thebattalion ● friday,
january 22, 2010
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R. Bowen Loftin named university president-elect
Regents select Loftin Robert Carpenter
thebatt.com
Interview with Loftin Check out the Regents announcement and the latest interview with president-elect Loftin
Loftin
The Battalion The 24th president of the University has been selected. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted unanimously to name Interim President R. Bowen Loftin as the sole finalist for the position of University president Thursday. “I am humbled and deeply hon-
ored to be named the sole finalist to lead Texas A&M, truly one of the best universities in the nation,” Loftin said. “Our unwavering commitment to maintain a culture of excellence as outlined in Vision 2020, as well as to our core mission of teaching, research and service, will play an integral role in enhancing our status among the top universities anywhere.” The announcement came as the
culmination of a six-month, nationwide search. Student Body President Kolin Loveless, one of three students on the search committee, said the search process arrived at the right person for the job. “Dr. Loftin is someone our student body can fall in love with, and be happy to have as our new president,” Loveless said. “He understands research and the role of a faculty member, but he also un-
derstands the importance of being a Fightin’ Texas Aggie in the process of being an undergrad.” That understanding may come from Loftin’s background. A native Texan, Loftin was raised 20 miles south of College Station in Navasota. He attended A&M as an undergraduate and graduated with a degree in physics in See Loftin on page 2
this day in
U.S.
history Jan. 22, 1973 Abortion became legal in the U.S. As the Supreme Court announced its decision in the case of Roe vs. Wade striking down local state laws restricting abortions in the first six months of pregnancy. In more recent rulings (1989 and 1992) the Court upheld the power of individual states to impose some restrictions.
b!
trends | 3
Flashbulb Fire Catch the latest review on Flashbulb Fire’s new CD ‘Glory.’
sports | 5
Hiring hoopla Today, more on the Aggie’s hiring of Defense Coordinator Tim Deruyter.
Prevent misdials ◗ Wireless carriers requested that manufacturers deactivate the autodial 911 feature.
Officers say misdials, hang-ups serious problem
Eva
n An
Robert Carpenter The Battalion A persistent problem for the University Police Department has been 9-1-1 misdials and hang-ups. “This is a serious problem,” said UPD Master Officer Kristi Hosea. “It ties up the 9-1-1 phone lines which need to remain open for emergency calls.” But phone lines are not the only resources occupied by erroneous calls. Whenever a misdial occurs and the caller does not respond to the dispatcher, an officer must be sent to the location where the call was made to search for distressed persons. This precludes officers from performing their standard duties around campus. “9-1-1 misdials take officers away from their current du-
◗ Consumers who possess handsets with the auto-dial 911 feature can disable the autodial 911 feature or lock the key pad.
drew
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THE
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ties to investigate each 9-1-1 call,” Hosea said. “All too often officers are finding themselves responding to a general GPS location looking for a person in distress.” Freshman chemistry major Ulises Rangel said he was concerned about the effect these false alarms have on the urgency of the officers. “Students need to take these calls more seriously because if the officers are wasting their time then they are going to be less likely to take [calls] seriously in the future when there is an actual incident,” Rangel said. In the fall, there were 540 calls received by the emergency dispatcher. Only 64 of these were determined to
◗ Consumer Alert information is available on the FCC Web site www.fcc.gov/ cgb/information_ directory.html on how to prevent unintentional 911 calls.
See Dropped calls on page 2
Aggie Nights provides safe, fun alternative
Spring MSC Open House commences
Vicky Flores
Ann Littmann
The Battalion Free. That should catch any student’s attention and that is exactly what Aggie Nights is. It’s a free way to entertain students from 8 p.m. to midnight every Friday in Studio 12 at the Commons. “Aggie Nights started as a program to get students to find a safe Students find free and safe alternative for students on Friday Friday night entertainment. nights,” said MSC student pro- music, game boards and pool tables, grams office graduate assistant Holly but most nights feature a theme Tripp. “Now the program still of- with planned games and activities. fers the same goal but shifted to“We have bands that come and wards an entertainment night.” Aggie Nights offers free food, See Aggie Nights on page 6
File— THE BATTALION
Student entertainment at the MSC Open House.
The Battalion Students who attended the Fall Memorial Student Center Open House at the Student Recreation Center experienced congestion and other problems during the event, but organizers said those problems have been worked out for Sunday’s Spring Open House. “In Fall Open House, the three biggest issues we faced were the congestion, air conditioning and lack of signage indicating parking and entrances and exits,” said MSC Marketing Vice President Sarah Barnes.
Barnes said that after last semester’s Open House, the event was reevaluated based on its experience and student feedback. “I can tell you that based on our evaluation, the traffic flow in the facility will be less jammed, the facility will be cooler and students will be aware of nearby parking in lot 100 and other entrances and exits to the Rec,” she said. The MSC Open House event moved to the Student Recreation Center in 2009 because of the MSC renovations. “I think having Open House at See Open House on page 6
Students organize campus concert for Haiti Samantha Johnson The Battalion When natural disaster strikes it’s easy to feel helpless, but a group of A&M students is working to unite the Aggie community and help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The group is organizing a concert raising money for UNICEF’s efforts in Haiti. The concert will feature several local bands, including Strawberry Jam, Rap-
Pg. 1-01.22.10.indd 1
tors in the Rafters, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, The Legion and Flawless Escape, who has opened for Flyleaf. Senior recreation, parks and tourism sciences major Mohammad Hashim said he first had the idea when he realized he could ask some of his contacts on the local music scene to play for the event. “I saw one of my friends that was a musician, and I thought about how I could bring everybody together for a concert,” Hashim said.
