The Battalion: April 18, 2011

Page 1

campus news

thebattalion

Money granted for cattle research

Staff and wire reports

coming tuesday

Men’s practice team Get a closer look at the men who helped the Aggie women’s basketball team win nationals.

inside

b!

music | 3 American Idol

John Wayne Schulz grew up around Aggies and made it to the top40 on American Idol.

sports | 5 Diamond success The A&M baseball and softball teams both had succesful weekends as the men completed a series win over Baylor and the women swept Nebraska.

voices | 8 Pop quizzes Pop quizzes are a stressful and ineffective way of boosting attendance and student performance.

Pg. 1-04.18.11.indd 1

● monday,

april 18, 2011

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

● first paper free – additional copies $.1 ● © 2011 student media

sports

Equestrian wins nationals Sean Lester

The Battalion For the second time in less than a month, Texas A&M has won a national championship. The A&M western squad won the third straight national championship Saturday in Waco, defeating Kansas State 5-3 in the finals of the Varsity Equestrian National Championships. The Aggies jumped to an early lead in the finals led by their horsemanship riders. Junior Katie Lisabeth, senior Randi Standley and

sophomore Carey Nowacek all had wins. “Our first group in the ring has gotten us off to a great start all weekend, and today was no different,” said Head Coach Tana McKay. “It just shows how mentally focused and confident everyone was from the word ‘go.’” With A&M only needing two points to clinch the national title, sophomore reiner Courtney Dawe earned a 145-point victory putting the Aggies one point away. The Aggies survived a Kansas State win before

sophomore Becca Murray gave the Aggies their fifth point to lock up the program’s ninth national championship since the program began in 1999. “There’s nothing like a hat trick, that’s for sure,” McKay said. “We’re excited to be able to bring this championship back to the University, especially with all the success the other sports have had.” The A&M team also competed in the hunter seat side of the competition with the

Past awards ◗ The A&M Equestrian team won nationals three years in a row in 2002-2004 and in 2009-2011.

See Equestrian on page 4

Classy classes Unique courses make for interesting electives Alex Lotz | The Battalion

F

or 18 years, students have struggled and strived to one day reach dreams, believing that in order to reach their goals they must continue taking the traditional, mundane courses they have studied for their entire lives as students. Such is not the case for students at Texas A&M. Hidden beneath the core curriculum rests unique classes that teach lessons that cannot be taught in a traditional classroom setting.

The meaning behind that worn-out phrase “learning is fun” can be experienced as students take classes that peak their interest and add intrigue to the all too often dull schedule. With careful examination and planning around the course catalogue, schedules can be arranged to not only meet degree requirements but to also enroll in classes that both invigorate and motivate.

Wining and Dining One unique class in Aggielan Aggieland piquing the interest of a lot of upperclassmen is Horticulture 420, Viticulture and Small Fruit Culture. In this class, students study timeless grapes of the w world, how they are grown, grafting and blending techn techniques for the creation of wine and guidance on the art of evaluating the wine itself. “The class is definitely different differ and exceptionally unique. It is something I will actually actua use, not only in my career, but also socially. Wine is similar simi to golf in the business world, it can set you apart from a lot of people,” said Ilissa Nolan, a senior agriculture lea leadership and development major. Th This class does have pre-conditions to participate: sstudents must be at least 21. “Honestly, a lot of people take it because they think they will get an easy ‘A.’ It takes a lot of work,” Nolan said. “It is more than just ta tasting wine; you learn something new every day. It is a class a lot of seniors take who are in event planning or horticulture majors, or people who want to work in the wine industry.”

Arranged flowers For female flower lovers and those men thatt love to impress, Horticulture 203, Floral Design, teaches students about the characteristics of different flowers and the art of arrangement.t. After hearing of this class through her adviser, er, junior animal science major Kourtney Knowlton lton discovered what was to become her favoritee class, giving her an outlet to unleash her creative side. “This is a class that everyone can gain somee useful knowledge from, whether its taking care of flowers you were given, or learning to make flowers into a great at centerpiece or gift,” Knowlton said. Knowlton said the classs was the best in Aggieland and she wishes she could take it again.

