thebattalion ● tuesday,
june 2, 2009
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texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
“The students, faculty and staff have anxiety for hurricane season because we don’t want to go through that again.”
Here we go again Scientists predict ‘near normal’ year for storms Megan Clark The Battalion
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This satellite image shows Hurricane Ike on Sept. 12, 2008, before making landfall.
Sea Aggies recall Ike damage as season begins Hurricane Ike Registry
Megan Clark
The school of Rural Public Health has created a Web site where victims of Hurricane Ike can share stories and participate in studies.
Nearly a year after Hurricane Ike hit, things are still not back to normal for Sea Aggies in Galveston. The A&M Galveston campus is recovering from the damage and the first-ever relocation to College Station. “The one thing that we underestimated is how hard this would be for our students,” said Stephen Conway, director of Computing and Information Services. “We expected things to be back to normal but we became basically behind. This whole semester has been a catching-up semester.” Relocation was a big change and was arduous for some, said Conway. “The main campus was extremely cooperative and we couldn’t have asked for more, but it was still difficult for the freshmen and other students,” Conway
news | 4
The Battalion
said. “We lost some training classes but we were really lucky.” Ninety-one percent of the student body was relocated and were back in classes within a week of relocation, Conway said. Ike showed the campus’ strengths in evacuation procedures but that there is room for improvement, said Assistant Vice President for Administration Brad McGonagle. “We have revised our hurricane plan and we have made some changes since Ike,” McGonagle said. “We are ready for another hurricane season. The season we prepare and become aware of really begins around Sept. 1 because that is the most severe time in the Atlantic.” Contrary to popular belief, most of the campus’ damage was confined to the waterfront. See Hurricane on page 4
With the results of Hurricane Ike finally coming to a close, June 1 marks the new hurricane season for the Atlantic. There’s a 50 percent chance of a normal hurricane season, according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “There is a 70 percent probability for the following scenarios: 9-14 named storms, 4-7 hurricanes and 1-3 major hurricanes,” said Atmospheric Science Research Associate Brent McRoberts. “If the ‘near normal’ forecast verifies, 2009 may actually seem like a below normal year based on the hurricane seasons we are accustomed to the past 15 years or so. We have actually been in what is considered the high activity era for hurricanes.” Despite the expected quiet season, hurricanes can arrive 2009 hurricane suddenly. “August and September names: are prime time for storms that Ana form in the tropical Atlantic Bill and march across to North Claudette America,” said John W. Danny Nielsen-Gammon, professor and Texas State climatologist. Erika “Storms can form in the Gulf Fred of Mexico as early as June, Grace and those can be a problem Henri because there’s often not Ida much warning. Some coastal Joaquin communities need three days Kate warning to evacuate, and Larry Gulf storms may not provide Mindy that.” Nicholas Potential trouble can be Odette predicted by a storm from 2007, Humberto, according Peter to Nielsen-Gammon. Hum- Rose berto made landfall near High Sam Island less than a day after it Teresa became a tropical depression. Victor It gave little warning. Wanda “If a hurricane were to affect the Brazos Valley worse than, say Ike, it would most likely have to make landfall between Matagorda Bay and Galveston,” said KBTX meteorologist Bob French. “The stronger the storm, the more likely that we would get hurricane force winds this far inland. The slower moving the storm, the more likely we would receive flooding rains.”
Rec center kicks off summer with outdoor activities, fitness classes Know before you go
David Harris and Macie Rushing
Hours: Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m.- 10 p.m.
If you’re looking for a way to beat the heat this summer, or get in shape, or rehash that competitive drive that has been missing for so long, the Texas A&M Student Recreation Center is the place to be. The Rec, even with the decreased number of students enrolled in the summer, will have the same amenities offered during the fall and spring semesters. “During the summer, we don’t miss a beat,” said Marketing Director Connor Heim. “We offer the same programs as fall or spring. We still want to provide summer students with the same opportunities.” Most student organizations have put activities and events on pause as they plan for the fall semester, said Director of Student Activities Bill Stackman. “We still have some organizations that are up and running, but most of them are not,” Stackman said. “Aggie Wranglers have new members that will be busy training this summer.” Taylor Huff, a junior communication major and member of Project Sunshine, said she is looking forward
If you are not taking summer classes, go to recsports. tamu.edu for guest pass prices.
