Texas A & M University
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TODAY
TOMORROW
04™ YEAR • ISSUE 41 • 10 PAGES
COLLEGE STATION • TX
See extended forecast. Page 2.
MONDAY • OCTOBER 27 • 1997
responds to
b threat
The Blocker building received a
jmb threat Friday, the University
;iice Department said.
r Bob Wiatt, director of UPD, said
Go-nmeone called an office in Blocker
j t s ^'12:30 p.m. and said, “Listen
Ow refully. A bomb is set to go off in
'•n p-ocker in one hour.”
(J Wiatt said en A&M employee in
'^DCker called UPD at 12:31 p.m.,
■id students were evacuated from
bjuildingtwo minutes later when
D arrived.
I He said the UPD did not find a
>mb and students were allowed in
e building after the investigation
s finished at 2:15 p.m.
Wiatt said he did not believe
e call was a serious threat be-
■ use only a very complicated tim-
a^device could be set to explode
J W an hour.
“We get a number of these
mb threats,” he said. “It’s not
common.”
epublic of Texas
Is begin Monday
^NE, Texas (AP) — An end to
of turmoil may be near for the
Immunity that first endured sepa-
Richard McLaren’s paper war,
^^JSluing on through actual gunplay.
|H|e first group from McLaren’s Re-
A bile of Texas will go on trial Monday.
MMents say the proceedings may
wide a measure of relief in the se-
tied Davis Mountains Resort,
ere the armed separatists held
pres of lawmen at bay for a week
it Ipring.
A|thorities say Republic followers
reretaliating for the arrest of a
>up member on weapons charges
ril 27 when they shot their way into
^ident Joe Rowe’s house in the re-
a rural subdivision 175 miles
east of El Paso.
Bp! the time the siege ended May
J) the group’s surrender, 300
3te troopefsHexas Rangers"dhd
■ ier officers had descended on the
ia|vest of Fort Davis, where
laren operated an “embassy” in a
ilerand cabin.
tepairs start after
ailroad collision
HOUSTON (AP) — Gusty winds
Vf)UC wecl e ff° rts to reopen a Union Pa-
rUUli ic rail line Sunday, a day after a two-
injpollision closed it.
Four crewmeri were injured
turday when two trains collided on
3 city's southwest side, sending up
luge fireball and thick black smoke
at could be seen for miles.
'ositions available
a Student Senate
There are openings in the Stu-
int|Senate for two positions: Col-
ge of Agriculture senator and Off-
ampus senator.
Applications are due Oct. 31 in
27 Koldus.
m.
ary
ideo Pick of the Week:
hallow Grave, starring
wan McGregor, a must-see.
See Page 3
mtmL
Texas A&M
Soccer Team
clinches Big 12
championship
with win over
Colorado.
See Page 7
uffines: Assisted-suicide
factices of Dr. Jack Kevorkian
arrant deep scrutiny.
See Page 9
pttp ://b a t-web. tam u .e d u
ook up with state and
ational news through The
fire, AP’s 24-hour online
aws service.
Groups support anti-drug parade
By Rachel Dawley
Staff writer
Texas A&M organizations promoted a
drug-free community Saturday at the Red
Ribbon Week Festival in downtown Bryan.
The parade featured A&M’s Parson’s
Mounted Cavalry (PMC), College Station
Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney and the Biyan Police
Department’s D.A.R.E. car.
Alpha Phi Omega, an A&M service frater
nity, and the Bonfire Alcohol Awareness
Committee also participated in the event.
Paul Simone, commander of PMC and a
senior agriculture systems management
major, said the parade encourages involve
ment between A&M and the Bryan-College
Station community.
“The parade was an opportunity for us to
show our support for the community,” he
said. “This builds relationships with the com
munity and brings favorable publicity to
A&M and the Corps.”
Booths in front of the Palace Theatre
provided information about Bryan-College
Station groups and programs promoting
drug awareness.
Bonfire Alcohol Awareness Committee, a
group encouraging an alcohol-free Bonfire,
had an information table at the event.
Heather Hettick, director of the commit
tee and a senior biomedical science major,
said the group participated in the event to
show its support of the community’s efforts.
“People can ask questions and talk about
their concerns about Bonfire,” she said. “It
(the parade) is a way to improve the image of
Bonfire in the community. The community
supports so much of what we do, and we
wanted them to know we are supporting
what they are doing.”
Rachel Ferguson, projects chair for Alpha
Phi Omega and a senior interdisciplinary
studies major, said the event allows children
to see A&M students supporting a drug-free
environment.
“It is good to get kids aware that it is OK not
to drink and do drugs,” she said. “Kids often
have bad role models. This shows them that
there are people out there who don’t drink
and do drugs.”
The Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and
“The community supports so much
of what we do, and we wanted
them to know we are supporting
what they are doing.”
HEATHER HETTICK
DIRECTOR
BONFIRE ALCOHOL AWARENESS COMMITTEE
Helping hand
AMY DUNLAP/The Battalion
Eric Hyche, a sophomore geography major, helps Heidi Ridenhour, a senior German and history major, take off her boots in front of the
Administration Building Sunday morning.
