The Battalion: June 22, 2010 by The Battalion

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news for you texas Gov. Perry promotes Texas in China Gov. Rick Perry said his ﬁrst trip to China has led to increased exposure for Texas in Asia. Perry, in a conference call from Taiwain on Monday, told reporters that he spoke with two Chinese companies that are interested in making investments in Houston and Corpus Christi.

● tuesday,

june 22, 2010

● serving

service

A different kind

of combat Student in the US Army works to improve medical care in Afghanistan

More than three dozen brown pelicans were cleared for takeoff Sunday when they were released along the Texas Gulf Coast after rehabilitation from a soaking in oil from the BP spill. Federal wildlife crews have released 38 brown pelicans and one Forster’s tern at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast. They were cleaned, treated for ingested oil and had their waterprooﬁng restored.

Megan Ryan | The Battalion

hile some people announce a desire to change the world, Capt. Jerry Webb, senior nursing major, acts on it. Webb is a student at the Texas A&M Health Science Center who is serving in Afghanistan through Operation Tribute to Freedom. “Operation Tribute to Freedom is an Army community relations program that’s designed to share the stories of soldiers who have or are currently serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Tara Clements, program manager for Operation Tribute to Freedom. Webb is leading a team of five medics in assisting the Afghan National Army’s 209th Corps to increase medical readiness throughout Afghanistan. As the senior medical mentor to the 209th Corps Surgeon General, Webb works with the highest ranking Afghan military medical professional, in the northern portion of the country. When Webb is at A&M, he spends time working on his bachelor’s degree in nursing. When in Afghanistan, he is forwarding the medical capabilities of the Afghan people. “It’s kind of broken up into two parts,” Webb said. “We spend the morning with our

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nation &world Whaling decision divides nations

BP releases total cost of spill BP released its latest tally of response costs, including $105 million paid out so far to 32,000 claimants. The ﬁgure does not include a $20 billion fund that BP PLC last week agreed to set up for Gulf residents and businesses hurt by the spill. Staff and wire reports

Pg. 1-06.22.10.indd 1

academics

Pelicans released from oil rehab

The International Whaling Commission begins a ﬁve-day meeting Monday in Morocco. A compromise that would suspend the 1986 whaling ban was drafted by the agency’s chairman, but it’s an unhappy option for nations that abhor whaling. The deal would legitimize commercial hunting in exchange for a drop in the number of whales killed by those claiming exemptions to the ban — Japan, Norway and Iceland.

texas a&m since 1893

see Webb on page 2

Tim Isaac — THE BATTALION

Honors program recruits students Jessica Funke Special to The Battalion High school seniors from all over the nation will be coming to campus June 28 to participate in the Summer Honors Invitational Program. The program is invitation only and those selected are identified nationally as high-achieving students. “[The Summer Honors Invitational Program] is a program where we invite some of the brightest minds from across the nation to come to A&M to learn about opportunities available on our campus” said Casey Ricketts, director of the program. This year is the first time the event will be a one-day program, as opposed to an overnight event. Due to this change and the program giving out fewer invitations, the number of participants has dropped from 800 to 150. This will benefit the Summer Honors Invitational Program in that there will be more personal attention given to individual students. The program has two goals in the program, the first is to educate the students about honors programs. The participants will be informed of what questions to ask when deciding where to attend and encouraged not to base the decision on the prestige or name of the school. “There is more to look into than just the degree offered, like whether they have the opportunity to advance the field or do research,” Ricketts said. The second goal is to have the See Honors on page 6

