thebattalionasks
Q:
What do you think about R. Bowen Loftin being named our new president?
Christopher Harrison sophomore environmental geosciences major
“I’m fine with it honestly, because he is an extremely fine president for the job. With every president you are going to have people who are upset, just look at how President Barack Obama’s approval ratings have dropped, but I think he is a fine man for the job.”
thebattalion ● monday,
january 25, 2010
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media
Top Corps Lt. Gen. resigns
Breaking
Jenny Balliew
Van Alstyne’s service to end after seven years
the
freshman general studies major
“I actually do like him. I like how he sends us e-mails. He seems really involved in the campus so, yeah, I like him.”
Blanca Guerrero Special to The Battalion After seven and a half years as commandant of the Corps of Cadets, Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne resigned Friday. “There are good young men and women Van Alstyne in the Corps,” Van Alstyne said. “It was an honor to serve as the commandant.” Van Alstyne said he understood that the new commandant would be reporting to the vice president of student affairs Lt. Gen. Joe Weber. Weber said no one had spoken to him “formally and specifically” about the resignation. Senior Corps Commander Brent Lanier said Van Alstyne’s leadership has been invaluable to the Corps since his appointment as commandant in June 2002.
Houston Richards senior economics major
tie
“I think it was really good that he got it. One thing he did that really impressed me was he came down and ate lunch with the Corps one day. I think it really shows a lot that he took time out of his meeting, to meet with the cadets.”
See Corps on page 2
Annual spring fair Wednesday Megan Ryan — THE BATTALION
Sarah Newman
Students support regents’ decision
junior English major
Brandi Tevebaugh “I’m actually very glad about it. He is a member of my church — a little Lutheran church — and we are thanking God we have a chance to influence things in a positive way. I’m hoping he stays there for a while.”
Lynn Limbert sophomore mechanical engineering major
“I don’t really know much about him. I guess if we all do what we can to welcome him in and he doesn’t feel like he has to do things to please us, then I think he’ll do a good job.”
The Battalion Student reaction was positive after Interim President R. Bowen Loftin was named the sole finalist for the position of University president Thursday. “I expect him to do a good job,” said Daisy Puente, sophomore political science major. “He has done a great job as interim president so far, and I am expecting him to do well.” Loftin has served the past seven months as the University’s interim president, and after the 21 day waiting period he will be eligible to serve as president of the seventh largest university. Loftin is expected to do well in the position. His weekly e-mails and desire to connect with students and faculty has impressed the student body.
“He has a proven record of exceptional leadership skills and has already made a tremendously positive impact during his time here in College Station as interim president,” freshman senator Chris Esparza said. “I’m excited to hear more about his plans on further leading the University through the economically challenging times ahead of us.” Loftin was raised in Navasota, 20 miles south of College Station. He attended Texas A&M as an undergraduate, obtaining a degree in physics in 1970. Loftin received both his master’s and doctorate degrees in physics from Rice University. He also was a professor at the University of Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. Before serving as interim president, Loftin spent four years at the See Loftin on page 2
■ Study Abroad seminar teaches the importance of studying outside U.S. Katy Ralston
Voices | 7 As president-elect Bowen ends his service as interim president and steps up to a job that many of the best have held, how will he hold up? With Texas A&M steering right into Vision 2020, will president-elect Bowen lead us not into mediocrity?
The Battalion From the shores of Australia to the mountains of Peru, Texas A&M students have left their mark across the world. And the countries have left their mark on them. “You can look at a picture of a monument or a place all day, but until you are really there experiencing it in a totally new culture, you don’t have the same respect for it,” said Lacie Kilsby, a senior biology major. “I really enjoyed interacting with the locals too. It is amazing how similar and yet completely different your life is from someone living in a different country.” Kilsby’s experience came from a 2007-2008 winter program in See Abroad on page 8
When and where Study Abroad’s annual spring fair is 10 a.m. to noon, Wed., in Koldus 110 and 111.
Greek Life officers to attend training Vincent Leung senior university studies major
■ Seminar educates Greek leaders on the importance of recognition and responsibilities
“He is a pretty good guy. I like his bow tie.”
Katy Ralston and Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
Pg. 1-01.25.10.indd 1
The 12 Panhellenic sororities are housed on Sorority Row where officers must live.
Blanca Guerrero Special to The Battalion Greek Life students are kicking off the new year with officer training to ensure a successful semester. Greek Life officers have training twice a year. This session is four days. The vision of the Department of Greek Life is to “develop all students of Texas A&M as active citizens and leaders,” a vision that the department hopes to maintain in 65 Greek Life organizations at A&M. The seminar is mandatory for recognized Greek leaders at A&M, and helps them understand the importance of organization recognition. The two members required to attend include the chief student leader and any other officer in the organization. Ann Goodman is the department director of Greek Life at A&M. Goodman will help lead the seminar along with several other staff members in the department of Greek Life. Dates for the seminar begin on Jan. 26 and continue through Feb. 3. “I’m optimistic about how well it will go this year,” said sophomore agribusiness major David Volleman, president of Alpha Gamma Rho.
this day in
xas tehistory
Jan. 25, 1839 The Lone Star flag was adopted by the Third Congress of the Republic of Texas.
See Greek on page 8
1/24/10 11:00 PM
1
Y L L U F PED P I U EQ
Final day to add or drop a class
Today is the last day you can add or drop a class for the spring semester.
