Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 9, 1997)
The Battalion Wednesday - July 9,199! Mauro hosts book signing at MS( Former student wrote on environmental interests, Texas politics By Joey Jeanette Schlueter The Battalion Texas Land Commissioner Gary Mauro held a signing of his new book for Texas A&M students, for mer students and supporters yes terday at the Texas A&M Bookstore in the Memorial Student Center. Mauro, a former A&M yell leader and Class of ’70, recently released his first book, Beaches, Bureaucrats and Big Oil, which chronicles his footsteps in the state General Land Office the last 14 years. The book focuses on his environ mental interest through his “cleaning up the beaches” program and his fight with oil companies in Texas. He said his purpose in writing the book involves the people of Texas. “I want this book to change the attitude of the most cynical of aver age voters to believe that politics are not only for the rich; politics are for everyone,” Mauro said. The book also includes a sec tion called “dirty secrets” in which Mauro describes the downside of Texas politics. Mauro is being criticized by oppo nents for hiring convicted felon Ruben Johnson to run a veteran’s nursing home program. Mauro refused to comment on the controversy. College Sta tion is a stop on Mauro’s 85-city book tour across Texas. Mauro will finish in Beau mont and then meet first lady Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C., for a meeting to discuss the De mocratic Party’s role in Texas politics. His career in Texas politics began in 1982 when he was named Land Commissioner, and Mauro says this career may continue if he decides to make a run for governor of Texas. If Gov. George W. Bush runs, it would not be the first time Mauro has opposed a Bush family mem ber. In 1992, Mauro was chair of Bill Clinton’s Texas campaign against Mauro President Bush. “Clinton has supported me and will hopefully continue to in the fu ture,” Mauro said. Career highlights of Mauro’s term include his “Adopt-a-Beach” program and the oil spill program, both of which continue today. Mauro said he wants to see his political career continue. “I’d rather the Aggies run things than some of those other schools," he said. Mauro, who grew up in Bryan, said being back at A&M felt good. “For an Aggie yell leader, it’s wonderful to come back to the cam pus, except it has changed so much,” he said. Mauro, who is 49 years old and has two children, also reflected on his time as a football player under Head Football Coach Gene Stallings in 1966. At the signing, a supporter ques tioned Mauro about his beach clean-up program. “An army of volunteers showed up [to clean] one day and [this number] went to nothing then [day],” she said. Mauro said that plans fori proving community service arel ing discussed by local governmt along the coast. The Texas General Land ofi manages 20.3 million acres ofsi land and mineral rights, inc million acres of submergedli along the coast. Blake Clark, trade manager: the Texas A&M Bookstore, saidj ting Mauro to come toA&Mfa hook signing was easy becauseln a former student. “Book signings generate pul ity,” Clark said, “and Mauro’s alumni of A&M, and we feature; thors like him who thestudentsc about. They will show up forit.’ Stella Roberts, Texas Aii Bookstore store director, said I store w as thrilled to have Maui come to A&M. “We are always very happy have authors come and sign tit books,” Roberts said. "Thestudeii are glad to see Gary Mauro also. Fen-phen School Photograph: Sarah Johnson Katie Popp putts to the 14th hole on the frisbee golf course at Research Park Tuesday afternoon. Hot Shot NATO leaders select three new members MADRID, Spain (AP) — NATO, the Western bulwark of democracy for a half-century, extended mem bership invitations Tuesday to three of its former Eastern European en emies — Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The United States prevailed against a larger expansion favored by most allies. President Clinton called it “a very great day” for European security. “We bridged the chasm in histo ry and began the journey to a new Europe and a new century,” said Clinton, who had refused to consid er more than three new members, fearing the measure would be de feated in the U.S. Senate. Most Eu ropean nations wanted to issue five invitations. France, backed by eight other NATO allies, fought hard for the ad mission of Romania and Slovenia, but bowed to American pressure. Britain, Norway, Denmark and Ice land backed the U.S. position. NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana, in announcing the decision, singled out Romania and Slovenia as likely to be admitted