July 21 2009. The Battalion Print

thebattalion ● tuesday,

july 21, 2009

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media

Researchers release flies to control ants ogy. “With what he determined, we have been releasing these flies into the U.S. in hopes of suppressing fire ant populations.”

There are more than 20 species of the Phorid fly but four are being studied. There are approximately 7 million acres of Texas where the flies are being released and observed.

The female fly is capable of laying 30 to 35 eggs, one egg per ant. Each egg is injected into the thorax of a fire ant worker. As the larva develops inside the ant, it gradually moves into the head of the fire ant, secreting enzymes that dissolve the connecting tissues of the head and thorax. This causes the fire

Megan Clark The Battalion Texas researchers across the state are finding a solution to fire ants and it is coming from South America.

The Phorid fly is a parasitic breed that finds its host in fire ants. This breed is nicknamed the “decapitating fly” for its effect on its host, and its host is nicknamed the “zombie fire ant.”

“The current studies are the results of Don Henne, a Ph.D. student from LSU,” said Robert Puckett, assistant research scientist at the AgriLife Research and Extension Center for Urban and Structural Entomol-

ant’s head to fall off, thus appropriating the nickname “the decapitating fly.”

“As the larva is consuming the ant from the inside, the ant slowly loses its body functions,” said Paul Nester, a program specialist for Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

“Thus you can say it is the living dead, aka zombie.” The ant continues to attempt normal ant life but the larva presence hinders performance until the ant’s body fails completely which, takes anywhere from 10 days to two weeks, Nester said.

“This is not the silver bullet since the See Ants on page 4

Not your ordinary

Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION

Bush library presents forum, exhibit

touchdown

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum will present an issues forum on space tourism with Richard Garriott, who traveled to space on Soyuz TMA-13, at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Museum Orientation Theater.

“He’s going to share his experience training to fly aboard the Soyuz spacecraft and the time he spent on the International Space Station,” said Brian Blake, museum communications director. The museum’s current exhibit, “Beyond the Moon: NASA’s Continuing Mission,” will run through Aug. 16. The exhibit features the end of the Apollo program, the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, the 1970s era space station Skylab and the International Space Station. The exhibit also includes material on U.S. exploration of Mars and the Hubble space telescope.

Admission to the forum is free, but reservations are requested. Call (979) 691-4014 for reservations and more information. “Beyond the Moon: NASA’s Continuing Mission” admission is free for Texas A&M and Blinn students with a valid student ID. General admission is $7 for adults and $6 for senior citizens. include docking and repair of the International Space Station and five spacewalks.

Julie Rambin, staff writer

Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION

The National Weather Service issued a tornado and a flash flood warning Monday for Burleson and Brazos counties, which includes Bryan, College Station, Caldwell and Wellborn. At 7:45 p.m., trained weather spotters reported a possible tornado located near Highway 6 and Southwest Parkway moving southeast at 5 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado warning for Brazos County was in effect until 8:15 p.m. The tornado warning stayed in effect for Burleson County until 9:15 p.m. The flash flood warning was put in effect for both counties from 8:26 to 10:30 p.m. According to kbtx.com, damage was reported in south College Station, numerous trees and power lines were down along Harvey Road. Several intersections were flooded and areas along University Drive were without power.

Regents raise budget for 2010 fiscal year

Pot of gold

The fiscal year 2010 budget was approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Friday, and will take effect Sept.

1. The $3.2 billion operating budget shows a 2 percent, or $69.5 million, increase from the $3.13 billion budgeted amount for fiscal year 2009. The budget will fund operations at 11 universities, seven state agencies, a health science center and central administrative offices.

The portion of the budget allocated for the flagship campus is $1.2 billion, and for the health science center is $187.2 million. $1.8 billion, or 57.2 percent of the total budget, is expended for personnel. A funding source for the budget includes the upcoming tuition and fee revenue increases of $34 million, or 4 percent.

