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Vitamin needs Vitamins can be the first step to improving your health and energy, says Joey Roberts, wellness blogger for The Battalion. Read his blog at thebatt.com.
● tuesday,
october 18, 2011
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION
Increased student populations and a strong economic draw for professionals and retirees have made College Station roads more congested than ever.
Stuck in traffic City and state respond to increased B-CS traffic with major projects Robby Smith
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NASA’s space telescope Kepler found the first exoplanet to exist in a system with two stars. The mysterious formation has been compared to the fictional planet of Tatooine seen in Star Wars.
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research | 5 Twice the sunlight
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Baylor Bear fan Lyn Robbins tells of his experience in unfamiliar territory Saturday when he discovered the tickets he purchased were in the student section at Kyle Field.
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voices | 4 Kyle welcomes Baylor fan
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to get 10 miles,” Rossow said. “The only time it is really good is in the mornings before 8 or on weekends because everyone is asleep.” Rossow said she always tries to avoid the traffic by taking lesser-traveled roads, but oftentimes, other people have the same idea. There are always fender-benders due to people not paying attention, which makes traffic worse, Rossow said. City officials said they are aware of the traffic problems bud did not have data available regarding traffic counts along major roads. However, city planners and engineers have been developing projects to address the issues and alleviate congested roadways accordingly. “With the fact that Texas A&M University’s enrollment is now greater than 50,000 students and with the continued growth of Blinn College, it is likely that there is more traffic in College Station,” College Station traffic engineer Troy Rother said.
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The Battalion The standstill, the stop-and-go, the congestion. Traffic is not only a bother, but a problem of increasing magnitude that students deal with daily. This semester, traffic in College Station has become notably worse, especially in its proximity to campus. The city and state have some plans in store to alleviate the problem areas, but it seems that these plans cannot be implemented soon enough. “The worst intersections are Wellborn Road and George Bush Drive; Texas Avenue and University Drive; and George Bush Drive and Texas Avenue,” sophomore nutrition major Stacey Rossow said. “Mainly the intersections around the corners of campus.” Rossow said she has noticed the traffic more this semester while commuting to and from a Blinn College class every afternoon. “It’s really bad … anytime after 4 [p.m.] all over town, but if I hit rush hour, it can take an hour
e
G
Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
Major projects along Jones Butler Road and at the WelbornGeorge Bush intersection will alter traffic flow near campus.
See Traffic on page 8
college station
Water tax increase to affect students Robby Smith The Battalion Whether students write checks to landlords, utilities companies, or their apartment complex’s corporate offices, water rates in College Station will be increasing next semester, but rent should not be. On Sept. 22, College Station City Council voted to raise the wastewater rate — a tax on waste liquids including sewage and other liquid used by agriculture, domestic residences and industry — by 5 percent in a 6-1 vote. Councilman Jess Fields, class of
2010, voted against the increase. The council unanimously approved a slight decrease in the property tax rate. According to a city council press release, the wastewater tax increase is expected to generate about $12.7 million in sewer revenues, but homeowners will see “an increase of less than $2 per month.” “The wastewater rate increase is needed to cover increased operation and maintenance costs,” said Jennifer Nations, water resource coordinator for the College Station Water Services Department, “as well as [to] fund the capital improvements detailed in
the Wastewater Master Plan.” A new master plan was adopted in June to see what estimates and upgrades need to be made in coming years. “It will take about $50 million to upgrade [the current sewer system],” Nations said. “The increase was vital to bring in enough revenue to not have a deficit.” While most students are not yet aware of the upcoming rate changes, some of them are calculating the costs. “Even though my water bill was only
Learn more ◗ To find more information on College Station tax changes and rates, visit cstx.gov.
See Taxes on page 3
business
campus
SEC merchandise selling fast
Klout ranks A&M social media No. 1
Roland Ruiz
In a rising age of technology more people are finding ways to use social media to communicate and influence the way people connect to others. Texas A&M University uses a number of social media networks and engages in conversations all over the world. Klout recently ranked Texas A&M as No.1 in the Top 10 Most Influential Colleges, finishing with a Klout score of 73. “We have to keep Texas A&M connected to the greater state, nation and world news and gearing
Luz Moreno-Lozano The Battalion
The Battalion After Texas A&M made its official move to the Southeastern Conference, the A&M community responded with SEC co-branded merchandise, creating a demand in the marketplace among local Aggie fans as well as those scattered across the nation. When the apparel hit the shelves Sept. 29, 10,000 Adidas co-branded t-shirts and 5,000 Adidas co-branded caps were sold within the first five hours of availability. The proceeds of these sales will go toward the Bonfire Memorial, scholarships for the Corps of Cadets, the Athletic Department and the University Marketing Initiatives.
Jay Kapadia — THE BATTALION
Though A&M will not switch conferences until 2012, SEC merchandise is available. “Now that we’re associated with the most powerful brand in college sports, this has given the University the opportunity to leverage with the SEC brand as we enter the conference in 2012,” said Jason Cook, vice president of marketing and communications. See Apparel on page 3
Standard for influence
Learn more about the social network rating system at klout.com. You can also follow Klout on Facebook and Twitter.
