The Battalion: August 30, 2011

Page 1

thebatt.com

Fight the fat Check our blog for 15 tips to avoid the infamous Freshman 15. From exercise to smart campus eating, you’ll be armed with all the info you need to keep looking fantastic.

Should A&M join the SEC?

thebattalion No End in Sight ● tuesday,

august 30, 2011

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media

Heat, dry weather squeeze farmers

According to our readers, yes – A&M should join the SEC. The online results revealed 73% of participants answered “yes,” while 27% responded “no.” It’s not too late to share your response. Check out the poll online and join the conversation at thebatt.com.

Jeremy Twitchell The Battalion

coming wednesday

Landmark abortion law A look at how oppenents and supporters of abortion are reacting to the State Legislature’s decision to slash Planned Parenthood funding.

inside opinion | 3b Ramadan primer Muslims’ month of fasting and spiritual renewal concludes this week.

sports | 4b Aggies eye SMU for opener In their first official press conference of the season, the No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies sized up their inaugural opponent of the 2011 season, the Southern Methodist Mustangs. See complete coverage of the conference for thoughts from Coach Mike Sherman and team leaders.

b! life | 5b Zombie wasting Decompressing from the stresses of college life takes many forms. For those who like to blow off steam while blowing the heads off of zombies, Dead Nation offers an affordable option.

Pg. 1a-08.30.11.indd 1

Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION

And you thought your job was rough ... State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, who is also an Atmospheric Sciences professor, is tasked with sharing the unwelcome news that the drought may persist into next year.

Drought may persist through winter Emily Villani The Battalion It doesn’t take a doctoral degree in atmospheric sciences to notice that it’s hot and dry in Texas this summer. But according to the professionals, this year’s drought severity transcends the terminology in place to quantify levels of drought: D0, D1, D2, D3 and D4, the last of which describes 78 percent of Texas. “We’re in territory now where D4, which is exceptional, hardly begins to describe how bad it is,” said Don Conlee, instructional associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. “We’re at the point where people are thinking, ‘should there be a D5?’” From his 12th-floor office in the O&M building, State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon expressed serious concerns about the drought, particu-

This drought has been

so extreme we’ve had 40 percent of

normal rainfall for the past 10 like

months statewide. So it almost counts

two years’ worth of drought as far as water supply is concerned. — State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon

larly its long-term impact on ranchers, farmers and water systems. Insufficient rainfall statewide is desiccating the agriculture industry, with $5.2 billion in crop losses, according to a recent Agrilife report. “The economic impact from the loss in agriculture will be very large,” said Erik Nielsen, senior meteorology major and student coordinator for Texas A&M Weather Broadcasting. The cattle industry is drying up as well.

“[Ranchers] are having to sell large portions of the herds, so there’ll probably be fewer cattle in the state next year than any year since the 1960s,” said Nielsen-Gammon who is also a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. And if the drought persists, water supplies are next. “Most water systems were designed to withstand the drought of record, which was a multi-year drought in the 1950’s,”

Asked what he has for sale today, farmer Richard Schubert roars with laughter and produces a stack of empty fruit baskets from underneath his folding table. “You’re looking at it,” Schubert says. “It’s so dry out there, my grasshoppers is carrying canteens.” Schubert is one of a dwindling number of local growers still making the weekly trek to the Brazos Valley Farmers Market in Bryan. Many of his colleagues have stopped coming, their fields too devastated by the ongoing drought to yield enough produce to justify the trip. Those who do come bring meager offerings compared to previous years. They have to work harder than ever to harvest even the smallest yields, and the reduced supply has forced them to charge more for what they do have. The concept of profits this year is laughable; at this point, breaking even is the goal. The stalwart few who remain at the market, however, said they remain optimistic. “This is the worst I’ve ever seen,” Schubert said. “But we’ll do something. I mean, we always do.” Anne Vonk, senior community development major, is interning with the market, where she helps with everything from event planning to liaising with growers. See Farmers on page 5a

See Drought on page 5a

national

Fatalities, floods rise in wake of Irene’s passing Natalee Blanchat The Battalion The death toll following Hurricane Irene spiked Monday from 21 on Sunday night to 38 reported fatalities in 11 states after a series of flash floods sent rivers overflowing, spilling dangerous floodwater along the upper East Coast. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 693,205 Connecticut customers, or 44 percent of the state,

were without power Monday morning. Rhode Island had the highest percentage with 64 percent Monday, but New York had the highest number, with 938,519. Sarah Kashinsky, class of 2010, experienced the storm from her New Jersey home. She said the worst part of the storm — with heavy rainfall and high wind gusts — came late Saturday night and lasted through Monday. See Irene on page 3a

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Greg Walker pulls his row boat north on Winnikee Ave. in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Monday morning while surveying the damaging flood waters left by Tropical Storm Irene.

