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A&M ranks among top 10 for enrollment of National Merit Scholars
● friday,
january 28, 2011
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Texas A&M University continues to rank among the country’s top 10 institutions in enrollment of new National Merit Scholars and is top in Texas and second nationally among all public universities, according to tabulations compiled from the newly released annual report of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The report shows that 177 of these nationally recognized highachieving students are members of Texas A&M’s freshman class. Overall, the university’s student body includes more than 500 National Merit Scholars, officials estimate. Wire reports
Photo illustration by JD Swiger and Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION
Recent terrorism has driven Homeland Security to develop domestic spy agencies
inside Poster | 4-5 Beat BU Turn to pages 4 and 5 for a poster to hold up during Sunday’s women’s basketball game between two top 5 teams when the Aggies take on the No. 1 Bears.
lifestyles | 3 Ask a Catholic The Ask a Catholic ministry educates students about the faith and clarifies misconceptions.
Tim Bardin The Battalion Since the horrors of World War II, people in the U.S. have feared that one day our intelligence community would create an organization to spy upon innocent citizens, collecting and storing information about them for some devious purpose like the Nazi Gestapo or SS once did. Some people believe that day has come. An article published on Dec. 20, 2010, by the Washington Post stated “a vast domestic intelligence apparatus” was in the process of being expanded. The story, the result of a multi-month investigation included almost 100 interviews and 1,000 documents. It reported that the federal government was working to consolidate the manpower
of the FBI, local police, state Homeland Security officials and military criminal investigators in their efforts to fight terror at home. The initiative, Top Secret America, is composed of 3,984 federal, state and local agencies, of which at least 934 have been created since Sept. 11 because of their involvement in counterterrorism, the Post reported.
Finding your spy career The Department of Homeland Security hires students and recent graduates for paid internships and work-study throughout the year. For more information, visit http://www.dhs.gov/ xabout/
According to the Post, each agency has their own jurisdiction and is charged with certain tasks regarding counterterrorism operations. Working collaboratively, these agencies will collect, store and analyze information gathered on thousands of U.S. citizens and legal residents, most of whom have no criminal record. “I’m kind of scared about getting naked again in my own home because some nerdy little NSA analyst has the government’s permission to see through walls. Next thing you know, they’re going to be sticking chips in our babies’ heads in order to know all things at all times,” said Andrew Dixon, freshman biological and agricultural engineering major. Not only has the workforce expand-
ed, but they now have new toys as well. Military-grade hardware has migrated from the front lines to the homefront in efforts to eradicate homegrown terror. Police departments, state branches of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies use equipment such as infrared scanners, hand-held fingerprint scanners, Predator drones equipped with real-time, full-motion video cameras and biometric identification machines to observe and catalogue “suspicious activity,” the Post reported. How do agencies get the money to pay for this expensive equipment? The government pays for it. According to the Post, the Department of Homeland Security has given $31 billion in funding See Spies on page 8
fitness and health
campus
Texas A&M researchers link genetics and exercise
A&M ranks high for graduating minorities
Christine Perrenot The Battalion Many students struggle to keep exercise and weight loss as a priority. Between classes, homework, friends and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to find the time. If more people knew how exercise affects health, they might be more willing to take time each day to devote to physical activity. Michael Massett, assistant professor of exercise physiology, has been investigating genetic components in the National Institutes for Health project for five years. “The point of the project is to identify the genes responsible for large responses to training and identify something people haven’t associated with exercise before,” Massett said. The research project uses a mouse model to look at genetics because it is easier to control the environment, which is a key factor. “The exercise training with the mouse model is used to pick our regions of the genome that we think are important,” Massett said. Genetics studies in humans can be difficult and complicated. With Massett’s use of the mice, he is able to control the environment and see long-term results down the road. Massett is seeing the amount of time and work going into the research and said, “Even when we find the gene we are looking for, it will be a long-term process. We hope to get to a point in medicine that we know all the letters in your genetic code and have disease pre-
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Texas A&M University has been ranked 14th nationally by Forbes magazine for its success in assisting minorities to graduate in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). A&M and Texas Tech were the only universities in Texas listed in the rankings, which excluded schools whose student bodies were predominantly a racial or ethnic minority. The national average of minority students graduating with STEM degrees is 10 percent of the student body. It is important for schools, especially research universities like A&M, to graduate STEM majors because students who graduate with STEM degrees have
the highest starting and mid-career salaries in the nation. The Aggie STEM Center’s purpose, according to Linda Stearns, project manager for the center, is to provide “STEM professional development to teachers mainly of low-income students.” They strive to prepare students, specifically high school students, but also college students, to succeed in school and careers. “The Aggie STEM Center is known for its STEM research, applications of such research, publications and professional development in project-based learning and professional learning communities,” Stearns said. Tim Bardin, staff writer
