The Battalion: June 2, 2010

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campus Medal of Honor Sgt. William George Harrell, class of ’43 and an Aggie Medal of Honor recipient, was honored Saturday.

The medal was presented to the Sanders Corps Center. Harrell is one of seven recipients of the medal.

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june 2, 2010

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oil spill volunteer While this is very exciting for science and for me, it’s also quite sad on the environmental scale.

Eric Chan, doctoral student, oceanography

Singing Cadets return from overseas

Aggies study methane in Gulf

The university’s male choir returned safely from their tour of South Africa on Monday.

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CITGO at 1010 SW Pkwy and Wellborn Road.

Photos by Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION www.texasgasprices.com

Two volunteers provide attention and affection to dogs at the Brazos Valley Animal Shelter in Bryan.

nation &world BP oil spill update Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that federal authorities have opened criminal and civil investigations into the BP oil spill.

Holder announced the criminal probe, though he would not specify the companies or individuals that might be targeted.

He said if evidence of illegal behavior is found, there will be a forceful response.

Storm hits Central America The death toll from Tropical Storm Agatha continued to grow Tuesday, with 152 reported killed in Guatemala, 16 in Honduras and nine in El Salvador.

One-hundred people are missing in Guatemala and another 87 are injured, the nation’s emergency agency reported Tuesday.

In addition, nearly 125,000 people have been evacuated and 74,000 are living in shelters, said emergency official David de Leon.

Armstrong to race in Switzerland Team RadioShack confirmed that Lance Armstrong will race in the Tour de Suisse, which is scheduled for June 12-20, to help prepare for the Tour de France.

The 38-year-old American last raced the Swiss tour in 2001, when he won the event before taking the third of his seven straight Tour de France victories.

Staff and wire reports

Giving back Aggies find a number of ways to serve the community n a city that is always populated by college students, even in the quieter summer months, it is an appropriate gesture of gratitude to set aside some free time toward helping to the community. A number of organizations in the local area offer volunteer opportunities with flexible hours and a variety of activities to suit every interest, proving that service can be rewarding.

I

The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley relies on many volunteers to help staff its week-long educational camps for youth in the summer.

Volunteers help coach basketball and other sports at the Boys & Girls Club of the Brazos Valley, but are also free to coordinate their own activities for the children such as music lessons or craft projects.

Rebecca Bennett | The Battalion

see story on page 3 More ways to help ◗ Learn about summer volunteer opportunities in Bryan-College Station for those interested in nursing, construction or child care.

The Battalion The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has yet to be stopped. Oceanographers from Texas A&M are hoping to make the best of the situation by conducting research to gain more knowledge about methane eruptions.

“There is a substantial amount of methane gas coming out along with the oil, and that methane can affect the chemistry of the water column in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Eric Chan, doctoral student in the oceanography department and member of the team traveling to the Gulf later this month. “A lot of that methane gas either dissolves into the water or will bubble out of the sea Editorial surface. This is ◗ After many important be- opportunities cause methane the government is a greenhouse has given British gas that is four Petroleum to times as potent as carbon di- fix the spill, the president now oxide.”

Chan said needs to step in in the past and take over that methane the repair. erupted from page 6 the sea floor, and it could have affected the global climate.

“We have a chance to observe and study the chemistry of this while it’s happening,” he said. “This will further our knowledge on these eruption events.”

John Kessler, assistant professor in the department of oceanography, said their research is unique.

“A lot of the research that most people are doing is about the spill itself,” he said. “But for us, the research is about the historical and scientific questions that are far beyond the spill.”

The National Science Foundation awarded a grant of $160,000 for the cruise, and Kessler said that is a relatively small amount as far as science and oceanography grants go.

The team will be leaving June 11 for 10 days, which gives them little time for preparing.

“We are planning the trip in about a two-week period, whereas See Oil spill on page 3

construction

Projects to be finished for fall semester In progress ◗ Military Walk ◗ Memorial Student Center ◗ YMCA Building ◗ Parking Lot 61 ◗ Ag State Headquarters

Many construction projects that began during the last school year will be finishing up by the time all students are back for the fall semester. Lallah Howard, executive associate vice president of the Division of Operations at A&M, said much of the construction during the summer is repair and maintenance on the projects. “The Military Walk will be completed by the end of the summer and a dedication will be held on Sept. 11 in the fall,” she said. The Memorial Student Center renovations are still in progress, but the project is on schedule.

The MSC expansion is set to be complete by 2012.

