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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1998)
Texas A & M University il# 65 42 65 45 TODAY TOMORROW 1)4™ YEAR • ISSUE 95 • 8 PAGES COLLEGE STATION • TX FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 20 • 1998 Student injured in collision following electrical outage i, *4 -JL ip S t BRANDON BOLLOMAhe Battalion Sgt. Donnie Andreski of the College Station Police Department directs traffic following a collision between a pedestrian and an automobile Thursday at the intersection of University Drive and Spence Street. By Colleen Kavanagh Staff writer A Texas A&M student was injured Thursday af ternoon after he was struck by a Chevrolet Sub urban at University Drive and Spence Street, Col lege Station Police De partment (CSPD) said. Shien-Wei Wang, a se nior chemical engineer ing major, was transport ed to Columbia Medical Center and released after receiving treatment. CSPD Sgt. Donnie An dreski said the accident occurred after the traffic lights at the intersection stopped working because of a power outage. “The power went out and this light is connected as well as several others are connected to the power system at A&M,” he said. Susan Macik of Bren- ham was turning left onto Spence Street in her green 1993 model Subur ban and did not see Wang trying to cross the street, CSPD said. 4 former cadets dismissed from drill team case By Amanda Smith Staff writer A district judge ruled on Wednes day to relieve four Texas A&M Univer sity officials of liability in a hazing law suit filed by a member of the former Fish Drill Team. Jim Ashlock, University Relations director, said the ruling appears to sever any Texas A&M connections with the $25 million suit filed by for mer Texas A&M Fish Drill Team mem ber Travis Alton in July 1997. “From what we understand, the de fendants of Texas A&M are dismissed,” Ashlock said. “It seems to have taken the University out of the case. The only re course left now is if the plaintiff were to appeal this to the Federal Court of Ap peals (Fifth Circuit).” Alton accused Texas A&M officials of tolerating Fish Drill Team hazing prac tices, alleging he was beaten, kicked and slapped by upperclassmen. Bill Hommel, the attorney represent ing Alton, could not be reached for com ment on the ruling. Corps of Cadets commandant Maj. Gen. M. T. “Ted” Hopgood, former Corps commandant Thomas Darling, Vice President for Student Affairs J. Malon Southerland and former Fish Drill Team faculty adviser Robert Dalton were dis missed as defendants in the suit. Hopgood said that he is pleased with Kent’s ruling. “I am pleased with the judge’s rul ing,” Hopgood said. “I think the preven tion of hazing has long been a policy in the running of the Corps of Cadets.” Hopgood declined to comment on the future of the hazing suit filed by Alton. U.S. District Judge Sam Kent made the ruling with some hesita tion, according to a report by the Houston Chronicle. Kent was not available for comment yesterday afternoon. The Fish Drill Team was disbanded in August 1997 after the University faced numerous faced numerous haz ing allegations. The claims against eight upper classmen who served as advisers to the Fish Drill Team and who were al leged to have beaten Alton remain pending in Kent’s court. The eight were charged with misde meanor crimes for hazing that occurred in early 1997, while Alton was a member of the Fish Drill Team. be vs Wade defendant Aggies prepare for Mardi Gras lo discuss pro-life debate Ross Volunteer Company, Aggie Band to participate in festivities U A/^l_ri7T r'lAIArrCA/ By Jennifer Wilson Staff writer [The famous “Jane Roe,” Norma McCor- y, of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. ade abortion decision will discuss her in the court decision and her later [ti-abortion conversion at 7 p.m. in Rud- r Theater. |“She became disillusioned in 1991 after ;saw first-hand the effects of abortion,” |dspokesperson Rhonda Mackey. “She saw lepain of the women and how the clinics Ire not held up to any standards.” Mackey said McCorvey spoke to a Senate lb-committee Jan. 21 and will speak to the IS. Congress April 23. [ "People are taking a second look at the Ise and on abortion because they are won- png why she would change her mind after I years,” she said. McCorvey said in an interview with Ted bppelafew years ago that she did not op- bse abortion in first trimester pregnan- p, but had changed her opinion on sec- hd and third trimester pregnancies, ackey said. “She is now 100 percent pro-life, even in fses of rape and incest,” she said. Lauren Donahue, coordinator of the Re ject for Life Commission at St. Mary’s ptholic Church, said they are sponsoring the eech to help people understand more bout the Roe v. Wade decision and McCor- [y’s life experiences. ] “It is good for Texas A&M and the Bryan- - College Station community to hear her story of how she changed her life,” she said. “It will serve as a source of inspiration to others and help them realize that there are other choic es to abortion.” Donahue said the main reason for McCor vey’s transformation is her daughter, who has supported her and helped in her decision. Donahue said she hopes the talk will deter people from choosing abortion. Father David Konderla, priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, said McCorvey was scheduled to speak before Planned Parenthood announced the opening of an abortion clinic in Bryan. “We did not plan for it because of the abor tion clinic,” he said. “I guess God did.” Konderla said McCorvey is one of a grow ing number of people who are former sup porters or providers of abortion now protest ing against it. “The great thing about Norma McCorvey is that she represents the healing power of love and forgiveness,” he said. “That is what caused her to change her mind. This is mean ingful to women and young girls who have been harmed by abortion.” Debra Grant, a pastor at Peace Lutheran Church, said McCorvey’s talk is part of a class being held by the church to discuss all issues on the right to life and abortion. “The purpose of her talk is to have a civ il, reasonable conversation about issues on abortion and the right to life in a manner that looks compassionately at the issue,” Grant said. By Rachel Dawley StaffWriter The celebration of Mardi Gras, called “the greatest show on Earth” by the mayor of New Orleans, will conclude next Tuesday. Many Texas A&M students will travel to the celebration this week end to join in the festivities. The Mardi Gras celebration includes masked balls, parties, sporting events, colorful parades and live entertainment. New