less (price must
; personal possess^:
f item doesn’t sell,
) qualify for the 5
ncelled early.
OR RENT
a/h, all appl. including:]
d conn., 2 living area: j
1600SQFT. PREU
RPLAN FOR AUGlj
lerlies 979-775-2291.
continued from page. 8
FOR RENT
louses for rent in College Station in May
[nd June. 3-2-2 from $1100 to $1200, 4-3-
, $1400. For/more/info call Lis 777-2327
|oventry Glen Realty.
arge ibdrm duplex, fireplace, separate
Itility room with W/D connections, fenced
lard, on shuttle, no pets, $485/mo. +bills,
93-8534.
M2 townhouses, dun
i/ery spacious, newerjj
ow pre-leasing,
!0,
ianagement.com
w/d connections, Id
$1100/mo. 693-144-
lal! 2/1 nearTAMUn
ay ONLY $435/mon8i|
The Gables Apt.
Call Susan: 696-466< |
irge 3/2, on shuttle, Southwood Valley,
iosewood Villas. Preleasing for May
and August 2003. 1,215sq.fi. wash-
•/ dryer included in rent. Wesley: 739-
24 or wesleysanders@remax.net, Tom-
lye: 680-1758,
|baussie@cox-internet.com Website:
txcyber.com/~mcdowell
sase/Sublease, Year old 4/2 house,
irge Master Bedroom, Garage, w/d,
irge Backyard with A/G Pool. Call 779-
'33.
basing for May and August, nice 2/2 and
^2 units. 696-0616,224-0005.
EASING NOW and PRELEASING for
AY ‘03 and AUG ‘03! 1,2,3&4 bed-
nboms. Call United Realty for our listings
oI properties we have available. Our
FREE LOCATOR SERVICE is ready to
ti ke your call. United Realty 694-9140,
slease. May- August.
day, $100 bonus,
fully furnished, cable n
. S375/bdrm. 210-289-':
idents! Why p 8y un ited-rico.com
ind rent out the other
ee! Call (979)693-7E|
3mithOnline.com
ial.
igate, summer
/mo. all utilities
979-676-0415.
ively 2-story 4bdr/3.5ba. Yard kept,
uttle. 2404 Pintail Loop. Available-Au-
ist $1600/mo. 220-4005 (leave message
817-790-7408).
lay move in specials, CS, 2/2 4-plexes,
[immer rent reductions, broker owner.
P7-5477.
to TAMU.
ood floors.
Safe Ned
Call Jimbl
lobile home for rent. 3bdrm/2ba, 80X60,
I’OO/mo.. Chris 525-9650.
f ew 3&4bd homes in Magnolia half-way
ast 29th, huge hous tiitween BCS &Houston. Fenced, wood-
ireas, fireplace, w/d w J jyards starting at $895/mo.
yard, car port, 1800 ^ VV g randoa |< S homes.com 281-252-
10 deposit. 775-6852 A 88
n Preleasing 2,3,4-b: ^ house for rent, 1-3bdrms, $280-
Updated, pets. aK|j | 00/mo 936-582-4452, Dawn.
r 76-8984.
N ce 2/1, 2000 Longmire, new tile and ap-
n. 2/1, fenced, w/dal ances, Diane 979-220-1070.
ices, shuttle, $ r V)rlhyule- 2bdrm/2bth &3bdrm/2bth, very
1 *e. Walk to A&M. Call 846-4076.
ise, 4bdrm/4ba, large)
hen with built ins, M
le, cable, internet in I
Available May 20031 e ' le f e f ° r ^ or duplex ‘
0-913-4846, aggiemc ffl ns>nced $52d 693 . 1448i
^ow preleasing for August. 4/2,
$ 200/mo. Large house, spacious rooms,
lice neighborhood. 979-696-8975.
very nice, 2-3-4 b#* 6 ' 1 ® 336 for Ma V or August, 2/1 4-plex,
ition on shuttle ti: ^ connections, new carpet. 609 Turner,
fans, w/d, lawn JyS. 693-1448.
ok. 693-1855, 25. 1 : Pre-lease for May/August, University Oaks
duplexes, 2/2, w/d connections, fenced,
Prelease townhonulj 80,693 ' 1448 -
luel, w/d optional, ^lie-leasing for Aug!, 2bdrm/1.5bth
-8051. ®bdrm/1bth fourplexes, close to campus,
pat location, nice floorplan. 776-6079,
|vw.aggielandleasing.com
lease. 3bdrm/2btti,
Spacious kitchen. $7
!7.
