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WEDNESDAY
February 3, 1999
Volume 105 • Issue 84-12 Pages
College Station, Texas
105 YEARS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
sports
• Get an in-depth look at
the upcoming season of
Big 12 Baseball.
PAGE 10
today’s issue
Toons 2
Opinion 11
Thursday’s issue
Get to know Better than Ezra
better than before.
aggielife
• Bryan-College Station
gets raw exposure to
new taste experience --
sushi.
PAGE 3
Id said legt;.;;.
^ely unless G:
’re to ‘‘make
islativeses;
s pokes worcr
d the goverr;
ed restrictic:
Student Senate to discuss
biology degree plan, 170-hour cap
BY MEGAN WRIGHT
The Battalion
Student Senate will discuss
'vernor’s
. v. Member
v not aDow-l
or’s officer I
? legislativeiL,
ive. Other : concerning registration sta-
e not a n ow tus for resident advisors, elec-
jr’sofficeoi dcii and campaign-related bills,
>d on whip the 170-hour cap bill and a bill
;aid. ■nesting the addition of a
a strong bachelor of science degree
dance benv tonight.
die interestvfBResident advisors work an av-
icntally An^rlge of 21 hours a week but do
irk where: not relieve student-worker status
from the University. Without
said Bush being considered student work-
te for eachters, resident advisors are not al-
ch leader in lowed to register early,
i to set the,: I 1
The election and campaign-
related bills include an election-
date bill, an educated-voter bill
and an off-campus campaign
bill.
Resolutions voted on will
concern the Columbian Student
Association, advisers from the
Career Center placed in each col
lege and showing support for the
proposed tax-free textbook bill
being introduced by the presi
dent of West Texas A&M.
The 170-hour cap rule will be
adjusted with the passing of a
bill that will be read for the first
time tonight. The 170-hour cap
rule will have a grandfather
clause added to it preventing it
from affecting students current
ly enrolled at Texas A&M.
Also, the wording would be
changed with the acceptance of
the new bill. Previously stated,
the rule counts for all attempted
hours on a students’ records.
With the new wording, the rule
will only be applicable to hours
completed. Tonight the bill will
be read for the first time and ei
ther decided on or referred to a
committee where it will be read
again at the Student Senate
meeting Feb. 17.
Brent Spencer, a junior mi
crobiology major, authored a bill
concerning the addition of a
bachelor of science degree to be
offered by the Biology Depart
ment.
“The bill came about because
of student reactions,” Spencer
said. “They thought a bachelor
of science would make sense be
cause biology is a scientific field.
I talked to representatives in the
Biology Department, and they
voted in December to approve a
bachelor of science to be offered.
If the bill is passed, we will ba
sically take it to the administra
tion and show them that we
have a lot of support for it from
the student body.”
Corporations dte pros,
cons of A&M graduates
BY CARRIE BENNETT
The Battalion
Texas A&M graduates were
found to be predictable and confi
dent team players, yet lack diversi
ty and have poor writing skills in a
report by the Texas A&M Strategic
Policies Research Group.
Two-hundred seventy corpora
tions, including Boeing, Exxon,
Shell Oil Company, state agencies
and school districts, were involved
in the Texas A&M University System
study.
The report, Changing Employ
ment Demands and Requirements
for College Graduates, found the
qualities corporations look for in
new employees include flexibility,
adaptation and a commitment to
continue learning after gradua
tion.
Participants said strengths of
A&M graduates included a strong
work ethic, being goal-oriented, loy
alty to the corporation and being
well-educated and technically
trained.
The study included 11 Texas
A&M University System cam
puses.
Weaknesses among graduates
were said to be cultural diversity,
competency in writing skills and a
“Generation X” mentality.
see Grads on Page 2.
