Texas A & M University
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61
TOMORROW
YEAR • ISSUE 36 • 10 PAGES
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COLLEGE STATION • TX
See extended forecast, Page 6.
MONDAY • OCTOBER 20 • 1997
Jtherlej
;k force
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H _ extended
neis
‘isitation
AMOS
By Amanda Smith
Staff writer
Texas A&M Residence
11 Association appointed a
^tod jjk force to look into extend-
wantl j visitation hours in single-
e Hisi ( residence halls Wednesday
Crocker Hall Council spon-
imous red the proposal,
it acrt single-sex halls have visita-
)n this nhours from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
loan Duong, Crocker Hall
ssident and a junior comput-
■ience major, said similar
••■pposals resurface every year
th little or no action taken.
“We created the bill because
wanted to get RHA to sup-
jitthe bill as a whole,” Duong
id. “It is very general because
isk force will be responsible
tming up with a proposal
II |—jutlining that proposal.”
I|1'h IA President Eric Williams,
senior biomedical science
ijor, said the proposal has a
mb'er of opportunities for ex-
|ded visitation hours in sin-
;lsex dorms.
the possibilities are end-
is,” he said. “1 think that flexi-
lity will be the key. The task
rce right now is going to look
to what the residence halls are
terested in. It could be that
iitcilion hours are extended to
diours or from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
could remain the same.”
The task force will be re-
onsible for collecting the in-
itmation from residence halls
id determine the need for a
pposal to submit to the ad-
iricistration.
ji)avid Rickerson, the RHA fa
jita tor and operations chair
id a junior computer science
|l)r, said the task force com-
ttee will evaluate the propos-
potential through a number
measures.
“'This is a fact-finding mis-
j)n,” Rickerson said. “We are
ling out to see what students
ink (about extended visita-
Jn hours). We are going to
pk at visitation hours on cam-
jtses of other universities. We
ill do a lot of talking with Res-
ifice Life and residents. The
ttis of the committee is to see
there is interest.”
Rickerson said resident inter-
Knay be determined through
■municatiori with RHA
embers in single-sex dorms
id surveys.
Co-ed halls can approve 24-
lui visitation by 90 percent
)te of its residents,
ibuong said he would like to
ie|the task force organize a pro-
3Stil soon but cautiously.
ie Texas A&M Cross Coun-
fTeam comes up big in its
>rne tournament.
See Page 7
tan |s9QEBMBSS
'hnston: Technology takes
t of letter writing to low
vel of electronics.
See Page 9
rec^
nlinei 5
lttp://bat~web.tamu.edu
ook up with state and
ational news through The
/ire, AP’s 24-hour online
ews service.
A&M students injured in plane crash
By Robert Smith
Senior staff writer
Three Texas A&M students were hospitalized
after a plane car rying four students crashed ear
ly Sunday morning at Easterwood Airport.
Columbia Medical Center officials said
Christopher Kazmierski, a senior kinesiology
major, and Michael Heath, a senior kinesiol
ogy major, are at Columbia for back and neck
pains and remain in stable condition.
Officials also said Christopher Schwark,
the pilot of the plane and a senior business
administration major, was released from Co
lumbia yesterday after receiving medical care
for back and neck pains. Shane Floyd, a junior
business analysis management major, suf
fered a cut lip and did not require medical at
tention, hospital officials said.
The Federal Aviation Administration in
Houston is investigating the cause of the
plane crash.
The plane was a Moonie M-20 fixed-wing
plane.
The College Station Fire Department re
sponded to a emergency call at 2:15 a.m. Sun
day. The College Station Police Department,
the University Police Department, the A&M
Emergency Medical Services and Easterwood
Airport personnel arrived at the scene of the
accident around 2:30 a.m.
Bob Wiatt, director of the UPD, said
Schwark prepared to land the plane on the
mmmiaEssza
mJM Local g rou P
tries to educate
students about
the importance
of the rainforest.
See Page 3
Free fallin ,
runway, but lifted the plane after he thought
the plane was going too fast to land.
Wiatt said the plane’s engine stalled after it
lifted, causing a skidding land in a grassy field
near the Easterwood Airport office.
Wiatt said the plane’s front end and engine
were ripped off, but the plane did not catch fire.
The four students were returning from the
A&M-Kansas State University football game
in Manhattan, Kan. The students are mem
bers of the A&M Flying Club.
Presidential
corridor
City officials push for
highway expansion
Staff and Wire Report
Bryan-College Station officials are
hoping one plus one can equal four in
their effort to improve highway access to
the area, including visitors to the George
Bush Presidential Library and Museum in
November.
Officials said since getting an inter
state through Bryan-College Station
ROBERT MCKAY/The Battalion
Brian Reichle, a freshman at Cy-Creek High School in Houston, jumps off the steps in front of the Quad on his skateboard Saturday morning.