technology

Aggies build robots Jessica Funke

nation&world

Times Square car bomb suspect pleads guilty NEW YORK — A Pakistan-born U.S. citizen pleaded guilty Monday to carrying out the failed Times Square car bombing, saying he wanted it known that unless the U.S. stops attacking Muslim lands, “we will be attacking U.S.” Faisal Shahzad, 30, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Manhattan just days after a federal grand jury indicted him on 10 terrorism and weapons counts, some of which carried mandatory life prison penalties. Shahzad made the plea and an accompanying statement as U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum began asking him a lengthy series of questions to ensure he understood his rights. She did not immediately accept the plea. Cedarbaum asked Shahzad if he understood he might spend the rest of his life in prison. He said he did. At one point, she asked him if he was sure he wanted to plead guilty. He launched into a statement, saying he wanted “to plead guilty and 100 times more” to let the U.S. know that if it did not get out of Iraq and Afghanistan and stop drone attacks and meddling in Muslim lands, “we will be attacking U.S.” The Bridgeport, Conn., resident was arrested trying to leave the country May 3, two days after a gasoline-and-propane bomb failed to ignite in an SUV parked near a Broadway theater. Authorities said Shahzad immediately cooperated, delaying his initial court appear-

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ance for two weeks as he spilled details of a plot meant to sew terror in Times Square on a Saturday night when it was packed with thousands of potential victims. The bomb apparently sputtered, emitting smoke that attracted the attention of an alert street vendor, who notified police, setting in motion a rapid evacuation of blocks of a city still healing from the shock of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. According to the indictment issued last week, Shahzad received a total of $12,000 prior to the attack from the Pakistani Taliban through cash drop-offs in Massachusetts and Long Island. Attorney General Eric Holder said the Pakistani Taliban “facilitated

In this courtroom sketch, a U.S. Marshall removes Faisal Shahzad’s handcuffs Monday in New York. Shahzad pleaded guilty to carrying out the failed Times Square car bombing in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Faisal Shahzad’s attempted attack on American soil.” Shahzad was accused in the indictment of receiving explosives training in Waziristan, Pakistan, during a five-week trip to Pakistan. He returned to the United States in February. The indictment said he received $5,000 in cash on Feb. 25 from a coconspirator in Pakistan and $7,000 more on April 10, allegedly sent at the co-conspirator’s direction. Shahzad, born in Pakistan, moved to the United States when he was 18. Pakistan has arrested at least 11 people since the attempted attack. The Associated Press

Special to The Battalion Science-fiction is turning into reality as a group of undergraduate students work with rescue robotics used to save lives. These robots operate not only on land, but also in the air and sea. “Most people think of robots like Wall-E, but we are trying to make them friendlier,” said Robin Murphy, professor of computer science and engineering. The motivation behind enhancing the social capabilities of robots stems from people being stuck in places such as mines and waiting to be rescued. Even though they are healthy, boredom becomes an issue. The idea is to design robots that have MP3 players and TVs Most people attached. These think of robots robots are like Wall-E, called Survivor Buddy Robots. but we are trying to Murphy’s team also works make them on robots used friendlier. in search and Robin Murphy, rescue. Murphy professor said the goal is of computer science and to make them engineering effective and efficient. “We are concentrating on those that can be carried in a backpack or the back of a suburban,” Murphy said. The students have several See Robots on page 6

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The ﬁrst workshop in the University Art Galleries’ Young Artists Series will be at 1 p.m or 3 p.m. June 27 in Evans Library and will teach the art of Indonesian Ketupat to young artists ages 10-15.

Wednesday 30% chance of thunderstorms high: 95 low: 76 Thursday 20% chance of thunderstorms high: 96 low:76 Friday 20% chance of showers high: 96 low:76

pagetwo

For daily updates go to thebatt.com

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Correct responses: Landry Redding, junior mechanical engineering major Kellie Parker, sophomore general studies major Matt Young — THE BATTALION

