The Battalion: February 22, 2010

thebattalionasks

Q:

What do you think about doctors using robots during surgery?

Tate Pharis junior biomedical sciences major

thebattalion ● monday,

february 22, 2010

Demi Peters sophomore biology major

texas a&m since 1893

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Campaigns face regulations Commission sets new rules for student elections Melissa Appel

“If it’s safer, then use them, if they can get into smaller places, then great, if used by physicians, then they are another useful set of tools.”

● serving

The Battalion The Texas A&M Election Commission has initiated changes to student body campaigns to make the process smoother, more efficient and more cohesive for students says Election Commissioner Jacob Lopez.

Lopez wanted to improve the methods for studentwide elections, which includes the offices of student body president, senior and junior yell leaders, class presidents, senators, class agents and Residence Hall Association officers.

“Elections at Texas A&M have

some of the highest voter turnout in the entire country,” said Lopez, a senior political science major. “However, after serving on three student body president campaigns, I noticed that there are some problems with the system that needed to be addressed, which is one of the reasons why I applied for election commissioner in the first place.”

Lopez discussed the election process in the fall and proposed changes and improvements for future elections. Problems included a lengthy campaign timeline, a difficult turnaround for transitions into positions

and an expensive and inconvenient practice of off-campus campaigning.

From these comments submitted by students across campus, the Election Commission drafted a set of regulations to be enacted in the spring 2010 elections.

The most prominent change was the timeline of candidate filing, campaigning and voting. Previously, the process from candidate filing until election results lasted nine weeks.

The progression has been shortened to six weeks and moved to be completed before spring break.

Campuswide campaigning begins

Wednesday. Candidates will be allowed to visit campus organizations on today and Tuesday.

“With last year’s campaigns beginning after spring break, you had a few vacation days to really prepare beforehand, and sort of ease into campaigning like you would ease back into a school routine after vacation,” said senior meteorology major Rita Matos, who helped with the 5 for Yell campaign in 2009. “But at the same time, campaigning came at a time when classes were reaching their tough points, and there was a little See Elections on page 6

“Fantastic: if they have been adequately trained and have been previously tested, like on animals.”

Chris Costanzo junior chemistry major

“I don’t mind it because they could help with precision, but it would make it more impersonal, losing touch with humanity, similar to self check-out store scanners.”

Frances Shelby sophomore general studies major

Jonny Green — THE BATTALION

Dr. Ronald Kuppersmith of College Station Medical Center is trained to perform surgeries through a robot’s hands.

“It’s a bad idea because the robots could freak out and malfunction.”

Jared Byers junior petroleum engineering major

“I assume it is important what they can do, in comparison to a hand.

If monitored by doctors in China through Internet, with a single robotic machine doing the work, I would hope that the Internet would not go out during the surgery.”

Robots turn doctor New technologies make science fiction reality Katy Ralston The Battalion In the past decade, the robotic craze has swept the nation with innovations robotizing anything from children’s toys to household cleaning devices. Now, College Station Medical Center’s Dr. Ronald Kuppersmith is riding the wave of the future, robotizing the way his patients receive surgical care.

Recognized by Intuitive Surgical, Incorp. as the first “robotic surgeon” in North America, Kuppersmith has been one of only a few doctors to perform robot-assisted thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Standard surgical removal of the glands re-

quired an incision at the base of the neck, leaving a horizontal scar up to four inches. However, robot-assisted thyroid surgery makes it possible to remotely access the thyroid gland from a small incision in the under arm, making the procedure seem almost scarless.

“People are looking for ways that are less invasive and cause less deformity and scarring.

That is something that is really attractive to patients,” Kuppersmith said.

He said anytime one is operating on the neck, a big consideration is where the incision is made and how it is placed so it is not noticeable when it heals.

In addition to the less invasive appearance,

robotic thyroid surgery provides the surgeon with a more magnified view and more precision with the instruments than standard open surgery.

The surgical robot system has three components. The first part is the patient cart — a machine with four robotic arms. At the end of each arm is an instrument used for the surgery.

The second part of the robotic system is the processing tower that takes data captured from a camera attached to one of the robotic arms. The robot system’s special camera is the basis for the better magnified view provided to the surgeon.

Dodging collects funds for Haiti Michael Guymon sophomore mechanical engineering major

“Good. Obviously if it were necessary in saving my life, especially if they are better than what a doctor can do.”

