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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2004)
if you: (So can you.) made the dean’s list • are a student leader • participate in community service • work 20+ hours a week You’ll receive up to $35 off your rent every month! In addition to these individual scholarships, one male and one female will be chosen to receive a FULL housing schlarship for one year. LAUNCH PAD FOR INTERESTING HUES Visit Melrose today at 601 Luther St West online at www.melrose.com or call (979) 680-3680 STUDENT APARTMENTS The, clock tiikkintj! J. Malon Southerland Aggie Leader Scholarship The J. Malon Southerland Aggie Leader Scholarship program recognizes and rewards student involvement at Texas A&M University. The dedication of Texas A&M's student leaders is an important element to the success of our campus. This scholarship reflects Texas A&M's commitment to the "other education." Students may pickup an application at the MSC Student Programs Office, Student Activities, and Multicultural Services. The decision process will focus on leadership and involvement as primary criteria. Applications must be received in the Scholarship Office, room 220 Pavilion, by 5:00 PM April 9, 2004. For more information visit scholarships.tamu.edu or call 979.845.3236. NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT OR RENTAL OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES CONTEST RUNS FROM MARCH 1 - APRIL 30. £> k Camden Living Excellence 10 Monday, April 5, 2004 THE BATlJ Houston’s terror threats probi 4 ( HOUSTON (AP) — A 100-member Houston task force including federal, state and local law enforcement officials has investigated thousands of tips on possible terrorist activity. While most of the leads don’t have serious con sequences, one tip helped Houston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force thwart attempts by suspect ed terrorists to cross the Mexican border into Texas, assistant U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez said. Houston is viewed as one of eight U.S. cities most vulnerable to a potential terrorist attack, said Martinez, who is a task force mem ber. Officials are concerned, for example, that terrorists targeting the petrochemical industry, NASA’s Johnson Space Center or the George Bush Intercontinental Airport could enter through the porous Gulf of Mexico coastline. “It is the only area in the U.S. with critical infrastructure in all risk categories,” Martinez was quoted as saying in Sunday’s edition of the Houston Chronicle. Houston’s task force, created a few weeks It is the only area in the U.S. with critical infrastructure in all risk categories. wanted to exchange millions of dinars foryl rency and find a smuggler to bring themi border near Laredo, officials said. They were believed to be planning antj on President Bush’s Crawford ranch, when “wanted to blow something up,” said Pom also is a task force member. The smuggler they appm sought help from two links to the United Forces of Colombia, or AUC. has been named a foreign is organization, Martinez said. “The threat was and went away,” he said,“J say how.” Another tip triggered a investigation of a conveniencj owner in Alice who was explosives and collecting tall buildings. Muhammad Navid Asrarii in federal prison after guilty to being an undi — Abe Martinez assistant U.S. attorney COL EZEAI before the first World Trade Center Bombing in 1993, was the first in the state and one of the few in the nation already in place before the Sept. 11 attacks. There are now 70 terrorism task forces nationwide, including ones in Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso. “It’s only a matter of when terrorists will strike again, not if they will,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Porto said. Task force members said they believe they have prevented attacks from happening. A few days after the start of the war in Iraq, task force members heard that five Iraqis in Mexico City immigrant in illegal possession of 50rounij mm bullets, records show. Asrar, a Pakistani who overstayed hiss visa, denied any connection to terrorists, investigators said they could not prove \ intended to do with the photographs, remains under investigation, FBI Agent I Troutman has testified. Each investigation teaches task forcer lessons that will help them be moreei authorities said. "We can’t guarantee nothing willeverti again,” said Richard Powers, the FBI m charge of the Houston task force. "Butwei better shape. We have the national wilfdedid and focus.” NEWS IN BRIEF Class size limit proposal draws mixed reactions AUSTIN (AP) — A proposal to change Texas’ elementary class size limit, a 22-pupil cap adopted 20 years ago, is under considera tion by lawmakers looking for ways to help cash-strapped districts save money. The Joint Select Committee on Public School Finance has sug gested making the class size cap on grades kindergarten through four a district average, giving dis tricts more flexibility to meet stu dent needs. But teachers who say the limit has irrefutable educational value oppose the proposal and plan to fight it. Firefighter killed in ballroom blaze HOUSTON (AP) - A firefighter was killed and three others were injured early Sunday while battling a blaze at a ballroom. Firefighters who arrived ail Festival Ballroom in Houston around 6 a.m. building engulfed in flames went inside, but the fire* I'hiledr intense and they were pule:l ,e s,att about 20 minutes after a r 'l' a . vin ? said Javier Rodriguez, an rsP °^ er tor with the fire department “Part of the building cold Rodriguez said. "We don't j whether that was the caiK| the firefighters' death. Of ci it of j ight sp uage u: : or exar tsk, "W iainstre The search, the job and beyond. .uda< ive u In resf oncert: After r< ert Thu )e wron it dece I enjoy ext man o to thi udying n, I ru: most J ntire coi ut and hingy v\ tied wh< the thi te said 1 erforme ment. Th nd the iy ticke- isappoir >xt timi re it ha 'hen I le il Foo Business Etiquette Tuesday, April 6 5:30-6:30 pm, Koldus 111 resp Mr. Fis liss the letely. j e ar that higher ased ought 1 tirough i rships, od prop In the; 6 also Cum mericai 3 perci 6 adm ore. Th ! St hen enr TheVlf xthis pi
