The Battalion: January 17, 2014

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thebattalion ● friday,

january 17, 2014

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

R E W S N A Y G R E N E THE Aimee Breaux

● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2014 student media

politics

Former A&M president, defense secretary to speak Tuesday Robert Gates’ memoir revolves around time as defense secretary

The Battalion ith the development of West Campus housing and plans designed to increase enrollment at Texas A&M such as the Engineering School’s 25 by 25 plan, the University faces multiple issues associated with an expanding population, including increased energy needs. Following the project that ended in 2012 to retrofit 23 campus buildings with more efficient lighting and building automation, the Utilities and Energy Services (UES) Department plans to retrofit 10 more buildings on campus by the end of 2014. Among other tasks, the retrofit projects include the implementation of high efficiency lighting and motion sensors, designed to turn off lighting as well as heating and cooling systems during unoccupied times, said Jim Riley, UES executive director. Riley said the beauty of programs like the $15 million 2012 retrofitting is that they ultimately pay for themselves in cost avoidance, while improving services. “I mean you can’t save 15 million dollars right away, but

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Jennifer Reiley The Battalion

urn t e r f to c e p s ves i r Pro d t en m t s s e e v v i t in a i nit i y g r ene

See Energy on page 4

Graphics by William Guerra, photo by Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

Fermier Hall is one of 10 buildings being retrofitted for energy efficiency in 2014.

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ormer A&M President Robert Gates made the journey from College Station to the Pentagon, and on Tuesday he will return to A&M to speak about his new book, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War.” Gates In the introduction of his book, Gates said while his text focuses on the American conflicts overseas, it covers the broader topic of Gates’ time as secretary of defense. “It is, of course, principally about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where initial victories in both countries were squandered by mistakes, shortsightedness and conflict in the field as well as in Washington, leading to long, brutal campaigns to avert strategic defeat,” Gates said. “But this book is also about my political war with Congress each day I was in office, and the dramatic contrast between my public respect, bipartisanship, and calm and my private frustration, disgust and anger.” Gates has made numerous recent appearances on news shows to speak about his memoir and his time serving under two American presidents. His campus visit Tuesday will also mark the beginning of the distinguished author series, a new program in the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. “We decided that as [Gates] was a former president of A&M and also as secretary of defense and also having worked with the president when we worked in the White House together, that it would be a great opportunity for him to come and talk about his book and See Gates on page 4

country music

For Creager, A&M is home

Country singer, Class of ’93, to perform Friday Allison Rubenak The Battalion

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COURTESY

Roger Creager, Class of 1993, says visiting College Station is “like a homecoming.”

early two decades ago, Aggie and country singer, Roger Creager, made his mark on the Texas country scene, starting at a small dance hall in College Station and playing open mics in Bryan. Twice a year, Roger Creager, Class of 1993, and his band try to visit College Station for a performance. Friday, the country singer is back for a spring performance at

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Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

Rabbi Matt Rosenberg and Ruth Tsuria, communication graduate student, study the Talmud.

religion

Ancient tradition in the modern day Emily Thompson

The Battalion he Texas A&M Hillel Jewish Student Center will play host Friday evening — and for many Friday evenings to come — to Ruth Tsuria, communication graduate student, who will be leading a weekly lecture series titled “Love and Sex in Judaism.” The series will follow the first couples and first relationships

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throughout the Jewish scriptures to tease apart how these ancient texts apply to the modern world. “We wanted to have a course that would expose our students to the rich history of Jewish texts,” said Matt Rosenberg, rabbi of the Texas A&M Hillel Jewish Student Center. “Judaism is a religion See Judaism on page 3

Hurricane Harry’s, the venue he would play at on Sunday nights as a student, which ignited his love for live country music. Creager said visiting College Station is like a homecoming for him and each performance keeps him looking forward to the next one. “There’s just an energy in the air in College Station and it’s hard to describe and it is real — you can’t put your finger on it,” Creager said. “Every time we come into town, it’s magic, it’s powerful and it’s energetic.” Musically inclined at a young age, Creager said he began playing piano when he was two and

playing guitar when he was in high school. Although he felt he was an “average” student and athlete, music was an aspect of his life that seemed to make sense to him. Cody Bruns, junior agricultural leadership and development major, said he has been a fan of Creager’s music for almost a decade and said he will likely attend the concert Friday night. He said he has seen Creager perform multiple times and that as an entertainer, Creager gives an exciting show. “He’s pretty genuine, he writes See Creager on page 3

Women’s hoops staves off No. 8 USC in overtime, 67-65

owered by an early 16-point run, the No. 24 Texas A&M women’s basketball team defeated the No. 8 South Carolina Gamecocks 67-65 on Thursday at Reed Arena in a battle of the last two unbeaten SEC schools. The Aggies fell behind early to a Gamecocks team that had only lost one game prior to Thurday’s matchup, but ended the first half on a 30-8 run. A&M came into the game with the No. 11 ranked defense in the nation, surrendering only 54.9 points per game, and held South Carolina to 65 total points and only 17 in the first half. South Carolina’s previous low for points scored in a half was 27. The Gamecocks opened the second half on a 17-6 run. A&M fought to keep its lead, but after a jump ball was called with 15 seconds left South Carolina tied the game with a three-pointer. The game would go to overtime, where A&M ultimately prevailed behind the combination of A&M sophomores Courtney Williams, Jordan Jones and Courtney Walker. Tyler Stafford, sports reporter For the full story, go online at thebatt.com

Swimming No. 2 in new poll The Texas A&M women’s swimming and diving team remained at No. 2 in the latest version of the CSCAA dual meet rankings announced Thursday, trailing only California. After Thursday’s triumph over the Houston Cougars, the Aggies look to continue to improve their ranking on Saturday as they take on the LSU Tigers.

inside campus | 2 Transfer students adjust to A&M Spring transfer students get used to a new life at Texas A&M, while everyone else gets settled back in.

theatre | 5 ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ hits stage

Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

Sophomore Courtney Walker scored a team-high 18 points Thursday.

Students step off campus and onto the stage to star in the musical retelling of Jesus’ last days.

1/16/14 10:16 PM


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