thebattalion ● thursday,
In this Feb. 17, 2009 photo, numbered plastic markers mark the location of bullet casings found at the scene of a shootout where unknown gunmen opened fire and killed four police officers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Drug-related violence in Mexico claimed over 6,200 people last year, double the previous year, and more than 1,000 in the first eight weeks of 2009. U.S. authorities are concerned about its spread across the border.
april 23, 2009
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Continued violence
Associated Press
By Nicole Alvarado| The Battalion
S
ome would argue that the violence on the border of Mexico and the United States has escalated in recent years and the media isn’t doing the situation justice. Others would say that coverage by U.S. news teams has blown the situation out of proportion. One indisputable fact, though, is the existence of a problem in the borderlands that cannot be ignored any longer.
“As long as drugs are seen as a joke in movies and on TV, the problem will get worse,” said Dave McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M. Reports, such as that of the Council on Foreign Relations in November, say the violence really took off after Mexican President Felipe Calderon assumed his position in December 2006. One of his first matters of office was to deploy thousands of federal troops in order to crack down on drug-related violence. Howev-
er, this merely resulted in angering more drug lords and a spike in death tolls. McIntyre said the problem began further back in time beginning in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. He said a significant amount of drugs were being run through the Caribbean into Florida. After the U.S. government successfully cut off many of those trade circuits and worked with countries like Colombia to See Violence on page 8
MSC renovation forum opens discussion
CHL bill topic of senate meeting
Calli Turner
■ Senator
The Battalion Architects, construction officials and members of the user committee presented a project update for the Memorial Student Center renovation that included relocation assignments for the remaining MSC organizations in an open forum Wednesday. Choral Activities will move to the basement level of the Commons and the Wimberly Building in downtown Bryan was posed as a pending assignment for the MSCC Forsyth Galleries. Stephanie Burns kicked off her term as the 2009-2010 MSCC president by announcing plans for the Countdown to Construction. A ceremony will commemorate the building’s history and those who have contributed in the MSC 6 p.m., May 1. Texas A&M President Elsa A. Murano will speak, along with former MSC President Denis Davis-Mayfield and MSC Director Luke Altendorf. A yell practice will follow in Rudder Plaza at 7:15, and a 1950’s style commemorative dinner will be served at 7:3o in the 12th Man Café. Vance Cheatham, associate principal for Perkins+Will Architects juxtaposed sketches for interior and exterior redesigns with photos dating back to the opening of the MSC in 1951. Major points of focus for the open forum were dining facilities, bike capacity and entryways. “We want dining to really be something that engages the student body,” Cheatham said. The updates, he said, will feature delicious dining experiences. David Riddle fielded questions on dining options having served seven days on the job as executive director of Dining Services. “The architects are looking for us to have some very general plans, so they can do the right setup,” he said. He said he will travel to other campuses to see the best concepts. “The great part about it is, it’s a blank slate. We can make it as great as we want to make it,” Riddle said. e said there will be jobs available after the renovation, because they expect a larger group of consumers, such as faculty and staff. “We’re getting rid of all bikes on campus,” Cheatham said jokingly in response
to concerns of bike rack availability post renovation. He said they are looking at options in different countries and they will have high profile bike rakes surrounded by planters to prevent the structure from being an eye sore. Cheatham said the architects had major plans for renovating the entryways to better fit the building. “The building is pedestrian,” he said. “It doesn’t grab your attention.” He said you walk in and see an ATM machine. “It does not really convey the message that the MSC needs to convey,” Cheatham said. “This MSC really needs to face the student body, engage the student body and invite them in.” Plans were presented for the 12th Man Hall of Honor that will be a focus point of the MSC after the renovation. Cheatham said they tried to figure out what makes the MSC special and “memorial” always came up during focus groups. The Hall of Honor will have 12 limestone columns to represent the 12th Man, he said. Cheatham said the architect’s theme for the renovation was to have the MSC serve as a lantern at the center of campus Eric Beckham took the stage as the incoming student body president and said that during the renovation, the tradition of the MSC will remain the same. “The spirit of what really matters will be there for years and years to come,” he said. Texas A&M University President Elsa A. Murano speaks Wednesday at the MSC open forum.
Rachael Goynes THE BATTALION
Alden Harris resigns from the 61st Student Senate before impeachment on the 71st Melissa Appel
John David Swiger — THE BATTALION
Former Off Campus Senator Alden Harris of 61st Session gives his resignation Wednesday before the Student Senate.
The Battalion Students will have the opportunity to express their opinions on the Concealed Hand Gun License bill before the Texas Legislature. Student Senate called for a student referendum with the passage of a bill at their meeting Wednesday night. With the referendum, students will be
able to have their voices heard regarding the upcoming debate in the Texas Legislature. Earlier in the 61st Session, Student Senate passed bills expressing student opinion on various bills in front of the state legislature, including tax-free textbooks and tuition prices. Most of these issues dealt with campuswide concerns shared by many students, and senators used their positions to pass the bills themselves. The issue of concealed gun carry, however, is considered much more political in nature and divides students along partisan lines. Senators felt the need to take the question directly to the students for their input. “This is something so politiSee Senate on page 10
President’s Office donates $50,000 ■ Becky Gates accepts a check from Elsa A. Murano for Children’s Center Rebekah Skelton The Battalion Texas A&M University President Elsa A. Murano presented the Children’s Center Director Di Fontenot with a $50,000 check as a gift for the new Becky Gates Children’s Center and Multipurpose Building from the president’s office at the ribbon cutting Wednesday morning. “Within these walls we are helping to develop the leaders of our Aggie future,” Murano said. Becky Gates, who was at the ceremony with her husband, former A&M president and Secretary of State Robert Gates, said she was “delighted to see the fruition of the ‘10 year’ plan happen.” The building was founded in
Courtesy Photo
Robert and Becky Gates along with Texas A&M University President Elsa A. Murano and others cut the ribbon Wednesday at the Becky Gates Children’s Center and Mutipurpose Building ribbon cutting ceremony.
part by a $1 million donation from Arthur McFerrin Jr, Class of 1965, and his wife Dorothy. “If it wasn’t for Becky’s interest in the children’s center a lot of us wouldn’t have known about it or gotten involved,” Dorothy said. Those who spoke at the ceremony agreed that the Children’s
Center is important to the future of A&M. “It gives students and faculty peace of mind that their children are safe,” said member of the Board of Regents Morris Foster. “It also gives [the children] the best opporSee Children on page 10
Today
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thebattalion 4.23.2009
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Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION
Members of the band Strawberry Jam, senior agricultural economics major Zack Morgan, senior finance major Grant Pittman, senior communications major Miles Armstrong, sophomore music major Derik Kendall, senior music major Mitch Curtis and senior history major Andrew Bennett perform Wednesday afternoon by Rudder Fountain. Wednesday was Earth Day and Rudder Plaza was full of related events and activities.
