thebattalion
Snow today There is almost a 100 percent chance snow will hit Texas A&M today said Brent McRoberts, climatology research associate. “There is going to be an upper level disturbance coming from the west, and it has quite a lot of moisture to work with,” said James Tobin, graduate student of atmospheric sciences. Tobin said because we are in an El Nino pattern when there is an unusual magnitude of cold air and chances of snow increase. Tuesday’s softball doubleheader has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. April 6 at the Aggie softball complex, and the baseball game has been rescheduled for Wednesday.
● tuesday,
february 23, 2010
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media
In a close game
No. 18 Baylor 65, No. 15 Texas A&M 63
Monday at Reed Arena, Head Coach Gary Blair instructs his team from the sideline. “I think we played well; it just wasn’t good enough,” he said. The Aggie women ‘s basketball team fell to Baylor 65-63.
Bears bump Aggies in nail-biter Michael Teague The Battalion Texas A&M’s No. 12 women’s basketball team fell in a close loss, 6563, to No. 17 Baylor on Monday. “It was a game that was going so quick that it was just a good game for television,” said A&M Head Coach Gary Blair. “I’m proud of my basketball team. I think we played well; it just wasn’t good enough. This is what this conference is about.”
A&M senior guard Tanisha Smith knocked down a huge jumper that tied the game up at 63-63 with 45 seconds left to go. Baylor responded when freshman center Brittney Griner got inside for the go ahead lay-up with only 15 seconds remaining. “As we were coming down, I was thinking about something the coaches had said,” Griner said. “When the game is on the line, do you want to be a player who will take the last
shot or do you want to give the ball away when you’re under pressure? I wanted to take it on.” Following a missed jumper by Smith, the Aggies sent Griner to the foul line with seven seconds left. Following the first miss, A&M sophomore guard Sydney Carter got the ball and charged down court for the final shot. Weaving through Baylor See Basketball on page 5
Jonny Green - THE BATTALION
Vicky Flores, staff writer
this day in
rld wohistory Feb. 23, 1898 French novelist Emile Zola was convicted of libel and sentenced to jail for writing his “J’accuse” letter accusing the government of anti-Semitism and wrongly jailing Capt. Alfred Dreyfus.
inside
Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
Senior electronics engineering major and president of the A&M Motorcycle Club Bart Basile and senior mechanical engineering major and webmaster for the club Cody Lee organize weekly rides and promote motorcycle safety and awareness on campus.
voices | 3
Troubleshooting technology Each year brings about improved technological feats, but these little robots should never be trusted, especially when it’s always breaking.
trends | 7
Universal insight “An Education” tells a timeless story about losing sight of the truth. VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPICS medal count G 7 7 6 2 4 4 3 2 5 3 3 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
S 7 9 3 3 4 4 3 2 0 2 1 1 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 1
A&M bikers create recognized organization to foster friendships and spark interest in riding Katy Ralston
b!
COUNTRY USA GER NOR RUS CAN KOR AUS FRA SUI SWE CHN NED POL ITA SLO CZE JPN AUS LAT BEL CRO SLO GBR EST FIN KAZ
Motorcycle camaraderie
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TOT 24 21 14 10 9 9 9 8 7 7 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
The Battalion It has come to be known as one of Texas A&M’s age-old sayings: from the outside looking in you can’t understand it; from the inside looking out you can’t explain it. For senior electrical engineering major Bart Basile, the saying is true the moment he mounts a motorcycle. “It’s really hard to describe, it’s like A&M — you can’t describe to someone on the outside. Whenever any of us get on a bike
you are one with the environment around you,” Basile said. “In a car you are kind of surrounded by a box, but when you are on a motorcycle it’s a completely different feeling whenever you get on the road. It’s just you and the bike and the road and there is nothing else really that matters.” Riding, he said, is his addiction. “I wanted to join a community that would support riders,” Basile said. “So I found the A&M Motorcycle Club about a year and a half ago.”
Basile is the president of the club, which was started a few years ago to eliminate the disconnection between individual Aggie motorcyclists and instead build a community based on shared passion. “One of the objects of the groups is just to provide people that have a common interest a place to share their interests,” said adviser Patrick Bogen, a motorcycle rider.
Student to bike across country, to raise funds
Bike nights are at 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Raising Cane’s on Texas Avenue across the street from the University.