Financial planning fair
,SC0V to offer students
ideas for the future
]
jnnL- _
BY LISA K. HILL
The Battalion
eing warne
i existence: •
y historian,,
tent threed; 1
overing th
soil a.\.
o markers
found. ■The third annual finan-
all for ananiMj planning fair at Texas
orticianto: aIm w ill host 60 vendors
id reburyt ami various presenters to-
another fairday who will offer financial
/that beloiyad'ice to students, employ-
her-in-law,Pees and community retirees
an, a Germitoday.
physician. ^“Future Shock Preven-
listorian Ketion ‘99,” including finan-
an was bom ilia 1 planners, investment
and hadapProfessionals and represen-
ina before st tat ' ves f rom community or-
Records ii 3 an ^ za ^ ons ’ begin at
children wit!,® 0 a.m. in Rudder Exhib-
four with IliJ Hal1 and Rudder seminar
rooms.
?htingintheci lzetta slade > assi stant di-
7 , ,, . rector of the Human Re-
- 0C -\; sources Department, is a
11111 Ies ' ^member of the program’s
organization committee.
■ Slade said the fair is di
rected toward employed
people and members of the
community.
^^^^“This fair is an effort to
help people financially plan
is • Stickeiin advance,” she said. “We
try to prevent people from
waiting 30 to 60 days before
retiring and realizing
there’s a money shortage.”
■ Slade said the fair pro-
vipes more than retirement
planning. Students will at-
is buried in
5, Ladd
ide in
tend sessions on how to
start planning for a finan
cially stable future after
graduation.
“It’s never too soon to
start financial planning,”
Slade said.
“Once you’ve graduated,
students have more options
than they think.”
Bob Lawson, assistant
director of the Student Fi
nancial Aid Office, will lec
ture on financing choices
for higher education at 8
and 9 a.m.
“My lecture will be
geared towards different fi
nancial aid package op
tions,” he said.
“Instead of borrowing
money, students’ options in
paying tuitions and fees
will be discussed.”
Companies represented
at the fair include Norwest
Bank, First National Bank
of Bryan-College Station
and Merrill Lynch Mutual
Funds.
Door prizes will be
awarded throughout the
day including an acrylic en
cased Big 12 Championship
football ticket provided by
the TAMU Football Office,
Texas A&M Bookstore gift
certificates and University
Flowers gift certificates.
Moment of silence
BAG hosts events
for Black History Month
CARINO CASAS/The Battalion
Steve Rhone, a senior computer science major, stops by the
Silver Taps monument to read the names of those honored at
last night’s ceremony.
BY SALLIE TURNER
The Battalion
MSG Black Awareness Committee
(BAG) hosted a celebration of black his
tory yesterday in the MSG Flagroom as
part of Black History Month.
The celebration included songs,
African-American historical facts and
dramatic interpretations of poems writ
ten by African-American authors.
During the singing of the “Black Na
tional Anthem,” many students at the
event walked out of th,e Flagroom.
LaSondra Caroll, former chair of
BAC and a junior journalism major, said
if people paid more attention to the
words of the “Black National Anthem,”
they would realize it represents Ameri
ca as a whole.
“We wouldn’t walk out during the
(American) national anthem,” she said.
“We at A&M jump on people who walk
on the grass outside the MSG, but peo
ple feel it’s all right to walk out during
our [black national] anthem.”
“When [an event] is about some
thing black, people feel it is not about
them,” she said.
Carroll said the program organizers
worked to increase understanding and
awareness of African-American history.
During the celebration, Jewana War
ren, a member of BAC and a senior
management information systems ma
jor, gave a dramatic interpretation of di
versity.
“See how diverse your people and
my people and our people are,” she
said. “It’s okay to be diverse. It keeps
us from being slaves.”
Maco Faniel, a member of BAC and
me
low
MSC
Carino Casas/The Battalion
Jewana Warren, a senior manage
ment information systems major, per
forms her interpretation of “Diversity.”
a freshman speech communication ma
jor, said songs were included in the pro
gram to inspire listeners to reflect upon
historical events.
