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Monday, August 11, 2003 NEWS THE BATTALIO) Full Moan by R.DeLuna Speakers DfAR /'Ioai fl/oo DAb, 1 A Lot This Sommer, bib The ScHooi Thu)&, HAD SOME Fu/J, Ev/E/O /AET ^ 6 |R1... 8oT That Dm>i r - LOORk ooT >0 SEajT Ate H£Re To (AJ TeRACT UlfH HuMAajS, Sot /v\y Roommate, ARVit, WAS The only 0/0 e x 60T To Ka/oU/... So X Guess X DlDM'T learm WHAT X UAS SEajT , H£R£ To Lear a). To UHICH ARVie 3oSX 5 Alt>- ■ Continued from page 1 Lf'/'ADVEN TUREi #39 “The Last RBA” -Yeah, that’s me with the backwards cap. ByLFiom Liberia Continued from page 1 u presidency.” “They can call off their dogs now.” Taylor said. “We can have peace.” It was a goodbye that few would hear in his desperate, war-divided capital — preoccupied in the search for food, and without fuel to keep radio or TV stations on the air. Two months of rebel sieges have left well over 1,000 civilians dead in the capital, as insurgents and Taylor’s forces dueled with the city of 1.3 million as its battlefield. The war has left Taylor controlling little but downtown, referred to derisively by rebels as Taylor’s “Federal Republic of Central Monrovia.” West African leaders extracted Taylor’s promises to leave Monday, to be followed by exile in Nigeria at some unspecified time after. At least three West African heads of state, including South African President Thabo Mbeki, were expected for what Taylor’s regime was trying to organize into an hours-long formal resignation ceremony. Taylor recorded the farewell If I were the problem — which you know and I know I’m not — / would... become the sacrificial lamb. — Charles Taylor outgoing Liberian president day scouting for food in markets that had little to offer except leaves. Others picked their way to churches in ragged Sunday best along water-clogged streets, unre paired since Taylor, then a rebel leader, launched Liberia into civil war in 1989. Fighting since then has left more than 100,000 Liberians dead. International aid agencies esti mate virtually all of Liberia’s roughly 3 million people have been chased from their home by war, at one time or another, under Taylor. His rag-tag forces, paid by looting, are accused by rights groups and Liberia’s people of routine raping, robbing, torture, forced labor and summa ry killings. Rebels, to a lesser extent so far, likewise are accused of abuse. Taylor made no apologies — asking only forgiveness from any he may have wronged, in what have been his years of carnage. He compared his departure from the presidency to Jesus sub mitting himself to the Romans. “If I were the problem — which you know and I know I’m not — I would ... become the sac rificial lamb,” Taylor said. “I would become the whipping boy that you should live.” Perhaps crucially, Taylor made speech for radio, at a desk behind shelves piled high with folders. Lit by generators running on fuel scrounged by the presidency, the scene was recorded separately on scratchy audiotape. By late Sunday, the speech had not been played on local radio in the unlit capital, shattered by shelling and littered with shrapnel, bullet casings and rubbish from looting by Taylor’s forces. The recording session came as at least one car piled high with luggage pulled out of Taylor’s high-walled private home. Female members of Taylor’s party danced out side to show support and maimed veterans of 14 years of conflict under Taylor stood by aimlessly. Support stopped just across the street from the former warlord’s home. “We’ve been praying to Almighty God for this day,” said Theoway Gayweh, among small crowds gathered across the street to watch what they hoped would be the last hours of Taylor’s regime. Most in government-held Monrovia spent the no direct mention of his promise to leave Liberia. Closing his speech, he declared: “I will always remember you wherever I am, and I say, God will ing, I will be back.” Taylor has accepted an offer of asylum in Nigeria, but he has also hedged on when he will go.* He has said that he would like to remain in politics. Rebel leader Sekou Conneh met in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has offered Taylor exile. Obasanjo urged Conneh to support West African-led peace efforts, Obasanjo spokeswoman Remi Oyo said. Conneh, in turn, pledged to open Monrovia’s rebel-held port quickly for humanitarian supplies — but indicated that would come only after Taylor’s departure. On the rebel-held side of Taylor’s capital, rebels were skeptical of that day coming. “Until Taylor resigns, I won’t believe it,” said Sekou Fofana, on turf patrolled by boys as young as 10 guarded with AK-47s. COLLEGE STATION POLICE DEPARTMENT BLOTTER 8/8/03 8:02 a.m. Traffic arrest, Wellborn/Grove. 