inside the public 2 servant
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Interning in the private sector
The official student publication of the Bush School of Government and Public Service V o l u m e
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Sweet Redemption for Second-year Team Kristin Simpson
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Language school's ethics questionable
We ask: Where were you on 9/11?
MPIA '12
After a disappointing loss last year, the second-years were able to fight their way out of a possible duplicate of their Lot 43 defeat with a 25-15 victory over the first-year team on Sept. 23. After starting the game on defense, the second-years switched to offense and put up the first points of the game with six. Reclaiming the field, the first-years drove it in for a touchdown. Following the trend started by the second years, the first years were unable to grab the extra point, tying the game at 6. The first-years held the second-years to a scoreless drive to round out the half. In the first possession of the second half, the second-years nabbed a touchdown on a close play and clinched the extra point, upping their score to 16. On the next drive, the second-years grabbed a pick and after a short stint, produced another touchdown to make the score 25-6. Again following suit, the first-years scored, but the second-years regained
Former students reach out
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The Radish
Republicans and Democrats swap roles, a former spy tells all, the Aggies make a surprise move, and more
Photo by Rustin Rhone
Derek Goodwin nimbly works his way around a would-be tackler.
the pigskin with just four seconds left and ran down the clock to bring the final score to 25-15. As is typical, the end of the game was marked by a celebratory Gatorade shower bestowed upon the coach of the winning team, Brett Heil, by his fellow players.
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Restaurant review: Veritas
Variety is king at Austin City Limits
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The music site you should know
Embrace the Unexpected in Internships Jon Graber MPIA '12
This summer, I was an intern for the State Department at the US Consulate General in Guangzhou, China. While I was excited to go to China for the first
time, I was hesitant about interning for the State Department, as diplomacy is not one of my concentrations. But those doubts quickly disappeared after arriving in China. I worked in the Fraud Prevention Unit, which investigates suspected The Public Servant | 1
cases of visa fraud. I had great bosses that were excited to have me and wanted me to be involved as much as possible. My primary task during the summer was completing validation studies – analyzing visa fraud coming
See China on Page 2
STUDENT LIFE The Public Servant 2011-2012 Staff List
Casey Braswell, Editor-in-Chief Thomas Buchanan, Copy Editor Jeremy Twitchell, Layout Editor Section Editors: Student Life: Kristin Simpson and Paige Ericson Local: Alyssa Johnson and Courtney Burge Opinion: Courtney Rottman and Jessica Yeo The Radish: Calen Caple Entertainment: Victoria Link Staff: Joe Aguiar, Andrew Bobo, Casi Buch, Chase Carter, Ashley Herron, Richard Luna, Nicola Mallik, Debe Nwanze, Rustin Rhone, Ashley Spradlin, Lindsay Taylor, Katie White, Rachael Young The views expressed in this publication are those of Bush School students, not necessarily those of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.
China
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out of the notoriously fraud-ridden city of Fuzhou. Additionally, I created a PowerPoint presentation on fraud trends in student visas from Fujian Provence that was shown at a multinational fraud prevention meeting. The highlight of my internship experience was observing Foreign Service Officers and Regional Security Officers conduct fraud interviews and traveling to on-site interviews in Guangzhou and Taishan City. In retrospect, my intelligence classes at GBS proved invaluable in understanding how the investigations and questioning of visa applicants are carried out. I also realized that there are a variety of careers and opportunities in the State Department – beyond jobs related to diplomacy. First-years looking for internships, cast a wide net during your search. If you’re offered an internship that may not be ideal, don’t turn it down immediately. It may surprise you how much you will grow to like it.
