The Battalion: November 15, 2011

Page 1

thebatt.com

thebattalion

‘Twilight’ nears Check out The Battalion’s video interview of Christina Perri, the Twilight: Breaking Dawn: Part 1 soundtrack artist, online at the thebatt.com.

â—? tuesday,

november 15, 2011

â—? serving

texas a&m since 1893

â—? first paper free – additional copies $1 â—? Š 2011 student media

Engineering across the gender gap

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

As is often the case in her classes, freshman electrical engineering major Becky Jones sits surrounded by male students while listening to an Engineering 111 lecture.

Women engineering students adjust to classroom minority status Jessica Orwig The Battalion When assistant professor of mechanical engineering Molly Gentleman attended a meeting for a research program in Washington D.C. this semester, she was the only woman out of a group of 30 or so engineers. “They did not unlock the women’s restrooms, so I had to go to the front desk and get a key every time I needed to use the restroom,� Gentleman said with a laugh. Along with her female colleagues, Gentleman represents a small percentage of women that have pursued and obtained a faculty position in engineering. Of the 62 faculty members in the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, seven are women — a mere 11.3 percent. Mechanical engineering is not the only engineering department at Texas A&M where women represent only

a small minority of the faculty. According to the Office of Institutional Studies and Planning, the College of Engineering has 693 faculty members, of whom 122 are women. With male faculty outnumbering women six-to-one, Gentleman noted that under-

81% MEn engineering Students

graduate and graduate women who study engineering have few female mentors to look to for guidance. Having never had a female mentor herself, Gentleman said she feels a duty to help her female students as much as possible. Kristen Maitland, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, suggested that fewer women pursue a faculty position because they believe other fields would be more conducive to raising a family. “As you go up the ladder, it’s more work and responsibility, and I think some women think they can’t have a family and be a professional and do both well,� Maitland said. Undergraduate numbers are similar to those of women faculty members in the College of Engineering. The fall 2011 enrollment profile showed that 11,179 students major in engineering, of whom 2,129 are women. Undergraduate men studying engineering outnumber their female counterparts

19%

18%

Women

Women

Engineering students

Engineering faculty

five-to-one. In contrast, the next lowest percentage of women in a college is the College of Architecture, where 35 percent of students are female. The college with the highest percentage of women is the College of Education and Human Develop-

82%

ment, where females make up 75 percent of the college. The overall percentage of women to men at A&M is 46.5 percent to 53.5 percent. According to Nancy Amato, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the small numbers of undergraduate women majoring in engineering is the biggest problem. “The problem is that we’re losing them in high school and junior high,� Amato said. “Boys and girls are doing equally well in mathematics and science in their younger years of grade school. By the time they’re in high school, girls’ interests in the STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics]

fields are down.� Jodie Lutkenhaus, assistant professor of chemical engineering, added that engineering is not taught in high school. Some high school graduates may not know certain engineering programs exist, such as chemical engineering. There is a solution to this, though, she said. “Start having male and female engineers visit schools and say, ‘This is what I do,’ and spend an hour talking about engineering so that kids just even know what the word is,� Lutkenhaus said. “I think See Engineering on page 9

MEn Engineering faculty

47% 53% MEn

Women

student body

Student body

campus

women’s basketball

ResLife weighs dorm rate increases Aggies to

raise title banner

Emily Davis The Battalion The cost of living on campus may increase for students as early as fall 2013. The Department of Residence Life is considering rate increases for all residence halls in order to afford renovations and improvements across campus. These projects include the ongoing Northside Hall construction, University Apartments renovations and Corps dorms renovations; a possible Commons renovation costing as much as $31 million; and unspecified future renovation projects, possibly for Corps dorms or construction on West Campus. The timing of the rate increase coincides with the opening of Northside Dorm, which is scheduled to open in August 2013. Carol Binzer, director of administrative and support services in the Department of Residence Life, said no rates have been approved yet and are simply in the draft stage. She said the increase was proposed to benefit the residents. “Prices go up on average 3-5% every year anyway,� Binzer said. “But the proposal is to make one jump to the new rates when the new hall comes online. Then you won’t have to See Rates on page 5

Adrian O’Hanlon III The Battalion

COURTESY

The Northside Residence Hall, pictured in a concept design, is scheduled for completion in August 2013 and will be occupied by students in the fall 2013 semester. The draft rate increases are partly in response to ongoing construction projects, including Northside Hall.

No. 6 Texas A&M women’s basketball collides with No. 9 Louisville on Tuesday, as the Aggies are set to raise their 2011 national championship banner at Reed Arena. A&M head coach Gary Blair said playing tough teams like Louisville is the key to success in conference play, both on the court and in the stands. Blair scheduled top-tier teams Duke and Rutgers in non-conference play last season in the Aggies’ first-ever national title season. “A lot of people hide from risk-reward See Basketball on page 2

STUDENT RUSH OFFER! LAST CHANCE TONIGHT!

B A S E D

Pg. 1-11.15.11.indd 1

O N

T H E

L I N C O L N

C E N T E R

T H E A T E R

P R O D U C T I O N

RUSH TICKETS ONLY $21!

Call 979-845-1234.

* Limited Number of Tickets Available at the Pbg]hp h_ ma^ FL< ;hq H__b\^ Hger Ebfbm + Mb\d^ml i^k Lmn]^gm Lmn]^gm B= K^jnbk^] Ghm OZeb] _hk Mb\d^ml :ek^Z]r Ink\aZl^]

11/15/11 12:53 AM

Today 80% chance of storms High: 74 Low: 59

Connect online

INC

Mon. 11am-2pm Tue thru Thurs 11am-3pm/5pm-9pm Fri. 11am-10pm Sat. 8am-10pm Sun. 8am - 2pm

TexasMonthly The 50 Best Mexican Restaurants in Texas December 2010 Located In Downtown Bryan 200 South Main 979-775-PAPA (7272)

ADUATING SENIORS R G

rsity M Unive Texas A&

Texas A&M University

Order your Graduation Announcements and receive them in one week. Three styles to choose from. We have the Ring Crest Announcement that has been sold for more than 30 years. Order online at www.AggielandPrinting.com or come by our store in the HEB Center at Texas & Holleman. Aggie Owned Class of ‘80

(979) 693-8621

"RIARCREST

"RYAN CORNER OF TH 3T "RIARCREST

/0%.

$!93 ! 7%%+

OVER $ WON WEEKLY s -ONDAY THRU 3ATURDAY 1ST 3ESSION ND 3ESSION

s 3UNDAY ST 3ESSION PM

ND 3ESSION PM

Event Packages & Planning Availabl e

774-726

6 s PRICE PAPER ON 4HURSDAY $ s PRICE &ORTU.ET %LECTRONICS s 4UES AND 4HURS &REE "EER LIMIT s $ SESSION PLAY s PRICE FULL PAY -ONDAY 7EDNESDAY AND &RIDAY WWW BRAZOSBINGO COM

LARGE NON-SMOKING ROOM 'REAT &OOD s 3ECURITY s 5NLIMITED 0ULL %VENT 4ABS AND -UCH -ORE

St. Joseph St. Joseph Brazos Valley Bubba Moore Memorial BVCASA Catholic Catholic Elks #859 Group, Inc. School Church

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. 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.

