esday, February 20, 2001 NEWS THE BATTALION Page 7 A i bc-State hate-crime bill sent i ' ssoto Calendars Committee aether thefe lition. mother, Di® : ">touth,astub >ve our son an; mow that he's guilty.” 62, tauglm vile, Susaniii ■woman offe irtment. Bolin tens who wen and traveled ings shocked nouth campu tommunityofi ave refusedtt: y connection; the victims,, ttedly. s said they be. ■ hometown oil iday and a hl; in over thews rounty, Vt, lure said the: ts in the Di thorities te i military'-st): met. The be ursday toco:.; • fingerprint!, ntarily. rants for boc ay and early So ■ AUSTIN (AP) — One day, Stella Byrd hopes to sit her great-grandchild on her lap and tell the child that her grandfather’s death was not in vain. Ilf Texas lawmakers pass the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act, named in remembrance of Stella Byrd’s son, she says she will be able to do that. The House Judicial Affairs Committee approved the bill on a 7- 2R , ote Monday after hearing from Stella Byrd and others. I‘T’11 have something good to ex plain with what happened with this bil and maybe that will help her grow stronger,” Stella Byrd told the panel. ■ The bill is meant to toughen penalties for crimes directed against minorities, gays, women and other groups. A similar bill has passed Bough a Senate committee. Reps. Will Hartnett of Irving and Robert Taiton of Pasadena, the only Repub- llans on the committee, voted against the bill Monday. I "I oppose anything that does not treai everybody equally,” Taiton said. ■ James Byrd Jr. was a black man from Jasper who was dragged to his death behind a pickup truck in 1998. .Three white supremacists were con victed of capital murder. Two are awaiting execution and the third is serving life in prison. I The full House approved a James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act during the 1999 legislative session, but the bill died in a Senate committee when critics said it created unnecessary distinctions for homosexuals. This year’s bill now goes to the House Calendars Committee, al though bill sponsor, Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, said she will wait to act on the bill until the full I'll have something good to explain what happened with this bill.’’ — Stella Byrd mother of James Byrd Jr. Senate takes action on the Senate hate crimes bill. “I know I could pass it in the House,” Thompson said when the hearing ended, after nearly five hours of testimony. The proposed bill enhances the penalty for crimes motivated by race, religion, color, disability, sexual ori entation, age, gender and national ori gin ancestry. It also would require that a jury determine the motive of a hate crime be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, require counties to annually report hate crime prosecutions to the state, provide aid to smaller counties for prosecuting hate crimes, place a hate crimes coordinator in the attor ney general’s office and call for civil remedies. Texas passed its first hate-crime bill in 1993. That law increased penalties if a crime was proven to be “motivated by bias and prejudice” but prosecutors have criticized it as too vague and virtually unenforceable. Detractors say this bill punishes people for their thoughts and protects only certain classes of people. “Hating all people is just as bad as hating a group,” said Marc Levin, the vice chairman of the Young Conser vatives of Texas. “This bill protects everyone equally because everyone has a race, a color, a nationality or a sexual ori entation,” Thompson said. The bill does not intrude on any one’s freedom of speech, Thompson said, because the bill calls for pun ishment of behavior, not punishment of thoughts. Maria Ross of Katy said federal of ficials had to step in to help