The Battalion: March 31, 2010 by The Battalion

thebattalion ● wednesday,

march 31, 2010

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

Rebuilding from

Camp burns Camp of the Hills is a nonproﬁt Christian summer camp in Marble Falls, Texas, for underprivileged children who would not otherwise have the chance to attend. The camp’s main structure burned down at approximately 2:30 p.m. on March 24.

RUBBLE Camp of the Hills catches ﬁre, Aggies reﬂect on time there.

A&M impact Every summer, dozens of members of Aggies for Christ volunteer time to children of Camp of the Hills. When the structure burned, a group of counselor Aggies and other contributors to the camp met to discuss the upcoming summer camp plans. Everyone agreed they would still proceed. “We will make whatever kind of sacriﬁces we need to. The work that we do at Camp of the Hills is worth it,” said head male counselor and junior biology major, Kyle Westbrook. Donations can be made at http://www. campofthehills.org through the eGive icon. Courtesy photo

Damage and future plans

Mission of camp

The structure that collapsed was home to the dining hall, commercial kitchen, main ofﬁces, counselor area and nurse’s station. There were no injuries and a cause of the ﬁre has not been determined. All cabins and water systems remained intact. This summer more than 400 registered campers will attend under a 10,000-square-foot tent in the parking lot of the camp. “By the end of this week, we will establish a schedule on what individuals and groups can do. We’ll have a big day of erecting the tent and have cleanup days,” said executive director of the camp, Mel Bowman, class of 1976. Plans to reconstruct a metal facility will begin Sept. 1. Bowman said the building should be completed by February 2011.

“We realized that it was just a building, I don’t know the reason for it, but I just know God is going to use this summer in better ways that He’s ever been used before,” Kyle Westbrook said. “We’re all really excited about what we’re going to be able to do. Camp of the Hills is not about the building, it’s about the love of Jesus Christ and getting to share this with kids who haven’t been able to experience that acceptance and love before.” Laura Sanchez, staff writer

Restaurant advertises alternatively

Professor’s legacy lives on

Megan Ryan

After the death of Texas A&M University marketing professor Jeffrey Conant past summer, the Conant family and Concert s t u d e n t s touched info by his ◗ The concert is at teaching 6:30 p.m. Thursday are comConant at Wolf Pen Creek. ing together in his honor. ◗ Tickets for Students, faculty and the concert family formeed Project Conant, a group looking and a T-shirt to raise money and create are available at Spoons Yogurt, On a scholarship in his name. “Jeff Conant was an inthe Border and spiring classroom teacher, Cavender’s for $10. one of the best teachers ◗ Tickets at the ever at Texas A&M. He gate are $15. taught his students to do

The Battalion With today’s economy, it’s not surprising people are finding different ways to advertise. The owners of Shipwreck Grill, Wade and Mary Beckman, both class of 1990, thought it best to use YouTube. com to advertise the restaurant. “Someone mentioned early on that we should do a commercial using the Saturday Night Live skit ‘I’m on a Boat,’” Wade said. After asking his staff about the video, he decided to watch the video. Wade said he found the video hilarious, and got to work putting the ideas together. “We had at least 100 folks, almost all of them college students, involved in the process and at the shoot,” Wade said. “It totally exceeded our expectations and was a blast to film.” The video has more than 2,000 views. Wade and Mary said the video has been an excellent source of advertising. “We debuted it on Mardi Gras,” Mary said. ”We packed more people in this place than we could possibly fit. Every seat was taken,

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Travis Lawson

The Battalion

Courtesy photo

Screenshot of YouTube video, “Shipwreck BCS I’m on a Boat” shows Aggies dancing on restaurant. and people were standing. Everybody was screaming and yelling and laughing.” With such racy language and themes, Wade said he did have some concerns about reactions to the video. However, the couple said there was little negative commentary and a great deal of positive reactions. “We’ve had people in their 70s and 80s come in here and ask to buy a copy,” Mary said. Though the form of advertising may seem less professional than a standard commercial, they said the video took time and effort.

“We hired a professional videographer and it took several weeks to plan,” Wade said. “It was 34 to 36 degrees outside when we shot the video. Many of the folks were actually singing, ‘I want a coat’ versus ‘I’m on a boat.’ It was so very cool to have so many folks braving it to be in the video.” Though the commercial had not aired on television, Wade said it has managed to generate a tremendous amount of business. “We have had numerous folks coming into the restaurant See Shipwreck on page 4

good and to give back,” said Leonard Berry, a professor at Mays Business School. “Project Conant is a way to honor his memory and celebrate his life’s work.” Granger Smith will be performing and the proceeds will go to the endowment of a Conant scholarship fund for marketing students. A video, uncovered after Conant’s death, of him and a few of his students dancing will be shown. See Conant on page 8

this day in

rld wohistory

March 31, 1853

Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was born in Groot Zundert, Holland. He was a Postimpressionist painter, generally considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt. During his short (10 year) painting career he produced over 800 oil paintings and 700 drawings, but sold only one during his lifetime. In 1987, the sale of his painting Irises brought $53.9 million, the highest price ever paid for a work of art up to that time. During his life, Van Gogh suffered from despair and bouts of mental illness. He committed suicide in 1890 by gunshot.

3/30/10 8:43 PM

Y L L U F PED P I U EQ

Q-Drop deadline

The deadline for all students to drop courses with no penalty (Q-drop) is 5 p.m. April 6.

Scholarship deadline

The deadline to apply for study abroad scholarships for fall or 2010-2011 academic year trips is at 5 p.m. Thursday. For more information, visit https:// sfaid.tamu.edu/UWideApp/.

corrections

Facebook ●

OneLove Palooza auction T-shirt sale for $5, a spring silent auction of A&M student-created art and live acoustic sets. The events is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the H20 Fountain.

Today breezy High: 83 Low: 56

The Battalion welcomes readers’ comments about published information that may require correction. We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction needs to be published. Please e-mail at editor@thebatt.com.

For daily updates go to thebatt.com ●

courtesy of NOAA

Twitter @thebattonline

President Obama signs law finalizing health care, loan redo WASHINGTON — Finalizing two major pieces of his agenda, President Barack Obama on Tuesday sealed his health care overhaul and made the government the primary lender to students by cutting banks out of the process. Both domestic priorities came in one bill, pushed through by Democrats in the House and Senate and signed into law by a beaming president. The new law makes a series of changes to the massive health insurance reform bill that he signed into law with even greater fanfare last week. Those fixes included removing some specials deals that had angered the public and providing more money for poorer and middleincome individuals and families to help them buy health insurance. But during an appearance at a community college in suburban Virginia, he emphasized the overshadowed part of the bill: education. In this final piece of health reform, Democrats added in a restructuring of the way the government handles loans affecting millions of students. The law strips banks of their role as middlemen in federal student loans and puts the government in charge. The president said that change would save more than $60 billion over the next 10 years, which in turn would be used to boost Pell Grants for students and reinvest in

Aggie relay sells custom latte Aggie Relay for Life is boosting efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society by having a fundraising event to raise $48,000 in 48 hours.“48 in 48” will be from 7 p.m. to midnight Wednesday at Muldoon’s Coffee House. The organization has teamed with the coffee house to create a custom latte for the cause. “Throughout the day, proceeds from the sale of the latte will help us get to $48,000,” said Courtney Bohannon, public director for Aggie Relay. The event will include a charity concert by the A&M group Headphones for Hope. This the ﬁrst year this type of fundraiser has been done by Aggie Relay. The money raised will go to cancer research including to two A&M cancer research professors. The efforts help patients receive transportation to appointments and makeover hair programs. For donations, visit the Relay Web site at http://aggierelay.tamu.edu Laura A. Sanchez, staff writer

community colleges. “I didn’t stand with the banks and the financial industries in this fight — that’s not why I came to Washington — and neither did any of the members of Congress who are here today,” Obama said to a supportive crowd at Northern Virginia Community College. “We stood with you. We stood with America’s students.” Private lenders still will make student loans that are not backed by the government, and they still will have contracts to service some federal loans. But the change reflected in the new law represents a significant loss in what has been a $70 billion business for the banking industry. Among many other features, the new law is expected to make it easier for some college graduates to repay loans. The government will essentially guarantee that workers in low-paying jobs will be able to reduce their payments. Current law caps monthly payments at 15 percent of these workers’ incomes; the new law will lower the cap to 10 percent. About half of undergraduates receive federal student aid and about 8.5 million students are going to college with the help of Pell Grants. Obama was effusive in his praise for the lawmakers who stood by him on the health care and education legislation. Associated Press

Myths about weight

First Friday

For students not going home, downtown Bryan will be having First Friday this week. Artist demonstrations, live music and crafts will be offered.

