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The Battalion
lume 110 • Issue 175 • 6 pages
A Texas A&M Tradition Since 1893
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Page 3
www.thebatt.com
PAGE DESIGN BY: RACHEL SMITH
‘Breadth of science’
exas A&M shows interest in taking over nuclear weapons lab in New Mexico
By Shawn C. Millender
THE BATTALION
saryJexas A&M may be a candidate to
mein he U.S. Department of Energy’s nu-
’ inJear weapons lab at Los Alamos, New
. |e\ico. A&M University System Vice
” Incellor for Research and Federal
Jitions Lee Peddicord said A&M
ile I a notice with the department that
it was interested in taking over for the
University of California, whose 10-year
contract runs out October 1.
“A&M has had ties to Los Alamos
for several years,” Peddicord said. “A
lot of our faculty have worked with the
staff over there. We’ve had close ties
for decades.”
The lab, which receives $2.2 billion
in federal funding every year, holds
many research opportunities for A&M.
“Our primary interest is in the top-
quality science going on at Los Alamos
in many fields,” Peddicord said. “The
breadth of science is extremely broad
and very high quality.”
Since A&M expressed interest in the
contract, other schools have joined the
competition, most notably the Univer
sity of Texas. Peddicord said he wel
comes the chance to collaborate with
UT on this project.
No official talks have taken place be
tween A&M and UT, said Randa Safady,
vice chancellor for external relations for
the UT system, but it is a possibility.
“Texas A&M and UT institutions
have done a lot of collaborative things
on the academic side,” Safady said.
“Athletics is probably the only area
where we have never shared a team.”
Peddicord said the best arrangement
would be as part of a team, with private
corporations handling managerial and
security issues.
Security issues have plagued the lab at
Los Alamos recently. CNN reported July
20 that the lab is under investigation by
See Science on page 2
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JEAN-LOUIS PEL • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ice Armstrong of Austin celebrates his Elysees avenue, after the final stage be
lli straight Tour de France cycling race tween Montereau and Paris on Sunday,
lory on the podium set on the Champs See related story on page 3.
1 my asks, Tour more years of what?’
By David Espo
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OSTON — With 100 cam-
;n days remaining, Sen. John
y sought votes in the quintes-
ential battleground state of Ohio
n [Sunday while thousands of
ocratic National Convention
gates converged on a citadel
iberalism to nominate him for
White House.
[Four more years of what?”
y responded pointedly to a
p of President Bush’s sup
ers who greeted him noisily at
[appearance in Columbus.
Four more years of jobs be-
g lost, four more years of the
cit growing bigger and big-
Four more years of losing
our allies around the world? We
know we can restore our alli
ances around the world and make
America strong again,” added the
four-term Massachusetts senator,
running even to slightly ahead of
Bush in the pre-convention polls.
A few hundred miles away, se
curity was an overarching concern
at the first political convention in
the post-9/11 era of terrorism.
Camouflaged military police
took up positions along elevated
rail lines overlooking the Fleet-
Center, where 4,350 delegates
will meet beginning Monday for
four days of political pageantry.
A hel icopter circled overhead as
two groups of protesters marched
DEMOCRATIC NATiONAL
^CONVENTION 2004
B0 S”T 0 N
Diverse delegates
A tittle more than half the
delegates are attending their first
convention and are equally
divided among men and women.
Gender -
49.9%
Female
Race
White
Black §§§§20 4
Hispanic |^|11.6
Asian 13
.7
60.7%
Native j 1
American !
’t 7%.NA
Other
College
graduate
First mgSgBggSMBtl
convention MH
Gay. lesbian. 13 3
bisexual *
Disabled | 3.3
IMP
See Kerry on page 2 Cowrmitee; AP
Shell foundation donates money
to build University lecture hall
By Kirk Ehlig
THE BATTALION
Shell Oil Company Foundation is donating $150,000 to the new
$38 million Jack E. Brown building located at the corner of Spence
Street and University Drive, near Zachry.
This $150,000 is going to fund a 50-seat lecture hall within the
205,000-square-foot Jack E. Brown building.
“The money helps in the construction of the building, espe
cially toward the furnishing and implementation of the latest in
instructional technology within its classroom,” said Sara Lille-
haugen, assistant director of development for the Texas A&M
Foundation - Engineering.
Donors to the building will have an opportunity to have their
name featured on the classroom or lab that they choose.
“From a recognition standpoint, naming a certain part of the build
ing allows for pointed name recognition in a potentially high-traffic
area of future potential Shell Chemical Engineering employees, al
lowing for a positive association between Shell and students’ view
of Shell’s high level of commitment to Texas A&M and Chemical
Engineering,” Lillehaugen said.
Valerie Green, business administrator of the Chemical Engineer
ing Department, said the building will also hold other types of class
es depending on the size of the class.
Although the new building will be mainly used by the Chemical
Engineering Department, other departments, including the Electri
cal Engineering Department, will have labs within the building.
