Wednesday, July 7, 2004
Battalion
nine 111) • Issue 165*6 pages
A Texas A&M Tradition Since 1893
OPINION:
Role models in
need of reform
Page 5
\\\\\\.iheban.com
PACE DESIGN BY: RACHEL VALENCIA
erry picks Edwards as running mate
By Ron Fournier
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASHINGTON — Presidential candidate John
y on Tuesday chose former rival John Edwards
s running mate, selecting the smooth-talking
Dilhern populist over more seasoned politicians
s of injecting vigor and small-town appeal
the Democratic ticket.
trust that met with your approval,” Kerry told
sterous crowd of supporters in Pittsburgh who
ted their consent while waving hot-off-the-
ses “Kerry-Edwards” placards.
The two senators — Kerry of Massachusetts
and Edwards of North Carolina — sealed their po
litical marriage during a 15-minute, early morning
telephone conversation that papered over their dif
ferences in style and substance.
“I was humbled by his offer,” Edwards said in a
statement, “and thrilled to accept it.”
Kerry, 60, a decorated Vietnam veteran whom
critics call aloof, calculated that his ticket didn’t
need foreign policy heft as much as a bit of pizazz
and the quick embrace of party activists who had
rallied behind Edwards’ stealth campaign for the
No. 2 slot.
Edwards, 51, who made a fortune as a trial law
yer before jumping into politics in the 1990s as a
self-styled champion for the common man, edged
out several Washington veterans under consider
ation, including Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri
and Sen. Bob Graham of Florida.
Along with Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a veteran
of state politics with a low national profile, they
were finalists in a process that began four months
ago with a list of about 25 candidates.
In March, after defeating Gephardt, Graham,
Edwards and several others in the Democrat
ic primaries, Kerry told his vice presidential
search team to help him find a political soul
mate who would be “ready at any minute” to
assume the presidency.
Republicans on Tuesday questioned whether
Edwards met either standard. While President
Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney politely
welcomed Edwards to a “spirited race,” their allies
at the Republican National Committee issued a
thick press release that called the first-term senator
a politically inexperienced phony who is beholden
to the trial-lawyer lobby.
“Disingenuous, unaccomplished liberal,” the
RNC said.
Shape up
Brian Wills • THE BATTALION
Zutavern, a second year mechanical engi
ses a lathe, a machine for shaping an article of
neering doctoral student, metal chalk holder in the Halbouty Geosciences building. A chalk holder is
wood or metal, to bore a similar to a mechanical pencil for chalk.
SUROVIK
Foundation Board
names new member
By Shawn C. Millender
THE BATTALION
Bob Surovik, Class of 1958, is the
newest member of the Texas A&M
Foundation Board of Trustees.
After narrowing the field of candi
dates to three, the Association of Former
Students announced the appointment in
late May.
“I was very excited. I felt like this was
an honor, but I also felt like this was go
ing to be a lot of work,” Surovik said.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for allocating
funds that go through the A&M Foundation. Board mem
bers meet four times a year.
Surovik said his duties will not interfere with his work
as president of his law firm, McMahon, Surovik, Suttle,
Buhrmann, Hicks, Gill and Cannon, P.C. in Abilene.
“I will be surprised if it takes less than 12 to 14 days of
my year, which won’t be a problem since I made 35 trips
to College Station as president of the Former Students As
sociation in 2001,” Surovik said.
Surovik, former president of the Abilene A&M Club,
will replace James Creel, whose seven-year term ended
June 30.
“I’ve known Jim a long time, and I’ve always regard
ed him as outstanding in his field,” Surovik said. “He’s
an exceptional person and I hope I can be as good at this
as he was.”
Steve Suttle has been a partner in Surovik’s law firm for
37 years. He said Surovik is more than qualified to take
on this job.
“His integrity is unimpeachable and his character is be
yond reproach,” Suttle said. “He’s worked with charitable
organizations in the past so he knows the rules and laws
See Board on page 2
.grp
ild
Blood donations sought from Aggies
\7m
By Pammy Ramji
THE BATTALION
or the past few months, there has been a shortage of blood
Jie United States. The Texas A&M chapter of Alpha Phi
nega, a national co-ed service fraternity, is sponsoring a
pd drive this week on campus, which started on Monday,
will be held through Friday.
'he American Red Cross’ goal is to receive 350 units of
[)d this week, but due to the lack of students donating
id, that goal may not be reached.
iggies can donate blood at the Rudder Fountain area,
>a Dinning Hall, the Biochemistry-Biophysics Building
Wehner.