Internships: Don’t Discount the Private Sector
as potential networking opportunities. Chadwick Korth My duties included negotiating conMPSA '12 tract terms and proprietary information agreements with Raytheon’s customers. My initial thought when asked to They varied from the Department of write about my summer internship for Defense, NASA, and the Los Angeles the Public Servant was to talk not just County Sheriff Office to other defense about the internship itself, but also how contractors. I was part of an exciting I got the internship. I believe the search process that brought together engineering, and networking process is very impor- legal, finance, supply chain, and business tant for first-years beginning to look for development to create a proposal that fit internships. our customer’s needs best. I worked in the My contributions were liscontracts depart“I was extremely tened to and I helped craft mentfor Raytheon the proposals that went to happy with my Company – Space our customers. There was experience at and Airborne Systems no making coffee or copat their Los Angeles Raytheon and would ies. I worked from day one location. The link with a mentor to ensure I encourage othbetween what I am was part of the contracts studying at the Bush ers to see if it is a fit process. School and the conAdditionally, I partook for them. While this tracts position was in corporate educational school was founded opportunities and events to not initially apparent to me. However, on public service, I strengthen my understandwith time, I came of the field. I felt I made have found that ing to see that analysis, the most of my summer and service can take my future career prospects strategic reasoning, and writing all came through this experience. many different to define how well I One of the biggest reaforms.” performed my duties. sons I came to the Bush I learned and refined School and sought a masthose traits through ter’s degree was to find a my coursework at the Bush School. Dr. job. In my experience and from listening Eden’s multinational enterprise course to others, the private sector is well poised was instrumental to me in attaining and to offer the intern a full time position upon understanding the contracts position in successful completion of the internship. a large corporation. First-years, if that is what you want, then Through an executive interview as- do not discount the private sector when signment, I was able to speak with the looking for internships. For better or for Vice President of International Business worse, the private sector will have to be Development at Raytheon. This contact considered in the internship application alone did not land me the internship. Yet, process. when I was interviewed for the contracts I was extremely happy with my experiposition months later, that experience ence at Raytheon and would encourage made me stand out as someone who was others to see if it is a fit for them. While passionate and well informed about the this school was founded on public service, company. My advice, then, is to even I have found that service can take many take advantage of individual assignments different forms. The Public Servant | 2
STUDENT LIFE
Insights on Intelligence Internships Kara Fillman MPIA ‘12
This summer, I did my internship at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). NGA is a part of the Department of Defense and is one of the sixteen agencies that make up the U.S. Intelligence Community. The agency is responsible for the imagery, geospatial, and targeting analyses associated with supporting U.S. national defense and disaster relief operations. While the NGA’s headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., I was assigned to an imagery analysis position within the Analysis and Production Directorate at NGA’s office in St. Louis. Throughout the course of the summer, I was able to coauthor several intelligence products and write many short remarks associated with the region I tracked. I was grateful for the level of responsibility entrusted to me; I was chal-
lenged to grow professionally and was able to learn more than just the basics of imagery analysis. By the end of the summer, I was performing the same tasks as the entry-level analysts in our office. I also had the opportunity to travel to both the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) and Washington, D.C. for work-related trips. One thing that surprised me this summer was the high level of interagency cooperation I witnessed – our branch worked on a daily basis with other intelligence agencies such as the CIA, NSA, and NASIC to collaborate on products and share insights and information. These partnerships gave me the opportunity to learn how other intelligence agencies function and how beneficial interagency cooperation can be. For more information about NGA, please visit www.nga.mil.
Beyond the Bush School: Life in the Former Student Network By the Bush School FSN Executive Board
They say you’re always an Aggie. Whether your undergrad tenure was across Wellborn or around the globe, from your first day of classes at the Bush School you became a part of the Aggie Family. And that means we are bonded for life. As your "elder Aggie siblings," graduates who have gone before you, we look back at those who are following in our footsteps with an enormous sense of pride. We love to hear stories from new students about their take on the professors, how they are handling their classes, and the careers they are planning, and we like to live vicariously through the Bush School social scene. We understand that two years might be too short a period to have the time of your life, and the uncertainty of life beyond graduate school can be unnerving, but we encourage you to
get all you can out of your time at the Bush School. Do the extra work. Go to the happy hour socials with your classmates. It makes all the difference. We are proud to be Bush School graduates and look forward to growing our ranks with every passing year. We want to do everything in our power to help you get there and succeed after graduating.Each individual success of Bush School graduates increases the value of all of our degrees; it is in all of our interests that you succeed in all of your endeavors after graduation. That is why we would like to introduce you to a new program we are starting this year—The Dialogue Program. The Dialogue Program connects current and former students who have similar skill sets, career paths, and/ or interests. Current students looking for advice on their career path are introduced to a former student who will offer advice and insight about life after the Bush School. The time The Public Servant | 3
commitment is minimal and the Dialogue Program is not meant to be a formal mentoring program. This is a forum for you to seek career guidance, and perhaps give you some new ideas about how to achieve your own goals. More than just facilitating a dialogue with current students, the FSN hopes that the counsel you receive will propel you on your own career path, which in turn gives you a story to tell a future Bush School student. We encourage you to take advantage of the Dialogue Program and other FSN opportunities as they arise. The FSN had a wonderful time meeting the (now) second years during their internships, and we look forward to meeting the first years this coming summer. No matter your class or program, we are proud to be a part of your Bush School family. Feel free to contact your SGA representatives or the FSN directly if you want to be involved in the Dialogue Program. We look forward to hearing from you!