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Special to The Battalion
to taking a break this summer. “I’m hoping that with a break from my organization I can focus more on the classes I am taking and maybe work on my tan a little at the Rec pool,” Taylor said. There are many outdoor activities going on during the summer, with the outdoor pool, sand volleyball and basketball courts. The golf course offers a discounted rate for enrolled students. Massages, at $45 per hour, are given to students $15 off. “There’s no time like the summer to kick back and relax,” Heim said. “A massage is a perfect compliment to a rigorous workout.” The center has returned to its summer hours, closing at 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday, until Aug. 15. However, fitness classes, lectures, intramurals and outdoor adventures will continue to be offered at the center. There will be 65 classes offered a week and more will be in the water, said Fitness and Programs Director DeAun Woosley. “We have more water classes in the summer using the outdoor pool,” said Woosley. “We are able to teach water See Rec on page 6
J.D. Swiger — THE BATTALION
Junior economics major Brandon Jordan, senior sports management major Tory Finley and sophomore pharmacy major Khashad McBean play basketball Friday on the indoor courts at the Rec center.
6/2/09 12:18 AM
TACK and SADDLE AUCTION
Today
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Monday, June 8th at 7pm Preview at 6 pm
High: 90 Low: 70
High: 89 Low: 69
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20 percent chance of thunderstorms
30 percent chance of thunderstorms
partly cloudy
Due to family illness- Murphy Auctioneers has been asked to sell at public auction a complete inventory of western saddles & horse equipment from a Giant Wholesale Saddle Distributor. This business is liquidating a very nice collection of top quality saddles & tack. Due to the nature of this event there will be a 10% buyers premium. Everybody is welcome. For complete details got to: www.montanasaddleco.com
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VFW Post 4692 794 Harvey Mitchell Parkway Bryan, TX 77805
thebattalion 6.2.2009
(541) 592-6292 Auctioneer Mike Murphy Lic.#10151
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corrections
Justice for the justice You may qualify for a clinical research study if you have the following condition.
OVERACTIVE BLADDER
Do you have those frequent and strong urges that keep you running to the bathroom?
The Battalion welcomes readers’ comments about published information that may require correction. We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction needs to be published. Please e-mail at editor@thebatt.com.
Ian McPhail and Jason Staggs look at the controversy surrounding Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s remarks and the role they should play in her confirmation hearings.
If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion apply online at thebatt. com, or come by The Grove, 845-3313.
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New Editor in Chief of The Battalion Kalee Bumguardner introduces herself to the student body and discusses various changes facing A&M, the MSC and The Battalion.
Mexico detains police officers MEXICO CITY — At least 25 police officers were detained in northern Mexico Monday for alleged ties to drug traffickers, authorities said. It was Mexico’s latest sweep to root out corruption among police and government officials, which has been a major impediment to President Felipe Calderon’s battle against drug cartels. Last week, federal officials arrested 10 mayors and 20 other officials in the western state of Michoacan on suspicion of protecting the La Familia cartel.
Oil prices hit year high LONDON — Oil prices rose to near $68 a barrel Monday, hitting a new high for the year as world stock markets rallied and investors banked on hopes that the global recession is easing. Benchmark crude for July delivery was up $1.38 to $67.69 a barrel by late morning in Europe in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest level since early November. It had traded above $68 earlier in the day. Oil prices have almost doubled from below $35 a barrel in March as investors have taken heart from signs a severe recession in the U.S. is slowing. Associated Press
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As seen from the stands, the MSC Bookstore now operates from G. Rollie Coliseum where it has been relocated due to the coming MSC renovation. Renovation on the student center is set to begin in 73 days.
Participants Needed for a Weight Loss Study Researchers in the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Laboratory at Texas A&M University are recruiting 160 women between the ages of 18 and 45 to participate in a weight loss program. Participants will be randomized into one of four intervention groups involving varying exercise and nutrition requirements for six months. Eligible participants will receive $200 for completing the study. For more information call: Exercise & Sport Nutrition Laboratory, Dept. of HLKN Research Park, Building #2, Suite # 2500 979- 458-1743
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Vast ocean search for Air France jet RIO DE JANEIRO — An Air France jet with 228 people on a flight to Paris vanished over the Atlantic Ocean after flying into towering thunderstorms and sending an automated message that the electrical system had failed. A vast search began Monday, but all aboard were feared killed. Military aircraft scrambled out to the center of the Atlantic, far from the coasts of Brazil and West Africa, and France sought U.S. satellite help to find the wreckage. The first military ship wasn’t expected to reach the area where the plane disappeared until Wednesday. If there are no survivors, it would be the world’s worst aviation disaster since 2001. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the cause remains unclear and that “no hypothesis” is being excluded. Some experts dismissed speculation that lightning might have brought
the plane down. But violent thunderheads reaching more than 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) high can pound planes with hail and high winds, causing structural damage if pilots can’t maneuver around them. Sarkozy said he told family members of passengers on Air France Flight 447 that prospects of finding survivors are “very small.” Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, expressed hope that “the worst hasn’t happened,” and said “we have to ask God” to help find survivors. The 4-year-old Airbus A330 left Rio Sunday night with 216 passengers and 12 crew members on board, said company spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand. Most of the passengers were Brazilian and French, but 32 nations in all were represented, including two Americans.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS Members of the Brazilian Pelican military squad prepare to depart from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, to take part in the search of an Air France jet that disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean Monday. The plane was cruising normally at 35,000 feet (10,670 meters) and 522 mph (840 kph) just before it disappeared nearly four hours into the flight. No
trouble was reported as the plane left radar contact, beyond Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha archipelago, at 10:48 local time. Associated Press
thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
Kalee Bumguardner, Editor in 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: 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 979-845-2613.
