Texas A & M University
—I lipm
TODAY
TOMORROW
YEAR • ISSUE 67 • 12 PAGES
COLLEGE STATION • TX
See extended forecast. Page 2.
THURSDAY • DECEMBER 4 • 1997
jOv. Bush
eadies for
e-election
BpASO, (AP) — Gov. George
Bush launched his re-election
npaign Wednesday with a
irnise his focus will be on Texas
lot on the possibility of a Whi te
use run in 2000.
As he embarked on a six-day,
city campaign blitz, Bush said
does not know yet whether a
isidential race is in his future,
i/ldo know that my head and
r heart are here in Texas, and I
(&iu! to run a positive cam-
ign and I intend to win,” Bush
d during a press briefing at El
>oCommunity College.
^Bvo years is a lifetime in poli-
>,” he said,“and it’s a lifetime when
oiipes to 16-year-old twin daugli-
s, land I’m deeply concerned
ill what any national race would
:an for my family. So it’s impossi-
ifor me to debate... as to whether
ill or will not seek die presidency.”
R|gardless, talk of a presiden-
I bid is expected to underlie
Hs attempt to become the
stPepublican to be re-elected
vernor since Dolph Briscoe in
74 and the first ever to win
ck-to-back four-year terms.
B|sh began his bid early
Jdbnesday in Midland, where he
idlie would not take any voter
■[anted despite being a heavy
/ofite in opinion polls over De-
ber; 11 ic challenger Gariy Mauro.
Hi also offered a broad range of
op( tsals — from increased read-
g training for teachers to ex-
apt mg 176,000 small businesses
)m the state franchise tax.
Later, Bush said during a
ieech at the El Paso college he
tdlaid a foundation for an im-
rpvcd Texas during his first
arm “and now it’s time tp.
uiitl.” A crowd of about 500,
safly half of which was made
p young children, reacted
ithusiastically.
^■he choices we make today will
■pri nine whether or not tomorrow
II promise an opportunity for
erj single one of our citizens,”
tsh said. “The times are important,
tey call for a forward - thinking
tdci: who will make a bold call,
io will challenge the status quo,
id Who will stand up and say follow
e. lam that leader.”
Mauro issued a statement chal-
nging the effectiveness of some
Bush’s actions and arguing that
tsh won’t give families a real tax
it or the constitutional right to
oose their own doctors.
yThe difference between Gov.
tsh and me is that I have a plan—
:xas Families First — that will
>olish the Sales taxon cars, trucks
id sports utility vehicles, give Tex
ts tlie right to pick their own doe
rs, 1 mild new schools to end over-
owded classrooms, and make our
dghborhoods safer,” Mauro said
the release.
Miracle on 34th
Street: Holiday
classic is being
brought to life
by ‘magination
Station.
See Page 3
xas A&M Volleyball Team
ens NCAA Tournament play
light in G. Rollie White.
See Page 7
incis: Implementing curfew
vs pushes parents aside,
es police too much power.
See Page 11
tp//battalion, tamu.edu
ok up with state and na-
Jnal news through The
re, AP’s 24-hour online
ws service.
Regents to consider Kyle Field bids
By Colleen Kavanagh
Staffwriter
The Texas A&M University System
Board of Regents will consider pro
posals for renovations to Sbisa Din
ing Hall, cooling tower replacements
and Kyle Field expansion bids today.
Sbisa renovations are estimated
to cost $6.6 million. The main en
trance will be re-established at its
original location, facing Military
Walk, kitchen equipment will be
upgraded and the dining and
kitchen areas will be renovated.
Gen. Wesley Peel, vice chancel
lor for facilities planning and con
struction, said the main entrance to
Sbisa will be the first change made.
“Sbisa was a gorgeous building,”
he said. “We want to restore its orig
inal style.”
Peel said the agenda to be decid
ed on today documents the process
to select an architect-engineer to
design the project.
He said the work will be done
during the next three summers.
Peel said the cooling tower re
placement will complete a 15-year
project to replace the wooden cool
ing tower cells with ceramic-filled
concrete towers.
“The system is designed to air
condition a large part of main cam
pus,” he said. “These last four tow
ers are rotted and at the end of their
useful life.”
The third phase of the Kyle Field
expansion project will be evaluated
to determine if it can be redesigned
and rebid to fit the budget or in
crease the budget if necessary.
