thebattalion ● wednesday,
january 18, 2012
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texas a&m since 1893
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Longboa subcult Longboarders bring growing subculture to A&M campus Different decks ◗ Pintails: A popular style of board that has a teardropshaped deck that is typically flat and suitable for beginners. ◗ Drop-deck: Drop-deck boards have a unique shape where the middle of the deck is lower than where the trucks are mounted. ◗ Hybrid: These longboards include wheel cutouts, which provide room for the wheels to turn at sharper angles while avoiding wheelbite.
Haley Lawson The Battalion Some see it as the evolution of skateboarding. Others describe it as surfing on cement. Either way, longboarding, or “push” culture, has spiked in popularity around college campuses all across the country. As the size of the student population at Texas A&M has steadily increased, so has the popularity of the culture and sport of longboarding. Now, many students own a longboard and use it as their primary means of transportation between classes. Avid longboarder and junior mechanical engineering major Keatan Wallace has seen the longboarding trend take off at A&M. Wallace started longboarding in high school as a way to get around town before he had a driver’s license, but now spends evening with friends riding around campus and practicing tricks. “When I first moved up here about two years ago, there was about four of us in the A&M longboarding group,” Wallace said. “Now there’s over 200 members.” Longboarding is said to be the new “cool” or “hip” means of transportation. Longboarders said it can give a definite spike of adrenaline and is also a great way to exercise while on campus.
Cross-stepping: Left foot starts on the right side of the board and the right foot goes around the left, carving left to right.
Most longboarders do not just use their longboard for transportation to class, though. They also ride for fun and can be seen “carving” in parking garages or “power sliding” near Kyle Field. “I really enjoy the feeling longboarding gives while riding to class. It’s a mixture of pure adrenaline at times and intense relaxation,” said Sean Karbach, public relations officer for the Texas A&M Longboarding Club, known as Avant Garde. “Longboarding is a great way to stay in shape, especially on such a flat campus.” Student-longboarders acknowledged that longboards may look like elongated skateboards, but longboarding is not the same as skateboarding. Wallace said the longboard is much more versatile than its more-common four-wheeled counterpart, adding that skateboards are more oriented for flat-ground tricks while longboards are built for speed and riding downhill. Longboarding is a difficult skill to learn for some especially if they do not have any past experience. Senior political science major Jonathan Bundy joined the ranks of longboarders last semester. He remembered his first experience as a painful one. “The first time I ever longboarded, I really ate it and got messed up. My See Longboad on page 9
Hippie jump: Jump into the air as the board rolls underneath the obstacle, then land back on the board.
Photos by Robert Carpenter — THE BATTALION
Keaton Wallace, junior mechanical engineering major, winds down after the first day of class doing tricks on his longboard at the Zone Plaza in front of Kyle Field.
Shove-it: Press down on the front tail of the board and kick the board around 180 degrees before landing.
Grab Trick: Kick the board up and grab to rotate, take one step, then tuck the board underneath for the landing.