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JUNE EVENTS
thebattalion
June ne 3 Randy Rogers gers with Wade Bowen wen at Hurricane Harry’s rry’s
Moving on Up
June ne 4 College Night ht at Texas Hall of Fame, me, admission free for 21 and up
Logan West Special to The Battalion
June ne 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 -21 Theatre Company mpany of BryanCollege lege Station’s The Producers oducers
The newest addition to the Disney/ Pixar family, Up, has arrived and looks just like the rest of them: amazing. Similar to last year’s Wall-E, Up does not need words to express the emotions of its characters. Leaving out the dialogue does several things for Disney/ Pixar films: it cuts down production costs, raises profits and makes their feature films like extended versions of the animated shorts we all see before the movie begins. Gone are the days of films like Toy Story, Monster’s Inc.
June ne 5 Art Step at Downtown wntown Bryan 5 – 11 p.m. June ne 5 Hillel Erev Shabbat abbat Dinner at Hillel el Foundation 6:30 p.m. m. June ne 6 65th anniversary niversary of D-Day June ne 6 Starlight Music sic Series presents sents Aeromyth at Wolf Pen Creek Ampitheater pitheater 6 p.m., admission mission free June ne 7 National Chocolate ocolate Ice Cream Dayy June ne 8 Rec Center Boot ot Camp begins 6 a.m. .m. June ne 9 Rec Center Triathlon athlon Training begins gins 8 a.m. June ne 8-9 Still Life Workshop orkshop at Frame Gallery, lery, Bryan, 9 a.m.m.- 3 p.m. June ne 10 Mike Eli acoustic performance at Texas Hall of Fame, $10 in advance and $12 at door
6.2.2009 page3
and Finding Nemo when the studios an br brought in big names for speaking pa parts. Now for Disney/Pixar are the days when emotions felt for the th ch characters are sensed through the events of the story, actions they take and choices they make. ch This is evident in Up throughout th the first half hour when hardly a word is passed between the main character C Carl Fredricksen and his childhood fri friend turned wife, Ellie. In this time th the film achieves something few movies do today: an emotional bond between ch characters and viewers without words. Up is all about having dreams and str striving to achieve them, even through th the struggles of flat tires, trees falling th through the roof, miscarriages (that’s rig right, a miscarriage in an animated film) an and even death of a loved one. Carl pe perseveres through these pressures and ot others, such as age, an ever-changing w world that literally surrounds his home, aand little annoyances like young W Wilderness Explorer, Russell, to go on a llife-fulfilling journey for his wife. Up is also about recognizing that th things change and there are times to ac accept such changes and move on. Carl re recognizes this when his childhood idol C Charles Muntz betrays him and Russell, an and he makes a choice, posthumously he helped by his wife’s scrapbook, to ab abandon his plans and help Russell in instead. Carl learns that dreams are m meant to be sought after but situations cchange, people are not who they ap appear to be, and helping a Wilderness E Explorer — even if you don’t want to — earn his merit badge can lead to an
adventure of a lifetime. Disney and Pixar have made their characters and movies more heart-felt, but unfortunately they have made people believe that 3-D will make their movie experience much greater, for what they consider a small price. The price you pay to see a movie in 3-D is $2.25 extra on the ticket. Considering students only pay $4 anyway, this isn’t a bad deal, but I encourage all to watch this film in regular picture. Seeing Monsters vs. Aliens and other movies in 3-D, the 3-D only takes away from the experience because you wait for the next cool image that is going to fly at you rather than become involved in the story. Plus, you always walk out of the theater with a massive headache from the glasses. Movies are meant to be an escape from our normal lives to watch characters perform actions in order to overcome struggles and obtain a goal. Up has no problem doing this in regular movie format, and to focus on Disney and Pixar’s new gimmick in another dimension does not warrant the $2.25 mark up for 3D. Up is a great film that will tug emotions of all ages. You will laugh, cry and be on the edge of your seat to find out what will happen next throughout this helium-propelled expedition.