“The YMCA is also making process over the summer,” Howard said, “and Parking Lot 61 renovations will be ready when students get back. The Ag State Headquarters will also be finished by the end of the summer.” Another large project called the combined heat and power project will start this summer and will affect traffic throughout the summer and fall semesters.

sports | 4

The next Mike Kobe Bryant, not LeBron James, is in the process of staking his claim as the heir apparent to his Airness.

Matt Young — THE BATTALION

A pair of cranes mark the ongoing construction along University Drive.

Megan Ryan, staff writer

Pg. 1-06.02.10.indd 1

6/1/10 9:59 PM

Stop signs to replace signals at SH6 construction

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Y L L U F PED P I U EQ

Texas Department of Transportation will turn off the traffic signals at 9 a.m. today at the State Highway 6 feeder road intersections of Old Reliance Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The traffic signal will be controlled by stop signs in all directions.

Festival Jazz Project

2

The all-star Texas Music Festival Jazz Project presents the best in jazz with Noe Marmolejo, director, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

June 7 at Annenberg Presidential Conference Center.

corrections

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The International Programs Office is offering a Community of Respect Train-theTrainer Workshop, a cross-cultural diversity training program June 24 and 25.

College of Education and Human Development staff members David Byrd and Shailen Singh were selected to serve on the 2010-2011 advisory board of the Symposium on the Recruitment and Retention of Students of Color.

Education staff members to serve on retention, recruitment board

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Exhibition features pieces from Cushing’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection, including manuscripts, first editions, pulp magazines, and other items that capture science fiction’s influence on literature, media and popular culture.

pagetwo thebattalion 06.02.2010

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news for you Think you know every nook and cranny at Texas A&M? The first people to get the answer correct will have their names published. Send your response with your name, class and major to photo@thebatt. com.

The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out.

We particularly encourage freshmen and sophomores to apply, but students may try out regardless of semester standing or major.

No previous journalism experience is necessary.

Expand your sci-fi mind at Cushing exhibit

Thursday 40% chance of storms high: 92 low: 75 Friday 20% chance of storms high: 95 low: 75 Saturday hot high: 98 low: 77

courtesy of NOAA

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Today 40% chance of storms High: 94 Low: 73

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 ●

Crosscultural diversity training

texas Baylor meets its new president: Ken Starr Baylor University marks the first day for its newest head executive with a meetand-greet event. The university Tuesday introduced faculty, staff and students to Judge Ken Starr, who was named to become Baylor’s 14th president in February.

A controversial albeit unanimous choice for the Baylor Board of Regents, Starr is probably best know for his role as independent counsel in the 1994 Whitewater probe that eventually led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton

nation&world Gores separate after 40 years of marriage

Matt Young — THE BATTALION

Hart Hall First correct response: Maxie Tirella, senior ag leadership major Would you like to suggest a Where on Campus for the staff photographers to consider? Send your suggestion with your name, contact information, class and major to photo@ thebatt.com.

Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, are separating after 40 years of marriage that included a White House run when their sunny relationship offered a counterpoint to President Bill Clinton’s philandering. According to an e-mail circulated among the couple’s associates on Tuesday, the Gores said it was “a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together following a process of long and careful consideration.”

Staff and wire reports

fort hood shooting

movies

Bryan police’s 10 most wanted

Hasan makes first appearance in court FORT HOOD, Texas — Wearing his Army uniform and sitting solemnly in a wheelchair, the psychiatrist accused of gunning down 13 people at Fort Hood made his first courtroom appearance Tuesday and won a delay in his case.

Maj. Nidal Hasan, who was paralyzed after being shot by two Fort Hood police officers, only spoke when answering questions about the proceedings with a soft: “Yes, sir.”

His attorneys sought Hasan a delay in his Article 32 hearing because they needed more time to review reams of documents they recently received and still lacked other key documents, including the FBI ballistics report and a government review on the Nov. 5 shootings.

The Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding in which a judge hears witness testimony to determine whether the case should go to trial, is set for Oct. 4.

The Associated Press

Mental illness ◗ Hasan is awaiting a mental evaluation. Doctors will determine whether Hasan had a severe mental illness at the time of the shooting.

If so, they will offer a clinical psychological diagnosis and determine whether it prevented Hasan from knowing his alleged actions were wrong at the time, and if he is competent to stand trial, according to military law.

Weekend box office flops with attendance Jose A. Aguillon, 29

Marco Agundiz, 26

He is wanted for aggravated assault with a weapon.

He is wanted for aggravated assault with a weapon.

Cesar Huerta, 19 He is wanted for burglary of habitation.

Jose Vincent Castillo, 19 Diaz, 19 He is wanted for aggravated assault with a weapon; organized criminal activity.

