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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2003)
NATlJ rHE BAT tali] COStl s in health caret the* care tfifty need Hgh napa ki some doctors to move nm Aggielife: Band on the run • Page 3 Sports: Softball team ready for new season • Page 7 nr it 17 OATTATinXT 1 nii 15 A i 1 ALlUiN Volume 109 • Issue 84 • 12 pages Texas A&M University www.thebatt.com Wednesday, January 29, 2003 STATE OF THE UNION ^Saddam ‘deceiving not disarming’ flush juggles war message with domestic issues, tax cuts By Ron Fournier THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON BwWing a ase for war against Iraq, President ?ush said Tuesday night he has sh evidence that Saddam Hussein :eks to “dominate, intimidate or Hack” with weapons of mass struction that he could share with errorist allies. Bush pledged to ‘fight with the full force and might f the United States military,” if lecessary, to disarm Iraq. “A future lived at the mercy of ‘errible threats is no peace at all,” [the president said in a State of the nion address that also put forward ix cuts, Medicare changes and ther domestic policies geared President’s address Key issues of the State of the Union address: Tax cuts to stimulate the economy - Eliminate federal NJCjiax on corporate dividends, cut 0 marriage tax penalty and raise child credit effective this year. /JV Healthcare - More choices for seniors and prescription coverage from Medicare, reform medical liability laws. Environment - Develop hydrogen-powered cars, pass Clear Skies legislation. ^ Compassion - $15 billion for V J AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean, money for drug treatment and educational mentors at home. Homeland Security - A new Terrorist Threat Integration Center and $6 billion for bioterror preparedness. I /4TN War with Iraq - If Saddam does [ r „^ not fully disarm, U.S. will lead a coalition to force him. SOURCE: White House toward his 2004 re-election drive. For the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks transformed him into a wartime president, Bush faced the nation amid serious questions about his leadership. Most Americans don't approve of his handling of the economy, polls indicate, and only a bare majority support his policies on Iraq — an area where the president enjoyed support of more than 80 percent a year ago. The first half of Bush’s hour-long address was devoted to domestic policy, a reflection of his desire not to let Iraq overshadow domestic issues dear to Americans. The heart of his package is a $674 billion plan to revive the economy, mostly with tax cuts, and a $400 billion, 10-year proposal to overhaul Medicare, sprinkled with initiatives to combat AIDS, produce energy-efficient cars and give religious groups access to federal community service money. After an address interrupted 77 times by applause. Democrats chal lenged Bush’s efforts both at home and abroad. “Tonight, the president used all the right rhetoric, but he still has all the wrong policies,” said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D- S.D. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said he would introduce a resolution requiring Bush to present “convinc ing evidence of an imminent threat” before sending troops to fight Iraq. “Instead of rushing down the path to war with Iraq, the American people deserve a full debate,” Kennedy said. Top GOP congressional leaders sounded eager to get to work on Bush’s legislative agenda. “We’re about to get this ball rolling,” said Prof: War rhetoric drives speech By Melissa McKeon THE BATTALION KRT Campus President George W. Bush, backed by Vice President Dick Cheney, left, and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, addresses a joint session of Congress as he delivers his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday. House “Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois. “We’re ready to go,” agreed Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. Bush offered no new evidence to support his charges against Iraq, but said Secretary of State Colin Powell will go to the U.N. Security Council next Wednesday to present the U.S. case. “We will consult, but let there be ho misunderstanding: If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm for the safety of our people, and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him,” the presi dent said. Key allies, including France and Germany, oppose mili tary action in Iraq and want Bush to See Bush on page 2 President George W. Bush’s State of the Union speech Tuesday contained classic war rhetoric when referring to Saddam Hussien, said Dr. Kurt Ritter, professor of communication. “It was a characterization of the opponent. We’ve heard the same talk going into World War I and World War II,” Ritter said. “He character ized Saddam Hussein as savage, irrational and aggressive. He used the philosophy of might makes right.” Bush summarized the threat the White House sees from Saddam and tied him into the ongoing war against terrorism. “The gravest danger facing the world is out law regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical and biological weapons,” Bush said. “These regimes could use those weapons for blackmail, terror and mass murder. They could also sell those weapons to terrorist allies.” Bush’s speech was mostly concerned with the war against Iraq, Ritter said. “The first part of the speech (concerning issues like the economy) was a prelude and he did not really have a summary tying together the domestic policies,” Ritter said. In detailing the threat posed by Saddam, Bush cited a link between Iraq and al-Qaida during the latter part of the speech. Mark Vernon, a member of Corps of Cadets Company 1-1 and a senior recreational park and tourism sciences major, said he is ready to go to war if called, and agrees with the comments made by Bush during the speech. “I support the president because it is our duty to support the leaders who are trying to act in all our best interests,” Vernon said. “Iraq has been breaking rules and regulations, all while mock ing the U.N. and those countries trying to enforce them. I fully support the decision, should it be made, to go to war.” Bush said that Saddam has shown “utter con- See Local on page 2 □-lot ount. m.