lifestyle

sports

Martin’s harmony of comedy, bluegrass to visit A&M

Israel match pits Corbelli against former coach

Jennifer DuBose The Battalion The art of “the twang” is nothing new to College Station as numerous country artists siphon through Northgate each year. However, one rarely hears of a bluegrass band tearing up the scene. Luckily, the 39th season of MSC OPAS will provide the perfect fix, showcasing Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers for a night of music and comedy. The show is tonight at 7:30 in the Rudder Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at the MSC box office; prices range from $60 to $110. The Steep Canyon Rangers were musical stars even before adding Martin. Their quintet consists of Woody Platt (guitar, lead vocals), Graham Sharp (banjo, harmony vocals), Mike Guggino (mandolin, harmony vocals), Charles R. Humphrey III (bass, harmony vocals), and Nicky Sanders (fiddle, harmony vocals). The band formed during their time at the University of North Carolina and released

Courtney Nelson

their first album, Old Dreams and New Dreams, in 2001. Since their debut, they have released five additional albums and were nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association for “Album and Gospel Performance of the Year” in 2008. Their latest creation, Deep In The Shade, resided in the Bluegrass Top 10 for 18 weeks straight. The Steep Canyon Rangers appeal to a wide

The Battalion The A&M Volleyball team is coming off a strong 3-0 showing in the Aggie Invitational and will host the Israeli National Team 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Reed Arena. Head coach Laurie Corbelli is excited about the chance to play a team of such caliber and to expose her players to elite from another country. “We don’t turn away opportunities for a great match,” Corbelli said. “It is a select group of athletes under a very good coach, Corbelli so it should be a very intense match against experienced and savvy players.” This is not, however, the first time Corbelli and Israel head coach Arie Selinger have been

See Martin on page 3a

See Volleyball on page 3a

COURTESY PHOTO

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers perform in Rudder Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

8/30/11 12:06 AM

EDITOR’SNOTE The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reect those of Texas A&M University, The Battalion or its staff.

MAILCALL GUESTCOLUMNS Make your opinion known by submitting Mail Call or guest columns to The Battalion. Mail

call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters

‘

will be read, but not printed. The Battalion will print only one letter per author per month. No mail call will appear in The Battalion’s print or online editions before it is veriďŹ ed. Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 | mailcall@thebatt.com

GUESTCOLUMN

voices thebattalion 08.30.2011 page1b

Discovering Ramadan

Ibtihaj Tayyab: An inside look at the Islamic faith during the month of Ramadan

T

he current summer of 2011 has set a record in Texas for the hottest number of consecutive days. As the sun continues to shine, water bottles are chugged and ice cream cones are devoured. For Muslims, this summer marks the start of a month of fasting — Ramadan. On August 1, 2011, the month of Ramadan began; it is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and lasts 29 or 30 days. The time of this month is about 11 days earlier every year since the Islamic calendar goes by the moon cycle. During this month, one is expected to fast or abstain from food and drink from sun up to sun down. Fasting during this month is one of the five basic pillars of Islam and is considered obligatory unless a health reason is present. Ramadan is meant to be a time to strengthen spirituality and increase worship. In addition to not eating and drinking, one should try to stay away from sin and other impure acts such as lying, cheating, stealing, etc. During this month Muslims are trying to focus on religion and a relationship with

God rather than worldly things. Fasting is an attempt to cleanse the soul and strengthen the faith of a believer. There are also many physical benefits associated with fasting, including a purification effect on the body and boosting heart health. A fast is also kept to build self-control of one’s body and to realize the conditions of the less fortunate. That is why charity or Zakaat (another pillar of Islam) is highly stressed during the month. Muslims are also encouraged to read the holy book or Quran and the verses are recited during nightly prayers, called Tarawih. The purpose of this is so believers can increase application of the holy book and gain further understanding of the religion.

Robert Carpenter — THE BATTALION

See Ramadan on page 2b Members of Raindrop Turkish House in Bryan break daily fast with a community meal.

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HOW TO GET YOUR AGGIE RING ON NOVEMBER 18, 2011: If you meet the requirements after Summer 2011: 1. Login to AggieNetwork.com beginning August 19 to check your Ring eligibility. (You will need to create an account on this website.)

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3

You’re invited to wear maroon and white for College Colors Day on Friday to show your Aggie Spirit. College Colors Day is an annual national celebration dedicated to the traditions and spirit of the college experience.

Regular Transit service operates from approximately 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday. Weekend Service runs off-campus routes approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

W Wednesday hot high: 102 low: 76 Thursday hot high: 97 low: 75 T Friday 50% chance of storms high: 93 low: 78

pagetwo

For updates go to thebatt.com â—? Facebook â—? Twitter@thebattonline

Check Ring Eligibility: Aug 19 - Sept 8 Order Dates: Aug 22 - Sept 9 Aggie Ring Day: November 18, 2011