A&M to develop miniature sustainable city
Osa Okundaye — THE BATTALION
vention.” Massett, the principal investigator in the study, was originally interested in exercise physiology because of his interest in sports. He started as an undergraduate in physical education and did more research as a graduate student. “[It is important] that students
are aware that information in textbooks didn’t just show up. Someone had to do that research. Discoveries like this can get students more involved to improve their education,” Massett said. Sean Courtney, a graduate reSee Exercise on page 8
In conjunction with new technologies, Texas A&M is partnering with Reality Appreciation Ltd. to attempt building a mini-city with sustainable development so that researchers can collect data on building materials, green energy uses and human comfort. Once finished, this project will be market-driven, complete with private residences and commercial shopping centers. “The entire project will be green,” said Kevin Rogers, the director of real estate for Realty Appreciation. “We will have solar and wind power on-site to generate as much electricity as possible.” All the buildings will be LEED-certified, which is a third-party certification system that determines whether a building is environmentally friendly and safe. The main goal of the Urban Living Laboratory is to better understand the impact green building specifications have on energy usage, indoor air quality, resident health and comfort and productivity, Rogers said. The second is to use this knowledge to
improve green buildings in the future. Texas A&M’s AgriLife Research and Extension, whose original plan was to research solutions to rural issues, is currently on the 241 acres of land, where they now conduct research for urban issues, such as water, transportation and air quality. The Lab will take 73 acres, Rogers said. This project will be built on land currently occupied by Texas AgriLife Research and Extension on Coit Road in Dallas, Texas. It is owned by the Texas A&M University System. The original mandate for this center was to research and find solutions related to rural issues. In 2006, the mandate was changed to research and find solutions related to urban issues. It is the only AgriLife center with an “urban” mandate. The Urban Living Laboratory will use the top 73 acres of this property – leaving 168 acres for AgriLife to build urban gardens and research urban-related issues. Rebecca Hutchinson, staff writer
1/27/11 6:52 PM
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THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111.
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Options for funding your study abroad trip will be discussed from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. today in room 236 of the Pavilion.
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Chinese festival
A Chinese spring festival variety show will be from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday in Rudder Auditorium.
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Silver Taps
Silver Taps begins at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in Academic Plaza.
Saturday 20% chance of showers high: 70s low: 50s Sunday cloudy high: 60s low: 50s Monday 40% chance of showers high: 60s low: 40s
Today mostly sunny High: 60s Low: 40s courtesy of NOAA
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whereoncampus Think you know every nook and cranny at Texas A&M? The ďŹ rst people to get the answer correct will have their names published. Send your response with your name, class and major to photo@thebatt.com.
Scoates Building
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Worship Directory Baptist
Christian
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First Christian Church
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www.ďŹ rstchristianbcs.org
(979) 846-5717 www.aggiecatholic.org
Weekend Masses Saturday: 12:30 PM (Korean), 5:30 PM (English), 7:00 PM (Spanish) Sunday: 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 5:30 PM, 7:00 PM
Daily Masses Mon.- Fri.: 5:30 PM in the Church Wed. & Thurs.: 12:05 noon in the All Faiths Chapel on campus
Erika Delk, senior agronmy major Olivia Harrington, freshman chemical engineering major
979-823-5451 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.
603 Church Avenue in Northgate
Jack Wilson, biological and agricultural engineering major
900 South Ennis, Bryan
>Ĺ˝Ä?ĂƚĞĚ ĹŠĆľĆ?Ćš ĨĹ?ǀĞ ĹľĹ?ŜƾƚĞĆ? ĹśĹ˝ĆŒĆšĹš ŽĨ Ä?ĂžƉƾĆ? ŽŜ ^ŽƾƚŚ ŽůůĞĹ?Äž ǀĞ͘ Ä‚Ćš tĹ?ĹŻĹŻĹ?Ä‚ĹľĆ?ŽŜ ĆŒĹ?ǀĞ͘
Catholic St. Mary’s Catholic Center
First correct responses
To advertise on this page call 979.845.2696
Joe Midura, graduate students
Would you like to suggest a Where on Campus for the staff photographers to consider? Send your suggestion with your name, contact information, class and major to photo@thebatt.com.
Tiffany Cornelius — THE BATTALION
Confessions Mon. – Fri. 4:30 – 5:00 PM Wed. 8:30–9:30 PM, Sat. 4:00-5:15 PM, or by appointment.
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things you should know
5 before you go Donations against Damnations
Texas Chinese country Spring show Festival
The Agnostic and Atheist Student Group will have a fundraiser in support of accepting other Aggies for who they are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today next to the Academic Building. Students can give donations to such groups as Aggie Allies and the Women’s Resource Center.
The Texas country band Southern Echoes, based out of College Station, will play at 10 p.m. Saturday at Schotzi’s.
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Energy Forum
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The Chinese Students & Scholars Association will have the Chinese Spring Festival Variety Show at 7 p.m. Saturday in Rudder Auditorium. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased at the MSC Box Office.
The Texas A&M Energy Engineering Institute will have this year’s Energy Forum: Energy Security and Sustainability - Global Challenges from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hilton of College Station.