Webb Continued from page 1

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Afghan counterparts seeing if we can improve. Some days we’re just befriending our Afghan brothers. We spend most of the afternoons taking care of essential things that we need for the American side — ordering supplies and taking care of our equipment.” The position for this mission called for a medical services corps officer, but Webb said he was the right person for the job. “I had to beg to be on the mission,” he said. “It was said to us that we would be partnering with an Afghan team, so I kept begging to go on because I felt like I had gained enough knowledge.” Webb joined the U.S. Army in December 1992. Webb said he was obligated to serve after seeing several of his brothers join. “I knew that there was something that was greater than myself,” he said. “So, I stopped at the recruiter’s office on the way home from college. Several days later, I was signing the contract and raising my hand for the oath.” Webb said the purpose of mentoring the Afghan people is to help them become better able to take care of themselves so American troops can come home. “Learning to do things the Afghan-way is the hardest part,” he said. “We want to push Western medicine, and our ideas aren’t the answer. We have to ask them what they want to improve on. We

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Capt. Jerry Webb is a nursing student in the Texas A&M Health Sciences Department and is serving in Afghanistan to help increase the medical capabilities of the Afghan people. Webb plans on graduating with a degree in nursing in May of 2011. Courtesy Photo

have to put ourselves back and reevaluate why we’re really here.” Webb’s team has developed an Afghan First Aid class that utilizes self-aid and buddy aid to stop or slow life-threatening injuries. They also produced a regionalized combat medic school program. The school graduates 50 Afghan medics every eight weeks. “I have been working handin-hand with many of the Afghan people,” Webb said. “Several of these men I have become very good friends with. I work hard to improve the Afghan National Army medical assets, and that hard work has been rewarded by the Afghans reciprocating the same hard work. When I see one of my Afghan brothers working as hard as any member of my team, then I know we are heading in the right direction.”

Webb said helping the Afghan people was his priority. His goal with programs such as Afghan First Aid was to improve medical readiness as soon as possible. “I say it is good to help those in need, and I think that should be the primary goal to relations overseas,” said Lauren Newton, senior math major. Webb said there were many things that have made his trip to Afghanistan a rewarding experience. “Personally, I have gained a great deal of personal and personnel management skills,” he said. “I hope to be able to take the skill sets that I have gained in Afghanistan and return them back to my civilian career as a registered nurse.” Webb had a special message for the Class of 2011. “Save a seat for me at graduation.”

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

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. 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 979-8450569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979845-2613.

6/21/10 7:25 PM

thebatt.com Join Steve Brock and Zach Papas for “Redass Radio” as they ramble about the sporting world.

sports thebattalion 06.22.2010 page3

Big 12 decision

What if Bonfire still burned? O

ver the past several weeks, much speculation has come to the forefront in regard to Aggie athletics.

File photos

The Southeastern Conference came calling, or did they? The Pac-10 had an idea for a super conference. Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe seemed fine with losing Colorado and Nebraska, then finally realized that if he didn’t do something drastic, he would be unemployed in two years. It was a plethora of fancy offers that created so much excitement and anticipation among Aggies. There were original Pac-16 fans, then the “SECede” riots began and the Big 12 seemed like an afterthought. All this talk, with a new story or rumor popping up every day, and the most climatic of anticlimatic outcomes occurs? Beebe does the unthinkable and saves the Big 12, or the Big 10 (wait, that’s taken), the Little 10 or whatever you want to call it. Point being nothing happened, and while we’ve all had President Barack Obama’s “we want change” ringing in our heads, we stood static. Now students, former students and fans are in disarray. How could we do nothing, NOTHING? Well, I have a question to ask

you. It seemed like we were ready to throw away one of the greatest rivalries in all of college athletics at the drop of a hat, but what if? What if Nov. 18, 1999 never happened? Would we have been so eager to leave our hated rival behind? I never had the honor of experiencing a “real” Texas A&M Bonfire, but from everything I have heard, it was the best tradition in a school that runs on why we say “Howdy,” why we tradition. Bonfire was a symbol of gather on April 21 for Muster and how much we wanted to “beat the why we mourn on at 2:42 a.m. on hell outta t.u.” It was a metaphor Nov. 18 every year. of the burning desire we had We still honor those as a school to beat the ever Aggies every year, but if living crap out of our foe that early morning was from the 40 acres. If 12 no different than any Aggies hadn’t tragically other, wouldn’t we have lost their lives on that early been more hesitant to morning, would we have leave Texas? I’m sure the been so ready to bolt for argument would Steve Brock Bonfire the SEC? Could we have have come up, whereas senior industrial I didn’t hear it once. Peothrown away our greatest distribution major ple wouldn’t have wanted and richest tradition? Personally, I believe to let Bonfire go, because that Texas A&M was a school it was so special, and to me it still is. founded on tradition and if tradition Not just the Bonfire, but everything is the heartbeat of A&M, then bonthat it stood and still stands for: the fire was the soul. Aggies gathering Thanksgiving Day tradition, father in the thousands to prepare to beat Texas. Tradition is why we stand, See Bonfire on page 4

