After a week of Texas A&M students expressing opinions and attending open forums regarding allocation of campus space, A&M President Robert M. Gates said Monday that Hotard Hall will remain open until May 2005. On Feb. 16, members of the Council on the Built Environment told Hotard residents that they would need to find new living arrangements for fall 2004 because it planned to convert the residence hall into office space for incoming faculty.

Texas A&M President Robert M. Gates hosted the Consuls General Luncheon at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George Bush Presidential Library on Monday. The event was a kicked off International Week 2004. Approximately 30 countries were represented by their consuls to celebrate the diversity that encompasses the University.

The opening ceremony for International Week at Texas A&M began with the voices of children and a ribbon-cutting by local and University officials Monday. The Memorial Student Center Flag Room was abuzz with activity with more than 100 people in attendance.

Members of the Texas A&M Faculty Senate said Monday that A&M University President Robert M. Gates has some effective ideas for A&M's future, but some members remain skeptical on how the ideas would help the University. Gates addressed proposals on tuition, administrative restructuring and the faculty reinvestment plan.

work train for Union Pacific jumped track and spilled diesel fuel at the intersection of George Bush Drive and Wellborn Road Monday afternoon. Lt. Morgan Cook of the College Station Fire Department said the incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Cook said a crew from Union Pacific set it back on the track and it headed toward Bryan.

Rachel Fort has experienced life in third world countries for 14 years while living in Africa with her missionary family in the Ivory Coast and Ghana. She said witnessing poverty can be devastating. "Poverty in third world countries is sometimes overwhelming, and it seems like there is nothing big enough to help," said Fort, a sophomore psychology major.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Rebels occupied the national police headquarters but kept away from the U.S.-guarded presidential palace after their convoy entered the capital Monday to the cheers of thousands celebrating the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

HARLINGEN, Texas - Federal authorities decided Monday to transfer inmates out of the Brownsville jail where three inmates escaped late Friday, a move expected to result in up to 42 job losses for jail guards. It's the second time in two months that U.S marshals pulled inmates from a Cameron County jail.