her get jus tice after she woke up on June 19 to find a cross burning in her front yard. “When I walked outside I thought 1 was in the twilight zone,” said Ross. tom Clinton speaks to software developers NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bill Clinton, shunning dis cussion of the Marc Rich pardon, told business software and Internet specialists Monday he was foi lunate to be president while their in- litinil idustry blossomed. edofaflWB With about two dozen demonstra tors gathered outside the hall protest- ihat is both t ^ ie ^‘ c * 1 P ar d° n an d other of Clin- DavidScln ton s recent political troubles, the aw “DoesI au d' ence of nearly 10,000 inside the , home) and[ convent i° n 1™*! g ave Clinton a stand- clinton and take ito ovat 'on before and after his speech, technology til ■Larry Ellison, Oracle Corp. CEO, introduced Clinton be anythin: as ;l courageous leader whose aggressive moves to foster e executivefegtobal trade — while unpopular in the former president’s Civil Libem ^ cniocrat ’ c P art y — gave America’s technology leaders Aired thether un P rece dented opportunities to tap world markets, ise from the Ellison invited Clinton four months ago to speak at A Bs week's Oracle Appsworld Convention, a massive ly or figurati'l activities wi •ote. “Unlife 2 or microp: lid walls- ! S — a therm eat gradient! gathering of the company’s software developers and trad ing partners. Clinton was paid for the speech, but the fee was not disclosed. He was paid $100,000 for his first speaking engagement after leaving the White House. Clinton praised his audience for taking a leading role in America’s prosperity during most of the past decade, and said, despite the recent downturn in technology stocks, the Internet would remain central to economic growth. “I know there have been a few dot-coms falling on the NASDAQ for the last several months, but don’t kid your selves, the Internet is still our future,” Clinton said. Clinton told the technology leaders it was up to them to use their new political influence to support interna tional trade, debt reduction and “dramatic” increases in spending on research and development. Clinton also called on the industry to join govern ment in exploring ways to make key consumer tech nology more available and easier to use for the poor and less educated. useu business 1 next to 1 hat was area! V «** c s call 76* j < ./ w it v° v 0 el e**' 1 in* trV Interviewing Skills Workshop (2/21) jUtTlO a. “"”1X2, ■ 7pm location TBA \\ d .v. 'x %l %% ^ A V k % ( /}f Suit Up ^ 9et * r *m >n 9 . 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Vfo % o % *>4 The Ladies of Alpha Delta Pi Crush Wednesday, February 21 9 p.m. -1 a.m. @ Riley’s Chris Abundis Aaron Cooke Victor Guerra Chris Adams Micah Cooper John Guillory Kyle Adams Ross Cooper Steve Guillot Brad Alesi Corey Jason Haby Curt Altenhofen Adam Comet Joe Handy Jody Alumbaugh Isaac Corter Ben Hansen Adam Alvarado Cormac Cox Clay Harris Shankar Ananuli Trent Cox David Harris Ryan Anderson Taylor Coy Dustin Harris Jay Andrews Chris Creeden Angel Hart Derrick Angel Karl Criuch John Harthett Larry Aparicio • John Crow Jack Hartung Brian Ash Derek Crowe Jesse Hartzell B„ Ray Judd Culpper Jason Hawkins Dewey Badeaux Chance Dailey Creed Hayes Todd Bailey Mauricio Dardano Tyler Hayes Matt Ball Matt Davenport Paul Heaton Barette David Josh Hebert Matt Barger Aaron Davis Chad .Heflin Hunter Beilve Wes Davis Ryan Hetzer Greg Belz Mark De La Garza Joel Hill Ben Greg Deeke Scott Hinze Robert Benavides Dustin Deen Denny Hobson Eric Bigger Luke Deen Brandon Hodges Matt Bishop JD Devine Guy Holcamb Robbie Blackley Grady Dieckert Logan Holloman Blhke Diego Keith Holly Brett Bohne Anthony Disalvo Brian Hoover Luke Bonner Joseph Ditta Martin Hoover