thebattalion ● tuesday,
march 6, 2012
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media
Violations overruled, Claybrook elected SBP SGA Judicial Court refunds all fines against Claybrook Jake Walker
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
John Claybrook celebrates with his campaign team after learning he is the student body president-elect.
The Battalion Supporters of John Claybrook erupted into celebration at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when they learned the Student Government Judicial Court overturned Claybrook’s disqualification, officially making the candidate student body president-elect. “I’m ecstatic. It’s good to remember that tonight was a win for our campaign. It wasn’t a win for me,” Claybrook said. “We’re glad the voice of the students was heard tonight.”
Runoff contender Thomas McNutt was not present when the Court made its official ruling. He reacted to the news by congratulating Claybrook and offering his support. “In victory and in defeat, we give God all the glory, and I wish my good friend John all the best of luck,” McNutt said. “If he needs any help in improving Texas A&M, I’m here to do what I can.” It was announced that Claybrook was disqualified on Friday, after receiving 60.25 percent of the runoff vote. He was disqualified because an audit of his expense report increased the candidate’s total expenses above $1,800, the limit for SBP candidates. Mark Womack, a member of John Claybrook’s campaign team, presented
his case to the Judicial Court Monday night. Womack gave a fiery defense of the campaign’s actions, drawing a standing ovation from the audience in the Koldus Governance Room, most of whom were Claybrook supporters. Given past Judicial Court hearings, the court has the authority to both reassess fines against a campaign and reinstate a disqualified candidate, as it eventually did Tuesday morning. Womack began his defense by saying the Claybrook campaign would prove that the candidate’s campaign expensed items purchased according to strict interpretations of the rules and that Claybrook rightfully won the election. “There is no one here that would See SBP on page 4
inside
trends | 2 New kid on the block Yet another chicken finger restaurant comes to College Station, this time setting up shop directly between longtime rivals Layne’s and Cane’s.
Commanding change New leadership marks historic first for Corps Barrett House The Battalion
No Silver Taps Tuesday
T
exas A&M is going through a period of change — a move to the SEC, the ever-present construction on campus, outsourcing facilities services and the reopening of the MSC, to name a few.
Normally, Silver Taps is held every first Tuesday of the month to honor students who have died during the previous month. Traditions Council reported that no students died during the month of February, so there will be no Silver Taps on Tuesday.
With these changes to the University, the Corps of Cadets is preparing for a change of its own: Marquis Alexander has been named Corps commander for next year, which will make him the first black cadet to hold the position. As the highest-ranking position a cadet can obtain, the Corps commander is charged with running the 2,800-strong group of cadets. Alexander, junior international studies major, said his appointment reflects the increase in diversity in the Corps. And, while he was excited to be assigned the position, the fact that he is going to be the first black Corps commander was something he initially overlooked. “I was overjoyed, but it didn’t really hit me — the whole first black Corps commander thing — until later, after other people brought it up to me,” Alexander said. “I felt very humbled, and I felt honored that they would instill so much trust in me and put me in charge of what we’re looking at being the biggest Corps next year.” It has been 48 years since the Corps saw its first black cadets, and, though Alexander acknowledged the significance of his appointment as the first black Corps commander, he said he wanted people to focus more on the fact that becoming a Corps commander is an accomplishment many never obtain. “I don’t want people to focus on, ‘Oh, he’s the first black Corps Commander,’” Alexander said. “I want people to say, ‘He was the Corps Commander.’ “I guess it is a significant event, because in 135
South Carolina to fill rivalry void On Monday, President Loftin tweeted that South Carolina will be Texas A&M’s permanent rival upon entry to the SEC. John Tee, staff writer
Alternative energy in question Climate change is in dispute. Oil and gas are staging a comeback. Republicans are questioning federal funding for energy research as a waste of money in a time of deficits.
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
TAMU Times
Marquis Alexander will be the first black Corps commander in the history of Texas A&M. Alexander is a Ross Volunteer and current sergeant major.
See Alexander on page 6
environment
government
La Nina brings respite from drought
Primary election date pushed back, set for May 29 Chase Carter
Natalee Blanchat The Battalion After one of the worst droughts in history, farmers and ranchers are enjoying a break from the hot spells as La Niña continues to bring rain to the Pacific Southwest. Because of La Niña, the oceanic-atmosphere phenomenon, a chain of cold weather patterns have caused wetterthan-normal conditions across the north and warmer weather patterns throughout the south, allowing many Texas to enjoy a mixture of sunny weather and high rainfall during an unusually warm winter season. John Nielsen-Gammon,
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Talya Lazerus — THE BATTALION
Clouds form over West Campus near dusk. professor of meteorology and The rain has been unexpectstate climatologist, said the in- ed, but certainly welcome, crease in rainfall has been wel- because we could certainly comed by farmers and ranch- use the rain with the drought ers who have watched stock going on.” tanks fill, reservoirs become According to the National replenished and winter wheat Oceanic Atmospheric Assoand rye sprout. ciation, the U.S. experiences “Weird weather in Texas La Niña for an average of five — it is definitely typical,” months. Because of the cyclic Nielsen-Gammon said. “We patterns of La Niña, which pretty rarely have normal has been affecting the country weather, and this has been See Weather on page 3 an especially unusual winter.
The Battalion Due to redistricting litigation and rulings by a federal court in San Antonio and the Supreme Court, the primary election date in Texas has been pushed back from April 3 to May 29. Additionally, because of the delays caused by rulings against the constitutionality of the previous maps, the candidate-filing window has been extended to March 9. Given the current situation, early voting for Brazos County will not open until May 14, after many college students and graduates return home for summer break or move out entirely. “Early voting especially will be down,” said Jaime Hines, elections coordinator for Brazos County. “Under normal circumstances, students don’t normally make a strong showing. Most aren’t going to be available to show up at the polls and don’t know how to vote from their home counties.” Hines said during a general election Texas
Under normal circumstances, students don’t normally
make a strong showing... and don’t know
how to vote from their home counties.” — Jamie Hines, Brazos County elections coordinator
A&M’s polls make up as much as 25 percent of total votes for Brazos County; while that number is substantially lower for local elections, the loss of student voters will still have an impact on the county. According to Harvey Tucker, political science professor, low primary election turnout is a general trend across Texas, with percentages often less than half of what is expected for general elections. See Primaries on page 3
3/6/12 1:30 AM