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TUESDAYSEPTEMBER 25, 2001
Texas A&M University
1 SECTION * 12 PAGES
Celebrating 125 Years
SERVING THE TEXAS A&M COMMUNITY SINCE
College Station, Texas
www.thebatt.coin
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Napster strikes
deal with music
publishers’ agency
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -
Napster Inc. on Monday
agreed to pay $26 million for
distributing unauthorized
music in the past and made a
deal that could eventually
allow songwriters and music
publishers to offer their music
to paying Napster users.
The tentative agreement
would settle a lawsuit filed by
the National Music Publishers’
Association. It must be
approved by a judge, the asso
ciation’s board of directors and
individual publishers.
Napster allowed users to
swap music online at no cost
until it shut down July 2. The
company was expected to
begin allowing users this sum
mer to get songs for a fee, but
Napster chief executive
Konrad Hilbers said Monday
the pay service will start later
this year.
The free service shut down
after Napster was sued by the
Recording Industry Association
of America, which represents
major record labels that want
ed the service to stop users
from collecting copyrighted
music without permission.
The deal announced
Monday covers tho publishing
rights to as many as 700,000
songs, but Napster also needs
an agreement on a song's per
forming rights before the com
pany can legally distribute it.
That leaves Napster with
major hurdles to overcome
before it can begin distribut
ing songs. Performance
rights are owned by the
labels, some of which are
starting their own Internet
music services and may not
want to help a competitor.
Report: removal unfair
PUBLIC EYE
dW
State tax on a pack
of cigarettes
41 cents
TODAY
AGGIELIFE
Page 3
Close to
home
Aggies feel impact of
attacks in New York
City, Washington, D.C.
Aggie ‘O’
r could use
Slocum’s speech
OPINION
Page 11
ig Brother
is watching
Workers should be
aware of intrusive,
new technology
WEATHER
HIGH
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HIGH
82° F
LOW
54° F
FORECASTS COURTESY OF
www.weathermanfed.com
TOMORROW
By Rolando Garcia
THE BATTALION
The Memorial Student Center (MSC)
Council’s prtx'ess of removing President
Josh Rowan was flawed
and unfair, invalidating
the council's decision.
University administra
tors concluded last
week.
In a report detailing
the verdict of Rowan’s
appeal of the council’s
Sept. 3 vote. Vice
President for Student Affairs Dr. J.
Malon Southerland requested the coun
cil correct certain procedures before try
ing to remove Rowan again.
Rowan resigns, MSC Council
begins search for new president
ROWAN
“In spite of the good faith efforts of
the students and advisors, some of the
basic protections of fundamental fair
ness were not afforded to Mr. Rowan as
the students and advisors struggled to
create a process where none existed,”
the report stated. “As the original
process was crafted and as it evolved,
perceived time constraints, protection of
the organization and perceived concerns
about press leaks were the driving force
behind some of the decisions that lead to
deficiencies in the process.”
Rowan, a senior agricultural develop
ment major, resigned Sept. 21 rather than
contest the council’s decision. His removal
was sparked by allegations of misconduct
while on a University-sponsored trip to
Italy during the summer. Rowan acknowl
edged drinking too much on two occa
sions, but denied that he made unwanted
sexual advances to a freshman woman on
the trip or that he used illegal drugs.
Rowan said he resigned because it was
unlikely the council would reverse its
decision.
“Part of me wanted to keep fighting,
but this ordeal has really taken a toll on me
and the people 1 care about,” Rowan said.
The report, drafted by Dean of Student
Life Dr. Dave Parrott and approved by
Southerland, cited three central problems
with the MSC’s actions:
• Although Rowan was given verbal
notice of how the process would proceed,
the MSC Council’s actions deviated sig
nificantly from that process.
• The matter was reviewed by two
MSC committees before it went to the
council, and at every stage of the
process Rowan was not properly
informed of the outcome. For example.
Rowan was told of the MSC Executive
See Rowan on page 6.
Parrott
takes helm
as dean of
Student Life
By Emily Hendrickson
THE BATTALION
After a nationwide search. Dr.
David Parrott was chosen to replace
Dr. Brent Patterson as the new dean
of Student Life. Patterson left A&M
to fill the position of assistant vice
president of Student Affairs at
Illinois State University.
Parrott came to A&M from
Western Michigan University,
where he was the assistant vice
president of Student Affairs.
“The position of dean requires a
strong background and experience
in Student Affairs,” said Terry
Pankratz, assistant vice president
of Student Affairs.
