thebattalion ● thursday,
september 3, 2009
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Center seeks to improve vaccines Biotech facility awaiting approval from Regents
aggies WE
are
Laura Sanchez
Nicholas Badger — THE BATTALION
Julie Shannon freshman biomedical sciences major By Patrique Ludan | The Battalion
C
ollege freshman experience many firsts: first time away from home, first time living with a roommate, first day of class. When Julie Shannon started classes Monday, she experienced a common freshman emotion: first-day jitters.
“I was slightly worried going into my first day,” Shannon said. “However, I got over my anxieties very quickly.” Shannon, a biomedical sciences major of Houston, is a part of Texas A&M’s largest incoming class. Yet, the amount
of students did not stop her from making friends in her classes. “Many of the people were also BIMS majors, so I was able to meet a significant amount of people,” Shannon said. A class that was proving worrisome for her before she started was her fundamentals of chemistry and lab. However, when she showed up on her first day, she soon realized that a professor has the capability to make the class manageable. “I thought all of my professors were very down to Earth and nice,” Shannon said. Other classes included on Shannon’s schedule are skiing, sociology and geography of global villages. She said she had little trouble finding her classes. And although she’s a freshman, Shannon has plans for the future. In the short
Follow Julie for a day Watch as Patrique Ludan captures Julie Shannon’s first day of classes at Texas A&M University online.
thebatt.com Coming soon Aggies are We will be a series of stories published every Thursday highlighting Aggies. Next week we will feature a transfer student. Watch for features on an international and graduate student.
See Shannon on page 7a
The Battalion Texas A&M University and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station, TEES, are teaming up to bring a research center to the flagship campus called the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing. The center is scheduled to open in August 2011 and will focus on developments for medical purposes. “The center is designed for both education and research. What is to be proposed is essentially an engineering and architecture program in the development of new flexible manufacturing facilities for therapeutics,” said Michael Pishko, head of the chemical engineering department. The facility is in its planning stage and is awaiting approval Sept. 24 from the Board of Regents. “It’s going to be an engineering and biotechnology research development. The problem that we’re having now is we don’t have good enough technologies to make vaccines fast enough so that everybody gets vaccinated,” said Brett Giroir, vice chancellor for research for Texas A&M. “We still grow these vaccines in eggs which is a 100-year-old technology. So there’s an absolute critical need for us to develop new ways to make vaccines because we’re finding a lot more now, but we don’t have good ways to make them.” A need for a quick vaccine arose after the outbreak of the H1N1 virus. “The FDA and other organizations including the National Research Council, the Department of Defense and others have identified that the nation has a very poor ability to respond to the need for developing new therapeutics rapidly,” Pishko said. “It takes a very long time to get from the See Center on page 7a
A&M, LSU race for most fans on Facebook
Texas A&M Aggies are again in competition with the Louisiana State Tigers, and this time they’re putting their money where their mouth is. The top social networking site in the country, Facebook, is playing host to a Big XII-SEC rivalry between A&M and LSU. The two schools are competing in the “100,000 Fans100,000 Pennies Race,” which rewards the first school to reach
100,000 fans on Facebook a scholarship of 100,000 pennies, or $1,000, from the competitor’s sponsor. LSU was previously the leading school with 81,000 fans, but A&M toppled them last month with 83,000 fans. “Being the No. 1 University on Facebook showcases our Aggie traditions and network — with a contemporary twist,” said Associate Director
of Marketing and Communications Diane McDonald, “It puts a face to the Aggie network,” McDonald said, “and shows its size and strength.” At press time, LSU had 97,000 while A&M only had 90,000 fans.
Fiery freshman warning College Station Fire Department Lt. Bobby Rogers and firefighter Cody Blount put out a simulated dorm room fire Wednesday near Simpson Drill Field. The Mock Residence Hall Room Burn was sponsored by the Texas A&M departments of Residence Life and Environmental Health and Safety and sought to educate students about fire safety.
Travis Lawson, special to The Battalion
Join in To take part in A&M’s online rivalry log on to www. facebook.com/tamu or text “fan tamu” to FBOOK (32665) to instantly become a fan.
Maroon and white all over Students show Aggie pride Travis Lawson Special to The Battalion Aggies worldwide have an official day to strut their stuff — Aggies Colors Day. Friday will be the start of a yearly celebration in which Texas A&M students, former students and fans will show their Aggie pride at school and work, said A&M Assistant Athletic Director Drew Martin. “We want to encourage A&M fans to wear their A&M maroon and white gear — whether they’re going to work or going to class or just having a relaxing Friday,” Martin said. “It shows that the Aggie network is strong. It shows the power of the Twelfth Man.” Interim President R. Bowen Loftin announced the tradition Aug. 21, just in time for the start of the football season nationwide. “Aggie Colors Day will help put the long hot summer behind us as we get ready to ‘fight for the maroon and white,’” Loftin said. “It’s going to be a great year, and this is an exciting way to start the fall semester.”
thebatt.com the batt.com First hand
Watch the firefighters light, then put out the flames in the mock room. Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION
See Colors on page 7a
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N R E T S E W GES BELiqVuoErRBeAer Wine
thebattalion Amanda Casanova Editor in Chief
THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111.
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Officials at a North Carolina university say approximately 100 students have been diagnosed and treated for swine flu. A Wake Forest University spokesman said Tuesday that classes are continuing as usual and that students who are not feeling well are being advised to tell their professors that they are sick and to stay home. Two cases of swine flu were confirmed Friday. The cases have been relatively mild and the students are feeling better after a few days. Medical care is recommended if body temperature reaches 103 or higher, if there is vomiting, a rash or a change in behavior. Associated Press
Warrants on the Web On Tuesday, the College Station Municipal Court began publishing a list of all outstanding city warrants on the court’s Web site. The public can go to www.cstx. gov/warrants and check their warrant status if a citation was issued by the College Station Police Department.
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Those who registered to receive notifications from Code Maroon before July 21 will need to re-register. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for Code Maroon as it gives the University the ability to quickly notify campus members of health and emergency alerts. Students can register at http://codemaroon. tamu.edu. The Battalion staff
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Soccer takes the road
Guest column: en, ‘Freshmen, u’ I pity you’
The 10th-ranked Aggie soccer team heads west this weekend for its first road trip of the season and will take on CalBerkeley and St. Mary’s University.
coming friday
Ryan Tannehill and Von Miller Look for profiles on these two key contributors along with an in depth preview of the 2009 football season.
Labor Day closings College Station The City of College Station municipal offices will be closed on Monday and will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.
Because our sanctuary of student udent life has been deemed emed uninhabitable. Now, instead of a “living ing room,” we get too enjoy an eyesore the size of two football fields. fields. ories There are memories that this buildingg has harbored that will never be experienced by our younger peers. The face of student life cally has been drastically changed forever.r.
Trash pick-up/ recycle center Residential garbage collection: regular work day Residential brush/ rubbish collection: regular work day Commercial collection: regular work day Recycling collection (TCW): will be closed Monday All other days collected as normal
Bryan The City of Bryan municipal offices will be closed on Monday and will resume normal business hours on Tuesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
A law enforcement official walks under police tape at a scene where a shooting took place in a parking lot at Skyline College on Wednesday in San Bruno, Calif.