Student reception at Forsyth
2
Career Fair Tuesday at Reed Arena
3
Energy conversion conference at Hilton
4
5
The MSC Forsyth Center Galleries, relocated to Downtown Bryan, will have a student grand opening reception from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 4.
The Student Engineering Council’s Career Fair exhibition will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Reed Arena. Company representatives will be searching for full time, internship and co-op positions for all majors.
The International Institute for Multifunctional Materials for Energy Conversion, an NSF-funded International Materials Institute that focuses on materials for energy conversion, is from today to Wednesday at the Hilton College Station and Conference Center.
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.
corrections
Today sunny High: 67 | Low: 42
The Battalion welcomes readers’ comments about published information that may require correction. We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction needs to be published. Please e-mail at editor@thebatt.com.
For daily updates go to thebatt.com ●
courtesy of NOAA
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pagetwo
150,000 Haiti quake victims buried, gov’t says
Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
Customers line up at Spoons Yogurt Thursday. Spoons donated all of their profits, including tips and wages ($7,746.12), from noon to midnight Thursday to the victims of the Haiti earthquake. There was a total of 1,748 customers that day.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- The truckers filling Haiti’s mass graves with bodies reported ever higher numbers: More than 150,000 quake victims have been buried by the government, an official said Sunday. That doesn’t count those still under the debris, carried off by relatives or killed in the outlying quake zone. “Nobody knows how many bodies are buried in the rubble — 200,000? 300,000? Who knows the overall death toll?” said the official, Communications Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue. Dealing with the living, meanwhile, a global army of aid workers was getting more food into people’s hands, but acknowledged falling short. “We wish we could do more, quicker,” said U.N. World Food Program chief Josette Sheeran, visiting Port-au-Prince. In the Cite Soleil slum, U.S. soldiers and Brazilian U.N. peacekeeping troops distributed food. Lunie Marcelin, 57, said the handouts will help her and six grown children “but it is not enough. We need more.”
Yet another aftershock, one of more than 50 since the great quake Jan. 12, shook Port-auPrince on Sunday, registering 4.7 magnitude, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of further damage. The Haitian government was urging many of the estimated 600,000 homeless huddled in open areas of Port-au-Prince, a city of 2 million, to look for better shelter with relatives or others in the countryside. Some 200,000 were believed already to have done so, most taking advantage of free government transportation, and others formed a steady stream out of the city on Sunday. International experts searched for sites to erect tent cities for quake refugees on the capital’s outskirts, but such short-term solutions were still weeks away, said the International Organization for Migration, an intergovernmental agency. The organization has appealed for $30 million for that and other needs, and has received two-thirds of that so far. Associated Press
Loftin
Year Award. His impressive past leads many students to look forward to an even more impressive future for Loftin. “He’s already done so much for the University,” said Justin Hicks, sophomore biomedical sciences major. “He’s put in a lot of hard work He seems capable, and he likes to be active with the students.” However, the long process of naming Loftin as the sole candidate to some seemed anticlimactic. “Wasn’t he just interim and then they just gave it to him?” said Adam Moulton, junior psychology major. “I think they kind of took the lazy way out.”
Continued from page 1
Keynote speakers attract 650 students at conference The Battalion This weekend 650 students from more than 68 schools gathered for the 22nd annual Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference at A&M. Conference chairman Byron Barber said the goal of the conference was to “impact our participants and their respective communities. When planning the conference we asked the question ‘how is this going to empower them?’” This year’s student-run conference theme was “I am… therefore I will…” The weekend included several keynote speakers including Boyce Watkins, Walter M. Kimbrough, Michaela Angela Davis and Roland S. Martin all who shared their insight with students. “[I enjoyed] learning a lot of the role of African-Americans and the importance of education,” said Sarah Privert, a senior from Angelo State University. “It is more than getting a job, it’s about building a life and a family.” Workshops in which students choose which speaker and topic they wanted to attend were offered Friday and Saturday, covering topics from Greek organizations, personal growth and leadership and black culture. Students were given time to talk about opinions and learn from the wisdom
Tuesday sunny high: 68 low: 52 Wednesday 20% chance of showers high: 70 low: 64 Thursday 60% chance of thunderstorms high: 68 low: 35
thebattalion 01.25.2010
T Twitter i @thebattonline
Frozen yogurt frenzy
Rachel Latham
of men and women in the workplace. “We need to give students a voice so we can deal with these issues,” said workshop speaker Robert Jackson, author and former Minnesota Vikings running back. “We can’t solve our problems if we can’t talk about them.” A career fair allowed students to learn more about job opportunities and network with people with a like mind. “[The conference] is more than I expected; it’s so prestigious,” said sophomore Zarrick Cannon from Tyler Junior College, cofounder of the campus’s Black Student Association. “We have learned valuable information that we can take back with us.” The group brought eight students out of their 575-member organization. “We plan on bringing them all back next year,” Cannon said. Other events such as a mass choir rehearsal, a fashion show and concert took place Friday, featuring J. COLE from JAY-Z’s Roc Nation and followed by an afterparty at the Student Recreation Center. “This was a well-run conference and has overall been a great experience,” said senior industrial distribution Percy Luecke. “I would recommend it to all A&M students interested.”
