The Battalion: March 9, 2010

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news | 2

The 2010-2011 student body president will lead the student body through construction on campus, the first full year of President Loftin’s term and calls for greater communication between students and University administration. Read about candidates Jacob Robinson and Bryan Sims and cast your vote at http://vote.tamu.edu.

SBP run-off elections today

● tuesday,

march 9, 2010

● Serving

Texas A&M since 1893

Osazuwa Okundaye and Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION

● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 Student Media

thebattalion

1

Statewide Warrant Round-Up March 1st - March 12 th College Station Municipal Court and surrounding area Courts will be participating in a Statewide Warrant Round-up March 1st- March 12th.

If you have or think you have a warrant please contact the College Station Municipal Court at 300 Krenek Tap Road or call 979-7643683 to avoid being arrested at your home, work or school.

Y L L U F PED P I U Q E

Students will learn how to sucessfully interview for a job at 4 p.m. in Koldus 110. This workshop is offered through the Career Center.

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For information, call 1-800-866-0492

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This workshop looks at perfectionistic behavior and the ways to deal with those behaviors at 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday in suite 1402 in the General Services Complex. To register go to http://EODinfo.tamu. edu.

Robert Blackledge speaks about glitter as forensic evidence at 5 p.m. Thursday in room 2104 of the Chemistry building.

Wednesday 50% chance of showers high: 74 low: 46 Thursday sunny high: 73 low: 44 Friday mostly sunny high: 63 low: 42

pagetwo

Run-off candidates face off Melissa Appel The Battalion

(Bowling after 9:30 p.m.)

1st Session 6:30, 2nd Session 8:00

2 Perfectionism 3 Glitter defined presentation

thebattalion 03.09.2010 For daily updates go to thebatt.com ● Facebook ● Twitter@thebattonline

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Both love Texas A&M. Both have a self-proclaimed passion for serving students.

Both have visions for the future of the University.

There is little doubt Jacob Robinson and Bryan Sims are qualified candidates, but when students fill out run-off ballots Tuesday and Wednesday for student body president, they will select one to serve the student body in 2010-2011.

Both candidates have strengths that set them apart.

Robinson, a junior leadership studies major, said his experience as executive vice president was adequate preparation.

“The student body president has exactly one year to work for the benefit of all students by voicing concerns and achieving results on the issues that impact students lives directly on a daily basis,” Robinson said. “Serving as the executive vice president this past year, I have the experience and readiness to begin serving students on day one.”

The leadership experience of senior industrial distribution major Sims has been outside student government. Sims said this allowed him to possess perspective on the student body and decide the best way to lead.

“Our student government is an incredible organization and one of the best in the country, but it is not the entire student body,” Sims said. “What makes me different is that my experiences have not prepared me to be president of student government; they have prepared me to be president of the student body.”

The platforms of Robinson and Sims include agendas of tuition and fees, the upcoming Texas Legislature session and communication.

Robinson served in legislative relations in student government, an experience that allowed him to be involved with

the past Texas Legislature.

“This next year will be a challenging year for Texas A&M University and for higher education across the state,” Robinson said. “It is important that students elect a leader who is experienced and has as a solid vision and plan to produce the results students deserve.”

Sims, who has leadership experience as president of the Christian fraternity Brothers Under Christ, said he wants to communicate with students. “[I have] the ability to meet students where they are at. I have never and will never consider myself a career politician.

In every way I am a normal student with normal passions and pursuits,” Sims said. “I want to take student government to the students not force students to come looking for it.”

Sims’ supporters place emphasis on his character and passion for Aggieland.

“His desire to serve as student body president is not for Bryan, but for me, his staff, his supporters, the other campaigns and for the student body as a whole. His four pillar platform is the foundation of which I stand upon and hope is in A&M’s likeness,” said Brian Hutson, director of design in Sims’ campaign and a sophomore marketing major.

Participants in the Robinson campaign echo that experience is the best quality.

“I support Jacob Robinson for student body president because he is ready to lead this University. I couldn’t think of a more qualified candidate,” said junior biomedical science major Coral Zelon, Robinson’s campaign manager.

If elected, Robinson and Sims want to look back at the term knowing they positively impacted the student body.

“When my year as student body president is done, I want to be known as the student body president who listened and communicated effectively

These are some of the groups that will be featured in the 2010 Aggieland: • Student Engineers’ Council • MSCC ALOT • Delta Gamma • Company B-1 • TAMU Judo

Will yours be?

How to get a contract:

Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION

Run-off candidates Bryan Sims, left, and Jacob Robinson, right, highlight past leadership roles and plans for the future. the needs of the student body When two and who was able to achieve substantial results in accom- candidates plishing the goals and vi- become one sion set out in my platform,” More information about the Robinson said.

