Nov 18 2009 The Battalion Print

Page 1

Camping for change Katy Ralston The Battalion Armed with blankets, coffee mugs and determination, 300 students gathered Monday night on the grassy knoll for an all-night campout protest of the construction of a new liberal arts building on the hill. Coined “Night At the Knoll,” the protest encouraged students to “be redass, sleep on the grass.” Attendees brought tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses and hammocks to stay a full 12 hours at the site. The campout was meant to signify the importance students place on the grassy knoll. “We don’t want the grassy knoll to go away,” said protestor Emma Itria, a freshman business major. The statement comes at a pivotal time in the ongoing debate over the location of the building. Student Senate members will be voting Wednesday on the Green Space Bill, proposing the administration seeks out alternative locations for the construction. Passage of the bill would make student opinion official and could start the process of lobbying administration for further discussion of the location.

thebattalion ● wednesday,

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Nicholas Badger — THE BATTALION

Richard West, father of Bonfire victim Nathan West, speaks on behalf of the families of the 12 killed in the Bonfire collapse. Behind him sits (left to right) Student Body President Kolin Loveless, 1999-2000 Student Body President Will Hurd, Corps of Cadets Commander Brent Lanier, Interim President R. Bowen Loftin and Executive Vice President of Student Government Association Jacob Robinson.

Remember the 12

See Grassy knoll on page 7

Campus community gathers to honor those killed in Bonfire Take part in Geographic Information System day Today is Geographic Information System day, and the Texas A&M University Libraries will be presenting several events to allow students to learn more about this technology and what can be done with it. The day is on the Wednesday of Geographic Awareness Week, which has been sponsored by the National Geographic Society since 1987. Demonstrations will be set in the Evans and West Campus Library lobbies and include a Student Poster Exhibition and a Bryan Police Department Patrol Car GPS/GIS technology exhibition. “We’re delighted that the Bryan Police Department has agreed to exhibit a patrol car to demonstrate GIS tracking technology,” said Miriam Olivares, Geographic Information System specialist. There will be three 45-minute showings of the immersive 3D visualization demo in the Halbouty Geosciences building. The first showing begins at 10:15 a.m. Several speakers will be giving presentations throughout the day, including a crime mapping expert from Houston, presenters from U.S. Census Bureau and ESRI, a GIS software and data company. The Keynote Speaker will be John Logan, a professor of sociology at Brown University. He will begin his presentation titled “New Orleans and Katrina: Uneven Impact, Uneven Recovery,” at 6:30 p.m. in the Preston M. Geren Auditorium in the Langford Architecture Center. For more information about times and events, visit http://library.tamu.edu/ gisday. Samantha Johnson, staff writer

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Katy Ralston | The Battalion

Bonfire Remembered Video

thebatt.com

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tched into the walls at the Bonfire memorial from the poem “The Last Corps Trip” are the words “the band poured for the Anthem, with notes both loud and clear, and 10,000 Aggie sung, the song they held so dear.” On Nov. 19, 1999 Aggie voices rang out loud and clear in Reed Arena. It wasn’t the “Anthem” — it wasn’t the “War Hymn.” It was “Amazing Grace.” And they were singing it for the fallen. A decade later, and 100 years after the establishment

of Bonfire, Aggies joined in singing once again at Reed Arena. This time it was the “Spirit of Aggieland.” And they were singing it to celebrate the lives of the fallen. The crowd sat in silence, reminiscent of the first memorial service held the night after the collapse. Since then the number of attendees has grown from 2,000 to more than 7,500, filling the lower bowl and arena floor. See Ceremony on page 4

Bonfire treasures left behind

Photos by Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION

Artifacts left at the Bonfire collapse site are now stored in a warehouse on West Campus. These include pots, axes shown left and many other items.

Relics placed to honor the 12 fallen Aggies are preserved on campus Rachel Latham

File — THE BATTALION

Aggie Rings, flowers and notes were left at the Bonfire site after it collapsed killing 12 students.

The Battalion Across campus on Agronomy Road stands a sand-colored cement building. Inside are artifacts marking times throughout history. Down one particular aisle carefully preserved in boxes sit the memorials left behind in the hours, weeks and even months after the tragic Bonfire collapse. Lining the tall shelf are more than 300 boxes filled with an important part of Texas A&M University’s past. Following the Nov. 18, 1999, Bonfire collapse, many came to pay their respects to the 12 Aggies who lost their lives while building a beloved tradition. Senior history major Marcie Sharp was 11-years-old at the time of the collapse. Sharp and her family watched and followed the news of the collapse from Arlington, Texas. Her parents graduated from A&M and the family had been to Bonfire several times the past years. See Bonfire relics on page 4

Northgate crosswalk to be discussed The Texas Department of Transportation will have a meeting on campus regarding a project that will improve the pedestrian safety for the crosswalk on Northgate. At the meeting, there will be a short presentation of the proposed changes followed by an informal question and answer session with the architects overseeing the project. Input from students and Northgate residents and users is desired. The meeting will be open to the public. “We really need student input for this project to make sure that we are going in the right direction,” said Maury Jacob, Bryan District Landscape architect. The proposed project would make the walkways in Northgate wider and make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street by making a pedestrian mall on the corner of College Main and FM 60. Other changes include making the Houston Street a permanent pedestrian mall that will connect all the way to the renovated Military Walk. The meeting will be at 7:15 p.m on Wednesday in the Langford Architecture Center, Building C, Room 105. The meeting will be organized by the American Society for Landscape Architects student chapter on campus. Joaquin Villegas, staff writer

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corrections

Meagan O’Toole-Pitts contributed to Tuesday’s Bonfire edition.

