thebattalion ● friday,
may 8, 2009
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
Photos by Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION
Study break
Hundreds of Texas A&M students and staff gathered at the final Memorial Student Center Baker’s Night before the renovations to endulge their sweet tooth. At the event, workers handed out a variety of cookies, croissants, muffins and other baked goods, as the students chatted with friends. Students were also able to sing karaoke in the 12th Man Cafe. Meredith Zdenek
A&M officials on H1N1: no foreseen closures ■ CDC alters guidelines, Mexico travel remains restricted Meagan O’Toole-Pitts The Battalion Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidance does not suggest school closure for confirmed or suspected cases of the H1N1 virus, but Texas A&M travel restrictions to Mexico remain and graduation ceremonies might be altered.
“At this point, we don’t foresee any significant changes to the schedule of final exams or classes. Administration will make a decision on Monday, in ample time to announce any changes to graduation ceremonies,” said Chris Meyer, emergency preparedness assistant vice president for the Office of Safety and Security. “We do not anticipate any [closures to] the remaining semester schedule. The CDC does not recommend any changes to events.” Previously identified as the Swine Flu, cases of the H1N1
virus in the U.S. have not been severe and are comparable in severity to seasonal influenza, according to interim CDC guidance for schools and childcare facilities, updated Monday. According to a news release, A&M researchers and Dr. John Quarles, head of the Department of Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis at the Health Scien are working on a vaccine for influenza as well as trying to understand how the virus mutates. After College Station ISD closed Pebble Creek Elementary Tuesday because of a sus-
pected case of the H1N1 virus, the CDC updated interim guidance to discourage school closures unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function. Pebble Creek opened Wednesday, earlier than scheduled, as a result of the guidance changes. “The only way we’ll close the schools now is if schools could not function due to the flu,” said CSISD superintendent Eddie Coulson. “[H1N1 virus] is still out there, but it’s been determined not to be a serious health threat; it has
mild symptoms.” CSISD lifted travel restrictions limiting field trips and other events to Brazos County. “Everything is back to normal. UIL has changed their stance, too. As a result, there will be baseball and softball games this week,” Coulson said. “I would encourage everyone to take all the normal precautions to prevent illness, but I don’t think there’s a need to restrict travel based on the latest and greatest information we’ve received.” In light of the updated CDC
Keep up For instructions on contributing specimens visit
brazoshealth.org For further information on he H1N1virus and preventative measures visit
cdc.gov
See H1N1 on page 8
Astronaut to address Aggies at ceremony Fossum to introduce Maj. Gen. Bolden Calli Turner
J.D. Swiger — THE BATTALION
Members of the Texas A&M Gas Turbine Society experiment with the possibility of building a gas turbine engine from scratch.
Aggie fueled Society seeks to build turbine engine Joaquin Villegas The Battalion Texas A&M’s engineering department has received awards for its outstanding performance; some have ranked it as one of the best engineering programs in the nation, and some students are willing to protect that reputation, even if it means starting from scratch. The A&M Gas Turbine Society, an organization run by students, is experimenting with the possibility of constructing a gas turbine engine from scratch. Ben Carpenter, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, serves as president for the Gas Turbine Society. “The organization was started so that [students] could have a fun and good way to get hands-on experience,” Carpenter said. He said the main purpose of the organization is to design, model and build a gas turbine engine that could power a truck. Additionally, the Gas Turbine So-
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ciety has specific goals for the selfmade engine. “Our intent is to at least build an 80 horsepower engine,” Carpenter said, “with the possibility of making it a hybrid engine.” The organization’s mission has caused enough of a stir in the field that a possible intercollegiate competition could be in the works. “Our adviser has talked with professors in other universities,” Carpenter said. “And it has turned into a pilot program for a larger competition between universities, the goal now is to see if it’s feasible.” The organization has started looking into viable solutions to create the turbine. “Our hope is to buy an old military turbine engine and take it apart,” Carpenter said. “Then we could use reverse engineering to construct our own.” Juan Menendez, a senior mechanical engineering major, said See Turbine on page 4
The Battalion Former astronaut and retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden Jr. will be the speaker at the spring commencement convocation. Bolden will be introduced by Aggie astronaut Mike Fossum, Class of 1980, and will speak at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Reed Arena. While Bolden was a pilot astronaut, he worked with Fossum, who was an engineer at the Johnson Space Center. Bolden was born in Columbia, S.C., but relocated to Texas for his career. His ties to Texas began when he spent approximately six months as an advanced flight student at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville. Bolden received his wings as a Naval Aviator in May 1970. When Bolden was selected to be a NASA astronaut he moved with his family to Houston for an assign-
ment at the Johnson Space Center. Bolden and family lived in the Clear Lake area from 1980 to 1994. Their children graduated from Clear Lake High School. Bolden’s speech will kick off the three-day graduation celebration for 5,900 students. “My remarks will be generally motivational in nature with a slight hint at spirituality in one’s life in the establishment of a moral compass by which to be guided,” he said. Bolden received a bachelor of science degree in electrical science from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, and a master of science in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1977. “I do not remember my commencement speaker, although I do remember the speaker for my son’s graduation from the Naval Academy in 1993, 25 years after my own See Speaker on page 4
Courtesy NASA
“My remarks will be generally motivational in nature with a slight hint at spirituality in one’s life in the establishment of a moral compass by which to be guided,” — Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden Jr.
Senate against finance major limitation Melissa Appel The Battalion The Texas A&M Student Senate passed emergency legislation at a meeting Wednesday in response to a concern from business students about recent limitations on degree plan possibilities. Mays Business School sent an e-mail April 29 informing students that they would no longer be allowing double majors in finance. Senators were quick to draft a bill showing support of the finance double major option. “This is completely unacceptable,” said Rules and Regulations
Chairman Mike Simmons. “This is something that we need to address now. This is something that affects students now.” The policy affects current students in the finance department who desire a double major outside of the department and students in another field wanting to get a double major in finance. Senators said the policy was extremely limiting to business students, who wait to declare a degree concentration until junior year. Under the established double major limitations, students who entered A&M with the goal of a finance
double major are facing an altered academic course schedule. Senators said communication needed to be opened to hear the explanation for the decision. “Take a step back. Talk to us first,” said Matthew Wey, a senior accounting major and academic affairs chairman. “Send an e-mail explaining why [Mays Business School] made this decision.” The Mays Double Major Support Bill passed unanimously through the Senate. Senators also debated emergency See Senate on page 4
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