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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 2003)
Sports- Fra n brin 9 s cold front to Texas • Page 3 Opinion: Right to privacy • Page 5 B attat ton J\ 1 1 /VLilwii TH Volume 109 • Issue 184 • 6 pages Brown, Hagler to speak at commencement 109 Years Serving Texas A&M University www.thebatt.com Monday, August 11, 2003 By Jacquelyn Spruce THE BATTALION Two highly respected men of the Aggie family, Rep. Fred Brown and lonl. Hagler, will speak at the com mencement ceremonies Friday at Reed Arena, said Lane Stephenson, deputy director of the office of University Relations. Stephenson said both men have actively helped provide quality serv ice for Texas A&M for a number of years. “Both are highly distinguished,” Stephenson said. “They have repeat edly demonstrated a love for Texas A&M.” Brown represents District 14 of the Legislature, which includes Bryan-College Station. He attended A&M and has maintained strong ties to the University, Stephenson said. “He works very closely with A&M and legislative matters,” Stephenson said. Kris Reyes, Brown’s legislative director, said Brown plans to give an inspiring speech for graduate stu dents in the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, as well as graduates in the colleges of agriculture and life sciences, liberal arts and veterinary medicine at 9 a.m. Friday. “He plans to share some of his experiences in life, both professional ly and personally,” Reyes said. Hagler co-chaired A&M’s Vision 2020 project and has displayed his dedication to the University by par ticipating in various leadership positions. Hagler graduated from A&M in 1958 and has received the “Distinguished Alumni” award. Recently, he was named trustee emer itus of the Texas A&M Foundation. Hagler will speak to the gradu ates in the colleges of architecture, business, education and human development, engineering, geo sciences and science at the 2 p.m. ceremony Friday. Stephenson said the process of choosing speakers for each com mencement is detailed and begins with suggestions from the Aggie family. “Suggestions are then evaluated,” Stephenson said. “Ultimately, the president and his office make the final decision.” Reyes said Brown looks forward to speaking to the graduates and is anxious to share his experiences. He said much of what Brown has learned throughout his life can be attributed to his community involvement. RUBEN DELUNA • THE BATTALION See Speakers on page 2 source: university relations August commencement at Reed Arena n • Represents District 14, which includes Bryan-College Station • Attended Texas A&M • Will speak Friday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. Jon L Hagler • Co-chaired Vision 2020 • Texas A&M, Class of 1958 • Will speak Friday, Aug. 15, 2 p.m. VP Southerland By Jodi Rogers THE battalion T exas A&M Vice President for Student Affairs J. Malon Southerland calls his 36-year career at A&M “remarkable.” Southerland, who graduated from A&M in 1965, will retire at the end of the month. bphekhbbbik BmBprL “My experiences have been remarkable, from the highest highs to Ihe lowest lows,” Southerland said. “And the appreciation that 1 have for the quality of young people that par ents have helped come to Texas A&M is off the map because what they can do is off the map.” Southerland said he got to know thousands of students through the 16 different positions he has held at A&M. Southerland doesn’t have a replace ment, but will be here to assist when one is chosen. “When the decision was made to not fill my position after the first set of interviews, (A&M) president (Robert M. Gates) offered the interim V.P. job to one of my associates,” he said. “At that point it was simple. Whenever somebody was selected, it was my intention at the right moment during the summer, to come to our development office.” Southerland said he feels the time is appropriate to retire. “The key reason is the opportunity that I’ve had to interact with the high est quality of young person that we have in this country; it’s been elite,” he said. Southerland quoted the saying, “You never know what a student hears.” He said this presented him with an opportunity to speak to untold See Southerland on page 2 True tradition retires after 36 years of leadership by example RANDAL FORD • THE BATTALION Vice President of Student Affairs J. Malon Southerland retires from his post at the end of August. Liberia dictator to step down By Glenn McKenzie & Ellen Knickmeyer THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MONROVIA, Liberia — President Charles Taylor delivered a farewell address Sunday to a nation bloodied by 14 years of war, declaring him self “the sacrificial lamb” to end what he said was a U.S.