A&M Galveston campus as university vice president and chief executive officer. He was in Galveston in the fall 2008 semester when Hurricane Ike forced the students and faculty to relocate to the College Station campus. Loftin is also the author or co-author of more than 100 technical publications. His citations and honors include the University of HoustonDowntown Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Service twice, the American Association of Artificial Intelligence Award for an innovative application of artificial intelligence, NASA’s Space Act Award, the NASA Public Service Medal and the 1995 NASA Invention of the
Power outages Sunday About 4,300 homes and businesses lost power just before 10 p.m. Sunday after a transformer went out near the Post Oak Mall. Jay Socol, director of public communications for the City of College Station, said locations near the mall, Northgate, College Hills and areas near Texas Avenue and Holleman Drive were affected by the power failure.The cause of the outage had not yet been determined at press time. Power was restored after 10:30 p.m. Amanda Casanova, editor in chief
Jim burns 7400 calories a day.
Good thing he has a meal plan.
Satisfy your Hunger! Sign-up for your 2010 Spring meal plan dining.tamu.edu
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Pg. 2-01.25.10.indd 1
Register for Black History Month game show
UNIVERSITY DINING
Luz Moreno-Lozano contibuted to this story.
Corps Continued from page 1
“Gen. Van Alstyne has done so much for the Corps and prepared the Corps for the long run. He has been a huge asset to the University and undoubtedly impacted the Corps in so many great ways,” he said. Van Alstyne is the 38th commandant of the Corps of Cadets, and graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in marketing. He earned a master of science degree in military science and a master of arts degree in national security, as well as provided advice to Vietnamese combat forces dur-
ing the Vietnam War. Van Alstyne served in the Army for 36 years. During his career he received the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Van Alstyne declined to elaborate on the reasons for his resignation. There will be a “university meeting today” to discuss further actions regarding this situation, said Annette Walker, media relations coordinator for the office of the commandant. Amanda Casanova contributed to this story.
thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
Amanda Casanova, Editor in Chief Ian McPhail, Opinion Editor Jill Beathard, Managing Editor Matt Woolbright, Asst. Managing Editor Evan Andrews, Graphics Chief Megan Ryan, Video/Photo Chief Megan Keyho, Features Editor David Harris, Sports Editor 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 979-8450569. 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 979845-2613.
1/24/10 11:02 PM
things you should know
5 before you go Lecture on Architecture
1
Beatriz Colomina,author and professor of architectural history and theory at Princeton University, will present “Blurred Visions: Architectures of Surveillance from Mies to SANAA� at 5 p.m. today at Langford Auditorium.
2
“Greek� Returns
3
The hit college drama on ABC Family has it’s midseason premiere at 9 p.m. tonight. Tune in to ďŹ nd out what will happen in the ďŹ ctional Greek community during the rest of the third season.
Vertical Thoughts
Theresa Salomon on violin and A&M faculty member Kathryn Woodard on piano will perform works by Bela Bartok, GyĂśrgy Kurtag, George Antheil, Morton Feldman, and Bruce Wolosoff at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Bush Presidential Conference Center. Admission is free.
Open House at the Astronomy Observatory
4
The Department of Physics & Astronomy at Texas A&M University will have free Observatory Open House at the campus observatory from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Jan. 29. Telescope observing and astronomy demos will be featured.
Film fails to take
“Extraordinary Measures�
MSC OPAS: A Cinderella Story
5
MSC OPAS presents the telling of A Cinderella Story by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for one night only. The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 in Rudder Auditorium. Tickets are available at the MSC Box OfďŹ ce.
thebattalion 01.25.2010 page3
review
“Extraordinary Measures� tells the true story of a father’s quest to find a cure for his children’s disease. The cast includes Harrison Ford, Brendan Frasier and Keri Russell.
Courtesy of Associated Press
W
ell readers, Hollywood has done it again. In an attempt to condense a 300-page book to a two-hour time frame that would attract scores of audience members, the soul of a story is lost.
Having read the true story of “Extraordinary Measures� for myself, I was disappointed with the outcome of the movie, not only for the many changed or omitted events, but for the lack of insight into how emotional this journey was for the family and how incredibly resilient humans can be. Based on the book “The Cure� by Geeta Anand, “Extraordinary Measures� tells the tale of how John Crowley, a husband and father of three, goes to extreme lengths to find a cure for two of his children who have been diagnosed with Pompe disease, a muscular degenerative illness. The movie stars Brendan Frasier as John Crowley, Keri Russell as Aileen Crowley and Harrison Ford as the brooding and eccentric scientist, Dr. Stonehill, who helps John in his quest to get his children, Megan and Patrick, into a clinical trial to test an enzyme that would help curb the side effects of Pompe disease. I thought it interesting these actors were picked for these roles, especially since Crowley is described to be a rather short man at 5’
b!