Black History Month
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Black Student Alliance Council will present “Advance Your Swagger, a Conversation with Fonzworth Bently” to start off Black History Month at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Rudder Theatre. Bentley gained fame as personal assistant to Sean P Diddy Combs.
b! thebattalion 01.28.2011 page3
soul
Discussing the divine Ask a Catholic ministry educates peers about faith Joe Terrell The Battalion In what has become a familiar sight on campus, a man stands in the middle of Academic Plaza, screaming condemnation down on those who walk past. One hand forms an accusing finger, viciously jabbing in the direction of the onlookers clutched in his other hand is a Bible. “I don’t know the hearts of those doing it, but Christianity is about love,” said Steve Hanson, senior computer engineering major. “And I don’t think [that type of evangelizing] sends that message well.” Marcel LeJeune, class of 1995, thinks he has found the proper approach to on-campus evangelizing. LeJeune graduated from Texas A&M in 1995 with a degree in history before earning a master’s degree in pastoral theology at Ave Maria University and serving as director of campus Catholic ministries at Texas Tech from 2002-2006. While at Tech, LeJeune taught a class on evangelizing, which formed the genesis of the Ask a Catholic ministry. “During the class I would challenge [students] with weekly assignments. The first week their assignment was to tell someone they didn’t know they were Catholic. As the semester progressed, the challenges got more difficult,” he said. “One week we decided to write the words ‘Ask a Catholic’ on a board and we stood in the busiest part of It’s really born out of campus. And that’s how the respect for people’s free will. We don’t think ministry was born.” LeJeune is the assistant direcyelling is an effective tor of campus ministries at St. ministry. We want to Mary’s Catholic Center, which expose our faith, not is the largest campus ministry in impose. the country. More than 5,000 students attend St. Mary’s Sun— Marcel LeJeune, day services and 40 people work class of 1995 and on staff. There are more than 80 assistant director of student organizations that operministries at St. Mary’s ate outward from St. Mary’s. Catholic Center When LeJeune took his position in 2006, he brought his unique ministry idea, even going so far to write a manual, which can be viewed online. “Beginning every semester, we have a training course here at St. Mary’s, which emphasizes basic do’s and don’ts, interpersonal communication, basic argument formation and, most importantly, we teach them how to teach,” he said. The training sessions clock in at just under an hour and a half, which might seem short to some, but to LeJeune, the scant time frame is a necessity. “You’re only going to learn so much in a class setting, especially when you’re learning about communication,” he said. “The only way to know how to do it is to just go out there on campus and start talking to people.”
Photo by Stephanie Leichtle — THE BATTALION
Andrew Minzenmayer, a sophomore biomedical science major, Andrew Ehlig, a senior chemical engineering major and Matt Brinkman, a sophomore political science major, stand in Academic Plaza to answer questions and clarify misconceptions that other students have about Catholicism. Newer members are paired with veteran students in groups of three and four who then, donning bright lime green shirts and signs, head out to the most heavily trafficked areas on campus, including Academic Plaza, Sbisa, Blocker and Koldus. “It’s really born out of respect for people’s free will,” LeJeune said. “We don’t think yelling is an effective ministry. We want to expose our faith, not impose.” Each three to four person group has a designated leader, whose job is to coordinate the schedules and find times for everyone to meet. The groups are typically deployed for an hour at a time, but it is not uncommon for a group to be out on campus for a longer period of time. The members of the Ask a Catholic ministry encounter a wide spectrum of questions from curious students. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about the Catholic Church and we want to clear that up,” LeJeune said. “We get basic questions like ‘How can you prove God exists?’ and then we get a lot on Catholic particulars about Mary, purgatory and the pope.” But LeJeune said he emphasizes that one of the goals of Ask a
Catholic is never to argue. “We get some people who just want to pick a religious debate,” LeJeune said. “We want to build relationships and have respectful relationships. The person is more important than the question.” Students involved are told to be aware of their own limitations. At times, students might encounter a question that they do not know how to answer. “I think an important part of the conversation dynamics is to know when it’s OK to say, ‘I don’t know,’” LeJeune said. “This way it’s a learning experience for both parties involved.” Since Ask a Catholic’s appearance on A&M’s campus, three other campuses have adopted the ministry, using the guide that LeJeune wrote himself. The three other branches are at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Charlottesville and the University of Kansas. “I really think we’ve changed the dynamic of evangelism on campus,” LeJeune said, “Universities are a place of ideas and Christianity is a religion of ideas. We are bringing it back to its roots with relevant discussion.”
CAMP DAY Tuesday, February 1 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Koldus Building Rooms 110-111 Camps will be Interviewing for Summer Counselors & Staff
All Majors Welcome! Sponsored by: the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, the Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Club, AgriLife Extension and the TAMU Career Center Additional opportunities at the RPTS Career Fair. Watch the Battalion for more details.
