thebattalion
inside voices | 3 MSC memories See inside for students’ memories of the Memorial Student Center, which will reopen April 21.
thebattalion asks
! thursday,
april 12, 2012
! serving
texas a&m since 1893
!"first paper free – additional copies $1 !"© 2012 student media
campus
A&M engages firm for Kyle Field renovation
Q:
Elite developer known for Yankee, London Olympic stadiums
What do you remember about the MSC?
Chandler Smith Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Populous, a sports facility developer, has been approached to design the renovations on Kyle Field.
The Battalion According to a Wednesday press release from the athletic department, Texas A&M and the 12th Man Foundation have approached sports facility development firm Populous
to design the renovation and potential reconstruction of Kyle Field. The release comes on the heels of a March 27 announcement that Kyle Field season tickets sold out at the earliest point in the University’s history. University and athletic department officials speculated that the sales are a direct result of A&M’s highly anticipated move to the Southeastern Conference. Populous, incepted in 1983, is recognized as one of the world’s elite sports facility developers. The
company’s portfolio includes nationally and internationally recognized venues including Yankee Stadium, the 2012 London Olympic Games’ main stadium, Wembley Stadium and Wimbledon Tennis Club, among others. Also included on Populous’ résumé are more than 300 collegiate projects, 80 of them football stadiums. Among the institutions that have worked with Populous develSee Kyle Field on page 2
Freshman year, I liked playing the piano in the flagroom. Enedina Nunez, senior marketng major
As a visiting fan of another institution, I remember taking off my hat as a sign of respect. The tradition and reverence was evident, just by stepping through the door. Jon Mann, accounting graduate student
Courtney Laine — THE BATTALION
Jessica Peale, senior telecommunication media studies major, Austin Hines, visualization graduate student, and Brandon Mendiola, freshman marketing major, all direct, write, film and edit independent movies. Their films will feature in this weekend’s Texas Film Festival.
I’ve only been to the MSC once before, but I remember there being so many students talking around the building and promotions to join student organizations. Katie Schreiber, junior supply chain management major
campus news Police to crack down on DWI violators The College Station Police Department and other local law enforcement will coordinate a DWI Task Force to operate during Chilifest weekend. Officials said they intend to utilize multiple officers, deputies and police to focus on DWI violations. If the Magistrate issues a warrant, a blood sample will be taken from the suspect to provide evidence in the DWI case. On April 12, 13 and 14 the resources necessary to obtain the warrant and subsequent blood draw will be on hand for law enforcement making DWI arrests. Justin Mathers, staff writer
Pg. 1-04.12.12.indd 1
Through the lens Texas Film Festival brings screenings, lectures to campus Owen Herterich & Sam Neal The Battalion
M
ost people know cinema through its mega-hits; but for every blockbuster like “Titanic” or “Star Wars,” there exists a multitude of smaller, independently-made films. This weekend, Texas A&M will welcome Texas Film Festival, a fourday event showcasing some of the best independent films from Texas, the U.S. and beyond. The festival first began in 1993 and ran annually until 2005, when it was discontinued. Aggie SWAMP Club
— which stands for Screen-Writing, Acting, and Movie Production — held SWAMPFest, a smaller, studentoriented film festival from 2006 to 2010. During the last year, however, SWAMP officers decided to try to restore Texas Film Festival to its former glory.
“We teamed up with MSC Aggie Cinema to bring the festival in 2011,” said Brittany Means, senior telecommunication-media studies major and director of Texas Film Festival. “It was the perfect plan, because a film festival is really where film production and film appreciation meet. There’s something for everyone.” The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday, and includes five sets of short films and two feature films, which all have a question and answer session with filmmakers after the shows.
Four of the films in the program were made by current SWAMP members and two by former members. “I think it’s really cool that studentmade films are going to be in the festival. It’s time we brought our genius from A&M to the world,” said Mike Denman, senior visualization major. Brandon Mendiola, freshman marketing major, directed “True,” a story about a man who grapples with the internal struggle between good and evil. “‘True’ is about a guy with a menSee Film Fest on page 5
corps of cadets
agriculture
Orthodox Jew adjusts to secular university
Farmers Fight to weed agriculture misconceptions Michael Dror The Battalion
Chase Carter
The Battalion Balancing religious responsibilities with a full schedule at a secular university is just part of the daily routine for Kenny Abitbol. Now eight months into life as a college student, the freshman economics major has had to rely on commitment, flexibility and a healthy portion of ingenuity to emerge from two semesters of classes and involvement with the Corps of Cadets without sacrificing his lifestyle as an Orthodox Jew. Born in Manhattan, New York, to a long family tradition of Orthodox Judaism, Abitbol moved several times before grade school, finally settling in Houston where he received his high school education at a Jewish school. When it came time to decide where his collegiate career would take him, Abitbol chose Texas A&M despite mixed reactions
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
As a Modern Orthodox Jew, Kenny Abitbol is able to join secular communities, including the Corps. from family and friends around him. “I was originally looking into a lot of the top Midwest schools like A&M, Colorado, Kansas, but ultimately decided College Station was right for me,” Abitbol said. “My parents both supported the decision, only See Cadet on page 6
Agriculture advocates are working to make sure that students at Texas A&M remember the University’s history as an institution grounded in agricultural roots. The goal of the Farmers Fight initiative is to educate students on agriculture in the modern world. “People today are far removed from farms. They seem to think that food comes from the store and milk from the fridge, and we want to show them what makes it all possible,” said Eric Evans, freshman agronomy major and member of the advocacy team. “Our goal is to promote a clear, factbased image of modern-day agriculture.”
Developed by students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the effort will scatter 16 booths across campus on Thursday. Caroline Black, director of development and agricultural leadership and education and communications graduate student, said much of Texas A&M’s campus is a tribute to the University’s agricultural foundations. “Even Kyle Field was named after the first dean of the College of Agriculture, Edwin J. Kyle. Aggies need to know these are the roots of our University,” Black said. The movement focuses not on history of agriculture, but on modern methods and techniques that sustain the world’s See Farmers on page 5
4/12/12 12:54 AM