See Klout on page 6
10/17/11 11:37 PM
Wednesday sunny high: 72 low: 46 Thursday sunny high: 75 low: 51 Friday sunny high: 80 low: 55
thebattalion 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. 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.
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WARRANT ROUND-UP OCT. 31 - NOV. 11
Warrants are available on the web at www.cstx.gov/warrants
COURTSEY PHOTO
Lonnette Ray and her husband, both Aggie football fans, showcase a pair of scarecrows on their property representing the school rivalry for the last conference game against Texas.
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student life
Welcome to the jungle Undergrads gain valuable experience in Costa Rica Kelly Tucker The Battalion Many students spend their summers working to save for school or relaxing poolside after months of hitting the books. However, 11 undergraduate students from across the country spent six weeks researching forestry at the Soltis Center for Research and Education in the rainforests of Costa Rica. Under the direction of Chris Houser, an associate professor of geography, and several other A&M faculty members, the students gathered weather data, collected fog samples, and studied sap flow in trees. By studying hydrology, the group sought to determine whether the forest is true cloud forest, which is characterized by high elevation and constant cloud coverage. “They got an understanding of what research is and that it’s a lot of fun and a career path,� Houser said. The National Science Foundation funded the trip with a $557,000 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grant. During the six-week stay, students constructed and installed their own research equipment in the forest, often rising early to work 12-hour days to avoid afternoon thunderstorms and the dangerous, nocturnal inhabitants of the forest. That’s not to say the experience was all work and no play. The students zip-lined, bungee jumped, white water rafted and saw macaws, howler monkeys and other native wildlife. “We could have studied the exact same processes in College Station, but these students got to go to a jungle, they got to get muddy, they had to deal with a lot of snakes and spiders, very difficult terrain and weather that just wouldn’t cooperate,� Houser said. Of the 148 applicants from around
COURTSEY PHOTO
A&M students spent six weeks in the jungles of Costa Rica gathering weather data, collecting fog data and studying sap flow in trees. the country, only 11 were selected. Two of these students came from A&M, acting as “Aggie ambassadors� to the other students. Samantha Wills, senior meteorology major, was one of the Aggie undergrads in the group. “I enjoyed learning how to perform field work, especially in a foreign country,� Wills said. “This was my first time to travel outside of the United States. Not only did I gain research experience, but I also had the privilege of experiencing a foreign culture in my daily life.� According to the Office of Honors and Undergraduate Research, approximately 30 percent of graduating seniors report some form of research during their undergraduate years. “Undergraduate researchers gain a deeper understanding of their chosen field, not only by actively participat-
ing in it, but through mentoring relationships with faculty and graduate students,� said Duncan Mackenzie, associate director for honors and undergraduate research. “This can help them clarify career goals by identifying what they enjoy doing and gaining a better perspective on what it means to be a professional in their field.� Houser said undergraduates can use this research experience — whether in Costa Rica or College Station — to their advantage after graduation. “If you can show that you’ve been part of an REU, your chances of getting into a strong graduate program in your field are substantially higher,� Houser said. “These students are now very attractive to the elite schools of the country and they’ve got their pick of these schools to look at for graduate programs.�
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thebatt.com 10/17/11 9:56 PM
news
page 3
Taxes Continued from page 1
$3.94 last month, the increase will still have an effect on me,” junior kinesiology major Michelle Wesley said. “I could probably buy an extra coffee or something each month, if my water rate was not going up so high.” While water rates are being raised, city taxes are being lowered. But this does not mean the amount of property taxes being paid is less. Many students in apartments or dorms do not pay property taxes directly, but rental rates have potential to fluctuate with the change of expenses on the landlord. According to the city’s website, the council unanimously approved the effective property tax rate of 43.7995 cents per $100 of assessed value. The approved rate is a reduction of 0.9548 cents from the previous rate of 44.7543. College Station has the third-lowest property tax rate in Texas among cities with
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tuesday 10.18.2011
thebattalion populations between 50,000 and 100,000 people. Local businessman and rental property owner Steve Strong said that the overall property tax burden on landlords is not lowering. “While the city may be slightly decreasing its rate, there is an increase by the school district,” Strong said. According to Strong’s interpretation of city data for the upcoming year and tax season, the overall tax rate and taxes to be collected have increased because the value of property has increased more than the rates. Strong said that the increase in property taxes will not be passed down from the landlord to the tenants in the form of higher rent. “Lease rates are driven by market factors more than individual expenses,” Strong said. “Just because the tax rates and our tax costs will go up some, that does not mean landlords can pass on that increase of expenses to tenants.” One other example Strong said was that recently College
Station adopted a rental registration fee of $15 per year per rental house. “I have not increased my rental and am not aware of any other landlords who increased their rental to pass on that fee to the tenants,” Strong said. “We’ve had to absorb that fee because current economic conditions do not warrant increasing rental rates at this time.” Wastewater tax figures Beginning Jan. 1, 2012: For single family residential housing, including duplexes, the maximum wastewater bill will be $39.37. For multi-family residential units with kitchens in each unit, including apartments, the new rate will be $22.75 per month. For multi-family residential complexes with less than 50 units, which include fraternity and sorority houses and private dorms, the new rate will be $15.34 per month, with no water use included. The water use charge will be $3.50 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption.