Hashim said he hopes this concert will become a campus-wide effort through involvement with other student organizations. “This isn’t just our event, this is everybody at A&M’s chance to help,” he said. Hashim said the Student Government Association and Student Body President Kolin Loveless have contributed to the event by providing the funds needed to See Concert on page 2
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A woman defends herself as others try to take a bag she carried out of a damaged building in Port-au-Prince.
1/21/10 10:05 PM
The Texas A&M Pre-Law Society
N R E T S E W GES BELiqVuoErRBeAer Wine
Welcomes You to Attend Our Meeting at 7PM, Nov. 17th in Kleberg 115 113 Guest Speaker- South Texas School of Law
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Registration deadline for Black History Game Show Team is Feb. 2 in the Koldus Student Services Building. Teams of four students each will compete in a black history version of the Think Fast game show.
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Register for Star watch Loftin asks game show party tonight for your team comments The Department of Physics
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& Astronomy and the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History will join with BRASS and the Brazos Valley Astronomy Club to host an evening of night sky viewing at 7 p.m. tonight at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History.
Send Interim President R. Bowen Loftin your comments to president@ tamu.edu about the Legislative Budget Board to prepare for a 5 percent reduction in spending over the current biennium that began Sept. 1.
Saturday 20% chance of showers high: 74 low: 51 Sunday sunny high: 69 low: 40 Monday mostly sunny high: 62 low: 36
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Monday - Saturday 10 am - 9 pm Prices good 01.21.10 - 01.23.10 In case of pricing error, store price prevails.
When and where
Continued from page 1
The Aggie Haiti Relief Fund Concert will take place Feb. 12 in Rudder Auditorium. Admission will be $5. Student organizations who are willing to help out are asked to contact Hashim at s.a.i.f@neo. tamu.edu, and musicians willing to participate are asked to contact Jose Arredondo at jose. arredondo31@ gmail.com
rent Rudder Auditorium. “The painful experiences of the Haitian people cannot be ignored, and over the years I have seen and felt the power of the Aggie Spirit at work,” said event organizer and senior civil engineering major Nasiha Alibegovic. “I cannot imagine a nicer way to kick off the new semester than to come together in the spirit of service and open our hearts.” Alibegovic said sacrifices as small as the $5 concert admission fee can be meaningful. “I know that when we all join in and give a little, together we can give a lot,” she said. Senior international studies major Karthik Venkatraj said he was drawn to the cause because of his recent trip to India, and seeing the chaos that can emerge from the combination of poverty and disaster. “The earthquake in Haiti happened when I was in India. As Americans, it’s very hard to conceptualize poverty and disaster together,” he said. “I mean we had Katrina and we’ve had earthquakes in California, but we had infrastructure to help.” Venkatraj said the choice to donate the funds to UNICEF was based on their mission to help children. “We felt a special connection to UNICEF, because the children are the foundation of a nation, and it’s important to make sure they are safe,” Venkatrai said.
Loftin Continued from page 1
1970. Loftin received both his master’s and doctorate degrees, also in physics, from Rice University. He went on to serve as a professor at the University of Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. Recently, Loftin has been involved with the A&M System at the Galveston campus, where he spent four years serving as university vice president and as chief executive officer of the campus in Galveston. Loftin was in that position in Galveston when Hurricane Ike interrupted the fall 2008 semester, leaving the campus and
Dropped calls Continued from page 1
be actual emergencies, while 252 required investigation due to open lines or hang-ups. To avoid this needless waste of time and resource, Hosea advised students to stay connected if aware 9-1-1 has been dialed. “If a caller calls 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up or disconnect the phone line.” Hosea said. “Advise the dispatcher that the call was placed by mistake.” The emergency dispatcher will verify there is no need for an officer to be sent and will ask for basic personal information. Hosea said this information is collected to verify the safety of the caller. “Personal information provided to the dispatcher by the caller is used to verify
rth Fou Annual
Beyonce, Madonna join telethon; DiCaprio gives $1M
Concert
NEW YORK — Beyonce and Madonna have been added as performers to Friday’s multi-network “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon, and Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and former President Bill Clinton are among the participants. The list of musical performers already includes such heavyweights as Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake and Keith Urban. The twohour telethon will be shown on all the major networks and a host of other channels. It will be broadcast from New York, London, Los Angeles and Haiti. People can begin donating even before the start of the 8 p.m. EST concert via phone and text. Those profits will also be donated to Haiti relief. Also Thursday, DiCaprio announced he was donating $1 million to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, the relief effort led by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and one of the organizations benefiting from the telethon. Associated Press Madonna
community devastated. Loftin’s exemplary poise in the period following the hurricane set him apart as a candidate for president at a major university, Box said. “He showed leadership at a very difficult time when he was at Galveston,” Box said. “Proven leadership is very important, and Loftin definitely was able to prove his leadership skills.” Having received the sole nomination, state law requires a 21-day waiting period before the Board of Regents may vote to confirm the nominee as president of the University. Loftin said these next three weeks are an important time for the Aggie community to speak up. “Right now we have three weeks to give everyone a chance to examine who I am, to
ask all the questions they want to ask me, and to provide feedback to the Board of Regents before they make the final decision,” Loftin said. Loftin said maintaining the University’s “culture of excellence” was his top priority. “Texas A&M is strong, resilient and moving ahead on its Vision 2020 plan,” Loftin said. “We are doing that every day and will keep doing that. That’s job one.” As president, although he will be spending much of his time and energy on administrative issues, Loftin stressed the importance of the real reason his position exists. “I know why I’m here, and it’s for the students. And that should be very reassuring for them,” he said.