Student shot at Calif. college SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Police on Wednesday were searching for three suspects who fled a college campus after a shooting that left an 18-year-old wounded. The shooting happened at about 1 p.m. when two groups of teenage boys got into an argument in a parking lot at Skyline Community College in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno, police Cmdr. Marc Catalano said. Police do not believe any other students or faculty were targets in the shooting. “Our initial investigation shows that there was an isolated incident between subjects involved in the conflict,” Catalano said The wounded student who was
Bryan Texas Utilities BTU will be closed Monday. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday.
not identified ran into the learning center about 1 p.m., said Leslie Shelton, director of the center. “We were alerted there was an active shooter,” Shelton said. The student was shot in the buttocks, said Barbara Christensen, San Mateo Community College District director of community and government relations. No other injuries were reported. Catalano said the three suspects, all about 18 years old, fled the campus in a “fluorescent” Ford Escort and had not been caught. The wounded student was taken to the health center and then the hospital. His injuries were not lifethreatening, Catalano said. Associated Press
Drop in endowment forces Stanford layoffs PALO ALTO, Calif. — Stanford University has laid off 412 employees over the past eight months and plans an additional 60 layoffs later this year to offset a steep drop in the value of its endowment. Stanford officials said Tuesday the layoffs have been spread throughout its graduate schools, academic departments and administrative units. The university says it also laid off 72 employees whose positions
Municipal court will be closed Monday. Any and all transactions due Monday will only be accepted on Tuesday,.
Trash pick-up/ recycle center Solid Waste: Normal schedule Bulky Waste: Normal schedule Recycling center: Closed Monday Library Bryan Public Library, Carnegie History Center and Larry Ringer Library will be closed Monday. Normal hours will resume Tuesday.
corrections
were funded by sponsored research that recently ended. Officials say Stanford’s endowment, which funds a big portion of its budget, is expected to decline 30 percent to $12 billion this year. In addition to layoffs, the university is cutting costs by freezing salaries and faculty hiring, eliminating unfilled positions and suspending campus construction projects. Associated Press
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.
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thebattalion 9.3.2009 page3a
Don’t fall to
pieces
Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
Lorelei Willett The Battalion The transition from high school to college is easy for some, but others underestimated the independence that was pushed upon them once mom and dad drove away. It starts with getting up in the morning, eating meals, making it to classes on time after figuring out where they are and finally, making it back in one piece. And that’s just during the day. Then there is making time to study, something most freshmen do not have practice in, and maybe finding organizations to join, plus the added stress of getting to know new people and making friends. “I don’t think I manage stress very well,” said Kelly Prendergast, senior biomedical science and international studies major. “I yell at my cat in Spanish.” But, this is important, do not panic. Time cannot be created with a flick of the wrist, but can be managed to its fullest extent and still have the weekend. “Your academic transition from high school to college student will be easier if you treat school as your job. Each day has 24 hours; use 8 for academics, including attending class, 8 for sleep and 8 for everything else,” said Betty Milburn, associate director of counseling at the Student Counseling Service. Milburn said there will be academic demands that are more challenging than any yet to be expe-
rienced, but there will also be pulls on time from campus activities such as football games, concerts and lectures, not to mention all the laundry, shopping, cleaning and other daily upkeep activities. “When time is short and demands are many, sometimes the first things to go are sleep, exercise, healthy meals and time for you. This response to feeling overwhelmed and overloaded actually creates more problems in the long run even though it may seem to be helping at the time,” Milburn said. When stressed for an over extended period of time, the body’s immune system is negatively impacted, which means getting sick is easier. Then when sleep deprivation is added in, lack of exercise, a junk food diet and no personal time, students are even more likely to get sick, especially when stress is highest, such as at midterms or finals. “Creating balance in life means that you value and place importance on all the different pieces of your life that come together to create the actual whole of your life experience,” Milburn said. The foundation pieces are 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, balanced meals, especially breakfast, exercise at least three times a week and quiet time each day. “Recognize that when one or more parts of life are neglected, you become out of balance, and like driving on a flat tire, the potential negative impact can range from minor issues to major problems,” Milburn said. “Develop a weekly schedule that includes all the parts of your life that are important
to you, such as academic tasks, social activities, leisure, time for family — phone calls or e-mail instead of going home every weekend, and so on.” Keeping up with schoolwork is important, because getting behind is stressful. Milburn suggests recording the dates of exams and projects in a planner at the beginning of the semester, and to start studying the first week of classes. “I make a list sometimes, I don’t do anything on it but it makes me feel better,” Prendergast said. Senior accounting major Rebecca Zahn said she tries not to get too stressed out but likes having a schedule when she has a lot to do to help her stay organized. “I don’t like to be on the go all the time. I set time aside maybe once a week to just watch TV or something,” Zahn said. According to Milburn, when under prolonged periods of stress, emotions and coping skills become more difficult to maintain. “Recognize symptoms that you are out of balance. These can include feeling overwhelmed, increased irritability, sadness, crying, changes in sleep or eating behaviors, withdrawing from friends, feeling exhausted, lack of energy, headaches and lack of motivation to name a few,” Milburn said. “If you experience any of these symptoms for more than a week or two, talk to a trusted adult or seek
Tips for managing stress ■ Get seven to nine hours of sleep every night ■ Eat well-balanced meals, especially breakfast ■ Exercise ■ Schedule in time for leisure and “me time” ■ Invest in a planner ■ Keep up with schoolwork ■ Use the resources at the SCS
See Stress on page 4a
Texas A&M University Honor Council Are you an Aggie with integrity and ethical principles that genuinely cares about upholding the Aggie Honor Code? The Honor Council is looking for new Undergraduate Student members. If you are interested, then the Texas A&M University Honor Council needs you! Pick up your application to be a new Honor Council member at the MSC Open House on September 6, 2009 (1-6 PM). For more information call 458-3378. Pg. 3a-09.03.09.indd 1
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page 4a
DAISY DUKES ‘Guitar Hero 5’ thursday 9.3.2009
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thebattalion
iTunes’ top 10 selling singles of the week
has new tricks
Lou Kesten Associated Press A few suggestions for the folks who acquire the songs for “Guitar Hero”: —How about a moratorium on Kiss? They were lousy when they started, and their songs haven’t gotten better with time. —Why so little love for punk and New Wave? Dozens of neglected, guitar-centric bands of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s await your call. —Can you dig a little deeper into the funk archive? Wannabe bassists are definitely up for the challenge. Such quibbles aside, the 85 tracks in “Guitar Hero 5” (Activision, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, $59.99; PlayStation 2, $39.99) do cover more subgenres of rock than any radio station. You get classic rockers (the Rolling Stones, David Bowie), ‘70s meatheads (Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple), alt-rock icons (Bush, Smashing Pumpkins) and up-and-comers (Muse, Kings of Leon). The focus this time is on social gaming, which “Guitar Hero” kick-started before the advent of Wii bowling leagues. Everything in “GH5”
Stress Continued from page 3a
help from one of the many resources available on campus.” The Student Counseling Service is an excellent resource for students who are feeling stressed out, Milburn said. “We offer biofeedback workshops on a weekly basis, [which] is a technique that can be helpful in understanding and controlling stress and
“Party In the U.S.A.,” Miley Cyrus
1 2 3 4
“I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas
is built around party play: People can drop in and out of songs without messing up their friends’ performances, and you can switch instruments or difficulty level midsong. You can also mix any combination of instruments, so if everyone wants to play lead guitar, it’s cool. All the tunes are available right from the start, so there’s nothing to unlock before your friends come over. And there’s a “Rockfest” mode that lets friends compete in a variety of challenges, such as “Momentum,” in which the difficulty increases depending on your performance. All this makes “GH5” the most accessible game in the series yet; it’s like having an interactive jukebox in your living room. As usual, Activision has invited some guest stars: Playable characters include Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain and Carlos Santana. And in the Xbox 360 version, you can have all three combine in the ultimate backup band for your Xbox Live avatar. Long live rock. Three stars out of four.