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thebattalion

is all about beating Texas when we don’t even play them. All they would have are stories from Continued from page 3 ol’ Ags, about how on that November day in 1999 the words vs. son, brother vs. brother and two great institutions battling for “we’re not going to lose this game, I don’t know how we’re Texan glory. going to win it, but we weren’t I’m not saying we would stop going to lose it,” rang loud honoring those 12, but I am and true. saying that it’s possible So whether you Aggies would the mystique of the were pro-SEC or have been more memorial could be not, remember lost, not because hesitant to give that we are all Agfuture Aggies up the Texas gies and tradition wouldn’t care, but rivalry if Bonﬁre is in our blood. because they simply still burned. Together we are wouldn’t understand. stronger, and that is The rivalry we have why together we fight, with Texas is unlike any cry and pray. It’s why so much other; there is an extreme hatred, of that revolves around Thanksbut a mutual respect. To those who disagree please re-watch half- giving Day. So this turkey day I ask you to do one thing, whether time of the emotional 1999 game. you are at the game or watching If we stopped playing Texas, it on TV with your family, look future generations of Aggies around and take it all in. Win or wouldn’t comprehend what lose, it’s always an experience. Bonfire meant and why we Would you really have been honor it today. They wouldn’t willing to let it all go? understand why the War Hymn

Bonfire

File Photo

Texas A&M and Texas have squared off 116 times on the gridiron. The rivalry stretches back to 1894 and is the third most played rivalry in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

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

FOR RENT 3bd/2ba house, large fenced back yard, tile floors, less than 1-mile from campus. www.aggielandleasing.com 3bd/3ba. duplex, both sides at 925/927 Crepe Myrtle. Pets o.k. Available July/2010, August/2010. $1050/mo. Call Dawn 936-499-7183. 3bdrm/3bth house. Great floor-plans, fenced yards, W/D, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com

4/2 Country home, all appliances. $1500/mo. Available now, 979-229-6326. See photos and info at www.texagrentals.com 4/2/2 off Dominik. Updated house, tile, carpet, with W/D, pets allowed. $1600/mo. Tia 979-739-1160. Available August. 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/2.5ba Spanish style duplex w/garage + off street parking. Security system. All appliances including w/d. $1500/mo. No pets allowed, Available mid July and August. 979-297-3720 or 979-292-6168. 4bd/2ba house, covered and garage parking, tile and hardwood floors, less than 1mile from campus, www.santinos.com 4bd/2ba. House! 2 open rooms for girl or guy. Fenced yard, W/D, $400/mo. +1/4bills. Available Summer and Fall. 361-463-6763 or 361-463-1726. 4bdrm/2bth house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com Clean 3/2 available August. Rock Prairie area. 3703 Marielene, W/D, refrigerator, lawn-service provided. 979-450-5666. Cottage Holik C.S. 2bd/1ba, 1000 sqft., W/D, balcony, wooded. Private drive. Quiet. $650/month . 979-777-2472. Duplex near campus. 2bd/2ba. W/D. No backyard. 307 Spruce. $695/month. Call 254-760-8242.

Walk to Kyle Field! 1-2bd house, pre-leasing for August 1st. $600/mo. 963-545-6044.

