Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 11

Metro Tuesday, January 29, 2002 American-Statesman statesman.com Section UT to uffweol plaon to1 redlyce pending Savings, along with proposed fee for students, would help university pay for building repairs "Remedies have started emerging," Faulkner told the faculty group. "We will be talking in the next several days about a cost-reduction strategy that is aimed at using our resources effectively enough." Faulkner did not rule out the possibility that administrators and students could reach a compromise on the fee, which would cost most students almost $500 more in the first year, with increases of $50 a year. Fifteen percent of the money would be dedicated to scholarships. Faulkner said talks continue with students about altering the initial fee amount and possibly the increments for increases. Over the past several weeks, the fee proposal has generated considerable debate, particularly among students and lawmakers.

UT Student Government has offered alternatives, as has state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin. In a By Sharon Jayson American-Statesman Staff The University of Texas will unveil a plan Thursday to save a "sizable" amount of money as part of the university's effort to find an estimated $150.7 million by 2006. UT President Larry Faulkner on Monday told the UT Faculty Council to stay tuned for a plan to reduce university spending to accompany the mandatory student fee proposal he outlined three weeks ago. The fee would help pay for renovations and repairs and would begin this fall if UT System regents give their approval Feb.

14. Weed battle at lake creates new places to roam I rj --r vwrr--- ReDecca McEnteeAmencan-Statesman Lake Austin visitors have about two more weeks to explore the 'beachfront' that has been created by the 12-foot lowering of the lake, meant to help kill off the overgrown aquatic weed hydrilla. Nine-year-old black Labrador Timba and his owner, Allison Sarofim, walk the east side of the lake Monday. The five-day process of refilling the lake will begin Feb. 11.

John Kelso 'Mayor, officials representin' at fashion show Gus Garcia as Super Fly? Not exactly. But Monday night the Austin mayor was upstaged by City Council Member Will Wynn when Wynn dropped his pants while modeling the latest in hip-hop fashions on a runway "i at a fund-raiser for the Austin Community Development an outfit that provides (, loans for businesses owned by minorities and women. Actually, I should say that Wynn dropped his baggy Naqura traditional signature denim shorts, part of the outfit he wore for East Night, at Nue-l vo Leon Restaurant, 1501 E. Sixth St. The event featured Austin leaders stylin' and profilin' in ensembles from three Austin hip-hop clothing lines Naqura, Asiatic and GUGOGS, all clients of the nonprofit cor-l poration.

Wynn's denim shorts didn't stay down long. And it was hard to tell whether he dropped them or, being baggy, they just took off with a mind of their own. Still, "absolutely, he upstaged us all," admitted Garcia, who seemed a little embarrassed to be on the runway in his hip-hop outfit a pair of denim pants and a matching jacket from Naqura. "He and (state Rep.) i Dawnna Dukes took the cake." Dukes, D-Austin, was an attention-grabber, all right, showing a little midriff and thrusting her fanny to port as she pranced down the runway and turned backward toward the audience with a smile on her face that would have lit up Cleveland. a Pike Powers, a master of ceremonies for the occasion and a lawyer with Fulbright and Ja-worski, proclaimed Dukes "so hot the Capitol police are going to be spilling doughnuts all over themselves." Hey, you don't get these kind of quotes up in Dallas.

Meanwhile, the audience that packed the tables along the runway went nuts, hooting and howling. Powers was no slouch, either. He was wearing jeans, a sleeveless jeans jacket and a red shirt, and as he came on stage, he did a hip chicken-looking strut as he turned his San Antonio Spurs hat around backward. "You can call me Master you can call me and you call me black-eyed pea," he told the crowd. It was that kind of a night.

"No, I didn't have any say-so," Powers said before the show started, when asked if he got to pick out his own clothes. "I did have a hard time getting into it, too. I had my pants leg rolled up too high, so they rolled it down See Kelso, B5 Rebecca McEnteeAmerican-Statesman Austin Mayor Gus Garcia modeled hip-hop fashions Monday night to help raise money for a group that gives loans to businesses owned by minorities and women. letter to Faulkner, the lawmaker asked the university to document any efforts it has undertaken to "trim the fat" from its budget. Faulkner will do just that at Thursday's 4 p.m.

session at Batts Auditorium. University officials have presented their reasoning for the new fee to regents, students, faculty and staff. On Thursday, they will provide more information See UT, B6 Austin schools toughen standard High schoolers to take fewer electives, more science, math, language under new program By Michelle M. Martinez American-Statesman Staff Austin high school students will take fewer electives and more rigorous courses starting next fall under a new graduation standard approved by the school board Monday night. In a unanimous vote, the board adopted the recommended high school program to replace the minimum graduation plan starting with the Class of 2006, two years earlier than required by a state law passed during the most recent legislative session.

