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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2000)
Monday, February' nucd from Pay difficulty she encog natch was the bestfc lappened. ch thismomingagai! i really got me prep® i,” she said, itgoi!: id helped me relax." Aggies have their;} he way, they can I if the most challeni jve had in years, be latches this weekeni ig match on Friday*; Kleinecke said. "Ill they are 18 or20,t t should be a good iday, February 7,2000 match against Nor ity is on Friday at) Varsity Tennis Ce® i\ el to Baton iana State Uliiven; y at 1 p.m. AFC Tech student scares janitor i LUBBOCK (AP) — Campus po lice at Texas Tech University confiscat ed a graduate art student's display alter a maintenance worker found it to be a little too believable. Kara Donatelli’s creation was set up in the basement of the university’s Art Building. “What I did was to convert a clos et space into an altered environment that you walk into,” Donatelli told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. “It’s about mental illness, so, you walk into this space and there’s classical music playing. "And then also, faintly in the back ground, there was a recording of some- _ . one banging on the wall and saying, 1 T1 '^ e 'P- l-c't me out. Can you hear me?' " ’ ■*"^"that kind of thing,” she said. “And then there was a window inside with a man 'll 1 nequin behind it, but the window was !■ flVV fr° stc ^ so >°u couldn't really see. you ^ just kind of see an outline." A maintenance worker saw enough to believe that someone was trapped and needed help. When Donatelli went | |to the building on F riday, she found that campus police were already there. Donatelli said she was told she me catches fo’f [would be cited for a misdemeanor of- e Alston scoredt’ tense. A Tech police officer referre 1 le NFC’s 51-31 via questions on the matter to the school’s Sunday m the hr: News and Publications Department. I * Nothing will happen to her, said Michael Sommermeyer. associate di- leneas i lamsi rec t or 0 f the department. “Basically Liikk rooks retin they took the equipment so tliey would >i touchdowns as know exactly what they were working the game Irom ihc-: w jth. They needed to till out the report, three-game AFC so they took the equipment so they could listen to the tape mid pretty much broke the record Uhave a complete understanding of what was on the tape." Kenneth Bloom, director of Land mark Arts in the Art Building, said the 11 displays are done on a regular basis. (AP Ram .xit-4 Minnesota st" used his height i the AFC de riy 5-11 SamM )-foot James Has: It’s very' obviously a tape,” he said of Donatelli’s soiuid effects. "It’s very obviously in our installation space, and anybody who has the slightest sense of perspective would know that a human arolina s Steve cou |,j not fit inside of the wall." play that closed'! itch Tampa Bay STATE THK BATTALION Fage 0 APO to sponsor spring blood drive BY MAUREEN KANE The Battalion None of die eight Red Cross blood dri ve centers in the Southwest region will be open this week. Instead, the volunteers will come to Texas A&M to work the Texas A&M University 2000 Spring Blood Dri ve, which is sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega (APO), and the Red Cross. "A&M is responsible for all the blood in the Southwest region (during this week), mid they work really hard to make the dri ve a success,” said Regina Perkins, a sophomore Business Administration ma jor and the blood drive chair for APO. Teresa Evengelista, the Territory Man ager for the Bryan-College Station Red C ross, said although the number of donors in the overall population is decreasing, the number of student donors is increasing. “Students are very positive about do nating blood... of any given group, we get the most donors when we go to campus,” Evengelista said. She said students at A&M constitute a larger, healthier population of donors than the overall Bryan-College Station community. One of the ditferences between the A&M blood drive mid other community drives is that oilier drives require groups to sign up for donation times, whereas on campus, the student donors can stop in to the stations during any donation time. There will be 10 locations available for blood donations this week: Rudder Foun tain, Duncan Dining Center, Blocker Building, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bioehemistry/Biophysics Building, Com mons, Student Recreation Center, Zachry Engineering Center, Langford Architec ture Center, mid the Callaway I louse. The times vary by location, starting at 9 a.m., and closing at 9 p.m. The volunteers who work the blood drive are in charge of running tables in front of the stations where they answer questions about paperwork mid encourage people to donate. In order to give blood, a donor must fill out paperwork mid answer 40 questions to see if they qualify to donate. The potential donor must then go through a confidential screening interview and mini-physical, which tests temperature, blood pressure, pulse and Iron level. Donors must be 17 years of age or old er mid weigh at least 110 pounds. Once a student passes these tests, they lie down on beds set up inside the blood bus mid blood is taken. The process takes about five-to-10 minutes. Cornyn examines PIA questions AUSTIN (AP) — The attorney general is using a new law to question two tactics public officials ofien use to delay releasing documents under the Texas Public Infor mation Act. In all, eight issues are being examined by Attorney General John Comyn’s staff as part of the first use of new' powers granted his office under a law passed by the 1999 Legislature. The