TheBattalion06072012 by The Battalion

clarification We’d like to clarify a story about outsourcing that ran June 5. The recommendations for facilities services are still under discussion and the decision will be made at the system level, according to sources close to the discussions. We welcome readers’ comments about published information that may require correction. We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction needs to be published. Please contact us at editor@thebatt.com.

thebattalion ● thursday,

june 7, 2012

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

campus

Circus comes to town Kalee Bumguardner The Battalion Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will perform “Barnum Bash” in Reed Arena Friday through Sunday. Circus acts include acrobats, clowns, gymnasts, a strong man and, of course, animals. “All the acts are very impressive, but I’d have to say the animals are my favorite,” said Virginia Tuells, one half of Duo Fusion, a hand-balancing act. “A performer has to do difficult stunts, but when you see the animals, it adds an extra ‘Wow.’ And, I have to say, we have a clown from Russia and he’s taking the audience all through the show, doing very funny things. I love his act.” Tuells and her husband, Ihosvanys Perez, have been gymnasts since they were chil-

Photos by Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

R. Bowen Loftin is only the fifth former student to be president of Texas A&M University.

thebattalion asks

Putting

students Loftin journeys from classroom to president

See Circus on page 6

first

If you could ask President Loftin one question, what would it be?

Naila Dhanani The Battalion

R COURTESY PHOTO

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey has been entertaining the audience since 1907.

sports

Aggie teams on track

Born and bred in a small town in Texas and a product of this University, Loftin has solidified his legacy as a president for the students. Loftin was born in Hearne, grew up in Navasota and is a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 1971. “I grew up nearby so I was very familiar with Texas A&M, living 20 miles or so from the campus,” Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin said. “I made trips to campus for sporting events. I came to the campus from time to time. When I was beginning my senior year in high school and looking where to go to college, Texas A&M was an obvious choice.” Despite having an ‘obvious choice’, Loftin applied to schools other than Texas A&M — Rice University and the University of Texas. Although A&M was far closer to home than the other two schools, location wasn’t the only factor that swayed Loftin’s decision to attend A&M. Finances played a deciding role. See Loftin on page 3

Matt Robinson Special to The Battalion The A&M track and field team kicked off the NCAA Tournament Wednesday at the University of California at Los Angeles in hopes of gaining its fourth consecutive national title. Both the men’s and women’s 400-meter relay team qualified for a chance at titles after the preliminary rounds. Freshman Deon Lendore qualified for a championship run with a 45.19 seconds 400-meter dash. South Central Region’s male Track Athlete of the Year Prezel Hardy Jr. finished on the cusp of qualifying for the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.11 seconds. On the women’s side, sophomore Ashley Collier was a hundredth of a second from the final qualifying 100-meter dash sprinter. In the field, freshman Dalton Rowan placed eighth in the discus throw. This earned 1 point for the Aggies marking the beginning of the title defense. The Aggie track team will complete the preliminary round and start preparation for the final events on Thursday. The men’s field team will go after the javelin throw and high jump; and the women will compete in the hammer throw and long jump.

Pg. 1-06.07.12.indd 1

What his stance on how state funds should be spent on primary and secondary education to prepare students for college?

Bowen Loftin is the 24th president of Texas A&M University, yet only the fifth Aggie to assume the role.

Michael Kuitu, Graduate water management hydrology science major

Loftin was accepted to three Texas universities – Rice University, Texas University, and Texas A&M University.

How many bow ties does he have? Weston Dial, junior nuclear engineering major

EDITORIAL

Support president who puts students first

s rumors surfaced regarding University of Texas President Bill Powers’ possible termination, an outpouring of support from the campus community occurred and rightfully so. A blog post by Paul Burka, a senior executive editor at Texas Monthly, claimed UT System Board of Regents had plans to fire Powers. These allegations stem from perceived dissension between Powers, who wanted a tuition increase, and the regents, all appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, who insisted on a tuition freeze. Although UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa released a statement denying plans to fire Powers, Burka later posted, subsequent to the chancellor’s statement, his source “continued to stand behind the information.” Administrators at Texas A&M are, at the very least, not unfamiliar with the battle over the cost of higher education between a president and a university’s regents. It could be assumed there was a political struggle regarding tuition after University President R. Bowen Loftin