“When students look back candidates and platforms can on the 2010-2011 school year, be found on the candidate I hope they will not see me Web sites. Voting in the run-off at all. That’s because nothing election begins today and I will ever do as student body ends at 5 p.m. Wednesday. president will be as important as The ballot can be accessed when a student paints a house online at http://vote.tamu. at Big Event, as the ride home edu. Results from the election someone receives from Carpool on a Thursday night or as the will be announced at 10 p.m. life-long friendships formed in Wednesday. a Fish Camp DG,” Sims said.

“Ultimately how we face [challenges] mean nothing if myself and student government are not working as hard as we possibly can to see Aggies succeed in everything they do.”

A

Stop by our office in The Grove, Bldg. #8901 (next to the Albritton Bell Tower,) or visit our website: http://aggieland. tamu.edu call 979.845.2681

AGGIELAND 2010 Official yearbook of Texas A&M University

thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893

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. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.

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3/8/10 9:46 PM

things you should know

5 before you go Brazos Valley Reads

1

The Brazos Valley Reads 2010 will feature Maxine Hong Kingston, whose first book “The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts” won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction in 1976.

Kingston will speak at 7 p.m. today at the Bryan Civic auditorium.

2

Guitar duo

Duo Melis: Classical Guitar Duet will perform at 7 p.m.

Wednesday in Rudder Theatre. The classical guitar duo features Alexis Muzurakis of Greece and Susana Prieto of Spain.

Admission is $10 for the general public and $5 for students.

Concert for CARPOOL

Science fiction and fantasy

The Singing Cadets will have a concert to benefit CARPOOL at 7 p.m. Thursday in Rudder Auditorium. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the MSC Box Office or at the door.

Pieces from Cushing Libraries Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection will be exhibited from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, including manuscripts, pulp magazines and items that capture science fiction’s influence on literature, media and popular culture.

3

4

5

Transfer deadline

All domestic transfer applications and documents must be received by March 15 to be considered for summer or fall 2010. For more information about the required documents visit http://admissions. tamu.edu/transfer.

b! thebattalion 03.09.2010 page3

scene

Rocking from the

Mile-High City

and traveled to the Blasting Room, a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colo., to record their first demo.

When the term indie band is tossed around, one The five-track demo generally thinks of sparse instrumentation, mournful caught the attention of An unsigned pop/ lyrics and moody atmospherics. Crackling guitars, local producer Chrisrock band from catchy piano licks and rousing gang vocals are now topher Jak, who Denver, The Heyday synonymous with the Colorado-based alternative offered the group have gained a large rock band The Heyday. And the amazing part? the chance to support and are They are unsigned to any major label yet have record a full length touring the country slick production values on par with Relient K or studio album with with a stop in The Fray. the help of mixer “We try to make our songs universal,” said singer Aggieland along Jeff Juliano, who has Courtesy photo and songwriter Randy Ramirez. “We like to think of the way. worked with such dithem as fit for the drive home with your friends on the verse artists like O.A.R., The Heyday’s music is comparable to Relient K or The Fray, with a unique blend last night of summer.”

Jason Mraz and John Mayer. of radio-friendly pop. They will play at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Stafford-Main Street.

The Heyday’s sound is a unique blend of radio-friendly pop, “So we returned to the Blasting Room rock and a dash of southern influence. They have recorded one “It was our busiest day. We played a show on campus, and then and released our full length debut in full-length self-titled album and are working on an EP, set to be three acoustic sets at sororities, and then a full set at a club. It was September of 2007, and we’ve been touring with that for the past released within the year. The Heyday will perform a show in the busiest day I think we’ve ever had,” he said. year and a half now,” Ramirez said. “We played a few shows in Bryan at the Stafford-Main Street at 7 p.m. Saturday. But before For the show on Saturday, Ramirez promises a “good time.”

Colorado, and then we got this really great review by a weekly the outfit was recording albums and touring the country, they “It is just as much about the audience as it is us,” he said. paper that runs a lot of music stories, and that is when we realized were a group of high school seniors dealing with the twin desires “We’re going to be playing some cover songs along with our own that people were already paying attention.” and pressures to attend college and pursue their dreams, a mere set and try to get everyone involved — from the front row to the With the support of fans and locals, the band continued to play four years ago. guy in the back of room. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” two or three shows a weekend around Denver.

