Q:
thebattalionasks
What’s your favorite tradition ?
“ I love Ring Day because it brings all your family and friends together.”
“Midnight yell, I did it when I came to A&M so it reminds me of my freshman year.” Mical Ghebreniwot, senior marketing major
Rekha Epili, senior accounting major
news for you
“Most definitely, football games! It is the greatest tradition.” Vianni Ricano, senior aerospace engineering major
Lindsay Russell, senior chemical engineering
thebattalion
campus Board continues search Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will have a telephonic meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday. The meeting will discuss the appointment of a deputy chancellor and the appointment of an interim chancellor of the Texas A&M System. Thursday’s board meeting is planned to guarantee continued operations of the Texas A&M System during the selection process of McKinney’s replacement.
“Silver taps is profound, and I like participating in something Ags have been doing for years.”
● tuesday,
june 28, 2011
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
A&M renews
partnership
O’Dell Harmon Jr., Staff Writer
lowest gas price
$3.41 east 29th street www.texasgasprices.com
texas Teachers’ pay cut AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Legislature has approved a bill allowing public school districts to cut teacher pay and furlough them beginning in 2012, in an attempt to avoid mass layoffs. Lawmakers have slashed school spending to balance the state budget without raising taxes or spending the Rainy Day Fund. The measure, which goes to Gov. Rick Perry, is designed to give school districts the flexibility to adjust to lower perstudent funding.
nation &world Video game freedom WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday refused to let California regulate the sale or rental of violent video games to children, saying governments do not have the power to “restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed” despite complaints about graphic violence. On a 7-2 vote, the high court upheld a federal appeals court decision to throw out the state’s ban on the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. Associated Press
Texas A&M University and Blinn College renew Blinn TEAM partnership to help students gain admission into Texas A&M
Blinn team program receives extension after 10 years Erin McAllister Special to The Battalion Texas A&M University and Blinn College renewed their Blinn TEAM partnership to help students gain admission into Texas A&M last Thursday. The Blinn TEAM program started in 2001 and since has helped qualified students who weren’t accepted into Texas A&M gain admission by taking classes at Blinn College. It is not necessarily that these students did not have the qualifications to get into A&M but rather the enrollment amount had already been met. “The Blinn TEAM program helped me in multiple ways,” said Ashley Skeels, a sophomore animal science major. “It helped me
See Blinn on page 4
Photos by Jay Kapadia — THE BATTALION
The Blinn TEAM program started in 2001 and since has helped qualified students who weren’t accepted into Texas A&M
sports
awards
Baseball team receives honors
Women’s basketball nominated for ESPY Adrain O’Hanlon III
Austin Meek The Battalion Although the season ended in defeat at the College World Series in Omaha, Big 12 co-Coach of the Year Rob Childress has elevated the Texas A&M baseball team into to one of the nation’s most feared and respected programs in the nation. On the heels of a 47-22 season, good for the sixth-most wins in school history, and the club’s school-record fifth consecutive postseason foray and first trip to Omaha since 1999, the Aggie baseball program is enjoying more success than ever and is garnering attention in the national spotlight as well. Junior pitcher Ross Stripling was named a First Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Americans. He was also a First Team All-Midwest selection. See Baseball on page 2
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master my basics in a setting of smaller classes than I would have experienced at A&M — there are just fewer students so the professors can spend more one on one time with the students to make sure that they fully understand what is being taught to them. It helped me prepare myself for what is going to come in the future when I am a full time Aggie.” There are many students like Skeels aspiring to be full-time Aggies but still working to get there. The Blinn TEAM program helps these students get in easier than they would just trying to transfer. These students also get to take classes at A&M while on Blinn TEAM building up hours at A&M.
File Photo
Junior pitcher Ross Stripling was named First Team All-American, throws a fastball during the baseball teams 47-22 season.
The Battalion Two months after capturing the first title in school history, the NCAA Champion Texas A&M women’s basketball team has been nominated for the 2011 ESPYs, co-presented by Capital One and Castrol EDGE. Head Coach Gary Blair and members of the team were invited to attend the commemorative celebration of the 2010-2011 sporting season in Los Angeles. The Aggies are nominated for Best Team after bringing home the national title against all odds in their first-ever trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four. It seems the Aggies will again play the underdog as other nominees for Best Team include Auburn Football (NCAA), Boston Bruins (NHL), Dallas Mavericks (NBA) and San Francisco Giants (MLB), all of which won their respective league titles. Fans can vote for the Aggies as the
Tune in ◗ The ESPYs will air live at 8 p.m. July 13 from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles and will be hosted by Seth Myers.
See Espy on page 4
6/27/11 8:04 PM