4 Gig ‘ems
DISNEY/PIXAR
Bryan event to feature art and music Megan Ryan
June 13 Starlight Music SeriesJason Boland & The Stragglers at Wolf Pen Creek Ampitheater 6 p.m., admission free
The Battalion
June 14 Flag Day June 17 Corey Smith at Hurricane Harry’s 7 p.m., $5 in advance June 19 Juneteenth June 19-20 Texas Reds Steak and Grape Festival at Downtown Bryan, Ribeye tickets $15 in advance, $20 day of event June 21 Father’s Day June 24 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen released in theatres June 28 Paul Bunyan Day
Brazos Valley is taking a step towards success June 5 with the biannual presentation of Art Step, a chance for artists and musicians to showcase their work to the community. This event is open to the public and extends to a wide audience. “We typically aim to attract everyone, from students and young families to retirees and professionals,” said Greta Watkins, owner of The Frame Gallery in downtown Bryan, and organizer of the event. “We try to reach a broad spectrum of people.” Watkins created “First Fridays in Historic Downtown Bryan” about four and a half years ago, and subsequently developed Art Step, a larger, biannual art and music event. Art Step stemmed from other similar inspirational events created to display the various forms of art that are not come across regularly. “It is called ‘Art Step’ because when it was formed it was patterned after other ‘Art Walk’ events held around the country,” said Cindy Peaslee, executive director of Downtown Bryan Economic Development Association. “Since this event is smaller than the larger events in larger cities, Greta named it ‘Art Step.’” The event will feature a variety of artwork as well as entertainment for everyone who comes to watch, observe, analyze and listen. “Art Step was created to attract visitors and residents to the newly revitalized downtown area to stroll and shop through stores, galleries and restaurants and to familiarize them with our talented local artists,” Peaslee said. Peaslee said the abundance of activity in the
area during Art Step is the finest part of the event. “Seeing families, couples and seniors all discovering the newly revitalized downtown and everything it has to offer — from dancing in the park to riding in the carriage or watching the free movie at the Palace Theatre, to just ‘taking it all in’ with a camera and some kids,” she said. “The evening has turned into an exciting, entertainment-filled destination for all ages.” Mary Burkhalter, former president of the Brazos Valley Art League, said there are many types of art shown in the event. “Art Step is about promoting the arts and appreciation of the arts in Bryan/College Station as well as the entire Brazos Valley area,” she said. “Within our organization we have members representing just about all aspects of the visual arts — oil, watercolor, pastels, acrylics, pottery, wood and metal sculpture, botanical art, etc.” Because of the development of the event and the increasing attendance each year, Art Step has attracted new retail and restaurants for the downtown Bryan area. “We now have 16 great restaurants and a wonderful assortment of retail shops, antique stores, cafés, galleries and live entertainment venues,” Peaslee said. Art Step contributes to the growth in downtown Bryan because it is attractive to visitors with a variety of interests. “This event attracts all ages and people from all walks of life,” Peaslee said. “There is always a wide variety of art and music at different venues. We keep an ear to the crowd to make sure we are offering them the opportunity to find something they can enjoy.”
Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION
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A CLASSIFIED AD: Phone 845-0569 or Fax 845-2678
OFFICE:
BUSINESS HOURS
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day
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classifieds $10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.
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$375, AVAILABLE NOW and pre-lease. 1/1, 2/1. Free Wi-Fi, On Northgate, on Shuttle. Short term leases ok. Call agent, Ardi. 979-422-5660. $800, PRE-LEASE, 2, 3, and 4 bdrm. houses near TAMU, pets ok. Call Agent Ardi 979-422-5660. 1,2,3&4 bedrooms available. www.bcspm.com B/CS Property Management. 1-3/bedroom apartments. Some with w/d, some near campus. $175-$600/mo. 979-696-2038. 1-bed +office, less than 1-mile from campus, 1-block from shuttle &park $485/mo. www.hollemanbythepark.com 979-574-4237 or 979-575-3858. 1-bed, 1-bath less than 1-mile from campus, 1-block from shuttle &park. $435/mo. www.hollemanbythepark.com 979-574-4237 or 979-575-3858. 2,3&4 bedroom houses w/yards. Great locations for students. Pets welcome. 979-492-3990. 2-bed, 1-bath less than 1-mile from campus, 1-block from shuttle &park. $485/mo. www.hollemanbythepark.com 979-574-4237 or 979-575-3858. 2/2 fourplex. Available August. Tiled living, kitchen. Water included. Fenced yard. Covered deck. Pets. W/D connection. Close to campus. 979-204-1950. 3/1.5 house with fenced yard, close to campus, 3402 Cavitt, 979-219-6108 3/2 Near campus. W/D included. Available in August. Call 979-224-1434. 3/2 Townhouses &Apartments, 1250sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, washer/dryer, walk-in pantry &closets, extra storage, great amenities, on bus route, excellent specials. 979-694-0320, office@luxormanagement.com 3/3 Duplex for lease CS. For August, internet ready, all appliances including W/D, microwave. Graham Road. No pets. $990/mo. 979-778-6076. 3bdrm/3bth duplexes. Great floorplans, fenced yards, W/D, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 4/3 house with study, fenced yard, $1500/mo, close to campus, 1401 Lawyer, 979-219-6108 4bdrm/2bth house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com
Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. Cook, cashier and runner, 7-day a week position. Background check. Evening employment. 979-776-8135, call for an appointment. Full & Part-Time Summer Advertising Sales. Seeking reliable, hard-working, enthusiastic students to sell advertising. Must be self-motivated, able to work without supervision. Sales Experience not necessary. Will Train. Automobile necessary. Internships may be Available! Texas A&M University Campus Telephone Directory. Email resume to: GVPubs@aol.com Call 1-800-288-3044. Healthcare technology firm MEMdata now hiring. Local, just minutes from campus. Part-time openings (20 hrs/wk minimum), M-F 8 to 5. Flexible Hours. Good Verbal Communication and Computer Skills a Must. $8/hr plus bonus. E-mail resumes to careers@memdata.com or fax to 979-695-1954.