politics
campus
Piracy bill causes Wiki blackout
Changes to MCAT render test longer, more difficult
Jonathan Webb and Barrett House The Battalion In response to multiple Internet censorship bills being proposed by Congress, the owner of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, decided Monday to black out all 3,849,239 Englishlanguage pages Wednesday. “This is going to be wow. I hope Wikipedia will melt phone systems in Washington on Wednesday,” Wales tweeted Monday. The Protect IP Act is a bill under consideration in the Senate intended to protect Intellectual Property such as multimedia or writing, which can be easily copied. The Stop Online Piracy Act is a similar bill proposed by the House. Both are designed to crack down on sales of pirated U.S. products overseas. Supporters of the bill include the film and music industry, which believe legislation is necessary to protect intellectual property and jobs. Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, eBay and many others have spoken out against the legislation claiming that, if passed, it would damage the open Internet. “If passed, this legislation will harm the free and open Internet and bring about new tools for censorship of international websites inside the United States,” the Wikimedia Foundation said. Objections to the bill are present for many reasons. Essentially, the legislation would require websites to police their own sites. The result would block off portions of the Internet to all users. According to The Accociated Press, the most controversial provision is in the House bill. This provision would enabled federal authorities to blacklist sites that are alleged to distribute pirated content. Clark Caperton, a public service and administration graduate student, said regardless whether people agree or disagree with the legislation, reforms are necessary. Companies do have the right to protest like this, but the dilemma arises
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Madeline Burns The Battalion
when Congress approaches the bills for a vote. “The merits of the bills are potentially lost when major players, such as Google and Wikipedia, exert enormous influence on public opinion,” Caperton said. While numerous businesses and websites disagree with the legislation, not all are protesting the same way Wales
Long regarded as one of the most difficult exams offered, the MCAT often takes months of grueling preparation, with many students taking the exam more than once. However, students planning to apply to medical school will be adjusting their studying strategies as the administrator of the exam Association of American Medical Colleges announced the most significant changes in 25 years. With the upcoming changes to the exam scheduled to take place in the next few years, the exam is about to become significantly more competitive. These changes pose challenges not only for the students, but for the university as well — which will have to revise curriculums to cover all of the new material. “Big changes are on the horizon means that the nearly 350 Texas A&M undergraduates who apply to medical school every year will be seriously impacted,” said Russell Schaffer, senior communications manager for Kaplan Test Prep. “Although not set to take effect for a few
See Wikipedia on page 7
See MCAT on page 7
Jay Kapadia— THE BATTALION
Wikipedia will blackout Wednesday to protest federal legislation regarding online intellectual property rights.
Info on the MCAT ◗ The Medical College Admission Test, MCAT, is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States and Canada. ◗ It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis and writing skills in addition to knowledge of scientific concepts and principles. ◗ The current length of the test is five-and-a-half hours.
1/18/12 12:02 AM
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Cadets, back to their regular routine, run near G. Rollie White Coliseum.
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nation&world iTunes official top songs for the week 1. “Set Fire to the Rain,” ADELE 2. “Rack City,” Tyga 3. “Good Feeling,” Flo Rida 4. “Young, Wild & Free (feat. Bruno Mars),” Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg 5. “Sexy and I Know It,” LMFAO 6. “Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj),” Nicki Minaj, David Guetta 7. “I Won’t Give Up,” Jason Mraz 8. “We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris),” Rihanna 9. “Ni(*)(*)as in Paris,” Kanye West, JAY Z 10. “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger),” Kelly Clarkson
Lohan doing well on probation
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LOS ANGELES — Lindsay Lohan received her second favorable probation report in a row and a judge told the actress that she appears to be on track to complete a strict program by the end of March. Lohan appeared in court for less than five minutes Tuesday to update the judge on her progress in completing strict probation terms that were imposed in November after a series of missteps by the actress. Lohan is doing mandatory cleanup duty at the county morgue and attending frequent psychotherapy sessions, with Sautner requiring Lohan to appear in court monthly for updates.The “Mean Girls” star will have to work at the morgue 15 times before she returns to court on Feb. 22. The actress remains on probation for both the drunken driving case and a misdemeanor grand theft case filed after she took a necklace without permission in January 2010. She pleaded no contest to taking the $2,500 necklace and served 35 days on house arrest last summer.
thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
Robert Carpenter, Editor in Chief Jordan Williford, Managing Editor Trevor Stevens, City Editor Joe Terrell, Enterprise Editor Nalia Dhanani, Opinion Editor Chandler Smith, Sports Editor
O’Dell Harmon Jr., Lifestyles Editor Joanna Raines, Religion Editor Kalee Bumguardner, Research Editor Jorge Montalvo, Graphics Chief Jay Kapadia, Photo Chief
THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. News offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classified advertising, call 979-8450569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979845-2613.
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Photos by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lohan being escorted to court house by officer.
