MONDAYSEPTEMBER 3, 2001
1 SECTION • 12 PAGES
NEWS IN BRIEF
gpryan to purchase,
auction LaSalle
Blhe city of Bryan is pre-
p, red to purchase the
KSalle Hotel at a foreclosure
ai tion Tuesday.
■According to The Bryan-
C allege Station Eagle, the
BSalle will be auctioned off
b( c ause the owner defaulted
oi a $1.7 million loan from
Irst National Bank.
■ Bryan Commerce and
■evelopment will operate the
■>tel until the city can sell
th building. The city will pro-
Bde a loan for Bryan
Bommeree and Development
tk t has not stated the
Bnount of the loan.
■ Bidding will begin at $1.15
Billion.
fetter carrier fired
in mail dumping
■ AMARILLO (AP) - A letter
■rrier has been fired after
Amarillo police discovered
undelivered mail in a street
■ash bin. a U S. postal offi
cial said.
■ Amarillo police were called
■ the scene Wednesday after
a witness saw someone
dumping mail into the bin,
■pi. Jerry Neufeld said.
I Police booked the mail into
evidence before contacting
■ostal inspectors.
■ The carrier's job was ter
minated as a result of an
investigation.
■ He did disclose the man
vi|ds a iempotcuy ttuipioyei
and a recent hire.
1
PUBLIC EYE
JMj
Total attendance
at Saturday’s
game against
McNeese State
70,656
Living
healthy
• Programs available
on campus to inform
students about
staying in shape
Page 7
Crew
' salvages
opener
• Defense gave
offense time to
recover, win, 38-24
OPINION
Page 11
Fish vs.
Farmers
• Environmentalists
are placing animals
before humans
Wl A Mil U
HIGH
95°
LOW
7§ e f
HIGH
92° F
LOW
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Texas A&M University — Celebrating 125 Years
College Station, Texas
Volume 108 • Issue 7
www.thebatt.com
Rowan decision expected tonight
.By Rolando Garcia
THE BATTALION
The fate of Memorial Student Center
(MSC) President Josh Rowan’s position
w as decided Sunday night at a meeting of
the MSC executive committee, although
the committee’s recommendation will not
be made public, and Rowan will be
informed of the decision tonight.
If the committee recommends
Rowan's removal as MSC president, the
matter will go before the MSC Council
Monday. Otherwise, the case is closed.
Dr. Bill Kibler, associate vice presi
dent for student affairs, investigated alle
gations of misconduct by Rowan, a senior
agricultural development major, on a
University-sponsored trip to Italy this
summer and reported his findings to MSC
Director James Reynolds last week.
A special committee headed by Kate
Petree; MSC executive vice president
for human resources and a senior mete
orology major, held a closed meeting
Thursday to review Kibler’s report and
question Rowan about allegations of
alcohol abuse, drug use and inappropri
ate sexual advances during the two-
week Champe Fitzhugh Jr. International
Honors Leadership Seminar, an MSC-
affiliated program.
Rowan said he was questioned by the
committee for two hours. He denied the
most serious allegations but acknowl
edged some irresponsible behavior.
“The drug allegation is totally untrue,”
Rowan said. “The allegations of inappro
priate sexual advances are not true. I’ll
admit, that on two occasions, 1 had too
much to drink.”
Rowan also said he suggested to the
committee that a reprimand would be the
I most appropriate response and offered to
reimburse the MSC for his cost of the
Fitzhugh trip and to speak to freshmen
See Rowan on page 5.
McNeese
Second-half
comeback led by
A&M defense
By True Brown
THE BATTALION
What the Texas A&M offense gave
away, the Wrecking Crew regained.
In a night that saw the Aggies have
both a fumble and an interception
returned for a touchdown, it was the
defense that proved to be A&M’s
steadying hand.
The Wrecking Crew came up with all
the key plays A&M would need to squeak
away with a nail-biting, come-from-
behind, 38-24 win over McNeese State
Saturday night.
“This showed our guys what they are
capable of doing,” said A&M football
head coach R.C. Slocum.
On the opening drive of the game,
A&M looked to be in control, driving 58
yards to the McNeese 25-yard line in just
six plays. Freshman running back Keith
Joseph looked impressive in his debut
drive, carrying three times for 26 yards.
Then on a 3rd-and-8 from the
Cowboy 25-yard line, junior quarter-
hack Mark Farris was hit by McNeese’s
Ryan Garrison and tumbled. Linebacker
Brad Archie recovered the fumble for
the Cowboys and returned it 55 yards
for a touchdown and an unexpected
advantage. It was the first of four A&M
fumbles, although the Aggies recovered
the other three.
The point after touchdown (PAT) failed,
but the Cowboys gained an early 6-0 lead.
It would get worse before it got better
for the Aggies.
See McNeese on page 7.