“Down,” Jay Sean
“Run This Town (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West),” Jay-Z “Whatcha Say,” Jason DeRulo
5 6 7
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
“Good Girls Go Bad (feat. Leighton Meester),” Cobra Starship “Hotel Room Service,” Pitbull
8 9 10
“She Wolf,” Shakira “You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift Associated Press
Top 3 grossing movies “The Final Destination”
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anxiety. We also offer time management workshops as well as workshops on stress management and test anxiety,” Milburn said. “Of course, students are welcome to meet with a counselor in a one-on-one format to discuss their concerns and how to deal with them. We are funded primarily by student service fees so we do not charge for our services and all information in confidential to the limits provided by law.” Besides the SCS, there are
NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
Box Office Mojo
many useful programs and organizations on campus that are equipped to help in any way possible such as the Student Health Services, ATMentors, who are faculty trained to help students in any academic or personal crisis, and Student Counseling Helpline. All of these organizations, as well as others have information in the back of the TAMU official All-University Calendar or online.
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Student Internship Fair: September 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Stamp Student Union Smith School of Business Career Fair: September 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Riggs Alumni Center Please bring your resume and an unofficial transcript. If you cannot attend, please apply online.
Explore the following career opportunities: s Computer/Electrical Engineering s Computer Science s Information Assurance s Mathematics s Foreign Language s Intelligence Analysis s Cryptanalysis s Signals Analysis s Business Management s Finance & Accounting s Internships s Co-op s Scholarships For more information about NSA and a complete list of our career opportunities, visit our Web site. U.S. citizenship is required for all applicants. NSA is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable laws and regulations.
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Pg. 4a-09.03.09.indd 1
®
9/2/09 8:50 PM
nation
page 5a thursday 9.3.2009
thebattalion
BP taps vast pool of oil in Gulf NEW YORK — Nearly seven miles below the Gulf of Mexico, oil company BP has tapped into a vast pool of crude after digging the deepest oil well in the world. The Tiber Prospect is expected to rank among the largest petroleum discoveries in the U.S., potentially producing half as much crude in a day as Alaska’s famous North Slope oil field. The company’s chief of exploration on Wednesday estimated that the Tiber deposit has between 4 billion and 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent, which includes natural gas. That would be enough to satisfy U.S. demand for crude for nearly one year. But BP does not yet know how much it can extract. Associated Press
Pg. 5a-09.03.09.indd 1
Obama to deliver health care address WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will deliver a prime-time health care address to Congress next week, opening an urgent autumn push to gain control of the debate that has been slipping from his grasp under withering Republican-led attacks. Scheduling of the speech next Wednesday night, just a day after lawmakers return from their August recess, underscores the determination of the White House to confront critics of Obama’s overhaul proposals and to buck up supporters who have been thrown on the defensive. Allies have been urging the president to be more specific about his plans and to take a greater role in the debate, and aides have signaled he will do that in the address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber. The speech’s timing also suggests that top Democrats have all but given up hope for a bipartisan breakthrough by Senate Finance Committee negotiators. The White House had given those six lawmakers until Sept. 15 to draft a plan, but next week’s speech comes well ahead of that deadline.
It follows an August recess in which critics of Obama’s health proposals dominated many public forums. Approval ratings for Obama, and for his health care proposals, dropped in August. Senior adviser David Axelrod had said Tuesday that Obama was considering being “more prescriptive” about what he feels Congress must include in a health bill. Axelrod said all the key ideas for revising health care are “on the table,” suggesting that Obama will not offer major new proposals. But he may talk specifically about his top priorities, and perhaps add details to pending plans, to save a high-profile initiative whose defeat would deliver a huge blow to his young presidency. The president hopes to “take the reins of this debate and take it to the finish line,” said an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House strategy. Obama hopes to put opponents in the position of having to propose their own plans or explain why they think it best to do nothing, the official said. Associated Press
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Feds fail to clear flammable brush LOS ANGELES — Federal authorities failed to follow through on plans earlier this year to burn away highly flammable brush in a forest on the edge of Los Angeles to avoid the very kind of wildfire now raging there, The Associated Press reported. The U.S. Forest Service said that months before the huge blaze erupted, it obtained permits to burn away the undergrowth on more than 1,700 acres of the Angeles National Forest. But 193 acres had been cleared by the time the fire broke out, the agency said. The agency defended its efforts, saying weather, wind and environmental rules limit how often these “prescribed burns” can be conducted. Forest Service resource officer Steve Bear said crews using machinery and hand tools trimmed 5,000 acres in the forest this year before the money ran out. Some critics said that protests from environmentalists contributed to the disaster, which came after the brush was allowed to build up for as much as 40 years. “This brush was ready to explode,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. “The environmentalists have gone to the extreme to prevent controlled burns, and as a result we have this catastrophe today.” Associated Press
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lab workers check chicken eggs Aug. 28 that are being used to develop H1N1 flu vaccine at Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, in Shanghai, China.
China prepares 1-dose flu shot One dose, or two? WASHINGTON — It takes the immune system a while to ramp up to fight unique types of influenza. Since we’ve never been exposed to this virus, formally called the 2009 H1N1 strain, scientists assume our bodies will act like those of young children. When children under age 9 get their first flu vaccine one dose doesn’t spark as much immune protection as the doses they’ll get over the next years. So those first-timers are given two shots.
LONDON — German automaker BMW plans to build new models of the iconic Mini in Britain, in a major boost for the country’s ailing car making industry. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said late Wednesday that the two new models would be built at the company’s plant in Cowley, near Oxford and London.
Japan’s leader speaks to Obama
BEIJING – The answer may be near to a crucial question about vaccine for the advancing swine flu — one shot or two? Chinese officials say they are about to approve vaccines that prevent the new flu in a single dose. If they’re right, it would be good news. Many health researchers fear it will take two shots to protect people, vastly complicating efforts to stem the spread of the illness. The World Health Organization says it is encouraged after reviewing the test details from one of the two Chinese vaccines. However, experts said more results are needed from vaccine makers to determine if one dose would be potent enough. China’s State Food and Drug Administration reported on its Web site it will make a decision this week on approving the two vaccines, which completed testing last month and passed reviews by panels of about 40 experts. Four other vaccines are being reviewed, it said. Government-backed vaccine makers Sinovac and Hualan Biological Engineering Inc. said their studies show one shot of vaccine is effective on people ages 3 to 60. More than 3,000 people participated in the trials. Stockpiling vaccines is China’s latest move in its aggressive approach to contain the spread of swine flu in the country of 1.3 billion people and relatively limited medical resources.
TOKYO – Japan’s incoming leader said Thursday he told President Barack Obama that the two countries’ security alliance is the “foundation” of his country’s foreign relations, an attempt to ease concerns his government might try to distance itself from Washington. Yukio Hatoyama, whose party won a resounding victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, and Obama spoke by telephone for about 12 minutes. The White House confirmed the call took place, but did not release details.