Andrew Bose Trent Dobbs Ryan Hromadka Travis Bragg JR Dougherty David Huff Bobby Brandt Brantly Drapp Christian Hummel Jonathan Brewer Paul Dumbkoski Jeff Hunt Zach Brewer Tommy East Kyle Hunt Dean Briones Ben Edgerton Brad Hurt JC Broom Ben Edlebrock Cliff Hutchinson Chad Brown Matt Eller Paul Idziak Jason Brown Greg Escobar. Alvaro Interiano Jerod Brown Stephen Escobar Robert Ivey Jimmy Brown Jacob Esparza Dale Izard Mark Brown F., Chris Tommy Jackson Ryan Brown Stephen Farley Casey Jacocks Sean Brown Greg Ferikas Jim Jaggers Terry Brown John Fielder Joe Jaggers Nick Bunch Eric Fite Jason Stoney Burke Aaron Foley Jeff Charles Burton Jay Foster Alex Jennings Butterfras Jon Fredland Kevin Johnson C, Andy Josh Fritzsane Matt Johnson Peyton Cambell Brad Gamboa Wes Johnson Chris Cannon Matt Gardner Russell Joiftron Phil Carson Nick Gardner Austin Jolly Bryan Casey Michael Garza Matt Jones Ernest Casiano Larkin Gentry Rick Jordan Josh Cathcart Arash Ghandarpour Josh Eric Cervantes Theo Gialopsos Jason Kamerbeck Adam Chabira Brad Goetz Trey Kasling Nick Chacon Andres Gomez Jared Kasper Chad Roger Graham Greg Kays Jonathan Chang John Griesinger Asher Kazzman Brian Choppe Jason Grimmling Timony Keller Todd Christmas Chris Gross Keith Ketzle Brian Cohen Jonathan Gross Antony Kim Dusty Cook Felo Guerra Marshall Kincannon Jonathan Neslony Jarod Shough " Matt King Joel Neuber Andy Siefkin Rob Kingsbury Joey Neugart Greg Simmons < Albert Kinkeod David Newbury Brandon Smith Brenden Kinne Tyler O’Brien Bryson Smith Aaron Kinsey Robert Odstrcil Phil Smith ’ David Koch Calvin Offili Ross Smith Jonathan Kohn Jason Olivier Ted Smith Mike Kolb Brian Olsen . Omar Soto Collin Korenek Chris Oneil Jaspn Sparrow ’ Darin Kothe Jason Opurza Spence « Chris Kowalski Eric Orrozco BJ Squires Peter Kramer Michael Oxley Justin Staggs * Doug Krebs Thomas Pack Jared Steffen ^ Brian Kriss Brian Palmer Ty Steifel Lukas Kruger Garrett Parker Steve Brett Kunz Jon Pastusek Jon Stever Kris Kustchinsky Adam Payne Jeff Stewart Kyle MCCaw Stephen Pearce Timothy Stone Clinton Ladd Tony Pena Jake Strand Tim Lancaster Richard Perales Taylor Strong Sean Larkin Dave Perez Jay Sullivan Dustin Lee Javier Perez Ryan Summers Steve Lee Ryan Phillips Charlie Sutherland • John Leiman Toug Plilan Daniel Swanson Jeff Leirs Brian Prehn Justin Taliaferro Jon Lennox Preston Scott Taylor Kyle Leopold Adam Pruitt Travis Taylor Gary Livingston Adrian Ramirez Terry Kris Long Steve Ramos Dain Tolbert Chris Lopez David Read Tom David Lund Stephan Redbum Travis Shaw Nick Luton Courtney Reese Brian Travis Cole Mackey Robin Reese Trey Carlos Maga Jason Reins Doug Tiykoski Scott Magoon Zach Restad Stewrt Vaculik Jacob Majors Austn Roberts Brian Vandyke w Matt Malone Brad Robinson Wes Vanrite Cameron Maples Zac Robinson Louie Venegas Mark Nick Rodge Matthew Virant Dale Marrou Bryan Roffino Chris Walker Marc Martinez Mike Rose David Walker Chris Massol Tim Ross Todd Ward Kyle Masters Myles Rowe Kyle Warren Jol Matthews Jason Rowland Mike Watters. Taylor Matthews Chris Rudy Kyle Weaver Shane McAfFe Nick Sans Danny Wedeman Chris McAndrew Jeff Schaeffer Woody West David McArthur David Schneider Travis Wester Sean McConathy James Schneider Brad Wethington Matt McDeritt Brad Schob Jason Wicker Mike MCGuire MattSchoenberger Andrew Widmer Brad McKissick Danny Schuh Grant Wilborn Brandon McMahan Lucas Sealy Will Mark Merriel Sam Siedel Joey Williams Jeff Myers Lonnie Selerandi Bo Wilson Mike Stephen Selinidis Dustin Wilson Austin Mitchell Greg Sharp Lorin Wolfe Larry Morris Damion Shaver William Womack Garrett Morrow Chad Shead Blake Wright Jason Morton Adam Sheedy Buster Wynn Buddy Munoz Sebastian Sheetz Jenson Young Jason Nasset Sam Sheldon Bryan Youngblood Adam Nemati Steve Shiffman Bryan Yuras