that there was not an actual emergency,” Hosea said. These misdials occur for a number of reasons, among which are open-faced cell phones being dialed unknowingly. The solution to such accidents is simple. “To help alleviate this problem, we request cell phone users to utilize the locking systems on their cell phones and lock down their key pads or touch screens,” Hosea said. Students should also be aware that phones without a dial tone or active service are capable of connecting emergency calls. Removing the battery is suggested if an unserviced phone will be used by children or for other purposes. Because occasional 9-1-1 calls do not appear to be accidental, Hosea stressed the seriousness of dialing 9-1-1 without due
reason. “It’s against the law for a person to call 9-1-1 when there is not an emergency, [as is] intentionally remaining silent or making abusive or harassing statements,” Hosea said. “It is also against the law for a person to knowingly permit a telephone under the person’s control to be used by another person in that manner.” Junior psychology major Johanna Storm said she is irritated by the immaturity of these calls. “9-1-1 is not something to just play around with,” Storm said. “If someone had an emergency and can’t get through because someone is playing a prank or being stupid, that is inconsiderate on a basic level.”
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armadillodash.com thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE
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Amanda Casanova, Editor in Chief 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. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. News offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.
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1/21/10 10:01 PM
things you should know
5 before you go Abbott Band at Hurricane Harry’s
1
Josh Abbott Band will perform at 9 tonight at Hurricane Harry’s in College Station. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
Acoustic music at Town Center
Doctors Without Borders
2
3
Acoustic music at The Fountain Plaza at The University Town Center from 6 to 10 p.m. today in College Station. Performers are donating time and talents to Oxfam. Several restaurants will be donating a percentage of sales.
Village Café will have music from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday in Bryan. Performers are donating time and talents to Doctors Without Borders. The dinner special will be a traditional Haitian meal. Village Café will donate a percentage of sales.
Yele Haiti donation collection
Conan could be on last shtick
4
5
Revolution Café & Bar will have music, art and poetry from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday in Bryan. There will be a suggested donation at the door. 100 percent of cover and 10 percent of sales will be donated to Yele Haiti.
Tonight could be Conan O’Brien’s last as host of the “Tonight Show.” O’Brien bid NBC good riddance Thursday in a $45 million deal for his exit, but his immediate future in TV remains a question mark.
b! thebattalion 01.22.2010 page3
review
Flashbulb Fires
debut dazzles Listen when you have time to appreciate them
F
rom the increasingly humdrum world of indie rock music emerges an ambitious piano-pop quartet hail ing from Denver. The self-proclaimed “four remarkably good-looking guys,” formerly named “Fiance,” are celebrating the release of their first full-length album “Glory” under the name Flashbulb Fires. The men of Fires say with pride that among their predecessors and competitors who might use only the Internet to get fame fast, they’re reaching their listeners the old-fashioned way — riding around the country in a van performing shows. But if you’re looking for a second-rate version of The Fray or Coldplay, you won’t find it here. Flashbulb Fires will be making a stop Monday in Aggieland. Although the guys will tell you they’re influenced by Arcade Fire and Elliot Smith, the down-to-earth fourman group comments on how strongly they marry their upbringing with the compositions heard on “Glory.” Lead guitarist and vocalist Michael James credits the “modern washed-out suburban American” ideas about Christi-
Pg. 3-01.22.10.indd 1
Angela Washeck anity, drug abuse, violence and greed for the thematic and lyrical undertones of the record. These guys were quick to answer in-depth questions about how they started, what inspires them and what sets them apart. James said the band is “not reinventing the wheel or anything” with their music, but that they diligently work toward writing lyrics you haven’t heard before. Songs on “Glory” such as the
opening track “Pyramid Scheme” are adorned with symphonic arrangements, including horns, strings and harp, setting them a bar above repetitive piano-driven radio hits. Bassist and vocalist Tyler Reschke, who has been involved in musical projects since high school, met keyboardist and lead vocalist Patrick McGuire working at the Olive Garden in college. He said their musical chemistry led to McGuire inviting Reschke “to try out some bass grooves, and a relationship was born.” Fast forward to winter 2008, when the members called an old houseturned-studio home for a few months of recording. The guys of Fires want to show the world why they’re different. Reschke said the reasons they are succeeding can be attributed to the fact that they are committed to their craft. More than anything else, the guys want to “drive an emotional wrecking ball right through everyone’s heart.” Flashbulb Fires yearns to be understood, despite the way the tormented, sometimes abrasive lyrics juxtapose the delicate nature of the arrangements. McGuire wrestles with a dissonant
Courtesy photo
spiritual time in his life, making us feel the sting of his past — “When I was young I was a bullet in a gun/When God wrote love on the faces of his daughters and sons” in “Sleep Money Dawn.” Drummer and vocalist Chris Sturniolo says he challenges himself to make each song rhythmically interesting. The pulse of Flashbulb Fires goes on to say that each person in the band has grown; “each of us wants to have a completely unique sound on our instruments.” Opening with the exquisite “Pyramid Scheme,” “Glory” makes a nice transition from orchestral sounds to an acoustic section that will make you feel like you’re watching McGuire sing 5 feet from you on a coffee shop stage. However, “Brunette” seems out of place with its popvibe. The track “Ambulance” entertains with a pleasant combo of guitar, pain and harmonic choral voices — as well as a pretty melody. “Revenge
Check out Flashbulb Fires at 8 p.m. Monday at The Stafford in Bryan.
