thebattalion aggiesarewe ● thursday,
iUpdate for TAMUmobile A back to school update for TAMUmobile has been implemented for the new iPhone and iPod Touch applications that were originally launched in June. The original suite of apps for the iPhone included four sub-applications within the program that included features such as a directory, news feed, TAMUtv and an athletics application to keep you up to date on scores and schedules for Aggie sports. “The back to school update includes three new sub-apps,” said Jason Cook, vice president for Texas A&M Marketing and Communications. “There is an Events app where students can browse the events calendars, a Courses app where students can search for classes and directly communicate with professors, and a Maps app that allows you to work with the GPS function and search for buildings.” Texas A&M University was the first and largest university to start using university-based applications, which are available for download from the App store online. The TAMUmobile application is free. Users are automatically notified of free updates. Vicky Flores, staff writer
september 17, 2009
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“
I feel like a freshman transferring schools. It’s completely different.” Patrick Clayton — THE BATTALION
eremy McBee
sophomore political science major Rebekah Skelton | The Battalion
O
ne of the perks of being a sophomore is not being a freshman. Transfer students, however, do not experience the luxury of being a sophomore the same way others do. Jeremy McBee, a sophomore political science major, experienced this firsthand not only once, but twice, after transferring from Belmont University to Blinn, and from Blinn to Texas A&M University this semester.
“I feel like a freshman transferring schools,” McBee said. “It’s completely different. I went to a small high school and then I went to Belmont, which is like 5,000 students, and it’s in my hometown. And, then I went to Blinn last semester, so A&M is really different.” McBee, who was born in Houston, grew up in Nashville where he attended Brentwood Academy. “I choose A&M first of all because my sister went to A&M and I kind of grew up loving the
The number of shark attacks has been steadily decreasing, but it comes as no surprise since these animals are not really predators of humans in the first place, said Andre Landry, professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. “We can feel good that shark attacks are down, but the essential point is that the potential for shark attacks is so remotely small that this should not be a great fear or high concern whether we have high or low numbers in the data,” he said. Sharks do not have it in their nature to attack humans. It is a common misconception that the animals prey on humans for food, Landry said. “Most of the interactions that take place have been mistaken identities or incidental contacts where the animal is thinking it’s attacking prey that is anything but human or in conditions that really compromise the animal’s ability to
thebatt.com
A golden opportunity
Attacks decrease, A&M Galveston researchers say The Battalion
Hear about how Jeremy is adjusting to Aggie life after transferring to A&M this fall.
See Jeremy on page 6
Shark bites down Laura Sanchez
Video
comprehend that it’s a person and not a seal,” Landry said. Galveston is one of the shores where a shark attack has not been reported this year. The last reported attack was two years ago. “Animals are just looking for food. Something like a little sparkle of jewelry attached to an ankle can confuse that. There was a girl here with silver toe nail polish and a silver anklet that was bitten by a shark. The attack was simply a shark exploring and thinking there was something shiny like scales of a fish, and instead it was the ankle of a girl,” said Jaime Alvarado, assistant professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Experts say the probability of being bitten by a shark is low compared to how many hours people spend in the water. “It’s inconceivable that people think of this as a real threat. There are more fatalities with people walking across the street, DWIs, bee stings See Shark on page 6
J.D. Swiger — THE BATTALION
A crane lowers the 12-foot replica of the Aggie Ring into place at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center.
Approximately 3,000 students will be getting their Aggie Rings Friday at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, said Aggie Ring Program Coordinator Julie Scamardo, and many others will be participating in Ring Day festivities. The Association of Former Students will reveal a 12-foot, 6,500-pound replica of the Aggie Ring at 2:30 p.m. to kick off the day’s activities. “[The ring] will provide a place of reflection and inspiration for Aggies and visitors to Texas A&M University,” said Kathryn Greenwade, vice president of the Association of Former Students. In honor of lead donors Reta and the late Harold J. Hayes, Class of ’46, the ring will bear the year 1946 on its crest. The unveiling will be followed by Yell Practice at 2:45 p.m., and rings will begin being distributed at 3 p.m. Rachel Latham, staff writer
U.S. Constitution celebrates 222 years A&M encourages students to participate in today’s events Travis Lawson The Battalion The Constitution of the United States of America was ratified on Sept. 17, 1787, 222 years ago today. Texas A&M University will celebrate Constitution Day in honor of the 39 men who signed the document. The University encourages Aggies to use the day to learn about the Constitution and the people who signed and ratified it.
“This [U.S. Constitution] is fundamentally what makes America work, and a lot of people don’t understand this,” said Student Body President Kolin Loveless. “This is what allows the American democracy to work.” The University has asked professors to try to include the Constitution in curriculum on Constitution Day. One of the main events that will take place on campus is a debate between Rice University political science
professor Richard J. Stoll and senior lecturer in the George Bush School of Government and Public Service Ronald J. Sievert, over the rights of non-U.S. citizens at 6:30 p.m. in Rudder Tower, room 601. “There are a lot of different things going on,” said Office of the Provost Communications Director Nancy Sawtelle, “and we hope students will read the constitution and hopefully appreciate our form of government.”
CONSTITUTION DAY EVENT SCHEDULE Noon and 7 p.m. Constitution Day programming on KAMU-TV and KAMU-DT
Noon Conversation on the Constitution with Anthony M. Kennedy
12:30 p.m. Yick Wo and the Equal Protection Clause, a documentary on Yick Wo v. Hopkins
4 p.m. “Bells Across America” patriotic music at Albritton Tower Carillon
5:30 p.m. Prosecuting Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay at Room 601 Rudder Tower
7 p.m. The Importance of the Japanese Internment Cases
7:30 p.m. Korematsu and Civil Liberties, a documentary on the landmark Japanese internment case, Korematsu v. US
Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
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