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Aggielife ... see Page 3
Opinion ... see Page 5
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Sports:
Peggie Gillom, former
assistant coach of the
Houston Comets, talks
about taking the reigns
ofA&M women’s basketball.
TUESDAY • JUNE 30 • 1998
gl Fun in the summer sun
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PHOTOS BY
Matthew Crawley and
Mike Puentes
Top: Brian Lamere, a junior philosophy major, learns some
new cords on the guitar while waiting for customers at his
fireworks stand just outside the city limits Monday. Because of
the recent drought and high temperatures, Lamere and other
firework retailers cannot sell any rockets or missiles when the
United States turns 222 years old.
Bottom right: jason Lammerts makes snow cones at J.J/s
Snow Cones on Carter Creek at Villa Maria in Bryan Monday.
Lammerts' mother, Sara, is a journalism student at Texas
A&M. She owns the snow cone stand.
Bottom left: Jordan Brennan grinds on some cement
benches outside Zachry as fellow skater Cody Dale looks on in
the summer heat Monday.
Tax break
Comptroller's efforts
could exempt students
from paying Social Security
By Sarah Goldston
Staff Writer
Texas A&M student work
ers may soon reap the bene
fits of Comptroller John
Sharp's efforts to exempt
them from paying Federal In
surance Contributions Act
(FICA) taxes.
Under the Social Security
Act of 1950, the federal gov
ernment gave states the free
dom to choose which classes
of people would be exempt
from paying
FICA taxes,
including
Medicare and
Social Securi
ty taxes.
Texas,
Pennsylvania
and New Jer
sey are the
only three
states that do
not exempt
their students
from this tax.
Since 1950,
the federal
government
has opened
up opportuni
ties for states
to exempt stu
dents.
Texas did
not modify
their stand
ing, and in
1983, the fed-
eral government
Over time, other
states chose to exempt
undergrads and graduate
students who were at
least working part time.
There are about 30,000
students in Texas today
that would benefit from
this legislation.”
— Andy Liebler
Policy analyst
in the Comptroller’s Office
the
locked
legislation into place.
Now Sharp, Class of '72,
has sent letters to senators
Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey
Hutchison encouraging them
to pursue changing this legis
lation, exempting student
employees.
Andy Liebler, policy ana
lyst in the comptroller's of
fice, said under section 218 of
the Social Security Act, states
could designate public em
ployees exempt from with
holding these payments.
"Over time, other states
chose to exempt undergrads
and graduate students who
were at least working part
time," Liebler said.
"This exemption would
cover work study, teacher's as
sistants and other jobs. There
are about 30,000 students in
Texas today that would benefit
from this legislation."
Kelly Fero, spokesperson
for Sharp's Lt. Governor cam
paign, said the congressional
budget office collects $29 mil
lion each year from FICA tax
es from Texas universities,
$14.5 million of which came
from students.
William Krumm, vice pres
ident for finance, said the
University would benefit
from students being exempt
from paying FICA taxes.
"The financial impact it has
had on A&M was students
paid 2.7 mil-
“““ lion this last
year, while
the Universi
ty matched
the $2.7 mil
lion," Krumm
said.
In a letter
to Senator
Hutchinson,
Dr. Ray M.
Bowen, pres
ident of the
University,
said if the
legislation
was altered,
students and
the Universi
ty would re
alize signifi
cant savings.
"This can
really help
students who
make so little
and pay for
to pay bills
school," Fero said.
Liebler said the decision
on whether or not to change
the legislation is in the hands
of the federal government
now.
"The state is willing to
act," he said.
Fero said those opposed to
the new legislation are wor
ried about the effect the new
exemption will have on So
cial Security.
He said if the Social Secu
rity system is dependent on
this money, then it is in deep
fiscal trouble already.
"It's unfair to Texas stu
dents that 47 states benefit
from the exemption," he said.