}e-leasing for Aug., 2bdrm/1bth fenced
^rd duplexes. 776-6079,
elease May SAugusi yfww.aggielandleasing.com
i95. New 3/3 off —
Lawn, pest provided.
5477.
'release May &Augusl
lofts, $515; 2/2 $565-i
indera, Bosque, SanP , . , . .
Javarro $570-$620. e ; le ^9 h ,or ^ / ® nd , A " gust '
d floors, fireplaces, * ’ r " h ° use , s ' SM^fthduptexes,
. K /n )drm/2bth fourplexes, Ibdrm/lbth four-
pest. Owner/Brokei ^ .
v exes, 2bdrm/1.5bth fourplexes,
)79, www.aggielandleasing.com
service. Apartments
as, houses. Alpha Or
ter. 774-7820.
ill sizes, regular and# 333
ing at $27. Call for'
walk to TAMU,
deposit. 764-1082.
e-leasing for May &Aug. 4bdrm hous-
:, 2bdrm duplexes &fourplexes &new
idrm/3bth duplexes. Great location, nice
operties, fenced yards, w/d connections.
6-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com
776-
e-leasing May/August. Spacious
)drm/1.5bth, w/d included. Manuel Drive.
i25/$560. Cathy 268-1074.
lervice. Many houses e|ease tor May 3 bdrm/ 2 bt h house, w/d.
en s, etc. Century-21! j 12 Bristol. $1100/mo. 693-1448.
a list of properties vis"
itury21bcs.com.
elease for May. 2/1 duplex, new
,rpet/paint. 1421 Hillside $525/mo. 777-
elease May, large 3/2 house, w/d con-
ctions, good neighborhood. 2312 Bris-
il.$1,000/mo. 693-1448.
ites in great locations,
tion, 777-3371.
'releasing 4-plex. 2bdr/1.5ba, fenced,
ear campus, shuttle, 2 units available
larting May and August. $630/mo. 778-
house. Deck, 4bdmi, : 362 -
lers seeking two i® ock Hollow duplexes. 3bdrm/2bth, w/d
s line, 469-371-1904.
ookup. May and August leases. 979-324-
3/1.5/1 rural, small pasg 729 -
10. -i-deposit. Available® Semi-sublease 1-F, $280/mo. +1/3bills. 1-
fter 5. bedroom in 3bdrm/2bth duplex. On bus
oute. Available 4/4. 806-773-4740.
tued on page 9
ilouthwood Valley area. 3bdrm/2bth. 693-
488.
2,
1 Ipacious 3/2 four-plexes, w/d provided,
I rater paid, large room, walk-in closets, on
I buttle, plenty of parking. Great location.
I lay leases available. $849/mo. 774-5776.
I iww.allweatherinvestments.com
CNG!
/ailable
b. com
th of Olsen Field)
Jparkling new 2-story. 4bdr/2.5ba, wash-
r, drier, ice-maker, garage, fenced. Yard
ept. Available June or July w/August
iase. 911 Gardenia, Sun Meadows.
1600/mo. 979-220-4005/ 817-790-7408.
| lub-lease. 2bd/2bth, The Enclave. May/
I iugust, $815/mo. Call 695-9038.
iublease 1/1 apartment. Available ASAP
Aug.’03. Great location, on-site work-
ut &computer rooms &swimming pool.
1509/mo. Call 693-6693.
I Sublease available immediately, ends Au-
|ust, 2bdrm/1,5bth, w/d included,
!550/mo., close to campus, bus route,
lean, on Vassar Court. Tim, 845-1793.
Summer lease, University Commons,
!bdrm/2bth, furnished, cable, HBO, w/d,
dividual lease available, $405/mo., May
August paid -i-bills. 979-764-7662, Jessi-
:a.
summer lease, University Commons
!bdrm/2bth, furnished, cable, HBO, w/d,
idividual lease available, $400/mo., Au-
|ust paid +bills 979-693-8178, ask for
eremy.
