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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1999)
TAixnj LD The 105 YEARS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY TUESDAY March 30, 1999 Volume 105 • Issue 118 • 8 Pages College Station, Texas aggielife • Architecture professors display artwork at J. Wayne Stark University Galleries. PAGE 3 today’s issue Toons 2 Opinion 7 Battalion Radio Listen to KAMU-FM 90.9 at 1:57 p. m. for details on the new depression pill for dogs. sports • A&M Womens Tennis Team defeats Texas Tech University 8-1 at Monday’s game. TURNER'Is 9- ijor, spins Mlst)| 3t the Brotaf BY AMANDA SMITH The Battalion More than 16,000 prospective students have 11 ! I td W 'Plied to Texas A&M for Fall 1999, but less than LLLLUl' P will enroll, according to a report from the Of fice of Admissions and Records. I A record 16,158 prospective freshmen applied ■ A&M, exceeding the 1996 record of 15,973 ap plicants for Fall 1996 and representing a 19-per- ■nt increase from the 13,534 applicants for the 111 1997. I Gary Engelgau, the executive director of the d shape" at y after a dar ry operation :retary Williari on the Sum d the loss of ”| \ the mostsop’i etive aircraft - would not npaign against ment as the i Serb forces inlit Office of Admissions and Records, said the in crease may be attributed to the new common ap plication for all public universities in Texas and to the installation of the application on the Internet. Electronic applications accounted for 42-per cent of the applications submitted by the March 1 deadline for admissions. “We are continuing our recruitment efforts,” Engelgau said. “We hope and presume there are growing expectations for Texas A&M.” Engelgau said the University will offer admis sion to between 10,000 and 11,000 freshman ap plicants in hopes of generating 6,300 new stu dents. The largest categorical increase came from the students who checked “other” or left the race/ethnicity slot blank on the application. According to the report, the number of male and female applicants increased, in addition to race and ethnic categories, excluding interna tional students. The number of applicants in the top 10-percent of their high school graduating classes increased, with an increase in the applicants to all colleges. Engelgau said more students than anticipated accepted their admissions for Fall 1998, leading to a freshman class enrollment of 7,354. mg to move argets incluto 1 ing withcoi®4 1 ictures,anii®| > start togvt- ' •Id as suck it' enate considers salary increases BY AMANDA SMITH The Battalion ► L Professors at Texas A&M and other higher education in- f|titutions across the state may earn more in the upcoming academic year if the 76th ^Kxas Legislature approves a bill to raise their salaries. I Senate Bill 466, sponsored by Sen. Tom Haywood, a for- |Mer college professor, is under ^■view by the Senate Subcom- ^■ittee on Higher Education. I Tom Hoffman, the presi dent of the Texas Association of College Teachers (TACT) and an English professor at ^■idwestern State University, ^ftid he expects a 7.5 to 9-per- |Bnt increase in professors’ silanes if the bill is passed. I “We urged [Haywood] to in- ■oduce the bill,” Hoffman ^ftid, in a press release. “We’re ^■eing a shortage in teachers for certain disciplines. We have a shortage in Midwestern Slate University’s education department that has remained kiln filled for two years.” I An average A&M salary was ^■ported to be 92 percent of Hie overall average Texas ^Mary for fiscal year 1998, compared to 92 percent of the state average in 1994 and 95 pjercent in 1990. Hoffman said increasing professor salaries could poten- ■ally attract more qualified Kucators to Texas higher edu cation institutions. “We want the salary in crease for professors so we can attract good people — the stu dents of Texas deserve the best teachers we can get them,” Hoffman said in the press re lease. In a measure affecting higher education institutions within the Texas A&M Univer sity System, the Texas A&M Board of Regents approved Fri day an increase of $4 per se mester credit hour in the Uni versity Authorized Tuition (UAT). The revenue gained from the UAT increase, beginning in Fall 1999, will go to increase professors’ salaries at A&M. A Texas A&M professor earns an average salary of $73,000, compared to $82,000 at the University of Texas, ac cording to a report from the Office of Institutional Studies and Planning. An A&M associate profes sor earns $52,000, compared to $53,700 at the University of Texas. An A&M assistant professor earns $45,800, compared to $49,700, at the University of Texas. In addition to the professor salary increases, Hoffman said TACT has urged legislators to consider increased funding and grants for student schol arships and grants based on need and merit. Cooling construction it tilt “IT* » 8? MIKE FUENTES/Tm Battalion Construction workers from Garrett Mechanical work Monday afternoon on a new cooling tower for the physical plant. The 55-year-old cooling tower, which should be finished by August, is being replaced at the corner of Ross St. and Ashbury St. PAGES ■'-'.I' ’’ Til ecord-breaking 16,158 rospective students apply Verbal altercation over banner ends in citation issuance BY SAMEH FAHMY The Battalion A Texas A&M student was cited for misdemeanor assault by con tact Wednesday after an altercation in front of the Academic Building where evangelist Tom Short was speaking. Armando Roberto Chavez, a sophomore computer science ma jor, was given the citation, which carries a fine of up to $500. Bob Wiatt, director of Universi ty Police Department, said Amy Hinze, a sophomore political sci ence major, was holding a pro- choice banner when Chavez ap proached her and began a verbal altercation. Wiatt said Chavez grabbed the banner and destroyed it and, in doing so, intentionally and knowingly caused physical contact by bumping Hinze’s right shoulder. Wiatt said no injuries were re ported as a result of the incident. Chavez said he never touched Hinze and that he is remorseful for his actions. “I was very immature,” he said. “I’ve tried to apologize but haven’t got a response. I hope she forgives me. I hope this doesn’t