Associated Press
Associated Press
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Center Continued from page 1
drug in the laboratories to something that is actually going to be mass produced.” Other biomedical facilities that are already established through Texas A&M include the A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine, TIGM, and the Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies, TIPS. TIGM studies embryonic stem cell research to determine what genes are involved in diseases. TIPS works on animal models of human and veterinary disease and helps in creating everything from medical devices to lifesaving drugs, Giroir said. An umbrella system was also created at the last Board of Regents meeting called the Institute for Innovative Therapeutics. “It’s a cooperative effort among all the people who are
Colors Continued from page 1
Aggie Colors Day will commence in concert with the fifth annual College Colors Day, a national event established by The Collegiate Licensing Company. “College Colors Day raises awareness of higher education and its impact across the country,” Jason Cook said. “We’re taking a national event and tailoring it to Texas A&M to make it Aggies Colors Day.” The University was able to participate in College Colors Day for the first time this year after joining The Collegiate Licensing Company.
Shannon Continued from page 1
term she plans to apply for a Freshman Leadership Organization and the Biomedical Science Association. Down the road she hopes to attend veterinary school at A&M. With the weekend rapidly approaching, Shannon prepares to attend her first Midnight Yell practice and Aggie football game. It is what defines those events that help made Shannon’s decision in attending Texas A&M — tradition. “It is such a close environment and full of tradition,” Shannon said. “The people are nice; it is extremely close-knit and accepting. It is the only place where I’ve been when random people on the street
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brella system over them,” Giroir said. “It’s a way to coordinate among the three different centers below that so that they can really work together.” The institute is up for approval at the next Board of Regents meeting and will be presented by the College of Engineering. Funding for the new center is provided by grants from the Emerging Technologies Fund in the amount of $50 million. The Council of Principal Investigators, CPI, which consists of faculty and researchers, expressed opposition for construction of the new center and institution during an open faculty meeting with the CPI, Faculty Senate and Giroir in late July. Members of the CPI declined to comment on the center and institution. “We assembled a lot of information about this at one
ments from our members. We raised some issues, and I think the state is going to go ahead with this,” said Norman Guinasso, director of Texas A&M’s Geochemical Environmental Research Group. He declined to comment any further. Guinasso and Susan Bloomfield are no longer chairpersons for CPI. The center will attract researchers and students to learn more about therapeutics manufacturing. “It’s going to be the best place in the country to train students for careers in the pharmaceutical world of making vaccines and therapies particularly for cancer,” Giroir said. “So when you train here it’s going to be just an outstanding opportunity for a career that is very well paid and meaningful, making new complicated therapies for people that are sick.”
“Earlier, this summer, we entered into a new agreement with The Collegiate Licensing Company which represents more than 200 schools across to country, in addition to all but two schools of the Big 12 conference,” Cook said. “They promote and help us market the University over all.” Loftin received proclamation from Gov. Rick Perry Aug. 25 for Aggies Colors Day. “If anyone can make a statement through College Colors Day, it’s our tradition-rich Aggie community,” Loftin said. “In fact, I would be willing to bet that we can do it with more spirit — and more proud participants — than any other
university in the country.” Aggies Colors Day is a way to spread Aggie pride, said Shane Hinckley, assistant vice president for business development. “[Aggies Colors Day] is a way for us to show the country the level of love and support Aggies have for A&M,” Hinckley said. “It legitimizes having an official day that Aggies show their pride even though we do that already on our own.” The 2009 football season kicks off Saturday against New Mexico. “This is something we’ll be able to look forward to every year at the start of school and the football season — year after year,” Hinckley said.
“The people are nice; it is extremely close-knit and accepting. It is the only place where I’ve been when random people on the street start talking to you.” — Julie Shannon freshman biomedical sciences major
start talking to you.” In the end, though, as a college student in a week of firsts, she expects what a majority of college students think as they attend college. “I just want to get really good grades,” Shannon said.
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Manson follower seeks parole CHOWCHILLA, Calif. — Susan Atkins, a terminally ill Charles Manson follower who admitted stabbing actress Sharon Tate 40 years ago, has slept on a gurney for much of a parole hearing that began around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The hearing in Chowchilla is still under way for Atkins, who is asking for her freedom before she dies. She had been expected to die of brain cancer more than a year ago, but the 61-yearold woman continues to cling to life. Associated Press
Kerry aligns as Kennedy heir Senator: I will fight for his health care overhaul BOSTON — Sen. John Kerry positioned himself as the political heir to Edward Kennedy, pledging to the thousands who attended his town hall meeting Wednesday that he would fight for the health care overhaul championed by his longtime Democratic colleague. More than 2,000 people turned up for Kerry’s first public meeting since Kennedy’s Aug. 25 death from brain cancer at age 77. A line of supporters and opponents of health care reforms snaked out of the
Somerville high school and down two blocks. Kerry moved quickly to invoke the memory of Kennedy and promised to carry on the fight for health care reform. “That means taking on these battles in the way that Teddy would and I pledge to you that I will,” he said. Kennedy had repeatedly called the expansion of health care to uninsured Americans the signature issue of his 47year tenure in the U.S. Senate. Supporters have said his absence
in Washington over much of the past year has made the job of hammering out compromise legislation more difficult. Kerry, also a strong supporter of overhauling the health care system, has vowed to push through the measure in Kennedy’s name. On Wednesday night, Kerry said he would follow Kennedy’s example of fighting hard for his principles and seeking political compromises that serve national interest. Associated Press
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2009 Football Preview Check Friday’s issue for an in-depth preview of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie football team’s coming season. There will be a look at the depth charts, player features and a full preview of the season opener against New Mexico.
sports thebattalion 9.3.2009 page1b
Cross Country set to begin Team heads to Waco for Bear Invitational Michael Sullivan The Battalion After claiming the men’s and women’s National Outdoor Championships this summer, the Texas A&M cross country teams look to set the pace for another successful track season. “The season for track and field gets started with cross country,” said senior runner Sarah Balfour. “If we have a good season and run well, it motivates the track runners. What we do kind of sets the whole team rolling.” In 2008, the A&M men’s cross country team dethroned Arkansas to claim the South Central Regional Title and advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time in five years. The Aggies became the second team in 30 years to wrestle the South Central Regional title away from the Razorbacks. Although the team lost their top runner Shadrack Songok, seniors Joe Sauvageau, Andrew Montes and Mitch Bible are expected to help defend the regional title. Both Sauvageau and Bible are experienced runners, having competed during the 2008 Regional and National Championships. “Having seniors in this sport is a huge deal,” said A&M distance coach Dan Waters. “The guys that do the best are the guys who have been there before, and it is nice to have a couple of those guys on our team. They [Sauvageau, Bible and Montes] are very experienced, about as experienced as you can get and that goes a very long way.” The women’s team also boasts a lineup of three seniors, including All-American Christina Munoz, Balfour and Emilie Fischer. A&M finished 11th in the Big 12 Championship and 6th in the South Central Regional, failing to advance to the See Cross Country on page 2b
Pg. 1b-09.03.09.indd 1
California dreamin’
Jon Eilts — THE BATTALION
Freshman forward Kim Castleberry scored her first collegiate goal on Sunday against UTSA and leads the Aggie soccer team with 18 shots.