“We all tried college and doing the band at the same time,” “Our music is easy to connect to — it’s about relationships, On the songwriting process, Ramirez said it is usually a collabRamirez said. “Then the band really started to take off, and we’ve leaving old friends and meeting new ones, and the journey that we orative work between members of the band. been doing this ever since.” all are on. Anyone our age can easily connect to what we’re going “Usually we start out with a chord progression, and we see if The band started in the summer of 2006 within confines of to be singing about.” we [the band] are digging it. We know pretty fast what’s going to the band’s pianist Jeff Appareti’s parents’ basement. Instead of live Ramirez said the band is in talks with a few major labels, which work and what isn’t. Then we mix the lyrics and layer the meloshows, the band focused solely on writing music for the remainis no surprise given the optimistic, upbeat music and tight instrudies and put it all together,” he said. der of the summer, developing their own soulful take on radio mentation. Unlike the clichéd hype that accompanies most indeSaturday won’t mark the first time that The Heyday has rock. After three months, they gathered up what money they had pendent bands, The Heyday is surely on the fast track to success. visited Aggieland.

Joe Terrell

Special to The Battalion

COME

JOIN US for lunch at the BSM Wednesday, March 10th!

WHO

A&M students

WHAT

Free Luncheon

WHEN

Wednesday, March 10th @ Noon

WHERE WHY

Baptist Student Center 203 College Main Learn about graduate ministry programs

www.dbu.edu/leadership

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Women’s Big 12 tournament thebattalion 3.09.2010 page5

Show the team some respect

Thursday-Sunday Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Mo.

O

n “Senior Night” last Tuesday, Texas A&M’s No. 15 women’s basketball team squared off against No. 11 Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, when the ladies came out of the tunnel Mike Teague to a round of applause, the see their team host the Aggies seating behind both baskets was this season. Once again, A&M’s nearly empty. In one of the attendance fell far short of lowest student attendances of Texas Tech, who finished the the season, less than 300 of the season at 17-13 and eighth in team’s classmates bothered to the Big 12 standings. show their appreciation for the In defense of those who are hard work and dedication they unaware of the women’s trehad put in for the school. mendous success in recent years, Before taking over the that success is just that: recent. women’s basketball beat during From 1996-2003 the Aggies the 2009 season, I must admit I went 22-90 in Big 12 play and hadn’t attended many games. In never finished higher than ninth fact, I foolishly believed many of in the Big 12 standings the stereotypes surroundTaking over in the ing the gender of the 2003-04 season, Blair sport. quickly turned the With the team’s It wouldn’t program around. recent success, take long In his third it’s become however, for season, A&M high time to pay me to find that finished third in attention. the passion and the conference spirit these players and made a trip to have matches, if the NCAA Tournament for the first time not exceeds, those of since 1994. In year four, the the much more popular men. women won the program’s first I found that big-time national conference championship. The stars like Danielle Gant and Takia Starks weren’t playing for past two seasons, the Aggies have made trips to the Elite 8 recognition or draft status but and the Sweet 16. to succeed to the highest posComing into 2010 howsible level in college. ever, many believed the Aggies For these players, the were facing a rebuilding year.

WNBA and Europe are opBut despite the graduation tions, but a majority will end of two of the best players in their basketball careers when school history — Gant and their days in Aggieland are

Evan Andrews— THE BATTALION

Making a change Junior Danielle Adams has had to adjust on and off the court

By Mike Teague | The Battalion

B

Jonny Green — THE BATTALION

Junior guard Sydney Colson and the Aggies begin Big 12 tournament play on Friday when they face the winner of the Texas-Missouri game in Kansas City. over. For those who do move on to a professional level, there are no huge salaries with giant signing bonuses. With a rookie minimum salary of $34,500 and the career maximum at $95,000, there are no mansions, import cars or yachts. These women play the game for the joy of being on the court.

Beyond the passion for the game, stereotypes still exist that plague the popularity of the women’s game.

For instance, many believe there isn’t enough scoring in the women’s game. This season, the women averaged 75.2 points per game to the men’s 72.

Of course, comparing statistics can be like comparing apples to oranges due to the physical nature of the men’s game.

However, due to their lack of size and strength, female players tend to rely more on fundamentals and execution. I have seen unbelievable passes, crossovers, post moves and blocks that easily compare with the men’s Sportscenter highlights.

The message delivered by women’s Head Coach Gary Blair is that fans need to enjoy the fundamentals, the heart, the passion and the tenacity these ladies put on display every game.

Despite going 55-5 at home in the last four seasons, A&M’s fan support for women’s basketball is simply mediocre compared to other Big 12 schools. Averaging 5,155 fans per game, the Aggies’ 2009-10 attendance ranked sixth in the conference. In comparison, an average of 5,477 fans came to

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Starks — a new crop of stars has risen under Blair.

The introduction of junior college transfer Danielle Adams has completely changed the Aggies’ game. Piloting the offense, junior Sydney Colson’s assertiveness has given A&M a virtual coach on the floor.

Developing into impact players, sophomores Sydney Carter, Tyra White and Adaora Elonu have shown vast improvement and are on their way to becoming the future leaders of the team.

