Loftin calls for maroon out President Loftin called a maroonout day today to support the women’s basketball team for the championship game tonight.
thebattalion ● tuesday,
silver taps
april 5, 2011
● serving
August 8, 1981 - February 19, 2011 James Robert Souza January
Football player, man for all seasons Katie Marie Pogue
The Battalion James Robert Souza January, better known as January, lived all around the world when he was younger, but he never felt more at home than when he was driving his truck, behind the wheel of a tractor or hunting with his friends. He is remembered as a strong football-loving man with a talent for cooking. January spent part of his childhood as an expatriate living in different countries due to his dad’s job working for Halliburton. His aunt
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
August 5, 1988 - March 1, 2011 Tate Phillip Jones
“James was pretty much of a jack of all trades. He could drive a tractor ... make beautiful furniture, wire and hang lights ... you name it.”
Student, farmer, stranger to few Rebecca Bennett
Sue January, James’ aunt
remembers when he could speak better French, Spanish and Portuguese than he could English. “[He] pointed to a clock and said, ‘What is that called in English?’” Sue January said. January spent his senior year of high school in Texas and then went to San Angelo State, where he played football. After graduating from San Angelo he was employed in various See January on page 7
The Battalion Tate Phillip Jones was a small town boy whose big, contagious smile was matched only by his big heart. Tate is remembered for the tremendous love he demonstrated throughout his life for agriculture, music and most importantly, his friends and close-knit family. “He was happy, joyful, smart, handsome, kind … there are too many things to say,” said Jurahee Jones, Tate’s sister and a 2006 graduate of West Texas A&M University. “He was
“He didn’t know a stranger, that’s for sure ... Everyone felt a relationship with him.” Britnee Brotherton, senior telecommunications media studies major
such a good kid.” Tate graduated as salutatorian from Floydada High School in 2007 before coming to Texas A&M to study agricultural systems management with the aid of several meritbased scholarships. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father, uncle and a string of cousins, becoming an official Aggie was a See Jones on page 8
basketball
Two vie for one ring Aggies and Fighting Irish share similar playing styles Mike Teague
The Battalion One game is all that stands between Texas A&M’s women’s basketball team and the school’s first national championship. Tonight, the second-seeded Aggies will play second-seeded Notre Dame at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. in the final game of the NCAA Tournament. “They only remember the winners,” said A&M Head Coach Gary Blair. “I want to make sure that you’re going to rememGame ber Texas A&M, and setup the only way The National you’re going Championship to remember Texas A&M game will tipis if we win off at 7:30 p.m. today and can this thing. be seen on I want to ESPN. make sure it’s not just a feel-good story and a pat on the back or ‘that-a-boy’ thing when we get back to College Station.” Both A&M and Notre Dame are coming off huge upsets in Sunday’s semifinal matchups. The Aggies knocked off No.1 Stanford and the Fighting Irish encored with a stunning upset of No. 1 Connecticut. Both teams also took down No. 1 seeds in their regional championships. “It’s a great matchup,” Blair said. “It’s also good to see two new faces in the Final Four and championship game. It’s good for the game of basketball right now. For our sport to grow, we need Texas A&M and Notre Dame in this game.” With an up-tempo, balanced attack and a tenacious defense, many compare Notre Dame’s style of play to that of the Aggies. “What’s good about Notre Dame is they’re a five-person team, not a one-person team,” Blair said. “All five people can score and if somebody isn’t hot they use them as a screener or as a defensive player. It’s a lot like [my] team … I think you’ll see balance.” In their victory over Stanford, the Aggies’ ebbs and flows of success in the game were dictated by the play of senior guard Sydney Colson. Inexperienced mistakes, such as an errant behind-the-back pass, put Colson and A&M on the ropes. Colson responded however, and led the Aggies to victory behind her direction.
Photos by Paul Mezier — THE BATTALION
Tucker, a goldendoodle, finished his first phase of training to become an assistant dog to someone with a disability.
Compassionate canine Aggie dog graduates to assist disabled Alex Lotz
The Battalion With the help of Aggie raisers, one guide and service dog graduated from his first part of training thanks to the campus organization, Aggie GuideDogs and Service-Dogs. Due to the constant work of this organization, Tucker is one step closer to assisting his future disabled owner. Members of Aggie Guide-Dogs and ServiceDogs, AGS, train young puppies to become assistance dogs to people suffering with visual impairment, autism, muscle disorders, post traumatic stress disorders and those needing assistance with mobility. “Training an assistance dog is a great way for students to grow at a personal development level,” said Alice Blue-McLendon, adviser to AGS. “Those students then have to sacrifice and give the dog up after they have trained and spent so much time with knowing it will make someone else’s life easier.” In order to be a trainer to an assistance dog, an individual must first go through a long process of schooling. Students must attend four training classes and also complete service hours at the Brazos Animal Shelter, where students will learn how to train using the dogs in the shelter. Once they have completed
this process, the directors of the organization then decide the best fit among the raisers to each puppy. “[Raisers] experience selfless service and the honor of changing another’s life,” said Kelsey Loflin, junior animal science major. “Above all, this experience is a humbling one, and one that will change your life for the better.” AGS is one of the few campus organizations in the nation that trains assistance dogs. Some universities have even contacted the directors asking for tips on how to start up and run their own organizations. “Patience is the single most important quality of any of our trainers,” said Kara Polansky, senior psychology and English double major. Patience is a quality that puppy raiser Hailey Jumper has learned as she has trained Tucker for the first year and five months of his life. During this time of training, known as phase one, the dog learns basic commands and learns that it is strictly work time when they have their blue vest on. “Tucker is pretty laid back and just loves to be loved on,” said Jumper, sophomore history major. “I just hope his future owner will love on him as
Hailey Jumper stands with Tucker See Assistant on page 7 as she receives his certificate for his first phase of training.
See Basketball on page 5
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