A&M researcher presents findings
Effects of fetal alcohol syndrome on brain development similar to aging
By Tiffany Inbody
Staff writer
Although newborns whose mothers con
sumed alcohol during pregnancy can have brains
that function in some ways like an older person,
they will not be wise beyond their years.
A researcher from the Texas A&M College of
Medicine has found the internal clock of a fetus can
be damaged permanently due to alcohol. The in
ternal clock controls sleeping and behavior.
Dr. David Earnest, an assistant professor in the
Department of Human Anatomy and Medical
Neurobiology, presented a paper on this topic at
the Society for Neuroscience meeting yesterday
in New Orleans.
Using rats, Earnest studied the effects of alco
hol on brain development.
“The effects of ethanol (alcohol) during a period
of rapid brain development are very similar to ag
ing,” he said.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a group of birth de
fects including growth retardation, central ner
vous system dysfunction and facial abnormali
ties. Between 7,000 and 12,000 babies are born
with FAS each year in the United States.
Although these defects are completely pre
ventable, FAS is the leading cause of mental re
tardation in the United States.
As healthy adults age, they can no longer sleep
through the night. Some people go to sleep as
soon as the sun goes down and wake up a few
hours later, unable to sleep.
While this may resemble a newborn baby’s
pattern of sleep, for babies with FAS, this may not
be a phase. Earnest said this pattern of sleep may
continue into adulthood.
A hormone in the brain allows a person to stay
asleep. As a person ages, levels of this hormone fall.
Please see Findings on Page 5.
Source: Texas Dept, of Health
Substance Abuse and the Prevention Resource
Center Region 7 sponsored the event.
Center
funding
sought
By Brandye Brown
Staff writer
Texas A&M administration cur
rently is studying funding options for-
building the new Student Leadership
Retreat Center.
The center, which will be near
Easterwood Airport, will provide a fa
cility for student organization events.
Stephen Dunn, assistant director
for Student Activities, said the esti
mated cost for the first phase of the
project is more than $11 million.
“Our hope is to be able to depend
on donations,” he said. “We will ag
gressively pursue gifts. This will be an
attractive facility for people interest
ed in being visible, to students in
volved in leadership activities.”
Dunn said the land for the facility
has been designated by the Board of
Regents, and another plot next to the
land was a gift to the University, for a
total of around 130 acres.
Dunn said money from student
fees probably will be necessary.
Bill Kibler, associate vice president
for Student Affairs, said there is no
time line for building the center be
cause funding is not available yet.
“The primary source will most like
ly be a student fee analogous to the
recreation center, but not as large,” Ki
bler said. “That way, bonds could be
issued to fund the building and be
paid off over time. We still need re
search on the funding and amounts of
student fees and to engage students
across the campus, show them the
end result, the cost and ask if they
support it.”
Carolyn Adair, director of Student
Activities, said the Department of Stu
dent Activities has presented funding
issues to student groups such as the
Student Government Association,
MSC Council, Student Leader Adviso
ry Board and other students have re
quested information.
“We have begun to talk to student
groups to decide how to pursue fund
ing,” she said.
Kibler said a referendum may be vot
ed on in April 1998 to get the student
opinion of whether the student body
supports the center and the fee increase.
Please see Center on Page 5.
PROFILE:
M.T. ‘Ted’
Hopgood
By Rachel Dawley
Staff writer
Maj. Gen. M.T. “Ted” Hopgood
Jr., said as Corps of Cadets com
mandant, he must ensure cadets are
exposed to a disciplined, spirited
lifestyle that will prepare them for success in their private
and professional lives.
Hopgood said the Corps will play an important role
in the future of A&M as it continues to contribute to
the reputation of the University.
“A&M provides so many opportunities for growth and development,” he said.
“A&M has a role in furthering and advancing humankind, and I am very honored and
motivated to be a part of the whole process.”
Danny Feather, Corps commander and a senior economics major, said Hopgood
allows the cadet leadership to make decisions.
“I am impressed with his vision and experience,” he said.
Please see Hopgood on Page 2.
Hopgood
Jennifer
Burns
By Rachel George
Staff writer
As the Panhellenic president,
Jennifer Burns strives to im
prove Texas A&M and the Pan
hellenic system with dedication
and enthusiasm.
Meg Manning, Panhellenic adviser, said Burns’ en
thusiasm and energy has helped the Panhellenic sys
tem accomplish its goals.
“Jennifer is motivated and dedicated to ensuring that Panhellenic succeeds in each
individual project,” she said. “She is fair and genuine, and she embodies what the
spirit of Panhellenic is all about.”
Burns, a senior nutritional science major, said although her role as Panhellenic pres
ident has helped her learn more about sororities, she also has learned more about A&M.
“I’m a big people person,” she said. “I wanted to go out into the A&M communi
ty and meet other campus leaders.”
Please see Burns on Page 2.
Burns