8/8/03 1:07 p.m. Burglary of vehicle, 309 College Main. Taken: guitars. 8/8/03 1:33 p.m. Warrant arrest, 12677 FM 2154. 8/8/03 1:43 p.m. Evading arrest, 1500 Holleman. One arrest. 8/8/03 2:08 p.m. Warrant arrest, 401 College Main. 8/8/03 2:23 p.m. Warrant arrest, 430 Southwest Pkwy. 8/8/03 2:49 p.m. Warrant arrest, 430 Southwest Pkwy. 8/8/03 7:20 p.m. Major acci dent, Merry Oaks/Dominik. Complaint of pain. 8/8/03 8:04 p.m. Solicitation, 915 Sun Meadow. 8/8/03 10:48 p.m. Driving while license suspended, 2351 Earl Rudder Frwy. One arrest. 8/8/03 10:54 p.m. Major acci dent, Texas/Brentwood. Complaint of neck pain. 8/8/03 11:00 p.m. Driving while intoxicated, 2500 Texas. One arrest. 8/8/03 11:01 p.m. Driving while license suspended, Park Place/Texas. One arrest. 8/8/03 11:18 p.m. Possession of dangerous drugs, Earl Rudder Frwy/University.One arrest. 8/9/03 12:26 a.m. Driving while intoxicated, 1910 Texas. One arrest. 8/9/03 12:30 a.m. Possession of controlled substance, One Driving 731 Glenhaven/Fernhaven. arrest. 8/9/03 2:25 a.m. while intoxicated, University. One arrest. 8/9/03 4:33 a.m. False report to officer, 2611 Texas. One arrest. 8/9/03 5:01 a.m. Burglary of vehicle, 1501 Holleman. Taken: checkbook, CDs. 8/9/03 7:37 a.m. Burglar of vehicle, 1601 Holleman. Taken: speakers, subwoofer, CD case, 200 CDs. 8/9/03 9:47 a.m. Runaway, 2611 Texas. Recovered. 8/9/03 12:13 p.m. Major acci dent, Southwest Pkwy/Welsh. Complaint of pain. 8/9/03 1:40 p.m. Major acci dent, Harvey/Texas. Complaint of neck pain. 8/9/03 8:03 p.m. Deceased person, 8901 Driftwood. 8/9/03 8:03 p.m. Illegal gam bling and contributing to minors, 2403 Memorial. 8/9/03 8:04 p.m. Public intox ication and contributing to minors, 1209 Austin Avenue. 8/9/03 8:48 p.m. Runaway, 1200 Blk Airline. Recovered. 8/9/03 8:55 p.m. Warrant arrest, 1401 Harvey. 8/9/03 9:05 p.m. Public intox ication, SH 6/Greens Prairie. One arrest. 8/9/03 11:26 p.m. Aggravated assault, 1907 Dartmouth. 8/9/03 11:45 p.m. Possession of marijuana and drug parapher nalia, 1501 Harvey. One arrest. 8/10/03 12:52 a.m. Assault, 313 S College. One arrest. 8/10/03 3:07 a.m. Warrant arrest, 100 Dominik. “The main theme of his speech is that it’s important that you love what you do pro fessionally, but that you make an effort to give back to the community in order to be a well-rounded individual,” Reyes said. Psychology professor Ludy T. Benjamin Jr. will receive the University’s new Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence Award during the 9 a.m. ceremony on Friday. Stephenson said the award includes a $25,000 stipend and the recipient is chosen by A&M President Robert M. Gates. “These awards are the most valuable awards of the teaching kind in the nation,” Stephenson said. “Two awards will be given each year.” Commissioning ceremonies for the members of the Corps of Cadets entering the military will also be held Friday afternoon. Southerland Continued from page 1 numbers of students. “You often hear from (stu dents) later, five years later, 10 years later that, ‘By the way, I did such and such because (one) day I had this interaction.’ Well, that’s remarkable; it’s a remark able opportunity,” he said. “And I’ve accepted it as an opportuni ty. I’ve understood that.” Southerland worked with many student leaders during his 36 years. Student Body President Matt Josefy said Southerland lives and breathes for A&M and its students. “Dr. Southerland’s legacy on campus runs much deeper than the honorary titles and the numerous rewards he received,” Josefy said. "Dr. Southerland’s legacy is the lives of tens of thousands of students who he affected through the decisions he made, but more importantly through his personal relation ships with them.” Bryan Barton, Class of 2002, knew Southerland during his involvement with the A&M Student Government Association. “He’s a great example of what happens when someone starts out at the bottom of an organization and works their way up,” Barton said. “He’s done such a tireless service. He’ always tried to help students achieve their dreams andhedid all this often without receiviiu