The Battalion: August 2, 2010 by The Battalion

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news for you texas Plane crash victims identiﬁed

● monday,

august 2, 2010

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

back-to-school

Authorities have identified two people killed in a small plane crash in east Texas as a flight instructor, Bogdan Szajer, and a student, Lance Dudley. The two were killed in the crash near Waxahachie on Friday. Officials have not said who was flying the plane when it crashed, and the cause of the crash has not been determined.

ResLife requests move-in helpers The Department of Residence Life is asking for volunteers to help Aggies move into the residence halls Aug. 22 for the upcoming school year. “People are usually consistent year to year,” said Carol Binzer, director of administrative and support services of the Department Luckily, the of Residence Aggie Spirit is Life. “It’s al- always present ways fun to and there is see new folks hospitality to every year go around. though beCarol Binzer, cause they’re director of so emotionadministrative ally charged.” and support Binzer said services of the this event was Department of always someResidence Life thing the campus looked forward to because of the great opportunities for community bonding. Ruth Anne Wolfe, senior administrative coordinator of the Department of Residence Life, said she was excited about the visibility this event brings to participating different student organizations. “President Loftin rides around on his golf cart answering questions and getting to know the incoming class,” Wolfe said. “It’s usually one of the hottest, stickiest days of the year. Despite that, it never actually rains. There’s an air of support and positivity floating around campus on this day.”

Taste

Austin balcony collapse injures 23

The secondﬂoor balcony of an Austin condominium collapsed during a party, sending 23 people to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor scratches to bone fractures. The collapse happened about 4:15 a.m. Sunday at the Garden Court Condominiums, about 4 miles southeast of downtown Austin. None of the injuries appearing to be life-threatening.

change University ends 10-year contract with Coca-Cola, signs with PepsiCo

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See Move-in on page 2 Photo illustration by Vicky Flores and Megan Ryan — THE BATTALION

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nation &world BP continues to raise questions Environmental ofﬁcials defended themselves Sunday against assertions that they allowed BP liberal use of chemical dispersants whose threat to sea life

fter 10 years of serving Coca-Cola Co. products at sporting events, in Sbisa Dining Center and other locations on campus, Texas A&M is switching to PepsiCo Inc. The beverage company won over decisionmakers with its promises of greater sustainability measures and support of campus programs. The decision has been met with mixed reactions from students, but University and PepsiCo officials say the new relationship is for everyone’s benefit.

Is change bad? ◗ Students will be surprised at the soft drink options from vending machines and vendors across campus. Students should have been consulted before making such a monumental change. Editorial, page 4

Vicky Flores | The Battalion

see story on page 2

horticulture

Aggie wins award at national floral design contest Megan Ryan | The Battalion When Mary Coffee, a senior, went to talk to her general studies adviser to discuss choosing a major, she had no idea what she wanted to do. As the adviser started throwing out ideas, Coffee was surprised to hear her say “floral design.” After declaring her major in horticulture, she entered the American Institute of Floral Design Student Competition and won third place for her design of a centerpiece for a sweetheart table. “I felt like [horticulture] fell in my lap,” Coffee said. “I love it now. When I was living in the sorority house my sophomore year, I always gave out flowers to girls who were struggling with something. Then, I was talking to my adviser and she said ‘you can do anything you want; you can be an engineer, you can do floral design,’ and I just knew it was for me.”

B.J. Dyer, chairman of the American Institute of Floral Design Student Competition Committee, said the judging for the competition was technical, with points given for methodical use of color, depth, line, balance and proportion. “In the category where Mary Coffee took her trophy, the competitors were asked to design a centerpiece for a sweetheart table, intended for a small wedding reception table seating just a bride and groom,” Dyer said. Novice members of active Student American Institute of Floral Design Chapters with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and completion of 15 semester units were eligible for the competition. “It was cool representing A&M at such a big organization and seeing how well-known A&M is See Floral design on page 2

Courtesy photo

Mary Coffee’s design for a sweetheart table centerpiece earned her third place in the American Institute of Floral Design Student Competition.

