thebattalion
thebatt.com Texas A&M basketball The men’s basketball team played against Colorado Tuesday night. Check the score and coverage on thebatt.com.
● thursday,
february 10, 2011
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
campus news Group to serve guests The Aggie Experience Council, a new student organization at Texas A&M University, is dedicated to sharing the Aggie experience with university guests and telling them the “Texas A&M Story.” Sponsored by the Division of Marketing & Communications, the council gives Texas A&M students the opportunity to lead and serve. Council will lead campus tours, organize University events and serve on informational panels to represent the Aggies. A&M News File Photos— THE BATTALION
Oooooohhhh, Ahhhhhhhhh coming friday Renewable energy Chemical engineering professor Mark Holtzapple has developed a process that converts biomass into renewable fuel.
Megan Ryan The Battalion They have thousands of admirers. They consider Kyle Field a second home. They have a habit of performing on Saturdays during fall semesters. They are nationally famous. They are the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. Many students have seen the Aggie Band form at the north end of Kyle Field, but the band members are more than musically talented marchers. Time management takes on a whole new meaning for these students. “The most challenging part about being in the band is finding enough time to sleep,” said Josh Fritz, a senior biology major and member of the
bugle rank. Still, there are enough rewards to make the fatigue worthwhile. “The most rewarding thing about being a member of the Aggie Band is hearing opposing team members and fans compliment us and know that because we did a good job, that in addition to making the University look good, we are also able to make current and former students proud to be from Texas A&M,” said Cameron Supak, junior history major and baritone player. Camaraderie also plays a large role in keeping band members motivated. “The best part, by far, is the friends I have made along the way,” Supak said. “Guys and gals See Band on page 2
Band member schedule 0535: Wake up/get dressed 0545: Eat Breakfast 0610: Drill rehearsal 0715: Dismissed from drill. Band members either go back to sleep or will get dressed and head out for class/work. 0730-1630: Designated as the academic block of the day where cadets go to class and take care of their personal business. 1630: Begin Corps training time. 1830: Evening formation with the Corps followed by dinner. 1915: Call to quarters. Better described as mandatory study time for the freshmen, sophomores, and any upperclassmen cadets on scholastics probation. 2130: Freshmen go to bed. 2230: Sophomores go to bed.
inside
music | 3 Texas band will rock at A&M
Carvan Go, a Texas rock band, has released its first album Moving Still... and will be playing at 9 p.m. Friday at Zapatos.
sports | 5 Women’s basketball No. 5 Texas A&M won 92-71 against No. 12 Oklahoma in a battle for second place in the Big 12. Check out details inside.
MacArthur Award presented to ROTC Angela Washeck The Battalion Texas A&M University Army ROTC was awarded the MacArthur Award, signifying its position as one of the top Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs in the country. U.S. Army Cadet Command is the parent organization of Army ROTC, and it paired with the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation based in Norfolk, Virginia, to present A&M with the prestigious award.
Along with production efficiency, cadet retention rate, quality of military training and performance in military training, the Cadet National Order of Merit List performance is also taken into consideration when deciding which program is a stand-out for the annuallygiven award. Performance of the previous fiscal year (Oct. 2009-Sept. 2010) is evaluated, and then the prize is offered to the schools that
Recipients of this acclaimed honor are the best of 273 ROTC programs in the nation.