surprisingly changed his plans to increase tuition. Back in February, the plan appeared to be a 3.95 percent increase in tuition to fund much needed faculty merit raises, per the recommendation of the Tuition and Fee Advisory Committee. In a sudden change of events, Loftin proposed that tuition remain flat, but not without the approval of a “student success fee.” Tuition didn’t increase. The average cost to students still went up, but in a more subtle fashion. The idea behind the student success fee is to liquidate fee money to fund different initiatives related to “student success.” Perhaps it is a lack of support for Loftin that influenced him to create the student success fee instead of raising tuition, which should be a lifeline for student success initiatives instead of a “student success fee.” The amount of power the board of regents holds, including, but certainly not limited to, tuition rates and the firing of university presidents, is troubling given the boards’ background. Regents, mostly businessmen, are often accused

of worrying more about the bottom line than the quality of our education. There is no question the president must be held accountable, but the board must act in interests of students. In a recent interview with The Battalion, Loftin noted every job has a boss and everyone is held accountable to someone or some thing. Loftin said, “I don’t mind being held accountable. You can always judge me, and people do so all the time. But you have to recognize, in this kind of job, there’s no permanency to it.” These are exciting times at Texas A&M University. We have a president who puts students first. In everything he does, he does for students. Although there have been no public allegations of discord among the regents and Loftin, students and faculty members should keep a close eye on the administration and ensure the president who puts students first is well supported. Naila Dhanani Editor in chief senior biomedical sciences major Trevor Stevens Assignments editor senior English major

6/7/12 12:29 AM

thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893

Naila Dhanani, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. 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. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@ 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 979-8452687. For classified advertising, call 979845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@ thebatt.com. 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. Call 979-845-2696 for mail subscriptions.

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campus

Lots close for construction Jason Culak

The Battalion 7X .SWITL &VE^SW :EPPI] &YFFE 1SSVI 7X .SWITL This summer, construction 1IQSVMEP %9&$6$ 'EXLSPMG on and around campus closed 'EXLSPMG )POW +VSYT -RG 'LYVGL 7GLSSP off roads, reduced lanes and rerouted walkways and it’s beginning to affect where students can park. June Broughton, marketing manager for Transportation · Reserve your 2013 Aggieland Services, said parking stipulaThe 111th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook tions changed this summer for will chronicle traditions, academics, the other education, Lot 48. It is now closed for gensports, the Corps, Greeks, campus organizations and seniors and graduate students. Distribution will be during Fall 2013. eral summer parking. Go to the optional services box in Howdy when you register Broughton said renovations for fall. For info, call 845-2696. to Lot 48 and Lot 59 limited the availability of spaces to respective permit holders, and as a result, these holders should be

TAKE A PIECE OF A&M HISTORY WITH YOU

ransit of Venus is a planetary alignment when Venus passes directly between the sun and the Earth. The transit lasted about seven hours. The event drew large crowds of both students and families. Texas A&M Department of Physics and Astronomy provided telescopes equipped with proper filters to view the transit without damaging ones eyes. University President R. Bowen Loftin, left, views a projection of the tranit on a piece of white cardboard. This was the last transit until December 2117.

the only ones allowed to park in these spaces. A sign at the entrance of the lot states the stipulations, but some students said they did not know they were unable to park in the lot. William Garnett, senior accounting major, said Lot 48 looks empty each time he drives by yet is not allowed to park there since he doesn’t own a pass. Ivan Rodriguez, junior psychology major, said if students are looking for an alternative place to park, Lot 62 is a great choice as it’s opposite Kyle Field. Lot 48 renovations will be

completed by mid-August. Broughton said most of Lot 30, which closed last summer due to Northside residence hall renovation projects, will remain closed this summer. Lot 30c/77 will reopen next summer to go along with the completion of the residence hall construction. Lots 12, 20, 23 and 37 are also currently under construction. The Department of Transportation’s website said Lot 12 permit holders may park in Lot 24, Lot 23 permit holders may park in Central Campus Garage and Lot 37 permit holders may park in Lot 71 or 36.

