thebattalion l wednesday,
august 21, 2013
l serving
texas a&m since 1893
l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media
thebattalion asks
Q:
What is your favorite part of Gig ’Em week?
“New people meeting new people. It’s the opportunity to meet new people, to make new friends. It sounds cheesy, but I’ve met so many people already and I’m having a great time right now.” Kyle Applegate, freshman business major
“The people, in general. The free food is great, but ultimately, it’s about the whole event in its entirety.” Michael Salazar, freshman engineering major
Gig ‘Em Week, which began on Sunday, continued Monday with the Howdy Cookout (bottom) and Tuesday with Aggie Fest and an evening Yell Practice.
Gig ’Em
Week
Photos by David Cohen, Jenna Rabel and Jessica Smarr — THE BATTALION
“Walking three miles every day around campus. Just kidding. My favorite event was the one with the sausage wraps.” McKenzie Harrison, freshman biology major
With yells, food, events and fun, A&M welcomes students old and new
inside campus | 3 SHARP UPD offers training course to protect and empower women.
sports | 5 Von Miller suspended The NFL suspends the Broncos linebacker for six games.
campus | 7 Textbook options From campus bookstores to online sources, options emerge as students begin buying textbooks.
BAT_08-21-13_A1.indd 1
Letter from the Student Body President
H
owdy, welcome back to Aggieland! It has been such an incredible summer with so many Aggies furthering their academics in school, traveling the globe to serve and study, and applying their skills through summer internships and jobs. I know that this momentum from the summer will contribute to what is sure to be a tremendous fall semester at Texas A&M. Freshman class of 2017, I have had such an excellent time getting to meet and welcome you at New Student Conferences and Fish Camps. Upperclassmen, it is sure good to see y’all back in College Station, and campus full again. Together, we make up the greatest student body in the nation. With school about to start up on Monday, I want to highlight three important topics for all classifications this fall: 1) Get Involved: Joining an organization on campus is the best way to get plugged in, build lasting relationships, and serve during your time here at A&M. To help you find an organization for you there are two dates I want to have you mark on your calendar. • Student Activities Open House: Thursday, Aug. 22 from 1-3 p.m. in Koldus 125. Come meet leaders and find out more information about hundreds
of organizations. • MSC Open House: Sunday, Sept. 1 from 1-5 p.m. in the MSC Ballroom. Like the Student Activities Open House, this is an excellent way to learn how to get involved on campus. 2) Silver Taps: I want to personally invite and encourage you to attend each Silver Taps this year starting with our first Taps on Tuesday Sept. 3 at 10:30 p.m. in Academic Plaza. Held on the first Tuesday of every month, Silver Taps is one of the most sacred traditions we have at A&M. If you have never been, this is a time that we, as an Aggie family, honor the lives of cur-
rent students who have passed away during the last month as well as stand in support of their family and friends during their grieving process. 3) BUILD: Be on the lookout for more information about how to get involved in constructing a Habitat for Humanity house as a student body this semester as we come together as Aggies to selflessly serve for the greater good. I am so excited for this upcoming school year and witnessing you, the 12th Man, continue to inspire, serve and lead under the national spotlight. There has truly never been a better time to be a Fightin’ Texas Aggie! God Bless and Gig ‘Em. Reid Joseph, Class of 2014, is Student Body President of Texas A&M University.
8/20/13 11:01 PM