thebattalion Escaping the grip
this day in
S Uhistory
Feb. 18, 1885
● thursday,
Mark Twain published his famous and controversial novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Twain (the pen name of Samuel Clemens) first introduced Huck Finn as the best friend of Tom Sawyer, hero of his successful novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
coming friday
february 18, 2010
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media
scene
Groovaloo The 15-member dance troop called Groovaloo will be coming to OPAS Feb. 25. See what elements of theatre, dance, and poetry they will be bringing the audience.
“It’s about who am I and what do I want to do with my life.”
Editor’s note
sports
Baseball preview
“Escaping the grip” is the third of a three-part series in which The Battalion examines the consequences of and recovery from inappropriate consumption of alcohol.
A look at third baseman Matt Juengel, pitcher Clayton Elhert and the Big 12.
inside
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Green gardens Students at Texas A&M along with College Station and Bryan, have begun an attempt to aid the community through gardening projects.
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Mary Azar collegiate director of the La Hacienda treatment center Story by Katy Ralston |
Photo by Nicholas Badger
lcoholism: habitual intoxication, prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol. Drinking without the intention of drinking, consuming more than the intended amount, not knowing what is going to end up happening when the drinking starts, but drinking nonetheless. You realize it’s true.You realize it’s happening to you.You want to change it. So where do you go from here?
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The Battalion
Millions of people have faced this question before; staring down the daunting, almost impossible, quest. Scared and unsure where to begin. “Hopelessness, helplessness, powerlessness. Can things in fact be different?” said Mary Azar, collegiate director of the La Hacienda treatment center, of the emotions one feels at the beginning of the process. “The shame and confusion. No, not me. My granddad, now he was an alcoholic, he was under a bridge, but not me. I can get control of it,” said former alcoholic Ray, who wishes to remain anonymous. The flood of emotions comes rushing in, accompanied by uncertainty, questions and denials. “For most people, the hardest thing perhaps is bouncing back and forth between ‘there is no way I can do this, I can’t go all day without a drink’, and then that denial of ‘I don’t really have a problem, if I want to quit I can’ and ‘I don’t need any help from anybody else, I don’t need any help from God, I don’t need any books, I can do this by See Recovery on page 7
sports | 5
Softball pitch
Corps selects leaders for next year
Pitcher and first baseman “Rhi” Kliesing looks to lead the softball team into the 2010 season, which began Friday.
Melissa Appel
voices | 7
Ask away The government doesn’t need a year to study the effects of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The policy simply needs to go away.
Katy Ralston
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student leaders around the University in order to ensure that Texas A&M remains an amazing place long after we leave.” The positions of Corps commander and deputy commander emphasize uniting the entire campus — not just the 1,700 cadets — in the goal of improving Aggieland. “The Corps commander works with other student leaders on campus to make this University one of the best in the country,” said Keim, the current Corps sergeant major. “I’m looking forward to working with other leaders within the Corps and across campus to make the Corps and Texas A&M places where character, academic excellence and servant leadership are commonplace.” Brent Lanier, the 2009-2010 Corps Commander, said excellence is a quality that must be stressed especially in the work of the student leader. See Corps on page 2
Catwalk raises AIDS awareness
VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPICS medal count COUNTRY U.S. Germany France Korea Canada Norway Switzerland Austria China Russia Italy Sweden Slovakia Czech Republic Poland Japan Netherlands Australia Estonia Croatia Slovenia
The Battalion The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets selected two cadets to guide the future of the organization as they serve in the top two student leadership positions. David Keim, a junior history major in Company H-1, was appointed as Corps commander for the 20102011 academic year. Miles McGowen, a junior mechanical engineering major in Company B-1, will serve as deputy Corps commander. Together, the two plan to uphold the traditions of the Corps of Cadets. “I am looking forward to continuing the tradition of developing leaders of character, and I am also eager to work with the University in order to continue to push the Corps of Cadets in the right direction,” said McGowen, the current Corps operations sergeant. “I believe that the Corps of Cadets is a vital part of Texas A&M, and I am looking forward to working with other
The Battalion Students will be strapping on high heels and hitting the runway at the Catwalk for HIV/AIDS Awareness Fashion Show as part of the National Sexual Responsibility Week. Sponsored by Student Health Services, the fashion show features donated items from six businesses modeled by student volunteers. Prior to the fashion show, the area surrounding Rudder Theatre will be filled with informational booths and tables by organizations for an hour-long health fair. “The health fair is going to be made up of different on-campus and off-campus organizations that have an HIV/AIDS component,” said Student Health Services health educator Lauren Dorsett. “The Bryan College Station Community Health Center, the
Aggie GLBT group, Aggie REACH and the County Health department, will be there to display lots of different information on what’s available in the community for HIV/AIDS awareness — from where to get tested, to where to get information, to how can you be Fashion Show a volunteer.” 7 p.m. today in Free anonymous Rudder Theatre HIV testing open to students and faculty Free anonymous members will be ofHIV testing fered by the Comavailable munity Health Center at the health fair. The rapid HIV testing is anonymous and takes 10 minutes to find out the results, See Catwalk on page 10
Jeramie Heflin — THE BATTALION
David Keim (left), a junior history major in Company H-1, was appointed as Corps Commander for the 2010-2011 academic year. Miles McGowen (right), a junior mechanical engineering major in Company B-1, will serve as his Deputy Commander.
Deadline approaches for Student Research Week sign-ups During March, students will be able to show off their academic skills for one week. March 2226 is Student Research Week, when students from all fields will showcase their research findings to a panel of judges. “Students can come out and get an idea of research that is going on at A&M and some of the other projects students are doing,” said Sarah Jaks, a graduate student and Student Research Week director. Awards will be given out by faculty, who will act as judges. Students can do research alone or with a team and can cover
areas of study ranging from education to engineering. “You don’t have to be a research assistant, if you did a project in some course you can use that,” Jaks said. First and second place will receive prizes and every student that enters the competition will receive a free T-shirt. There are two presentation competitions, oral and poster. A student can enter in either competition, but not both. Sign-ups end at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 28. For more information or to register, visit http://srw. tamu.edu. Travis Lawson, staff writer
2/17/10 9:59 PM