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Lyle Lovett (R) and Robert Earl Keen (L) perform together at the Bonfire Benefit Concert Sunday Feb. 6, 2000 at Reed Arena.
The concert is expected to raise over $100,000 for the Bonfire Relief Fund which directly benefits the victims of the 1999 Ag
gie Bonfire Collapse.
Over 9,000 people gathered last night in Reed
Arena to celebrate the lives of the 12 Aggies who
died in the collapse of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire
over two months ago with a benefit concert fea
turing Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen Jr.
n a combined effort by the Association of
Former Students and MSC Town Hall, the pro
ceeds from this concert directly benefit the Bon
fire Relief Fund to help the families of the vic
tims of the Bonfire collapse on Nov. 18.
Amy Polk, the Vice Chair of Concerts for
Town Ilall, is optimistic towards the success of
the show.
“We hope to raise about $100,000 through
ticket and T-shirt sales,’’ Polk said.
“The show blew' my mind — I thought it
would a success, but this support is over
whelming.”
The show started with a panel of several
Texas A&M former students and songwriters in
cluding Roger Creager, Kyle 1 lutchins and Max
Stallings each playing two songs and trading off
singing duties during an acoustical set.
Hutchins paid tribute to those affected by the
collapse.
don’t know' what words I could say to ex
press the extreme condolences my family and I
feel for these people,” I lutchins said.
Before Lovett and Keen’s appearance, a
video presentation was shown to the audience
featuring John Comstock, the last victim from
the Bonfire collapse who remains in hospital
care.
Comstock was able to watch the Bonfire
Benefit Concert in its entirety over an internet
connection that had been set up for the occasion.
Lovett and Keen began the concert
singing a duet of Keen’s song “Rolling By.”
Each singer sang two songs at a time for the
rest of the show'.
After nearly two hours of playing, Lovett
See Benefit on Page 2.
sga launches Aseie band director sues Airlines
new Website
Association hopes site
willprovide useful
information about A&M
BY KENNETH MACDONALD
The Battalion
Aggies may soon find it easier to access
timely information about campus events, find
books and even get their parking tickets waived
— online.
The Student Government Association (SGA)
will unveil an improved Web page designed to pro
vide students with services and information about
Ttti If]
i tutfen? Geyarnment Association
WEBSITE CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://SGA.tamu.edu i
STAFF AND WIRE
Ray Toler, director of the Aggie Band, sued
American Airlines in Arkansas state court Fri
day because of injuries he sustained during the
June 1,1999, crash of Flight 1420.
Toler suffered a broken min when the plane
lost control while landing in Little Rock dur
ing a thunderstorm. The plane ran offthe run
way killing 11 people and injuring 110 of the
145 passengers on board.
Toler’s suit seeks compensatory and puni-
TOLER
tivedamages on allegations that fatigued pilots violated procedures
by attempting to land in unsafe conditions.
Randal Craft Jr, an American Airlines attorney, said Friday that
he had not reviewed the lawsuit.
Most of the other suits brought against the airline have been
transferred and consolidated to federal court in Little Rock because
most of the cases deal with interstate disputes between residents of
one state suing a company from another.
Toler’s attorney, Michael Slack, said Toler stands a good chance
of having his case heard in an Arkansas state court because he is a
resident ofTexas mid is suing the airline which is based in Fort Worth.
Slack said the hearing in state court may allow the case to be heard
sooner. Also, Toler has a greater chance of receix ing compensation
for his injuries via a state court which requires at 9-3 decision from
the jury while federal court requires a unanimous jury decision.
II’the suit is transferred to federal court, the civil trial against
American Airlines will begin in May of2001.
Toler said he was seated across from an exit that was damaged
in the crash. Fires started at row 18 and near the back exit, trapping
the passengers in the section in between.
Toler along with two others managed to open the door and jump
head first 15 feet to the ground.
He said it took him five minutes to exit the plane from the time
it came to a stop.
Bonfire commission finalizes budget, deadline
x
/
RUBEN DELUNA/Tm: Battalion
life at Texas A&M.
Will Hurd, student body president and senior
computer science major, said student govern
ment’s goal is to provide faster access to informa
tion and services.
“There is already a book swap on the Web
page,” Hurd said.
“The new page will offer other services like
AggiEbay, an online auction, and, hopefully, a
PTTS lottery where students put their ticket ID
numbers in the computer, and every week one gets
waived.”
Hurd said there will also be online advice
for students on topics such as social issues and
finance.
“1 am a senior and have been through the
ringer,” Fluid said.
“There are some things going on the page that
I wish I would have known when I was a fish.”