See Bike night on page 8
Free legal advice available to students Brandi Tevebaugh
Brandi Tevebaugh The Battalion Mark Green, a senior finance major, will see the Atlantic Ocean, the plains of the Midwest, the Rockies and the Pacific Ocean this summer — from the seat of a bicycle. Green is biking 4,115 miles across the U.S. with Bike and Build, a nonprofit organization. “I’ve never been to most of these places, so it’s going to be a new advenBike ture,” Green said. “When I first found out about the project, it and was about the sense of adventure, Build but then I started getting into the cause.” To organize Bike and Build schedules rides a bike ride, from the east coast to the west contact Bike coast benefiting affordable housand Build ing projects. The riders spend at http:// 10 days of the ride building afbikeand fordable housing, similar to that build.org. of Habitat for Humanity, and on
Raising riders
Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION
Mark Green will traverse North America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, 4,115 miles, in the name of charity. many evenings will give presentations on the affordable housing crisis communities on the route. “We have build days, which means we trade bikes for hammers and we build houses, affordable housing,” Green said. “On those days, we partner with local housing charities, and we’ll See Charity on page 8
The Battalion As a child, Lakisha Anderson had dreams like no other. She always wanted to be an attorney, and she is living her dream. “While most little kids are playing ‘house’ or ‘hide-and-seek,’ I was making my siblings come be my clients and playing judge,” Anderson said. “This is a goal that I’ve had for quite some Anderson time. Everything that I’ve done since then has been planned with the future of going to law school and becoming an attorney.” Anderson is the most recent addition to the Student Legal Services office and the second students’ attorney; she began her job on Nov. 30. “It’s a pretty big deal that the
Legal services Student Legal Services is in Cain Hall, Room B-117. To schedule an appointment, call the office at (979) 862-4502.
See Attorney on page 2
2/23/10 12:08 AM
1
Y L L U F PED P I U EQ
City of College Station’s Warrant Amnesty F e b r u a r y 1 5 t h - F e b r u a r y 2 6 th
Combat 5K
Corps of Cadets will be sponsoring the Combat 5K on Feb. 27 at Wolf Pen Creek Park. All proceeds will benefit Fisher House at Fort Hood. Register at http://combat5k.com
If you have a warrant out of College Station Municipal Court or think you have a warrant, come to the Court at 300 Krenek Tap Road or call 979-764-3683. If fines are paid in full, the warrant fee will be waived in each case starting Monday, Feb. 15 through Friday, Feb. 26. Those who do not come to Court during the Amnesty period and have a warrant outstanding for their arrest will pursued during the…..
Today chance of snow & rain High: 38 | Low: 30
Statewide Warrant Round-up March 1 st - March 12th
courtesy of NOAA
Conversations about race and sport
2
Mulitmedia workshop for grad students
Kwame J. Asamoah Agyemang and Josh DeLorme, doctoral candidates in sport management, will facilitate discussion about race and sport at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Rudder Tower.
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.
