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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2003)
I ursday, October 23,2® iper says after fai ho accompanied Joir park. Jones will Ik with mischief aii ly performing a st« Id be fined the U,S, nt of about $7,611, aid. y and friends have sais d been considering Ik years. Eric FroneUL ' that his friend had & in the past, but wj driven to act bj depression. , “I think hejusi r reached the point where whatevei happened was (be t/ best plan for him,' Fronek said. “II he made it, be might benefit wifi money. If he dief. so be it.” 165 Jones recently /or lost his job when his parents shut down the family business, which Is for auto parts mam- His father, Raymond d The Detroit News he off his son because of imy. tes was suicidal, he t be the first survivor to e a change of heart, a epert said. of times people, when ^ icen spared, get this tat somehow it’s been that they have a mis- •mething,” Dr. Richard id. said his change of heart when he jumped into r. “At that point l had not done it. Bull lew it was way too It ! he said. over the falls was ft a giant tunnel, goiii lown, surrounded by L nes told ABC. He said I rd,” was turned upside | the water below, then t at far enough by the climb onto a rock, 'rise in need of a spark, in the absence of lylor. Carter could be t fit. isly, it seemed a mat- I w to get him in the li Derek Fanner and Lewis crowding the and Terrence Murphy ir at wide receiver, Saturday Carter plenty of chances to belongs on the field Aggies will take on dahoma State at 2:30 le Field. bold, who committed ter the rampage on 1999, shows at leasl ent weapons, indud- latic rifles, shotguns ol. a trenchcoat, Klebold nt holds a sawed-ofl id shoots from the hip /edged between two He and Flarris then bullet-shredded tree so blows across the a shotgun like a gun- KE ONS iff, faculty, or I University in alities this person I004 and specific Vlso include the I phone number. e not eligible. tber 1,2003 I Stop 1236 Lmu.edu onal information visit Sports: Ags need big rebound after tough loss • Page 7 Opinion: Sad state of affairs • Page 11 THE BATTALION Volume 110 • Issue 41 • 12 pages A Texas A&M Tradition Since 1893 www.thebattalion.net Friday, October 24, 2003 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Aggies President Christopher Smith argues that GLBTA deserves student service fees in a forum Thursday night. Young Conservatives of Texas members proposed that students vote on which organizations are allocated student service fees. Panel addresses access to fees By Rhiannon Meyers THE BATTALION The Young Conservatives of Texas sug gested students vote on the allocation of stu dent service fees, at a panel discussion Thursday, while representatives of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Aggies defended their right to financial support. Representatives from the GLBTA, the YCT and the Student Service Fee Advisory Board met Thursday night to discuss which organizations should receive student funds. The discussion panel, sponsored by Memorial Student Center Current Issues Awareness, focused on funds accumulated by the $142 Student Service Fee paid by Texas A&M students each semester. Currently, GLBTA receives funding from the student service fees while YCT does not. GLBTA President Christopher Smith, a sophomore psychology major, said the organ ization receives student funding because it is a non-political organization. “GLBTA is a service organization, not a political organization,” Smith said. “Our constitution is the same as that of the YCT but the entire spirit of the organization is completely different.” YCT Chairman Matthew Maddox, a sen ior management major, said his organization does not receive student funding because it is a recognized political organization, but it also participates in service activities. “YCT is nonpartisan,” Maddox said. “We do not work for any political party. We did adopt a constitution to reflect that of GLBTA almost verbatim. We were denied funding because our organization is politi cal in nature.” Maddox, who is also an opinion columnist at The Battalion, argued students should be able to choose which organizations their funds are allocated to instead of the current method of dividing the Student Service Fee among all non-political organizations. “We do not have a problem with students being able to fund the GLBTA or any other organization on campus, but we believe they should have a choice to do so,” Maddox said. Maddox called for a student vote on which organizations students feel should receive their funding. He proposed that all organizations should be listed on a ballot, and funds should then be allocated according to a student vote. “I believe