Parking options The Department of Transportation encourages students to check out summer parking options at: http:// transport.tamu. edu/parking/maps/ breaksummer.pdf

bryan-college station

Walmart dances into Texas Hall of Fame Allison Linder The Battalion Proposed plans are in the works to bring a second Walmart to Bryan with intentions to stimulate growth on the west side of town. “It’s not really a done deal yet and I am not at liberty to say too much till it’s all signed, sealed and completed. We hope to have closure here in the next couple of weeks or so,” said Dennis Goehring Bryan’s director of economic development. This would be the third Walmart to come to the Brazos Valley, one of which is located in College Station. “Another Walmart will bring in more jobs and with the bio corridor coming into bloom as it is, there isn’t a grocery store anywhere on the west side of the railroad tracks in Bryan. And with the west side growing, it’s time for opportunities like this to come into fruition,” Goehring said. Goehring estimates there will be about 300 job-based opportunities that would come with the new Walmart, but said he was unable to divulge more details. “Just know that growth is part of everything. If we’re growing on that side, grocery stores and other things will join along the way,” Goehring said. Bryan officials did not answer questions as to whether the city approached Walmart or vice-versa. The location being considered for the development is located on FM 2818 and Villa Maria — where the Texas Hall of Fame dance hall

sits, vacant. The Texas Hall of Fame closed its doors Dec. 22, 2011. It closed nearly 13 months after owner Johnny Lyon’s death, per his request. Walmart’s spokesman has not responded to calls or messages regarding the matter, and details such as whether the Hall would be renovated or torn down are unclear at this time. “Going dancing at the Hall was considered a kind of unspoken Aggie tradition in most people’s eyes and I am really going to miss it,” said Kristen Currie, senior agricultural leadership and development major. The closing of the Hall not only affected where students and locals went to dance but also left some people without jobs. Chase Lambscome, Class of 2009 and former bartender at the Texas Hall of Fame, said he stumbled upon the job after meeting a fellow bartender from the Hall on Northgate one night. “For the most part, you worked with a lot of other Aggies. It was great. You got to be around a lot of people who went through the same things in life as you,” Lambscome said. Lambscome also said the Hall wasn’t just a place for people to go dance but that it was a place full of memories. “The last night we were open was for a wedding reception and the bride told us that we could let anybody else in that wanted to come in to say goodbye to the place,” Lambscome said. “We had a lot of people come in there who just wanted to get pictures in front of the stage one last time.”

howtoapply If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion, apply at thebatt.com, or call 845-3315. The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M

Pg. 2-06.07.12.2.indd 1

student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out. No previous journalism experience is necessary.

6/6/12 11:39 PM

loftin

page 3 thursday 6.7.2012

thebattalion

Loftin’s life

From students to presidents

◗ 1949 - born on June 29 in Hearne, Texas.

◗ 1970 - graduated Texas A&M with a bachelor of science with honors in physics.

◗ 1972 - married Karin Cibula on Nov. 23.

James Earl Rudder ◗ Rudder, Class of 1932, served as commanding ofﬁcer of the Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion and stormed the beach on D-Day. He was later reassigned to the 109th Infantry Regiment, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon returning to the U.S., he served as mayor of Brady, Texas from 1946 to 1952. In 1959, he became president of Texas A&M University and became president of the system in 1965.

Alvin Luedecke ◗ Luedecke, Class of 1932, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1935 and spent time during World War II in South America, Central America, Florida and Arizona. He returned to A&M in 1968 as associate dean of engineering, after working for 10 years with NASA. That year he was appointed acting president after Rudder’s death and served as executive vice president for six years.