One room available in 3/2 on 3-acres, just four miles from campus. Horse property. $470/mo. Cable/Internet provided. 858-442-4918.
The Battalion The USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness at the School of Rural Public Health has created a registry for those who have been affected by Hurricane Ike to share experiences and participate in activities and studies over the next five years. The Hurricane Ike Registry, also called HikeR, stores information used by the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness to keep in contact with individuals who have opted to be participants in studies that will examine evacuation, sheltering and recovery from Hurricane Ike. “We hope that through the numerous activities and studies we intend to conduct over the next five years that we are able to improve the response and recovery after hurricanes and other natural disasters,” said USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness evaluation manager Jennifer Griffith. The USA Center has partnered up with different communities and stakeholders to help prepare for natural disasters. The registry was mainly created as a way to stay in touch with people years after the
disaster has occurred, said Griffith. The studies will be conducted through surveys, interviews and small group discussion. The registry has grown substantially since its launch in January, said Griffith. “We have over 500 people in the registry,” Griffith said. “We are still recruiting and work primarily through identifying community groups and partners to help us spread the word”. The registry was created by the Knowledge Engineering Center at the School of Rural Public Health to replace the previous, manually done, registration process. “The CDC designated us as one of their 27 Centers for Public Health preparedness,” said Barbara Quiram, director of the Office of Special Programs and director of the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness at the School of Rural Public Health. “Of those 27 centers ours is the only one with a rural focus.” The registry was an extension of the goals that the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness has been implementing since its foundation in 2002, after the
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Hurricane Ike caused severe destruction in Sept. 2008 when it came ashore near Galveston Island.
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Continued from page 1
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battalion Classifieds Call 845-0569 To Place Your Ad
“We hope that through the numerous activities and studies ... that we are able to improve the response and recovery after hurricanes and other natural disasters.” — Jennifer Griffith rural public health preparedness evaluation manager
events of Sept. 11, said Quiram. “They chose to go online to be able to track participants for specific studies, participants that were available, and it made it easier to organize the data for managing that flow of information,” said Vince Riggins, Lead Software Applications Developer for the Knowledge Engineering Center. In addition, HikeR allows individuals affected by the hurricane to register for themselves, so information entered is more likely to be accurate, said Riggins.
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Great 4bed/2bath house in popular area- 400 Pronghorn Loop. Comes w/ W/D, Ref, Ethernet in each room, large fenced bkyrd, pets OK w/ deposit, 2-car garage. Available in July or August. Call Joey at 979-218-4091.
Newly remodeled 4/2 house. Walking distance to campus, tile &wood floors, great location, nice big deck &yard. 776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com
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File photo — THE BATTALION
Hurricane “It’s actually a misconception that there were necessary renovations to the campus,” said director of Media Relations and Communications Karen Bigley. “The reason that the campus shut down was not for campus damage — there was damage, and it was significant, but none of our buildings were flooded. It was also not because the city required it, but rather that circumstances did.” There was roof damage to two of the main buildings, one of which contains the bookstore, financial aid and post office. Also, there was a great deal of debris scattered all over the campus. The road leading to Pelican Island was heavily damaged. “The recovery was an entire Aggie experience,” said McGonagle. “A local contracting business, Aggie owned and operated, repaired the road to Pelican Island right away. Then another contracting business, also Aggie-based, came out and
“There is a sense of loss and grief and that takes time but there is also perseverance.” — Stephen Conway director of computer and information services
LOS ANGELES — Gamers, get ready for your close-up. Microsoft introduced a camera Monday that can be used as a controller for the Xbox 360. Codenamed “Project Natal,” the camera eliminates the need for a handheld input device — instead, the gizmo can track a player’s full body movement, recognize their face and voice, scan images of real items and respond to physical and vocal commands. Microsoft also debuted 10 exclusive games and several additions to the Xbox Live online service at their flashy Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference at University of Southern California’s Galen Center. But the biggest gee-whiz moment came when Microsoft senior vice president Don Mattrick and Steven Spielberg introduced “Project Natal.”