Budget An executive summary of the FY 2010 budget is available online at tamus. edu/offices/budgets-acct/budget/ FY_2010/2010budget.pdf.

Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION

A rainbow appears over Kyle Field after heavy rainfall Sunday afternoon. The forecast predicts thunderstorms throughout the week.

TEEX hosts public burn In conjunction with its 80th annual Municipal Fire Training School, Texas Engineering Extension Service, TEEX, will host a public burn from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Brayton Fire Training Field, at 1595 Nuclear Science Road in College Station. A children’s fire-awareness class will begin at 7:30 p.m. After the class, TEEX instructors will explain and demonstrate fireextinguishing techniques on some of the largest live-fueled training props in the world.

“This is the world’s largest training field so people see the smoke coming from that direction all the time and this is a way for them to see what its all about,” said TEEX communications director Jay Socol. “These are large fires they’re training on, it’s impressive to see during the day, it’s even more impressive at night.” The event is free to the public, and will take place if weather permits. Closedtoe shoes and long pants are required on the fire field. For more information visit teex.com.

Meagan O’Toole-Pitts, city editor

Meagan O’Toole-Pitts, city editor

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thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE

OF

TEXAS A&M

SINCE

1893

Kalee Bumguardner, Editor in Chief Mattie Williamson, Managing Editor Meagan O’Toole-Pitts, City Editor Jill Beathard, Lifestyles Editor Brett Sebastian, Sports Editor

Jason Staggs, Opinion Editor Karen Cruickshanks, Graphics Chief Christine Soriaga, Photo Chief

THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111.

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. News offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classified advertising, call 979-8450569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678.

Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979845-2613.

corrections The Battalion welcomes readers’ comments about published information that may require correction.

We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction needs to be published.

Please e-mail at editor@thebatt. com.

Today Mostly cloudy High: 97 Low: 74

Wednesday Mostly cloudy High: 95 Low: 73

Thursday Mostly cloudy High: 95 Low: 72

40% chance of thunderstorms

40% chance of thunderstorms

30% chance of thunderstorms

pagetwo thebattalion 7.21.2009

how to apply If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion apply at thebatt.com, or call 845-3313.

The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out. We particularly encourage freshmen and sophomores to apply, but students may try out regardless of semester standing or major. No previous journalism experience is necessary.

Where on campus?

Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION

Think you know every nook and cranny of Texas A&M? Test your campus know-how by e-mailing The Battalion and telling us where you think this photo was taken. The first people to get the answers correct will have their names published in The Battalion. Send your response with your name, class and major to photo@thebatt.com.

Correct responses Raylynne Lewis, senior agricultural communications and journalism major Andy Stein, senior chemical engineering major

Thursday’s answer G. Rollie White Coliseum

Texas ag losses reach $3.6 billion LUBBOCK, Texas — Drought in Texas has led to an estimated $3.6 billion in crop and livestock losses, and without ample rains, the year’s final tally could top the state record set in 2006, Texas agriculture officials say. Crops and rangeland are scorched from lack of rainfall and record triple-digit temperatures throughout parts of Texas. Much of the central and southern parts of the state have been in the two worst stages of drought — extreme and exceptional — for months. Texas agriculture officials on Monday estimated that total crop losses this year have reached $2.6 billion.

Livestock losses since November have reached an additional $974 million.

Associated Press

Facebook fans flock to A&M Texas A&M University has attracted more than 47,000 “fans” to its Facebook page, giving it the second-largest fan base of any university-sponsored site worldwide on the popular Internet social media site. It has its sights set on being No. 1. Louisiana State University is in the top spot, with more than 56,000 fans.

While the number of fans is still growing, Texas A&M officials say they are accomplishing the goal they set when the page was launched: to provide a nonauthoritative “community of spirit” that rallies around an exchange of Aggie values.

They attribute the growth in the number of fans to the spirit-filled mission of the page, the new content regularly posted by the University and the open fan dialogue on the site’s discussion board and wall. When the university announced the “Spirit of Aggieland” photo contest, fans responded by posting more than 250 spirit-filled fan photos to the Facebook page.