students would be more willing to check off organizations that they would like to spend their money towards,” Maddox said. Smith agreed the ballot idea is good in the ory but if funds were allocated according to a student vote, some more popular, well-known organizations might have a monopoly over lesser-known or more unpopular organiza tions. He said the current allocation of funds to all non-political organizations allows for all opinions and views, not just the majority. See Fees on page 2 Athletic teams score new housing By Dan Orth THE BATTALION Texas A&M athletes are moving out of Cain Hall while opting for better accommoda tions off campus at The Tradition at Northgate and the Callaway House. Head football coach Dennis Franchione moved the football team from Cain Hall to The Mition this fall. Charley North, director of Football Operations, said the move was because The Tradition was a better fit for the team. “The Tradition serves the players’ needs better by having a great venue and offering better amenities,” North said. With many A&M athletes no longeron campus, Cain Hall has filled with other students. Although NCAA rules state that residence halls cannot be exclu sively for student athletes and each hall must house more than 50 percent of non-athlete stu dents, the reason for the move was strictly because of the con dition of the hall. North said. Cain Hall was built in 1971, and North said it is in need of a renovation before the football team would consider moving back in. Other athletic programs have also moved out of Cain Hall and have been living off campus at The Tradition and the Callaway House. The Tradition is also home to the men and women’s basketball teams, men and women’s tennis, men and women’s golf, volley ball and the equestrian team. The baseball team and From Cain Hall to Off-Campus Housing Texas A&M athletes upgrade housing from Cain to: The Tradition: - Football - Men and Women's Basketball - Men and Women's Tennis - Men and Women's Golf - Volleyball - Equestrian Team Callaway House: - Women's Soccer - Baseball Still residing in Cain: - Track - Swimming ANDREW BURLESON • THE BATTALION SOURCE : MANAGEMENT OF THE TRADITION, DIRECTION OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS, CHARLEY NORTH women’s soccer team live at the Callaway House, which is in close proximity to their fields and facilities. A semester at The Tradition is more expensive than a semes ter at Cain Hall, but athletes take advantage of a group rate. Adam Collett, the managing director of The Tradition, said groups of 10 or more receive an average of 18 percent off rent. This discount drops the rate of the most popular room, a two room/double occupancy, from $685 to $525 per month. The athletic teams live together in a block of rooms but are still integrated with other students, Collett said. Alan Cannon, an associate athletic director, said the value of an in-state student athlete’s full scholarship is $11,108, See Housing on page 2 Chicks galore JOSHUA HOBSON • THE BATTALION Henderson Elementary School first grader Antonio Valadez picks up a two-week-old chick at the Saddle and Sirloin's Annual Children's Barnyard at the Louis Pearce pavilion Thursday afternoon. More than 1,500 children from day care to first grade will go through the event that hosts horses, pigs and goats. A&M proposes honors college By Nicole M. Jones THE BATTALION President Robert M. Gates recently announced plans of the possible expansion of Texas A&M’s honors program into a college. “We have an honors program, and it’s good and we’re proud of it,” said Dr. David Prior, executive vice president and provost. “The question now is how can we enhance the hon ors experience here at Texas A&M?” Gates and the University’s Education Council have recommended that a task force be formed to evaluate the pros and cons of expanding the honors program into a college, Prior said. The Education Council, led by Dean of the College of Education Jane Conoley, will compile a series of questions to evaluate issues regarding the new college, including consider ations for funding for the college, residence halls for honors students and recruiting efforts to attract additional students, Prior said. Edward Funkhouser, executive director of the Office of Honors Programs and Academic Scholarships, said an honors college at A&M would incorporate the elements present in the current honors program, as well as a new cur riculum that is different for honors students. “One of the current program’s strengths is that it is University-wide and includes students from any major, which is a characteristic the new college would retain,” Funkhouser said. Existing faculty members would teach in the honors college, with various departments