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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1998)
Texas A & M University TODAY TOMORROW 1 th YEAR • ISSUE 138 • 14 PAGES COLLEGE STATION • TX THURSDAY • APRIL 30 • 1998 udit implicates professor in fimd misuse By Amanda Smith Staff writer has A&M University system audit les a professor of misusing at least D in state funds and more than DOO in personnel and equipment [for his two businesses, stem audit lodges these accusations st Dr. Robert Maggio, a professor in rest science department and director Mapping Sciences Laboratory. bWiatt, the director of the University Department, said investigations are itly ongoing. “There is no time line (on the investiga tion),” Wiatt said. “If there is sufficient evi dence found in the investigation, then we will take it to the district attorney’s office.” Maggio is accused of misusing funds for his two private companies, GIS Consulting and GIS Visuals. The 11-page audit indi cates that Maggie’s private companies prof ited from a company the Mapping Sciences Laboratory conducted business through. Maggio did not return phonecallsmade to his home and officeWednesday and Tuesday. The audit finds that Maggio gained a minimum of $124,000 from Sky Vision, a Houston company, and thousands more from RSK Environmental L.T.D., a compa ny based in England. The University System Ethics Policy de fines the acceptance of money from these companies as “prohibited benefits” be cause Maggio exercised discretion over the payments and contracts of the Mapping Sciences Laboratory. “Maggie’s private relationship with Sky Vision is problematic because it appears that the lab’s research activities in the areas of aerial videography have been intermin gled with and applied to private activities,” according to the report. The audit also accuses Maggio of using specialized computer equipment and soft ware in excess of $100,000 for one of his pri vate companies, RSK. Mark Poehl, the assistant director of the system’s Internal Audit Department, said the department is waiting to take action while the University Police Department continues the investigation. Edward Hiler, the director of the Texas Agriculture Extension Service and vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agri culture and Life Sciences, received a copy of the 11 -page report by the audit department. Hiler was out of town yesterday after noon and was not available for comment. Maggio is the second A&M professor to be accused of misusing funds in the last year. Dhiraj Pradhan, formerly A&M’s top paid computer science professor, received a grand jury indictment in late Feb. on two counts that charge him with misappropri ating state money for personal profit. The indictment came after an A&M Uni versity System audit accused Pradhan of di verting more than $100,000 of University funds into his private bank account for the benefit of his two private companies. Pradhan has been suspended with pay since August. Please see Maggio on Page 2. was ‘this big’ m U: GREG MCREYNOLDS/The Battalion imarcus Anderson helps his dad John with a catfish they caught together at Cy Miller irk on Wednesday afternoon. iorales’ decision draws riticism from activists \USTIN (AP) — Attorney General Dan tales’ announcement that he will not appeal Hopwood anti-affirmative action court rul- is drawing fire from civil rights leaders. Mr. Morales is myopic in his view of the ed- itional opportunities available to minority Idren in Texas,” said Cynthia Cano, staff at- aey with the Mexican American Legal De- seand Educational Fund (MALDEF). In a state where decades of discrimination e blocked the advancement of Latino and icanAmerican children, it is unrealistic to ex- tthat anything short of affirmative action will ledy the longstanding and continuing effects hat discrimination,” she said. Texas ended its university afffrmative action icies when a federal appeals court found that niversity ofTexas law school policy designed ticrease minority enrollment discriminated inst whites. That ruling was allowed to stand thell.S. Supreme Court in 1996. But another opportunity to appeal arose en U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of Austin ted a final order in the case last month. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had or- ed Sparks to consider attorneys’ fees and tiages for four white plaintiffs, including eryl Hopwood, who had successfully sued the law school in 1992. Morales on Tuesday rejected a request from UT chancellor to appeal that ruling. ‘My office has identified no sufficient grounds on which to base an appeal seeking to reim- se race-based decision-making at Texas insti- ions of higher education,” Morales said. Morales, a Democrat who is not seeking re- ction, also reiterated his personal belief that as schools should use “race-neutral criteria”. “Racial quotas, set asides and preferences do ; in my judgment, represent the values and Camp seeks counselors to educate kids about A&M By Kelly Hackworth Staff writer Attention hard-working students with experience working with children: Camp Aggieland is looking for counselors to spread the spirit of Aggieland to children ages 6 to 12 years old this summer. Camp Aggieland, sponsored by the Child Movement Center, a division of the Department of Health and Kinesiology, includes two one-week sessions, July 27- 31 and August 3-7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum. Counselors may work one session or both. Melinda Grant, associate chair of the Physical Education Activity program, said the counselors are paid employees who teach the campers about Aggieland and what makes it special. The counselors also work with the campers in activities including field trips, arts and crafts, swim- “The purpose of Camp Aggieland is to teach kids about Aggieland and what makes it special.” Melinda Grant Camp Aggieland ming, sports, drama, games and videos. The counselors are also in charge of im plementing the activities and writing les son plans. “The purpose of Camp Aggieland is to teach kids about Aggieland and what makes it special,” Grant said. “The coun selors teach the traditions and why they are so proud to be an Aggie.” Kinesiology and education majors are preferred but all majors are welcome. Counselor qualifications include experi ence working with children, enjoying chil dren’s company, willingness to work and pride in Aggieland. Mark Dennis, a sophomore industrial distribution major and a counselor last summer, said the camp is a great way to tell the campers why he is an Aggie. “Seeing how we can teach them and seeing their responses to the traditions is the best part of the camp,” he said. Please see Camp on Page 2. Reaching out Student Counseling Service helps students manage stress, anxiety By Kelly Hackworth Staff writer With the