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 A local businessman seeks aggressive self-starting male students for late afternoons and Saturdays. Flexible hours, no selling, top pay. Call 979-696-0203, 8-10am only. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. 512-684-8296. photoguy@io.com Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. COLLEGE STUDENTS! Make $500$2,000 Monthly. Work Your Own Hours. Build Monthly Residual Income! Call 24hr. rec. msg: 1-800-347-7655. J. Cody’s Hiring kitchen and meat table help. Apply within, 3610 S. College. No experience necessary just common sense! SUMMER WORK, Great Pay, immediate FT/PT openings, customer sales/svc, no experience necessary, conditions apply, all ages 17+, 979-260-4555.

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

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

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

1-female roommate needed for fall 2010. Private bath, wi-fi, w/d, $500/mo. +utilities. For more info call 409-748-0400.

Great 3bed/2bath house in popular area- 2431 Pintail Loop. Comes w/W&D, refrigerator, pets OK w/deposit, 2-car garage. Available in August. Call Joey at 979-218-4091.

FOR RENT: FEMALES ONLY- One bedroom available in three bedroom apartment at Woodlands of College Station. $615/month bills paid. Call 713-576-8220.

House for lease. 3/2/2, large fenced backyard, off Rock Prairie. W/D, refrigerator, fire place. $1500/mo. Available 6/1/10. 281-342-6969, gary@garygillen.com Immaculate 3bd/2bth house. 812 Blanco, in Bryan off 2818. Updated. Fireplace, fenced. No pets. No HUD. $895/month. Available August. 254-289-0585 or 254-289-8200. New construction. 4br homes, rent entire house or by the room, 1950SF, washer/dryer, individual leases, fenced, $425/room 979-776-5079. www.tricaprealty.com

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FOR RENT

One female roommate needed. 4bd/4ba townhome in Waterwood. $565/mo. Utilities included in rent. W/D, cable included. 214-263-2555. Roommate needed. 1-block from campus. All amenities. 979-846-3376. Roommates needed, 4bd/2bath house, available June 1st, clean, good condition, on-shuttle. Free cable/Wi-Fi. $350-400/mo. 512-203-5888. Roommates needed. 4bd/4bth $325/mo., washer/dryer. University Place on Southwest Parkway. 281-844-2090.

6/21/10 6:12 PM

On thebatt.com Politics as usual: Episode II: Attack of the podcast Tune in to hear Richard Creecy and Ian McPhail discuss the Big 12 meltdown, real lightsabers and immigration issues. James updates on weasel attacks in his segment Cavin Fever. Rick interviews students in our segment Aggie on the Spot.

Sound advice T

oday, we are going to talk about one of the scariailer muest forces of the known world: movie trailer rful should sic. Quite frankly, something this powerful be regulated. I say this because I recently (and by “recently,” I mean about six years ago) saw a trailer for Star Wars Episode III. A hush fell over the theater, the lights dimmed and suddenly, the epic movie trailer music started as a series of computer-generated explosions rocked the screen. Then men in gorilla costumes came out and started shooting laser pointers at spaceships. And for a second — a mere split second — a small testosterone-fueled voice in the back of my head went, “This is so cool. I should go watch that movie.” “What?!” screamed the voice of reason. “Are you crazy?! This is a Star Wars Prequel! Remember the last one? A film that consists almost entirely of an actor who I think might be one of the Jonas Brothers making pouty faces at the camera in front of a variety of computer-generated backgrounds? You can get the same effect by holding a copy of People magazine in front of your computer monitor while it’s in screensaver mode, and it’ll have better acting! Look, now he’s brooding on the planet of tropical fish monsters. I hope the council of soothing rain forest backgrounds are aware of the danger.’” “But... the music says it will be awesome...” This is because movie trailer music will make you do anything. I don’t know how or why, but it seems to connect directly to the male psyche. I don’t even think it connects through the brain, it just travels through the ears directly to the Y chromosome. “Whatever it is that you are currently watching is totally awesome,” said the music through some sort of testosterone hypnosis. “More awesome than anything you have ever seen before in your life. If Bear Grylls punched a great white shark in the face and then ate a polar bear raw while leaping off a 7,000 foot cliff, this would still be like, a million times awesomer.” And because the Y chromosome is stupid, it believes the music. You could play movie trailer music over stock footage of paint drying on a white picket fence and it would be a blockbuster. “This summer...” intones the rumbling voice of the movie trailer guy as the screen fades from black. Then the epic movie trailer music starts pounding, badabadaBUM-da badabadaBUM-da,