Blanca Guerrero and Sam Smith — THE BATTALION

Pg. 1-02.22.10.indd 1

■ Dodgeball tournament raises money for earthquake victims and awareness of cultural differences “We are all Aggies, even though we all have different interests; music, art, education.

Everyone wants to be part of the Aggie Spirit.”

- Michelle Wong, president of the Asian Presidents Council

Blanca Guerrero The Battalion The “12 Days of Haiti” dodgeball tournament raised more than $300 Friday at G. Rollie White.

Twelve teams turned out for the event, and all proceeds are going toward the Haiti relief fund.

Several teams were present, representing organizations and residence halls, as well as groups of friends who just wanted to have fun. Names such as the “Black Angels” and “Blue Ballers” were heard yelled throughout the night from the cheering sidelines.

“I’m really proud of my team, had so much fun, and I’m looking forward to next year; it was a great cause for Haiti, and in the words of Mike Sher-

man, ‘we just wanted to play a fair game,’” said Cole Chisholm, freshman business administration major and captain of the winning team the “Blue Ballers.”

Michelle Wong, senior management major and president of the Asian Presidents Council, said the event was set up so everyone could have fun.

“It was a success no matter how many teams were present, it’s all for a good cause, and we all had fun participating and watching,” Wong said.

As part of 12 Days for Haiti, the Asian Presidents Council organized Dodging for Haiti with the help of the Hispanic Presidents Council and Aggies United.

Wong thought it would be a good idea to have a dodgeball tournament for fun, but when she became aware the “12 Days of Haiti” were See Dodgeball on page 2

See Robots on page 6

VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPICS medal count COUNTRY USA GER NOR CAN KOR AUS FRA SUI RUS SWE CHN NED POL ITA SLO CZE JPN AUS LAT BLR CRO SLO GBR EST FIN KAZ

G 7 5 5 4 4 2 2 5 2 3 3 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

S 7 6 3 4 4 3 2 0 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 1

B 1 5 4 1 1 3 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

TOT 24 16 12 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

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The registration deadline is today for a presidential conference Texas A&M University is hosting March 4-7 in downtown Bryan, in which scholars from across the country will gather to discuss “Rhetoric, Politics and the Obama Phenomenon.”

A workshop for graduate students who are interested in the Graduate Studies Multimedia Competition, with a top scholarship prize of $3,000, will be at 3:30-5 p.m.

Thursday in Evans Library.

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Tuesday 70% chance of rain and 30% chance of snow high: 39 low: 31 Wednesday sunny high: 50 low: 32 Thursday mostly sunny, showers at night high: 58 low: 41

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Fish drill team wins national championship

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Texas A&M’s fish drill team won the national competition at Tulane University in New Orleans on Feb. 12. Due to a discrepancy of tallied scores by the judges, the drill team from Norwich University was first declared the winner for the second year in a row, which ruined A&M’s previous five year streak.

“During the ceremony at the competition we only medaled in one event, which was in the inspection category, which came as a surprise,” said Tyler Hopping,

sophomore general studies major and adviser to the fish drill team. On Thursday the fish drill team was informed of the discrepancy and was awarded a total of four medals in inspection, regulation, squad and color guard, Hopping said. The morning of the competition, an inclement weather card had been issued, forcing the freshman drill team to compete with rival junior and senior teams, Hopping said.

Rookie of the year

Blanca Guerrero, staff writer

Train kills 3 teen girls crossing Florida bridge Week 6

The week of February 21 - February 25

Acct 229

Test Review Mon Feb 22 6pm-10pm

Chem 102

Test Review 1 Wed Feb 24 10pm-1am

Test Review 2 Thu Feb 25 10pm-1am

Math 251

Test Review 2 Wed Feb 24 7pm-10pm

Test Review 3 Thu Feb 25 7pm-10pm

MELBOURNE, Fla. — After goofing around downtown, four teenagers marched past a “no trespassing” sign and braved a railroad trestle that spans 200 feet over a creek. As they joked around and took pictures at the bridge’s halfway point, an oncoming train barreled down the tracks, its whistle howling alarm.

Onlookers yelled for the teens to run or jump into the slow-moving water 20 feet below, but only a young boy could sprint to safety. The three others, all girls, were killed Saturday as the sun set over Crane Creek, police and witnesses said.

Associated Press

Test Review 3 Sun Feb 28 6pm-9pm Jeramie Heflin — THE BATTALION

Max Childress, 7, cheers during Friday’s baseball game at Olsen Field. Childress is the son of baseball Head Coach Rob Childress, and is a batboy for the Texas A&M men’s home games.