^ori Patterson, team supervisor for American Red Cross,
that it is important for students to donate blood.
jjRight now we are in what we call an appeal because our
>d supply is at a critical stage. We have been in a critical
;e for the past few months and it is difficult to come out of
it,” Patterson said.
American Red Cross territory manager for Bryan-College
Station, Theresa Evangelista, hopes that more students donate
blood this week.
“We certainly appreciate students coming out to donate
blood,” Evangelista said.
The biggest importance of blood donation to the Red Cross
is that it saves lives.
“Hospitals wait for us to get blood, check it and send it to
them,” Evangelista said.
Many students such as senior electrical engineering major
Tuan Le have been donating blood since high school.
“I donate blood as often as I can because it feels good
knowing that you can help save someone’s life,” Le said.
Each person’s blood donation helps save up to three lives,
but only less than one percent of people eligible in the United
States actually donate.
“If everyone in the United States who could donate blood
See Donate on page 2
BLOOD DRIVEI
The American Red Cross will be on campus this week to hold
a blood drive sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega.
ORUDDER FOUNTAIN
Thursday through Friday
from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
©SBISA DINING HALL
Wednesday through Friday
from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
©WEHNER
Wednesday from 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
©BIOCHEMISTRY-BIOPHYSICS
BUILDING
Wednesday from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Will Lloyd • THE BATTALION
Map Courtesy of: TAMU.EDU
Source: THERESA EVANGELISTA, AMERICAN RED CROSS
'rofessor named to state bar committee
ROJO DEL BUSTO
By Suzy Green
THE BATTALION
ano Rojo del
to, director of
rnational faculty
scholar services
J Texas A&M, be
at his term on the
ta:e Bar of Texas
Unding Committee
n Laws Relating to
n nigration and Na-
o .ality on June 25.
jit’s an honor to be able to serve in
1 committee,” Rojo del Busto said.
1 ook forward to communicating the
3 cems of the higher education corn-
unity to the committee to improve
I nigration laws.”
| he committee studies current and
raposed laws pertaining to immigra-
and nationality and makes rec-
endations to improve these laws,
P Paul Parsons, an Austin immigra
tion lawyer and the chairman of the
committee.
“This committee brings together
many people who are extremely active
in this area of law,” Parsons said.
“This appointment is a recogni
tion of A&M’s professional staff
expertise in immigration law,” said
Emily Ashworth, A&M assistant
provost for international programs.
“It allows us to have a voice at the
state level to address immigration
related issues.”
“As a member of this committee,
it will be easier to communicate our
concerns in higher education and make
recommendations in areas that it may
be necessary to improve,” Rojo del
Busto said.
The State Bar of Texas is a profes
sional organization for Texas attorneys
that serves as an administration agency
of the state’s judicial branch. The State
Bar helps courts improve the adminis
tration of justice and the quality of le
gal services to the public.
“I’ll be able to interact more directly
with federal agencies that are respon
sible for implementing immigration
laws,” Rojo del Busto said. “I plan to
make them aware of concerns we have
in higher education.”
Rojo del Busto will be able to update
the committee at its quarterly meetings
from the viewpoint of foreign students
and faculty, Parsons said.
“In this time of increased security
checks and restrictions on foreign na
tionals including international students
and faculty, he will be able to add the
perspective relating to international
education as it relates to immigration,”
Parsons said.
“Rojo del Busto has had experi
ence in practicing immigration re
lated law and handling international
faculty and visiting scholars,” Ash
worth said.
See Professor on page 2
Gunn elected speaker
of the Faculty Senate
By Chelsea Sledge
THE BATTALION
When J. Martyn
Gunn moved from
Great Britain to join
the Texas A&M fac
ulty in 1976, he told
his wife and daugh
ter that it was only
temporary. 28 years
later, Gunn and his
wife are still living
in College Station, both employed at
the University.
“There is a tremendous opportunity
for faculty at A&M,” said Gunn, a pro
fessor of Biochemistry and Nutrition
and Associate Head of the Department
of Biochemistry and Genetics. “There
GUNN
are not a lot of restrictions with re
search. It’s a very friendly campus and I
particularly like that.”
Gunn was given the honor of being
voted speaker of the Faculty Senate in
May. Nominated by the A&M Faculty
Senate, three other opponents were
slated. As speaker, Gunn will preside
over monthly faculty senate meetings
and serve as chairman of the Faculty
Senate Executive Committee. In addi
tion, he will meet with A&M President
Robert M. Gates, administrators and
student leaders.
“The speaker is also regarded in a
sense as representative of Texas A&M
University’s faculty,” said John Pike,
See Speaker on page 2