The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, September 09, 1999, Image 1

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    V &M to notify kin
, drug use
BY RYAN WEST
The Battalion
vlext week, Texas A&M will begin noti-
ig parents of under-age students who
^ e Violated University drug and alcohol
,ici|s since the end of August.
Tht Family Education of Rights and Pri
vies Vet (FERPA) protected the privacy of
debts’’records until early this year when
^Bsitio throughout the nation were of-
Jpdlhe option of notifying parents in vi-
\tioi situations.
Jrent Paterson, chair of the A&M Task
jfeejon Parental Notification, established
after the government decision, said
[hen hies will recommend that students
irgt 1 with violations talk to their parents
Hor* the letters are sent home.
^■t-Te not wanting to tattle on the stil
us ” he said. “We’re trying to encourage
nnlunication between parents and stu-
itslabout the responsible use of alcohol.
(“Wt are trying to approach this from the
ication standpoint. Our interest is in the
dth and safety components.”
|Depnis Reardon, parental notification
force member and senior coordinator
dStudent Life Alcohol and Drug Education
ograms, said the task force, created to ad-
;e tJniversity President Dr. Ray Bowen
d Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. J.
alon Southerland about the option, rec
ommended that the University establish al
cohol education programs and dependency
treatment for violators.
Reardon said that when students are cit
ed for a violation, they would be referred to
a Student Life Alcohol and Drug Education
Programs representative and would be
placed in an “Alcohol 101” class, an alcohol
education workshop or treatment for severe
alcohol abuse or dependency.
Students with a minor violation, such as
possession of alcohol in or near residence
halls, would be enrolled in Alcohol 101.
Students who commit a more serious vi
olation, like obvious intoxication, repeated
offenses or possessing large quantities in
residence halls, would participate in the al
cohol education workshop.
Students with multiple offenses, such as
vandalism or violence, or who require po
lice or Emergency Medical Service notifica
tion will be mandated to meet directly with
Reardon.
Reardon said there has been a change in
students’ attitudes toward alcohol involve
ment, which has cost some students their
health, education and lives.
“We want to intervene earlier,” Reardon
said. “We now have the opportunity to en
list parent aid as early as possible.
“[Alcohol and drug violations] are a sig
nificant problem, and we are working hard
er than ever before to solve it.”
Fraternity fire
GUY ROGERS/Thk Battauon
The Delta Chi Fraternity house at 6133 Chick Lane in Bryan caught fire Thursday evening. The cause of the fire is
still under investigation by the Bryan Police Department. The house was vacant.
Student Senate discusses Mall project
BY ERIKA DOERR
The Battalion
The 52nd session of the Student
Senate discussed the Joe Routt “Mall”
Concept Bill and the Legislative Agen-
'a Resolution last night after the State
flhe University Address,
ifetudent Body President Will Hurd
lid the Joe Routt “Mall” is intended
):,improve pedestrian safety, beauti-
' the surrounding area, increase bus
fficiency and to fulfill the idea of a
edestrian-friendly campus.
The Texas A&M University Board
f Regents approved phase one of a
roposal that would close off the por-
on of Joe Routt Boulevard from
lark Street to Throckmorton Street.
The goal of a “mall” environment, an
rea limiting traffic to pedestrians, Uni-
ersity buses, bicycles and emergency
chicles, is to increase pedestrian safety.
“Phase one is a preliminary plan
ing stage, where loading docks and
restrictions will be placed throughout
the street,” Hurd said.
"The second and t)iird phases,
which are not voted on b^ the Board of
Regents yet, are the actual tearing up of
the Joe Routt Boulevard and imple
menting utility wire,s and the beautify
ing and tidying the area, respectively.”
“C/osing Joe Routt
would increase bus
efficiency/'
— Elizabeth McKee
Executive vice president
of the Student Senate
Elizabeth McKee, executive vice
president of the Senate, said how traf
fic will be affected, which roads will
be opened and how to prevent limit
ed access to the surrounding buildings
are issues that remain undiscussed.
