thebattalion ● monday,
september 21, 2009
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
Marching into victory
Student dies in Aston Hall ■ Officials alert residents, say he died of natural causes. A Texas A&M student, who lived in Aston Hall, died on campus over the weekend. The student was a male who died of natural causes, said Critical Information Response Team spokesman Gary Booth. The student lived in a disabled student room on the first floor of the hall. The residents of Aston Hall were notified of the death through a meeting Sunday, however, the Booth could not provide details of the death. “It just feels weird,” a student on the first floor said. “It really makes you think about everything. I mean he was just down the hall.” No other information has yet been released to protect the student’s privacy. Joaquin Villegas, staff writer
Gates, Vilsack to eulogize Borlaug
Photos by Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION
Freshman receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu carries the ball in Texas A&M’s 38-30 victory against the Utah State Aggies Saturday at Kyle Field. Nwachukwu had four touchdowns in the game; three receiving and one rushing. sports | 3
City’s red light ad campaign halts Julie Rambin The Battalion Recently released e-mails and documents show that the City of College Station was planning a $10,000 advertising campaign to persuade voters to keep red light cameras. The campaign, which included radio, television and newspaper ads, would have been paid
for with public funds. In the e-mails, city officials discuss the tactics and level of aggression to use in the campaign and suggest creating special-interest groups to support red light cameras. Though the documents are genuine, “that communication was simply planning purposes and discussion,” said College Station Assistant Public Communications Director
Wayne Larson. A Freedom of Information Act request of the documents was made by Jim Ash of Take Back Your City, the anti-red light camera political action committee. Ash posted the documents on the organization’s Web site, civilviolation.com. See Red lights on page 6
U.S. Secretary of Defense and former Texas A&M President Robert Gates and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will give eulogies at the public memorial service Oct. 6 for Norman E. Borlaug, Nobel Laureate and Texas A&M distinguished professor of international agriculture, at Rudder Auditorium. “Having two members of the U.S. Cabinet come to speak on behalf of Dr. Borlaug shows how important his work was,” said Texas AgriLife Research Gates spokeswoman Kathleen Phillips. “They were chosen by his family — these are people that really knew him, knew of his work and admired him.” Borlaug was named father of the Green Revolution for his work in battling world hunger. “Dr. Borlaug was known all over the world,” Phillips said. “There are any number of world leaders that would have loved to have spoken for him.” Also giving eulogies are Indian Parliament member M.S. Swaminathan and Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa, who worked with Borlaug to fight hunger in Africa. “If people come they’ll hear about all the wonderful things he’s done in the world,” Phillips said. “It’s a celebration of his life.” The service starts at 11 a.m. and will be conducted by Bread for the World Director Rev. David Beckman. Meagan O’Toole-Pitts, city editor
$87 million Student Aid Act passes in House Meagan O’Toole-Pitts The Battalion The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was passed by the House of Representatives Thursday, and if approved by the Senate Texas A&M students with loans from private lenders would need to reapply for federal loans. The bill, which would save the federal government an estimated $87 billion over the next 10 years, was approved by a bipartisan vote of 253 to 171, according to a press release from U.S. Representative George Miller.
Under the bill, the Federal Direct Loan program would replace the Federal Family Educational Loan Program, FFELP, eliminating the role of private banks in federal student lending and requiring students to borrow directly from the federal government. If passed by the Senate, changes under the bill would take effect July 2010. “Today the House made a clear choice to stop funneling vital taxpayer dollars through board rooms and start sending them directly to
Breakdown According to the bill, $87 billion in savings will go to: • $40 billion to increase annual Pell Grant scholarships. • $10 billion to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the deficit. • $10 billion to community college job training and adult education programs.
• $2.55 billion to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and MinorityServing Institutions.
• $4 billion will go to school modernization, renovation and repair projects.
• $1 billion per year over eight years to children entering kindergarten.
See Student Aid on page 2
SOURCE: Student Aid Act
Thousands receive Aggie Rings
Video: Students receive Aggie Rings and see the unveiling of the Aggie Ring replica in the Hayes Ring Plaza. thebatt.com
Rachel Latham The Battalion The Association of Former Student unveiled the 12foot 6,500-pound replica of the Aggie Ring Friday at the Haynes Ring Plaza to kick off Ring Day when about 3,000 students received their Aggie Ring. “The entire Aggie Network is getting a ring,” said Vice President of Communication Kathryn Greenwade, of the giant 12-foot, 6,500-pound Aggie Ring replica. Inside the replica is a time capsule to be opened by the Class of 2046. The capsule included photos from the Haynes family, information on the Association of Former Students See Ring Day on page 7
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• $3 billion to bolster college access and completion support programs.
Rachel Nhan — THE BATTALION
The 12-foot, 6,500-pound Aggie Ring replica towers in the Haynes Ring Plaza.
Lynnsay Crittenden — Special to THE BATTALION
Cultural Celebration MSC CAMAC kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month Thursday with speakers and performances. scene | 5
Officials lay first bricks for military walk restoration Jane Lee The Battalion The first bricks of Military Walk were laid Saturday in a celebration commemorating the tradition and history of the memorial. The celebration took place at the north entrance to Rudder Tower, the area that marked the southern end of Military Walk. Attendants at the celebration included Interim President R.
Bowen Loftin, members of the Board of Regents and Dan A. Hughes, the contributor for the Military Walk restoration set to be completed April 2010. The Corps of Cadets and the Singing Cadets were also present to represent the importance of the walkway to cadets as well as students. Hughes, Class of 1951 and former member of the Corps of See Military Walk on page 7
9/21/09 12:16 AM