thebattalion ● tuesday,
july 14, 2009
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● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
Chris Griffin — THE BATTALION
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WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) share a tender moment during the film.
“H
arry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” hits theaters tonight at midnight. I know what everyone will say. “It’s changed,” “the book was better,” “they left out my favorite part!” Get over it. We all know by now how film adaptations will always change the book a bit, and maybe in ways we don’t want it to. However, considering the size of “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” and that a mass audience does not wish to see a four hour movie — even if hardcore fans do — the studio has a budget to work with. Thankfully, director David Yates seems to have learned something from “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” He had a relatively smaller book to work with this time and it seems to suit his style. This style still includes the panning shots to places around the castle, making it seem like scenes are occurring at the same time, something even a book cannot do. Unfortunately, it isn’t the style of
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Logan West J.K. Rowling, who writes the bulk of each book in third person limited perspective, the perspective of Harry, and so the reader can’t see anything that Harry doesn’t. This is what makes the viewer think the movie doesn’t suit the book, even though actually it does. “Half-Blood Prince” gets off to a sluggish start that makes one feel like they are watching tar dry on a hot summer day. Michael Gambon’s lines as Dumbledore feel forced when in conversation with Harry at first, and it seems they tried to add too many Dumbledore one-liners. A conversation between Ron, Hermione and Harry also feels awkward
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
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1 can of root beer or cream soda 1 Tbs. honey 2 Tbs. butter, melted Marshmallows Optional: scotch or butterscotch schnapps
thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE
OF
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Kalee Bumguardner, Editor in Chief
Heat the soda for 30 seconds in the microwave (don’t forget to put it in a microwave-safe container). Combine butter, honey and soda in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a beer mug, along with scotch or butterscotch schnapps if desired. Add marshmallows and enjoy. compiled by Alison Holmstrom
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.
considering they are supposed to have known each other for six years now. The beginning has to be slow, though, because it has to set up certain plot elements that become important later on in the movie. Once they get back to Hogwarts, the story starts moving a little quicker, with focus on many fan favorite pieces of the Harry Potter universe, like love stories and quidditch. The Harry and Voldemort plot in “Half-Blood Prince” is taken out of the forefront, and so the focus in the movie shifts to Ron and Hermione and the development of characters, like Malfoy as a reluctant villain. On the other hand, the casting and developing of Professor Slughorn, played by Jim Broadbent, was hardly adequate. Broadbent portrays Slughorn more as a bumbling fool than a great connector of the well-to-do crowd. This makes scenes in which Slughorn has his parties clumsy and awkward. The private lessons Harry has with Dumbledore where they examine the memories of Tom Riddle, a.k.a. Voldemort, are well done. It is too bad there were not as many as in the book because the understanding of Voldemort’s past was at the heart of the novel. As mentioned earlier, love is another element, and it is a plot line with many thorns that prick the characters over and over. The scenes are well done, except for Ginny and Harry’s. The viewer knows Harry’s feelings, but it feels odd that Ginny just so happens to feel the same. By the way, Bonnie Wright has never looked more beautiful. Overall, the love plots are a good, humorous backdrop to the dark times the characters live in. As in the book, the climax and ending are short but heartfelt and sure to tug at emotions. All in all, “Half-Blood Prince” is a better adaptation than the previous Harry Potter films and is sure to delight fanatics and almost all movie-goers. The mix of all the different plot elements flows well and gives insight to characters that have not been developed in previous films. Also, the visual effects, including the collapsing of a bridge, are awesome. Logan West is a senior political science major.
