The Battalion: February 8, 2017

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2017 STUDENT MEDIA | @THEBATTONLINE

BATT THE

THE BATTALION | THEBATT.COM ENERGY

Jenny Hollowell — THE BATTALION

Sustainability efforts are being made to possibly introduce floor tiles in the Rec that would convert energy from walking into electricity.

By Jaci Cooper @CooperJaci While the Rec Center may have just finished construction on a new weight room, it’s possible that future surprises are in store for it in the area of clean energy.

One Texas A&M student has been working hard to have floor tiles installed in the Rec Center entry that could convert the energy generated by walking into usable electricity. Working with the Pavegen Company, electrical engineering senior Craig Wolf has been working to make cleaner energy sources a reality on A&M’s campus.

Wolf said he was first inspired when he saw the Pavegen tiles — floor modeling technology that generates energy from footsteps — featured in the 2012 London Olympic facilities, and he has been working toward his goal individually for more than

two years now. Last spring, he received a grant of $60,000 from the Aggie Green Fund to help finance the project.

“I was inspired to make a difference and make it a little more sustainable, make the world more sustainable,” Wolf said. “I was on the Green Fund at the time, and I was just kind of thinking, ‘What could I do to actually make a difference?’ And this seems like a significant project. It wasn’t just a water fountain — it was something that people could see that’s different. It could inspire them to make changes. So I looked it up and kind of just ran with it.”

Wolf said he began searching for a location where the tiles would experience high foot traffic and return a high amount of electricity. After some deliberation, he settled on the Rec, envisioning the tiles placed just before the turnstiles in the entrance.

REC POWER ON PG. 2

Sociology professor Stjepan Meštrovic has served as an expert witness in war crime trials, and uses his unique background to elevate his classroom instruction.

COURTROOMS TO CLASSROOMS

FROM

A&M student works to convert walking energy into electricity in Rec

Madeline Sambrano — THE BATTALION

Sociology professor uses unique background in lessons

By Brad Morse @BradSMorse53

P

rofessors’ expertise in their field comes from all different backgrounds, but sociology professor Stjepan Meštrovic didn’t get his expertise from books or lectures.

Meštrovic served as an expert witness in several war crimes trials, including the trial of Abu Ghraib, where prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq were tortured,

abused, raped and murdered by the U.S. Army and Central Intelligence Agency. With his background, he came to A&M in 1991 and has dedicated his time to researching and teaching about war crimes and has authored more than 15 books.

“It was an exciting adventure,” Meštrovic said about the Abu Ghraib trial. “I took the chance to talk to the jurors like they were students, since I was explaining how and why what happened, happened. I learned so much, and began to delve into the subject on my own.”

Meštrovic was born in Croatia and moved to the United States of America when he was 8 years old.

His passion for learning led him to earn three bachelor degrees from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University.

“I always loved academics. I love reading, writing, thinking,” Meštrovic said. “I knew this was my calling.

And those are what drove me to sociology — its analytical, the study of society.”

When Meštrovic arrived at A&M in 1991, he said he immediately felt at home.

“It was an interesting process,” Meštrovic said. “They found me and I found them around the same MEŠTROVIC ON PG. 4

WBAC commences Black History Month celebration

By Shahd Elbushra @shahd10_21

COURTESY

The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is located in the North Korean capitol, Pyonyang, and is the nation’s only private university.

A&M establishes educational partnership with North Korea

By Brad Morse @BradSMorse53 Despite a rocky relationship between North Korea and the United States, Texas A&M has agreed to work with a North Korean university in an effort to increase the country’s agricultural production.

University officials from Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, also known as PUST, reached out to Texas A&M late January, requesting academic assistance from the agriculture department.

A&M hopes to work with PUST to improve their agriculture curriculum by providing second-hand materials, guest lectures and academic counseling.

PUST is the only private university in North Korea. Most of its faculty are international, having graduated and taught at schools in the United States and Europe. They receive no funding from the North Korean government, instead getting funds from do-

nations, primarily from churches.

Agricultural economics professor Edwin Price is leading the project on A&M’s side.

“A graduate student about five years ago convinced me to go to North Korea, and I saw the university,” Price said. “We looked for ways we could help them, but there wasn’t a lot we could do due to the bad relationship between the United States and North Korea.