E. Dean Gage

Ray M. Bowen

◗ Gage earned his bachelor of

◗ Bowen earned his bachelor

science in 1965 and doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1966, both from Texas A&M. He went on to earn a master of science and residency in neurosurgery and neurophysiology from Auburn University in 1968. He was appointed acting president of A&M in 1993. He now serves as the associate dean of professional academic programs in the College of Veterinary Medicine at A&M.

of science degree and his doctorate in 1958 and 1961, respectively, in mechanical engineering. Prior to serving as A&M’s president, Bowen was interim president of Oklahoma State University. In 1994, he was inducted as president of A&M and launched the “Vision 2020” program. He is now a professor emeritus at A&M.

◗ 1980 - professor of physics at the University of HoustonDowntown, awarded tenure in 1982.

University of HoustonDowntown’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Continued from page 1

Pg. 3-06.07.12.indd 1

- earned both his master of arts and doctorate, respectively, from Rice University in Physics.

◗ 1982 - received

Loftin “I applied here and was admitted. I also applied to two other schools. All three came back with acceptances, which included offers of a tuition scholarship,” Loftin said. “Now having said that, tuition at the time was 50 bucks a semester. But, that didn’t help a lot because there is more to going to school than tuition.” Loftin came from a very poor family. His dad worked at an hourly job, making a few dollars an hour. At this time, no federally subsidized student loan program was present. Loftin said if he wanted to borrow money, he would have had to go to a bank. “I had this opportunity to go to one of three schools, but the money was going to be a problem, especially [for] Rice University,” Loftin said. “Here and Austin were cheaper, but not within my price range so I didn’t know how to make it work.” Several weeks later, he got a [second] letter from A&M offering a full scholarship. “A former student of A&M had passed away earlier and had left money for an endowed scholarship for a person in physics and they wanted me to have it,” Loftin said. “It made the decision very easy.” Without a wealth of knowledge in the subject, Loftin said he decided to major in physics. “In high school, I had a physics teacher who wasn’t a trained physics teacher — he was really trained as a mathematics teacher. He taught the advanced math classes and he taught physics as well,” Loftin said. “I felt it was a course that had such fundamental importance to so many things, that if I mastered physics, I could do most anything I wanted to do.” Although physics may not be the degree of choice for most university presidents, it works for Loftin. The transition from a physicist to an administrator came naturally, which he credits to the nature of the science field itself and to courses outside his degree plan he took while in school. “When I got here to A&M, I came from a very small high school. A&M, to me, even though it had only 10,000 students, was a candy store There was lots of stuff here that I wanted to do,” Loftin said. “I certainly took my required courses in physics and mathematics, but I was really interested in liberal arts. I added a lot of courses that were not in my required curriculum. I read widely, and I took sociology and political science. That gave me an extra bit of education I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.” One can look at the presidency like a physics equation: On one side lies the problems a president manages and the other side is interaction with people. “Physics people solve problems — it’s what we do,” Loftin said, “And [the presidency] is full of problems.” There are two very different sides to the job, so how can a physicist be a president? Loftin gave two answers. “One- My father was a people person. Observing him as I grew up, I saw my father as a man who could get along with anybody — rich, poor, old, young it didn’t matter,” Loftin said. Loftin attributes his father to his success in relating to people, in particular to students. “He would always get along with everybody. I watched that and I assumed that’s the way life was,” Loftin said. The president has numerous tasks and Loftin said, early in the job, he worked 16-hour workdays. Yet his most difficult task involves deaths of students. “The hardest thing I do at Texas A&M is deal with tragedy,” Loftin said. “I have

◗ 1973 and 1975

◗ 1984 and 1985 - received University of HoustonDowntown’s Award for Excellence in Service.

◗ 1989 - received the American Association of Artiﬁcial Intelligence Award.

◗ 1992 - received NASA’s Space Act Award.

◗ 1993 - received the NASA Public Service Medal.

◗ 1994 - professor and director of the NASA Virtual Environments Research Institute in Houston.

◗ 1995 - received the NASA Invention of the Year Award.

◗ 1999 - served as both professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Houston.