“Phase two, the construction phase,
is to be completed by August 2000,”
she said.
“Closing Joe Routt would increase
bus efficiency. The elimination of mo
tor vehicles competing with buses
will provide more safety to the pedes
trians, causing less chaos.”
Hurd said the area’s aesthetics will
be enhanced, making the MSC and sur
rounding buildings visually appealing.
“$1.8 million will be given by the
Athletic Department to this recon
struction,” he said. “This will tie into
the aesthetics of the Kyle Field tunnel
and plaza area.”
Another topic of discussion at the
Senate meeting was the Legislative
Agenda Resolution.
Various goals of the agenda in
clude evaluating the effectiveness rat
ing faculty, transportation and class
section expansion.
Magazine ranks Lowry Mays College
'1st among nationwide business schools
by brooke hodges
The Battalion
aper.
Fact.
rm, including
ict published
(s) that were
lass postage
ire attending
The Lowry Mays College and Graduate School of Busi-
ss’ undergraduate program ranked 21st among nation-
de business schools and in the top 15 among public uni-
rsities in U.S. News & World Report.
Dr. A. Benton Cocanougher, dean of Lowry Mays Col-
;e and Graduate School of Business, said the ranking is
sed on colleges’ academic reputations and evaluations
deans of various business schools and distinguished fac-
y members.
The evaluation was on a scale from one to five, five be-
; "distinguished.” A&M scored an average of 3.7.
“[This ranking] assures we have a world-class business
ucation program,” he said. "This lets us know we are
m^around the country as outstanding.”
Cocanougher said getting the high ranking poses a chal-
ige to provide programs that meet expectations estab-
led by this year’s program.
The undergraduate program enrolled 6,400 students in
J8-99, making it the fourth largest in the nation.
Despite the challenges in meeting the needs of such a
ge student body, Cocanougher said the program was ed-
ationally enhancing.
He said a vast majority of the college’s graduates go into
mpational settings and a large number of those contin-
to graduate programs.
Dr. William Fuerst, associate dean for academic pro-
ims in the Lowry Mays College and Graduate School of
siness, said the ranking are a chance to increase the
mber of recruiters that come to campus to look for fu-
e employees.
“This [ranking] will provide our graduates with a fuller
ige of opportunities,” he said.
Fuerst said that because rankings are based on different
)ects, the rankings of other polls must also be consid-
d to get a clear picture of a program’s ability.
Fuerst said the education goal of the undergraduate pro-
im is to turn out the best graduates it possibly can, and
■ high ranking shows that it is being accomplished.
Fuerst said he hopes the program continues to move up
ranking.
Cocanougher said the program is celebrating a 10th
'ce ranking in the Princeton Review/Gourman Report.
U.S. News and World Report's
Best Business
Schools
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1. University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor
1. University of Pennsylvania
4. University of California - Berkeley
5. University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
5. University of Texas -- Austin
5. University of Virginia
8. Carnegie Mellon University
9. Indiana University-- Bloomington
10. New York University
10. University of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign
10. University of Southern California
10. University of Wisconsin - Madison
14. Purdue University -- West Lafayette
14. University of Minnesota — Twin Cities
16. Emory University
16. Ohio State University - Columbus
16. Pennsylvania State University
16. University of Washington
16. Washington University
21 Michigan State University
21. Texas A&M University - College Station
Hurd delivers address
BY RACHEL HOLLAND
The Battalion
During the State of the
University Address last
night. Student Body Presi
dent Will Hurd said develop
ing a fee oversight board, a
comprehensive transporta
tion package and a recycling
program are ways to utilize
campus resources to create a
culture of excellence.
Hurd, a senior computer
science and international
studies major, told an audi
ence of 230 in the MSC Fla-
groom that Aggies must not
think of the problems inher
ent to any solution but of how
to make the solution work.