Texas A&M also has expanded the page to include a portal to a select group of University pages under the “Favorite Pages” section. The “Favorite Pages” group includes fan pages for the University’s academic colleges and departments and the Corps of Cadets.

“Facebook is also connect-

Pg. 2-07.21.09.indd 1

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

To become a fan of the official Texas A&M Facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/tamu and click on the “Become a Fan” button at the top of the page. ing past, present and future students,” said Diane C. McDonald, associate director with the Division of Marketing and Communications. “Many of the inquiries on the wall and discussion board are posted by future students, and are answered by current and former students.”

Facebook is not just for traditional college students, McDonald said, noting that fans age 25 or over represent more than half of the University’s total number of fans. She said this means faculty, staff and former students from around the world are also participating.

“I plan on remaining a Texas A&M Facebook ‘fan’ for as long as I have my account on Facebook. It’s a great way to stay connected and up to date with

the Aggie community,” said Ashley Leathers, class of 2009.

Texas A&M invites more students, faculty and staff to become fans of Texas A&M and to share the page with their Facebook friends. Anyone with a Facebook profile can become a fan, McDonald says.

“With the power of the ‘Aggie Network,’ we can surpass Louisiana State University to become the University page with the largest Facebook fan base in the world,” McDonald said.

“Being the No. 1 university on Facebook would showcase our Aggie traditions and network, with a contemporary twist.”

Texas A&M News and Information

7/20/09 6:47 PM

soul

“This is the great commission that all Christians are called to — sharing God’s love with everyone we come in contact with and blessing them with the peace and hope that comes with knowing Christ Jesus.”

— Jamie Kietzke junior sports management major

thebattalion 7.21.2009 page3

Gig ’em Lorelei Willett Special to The Battalion Senior kinesiology major Caleb Ballew, sophomore kinesiology major Sarah Thomas and junior sports management major Jamie Lee Kietzke worked in a Ghanaian orphanage for 10 days in May. “The organization we went through is called the Rafiki Foundation, like the monkey in the Lion King, it means ‘friend’ in Swahili.

They have 10 different organizations in 10 different countries in Africa,” Kietzke said.

The Kietzke family’s friends Rob and Libbie Seaton have been in Ghana more than two and a half years working with children in the orphanage.

Thomas and Ballew heard about the foundation through Kietzke’s brother.

“I’ve always had a passion to go to Africa but the opportunity never came up. When Caleb told me about it, I knew that God had opened a door and was calling me there,” Thomas said.

The students had to prepare financially, physically and spiritually for the trip. They raised about $3,000 each and formed prayer support groups to pray for them while they were abroad. They were vaccinated for certain diseases before entering the country of Ghana.

“I had to get six shots and Sarah got five. We decided to do them all in one day so our arms were sore for a long time,” Ballew said.

The trio left from Austin May 17 for the 14-hour flight with a carry-on bag of clothes and more than six suitcases full of supplies for the Seatons, including peanut butter, Pringles and 150 pounds of books for the children.

“It was really like Christmas when Rob and Libbie opened up the suitcases,” Kietzke said. “I think it was the best night.”

Once situated in the main house, Kietzke, Thomas and Ballew prepared for the next 10 days. Their day began at 6:30 with breakfast prepared by the housekeeper, Sandra, followed by Bible study and various other activities, working with the children in the afternoons, and evenings to themselves.

Each day Ballew worked with the head maintenance man, Sammy, and others to do manual labor such as building shelves in the library or hauling brush away from the grounds. In the afternoon, he joined Thomas and Kietzke for study hall and recess.

“There’s a lack of native teachers so there’s a rule that they have to leave by five or else they’ll stay there all day and night doing work. I was the puzzle master,” Ballew said.

The teachers said that most of the children had read and reread all of the books in the library by the time they were in sixth grade.