Scientists confirm rocks fell from Mars WASHINGTON — They came from Mars, not in peace, but in pieces. Scientists are confirming that 15 pounds of rock collected recently in Morocco fell to Earth from Mars during a meteorite shower last July. This is only the fifth time in history scientists have chemically confirmed Martian meteorites that people witnessed falling. The fireball was spotted in the sky six months ago, but the rocks weren’t discovered on the ground in North Africa until the end of December. This is an important and unique opportunity for scientists trying to learn about Mars’ potential for life. So far, no NASA or Russian spacecraft has returned bits of Mars, so the only samples scientists can examine are those that come here in a meteorite shower. Scientists and collectors are ecstatic, and already the rocks are fetching big bucks because they are among the rarest things on Earth — rarer even than gold. The biggest rock weighs over 2 pounds.
One of the rocks fallen from Mars.
Prince Philip resumes royal engangements LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II’s husband has returned to official duties following a heart procedure that saw him spend Christmas in hospital Prince Philip attended a fundraising dinner at Cambridge University Tuesday to support its Scott Polar Research Institute — his first official engagement since the procedure. Philip was admitted to Papworth Hospital with chest pains just before the holidays and underwent a successful coronary stent procedure After spending four nights at Papworth recovering from the procedure, the 90-year-old was soon back on his feet, joining the rest of the royal family at their traditional New Year’s Day church service just days after his release. The health scare was the most serious suffered by Philip, who is known to be active and robust but had expressed a desire to scale down his royal engagements upon his 90th birthday. Tuesday’s dinner was held 100 years to the day since English explorer Robert F. Scott and his expedition reached the South Pole.
Where republican candidates stand on education
Republican candidate Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania. Gingrich: Shrink Education Department. But supported Obama administration’s $4 billion Race to the Top grant competition for states. Paul: Abolish the Education Department and end the federal role in education. Perry: Turned down federal education aid to Texas worth up to $700 million because he saw it as imposing national standards on Texas schools. Opposed No Child Left Behind law. Romney: Supported No Child Left Behind law. Once favored shutting Education Department, later saw its value in “holding down the interests of the teachers’ unions.” Santorum: Voted for No Child Left Behind law, now regrets vote. Wants “significantly” smaller Education Department but not its elimination.
Democratic convention plans confirmed President Barack Obama plans to accept the Democratic presidential nomination in the open air of Bank of America Stadium on the final day of his party’s convention here next summer, repeating a page from his 2008 convention playbook. Democrats also announced Tuesday that the convention will be shortened from the traditional four days to three to have a day to celebrate the Carolinas, Virginia and the South. That celebration would take place on Monday, Sept. 3, which is Labor Day, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The convention would run Tuesday through Thursday, with the first two days at the Time Warner Arena and the final day at Bank of America Stadium. Obama will deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday, Sept. 6. Moving the speech to the 74,000-seat stadium, which is home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, will allow thousands more activists and others to attend, officials said. In 2008, Obama accepted the Democratic nomination under the open skies of Denver’s Invesco Field. The Associated Press
®
1/17/12 9:35 PM
EDITOR’SNOTE The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of Texas A&M University, The Battalion or its staff.
MAILCALL GUESTCOLUMNS Make your opinion known by submitting Mail Call or guest columns to The Battalion. Mail
call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters
Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 | mailcall@thebatt.com
One dream, one people Michael Rodriguez: Hispanics have King to thank for giving us a voice
“I
have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Martin Luther King Jr. said these words in front of hundreds of thousands of supporters in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963. King was the standard-bearer of a movement to end segregation and racial discrimination. Amid the white-black conflict, little did people know that generations of Hispanics and Latinos were also in the middle of this struggle against unjust discrimination and segregation. This year, I saw Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an opportunity for reflection- a time to ask myself as a Hispanic, what does this day mean to me? To me, because of the voice it gave to people of all color — black, Hispanic, Latino or otherwise- it means everything. A man armed with a beautiful message and undying compassion stood tall in the most peaceful way in a world that was engulfed in the fire of violence and discrimination. Boldly, he proclaimed, “We will not be satisfied.” King gave Hispanics the opportunity to gain a voice — to not be satisfied— to unify all people for good. He sought a society in which all people could coexist as God’s children, that people of differing races, religions and worldviews could unite under the common cause of making our world a better place. My family has worked hard all their lives to earn the respect of others. I remember hearing stories from my grandfather on how he remembered that speech and how he felt pride to be who he was because he was a hard-working, humble man who just wanted to work to give his family a better life. On a personal level, King inspired my family to keep working, to have
‘
will be read, but not printed. The Battalion will print only one letter per author per month. No mail call will appear in The Battalion’s print or online editions before it is verified.