“Two months ago, Don shared with me the ‘Natal’ experience, and the gamer in me went out of my mind when I got to be really interactive with this,” said Spielberg, a game developer as well as filmmaker. “More dramatically, I felt like I was present for a historic moment, a moment as significant as the transformation from the square-shaped movie screen to CinemaScope and then to IMAX.” “This is all about breaking down barriers the only way Xbox 360 can,” Microsoft corporate vice president Shane Kim said. “For far too long, the controller has kept people from playing games. ‘Project Natal’ totally eliminates the need for a controller, and we believe it’s going to bring people together in a way we haven’t seen before.” Associated Press
cleaned all the debris from the campus. So it was really Aggies helping Aggies.” More than 800 students and faculty were displaced by the hurricane. “I heard a quote that stands true that says ‘a busy hurricane season is when the hurricane hits you.’ We can only plan strategically, which isn’t the most effective, and there will always be a certain level of risk,” said Conway. “The students, faculty and staff have anxiety for hurricane season because we don’t want to go through that again; we could, but we don’t want to. There is a sense of loss and grief and that takes time but there is also perseverance.” ASSOCIATED PRESS
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University of Rhode Island students Peprah, Gizaw accused of rape Two University of Rhode Island students accused of rape pleaded not guilty Monday to sexual assault charges. Yaw Peprah (yah pepRAH’), 20, of Lincoln and Estifanos Gizaw (eh-stuhFAHN’-ohs GEE’-zaw), 19, of Houston, Texas, are accused of raping a female URI student in September. They were arraigned Monday in Washington County Superior Court and released on bond. A third suspect, Marina Melillo, 18, of North Bellmore, N.Y., is due in court next week to face the same charge. She is no longer enrolled at the university. A grand jury indicted the three students last month on charges of first-degree sexual assault stemming from an alleged rape on Sept. 14. Michael Egan, a lawyer for Peprah, said his client is innocent. He said a university judicial board that probed the
Pg. 4-06-02-09.indd 1
case already had cleared the defendants of all sexual assault allegations. URI spokesman David Lavallee said he could not discuss the internal investigation. “It’s an unfortunate situation, and I don’t believe the charges should have ever been brought,” Egan said. “When all the facts are out, I believe my client will be vindicated.” Egan said the alleged victim had complained to authorities that she was sexually assaulted after having had too much to drink. But he said the evidence would show that the woman was not incapacitated at the time. A spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch said the university’s investigation had no bearing on the criminal charges, and that prosecutors believe the defendants used force in coercing the student to have sex. Attorneys for Gizaw and Melillo did not return calls seeking comment. Associated Press
6/2/09 12:22 AM
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.
voices thebattalion
6.2.2009 6.2.200 page5
Justice for the justice
EDITORIALBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor-in-chief having final responsibility. Editor in Chief Kalee Bumguardner editor@thebatt.com Managing Editor Mattie Williamson battcopy@thebatt.com Opinion Editor Jason Staggs opinion@thebatt.com
‘Howdy!’ from the Grove
Kalee Bumguardner
T
he winds of change are blowing through Aggieland. The MSC is closing, the economy is down and The Battalion has a new office and a new Editor in Chief. I’m Kalee Bumguardner, a junior agricultural communication and journalism major from Palacios, Texas, but more importantly I’m the loudest, proudest editor-in-chief of The Battalion for summer 2009. (Even more importantly, I’m the loudest, proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2011. A-A-A-Whoop!) My freshman year I started writing feature stories for the Aggieland yearbook. I loved interviewing people, getting dynamic quotes and putting it all together in an Editor interesting and at a informative way. glance Seeing my work published in a book that lasts more than Name: Kalee 100 years Bumguardner wasn’t bad, either. In my sophomore Office: year I returned to the Aggieland as the Editor in Chief academics section editor. This job was Class: 2011 even more stressful, as I now had to Hometown: come up with story Palacious, Texas ideas and make sure everything Major: agricultural in my section was communication perfect. and journalism I applied for the position of editor in chief this summer Career Goals: because, first off, I Magazine editor wanted an exciting summer job that Favorite thing would keep me about The busy, and second Battalion: because I’ve always Getting the story. been interested in The Battalion and everything it does. I jumped at the opportunity to gain so much experience in the newspaper business, and cannot wait to get started. If there’s one thing that can be said about this job, it’s that it definitely isn’t boring. But enough about me. This paper isn’t about me, it’s about you. Without your support and input, there would be no Battalion. Whether you’re complaining about how lousy an article was, or thankful for the inclusion of a particular event or issue, keep sending in those comments, mailcalls and guest columns. Many of you are here for the summer because of classes, but some of you are here working, or preparing for Fish Camp or Impact. But there is a certain other group in College Station this summer, as well: the Class of 2013 (and their parents). Give them a big “Howdy!” and a smile when you see them on campus. They will probably be recognizable by their lost expressions, wandering around campus. As all this change hits College Station, there is one thing to keep in mind: despite all of our differences of interests, culture and opinion, we are all Aggies, and that is the most important similarity of all.