He is wanted for burglary of a habitation; assault by contact

Broderick Arthur Lee Pedro Odell Mooring Pedraza, 24 Jackson, 20 Jr., 39 He is wanted for He is wanted He is wanted tampering with for burglary of for aggravated government a habitation assault with a documents and two times. weapon. has several aliases.

Luis Felipe Gutierrez, 30 He is wanted for sexual assault of a child.

Christopher Ballard Wilson, 31 He is wanted for criminal trespass of habitation.

The general public should never attempt to capture, arrest or detain the wanted individual show above.

As of 12:21 p.m. May 10, the warrant status of the information shown above was verified but may no longer be current by the time it is read. Law enforcement officers must verify the status of each warrant prior to making an arrest. If you have information on the location of any of the wanted individuals shown above, contact the Bryan police department at 979-361-3888,or the Brazos County Crime Stoppers, 24 hours a day, by calling 979-775-TIPS (8477), sending a web tip at www.crime-net.org or sending a text to CRIMES(274637) (always start message with TIPBCS).

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LOS ANGELES — Hollywood fizzled over one of its traditionally busiest times as movie attendance for Memorial Day weekend came in at the lowest in 17 years.

Overall revenues for the top50 films during the four-day holiday weekend came in at $192 million, the lowest since 2001. Factoring in higher admission prices, about 24.2 million tickets were sold, the least since a 22.5 million head count in 1993, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

While “Shrek Forever After” finished first again, holding up well with $57.1 million from Friday to Monday, the weekend’s big releases had so-so starts.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s action tale “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” came in second with $37.8 million. Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Sex and the City 2,” wound up in third with $36.8 million.

Top 10 1. “Shrek Forever After” 2. “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” 3. “Sex and the City 2” 4. “Iron Man 2” 5. “Robin Hood” 6. “Letters to Juliet” 7. “Just Wright” 8. “Date Night” 9. “MacGruber” 10. “How to Train Your Dragon”

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Vicky Flores, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111.

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Lend a hand Students spend summer volunteering The Boys & Girls Club of the Brazos Valley keeps their doors open to children and youth every week day of the summer from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Volunteers are free to incorporate whatever personal interests or hobbies they would like into the club’s activities, with prior approval from directors.

Tiffany Parker, director of program development, said previous volunteers have done everything from assisting club members with art and craft projects to teaching violin and guitar lessons. She said in all of this was a desire to have a positive influence on young people. “A lot of [our volunteers] have someone in their life who has encouraged them to be better, and they want to return the favor,� Parker said.

The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley offers additional opportunities to work with little ones, assisting young visitors with educational projects and games. The museum also hosts eight different week-long camps throughout the summer.

A number of daycare groups tend to frequent the museum on summer field trips.

Susie Chellgren, educational program assistant, said that the children enjoy having older people to work with and befriend as much as the volunteers enjoy working with the children. “They get to do fun things like doing crafts and reading stories,� she said. “It’s very interactive.�

Aggies can make furry friends at the Brazos Valley Animal Shelter, where volunteers /help upkeep pet areas and socialize with the animals. Volunteers also assist with data entry, preparing adoption kits and with organizing special events.

Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION

St. Joseph Regional Health Center provides an opportunity for some students to earn credit hours, but also places all willing volunteers in medical areas of personal interest.

Those who become exceptionally attached may participate in the shelter’s “foster care� program, in which willing individuals temporarily care for particularly needy animals for a few weeks to a few months. The shelter provides all food and supplies during this time period.

According to Reed Williams, a sophomore political science major and previous volunteer, the shelter offers crash courses on everything you need to know about properly caring for and cleaning up after the animals.

The Bryan-College Station chapter of Habitat for Humanity allows individual volunteers to commit themselves to ongoing construction projects, if they choose. Volunteers tasks on construction sites range from building walls to painting and landscaping.

Most construction takes place in the Angel Gate subdivision of Bryan, where Habitat workers are present Tuesdays through Saturdays. From July 19-23, the special Builders’ Blitz event aims

to complete five houses in five days. “Most of our college students enjoy being in the sun, working with their hands and getting to see the fruits of their labor immediately,� said Jason Davies, volunteer coordinator.

Those seeking to avoid the summer heat have the freedom to work inside with the organization’s resale shop, fulfilling various sales associate duties, or in Habitat’s local office, providing reception services and completing data entry tasks.

St. Joseph Regional Health Center accepts volunteers during the summer to complete duties ranging from clerical work to nursing support and physical therapy. Volunteers are placed by their personal preferences.