Committee chooses director of Dining Services for A&M system Vicky Flores
thebattalion
Special to The Battalion Former Director of Licensing and Intellectual Management David Riddle has been named the director of Dining Services of the Texas A&M University system. “My background was in food but I joined the office of technology commercialization after I finished my MBA at A&M,� Riddle said. “But I always wanted to get back to food and customer service.� Riddle will be in charge of more than 30 Dining Services locations. Lallah Howard, vice president of business affairs, had been filling in and working with the Dining Services team in the abscence of an official director. “He had really strong leadership skills and had a really strong understanding of Texas A&M and how things are done on campus,� Howard said. “We have over the last few months developed a strategic plan and he will be the one to help implement the plan.� Riddle has plans for the future of Dining Services including producing revenue to invest in facilities, upgrading dining facilities and working on menus. “What Dining Services need most is a strategy to be profitable enough in order to reinvest in the facilities and also in our people,� Riddle said. “In terms of training and making sure they have the latest skills.� The small changes Riddle plans to have in place by the coming year are to revamp the simply fresh food line, the premade sandwiches and salads students can purchase, and to improve the quality of the coffee that is provided. Riddle will create an advisory commit-
tee of students in order to get their perspective from the main costumers that campus food provides for. Brittany Burns, who is on the Dining Services Representative Council, said Riddle is a great match. “I believe that David Riddle is the right person,� said the junior marketing major. “Everything he has expressed to us has been with the goal of providing value, quality and service to an organization that has struggled in the past.� Burns advised students to go to open forum meetings to discuss Dining Services and become part of the decision making. Logan Nichols, co-chairman of the committee and senior agricultural economics major, said he enjoys making an impact on the student body. “We truly get to voice our concerns for the constituency that we represent, and we work to make sure that students needs are met,� Nichols said. “I hope that when I am done on this committee, I can say that I have made dining better for the students on this campus, and I know every member wishes the same.� To offset the closing of food locations because of the Memorial Student Center renovations, Riddle plans to have carts placed throughout campus to sell coffee, sandwiches and snacks. “We have a pretty cool cart that we are getting remodeled right now that we are going to place right across from the MSC,� Riddle said. “We want to make sure that students in the center part of campus can still get food and coffee as well.� Other carts are planned for Rudder Plaza and the West Campus Library.
Natasha Sankovich — THE BATTALION
David Riddle, director of Dining Services of the Texas A&M University system, plans to improve food quality and service around campus.
Riddle said his goal as director is to improve the quality and consistency of food offered around campus. He recommended students get meal plans to use at Sbisa and Duncan dining halls. “I have been a customer, I have been on the other side, not at just another university but actually here.�
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
Nicole Alvarado, Editor in Chief Mindy Rife, City Editor Teri Ruland, Enterprise Editor Amanda Casanova, Lifestyles Editor Brad Cox, Sports Editor
Kenny Ryan, Opinion Editor Sarah Linebaugh, New Media Editor Tiffany Tran, Graphics Editor Jon Eilts, Chief Photographer
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 ofďŹ ces are in 032 Memorial Student Center. 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 classiďŹ ed advertising, call 979-8450569. Advertising ofďŹ ces are in 032 Memorial Student Center, and ofďŹ ce hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. 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 $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979845-2613.
how to apply If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion apply online at thebatt. com, or come by MSC 032, 845-3313. The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out. We particularly encourage freshmen and sophomores to apply, but students may try out regardless of semester standing or major. No previous journalism experience is necessary. Check us out on thebatt.com, Facebook
Former Galveston president proposes storm protection plan Michael Allen The Battalion A movable barrier concept in Galveston dubbed the “Ike Dikeâ€? will be proposed to the state. This could protect the Galveston-BolĂvar peninsula from the ravages of future hurricanes. William Merrel, Texas A&M chairman of Marine Sciences and former Galveston A&M president came up with the idea. “It’s currently in the early stages,â€? Merrel said. Merrel’s concepts consist of extending the sea wall towards the west side and along 17 miles into the Bolivar Peninsula. Along Highway 87, the floodgates would keep any surge out of the bay. The barrier will be guided by the powers of locomotives. Merrel said the idea stemed from the waterways in Holland. “They are some of the most strong and advanced floodgates in
the world.� The floodgates are more than 11 stories tall. “To give you a idea, the floodgates are around the size of the Eiffel Tower,� Merrel said. Merrel has gained the attention of the senators, judges and mayors. The seawall extension, barrier and the concept cost a projected $5 billion. The proposal would prevent flooding and surging for future hurricanes. “This is only to help resist water, not wind or any other forces,� he said. However, Merrel said his design would dramatically increase the protection of the bay. “The Ike Dike will also protect lives during difficult evacuations,� Merrel said. Merrell has been at A&M Galveston since 1987 intermittently. He was a presidential appointee by the Reagan administration and has worked closely with the Department of Marine Biology at A&M Galveston.
soul
5K race to raise funds for need St. Mary’s Catholic Church’s Stampede for Need will be at 9 a.m. Saturday on campus. The event raises money for the St. Vincent de Paul society, a non-profit which provides emergency assistance to area families. Participants can register online at www.stampede4need.com for $12 or Saturday for $15.