The Student Recreation Center will have a presentation on “Myths and Misconceptions About Maintaining a Healthy Weight” at 5:30 p.m. today in Room 281.

Thursday breezy high: 82 low: 62 Good Friday 30% chance of storms high: 80 low: 57 Saturday mostly sunny high: 78 low: 51

pagetwo thebattalion 03.31.2010

Talking trash

Bryant Keith Alexander, professor of performance, culture and pedagogy at California State University, presented “The Garbage Man’s Kid: An Autobiographical Performance” Tuesday at the Fallout Theatre in Blocker. Alexander’s performance explores a black father-son relationship. Jeramie Heflin — THE BATTALION

Nissan will sell electric car for just over $25,000 NEW YORK — Nissan Motor Co. said Tuesday its new electric car will cost just over $25,000 in the U.S., a move that could force rivals to lower prices on similar vehicles. The Leaf, a four-door hatchback due in showrooms late this year, will have a base price of $32,780, but buyers can get a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit, Nissan said. The price tag puts the Leaf, which can go up to 100 miles on a single charge from a home outlet, within reach of mainstream car buyers, and it also will force competitors to respond when they introduce their cars.

General Motors Co., which also will begin selling its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car later this year, said that it will look at Nissan’s pricing before announcing the Volt’s price closer to its December sales date. “I think it’s fair to say their pricing, it won’t overwhelm, but it will have some influence on our pricing decision,” said GM spokesman Rob Peterson. GM was looking to price the Volt, which can go 40 miles on full electricity before a small gas engine kicks in to provide power, around $35,000. It would cost $27,500 with the tax credit.

But GM executives itself as the market have said they are leader. trying to lower the GM maintains that Nissan Leaf can price as they begin the Volt is a better go up to 100 building models at a value than the Leaf bemiles versus the Detroit factory. cause drivers don’t have GM Volt that Other competitors, to worry about running goes 40 miles. such as Ford Moout of electricity. The tor Co. and Chrysler car’s gas engine gives it Group LLC, also plan nearly unlimited range, to sell fully electric GM says. cars, but those will come out after Although the Volt can travel the Volt and Leaf hit showrooms in farther, GM still has to compete with December. The Volt and Leaf are the the Leaf on price, especially among first two electric cars to go on sale drivers who don’t drive that far or that will appeal to the mass market. have a second car for long-distance Orders in the travel, Merkle said. U.S. start April 20 “They’re going to find themselves and Nissan is aiming going up against the Leaf, and being for 25,000 orders by compared to that probably quite a December. bit,” he said. Nissan says the Leaf But Aaron Bragman, an auto will cost 3.76 milindustry analyst with IHS Global lion yen ($40,000) Insight in Troy, Mich., said the Leaf in Japan. It will and Volt will compete for different price the car lower customers. He said the Leaf will apin the U.S. because peal mainly to suburban commuters it wants to sell — a smaller market — because of its more of them in 100-mile range limit. that market. The In larger cities, plugging in the car automaker says it is to recharge becomes a problem for confident it can still apartment dwellers, he said. make money at that “The Volt, in particular, has a price. much larger appeal,” he said. But Erich MerkBragman sees the cars as the le, president of the beginning of automakers trying to consulting company determine how to equip and market Autoconomy.com electric cars. in Grand Rapids, “They’re still trying to figure out Mich., said Nissan what’s going to sell and what’s not ASSOCIATED PRESS may be deliberately going to sell,” he said. setting the price low Nissan Motor Co. Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga poses for photographers with and may even lose the automaker’s “Leaf” zero-emission electric vehicle Tuesday in Yokohama, Japan. money to establish

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 T AMU, 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 T exas 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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5 before you go things you should know

It’s time

“It’s Time” is a two-day LGBT conference which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the court ruling that ordered Texas A&M to recognize Gay Student Services as a student organization. It will be today and Thursday. Visit http://itstime. tamu.edu/ for more information.

Farmers market

Fresh fruits and vegetables will be sold from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday in front of Sbisa Dining Hall.

Acts of activism

Soyini Madison, professor of performance studies at Northwestern University, will be speaking about “Acts of Activism: Human Rights as Radical Performance” from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday in room 311 of Melbern G. Glasscock History Building.

Spa day

Beginning Thursday students can submit nominations in the form of a one-page essay highlighting a Texas A&M faculty member that they feel is deserving of a weekend getaway for four. Essays must be submitted to sales@ latorrettalakeresort. com no later than midnight on May 20.

Good Friday

Friday is a reading day and no classes will be held. Break service schedules will be in operatation for campus transportation. For more information about bus schedules go to http://transport.tamu. edu/transit/service. aspx#break.

thebattalion 03.31.2010 page3

scene

Charity through

chili Nancy Barerra

The Battalion Courtesy photo Chilifest, an event that Chilifest 2010 will mark the 19th year of the event. Chilifest has become known for its annual chili cook-off as well as occurs annually at the Starlight Ballroom in Snook, its entertainment aspect, as they feature many country artists. started off as a philanthropy attend Saturday’s portion of Chilifest event through a committee of six people in to enjoy the live music, food and 1991 at a Wal-Mart parking lot. Chilifest entertainment mainly to have a good time,” said Now, 18 years later, Chilifest has develline-up: Tickets can be purchased at: David Towery, a senior agriculoped into a nonprofit organization that helps • April 9 • Catalena tural economics major send children of the Brazos Valley to college, mentors 5 p.m. Kristen Kelly & the Modern Hatters and vice-chairman activities for children of low-income families and Day Drifters • Callaway Villas Chilifest is an of Chilifest. educates in alcohol awareness. Chilifest contrib6 p.m. Ryan Beaver • CC Creations “Chilifest annual event held utes to organizations such as Burleson County 7 p.m. Rodney Parker & the 50 Peso • Aggieland Outfitters 2010 this in Snook, Texas Go Texan, Brazos Valley Boys & Girls Club, St. Reward year will be • Inspirations Jude’s Hospital, Snook Lions Club and the Special that features 8 p.m. No Justice bigger and • Loupot’s Bookstores Olympics. country music and better because 9 p.m. Honeybrowne “Not only is Chilifest an association to facilitate • Raising Cane’s a chili competition. we have better 10 p.m. Bart Crow Band charities and the less fortunate, but it is also an They are $30 or for $35 at the parking and a more event in which attendees can take pleasure in a day gate the day of. organized bus system,” • April 10 filled of activities, live music and food from Wings N said Travis Hughes, vice-chair11 a.m. Corey Morrow More,” said James Redfield, senior agribusiness major and man of Chilifest and junior agricultural 12:30 p.m. Roger vice-chairman of Chilifest. economics major. Chilifest will be divided between two days. April 9, the day Creager He said for the safetey of the public their will be in which 475 teams cook chili and April 10, the day when teams 2:15 p.m. Eli Young law enforcment strictly patrolling the area. Organizers offer chili to the public in a competition. Band expect more than 40,000 at the event this year. “Friday is only for the competitors but the general public can 4 p.m. Aaron Watson 5:45 Dwight Yoakam