PHOTOS BY STUART VILLANUEVA • THE BATTALION
Top: Texas A&M wide receiver Terrence Murphy outjumps two
McNeese State defenders to pull down a 38-yard reception in the
second quarter. The catch set up the Aggies' first touchdown, and
A&M went on to win, 38-24. Above: Larry Smith, a member of the
McNeese State Cowboy Club, reads the names of the victims of the
1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse in front of the Academic Building
Saturday. The Cowboy Club, a booster club for McNeese State
University, presented A&M with a memorial wreath on behalf of the
McNeese State campus and alumni.
McNeese honors victims with wreath
By Emily Hendrickson
THE BATTALION
Administrators and supporters
of Texas A&M and McNeese State
Universities gathered in front of
the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue
Saturday as the McNeese Cowboy
Club laid a wreath of flowers in
honor of the victims of the 1999
Aggie Bonfire collapse.
Larry Smith, director of the
McNeese club, presented the
wreath and called for a moment of
silence as he read the names of the
Bonfire collapse victims.
Smith said he made plans to lay
the wreath when the Cowboy Club
realized last year that McNeese
would play A&M.
“I decided that we had to do
something for A&M,” he said.
The wreath was made of flowers
with the MSU school colors.
yellow and blue, but the flowers
also represent Texas.
“We decided on yellow roses, to
represent the Yellow Rose of Texas,
and bluebonnets for the state
flower,” Smith said.
Smith is also chairman of the
flower fund for deceased Cowboy
Club members, and wanted to
extend that tradition at A&M.
“We got a super response from
A&M about laying the wreath,”
Smith said. “After deciding to lay
the wreath, it was only a matter of
where to put it. In the end, Sul Ross
seemed the best place for it.”
Students and family members
of the victims were present at the
ceremony.
“It’s a nice gesture of McNeese,”
said Janice Kerlee, mother of
Bonfire victim Timothy Kerlee Jr.
Cynthia Lawson, executive
See Wreath on page 2.
GLBTA hosts, welcomes Aggies with Q-Camp
By Melissa Sullivan
THE BATTALION
Incoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-
gendered Aggies had the opportunity to get
acquainted at Q-Camp, held Aug. 23 in the
Memorial Student Center.
“This gave incoming freshman the chance
to see what is available to them and give sup
port for those who do not know any other
options, and just let them know that there are
always different people to help," said Justin
Anderson, president of Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgendered Aggies
(GLBTA) and a senior psychology major.
“Also, we like to welcome students who
don’t feel welcome and let them know they
are are not alone. We hope they take the
information they gain and use it to their
advantage to meet new friends.’
The two-hour camp consisted of activities
in which members learned more about each
other and different departments on campus.
The campers also received folders containing
information on various student groups,
churches, offices and services throughout
Bryan-College Station.
“We did ice breakers and had everyone
talk about themselves,” Anderson said. “We
also had different departments talk about
how they could help out, as well as watch a
See Q-CAMP on page 2.
UPD
cracks
down
Tickets issued for
trespassers on
railroad property
By Amanda Smith
THE BATTALION
Students who are found tres
passing on railroad property or in
the designated construction zones
on West Campus will be fined,
according to University PoIk'**
Department (UPD) officials.
Bob Wiatt, UPD director,
said the Texas A&M community
has become concerned for stu
dents’ safety.
“There is a big concern among
all of us for students’ safety,”
Wiatt said. “Students must begin
using designated areas to cross,
meaning the crosswalks.
Violators will be prosecuted.”
Fines for crossing into con
struction areas range from $350
to $450, and violators also are
subject to arrest for trespassing,
Wiatt said.
Trespassing on railroad prop
erty is punishable by a fine of up
to $110. Crosswalk violations
are punishable by fine of up to
$65 per violation.
Wiatt said some students
have been trying to cross
Wellborn Road in front of
oncoming cars.
“The students have to remem
ber to punch the crosswalk but
tons for traffic lights, to stop on
Wellborn,” he said. “We have
had students running across,-try
ing to beat oncoming cars.”
UPD has been deploying offi
cers to patrol the intersections in
and around the construction
area, including intersection of
Old Main and Wellborn Road.
Sgt. Betty Lemay, a member
of the UPD crime prevention
team, said students need to
remain aware of the construction.
“It is a safety concern,”
Lemay said. “Our students are
certainly intelligent enough to
handle the situation.”
In a letter posted on the
Parking, Traffic and
Transportation Services (PTTS)
Website, officials said altering
Parking Area (PA) 61 to include
resident parking has prompted
some'students to try alternative,
more dangerous routes.
“In monitoring these zones
along Wellborn Road, officers
have noticed students ignoring
the safety barrier provided by
fencing the area,” officials said.
“PTTS officials urge students
who must cross Wellborn Road to
travel to and from West Campus
to respect the barriers around con
struction r^reas by not climbing
over or. under the fencing.”
For more information on
parking or construction areas on
campus, call 862-PARK.