The Battalion: February 7, 2011

thebattalion

editorial Fining free speech With SBP elections around the corner, one regulation is violating the candidates’ right to free speech with threats of fines or even disqualification.

See editorial on page 7.

● monday,

february 7, 2011

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media

4.5%

After interviewing several student leaders, The Battalion staff has compiled a list of seven successful habits of highly effective college students.

For every $10 million we bring to A&M in external research, the state gives us $1 million.

$ 10,000,000

More than 22,000 degrees generated annually by Texas A&M and the University of Texas.

93 % Texas A&M’s retention rate of full-time freshmen in 2008.

Evan Andrews and JD Swiger — THE BATTALION

inside voices | 7 Guest column

7 habits

21%

A&M has the lowest administrative costs in Texas, at 4.5 percent.

Joanna Raines, staff writer

coming tuesday

Increase in A&M’s instructional spending from 2002 to 2008.

Kiplinger’s ranking of Texas A&M for 2010-2011 best college value.

See photos on page 8.

Mokhtar Awad, a senior political science major from Egypt, gives Aggies insight about the Egyptian riots and government.

A&M College Value

22,000

After enduring a week of freezing weather with no precipitation, Texas A&M students received a snow day on Friday. The flurries began late Thursday night, and all classes were canceled Friday.

Many students spent their day off taking a break from the books and enjoying the snow. “The snow day was a great experience for us Texans to see and play in the snow,” said Jim Gant, a freshman business major. “There are a few who haven’t seen snow before, and for them to have a chance to experience it was worth a day of no classes.”

State savings in the last biennial came from higher education, even though it makes up only 12 percent of the budget.

Snow causes University closing

41%

campus

Aggieland adds up Texas A&M offers top-ranked bang for your buck Katie White The Battalion With the incessant talk of budget cuts, students want to know, boiled down, what it means for the quality of education at Texas A&M. President R. Bowen Loftin teamed up with University of Texas President Bill Powers in a program called Together for Texans for the upcoming legislative session. The session promised deeper budget cuts than in previous years. For the program, Loftin and Powers created

three priorities they plan to propose to Texas lawmakers to ensure the quality of Texas higher education remains high for students.

Together for Texans has been in the works since 2009 when Loftin predicted another hard-hitting legislative session approaching.

“I could foresee a tough session coming up,” Loftin said. “And I thought, let’s find common ground, we’re more alike than we’re different, despite our competitive nature.”

The priority Loftin and Powers

made was to ask state lawmakers to avoid making disproportionate cuts to higher education funding.

“Treat us fairly. In the last biennial, we were told to cut 5 percent,” Loftin said. “But they only told some agencies to cut 5 percent and 41 percent of state savings came from higher education even though we only make up 12 percent of the budget. So we’re asking, don’t disproportionately burden us.”

Each dollar spent at A&M or UT returns an average of $18 to the

state economy through research, jobs and businesses.

“We are the research engines of Texas. We bring in new jobs, newly created businesses,” Loftin said.

Loftin and Powers also aim to increase the Research University Development Fund, a performance reward system for universities.

“For every $10 million we bring to A&M in external research, the state gives us $1 million,” Loftin See Value on page 2

Men, women track teams finish strong in meet Adrian O’Hanlon III Special to The Battalion The Texas A&M Track and Field team proved this weekend at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational that there is nothing they can’t do, competing against a talented field including many championship-caliber squads.

The men and women’s teams faired well against a field of national contenders, scoring 80 points each and placing

second and third respectively. Rival LSU won the men’s side with a total of 97 points, while BYU took the women’s division with a total of 90.5.

A&M Head Coach Pat Henry said the meet served to prepare the Aggie athletes for the level of competition they could face in the postseason.

“We come to this meet so that we can start to teach the team how meets like this compare to our conference meet,” Henry said. “Our goal this

weekend was to put people in positions to find out where we need to be in a couple of weeks.”

Jessica Beard, senior sprinter, knows how to perform in the spotlight. She was named outstanding performer for her efforts. Beard won the 400-meter with a time of 52.25, the current collegiate-leading time and third fastest in the world, and she was an integral part of an NCAA-qualifying time set by the 4x400 relay team. Beard said it is

an honor to be recognized after such a performance and she said she is grateful to be a part of the team.

“It’s an amazing honor, I just feel so blessed,” Beard said. “Everything that has been working in practice, with my training partners, is all coming together. I’m just happy that I can contribute to the team.”

