ESTHER
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INSIDE
Aggielife
Opinion
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YEAR • ISSUE 147 • 6 PAGES
TEXfVS fl&M UNIVERSITY ■ COLLEGE STATION. TEXAS
Sports:
After sharing his Aggie expe
riences at Muster, Former
A&M Football Coach Gene
Stallings returns to College
Station for a book tour.
THURSDAY • JUNE 4 • 1998
-n Mec:;.
ien-Pre
Sciencel
hatsa'i
:curac) [
lumbeel
1 counij
about
Mercury Rising
ixperts explain unusual heat, give tips for surviving summer sun
Ik.K
jibes
dproviding any precipitation.
Bin Nielson-Gammon, associ-
1 issue-/ A wfully hot, awfully early."
[tandtci /\ This is the way KBTX weath-
jntsm l jL A.erman Bob French described
jDeiuft'Pfeather the College Station area has
to sair ,m> xperiencing lately.
ltcensi5H ter a dry early spring, French said
nanyi-slcite spring looks more like the mid-
|ngleau ; # summer.
lationc/Y 1 -' are about two months ahead of
gBlule," he said.
fon-Sauirday through Tuesday have all
i dlecord highs, i rench said. 1 le said
Ivtoo elpects this trend to continue for the
days.
| Fn jnch attributes this weather pat-
nto a high-pressure ridge that has
sloped over West Texas. When the >
g( ts pressed down, he said, tem-
Bures rise.
positive side effect of this
t is that it has pushed the Pacific
exas has experienced in the last
vv 'eeks from Mexican forest fires
* the Pacific Ocean.
‘■nwever. French said this
■jntain of air" has prevented
Jtorms from entering the area
., 1 professor of meteorology, said
J m * rea is in the middle of a
(nd[Bs ht -
Altera very wet February that
L.;. I^inany thunderstorms, the past
I wnonths have been extremely
leisery-
[Oil® end of March, the area
-as3.5 inches ahead on precipita-
jnfor the year. By the end of May,
was behind over 3 inches.
Jn May alone, rainfall was just
Jven hundreths of an inch, com-
tred with an average of 4.8 inch-
for the usually wet month.
Nielson-Gammon sees the lack
precipitation and record highs as
irt of a cycle.
®he lack of evaporation from
ants and the ground makes it hot-
'/jhe said, "just like when your
B can't sweat."
He also said lack caf evaporation re-
fcs the number of thunderstorms
Kng the weather even drier.
French said the area might be in
'some temporary relief. A weak
id front might come through this
jekend. However, he said the
ij&ther will revert back to recent
©temperatures soon thereafter.
Itudents are noticing the high
nperalures as well. Ryan Mur- fi
y, a junior chemical engineering
pr, said the heat has altered his
Bjmer schedule.
E go to my friend's dorm room
■ampus to cool off," he said.
'sblazing out there."
ir. Jane Cohen, R.D., health ed-
ator and nutrition specialist at
Beutel Health Center, and
ale Verkruyse, communication coordinator for campus EMS, offer theseHips on cop-
dth the heat:
• Drink at least eight I 2-ounce glasses of water per day.Thirst is not a good indicator
of dehydration so drink regardless of thirst. 1
'When exercising, drink one glass of water every 15 minutes and take breaks as needed.
(Stay away from caffeine and alcohol as they have dehydrating effects.
• Beware of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Warning signs are lack of sweating, dizzi
ness and nausea. Contact EMS immediately (Dial 9-91 I on campus.)
'Wear light-colored, loose, comfortable clothing.
•Take extra precautions between the hours of 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Story by
Rod Machen
Photo by
Brandon Bollom
IS8
w.
Si i | iA
MM
State officials
reissue haze alert
AUSTIN (AP) — Less than a week after cancelling it, state officials Wednes
day reissued a public health alert because of smoke and air pollution from fires
in Mexico and Central America.
Patrick Crimmins, spokesperson for the Texas Natural Resource Conserva
tion Commission, said satellite images showed a large area of smoke from the
fires in Mexico southeast of Brownsville moving to the north.
Smoke was expected to begin to affect large portions of South Texas by late
Wednesday, while Central and East Texas were expected to be affected by Thurs
day and Friday, Crimmins said.
Fine particulate matter in the smoke has the potential to exceed federal air
quality standards, which is the basis for the re-issuance of the statewide alert.
The alert had been lifted May 28 after more than two weeks of south-of-the-
border smoke clouding up Texas skies and causing health officials to warn Tex
ans against physical exertion outdoors.
