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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 1997)
londay • September 15, 1997 Pl&M grad chooses juality over diversity By Benji Cheng Staff writer |As one of just four African-Amer- |n students admitted to the Uni- i ity of Texas Law School this fall, isA&M graduate Aja Henderson ht feel a little out of place among Dther 464 new law students there, iut she said her undergraduate erience prepared her for that ation. When I was at A&M, there was lally only one or two other blacks he class,” Henderson said. “It’s re- mot that much of a difference.” Since last fall, UT Law School has n the number of new African- lerican students enrolled drop ti31 to four. UT officials blame the ip on the Hopwood decision, ich prohibits state universities to n considering race as a factor in ■nissions and scholarships. ■Mary Soto, assistant dean of ad- Isions for UT Law School, said a ■jor cause of the drop is not actual lercussions of Hopwood, but the v u ception created by the media. “Certainly a lot of (the drop) is a ult of the negative publicity nit what it is like to attend law iooI here,” Soto said. Henderson said the media has represented the UT administra- i as supportive of Hopwood, |ich she said it is not. "The (UT) administration was bet with Hopwood, and they l/en’t always been portrayed like It,” Henderson said. Henderson chose UT over Duke Iv School. Although Duke Law pool was more diverse, she said, the plity of education at UT and her de- \ I to stay in the South outweighed Is less-diverse student body. ERITAGE ■MNNMNMMMSMMNMXMMMMMMINMMMMIMMMNI jontinued from Page 1 l‘We expect a lot of Hispanic Idents to come out and partic- ate in the celebration, because it R time to express our heritage,” said. fispanic fraternity Omega ta Phi presented the movie Se- Saturday night at Rudder Henderson But Henderson also said a lack of minorities in the classroom results in a lack of alternate points of view, which hurts every law student’s education. “(A lack of diversity) does de tract from the quality of educa tion,” she said. “In legal education, it does make a difference because of the diversity of viewpoints.” Soto said the number of African-Ameri can applicants to UT Law School has dropped 40 percent since Hopwood, and classroom diver sity at the school suffers because of it. “I strongly believe that in law school, learning from other students is huge part of learning,” Soto said. Mary Chapman, president of the Texas A&M Pre-Law Society, also said decreased diversity would result in fewer diverse opinions in the class room. But she said the new enroll ment numbers would have only a mi nor effect on the overall quality of education at UT Law School, which she regar ds as one of the best in Texas. “ [About] the only [thing] it’s going to affect is cultural diversity in the classroom,” Chapman said. From her sophomore to senior years at A&M, Henderson wrote columns on and off for the Battalion’s opinion section. She said her stint as a columnist prepared her for the argu mentative atmosphere of law school. She described her columist expe rience as worthwhile, but bittersweet. “Sometimes, it seemed like mail call was devoted to me,” Hender son said. Theater as part of the early cele bration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Other events this month will in clude Latino parties, social gather ings and a fajita cook-off. Students from many Hispanic countries, including Brazil, Bo livia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, will participate in Hispanic Heritage Month. [IVERSITY htinued from Page 1 3’he Texas Higher Education Co- inating Board recognized the de- itment in 1993 for "creating a pos- e multicultural environment in as higher education.” Dr. Emily Santiago, assistant di- tor of Multicultural Services, said leveral student organizations now torkwith the department. |T think the department has bwn tremendously,” Santiago lid. “There is a lot of enthusiasm pm minority students who utilize program.” Santiago said it is rewarding to p minority freshmen who feel red and out of place at A&M be- )nie involved on campus. Through our different pro ms, I think we provide a ‘home |ay from home’ for ethnic minori- ,” Santiago said. Leah Matthews, Class of’93, said being involved in Multicultural Ser vices programs such as Ambas sadors, ExCEL and MEDALS, as well as in other University programs such as Fish Camp, has helped her improve her leadership skills. “I like all the people I worked with (in Multicultural Services), and I met many good friends in the de partment,” she said. “The depart ment has a lot of good programs to promote people of color. It gives you the opportunity to get together with people who have the same concerns as you do.” Martin Hodges, Student Govern ment director of minority affairs