Parrott earned a bachelor’s
degree in management and a mas
ter's degree in student personnel
service at Western Kentucky
University. He then pursued a doc
toral degree in student affairs from
the University of Louisville.
A search advisory committee
of 13 people from A&M adver
tised the job opening in national
publications.
The search committee was
looking for an individual with a
doctoral degree, student skills, a
broad background in student
affairs, knowledge of strategic
planning and an awareness of
current issues.
"We were looking for the best
individual with the best creden
tials and experience,” said Dr. J.
Malon Southerland, vice presi
dent of Student Affairs. “Dr.
Parrott was th primary recommen
dation for the position. We needed
someone who could easily identi
fy with the students.”
Parrott said his new role will
include overseeing the Division of
Student Affairs and three associate
directors within the department.
See Parrott on page 2.
Miracle grow
Shannon Hajdik, a senior agricultural development major, writes
labels for her cabbage plants in a student garden for her horticulture
CODY WAGES • THE BATTALION
class in vegetable crop production. The students plant vegetables
and are responsible for their maintenance throughout the semester.
Americanized: Liberal Arts adds
new program in American studies
By Melissa Sullivan
THE BATTALION
A major in American studies and minors
in film and women’s studies are among
those added to the College of Liberal Arts’
catalogue this fall.
Three new majors will be added to the
College of Liberal Arts —American studies,
music and telecommunication and media
studies.
“American studies is a vibrant field of
study, long available as a major at some of
the finest private and public schools in the
country, including Yale, the University of
Texas and the University of California at
Berkeley,” said Program Director Larry
Reynolds. “This major provides students
with the integrated knowledge of the
diversity and unity of American life: Its
peoples, myths, conflicts and institutions.”
The bachelor of arts degree requires 33
hours, including 18 hours of directed elec
tives from different areas of interest.
“Student reaction has been enthusiastic,
at least among those students who have dis
covered the existence of the program,”
Reynolds said. “At the moment we have six
majors enrolled. Students who enroll in
American studies can expect a rigorous but
flexible curriculum designed to develop his
torical understanding of the United States
and its role in the world.”
Graduates can pursue careers in a broad
variety of fields such as teaching, business,
government, broadcasting and museum
administration, he said.
“The degree also prepares students for
careers in non-profit organizations and the
U.S. Departments of State and the
| Department of the] Interior,” Reynolds said.
Students can also choose to continue in
graduate programs such as law, English, his
tory, philosophy, public affairs, sociology
and political science, he said.
Other recent additions to the liberal arts
curriculum include minors in film and
women studies.
“The student’s reaction has been impres
sive,” said Terence Hoagwood, professor of
English and coordinator for film studies.
“Two years ago, we began with 185 students
in our (film) courses, and that number has
grown now to 600 this semester and more, we
expect, as our program continues to grow.”
See Studies on page 2.
UWC pushes to improve students’ writing skills
By Daniel Bagwell
THE BATTALION
The new undergraduate University
Writing Center (UWC) opened in
Sterling C. Evans Library on Sept. 17.
The UWC is part of a push to improve
Texas A&M students’ writing skills.
“Our students’ abilities to write are
very important for them to be success
ful in any field.” said Dr. Mark
Weichold, associate provost for
Undergraduate Programs and Academic
Services. “Employers look very seri
ously at writing skills when hiring our
students.”
Weichold selected Dr. Valerie
Balester, associate professor of English,
to be the interim director of the UWC
until a permanent director is chosen by a
search committee.
“Our ultimate aim is to improve stu
dents’ writing skills across campus. We
provide a place for undergraduates to get
help at any step or stage of the writing
process,” Balester said. “We eventually
plan to help faculty members in design
ing their writing assignments.”
Balester said the new UWC is taking
over and extending the services of the
writing center in the John R. Blocker
Building, which was funded solely by the
English department.
In Spring 2000, the Core Curriculum
Review Committee made a recommenda
tion to the University to implement new
writing-intensive courses and to create the
UWC. A&M students pay $8 in the form of
a student activity fee for use of the UWC.
Ashley Murray, a freshman political
science major, went to the UWC on
Tuesday to receive help on a writing
assignment.
”1 think the service they provide is
well worth the fee,” Murray said. “I was
confused about an assignment, and they
helped to clarify it. They make sugges
tions, but don’t fix it for you. As a
freshman, the writing center is really
helpful.”
The UWC also provides writing con
sultation online at http://uwc.tamu.edu.
Balester said they are currently working
to expand the UWC’s online services.
The Website provides information on
writing forms, many links to other writ-
See Center on page 6.