:kZc V XdbeVhh cZZYh i]Z Cdgi] EdaZ# Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12. And now hereʼs the really good news: God is reaching out to men and women through His son, Jesus Christ. To find out more about Godʼs relevance in your life, We encourage you to read this free article by Josh McDowell: Does Christianity Work? www.leaderu.com/everystudent/josh/josh.html
8=G>HI>6C ;68JAIN We are a group of professors, instructors, lecturers, and administrators united by our common experience that Jesus Christ provides intellectually and spiritually satisfying answers to life’s most important questions. We are available to students, faculty, and staff who might like to discuss such questions with us. For more information about the Christian Faculty network and it's activities, please visit our website: http://christianfaculty.tamu.edu Rusty Burson
Ralph Wurbs
Stephen Crouse
Joyce Davis
12th Man Foundation
Civil Engineering
Health and Kinesiology
Chris Carson
Walter Daugherity
Carl Gabbard
Pathology & Lab Med - Emeritus
12th Man Foundation
Computer Science
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Mac Lively
Diane Graham
Clint Dempsey 12th Man Foundation
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Natalie L. Allen Accounting Accounting
Continued from page 1
Cook added that the SEC also benefits from an expanded market. “As for the SEC, it gives them the opportunity to introduce its brand to Texas,” Cook said. Shane Hinckley, assistant vice president of business development, said the sales of the SEC apparel promoted the brand and image of A&M and generated money for the University in the process. “It’s always good whenever we can find revenue from difference sources that benefit the University in a positive way,” Hinckley said. “With these sales, we’ve developed new contacts within the SEC, [with] other schools
Performance Studies
Computer Science
Health and Kinesiology
John A. McIntyre
Mort Kothmann
Ernie Kirkham Health and Kinesiology
Physics - Emeritus
Steve Martin
Marlan Scully
Economics
Accounting
Apparel
Mary Beth Henthorne
Tim Gronberg
Sean McGuire
this past year, neither one of them had co-branded merchandise sooner than A&M did with the SEC. “Another characteristic that the move to the SEC allowed us to have is visibility,” Cook said. “With visibility, we’re able to participate in national TV contracts and have increased sponsorship through the sales of our licensed apparel.” Hinckley said that the A&M-SEC co-branded apparel will allow Texas A&M to carry the banner of the SEC for the state of Texas. “It opens a lot more doors at retail than ever before,” Hinckley said. “Now consumers can find Texas A&M product more available in big cities in Texas such as Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.”
Roger Schultz
Dick Volz
Economics
Accounting
across the nation and businesses along the southeastern region of the United States.” Any store that carries A&M products will sell the A&M-SEC co-branded apparel. Once A&M becomes a full member of the SEC, other merchandise such as glassware, household products and outdoor products will be available to the public. “We’re very excited to see a positive response that we get to have SEC brand apparel before becoming part of the conference,” said Jennifer Walker, general merchandise manager for the MSC Bookstore. “It’s something the alumni and students across campus can get excited about.” Cook said when Nebraska and Colorado moved to their respective new conferences
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Jeannie Barrett
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NOTE: This ad presents the personal convictions of the individuals listed herein; the ad does not represent or support any view or position of Texas A&M University or any academic department. The ad does represent and acknowledge the diversity of academic contributions toTexas A&M University by men and women of various race, ethnic group, and cultural background who share the Christian faith.
the battalion Classified Advertising • Easy • Affordable • Effective Call 845-0569
Pg. 3-10.18.11.indd 1
10/17/11 11:38 PM
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.
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
MAILCALL GUESTCOLUMNS Make your opinion known by submitting Mail Call or guest columns to The Battalion. Mail
‘
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
voices thebattalion 10.18.2011 page04
GUESTCOLUMN
Aggie hospitality
Lyn Robbins: A bear in the wrong den gives his regards to A&M fans
I
the line of offensiveness. But I write to tell you how impressed I was with the individual A&M students who surrounded me. Not a single person was rude or even anything less than a perfect lady or gentleman. The people directly around me introduced themselves and talked with me. The young man in front of me, when I jokingly remarked that I hoped these new friends of mine would protect me if my Baylor shirt and cap attracted some mischief, said, “We Aggies are generally self-correcting. If anything happens, you let me know, and I will take care of it.� Chris, the Aggie sitting next to me, kept a running conversation with me about the game throughout the afternoon. As I turned to leave, the same young man in front of me (whose name I did not get) made a point to catch up with me and shake my hand, thank me for coming and wish me safe travels going home. We live in an increasingly uncivil world.
