European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes Friday april 13,1990 news update Confederate Flag Buckhannon . Apr a West Virginia Wesleyan College fraternity that displayed the Confederate Flag despite a Campus moratorium on use of such symbols has been disciplined school officials said. President Thomas b. Courtice ordered 45-member Kappa Alpha to Stop recruiting pledges for six months and said the fraternity s current pledges cannot become Active members. The penalty came after an incident in which fraternity members Clad in Confederate garb wore 2-Inch rebel flags on their hats As part of a old South weekend the fraternity a annual Spring dance said Dusty Williams alumni adviser to the group. More than a dozen Black students later protested outside the fraternity a off Campus House Williams said. Courtice instituted the moratorium last december after students and parents complained about the use of Confederate symbols. �?o1 think the punishment was quite severe and the members feel the same a said Williams a 1969 Wesleyan graduate. A we done to see Why the pledge class has been  debate leaves open question on natos future after 2000 Ben Waters runway to close for 6 months Raf Ben Waters England a amps a the runway at Ben Waters will close for six months beginning in May for resurfacing work a base spokeswoman said. The two squadrons of about 30 a-10 aircraft stationed at the base will move to nearby Raf Woodbridge said capt. Carolyn Hodge. The planes Are expected to return in november. Woodbridge is Home to two other squadrons of a-10s, As Well As the 39th special operations Wing which operate Hc-130 aircraft and Mh-53 helicopters. The resurfacing will Cost about $5.3 million with nato paying 90 percent of the Cost. Airman gets 1 year in shoplifting Case Raf Ben Waters England a amps a a vehicle Mechanic caught shoplifting from the base Exchange was sentenced to a year in prison at a general court martial held thursday. Senior airman Mark l. Olson a Mechanic assigned to the 81st trans so pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing More than $ 100 Worth of goods according to capt. Carolyn Hodge a base spokeswoman. Olson a three year Veteran took about $5,000 Worth of goods from the store. Olson who elected to be tried by a military judge was reduced to the rank of airman first class and Given a written reprimand by circuit judge col. Robert m. Richards from Rhein main a West Germany. Correction an article in thursdays editions on the withdrawal of cruise missiles from West Germany mistakenly said the missiles warheads would be returned to the United states and destroyed. The warheads which Are not covered by the intermediate Range nuclear Force treaty will be turned Over to the department of Energy. By David Tarrant Brussels Bureau Brussels Belgium a european leaders wrestling with the question of a future role for nato gained a Little sympathy for the difficulty of the task after a unique debate wednesday night. The unofficial debate held at the University of Brussels focused on whether nato should exist in Europe after 2000. It pitted anti nato and pro nato speakers and gave the audience the final say on who won. The vote was a Clear resounding draw. Half of the 150 people attending the forum voted to get rid of nato and the other half voted to keep the Alliance. The debate was hosted by nato alerts network a privately funded organization based in Brussels that describes itself As a watchdog Over nato. The six speakers included John Kom Blum the Deputy . Ambassador to nato who spoke in favor of nato and Frank Blackaby the former director of the Stockholm International peace research Institute who argued against it. The debate took place at a time when some Western and Eastern leaders Are stepping up Calls to replace nato with a greater european Security Structure. Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze recently said the new Structure should be based on the conference on Security and cooperation in Europe which includes the 35 countries that signed the 1975 Helsinki agreement. Blackaby said the Atlantic Alliance was formed specifically to counter the soviet threat. But with the soviets pulling out of Eastern Europe and arms control treaties poised to reduce the number of soviet troops stationed in Central Europe the soviet Union is no longer a threat to Western Europe he said. A therefore natos reason for existence its Raison do etre is no longer there Quot he said. Blackaby noted that advocates for a future role for nato were simply trying to find things to keep the Alliance Busy. Organizations such As the european economic Community Are adequate to address political and social issues in Europe. What is needed is a new organization to address the continents new Security needs he said. But Kom Blum argued that those who viewed nato Only As a military Alliance missed the Point. A Onato has contributed to a Community of values on both sides of the Atlantic a he said. Organizations such As the european Community would not exist without the foundation of Security offered by nato. Kom Blum cautioned that the Csc would be too unwieldy to administer the Security needs of Europe. Its varied membership which includes countries ranging from Monaco to the United states and the soviet Union would water Down its decision making abilities. Both sides also noted the Rise of nationalism in Europe but disagreed on the Best Way to overcome problems associated with it. Nato advocates said the