04 th YEAR • ISSUE 16
UlT CAN/
X SHALL
YG I
UNPIES ON,
each!
iar is a Battalion
eno pressured by
enior Republicans
WASHINGTON (AP) — Saying their
Irsistent demands for a special in
stigation had been vindicated, se
lf Republicans on Sunday insisted
it Attorney General Janet Reno
jst now seek appointment of an im
pendent counsel to look into White
wse fund-raising activities.
■| honestly think she has no other
Dice," said House Judiciary Commit-
Chairman Henry Hyde, R-lll. “There
ufficient and credible evidence suf-
ent” for her to ask a panel of feder-
iudges to appoint an independent
unsel, added Senate Judiciary Com-
tee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
On Saturday the Justice Depart-
mt revealed it has opened a 30
/ review of President Clinton’s in-
vement in campaign money-raising
igularities during the 1996 presi-
ntial campaign.
S posts high
versaI rate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 42
rcent of the $13.2 billion worth
penalties that the IRS assessed
ainst taxpayers last year was
red off the books after corpora-
sand individuals challenged the
jies as excessive or unnecessary.
This high reversal rate, and other
cts of the Internal Revenue Ser-
's byzantine penalty structure, will
ne under scrutiny during hearings
week by the Senate Finance
nmittee. Senators will question,
ong other things, whether lower-in-
on-profit student ne taX p a y ers g et a f air shake
jnd activities, Iti ;n dealing with the IRS
mtted no latert
I vance of the desi
cation deadlines
t events and will
)us Calendar,
ions, please
45-3313.
ccuser to take
and in Albert trial
'fVRLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The cru-
ial question at sportscaster Marv
I rt's assault trial will be: Was
woman who accused him a will-
participant?
fthe jury believes she wasn’t,
NBC play-by-play man could face
:o life in prison.
(Ibert’s lawyers probably will try
urn the tables on the woman, ar-
ig she is lying about some or all
er allegations of being attacked,
lerhaps that she had some rea-
to seek revenge on Albert, legal
erts said.
|rtual road to
jst elderly drivers
INIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) —
rtual reality road test takes el-
y drivers on a simulated spin
;I ugh city and country as part of
|| ixperiment to help determine
seniors are so often involved
ccidents.
senior citizens seated in front of
imputer screen “drive” through
irtoon scene in which cars cut
iss the street, pedestrians ap-
r suddenly and stop signs and
s flash by.
The Texas A&M
Football Team
improves to 2-0
after Saturday’s
convincing win.
See Page 7
lifestyles
lerican pride: Texas A&M
terans Association brings
tether military Aggies.
See Page 3
>191 It IOH
iversity of Texas law
lessor’s comments spark
bate on race relations.
See Page 9
tomation
online
J |http://bat-web.tamu.edu
bok up with state and na-
inal news through The
ire, AP’s 24-hour online
iws service.
• 10 PACES COLLEGE STATION • TX
MONDAY • SEPTEMBER 22 • 1997
Survey will assess Hopwood effect
By Joey Jeanette Schlueter
Staff writer
A survey will be conducted this fall to de
termine whether the decline in minority en
rollment at some Texas universities this se
mester is a result of the Hopwood decision.
Dr. Ray M. Bowen, Texas A&M president,
said the Texas State Data Center will conduct
the survey. Steve Murdock, demographer of
the Data Center, will head up the survey.
The groups who will be surveyed for the
study are minorities who applied to A&M
but were not accepted, minorities who were
admitted to A&M but enrolled elsewhere
and minority freshmen who did enroll at
A&M this fall.
Murdock said the purpose of the survey is
not only to determine if Hopwood affected
minority enrollment, but also to learn
whether those minorities received scholar
ships. He said the survey will help universities
better recruit minority students in the future.
A&M released its enrollment figures
Thursday, and Bowen said the expected de
cline in minorities was confirmed.
“The anticipated impact of the Hopwood
decision on new freshmen is evident in the
percentage decrease of both African-Ameri
cans and Hispanics enrolled at the College
Station campus this fall,” Bowen said.
A&M experienced a 23-percent drop in
enrollment of black students and a 15-per
cent drop in the number of Hispanic stu
dents enrolled.
In the freshman class, 178 blacks and 607
Hispanics enrolled, a decrease from last
year’s 230 black and 713 Hispanic freshmen
enrolled.
University officials said the Hopwood rul
ing may have caused the decrease.
