Silver Taps postponed Silver Taps was not held Tuesday evening due to severe weather. The ceremony honoring Nicholas Garbarino and Michael Kaitson was rescheduled for May 1.
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97% of rapists will never see the inside of a jail cell
Sexual assault victims navigate grueling path bringing assailants to justice
daye ell a Okun r r e Os oe T by J lvo and y r Sto Monta lion rge he Batta y Jo T b s ic h p a Gr
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tepping into the College Station Police Station, 20-year-old Stephanie feels sick. Her mother walks by her side. Somewhere between the parking lot and the station’s front door, she takes Stephanie’s hand in her own. Stephanie is more than grateful for her support. Without her mother, Stephanie knows she wouldn’t have found the strength to do what she is about to do. But for some reason, she feels like a little girl being led to the principal’s office to be scolded. “How can I help you?” the receptionist asks. Her mother leans forward. Even though she whispers, Stephanie is certain everyone in the police station can hear her mom’s reply. “I need to report a sexual assault.” “Whose?” Stephanie clears her throat and speaks for the first time. “Mine.”
EDITOR’SNOTE This is the third of a four-part series about sexual assaults involving college students. Look for the last installment next Wednesday. The Battalion does not publish the names or identifying information of rape and sexual assault victims. The names of victims and assailants in this article were altered to protect the subjects’ identities.
See Unjustified on page 3
coming thursday
MSC traditions The opening date for the MSC building is quickly approaching. We’re taking a closer look at the traditions tied to the historic building.
campus news
Health Fair set to start Texas A&M University Student Health Services will host an annual, campuswide health fair Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the G. Rollie White Plaza. The event is designed to teach students, staff, and faculty on the A&M campus about health issues including nutrition, exercise, and responsible drinking behaviors.
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higher education
A&M System schools offer $10,000 degree San Antonio, Commerce first to launch program Jake Walker
The Battalion As the cost of tuition rises in the world of higher education, new programs at Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas A&M-San Antonio offer students a four-year degree, books included, for less than $10,000. Tuition and fees for a four-year de-
gree at Texas A&M University cost more than $33,000 at current levels, excluding expenses such as textbooks and room and board. Universities participating in the System initiative offer bachelor’s degrees for less than one-third this price. The program will combine dual credit courses with credits received from a community college, then the student can complete the remaining degree requirements at Texas A&M-Commerce or Texas A&M-San Antonio.
At Texas A&M-Commerce students can obtain a Bachelor of Applied Sciences, BAS, or a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, BAAS, with an emphasis in an area chosen by the student, for less than $10,000. The College of Education is offering the BAS with an emphasis in organizational leadership. Students are expected to complete 60 hours at a community college before transferring to complete the degree.
Lowering textbook price tags A proposed plan to lower the cost of textbooks, “shredded e-textbooks,” would allow students to pick and choose what parts of a book they need and purchase only those parts. Although there is no definite date for launch, it could come in the next few years.
See Degrees on page 8
nation&world
Supreme Court considers Obamacare constitutionality Maegan Valdez
The Battalion The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for three days last week on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly refered to as Obamacare. The historic debate consisted of two primary issues argued in front of the Court. “The first critical issue is the individual mandate, which requires that individuals who are not currently apart of an insurance policy or health plan purchase their own insurance,” said Jane Bolin, associate professor and department chair of health policy and management at the Texas A&M Health Science Center. If uninsured, individuals can purchase private insurance or insurance through the exchanges that are being set up through either the state or federal government. Under the legislation, an
individual’s failure to comply would result in a fine from the IRS. The Court decided Friday whether it would uphold the constitutionality of the individual mandate requiring every citizen to purchase health insurance, but the results will not be released to the public until the end of the term in June. “The primary focus of what Congress intends to do is to increase the pool of those that are purchasing insurance … thereby reducing individual premiums,” Bolin said. “The individual mandate is something that Congress hopes will spread the risk.” The vote to uphold or strike down the individual mandate is expected to split 5-4, one way or the other. Bolin said Justice John Roberts appears to be the swing vote. See Healthcare on page 5
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Activists for the “Health Care for the 99%” march on the Brooklyn Bridge Sunday in New York.
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