The Aggie women’s 4x400 relay team reached the elusive NCAAqualifying time, besting the mark by

three seconds with a time of 3:30.70.

The team executed with Beard pulling away from the field on the anchor leg to reach the team’s goal. Beard said the team is proud to reach the mark after just missing last week by one hundredth of a second and is determined to improve for the postseason.

“I feel like everybody stepped up today even though they already had See Track on page 4

spirit

awards

Council reveals Midnight Yell origins

May’s students receive $5,000 fashion scholarship

Connie Thompson The Battalion Midnight Yell is one of the oldest Aggie traditions students continue to take part in. Every Thursday or Friday night before a football game, Aggies of all ages come out and support the team with the guidance of the Yell Leaders.

While many are aware of the practices that surround the

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tradition, the beginnings of the late-night ritual are unknown by many Aggies.

Midnight Yell began with numerous yell practices that took place several times each week during The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas’ football season, said Matthew Kaehr, a graduate in-

Luz Moreno-Lozano

File photo

Aggies “mug down” during See Midnight Yell on page 6 lights out at Midnight Yell.

The Battalion Over the course of the fall semester the fashion case retail class competed in the Fashion Scholarship Fund national scholarship competition. This was the first time Texas A&M was accepted to participate in this prestigious competition.

“This says a lot about our students and our program,” said Cheryl Bridges, director for the Center of Retailing Studies at Mays’

Business School.

“It was a major ◗ Marisol Hernandez event, and if stu◗ Alexandra Sinatra dents learn about it ◗ Mary Colligan they’ll want to get more involved.” ◗ Kristin Shelley Competing ◗ YuJin Yong against 32 other schools nationwide such as FIT, Cornell University, Parsons the

Winners

See Scholarship on page 6

2/6/11 6:34 PM

the battalion Classified Advertising • Easy • Affordable • Effective For information, call 845-0569

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Volunteer

The volunteer opportunities fair allows students and faculty to learn about volunteer opportunities. The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Exhibit Hall of Rudder.

2

Career fair

The Business Student Council Career Fair is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday in the Wehner Building.

Cyber racism lecture

3

Author and professor Jessie Daniels will be discussing her latest publication, Cyber Racism, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building.

Tuesday breezy high: 59 low: 44 Wednesday 60% chance of freezing drizzle high: 47 low: 25 Thursday mostly sunny high: 40 low: 25

Today breezy High: 52 Low: 29 courtesy of NOAA

pagetwo

thebattalion 02.07.2011 For daily updates go to thebatt.com ● Facebook ● Twitter@thebattonline

Oh, Mr. Golden Sun Freshmen Amanda Savage, classics major, and Madeleine Kilgore, petroleum engineering major, spend an afternoon relaxing in the sunny warmth off the Quad, two days after a snowy white blanket covered the campus.

Joshua McKenna — THE BATTALION

Value Continued from page 1

LAST CALL FOR ORDERS Eligibility Check Deadline: Feb 8 Order Deadline: Feb 11

Aggie Ring Day: April 15, 2011 HOW TO GET YOUR AGGIE RING ON APRIL 15, 2011: If you meet the requirements after Fall 2010: 1. Log on to AggieNetwork.com by February 8th to check your Ring eligibility. (You will need to create an account on this website.)

UÊ 9 ÕÀÊÀiV À`ÃÊÜ ÊLiÊÀiÛ iÜi`Ê> `ÊÞ ÕÀÊi } L ÌÞÊÃÌ>ÌÕÃÊÜ Ê be displayed online instantly.

2. If eligible, schedule an appointment online to order your Aggie Ring at the Aggie Ring Office.

UÊ -i iVÌÊvÀ Ê>Û> >L iÊ À`iÀÊ`>ÌiÃÊthrough Feb 11.

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3. On your appointment day, visit the Aggie Ring Office to find your Ring size (with official Aggie Ring sizers) and pay for your Ring. Full payment is due at time of order. Ê ÊÊ UÊ Pricing is available online. Ê ÊÊ UÊ , }Ê > ÃÊ>ÀiÊ>Û> >L iÊÌ ÊµÕ> v i`]ÊVÕÀÀi Ì ÞÊi À i`Ê students at the Short Term Loan Office. If you need financial assistance, apply online at http://financialaid.tamu.edu or call (979) 845-3955.

said. “We hope to make it even bigger if we can.”

