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• THE BATTALION
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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