later. Seven other countries also had sought admission. “The alliance expects to extend further invitations in the coming years,” Solana said. “No European democratic country whose admis sion would fulfill the objectives of the (NATO) treaty will be excluded from consideration.” Added Clinton: “These are the countries who have proved their readiness to join us at this table.” President Aleksander Kwas niewski of Poland was understand ably pleased. “Poland waited so long and now the doors to full NATO membership are open. We are very satisfied and we are ready to go forward,” he said. ^ We bridged the chasm in history and began the journey to a new Europe and a new century.” President Clinton Slovenia’s prime minister, Janez Drnousek, said he expected his country to be included in the next year or two, but his foreign minister was less diplomatic. “Slovenia has not been given any good explanation why it is out,” said Zoran Thaler, the minister. The United States was worried that an enlargement of more than three countries would threaten the chances of getting approval by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate, a vote needed to rati fy any change to the NATO treaty. Continued from Page 1 “When someone loses weight, it’s primarily on their own commitment,” Freeman said. “The commitment they’ve made to changing their eating style.” Dr. Richard Herron, M.D., of the Brazos Family Practice As sociates said he prescribes fen-phen on a limited basis to pa tients who are “morbidly obese” (more than 30 percent of their ideal body weight). Herron said the medication is prescribed with an exercise and diet regimen for the patient to follow. “There are obvious hazards, but that’s why you need to monitor it carefully,” he said. Herron said patients need to monitor their weight and blood pressure and have follow-up visits in the clinic. Dr. Jane Cohen, Ph.D., the health education coordinator and nutrition specialist at the Health Center, said many col lege students do not understand their eating habits, and that can contribute to being overweight. She said a medication does not provide all the solutions to weight loss. “Any diet drug should not be the first step,” Cohen said. “The first step should be looking at food choices and balanced exercise.” A nutrition program will be held at 5:30 tonight at the Stu dent Recreation Center by Health Center personnel who will discuss weight loss and nutrition. Continued from Page 1 Students learn to advance with a charged hose and how to operate a self- contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Fifteen projects, ranging from a simple residence fire to a petrochemical complex, are completed during the week. Students say they come to Brayton Fire Field because it is the best facility of its type. “This is a world-renowned fire field,” Flores said. “It’s one of a kind.” No other training facilities in the world equal Brayton, Economedas said, and this training is especially beneficial to the students. “A lot of people will never get training in their country,” Economedas said. “They won’t get hands-on experience. This one- week crash course will allow them to learn enough to go home and teach their fellow fire brigade members.” Jorge Suarez, an instructor at the fire school and secretary of the Mexican Fire Chiefs Association, said the skills lean at the school are invaluable. “These students need to knowv causes a fire and how to put it out," said.They learn howa team works and to work together.” Flores said a few minor injuries occur during the course of the training, juries range from minor heat exhai and bruises to burns and sprains. The low amount of injuries canbeal tributed to the safety program at the field, he said. "Each project has a safety offii that’s how we keep our injuries low," res said. “Each safety officer iswea an orange vest or helmet that says'safe ty’ on it." The 77 instructors for the classes conn from all over the country to take parti: school. Instructors are certified thit the Texas A&M Fire Protection and!