Green Zone:

re-bourne

tumultuous opening scene, depicting the Baghdad skyline as a wasteland illuminated by gunfire and explosives, sets the pace for Paul Greengrass’ ambitious Iraqi war film, “Green Zone.” Matt Damon stars as Roy Miller, a truthseeking Army officer charged with the task Austin Meek of uncovering weapons of mass destruction. Courtesy photo Even the filmmaking style is the After his intelligence proves faulty on multiple same as in the Bourne films. Green- Matt Damon plays Roy Miller in the Iraqi war film “Green Zone” who is trying to uncover weapons occasions, Miller questions the integrity of the grass’ use of handheld cameras in the of mass destruction. Army’s source and unknowingly unfurls a web intense action scenes gives the viewer Freddy, steps into the picture and guns down lan,” who’s information is only transmitted to of miscommunication and deception coverthe incredible feeling of sitting right next to that the general, saying something to the effect of her via Poundstone. She fails to thoroughly ing the entire mission in Iraq. Miller directly exploding grenade, but also unforgivably doles “You need to let Iraqis deal with Iraq’s probverify her source and, in the end, discovers disobeys orders from Pentagon official Clark out the accompanying headaches and lems. We must make decisions for ourselves.” Poundstone deliberately misconstrued the data Poundstone, Greg Kinnear, and teams motion sickness. Greengrass and screenwriter Brian Helgeshe thought was from Magellan in order to up with the CIA. intelligence agent Greg Kinnear plays the su“Green Zone” fails land clearly side with the anti-war coterie opfurther his personal initiatives. Martin Brown (Brendan Gleeson) percilious sneak to a tee, and if posing U.S. occupation in Iraq. That position “Green Zone” misses the mark because it in an attempt to uncover the with too much his dialogue had been writis entirely credible, but it’s much easier held in hits too close to home. It presents a painfully truth about the presence (or lack contemporary ten a bit more compellingly, retrospect now that the search for WMD has realistic view of the proceedings in Iraq, and thereof) of WMDs (weapons of political commentary he would have undoubtedly proven fruitless. these feelings of discomfort are exacerbated by mass destruction) in Iraq. and not enough stolen the show. As it were, Greengrass also vividly portrays strained the fact that we were unsuccessful in comThe acting is serviceable inventive action or his lines come off as lifeless, and relationships between governmental agenpleting our mission of discovering biological but ultimately forgettable. Matt dialogue. we never view him as anything cies, specifically the Pentagon and the CIA weapons. If you hold a particular interest in Damon fails to expand on the role more than a corrupt high-ranking When Miller questions the hostility between our country’s involvement in the Middle East he played as Jason Bourne — he’s government official, a role we’ve seen Poundstone and Brown and asks, “Aren’t or have an irrepressible crush on Matt Damon, the same guy who answers every quesin countless films (especially from Greengrass’ we all on the same side?” CIA agent Brown check this movie out. Otherwise, you’d be tion with an icy stare and an AK-47. He’s a arsenal). Brendan Gleeson and Amy Ryan scoffs, “Don’t be so naïve.” The fact that better served saving the money or catching a great actor, undeniably one of the finest of our multiple agendas are being promoted presents more worthy film. time, but I would have liked to see him broaden (“The Office”) give acceptable performances, but their characters also fall prey to the cliché an interesting (though a bit trite) plot twist and his repertoire with this part. Though the contrivances of the screenplay. doubles as a scary reality when thinking about blame can’t be fully placed on Damon’s broad Ultimately, “Green Zone” is an indictment our military’s presence in Iraq. shoulders; director Paul Greengrass has essenof three things: the Iraq War, inter-governFinally, the movie indicts the media. Amy tially made another “Bourne” movie, except mental chicanery and biased media. In the Ryan’s character, an investigative reporter for now Damon’s an army officer instead of a CIA the Wall Street Journal, obtains all her informaAustin Meek is a sophomore operative and this movie is set in Baghdad rather climactic scene, once Miller apprehends Iraqi General al Rawi, Miller’s native translator, tion from one source: a man named “Magelgeneral studies major and special to The Battalion. than remote locations across the globe.

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The Creator God Leaves Heaven for You! The Easter Story: The Creator-God of the universe, Jesus Christ, left His home in heaven to become a human being. He lived a perfect life, performed miracles, was betrayed, and wrongfully condemned to death. After being crucified, Jesus' body was placed in a tomb. Three days later, he rose from the dead. After His resurrection, he remained on earth speaking to people for 40 days and then ascended to heaven. Jesus sacrificed himself to make a way for all people to have eternal life in heaven. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -John 8:12. God is reaching out to men and women through His son, Jesus Christ. To find out more about God's relevance in your life, we encourage you to read this article by Josh McDowell: Does Christianity Work? at www.leaderu.com/everystudent/josh/josh.html.

8=G>HI>6C ;68JAIN We are a group of professors, instructors, lecturers, and administrators united by our common experience that Jesus Christ provides intellectually and spiritually satisfying answers to life’s most important questions. We are available to students, faculty, and staff who might like to discuss such questions with us. For more information about the Christian Faculty network and it's activities, please visit our website: http://christianfaculty.tamu.edu Rusty Burson 12th Man Foundation W. Miles Marks 12th Man Foundation Natalie L. Allen Accounting Jeannie Barrett Accounting Chris Duzich Accounting Mary Lea McAnally Accounting Sean McGuire Accounting Mike Shaub Accounting L. Murphy Smith Accounting Michael Wilkins Accounting Steve Smith Admissions & Records James Boyd Aerospace Engineering Walter Haisler Aerospace Engineering John Valasek Aerospace Engineering John Whitcomb Aerospace Engineering Oral Capps, Jr. Agricultural Economics James E. Christiansen Agricultural Education Alvin Larke Jr. Agricultural Education Landry Lockett Agricultural Education Kim Dooley Agricultural Leadership, Educ & Communication Clay Cavinder Animal Science

Hayes E. Ross Jr. Civil Engineering - Emeritus

David SegrestFamily & Community Medicine

Donald Saylak Civil Engineering - Emeritus

James Sterling Family & Community Medicine

Ralph Wurbs Civil Engineering

Linda Ladd Family Development & Resource Mgmt.

LTG John Van Alstyne Commandant's Office Walter Daugherity Computer Science Mac Lively Computer Science Dick Volz Computer Science Buzz Refugio Corp of Cadets Mort Kothmann Ecosystem Science & Mgmt. W. Todd Watson Ecosystem Science & Mgmt. Richard K. Anderson Economics Tim Gronberg Economics Silvana Krasteva Economics Steven Wiggins Economics Kelli Shomaker Education and Human Development Maynard Bratlien Educational Administration David A. Erlandson Educational Administration - Emeritus Bryan Cole Educational Administration

Paige Fields Finance Shane Johnson Finance James Kolari Finance

Roger Schultz Performance Studies

Danny Ballard Health and Kinesiology

John A. McIntyre Physics - Emeritus

Gregg Bennett Health and Kinesiology Stephen Crouse Health and Kinesiology Carl Gabbard Health and Kinesiology Mary Beth Isenhart Health and Kinesiology Ernie Kirkham Health and Kinesiology Steve Martin Health & Kinesiology Leonard Ponder Health and Kinesiology - Emeritus Rose Schmitz Health and Kinesiology Leah Venable Health and Kinesiology Wayne Wylie Health and Kinesiology

Hilaire Kallendorf Hispanic Studies

Andy Herring Animal Science

Patricia Larke Educational Curriculum

Richard Feldman Industrial Engineering

Douglas Householder Animal Science

Larry Dooley Educational HR Development

Cesar Malave Industrial Engineering Don Phillips Industrial Engineering

John H. Painter Electrical Engineering

James M. Griffin Bush School

A. D. Patton Electrical Engineering - Emeritus

Richard T. Hise Marketing

B. Don Russell Electrical Engineering

Stephen McDaniel Marketing

Charles Futrell Marketing

Ben Welch Business Center for Exec. Dev.

