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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1997)
The Battalion Friday • September 19,15 Friday • Sept Prison board chair calls for investigatio LUBBOCK (AP) — The chairman of the state Board of Criminal Justice called for a review of the prison system’s AIDS policies Thursday, a day after two state senators an nounced hearings on the issue. Allan Polunsky asked his Health Ser vices Committee to explore education, testing, treatment and housing of HIV positive offenders and AIDS patients. Ad ditionally, he called upon the Institution al Division Committee to examine prevention of sex among inmates. Recent San Antonio Express-News reT ports about proliferation of HIV infection in state prisons prompted concern, Pol unsky said. Polunsky cited “the nationwide increase in AIDS cases and tremendous expansion of the Texas prison population over the last few years” in requesting an updated look at Texas Department of Criminal Justice policies. The newspaper reported Sunday that the disease has become the leading killer of in mates, claiming 475 since 1992. On Wednes day, Senate Criminal Justice Committee chair- John Whitmire, D-Houston, and Mike Mon- crief, D-Fort Worth, called for hearings on the subject. Moncrief sponsored a bill in 1995 to es tablish a hospice for dying inmates. He also is chair of the Senate General Investigating Committee. Nearly 70,000 inmates have undergone voluntary HIV tests over the last three years, Polunsky said. The newspaper re ported Sunday that 1,979 of those tests have come back positive. In Lubbock for the board’s bimonthly board meeting, Polunsky and TDCJ exec utive director Wayne Scott said TDCJ rules currently prohibit segregation of HlV-in- fected inmates because of confidentiality laws. “We’ll see if there is flexibility in that re spect,” Polunsky said. “We’re looking into the legal issues involved.” Whitmire was quoted in Thursday’s Ex press-News as saying Texas prisons have “a serious HIV problem.” “We need to talk about it. We need to discuss it, because it is a very serious mat ter,” he said. Whitmire and Moncrief didn’t immedi ately return messages left Thursday by The Associated Press. Scott said sick inmates have access to the most up-to-date treatments available, through Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and the University ofTexas Medical Branch. The criminal justice department fol lows federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention treatment guidelines, Pol unsky said. Prevention of inmate sex is also para mount, and Institutional Division director Gary Johnson said a roving camera system that’s being tested at the Luther Unit could be the answer. “At some point I’d like to try them, room areas,” said Johnson, explainy inmate sex usually occurs in commsl eas. Guard stations cover virtually{ inch of newer units, but jailers encoj blind spots in older prisons. However, even areas monitored!) cers aren’t totally safe, prison spo Larry Todd said. “They may be faster than a corret officer is in stopping them,” he said. The AIDS issue overshadowedar| erwise routine agenda for thel committees Thursday. The one:] item — discussion of where to locale] proposed super segregation units- tabled. buntry Dallas school board tables superintendent resignation DAIJLAS (AP) —After school trustees rejected Yvonne Gonzalez’s resignation as superintendent early Thurs day, the district’s attention shifted to recovering $ 10 mil - lion in damages as a result of possible vendor fraud. The school board met privately for nine hours be ginning Wednesday afternoon before voting 6-3 ear ly Thursday to delay a decision on the resignation for 30 days. “This will give us the opportunity to consider it deliberately,” said trustee and Gonzalez supporter Jose Plata. The board’s three black members wanted to accept the resignation. “It’s unfortunate because it continues all the innu endo between blacks and Hispanics,” said Yvonne Ewell, one of the board members who voted against a delay. “We just need to get on with education, and we don’t need all this ambivalence.” The board is also directing an inquiry into other re lated improprieties. Special counsel Marcos Ronquillo announced that the district planned to file three lawsuits seeking a to tal of at least $10 million in damages for alleged shod