faith, and to stand up for what is right in a peaceful manner. Because of King, my family and their friends just wanted to be judged by their merit and their valor as humans and not as anything else. Every year that I hear King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a chill runs down my spine because it inspires pride in who I am. King was the heart and soul of the Civil Rights Movement, and without his words, his courage, his love for all people, we might still be living in a segregated society. I look around me and I see interracial marriages, and classrooms where every student has the same chance at an education, where a brighter tomorrow is not a dream reserved for any one race or creed. I look around and see that all cultures, religions and races can come and interact with one another in an institute of higher learning such as ours. For me, King’s words echo every year on his day, as I walk into a restaurant and can sit at any table and meet my friends, a group that is full of diversity, and be able to just kick back and enjoy a burger. I say to all of you, as a Hispanic, I am here where I am today because of great people such as King, who stood up against the repulsive face of racism and segregation and peacefully said “I Have a Dream.” Let us continue to work hand in hand, all races, all religions, all people toward continuing to make Dr. King’s dream a reality.
voices thebattalion 1.18.2012 page3
Photo Illustration by Jorge Montalvo — THE BATTALION
Michael Rodriguez is a senior industrial engineering major.
MAILCALL I am in
From Josh Reich, senior
support of
architecture major This is in efforts to persuade or guide some lady Aggies to reframe from a newfound fashion: stretchy pants. To enlighten those who do not understand the term “stretchy pants,” these are tight, spandexlike pants (i.e. thermal athletic pants). I am in support of comfort. However, there needs to be limitations. These secondary epidermis clothes do not leave much to the imagination. I would like to inform the Aggie ladies that this choice of clothing reveals every dimple and crevice below the body’s transverse plane. I am assuming Jack Black’s character from “Nacho Libre” would appreciate the style, (if readers are not aware of Nacho Libre and his stretchy pants, they can be viewed via Youtube). Please, for the sake of modesty, put some clothes on that resemble more than panty hose. In this case, the saying “less is more” does not apply.
comfort. However, there needs to be limitations. -Josh Reich From Kristal Brown, toxicology graduate student Though I realize you probably will not publish this, I fear I must speak out for a great literary mind who has been disgraced in an article (Dec. 6, “Pop Culture 2011”). How can I trust an opinion of one that would spell Miss Jane Austen’s name improperly to prescribe literature to me? Austen is one of the most brilliant authors ever and quite possibly the most amazing romantic novel author ever. I’m
outraged and appalled that in this day and age, one could be so crass as to not know how to spell her name! Is there greater pleasure in the world than being thrust into the world of the Bennets and agonizing over whether Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth will truly end up together? I have read this and many of Miss Austen’s books time and again and have not ever grown tired of reading her words. We must not forget the minds that have shaped our society before this century, for if we do, all sanity is most certainly lost.
From Mohannad Farasin, senior computer engineering major and Aggies for Palestine co-founder At a time when our economy is in shambles and millions of people are unemployed, Congressman Louie Gohmert, Class of 1975, decided it was the right time to take a trip to the illegal settlements in the West Bank. We have to wonder how such a trip applies to
us, to Texas, and to his work. Congressman Gohmert is not a member of the House Foreign Affairs committee. He didn’t go to visit such settlements to condemn them, as our own government has done for years. No, he went in their support. The Israeli government continuously constructs illegal settlements. Every time Israel builds these colonies, the size of the future Palestinian state shrinks dramatically. The international community, including the U.S., denounces such acts, understanding that such moves create serious obstacles to peace. With his visit, Congressman Gohmert has legitimized illegal actions, a move that goes against American foreign policy. Instead of taking such trips, we expect Congressman Gohmert to fight for the American values of freedom, justice and dignity that are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. And, as an elected official in the state of Texas, we expect nothing less for him to make unbiased decisions, taking all points of view in mind.
