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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2000)
Got Problems? NEWS Page 2 I UK BATTALION Census goes door to dooi By, April 27. See Dr. Drew and Adam at LOVELINE APR. 29 - 8PM G.ROLLIE WHITE COLISEUM GREAT SEATS AVAILABLE MSC Box Office Brought to you by MSC ICONS with assistance from own: nil* The views expressed are not necessarily those of Texas A&M University, The Memorial Student Center, MSC ICONS, or MSC Town Hall. Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification, three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities. to record all U.S. citizens CHANTILLY, Va. (AP) Phil Vargas is ready for the icy glares and the slammed doors. I le is one of440,000 census- takers who on Thursday will fan out from Maine to California to track down approximately 42 million households that did not return a census form. Vargas, who attended a three- day training session at a library in suburban Virginia, pored over training manuals and heard pep talks from his superiors. He knows some people think the Census Bureau asks too many questions, and that he might not be welcomed with a smilg and a handshake when he comes knocking on doors. “I'm not intimidated by that but you have to respect that be cause it's their home.” Vargas said. If someone feels the ques tions he asks “borders on in truding someone’s privacy, it should be respected.” Exactly how many people feel that w'ay remains to be seen as the census moves into its next phase. In light of recent criti cism from citizens and congres sional Republicans that some questions on the 53-question census long form were too in trusive, Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt is uncertain about w hat type of response enumerators will get. But he says he is optimistic. “The enumerators are what this w hole enterprise rests upon now — the quality of work they do,” Prewitt said. “But it’s hard to tell right now just how many households will not cooperate.” The job may be more diffi cult in rural areas, where more people got a long form. The gap in the response rate between the long and short form is 12 per cent, twice as much as in 1990. About 78 million of the 120 million forms mailed were re turned to the Census Bureau. Now, it’s up to people like Var gas to get information on the missing 42 million households. Most census-takers will be sent out alone, assigned to lo cate people in a specific area. In places where safety may be an issue, they w ill be sent out in teams. The Census Bureau made a big advertising push earlier this year to recruit workers for the part-time jobs, which pay from $8.25 to $18.50 per hour. Pre witt said they wanted to ensure there were enough census-tak ers who were familiar w ith spe cific areas, instead of sending a stranger into an unfamiliar neighborhood. Some are retirees like Vargas looking to fill their time. Others, like Peggy Washington, a nurse's assistant from Falls Church, Va., are seeking extra income. "I did my civic duty and I think everyone should too,” Washington said. Julian Romero of Santa Fe, N.M., retired from his govern ment consulting job recently to become a painter but decided to take a census job first. After enumerating mral areas for the last couple months, he will sen e as a field superv isor in the Santa Fe County census office. “Most census-takers are aware they may come across uncooperatis e people but aren't intimidated b\ it,” Romero said. This phase the costliest diuall billion operafaij spent on the i count. For the k J home visits are si from Congress,! Dan Miller, R-FM the House Govet Committee’s ce®| At least one a Rep. Tom Cobunjl encouraging peof::| about privacy wk | by a census wort;: decline" to m»'\ they believe are ir If they coma cooperative pen nannon Eli °ie. The a< |cary mov [native, Eli said “we train tkjpm high sel polite and courtr.MPook time r ble. My person;. > ich Te discus to take it p®5;,ft smiling,’ I am Access Continued from Page 1 LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN ETERNAL IMPACT? haven't specified an amount, but we're looking at [the fee]. Parking Traffic and Transportation Services (PTTS) is look ing at it and students arc looking at it. if we do such a thing, it won’t be done un til September.” Miller said the Task Force is consid ering a $30 to $50 fee per semester, but also said it is premature to say that there will definitely be a mandatory fee im plemented. There is no set date to vote on the transportation fee yet. “We're in the preliminary stages. You might say we're in the concept stage right now,” Miller said. The Campus Access Task Force has “If the trans portation fee is improving our campus, and people getting around ... I'd pay it.” — Theresa Farrington senior marketing major discussed including options to the transportation fee, such as availability of daily bus passes or bhie commuter parking passes to students for an addi tional charge w hen they pay the trans portation fee. “We need to fund the system better, we need to provide better service and w e need a sound funding base.” Miller said. “We also want to discourage peo ple f rom bringing cars to campus. Traf fic gets worse e\ cry year, and if you arc paying a fee already, it might encour age people to ride the bus rather than bring your own personal vehicle every day,” Miller said. The idea of a transportation fee has been discussed for the past 13 years, ac cording to Miller. She thinks that if stu dents arc shown what the fee could do for them, they would support it. Theresa Farrington, a senior market ing major, is one of the students who would support a transportation fee. Oh, cool. You Yeah. Heartlight Ministries News in Brief Has career opportunities for qualified individuals* who have a heart for kids, and want to work in a relaxed, fun atmosphere while making an impact that will last a lifetime. If this sounds interesting to you and you would like to find out more information, then visit us at our website at: Math grad student dies from food poisoning www.heartlightministries.org or email