The batt 07 18 13

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thebattalion l thursday,

july 18, 2013

l serving

texas a&m since 1893

l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media

Exploring the dead zones Allison Rubenak

The Battalion summer on Texas’s Gulf Coast is typically known for its popular beaches in Galveston or South Padre Island, not a lack of oxygen in the water. A team of 10 Texas A&M scientists and graduate students embarked on an annual six-day research cruise in June to confirm and study the growth of large regions of hypoxia — oxygen depletion in the water

Aggies study Gulf waters for lack of oxygen

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— across the Texas and Louisiana coast. Led by principal investigator Steven DiMarco, associate professor in the Department of Oceanography, the cruise extended from Matagorda, Texas, up to Southwest Pass delta and Lake Charles in Louisiana. DiMarco described a hypoxic region, or “dead zone,” as a natural occurrence in summer months when the air is still, and fresh saltwater forms into stratified layers. The hypoxia disallows the mixture of See Dead zone on page 2

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Led by principal investigator and associate professor in the Department of Oceanography, Steven DiMarco, 9 Texas A&M scientists and graduate students traveled on the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico testing oxygen levels in the water.

student life

Aggie raises $5,000 with bike ride Mackenzie Mullis The Battalion

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rom June 9 to July 6, Laine Melikian, a junior recreation, parks and tourism sciences major, rode his bike from Virginia Beach, Virginia, all the way back to his hometown of Georgetown, Texas, to raise money and awareness for cancer. In January of 2010, Melikian lost his mother, Wendie Melikian, to brain cancer. In March of 2012, he decided to start a nonprofit organization called Wendie’s Wish, of which he now serves as president, to help families struggling with the financial and spiritual weights of cancer. Melikian and three friends from high school pushed through 90 to 100 miles a day on bikes in the rain and wind all in

hopes of promoting Wendie’s Wish. Melikian said he knew this ride, spanning over 1,800 miles, would not come without sacrifice and hardship, but he could not have prepared for the mental and physical abuse he and his team would take. “The whole trip started off pretty bad,” Melikian said. “It rained the whole ride to Virginia Beach from Texas and it rained at our first campsite the whole time. Unfortunately that just kind of set the tone for the first half of the trip.” West Virginia proved to be the state that troubled the team the most. The weather was constantly against them, and at one point, Melikian thought they might not make it out of a storm with winds exceeding 50 miles per hour. Melikian said a stranger took them in

and let them stay in his home to wait out the storm. Kindness like this met them sporadically throughout the trip, and the bike trip became secondary to the relationships they each made along the way, Melikian said. Positive experiences along the ride encouraged Melikian and taught him about human nature, he said. At least 100 people were present in Georgetown to greet and support the riders, Melikian said. “I learned how much people want to bless other people,” he said. Not only did the trip raise awareness about Wendie’s Wish, it also gained funding for the project. “This trip was 100 percent effective and See Biking on page 2

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(Front to back) Evan Hibbs, Cameron Foreman, and Laine Melikian ride from Virginia to Texas raising awareness for Wendie’s Wish.

sports football

ESPN to televise Rice game The SEC office announced Tuesday that Texas A&M will open the 2013 football regular season against Rice at noon on Aug. 31 at Kyle Field, with the game being televised on ESPN. The Aggies welcome defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 14. The game will be televised on CBS with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Manziel takes home ESPY award Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel won the “Best Male College Athlete” Wednesday at the annual ESPY awards show hosted by ESPN in L.A. Manziel attended the show after spending his day at the SEC Media Days in Birmingham, Ala.

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Johnny Football draws crowd at SEC Media Days HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Johnny Manziel strode into Southeastern Conference Media Days and was swarmed by hundreds of reporters and dozens of television cameras. He shook some hands and the cameras flashed as he settled into his seat, the star of the SEC’s latest must-see TV show. If the Texas A&M quarterback was troubled by all the attention, he didn’t show it. Dressed in a dark blue suit, checkered shirt and striped tie, Manziel answered every question thrown his way during the 30-minute Q&A, some were even about football. He said he largely enjoys the spotlight

that comes with winning the Heisman Trophy — even if it sometimes includes unsavory headlines. “This is just another day,” Johnny Football said with a grin. The 20-year-old sophomore and face of college football spent most of his three-hour stay at the Wynfrey Hotel, bouncing from one interview session to another. He mostly talked about an eventful offseason that has frequently made him a trending topic. “I don’t feel like I’ve done anything that’s catastrophic,” Manziel said. “Of course, I’ve made my mistakes. It’s time to grow up.” The most recent misstep came Saturday at the

Manning Passing Academy. Manziel was one of many college quarterback counselors at the camp for high school prospects run by Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning in Louisiana, but he left before it was over. He says he missed activities because he “overslept,” and his absence had nothing to do with being out the night before. “I was not asked to leave,” Manziel said. “It was a mutual decision.” He said that while there were social events every night with the Mannings, he did not miss his meetings See Manziel on page 4

campus

Online program offers diverse security education Sarah Hoffschwelle

The Battalion ith a growing demand for professionals in the field of homeland security, Texas A&M is preparing the current and future workforce to defend the safety of America. After the Homeland Security agency was founded in 2004 in response to the 9/11 attacks, academic institutions were provided with a new task: preparing a workforce for this new field. Lisa Brown, acting director of the Extended Education program, said the Bush School began offering courses in Homeland Security in 2004. The next year, the Bush School offered the ability to earn a Certificate in Homeland Security (CHLS) completely online. To be eligible, students

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must have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree. The program consists of one required course in the Fundamentals of Homeland Security and four electives of their choice for a total of 15 credit hours. “After 9/11 took place, people were looking at how to protect America and her citizens,” Brown said. “The government took at more in-depth look at where we needed to improve to protect people. Schools realized that people needed to be educated on how to prepare for this field.” Danny Davis, lecturer and director of the CHLS program, said the program courses were offered online because of limited physical space and increased flexibility. “Classroom space is big reason for all

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Lecturer and director of the CHLS program, Danny Davis, talks with Eben Moore who completed the certificate course. The Bush School began offering courses in homeland security in 2004. courses being online,” Davis said. “We didn’t have space at the Bush School for all the classes. Most of the students are middle to upper class working professionals and are working during work hours. The online classes provide flexibility to work and do schoolwork.” The online set-up of the program not only allows students with full-time

jobs the ability to participate in the program, but also invites the best in the industry to instruct the courses whether they are full-time professors at another prestigious university, full-time professionals in the field, or even professors at Texas A&M. See Security on page 4

7/17/13 10:50 PM


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