bought a ticket for Saturday’s “Battle of the Brazos� football game. Before leaving home, I put this note on my Facebook page: “On the road to College Station for the last foreseeable Baylor-A&M game. While I thoroughly enjoy rooting against the Aggies, we have to have a healthy respect for a good team, your rabid fans and the awesome Kyle Field experience. Sic ‘em.� I am an alumus of Baylor, the father of a current Baylor student, a member of the Baylor Alumni Council and an adjunct professor at the Baylor Law School. I have been to games at Kyle Field before, and I know what an incredible atmosphere Aggies create for the games. Despite the unease between the two campus communities arising both out of the conference alignment situation and our natural rivalry, I was really looking forward to sharing in what may well be the last Baylor football game in College Station. Having bought my ticket on eBay, I assumed I was getting it from some rich Aggie season ticket holder who could not make
it to the game. Imagine my surprise when I found myself in the middle of the A&M student section. Yes, I was the guy in green and gold about ten rows directly behind the Aggie Band. I am not ashamed to say that I was a little uncomfortable. For a Baylor fan, this could have been a scary place from which to watch the game. It is the nature of competitive football for fans to support their own team and deride the other. Collectively, the Aggie fans were appropriately disdainful of the Bears, and there were one or two cheers (and one particular gesture — you know which one I mean) led by the Yell Leaders that crossed
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I bleed green and gold, and I guess I was surprised that the middle of the A&M student section, during a rivalry football game surrounded by the disagreements and hurt feelings of the past weeks, would be a place where I would find such friendliness, sportsmanship and genuine acceptance. I congratulate your students and your University. You showed me hospitality and some real hope for how we can all get along in the coming days. While I did not ‘Whoop,’ and I sat down to try to stay out of the way when everyone else locked arms and started swaying, I can say that I truly enjoyed my three and half hours in Aggieland. I even found myself enjoying the War Hymn — after all, any song that makes fun of Bevo and that school in Austin cannot be all bad! Gig ’em, and sic ’em.
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Pg. 4-10.18.11.indd 1
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thebattalion 10.18.2011 page5
research Seeing double
Parkinson’s drug struck down A federal health panel unanimously voted Monday that a drug for Parkinson’s disease from Teva Pharmaceuticals has not been shown to slow progress of the debilitating neurological disease. Teva’s drug Azilect is already approved to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s, which causes tremors, muscle stiffness and a host of other movement problems. The Israeli drugmaker has asked the Food and Drug Administration to expand approval so that Azilect can be prescribed to slow the underlying disease. Currently no treatments are approved for that use. But the FDA’s panel of outside experts voted 17-0 against recommending approval for that use, saying the company’s clinical study results were not convincing.
Astronomer finds planet orbiting two suns Jessica Orwig The Battalion If exoplanet discoveries created a hiccup in planetary formation theory 19 years ago, a recent finding has taken complications one step further, says astronomy professor Darren DePoy. Using data from Kepler — a NASA space telescope dedicated to find planets in other solar systems, known as exoplanets — scientists have found the first exoplanet to exist in a system with two stars. Already drawing comparisons to the fictional planet Tatooine, which has two-star sunsets in Star Wars, the formation of this planet is undoubtedly a mystery, DePoy said. “It’s surprising that they would find something like that for a number of reasons,� DePoy said. “If you go back 20 years ago and you ask somebody, ‘How do planets form?’ Well, all of those models and ideas [for planet formation] were informed by our particular solar system.� Before scientists first confirmed the existence of an exoplanet in 1992, the general consensus was that other solar systems would look similar to Earth’s, with gas planets farther from the star and rocky planets closer. Moreover, it is thought that Earth’s solar system formed from a “big blob� of gas and dust, DePoy said. In its early stages of formation, most of the “blob� collapsed into a star while the remaining gas and dust eventually formed a disc that orbited the new star — comparable to pizza dough tossed in the air until it becomes a circular disc ready for toppings. As the dust orbited, it collapsed further to form planets. However, this scenario cannot be the same for a two-star system as
Tim Issac — THE BATTALION
it is for a single-star system, DePoy said. “If you collapse two stars out of the same blob, then all of the angular momentum goes into the two stars, and they don’t need to form a disc,� DePoy said. “And the notion was [that the two stars] probably don’t form a disc, and therefore don’t have planets.� While the telescope Kepler continues to find exoplanets in solar systems very different from the Earth’s, scientists continue to adjust and readjust the theories of planet formation to fit their observations. “Kepler’s off finding a lot of weird things and trying to sort them all out,� DePoy said. Ryan Oelkers, a second-year astronomy graduate student, is looking at some of the “weird things�
that Kepler is finding. Oelkers is working with DePoy and using Kepler data to determine certain aspects of exoplanets. “One way that you figure out that you’re looking at a planet is you take the light coming from a star and you point a telescope at it and keep taking pictures,� Oelkers said. Oelkers said that depending on whether or not the light from the star gets dimmer, one can ascertain the presence of a planet. He used the example of the way that the Sun appears to get darker when the moon moves in front of it. However, determining exactly when a planet begins and ends its path across a star can be difficult due to measurement uncertainty, Oelkers said. To help diminish this difficulty, DePoy and Oelkers use
an original computer program distinguishes between detection signal and interfering noise to determine the precise time an exoplanet should cross in front of a star from start to finish. With this knowledge, scientists can indirectly determine the atmospheric composition of an exoplanet; whether it is composed primarily of methane, nitrogen or something else entirely. “We’re finding a lot of planets around stars that don’t match anything in our solar system,� Oelkers said. “So, we’re trying to figure out what these exoplanets are made out of, so we can figure out how they were formed and have a good model of how the birth of a solar system happens.�
Scientists clone coyotes A South Korean team led by disgraced stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk is claiming to have cloned coyotes for the ďŹ rst time. The Sooam Biotech Research Foundation said Monday that eight coyotes were born in June as part of its efforts to clone various species of animals in cooperation with South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province. The province says it will raise the coyotes but will later donate them to zoos at home and abroad. Hwang and his former colleagues also created the world’s ďŹ rst cloned dog, Snuppy, in 2005 Associated Press
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TIME’S RUNNING OUT to have your graduation portrait made for Texas A&M’s 110th yearbook
AgeAge
Compensation
Men and Women 18 to 45
Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 55
Up to $3000
Up to $3800
Requirements
Timeline
Wed. 26 Oct. through Sat. 29 Oct. Healthy & Thu. 3 Nov. through Sat. 5 Nov. Non-Smoking Thu. 10 Nov. through Sat. 12 Nov. BMI between 19 and 30 Thu. 17 Nov. through Sat. 19 Nov. Outpatient Visit: 23 Nov. Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 18 and 30
Tue. 1 Nov. through Fri. 4 Nov. Sun. 13 Nov. through Fri. 18 Nov. Multiple Outpatient Visits
Men and Women 18 to 50
Up to $4200
Thu. 3 Nov. through Mon. 7 Nov. Healthy & Thu. 10 Nov. through Mon. 14 Nov. Non-Smoking BMI between 18 and 30 Thu. 17 Nov. through Mon. 21 Nov. Weigh between 110 and 220 Thu. 1 Dec. through Mon. 5 Dec. Outpatient Visit: 9 Dec.
Men and Women 18 to 65
Up to $1800
Healthy & Fri. 4 Nov. through Mon. 7 Nov. Non-Smoking Fri. 11 Nov. through Mon. 14 Nov. BMI between 18 and 29.9 Outpatient Visit: 21 Nov.
Up to $3000
Fri. 11 Nov. through Sun. 13 Nov. Fri. 18 Nov. through Sun. 20 Nov. Fri. 2 Dec. through Sun. 4 Dec. Fri. 9 Dec. through Sun. 11 Dec. Fri. 16 Dec. through Sun. 18 Dec. Outpatient Visit: 23 Dec.
Men and Women 18 to 65
Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 18 and 30 Weigh more than 132 lbs
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Pg. 5-10.18.11.indd 1
Dec ’11, May ’12, Aug ’12
GRADUATING
SENIORS and
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Have your senior portrait taken today through Oct. 21 in Training Room 027 of the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. To schedule your free portrait sitting, go to www.thorntonstudio.com Then go to School Portraits, Scheduling, click New User, complete form with Registration Password: tamu Or call 1-800-883-9449 Or walk in, 9 am – 1 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm weekdays
AGGIELAND 2012 It’s your yearbook. Be in it.
10/17/11 10:20 PM
news
page 6
tuesday 10.18.2011
classifieds
PLACE
AN AD Phone 845-0569 or Fax 845-2678 The Grove, Bldg. #8901 Texas A&M University
WHEN
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FOR RENT $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. 1bd/1ba in 4db furnished apartment, available ASAP at Parkway Place, W/D, all inclusive, luxurious upgrades, until 7/31/12, $575/mo 682-552-3952. 1bd/1ba Spacious floorplan w/cathedral ceilings. Brand new luxury apartment condos. Fullsize stainless steel appliances, balconies, W/D, designer ammenitites, granite/wood/tile, bus stop. Only 36units on Holleman at Wolf Pen. www.broadstoneranchatwolfpen.com 979-776-6079. 2bd/1ba apartment, 800sq.ft. New appliances, carpeting and tile. W/D. Bus route. $600/mo. +$300 deposit. 210-391-4106. 2bd/2ba 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 979-776-6079. 3/2 plus game room totally updated, fenced, pets ok, close to campus. $1050/mo. 979-776-8984. 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/3ba home, available now, Central air/heat, $900.mo, 10 minutes from Vet School, horse stall available, 979-229-2408. 4/2 close to campus, and on shuttle, fenced, pets ok, F/P, W/D. $1050/mo. 979-776-8984. 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/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 4bd/2ba house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, granite countertops, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079. www.aggielandleasing.com Condos, lofts, &Effeciencies: 309 Mobile #3&4, 1/1 efficiency, $515, w/s pd. 309 Mobile #6&8, 1/1 loft, $650 w/s pd. 1501 Stallings #44, 2/2.5, $900. 2920 Kent St. #106, 2/1.5, $650. 1001 Krenek Tap Rd #1405, 4/4, $1600. 1425 Villa Maria #401, 3/3.5, $1475. Alpha-Omega Properties, 979-774-7820, Broker. Cottage. Holik C.S. 2bd/1ba, 1000sqft., W/D, Balcony, wooded. Private drive. Clean. Quiet. No pets. $600/mo. 979-777-2472.