Song” will impress you if you listen long enough, while “Twentysomething” features McGuire’s voice in a syrupy fashion along with ambient, floating guitars that gives you chills, leading to a rocking piano and guitar solo. The thing about Flashbulb Fires is that it requires patience. If you’re going to sit down and listen, you’ll appreciate the fact that these guys pay attention to detail musically and possess dexterity in lyricism. My favorite aspect of “Glory” is that it has room to grow, endurance, if you will, and the best part of all? The climax of these tracks is almost always worth it. “I feel fated to travel and play music. I love getting our music out into the world,” McGuire said. Angela Washeck is a freshman communication major.
1/21/10 6:39 PM
Weekend Big 12 basketball schedule Men’s (All games on Sat.) Colorado at Texas A&M
12:30 p.m
Kansas at Iowa State
1 p.m.
Oklahoma St. at Kansas St.
3 p.m.
UMASS at Baylor
3 p.m.
Texas at UCONN
3 p.m.
Nebraska at Missouri
5 p.m.
Oklahoma at Texas Tech
7 p.m.
Big 12 standings: Team
Big 12 (overall)
Kansas Texas Kansas State Missouri Baylor Oklahoma State Texas A&M Oklahoma Iowa State Texas Tech Colorado Nebraska
3-0 (17-1) 3-1 (17-1) 3-1 (16-2) 2-1 (14-4) 2-2 (14-3) 2-2 (14-4) 2-2 (13-5) 2-2 (11-7) 1-2 (12-6) 1-3 (13-5) 1-3 (10-8) 0-3 (12-6)
Women’s: Texas Tech at Texas A&M 3 p.m. Sat. Kansas St. at Nebraska
11 a.m. Sat.
Baylor at Missouri
1 p.m. Sat.
Iowa St. at Texas
1 p.m. Sat.
Kansas at Oklahoma
2 p.m. Sat
Oklahoma St. at Colorado
3 p.m. Sun.
Big 12 standings: Team
Big 12 (overall)
Nebraska Oklahoma State Oklahoma Texas A&M Iowa State Texas Colorado Kansas State Baylor Texas Tech Kansas Missouri
3-0 (16-0) 3-1 (15-3) 3-1 (13-4) 2-1 (14-2) 2-2 (14-3) 2-2 (13-5) 2-2 (12-5) 2-2 (10-8) 1-2 (14-3) 1-2 (13-4) 1-3 (11-6) 0-4 (10-7)
Aggie sports over the weekend: Tennis: vs. UT Pan American 10 a.m. vs. Nicholls State 3 p.m. @ Mitchell Tennis Center
DeRuyter invades Aggieland
thebattalion 1.21.2010 page4
Aggies tab ex-Air Force defensive coordinator to replace Joe Kines Brad Cox The Battalion The Texas A&M Board of Regents approved the hiring of former Air Force Defensive Coordinator Tim DeRuyter on Thursday. “I am very excited to announce that we have hired Tim DeRuyter as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Aggies,� said Head Coach Mike Sherman. “After an extensive process, it became very apparent that Tim is the right fit for Texas A&M.� DeRuyter was rumored to be the top pick for the Aggies’ vacant defensive coordinator position for almost a week before the Regents made the decision.
DeRuyter, a 1985 Air Force Academy graduate, was in his third season as defensive coordinator with the Falcons, running a 3-4 style defense. Air Force finished 2009 with an 8-5 record including a 47-20 win against Houston at the Armed Force Bowl in Fort Worth. In the bowl game, the Falcon defense intercepted Houston quarterback Case Keenum six times and gave up 222 passing yards to the pass heavy Cougars. The Air Force defense fared much better than A&M did in 2009. The Falcons were ranked No. 11 in total defense, allowing 288.3 yards per game, compared to the No. 105 Aggies, who allowed 426.3 yards per game.
Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
This hire will define Sherman era H
owdy, Coach DeRuyter. Welcome to Aggieland. Allow me to offer a few bits of advice to help you understand and adjust to your new surroundings. Purchase a maroon sports coat. They’re awfully sharp looking and go with just about anything. Go visit The Chicken. Play a little pool. Take a stroll through the Quad. “Whoop� to your heart’s content. And please ignore the campus-wide construction project we’ve got going because the wreckage at the Memorial Student Center doesn’t hold a candle to the major renovation needed by the Texas A&M defense you have inherited. Tuesday’s hiring of Tim DeRuyter from Air Force is more than just a simple, vacancy-filling move. It is, and will be, the defining hire of the Mike Sherman era. Sherman, in his two seasons at the
David Harris helm, has shown that he knows offense. A&M finished the season ranked fifth nationally in total offense. The stable of returning skill position players comprise one of the more dangerous offensive units in the country. However, despite the fireworks on the offensive side of the ball, Sherman’s career conference record sits at 5-11. That, and not the 33 points per game A&M scored in 2009, is what he is judged on. Hence
why this decision is so monumental. only 22 turnovers, good for tenth in the At first glance, DeRuyter is a solid conference. choice. In three previous stints at Ohio, Suffice to say, DeRuyter will have Nevada and Air Force, DeRuyter has to do, at A&M, what he has done at his proven his ability to squeeze the maxiprevious three stops. He must resurrect a mum productivity from a limited pool defense devoid of first class talent. of talent. Make no mistake about There are two major quesit, there isn’t much here. His tions, though, that will decide 3-4 scheme is predicated on whether or not this is a sucTim DeRuyter pressuring, attacking and cessful hire. has a lot on forcing turnovers. First and foremost, can his plate as he At Air Force in 2009, DeRuyter adjust to life in inherits the No. the Falcons finished the big leagues? 105 defense in ranked eleventh in the The Mountain West the country. country in total defense is not the Big 12 by any and tenth in scoring defense. They were No. 4 in the country with 34 forced turnovers. Just for a quick comparison, A&M finished dead last in the Big 12 in both scoring and total defense. They forced
stretch of the imagination. One difference is the firepower of the offenses. The Big 12 boasts six offenses in the top 32 in the country See DeRuyter on page 5
Basketball set for doubleheader at Reed Men face off with Colorado
No. 9 women welcome in Tech
urday in Reed Arena, fifth in assists. Mike Teague history will be on the Piloting A&M’s highThe Battalion The Battalion side of A&M, who have flying attack is point The last time the Coming off a disapdefeated the Buffaloes guard Sydney Colson. Texas A&M men’s baspointing loss at Oklain six straight competiThe junior ranks fifth ketball team lost to Colhoma, the No. 9 Texas tions. in the conference, avorado, the Aggies were A&M women’s basketThis season, Coloraeraging 5.19 assists per two coaches away from ball team will try to get do has started off with hiring Mark Turgeon. back on track this Sat- game. Bringing her team a 10-6 record, includThat game, a 76-70 urday when Texas Tech back in the second half at ing a 1-2 conference Oklahoma, Colson took loss to the Buffaloes comes to Reed Arena. record. in College Station, A&M (14-2, 2-1) goes over on both ends of the www.villagefoods .com Offensively, sophocourt. make was part of aWe season in it easy to eat better into Saturday with theWe make it easy to... more guard Cory Hig“The past few games, which A&M did not highest scoring offense win a single Big 12 gins leads Colorado, in the Big 12, averaging I’ve been getting a few averaging 18.6 points conference game. 81.7 points per game. steals and things have per game. He scored 18 When the Aggies The Aggies’ offense also sparked me on the defenface off against Coloranks fourth in the nation See Reed on page 5 See Tech on page 5 rado at 12:30 p.m Satfield goal percentage and
T.D. Durham
Swimming: @ LSU 12 p.m. Women’s basketball: vs. Texas Tech 3 p.m. @ Reed Arena Men’s basketball: vs. Colorado 12:30 p.m. @ Reed Arena Track and Field: vs. Texas 3:30 p.m. @ McFerrin Center
sports
Ben Williamson — THE BATTALION
The Aggie men go for their second straight home win.
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Ben Williamson — THE BATTALION
The Aggie women look for their third conference win.
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how to GET A CONTRACT: IT’S We NOT make TOO it easyLATE to eat better • stop by our office: The Grove Bldg. #8901 to the Albritton Bell Tower) to feature your • (next visit website: http://aggieland.tamu.edu organization in the where to TURN IN A CONTRACT: The Grove Bldg. #8901 (next to the bell 2010 Aggieland • tower), 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. yearbook have a question? call 979.845.2681 AGGIELAND 2010 Official yearbook of Texas A&M University
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sports
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thebattalion
friday, 1.22.2010
46 years old Played linebacker at Air Force Academy Graduate of Air Force Coordinator at Ohio, Nevada and Air Force
DeRuyter Continued from page 4
while the Mountain West can claim two teams as their own. Another major disparity is that in the Big 12, there are no ‘gimmes.’ Every game is a battle. On the other hand, the Mountain West powers get to feed on the likes of UNLV, San Diego State, New Mexico and Colorado State once a season. Secondly, does A&M have the personnel to successfully run a 3-4 defense? Sure, the Aggies have a plethora of people that can step in and play the two outside linebacker positions (Von Miller, Garrick Williams and Jonathan Stewart just to name a few). They also have some depth in the secondary and some potential at the defensive end positions. The problem, however, lies on the inside. I look at the squad, and I don’t see anybody capable of being an effective nose tackle, the most important position in the 3-4 defense. Who on that roster is going to be able to handle the double team and
PLACE
AN AD Phone 845-0569 or Fax 845-2678 The Grove, Bldg. #8901 Texas A&M University
AUTO
keep offensive lineman off the linebackers? And who on the team is big and agile enough to play inside linebacker, a position requiring players to take on a charging 300-pound guard nearly every play? Look, if DeRuyter and his defense can answer these questions, then Aggie football very well, may be on the road back to prominence. But if the 46-year-old is deemed ill-equipped to handle the Texas’s and Oklahoma’s of the world? Well, then A&M football will continue this decade long tradition of mediocrity and the era of Mike Sherman will come to an end. How’s that for pressure? So, in closing, Coach, we’re glad to have you in Aggieland. Oh, I almost forgot. One more piece of advice. Go place a penny or two on ol’ Sul Ross for some good luck. It’s worked before and you can never have too much good fortune on your side, right?
