Students to present Veterans Day events Student groups have joined together to present a week of activities to honor veterans. “We are hoping just to raise awareness once a week,” said Erin Thomas, developmental officer. “It’s just showing support for our troops and that we haven’t forgotten about them.” The groups include the Silver Wings Organization, Arnold Air Society, Student Conference On National Affairs, MSC Town Hall, the Commandant’s office, Ross Volunteers and the Veterans Association. Events for the week include a wreath laying ceremony, several guest speakers and a concert with Max Stalling, Class of 1989. “This year there are a wide spectrum of student-led events taking place to honor those that serve and have served our country and we want to get as many students at these events as possible,” Crystal Arnote, chapter president said. MIA/POW bracelets and the T-shirt will be sold throughout the week to raise money to send care packages to overseas veterans. Silver Wings also will be collecting soldiers’ addresses to send them packages. “The holidays are coming and many can’t be with their families because of what they’re doing for you,” Jenny Stukenchneider, public affairs officer said. “They give their lives for us we should give them a day.”
thebattalion ● tuesday,
november 10, 2009
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
Iron Curtain call Video View footage from the event.
thebatt.com Nicholas Badger — THE BATTALION
Above: Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice answers questions at the Annenburg Presidential Conference Monday. Below: President George H.W. Bush praises Rice for her role in international affairs.
Event honors 20th anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall Melissa Appel | The Battalion
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Luz Moreno-Lozano, Special to The Battalion
Jonny Green — THE BATTALION
ormer Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice helped President George H.W. Bush and Texas A&M University celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a speech Monday at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. Rice used her words to reflect on the importance of the pivotal year of 1989 and the world events culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989. “It’s a time for celebration because it did mark the end of communism in Europe, and it did mark the freedom for so many people,” Rice said. “It’s a time for commemoration, to commemorate the sacrifices of those who did not live to see [the fall of the Wall]. And perhaps most of all, it’s a time for reflection.” Rice’s speech was part of a daylong
celebration for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and was presented by the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs. “Our goal at Scowcroft is to bring the world to Aggieland and to bring Aggieland to the world,” said Jeffrey Engel, associate director of programming for the Scowcroft Institute. The daylong celebration allowed A&M a peek at the importance of the event and its impact on the global stage. “The Cold War ended. The Berlin Wall fell. The Iron Curtain was no more,” Engel said. Bush was an integral part of the diplomacy involved in bringing an end to the Soviet Union and bringing freedom to people of Europe. During this time in world history, Bush worked alongside Soviet Union Head of State Mikhail Gorbachev and Chancellor of
College of Nursing awarded full five-year accreditation Jeramie Heflin The Battalion The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Nursing’s first graduating class will walk the stage in December and has been awarded full five-year accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Board. The Board is the national organization that certifies nursing colleges that have bachelors and higher degree programs. “There are two types of accreditation that schools can receive, there is the institutional accreditation — ours is through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools — and then there is the professional accreditation which we elected to voluntarily pursue, and it is meant to review the quality and integrity of that program. “Given that we received full five-year accreditation and it is the most you can get as a new program we certainly feel like
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we have a great future ahead,” said Kathryn Cochran, the assistant dean for student affairs. The college of nursing performed a self-study allowing the program to produce a report on how it met the standards, which was then followed by an April site visit by the commission. Accreditation was then awarded for A&M’s bachelor of science in nursing programs. “The main purpose of the accreditation is to make sure that we are producing students who will meet the quality standards of practice so that we have safe and good health care,” said Sharon Wilkerson, dean and professor of the college of nursing. Students said they are excited about the college being awarded full five-year accreditation, because if they wish to obtain a graduate level education they will be able to do so and have the support of an accredited program behind them. “It opens the door to many opportunities that are not
Video: Hear student responses on the accreditation of the College of Nursing.
thebatt.com
J.D. Swiger — THE BATTALION
Nursing students tend to a dummy in the simulation ER. Students undergo this simulated training to help them be better prepared for situations they may face in real life. available to programs that are not accredited,” said Melissa Walles, a second semester nursing student.
Wilkerson said with the new nursing facility in College Station opening in July and with plans for a Round Rock
campus in the formative stages, the college of nursing hopes to continue to increase the number of students accepted each year.
Students react to Fort Hood shootings Ann Littmann
Stephen Fogg — THE BATTALION
John Laue addresses an assembled crowd Thursday in Cain Park to honor and support those who lost their lives at Fort Hood.
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The Battalion A wave a grief passed over Texas A&M University on Thursday after the Fort Hood shooting. A&M students experienced feelings ranging from shock to outrage in the aftermath of the brutal attack. The tragedy was shocking to senior Brett Redman because of his three cousins and friends who are in service. “My first reaction unfortunately, was a terrorist attack,” said the spatial sciences major. “It was mind boggling to find out that one of our soldiers would take out that kind of ag-
gression on his own innocent comrades and countrymen.” This was one of the most unsettling attacks in America’s history to Redman because the shooter was an American soldier. “It is a very uneasy feeling to ask yourself, ‘What could be next?’” Redman said. “Hopefully, these trials will unite us Americans under God that we may continue to hope and pray for peace and solitude in our nation.” Hearing of the Fort Hood shootings from a friend’s Facebook status made junior petroleum engineering major Joshua Steindl contemplate the fragility of human life.
“It [gave] me a perspective on life and death and how easy it is to take life away,” Steindl said. Conversely, Beth Bagley’s thoughts strayed to the families of those affected by the shootings. “It’s so heart breaking to lose a person in battle, but I think it’s worse knowing it happened within the walls of an American military base,” said Bagley, a junior education major. “Those places are supposed to be somewhere the men and women feel somewhat safe — not a place where you expect to have one of your own turn on you like that.” See Reaction on page 7
Germany Helmut Kohl. “The president of the United States was able to give strength to those two men so they could do what they needed to do, and together, the three of them were able to use their talents and use their abilities for the good of humankind,” Rice said. Bush, though, was quick to show his appreciation for the role of Rice in international affairs and politics. “She’s strong; she’s represented our nation with such class and distinction,” Bush said. “Good government requires men and women of exceptional talent and vision to make it work. In Condi, we have someone who understands the complex and compelling challenges that face our world today like very few can.” See Rice on page 7
Editor-in-chief wins journalism scholarship The Battalion Editor-in-Chief Amanda Casanova added a new title to her collection this year when she was named a 20092010 Headliner’s Foundation Scholar. “I didn’t Casanova think I had much of a shot considering I would be competing against top journalists from across the state,” Casanova said. “It’s no secret that A&M does not offer journalism as a major so the fact that I was competing against other schools with journalism majors was intimidating.” Nevertheless, she put together an application and a few months later found out she had won. Scholarship recipients were invited to attend a luncheon where Casanova had the chance to meet awardwinning journalist Dan Rather. “He gave an interesting speech that afternoon, offering some hope for aspiring journalists— which was good to hear for someone like me who is graduating in May,” said the senior English major. Casanova said she is thankful for the honor of the scholarship and the opportunities The Battalion has offered her. “I strongly believe in journalism education at A&M. It’s still here—and it’s in The Battalion newsroom.” The Foundation promotes journalistic excellence through offering scholarships to college students and awarding professional journalists and media executives and administrators who have provided leadership in maintaining a responsible free press. Since 1983, the Foundation has provided more than $1 million in tuition support to students from more than 350 Texas universities. Casanova’s scholarship is one of 14 $3,000 scholarships awarded on a yearly basis. Katy Ralston, staff writer
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