O
Utoli
Complex
seems unlikely, backers of four-lane ac
cess have been focusing their energies on
widening Texas 21/U.S. 190 from Bryan
northeast to Madisonville where it inter
sects with Interstate 45.
U.S. 190 is a 40-mile two-lane road be
tween 1-45 and Texas Highway 6, a major
artery through Bryan-College Station.
This stretch has been designated by
the state as the “Presidental Corridor” be
cause it provides access to the George
Bush Presidential Library and Museum
on the Texas A&M campus as well as to
the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential
Library in Austin.
Please see Expansion on Page 6.
Ceremony opens annual mini-Olympics
By Rachel Dawley
Staff writer
The International Mini-Olympics began
Friday with opening ceremonies at Rudder
Fountain.
The event was highlighted by interna
tional music, cultural dances and different
speeches from A&M faculty and staff.
During the next two weekends, more
than 1,000 Texas A&M students representing
countries from around the world will partic
ipate in the games.
Vinay Ramanathan, vice president of the
International Student Association and a
management information systems graduate
student from India, said the annual event
reflects the diversity and friendliness of an
Olympic event on the A&M campus. Rama
nathan said the students’ desire to promote
their heritage and countries on campus has
made the event a success.
“The International Student Association
hosts the event each year,” he said. “It’s main
objective is to allow all international stu
dents to interact with one another as a cul
tural exchange. We believe that the spirit of
sports is a good place to begin.”
Belita Siu, a senior industrial engineering
major from Panama, coordinated this year’s
ceremonies. Siu said Friday’s ceremonies
united students from different countries be
fore the games began Friday night.
“The opening ceremonies turned out real
ly good,” she said. “It is important to represent
the different countries and cultures at A&M
and it allows students to get to know people.
The most important thing is to have fun.”
The mini-Olympics has been an event at
A&M for almost two decades. More than 30
countries are participating in 14 sports,
ranging from bowling to chess to soccer.
Danny Guindi, director of mini-Olympics
and a senior computer science major from
Panama, said international students often
have problems adjusting to American cul
ture and the Olympics are a way to encour
age exchange between students.
“The mini-Olympics is very important for
the interaction between students,” he said.
“It is a way to get students together to get to
know each other.”
Guindi said he wants to make the mini-
Olympics a more well-known tradition at
A&M with a larger audience and more cam
pus awareness of the event.
Ballet Folklorico Celestial performed Fri
day. This group of A&M students perform
Mexican dances that promote the culture
and history of Mexico.
Grissel Sanchez, a junior international
studies major from Mexico City, performed
with the group.
Sanchez said the mini-Olympics are an
event allows students to enjoy one another
and meet other students.
Norberto Chaclin, president of the In
ternational Student Association and a junior
chemical engineering major from the Dutch
Caribbean, said international student are en
couraged to participate in the events through
organizations representing their country.
“I’m really excited about the number of peo-
pie participating in the event,” Chaclin said. “It
is an opportunity for international students to
show that we can represent and share our cul
ture with A&M. We work together even though
we all come from different backgrounds.”
AMY DUNLAP/The Battalion
Danny Guindi, director of International Mini-
Olympics and senior computer science major from
Panama, thanks those who assisted with the events.
38
PROFILE:
Barry
Thompson
By Robert Smith
Senior staff writer
Dr. Barry B. Thompson may not
be a familiar name with many
Texas A&M students, but his work
as the chancellor of the Texas A&M
University System reaches across the state.
Since becoming chancellor in August 1994, Thompson
Thompson has made it his mission to ensure that the A&M System
is producing quality education from citizens’ tax dollars.
Thompson has implemented different programs in an effort to improve educa
tion in Texas.
He led the establishment of the Texas Higher Education Coalition, a group that fo
cuses on the graduation and retention of more college students in the state.
Thompson said he is concerned with how citizens’ tax dollars can best be used
and believes too much money is spent building prisons and not enough is spent
on education.
Please see Thompson Page 6.
Cgfifeus
Curtis
Childers
By Bran dye Brown
Staff writer
Student Body President Curtis
Childers attributes some of his
success to growing up with three
sisters in the small, close-knit
community of Glen Rose, Texas.
“Growing up as the only boy in a family of
women was unique,” he said. “It helped me learn that
it is okay not to be in charge all the time. Sometimes
they would team up on me. It helped me to understand what it was like to be in
the minority.”
Childers, a senior agricultural major, said the quality school system of Glen Rose
helped him to excel by providing opportunities and encouraging him to take them.
“I had the opportunity to travel often for school-related activities,” he said. “This
was a mind-opening experience that was especially important since I grew up in such
a small town.”
Please see Childers on Page 6.
Childers