FOR RENT $375 available now. 1/1, 2/1, 2/2 Free Wi-Fi, On Northgate, on Shuttle. Short term leases ok. Call agent, Ardi. 979-422-5660. $400/mo., 2bd/2ba, central heat and air, W/D, Longmire Ct., CS. 979-822-1616 $900 Available Now or Pre-lease, 3 & 4 bdrm. houses near TAMU, pets ok. Call Agent Ardi 979-422-5660. 1,2,3,4 bedroom apartments. Furnished or unfurnished. Available May or August. 979-693-4900. 1-3/bedroom apartments. Some with w/d, some near campus. $175-$600/mo. 979-696-2038. 2/1 House. Near Winery. Country Living. $700/m. (979)877-4951. Available Now. 3/2 Townhouses &Apartments, 1250sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, walk-in pantry &closets, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing for 2009, excellent specials. 979-694-0320, office@luxormanagement.com 3bd/3ba. Duplexes. Close to campus, Great backyards. Fairly New! 979-693-4900. Brand new luxury condos, granite countertops, tile flooring, great location. 979-693-4900 4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing for 2010, excellent specials. 694-0320. office@luxormanagement.com 4bd/4ba houses. Brand New, great size, great location, AAF 979-693-4900.
points when the Buffaloes handed Baylor one of its three losses so far this season on Jan. 12. Colorado is coming off back-to-back losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma State, but only at a margin of nine points per loss. A&M comes in after its second conference win of the season, a 65-62 victory against Oklahoma Saturday in Reed Arena. Sophomore A&M guard Dash Harris sank a go-ahead three-pointer to give the Aggies momentum with just 1:19 left in the game. “I just look to be aggressive,” Harris said. “From there, it’s either make the pass or take the shot. I don’t ever think ‘I need to score, I need to score,’ it’s just being aggressive and whatever happens in the situation happens.” Senior guard Donald Sloan led the Aggies offensively with 16 points, 14 of which came in
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All bills paid, 4-bdrm condo on Southwest Parkway. Has 3 rooms for rent, $400/each with private baths, shared common area, 210-771-4535. House for rent 3/1.5/1, 0.75 acres, horse ok, 6mo. lease available. $875/mo., $875 deposit 979-696-1670. House for rent. Bryan 3/1.5 brick construction, all appliances, central air/heat. $500/m +deposit. (979)691-4726. Master bedroom, nice mobile home with private bath and closet. $450, Central-air/ht, internet, cable, everything included. 210-364-7006. New Condo! Sublease 1 room. Private bath &bed. Wood floor. W/D in unit. Jan-May $295/mo. January free. 519 SW Pkwy. Call 281-639-8847, 713-922-7722. Pre-leasing brand new 4/4 luxurious cottage style home, behind HEB, two blocks from campus! $550/mo. per person. Call 979-314-1333. Quiet country atmosphere, fireplace, very large 1bdrm brick duplex. Available Now! $425/mo. +bills. No pets. 693-8534. Spring Break at the Frio. Cabin Rental- fourfriosisters.com 361-510-8563. Sublease at The Lofts. 1 bedroom in 4/4 apartment. $499/mo. $1000 discount 713-376-6286. TOWNHOUSE 3bd/2ba. W/D connections, covered parking, vaulted ceiling in living area, pool access, park-like neighborhood. 2-blocks to campus, No pets. Ask about specials. 979-777-8407.
HELP WANTED A discount everytime at over 30 locations. Get your VIP Card at AggielandVIP.com Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. 512-684-8296. photoguy@io.com
the second half. Turgeon said that Sloan is a huge part of the offense for his basketball team. “Not only is Sloan playing a lot of minutes for us, he’s having to do a lot,” Turgeon said. “There’s a little bit more pressure on him to do some things out there.” Senior forward Bryan Davis leads the Aggies in rebounds, with 7.1 per game, and total blocks, with 34. Turgeon said Davis’ influence defensively has made a difference this season. “I think his defense has been great,” Turgeon said. “Blocking shots and being a presence inside. I expect Bryan to play that way.” Turgeon said after the team’s win against Oklahoma that if more than 4,000 students showed up to a home game, the players would “Saw ‘Em Off” in the stands with the students if the team won. “Hopefully we’ll get to saw ‘em off almost every game,” Turgeon said. “I’d like it to become a tradition here.”
Tech Continued from page 4
sive end just to get me going,” Colson said. “I’ve been slowing down and not rushing as much. If we just wait, be patient, and get into our offense…we end up making good decisions.” Leading-scorer Tanisha Smith will need to find her rhythm for A&M to keep up with Texas Tech’s running offense. After scoring 28 at Texas, Smith has struggled in her last two appearances. “I wouldn’t say that I’m off,” Smith said. “A lot of teams are paying more attention to me. This year a lot of the key players are on me and trying to stop me. At the same time, I just need to fill out the other side of the stat sheet with rebounds and playing defense.” To relieve some of Smith’s pressure, sophomore Tyra White will need to continue the improvements she has made in the 2009-10 season.
“Tyra wasn’t moving her feet or she was spectating and watching the game,” Blair said. “Then, all of a sudden the ball would come to her and then she would start. Now she’s starting to move without the ball more.” Since arriving in College Station in 2003, Blair is 6-6 against his alma mater, but has won six of the last seven meetings. Tech has also lost their last four trips to Aggieland and hasn’t won at A&M since 2005. This year’s Lady Raiders team however, is much improved. Texas Tech boasts an experienced squad featuring three seniors that are each averaging double-figures in scoring since the start of conference play. “It’s Coach Curry’s fourth year and those are all her players,” said Blair. Those are players that she has recruited, been in her system, and know her style. I think she likes her team and they’ve played well this year.”
classifieds see ads at thebatt.com
David Harris is a junior economics major and sports editor.