‘ voices thebattalion 06.22.2010

GUESTCOLUMN

Answering for animal activists

James Cavin — THE BATTALION

as the camera focuses on a into that whole murder thing... single drip of paint. Wannabe Dictator: All right, Plan B. Let me just “PAINT. WILL. DRY.” hit the play button on this recording of Requiem And at the end, every for a Dream... ahem, IN A WORLD WHERE audience member with a POLITICAL DISSENTERS NEED TO BE Y chromosome will jump MURDERED... up and go “Holy crap! Did Audience: Holy crap! I’m gonna go kill me you see that paint dry? some dissenters! James Cavin That was crazy! Obviously, someone needs to do Previews can something. I mean, it’s OK when senior English It was all like, major wet, and then all I’m being tricked into doing is convince you suddenly over watching really bad action movies or any movies a period of murdering people who disagree with good, with seven hours, it was like BAM! Dry! my political beliefs that I didn’t know the right DRY! Take that, paintbrush!” I had until a few minutes ago, but soundtrack. I’m pretty certain that this is how what about when things get really out dictators rise to power. of hand? Can you imagine the chaos that Wannabe dictator: Hey, you guys, go out would be caused if someone put epic movie and kill all my political opponents, OK? trailer music into, say, a trailer for a chick flick? My Audience: Ummm...I dunno, I’m not really Y chromosome hurts just thinking about it.

Kicking and screaming

for corruption. In 2009, 12 members of a European betting syndicate were arrested, accused of fixing more than 200 matches by bribing hundreds of players, coaches and officials in the German football federation. As the rules of soccer are subjective, referees are allowed discretion unparalleled by other sports. But when officials aren’t even required to explain the call to players on the field, nothing prevents a referee from determining the outcome of a game for his own reasons. As a general rule, soccer officials deserve the future champion, Italy. National pride can and benefit of the doubt. As a former referee myself, will encourage enthusiasm for soccer, but not if I know the split-second referees get to deterAmericans believe our country can’t get a mine a foul isn’t enough time to always fair shake overseas. make the correct call. Handling Addressing the seething criticism After a bad call the pressure of the world’s largest from America’s faithful soccer folsporting stage as players deliberlowers, the call has been analyzed cost our team ately subvert the laws of the game from countless different angles. a win, America and take dives to draw calls isn’t The general consensus is while deserves an an enviable task. FIFA has already referee Coulibaly missed many difanswer from FIFA. acknowledged these inherent different fouls committed by Slovenia, ficulties by adding two goal line asincluding a bear hug on midfielder sistant referees in the 2009-2010 UEFA Michael Bradley, there is no conceivEuropa league. able explanation for the goal-canceling penStill, FIFA shouldn’t pretend bad calls don’t alty. Responding to the controversy, FIFA has happen by hiding behind a veil of secrecy, announced Coulibaly will not referee matches while expecting fans to blindly accept mistakes. through Wednesday and will likely have to turn Coulibaly needs to explain publically the reason in his badge and whistle for the rest of the cup. he changed the outcome of the game, even if it However, FIFA’s policy not to comment or means admitting he was wrong, or FIFA should explain any ruling made by a referee is deeply do it for him. Americans and our national teams troubling. Besides making FIFA appear like deserve to hear an explanation and an apology, unaccountable soccer Nazis, never forcing instead of only silence from the FIFA fascists. referees to explain themselves, opens the door