3
Wednesday mostly cloudy high: 48 low: 33 Thursday sunny, showers at night high: 60 low: 45 Friday 40% chance of showers high: 55 low: 38
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thebattalion 02.23.2010 For daily updates go to thebatt.com ● Facebook ● Twitter@thebattonline
Relationship classes offered
2400 Earl Rudder Fwy., College Station
979-696-1100 1/2 ! ICE PR
Congress has declared February National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, initiating an extension of the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week that has been instituted since 2005. The Student Counseling Center at A&M offers a class called “Healthy Relationship” once a month. “This is an interactive workshop designed to help participants distinguish between healthy and unhealthy relationships, as well as learn strategies for building and maintaining healthy relationships. Students will learn skills such as healthy boundary setting and effective communication,” said Lori Bienski, the outreach coordinator at the center. This class is open to students, but pre-registration is required. The next class will be March 17. For teens involved in a violent or abusive relationship, the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, 1-866-331-9474, is available 24 hours a day. Emily Peery, staff writer
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University decided to hire a second students’ attorney,” said Becca Farmer, a senior psychology major and student worker in the office. After obtaining her undergraduate degree from Dillard University in New Orleans, Anderson graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in 2007. Since then she has had a number of legal positions, including working for the Texas Attorney General’s office and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Before November, Anderson had her own law firm. “That was what I was doing prior to this position – running my own law firm – which my husband is still running by himself right now,” Anderson said. “This position allows me to do what I like to do. I like to help people, advise people. I’ve kind of searched for that type of position.” In less than three months at A&M, Anderson has joined the efforts of attorney Rick Powell to increase awareness of the office and its services. “It’s a continual process of promoting the office, so that students know it’s here when they have these stressful issues come
Running gets an update
Freshman kinesiology major Maggie Strange works out on one of the new elliptical machines located on the second floor of the Student Recreation Center. The new machines were brought in at the beginning of the semester and have personal televisions on each machine. Megan Ryan — THE BATTALION
up that they need legal advice with,” Powell, who has been the only students’ attorney for 21 years, said. “Sometimes they just don’t remember what they learned in orientation. We get referrals from court clerks and the upperclassmen, RAs, professors and staff members.” Anderson plans to make presentations for student organizations such as the PreLaw Society and distribute information on campus. Student Legal Services also sets up tables in the Commons to give out magnets and cards. “I am working on efforts to advertise the office a little more, get more people in here, market our services to different student groups if they’re interested in us putting on a presentation,” Anderson said. “We won’t be giving legal advice in the Commons Lobby, but we will be there to answer questions and provide [students] little freebies.” Anderson said the number of students seen by Student Legal Services every month has almost doubled based on past reports, but many students still do not realize their services are available. “I definitely think it could be utilized more by students, which is one of the reasons they hired a second attorney, to help publicize their services,” Farmer said. The services available to students cover almost anything with the exception of certain specialized types of law and representa-
tion in court. The most common problem the office encounters is issues with landlords and tenants, but counseling for traffic tickets, family issues, debts, automobile accidents and criminal charges is also available. “We provide a number of services,” Anderson said. “You name it, we probably do it, and if we don’t, we will get you the right information so you can get the right advice that you need for your area of law. “ The lowest fine for a speeding ticket is $230, and the lowest fine for any alcoholrelated offense is $430. Legal expenses and trouble can be costly for a student, but the assistance of the Student Legal Services attorneys is free to students. “Just go to talk to this attorney for free and find out what your options are and have the attorneys help you with your case,” Powell said. “Instead of paying a lawyer maybe $50 just to talk to them for 30 minutes or having to hire an attorney, there’s free attorneys here for the Aggies.” Anderson and Powell said they are both eager to have more students come in and utilize the office. “Just because you think it’s not your typical criminal situation or your typical civil situation doesn’t mean you don’t have any legal rights,” Anderson said. “We’re here to help you recognize those rights and protect your rights. Our doors are open and we’re here to help you.”
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The Future of Global Christianity
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 Sponsored by Christian Faculty Network and student organizations at TAMU. For more information, visit ChristianFaculty.tamu.edu or veritas.org/tamu
thebattalion 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. 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 979-845-0569. 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.
2/22/10 10:41 PM
‘
Breaking up voices with technology T
thebattalion 02.23.2010
oday, we’re going to discuss a current hot button issue, the incredible societal dependence on electronics. This is a growing pandemic in our country, and particularly in Aggieland. I have to rely on electronics to perform basic everyday tasks, like crossing the street, opening doors and washing my hands. Heck, I can’t even flush a campus toilet without the use of fancy electronics (and even then there’s just a 50/50 chance that it will either do nothing or flood the room with enough water to irrigate the entire Arabian peninsula).