FOR RENT
I buy vehicles, running or not running. 979-778-1121.
Continued from page 4
SPECIAL
Tim DeRuyter:
Reed
PRIVATE PARTY WANT ADS
$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.
HELP WANTED An awesome job! Spend your summer in a lakefront cabin in Maine. If you are looking to spend this summer outdoors, have fun while you work, and make lifelong friends, then look no further. Camp Mataponi, a residential camp in Maine, has female and male summertime openings for Land Sports, Waterfront (small crafts, skiing, life guarding, WSI, boat drivers), Ropes Course, Tennis, Horse Back Riding, Arts & Crafts, Theater, Cooking, Gymnastics, Dance, Videography, Group Leaders & more. On Campus Interviews will top salaries plus room, board & travel provided. Call us at 1-561-748-3684 or apply online at www.campmataponi.com Bingo worker: great job opportunity. Above average pay with commissions &tips. Flexible hours. Hospitalization benefits available. Must have acceptable credit &clean background check. Apply in person at the Bingo Barn, 1018 S. TX Ave, Bryan, TX. Carney’s Pub and Grill Now Hiring Bartenders (experience preferred), Door-guys, &Bar-backs. Apply within or Call 979-823-1294. Child Care- FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. Fast growing company seeks intelligent, personable, productive people. Great $$$. Advancement opportunities. Flexible hours. Call toll free 1-888-823-2299. Now hiring waitresses, door girls, and entertainers. Apply in person at Silk Stocking Lounge. College Station.
puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com
HELP WANTED FT front office person needed for busy property Management Company. Person needs to be energetic, personable, and a team player. Office or Customer Service experience required. Apply in person @1507 S. College Ave, Bryan. 979-775-2291. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (Brazos Valley) Driver (Part-time position). Driver will transport blood from various donor sites to Component Laboratory and conduct the delivery of blood components to designated locations while maintaining proper record keeping an adhering to FDA regulations, Company standards, and established guidelines. Requirements: HS Diploma or GED, a Valid Texas Diver’s License with acceptable driving record. Apply at www.giveblood.org Have the summer of your life at 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, Circuis, Magic, Arts & Crafts, Pioneering, Climbing Tower, Water Sports, Music, Dance or Science. Great saleries and perks. Plenty of free time. Internships available for many majors. On-campus interviews on 2/2. Apply online at www.islandlake.com. Call 800-869-6083 between 9 and 5 eastern time on weekdays for more information. info@islandlake.com One on one Affordable Tutoring! Subjects include Math, Statistics, and English. Call Katy at 979-220-0874 or email Kate05@attm.net for more informtaion! Part-time job helping handicapped. Male student preferred. $330/mo. 30-hours/mo. 846-3376.
MUSIC
HELP WANTED Part-time secretary/receptionist, counseling office, flexible hours, 6-8/hrs week. Call 979-255-2789. Sell VIP cards! Make $5 for every $10 Aggieland VIP card you sell. No limit. Contact sean@aggielandvip.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
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A+Teacup puppies: Maltese, Shorkies, Maltipoos, Yorkies &Poodles. $500 &up. 979-324-2866, linda_d_54@yahoo.com
The Corner Bar &Grill now hiring. Apply in person at 9pm monday thru wednesday. All positions available.
Adopt Pets: Dogs, Cats, Puppies, Kittens, Many purebreds. Brazos Animal Shelter, 979-775-5755, www.brazosanimalshelter.org
Web Content Editor needed, Part-time, Paid hourly, 20-35hrs/wk. Good written/oral communication skills necessary. Responsibilities include web layout , text content/migration, and client communication. Submit marketing writing samples and resume to work@agnitek.com Youth Minister- Restoration Church is a dynamic growing fellowship that won’t stay small for long... and we’re looking for a sold out follower of Jesus Christ to begin building a vibrant Christ- centered Youth Group! Must love working with teens, not be afraid of humble beginnings, be fun, yet firm when needed, and be committed to your ministry. We don’t just want an employee, we want someone who will be part of the family! You must attend worship and one weekly youth meeting! If you’re serious about winning teens and building a youth ministry, call Pastor Mark at 979-229-9614!
SKI SPRING BREAK 2010!
REAL ESTATE We Buy Houses. Cash or take over payments. 979-220-3700.
ROOMMATES Need one roommate 3bd/2ba duplex. $400/month plus half utilities. On bus route. 817-681-5376 or bjjohnson09@gmail.com Serious female roommate needed for nice 4br house. Bedrooms have private bath. $525/mo + 1/4 monthly bills. 817-776-0868.