Aggie soccer team travels to Berkeley David Harris The Battalion It was a theme of firsts last weekend for the 10th-ranked Texas A&M soccer team. They suffered their first defeat of the season to an unranked Purdue squad on Friday at the Aggie Soccer Stadium. The team’s second leading scorer from last season, junior Rachel Shipley, scored her first goal of the young season against the University of Texas San Antionio on Sunday. Also on Sunday, freshmen Kim Castleberry and Catalina Clavijo added their first collegiate goals. The Aggies head west this weekend for their first road trip of the season to face California on Friday and St. Mary’s on Sunday. The games are a part of the California Invitational on the campus of Cal-Berkeley. “It’s fun to go on the road and bond with the girls,” Shipley said. “It’s cool to see a different atmosphere.” After starting off the season with a 4-1 victory over Nevada, Cal went to Oregon to take on the third-ranked Portland Pilots. There, the Golden Bears were handed their first loss by the score of 4-0. “Going to California will be a mighty challenge for us,” said head coach G. Guerrieri. The Aggies are still trying to implement some of the freshmen players into the rotation. Castleberry is leading the team in both shots and shots on goal with 18 and six, respectively. She has also added a goal and an assist along with a new burst of speed to the forward position. “Kim is extremely dangerous and she puts so much pressure
on the defense,” Shipley said. “It really gives us an advantage to have her up front because she’s going to be a goal scorer.” Sophomore defender Bri Young is leading the Aggies through three games with a total of five points. Cal’s junior forward Alex Morgan, who has paced the Golden bears with three goals to go along with three assists, leads Cal into this weekend. She also is first on the team with seven shots and six shots on goal. Berekeley head coach Neil McGuire is looking forward to seeing his team bounce back. “After seeing stiff competition in Portland last week, these games will help us to grow as a team,” said McGuire to calbears.com. “All four teams that are participating in the tournament are good teams - it brings tremendous energy and excitement to the event.” Cal’s offense is predicated on spreading the field and keeping possession of the ball. The young squad has four seniors, and after starting the season ranked 16th, has since moved up in the rankings to No. 14. Sunday, the Aggies will co nclude the invitational by facing off with the Gaels of St. Mary’s. The Gaels, at 1-2, started the season off with a victory over Pacific, but have since lost their last two games to Denver and Colorado by a combined score of 10-2. Senior forward Jessica Menzhuber has scored two goals and added an assist to go along with 16 shots in her first three games. “We’re all really looking forSee California on page 2b
9/2/09 10:31 PM
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$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR RENT
FOR RENT
HELP WANTED
MUSIC
Absolutely 1 Fun Laugh-A-Lot Defensive Driving! Ticket dismissal/insurance discount. W&Th (6pm-9pm) or Sat (8am-2:30pm). Walk-ins welcome. At Denny’s (across from TAMU). $25 cash, restrictions apply. 979-694-8888.
2bd/1ba, W/D, water included, bus stop in front, very clean, 1mi from campus. 690-4181 or 219-2683. 2bdrm/2ba. duplex with huge back yard, privacy fencing, pets welcomed, ceramic tile floors, lawn care provided, 7min from campus. $715/mo. Available Now! 979-739-7717
Large 2bdrm/2bs, 3204-Cougar Trail, Bryan. Water, sewer, &trash paid. Everything’s new inside. $675/mo. 979-822-1616.
COACHES & BUDDIES WANTED: Our challenger soccer program (a program for mentally and/or physically challenged children) is looking for people to volunteer and provide a positive experience for challenged children. Call 764-3424.
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
Getting Married or Planning an Event? Fall Bridal Show and Benefit. Sunday, September 13 from 12-4pm at College Station Hilton. Over 75 local wedding vendors! Grand prize: $1000 shopping spree. Proceeds benefit BV Breast Cancer Support. Tickets are $15 online at www.ido-ido.org or $20 at the door. Our food will delight you, our prices will please you, our service will impress you! La Riviera 3700 South Texas Bryan.
BED AND BREAKFAST www.thebirdsnestcottage.webs.co m check pics and prices only 15 minutes from town.
FARM/RANCH Horse boarding, large pens with shelter, lighted arena and more. 25-minutes from campus. Call 979-589-2334.
FOR RENT $375 pre-lease. 1/1, 2/1. Free Wi-Fi, On Northgate, on Shuttle. Short term leases ok. Call agent, Ardi. 979-422-5660.
2bdrm/3ba duplexes. Great floorplans, fenced yards, w/d, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 3 bedroom 2 bath, like brand New! $900/mo. pets OK. Available Now! 622-624 San Mario, 979-255-2704. 3/2 House w/study-Wolf Pen Area! Close to shuttle, w/d conn, fenced w/ lawn care, www.twincityproperties.com 979-775-2291. 3/2 house, quiet neighborhood. Pets ok. Available now. 1057 Windmeadows, 979-255-2705. 3/2/2 Townhome, close to campus, w/d, fridge, fenced backyard. Available now, $1300/month. 832-863-5911. 3/3 Duplexes, 1400sqft, fenced backyard, all appliances, new, excellent specials, 979-694-0320 office@luxormanagement.com 3bdrm/2bath large duplex. Washer/Dryer &Refridgerator, walking distance to campus, fenced backyard. 209B Cooner. 979-224-2047.
$599 Grand reopening special. 2-1 Totally remodeled four-plex. 5-minutes to campus. New stainless steel appliances with W/D included. 904 Navidad. 2-1.5 Townhouse style with yard, also available. 979-450-9093 or 979-450-9094.
3bdrm/3ba duplexes. Great floorplans, fenced yards, w/d, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 3bed/1.5ba. Fenced backyard, close to campus. (979)774-9181. On bus route.
$900, Available Now, PRE-LEASE, 3, 4 bdrm. houses near TAMU, pets ok. Call Agent Ardi 979-422-5660.
4 bedroom 2 bath, large yard, pets ok, 525 Moran. Ready Now! 979-255-2704.
1-3/bedroom apartments. Some with w/d, some near campus. $175-$600/mo. 979-696-2038.
4/2 Studio, over 1600sqft, w/d conn, 2 living areas, spiral staircase, fireplace, balcony, ext storage, www.twincityproperties.com 979-775-2291. 4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing for 2010, excellent specials. 694-0320, office@luxormanagement.com
1bed loft, located 401 Summer Court, on Bus Route 12. Student special: $400 off 1st month’s rent with 12 month lease. $100 deposit, $625 monthly. 214-682-5510 2 rooms for rent! at 1207 Hardwood, $375/mo., plus split utilites. call 214-213-9718 2-bdrms available $650/mo. Cable &internet included. Eastmark at Wolfpen apartments 979-693-8066, eastmarkapartments@yahoo.com 2/1 Duplex, faux wood floors, w/d conn, lawn care provided. www.twincityproperties.com 979-775-2291. 2/1 forplex, newly remodeled close to campus on bus route for $650/mo. call 979-966-3913. 2/1 Fourplex, up and downstairs, w/d conn, fireplace, balcony, ext storage, lawn care provided. www.twincityproperties.com 979-775-2291. 2/1 Victorian Style 4 plex, All Wood Floors! w/d conn, www.twincityproperties.com 979-775-2291. 2/1.5 Duplex, fireplace, w/d conn, fenced with lawn care. www.twincityproperties.com 979-775-2291. 2b/1b fourplex. 2000 Longmire in College Station. $475/month. Call 979-822-1616. Efficiencies and 2 bedrooms. 1mo. free rent. 979-693-1906.