he U.S. team showed it belongs in the next round of the World Cup, rallying back down 2-0 at halftime to beat Slovenia 3-2 Friday. But an inept and unexplained call by Mali referee Koman Coulibaly overturned a goal by midfielder Maurice Edu, and the game was ruled a 2-2 tie. Despite the American outrage, FIFA has taken a vow of silence regarding this controversial call that could have ended our country’s chance at the cup. Since the final whistle blew, every soccer commentator has devoted half of their broadcast searching in vain for this phantom penalty. Because FIFA does not require referees Ian McPhail to even explain their calls senior history to the players and coaches major, voices editor on the field, even U.S. star Landon Donovan and Head Coach Bob Bradley walked away from Friday’s match wondering why Edu’s goal didn’t count. As soccer struggles to catch on in America, the success of the U.S. team in the World Cup offers a chance to showcase soccer to a new audience every four years. Unfortunately, the penalty marked the second consecutive World Cup in which the U.S. lost a goal from a controversial officiating decision. In 2006, Brian McBride was whistled for a questionable interference call, canceling out a game-winning goal against

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. 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

Pg. 5-06.22.10.indd 1

page5

hose who have any inclination towards the well-being of animals, particularly those in zoos, are immediately considered to be an animal extremist or a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Forget any of the facts, figures and scientific reports some people may hold: we’re just considered crazy. Though there are definitely people who tend to follow their hearts over their brains, animal lovers are considered extreme. The issue going on over elephants in zoos is not a matter of animal extremists versus zoo officials, it’s a battle between old science and new science. The column “Caging Criticism” proves just my point. People aren’t Kelly Anderson listening past Zimbabwe task force the names of animal rights organizations, like In Defense of Animals, to see the solid information held behind them. The column took it a step further, making several erroneous assumptions, some of which included the age of elephants in zoos. It cited 50-year-old Lucky from the San Antonio Zoo as being “well beyond her years,” which only by zoo terms would be correct, but that is not old for elephants living in the wild or on conservations.. This takes us Despite the back to the negative topic of old sentiments science versus new against groups science like PETA, there because is scientiﬁc the number evidence one killer elephants do not of elephants belong in zoos. in captivity is arthritis. Zoo officials and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums refute this; however, field researchers have found that elephants can travel 20 miles a day, something they cannot do in half-acre exhibits. This decrease in muscle movement and the fact many zoos still have outdated and compact substrata is directly on-setting arthritis. In the wild, 50 years is not unreasonably old for an elephant. In fact, in Amboseli National Park, a huge refuge for wild elephants in Africa, Echo gave birth at 60 years old, and researchers have documented and proven the lifespan of wild elephants to be 65 years and up. Fifty is old… if you’re earth’s largest land mammal and have been living on less than half an acre for your entire life. I’d be about ready to die, too. Zoos are not conserving the elephant species; it is killing them off faster than they can reproduce them. It’s not educating children to show them elephants swaying back and forth all day — a sign of mental stress — and living in unnatural habitats with one or two other elephants. In the wild, they live with 10 or 20 other elephants in complex social groups. Zoos are not saving the species. The article also stated Association of Zoos and Acquariums-accredited zoos donated more than $90 million annually on conservation projects, which sounds like a large number until you break it down. With 221 zoos in the nation, that’s roughly $400 thousand per zoo — a pathetic number considering the San Antonio Zoo’s director, Stephen McCusker, has paychecks that just about top that. So it boils down to science. Don’t believe any of it? Ask Joyce Poole, one of the world’s most renowned elephant researchers. Recently, she has publicly condemned the San Antonio Zoo for its inadequate exhibit. So who’s the expert here? Zoo officials guided by old school methods put in place countless decades ago or actual field researchers who watch and learn about the species on a daily basis?