law allow s Comyn to take the initiative and clar ify' sections of the Public Information Act w ithout wait ing for a request from a state or local official, as required in the past. Comyn’s legal opinions on the eight issues w ill guide how state agencies and local governments handle future requests for public information. Rebecca Payne, chief of the attorney general’s open records division, said the eight issues being reviewed are mostly the “nuts and bolts" questions that everyone who requests information wants to know. For example, the Public Information Act says govern ments must “promptly” turn over public information once it’s been requested. She said the word “promptly” has been interpreted to mean up to 10 days afier the request. She has solicited comments from government groups and open government advocates. “We will get input, we hope, from all sides of the equation on these issues.” Comyn has said in the past that keeping government open is one of his highest priorities, which makes open government advocates optimistic and government repre sentatives wary of his rulings. AUSTIN (AP) — The 1999 Texas Legislature granted At torney General John Cornyn the authority to clarify his own questions about the Public Information Act. Some ques tions deal with common reasons governments use to de lay releasing records. Here are the eight issues Cornyn is working on: •What is the scope of the attorney-client privilege in the PIA? •What are the exceptions for an attorney’s work prod uct under the PIA? •What factors must a government show before claim ing the law enforcement exception, which deals with the “detection, investigation or prosecution of a crime?" • Are the identities and addresses of crime victims maintained by governmental bodies excepted from public disclosure by common-law or constitutional privacy? •Is a private company hired by an appraisal district to create and maintain mineral appraisal rolls for the district subject to the Public Information Act? •Does the word “promptly" in the Public Information Act mean the government must release public informa tion nearly immediately, or no later than 10 business days? •Does the PIA allow a government to ask for an attor ney general’s opinion even though it has determined re quested information is public? •What is the proper role of the Attorney General when a government seeks an opinion from the Attorney Gener al, but fails to raise the correct issues about confidential information? >f 1, 3 and I Hi carries for 6'}d- d off a passfeM back Mark BtcM 1 20 y ards fonwj 44-24 with 1 Wile: civer Jimmy fej .luliuvn passes, and 1 catches for 119yd i 52-yarder from!i i Manning, made ill >lay. dteam NHL ir gaits (AP) — A rout aid f ;ly, this wasn’tanoK I une. :ored three goals' 1 and goal tender C 1 ! rare shutout perk'd | urned the 50th AlW I 'ommon rout, doi® | ca 9-4 on Sunday. t, Valeri, again pi? I r by assisting onPp | Rocket’s third ? ! Id stars erupted fori 1 ' period, all against^ I iw York Rangers, vas the 1 IthinAP I ourth in four years' I creasingly emphasii i average’of 16 e* | ast 10 years, made Kolzig’s stii® unusual, and hisp stretch a 5-4 lead iff :1 into a blowout, i of St. Louis scored Miroslav Satano!l ! Bonk of Ottawa si third period agil* goaltendertonotal' 1 ' y night’s skills co®f ere defense is an af ;: ig is totally forgo® d to prevent injurits hometown goalt® ic Maple Leafs mailt st period, yet still® /aved off and g from end-to-end aceoffs to interfef nutes to play the clock time — aif a regular-season^ only penalty # of the third peij' Sandis OzolinsM 1 called for Annualized Total Return % as of 12/31/99 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year Life Inception Fidelity Aggressive Growth Fund 1 103.02 51.46 40.47 N/A 31.65 12/28/90 Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund 24.26 28.60 25.80 22.04 21.72 12/31/87 Fidelity Diversified International Fund 50.65 25.14 22.64 N/A 16.17 12/27/91 Fidelity Growth Company Fund 79.48 39.51 34.66 23.63 21.29 1/17/83 Fidelity New Millennium® Fund 102.52 47.72 43.28 N/A 33.68 12/28/92 Fidelity OTC Portfolio 72.53 38.59 35.41 22.86 23.59 12/31/84 1 Effective 3/20/00, the fund will increase its short-term trading fee from 0.75% to 1.50% of the amount redeemed on shares held less than 90 days. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns are historical and include change in share value and reinvestment of dividends and cap ital gains, if any. Life of fund figures are reported as of the commencement date to the period indicated. Each investment option's share price and return will vary and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell shares. Foreign investments, especially those in emerging markets, involve greater risks and may offer greater potential returns than U.S. investments. These risks include political and economic uncertainties of foreign countries, as well as the risk of currency fluctuations. Isn't it time to do some comparison shopping? To learn more about the Fidelity® investment options available in your Texas A&M Optional Retirement Programs, or to schedule a one-on-one consultation on either February 10th or 11th, please call 1-800-642-7131. The funds listed above are only a representation of the investment options available through your plan. For more information on other investment options available to you, please call Fidelity Investments at 1-800-343-0860. For more complete information about Fidelity mutual funds or any option available through the plan, including fees and expenses, call or write Fidelity for free prospectuses. Read them carefully before you make your investment choice. Fidelity investments Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company A division of Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company, Inc. 