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105 YEARS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
THURSDAY
July 1, 1999
Volume 105 • Issue 162 • 6 Pages
College Station, Texas
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• The ancient practice of
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PAGE 3
today’s issue
Nation 6
Battalion Radio
Tune in to 90.9 KAMU-FM at
1:57 p.m. for the City of College
Station’s schedule changes
in observance of July 4.
opinion
• Classic comic strips should
look to today’s society for new
story ideas.
PAGE 5
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Renovations raise questions
' r ity of College Station plans changes to former church building
BY CARRIE BENNETT
The Battalion
The property at 303 Boyett in
allege Station that was built in the
930s has been undergoing reno-
ersyata., 1 rations t j iat w jn transform the
50far ' e ' ; ' wilding into a barbecue and steak
llestaurant, which is scheduled for
sions c M om p] e tion in August.
The structure, which had been
noved from its original location at
02 College Main, was historically
parsonage for the First Baptist
hurch and has been vacant for a
umber of years.
Benito Flores-Meath, Class of
, 83, said the renovations did not
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and would ruin a potentially his
toric landmark.
The ordinance states a struc
ture must be at least 50 years old,
be reflected as a high or medium
priority by the Northgate Historic
Resources Survey, or have been
designated as a historic site by the
National Register of Historic
Places.
Flores-Meath said a survey con
ducted by the city, consisting half of
A&M students and faculty and half
of College Station citizens, found
this Northgate zone to be rated as
medium to high priority. He said
renovating this building is in direct
violation of nine out of 10 guidelines
under this city ordinance.
“What bothers me is not even so
much the fact about the historical
aspects of it, but the fact that the
city was in direct violation of their
own laws,” he said.
Flores-Meath said he thinks the
council members who voted on
this renovation were not properly
informed before hand on all the
rules and guidelines.
“Many times we are portrayed
in a very negative way,” he said.
“I am not trying to accuse anyone
of any wrongdoing. I’m just in
terested in the preservation of
historically significant places in
the city.”
Michael Wheeler, a College Sta
tion resident who regularly attends
City Council meetings, said he
thinks that since the city is under
certain guidelines they should not
make any exceptions.
“If citizens try to point out that
that they [the city] are doing some
thing wrong, the city just doesn’t
listen,” Wheeler said. “Once some
thing goes wrong, they just say
‘oops,’ we mdde a mistake.”
Wheeler said more than the his
torical value, he is concerned that the
renovations are being paid for in part
by money from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
“I don’t see why taxpayers
money are going to go towards this
restaurant,” he said. “The owner
see Historic on Page 2.
CODY WAGESAI hk Battalion
The property at 303 Boyett in College Station, a former parsonage, is being
renovated as a restaurant despite protests that it is a historic landmark.
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James Benavides, a senior journalism major, holds the “snake creeping” form while practicing Yang-style Tai Chi, a simplified,
24-step version of the ancient Chinese art, at Research Park Wednesday afternoon.
BISD administrator
rethinks resignation
KOPEC
BY RYAN WEST
The Battalion
In a closed session following a meet
ing of the Bryan Independent School
District’s Board of Trustees meeting,
Bryan High School
Principal Joe Kopec
rescinded his resigna
tion.
The session fol
lowed an open discus
sion in which parents
and faculty expressed
their concern over the
resignation of Kopec.
The discussion
ended when Kopec and several board
members requested the Trustees meet
for a closed executive session.
Kopec, principal of Bryan High
School since 1996, submitted his resig
nation two weeks ago, shortly after he
had renewed his contract for the fol
lowing year.
David Stasny, president of the Board
of Trustees, told the audience that the
board was not permitted to discuss
business concerning any personnel, re
ferring to Kopec, without holding an ex
ecutive meeting first.
However, as parents and faculty spoke
in the meeting before the closed session,
although they were not permitted to men
tion Kopec’s name, their concern for the
loss of the principal was clear.
Brett Cumpton, one of the architects
working on the high school, expressed
his concerns about the recent changes.
“I’ve been at Bryan High on a daily
basis for the past year,” he said, “and as
one of the architects. I’ve been working
there for the last three or four years.
“I’ve seen some really great things
going on there despite all of the con
struction and changes. But, I think
everyone was looking forward to a little
stability, at this point, and I hope you
take that into consideration before mak
ing another change [Kopec’s resigna
tion].”