Lorelei Willett 6� whereas Frasier is, well, not. However, despite his stature, Frasier is able to show many of the up and down emotions Crowley experienced. Russell seems to fit the loving mother type of Aileen except, odd as this sounds, I feel Russell was maybe too strong of a woman to represent the Aileen in the book who seemed happy to stay in the shadow of her husband and take care of her children. The most misrepresented character however is probably Ford as Dr. Stonehill from Nebraska, who represents Dr. Canfield of Oklahoma in “The Cure.� Canfield, although a little hotheaded when it comes to his science, is actually portrayed as a very passive man in the book while Ford is anything but passive. However, I cannot deny the hilarious chemistry between Ford and Frasier on screen. The children, on the other hand, were perfect. The actors nailed the subdued personality of Patrick and the spunky, bossy, princess-like Megan, while pulling the audience’s heartstrings
with chosen moments of inspiration. As far as changes made from the book, I could give a long list. For one thing, the time frame of the movie compared to the book is greatly skewed. I understand that writers have to combine some events to make the movie more “dramatic,� but to seemingly condense nearly four years of events into the span of one is a bit much. Another is the great number of events and people that were left out completely, such as the many doctors and nurses that the Crowleys had come in contact with, as well as numerous nearly disastrous business and scientific risks John took over the years. Probably the most troubling difference I found was that the movie seemed to completely leave out the factor that it was supposed to represent — family. Though the Crowleys had their moments of adversity on screen, I felt they did not portray just how emotional the journey to a cure was for the family. Some examples include John almost leaving Aileen and the kids, Megan throwing many tantrums, problems with nurses and John constantly being gone for business. However, I am most always partial to the books rather than the movies they inspire. “Extraordinary Measures� was a sweet and inspirational movie that definitely got the point across that a father’s devotion to his children could push him to go to extreme lengths to save them.
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Pat Henry lives up to his family’s coaching legacy Brad Cox The Battalion Coaching must be a genetic trait in the Henry family. Texas A&M track and field Head Coach Pat Henry, winner of 29 National Championships and 13 National Head Coach of the Year awards, is one of four brothers, three of which coach, and is the son and grandson of coaches. “Naturally athletics was what you set around and talked about at the dinner table,� Henry said. “We were all involved in athletics. It just seemed like that’s what we did. It’s what you did.� Henry’s grandfather, Gwinn Henry, was once labeled the “fastest man in the world� after setting a record time in the 100-yard dash at the 1911 National AAU Championships. Gwinn went on to be the head football coach at Missouri, New Mexico and Kansas. Gwinn “Bub� Henry, Pat Henry’s father, was a track and field coach at New Mexico during the 1960s. Pat’s brothers Matt and Mark continued the tradition by coaching the same sport at the same school in the 2000s. “I’m just glad they weren’t brick layers,� Henry said. “I’d probably have been a brick layer too.� As the only coach in NCAA history to win both the Men’s and Women’s Outdoor National Championships in the same year, a feat Henry accomplished twice at Louisiana State and once at A&M, it would seem Henry made the right career decision. “That’s what our family was, was coach-
es,� he said. “I never thought about it any different than that. At one point in my life, I thought I wanted to be a draftsman and do some things different, but it was a very short period of time.� Success is something the 58-year-old Henry has experienced at every stop on the coaching road. Before beginning his collegiate coaching career, Henry led the Hobbs (N.M.) High School track teams to a pair of State championships in a 10 year period. Henry then traveled to Blinn Junior College in Brenham in 1983, where he spent four years and won two NJCAA National Championships. Louisiana State started calling when former coach Billy Maxwell left for Texas following a National Championship in 1987. Henry took over as the coach as both the men’s and women’s teams, beginning one of the most dominating dynasties in college athletics. In his 17 years with the Tigers, he won 27 National Championships, winning both the Men’s and Women’s titles in 1989 and 1990. A&M athletic director Bill Byrne hired Henry in 2004 to take the Aggies’ program to the top. “For me it was kind of like anybody, a change is good at times,� Henry said about leaving an established program. “I felt like my career as a coach, it was time to make a change. And I enjoy building a program. I enjoy starting a program from where this one was and taking it to somewhere it wasn’t.� Before Henry’s arrival, the track and
field teams did well enough at the national meets, with the men usually finishing in the Top 20 and the women a few places lower. The Aggies started to break through in Henry’s fourth season, with the women’s team winning the Big 12 Outdoors Championship and finished in fourth place at the national meet. In 2008, the men’s team started to catch up, taking second place at the Big 12 Championship while the women took another title. The women finished in third and the men finished in fifth at that season’s national meet. “You have to establish within your team a philosophy of how you want to operate your program,� Henry said about growing the program at A&M. “What your team thinks of themselves and how you want to get things done and have set some goals, be accountable, learn how to be accountable to what we try to do, and the word consistency is a huge word in my philosophy.� In 2009, both the men’s and women’s teams topped the nation at the Outdoor National Championship meet in Fayetteville, Ark. The men’s championship ended a three-year run of national outdoor titles by Florida State. “You never go to a national meet saying you’re going to win, you go to a national meet hoping that you going to be in the mix to be able to be in a position to win,� Henry said. “I want to get enough people there from year to year and have a little consistency to say ‘A&M is here, we’re ready to go, let’s see what happens.’�
Swimming sweeps in meet against LSU Rehabilitation Sciences
Laboratory Sciences &
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Beau Holder Special to The Battalion On Saturday, the No. 19 men’s and No. 6 women’s swimming and diving teams defeated LSU in Baton Rouge to cap off a week that saw the Aggie women defeated No. 8 Auburn and No. 19 SMU and the men had a good showing against No. 5 Auburn the previous Saturday. Freshman sensation Omar Enriquez was the biggest story for A&M for the second straight meet. He was one of four Aggie men to win two races. His time of 9:13.42 in the 1,000-yard freestyle broke a 27-year old school record previously held by Rick Walker. Enriquez also won the 500 freestyle.