and faculty contributing to the college. Vision 2020, implemented by former University President Ray M. Bowen, refer ences reconfiguring the University honors pro gram, Prior said. “Some peer (universities) have moved from having an honors program to having an honors college to attract the best and brightest stu dents,” Funkhouser said. George Edwards, a distinguished professor of political science who teaches honors cours es, said he thinks highly of A&M’s honors pro gram and feels this would be a good addition. See Honors on page 2 Poetry slams into A&M By Sonia Moghe THE BATTALION Knox Galleries dedicates caboose to College Station The Menfiorial Student Center Literary Arts Committee hosted a performance by the acclaimed slam poet Clebo Rainey, Thursday in an event that has sparked interest in the art form throughout the University. Wearing a shirt that said “I think therefore 1 slam,” never taking off his sunglasses and adorned in tattoos com memorating various wins in national slam poetry competitions, Rainey per formed half a dozen poems, some of which had musical accompaniment, in the MSC Flag Room. Slam poetry, invented by Mark Smith a little more than a decade ago, is the spoken word as performance poetry with equal emphasis on writing and perform ance, Rainey said. It tends to be loud and powerful, sometimes incorporating vul garities and drug and sexual references. “I knew I’d be pushing the boundaries a little,” Rainey said. “That didn’t get me thrown out, so I guess I’m okay.” The idea of bringing a slam poet to campus was brought up by various mem bers of die MSC Literary Arts Committee, who are now planning to incorporate the art form into their own programs. “It was something the new students wanted,” said Kelli Hollinger, the MSC Literary Arts Committee adviser. “It’s both entertaining and educational and we hope that we’ve sparked interest.” The MSC Literary Arts Committee also put together a slam poetry workshop following the performance that was host ed by Rainey, who handed out books filled with information about slam poet ry etiquette and how to run your own poetry slam performances. “The best thing about slam poetry contests is the prize money,” Rainey said. “Poets don’t make a lot of money.” Rainey said he is a stay-at-home husband whose lawyer wife, Nomei, supports him. “My wife went to A&M,” Rainey said. “She said she was a two-percenter — whatever that means.” Rainey was originally a musician who became interested in slam poetry 17 years ago. He deems himself the father A slam poetry workshop and performance was held Thursday afternoon, hosted by poet Clebo Rainey. • w GIcjmaa PoeWy Slam poetry is also known as "spoken word” There is equal emphasis on writing and performance It involves no use of props or costumes I Slam poetry contest: V Nov. 20, 8 p.m., location TBA RUBEN DELUNA • THE BATTALION SOURCE : POET CLEBO RAINEY of the Dallas Spoken Word scene and currently coaches slam poetry teams that have won national competitions. He lives in Dallas and frequently works with poets at Club Clearview located in Deep Ellum of downtown Dallas, where See Poetry on page 5 By Nishat Fatima THE BATTALION A new historic addition will become part of the Aggie community on Friday when the Benjamin Knox Galleries dedicates an original 1905 red caboose to College Station in honor of the city’s 65th anniversary. The caboose has traveled all over America throughout its 40-year stint with the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was recently purchased by Knox from the Bergmont Station in Santa Monica, Calif., and traveled to Texas on an oversized truck trailer. The two-day student appreciation event will take place Friday and Saturday at the Benjamin Knox Galleries on University Drive and will also commemorate the 15th anniversary of the career of artist and Aggie Benjamin Knox. Kara Wilson, executive director of the College Station Depot and Texas A&M Class of 1998, said the unveil ing of the caboose is part of an effort to give Aggies the opportunity to experience the heritage of A&M through fine arts. Knox’ paintings depict various aspects of Aggie tradi tion and life at A&M. “We want to make the College Station Depot a cultural center for the community and University to pro mote fine arts,” she said. Knox, a 1990 graduate of A&M and resident of College Station, said the event will include an exhibit of original paintings from his career. “We will have a 15-year retrospec tive showcase that shows the proces sion from my first piece of art to the present-day development of my art career,” he said. “It will be a casual celebration to promote fine art to the students in Aggieland.” Knox, who was also a member of See Knox on page 2 45-1627
