Aggielife: Distorted realities • Page 3 Opinion: 'Robin Hood' challenged • Page 9 nr it 17 PATTATiriM 1 rUti dAI 1AL1UIN Volume 109 • Issue 103 • 10 pages Texas A&M University www.thebatt.com Tuesday, February 25, 2003 Student fee may be raised beyond state cap Student Services Fee Total of $11.7 million currently raised: - $2.47 million to MSC - $2.37 million to Student Counseling Services - $1.68 million to Student Activities Source: OFFICE OF VP OF STUDENT AFFAIRS TRAVIS SWENSON • THE BATTALION By Rolando Garcia THE BATTALION This Wednesday and Thursday students will vote to decide whether to increase the student service fee by $8.50 per semester, raising the fee to $150 per student. The fee, which funds student pro grams and services such as the Memorial Student Center and Student Activities, can be increased by less than 10 percent without student approval. But because the proposed 6 percent hike would increase the fee to the $150 mark, state law requires that the increase be submitted to a student referendum for approval. Gabby Oroza, chair of the Student Services Fee Advisory Board, said the increase would help fund salary increases and new programs for the 17 departments that get a portion of the fee which now totals $11.7 million. “We’re not asking for an exhorbi- tant amount, and this is to provide services vital to student life,†said Oroza, a senior psychology major. If students approve the fee hike, the University has the authority to raise the fee until it hits $250, at which time another student referendum would be needed to raise the fee. Fee increases, which are recommended by the advi sory board, must be approved by the vice president of student affairs and the A&M System Board of Regents. The fee is typically raised 6 to 9 per cent every year, Oroza said. In 2001, the advisory board had a $1 million windfall when the trans portation fee was approved and stu dent service fee money was no longer given to Bus Operations, now See Service fee on page 2 Students say after-party too crowded By Bernhard Hall THE BATTALION Texas A&M students called the disturbance early Sunday morning at the Greek Olympiad Step Show after-party “wild†and said overcrowding inside Reed Arena contributed to the tense atmosphere. Melloy Baker, a junior civil engineering major, said she witnessed the rising tensions at the after party. “I saw two girls fighting, and a series of other small fights,†she said. Baker also witnessed a larger fight involving about six people, but said that it was difficult to dis- ipish between the instigators and the peacemak- ffi it was hard to see exactly who was fighting,†she said. Baker, who watched from the stands because there was no space on the dance floor, thinks the fights may have been caused by the large crowd, a, “People were too crowded, and (they) were bumping into each other,†she said. Baker said she did not witness anyone using alcohol or drugs and left before the police arrived. The Brazos County Sheriff’s Department and College Station Police Department were called to assist in the dispersement of the crowd. While attempting to clear the crowd, officers reportedly heard seven shots fired, said Bob Wiatt, director of the University Police Department. Craig Butters, a junior industrial distribution See Crowd on page 10 Cultural expression RANDAL FORD • THE BATTALION Petroleum engineering graduate student lose Rodriguez plays a four strings. Rodriguez is one of the representatives for Venezuelan Cuatro guitar in the MSC on Monday morning. The Venezuela during International Week which will conclude Cuatro guitar is similar to a regular Spanish guitar but it only has this week. Army investigates rifle range shooting THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT HOOD, Texas — The Army continues to investigate the shooting death of a Fort Hood soldier after he was shot in the back during a training exercise at a rifle range. Sgt. Benjamin Franklin Moore II, 25, from Hamilton, Ohio, was shot while conducting M-16 night fire train ing about 8:30 p.m. Friday, a Fort Hood spokesman said. Maj. Vic Harris said initial reports indicate that Moore was engaging tar gets — silhouettes of a head and body that fall when hit — when another sol dier’s M16 rifle discharged accidental ly in a subsequent firing order, striking Moore in the back. Moore was airlifted to Fort Hood’s Darnell Army Community Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival Friday night, Harris said. “This is tragic accident,†Harris, spokesman for the 1st Cavalry Division spokesman, told The Journal- News in Hamilton, Ohio. “It is highly unusual and very seldom do exercises produce any casualties.†Soldiers have to qualify in day and night training, Harris said. Moore was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1-9 Cav. His 24- year-old wife of about one year, Shauna Moore of Killeen, told The Cincinnati Enquirer for its Monday edition that her husband joined the Army in April 1999 as a way to pay for college, and had been stationed in Germany and Kosovo. Moore’s family said he had been stationed at Fort Hood in Central Texas since Septetnber. Mrs. Moore joined See Soldier on page 2 Student vote may raise rec fee By Rolando Garcia THE BATTALION Students will vote this week on whether to raise the Student Recreation Center fee by $10 per semester, adding $1 million annually to the budget of the recreational sports department. Dennis Corrington, director of recreational sports, said the increase is necessary to main tain and expand the Rec Center and intramural fields, and also to give student workers in the department a pay raise. The fee is currently $78 per semester. The fee increase would dou ble the size of the weight and fitness room in the Rec Center, which carries a $4 million price tag, Corrington said, and would also fund a $5 million expansion of the Penberthy Intramural Sports Center. This would include additional intra mural fields, new buildings for participants, walking/running trails, lakes and picnic tables. With an average annual budget growth of 5 percent, Corrington said that without the fee hike, the department will have to cut services. “We may have to cut hours at the Rec Center, and take a hard look at our programs to determine which ones are serv ing the most students at the least cost,†he said. Although the department has a $5 million reserve fund, Corrington said that money is used to help cover current budget shortfalls and for debt service on the $36 million Rec Center, which opened in 1995. Some students have voiced opposition to the fee increase and said the department should postpone expensive new initiatives. “With tuition about to go up, it isn’t the right time to be See Rec fee on page 2 lec Crater Fee Incrtasts Weight room expansion $4 million Penberthy Sports Center expansion $5 million Student worker wage increase $200,000 TRAVIS SWENSON • THE BATTALION Source: DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS Cold front brings arctic air to Texas, sleet and snow expected THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A cold front brought a blast of arctic air to Texas, threatening much of the state with snow, sleet or a wintry mix Monday night. South Texas will see a chance of a wintry mix of precipitation from the Hill Country to the northern. Piney Woods, rain scattered elsewhere, lows Monday night will range from the 20s in the Hill Country to the 30s and 40s elsewhere, with 50s along the coast. The front howled across North Texas on Sunday, bringing gusty and occasionally damaging winds. In Tyler, gusts measured at up to 46 mph toppled trees and caused widespread power outages that had repair crews scrambling Sunday afternoon and night. As many as 1,000 East Texans found them selves without power in East Texas, TXU Energy spokeswoman Kimberly Morgan told the Tyler Morning Telegraph. The lights were back on in almost all areas by Monday morning. McKinney, just north of Dallas, measured a 58 mph gust before noon Sunday. Temperatures plummeted from the 70s ahead of the front to below freezing after nightfall Sunday. The front ignited some thunderstorms in Southeast Texas, with marble-sized hail reported near Lake Livingston. The National Weather Service predicted frigid temperatures for North Texas Monday night. Sleet and freezing rain was likely south and southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with a chance of sleet. snow or a wintry mix of precipitation elsewhere in the region. Tuesday will remain cloudy and cold. Lows Monday night are expected to fall into the 20s. Highs Tuesday will remain in the 30s. West Texas and the Panhandle will see a chance of sleet or snow Monday night and early Tuesday, with patchy drizzle later Tuesday. Lows Monday night will be in the teens in the Panhandle and in the 20s elsewhere, but in the 30s in far West Texas. , Highs Tuesday will be in the 30s, with 50s and lower 60s in far West Texas.