thebattalion ● monday,
may 4, 2009
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
Commanding presence Meredith Zdenek
Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION
The Battalion As the year winds down and most students head off for the summer, the 2009-2010 Corps of Cadets commander is beginning to settle in for the fall. Brent Lanier, a junior political science major from outfit B-Company, was announced as the Corps commander for the 2009-2010 school year. “As the Corps commander, I set the policy for the Corps and I enforce standards and serve as the representative for the Corps to the rest of the University,” he said. “I also directly report to the commandant.” Lanier said that the application process for the position was an extensive one, but his work as the Corps Circuit Major helped him to meet the standards for the job. “In my old job, I used to implement and apply the policies set by the Corps commander so I was able to work with him a lot,” he said. “It also helped that I lived in the same dorm with him as well.” As part of the process, seniors and other Corps leaders reviewed applications and chose candidates for interviews. The applicants interviewed were then put before the board of seniors and a few were put up for recommendation. The commandant chooses the applicant for the position. Lanier said he is not worried about the time
The 2009-2010 Corps of Cadets Commander Brent Lanier, a junior political science major, stands in the Quad.
See Commander on page 8
Bikes to be removed during summer break
Survey: Interest in law school up
Transportation Services asks students to take bicycles home to avoid trouble of removing, auctioning
Applicants say earning power, economy attracts to profession
Vicky Flores Jane Lee The Battalion The number of students looking to attend law school has increased, and the sour national economy may be the leading reason why, a recent survey of prospective law students by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions found. Texas A&M is following the national trend, said Karen Severn, the pre-law adviser at A&M. She said the number of Law School Admissions Tests, LSATs, which are the tests students take in order to attend law school, has increased by 6.4 percent as compared to the previous year. Though the figure includes students who may have taken the exam before, the number of students who took the test in February 2009 as compared to a year ago has increased by 11.5 percent. Kaplan surveyed approximately 1,000 pre-law students who took the LSAT and 40 percent of the students said that the financial downturn has been their motivation in applying to law school. One main reason behind the economic aspect follows the idea that students do not want to join the workforce, which has reached a low point in the U.S. The Kaplan survey re-
By the numbers Out of 1,000 pre-law students surveyed, 40 percent of the students said the financial downturn encouraged them to apply. The Kaplan survey found that 54 percent of those surveyed considered running for political office and 42 percent said they would definitely or probably run for political office. ports that students would rather “strengthen their knowledge, so they are more competitive when they graduate.” The Kaplan survey found that 67 percent of respondents listed the potential earning power of being a lawyer as driving their decision to apply to law school. The median annual salary of a lawyer nine months after graduating law school was $66,000 in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another reason for the increase of law students is due to the recent publicized presidential race. The Kaplan survey found that 54 percent of those See Law on page 8
Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
The Battalion Transportation Services said students should not to leave bicycles on campus during the summer break to save the trouble of having to remove them. “If you have a bike parked anywhere on campus take it home with you before you leave for the break,” said Rodney Weis, executive director of Transportation Services. “If you never use your bike, take it and donate it to a worthy charity so we don’t have to expend resources removing it for you”. Transportation Services personnel will begin removing bikes, locks, wheels and other parts that seem to be abandoned May 18 and continue until all bikes have
been removed. “The only way to ensure your bike is not removed is by taking it home,” Weis said. It also applies to students staying for the first summer session. Bicycles left on campus will be taken and held for a certain period of time before they are sold in an online auction through Logistic Services. People wanting to reclaim a bike before it is auctioned can do so by going to the Transit Services Web site and making an appointment to see if the bike was picked up by personnel. “It is important to note though that any individual looking to reclaim their bike must do so usSee Bicycles on page 8
Aggies share memories, say goodbye to MSC Jill Beathard The Battalion Students had a chance to review the history and share memories in the Memorial Student Center Commemorative Ceremony on Friday before its closure for renovation. “Since the dedication of the MSC in 1950, students have studied in the Flagroom, ate lunch at the 12th Man Cafeteria and most importantly taken off their hats and avoided walking on the grass in order
to honor their fallen comrades,” said Collin Laden, chief operating officer of the Memorial Student Center Complex and senior international studies and Spanish major. The purpose of the ceremony was to commemorate student contributions to the MSC during the years, Laden said. The ceremony’s main speaker was Denis Davis-Mayfield, Class of 1985 and former MSC President. Mayfield reflected on her earliest memories of the MSC, listening to her grandfather play the piano in the Flag-
room to keep her quiet, eating Thanksgiving dinner in the 12th Man Café before the University of Texas game, getting her first mailing address at the MSC Post Office as a freshman and being involved in student activities at the MSC. “If you Google mapped the heart of Texas A&M University, it would lead you to the MSC,” Mayfield said. See MSC on page 8
Videos on
thebatt the batt.com .com this week
Watch the Lost Frames video on Mark Gold for outtakes and unused footage. Calli Turner blogs about interviewing Mark Gold at lostframes.wordpress.com
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Video journalist Patrique Ludan sits down with the 2009-2010 Corps of Cadets Commander Brent Lanier.
5/3/09 11:01:07 PM