Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 1999)
„ Page 6 • Monday, September 6, 1999 s TATE The Battalion Cisneros trial set to begin WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Hous ing Secretary Henry Cisneros, a one-time rising Democratic star whose luster was tarnished by an extramarital affair, heads into court this week to defend himself against conspiracy and obstruction charges. Jury selection begins tomorrow, more than a year and a half after Cisneros was charged in an 18-count indictment that contends that while under consideration Tor a post in the Clinton Cabinet, he con- TSpired with one-time paramour Linda _Jones to conceal the scope of his more "than $250,000 in payments to her. He has pleaded innocent. If convicted, Cisneros could be sen tenced to up to five years in prison on each count. Jones is the government’s star witness, albeit one whose credibility will come un- "der sustained attack from Cisneros’ high- “dollar legal team. Formerly known as Linda Medlar, she agreed to testify against her ex-lover in a bid to gain a re duction in the 3 1/2-year prison sentence she was given after running afoul of the same independent counsel prosecuting Cisneros. Eighty-eight tape recordings that Jones secretly made of her phone conversations with Cisneros as their relationship soured are at the heart of Independent Counsel David Barrett’s case. Cisneros’ lawyers la bored mightily during a 13-day pretrial hearing in July to quash their use, saying many tapes bore signs of heavy editing. “Tapes, as we all know, are very pow erful evidence,” Cisneros lawyer Brendan Sullivan said at the conclusion of the hearing. “Tapes that are altered are pow erfully misleading.” “Tapes, as we all know, are very powerful evidence. Tapes that are altered are powerfully misleading” — Brendan Sullivan Cisneros' lawyer U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin re jected the defense’s argument. Of the 26 tapes that prosecutors want to play for ju rors, Sporkin is allowing 22 in their en tirety and portions of four others. Cisneros “has presented no direct evi dence that the voice on the tapes is not his, nor that the statements attributed to him are inaccurate,” Sporkin said of the tapes, recorded between April 1990 and December 1993. Jones, 50, and Cisneros, 52, became romantically involved in 1987 while he was mayor. The 2 1/2-year affair, which attracted extensive news coverage, ended when Cisneros returned to his wife and three children. While the recordings’ admissibility at trial constituted a victory for Barrett’s team, a former federal prosecutor cau tioned that tapes can sometimes backfire on the prosecution. “Any time a prosecutor gets evidence that’s admissible, it’s helpful,” Washing ton lawyer Joseph DiGenova, himself a former independent counsel and one time U.S. attorney, said. “Whether or not the jury reads it the same way as the pros ecution, that’s questionable.” Jones’ recordings, some of which the government acknowledges were edited, capture conversations in which she and Cisneros discussed their financial deal ings. They also reflect Cisneros’ charac terizations of his discussions about the money with the Clinton transition team and the FBI agents conducting his Cabi net background check. Jackson addressed Bush drug questio NEW YORK (AP) — Texas Gov. George W. Bush is "a rich man’s son caught in a poor man’s trap” on the sub ject of answering questions about whether he used illegal drugs in his younger days, Rev. Jesse Jack- son said yesterday. Speaking with re porters after giving a sermon at a Manhat tan church, Jackson said the Republican presidential candidate and Texas governor had failed to show leadership on the drug issue in a state whose “No. 1 growth economy is jails, based upon drugs.” Jackson claimed that 80 percent of a Texas prison population of 140,000 are under drug sentences, while Bush him self refuses to say whether he did or did not use narcotics in his youth. “I say, free George Bush. And also a JACKSON 1 WASH I \ ■ day over ■>s in the V generation of youth trapped. demanding same trap, because above all*-while Deni not sacrifice equal protectionur, held respoi law. And there is no categon Two Rep ‘youthful indiscretion’ on co Orrin Hate Jackson