The Hopwood ruling outlawed race-based
scholarships and admissions after a student
sued the University of Texas because she felt
she was not admitted to UT’s law school as a
result of affirmative action.
The University of Texas saw a slight in
crease of minority freshmen, but experienced
a drop in minority enrollment overall and in
their law school and graduate programs.
Bowen said the Data Center plans to sur
vey minorities at the University of Texas at
Austin also.
The survey will be conducted during the
fall semester, and results are expected in ear
ly spring, Bowen said.
► Banned Books Week
Female writer
to address
lesbian issues
By Robert Smith
Staff writer
The MSC Literary Arts Committee is hosting a se
ries of free programs in honor of Banned Books Week,
including an appearance by author Leslea Newman.
Newman, author of the children’s book Heather
Has Two Mommies, will speak Tuesday at 7 p.m. in
Rudder Theater.
Peggy C. Philpot, MSC Literary Arts Committee ad
viser, said the book, one of the first to address lesbians
having children, is the second most-banned book in
the United States and has sparked a national debate
on the content of children’s books.
Heather has Two Mommies was published in 1990
and has been challenged by critics, with several at
tempts to remove it from the shelves of school and
public libraries.
Newman will address the accusations in her pre
sentation and will discuss the controversy surround
ing the book.
Philpot said this is the first time the committee has
hosted a series for Banned Books Week.
“We really encourage people to come out and see
Leslea,” she said. “We’re really excited to have her.”
The A&M chapter of Eagle Forum Collegians is ask
ing students to protest Newman’s presentation at A&M.
Kelly Hartline, president of Eagle Forum Colle
gians, is leading the protest.
“It is disturbing and frightening to think Texas
A&M is spending the students’ money to promote a
speaker who spurns their religious principles,” she
said. “The University should be more sensitive to our
values and stop using our money to bash our beliefs.”
Newman will have a question-and-answer ses
sion following the presentation and will sign copies
of the book.
A University of Texas professor will discuss the cur
rent status of book-banning in the United States
tonight at 7 in 201 MSC.
On Wednesday, there will be an open discussion of
whether some books should be banned. The discus
sion will be at 7 p.m. in 201 MSC and will focus on the
content and availability of controversial books.
MEDALS seeks peer advisers
for minority outreach program
By Colleen Kavanagh
Staff writer
MEDALS is recruiting peer advisers this week for
a conference to teach high school students about
college life.
MEDALS (Minority Emichment and Development
through Academic Leadership Skills) is a student-run
organization designed to encourage minority high
school students to continue their educations.
Keaton Kirkwood, associate director of peer ad
visers and a senior business analysis major, said
MEDALS wants to recruit 150 peer advisers for the
January conference.
“We need a diverse group of Aggies who are en
thusiastic and willing to cooperate with others,” he
said. “Peer advisers help these high school students
see the value of higher education.”
More than 750 high school students attend the
weekend conference each year. The students attend
workshops on college courses* time management
and financial aid and listen to two keynote speakers
discuss the importance of higher education.
Shantera Woodley, director of public relations
for MEDALS and a senior speech communications
major, said the high school students will be divid
ed into groups of 10 each, with two A&M peer ad
visers for each group.
Woodley said peer advisers serve as role models
for the students and are respected by them.
She also said advisers help bring students to the
conferences and convince many students to con
tinue their educations beyond high school.
“Last year two girls from Rockdale wrote their
peer advisers saying they had planned to drop out,”
Woodley said, “but MEDALS convinced them to
stay in school.”
Joel Garcia, a former peer adviser and a senior
mechanical engineering major, said the best part
of participating in MEDALS was seeing the enthu
siasm on students’ faces.
“Helping these kids see the value of a higher ed
ucation was great, not to mention the friendships
and bonds made that weekend,” he said.
Peer adviser applications are available in the
Department of Multicultural Services, 137 MSC.
Ragin’ on the Cajuns
Sophomore linebacker Sean Coryatt picks up a fumble by USL quarterback Lance Domec and returns it for a touchdown in the
fourth quarter of Saturday’s game at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns 66-0. See full story, Page 7.
Cadets meet for first reunion
By Amanda Smith
Staff writer
The first Corps of Cadets reunion and
the annual Aggie Band reunion, both held
this past weekend, provided former and
current cadets an opportunity to swap sto
ries of Ol’ Army days and life on the Quad
rangle today.