dy and uncompleted work, vendor fraud and con spiracy. He said some criminal charges would be sought, although he declined to identify the target. “This is the tip of the iceberg,” Ronquillo said. “We’re just starting. The Dallas Independent School District will no longer be victimized.” Gonzalez was accused in a sexual harassment law suit of sending suggestive notes to top aide Matthew Harden and attaching a tracking device to his car be cause “she was jealous of other women around him.” Her attorney asked for a restraining order Thurs day against Harden, seeking to bar him from releas ing to the public any of the evidence he claims to have obtained. A judge ruled in favor of the request. Dan Hartsfield, Gonzalez’s attorney, did not re turn telephone calls Thursday afternoon to The As sociated Press. Gonzalez offered her resignation Tuesday after Harden filed the lawsuit. She had been superinten dent for only eight months. She agreed to resign to settle Harden’s suit and ob tain his evidence of her alleged misconduct, court records filed Wednesday showed. But in her resignation statement, she denied the al legations, saying she was being attacked because she was investigating corruption and was quitting only to protect the district's image. Michael Hopkins, an attorney of Harden’s, said those comments broke the conditions of their set tlement and now his client is proceeding with the suit. Senate Continued from Page 1 Robert Fly, a former Band dorm senator and Class of ’48, said the 1947 Senate had to organize the Senate, develop procedure and write its constitution. Fly said he looks forward to talk ing to current senators. “I look forward to talking to stu dents about my recollection of the student body, the campus, what we did for fun before women [attend ed A&M] and a typical year of 1947 campus life,” he said. Fly said 1947 was different be cause of the large number of war veterans returning to A&M to get their degrees. “I remember the transition of this time as very smooth and with out problems among the student body, because we had mutual re spect for each other,” he said. “This period of change and all the other changes Texas A&M has undergone is a tribute to A&M and to Aggies. Despite these changes, today the old traditions are still in place and doing well.” Gomez said topics of discussion will include what campus life was like for former senators, opinions about Texas A&M and ideas to im prove the University. Gomez said the Senate wants to hear opinions of the former sena tors on how to improve A&M. “We will be keeping records of the conversations so that they can be re viewed to keep us focused on where we’ve been and where we want A&M to go,” she said. “We want the opin ion from someone not on Senate, not even on campus. These are people that love A&M, and so we look for ward to their ideas on improvements for Texas A&M.” Alice Gonzalez, speaker of the Senate and a junior agricultural de velopment major, said this week end will help the 1997-98 senators focus on the work ahead of them this session. "The former senators will help us to put things into perspective,” she said. “I think we will find that we face many of the same issues that former senators have.” Curtis Childers, student body president and a senior agricultur al development major, said the celebration is a time for Student Government members to gain motivation for the coming year and to focus on priorities. “Senators on campus are stu dents, too,” he said. “They have classes, social lives, in addition to being senators. This will be an extra source of motivation. It will moti vate student senators to reach out and be strong representatives of the student body.” By Bran Stafj CORRECTION tear! The roa at I Roben ^lAggie Kicko Volf Pen Creel This time he i the Texas A< Jwill be pron |n Picnic. “I wanted a i album, so v i, for two i lesaid he fet n yet. It is 1 production company, ne of his pas did it produce these ra It is a techno band.' it had» In a Lifestyles story in terday’s Battalion, it stated that the DJ Ronnie and BJ. White Phlat Line Crew) prodi the Genesis I and Hr held two years ago. Phlat Line Crew ism only affiliation the raves was providing remixes. Ronnie Whits the owner of y aware of th T’ve done f nted serious i K Texas nati M student, K oys playing ii ^^"The crowds J Eon PfO;lsiastic that I { tions, which