OPINION
SEC Move Was the Right One to Make Brett Heil MPIA '12
The Aggies are heading to the SEC! So what does that mean? In College Station, football is king. So it would be natural for the Aggies to join a conference where football is as equally beloved. Luckily, the SEC fits the bill. Football is a religion in the southeast. Want proof? Twenty-three years ago my mother carried me up 77 flights of stairs to watch her alma mater, Florida, take on Mississippi State — she was nine months pregnant. I was born three days later. That kind of thing just does not happen in the Pac-12. In the southeast, wedding ceremonies are scheduled around home football games, children know the principles of a zone blitz before they turn five, and newborns are named after heroes from football lore. My son’s name will be Timothy Tebow Heil — seriously. In short, the Aggies will fit in beautifully with the SEC’s borderline-unhealthy obsession with football. What some call the “cult-like” nature of the Aggie faithful is something only an SEC fan could truly embrace and understand. But while A&M and the SEC are a cultural match made in heaven, Aggie fans want more; they want to win – and win big. It’s no secret that the SEC is a powerhouse
conference on the gridiron. The last five championship trophies reside in the halls of SEC programs and since 1997, the SEC has captured half of the NCAA’s Division I football titles. Joining a conference of the SEC’s caliber will undoubtedly yield positive benefits for A&M in terms of fanfare and revenue, but will A&M be a more successful football program in the SEC? Recent history suggests the answer is no, at least in the short-term. In the past decade, A&M has gone 0-6 versus SEC opponents, losing by a combined score of 237-128. Furthermore, in recent years, the Aggies have struggled to keep up with SEC teams on the recruiting trail. Based on the recruitment rankings compiled by the Rivals network (the nation’s premier recruiting website), the Aggies’ last three recruiting classes have placed 22nd, 17th, and 27th nationwide. When averaged, those numbers are good enough to make A&M the third-best recruiting team in the Big 12 – but would place them ninth in the SEC. Recruitment rankings are not the final say, but when you consider the fact that the last four national champions — Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and LSU — all regularly finish in the top five of Rivals’ rankings, you realize that they hold a significant degree of predictive value. But in spite of the potential near-term pitfalls, conference
See SEC on Page 10
Language Schools Exposed Anonymous Contributor
This summer I had the opportunity to do a language immersion program in a foreign country. I was able to develop my language skills while experiencing a new culture and making friends with the natives. However, I must admit that the business of language schools left a sour taste in my mouth. I say business because these schools are just that — businesses looking to profit as much as they can from anyone willing to pay. Now, don’t get
me wrong—I loved my school, adored my teacher and grew leaps and bounds in my speaking ability. But while I was there, I learned the inside scoop about the business from my homestay mom, and that inside scoop sickened me. The class sizes at my school were small, allowing for more individualized attention. However, I found out that even if a teacher has multiple students in a class, that teacher still gets paid the same amount. For example, if a school charges $300 per week for tuition and a teacher has three students in a class, The Public Servant | 4
then that teacher is paid a fraction of the $300 (for one student’s tuition), while the owners pocket in excess of $600+. If these students are there for an extended period of time, you can see how the income of the owners could rise substantially. Homestays, on the other hand, are generally a bit cheaper than tuition and usually include two meals a day, plus laundry services. When compared to the cost of a hotel room in the United States, this rate is a bargain. But when you are a poor graduate student in a See Schools on Page 9
OPINION
9/11 Has Become This Generation's "Where Were You?" Moment On September 11, 2001, I hopped off my morning bus. I remember heading to a portable and hearing everyone talking about an attack on the World Trade Center. The only WTC I had ever heard of was the one in Dallas, so I flipped out, thinking my dad was hurt. Turns out (a) I suck at directions, because he was working in Grand Prairie, and (b) there was a WTC in New York City. Then I learned some men from Pakistan or Afghanistan had attacked us, they were angry, but I didn’t know why. I had heard of Afghanistan only because I had played Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? I remember the first time I finally shed tears about what happened, not including when I watched footage of the towers falling and men and women giving up hope, jumping to their deaths to avoid being engulfed by the inferno. The first time I wept was in 2008, when I was living in Caen, France. The museum in my city had a special exhibit on 9/11. As I came around the corner into the exhibit, I was blown away by the amount of memorabilia the French had amassed. The museum had two stories filled with pictures, videos, firemen helmets, and various other things. When I saw a butcher paper banner of elementary kids’ handprints and messages of hope on there, I lost it. I just sat down on a bench and wept in the middle of the museum. That was a turning point for me and my desire to work in the Middle East. I had already been released from the USAF, but this set off a fire in my soul. If we hadn’t caught bin Laden by the time I graduated from college, I was going to re-enlist. I wanted to protect my nation. I graduated in May of 2010, but decided to return to
Baylor to audit a course in terrorism and one in intelligence and covert action. On May 1, 2011, justice was served. — Courtney Burge MPIA 2013
Where were you?
