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Football preview When the Missouri Tigers visited Kyle Field in 2010, they walked away with a 30-9 victory. Should the Aggies be worried about a repeat performance? Get the game preview at thebatt.com.
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sports
Kennedy addresses diagnosis of disease
Arch 101
Chandler Smith
There’s a lot to consider when designing building layouts. Get inside the head of an architecture student in a video at thebatt.com.
The Battalion Texas A&M men’s basketball coach Billy Kennedy has been diagnosed with early stage Parkinson’s disease, according to a statement released Thursday by A&M’s athletic department. Kennedy’s health concerns were made apparent after taking a temporary leave from coaching due to back and shoulder injuries. After days of stress and lack of sleep Kennedy due to pain, Kennedy sought information on the root of the problem. “Through testing, it has been discovered that I am dealing with an early stage of Parkinson’s disease,” Kennedy said. “At this time, I am heeding the advice of my doctors and addressing the disease and its symptoms.” Despite the diagnosis, Kennedy expects to return to coaching soon and said he appreciates the support given from the surrounding Aggie community. “We have begun a long-term treatment plan and recovery. My doctors are encouraged and are tell-
coming monday
Campus spooks Students may dress up to look like ghosts this weekend, but are there any real spirits lurking around A&M? Find out Monday.
inside sports | 3 Starting line The Aggie women’s and No. 24 men’s cross country teams welcome conference opponents to town for the Big 12 championships this weekend. Get the preview inside.
Burnt orange No. 23 women’s soccer heads to Austin on Saturday for the final meeting between the Aggies and Longhorns as Big 12 foes.
See Kennedy on page 2
Jay Kapadia — THE BATTALION
Junior receiver Ryan Swope kneels in the end zone before playing Baylor on Oct. 15 at Kyle Field.
Keeping faith Junior receiver Ryan Swope has defensive coordinators praying for answers Austin Meek
voices | 4 Wasting time Students waste too much time in useless classes, says guest columnist Gerald Spencer. He wants to know what the real value of his degree is.
The Battalion Texas A&M, Baylor, Colorado State and Duke recruited the shifty running back from Austin Westlake. A three-star recruit, the No. 66 rated ball carrier in the state didn’t figure to make headlines on any school’s sounding board. But A&M head coach Mike Sherman liked what he saw on the field and inked junior wide receiver Ryan Swope’s commitment March 3, 2008. Three and a half years later, Swope has indelibly etched his name in the A&M record books and tossed his name into the “best receiver in school history” conversation. And it happened because Sherman took a flyer on this flyer, hoping his coaching staff and players
could coax Swope out of his ball toting ways and transform him into the elusive receiver he’s become. “In college football today it’s important in those slot positions to have a hybrid guy that’s played some running back and can catch the football and do something with his hands,” Sherman said. “What he did in high school demonstrated him to be able to play that position for us.” Swope managed to make an impact his freshman year in limited playing time, featured primarily as a special teams threat and a backup receiver. He showcased his play-making potential by taking 10 of his 19 receptions for either first downs or scores.
Saturday’s match-up ◗ Missouri vs. No. 16 Texas A&M 11 a.m. at Kyle Field
On TV: FX
◗ Check out photos and a game reaction after the game at thebatt. com
See Swope on page 5
bryan-college station
Film eyes Mexico violence Joanna Raines The Battalion Gunshots ring in the background as a schoolteacher sings nursery rhymes to her 5- and 6-year-old students. They lay face down on the floor, trying to avoid the crossfire. This story is not abnormal for many Mexican citizens. Living in cities overrun by drug cartels means living in fear. Charlie Minn produced the documentary 8 Murders a Day to create awareness about the violence happening in Mexican border cities. Screenings begin in Bryan today and continue next week. “I’m very victim-driven,” Minn said. “I’ve been around so many victims lately. You can always tell when you’re around a victim; their smiles are not as pronounced. They don’t laugh so hard.” The film was released in February 2010. Minn said it is a close examination of what he considers to be the worst human rights disaster in the See Cartel on page 6
Game 7 tonight
campus
General studies program to be cut Emily Davis
ASSOCIATED PRESS
St. Louis Cardinals’ David Freese hits a walk-off home run in the 11th inning of game 6 in the World Series against the Texas Rangers Thursday night. Get the game recap online at thebatt.com.