>976
Summer Special $200/mo., 2bd/1ba and
bd/1 ba, close to TAMU. (979)485-0347,
979)680-0 1 73.
>0
Summer sublease 2bdrm/2bth. $575/mo.
utilities. Jessica 764-7746. Across from
is
nail.
Summer sublease 3-rooms in 5bdrm/2bth
ouse, $325 +bills/ room. 979-777-1724.
Summer sublease, 2/1 Willowick Apts.
75/mo. 764-8153.
FOR RENT HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE
Summer sublease 4bdrm/3bth duplex
May- August, $369/mo. +1/4 bills, 229-
4190.
Summer sublease now, townhome, May-
Aug. And year sublease in 3bdrm town-
house. 903-641-3144, 903-872-5093.
Summer sublease Sterling, Ibdrm in 4/2,
all other rooms vacant, cable& ethernet in
cluded in rent, 693-2447.
Summer sublease! Female. Private
bdrm/ba. w/d, ethernet. $350/mo.
+1/3bills. 979-229-2199, Brooke.
Summer sublease, 1/2 of new 2/2, The
Exchange, furnished, w/d in unit, on shut
tle, covered parking, $500/mo. negotiable.
(214)663-8755.
Summer sublease, Ibdrm/lbth,
$495/mo./obo, Cripple Creek Condomini
ums, pets allowed. 696-2307.
Summer sublease, 2-rooms, Rock Hollow
duplex, w/d, fenced, high-speed internet,
shuttle. $333/mo/obo before bills. 823-
9193.
Summer sublease, 2/1 furnished. Walk/
bus, $450/mo. Extension available, 979-
739-2001 Josh.
Summer sublease, May-Aug. 2/1.5,
fenced, $600/mo. John, 777-3715.
Summer sublease, private bed/ share
bath, $260/mo. +1/3bills. Diana 694-
2086.
Summer Sublease, University Commons
Apartments, 2bdrm/2bth, living room,
kitchen, w/d, Ibdrm, $400/mo./obo. +bills,
979-412-4200 Jay.
Summer sublease, University Commons.
4/2, June- Aug.17. $325/mo/obo, +1/4 util
ities. w/d, free HBO. Courlnee or Alyssa
764-6967.
Summer sublease. 1-F needed,
2bdrm/1.5bth townhouse, $275/mo. +1/2
bills, no deposit, May Free. 777-4473.
Summer sublease. 1-F, $300/mo., +1/3
bills. May paid. 1-bdrm in a 3/2 4-plex
near campus, 2-bus routes, available 5-8-
03. 693-9245.
Summer Sublease. 1-room in 3/3 duplex.
Fenced yard. $350/mo. 979-775-6059.
Summer-Fall, 2bdr/1ba, 2 story. $595/mo.
Ridgewood Village. Call Jen or Amber
(979)695-0987.
Sutter’s Mill 2bdrm/1.5bth Condo.
$899/mo., water Select, paid, w/d, garage,
pool, dogs ok. 979-778-2177.
Townhouses. 2bdrm/1.5ba., walking dis
tance to campus, bus-route. Also, garage
apartment, 20-minutes from campus, w/d
available, private swimming pool. 979-
696-0091.
University Commons apartment, May- Au
gust, Ibdrm sub-lease, fully furnished,
764-3917.
University Tower Apt. 1 bdrm furnished.
Quarters, Meals, Secure parking.
$810/mo. Contact Mr. Gleason 903-489-
1982 or Ms. Frankel 979-846-4242.
Washers & Dryers For Rent. Don’t buy,
rent a washer & dryer, $30/month (plus
tax). UniversityLeasing, Local, Faster,
Better! 764-3902
www.universityleasing.com
www.collegerentals.ee College Station's
best apartment search for college stu
dents on the internet!
FOR SALE
2/2 Mobile Home. No money down. Fi
nancing available in Rollingridge. Call
(979)324-5435.
4 Chevrolet/ GMC Rims, American Rac
ing, 15x10, 5-lug, Atlas style, like new, on
ly used for 3-mos, $450. 361-834-8896 or
979-218-4943.
CS, Brick, 3/2/2, 1600+sqft., on Burnburg.
Fence, w/d, $124,900obo. (979)224-0675.