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classifieds see ads at thebatt.com
thebattalion 1.28.2011 page6 AN AD Phone 845-0569 or Fax 845-2678 The Grove, Bldg. #8901 Texas A&M University
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FOR RENT 4/4 Waterwood Townhouse, living/dining furnished, internet, cable, w/d included, on bus route, no pets, no smoking, $470-495, available June 1, 214-726-5208, Atmom7043@yahoo.com 4/4.5, like new. High ceilings, huge closets, large front porch, tile floors, all appliances, many extras. $1750/mo. Preleasing for August. 979-229-6326. See photos and info at www.texagrentals.com 4bd/2ba house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079. www.aggielandleasing.com 4bd/4ba house, 3526 Wild Plum, refrigerator, W/D, huge backyard! $1,650/mo. 361-290-0430.
$1200 Available now, short-term leases ok. 3&4 bedrooms. W/D, pets ok, near TAMU. Call agent Ardi 979-422-5660.
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$295 1-room in shared, furnished apartment. All bills paid. Short-term leases ok. Call agent Ardi 979-422-5660.
Barn Apartment near A&M, Will exchange partial rent for work. $250/mo. 846-5950.
$375 Available now and prelease. 1/1, 2/1. Free Wi-Fi, on Northgate, on shuttle. Short-term leases ok. Call agent Ardi 979-422-5660.
Bogart’s beautifully furnished bedroom w/bath. Run of the house, W/D, ground, &pool. Two great furnished apartments. 936-825-1969. www.bogarts.org
2,3,4 and 5/bdrm. CS duplexes. Very nice, garage on shuttle, tile, fireplace, w/d, fenced, lawn service, pets o.k. Available August. Details and photos available online. http://arduplexes.com info@arduplexes.com 979-255-0424, 979-255-1585. 2-3/bedroom apartments. Some with w/d, some near campus. $175-$600/mo. 979-219-3217. 2/1 W/D Conn., Large fenced yard, Pets ok, very spacious, Good location. 1825 Wilde Oak. $600/mo 979-693-1448. 2bd/1ba apartment, 800sq.ft. New appliances, carpeting and tile. W/D. Bus route. $550/mo. +$300 deposit. Available on, or before January. 210-391-4106. 2bd/1ba Fourplex. Near shuttle. Some utilities included. $595/mo. $500 deposit. 979-777-6865. 2bd/2ba 4-plex. Spacious floorplan, W/D connections, close to campus. $550/mo. www.aggielandleasing.com 979-776-6079. 3/2 Houses, Townhouses &Apartments, 1250sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, walk-in pantry &closets, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. 979-694-0320, office@luxormanagement.com 3bd/1.5ba for lease, close to campus, newly remodeled, fenced backyard, W/D, call 979-774-9181. 3bd/2ba Brick House on Trace Meadow, close to A&M, on bus route, 2-rooms available. $525/mo includes utilities. 903-567-0267 3bd/2ba Nice house. Rock Prairie and Wellborn area. W/D, garage, backyard. $950/mo. Short-term lease through May/June. Contact Mike 512-887-0318. 3bd/3ba duplexes. Great floorplans, fenced yards, W/D, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 979-776-6079. www.aggielandleasing.com 4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Houses, Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. 694-0320. office@luxormanagement.com
Cottage. Holik C.S. 2bd/1ba, 1000sqft., W/D, Balcony, wooded. Private drive. Quiet. $600/mo. 979-777-2472. Country Mobile Home. 3/2 near A&M, stalls available. $900/mo. 846-5950. Duplex near campus. 2bd/2ba. W/D. No backyard. 307 Spruce. $650/mo. Call 254-760-8242. Fully furnished, luxurious 4/4 Waterwood townhome for lease August 2011. 1596 sf. W/D, 2-miles to TAMU, on bus-route. 1001 Krenek Tap. $2000/mo. Contact Stephen 512-694-3311. Horse Lover’s Dream! 3bdrm, minutes from A&M, 5 acres, Fenced, $1395/mo, 4334 N.Grahm. 979-776-8984. Large 3bd/3ba Fox Run Condos. W/D, gated. $1600/mo. Utilities paid. Available now. 979-575-7343. Mobile home room to rent, on culdesac, quiet, furnished, W/D central A/C &heat, all bills paid. $400/mo. 210-288-5881. New homes for rent. Close to campus! 4bd/4ba, 3bd/2ba. Call today! 254-721-6179. Broker. Northgate, available now and prelease, new duplexes and fourplexes, 1/1, 2/2, and 3/2, call 979-255-5648. Oak Creek Condos, high-speed internet and basic cable. 2bdrm/1.5ba. $515/mo. Water, sewer, trash paid. Fireplace, icemaker, pool, hot-tub. 979-822-1616. One room availabe in 3bd/3b apartment, close to Blinn and TAMU, $333/mo plus utilities, call Sara 979-966-7597, a_brooks@verizon.net Prelease for May or August, 2/1 fourplex. W/D connections, water paid. 609 Turner. $465/m. 979-693-1448. Prelease for May or August. Large 2/2 with fenced yard, W/D connections, large closets, great location. University Oaks. $775/m. 979-693-1448.