thebattalion 4.23.2009 page3
Divine discussion Roundtable to debate God’s existence, meaning of life Steve Humeniuk The Battalion “There’s not a bigger question than, ‘Is there a God?’”said Jose Davis, junior philosophy major and president of Texas A&M Philosophy Club. A&M’s Philosophy Club and the Christian Apologetics Club Ratio Christi will be presenting the “God Dialogues,” a roundtable discussion between two atheists and two theists concerning the meaning of life, the existence of God and the basis for morality and religion in society on Thursday. Kip Lewis and Zachary Moore of the North Texas Church of Free Thought in Dallas will discuss atheism, and the two men arguing for theism will be John Ferrer of crossexamine.org and R. Sloan Lee of the Dallas Socratic Society. “You should hear the arguments both for and against the existence of God by people who would know a lot more about the subject than the average college student,” said Brittany Swihart, a junior English and Spanish double major and co-founder of Ratio Christi. McGregor said the point of the event is to not sway attendees in one direction or another, but to provoke meaningful conversation about the issues. “The purpose of the God Dialogues is to start a conversation about the rationality and coherence of both Christians and atheists and also the impact of holding those world views in daily life,” he said. Ratio Christi is the ministry component of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, N.C., a graduate school that focuses on Christian apologetics and philosophy. Glenn Smith, A&M representative to Ratio Christi’s national organization and God Dialogues moderator, said Christian apologetics believe Christianity is logical and reasonable, and it appeals to people who enjoy thinking. The purpose is to discuss the evidence for Christ. Davis said the Philosophy Club’s involvement is meant to bolster philosophy on campus and to help create discussion about a highly debated topic. “A&M is considered a conservative school and this kind of discourse is good for everyone whether you are an atheist or a Christian. Everyone is inclined to ask these kinds of ques-
Osazuwa Okundaye — THE BATTALION
“A&M is considered a conservative school, and this kind of discourse is good for everyone whether you are an atheist or a Christian. Everyone is inclined to ask these kinds of questions.”
When and where The God Dialogues will start Thursday, 7 p.m. in Rudder 601
— Jose Davis, junior philosophy major and president of Texas A&M Philosophy Club
tions,” Davis said. “I personally believe that everyone is inclined to ask the question, ‘Is there more?’And I want everyone, not just my club members, to be presented with these things.” The event is open to the public and along with the open discussion there will be a question and answer session with the panelists. Thursday’s event will be the third installment of the God Dialogues in Texas, the first two were at University of Texas at Dallas and University of Texas at Arlington. Though the purpose of the God Dialogues is to have a non biased philosophical discussion, Ratio Christi’s purpose at A&M is to stand for the existence of Christianity.
“We want people to know that you don’t have to check your brain at the door to be a Christian and for people to see Christianity is not a hindrance to a robust intellectual life, and when you see the call in Christianity to love the Lord with all of your mind, your soul and your strength; I think it gives things a full purpose in the intellectual life,” McGregor said. Davis said the Philosophy Club stresses the need to look at and try to understand issues from both sides, and the God Dialogues are a crucial time to practice this belief as well as stress the importance of A&M’s philosophy department. “The Philosophy Club is secular and does
not take sides on the issue of philosophy. We have members that will take interests in seeing both sides of the argument,” Davis said. “Texas A&M is considered an agriculture and mechanical college and a tech school because of engineering. But it is a little-known fact that A&M has one of the best philosophy departments in the nation. We’ve made it a point to bring philosophy to A&M undergraduates.” Davis said the God Dialogues will be a great opportunity to hear an educated discussion on a much debated topic. “People should expect to see respectful discourse between four very educated men in atheism and theism,” Davis said.
DINING SERVICES
Meal Plan 101 Today Ag Cafe‘ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Osazuwa Okundaye — THE BATTALION
Questions? Get answers about meal plans and dining on campus.
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For additional times and locations
news
page 4 thursday 4.23.2009
thebattalion
‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ shot at, uninjured COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Police in Colorado say shots were fired at TV bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman and a bail bondsman when they tried to apprehend a man whose bail was revoked on an attempted murder charge. Colorado Springs police Sgt. Roger Chapman Vargason says the two were attempting to take 35-year-old Hoang Nguyen into custody at an apartment complex Tuesday night when Nguyen shot at them at with a handgun and fled on a motorcycle. No injuries were reported. Vargason says initial reports showed Chapman and the bondsman were armed with paintball guns. Associated Press
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Seats are seen in the new Yankee Stadium in New York, March 30. Baseball fans say the game’s biggest problem these days is the high cost of tickets.
Pricey seats at Yankee Stadium a Bronx bomb NEW YORK — At the new Yankee Stadium, the best seats in the house have turned out to be the emptiest. The most expensive spots in America’s costliest ballpark have become an embarrassment to the proud New York Yankees, as the Legends Suite section in the infield has been filled once in the six games since the $1.5 billion stadium opened last week. On most days, the seats that cost $500-$2,500 as part of season tickets and go up to $2,625 for individual games haven’t been close to full. And as TV cameras pick up the patchy at-
tendance with every pitch, it serves as a little tweak to the nation’s richest baseball franchise. “It’s been pretty phenomenal,” said Aaron Feldstein, a native Californian who lived in Brooklyn for a couple of years and now resides in Baltimore. He was part of the far-from-sellout crowd at the Yankees’ game Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics on a showery, cold afternoon. The Legend Suite section was about 80 percent empty, and the upper decks — which have been mostly full — were a quarter empty. Associated Press
sports
Top-ranked Aggies prepare for Penn Relays The No. 1 ranked women’s and No. 2 ranked men’s Texas A&M track and field teams will travel to Philadelphia today to compete in the Penn Relay Carnival. The women enter the match with the nation’s fastest times in the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relays and the men have the second fastest times in the same events.
thebattalion 4.23.2009 page5
Men’s tennis team looks to keep momentum Aggies ready for Big 12 title tournament
■
Michael Sullivan The Battalion The Texas A&M men’s tennis team is not short on confidence after defeating Texas 4-3 in the final match of the Big 12 regular season. “We know that there isn’t a team out there that we can’t beat if we execute well and play to our ability,” senior Conor Pollock said. “We have a great opportunity to do well, but we have to take it one match at a time.” The Aggies will join the Longhorns and the other Big
12 teams at the Big 12 Championship tournament today in Norman, Okla. The Big 12 conference fields seven men’s tennis teams because five schools do not have the program. Because of this, A&M, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, will play a first round match against Nebraska. Baylor, the only team to defeat A&M in conference play, received the No. 1 seed and has a first-round bye. Though the Aggies defeated the Cornhuskers 5-2 during conference play, the Aggies are not taking the match lightly. When the Aggies hosted the Cornhuskers at George P. See Men’s tennis on page 7
Kaitlyn Dawson — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M junior designated hitter Joe Patterson records a hit against Prairie View A&M Wednesday at Olsen Field. Patterson went 1-for-2 with two RBIs in a 21-4 win.
Double-digit drubbing Aggies flash electric offense against Panthers Christine Soriaga — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M sophomore Morgan Frank serves against Texas Christian on March 5 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. The Aggies lost the match 4-3.
