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Parents of the Year Find out who won the 2011 A&M “Parents of the Year” on thebatt.com.
nation
Bush School dean goes to D.C.
● friday,
april 29, 2011
● serving
Milestone Party gives students sneak peek Photos by Paul Mezier — THE BATTALION
Jared Baxter
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A&M’s Von Miller holds up a jersey with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the Denver Broncos picked him as the second overall pick in the first round of the NFL football draft at Radio City Music Hall last night in New York.
inside
Chara, a student Christian dance group, will have its performance of “Art of Worship” today and Sunday. Shimmy!, which features a number of belly dancing routines, will take place Saturday.
The MSC construction site will be open for touring from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Students will be able to walk through 12th Man Hall and see renderings of what the MSC will look like once it is finished. The completion date will also be announced today during the MSC Milestone Party.
Miller goes to Denver
Associated Press
scene | 6 Dancing in Aggieland
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
Students to tour portion of MSC
The reshuffled national security team President Barack Obama introduced on Thursday will be charged with fighting not only the overseas war in Afghanistan but also budget battles on the home front. CIA Director Leon Panetta will replace Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Allen will succeed Petraeus as the top commander in Afghanistan, and seasoned diplomat Ryan Crocker will take over as ambassador there. Crocker is the president and executive professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. The new team in Kabul will manage the planned shift toward a backseat role for the United States and its NATO partners, as Afghan security forces gradually assume responsibility. Both Allen and Crocker have experience with a similar transition in Iraq.
b!
texas a&m since 1893
The Battalion Former Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller did not have to wait long for his name to be called in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft as the Denver Broncos selected Miller as the No. 2 overall pick. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell took to the podium for the league’s primetime event and announced the selection in front of thousands of football fans in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. “I saw a 303 (area code) number, and I knew immediately who it was,” Miller said. “I just had flashbacks to all the hard work that I’ve been putting in ever since little league football, all the people who told me, ‘No,’ and every time that everybody said I couldn’t do it. I was just extremely anxious for my opportunity to go up to the league and prove myself.” Wearing his maroon A&M hat, Miller was overcome with emotion backstage before greeting the commissioner and posed for pictures holding his new Broncos jersey. Miller snapped A&M’s drought of no first-round draft picks since Ty Warren was selected 13th overall in 2003, and Miller becomes the highest drafted Aggie alongside Quentin Coryatt who went second overall in 1992. The NFL lockout situation continued to be the prevailing topic behind the draft proceedings, as Miller is the only rookie named on the antitrust lawsuit against team owners. “I don’t have anything against the commissioner. His job is very hard,” Miller said. “I’m a team guy. Guys before me have broken their backs and played their hearts out. I want to make sure football continues to get played.”
Corps marches to help children Roland Ruiz
The Battalion The Corps of Cadets continues to serve the community of Bryan-College Station by performing its 35th annual March to the Brazos fundraising event tomorrow. The cadets that endure the 18-mile long journey will make a significant difference to March of Dimes. The organization’s mission is to improve the health for babies that suffer premature birth, infant mortality and possible birth defects. Since 1976, the inaugural year of the March to the Brazos fundraiser, the Corps of Cadets has collected over two million dollars for March of Dimes. Shona Quiring, community director for March of Dimes at the Bryan-College Station division, said the organization is honored to be associated with the
Corps of Cadets due to all of the fundraising it was able to accomplish throughout the years. “The Corps of Cadets’ involvement with fundraising for the March of Dimes is immeasurable,” Quiring said. “The young men and women involved in the Corps are very respectful, dedicated and hard-working individuals that I have enjoyed getting to know immensely. We are extremely grateful the Corps of Cadets chose our organization to fundraise with.” During the March to the Brazos event, the cadets march the first nine miles to the Texas A&M University Beef Center on Highway 60. Upon reaching the Beef Center, the Corps engages in pass-down activities, followed by a barbecue and an announcement from March of Dimes about the fundraising results. After the festivities, the seniors are bused back to campus while the rest of the classmen march the
other nine miles back. Kyle Whalen, a senior leadership studies major, said he has been involved with the fundraising event for four years and describes the event as one that makes you proud to be affiliated with the Corps of Cadets. “This event is all what the Corps of Cadets refer to as ‘good-bull,’ which means to increase morale,” Whalen said. “I think it’s admirable that the Corps added this fundraiser onto a tradition it already conducted for many years.” Andres Aguilar, a senior industrial engineering major, said he defines the event as a way to combine Corp activities and fundraising into a fun experience. “One thing that stands out about the March to the Brazos event is how much the Corps of Cadets has See March on page 2
community service
university of alabama
UNICEF raises funds, aids youth
Tornado wreaks havoc in south The Crimson White
Amber Jaura
The Battalion Every day 22,000 children die from preventable causes. Clean drinking water, food and vaccinations mean the difference between life and death for these children. TAMU-UNICEF will have its first “Believe in Zero” event today in front of Academic Plaza to bring the child mortality rate closer to zero. They sold white flags for $1 each and planted them in a large zero outside Cushing Library. Payam Khajeh, a junior biology major and treasurer of TAMU-UNICEF, said they’ve done many projects in the past but he hopes the “Believe in Zero” event will be the biggest and most successful. “In this symbolic event, we are going to plant 2,200 flags, which is a representation of those 22,000 kids who die from prevent-
Paul Mezier — THE BATTALION
A&M UNICEF constructed a ‘0’ behind the Academic Building to signify efforts to bring the child mortality rate to zero. able causes every day. We are hoping to raise $2,200 by selling 2,200 flags,” Khajeh said. “I really hope the campaign gets the attention it needs and Aggies can get involved to donate for this great cause.” TAMU-UNICEF started pre-sale for the See Zero on page 2
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nearly 100 more in surrounding areas. The University confirmed two of the deaths About 5:15 p.m. Wedneswere students. day, an EF-5 tornado ripped President Barack Obama has through Tuscaloosa, Ala., declared a state of emergency leaving many residents homein Alabama. Obama plans to less and destroying businesses visit Tuscaloosa on Friday. on McFarland Boulevard and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt 15th Street. Maddox said Wednesday that “There were people stuck search and rescue was the under debris and yelling for city’s main priority, which help,” University of Alabama was why cleaning up the damstudent Adam Melton said. age has yet to begin. “We went over and helped as “We are in an urgent phase many as we could. It’s just, evof search and rescue,” Maderything has been completely dox said. “This going to be a demolished. The houses are very, very long process. The gone, the business are gone. amount of damage that is It’s something that I’ll never done is beyond a nightmare.” be able to forget.” Much of the city remains The University reported without power or cable as of no structural damage campus. Thursday evening while resMost damage occurred southcue efforts take first priority. east of campus. Gas stations inside the city As of Thursday evening, 37 with power were swamped were confirmed dead in Tuswith traffic Wednesday night caloosa, while the death count and Thursday. As of Thursday of the entire state of Alabama afternoon, few gas stations still has increased to 204, with
Jason Galloway
had fuel left. Soon after the tornado hit on Wednesday, the University converted the Student Recreation Center into a refuge for students who needed a safe place to stay overnight. On Thursday, the Student Rec Center also became an information center the University encouraged students or parents to contact for answers about the status of loved ones. The University canceled school for the semester. For each class, students can choose to take exams at a later date or accept their current grade without a final. The University’s May graduation commencement, originally scheduled for May 7, has been postponed to August 6. “These steps are being taken to allow students impacted by the storms to return to their homes while recovery efforts continue in the Tuscaloosa area,” a UA press release said.
4/28/11 9:46 PM