“It showed me a lot about how blessed I am and how much for granted I take the ability to read,” Kietzke said.

The orphanage housed more than 80 children and the classes were split into rooms of 20. Thomas and Kietzke spent the mornings tutoring two second-grade students each before playing with the 3-year-olds and moving on to study hall in the afternoon. But this proved to be challenging.

“If there’s one thing God wanted me to learn, it’s patience. One boy, Isaac, has ADD and I had to make him run laps. You have to be very strict with them. But most of the time I loved the kids,” Thomas said. “They were amazed with bubbles and they loved Frisbee and soccer.”

The students also helped the children with English, even though most of the children could speak it well.

“We taught them to say ‘Gig ’em.’

They didn’t know what it meant,

Ghana

but they just loved to say it,” Thomas said. “They would say ‘please’ before everything, too.

Like, the girls would curtsy and the boys would salute and say ‘please good morning’ and one of the boys said, ‘Mr. Caleb, your hair is spicy’ instead of spikey.”

The native languages of the village were Twi and Ga. The children taught their teachers the words medo, meaning ‘I love you,’ and obruny, which means ‘white.’

“We were taking a family walk and Diana was holding my hand and some of the kids started laughing. She said, ‘Madam Sarah they are laughing at you.’ When I asked why she said ‘because you are obruny,’” Thomas said.

Courtesy Photo Most of the children were at Rafiki because one parent Caleb Ballew, Sarah Thomas and Jamie Kietzke worked at an orphanage in had died and the other could Ghana in May. They taught children to say “Gig ‘em” and other English words. not care for them, or because Ballew said. press the button so we had to do a both their parents had died. To In contrast to its dark past, the reenactment. They don’t make a big be accepted into the orphanage, the atmosphere of the small village was deal out of engagements here, and they children had to test negative for HIV. more joyful than in America. don’t do the ring thing, so when we Some children were treated badly “You wouldn’t know they were got back [to the orphanage] I was so before they came to Rafiki. poor and living off of $1 a day,” excited but couldn’t really tell anyone.”

“Isaac had been locked up by his Thomas said. “When we got back to Keitzke said going to Africa helped parents, and when he came here, he New York, everyone was so rude and her to realize what she is called to do. was terrified of people. Another boy no one was genuinely interested in “This is the great commission that was brought in as a baby and they you. These people, they just loved to all Christians are called to — sharing noticed he was eating out of his bowl see you wave.”

God’s love with everyone we come like a dog, face first,” Thomas said.

The students said they felt like they in contact with and blessing them In the city of Cape Coast, the Aghad fulfilled a purpose and that they with the peace and hope that comes gies visited a remnant of another time were meant to go to Africa. Ballew, with knowing Christ Jesus. Living like that they called the ‘slave castle.’ however, had additional reasons to Christ as best I can is the single most “It was a fort where the slaves were go to Ghana. On the shores of Cape important thing to me. I want to show exported. We walked through the Coast, he turned to Thomas and asked people that being a Christian isn’t just dungeons that were supposed to hold the magic words, “Madam Sarah, will a bunch of rules, it sets a man free,” only 150 people but [they] would you marry me?”

Kietzke said. cram 600 to 1,000 into. We saw what “I totally did not believe it,” “[Going to Africa] showed me that they called ‘the door of no return’ beThomas said. “Jamie thought she had I don’t have to go across the world to cause that’s the door the slaves would recorded it but then realized she didn’t share God’s love.” go through to be put on the boats,”

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Pre-leasing for August. 3b/1.5b, carport, on shuttle, pets ok, fenced, $750/month. aggieLandRentals.com 979-776-8984.

Quiet country atmosphere, fireplace, very large 1bdrm brick duplex. $415/mo. +bills.

No pets.