Lee Felder Employee Services

Katherine T. Smith Marketing

Jodee Bailey Career Center

Jerry Vinson Engineering Design - Emeritus

Robert Gustafson Mathematics

Jim Pennington Chemistry Bob Hildreth Chemistry Daniel Romo Chemistry

Cindy Raisor English Elizabeth Robinson English Elizabeth Tebeaux English Craig Kallendorf English & Classical Languages

David Manuel Mathematics Patrice Poage Mathematics Nancy Simpson Mays Business School Walter L. Bradley Mechanical Engineering Emeritus Dave Claridge Mechanical Engineering

Stuart Aderson Civil Engineering

Terry Larsen Environmental Design

L. Roy Cornwell Mechanical Engineering Emeritus

Lynn Beason Civil Engineering

Walter Buchanan ETID

Warren Heffington Mechanical Engineering

Seth Guikema Civil Engineering

Steven Oberhelman European & Classical Languages

Harry Hogan Mechanical Engineering

Gene Hawkins Civil Engineering Dallas N. Little Civil Engineering Lee Lowery, Jr. Civil Engineering Jose M. Roesset Civil Engineering Paul Roschke Civil Engineering

Cheryl Schaile European Languages Russell K. Biles Family & Community Medicine George McIlhaney Family & Community Medicine Lamar McNew Family & Community Medicine

Gerald Morrison Mechanical Engineering Tillie McVay Mechanical Engineering Dennis O'Neal Mechanical Engineering

The Texas State Board of Education has been in the national spotlight since January after controversial changes were proposed for Texas social studies curriculum and textbooks. The Board met again in March and will reach a final decision in May on changes. “Why this has attracted so much attention is because the revision has been a place to play out some of the differences between groups,” said James B. Kracht, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Education and Human Development. “These are disagreements that would go on between, and among groups anyway. It just so happens this revision of the social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills is a good place to make some of these disagreements public.” The 15 members of the board are elected in partisan elections by district. “It’s real partisan, but the partisanship is not just Democrat and Republican,” Kracht said. “It’s fairly complex. It’s not just conservative and liberal because I don’t think we have any real liberals on the State Board of Education. They’re really all pretty conservative people because Texas is a pretty conservative state.” The media focus’s on the board’s conservatism as it the updates on capitalism and sepa-

Jane Nelson Bolin School of Rural Public Health

commenting that they came after seeing the video,” he said. “I believe to truly dive viral marketing you have to be cutting edge and slightly racy or folks will not make the effort to seek you out or follow your message.” Generally, business has been going well for the Beckmans. “I could not be more pleased with the overall success of our business our first six months,” Wade said. “Restaurants are always a risk, especially when it is a new and original concept. That combined with the economy today has made it that much more of a challenge. The business is growing every week, and we are having a blast making it happen.” Tom Luker, senior business major and member of the local band Whiskey Boys, was

James N. Burdine School of Rural Public Health Brian Colwell School of Rural Public Health Kerrie Green Social & Behavioral Health Monty Dozier Soil and Crop Sciences Henrik Schmiediche Statistics Barbara Henry Student Financial Dept. Ann Reed Student Health Services

Mike Nelson TEES Information Systems Jon Perrott Texas AgriLife Extension Donald A. Sweeney Urban Planning Joe Arosh Veterinary Biosciences

ration of church and state. Individual names included in textbooks and standards for the state are a major source of conflict. “There’s a lot of disagreement about what names belong in the social studies curriculum,” Kracht said. “Obviously George Washington belongs in there, but there’s been some questions about people like Thurgood Marshall. One of the reviewers recommended taking his name out; that certainly stirred up a lot of disagreement.” Board members are the wording of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills to add clarity. Lawrence A. Allen Jr., vice chairman of the board from District 4, said the proposed changes are large but might not make it through the process. “Yes, we are debating some radical changes to the way we perceive our history,” Allen said. “For example, did women fight for their rights or were their rights just given to them? Simple things like that. Did minorities fight for their rights or did the majority-rule give them their rights? In terms of how we’re wording things. Was the United States established as a Christian country or was it established on principles that can be found in Christianity? I don’t think it’s a radical change, but there is some clarity of thought that need to be clearly outlined for the standards.” The wording will impact the way social studies is taught state-

wide. If the proposed changes are passed, it will go into effect in 2013, officials said. “The little things make a big difference,” said Jacque Siegel, a junior elementary education major. “It’s the little things we remember. Once it’s out there we can never take it back, so however we teach it, however we express ourselves, however we demonstrate our knowledge, we need to be careful.” Other states are looking into the revisions the board are making because the wording chosen will appear in textbooks nationwide. “Because of the position that Texas holds with textbook publishers, not that it’s in Texas textbooks but that Texas is one of the largest volumes textbook publishers operate in,” Allen said. “Therefore they produce most of their books based on the Texas standards and other states adopt those same standards.” Siegel said there should be balance in education rather than imposing conservative or liberal views of the standards. “We need to understand that there is a very fine line,” Siegel said. “Maybe have both perspectives and say, ‘This is what some believe, and this is what others believe’ and allow people to make their own educated decision, not to say one way is right and one way is wrong.”

featured in the video and describe the making as epic. “The best part was definitely when we were on the boat singing, and everybody was in the restaurant and driving by listening,” he said. “It was really funny. Every part of it was awesome.” Wade said the making of the video was a success, and that bringing the idea to life was an incredible experience. “At the end of the day, the true inspiration in doing the video was our incredible staff and the unbelievable amount of fun we have doing what we do,” he said. “Creating that

File photo

type of environment is easy to talk about, however almost impossible to accomplish without a great bunch of folks and operating outside the box.”

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Pg. 4-03.31.10.indd 1

The Battalion

Continued from page 1

H. Wayne Sampson Systems Biology & Translational Medicine

Brandon Dixon Biomedical Engineering

Brandi Tevebaugh

Maurice Dennis Safety Education

O. E. (Ed) Elmore Management David Flint Management

Textbooks to change after May vote

Shipwreck

Diane Graham Student Teaching

Robert Nevels Electrical Engineering

thebattalion

Louis Hodges Recreation & Parks

Robert Field Large Vet. Animal Clinic

James R. Wild Biochemistry & Genetics

wednesday 3.31.2010

Gary W. Maler Real Estate Center

Joel McGee Student Learning Center

Andrew K. Chan Electrical Engineering

Jack Lunsford Chemistry - Emeritus

Charles Johnson Psychology

Randy Kluver Institute of Pacific Asia

Colin Killian Athletics

William Bedford Clark English

Rob Heffer Psychology

Sharon Haigler Student Learning Center

Will Worley Electrical Engineering - Emeritus

Richard Davison Chemical Engineering - Emeritus

Marlan Scully Physics

Della Whitcomb Information & Operations Mgmt.