Then I met the same group back in October, and we decided to give it another shot.”

As of now, the logistics of how A&M will help PUST are not defined, but Price said they have an idea of what they would like to do.

“It’s quite informal right now,” Price said.

There are no contracts or anything. But we will try to improve their teaching in agriculture,” Price said. “We’ll try to help right across the board. Immediately, we want to help their curriculum. We’ll get them NORTH KOREA ON PG. 2

FILE

WBAC is hosting several events to celebrate Black History Month.

One week into Black History Month, campus organizations have begun to remember and celebrate the impactful black leaders who’ve shaped black history across the globe.

The MSC Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee, or WBAC, will host several events this month to educate A&M students about the rich history of impactful black leaders.

Jalyn Golden, wildlife sciences and entomology senior and former chair of MSC WBAC, said WBAC currently has two major programs planned for Black History Month. The first is a showing of the film “Chico and Rita,” a Spanish animated film, at 7 p.m. Saturday in Rudder Theatre.

The showing is a collaboration between MSC WBAC, MSC CAMAC — a Latin programming committee — and MSC Aggie Cinema.

After the showing, there will be a panel discussion on the Afro-Latino community culture and the film featuring four faculty members from the A&M Liberal Arts Department.

“Our committees hope to take the Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station area WBAC ON PG. 2

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The Battalion | 2.8.17

REC POWER CONTINUED He said the most practical use of the energy would be to create an environment-friendly phone charging station.

“Your stepping motion creates the energy which is then sent to either a battery system or a supercapacitor system; it depends how you weigh it out, and how much you want to spend,” Wolf said.

“That can then be converted to what you need for your cell phones.”

Dennis Corrington, executive director of Rec Sports, said installing the tiles right now would conflict with an upcoming flooring project that the Rec is scheduled to undergo soon. He also expressed concerns of a potential safety issue.

“We kind of came to the conclusion that now is not a very good time because we’re replacing all the flooring in May,” Corrington said. “And these pads have a profile so, to a degree, we were concerned a little about a trip hazard, but they assured us that it met ADA standards.”

Rick Hall, senior associate director of the Rec, said the idea is intriguing but there are still some concerns to address.

“We want to support those types of things — the creativity, the ingenuity of the students,” said Hall. “And if it’s green, as long as we’re able to answer those other questions, we’re saying, ‘Well, let’s give it a try.’”

Jenny Hollowell — THE BATTALION

Energy can be generated through footsteps via a special floor tiles which harness the movement and convert it.

Hall said he felt working with Wolf was a good way for them to get involved in helping to make the Rec a little greener and the planet a little more sustainable.

“It shows that we’re all working together as a team to see if there are some alternatives,” Hall said. “And hey, if that’s the first baby step, and it’s just a charging station for phones, then that’s the first baby step.”

Wolf said as the chair of the Aggie Green Fund, he hopes to get people thinking about differences they can make to help improve the environment.

“Once you get people educated, then

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materials.”

Price said he hopes A&M is able to send guest lecturers to PUST to help teach.

“If and when it’s possible, we want to send guest lectures to help,” Price said.

“We can send them with second-hand equipment for humanitarian purposes.”

The United States has placed sanctions against North Korea, but Price said he doesn’t believe that will hinder A&M working with PUST. “There is procedure for this, and we will follow protocol,” Price said. “Additionally, A&M has its own rules for working with other universities. So we have to make sure everything we do is legal.”

Price is enlisting the help of A&M students and faculty, including agricultural leadership professor Jim Mazurkiewicz.

“I was contacted by Dr. Price to meet with this delegation,” Mazurkiewicz said. “Dr. Price is knowledgeable of my international cooperation with Poland and Mexico, as well as my travels abroad to study agriculture issues.”

Mazurkiewicz has different expectations from Price about the project.

“My expectation was more of a listening session to learn more about PUST and their needs and limitations,” Mazurkiewicz said. “I do not even know if I will play a role.”

PUST’s International Academic Affairs for United States Relationships chair Norma Nichols said PUST chose A&M due to a prior relationship a faculty member had with Price.

