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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1998)
w A & M University '1TAUOJ j TODAY TOMORROW ™ YEAR* ISSUE 97 *12 PAGES COLLEGE STATION • TX TUESDAY * FEBRUARY 24 • 1998 ican-Americans in business honored Week devoted to raising awareness of eating disorders By Rachel Dawley Staff writer From the arrival of the first blacks in Amer- at Jamestown in August of 1619 to the h on Washington and the political tri- ihs of today, African-Americans have been part of American history. Remembering the past, celebrating the pre- ^ >nt and looking towards the future of African- in Hoist mericans is the purpose of Black History lonth, celebrated throughout February. The 1998 Black History Month Theme is J Ifrican Americans In Business: The Path To- ard Empowerment.” Dr. Marilyn Kern-Foxworth, an associate fessor of journalism, said Black History nth is a time to reflect on the past achieve- ients and concentrate on the current status S/Twl leafthy’ the s acta npetHi ^ that m ready )eteini nionsl riday 1 to Ail [African-Americans. Alia son wii tt 7 p.« “Black History Month is an opportunity to Dtlight the contributions African-Americans ve made in society and in the world,” Kern- Foxworth said. “Eventually, it will spread to a year-long event because it will be something that is included in our thoughts everyday.” Kern-Foxworth said the month gives black students pride in their heritage. “Sometimes I think to myself what g the world would be like without African-American influence,” ^ Kern-Foxworth said. “We would not have many of the inventions we en joy today.” For some Texas A&M students, it is a time to reflect on the progress the black com munity has made in fight ing for civil rights. Dessiree Ewing, vice chair of the Black Awareness Committee (BAG) and a junior food science and technology ma jor, said Black History Month exposes the rich culture and heritage of African-Americans. “Black History Month serves as a time of learning, recognition and remembrance to ward the African-American race,” Ewing said. “It is a time of reverence for all African-Americans that have gone be fore me and done the things that made it possible for me to accomplish what- ever I choose in the future. Black History Month is a time for me to look at myself and those around me and see what we are doing to ^ spread what we know about Black History Month and learn what we don’t know.” Ewing said the heroes of Black History Month are the teach ers, the parents and all the people who make an effort to pass on the mean ing of black history and why it is important. Please see Month on Page 2. By Susan E. Atchison Staff writer Eating disorder awareness will be pro moted today in the MSC. Information ta bles, panel discussions and free, confi dential screenings will be available to students as as part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Feb. 23-28. The events are sponsored by Student Counseling Service, Aggie R.EWC.H. and Student Health Services. Participants in the panel discussion include Dr. Ann Reed, physician and as sociate director for clinical services with Student Health Services; Dr. jane Cohen, registered dietitian with Student Health Services; Dr. Ron Lutz, psychologist with Student Counseling Services and a stu dent who is recovering from anorexia. “I fed {eating disorders] are fairly com mon on campus,” Reed said. The Nation al Eating Disorders Screening Program (NEDSP) describes eating disorders as ill nesses that are associated with severe body image distortion and an obsession with weight. Sufferers are terrified of gain ing weight and continue to diet, binge, or binge and purge even as their mental and physical health deteriorate. “Many individuals who are vulnera ble to developing an eating disorder may start with a diet simply to improve selfes teem, become more ‘healthy’ or change their weight or body shape,” said Dr. Pat Santucci, medical director of Linden Oaks Hospital and a member of the NEDSP Scientific Advisory Board. Please see Disorders on Page 2. l&M junior named to lation-wide magazine's ollege Academic Team If I had a hammer le day) jnior arkingtL urforfo#-' iree-poa n hem points ?withse ists ai als. is Ti d by By Amanda Smith Staff writer Ajunior agricultural development lajor, is reaping the bounty of what has sown in his time spent in- iBlved in academics and extra-cur- cular activities at Texas A&M Uni- irsity. ... Stephen Sywulka was selected to P 0 ' 11 ie 1998 U.S. News and World Re- 9 r g ua jrt All-USA College Academic First am. Over 1,100 students were minated byi )ints,ar hadl SCOM ,, , i&m llleges and s State ^versifies in United tes, and only Bwere chosen, [wulka was one [two Texas stu nts selected. Dr. Christine pwisend, agri- lltural develop- lent coordina- rand Sywulka’s [riser, said [wulka studies hopes to help |bers, not to M;e good ades on a test. “Sywulka is ebest student “Sywulka is the best student I have met that has a true global vision. He has heart, and that is what makes him special.” Dr. Christine Townsend Agricultural development coordinator have met that ptrue global vision,” she said. “He bcks that up by choosing applicable lasses, really learning and helping [hers understand global needs. He as heart, and that is what makes fm special. He learns material be- fuse he wants to help other people.” Sywulka traveled to Washington, [C., Feb. 13 to meet with the other [udents named to the Academic Irst Team, and received a $2,500 polarship. “I was surprised to find out that I had been named to the team," Sywul ka said. “I met a lot of neat people there.” Originally from Guatemala, Sywulka said he decided to come to A&M because of its reputation in agriculture. “I had a friend from Guatemala who gave me a Texas A&M catalog,” Sywulka said. “I had heard that Texas A&M had a good agricultural devel opment program. It’s all been fantas tic here.” Sywulka serves in a number of leadership roles on campus, in cluding founding the Overseas Development Network and — Aggie Global Nomads. He said he hopes to get cer tification to start the first Association for In ternational Agriculture and World Develop ment this week. Sywulka is a resident adviser for Mclnnis Hall and a lab instruc tor for German and Spanish classes. After Sywulka gradu ates, he wants to help farmers overseas. “I want to work for a non-profit agency overseas,” Sywul ka said. “One of my main interests is agro-forestry.” Townsend said Sywulka has taken advantage of internships and leader ship opportunities to better prepare him for his future. “At Texas A&M, he is learning to translate information,” Townsend said. “He can take technical material and translate it to audiences. He is a great communicator.” BRANDON BOLLOM/The Battalion Walter Cisneros, restores the brick sidewalk on West Campus near the Heep Center for Soil and Crop Sciences and Entomology Monday afternoon. Board of Regents awards contract to San Antonio firm for The Zone The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents con tracted yesterday Bartlett Cocke Inc. of San Antonio, Texas, for the $32.9 million expansion of the north end of Kyle Reid. The project, called The Zone, will increase the number of seats in Kyle Reid by 10,000 and is sched uled for completion Sept. 1,1999. It will create seats with better views at the north end of the stadium and add a suite and club level. The 12th Man Foundation, a pri vate, non-profit athletic fund-raising organization independent from the university, has committed funding to make the expansion possible. Thompson elects contract expires Texas A&M University System Chancellor Barry B. Thompson has announced that he will step down when his contract ends Aug. 31, 1999. Thompson, 61, said he plans to teach leadership theory at some of the 10 A&M System schools. Thompson became chancellor in to step down after serving 4 years 1994, a time when A&M officials were accused of unlawfully benefit ing from state business. During his tenure as chancellor, Thompson established the Texas Higher Education Coalition, a group that focuses on increasing gradua tion rates and retention of universi ty students. N S I D E “Xgietife Supreme Court refuses to hear sex offender law case Details of U.N. deal with Iraq made public; Clinton reacts to latest announcements Carolyn Wonderland & The Imperial Monkeys will mix different styles of music Friday opening for Storyville. See Page 3 sports ■ Aggie Baseball team |kes on the Sam Houston (earkats in Huntsville. See Page 10 optnion IcDaniel: Interest in Plication, learning dissipates pstudents increase in age See Page 11 m)://battalion.tamu.edu pok up with state and na- pnal news through The Pre, AP’s 24-hour online fcws service. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court rejected a double jeopardy challenge Monday to Megan’s Law, the New Jersey measure that requires authorities to tell com munities the whereabouts of convict ed sex offenders. Although the action did not directly affect similar laws adopted in 36 other states, it was welcomed as a major vic tory for proponents of such measures. The court, without comment, turned away arguments by sex of fenders that the law’s notification pro visions violate their Fifth Amend ment’s protection against being punished twice for the same crime. They argued that the notification and the public reaction it generates amount to punishment. “The lawsuit we fought so hard to win is over,” exulted New Jersey Attorney General PeterVemiero. "The main chal lenge to Megans Law is now concluded.” Community notifications began in New Jersey last month. Gov. Christie Whitman, in Washing ton for a governors’ conference, pumped her right arm in triumph when told that the law had survived the constitutional challenge. "This is really a verification of the time we took to get Megan’s Law through and put it together, she said. "I’m delighted." The issue is not finally decided. Michael Buncher, a state public de fender, said the next federal challenge to Megan’s Law will contend that com munity notification violates personal privacy rights. "We are claiming that the kind of in formation that is disseminated ... is ... constitutionally protected, and it should not be disseminated,” he said. The New Jersey law, enacted in 1995, was named for Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in 1994 by a twice-convict ed sex offender who lived across the street from her home. Jesse Timmend- equas has been sentenced to death for the crime. Megan’s mother, Maureen Kanka. became a successful crusader for sim ilar laws across the nation. “I've had faith in this law from day one.’’ said Kanka said after hearing of the highest court’s action. "It is the right thing to do and it is such a prevalent problem in this country.” The law calls for notice to schools, day-care centers and youth groups about moderate-risk offenders. Fbr high-risk offenders, the law requires police to go door-to-door notifying neighborhood residents. BAGHDAD. Iraq:(AP) - Shortly before noon Sunday, Annan and three aides were dri ven in government limousines to meet Saddam. They wound up at the Re publican Palace, the sprawling presidential compound along the Tigris. Saddam — dressed in a blue business suit, instead of the usual military uniform — shook hands with the negotia tors and posed for pictures. After formalities, the aides left the room, leaving Annan and Saddam alone with an inter preter. After two hours, aides said, Annan knew he had a deal. He re turned to the guesthouse, where dozens of reporters, photogra phers and television crews were crowded around the front gate, jostling with Iraqi security guards trying to keep the entrance clear. When the guards opened the gate for an impromptu news conference, the crowds rushed forward, trampling over rose bushes to get a good spot. U.N. spokesperson Fred Eck- hard said the secretary-general was "on the verge of a breakthrough.” However. Clinton advisers making the rounds on Sunday television talk shows had not been informed how close An nan was to a deal. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said on ABC as Saddam was reviewing the proposal that the United States would not ac cept anything less than full in spections: "It is possible that he will come with something that we don't like, in which case we will pursue our national interests.” At 8 p.m. Sunday, the two del egations assembled again at the Foreign Ministry'. With the "go ahead” from Saddam. Aziz said Iraq was will ing to open the palaces. All that was left was to work out the final details of the text. By 9:15 p.m., the deal was done. Annan returned to the villa to telephone leaders of the per manent Security Council mem bers, including Albright, which must approve the deal. Clinton got a chance to talk to Annan on Sunday night, just before addressing a national governors meeting at the White House. Stepping into a side room, the president sat a desk near a window to make the call around 8:15 p.m. Washington time — 4:15 a m. in Baghdad. At l(h25 a.m. Monday, An nan and Aziz signed the agree ment at the Foreign Ministry. President Clinton’s statement on Iraq Iraq government has committed to ■ Provide "immediate, unrestricted, uncondttionar access for U-N inspectors to at! sites as called for by UN. Security Council resolutions 9 If done, this commitment will allow UNSCOM to fulfill its mission: • Find and destroy all chemical, biological and nuclear weapons • Find and destroy missiles to deliver those weapons • Institute a system for long-term monitoring to make sure more are not built S Commitment applies to all sites anywhere in country including eight previously denied presidential sires S Senior diplomats appointed by Secretary-General will accompany UNSCOM with repeat visits and no deadlines on completion M All areas, facilities, equipment, records and means of transportation shall he open to UNSCOM. including those previously dented S’^4 . »