Spend an evening with Jeff Dunham! September 4, 2009 For more information visit yell.tamu.edu
Affordable country living, four minutes to campus, 2bd townhouses with fenced courtyards, were $795/mo now $595/mo, 979-777-3371 Ag Special! 1805 Briaroaks, got 5 to 6 roommates? this colonial mansion is perfect, behind Hilton, fantastic deal, covered parking, shuttle bus, only $375/person, call 979-777-3371 Available Now for rent! 3bdrm/2ba. with 3 acres fenced with pasture $1000/mo. 979-774-0802. Available now. 4/2/2 newly remodeled, pet-friendly, new carpet &paint. $1275/mo. 1208 North Ridgefield. Biking distance to campus. aggielandrentals.com 979-776-8984. Beautiful duplex, 2/1, remodeled, new floors, designer extras, 1 week free. Call for special, 832-646-2329. College Station 2bdrm/1ba., house! 504 Cooner, 5min. walk to campus, fenced, pet ok, $800/mo. 979-450-3812. College Station, 3bd/2.5bath, $999/mo +specials. Flexible lease terms, large fenced backyard, pets OK, W/D, free lawn care. www.topdogmanagement.info Cozy 2bd/2ba condo, 3-blocks from campus, all new flooring, paint, appliances, yard, w/d connections, over 1000sqft., no HUD, updated, $645/mo., 506-D College Main 254-289-0585. Cozy 2bdrm/2bth condo 3-blocks from campus, yard, w/d connections, over 1000sqft., no HUD, updated, $565/mo., 506-C College Main 254-289-0585. Large 2bd/2ba. condo. All new on inside. Water paid. 1901 W.Holleman, $650/mo. 979-693-1448.
NO FEES! NO DEPOSIT! HurryWe have extended our special through Friday 9/4!!! Hurry in to take advantage! Houses, duplexes & fourplexes. Visit or call TODAY! twincityproperties.com or 979-775-2291 Oak Creek Condos high-speed internet and basic cable. 2bdrm/1.5ba. $515/mo. Water, sewer, trash paid. Fireplace, icemaker, pool, hot-tub. 979-822-1616. Richmond Ridge Townhome, 1/1.5 loft, available Sept. 1st, 2 miles north of campus, large open plan, broker/owner 979-777-5477 Too Many Roommates, Too Little Space? Huge 2bdrm/1.5ba Apartment in Bryan. Only 4-mi. to Campus. Newly Remodeled, $625/mo. 979-402-0913.
FOR SALE 16’ Aluminum Boat with 40HP Mercury, ideal for fishing or hunting, asking $2500/obo, 979-450-5666. House for Sale. 1107 Bayou Woods, College Station, TX 77840. 3bd/2bth, 1727 sqft, 2 car garage. Less than 1 mile to TAMU campus, close to Sorority, shopping, and TAMU bus route. Custom built in 1997. Large living area, huge backyard, and very well maintained property. Must sell!! Call (316)-990-7252 for a preview. Road Bike 08’ Jamis Coda, size 16in. Perfect condition $400 call 254-784-0335
HELP WANTED Aggie Football Concession Staff. Champion Concessions will be providing Dippin’ Dots at all home football games. We are looking for energetic students to work in a fun and fast-paced environment. Pay is $8.50 -$15/hr. Email louie@championconcessions.com ARE YOU READY FOR SOME KICKBALL? Registration for C.S. kickball leagues are forming now, so get your coed or mixed teams together. Individuals also welcome. Call 764-3486. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. 512-684-8296, photoguy@io.com Babysitter needed. Must be fluent in Spanish. 9am-2pm M-F. Must have references. Please email information to csmith@aggielandcarpetone.com Child Care- FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment.
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COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for Girls Volleyball. Call 764-6386. COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for Youth Flag Football. Call 764-3424. Earn serious cash! Independent Sales reps wanted to introduce healthy, all natural energy drink to campus market. Self-motivated, entrepreneur types only. Call 1-800-342- 3083. www.theactiondrink.com/Zilli Experienced part-time lawn maintenance workers needed. $7.50/hr. Call Kirk, 979-324-2719. FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYERS WANTED! College Station is currently forming an 8 on 8 league. For team or individual registration information, call 764-3424 Help needed in fabric shop, Tuesdays and Thursdays, web page experience required. Apply in person, 318 George Bush Drive (next to Mi Cocina). Help Wanted. UPS Store in Bryan, corner of Texas Ave and Villa Maria. Next to Walgreens. Apply in person.
PETS Adopt Pets: Dogs, Cats, Puppies, Kittens, Many purebreds. Brazos Animal Shelter, 979-775-5755, www.brazosanimalshelter.org Australian shepherds for sale. Puppies and adults. Call Vivian 979-777-1093. Teacup puppies: Maltese, Shorkies, Maltipoos, Yorkies &Poodles. $500 &up. 979-324-2866, linda_d_54@yahoo.com
REAL ESTATE Buy &Sell B/CS homes, condos, duplexes. RE/MAX. Nadia 979-693-1851. Michael 979-739-2035. www.bcsrealty.com Sale large house, Bryan. Call for details. 979-324-6939. Excellent condition.
ROOMMATES 1-Male roommate wanted in 4bd house. $300/mo. +1/4 bills. 979-777-4379. 1-Room in 3bd/3ba house on Welsh. On bus route, in biking distance to campus. W/D, $450/mo. +1/3 utilities, 979-324-9190.
House keeper needed, 15-20 hrs/wk, $8.64/hr. Email me at barrmri@yahoo.com
1-roommate needed Fall, & Spring. 4/2 house. 2505 Antietam. $400/mo +1/4 utilities. Clara, 361-463-1727.
J. Cody’s hiring part-time cashiers. Apply within. 3610 S. College. No experience necessary, just common sense!
Roomate needed for 3/2 house in Rantree. $350 +1/3 utilities. 979-324-9485.
Local business needs office assistant M-F. No weekends. Apply at 3320 S. College Avenue 979-779-7044.
Roommate, house 1/2-mile from campus, furnished, $400/mo., +1/4 utilities. Stephen 512-762-2151.
Marketer needed for well established t-shirt company. Full or part time. No experience necessary. Call Kelly Sims, 936-661-1049. MEN & WOMEN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS WANTED! College Station is currently forming a 6 on 6 co-ed volleyball league. For team or individual registration information, call 764-6386. P/T service station attendant and lube tech. Basic Automotive knowledge. Villa Maria Chevron, Villa Maria & E.29th. 979-776-1261. Part-time clerical for busy ob/gyn clinic. Monday thru Thursday 8-1. Apply at 1602 Rock Prairie Road Suite 430 (west building), C.S.
W/F seeking female roommate. New 2bdrm. condo with own bath, located University and South loop, nest to bus stop. $450/mo. +1/2 utilities. Call 281-615-8070
SERVICES Conversational Czech language class. Call Trent 618-334-4584 or e-mail trentpearson@gmail.com
TUTORS Howdy! Are you taking Anatomy and Physiology this semester? Get online help at www.mrfordsclass.net -Hours of lecture videos, interactive exam reviews and notes that can be printed out and taken to class.
Retired professor desires Upperclassmen to assist in memoirs. Call 979-690-6192. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in College Station. 100% free to join. Click on surveys. Supplement your college income! Work your own business, “energy drinks” -better health -both physically and financially. If motivated contact Tammie at 979-690-6513. The Battalion Advertising Office is hiring a clerk to work, Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30pm-5pm. Student must be able to work both days. If interested, please come by The Grove, Building 8901 and ask for Joseph or Trish.
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The Corner Bar &Grill now hiring. All positions available. Apply in person.