Pg. 1-10.28.11.indd 1
The Battalion For approximately 5,000 students who claim general studies as their major, change is on the way. The University is beginning an initiative to get students who are in the general studies program into their majors of choice. Lesia Young, associate provost for undergraduate studies, said she is asking the colleges to allow the general studies students to go into their majors of choice. She said the move away from general studies is one for the benefit of students. “We are doing these things to make sure the students are successful,” Young said. “These problems have been here for many years. My goal is to try to ad-
dress the problems and not allow them to just continue to be here.” While students are being encouraged to change into their major of choice, Young said the University is not doing away with general studies altogether. Students who enter A&M with no idea what they want to major in can still declare general studies as their major. Also, students who are in programs such as Blinn Team and Gateway can still major in general studies. However, students who are not accepted into their first- or secondchoice majors when entering A&M will not be admitted into the general studies program. “The data shows that there were only four freshmen who chose general
studies as their first and second choice,” Young said. “If we have that case again where students don’t know what to do then we will let them in to general studies, but we are really trying to get the students into a major so they don’t have to wait to get into a major.” Young said she worries about students who are “closet majors” — majoring in general studies while taking classes to pursue another major — who waste expensive semesters in the general studies major. “It’s a problem and we need to address it,” Young said. “What if they’re closet majors and then they don’t actually get into the program they want? That’s the part that concerns me. See General studies on page 6
10/28/11 12:18 AM
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nation&world Man faces charges for loaded gun GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Court documents say a 26-year-old Oregon man facing charges that he had a loaded pistol on school grounds after a football game had written a note on a desk when he was in high school saying he wanted to kill teachers and students. The 1999 note was cited in documents ďŹ led in federal court in Medford on Thursday. Prosecutors want to keep Raphael Amoroso of Grants Pass behind bars while he awaits trial on ďŹ rearms charges. The hearing scheduled for Thursday was put off to Monday at the request of Amoroso’s lawyer. Amoroso was arrested on drunken driving charges Oct. 7 after leaving a Grants Pass High School parking lot. In his car, police found a gun, ammunition and a novel about a sniper killing people at a football game.
AGGIE ATHLETICS
A&M head coach Billy Kennedy speaks at his introductory press conference in May.
Kennedy Continued from page 1
ing me I will be able to come back soon,� Kennedy continued. “I am very grateful for the outpouring of support from friends, family and the Aggie Network.� Associate head coach Glynn Cyprien and the rest of the Aggie basketball staff will continue to work with the team in Kennedy’s stead. “My intention is to return to the court as soon as it is prudent,� Kennedy said. “I have great confidence in coach Cyprien and the staff I have assembled to lead this great group of young men and this basketball program.� A&M athletic director Bill Byrne added his thoughts and sentiments on the situation. “Our foremost concern is for coach Kennedy and his family. Billy knows he can count on us and the Aggie Network for support,� Byrne said. “I fully expect Billy to have a long and illustrious career here in Aggieland when he is cleared to return to the court. Meanwhile, I have confidence in the staff Billy has hired and in our basketball team. I’m anxious to get
the season started and to get Billy back on the basketball court as well.� Senior point guard Dash Harris said Kennedy has the team’s full support and, despite the situation, great things are coming for Aggie basketball. “After speaking with Coach Thursday, he knows that we’re there for him and we know that he’s there for us. He’s doing better and we’re just trying to get him back on the floor as soon as possible,� Harris said. “He looks well, he seems happy and he’s the same coach Kennedy that he always has been. Our prayers are with him. We’re looking forward to a great season, a season with him on the sideline.� Though Kennedy’s diagnosis is troubling, senior history major Trevor Beaty said he is confident the Aggie Network will do its part to help as Kennedy continues to recover. “His health is the main concern. It’s the Aggie way to step in when someone’s down and out so I’m sure A&M will help him through this hardship,� Beaty said. “Even though he’s somewhat new to the family we all need to help out in whatever way we can get him through this and have a successful season.�
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corrections The Battalion welcomes readers’ comments about published information that may require correction. We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction needs to be published. Please contact us at editor@ thebatt.com.