With the senior leadership of Smith and Buchanan, the versatility of Adams, the heart of Colson, the promise of Carter, White and Elonu and the grittiness of Baker and Assarian, the Aggies have developed into a squad ready to make their own mark on the program’s legacy.

The point is the women’s program is one of the best in the country and is run by one of the best coaches in the history of the game. If students can camp out for two days to get good seats at the men’s game, why can’t they spend three hours supporting the women?

I hope everyone will watch the women in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments where they have a great chance to win a conference and/or national championship. More importantly, I hope to see Reed Arena’s student sections full next season, no matter what team is on the floor.

Mike Teague is a senior sports management major.

amount of resources at her disposal compared to those she had at Jefferson College in Missouri.

“Basically I had to start over with her, because she never had any support before,” Jones said. “We set a goal for her each week. We’d try to lose two to three pounds a week and she met those goals. The cool thing with Danielle is she wanted to do it so it made it really easy.

There were days when she was tired and didn’t feel like doing things but she set in her mind that this was something she wanted to do and she did it. Once the season started, she had met the goal she had set for herself.”

Despite all the work Adams has had to put in to play for Blair, it is the reason why she chose to come to A&M. “I felt like the coaches would push me more and [I would] become a better player,” Adams said. “When I came to visit, I felt like I really trusted the coaching staff. They did a great job of pushing me every day.”

With the dedication and motivation Adams has displayed, Blair said he believes she has the potential to be the best player in the Big 12 this season and the best in the country next year. Adams’ willingness to be coached and learn from her mistakes

is what makes her unique, Blair said.

“She’s agreeable to anything we suggest,” Blair said. “A lot of players come in from junior college just wanting to be polished up and not changed. Danielle The 6 feet 1 inch phenom has already has changed some things. She’s been a made a huge impact in her first season rim shooter for most of her life with just with the Aggie women’s basketball team. a great touch. Sometimes under traffic, Leading the team in scoring and reboundshe’s got to learn to use the backboard. ing, Adams has asserted herself as one of the She tried it after I got on to her. Most kids premier players in the Big 12 conference. would try it in practice but she did it in a Despite her advantageous height, congame time situation. She did what I asked cerns about Adams’ endurance and weight and that’s all I can ask for a player to do. followed her to Aggieland. She was She accepts criticism very well.” chosen as the pre-season “Newcomer of Stemming from all of the hard work the Year” in the Big 12, but Adams came and conditioning Adams has put in since off the bench for a majority of A&M’s August, she has lost more than 30 pounds non-conference schedule because of her and has become an integral part of the endurance issues.

Aggies’ team.

When Adams first arrived in College “Her weight loss shows in the game,” Station, A&M Head Coach Gary Blair said junior guard Sydney Colson. “She’s knew she would have her work cut out been playing better, harder and longer. for her.

We’re really proud of her because we re“We could push her on the court to ally need for her to do that.” lose weight, but she had to want to do it Since the start of Big 12 play, Adams herself,” Blair said. “She was able to play in ranks fifth in the conference in scoring high school and junior college getting by with 16.3 points per game and fourteenth on talent, but at this level, everybody has in rebounding with 6.4 per game. In her talent and everybody is in better shape.“ first Big 12 start against Texas Tech, Adams It wouldn’t be long before Adams realbecame the second player in school history ized how important her physical health to record a triple-double. was and that she had to This season, Adams has make a change. proven her game extends “She thought she could well past her height and get by but she pulled a strength inside. Her outside hamstring the first day of shooting and mobility have conditioning,” Blair said. given her a dynamic game “She missed the whole that presents a difficult month, but since then evmatchup for opponents. erything [Assistant Strength “She’s just a tripleand Conditioning Coach] threat,” Colson said. “She Jen Jones has given her, can go down and post she’s done with a great atsomebody up, take people titude. Everything that the off the dribble, and step out nutritionist has suggested, and shoot the ball as well.” she’s followed through.”

Although Adams came to Jones put in the time Aggieland for the coaching, and effort to help Adams she has grown to appreciate lose weight and perform at the Twelfth Man and the the level she is now. It was spirit displayed on game day. a long, enduring process “I love the fans,” Adams that took a lot of dedication said. “They’re the greatest. on Adams’ part.

Even though we don’t have “We started back in a lot of people at the game, August when she got here,” I still love them.”

Jones said. “In the fall we Adams said she has found go Mondays, Wednesdays her place in the family unit and Fridays at 6 a.m. This that incorporates the Aggie was all new to her. In Ocbasketball team. She enjoys tober, we took it a step furthe friendships and connecther for her to individualize tions that this team has given a program for her needs her. and decided to increase her “The friendship is great. cardio. Everybody else was It’s sisterhood and we’re all finished with pre-season sisters. Everyone respects conditioning and just praceach other’s game and we ticing, she was still meeting all respect each other off me at 7 a.m. seven days a the court. It’s a big family week and an hour after each J.D. Swiger— THE BATTALION atmosphere with all types of practice.” personalities,” she said.