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Apartment pool party draws 2,000 DENVER — An apartment complex near Colorado State University that used Facebook to advertise “the biggest pool party of the year’� got more than it bargained for — at least 2,000 people, most of them college students, showed up. It wasn’t long before the police followed. Four people, including two CSU football players, were arrested at the Fort Collins apartment complex on Saturday. Ten people were taken to the hospital, most of them for overconsumption of alcohol or minor injuries. “Some people came from as far away as Denver for this back-to-school party,� Fort Collins police Lt. Hal Dean said on Monday. The party’s Facebook page had nearly 3,000 registered people. Dean said police estimated at least 2,000 people showed up at the complex about 65 miles north of Denver. Officers had to shut down surrounding streets while they cleared the complex. The Associated Press

thebattalion 08.30.2011

corrections In an Aug. 25 editorial we mistakenly reported the number of Texas A&M teams that won NCAA championships. Four A&M teams won NCAA championships in 2011: equestrian, women’s basketball and men’s and women’s track and ďŹ eld. The Aug. 29 page 1 Battalion Ask misidentiďŹ ed freshmen Travis Nault and Travis Lamb. The Battalion The Big 12 is a welcomes readers’ sinking ship and comments about we’ve got to bail. information that may Travis Nault, require correction. freshman We will pursue agricultural your concern to economics major determine whether a correction needs to be published. Please e-mail at editor@ thebatt.com.

I honestly don’t know much about Big 12 versus SEC‌ but I’m still excited to get into the games. Travis Lamb, freshman computer science major

• Pricing is available online. • Ring Loans are available to qualified, currently enrolled students at the Short Term Loan Office. If you need financial assistance, apply online at http://financialaid.tamu.edu or call (979) 845-3982. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: 1. 90 cumulative completed undergraduate credit hours. 2. 45 undergraduate resident credit hours completed at TAMU. 3. 2.0 cumulative GPR at Texas A&M University. 4. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university. GRADUATE STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: Master’s Thesis Option 1. Defended Thesis Due to ordering deadlines, you may order at the beginning of the semester you will graduate. Your Aggie Ring will be delivered on Aggie Ring Day if you have defended your thesis prior to the deadline set by the Office of Graduate Studies. If you do not defend your thesis prior to this date, your Aggie Ring will be held until the qualification is met. 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university. Master’s Non-Thesis Option 1. 75% of coursework completed for degree program at TAMU. 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university. Ph.D. Students 1. Accepted as a Ph.D. candidate at TAMU 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university.

thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE

OF

TEXAS A&M

SINCE

1893

Robert Carpenter, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111. 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. News ofďŹ ces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

AggieNetwork.com Visit www.AggieNetwork.com/Ring for complete details or call the Aggie Ring Program at 845-1050.

Pg. 2a-08.30.11.indd 1

Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classiďŹ ed advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising ofďŹ ces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and ofďŹ ce hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. 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. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.

8/29/11 8:35 PM

voices

page 2b tuesday 8.30.2011

thebattalion

Continued from page 1b

Tarawih is prayed in congregation at local mosques and the whole Quran is finished at least once during the month. The last 10 nights of Ramadan are considered to be very important. The Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during this month and it is said to have happened on one of the last 10 nights; that night is called Laylat Al-Qadr. During these last 10 days, Muslims participate in night prayers (in addition to Tarawih) in the hopes that God will answer their prayers. Ramadan is a time for every believer to ask for forgiveness for the wrong doings of the previous years and the last 10 days are extremely significant for that. The end of this month is marked by the celebration of Eid-Ul-Fitr. This year it will be held either Tuesday August 30 or Wednesday August 31, depending on the moon cycle and will last

PLACE

AN AD Phone 845-0569 or Fax 845-2678 The Grove, Bldg. #8901 Texas A&M University

AUTO New/Pre-Owned Autos, VM, Mazda, Hyundai, BMW, All makes & models, Call David 979-571-0177.

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FOR RENT $1099 4bd/2ba/2car, 1mile from TAMU. W/D, all appliances included, pool, walk-ins, security system, gated access, free landscaping, pets ok. 4-full bedrooms but also priced for 3-roommates plus study/gameroom/guestroom. Canyon Creek Circle 979-739-3774. $395 prelease. 1/1, 2/1, 2/2, Free Wi-Fi/water/sewer on Northgate, on shuttle. Short-term leases ok. Call Maroon & White Management 979-422-5660. 1-room for rent w/private bath. All bills paid, cable internet included. Female only. $550/mo. 979-575-0375. 2/2 Condo For Rent in CS, $695/mo, W/D, water paid, on shuttle 22, www.majorsfamily.net/condo 254-744-8226. 3/2 Houses, Townhouses &Apartments, 1250sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, walk-in pantry &closets, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. 979-694-0320, www.luxormanagement.com 3bd townhome available now, Fraternity Row, on shuttle route, awesome location, $1100/mo, 817-559-7878. 3bd/3ba, gated luxury Waterwood Townhome. 1001 Krenek Tap Road. Granite counter-tops, spacious closets, reserved parking spots, W/D, bus route. $400/bedroom/mo. Call 817-988-4530. 4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Houses, Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. 694-0320. www.luxormanagement.com 4bd/2.5ba Mediterranean style duplexes w/garage. Security systems. All appliances including W/D. $1380/mo. No pets. Available now. 979-297-3720 or 979-292-6168. 4bd/2ba 2-living, +study. Available now, 1112 Berkley. Close to campus. Completely remolded! Short-term lease available. No pets. $1100/mo. 979-731-8257. www.brazosvalleyrentals.com

Pg. 2b-08-30-11.indd 1

for 3 days. This day generally starts with prayer in the morning and is followed by feasts and presents. Eid is a time for celebration and is one of the two holidays for the religion. Any charity that has been collected is also given to the poor during this time. These 29 or 30 days are viewed as a spiritual training camp for Muslims in which they have the opportunity to become better believers and better people. Throughout the year, many people get caught up with their own needs and wants, Ramadan gives every individual an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with their creator and make changes they can continue on for the rest of their lives. It only comes once a year and it is viewed as one of the most important months for the people of the Islamic faith. As the sun continues to bake the Texas landscape, Muslims strive for religious cultivation. Ibtihaj Tayyab is a junior economics major.

