The Battalion
s
TATE
Page 7 • Thursday, September 30, 1999
Armstrong urges cancer research
-•‘The
^Z:mour de France winner presses for more federal funding of medical research
■^■WASHINGTON (APj — Tour de France win- Armstrong pronounced himself “a living ex-
aanpto -., ner Lance Armstrong, who counts his victory ample of successful cancer research” funded in
part by the federal government.
igether over cancer as the “proudest achievement” of
avome >his appeared yesterday on Capitol Hill to
chothe-^fce Congress to increase funding for cancer
anddor apd other medical research.
|^^^H“We can have our local charities, our re-
, t0 JLilgional charities or even national charities,
but we are only raising millions,” the cyclist
„ , told a congressional committee. “And the key
isn’t the ‘M’ word. The key is the B’ word —
|billions.”
27-year-old, who divides his time be
lt r ^M een Texas and France, shocked the cycling
' t0!nee: world in July when he capped a remarkable
the same CO meback from testicular cancer that had
'earesc: S p r ead to his lungs and brain to win cycling’s
rn front? most prestigious and grueling event.
munityscB “You have been an inspiration to us,” Sen.
aandmrKhnnie Mack, R-Fla., himself a cancer survivor
forthei^Bio organized the Joint Economic Committee
biotech summit during which Armstrong and
others appeared, said.
“[Without research] there
would be no Tour of France
wins or forthcoming
children in my life today/'
— Lance Armstrong
1999 Tour de France winner
Without that research, which produced a
platinum derivative that has become stan
dard treatment for many types of tumors,
“there would be no Tour de France wins or
forthcoming children in my life today,” Arm
strong said.
Mack and other committee members ex
pressed support for doubling funding for the
National Institutes of Health over the next five
years. Congressional Democrats are pressing on
other fronts, demanding Medicare prescription
drug coverage — a proposal the pharmaceuti
cal industry is fighting.
Mack urged caution, saying lawmakers must
avoid squelching the biotech sector’s vibrant
growth while seeking to expand patients’ treat
ment options.
“Making miracles is hard work — expen
sive work,” he said. “That’s why we need a
system that recognizes the interplay between
our market economy and the pursuit of med
ical knowledge.”
Armstrong’s doctor, oncologist Lawrence
Einhorn, and other physicians who appeared
before the committee pressed for changes to
a current system that allows insurers to deny
coverage for certain treatments, experimen
tal or otherwise, even if they prove more
cost-effective.
tudent/
unished
for prayer
JUSTIN (AP) — A North-
est High School senior has
been disciplined for leading a
30-second prayer before the
school’s varsity football game
Friday night.
The 17-year-old female
walked into Texan Stadium’s
press box and Said a prayer
over the public-address system
before Northwest’s game
against Mineral Wells, school
officials told the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram.
It is one of several incidents
across Texas in defiance of a re
ft cent 5th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals ruling student-initiated
prayers on public address sys-
H terns at sp0rting events violate
the First (Amendment of the
J.S. Constitution.
“My immediate reaction was
o walk up to the press box and
ind out what had happened,”
Northwest High School Princi
pal Jim Chadwell said Tuesday.
‘It’s really unfortunate. We
eren’t intending to violate a
ederal law. ”
Officials declined to discuss
he student’s punishment.
The Texas Justice Founda-
ion and other groups are chal-
enging the February court rui
ng, which was based on a 1995
lease in which two Houston-
area parents contended that
pregame prayers violate consti
tutional guarantees of separa
tion of church and state.
Jury watches tape of abuse
3 officers on trial for mistreatment of Missouri prisoners
GALVESTON (AP) — A jury in
tently watched a graphic video
taped Texas jail shakedown show
ing inmates being bitten by a police
dog, electrically jolted and kicked
as testimony began yesterday in
the civil-rights deprivation trial of
three officers accused of abusing a
Missouri inmate.
The 14-member panel, includ
ing two alternates, appeared atten
tive during the 31-minute video,
shot by a Brazoria County sheriff’s
deputy during a Sept. 18, 1996, op
eration described by defense attor
neys as a contraband search and
riot prevention raid.
Prosecutor Barry Williams im
mediately presented the videotape
after he and defense lawyers made
their opening statements.
“Our laws state that inmates
may lose their liberty, but they’re
not to be subjected to cruel and un
usual punishment,” Williams said.
“They were not to be punished by
the defendants. That is not their
job as jailers.”
The video, exposed in 1997 by
The Facts newspaper of Brazoria
County and shown on television
programs worldwide, showed sher
iff’s personnel and jailers from Cap
ital Correctional Resources Inc.
forcing inmates to lie on the floor
and crawl around during searches.
During raids of several cell
“pods” at the Brazoria County De
tention Center, authorities are seen
kicking and shoving inmates during
a blizzard of screamed obscenities.
The inmate who is most clearly
visible, Toby Hawthorne, uttered a
high-pitched yelp when a police
dog bit his leg. The three jailers on
trial all are accused of violating
Hawthorne’s rights against cruel
and unusual punishment.
David Cisneros, 39, and Wilton
David Wallace, 52, both of Angle-
ton, and Robert Percival, 37, of
Lake Jackson, could face up to 10
years in prison if convicted.
A fourth defendant, 50-year-old
Lester Arnold of Vanderpool, en
tered into a plea arrangement Tues
day in which he agreed to cooper
ate with prosecutors.