See Award on page 6
campus
former students
Tough classes sink grades
Two grads create media company
Christine Perrenot The Battalion Every student takes at least one class at Texas A&M that includes difficult material. The professors who teach the hardest subjects do their best to teach students in such a way that they understand, but reviews and GPRs still turn up low. However, GPRs are higher than they have been in the past. “I have been here 30 years and have seen steady improvement in the quality of students and their GPRs,” said Terry Anderson, an A&M American history professor. Difficulty in subject matter often varies depending on the students. “I teach American history survey 106,” An-
Bradley Whelan Aeronautical Engineering Matthew Whigham University Studies Lindsay White History Bryan Whiting Industrial Distribution Emily Whitmoyer & Journalism
Agricultural Communications
Morgan Whitwell & Journalism Agricultural Communications Jonathan Widdig Biology Koby Wilbanks Psychology Ryan Wilck Political Science Kathleen Wild Biomedical Science Eric Wilkins Mechanical Engineering Dana Willenborg Psychology Ashley Williams Biology Clora Williams Health Jennifer Williams Biomedical Science Rachel Williams Forensic Entomology Kelly Wilmoth History Emily Wilpitz University Studies Angela Wilson Horticulture Jason Wilson Agricultural Education Jazmyn Wilson Bioenvironmental Sciences Jordan Wilson Interdisciplinary Studies Markay Wilson Biomedical Science Tory Wingate Bioenvironmental Sciences Heather Winkle Interdisciplinary Studies Paul Witkowski Rebecca Civil Engineering Abbate Joshua Witter Health Ken Abdullah Agricultural Economics Ryan Wolff Physics Maegan Information & Operations Management Ables Jordyn Woltersdorf Finance Health Michelle Wildlife and Fisheries Abney Alyson Wolthoff Sciences Andrea Human Resource Development Abrams Commun ication Managem ent Informat Kelli Adam ion Systems 576 | aggieland Emily Managem ent Informat Adamcik ion Systems Seth Adams Spacial Sciences Joshua Aduddel l Health Teresa Aguilar Human Resource Developm ent Krystle Aguirre Interdisc iplinary Studies Omobola Ajao Chemica l Engineer ing Food ScienceTeresa Aldredge and Technolo gy Denise Commun Alex ication Monica Alexande r Kinesiolo gy Kimberl ee Allen Sara MorganEnglish Allen Agribusin ess Kiley Allred Biomedic al Science Brant Altenhof en Economi cs Matthew Biomedic Altman al Science Seetha Ram Amujula Ocean Enginee i
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Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION
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Computer Science Jeremy Wright Agricultural Economics Laura Wright Communication Lauren Wyly Interdisciplinary Studies Britney Wynn Sport Management Christopher Wynne Petroleum Engineering Harika Yalamanchili Biology Jessica Yancey Animal Science Dustin Yates Electrical Engineering Ryan Yeatman Geology Krysten Yezak Educational Admin and HR Development Sarah Yezak Interdisciplinary Studies Tiffany Ynosencio Microbiology Chase Young Sport Management Katherine Young Spanish Lauralee Young Marketing Lauren Young Environmental Geosciences Lauren Young Economics Shaley Young University Studies Lauren Youngblood Development Agricultural Leadership and Casey Zander English Sadie Zapalac Biomedical Science Tegan Zealy Animal Science Mark Zemanek Agricultural Economics Karen Zerda Communication Amanda Zietak Kinesiology Tamara Zuehlke Communication Michael Zurovec Mechanical Engineering Haili Zwiercan & Journalism Agricultural Communications
seniors & graduate students |
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Tracy Ashton Agricultu ral Kaela AstleyLeadership and Developm Accounti ent ng Michael Atkinson Compute r Science Jonathon Ausburn Biomedic al Science Jaime Austin Psycholog y Jamesia Austin Agricultu ral Laura Avila Leadership and Developm Mathema ent tics Michael Babcock Accounti ng Eliezer Badillo Internati onal Commer Brennan ce Bailey Biomedic al Science James Baker Agricultu re Leadersh Andrea ip and Developm Bakke ent Biomedic al Science Mary Baldwin Psycholog y Zachary Baldwin Wildlife and Fisheries Nathan Sciences Ball Civil Engineer ing Chr
derson said. “The GPRs are higher in the classes that also have discussion sections. There is a 106 with the supplemental instructor, and the lowest GPRs are when I lecture alone for three credits.” Anderson Some of the GPRs are more impressive for the classes Anderson teaches. “The GPRs for the 106 discussion class, with about 250 students, can be as good as 3.0, but usually are 2.7 to 3.0.” Jairo Sinova, an A&M physics professor, also teaches large classes. He said the average GPR for his classes usually meets his initial expectaSee GPR on page 8
Krystal Nimigian The Battalion Slice Media’s stimulating website displays crisp footage with edgy scores and witty dialogue. The site is fresh, just like the new company. What is noteworthy about this company is that it is owned and operated by two recent graduates: Aggie Cesar Jasso and David Redish from SMU. “I was never really that kid
who saw movies when he was eight years old and decided that he wanted to make them,” Redish said. “My business partner is actually who got me interested in film when we were younger.” “David had a more heavy hand,” Jasso said with regards to starting the company, which speaks volumes on the complimentary nature and efficacy of See Cinema on page 6
NEXT WEEK’S YOUR LAST CHANCE to have your graduation portrait made for the 2011 Aggieland yearbook
To schedule your appointment, go to www.thorntonstudio.com, go to School Portraits, Scheduling, click New User, complete with Login Password: tam; or call 1-800-883-9449, or see the photographer beginning Tuesday, Feb. 15, in Training Room 027 of the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center. There is no charge to get your senior or graduate student section photo in one of the nation’s top yearbooks.
2/9/11 9:41 PM