Danny Feather, Corps commander and
a senior economics major, said former
cadets are role models for today’s cadets
because they emphasize the importance of
strong leadership and scholastics in suc
ceeding later in life.
“I think that it (the reunion) was a learn
ing experience,” Feather said. “For me, it
was special because some of the old Corps
commanders stopped by. It made me feel
good to see the improvements that the
Corps has made over the past eight or nine
years, particularly in academics.”
The Corps Development Council and
Trigon staff members developed the idea
of a Corps reunion to celebrate returning
cadets in conjunction with the annual re
union of the Aggie Band.
Stephen Dommert, a former cadet and
Class of ’92, traveled from his home in Or
lando, Fla., for the Corps reunion. He said
he enjoyed the camaraderie between
cadets and the sense of tradition when he
was at A&M.
“Putting on the senior boots was my
best experience,” Dommert said. “This is
the first year of the All-Corps reunion and
a new idea. I am sure that it will continue.”
Chris Zorich, a public relations officer
for the Corps and a senior psychology ma
jor, said he enjoyed watching the former
Aggie Band members march into Kyle Field
before the football game Saturday.
“One of the high points was bringing the
former Band members,” he said. “They got
a chance to relive their days at Aggieland.”
Feather said the former cadets shared
stories of their days in the Corps and em
phasized values shared by members of the
Corps of Cadets.
“The former cadets dispel a lot of OF
Army myths,” he said. “I love hearing
cadets from the 1950s and 1960s returning
to say that hazing was not OF Army. They
focus on leadership.”
Lt. Col. Keith Stephens, director of op
erations of the Sanders Corps of Cadets
Center, said former cadets lined the out
skirts of Kyle Field during the Corps march-
in Saturday.
Stephens also said the former and cur
rent cadets enjoyed meeting each other.
“It is fairly likely that we will have one next
year,” he said. “Ags like to come and meet
with former students. Any opportunity to do
that generally receives a good response.”
Feather said another reunion may be
held on the Quad Thanksgiving Day for the
current student body and former students.
“We want to have a Thanksgiving on the
Quadrangle,” he said. “We want to invite
the whole student body to promote family
and an alcohol-free Bonfire.”
Corps hosts Aggie for a Day program
DEREK DEMERE/The Battalion
Members of Junior ROIC Brigade Texas 882nd
gather during the “Aggie for a Day” program.
By Rachel George
Staff writer
The Texas A&M Corps of
Cadets hosted 2,100 Texas
high school students Satur
day as part of its “Aggie For
a Day” program.
For the past two years,
the Corps has sponsored
the event to motivate ROTC
cadets to pursue higher ed
ucation while giving them a
view of life in the Corps.
The program recruits
members for the Corps and
offers high school students
the chance to ask questions
about the Corps and A&M.
Danny Feather, Corps
commander and a senior fi
nance major, said the pro
gram gives high school stu
dents an opportunity to
experience A&M culture.
“It (Aggie For a Day) gives
the (ROTC) cadets, usually of
minority background, a
chance to get the red-carpet
treatment on their visit here
to A&M,” he said.
The program kicked off
Saturday morning as the
high school students arrived
on campus and were paired
with their A&M escorts.
Then, the cadets toured the
MSC, the Sam Houston
Sanders Corps Center and
the Corps residence halls.
The ROTC cadets also
watched a presentation at
Rudder Theater on Aggie
traditions and the Corps’
role as keepers of tradition.
The Ross Volunteers also
performed for the students.
James Rogers, Corps re
cruiting officer and a senior
marketing major, said an
other goal of “Aggie For a
Day” is to support the
cadets’ enthusiasm about
being in Junior ROTC.
“The Junior ROTC web
site has a posting about the
cadets’ visit to A&M,” he
said. “They are really excit
ed about coming here, and
we want to make sure they
have a good time.”
The day concluded with
the cadets attending the
A&M-University of South
western Louisiana football
game.
Feather said the cadets
looked forward to the game.
“For them (the cadets) to
be able to sit with us in the
horseshoe makes them feel
like a part of A&M and adds
to the overall spirit of the
game,” he said.
Samantha Green, a par
ticipant in the program and
a high school sophomore
from Houston, said she en
joyed the game.
“I had fun standing down
there with the Corps,” she
said. “Everyone was so excit
ed about the game, and I got
to learn some of the yells.”
The Corps keeps in con
tact with cadets who plan to
attend A&M.