thebattalion ● wednesday,
september 9, 2009
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Texas A&M since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 Student Media
The College Station fire department responds to an accident on Wellborn Road Tuesday after a motorcycle collided with a sedan. Patrick Clayton — THE BATTALION
Motorcycle wreck kills student Traffic rerouted from Wellborn Road for more than five hours Rebekah Skelton The Battalion A Texas A&M University student died Tuesday afternoon after his motorcycle collided with a sedan at the intersection of Wellborn Road and Joe Routt Boulevard. Robert Spencer King, Jr., 20, a sophomore general studies major, was killed when he ran a red light and collided with a turning sedan at the
intersection, preliminary reports said. Texas A&M University Emergency Medical Services Paramedical Chief Aaron Alderdice said a bystander initiated CPR on motorcyclist King before University police arrived, and EMS continued the administration after arriving at the scene. King was then transported to College Station Medical Center. Authorities said the driver of the 2007 Mazda sedan, Kirk Pullin, 20, a sophomore biomedical
sciences major, was turning left under a protected green arrow from northbound Wellborn Road onto Joe Routt Boulevard when King changed lanes from behind a stopped vehicle in the inside southbound lane of Wellborn Road and ran the red light, colliding with the sedan. Lt. Rodney Sigler with College Station police reported that Pullin was not injured in the col-
VIDEO Lt. Rodney Sigler of the College Station Police Department discusses the fatal accident near campus.
thebatt.com
See Accident on page 8
HIGH FIVE
Scowcroft Institute selects interim director
Washington Monthly ranks A&M fifth in the nation
Former U.S. ambassador Napper ‘wants to bring Aggieland to the world’
Christina Francisco Special to The Battalion Texas A&M University is gaining prestige on a national scale. On Sept. 2, Washington Monthly released its yearly college rankings, placing Texas A&M at No. 5 and beating out the University of Texas at Austin at No. 9. While U.S. News & World Report bases its college rankings mostly on academic excellence, editors from Washington Monthly search for schools that promote research, have extensive alumni involvement in the Peace Corps and serve their country. Associate Dean of Undergraduate Research Robert Webb says what makes A&M’s research programs distinctive is the “opportunity for students to do authentic research and practice skills to make intellectual discoveries.” Webb also sees an opportunity for A&M to grow in other areas. “We are expected to excel in community service because we know we’re good at it,” Webb said. “Places where we can still aspire are places like diversity, globalization and elevating faculty. If we want to move into becoming one of the nation’s top institutions we have to decide which areas are important to us.” A&M Marketing and Communication Vice President Jason Cook acknowledges the significance in being ranked on this specific list. “Washington Monthly looks at universities as a whole,” Cook said. “It not only focuses on academics, but takes a holistic approach while compiling their list.” U.S. News places Texas A&M No. 22 on its own list of top public institutions. Students are content with the recognition as well. Mark Simon, a freshman See High five on page 7
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Austin Vela The Battalion Retired ambassador Larry Napper, Class of 1969, has been appointed to the position of interim director of the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs, Sam Kirkpatrick, executive associate Dean of the Bush School, announced. “We want to bring the world to Aggieland and Aggieland to the world,” Napper said. Napper served for 31 years in the U.S. Foreign Service prior to retiring in 2005. His diplomatic assignments were U.S. ambassador to Latvia from 1995 to 1998 and U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan from 2001 to 2004. In 2005, Napper was honored with the Secretary of State Career Achievement Award. In 2001, he received his second Presidential Meritorious Ser-
vice Award and his fourth State Department Senior Performance Award. In 2008, Napper served as co-leader of the Iraq Governance Assessment Team on actions to improve governance. Members of this team included Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus. According to a statement released on the Bush School Web site, Napper will have the assistance of fellow faculty members Jasen Castillo, Jeff Engel and former Bush School Dean Dick Chilcoat. “I cannot think of a more highly qualified person,” Chilcoat said. “Ambassador Napper has spent his life practicing the arts and science of international affairs.” Napper replaces former interim See Napper on page 7
Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M filmmakers compete for $100,000 Meagan O’Toole-Pitts The Battalion
Courtesy Photo
Writer and director Greg Kwedar directs a scene while filming “Guest Room.”
Four Aggies, seven days, 20 locations and 2,200 miles. That’s the recipe for the Doorpost Film Project finalist film “Guest Room,” which is competing against nine other films until Sept. 16, for $100,000. The Doorpost Film Project is an online film festival “to encourage truth-seeking visionaries by honoring their creativity as filmmakers,” that is in its second year with viewers from more than 180 countries. From the plains of the Texas panhandle to the greenery of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, “Guest Room,” a One Spark Films production, takes audiences on a journey, inspiring hope like only Aggies can, said writer, director and co-producer Greg Kwedar, Class of 2008.
Austin-based One Spark Films was created less than a year ago by Kwedar and director of photography and editor Jake Hamilton, Class of 2008. Out of the 400 filmmakers that submitted to the Doorpost Film Project, 100 were chosen in the first round and told to create a sevenminute film on one of five values: forgiveness, freedom, humility, joy and redemption. One Spark Films traveled to Guatemala City to create “La Pluma.” The film landed them a top 10 finalist spot in the competition and $30,000 to create a 20-minute film about hope. One Spark Films shot “Guest Room,” the story about a grown man who finds a young man beaten and passed out at a remote highway rest stop, and the journey they embark on together.
“At its core is a character-driven story that explores two men who are running from something, and when they meet under extraordinary circumstances, a series of events are set into motion that forces them to come to terms with their past,” Kwedar said. “One of my favorite facets of its message is in the power of friendship... in friendship that can endure long after you part ways.” Actors Dusty Doering of “Sno Cone Inc.” and Chris Doubek of “Friday Night Lights” play the lead roles. Kwedar said his experiences at A&M had much to do with the concept of “Guest Room.” “I’ve been on two epic road trips with fellow Aggies: one in a little red Mazda around the South Island See Filmmakers on page 7
9/9/09 1:09 AM