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HOUSTON — Former Vice President Dick Cheney, picking sides in the volatile campaign for Texas governor, belittled Gov. Rick Perry as a “real talker” Tuesday and said U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison was the true conservative in the race. “We westerners know the difference between a real talker and the real deal,” Cheney told cheering supporters at a historic terminal building at Hobby Airport in Houston. “When it comes to being conservative, Kay Bailey Hutchison is the real deal.” Still, before the Houston event began, the Perry campaign criticized Hutchison for missing a vote in Washington — dealing with the nomination of a federal judge — to attend the event and said she “cannot be counted upon to be a full-time senator for Texas.” During remarks that lasted about five minutes, Cheney noted that Perry, before he drew Hutchison as a Republican primary opponent, once called her a “true champion for Texas.” “I couldn’t agree more,” Cheney said, parroting back Perry’s words. “Texas needs a true conservative champion in the governor’s office.” The March 2010 GOP primary pits the longestserving governor against the state’s senior U.S. senator, and both are fighting for every big name supporter they can get.

Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION

Think you know every nook and cranny of Texas A&M? The first people to get the answers correct will have their names published. Send your response with your name, class and major to photo@ thebatt.com.

Last week’s answer School of Rural Public Health Correct responses Craig Peek, Class of 2007 Ben Speer, public health graduate student Christopher Gonzalez, freshman business administration major

Astronauts inspect space shuttle for damage before flight CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Atlantis’ astronauts scoured their ship Tuesday for any signs of launch damage while pursuing the International Space Station. The early word was that the shuttle appeared to be in good shape. “No issues so far,” said LeRoy Cain, chairman of the mission management team. Atlantis and its crew of six will hook up with the space station Wednesday. The shuttle gradually was gaining on the station, and the two craft were on opposite sides of Earth at midday Tuesday, not quite 24 hours into the chase. “You’ve got 8,000 miles of rock between you and it,” Mission Control informed shuttle commander Charles Hobaugh. “I’m seeing somebody out in front, must not be them,” Hobaugh joked. “Can you get the license plate number for us?” Mission Control asked. “Looks like one of those personalized license plates,” Hobaugh replied. Hobaugh and his crew spent much of their first full day in orbit inspecting the shuttle’s thermal shielding. They used

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Guests at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center view the launch of space shuttle Atlantis in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday. a 100-foot, laser-tipped boom to scan the wings and nose cap, routine work that took hours to complete. The survey did not reveal any obvious problems, at least at a first glance. Even more data will be collected right before Wednesday’s docking. The space station residents will take a few hundred close digital photos as Atlantis pulls up and performs a somersault. Engineers will pore over all the information to ascertain

whether Atlantis is intact and able to make a safe descent, when it comes time to return home at the end of next week. Atlantis is delivering big spare parts to the space station — nearly 15 tons’ worth. It’s an 11-day flight, which will keep the crew in orbit over Thanksgiving. “Congratulations on a beautiful, flawless launch, Atlantis!” Mission Control told the crew in a wake-up message. “Now the fun begins.” Associated Press

Associated Press

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Amanda Casanova, Editor in Chief Mattie Williamson, Managing Editor Matt Woolbright, Managing Editor Meagan O’Toole-Pitts, City Editor Ian McPhail, Opinion Editor Jill Beathard, Lifestyles Editor Timothy Durham, Sports Editor Evan Andrews, Graphics Chief Calli Turner, New Media Chief Nick Badger, Photo 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. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. News offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979845-2678. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $100 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.

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Discussion of Bonfire Memorial A Q&A session with Pamela Colloff, writer of this month’s cover story for Texas Monthly, will be at 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in 510 Rudder. A panel discussion on what the Bonfire Memorial represents on campus will be at 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. Wednesday in 510 Rudder.

scene thebattalion 11.18.2009 page3

Speakers discuss symbolism of Bonfire at AIAS conference Lorelei Willett The Battalion The A&M chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students will be presenting the Cultural Heritage of Bonfire Conference to discuss the cultural effects of the Bonfire tragedy Thursday and Friday. “This conference was designed to not just draw attention to the tragedy of Bonfire but rather to show how tradition and culture are so important to humans as a whole,” said chapter president Emily Sunseri, a senior environmental design major.

Photos from Cushing Library

The lectors were asked to speak about the relationship between architecture, tragedy and culture. “Both speakers and the panel should be very interesting and give a lot of insight and information as to the importance of not just Bonfire as

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an Aggie tradition, but its importance in a more general and widespread form,” Sunseri said. The Bonfire conference was inspired by the film “10 Years & 9 Days,” a documentary directed by Bradley Angell that draws on the cultural affects of architectural structures such as the Berlin Wall and Bonfire. According to PerfSpot Movies, the film is an “engaging story of the manner in which we do not just remember our cultural heritage, but redeem in our structures and traditions in the face of the erosion brought by change in our globalized world.” Parts of the film will be shown before each speaker. “The importance of culture to an organization is one that cannot and should not be overlooked,” Sunseri said. The Cultural Heritage of Bonfire Conference is a tribute to architecture and the way it transforms community and how it is forever shaped by the tragedies associated with their structures and the significance of what they stood for, Sunseri said. Bonfire, in particular, is rooted in student participation and has been a source of inspiration and camaraderie for the A&M family. When it collapsed, the towering stack of logs became a much grander symbol to the A&M community, which is what the conference is trying to express, Sunseri said. “When it comes down to it, many of the younger generations have lost the understanding and value of what Bonfire once was,” Sunseri said. The conference is meant to be an educational experience for current and former students and is not intended to draw attention away from the Bonfire Memorial or to promote the return of Bonfire to the campus, Sunseri said.. “I think it is important for students to [attend] because it gives insight to the Bonfire collapse that many of the later and current generations do not know,” she said.