Jeep Cherokee Laredo Chrome Nurf Bars.
Valued at $1000, selling for only
$250/obo. Call 680-9297.
Jet Ski, 1997 Seadoo XP, trailer, new mo
tor, 1-year warranty $4,500. 229-3900.
Large contemporary entertainment center.
Holds up to 36” tv. Room for other elec
tronics &media. $75. Call Holly at 739-
9669.
Trek 7700 Bicycle. Multitrack. Less than
50 Miles. $650. Perfect Condition. Call
Jack at 936-855-2255.
TV stand w/ glass doors $25, dresser $50,
shelf $25, new desk $75. Call Monika 575-
7403.
HIRING CAMP COUNSELORS: Camp
Waldemar for girls, in the beautiful Texas
Hill Country, is hiring counselors with a va
riety of skills. Waldemar has been in
camping since 1926, exceptional facilities,
great food, fun staff and a rewarding sum
mer job. Inquire about our paid intern
ships. Call 281-980-7922 for more infor
mation or go to www.waldemar.com for an
application.
Local business seeking responsible indi
vidual for PT office assistant. Duties in
clude filing, answering phones, and some
accounting. Call 979-779-7042 for applica
tion.
Looking for sales people to sell wireless
phones. Good commission, work your
own hours, extra bonus pay for exception
al performance. No experience required,
will train. Call Wireless Works, 979-694-
5315, &bring resume.
Medical office now hiring Medical Tech/
Injectionist. Great experience for student
applying to medical school. Position re
quires a one year commitment. Salary
commencery with experience. Please fax
resume to 979-776-4260 or apply in per
son at Allergy Associates, 2706 Osier
Blvd., Bryan, TX 77802.
MOVIE EXTRAS/ MODELS NEEDED.
Earn from $150- $450/day. Print modeling
and extra positions. Local castings No
experience neccessary! Call 1-888-820-
0164x1180.
Ninfa’s is now accepting applications for
servers and host positions. Apply in per
son between 2-4pm, Mon.-Thurs., 1102
Harvey Rd.
Square One is now hiring waitstaff and
kitchen staff. Must be dependable, easy
going and have a good work ethic. Please
come by to fill out an application, 211
West William J. Bryan.
The Ptarmigan Club: Hiring cocktail wait
resses, 2005 S.College, Bryan, 822-2263.
Waitresses needed. No experience nec
essary. Great money, flexible hours. All
shifts available at all locations. North-
Beltway 8 at Imperial Valley, Galleria-
Richmond at Briing Drive, South- 145 at
Dixie Farm Road. Apply in person, Rick’s
Cabaret.
YOUTH MINISTER PART-TIME. Send
resume: lola Missionary Baptist Church
(SBC), Box 220, lola.TX 77861 or
joneserl@hotmail.com, for info 936-394-
2701.
MOTORCYCLE
’01 Honda CBRF4I R/W custom decals, 2-
matching helmets, 22k miles, grad student
must sell! Call 218-7727.
1993 Suzuki GSXF-750 Katana. Runs
perfect, $2199. Call Matt 979-777-5464.
1998 Suzuki GSXR-600. Red/Black, Per-
fect Condition, never dropped, extras in
cluded, $6,000neg. Call 936-590-0854.
1998 Suzuki TL1000S, beautiful bike, call
on extras, $5,200/obo. 587-1654.
PETS
Adopt Pets: Dogs, Cats, Puppies, Kit
tens, Many purebreds. Brazos Animal
Shelter, 775-5755, www.shelterpets.org
AKC Labrador Puppies. Black, Yellow,
White. Superior Hunting Bloodline. $350.
Call Wes (979)255-5950.
Can hunt this year! Black, AKC-registered
labradors, excellent bloodline for breeding.
Hunting background, ready 4/22. $400,
taking deposits. 575-9924.
Lab puppy, black male. 10-weeks AKC,
$250. Parents hunt. 903-521-4716.
Mini Dachshund Puppies! CKC Regis
tered w/papers. Black/Tan. Male/Female,
8-weeks old on 4/9/03. $200. Very cute
&friendly! Call Today! 979-219-2261.
REAL ESTATE
3-2-2 in Bryan w/huge corner lot, fireplace,
covered porch. $83,400. Call Wesley
Sanders 739-4724 Ag/Agent Re/Max
Texas Heritage.