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Jonny Green — THE BATTALION

Teams Hello Panda and SEC play a game of dodgeball Friday in the Read Building during the Dodging for Haiti tournament. The tournament featured 12 teams, and proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross and UNICEF.

Dodgeball Continued from page 1

going on, she decided to strive for a greater cause.

“I am very happy that all students from across campus can come together for Haiti,” Wong said. “We are all Aggies, even though we all have different interests; music, art, education. Everyone wants to be part of the Aggie Spirit.”.

The council’s main goal is to spread cultural awareness regarding the Asian community at A&M and serves as the umbrella organization for all Asian groups on campus. However, when hearing about the “12 Days of Haiti,” the organization took on a new direction.

“We want to ask people to have more awareness for everything going on in Haiti.

There is still more to do for Haiti. Aggies are extremely philanthropic, and everyone on campus puts a little bit into it,” said Matt Zheng, senior biomedical science major and webmaster for Asian Presidents Council.

Participating teams were charged $30 per entry. Aside from the money charged for participation, a donation box was set up at the registration table, which gave spectators a chance to donate as well, without having to take a hit from a dodgeball.

First, second and third place teams were awarded metals donated by C.C. Creations after battling it out in double elimination rounds throughout the event.

ATF charges 2 suspects in 5 Texas church fires TYLER, Texas — Federal authorities say they have charged two suspects in a series of church fires in Texas.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesman Tom Crowley says 19-year-old Jason Robert Bourque and 21-year-old Daniel George McAllister have been charged Sunday with five counts of felony arson in connection with fires at churches in Smith County, east Texas. Two arrests were made early Sunday in a series of east Texas church fires that authorities believe were intentionally set, a fire official said. Authorities believe nine east Texas church fires have been deliberately set since Jan. 1. Officials say a 10th fire, about 120 miles south of Dallas in Temple, also was arson.

Associated Press

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.

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2/21/10 9:11 PM

sports

At thebatt.com Recaps for golf and men’s basketball.

thebattalion 2.22.2010 page3

A&M softball sweeps Aggie Classic Courtney Nelson The Battalion The Aggies had the annual Aggie Classic over the weekend, when they welcomed Mississippi State, Oregon State and Louisiana-Monroe.

“We came here expecting to win our tournament,” Head Coach Jo Evans said, “We knew we needed to play well to do it, and we did that. We got great innings from our pitchers, and our hitters were really aggressive.”

The Aggies have been on a hot streak since their season opener against Wisconsin, with a record of 5-1, their only loss to No. 5 Arizona State.

“We really wanted to use this tournament with Pac-10 teams as good preparation for the future and games against conference teams,” Evans said.

The Aggies run-ruled Mississippi State 9-0 in their first game of the Aggie Classic on Friday to set the tone for the rest of the tournament. A&M scored quickly in a first inning filled with walks and errors for Mississippi State.

Those runs would prove to be enough to clinch the game, but they settled down and extended their lead for a more decisive win. Rhi Kliesing dominated in the circle for the Aggies, throwing seven strikeouts her first shutout of the season.

Next up, the Aggies faced the Oregon State Beavers, as they picked up their second win of the tournament. A&M started strong as they put up three runs in the first inning. Despite a two-run homer by Beavers outfielder Mary Claire Brenner in the third, the Aggies held on to win 6-4.

Sophomore Rebecca Arbino led the team with a solid pitching performance, giving up four earned runs and striking out five in

Jeramie Heflin — THE BATTALION

Pitcher Rebecca Arbino winds up at the Aggie Classic. seven innings of work.

For the second time in the tournament, A&M took care of Mississippi State in commanding fashion, defeating the Bulldogs 13-4

in five innings.

In A&M’s half of the first inning, Kelsey Spittler, Meagan May and Kliesing all hit home runs. Kliesing, who pitched the game, hit her second of the day in the third inning.

It would prove to be a good day at the plate for freshman Mel Dumezich, as she started off the fourth inning with a homer to set up an explosive fourth inning for the Aggies. They scored eight runs in the inning, including another long ball from Dumezich.

During the second game of the day, A&M faced the University of Louisiana-Monroe as Arbino shut them out, allowing only one hit in the game. The Aggies would come up with the win, 6-0.

May swung for her fifth home run of the season in the top of the first to put the Aggies up early. The Warhawks could not get anything out of the infield, and when they made contact it was an easy play for the Aggies.

