Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2002)
z Wednesday, August 7, 2002 b-V- .. . 1 ■ I i i i i i I I'? ; i m the BATT.t DeLura I 6iv£ up, There's A)o ljAy I €aaj get JACK To (?o f)UAY Ey The Eajo of the Have You Tried \r j — /“N 10, TH . T J "S Ibex's may, We 1 ;, Pretty 5hart. Pb'll k^ooj T 1 '** Up To SosaeTHiaJG* 'TT~~V jv<ir 611/E ' ,17 a try, JPEaJCB (h^L 5EE New study finds U.S. ca lacking in resale value I Beernuts by Rob Appling i&th* Muss Cookie G©Adrian y^y/jYYTWLUssco&mewmw TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — U.S. carmakers fared poorly Tuesday in a first-ever ranking of auto resale values, with European and Japanese brands expected to keep more of their worth as used cars. An incentives war being waged by the U.S. car dealers may be contributing to the prob lem, although the study by the Automotive Lease Guide also took other important factors such as quality and past per formance into account. It was the first time the Automotive Lease Guide, which is the industry’s main authority on resale values, made public a ranking of brands’ expected future worth. Most U.S. brands came in below average; the exceptions were Jeep, produced by the Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler AG and GMC, by General Motors Corp. Volkswagen of America Inc. was found to be the brand that would best hold what’s known as residual value over the next three years. The study predicts Volkswagens will retain 52.2 percent of their worth after three years. The Volkswagen Passat was ranked best in the midsize car category. Automotive Lease Guide president Raj Sundaram said laying on incentives erodes residual values because they make the cars worth less when they’re purchased new. When a new vehicle costs less, its value erodes at a quicker rate. “Residuals have been com ing down for awhile, but now there are more problems as the automakers play games on the new car side,” Sundaram said. U.S. automakers have been offering some type of incentive for many years, but the latest battle began in September with GM’s “Keep America Rolling” no-interest financing promo tion. Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler followed, leading to a torrid sales pace at the a 1 the year that boosted2f the second-best sales .; history. The automakers kne, incentives narrowed pro!:: gins, but feared a retreat; drive away customers wb become accustomed J come-ons. The Automotive Leased awarded Toyota Motors U.S.A. top rankings intbj egories; the Tacoma ft compact truck sepEH Sequoia for the full-size segment; and thelundraf; full-size truck segment three are repeat segment from last year. Among non-luxury falling below the averel 41.S percent residual were: Buick, Che;:: Chrysler, Daewoo, D) Ford, Hyundai, Isuzu. Mazda, Mercury, Mitsi Oldsmobile, Pontiac, St and Suzuki. T1 “Rea get a NEWS IN BRIEF New York municipal workers accused of stealing millions from bank after Sept. 11 NEW YORK (AP) — In one of the largest fraud cases resulting from the terrorist attacks, thou sands of people are accused of using ATMs to steal $15 million from a municipal employees' credit union whose computer security system was damaged on Sept. 11. Sixty-six people have been arrested and 35 more were being sought in the scheme, author ities said Monday. District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said the suspects found a way to repeatedly withdraw up to $500 a day from ATMs — even if their accounts at the Municipal Credit Union couldn't cover it. Prosecutors will seek death penalty in slaying of 5-year- old California girl SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Saying the crime "shocked and outraged our community," prose cutors announced plans to seek the death penalty against the man accused of kidnapping 5-year-old Samantha Runnion from in front of her home and killing her. Alejandro Avila, 27, is accused of dragging the girl away from a playmate after he asked her for help in finding his puppy. He is charged with murder, kidnapping and two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child. 'There is no question in my mind that the person who kidnapped, molested and murdered 5-year- old Samantha should face the death penalty," Orange County District Attorney Anthony Rackauckas said on Monday. He said he would not consider a plea bargain under any circumstances. Hundreds honor Marilyn Monroe on 40th anniversary of her death LOS ANGELES (AP) — Athena DeLima placed a bouquet of roses amid an array of other floral arrangements, then leaned over and kissed the bronze name plate on Marilyn Monroe's crypt. The 20-year-old, not even born when Monroe died of a drug overdose on Aug. 5, 1962, was one of hundreds of fans keeping the Hollywood sex symbol's legend alive on Monday, the 40th anniversary of the actress' death. "To me. I'd rather celebrate her life instead of her death," said DeLima, who drove two hours from her home in Oceanside to pay tribute to Monroe. "She's still alive to me." Enrollment Continued from page 1 in electrical engineering may decide to specialize in power systems and power electronics because of the recent downturn in the telecommunications industry. Kezunovic said the recent freeze in the com puter industry may also be a contributing factor. The electrical engineering field has eight differ ent focus areas and students must look at several different factors when choosing a specialization. Kezunovic and Singh were both cautious in speculation about the future popularity of power systems and power electronics. “There is always a time delay in the react students to current events,” Kezonovic saii here is Aggieh some ti Aggie Bonfire esident Bot what’s the dec Reggie “Tl eal” McNea Beginning jner, before V iven taken