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Preleasing for May! 4/2/2 Fenced totally remodeled, 1312 Timm, $1750/mo, biking distance to campus. 979-776-8984. Walk to TAMU! 2bd/2bth/office, all appliances, W/D, spacious, newly remodeled, fenced townhouse. 979-846-1887.
FOR SALE Custom 2007 dark gray w/white stripes V6 Mustang. 53,000mi. Black interior. Salvage title. $12,500 o.b.o. 956-821-0706.
HELP WANTED Artist needs female canvas subjects, body image project. $30/hr. call Alyssa 817-507-6140. Baptist church needs nursery workers for Sunday mornings and evenings and Wednesday evenings. Please call Mary at 776-5000 or e-mail mary@christsway.org
Have the summer of your life at a prestigious coed sleepaway camp in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, 2.5 hours from NYC. We’re seeking counselors who can teach any Team & Individual Sports, Tennis, Gymnastics, Horseback Riding, Mt. Biking, Skate Park, Theatre, Tech Theatre, Circus, Magic, Arts & Crafts, Pioneering, Climbing Tower, Water Sports, Music, Dance or Science. Great salaries and perks. Plenty of free time. Internships available for many majors. On-campus interviews on Feb. 1. Apply online at www.islandlake.com Call 800-869-6083 between 9-5 eastern time on weekdays for more information. Help wanted part-time building attendant for the Brazos Center. $10.10hourly. Work schedule will vary from 12-20 hours/week. Janitorial duties and customer service. Apply: Brazos County HR Dept. County Courthouse. Visit our website for more info at www.co.brazos.tx.us
Cheddar’s Casual Cafe and Fish Daddy’s on University Drive are now accepting applications for servers and hostesses. Come be a part of our friendly team! Apply in person. EOE.
Hollywood Cafe Bistro at Premiere Cinema, Grand Opening, Feb. 2011, wait staff, cooking, and coffee barista needed, experience preferred, shift pay, movie tickets, and other perks, call 713-291-2923 for information and interviews.
Child Care- FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan.
Little Guys Movers now hiring FT/PT employees. Must be at least 21 w/valid D.L. Apply in person at 3209 Earl Rudder Freeway.
Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment.
Now hiring bike or car delivery. Burger Boy Northgate. 311 Church.
COLLEGE STUDENTS! Part Time work. $16 base-appt. Flexible, conditions apply, all ages 17+. Call now! 979-260-4555. DJ’s Wanted. No experience or equipment needed. Will train right people. Must have wide range of music knowledge. 979-209-0517. Experienced part-time lawn maintenance workers needed. $7.50/hr. Call Kirk, 979-324-2719. Full-time medical technician for growing allergy practice wanted. 4-year degree and 1-year commitment required. We are looking for an intelligent, positive, friendly person to join our team. We teach skills that are an asset for anyone interested in a career in healthcare and can help a candidate get into medical school. E-mail resume to docmgr@yahoo.com Have you seen the cool handles on board the Spirit shuttle buses? HIGH FIVE ADVERTISING needs students on a part-time basis that have some flexibility with their schedules to sell advertising to the local business community to go on the handles. This is a great way for advertisers to get their messages in front of the students. Please send your resume to Gregg Brogden gregg@h5advertising.com
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Now hiring college sales agents for goWiFi to sell WiFi to local businesses. Earn up to $115/sale and make your own hours. Seeking motivated students looking to build business skills and make money. No experience necessary. Contact info@gowifi.com or visit gowifi.com for more information. Part-time IT network help desk technician. Commerce National Bank is seeking individual to assist in daily support of CNB/LNB employees by providing hands on and remote support of hardware and software issues. Assist in research and signature detection of email spam, Internet Trojans, and various other internet based threats as they relate to end-user awareness and prevention. Assist in software and hardware configurations and updates to end user workstations. Qualifications: Working ability to troubleshoot and work through a wide variety of computer support issues. Customer-service oriented and the ability to work with others. Written and oral communication/organization skills. Hours: 20hrs/wk- flexible schedule. Visit www.commercenb.com for application. Applications & resume may be faxed to 806-792-0976 or emailed to gmills@lubbocknational.com EOE Part-time person needed for website development work plus all types of social marketing for local business. 979-220-4822.
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MUSIC Best deal in town- DJ services/audio rentals. RDM Audio does it all! Weddings, parties, band set ups, PA systems, Event Lighting, 979-260-1925. rdmaudio.com Party Block Mobile DJ- Peter Block, professional 22yrs experience. Specializing in Weddings, TAMU functions, lights/smoke. Mobile to anywhere. Book early!! 979-693-6294. http://www.partyblockdj.com
REAL ESTATE B/CS. Sell/Buy/Invest! Re/Max, Michael McGrann. TAMU ‘93 engineering. 979-739-2035, 979-693-1851. aggierealtor.com
ROOMMATES $320/mo. Female roommate needed. One huge room with attached bath and large closet available now in a 2bd/2ba apt. 1030sqft, on bus route 22, pet ok. 832-334-1426. 1-2 roommates needed. 4bd/4ba at Waterwood on SW Parkway. W/D, private bath, on bus route. Short or long term leases available. $400/mo. includes utilities, cable/internet. Call 254-721-2716. 1-male roommate needed at Zone Apartments. 2bd/2ba fully furnished, W/D, bus route. $485/mo +electricity. 512-398-5787.