-9 p.m. >:3<) p.m.) Emergency vehicles allowed to bypass security gates :arly. 1 Nails Best!! By Hedish Connor THE BATTALION The Bryan City Council decided Aiesday to allow emergency vehicles E d buses to enter gated communities thout having to pass through security ystems. Several Bryan residents expressed :oncem for the safety of residents inside I ;ated communities, worrying that time lelays could be the difference between ife and death. One resident described a horrific instance of the consequences a matter of minutes could make. He said a friend who resided in a gated community died in a fire before help from the fire depart ment was able to gain access to his neighborhood. According to the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Bryan has no gated com munities, but the City Council decided to discuss the ordinance before developers approach the city and accesibility becomes a problem. Councilman Paul Madison said the change will create an “ideal situation” because emergency workers will not have to be dropped off outside the gates to enter the community. The council also postponed until Feb. 11 discussion of a zoning request for a planned development on 17.163 acres located at Coulter Drive. More time was allowed for contractors of the develop ment and residents of surrounding areas to gain support from those involved. Local residents expressed concern that the development would be built on a flood plain where drainage problems would arise. Sharon Anderson, a Bryan resident who lives near the proposed neighbor hood, said an increase of 400 cars on the road would cause a significant change in traffic flow on Coulter Drive. The council heard the complaints, but said it did not want to impose on the con tractors. Recently, there have been complaints made by community members about Bryan Police Chief Ken Burton. Police officers spoke in defense of Burton at the meeting, responding to complaints voiced about Burton by com munity members prior to the meeting. Mary Kaye Moore, city manager of Bryan, said that a survey within the police department showed “overwhelm ing support” for Burton. “Burton increased the morale of investigators and police officers in the department,” said John Mann, a detective in the Bryan Police Department. Moore said it was good to hear the officers publicly support their boss. “We knew support was there but it had been quiet while the opposition’s (side) was heard,” said Moore. As city manager, Moore acts as Burton’s employer and has the authority to terminate employment of a police chief at any time. System headquarters to move By Brad Bennett THE BATTALION bruary 17, 2003 The lack of funding that led Texas A&M president Robert M. Gates to issue a hiring freeze his week hasn’t hindered the remodeling of a 59.6 million facility intended to house the A&M University System. The new system headquarters will be located n the College Station Business Park at 200 Technology Way, south of Greens Prairie Road on | he eastern access road to Highway 6. The project pill consolidate system administration, staff and Agencies and save on rent, said Tim Donathan, lixecutive director of facilities and planning for I the A&M System. “This decision was carefully evaluated by the (Board (of Regents) and System before construc- |ion began,” Donathan said. Construction project manager Steve Smith said he project is on track and expected to be com pleted by June 2003. According to Systems Communications Director Bob Wright, the construction will save money by moving four of the System’s agencies into current system headquarters, eliminating the ent those agencies are now paying to private ompanies. System Headquarters Building * Cost: isle million Location: 200 Technology Way Construction began: Nov. 2002 Expected completion: Juno 23, 2003 Source: Texas A&M University System Office Ruben DeLuna • THE BATTALION “Rent is the number one reason (for the con struction),” Wright said. The Health Science Center, Texas Forest Service, Technology Leasing Office and Internal Audit are currently paying a combined total of more than $60,000 a month in rent, he said. “The idea is not to keep paying rent forever; most years the rent goes up,” Wright said. Centralizing the agencies to the John B. Connally Building, located off Tarrow Drive in College Station, will aid interagency See Building on page 2 Courts give ticket amnesty By Esther Robards- Forbes THE BATTALION Students who have not yet taken care of outstanding war rants from traffic and moving violations, disorderly conduct, failure to appear in court or minor in possession charges could face arrest beginning Monday, Feb. 3, if they do not take care of unpaid fines by Friday, Jan. 31. Officials from Brazos County have teamed up with the cities of Bryan and College Station to offer an amnesty period so students would have extra time to clear their records. More than 4,000 outstanding Class C warrants have not been acted upon by officials in the two cities for the past month. On Feb. 3, a “warrant roundup” will begin, said Ken Burton, the Bryan Police Chief. “This is a golden opportunity for people to take care of busi ness and avoid being arrested,” Burton said. “Once this amnesty period ends, every time a person with an outstanding warrant gets in their car, they need to worry: ‘Am I going to go to jail? Will they get me on my way to work or school?’ This is a good and cheap way to settle the issue and not be saddled with later incon venience,” Burton said. Individuals with outstanding Class C warrants can pay their fines before Friday and avoid a $50 warrant fee and possible arrest. If arrested, the penal ties include the original ticket fee, a warrant fee, bail and court and legal fees. Class C misde meanors include traf fic and moving vio lations, disorderly conduct, fail ure to appear in court and minors in possession. College Station Municipal Court Judge Ed Spillane said he would like to have as few stu dents as possible arrested. “We see a lot of (A&M) stu dents in our courts and we See Courts on page 2 Avoiding Arrest To handle f ines, call one of the following numbers: City ef Brywn College Station Municipal Court irosoi County Sheriff’s Office 20***400 ?*4*2*§3 3*f«4f*§ Deadline! Friday, 3mm* 31 S p.m. Source:: City or Bryan, City of College Station Ruben DeLuna • THE BATTALION