“One of our supporters was a Texas A&M graduate who introduced us to Dr. Price, who was then working as the Director of the Borlaug Institute, thinking that he might be able to give us some advice,” Nichols said. “This

WBAC CONTINUED on a journey that educates on a part of the African diaspora that is often underrepresented during Black History Month,” Golden said. “In addition to creating a dialogue to merge the gap between the African and Latin culture that makes up the Afro-Latino community we hope to dispel some misconceptions of the Afro-Latino community and create fun, educational and welcoming experience for all to enjoy.”

The second event planned is the “African Kings and Queens Ballet” scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 13 in Rudder Auditorium, hosted by WBAC and the Department of Performance Studies.

“The ballet performance will be an original piece featuring the stories of Hannibal Barca, King Mansa Musa I, Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa and Queen Nzinga,” Golden said. “We hope to represent African civilizations, empires, and royalty through visual and performing arts. This ballet can help aid in diversity on campus through educational programming on the unique culture, history, and heritage of the African diaspora.”

Golden said the ballet also serves as a way to display activism through performing arts.

PROVIDED

Joo Pilju Kim, dean of PUST School of Agriculture and Life Sciences gives a presentation at A&M.

kind of school had a potential to be the kind of project that the Borlaug Institute might want to help.”

Nichols has high hopes for the project, which she attributes to the nature of North Korea’s students.

“We are exploring to see the best way that we might work together, possibly for a long-term project that would involve student and faculty exchanges as well as exchange of information and advisory help. North Korean students are very hard-working, intelligent individuals, but they have been very isolated from international involvement,” Nichols said. “We hope to introduce the excellent students at PUST to the excellent students at TAMU, possibly even allowing them to work together on research or projects.”

Despite Price’s and Nichols excitement about the project, not everyone is warm to the idea. Texas congressman Robert O’Rourke expressed doubts about the project.

“It’s hard for me to believe we are doing this,” O’Rourke said. “I under-

stand that North Korea has endured horrific famine and the humanitarian impulse in us is to help people who are unable to help themselves.”

O’Rourke said the United States will need to balance helping the people of North Korea while still adhering to the sanctions, which prohibit the importing and exporting of goods, services and technology, investment in property and doing business with North Korean entities. Humanitarian efforts are allowed under the sanctions and A&M has not signed any formal agreement with PUST, which allows them classify the project as a humanitarian effort.

“We have to balance that with ensuring there are consequences for operating outside of international law,” O’Rourke said. “By building nuclear weapons, threatening their neighbors, and contributing to nuclear proliferation — North Korea has done all of that.There have to be consequences. I don’t want those consequences to result in the suffering and death of these people unnecessarily.”

“The ballet will be performed by Urban Souls Dance Company (USDC) [whose] mission is to bridge the gap between life and art by promoting the importance of creativity,” Golden said.

“The dancers of Urban Souls provide not just a dance performance, but also an experience that will inspire, teach and challenge audiences.”

Amy Diawara, public health junior, is the Black History Month director for WBAC this year. Diawara said, as director, she’s gotten to lead the preparations for the month’s events along with her co-workers.

“Along the way it’s just inclusion of the black culture and its various aspects being Muslim [and Black], being Afro-Latino,” Diawara said. “It’s not just one dimensional — that’s the biggest piece I have taken away.”

With the events WBAC will host, all campus organizations celebrating black rights and culture will come together Feb. 15 for the Umoja Festival, an annual African American culture and history festival, said Diawara.

“We are coming together because together we stand, divided we fall,” Diawara said. “We thought it would be really cool if we all came together for this festival.”

Lidell Perry, MSC WBAC advis-

er, said she just started working with WBAC last August and she feels this year it’s been very important to educate the campus community in what blackness means.

“Sometimes when we talk about Black History Month, we only focus about African American black history and the experience of black people in America since slavery,” Perry said. “And that’s something we want to address because black history starts way beyond slavery in America.”

Perry said the organization is aimed at highlighting where African roots come from and what that looks like across the diaspora.

“The African King and Queens Ballet on the [Feb.] 13 highlights some of the kings and queens that built these dynasties were a lot of African Americans, African Latinos, African Cubans find our roots in and some of our culture in,” Perry said. “Helping the community and the campus understand blackness isn’t just because you are from Africa, but because during the slave trade many persons taken from Africa weren’t just taken to America. They were taken to other parts of the world, so the African roots are there and the mixing and coming together of those people produced a different kind of black individual.”

