THE BATTALION n is leaving fora s weekend. The i a cross-country igeles. lers uture 5y declaring it’s it past behind us.” i suffering, enouft gh pain. Let us si th courage and # )n to the future wei e said. > leaders, joined by )inet ministers and withdrew for W ks aimed at resolvins er their next moves, te pace of an Israel drawal from Wesl and the scope of ai lease of Palestinian loners. [tiers agreed to reac- littees set up durins rs of peace efforts in to discuss issues curity, prisoners and s, according to of i sides. The commit- jspended during lie mce. =: Nov. 6,2003 t 4-7 iduate Studies ig office ed, assign you | iation UDENTS® JSH DR., !\S 77840-2918 D50 vork.com Aggielife: The red, white and blue • Page 3 Opinion: Legalizing sodomy • Page 5 THE BATTALION Volume 109 • Issue 163 • 6 pages 109 Years Serving Texas A&M University www.thebatt.com Thursday, July 3, 2003 A&M to receive $8M for terrorism research By Sarah Szuminski THE BATTALION A bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee last week, written by U.S. Rep. John Carter, will award Texas A&M $8 million in fund ing for counter-terrorism research and other projects. The Department of Defense appro priations bill is for fiscal year 2004. “These funds will help develop the next generation of technology that will help us win the war on terrorism,” Carter said. The money will be split between two projects: $5 million will go toward a quantum optical science and engi neering joint project with The University of Texas and Rice University, and $3 million will be used for a project with UT involving systems for sampling and detecting bioaerosols. Cathy Reiley, assistant vice chancel lor for external affairs, said the field of quantum optics leads to applications of national security, including laser anthrax detectors, new kinds of subma rine detectors and optical trip wires. The bioaerosol sampling and detec tion developmental project will be coordinated with the needs of the U.S. Army to produce lightweight, low- power bioaerosol sampling devices that can be remotely operated for extended periods of time, she said. Carter said thaf through these proj ects, important advancements will be made in the fields that counteract vari ous types of terrorist attacks. He described laser technology that, when beamed through an area, would show hazardous particles in the air. “In the event of another raid on the post office this technology can be set up, and it will ‘see’ any anthrax in the air,” he said. Carter also received approval of his request for additional funds for the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center, which was created by Congress in 1998 and is located at A&M. Past funding has enabled the devel opment of training programs that pre pare first responders to act in response to weapons of mass destruction. The program currently consists ■ of eight incident response courses and will increase to 17 courses thanks to the incoming funds. “These funds will continue our important mission of preparing state See Terrorism on page 2 Food for thought Ag prof Rosson studies international agriculture for the U.S. TERESA WEAVER • THE BATTALION Professor C. Parr Rosson III teaches upper level international agricultural economics classes at Texas A&M. He is a director at the Center for North American Studies at A&M and also a United States trade representative for the Agriculture Trade Advisor Commission. By C.E. Walters THE BATTALION B eing exposed to agri culture through a fami ly-owned farm, grain elevator, cotton gin and farm supply store, C. Parr Rosson III became interested in the field at a young age. izmmL Rosson, a professor of agri cultural economics, was recently appointed a member of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in grains, feed and oil seeds. Rosson grew up in Taft, Texas, a town 18 miles outside of Corpus Christi. He received three degrees from Texas A&M including a bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 1971. Rosson received a master’s degree and a Ph.d. from A&M, both in agri cultural economics. Rosson spent several years working at Clemson University, but he has been teaching at A&M since 1989. He teaches two courses, international trade in agriculture and international agribusiness marketing. “I really enjoy what I do and 1 really enjoy doing it here in Texas,” Rosson said. “It’s partly related to being able to identify with the agriculture in the state and the people who operate pro duction, marketing and distribu tion in the state.” Rosson spent six years serv ing in the U.S. Army before returning to A&M to do graduate work. He said his time serving helped him develop focus and discipline and improved his abil ity to work with others. His work in the Army helped motivate him to work on an international level. “Most of my interest in inter national activities came about from traveling,” Rosson said. “(It gave me) a deeper understanding of international policy.” Rosson also works with NAFTA, analyzing border agri culture-related disputes between the United States and Mexico, and the United States and Canada. “We began to do some assessments of what NAFTA might mean for Texas agricul ture,” he said. Rosson has also studied how irrigation water shared between Texas and Mexico can affect crops such as cotton, citrus fruit and sugar cane. “It helps to have some insight on how those things will affect Texas,” Rosson said. Rosson also serves as the See Rosson on page 2 Officials promote safety this Fourth By Megan Orton THE BATTALION The College Station and Bryan Police Departments are warning local residents that they will crack down on fireworks and alcohol code violations to make sure patrons