◗ 2000 - served

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Coming from a poor family, Loftin to this day still tries to make Texas A&M University a great value. lost almost 50 students since I became president.” Before Silver Taps occurs, the families gather in the Corps Center and Loftin tries to join them if he can. Yet he struggles with his interactions. “What do you say to family that’s just lost a 20-year-old?” Loftin said. “That’s hard.” Traditions help. “I watch the families, especially those who are not Aggie acquainted. Maybe their child is the first to go to A&M, so they’re not too sure of this place,” Loftin said. “They come here, they see Silver Taps and they go ‘wow’. It doesn’t lessen the grief but it has a way to make you understand you’re part of something bigger than your own family — you’re part of a very large family that shares your grief.” Loftin said he sees magic happening at Silver Taps and Muster. The second most difficult task Loftin said he faces is grappling with extraordinarily difficult financial challenges. The past years have seen an astounding decrease in state funding for higher education. According to Loftin, raising tuition rates is not a feasible solution in today’s economic climate. So he struggles daily with how to keep the experiences of stu-

dents as high quality as it has been if not better despite the decreases in resources. “People talk about how bad things are at A&M right now with funding. Most people have a narrow window in which they’re looking at A&M,” Loftin said. “There have been worse times, in terms of money and in terms of political influence, and so that gives me perspective. Without it, you’d be hard pressed to keep your head up everyday.” Despite the difficulties, Loftin embraces the opportunity to live out the presidency at his alma mater every day. “It’s pretty special. There aren’t many of us like that,” Loftin said. “I’m the 24th president of A&M, but I’m only the 5th Aggie.” It’s possible that the uniqueness of Aggieland adds to this specialness. “You can’t be here, especially as an undergraduate, without falling in love,” Loftin said. “That love is not something that every student will experience at every school.” This love for A&M coincides with and often fosters Loftin’s love for students. He said he makes a concerted effort to interact with students as often as possible to gain perspective. “Everyday is full of problems and some are hard and unpleas-

ant to deal with. But I can always count on students to perk me up,” Loftin said. While Loftin was an undergraduate student, James Earl Rudder was president of the University. “I never approached Rudder. I never dared approach him,” Loftin said. “He was feared, and I don’t want to be like that.” Despite the dominant memory of past presidents like Rudder and more recently, Robert Gates, Loftin strives to create his own path. “I don’t guide myself by what Rudder or Gates would have done. I just simply do what I do,” Loftin said. “But you’re wise to pay attention to what people have done and be familiar with A&M’s history.” Loftin said that people can judge what he has done as president at a later time. “People have said to me oftentimes that somehow A&M gets the right leader at the right time,” Loftin said. “I can’t claim that’s true of me by any means. You can judge that sometime in the future possibly.” Many already talk positively of Loftin and can attest to his student interaction. “I love students and I hope that will be the legacy I inherit,” Loftin said.

as professor of electrical and computer engineering, and computer science at Old Dominion University in Virginia, along with being director of graduate simulation programs and executive director of the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center in 2003.

◗ 2005 - served as professor of maritime systems engineering at Texas A&M University at Galveston, and later served as vice president and CEO.

◗ 2010 - named the 24th president of Texas A&M on Feb. 12.

6/7/12 12:19 AM

news

page 4 thursday 6.7.2012

thebattalion

Summer in Brazos Valley

Courtney Laine — THE BATTALION

Bluegrass band, Valley Junction, plays in front of Corner of the Time Antiques & Collectibles Mall during First Friday in downtown Bryan.

Live music contributes atmosphere, entertainment Paige Kuznar The Battalion Store away the stress and pull out the planners; it’s summertime in Bryan-College Station, which is usually music to student’s ears. Depending on the outlook, summer can be a time of relaxation, parties and neverending fun. Others may see staying in College Station as an unexciting vacancy. Between the various visiting bands and concerts around town, there are several options students can choose from to get their summer concert fix. “I love staying in College Station over the summer, especially for the concerts,” senior finance major Haley McPherson said. Concerts in Bryan-College Station can be especially enticing because many bands set student-friendly prices. Wade Bowen will be performing at Hurricane Harry’s July 11. Tickets will be ten dollars. “It’s impossible to get bored with everything going on out here at this time of year,” McPherson said. Two other bands that usually have students talking are Kyle Park and Casey Donahew. Casey Donahew Band will play at Harry’s July 18 and Kyle Park on July 20. “I always take full advantage of the bands that come to Northgate because of the cheap entry fee,” junior telecommunications major Becca Green said. “The bands scheduled for this summer are going to be awesome.” If students are looking for something a little more unique than a concert, another musical opportunity at a reasonable price can be found at The Theatre Company in Bryan. During the weekends of June 15 and June 24, The Theatre Company will be showing Gypsy, often referred to as the greatest American musical. The tickets range anywhere from five to 20 dollars.