Alliance helped to overcome nationalistic tendencies. A right now one of the threats that the new situation holds is a Rise of the nationalist fundamentalists a said Alfred Cahen Belgium a ambassador to France nationalism was the basis for world War i and could Only be overcome by integrating National defences in the Way that nato has done he said. But Daniel Nelson a senior associate at the Carnegie endowment for International peace argued that nato is inadequately situated to overcome the Rise of nationalism. A postwar Security arrangements in Europe Nelson said a cannot accommodate German Unity the dismemberment of Yugoslavia protracted civil wars or popular uprisings in the Balkans or elsewhere or the emergence of a right Wing nationalist bloc within Central Eastern or Southeastern Europe a All of which to a greater or lesser degree Are possible in the next  army officials refuse to release results of autopsy on Mainz girl by Crystal Laureano staff writer citing the stars and stripes a unique relationship with the military army officials on thursday refused to release the results of an autopsy performed on an 8-year-old girl who May have died As a result of child abuse. Statements made by doctors on duty March 28 when Michele Lee Valdez was brought to the air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden suggest that she also was chronically abused and suffered from malnutrition. The child was dead when her father staff sgt. Ricardo Valdez brought her to the Hospital about 8 30 . Two Days later Valdez 34, was charged with murder and child neglect. The stars and stripes has made numerous requests to obtain the cause of Michele a death the results of an autopsy performed March 30 and information about the injuries that the girl had when she arrived at the Hospital. All of the requests were refused by spokesmen for the Hospital the Mainz Community and 8th inf div. A the basis for not answering the questions is the governments obligation to ensure staff sgt. Ricardo Valdez receives a fair trial before an impartial court As guaranteed by the sixth amendment to the Constitution a according to a statement released thursday by the 8th inf div staff judge advocates office. A the Pool of prospective court members for Valdez assuming the Case goes to trial is relatively Small and stars and stripes has a unique relationship being the self proclaimed a Hometown newspaper for those members. The information sought goes to the heart of matters subject to intense litigation if the Case is tried. A the potential for tainting the Pool of prospective members with information acquired outside the courtroom dictates that the government not provide the information  West German authorities have relinquished jurisdiction in the Case Clearing the Way for a . Court martial an 8th inf div spokesman said wednesday. Valdez is assigned to he co 4th in 34th Armor 8th inf div in Mainz. He was placed in pretrial confinement at the army jail in Mannheim the Day he was charged. Valdez a wife Christina Valdez was apprehended by West German police the Day after her stepdaughters death and released the following Day. A West German police spokesman said wednesday that the investigation of Christina Valdez is continuing. The family a other three daughters Ages 6, 8 and 10, have been in Foster care since Michele a death. Two of the girls Are Christina a children. The third daughter is from the sergeants previous marriage As was Michele. Although Valdez has been assigned to Mainz since March 1989, Michele was never registered in the Community a elementary school. The other three girls were registered at the school in Martin Luther King Village a school official said. Michele also was not registered in school at Valdez a previous duty assignment with co a 4th in 502nd inf in Berlin a department of defense dependents schools spokesman said wednesday. Officials have also refused to disclose the name or location of Michele s natural Mother. ,. Soldiers in Valdez a unit have been threatened with disciplinary action it they talk to the press a Soldier said. Community officials would not comment on the Soldier statement. Valdez who is from Mission Texas worked at Lee Barracks m Mainz a mortar Man. W. German listeners May lose an officer says future tied to troop pullout Frankfurt West Germany a amps a West germans who love to listen to an radio got a grating piece of news thursday. An could be taken off the air under . Troop withdrawals said Mai. Richard David executive officer for the american forces network Europe. A the future of an like that of All . Forces depends on the outcome of the negotiations regarding our troops throughout Europe a David said. David a comments comes on the heels of a proposal by Rupert von Plott Nitz a otherwise a is Luau Maici of the station or the sound of in the Backer greens member of the Hessen state Par stay Here a said Messinger a inaccurate without either some mention of the station or the sour a an playing in the background. It Sho whose party has lament that an remain in Frankfurt traditionally opposed the presence even if the . Forces leave. Troops in West Germany. Bed Messinger a spokesman for the David said an has known Green party in the Hessen parliament said positive reception in Europe wednesday that an has put a positive and went on the air july 4, 1943. R0, indelible Mark on West German culture. Received thousands of letters Iro a we be a any depiction of the period a in film or Pean listeners Ever since he said