Condos For Sale- Sutter’s Mill @ 1500
Olympia Way #12 $77,500, &#27 $74,900;
others available May &Aug. Call Wesley
Sanders 739-4724 Ag/Agent Re/Max
Texas Heritage.
Revealed! 7 Costly Mistakes to Avoid
Before Selling Your Home. Free record
ed message 1-800-951-2018 enter
ID#1000 or visit AndrewSmithOnline.com
Broker, Century 21 Beal.
Free House Hunting Service reveals
best buys in any area and price range you
specify! Visit AndrewSmithOnline.com or
call (979)693-7653. Broker, Century 21
Beal.
Free, quick over-the-net home evalua
tion! Visit AndrewSmithOnline.com or call
(979)693-7653 Broker, Century 21 Beal.
ROOMMATES
1-F for May- August sublease. $320/mo
includes rent and 1/4-bills. Jamie, 979-
774-4682.
1-F needed. Must see! Awesome condo
May/August ‘03, 2/2, $400 +1/2 bills. 210-
497-0520.
1-Female needed, 2bdr/1bth apartment,
May-Dec. $225/mo. +1/2bills. Call Sabrina
210-273-2900.
1-M needed. Summer sublease,
2bdrm/1.5bth duplex. Lawyer Street,
$300/mo/neg. +1/2bills. 229-5028.
1-m/f for 2bdrm/2.5bth condo, on shuttle,
move in August $400/mo. +1/2bills. 281-
752-8055, klebba@houston.rr.com.
1-M/F for fall and spring, summer if need
ed, $350/mo., all bills paid. Call for more
information, 979-575-2747.
1- roommate needed for summer,
$150/mo, 4bdrm/2bth house, 3-miles from
campus, 693-8554.
2- female roommates for May, $340/mo.
+1/4utilities. 4/2 apt. w/d, ethernet, fur
nished. Call Paula 693-9764.
2-Female roommates needed for May-
August subleases, University Place Con
dos, 4/4, on shuttle, close to campus, w/d,
internet ready, $325/mo. +1/4bills. 979-
218-5731.
2-M/F roommates needed for May lease,
3bdrm/2bth house on bus-route, $320/mo.
+1/3utilities. 775-4043 or 676-0810.
3bdrm/2bth house in CS, $350/mo.
+1/3bills, +deposit. Fully furnished. 979-
690-8683.
Canyon Creek Townhomes. One Female
needed. $450/mo. 693-7728.
F-wanted , summer sublease, 3bd/3ba
townhouse, on shuttle $390, 409-770-
4244.
Female needed, summer sublease.
2bdr/2bth apartment. Free internet and ca
ble. $290/mo. +1/2bills. 693-1543.
Female roomate 1bdr-1/2bath at Universi
ty Commons, furnished. April August free.
Deposit paid. $395/mo. +1/2utilities. Call
903-785-3430 or 903-517-1582.
Female roommate needed in May for
2bdrm/1bth apartment, all bills paid.
$300/mo, call Andrea, 254-913-8331.
Female roommate needed, summer sub
lease. 2bdrm/1bth apartment. Close to
campus. W/D, $237/mo. +1/2bills. 775-
8918.
Female roommate, new 3/2/2, shuttle,
w/d, cable, internet, $350 +1/3bills. 695-
8074, 210-383-8524.
Looking for 1-or-2 female roommates to
share cute 3bdrm. house in Bryan. Call
979-823-6414.
One female summer sublease needed in
private bedroom, private bath. (979)696-
7286.
Summer sublease, 4bdrm/2bth, 1-female
needed for May- August. Total rent for 3-
months is $902, +1/4 bills. 694-7542.
SERVICES
AAA Texas Defensive Driving. Lots-of-
fun, Laugh-a-lotl! Ticket dismissal/insur
ance discount. M-T(6pm-9pm), W-
Th(6pm-9pm), Fri.&Sat.- Fri(6pm-8pm)
&Sat(10am-2:30pm), Sat(8am-2:30pm).
Inside BankofAmerica. Walk-ins wel
come. $25/cash. Lowest price allowed by
law. 111-Univ. Dr., Ste.217. 846-6117.
Show-up 30/min. early.
