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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2003)
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(and if you're a bit naughty, they might share) Aggie Owned and Operated ■ easy online ordering ♦ hand-delivered locally ■ shipped nationally www.velvetribbonbaskets.com C otvstr uct i° n Scie^ Career Fait Session II February 10, 2003 Langford Building A Facial Acne? If you have mild to moderate facial acne, you may qualify for a medical research study of an investigational topical medication. • Male and Female 12 years of age and older; • Reimbursement for time and travel. Study-related medical assessments, diagnostic tests, and medication are provided to qualified participants at no charge. JWiscoveJRSesearch inc. (979) 776-1417 (888) 438—9686 ton troo / STUDENT GOVERNMENT TUX ASSOCIATION VS A&M UNIVRRSITY Election Commission Howdy A g s ! You are invited to make a difference at Texas A&M! Event: File to run for Student Body President, Yell Leader, Student Senate, '04 - 7 06 Class Council, or RHA Date: February 10-14 Place: MSC Foyer Time: 10AM - 3PM RSVP: To run for one of these positions, you must first file with the Election Commission. Questions? Call 862-2606. 4B STATE Monday, February 10, 2003 THE BATTALION Space shuttle debris stolen At least nine people may face charges in shuttle theft By Jamie Stengle THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NACOGDOCHES, Texas — A three- day amnesty period to turn over looted shut tle debris brought in hundreds of pieces of the shattered Columbia, but officials said Saturday that people are still illegally hoarding debris and at least nine could soon face charges. “We’re down to nine investigative com plaints turned over to a U.S. attorney in Lufkin,” Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss said. Using tips from resi dents, the county has compiled a list of peo ple who might have shuttle parts. Federal authorities offered the amnesty period Wednesday after arresting two peo ple, accused of taking a circuit board and a piece of thermal insulating fabric, and lead ing both into the courthouse in handcuffs in view of photographers and TV camera crews. Both pleaded innocent to charges of stealing government property and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Their trials are set for April. Malcolm Bales, an assistant U.S. attor ney based in Lufkin and chief of the crimi nal division of the Eastern District, said Saturday afternoon no further arrests or indictments have been made so far. Meanwhile, searchers combing East Texas for pieces of the shuttle on Saturday found what appeared to be a door panel from a wheel well. It weighed about 300 pounds and was found in Nacogdoches County. Kerss said several searchers who had been in Nacogdoches County were called into other areas. Officials have called the response to the amnesty overwhelming, with hundreds of pieces turned in since it began Wednesday. “We feel like it was a real success,” Bales said Saturday. We’re down to nine investigative complaints turned over to a U.S. attorney in Lufkin. — Thomas Kerss Nacogdoches County sheriff Kerss said officials received a package by mail that had no return address but was postmarked during the amnesty period. He also said 10 pieces had been turned in by people who were out of town until recently or who had gotten tired of waiting for authorities to pick up the items. Bales did not immediately have the total number of cases that had been for warded to him. He said he hoped the amnesty program reinforced to people how important it was to turn in possible shuttle debris, especially since people are going to find this stuff for months and years to come. In Nacogdoches County alone, 35 people turned in 117 pieces of debris under the pro gram, Kerss said. He said they would continue to search for anyone who had shuttle material illegally. “We will have some search teams begin visiting flea markets,” Kerss said. Bales said that they will evaluate any cases turned over to them and determine if there was evidence of intent to steal the item. Saturday was the biggest day for volun teers, said U.S. Forest Service spokes woman Holly Morgan. About 1,800 people showed up to help in Sabine County. Kerss said much of the support from the state has been deferred into Sabine County. He added that said National Guard members have been sent to San Augustine County. “It’s my understanding that the resources now being called into the Sabine County area are to help coordinate some organized search efforts there for some key areas NASA has reason to believe may contain sites they believe need to be searched in a very timely fashion,” he said. Harris County officials consider gas tax HOUSTON (AP) — Harris County’s top official wants motorists in the eight-county Houston area *o pay a special regional gas tax to help cover the region’s massive transportation costs once state and federal dollars are spent. Some, particularly mass transit supporters, fear the plan might be a way to circumvent the commuter rail dreams of the Metropolitan Transit Authority. To the contrary, Eckels said the money could be used to boost rail plans and pay for a system to clear the area’s chron ically clogged roads. “The key to all of this is that there is more that unites us than divides us on this issue,” Eckels said. “We can do more together to move people than we can each do on our own.” Many questions remain, such as how a new transportation author ity would be structured and who would control it. Plus, voters statewide likely would need to pass judgment on it. “If it can be set up in a way that is truly representative of every one, as opposed to being controlled by people with special interests. that would be a good thing for the community,” said Metro board chairman Arthur Schechter. Currently, the state levies a 20 cent-per-gallon gas tax, last raised in 1991, in addition to the 18.4-cent federal tax. Of the state money, 15 cents goes to highway funding and a nickel goes to education, so officials would have to decide how — or if — to split a regional tax. State Sen. Jon Lindsay, R-Houston, who is considering drafting legislation that would create the regional authority, said he might con sider a bill to allow all of the new money to go toward transportation. Eckels said each agency involved would be an equal participant, as they are in Gulf Coast Regional Mobility Partners, a group led by former Greater Houston Partnership chaimian Jim Royer. Eckels and Royer said the region will need $45 billion in mot# ty projects done by 2025 but expect to have only $20 billion to$15 billion to pay for it. Crafting details and support for a regional authority could take years, Lindsay said. Explore your career potential at www.gecareers.com or check for us at your career center Aircraft Engines • Consumer Products • Consumer Finance • Commercial Finance • Equipment Management • Industrial Systems Insurance • Medical Systems • Plastics • Power Systems • NBC • Specialty Materials • Transportation Systems 'J Tech T heU. of Ju: launc tion into tht associate pr gy at Texas concerning ters of recoi Michael Dii guidelines t writing lette mendation t post-gradua students wh tion, accord Times. Spa\ the Liberty of Christian tion wastes when Dini c ing wrong. Liberty L Sasser corre Daily (Texa; per) that the Amendment “One thir is deny studi race, gender Sasser said. 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