and a senior journalism major, said he believes the department’s role as an educator is important in shaping A&M’s future. “I believe the department will be pivotal in taking A&M into the 21st century,” Hodges said. “Ifwe are going to have a global economy, we need to have a global perspective. That’s what the department provides.” Ladies OR f^ s 1^1 0-0 TUXEDO RENTALS from $ 49.95 FREE SHOES, VEST, & GROOM’S RENTAL (Ask us for details) At the Texas Ave. entrance of A&M Open Weeknights until 7 p.m., Saturday until 5 p.m. 764-8289 December Graduates Official Texas A&M Graduation Announcements On Sale Now through October 3, 1997 For All Information and To Place Your Order access the Web at: http://graduation.tamu.edu All orders must be placed over the Web All payments must be received by October 3 !*r MSC Box Office 845-1234 MSC L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness Presents: Why Men Kill Bulls The Mass Psychology of Bullfighting A Presentation by Dr. Tim Mitchell Texas A&M Professor of Spanish and Author of Blood Sport: A Social History of Spanish Bullfighting •A persons with disabilities please call 845-8770 to inform us of your special needs 7:00 pm Wednesday September 17th 308 Rudder Tower Reception Following PC Repair Specialist Our College Station office seeks an experienced PC tech with knowledge of PC hardware and ability to perform component level repair. We can offer full time or part-time hours to fit your schedule and $12 - $14 per hour. EOE. To apply, stop by our Recruiting office in the Metro Centre in Bryan, 3833 South Texas Ave., Suite 201, Tuesday - Thursday after 12 p.m. or call: 1-800-883-3031 Universal Computer Systems, Inc. http://www.ucs-systems.com /UibpAtUc ‘Tk'iUaye September 16, 1997 5 p.m. - Rudder Fountain Guest speaker: Victor Morales, former Democratic candidate for the Texas Senate ii The Vice President for Student Affairs Office wants you to be aware of our open door policy. Our office is here to help you. Please feel free to come by 10th Floor Rudder Tower or call 845-4728 http://vpsa.tamu.edu s r 2J5E3 LJr-ii\s*9rzKity' Orrises. Visit our wob site: h ttfp .v7www- h o wdyags. com SCIENCE MON Sep 1 5 TUE Sep 16 WED Sep 17 THU Sep 1 8 CHEM 3-5 CH OH CH CH 5 + 101 PM 1.2 2. 3 3. 4 PRAC EXAM RHYS 5-7 OH CH CH CH 27 4- 202 PM 24 25 26 PRAC EXAM RHYS 7-9 CH CH CH CH 5 + 201 PM 1,2 3 -4 PRAC EXAM CHEM 9-1 1 CH CH CH CH 5 + 101 PM 1. 2 2. 3 3, 4 PRAC EXAM RHYS 1 1 PM- CH CH CH CH 5 + 218 1 AM 1.2 2. 3 4 PRAC EXAM BUSINESS MON Sep 15 TUE Sep 1 6 WED Sep 17 THU Sep 1 8 FINC 5-7 PART PART PART PART 341 PM 1 2 3 4 ACCT 7-9 CH 14 CH 14 CONT 230 PM CASH FLOW -*■ CH 1 BANA 7-9 PART PART 303 PM 1 2 FINC 9-1 1 PART PART PART PART 341 PM 1 2 3 4 ACCT 229 WILL BE NEXT WEEK!! CHECK THE WEB SITE FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION!! Hey, Education majors! We’re having a party for you September 16, 5:00-8:00p.m. 15'7( Discount on purchases during this event Sec our new teacher & ed. major’s workroom Free project demos Free goodies to lake home Free food Call for info at 846-8660 www.jacques-toys.com Toys • Books • Educational Supplies On Texas Avenue • one stoplight north of University Drive at Rosemary Fall 1997 Internet and Database Classes Free Hands-on Workshops At the Sterling C. Evans Libraries! Open to all interested students, faculty, and staffi Classes will meet at the following locations: LRD Evans Library, Learning Resources Dept. Rm. 604E WCL West Campus Library, Rm. 127 Introduction to Using the World Wide Web for Research Mon 9/15 9:10-10:00 LRD Tue 9/16 9:35-10:25 WCL Mon 9/29 4:10-5:00 WCL Tue 9/30 3:55-4:45 LRD Beyond the Basics: Advanced World Wide Web Searching Mon 9/22 4:10-5:00 LRD Tue 9/23 3:55-4:45 WCL Mon 10/6 9:10-10:00 WCL Tue 10/7 9:35-10:25 LRD Introduction to Full-Text Databases and Electronic Journals Tue 9/23 9:35-10:25 LRD Wed 10/8 12:30-1:20 LRD Using the Library at Home Through the Internet Mon 9/29 12:30-1:20 LRD Tue 10/14 9:35-10:25 LRD For more information, call 862-1060 (Evans) or 862-1982 (WCL) or email tours @tamu.edu Tuition, books, clothes, parking pass, bus pass... IT KEEPS ADDING UP!! Need some extra cash? lA/estgate Biologicals, Inc. 4223 Wellborn Rd. Bryan, Texas 77801 846-8855 700 University Dr. East Ste. Ill College Station, Texas 77840 268-6050 Call for an appointment lA/alk-ins are lA/elcome! OOANTUM COW TUTORING :2bO-COWS Univ. Dr. on Northgate next to CD Warehouse. 2-1 Opm Sun-Thu. BIOLOGY: ORGANIC 9 Chemistry 101 9/15-9/17: Ail 4-6 pm 9/23: 6-8pm Part 1 9/24: 4-6pm Part 2 Organic 22212271228 222: 9/16 & 4/21 8-10pm 227: 9/22 6-8pm Ch.1-4 227: 9/25 8-10pm Tests Biology 113 9/22 4-6pm Tests 9/23 4-6pm Tests 9/25: 6-8pm Part 3 228: 9/22 8-10pm & 9/24 6-8pm Prac. Tests LAB STUDY PACKLT3/ HOTt PACfc£T3/OLD TtSTSl Packets Also Fan PHYSICS/ACCOUNTING PSYCHOLOGY 107/SOCIOLOGY 205