Wally Groff, Texas A&M athletic
director, said all the bids for the Kyle
Field expansion project will be re
jected because the bids are $10 mil
lion dollars more than the estab
lished budget.
“The good news on increasing
the budget is that no state, uni
versity or student money is being
used,” he said. “All of the money
for the project has been gifts to
the University.”
The Board also will consider the
initiation of a geology bachelor of
arts program and a master of pub
lic health program.
If the Board approves the pro
posals, they will go to the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating
Board for approval before they
are implemented.
Please see Regents on Page 10.
Visiting his roots
Lyle Lovett meets with students
to discuss media, celebrities
AMY DUNLAP/The Battalion
Lyle Lovett, country-music singer and Class of ’79, signs autographs for journalism
students after leading a discussion about the relationship between media organizations
and celebrities.
By Erica Roy
City editor
ountry singer Lyle Lovett, Class of’79,
said Wednesday that his experiences at
Texas A&M and working for The Bat
talion help him when he is interviewed.
“It was very productive for me,” he said,
“and it does help me now doing interviews.”
Lovett, a former Battalion section editor
who has a journalism degree, talked with
A&M journalism majors Wednesday after
noon in 110 Koldus.
Dr. Charles C. Self, head of the Depart
ment of Journalism, said Lovett wanted to
discuss the way journalists cover celebrity
stories with the students because as a music
star and journalism major he has seen both
sides of the field.
“He was anxious to come back and talk to
students,” Self said. “He feels that what’s hap
pening in journalism is important.”
Lovett said he chooses to interview with
publications he respects, and he has never in
terviewed with a tabloid newspaper or televi
sion show.
“Most of my experience has been with news
papers and television to promoto-what I do —*
or avoiding tabloid publications,” he said.
Lovett said celebrities are being harassed
by the scrutiny and attention tabloid publica
tions direct to them.
“It’s creating a story that wouldn’t exist
without the presence of the tabloid reporter
or tabloid,” he said.
He said much of the news today is focused
on entertainment and celebrities because of
the consumer demand for it.
“It is a real comment on our society that we
look to be entertained that much,” he said.
“It’s an easy way to hook viewers and sell
newspapers and magazines.”
No subject is taboo for him, Lovett said, but
he will not discuss subjects that would have
implications for a person not involved in the
interview. He also said he discourages his
press department from giving rules to jour
nalists before an interview.
“I never mind somebody asking anything,”
he said.
Lovett said that when he worked for The
Battalion he liked covering musicians and
entertainment, rather than hard news, be-
“Most of my experience has been
with newspapers and television to
promote what I do — or avoiding
tabloid publications.”
LYLE LOVETT
COUNTRY SINGER, CLASS OF 79
cause he was interested in a music career.
“I enjoyed talking to people,” he said. “I al
ways had a hard time asking the hard ques
tions. I always thought, ‘It’s none of my busi
ness.’”
Heusaid a successful interview is similar to
a conversation, and journalists and celebrities
should stay focused.
“Keep your objective in mind — no matter
what side of the interview you’re on.”
Lovett said a conversational interview can
be achieved if the reporter takes an interest in
the celebrity by doing research before the in
terview and being honest.
Kristen Talley, president of the Society of
Professional Journalists and a senior journal
ism major, said Lovett gave good advice for
journalists and he provided insight into inter
viewing skills.
“It was my first time to talk with somebody
who had been interviewed as extensively as
he has,” she said.
Las Posadas procession symbolizes
Mexican-American heritage, tradition
By Chris Huffines
Radio editor
A piece of Latin-American tradition was played
out Wednesday night as Las Posadas, the ceremoni
al recreation of Mary and Joseph’s journey through
Bethlehem looking for shelter, moved across the
Texas A&M campus.
MSG Committee for the Awareness of Mexican-
American Culture (MSG CAMAC) sponsors Las Posadas
every year.
Las Posadas formed at the All-Faiths Chapel,
where candles were lit and programs of music
were passed out.
The procession was led by Martha Aguilar, a
sophomore biology major who played Mary, and
Pedro Zepeda, a sophomore psychology major who
played Joseph.
The procession moved to Sbisa Dining Center first.
A song retelling the couple’s need for shelter and the
innkeeper’s lack of room was sung at Sbisa. The proces
sion moved to the steps of Leggett Hall.