“Omar swam a tremendous race, and it was a pivotal race for us since we had just got beat in the medley relay,� Head Coach Jay Holmes said. Juniors Balazs Makany and Bryan Snowden and senior Nikita Denisyako won two races. Makany took both the 100 and 200 freestyle, Snowden won the 100 and 200 breaststroke and Denisyako emerged victorious from the 100 and 200 backstroke. Sophomore diver Cam McLean won the 1-meter springboard for A&M and placed second in the 3-meter. The 161.5138.5 win by the Aggies put a swift end to a two-meet losing streak to the rival Tigers. The men from LSU, a yearly opponent
for the Aggies, were ranked No. 17. “LSU is a quality team, so I was very pleased that we were able to turn things around after the first race,� Holmes said. The 173-124 win against the Lady Tigers augmented A&M’s hot streak. Senior and 2008 Olympic finalist Julia Wilkinson’s two wins helped lead the Aggie women. She took the 100 backstroke and the 100 freestyle. “We took care of what we needed to do,� Head Coach Steve Bultman said. “We’re weren’t spectacular, but we did what we had to do while staying focused and pointed to the end of the season.�
In accordance with Texas Education Code Section 51.936 and as the entity charged with the collection and distribution described therein, the Department of Student Activities is formally publishing a list of organizations that have been disciplined for hazing or convicted for hazing on or off the campus of the institution during the preceding three years. This information along with a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37 can be found at http://stuorgreport.tamu.edu Alleged incidents of hazing should be reported to one of the following offices: University Police Department: 845-2345 Office of the Dean of Student Life: 845-3113 Office of the Commandant: 845-2811 Department of Student Activities: 845-1133
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No. 9 Aggie women topple Tech Mike Teague The Battalion Texas A&M junior Danielle Adams recorded a triple-double Saturday in the No. 9 women’s basketball team’s 69-54 victory over visiting Texas Tech. Reed Arena’s 7,279 fans in attendance became the women’s fifth largest crowd in school history. “That’s the first one of my career, so I was pretty excited about it,” Adams said. “I was surprised when they announced it. I was just executing. I hit a couple of jump shots, and then I’d take it down low.” Adams’ career-high 27 points, 12 rebounds and a school-record 10 blocks made her only the second player to record a triple-double in Aggie women’s basketball history. “I think a lot of her play goes unnoticed sometimes,” said junior Sydney Colson. “She does a lot of stuff that we haven’t had in a ‘five’ player. She’s willing to get out there and take the charges. It’s really good to see her go out and shine out there today.” Texas A&M (15-2, 3-1) was able to pick up the win over the Lady Raiders thanks to their smothering defense. Texas Tech shot only 26.5 percent from the field in the first half and finished the game 0-for-8 from beyond 3-point land.
Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
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Sophomore guard Sydnee Carter goes up for a shot in the Aggies’ win over Texas Tech on Saturday at Reed Arena. The win was the team’s third in conference.
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“You have to give credit to their defense,” said Texas Tech forward Ashlee Roberson. “They’re aggressive and were getting into the passing lanes. They were just defending us man-to-man and zone.” A&M Head Coach Gary Blair was pleased with his team’s performance but found areas that still need improvement. “We had some unforced turnovers, and that’s a little uncharacteristic for us,” Blair said. “We had seven turnovers in the first half with all three of my guards. It wasn’t the prettiest basketball by either team, but both teams played extremely well and it was your typical Big 12 game. Tech was just coming off an emotional [double overtime] loss to Texas, and we are just fortunate to come out with a win today.” Gaining more attention from defenses in recent weeks, senior Tanisha Smith was able to get her teammates involved and tallied a game-high six assists. The guard also got back on track shooting, knocking down 4-of-10 from the field and scoring 13 points. After scoring 18 points in the loss at Oklahoma, sophomore Tyra White continued her hot streak with 11 points and eight rebounds in Saturday’s win. After getting past Saturday’s trap game, A&M must hit the road Wednesday to face No. 10 Baylor in Waco.