® ing Division (FPTD). The instructors are volunteers. Tea A&M University pays for meals and loii ing at the fire field. Travel costs are cove® by the individual students. Study Continued from Page 1 Mayo Clinic researchers identi fied 24 women who took both fen fluramine and phentermine to lose weight and later developed de formed heart valves. Eight of those women also developed a potential ly fatal lung disease called pul monary hypertension. The drug combination has been available since the late 1980s, and deaths in Kentucky and Massachu setts have been attributed to heart failure linked to the diet prescrip tion. None of the women in the Mayo Clinic study died, though five underwent heart surgery. The researchers had planned to publish their findings next month in the New England Journal of Medi cine but released them early at the urging of the journal’s editors. The urgency with which the j our- nal and the government treated the information was unusual and re served for only the most serious public health matters. Weather Outlook FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Thunderstorms High: 95° Low: 75° Partly Cloudy High: 97° Low: 75° Partly Cloudy ij High: 95° Low: 75° Sk©feh By Quatro Take he to YOUR U TEK, IpcW (\/i OH, CRM> ft cm i.iT£R — 1 — ^ team) :ould k vhatl ain[ Jeriii ion- 'T 'aid. hose 'esq ACACIA COMPUTER SERVICES (409) 696-9412 8 meg EDO memory SIMM $38 16 meg EDO memory SIMM $64 AMD K5 166 $110 AZZA VX Motherboard $99 VTI TX Motherboard $135 2.1 Gigabyte Hard Drive $195 Mini-tower Case $35 We include a 1 year warranty on parts Motherboards have 512K Cache Tax not included in price Call for pricing on system upgrades. BRAZOSTRADER .antiques & collectibl£: Browse in our store for a different shopping experience! Bargains Galore! • M - F 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sundays by chance 210 West 26th St., Bryan (409) 775-2984 Place Your Ad In The Battalion Call 845-0569 Stew Milne, Editor in Chief Helen Clancy, Managing Editor John LeBas, City Editor April Towery, Lifestyles Editor Kristina Buffin, Sports Editor James Francis, Opinion Editor Jody Holley, Night News Editor Tim Moog, Photo Editor Brad Graeber, Graphics Editor Jacqueline Salinas, Radio Editor David Friesenhahn, Web Editor Staff Members Cmr- Assistant Editors: Erica Roy & Matt Weber; Reporters: Michelle Newman, Joey Schlueter & Jenara Kocks; Copy Editor: Jennifer Jones Lifestyles- Rhonda Reinhart, Keith McPhail & Jenny Vrnak Sports- Matt Mitchell & Jeremy Furtick Opinion- John Lemons, Stephen Llano, Robby Ray, Mandy Cater, Leonard Callaway, Chris Brooks, Dan Cone, Jack Harvey & General Franklin Nigkt News- Assistant Editor: Joshua Miller Photo- Derek Demere, Robert McKay, Rony Angkriwan & Pat James Graphics- Quatro Oakley, Chad Mallam & Ed Goodwin Radio- Tiffany Moore, Will Hodges, Missy Kemp, Amy Montgomery, Sunny Pemberton, Joey Schlueter, Michelle Snyder & Karina Trevino Web- Craig Pauli Office Staff- Stacy Labay, Christy Clowdus & Mandy Cater News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student Publications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. News offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building. Newsroom phone: 845-3313; Fax: 845-2647; E-mail: Batt@tamvml.tamu.edu; Website: http://bat-web.tamu.edu Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For cam pus, local, and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call 845-0569. Advertising offices 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 of The Battalion. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 845-2611. The Battalion (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station,TX 77840. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Battalion, 015 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-1111. College Station Part-time Hardware Positions Universal Computer Systems, Inc. is looking for candidates for the following positions at our College Station computer facility. Operating hours of the facility are 6a.m.-10p.m., Monday through Friday and 8a.m.-10p.m. Saturday. A candidate must be able to work at least 15 hours Monday-Friday and have completed at least one semester of college. Data Entry - The College Station Repair facility handles computer repair for all our clients nation-wide and repairs more than 60,000 pieces of equipment per year. Persons working the data entry positions are responsible for maintaining data for more than 2000 parts both shipped from and received at the facility. Cleaning and Reclamation - Persons involved in cleaning and reclamation must maintain upkeep of all equipment received and shipped from the facility. Involves disassembly of equip ment, upkeep of pieces, and reassembly of equipment. Technician - Technicians will learn aspects of using an oscilloscope and multi-meters to trouble shoot and repair dysfunctional hardware. Each individual will be trained thoroughly in the repairo* one particular piece of equipment including CRTs, terminals, keyboards, PCs, mainframes, con trollers, modems, and others. Parts Inventory - Responsible for maintaining inventory of more than 2000 parts that the faciW may handle at any one time. To apply please call our Recruiting Department. EOE Universal Computer Systems, Inc. 1-409-846-1213 http://www.ucs-systems.com 11 m