Cultural Heritage of Bonfire Conference ■ 6 p.m. Thursday Geren Auditorium ARCB 102 Bob Shemwell, Class of 1982, designer of the Bonfire Memorial

■ Noon Friday outside of Geren Auditorium ARCB 102 Lunch panel led by Donald Sweeney, landscape architecture and urban planning professor

■ 7 p.m. Friday Geren Auditorium ARCB 102 Frank Cox, former yell leader, Muster speaker and author of “I Bleed Maroon”

Photos from Cushing Library

Texas A&M students united yearly to build Bonfire, a construction that was distinctly tied to Aggie tradition. Since 1999, the campus unites every November to mourn the tragedy of its collapse. Above, Brownpots work in 1999.

11/17/09 8:39 PM

news

page 4 wednesday 11.18.2009

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Rachel Nhan — THE BATTALION

Students gather inside Reed Arena Tuesday for the Bonfire Remembrance ceremony.

Ceremony Continued from page 1

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The “Spirit of Aggieland” led by the Singing Cadets was only a part of the night dedicated to Bonfire remembrance. The ceremony also included remarks from Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association Jacob Robinson, Interim President R. Bowen Loftin, reflections of 1999 Student Body President Will Hurd, a history of Bonfire given by current Corps of Cadets Commander Brent Lanier, comments from Richard West, father of Class of 2002 Nathan Scott West one of the 12 Aggies killed and a closing statement by current Student Body President Kolin Loveless. Each speaker focused on the message of moving past the sadness and celebrating the lives of the deceased students and what has come out of their death. Robinson started the program urging students to “remember

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and reflect on the lives of the twelve Aggies who are no longer present in the physical sense, but who remain ever present in our minds and hearts.” Loftin highlighted the encouragement and community Aggies share with each other, and the victims of the Bonfire tragedy and their families. “We truly share a bond no one else has, and we will never lose,” Loftin said. At the remembrance program, the families of the deceased and injured were more than just symbolically a part of the Aggie family. Judi Hedstrom, mother of Jeremy Frampton who died at Bonfire, expressed the theme of celebrating, not mourning. “Each year we try to find a way to celebrate his life and being able to be here on campus and celebrate with the Aggie family is just amazing,” Hedstrom said. West received a standing ovation in response to his retelling of his experiences after

the collapse, and made a call to dedicate the 10 year anniversary to celebration. “When you stand in the portals [of the memorial] the lives speak of dreams and futures of Aggies, not sadness. You stand in for them,” West said. “It’s time to be happy and remember their spirit.” West closed his remarks with what he called a small word that has such a large meaning to the Aggie family, “Howdy.” The “Howdy,” he said, was to honor the future of current Aggies and Aggies to come. A special Bonfire remembrance video was shown at the memorial program, one that left the audience in silence. The video, a collage of footage, presented things such as the shock of the collapse, the race to rescue those who still remained trapped, prayers and gifts left at makeshift memorial sites, the candlelight vigil, the celebration of the game victory and the groundbreaking of the memorial.

Bonfire relics

ing the construction of Bonfire, are wrapped in bubble wrap and still carry the vague smell of days and nights spent at the Stack. Some pots still look as if they were never worn while others show signs of age and use. Many bear words of grief and hope for the days to come while others were removed directly from the head of a Bonfire worker and placed in honor of the fallen. Cinnamon stick replicas of Bonfire fill a box. Some have been lit to honor the yearly tradition of Bonfire. Others are representative of the unlit stack. Banners range from small poster boards written by an individual to large canvases filled with the messages and signatures of hundreds. Bible verses and poems, prayers and pictures, letters and songs fill the many boxes and show the outpouring of sorrow and love from the community and beyond. Children from many elementary schools colored pictures and wrote messages. Old Ags, current students and strangers to A&M and the traditions wrote of their shock and sadness. Bracelets, necklaces and rings were left among the memorials. Beaded rosaries and religious tracts left in the grass by visitors to the Bonfire site are placed in bags. Crosses of all sizes and materials fill boxes while larger crosses are wrapped in paper and placed on the shelving. Some are only twigs bound together with string or leather. Some are planks of wood nailed together. Some have messages painted on them while others have the names of the victims carved into the wood. Fresh flowers left at the site were gathered and composted. That compost is now a part of the flowerbeds at the memorial. Even today, when flowers are left, they are put in the flowerbeds to become a permanent part of the Bonfire Memorial.

Continued from page 1

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The family made bracelets out of two small ribbons right after hearing the about the collapse, tying one maroon and one white ribbon with 12 knots to represent the 12 who were killed. A few weeks later Sharp’s family went to visit to the Bonfire collapse site, and she remembers seeing the tall fence with flowers and other items placed as a memorial to the lives lost. The tone, Sharp says, was somber as people walked around the site, taking time to look at the messages left. The one thing that stands out in her mind is the Aggie Rings left by current and former students. All but one of the rings, in which the name was filed off, were returned to their original owners when artifacts were cataloged. “I knew how important Aggie Rings were because my parents had theirs,” Sharp said. “Seeing all the rings I knew how amazing it was for Old Ags to leave their rings in honor of the 12.” Although at the age of 11 she didn’t have a ring or beautifully written poem, Sharp left her small maroon and white bracelet as a token of her sadness and support. Larger wreaths, baskets and signs are wrapped in acid-free archival quality paper to protect them from light and dust. Banners bearing heartfelt condolences to victims, their families and the Aggie community as a whole are carefully preserved in large flat boxes. Box after box lines the tall shelving unit in the archival warehouse. Many of those boxes are filled with stuffed animals. Each one has been carefully bagged to help preserve them and keep the mold brought by rain in the days following the collapse from spreading to other artifacts. Pots, the helmets worn dur-

11/17/09 11:18 PM

sports thebattalion 11.18.2009 page5

Rice visits Reed No. 15 Texas A&M welcomes in the Owls Michael Teague

Jonny Green — THE BATTALION

Sophomore guard Sydney Carter leads the Aggies into their second game of the season on Wednesday against Rice.