Junior forward Danielle Adams came to A&M from Jefferson Adams quickly became accustomed to the workout College in Missouri. Adams leads the No. 15 Aggies with 16.3 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game during Big 12 play. routine and the massive

ig talent, big heart, big player.

Texas A&M junior Danielle Adams is larger than life on and off the basketball court.

3/8/10 7:14 PM

news

page 7 tuesday 3.9.2010

thebattalion

Former cadets recognized for service Seven former cadets were inducted into the Corps Hall of Honor on Saturday. The men were class of 1960 Jarrell Gibbs, Bill Heye, class of 1965 Ted Hopgood, class of 1966, Henry Goodwin, class of 1980 Michael Fossum, class of 1988 Neal Adams and class of 1942 Turney W. Leonard.

Leonard received the award posthumously. “We do this every year, kind of like the Distinguished Alumnus Award with the Association, but it’s for the Corps,” said Annette Walker, the media relations coordinator for the Corps of Cadets. New members are selected by a committee after a nomination process.

The Corps of Cadets, former students, the inductees and families attended. Corps Cmdr.

Brent Lanier, a senior political science major, spoke, and A&M President R. Bowen Loftin and A&M Regent Lupe Fraga presented the plaques to the members. Each inductee gave a speech following the presentation, and Leonard’s niece spoke on his behalf.

“Each of them spoke on their accomplishments and what it meant to them,” Walker said.

“They talked about what it meant to be an Aggie, what it meant to be in the Corps, what they learned in their life; quite a few of them offered words of wisdom or comments toward the Corps. They talked about things they experienced in their life that they felt the Corps had prepared them for.”

Furthering US, China relations Students attend conference in Beijing, learn about Chinese culture Samantha Johnson The Battalion A group of American students, including 20 from Texas A&M University, attended the China-U.S. Relations Conference in October in Beijing, China, a program designed to help Chinese and American students strengthen relationships and discuss important world issues.

The students spent two days at the conference listening to speakers, experiencing the culture and meeting Chinese students. The theme of the 2009 conference was “U.S.-China Relations: Looking ahead after 30 Years.”

Gabriela Santistevan, a senior animal science and agricultural economics double major who attended the conference,

said the event was informative.

“The conference focused on different strategies in which both countries could work together and develop innovative techniques to meet challenging issues between them and for the world,” Santistevan said. “At the same time several topics focused on how the U.S. and China have improved their relations in the last 30 years.”

Some of the speakers of this conference included Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, Neil Bush and A&M President R. Bowen Loftin.

Nicole Crum, a senior information and operations management major, said being able to encounter the history and culture of Beijing was a wonderful experience.

“Beijing is an amazing city with a rich heritage. We had the opportunity to go to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, tour the Summer Palace, bask in awe at the Lama Temple, walk and then toboggan down the Great Wall, see the home of the 2008 Summer Olympics and eat amazing food,” she said.

Each American student was paired with a Chinese roommate, giving the students time to learn and interact with each other.

Victoria Link, a senior international studies major, said having the opportunity to meet with Chinese students was the best part.

“While seeing Beijing and the Great Wall was incredible, the best part was definitely meeting so many Chinese stu-

More information Contact your major’s Research Roundtable to get an invitation to the conference at http://china-us.tamu.edu. dents,” Link said. “You can read books about China and the Communist party but you can’t really begin to understand their mentality without visiting China and having frank discussions with the people.”

Santistevan said she would encourage students to apply for the next conference in 2011.

“Everyone should apply. It is an amazing experience to hear how the two most powerful countries in the world come together to try to solve global issues,” she said.

Brandi Tevebaugh, staff writer

Cushing showcases science fiction collection Cushing Memorial Library and Archives will open “One Hundred Years Hence: Science Fiction and Fantasy at Texas A&M” at 3 p.m. Friday with a ceremony following.

The pieces from Science Cushing’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection on display span the history of the genre, including literary works preceding what has come to be known as this day’s science fiction, pulp periodicals and novels as early as the 1930s, current best sellers and numerous historic figurines such as a model of Star Trek’s Starship Enterprise.

“We are all excited about getting it put up and having the opening ceremony and having it available. The collection is one of the Top 10 in the U.S. and we are quite happy about being able to showcase it for the second time,” said Hal Hall, Cushing library’s science fiction curator. “This will give them a look into the world of science fiction they have never seen before.” Since the first showing in 1974, the exhibit also includes many pieces never seen, such as original manuscripts and letters by genre luminaries George R. R. Martin, Robert Heinlein, Andre Norton and J.R.R. Tolkien. Visitors can explore the special collection through cases and wall panels depicting notable movements, writers and the influence of science fiction on mass culture.