howtoapply If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion, apply at thebatt.com, or call 845-3313. The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out. We particularly encourage freshmen and sophomores to apply, but students may try out regardless of semester standing or major. No previous journalism experience is necessary.
Suspect pleads guilty to stealing Picasso painting in California SAN FRANCISCO — A New Jersey man who walked out of a San Francisco gallery with a pencil sketch by Pablo Picasso worth $275,000 pleaded guilty to grand theft Thursday. Workers at the Weinstein Gallery said Mark Lugo brazenly snatched the drawing, called “Tete de Femmeâ€? (Head of a Woman), from a wall of their gallery on July 5. Lugo then walked down the street and got into a cab with the sketch under his arm. But quick police work, video surveillance cameras and an alert taxi driver led to his arrest within 24 hours. When investigators searched Lugo’s apartment in Hoboken, N.J., they uncovered a treasure trove of stolen art worth some $430,000. Lugo, 30, pleaded guilty to grand theft in the San Francisco case. Under terms of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop other charges, including burglary. The deal allows for Lugo to be released on his sentencing date, Nov. 21, after getting credit for the time he has already served. His attorney, Douglas Horngrad, said Lugo would then be extradited to New York to face similar charges in art heists there. Horngrad said the case had been wildly overblown. “Now that all the hoopla has died down, he’ll serve the time that reects the conduct,â€? he said. “Nobody was killed, nobody was assaulted; this was not the crime of the century.â€? Lugo’s
initial bail of $5 million was “preposterous,� Horngrad added. He also hinted that his client suffered from a mental illness. “All these things that Mark is alleged to have taken were all taken within a 30-day period, with no behavior like that before, and that suggests that there was some psychiatric episode,� the lawyer said. Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pablo Picasso’s famous pencil sketch “Tete de Femme� was drawn in 1965
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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. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.
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thebattalion 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.
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women’s hoops | Texas A&M tips off its Maroon and White scrimmage at 7 p.m. Friday in Reed Arena.
men’s swim | A&M opens the season at 6 p.m. Friday with the Southwest Collegiate Plunge. Day two starts at noon Saturday.
sports
women’s swim | The Aggies take the first dive of the season Saturday against Missouri in Mansfield, Texas.
thebatt.com
Mizzou preview
thebattalion 10.28.2011 page3
The No. 16 Texas A&M football team kicks off against Missouri at 11 a.m. Saturday. Read the preview online.