On 9/11 I had organized a prayer gathering at our junior high school's flag pole. A girl came up to me and asked if we could pray for a tall building in New York which a plane had crashed into. I said yes, even though I didn't have a clue what she was talking about, because it sounded like a horrible accident. The events of 9/11 did influence my decision to study economic development, because the rich-poor gap has given terrorist groups a foothold in rallying followers to hate all that America stands for. My goal and hope for America is to proactively assuage the suffering in these regions of exploitation. — Sarah Saunders MPIA 2012 I remember being asleep in my bed when my brother burst into my room and told me terrorists had crashed a plane into the World Trade Center. It was my second week of high school and as a young teenager, I did not know what to make of the event. My parents had been sent home from work early because they worked in high-rise buildings in downtown Los Angeles, and it was believed that at least one of the planes was headed toward L.A. September 11 remained so vivid in my memory that many years later when I was pursuing my Bachelor's degree, I decided that everything I worked for would be to obtain a position as an intelligence analyst to ensure that nothing of this nature occurred on American soil ever again. — Jessica Yeo MPIA 2012 The Public Servant | 5
On the morning of 9/11, I was a freshman in high school, in third period gym class, just outside of Washington, D.C. We saw the smoke rising from the Pentagon in the distance. Like most of my 14-year old peers, I struggled to make sense of everything. Ten years later, that desire to understand the world is still very much a part of me, and led to my decision to study International Affairs at the Bush School. — Rachael Young MPIA 2013 I was in pre-algebra class when I first heard about the attacks. My initial thoughts were fear for close friends and family members who were in the military. Reflecting back, I am so proud of those who have served and are serving in the armed forces, of President Bush and the difficult decisions he had to make, and of our nation for standing up for what was right, even when it was not popular. — Anonymous I was at the UNESCO HQ in Paris doing an internship when I received an email from my friend. Since she lived near the WTC, she witnessed the tragedy on the way to her university. I remember some people were blaming Palestinians for the attack, which was of course not true. The next morning, I arrived at the UNESCO HQ to find that a huge security equipment apparatus had been installed and people were standing in long lines to go through a security check. The guards searched people's bags, though with smiles and apologies. September 11 changed everything and there was tension and mistrust among the people. — Anonymous
Romney, Perry Stir the Tea shouted at Perry from across the table: “You sir, are a cur!” MPSA '13 Perry dismissed the criticism. Hoping to clarify the guidelines of “My uncle Reginald once sustained propriety, a group of leading Tea Party second-degree burns from dropping a activists gathered last week to discuss cup of Spiced Chai into his lap,” Perry etiquette, the tea trade deficit and the said. “Five fingers on the cup may not proper role of lemon wedges. be the establishment’s way of doing More importantly, however, VIPs things, but given the option between on the guest list said they are also insider fashion and safety, I will alusing recent events to identify a new ways err on the side of safety.” host for future tea parties. The rising feud between Perry and Though normally marked by their Romney was not the only distraction. decorum and pleasant small talk about Sarah Palin, who three years ago the affairs of the day, the most recent hosted the original Tea Party, has been Tea Party gathering saw lapses in man- suspiciously absent from the head ners unlike any the table at recent parmovement has seen ties, though she has since its grassroots made her presence You, sir, are a cur! formation in 2008 known by circling in response to the party, making society’s generally strange outbursts — Mitt Romney, addressing declining social and occasionally Rick Perry mores. whipping a scone Many of the criat one of the host tiques were directcandidates. ed at Tea Party newcomer Rick Perry, “In all truth, it has become quite who has captured the enthusiasm of distracting,” potential host Ron Paul many of the movement’s staunchest et- said, ducking to narrowly avoid one iquette experts, but has also run afoul of Palin’s errant tea biscuits. “There’s of the party’s other aspiring hosts. plenty of room at our table for civil Unconfirmed reports said many of dialogue, and she’s welcome to particithose potential hosts were incensed at pate. This lurking beyond the hedges Perry for forgetting the cinnamon-raiact can be quite discomfiting, for us sin rye loaf that first-timers traditionas individuals as well as whole of the ally bring to their first tea party. guest list.” Other criticisms leveled at Perry tarOther potential hosts, however, geted his perceived lack of etiquette, have studiously avoided the fray. particularly those from would-be host Sipping on a cup of warm Earl Gray Mitt Romney. and lost in a fond reverie, aspiring host “Look at how he is drinking his Newt Gingrich said he was mostly at tea,” Romney said when asked to iden- the party for “something to do.” tify his biggest concern with Perry. “And they have Earl Gray,” he “His pinky isn’t even extended – look added. “I realize it hasn’t really been at it down there, cozied up to the other relevant since the ’90s, but what can I digits near the bottom of his cup, like say? I’m old-fashioned.” hogs in the mud.” Potential host Michelle Bachmann Then, in a momentary lack of said that regardless of who is chosen, procedural behavior that stunned it is crucial that future tea parties be the crowd and hinted at the swirlmore appealing, “so that we can finally ing undercurrent that lies beneath the show up that damn kegger up the movement’s glassy surface, Romney street.”