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Room for lease under Helen Kline, Callaway House, available 6.23.09, call 979-260-7700 or 817-991-6803

FOR SALE $75,500. 3bd/2ba 4yr-old manufactured home at Lake Somerville bordering Birch Creek State Park, about-1/2acre. texpianokate@yahoo.com 2008 Palm Harbor double wide manufactured home still under warranty, in Sunset Ridge. 3bd/2ba with large front and back (covered) decks. Storage building also. Great student or family home. Need to sell. $64,500 Call 830-456-9484.

Scooter/ Moped, $675. Great for campus!! Call 469-363-7524.

HELP WANTED Assistant teachers part-time. Working with children 18-mo. through 6-yrs, great learning opportunity for education majors or anyone wanting experience working with children.

Please apply at swlccs@gmail.com or 979-693-6556.

Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day.

No experience. 512-684-8296, photoguy@io.com Callaway Villas, a private student housing residence hall, is accepting applications for a Community Assistant. Apply in person at: 305 Marion Pugh or online at http://www.studenthousing.com/ company/employment.asp. EOE. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment.

Cook, cashier and runner, 7-day a week position. Background check Evening employment.

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Doctor’s assistant, will train. Apply in person 3733 East 29th. Street Bryan or fax resume to 979-260-0610.

DONALD TRUMP LAUNCHES NEW BUSINESS! Ground floor opportunity, marketing positions only at this time. Denny’s tuesday July 21 6pm. RSVP 979-985-5590.

Leasing agent needed, license required. Contact BrazosLand Properties 979-846-0606.

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puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com

Needed, data entry person with excellent computer skills and typing speed.

Temporary position.

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Office assistan/ secretary needed for small local business, part-time, flexible hours, for information call 979-492-6077.

PT/FT lawncare crewleader/driver.

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Receptionist needed for local Ag owned real estate firm. Close to cmapus. We are currently looking for 2-people to work either M-F 8am-11:30am or M-F 2:30-5pm, $8/hr.

Email resume and fall schedule to front-desk-job@hotmail.com The Steamery Carpet Cleaning now hiring temporary helpers for the month of July and August.

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MUSIC Party Block Mobile DJ- Peter Block, professional 22yrs experience. Specializing in Weddings, TAMU functions, lights/smoke. Mobile to anywhere. Book early!! 979-693-6294. http://www.partyblockdj.com

PETS Teacup puppies: Maltese, Shorkies, Maltipoos, Yorkies &Poodles. $500 &up. 979-324-2866, linda_d_54@yahoo.com

REAL ESTATE 1999 16x76, 3bd/2ba in Rolling Ridge Trailer Park. 1178sq.ft., corner lot with front and back fenced yards, decks, new wood flooring and carpet, island in kitchen, all appliances, W/D hookups, close to TAMU, $28,000. 972-679-6891.

ROOMMATES $1,000 incentive. Need female, 1bd/1ba, $4,584/semester. Serious inquiries. Callaway Villas or call Debra 325-277-9828 dgarcia@suddenlinkmail.com $475/mo. +bills, for 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, pets okay on approval. Call 925-998-6108.

1 roommate needed. Spacious 2 story townhouse in Canyon Creek.

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1-female roommate needed for 2009-2010 school year.

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1Female roommate 3/2 duplex, W/D and furnishings. $250 month, +1/3 bills, non-smoker, no pets prefered. Rock Hollow Loop & 2818. Call 979-229-0778.

3 roommates wanted. 4bd/2ba house, bike/walk to TAMU, $500/mo., utilities included, large yard, easy access to Blinn, 832-492-8447.

Male roommates wanted in 4bd house. $300/mo. +1/4 bills.

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One roommate needed, 4/4/2, clean, good condition, on-shuttle. $375/mo.

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Roommate needed. 2bd/2ba on shuttle route, $500/mo., includes all bills. 936-591-1053.

Roommate needed. 4/4 University Place condo, W/D, private bath, pool, volleyball court, on shuttle. Prelease for summer or fall. $300/mo., call 979-690-8213 or 979-422-9849.

Roommate, house 1/2-mile from campus, furnished, $400/mo., +1/4 utilities. Steven 512-762-2151.