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they’re thinking about ways in their lives they could make a difference, such as using less water, turning off the lights when they’re not there, stuff like that, which, over time, piles up,” Wolf said.

“And just educating people in general helps, maybe it inspires them to do something with their major that has to do with sustainability or clean energy.

So it’s kind of the impact on so many students that come through Texas A&M and use the Rec, it would be pretty big if everybody just took a little bit away from it.”

NORTH KOREA CONTINUED

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Forty percent of members in the Corps of Cadets sign contracts with military units. This allows them the chance to begin their service at higher ranks.

CADETS WITH CONTRACTS Corps members discuss benefits behind signing military contracts

By Hannah Gerken @gerken.Hannah Brutal drills, early hours and strict uniform members of the Corps of Cadets may lead some to assume a military future is in store for all members of the Corps. But in reality, only about 40 percent of cadets continue on to a career in the armed services, all of whom have the option to pursue a commission into their prospective branch through contracts or the option to enlist after graduation.

For history senior Robert Herzberg, it has always been in his plan to follow in his family’s tradition of military service. Herzberg is a member of A-Battery and a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. Herzberg chose to accept a contract his freshman year and will be commissioning into the U.S. Army upon graduation. Herzberg said there were several factors that led him to choosing this path.

“The first [factor] was the financial portion, because college is expensive and the Army offers a very good scholarship for cadets who are under their command,” Herzberg said. “Secondly, I would say the dream of becoming a soldier — to be like my dad, to be like my grandfathers —

is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Fellow A-Battery member, technology management senior Josh Brown also plans to commission into the National Guard as a contract. Brown said being in ROTC and the Aggie Band makes for a hectic schedule — especially during football seasons — but the benefits of an academic scholarship and the chance to start in the military at a higher rank made his decision to accept a contract much easier.

“When you’re a contracted cadet in ROTC, you enter the military as an officer,” Brown said. “So anyone who graduates from A&M and commissions will start as a second lieutenant. Anyone that doesn’t have ROTC experience, are enlisting and would start off as a private, which is the lowest you can be in the Army.”

While all cadets are required to participate in ROTC classes during their freshman and sophomore years, those under contract continue ROTC throughout their entire college career and also must adhere to grade requirements.

For Herzberg, being a contract has helped to push him towards his goal and solidify his post-graduation plans.

“It really gave me a reason to stay in college,” Herzberg said. “There’s always a point where everybody wonders whether or not this is right for them. It really gave me a way to know that this was where I was meant to be and this is

what I was meant to do.”

At the graduation ceremonies held in Dec. 2016, 35 graduates were commissioned into the U.S. Armed Services. In the graduation held in May 2016, more than 110 graduates received commissions.

With all of the military education, early mornings and drill practices, it can be easy to wonder why students not pursuing a military career may choose to join the Corps of Cadets. But for junior Management Alex Curry, member of the outfit C-2, this was never a question.

“When I first visited Texas A&M, I fell in love with the traditions of our school, and realized that the best way to become part of those traditions was to join the Guardians of Tradition themselves,” Curry said. “The time spent in ROTC as a freshman and sophomore was still valuable to my professional development, and I have a deep understanding and appreciation of our nation’s military. It’s an honor to live, train and study alongside the future of America’s military.”

Although he won’t be gaining a commission into a branch of the military, Curry said there are many valuable lessons he’s learned from being in the Corps.

“In addition to earning a certificate in leadership studies, I’ll have gained memories, experiences, and relationships that will positively influence me for the rest of my life,” Curry said. “Oh yeah, and this really cool pair of boots, too.”

Photo via Aggie Muster Facebook

Eddie “Ed” Davis, Class of 1967, has worked for the unviersity in a variety of ways over the years.

2017 Aggie Muster speaker will be Ed Davis, Class of ‘67 Staff report The Aggie Muster Committee announced Tuesday the Campus Muster speaker for 2017 will be Eddie Joe Davis, Class of 1967.

Davis is a former Corps commander and a veteran of the Vietnam War. After receiving his master’s and doctorate from A&M, he went on to serve in a variety of positions at A&M, including as the CFO and Executive Deputy Chancellor for the University System, interim university president, tenured professor and president of the Texas A&M Foundation.