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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witch. Hot. oing to see “Harry Again, wear the Hogwarts Potter and the student attire, and like Harry and Ron, Hermione is a Half-Blood Prince” at Gryffindor. If you dress up midnight? Throwing a like Hermione, you better know your spells, your Harry Potter-themed charms, your hexes, your Clay Harley party? Wish you could jinxes and your curses alike. I do magic like Harry would recommend casting them on anyone and you see. Potter? Starting a Harry Potter fan everyone Draco Malfoy: A prick. club? Just into costumes? If you’ve For Malfoy, wear the usual Hogwarts clothes, but Malfoy is a Slytherin. Work as answered “Yes” to any of these much black as possible into your Malfoy questions, then you, my friend, are ensemble. You’ll also want to use excess amounts of hair gel to slick your hair back. in for a treat. Here are some cosIf you have super-blonde hair and fair skin, tume ideas and character synopses Malfoy would be a good choice. Albus Dumbledore: The headmaster of Hogto help you look and act like your warts, and the best wizard there is. favorite Harry Potter character. Dumbledore wears long robes, usually greenHogwarts Attire: For students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All Hogwarts students wear white buttondowns with diagonally striped ties. Pick your tie color based on your character’s house (or based on the ties you or your roommates already have in your closet). Gryffindors’ ties are red and gold, Slytherins’ are green and silver, Hufflepuffs’ are gold and black, and Ravenclaws’ are blue and silver. Hogwarts students also wear long robes — usually black, blue, gray, brown or red. A long coat will work for this. If you have a scarf with one of the Hogwarts house’s colors on it, that will work, too. Wands: Everyone’s got one. Except Hagrid. All the wizards and witches use wands to do their magic. Duh. Here’s how to get one: visit the nearest tree and break off a stick. Make sure you get one that feels right — having the right wand is of utmost importance in the world of wizardry. ain man, the ace in the Harry Potter: The main hole, the captain of the host. y, wear the typical To dress up like Harry, se of you livHogwarts attire. For those ing under a rock, Harry is a Gryffindor. Wear glasses; his are blackk with small, ur forehead a round rims. Draw on your ng bolt. Be scar shaped like a lightning us. Boom. brave, noble and righteous. You’re him. Ron Weasley: Harry’s go-to guy, a loyal friend. A ginger. ogwarts student Ron also wears the Hogwarts dor as well. If attire, and he is a Gryffindor you have red hair this is good; if you have a pet rat this is evenn better. Hermione Granger: Harry’s other best friend. A smart and skilled
ish or bluish gray in color. Fashion this getup from a bed sheet and use a thin rope to tie or fasten at the waist. His wizard cap can be made by cutting the bill off of an old baseball cap and spray-painting it. A beard is absolutely necessary for a Dumbledore costume. His is white and long, usually with a band bunching it up. If you’ve got an old prop beard or wig lying around, that could work. If you already have a long, white beard, congratulations. I would like to meet you. Lord Voldemort: A murderer. Hated by all. Except the Death Eaters. They think he’s all right. If you’ve got any scary black robes from old Halloween costumes, that would be best, but you could also fashion a Voldemort robe out of a black bed sheet. Go barefoot. If you’re bald, then you’re ahead of the game, but if you’ve got hair, you can get a bald wig at a costume shop. b Then, eat a bunch of spinach and don’t t brush your teeth. Finally, attach a piece of t the tip of your nose and tape Scotch tape to the other end to your forehead, pulling your nose up to look like Voldemort’s. Bellatrix Lestrange: Just plain nuts. w Bellatrix wears a black, gothic looking you’v got an old one you can dress. If you’ve lac back together that’s good, cut up and lace or maybe you were into the goth look in an already have something. junior high and you skin, the better. If you’re The paler your hardcore, you can die your hair black with sections Then stare at a strobe light white sections. m for about 15 minutes to get that crazy look in your eyes.
How to appear in style at the ‘Harry Potter’ premiere Photos by Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION
Above: Jenny Cunningham, Class of 2009, joins the dark side as Bellatrix Lestrange.
Left: Cunningham and junior biology major Owen Lindsley talk spells and potions while dressed as Hogwarts students.
Clay Harley is a junior business administration major.
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Absolutely 1 Fun Laugh-A-Lot Defensive Driving! Ticket dismissal/insurance discount. W&Th (6pm-9pm) or Sat (8am-2:30pm). Walk-ins welcome. At Denny’s (across from TAMU). $25 cash, restrictions apply. 979-694-8888.
3bd/2ba C.S. Huge duplex, fenced, shuttle route, w/d connection. Treehouse Trail, $995/mo. www.c4properties.net 979-268-1074.
