News
Thursday - July 24,1!
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Keeping in line
Photograph: Brandon Bollom
Stephen Hilt, graduate architecture student, works on a floorplan draw
ing Wednesday afternoon in Langford Building A.
Lawsuit challenges school dress code
HOLFSTON (AP) — School officials testified Wednes
day they were protecting two students from potential
rival gang violence — not infringing on religious free
dom — when they instructed the teen-agers last spring
to wear their rosary beads underneath their shirts.
Jerry Robertson and David Chalifoux were informed
last March they had to wear the Catholic prayer beads un
der their shirts while at school because a school police of
ficer had recently seen local gang members wear rosaries.
The boys parents’ sued New Caney High School,
claiming the 15-year-olds were being denied their free
dom of religious expression and took their case this
week before U.S. District Judge David Hittner.
School officials say they were only enforcing the
school’s dress code, which bars gang apparel and try
ing to prevent rival gangs from mistaking the intention
of the boys’ display of the beads around their necks.
“A safety standpoint was my foremost reason,” said
New Caney High School principal Charles “Toby” York.
The school, nestled in the piney unincorporated town
of New Caney, 30 miles northeast of Houston, began tak
ing a “zero tolerance” against rising gang activity in 1994
when graffitti bearing distinguishable gang symbols and
colors began emerging in and around the area.
York made the decision to have the teen-agers wear
the rosaries under their shirts after consulting with Lt.
Troy Wootton, who is the three-person school police
force’s gang expert.
Cobby Caputo, attorney for the high school, said in his
closing arugument Wednesday that the school has the
right to enforce rules on behavior and that at no time were
the boys told what to believe by school officials.
“The freedom to believe is absolute,” Caputo said.
“The freedom to act... is subject to regulation.”
But the boys’ attorney argued that the school’s fluid
dress code was “too vague” and left too much decision
making in the hands ofWootton, a police officer.
“Children do not check their rights at the school-
house door,” said Brent Perry, the |?oys’ attorney. “What
we have here is a situation where the bad guys are set
ting the rules for what the good guys can do...We think
the schools ought to be a place where the students are
encourged to express their ideas.”
Wootton stopped David when he saw him wearing the
beads on March 13 because he had recently seen mem
bers of the local gang United Homies wearing rosary
beads and asking one member why he was wearing them.
“ ‘Me and my homeboys wear these,’ ” the gang
member supposedly told Wootton.
Jerry, a friend of David’s who was also wearing rosary
beads that day, approached Wootton about the same
time, and was also told to wear the beads under his shirt.
Perjury counts lodged against educator
CALDWELL, Texas (AP) — A
small-town superintendent has
been indicted on perjury charges
for the second time in connection
with statements he gave after the
death of his wife.
Frank Cook, 42, who is on paid
leave from his job as school super
intendent in the Brazos Valley town
of Snook, was indicted on two
counts of aggravated perjury by a
Burleson County grand jury.
The charges accuse Cook of lying
twice to the grand jury about his re
lationship with another woman.
Charles Sebesta, district attor
ney for Burleson and Washington
counties, contends that Cook
drove his wife to suicide. Janet
Cook, 38, shot herself in the chest
with a shotgun last August.
“Even though it is formally ruled
Correction
In Wednesday’s story “Regents
to accept admissions change,”
Senate Bill 1907 was misidenti-
fied as Senate Bill 1997.
a suicide at this point in time, the in
vestigation into her death contin
ues,” Sebesta told The Associated
Press on Tuesday, one day after the
grand jury’s action.
The grand jury already had
charged Cook with one count of
perjury, accusing him of lying about
his wife’s life insurance.
“I'm surprised at the indict
ments,” Cook told the Bryan-Col-
lege Station Eagle. "I think there’s
a misunderstanding ... it sure is
confusing.”
In the latest indictment, the
grand jury reviewed seven letters
written in July 1995 to someone
addressed only as “C.Y They were
signed “Pancho” and, in one case,
“AFC.” Cook’s full name is Atlas
Frank Cook.
The notes were turned over to
Texas Rangers in Tyler by Cook's for
mer secretary when he was school
superintendent in Bullard, a small
town south of Tyler.
The indictments specifically ac
cuse Cook of lying when he denied
to the grand jury ever using the
nickname “Pancho” or conducting
a flirtation with a woman other
than his wife.
The letters, copies of which
were attached to the indictment,
were of an intimate nature. “You
have already touched me deeply.
Your Pancho,” said one. Another
said: “Te amo, (your) Pancho,”
which translated means “I love
you, (your) Pancho.”
No trial date has been set for the
latest indictment. Trial on the first
perjury charge is scheduled for Aug.
18 in Brenham.
Cook was chosen as Snook’s su
perintendent in June 1996. Previ
ously, he was superintendent of the
Bullard school district from 1994.
In Smith County, Cook still
faces trial on two separate three-
count indictments accusing him
of violating state public records
laws. The indictments, for which
he is scheduled to stand trial on
Sept. 2, relate to allegations by the
Tyler Morning Telegraph that he
acted with “criminal negligence”
in denying the newspaper’s em
ployees access to public records
three times in 1995.