The next stop was the Academic Building, where
Mary and Joseph were offered a stable in which to
spend the night.
Las Posadas ended in the Academic Plaza with a
short presentation on the history of the celebration and
traditional food: tamales, beans, rice and cookies.
Anissa Silva, vice-chair of programs for CAMAC and
a senior sociology major, said more people participat
ed this year than in past years.
Carrie Marshall, a freshman early childhood ed
ucation major, said the cultural aspect of Las
Posadas was exciting.
“It’s a wonderful cultural experience that broadens
your horizons,” she said.
Molly Mundt, a freshman political science major,
said she enjoyed the event, but wished that the weath
er was warmer.
Silva said Las Posadas usually begins the ninth day
before CJiristma and lasts until Christmas Eve.
Silva also mentioned other, more elaborate cele
brations of Las Posadas. In San Antonio, a procession
forms down the Riverwalk, with luminaries, candles
inside bags, lighting the way for two children playing
Mary and Joseph.
A&M student hospitalized
after being struck by car
By Robert Smith
Senior staffwriter
A Texas A&M student was hospi
talized Wednesday morning after
being struck by a car on north
Bizzell Street near the Wisenbaker
Engineer Research Center, the Uni
versity Police Department said.
UPD said that Bradley Lasows-
ki, a sophomore construction sci
ence major, was walking in the
pedestrian crosswalk on Bizzell
Street when he was hit by a green
1995 Ford Mustang traveling
north on Bizzell.
Lasowski suffered a broken left
leg and a swollen face, UPD said.
Police said the right front fender of
the car struck Lasowski, causing
him to flip over the hood of the car
and on to the ground.
BobWiatt, director of UPD, said
the UPD responded to a call at
11:27 a.m. Wednesday and arrived
at the scene of the accident at
11:31 a.m.
UPD identified the driver of the
car as Douglas Legrand, a fresh
man biomedical science major.
Wiatt said the accident oc
curred just after Legrand moved in
front of another car while traveling
on Bizzell.
“That’s a bad intersection at
Bizzell Street,” Wiatt said. “Unless
you’re familiar with the intersec
tion, it’s hard to see someone who
zips out in front of you.”
UPD charged Legrand with fail
ure to yield to the right of way of a
pedestrian.
Lasowski was transported to
Columbia Medical Center and was
listed in stable condition Wednes
day night.
CSPD expands enforcement of loud-party codes
By Robert Smith
Senior staffwriter
The College Station Police Department is
working to combat the source of one of the most
common citizen complaints—loud parties.
The Loud Party Assignment program,
which is funded by a grant from the U. S. De
partment of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assis
tance, aims to provide quicker and more
comprehensive enforcement in response to
complaints from citizens about loud parties.
Mason Newton, head of the program at
the CSPD, said the program has been suc
cessful in responding to citizens’ complaints.
“It’s worked really well,” Newton said. “The
program has taken some burden off of our
beat officers so that they don’t have to worry
about responding to loud-party calls.”
Newton said the CSPD usually has four of
ficers assigned to the Loud Party Program on
Thursday through Saturday.
Newton said the grant allowed the CSPD
to start the program.
“With the city growing and the University
growing, there was a pressing need for loud-
party codes,” Newton said.
Since the program went into effect Sept.
18, the CSPD has expended 694 hours on the
program and has responded to 468 loud-par
ty complaints.
Officers responding to loud party calls deal
with a number of common violations, in
cluding noise, disorderly conduct and alco
holic-beverage code violations.
The CSPD has issued 121 citations and 192
warnings in relation to the loud-party calls.
Newton said not all of the complaints re
sult in citations, and many complaints can be
easily resolved.
“People just need to use a little common
sense,” Newton said. “If you want to study or
watch TV or just have some peace and quiet,
you should be able to do so.”
Disorderly conduct fines are $157 for the
first offense, $225 for the second offense and
$300 for the third offense.
The CSPD has issued 412 minor-in-pos
session citations and has made 32 criminal
charges in relation to the calls.
Newton said he hopes the program will
continue to effectively address the loud-par
ty complaints.
“Some people may refer to it as party-
pIsoMerly
1st Offense
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2nd Offense.
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$225
3rd Offense
pooper patrol,” Newton said. “We don’t
want to be party poopers, but we want to
make sure everyone who wants peace and
quiet can have it.”