“During the times of slavery, songs
and celebrations are what got us
through,” he said. “Songs help African
Americans to keep moving forward.”
Joel Garrett, chair of BAC and a se
nior management major, said BAC will
work with other organizations to high
light the achievements of African Amer
icans throughout February.
“The month is a brief reflection on
the achievements of African Americans
through struggles,” he said.
is • Sticks
al Life
Fish Camp reels
in new counselors
BY MEGAN WRIGHT
The Battalion
■ Applications for Fish Camp coun-
Y selors are due today and may be turned
; Bto the Fish Camp Office in the John J.
1 10 answer all Koldus Building.
a f 11 rniffi Joni Martinda,e ’ Fish Camp Director
' and tui " tlll! and a senior international marketing ma
jor, said he expects 1,800 applications for
Fish Camp counselor this year.
8:30[ ,f “We have a large number coming in,
IBd we have 900 spaces available,” Mar-
tindale said.
■ Results of the counselor-selection
riii"-a career 1 Process will be announced March 1 with
pree training sessions before Fish Camp
begins this summer.
I “The programs will focus on tradi
tions, facilitating and working with peo-
' Be. These themes aren’t set in stone yet,
p.m.
but counselors are required to be there,”
Martindale said.
Fish Camp namesakes are also being
decided upon and will be published
March 8.
“The namesake nomination process
began in early November when we be
gan accepting nominations,” Martindale
said.
“Any faculty member can be nomi
nated from A&M by anybody including
past namesakes, students, family and
other faculty. We received 144 nomina
tions and we will choose 36 namesakes.”
Martindale said the namesakes will
have the opportunity to participate as
much as they want to with their Fish
Camps throughout the rest of the semes
ter and during the camp sessions.
see camp on Page 2.
Fish Camp Facts
•Applications are due February 3. Coun
selor selection results will be released
March 1. Officials expect to receive 1,800
applications for the 900 positions open
for Fish Camp counselors.
•Thirty six out of 144 namesake nomina
tions were selected. Namesakes will be
announced March 8.
• In 1998, 4,800 students attended Fish
Camp out of 7,200 incoming freshman.
• This summer will be the 45th camp.
The program was started in 1954.
Discussions, workshops mark
National Disabilities Awareness Week
BY AMANDA PALM
The Battalion
Services for Students with
Disabilities and MSC Hospi
tality are hosting Disability
Awareness Day today in the
MSC to celebrate National
Disabilities Awareness Week.
The day will begin with
a panel discussion from 10
to 11 a.m. in MSC 206. The
panel is comprised of five
disabled students who will
field questions from the au
dience. After the discussion.
Access Challenge will be
held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in the MSC Flagroom in
which students will partici
pate in tests and activities
allowing them to experi
ence what it is like to live
with a disability.
Toby Boenig, collegiate li
censing coordinator and for
mer student body president,
said Access Challenge helps
people understand what
someone with a disability
goes through on a daily basis.
“Three years ago when I
was student body president
and before I was confined to
a wheelchair, I went to Ac
cess Challenge and was able
to simulate some disabili
ties,” he said. “It’s an eye
opening experience, but it’s
not meant for any type of
pity; it’s meant for a greater
appreciation of students
with disabilities.”
Kirsten Jacobs, special
events executive for MSC
Hospitality, said the purpose
of Disability Awareness Day
is to increase students’
awareness of fellow Aggies
with disabilities.
“I wanted to do this be
cause I went to a workshop
on how to incorporate stu
dents with disabilities into
your organization,” she
said. “Students with disabil
ities are everywhere, and we
don’t even know it.”
David Sweeney, coordina
tor for Adaptive Technology
Services, said it is a benefit to
put on someone else’s shoes
and see what their life is like.
“Access Challenge is to
show the A&M community
that students with disabili
ties don’t want an unfair ad
vantage,” he said.
SEE DISABILITY ON PAGE 2.