Pg. 2-11.15.11.indd 1

courtesy of NOAA

Wednesday mostly sunny high: 78 low: 52 Thursday mostly sunny high: 66 low: 46 Friday partly sunny high: 70 low: 63

pagetwo thebattalion 11.15.2011

sports Players reject NBA’s labor offer

comics

NEW YORK — NBA players delivered a resounding but risky response to one more ultimatum from NBA Commissioner David Stern: See you in court. The players’ association rejected the league’s latest proposal for a new labor deal Monday and began disbanding, paving the way for a lawsuit that throws the season in jeopardy. Negotiating went nowhere, so now the union is going away. And Stern said “nuclear winterâ€? is coming. “We’re prepared to ďŹ le this antitrust action against the NBA,â€? union executive director Billy Hunter said. “That’s the best situation where players can get their due process.â€? And that’s a tragedy as far as Stern is concerned.

Tim Issac — THE BATTALION

Louisville forward Cierra Warren puts up a shot over Missouri State forward Regan Soldner during the second half Sunday in Springfield, Mo.

Associated Press

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.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Basketball Continued from page 2

games; we embrace them,â€? Blair said at a press conference Monday. “If you get beat, you get beat. If you win it goes on the rĂŠsumĂŠ for when March comes.â€? Members of A&M’s championship team will also receive their title rings before the game. Blair said his wife, Nan Smith-Blair, will present him his championship ring if she makes it back from Atlanta in time. In A&M’s last game, they faced a smaller Lamar team that double-teamed the Aggies in the post to force 22 turnovers. Blair said Louisville will avoid those double teams and zone traps because they have enough size to match the Aggies. This will be the tallest team A&M has played so far, but Louisville’s size doesn’t take away from its top-ten offense. In its exhibition game, Louisville set the school record for total points in a game by defeating Lindsey Wilson College 118-41. Six Cardinals scored in double figures and the team shot just under 62 percent from the field.

Last time out for Louisville, the Cardinals played a close game against Missouri State but edged a 73-64 win. Sophomore center Cierra Warren led the team in scoring with 18 points in 12 minutes of play and freshman forward Sara Hammond had a double-double with 13 points and 13 boards. Louisville point guard Shoni Schimmel will not play against A&M after sitting out against Missouri State for the first of a twogame suspension. She was suspended by the NCAA for playing in a non-sanctioned, 3-on3 tournament in Oregon during the summer. Schimmel averaged 15.1 points per game as a freshman last season and led the Cardinals to the 2011 NCAA Tournament regional round. Blair said Louisville presents an early challenge to A&M’s title defense but the team will enjoy the atmosphere. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 and ESPN3 starting at 3 p.m. “We’re going to enjoy tomorrow,� Blair said. “I think this team is a veteran team, enough to realize it’s very important not just to our team but to the community, to the University and to the nation to be able to see it on ESPN.�

11/15/11 12:51 AM

COURTESY PHOTOS

Packing up baggage Paige Kuznar: “Four the Record� finds Miranda Lambert in fresh territory

C

ountry music’s female vocalist of the year, Miranda Lambert, just released her fourth album this November. Titled Four the Record, the album was written based around the “luggage� you wish could just disappear. Lambert doesn’t sing with hatred, but more with passion and experience. “It is great and has a strange twist to it,� said Richard Lambert, Miranda’s father. Lambert became famous in 2003 on an episode of Nashville Star. Her first single, “Kerosene,� rocketed to the top of the Billboard Hot Country charts. Blake Shelton and Lambert said their “I do’s� a few days after “Four the Record� was released. “Oklahoma Sky� was written for Lambert from a family friend representing her new “roots� with Shelton. “The new album will be very different and have a new look to it,� Miranda Lambert said. “As for a favorite song, I can’t really pick out a top tune because the album is unlike any other.� Her first album, Kerosene, was classified as Platinum and her second, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, received the prized album of the year at the Country Music Awards.

Must Download â—— Track ďŹ ve: “Mama’s Broken Heartâ€? â—— Track eight: “Baggage Claimâ€? â—— Track ten: “Over Youâ€? â—— Track thirteen: “Nobody’s Foolâ€? Four the Record took five short days to record while her others took close to two weeks. Lambert said she wanted the record completed before her wedding and was still frantically dealing with contractors the night before. “Lambert comes full-circle, starting every woman-scorned clichĂŠ imaginable with brilliant, atypical attention to musical detail,â€? music reviewer Paul Pearson said. For the first time, Lambert wasn’t responsible for writing the songs on this album; she had others write them for her.

b! thebattalion 11.15.2011 page3

music

Paige Kuznar junior agricultural communication & journalism major

Therefore, this album is focused on Lambert’s character viewed from outsiders. The album contains 14 witty, yet diverse tracks. Lambert faithfully sings what she believes and doesn’t let anything get in the way of that. “Fine Tune� is one of the strangest songs she has ever produced. It is electrifying, yet distorted, which is something many country singers would be afraid to attempt. “Baggage Claim� became Miranda Lambert’s highest debuting single while No. 33 on the Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It was released to the radio in August and within days had already generated buzz for the record’s release. “I think this will be the record that reaches out to a different audience and brings them into country,� senior communication major Cameron Biehle said.

Miranda Lambert discography ◗ Kerosene (2005) - Singles: “Me and Charlie Talking� and “Kerosene� ◗ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007) - Singles: “Famous in a Small Town� and “Gunpowder & Lead� ◗ Revolution (2009) - Singles: “House That Built Me� and “Heart Like Mine�

nation&world Timberlake attends Marine ball VIRGINIA — Justin Timberlake followed through on a promise to take a marine to her unit’s annual ball. The singer and actor posted a photo along with a letter on his website Sunday that the Marine Corps Ball in Richmond, Va., was “one of the most moving evenings I’ve ever had.� Cpl. Kelsey De Santis had invited Timberlake through a YouTube video to Saturday night’s event and Timberlake accepted. WTVR-TV reports Timberlake wore a tuxedo to the ball at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

NBC News hires Chelsea Clinton NEW YORK — Chelsea Clinton began work at NBC News on Monday, the second daughter of a former president at the network. NBC said it had hired the 31-year-old Clinton to work on projects for “NBC Nightly News� and Brian Williams’ newsmagazine, “Rock Center.� She will report stories for the feel-good “Making a Difference� series. The only child of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is pursuing a doctorate at Oxford and working for the Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative.

◗ Four the Record (2011) - Single: “Baggage Claim�

Associated Press

8CBBGLE #?LB : ( ( . ( 1 ' Be a Hometown Hero. Donate Blood. 0217+6 ),1$1&,1*

+8*( 6(/(&7,21

You can do something to make a difference in someone’s life.