Big 12 Championships up next for A&M cross country Adrian O’Hanlon III The Battalion Seven nationally ranked teams are coming to Aggieland as A&M holds the 2011 Big 12 Cross Country Championships Saturday at Pebble Creek Country Club. A&M head track coach Pat Henry said the conference meet features some of the top competitors in the nation. “This will be a great opportunity for our community to come out and see some of the best distance runners in the country,” Henry said. “Cross country is one of the largest participant sports within the NCAA so the competition is tremendous. Community support for this group of athletes is appreciated.” Leading the men’s field of four nationally ranked teams is No. 1 Oklahoma State. The two-time defending NCAA champs are joined in the rankings by No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 11 Texas and No. 24 Texas A&M. The men compete over an 8,000-meter course at Pebble Creek that junior transfer Henry Lelei said has rolling hills that few
Big 12 title meet ◗ The men’s race begins at 10 a.m. ◗ The women’s race starts at 11 a.m. ◗ The meet is free to attend ◗ Pebble Creek is at 4500 Pebble Creek Parkway in College Station. associate with Texas terrain. “People always think that Texas is flat. When you go [to Pebble Creek] it’s not that way,” Lelei said. OSU fields two Big 12 individual champions with German Fernandez winning in 2008 and Girma Mecheso in 2010. Lelei — a 2010 NJCAA champion — said he is not letting a foot injury slow him down against the highlytouted field. “I‘ve been having injuries with [both feet] but now I’m back,” Lelei said. “I’m ready to race against a big school like Oklahoma State.” Three nationally ranked teams — No. 12 Texas, No. 13 Iowa State and No. 30 Oklahoma State — high-
light the women’s race over a 6,000-meter course. Unranked Texas Tech enters the meet as three-time defending Big 12 champion and returns the league’s 2010 individual champion Rose Tanui. Junior Natosha Rogers said she has fully recovered from a stress fracture in her shin and feels she can contribute after leading the women in the Wisconsin Invitational two weeks ago. “I actually feel really fit and I just want that to translate to the race [Saturday],” Rogers said. “I think the girls’ team is going to do really well. We talked about [strategy], and we have a plan to get our mentality together.” The Aggies have overcome some tough competition during October, finishing above several ranked teams in meets at Wisconsin and Notre Dame. The men’s team finished ahead of seven nationally ranked teams in Wisconsin, while Rogers led the women to a season-best finish. Rogers said the Aggies learned to ignore national rankings after such a meet.
AGGIE ATHLETICS
Junior transfer Henry Lelei has finished in the top 10 in both of the last two meets. “We talk about who we’re competing against, for sure,” Rogers said. “But we don’t really get in our heads that ‘Oooh, there’s ranked teams out there.’ We just do the best that we can do.” A&M assistant coach Wendel McRaven said a meet on
the home course will help the team — and fans — stay focused on taking the next step toward the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. “Both of our teams are heading in the right direction,” McRaven said. “After traveling around the country
for our last two meets, it is going to be nice to sleep in our own beds and stick with a more normal routine. Plus it makes it easier for friends, family and classmates to come out and support the team.”
Soccer to finish conference play at Texas James Solano The Battalion Longtime state bragging rights are on the line Friday for the A&M women’s soccer team (12-5-1, 5-1-1 Big 12) as it travels to Austin for its last regular season match against the Texas Longhorns (10-6-1, 3-3-1 Big 12) in conference play. The Aggies are looking to pick up a win to close out the regular season after Sunday’s defensive struggle with No. 2 OSU at Ellis Field, resulting in a double-overtime draw, 0–0. Freshmen Kelley Monogue and Jordan Day were named Big 12 Players of the Week after last Friday’s 3–0 victory over Oklahoma. Monogue scored two goals and assisted
Big 12 standings OSU Texas A&M Baylor Texas Texas Tech Missouri Kansas Iowa State Oklahoma
Big 12 6-0-2 5-1-1 5-2-1 3-3-1 3-4-1 3-4 3-4 1-6 1-6
Last Lone Star Showdown Overall 17-0-2 12-5-1 14-3-2 10-6-1 10-7-2 12-6 11-7 8-9-1 6-12
on the Aggies’ third goal, enroute to blanking the Sooners at Ellis Field on senior night. Monogue enters Friday’s match against Texas with 38 points, 15 goals and eight assists on the season — leading the conference in goals and points per game while
◗ Kick off is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in the state capitol. ◗ The game will be broadcast on Aggieathletics. com and the Longhorn Network. ranking No. 12 nationally in both categories. Day logged 200 minutes at goal last weekend to record her fourth and fifth shutouts of the season. Day tallied 14 saves in the two matches, including eight against national powerhouse OSU. Day leads the conference in save percentage (.941) and goals against average (0.32).
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Have your graduation portrait taken for Texas A&M’s 110th yearbook today through Thursday, Nov. 3, in Training Room 027 of the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center.