seeking recognition.” On April 13, Southerland received an honorary Buck Weirus Spirit Award from the Association of Former Studert The award is given to those4 display vision, character and superior dedication to A&M. “It has been my experienct that there is really nonethatis more important than your under standing of your level ofintepi ty,” Southerland said. "Withis some self-confidence and your set; you’re going to be okay," Israel Continued from page 1 Video footage showed patches of blood left on a concrete staircase. The streets of the town were deserted by night fall, with residents staying in their homes or in bomb shelters. “We are very afraid,” said resident Lara Elhai, 50. “Any moment, they could shoot at us. It’s the summer holidays, and we can’t even send our children to the pool.” The last civilian death in such an attack along the northern Israeli border happened June 24, 1999, when a Hezbollah rocket struck the city hall of Kiryat Shemona, killing two men. In response to the latest death, Israeli war planes fired at least one missile near the village of Teir Harfa, about two miles from the Lebanese- Israeli border. No casualties were reported. A senior Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the warplanes hit the Hezbollah artillery positions that fired at Shlomi. Hezbollah said it had fired anti-aircraft shells at Israeli fighter jets flying over southern Lebanon, but Israeli security officials denied aircraft were in the area at the time. A senior military source said Israel’s inner security Cabinet would meet to discuss a further military response and that more strikes could be expected. However, Raanan Gissin, a Sharon aide, said that while Israel would not tolerate Hezbollah attacks, it has “no intention of escalation.” Hezbollah, which is on the U.S. State Department’s list of terrorist organizations, led a guerrilla war against Israel’s 18-year occupation of a border zone in southern Lebanon that ended in May 2000. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom kl Lebanon and Syria — which dominates Lebm policy-making — responsible for Hezbolli actions. “We say to Syria and Lebanon as responsil parties ... that if Hezbollah activities continuea constitute an undermining of security of the a zens of Israel, we will have no choice but defend ourselves,” Shalom said Sunday. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nationssa a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Ai holding the Syrian and Lebanese govemmei responsible for Hezbollah’s “acts of lenoi, Foreign Ministry spokesman Yonatan Peledsi Annan issued a statement condemning 4 shelling and urging “all governments th< influence on Hezbollah” to deter it from actions that could increase tension. He also m Israel to exercise “utmost restraint.” American diplomats also told Lebanon a Syria that the administration was concernedata the “calculated and provocative escalation”! Hezbollah, State Department deputy spokesmsi Philip T. Reeker said. Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Site Naim Kassem said Sunday that Hezbollah" fully prepared and ready to respond in the prop manner to any Israel aggression or threat.” “This anti-aircraft fire is fired as a reactiont( warplanes that regularly violate Lebanese air space,” he said in an interview with the based AI-Arabiya satellite station. Syria’s state-run Tishrin newspaper chargelii an editorial that Israel was trying “to expand* circle of its aggression and deliberately provofe and threaten more than one Arab countiy,”ir hopes of slowing progress on the “road peace plan with the Palestinians. Dems approach 2-week marker By Natalie Gott THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio had just finished her second legislative session as a state senator when her 10 Democratic colleagues chose her to lead their caucus. Less than two months later, she led those same lawmakers in a historic boycott of the Senate chamber in protest of a Republican effort to redraw the state’s congressional districts. The boycott hits its two- week anniversary on Monday. “They are strong. They are strong,” Van de Putte says of her Democratic colleagues who are holed up with her at a New Mexico hotel. But Van de Putte, a mother of six, also has been strong, getting the Democrats to New Mexico and standing firm as their leader. The boycott has stopped business in the Senate chamber because