WHEN

TO CALL 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day

FOR RENT 4bd/3ba house. New carpet. W/D. Southern Trace. $1150/mo. Call Rose 979-218-0441. Big 3/2 duplex, w/d, tile, lawn care, ready for move-in. $875/mo. 979-324-5835. Spacious 3/2 duplex, washer and dryer furnished, $825/mo, 979-693-0551.

FOR SALE 4/3/2 CS home for sale. $209,000 with owner financing available. 979-690-1126, 979-595-5050. Lift chair, sleeper sofa, over-sized chest of drawers, 5-piece bedroom suite, walker w/seat, stationary air-bike. 979-779-8628. Sofa bed, love seat, and recliner. Solid light cream color set. Brand New! Too big for my home! $1,000! 979-450-0923.

HELP WANTED 7F-Lodge seeking part-time help, email resume or inquiries to stay@7flodge.com Ag Football Concession Staff. Champion Concessions will be providing Dippin’ Dots at all home football games. We ar looking for energetic students to work in a fun and fast-paced environment. Pay is $8.50-12.00/hr. Email marketing@championconcessions. com ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? NEED EXTRA CASH? We need officials for youth and adult flag football leagues. Pay ranges from $9.00-$20.00/game. Games last about one-hour. Call 979-764-3424.

A Jordanian Muslim cleric looks through a telescope to observe the moon crescent of Eid Al Fitr that follows the end of Ramadan, in Amman, Jordan, Monday Aug. 29, 2011. ASSOCIATED PRESS

classifieds see ads at thebatt.com

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PRIVATE PARTY WANT ADS

$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.

HELP WANTED Child Care- FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan.

Lawn crew member needed, $9/hr. Hrs Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11-6, experience required. 979-224-2511.

Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment.

Local dance/music school now hiring guitar instructors. Great pay, flexible hours! 979-693-1153. expressionsdance@suddenlinkmail.com

Cotton Patch-College Station now hiring servers and greeters. Lunch availability desired. Apply at Rock Prairie and Hwy-6. An equal opportunity employer! FAST PITCH COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for Girls Fast Pitch Softball. Call 979-764-3424. FLAG FOOTBALL leagues are forming now! For team or individual registration information, visit cstx.gov/sports or call 979-764-3424. FOOTBALL COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for youth flag football. Call 979-764-3424. Help Wanted Part Time, Building Attendant for the Brazos Center. $10.10 hourly. Work schedule will vary from 12-20 hours a week. Janitorial duties and customer service. Must be reliable. Apply: Brazos County HR Dept. County Courthouse. Visit our website for more info. @ www.co.brazos.tx.us Immediate opening for energetic, detail-oriented, dependable teaching assitant, part-time hours, Mon-Thurs, afternoons and evenings, call Sylvan Learning Center 979-846-4988 KICKBALL leagues are forming now! For team or individual registration information, visit cstx.gov/sports or call 979-764-3424.

Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com Camp For All is looking for creative and energetic staff who are interested in working with children and adults w/challenging illnesses and special needs. These paid positions will be trained to lead activities for our campers on the weekends. Please contact Jessicah jholloway@campforall.org or visit our website at www.campforall.org/joinourteam

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Friday, September 2, 2011 For more information visit yell.tamu.edu

HELP WANTED

Needed: Full-Time Lawncare/ General Maintenance person. Sprinkler experience helpful. Call 979-574-7474. Now hiring bike or car delivery. Burger Boy, 4337 Wellborn, in Westgate Shopping Center. Part-time warehouse help needed. Flexible hours. Business hours are M-F 7:30-5. Apply at Valley Supply 3320 S. College Ave. Bryan, TX. 979-779-7042. Piano, guitar, violin part-time teacher needed and pre-ballet and tap. marian_hanna123@hotmail.com 979-571-0306. Prepbooks.com, is hiring campus representatives for part-time positions. Apply on website under careers. Printroom, Inc. is looking for outgoing and motivated fan photographers to capture images for the Ags this football season. For more info, please visit the Careers section on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/printroom Sales person in fabric shop, sewing + sales experience preferred, flexible hours, apply in person, Pruitts Fabric, 318 George Bush Drive. Student worker needed. Must be able to work in all climates and not afraid of heights. 979-845-5444.

HELP WANTED The Corner now hiring all positions for daytime and afternoon shifts. Come by in person after 9pm to apply.

