this day in
thebattalion
US
history Feb. 4, 1861 Apache Chief Chochise was arrested in Arizona by the U.S. Army for raiding a ranch. Chochise then escaped and declared war, beginning the period known as the Apache Wars, which lasted 25 years.
thebatt.com
Sports podcasts debut The Noble men of Kyle and Red Ass Radio discuss Aggie sports happenings in-depth and talk about major events in the rest of the sports world.
● thursday,
february 4, 2010
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media
Aggies land solid class
“I think people believe ‘it will never happen to me.’ I am proof that they are wrong.”
■ Despite losing two big recruits on signing day, Rivals still ranks A&M in top 15
- Mark Sterner Campuspeak official
Brad Cox
The Battalion A quartet of offensive linemen headlined Texas A&M’s 23-man 2010 football signing class Wednesday. The group of Texas natives includes Luke Joeckel of Arlington, Shep Klinke of Katy, Jake Matthews of Missouri City and Cedric Ogbuehi of Allen. A&M Head Coach Mike Sherman said some of the linemen would play immediately. Joeckel and his twin brother Matt, a three-star quarterback who signed with Luke, graduated early to start A&M classes in January and will participate in spring practice and the annual Maroon and White game. “[Luke] is very smart. He’s a very athletic guy,” Sherman
coming friday Brain damage
A column looking at the major ongoing problem of brain damage in the sport of football, its potential effects on the sport and some possible solutions to help alleviate the issue.
See Signing on page 2
inside
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trends | 3
Movie review “Lovely Bones” loses the “lovely” but retains some intriguing qualities in the film adaptation of the novel.
voices | 7
21 and up Lowering the drinking age may be popular with students, but the statistics prove the lower drinking age saves countless lives. Keeping the status quo keeps students safe.
Alcohol abuse wrecks lives Story by Brandi Tevebaugh
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Photos by Nicholas Badger
ort Kothmann, class of 1961 and Texas A&M ecosystem science and management professor, rides his bicycle to campus regularly, pumping the pedals with feet he’s lucky to have. He’s lucky to walk. He’s lucky to be alive.
sports | 5
Mauled Mizzou The Aggie men’s basketball team traveled to Columbia, MO, and defeated the Tigers. Road wins are hard to come by in the Big 12, find out how the team did it inside.
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The Battalion
“I didn’t expect to survive,” Kothmann said. “I told God he was going to have to explain that, if I lived.” In July 1997, Kothmann, his wife Kathy, his mother-in-law and four of his grandchildren were on their way home from a family reunion in Arkansas when they were hit by a drunk driver about four miles outside of Buffalo, Texas. “When I topped the little See Alcohol abuse on page 8
Editor’s Note “Alcohol abuse wrecks lives” is the first of a three-part series in which The Battalion examines the consequences of and recovery from inappropriate consumption of alcohol.
“... every day for over a year, I did something I could not do the day before.” - Mort Kothmann A&M professor and class of ‘61
WAVERING: An open letter to Oklahoma recruit Corey Nelson who decided to jilt A&M after months of being “committed.” sports| 5
Looking through time ■ New exhibit is a pictoral view of AfricanAmerican political progress Ann Littman
The Battalion In conjunction with the national and campuswide celebration of Black History Month, the Memorial Student Center Visual Arts Committee is presenting a new exhibit: “Walking with Presidents.” This exhibit documents the history of African-American political leaders through images collected from the different presidential libraries. The growing African-American presence and influence on the American presidencies is shown in black and white photographs ranging from the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush. “African-Americans have played such a crucial role in the See Exhibit on page 8
Fish Council presents annual Fish Fest Katy Ralson
The Battalion For freshmen Aggies, tonight promises to be a time of games, food and fun at the annual freshman class event Fish Fest. The class of 2013 Fish Fest will be from 7-10 p.m. at the Zone at Kyle Field. Started in 2005, Fish Fest is the first class event for the freshmen, meant to unify the newest class of Aggies on campus. The theme for this year’s Fish Fest is Fightin’ Texas Aggie Ninja Fest, a throwback to the 1990s hit TV show “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Fish Fest co-directors Bradley Matthews
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and Kayla Lawrence said the theme was chosen by Fish Council as a tribute to the 1990s, the decade in which most of the freshman class was born. “[Fish Fest] is getting you all ready and pumped up for all the bigger events that happen like Pull Out day and E-Walk,” said Matthews, a freshman business major. At Fish Fest, free is the name of the game. Free food, free games, free prizes, free face painting, free entertainment and even free makeovers will be offered. Keeping with the 90s theme, the contests include a bean bag toss, double-dutch jump roping and hopscotch with plenty of
classic 90s games on hand such as Skip-its. Gumby’s and Slovacek’s sausage will be providing free food and drinks for the class of 2013. Attendees can expect more than free food and games at the event, however. Other forms of entertainment scheduled include performances by the Aggie Wranglers, Apotheosis and Fade to Black. The band Kimberly Sue Garcia and the Southern Selects will bring back some of the classic 90s tunes, and the Aggie yell See Fish Fest on page 4
File Photo — THE BATTALION
Sophomore construction science major Nathan Hill and junior international studies major Winston Manley race in the Bungee Run at Fish Fest 2008, at The Zone at Kyle Field.
2/3/10 10:35 PM