ROOMMATES 1-2 roommates wanted. 3bd/2ba 1800 sqft house. Big backyard, W/D, next to Sorority Row. Close to campus, internet included. Male preferred. $425/mo +utilities. 830-688-1472. 1-Female wanted. 4bd/4.5ba. River Oaks Townhome on Holleman. $500/mo. 512-351-2057. 1-Male roommate needed for 1/2 fully furnished condo. Close to campus, on shuttle route, W/D. No smoking/pets. $450/mo. lmzachary@hotmail.com 281-543-6263. 1-Male roommate needed in 4bd/4ba condo. W/D, on bus route, bike to campus. $350/mo +utilities. Sublease through May or August. 361-816-1224. 2bd/1ba Anderson Place Apartments. W/D, cable/internet, all bills paid. $360/roommate. Male. Busroute. 979-402-2486. Female roommate wanted, $450/mo. plus utilities, Woodbrook Condos. Call 281-795-4110. Female roommates needed. 4/3 house, big rooms and closets, private bath, W/D, internet/cable. $400/mo +utilities. 817-734-3303 Male roommate needed for sub-lease. $300/mo. 3bd/2ba house. Contact 210-347-9604. Medium sized bedroom for rent in a 3/2.5 home near 2818 and Texas, on bus route 33, $500(Negotiable) All-Bills-Paid. “Great view of downtown Manhattan!” 979-422-9141. Room for Rent in new 3bd/4ba house. Large kitchen, nice backyard, W/D. $350/mo. 281-636-3692.
SERVICES BRYAN: 1/1 W/STUDY, SPACIOUS UNITS W/ALL APPL, W/D CONN, PAID W/S, GARBAGE, INTERNET & CABLE! $490-$505/mo www.twincityproperties.com
MIST MOBILE SPRAY TANNINGSafe, sunless tanning in the comfort of your own home! $5 off with a student i.d. Please Call 469-360-7177 to book an appointment.
TUTORS
BRYAN: 2/1 DUPLEXES AVAIL ASAP, W/D CONN, ALL APPL, FENCED YARDS, PETS OK, SOME W/PAID INTERNET & CABLE! $610-$660/mo, 979.775.2291 www.twincityproperties.com
Online math tutor. $8.50/hr. Calculus I/II, Trig, Business Math. http://JimmieMathTutoring.blogspot.com
SKISPRING SPRING BREAK BREAK 2010! SKI 2011! breckenridge
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20 Mountains. 5 Resorts. 1 Price. BRYAN: 2/1.5 RENOVATED APTS AVAIL ASAP, A MUST SEE TRANSFORMATION W/ ALL NEW EVERYTHING! W/D CONN, ALL APPL, POOL, PAID W/S, GARBAGE, INTERNET & CABLE! $550-$575/mo 979.775.2291 www.twincityproperties.com
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PT help needed. Local hunting club needs PT guides. Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior level workers. Average 1 day/week in off- season; 2-3 days/week in Fall and Winter. Limited hunting privileges. Applications at www.yardbirdhunting.com P/T work cleaning pools, 15-20/hrs a week, Spring semester and maybe Summer, 979-402-0878 or 979-229-0071.
puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com
Prelease for May or August: 2/1 duplex, fenced back yard, w/d conn. 3 locations to choose from $600.00, 693-1448.
www.AggieNetwork.com
(if you haven’t)
order your 2011 Aggieland yearbook today. The 109th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook will chronicle the 2010-2011 school year — traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, greeks, campus organizations, and seniors and graduate students. By credit card go online to http://aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Cost is $64.90, including shipping and sales tax. Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.