After the musical, just down West 26th Street in downtown Bryan The Village Café is a local venue for just about anything from salsa night every Wednesday to Singer/ Songwriter night every Thursday. And if the occasional concert isn’t enough, The Village Café has live music most Fridays and Saturdays. “I have never been to The Village but I heard it was cool,” senior sports management major Brandon Hollek said. If music under the stars sounds fun, Starlight Music Series is coming to Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheatre on June 16. The performer will be Asia featuring John Payne. The concert is free. Not only does College Station offer an array of musical opportunities, they also give students the chance to make their own music. Every Sunday La Bodega will have karaoke from midnight until close. There is more free live music at Fitzwilly’s Bar and Grill every Friday and Saturday night. “Fitzwilly’s is guaranteed fun,” Hollek said. Also, Lakeside Icehouse in downtown Bryan has an entire summer lineup including Parker Heights on June 8 and the Texas Twisters on July 21.

Lineup info The lineup is available on their website at www.lakebryan.com.

Dustin O’Donnell — THE BATTALION

Downtown Bryan hosts many artists. The Queen Theater, currently being renovated, will be one more venue for live music, once completed.

Habitat for Humanity breaks new ground Aaron Deering

Photos by Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION

Members of the Habitat for Humanity board and Bryan mayor Jason Bienski participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Faith Subdivision on Martin Luther King St. in Bryan. Future homeowners partook in the event.

Pg. 4-06.07.12.2indd 1

The Battalion Not everyone has the opportunity to grow up in the safest neighborhoods or have the tools they need to raise a family, but that’s where Habitat for Humanity comes in. On Wednesday, the Bryan chapter of Habitat for Humanity broke ground for a new neighborhood known as the Faith Subdivision on the 900th block of East Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The event was open to the public. Bryan Mayor Jason Bienski, spoke, along with future resident of the Faith Subdivision, Melanie Benford. “The neighborhood’s been cleaned up in a developing part of Bryan so we’re excited. We would like to congratulate Habit for Humanity and congratulate the 24 families for living the American dream in homeownership,” said Bienski after the celebration. “It’s a great day in Bryan.” Benford, a working mother of three, grew up in the area and said she hoped by taking part in this project early, she can help affect the lives of many in the area. “It’s going to be a great impact. There are going to be more kids in the neighborhood and better people here,” said Benford about the opportunity to raise her children in this new subdivision in the same town she was raised.

She said she grew up in a neighborhood not far from the area but her parents moved out given a lack of security. She is now humbled and excited to come back as a part of the area’s transformation as it becomes a safer place for children to grow up. Executive Director for Bryan Habitat for Humanity Marco Maina and Board President Mitch Morehead also spoke at the event. Bryan Habitat for Humanity was formed in 1989 and is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing and giving others the right to simple and decent shelter. “The houses should begin construction in July and so far only six families have been selected,” said Morehead regarding the immediate schedule of development. Habitat for Humanity often expresses a need for volunteers, but in the Bryan-College Station area, Texas A&M University students are ready to lend a helping hand. The Brazos Country area is quickly growing and while new, privatized neighborhoods are being constructed all the time, we can never forget to help our neighbors in need to fulfill the same basic necessity of shelter. Barrett House contributed to this report.

6/7/12 12:29 AM

sports

page 5 thursday 6.7.2012

thebattalion

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive welcomes Texas A&M University and University of Missouri Wednesday into the conference at an SEC celebration in Atlanta, Ga. President R. Bowen Loftin, Student Body President John Claybrook, and senior yell leader Nelson Ingram attend the celebration.