Jay Holmes Athletics

Matt Upton Bush School

Jimmy T. Keeton Nutrition and Food Science

Rachel Aaron Health and Kinesiology

Robert K. James Educational Curriculum

Jeff Haberl Architecture

Karen Beathard Nutrition and Food Science

Duane McVay Petroleum Engineering

Paul Harms Animal Science

Jim Ji Electrical & Computer Engineering

Janet Parker Medical Physiology

Terry Spencer Geophysics

Barry Nelson Health Science Center

Richard Davison, Jr. Architecture

Ilona Petrikovics Medical Pharmacology

Joyce Davis Pathology & Lab Med - Emeritus

Debra Howard Educational Administration

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Dan Turner Mechanical Engineering

Lawrence Wolken Finance

Dan Hale Animal Science

David Greg Riley Animal Science

C. Steve Suh Mechanical Engineering

news

page 4

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thebattalion 3.31.2010 page5

Musings on first week of spring practice

Photos by Megan Ryanâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE BATTALION

Senior Tyler Welch was an alternate for the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s swimming and diving team as they finished 12th at the National Championships this past weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

The 12th men

Aggie swimmers finish 12th at National Championships in Columbus, Ohio Beau Holder

The Battalion â&#x20AC;&#x153;Consistencyâ&#x20AC;? is the operative word. The NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships concluded Sunday in Columbus, Ohio, with the Texas A&M men â&#x20AC;&#x201D; placing 12th for the second straight year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; finishing in the top 25 for the 15th consecutive year and the top 15 for the fifth time in the last seven years. The team took 10 swimmers and divers to the meet at Ohio State University. The shadow of the norovirus that caused 18 student-athletes and one coach to be hospitalized for treatment and led to a one-day postponement of the meet hung over the proceedings at the three-day eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beginning. Swimmers from Arizona, Stanford and Texas became ill after arriving in Columbus on the same American Airlines flight. The postponement resulted in little falloff for the swimming and diving powers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Texas finished first to win its 10th NCAA title, Arizona placed third and Stanford fourth. California took second place. Florida, defending champion Auburn, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio State, Virginia and USC settled into the five through 11 spots. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud of the way the guys competed and fought all meet long,â&#x20AC;? A&M Head Coach Jay Holmes said of his team, whose stated goal was to finish in the top 10. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We finished 12th, which is the same as last year. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a little disappointed because we felt like there were some opportunities that we failed to take advantage of. We did a lot of good things this week, and I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making progress.â&#x20AC;? Sophomore diver Grant Nel reached the championship finals in the one-meter and three-meter springboard dives. He finished 15th in the platform dive. Nel earned All-American honors on each board for his performance, taking a total of three away from the meet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grant was a great competitor for us all week long,â&#x20AC;? Holmes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was a little behind since [Diving] Coach [Jay] Lerew didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start working with him until January. He really hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen a lot of time on the platform, which makes his performance more impressive.â&#x20AC;? Lerew was quick to agree. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grant did a great job of competing against a really strong field,â&#x20AC;? he said on Saturday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His list [of dives] is huge, and he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss any of the them. He stayed focused on what he needed to do and took care of business.â&#x20AC;? The Aggiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 400-yard freestyle relay broke the school record set just a few weeks prior at the Big 12 Championship meet. Junior team captain Balazs Makany, senior Casey Strange, freshman John Dalton and junior Boris Loncaricâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2:52.89 time clipped the 2:53.03 margin

set by the same group. Daltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 42.99 split was the fastest. The relay earned 10th place by finishing second in the consolation final. The result pushed A&M past Purdue into 12th place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was a great swim by those four guys,â&#x20AC;? Holmes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They really came through for us tonight because we wanted to move ahead of Purdue in the team standings. It was great to see that swim by John Dalton. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t often see a freshman turn in a swim like that, and that says a lot about our progress and future.â&#x20AC;? The Aggies were in 11th place at the end of the first day and 12th â&#x20AC;&#x201D; though only six points away from 10th â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at the conclusion of the second. Swimming in his final meet for A&M, Strange finished tied for 21st in the 50-yard freestyle, posting a season-best 19.74 time, and helped the 200-yard medley relay to a 10th place finish in addition to his participation on the 400 free relay. The Aggies will lose seven seniors: Strange, Jason Bergstrom, Nikita Denisyako, Sean Duckworth, Nathan Lavery, Tyler Welch and diver Henry Stevens.

ith a week out of the way in spring football, here are the things that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen that are worth making note of. If you thought Christine Michael was good in 2009, look out. He looks like an even stronger runner than last year, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still kept the speed. Multiple times in practice, Michael looked to be in a mess of bodies only to slip through the tiniest of creases. Maybe it was the fact that the offense is playing against a new defense, but from the first few practices, he looks great. That said, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still not as strong of a receiver as Cyrus Gray, who looks to be improving. Gray, who at times looked a bit indecisive behind the line of scrimmage, looks to be running more assertively. That, teamed with his athleticism, should be a good combination. One recruit who has looked quite raw out of the gate is freshman Luke Joeckel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obvious Joeckel has the physical skills to be a great lineman at this level, but his footwork appeared to be a little bit unpolished, and offensive line coach Jim Turner was continually describing the shortcomings. Rhontae Scales, who redshirted last year, looked good on the first day of practice. When Turner would correct his technique, Scales picked it up immediately. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only the spring, but if his quick learning catches up to his gargantuan frame The players [6 foot 6 inch, 310], he could have look to be a huge impact in September. responding well Ryan Swope has come on as to the changes a jack-of-all-trades of sorts. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the coaching been returning kicks, punts and staff has lining up at receiver. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calm, implemented. agile and once he gets started, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to catch. The freshmen quarterback race has come down to Matt Joeckel and Jameill Showers. Joeckel has some solid polish and good mechanics, but Showers throws a fantastic football â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his passes come out tight and at the right velocity. He has overthrown receivers on occasions in practice, but I like what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done so far. Tim DeRuyterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-4 defense has looked decent so far. Of course, this is a team without its projected nose tackle [Eddie Brown], which is instrumental in running the defense to its full potential. That said, senior Rod Davis has looked solid with most of the reps at nose tackle. Senior Von Miller and sophomore Sean Porter have gotten most of the reps at outside linebacker, with senior Michael Hodges and junior Garrick Williams manning the inside. Miller has looked like the same linebacker he was last year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; athletic, explosive and a solid tackler. He has become a bit more disciplined as well. Hodges and Williams are both solid players on the inside. Williams looks bigger than last year, but hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lost much explosiveness which is an obvious plus. The coaching looks very hands-on so far. As mentioned, Turner was quick to point out mistakes made by linemen and fix them, and the defensive position coaches have spent a lot of time vocally coaching up the players. The players appear to be responding well, and the coaching staff seems to be quite positive. Tommy Dorman and Bradley Stephens have both been playing well at their new positions. Dorman moved from quarterback to an H-Back style position, and has been pretty impressive running the ball. Stephens, who moved to safety, has had his moments, breaking up passes. His athleticism is a plus for the position, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a project on defense.

Senior swimmer Casey Strange completed his career at A&M by finishing 21st in the 50-yard freestyle and helped the 200-yard medley relay team to a 10th place finish.

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FOR RENT $375 available now. 1/1, 2/1, 2/2 Free Wi-Fi, On Northgate, on Shuttle. Short term leases ok. Call agent, Ardi. 979-422-5660. $900 Available Now or Pre-lease, 3 & 4 bdrm. houses near TAMU, pets ok. Call Agent Ardi 979-422-5660. 1,2,3,4 bedroom apartments. Furnished or unfurnished. Available May or August. 979-693-4900. 1-3/bedroom apartments. Some with w/d, some near campus. $175-$600/mo. 979-696-2038. 1/1 DELIGHTFUL DUPLEX, WOOD FLOORS, W/D conn., FENCED w/ lawn care PROVIDED, COVERED PARKING, Ext. Storage. PRELEASE for MAY. 979-775-2291. 979-775-2291. 1/1 w/ STUDY, close to Blinn, W/D conn., some fenced or w/ patios, $565-$615/mo includes Extended Cable, High Speed Internet, W/S. AVAIL NOW or PRE-LEASE for MAY-AUGUST. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com 115 Rebecca, Bryan. AMAZING 3/2 HOUSE w/ SUNROOM, W/D conn., WOOD FLOORS, COVERED PARKING, HUGE shaded FENCED yard w/ closed in PATIO. $1050/mo. AVAILABLE NOW. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com 2 New Condos! 4/4, W/D, in unit, private bathrooms. Summer only. Rent $240/mo + bonus per room, per person. From fall to spring $295/mo or$325/mo. 979-574-0040, 281-639-8847. University Place at Southwest Parkway. 2-male roommates wanted. 3/2 duplex on Sara Dr. $350/mo +1/3 utilities. Spacious rooms, w/d, fenced yard, internet, bus route. 1-room available immediately, 1 in August. Call Mark 307-752-2648. 2/2 Fourplex, wood, tile floors, covered deck, fenced yard, pets allowed, close to campus, on bus route. Available August. 979-204-1950. 2/2 Fourplex. Upstairs, wood floor, deck, pets allowed, close to campus, on bus route. Available August. 979-204-1950. 2bd/1.5ba w/study. Fenced, covered parking, pets ok, updated. 1714 and 1716 Leona. On shuttle and biking distance to campus. $750/mo. 979-776-8984. aggielandrentals.com 2bd/1ba apartment, 800sq.ft. New appliances, carpeting and tile. W/D. Bus route. $575/mo. +$300 deposit. 210-391-4106.