The Mosbacher Institute FOR TRADE, ECONOMICS AND PUBLIC POLICY Proudly presents the
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Joshua Bolten will also receive the MOSBACHER INSTITUTE GOOD GOVERNANCE AWARD and join a discussion on
Political Polarization: Its Causes and Its Cure
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IT’S NOT TOO LATE to feature your organization in the 2012 Aggieland yearbook
page 5 wednesday 1.18.2012
thebattalion
Aggies start off the new semester with diverse goals
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The Battalion Holiday feasting is over, along with the excessive sleeping and lounging. The new year is officially here, and with it, a new semester at A&M. Aggies everywhere are taking advantage of the fresh start by making New Year’s resolutions from culinary delights to spiritual endeavors. In an effort to put an end to the typical collegiate menu, one Aggie is determined to try new things in the kitchen more often. “I want to cook more, for sure,� said sophomore education major Samantha Sanders. “Like different homemade soups and stews, crock pot recipes — that kind of stuff,� Sanders said.
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Having a positive outlook on life is a good idea for college students, because it aids in combating the daily stresses involved. A better attitude helps in more ways than one, and, not surprisingly, it is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Freshman biology major Shannon McCawley, has added it to his list. “I want to be legitimately happy every day and let pessimism go by the wayside,� McCawley said. Some students are choosing to focus on spiritual health by strengthening their faith. “[My resolutions] are more of goals for 2012 rather than a resolution-type thing,� said sophomore recreation, parks and tourism sciences major Sarah Ellison. “But a couple of them are to go on a mission trip, finish this semester with excellence in the school department, and to love and treat my family like Jesus would.�
(if you haven’t)
order your 2012 yearbook today. The 110th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook — the Aggieland — will chronicle the 2011-2012 school year: traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, Greeks, campus organizations, and seniors and graduate students. By credit card go online to http://aggieland. tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.
Shane Earnest, a junior university studies major, wants to make 2012 a golden year of sorts, and to achieve what every Aggie dreams of. “My main goal for this year is to get my Aggie ring,� Earnest said. “That is all I want.� Others are choosing to focus on improving their well-being, not just through physical fitness and better studying habits, but also by having a better outlook on life. “Besides the usual ‘get in better shape,’ ‘better grades’ and whatnot, I’d like to live life to the fullest, enjoy every moment, and live 2012 with no regrets,� said freshman architecture major Elizabeth Widaski.
Photos by Jorge Montalvo — THE BATTALION
Not everyone has one main focus for the year. Aneil Ali, Class of 2010, has a wide variety of resolutions to conquer, from beef jerky to presidential candidates. “The coolest ones on my list are to make awesome homemade beef jerky and develop a secret recipe, take four photography classes with my new [digital camera], read two international news articles every day of the week, and research every presidential candidate before November,� Ali said. Whatever the case, it looks as though Aggies are choosing to make 2012 a year of improvement in all areas.