"The re-issuance of this alert is a precau tionary measure," said TNRCC Chair
man Barry McBee. "It is difficult to know with any precision how thick the
smoke will be when it gets to Texas, and what areas will be most affected."
The TNRCC and state health officials have been warning Texans with respi
ratory problems to avoid physical exertion both indoors and outdoors. They
warn that others, particularly the elderly and children, consider avoiding out
side activity and limiting indoor exertion.
Thousands of fires continue to burn in Mexico.
Incoming...
Campus leaders prepare
for New Student Conferences
By Shatera Kennedy
Staff Writer
The Texas A-&M Admissions of
fice and the Student Life Organiza
tion anticipate the arrival of the
sweaty-palmed, freedom-seeking
freshmen and their nervous parents
to the New Student Conferences.
Starting June 8 until June 19, 18
conferences will be held to welcome
students and get them started on
their college career.
The Student Life Organization
will be responsible for seven pro
grams throughout three days of
scheduled events.
New students can participate in a
campus tour, an Aggie Energizer
that includes a variety of games and
exercises and the Howdy Barbecue
in the Duncan Dining Center.
The orientation also requires the
students to meet with the dean of
their college,
schedule their
first semester
of classes and
take the tests
necessary for
admissions.
In addition
to the campus
services, other
organizations
and service
groups use
these confer
ences to show
case the infor
mation they
provide for the
A&M commu-
nity.
The conferences are staffed by
more than 200 student volunteers
Our goal and job
is to be the trouble
shooters and ensure a
smooth conference flow
for all involved.”
—Jody Ford
Secondary Conference Advisor
who will facilitate the 7,400 students
A&M is expected to receive.
Brian Anglin, Class of '98, has
worked in the orientation leaders
program for the past three years and
looks forward to this summer en
thusiastically.
"I joined this group because it is
the only program that enables stu
dent leaders to meet every freshman
coming to A&M," the earth science
major said.
Jody Ford is a second year gradu
ate student from Wayland Baptist
University in Plainview, Texas, and
a secondary conference advisor.
He and about 20 other advisers
are present to handle any problems
that may occur.
"Our goal and job," Ford said, "is
to be the troubleshooters and ensure
a smooth conference flow for all in
volved."
Parents are kept busy with a par
ents reception and a chance to tour the
_________________ Forsythe Gal
leries, the
George Bush
Presidential Li
brary & Muse
um and the
Recreational
Sports Center
while the stu
dents are test
ing.
Starting a
new school
away from
home can be
difficult, but
the new stu
dent confer
ences are designed to provide com
fort during the chaos of the move.
H celebrates 52nd year at A&M
By Patrick Peabody
Staff Writer
be four-leaf clover of the 4-H flag was flying high in the Acade-
■Jaza this week.
ae 1998 Texas 4-H Roundup brought 1,500 volunteers and over
)4-H members to the campus of Texas A&M, making it the sec-
largest summer program held this year.
he program marks the 52nd year the annual event has been held
he campus and the 90th anniversary of the Texas 4-H Clubs.
|1-H began in 1908, with the founding of the Boy's Corn Club,"
id Gayle Hall, an associate professor and 4-H youth development
ialist. "Later in 1912, the Girls Tomato Club was formed, and
later they combined into the 4-H we now know today."
HE 4-H we know today has a membership of 624,000 members
‘'een the ages of 14 to 19.
he Wood, a junior animal science major and the Round-Up hous-
joordinator, said 4-H offers a variety of opportunities for students.
It is so much fun for them," Wood said, "and they get to inter-
M meet other members from all over the state."
^od said that the 4-H Roundup was one of the reasons he chose
to attend A&M.
"The purpose of these Roundups and 4-H is to build leader
ship in the youth," Wood said.
Clayton Ratliff, a Texas 4-H secretary, said the organization
was for more than just those interested in animals and agricul
ture.
"It has something for everyone," said Ratliff, "you just have
to get involved."
Although 4-H is best known for their agricultural-related ac
tivities, Hall said the organization also completes community ser
vice projects.
This year alone they collected over 2,000 books which were do
nated to Sheltering Arm, a group that helps kids find foster homes.
They also collected 469 board games for Elderaid, and donat
ed thousands of eye glasses to the Lion's Club for recycling.
This year's Roundup boasted of 45 contests, nightly dances
and educational rallies every morning.
This year over $1 million in scholarships ranging from $1,000
to $15,000 were given out at the event.
"It has been a full and exciting week," 4-H State Council Mem
ber Kristin Kruciak said.
Photo By J.P. Beato/The Battalion
Spectators gather to look at the 4-H photography exhibit in the MSG Flagroom Wednesday. The dis
play featured judges favorites in various categories. The display will remain through this week.