Have Shoes
Will Travel
Be a TAMU
Exchange
Student
Immerse Yourself in
Another Culture
in the World
Informational Meetings
358 Bizzell Hall West, 4:00 p.m.
February 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18,
21 22, 23, 24, 25, 28 29
March 1 deadline
&xfX&U4Utae a tuqJU
JUae Saida &
Muduc
& ^ba*uUHg
Tickets only $5 at
MSC Box Office
for info call 845*1234
<k
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
G. ROLLIE WHITE COLISEUM
Dance Lessons 8PM - 9PM
Live Concert & Dancing 9PM * 1PM
Sponsored by MSC L.T. Jordan Institute and MSC Town Hall
Persons vwlft disabilities reooning special assistance are requested to can 84S-8??0
to cofrsmurtieate special needs.
STUDENT
COUNSELING
SERVICE
jL Career Counseling &
r Testing Center
...a Department in the Division of Student Affairs
Texas A&M Uinversity
114 Henderson Hall
845-4427 ext. 108
scs.tamu.edu
Individual Career Counseling
Students may schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss
concerns regarding their choice of major and choice of career. Other
issues for exploration may include career planning, decision making,
and dealing with family pressure.
4 ACE (Academic & Career Educator) Student Volunteers
ACE student volunteers assist students in the Career Counseling &
Testing Center by helping them explore various academic majors, career
options, and career information. No appointment is necessary to speak
with an ACE volunteer.
DISCOVER
DISCOVER is a multimedia career exploration tool which provides a
personalized list of occupations and majors based on responses to
questions about interests, abilities, and values. DISCOVER computer
time must be scheduled in advance. Personalized information can be
saved to a computer disk. (Bring your own 3.5” disk.)
Career Self-help Resources
The Career Counseling & Testing Center contains a variety of books,
handouts, and computer programs on career choice and occupational
information that students may use at their own pace. The resources are
available for use during regular business hours. No appointment is
required to use these materials.
STATE
Page6 THE BATTALION
Environmental agency
admits to toxic mistake
HARLINGEN (AP) — The Texas Natural Resource Con
servation Commission said it made a mistake after a chemical
spill in Brownsville last month by failing to give the Coast
Guard updated calculations on what levels of the chemical fur
fural were safe for fish.
The Coast Guard, operating on TNRCC figures that put
the threshold around 7 parts per
million, released water from the
spill that had furfural levels of 2
to 2.5 parts per million, said Capt.
Adan Guerrero, federal on-scene
coordinator for the spill.
A TNRCC memo dated two
days after the spill determined that
.53 parts per million was a safe lev
el for “the most sensitive organ
ism.” That memo came from
Austin to a regional office in the
Rio Grande Valley, but the infor
mation was not immediately for
warded to the Coast Guard.
“I can’t really tell you that we
know exactly what happened and
we’ll correct it in the future ... but there is an acknowledgment
that the information should have been passed on,” said TNR
CC spokesman Patrick Crimmins. “It was just a mistake.”
The released water ended up in San Martin Lake in
Brownsville, where several million fish died. The Coast Guard
is investigating whether the released water killed the fish.
On Jan. 25, a truck from Mexico carry ing about 9,000 gal
lons of furfural, a toxic agricultural waste derivative and
chemical manufacturing raw material, overturned into a
Brownsville drainage canal that flows into San Martin Lake.
Officials dammed up the ditch at several places.
On Feb. 4, the Coast Guard released the first of three dams
holding back the contaminated water. On Feb. 7, the day after
water was released from the last dam, dead lish turned up in the
lake, and the dam was built back up.
On Feb. 8, the Coast Guard fi
nally heard about the TNRCC
memo, Guerrero said.
Around 5 million fish in the
lake died, said Smiley Nava, man
ager for the resource protection di
vision of Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Nava said parks and wildlife of
ficials believe the fish, mostly for
age fish like the tiny Gulf men
haden, died from the spill.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard,
TNRCC and Cameron County
crews continue clean-up efforts.
Samples taken since Friday have
shown no detectable levels of fur
fural in the ditch, San Martin Lake or the cut leading between the
lake and the Brownsville Ship Channel, the Coast (iuard said.
Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa said the memo
mix-up shows that the federal, state and county agencies need
ed to work together more closely.