Arnold, who faced three civil-
rights counts for using a stun gun
on inmates, pleaded guilty to one
civi-rights charge and faces less
than a year in prison or probation.
Veteran’s cemetery faces delays
DALLAS (AP) — Cloyde Pinson is frustrated and
growing more impatient over delays in opening the
first North Texas cemetery for veterans.
Pinson, chair of the Texas National Cemetery Foun
dation, has spent 12 years championing a burial
ground for local veterans. Ground was broken for the
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery almost two years
ago, but no firm date has been set for its opening.
“It’s frustrating, but you just have to roll with the
punches,” he said.
There are more than 1 million veterans and family
members in North Texas who are eligible for free bur
ial in a national cemetery, Pinson said, and he believes
the closest sites — in Houston and San Antonio — just
will not do.
Repeated delays in completing the cemetery, Pin
son said, can be blamed on Incore Inc., the San An
tonio-based contractor. He said the company lacks the
management skills or expertise to “manage a contract
at long distance or of this size.”
Jack Lopez, Incore’s president, declined to respond
to Pinson’s accusations. Although he confirmed there
have been delays, he would not give specific reasons.
The Dallas Morning News reported yesterday.
“There are a whole lot of factors, changes and lots of
things,” he said. “There is no one thing responsible.”
The initial phase of 110 acres was scheduled to
open by May, but that was pushed back to October.
Lopez now says the phase should be completed by
mid- to late November.
Pinson and cemetery director Jim Adamson said
that estimate is overly optimistic. They believe the ac
tual opening could be delayed until February or later.
Adamson, hired by the Department of Veterans Af
fairs to operate the cemetery, said he could not ad
dress specific reasons for the construction delays.
The cemetery will cost $15 million and have 14,220
burial sites, including 2,000 crypts and 2,220 garden
niches for cremated remains. Adamson says it should
meet area burial needs through 2010.
1 20x20 Party Canopy
40 Chairs
5 8ft. Banquet Tables
1 Beverage Cooler
6ft Grill
$155+ Tax
1702A Ponde.rosa Street
College Station, IX 77845
(409) 696-5696
DELIVERY AVAILABLE
“There's a Reason to Party Everyday -
Come to us to get your party started!!!’
Live and work in Japan!
Spend a year in Japan as a participant in the
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program!
This government-sponsored program promotes internationalization at the
grassroots level in Japan through English language education and international exchange.
Annual income around $31,000/year.
Applicants must:
•be a U.S. citizen
•hold a Bachelor’s degree (all majors accepted)
•be able to adapt to life in an international setting
Seniors and graduate students can speak to a representative from 10 cum. - 2 p.m. on
Tues., Oct. 5 at Overseas Day in the MSC Hallway or from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on
Thurs., Oct. 7 at Qrad & Prof School Day in the MSC Flagroom
For more information, contact the Consulate-General of Japan at Houston
^ by phone at (713) 652-2977 or by e-mail at ietcoord@wt.net. j
LAW TALK
from STCL
Join Professor of Law Helen Jenkins
and a panel of attorneys
taking live call-in questions
Tomorrow
Friday, October 1,1999
at 8:00 p.m. on KAMU - TCA Channel 4
Each show in this monthly series will focus on a different topic.
This Friday, the program will deal with wills & estates.
HEY AGS!
:U
Freebirds World Burrito is hiring full and part time
positions NOW! Come one, come all, but come
fast because The Bird is the hottest spot in town
and we’re picking the coolest cats we can! We’re
real flexible with scheduling, and offer Bad-Ass
Bonuses and Benefits for all our employees.
Apply at our web-site (eat@freebirds.com) or pick
up an application at either of our B/CS locations
(Texas Avenue in the HEB Old Navy Center of
University Drive in Northgate).
Page Tom with any ??s at 228-4142. Pay is
commensurate with restaurant experience. EOE.
GIG EM Notes
ON EXHMS
0^ Organized, Detailed Typed Notes
0^ Done By Top Students in Class
0^ Fast, Quality Service
0^ Semester Packs, Exam Packs, and Daily
Notes
BE ON YOUR WRY TO RN "R"
707 Texas Ave., 222D
(Next to Barnes and Noble)
694-9403
MSC L.T. Jordan Institute
for International Awareness
Are you planning to study or conduct
independent research abroad?
Become An L.T. Jordan Fellow!
Come to one of the following informationals and
apply for funding for your excursion!
September 28. 8:30 pm Rudder 410
September 30, 8.30 pm MSC 229
October 5, 7:00 pm MSC 228
October 6, 7:00 pm MSC 228
To inform us of your special needs please, call 845-8770 or stop by MSC 223-1.
JDirsico\nE,rz
Travel to
Normandy, Dijon, Caen, or Sceaux
To study
History, Political Science,
Marketing, Engineering or French
Learn more at:
CTSHEtFiSiEffTLS Df^V
October 5, Tuesday
10 - 2 pm
MSC Main Hallway
Study Abroad Programs
TAKE THE FAST TRACK TO...
NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL GRADUATE &
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
Make Plans to Attend:
Graduate/Professional
School Day
Thursday, Oct. 7,1999, MSC-
Flagroom, 10am - 2pm
Sponsors: The Career Center, Office of Graduate Studies & Office nf Professional School Advising
areer Center 209 Koldus 845-5139
http://agqienet.tamu.edu/cctr