7 + 8 5 6 ' $ < 6 $7 8 5 ' $ <

You can donate blood in the lobby of the Jack E. Brown Engineering building. Blood donation usually takes about 30 minutes and can save up to three lives. Donors will receive:

129(0%(5

t A free A&M donor T-shirt in your size t 12 free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings in College Station t A coupon for two free games of bowling from Mel’s Lonestar Lanes in Georgetown

t A coupon for $1.00 off purchase or one free mini-cupcake from Gogo’s Frozen Yogurt and Cupcakes in Temple t An entry to win a $100 savings bond donated by the National Banks of Central Texas

Jack E. Brown Engineering building lobby (University Drive and Spence Street) blood donation schedule: Monday–Thursday, November 14–17 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Friday, November 18 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

All blood donated will remain in Central Texas so it will be available when you, your family or your friends need it most. Support your local community. Be a Hometown Hero.

8FCPC "EEGCQ (CR &LE?ECB

bloodcenter.sw.org

877-724-HERO (4376) Z Z Z G D Y L G J D U G Q H U V M H Z H O H U V F R P

Pg. 3-11.15.11.indd 1

11/14/11 9:09 PM

Feature your organization in the Aggieland yearbook GET A CONTRACT: r TUPQ CZ PVS PGĂ DF 5IF (SPWF #MEH

tuesday 11.15.2011

Wide Selection We Carry Over of 100% Pure 50 Varieties Essential Oils of Bulk Teas

✤ ✤ ✤

OFYU UP UIF "MCSJUUPO #FMM 5PXFS

FNBJM BHHJFMBOE ZFBSCPPL!HNBJM DPN PS DBMM GPS JOGP

Green, Black, Yellow, Oolong and Many More!

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

r WJTJU PVS XFCTJUF IUUQ BHHJFMBOE UBNV FEV

B N m Q N r 5IF (SPWF #MEH

thebattalion

“A World of Healthy Products for Your Family!�

OFYU UP UIF "MCSJUUPO #FMM 5PXFS

TURN IN A CONTRACT:

news

page 4

The Herb Bar

OVER 100 VARIETIES OF

✤

TEA BAGS

4303 S. TEXAS AT ROSEMARY BRYAN • 979-846-4459 MON–FRI 9 TO 6 • SAT 9 TO 4 Celebrating 23 22Years Years of of Serving Serving the the Brazos Brazos Valley! Valley! Celebrating

David Godinez — THE BATTALION

Visualization graduate student David Monroe’s A glimpse into the next dimension of fractals project offers a 3-D view of fractal objects, a group of irregular shapes or curves that are similar in shape when similar in size.

Enjoy Blissful Heritage Cuisine!

1st ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! Complimentary drink, beer, or house wine with purchase of Dinner Buffet Special

Sunday Nov. 20th 2416 A Texas Ave S. 979-696-6560 www.tazcuisine.com

Need to have your wisdom teeth removed? Don’t go to the ring. We have a research study. Right now, PPD is looking for qualiďŹ ed participants for a post-surgical pain relief research study of an investigational medication. Surgery for qualiďŹ ed study participants will be performed by a board certiďŹ ed oral surgeon. Receive up to $500 upon study completion and the surgery is performed at no cost.

For information, call

1-800-866-0492

Text “PPD� to 48121 to receive study information

!& # !# * ' % %! ! % ) $ , "% # ! ! * % # % ! ! !&# ! %* !# !&# ( # & % ! # ! *1 $ # ! * ( % " ! !' # 69- 7566 % 9.69 " !! 85< & # !( #/ * # $ # ' % %! $ # % $ # % ! !# ! & % %! !&# !# + % ! / !! # $ ( $ #' ! !( % # ! */ $ !& % %! $ &# ! % # % 9.55 " ! &#$ * !' # ;/ $ / &# 8:4 / ! 2<6;3 :;:0;;<= # $$ $ &$ $$ "#! $$ ! /

!! !#( # %! $ *!& % # 1

Pg. 4-11.15.11.indd 1

Creativity for all Visualization competition brings out artistic side of science and engineering students Jessica Orwig The Battalion From 3-D video games to 2-D music videos, both undergraduate and graduate students presented their projects at the sixth annual Immersive Visualization Competition, or IVC, on Nov. 4. Sponsored by the University’s Institute for Scientific Communication and the American global technology company Nvidia, the IVC is dedicated to helping students gain a better understanding of their research. This can be done by constructing their work in a way that is visually appealing, said Steven Johnson, the competition’s coordinator and senior system analyst II. While the competition can be a way for students to further develop their skills in computer simulations, it is also a form of entertainment for the audience. “One of the primary purposes for this competition is entertainment. We want people who show up that are not necessarily connected with [the student’s work] to enjoy a good show of the talents that some of the students have here,� Johnson said. Of the six projects that were presented in a miniature cinema seating 40 people in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, three were awarded prizes. Provided by Nvidia, the prizes are high-end graphics cards that are often used to run f light and driving computer simulations as well as computer games. While the secondplace and third-place prizes are worth around $350, the first place prize is worth $4,000. Shriram Jagannathan, a graduate aerospace engineering student, took first place for his 3-D work in computational f luid dynamics. Second place went to visualization graduate student David Monroe for his 3-D work on fractals — a unique geometric shape. And third place went to a group of three visualization seniors — Amy Richards, Rhiannon Martinez and

Oscar Camorlinga — for their demo of a 3-D video game, Circuitree. Additional projects included: an abstract 2-D music video, Empyrean, where humans and plants were intertwined in a fictitious world; a 2-D video, Flesh, that explored themes like sexuality and perfection; and a demo of the 3-D video game, Tea Time. Like projects’ themes, the amount of time students spent to produce the projects varied significantly. While the third-place team finished their project for a class during a three-week period, first-place winner Jagannathan said it took him a year to generate the data and three weeks to produce the visualizations he provided. The criterion for winning the competition not only requires appealing visualizations, it also requires artistic and scientific merit as well as a clear verbal explanation of the project, Johnson said — one of three judges for the competition. “In Jagannathan’s case, it was a scientific project,â€? said Johnson. “And he did a very fine job explaining the project and explaining how visualization helped [him and his colleagues] understand the problem they were working on,â€? Johnson said. In addition to winning the $4,000 graphics card, Jagannathan said that placing first in this competition has other benefits. “This goes right on the first page of my rĂŠsumĂŠ!â€? he said. As far as his prize goes, Jagannathan said he will probably use it to continue his research at Texas A&M. “My research will soon start involving the use of graphic processing units to accelerate different sections of the code, and so I might use the graphic card for testing some of my preliminary simulations,â€? he said. Although previous work has been done on studying f luid dynamics, computer simulations programmed to visualize the individual particles are still in its preliminary stages.