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thursday 9.3.2009
Cross Country Continued from page 1b
NCAA Championship in 2008. Helping the Aggies reach the National Championship this season will be nine incoming freshmen, including top recruits Natosha Rogers and Tara Upshaw. “Having a new group of girls is really refreshing,” Balfour said. “Being able to have such a large recruiting class like we do have adds so much more depth. You may not see it right away, but it is a constant process. ” To kick off the 2009 crosscountry season, the Aggies will travel to Waco to compete in the Bear Invitational. The race will be a 4,000-meter contest for the women and a 6,000-meter contest for the men. On the men’s side, Bible and Sauvageau will sit out until the A&M Invitational on Sept. 12 due to the relatively short distance of the race. Munoz will not be competing for the women’s team as she continues to get in shape for the upcoming season. “We are holding out a lot of our longer distance guys, so our guys on the regional team and national team are holding out this week,” Waters said. “We are giving some of our mile and 3K guys some opportunities this week.” After the Bear Invitational, the Aggies will host the A&M Invitational on Sept. 12. The Aggies will compete in two other races before the Big 12 Championships, which take place in Missouri on Oct. 31. “Our main goal is to get better every race,” Balfour said. “It is kind of one of those things where if we do things right for ourselves and as a team it will show on the very last race when it means the most.”
California Continued from page 1b
ward to playing after last weekend,” Shipley said. “This week of practice has been really intense, and we’ve been taking to each other. Now, we’re going to take it to the California teams.” Following this weekend, the Aggies will conclude their three game road trip on Sept. 18 by traveling to Chapel Hill to face off against the No. 1 ranked team in the country, North Carolina.
Volleyball team hits the road After starting off the season 3-0, the Aggie volleyball team will travel to the state of California this coming weekend. There, they will face off with Saint Mary’s on Saturday evening in Moraga, Calif. They’ll follow that up on Sunday with a match against San Francisco. The team will return home on Sept. 8 for their highly anticipated match against the Italian National Team at Reed Arena. David Harris
STUDIES IN PROGRESS SWIMMER’S EAR/EAR INFECTION STUDY Volunteers ages 12 and older are needed to participate in a 3 week long clinical research study of an investigational ear drop for the treatment of SWIMMERS EAR (external ear infection). Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related ear exams by the doctor • Study examinations or placebo (ear drops) • Compensation up to $200 for time and effort For more information please contact:
RED DRY SCALY PATCHES OF SKIN ATOPIC DERMATITIS STUDY (ECZEMA) Volunteers ages 18 - 64 needed to participate up to a 12 week long clinical research study with an investigational topical medication for atopic dermatitis (RED, DRY, SCALY PATCHES OF SKIN). Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related medication • Physical Examination • Dermatological Assessments • Compensation up to $675.00 for time and travel For more information please contact:
J&S Studies, Inc. 979-774-5933 1710 Crescent Pointe Parkway, College Station, TX 77845
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sports
page 3b thursday 9.3.2009
thebattalion
Sophomore libero Kelsey Black digs a potential kill against Iona Friday at Reed Arena. Jon Eilts — THE BATTALION
Perfect start creates lofty expectations David Harris
After their impressive showing, the Aggie Volleyball team needs to be playing in the NCAA Tournament.
A
s the championship match of the Texas A&M Invitational ended Saturday with the Aggies fending off Northern Iowa in four, I can promise you that the Corbellis both breathed a huge sigh of relief. After the last three seasons have concluded in no postseason berth, many argue that the duo that has been at the helm of Aggie volleyball for 16 seasons, 343 victories and 13 straight NCAA Tournaments, was on the hot seat. Thus, getting off to a good start was imperative. With a relatively young squad, losing a couple quickies right out of the gate could have been severely detrimental to a team with tournament aspirations. But the team came out starting on Friday and dominated. They swept both Iona and a solid Virginia team by going to the star senior outside hitters, Mary Batis, Jennifer Banse and Sarah Ammerman.
In the championship, the resilient Aggies faced off against Northern Iowa, the type of defense-oriented team that gave them trouble last season. Senior setter Jola Kelner spread the ball around beautifully to both her middles and outside hitters. The block seemed to cause the Panthers trouble after the first set. The team’s back row was stout, led by sophomore libero Kelsey Black. Probably the most important thing to come out of this tournament was the emergence of freshman middle Alisia Kastmo whose 14 kills and .700 hitting percentage over the weekend earned her the distinction of being the Big 12 Rookie of the Week. Middle blocker has been the biggest question mark over the off-season following the departure of three seniors from 2008. If the Aggies can get some consistency from both Kastmo and fellow freshman Lindsey Miller, then this team could do some serious damage come December. Following the impressive 3-0 showing, the country is beginning to turn their attention to College Station. Batis was named the National Player of the Week after she led the Aggies in both digs and kills over the weekend. A national ranking for the team should follow shortly. Suffice to say, this squad should be playing in the NCAA Tournament. There are no excuses now. Nobody is saying they need to win the conference, which happens to be a two-team race between Texas and Nebraska, both top five teams. However, there is no reason they shouldn’t play up to the precedent that they set for themselves this past weekend at Reed Arena. David Harris is a junior economics major.
4LTVYPLZ MHKL @LHYIVVRZ SHZ[ H 3PML[PTL Order your 2010 Aggieland yearbook (chronicling the 2009-2010 school year) by choosing the Yearbook fee option when you register for fall classes. Or, to order by credit card, go to http://aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979.845.2613.
(NNPLSHUK
Texas A&M University Yearbook
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JOIN THE ORIGINAL 12TH MAN™ KICKOFF TEAM Where: MSC Bookstore When: September 5th from 3pm to 4:30pm
voices
page 4b thursday 9.3.2009
thebattalion
Have your piece of A&M history autographed by the men that created No Experience Required, a book depicting their trials as walk-on football players. Proceeds fund A&M student scholarships
GUESTCOLUMN
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MAILCALL From Raghu Jana, graduate biological and agricultural engineering research assistant It looks like the Howdy portal was pushed into service rather hastily without enough testing done. Howdy has been in service for a while now, and being in College Station over the summer, I had many occasions to use the gateway. I always found it a mess, worse than a bachelor’s pad, and just as hard for me to find anything. When I click on a link, I am asked to authenticate with my NetID again. I thought Howdy was supposed to be a one-time-authentication gateway to all services offered by Texas A&M. Spending five minutes looking for the link and then signing in each page defeats the point of a portal. I can just as easily use my browser’s bookmarks. Everyone is back for the start of school. More students are trying to access their accounts for various reasons. But they cannot do it because Howdy is down. And the reason given on the page: “Too many users are logged in. Try again later.” Too many users? Did the people who came up with the system not realize the population for which they were designing? Every new system has hiccups and glitches at the beginning. I sincerely hope this the problem with Howdy, but somehow I do not think so. Before someone tags me as a “change-hater,” let me clarify that I am all for change. In this instance, I see a degradation of service, rather than a change for the better. And if it ain’t broke …
From Elmer Mooring, Class of 1958 My first Silver Taps attendance was in 1954, and the ceremony has always struck me as one of Texas A&M’s proudest and most solemn traditions. I just returned from the latest Silver Taps, and was pleasantly surprised to see that the tradition is still strong and respected by the student body. In today’s environment, it is difficult to sit through a church service or stage performance without cell phones ringing and cell phone lights flashing as folks text. Well Ags, there was a large crowd gathered for the ceremony Tuesday, and I am proud to say I did not hear a single cell phone ring, with only two phone screen lights exposed. I did politely alert the students so that the light from their cell phones would not spoil the mood of Silver Taps. I’m proud of our current students. Keep up the traditions.
In times of peak traffic, keep aware of cyclists and pedestrians alike.