SERVICES Conversational Czech language class. Call Trent 618-334-4584 or e-mail trentpearson@gmail.com
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Volunteers between the ages of 12 and 45, with facial acne are needed to participate in a 12-week clinical research study with an investigational topical medication. All eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related acne evaluations by a dermatologist • Study related medication • Reimbursement up to $250.00 for time and effort For more information please contact:
RED DRY SCALY PATCHES OF SKIN ATOPIC DERMATITIS STUDY (ECZEMA) Volunteers ages 18 - 64 needed to participate in up to 12 week long clinical research study with an investigational topical medication for atopic dermatitis (RED, DRY, SCALY PATCHES OF SKIN). Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related medication • Physical Examination • Dermatological Assessments • Compensation up to $675.00 for time and travel For more information please contact:
J&S Studies, Inc. 979-774-5933 1710 Crescent Pointe Parkway, College Station, TX 77845 www.js-studies.com
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page 6 friday 1.22.2010
Open House Continued from page 1
thebattalion understanding of what each organization does,” Barnes said. “Students find their place on campus at MSC Open House. Being involved is an Aggie tradition and it helps students develop both professionally and personally.” Hinerman said Open House provides a way to inform students of opportunities to get involved and to give back to the community. “Open House gets our name and face out there,” she said. “[Big Event’s] participation forms don’t come out until February, but we can explain our goals, our mission and who we are to students at Open House.” Breakaway production director Jeremy McCasland said he wanted to ensure that his group’s booth made students aware of his organization. “We just want to get the word out,” McCasland said. “We are a ministry to students, and the whole purpose of Open House is for students to go and connect.” With around 300 student organizations participating on Jan. 24, the event is expected to attract many students wanting to learn about opportunities in student organizations.
the MSC was more convenient for students who lived on campus,” said SGA Big Event representative Kristen Hinerman. “However, having it at the Rec makes it easier for students who live off-campus to attend, because of all the available parking.” Although the area used in the fall was not big enough for the amount of students, Barnes said the group has worked out the problems. For the first time, the Aggieland Market, where students interact with Bryan-College Station area businesses, will be available during the MSC Open House, Barnes said. “Not only will it provide more opportunities for the students, but it will allow us to share the student experience with them,” Barnes said. More than 3,000 faculty, students and community members participated in the Aggieland Market in 2008. Sunday’s event will allow students to discover many of the opportunities Texas A&M offers through its organizations. “Open House is a way for us to get connected with the student body,” said Hinerman. “There are a lot of freshman and new transfers who may have never heard of Big Event, and this is a way for us to get their support for our goals and mission.” Barnes said the event is important because it helps students explore the organizations available at Texas A&M. File — THE BATTALION “At Open House, students have MSC Open House hosts more than 3,000 student the opportunity to talk with representatives of each organization to organizations each semester allowing students who get more information and a better attend an opportunity to view their options.
Aggie Nights Continued from page 1
IT’S NOT TOO LATE to feature your organization in the 2010 Aggieland yearbook
how to GET A CONTRACT: • stop by our office: The Grove Bldg. #8901 (next to the Albritton Bell Tower) • visit website: http://aggieland.tamu.edu
where to TURN IN A CONTRACT: • The Grove Bldg. #8901 (next to the bell tower), 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
have a question? call 979.845.2681
AGGIELAND 2010 Official yearbook of Texas A&M University
play, sometimes we will have a magician, and even ladies’ night where we bring Victoria’s Secret in,” Tripp said. The Aggie Nights staff plans each event. The program is funded by required student fees. Tripp said the staff is trying to seek more student input and collaborating with student groups for planning future Aggie Nights. Melissa Cantu, senior wildlife and fisheries major and student worker for Aggie Nights, said her role in the event is to set up and make sure attendees are happy. “We check people in and interact and make sure things are going great,” Cantu said. Cantu said her favorite part about Aggie Nights is meeting new people. Aggie Nights was formerly located in the base-
ment of the Memorial Student Center. With the recent renovations to the MSC, Aggie Nights needed a place to relocate to continue offering students free entertainment every Friday. “I’m glad they decided to keep it going now that the MSC is closed. I liked the free food they had. I got to meet a lot of new people, and also got to take my friends and have fun on a Friday night,” said sophomore general studies major Miriam Rosales. Giveaways and performances by A&M student groups are also featured periodically at Aggie Nights. The event teams up with MSCC Aggie Cinema to provide movie showings in Rudder Theatre at a reduced rate for students. Aggie Nights also rewards frequent student visitors with a $200 gift card once every semester. “Being at A&M is hard sometimes because you’re away from home, but Aggie Nights provides a place to still have fun,” Rosales said. “It gives you a home away from home and an Aggie family.”
MYTH: Seasonal flu and H1N1 flu are the same type of flu. FACT: Seasonal flu viruses have been circulating in human populations for several seasons, allowing people to build up immunities to them.
Most
people do not yet have immunity to the new strain of H1N1 flu.
MYTH: The new strain of flu virus is called the Swine Flu. FACT: The respiratory virus that is currently circulating in the United States is passed from person to person without contact with pigs.
The name now
being used is H1N1 flu. H1N1 flu is a respiratory illness thought to spread in the same way that seasonal flu is spread.
MYTH: The H1N1 vaccine is unsafe and untested. FACT: Clinical trials conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have shown that the new H1N1 vaccine, licensed by the FDA, is both safe and effective.
MYTH: The H1N1 vaccine can give you the flu. FACT: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated).
You cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are: soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given; low-grade fever, aches, or nausea.
MYTH: It is too expensive to get an H1N1 vaccine. FACT: The federal government has purchased the H1N1 vaccine and is providing it to the states free of charge.
This is different in many places from the seasonal flu vaccine. Some private providers may charge a small fee to administer the vaccine, but cost should not be a barrier to getting immunized. The Brazos County Health Department is providing H1N1 vaccination FREE of charge.
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