“Visualization ‌ gives additional information about the shape, trajectory and speed of a f luid particle,â€? Jagannathan said. “We found two important observations while visualizing the database, and this would be the best place to show that visualization does help in advancing science.â€? Unlike Jagannathan, third place winners Amy Richards, Rhiannon Martinez and Oscar Camorlinga are still deciding who gets the one graphics card they were awarded. “One of the group members cannot even use the card and has said they do not want it, therefore now it all depends on who needs it the most, which still has yet to be determined,â€? said Camorlinga, who was informed of the competition by a professor. Despite the issue of who gets the prize, Camorlinga said participating and placing in the competition was rewarding. “Seeing all of the other projects at the IVC and getting valuable critiques from the participants and judges gave us the incentive to make our project even better,â€? Camorlinga said. “Many students, especially those applying to graduate school, which we are currently doing, could not put even their participation in such a competition. The fact that we placed third and were competing against graduate students I feel gives us some extra points.â€? 2007 winner Alethea Bair-Sutherland said the competition was a way for him to branch out and grow. “Winning the competition was definitely a nice boost that gave me confidence to try other activities I might not otherwise have attempted,â€? BairSutherland said. “And it was great to have the latest, greatest graphics card to play with. Entering the competition forced me to expand my project to be useful and interesting to a novice audience. Certainly, getting to see my work in stereo on a wall-sized screen was really exciting.â€?

nation Giffords praises husband as brave in ABC interview

texas Runner dies after halfmarathon in San Antonio

WASHINGTON — Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in her ďŹ rst public interview since she was shot in the head in Tucson last winter, doted on her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, and called him “brave, brave, braveâ€? as she kissed his bald head. Giffords appears on ABC’s “20/20â€? show Monday night. It’s her ďŹ rst extended interview since the January rampage that killed six people and wounded 13. Interviewer Diane Sawyer said Giffords discusses her career plans and her recovery, and the segment included some video of Giffords’ progress, from being unable to speak at all, to the point where she was ready to give a television interview. Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO — Authorities say a runner has collapsed and died after ďŹ nishing a half marathon in San Antonio. The Bexar (bayr) County Medical Examiner’s OfďŹ ce identiďŹ ed the man who died Sunday morning as 32-yearold Jorge Fernandez of San Antonio. Autopsy results are pending. OfďŹ cials say Fernandez collapsed just past the ďŹ nish line of the 13.1 mile race, which began with foggy conditions and temperatures in the low 60s. Organizers say water stations were posted throughout the course. Associated Press

11/15/11 12:09 AM

news

page 5 tuesday 11.15.2011

thebattalion

Rates

Draft rate increases

Continued from page 1

tweak it every year.� The Department of Residence Life released to The Battalion a draft proposal of the rate increases. The current pay structure includes five unique rates for ramp, corridor-Corps, balcony, Commons and modular-style dorms. The draft proposal simplifies the pay structure, valuing existing dorms at three rates and adding a fourth for the North Side Dorm. Ramp-style dorms remain at the lowest rate. The second rate values corridor, Corps and balcony dorms at the same rate. The third rate values Commons and modular dorms at the same value. Students currently living in balcony-style dorms pay approximately $150 more per semester than those living in corridor and Corps dorms. Students living in modular dorms — which have private bathrooms — pay approximately $200 more those in the Commons, which are suite-style with one bathroom shared by two rooms. Residence Life administrators said they equated the value of varying dorm styles to match demand, rather than simply based on amenities. If the proposal were accepted, the rate for ramp-style dorms would increase 3 percent to $1,489. Modular dorm and Commons rates would increase 5.7 and 15 percent, respectively, to $2627. Corridor and Corps dorms, which are equally priced, would increase 13.6 percent to $1894, and the Balcony dorms would increase 3 percent to

(+15.9%)

(+13.7%) (+6%)

(+3%)

(+3%)

said the price is justified because of the amount of money being put into building the dorm. “A lot of that is to cover the cost of building a new building,â€? McDonald said. “It’s going to cost $68 million for the new building.â€? Grant Shryock, sophomore biochemistry major who lives in Clements Hall — a modular-style dorm, disagreed with the policy of charging current students for future renovations. “In a way, it’s unfair because some of the construction isn’t for now, it’s for students 10 years from now, but we’re having to pay,â€? Shryock said. Shryock was also concerned about the economic affect on students “How much is too much?â€? Shryock said. McDonald said he hasn’t formed a personal opinion about the across-the-board rate increases, but invited student feedback as his organization weighs in on the subject. “I’ve seen the preliminary presentation ‌ I want to get a little bit more information,â€? McDonald said. “I want to get feedback from [on-campus students] to see how they’re feeling about things.â€?

Voice your concerns the same level. The North Side hall rate is projected at $3,500 per semester, $700 greater than the next-highest rate. Before the North Side Dorm, A&M had not added a residence hall since 1989. Brian McDonald, Residence Hall Association president,

TUESDAY

â—— Residence Hall Association has community meetings at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and on Nov. 29 in Koldus room 144

â—— Students can contact the Residence Hall Association president, Brian McDonald, at president@rha.tamu.edu

SUPER SAVER

COUPONS GREAT DEALS EVERY TUESDAY IN THE BATTALION

Traditions Limos “TOP QUALITY AT THE BEST PRICE!�

College Station

DRIVE THRU SPECIAL!

$

5

20% Discount Offered to Ag Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni

Special Gameday & Wedding Rates

I

LARGE 99EXTRA ONE TOPPING + TAX

OR SPECIALTY PIZZA

The Hummer H2 Limosine

Visit Us At TraditionsLimos.com Or Call Us At 979-587-1727 Expiration: Dec 31, 2011

Mention Coupon When Ordering - 1 per Coupon, per Vehicle, per Visit

Expires 11/17/11

C^gfet&ff

Hollywood Cafe Bistro

979-846-0607

No reasonable offer refused. All Food and Drinks!

www.theplaceforitalian.com

SHAMMY EXPRESS CAR WASH

5.00 OFF

1/2 PRICE Car Wash Excludes any other offers.

(Expires 12/31/11)

(Expires December 31, 2011)

2401 Texas Ave S., College Station

3301 S. Texas Ave., Bryan

979-846-9478

979-696-1928

1.3 miles north of Texas Ave. and University Dr.

(In front of Gold’s Gym)

Top Nails

25% off

Complete & Professional Nail Care

1519 SOUTH TEXAS AVE, COLLEGE STATION (NEAR KOHL’S) 979-696-1155

OFF

%2= ,%-6'98 www.supercuts.com

Coupon valid only at participating locations. Not valid with any other offer. No cash value. One coupon valid per customer. Please present coupon prior to payment of service. Š2011 Supercuts Inc. Printed U.S.A. Expires: 12/31/2011 A&M-Bat

Manicure & Spa Pedicure

$

26.00

Reg. 30.00

$

$

(Original) Solar Set

5.00 OFF

Reg. 35.00

$

$

17.00

$

Reg. 21.00

Not valid with any other offer.

Not valid with any other offer.

Deluxe Pedicure

Full Set of Acrylic Nails

Eye Brow Wax

Not valid with any other offer.

Not valid with any other offer.

Not valid with any other offer.