Sub-leasing one bedroom in 2bd/2.5ba Cottage at the Woodlands of College Station. $700/mo.

For information call 817-271-2939 or e-mail thebangor@yahoo.com

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up for June NEW YORK — More plans to build homes, higher stock prices and fewer people filing first-time claims for jobless aid sent a private-sector forecast of U.S. economic activity higher than expected in June.

It was the third straight monthly increase for the New York-based Conference Board’s index of leading economic indicators, and another sign pointing toward the recession ending later this year.

The index rose 0.7 percent last month. Wall Street analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a gain of 0.4 percent.

May’s reading was revised up to a gain of 1.3 percent from 1.2 percent, while April was scaled back to 1 percent growth from 1.1 percent.

The group also said activity in the six-month period through

June rose 2 percent, with an annual growth rate of 4.1 percent.

That’s the strongest rate since the first quarter of 2006.

The index is meant to project economic activity in the next three to six months.

If these conditions continue, “expect a slow recovery this autumn,” said Conference Board economist Ken Goldstein.

The Conference Board’s leading indicators index bottomed in March after peaking in July 2007.

“We’re now getting data which points to stabilization,” said Josh Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at research firm MFR Inc. “The overall signal they’re sending is the slide in economic activity is poised to end. The jury is still very much out in terms of what happens after that.”

Associated Press

Couple with the same name to wed MIAMI — This October, Kelly Hildebrandt will vow to share her life with a man who already shares her name.

This is not a joke. Kelly Katrina Hildebrandt, 20, and Kelly Carl Hildebrandt, 24, expect just over 100 guests to attend a ceremony at the Lighthouse Point Yacht & Racquet Club in South Florida, where they will become husband and wife.

“He is just everything that I’ve ever looked for,” she said in an interview. “There’s always been certain qualities that a guy has to have. And he has all the ones I could think of — and more.”

Their modern romance was a match made in cyberspace.

She was curious and bored one night last year, so she plugged her name into the popular social networking Web site Facebook just to see if anyone shared it.

At the time, Kelly Hildebrandt, of Lubbock, Texas, was

Ants Continued from page 1

multiple queen fire ant colonies can have between 100,000 to 500,000 workers,” said Kimberly Scholfield, a program specialist for Texas AgriLife Extension Service. “However, the fly makes the fire ant go into a panic mode so that it forgets to look for food and takes cover instead.”

The panic experienced by a fire ant in the presence of a phorid fly costs the colony food and keeps other fire ants from being alerted.

Many people ask about the danger of the flies instead of the fire ants, Puckett said.

“In fact, I have never seen a fly unless I was attracting it to something,” he said. “They don’t congregate like gnats, they appear to be nectar feeders so they are not attracted to decaying organic matter [like maggots].”

The “decapitating fly” and “zombie ant” are not threatening species, Nester said.

“They are not anything to fear, they are not magical, they do not cause more damage, they are not genetically modified to be more ferocious,” Nester

the only match.

So she sent him a message.

“She said ‘Hi. We had the same name. Thought it was cool,’” Kelly Carl Hildebrandt said. “I thought she was pretty cute.”

But there were also concerns.

“I thought, man, we’ve got to be related or something,” he said.

For the next three months the two exchanged e-mails.

Before he knew it, occasional phone calls turned into daily chats. He visited her in Florida after a few months and “fell head over heels.”

Months after Kelly Hildebrandt sent her first e-mail, she found a diamond engagement ring hidden in treasure box on a beach in December.

“I totally think that it’s all God’s timing,” Kelly Katrina Hildebrandt said. “He planned it out just perfect.”

Associated Press

“The nickname ‘zombie ant’ is just a name given to a fire ant that is slowly dying, and its actions are not typical of the way a healthy fire ant acts.”

— Paul Nester program specialist for Texas AgriLife Extension Service

said. “[The nickname ‘zombie ant’] is just a name given to a fire ant that is slowly dying, and its actions are not typical of the way a healthy fire ant acts.”