Jeremy Twitchell
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T he Radish Bringing you the finest in investigatory journalism since today
Republicans, Democrats Flip-flop on Entitlements John Travis MPIA '12
In a surprising turn of political events, the Democratic National Party, in order to counter growing popular support of conservative Republican presidential candidates, have decided to shift their political stance to a more right-wing, anti-taxation, small government agenda. Former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean praised the switch, saying, “This is exactly the move I wanted to make when I was running things. We need to beat those Republicans at their own game!” The party, using its control of the Senate, will now begin proposing massive cuts to entitlement programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, along with a series of tax cuts that will “bring American workers off the streets and back onto the assembly line.” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor publicly lambasted the Democrats for abandoning millions of Americans to a future of abject poverty and increasingly poor healthcare. In a public address yesterday on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial he said, “The Republicans are the party that freed the slaves and helped give equal rights to all Americans. We will stand up and fight for the rights of every American to have life, liberty, and proper healthcare!” Former vice-presidential candidate and Tea Party leader Sarah Palin restarted her national bus tour in support of the news.
She made her first stop last night in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a town mostly known for its Groundhog Day celebrations. She announced to a bewildered crowd of people exiting a movie theater that she “would fight tooth and nail for the average Joe’s rights to healthcare and retirement so that Americans can continue to be strong in the face of adversity just the way Punxsutawney Phil stands up to the dark shadow below him!” One member of the crowd said that he was really excited to have been there to witness Palin’s announcement. “It’s not often you get to see a future Daily Show clip live and in person. I can’t wait to get home and watch how Jon Stewart tears apart that incoherent rambling.” Finally, in an effort to keep things Fair and Balanced, FOX News has announced that it will be laying off its entire political commentary team and will be adding new commentators in support of the now-conservative Democratic Party. In other news, in an amazing show of bi-partisanship, the Senate has unanimously passed a bill to cut congressional pay to the United States minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it was a great victory for the Democrats, as it both cuts spending and hits those Republican bastards where it hurts — in their wallets. The bill is expected to swiftly pass through the House, where Republicans are excited to push Democratic representatives below the poverty line.
Former Spy Shares Real Story Behind Operation Casi Buch and Rustin Rhone MPIA '13
Students of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service flock to classes held by Professor James Olson to hear his cloak-anddagger stories and to get glimpses of what life was like for this former Clandestine Officer of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. In this rare opportunity, we are privileged to hear from the spymaster himself what really went on behind the scenes during the most pivotal operation of his career. According to Professor Olson, “The XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X X.” They attempted to X X X X X X X X X X without being detected by the X X X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X took X X X X X X X X X X to a safe house
located in X X X X X X X X X X. X XXXXXXXXXXXXvXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X special relationship X X X X X X X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX X X X. “We knew it was heating up when the X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X.” X X X X X X X X X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXXXXX X X X. After X X X X X X X X X X, claiming, "X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X exfiltration of X X X X X X X X X X. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X plausible deniability X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X.” Then, X X X XX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X. X X X X X X X X X X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X X X X unofficial cover X X X X X XX X X X. He confirms that, “X X X X X X X X X X X X X Gawande XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X.”