Katy Ralston, staff writer

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b!

page 8 tuesday 3.9.2010

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Jeff Bridges took home his first Oscar for Best Actor for his role in “Crazy Heart.”

F

or the first time in five year’s, America sat down ASSOCIATED PRESS to watch the Academy Awards. At least 14 Kathryn Bigelow accepts the Oscar from percent more than 2009 and presenter Barbra Streisand as the first woman the biggest crowd since 2005’s to win an Oscar for Best Director for “The Hurt “Million Dollar Baby” took Locker” about bomb diffusings in the ongoing home Best Picture. Not too war in Iraq. surprising, given that James Cameron’s “Avatar,” with Tuohy in the drama “The its blue people, special efBlind Side,” which, if you fects and all, has become the somehow haven’t seen it yet, highest grossing film of all is the true story of the Tuohy time. Barbara Walter’s 29th family who took in a homeand final Oscar special also less black teenager, made him drew a crowd, with a unique part of their family, and helped look back at previous years’ Megan Keyho him become who is today — Oscar specials dating back to NFL offensive tackle, Michael actors and actresses nominated 1981, reminiscing on stars like for Best Actor and Best Actress Oher.

Brooke Shields, Meg Ryan Bullock’s speech was took the stage to deliver brief and Tom Cruise.

Oscar-worthy, as she graciously but uplifting sentiments about The co-hosts for the Oscars thanked her fellow nominees by the nominees. were a draw, featursingling them out with genuine Oprah Wining the hilarious compliments about their work, frey spoke for comic veteran and of course, a hilarious comThis years Academy Gabourey Steve Martin ment to Meryl Streep about her Awards drew a Sidibe, the and Alec kissing abilities. star of bigger crowd than Baldwin.

A touching tribute to John “Precious,” previous year’s, but Their Hughes, presented by Matrevealing an opening some important thew Broderick and Molly inspirational monologue stars were missing Ringwald, included a monCinderella was humorfrom crucial tage of Hughes’ movies as story of a girl ous, as they moments. other memorable members of who skipped exchanged Hughes’ movies including Ally class on a Friday witty dialogue Sheedy, Macaulay Culkin and and found herself drawing attention Jon Cryer took the stage to on the set of an Oscarto nominees such as “Avatar” nominated movie Monday. Jeff quote his iconic lines and offer (easily the most open target of kind words about the director Bridges teared up as Michelle the night) when they pulled who captured the teenage angst Pfeiffer, his co-star from “The out 3-D glasses to see Cambetter than anyone in our time.

Fabulous Baker Boys,” praised eron clearly.

Although the Oscars manhis work ethic and lack of Despite success at the box aged to honor Hughes during offices, “Avatar” only managed vanity. the tribute and many others Another memorable speaker to pick up three out of nine during the annual Memorial was Stanley Tucci who spoke nominations, winning for Best on behalf of Meryl Streep, and film, they somehow left out Visual Effects, Best Art Directwo of the most beloved stars joked about an Oscar cap at tor and Best Cinematography, who died in 2009 — Far17 for the actress who has the while “The Hurt Locker,” a rah Fawcett and Bea Arthur. nomination record at 16 times. film without all the special efAlthough both were known for Almost four decades after fects, inflated budget and easily their notable TV careers more his first nomination for “The “Avatar”s biggest contender, than they were for their movie Last Picture Show” in 1971, took home twice as many roles, the inclusion of Michael Jeff Bridges humbly took awards including Best Picture home his first Oscar for “Crazy Jackson made the exclusion and Best Director. unjustifiable.

The Best Director Oscar was Heart” where he played a But at the end of the night, worn-out country singer. particularly special as Kathryn it was about the films that were “Crazy Heart” also picked up a Bigelow is the first woman to being honored for distinct win the award. She thanked her much-deserved Oscar for Best excellence, and I was glad to fellow nominees (which includ- Original Song, “The Weary see the ones who deserved the Kind” by Ryan Bingham and ed Cameron, her ex-husband) coveted Oscar prevail whether T Bone Burnett. and described it as “the moit was the first nomination or It was nice to see Sanment of a lifetime.” the fifth. dra Bullock, an actress who One of the most remarkusually sticks to lighthearted able parts of show, due to its Megan Keyho is a senior comedic roles, pick up her sincerity and unpredictability, English major and first Oscar for Best Actress for was when co-stars from varilifestyles editor. her portrayal of Leigh Anne ous points in the career of the

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EDITOR’SNOTE The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of Texas A&M University, The Battalion or its staff.

