thebattalion ● thursday,
july 12, 2012
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texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media
campus
University outsources golf course Sterling Golf Management Inc., to manage course Jake Walker The Battalion Texas A&M University will outsource the management of the University golf course to Sterling Golf Management Inc., and begin renovation of the course when a contract is signed in
the coming weeks. Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications at Texas A&M, said students can expect to see significant changes to the course. All 18 holes will be renovated and three new holes will be added for agronomyrelated research. New hazards will be added to the course — both water and bunkers. The course will also feature a renovated and expanded driving range, Cook said.
“The Texas A&M Golf Course sits on an important gateway to the University,” Cook said. “We want to ensure that the course is reflective of our world-class University, while also providing a quality recreational experience for our students, faculty, staff and guests.” Landscapes Unlimited, an awardwinning golf construction and development company, will handle the physical reconstruction and renovation
of the golf course, according to Dennis Corrington, director of recreational sports at Texas A&M. Renovation of the course will begin when a contract is signed, which Corrington said could be in the next two weeks. “It’s going to be the premiere oncampus golf course in the entire nation,” said senior finance major and student body president John Claybrook. See Golf on page 4
Quick stats ◗ 7 full-time, 8 parttime employees ◗ Course is 61-years old ◗ $757,000 in revenue and $972,000 in expenses in 20112012
Elyse Wudeck — THE BATTALION
Going for gold Sophomore duo headed to London Julie Blanco
Olympic facts
The Battalion
T Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Sophomore education major Cammile Adams will complete in the 200-meter buttefly.
he Olympic dream is becoming a reality for two sophomore standout swimmers.
◗ The 2012 London Olympics will run from July 27 to Aug. 12.
◗ More than 200 countries will be competing in roughly 300 events.
◗ This will be the third Olympic games event held
Breeja Larson and Cammile Adams will represent Texas A&M University and the U.S. at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Both swimmers are the first Aggies to ever qualify in an individual event for the U.S. Olympic swim team. Larson, sophomore general studies major, was the first of the two Aggies to qualify when she won the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:05:92 and succeeded in out-swimming the
world’s fastest breaststroker and two-time reigning world champion Rebecca Soni. “I’m still kind of processing it,” said Larson. “It’s just wonderful. It hits me step by step that I’m moving to the next level now. It’s cool to know that all the hard work you put in, all the sacrifices you made to get to your goals finally paid off.” Adams, sophomore education major, qualified for the team
in London. The city held the fourth official Summer Olympics in 1908 and the 14th following World War II in 1948. ◗ The Olympics will be televised nationally by NBC. ◗ The 2012 Summer Olympics will be the 30th with the first occurring in Athens, Greece in 1896. ◗ The U.S. currently holds the largest number of medals in Summer Olympic history with 2,297, including 930 gold medals. The next highest country is the – now collapsed – Soviet Union with 1,010 medals. ◗ Baseball, played in the Olympic games since 1992, is no longer considered an Olympic sport.
See Swimmers on page 3
military
track
Veteran and soldier suicide rates increase
Tarmoh London bound, will run relay Aaron Deering The Battalion
Julie Blanco The Battalion The unseen wounds of war of America’s military and veterans are creating an escalating number of deaths by suicide. Their souls are wounded from horrors they witness and relive over and over. Suicide is a leading cause of non-combat deaths and accounts for nearly one in three non-hostile Army fatalities. In the first 155 days of the year, there were 154 deaths by suicide for active duty troops, which is about 50 percent more than the amount of U.S. forces killed in action in Afghanistan, according to the Associated Press. In the same time period for 2011, there were 130 suicides. Eighty of the suicides for 2012 have been in the Army. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta said there is a way to lower the number of military and civilian deaths by suicide. Suicide prevention is a leadership responsibility, according to Panetta. Leaders throughout the chain
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Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Suicide is a leading cause of non-combat deaths many stem from post traumatic stress disorder. of command must encourage individuals to reach out for help when needed. Also as a military leader, it is important to educate yourself and your subordinates about suicide prevention, according to war veteran and Army ROTC Executive Officer Luis Urbina. “We give classes for those with potential for suicide,” said Urbina. “Those who show certain characteristics of pain, we make sure they seek medical help.” Those in active duty feel the pain of losing a See Suicides on page 5
Jeneba Tarmoh has gold medals in multiple events around the world, along with a couple of NCAA National Championships, all before the age of 23. After turning professional a year ago, she will chase a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Tarmoh was born in San Jose, Calif. to Sierra Leone immigrants who both worked as nurses in the U.S. She attended Mt. Pleasant High School there before attending Texas A&M University and joining the track team. Before her first semester at Texas A&M she attended the World Junior Championships in 2008 with the U.S. team and earned gold for the 100-meter and the 4x100 relay. While at A&M, Tarmoh began
specializing in the 100-meter and 200-meter events, where she helped the Aggies win two of their three consecutive NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships from 2010 to 2011. “I loved being at Texas A&M, I can safely say it was home away from home,” Tarmoh said. “The coaches were very caring and there is a special place in my heart for my Aggie teammates.” While still attending A&M, she won gold at the 2010 NACAC U-23 Championships in the 100-meter. Pat Henry, head coach of the A&M track and field team, is in Barcelona with the U.S. team at the World Junior Championships with current and future Aggie runners. “Jeneba was and is a great Aggie,” Henry said, “She did everything she See Tarmoh on page 3
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