“I sure don’t have all of
the answers,” he said. “But
all of us combined, working
together, can make sure we
come up with the best solu :
tions to continue Aggieland,
Bryan and College Station’s
traditions of excellence.”
One initiative Hurd de
scribed is the creation of a
fee oversight board staffed
by students to examine fee
increases and determine
what services should be
funded by students.
“We understand that in
order to have the benefits of
a service or an enhancement
of service we must pay for
KIMBER HUFF/The Battauon
Student Body President Will
Hurd speaks about reforming
campus life at A&M during his
State of the University address
these services because they
aren’t free,” he said.
“We also understand that
the University is obligated to
provide certain services that
benefit only a marginal
amount of students, but the
majority of students bear the
burden of this service.”
Hurd said recycling
should also be reestablished
on campus to set a standard
for other large communities.
“We need to pledge to elimi
nate half of the trash cans
around campus, in our of
fices and in our homes,” he
said, “and replace these ar
chaic items with recycling re
ceptacles that collect major
items of the waste stream
that can be^recycled.”
Hurd also"' said *students
should focus on not wasting
time getting on, getting
around and getting off of
campus.
He said the solution to the
access dilemma is a corridor
through Joe Routt Boulevard,
Coke Street, Lubbock Street,
Spence Street, Ross Street
and the northwest portion of
Houston Street, based on the
mall concept, which is a pas
sageway for pedestrian, bi
cycle, University bus and
emergency vehicle travel
with restrictions on private
vehicular travel.
Keri Raney, senator for the
College of Education and a se
nior elementary education
major, said the Student Sen
ate is ready to tackle these is
sues under Hurd’s leadership.
“I believe that President
Will Hurd is- on fire and will
do whatever it takes to pro
mote unity at Texas A&M,”
she said.
“Most importantly. Will
Hurd’s focus on a culture of
excellence is just the begin
ning to a successful year that
lies before us.”
City Manager resigns
BY CARRIE BENNETT
The Battalion
College Station City
Manager, Skip Noe resigned
yesterday, after serving the
city for four years.
College Station Mayor
Lynn Mcllhaney said the
Council received Noe’s let
ter of resignation 20 min
utes before the 12 p.m.
meeting.
“We want to take this
opportunity to publicly ac
knowledge his leadership
during a difficult time in
College Station’s history,”
she said.
“We wish him success in
his future endeavors. In re
spect for his tenure and
leadership, the City Council
is honoring his employment
contract with the city. ”
Noe had no comment as
to the reasons behind his
resignation.
“I have been proud to
serve this city and to be a
part of this organization,”
he said. ”1 wish the Coun
cil, staff and citizens of Col
lege Station all the best in
the years ahead.”
The Council designated
Assistant City Manager Tom
Brymer as acting city man
ager. Mcllhaney said that al
though Noe’s resignation is
effective immediately, he
will help Brymer through
the transition period.
“Because of Skip’s lead
ership, we have the staff
that we know can move this
city forward,” she said.
Noe has served as city
manager since July 1995
and was responsible for su
pervising departments in
cluding police, fire/ Emer
gency Medical Services,
public works and econom
ic and community develop
ment.
Noe worked to expand
the use of technology to im
prove services such as the
City’s first Web page, the de
ployment of mobile data
computers in police and fire
vehicles and the expansion
of Geographic Information
Systems, which track the
movement of vehicles.
INSIDE
aggielife
►Wheels on the bus go round
and round
Learn about the
finer points of
etiquette when
riding on the bus.
Page 3
sports
•Stepping out of the shadows
Volleyball player Lauri Leahy
prepares to take on starting role.
Page 11
opinion
•Coeds make the Hart grow
fonder
Columnist
speaks on the
benefits of
allowing women
to live in hall.
Page 15
Batt radio
Listen to KAMU-FM 90.9 at 1:57
p.m. for details on a new shelter
for the homeless.