Aggie soccer will be the first A&M athletic program to bid farewell to Texas before joining the Southeastern Conference in 2012. The Longhorns split their last two outings, with a 1–0 home victory over Seattle University Sunday, and a 3–2, double-overtime loss at Texas Tech Oct. 19. Senior midfielder Kylie Doniak leads the Longhorns’ offense this season with five goals and 14 points on the season. Texas will also look for an offensive spark from freshmen forwards Hannah Higgins and Taylor Knaack, both scoring three goals apiece on the season. Texas’ junior goalie Alexa Gaul has appeared in every game this season. She has
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Senior forward Merritt Mathias leads the Aggies with nine assists. racked up 1,569:45 minutes at goal, six shutouts and 56 saves this season. The Aggies enter today’s match against its arch-rival,
leading the series 19-5-2, overall. The last time the rivals tangoed, the Longhorns held on to a double-overtime, 1–1, draw in Austin.
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2011 Aggieland yearbooks are here. IF YOU did not order the 2011 Texas A&M University yearbook (the 2010-2011 school year), a limited number are available at the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Hours: 8:30 A.M.–4:30 P.M. Monday– Friday. $85 plus tax. Cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. IF YOU pre-ordered a 2011 Aggieland, it has been mailed to your billing address.
To schedule your free portrait sitting, go to www.thorntonstudio.com Then to School Portraits, Scheduling, click New User, complete form with Registration Password: tamu Or walk in, 9 am – 1 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm weekdays
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EDITOR’SNOTE
‘
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 verified.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reflect 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
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Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 mailcall@thebatt.com
thebattalion 10.28.2011 page4
GUESTCOLUMN
In support of a DREAM Mariana Anguiano: Divisive petition not in A&M’s best interest
A
Texas law supported by fellow Aggie and Republican presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry that provides in-state tuition for undocumented students (the Texas DREAM Act) became the primary focus of a recent on-campus petition.
Although I recognize that not all Aggies share my wholehearted support for the measure, Perry’s opponents are giving an inaccurate picture of the law and its effects. The in-state tuition law was signed by Perry in 2001 with the support of more than 90 percent of Texas legislators. The law passed not because it’s a “feel good” law, but because it simply and clearly made economic sense to allow these students — in whom the state has already invested during their K-12 educations — the opportunity to continue their studies and eventually give back to the state. Money paid by these students to colleges and universities actually tends to increase school revenues because it represents income that would not otherwise be there. Eligible students have lived and paid taxes in Texas for at least three years prior to high school graduation. These students are given no special treatment in getting into A&M or other Texas colleges, and they must promise to seek citizenship the minute they become eligible. DREAMers — undocumented students that qualify
under the Texas DREAM Act — pay tuition and contribute more than $9 million out-of-pocket in educational costs each year. It is estimated that these students make up about one percent of college students in Texas. Further, Perry recently defended the law in presidential debates, and legislation drafted to repeal the law failed to pass committee during the regular legislative session this summer. The probability of repealing the law at this point is slim. I encourage all students to become involved in the political process and research and advocate for issues that they are passionate about. But let’s remember that as students of this prestigious university, we represent A&M wherever we go and to succumb to ideological infighting only tarnishes our image. Students should focus on their common values and save the divisive issues for the politicians. Mariana Anguiano is a sophomore civil engineering major and public relations chair in the Council for Minority Student Affairs.
GUESTCOLUMN
How much I learned about not learning anything Gerald Spencer: Tell me why excellence is worth the effort
I
sat in a room full of faculty, staff and student leaders for two hours Tuesday. They all wore some version of suits or other professional attire. I represented the common student — wearing flip-flops, shorts and a T-shirt.
