mm tmrest m ¥i)Mr Fwtmres. A 0$ |p Studcv^ '% $ *A| Texas A&M University Complete the Continuing Student Scholarship Application Now! The Continuing Student Scholarship Application is a combined application of the following scholarships: Academic Excellence, DEADLINE FEBRUARY 16th College of Ag and Life Sciences Scholarships, DEADLINE FEBRUARY 16th Honors Incentive Award, DEADLINE FEBRUARY 16th Dependent Children of faculty/staff & support staff scholarships, DEADLINE MARCH 31st College of Science Scholarships, DEADLINE MARCH 31 st The master application can be found at scholarships.tamu.edu. Use your NetID and password to gain access. Over 1200 scholarships will be awarded. For more scholarship information visit the web, financialaid.tamu.edu or email scholarships@tamu.edu. Sophomore, tom btwn poly sci and history major • Reads Marx while exercycling in Melrose fitness center • Wants to come back to Melrose after a year of foreign study * Championship rock-scissors-paper player LAUNCH PAD FOR INTERESTING LIVES. 2 to 4 bdrms - pool - fitness center - academic and annual leases - busline - computer lab please visit us at 601 Luther St. West, www.melroseapartments.com or call 979.680.3680 Join Melrose Idol - Win $1000! Now Leasing for May and August2004. No Deposit/ PAYMENTS Meet Navah Perlman the Norah Jones of classical piano Gifted. Beautiful. Extraordinary. Pianist Navah Perlman is fast becoming one of the brightest young stars of the classical music world. In this one-night-only concert, Navah will be joined by over 100 of Russia’s finest musicians and vocalists. If you’ve yet to discover the undeniable beauty of classical music, this concert is your big chance. MOSCOW STATE RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS Navah Perlman, pianist Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 PM Rudder Auditorium TICKETS: 845-1234 or www*MSCOPAS«com LAGNIAPPE LECTURE SERIES: Join us for an informal discussion previewing the concert! Part of The OPAS Guild’s Patricia S. Peters Lagniappe Lecture Series, the discussion will be held prior to the performance at 6:30 PM in the Forsyth Center Galleries of the Memorial Student Center. buy tickets, be inspired ■■■■■■■■■Hi 10 NATI01 Monday, February 16, 2004 THE BATTALIOS Gas additive proposal shelved How Bush reversed regulatory effort By Pete Yost THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — The Bush administration quietly shelved a proposal to ban a gasoline additive that contami nates drinking water in many communities, helping an indus try that has donated more than $1 million to Republicans. The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision had its origin in the early days of President Bush’s tenure when his adminis tration decided not to move ahead with a Clinton-era regulatory effort to ban the clean-air addi tive MTBE. The proposed regulation said the environmental harm of the additive leaching into ground water overshadowed its benefi cial effects to the air. The Bush administration decided to leave the issue to Congress, where it has bogged down over a proposal to shield the industry from some lawsuits. That initiative is being led by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. The Associated Press obtained a draft of the proposed regulation that former President Clinton’s EPA sent to the White House on its last full day in office in January 2001. It said: “The use of MTBE as an additive in gasoline pres ents an unreasonable risk to the environment.” The EPA document went on to say that “low levels of MTBE can render drinking water sup plies impotable due to its offen sive taste and odor,” and the additive should be phased out over four years. “Unlike other components of gasoline, MTBE dissolves and spreads readily in the ground water ... resists biodegradation and is more difficult and costly to remove.” People say MTBE-contammat ed water tastes like turpentine. In Santa Monica, Calif, the oil industry will pay hundreds of millions of dpllars because the additive contaminated the city’s water supply. “We’re the poster child for MTBE, and it could take decades to clean this up,” said Joseph Lawrence, the assistant city attorney. In 2000, the MTBE indus try’s lobbying group told the Clinton administration that lim iting MTBE’s use by regulation “would inflict grave economic harm on member companies.” Three MTBE producers account for half the additive’s daily output. The three contributed $338,000 to George W. Bush’s presidential campaign, the Republican Party and Republican congressional candidates in 1999 and 2000, twice what they gave Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Since then, the three producers have given just over$l million to Republicans. The producers are Texas- based Lyondell Chemical and MTBE industiy donates to parties Three companies responsible for half of all MTBE fuel addita contamination have contributed nearly $2.0 million to both parties since 1999. Combined campaign contributions, by party ■ Democrats ■ Republicans $600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 ■iiJ 1999-2000 '01-'02 2003 SOURCES: Center for Responsive Politics; Federal Election Commission Valero Energy and Huntsman companies of Lake City. “This is a classic case of lie Bush administration helping campaign contributor friendssi the expense of public he said Frank O’Donnell, executk director of the Clean AirTrusU Washington-based environiM tal group. Huntsman spokesman Doi Olsen, echoing comments other MTBE producers, saii “We were not a huge campaign contributor and this absolutely nothing to do campaign donations. It hastodo with good public policy.” The industry says it become a victim in a Washingtra power struggle. Coke probe still on after 7 months By Harry R. Weber THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA — A government investigation into business practices at The Coca-Cola Co. continues seven months later, but several former federal prosecutors following the case say they wouldn't be surprised if no criminal charges are filed. “From the things that I’ve seen, they’ve done an internal investigation that refuted many of the allegations. If that holds out and proves to be the case, I would expect the government to reach a similar conclusion,” said Richard Deane, a former U.S. attorney in Atlanta. Coke announced July 11 that federal prosecu tors had launched a criminal investigation into fraud allegations raised in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower against the world’s largest beverage company. The Securities and Exchange Commission also is conducting a formal probe. In his lawsuit, former Coke manager Matthew Whitley claimed Atlanta-based Coke rigged i marketing test. Coke has since admitted that soik of its employees undermined the marketing testa! Burger King restaurants in Virginia in 2000. Coke’s auditing committee, however, said it found no evidence of more serious allegationsi the lawsuit, including Whitley’s claim thafCofe improperly shifted $4 million of capital funding to a fountain project. “Some people on the street might thini where there’s smoke there must be fire, but thatmaj not necessarily be true,” said Buddy Parker, ai former federal prosecutor in the Atlanta office. “1 government might ultimately decide there isr and there is no basis to bring forth charges.” Spokesmen for the U.S. Attorney’s office tmJ Coke have declined to comment on any aspectof the investigation, which could take months! to conclude. The investigation was not mentions! by Coke officials when they released fourth-i ter and year-end earnings last week. Liberal Arts Career Week "Get Ready for Career Fair!" Monday, February 16,2004 Koldus 111,4:30-6:30 PM *Find out what it takes to look and be your best at a career fair ^Helpful hints on resume writing, dressing for success, and marketing yourself ^General ideas for putting your best self forward March Comp \ Stu in/ Christopl peietroleum Appdt Hall. Hie Uni' according t Residence L Elmer Scl said die inve icslill in pi Sclineidei "Mes saidChm \ iAssocia of Texas A