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FOR RENT 4/2/2 available August. 1508-Austin. $1550/mo. W/D, updated, great floorplan, no pets. 979-731-8257, www.BrazosValleyRentals.com 4/2/2 close to campus. Available August. 1205-Berkeley. Great floorplan, deck, W/D, no pets. $1595/mo. 979-731-8257. www.BrazoValleyRentals.com 4/3 house, 4024 Southern Trace, CS, built 2006. Granite couners, W/D included. $1490/mo. No pets or smoking. Available August 2010. 979-450-0053. 4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing for 2010, excellent specials. 694-0320. office@luxormanagement.com 4bd/2ba less than 1 mile from TAMU. Hardwood floors, fenced yard, includes W/D and lawn service. $1450/mo. Available August. 404 Bay St. Call 979-450-5666. www.bcsrental.com 4bd/4ba houses. Brand New, great size, great location, AAF 979-693-4900. 4bd/4ba. +study, New Home, Available August, 2 blocks from TAMU, 1206 Milner, asking $2400/mo. includes W/D and lawn service. Call 979-450-5666. www.bcsrental.com 4bdrm/2ba house. Close to campus, great floor plan, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 4bdrm/2bth houses. Great Location. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, w/d, fenced yards. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 4bdrm/2bth house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 4bed/4bath Waterwood Townhomes, 1001 Krenek Tap Road across from C/S’s Central Park. Gated, security system, bus route, appliances+washer/dryer included. Available summer or fall 2010. Contact 281-793-0102 or Jimbo77@AggieNetwork.com. 704 Gilchrist near College Hills Elementary. Share secluded 2+ acre lot with huge living/dining, looks out down woods to creek. All appliances, including W/D, CA/CH, dishwasher, and microwave. 2/1 upstairs with outside entry, master +bath downstairs +study &bath off kitchen. Leave message with owner at 512-477-8925. Available August. ADORABLE 2/1 HOUSE, EAST SIDE HISTORICAL DISTRICT, WOOD FLOORS, W/D conn., BIG fenced yard, EXT Strg, CARPORT. MOVE IN 5/11, $725/mo. 106 POLK. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com Aggie Station, 4bd/4ba Summer lease, 1bdrm. available, Please Contact 713-385-9683. August, 2/1.5 duplex, large fenced yard. W/D connections, $675/mo. 979-693-0551. AWESOME 3/3 HOUSE, EVERYTHING NEW, MUST SEE! WILL FALL IN LOVE! AVAILABLE NOW! 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com Brand new luxury condos, granite countertops, tile flooring, great location. 979-693-4900.

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FOR RENT Bike to campus, available May and August, 2/1 College Station duplex, fenced backyard, W/D connections, pets allowed, lawn care provided, E-walk shuttle route. $575-625. 979-218-2995. C.S. 3, 4 bedroom houses. Updated, pets ok, fenced. Presently preleasing for August. aggielandrentals.com 979-776-8984. C.S. 4/2/2. Totally remodeled, at 1223 Berkeley. Available August. $1595/mo. 979-776-8984. C.S. 4/3/2. Updated, fenced, lawn service included. 3311 Bahia. $1625/mo. 979-776-8984. CHARMING 2/1 DUPLEX, WOOD FLOORS, stackable W/D INSTALLED, fenced yard w/ lawn care PROVIDED. PRELEASE for MAY. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com

FOR RENT

Luxury townhome. Gateway Villas. 4bd/4bth, 1800/mo. Pre-lease summer/ fall 2010. 979-229-6935. MAGNIFICENT 4/2 HOUSE, ASF 2300, HUGE master bedroom, W/D conn., CARPORT, EXT Strg, shaded FENCED yard w/ BRICK PATIO. AVAILABLE for MAY, $1800/mo. 1106 DOMINIK. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com MAY & AUG PRE-LEASE! Free Locator- United Realty- 979-260-1200. 1,2,3,4&5 bedroom in apartments, fourplexes, duplexes, condos, and houses. Call our free locators! Browse our wide selections at www.united-rico.com Move in 6/1/10. 4bdrm/2 jack and jill bath. W/D, lawn maintenance, pest control. $1460/mo. 3530 Farah, C.S. Contact 940-300-6220. New 2/2’s for May. Wolf Run Condos. www.jesinvestments.com Broker/owner. 979-777-5477.

College Station Duplex. Nice 2bd/1.5bth. Central air/heat, fenced, appliances, lawn care. May 16. $600/mo. 979-764-7993.

NEW/NEWER 1/1, 1/1.5, 2/2, 3/3, Granite, Ceramic, Shuttles www.jesinvestments.com owner/broker 979-777-5477.

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One bedroom for rent in 3bedroom house. M/F, 1mi to campus. On bus route. $200/mo +1/3bills. Summer lease instead. Hot tub and game room. (979)739-7717.

Cripple Creek Condo for Rent! 2bd/2ba., W/D, available June 15, pool, tennis courts, information 903-819-2907.

Pre-leasing 6bd./3ba. luxurious cottage style home, behind HEB, two blocks from campus! $480/mo. per person. no more than 4 unrelated persons. Call 979-314-1333.

CUTE 3/1.5 HOUSE, W/D conn., privacy fenced yard. $775/month. AVAIL NOW or PRELEASE for MAY-AUGUST. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com

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Doux Chene Apartments. Preleasing six different floor plans. Call for special. 979-693-1906. Eastside Landing, 500 East 31st, 2/1 or 2/2 AVAILABLE ASAP, QUIET & HIDDEN location close to historic downtown, extended cable, high speed internet, and W/S all PAID! Reserved COVERED parking. PRELEASE for MAY. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com ENORMOUS 4/2 HOUSE w/ STUDY, 2500 sqft, W/D conn., 2 sided F/P, GIANT privacy fenced yard w/ lawn care PROVIDED. AVAILABLE NOW. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com FANTASTIC 2/1 FOURPLEX, W/D conn., BIKING/WALKING distance to TAMU, NORTHGATE AREA, PRELEASE for MAY or AUGUST. 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com House for lease. 3bd/2ba brick, large fenced backyard, off Rock Prairie. $1500/mo. Available 6/1/10. 281-342-6969, gary@garygillen.com House for rent 3/1.5/1, 0.75 acres, horse ok, $875/mo., $875 deposit. 979-696-1670. LEASE THIS HIDDEN JEWEL Sonoma Terrace Apts, 611 S. Ennis, 2BR or 3BR, LARGE floorplans w/ HUGE living areas, TONS of storage, COVERED parking, extended cable, high speed internet, and W/S all PAID! 979-775-2291. www.twincityproperties.com Luxury 3/2 duplex, $895/mo. Preleasing for May and August. 979-693-0551.