Dumezich hit her third homer of the day in the second, followed by freshman Sydney Shannon, who put on a show of her own with a long ball.

Arbino’s effort in the field was as important as her pitching, as she played solid defensively to hold the Warhawks.

In Sunday’s final game, Louisiana-Monroe put up a fight, but fell short to the Aggies who finished undefeated in the tournament, 9-4.

Kliesing started in the circle for the Aggies and pitched four innings, giving up four runs. Her effort was enough to give her the win to give her a 6-0 record. Arbino came in for her first save of the season.

The bats were strong again, with Klieising, Spittler, Alex Reynolds and Shannon each contributing multiple RBI’s.

With their undefeated weekend, the No. 21 Aggies boast a 10-1 record overall, including a 5-0 record at home.

Aggie women hook Lady Horns at Reed Michael Teague The Battalion In the first of two important matchups against in-state rivals, Texas A&M’s No. 15 women’s basketball team took care of business Saturday with a 64-58 win over No. 12 Texas.

The Aggies (19-6, 7-5) have won three straight and have pulled to within a game and a half behind second place Oklahoma in the Big 12 standings.

“It’s just a matter of us finally waking up and realizing that its getting near the end and its crunch time right

now,” said A&M sophomore Sydney Carter. “If we want to make it in the NCAA and the Big 12 Tournament, we just need to get it together now and not wait until it’s too late. I definitely think that we’re playing as a team and even though we’re down we’re not letting ourselves get down.”

Earlier this season, A&M used a high-flying attack to dominate Texas in a 91-70 win in Austin. In stark contrast, Saturday’s victory came through a defensive struggle that tested both the physical and mental toughness of

both teams.

“This was a great defensive game by both teams,” said A&M Head Coach Gary Blair. “It was tough getting inside for either team. It was a hard game to play, coach and officiate. That was a ‘regional final’ NCAA Tournament game that you saw. Both of us had good offenses, but the defenses took it away. I think we showed the nation what Big 12 basketball is all about.”

Despite averaging more than 75 points per game in conference, the Longhorns’ attack was shut down by

A&M’s swarming defense. Texas was held to 28 percent shooting from the field in the second half and gave up 22 turnovers leading to 22 A&M points.

The Longhorns also had their lowest scoring output of the 2009-10 season by 14 points.

“A&M just did a great job and I give them a lot of credit,” said Texas Head Coach Gail Goestenkors. “I thought they played a tremendous game. They did a better job with their press and had us back on our heels.

It really wasn’t about anything other

than the fact they played very physically, tough and played great defense.”

A&M senior Tanisha Smith led the team in what could possibly be her last game against the arch-rival Longhorns. The guard scored 13 points and recorded six rebounds.

“It’s real big,” Smith said. “When I came here two years ago, I really didn’t know the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m just proud to be an Aggie. I can See Basketball on page 4

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2/21/10 9:35 PM

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Jeramie Heflin — THE BATTALION

Junior pitcher Barret Loux pushes off the mound to deliver a pitch in the season opener against the Seton Hall Pirates. Loux went five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) and striking out eight in the Aggies 11-2 win at Olsen Field.

Aggie offense makes Seton Hall walk the plank A&M baseball scores 19 in Saturday doubleheader Brad Cox The Battalion The Texas A&M baseball team flexed its offensive muscles Saturday at Olsen Field, sweeping Seton Hall in a doubleheader by a combined score of 19-9.

The Aggies scored four runs each in the first and sixth innings of the first game en route to a 13-6 win.

The Pirates kept the second game close until the eighth inning when A&M scored three runs to win 6-3.

First baseman Caleb Shofner hit a home run in each game and hit a combined 5-for-9, improving his season average to .417.

“Today I decided to slow down at the plate and get some good rhythm and flow and try to see the ball better,” Shofner said.

Shofner is no stranger to quality starts.

Five games into the 2009 season, Shofner was batting .917 with a .947 on base percentage. He finished the season with a team-leading .348 batting average.

After finishing 2009 with the team’s second best batting average at .344, outfielder Brodie Greene proved he can keep the pace with a solid weekend against Seton Hall.

In the two Saturday games, Greene was 5-for7 with two triples and three stolen bases. Including his 3-for-4 performance Friday, Greene finished the weekend with a .727 batting average.

“Coach [Matt] Deggs really harped on it this past week about not putting any more added pressure on myself,” Greene said. “I’ve done that in the past, and I was able to just relax up there.”