Ron Rolett, one of several parents
who voiced concerns, said he was con
cerned about the resignation because
his daughter will be entering the high
school this fall.
“Given the fact that we are consoli
dating two new groups of students
[from differing middle schools] into the
new facility, I’m concerned about any
other changes [Kopec’s resignation]
they will have to endure at this time,”
he said.
Rolett said Kopec was a thoughtful
and helpful principal who knew the stu
dents’ names and was involved in the
entire process of bringing the schools
together.
“I want the person who has brought
us to this point to stay,” he said. “Dr.
Kopec is too good for the community
and our kids to let him go.”
College Station to celebrate
4th of July with fireworks
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BY SUZANNE BRABECK
The Battalion
The College Station Noon Lions Club
will kick off the 39th annual “I Love
America Celebration” Sunday at 6 p.m.
m the grounds surrounding the George
lush Presidential Library Complex in ob-
lervance of Independence Day.
The College Station chapter of the club
vas started in 1950 and hosts this free
rinction as a “thank you” to the com-
nunity for its support of their fund rais-
?rs throughout the year.
Masters of Ceremonies this year are
devision station KBTX’s Brenda Simms
ind Dave South, of KAMU-FM.
Brian Brumfield, a member of the
Lions Club and a committee member
1 for the Fourth of July celebration, said
they are expecting an increase in the
number of attendees from last year’s
5,000 attendees.
There will be live musical perfor
mances by local artists including Cathy
j Ross, Karen Chavez, the Bluenote All-stars
and Invisible Cindy, and will be broadcast
simultaneously on Mix 104.7 FM.
Brumfield said the fireworks show,
which begins at 9:40 p.m., is the only ma
jor fireworks production in the area.
He said spectators should bring
lawn chairs because there is no seating
available.
Watermelon slices and water, dis
tributed via an Army water wagon, will
be provided free of charge to guard at
tendees against the heat. Soft drinks,
bottled water and sausage dogs will be
available beginning at 6:30 p.m. to co
incide with the start of several chil
dren’s games.
In addition to the fireworks display,
the hours of operation of the George Bush
Presidential Library have been extended
until 8:30 p.m. The library will be deco
rated for the event and admission will be
free of charge.
Parking for the event will be available
at Research Park. There will be signs post
ed for further instructions. If it rains, park
ing will be available at Reed Arena or
Olsen Field.
George Bush Drive will be closed be
fore and during the fireworks display for
safety precautions.
WHO?: The College
Station Noon Lions Club
WHAT?: Hosting the
39th annual “I Love
America Celebration”
WHERE?: On the grounds
of the George Bush
Presidential Library
Complex
WHEN?: Sunday at 6 p.m.
WHY?: In observance of
the Fourth of July
GABRIEL RUENES/Tttt Battalion
Safety first
Caution advised for many holiday activities
BY RYAN WEST
The Battalion
Independence Day is a time of
food, friends, parties and fireworks,
but like any other holiday, it is also a
time to exercise precaution on the
roads, using fireworks, swimming in
lakes or pools or even cooking out in
the backyard.
Whether planning a barbecue or
picnic, one should take the necessary
precautions to prevent food-borne ill
nesses.
Gary Acuff, an associate professor
of food science and technology, said
the most common cooking mistakes in
volve cross-contamination and under
cooking.
“Don’t reuse a platter that’s been
used for raw meat, and use utensils,
such as spatulas and tongs, whenever
you can,” Acuff said. “Even if you’ve
washed your hands, you never know if
you’ve gotten everything out from un
der your fingernails.”
Acuff advised people to use a meat
thermometer to check temperature.
“Hamburgers should reach around
160 degrees, but the temperature on
steaks differs,” he said. “As far as
chicken goes, it’s safe at 160 degrees,
but people generally like it a little high
er for taste.”
Acuff said people should be careful
not to leave food at room temperature for
more than two to three hours and to try
and transfer any picnic food in a cooler.
Along with picnics, another Fourth
of July tradition that should be ap
proached with caution is the use of
fireworks.
The College Station Fire Depart
ment also warns students to keep fire
works outside of the city limits. Those
caught with fireworks within 5,000
feet of the city limits face a misde
meanor charge, punishable by a fine
of up to $2,000.
Bart Humphreys, public information
officer for the College Station Fire De
partment, said people who choose to
use fireworks need to take necessary
precautions.
see Safety on Page 2.