said. Forbes, saic “The fact is that drugpolicyi! they would idem's business,” Jackson said, and other! that being “a rich man’s soncatic But Sea poor man’s trap,” had forcedE.saw a doub modify his own strict position Reno, long drug issue. one is deni During his sermon at Man:., toi Louis F interdenominational Riverside! center of IF Jackson also mentioned in past: T The FBI Bush had not attended or senu gas was ust sentative to the funeral of Jair.r vidian con the black man who wasdragge of Justice a death behind a truck by twot used, white supremacists in Jaspe: ; Reno, last year. promised a Jackson criticized Bush for a contradict! the Byrd funeral and not supper mnble can crime legislation. away from change in! the fires th I Michae Pastor’s death halts abuse probe DALLAS (AP) — A retired Presbyterian pastor has died while being investigated for sex abuse that al legedly happened years ago, halting his denomina tion’s probe of the charges. North Texas Presbyterian leaders may meet with the nine women who accused the Rev. Bill Pruitt, a longtime missionary and associate pastor of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. And despite Pruitt’s death, the women still may file a lawsuit if they decide the denomination has not addressed their accusations against Pruitt. The women, who testified Pruitt molested them as .girls in the 1960s and ’70s, have been notified that church investigators are powerless to proceed after Pruitt died Aug. 12 at 88. Pruitt had denied allegations. Some of the women told The Dallas Morning News they are disappointed and worry that the denomina tion might not be willing to re-examine its policies and safeguards in abuse cases without being sued. “It feels like they’re just dropping the ball,” Pamela Pritchard, one of six original accusers who said last fall that Pruitt molested them in Africa, where their parents did mission work with him, said. “It feels to me like a cover-up, and the church is going to close up and cover it back up once again.” But the Rev. David Wasserman, administrator of the denomination’s regional governing body, known as Grace Presbytery, said the church wants “to do what it can to care for its children and to take a look at procedures, practices, policies,” he said. “Exactly how extensive the church will go, I can’t say.” Several of the women said that they had been con tacted about a possible meeting with church leaders this fall. At least 11 women have accused Pruitt of abusing them as girls in the 1960s and ’70s. Most say the abuse occurred in Africa but at least three allege that he molested them in the Highland Park area. « i i ! * « l r r. ■ ■ ■' f; HOST A COMPANY Fall 1999 Business Career Fair September 21-23 Wondering What a Host Does? Host Informational’s (Optional) Tuesday Sept. 7 ,h Wednesday Sept. 8 th 7:30-8:00 7:30-8:00 Wehner 159 Wehner 159 SIGN-UPS TO HOST SUDAY SEPT 12TH 2:00 p.m. WEHNER 116 Host Mandatory Meeting Must attend one!!! Tuesday Sept. 14 ,h Wednesday Sept. 15 th 7:30-8:00 8:30-9:00 Wehner 159 Wehner 159 Check out the company list at http://wehner.tamu.edu/bsc Any questions, e-mail haugaard@tamu.edu or n-lee@tamu.edu Memorials honor storm victii qnestionei GALVESTON (AP) — When a monster hurricane hit Galveston is land in 1900, residents were caught off guard as the tides surged and winds roared. With no time to flee or plan, about 8,000 people died. As the 100-year anniversary of the nation’s worst natural disaster approaches, residents have start ed planning well in advance to honor those who faced the Sept. 8, 1900, storm. “It was such a defining mo ment in our history,” Betty Massey, director of the Galveston Historical Foundation, said. “Peo ple want to connect themselves to the past, to learn more about the tragedy. ” For 20 months, a committee of residents has been plotting a mas sive commemoration not only of the tragedy, but of the city’s re birth and rebuilding. Massey said the group wants to show how islanders rallied to gether amid all the destruction. One project, backed by the Galveston Commission for the Arts, is acquiring a sculpture of a man, woman and daughter to stand on the seawall. “We felt the city needed a place where people could go to remem ber the survivors of the storm,” Massey told The Galveston