6/21/10 6:29 PM

news

page 6 tuesday 6.22.2010

Cover Art Competition!

thebattalion

nation&world The Explorations Board announces a

COVER ART COMPETITION Open to all Undergraduates

Residents take shelter from Ariz. fire

For the second issue of

Explorations: The Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal To be published Fall of 2010. Your design should represent one or more of 12 articles to be published in the Fall issue ~~~~~~~~

Please e-mail ugr@tamu.edu to obtain article summaries.

~~~~~~~~~ To enter the contest, submit your design to ugr@tamu.edu By

noon on Thursday, July 1, 2010 ~~~~~~~ Submissions must be in a Photoshop PSD file With dimensions of 8.75 X 11.75

ugr@tamu.edu

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – When Jon Stoner opens the blinds to a front window in his home “it’s a piece of heaven,” he said. Acres of ponderosa pine trees stretch into the distance, staggering up a mountain and bringing a sense of calmness to the area northeast of Flagstaff. With an 8,850-acre wildfire burning nearby, Stoner is unsure how much of that scenery will remain in tact. As he evacuated his home Sunday, he looked out that same window

explorations THETEXASA&MUNDERGRADUATEJOURNAL

Robots Continued from page 1

ways of creating their robot. Some can be custom-ordered so they can be modified to complete a specific task. Others are not as lucky and have to start from scratch by designing and programming it to perform its intended job. The latter is true of the Survivor robot. Although they receive monetary compensation for their work, the students still must possess the passion and drive required for this type of work. “I am fascinated with sci-fi. We live in a time when robots are coming into their own,” said Chris Helma, senior mechanical engineer. Helma is not the only student who was inspired to work on rescue robotics because of the epic connotations. Jill Greczek, a senior computer science major has not only worked with Murphy before, but also said she had the same inspiration to begin research on rescue robotics. “Dr. Murphy’s work helps save lives,” Greczek said.

Pg. 6-06.22.10.indd 1

and saw flames shooting up above the trees. The combination of high temperatures, low humidity and high winds have challenged firefighters on the ground and in the air. Monday’s forecast called for sustained winds of up to 20 miles per hour with gusts of more than 30 miles per hour, grounding air tankers. Fire crews battling the socalled Schultz fire were working to protect homes in the fire’s path. Residents of sev-

eral hundred homes remained under evacuation orders as the blaze moved within 500 yards of some of those homes, said fire spokesman Eric Neitzel. Firefighters worked feverishly overnight to build a containment line between forest land and the communities. They also were digging trenches, clearing out dry brush from around homes and spraying them down in hopes they will be spared, Neitzel said. Associated Press

Correction: Our article about Jim Olson receiving the William J. Donovan Award confuses the William J. Donovan Award given out by the OSS Society and its predecessor, the Veterans of OSS, with an award by the same name given out by CIA since the early 1990s. Our article reported that Jim Olson received the William J. Donovan Award along with Presidents Reagan, Bush and Eisenhower. The OSS Society and the Veterans of OSS presented the William J. Donovan Award to the presidents. Mr. Olson received his awards from the CIA. The description of the award we printed is also a description of the award given by the OSS society.

Honors Continued from page 1

students enjoy their time at Texas A&M. They will have a campus tour and overview as well as an allotted time to visit with their intended department. David Byrd has been involved with the College of Education’s session for several years and is expecting anywhere from two to 15 students on June 28. “A basic session consists of explaining the different degree programs, meeting the dean and getting a quick tour,” Byrd said. The program will be led by Honors Invitational Peer leaders, which will give the students the opportunity to meet current students and get a better understanding of A&M. “We will be interacting with

both the students and parents that attend the [Summer Honors Invitational Program],” said Laura Arbeiter, senior anthropology major and treasurer of the program. “This involves helping with check-in, serving on panels during question and answer sessions, leading the students and parents to the various activities, interacting with the participants during lunch, introducing the students to A&M’s amazing traditions such as our yells and participating in small group activities with the students.” In the past, the number of students from the program that have applied to the University has varied, but usually falls around 50 percent, with anywhere from 15 to 25 percent actually enrolling.

6/21/10 7:52 PM