SEC welcomes Aggies, Tigers to conference Fans eager to experience Aggieland atmosphere The Battalion Though the day Texas A&M and Missouri effectively join their new conference still approaches, both universities were allowed to celebrate prematurely Wednesday in Atlanta, Ga. as the SEC welcomed more than 900 speakers and alumni from A&M, Missouri and other SEC institutions. Among the speakers present were SEC commissioner Mike Slive, Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin and A&M head football coach Kevin Sumlin. Interim athletic director John Thornton, Aggie men’s basketball coach Billy Kennedy and women’s basketball coach Gary Blair were also in attendance. The event, placed in one of the major hubs of SEC country, gave fellow SEC institutions and fans an opportunity to investigate A&M history, traditions, athletics and academics. Jason Cook, A&M vice president of marketing and communications, said the SEC welcomed the Aggies and indicated many con-

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ference fans were anxious to experience Aggieland for themselves. “It truly was a welcoming celebration for Texas A&M and Missouri to the SEC,” Cook said. “I think that SEC fans are excited about having the Aggies, excited about having the Twelfth Man in the league, and a lot of people are extremely excited about making the trip to College Station to see a football game at Kyle Field and a baseball game at [Olsen Field] at Blue Bell Park.” As A&M makes its transition, the University explains what it brings in culture and academics. The increased exposure from a higher profile conference has A&M officials attempting to buck the old Aggie saying ‘From the outside you can’t understand it, from the inside you can’t explain it.’ Cook said the SEC celebration was no exception to this mission. “What we wanted to do tonight was pick up Texas A&M one eve-

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2-3/bedroom apartments. Some with W/D, some on College Main, remodeled with dishwashers, Great deal! $175-$600/mo. 979-219-3217. 2/1 Duplex, 950sq.ft., near A&M/ Shuttle, large living room, fenced backyard, W/D connections, ceiling fans. $650/mo. 229 Brentwood, CS. 512-206-6658, Nabilski@hotmail.com 2bd. Stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, CAH, small yard. $800/month. No pets. 602 Peyton. 281-440-6030. 2bd/1ba apartment, 800sq. ft. New appliances, carpeting and tile. W/D. bus-route. $575/mo. 210-391-4106. Spacious duplex, 2bd/1ba., beautiful! Internet, w/d, remodeled, fenced front and backyard. Many extras. Convenient to everything! One week free. College Station. 979-422-3427, 832-242-4917 . Call for specials. 2bd/2.5ba unique floorplans w/balcony views of Kyle Field. Brand new luxury apartment condos. Fullsize stainless steel appliances, W/D, designer ammenities granite/wood/tile, bus stop. Only 36units on Holleman at Wolf Pen. www.broadstoneranchatwolfpen.com, www.aggielandleasing.com, 979-776-6079.

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AGGIE ATHLETICS

ning, and put it in the middle of Atlanta,” Cook said. “We wanted to expose people to our world class academics in research, expose them to our traditions and then also introduce them to some of our coaches.” Also in attendance were the Texas Aggie yell leaders, members of student government and A&M’s collie mascot, Reveille. Senior yell leader Drew Nelson said he enjoyed explaining the traditions of Texas A&M to curious SEC fans. “We got a lot of questions about our uniforms and our history, just

all of the traditions at Texas A&M,” Nelson said. “All the schools in the SEC have a deeply rooted tradition but none of them come close to A&M. A lot of people know about the Twelfth Man, know about Kyle Field and know that we have five yell leaders, but it was really neat to explain a lot of that to some of them for the first time.” The SEC, too, provided an inviting atmosphere for the Aggies and Tigers. A conference that prides itself on the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, it showcased

that sentiment Wednesday evening. Student Body President John Claybrook said the SEC welcomed the Aggie family with open arms. “One big banner said, ‘Welcome to the SEC family, Texas A&M.’ It was a very welcoming environment,” Claybrook said. “[SEC] commissioner Slive actually mentioned a couple of traditions. He mentioned ‘Howdy,’ Midnight Yell and the Dixie Chicken … I think people got a really good feel for the kind of spirit A&M has.”

