thebattalion
this day in
rld wohistory
Feb. 2, 1887
● tuesday,
The Ground Hog Day tradition dates back to 1887, and though the origins are unclear, it is said to have originated from ancient European weather lore in which a badger or sacred bear predicts the weather, rather than a groundhog.
february 2, 2010
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media
thebatt.com
Golf preview Aggie men’s golf is playing in the Arizona invitational this week. Full story online.
coming wednesday
Inside the mind of a terrorist What is it exactly that turns a person’s moral compass from regular citizen to suicide and mass murder?
trends | 3
b! Switchfoot review The band’s newest album, “Hello Hurricane,” brings their album count up to 7,000. How does this new one fare against the rest?
sports | 6
Golfing legend to be Freshman business major Cameron Peck is A&M’s newest golf prodigy.
voices | 9
Bigfoot mania Finally the legends all come down to this: who is Bigfoot, is he real and why do people keep saying they have seen him?
Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
Sign located in College Station near Post Oak Mall on Harvey Road warns residents about the safety measures that should be taken.
Tactical measures A&M students experience vehicular break-ins Samantha Johnson The Battalion The Insurance Council of Texas has become the most recent partner with the College Station Police Department in a program hoping to prevent auto thefts and burglaries. The program places signs that read “LOCK your car, TAKE your keys and HIDE your belongings” in areas where cars are vulnerable to break-ins. “It started out for us in November, and we had some private companies that donated funds for 25 signs at the mall and other locations,” said Lt. Rodney Sigler of the College Station Police Department. The department hopes 100 signs the council
donated, along with the original 25, will help spread the message and raise awareness of the need to protect belongings. “If you do these three things, then it makes there be less of a chance of you being a victim,” Sigler said. Senior university studies major Natalie Bodner was the victim of a car burglary, but because she followed safety rules about what she left in her car, she was able to avoid having anything valuable stolen. “I know it wasn’t smart, but left my car at the Hall overnight so I could drive some of my friends safely home,” Bodner said. “When I returned to get my car the next day, there was a note in the seat from a See Car on page 8
By the numbers 79% of Americans always lock their vehicles. 93% never leave spare keys in their vehicle. 1/3 admit they left their car while it was running. 47% don’t park in a well-lit area. 40% don’t hide their valuables. 1/4 have left a purse or wallet inside 1/2 leave mail 1/3 leave bank statements
Latin organizations raise funds for Haiti Groups collect more than $3,000 Blanca Guerrero The Battalion What do eight Hispanic organizations, the American Red Cross club at Texas A&M and a guitar have in common? The willingness to help their Haitian brethren. So if you found yourself getting sung at last week while walking in front of Koldus, know it was for a
Sept. 20, 1988 – Nov. 26, 2009 Peter Luna
good cause. Upon hearing news reports over disaster areas in the world, many are quick to jump to their feet and bring aid to their neighbors. After the magnitude 7 earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, Pablo Garcia president of the Colombian Student Association was moved to take action. He came up with the idea to collaborate with the presidents of eight Hispanic organizations includ-
ing Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the American Red Cross club at Texas A&M, to collect monetary donations. With the help of Gen. Joseph Weber, vice president for student affairs, Garcia was able to obtain a permit in one day, something that usually takes three to four days. The next step was to get the word out — with a Facebook page. Paola Ochoa, president of Mexican Student Association was the creator of the page along
June 12, 1989 – Nov. 29, 2009 Lauren Nicole Baker
Dec. 11, 1985 – Dec. 9, 2009 Daniel Allan Resnick
Inspirational challenges
Dancing for the heart and soul
Showing care for all creatures
Travis Lawson
Katy Ralston
Luz Moreno-Lozano
The Battalion Peter Luna always strived to be the best he could be, even after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in April 2008. Luna was a freshman general studies major at Texas A&M before he died with cancer comLuna plications on Thanksgiving Day in 2009. “Peter was admired even before his battle with cancer,” said Luna’s friend Taylor Groveton. “Many patients give up early in the battle, but Peter pushed harder each day and was determined to beat it.” Luna was born on Sept. 20, 1988, in Mexia, Texas, to his parents Rosario and Margarita Luna. Luna is described by his loved ones as a
The Battalion Lauren Nicole Baker danced her way into the hearts and minds of the many people around her. When she died Nov. 29, she left the world with one less dancer, daughter and friend. “Lauren was a gift from God, Baker an angel here on earth. She was a blessing in my life and in the lives of countless others, and she continuously inspired others to become better individuals,” said roommate and close friend Sarah Griggs. “Lauren will forever live in the hearts of all those whose lives she touched.” Born June 12, 1989, the 20-year-old junior early education major, was killed coming back from Thanksgiving break when her car swerved
The Battalion Daniel Allan Resnick, a senior biomedical science major on his way to the College of Veterinary Medicine’s class of 2014, died Dec. 9 of an allergic reaction to anesthesia, a rare condition that not even his doctors had seen. He Resnick died three days before his 24th birthday and veterinary school interview. He was born on Dec. 11, 1985, to Holly and Steven Resnick. “He was a very bright and amazing person who had an uplifting and unique perspective on life,” said Sarah Kline, Daniel’s fiancé. At 14 he began working for Dr. Scott Grant and the New Concept Veterinarian Clinic in League City. His most immediate goal was to get
See Luna on page 5
See Baker on page 5
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See Latin on page 8
Silver Taps The event will be in front of the Academic Building at 10:30 p.m. In order to reserve the integrity of the tradition all lights must be out and noise kept to a minimum. The Silver Taps tradition dates back to 1898 and is one of the oldest and most respected of the A&M traditions. For more information on Silver Taps and its history visit: http:// studentaffairs.tamu.
See Resnick on page 5
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