30.00

Reg. $ 35.00

Mon.-Fri.: 9am-8pm Saturday: 9am-7pm Sunday: 12-6pm

$

19.00

Reg. $ 23.00

(979) 693-4101

$

6.00

Appointment and Walk-In Welcome

4 5FYBT "WFOVF 4VJUF % r $4 (next to Harvey Washbangers)

DudDley’s Draw Lunch Special $5.00 Any Sub. Chips & Drink

Weekdays 11am - 2pm Add us as a friend on Facebook

42 Tournament Every Thursday 8pm 311 University Drive

Woodstone Center 913-D Harvey Rd. College Station 680-1492

$

Walmart Center 2205 Longmire College Station 695-6565

10

VersaSpa First time customers only

Briarcrest Center 1885 Briarcrest Dr. Bryan 731-8200

One Month Unlimited $24.95

See store for details. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 11/31/11.

limit one per person

Regular Haircut $5.75* Highlights $50* Color $25*

Jacuzzi Spa

Not valid with any other offer.

$

any service

We use Autoclave to sanitize all instruments

We accept Credit Cards!

Pg. 5-11.15.11.indd 1

not valid with any other offer

Bryan, TX 979-739-6698 www.HollywoodCafeBistro.com

Oil Change and Car Wash Special

3

(1 per table with meal purchase) Expires 11/28/11

Ă“Ă“Ă“ĂŠÂ˜°ĂŠÂ“>ÂˆÂ˜ĂŠ`ÂœĂœÂ˜ĂŒÂœĂœÂ˜ĂŠLÀÞ>Â˜ĂŠUĂŠ­Â™Ă‡Â™ÂŽĂŠnĂ“Ă“Â‡Ă“ĂˆĂ‡x

DETAIL, OIL, AND LUBE

$

979-680-9911

Ask for John when you come

SHAMMY CAR WASH $

2501 S. Texas Ave., D-102 Next to 4.0 & Go

FREE dessert

Must Have Valid Student ID. Limit 1 Per Customer Expiration: November 30, 2011

197 N Earl Rudder Fwy

*Non-Alcoholic Expires 12/31/11

Park Place Plaza

FREE WIFI

Let’s Make a Deal Mondays!!

or

Se Habla Espanol

with any meal purchase of $7.99 or more

caffĂŠ capri

250.00 OFF any New Kia!

10.00 OFF any Oil Change

FREE FOUNTAIN DRINK *

At Aggieland Premiere Cinema a

$

$

Bvuifoujd!Lpsfbo!Gppe!!

Cvmhphj-!Cjcjncpq-!Ljndij!boe!npsf"

*regular price

All services performed by supervised students We accept walk-ins as well as appointments Tuesday-Friday 9:45am-5pm

979-776-4375 1711 Briarcrest Dr., Bryan, TX 77802 www.charlesandsues.com Join us Facebook at www.facebook.com/charlesandsuesschoolofhairdesign

/",&% '*4) 4VTIJ #BS (SJMM

0''

5PUBM 1VSDIBTF XJUI $PVQPO &YQJSFT 5FYBT "WF 0QFO EBZT B XFFL 1JDL 6Q 5P (P PSEFST BWBJMBCMF

11/15/11 12:51 AM

classifieds

thebattalion 11.15.2011 page6 PLACE

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

AUTO

WHEN

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

FOR RENT

I buy vehicles, running or not running. 979-778-1121. New/Pre-Owned Autos, VM, Mazda, Hyundai, BMW, All makes & models, Call David 979-571-0177.

BED AND BREAKFAST Romantic Getaways & Engagements, secluded cabin suites. All Day, All Night. www.7flodge.com 979-690-0073

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. $400 off first month’s rent if lease is signed before 12/5! 2/1 within walking distance to campus, washer, dryer, refridgerator, new laminate wood flooring. 2 downstairs units available, both have been remodeled. $650 with water paid or $865 with all bills paid including TV/Internet. Contact Sherry Perry, Broker/Realtor at 979-229-7254 or email sherry@iclickhomes.com 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. 2 roommates needed for 4/4 Waterwood Townhouse. $450/mo. plus bills. Common areas furnished. Contact nickverzosa2@gmail.com for more information or http://collegestation.craigslist.org/ roo/2680283519.html 2bd/1.5 ba with large closets, large fenced backyard, fireplace. 2404 B Long Dr. $575/mo. 979-777-9933. 2bd/2ba duplex. With large walk-in closets, large fenced backyard. Great location and shuttle. University Oaks. $700/mo. 979-693-1448. 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 or 4-bdrm, 2.5bath Mediterranean style duplexes w/garage, security system, all appliances including W/D. 979-297-3720 or 979-292-6168. 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 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 4bdrm, each with private bath. Gorgeous new home in Southern Trace Subdivision. 10-minutes from campus. Appliances, fenced yard. Front lawncare included. Secure, well lit subdivision. 3bdrm at $425/ea., 4th bdrm at $375/mo. This is the best of the best! Available now. 281-919-8869, Jeff. Country rental. Wellborn area. 3bd/2ba. Horse friendly w/fee. Large covered porch, W/D connections. $999/mo. Call Michelle 979-255-5763. CS nice 4/2/2 vents W/D partially furnished, water paid, 6 mo. lease, available January, $1350. 817-559-2932. Duplex for sub-lease, 2bd/2ba on Tabor Road right off Hwy.6. $725/mo. Lease ends 07/15/2012. Call Michael, 832-451-7844. Free ethernet and extended cable. Great prices. aggieapartments.com 979-693-1906. FREE IPAD/FIRST MONTH FREE. Spacious 2bd/1ba. Close to campus, on shuttle route. Large kitchen with full appliances. W/D connections. Front and back patios. Ceiling fans. HILLSTONE on the PARKWAY, 528 Southwest Parkway. 979-693-6102. Open 11:30-5:30 Monday-Friday Furnished Woodlands sublease. 1-bedroom of the 2bd/2.5ba touwnhouse. Spring Semester. W/D, cable, internet. $630. 713-249-3271. http://sites.google.com/site/aaarentalcs/ Duplex for rent, 2/1, no deposit. $599/mo. 979-450-0098. Nice 2/1 duplex, fenced yard, tile floors, W/D connections, lawn care, available December, $650/mo. 979-324-5835. 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 SUB LEASE 675.00 UNTIL JULY 31, 2012. Townhome 2/BR, 1.5/Bath on shuttle, washer/dryer connections in the unit, abundant storage, spacious floor plan(1200sq ft), privacy fence around patio, 2 designated parking spaces in the rear. Contact by email for more information glendak.davis@yahoo.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.

SPECIAL

see ads at thebatt.com

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.