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109 2i 95090 J.403b-TEXAM-PERF-0100 The following information appears in compliance with the 1987 State of Texas Hazing Law: Texas Hazing Law Texas A&M University On August 31,1987, a new law went into effect in the State of Texas regarding HAZING. Below is an abbreviated summary, in question and answer form, of the contents of that law and the applicability and implications for stu dents, faculty and staff at Texas A&M University. THIS IS ONLY A SUMMARY. Certain points in the law have been omitted in this summary for editorial purposes. For the full text of the law, please see Appendix VI of the 1997-98 Student Rules'. What is the definition of Hazing? . , .... "Hazing” means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off campus of Texas A&M University, by one person atone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health a safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintain ing membership in any organization whose memberships are or include students at Texas A&M University. The term included but is not limited to: (a) Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity. (b) Any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements,confinement in a small place, calisthenics, or other activities that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student. (c) Any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health a safety of the student. (d) Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student extreme men tal stress, shame, or humiliation, or adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in the subsection. (e) Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task which involves a viola tion of the penal code. In addition, Texas A&M University has also defined hazing to include: (a) Misuse of authority by virtue ot your class rank or leadership position. (b) Any form of physical bondage. (c) Any form of “Quadding”. How do I commit a hazing offense? A person commits an offense it the person: (a) Engages in hazing (b) Solicits, encourages, directs, aids or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing. (c) Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits hazing to occur. (d) Has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing inadent involving a student of Texas A&M University, or firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report said knowledge in writing to the appropriate University official. Does it matter if I did not intend to hurt anyone? No. Texas A&M's policies state that if one of the above occurs, it is HAZING, regardless of the intent. Does it matter if the person being hazing agrees to the activity? No. The new law and Texas A&M's policies state that if one above occurs, it is HAZING, regardless of the con sent or cooperation of the recipient What is the penalty if I am found guilty of hazing? (a) Failing to report hazing: Fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. (b) Hazing resulting in no serious bodily injury: Fine of $500 to $1,000 and/or 90-180 days in jail. (c) Hazing resulting in serious bodily injury: Fine of $1,000 - $5,000 andAar 180 days to 1 year in jail. (d) Hazing resulting in death: Fine of $5,00 - $10,000 and/or 1 -2 years in jail. (e) Except where the hazing results in death, the student may be required to perform community service in lieu of confinement in jail. (f) The student may also be subject to University disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the University, in addition to or regardless of any penalty imposed by the state Can an organization be found guilty of hazing? Yes. An Organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of haz ing. Can I get into trouble for reporting hazing? No. Any person who reports a specific hazing incident involving a student to an appropriate University official is protected from civil or criminal liability. However, a person who reports in bad faith a with malice is not protect ed by this section. Where do I report hazing? Office of the Commandant (845-2811) if the hazing was committed by members of the Corps of Cadets. Department of Student Activities (845-1133) if the hazing was committed by members of a Greek organi zation or other recognized student organization. Student Judicial Affairs Office (845-5262) all other incidents of hazing. The following information appears in compliance with the 1987 state of Texas Hazing Law shown above: Student Organization Hazing Violations: Organization name: Texas Aggie Bonfire Date of Incident: August 25,1999 Description of Incident: Members were involved in an off-campus party where alcohol was served. Individuals were involved in a variation of a drinking game and were made to do push-ups. Action Taken: Bonfire leadership was directed to remove the Crocker Hall Yeltowpot to create a dear set of roles & responsibilities for the position of Yeltowpot, and to create a specific course of action for dealing with members who violate Bonfire policies. Organization name: Crocker Hall Date of Incident: August 25,1999 Description of Inddent: Members were involved in an off-campus party where alcohol was served. Individuals were involved in a variation of a drinking game and were made to do push-ups. Action Taken: Crocker Hall was directed to remove the Sodal Chair from his position, to revise the Sodal Chair description in the constitution to mandate that events planned must be approved by executive board, and to par ticipate