us at heartlight@aol.com, or contact Blake Nelson at (903) 668-2173 Math graduate student Marcel Kelly Suche- ston died Monday night at St. Joseph Region al Flealth Care Center. Dr. Jay Walton, graduate adviser for the mathematics department, said that Suche- ston “appears to have died from an allergic re action to some type of food he ate.” According to Walton, Sucheston would have received his doctorate in less than one year. “Fie was a warm-hearted person who cared a lot about what he was doing here,” said Wal ton. "Fie wanted to go on to teach at the uni versity level.” According to a family friend, Sucheston at tended Upper Arlington Fligh School and was very involved in activities there. “This is a tragic loss for the department as well as the University, and for all the students here,” Walton said. Sucheston’s mother was en route to Texas to make memorial service arrangements and was unavailable for comment. Sucheston will be honored at the Sept. 5 Silver Taps. Forrest Lane appoints new executive council Student Body President Forrest Lane pre sented his appointees for his executive coun cil to the 53rd session of the Student Senate Wednesday. Lane appointed Rob Ferguson to the posi tion of executive vice president, Jessica Williams to executive vice president of Pro- “If the transportation 6 ing our campus, and pra around — because this is sufi pus. I'd pay it. I think any; wants to improve the;n pay. Farrington said. inatisaweso However, Farringtont.fe s where I v dents w ho do not ndetteh. | n t i 0 A& M I a problem with thetofV' yeryiiiing. “’The results of the fee o ('hard to see if you doni. I | Sowh ev If you hit over$30,psA/ . model annoyed, especially peopkjlp' W aco' use it. But it it’s a littleliWjuade thing people aren’t as inclined Farrington said. I really never Schulte added thatifsti just kind of fell any questions abouttkaR^s to do tl Campus Access Task Forceivailab I e in Wac should contact PTTSotliiB the local ch jit with the me ip the acting. I frustrating is grams. Phillip Drake to vice pwekhanccsthere. We nance. Robbie Blakely to vice(Wtentfi department, velopment and Erin Blaney tomff|§ for Public Relations. All meappro : \ Student Senate. "We are excited and ready to nicTP' and contribute to the future of the I®j campus,” said Lane, a seniorpolfei) major. Also on the agenda for' ing was the election of chairpersotii! External Affairs, Student Services3ri;| mic Affairs committees within Senate. Bobby Robbins, ajuniorpolj ence major, was elected the Externa] chairperson. Lorenzo Gonzalez,sd environmental design major, was elk:] demic Affairs chairperson. MelissaKi? nior English major, was elected Externa 1 chairperson. 1 IN Thursday Campus Calendar Graduate Christian Fellowship of Irv terVarsity Christian Fellowship (Grad IVCF): Grad students meet at 7:30p.m. for Bible study, prayer, fel lowship, and snacks. Please see our web site at http://stat.tamu.edu/~in- low/ivcf.html for locations and more information, or call Jen or Mark at 764-1552. University Undergraduate Fellows Symposium: There will be presenta tions of the fellows’ completed re search on Rudder 5th floor at 7 p.m. Sigma Chi Fraternity: Derby Days - Queen’s Entrance for sororities pa rade/pep-rally type event. Commu nity and university representatives will be judging, families invited at 500 Fraternity Row, at 4 p.m. Texas A&M University Women’s Newcomers Club: fte Evening Potluck Social town' semester will be on Frida); 1 at 7 p.m. Hosts will beCa'.' Gregory Zaniewski at 220: Oak.CS. Please RSVPto(| 6808538 by April 28th. JW&w the other education foi* recognized student organizations “Passing the Baton of leadership” Thursday, April 2V CSeneral Session 7 - 8:15 p.m. Rudder <50 I Introduction to Officer Success: “Passing the Baton of headersF»ip’ featuring Or. Kevin Jackson . . Interest Sessions 8:30 - <7:30 p.m. Pundraising and Advertising JPIscal VVorlcsh opt fulfills requirement) Risk Management Issues IVTedia Training stuact.tamu.edu Scfilumberger Mech?nical Engineer Position Scfilumberger in Sugar Land, TX is looking for a Mechanical Engineer to join our team. The Engineer will be involved in the complete "cradle to grave" product development cycle of oilfield equipment geared towards the completion of new wells. Requirements; • A Master's or Ph. D in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or Aerospace Engineering • Summer or Coop experience in Mechanical Engineering tasks is a strong plus. Prior full time employment is not required. • Eagerness to take on very aggressive objectives. Willingness to tackle widely varying technical and managerial challenges, very often outside one's immediate academic training and background. Openness to significant travel within the United States and abroad in the execution of one's responsibilities. Strong team spirit. • Solid mechanical engineering background - strength of materials, design methodology, fluid mechanics, etc. • Numerical methods - Finite element methods, finite differences, etc. • "Hands on" experience in fabrication, assembly of school projects and in other activities is a plus Strong teamwork and communication skills. Mail resumes to: Jean-Louis Pessin 110 Scfilumberger Drive Sugar Land, TX 77478 Or email to ilDessin@slb.com THF I celet Marium Mohiuddin, Editor in Cli Beverly Mireles, ManagingEditoi Meredith Might, Communin’Edit# Stuart Hutson, Campus Editor Kyle Whitacre, Aggielife Editor Veronica Serrano, Aggielife Editor Mariano Castillo, Opinion Editor Eric Dickens, Opinion Editor Jeff Kenipf, Night News Editor Doug Shilling, Sports Editoi Jason BennyhofF, Radio Producer Brandon Payton, Web Master Ruben Deluna, Graphics Editoi Guy Rogers, Photo Editor JP Beato, Photo Editor Dave Amber, Science and Tedinolo/ 11:0 The Battjuon (ISSN #10554726) 6 pi^l through Fnday dunng the fall and spring n***' through Thursday dunng the summer session idays and exam periods) at Texas MU IJnWj Postage Paid at College Station, IX 778# 6 address changes to MattataTexasMUItBC] College Station, TX 77843-1111. 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