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Karen Cruickshanks — THE BATTALIO BATTALION
Justice Sotomayor deserves fair public trial
Ian McPhail
A
s Justice Souter retires from the Supreme Court, Barack Obama has delivered on his campaign promise of bipartisan cooperation by nominating a woman like Sonia Sotomayor. Unlike President George W. Bush’s 2005 nominee Harriet Miers, Sotomayor is clearly qualified for her position on the Supreme Court and will hopefully help unite the country under an administration willing to look past party lines. Senators should avoid the deranged opinions of muckrakers like Rush Limbaugh and quickly confirm her.
Unlike Bush’s comical Miers, Sotomayor already proved herself as a judge. Educated at Princeton and Yale, she is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. More importantly, Sotomayor has proven herself to be capable of bipartisan appeal through her selection by George H.W. Bush as Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. While Souter’s rulings have fallen more often on the left side of the political spectrum, Sotomayor’s decisions have not been reliably liberal. Given the ideology of Obama and the Democratic-controlled Senate, the selection of a moderate liberal for the nation’s highest tribunal seems incredibly reasonable. One comment has turned ridiculous right pundits against Sotomayor. In 2001, she said, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her
experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” This has provoked Limbaugh to accuse Sotomayor of reverse racism. However, as Limbaugh felt it was appropriate to play a song called “Barack the Magic Negro” on his program, he has rightly been accused of old-fashioned racism in this instance. Thankfully, Limbaugh has not been nominated to the Supreme Court, and his racist radio utterances will not be called out in front of a live television audience of millions. It is up to Sotomayor to defend her 2001 statement before the Senate, but her record on rulings should carry more importance than a single sentence given in a speech eight years ago at the University of California-Berkeley Law School. It seems obvious that Sotomayor was including her own personal struggles as an
impoverished Latina growing up in the Bronx without a father for half of her childhood. Pundits and politicians should not be so quick to label a Latina woman as racist. Right-wing commentators are using a single statement as a distraction from her record and Obama’s effort to unite the country behind a reasonably moderate selection. Critics of the administration should find legitimate fault in Sotomayor, instead of attempting to create a nonsense smoke and mirrors ruse like another monster from Lost. Americans should recognize the president’s efforts to bring the country together, and ignore those attempting to tear the nation apart through ridiculous accusations.
Ian McPhail is a sophomore history major.
Sotomayor’s past fair game in confirmation
Jason Staggs
A
s heated as reactions to President Barack Obama’s recent nomination might seem to the average consumer of news, it pales in comparison to the importance of the seat which Sonia Sotomayor might occupy this autumn. If Sotomayor is confirmed, and there is no serious indication she won’t be, the 54-year-old woman might lord over lawyers for the next three decades. Justice John Paul Stevens, 89, has been on the Supreme Court for more than 33 years, since being nominated by President Gerald Ford in 1975. Ford, the ’70s, and most of the people who were instrumental
in the ‘experiences’ that led to Stevens’ being nominated are long gone, but Stevens remains, and has been shaping the national legal landscape for longer than most of us have been alive. Appointment to the nation’s highest tribunal is no light matter. What makes things more serious is that the framers of the Constitution included no formal qualifications for a person to be an associate or even chief justice of the Supreme Court, so legislators are given free reign as far as what sources they use to determine their vote. That means that, just as President Obama’s wellpublicized qualification of ‘empathy’ is a valid metric, so too is anything that a potential justice might have said or done over the course of his or her career. The criticisms launched by Rush Limbaugh and the like are justifiable critiques of the wisdom and discretion of a woman who
is supposed to have empathy (one is begged to ask, ‘empathy with whom.’) Sotomayor’s statement reveals that she does not come to a case as blind as the statue of justice that adorns the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. This is no surprise to me or any other conservative, but it is important to note when proponents of her elevation assert that she is bipartisan. I can assure them, and anyone else who may care, without having ever met the woman, that party politics has nothing to do with her decision on cases that come before her. Her appointment by President George H.W. Bush is as relevant to her judicial ideology as was that of the man she is supposed to replace, David Souter. Since taking office in 1990, Souter has tilted reliably left on days of judgment. You wouldn’t know that if all you had to go on was the slander that accompanied him
as the nominee of a Republican president; back then, Democrats thought he would be a radical right-winger. Perhaps if they had had some utterances to go on, they might have felt comforted.The tightlipped Souter was habitually cautious enough to prevent any telltale public slips. Sonia Sotomayor has been kind enough to be a little more verbal, and everyone involved in her nomination and probable confirmation would do well to consider her statements and move slowly, very slowly. There is no rush; Court will not be in session until the first Monday in October. Justice demands a fair, intenselydiscussed process.