celebrate safe ly this Fourth of July. To avoid getting in trou ble, officials said the best way to celebrate safely is to enjoy a professional fire works display such as the one at the George Bush Presidential Library Complex, and to celebrate in moderation. Bart Humphreys, College Station Fire Department public infor mation officer, said resU dents need to consider the consequences before they use any type of fireworks. “Possession, use and sale of fireworks within 5,000 feet of the city limits is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by fines up to $2,000,” he said. Humphreys said there are some guidelines every one needs to follow when using fireworks: always read and follow label instructions; have an adult present and never give fire works to small children; only buy fireworks from reliable sellers and never attempt to make your own fireworks; malfunctioning fireworks should never be re-lit and make sure to only ignite one device at a time. The Texas Department of Transportation has stepped up law enforce ment aimed at drunken drivers as part of a nation wide effort to get impaired drivers off streets and highways. Texas currently leads the nation in alco hol-related deaths and officials hope to reduce alcohol-related crashes this summer. The campaign, headed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, prompted Tx'DOT to institute a step ping-up of statewide enforcement from June 27 through July 13. New tele vision and radio announce ments will be aired to insti tute the “Drink, Drive, Go to Jail” message. “Our message to all drivers is simple and direct: If you drink and drive, you See Fourth on page 2 Independence Precautions » Go to professional fireworks shows “■ The sale, use and possession within 5000 feet of city limits is illegal Have a designated driver Limit noise. Bryan Police Department has issued a zero tolerance policy RUBEN DELUNA • THE BATTALION SOURCE: COLLEGE STATION FIRE DEPARTMENT, BRYAN POLICE West Nile virus reappears in Brazos Valley WEST NILE VIRUS RUBEN DELUNA • THE BATTALION SOURCE: BRAZOS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Man sentenced to 15 years in post-step show robbery By Melissa Sullivan THE BATTALION Brazos County health offi cials are warning residents to take precautions after two dead birds found in Bryan tested pos itive for the mosquito-borne West Nile virus. The two birds were found at Carrabba Street and Old Kurten Road. Infected mosquitoes were also found at a house on Redbud Street off South College Avenue in Bryan. The virus appeared in Texas a year ago and made its way to the Brazos Valley last September. Dr. Jim Olson, an entomolo gist in the College of Veterinary Medicine, said he was predict ing the virus to return to the area eventually, but not this early. Right now, he said, residents need to take precautions. “I say don’t panic, protect,” be said. Olson said it was important for residents to keep mosqui toes out of the house because that is where he sees the biggest problem. Don Plitt, who is in charge of coordinating Brazos County’s response to West Nile, said to fol low the “four D’s” to decrease the risk of contracting the virus. They include: staying indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, dressing in long sleeves and pants, using repellent with the chemical DEFT outside, and draining standing water from tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters. Plitt said with the summer just beginning, he knows it will be hard for people to take the advice to stay inside. He said people had an easier time oblig ing last year because when the virus arrived, the summer had ended. “This year (the virus) popped up early,” he said. Plitt said that larvicide dunks, which can be placed in standing water to kill mosquito larva before they become adults, are an inexpensive, effective way to deter mosquitoes from biting. Those who are bitten have a slight chance of contracting the virus, Plitt said. “Fewer than 1 percent of those bitten become severely ill. That is one in about 100, so it is a small chance.” The virus affected 200 of Texas’ 254 counties last year, Olson said. Birds contract the disease and pass it on to mos quitoes that feed on them. The mosquitoes can pass the virus to humans and animals while they bite and take blood. Plitt said it is up to the See West Nile on page 2 Staff &Wire A man convicted of robbing two Prairie View men outside of Reed Arena with a handgun was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday. Cornelius Quana Ferrell, 21, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery and will serve at least half of his sentence before he has the option of parole. Two victims flagged down a University Police Department officer and told him that they had been robbed in the Reed Arena parking lot after the Feb. 23 Greek Olympiad Step Show. According to police reports, the victims said Ferrell and three other men approached them and asked if they wanted to return to Ferrell’s Ramada Inn hotel room to party. Ferrell then asked the victims for change for a $100 bill. When the victims said they didn’t have change, Ferrell pulled a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and demanded their money. They handed over approxi mately $1,000. The police went to the Ramada Inn and arrested Ferrell and three other men with him. The other three men were later, released because the vic tims could not positively iden tify them as having been involved in the robbery, according to the Bryan- College Station Eagle. Rob Neal, Ferrell’s attor ney, could not be reached for comment. UPD documented 19 vehi cles broken into or vandalized and shots fired into the air after the show.