VOLLEYBALL COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for girls volleyball. Call 979-764-6386.

VOLLEYBALL leagues are forming now! For team or individual registration information, visit cstx.gov/sports or call 979-764-6386.

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SERVICES

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8/29/11 10:00 PM

news

page 3a tuesday 8.30.2011

thebattalion

Martin

Volleyball

Nike Invitational

Continued from page 1a

Continued from page 1a

variety of ears and continue to wow listeners old and new. “I think they have a very interesting sound. It’s very impressive music and I never would’ve guessed that I would like bluegrass,” said Megan Smikal, a sophomore business major. This talented act of skillful picking and playing became a powerhouse of sorts when Martin, comedian, actor, author, director and more, first lent his hand to the group as a banjo player in a broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion in 2009. This year, he released his second bluegrass album, Rare Bird Alert, in conjunction with The Steep Canyon Rangers with guest vocals by big names such as The Dixie Chicks and Paul McCartney. “I had no idea Steve Martin could play bluegrass like that,” said Clayton Bridge, freshman electrical engineering major. Tonight’s show marks the end of the group’s North American Tour. “Everyone’s really excited about it; it’s selling extremely well,” said Laura Duffie, MSC OPAS student committee chair and senior wildlife and fisheries major. “They’re a high quality class act and very famous. We’re thrilled to have Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers here and we can’t wait to see the show.” The show presents a great opportunity to be introduced to a classic and unique style of music and a completely different side of Steve Martin. But don’t worry; he’ll still be funny. “I love Steve Martin!” said Jordyn Ingram, sophomore nutrition major. “I think it’s interesting how he’s so famous as a comedian that not many people know how successful he is as a musician. I would definitely go see this show.”

in the same gym. Corbelli played for Selinger in the 1984 Olympic Games, where he was the head coach of the US women’s team. “It will be really fun to go up against him,” Corbelli said smiling. “I have never done this before, so I am not sure what to expect. I know he is very intense and difficult to please, and that is certainly motivating for everyone playing under him to give it their best effort.” Although Corbelli has only seen statistics based on several previous games, she is aware of Selinger’s style of play and that Israel’s team is being reconstructed and shaped into a formidable program. “I am expecting great ball control, great defense, and big swings on the outside from two players specifically,” Corbelli said. “They are a mentally tough team, and it will be really great to go up against them and primarily learn from them.” As far as the Aggies go, there are sev-

Thursday 9 p.m. vs. Portland Friday 2 p.m. vs. Butler

Saturday Noon vs. Nevada 7:30 p.m. vs. Wash. State

Free admission to the match against the Israel National Team is offered to members of international organizations through www.aggieathletics.com. eral visible improvements that need to be made in order to have the success that the players and coaches know can be achieved. “We are definitely working on our blocking,” Corbelli said of her team. “It has been pretty sporadic, and we have still been fortunate to have a lot of digs behind that. We need to get better at the net against outside hitters to allow us to have a chance.”

Irene Continued from page 1a

At one point during the height of

“Sunday afternoon we had some pretty strong wind gusts that took down a lot of tree branches. We had a couple of the larger trees in our backyard swaying back and forth in a pretty terrifying manner,” Kashinsky said. “Parts of my town are still without power and could be without power for up to two weeks.” The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working to bring electricity back to thousands of people without power. However, according to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, ongoing flooding has taken top priority. “A lot of activities are in the recovery phase but we are still very concerned with the flooding and are working with our partners at the state and local level,” Fugate said. According to David Vallee, a hydrologist in charge of the National Weather Service for the Northeast River Forecast Service in Taunton, Ma., said that rainfall in the last 36 hours for areas in northern New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and New England ranged from five to 15 inches. “Hurricane Irene was a very well-behaved New England breed of hurricane that accelerated up the coast and put an awful lot of rain down along into the west of her track,” Vallee said. “At one point during the height of this event we had 81 river locations flooding at one time.” Fugate added that “tremendous” volunteer relief efforts by federal organizations and

this event we had flooding at

81 river locations

one time.

— Hydrologist David Vallee, National Weather Service

local residents lessened the blow that Irene dealt to affected communities. Charlie Shimanski, senior vice president for disaster services for the American Red Cross, said the Red Cross has supplied 340 shelters and “thousands of volunteers” thus far. “Many people said this disaster wasn’t as bad as we expected, but we all know many communities are suffering from some significant flooding and of course wind damage and wide spread power outages,” Shimanski said. John Nielsen-Gammon, atmospheric sciences professor, compared Irene to Hurricane Ike in terms of total damage. Ike devastated coastal communities when it struck the Texas coast in September 2008, closing A&M’s Galveston campus for several months. “I think the biggest problem is the aftermath and working with the power lines to get electricity up and running again,” Nielsen-Gammon said. “It was a small storm that did a lot of damage.”