What’s the problem, you ask? The problem is I’m standing knee deep in toilet water because the hyperactive motion sensor flush-o-matic in Blocker is trying to kill me. Bigger-picture-wise, the problem is that relying on electronics to do everything in life is bad. (Seriously, if the self-flushing toilet messes up this bad, what’s going to happen when we automate the rest of the process?) But don’t just take my Luddite word for it, allow me to illustrate my point with real-life examples. This morning as I crossed the street, the soothingly seductive yet subtly disturbing voice of the automated pedestrian crossing light crooned the word “seven.” And yet I could plainly see the number on the sign was six, almost as if it were trying to lull me into a false sense of security. “Don’t worry, you still have one more second to go,” it said reassuringly, as the pickup plows through my fragile organic body because the car’s computer-assisted braking is in on it, too. I was obviously a little shook up. But my greatest fears were confirmed when I attempted to use the Student Recreation Center restroom. I say attempted because as soon as I walked in the door, I was greeted with an Old Faithfulstyle geyser directed at me by the ever vigilant and slightly hyperactive motion sensor guided self flushing device on the toilet. (Hey electronics guys, here’s a tip. If your automatic flushing toilet requires a Sea World style “Splash Zone” radius marker, perhaps it’s time to go back to James Cavin the drawing board.) I thought I had escaped the worst with a quick backward leap, but this placed ing out” I mean “smashing my face straight into me in range of the equally hyperactive soap disit because the sensor doesn’t do anything until penser, which marked its territory on my elbow. you’re three inches away”). At least the paper towel dispenser remained symAnyway, all I wanted to do was go home pathetic, and spat out a couple complimentary and relax, which I do, of course, by using towels to help out. more electronics. At this point I gave up and went home, “Vlad,” I said to my younger brother. “It’s (although even that required figuring out how been a long day, and I would very much like to to operate the automatic doors, and by “figurunwind. Can I play your Xbox?”
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James Cavin — THE BATTALION
“Why do you smell like a toilet?” nukes, Vlad did some quick Google research “I said it’s been a long day. Can I play the and discovered we had the “red ring of death,” Xbox?” a critical failure that according to some surveys “If you take a shower first.” is experienced by one in six consumers. Strangely enough, when I turned on the What other entertainment media has a one in Xbox, the lights that normally shine a soothing six failure rate? Well, other than opinion writers. green instead lit up in an angry glaring red. So there you have it. It’s not that relying on If Will Smith has taught me anything, electronics for everything is bad because it’s that electronics turn red before it’s morally wrong, or that machines Technology is trying to kill you. are going to take over the world, or it great, until it “Don’t move,” I screamed. isolates us from other human beings or breaks and leaves whatever. It’s bad because electronics “It’s just become self aware!” us completely Well as it turned out, it was break approximately every 6.7 seconds. helpless. less “self aware” and more “aware Case in point, my computer just that a replacement would make started making weird noiMicrosoft another $200.” While I was busy hiding under the dining room James Cavin is a senior English major. table and waiting for Skynet to start launching
Dear Fellow Aggies: A federal debt of $12 trillion dollars and growing is a clear and present danger. It threatens our country and the future of our children and grandchildren. It’s wrong to saddle them with so much debt. To put a trillion dollars in perspective, if a person spent a million dollars per day, every day since Christ was born, he or she would still have over 700 years to go before spending ONE trillion dollars. Our federal debt is TWELVE trillion dollars. If re-elected, I will propose and vigorously support a resolution for a constitutional convention to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In the current financial downturn, Texas has fared better than most other states. Our budget is balanced; we have reduced taxes, and we have saved over $7 billion dollars for a rainy day. Our Congress in Washington should do the same. This is our home. It is worth protecting and defending. If you send me back to Austin, I will.
Sincerely,
Stephen E. Ogden ‘87
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Roundup Monday Women’s basketball No. 15 Texas A&M 63 No. 18 Baylor 65 Women’s golf Central District Invitational at Parrish, Fla.
Tuesday All softball and baseball games are postponed due to weather.