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We were gathered there that day to discuss “our shared responsibility” to make Texas A&M University a top-10 public university in the nation. One of the focuses of this particular dialogue was how to improve our educational practices, both inside and outside of the classroom. I listened for a great length to the discussion, which presented A&M in a very positive light, highlighting particular problems to certain issues. But the participants overlooked, in my opinion, the worst problem of them all. I am a history major. I’ve spent four and a half years here. In that time, I haven’t learned a single thing, other than a handful of very interesting, but useless facts. The education that I cherish right now is the one I received while serving as a student leader, through four years in the Corps of Cadets and the Memorial Student Center. I told those in attendance that it felt like there was a complete disconnect between what I was being taught in the classroom and what I wanted to learn at Texas A&M. Needless to say that was not what a room full of professors wanted to hear. They began to stiffly and staunchly support the notion that a degree was useful and important — no mat-
ter what the field of study — in promoting certain values and leadership abilities. I don’t know about you, but I felt like they were missing the point. If the methods I learned while studying were the focus of my education, then I learned how to write a 10-page paper in one night, how to scrape by with the least amount of studying and how to spend hours in a room without really learning anything. If the leaders in that room want A&M to be a top-10 university, then they have to deal with people like me, who represent the average grade point ratios. Many students believe that college is no more than a check-mark demanded of them by society. How do you motivate people like me to be excellent students? How can we extend the shared responsibility of making Texas A&M a top-10 institution to every student here? I don’t have all the answers, but before A&M leadership can expect us to take responsibility for pursuing academic excellence, they must first tell us why it is important to be here. Gerald Spencer is a senior history major
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news
page 5 friday 10.28.2011
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Sophomore year was his real coming out party though, as he broke Rod Bernstine’s long-standing record of 65 receptions in a season when he and then-junior receiver Jeff Fuller both tallied 72 grabs. In the midst of his third year in Aggieland, Swope looks sharp and is poised to break more benchmarks. If he continues on the pace he’s set in 2011, he’ll finish the year with 75 receptions and 1,129 yards, breaking Fuller’s school-best 1,066 yards set in 2010. In the Battle of the Brazos against No. 20 Baylor two weeks ago, Swope snagged 11 passes for 206 yards and caught a school-record four touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said Swope’s mix of athleticism and knowledge of the game make him a nightmare for any defensive game planner. “He’s a very fast guy, a very strong, explosive runner after the catch,” DeRuyter said. “He runs
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great routes and understands coverages, so he knows where the holes are and where he needs to sit down. Our crew of receivers are as good as any in the conference, and he’s obviously one of the best.” Swope credits his success at the position to the tutelage of senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who played receiver at the time of Swope’s arrival and helped ease his transition. “Ryan, when he started here, was a great receiver for A&M,” Swope said. “When I came in and he took over the quarterback spot, he helped me and molded me into the wide receiver I am today. “I give a lot of credit to Ryan. When I came in here as a freshman he really helped me read defenses. I’d never played wide receiver before. I was a running back in high school so I didn’t have a whole lot of experience at that position. He molded me and helped me through that.” Tannehill set a record earlier this season when he became the only player in NCAA history to surpass 3,000 passing yards and 1,500 re-
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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 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
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. 2006 Clayton Mobile Home set-up in Bryan. 72x16, 3bd/2ba. All electric, garden tub, 10x10 storage building. Call for appointment. 979-571-7301, 979-324-1354.
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ceiving yards in his career. Sherman said the players’ versatility and work ethic have forged a connection that makes them one of the most lethal tandems in the nation. “It’s a real special combination,” Sherman said. “I think it’s become that way because of the way they both practice. They practice at game speed. When you do that, the game isn’t too fast. Things don’t change so the timing and the tempo of the play exists in practice and carries over to the game. It allows them the opportunity to be on the same page on gameday.” Swope’s play has the Aggies’ offense firing on all cylinders, averaging 522.6 yards per game and scoring more than 40 points per contest. He said that maintaining that 500-yard average is something A&M hopes to achieve.