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8/29/11 11:33 PM

voices

page 3b tuesday 8.30.2011

thebattalion

Major uncertainty Taylor Wolken: How to navigate the difficult decision of choosing a degree

T

Christina Fuentes — THE BATTALION

he most important decision you will make as a student attending Texas A&M will be choosing your major. There’s a lot of advice you’ll hear which can generally be broken down into two trains of thought. Pick something you love or pick something that pays. While both these mantras make some sense it should be remembered that money doesn’t trump misery, and love doesn’t beat poverty. What really matters is what will make you happy. When deciding your major you need to consider what job you want and how that matches up with the lifestyle you prefer. A student in an information systems class once told my professor that he didn’t care about the class because he didn’t want to spend his life behind a computer. When the professor asked the student what his major was, he replied, “accounting.” In another class my business professor explained how she had originally majored in anthropology only to discover she didn’t like working over seas in the heat for minimum wage. A friend of mine spent two years teaching after receiving her degree in education. Now she’s getting a master’s degree because she doesn’t like kids and couldn’t afford to travel. These folks didn’t think things through. When thinking about jobs think about the potential pay, the hours, the working conditions and how that fits into the lifestyle you want to live. Then ask yourself whether your goal is realistic. A management degree doesn’t mean you’ll be an executive at a fortune 500 company. A psychology degree — particularly just a bachelor’s — doesn’t make you a FBI profiler. A theatre arts degree probably won’t get you anywhere near an academy award. It’s much more likely these majors lead to middle management, counseling and teaching theatre. If these jobs don’t pay enough for you to live the lifestyle you want then you probably won’t be happy. If you have to

Taylor-made opinions

work so much you can’t have the lifestyle you want then you probably be happy. This is important because deciding on a major doesn’t determine your destination but it certainly affects your trajectory. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shoot for the moon but if you miss, at least know what stars you’ll land among. Once you have narrowed down a list of potential jobs then consider what the educational requirements are. What degree is best for the job? Is a bachelor’s degree good enough or do you need further education? Can you afford it and is it worth the extra cost? Keep in mind that if you need further schooling not only does that mean more student loans but it also means you are losing out on money you could be making if you entered the workforce sooner. What happens if your priorities change? What if you want to get married? Is your bachelor’s worth anything without a master’s or Ph.D? What’s going to make you happy? Once you’ve weighed these options, pick a degree plan that can best set you on your way. Don’t let fun classes fool you or high salaries tempt you onto a degree track you’ll regret in the future. Taylor Wolken is a senior economics major and opinion columnist.

MAILCALL

Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION

From Julie Alexander, Aggie mom. A school year is beginning and I wanted to write a quick note in response to the “Death of HOWDY” by Robert L. “Doc” Bowen published in The Battalion on April 14, 2011. I am not a former Aggie, however I have a former Aggie, Tyler Alexander B-Co ‘08. When Tyler began A&M, I immediately fell in love with the school because of its wonderful traditions and commitment that A&M made to family. As I learned so many traditions, including the do’s and don’ts of Corps of Cadet life, I knew my son was in the right school! During Tyler’s first year at A&M, we spent quite a few weekends in College Station (with Corps life there is always something to see). “HOWDY” became part of our vocabulary and it was always the greeting we came to expect when walking around campus. I also became active in the Dallas County Aggie Mothers Club, where each meeting was began with “HOWDY.” My last few times on campus, I noticed that many students are either texting or have headphones in their ears when walking around. I miss the HOWDY! So, here’s my request to Aggie students: When walking on campus, make eye contact with your fellow students and visitors and share with them one of Texas A&M’s most valued treasures — HOWDY!

Pg. 3b-08.30.11.indd 1

8/29/11 10:22 PM

Pg. 4a-08.30.11.indd 1

8/29/11 8:20:54 AM

sports

page 4b tuesday 8.30.2011

thebattalion

football

Aggies excited for opener Adrian O’Hanon III The Battalion Football players and coaches spoke to the media on Monday about preparation for Texas A&M’s 2011 season opener against Southern Methodist University. A&M returns 18 positional starters for this season, making for an experienced team that head coach Mike Sherman said is focused on the opener. He said the team improved in many areas in the offseason and is challenged with planning for SMU’s run-and-gun offense and similar defense. “They are like us—they have some pretty good receivers, a good run game and a very experienced offensive line,� Sherman said. “They have about 158 career starts among them, more than anyone in the country. So they have a good group c oming back.� Mustangs making preseason award watch lists include quarterback Kyle Padron (O’Brien, Manning), running back Zach Line (Maxwell, Walker) and defensive end Taylor Thompson (Lombardi, Nagurski). Those

thebattalion IN PRINT • ONLINE Photos Comics AP News ClassiďŹ eds

News Sports Voices Mailcall

AGGIE ATHLETICS

three players were also named to the All-Conference USA preseason team. Aggie defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said SMU’s high-profile offense creates problem areas for any defense. In the second installment of his defensive scheme, DeRuyter feels the players have transitioned more smoothly and are prepared for the Mustangs’ air attack. “This is not a ‘warm-up game’ by any stretch,� DeRuyter said. “You look at what they did last year against TCU and Texas Tech, they were ballgames all the way through. So our guys know the kind of challenge they will bring, and we’ll be ready for them.� In the offseason, the team

named senior safety Trent Hunter a team captain, an honor he cherishes. He said his responsibility as captain is to keep the defense focused on the Mustangs’ high-powered offense. Offensively, senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill is looking forward to the start of another season. He said the team worked hard in spring practices and summer camp to exceed expectations. “You’re always excited no matter what the year, going into the first game,� Tannehill said. “You prepare all year for basically 12 or 13 days. This being the first week, we’re definitely excited for it. The raised expectations do bring a higher excitement. We do realize the talent we have, and now it’s our job to prove that.� In injury news, junior wide receiver Ryan Swope’s back is fully-healed and defensive lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie said his recovery from breaking his foot last season has gone smoothly. The Aggies kick off the season at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 at Kyle Field against the Mustangs.