Aggie Football Taking its Talents to NFC South Richard J. Luna MPSA '13
In a surprise move, Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne announced Wednesday that the football team will not be joining the Southeastern Conference as originally thought. Instead, the team will be joining the NFC South division of the National Football League. “After we decided to leave the Big 12, we started to really examine our team and where it is we feel we should be playing,” Byrne said. “We figured, ‘Why stop with the SEC?’ So I challenged our staff to dream bigger.” That’s when Byrne said an adThe Public Servant | 7
ministrative assistant in the athletic department contacted NFL League Commission Roger Goodell regarding the possibility of adding A&M to the league. After a 10-minute phone conversation, Goodell was ready to fax over the paperwork to make it official. “I don’t know what the conversation was like; you’ll have to ask our assistant about that,” Byrne said. “I looked over the fax and, sure enough, it has Mr. Goodell’s signature on it, so you know the offer is good to go.” When asked about the big move to the NFL, A&M Head Football Coach Mike Sherman was optimistic about his team’s chances. See Aggies on Page 9
B CS
MPIA '13
In August, I arrived in College Station both sweaty and cranky after a two day-drive. They were two very long days. I pulled a 5x8 U-Haul trailer behind my 15-year-old Honda Accord , requiring me to drive sans air conditioner to keep the engine from overheating. Once I finally cooled down, I began to take stock of my new surroundings. Sweltering heat? Check. Enormous pick-up trucks? Check. But the combination of heat and humidity that continually fogged over my glasses took me by surprise. After wiping down my eyewear, I headed
out to get acquainted with my new home. Despite hauling a trailer full of goodies across the country, I was still in need of items for my apartment. My starting place was a function of my budget constraint: BCS thrift stores. Below, I’ve summarized places where you can find a trove of secondhand treasures: • Goodwill — 2704 Texas Ave. S., College Station. Smaller than expected, limited selection . • St. Vincent De Paul Society — 300 N. Main, Bryan. Small selection, mainly housewares. • Alice’s Attic — 424 N. Main, Bryan. No air conditioning, so go later in the day.
My second stop? Food! Some Ags who have been around longer than me provided helpful insight for scheduling my restaurant patronage: • Rosa’s Taco Tuesday — Three tacos, rice and beans for $3.69. • TGI Friday’s — Half-price appetizers after 10 p.m. The physical trip to College Station was only the first step of the journey. Now we’re moving past first impressions and establishing ourselves in this new community (while also tunneling out from the mountain of work we’ve been assigned). None of us can predict how well we will manage , but at least we can all enjoy Taco Tuesday in the meantime!
Veritas Provides Ideal Dining for Special Occasions Danielle Menard MPIA '13
My second weekend in College Station ended with an unexpectedly lovely meal at Veritas Wine & Bistro. Coming from foodie cities such as L.A. and Philly , I was admittedly doubtful about the cuisine I would find in Texas. Yet my doubts were blown out of the water after Sunday night. This proudly all-Aggie-staffed restaurant was very quiet on a game night, but no one could accuse them of distractedly checking the score, as the service was impeccable. Equally impressive was the food. Self-proclaimed FrenchAmerican-Asian cuisine blended harmoniously to produce an opening course of fresh asparagus cream soup unusually topped with sweet balsamic vinegar and crispy onions. While I adore balsamic vinegar, I must admit I never thought it would taste so good on top of my soup. For the main course, I chose to stick a little closer to the American side of the cuisine, with the black angus rib eye steak, seasoned in an espresso and roasted garlic rub. Again, espresso and roasted garlic? Who would have imagined such a mix of classic ingredients on a steak? It was exceptional and all paired with a fabulous French Burgundy. After all, this is a wine bar AND bistro. The sommelier knew her
wine, and when we asked for a light French Burgundy, she produced just the thing. Overall, Veritas combined above-par food, wine and service with an elegant atmosphere. The only hitch to this great culinary offering proves to be the price. This restaurant comes under the category of “special occasion only” –anniversaries, getting that coveted paid summer internship, passing the language exam or, as for me, when your wonderful parents come into town and want to treat you. So for all my fellow graduate students, keep Veritas in mind for an exceptional culinary experience.