Puckett, Nester and Schofield said the phorid flies are one of the most promising biocontrol strategies available, and will hopefully prove useful in reducing fire ant populations.

“It will take time to see results, and it’s not a rapid, fast solution,” Puckett said. “But for every fly you know, there was an ant killed in result, and if you can shut down the foraging efficiency by introducing these flies, then this will allow the native ant assemblages to compete with fire ants.”

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Pg. 4-07-21-09.indd 1

7/20/09 10:55 PM

voices

page 5 tuesday 7.21.2009

thebattalion

GUESTCOLUMN

Lone Star loses when Texas goes on tour I n mid-May I walked the stage, received my diploma and boarded a plane for New York City. I left Texas behind for an internship in the Big Apple, or so I thought.

As the weeks passed by, delicious Tex Mex, hot summer nights and country music became only a memory. A memory, that is, until the day my path came across a New York locale known as the Southside Sea Port.

You can probably imagine my surprise when I picked up a distant hint of bad country music assaulting my ears while exploring the southern reaches of Manhattan Island. Curious, I followed the sound of twanging guitar and the voice of a depressed cowboy as I searched for a source of the commotion.

Solitarily marching down a cobblestone street, as I passed under the east side highway I was struck by a sight that took me aback.

There, at the water’s edge of the valleys of stone and glass that define Manhattan, was erected a wooden picket fence adorned with the sign “Texas on Tour.” Beyond it lay a garish display of Southern stereotype as tasteless as a bowl of Northern guacamole.

Several cowboys posed, lassos in hand, dressed in wardrobe from the set of “Howdy Doody.” On a stage, two Rascal Flatts wannabes performed gaudy country music that would make the porch dwellers of Luckenbach bow their heads in shame.

Truck trailers formed the back wall of the exhibit, plastered with posters of horseback riders traversing the West Texas desert, or

Kenny Ryan

Texas on Tour misrepresents the Lone Star State. decorated to simulate a raft ride down a Texas river. The entire display depicted Texans as horseback-riding, lassowielding, wailing cowboys who were ranchers born and raised and wouldn’t know the difference between a toilet and a bidet.

It was a little off-putting to say the least. No wonder my co-workers had asked if they could ride my horse if they ever visited me in Texas, and then exchanged confused looks when I replied, “Sorry, I don’t have a horse. I grew up outside the city of Austin, and I drive a Corolla.”

I could almost see in their eyes the question, “But how do you get around in a Corolla when there are no roads?” But their better judgment overcame a concept of Texas that every billboard and advertisement seems to scream at them.

Exactly who were these wannabe cowboys who stood before me at the seaport, misrepresenting my wonderful state? It didn’t take much detective work to find out.

As it turns out, Texas on Tour is a creation of the Texas Department of Tourism. They travel from city to city across the country to show the Yankees what life is like in the

Lone Star state. Apparently, nothing attracts tourists like a lack of civilization.

Let’s face it, up north the South is stereotyped as a bit backward. We may take our time when we talk, rarely live life at 100 mph and no, we might not have as many museums and cultural beacons as the great cities of the North do; but we sure aren’t the bunch of slack-jawed yokels who we are stereotyped to be.

Texas has its own proud heritage. It has the beauty of the countryside and the bustle of the cities; it’s certainly not just the Alamo and a bunch of cowboys smoking Marlboros.

If the Texas Department of Tourism wants to show off what Texas has to offer, it should show off all of Texas and not just the parts where time stands still. Texans shouldn’t see our tax dollars being spent to reinforce negative stereotypes. There should be an image of Dallas for every picture of Bandera, the streets of Austin should be presented along with the streets of Laredo, and our upstanding universities should be just as famous as our cowboys.

The next time you are frustrated with an ignorant Yankee or international visitor, don’t put all the blame on them. Your tax dollars were spent convincing them of their preconceived misconceptions.

