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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2003)
irsday, October!,; • THE BATTALION his first attempt at icludes a view of id the back of the District of Columbia had the fewest contributors with 1,002. of them donating rt of the parties finance law ban imited donations iggressively try- The Democratic ;ained roughly h took office in Aggielife: Back in Black • Page 3 Opinion: Supporting sweatshops • p a g e 7 logs lors 1 donors draising record with moi lent Bush took office in leaganera. 3.000 to Above 3.999 60.000 THE BATTALION Volume 110 • Issue 26 • S pages A Texas A&M Tradition Since 1893 www.thebattalion.net Friday, October 3, 2003 Football, visitor parking revenue less than expected WEST CAMPUS PARKING GARAGE The West Campus Parking Garage has sold 1,340 student parking permits of an anticipated 1,500. Green parking permit, valid for 12 months, costs $390 Game day parking spot in the garage costs $15 The garage alone has | generated $31,438.05 | and cost $31,788,000 Bt to construct Ruben Deiuna • THE BATTALION Source: TRANSPORTATION SERVICES By Natalie Younts THE BATTALION Although the construction of the West Campus Garage cost Transportation Services $31. 8.7 mil lion it has generated $31,438 as of Sept. 28, said TS director Rodney Weis. “Operationally, we are very pleased with the way things are going in the new garage and passageway,” Weis said. Weis said it is rare for a parking garage to break even, considering all the costs involved in the construction of a garage. “Interest costs alone on the garage amount to approximately $700 per space annually,” Weis said. “The cost per space of this garage is actually quite rea sonable when compared to others built in the United States.” Most of the revenue the garage has generated comes from the sale of game day spaces at $15 per vehicle for this fall’s three home games. True visitor parking outside of football events is also included in this total, which has generat ed $9,254.05, Weis said. In addition to the visitor parking in the garage, 1,340 permits have been sold, generating another $522,600 in revenue. The green parking permits used for the West Campus Garage are valid for 12 months and cost $390. The nine-month red resident passes and nine-month blue commuter lot per mits cost $ 141. “We anticipated selling 1,500 per mits this year,” Weis said. “I am very confident that it will fill as people realize it is a very convenient option for access to the (Memorial Student Center), Rudder Tower, Koldus and other high- use buildings on campus.” Kayla Cook, a business major, and Blake Mayerhoff, a computer engineer ing major, are two of the Texas A&M freshmen campus residents with green parking permits valid in the West Campus Garage. Permit holders in the garage do not have a parking area gated from visitor parking. They park on a first-come, first- serve basis, along with visitors. Neither Mayerhoff or Cook have ever had to drive up or down a level to find parking in the seven-level garage. “The $39012-month pennit was a good investment because there is always a free space on the first floor,” Mayerhoff said. Cook said she likes having a West Campus Garage pennit, even though it is a 16-minute walk from her Mosher Hall residence. “1 bought a bicycle so I could make See Garage on page 2 Gun control has limited effects By Kristen Wyatt THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA — A sweeping deral review of the nation’s in control laws — including mandatory waiting periods and on certain weapons — no proof they reduce firearm violence. The findings from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention could be used to undercut the gun-control movement. The CDC said its report, released Thursday, suggests more study is needed, not that gun laws don’t work. But the agency said it has no plans to spend mote money on firearms study. Sme conservatives have said that the CDC should limit ilself to studying diseases, and some have complained in the pastthat the agency has used tracking data to subtly control. In fact, since a 1996fight in Congress, the CDC has been prohibited from using iiinds to press for gun control laws, i Since then, an independent CDC task force reviewed 51 Gun control laws questioned A Center for Disease Control and Prevention review of gun control laws, including waiting periods and bans on certain guns, found no proof they reduce firearm violence. Gun-related injuries were the second leading cause of injury deaths in 2000. Gun-related deaths FtQuros from 2000 icicic Homicides to.HO I Unintentional ■ 776 Undetermined intent I 500 Some of the laws reviewed Bans on specific firearms ► Prohibits purchase or possession of certain firearms or ammunition Waiting periods of gun purchase ► Requires that the purchase of a gun be delayed after application is filed. Allows time for a background check and a "cooling-off" period of buyer Guns in schools Requires participating schools expel for at least a year when students are found with a gun AP published studies about the effectiveness of eight types of gun-control laws. The laws included bans on specific firearms or ammunition, See Gun on page 2 Crowd surfing Senior yell leader John Magruder surfs on Company E-l before the yell practice held in front of the Quadrangle's arches Thursday evening. The JP Beato III • THE BATTALION Corps of Cadets holds arch yell every Thursday before an away football game. The A&M football team will play in Lubbock this Saturday. Redistricting dispute solution close Tech security increased for game By April Castro THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUSTIN — Sounding more conciliatory than usual, Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick indicated Thursday that the congressional redistrict ing dispute over West Texas may be nearing an end. Senate negotiators, however, were far from optimistic. “I think West Texas is pretty close to being worked out if it’s not done,” Craddick said. Craddick has stood firm on his desire for a congressman to represent the Midland/Odessa area, his home district. Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, has opposed a separate district, causing a clash between Republicans in the two cham bers. “I have a very strong feel that Midland/Odessa and Tom Green County and the West Texas area out there have not had fair representation for the last 40 years and we’ve not had any oil and gas representation and really want and deserve that,” Craddick said. The current map pairs Midland with Lubbock and is represented by Lubbock Rep. Randy Neugebauer. While Craddick seemed pos itive, Duncan said that after meeting into the early morning hours Thursday, no progress had been made on the layout of West Texas districts. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said that Duncan and Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, put forth several proposals Wednesday night that “every one felt should have been quick ly embraced.” “All of a sudden we saw additional requirements and at this late hour, I think we need to come together on a map that is See Dispute on page 1 Oldest Aggie grad Dabney dies at 103 By Lauren Smith THE BATTALION Virgil C. Dabney, who was Texas A&M’s oldest graduate, died on Sept. 28 in Kerrville, Texas, at age 103. Born on Dec. 2, 1899, in Colony (Flatonia), Texas, Dabney, a Corps of Cadets member, graduated from A&M in 1923. Dabney spent 38 years teaching engineering drawing, machine design, architectural draw ing and wood shop at San Jacinto High School in Houston. In 1965, Dabney and his wife, Katie Mae Wilcox Dabney, left Houston for Bandera County where the couple retired to ranching farming, according to the Bryan-College Station Eagle. His wife died in 1991, and Dabney continued to farm until age 97. He helped celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Corps in September 2001 and was hon ored during halftime of many football games at By Lindsay Broomes THE BATTALION The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band will still perfonn during halftime at Saturday’s football game against Texas Tech University in Lubbock despite recent concerns about security at the game. Due to the incident in 2001 when Red Raider fans tore down a goal post and threw it into Aggie fans in the stands, there was concern about the band’s safety. “The band is definitely going to Texas Tech,” said Director of Bands Dr. Timothy Ray. The decision was finalized during a meeting held Tuesday between University President Robert M. Gates and other University officials. Tech has increased its security, and A&M will be traveling with four University police officers for extra security, Ray said. Ray said many opinionated and verbally negative Tech fans create an unsafe environment. The incident two years ago was an eye opener due to a lack of respect from Tech, said Ryan Knape, a senior band commander and finance major. “With beefed up security, I don’t think anything will go wrong, “Knape said. “We Lire a disciplined organization and no matter what the circumstances are I believe we will still display that discipline.” Michael Bartle, a senior band member and political sci ence major, said he was sur prised by the violence at the Tech game in 2001. “I remember my sophomore year before we went to Lubbock when people said it would be rowdy, but I never expected any thing like them pulling up a goal post and trying to shove it in our fans’ stands,” Bartle said. George Martinez, a senior band member and political sci ence major, said the show for this weekend is intense and is one of the hardest shows he has ever been involved in. “We have high expectations and will be holding ourselves to the highest standards this week end,” he said. file PHOTO* THE BATTALION Virgil Dabney was presented an award during the 1 25th Anniversary of the Corps of Cadets in 2001. Kyle Field as the oldest living Aggie. Dabney is survived by his two sons, Robert C. and Thomas W. Dabney, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His sons attended A&M, as well as several of his grandchildren. Funeral services were held yesterday in Houston. Donations may be made to the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Association Scholarship Program. ^ yMkl AIM ■Ud FRESHMAN ELECTION RESULTS The class of 2007 voted Wednesday and Thursday to elect its class council. Results were announced at midnight Friday. Class of 2007 President CANDIDATES Griffin, Justin W. 70 Johnson, Thomas Kyle 43 Middlebrook, Kathryn Ann 55 Mikeska, Gregory Joel 78 Ranter, Adam 106 Prochaska, Conner 333 Runoff Wells, Kenya 119 Young, Mark Alexander 195 Runoff Class of 2007 Treasurer Ill CANDIDATES | 11 VOTES fi Nichols, Corey 420 Patzke, Meghan 507 Winner Class of 2007 Social Secretary CANDIDATES IHi VOTES Class of 2007 Vice President ■n CANDIDATES HMM 1 VOTES 1 Bryan, Justin Neal 340 Runoff Cummings, Shelby Nichole 183 Henderson, Mary Katherine 125 Lanier, Tommy 62 Matthews, Rebekah Leigh 216 Runoff Varner, Valerie Lynn 60 For election coverage, visit: www.thebattalion.net Taylor, Bridgette Ann 210 Thompson, Morgan L. 190 West, Kristen Cherie 488 Winner Class of 2007 Senator I Mg CANDIDATES | 1 VOTES 1 Adami, Blake 285 Berry, Meagan 380 Winner Brydie, Cory 141 Clayton, David Mardes 265 DeForrest, Ross L. 273 Dixon, Wesley R. 155 Dugat, William 38 Farmer, Andrew 413 Winner Hollimon, Julie 298 Winner Nichols, Cory 293 Winner Piper, Curtis Austin 195 Ruben DeLuna* THE BATTALION Source: TEXAS A&M ELECTION COMMISSION UNCERTIFIED RESULTS