Wednesday Men’s basketball No. 23 Texas A&M 8 p.m. at Baylor Baseball 3:05 p.m. Stephen F. Austin at Texas A&M Swimming Big 12 Championships all day at Texas A&M
Thursday Softball Texas A&M 5:30 p.m. vs Fordham at Calif. Texas A&M 10:30 p.m. vs Oregon at Calif. Swimming Big 12 Championships all day at Texas A&M
Friday Baseball Texas A&M 6 p.m. vs Western Kentucky at Waco, Texas Softball Texas A&M 5 p.m. vs UNLV at Calif. Texas A&M 7:30 p.m. vs San Diego State at Calif. Track & Field Cross Country Big 12 Championships all day at Ames, Iowa Men’s Tennis noon Texas A&M vs St. Edward’s 6 p.m. Texas A&M vs TCU Women’s Equestrian WEF Collegiate Equitation 6 p.m. Challenge at Wellington, Fla. Swimming Big 12 Championships all day at Texas A&M
Saturday Men’s basketball 1 p.m. No. 23 Texas A&M vs Texas Women’s basketball No. 15 Texas A&M 3 p.m. at Colorado Baseball Texas A&M 1 p.m. at Baylor Softball Texas A&M noon vs Stanford at Calif. Track & Field Cross Country Big 12 Championships all day at Ames, Iowa Swimming Big 12 Championships all day at Texas A&M
Sunday Women’s Tennis Texas A&M 10 a.m. at South Florida Men’s Tennis 1 p.m. Texas A&M at LSU Baseball Texas A&M 5 p.m. vs Texas State at Waco, Texas Men’s swimming Texas A&M Last Chance all day at Texas A&M Women’s swimming SCM Reveille Invitational all day at Texas A&M
Tiger shanked his opportunity
sports thebattalion 2.23.2010 page5
F
or nearly 13 years, we’ve watched him. We’ve seen him do the unimaginable. We’ve been left with our collective jaws wide open. We’ve stood anxiously for hours with hopes of getting but a glance of the most famous athlete in the world. One word: Tiger. David Harris Now, let your mind wander. Images of Numerous infidelities forced Tiger to chip-ins, miraculous sand saves, clutch putts become front-page gossip fodder. The most and major championships are now swirling mysterious cultural figure alive was put in in your head. The Sunday red. The overthe spotlight. And then he disappeared. done but always-anticipated fist pump. For months. Which, inevitably led to more For 13 years, Eldrick Tont Woods has speculation. been larger than life. He, in essence, has Speculation that came to an end Friday. been superhuman. “I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and Think about it. What mere mortal could selfish behavior I engaged in,” said a dispassiondo what this man has done in just over a ate Woods in front of a worldwide audience. decade? He was groomed from birth to be For 13 minutes, Tiger stepped into a the best, and he hasn’t disappointed. Fourteen lion’s den — if by lion’s den, you major championships and 71 PGA mean where you can handpick the Tour wins, all by the age of 34. Woods threw lions, tranquilize them and tape Sounds pretty distinguished, if away his chance their mouths shut. you ask me. to heal the And in a mere 13 minOops, I forgot about the irreparable utes, we learned … well, we little part where he completedamage he’s learned nothing of consely altered the state of golf in done to his quence about Tiger. the public’s eye. Sure, he was contrite and image. Because of one man, golf has apologetic. Yeah, he seemed to become etched into American’s show some semblance of sincerity. heads as mainstream. But, it was also staged. And forced. And For 13 years, Sundays have been transinhumane. formed from days chalk full of “honey-do Sorry, but after doing irreparable damlists” to afternoons watching that Tiger guy. age to a seemingly untouchable image, we For 13 years, we’ve wondered about the wanted more than contrition. man himself. Who is Tiger Woods? Does We wanted Tiger to reveal a softer side. We he go grocery shopping? Skim or 2 percent? wanted him to step out of his comfort zone. Does he talk about his feelings? What kind In a nutshell, we wanted him to be human. of music does he like? Is his heart made of His multiple indiscretions showed that, tin? Is he human? for the first time, Tiger was kind of like the It’s been the ultimate mystery. The rest of us — with a nine-figure bank acenormity of his presence is incomprehencount, of course. sible. Yet, the general public still knew more He could’ve embraced this simple realizaabout Britney Spears’ weekend activities and tion. For the first time, Average Joe could’ve the Jonas Brothers’ hair product than we did finally related to golf’s Chosen One. Tiger’s personality. Instead, for 13 minutes, he read a script. That was, of course, until that November He continued to hide behind the stoic morning. A car accident at 2 a.m. An undemeanor that has consistently been draped conscious Tiger devoid of shoes. A window on his face for the last 13 years. He showed smashed in with a 7-iron. less emotion than the wall I’m currently For weeks, there was one and only one staring at. question lingering in the air. What in the Tiger had a chance to begin to mend the hell happened? And for weeks, because gunshot wound he’s left in the public’s eye Tiger plays by his own rules, the world was for three months. Unfortunately, on Friday, left to hypothesize. he swung and duck-hooked his opportunity I heard he sleepwalked to his car and into the trees. drove it into a tree. I heard he’s addicted For 13 years, he’s seemed unflappable, to pills. I heard that he and his wife like to almost robotic. And in 13 minutes, he did play a late-night game where she chases him nothing to discount that notion. down the street with a golf club as he drives with his feet. Funzies! David Harris is a junior economics major and Finally, the news of his affairs came out. sports editor. ‘Hey … It’s Tiger’ and ‘Huge. Quickly’ became nationally noticeable phrases.