October Intramural Schedule 10/5: Soccer, Softball, & Men's Basketball at 7:45 p.m. 10/7: Co-Rec Basketball at 8:30 p.m. & Flag Football at 9:45 p.m. 10/19: Soccer at 9:45 p.m.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Concert Review:Austin City Limits
My First Impressions of B/CS Ashley Herron
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LOCAL LIVING Jessica Yeo MPIA '12
A few weekends ago I fulfilled a dream of mine by attending my first Austin City Limits Music Festival, known by its fans as “ACL.” Over the past ten years of ACL’s existence, its stages have been graced by bands ranging from those that only the most hip of hipsters have heard of to big names such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam and this year’s draw, Stevie Wonder. With eight different stages to choose from and more than 130 artists every year, the festival has something for (nearly) everyone. Festival-goers can expect to hear everything from indie rock to hip hop to country. Bands Seen: Nas & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, Santigold, Coldplay, Kanye West, Young the Giant, City and Colour, Iron & Wine, Fitz and the Tantrums, Cut Copy, Stevie Wonder, Grafitti6, The Head and The Heart, The Airborne Toxic Event, Broken
Social Scene, Fleet Foxes and Arcade Fire. Favorite performance: Santigold. Santigold’s music is difficult to pigeonhole into a particular genre. It is part indie, part hip hop, part electronica, part dub, part New Wave, and part weird (but in a good way). Judge for yourself. Santigold and her dancers had a ton of energy and were very entertaining to watch. You cannot listen to her music and not have a dance party. Recommendations: “Creator” and “Go!” Favorite new musical discovery: Young the Giant. An indie rock-pop band from Irvine, CA. High energy performance, great riffs and catchy tunes. Recommendations: “My Body” and “Strings.” Best fans: Arcade Fire. Now this may be because this was one of the headliners and I had gotten myself wedged in fairly close to the stage, but the Arcade Fire fans seemed to be the most hardcore, singing and dancing along to every song. For those who
Photo by Jessica Yeo
don’t know Arcade Fire, they are an indie rock band from Canada famous for using a bevy of instruments, including glockenspiels and French horns. Recommendations: “Keep The Car Running” and “Rebellion (Lies).” Best harmonies: Fleet Foxes. Hands down. Their harmonies have See ACL on Page 10
Aggies
Schools
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foreign country for an extended period of time with no summer financial aid, the price becomes magnified. More than halfway into my stay, I found out that the homestay families contracted with my school only received about 2/3 of what students were actually paying. This angered me because my homestay mom was cleaning my room, doing my laundry and cooking for me while the owners received a generous commission fee for doing nothing more than setting my host mom up with a student. Additionally, the owners would sneakily raise prices on their website, but not raise the payment to the families. I would have gladly paid my homestay mom and my teacher the full price because they were truly magnificent individuals who taught me so much and who made my stay in the country so pleasant. But to find out that such kind-hearted, honest individuals were being gypped by the owners was frustrating and put a damper in my otherwise enjoyable summer.
“Well we have two games each against Tampa Bay and Carolina on the schedule every year, so that’s four automatic wins right there,” Sherman said. “Looking ahead at next year, we play against all the teams in the NFC West. So already that’s eight wins I can guarantee for next season.” Walk-on Redshirt Freshman Jack Krueger says it’s a dream come true to play in the pros. “Here I thought I never would get the chance to make it to the NFL,” Krueger said. “All those kids growing up who called me small and slow will now have to eat those words when they see me on the same field as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.” As far as other A&M teams making the jump to the professional ranks, Byrne said more could be on their way. “I’ve been in talks with NBA Commissioner David Stern about our women’s basketball team joining the Atlantic division in the Eastern Conference,” Byrne said. “Right now the talks are positive and I’ll quote Stern on this one, he said, ‘Hey, right now—anything is better than the Nets.’”
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this wonderful ethereal quality that leaves the listener mesmerized. They belong to the folk-indie rock genre. Recommendations: “Blue Ridge Mountains” and “White Winter Hymnal.” Most interesting: Iron & Wine changing up their songs to include a brass section. Their music is generally extremely slow, folk rock. I love Iron & Wine’s music, but I liked that they adapted their set to suit the festival crowd, which needed more upbeat songs. Recommendations: “Boy With A Coin” and “Sodom, South Georgia.” Most exciting: Stevie Wonder. Do I really need to elaborate? Recommendations: “Sir Duke” and
“Living for the City.” Recommendations for future ACL-goers: • Book your hotel room in May or find a friend living in Austin to stay with. • Walk/take bus/take shuttle to get to ACL. Do NOT attempt to bring your car in. • BRING: an umbrella (good for both rain AND sun); sunscreen; a hat; plastic/Ziploc bag for valuables you don’t want getting wet if it rains; folding chair so you can rest in between sets (the days are LONG); hand sanitizer and TP (for port-apotties); bathing suit (for girls); and cash for food, drinks and bus fare.