The Battalion After defeating No. 6 Duke, Texas A&M’s 16th-ranked women’s basketball team is back in action Wednesday, against Rice. The Aggies will focus on keeping their poise against overmatched Rice after pulling off one of the biggest nonconference wins in program history. “We need to just go out and practice with the same intensity that we play with every night,� said sophomore Kelsey Assarian. “It’s not about one game but about the whole season. We have to play hard in every game that we go into.� A&M Head Coach Gary Blair pointed to the team’s practices as a source for keeping his players focused. “You have got to make sure that you keep an even keel,� Blair said. “Today in practice, we will coach and teach but when they get finished, they’re going to look at each other and wonder ‘Did we win that game Saturday?’ That’s the way we’re going to deal with practice. We’ll get better through practice. Our

practices are harder than our games.� Against the Blue Devils, junior Danielle Adams put up a team-high 24 points and knocked down threeof-five three-pointers. Her play on the defensive end, however, was just as impressive to Blair. “Everybody kept thinking she was going to be a defensive liability,� Blair said. “She was close to taking a charge down there guarding somebody driving and getting in front. Her first step is pretty good. I don’t think I’ve ever coached a big kid that knows the game as well as she does. She’s got all the tools.� Still nursing injuries to her shoulder and hand, sophomore Sydney Carter will again come off the bench for the Aggies. Despite the obstacles, Carter was able to play 30 minutes and racked up 14 points against Duke. “For a normal kid, that’s an injury that you just take two weeks off and get rested,� Blair said. “She took two days off and continued to do her conditioning. She was back on Wednesday. Then she gave me thirty minutes Sun-

day. We probably would not have won if Carter hadn’t come off the bench and gave us the numbers and energy that we had to have.� Despite the injury to Carter, junior Sydney Colson will lead the A&M offense against the Owls. The guard scored a career-high 17 points and added 10 assists in Saturday’s victory. Against a weaker foe in Rice, many players will get an opportunity to display their abilities Wednesday night. Assarian put up four points and five rebounds in A&M’s first game of the season and is looking to move up in the depth chart along with several other Aggies. “Assarian is doing a great job and is battling for that starter position,� Blair said. “With that eight-player rotation, you might have three of your best five coming off the bench right now. That will all work itself out by January.� The Owls (0-1) are coming off an 81-64 loss at UT-Arlington in the season-opener. A well-balanced team, See Basketball on page 6

Volleyball hopes to end drought in Norman Courtney Nelson The Battalion Texas A&M is looking to get back in the win column on Wednesday as they travel to Norman and take on the Oklahoma Sooners (18-8, 11-6 in Big 12), who have only lost two matches in the last month. A&M (14-10, 7-9 in Big 12) is riding a four-game losing streak while losing six out of their last seven match-

es. The Aggies have had one of the toughest schedules in the countries, playing ranked teams in their last three matchups. Senior outside hitter Sarah Ammerman said the losses could easily affect the team’s mindset, but she is not too worried. “Losing is always really hard and always results in a little bit of morale loss,� Ammerman said. “But I think we have done a good job of pushing

ourselves in practice despite the losses. At this point, each win is a good one.� In their two recent matches against Kansas State and Baylor, the Aggies took them to five games, losing by two points in the final sets. “It is a combination of both the other team’s talent and our team just defeating ourselves on our side of the court,� Ammerman said. “We have definitely beaten ourselves most of the time. There is a battle every night, and

teams bring their best game against us.� In their previous meeting this season, the Sooners swept the Aggies, 2523, 25-21, 25-23. Through the course of the game, Oklahoma out hit A&M .257 to .185. Sophomore Caitlin Higgins led Oklahoma with 11 kills, while Bridget Laplante added eight in their winning effort against the Aggies. Ammerman had 13 kills and 10 digs. Senior outside hitter Jennifer Banse

also contributed 12 kills and 12 digs, hitting an impressive .435. Ammerman said that, A&M’s defense being a bit off throughout the game, resulted in missed offensive opportunities. “When we played them earlier, our defense and passing broke down a little bit. A really good goal for us tomorrow is to be getting our defense going See Volleyball on page 6

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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. $580/mo 4/4.5 private bath and reserved covered parking at Callaway Villas. Sublet beginning January. Must call me before you conact Callaway. 713-408-8597 $580/mo., 2bd/1.5ba. on bus route. One mile from campus. 972-951-2579. $900 Available now 3bd/2ba duplex near tamu. Has W/D, lawn care and pests paid. Call Jimmy (832)724-3554 or d uplexrenter@yahoo.com $900, Available Now, PRE-LEASE, 3, 4 bdrm. houses near TAMU, pets ok. Call Agent Ardi 979-422-5660. 1-3/bedroom apartments. Some with w/d, some near campus. $175-$600/mo. 979-696-2038. 1-acre close to campus 4bd/2ba +study, 2000sq./ft., newer double wide, fenced yard, large deck, washer and dryer included, $1100/mo. owner/realator 219-0405. 2 bedroom Four-plex and Duplex, a couple of different floor plans to choose from. Some with wood floors, fireplace, fenced yard. www.twincityproperties.com 979-775-2291. 2/1.5 with W/D connection, great location, with backyard. Near bus-stop. Water , lawn, & pest paid. $600/mo. 422-4296. 2/2 duplex on Navarro Drive. Available immediately for sublease. 254-396-3993 or Lshanks@tamu.edu 2bd 1bath University Terrace Apartments, $580/mo obo, lease ends May 2010, NEED TO SELL (512)739-8244. 2bd/1ba W/D water included, shuttle stop in front, 3/4 mile from campus. Ceiling fans, very clean. (979)690-4181. 2bd/1ba, W/D, new carpet, fresh paint, hardwood in living area, ceiling fans, fenced backyard, lawn care paid, on bus route 33, Available immediately for $600/mo. Call 979-676-0353. 2bdrm/3ba duplexes. Great floorplans, fenced yards, w/d, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 3 or 4 bd/2ba house. Close to campus. Available Now. Pets allowed. 979-204-9810 or Jm.quast@yahoo.com 3/2 duplex. Prelease January. Very nice. 5mins to campus. W/D. Lawn care, security monitored. $900/mo. 979-691-0304, 979-571-6020. 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, walk to campus, $1100 +deposit, flexible lease term 979-324-3901. 3/3 duplex. All appliances, fenced yard, large living areas, yard maintenance, available January. 979-204-2644 or clydie@elliscustomhomes.com 3/3 Duplexes, 1400sqft, fenced backyard, all appliances new, excellent specials, 979-694-0320. office@luxormanagement.com