Women’s tennis team earns first-round bye Michael Sullivan The Battalion The Texas A&M women’s tennis team will travel to Norman, Okla., as the No. 3 seed in the 2009 Big 12 Championship tournament today. The Aggies received a firstround bye and will play the winner of Oklahoma State and Iowa State on Friday. “I think we are ready for whoever we play,” said A&M Head Coach Bobby Kleinecke.
“I feel like the road is set for us to peak at the right time and we just need to keep fighting and working for it.” The Aggies were 9-2 in Big 12 regular season play. A&M opened Big 12 play March 7 on the road against Texas and fell 6-1 in a onesided Longhorn victory. After a streak of seven consecutive wins, A&M suffered their second conference loss to No. 5 See Women’s tennis on page 7
Patrick Hayslip The Battalion For No. 18 Texas A&M, continuing their four game winning streak was important heading into its final home Big 12 series. The Aggies kept up the momentum by run-ruling the Prairie View A&M Panthers 21-4 in seven innings Wednesday at Olsen Field. “I thought we played extremely well tonight,” A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said. “We got some guys out on the mound that hadn’t been out there in a while that I thought were really good and offensively it was impressive to watch. I don’t care who was out there on the mound, what we did offensively tonight just kind of built on what we’ve done the last four games.” A&M’s bats have been hot as of late. During a three-game series with Nebraska, the Aggies outscored the Cornhuskers 28-4. A&M scored all of its 21 runs in the first three innings, with nine of them
coming in the third inning. The first nine Aggie batters reached base in the third inning without recording an out. “That’s not like facing a Big 12 type guy, but I think he was leaving pitches up for the most part and we hit all the mistakes that they were giving us,” senior first baseman Luke Anders said. “That was the basic principle tonight.” Many Aggies had a big night with senior center fielder Kyle Colligan leading the Aggies with five RBIs including a three-run home run, a two-RBI double and a walk. Anders had three RBIs including a solo home run, a twoRBI double and a walk. Sophomore third baseman Caleb Shofner was 3-for-3 with four RBIs including a three-run home run, an RBI double and a single. “It’s fun whenever our offense is clicking like that,” Anders said. “I can’t remember a time like that this year when it’s has been that dynamic.” Besides the three-run third inning, Aggie pitchers held the Panthers to four
total runs and six hits. “We were swinging the bat real well,” Anders said. “Pitchers came out and did a great job tonight of throwing strikes and making them either strike out or hit ground balls for us. It was all-around a team win.” The Aggies will look toward a threegame series against No. 25 Oklahoma State at home this weekend. The Cowboys are 5-9 in the Big 12 but Childress said Oklahoma State is underrated and shouldn’t be judged by its record. “They are probably the best 5-9 team in the country, with three outstanding starters that anybody in the country would take and plug into their rotation,” Childress said. “They have a freshman closer that’s outstanding, and they can swing the bats. We are going to have our hands full this weekend.” With three conference series remaining in the regular season, A&M is one game behind Texas in the Big 12 standings with Baylor 1.5 games behind the Aggies.
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HELP WANTED
Tax/Staff Accountant for local CPA firm. This is a full-time position w/benefits. Fax resume to 979-779-8422. Durst, Milberger, Nesbitt & Ask, LLP. The Battalion Advertising Office is hiring an Advertising Sales Representative. Work to begin in August, be enrolled at A&M and have reliable transportation. Interested applicants should drop off resume at 032 Memorial Student Center, Advertising Office. The Kids Klub afterschool program is seeking p/t employees for the Fall 2009 semester. People are needed M-F, 2:45pm-6:15pm. ROP: $8.00-$8.75/hr. Please call 979-764-3831 or www.cstx.gov/kidsklub Tutors wanted for all subjects currently taught at TAMU/ Blinn and Sam Houston State starting at $7/hour. Apply on-line @ www.99Tutors.com, 979-255-3655. Upscale apartment community seeking leasing consultant, no experience necessary, positive attitude with exceptional people skills required. Fax resume to 888-822-8688
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PETS Pocket Puppies: Maltese, Shorkies, Maltipoos, Yorkies. $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 AKC German Shepherd puppies, 9-weeks, 1-male, 1-female. $500.00 o.b.o. 979-777-4601. da62slow@yahoo.com Rivers Edge Dog Academy. Announcing our next class starting soon, spaces limited call for details. 979-595-959. cadle6@verizon.net
REAL ESTATE For Sale, new 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Close to campus. Call J.C. 254-721-6179. Realtor. Fox Run, 2/2. Gated community, great amenities, must see! $122K. 936-291-7552. Online at texasrealestatecompany.com HOMES UNDER $90,000- Bargains Free computerized list of homes for sale. Free recorded message 1-800-359-0327 enter 1331.
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Softball team wins battle for Highway 30 against SHSU T.D. Durham The Battalion In the inaugural “Swing for Life” game, the Texas A&M softball team did not quit swinging against Sam Houston State Wednesday at the Aggie Softball Complex. With pink covering the stadium to promote breast cancer awareness, the Aggies beat the Bearkats for the third time this season, 6-1. “This was the kind of businesslike game that we wanted,” Head Coach Jo Evans said. “We really needed a win, and relative to what we’re trying to do in the postseason, it means a lot.” A&M took a two-run lead in the first inning. After a single from sophomore Natalie Villarreal, a walk and a hit by pitch, junior outfielder Bailey Schroeder hit an RBI single to left field. Morrow Junior shortstop Macie Morrow recorded a walk in her first at-bat. It was her third game back after receiving face surgery. Both teams traded a pair of scoreless innings before the Aggies scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman center fielder Kelsea Orsak led off the inning with her second infield single of the game, followed by a single by Villarreal, her second of the game. A single from Glasco and a sacrifice fly from junior third baseman Alex Reynolds made the score 4-1 in favor of A&M.
Orsak and Villarreal finished the game with perfect plate appearances. Villarreal went 2-for2 with a walk and Orsak was 3-for-3 with three singles. “We needed this, we needed to be able to hit throughout the order,” Evans said. “Kelsea Orsak was terrific tonight. Both her bunt singles were impressive.” In the bottom of the sixth inning, sophomore pitcher Rhi Kliesing tied the team lead in RBIs with 28 after knocking a two-run home run to right field, her seventh of the season. Kliesing retired the Sam Houston lineup in the top of the seventh inning to improve her season record to 19-10. She finished with one strikeout, allowed one run, six hits and three walks. “Rhi can hit like that every day, she can get on a roll,” Evans said. “It’s nice to see her out there pitching that well and driving the ball like that.” Bearkats’ senior pitcher Brandi Crnkovic received the loss, pitching five innings while allowing five runs and recording three strikeouts. With six games remaining in the regular season, A&M, 28-17 overall and 5-7 in the Big 12 Conference, will play its final two home games of the season against Iowa State this weekend. A&M will then play four games on the road with away games against Baylor and Texas. “We can’t afford to give anything away at this point,” Evans said. “Two big wins this weekend would really help us when we go on the road.”