CS nice 4/2/2 vents W/D partially furnished, water paid, 6 mo. lease, available January, $1350. 817-559-2932. Duplexes for lease: 1008-1010 Navarro, 2/1 $625. 3520 Paloma Ridge Dr.., 3/3 $1100. 819 San Benito, 2/1 $650. 920 Sun Meadow, 2/2 $875. Apla-Omega Properties, 979-774-7820, Broker. For rent 2bd/2ba, partly furnished cottage, in Lyons, garage, big yard, $575/mo., +utilities and deposit 979-702-0354. Free ethernet and extended cable. Great prices. aggieapartments.com, 979-693-1906. Houses for lease: 2300 Colgate, 3/2 $1400. 301 Rosemary, 4/2 $1200. 505 Gilbert, 3/3 $1050. 601 Maryem, 3/1 $800. 1013 San Benito, 3/2 $1200. 2901 McLaren, 4/4.5 $1475. 3907 Sioux, 3/2 $1000. 4003 Southern Trace, 4/3 $1300. 4107 McLister, 4/4 $1500. 2009 Angelina, 4/2 $1300. 3812 Old College, 2/1 $750. Alpha-Omega Properties. 979-774-7820, Broker. http://sites.google.com/site/aaarentalcs/ Duplex for rent, 2/1, no deposit. $599/mo. 979-450-0098. Northgate. New 2/2 and 3/2 house. Walk to campus. aggievillas.net Call 979-255-5648. Now Leasing! 4bdrm/2bth houses. Spacious floorplans. Great Location. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, w/d, fenced yards, refridgerator, icemaker,lawncare. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com Townhomes. Great location! On shuttle. 2bd/1.5ba upstairs, 1/2bath downstairs. W/D connections, some units w/fireplace. Large pantry. Lots of closet space. Fenced patio. Water and pest-control paid. Some units fully remodeled. $750-$950/mo. Leasing office located at 1000 Balcones Drive, CS. 979-703-8282.
FOR SALE 2002 Clayton mobilehome, 3bd/2bth, setup Oak Creek Mobilehome Park. Fenced yard, storage building, covered porch, minutes from campus. Shown by appointment. Asking $24500. 979-324-9663. Boxer puppies for sale, five females, three males, $250 each, call 956-655-2620.
HELP WANTED Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. J. Cody’s hiring at all positions, apply within, 3610 S. College. No experience necessary just common sense! Leasing Consultant needed, individual needs to be energetic, customer oriented, have a professional appearance and able to work weekends, base pay plus commission, PT available, apply in person at 950 Colgate, CS , The Trails at Wolf Pen Creek. Med Tech for full-time, medical allergy office. Excellent benefits. Great experience for student applying to medical or nursing school. Degree in Biomedical Science and one year commitment required. Please fax resume to 979-485-0575, apply in person at 3306 Longmire Drive CS, TX, or email resume to susanc@aggieallergist.com
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$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 Need A&M students to test new iphone features for Facebook 500 Iphones will be rewarded. Apply here www.thecampusproject.org Needed: Limo driver/ manager. Bus operations a plus. Call 979-240-3812. Part-time job helping handicapped. Male student preferred. $360/mo. 10hrs/wk. 979-846-3376. Seeking help from engineering student to develop patent for flex power truck. Expertise in design, specs, and language. www.electricflexpowersystem.com to see prototype. System designed for commercial vehicles, highway speeds only. Contact Alan at 512-657-8614., adk303@live.com Student Media has an opening for a student to check news stands in the morning on campus. Position requires a 2hour block from 8am-10am, Monday-Friday. Interested applicants apply at The Grove Building 8901, ask for Joseph or Trish. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In College Station. 100% Free To Join. Click On Surveys. The Battalion Advertising Office is hiring an Advertising Sales Representative. Work around your class schedule. Must be enrolled at A&M and have reliable transportation. Interested applicants should drop off resume at The Grove, Building 8901, Advertising Office from 8am-4pm.
MUSIC Party Block Mobile DJ- Peter Block, professional 22yrs experience. Specializing in Weddings, TAMU functions, lights/smoke. Mobile to anywhere. Book early!! 979-693-6294. http://www.partyblockdj.com
PETS Chinese Emperial ShihTzu Teacups. $350-$500. Expecting Maltipoos. 979-324-2866. linda_d_54@yahoo.com
Lost Chihuahua. White male, near 2818 and Traditions, Thursday 10-6-11. If found please call 979-229-4669. Reward! No questions asked.