3bdrm/3ba duplexes. Great floorplans, fenced yards, w/d, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 979-776-6079. www.aggielandleasing.com

Student Special! 2bd/1ba Apartment, all appliances included. 2.5 miles from campus. $475/mo plus deposit. Brian (832)723-6473 or Debi (979)268-3200

FOR SALE

4/2, 2 living, 2 dining, 2 car garage. $1600/mo. Available now call 979-587-2550.

1997 Yamaha scooter. 49cc. Low miles, great condition. $650. 279-3845, 209-4267

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

Wolfpen district 2bd/2.5ba condo on TAMU shuttle. 1904 Dartmouth 817-422-3207

Available 1/1/10. 2bdrm/1.5ba. condo w/carport. New carpet, paint. Pool, w/d included, on shuttle route. Water paid. 1501 Stallings. 214-709-6319. aggiecondo@verizon.net 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. Balcones Apartments, only 2 left! 1/1 on bus route $475/mo. 703-8282. Casa Verde town-home 2/2 W/D connection. Near bus stop. Pest, water, lawn paid $695/mo. 703-8282. Close to campus 2bd/2bth. Washer and dryer. Fenced yard. www.aggielandleasing.com www.southwoodplace.com Duplex for sublease, rent $650/mo. 2bd/1ba, fenced backyard. 832-330-1164. Duplexes available 3bd/2ba. $1050/mo. on bus route. Lawn control included. 832-724-3554.

January 1st. Legacy Lane care and pest Call Jimmy

Efficiencies, 1 and 2 bedrooms. 1-month free rent. 979-693-1906. For rent/pre-leasing 3 bedroom/2 bath townhouse in Wolf Pen. One block to campus. On shuttle route. $1200/month. 979-777-8407 House for rent, 3/1.5/1, 3-quarter acre, rural, fenced, $875/mo., $875/deposit. Available now. 979-696-1670. Jan.-May sublease. Presidio Apartments. 1bd./1bth. 623 sq. ft. $700/mo. 214-766-0396. Midterm lease available! 3bd/2.5ba duplex, full size W&D, country setting, fenced yard, pets ok, flexible lease term, free lawn care. $999. (979)255-3280. CS. Northgate rent new. W/D connection. 1/1, 2/2, 3/3. Walk to campus. (979)255-5648. Pre-leasing Townhome Style Condos 2bd/2.5ba off Spring Loop and University Drive. River Ridge Townhomes. Close to campus on the bus route. Call 979-690-1504 or email Sieglipp@yahoo.com Quiet country setting 1.5 miles from campus. Nice 3/2 double-wide. Fireplace, deck, stalls available. $1000/mo. 979-846-5950. Ridgewood Village efficiency with loft. Uniquely designed floor plan. No pets, $385/mo, $250 deposit. 1211-1213 Holik. 979-696-2998. Some short term leases available. $415/mo. Ridgewood Village, large very quiet tree-shaded 1bdrm/1bth studio, no pets. $435/mo, $250 deposit, 1201-1209 Holik. 979-696-2998. Some short term leases available $485/mo. Roommates needed. 4bd/4bth $325/mo., washer/dryer. University Place on Southwest Parkway. 281-844-2090. Spacious 2bd/2ba, washer and dryer provided, shuttle route, curbside parking. www.aggielandleasing.com www.southwoodplace.com Spacious 3bd/3ba. Close to campus. Washer and dryer provided. www.aggielandleasing.com

The Association of Former Students encourages you to take a walk with your class!

November 24, 2009

The Class of 2010 Elephant Walk The Class of 2011 Junior E-Walk

HELP WANTED Assistant teachers part-time. Working with children 18-mo. through 6-yrs, great learning opportunity for education majors or anyone wanting experience working with children. Please apply at swlccs@gmail.com or 979-693-6556. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. 512-684-8296. photoguy@io.com Bingo worker: great job opportunity. Above average pay with commisions &tips. Flexible hours. Hospitalization benefits available. Must have acceptable credit &clean background check. Apply in person at the Bingo Barn, 1018 S. TX Ave, Bryan, TX. BOUNTY HUNTERS WANTED!!! reg.-fee $575, mention this ad and get 20% off! Bounty Hunter Training Academy is holding a tactical training course November 21-22 at the Marriott Airport Intercontinental Hotel in Houston. BHTA is the elite training academy in the Nation for all perspective men &women who have aspirations of becoming an elite Professional Bounty Hunter. Founded/instructed by the icon of the industry! Our instructors have various mixed martial arts skills, street survival, commando experience, military experience, &will train you in handcuffing techniques, hand-to-hand combat, CQB “close-quarter-battle”, street survival, self-defense, room-clearence, breech, tactical entries, and more! Contact Mike 845-362-3433 or usahunt@aol.com http://www.beta-us.org Walk-ins Welcome!