“We know our community,” Hinojosa said. “We know how
sensitive our marine life is there. We feel we would have been
able to provide some positive input.”
“We know our
community. We know how
sensitive our marine life is
there. We feel we would
have been able to provide
some positive input."
— Gilberto Hinojosa
Cameron County Judge
New organizations ask judge
to open gunfire test to the public
WACO (AP) — News organizations
asked a federal judge Tuesday to open to
the public an upcoming field test that is
likely to resolve the key outstanding
question from the 1993 Branch Davidi-
an siege: whether federal agents fired on
the compound in the final fiery moments.
In a motion filed in federal court,
lawyers for The Dallas Morning News
and The Associated Press argued that
the public’s interest in the case trumps
any secrecy claims that the government
could assert conceming its conduct dur
ing the 51 -day standoff.
But the request appears unlikely to
be granted by U.S. District Judge Wal
ter Smith of Waco, who last week re
jected a request by the St. Louis Post-
Dispatch to open the test.
“I am advised that for national secu
rity and safety reasons, access will be
strictly limited,” Smith wrote in a Feb. 8
letter. “Neither the media nor the public
will be permitted to attend.”
The question of government gunfire
is the focus of a Waco reinvestigation by
Congressional committees, the special
counsel appointed by Attorney General
Janet Reno and Branch Davidian sur
vivors suing the government.
Branch Davidian leader David Kore-
sh and some 80 followers died in an in
ferno at their compound near Waco, end
ing the standoff with members of the FBI
and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms. Some died from fire, others
from gunshots. The government has said
all along that the sect members were re
sponsible for their own deaths.
Smith is presiding over the wrong
ful death lawsuit, which is due to go to
trial in mid-May.
The judge, who ordered the field
test, was to meet with lawyers, scientists
and special counsel John Danforth on
Wednesday in St. Louis to iron out de
tails. The test is expected to take place
at Fort Hood early next month.
The government long has insisted that
none of its agents fired their weapons. But
the Branch Davidian plaintiffs, backed by
infrared experts, contend that aerial sur
veillance footage the FBI filmed captured
bursts of light that can be nothing other
than gunfire — a claim the government
denies.
The airplane and infrared camera
used by the FBI to record surveillance
footage during the 1993 standoff will be
used for the upcoming field test, as will
a similarly equipped British Royal Navy
helicopter. Weapons like those carried
by federal agents and the Davidians dur
ing the siege will be fired during the
field test. Footage recorded from the two
aircraft will then be compared with the
1993 video to determine if the bursts of
light represent gunfire.
Issues sunounding the siege and its
deadly end continue to be of enormous
interest to the public, Dallas attorney
Paul Watler argued in Tuesday’s filing on
behalf of The Dallas Morning News and
the AP. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and
Waco Trihune-Heralct also planned to
press the case for public access.
“Shrouding the test in secrecy serves
only to undermine the public’s confi
dence in any such findings or conclu
sions,” the news organizations said in
the filing.
“The public’s interest in having an
independent and objective source for in
formation about the field test far out
weighs any reason that might be offered
for prohibiting media access.”
The media will be no closer to gov
ernment equipment during the field test
than they were during the 1993 siege, the
news organizations said.
Wednesday, February li
Inesday, Februa
State sues
insurance
compann
byei
BY RE
The
The Texas A<S
uri Tigers at R
The Aggies i
AUSTIN (AP)— Attorney
eral John Comyn sued 16 auto
ance companies Tuesday, claimi
companies illegally deductedn
for repairs from policyholders'
payments.
Corny n is seeking refunds fori
sumers as well as fines. The maxi
fine is S10,000 per violation.
Named in the lawsuits were
Farm, Allstate, Farmers, USAA,
gressive County Mutual, Farm Bi
State and County Mutual, Travi
Trinity, Nationwide, Old Amerii
County Mutual, Home State CoiA^ senior fc
Mutual, Sentry, Maryland Casuafe ijversity las
Consumers County Mutual andCN.
The attorney general’s officewt
still determining how many custom;
could be affected by the lawsuit orb
much the lines could total, sn
spokeswoman I leather Browne.
An industry spokesman said is
surers are properly charging cu
tomers for costs associated wi
restoring damaged vehicles to tk
pre-accident condition.
At issue is whether it is legalfo
companies to keep part of the mowfcn will try to
awarded to a policyholder for repan ten it takes on
when a damaged vehicle is fixedwi
newer parts.