Caton Brown, vice president for student services
and senior civil engineering major, said information
about many professors, grade distributions and stu
dent and faculty legislation will be online.
“You can see the instructors’ awards and their
syllabi, [and] all the legislation in the Student Sen
ate can be seen online,” Brown said.
“We are working on having weekly polls and
a place for feedback. We will use it as a way to
gauge student opinion.”
Doug Keegan, vice president of technology for
SGA and senior applied math major, said extra
money in student government funds paid for the
new services.
“We had a little left over from last year’s bud
get,” he said.
“We used that to purchase the server and upgrade
the system.”
STAFF AND WIRE
Texas A&M Bonfire investigators have accepted a $1 million
budget and a March 31 deadline after overcoming a legal stum
bling block involving indemnification of consultants.
But Leo Linbeck, Jr., chairperson ol’tlie Special Commission on the
1999 Aggie Bonfire, said the investigation’s parameters could change.
“It’s very, very tight, but we think we can get it done by March
31 and for $1 million,” he told the Dallas Morning News Friday.
“But I want to emphasize that there is a reasonably high proba-
bility that the investigators will learn something within the
next six weeks that will require them to probe more deeply,
and which will extend |the investigation] and cost more
money.”
Details of the budget were not immediately available,
but Linbeck said the largest expenditure will probably be pay
ing consultants to conduct extensive interviews with A&M offi
cials, students who built Bonfire and other witnesses.
The A&M Board of Regents voted last month to allow the
University to spend up to $1 million investigating the incident.
Further expenditures will require regents’ approval.
Four consulting firms hired by the commission to conduct the
inquiry have demanded that they be compensated if they are
called to testily or give depositions in accident related lawsuits.
Students turn to loans for monetary support
BY APRIL YOUNG
The Battalion
Academics may be the foremost concern of
many Texas A&M students, but for students like
Angela Janeway, a junior elementary education
major, the main concern is paying for a college
education.
“We didn’t have any money saved up for me
to go to school, and my parents can’t afford to
help me,” Janeway said. “Without loans, 1
wouldn’t be able to go to school.”
Janeway’s story is typical of many students
attending A&M. More than 23,000 student
loans were administered during the 1998 fiscal
year, with the average graduate owing $12,348
according to the Texas Guaranteed Student
Loan Corp.
To be considered for a federal or state loan, a
student must first complete the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) based on in
formation from the previous tax year.
There are two main types of long-term loans
available for students who need financial assis
tance to attend school.
The Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan is
available to undergraduate, professional and
graduate students with financial need.
The federal government pays the interest on
the Subsidized Stafford Loan until the student
graduates or drops below half-time study.
The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is
available to undergraduate, professional and
graduate students with or without financial need;
however, the student is responsible for the ac
cruing interest while they are in school.
Generally, loans become payable six months
after the student graduates or is enrolled on a less
than half-time basis.
James Lane, assistant director of Student Fi
nancial Aid, said the Federal Parents Loan for
“Borrow only what
you need so that when
it comes time to pay
back, you're not total
ly indebted for your
education”
— Kaye McGill
Guaranty Federal Bank area sales
and student loan representative
Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is an alternative
loan program that has increased in awareness
since 1997.
“If the parent doesn’t want the student to be
obligated with a loan, the PLUS loan is an alter
native loan which can be borrowed by parents,”
Lane said. “The only restriction is that it has a
credit check, so if the parents have any blemish
es on their credit history, they may not be able to
borrow through the PLUS loan program.”
These long-term loans are provided by lend
ing institutions such as banks and credit unions.
Kaye McGill, Guaranty Federal Bank area
sales and student loan representative, said there
are few differences in the services lenders offer.
“Since every lender follows the same federal
rules and guidelines, the only differences [in
lenders] are the level of service you will receive
throughout your loan and how they can help you
repay the loan,” McGill said.
“Make sure you are working with someone
that will be able to answer your questions and
concerns and make you feel comfortable with the
process.”
McGill said the most important thing for stu
dents to remember when applying for a loan is to
only borrow what is necessary.
“Borrow only what you need so that when it
comes time to pay back, you’re not totally in
debted for your education,” McGill said.
“You should fully understand your respon
sibility to pay the money back six months af-
.ter you graduate or become less than a half
time student.”
Janeway said she wants to pay off her student
loans as soon as possible. •
“Hopefully 1 will get a job teaching soon after
1 graduate so I can start paying my loans back,”
Janeway said. “It’s not something 1 am looking
forward to having over my head forever.”
See Bonfire on Page 2.
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Check out The Battalion
online at
battalion.tamu.edu