Jonny Green— THE BATTALION
Junior guard Sydney Colson takes the ball to the hoop in the Aggies’ 65-63 loss to No. 17 Baylor Monday at Reed Arena. Similar to the game in Waco, Griner’s size inside led the Bears to victory. The 6’8’’ center scored a team-high 22 points and recovered a career-high 21 rebounds. Offensively, Griner dominated down low, and Baylor scored 40 of their 65 points in the paint. “She lives with pressure,” said Baylor Head Coach Kim Mulkey. “You think through the years, how many players had to see what she sees night in and night out. She never loses her composure and she never changes her expression. She’s the most pleasant kid to watch play. You better remember she’s just a freshman.” Defensively, Griner’s presence kept the Aggies from driving to the bucket, and she finished with four blocks. In her first collegiate season, she has moved into second in career blocks on Baylor’s all-time list. In a game only decided by two points, A&M’s 4-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line was their Achilles’ heel.
Basketball Continued from page 1
defenders, Carter put up a last second shot that rimmed out. “I wasn’t really worried about Griner because I had got past her,” Carter said. “Coach Blair said that he wouldn’t rather have anybody else taking that running lay-up. I think it’s just a shot that I missed and of course I’ll learn from it. We’ll see them again.” With the victory, Baylor (19-7, 8-4) completed the season sweep of A&M (19-6, 7-5) and surpassed them for fifth in the Big 12 standings with only four games remaining. Blair made it clear the team needed to stay optimistic if they wanted to succeed down the stretch. “I compliment them,” Blair said. “Instead of talking about the negatives, I talk about the positives in what we did. They know what the negatives are.”
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he film “An In the film adaptation of a memoir by journalist Lynn Barber, “An Education,� Jenny (Carey Mulligan) meets David (Peter Education,� Sarsgaard) in 1961 Britain. David is an unsuitable suitor in his 30s who introduces her to a world she didn’t know existed. directed by Lone Scherfig, is nominated for three academy awards unsettling is that her parents and is playing in buy into David’s oozing charm more so than her, encouraging College Station. “An her to continue seeing him. Education� is a comThe film is terrific; I absolutely recommend it. The ing-of-age tale featuracting is brilliant, and the ing some great perforstory is timeless. Everyone can Clay Harley mances, especially by relate to this story because we David, Danny and Helen all, at some point, like Jenny, its lead, Carey are cold and dark people; they lose sight of the truth. We all, Mulligan. know nothing of true friendin some way, give up what
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ship, and they do not share truly makes us who we are The film begins by giving Jenny’s wide-eyed love for and unknowingly trade it in us a feel for Mulligan’s charbooks and art and music. Dafor something fake: a shortacter, Jenny Miller. Jenny vid is after Jenny; Danny cut. This is the tragedy of life. is a bright, clever and is after money, and The beauty is that we may pretty teenage girl Helen is the be shown mercy and given a attending school fool along second chance. Each of these “An Education� shows in England in for the ride. extremes can be glimpsed in the tragedies of life and 1961. We see Jenny is, “An Education.