A
s the semester starts there are more bicycles and autos on the road, and bicycles and pedestrians on the sidewalks on campus. The increase in traffic makes tempers flare. Let’s all keep our cool, obey traffic laws, and treat each other with courtesy and respect. Distracted drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are a major concern. Please leave the cell phone calls for after the car or bike is parked, and when you are not walking around in a big crowd. A second of inattention can result in great misfortunes. Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as the drivers of vehicles. Bicycles are vehicles under Texas law, with all of the rights and responsibilities therein. Drive a bike like you would drive a slow moving car, ride with traffic, obey traffic laws, signal your intent. This is the best way to stay safe. A lot of cyclists on campus use the sidewalks. This is dangerous both for the cyclist and the pedestrian. If you must use the sidewalk, keep your speed down to pedestrian speed, and pay extra attention. Motorists are not trained to look for traffic coming from sidewalks. This makes sidewalk cycling more dangerous than riding in the road. Cyclists need to use lights at night in order to be seen. Motorists need to leave extra room while passing. Change lanes to pass. Wait until it is safe to pass. Cyclists ride on the right but need to leave a safety margin rather than riding a few inches from the curb. Debris, potholes and glass in the road are hazardous to bicycles. This forces cyclists to move further to the left. These same hazards are often present in bike lanes, forcing cyclists to ride left of the bike lane. Cyclists can see hazards that motorists cannot. Cyclists also need to stay out of the door zone of parked cars, approximately 3 feet to the left of the automobile. The biggest danger areas for collisions are intersections and driveways. Everyone needs to use extra caution at these locations and think ahead to anticipate the most common cyclist and motorist mistakes. Motorists, be prepared for cyclist mistakes, but do not encourage them. Cyclists appreciate motorist courtesy, but do not disrupt the normal flow of traffic, if you do so you are risking a collision with other motorists. Cyclists need to choose the correct lane. Rightturn-only lanes are for turning right, not for proceeding straight. To make a left turn, merge to the left. If cyclists can’t merge to the left, cyclists have the option of making a left turn as a pedestrian, first crossing the street in one direction, then in another. This is much safer than trying to cheat and turn from the right hand side of the road. Cyclists, if you are afraid to ride in traffic, remember that 99.99 percent of all motorists, maybe more, are doing their best to look out for us and take good care of us, but that 0.01 percent is a lot easier to notice. Jean Marie Linhart is a bicycling safety instructor with the League of American Bicyclists and a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics.
TOSUBMIT Mail call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. 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.
t s e Low ! e c i Pr
Sign-up for your Fall 2009 meal plan at
dining.tamu.edu. DINING SERVICES
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voices
thebattalionasks
Q:
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen and why?
thebattalion 9.3.2009 page5b
Ryan Tabibzadegan accounting graduate student
“Use your time wisely, because studying three hours before a test is probably not the best idea.”
GUESTCOLUMN
“Don’t make bad friends that make you party Wednesday through Sunday. Have a good idea of what you want to do in life — you don’t want to change majors 10 times.”
An address to Aggies: Loyalty in times of tumult
H
Roy Borrow accounting graduate student
Padon Holt senior agriculture leadership and development major
“Get involved, but in several areas - at the University level, in different societies in your college, get involved in some kind of community organization outside in Bryan and College Station. FLOs, sororities, fraternities would be great.”
Jared Breitkrewtz
“Join an organization as soon as you can. Get to know people and start to network. Networking is really important in the future. For business majors, you can call old friends for advice.”
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.
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Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
accounting graduate student
owdy, and welcome to Texas A&M University, home of friendly people, Big 12 conference sports and endless construction. Freshmen, I pity you. I love this campus and everything it stands for, but at no time in my college career can I recall such a dilapidated state of affairs in this once-beautiful scene. Take a walk with me through the ongoing project that mars our campus in hopes of realizing a more beautiful tomorrow and decide, what are we to do? No one can tread our esteemed campus without noticing the monumental deconstruction of the Memorial Student Center. The MSC has always been a favored place for students to congregate since opening in 1954. As you approached campus this year though, you saw nothing but portable chain-link fences and caution signs. Why? Because our sanctuary of student life has been deemed uninhabitable. Now, instead of a “living room,” we get to enjoy an eyesore the size of two football fields. There are memories that this building has harbored that will never be experienced by our younger peers. The face of student life has been drastically changed forever. This is not only a shame in relation to the inhibited usage of our permanent gathering place, but also in the fact that now class routes have been blocked off and skewed. Most students will have to make major changes in their plans for attending class and other on-campus activities, simply due to a few strategically placed barricades. I will have to leave home much earlier than expected just so I can maneuver around the detours and pitfalls to get to my classes on time. Students on campus and freshmen, I hope you have your maps ready, because even an old senior like myself will have his GPS out trying to decipher the hurdles between Lot 100 and my class in Blocker. Here is the big wake-up call for fish especially; you get to deal with this for three years. Although I sincerely wish to have been able to visit the MSC during my senior year, I’m not brokenhearted over it. But I cannot imagine how aggravating campus life will be with this mind-numbing ruckus constantly in effect for three years. Unfortunately, this is what has been decided and no one can argue that the old building did not need
C.H. Nygard
No matter its appearance, the MSC will always be a staple to community, remembrance and tradition. some help. As much as anyone would hate to admit it, these are the steps that have been deemed necessary for the continuation of campus beautification. See how touchy this subject can get? My advice to Aggies enduring this exodus from normalcy for the span of these oncoming years is to honor tradition. I can see the frustration already building on campus as students have begun to explore this alien terrain, but I urge you to not let it get the best of you. The MSC is a time-honored, sacred place. Revere the memories of the men and women who are represented there. I implore every Aggie, especially freshmen, to remain loyal to your school, your dean and your president. This is the cultivating ground for your adult life; treat it with respect. Those powers that be, the people in various arenas of authority over the development of Aggieland, have put into motion a process that, although frustrating and debilitating for the time being, will eventually lead to a future of brilliance that I could not imagine in my time here. Honoring the MSC is an excellent tradition that has been celebrated by our brothers and sisters before us and that, even now, in its inhospitable state, we must continue to honor. As a new group of Aggies enter into our domain, let us all retake our vows of loyalty to this University and support its progression into a future glory. C.H. Nygard is a senior agriculture leadership and development major.
9/2/09 8:42 PM
news
page 6b thursday 9.3.2009
thebattalion
FLO fun
J.D. Swiger — THE BATTALION
Counselors from Freshmen Leadership Organizations gather together to encourage freshmen to get involved in a FLO. These organizations help freshmen become involved and develop their leadership skills.
City Council finalizes plans for Northgate makeover Those that have been to Northgate lately have probably noticed some new things. Ninety days ago the College Station City Council decided to pass a building project for the bathroom and utilities facilities on Northgate. The estimated cost of the project was $352,000, which included site demolition, civil work, the renovation of restrooms, eight additional toilets, dumpsters, paving and underground utilities. College Station Economic and Community Development Director David Gwin said this was a much-needed change. “The city has a major investment, and proactive public investment in Northgate. We spent almost $30 million at Northgate over the past 10 years to improve structures, facilities for the people to enjoy and be safe.” Gwin said that only $160,000 was actually spent on restrooms. “It’s a major entertainment district and needed
a better place for people to relieve themselves. Which rooted other upgrading ideas.” The rest of the budget was spent on tree wells, pavement and upgrading parking lots. “The surface lot behind the well know Dixie Chicken now has a electronic pay method that can be activated through one’s phone,” Gwin said. The new electronic pay method will be installed in all Northgate parking garages after Christmas break, he said. “You set it up on your phone, which will be wired to your credit cards, so you don’t have to wait at the machines— making Northgate more enjoyable.” This is just one of the many things approved and paid for by the city bonds. Gwin said, “We have a number of capital projects at Northgate, this is just one of them.” Cole Allen, staff writer
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