Texas A & M University
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TODAY
TOMORROW
1)4™ YEAR • ISSUE 95 • 8 PAGES
COLLEGE STATION • TX
FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 20 • 1998
Student injured in collision
following electrical outage
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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
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