“That’s a good goal for us, to have as many total yards as possible,” Swope said. “If we do things in practice and take a look at the film and just focus on fundamentals, everything contributes to Saturday and how we execute and how we play. If we keep doing the little things I feel we can do that.” And while he still remembers the sting of last season’s 30-9 loss against Missouri, he says he doesn’t dwell on the past, which comes as a bit of a surprise from a guy who can’t seem to keep his nose out of the Texas A&M record book. “I take it one game at a time,” Swope said. “This is a completely new season and a completely new team. We don’t look back at last Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION year. I’m really looking forward Junior receiver Ryan Swope to Saturday.” averages 14.98 yards per catch.
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Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com
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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 STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In College Station. 100% Free To Join. Click On Surveys.
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STUDIES IN PROGRESS ATHLETES FOOT STUDY
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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:
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world. It focuses on Juarez, Mexico, which Minn said is a symbol of cartel violence. Juarez is the eighth-highest populated city, but accounts for a fourth of the violence in Mexico. Drug cartels have taken over the city, and the cartels exhort government officials, businessmen and the working class. “Drug trafficking is a part of day-to-day life on the border,” author and reporter on the El Paso drug trafficking since 1985, Diana Valdez said. Valdez is one of the many experts interviewed in 8 Murders a Day. The proximity of drug trafficking to El Paso creates problems for both U.S. and Mexican citizens. Minn said because owning a handgun in Mexico is illegal, they look to the U.S. to supply them with firearms, in exchange for drugs. “We’re the root of the problem,” Minn said. “Our unbelievable desire and hunger for illegal drugs is embarrassing. It truly is embarrassing. Anytime someone in the United States smokes a joint, just remember that could be in exchange for an 8-year-old kid getting his head blown off. People don’t look at it that way.” Molly Molloy, a library researcher at New Mexico State University, studies the violence in Juarez on a daily basis. She said the violence began escalating in 2008 and reached its highest reported
COURTESY PHOTO
8 Murders a Day shows at Premiere Cinema in Bryan starting Friday for a week. amount in 2010. This amount averaged eight deaths per day, giving Minn the inspiration for the title of his film. “Extortion is a huge thing in Juarez. If you don’t pay a quota to the cartels, your place could be burned down or you could be killed,” Minn said. Law enforcement is corrupt and overwhelmed with the massive amount of crime. Molloy said it is estimated that 95 percent of murder in Juarez is not prosecuted. “Most people feel they can
General studies Continued from page 1
I think the solution is to council them from the very beginning.” Kriss Boyd, executive director of General Academics, declined to comment. Bob Bednarz, geography professor and former speaker of the Faculty Senate, said discouraging students from going in to general studies could have a negative impact on students who are unsure of what they want to major in. “I think for students who are already motivated it will have little impact,” Bednarz said. “But there are about 5,000 students in general studies, many of whom are not exactly sure what they want to study, which is understandable. Having those students choose a major more quickly may only increase the time it takes them to graduate.” Bednarz said his main issue with the changes being made to the program lies in the lack of communication to students and faculty. “From an administrative point of view, I
get away with murder,” Molloy said. Minn said the drug wars in Mexico are a rising issue in society. Drug cartels have established themselves in more than 300 American cities, many in Texas. Minn brought 8 Murders a Day to College Station to educate college students on this issue. “[I want to] create as much awareness about the unknown war. I want to let people know how bad this really is, and that it’s a U.S. problem,” Minn said.
think the students and the faculty should have been part of the discussion before any decisions were made,” Bednarz said. “I think it was unwise to announce what was going to happen when the students and faculty hadn’t been consulted.” Rachel Holland, a freshman general studies major, isn’t surprised at the changes being made but said general studies is a good choice for freshman and sophomores who are still undecided about their future careers. “I get the feeling that people are staying in general studies for too long,” Holland said. “But I still think for freshmen year it’s nice to have an option because everybody is trying to figure out what to do. I want to explore my options and not be pigeonholed into a major. General studies gave me that option.” Holland said she came in to the university as an engineering major but switched to general studies during add-drop week. “Switching into general studies gave me a lot more flexibility,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do if I was still in engineering right now.”
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