Allen Academy is seeking a history tutor for a small group of Chinese high school students, 2-3 evenings/wk. Preferably this person would be Chinese with excellent English skills and a knowledge of U.S. history. Call 979-776-0731 x16. Need a Tutor? Friendly, helpful one-on-one private tutors for all subjects at TAMU/Blinn and Sam Houston State. Check us out at www.99tutors.com, 979-268-8867.
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ROOMMATES 1-male roommate needed. 3bd/3ba. $400/mo. +utilities and cable. Bus-route. 1.5mi from campus. 409-466-6865.
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TUTORS
BRYAN & COLLEGE STATION: 2, 3 & 4 BEDROOM HOUSES, W/D CONN, PETS WELCOME, ALL APPL, SOME HAVE WOOD FLOORING AND A FENCED YARD! $725-$995/mo 979.764. RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
BRYAN: 2/1.5 NEWLY RENOVATED MIDTOWN MANOR APTS, AVAILABLE NOW, STARTING AT $535 FOR QUALIFIED PART-TIME STUDENTS, W/D CON, POOL & FREE INTERNET, CABLE & MORE! $535-$575/mo 979.775.2292 www.twincityproperties.com
LOST & FOUND Lost Chihuahua. White male, near 2818 and Traditions, Thursday 10-6-11. If found please call 979-229-4669. Reward! No questions asked.
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Best deal in town- DJ services/audio rentals. RDM Audio does it all! Weddings, parties, band set ups, PA systems, Event Lighting, 979-260-1925. rdmaudio.com Classical guitar and case, Takeamine C14OS. Mint condition $550. 979-485-0386, cmizc@aol.com
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COLLEGE STATION: 2/1 4-PLEXES, UP OR DOWNSTAIRS AVAIL, WALKING/BIKING DISTANCE FROM TAMU, ASF 825, ALL APPL, CENTRAL A/H, W/D CONN! $515/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
BRYAN: BRYAN: THE BROADMOOR APARTMENTS – 1/1 UPSTAIRS w/ STUDY! AVAILABLE NOW, ALL APPL, FULL-SIZE W/D CONN, PETS OK! FREE INTERNET, CABLE, W/S, GAS & GARBAGE! $535/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
Klout Continued from page 1
what we put on social media toward the hearts and minds of people,” said Diane McDonald, director of social media and marketing programs for Texas A&M University. “We have continued to be a part of it and be relevant to bigger conversations outside campus.” Klout is an online website that measures social media influence. Based on the quantfiers “true reach,” “amplification” and “network” impact, experts look at every time users create content and how people interact with that content. Only schools that create an account and login to Klout can be evaluated, receiving a score. But the tool is gaining traction among normal social media users. “True reach” is the number of people influenced. Klout filters out spam and bots and focuses on the people who are interacting with the content. If users interact regularly, the source will most likely have a high “amplification” score. “Network” measurement indicates the total influence of the engaged audience. “It seems basically to be the measurer of popularity at any given moment, and it is no surprise to me that there has been a huge uptick in A&Mrelated social media traffic between sports talk, higher enrollment and an Aggie running for president,” said Ed Walraven, senior lecturer inthe College of Liberal Arts. In January, the online company ranked Stanford, Syracuse and Harvard in the top three spots, scoring 70, 64 and 64 respectively. A recent press release from Klout said both University of WisconsinMadison and the University of Oklahoma tied at 4th place with a score of 67. In a complex algorithm in calculating user influence, Foursquare, a geo-tagging social media network, is now included. Students contribute to social media influence, and with the help of geo-location based applications, measurement scores increase. Foursquare partnered with the University in July for their university program. “As a student, this ranking really assures me that Texas A&M is taking into account who they can reach online,” said senior English major Kate Chapman. “Nearly every student on campus has a Facebook, Twitter, Google+ account or uses Foursquare. A&M knows this, that’s why they choose to put so much emphasis on their online content. Social media is honestly the best way to connect, interact and engage with students.”
