thebattalion ● tuesday,
june 26, 2012
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media
Photos by Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Susan Castillo, senior biomedical sciences major, balances school and family life. She is studying to be a physician who specializes in infectious diseases. Castillo has been diagnosed with Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis — a rare inflammatory disorder that causes tumors.
Defying all odds Pre-med student and mother of two, diagnosed with rare disease Help her cause Susan Castillo was recently diagnosed with Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis. Susan and her family will have to travel to the Mayo Clinic to receive treatment. To assist Susan and her family with the cost, please visit a Wells Fargo and say Susan’s name and birth date, Aug. 23, 1990, to donate. For more information, visit “Medical Miracle for Susie” on Facebook or email editor@thebatt.com.
Joanna Raines The Battalion
W
ith a baby bump that could barely fit in a desk, then-freshman Susan Castillo had all eyes on her when she walked into a classroom.
“I got stared at everywhere I went, people always did a double take because I had this huge belly,” Castillo said. “I knew I was being judged.” But what those people didn’t know was that Castillo was one of the brightest incoming freshmen in the country. She graduated in the top 4 percent of her class and had acceptances to some of the top pre-med programs in the country. She was the first in her family to attend college, and an unplanned pregnancy would hold her back “I worked hard for so long, I didn’t want to throw it away,” Castillo said. Her son Sean quickly became her motivation
to succeed. “I knew that not only was I becoming a mother but I was also becoming a role model. I knew that if I quit school I wouldn’t be the best example for him. I wanted to show him that when times get rough, you can persevere,” Castillo said. Castillo abandoned a full scholarship to Boston University to attend Texas A&M University, in an effort to be closer to family. Casey Kettlewell, her husband, was already attending Blinn College and they knew it was important they come together as a family to overcome the challenges teen pregnancy brings. “I’m just so glad that I chose A&M,” Castillo said. “Texas A&M is just so personable and family oriented and warm. You get the best of both worlds — you get a great education and an at-home feeling.” Castillo is a senior biomedical sciences major graduating in December. She will be a See Castillo on page 5
Sean Kettlewell, 3 years old, and Charli Kettlewell, 3 months old, share a hug with Susan Castillo. Castillo’s family drives and motivates her to succeed.
agriculture
bryan-college station
University Square under development Howdy Farm reaps organic produce Julie Blanco
Special to The Battalion Hurricane season comes and goes, but students of College Station don’t need to worry about Hurricane Harry’s going anywhere soon. Concerns have lingered as to what will be torn down to make room for new development built in the University Square shopping center at the corner of South College Avenue and University Drive. This property includes businesses such as the vacant Albertsons, Traditions Bookstore, BCS Bicycles, Hurricane Harry’s, Texas Coin and Jewelry Exchange, A+ Tutoring and Piranha Fitness Studio. The development endeavor is called Legacy Point and will require the demolition of several University Square businesses. The project is led by the Culpepper family, who has developed the area since before College Station was officially incorporated as a city. They have owned the building structures that are currently standing in University Square since its construction in the 1960s. Although many businesses are closing, relocating or being demolished, Hurricane Harry’s will do no such thing. “We are excited to have Hurri-
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Camryn Ford Special to The Battalion Tucked behind the School of Rural Public Health on west campus, a hand-painted sign that reads “Howdy Farm” marks the entrance to an 18-acre cropland. Howdy Farm, managed and cultivated by students, is an organic farm that provides produce for students on and off campus.
“I started going out there just sort of on a whim,” said English major and co-manager of the farm, Lindy Reese. “They were just so kind and welcoming. It made me feel like I was part of something that was bigger than myself.” The mission of Howdy Farm is to facilitate education and show students how they can contribute See Farm on page 3
campus Julie Blanco — THE BATTALION
Hurricane Harry’s will keep the doors open despite the upcoming construction in University Square. cane Harry’s there and expect to have them there for a long time,” said Jack Culpepper, manager of Culpepper Family, LP and president of Stalworth Corp. The most that’s expected to happen to Hurricane Harry’s is an outside renovation. Sarah Buckwalter, sophomore physiology major at Blinn College, is one of many who have wondered the fate of this establishment. Buckwalter said numerous ideas
have been going around, but no one really knows what the plan is. As for the remainder of the property known as University Square for the past 40 years, a dramatic transformation is coming soon. “It’s kind of exciting,” said Frank Heifrin, director of leasing and development at Stalworth Corp. “We’ve owned that property since the sixties and now here we are over forty years See Development on page 2
Texas Aggie Conservatives file lawsuit against University Joanna Raines The Battalion Texas Aggie Conservatives, a recognized student organization, filed a lawsuit against University President R. Bowen Loftin and several other Texas A&M University staff members on June 13. The lawsuit, Texas Aggie Conservatives v. Loftin was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
TAC claims its 1st and 14th Amendment rights were violated when it was denied funding based on its religious and political affiliations. TAC held an event in February that featured author, columnist, and political activist Star Parker, who discussed issues of poverty, race, government and See TAC on page 4
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