Liebler and Fero said stu
dents can encourage legislative
action by voicing their concerns
to school officials, and state and
federal representatives.
brands receives professorship
By Patrick Peabody
Staff Writer
I H.W. Brands, professor of history, has been
[Pointed to the Ralph R. Thomas Class of'21
pfessorship in Liberal Arts.
r ands' areas of expertise include 20th cen-
fyUnited States history, diplomatic history
1 history of the U.S. presidency,
he has published 19 articles, many of which
)Ve a Ppeared in the most prestigious history
Urr| a]s including Diplomatic History, Political
pnce Quarterly, American Historical Review
' Jnurnal of American History,
he also has published 13 books, one of
c n w iU be coming out in a few weeks,
rands is an internationally recognized
c arer. He most recently lectured abroad in
e Netherlands.
is two most current research projects in-
J< P the history of U.S. diplomacy with Chi-
' Wk nada and Gerrnan y-
hile working on these projects. Brands
^ e 'ng helped by colleagues in all of these
The very best people in his field remain
ounded at the rate at which he produces
P°rtant books," Julia Kirk Blackwelder,
professor and head of the Department of
History, said.
Brands has earned several honors and
awards for his work. He has received the pres
tigious Bernath Lectureship from the Society
for Historians of American Foreign Relations
and a Faculty Distinguished Achievement
Award in the research category from the Asso
ciation of Former Students.
His book. The Wages of Globalism, earned the
Choice Outstanding Academic Book award.
T.R.: The Last Romantic, Brands' book about
Theodore Roosevelt, was a main selection with
the Book of the Month Club and the History
Book Club.
With the professorship. Brands will be in
charge of monies for traveling, purchasing texts
and research.
Brands will have this position for five years,
after which he will undergo a review to deter
mine if he will continue in the professorship.
Brands said that receiving this award was a
great honor.
"I am appreciative of Mr. Thomas' family for
donating the money for this honor," he said.
"This is a great way for past Aggies to support
the school and to support the University's mis
sion statement."
Programs aimed at nutritional education
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Photo By Jake Schrickling/ The Battalion
Emilee Strain, a freshmen at A&M
in the fall, fills out a breakfast
questionnaire at one of A.P. Beutel's
nutrition programs Monday at the
Commons Dining Hall.
By Rod Machen
City Editor
A.R Beutel Health Center
is offering a series of nutri
tion programs geared to
wards college students.
Dr. Jane Cohen, R.D.,
health educator and nutrition
spedalist, said her center has
been working with a commu
nity nutrition class taught by
Dr. Shalene McNeil, R.D. Stu
dents in the dass must present
a program for students.
Jane Kallus, a senior nutri
tional sdence major, present
ed a program entitled
"Healthy Snacking/Diet
Analysis!" at the Reed Com
puter Center yesterday.
"It was a really good way
for college students to see
where they stand nutritional
ly," she said. "It is hard for the
average individual to see
where a food ranks in the
whole scheme of their diet."
Kallus and a partner set up
a table with information on
healthy snacking for students.
They analyzed the sugar con
tent of several snacks and the
ramifications of sugar intake.
The new fat substitute
Olean was discussed in the
presentation. Kallus said al
though products with Olean,
such as Frito Lay's Wow!
chips, have significantly less
fat than regular chips, they are
by no means healthy.
"It is not a health food," she
said. "There's hardly any nu
trients. This is the food indus
try's way of making a buck."
Another program held
near Rudder Fountain fo
cused on the need for calcium.
Prominently displayed at the
presentation was a picture of
University President Ray M.
Bowen with a milk mustache.
Kallus said the lack of cal
cium is a major problem with
students' diets. Although
most people in college are
past the age where their
bones grow, their bones still
can receive calcium.
The Commons Dining
Hall hosted "Feed Your
Head," a program on the nu
tritional value of breakfast.
Nutritional content such as
fiber was analyzed for several
different cereals.
This Wednesday, Beutel
will present three more
programs.
"Heart Smart" will be
held in the Student Recre
ation Center. Students will
have a chance to get a free
cholesterol screening as well
as determine their percent
age body fat. It will be held
from 10 to 11:35 a.m.
At Rudder Fountain,
"Facts and Fads" will look at
current popular diets and
whether or not they work. Ac
tivities begin at 10:15 a.m.
"Eat Your Way to 5-A-
Day" aims to educate students
about fruits and vegetables.
Presenters will show how to
select quality produce. The
program is also set for 10:15
a.m. at Rudder Fountain.