MAILCALL GUESTCOLUMNS Make your opinion known by submitting Mail Call or guest columns to The Battalion. Mail

call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters

‘

will be read, but not printed. The Battalion will print only one letter per author per month. No mail call will appear in The Battalion’s print or online editions before it is verified.

Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 | mailcall@thebatt.com

voices

thebattalion 03.09.2010

page9

Shaping up for swimsuit season I f you are like me, you’ve spent the past few weeks leading up to spring break on a strict diet of stale fast foods, cheap beer and a daily exercise regimen of throwing fireworks into your toilet with your little brother. (As in he was helping throw them, not also being thrown in ... although .... )

James Cavin What I’m trying to say is I am experiencing a certain amount of dread for the oncoming swimsuit season. This is probably because I tried on a swimsuit the other day. Whatever moron had designed the changing rooms decided to put mirrors in there, and not just one easily ignorable mirror. Every single surface of the room had mirrors, each angled to reflect unfitness from new and exotic angles, as if one of those edgy art movies were being made about my gut.

Perhaps it was because I had just eaten three pounds of Taco Cabana food, or perhaps it was because I was mistakenly trying on a women’s bikini bottom, but whatever the reason, I found the view to be less than satisfactory. There were facets of myself I had never seen before and sincerely hope never to see again.

The problem with being “out of shape” is that you are not, in fact, shapeless. You Not just are merely in an alternate shape. One that is the sleeves, less “curvy” and more “bulbous.” Needless to I’m talking the entire sides say, something has to be done. And I know I’m such that there’s little left but not alone. a collar and a small ribbon trailing down the Fortunately, the University is sympathetic to middle of your chest. Remember, it’s not a our plight, and has created a building called the workout shirt if it can cover more than one Student Recreation Center (or “Rec” for short, nipple at a time. as in “my body has just been through a Rec”).

Spray an entire can of Pam across your The Rec is a strange and startling place to rippling pecs. The reflected gleam should be one unfamiliar with it. Fortunately for those of able to start forest fires up to 100 feet away. you who have been putting off the trip for this Walk the walk. The “Why yes, I work very reason, I have traveled ahead and return out a lot walk” is a difficult thing to master, with advice. but it goes something like this: flex every First, let us dispel the notion that the Rec is muscle in your body. Splay your legs for people who are out of shape. This is not so, apart, leave your arms at 45 degree the Rec is for people who want to show angles to your body (because your off their Olympian physiques in as Spending time massive biceps won’t let them little clothing as possible. at the Rec is hang flat) and remember, don’t Take for instance, the weight ever unclench your abs or your room. Weight room etiquette is a frustrating glutes. The end result should look like strange and mysterious creature, but necessary you’ve had a sudden and simultaneous but through careful observation, before you attack of rigor mortis and incontinence.

I believe to have unraveled the swimsuit up.

Talk the talk. By which I mean, don’t proper preparation process. talk at all. Instead produce grating guttural Rip off 75 percent of your shirt.

James Cavin —

N

THE BATTALIO

noises every time you lift something heavier than a tissue (try searching YouTube for “constipated water buffalo” for inspiration). Do this properly, and a task as simple as opening a locker should look as though you are trying to simultaneously rip the entire strip of lockers off the wall and give

birth to quintuplets.

The rationale behind this, as near as I can tell, is there may be some impressionable females within viewing distance. Strangely enough though, the weight room is made up almost entirely of other sweaty, oiled up, near-shirtless dudes ...

Apparently whoever decides the music playlist for the Rec has a similar rationale for their musical selection. Last time I was in the weight room, the music playing was, for lack of a better term, “getting jiggy with it” music.

Now, unless there is an entire wing of the Rec I don’t know about, this is not the reason I’m there. Although, come to think of it, I do see an awful lot of those ads for Rec massages ... When I’m “pumping iron” or three pound medicine balls as the case may be, I don’t need some sultry smooth jazz bass to come on and start crooning about how he is going to drape me across his silk sheets and ... so on.

Although it has certainly improved my sprinting time.

James Cavin is a senior English major.

Recognized Student Organization & Advisor of the Year Awards!

The Department of Student Activities is currently accepting nominations for Organization, New Advisor, and Advisor of the Year!

The Organization award seeks to recognize those groups that have significantly contributed to Texas A&M through their operations, programs, and services. The Advisor and New Advisor awards seek to recognize advisors who have provided exemplary guidance, support, and dedication to a Texas A&M recognized student organization.

