thebattalion
this day in
U.S.
history Jan. 29, 1919 The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Prohibition Amendment) was ratified. For nearly 14 years, until Dec. 5, 1933, the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages was illegal in the United States. The Amendment had the unexpected result of causing enormous growth of organized crime which provided bootleg liquor to thirsty Americans.
● friday,
january 29, 2010
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media
A&M tuition costs may rise What you can do
Texas puts pressure on schools to meet budgets Robert Carpenter The Battalion President-elect Loftin sought feedback regarding tuition and fee increases in an open forum Thursday. Loftin said the forum was held largely because the University is facing a multimillion dollar deficit for the next fiscal year’s budget. “[The University has] a 17.1 million shortfall to deal with, and we are looking to try to offset some of that by increasing tuition,” Loftin said.
Previously, Mike McKinney, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, set a ceiling on year-to-year tuition increases at 4 percent. Loftin said that this restriction prohibits tuition increases from matching the shortfall on their own. “A 1 percent increase in tuition yields $1.3 million for the University. [So] 4 percent will not get us anywhere close to offsetting, by tuition alone, our revenue shortfall,” Loftin said. During the forum, four possible tuition increases ranging from 0 to 3.95 percent were
announced. Students will also shoulder a 2.15 percent increase in mandatory fees starting in the fall. In total, student costs will increase between $30 and $105 per semester, depending on the size of the tuition increase. Braden Deckard, a senior mechanical engineering major, voiced concerns over the impact of increased costs on students’ families. “Why is there no concern for salary cuts coming from the top?” Deckard said. “With
Loftin encouraged students to e-mail suggestions and concerns to him at president@ tamu.edu, and to address the Board of Regents when they vote on the increase in May.
See Tuition on page 4
More cold days to come
thebatt.com
Swim meet preview The up coming swim meet at SMU proves to be a yearly opponent, not to mention long-standing rivalry, for the A&M team. Find out all about it online.
Ann Littmann The Battalion Ready to pack away your Snuggies and winter clothes after this abnormally cold winter? Well, you’d better have jackets and scarves at the ready because Department of Atmospheric Sciences research associate Brent McRoberts said he thinks we are in for more cold and rain for the next few months. Texas is experiencing the lowest temperatures in decades due to a culmination of several factors, McRoberts said. “Normally, the cold air moderates some as it moves south, but this one originated from polar latitudes with the temperature in northern Canada now minus degrees and lower,” McRoberts said. However, this cold snap differs from last year’s short-lived freeze warning.
coming monday
Rebuilding history Texas A&M’s Nautical Archaeology department is reconstructing the past between Texas and Oklahoma one dive at a time.
b!
See Cold weather on page 5
trends
Fairy tales come to life MSC OPAS’ “A Cinderella Story” is certain to not be the same tale heard back in the toddler days. Let’s just say, happily ever after has an alternate ending.
Photo illustration by Nicholas Badger — THE BATTALION
sports
Recaps of sports galore Men’s and women’s basketball, swimming, track and field and tennis recaps to appear on Monday. Every sports update you want, and more.
voices
Terrorist psyche What mental challenges must a person one confront, and then defeat, in order to become a terrorist? Must they change their morals, their beliefs or maybe even their hairstyle?
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Courtesy photos
Dr. Tom Rivers performed several surgeries for Haiti earthquake victims in the aftermath of the devastation.
Overcoming the overwhelming A&M graduate uses skills to aid Haiti victims Brandi Tevebaugh The Battalion Dr. Tom Rivers, class of 1992, called his mother Jan. 16 to tell her that in a couple of hours he would know if he would be leaving for Haiti the next day. Within the next few hours, he knew. The next day Rivers joined The Greene Team and was on his way to the Dominican Republic, just five days after the magnitude 7 earthquake devastated the area. The opportunity was presented to Rivers through one of his partners, Dr. Michael Kent, at the Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic.
“Dr. Kent got a phone call from Dr. Greene and invited Dr. Rivers to go with him. Within 24 hours, they left,” said Cheryl Howard, an employee of Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic. The Greene Team, headed by Dr. Craig Greene of Louisiana, initially consisted of four doctors, but the project has since grown. The third team of doctors is in the Dominican Republic, and the first two teams, including Rivers’ team, have returned home. “I think he just felt like he could give See Haiti Doctor on page 5
Man held at gunpoint A man was robbed at gunpoint Thursday, while waiting at a bus stop in College Station. The suspect took the victim’s money and jewelry, but left the victim uninjured. The incident occurred at the intersection of Dominik and Merry Oaks drives. The suspect escaped on foot in the direction of Texas Avenue. College Station police said the suspect remains at large. “It makes me concerned for the welfare of people who ride the bus,” said Eric Kuusisto, a junior civil engineering major. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20’s, of medium build, about 5 feet, 4 inches. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans. Any additional sightings should be reported to the police at (979) 764-3600. Rebecca Bennett, staff writer
1/28/10 9:24 PM