Orleans is the center of Mardi Gras, but many towns including Galveston have celebrations. Marc Morial, mayor of New Orleans, said the event brings cit izens and tourists together for song, spirit and enthusiasm. “The Mardi Gras celebration is unlike any other celebration in the world,” Morial said. “From the dazzling costumes to the tossing of glittering trinkets into the hands of eager citizens, Mardi Gras creates excitement and entertainment.” The Ross Volunteer Company will lead the King Rex Parade Tues day at 10 a.m. The parade is the largest in the Mardi Gras celebration and spans seven miles through New Orleans. The company has marched in the parade since 1951. Branson Washburn, commander of the Ross Volunteers and a senior kinesiology major, said the parade puts A&M in the spot light of the huge event. “It is an honor to be the leader of the biggest parade of Mardi Gras,” Washburn said. “It gives great exposure to the Ross Volun teers and to the University.” The Aggie Band will march in the Knights of Momus parade in Galveston on Saturday at 6 p.m. John Fugitt, head drum major and a senior history major, said the Galveston celebration is different from New Orleans’. “I’ve been to Galveston once with the band and New Orleans once as a Ross Volunteer,” Fugitt said. “New Orleans has more peo ple and is more crowded. But, they both have beads flying and peo ple screaming and yelling.” Fugitt said people recognize the Aggie Band and they are wel comed at the celebration. “People go crazy when they hear the band, no matter where we go,” Fugitt said. “The band loves to represent A&M and we take pride in being ambassadors to the University.” The Mardi Gras celebration began in 1837, and the first day of the season is always Jan. 6. Called the “Twelfth Night,” it marks the beginning of the private masked balls that are held until Mardi Gras Day, which marks the end of the season. Please see Mardi Gras on Page 2. Dance all night Undents to raise money for charity through Aggies Up All Night By Lyndsay Nantz Staffwriter More than 200 Aggies will voluntarily stand up for 30 consecutive hours today and Saturday, in an effort to raise money for the Children’s Mira cle Network. Aggies Up All Night raised over $7,000 last year for CMN and aim to double that amount this year. The nighters stand the entire time in Duncan Dining Hall and get pledges from classmates and businesses in Bryan-College Station. Entertainment including Freudian Slip will perform this year to help keep the all-nighters awake. Amy Rios, director of Aggies Up All Night and a senior speech communications major, said the group raises money for CMN because it helps healthy, young adults understand part of the strug gle these children go through. “CMN kids fight everyday,” she said. “For us to strain through 30 hours is nothing compared to what they do. We wake up the next morning and feel fine. These chil dren wake up the next morning still in pain.” The All-nighters get a meal every five hours and stacks are available the entire time. “We checked with nutritionists and everything is healthy” Rios said. “But there is no caffeine. We don’t Vv ant them to get all pumped up then come down re ally fast.” Kaycie Swain, a junior political science major, went as a volunteer last year. “The volunteers go for three-hour shifts just to raise morale,” she said. “It is important to keep the All-nighters in good spirit to keep everyone going.” But Swain ended up staying and standing for 25 hours. “I was having a ball,” she said. “I met this guy, so I stayed and we have been dating ever since.” This year she and her boyfriend are going together. Clarissa Rodriguez, the public relations and enter tainment chair and a senior speech communications major, said the night is full of great entertainment. “The Aggie Wranglers, Ballet Folklorico and Ag gie Players are all coming to help boost spirits in the down times,” she said. “Reveille is stopping by too.” Sitting is allowed, at times, but the 10-second sit has to be bought for a dollar or won during a game. “There are also bathroom breaks, but they are su pervised in case someone falls asleep,” Rodriguez said. Rios said she has participated in Aggies Up All Night since it began three years ago. “I think it is true things become a tradition at A&M after its third year,” she said. “I am the last per son of the original group that started. It has a spe cial place in my heart and it amazes me how big people’s hearts are. They just keep giving.” Student Senate passes resolution on parking By Stacey Becks Staffwriter The Student Senate Wednesday night passed a resolution that at tempts to persuade the Depart ment of Parking, Traffic and Trans portation Services (PTTS) to reevaluate their role as a public service entity and to admit there is a parking problem on campus. Craig Rotter, student services chair and a graduate student, said the res olution was a shadow of the student body opinion parking is insufficient. “The students put us here as their voice,” he said. “We are working with the administration to better the parking situation. This resolution expresses the stu dent body’s concerns.” The resolution says that PTTS has not regarded the complaints from students about the lack of campus parking and asks PTTS to improve their services. Some Student Government members said the resolution may ruin relations between PTTS and Student Government. Curtis Childers, student body president and a senior agricultural development major, said PTTS has made efforts to fix the parking prob lem and Student Government has not given them time to act on sug gestions and concerns. “PTTS has worked with us a lot this year,” he said. “The vice presi dent of administration has started two new committees to work on parking problems. This resolution is premature because PTTS is in the process of making changes.” Childers said he hopes the reso lution will not stifle PTTS’ efforts to work with the Student Government. The resolution was a way to push for change for some senators. Robert Kimmel, a senator and se nior animal science major, said the resolution should only force change, and not hurt relations, if taken as it is intended. Please see Parking on Page 2. INSIDE aggielife Shopping at thrift stores gives financial benefits to college students. See Page 3 sports Texas A&M Baseball Team attempts to remain unbeaten against Ole’ Miss. See Page 5 opinion Cater: Zamora case displays consequences of acting on revenge, immature emotions. See Page 7 online http://battalion, tamu. edit Hook up with state and national news through The Wire, AP’s 24-hour online news service.