Texas needs to start promoting all of Texas, not just the quaint imagery from the age of cowboys, or the world will continue to think of us as a people lost in the past.

Kenny Ryan is a member of the Class of 2008 and former voices editor.

7/31/2009

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7/31/2009 Pg. 5-07.21.09.indd 1

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7/20/09 6:50 PM

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Astronauts walk in space CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The astronauts aboard the shuttle-station complex celebrated the 40th anniversary of man’s first moon landing with a spacewalk Monday, heading outside to stockpile some big spare parts.

In the second outing of their mission, David Wolf and Thomas Marshburn anchored a 6-foot dish antenna on the international space station for future use, then did the same with a hefty pump and an engine for a rail car.

The spacewalk unfolded 40 years to the day two other astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, strolled the moon’s dusty surface. It was the 202nd spacewalk by Americans since the Apollo 11 lunar excursion.

Inside Mission Control, a clock counted down to 3:17 p.m., the moment the Eagle set down on the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969.

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including Aldrin, suggested the $100 billion poured into the space station had not yielded much and that the outpost would be better used as a testbed for human missions to Mars and even asteroids.

“We’ve spent a lot of money up there for almost nothing,” said Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell.

“It’s almost a white elephant and until we can get a return on our investment of that particular project, then it was money wasted.”

Associated Press

Obama pushes overhaul ■ He vows to fight ‘the politics of the moment’ WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama pushed back hard against Republican critics of his health care overhaul plan Monday, vowing to fight “the politics of the moment” but also giving ground on his tight timetable for passage of legislation.

“We can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care,” Obama said after meeting with doctors, nurses and other health care workers at Obama Children’s National Medical Center. “Not this time. Not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake.”

The president recounted a comment from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., that stopping Obama’s bid for health care overhaul could be the president’s “Waterloo,” a reference to the site of Napoleon’s bitter defeat.

“This isn’t about me,” Obama said. “This isn’t about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America’s families, breaking America’s businesses and breaking America’s economy.”

He criticized those “fighting reform on behalf of powerful special interests” and others out to put off action for “another day, another year, another decade.”

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Associated Press

Scholar accuses police of racism BOSTON — Henry Louis Gates Jr., the nation’s preeminent black scholar, is accusing Cambridge, Mass., police of racism after he was arrested while trying to force open the locked front door of his home near Harvard University.

Cambridge police were called to the home Thursday after a woman reported the incident. An officer ordered the man to identify himself, and Gates refused, according to the police. Gates began calling the officer a racist and said repeatedly, “This is what happens to black men in America.” He was released on his own recognizance and arraignment was set for Aug. 26.

Afghan death toll rises KABUL — A roadside bomb killed four American troops in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, driving the July death toll for U.S. forces to the highest monthly level of the war. The deaths brought to at least 30 the number of American service members who have died in Afghanistan this month — two more than the figure for all of June 2008, which had been the deadliest month for the U.S. since 2001.

Associated Press

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WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans, divided over whether to vote for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Soto– mayor as the first Hispanic justice, aren’t planning a drawn-out floor debate on her nomination.

GOP senators on the Judiciary Committee plan to block a panel vote scheduled for Tuesday, delaying the committee’s action on President Barack Obama’s Sotomayor first high court nominee until July 28. But Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the No. 2 Republican, said he thought the subsequent Senate debate on Sotomayor’s confirmation could be completed in four days.

That’s a standard timetable for Supreme Court nominees, and it underscores the GOP’s intent to refrain from filibustering Sotomayor — which risks alienating Hispanic voters, a fast-growing part of the electorate — given her lopsided chances of being confirmed.

Sotomayor has support from Senate Democrats, who control a 60-vote majority, and at least three Republicans have said they intend to vote for her.

Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, predicted that the Senate would vote on her confirmation by early August.

Still, conservatives are strongly opposed. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the fourth-ranking Republican, announced Monday he would vote no.

Associated Press

7/20/09 6:51 PM