FOR SALE

HELP WANTED

2bd/1.5ba Condo, adjacent to Wolf Pen park, on bus route, FSBO $80,500, call 940-337-6337 or 940-692-7078. GE dorm refrigerator/freezer. Great condition, 32x20x21.5, $75. Call 979-693-1291

HELP WANTED ARE YOU READY FOR BASKETBALL? NEED EXTRA CASH? We need officials for our Youth Basketball League. Pay ranges from $9.00 to $11.00/game. Games last about one hour. Training begins 01/14/2012. Email dhudspeth@cstx.gov call 764-3424 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. COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for YOUTH BASKETBALL. Season begins early 01/2012! Email dhudspeth@cstx.gov call 764-3424. Full-time medical technician for growing allergy practice wanted. 4-year degree and 1-year commitment required. December graduates welcome! We are looking for an intelligent, positive, friendly person to join our team. We teach skills that are an asset for anyone interested in a career in healthcare and can help a candidate get into medical school. E-mail resume to docmgr@yahoo.com

Wanted: Energetic people for Kids Klub After-School Program. Employment begins Spring Semester, 1/4/12. Applications accepted at 1812 Welsh, Mon.-Fri., 8am-4pm. Kids Klub, 979-764-3831. www.cstx.gov/kidsklub

LOST & FOUND

MUSIC 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 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

COLLEGE SKI & BOARD WEEK

breckenridge

Vail • Beaver Creek • Keystone • Arapahoe Basin FROM ONLY

plus t/s

WWW.UBSKI.COM

1-800-SKI-WILD • 1-800-754-9453

BRYAN: 3 BEDROOM HOMES, W/D

Tutors wanted for all subjects currently taught at TAMU/ Blinn and Sam Houston State starting at $8.25/hour. Apply on-line @ www.99Tutors.com, 979-268-8867.

Large

Anyway you want it!

8.99

$

carryout only

1741 University Dr.

979-846-3600

1740 Rock Prairie Rd.

979-680-0508

Traditions Limos, Hummer Limos service, Ag discount, 979-587-1727, traditionslimos.com

TICKETS

Calculus and Physics tutor needed. $20/hr. Call 979-845-1775 Donald Cantrell.

I need Ag football tickets! 713-436-6244 (office) or 713-454-9776 (cell).

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.

COLLEGE STATION: 2/1 DOWNSTAIRS UNITS AVAIL, WALKING/ BIKING DISTANCE FROM TAMU, ASF 825, ALL APPL, CENTRAL A/H, WOOD FLOORING, W/D CONN! $515/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com

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

BRYAN: AVAILABLE NOW, OVER 3,300 sq.ft. - 8 BEDROOM OR 4 SUITES, Each 800 sq.ft. Suite Includes a Master Bedroom, A Study with Extra Closet, and a Full-Size Bath ALL BILLS PAID*, PETS OK, CALL FOR DETAILS 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com

COLLEGE STATION: 3 BED/2 BA WITH STUDY HOMES, NEAR TAMU BUS ROUTE, ALL APPL, WOOD FLOORING, NEWLY REMODELED, FENCED YARD, PETS OK! $795/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com

STUDIES IN PROGRESS 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.

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In College Station. 100% Free To Join. Click On Surveys. The Callaway House, a private student housing residence hall, is accepting applications for Community Assistants for the Spring Semster. Apply in person at: 301 George Bush Drive West or Apply online: http://www.americancampus.com/our-company/employment. EOE.

TUTORS

White male husky- blue eyes; Red/white female husky- blue eyes. Missing Wednesday 11.09.2011. Call 817-313-0012.

20 Mountains. 5 Resorts. 1 Price. Leasing Consultant(s)- Looking for dynamic individuals for multiple Bryan/College Station apartment communities. Full and/or Part time positions available immediately. Weekends required. Candidates who enjoy a fast paced environment, possess strong sales background with customer service skills. e-mail resume to willowickmgr@comcapp.com

SERVICES

CONN, WALK-IN CLOSETS, PETS WELCOME, ALL APPL, WOOD FLOORING, FENCED YARD, PETS OK! $775-$895/ 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

BRYAN: 2 BEDROOM FOURPLEXES & DUPLEXES! SOME HAVE FENCED YARDS, PATIOS, F/P OR BALCONY, PET FRIENDLY, FREE CABLE & INTERNET, W/D CONN, ALL APPL! $515-$715/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com

979-774-5933 1710 Crescent Pointe Parkway, College Station, TX 77845 www.js-studies.com

psst... 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.

puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com

AggieNetwork.com

Pg. 6-11-15-11.indd 1

11/14/11 1:33:01 PM

EDITOR’SNOTE 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 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. Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 | mailcall@thebatt.com

voices thebattalion 11.15.2011 page07

Occupied

EDITORIAL

Transparency is always the right decision

Joshua Howell: Local occupiers bring a diversity of opinion to B/CS

On the left

E

ver since Occupy Wall Street (OWS) garnered media attention, a deluge of criticism has befallen the movement regarding a supposed dearth of specific and cohesive demands. These critics — most of whom excused the Tea Party’s initial vagaries — claim this absence makes OWS at best ignorable, and at worst a movement to be co-opted by politicians. But these observations miss the point: populist rallies exist to redirect political discourse, not to give the nation a syllabus on how that discourse should then proceed. And members of the Occupy movement do have demands. Walking with Occupy College Station (OCS) — as I did on Nov. 3 — one would be disposed to note the plethora of proposed rectifications to government inefficacies. Some were sensible (such as tax reform); others were blatantly nonsensical. Two of the worst are as follows: First was a man who urged the abdication of our electoral democracy for a more “direct” alternative. This suggestion should be flatly ignored. Our electoral democracy exists to moderate political views; it makes consensus building a necessity and lessens the effects of what Jon Stuart Mill called “the tyranny of the majority.” When politicians finally see the amount of public sentiment imperative to taking on an opinion, that opinion has been elevated from mere public whim to something of decided and contemplated importance. The second example came from a member of Occupy Austin, who thought America’s income tax unconstitutional and abhorred the idea of the Federal Reserve. Control over monetary policy, he stated, “should be returned to the people.” Much like Ron Paul, he misses the basic paradox of railing against a government intimately intertwined with and

corrupted by special interests, while at the same time wishing to grant that government more power. But to harp on these differences is, again, to miss the point. The month-and-a-half long encampment at Zuccotti Park has since spawned similar protests in 900 cities, from European countries to Japan. Yes, suggesting we should usurp our electoral democracy or abolish the Federal Reserve is absurd, but so is the notion that we should see a high degree of consistency from a movement this large. When witnessing OWS’ internal friction, three things should be kept in mind. First, despite the individual disagreements, the larger movement is clearly a reaction to a government perceived to be more concerned with the richest Americans (the 1 percent) than the rest (the 99 percent). While this left-wing Occupy movement is also a reaction to the changes made by the right-wing Tea Party, many participants of OCS voiced potent dissatisfaction not only with lobbyists, corporations and George W. Bush (the typical bêtes noires of the left), but Bill Clinton and President Obama as well. Second, these discrepancies show the seriousness of the protesters. They are more than their populist slogans; they are the arm of a politically-minded sector of America, adamantly concerned with finding solutions to the problems they encounter in their lives. Of the five participants to whom I spoke that day, all could clearly articulate what they disliked about current government policies, and had suggestions as to how it could be fixed. Third, while a more general perspective shows what Occupiers are protesting, the individual disagreements show who is making that protestation. Any movement that can bring together the conservative-libertarian demand of ending the Fed and income tax as well as the left-wing call for direct democracy is evidence of wide-ranging and intense dissatisfaction with the country’s direction. Make no mistake: America has been occupied, and will be for some time. Joshua Howell is a junior computer engineering major and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

