The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 22, 2002, Image 1

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 22, 2002, Image 1

Newspaper Page TextNA’ the Batt fUESD AY JANUARY 22, 2002 VOLUME 108 • ISSUE 77 THE BATTALION TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY T protests tuition hike, A&M may follow By Emily Peters 1 THE BATTALION Begents from Texas A&M and the niv;rsity of Texas - Austin are consid- jin; the largest tuition hike ever to IP debts from rising costs and a icial shortfall at the last legislative ion. A&M and UT campus reactions e proposed fees have varied. H)T student leaders are rousing ate-wide opposition against a pro- infrastructure fee, by contacting parent groups, high schools, regents, media and legislators. If approved, the fee will charge full time UT. students $230 more per semes ter for basic academic and administra tive operating activities, critical build ing repairs and large-scale renovations. This amount will increase by $50 each year for the next four years, amounting to $1,000 pe? student in five years. This fee is similar to A&M President Dr. Ray M. Bowen's proposed Academic Enhancement Fee, which may charge $30 per semester hour for incoming stu dents in Fall 2002. If approved, an A&M student taking 15 hours will pay $400 more per semester. UT's Student Government President Matt Hammond has called for UT students and organizations to rally together at February's UT system regents meeting in San Antonio, where the issue will be decided. Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-Sart Antonio, and the Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) have joined UT's campaign, publicly questioning the fee's necessity and legality. A&M officials have heard little stu dent input other than a student senate vote against the fee in October, but stu dents said early plans are in the works to follow in UT’s footsteps. A&M student senate speaker Jack Long said preliminary surveys showed one-third of students have not yet heard of the fee, and the first step will be to inform the student body. Tyler Dunman, president of A&M’s chapter of YCT, said the group is opposed to the fee, and its first step is to make sure the proposition is legal. “We are watching our t.u. chapter fight the good fight, and it it looks like a winning battle. We are just now look ing into the similarities of the fees,” Dunman said. Texas A&M students have known about the enhancement fee since Bowen presented it to the A&M System See Tuition on page 7A If the Voices f..™.**-: ‘Free at last’ -wo years STUAR T VILLANUEVA • THE BATTALION A portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. is held by Greg Rodriguez as members of the Delta Sigma Theta Academy walk behind him. Hundreds of Bryan-College Station residents marched down Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Bryan on Monday. The march cel ebrated the life of King and the work he did towards gaining equality for African-Americans. shuttle. >r $55/mont im - 9 pm: Bush addresses ethnic profiling, education STUART VILLANUEVA • THE BATTALION lorida Gov. Jeb Bush defended his One Florida plan to students and ed use of iculty at the George Bush Presidential Library Complex Friday. By Rolando Garcia THE BATTALION Florida Gov. John Ellis “Jeb” Bush defended law enforcement against charges of ethnic profiling of Arab-Americans in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks while speaking at Texas A&M Friday at his father’s presidential library. “When you’re under attack by terrorists of a certain nationality, who hate our country and who are still out there, is it profiling to focus our efforts on that threat? I would suggest that it’s not,” Bush said. Bush addressed an overflow crowd at the George Bush Presidential Library Complex con ference center, touting his success in reforming public education in Florida and answering questions from the audience. Bush said his brother. President George W. Bush, has risen to the occasion and proven himself an exemplary wartime leader in America’s fight against terrorism by surrounding himself with excellent advisers and communi cating a clear vision to the American people. Bush’s most passionate words were reserved for his crusade to reform public schools in Florida, which he said has shown positive results and can be a model for other states. Among the most controversial of Bush’s initiatives was the One Florida plan, which eliminated racial preferences in college admis sions despite fervent opposition from minority groups. “We increased black and Hispanic enrollment at our universi ties, but not with divisive practices like quotas. We did it by expanding opportunities,” Bush said. He also stressed the importance of improving education by raising standards and holding schools accountable through assessment tests. By grading public schools based on the progress of its students and by giving parents in chronically low-performing schools the option See Bush on page 7A Community celebrates diversity, honors MLK By Tanya Nading THE BATTALION Thirty-four years after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., students and community members came together to affirm that the assassins who took the civil rights leader’s life did not take away his dream. In 1963, King addressed more than 250,000 free dom marchers with his famous, “I Have a Dream,” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, telling the protesters that one day children of all races would join hands in peace and friendship. In 2002, hundreds of marchers — community members and students, foreigners and Americans, African-Americans and Caucasians — fufilled that dream in the sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. March. The march to honor King is one of many activi ties this week that will allow students, faculty and members of the community to appreciate King’s leadership and life. The march began in Shady Thomas Park off of Martin Luther King Jr. Street where the crowd opened with prayer led by local ministers. From there participants marched to Kemp Elementary School where Rodney McClendon, assistant provost for Texas A&M. spoke on Martin Luther King Jr. “There were over a hundred people there,” said Tamara Caesar, a senior industrial engineering major and president of the Omicron Omega chapter of See Diversity on page 2A Hammond selected as MSC president By Rolando Garcia THE BATTALION • The newly selected president of the Memorial Student Center, Barry Hammond, is pledging to make the organization open and accountable to the student body, after a turbulent year for the organization. Hammond, a junior economics major, was cho sen Saturday from three applicants by a special committee of MSC staff and students, but will not take office until Parent’s Weekend in April. “This is a defining time in the history of this organization, and I believe I have a unique vision for the MSC that will improve the programs and development opportunities we provide for stu dents,” Hammond said. Kate Petree, the MSC vice president for human resources and a senior meteorology major, appointed the members of the selection committee but declined to release the names of applicants or committee members. See Hammond on page 2A se in 02 er Reveille VII sent to obedience school By Anna Chaloupka THE BATTALION n eveille VII came to campus last spring as a puppy n a calm, family atmosphere. he learned a few things from outgoing mascot Reveille fore she could be called “Miss Rev, ma’am.” his fall, she could be seen walking across the Corps University lousing area with Mascot Corporal Javier Aguirre, barking nd straining at her leash to greet people. During football ;ames and yell practices, the dog’s high-pitched barks REVEILLE VII echoed across Kyle Field and through the stands. At Reveille’s first birthday party in October, cadets restrained A&M’s first lady from plunging into the cake Company E-2 brought in her honor. But last week, after conferring with Texas A&M officials, cadets sent the young mascot to obedience school. See Reveille on page 2A iimm Opinion 5B More than weird science Human exhibits should not be made theme parks News 4B A look at Bush’s first year in office

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 22, 2002, Image 1

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