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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 1997)
Texas A & M University YEAR ♦ ISSUE 49 • 18 PAGES • 2 SECTIONS COLLEGE STATION • TX TOMORROW See extended forecast. Page 2. THURSDAY • NOVEMBER 6 • 1997 ai lad \ I'ea ■ar sa ]id( Jatii Irki louj ha fcoi dtu Is] l(Tb' Is t luit ish family anticipates historic opening tote dedication iifthe George Bush Library begins at ,d 1a.m. with an Iroduction by ICER . . ^ . )eb Bush. By Joey Jeanette Schlueter Staff writer F ormer President George Bush will be joined today by more than 25,000 friends, family, dignitaries, students and the public to celebrate the dedication of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The pre-dedication program begins at 9:45 a.m. at the Bush Complex with live entertainment. The Master of Ceremonies for the pre-dedication program will be Ray Childress, former Houston Oilers All-Pro defensive tackle and Class of ’84. The Texas Aggie Band will perform along with the Singing Cadets. The Symphonic Band also will play at the pre-dedication. Fred McClure, the First black A&M student body president, will conclude the pre-dedication ceremony leading into the official dedication. The dedication will begin at 11 a.m. Former President Bush’s son Jeb Bush, president of the Bush Presidential Li brary Foundation, will introduce the guests who will sit on the platform stage. First ladies will arrive, followed by former presidents and President Bill Clinton. Gov. George W. Bush will welcome guests, and the invoca tion will be given by Rev. Billy Graham. Following the invocation, the United States Armed Forces Color Guard will perform the presentation of colors. Please see Dedication on Page 5. RVAN ROGERS/The Battalion Top: Former President George Bush addresses the crowd after arriving in College Station. Center: Governor George W. Bush greets the public. Bottom: Former President George Bush and wife Barbara Bush wave at the crowd upon their arrival by train. RYAN ROGERS/The Battalion Former president rides into CS by train By Joey Jeanette Schlueter Staff writer U nder a bright sun and clear skies, former President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, ar rived in College Station by train at 1:15 p.m. yesterday. Bush was joined on the train by family and dignitaries who will attend the George Bush Presidential Library and Mu seum dedication. Thousands of students and Bryan-Col- lege Station residents attended the train arrival to greet Bush and his family. Bush said he and his wife were excit ed to arrive in College Station and kick off the events leading to today’s dedica tion of the library. “Barbara and I are thrilled to be at Texas A&M,” he said. “We want to thank Bryan, (A&M) Consolidated and the Ross Volunteers for their warm welcome.” Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom John Major and his family rode on the train with the Bushes. Gov. George W. Bush also traveled on the train. “When George Bush picked Texas A&M for his library, he picked the ab solute perfect place,” Gov. Bush said. “This is a fabulous day for our family. It’s a proud day because we love George Bush more than life.” The Bryan High School Viking Band and the A&M Consolidated Band per formed at the train arrival. The A&M Con solidated Bengel Belles and cheerleaders also greeted the Bushes at their arrival. Some students said they were unable to attend Bush’s train arrival because they stood in line for tickets to the Bush Library dedication. But those who did make it to the train arrival said it was worth the wait. Laura Blakely, a sophomore political science major, said she waited at the McDonald’s for six hours so she could get close enough to see former Presi dent Bush. “I would not have missed this for the world,” Blakely said. “I brought extra film and my sunglasses. Seeing President Bush in person is so neat.” Blakely said she had her roommate stood in line at the Convention and Vis itors Bureau in College Station for tick ets yesterday. Her roommate got two tickets, so they will be able to see the dedication today. BRANDON BOLLOM/The Battalion lifestyles 'V fXweatherman Bob inch pulls double duty as torthgate musician. See Page 3 sports [f^rell: Aggies remain in -il2 South hunt after me-from-behind victory. See Page 9 opinion ‘fines: President Clinton, <as A&M should join forces create historic library. See Page 13 online W/battalion. tanm.edu lou missed the first stories Texas A&M Historical >s, access them through battalion’s archives. Recent decades introduce women, presidential library to A&M campus “Grave responsibilities rest upon you. The excellence of the college will be determined by your progress.” Gov. Richard Coke October 4, 1876 ci h isiaficaJperspeative. Last in a four-part series detailing significant events in the growth of the University. By Joey Jeanette Schlueter Staff writer A nd progress it has been for Texas A&M. The University has become a different place than it was in 1876 — from the ad mittance of women to the addition of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on campus. From 1966 to 1997, progress has included the acceptance of women into A&M, an in crease in enrollment and racial diversity and growth of the campus. In 1967, A&M won the Southwest Confer ence Championship in football and won the Cotton Bowl game on New Year’s Day in 1968. Before the 1970s, most A&M students were men and in the Corps of Cadets. According to the book Texas A&M Universi ty: A Pictorial History by A&M history professor Henry C. Dethloff, in September 1971, women were admitted on equal basis with men. By 1974,25 percent of the A&M student body were women. In 1975, the first all-female ROTC unit, Compa ny W-1, was added to the Corps of Cadets. In 1985, the Aggie Band was the first Corps group to have both men and women in the same company. John Dickerson, Class of ’72, said he re members radical changes during his senior year. He said women’s and minority’s rights were discussed on campus. Please see History on Page 5. The Road to the NCAAs begins in College Station See Big 12 Special Edition inside for coverage of the Texas A&M Soccer Team championship. 1*1 if w/bulwA . h ~° J tfm mwM. Bryn Blalack Big 12 Player of the Year