The new standard requires students to take a foreign language and includes more science, math and social studies, and the number of electives a student must take will be reduced from to Students will be exempt from the requirements if their parents and school counselor agree. Trustee Olga Garza saluted the vote with "a big amen for the recommended high school program," saying she is proud that Austin "is leading the charge on this." Next year's ninth-graders probably won't notice the changes until their sophomore year, when they start taking the new required courses. Officials said the more difficult standard will help prepare students for the exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, a tougher statewide assessment test that will replace the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills next year. Students must pass the test to graduate. Joy McLarty, who oversees the school district's accountability and information systems, said the district should not have to hire additional teachers immediately because of the change.

The Austin district hires hundreds of teachers each summer to fill vacant positions. This year, officials will focus on hiring teachers for foreign languages, math and science subjects for which teachers have traditionally been See Foreign, B7 Today is last day for early voting Today is the last day for voters to cast early ballots for Saturday's election. About a dozen Central Texas school districts and municipalities have propositions up for voter approval. Issues include money for school buildings in the Austin, Jarrell and Bastrop districts; a recall election in Georgetown; an economic development tax in Roll-ingwood; an alcoholic beverage referendum for the Round Rock area; and an emergency services district for the Horseshoe Bay area. For early voting locations, see Page B2.

Election Day polling locations will appear in Saturday's Metro State section. Full coverage of the election will be available at statesman.com and in Sunday's Austin American-Statesman. Austin police detail assault allegations against more disturbing," Police Chief Stan Knee wrote in a disciplinary memo. "Even if Sergeant Poindexter was intoxicated, as he claims, no level of intoxication justifies his outrageous conduct." Knee fired the 38-year-old officer on Thursday. Results of a separate criminal investigation were turned over to the Travis County district attorney's office several weeks ago, Police Chief of Staff Mike McDonald said.

That case, he said, likely will go before a grand jury, which will consider indicting Poindexter on felony attempted sexual assault parade canceled for safety reasons charges. He had no previous disciplinary problems with the department, McDonald said. His lawyer, Tom Stribling, said Poindexter will appeal the firing through arbitration and that Poindexter's family did not want the department to continue its investigation. "Sergeant Poindexter has a 14-year history with the Austin Police Department, which is exemplary," Stribling said. "Because of one night of consuming more alcohol than he was accustomed to, events occurred that he doesn't (J! former officer even remember, and those events unfortunately were in a family setting.

"The family has resolved the issues for itself," he said. "The people involved know this is totally out of character for Sergeant Poindexter, and they know that he didn't know what he was doing. Each of the family members have forgiven him and believe that he should retain his job as a police officer." According to the department disciplinary memo, which city See Ex-officer, B6 Vi JtT i Mardi Gras will be held downtown the afternoon of Feb. 9. You may contact Claire Osborn at cosbornstatesman.com or 445-3630.

By Jonathan Osborne American-Statesman Staff Austin police say Sgt. Wendell Poindexter, who oversaw the department's sex crimes unit, molested a mentally disabled woman on the drive home from a family wedding in October. Then, investigators say, Poindexter tried to dupe a lie-detector test after telling internal affairs interviewers that he was too drunk to remember whether the incident occurred. "His position within the organization makes his conduct even Mardi Gras After last year's violence, Austin police won't allow night event By Claire Osborn American-Statesman Staff When Mardi Gras rolls around in two weeks, no one will be throwing beads from floats on Sixth Street. This year's Mardi Gras parade was canceled after Austin police refused to allow the event at night, officials said Monday.

Concerns about violence during the celebration last year, when rioters threw beer bottles and rocks at police officers on Feb. 25, helped prompt the decision. "This is not based on what happened on September 11. But there is some consideration for last year because the thing just kind of blew up in our face, as it did there the year before," said Cmdr. Harold Piatt of the Austin Police Department.

Police in riot gear had to push hundreds of people off Sixth Street last year when the crowd became unruly. Thirty-five people were arrested, and one man was stabbed several times in the back. Wild crowds and fights also marred the 2000 Mardi Gras weekend. Piatt said it would take too many officers to adequately cover a night parade during Mardi Gras, which will run Feb. 8-12.

Organizers were told of the police decision about a month ago, said Bob Woody, president of the East Sixth Street Merchants Association. "Some people will probably be upset about the parade, but I'm not," he said. Woody said he understood the Police Department's concerns. "Last year, things escalated into a problem on Sixth Street, and with that in mind, we need to let a period of time go by so we can heal the wounds," he said. Charlie Betts, president of the Downtown Austin Alliance, agreed with Woody.

"We're not against the parades, but we've had pretty serious problems the last couple of Mardi Gras," Betts said. This would have been the fourth year for the parade. Other events, such as concerts and a parade for Kevin Virobik-Adams 2001 for American-Statesman Olivia Troye of Austin chats with officers during the 2001 Mardi Gras celebration. Rioters threw bottles and rocks after last year's parade, and police in riot gear had to push people off Sixth Street. children, were not scheduled.

Without the parade, it was too hard to promote the other festivities, Woody said. A Boy Scout parade unrelated to Utah 31.