Guitar heroes Graphics by Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded two major grants totaling more than $14 million to investigators at Texas A&M University for conducting research on Bovine Respiratory Disease and feed efficiency. These issues are of vital economic significance to the cattle industry and are priority areas for improving cattle health and production. Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences will lead the research on the $9.2 million BRD project and will be key participants in the University of Missouri-led $5 million project aimed at improving feed efficiency in cattle.

After hearing of MUSC 200-532, 32, Guitar Heroes, through word of mouth, junior allied health th major Emily Wright registered for the class, intending to use itt as a visual arts credit. “I really lly enjoyed getting to listen to different nt guitarists that would come into our class and perform for us,” Wright ht said. In class, students have ve the opportunity to learn how different cultures practice the artt of playing the guitar and how each ach culture plays it differently. “I would especially recommend nd this class if you have a good od ear for music because you get to learn about different guitar artists that have made history that most people haven’t even heard of,”” Wright said.

As demonstrated by these few exotic courses, Texas A&M academics offers both diversity and intrigue to those enlightened Aggies willing to explore the available course options beyond the core curriculum. Indeed, these exotic classes are just a taste of the different courses unique to our University worthy of being experienced, should the opportunity present itself. After all, what could be better than learning how to make the best barbecue around, having fun while getting your education? Can it get any better, really? “Texas A&M has such diverse classes, really standing out making my education enjoyable,” said Audrey Pederson, a sophomore business major.

club sports

weekend re-cap

Gymnasts take first, second in nationals

Track team finds victory at Florida meet The Battalion

Amber Jaura The Battalion

The gymnastics club competed in nationals April 9 against roughly 50 schools at the 2011 NAIGC National Championships. Competitions included categories like allaround champion, high-bar and vault. Both the men’s and women’s teams had high preliminary scores leading them into the finals. The men’s team won first and the women’s team second in team competitions. A&M also had several individual winners ranking among the top gymnasts. Both teams have competed at the national level for four years. The women’s team has won first place in nationals every year. Constance Cuadra, a senior agricultural economics major and president of the Gymnastics Club, said the team could not be more proud of advancing to nationals.

threw her best of the season to win by 9 feet with a throw of 176-11. Emalie’s teammate The Texas A&M track and Laura Asimakis threw for the field teams came away with first time since suffering an innine victories after a successjury in the 2010 Texas Relays ful venture this weekend at and placed second with a toss the Tom Jones Invitational in of 158-4. Other top marks in Gainesville, Fla. The University of Florida welcomed teams the field events were posted by at Percy Beard Track in a test of national-leader Julian Reid in several nationally ranked teams, the long jump and Sasha-Kay Matthias in the triple jump. namely Florida (No. 1 men) A&M continued improveand A&M (No. 2 men, No. 1 ment in the field events as women). many jumpers returned to top Aggie siblings Sam and Emform. Senior jumper Julian alie Humphreys both claimed Reid jumped 24-7.25 to win victories in the men’s and the men’s long jump against Jawomen’s javelin. Sam nearly maican legend James Beckford matched his school record in and remain the national leader. the men’s javelin with a winThe Aggie women took the ning throw of 251-8 that bettop two spots in the triple jump tered the field by 12 feet. His sister, senior Emalie Humphreys, See Track on page 4

Adrian O’Hanlon III

Tiffany Cornelius — THE BATTALION

The A&M men and women’s gymnastics teams competed in the NAIGC National Championships April 9.

“We have over 50 active members, some recreational and some in it to compete,” Cuadra said. “This year we were able to take 15 boys and 10 girls to national.” Neil Henderson, a senior chemical engineering major, is captain of the men’s See Gymnastics on page 4

4/17/11 6:41 PM


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