Coun ty Daily News. "The only one we have right now is a large rock. We wanted to create a place to re member them.” Also planned is a memorial ser vice at Kermit Courville Stadium and plaques for all buii: homes that withstood tt; The Galveston Counn cal Museum plans a <L storm memorabilia. Museum director Alict said any time the stont publicity, the museumse ry of donations. The museum alread. ceived one of its more possessions, a government awarded to a man who sate than 100 lives on theisiafc Of course, some of th; are slightly odd. One woman contactedtt seum to donate a pair oft pants that she said herg mother was wearingJurint storm. Po lea ve$ INTERNET JOBS NEW ire not f, couch f they st rnountai The leas ..searcher Potat ffries ma [quarter Tngs eai nearly o eaten b> to a ; [ Catherir Attention College Students: Web America Networks, is looking specifically for Texas A&M college students and Blinn College students: a brand new Internet Call Center the will be located in College Station. I here are immediate openings to Reps, Technical Support Reps, and Customer Service Reps to respond to a massive nationwide direct mail it. ing campaign. Reps will respond to inbound calls only. Phis is not an outbound telemarketing job. WebA' Networks offers great income opportunities and benefits, with tremendous opportunities for growth. Inside Sales Representative - responsible for selling customers who call in response to the marketing cam: s 9.00 per hour, plus commissions that can bring total compensation up to $15.00 per hour. • Actively Pursing College B.A./B.S Degree • Outgoing Personality. Involvement in Student Activities (Corps, MSC Clubs, Greeks, etc) a plus! • Experience working with Customers (Retail, Restaurants, etc) • Highly Motivated and Goal Oriented • Windows 98 proficiency • Ability to clearly articulate to customers over the telephone • Works Well in a Team Environment • Part-Time Opportunities with Flexible Work Hours available with variety of 4 hour shifts, days a week 24 hours a day • Minimum of 24 Months Experience Using the Internet Technical Support - responsible for solving PC/Modem/Software problems to get customers connected to the In: *9.00 per hour • Actively Pursuing College Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Science or MIS • Strong Customer Service, Telephone and Listening Skills • Minimum of 36 Months Experience Using the PC’s and/or the Internet • Strong Windows 95 & 98 Experience (Modem Configuration, Dial Up Networking, etc) • Problem Solving and Analysis skills • Ability to clearly articulate to customers over the telephone • Highly motivated and works well in a Team environment • Part-Time Opportunities with Flexible Work Hours available with variety of 4 hour shifts, 7 days a week' 24 hours a day Penning search I It is i enng tl who jan burger who cal from US 1994-96 “It ji what I some pe get vegt form,” s ally sad Char search \ and a r< the U.S. ture’s 1 Food In That lates ea< pyramic 1 French and fat. jeludes 1 and veg The [of vege leafy v< | other v vegetal: Customer Service - responsible for dealing with customers inquiries for billing questions, account details ‘8.00 per hour • Actively Pursuing College B.A./B.S Degree • Experience working with Customers (Retail, Restaurants, etc) • Works well in a team environment • Windows 98 proficiency • Ability to clearly articulate to customers over the telephone • Part-Time Opportunities with Flexible Work Hours available with variety of 4 hour shifts, 7 days a week 24 hours a day.' • Minimum of 24 Months Experience Using the Internet Web America Networks, Inc. offers flexible scheduling 7 days a week with both daytime and evening hours able 24 hours a day. We offer opportunities for quick advancement in a casual dress environment. WebA' Networks Management will be in College Station conducting interviews beginning Monday, 9 August, Yc- schedule an interview 24 hours a day by contacting Web America Networks via any of the following means: Web/Americ 6 t W O rica Web America Networks 17250 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 150 Dallas, TX 75287 (800) 215-6974 Attn: Aggie Call Center E-mail resumes to aggiejobs@wans.net Fax resumes to (972) 732-9267 Info i RucU Pool Vest Pot I C.S. Sca\- RucU Spes MSG