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A & M University
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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
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“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
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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 . »