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8/29/11 11:28 PM

news

page 5a tuesday 8.30.2011

thebattalion

Drought Continued from page 1a

Nielsen-Gammon said. For Bryan-College Station, the worst drought on record occurred in 1925. “This drought has been so extreme we’ve had 40 percent of normal rainfall for the past ten months statewide. So it almost counts like two years’ worth of drought as far as water supply is concerned,” Nielsen-Gammon said. Bryan has yet to restrict water usage. “If it goes on, then we’ll start losing the reserves and some places may get into serious trouble. Some people think dry lawns are serious trouble, although that’s not really a problem,” Nielsen-Gammon said. He has let his grass grow 5 inches high and has watered it just enough to keep it quasi-green, a program he calls drought mode. In case areas beyond Nielsen-Gammon’s lawn have to go into drought mode, he recommended to fellow members of the Texas Drought Preparedness Council that water suppliers start evaluating the implications of a second year of drought. “The weather service is forecasting about a 50 percent chance of La Nina this winter,” Nielsen-Gammon said. Indicated by cool temperatures in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, a La Nina means dry, warm winters for the Southern United States. La Nina is the opposite of El Nino, which means wet, cool winters. The drought does not seem to be on its way out anytime soon, mainly because the rain doesn’t seem to be on its way in. “We got where we are because we were in a fairly strong La Nina, which suppressed our winter’s worth of precipitation,” Conlee said. Part of the reason for the drought is bad luck.

“Right now my working guess is that it was La Nina’s effects that happened to cause the jet stream to be in just the wrong place to keep it fairly strong across the central U.S., which basically pushed all the moisture and rain east of us,” Nielsen-Gammon said. The jet stream consists of strong winds ten miles above the earth that control storm paths. Storms form on the jet stream because it marks the boundary between cooler air and warmer air, which makes for an unstable environment that results in high and low pressure systems. “If the jet stream is to the north, the storm track is to the north also,” Nielsen-Gammon said. Throw global warming into the mix, which accounts for one or two degrees of the heat, and you’ve got record-breaking temperatures. Although the Wednesday and Thursday rainfall provided some relief, it will take a lot more than a little storm to quench Texas. “We were lucky enough to get some impulses coming down that hadn’t been this far west for a long period of time,” Nielsen said of last week’s precipitation. “It’s not a droughtbuster.” And drought-busting rain is not in NielsenGammon’s long-term forecast. He doesn’t throw out the possibility of rain for September and October, which are usually wet months. “A lot of Texas’ droughts have actually ended with floods; that’s sort of the way it works around here,” he said. But it is unlikely that this fall will produce enough rain to make up for the months of dryness, he added. “It’s going to be hard to get widespread rain across the whole state, so my prediction is that large portions of the state will still be in severe drought next summer,” he said.

In accordance with Texas Education Code Section 51.936 and as the entity charged with the collection and distribution described therein, the Department of Student Activities is formally publishing a list of organizations that have been disciplined for hazing or convicted for hazing on or off the campus of the institution during the preceding three years. This information along with a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37 can be found at http://stuorgreport.tamu.edu Alleged incidents of hazing should be reported to one of the following offices: University Police Department: 845-2345 Office of the Dean of Student Life: 845-3113 Office of the Commandant: 845-2811 Department of Student Activities: 845-1133

Farmers Continued from page 1a

In the market’s busy spring season, she said dozens of growers will participate with an average attendance above 500 people. Last Saturday, only nine growers participated, and Vonk said attendance was about 200. “The drought is just hitting people really hard,” Vonk said. “Normally, we have a lot more vendors than this, and those that are here would usually bring a lot more produce.” Vonk said she is hopeful that the heat will break in September or October, which would allow some farmers to get back on track. “Some people have greenhouses, so when it gets a little bit cooler, they’ll be able to use those more and get some more produce out here,” Vonk said. That record heat is the biggest problem, farmer David Elsik said. A drought could normally be overcome with lots of water, he said, but when the drought is coupled with scorching heat that evaporates most of the water before plants can absorb it, it’s a potent one-

Pg. 5a-08.30.11.indd 1

Jeremy Twitchell — THE BATTALION

Farmers Patrick Gendron, Harvey Wise, David Elsik and Robert Schubert (left to right) trade secrets for farming during a drought. two punch. Elsik, who has been working on family farms for more than 50 years, said this year’s conditions are unlike any he has ever seen. “I can remember the ’50s drought,” he said. “But, I mean, if you watered stuff back then, it still grew. But this year, even if you water it, it won’t grow. It just won’t set fruit.” Patrick Gendron, a tomato grower and president of the Brazos Valley Farmers Mar-

ket, said the farmers can only hope for cooler temperatures and more rain in the fall. In the meantime, he said, growers are trying to adapt to conditions. Some have already found limited success, but they have had to decrease the size of their fields in order to do so. “But we’re a hearty group of folks,” Gendron said. “We persevere. We don’t give up. We always say, ‘There’s always next year.’ Eternal optimists, I guess you could say.”