Marlene White, student coordinator for volunteers, said that working with the center is an excellent opportunity to not only personally observe health care, but also to give something significant back to the community.

after eight months in ofďŹ ce, Hatoyama faced the nation to say he was stepping down.

Japanese prime minister resigns TOKYO — Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday he was resigning over his broken campaign promise to move a U.S. Marine base off the southern island of Okinawa. The prime minister faced growing pressure from within his own party to resign ahead of July’s upper house elections. His approval ratings had plummeted over his bungled handling of the relocation of the Marine Air Station Futenma, reinforcing his public image as an indecisive leader. Hatoyama is the fourth Japanese prime minister to resign in four years. Until Tuesday night, Hatoyama insisted he would stay on while intermittently holding talks with key members of his Democratic Party of Japan. But on Wednesday morning,

Oil spill Continued from page 1

usually similar trips would be planned three or four months in advance,� Kessler said.

Shari Yvon-Lewis, an assistant professor in the oceanography department, said she still has things to look forward to. “I won’t be on the ship, but I’m looking forward to the exciting data,� she said. “This is a terrible tragedy, but the information we can gather is tremendous because we can assess the effect of the oil on the atmosphere.�

The data the researchers will gather may be significant to the climate, Kessler said. “The sea floor is naturally loaded with methane and there are various places around the globe where it seeps out of the sea floor,� he said. “There have been times in history where that methane has erupted from the sea floor and contributed significantly to a change in climate.

This oil spill, this massive release of methane, simulates these eruptions that occurred in the past, and it helps us to study where it is going.�

Kessler said the methane consumption by microorganisms is also significant. “When microorganisms eat methane, they have to consume oxygen. So if we are pumping in an astonishingly large amount of methane,

Study abroad student accused of slander PERUGIA, Italy — Amanda Knox has appeared in an Italian court for the ďŹ rst time since her murder conviction to face slander charges for saying she was beaten during questioning over the death of her roommate. The 22-year-old former University of Washington student from Seattle wore a shorter haircut in Tuesday’s preliminary hearing behind closed doors in Perugia (peh-ROO’-juh), in central Italy. Knox has said she was beaten by police during questioning over the 2007 slaying of Meredith Kercher.

Police have denied misconduct and ďŹ led the charges saying Knox’s comments were slanderous. Knox has said she was beaten by police during questioning over the 2007 slaying of Meredith Kercher, the 21-yearold Briton who shared an apartment with Knox while studying in Perugia. Police have denied the misconduct and ďŹ led slander charges against her.

Associated Press

that depletes the oxygen in the water,� he said. “If there is a depletion of oxygen, that could have significant impacts on the health of the fisheries and local ecosystems.�

The team has been preparing for this trip in many ways, specifically concentrating on the gear they will need for the trip and the research. “We also have analytical machines like our Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer that we need to analyze the surface waters while on the boat,� Chan said. “A lot of the work is ordering everything we need to collect these samples to make sure we have enough of everything. As you can imagine, we can’t step out to the store to buy things while on a boat.�

This trip is Chan’s first research cruise and he said he is very interested to see how the various aspects of being on a vessel affect the way they work. “While this is very exciting for science and for me, it’s also quite sad on the environmental scale,� he said. “Obviously the spill will affect much life in the sea as well as humans who live and make their living on the coasts.�

Though Chan admits his excitement, he said he still knows it is very important for the well to be capped quickly. “Even if they cap the well before we get out there, we will still be able to carry out our research,� he said. “So as much as I want to do science, I would like to see this spill stopped.�

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sports thebattalion 06.02.2010 page4

NBA Basketball

Who is more like Mike?

I

stare. That t was going to be the no fear, story of the 2010 NBA win at playoffs; the culmination all costs of LeBron James’ career. demeanor that The year he took the giseparated ant step from superstar to Jordan David Harris legend. The year he moved from senior economics toward Michael Jordan staanybody major and sports tus. The year he let everyeditor to ever lace up one know he was going to a pair of go down as the best player sneakers. ‘It’s’ something only the greatest athletes are endowed to ever play the game.

Prior to the postseason, I wrote a column addressing whether or not LeBron would someday supplant Jordan as the greatest ever. I looked at the otherworldly talents the new No. 23 was blessed with and I made a rash judgment. My exact words were “If he harnesses all of those gifts, then King James will, without a doubt, take his place on the throne above Jordan. Above any and all who have ever played the game of basketball.”

And I’m beginning to come to the conclusion that I was dead wrong.

In bowing at the throne of the self-proclaimed majesty, I forgot to take into account that LeBron isn’t anything like MJ. In fact, if these playoffs proved anything, it’s that James may be built like Zeus, with the power of a bull, quickness of a cat and explosiveness of a nuclear bomb but simply put, he doesn’t possess the killer instinct that drove Jordan to heights unseen in the history of sports.