carry on further.” “Expressing pro-choice beliefs is one thing, but devaluating God, you’re looking for trouble,” he said. “I didn’t have to be trouble. I was immature.” Hinze said Short ridiculed her after she began crying. Attempts were made to contact Short, but they were unsuccessful. “I do not believe Tom Short had the right to personally insult me or demean my choice to call the po lice,” she said. Hinze said Short also ridiculed her the day after the incident. “I support free speech, but when it creates an atmosphere of hate and violence, I think it’s gone too far,” she said. Ben Welch, director of student activities, said he does not foresee any implications for A&M Christian Fellowship (AMCF), the organiza tion that sponsored Short’s visit. “The only way a student orga nization is involved is if [the as saulting person] is a member of that organization,” he said. Penny Appleton, president of AMCF and a junior animal science major, said Chavez is not a mem ber of the group and that the inci dent will not affect any future plans to sponsor Short on campus. see Citation on Page 2. Res Week unites Aggies BY AMANDA STIRPE The Battalion Resurrection Week 1999 started Sunday at the Armory in Bryan with a live swing band and free swing lessons. Since Spring 1993, Resurrection Week has united thousands of stu dents and between 30 and 40 Ag gie Christian organizations for a week of worship prior to Easter; what started with Bobby Dean, Corps of Cadets chaplain in 1993, planning prayer events before East er has grown to a large-scale event. Monday, Dr. Walter Bradley, a professor of mechanical engineer ing, talked about his book. Scien tific Evidence of the Existence of God, attracting a standing-room- only crowd in Rudder Auditorium. Tonight, Breakaway, which at tracts 3,000 students per week and is the largest college Bible study in the nation, will be in Rudder Audi torium at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. A corporate praise will be at Rudder Auditorium at 7 p.m. Wednesday. A live satellite down link will connect 40 Resurrection Week groups at colleges across the nation on a movie-theater-sized screen. In addition, Caedmon’s Call, a band from Houston, will be broadcast during various parts of the evening and will play songs from its new CD, which will be re leased April 13. Louis Giglio, founder of the Passion Conference, will speak via satellite. Praise songs and prayers will be broadcast along with seven campus ministers live at Rudder Auditorium throughout the evening. Also, By The Tree, a band from Fort Worth, will lead praise songs live throughout the evening. The week will be rounded out with a Crucifixion drama at Rudder see Celebrate on Page 2. eminist lectures gainst abortion meal C' ,n until 1P' -iletic in fl|V Rec Men ds. Call morein'4 BY APRIL YOUNG The Battalion Working together to eliminate jte reasons women seek abortion fas the solution offered by Serrin pster during her lecture last night Rudder Tower, “Feminist Case Jgainst Abortion.” Foster, executive director of ?minists for Life of America, said jiere are a number of things peo- le can do to help make abortion Ire. “We can systematically elimi- ate abortion by empowering [omen with knowledge, funding regnancy crisis centers and mak- hg businesses and colleges sup- brtive of pregnancy,” Foster said. No woman should have to choose between her education and her child.” Lauren Donohue, director of Brazos Valley Coalition for Life, said abortion is not justified under any circumstances. “A life is a life at every stage and in any situation,” Donohue said. Donohue said the pro-choice rally Saturday made the forum timely. “Since [National Organization for Women] had their pro-choice rally on Saturday and we have Feminists For Life here today, I think the forum is extremely time ly,” Donohue said. “We are talk ing about similar, almost identical problems, and we are both trying to provide women with the best Candidates propose safety measures MIKE FUENTES/Tm Battalion Serrin Foster, executive director of Feminists for Life of America, spoke Monday night in Rudder. solutions for their situation.” Foster encourages women who are considering abortion to think the process out fully. “Women considering abortion need to consider all their choices and slow down to really think it through,” Foster said. “Give your- see Foster on Page 2. Editor’s Note: With the upcoming stu dent body elections, the editorial board of The Battalion has selected three top ics which it feels are among the biggest issues facing the Texas A&M campus. The seven candidates for student body president as identified by the election commission were asked about diversi ty, student safety and fee increases. Each day, an article will be dedicated to one of these issues and Wednesday, each candidate will discuss their top platform priority. This is the second of four installments. Stud i Ele< BY EMILY SNOOKS AND NON! SRIDHARA The Battalion Student body president candi dates say the keys to alleviating drug and hazing problems among Texas A&M students and ensuring the safety of students is education and enhanced safety programs. The candidates discussed stu dent safety, including hazing, racial crimes and alcohol- and drug-related accidents. Jason Royster said substance abuse is a big problem because alcohol is influential at A&M. Royster said he knows hazing exists in some organizations, in cluding Greek groups and the Corps of Cadets. He said whether it is a freshman getting books for an upperclassmen from the MSG or a more violent act, the organi zations should find new tradi tions. “We are all Aggies, and I don’t think anyone should be punished to become a part of an organiza tion,” he said. Royster said some people say the actions of the organizations help build character, but that there are other ways to build character, including community service and fundraisers. Brandon Clarke said educating students about the hazards of abusing alcohol and drugs is they best way to curb the ongoing prob lem. Clarke said getting students involved in campus programs, giv ing students alternatives to drink ing, displaying wrecked automo biles and increasing punishments see Safety on Page 2.