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Men’s tennis begins season with two wins Michael Sullivan The Battalion The No. 12 Texas A&M men’s tennis team opened their 2010 season with two 6-1 wins over both UT Pan American and Nicholls State. The Aggies captured 16 of the 18 individual matches played on the way to their fourth consecutive 2-0 start. “We accomplished what we needed to do and we will hopefully be better as a result,� said Texas A&M Head Coach Steve Denton. “Obviously we have to continue to keep improving, but I am pleased overall, and this was a good starting match.� The Aggies used the doubleheader as a chance to let 12 of their 14 member roster experience competitive match play. With six players having never competed in a tennis match for A&M, the Aggies worked to eliminate nerves and adjust to collegiate tennis. “We knew it was going to be sort of nerve racking out there today,� Denton said. “It was the first match for a lot of our guys. We have a lot of new players who haven’t been in this kind of setting before and it takes some time to get acclimated to it. Now that they have a match under their belt, hopefully they can go back to just playing.� In 2009, the Aggies won the doubles point in 13 of their 26 matches, sweeping the point three times. To open the 2010 season, the Aggies swept the doubles point in both matches with five different doubles combinations. “I think we have four good doubles teams, and we haven’t had that in the past,� Denton said. “I feel like that is really going to help us this year and will be one of the strengths of our team. They have responded to knowing that the
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doubles point is so important and that we need to win it a lot this year to be successful.� A trio of Aggies finished the day 3-0 individually including junior All-American Austin Krajicek, junior transfer Jeff Dadamo and true freshman Alberto Bautista. Krajicek and Dadamo gathered three wins from the same court as they teamed up to win the No. 1 doubles match and each one a match at No. 1 singles. In his first collegiate tennis appearance, Bautista stayed undefeated posting a doubles and singles win against UT Pan America, 8-2 and 6-3, 6-2 respectively. Later in the afternoon he won a second singles match against Nicholls State 6-4, 7-5. “I was hoping to get three in a row,� Bautista said. “I don’t like losing, and I have always done good since I was little on these courts. I was a little bit nervous with all of the people and it is a bit different than just playing by yourself.� Moving forward the Aggies will continue to play at George P. Mitchell Tennis Center as they host the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. The Aggies will compete in a four-team tournament that includes Rice, Oklahoma State and Fresno State. The biggest challenge for the Aggies next weekend may not be the opponent on the other side of the court, but rather picking which players should make up the starting line-up. “It is not going to be easy [to pick a line up],� Denton said. “I think the line-up is going to be fluid because it is a long season and there are going to be guys that are hot. We are going to have to have the wisdom to pick the right guys to put out there who are playing hot at the time. These guys have to all know that they need to stay ready to play because there number is going to be called.�
Jonny Green— THE BATTALION
Junior forward Nathan Walkup skies for a layup in the Aggies’ 67-63 win over Colorado on Saturday at Reed Arena. Walkup finished the game with 16 points.
Men defeat Colorado 67-63 at Reed Arena T.D. Durham The Battalion Despite shooting a staggering nine percent from 3-point ranges, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team defeated Colorado Saturday at Reed Arena, 67-63. The win makes the third game in a row decided by five points or less, the other two were against No. 1 Texas and Oklahoma. The first half of the game was back and forth, with five lead changes and eight ties in the 20-minute span. The Aggies never built a lead of more
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Come visit us at the SEC Career Fair on January 26 at the Reed Arena from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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than five points, but were never down more than four points. A&M junior forward Nathan Walkup had a career high of 16 points in the game. It was his second time to raise his career high in one week. “He is playing really well,� said A&M Head Coach Mark Turgeon. “He’s missing a lot of open shots too. Can you imagine how good he would have been if he was hitting them? I have a lot of confidence in Nate.� A&M junior guard B.J. Holmes made just one 3-pointer in the game, a shot from far behind the arc over a Colorado player. The Aggies made just two of 23 attempts in the game. “We had great looks,� said A&M senior guard Donald Sloan. “I don’t think any of them were forced. They seemed to be pretty much wide open. Eventually, they’ll start falling, and we’ll be back on a roll again.� The Aggies opened the second half with a 6-0 run against the Buffaloes and eventually built a 9-point lead with 9:40 remaining in the game. Sloan and fellow senior Bryan Davis had 12 points combined in the Aggies’ run. Sloan finished the game with a team-high 18 points, while Davis finished with 12 points and three blocks. “I challenged the seniors at halftime, and they really responded,� Turgeon said. But the Buffaloes worked back into the game after A&M’s run, bringing the game to a tie at 59-59 with just 53 seconds remaining. With 32 seconds left, Sloan drove the lane for the Aggies but failed to finish at the basket. However, his teammate Davis elevated and slammed home the rebound over a Buffalo player. “Sloan doesn’t miss too many shots down there, but I still had to go follow it up,� Davis said. “One of their guys had the ball in his hands, and I took it out of his hands and finished it.� Sloan said the play by Davis was the difference maker in the outcome of the game. “That was the biggest play of the game by far,� Sloan said. “We needed it, and the big man stepped up. Those are the kind of plays we need. They will help us win a lot of these close games.� Colorado sophomore guard Cory Higgins and freshman guard Alec Burks led all Buffalo scorers with 19 a piece. Only five players on the Colorado squad scored points in the bout. The victory makes A&M’s second conference win in a row and brings the Aggies to 3-2 in Big 12 play. “Nothing is easy, it’s the Big 12,� Sloan said. “It’s big for us to get these two at home. It raises our confidence up and keeps our morale high going into a tough road game at Oklahoma State.� The Aggies face off against the Cowboys at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Stillwater.
Track splits in dual meet with Texas The No. 8 men’s team ran away from the Longhorns, but the No. 1 women lost a close decision. Read about it at thebatt.com.