‘It’ was an unspoken, unexplainable trait. That trademark

with. ‘It’s’ not learned. Or taught. You’ve got ‘it’ or you don’t. LeBron doesn’t.

If he did have ‘it,’ he wouldn’t have allowed an aging Celtics team to control and dictate the pace, the emotion and the series. He wouldn’t have picked the most important game of the season — game five, a 32 point Celtic blowout on Cleveland’s home court — to shoot 3-14 from the field in one of the worst games of his career. And he wouldn’t have stood by and watched HIS team quit in the waning moments of the deciding game six.

Yeah, instead of being witnesses to this supposed and prematurely celebrated greatness of LeBron, the 2010 playoffs have served as a healthy reminder that Kobe Bryant does, in fact, have ‘it.’

As we’ve argued over and over about whether or not LeBron could beat out Jordan, we’ve seemed to have forgotten about that guy on the west coast who is, in a nutshell, the closest thing we’ve ever seen to his Airness.

Yes, Kobe is extremely hard

to like. He’s cocky. He’s pretentious. He really doesn’t care what we think. But, newsflash, MJ was and is the same way.

And, like Jordan, Bryant plays his best basketball when it really counts. He’s a stonecold killer in the clutch. And he just wins.

Prime example number one: Kobe is averaging nearly 33 points per game in the last 11 games. Games in which the Lakers have a 9-2 record.

Prime example number two: Fourth quarter of a tight game six in the Suns series, with his team in danger of having to go to a do-or-die game seven, Bryant scored nine points in the final two minutes. He made every big shot like he’s done for seemingly his entire career. Oh, and prime example number three: The four rings on Kobe’s fingers with a fifth potentially on the way.

Sure, LeBron can tout his back-to-back MVP’s. They were very much deserved.

He can also look down to his hands where the only bling he’s sporting is store-bought, not championship-earned.

And when people look back the hierarchy of NBA legends, championships and playoff performances tend to stand out above anything else.

It’s why Kobe is a top-ten player in history.

It’s why we’re talking about Kobe and not the enigmatic LeBron as the heir apparent to MJ.

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4bdrm/2bth house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards.

979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com

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

Clean 3/2 available August. Rock Prairie area. 3703 Marielene, W/D, refrigerator, lawn-service provided.

979-450-5666.

puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com

FOR RENT Duplex near campus. 2bd/2ba.

W/D. No backyard. 307 Spruce. $695/month. Call 254-760-8242.

Duplexes near campus. 2 and 3/bedrooms and 2bd/2ba. in country. 979-229-3420.

Master bedroom in nice mobile home with private bath and closet, $450, Central-air/ht, internet, cable, everything included. 210-364-7006.

FOR SALE Ag Discount! 4bd/3ba brick 2100sqft house. New flooring, new applicances, on tree lot. $213,000.

979-595-5050, 979-690-1126. tlturner72@yahoo.com, nancy.turner@avon.com

HELP WANTED Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment.

Full-time night labor position, 11pm-5am. Transportation required. Call for interview.

979-450-0060.

Household cleaning, ironing, organizing help needed. Minimum 6/week $10/hr. Heavy detailed cleaning inside and out, year-round commitment necessary, begin work immediately. Fax info to 979-690-8075.

Part-time permanent position in a busy shipping department for a computer software company.

Responsibilities will include the shipment of packages, data entry, inventory management, and loading/unloading trucks. Hours are Monday-Friday, 1:00-6:00p.m.

Email your resume to hrd@stata.com or fax to 979-696-4601.

SUMMER WORK, Great Pay, immediate FT/PT openings, customer sales/svc, no experience necessary, conditions apply, all ages 17+, 979-260-4555.

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MUSIC Party Block Mobile DJ- Peter Block, professional 22yrs experience. Specializing in Weddings, TAMU functions, lights/smoke. Mobile to anywhere. Book early!! 979-693-6294. http://www.partyblockdj.com

PETS Adopt Pets: Dogs, Cats, Puppies, Kittens, Many purebreds. Brazos Animal Shelter, 979-775-5755, www.brazosanimalshelter.org Chocolate Lab male and female puppies. Champion pedigree.

OFA-CERF-DNA. $700-$900.

Doug, 713-201-7731, madeley07@gmail.com

ROOMMATES 1 roomate needed. Spacious 2 story townhouse in Canyon Creek. Fully furnished. 4/2.5 $400/mo. +1/4 utilities. 713-823-9340.

