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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2004)
Monday, July 12, 2004 THE BATTA1 by Will Uoy<4 NEWS IN BRIEF Israel orders construction of barrier to continue JERUSALEM (AP) - A defiant Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that Israel will keep build ing its West Bank separation barrier, despite a world court ruling that the system offences, trenches and walls is illegal and must be torn down. In Tel Aviv, Palestinian mili tants blew up a bus stop with a nail-studded bomb hidden in roadside shrubs, killing a female soldier and seriously wounding five people. It was the first deadly attack in Israel in four months, and Sharon linked it to the ruling against the barrier, which Israel says is need ed to stop such attacks. “The decision sends a destruc tive message to encourage ter rorism, and denounces) that are defending themss against it,” Sharon promised an all-out dip fensive against the ruling. The Palestinians also preparations for what would be a long diplomatic!) Although the court decisionj nonbinding, the Palestinians: to push the United Nationstt force the ruling. i Boy allegedly beaten by stepfather dies COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — A 4-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten unconscious by his stepfather has died at an Austin hospital. Tyrone Fenner Jr. was taken to Brackenridge Hospital on June 22 with injuries to his head and abdomen. He was taken off life support and died Saturday morning, College Station Police Sgt. Donnie An- dreski told the Bryan-College Station Eagle. “Its just a real tragic situation and, unfortunately, it came to an end that no one wanted to see,” Andreski said. The boy’s stepfather, 26-year-old Timothy Lewis of Heame, was charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison. He remains in the Brazos County Jail on $50,000 bond. With the boy’s death, Assistant Brazos County District Attorney Earl Gray said charges against Lewis will likely be upgraded to mur der within the next week. Autopsy results to determine the boy’s exact cause of death are pending, Andreski said. Fenner was taken by medical helicopter to Brackenridge Hospi tal after emergency responders found him unconscious at his apart ment home. According to Child Protective Services, Timothy Lewis and Fenner’s mother, Virginia Lewis, said the boy had fallen off a toi let. Virginia Lewis later changed her story and told authorities that Timothy Lewis was responsible for her son’s injuries. Authorities said a doctor also found signs of past physical abuse, including old fractures to a finger and rib. No charges have been filed against Virginia Lewis. Timothy Lewis was arrested at his home four days after Tyrone was hospitalized. Timothy Lewis had a permanent residence in Hearne but also occasionally lived with Virginia Lewis and her children, authori ties said. The couple’s two other children, 18-month-old and a 1-month- old, have been removed from the home and placed in foster care by CPS. Report Continued from page 1 which begins on July 26. The public release will be dic tated by the White House, which is reviewing the report to ensure that no classified information is dis closed. That is not seen as a major stumbling block, however. Once the report is cleared for release it will be available to the public via the Internet and at bookstores. The commission met several times last week in private ses sions, online and by telephone. “High-level concepts” have been agreed upon, commissioners said. Nuances of language, tone and specific detail are being debated. The commission’s preliminary reports have outlined failures in all those areas that helped the Sept. 11 hijackers carry out their plot. Republican commissioner John Lehman said the reforms will be “very strong, substantive and practical.” He has pushed for centralizing the intelligence agencies as well as improving domestic surveillance beyond FBI Director Robert Mueller’s proposal to create an indepen dent intelligence service within the bureau, such as by creating a domestic spy agency. Research Continued from page 1 whoever speaks the loudest and longest, but not necessarily the best, will carry the weight.” Honors program executive director Edward Funkhouser said programs like the under graduate research fellowship give students an edge in post graduate studies. “Students who participate in the honors program and become university under graduate research fellows are able to ‘test-drive’ gradu ate school as they complete their baccalaureate degrees,” Funkhouser said. Barbara Gastel, professor of journalism, medical humani ties and biotechnology, was a plenary speaker at the Sixth Undergraduate Conference In Bioethics 2003. She said Boat man’s work will prove benefi cial for his future. “I’m very pleased to see that he did his thesis on this,” Gastel said. “Writing a thesis is a very valuable experience, and it appears he is address ing a very serious and impor tant topic.” Admissions and LSAT Strategy Seminar At this seminar, you’ll learn to successfully navigate the law school admissions process and gain valuable, score-raising LSAT strategies! Tuesday, July 13th-6:30 p.m. College Station Kaplan Center 707 Texas Ave. Ste 106E Call or visit us online to register today. KAPLAN 1 -800-KAP-TEST kaptest.com/law Test Prep and Admissions LSAT is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council. Japan’s ruling coalition holds majorii in Parliment vote, but opposition gain eagern< Felden By Joseph Coleman THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO — Japan’s ruling coalition clinched a majority in the upper house of Parliament in elections Sunday, but gains by the opposition signaled discontent with the prime minister’s cuts in pension benefits and deployment of troops to Iraq. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s Lib eral Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito party won 60 of the seats under contention, ensuring their dominance of the upper house, according to final results released early Monday by the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications. The LDP alone won 49 seats. The opposition Democratic Party boost ed its standing in the chamber by 12 seats, taking 50. Official results were expected during the day Monday. The embattled premier, who took office in April 2001 promising far-reaching re form, insisted there was no reason for him to resign to take responsibility for the re sults. But the Democrats claimed victory. “The people have issued a resounding ‘no’ to Koizumi’s policies,” said party leader Katsuya Okada. The election had not been expected to seriously threaten the LDP’s hold on gov ernment. The party, which has governed almost uninterruptedly since 1955, holds a firm majority in the powerful lower house, the stronger of the legislature’s two chambers. The election also bolstered thetj gence of a two-party political sysis Japan, with the LDP increasingly bait by the Democrats rather than easilyJi nating an opposition splintered ii er groupings. Half of the chamber’s 242 sealsi contested. Before the vote, the Lii Democrats held 115 seats in the t [lent bo 11 the m lithe TY Wal k |aturda pdiror ;o righ t 'here z ran, IV ind Me 44 The people have issued a resounding 'no' to Koizumi's policies. house and controlled a majority of a if y o together with Komeito’s 23 seaislhey wi Democrats had 70. I no son The LDP had set a total of 51 seaislliis fal I gain of one seat — as its modestkJhe bell the election. While local media specl ng witl dj IB Koizumi could face pressure to stepdol — Katsuya Okada Democratic Party leader But the robust turnout for the opposition could undermine support for Koizumi with in his own party. “What we’re seeing is a result of Koi zumi’s diminishing popularity — the ’Koizumi effect’ is wearing off,” said Jiro Yamaguchi, a political scientist at Hokkai do University. He predicted the party would become even more resistant to reform. the goal was not met, the premierdisi talk of resignation. “There would be no need forthai said in an interview with NTV, a wide television network. “As longi can keep control of both houses, w continue with our reform policies." The Liberal Democratic Party to win political points from the rew economy, but with little success. “We did well considering the» were against us,” said party secretar. eral Shinzo Abe. “It’s still possibles stable government.” BC, C in or rograrr Irom the olster < Tod a; nythim ng rig! njerse ected r is the b hip her Parents Continued from page 1 dependant on their federal income tax. “The student owns his or her record, and with this system the student controls access to the record,” Harper said. Reactions among parents and students have been mixed. Senior kinesiology major Robert Ringo said he has mixed feel ings on the new system. “The system has pros and cons; your parents can see what classes you’re taking and how you’re doing, but if your grades aren’t very good that could be a bad thing,” Ringo said. However, Ringo said, it is good that students can control who has access to their record, preventing parents from finding information the student wishes to keep private Nancy Curtiss, mother of junior environmental designi Kristin Curtiss, said she thinks it is crucial for parents toto; cess to grades and other information to ensure that theirchilite receiving a quality education. Ra I TheT “I feel it is very important for parents to have accessing toomucT schedules, etc. Parents technically have the right to accessi their dependent student’s information,” Curtiss said. “Parents a great investment in their son or daughter’s education.and need to have full disclosure of all pertinent information.” However, Curtiss said that as long as the student is pendent on the parents, the school should allow parentstoai hisatmc information about their child. The first information available to parents will begraden >Lhisty from the first summer session of this year. Plant Continued from page 1 carefully through those situations. We have a lot of discussion with professors and build ing proctors about the impact it will have on their research.” Commission teams concentrate on facili ties that are larger in square footage because they are the most energy intensive. Rudder Theater Complex is one of sev eral such buildings that have undergone heating, ventilation and air conditioning recommissioning. Rudder Theater Complex manager Bill Bielamowicz said he has wit nessed the efforts and success of commis sioning teams. “The crew has been in this building and spent a lot of time working on it,” Bielamowicz said. “I believe that there has definitely been an improvement in air quality in the building.” Bruner said recognition is part of the re warding experience of successfully recom missioning a building. “When our team goes through particu larly challenging buildings and, through meticulous processes, brings a system back with minimal costs and receives recognition for that, it is very rewarding,” Bruner said. A&M’s commissioning program is ranked highly among other universities’ similar programs. “As I go to conferences and seminars and talk to people from all over the world, I find that many people have toured our of fice here. We are certainly in the top five nationwide,’’Bruner said. Bruner said that with the new energy con servation commission under A&M Presi dent Robert M. Gates, new life has been breathed into the energy program. “We’re very excited about this,” he said. “We want to get students and faculty more involved.” Future involvement efforts include more seminars, a Web site offering news of re cent achievements and competitions be tween residence halls to see whichci la lf will “Now 'diever I ng the f Boston 6 “It’s ( ne 1 can Cordei rowds 1 ? enway treaking tand. Ii ioston’s the least amount of energy. “We are also hiring more people If get the job done,” Bruner said. “Weai 0 enter I terviewing now for a new energy coot )g the A tor to make sure the program is knoicpwce talked about.” Swick said students can contribl conservation efforts by taking o their buildings. “Turn off electrical items that areroI ing used,” Swick said. “This includes!; computers and stereo equipment.” He also suggested reporting leakin cets or other toilet fixtures that arenol ating properly. “It takes energy to produce and Iran utilities to a building, including«I Swick said. Since 1996, more than 60 building been recommissioned, and direct controls have been added to others, are currently 31 buildings schedul lighting retrofits by December 2004. The Ri ad ovei thediv theAL Alfons reaking ighth in deficit evin M |or the R We are America's #1 Brake Service Company for A9 s BRYAN COLLEGE STATION Carkeeper Brakes 2715 S. Texas Ave. -Across from Wal-Mart corner of S. 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