Paula Deen comes out about her three year struggle with diabetes NEW YORK — Paula Deen, the Southern belle of butter and heavy cream, makes no apologies for waiting three years to disclose she has diabetes while continuing to dish up deep-fried cheesecake and other high-calorie, high-fat recipes on TV. She said she isn’t changing the comfort cooking that made her a star, though it isn’t clear how much of it she’ll continue to eat while she promotes health-conscious recipes along with a diabetes drug she’s endorsing for a Danish company. “I’ve always said, ‘Practice moderation, y’all.’ I’ll probably say that a little louder now,� Deen said Tuesday after revealing her diagnosis on NBC’s “Today� show. “You can have diabetes and have a piece of cake. You cannot have diabetes and eat a whole cake.� Health activists and one fellow chef called her a hypocrite for promoting an unhealthy diet along with a drug to treat its likely effects. Deen added her support of the Novo Nordisk company to a collection of lucrative endorsements that include Smithfield ham and Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Deen, who will turn 65 on Thursday, said she kept her diagnosis private as she and her family figured out what to do, presumably about her health and a career built solidly on Southern cooking. Among her recipes: deepfried cheesecake covered in chocolate and powdered sugar, and a quiche that calls for a pound of bacon. “I really sat on this information for a few years because I said, ‘Oh, my gosh, what am I going to do about this? Is my life fixing to change? Am I no longer going to like my life?� she asked. “I had to have time to adjust and soak it all in and get up all the information that I could.� While Deen, who lives in Savannah, Ga., has cut out the sweet tea she routinely drank straight through to bedtime and taken up
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paula Deen is a Food Network star and owns her own restaurant in Georgia. treadmill walking, she plans few changes on the air. Government doctors say that being overweight (as Deen is), over 45 (as Deen is) and inactive (as Deen was) increase the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Growth of the disease in the U.S. has been closely tied to escalating obesity rates. Roughly 23 million Americans are believed to have the most common Type 2 diabetes; patients’ bodies either do not produce enough insulin or do not use it efficiently, allowing excess sugar, or glucose, to accumulate in the blood. Deen is the pitch person for Novo Nordisk’s new online program, Diabetes in a New Light, which offers tips on food preparation. The Associated Press
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track | Legendary head coach Pat Henry takes on his former school, LSU, on Saturday. Read his legacy Friday.
men’s basketball | The team looks to bounce back from Monday’s loss on Saturday. Read the OU preview Friday.
women’s basketball | Read the recap of the Missouri game tomorrow at thebatt.com.
sports
thebattalion 1.18.2012 page6
Aggies to battle Tigers Future SEC foe comes to Reed The Battalion The No. 14 A&M women’s basketball team has bested Big 12 Conference opponent Missouri in women’s basketball in seven straight meetings, including a 35-point rout last season on the Tigers’ home court. The Aggies will seek to win their eighth in a row over the Tigers at home today. Last season’s victory was anchored by Danielle Adams’ 19-point effort. Adams has since graduated, and the team must seek scoring and leadership from different sources if it is to continue its winning ways against Missouri. One such source could be senior forward Adaora Elonu, whose 14 points and nine rebounds paced the team to a 59-33 win Saturday on the road against Iowa State. At 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference, A&M is currently placed sixth in the Big 12. Missouri (10-5, 0-4) remains winless in conference play. Senior guard Tyra White leads the team in scoring at a clip of 14.5 points per game and chipped in 16 points in the win against Missouri last season. The Aggie attack is a balanced one,
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Things to know: ◗ Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Reed Arena. ◗ The Aggies will play the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan. on Saturday. Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION
with four Aggies averaging double digits in scoring. Missouri’s offense tends to lean on its experienced forwards. Senior Christina Flores’ 19.1 points per game heads the Missouri offense and ranks second in the conference in scoring, while senior BreAnna Brock ranks eighth in the Big 12 with 16.1 points per game and fifth in rebounding at 8.4 per game. The Tigers have been led in scoring by either Flores or Brock in 14 of the team’s 15 games. The Aggie defense hopes to continue its progress in shutting down opponents, particularly coming off an Iowa State game in which the team surrendered only 33 points. The team used a 15-1 run to close the first half to put the Cyclones away for good.
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While the Aggies bounced back from a tough home loss against instate rival Texas with the decisive win over Iowa State, the Tigers fell to the Kansas Jayhawks 72-63 on Sunday despite Brock’s career-high 26-point scoring deluge. The Aggies are currently ranked below average in scoring offense and scoring defense, ranking sixth and seventh, respectively, among the conference’s ten teams. The team attempts to offset these numbers by
rebounding, forcing turnovers and taking care of the ball. A&M has the best turnover rate in the conference, forcing an average of 5.33 more turnovers than it allows. The team’s 18.87 offensive rebounds per game ranks first in the Big 12, a category in which Missouri ranks last. A road game against the 14-2 Kansas Jayhawks looms for A&M but the Aggies must not look past the free-falling Tigers. Missouri has a distinct advantage in one of
the more obvious discrepancies between the two teams: free throw shooting percentage, with A&M ranked last in the conference at 63.9 percent while Missouri’s 73 percent rate puts them second. Against Iowa State, for the first time this season, the Aggies were perfect from the free throw line. But if Missouri can exploit this advantage the score may be closer than the Tigers’ recent record or the history between these two teams would indicate.
