thebattalion l wednesday,
march 6, 2013
l serving
texas a&m since 1893
l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media
Pass it back, Ags
student government
Senators to fill vacancies, vote 3 bills Aimee Breaux
The Battalion he 65th Session of Student Senate will swear in 24 newly elected senators to fill vacancies that opened throughout the session. At the Wednesday meeting, Senate will also vote on a short list of legislation. Senators who placed highest in their caucuses in the election and are not currently in Senate or otherwise ineligible will join the 65th Session for the five remaining meetings before being sworn in with the rest of the 66th Session on March 27, according to Speaker of Student Senate Scott Bowen. The three bills up for consideration are the Go Google Bill, Fairness and Equivalence in Make-Up Responsibilities Bill and the Hazelwood Act Lobbying Bill. The Go Google Bill states that “the Texas A&M University student body supports the speedy adoption of Google Apps for Education university-wide” and requires that a copy of the bill be sent to various University officials, including University President R. Bowen Loftin. The premise behind the bill is that the University could save money while improving the quality of the student’s University email experience by changing to Google services. The bill states that the University has an obligation to spend tax dollars effectively and that the University spends unnecessary money maintaining the Zimbra system, which doesn’t offer the same quality of services as Google. The bill cites the successes and financial benefits of other universities such as the University of Texas, the University of Notre Dame and Vanderbilt University in making the jump to Google. The next bill on the docket, the Fairness and Equivalence in Make-Up Responsibilities Bill, seeks to fix a perceived source of discrimination between students and instructors when it comes to make-up work. The bill states that “while the instructor is required to provide a make up for the work that students miss for [excused] reasons, there is no further protection in place to keep them from discriminating against these students.” The last bill to be voted on this meeting will be the Hazelwood Act Lobbying Bill, a bill that requests increased lobbying for veteran funds on a state level in light of proposed cuts to the Hazelwood Act. The Hazelwood Act provides veterans and veteran dependents up to 150 hours of tuition exemptions at Texas institutions of higher education, including A&M. According to the preamble of the bill, the A&M Veterans Task Force has recently raised concern over the future of the Hazelwood Act. Because of the close relations between the Veteran Task Force and Student Senate, if this bill is passed student government would lobby in conjunction with the Veterans Task Force. A bill to increase communication between the Senate and the student body by making senator contact information readily available is expected to be introduced during open session, but will be voted on after spring break.
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Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Newly elected Yell Leaders (from left), Roy May, Hunter Cook, Chris Powell, Ryan Crawford and Patrick McGinty.
5 for Yell preps to represent maroon and white Julie Blanco & Jennifer Keith The Battalion
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ince he was 6 years old, Roy May dreamed of following in the footsteps of his father as an A&M yell leader. When the 33-year-old sophomore engineering major was elected junior yell leader — along with his 5 for Yell running mates — he did just that. Seniors Hunter Cook, Ryan Crawford and Chris Powell join juniors Patrick McGinty and May as 2013-2014 yell leaders, all members of the Corps of Cadets. Each cadet’s path to yell leader was unique. Crawford and Cook return as experienced yell leaders, May once served as a sentinel for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Washington, D.C., and Powell is the first African-American yell leader to be elected from the Corps. May took a detour in his journey to Aggieland by serving 12 years in the Army before coming to A&M in 2010. “I think the fun part about [being a veteran] is where the fifth yell leader initially
inside voices | 3 Letter to the editor Three student senators respond to Student Body President John Claybrook’s opinion column, offering their arguments that Senate represents the student body.
world news
Venezuelan president dies Venezuelans raced for home and stocked up on food and water Tuesday after the government announced the death of President Hugo Chavez, who led the nation for 14 years. Vice President Nicolas Maduro’s voice broke and tears ran down his face as he appeared on national television to announce that Chavez died “after battling hard against an illness over nearly two years.” He called on Venezuelans to be “dignified heirs of the giant man” Chavez was. Associated Press
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came from,” May said. “After World War II, when the veterans were returning, that was actually the origin of the fifth yell leader. So more than anything, I am just glad to be a part of the history.” May lives off-campus with his wife and seven-year-old daughter, a privilege he is granted as part of Delta Company, an outfit in the Corps specifically for veterans. May said his family’s daily support encourages him as he balances the roles of student, yell leader, father and husband. “My wife is an Army veteran, as well,” May said. “I have deployed [before], so she has been through me being gone for way longer than a weekend. My wife and my daughter are fully supportive and super excited.” May said the age difference between the candidates didn’t even cross his mind. “I don’t think of those guys in terms of age,” May said. “Those guys as a whole are so mature and such great examples, you’d never really think about how old they are.” Cook, a junior construction science major and member of Company D-1, empha-
sized the influence May has had on him. “Being a veteran, [May] has so much wisdom to bestow upon us as 22-yearolds,” Cook said. Having served as 2012-2013 junior yell leader, Cook said his role will look different than it did last year. “Seniors are a little bit more in charge, naturally,” Cook said. “They are in charge of making sure Midnight Yell is set up and making sure everything is done correctly. [They] also kind of instruct the juniors on how to be better yell leaders and better public speakers.” Cook also emphasized his enthusiasm to share with the first-time yell leaders — May, Powell and McGinty — the excitement of representing A&M in the Southeastern Conference. Though their spring schedules will be busy, Cook said the summer is one of the busiest times of the year for yell leaders — a season packed with visits to Fish Camps, preseason football events and other See Yell Leaders on page 4
spring football
Sumlin balances national expectations, youth James Sullivan
The Battalion
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or many students at Texas A&M, the arrival of spring signals midterms and spring break. But for A&M football players and head coach Kevin Sumlin, their attention is elsewhere: spring training. “We’re excited to get spring football underway and kick off 2013,” Sumlin said in a Friday press conference. “We’ve got a number of guys who have been role players ready to be serious contributors in this program. We’re looking to build leadership. We’re looking for chemistry.” Heading into spring practice, the team that began the Aggies’ stint in the Southeastern Conference with an 11-2 record and a victory in the Cotton Bowl has even lured a national audience: ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit. Herbstreit dropped in for an early appearance at the indoor football facility during the Aggies’ initial practice Saturday. Additionally, ESPN College Gameday announced via Twitter that it plans to make a pit stop in College Station for the annual A&M Maroon and White game on Apr. 13. “This is a team that’s going to be a Top 5, Top 7 team next year,” Herbstreit said. “I think [its preseason ranking] is deserving. The big thing for me is not just their ability on the field, it’s the psychological aspect of it. How are they now going to be responsive to a team that’s expected to live up to a certain standard? That’s a
Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION
The Texas A&M football team gathers around head coach Kevin Sumlin for a pre-practice pep talk following warm ups during Tuesday’s spring training. much different challenge than last year.” Even with Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel returning to the field, the 2013 squad has undergone changes from last year. With many key players graduating or moving on for the NFL, there are holes to fill in the depth chart. Sumlin and his coaching staff — which features three new faces itself — will occupy their
time with position battles and player evaluations in the coming weeks.
Spring football: page 2 Look inside for key insight and position battles that will occupy Texas A&M’s 2013 spring training this semester.
3/6/13 12:12 AM