When administrators in the Department of Residence Life released a draft proposal of dorm rate increases, they knew many students would be up in arms. After all, the prospect of paying higher rates for living arrangements hardly seems enticing. But despite the possibility of hostile feedback, ResLife demonstrated a commitment to transparency and openness by offering students the opportunity to participate in its financial decision-making process. The easy alternative would have been for ResLife to make a recommendation for the increases to a few University committees, and then proceed directly to the Board of Regents — largely bypassing student input. Students would have been left with no voice and two options: accept the increases or find different housing accommodations. Unfortunately, there is precedent for this kind of policy. When the Board of Students Regents raised tuition by 2.8 percent have been in May 2010, there was hardly a nod given a to students about the change, and a seat at the notable lack of effort to solicit opinion governance table. from the general student body. By letting students know what is currently on the table before finalizing a proposal, ResLife gave the student body a share in University governance. But this gift is not without responsibility. Students should receive the draft proposal as an invitation and thoughtfully consider the increases. Is the value of a Commons dorm equal to that of a modular dorm? Should Corps dorms cost as much as balcony dorms? Will rate increases segregate low-income students from their wealthier counterparts? Students need to judge the value of an affordable A&M education along with the University’s need to develop improved facilities. Now is an opportune time for students to weigh-in with the Residence Hall Association or the Department of Residence Life directly. If students fail to participate or to do so with civility, there is no guarantee that we will be granted such an opportunity again.

EDITORIALBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having final responsibility. Robert Carpenter Editor in Chief senior applied mathematics major Jared Baxter Managing Editor senior media studies major

Real problems

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or but has on them, how sister can the be in that person?. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but .” and

in need love of God

Joe Terrell: A letter to the great American church

in truth

H

Pg. 7-11.15.11.indd 1

no pity

with actions

— 1 John 3:17-18 (NIV)

onestly, I’m a little confused. Society told me that in order to live a good life, I need a college degree, a good job, money, a wife, two kids and a house with a white picket fence. As a Christian, I’ve been given the same ‘formula’ in addition to avoiding cussing, drugs and premarital sex. But is that all being a Christian college student in America amounts to? First, let’s talk about this money issue. When we read Matthew 19, which states, “It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God,” we never picture ourselves as the rich person. See, in America, we have the nasty habit of gauging our wealth by what we don’t have. By comparing ourselves to people who have more, we naturally assume that we are not rich, but (at best) middle class. But consider this: if your total income for the year is or will be more than $25,000, then you are in the wealthiest 10 percent of the world’s population. If you live in a household that brings in $50,000 a year, you are more privileged than 99 percent of the world’s population. How did we ever fool ourselves into believing that we are not rich? According to international relief organization World Vision, 26,500 children die from preventable causes related to poverty every day. Many of these children die in developing countries, but in America these

Taylor Wolken Opinion Editor senior economics major

Hard facts ◗ 26,500 children died today from preventable illnesses related to poverty. That’s the equivalent of 100 fully loaded 747s crashing - and it happens every day. ◗ 40 percent of the world’s population lives on less than $2 per day. The average American makes $105 per day. ◗ 25 percent of the world’s population does not have access to a clean water supply. World Vision diseases are treated with medicine and antibiotics easily bought at Wal-Mart. Many Americans have never gone a day without eating. But in developing countries — particularly those in South America and Africa — it’s a different story. About one in seven people worldwide do not have enough food to sustain themselves and nearly 9 million people die each year from

hunger-related causes. According to Living Water International, one child dies every 15 seconds from a water-related disease. Problems arise when we structure Christianity as a conversion factory and forget that there are people living in a hell on earth right now. God has enabled us to be someone’s answered prayer. The problems facing this world are enormous and probably will not be solved during our lifetime, but that should not be a discouragement. Just because we can’t do everything doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything. The U.S. has undoubtedly been blessed. To affect change, however, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that we have been blessed in order to live like kings while there are those that suffer outside of our gates. We have been given the resources to drastically change the world. Our medicine is miracle-like. Our technology is awe-inspiring. Our resources are nearly unlimited. Take look around A&M. We attend one of the best universities in the country. Our graduates will go on to develop those medicines, dream the technology and, to be frank, earn the money. But how will we respond to this responsibility? Will we ignore the cries of those who are in need and pursue the standard American dream? Or will we strive to make our lives count by making a difference in

the lives of others? And to the church in America: Do you want to know why we are losing relevance and credibility in our modern culture? It’s because we have adopted the standards of the world. Instead of using the church as a center to spread the Gospel and social justice, we’ve been treating it like a country club that meets on Sunday mornings. We need to wake up. For those that call ourselves Christians, repeating a special prayer not found in scripture and then continuing to live your life on your own terms does not make you a follower of Christ. It’s about a relationship. It’s about how you live. It’s about how you love. Joe Terrell is a junior telecommunication major and lifestyles editor for The Battalion.

How you can help ◗ World Vision ◗ Living Water International ◗ Do Something Now ◗ Compassion International ◗ As Our Own ◗ Samaritan’s Purse ◗ Operation Mobilization

11/15/11 12:14 AM

Pg. 8-11.15.11.indd 1

11/11/11 2:56:29 PM

news

page 9 tuesday 11.15.2011

thebattalion

nation Gunman robs UNC campus WILMINGTON, N.C. — Wilmington police say they’re hunting for a man on the University of North Carolina-Wilmington campus who robbed four people at gunpoint. OfďŹ cer Kenneth Reichard tells The Associated Press that authorities are using a helicopter and a K-9 unit to ďŹ nd the man, who was last seen late Monday headed toward campus. Reichard says he stole cellphones and wallets from four people about a block from the university. The school issued an alert just before midnight.

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Freshman oceanic major Lindsey Pedersen sits among a class of mostly male students in Physics 218 at the Mitchell Physics Building.

Engineering Continued from page 1

if you educate people from a young age, [engineering] doesn’t seem as intimidating.� For Kaila Bertsch, senior mechanical engineering major, a school-visit by an engineer made her consider engineering in college. “I decided to go into engineering because my mom’s a high school science teacher and so I’ve always loved math and science,� Bertsch said. “And someone came to my high school and talked to us about some of the research they were doing. And it made me think that this might be what I really wanted to do.� Like Bertsch, sophomore biomedical engineering major Megan Poorman was encouraged by her family to pursue math and science. Now in her second year, Poorman said that the most difficult part of the major is the time commitment, especially compared to other majors. “You know on the applications there is always that question about free time? Well, I don’t have any free time,� Poorman said lightheartedly. “So, the hardest part is that you’re constantly working. For me it might take three hours to do one problem, and my friends who are not in engineering will be done with all of their homework in three hours.� Although Poorman is studying biomedical engineering, her curriculum requires that she take classes in other fields, such as electrical engineering. Poorman said she has grown accustomed to being one of the only girls in these classes. “Honestly, I don’t really notice it as much anymore. I was in the drum line in high school, so I’m used to being around a lot of guys,� Poorman said. “I’m in the Society of Women Engineers, as well. And organizations like that still gives you the girl connection without having to have them in your classes.� Started in 1973, the A&M chapter of the Society of Women Engineers currently has more than 200 members, including undergraduate and graduate students. Pamela Gutierrez, president of the Society of Women Engineers and senior civil engineering major, said she believes in the organization’s mission. “After becoming the president I quickly learned that I am capable of doing more great things that educate younger students about engineering and help current engineers grow through effective programs,� Gutierrez said.