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Junior center Kelsey Bone shoots a jump shot in the face of an OU player at Reed Arena, the Aggies would win the game 75-58.
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news
page 7 wednesday 1.18.2012
thebattalion
marvelous use of expressive speech to drive home their point
“I think [the blackout] is a
96>HN 9J@:H YOUNG O WILD O COUNTRY
of opposing the legislation.”
The hottest nighttime
— David Parrott, executive associate vice president and dean of of Student Life
destination in the heart of Northgate
THURSDAY, Wikipedia Continued from page 1
intends to. Google Inc. is a confirmed participant of the Stop Online Piracy Act protest, but it will leave its website running with a display of its opposition to the bill on its home page. Clint Morris, senior international studies major, disagrees with the legislation being considered and would handle the protest differently. “Any other time of the school year this would be difficult for students to adjust, but, luckily, it’s the beginning of the semester,” Morris said. “I do not agree with the proposed legislation, nor do I agree with shutting down an international business for the reasons behind the protest.” Twitter’s CEO, Dick
Costolo, also disagrees with Wales’ reaction. While Costolo is against the legislation, in a recent tweet he claimed that shutting down a business in reaction to politics is out of the question. “Closing a global business in reaction to single-issue national politics is foolish,” Costollo tweeted Monday. Zachary Chance, senior political science major, said he doubts the anticipated success Wikipedia is expecting from the blackout. “I’m not sure Wikipedia is going to have the desired scale that it wants,” Chance said. “People have called to try to get other websites like Facebook involved. The idea is good, but putting in practice will be difficult.” The House is currently holding the bill. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Protect IP Act later this month.
David Parrott, executive associate vice president and dean of Student Life, said he thinks the legislation will see passage regardless of its powerful enemies. “The legislation is an attempt to balance the need to protect intellectual property with the need to protect free speech,” Parrott said. “The law has a tremendous amount of support, and I suspect that it will be passed. But it does have powerful enemies.” While negative criticism toward the blackout exists, Parrott applauds Wikipedia for this bold protest. “I think it is a marvelous use of expressive speech to drive home their point of opposing the legislation,” Parrott said. “It will be inconvenient but not detrimental.”
JANUARY 19TH The Southeastern Conference’s hottest band,
are coming back through College Station on their SEC tour, only at
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Continued from page 1
reasoning, writing sample, and biological sciences. ◗ The Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, and Biological Sciences sections are in multiple-choice format. ◗ Scores for the three multiple-choice sections range from 1 to 15. Scores for the writing section range alphabetically from J (lowest) to T (highest). schedules prior to taking the MCAT.” In addition to the new material, other changes, such as cutting the writing section and lengthening the exam by 90 minutes, are also taking place. The time increase, which serves to test a student’s endurance, will increase the length of a fiveand-a-half hour test to an exam that is over seven hours. This change in particular is expected to further limit who will excel, resulting in less students hitting med-school requirements. For many students who have taken the MCAT, increasing the time of an already grueling exam seems almost unfathomable. “I highly oppose lengthening the test because at the current official time of fiveand-a-half hours, it is already exhaustive,” said Justin Fer-
ley, junior biomedical sciences major. “Practice definitely helped my endurance, but the time definitely takes its toll on the test-taker.” J.C. DeLeon, a senior biomedical sciences major, also voiced discontent toward the upcoming changes, stating that with all the requirements now demanded by the MCAT, graduating in four years for many future students will be dismal. “If two additional hours are added to the test, then the test will be near impossible,” DeLeon said. “This addition to the MCAT will ensure that a lot less students are able to actually make it through the MCAT with a score they are satisfied with. Preparation time will need to be extended, and it is very likely the student will need five years instead of the four to graduate.”