Roommate needed. 1-block from campus. All amenities.

979-846-3376.

Roommates needed. 4bd/4bth $325/mo., washer/dryer. University Place on Southwest Parkway.

281-844-2090.

Wanted: female roommate to share 2bd/2b apartment, close to campus. $450/mo. 979-777-9751.

SERVICES A&M Alterations, professional clothes alteration same-day service, 30-years experience, guaranteed lowest prices, 3601 East 29th, #12, in Bryan, 979-260-2400.

the battalion Classified Advertising • Easy • Affordable • Effective For information, call 845-0569

6/1/10 8:21 PM

things you should know

5 before you go 1

Food for thought

The University Club on the top floor of Rudder will be open during the summer for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for all visitors, faculty and staff. The buffet style menu changes weekly and can be found at the club’s website: http:// universityclub.tamu.edu

Randy Rodgers and Wade Bowen at Harry’s

2

Hurricane Harry’s will welcome in artists Randy Rodgers and Wade Bowen tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the door.

Film showing and museum reception

3

The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History will be showing the documentary Testigos Del Tiempo tonight at 5:30 p.m.

4

First Friday

Downtown Bryan will be hosting their monthly First Friday on Friday beginning at 5 p.m. This month will feature one of the three annual Art Steps. Art Step is a bigger version of First Friday with more emphasis on the arts.

5

Bark at the park

The Brazos Animal Shelter and Impact Animal Foundation host an event for you and your dog at 6 p.m.

Saturday at Tanglewood Park. Festivities include booths, activities, demonstrations and at dusk they will show the movie Good Boy.

b! thebattalion 06.02.2010 page5

review

Dried up in the desert T

King then attempts to tackle the social issues that face the headAlexandra to-toe Welch covered We find our girls still stepping through life in amazing designer junior business women major in the shoes two years after the ultimate single girl Carrie Bradshaw Middle (Parker) and her long chased Mr. Big (Chris Noth) finally tied East, the knot. When we last left her three confidantes, Charlotte York by showcasing his Ameri(Kristen Davis) had fulfilled her dream of becoming pregnant, can women singing feminist Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) had forgiven her husband for cheating on her, and resident cougar Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) Karaoke tunes and gallivanting about on camels in scantily clad, had realized the error of her ways in delving into a committed reyet fantastic clothing. Samantha lationship by moving to L.A. with her model/actor boy toy Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis). Samantha had finally decided to move back to kisses a man on a beach and does something to hookah pipe the city that never sleeps, so that she could do what she does best: in public that I will not dare sleep with everyone. to describe here. The Muslim All was well in the city; the girls, now well over the hill, were poised to live happily ever after, splurging on designer to-die-for community is in outrage and outfits at Bergdorf Goodman’s, sipping cosmopolitans, looking hilarity almost ensues. gorgeous at hour long lunches and living out their lives with great The film goes wrong when friends and good men by their side. But then, writer-director Miit assumes its audience wants to chael Patrick King just could not leave good-enough alone. And see the “real” problems facing that’s where Sex and the City 2 breaks a heel of its Jimmy Choo’s. women of affluence after they As the second installment slowly takes off, the women are not get all they ever thought living a fairytale--surprise! Carrie is still wondering and writing they wanted. We her way through life and has just penned a new book that wanted to see reflects her state of affairs, aptly titled “I Do, Do I?” So our ladies live Sex and The many puns to fit in and in so little time you say? On the happily ever City 2 veers off contrary; all we have is time in this 2 hour and 26 minute after. We course from gem, in which King dives away from the witty, honest wanted our what made the dialogue that made the HBO series one of Time magagirl to ride show great. zine’s “100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME” and instead off in a horse resorts to utilizing god-awful puns at a rate of one a minute. drawn carriage After two years of marriage, Carrie and Mr. Big have settled after her wedding. into a life of boring domesticity, where furniture shopping has reWe wanted our girl to placed -- gasp-- shoe shopping. Going out for a night on the town is get the dream job and amazing now a hassle to Big, who would much rather sit glued to the couch, kids she’s always wanted. We scarfing down take out food, and watching The Deadliest Catch; wanted our girl to stay young every social butterfly wife’s worst nightmare. Meanwhile Charlotte forever, maybe even become is raising her two young daughters, with the help of a 20s something a cougar, dip into the kiddy hot, Irish nanny, Erin (Alice Eve). This causes predictable tension pool and scoop up a gloriously in Charlotte’s marriage as her husband’s eye seems to constantly be chiseled cub. We got our fantasy wandering over Erin’s braless chest. Miranda is once again fighting without this movie having ever male chauvinism at work and worrying about missing the important been made. moments of her son’s childhood because she dares to be a workMoreover, the film was not ing mom. And our slightly older and slightly more promiscuous properly conceived for the Samantha is popping 40 hormone pills a day to put off the effects of 2010 market that is already so menopause and keep in fighting shape for her sexcapades. well versed in frank discusSo what’s a girl to do when life gets her down? Take off for sions of sexuality, considered an all expenses paid vacation to the Middle East of course. Public taboo when the groundbreaking relations representative Samantha is approached by a wealthy sheik sitcom originally aired in 1998. who wants to devise a publicity campaign for his hotel in Abu I was only seven years old when Dhabi and offers to fly her and her girlfriends across the world for mid-thirties single girl Carrie a meeting. And so the girls set out for an adventure, Louis Vuitton Bradshaw first paraded her beloved Manolo Blahnik shoes onto the luggage in tow.