Errors plagued both teams in the first game of the doubleheader, two of which led to the Aggies taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Rightfielder Scott Arthur reached first on an error then

Basketball Continued from page 3

say that.”

ESPN’s “Big Monday” returns to Reed Arena when the

Aggies take on No. 18 Baylor in another rivalry game with huge postseason implications.

A&M will look to avenge a disappointing 61-53 loss in Waco back in January.

Baylor phenom Brittney

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The Future of American Christianity

Dr. Michael Lindsay

Dr. Michael Lindsay will discuss the future of American Christianity, based on his groundbreaking research on the role of Christianity in public life, Faith in the Halls of Power. He traces the role of Christian commitment all across the American landscape—from Harvard to Hollywood and from the White House to Wall Street.

Monday, Feb. 22, 7pm Rudder Theatre

The Future of Global Christianity

advanced to third on another. A sacrifice fly by Greene scored Arthur.

The Pirates recorded four errors in the game, and A&M had three.

Second baseman Andrew Collazo followed Greene’s sacrifice fly with a home run to left field. RBIs by third baseman Kenny Jackson and catcher Kevin Gonzalez increased the lead to 4-0.

After the Aggies extended the lead to 6-0 in the fourth, Seton Hall started to get to A&M starter Ross Stripling, cutting the lead in half with three runs.

The Aggies exploded for four runs in the sixth and three runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Pirates’ starter Benny Mejia kept A&M in check for the first seven innings of the second game of the day.

Though Aggie designated hitter Joe Patterson hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to give A&M a 3-1 lead, Seton Hall answered with two runs in the fifth to tie the game.

Mejia then retired nine of the next ten Aggie batters. Mejia allowed seven hits and struck out seven in his seven innings of work.

A&M’s hitters came through in the eighth inning when the Pirates pulled Mejia and went to the bullpen. Greene broke the tie with an RBI single to score shortstop Adam Smith from second, and Greene scored a ground out by Collazo.

Shofner then hit a home run over the leftcenter field wall to set the final score, 6-3.

Pitcher John Stilson, who started at shortstop in the first game, kept the Pirates at bay for the final four innings of the second game. Stilson retired 12 consecutive batters to help the Aggies finish the series sweep.

“I’ve been waiting on this opportunity for a long time,” Stilson said. “I just played pitch-andcatch out there and had a lot of fun.”

Dr. Philip Jenkins

Dr. Philip Jenkins’ talk is based on his book “The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity.” Dr. Jenkins shows that Christianity is on the rise again, and to understand what that rise may mean requires a new awareness of what is happening in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7pm Rudder Theatre

Griner will be playing her first game at Reed Arena in front of a nationally televised audience.

The 6 foot 8 inch player, who is known for her dunking ability, leads the Bears with 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Griner’s presence inside on defense is incomparable, and she ranks second in the nation with 157 blocks this season.

“Bodies will be flying,” Blair said.

“Baylor is a With the very good 64-58 basketball team with victory probably over Texas, the ‘freshthe Aggies man of sweep the the year’ in Lone Star the whole Showdown. country playing. She’s lived up to everything she’s promised. We were intimidated when we played in Waco. We walked in and our kids were missing wide-open lay-ups.”

After leading the team with 14 points and 4 assists against Texas, Carter is anxiously awaiting another shot at the Bears.

“It’s definitely a game that I’m willing to take away,” Carter said, “I’ll have to do whatever I have to do to lead my team to victory. It’s going to be a dogfight.”

Sponsored by Christian Faculty Network and student organizations at TAMU. For more information, visit ChristianFaculty.tamu.edu or veritas.org/tamu

2/21/10 9:36 PM

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page 6 monday 2.22.2010

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Continued from page 1

more going on academically.”

Under the provisions, off-campus campaigning was removed from private residences. Private businesses may post campaign signs, if the candidate has requested with the proper paperwork.

Gregory McDuffie, who was elected as an off-campus senator in 2009 and running for reelection, said newly imposed restrictions were a limitation on freedom of speech.

“In all, the election commissioner has tightened up the rules, yet goes into areas he does not have the right to regulate,” McDuffie said.

“Who is the election commission to limit the freedom of speech of those who live off campus?

Who is he to tell me what I can and cannot post on my own property? The election commission has a lack of common sense, and they justify by saying it’s what the students want.”

Budgets were further restricted for the two most prominent races, student body president and yell leaders, from $1,750 plus a bonus for run-off elections to a set $1,500.

