to- 6c
on.
Do You Have
What It Takes?
\ /
Become the first crfyyts s/Jo/’
and win $300, plus a special
guest appearance singing at
MSC Town HalPs Variety
Show on Parent’s Weekend!
The contest begins at 9:30ptn in the
flagroont, come early to sign in.
In the basement
9pm till 1am
Free Bowling
Free Billiards
Free Dance
Dance Revolution
Free Popcorn
«&Soda
in the 12th Man
starting at 9pm
* % y
midnight drawing for $250
must be present to win
For more information contact 845-1515
Friday Night
February 21
Must
Show
A&M ID
at
Check-in
locations
around the
MSC
In the MSC
10 _____
Friday, February 21, 2003
THE BATTALION
Kentucky factory fire injures 26
By Roger Alford
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CORBIN, Ky. — An explosion and fire at a
southern Kentucky insulation factory injured 26
workers Thursday morning, at least 11 of them
critically.
Firefighters continued to battle the blaze for
several hours before fire officials announced that
95 percent of the blaze had been contained.
The cause of the explosion at CTA Acoustics
was not immediately known; state labor inspec
tors were being sent to the site.
Authorities shut down a 13-mile stretch of
nearby Interstate 75 for about an hour because of
concerns that smoke from the plant contained
hazardous chemicals.
But Jim Tomaw, legal counsel for CTA in
Corbin, said there were no hazardous chemicals
in the plant, which makes acoustical and thermal
insulation products for the industrial and automo
tive industries.
“We don’t feel there is any great danger to the
public,” said Joe Bradshaw, emergency manage
ment director for Knox County.
Tomaw said 150 of the company’s 561
employees were in the plant at the time of the
explosion, which happened near an oven where
raw fiberglass is manufactured.
“Everybody saw a huge fireball, and every
body started running out,” said CTA worker
Roger Bales. “There was smoke and dust every
where.”
All of the employees were accounted for, said
Elizabeth Ash, a spokeswoman for the Madison
Heights, Mich.-based company.
The injured, many with severe bums, were
taken to at least five hospitals in the region.
Dr. George Liu, a general surgeon at Baptist
Regional Medical Center in Corbin, said at least
eight of the injured had burns on more than 80
percent of their bodies.
“We prepare as physicians for disasters-!
have never seen this,” Liu said. “The best thing
people can do is pray for these people.”
The Corbin hospital had received at least 15
patients, and said 11 were in critical condition,
Some were being transferred to bum centers atthe
University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington and
Vanderbilt University Medical Center in
Nashville, Tenn.
this Sunday, February 23rd at 11am
at the First Baptist Church of Bryan...
m
i
lit hen the Fork
in the Road
Forks Roain
I 1 -
visit ujujiii.fbcbrgan.org
for more info on the GAP doss,
for Graduate Students & Young Professionals.
...a part of Compass Ministries to young single adults
-making Decisions
of Integrity
NEWS IN BRIEF
Baylor student
indicted for murder
WACO, Texas (AP) -
Prosecutors are seeking the
death penalty against a former
Baylor University student
accused of killing his parents
and 17-year-old brother.
Ryan James Frazier, 19, once
an Eagle Scout, was indicted
on a capital murder chargeFeh.
11. The Victoria County District
Attorney's Office on
Wednesday filed a notice seek
ing capital punishment.
Firefighters found the bodies
of Daniel Frazier, 53; Sally
Frazier, 50; and John Michael
Frazier, 17, on Dec. 13intheit
Mission Valley home, about 10
miles northwest of Victoria.
Preliminary autopsy results
showed that they and the family
dog were stabbed to death
before the house was set on fire.
Ryan Frazier was arrested a
few days later. He remains
jailed in Victoria Counts) w\Wen
of a Si million bond.
■ ■ ■ ■ ^
In response to Nicholas Neumann’s 2/1 8/2003 article.
College Station, TX February 20, 2003; The Texas A&M University Residence Hall Association (RI1A) was shocked and chagrined by
Nicholas Neumann’s opinion article. RHA wishes to clarify any fallacies or misconceptions that Mr. Neumann placed in his article.
Mr. Neumann alleges that the internal matters that RllA has passed this year are “unimportant”. However, in order for an organization
such as RHA to grow, administrative measures are not only necessary, but are crucial. The story of the passed resolution this semester is a
perfect example of RHA representing on-campus students. The resolution to release students from classes for Muster began in a Hobby Hall
Council meeting. There, a student voiced concern of not being able to attend Muster due to a late lab. This concern was voiced by the Hobby
Hall president in a resolution that is currently on its way to President Gates.
Mr. Neumann staled that the RHA Board of Directors (BOD) “contains more than 20 positions.” This is absurd. There are exactly thirteen
appointed BOD positions listed in our bylaws. There was a resolution concerning removing voting rights from the BOD, which Mr.
Neumann alleges “failed because those who would have had their voting rights removed voted on the resolution.” The Directors's vote was
divided; furthermore, voting records show that even if the BOD had not voted, the bill would not have passed.
The business casual dress code was received well by a majority of the Residence Malls. However, RHA feels this issue was exhaustively
discussed last semester, and was only brought up in the article to stir up waters long since passed over,
Mr. Neumann is correct in the statement that RHA is “an appropriate forum? for on-campus residents to voice their opinions and concerns.
He claims this is not happening. The example of the Muster legislation proves that his claim is untrue. Individual Hall Councils have the
responsibility to bring the concerns and opinions of their residents to the General Assemblies to notify RHA of those concerns. RHA has
been working with each hall individually through roundtable discussions, liaisons, and Presidential Dinners to aid them in this responsibility.
It is hardly RHA’s fault for a lack of legislation.
RHA has represented the on-campus population on the ball Activities Council, Student Advisory Board to the Vice President of Adminis
tration, and the Student Leadership Advisory Council, to name a few. Furthermore, RHA’s right to retiuesl that a hall council's account be
frozen is well justified. If a Hall Council is not active within RHA and the on-campus community, why should they receive funds from that
community?
Mr. Neumann alleges that if a flail Council does not send two delegates to Fxec-N-Rec, a leadership retreat, “it faces the penally of not
being a recognized student organization next year.” This statement is ludicrous Student Activities offers many opportunities for student
organizations to attend the appropriate meetings to be recognized. The purpose of Exec-N-Rec is not recognition, but to develop leadership
skills and increase networking between Hall Councils. This allows Hall Councils to put on better programs. Also, if Mr. Neumann, or any
Battalion reporter, was at the RHA General Assembly on February 12th, they would have learned that RHA is taking a large financial burden
by subsidizing the cost of the expected 150 attendees by $10 per per80ti Iflltll
m
R.HA does in fact serve the residence halls, even Clements Half If Mr. Metcalf cannot recall a single thing RHA has done for his hall, he
need only look at last year’s RHA Hall of the Year plaque presented to Mr. Neumann’s Hall Council. Also, resolutions concerning Keathley
Beach and the green space behind Clements were passed by RHA, and those concerns were carried to the administration. That is representa
tive government. That is what RHA is all about.
John Casures "03 - RHA President
Guy Faith "04 - RHA Vice President of Administration
Suzmme Hill *02 - RHA Vice President of Operations
Chris Mahajfey *04 - RHA Vice President of Relations
Rex Williams *03 - RHA V ice-President of Programs
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