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sports
page 7 friday 1.28.2011
thebattalion
Battle for the Big 12 No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 5 Texas A&M Noon, Sunday Reed Arena
Come watch this game
I
t will be a matchup between two of the top teams in the country, will decide who has the edge in the Big 12 title race and will feature two of the best players in the nation that will go headto-head for 40 minutes in a heated Lone-star state rivalry. It will be one of the biggest games in the history of Reed Arena and Texas A&M basketball. No, I’m not talking about ESPN’s Big Monday game when the Texas Longhorns come into town. Sunday, before all of the hype of men’s basketball takes over Reed Arena, Texas A&M’s No. 5 women’s basketball team will square off against No. 1 Baylor. The game will only be the third time in the history of the Big 12 that two top-5 teams will face each other in conference play. Earlier this week, the A&M ticket office sold out the lower bowl of Reed Arena for the first time ever for a women’s basketball game. As seats continue to be filled in the upper decks, it will be up to the student body to make Sunday’s contest the first sellout in the history of A&M women’s basketball. Estimates show that 3,0003,500 students will need to be in attendance in order for the sellout to take place. If this were a men’s game, this goal would be surpassed easily and ahead of schedule. However, despite the program’s vast success and opportunity to win a conference and national cham-
Rivals face off for conference supremacy Mike Teague
Mike Teague
Students need to show up for the biggest game in the history of the A&M women’s basketball program
pionship this season, A&M’s student body still refuses to acknowledge or recognize the talent on display. The arguments of the game being too slow or not physical enough will be completely debunked in Sunday’s game. Both teams average more than 81 points a game and feature two of the toughest defenses across the country regardless of gender. So instead of sitting around Sunday waiting for Monday’s men’s game, be a true member of the Twelfth Man and come show your support for the Aggie women in the biggest game of their program’s history. Mike Teague is a senior university studies major.
The Battalion In a battle for first in the Big 12 standings, Texas A&M’s No. 5 women’s basketball team will take on No. 1 Baylor at noon Sunday at Reed Arena. Texas A&M (18-1, 6-0) and Baylor (18-1, 5-0) share identical overall records and both are undefeated in conference play. The winner of Sunday’s game will take a huge step towards the Big 12 regular season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament. Baylor is led by 6 foot 8 inch phenom Brittney Griner. The sophomore center ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring with 22.2 points per game and leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per game. “There’s nobody in the game like her,” said Texas Tech Head Coach Kristy Curry after losing to Baylor Saturday in a game Griner scored 25 points. “She’s incredible. She’s got a chance to lead her team to a national championship, Olympic gold medals, one of the greatest to ever play the game. She’s a hard matchup for a lot of people.” Griner’s battle with A&M senior center Danielle Adams is one of the most highly anticipated matchups across the nation this season. Adams leads the Big 12 in scoring with 22.9 points per game and ranks fourth in the conference in rebounds averaging 8.4 per game. “Everyone tries to stop Danielle inside with double or triple teams and then she goes outside and hits the jumper,” Head Coach Gary Blair said. “When she’s guarding a post player, then has to go outside to hit the shot, that’s tough,
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Above: Head Coach Gary Blair and his No. 5 Aggies take on No. 1 Baylor at noon Sunday at Reed Arena. Left: Baylor center Brittney Griner is in consideration to capture the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year. She and the Lady Bears are 18-1. but if she misses, she never misses bad. I’m very lucky to have her.” In a game that may be decided by the role-players, both teams have plenty of options. A&M senior guard Sydney Colson leads the Big 12 in assists while junior guard Tyra White is averaging 13.9 points per game.
For Baylor, senior guard Melissa Jones is averaging a team-high 3.84 assists per game and scored 17 points in a 61-53 win over A&M last season in Waco. The Bears are also backed by freshman guard Odyssey Sims who is averaging 13.3 points per game. The numbers that A&M
and Baylor have racked up have been both impressive and similar. Both rank in the top-three in the Big 12 in scoring, scoring margin, field goal percentage, assists and turnover margin. When Baylor came to A&M last season, the Bears escaped College Station with 65-63 victory.
TING N E S E R P Y RE L E V WI I S D S H E T R I G W G A GED R A H C E S THO
m o c . w o l B t o N
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Church Street Band Line-Up
Murray Newman
Tyler Flood
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tyler@newmanflood.com
Newman Flood ATTORNEYS AT LAW
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TAKE A PIECE OF A&M HISTORY WITH YOU Reserve your 2011 Aggieland The 109th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook — the Aggieland — will chronicle the 2010-2011 school year: traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, greeks, campus organizations, and seniors and graduate students. By credit card go online to http://aggieland. tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Cost is $64.90, including shipping and sales tax. Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.
1/27/11 6:34 PM
news
page 8 friday 1.28.2011
Local crime update Student arrested on drug charge Police arrested senior English major Rahil Virani Tuesday after responding to an anonymous caller complaining of smelling marijuana at the Woodlands Apartments on Harvey Mitchell Parkway. Police confiscated 7.6 ounces of marijuana found in the possession of Rahil, who faces a felony drug charge. Wednesday he posted $8,000 bail and was released from Brazos County Jail. Bryan man steals A&M property, faces criminal mischief Bryan resident Brian Allen Donald was charged with criminal mischief from $20,000 to $100,000 Tuesday for using University equipment and stealing an all-terrain vehicle. Both he and his accomplice Justin James Haskell, also of Bryan, remain in Brazos County Jail. According to the University police, the two men trespassed on University property belonging to the Department of Horticultural Science in November, broke a lockbox that held the keys to all the vehicles and drove several of them before stealing an ATV and later selling it. The University estimated $61,674 in damages. Donald was arrested Dec. 3 at his home in Bryan. Haskell was apprehended Tuesday at his home in Bryan. The two are being charged separately in three cases.