8/29/11 11:22 PM

Kutless in concert Christian music artists Kutless and Robbie Seay Band will be performing as part of the Christfest music festival beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. Tickets are $15 at the door. All proceeds will beneďŹ t the Central Texas Orphan Mission Alliance.

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Anthony prosecutor to release book

Killing time & zombies

ORLANDO, Fla. — One of the prosecutors in the Casey Anthony murder trial is writing a book about the case. Jeff Ashton conďŹ rmed to the Orlando Sentinel that he is ďŹ nishing a book titled “Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony.â€?It is scheduled for release in November. He declined to give details. Ashton was the co-prosecutor in the trial of Anthony, the young Florida mother accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. The trial garnered national media attention. Ashton gave an impassioned closing argument, saying that Anthony killed Caylee because the little girl interfered with her social and love life. He was criticized by the judge for laughing during defense attorney Jose Baez’s closing argument and apologized.

Downloadable game provides cheap thrills

I

n the wake Gig ’em Week, you and your friends are stuffed from all the free pizza and now you’re dying from the heat. What do you do? Flip on the 360 or the PS3 and kill some zombies! Dead Nation is one of those little known games that provides hours of fun on a budget. School is expensive and so are video games. However, downloading Dead Nation from Live Arcade or Playstation Network only takes a few minutes and costs $9.99: a price well worth it. Lately, there have been a lot of games and movies that involve some sort of apocalyptic event and while Dead Nation is no different with its zombie-end-of-civilization scenario, it makes up in action what it lacks in originality. In Dead Nation, zombies travel in all shapes and sizes from the hulking Leapers to the stealthy Creepers. Each requires a specific set of equipment, like Molotov cocktails, in unison with crafty player tactics. Many parts of the game include epic mini-battles that truly test the mettle of the players, such as fighting a grotesque Howler zombie for the first time. In about thirty seconds you’ll be within arm’s reach of about a hundred newly dead. In a world devoid of regular humanity, there are no safe places to hide. Your journey will take you from the rooftops of desolate industrial complexes to the creepy carnival grounds complete with rusty carousels and clown zombies. Each mission, and each area, requires an intense amount of focus and

coordination with teammates. In addition, Matt Bizzell Junior English the game’s variety adds major an unappreciated flair many overlook. No level is a simple copyand-paste of the others; each is well crafted and ripe with specific encounters and higher challenges. The game varies the difficulty based on the amount of characters in play. If you happen to be by yourself, go out and make some friends as there are no stronger friendships than ones forged by wading through the collapsed corpses of bullet-ridden zombies. Teamwork also paves the way for some interesting combinations and tactics. Have your buddy throw a flare and as the zombies shamble towards the bright light, put them back in their graves with your scattergun. Through constant updates and attentive programmers, Dead Nation is a constantly evolving funfest that is worth every cent. Try it out, watch a crowd of zombies rush a burning car, and then watch that same car explode ,sending shrapnel and flesh through the smokey night air. Burning zombies for everyone, you’re welcome. Matt Bizzell is a junior English major.

Jackson molest case barred from trial

China bans pop songs BEIJING — China’s Ministry of Culture has ordered music download sites to delete songs by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys and other pop stars within two weeks or face punishment. The ministry posted a list of 100 songs — including Lady Gaga’s “Judasâ€? and Perry’s “Last Friday Nightâ€? — that had to be purged from the Chinese web because they had never been submitted for mandatory government screening. Six Lady Gaga songs in all were on the list, all from her latest album. The 12-yearold ballad “I Want It That Wayâ€? by the Backstreet Boys was also targeted. Dozens of Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop songs and a few Western hits were listed as well. The ministry said the rule was meant to preserve China’s “national cultural security.â€? Sites were told in the Aug. 19 announcement posted to the ministry’s website that they had until Sept. 15 to carry out “selfcorrectionâ€? and delete the songs. It said violators would be punished, but didn’t outline the penalties they would face. It didn’t say that the listed songs were objectionable, just that they had not been approved for distribution. The Chinese government carefully screens the content of imported entertainment content for political messages or commentary that runs contrary to its ofďŹ cial line. The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The judge in the upcoming trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor ruled Monday that the defense cannot call any witnesses to testify about the child molestation investigation that led to the pop star’s trial and acquittal in 1995. the involuntary manslaughter case. The hearing took place on what would have been Jackson’s 53rd birthday. The Associated Press

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