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FOR RENT $295, 1-room in shared, furnished apartment. All bills paid. Short term leases o.k. Call agent Ardi 979-422-5660. $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-Month free rent. 4bd/3ba house. Walking, biking to campus, on shuttle bus route. Available immediately. $1100/mo. Call 979-314-1333. 1-Roommate needed. 4bd/4bth $325/mo., washer/dryer. University Place on Southwest Parkway. 281-844-2090. 1bd/1ba garage apartment. No smoking/drugs. Near Blinn. All bills paid. $495/mo. (979)229-7465. 1bdrm near campus, on bus-route, coin-op W/D, available 7/4/09, $545/mo. +deposit, 979-255-2286. 2,3&4 bedroom houses w/yards. Great locations for students. Pets welcome. 979-492-3990. 2bd/1ba duplex in Wellborn area. Best suited for individual or couple. Rural setting, pets ok. 979-690-6161. 2/1 fourplex available now, w/d, bus route, 1537 Pineridge, $510/mo. plus $350 deposit, 979-450-0609. 2b/1b fourplex. 2000 Longmire in College Station. $475/month. Call 979-822-1616. 2bd/1ba duplex on Holik. Garage, fenced in backyard, W/D. $750/month. August- August lease preferred. Contact 903-388-3588 or 903-388-6098. 2bd/1bth apartment available now. On shuttle. $475/month. Call Edward 817-825-8928. 2bd/2ba 4-plex. Spacious floorplan, W/D connections, close to campus. $550/mo. www.aggielandleasing.com, 979-776-6079. 2bd/2ba condo, in DoubleTree, large walk-in closets, fireplace, water paid. 1901 W.Hollemon $700/mo. 979-693-1448. 2bd/2ba. Duplex- NICE! Cute Fireplace, appliances provided. ON TAMU BUS ROUTE! Fenced yard. $750/mo. 617 San Benito. Call 832-215-1801 or 832-338-5397. 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
3bd/2ba house on 3 acres, pets okay, 901 Krenek Tap Road, $1250/mo. 979-693-1448 3bd/2ba, 3703 Marielene, Rock Prairie, available August, $1200/mo., includes W/D, refrigerator and lawn service. 979-450-5666. 3bd/2ba. 2 BLOCKS FROM TEXAS AVE! Newly tiled bathrooms, wood floors, large fenced yard! $1350/mo. 1209 Milner, available August! Call 832-215-1801 or 832-338-5397. 3bdrm/3ba duplexes. Great floorplans, fenced yards, w/d, tile floors, icemakers, alarm systems. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 3br/3ba Canyon Creek Townhomes, available August, $1275/mo., W/D included, on bus route, 713-805-1044. 4/2/2 House, close to campus, newly remodeled, available July or August. $1650/mo . aggieLandRentals.com 979-776-8984. 4bd/2.5ba. Walk to Campus & Kyle Field! Huge, (1,770sq./ft/) newly remodeled house with 2 master bedrooms. Must See! New woodfloors, paint, bathrooms, ceilingfans, large fenced yard w/big deck. Available now! 1013 Welsh. $1500/mo. Call 972-313-5834 or 512-944-5264. 4bd/2ba house, 2,200sq./ft. All appliances included. Backs up to park w/b-ball court &track. On sorority row w/bus-route. 1-mile from campus. Two spots available. Call 713-443-2055. 4bd/2ba house, w/fenced backyard, pets okay, all new on inside. 3104 Longleaf. $1300/mo. 979-693-1448. 4bd/2ba. 6 MIN WALK TO TAMU, IN VIEW OF KYLE FIELD! Large fenced yard, new carpet. Appliances provided. $1200/mo. Available August, 804 Welsh. Call 832-215-1801 or 832-338-5397. 4bd/2ba., 307 Timber Street, 3-blocks from TAMU, located in historic district, available for August, $1700/mo. 979-450-5666. 4bdrm/2ba house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com 5-bedroom house for lease. For more information 979-966-3913 or www.tricaprealty.com Apartment for lease, pool-side at the Zone, on bus route, available now through 7/2010, $560/mo. 713-823-6820. Available 8/09. Bryan historic district, large 5-2 on large 1.3 acre lot, secluded, includes 2 bay metal garage with workshop, ideal for students with projects, pet friendly, handicap accessible, W/D connections, energy efficient. 806 E.29th $1700/mo. 979-255-5461. www.picketfenceproperties.net Beautiful house 3bd/2bth plus electric. Includes hardwood floors, AC plus many ceiling fans. Oriental rugs if wanted. Many windows. 1wk free, call for special. 832-242-4917. Many designer extras. Close to campus. Callaway Villas, furnished room, 1-month free, 4/2.5, $575/mo. 936-348-1561.