Prelease for May or August, 2/1 fourplex. W/D connections, water paid. 609 Turner. $450/m. 979-693-1448. Prelease for May or August. Large 2/2 with fenced yard, W/D connections, large closets, great location. University Oaks. $750/m. 979-693-1448. Quick to find sublease, contract ends in August, March’s rent is already paid, 1bd/1bath, swimming pool, fitness center, etc, rent is $715 at Presidio Apartments, call 979.817.6645 or email clau_uane@hotmail.com Ridgewood Village efficiency with loft. Uniquely designed floor plan. No pets, $385/mo, $250 deposit. 1211-1213 Holik. 979-696-2998. Some short term leases available. $455/mo.

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FOR SALE 3/2 doublewide near TAMU, 2 living areas, large island kitchen, walk-in closets, $52,500 OBO 979-777-0335. 3/3 duplex on 2818 and Villa Maria. W/D included; cable, internet; fenced. $197,500. 512-251-3901. dana.aquatech@austin.rr.com ADPi jewelry, 2 rings, 2 drop pendants, 1 pin with ring converter, black futon in very good condition, 979-571-7078. Kindergarten teaching supplies, 18 boxes/materials are new, to many items to list, $250 total, 979.361.0659. We buy keg shells. $25 cash. 979-739-7717.

HELP WANTED Ags! Looking for summer work? Earn $9000.00 this summer, build your resume, great experience, call Taylor, 214-707-9145. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. 512-684-8296. photoguy@io.com Career Apparel now hiring retail sales position P/T. Apply in person 4001 E. 29th #103. 979-260-2727. Chedder’s Casual Cafe and Fish Daddy’s on University Drive are now accepting applications for server and hostess. Come be a part of our friendly team! Apply in person. EOE. Chiropractors office, part-time, Apply 3733 E. 29th St., Bryan. Fax resume 979-691-0610. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. Experienced part-time lawn maintenance workers needed. $7.50/hr. Call Kirk, 979-324-2719. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in College Station. 100% free to join. Click on surveys. Classiﬁeds continued on page 8

STUDIES IN PROGRESS ACNE STUDY Volunteers between the ages of 12 and 45, with facial acne are needed to participate in a 12-week clinical research study with an investigational topical medication. All eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related acne evaluations by a dermatologist • Study related medication • Reimbursement up to $250.00 for time and effort For more information please contact:

RED DRY SCALY PATCHES OF SKIN ATOPIC DERMATITIS STUDY (ECZEMA) www.AggieNetwork.com

Volunteers ages 18 - 64 needed to participate in up to 12 week long clinical research study with an investigational topical medication for atopic dermatitis (RED, DRY, SCALY PATCHES OF SKIN). Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related medication • Physical Examination • Dermatological Assessments • Compensation up to $675.00 for time and travel For more information please contact:

ATHLETE’S FOOT STUDY Volunteers ages 17 and older are needed to participate in a 6 week clinical research study with an investigational topical medication for the treatment of Athlete’s foot. Eligible volunteers will need to make 3 ofﬁce visits and receive at no cost: • Study related medication • Medical examinations relating to their athlete’s foot • Compensation up to $120 for time and effort For more information please contact:

J&S Studies, Inc. 979-774-5933 1710 Crescent Pointe Parkway, College Station, TX 77845 www.js-studies.com

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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 03.31.2010 page7

Saving shows from themselves F

or more than 20 years, “The Simpsons” has been America’s favorite dysfunctional yellow family. Sadly, for the better part of a decade a decline in quality has left the program lacking in laughter.

This hasn’t stopped Fox from renewing “The Simpsons” for at least two more seasons, making it television’s longest running series. But while records are impressive, a quarter of a century is simply too long for a program to remain fresh, or in “The Simpsons” case, even funny. A good series is an artistic endeavor worth watching and protecting. TV might not be the highest form of culture, but it is the most accessible and can have the same profound affect as an artistic masterpiece. Fans will rearrange the week to catch the latest episode and spend hundreds of dollars on the box set of a series. For many, a favorite TV show is more than simply a way to wind down after a long day. Fans might curse a network for canceling a show too soon, but often the alternative is prolonging the life of a program past its prime. As additional seasons are tacked on to struggling shows like “The Simpsons,” the faithful followers dwindle. Owning the series in its entirety is seen as an unnecessary expense for episodes not even worth viewing. The longer a television series continues, the harder it is to keep a plot fresh that revolves around the same characters. Eventually writers begin taking short cuts, and shows like “Family Guy” emphasize shock value instead. The problem with “Family Guy’s” recent Down syndrome and Terri Shivo jokes isn’t the subject matter; the gags are offensive because they aren’t funny. When material becomes harder to create (perhaps because Fox stretched McFarlane into three shows) writers attract viewers simply because the content is off-color. It is more than a coincidence McFarlane’s dominance of the Sunday night Fox lineup coincided with a general increase in time sucking musical numbers. As a series runs low on ideas, such devices can help writers fill out the 23 minutes stipulated by their contract. A recent offender is “How I Met your Mother,” a program which seems close to revealing when Ted Mosby met the mother of his many cats save him from dying alone. But instead of furthering the story, the writers have elected to incorporate extended and extra gent musical numbers that detract of the exaggerated realism that made the series funny and fresh. Just as sad as watching Ted troll the bars at 35 will be is the number of shows that extend past the premise. Bart Simpson can always remain 10 years old, even if “eat my shorts” becomes tedious after 20 years. But by season eight the 30-something-year-old actors on “That 70’s Show” had aged out of high school and well into the 80s. Eventually characters

Gail Hernandez — THE BATTALION

Ian McPhail have to grow up or develop, before the premise seems overdone. “’House’ is basically the same episode over and over again,” said Colt Tater, a senior history major. “They’re either trying to find a transplant or figure out a strange diseases. The first couple of seasons were interesting as you

were still figuring out the charachave to apologize for. Loving something often means letting ters, but after a while it’s just Popular TV series it go, and for long running television ‘House’ insulting people.” series like “The Simpsons,” sometimes Of course, there will often outlive their dead is better. Ricky Gervais ended always be shows that material. Shows can continue many seapopular British series “The Office” like “The Simpsons” sons without losing the and “Extras” simply because the story need to end before edge, but the decline was done after two seasons. While it is they become stale. in quality doesn’t take far too late for “The Simpsons” to end place immediately. Warnon even a middle note, other creators ing signs for “The Simpneed to recognize the warning signs of a struggling series, and let the fans remember the sons” were obvious years before the show became humor challenged. Series like good times. “Seinfeld” and “Fraiser” were still going strong Ian McPhail is a junior history major when the creators decided to go out on top, and voices editor. and leave fans with a last season they didn’t

Finding fault with ‘Family Guy’

few episodes ago, “Family Guy” aired a show making fun of Sarah Palin’s child with Down syndrome. In the show, one of the main characters is seen on a date with a mentally disabled girl. While there was no outright mention of Palin in the episode, the girl draws a clear comparison to her son, Trig, as the character says her mom is the former governor of Alaska. While “Family Guy” is known for taking jokes to the extreme, many feel that this is not only an attack against the former Alaskan governor’s son, but also one on the special needs community. Since giving birth to Trig, Palin has become a self-professed advocate for the rights of special needs individuals, chastising current White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel after he called a group of people “f---- retarded,” and going on “The O’Reilly Factor” to discuss the “Family Guy” episode. “This world is full of cruel, cold-hearted people who would do such a thing,” said Palin to Bill O’Reilly. “He (Trig) is going to face things that special-needs children will be facing that are much more difficult than we ever will, so why make it tougher on the special needs community?” While I believe the creators of “Family Guy” did not intentionally set out to offend those with special needs, they are unrepentant that they did. “From its inception, ‘Family Guy’ has used biting satire as the foundation of its humor,” said Seth MacFarlane, creator of “Family Guy,” to the Los Angeles Times. “The show is an ‘equal-opportunity’ offender.” While it is an admirable aspiration to insult all groups and all peoples equally, there are some things people just don’t find funny. Many