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Professor forecasts fall trends With the school year quickly approaching, demand for backto-school clothes is high. Cheryl Bridges, director of the Center for Retailing Studies at Mays Business School, is offering tips on the retail industry for fall. “I get inquiries from the media from time to time regarding trends in retailing,” Bridges said. Some of the hot-ticket items for the 2010-2011 year are electronic readers and tablet PCs, as well as decorative backpacks or duffel bags, she said. Bridges said skinny jeans with ankle zippers, leggings, stripes and embellished tees are popular with adolescent girls. Items with a hint of sparkle and antiquestyle accessories are selling especially well. According to her research, vintage is in. Bridges follows the most prevalent retailing sales seasons including Christmas, Valentine’s Day, graduation and back-to-school. Since 1983, the Center for Retailing Studies has been training students pursuing retail careers with business experience, internships and ethics. The organization partners with 30 companies and Texas A&M See Shopping on page 2

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Vicky Flores The Battalion After a 10-year contract with Coca-Cola Co., Texas A&M University has decided to switch gears, partner up with the competition and sign a multi-year contract with PepsiCo Inc. “Texas A&M has a prestigious reputation and has a long tradition in history and so does PepsiCo and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Mary Viola, spokeswoman for PepsiCo. Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications, said the 10-year contract A&M signed with Coke was ending at the end of October and competitive bids from other beverage companies were considered. Information including the number of years for the contract or the bid amount was not available. “PepsiCo presented a tremendous proposal to the University from a product standpoint and also from a programmatic standpoint,” Cook said. PepsiCo will supply beverage and food product choices in outlets on campus, including vending machines, Dining Services locations and concessions for athletic events. “As a global food and beverage company with brands that stand for quality and are respected household names —

Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Gatorade, Lay’s and Pepsi-Cola, to name a few, we will continue to build a portfolio of enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages,” Viola said. Other products that PepsiCo will bring to campus are Gatorade instead of Powerade and Amped energy drinks instead of Monster energy drinks. The promise of a variety of beverages was not the only thing that PepsiCo. brought to the table when bidding against Coca-Cola. “From a programmatic standpoint, they were very aggressive in presenting programs and how they would engage the students,” Cook said. “They also will support scholarships and sustainability.” Cook said PepsiCo will support Texas A&M programs including move-in day and the Big Event by supplying products, and having PepsiCo employees help out. As part of PepsiCo’s plan for sustainability, there will be on campus “dream machines,” which will award students for recycling. “They are reverse vending machines, and they will reward recyclers automatically,” Cook said. Recyclers will earn points they can redeem for prizes. Although PepsiCo is on campus, Dr Pepper will be available

Doug Klembara — THE BATTALION

Coca-Cola Co. vending machines are being replaced by PepsiCo. throughout the University in the next few weeks. “Dr Pepper is its own company, so what they do is form their own contract with the beverage vendor of Texas A&M,” said Student Body President and senior leadership studies major Jacob Robinson.

“Pepsi has told us that it will be offered in the fountain drink choices and most vending machines, but they are still ironing out all of the details.” Coca-Cola products will be offered in the MSC Bookstore and the Rattlers convenience stores on campus.

whereoncampus 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.

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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.

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.

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893

Vicky Flores, Editor in Chief Megan Ryan, Managing Editor Rebecca Bennett, Page One Editor David Harris, Sports/Lifestyles Editor Ian McPhail, Opinion Editor Evan Andrews, Graphics 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.

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Stephen Henley, class of 2001 Krystyn Haecker,class of 2010 Alex Coleman, senior environmental design major Logan Sharkey, senior communication major Ivan Gonzalez, senior environmental design major

Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION

Floral design Continued from page 1

thebattalion

Correct responses

there,” Coffee said. “My favorite part of the whole week was the last night. They turned all the lights down and had spotlights on all the centerpieces. It was amazing.” There are four areas of the contest: buffet centerpiece, bridal bouquet, napkin rings and sweetheart centerpiece. Mary said she was able to win third place for the sweetheart centerpiece because her nerves had settled by the time she began work on it.