New York scene, and barely out of middle school when the fierce While in an Abu Dhabi market place buying shoes, Carrie has foursome and HBO had their last call. So, as the midnight showing an impossible chance run in with ex-flame Aidan (John Corbett) of Sex and The City 2 started to fill up with giggling girls still atwho has been traversing the Middle East buying rugs. Hello, scripted emotional dilemma. Will Carrie cheat? Will Big find out tending my old high school, (to steal Mrs. Bradshaw’s famous quizzical line) I couldn’t help but wonder, when did my generation if she does? What will happen to her boring marriage? Do you start identifying and relating to the struggles of raising children, even care?

he fierce foursome of foxy fashionistas is back in the long awaited sequel Sex and The City 2. The only thing missing, aside from Sarah Jessica Parker’s famous mole, is… well, the sex, the city and any semblance of good screenwriting.

Courtesy photo

breaking through the glass ceiling, dealing with a stale marriage and menopause? I don’t think we do. I’ll have to credit the fashion and the allure of a show we once were forbidden to watch.

In the end, the plot is as thin as the designer clothes that make Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha’s world one to envy. So, if you still insist on a girl’s night out to see Sex and the City 2 you might want to throw back a few cosmos beforehand.

TAKE A PIECE OF A&M HISTORY WITH YOU · Reserve your 2011 Aggieland The 109th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook will chronicle traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, Greeks, campus organizations and seniors and graduate students.

Distribution will be during Fall 2011.

Cost is $64.90, including shipping and sales tax. Go to the optional services box in Howdy when you register for fall. For info, call 845-2613. ®

Pg. 5-06.02.10.indd 1

6/1/10 8:26 PM

‘

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 06.02.2010

Saying good-bi to bigotry T

hree bisexual men in Seattle filed suit against the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance after being prevented from playing in the Gay Softball World Series for “not being gay enough.”

Facing bigotry across the nation, gays shouldn’t ostracize members within the GLBT community.

While progress has been made for gay rights, bisexuals find themselves discriminated against by both gay and straight communities.

The men are suing for $75,000 a piece for emotional distress, as each were asked a series of “personal and intrusive questions” about their sexuality. During a hearing the alliance held to determine the players’ sexual orientation, the men were all told, “this is the Gay World Series, not the biIan McPhail sexual world senior history series” before major, voices editor the team was disqualified.

Although nationally discriminated against, the gay community was surprisingly quick to persecute their bi brothers in softball. This case illustrates the problems faced by bisexuals in America, an orientation often misunderstood by both the gay and straight community.

For gay students with a conservative family, coming out as bisexual can be a softer blow, as parents can hold out hope for their child to end up with a member of the opposite sex. However, this creates a stigma within the gay community for those equally attracted to both genders.

“The belief that bisexuality is a transitional sexuality delegitimizes bisexuality and reinforces the idea that those who identify as bisexual are merely confused about who they are attracted to,” said a bisexual senior who asked to remain anonymous.

“While some people may identify as bisexual and later identify as gay, lesbian or straight, there are many who will always identify as bisexual and do not see their sexuality as an ‘in-between’ or somewhere between gay and straight.”

In a catch-22 of discrimination, due to their “illegitimate” attractions, bisexuals are also believed to be incapable of monogamy. Aside from the difficulty of attempting to date while facing this accusation, these misconceptions combine to negatively portray bisexuality.

“Many people assume that a person who identifies as bisexual is more likely to cheat on their partner,” the senior said. “Others assume someone who identifies

EDITORIALBOARD

The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having final responsibility.