Horse feeding. 7am Mon-Sun. Can split days with 2 or 3 people. South CS. Jamie, 512-673-0772. J. Cody’s hiring all positions. Apply within, 3610 S. College. No experience necessary, just common sense! Now hiring servers/cashiers/greeters. Apply at Rock Prairie & Hwy 6., Cotton Patch. Part-time staff assistant needed for busy real estate office. Must be a detail- oriented people person with reliable transportation and have reasonable computer skills in MS Word and MS Excel. This position requires 20-25 hrs/wk beginning as soon as possible and to remain in this position at least through early December 2010. For job description and application, go to www.coventryglenrealty.net and click on Employment Opportunities. Part-time, Database Assistant/Information and Referral (I&R) Specialist position available with 2-1-1 Texas/United Way. Responsible for assisting with database updates and maintenance and providing I&R services to clients. Must be detail oriented and possess exceptional skills in multi-tasking. Experiencing with database systems and proficiency in MS Office required. Interest in nonprofit field, a plus. Submit resume and cover letter to 211@uwbv.org. Sell VIP Cards! Make $5 for every $10 Aggieland VIP Card you sell, No Limit! Contact Sean@AggielandVIP.com STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in College Station. 100% free to join. Click on surveys. Tutors wanted for all subjects currently taught at TAMU/ Blinn and Sam Houston State starting at $7.25/hour. Apply on-line @ www.99Tutors.com, 979-255-3655.

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Callaway Villas, a private student housing residence hall, is accepting applications for Community Assistant, apply online at: http://www.studenthousing.com/co mpany/employment.asp or apply in person at: 305 Marion Pugh, EOE

• Easy • Affordable • Effective For information, call 845-0569

Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. Easy work, good for Special Ed/PT/Nursing students. In-home care special needs teen. Must have transportation, phone. Non-smoker. Lift, feed, bathe, dress. Mon-Fri, 4-7pm. Some Saturday afternoons. $8/hour, 224-2561. Fast paced design shop in need of entry level graphic artist. Full or part time, pre-employment drug screen. Full time includes 401k and insurance. Apply at Jack Hilliard Dist. 1000 Independence, Bryan TX.

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MUSIC 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

PETS A+Teacup puppies: Maltese, Shorkies, Maltipoos, Yorkies &Poodles. $500 &up. 979-324-2866, linda_d_54@yahoo.com Adopt Pets: Dogs, Cats, Puppies, Kittens, Many purebreds. Brazos Animal Shelter, 979-775-5755, www.brazosanimalshelter.org Baby Sugar Gliders, Semi leash trained, with book, (979)696-2533 $100. Ragdoll Cats and older kittens. Fully vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and felv/fiv negative. $100 & up. maxinefashion@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE Buy &Sell B/CS homes, condos, duplexes. RE/MAX. Nadia 979-693-1851. Michael 979-739-2035. www.bcsrealty.com

ROOMMATES 1 roomate needed. Spacious 2 story townhouse in Canyon Creek. Fully furnished. 4/2.5 $400/mo. +1/4 utilities. 713-823-9341. 2 rooms open in house- Edelweiss Gardens. Fully furnished 4/2.5 $390 +1/4 bills/$550 all paid. Tile/Central A/C/HBO/Garage/Backyard. Call Shawn 832-788-5093, wnbsos@gmail.com 2-roommates needed for Spring. 4/2 house. 2505 Antietam. $400/mo +1/4 utilities. Shelley, 361-463-6763.

Basketball Continued from page 5

the Owls had five players score in double figures in the defeat. Blair emphasized his respect for both Rice and their Head Coach Greg Williams. “[Williams] plays a very good system,” Blair said. “They did a good job a couple of years ago. Rice has been a nemesis for me on the road ever since I’ve been going there. Sometimes I respect the head coach more than the program because that’s how good of a coach he is.”

Volleyball Continued from page 5

strong from the get go,” Ammerman said. Head Coach Laurie Corbelli said she is confident her team could have beaten Oklahoma in their last meeting, but they just could not finish. “Two of the sets we were tied at 20 all, and we had numerous opportunities to score and could not seem to find the floor on their side of the court,” Corbelli said. “It felt like we handed it over on a silver platter. I will say Oklahoma’s brand of volleyball is quick and very frustrating to try to stop.” With only four games remaining in the regular season, the Aggies must turn up the intensity to come out victorious in the matches, Corbelli said. “We want to win out, just win our last four matches,” Corbelli said. “We will be at 18-10 if we can do that. I think it would keep us at the 41 spot or even move us up a little. Our goal remains to get a bid into the NCAA tournament first and foremost.”

Female roomate needed to share 3/3. $400/mo +utilities. January -July 2010. No pets. Paloma Ridge duplex. reinobrittney@gmail.com Female roommate needed. 2bd/2ba in The Zone apartments. Available for immediate move in. $530/mo +1/2 electricity. 1st month free. Contact Barbara 713-550-6560. Male roommate needed in house for Spring 2010. $280/mo. 903-517-4922. New Condo! Sublease 1 room. Private bath &bed. Wood floor. W/D in unit. December half month free. Jan-May $315/mo. 519 SW Pkwy. Call 281-639-8847, 713-922-7722. One Female roommate! $400/mo. +utilities, 104 Pershing Ave. C.S. Texas 77840 morganmonet@gmail.com One female roommmate needed. January 2010 through August 2010. $540/month incl utility allowance for 4/4 apartment at The Woodlands. Flexible move-in dates. Expanded cable and internet included. No pets. Call 214-499-1999 to inquire. Share 2bd/1ba, 250/mo. All appliances included, 2.5 miles from campus. Call Bryan (832)723-6473 or Debi (979)268-3200. Utilities, cable, internet included. $395 Spring. Private bath, 1.5miles, bus, pool, volleyball, jacuzzi. 979-323-4253.

TRAVEL EUROPE 70 DAYS. Travel through 11 countries, summer or fall and see all the hotspots along the way. Utrekjourneys.com Starts at $10,950.

