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A&M places top 10 in survey
Staff & wire reports
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How much do you think The Big Event spent on supplies for the nearly 1,500 service projects to be completed on Saturday? The Battalion reports on the time and money spent to put on The Big Event.
Breaking records and continuing a nationally recognized tradition, the 29th The Big Event will kick off its annual service project Saturday to say thank you to Bryan-College Station residents for all their support for the University. When Joe Nussbaum, then vice president of Student Government Association at Texas A&M, started The Big Event in 1982, it was a simple service project of a couple hundred stu-
dents doing a handful of jobs. The Big Event is now the largest oneday student-run service project with more than 70 participating universities across the nation and one overseas. In the fall of 2009, The Big Event gained national recognition when its 2010 director, Mallory Myers, received the Daily Points of Light Award presented by President Barack Obama at a service forum at A&M. President George H.W. Bush was also in attendance. This is the first year online sign-ups were implemented. The Big Event’s goal
sports | 5 Women’s basketball The Aggies beat McNeese State 87-47 in Sunday’s game. Read the recap on page 5.
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for student participants was met with more than 15,000 students assigned to approximately 1,500 jobs on Saturday. “It is very important to remember that although The Big Event’s numbers continue to grow each year, it is the relationships fostered by student service that makes The Big Event so special. And without Mr. Nussbaum’s vision 29 years ago, none of what The Big Event is able to do today would be possible,” said Ryan Byrne, a senior
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A French Air Force jet fighter takes off for a mission over Libya at the military base of Saint Dizier, Sunday. Top officials from the United States, Europe and the Arab world have launched immediate military action against Gadhafi.
Western forces air strike Libya Ryan Lucas
Associated Press TRIPOLI, Libya — Moammar Gadhafi vowed a “long war” as allied forces launched a second night of strikes on Libya Sunday, and jubilant rebels who only a day before were in danger of being crushed by his forces now boasted they would bring him down. The U.S. military said the international assault would hit any Gadhafi forces on the ground that are attacking the opposition. The U.S. military said the bombardment so far — a rain of Tomahawk cruise missiles and precision bombs from American
Get involved Big Event will be allowing students to register on March 26 in Lot 100c of Reed Arena during kickoff ceremonies. Email questions about registration to signups@ bigevent.tamu.edu
See Big Event on page 4
sports
nation&world
music | 3 Woodie Awards
MTV presented the Woodie Awards over spring break for the first time in Austin as part of the South by Southwest music, film and arts conference and festival.
texas a&m since 1893
29 years later, The Big Event still fosters friendships Trevor Stevens Special to The Battalion
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TRADITION OF SERVICE
Big Event Logistics
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march 21, 2011
Photo illustration by Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION
U.S. News & World Report released its 2012 survey of higher education institutions Tuesday. The survey gave three Texas A&M engineering programs top 10 spots nationally in their respective areas. Biological/ agricultural engineering placed No. 3, nuclear placed No. 4 and industrial/ manufacturing engineering placed No. 8. Texas A&M placed No. 8 for doctor of veterinary medicine programs and No. 24 in political science. Mays Business School moved to No. 32, and Texas A&M placed No. 14 among public institutions. Dwight Look College of Engineering placed No. 13 this year. The College of Education and Human Development took No. 34.
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and European aircraft, including long-range stealth B-2 bombers — had succeeded in heavily degrading Gadhafi’s air defenses. The international campaign went beyond hitting anti-aircaft sites. U.S., British and French planes blasted a line of tanks that had been moving on the rebel capital Benghazi, in the opposition-held eastern half of the country. Sunday, at least seven demolished tanks smoldered in a field 12 miles south of Benghazi, many of them with their turrets and treads blown off, alongside charred armored personnel carriers, jeeps and SUVs See Libya on page 8
Former A&M coach heads west to Tech a top 10 ranking, Gillispie also became the first Former Texas A&M UniBig 12 South versity basketball coach Billy coach to beat the Gillispie has been hired by Kansas Jayhawks Texas Tech University. at Allen FieldPrior to coaching the Aggies, Gillispie house. The AgGillispie revitalized the Unigies had a 70-26 versity of Texas at El Paso. He record during Gillispie’s tenure. led the program from a six-win Earning a reputation as a season his first year, coaching program turnaround specialist, to a 24-8 record the following Gillispie caught the attention year. Gillispie then caught the of the University of Kentucky, attention of Bill Byrne, A&M’s one of the nation’s premier colathletic director. lege basketball programs. GilAfter three seasons of suclispie began his career with the cess, Gillispie stunned Aggies Wildcats by picking up some in 2007 when he announced of the nation’s top high school his departure. Gillispie helped recruits. However, his legacy pull the Aggies out of the Big would soon be tarnished. The 12 cellar into Big 12 relevance, Wildcats were inconsistent, starting A&M’s current six-year as they suffered embarrassing streak of earning a bid in the losses to Gardner-Webb UniNCAA Tournament. Leading A&M to the Sweet 16 and See Gillispie on page 4
JT Sampson The Battalion
academics
Student Research Week begins today at Texas A&M Katie Marie Pogue
The Battalion Student Research Week is part of Texas A&M University’s commitment to providing research opportunities to both graduate and undergraduate students. The 14th annual Student Research Week starts today and will occur throughout the week. Student Research Week, originally formed in 1994, has evolved over the years into a week-long experience loaded with opportunities for students to present their research and to earn recognition. Texas A&M Gradu-
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ate Student Council funds and puts on SRW. University departments provide the different awards. According to the website, Student Research Week aims “to recognize and celebrate student research at Texas A&M University by providing an opportunity for students to present research and to foster an environment for students, faculty, staff and administration to learn about the research occurring at Texas A&M University and the resources available on campus.” The week offers various events, such as expert lunch panels, resource tables, research
symposiums and esteemed speakers all geared toward communicating the benefits of undergraduate research and aiding those students already involved in research. In an email sent out by the dean of liberal arts, Catherine Marr, class of 2009, was praised for her undergraduate research and how her position as a research assistant at Texas A&M not only prepared her for her job as a sales consultant for Physician Sales and Service, but also led her to that career path. “Because most of my work was done alone, I learned how to manage a large project on my own. This has helped me because in the sales
world, what I do with my time will inevitably be reflected in my numbers,” Marr said. Marr’s research was conducted under the College of Liberal Arts and provided her with hands-on experience with doctors, introducing her to a quality patient care. “A&M’s research department gave me an opportunity to study a line of work more indepth that I would of otherwise never been able to experience,” she said. “Remembering the doctors’ passion and concern for their patient’s health keeps me motivated to help the See Research on page 4
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