Oak Creek Condos high-speed internet and basic cable. 2bdrm/1.5ba. $515/mo Water, sewer, trash paid. Fireplace, icemaker, pool, hot-tub. 822-1616. Pre-leasing for August. 3b/1.5b, carport, on shuttle, pets ok, fenced, $750/month. aggieLandRentals.com 979-776-8984. Quiet country atmosphere, fireplace, very large 1bdrm brick duplex. $415/mo. +bills. No pets. 979-693-8534. Room for lease under Helen Kline, Callaway House, available 6.23.09, call 979-260-7700 or 817-991-6803
FOR SALE $75,500. 3bd/2ba 4yr-old manufactured home at Lake Somerville bordering Birch Creek State Park, about-1/2acre. texpianokate@yahoo.com 2008 Palm Harbor double wide manufactured home still under warranty, in Sunset Ridge. 3bd/2ba with large front and back (covered) decks. Storage building also. Great student or family home. Need to sell. $64,500 Call 830-456-9484. Mobile home near 2bdrm/1ba., w/d, fridge. 979-985-5413 after noon.
campus, $10,000.
GARAGE SALES Garage Sale Friday through Monday. Furniture, chairs, clothing etc. Everything must go! $20 and below. 1501 Stallings #76. 979-583-8032.
HELP WANTED Assistant teachers part-time. Working with children 18-mo. through 6-yrs, great learning opportunity for education majors or anyone wanting experience working with children. Please apply at swlccs@gmail.com or 979-693-6556. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. 512-684-8296, photoguy@io.com Callaway Villas, a private student housing residence hall, is accepting applications for a Community Assistant. Apply in person at: 305 Marion Pugh or online at http://www.studenthousing.com/ company/employment.asp. EOE. Career Apparel now hiring retail sales position P/T. Apply in person 4001 E. 29th #103. 979-260-2727. 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. Leasing agent needed, license required. Contact BrazosLand Properties 979-846-0606. Local business needs office assistant M-F. No weekends. Apply at 3320 S. College Avenue 979-779-7042.
HELP WANTED NANNY(S) WANTED: to care for year-old twins in our home (CS). Full-time 8AM-5PM M-F preferred will consider MWF or TR. Must: be pet lover, non-smoker, have reliable trans, driv license, previous multi-child experience (toddlers), pass ref/bkgd chk. RESUME: bestinbayview@gmail.com
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REAL ESTATE 1999 16x76, 3bd/2ba in Rolling Ridge Trailer Park. 1178sq.ft., corner lot with front and back fenced yards, decks, new wood flooring and carpet, island in kitchen, all appliances, W/D hookups, close to TAMU, $28,000. 972-679-6891.
ROOMMATES $475/mo. +bills, for 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, pets okay on approval. Call 925-998-6108. 1 roommate needed. Spacious 2 story townhouse in Canyon Creek. Fully furnished. 4/2.5 $400/mo. +1/4 utilities. 713-823-9341. 1-female roommate needed for 2009-2010 school year. 3bd/2ba townhouse. $425/mo. +utilities. 979-574-4582. 3 roommates wanted. 4bd/2ba house, bike/walk to TAMU, $500/mo., utilities included, large yard, easy access to Blinn, 832-492-8447. Male roommates wanted in 4bd house. $300/mo. +1/4 bills. 979-777-4379. Roommate needed. 2bd/2ba on shuttle route, $500/mo., includes all bills. 936-591-1053. Roommate needed. 4/4 University Place condo, W/D, private bath, pool, volleyball court, on shuttle. Prelease for summer or fall. $300/mo., call 979-690-8213 or 979-422-9849. Roommates needed. Two male roommates needed for 3/2 duplex off of University Drive in College Station. On TAMU and Blinn bus route. Great Location. Small deck and fenced yard. Small pets allowed w/deposit. Partially furnished, W/D included. Lease $350 per month and 1/3 of utilities. Call 361-230-9119 or 210-845-6474. Available 8-15-09. Sub-leasing one bedroom in 2bd/2.5ba Cottage at the Woodlands of College Station. $700/mo. For information call 817-271-2939 or e-mail thebangor@yahoo.com Two roommates needed for 4/3.5 house on bus route, call 214-418-2425.