1/24/10 6:54 PM
EDITOR’SNOTE The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of Texas A&M University, The Battalion or its staff.
call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters
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Osazuwa Okundaye — THE BATTALION
T
he Internet has quickly become a staple of modern society. Fifteen years ago connection speeds were so low that web pages suffered considerable slowdown if they hosted an image. Today, high-speed connections allowing video streaming are widely available and affordable. A lot has changed over the years in the lives of most Americans thanks to the Internet. Unfortunately, as with many new technologies, laws haven’t progressed with society. U.S. laws governing internet use need to be reviewed and laws promoting openness and free speech need to be codified. The term “net neutrality” has only come into our lexicon recently. The new buzzword, net neutrality holds the position that the Internet should be supplied from service providers without suppression of certain packets, Web sites, or information. For the most part, it’s what we have now, but it isn’t the law. This hole allows for a tiered connection set up by your Internet Service Provider. If your ISP, let’s say the cable company, decides to strike a deal with a Web site, let’s say Amazon, it could provide a faster connection to Amazon that would not be available to your neighbor’s DSL. In the same turn, your cable could slow your connection to eBay to a crawl
Shawn Hanrahan because your cable didn’t get a paycheck from eBay, or because the customer didn’t pay for the privilege of viewing that portion of the internet. The result creates an imbalance in the great equalizer of the internet. Small companies would not be able to compete, and larger corporations would be able to muscle in what you can view by making it unbearably slow to view their competitor. In addition, if your cable or DSL didn’t like a Web site dedicated to how poorly that company treats its customers, you might simply
find it difficult to make a consistent connection bureaucratic shuffling in and out of committees. to the site. President Barack Obama’s ease with the Internet This is currently legal, but economically during the election and his campaign promises unpalatable to a majority of consumers. Whisimply we might see results, but they have yet to pers of testing a beta tier system has resulted in materialize. The FCC under Obama announced ranting and complaining from the Internet. Even in September that it will formalize rules for net so, certain parts of most consumer’s connections neutrality, but a law clarifying net neutrality are being manipulated. Most ISPs block the port would allow a much stronger control of keepthat allows you to host a Web site unless you ing the Internet free speech and entrepreneur pay an additional amount for the same connecfriendly. Republicans, including Texas Sen. Kay tion. The port allowing you to host a mail server Bailey Hutchison, have attempted to derail the is also blocked. Recently, people have noticed FCC’s attempt by tying up the money to fund packets associated with torrents and the bill. file sharing clients suddenly get very If things go well, Internet acThe government slow on the fast connection. While cess will come under the title of a needs to debatably some copyrighted matecommunication device, allowing ensure Internet rial (movies, music) is transferred for stricter regulation to ensure providers do using torrents, the act of using a neutrality of connections. If not, it torrent is not a crime and there are will probably be stalled again by a not restrict some legitimate uses to torrent and government incapable of moderninformation. file sharing. Nevertheless, corporaizing itself while the rest of the world tions have manipulated their customers’ speeds past it. We should celebrate the connection to block torrents. Comcast did freedom granted by the Internet when the this in 2008. We might know of more cases, but, government decides to defend it. again, the laws regulating the ISPs are outdated. So far, five separate bills in Congress have Shawn Hanrahan is a graduate student failed to make it through. Each would have in entomology and is special to The Battalion. provided or enhanced the position of net neutrality. Most have been quietly killed off with
Ending the interim
T
hursday, R. Bowen Loftin became the sole finalist in the decision for president of Texas A&M. He awaits a 21-day grace period, in which the board will conclude in examining him and how the students feel about him. Following two previous historic presidents and facing a huge future financial crunch, Loftin may have a tough road ahead of him, but it is nothing he can’t handle. While serving as interim president, Loftin prepped the University for financial constraints by instituting teams and budgeting concepts in order to save students as much money for future tuition cost as possible. Now that Loftin is in office, I have full faith A&M will rise among the ranks of prestige and cease to stop, just as he did in helping A&M Galveston in terms of financing, budgeting and leadership during Hurricane Ike. He has many goals for A&M, mainly continuing on Vision 2020. However, Loftin called this a longrange goal, aligned by other goals. “We may look at it and find things to make better,” Loftin said. “But right now I see nothing that needs to be changed, it’s how we get there
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president, and I think it’s essential that students see and meet the new representative of Texas A&M. I stressed concern to him about a few things, such as some constructing sites on campus, building codes and, of course, financial constraints; and Cole Allen how a week ago, Gov. Rick Perry passed a bill requiring universities to that I’m concerned with.” submit to the state how they are goLoftin said he will work to achieve ing to reduce education expenditures his goals through “strategic and tactiby 5 percent, which is $28 million at cal evaluation, on a high level.” Texas A&M. Essentially, Loftin wants A&M to Loftin said he is doing everything be “excellent in everything we do.” he can in order to reduce expenWhile that statement is pretty broad, ditures, as well as prepare for next he helped clarify by stating his year. Loftin has been meeting proposal for two new with many student groups and institutes; a neuroscience Texas A&M people to discuss how to college, to help with handle these situations. It needs Loftin, Alzheimer’s disease is respectable he is taking a personable and pain, and a Texas time to talk to students president Institute for Advanced about this. willing to listen Students, so scholars However, as Loftin to students. can come help and netis a Rice graduate and a work with a broad range nationally recognized leader of students. in his field of study, physics and I asked a few people what they modules; I have no doubt that he will thought when they heard the news make the best decisions of how to about our new possible president, and handle future problems. I got many, “Is that the guy with the Loftin has his eyes, heart and bow tie?” or, “I know nothing about bow tie set on making A&M a top what’s going on with that.” university in the world, and I have no I encourage everyone to either doubt that after 21 days, should he be friend Loftin on Facebook or try awarded presidency, he will do everyand meet him. You can find him at thing he possibly can to help achieve Sbisa, or walking around campus on such high goals. pretty days. “Talking to former and current Cole Allen is a senior political students is always fun,” Loftin said. science major. Loftin is a very personable
EDITORIAL
Lofty agenda for man worthy of presidency to the student body. However, this We know R. Bowen Loftin is a critical time for Texas A&M, for his bow ties and mass e-mails. and it will be imperative that Loftin We know he was CEO of A&M arise to University and system chalGalveston when Hurricane Ike lenges to ensure this campus does pounded the island. We know he not slip into mediocrity. We have took the reins of the A&M system faith in him though, because we flagship campus in June. But have heard the praises from more importantly, Loftin campus administrators knows Aggieland. We A&M’s own in Galveston as well have a saying here at Loftin will lead the as others who know A&M: “From the university him. Heber Taylor, outside looking in, boldly into the editor at The you can’t understand the future. Galveston County Daily it. From the inside News, said, “People trust looking out, you can’t him because he behaves in a explain it.” Thus, Loftin, who is A&M Class of 1970, knows way that’s worthy of that trust. If you get to know him well, you’ll what being an A&M student find out that, while he’s interested means. He took classes here. He in the University, he’s also interestate at Duncan, and as interim ed in the larger community.” The president he maintained that connection to the students, and still ate community here bleeds maroon. there occasionally. In Loftin’s seven And if a man wearing A&M bow ties doesn’t bleed maroon, then months as interim president, he proved to campus his commitment who does?
EDITORIALBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having final responsibility. Editor in Chief Amanda Casanova editor@thebatt.com
Managing Editor Jill Beathard battcopy@thebatt.com
Opinion Editor Ian McPhail opinion@thebatt.com
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news
page 8 monday 1.25.2010
Greek Continued from page 1
Ann Goodman is the department director of Greek Life at A&M. Goodman will help lead the seminar along with several other staff members in the department of Greek Life. Dates for the seminar begin on Jan. 26 and continue through Jan. 29. The final day will be Feb. 3. “I’m optimistic about how well it will go this year,” said sophomore agribusiness major David Volleman, president of Alpha Gamma Rho. Volleman was not present at the seminar last year, but hopes to obtain a great amount of information that will help his fraternity be successful this semester. This seminar is especially impor-
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Germany. “I loved my study abroad experience. I had the chance to go to so many places and learn new things,” Kilsby said. “Studying abroad really helps you get out of your comfort zone and lose your stereotypes.” Aggies looking to get their own study abroad experience have many tools available through the Study Abroad Program Office, starting with the annual spring fair. The year, the SAPO Spring Fair 2010 will be at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 in Koldus 110 and 111. Students will have the chance to get information on international opportunities and funding options, visit with Aggies who have studied abroad, apply for a passport and talk to professors going abroad. “The study abroad fair helped me a lot. It expanded my options,” Kilsby said. “Texas A&M has a multitude of opportunities out there that students need to be aware of.” Another advantage of studying abroad is the marketability and competitive edge it gives to graduates seeking jobs. “What’s important for A&M students to realize, even if they want to stay in Texas for the rest of their lives, is that Texas is part of the global economy,” said Jane Flaherty, director of Study Abroad Programs. Texas is one of the leading states in exports in the country, with 91.3 percent of the exporting companies classified as small or medium businesses. “[Graduates] may be thrust into the situation where they will be a part of the global community so it’s important to understand how other countries work. The best way to do that is get
thebattalion
tant to Volleman – newly elected president of Alpha Gamma Rho — in increasing his leadership skills and helping form a clear vision on the direction of where he would like his fraternity’s stance to be at the end of the semester, and for future years. The importance of maintaining recognition for a fraternity or sorority allows them to benefit from numerous things, including selection of their own members, participation as a unit on campus group activities, request funding and participation in self-governing activities. However, this seminar will also help students remain aware of the responsibilities they have as an organization. Students need to be mindful of grades, rules and regulations that could cause them to lose their recognition and could possibly bring an end to the organization.
out of Texas and go to these other countries,” Flaherty said. One myth many students have about studying abroad is their lack of ability to fund it, in reality there are many opportunities available that students may not have even considered, said study abroad advisor Irene Scott. “Students can make studying abroad happen if they just plan ahead,” Scott said. Financial support is available from financial aid packages such as Federal Pell Grants and ROTC tuition and fellowships, the Texas Tomorrow Fund, Honors program stipends, Texas A&M scholarships, national scholarships, and company donations and sponsorships. “It’s collaborative work; talk to your parents, look for scholarships. Think outside the box when looking,” Scott said. “Think about sponsorships. It’s an opportunity for students to be more proactive by talking to businesses to get donations toward their study abroad experience. Research your department, major, things you are interested or involved in. Don’t just rely on one source.” To find out options, students can attend an hour-long financial session featuring representatives from the Study Abroad Programs Office and Scholarships and Financial Aid. Advisers from both offices will be present at the “Show Me the Money” seminar at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Rudder 404. “The bulk of the program is dialogue, taking question from the audience,” Scott said. Common questions answered at these meetings include the financial aid process, FAFSA information, paperwork necessities, deadlines, prepaid tuition and national scholarship opportunities, Scott said. Scott encouraged all students to come, even if they are just starting the process. “Studying abroad is priceless,” Scott said. “The benefits that you are going to get from it are infinite.”
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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