without the 11 Democrats, there are not enough senators present for the 31- member chamber to take up business. The Democrats say there is no reason for legislators to take up redistricting since a plan is in place. Lawmakers failed to agree on a map during the 2001 legislative session, when they were scheduled to take up the issue, so judges drew the map of the current congressional dis tricts. Democrats have a 17-15 advantage in the delegation. Some Republicans, led by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land, say voting trends show Texas should have more Republicans repre senting the state in Washington. Two attempts to pass a redis tricting bill, however, have failed this year. Republican Gov. Rick Perry called a second special legisla tive session to try again, but if the Democrats can stay gone from the Capitol until the ses sion ends, the effort will have failed a third time. The Democrats face another challenge this week as the Texas Supreme Court considers a case filed by Perry and Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst that seeks to order the Democrats to return. “If the goal was intimidation, I guess they just don’t under stand our resolve. It’s like adding fuel to the fire,” said Van de Putte, not known to back down from a challenge. She proudly shows off a scar on her knee, noting it is the result of an injury she received while playing intra mural football. When a woman once harassed Van de Putte and her grandmother outside a voting precinct. Van de Putte dial- lenged the woman and the two ended up on the ground in a fight until a pregnant Van de Putte prevailed. “You hurt my kids, you hurt my grandma, who is, you know, in a wheelchair, I’m sorry. I'm coming after you,” Van de Putte said. Van de Putte grew up in San Antonio and followed in her grandfather’s footsteps, becom ing a phamiacist. She married Pete Van de Putte, whose family owns Dixie Flag, opened her own phannacy and over nine years, had six children. She was active in the com munity, serving on the Parent Teacher Association and other groups. Then, in 1990, the political bug hit. She was serving as a precinct chair and because there was a vacancy in a state repre sentative post between the pri mary and the general election, the precinct chairs chose who would be the candidate, Vande Putte said. None of the contenders, how ever, won her over so Van de Putte threw her name into the ring and won. Before winning. Van de Putte talked to her chil dren, about how a win would affect the family. Student Counseling ' etp£in iCSfe Stu SmJH 0ZjA Student Counseling Answer to previous puzzle Are you a good listener? Do you want to help others? TUtdcd.. M majou uidcmc! Brochure & application - Room 104 of Henderson Hall. For more information call Susan Vavra at 845-4470 ext. 133 or visit www.scs.tamu.edu/emergency/volunteer.asp Mjtetpfin rann ana □□non □nun HQC3Q □□ Sana dqdq ejq □QHHDJQQnmnmD □E3 [Stressed out over grades? ’ Worried about what’s going on at home? Has a relationship got you down? Call us...845-2700 (v/tty) Available 4 PM to 8 AM weekdays, 24 hours a day on weekends 00 L\ 1000 E IO00 0 IDIL EMA rtiA lUlTlElSlTlE 00 □00 ramn man □00 00190 c3nc]0Ciam0m0G]0 □0000 0000 00EJD0 0000 00000 COO 0O0 N Kl lTaisisioi 8/12/03 THE BATTALION True Brown, Editor in Chief Dallas Shipp, Managing/Sports Editor Elirabtth Webb, Gp) r /DesJnDi* a, Melissa Sullivan, News Editor Ruben Ddairu. Graphic Edm Emily Hendrickson. Aggidifc Editor Joshua Hobson. Photo Moor George Dciitach, Opinion Editor Drandie Liflid. Radio Produce Jason Ritterbusch, Webmaster THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published dally, Mwday throughFMaydunj* fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summr ns* (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. PWcdxis W# Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address chan(estD!h»BiOtt Texas A&M University, lilt TAMU, College Station,TX 77843-1111. ; The Battalion news department Is managed by students le Division of Student Media, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Nowofleeai» hod arfvertlsing, call 845-0569. Advertising offices hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday I Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M studaWB P iingle copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies 251. 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