Besides affecting candidates, election changes will impact the voice of students in the campaign process. Student organizations endorsing a candidate must obtain a two-thirds majority approval from members, instead of depending on the decision of the officer team.

Robots Continued from page 1

In traditional endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery, the camera provides a two dimensional image. The robotic system is outfitted with two scopes that are offset by 15 degrees so they provide a 3-D view.

“It creates a 3-D virtual environment that the surgeon is immersed in,” Kuppersmith said. “When you put your head into the console and look in there, you have a right eye view and left eye view. It’s really neat because you get depth perception.”

The third component of the surgical robot system is the console. It is here that the surgeon sits and regulates the robotic arms using hand and foot controls. The surgeon’s movements are then translated into the movements of the arms of the robot. Kuppersmith said the robotics of the system lets surgeons have more precision and control.

“You are adding the computer to it and with the processing that takes place, you can do things like scale your movements. So you can move very small and it enhances the dexterity,” Kuppersmith said. “It can do things like filter out tremors and it holds things very still.”

The surgical procedure begins with Kuppersmith manually making the incision in the under arm and creating space over the muscle and under the skin. A retractor is then put in place to hold the space open. Once the robotic instruments are placed inside, Kuppersmith moves to the console to operate the robotic instruments. The entire operation takes around two hours.

Advancements of robotics in medicine today, such as this procedure, have some people reexamining the previously thought unfathomable of science fiction.

“Tiny microbes, biologically or mechanically engineered, are injected into the human body, and they can be explosive or poisonous, regenerative, enhancing or medicinal,” said Dong

The student body president debate, which was in the Memorial Student Center, was relocated to the Zone Plaza and will incorporate questions from students walking by.

“The debate this year will be at The Zone Plaza during the middle of the day and will be open to all students,” Lopez said. “We are going to allow campaigning which has never been done before and hopefully create a ‘circus’ on campus so people will stop and check out the debate as they go to class. It will also be a town hall format, so students can submit questions to ask the candidates.”

When deciding on these changes, the Election Commission kept in mind the service to the student body and tried to incorporate as much student voice and input as possible Lopez said.

“Coming into this, I wanted the changes to not be a reflection of what I wanted but of what the student body wanted,” Lopez said. “After talking with individual students and the roundtable discussion, the Election Commission feels that these changes do, in fact, reflect the student voice at A&M.” After a record turnout of voters in 2009, the Election Commission has set even higher goals for this election, Lopez said.

“Our goal is to aspire for a total and constantly improving educational atmosphere for all Aggies,” Lopez said, “so we will do our best to attain the opinion of Texas A&M students by getting as many votes as possible.”

Shin Yi, robot ex- Surgery pert in science fiction and English depart- details ment lecturer.

The thyroid regulates The “Star Wars” hormones for cellular trilogy depicts actual metabolism, growth, robots performing surand activity while gery while the television show “Firefly” re- the parathyroid lies on human doctors, glands regulate the but the advancements release, absorption, in technology allow and conservation them greater control of calcium. Thyroid over the human body and parathyroid and give their work a disorders can cause precision that would too much or too little seem impossible with- hormone activity and out it, such as full 3-D abnormal growths. models of the huLuckily, some of the man brain that can be mapped and manipu- disorders are easily treatable by the lated, Montz said.

“One of the ques- removal of the glands. tions I often ask my Thyroid masses are students is sort of a most commonly ‘chicken or egg’ ques- removed in order to tion. What comes first: rule them out as a the science, or the sci- cancerous tumors or ence fiction?” Montz if the enlarged thyroid said. “Advancements causes swallowing or in science offer scibreathing problems. ence fiction writers the chance to think about what is possible, but there is no telling how many scientists were inspired to think ‘outside the box’ by reading or watching science fiction.”

While the future may one day lead to more science fiction ideas of medical technology being realized, robotic thyroid surgery is a reality today.

A reality that Kuppersmith predicts will continue to get even more advanced.

“I think over time the technology will continue to improve,” Kuppersmith said. “What we can do now is great, but as the technology improves we will be able to do even more.”

ATTENTION All On-Campus Residents

ALL current on-campus residents are required to complete the Housing Decision 2010 process to RENEW or CANCEL their housing for the fall 2010 – spring 2011 academic year.

February 22nd (8 a.m.) – February 26th (5 p.m.)

On the Residence Life Homepage (http://reslife.tamu.edu/)

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