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Weather causes Sustainability Day delay
october 22, 2009
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Who is Matt Johnson? Student captures Aggie Spirit Rachel Latham | The Battalion Matt Johnson, a senior education major, is using his ability to make videos to promote Aggie values. “Matt Johnson has taken his passion and figured out how to bless the Aggie community with what he is good at,” said Bryan Sims, a senior industrial distribution major, Johnson’s friend and president of Brothers Under Christ. In the spring Matt saw a flyer advertising a “Why I’m an Aggie” video competition sponsored by Texas A&M University Marketing and Communications and Flip Video. “I could win this,” Johnson said. “I’m going to win this.” Johnson said he was brushing his teeth one night and that is when the idea came. He had two weeks to film and edit the video before the due date. “I just started grabbing people and taking shots of them in places around campus,” Johnson said. His dad, a pilot, flew into town so Johnson could film an aerial view of the campus. “Matt’s ‘Why I’m an Aggie’ video was selected because it captures the Aggie Spirit,” said Diane McDonald, the associate director for Texas A&M marketing. “It showcases the diverse reasons why students are here and why our traditions are so meaningful. It also shows that we are a campus of student leaders, and someone may be inspired to follow in your footsteps.” Johnson acquired his first camera during his sophomore year and started
Vicky Flores, staff writer
See Johnson on page 4
Volunteer for Special Olympics’ ‘Fall Classic’ Special Olympics Texas is in need of volunteers this weekend for the “Fall Classic.” From Thursday to Saturday, athletes from Texas will compete in sporting events on the Texas A&M University campus and around Bryan-College Station. Aggie Special Olympics Texas president and senior accounting major Brittany Bongers promises a great experience. “We are trying to make a human tunnel when the athletes get off the bus,” Bongers said. “We would love to have a lot of people for that, because no number is too small for what we are trying to do.” The athletes will compete in sports such as golf, softball and aquatics at the Texas A&M Golf Course, College Station Veterans Park and the Texas A&M Natatorium. Opening ceremonies will take place Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Celebration Dance. The competitions will begin on Thursday with a softball game from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. “It is really an amazing experience and anyone who has a couple hours should come out,” Bongers said. Volunteer For information on how to volunteer, go to the Special Olympics Texas Web site www.sotx. org or call 1-800-8765646. Travis Lawson, staff writer
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We are the Aggies
aggies are we
Campus Sustainability Day has been postponed to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Sbisa Plaza. “Due to the threat of rain, Sustainability Day has been rescheduled,” said Kelly Willman, campus sustainability officer. Willman hopes that students will get involved and take some time to learn about environmental issues. “Sustainability Day is part of a national campaign to raise the awareness about sustainability,” Willman said. Willman defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Aggies are We will be a series of stories published every other Thursday highlighting Aggies. Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
McKinney addresses Senate about on-campus Bonfire Laura Sanchez The Battalion
Jeramie Heflin — THE BATTALION
Chancellor Michael McKinney speaks to the Senate about Bonfire.
The Texas A&M Student Senate met on Wednesday and discussed issues including the return of Aggie Bonfire to campus. Texas A&M Chancellor Michael McKinney spoke after an open forum to address student concerns. Students at the meeting said they were in favor of the return of Bonfire to campus. “Student bonfire is not affiliated with Texas A&M University anymore. It’s not an A&M tradition, it’s an Aggie tradition. No matter whether it comes back on campus or not, we will still build this. If Bonfire comes back to campus, and it is not student built, it would just be a fire on campus. There will be no magic, no accomplishment, no unity,”
said senior agricultural communications and journalism major Kasey Miller. It is important for Bonfire to be built by students, not professional contractors, said junior business honors major Eric Newman. “If it does get brought back on campus, as rumors have been floating around, I would like to see it student-built,” Newman said. “If it’s not student-built, it’s not the Aggie Bonfire.” Chancellor McKinney gave advice to students regarding Aggie Bonfire. He reminded students to be responsible while upholding Aggie traditions. “You can do a bonfire, but the only way the Bonfire will come back to campus is at your insistence. When you do it, come to See Senate on page 4
Scholarship initiative raises $185 million Jane Lee The Battalion The Texas A&M Foundation has raised $185.6 million of the $300 million scholarship goal for “Operation Spirit and Mind,” a scholarship initiative at Texas A&M University. Formally launched October 2008, “Operation Spirit and Mind” raised $60.6 million in 2007 and $75.5 million in 2008. As of Sept. 30, the Foundation has accumulated $49.4 million, $28.2 million from cash and corporate funds. “Since January 1, 2007, the Texas A&M Foundation has been working with donors to raise not only money, but awareness of financial assistance for Aggies,” said Kathy McCoy, the director of marketing for the Texas A&M Foundation. The Texas A&M Foundation is a private non-
Courtesy Photo
profit organization that manages investments from donors to the University’s various academic and leadership programs. The Foundation has been working with individual donors such as former students as well as major corporations such as Exxon Mobil. See Scholarship on page 4
“Leadership, In Heels”
Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
Conference brings Aggie women together Travis Lawson The Battalion Texas A&M Women’s Leadership Conference “Leadership, In Heels” brings Aggie women together to discuss women’s roles at A&M. 100 students will be selected to be delegates at the conference where they will learn skills needed to succeed in a professional setting. The application is due to the Women’s Resource Center in Koldus room 226 Friday. Faculty members and former students will speak at the conference on Nov. 14. The conference teaches women strategies for leadership and success in the corporate world. Senior psychology major and Women’s Leadership Conference Marketing Committee member Crystal Williams said the event was a way to build skills needed for the work place. “Women’s Leadership Conference is targeted not only to women but anyone involved in promoting professionalism,” Williams said. She was a delegate on the council in 2008 and is now on the 2009 executive board. The conference helped her gain valuable skills for the workplace, she said. “I felt the conference was so phenomenal,” Williams said. “In corporate America that is what you need: leadership.” The application is available online at wlc. tamu.edu. “The application consists of a few simple questions regarding what leadership positions you have and are planning on having,” Williams said. “Just to get a feel of where our delegates come from.”
10/21/09 11:12 PM