Agreement reached in cas
Irvin, Williams settle defamation lawsuit out of coi
DALLAS (AP) — Cowboys stars Michael Irvin and
Erik Williams settled their defamation lawsuit against
a television station in a deal that
“represents a major step” toward
rectifying the damage done to
them, their lawyer said Wednesday.
Attorney Peter Ginsberg and
an official for the Dallas-Fort
Worth television station said they
could not disclose details of the
settlement with KXAS reporter
Marty Griffin and Lin Television
Corp., parent company for KXAS. Irvin
However, a source speaking on
the condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the
settlement calls for the players to split a payment of at
least $2 million.
“Erik Williams and Michael Irvin enteredi
lawsuit to try to make a statement and trytc
out a little more whole following the abusetln
suffered,” Ginsberg said. “There is no settles
the world that could ever make up in whole!
damage that was done to them. But thesettli
represents a major step in that direction.”
Doug Adams, KXAS president and general
ager, said he is “pleased ... the terms of agre*
don’t allow any further comment.”
The settlement announcement cameo:
after Irvin and Williams left training ca:
Austin to participate in mediation withthi
tion’s lawyers.
Williams refused to discuss the settlemem
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he was hap
case was settled out of court.
CXmpus Calendar
Thursday
The Writing Center (Dept, of English,
Texas A&M): The Writing Center in
249 Blocker will consult with any TAMU
student who needs help with his or her
writing projects for Summer II. Hours
are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Come by or call 862-
4181 for more information.
Aggie Roadrunners: There will be a
daily run of 2-3 miles beginning at 7
p.m. in front of G. Rollie White. Run
ners of all levels are encouraged to
attend. For more information call
Hank Bullinger at 821-6339.
Texas A&M Women’s Rugby: There
will be practice from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
at the TAMU Rugby Field. No experi
ence is necessary. For more infor
mation contact Wendy at 696-9012.
Friday
A&M Bahai Club: The A&M Bahai
Club is having a speaker followed by
dinner on July 25, at 6:30 p.m. at
1304 Merry Oak in College Station.
The speaker will be Vhaid Hedayati
speaking on unity throughout the
world between men and women and
all the races. For more information
call Kriti Buohe at 764-3160.
Sunday
TAMU Chess Club: The TAMU Chess
Club will be playing chess in 308 Rud
der from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more in
formation contact Scott Griggs at
696-3879 orgriggs@myriad.net.
Monday
Aggie Roadrunners: There will be a
daily run of 2-3 miles beginning at 7
p.m. in front of G. Rollie White. Run
ners of all levels are encouraged to
attend. For more information call
Hank Bullinger at 821-6339.
Texas A&M Women’s Rugby: There
will be practice from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
at the TAMU Rugby Field. No experi
ence is necessary. For more infor
mation contact Wendy at 696-9012.
Tuesday
TAMU Waterski Team: There will be
a general meeting at 8:30 p.m. at
Fitzwilly’s. For more information call
Mike Coyle at 268-2076.
Aggie Roadrunners: There will be a
daily run of 2-3 miles beginning at 7
p.m. in front of G. Rollie White. Run
ners of all levels are encouraged to
attend. For more information call
Hank Bullinger at 821-6339.
Wednesday
Aggie Roadrunners: There will be a
daily run of 2-3 miles beginning at 7
p.m. in front of G. Rollie White. Run
ners of all levels are encouraged to
attend. For more information call
Hank Bullinger at 821-6339.
Texas A&M Women's Rugby
will be practice from 6 p.m.to
at the TAMU Rugby Field. No
ence is necessary. For mo:'
mation contact Wendy at 6%:
Texas Aggie Brew Club: There
a meeting about beer and to
Carney’s Pub at 7 p.m. Form
formation contact Abel at 84:
or abelmann@iname.com.
Thursday
Aggie Roadrunners: There vt
daily run of 2-3 miles beginnir
p.m. in front of G. Rollie
ners of all levels are encouraj
attend. For more informatio
Hank Bullinger at 821-6339
Texas A&M Women's
There will be practice from6
to 8 p.m. at the TAMU R
No experience is necessary,
more information contactWem
696-9012.
Campus Calendar is a Batiai
service that lists non-profitsM
and faculty events and actt
Items should be submitted^
er than three days in advartf
the desired run date. Applied
deadlines and notices are
events and will not be run in Ca
pus Calendar. If you haveanyi|i*
tions, please call the newsioii
845-3313.
Weather Outlook
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Partly Cloudy
High: 98°
Low: 75°
1 Thunderstorms
j High: 98°
:.J Low: 76°
Partfy C/oudy
High: 100°
Low: 75°
Sk@feh
By Quatr
HeYL.POWN HERE, MAC... HOW LONG
' - Do r have to stay on this
COMPUTER SCREEN? HUH?"
eh, i’ll keep you posted.
te w. /
Don’t Miss ’Em in the Music Capitol!
This Saturday!
SaturdavJulv 26
Soulhpark Meadows-AuslinJX
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Stew Milne, Editor in Chief
Helen Clancy, Managing Editor
John LeBas, City Editor
April Towery, Lifestyles Editor
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James Francis, Opinion Editor
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Reporters: Michelle Newman, Joey Schlueter &
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