Upon graduating, Gutierrez aims to get a job where she will specialize in the transportation side of civil engineering. She explained that she hopes to help drivers get from point A to point B in the fastest and safest way possible. Similar to Gutierrez, junior computer engineering major Janice Rosado plans to find a job in industry when she graduates. This differs from Bertsch and Poorman’s goals to attend graduate school for engineering. For Rosado, applying for jobs and internships is different for men and women engineering. “I find that women have a fantastic support system through groups like the Society of Women Engineers, and it’s easier to get interviews for internships,� Rosado said. “Even though companies say they’re not discriminating, there are definitely quotas they are trying to fill, which sometimes causes them to go easier on women to get more of them in engineering. I think sometimes it’s harder for the guys.� Although none of the undergraduate women said they experienced discrimination as a woman in engineering, Rosado did say they receive a different kind of attention. “Well, I’m more likely to get asked out by a lab partner ... but no, our teachers and TAs are pretty fair,� Rosado said. One undergraduate woman who has experienced discrimination has since changed her major from industrial engineering to kinesiology. Now a sophomore, Megan Russell said that she felt stereotyped while working with her male peers. “Since there weren’t many girls in the engineering classes, we were always placed in groups with guys,� Russell said. “When it came to working on projects, the guys automatically assumed that we would be the girl who just took down information and kept the journal.� Russell said she left the major because it was not right for her, and she did not enjoy the material or the time it required. Since changing her major, she said she is happy with her current field of study and now has time to relax. While women remain in the minority of both the faculty and undergraduate population in engineering at A&M, Molly Gentleman is hopeful that Kathy Banks, the first female dean of engineering, may improve the statistics. “I think that she’ll bring a nice breath of fresh air to the University,� Gentleman said. “I really hope having this new dean will provide the opportunity for diversity that we really need in my department, as well as other engineering departments.�

dĞdžĂĆ? Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?ÄžĆ? &Ĺ˝ĆŒ WÄžĆŒĆŒÇ‡ ĎŽĎŹĎ­ĎŽ ^ĞĞŏĹ?ĹśĹ? ĆšÇ Ĺ˝ ͞ώͿ Ĺ˝ĆŒ žŽĆŒÄž ƉŽůĹ?ĆšĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĹŻ Ĺ?ĹśĆšÄžĆŒĹśĆ? ƚŽ Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹ ŽŜ Ĺ?ŜĚĞƉĞŜĚĞŜƚ Ć‰ĆŒÄžĆ?Ĺ?ĚĞŜƚĹ?Ä‚ĹŻ Ä?ĂžƉĂĹ?Ĺ?Ĺś Ä?ŽžžĹ?ƚƚĞĞ Ć?ĆľĆ‰Ć‰Ĺ˝ĆŒĆšĹ?ĹśĹ? 'Ĺ˝Ç€ÄžĆŒŜŽĆŒ ZĹ?Ä?ĹŹ WÄžĆŒĆŒÇ‡ ĨŽĆŒ WĆŒÄžĆ?Ĺ?ÄšÄžĹśĆšÍ˜ ͲžÄ‚Ĺ?ĹŻ Ć?ƚĂƚĞžĞŜƚ ŽĨ Ĺ?ĹśĆšÄžĆŒÄžĆ?Ćš Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ ĆŒÄžĆ?ƾžÄž ÍŹ Ä?Ç€ ƚŽ͗

Ĺ?ĹśĆšÄžĆŒĹśĆ?ĹšĹ?ƉĆ?ΛƚĞdžĂĆ?Ä‚Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?ÄžĆ?ĨŽĆŒĆ‰ÄžĆŒĆŒÇ‡Í˜Ĺ˝ĆŒĹ?

1911

2011

OPEN 7 Days A Week

2553 Texas Ave S.

Associated Press

979-693-8269

ÂŽ

\

Better clinic. Better medicine. Better world.

THE KIDS KLUB IS SEEKING STAFF FOR THE 2012 SPRING SEMESTER

Everybody counts on having safe, effective medicine for anything from the common cold to heart disease. But making sure medications are safe is a complex and careful process. At PPD, we count on healthy volunteers to help evaluate medications being developed – maybe like you. You must meet certain requirements to qualify, including a free medical exam and screening tests. We have research studies available in many different lengths, and you’ll ďŹ nd current studies listed here weekly.

s !RE YOU AVAILABLE -ON &RI P M TO P M s !RE YOU READY TO MAKE (based on experience) PER HOUR All majors are encouraged to apply!

Apply Monday thru Friday, 8am-4pm at the CSISD Community Education Office 1812 Welsh Street or online at: www.cstx.gov/kidsklub or Jobs for Aggies

PPD has been conducting research studies in Austin for more than 25 years. Call today to ďŹ nd out more.

Staff must be available to work January 4th thru May 31, 2012

Application deadline is November 30, 2011 at 4pm College Station ISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer

979-764-3831

Current Research Opportunities AgeAge

Compensation

Requirements

Timeline

Healthy & Thu. 1 Dec. through Mon. 5 Dec. Non-Smoking Outpatient Visit: 8 Dec. BMI between 19 and 30 Weigh between 110 and 220

Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 45

Up to $1500

Men and Women 18 to 45

Call for Details

Healthy & Thu. 1 Dec. through Mon. 5 Dec. Non-Smoking Thu. 15 Dec. through Mon. 19 Dec. BMI between 20 and 30 Outpatient Visit: 21 Dec.

Men and Women 18 to 60

Up to $1200

Healthy BMI between 18 and 30

Men and Women 18 to 55

Up to $2400

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 19 and 30 Weigh at least 110 for Women and 130 for Men

Fri. 2 Dec. through Sun. 4 Dec. Fri. 9 Dec. through Sun. 11 Dec. Outpatient Visit: 15 Dec.

Fri. 2 Dec. through Mon. 5 Dec. Fri. 9 Dec. through Mon. 12 Dec. Fri. 16 Dec. through Mon. 19 Dec.

XXX QQEJ DPN t t 5FYU i11%w UP UP SFDFJWF TUVEZ JOGPSNBUJPO

Pg. 9-11.15.11.indd 1

11/15/11 12:51 AM

Pg. 10-11.15.11.indd 1

11/11/11 2:56:05 PM

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.