TUTORS

Aggie soccer receives national honors Senior defender Emily Peterson, junior midfielder Rachel Shipley and freshman defender Mary Grace Schmidt all received national honors on Tuesday. Peterson was named collegesports360.com’s Primetime Performer of the Week. Shipley was named honorable mention on topdrawersoccer. com’s Team of the Season. And Schmidt was named to the second team of topdrawersoccer. com’s All Rookie Team. The Aggie soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 last weekend with victories over Memphis and LSU. They will face off with Florida State at 6 p.m. on Friday in Tallahassee.

Need a Tutor? Friendly, helpful one-on-one private tutors for all subjects at TAMU/Blinn and Sam Houston State. Check us out at www.99tutors.com, 979-255-3655.

Staff reports

WANTED I buy broken iPhones/ iPods for parts. Water damage, cracked screens, or anything else. For cash offer, email mybrokeniphone@gmail.com

STUDIES IN PROGRESS DO YOU HAVE FACIAL ACNE? We are looking for volunteers to participate in a twelve-week research study of an investigational topical medication for acne. Those who qualify will receive at no cost: • Study related medical evaluations by a dermatologist • Study related medication • Reimbursement for time and travel, up to $250. Participants must be 12-45 years of age. 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 www.js-studies.com

Pg. 6-11-18-09.indd 1

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news

page 7 wednesday 11.18.2009

thebattalion

Iran: Protests, Proliferation, and Policy

read the fine print.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 6:30 p.m. Rudder 301

the

battalion

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Classifieds Call 845-0569 To Place Your Ad Jonny Green — THE BATTALION

Students camp out Monday on the grassy knoll to protest plans to construct a liberal arts building in the location. Protesters said the loss of the grassy knoll would be detrimental to the student community.

Grassy knoll Continued from page 1

“Hopefully, this will be a sign to senate and administrators that this place should be preserved,” said Tyler Reed, a senior landscape architecture major and coordinator of the event. With temperatures dipping into the low 40s over night, protestors experienced one of the coldest nights of the semester. “It was absolutely freezing. We legitimately squeezed into the tiniest sleeping bag ever,” said Alison Stogner, a freshman environmental studies major. Scattered across the knoll, tent tops and sleeping bags dotted the grass with some people staying in tents and others in the open air. Junior biomedical engineering major Andrew Ritchey, who chose to sleep outside on the grass, said enduring the night was worth it.

“It was a great bonding experience,” Ritchey said. Protestors passed the time playing Frisbee, riding bikes, listening to music and hanging out. From studying homework to shooting “nerf” guns and tossing around inflatable giraffes, students shared the common ground for whatever they wanted to do — something protestors say the building would take away. “I think it was a really optimistic atmosphere, and everyone seemed to have a genuine concern for the space,” Reed said. “Everyone seemed really excited and really supportive of the cause.” During the night, Reed collected petition signatures, totaling almost 300 by the end of the event. Along with the protestors, some students came to enjoy the camping and activities on the knoll. Monday also brought some stargazers out to the grassy knoll, and students

“

I think it was a really optimistic atmosphere, and everyone seemed to have a genuine concern for the space. Everyone seemed really excited and really supportive of the cause.” w/ Kimberly Kelly — Tyler Reed senior landscape architecture major

had the opportunity to see the Leonid meteor shower in full display. The loss of the versatile space and communal atmosphere of the knoll would be detrimental to the Aggie experience, Reed said. “It is my hope to preserve this space so that for generations to come, Aggies may reap the benefits of such a place,” Reed said.

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Pg. 7-11.18.09.indd 1

09-11-17

11:24

voices

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.

thebattalion 11.18.2009 page8

Fantasy becomes reality C.H. Nygard

Don’t be fooled by a once fictional sport. College quidditch is turning heads across the globe.

F

or many Aggies, Big 12 sports are the focal point of their college career. Weekends are scheduled around which schools are playing ball, and parties exist for the sole purpose of celebrating victories. But there is a sport on our campus that should be just as revered, especially with the impressive show our athletes exhibited at the world championship. The sport is quidditch. Honestly, when I first heard about our University having a quidditch team I thought it was a joke. How would that even physically work? Can they fly? Do they wear Harry Potter-esque uniforms? Are brooms involved? All of my questions were answered by reviewing www.collegequidditch.com. Running around with brooms between their legs and chasing a character in a yellow uniform called the “snitch,” competitors try to score points by throwing a rubber ball through any of three goals positioned at the ends of the field. The team to catch the snitch first and accumulate the most points wins. The Intercollegiate Quidditch Association was founded at Middlebury in 2005. The Vermont liberal arts college adapted the rules and regula-

Osazuwa Okundaye — THE BATTALION

tions of the game from the fictional world of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series and formed a team. Their first game was played against Vassar College in November 2007. Since then, the Association has spread to college campuses across the nation, as well as several foreign countries. Not only has Texas A&M formed our own quidditch team, we also participated in this year’s World Cup, described as “a cross between the Superbowl and a medieval festival” by the official Web site of the Association. Katherine Nolden, junior international studies and history major, was one of the competitors that went to the World Cup held in Vermont at Middlebury. “We were the team that travelled the furthest

to play in the tournament and were one of the first teams to score against Middlebury, the team that started it all,” Nolden said. “Players on the team were sent through the brackets and made their way up, incurring injuries including a badly bruised and bloodied nose.” Quidditch is more of a full contact sport than one would first imagine. Our team of wizardly warriors showed up with mystical fervor on Oct. 25 at Middlebury and represented Texas A&M in royal style. Battling against division schools such as LSU and Virginia Commonwealth, A&M proved their abilities. Our illustrious team of combatants came in sixth in the rankings, after losing in a brawling game against OC Pittsburg.