Jason Staggs is a senior history major.
6/1/09 11:04 PM
news
page 6 tuesday 6.2.2009
thebattalion
Atlantis begins flight home
Texas lawmakers adjourn regular session
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Space shuttle Atlantis has begun its ferry flight home from California to Florida. A NASA Boeing 747 carrying the shuttle took off from Edwards Air Force Base at 8:07 a.m. PDT Monday. The first stop will be at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas. Weather will determine how long it takes to reach Florida.
Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — In a last-minute legislative meltdown, the Texas Senate adjourned Monday night without passing key measures to avert a shutdown of the Texas Department of Transportation and other state agencies, raising the specter of a special session this summer. The sticking point was $2 billion in transportation bond funding that the House failed to pass before gaveling out the 2009 regular session a few hours before the Senate. Angry Republican senators said it was
Jay Root
preferable to quit and let Gov. Rick Perry call the Legislature back into a 30-day special session to continue the agencies and pass the bonds. Several Democrats argued against the move, saying it was dangerous to begin the shutdown process of agencies. Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, blamed the House for the 11th-hour unraveling of the session — saying the chamber acted irresponsibly by adjourning sine die — the Latin phrase used to describe the final day of the session. “The House had the ability to act,” he said. “They went sine die after destroying the bulk of four and a half months of work that passed through this body.”
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, said it was foolish to allow tension between the two chambers to derail the session. Both the transportation agency and the Texas Department of Insurance would face a shutdown by September 2010 unless Perry calls the Legislature back into session to reauthorize their existence. “I don’t think the people of the state of Texas care if the Legislature is doing a ping-pong across the rotunda of blame, of ‘no you did it, no you did it’” she said. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst made it clear senators wanted the transportation bonds passed. “We’re all upset about it,” Dewhurst
said. “That came as a little bit of a surprise.” Legislators embarked on the last day of the 2009 session with big unfinished business: approval of a hurricane insurance compromise and the lingering dispute over the future of the Texas Department of Transportation and other state agencies. One serious matter lawmakers did address was an overhaul of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the only wind insurer for property owners in 14 coastal counties. The state-chartered fund filled a gap when private insurers pulled away from the coast. It was depleted last year by hurricanes Ike and Dolly.
Where on campus?
Links on Web are shrinking NEW YORK — On the shortmessaging service Twitter, space is at a premium: You’ve got 140 characters to make your point, and you probably don’t want to waste half of it on a super-sized link to your latest YouTube obsession. There’s an increasingly popular quick fix: a free URL shortener. On one of these Web sites, you can plug in a long Internet address and it will assign you a much shorter one that is easier to post in e-mails, on Twitter, Facebook or anywhere else. Some linkshrinkers let you personalize the new address.
Photo by J.D. Swiger — THE BATTALION
Students escape the heat and enjoy a break from classes at the center’s outdoor pool.
Rec Center Continued from page 1
Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION
Think you know every nook and cranny of Texas A&M? Test your campus know-how by e-mailing The Battalion and telling us where you think this photo was taken. The first people to get the answers correct will have their names published in The Battalion. Send your response with your name, class and major to photo@thebatt.com.
Associated Press
aerobics classes outside, and it is just beautiful in the summer.” Scuba diving classes will be offered in the deep water pool outside, beginning June 8. Scuba diving classes are offered year-round but are a real treat in the summer, Woosley said. In addition, the adult beginners’ swimming classes Adult Learn to Swim will move to the outside pool. For those hoping to take the next step or even the first step, the usually hard-to-get personal trainers
become a lot more available during the summer semesters as well. And for those students in search of competition, multiple intramurals such as 4-on-4 flag football, 3-on-3 basketball, sand volleyball, tennis, and golf are offered during both sessions. In time for Tri-Waco, a sprint triathlon including a half-mile swim, 18-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run, the Rec will offer a triathlontraining program. The program is June 9 through July 23 and includes outdoor lap swimming, cycling on stationary bikes and running on the indoor track.
Tri-Waco Tri-Waco is scheduled for July 26 in Waco, Texas. For more information visit www.triwaco.org.
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