Gayle Gabriel, staff writer
thebattalion
nation&world
Teach For America gets $100M Dorie Turner Associated Press ATLANTA — Teach For America, the education organization that places recent college graduates in low-income public schools, is getting $100 million to launch its first-ever endowment in hopes of making the grassroots organization a permanent fixture in education. The program — which is now in communities from Atlanta to rural New Mexico to Los Angeles — announced Thursday that four philanthropists are joining to create a stable, long-term source of money. It’s welcome news for an organization that had more than 46,000 applications for just 4,400 teaching slots this academic year. “A few years ago we embraced the priority of making Teach For America an enduring American institution that can thrive as long as the problem we’re working to address persists,” said founder Wendy Kopp, who dreamed up Teach For America for her undergraduate thesis and launched it in 1990. “I think it’s only appropriate in our country — which aspires to be a place of equal opportunity — that we have an institution which is about our future leaders making good on that promise.” It’s also likely to be unwelcome news for teachers’ unions and other opponents, who say Teach For America puts inexperienced 20-somethings with just five weeks of training in classrooms and who rarely stay after two years of service. Some have criticized it as an organization that lets top graduates experi-
ment in public education for a couple of years before moving on to something else. “I don’t want anyone to practice or test out whether teaching is their profession on children,” said Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, a teachers’ union with 3 million members. “We need to find out if teaching is your profession before you get in the classroom.” Teach for America says one-third of its alumni keep teaching after two years, and two out of three remain in the field, some as public-policy analysts or school administrators. It points to studies that show its teachers are at least as effective as those who enter the teaching profession in more traditional ways. The idea of an endowment started with philanthropist Eli Broad, who pledged $25 million from his Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and encouraged others to commit to the project. Three more groups stepped up with matching funds: the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Robertson Foundation and philanthropists Steve and Sue Mandel. The endowment will only produce about 2 percent of Teach For America’s $200 million budget at first, but Kopp said that will grow over time. The organization gets its budget from nonprofits, corporations and federal grants, but those aren’t always dependable. Kopp said she hopes that the steady stream of revenue means the organization can double the number of active corps members serving two-year terms to 15,000 and increase the communities they reach from 39 to 60. Broad, whose foundation gives out the nation’s top prize in public education each year,
Exercise Continued from page 1
search assistant, stresses the greater implications the research will have on human clinical outcomes. “We must first find the candidate genes. It is the first step to everything,” he said. One area the research is looking into is relaying information. “So many students don’t know that this type of research is being done and that the work will have important clinical information, ” Courtney said. Timothy Lightfoot, director of the Huffines Institute with the Department of Health and Kinesiology, has been doing similar research since 1998. While he does not have a direct role in Massett’s current study, the two will be collaborating on upcoming projects. “Massett focuses more on exercise endurance and being fit, while I see what makes people active or not,” Lightfoot said. In relevance to Texas A&M students, Lightfoot thinks students should know “the federal government is paying for the research. The fact that we have this money should show how important the research is. There is no doubt we have health issues in this country. Exercise is the cheapest form of medicine. It alleviates so many problems.” Students are urged to become more active and interested in their health. It is important to understand how genetics affect our exercise and the outcomes of our exercise. This research attempts to answer those concerns. “So much genetics work is done in cattle here, but there is also research going on that relates directly to students,” Courtney said.
Spies Continued from page 1
to state and local counterterrorism agencies since 2003. That includes $3.8 billion in 2010 alone. “Technology like cameras that automatically read license plates and fingerprint scanners would allow law enforcement officers to fight local crimes more efficiently,” said Sarah Valenzuela, sophomore allied health major. “[However], spending millions of dollars to monitor people who have clean criminal records could result in false charges, infringe on people’s privacy, and might just be a waste of valuable time and resources.” All the information gathered must be stored somewhere. The Guardian database is a huge repository of information located in the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building in Washington, D. C. According to the Post, the Guardian contains profiles of tens of thousands of Americans and legal residents who have done nothing wrong. These files are accessed by numerous federal, state and local agencies in the course of investigations. If a law enforcement official, counterterrorism agent or even a paranoid neighbor observes something they think is suspicious, such as taking pictures of a bridge or shoplifting some Tylenol for a headache, they can file a “suspicious activity” report and that person’s information is on file forever. “[I think] too many people would have access to the huge database containing the personal information of possibly ‘suspicious’ citizens,” Valenzuela said. “This could result in abuse of the system by extremist members of the hundreds of organizations investigating potential terrorists.” Vicki Duarte, sophomore allied health major, voiced the concerns of many regarding the ethicality and financial feasibility of the so-called “spy network.” “I understand what the government is trying to do with this system, but it doesn’t seem to have a high success rate,” Duarte said. “I don’t think it’s worth the money and loss of privacy since most of the cases don’t reach a conclusion. Put the information collected in the wrong hands and we’ll have even more problems.”
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