� the beauty of second she is at the of course, top of her chances through its oblivious to class, loves the all of this. brilliant acting and arts and has She believes, convincing storyline. ambition to go at least in the on to study Engbeginning, she lish at Oxford. We has found a group watch as she resents her of fun, older friends overprotective parents — her who value the same things she father especially, who closely does. The drama builds as we Clay Harley is a senior monitors her homework, watch Jenny’s innocence being management of information bedtimes and sees that she stolen from her. Even more systems major. doesn’t spend too much time listening to music or practicing the cello, both of which Jenny loves, and he believes to be a waste of time. Things change when Jenny is offered a ride home from orchestra practice by a charming gentleman named David Goldman (Peter Sarsgaard). David is witty, appears to be very kind and is about twice Jenny’s age. He acts decently toward her, visits with her about music and promptly drops her off at her home. We get the feeling this won’t be the last we see of him, and we are right. Soon after, Jenny runs into David in town, the two visit for a moment, and then David offers to take her to a concert featuring a small classical ensemble. Jenny is naturally eager to go, but is sure her parents won’t allow it. So David offers to speak with her parents and claims that if they are still reluctant, he will give up his ticket so one of them can take Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Part 1 of 4 her. Such persistent kindness Part of 4 4 Part 2 of3 4 Part Mar Thu3 Mar Tue Mar 2 1 of 4 Wed Acct 209 toward a young, pretty girl Thu Mar 1 Wed Feb 28 Tue Feb 27 10pm-1am Acct 209 10pm-1am 7pm-10pm couldn’t possibly be concealing 4pm-7pm 7pm-10pm Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Part 1 7pm-10pm of 4 an ulterior motive, right? Mon Mar 29 Wed Mar 24 Sun Mar 28 Acct 229 On the evening of the 6pm-10pm 10pm-1am 10pm-1am Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Part 1 of 4 performance, David arrives at Thu Mar 4 Sun Mar 7 Wed Mar 3 Acct 230 Jenny’s house and charms the 7pm-10pm 10pm-1am 7pm-10pm pants off her parents, who, to Part 2 of 2 Part 1 of 2 Jenny’s surprise and delight, Wed Mar 24 Tue Mar 23 Agec 105 agree to let her go with David. 10pm-1am 4pm-7pm Stone Review Part 1 of 4 Part 2 of 4 Off they go to what Jenny deSun Feb 28 Mon Mar 1 Tue Mar 2 Chem 102 scribes to her mother afterward 6pm-9pm 6pm-8pm 6pm-8pm as the best night of her life. Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Part 1 of 4 From here, we watch Tue Mar 2 Wed Mar 3 Mon Mar 1 Chem 107 David continue wooing both 8pm-10pm 8pm-10pm 8pm-10pm Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Part 1 of 4 Jenny and her parents with wit, Econ 202 Wed Mar 24 Thu Mar 25 Tue Mar 23 money and lies, and he and Allen 7pm-10pm 7pm-10pm 7pm-10pm Jenny develop a relationship. Part 1 of 4 Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Econ 202 He convinces her parents to let Thu Mar 25 Sun Mar 28 Mon Mar 29 Mostashari her go visit Oxford with him 4pm-7pm 2pm-5pm 10pm-1am Part 2 of 2 Part 1 of 2 by telling them he knows C.S. Econ 203 Mon Mar 8 Thu Mar 4 Lewis, and she could have a Edwardson 2pm-5pm 4pm-7pm chance to meet him. He takes Part 1 of 2 Part 2 of 2 Econ 203 Jenny out to clubs and buys her Sun Mar 7 Tue Mar 9 Nelson clothes. He even takes her to 11am-2pm 5pm-8pm Part 1 of 4 Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Paris for her 17th birthday. Mon Mar 1 Tue Mar 2 Wed Mar 3 Finc 341 Always present on these 7pm-10pm 10pm-1am 4pm-7pm outings are David’s business Part 1 of 4 Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 partner, Danny (Dominic Mon Mar 1 Tue Mar 2 Wed Mar 3 Finc 409 Cooper), and his girlfriend, 7pm-10pm 10pm-1am 4pm-7pm Helen (Rosamund Pike). Times online Geog 202 soon Jenny, ecstatic that she is getTest Review 1 Test Review 2 Test Review 3 ting to experience these things Mon Mar 22 Tue Mar 23 Wed Mar 24 Math 131 — the sights and sounds, the 5pm-8pm 5pm-7pm 4pm-7pm people, the music, Paris — bePart 2 of 3 Part 3 of 3 Part 1 of 3 comes enthralled by it all, and Mon Mar 8 Tue Mar 9 Sun Mar 7 Math 141 we cringe because we can see 7pm-10pm 7pm-10pm 7pm-10pm Part 1 of 4 Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 that she is being fooled. Math 142 Math 151
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Bike night Continued from page 1
February 22nd (8 a.m.) – February 26th (5 p.m.)