Johan Zaayman, spokesman for Shell Oil Company, said the Shell
donation was specific to the Chemical Engineering Department.
“Part of the Foundation’s mission is to help provide educa
tional opportunities that prepare students and faculty to meet
the needs of the workplace,” Zaayman said. “Consequently, we
recognize the important role that chemical engineers play in the
country’s petrochemical industry and believe our donation will
See Shell on page 2
Shell Oil Weighs In
The Shell Oil Company Foundation
is helping to fund construction of
the new Jack E. Brown building.
Q Shell will donate $150,000
0 The money will specifically
fund a 50 seat lecture hall.
© The finished building will
be 205,000 square feet
© The total cost of the
building is $38 million.
Andrew Burleson • THE BATTALION
Photo Courtesy of: CHEWEB.TAMU.EDU
Source: SARA LILLEHAUGEN
Hiler to be honored at retirement
for many contributions to A&M
By Lacy Ledford
THE BATTALION
After 38 years of committed ser
vice to Texas A&M, Vice Chan
cellor for Agriculture and Life
Sciences Dean Edward A. Hiler is
preparing for retirement.
Fliler’s friends and colleagues
will gather at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at
the Annenberg Presidential Con
ference Center of the George Bush
Library Complex to celebrate Hil-
er’s service and honor him and his
upcoming retirement.
Associate Vice Chancellor for
Agriculture and program chair for
the evening Chester Fehlis said the
event will begin with a reception
and be followed by dinner. There
will also be speakers and special
presentations recognizing Hiler’s
work at A&M.
“We’ll recall some of his great
contributions so that everyone will
recognize the vast array of his ac
complishments here,” Fehlis said.
Fehlis said guests will include
representatives of the University,
HILER
agencies, de
partment heads,
members of the
College of Agri
culture Develop
ment Council and
vice chancellors
who represent
other universities
in the System.
The master of ceremonies for
the evening will be Vice Chancel
lor for Academic and Student Af
fairs Leo Sayavedra.
“Our goal is to acknowledge
the many contributions Dr. Hiler
has made to the A&M System, the
University itself, the students here
and to those in the state of Texas,”
Fehlis said.
Hiler came to A&M after earn
ing a doctorate degree from Ohio
State University in 1996. He has
taken on several positions in the
College of Agriculture, including
professor, department head, leader
of the Agriculture Program, vice
chancellor and dean.
“It is easy to describe why I
wanted to work at A&M,” Hiler
said. “First, I was very interested
in teaching and working with stu
dents, and this place seemed very
committed to that. Secondly, I no
ticed a ‘can do’ attitude at A&M
and I still believe it’s here.”
Hiler said his reason for retiring
is all about numbers.
“I’ve had 38 years at Texas
A&M, 12 years in my current posi
tion and 65 years altogether,” Hiler
said. “I just think it’s time for some
one else to take over the position.”
Hiler said he will not be retiring
completely from the University,
but is looking into work that will
provide more flexibility.
Assistant to Vice Chancellor
for Agriculture and Life Sciences
Tammy Landry has worked with
Hiler for 15 years, and describes
him as someone who cares tremen
dously about people.
“He always tries to bring people
together,” Landry said. “That is
something he does so well.”
See Hiler on page 2
Senator Cornyn visits Texas Municipal Fire Training School
By Brian D. Cain
THE BATTALION
United States Sen. John Cornyn came to Col-
?e Station Sunday to celebrate the 75th anniver-
ry of the Texas Municipal Fire Training School
a press conference in Reed Arena.
The school, which can often be recognized
)m campus by the large billows of smoke com-
gfrom its training field, was established by the
ixas Legislature in 1930.
Cornyn said he came to the event to recog-
te the important role of firefighters as first
responders on the frontline of
homeland security.
“The safety of our cities and
towns is among my highest pri
orities, and the men and women
who protect our hometowns
need more support than ever,”
Cornyn said.
In emergency situations, fire- cornyn
fighters are often the first emer
gency workers on the scene. They often arrive be
fore even paramedics or police, as witnessed by
the World Trade Center attack, which claimed the
lives of 343 firefighters.
The Municipal Fire Training School is one of
the largest training programs in the country and
is conducted by the Texas Engineering Extension
Service (TEEX), a member of the Texas A&M
University System.
According to a press release from TEEX, the
firefighters are trained extensively at the Brayton
Fire Training Field, the world’s largest live-fueled
fire training facility, and at a special area called
Disaster City, which allows first responders to
simulate different emergency scenarios.
The 75-year anniversary celebration will last for
several days, culminating with a public ceremony
and demonstration on the Brayton Fire Training
Field. The Wednesday celebration begins at 7:30
p.m. and will end with a fireworks display. The
event will include children’s activities.
According to a press release from Comyn’s of
fice, the Senator has held roundtable discussions
over the past year with first responders all over the
state discussing local emergency preparedness in
an effort to address security needs in Texas towns.
“I am committed to ensuring that Texas
firefighters remain well trained and equipped,”
Cornyn said.