a s Lufkin High 5 began. Will R fcason draws mind is “Whe I McNeal re< start by the fif Boned this sta thing no quart of Bucky Ricf Should Me effect of the market’s recent tluctuations.il: - m „ publicly? out of corporate scandals, and events sumc. going to try 01 Sept. I 1 remain to be seen. At this point a: 1^ curre nt st; enrollment numbers to such events \uv s ] 10wn t hc pas pure speculation.” | McNeal ha: Singh said he was excited about theupsi. | asn ’ t been set numbers. When No. 16 1 “EPPEI had .1 ver> strong reputation, Ik wm _ |-,j s teamn “The program is well respected by the: fans know he \ industries and by professors in the field act j n t i ie state country. Hawking Continued from page 1 Fry said. “This will also stimulate both the graduate and undergraduate studies for A&M and the physics department.” Dr. Lewis Ford, associate head of the Department of Physics, said the institute will bring top scholars in the area of physics together. “We have a very strong research group in theoretical high energy physics,” Ford said. “The idea is to have a workshop from very renowned physicists and have them work together on some particular problem in physics. “Hawking is second only to Albert Einstein in physics and is probably the most famous physicist who is living. He will bring great recognition to Texas A&M.” In addition, nine or 10 other top scholars will also be invited tions, senior qt . In the fi : against Austin with a sprainet most quarterbz . •„ ; n ctihitr from an 18-po While McN ment has been actively pm this institute since JanuanS - It 's g ood,ohavepe#|V-Ow.sv^ that kind of caliber l«. d «“ said. “It will bring greatatt solid detenses , 1 ^ nnrt d an d time again to the department and' ThJc ^° r , c attract undergraduate ate students to the departm® “This institute will also the public excited and ink ed. It’s the biggest thins department has experience recent years.” Declaration Continued from page 1 artifacts, including muskets and colonial uni forms. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was approved on July 4, 1776. It was signed by delegates from the I' 1 inal colonies. , The Declaration of Independence will display until Sept. 4. However, the Frecj Journey exhibit will remain on display unit 2003. Admission is free for all A&M and dents and faculty. This year’s with Virginia 1 klahoma all ( The 2003 sc learns, only thi toad at four of lege football. Every youn; beginning. Wh upport of 87,C McNeal kne rove it on the ome of the me |he quarterbacf ext week to bi everyone exact OPEN mnei my Wl/Pt mime for Mantes, mu vows low/ WWW.TO NIJCDAN C EC LU B.COM 1 ; 3-: t NOW OPEN! NO COVER FOR WDIES 21 AND OVER $1.00 CALL IT ALL NIGHT THUWDWGFRIDAY RACK TO RACIC UDIESNI6HTS] $1.00 mtNICS UNTIL 11PM Uso lONGNem ALL NIGHT W COVER FOR LADIES 21 AND EuDESSi I COMING WEDNESDAY $1.50 mmm 11pm FOR LADIES TH.UPM 701 UNIVERSITY DR IN THE RIVER RANCH COMPLEX OXVLL S>7^-6>S>l-a5S>S> FOR AAOREE XNJFO GIG THIS! * s 99Total Move-In Pepper Tree Apartments 2701 Longmire — College Station — 693-5731 Student Activities — Great Pool — Close to Major Shoppi n t! and Entertainment Now accepting Five Month Leases *Special does not include 5 month leases Other restrictions may apply THE BATTALION Douglas Puentes, Editor in Chief Guy Rogers, Managing/Photo Editor Richard Bray, Opinion Editor I rue Brown, Executive/Sports Editor Jennifer Lozano, Asst. Opim 011 Christina Hoffman, News Editor Lindsey Fielder, Design Direct Melissa Sullivan, Asst. News Editor Ruben DeLuna, Graphics lt0 Lycia Shrum, Aggielife Editor Sayeda Ismail, Radio Producer Rees Winstead, Webmaster Aggielife - Bethany Brown, Micah Grau, Gabe Patterson, Thomas Phillips, Teh Reed, Kelcey Reiger, Lyndsey Sage, Denise Schoppe, Melissa Stephenson, Elizabeth Webb Design/Copy Desk - Tammie Adams, Trisha Derr, Emily Hendrickson, Ryan Hewlett, Ashley Sanders, Elizabeth Webb, Rhonda Weinberg Graphics - Rob Appling, Adrian Calcaneo, Luke Carnevale, Frank Chance, Sarah Fowler, Jeff Smith, Mandy Rouquette, Travis Swenson Staff Members News - Lauren Bauml, Marian Ihde, Courtney McDona d, Melissa Sarah Watch, Jessi Watkins, Kelln „ Opinion - Andi Baca, Cayla Carr, . ^ytti Lindsye Person, Matthew MaddoX' Courtney Walsh, Michael whit '°'C D f i a pRuf Photo - Randal Ford, Joshua Ho ■ Radio - Elizabeth Martin, Diane Xavie Sports - Kevin Espenlaub, Dal as , i jastf I Advertising - Donna Berny, Melissa B Vandinter SPORT Football open to A&M heat Slocum annoi ball two-a-da to the public before the Ag Practices ai practice fiek practices will 8:40 a.m. and Gillom a< to hoops THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall an ^ ters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays anc ' e , Hr „«dia# Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send ad to The Battalion,Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station,TX 77843-1111. . fStll jeit The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Div©o n ^ Media, a unit of the Department of Journalism. News offices are in 014 Reed McDonald BuildT p one. 845-3313; Fax: 845-2647; E-mail: newsroom@thebatt.com; Web site: http://www.theba ■ ^ Advertising. Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The ! > r! 3 nm d F n D ,l0 !) a 1 l , diSplay advertisin g' cal1 845-2696. For classified advertising, call 345-0569^ are 015 Reed McDonald, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845- ^ p“ b .^ rlptl °. n - A part of the Stude nt Services Fee entities each Texas A&M student to pick up a sh# ^ ^ Battalion. Fust copy free, additional copies 25t. Mail subscriptions are $60 per school year, WO spring semester and $17.50 for the summer. To charge by credit card, call 845-2611. GRl h * I pc Sushi 9 * I California 113 College }