STUDIES IN PROGRESS BRYAN: 4/2 TOWNHOMES, ASF 1600, PET FRIENDLY, ALL APPL, F/P, BALCONY, SOME HAVE FENCED YARDS, 2 LIVING AREAS, QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD! $995-$1075/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com
ATHLETES FOOT STUDY
Volunteers ages 12 and older are needed to participate in a 6 week clinical research study of an investigational topical medication for the treatment of Athletes Foot. Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study Related Medication • Skin Exams by a Dermatologist • Compensation up to $200.00 for time and effort For more information please contact:
HAIR LOSS Volunteers ages 18-49 are needed to participate in a 8 month long research study with an investigational topical medication for Hair Loss. All eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study Related Examinations by a Dermatologist • Study Related Medication • Compensation for time and effort For more information please contact:
J&S Studies, Inc. 979-774-5933 1710 Crescent Pointe Parkway, College Station, TX 77845 www.js-studies.com
Word Square Solve the clues and fit them into the word square. 1. To hold it strongly 2. A research institute not so far away 3. If Apple Inc. were to have criminals they will be called ______ 4. Tri->Quad->____ Last Thursday’s solution:
L I S T
I D E A
S E E K
T A K E
Siddharth Kumar — THE BATTALION
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Enjoy Blissful Heritage Cuisine! OPEN EVERYDAY! come try our
LUNCH BUFFET 11-3pm Daily
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news
page 8 tuesday 10.18.2011
campus Power outage on main campus A power outage occurred on campus Monday at 7 p.m. A dispatcher for A&M Utilities and Energy Management said the outage lasted for approximately 30 minutes on main campus, affecting buildings on both North and South Side. At time of press, the dispatcher said the source of the outage is unknown. Amber Jaura, staff writer
thebattalion
nation Missing Arkansas student found dead A college sophomore who was reported missing last week in central Arkansas was found dead in a pond south of Little Rock, police said Monday. Authorities ruled the death of 20-year-old Patricia Guardado a homicide after her body was discovered Sunday afternoon in a few feet of water south of Sweet Home, Ark. A cause of death was not immediately released. No suspects have been named. Police wouldn’t comment Monday about whether Guardado had been assaulted, whether she might have known her assailant or how long she had been in the pond. The scant information released by authorities Monday shocked Guardado’s
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Bill Eisele, researcher at Texas Transportation Institute, said several population factors in addition to increased student population have increased traffic. “The Bryan-College Station area has… had a very robust economy,” Eisele said. “Former Aggies are also attracted to the community to retire. I think the traffic on the roads is a reflection on that very robust economy and subsequent population growth.” Eisele also said it is important to consider that new students who are still learning the area and getting used to the transportation system contribute to complications on the roadways. Joe Guerra Jr., who coordinates transportation planning in College Station, said the city’s planning and development services and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are cooperating on two projects in the campus area to alleviate traffic congestion. One of these involves the intersection of George Bush Drive and Wellborn Road. “TxDOT is designing it, but there has not been funding appropriated yet,” Guerra said. “The next phase will be land acquisition for the project, which could take up to four years.” Rother said the plan includes a bridge that will allow Welborn Road traffic and the railroad to go over George Bush Drive without interruption, while George Bush Drive will slope underneath the
uncle, Gerardo Garcia Ramirez. “It’s incredible that there isn’t a single clue or suspect,” he said in Spanish. So, while authorities offer rewards for information that leads to an arrest, he asked people — especially in the Hispanic communities of central Arkansas — to come forward with any details about what happened to his niece. He said Guardado’s family still can’t believe that they have to bury such a wonderful young woman. “She was always working and studying,” he said. “She was a good daughter, a good sister, a good niece.” Associated Press
bridge structure. “Pedestrians will have separate structures at the intersection so they will not have to cross vehicular traffic when going through the intersection,” Rother said. Another project will connect Jones Butler Road, which terminates South of campus at Luther Street, to Penberthy Road, which runs along the intramural fields and beside Reed Arena. “This roadway extension will improve connectivity and capacity by providing an alternative access point onto the Texas A&M University campus without having to drive through the intersections of George Bush with Marion Pugh and Wellborn Road,” Guerra said. Guerra also said the extension of Jones Butler will provide some traffic relief for students who normally take Wellborn Road, and is scheduled to begin next fiscal year. Guerra said TxDOT and the city face construction funding issues, which are the main reason these projects are taking so long to implement. “We can plan all we want, but at the end of the day, if there is not funding available, they cannot get done,” Guerra said. Guerra also said it costs more to construct now than it did in 1993, due to inflation and the higher cost of materials. “TxDOT has to face budget cuts since the state gasoline tax has not been raised at either the state or local levels since 1993,” Guerra said. “There is less funding available, but more cars on the roads. They are more fuel efficient, so there is less revenue being generated at the pump.”
Some roads in College Station are state-maintained roadways, such as Wellborn Road, FM 2154, University Drive, FM 60, George Bush Drive, Texas Avenue and Highway 6. City funding for road transportation projects is independent of state funding. “The city funds things through the city’s capital improvements bond election,” Guerra said. “The citizens’ committee decides on the list of projects after being given many recommendations, and then the voters decide if it is appropriate to spend bond money to finance those projects.” Guerra further explained that the reason the city uses bonds to finance these projects is that these are high dollar projects and the city does not have the money to finance these projects up front. Citizens pay back the bonds a little at a time through property taxes. “In the last bond elections, we did not raise property taxes to pay back the current loans,” Guerra said. Rother said the city’s Capital Improvement Plan to widen and extend existing roads hasn’t been impacted by budget reductions following bond elections in 2009. At the end of the day, Guerra said what is most important is that the city and TxDOT are moving in the same direction. Rossow offered some ideas for alleviating congestion in the meantime. “People don’t need to be out all of the time,” Rossow said. “Staying home and studying at your house can lessen the amount of vehicles on the roads. Or carpool if you want to go study somewhere.”
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