TheBattalion03272012 by The Battalion

thebattalion ! tuesday,

march 27, 2012

! serving

texas a&m since 1893

international community

I-Week opens cultural doors

Cameroonian adjusts to life as an Aggie Jennifer DuBose The Battalion

Sophomore economics major Daniella Djiogan is African, native to the Republic of Cameroon and to the Bafang tribe. Contrary to popular misconception, she has not been subject to a life of poverty and violence, and she has never once had to hunt for food in a loincloth. “People always portray Africa as this sad place full of suffering —

Kalee Bumguardner

dark — all this negativity,” Djiogan said. “But we have a lot of things to offer; the cities are well developed. South Africa, especially, is very developed. I love my country. I loved my life there.” Djiogan grew up in a stable, middle-class household in an agricultural society. Memories of her days in Cameroon include delicacies rich in corn and plantains, with See Djiogan on page 4

The Battalion

Talya Lazerus — THE BATTALION

Sophomore Daniella Djiogan seeks to spread cultural awareness at A&M.

There are 4,000 international students at Texas A&M and more than 50 student organizations representing these students. One of these, the International Student Association, or ISA, dedicates one week each year, known as IWeek, to bringing together the University’s diverse cultures. “The whole point of hav-

ing ISA is connecting international and domestic students,” said Archana Gawde, molecular and environmental plant sciences graduate student and ISA president. “I-Week is a way to educate the students at Texas A&M about other cultures, to get rid of the myths and misconceptions that we have about certain cultures.” Gawde said I-Week has been going on at A&M for See I-Week on page 2

coming wednesday Sexual assault The second in a fourpart series on sexual assaults explores the trauma and healing process in the wake of sexual violence.

campus

Ring Day overload Students experienced difficulties registering for Ring Day pickup Monday morning. Mike Smith, webmaster for the Association of Former Students, said the large volume of students attempting to access the website at the same time caused problems. The website didn’t crash, but some were unable to claim a ticket right away. Smith said some students claimed tickets while others saw a “Service is unavailable” message. More than 3,500 students registered to pick up their Aggie Ring on Friday. Emily Villani, staff writer

Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

Students use hoodies and Skittles to protest the shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin Monday in Academic Plaza. Martin was wearing a hoodie at the time of his death and carried a bag of skittles, but no weapon.

Speeches and Skittles

Students protest racial implications of Trayvon Martin death Barrett House The Battalion

Students gathered in front of the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue Monday, some with hoodies, others with signs, all participating in the national movement reacting to the death of black Florida teen Trayvon Martin. Students sought to spread awareness of the incident in Florida that resulted in the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old black teenager, in this local demonstration related to the national Million Hoodie March, titled “Shoot me, I’m

black.” Martin was allegedly shot and killed by 28-year-old George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman has not been arrested or charged with a crime following the shooting, leading to controversy surrounding Florida self defense laws. Both students and faculty were in attendance at the rally and stood, in turn, in front of the group to speak about the incident, the issues involved and implications for the black community. Byron Barber, senior renewable natural resources major, took the opportunity to remind others of the

constant struggle. “It’s an everyday fight. It shouldn’t have to take something like this happening to get people mobilized and to recognize the issue,” Barber said. “The feeling of anxiety you get going into a store knowing that somebody expects you to steal something, because of the stereotype that’s been broadcasted.” Some students who attended, like senior psychology major Aishia Brown, said they felt the See Rally on page 6

Weekend of premieres Melanie Starling: Let ‘The Hunger Games’ begin

Alec Goetz: With ‘Mad Men,’ TV’s best is back Good news ladies and gentlemen: after a bombshell of a season finale and an agonizing, 17-month wait, “Mad Men” is back. Even better: it’s every bit the masterpiece you remembered. The next chapter of anti-hero ad-man Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and friends’ journey through the cultural upheaval of 1960s America picks up less than a year after it left off: in the summer of 1966. Nine months is a small jump in time when you consider that the show has been off the air for nearly three times that length, but the relatively brief leap forward allows this first episode to tidy up many of the questions that fans may have had after last season’s bombshell finale and establish the new status quo within the first 20 minutes of the episode. It’s Memorial Day and Don’s 40th birthday is fast approaching. He and his new wife Megan (Jessica Paré) are just past the honeymoon stage in their marriage and living in her apartment as See Mad Men on page 3

Jennifer Lawrence and Jon Hamm deliver riveting performances in ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Mad Men.’

Confession: having personally taken three “mental health days” off of school last semester to read Suzanne Collin’s “Hunger Games” trilogy, I was both eager and slightly apprehensive to see how the film would be adapted to the big screen. “The Hunger Games” unfolds in a post-apocalyptic future where the government forces a boy and a girl from each of 12 districts to fight to the death in an arena while the rest of the country watches on television. The story focuses on

the fight for survival of a young girl named Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), fellow tribute Peeta Mallark (Josh Hutcherson) and Everdeen’s close friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), who takes care of Everdeen’s family in her absence and watches the games from home. The film earned the thirdhighest opening weekend total domestically, taking in $155 million. Often compared to the “Twilight” series for its similar love triangle See Hunger Games on page 3

Student Rush Tickets Only $21! TONIGHT @ 7:30 PM Rudder Auditorium Get RUSH Tickets at the MSC Box Office!