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honors up to 55 students who demonstrate high involvement, create positive experiences throughout the Aggie community, impact student life at Texas A&M and help enhance the Aggie Spirit. Unlike other awards, the Buck Weirus Spirit Award recognizes those students who make contributions to the university by participating in student organizations, Aggie traditions and university events. Email SpiritAward@AggieNetwork.com for more information.
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years, there are significant, immediate implications for both pre-med students and medical education as a whole. For starters, colleges face a tough task ahead in implementing a new pre-med curriculum that satisfies these new requirements.” The addition of the social sciences, which include psychology and sociology, is one of the most significant changes that will be made. The goal of these revisions is to better assess which medical applicants are the most well rounded and capable. “In an effort to assess student knowledge of the concept and identity of self, relationship to others, and sensitivity to socio-cultural differences as they relate to health and well-being, the new section will likely test concepts mostly taught in undergraduate psychology and/or sociology courses,” Schaffer said. “This will be a challenge for students who typically take the exam junior year, effectively demanding they add psychology, sociology or both to their course
Looking deeper into the MCAT ◗ The test consists of four sections: physical sciences, verbal
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news
page 9 wednesday 1.18.2012
thebattalion
An overview of longboarding ◗ Longboarding is an offshoot of street skating, but, like all board sports, its roots lie in surfing. ◗ It was developed as a single sport — along with the origins of skateboarding — on the West Coast in the 1950s. ◗ By the 1990s, longboards and skateboards branched off into their respective disciplines. ◗ With the right setup, a longboard can give the feeling of surfing on hard smooth surfaces. ◗ There are a variety of riding styles: downhill, cruising and carving, slalom, dancing, freeriding, vert and sliding.
Robert Carpenter — THE BATTALION
Longboard Continued from page 1
elbow still has a scar from that,” Bundy said. “But after something like that, I just kind of got back on it. It’s like riding a bike. You’re going to fall your first few times.” Still, some students are happy just sticking with their bikes. “I don’t think [longboarding] is the best since most of the pavement is gravel or uneven, which can cause you to fall off,” said McCall Ransom, sophomore anthropology major. “I would never try longboarding again since I’ve fallen off every time I’ve tried, plus I use my bike.” Karbach said he has found longboarding to be more convenient than alternative options, if only because he avoids the risk of having his transportation stolen while unsupervised. “The bike I had my freshmen year was stolen, so my longboard was literally the only form of transportation I
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Left: Senior political science major Jonathan Bundy started longboarding last semester upon the invitation of friends.
had. It’s hard for someone to steal your longboard whenever it’s with you at all times — under your seat, in class, et cetera,” Karbach said. Those who are environmentally conscious may also favor longboarding because it is a greener form of transportation. Buses and bikes are alternatives to driving to campus, and longboarding offers another option. It is also cheaper than driving or buying a bike and requires little, if any, equipment aside from the optional helmet. It’s a trend that caught the attention of several administrators, as well. “[Longboards] are greener forms of transportation, requiring no artificial fuels for the ecology and cost-conscious,” said Carol Binzer, director of administrative and support services for the Department of Residence Life. The concrete on campus doesn’t make longboarding easy in some areas. Even skilled longboarders have taken some big spills due to the cracks and holes in the side-
walks. While longboards are said to be easier to navigate around people than bikes, they catch cracks more frequently than bikes. “I consider myself a pretty good longboarder, but about once a month I take a pretty bad spill on campus due to the atrocious cobble stone, large cracks in the sidewalk and some of the poorly paved, almost gravel roads,” said Raheem Siraj, junior recreation, park and tourism sciences major. “It’s just when you look away to say ‘Hi’ to someone or pull out your phone to check a text that you find yourself soaring through the air with nothing to catch you except asphalt.” Wallace offered a tip to aspiring longboarders hoping to avoid a few early spills. “It’s about front foot placement. A lot of people often ride it too straight or too sideways,” Wallace said. “There’s a fine middle ground in between there. And once you get pushing, that’s basically it.”
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