thebattalion ● thursday,
october 29, 2009
● Serving
Texas A&M since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 Student Media
File Photo
Students invited to participate in Bonfire forum Texas A&M students will have the opportunity to voice opinions on the future of Bonfire through an open forum today. “The objective for this open forum is to initiate a discussion on Bonfire that focuses on bringing students together on this issue; far too often, students do not have enough information or a proper facility to bring very polarized sides of this tradition together,” said Speaker of the Senate Michele Breaux. “As student representatives, we feel it is our duty to listen to their concerns and take the lead in creating an overall plan that expresses all students’ opinions.” The forum will open with students’ questions about the Bonfire Report. The rest of the forum will then be centered on listening to student responses. Aggies will have the opportunity to explain the meaning of Bonfire in their own lives and Aggieland and to provide personal input on the final decision of Bonfire. The forum is meant to foster discussion. “The main take away from this meeting will be ideas; no plan of action will be decided on until after the remembrance ceremony,” Breaux said. “We only want to encourage students to take an active role in this process.” The forum will take place from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Koldus 144. All students are invited and encouraged to attend. “The most important thing we want the student body to know is that we understand that Bonfire is of major importance to this University,” Breaux said. “No matter what its future is, we will fight to make sure student’s voices are heard.” Melissa Appel, staff writer
Carsoncan Sam Smith — THE BATTALION
Junior sports management major Carson Smith serves as vice president for the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
Jane Lee | The Battalion
J
unior sports management student Carson Smith has been in awe of the Aggie Spirit since his first year at Texas A&M University.
Student leader profile series Every other week, The Battalion will be profiling student leaders to gain insight into their lives and what it takes to do their jobs.
As the vice president for the Student Athlete Advisory Council, he said his love for sports combined with his Aggie pride has produced an incredible college experience. A native from Mineral Wells, Texas, Smith chose to come to A&M because he wanted to run track in college as well as find a university that could help him reach his full potential. “When I toured the campus, I felt very comfortable with the feel of the friendly, tightly-knit student body,” Smith said. “I was particularly intrigued by the tradition of Texas A&M and the unexplainable spirit of Aggieland.” As vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, Smith enhances the representation of student athletes in the NCAA and A&M. The Student Athlete Advisory Council is made up of student athletes who desire to be a voice for student athlete welfare at Texas A&M and in the country, as well as to serve
the University and community through service projects developed by Aggie Athletes Involved. The council consists of eight executive leaders, four team representatives for every athletic team and 120 other active members. Smith, a middle distances track athlete, said he is blessed to be a part of a council that cares for the community. “I had the amazing opportunity to be the chair of Aggies CAN, an annual canned food drive which took place during the first week of October,” Smith said. He also said the Student Athlete Advisory Council taught him how to communicate properly, lead efficiently and serve humbly. “The student athletes possess the heart to serve each other, the surrounding community and the University, and it rubs off on everyone in the organization,” Smith said.
Ceremony honors Army members and families Jane Lee The Battalion Representatives of the U.S. Army, Bryan-College Station community and Texas A&M University joined together on the 50-yard line at Kyle Field Wednesday for the Army Covenant Signing Ceremony. The ceremony reiterated the Army and the Bryan-College Station community’s commitment to Army families by publicly teaming together to support them. The Army Covenant would make a more balanced life for soldiers and their families through various community projects and support systems such as Army One Source, a 24/7-resource center for military members, spouses and families. “We, as Americans, should honor all Army families and their endless commitment to their nation,” said Phil Shackelford, the Field Representative to Congressman Chet Edwards. Congressman Edwards was not present at the ceremony. Shackelford read a letter from Edwards addressing soldiers and Army families and thanking them for sacrifices to their country. “We have a moral obligation to the fighting men and women who have served
pg1-10.29.09.indd 1
us,” said Edwards, read by Shackelford. A&M Interim President R. Bowen Loftin, College Station Mayor Ben White, Bryan Mayor Mark Conlee and honored dignitaries from the Army attended the event. “Texas A&M University has a proud history of producing the highest quality of officers as well as members of the community,” Loftin said. “This covenant will be the framework to help our community world together to support and aid our brave men and women and their families.” The mayors said they shared Loftin’s passion of commitment to the men and women of the Army. “College Station has always been a part of the great tradition of serving others and this event represents another great involvement the city can participate in,” White said. Brig. Gen. James H. Doty, the commanding officer for the 420th Engineer Brigade also thanked Army families. “The Army is the strength of the nation, but family is the strength of the Army soldiers,” Doty said. The Army Covenant aims to improve the quality of life for the families and soldiers.
See Smith on page 6
Video of Carson Listen to the student-athlete’s experience as a member of the Aggie family.
thebatt.com Hear from him Read Carson’s guest column to students on the importance of community service. student leader | 7
A&M departments present fee proposals Melissa Appel The Battalion
Sam Smith — THE BATTALION
Field representative to Congressman Chet Edwards, Phil Shackelford reads a letter from Edwards thanking soldiers for their service. The ceremony also spotlighted men who had recently enlisted in the Army through the Huntsville Recruiting program. “Every month, Huntsville enlists 30 to 40 men and women who wish to serve and protect their country,” said Capt. David Humphreys of the Huntsville Recruiting program. The recently enlisted men included Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. The new soldiers received their oaths to become Army members by Gen. Doty.
Texas A&M University departments presented possible fee increases before Student Senate at their meeting Wednesday night. A&M is the only Texas institution that requires all departments requesting a fee increase to present proposals before students. The Wednesday meeting consisted of four departmental presentations: the Computer Access and Institutional Technology Fee, the University Library Use Fee, the Recreational Sports Fee and the Green Fund Proposal. Recommendations for the Student Services Fee from the Student Service Advisory Board were also presented. When proposing the fee increases, many departments placed special consideration on reducing strain on students during the current economic state. “We’re asking considerably less than previous years,” said Pierce Cantrell, vice president and associate provost for Information Tech-
nology. “With the economy, we’re really trying to tow the line.” Cantrell presented a proposed 4 percent increase in the Computer Access and Instructional Technology Fee. This money would go towards services such as increased Internet bandwidth, disaster recovery with off-site data storage, identity management, instructional technology services, classroom instructional technology and anti-spam and antivirus services for e-mail accounts. A portion of the fee would also go towards expanding Code Maroon by installing classroom speakers for Code Maroon announcements. Dean of Libraries Colleen Cook emphasized the Texas A&M Library system has many advantages when compared to other peer institutions in regards to how the student fee is allocated. The library system places importance on using the fee toward services students directly use. “We spend nearly half of our dollar on materials; we are better than other peer institutions,” Cook said. See Senate on page 6
10/28/09 11:22 PM