Men’s tennis
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Baylor April 15 by a score of 6-1. The Aggies completed Big 12 play with a road trip to Kansas that included wins against both Kansas State and Kansas. “We have done very well in the Big 12 and gained a lot of confidence,” said junior Elze Potgieter. “I think right now we have a whole different mentality going into the tournament.” The Aggies will need to succeed at the Big 12 Tournament in order to get a bid to the NCAA Championships, which take place at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center starting May 15. If the Aggies win the tournament, they will receive an automatic bid. The Aggies need to make a run in the tournament if they want to receive an at-large bid because they sit on the bubble with a No. 35 national ranking. “If we have to go on an at large bid to the NCAA’s then I think we need to make a good showing,” Kleinecke said. “I don’t think we are in automatic territory to make this tournament. We still have some work that we have to do.”
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Mitchell Tennis Center on April 10, it took A&M more than 4 1/2 hours to win the match. The Cornhuskers took the Aggies to three sets in five of the six singles matches. “We are gearing up again knowing that the season starts over on Friday,” said A&M Head Coach Steven Denton. “We have to be ready to play Nebraska. I think we had a tough match with Nebraska and so that makes the guys respect them.” A strong run in the tournament could secure home court advantage in the first two rounds of the NCAA Championships. In Denton’s three years with the Aggies, A&M has failed to earn home court advantage for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Championship. “We are going to have an at-large bid, but the key is whether we are going to host a regional,” Denton said. “We just want to make sure we are able to host the first two rounds here.” If the higher seeded teams win, the road to the Big 12 title will not be an easy as the Aggies will rematch against the Longhorns in the semifinals and Baylor in the finals. The Aggies are eager to get another shot at the Bears, but they have to take care of other teams if they want to get that chance. “Baylor is a very good team and we would look forward to playing them, but we have a lot of work to do before we think about them,” Denton said. “If the seeds hold we will have a tough match against Texas. It would be great if we got the opportunity to play Baylor again, I know the guys would be excited for the chance to play them again.”
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A&M sophomore Austin Krajicek returns a volley against Texas April 16 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. The Aggies won 4-3.
For Pollock, this will be his final shot at a Big 12 Championship trophy. In his four years with A&M, the Aggies have not won. Pollock and the rest of the Aggies will look to make a run into the tournament and maintain their position as a NCAA Regional Tournament host. “This is my last go around so I am going to try and go out there and play well,” Pollock said. “All I am really focused on right now is Nebraska, so hopefully we will go out there and have a good team win.”
The Aggies will depend on success from a young team that includes three freshmen: Janelle Cuthbertson, Lauren Santacroce and Sheri Olivier. “There probably will be some nerves, but I think our team is so close that they will really step it up,” Potgieter said. “We are all so close that I don’t think nerves will be a problem, they can handle it.” If the higher seeds win, the Aggies could play Texas again. Texas is seeded No. 2 in the tournament and will play the winner of Texas Tech and Oklahoma. “I would be very excited if we got a chance to play them,” Potgieter said. “I think it will be a totally different match. Since then we have grown a lot as a team.” Regardless of the teams the Aggies have to play, A&M is looking to win the Big 12 Championship trophy and the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. “I feel like we are going in with the mindset that we are going to win the tournament,” Kleinecke said. “We have a tough road ahead of us. We are going to take it one match at a time, but our goal is to go in there and win the tournament.”
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“Americans need to quit taking drugs…These people need to understand they have blood on their hands.”
Rafael Cedeno, in handcuffs, is led out of a police truck by federal police to his presentation to the press at the federal police headquarters in Mexico City Sunday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rafael Cedeno, third right, is held by federal police during a police operation Saturday against the Michoacan-based drug cartel known as La Familia, or “The Family.”
Violence Continued from page 1
take out some of the major leaders, the routes into Florida were disrupted. When that happened, they shifted to the West and began to move drugs by land through Mexico, where it would be harder to see them and they could buy their cover through corruption. “This is really two success stories leading to a new problem,” McIntyre said. “Step one was squeezing out maritime routes. Step two is Mexican leadership. Several recognized this as a threat to the country and moved to take the leadership of the cartels. They had success in eliminating some of the cartel leaders. [However,] instead of the effort collapsing, it broke into warfare over who was going to be in charge next (of the cartels).”
Spilling over While personal opinion may vary, there’s no arguing with the numbers. According to the State Department’s 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy report, there were more than 2,500 drug-related deaths in 2007 and more than 4,000 by the end of 2008. The Associated Press estimated more than 1,000 deaths within the first eight weeks of 2009. The concern now is that the violence is overtaking major areas in Mexico, such as Tijuana or Ciudad Juarez, where Mexican authorities have reported more than 1,800 deaths since January, and is and spilling over into the U.S. “I have heard that some involved with the drug cartels are moving into bigger cities like Houston, Phoenix and Los Angeles,” said Priscilla West, a senior political science major whose family lives in the border town of Zapata, Texas. West heard correctly. In a March Associated Press story, the Department of Justice named 230 cities, including Houston, as sites where cartels maintain distribution networks and supply lines. Since 2006, when the investigation in Houston began, more than 70 people have been prosecuted and more than $5 million has been seized, along with about 3,000 pounds of cocaine, as verified by court records and law enforcement officers.