“Judges strive to set aside subjective opinions about the designs and will give high points for a well-executed design that may not be to their personal taste,” Dyer said. Jim Johnson, distinguished lecturer in the horticulture department, was one of Mary’s teachers and helped her prepare for the competition. “Mr. Johnson gave me all these flower magazines, and I would go through them everyday and keep getting different ideas,” Coffee said. “You know ahead of time what the grading rubric is, and I would practice.” Johnson, who received the “distinguished service to the floral industry” award during

his career, said the student chapter at A&M has been in existence since 1980, and students go to the competition every year. “We have had in years past several winning students,” Johnson said. “So it’s the focus of our club. We work making floral designs, and the money we save is used to support and pay for the trip.” The club creates buffet pieces and table centerpieces for banquets for the Office of the President, the Association of Former Students and many other departments and organizations. “It is a way for the students to get some real-world practice for what they want to do in the future,” Johnson said.

Move-in

Shopping

Continued from page 1

To encourage unity, volunteers will receive a shirt to wear on Move-In Day. The Department of Residence Life is asks that the volunteer forms be in by Aug. 6. “This day is a big deal here on campus,” Binzer said. “There are so many bodies, and it can seem a little overwhelming for a new student coming from a small high school. Luckily, the Aggie Spirit is always present and there is enough hospitality to go around. All of the hands make for light work, and that makes such a difference. I have heard so many beautiful stories over the years of the Howdy Spirit making people just want to go that extra mile to help.”

to research the needs of the modern retail industry. Bridges said that for adolescent and teen boys, plain tees are in. Plaid woven shirts are a top pick with Keds-style sneakers, and straight leg “broken-in” jeans are becoming common. She said that a quality leather belt is good for young men to have on hand. According to Bridges’ studies, parents should not do all the shopping for their kids. “Consider letting the kids pick their own back-to-school items with a budget to help them learn about financial planning,” she said. With cell phones becoming more advanced, Bridges said they are now being used for retail advertising. “[You can] go online to find great deals and coupons, and if you have a smart phone, watch for deals there, too,” she said. “Many retailers will be advertising new items and deals on the net and through mobile marketing.”

Volunteer

Kate Hill, special to The Battalion

◗ Applications are available at http://reslife.tamu.edu and are due by Aug. 6. Call 979-862-3158 or email reslife@ tamu.edu for more information.

Angela Washeck, staff writer

8/1/10 5:35 PM

voices

page 4 monday 8.2.2010

thebattalion

EDITORIAL

Venting about A&M’s new soda vendor

y good friends Coke and Monster energy drinks had a way of getting me through those long nights of cramming for an exam. But, now I will no longer be able to find them all over campus. Vendors and machines are switching from Coco-Cola to PepsiCo. PepsiCo products are here to stay. The company offered the University not only beverages, but scholarships and sustainability programs. While these initiatives will

help the University, it seems the decisionmakers forgot to add in the simple taste factor. After speaking to many A&M students, the majority do not support this change and will not buy PepsiCo products. There should have been more student voice in this decision; students are the ones putting their hard-earned dollar in vending machines. The additional financial benefits are nice, but ultimately counterproductive

never be OK with this decision. if students aren’t willing to swallow Many other students have grown this change and stomach Pepsi. Like many students, I will Soft drink selection accustomed to easily accessing their favorite study fuel miss my Coco-Cola products. is important, students should and will find alternatives to Although, this change might have been keep their choice beverage help me choose a healthier consulted before whenever possible, at the lifestyle — one where I am switching to Pepsi. University’s expense. forced to drink water. If we want to be recognized Maybe I am wrong, and as a No. 1 university shouldn’t we students will get used to the fake go with the No. 1 beverage company? version of Coke, but my taste buds will

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“I am just glad that I am ﬁnally able to ﬁnd Mountain Dew on campus.”

“I am a longer term supporter of CocaCola and I think it’s a tragedy.”

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“I am indifferent because it all tastes good.”

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Editor in Chief Vicky Flores editor@thebatt.com

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EDITORIAL BOARD

“I love Coke and I don’t like Pepsi.” Taylor Pence, senior psychology major.

“I don’t care as long as I have Dr Pepper.” Matt Wahaka, senior computer science major.

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.

8/1/10 5:32 PM