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Institute brings premier scholars to Texas A&M Aimee Breaux The Battalion
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Roger Howe and his wife pass through an arch of Ross Volunteers at the TIAS gala Friday. Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
TIAS fellows in miles traveled to Texas A&M 363 — Claude Bouchard, Louisiana State University 1,345 — Peter Stang, University of Utah 1,433 — Robert Levine, University of Maryland 1,477 — Sayta Atluri, University of California, Irvine 1,604 — Christodolous A. Floudas, Princeton University 1,729 — Roger Howe, Yale University 1,859 — Roy Glauber, Harvard University
ale, Harvard, Ulm — leading scholars from these institutions and others will join Texas A&M faculty to collaborate on research across campus as part of a University initiative to boost Texas A&M’s research profile. The Texas A&M University Institute for Advanced Study, TIAS, inducted nine internationally acclaimed scholars Friday to work in residence with University faculty and students for up to 12 months. John Junkins, TIAS director, said the institute’s mission would further the overall strength of Texas A&M’s academic colleges. “TIAS aims to make every college in this University stronger,” Junkins said. “And working with the deans — all of the nominees come directly through the deans — we are really trying to address the most important wants and needs of the colleges.” TIAS fellows come from a variety of backgrounds and are encouraged to work on a host of interdisciplinary projects.
Roger Howe, professor of mathematics at Yale University and 2014 TIAS Fellow, exhibits this concept. Howe may be best known for the introduction of the mathematical concept of the reductive dual pair, or a “Howe pair,” but it was his involvement in STEM education that caught the attention of TIAS. “It has been observed that many significant advances in human knowledge occur between and across disciplines,” Howe said. “Fellows are encouraged to collaborate, to establish relationships among the University faculty and students in all colleges.” The 2014 TIAS fellows represent a host of academic disciplines. Aside from Howe’s accomplishments in mathematics, two of the Fellows are Nobel Laureates and another is a National Medal of Science winner. Wolfgang Schleich, chair-professor of theoretical physics at Ulm University in Germany, is the farthest traveled of this year’s fellows. Claude See TIAS on page 3
5,153 — Leif Anderson, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden 5,333 — Wolfgang Schleich, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany William Guerra — THE BATTALION
film
w. basketball
Screenwriter to discuss craft Aggie to show film, give lecture Katie Canales
Special to The Battalion
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he Liberal Arts Building will witness the return of an Aggie along with the showing of his short film, “Everything’s For Sale,” in a lecture on the art of screenwriting and filmmaking. Phillip Maxwell, Class of 1986 and English major, was encouraged by Jerome Loving, his former American literature professor, to share his creation with current students. “So I’ve been showing [Maxwell’s film] to students over the last couple of years and then I said, ‘Why don’t you come back to the University and share the film?’” Loving said. In addition to screening Maxwell’s film, which tells the story of a man who falls into financial debt and
what happens to him along the way, Loving said Maxwell may use the screening as a platform to share some personal experiences, as he felt that the film might contain autobiographical elements. “He’s going to show it, then talk about it — where it came from, how he made it,” Loving said. “It’s kind of a mystery to some people. How do you write screenplays? He’s won awards for it and he’s written other screenplays that he’s been in competitions with.” Amanda Guerrero, freshman telecommunications major and member of SWAMP, a student filmmaking organization, said although she would not be able to attend the screening and lecture, she would have questions about the process of becoming a screenwriter that she would ask. “The question I always See Maxwell on page 4
veteran affairs
Conference supports vets SGA eases post-war transition Homer Segovia & Samantha Latta The Battalion
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tepping out of the line of duty and into civilian life is a transition that Operation Veteran Success hoped to make a little easier Friday and Saturday. The conference was the first of its kind at Texas A&M and held by the Veteran Affairs branch of Student Government Association. The event featured guest speakers and a career fair. Taylor Sessions, event coordinator and SGA vice president of student affairs,
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said given the cold weather the conference had a great turnout. “We had close to 175 registered at the beginning,” Sessions said. “The weather really impacted us with the snow cancelling flights and snowing people in, so we only had 128 total show up for the first day. And then again with weather, we were down to about 40 today.” The event was also open to veterans not affiliated with Texas A&M. John Woodcock, a veteran who attended the event both days, said the experience of seeing veterans from all over was amazing. “It was great to see a See Veterans on page 6
A&M tops LSU: ‘Best game in the SEC all year’ Walker paces Aggie offense in top-25 matchup Patrick Crank
Special to The Battalion
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he No. 19 Texas A&M women’s basketball team took down the No. 16 LSU Tigers 72-67 on Sunday in a game in which neither team led by more than seven points. With the win the Aggies (18-6, 8-2 SEC) sweep the Tigers (18-6, 7-4 SEC) in regular season play and improve their home record to 11-1 this season. “That was arguably the best game in the SEC all year,” said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. “I’m just glad to be a part of it.” After trailing 20-13 with eight minutes remaining in the first half, the A&M defense stiffened, surrendering only four points the remainder of the half. The Aggies fought back and took a 25-24 lead at the break. In the second half, the Tigers ran into early foul trouble, allowing the Aggies to reach the bonus before the 16-minute mark. A&M capitalized by making 24-of-30 free throws, led by Karla Gilbert’s perfect 6-6 performance in the final frame. “Just attack,” said sophomore forward Courtney Williams about the Aggies second half mentality. “We knew we were in the bonus. We’re a good free throw shooting team.” Sophomore guard Courtney Walker See LSU on page 5
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Courtney Williams (right) says A&M took an attacking mentality against an LSU team pestered with foul trouble.
social justice week
Dinner serves up diversity Student activities to begin awareness push
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Victoria Rivas The Battalion
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imed to raise social awareness in the Aggie community, the Department of Student Activities is promoting Texas A&M’s Social Justice Week from Monday to Thursday. The Department of Multicultural Services will present a lecture, discussion and dinner Monday titled, “Who Hates the ‘D’ Word?” P.J. Jones, a diversity education specialist in the Department of Multicultural Services, will host the workshop and said it would serve as an interactive discussion surrounding resistance to diversity education. “We want our audience to engage in meaningful discussion that will allow partici-
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William Guerra — THE BATTALION
pants to self-reflect, understand different perspectives and hopefully help erase the stigma around diversity education and training,” P.J. Jones said. P.J. Jones said she has some assumptions as See Diversity on page 4
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