The standard Texas auto policy pd cord. 2-9 in the
hibits such deductions, and a recent ehoping to ha
Texas appeals court opinion says thi tason’send.
the so-called betterment deductions® A&M worn
illegal, Comyn said. leggie Gil loin s
“Deduction for betterment or del nportant game
preciation on policyholders’autorepai miplish that go
claims has been an industry customii “Yes, we’re
Texas, but the personal auto insuranct ilvage the seas
policy does not allow it,” Comynsaid at like it’s not r
“We would certainly disagreewitli ing record. Wt
the attorney general’s opinion. Itisour lopeffilly, the g
responsibility as insurers to repairttat The Aggies
vehicle to bring it back to the condiiion :ame losing str
[before] the time of the accideifsa/d nth a victory (
Jerry Johns, president of the Mi- Gophomoregua
western Insurance Information's, after ending th
in Austin, a trade group that repress®! ( hange in the A
several of the companies being sued!
() I len restori ng the vehicle to its prr
vious condition adds costs, Johns said
“If we were required to replace®
engine in a 1996 vehicle with a 2i
engine that cost is going to be com
erably higher,” and will drive up insir
mice rates Johns said.
Comyn said he applauded rece
steps by several companies to stop tall
ing betterment deductions. “Howevet
I intend to make sure that policyhoU
ers get the refunds they are entitled it
and that all companies play by the sa®
rules,” he said.
+ Career Safari
This workshop will provide you with the tools to track elusive occupational
information and capture the right career for you. The focus of this workshop
is more comprehensive than Choosing A Major in that skills confidence and
work values will be assessed and considered in addition to interests. The
focus goes beyond helping you with the immediate task of selecting an
appropriate major. The intent of this workshop is to provide you with long-
range, life-time career planning skills. Pre-registration and completion of
interest inventory five working days prior to the workshop are required.
Feb.
14th
Mon.
4:30-6:00 p.m.
Mar.
2nd
Thur.
2:15-3:45 p.m.
Mar.
28th
Tues.
4:00-5:30 p.m.
Apr.
10th
Mon.
4:00-5:30 p.m.
Apr.
19th
Wed.
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Apr.
24th
Mon.
4:00-5:30 p.m.
4 Choosing a Major
This workshop will cover the factors to consider and steps involved in making
a career decision. Your interests will be matched with appropriate academic
majors and occupations. Pre-registration and completion of interest
inventory five working days prior to the workshop are required.
Mar.
7th
Tues.
3:45-4:45 p.m.
Mar.
29th
Wed.
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Apr.
4th
Tues.
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Apr.
14th
Fri.
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Apr.
25th
Tues.
2:30-3:30 p.m.
4 Do What You Are
This workshop is based on the best-selling book and teaches participants
how to incorporate their unique personalities in career planning. Profiles
will be provided that include a brief personality description, strengths and
weaknesses, criteria for a satisfying career choice, careers to consider, and
recommendations for the job search. Pre-registration and completion of
personality measure five working days prior to the workshop are
required.
Part-Time Jobs
$7.00 per hour!!!!
We've been in the computer and automotive business for 30
years and have over 1600 employees nationwide, including
450 here in College Station. We are looking for bright indi
viduals with various backgrounds and majors for positions
including:
• PC Support
• Hardware Repair
• Inventory Control
• Customer Service
We offer flexible hours 6am - 10pm and real world work
experience. Training is provided. Benefits include free pay
roll direct deposit and on-site fitness facility. EOE. To apply,
please call Monday - Friday, or visit our website.
409-595-2609
www.universalcomputersys.com
UCS hires non-tobacco users only
SPRING BREAK 2000
^ Cancun
Give-A-Way
1 rtf
MUSIC TELEVISION™
StudentU.com will send one winner
and a guest to Cancun, Mexico
for the biggest party of the year...
MTV Spring Break 2000!
Feb.
24th
Thur.
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Mar.
6th
Mon.
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Mar.
24th
Fri.
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Apr.
3rd
Mon.
4:15-5:15 p.m.
Apr.
18th
Tues.
3:45-4:45 p.m.
Register at StudentU.com, the center
of the college online universe and while
you're there don't forget to checkout
the FREE class notesl . Rtgllte , bIt ^„ Fd) M5
www.studentu.com