thebattalion ● monday,
september 7, 2009
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
Committee keeps search process open Julie Rambin The Battalion The Presidential Search Committee announced in an open forum Thursday that candidates’ names will not be publicized, but the finalists might be. At Rudder Theater, faculty and students gathered to ask questions. “We want to hear what you’re thinking,” said committee chair and regent Richard Box. “All of us sitting at the table
here are committed to this process.” The committee discussed the ongoing survey regarding what attributes would be desirable in a new Texas A&M University president. The survey is online at tamu.edu/president/search/index.html and will be open for comment until Sept. 30. “You can be assured, the committee takes those [survey] comments very seriously,” said committee member Neal Adams. “We really need your input.”
Study: texting while driving dangerous Rachel Latham The Battalion With fall classes starting, Texas A&M University students are back on College Station roads, and some will be using cell phones to text while driving. “Students need to be made aware of the deadly consequences of texting while driving,” said Kristi Hosea, master officer voices | 7 for the Texas A&M University Police crime preColumnist Kat vention unit. Drinkwater Anything that takes a discusses the driver’s eyes from the road dangers of texting is dangerous, but according to Virginia Tech Transand driving. portation Institute (VTTI), texting has the highest risk of causing a crash. VTTI also found that texting distracts a driver’s eyes off the road for the longest amount of time. Writing a typical text message can distract a driver’s eyes from the road for approximately 4.6 seconds over an interval of six seconds. While driving 55 mph for six seconds, a driver could travel the length of an entire football field without looking at the road. “Just think of a child in the bathtub, the phone rings and the mother leaves the child unattended to answer the phone instead of letting it just
Some students raised concerns that the Board of Regents had chosen a candidate prior to the search. “I don’t think that is happening,” Box said. “The next president of Texas A&M will have to go through this committee to be selected. I think that the work we do will put that question to rest.” During the search process, the names of the candidates will not be publicly released. Finalists will also have the option of remaining anonymous.
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“It would be much better if we had finalists who would go public. I don’t think that we can ensure that it will absolutely happen,” said committee member and geography professor Robert Bednarz. “The plan is to bring people to College Station to meet with stakeholder groups, so that even if their names are not public, we as the Aggie community can be sure that there is a relatively large group of people that have
Students share what qualities they want in the next president.
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2 rob man at gunpoint A man was robbed near his apartment at 503 Southwest Parkway around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to College Station Police. The victim said two black males approached him as he was walking back to his apartment. The men demanded his keys, wallet and phone, and then fled the scene without harming the victim. It remains unclear if the two men were armed. Police reported that the victim called 9-1-1, but after searching the Madison Pointe apartment complex, they were unable to locate the suspects. Daphne Cheke, a sophomore biology major and resident of Madison Pointe apartments, was returning from the football game when the incident occurred. “I am definitely going to be more cautious, and I’m going to try to not go out at night alone,” Cheke said. “I don’t feel that safe anymore, and I need to be more aware of my surroundings.” The suspects were described as tall males both appearing to be in their 30s and both wearing dark-colored clothing. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the College Station Police Department at 979-764-3600. Hunter Lockhart, staff writer
A&M ranks top of class Texas A&M University ranks at the top of the class for its focus “on education, not reputation,” according to the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA). WhatWillTheyLearn.com, a project by the ACTA, rates the core subjects required by colleges and universities. The Web site based its ratings on composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics and natural or physical science. Texas A&M met six of the seven requirements, placing it among one of only seven institutions to be ranked as an “A” school. The University of Texas at Austin also received an “A,” while Texas Tech University scored a “B” and Rice University was given a grade of “F.” According to the Web site, the seven core subjects give students “the knowledge and skills they need to compete in the global marketplace, lead our nation thoughtfully and be lifelong learners.” “I’m glad to hear that Texas A&M is one of the leading schools on education,” said sophomore political science major Emma Locke. “It’s good to see that people are realizing that you don’t have to go to a prestigious school to get a great education.” Jane Lee, staff writer
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Members of Percussion Studio create rhythm onstage at First Yell Friday. The organization was one of several student groups to perform before Jeff Dunham’s comedy act. scene | 3
Jon Eilts — THE BATTALION
Top: Defensive back Jordan Pugh holds the ball high at the end of the football game against the University of New Mexico. Bottom: Members of the Corps of Cadets walk onto Kyle Field for the first time of the 2009 football season. sports | 5
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