Editor in Chief Vicky Flores editor@thebatt.com

Managing Editor Megan Ryan battcopy@thebatt.com Opinion Editor Ian McPhail opinion@thebatt.com

EDITORIAL

Asking for change in the Gulf of Mexico

as bisexual is promiscuous, confused, dirty or greedy. I’ve heard plenty of people say they would never be in a relationship with a bisexual because they think it’s weird or they believe that person is confused. I personally think that if someone is going to cheat, they are going to cheat regardless of their sexual orientation.”

With negative stereotypes espoused by both gay and straight biphobia, bisexuals can find it difficult to discover their identity. As male lesbian fantasy, bibisexuals are neither sexuality can be included straight nor gay, fitin an American culture slowly ting into the GLBT accepting the gay community. community can be “When I tell people I’m gay, challenging. the reaction is different,” Beck “Within the said. “When I used to identify as GLBT community bi, there’s a game of 20 questions there is almost a with an extra burden to explain social hierarchy,” and legitimize your sexuality. said Casey Beck, Heterosexuals have a lot better a former student idea of homosexuals.” who identified Distinguishing between gay as bisexual while and bisexual is often difficult, at A&M. “Some homosexuals believe they are and the line is often blurred by both orientations. Many gay men somehow better than bisexual and have had sexual relationships transgendered, somehow socially with either female friends or even more adept, seen as less questioning and more sure of their identity. girlfriends, while not identifying as bi. Similarly, countless bisexuals But questioning is something we are involved in monogamous gay should be doing, and we should be relationships, and many commit helping students discover their to a life partner. sexuality and live the lives “Current research they want.”

Bisexuals face Ironically most hosuggests that sexualmisconceptions mosexuals had to go ity is more of a fluid and discrimination through a period of spectrum than the from both gay introspective quesrigid socially conand straight tioning before realstructed identities of izing they were gay. gay, lesbian, straight, communities.

Certainly some gays bisexual,” said Lowell Kane, program coordinaand lesbians identify as tor of Texas A&M’s GLBT bisexual due to social pressures, Center. “These recent models but instead of judging, the GLBT of sexuality show that a large community should help ask these percentage [more than 30 percent] questions while respecting the existence of a bisexual identity. By of any given population may have acknowledging the existence of an thoughts or feelings that fall along identity often erased everywhere the bisexual spectrum, but not all will identify as bisexual because except adult films directed toward

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Pg. 6-06.02.10.indd 1

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COME

BY A N D

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Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION

current society frowns upon any nonheterosexual orientation.”

As sexuality is more complicated than gay and not gay, it is nearly impossible for the alliance gaydar to separate bi ball players from the mostly gay. By trying to, the organization is echoing the same discrimination they experience and alienating an ally. Because of their flexibility in choosing partners, bisexuals are seen to have less at stake in equality. But happiness requires being honest with yourself and others. Bisexuals are still equal partners in pursuing gay rights and shouldn’t be treated like outsiders.

“The oppression that bisexuals face is wrong, whether it is coming from the gay and lesbian community or the heterosexual community,” Kane said. “Horizontal hostility within the GLBT community is very troubling and certainly creates a roadblock on the path toward equity. I believe that many of the misconceptions about bisexuality and bisexual people can be cleared up with education, visibility and a willingness to openly discuss sexuality in a civil way.”

To achieve equality, the gay community needs to lead by example. Bisexuals experience the same persecution as the gay community and shouldn’t suffer additionally because of bigoted gays. The alliance and the larger gay community need to give further acceptance and understanding to diversity.

A

TO U R

TAKE ADVANTAGE

s oil in the Gulf of Mexico continues to flood through once blue waters, British Petroleum continues to fail at fixing the devastation. Several measures have been taken by BP to alleviate the damage caused by the spill, while the government seemingly watched over their endeavors with a loose authority. BP has tried and failed. It is time for the British president and Petroleum had its chance to his commisclean the oil sion to pull spill, it’s up to BP out of Obama and the picture, America to and take clean up now. direct action before the spill reaches even further.

Top Kill was BP’s best hope at a solution, but was yet another failure. A month of oil spilling day and night is enough to end our trust in the private company.

Let a new leader try, and instead of taking a back seat, President Barrack Obama needs to step up and quickly take action.

Yes, a government takeover will always make taxpayers shake, but we really need to get a grasp of the big picture.

We need to work together to clean the ocean before it completely wipes out irreplaceable resources. It is time to stop playing the blame game between BP and Obama. The government needs to cut through the red-tape and work quickly to solve the problem before it gets worse.

But during this political game of hot potato we must not forget the 11 crewmembers who died in the accident. For them, let us take a step back and put trust into our government and stop the spill before it has the lasting effects of affecting our future children.

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6/1/10 9:56 PM