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’ The Battalion n WW %Jr mm ■ Wednesday • February 18,19) Focus on Taiwan crash shifts to cause, victims TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Investi gators reconstructing the route of China Airlines Flight CI676 fo cused Tuesday on why the jet veered off a seemingly routine ap proach at the last moment, crash ing and exploding into flames just short of the runway. It was Taiwan’s worst plane crash, killing 203 people — everyone on board, including at least four Amer icans, and seven on the ground — and destroying a string of homes near Taipei’s airport Monday. Soldiers, police and firefighters picked through shoes and engine parts Hiesday, looking for remains and personal items to help identify the victims. Cries of grieving relatives mixed with Buddhist funeral chants at a blue-and-orange tent nearby. Most of the dead were tourists returning home from the resort is land of Bali, but Taiwan’s respected Central Bank governor, his wife, and four other finance officials also were aboard. Dazed by his loss, Chien Ming- hsing looked Tuesday for the re mains of 13 relatives, including his son, daughter and his grandchil dren. They were vacationing to gether on Bali. Eighty-six victims had been identified by Tuesday. Although the plane crashed in fog and a light rain, investigators were looking elsewhere for a cause. Initial information suggested that despite the weather, the veteran pilots had been on a routine approach until just before the accident. Flight data records had been re covered and sent to the United States for analysis, airport officials said. A recording of cockpit conversa tions with the control tower indicat ed that the pilot of the twin-engine Airbus sought permission to land when the jet still was on course. He then lost touch and did not answer a question about whether he would try a second approach. The recording offered no information to confirm reports from the airline that the pilot was trying a second ap proach when the plane crashed. Two beeps were then heard on the tape. Chang Kuo-cheng, Tai wan's deputy director of civil aero nautics, said they could have been from the plane’s warning system. Chang said the plane touched ground off the runway, hit a util ity pole and a highway median about 200 feet from the runway. It then skidded into several hous es, surrounded by fish farms, rice paddies, factories and warehous es, and exploded. A resident near the airport told a radio station that he saw the jetliner apparently prepar ing to land, “as if the pilot mis took the spacious highway for the runway.” St. Mary's Respect Life Commission & Peace Lutheran Church invite you to hear the story of: Narma McCorueu Who was "Roe" in the "Roe vs. Wade" Case that legalized abortion in the United States. Norma McCorvey is now a Christian and an encouraging member of the Pro-Life Movement Friday, February 20, 1998 7:00 p.m. Rudder Theater TAMU MSC Stark MBA/Law West Coast Trip March 15-22, 1998 Spring Break Visit top business and law schools in California, Stanford, UC Berkeley, USC, and UCLA, and the Thunderbird School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona 10-12 student trip participant spaces Preferred qualifications: Sophomores and Above with GPA 3.5 overall or significant student leadership experience with a 3.3 over the last 45 hours Estimated Cost $800.00 Applications to include resume, copy of transcript of coursework and Personal statement (1 page) explaining why you think this trip will be helpful to you in developing your career and life paths Contact Amy Callaway at 693-1999 Or Paul Henry and Charlotte Jamieson at 845-6790 Email: phenry@tamu.edu orjamieson@tamu.edu Applications due by 5:00 p.m on Thursday, February 19 Persons with disabilities please call 845-6790 to inform us of your special needs. r oME/y Ms o The Women In Science and A Engineering (WISE), an organization of women graduate and undergraduate students, staff and faculty will host its fifth annual all-day professional and career development conference. The conference "Designing Your Career" which will take place on Saturday, February 21, 1998, at the MSC on the Texas A&M cam pus, will focus on giving participants the skills and insights needed to succeed in the scientific and technological workplace of the year 2000 and beyond. Participants will select from topics such as: Outsmarting Entropy What is Professionalism!' Visual Thinking: Entering Through the Back Door This year's keynote speaker will be the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Programs and Academic Services at Texas A&M University, Dr. Sal lie Sheppard. Contact Nancy Magnussen at (409) 845-5587 or via e-mail at nancy@isc.tamu.edu for registration information. Free child care will be provided on site. Registration deadline is February 19. Sponsors: Office of the Vice President for Research and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies, College of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Geosciences & Maritime Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine Corporate Sponsors: GTE, Bayer Corporation, Schlumberger, DuPont, and Tl (corporate sponsors will have representatives at the conference) V Voters turn out for Indian election despite threats of rising violeno NEW DELHI, India (AP) — Indi ans voted in large numbers despite bomb explosions and shootings dur ing parliamentary elections, prompting government officials and analysts to declare Tuesday diat the world’s largest democracy is thriving. More