Davis said he was honored to be selected as this year’s Muster speaker.

“Obviously, selection as the Campus Muster Speaker is the pinnacle experience in a lifetime love affair with Texas A&M,” Davis said. “It is made even more special because the selection is done by students.”

The 2017 Aggie Muster ceremony will be held Friday, April 21 in Reed Arena.

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The Battalion | 2.8.17

MEŠTROVIC CONTINUED time. I got to campus and instantly fell in love.” Meštrovic said. “It’s a special place, really. The people here are seen polite, sincere and honest. I truly do love Aggies.”

Meštrovic said he takes great joy in teaching, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

“Getting questions from these students is great,” Meštrovic said. “Seeing them grow, engaging me and their peers, it’s wonderful.”

Along with his knowledge and expertise, Jacob Hardy, a first year Ph.D. student in the sociology program and Meštrovic’s teaching assistant, said Meštrovic’s pedagogy is what makes him stand out.

“Working with Dr. Meštrovic is fantastic,” Hardy said. “He really helped my transition into the department. He has this weird way of constantly pushing me to do better without there being a fear of failure if you don’t do well. Every moment with him is a learning moment.”

Hardy said he admires Meštrovic not only for his breadth of knowledge as an educator, but his command of the classroom.

“He doesn’t just teach a textbook, he dives into primary texts,” Hardy said. “He wants you to question and analyze everything. But he has a way of fostering discussion. He gets people to talk. Even the students who aren’t big on talking end up in the discussion, and that makes the classroom better. It makes the students learn more efficiently.”

John Kainer, a fifth year Ph.D. student in the sociology department, echoed Hardy’s sentiments.

“He understands the importance of nuance,” Kainer said. “He can give you an example that clearly illustrates the example, and draw that out of you. There are no little details with him.”

Kainer said Meštrovic’s support for his students goes beyond his in-class education.

“He demands excellence, but he cares about us as individuals,” Kainer said. “He cares about what’s going on in our lives. He balances his demands with praise, and when he praises you, you know you’ve hit something special. To be with him is to be in the presence of a great mind and a caring person.”

Hardy said Meštrovic is the one who guided him to grad school.

“I went to talk to him about grad school, but we didn’t talk about tests or applications.

He was encouraging,” Hardy said. “He told

Madeline Sambrano - THE BATTALION

Sociology professor Stjepan Meštrovic leads an attentive classroom through a discussion, something his students say is an effective method of instructing.

me that if something brings you happiness, do it. That’s when I knew I wanted to stay here and work with him. There was no decision.

He made me feel purpose.”

Meštrovic’s influence has affected his colleagues as well. Sociology professor Alex McIntosh said he makes his classes both enjoyable and educational.

BATT SPORTS PRESENTS

“His greatest asset is that he not only exposes students to sociological theories, but makes them exciting for both undergraduate and graduate students,” McIntosh said. “His work as well as earlier endeavors is widely admired by his colleagues in our department and beyond.”

Philosophy professor John McDermott,

also one of Meštrovic’s colleagues said of all of Meštrovic’s good qualities, his favorite is that he cares for his students.

“He’s at the forefront of sociology,” McDermott said. “He always looks out for his students, and the ones he sent to work with me are some at the best.”

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ON SOUNDCLOUD AND ITUNES

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BATT SPORTS REPORTERS WILL BREAK DOWN THE 2017 A&M BASEBALL SEASON ON SOUNDCLOUD AND ITUNES.

GET YOUR AGGIELAND PHOTO TAKEN TODAY! Specialties Photography will be set up to have your FREE portrait taken for Texas A&M’s 2017 Aggieland yearbook.

ALL CLASSES ARE WELCOMED 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Monday - Wednesday Feb. 6th - 8th Monday - Thursday Feb. 13th - 16th Located at the Sanders Corps Museum Library Should any student be unable to make the specified times on campus they can contact Specialties directly to set up a complimentary in-studio appointment at 979-696-9898.

Any graduating seniors who wish to set up a cap/gown photo will need to contact the studio at 979-696-9898. Cap/Gown sessions cost $21.95.