Effects on students While college students may not be experiencing the brunt of the situation, officials have been tedious, especially around the time when spring break travel plans were being made. Some schools, such as the University of Arizona, went so far as to send out an official advisory discouraging travel to Mexico over the break. “As long as the state department isn’t forbidding people, neither will we,” said Carol Binzer, director of student life. “We have safe
Spring Break programming and we’ve put resource information on spring break resource tables. [Student Life] also sent out blurbs with links to state alerts, making a more concerted effort to make sure people weren’t blindly going out there.” When it comes to how to handle a situation with students abroad, Binzer said the department already has a system in place should any problems arise. “When a London bus was blown up a few years ago, we immediately went to contact study abroad students, just to check on them and make sure they were OK, and contact the parents. Then we would use a CIRT (Critical Incident Response Team) to develop a more specific plan.” Ultimately, though, Binzer said it was unnecessary to issue a Universitywide declaration forbidding students affiliated with the school to travel to Mexico. “We have a good relationship with Mexico and many of our students are Mexican, so just forbidding people isn’t the best plan,” she said. “Plus, how would you react to your university telling you, an adult, what to do? You’d go anyway.” David Byrd, director of recruitment for the College of Education and Human Development, said the violence hasn’t affected incoming student ratios the way some might have expected. “I don’t think the violence has impacted our numbers as much as focused and targeted recruitment through our Rio Grande Valley Regional Prospective Student Center,” Byrd said. “We’ve actually been growing in our recruitment of students from the Rio Grande Valley. From 2003 to 2008, we had a 91.5 percent increase in freshman students from that region, and last fall, we had 996 students.”
Hometown securities West grew up along the border in towns of Edinburgh and McAllen before settling in Zapata when she was 10. While she continues to go back home and enjoy the comforts of family and community, she said the prevalence of the drug trafficking has invaded the security of her hometown. “We now worry ourselves about who in the town may or may not be involved, who to steer away from, and question whether or not our county is experiencing any kind of official corruption,” she said. “We continue to have our family gatherings and live a normal life, but we question more than we ever thought we would have to.” Because she has family who work for the Texas Army National Guard and friends in the Border Patrol, West said she hears a lot of stories, one of which was the murder of detention officer Gilberto Hernandez Jr. of Starr County. “In July 2006, he went across the border to visit his girlfriend and his family,” West said. “He never showed up and his parents reported
him missing the next day. On July 3, his body was found in the passenger side of his truck with his hands duct-taped behind his back and a message to ‘Tom’ carved in his belly. “It is believed he was tortured before being shot in the back of the head,” she said. “These drug cartels are responsible for a lot of the murders and other spill-over violence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and it has only been getting worse. The issue with drug trafficking is seeping into our lifestyles and has gone from bad to worse and is moving further and further north.”
Corruption vs. death McIntyre said the problem has been increasing because the money has grown over time allowing cartel leaders to purchase more power and more weapons. This action accelerates the cycle, he said, leading to even more violence. “The greatest danger for Americans is not the violence — it’s the corruption,” McIntyre said. “Mexican officials are offered two choices: silver [a bribe] or lead [a bullet.] We have already had a Texas sheriff arrested for providing FBI intelligence to the cartels. This is happening in every city, in every town, in the U.S.” While the severity of the situation is undeniable, as evidenced by the ever-climbing reach of death tolls and actions taken by government leaders, such as Texas Senator Cornyn, to involve the U.S. in stopping the violence, it is not directly affecting everyone. Or, at least, not in the ways one might suspect.
Everything is affected “To be honest, the drug war is not fought [in Mexico City,]” Fred Lambuth, Class of 2008, said. “There are occasionally bodies found around the city that are connected to the drug war, but the majority of the crime [here] is mostly unconnected. “Indirectly, the stigma of the conflict has taken away a lot of tourism business. Mexico depends heavily on tourism, especially Americans, and they’re too scared to come down here, even to the places that aren’t caught in the crossfire,” he said. Lambuth grew up in Houston, but moved to Mexico City in his youth. After graduation from Texas A&M in August with a bachelor’s degree in political science, he returned to Mexico City, where he has been living for eight months.
State of the government “I think the situation is overblown in the U.S. media,” he said. “I get some American news channels, and they paint the whole country as a failed state. This is a terrible escalation of the drug war, but Mexico’s government’s legitimacy is about the same as it was before the last two blood-soaked years.”
West, however, stands in opposition to Lambuth’s view of the media’s coverage. “The situation is escalating and media coverage merely scratches the surface,” she said. “These drug traffickers are known to use sophisticated surveillance, counter-surveillance and communication techniques to facilitate their trafficking operations. I have also heard of news reporters being threatened with their lives for detailed reports, and news stations are in a sense being controlled by what they should and should not report.” McIntyre, who wondered why the whole presidential campaign went by without asking any of the candidates about the situation, agreed with West’s view and recalled one such incident. “South of the border, [the lack of coverage by the media] is understandable — the threat against reporters is enormous. They’ve been murdered, threatened. On at least one [Mexican news] TV program, cartel members stormed the studio while they were on the air and threatened them, live,” McIntyre recalled. Not to say that the U.S. hasn’t been trying. In 2007, President Calderon and President George W. Bush met and created the Merida Initiative, a three-year, $1.5 billion plan to combat drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America. The Mexican government is also working independently, despite the threat of corruption from within, to keep the problem from getting any worse. The Council for Foreign Relations report sourced extraditions, eradication and interdiction, combining federal security forces and reforms to public security and the judicial system among some of the significant measures being taken.
The solution? So how do we stop what would appear to be a never-ending cycle of corruption, crime and violence? McIntyre’s solution was fairly simple. “Americans need to quit taking drugs,” he said. “The fundamental cause is Americans who think it’s fun or funny to take drugs, do it for recreational purposes, at a party. These people need to understand they have blood on their hands. These cartels are kidnapping women, raping them, selling them into slavery, [beheading people,] and it’s all being funded by Americans who are buying and using drugs. We just need to take responsibility for our actions. “The answer is not how bad could it get — the real issue is when will our cultural leaders take this seriously. We also need to do what we can to help reduce the flow of guns. Some part of the weapons come from us, and we need to get that under control,” McIntyre said. Others, such as Lambuth, say the answer is even simpler. “It can all be over if one step is taken,” he said. “Legalize it.”
voices Gun rights and wrongs
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 Battalionn or its staff.
thebattalion 4.23.2009 page9
GUESTCOLUMN
James Howard
Concealed Carry is a constitutional right that increases the safety of all Americans.