TUTORS ESL tutoring and editing, masters level teacher, $15/hour. cmizc@aol.com
puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com
STUDIES IN PROGRESS
For lease: 3bdrm/3bath duplex. 3733 Oldenburg, $1000/mo. 979-324-9666.
Volunteers ages 18 and older needed to participate in a 6-week clinical research study with an investigational topical medication for atopic dermatitis (RED, DRY, SCALY PATCHES OF SKIN). Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related ointment for 4 weeks • Physical Examination • Dermatological Assessments • Compensation up to $300 for time and effort For more information please contact:
3/2/2, 2700 Normand Circle, College Station. $1250/mo. 979-822-1616.
Large 2bdrm/2bs, 3204-Cougar Trail, Bryan. Water, sewer, &trash paid. Everything’s new inside. $675/mo. 979-822-1616.
3/3 duplex. All appliances, fenced yard, large living ares, yard maintenance, available August. 979-204-2644 or echrentalinfo@gmail.com
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Immaculate 3bd/2bth house. Updated. Fireplace, fenced. No pets. No HUD. $895/month. Off 2818 in Bryan. Available July. 254-289-0585.
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voices
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Osa Okundaye— THE BATTALION
Best of both worlds ‘Twilight’ spices up fiction with reality
W
ould you rather marry a vampire or a wizard? Vampire.
He is mysterious. He sparkles in the sunlight. He stops cars from crushing you. He is always present to rescue you in moments of danger. He is charming, witty and just plain perfect. How could you not be head-over-heels in love with a vampire who is passionately, yet fatally, attracted to you? Sure, a wizard can rescue you from a troll, send you a letter by owl, or turn you into a ferret, but he is no Edward Cullen. Vampires don’t have to go to school to hone their abilities or learn new skills. I admit, I bought “Twilight” almost entirely because of the Facebook bumper stickers. Less than half a day after leaving the bookstore and after only a few skipped meals, I turned to the last page of the book: Edward: I will stay with you — isn’t that enough? Bella: Enough for now. Look, I love you more than everything else in the world combined. Isn’t that enough? Edward: Yes, it is enough. Enough for forever. Cullen melted my heart. Reading “Harry Potter” was a very different experience. Yes, I enjoyed it. It was a nice story, but I could never let go of my rationality to imagine myself as a part of the story. The reason I was sucked into the “Twilight” series, while not so much with the “Harry Potter” series, was that it seemed closer to reality. The plot seemed more plausible. I could imagine myself in Bella’s shoes. When was the last time you had to choose between loving a vampire or werewolf? And don’t tell me you haven’t wondered at some point whether the guy sitting next to you in class or on the bus was secretly a vampire? It’s normal. We all have. And I know you are thinking at this point, vampires and werewolves seem plausible?
Karen Cruickshanks No, I do not really think vampires exist. But the way author Stephenie Meyer carefully blends together the two worlds of vampires and humans makes it easier to fantasize that a similar situation could actually be taking place beyond the mortal world. When reading “Harry Potter” it was more difficult to escape into the book, to imagine myself flying on a broomstick, facing trolls, goblins or a giant three-headed dog. “Twilight’s” Bella is easy to connect with. We have at some point in our lives either been the new student, fallen for the person who sits next to us in science class, felt the fear of being in a dark alley at the wrong time or thought our parents didn’t understand us. But I really can’t feel what it’s like to talk to people in mirrors, to make a car fly or turn someone into an animal. I read “Twilight” at the height of the books’ popularity and liked being a part of the trend, having the midnight “what if Edward Cullen were real” discussions with the roommates, and being in on the vampire jokes. I didn’t start reading “Harry Potter” until I was 20 and maybe that was part of why it was more difficult to relate to a 12-year-old with an annoying, spoiled cousin or trying to avoid getting detention. Maybe it’s the age difference. Maybe I am lacking an imagination. Maybe I am too grounded in reality. Or — maybe “Twilight” is just a better book. You may have been counting down to today, but I am counting down to Nov. 20. Only 127 days.
Karen Cruickshanks is a senior environmental design major and summer graphics chief.