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thebattalion

Circus Continued from page 1

dren, and joined the circus to do something a bit more artistic. Part of their hand-balancing act includes a tango. The pair put a spin on traditional lifting acts, however. “It’s a really different act because the man always lifts the woman, and in Duo Fusion I lift him,” Tuells said. “I weigh about 100 pounds, and my husband weighs 145. I lift him in high heels, so it makes the act a little bit different, and sexy.” Tuells said the hardest part of the act for her is the end, because by then she’s a little bit tired but needs to be super focused for the finale. “It’s hard because I don’t have the same strength he does, but you just practice and get a good technique,” Tuells said. “And it’s nice because the people in the audience are always cheering, and it makes me feel special because I know that I am doing something that not everyone is able to do.” Part of the “Barnum Bash

The Ball of Death has multiple motorcycle riders in a steel mesh sphere.

Big top cruelty This photo provided by the Animal Protection Institute taken in January 2005 in Jacksonville, Fla., shows elephants of Ringling Brothers Circus being chained immediately after their unloading form the transport train and walk to the arena.

COURTESY PHOTO

Gold Edition” show is that audience members are only feet away from the action. “I think being closer, audience members can appreciate our act more,” Perez said. “They realize that it’s not an illusion and that Virginia is doing most of the lifting. We also love feeding off of the energy of the audience and seeing their reactions.” When asked about their favorite circus memories, many Aggies shared the same sentiment that elephants are the best act, relating the circus to the Elephant Walk tradition at A&M. “I think the tie-in is cool that [the elephants] are at A&M,” said senior accounting major Michael Ariza. “[It’s]

pretty entertaining.” The circus also includes a pre-show party, where the audience can go backstage, meet the performers and get pictures and autographs. While backstage, audience members can also learn juggling and balancing skills from a clown and get a close-up view of the animals, all of which is included in the price of their ticket. “I am so excited,” said Christie McKinney, Class of 2012. “I’m going to the preshow to meet the clowns. I love circuses. I can’t wait to see the elephants because they’re so big and cute. It’s cool to see them do tricks.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Naila Dhanani: Make changes to animal training practices

he “greatest” show on Earth is coming to College Station.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will present a circus spectacular, “Barnum Bash” this weekend. Unsuspecting parents and attendees may be under the impression they are attending an event full of family fun. They couldn’t be more wrong. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Ringling Bros. have often been at odds over the presence of circuses. PETA has long advocated for the complete shutdown of animal acts, while Ringling Bros. claims PETA misrepresents its animal practices. In 2009, The Washington Post featured Sammy Haddock, a former handler at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Center for Elephant Conservation. His job description included training baby elephants to be circus performers. He later died and left behind pictures and written accounts of maltreatment of the baby elephants. The Post wrote, “In a 15-page notarized declaration…before he took sick, Haddock describes how, in his experience at Ringling’s conservation center, elephant calves were forcibly separated from their mothers. How up to four handlers at a time tugged hard on ropes to make babies lie down, sit up, stand on two legs, salute, do headstands. All the public’s favorite tricks. His photos show young elephants trussed in ropes as bullhooks are pressed to their skin.”

These accounts are sickening and force us to confront head-on the abuse propagated by Ringling Bros. Of course, the circus disputes the claims made by Haddock and PETA and instead claims bullhooks are used throughout the animal industry to give “cues” to elephants. Regardless of whether bullhooks are common practice, it doesn’t make its use ethical. Elephants don’t normally stand on two legs and perform headstands. It’s cruel to take an animal out of its natural habitat, tear it away from its family, and force it to perform tricks simply for our amusement. Seeing an elephant slammed to the ground and hit with rope doesn’t amuse me. It sickens me. In November 2011, the USDA announced Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey must pay a $270,000 fine for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act. Seems like a slap on the wrist given its CEO is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. As Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey graces College Station with its presence this weekend, I encourage you to skip it. Let’s not propagate animal abuse and instead, let’s take a stand. Naila Dhanani is a senior biomedical sciences major and editor in chief of The Battalion.

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