does notta He also said i credit for the Earthbc■' : rave this Saturday. Also, in the graphic 1 ty Freshman Enrollment pearing on Page l,thea indicating “This Year” “Last Year’’ Should t#odbroad bas< been reversed. feensinghsc uture Farmers ram, but his be “The people; n said. “The I have a gooc He began atte h dreams of: ;ree in Anime T was a big fcnsaid. “I tho ito the ag fiel< Helen Clancy, Editor in Chief Erica Roy, City Editor Matt Weber, City Editor Chris Ferrell, Sports Editor April Towery, Lifestyles Editor James Francis, Opinion Editor Dave House, Photo Editor Brad Graeber, Graphics Editor Joey Schlueter, Radio Editor Josh Miller, Night News Editor Chris Stevens, Web Editor Dusty Moer, Web Editor Mandy Cater, Office Manager News: Hie 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 campus, local, and national dis play 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 Hie Battalion. Mail sub scriptions are $60 per school year, $30 for the fall or spring semes ter and $17.50 for the summer. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 845-2611. The Battaudn (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,H< 77843-1111. The Sign Of A Great Career Opportunity. • Six figure income potential • SOjrears of continued growth • Structured career path • Entry level management opportunities • Excellent starting salary • Comprehensive training program (no experience necessary) NOW ACCEPTING RESUMES FOR ENTRY LEVEL MANAGEMENT POSITIONS For more information contact: George H. Wenglein. jr.. Assistant Vice President. Management Recruitment-911 North Main Ave.. Suite E San Antonio, Texas 78212-4725 Or call: 210-225-7720-FAX 210-225-5750 Soalfooijnmgonilfwpli. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Universal Computer Systems, Inc. Check out our website at www.ucs-systems.com to find out more about Universal Computer Systems, Inc. UCS is looking for candidates to fill our open positions at our multi-million dollar expansion site in College Station. We still have 40+ part-time positions available. If you would like to gain valuable computer experience with a job that is flexible enough to accommodate your school schedule and pays $6.00/hr., don't wait any longer! Call our Recruiting Department at: 1-800-883-3031 NOW!!! EOE. UCS hires non-tobacco users only. the Fear Within MSC Programs Presents For more information please contact the MSC Student Programs Office at (409) 845*1515, or visit the MSC web-site at http://w\vwmsc.tamu.edu. Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to infomt us of your special needs. We request three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities. YouVe bought school stuff, back to college stuff, fix up your place stuff. Now how ‘bout shopping for som REALLY INSPIRING STUFF ON SALE! Brazos Valley Christian Books is having an anniversary sale AND celebrating the openingo our new store in College Station (in the Kroger Corner at Southwest Parkway). The bestpaf everything (we mean EVERYTHING including special orders prepaid at the time of purchase) is marked down 20 percent. Pack away a few good books for the hard to guess size guys on the ol’ Christmas list. Stocki on today’s favorite Christian music CDs and tapes. Pickup that picture you’ve wanted but hoped it would go on sale. Be nice to yourself and grab that piece of Jeep Collins jewelryyo always admire. Load up on desk and home gifts as inexpensive ways to say “You’re Special to someone special. And join in the fun. DRAWINGS* EVERY DAY FOR BOOKS, BIBLES, MUSIC, CONCERT GETAWAYS and JEWELRY. Mi! SPECIAL MUSIC SALE Amy Grant’s Newest Project: “Behind the Eyes’ • Jars of Clay’s Latest Hit: “much afraid” $5.99 for tapes/$9.99 for CDs on/y for this 3-day sale • Special T-Shirts ($16.95 value) - SALE $9.99 • Billy Graham Gift Pack ($20 value) - FREE for first 20 customers Thursday • Boxed Christmas Cards (up to $14.95 value) - SALE $2.99 Thursday, Friday, Saturday (September 18 - 20) Stir Fry Seminars & Consulting’s SPECIAL HOURS: 8 to 8 '7he Color of Fear ISSIHII brazos | valley ] September 25 ChRistian Rudder Theater 1 Book anC> gift Pick up your ticket at the MSC Box Office window in 0 DR/I the Rudder Complex before attending this program. stoRe Midtown in Bryan Kroger Corner at Southwest Parkway in College Station 846-3433 *Purchase not required/You need not be present to win