Free Pregnancy Test; Hope Pregnancy
Centers, College Station 695-9193, Bryan
846-1097; Post Abortion Peer Counseling
695-9193.
Skilled caring mechanic at my shop. Call
777-8711.
Two extra-large navy-blue couches $150,
solid oak dresser w/full mirror and night-
stand $150. Sarah 695-8224.
HELP WANTED
$$$Dancers, Dancers, Dancers$$$.
Flexible hours. Silk Stocking, 690-1478.
18+ only.
$250 a day potential/ bartending. Training
provided. 1-800-293-3985 ext.625.
500 Summer Jobs/ 50 Camps/ You
Choose! NY, PA, New England. IN
STRUCTORS NEEDED: Tennis, Basket
ball, Roller Hockey, Soccer, Baseball, La
crosse, Gymnastics, Lifeguards, WSI, Wa
ter-skiing, Sailing, Windsurfing, Archery,
Mt.Biking, Rockclimbing, Ropes, Piano
Accompanist, Drama, Ceramics, Wood-
shop, English Riding, Nature, Nurses. Ar
lene Streisand 1-800-443-6428;
www.summercampemployment.com
A rapidly growing Internet communications
company is hiring part-time technical sup
port representatives to work evenings and
weekends. Great opportunity for students.
Basic knowledge of computers, Internet
and email required. Fax resume to FG @
1-979-822-0732 or email to hr@nnu.com
Charli’s sales position for Spr/Sum. Op
portunity in better ladies clothing. Apply in
person. 505 University Drive East. 268-
9626.
Civil Engineering Student. Land Survey
ing Company needs part-time help. 776-
6329.
Cleaning commercial buildings at night,
M-F. Call 823-5031 for appt.
Female attendant needed for handicapped
person. Please call Kristie 823-6178.
Help Wanted: Part-time grounds keeper.
Apply at 2101 Harvey Mitchell Parkway
South or call 693-1906.
SEARCH CONTINUED
The Texas A&M University Student Media
Board is accepting applications for
The Battalion
— Including radio and online editions —
Fall 2003
(The fall editor will serve from Aug. 18 through Dec. 17, 2003)
Qualifications for editor in chief of The Battalion are:
• Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at
least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer
credits are required to graduate);
• Have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point ratio (3.00 if a graduate student) and
at least a 2.00 grade point ratio (3.00 if a graduate student) in the semester
immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester
during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4
if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester;
• Have completed JOUR 301 (Mass Communication, Law and Society), or equivalent;
• Have at least one year experience in a responsible editorial position on The
Battalion or comparable daily college newspaper,
-OR-
Have at least one year editorial experience on a commercial newspaper,
-OR-
Have completed at least 12 hours journalism, including JOUR 203 and 303 (Media
Writing I and II), and JOUR 304 (Editing for the Mass Media), or equivalent.
Application forms should be picked up and returned to Dell Bomnskie, Student Media business
coordinator, in room 011A Reed McDonald Building. Deadline for submitting application:
noon Monday, April 14, 2003. Applicants will be interviewed during the Student Media Board
Meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, in room 221F Reed McDonald.
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Diversity.
NATION 9
THE BATTALION Tuesday, April 8, 2003
NASA: foam from
earlier shuttle not
considered hazard
By Marcia Dunn
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOLfSTON — Severed foam
insulation was not considered a
hazard or a high-priority problem
even though it broke off during a
space shuttle launch just a few
months before Columbia’s
doomed flight, a NASA expert
said Monday at a hearing into the
accident.
James Halsell, an astronaut
who worked as a launch manag
er, told the accident investigation
board that the October incident
did not appear to
be a reason to
halt shuttle
flights. On this
and earlier
launches, foam
had not struck
sensitive parts of
the shuttle.
In the Atlantis
mission, the
foam that fell
during launch
struck the bottom
of one of the
strap-on booster
rockets, doing no
harm to the shuttle itself. So
Halsell and other managers pro
ceeded with the shuttle
Endeavour’s flight in November
and Columbia’s in January.
“How in the world do you
determine, how does the system
determine that there’s no safety
of flight” concern, asked Harold
Gehman Jr., the board’s chair
man and a retired Navy admiral.
“Is it judgment?”