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“I don’t agree with the jokes they made at all and it was actually pretty uncalled for,” said Cody Holder, sophomore performance studies major. “Did it offend me? No. Did it offend the Down syndrome community, I hope so.” Some may think that Palin is overreacting, including the actress who voiced the character with Down syndrome. “I guess former Gov. Palin does not have a sense of humor,” said actress Andrea Fay Friedman. Friedman has Down syndrome, but having a sense of humor has nothing to do with it. Palin has every right to take offense, as it is her child that is being poked fun of by the TV show. Before anyone tries to accuse Palin of gleaning sympathy from the incident, we need to Camaryn Bolton remember that as a mother, she is only trying to things are downright insulting, even when pre- protect her children. “Family Guy” is a hit among many male sented in a satirical manner. In another episode, teens, and it’s no surprise why. With its political when daughter Meg becomes pregnant, her father Peter walks in with a coat hanger to give incorrectness, mockery of “good ol’ fashion values,” and direct references to illicit activities, it’s her an abortion. The humor of “Family Guy” easy to become wrapped up in the absurdity is most often moronic, but sometimes of the show. But many fail to notice they take things too far. In middle and high school, I “Family Guy” may that while the shows are funny (as they are meant to be), sometimes had the opportunity to work be funny, but the they can be downright malicious with special needs children jokes can go too toward those they poke fun at. in the Special Olympics. far. The episode It is in bad taste to make fun of These are some of the most making fun of Sarah a political icon’s child, pure and positive and caring individuPalin’s disabled child simple. If it had been President als I have ever met. They are crossed a line. Barack Obama’s children being so full of life, and in their eyes insulted because of their race, I am the world is just as wonderful certain we’d see the same reaction from and loving as they are. Reality is difan even larger group. ferent, and clearly evident in the way “Family Guy” insulted them. I am utterly appalled that Camaryn Bolton is a sophomore performance the makers of “Family Guy” would even think studies major. it appropriate to poke fun at them.

MAILCALL From Andrea Hummel, sophomore general studies major In response to Wednesday’s article “Implications of social networking”, whether social networking is behind change in English grammar or not, the English language is changing, if only gradually. Concern with grammar change exhibits the general attitude that language change is negative. But change is neither good nor bad; it simply is. We obviously do not speak the same today as British English speakers, even though we once sounded identical, and certainly no one is speaking Old English anymore. If you wanted to give a speech on a college campus today, you would not be particularly effective if you attempted to speak in a dialect from the 1800s. We use language to communicate with each other, so in order to be most effective, our language should reﬂect the society in which we use it. We cannot deny that society changes, so why should we condemn changes in the language that exists with it?

From Kirby Wallace, senior political science major In response to Wednesday’s column “Field of screens”, while Facebook games might be “addicting,” no one was coerced into playing them. I believe if you have a difﬁcult time “quitting” Facebook or online games, your willpower is way too weak in the ﬁrst place, and I have little philosophical faith in you, concerning how you conduct yourself. But then again, this Mail Call is about as useless as the article

3/30/10 9:10 PM

classiﬁeds Classiﬁeds continued from page 6

HELP WANTED FT temporary position needed for busy property Management Company. Person needs to be energetic, personable, and a team player. Duties include filing, answering phone, processing applications, and assisting in assorted duties. Customer Service and/or sales experience required. Apply in person @1507 S. College Ave, Bryan. 979-775-2291. Part time position, Tues/Fri morning for general cleaning of our retail store and offices. 979-690-6766. Part-time job helping handicapped. Male student preferred. $330/mo. 30-hours/mo. 979-846-3376. Tutors wanted for all subjects currently taught at TAMU/ Blinn and Sam Houston State starting at $7.25/hour. Apply on-line @ www.99Tutors.com, 979-255-3655. Web Designers/Programmers MEMdata, a College Station-based medical technology firm, is seeking multiple part time or full time Web Designers and Programmers that are well-versed in PHP programming and web design. Work with an existing team of IT professionals to improve our internal and external web design and functionality. MYSQL knowledge and experience a plus. Flash and other skillsets a plus. Flexible hours available. Send resume with PHP or Flash portfolio examples to careers@memdata.com. www.memdata.com

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J.D. Swiger — THE BATTALION

Carmen Bing, a multicultural education graduate student, studies while enjoying the weather Tuesday in Academic Plaza.

Superman comic sells for $1.5M NEW YORK — The record price for a comic book, already broken twice this year, has been shattered again. A copy of the 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1 sold Monday for $1.5 million on the auction Web site ComicConnect.com. The issue, which features Superman’s debut and originally sold for 10 cents, is widely considered the Holy Grail of comic books. The same issue sold in February for $1 million, though that copy wasn’t in as good condition as the issue that sold Monday. That number was bested just days later when a 1939 comic book featuring Batman’s debut sold for $75,000 more at an auction in Dallas. There are about 100 copies of Action Comics No. 1 believed to be in existence, and only a handful in good condition. The issue that sold Monday was rated slightly higher than the one that sold in February; it had been tucked inside an old movie magazine for years before being discovered. The issue was bought from a private collector and then sold by Stephen Fishler and Vincent Zurzolo, the co-owners of ComicConnect.com. It was bought minutes after being posted Monday at the asking price of $1.5 million by “a hardcore comic book fan,” Fishler said. “There’s been a lot of attempts to acquire this book over the last 15 years,” he said. “The recent activity, I guess, did the trick.” Fishler speculated that the sudden burst of record-priced sales are due to “pent-up demand.” Issues of such prized comic books rarely become available for purchase. Rarer still are issues in such good condition. “I can’t imagine another book coming on the market that exists that would top this,” Fishler

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A copy of the 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1, featuring Superman’s debut, is shown. said. “This may be the final say — at least for the next 10 or 20 years — for a record price of a comic book.” Associated Press

2 suspicious devices found in east Texas mailboxes

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news

page 8

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LONGVIEW, Texas — Two more suspicious devices were found in east Texas mailboxes on Tuesday. U.S. Postal Inspector Amanda McMurrey says the devices were found in a mail collection box in Longview and in a residential mailbox in a subdivision on Lake Cherokee, about 15 miles southeast of Longview. McMurrey says an apparent pipe

bomb was found in the mail collection box at an ofﬁce building on Spur 502 just north of downtown Longview on Tuesday afternoon. The Lake Cherokee device was found about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, but McMurrey said she didn’t have a description of the device. There were no explosions and no injuries.

it gives us a unique opportunity to accomplish many things with a relatively simple event – a benefit concert,” said Janet Parish, a professor at Continued from page 1 the Mays Business School. “Jeff Conant was a great teacher, mentor and friend.” One of Conant’s students and chairperson of Raising money for the scholarship fund is the Project Conant foundation, Lisa Burton, said not the only cause that the concert is looking he was wonderful influence and professor. to promote. “Dr. Conant was such an awesome professor “This event, Project Conant, allows us to and won some of the highest awards in teachhonor him by raising money for a scholarship in ing,” Burton said. “We really want to honor him his name; the scholarship will forever remind stubecause he was all about the students and always dents that Dr. Conant was an important part of encouraged us. our department’s history,” Parish said. “It allows “He believed in us and knew we could do bet- us to partner with Scott & White to raise cancer ter even more so than we did,” Burton said. awareness and gain participants for the bone marConant touched the lives of many people at row registry.” A&M, including the other professors he worked The concert is the start of Texas A&M Cancer with at the business school, professors said. Awareness Month. “We are so excited about this effort because

Conant

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Pg. 8-03-31-10.indd 1

Houston man executed for robbery-slaying

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Condemned prisoner Franklin Dewayne Alix was executed Tuesday evening for fatally shooting a Houston man during a robbery. Alix, 34, received lethal injection for the slaying of 23-year-old Eric Bridgeford, who interrupted Alix as he robbed the apartment of Bridgeford’s sister. The sister also had been abducted and raped in what authorities said was part of a six-month series of crimes by Alix more than 11 years ago. Associated Press

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Associated Press

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3/30/10 8:53 PM