-backed rebel war against his besieged regime. Taylor, sitting solemnly with folded hands, recorded the address in front of a Liberian flag at his home, for broadcast on the evening before he was to hand power to Vice President Moses Blah at one minute before noon (7:59 a.m. EDT) on Monday. “I do not stop out of fear. I do not stop out of fright. I stop out of love for you, my people,” Taylor declared, adding, “I fought for you.” He accused the United States of arming Liberia’s rebels, calling it an “American war” and suggesting it was motivated by U.S. eagerness for Liberia’s gold, diamonds and other reserves. In Washington, a senior Bush administration official said he wasn’t aware of a claim by Taylor about the United States and the rebels in Liberia, but that it would be false to claim the United States was arming or funding rebels. Speaking slowly, with a raspy voice, the Liberian leader declared: “I love this country very much. This is why I have decided to sacrifice my See Liberia on page 2 Taylor bids farewell to wartorn Liberia Liberian President Charles Taylor told his wartorn nation that he would step down from power to stop the bloodshed. The address was his first formal word that he would hand over power. The resignation ceremony is Monday. Profile ► Taylor, 54, was born in Liberia and earned an economics degree from Bentley College in Waltham. Mass, in the 1970’s. Taylor ► Returned to Liberia after the 1979 regime change and took a job as head of the General Services Administration there. ► After embezzling $1 million, he escaped to the United States and later was jailed in Boston. ► He escaped from jail and fled to Libya where he became a revolutionary under Moammar Gadhafi's regime. ► Respected in Liberia as the country's strongest war lord, he won the presidency in 1997. ► He was indicted for war crimes June 4, 2003 for his involvement in Sierra Leone civil war, promised to leave Liberia. ► After rebel fighting in Monrovia and pressure from West African leaders, Taylor promised Aug. 2 to cede power. ► In an address, Taylor says he will transfer power to Vice President Moses Blah. SOURCE: Associated Press AP Just passin’ through SHARON AESCHBACH • THE BATTALION Graduate Student Council President Josh Peschel (left) and former GSC member Darren Pierson stroll toward the pedestrian passageway Thursday. The passageway, connecting West Campus to the main campus under Wellborn Road, officially opens today. A sno cone stand is expected to be opened under the passageway, which is composed of 250,000 bricks and cost $13 million to construct. The Battalion will resume publication on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Boy dies as shelling intensifies in Israel By Gavin Rabinowitz THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHLOMI, Israel — Israeli warplanes attacked suspected Hezbollah posi tions in southern Lebanon on Sunday, hours after the group shelled northern Israel, killing a 16-year-old and wounding five others, including an infant. The boy was the first civilian killed in an attack by the guerrilla group in the area since Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon in May 2000, officials said. The attacks came amid an increase in border vio lence following months of calm, raising fears of wider conflict with Syria and Lebanon. Earlier Sunday, Israel’s foreign minister warned those countries to restrain Hezbollah, or “we will have no choice but to defend ourselves.” Aides to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, however, that Israel is try ing to avoid an escalation and would try to resolve the situation through diplomat ic channels. Also Sunday, Sharon told his Cabinet that the U.S.-backed plan for Palestinian statehood would not move ahead until the Palestinians carry out their pledge to dismantle militant groups. The military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, said later that Palestinian security forces weren’t doing enough to stop attacks. Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat said it was Israel, rather than the Palestinians, which was failing to live up to its com mitments. The cross-border fight ing began this month. On Friday, Hezbollah, a mili tant Lebanese group backed by Syria and Iran, fired artillery toward Israeli bor der posts, drawing return fire. It was the first such exchange in eight months. Border attacks escalate Israeli warplanes attacked suspected Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon after the group shelled northern Israel, killing a teenage boy. The attacks came amid an increase in border violence after months of caim. Israeli warplanes retaliate against Hezbollah s Q J Beirut LEBANON - r SYRIA 1 i ' Golan''. 0 30 m , J isRtgr7 ° / W r SOURCE: Associated Press The military ■ said the Israeli aircraft hit Hezbollah artillery positions from which the tank shells had been fired at Shlomi, a working-class town of about 6,000 people close to the border. Hezbollah said the shelling was in retaliation for the Aug. 2 killing of Hezbollah security official Ali Hussein Saleh by a bomb in his car south of Beirut. Israel refused to comment on the claim that it was behind the killing. The guerrilla group also fired anti-aircraft shells Saturday on Kiryat Shemona, but no injuries were reported. On Sunday, 16-year-old Haviv Dadon was walking home from a summer job when he was hit by the anti tank shell fired on the northern town of Shlomi. Five bystanders, including a woman and her 9-month- old son, were lightly injured, hospital officials said. At the teen’s funeral, mourners said they felt abandoned by the govern ment. One shell exploded near a preschool and another hit near a shopping center, said the mayor, Gavriel Naaman. See Israel on page 2