schools because A&M
senior rings have only one design
and because the Association of For
mer Students has a contract with the
manufacturer, L.G. Balfour Compa
ny of Attleboro, Mass.
“The Aggie ring is the best
class ring bargain in Texas and
the one with the most tradition,”
Swanzy said.
According to an article in the Oc
tober 1989 issue of The Texas Aggie
titled “100 Years of Aggie Rings,” the
design of the ring has a long history.
Please see Ring on Page 6.
Juneteenth celebration
to feature national artists
By Michelle Newman
The Battalion
Saturday will mark the third annual June
teenth Jam, sponsored by KHRN-FM 94.5 and
Omega Psi Phi. The concert event, featuring
artists Rome and Twista, will be held at Rud
der Auditorium.
Rome has a gold single titled “I Belong to
You,” and Twista has performed with rap
group Do or Die. Twista also is in the Guin
ness Book of World Records as the “world’s
fastest rapper.”
Edward Sanchez, office manager and music
director at KHRN, said the event is important to
the Bryan-College Station area.
“The acts we are featuring are national
recording artists, and not many African-
American acts come into town,” Sanchez said.
“We put on this event for the African-Ameri
can citizens in our community.”
Juneteenth, which is observed nationwide,
marks the anniversary of the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation by President Abra
ham Lincoln. The document declared that all
slaves be set free on January 1, 1863, but Texas
slaves were not freed until two years later, be
tween June 13th and 19th, 1865.
Brian Doze, Omega Psi Phi president and a
junior accounting major, said it is important
to celebrate Juneteenth because of its impor
tance in black history.
“We (Omega Psi Phi) felt like it’s something
that we should highlight in our history,” he said.
“It’s something we should never forget.”
Tickets are available at Tip Top Records,
Double Quick Food Store in Hearne, from any
Omega Psi Phi member or may be purchased
at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the con
cert starts at 7 p.m.
Immediately following the concert, there will
be an after-party at the Dixie Theater in Bryan.
Report: A&M gives VIP applicants
special admission consideration
DALLAS (AP) — Some applicants trying
to get into the state’s biggest universities are
getting second looks from the institutions if
they have VIP connections, even if they fall
short of academic requirements, The Dallas
Morning News reported yesterday.
Officials at Texas A&M University, the
University of Texas and Texas Tech Univer
sity said they often give applicants a second
look if a “very important person” requests it.
In one case, Texas A&M gave preference
in 1996 to two students who did not meet
admissions standards but had ties to state
House Speaker Pete Laney and former A&M
regent Mary Nan West, the newspaper re
ported, citing documents and interviews
with officials.
Laney, D-Hale Center, wrote a January
1996 letter to A&M in support of a “neigh
bor and a close friend” for the engineering
school. The student had been on a waiting
list because he did not meet all qualifica
tions for regular admission, but was ac
cepted after Laney’s intercession.
Laney spokeswoman Janet Warren said
the student, who was not identified, was a
“young man the speaker has known all of his
life” and the son of a family friend.
Please see Applicants on Page 6.
Roll On
Photograph: Robert McKay
Johnny Ray Lister, a physical plant employee, rolls over tar out
side the Bus Stop Cafe Wednesday afternoon.