“There was a highly contested snitch catch on their part, and we’re still not really sure about the outcome,” Nolden said. We should be proud of our players and support their efforts, as A&M becomes a national force to be reckoned with. When asked about future avenues A&M’s quidditch team may follow, Nolden revealed that while there are no further games scheduled for this semester, regular practice and scrimmages will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at Simpson Drill Field. I intend to personally make it out to watch one of these mock games sometime soon, and I encourage all of you to do the same. A tournament is in the works to be held on our campus. It would be “something like a ‘Southwest Conference’ tournament, with teams from surrounding schools and states,” Nolden said. While most of us will have our attention set toward football for the rest of the semester before turning to basketball in the winter and spring, we should not neglect our school’s prowess in the fledgling sport of quidditch. The phenomenon is spreading from universities to high schools and on to private clubs. Pretty soon, youngsters may be getting brooms together instead of their baseball bats and playing quidditch in the streets. Unlike other sports, quidditch is a game for the people, and the Texas A&M team is accepting players year round. If you have any interest, go to a practice. You may simply watch the first time, but prepare to get drawn in. I have a feeling this is going to get big. C.H. Nygard is a senior agricultural and leadership development major.

The grassy knoll protest: Facebook group speaks out

W

hile university administrations rarely put any semblance of value in Facebook groups, they would be wise to start. As technology savvy students gather online to voice their opinions both for and against building over the grassy knoll, the thousands of opinions offered online should not be ignored. Through social sites like Facebook, Texas A&M University can receive more input and better make Vision 2020 a reality. On Oct. 26, the University announced plans to construct a $46 million dollar liberal arts facility to house the English and performing arts departments. This announcement was met with astounding applause from liberal arts students, whose college ranks second on campus in overall enrollment. It has widely been concluded, especially given the ambition of Vision 2020, that a building of this nature and magnitude is both necessary and beneficial for Texas A&M to better compete nationally with the collegiate elite. But in naming the location of the proposed arts and humanities building, the university has caused some controversy. Students have already spoken out against the proposed location, currently nearly

Stephen Humeniuk

Technology brings new means of voicing concerns that administration might not want to ignore. 4,000 students have joined a facebook group entitled “Save our Grassy Knoll!” Obviously this group aimed in protest of the proposed location of the new building, between the Melbern G. Glasscock History Building and the Jack K. Williams Administration Building on the green space affectionately nicknamed the “Grassy Knoll.” Undoubtedly more awareness will be given to the facebook group and its numbers will most likely rise. The administration needs to consider “Save our Grassy Knoll” a permissible indica-

tion of student feedback, instead of dismissing the group due to the older generation’s perceived invalidity of such technologically accessible avenues for group discussion and mobility. More and more, Facebook is a driving force for the way students interact and create discussion. Universities all over the country will have to figure out a way to utilize this mode of communication and allow it to become proportionally representational of the student voice. One thing is clear, a significant sampling of the student body opposes the location of this new building. But the criteria for determining the validity of a Facebook group is complex, and several questions arise. Such as what proportion of the student body must mobilize through Facebook before someone takes notice and acts accordingly? What impact have stakeholders had? And is there a significant sampling to force the administration to relocate the building? Many aspects of Facebook are pointless and dumb, but certainly some groups can be used to make a difference in the real world. If anything, through the internet more people are advised of the circumstances surrounding this issue.

Locating a new building is more complex than some might think. The status quo has been to build new buildings over existing parking lots in order to avoid the complications in construction that arise with buried pipes, electrical lines and underground transformers. In addition a parking lot is an already empty space that requires no additional demolition. The grassy knoll possesses some of these same qualities which make the location ideal in the eyes of the administration. However, the students have spoken out against the proposal, and in lieu of a full blown student referendum, a growing Facebook group may be the most representational outlet for the student voice that is out there. Now is as good a time as any for the administration to consider Facebook as a legitimate medium for soliciting student feedback. I implore both students and faculty alike to voice their concerns, both pro and con, so that the administration can accurately make a decision that will influence this institution for decades to come. Stephen Humeniuk is a senior political science major.

Whoop!

Pg. 8-11.18.09.indd 1

11/17/09 8:32 PM

comics/people

page 10 wednesday 11.18.2009

thebattalion

John Mayer makes sure music rises above tabloids

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NEW YORK – If you’re engrossed in the tabloid Internet-gossip that has come to define the celebrity world, then John Mayer’s latest CD, “Battle Studies,� could provide enough fodder to fill at least a dozen Perez Hilton blog posts or at least one story in Us Weekly. The single, “Heartbreak Warfare,� already has some speculating on its subject with lyrics like: “If you want more love, why don’t you say so?... Bombs are falling everywhere, heartbreak warfare.� Hmmm ... could that be a mesMAYER sage to a certain famous “friend� who he’s been linked with on and off for the last two years? A look into the muchdissected love life of one of music’s hottest hunks? Mention this to Mayer himself, and you’ll get a serious eye-roll, followed up with an “Are you kidding me?� look. “I know some people think that, but it doesn’t,� a slightly exasperated Mayer says during a break in rehearsals for two upcoming concerts to promote

his new CD (his concert airs on Fuse on Tuesday night, the same day as the album’s release). “That would mean that my personal life is more powerful than the music itself, and it’s just not. No one’s personal life is more powerful than music itself, and it’s just not. “By the way, I’m not the first person to process a personal life into putting out a record,� he adds. “I think if there’s any intrigue — obviously it would be silly of me to ask somebody not to be intrigued — but I think when the music starts playing, you’re not thinking about my life, you’re thinking about yours.� Mayer has rarely shied away from attention. He provides must-read updates to his more than 2.6 million followers on Twitter, engaged in a highprofile romance with Jennifer Aniston (which followed the high-profile romance with Jessica Simpson, which followed a romance with yet another startlet), has written for blogs and magazines and is known as one of the wittiest, media-savvy entertainers around. Associated Press

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