F
or some, it’s hard to imagine that in every movie theater, there are people carrying concealed weapons. If you’ve ever seen me at the movies, you probably didn’t know I was carrying a loaded pistol, and you probably didn’t know others were doing the same. If you’ve ever seen me around town and I wasn’t in a bar or on my way to or from campus, I was carrying a handgun. I’m a concealed handgun license holder, one of more than 300,000 in Texas. I’m also a college student, so I spend the majority of my time unarmed because I’m on campus. The law and University policy prohibit me from carrying a weapon in class, sbut that may change. House Bill 1893 has passed through the Public Safety Committee and is moving to the U.S. House for a vote. The committee agreed that adult students, faculty and staff who have been issued a Concealed Handgun License by the state of Texas should be able to protect themselves in campus settings just like they are able to do almost anywhere else. The Brady Bunch are up in arms over the issue, but they haven’t a leg to stand on. The arguments I always hear against allowing concealed carry on campus invariably include “College students aren’t mature enough,” “The college environment is plagued with alcohol use, high tensions and rampant emotional turmoil,” and the misguided “This will only complicate the situation for responding police.” As a 22-year-old college student, I must be too immature, too emotional and too out of control to handle a firearm, but Texas doesn’t think so. To get issued my CHL, I had to: 1. Be 21 years old 2. Have no criminal history 3. Not be under a protective order 4. Not be chemically dependent 5. Be of sound mind 6. Not be delinquent in paying fines, fees, child support or student loans 7. Be eligible to purchase a handgun by completing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System check 8. Complete required training Though the editorial board of The Battalion has claimed “Restrictions [...] can easily be dodged and/or finagled to meet certain individual circumstances,” such statements have no basis in fact. The Texas CHL system is a model for other states and has made converts of many an opponent. It took six months of waiting and a lot of paperwork to get my license and, as a U.S. Marine, you’d think it would be easy for me to “finagle” my way out of some of the requirements. We’re not talking about kids fresh out of high school totin’ their pistol belts to class; we’re talking about responsible, licensed adults more than 21 years of age. Have I mentioned that in Texas, a person with a CHL is 5.7 times less likely to commit a violent crime and 13.5 times less likely to commit a nonviolent crime than the average Texan? Not only are permit holders qualified — they’re model citizens. The law prohibits license holders from carrying under the influence of drugs or alcohol everywhere else, so why should campus be any different? Why are opponents of concealed carry on campus so convinced that a welltrained, levelheaded individual will suddenly become an emotionally-driven psychopath when he steps into the classroom? Similar “blood will run in the streets” scenarios were imagined in opposition to the original passage of the Texas CHL law in 1995. These dramatic scenarios didn’t play out in real life. The year after Texas started issuing CHLs, Texas murder rates fell 50 percent faster than the national average. The rape rate fell 93 percent faster that year, and it fell 500 percent faster the next year. The same irrational fears are being espoused today, and if concealed carry on campus passes, I’m confident we will see similar results: a reduction in crime and proof that these fears were unfounded. To the argument regarding complications for law enforcement: the Northern Illinois University shooting saw a police response time (by some accounts) of under 30 seconds. An incredible feat, and I commend them for it, but in those 30 seconds, the gunman killed five students, injured 17 more and shot himself. It takes less than a second for me to draw, aim and fire my pistol, and when seconds count, the police truly are only minutes away.
James Howard is a senior mathematical methods in electromagnetic theory major amd a guest columnist.
Kenny Ryan
American guns are a peril to us, and a peril to our neighbors. Concealed carry is not the solution.
A
ccording to a 2000 UN data comparing 37 nations for which statistics were available, the United States ranks third out of the countries involved when it comes to the percentage of homicides that involved a firearm. Sixty-five percent of American homicides involved a gun. This is trailing only Colombia and Guatemala, but 14 percent higher than fourth-place Costa Rica, 25 percent higher than Germany in seventh-place, 31 percent more than thirteenth-place Canada, and far ahead of twenty-second-ranked Mexico’s 21 percent of homicides involving firearms. A lot of attention has been paid to the violence in Mexico lately, and it might be shocking to Americans to learn how many of the guns involved in these crimes came from America. According to a joint statement presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crimes and Drugs by William Hoover, assistant director for Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Field Operations, and Anthony Placido, assistant administrator of intelligence with the Drug Enforcement Agency, 90 percent of traceable firearms seized in Mexico originated in the United States. It should be kept in mind this is only referring to 10,055 of the 29,000 guns seized by Mexico in the past two years that were given to the department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for tracing, according to a Senate testimony. Despite being unable to determine an exact percentage of the origin of all firearms seized by Mexican authorities, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder publicly stated in early April that a majority of guns seized in Mexico came from the United States. The reasoning for this is because it is easier to obtain a gun in the United States than it is in Mexico. The Mexican Constitution includes a right to bear arms for its citizens, but interpretation of this law limits its people to a small selection of pistols, shotguns and rifles. Not to mention Mexico’s right of an individual to bear arms applies only to their own property;
“If you want a gun, join the National Guard and use your newfound right to an armed militia to defend the country. Otherwise, stop misinterpreting the Bill of Rights.” — Kenny Ryan they aren’t allowed to tote their weapons across the country. It is easier to smuggle heavy firearms from the United States than it is to obtain them in Mexico initially. As the United States searches for ways to prevent drugs from coming up from Mexico, Mexico is expanding its own border security programs to keep American guns from heading south, according to Mexican Attorney General Medina Mora. The stricter the gun laws of a nation and its neighbors are, the lower the rate of homicides involving firearms will be. Most of Europe has strict gun laws to prevent easy access to deadly weapons. As a result, European countries have among the lowest rates of fatal shootings in the world. The notion of, “Everyone should have access to guns because the bad guys will get them regardless,” doesn’t have to be true if you don’t want it to be. Change wouldn’t come overnight, or probably for a number of years, but if the United States committed itself to gun control laws as strictly as its neighbors did, this country could give up the bronze medal it earned for excessive gun violence in the 2000 UN survey. It astounds me that anyone would think the best way to combat violence is by granting everyone easier access to guns and concealed handgun licenses. The notion that concealed carry discourages gun violence simply doesn’t make sense. If you are hiding your gun from view, nobody will be discouraged from attacking you because they won’t know you have a gun in the first place. If you really want to use a handgun to discourage violence, argue for the right to walk around town with it visibly strapped to your hip and a belt of ammo draped over your shoulder. Champions of the concealed carry crusade are quick to point out that concealed handgun license holders are 5.7 times less likely to commit a violent crime. Frankly, that’s not good enough. If I’m going to be handing out the right to carry a concealed firearm, I want to know 100 percent of those individuals will not be committing a
violent crime with the privileged weapon the state has bestowed to them. That’s correct — privilege, not a right. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” I don’t believe a majority, if indeed any, of the gun owners out there belong to a local militia. Webster’s Dictionary defines militia as, “a part of the organized armed forces of a country liable to call only in emergency.” Sounds like the National Guard to me, but even they can’t bring their weapons home. If you want a gun, join the National Guard and use your newfound right to an armed militia to defend the country. Otherwise, stop misinterpreting the Bill of Rights. Let’s assume that concealed carry activists do get their wish and every college student applies for a concealed handgun license. I’ll be generous and say that 50 percent of all students are disqualified, and the 50 percent who manage to obtain guns will never commit a crime in their life and only act out of self-defense. Imagine all of these students sitting in their classrooms in Blocker, when the sound of a gunshot is heard. Half the students pull out their concealed weapons and storm into the hallway to distribute vigilante justice. Several dozens of armed students flood the hall, pistol in hand, knowing they heard a shot. Which of them is the shooter? Nerves are high, confusion is profound; all it takes is one itchy trigger finger, one slip, and the sound of a car backfiring outside has triggered an avoidable tragedy. If you want to reduce the number of gun-related homicides, reduce the number of guns. It’s as simple as that.