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realignment also brings long-term hope. Joining the SEC may allow A&M to start reeling in many of the top in-state recruits that so often go to Texas or Oklahoma. If this happens, the Aggies would undoubtedly become a consistent contender on the national scale. Overall, and perhaps most importantly, TAMU has made a bold statement about the future of their football program, a statement Aggies everywhere should be excited about. As CBS commentator Gary Danielson says every Saturday before kickoff, “The road to the national title goes through the SEC.” Welcome aboard, Ags!
CROSSWORD ACROSS
DOWN
1. The mascot of Texas A&M
2. How you kill a horned frog
5. "About to" go somewhere, for a Texan (with an
3. Yankees call it soda; Midwesterners call it pop
apostrophe)
T, W 5-6
Room: 1061
Spanish II
Ramon Gonzales
M, W 6:15-7:15
Room: 1022
Spanish II
José M. Rocha
T, Th 5-6
Room: 1106
Spanish III
Adrian Calcaneo
M, W 6:15-7:15
Room: 1061
German II
Mariah M. Bastin
T, Th 5-6
Room: 1022
German III
Mariah M. Bastin
T, Th 6-7
Room: 1022
Russian
Aselle Kuspangaliyeva
T, Th 4:30-5:30
Room: 1070
Russian II
Aselle Kuspangaliyeva
T, Th 5:30-6:30
Room: 1070
Chinese II
Jennifer Olson
T, Th 5-6
Room: 1022
Chinese III
Wenrui Liu (Evelyn)
W, F 12:30-1:30
Room: 1061
French I
Nesrine Mansour
M, W 5-6
M: 1106 / W:1063
French II
Nesrine Mansour
M, W 6-7
M: 1106 / W:1063
French III
Nesrine Mansour
T, Th 6-7
Room: 1106
Japanese
Geoffrey Shaw Sterh
T, Th 5-6
T: 41st Club / Th:1063
Indonesian
Margaretta Adrienne
Email mauricioc@tamu.edu for more info. The Public Servant | 10
make prematurely
8. What you NEVER say to an Aggie
7. Where A&M will be headed in July 2012
11. The ___________; where you might go two-steppin'
9. One of A&M's official colors
13. What collapsed Nov. 18, 1999, prompting a school remembrance day
10. Nectar from heaven for Southerners
14. If you don't have a date to Midnight Yell, you might be
12. Traditional greeting from an Aggie
SOL for this tradition!
15. The student section, but it only makes sense in football
16. The Bush School's first dean (don't miss this!) 2.
4.
3.
FLCS Discussion Group Schedules Javier Acosta
4. That sound annoying freshmen and sophomores might
6. The best state in the Union, y'all!
1.
Spanish
ENTERTAINMENT
5.
6.
7.
11.
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9.
12. 13.
14. 15.
16.
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10.
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8tracks.com: IfYou Don't Have it, Get it Ashton Cooper MPIA '12
Declared one of Time’s 50 best websites for 2011, 8tracks.com offers a fresh new perspective to online radio services. Unlike Pandora, which uses algorithms to select songs based off your preferences, 8tracks offers a more communal approach that allows users to upload a minimum of eight songs — hence, 8tracks — and to share them as their own personal "mix." In a world that is rapidly being dominated by social media, 8tracks is on the forefront of social music sharing, allowing users to follow people with similar tastes and providing a collaborative approach to entertaining its users, whether it is in the office or studying in the library. Registration and use of to the website is free and uploading songs to the website is completely legal, as 8tracks handles all of the legal fees associated with sharing the media. Once users register, the site is fairly easy to navigate. From Disney to Dub-Step, Country to Indie, 8tracks offers something for everyone, so log on today and share your musical tastes with the rest of the 8tracks community.
PSO Update PSO served at the Brazos Valley Food Bank on Saturday September 17. Several students came out to help this great local non-profit. In two hours, we made 108 family emergency boxes and 312 food bags. All of the students had a great time. The Public Servant | 12