thebattalion ● wednesday,
july 29, 2009
● Serving
Texas A&M since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 Student Media
Loftin names interim provost Texas A&M University Interim President R. Bowen Loftin announced Tuesday that Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives Karan Watson will serve as the interim provost and executive vice president for academics. “Given that Texas A&M’s presidential search is now under way, my intent is to WATSON allow the new president the opportunity to begin the search process for the University’s next provost and executive vice president for academics,” Loftin said. Watson is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her awards include the U.S. President’s Award for Mentoring Minorities and Women in Science and Technology. She joined the faculty in 1983 and has served as a member of the Faculty Senate. “I’m honored to serve [as interim provost and executive vice president for academics],” Watson said. “I don’t think any of us were expecting all the transitions that have happened in the administration but I am committed to do my best.” Meagan O’Toole-Pitts, city editor
Farmers’ Market recycles Courtesy Photo
Senior economics major Logan Campbell begins his second term as Interfraternity Council president in the fall. This summer Logan is interning in Washington, D.C., for the nonprofit organization Citizens Against Government Waste.
Against
the trend Patrique Ludan| The Battalion
I
nterfraternity Council President Logan Campbell will begin his second term this fall, and though busy with plans and an internship, he still makes time for what he considers the most important: family. As president, Campbell serves as the “pillar of strength” for all fraternities at Texas A&M University. Student leader profile series Once a week during the summer, The Battalion will be profiling a student leader to gain insight into their lives and what it takes to do their job.
Campbell, an economics major, began his college career rushing the fraternity Kappa Alpha, KA. Since the beginning of his pledgeship, Campbell stood out as having the characteristics of a leader, said Eric Doyal, former IFC president and a member of KA. “He is what I call a character-based leader, and he understands what is right and wrong,” Doyal said. “He is willing to make the tough decisions, and is willing to stand up for what he believes in and unfortunately there are a whole lot of people who aren’t able to See Campbell on page 5
Meet Logan Campbell Find out what he loves the most about being an Aggie. Changing lives Read about Logan’s dreams to build sports fields in Central and South America. Hear from him Read his guest column to students. student leader | 5
The Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market will accept food packaging for recycling, including egg cartons, glass jars, plastic bags, paper bags, rubber bands, twine, plastic berry boxes, fabric scraps, buttons and plant pots. “Not only does recycling keep waste out of our landfill, but it keeps costs down at the market,” said Heather Duchscher, founder of Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market. Duchscher requests that individuals recycle by delivering items to one of the three markets from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays at the corner of William J. Bryan Parkway and Texas Avenue, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays at the corner of 29th Street and Briarcrest Road and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays in College Station’s Central Park. “It’s important that customers begin to build relationships with the farmers themselves and you never know — sometimes a vendor will offer an immediate discount for certain donated items,” Duchscher said. Everything donated is reused in marketing and selling products. “If the new customers continue to bring back these items, they can be used indefinitely,” Duchscher said. “There’s nothing more green than that.” Visit brazosvalleyfarmersmarket. com for more information. Alex Worsham, staff writer
Aggie gains hands-on experience interning at NASA ■ Scruggs’ is part of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s summer program
Pg. 1-07.29.09.indd 1
Kalee Bumguardner The Battalion During the summer, many students get internships working for companies to gain experience in their field of study. For junior biomedical engineering major Heather Scruggs, this means an internship working for NASA. Scruggs was one of 18 college students selected to participate in the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s, NSBRI, summer internship program. She’s working on the International Space Station Medical Project at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. “The internship is all about introducing students to the space life
sciences through not only their work but a series of speakers, tours and events,” Scruggs said. The project Scruggs is assigned to is called MARES, the Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System. The system is used to conduct research on the effect of microgravity on the human body. “I built mockups that will be used to train astronauts who will use the hardware on the International Space Station,” Scruggs said. Scruggs is the only Aggie to be chosen for the internship this year, and joins students from Rice, Harvard, Purdue, Michigan State and other top-notch research universities, said Roy Bradford Thomas,
senior communications specialist for the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. The institute focuses on developing counter measures to the healthrelated problems, both physical and psychological, that astronauts develop over time in space, Thomas said. “Our primary objective is to ensure both safe and productive human space flight,” Thomas said. “Even though our research is for space flight, most of our projects have applications for health care here on Earth.” The research at the institute helps with conditions such as osteoporosis, See Space on page 2
Courtesy Photo
Heather Scruggs builds a light-weight model of the International Space Station’s Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System.
7/28/09 8:22 PM