in a retreat to discuss officers' responsibilities in complying with university policy. Organization name: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Date of Inddent: Fall 1998 and Spring 1999 semesters Description of Incident: New members forced to consume alcohol during new member activity and physical and verbal harassment of new members. Action Taken: Fraternity was put on probation through Spring 2000, required to coordinate and attend two (2) edu cational seminars sponsored by the fraternity, and attend monthly meetings with Greek Life Advising Staff. Organization name: Squadron 1, Corps of Cadets Date of Inddent: Fall 1998 Description of Incident: Upperdass cadets of the unit periodically mistreated freshman and sophomore cadets by initiating improper physical contad and requiring excessive physical training in unauthorized locations. Action Taken: University hearings were held for all involved and individual sanctions were assigned to the perpe trators. Also, the unit (Squadron 1) was deactivated. Organization name: Walton Hall Date of Incident: November 22,1998 Description ot Incident: Members were involved in forcing new members (crew chiefs) to hug trees, sing, and run. Additionally, there were instances of verbal and physical harassment. Alcohol may also have been involved in this incident. Action Taken: Walton Hall is prohibited from participating in Bonfire 1999, the members of the hall coundl shall put together an educational program on hazing to be presented to all residence halls, and the hall counsel constitution must be revised in order to allow for 1) authority over hall assigned Bonfire representatives and 2) approval by the coundl of Bonfire-related events. Organization name: Texas Aggie Bonfire Date of Inddent: November 22,1998 Description ot Incident: Members were involved in forcing new members (crew chiefs) to hug trees, sing, and run. Additionally, there were instances of verbal and physical harassment. Alcohol may have also been involved in this incident. Action Taken: Bonfire leadership shall develop a plan to inform all those who attend cut site events that hazing is prohibited at all Bonfire-related events. Organization name: Aggie Men’s Club (AMC) Date of Incident: October 10,1998 Description of Incident: During a Big Brother/Little Brother Revelation event, Candidates were exposed by Actives to participation in calisthenics, an outdoor line-up where they were hosed down, and a scavenger hunt involving demeaning activities in public places such as a grocery store parking lot and adult book store. Action Taken: After appeal, the sanction for the organization included the following: organizational probation through Fall 2001 (3 yrs), develop and submit an article for the Battalion, develop a presentation for student orga nizations, have all members disseminate and sign "no hazing” agreements, and complete a comprehensive review of its new member selection process. Organization name: Squadron 16, Corps of Cadets Date of Incident: Fall and Spring Semesters, 1997-1998 Description of Incident: Upperdass members of the unit periodically hazed and harassed the fish (freshmen) through improper physical contact; requiring training in an inappropriate setting and manner; and requiring some to drink excessive amounts of water to the point of sickness. Action Taken: University hearings were held for all involved and individual sanctions were assigned. Some mem bers of the unit were suspended from the University while others were placed on deferred suspension. Additionally, several upperclassmen were reassigned to other Corps units. Organization name: Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity Date .Of. Incident: January 8,1997 Description of Incident: During pre-semester work week activities, pledges were forced to participate in calisthen ics, an outdoor line up where they were hosed down, forced to hold push-up positions and participate in other activ ities that subjected them to potential harm. Pledges were forced to wear demeaning attire and to violate IFC alco hol policies. Action Taken: After appeal, the fraternity was suspended until Fall semester, 1999. The same sanction was applied by the national fraternity headquarters. Organization name: Fish Drill Team, Corp of Cadets Date of Incident: Spring Semester 1997 Description of Incident: Members of the Fish Drill Team were subjected to acts of hazing and physical assault by the nine upperclassmen who served as advisors (instructors) for the team. Specific actions occurred periodically throughout the semester and took place during drill practice as well as during night visits to individual fish (fresh man) rooms. Action Taken: University hearings were held for all involved, including those advisors from previous years who were still enrolled in the University. Sanctions ranged from expulsion to deferred suspension. The Fish Drill Team itself was suspended for an indefinite period. Outcomes of Individual Hazing Cases September 1. 1997 through September 1. 1998 through August 31. 1997 Auoust 31. 1998 Auoust 31. 1999 Total Cases: 66 Total Cases: 35 Total Cases: Expulsion 1 Expulsion 1 Expulsion 0 Dismissal 4 Dismissal • 0 Dismissal 0 Suspension 7 Suspension 2 Suspension 1 Deferred Suspension 6 Deferred Suspension 5 Deferred Suspension 2 Conduct Probation 9 Conduct Probation 5 Conduct Probation 8 Letter of Reprimand 27 Letter of Reprimand 14 Hall Probation 1 Warning 2 Warning 0 Letters of Reprimand 13 Registration Block 4 Registration Block 0 Warning 1 No Action* 6 No Action* 8 No Action 9 *No Action indicates that the student was not found to be responsible for the charges initiated.