NOMINATE TODAY!!

http://stuact.tamu.edu/oftheyear All Nominations are due by: Wednesday, March 24th @ 5pm For more information, please contact Bonnie Bustos at bbustos@stuact.tamu.edu or (979) 862-2494 or stop by the Department of Student Activities in 125 Koldus

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$100 for YOUR Organization

3/8/10 7:34 PM

news

page 10

THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY STUDENT MEDIA BOARD INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR

tuesday 3.9.2010

thebattalion

Editor

Aggieland 2011 Qualifications for editor-in-chief of the Aggieland yearbook are: REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester; PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society) and ARTS 203 (Graphic Design I), or equivalent; • Have demonstrated ability in writing through university coursework or equivalent experience; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible position on the Aggieland or comparable college yearbook.

Application forms should be picked up and returned to Bob Wegener, Student Media Board secretary, in room 013 of Bldg. #8901 in The Grove. Deadline for submitting application: 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

An equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to diversity

ONE HUNDR RED YEARS HEN NCE

Sccience Fiction & Fa antasy y att Texass A&M M 3:0 00 p.m.

Gue estt Spea akerr - James Gun nn

Cushing Memo orial Lib brary y & Arch hives

Courtesy photo

Mark Felder, a senior mechanical engineering major, completes one of the requirements for Urban Dare Houston. He and his sister Amanda Derkacs went on to win Urban Dare Houston 2009.

Race dares challengers to outwit competitors Evan Oliver Special to The Battalion Not all races are won by speed alone; sometimes it takes brains to get to the finish line. That’s the idea behind Kevin Keefe’s Urban Dare.

The most recent Urban Dare in Houston was won by senior mechanical engineering major Mark Felder and his sister Amanda Derkacs.

Teams of two solve clues to find checkpoints throughout the city, and to move on they must take photos or perform dares to earn passport stamps. The participants are allowed to use wireless devices for help.

In one dare a photograph was taken of a team member proposing to someone, and another required a picture of a team member shaking hands with a dog.

Felder did not learn about the event until a few days before it took place, he said. When he and his sister started, they did not think they had much chance when they saw how seriously people were.

“There were some people there who were super intense about it,” Felder said. “One guy was wearing a bunch of special clothes and a camel pack; he was stretching and everything; he looked like he

was about to go on a marathon.”

Felder and Derkacs asked their mom and Derkacs’ husband to help them figure out clues.

“There were two ‘ground crew’ members: myself and my daughter’s husband, Daniel Derkacs,” Peggy Felder said. “And between the two of us, Daniel was really the computer whiz.”

The race was in Montrose; a subsection of Houston.

“We’re from right around there,” Felder said. “So we knew the area really well; there are a lot of nooks and crannies you don’t know about unless you’re from there.”

Felder and his sister started by taking a picture of the clue sheet with cell phone and sent it to the ground crew to start researching.

Then they started running.

“My sister is a professional triathlete,” Felder said. “I think we ended up running about 10 miles in all; it was really painful.”

The hardest clue, according to most of the contestants was clue number 10.

“When George Stephen set out to make a grill in the 1950s, his neighbors called it Sputnik. Go to the field which goes by the name of this grill for your double dare.”

“We knew it was the Weber grill,” Felder said, “but we

couldn’t find Weber Field or Weber Park on any map.”

Then Felder got lucky when he fulfilled the dare to shake a dog’s hand and noticed the dog’s owner was wearing a Reed Rowdies T-shirt.

“He had gone to A&M, and when we told him we were looking for Weber Park, he knew right where it was. Apparently it was a dog park where they took their dog all the time.”

When Felder and Derkacs had gathered the last clue, they hurried back to the finish point. As they neared the finish line, a photographer rushed out and started snapping pictures.

“Maybe we didn’t do so badly ... we might be Top-5, I thought,” Derkacs said. “When we came in, our clue sheets and pictures had to be checked. Finally, we asked how far back we were from first, and Kevin told us we were the first finishers and had won the three-day cruise!”

By winning first place in the Houston Urban Dare, Felder and Amanda moved onto the final “Super Dare” which will take place on a three-day Caribbean Cruise. The grand prize is $5,000, something motivating for Felder.

“I hope we do well; I could sure use that money in college.”

Urban Dare Dallas The race begins at 11 a.m. May 1 at Ginger Man Pub on Boll Street in Dallas.

Check-in is at 11:00 a.m. to noon. Cost is $90 per team until April 24, and $100 the week of the event, with proceeds going to breast cancer research.

For the event, team members should bring a cell phone, a digital camera, a map, a pen and note paper. Teams will cover about five miles and face fun dares along the way.

Team costumes are encouraged and the team with the best costume will win a prize. To sign your team up, go to http://www. urbandare.com.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE to feature your group in the 2010 Aggieland yearbook How to get a contract: Stop by our office in The Grove, Bldg. #8901 (next to the Albritton Bell Tower,) or visit our website: http://aggieland. tamu.edu call 979.845.2681

AGGIELAND 2010 Official yearbook of Texas A&M University

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