Halsell replied that NASA
felt comfortable there was noth
ing new or generic about the
problem and that no changes or
weaknesses in the application or
manufacturing of the
polyurethane foam were made
that would have introduced
errors.
For 10 years before the
Atlantis launch, no foam debris
had fallen from this area of the
fuel tank. Because of that and the
fact that changes to the foam
were made in the interim, engi
neers thought the trouble was
solved.
But during Columbia’s
launch on Jan. 16, a 2-pound
chunk of foam ripped off the fuel
tank and slammed somewhere
along the leading edge of the left
wing. Investigators are trying to
determine whether that damage
could have been severe enough
to doom the spaceship upon re
entry.
“Did you ever think it was
possible to pop a
big enough piece
of foam off of
this external tank
to severely dam
age the shuttle
itself?” Air
Force Maj. Gen.
Kenneth Hess, a
board member,
asked a NASA
fuel tank expert.
“The answer
is yes. We have
large areas ... that
are hard to
spray,” replied Lee Foster, a
longtime Marshall Space Flight
Center employee. “Yeah, we
were always worried there’s
going to be a big piece that
comes out.”
Hess said he is perplexed
about why NASA considered the
foam problem, up until the
Columbia catastrophe, to be a
maintenance rather than a safety
issue. That’s because most of the
pieces that came off were small,
explained J. Scott Sparks, a
NASA department head for fuel
tank issues.
A new member of the investi
gation board, Sally Ride, the first
American woman in space,
asked Halsell if NASA would
have done anything differently to
address the foam problem if it
had been considered an in-flight
anomaly.
We were always
worried there’s go
ing to be a big piece
that comes out.
— Lee Foster
Marshall Spce Flight Center
Republicans begin
discussing Owen’s
judicial nomination
By Jesse J. Holland
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Stymied
by the Miguel Estrada filibuster,
Senate Republicans on Monday
moved to another White House
judicial nominee, Texas
Supreme Court Justice Priscilla
Owen.
“I hope we don’t have a fili
buster on this case, like we are
with Miguel Estrada,” said Sen.
Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a member
of the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
Republicans want a quick
confirmation vote on Owen,
who is nominated for a seat on
the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals in New Orleans.
But many Democrats and lib
eral groups oppose Owen, who
was nominated by President
Bush. Democrats have called her
an anti-abortion and pro-busi
ness judicial activist whose
opinions and rulings are overly
influenced by her personal
beliefs but have not said whether
they would filibuster to block
Owen’s confirmation.
Democrats voted her nomina
tion down in committee last year
when they controlled the Senate,
but the Republican-controlled
Senate Judiciary Committee
approved her nomination last
month.
Republicans brought Owen’s
nomination to the full Senate on
Monday and expect to talk about
it on-and-off for most of the
week. The Senate goes home for
its Easter break on Friday.
“I’m hopeful that my col
leagues will not stand in the way
of an up-or-down vote on her
nomination,” said GOP Sen.
John Cornyn of Texas. “Under
any fair standard, she deserves
confirmation, not continued
obstruction and delay.”
But one of Owen’s most
vocal opponents, NARAL Pro-
Choice America, warned
Democrats on Monday they
would be watching the Owen
vote closely and would use votes
for or against the Texas judge in
their future scorecards and cam
paign literature.
“Owen’s nomination is criti
cal to anti-choice activists’
relentless effort to pack the
courts with conservative ideo
logues, and this is precisely why
it must be stopped,” said Kate
Michelman, the group’s
president.
Republicans contend that
Democrats have distorted
Owen’s judicial record and deci
sions, and Owen said that she
would be a fair and impartial
judge if confirmed by the
Senate.
“As she has done throughout
this process, Justice Owen con
sistently demonstrated her intel
ligence, her legal acumen and
her respect for the law,” Senate
Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch,
R-Utah, said Monday.
Democrats already are block
ing a final vote on another Bush
judicial nominee they consider
objectionable.
That Democratic filibuster
against Miguel Estrada’s nomi
nation to the U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals for the District of
Columbia has lasted for more
than two months. Only two
appeals court nominees have
been approved since the Estrada
filibuster started.
“I hope this body will not
descend into a pattern of filibus
tering nominees for the Courts
of Appeals,” Sessions said.