TOSUBMIT Mail call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters will be read, but not printed. The Battalion will print only one letter per author per month. No mail call will appear in The Battalion’s print or online editions before it is verified.
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thebattalion th hebattalion
Osa Okundaye— THE BATTALION
An epic read Humor and struggle trump romance
“H
arry Potter,” “Twilight.” “Twilight,” “Harry Potter.” These sagas belong in different categories, but as movies and books they have both gained cult followings among young people on both sides of the Atlantic, and so they can be compared. As pieces of popular culture, it would be pretentious to debate their literary value, but I can make a case for why my preference will always lie with the story of a certain teenage British wizard. “Twilight” makes a decent movie, but it lacks the substance needed to make a good book. I would argue the “Harry Potter” movies are good representations of the book, but the book has more development of the characters and their histories, as well as allusions to other myths and legends. J.K. Rowling puts so much detail into the world she creates that we can easily be drawn into it. Some people might argue that the “Twilight” series is more realistic because the characters don’t operate in a separate society. However, this only makes it more realistic in superficial ways. In the real stuff, “Twilight” shows us emotions that are only as deep as the crushes that young girls have on charming, cute boys. The themes in the “Harry Potter” series speak messages to our modern world about tolerance, love, integrity and bravery. The characters also have more internal conflicts than do those in “Twilight,” such as the search for identity and the formation of values. Harry struggles to understand his similarities with Lord Voldemort and learns to identify himself by the choices he makes that distinguish him from the Dark Lord. In each book, Harry also attempts to form his identity by seeking bits and pieces of his parents and the life he might have had with them. Harry and his friends learn to differentiate between good and evil. One of the biggest examples of this is the fact that Harry, like Batman, always chooses to let the justice system punish his enemies, rather than stooping to their level and murdering them himself. It is beautiful that in “Twilight” Edward also chooses to fight his urges and not feed on human beings. However, “Twilight” is not an epic of good versus evil; it really seems to revolve around the way the characters relate to each other. This can make an interesting story, but this kind of story is better if it explores the problems and significance of real relationships, into which “Twilight” does not delve. “Harry Potter” tells the story of whole groups of people choosing between right and wrong, but also explores the choices, emotions and relationships of the individual characters.
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The “Harry Potter” series is not all serious, however. It is full of comic relief in the best tradition of British humor, which is known for its quirkiness and use of irony. Rowling is not too sarcastic with her humor because her books are aimed at children. Instead, her characters who are quirky and have a silly, sweet brand of humor that will bring a smile to your face. While reading “Twilight,” I have to admit Bella’s selfdepricating introspections made me laugh as well, but Rowling’s humor takes place in the context of the wizard world,
Jill Beathard making it more fresh and imaginative. Finally, “Twilight” is a story of love. For me it was a fun read, taking me back to the way I imagined romance as a teenager, but it didn’t measure up to the expectations everyone had built up for me. It wasn’t that interesting. The first book moves slowly, so I hoped for an interesting plot twist or exciting climax at the end. I was disappointed.
Jill Beathard is a junior English major and lifestyles editor.
7/31/2009
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Houston mayor Bill White runs for US Senator Houston Mayor Bill White is running for U.S. Senator, in place of Kay Bailey Hutchison. “Now we’re in a global economic recession, people are getting out of school, often with few job opportunities, and it’s important to have somebody who knows how to get things done and create jobs, in D.C.,” White said at Monday’s roundtable discussion in College Station. Former Deputy Secretary of Energy of the United States, White said he will promote energy efficiency throughout the nation as he has done in Houston. “I know how we can cut [oil] imports and try to moderate the rise in utility and gasoline bills, and have green jobs with a real future,” White said. Plans for a public appearance or town hall meeting in the Bryan/ College Station area have not been made, said White’s communications director Katie Bacon, but may be scheduled during the fall when the entire student body is present. “University population is going to be important to us, not just in College Station but all across the state,” Bacon said. Meagan O’Toole-Pitts Read the full story online at thebatt.com
Where on campus?
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.
Monday’s answer: Bizzell Hall
Correct responses: Jason Ross, senior university studies major Nick Miller, junior accounting major Troy Meyers, Class of 2009 Matthew Wey, senior accounting major
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