On the Residence Life Homepage (http://reslife.tamu.edu/)
The group meets Tuesday nights at Raising Cane’s for “Bike Nights.” At the laid-back meetings, members come, grab some dinner and talk about motorcycles. Aside from the meet-
ings, for many members the club has become much more. “At our weekly meetings we just get together and hang out. Even outside of the club we are all still friends whenever we leave the bike nights, so we hang out on weekends and stuff,” Basile said. “It’s primarily a social organization –– we are just here to have a good time. I’ve made a lot of really good friends when I joined.” While the motorcycles bring them together, the friendships formed keep them together, members said. “It’s almost like when we are hanging out the motorcycles don’t exist. It’s what we talk about; it’s what we ride but it’s more about being there for your friendship,” said member and previous officer Aaron Scarboro, a senior agriculture systems management major. On weekends, the motorcycle club does group rides in the Brazos Valley area. The rides are open to motorcyclists in the community. One weekend out of every semester the group takes a longer trip. Previous trips have extended as far as Arkansas and a six-hour ride to Leakey, Texas. No matter where the destination, all a good bike trip needs is camaraderie and fun roads, Scarboro said. The best road for a motorcycle is a lot of curves in short distances, medium speed limits and good pavement.
As for the camaraderie, Scarboro said this aspect is unique to motorcycles. “You can’t have somebody go drive a car next to you and then build that same kind of camaraderie that you get with motorcycles,” Scarboro said. This year, the club plans to ride to Sam Houston National Forest in Huntsville, 50 miles north of Houston. Along with weekend rides, the motorcycle club puts on a couple of “wrench nights” each semester with business sponsors. Businesses open to let club members work on motorcycles. “It gives us access to tools and professional help that we would have to pay for otherwise,” Basile said. In addition to sponsorship, being an officially recognized A&M club has other perks. “It also gives us a place in the community to voice our concerns. There were parking issues on campus a while back and actually being an A&M affiliated club, our concerns were heard,” Basile said. The majority of the members ride sports bikes, but any type of make, model or manufacturer is welcome, Basile said. Scarboro said he encourages anyone interested in joining the club to check them out. “Come to one of the bike nights and meet us and see how much we love motorcycles,” he said.
Charity
really cool adventure,” Green said. “I currently ride about 10 miles a day, and on weekends I try to bike a lot. They require that you ride at least 50 miles in one sitting for the program, so by the time the program starts I’ll be ready to go.” The biggest obstacle for Green is not physical but financial. Each cyclist is required to raise $4,000 that will go toward funding affordable housing. Green seeks ways to raise funds and support. “I’ve written a few letters to family friends,” Green said. “I’ve raised about $2,000 right now, and then just asking for donations from whoever will donate.” Green will not be living in luxury this summer. The cyclists camp or stay in community centers or churches. Green said they will eat sandwiches or whatever food they are given. “It’s as cheap as you can get it, so no hotels,” he said. Green’s friends and family members are excited about the opportunities he will have this summer. Preston Webb, a friend of Green’s through his fraternity Phi Beta Lambda, said he could not imagine a better person to take this journey. “Other than a tan and some really nice calf muscles, I think that he’s just going to have that experience and knowledge of going across the nation,” Webb said. “He’s going to see what he wants to see. He’s going to meet who he wants to meet. They’re going to be affected by him, and he’s going to be affected by them.” Green became interested in the program after his brother went with the University of Texas at Austin on the Texas 4000. He found the program through a friend at work. He applied and was accepted within two weeks. “I was at UT and they have a bike ride across the nation,” Stephen said. “I think he wanted to do it, too, and he found this cool organization. I guess it’s kind of a family tradition.” Green said he looks forward to finishing the journey and making a difference in lives across the nation. “I’m most excited about the end of the ride after 4,000 grueling miles of riding in the wind and the rain by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge,” Green said. “I think that’s going to be incredible.”
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build a house.” Green’s route begins in Providence, R.I., on June 11, and ends by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on Aug. 20. His group of 30 cyclists are college students ages 18 to 25. The riders will average 70 miles per day. “I think he’ll learn a lot about team work,” said Green’s brother Stephen. “It’s just hard to mobilize a team. He’ll learn how to be diplomatic and balance different personalities. I think he’ll be 50 miles into a day and be bored and he’ll hurt, so it’ll take a lot of perseverance to finish the last 20 miles.” Though Green is new to cycling, he received his bike from the program a few weeks ago and is training daily to build stamina and increase his riding distance. “I’ve never got into cycling before, but it’s going to be a
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