Kenny Ryan is a senior telecommunications and media studies major.
“Not only are permit holders qualified — they’re model citizens.” — James Howard Illustrations by Chris Griffin — THE BATTALION
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Northgate parking project addresses safety issues Matt Woolbright The Battalion A project, budgeted for more than $3 million, is slated for the Northgate area and will possibly have significant effects on parking in the vicinity. “This is a challenging project with many different stakeholders with a variety of different interests and land uses,� said Chuck Gilman, director of capital projects. “Primarily we are concerned with improving pedestrian safety, improve city’s ability to provide fire protection, replace aging water and sewer lines in the area, improve the pavement along both streets and improve drainage.� Those concerned have a chance to voice their opinions on the issue during the city council meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the College Station City Hall. This issue is the top regular agenda item and prior to being opened for discussion staff will give a presentation on the project, including conversations about the project that have taken place, things that have been said about the project as well as at least three options for the project. The options that will be presented include, but are not limited to, the following: Option 1: Remove all the on-street parking, provide 8-foot wide sidewalks with street trees, concrete pavement (width will vary because ROW width varies), rehabilitate utilities and allow for two-way traffic. This option will result in the loss of approximately 202 spaces along Tauber street and Stasney street. Option 2: Mill the old pavement and overlay a new asphalt surface. Rehabilitate the utilities.
Senate Continued from page 1
cal,� said Austin Carlson, chairman of the Rules and Regulations Committee. “This is U.S. political ideal versus U.S. political ideal. We weren’t elected on political ideals.� The debate regarding the presence of concealed hand guns on campus has spread throughout the state, allowing many students to form their own opinions and stances. “Students overwhelmingly have an opinion,� said Senator Tanner Wilson. “And when students overwhelmingly have an opinion and are informed, this is a completely appropriate action by the Senate.� The bill calling for the referendum was not on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting because the bill was still in committee. Senators called it out of committee in order to take ac-
Address the pavement grade issues along Tauber street between Cross street and Cherry street. Do not construct sidewalks or install trees. All head-in parking and parallel parking will remain. Maintain two-way traffic along Tauber street and Stasney street. This option will not result in the loss of any parking spaces along Tauber street and Stasney street. Option 3: Remove head-in parking along Tauber street and Stasney street, replace or keep parallel parking where possible along Tauber street and Stasney street. Amend the Northgate Parking Plan to allow for on-street parking along one side of Tauber street and one side of Stasney street, provide 8-foot wide sidewalks with street trees, concrete pavement, replace or rehabilitate the utilities and allow for two-way traffic. Maintain two-way traffic along Tauber street and Stasney street. This option will result in the loss of approximately 137 parking spaces along Tauber street and Stasney street. Nearly $573 has been spent or allocated to the project already, leaving the balance just under $2.5 million. Students with interest in the issue should attend the council meeting if they wish to have a say in the decision and which option is chosen. “What would be of most interest to the students would be the pedestrian needs and parking and how we can compromise with those two,� said Lynn McIhaney, mayor pro temp of College Station, “and students can tell the council how they feel and together we can try to accomplish what’s best for everyone.�
tion while the 61st Senate was still in session. “We pass this bill; we get student opinion; we don’t divide this body unnecessarily,� Senator Jess Fields said. The call for a referendum passed with a vote of 51 for and one against. The referendum question will provide a brief synopsis of the bill before the Texas State House and Senate and ask students if they are in favor of the bill. Senators had previously conducted an informal poll, in which 75 percent of the students polled expressed a desire for a student referendum. “There is never a better way to get a student opinion than by a student referendum,� Carlson said. “We’re going to make a difference with this bill.� The date for the referendum is yet to be set. It will occur within 10 class days, and will probably be available online during dead week.
During open session at the beginning of the meeting, Senator Alden Harris from the College of Science caucus resigned from his position. The 61st Session was preparing to impeach the senator because of accusations regarding his caucus election in the 62nd Session. Harris submitted his resignation from the 61st Session after expressing discontent with recent conduct in Senate committees. “We took an oath to serve the student body. We as a Senate have failed that oath. And I have failed that oath,� Harris said. “For the past several days, this has weighed heavily upon my conscience, and after much discernment and personal deliberation, it is with a heavy heart and deep regret that I announce my resignation from the 61st Session of the Student Senate of Texas A&M University effective immediately.�
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tunity to succeed in life.� At the end of the ceremony, the children from the center gathered outside and recited a phrase, “We’re building a better future.� Opened in 1998, the center is a child care and preschool program that provides care for children of Texas A&M students and faculty. The center’s mission statement, as stated on childrens-center.tamu.edu, is to promote access to higher education through affordable, accessible, quality developmental child care for university parents and was created to provide support to A&M families, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff. An affiliate of A&M, the center is under the guidance of the Division of Student Affairs and is certified by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. It is accredited by
the National Association for the Education of Young Children. After being approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, the groundbreaking for the 2,880 square foot multipurpose building was on Sept. 23, 2006. The center, which has had more than 2,000 children enter and has granted more than $500,000 of scholarship money since it opened, now serves more than 150 children ranging in age from 12 months to five years. There are 250 children on the waiting list. Open year-round, the center’s schedule matches the A&M staff calendar with the exception of two days. All tuition and fees are reinvested in the mostly self-supporting center to “provide a quality program for children and families,� the Children’s Center Web site says. The center is now working on a project that will make the facilities more environmentally friendly called “Gates Goes Green.�
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