Listen to KAMI) 90.9 FM at 1:57 p.m for details on the domestic violence call College Station police received. • Check out The Battalion online at battalion.tamu.edu. With new DNA testing technology, should • convicted criminals be given one more chance? Page 5 Weather: Partly cloudy with a hiqh of 92 and a low of 72. TUESDAY June 27, 2000 Volume 106 ~ Issue 159 6 pages HI*'i * i i'i I’k'l Vi IV roposal for equal protection awaits approval released unharme; Maureen Kane night by Abu Sayir The Battalion guerrillas troT. I -I^ t rirrt of five rounds of public camp on the island! , ,, u . .. „ . . . , , r meetings will be held this week to sohc- e impoverished soutl. i b . . it|pubhcopinion on the possibility of re locating the railroad that runs parallel to Wellborn Road. According to Student ady President Forrest Lane, the forum an opportunity to give input on the railroad's location. 1 "The forum is open to the public - for all Bryan-College Station area residents. Student government is in support of it Realise it's very beneficial to the A&M Immunity," Lane said. "I am in support )f... moving the railroad tracks. The 'ailroad is in support of moving the racks as well because it would be quick er and more efficient." The meetings will be held to gather blic comment on a feasibility study ing conducted by the Metropolitan nning Organization (MPO). The '0 is one of 25 federally funded orga- rations in the state that Tarings togeth- multiple agencies and jurisdictions to k about regional transportation needs. Michael Parks, the managing MPO rector, said, "The MPO crosses undaries between Bryan-College Sta- n and the University, Brazos County d Texas Department of Transporta- n. We can talk about what's important the community." He also said that the ’0 has received both positive and g.ative feedback concerning the cur- put location of the railroad. 'We are trying to find a proper loca- fln for the railroad tracks. This is a fea- |ility study to determine the needs of lion Pacific and the community. Union Icifichas specific needs - we are trying fdetermine what is best for everybody, miot.i Pacific has been a very good part- |r," Parks said. Lynn Mcllhaney, mayor of College ®tior,i and a member of the MPO, said iat she has heard both positive and negative comments about the location of the railroad as well. "You can't live in this community and not hear about it," Mcllhaney said. The feasibility study will compare the cost of keeping the railroad where it is, and the cost of moving it to another lo cation. The environmental, social, and economic impacts on the community will be considered. Another issue that the MPO must take into consideration is safety. "I know that safety has been an issue with the University and the community in regards to the cargo that comes through, and with the location of the tracks separating campus, the safety of the students who have to cross on a dai ly basis is an issue. We're looking at the impact on the community in the long term," Mcllhaney said. "We're looking at this from a totally holistic approach that will give policy makers information needed to make decisions. There is a cit izens committee working with MPO, and there is a lot of public feedback on this program, which is important. It's a good, comprehensive feasibility study." As for the possible options regarding railroad relocation, Parks said the MPO is waiting for the results of the study be fore discussing options. "Options under previous studies in cluded using the existing tracks for low- track alignment, in a trench in the current location; putting tracks down FM 2818 (Harvey Mitchell Parkway); putting the tracks along the Brazos River, along Highway 47, or along the East Bypass," Parks said. "Our study has not evaluat ed any of these yet. We're focusing on evaluating criteria to be used wWen we do get alternatives and suggestions." Mcllhaney said that the cost of mov ing the railroad would be partially paid by the federal government, and the rest would come from a combination of local and state funds. "Funds have not been ■I ■ ■ m a*. hk m s identified. These are all MLROAD FORUM i things that constituents S.SDAY 1.B0RN BAPTIST 630 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN 1ST p.m. - 8:30 p.m. THURSDAY TAN PUBLIC IBRARY pjra. - 8:30 p.m. jjx§ have to look at," Mcll haney said. Lane said that he has not heard of any poten tial funding problems. "L haven't heard that money is a concern. Community leaders won't support it if the community isn't in sup port of it," Lane said. He added that the only a small number of resi dents in one of the possi ble relocation sites close to the Brazos River do not support the reloca tion of the railroad. "What is important is that the citizens make their opinions known," Parks said. Singin’ the blues Local blues sensation Ruthie Foster sings during the fifth annual Navasota Blues Festival held in Navasota at the VFW on Saturday. Foster was one of several acts to perform on Friday and Saturday. Minority population to increase More than 11,000 applicants admitted for Fall 2000 KimTrifilio The Battalion Preliminary Fall 2000 student-enrollment figures show the Texas A&M minority student population will increase this fall. A&M accepted more than 11,000 of the 18,000 students who applied for admission this fall. > Joe Estrada, director of admissions, said the minority en rollment this year has changed slightly from last year. "The African-American enrollment has leveled off from last year. The Hispanic enrollment has increased about 10 per cent. International students have increased just slightly, as well as those students who checked the other/blank catego ry. With more interracial marriages, more students are check ing the other/blank category, and that is something that is happening all over. The number of Native American students dropped slightly by about a student or two," Estrada said. Rodrick Moore, coordinator of student retention for the Department of Multicultural Services, said the high- Texas A&M Fall 2000 Preliminary Enrollment Figures 18 r 679 total applications 16,748 "4 complete applications 11,054 accepted 6,769 -4 confirmed i ~ t: er Hispanic enrollment this fall reflects positively on the University. "I am excited about the increase in numbers of Hispan- ics, and we look forward to a steady increase in the num bers of all of our minority students," Moore said. Moore said the Department of Multicultural Services will continue to work toward keeping minority students at A&M with the goal of attracting more minority students in the years to come. "I think we need to become more creative in our recruit ing efforts to attract more minority students to Texas A&M University," Moore said. "Our work starts once students get here in the fall, and then we have to keep them here." Gabriela Avila, president of the Mexican Student Asso ciation and a senior marketing major, said the increase pf minorities, specifically Hispanics, is great for other minor ity students at A&M. "A 10 percent increase is great," Avila said. "It is a won derful increase for Hispanic people. I think it's great to get more Hispanic people here at A&M. This will also be good for the stereotypes that people have of Hispanics. People think Hispanics don't like to study or finish their career, but this shows them we do." Avila said A&M offers many opportunities for Hispan ics, which helps in the recruiting process. "Here at A&M, they have a lot of opportunities for Hispanic people to join, like the Mexican Student Associ ation. The increase is going to be great for our association, good for the stereotype of Hispanics, and good for Texas A&M," Avila said. Estrada said several other preliminary statistics stood out. "More males applied than females, but more females were admitted than males," Estrada said. "Also, the num ber of graduate applications is running about 2 percent ahead of last year. A good number of them are internation al students, and we are very pleased to see that occurrence." News in Brief AIDS Services offers free HIV testing Texas A&M stu dents, faculty and staff can come by the Memorial Student Cen ter Room 139 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday for a free HIV test. The AIDS Services of Brazos Valley will have two testing coun selors available for free, anonymous/con fidential HIV testing. This is the sixth year AIDS Services of Brazos Valley has joined with Student Health Services to host National HIV Test ing Day. In addition to pro viding free HIV testing, information will be available at Rudder Fountain about the prevention of AIDS and other sexually trans mitted infections. In addition, free HIV testing is available at the Student Health Center through AIDS Services by appoint ment each Thursday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.