than 55 percent of regis tered voters turned out Monday to elect 222 deputies in the first phase of staggered voting, similar to turnout figures in previous elections. It will take five more days of balloting to complete the elections for India’s 545-seat lower house of parliament. “In the turbulence of a maturing democracy, the elections are a re sounding success,” said B.G. Vergh- ese, political analyst at the Center for Policy Research. Election-related violence killed 22 people Monday. Twenty died in eastern Bihar state amid land mine explosions and clash es among rival political groups. One person died in the north eastern Assam state and another in southern Andhra Pradesh. At least four boys were killed by a bomb blast Tuesday in the southern town of Coimbatore, po lice said. The boys were playing cricket in a neighborhood park dominated by Muslims when they opened a bag containing the ex plosive. Explosions in the same town killed 54 people Saturday. In the northern state of Pun jab, 20 political activists were in jured Tuesday in fighting between armed members of the governing local Akali Dal party and the in fluential Congress Party. The voting went ahead in as many as a quarter million polling stations. Polling will have to be scheduled again in several hun dred districts because of violence or other problems. More than 600 million Indians were registered to vote in the staggered ballot, choosing from among some 5,000 candidates from more than 100 political parties. In the remote northeastern Tripura state, where an ongoing insurgency and decades of ethnic conflict has claimed hundreds of lives, turnout was 85 percent, offi cials said. In Assam — where a banned separatist group, United Liberation Force of Assam, threat ened violence if voters ventured out — turnout was 43 percent. “People defied the boycott call," said Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. Violence did have an impact. In 1996, about 69 percent of the elec torate voted in Assam. In Tamil Nadu, where a series of bomb blasts Saturday killed 54 people and in- Qoiden National Honor Society General Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 18 th • 7:00 p.m. MSC 201 ^THURSDAY LADIES NIGHT -PLUS Coming April 2nd PAT GREEN LIVE RECORDING BOX SEAT TICKET GIVEAWAY Diision .Livestock 1 * RACY BYRD & Show Rodeo TRACE ADKINS CONCERT 101 is Do you know... > what are the Islamic Beliefs?! > what Islam says about Jesus?! > what is the Islamic concept of Salvation & Judgment?! EDUCATE yourself on the fastest growing way of life in the world today 6t attend ISLAM 101 this semester!!! ^ No Registration Required! -y- Plenty of Informative Discussion! Answers to Your Questions! Sessions Start TONIGHT!!! Schedule: Feb.18 MSC 342 March 4 & 25 TPM April 8 & 22 For more info call: 862-9452 or email: islaml0l@tamu.edu Sponsored by Muslim Students’ Association India’s elections turn violent More than 55 percent of India’s registered voters participated in the first phase of parliamentary elections Monday, despite bomb explosions, threats of violence and shootings. Violent incidents © Bihar: Twenty die amid land mine explosions, snatching of ballot papers and intimidation of voters Assam: One dead Andhra Pradesh: )ne dead Coimbatore: At least four boys killed Tuesday. Explosions Saturday killed 54 people. Tamil Nadu: Bomb blasts Saturday killed 54 people and injured nearly 200 Boundary ciairnod t.y India CHINA New Q Delhi © One Bombay Arabian Sea INDIA © oo BANGLADESH Andhra Pradesh Coimbatore SRI LANKA jured nearly 200, only 45 percent of the electorate voted Monday. N. Bhaskar Rao at the Center for Media Studies said turnout was also affected by apathy from voters who believe the elections will only result in another deadlocked parliament. Elections were called three years early after 1996 voting resulted in no party winning a majority in par liament. Politicians tried and failed to form an enduring rainoi coalition government. The Congress Party, whicfcl governed India for all but five since independence, hasbeei tered by accusations it is con and out of touch. The Hindu tionalist Bharatiya Janata Pari expected to win the most sea these elections, but not thern^ ty needed to govern alone. Takina the GftE in April? Another reasoi to sign up for The Princeton Review NOW: Veteran Instructors [ The teachers For this April’s pencil and pa per GRE here at TAMU have over 14 years combined persona I experience helping people do their very best on this difficult test. You deserve every advantage. Courses start th|| Saturday. THE PRINCETON REVIEW (409) 696-909! (800) 2REVIEW ODDER OF OMEGA PRESENTS K ED COLORS Tuesday, February 17 - Greek vs. Corps - 7:30*9:30 pi Basketball Game at G. Rollie White, admission $2. Wednesday, February 18 Penny Wars begin outside the MSC by Rudder Fountain Sign-In tables will be set up. Your chapter must suppi their own decorated container. Thursday, February 19 - Intramurals Begin - 3-6 pi Duncan Field - Your chapter can set up Greek Letters o the field! Pat Green - 8:00 p.m.-l:00 a.m. Pat Green at the Texas Hall of Fame!! Elvis T. Busboy & Blues Butchers will be opening. $10 in advance/$12 at the door. Friday, February 20 - 3:00-6:00 p.m. Intramurals at Duncan Field - Flag Football Only !!• WHOOP! Saturday, February 21 - Philanthropy Event -12:00 pi We will accompany the Boys & Girls Club to the A&M Basketball game at G.Rollie White Colliseum First Ever Greek Week Finale and Awards! - 8 p m At the Tap THE TEXAS X OF FAME 1998 ^Barracuda Bar^ Proceeds benefitting the Still Creek Ranch