last full week of classes coming to a close, the stress of finals looms ahead for Texas A&M students. The Student Counseling Service, located in Henderson Hall, helps students alleviate stress and addresses time management concerns. The service is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A help line is open after hours on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends. Stu dents may access the help line and the Student Counseling Service by calling 845-4427. The help line is a confiden tial service with a psychologist on-call. Kris Stenberg, a psychology intern at the Student Counsel ing Service, said the counseling service offers help with finals- related issues, individual and group counseling, advice on ca reer issues, outreach programs, career interest testing and emergency assistance through counselors and workshops. A “Student Stress Manage ment” workshop will be held today from 4 to 5 p.m. in Hen derson Hall and a “Conquer ing Finals” workshop will be held Monday May 4 from 5 to 6 p.m. in Henderson Hall. Stu dents who are interested are encouraged to call 845-4427 to reserve a seat. The Student Counseling Service also has a learning skills center, a resource library to deal with test anxiety, more effective study habits, plan ning study schedules and note-taking skills. Lyle Slack, learning skills center coordinator, said stu dents need to pace themselves during finals, get plenty of sleep, avoid cramming before a final exam and avoid distractions. “Don’t get caught up in other schedules and procras tination and pace yourself,” he said. Slack also suggests avoid ing all-nighters and practicing effective time-management skills by alternating studying with periods of relaxation. The Student Counseling Service staffs 29 student vol unteers. These volunteers, called Academic and Career Educators (ACEs), aim to help students improve time- man agement, academic skills and general study skills. Rick Bauer, coordinator of the ACEs program, said the ACEs educate students. The ACEs are peer educa tors who consist of two groups: the academic and the career ACEs. ACEs are avail able from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Henderson Hall. The ACEs will be looking for volunteers the first two weeks of the fall semester and applications maybe picked up at 107 Henderson Hall. Please see Counsel on Page 2. principles which Texans should embrace,” Morales said. Republican Gov. George W. Bush — while emphasizing his personal opposition to quotas and saying the matter is between Morales and his client — said it looked as though UT might decide to take the issue to a higher court. “I would very much like to see a Supreme Court ruling that affects all colleges the same way. And I think if that is able to be achieved, that would be a good effect,” Bush said. UT officials have said that other states’ uni versities continue to use racial factors in admis sions, while Texas schools cannot. Although the 5th Circuit court’s ruling also applies in Louisiana and Mississippi, both those states are under previous court decisions to de segregate and officials say Hopwood’s impact is less there. MALDEF had sought to intervene in the Hopwood case, a move rejected by Judge Sparks on jurisdictional grounds. He directed MALDEF and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to file a mo tion with the 5th Circuit. A1 Kauffman, MALDEF’s regional counsel, said it is now more important than ever that the group be allowed to intervene in the case. “Affirmative action at our state universities presents the most important issue in higher ed ucation this decade,” he said. Morales left the door open for a private lawyer to appeal for UT, on a no-cost basis. UT officials said they were reviewing Morales’ statements and would seek clarification of some issues before responding. UT legal counsel Ray Farabee said that includes whether the univer sity could find a lawyer to represent it for free and UT’s response to any appeal by the plaintiffs of the damage awards. McCurry: Clinton will wait to work with ‘Nasty Newt’ Clinton WASHINGTON (AP) — Six months ahead of the elections — and with plenty of business to finish in the interim — Presi dent Clinton’s spokesman suggested the White House could not work with House Speaker Newt Gingrich until “he comes back to his senses.” Gingrich, who pledged on Monday to use every speech from now on to push the House commit tee investigation of Clin ton’s 1996 re-election fund raising, showed no sign of easing. “This is about law breaking. This is not about sex. This is not about gossip. This is not about soap operas,” Gingrich, R-Ga., told reporters in the Capitol Wednesday. Clinton aides and Democratic Party of ficials almost seemed to welcome Gin grich’s refrain, counting on what they called its partisan edge to turn off voters heading into November’s congressional elections. “My guess is the American people will say, ’Knock it off’ at some point,” White House press secretary Mike McCurry said. The Democratic National Committee is sued a press release heralding the return of “Nasty Newt.” While Clinton has said he would not “waste my time” responding to Gingrich, McCurry plunged in. “We’re going to have to do business with him sooner or later. And as soon as he comes back to his senses, well do business. He’s the one that indicates that he’s going to go off on this tirade. So well let him go,” Mc Curry said Wednesday morning. By midday, as Clinton sat down to talk legislative priorities with Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Senate Mi nority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., McCur ry moderated his tone: “We’ll work with him to the degree he’s willing to work witli us.” But McCurry could not resist a personal poke at the weight-conscious speaker and his “political bravado.” “He needs more junk food in his diet, maybe,” McCurry cracked. Gingrich spokeswoman Christina Mar tin did not return calls for comment. The exchanges represented an escala tion of election-year clashes between the administration and Republican leaders over tobacco legislation, child care, abor tion restrictions and education, among other issues. Between now and a fall adjournment date, Congress must finish contentious work on a fiscal 1999 budget, the 13 regular appropria tions bills and emergency spending for dis aster aid and overseas American troops. INSIDE «XZieUfe ——- The entomology club proves bugs make for good meals, fun items for students at Whoopstock '98. See Page 3 sports Despite numerous surgeries, A&M hurler Ryan Rupe leads Aggie pitching staff. See Page 9 opinion Schumacher: Men receive unfair treatment by being blamed for all society’s woes. See Page 13 online http://battaIion.tamu.edu Hook up with state and na tional news through The Wire, AP’s 24-hour online news service.