Both presidents also outlined a plan to build new buildings on each of their campuses through state funding. UT wants the money for the Engineering Education and Research Center and A&M wants funding for its Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Facility.

“We are trying to meet the state’s desperate need for veterinarians,” Loftin said.

Loftin and Powers have traveled the state: first to Dallas, then to Houston, San Antonio and McAllen, to talk to elected officials and, prominent former students. On Feb. 15, they plan to storm the capitol with Aggies and Longhorns side-by-side to fight for the priorities laid out

by Loftin and Powers.

“It’s called Orange & Maroon Day. We’ll be joined by our former students at the capitol.

These people can be more persuasive than me because they are the constituents, the businesses the lawmakers work for,” Loftin said. “Aggies and Longhorns will work together to talk to every legislator over the course of the day.”

Loftin said the program is important because any problem at UT or A&M is a state problem.

Together the two schools educate 20 percent of the college students in Texas. They generate more than 22,000 degrees every year, and they have the two highest graduation rates in Texas.

“As a percentage of our budget, we have the lowest administrative costs in Texas, with 4.5 percent,” Loftin said. “UT is just a bit over 5 percent. The average in Texas is a little over 10 percent, so we operate on nearly half the average of other schools.”

Despite the cut in administrative costs and the release of hundreds of staff and faculty members, Loftin warns that students will still see changes.

“That’s just the reality we’re going to have to face,” Loftin said.

In a report called “What’s happening off the field?” issued by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, the Big 12 is measured according to administrative spending, instructional spending and other variables such as graduation rates.

A&M was one of three schools to cut administrative costs between 2002 and 2008.

It also increased instructional spending by 21 percent.

“I don’t really feel I am getting everything I pay for at A&M. My biggest peeve since the budget cuts was the number of class sections available have decreased, forcing me to either

take a different class or take a class at a later time,” said Garrett Rueda, a senior biology major.

“I feel the administration should focus more on catering to the students and not spend money on things that don’t benefit everyone, such as making additions to buildings that don’t need to be made. Making a new building is great, but there are plenty of buildings on campus right now that could be just fine if they were to simply be fixed.”

With budget cuts in close range, it is possible students might see class sizes increase and the number of classes decrease.

“I would hate it if class sizes were increased and less classes were provided, because then the quality of the education would go down,” Rueda said. “Students benefit from teachers having a more focused audience and not worrying about having 500 students’ papers to grade. They have research to do, and they don’t have the time to teach such a large class efficiently.”

Some students such as Claire Leonard, a junior psychology major, do not worry as much about larger class sizes.

“I wouldn’t be upset if class sizes increased a little, but if the number of course offerings were to drop suddenly I would be really disappointed with the University,” Leonard said. “Generally, I think our University is a really fantastic value - we have an awesome library, the faculty

are enthusiastic and helpful, and we have some fantastic resources like the Career Center.”

Budget cuts pose the possible problem that with a smaller staff and less faculty members, the number of classes available to students might decrease.

“I feel like a strong point in this University is the variation in the types of classes students are able to take. I would be strongly opposed to cutting back on the number of classes provided. Not only would it affect the types of classes, but I am sure it would also affect the ability of students to get a schedule that works best for them,” said Kevin Primm, a senior visualization major.

Primm said the quality of education he receives now is high, and the University makes the proper decisions on how to spend money to improve his education.

“Through my major I can see most of the time where my money has gone. So I feel like I am getting most of what I am paying for at A&M,” Primm said. “More bang for my buck?

I think that is a hard question when it comes to education.

I mean, I could say we need a sweet, free cappuccino machine in every building. However I feel like if they need to do anything it’s just to keep hiring [and] keeping top notch professors because that is what our money needs to go towards, our education over anything else.”

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: 1. 90 cumulative completed undergraduate credit hours.

2. 45 undergraduate resident credit hours completed at TAMU. 3. 2.0 cumulative GPR at Texas A&M University.

4. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university.

GRADUATE STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: Master’s Thesis Option 1. Defended Thesis Due to ordering deadlines, you may order at the beginning of the semester you will graduate. Your Aggie Ring will be delivered on Aggie Ring Day if you have defended your thesis prior to the deadline set by the Office of Graduate Studies. If you do not defend your thesis prior to this date, your Aggie Ring will be held until the qualification is met.

2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university.

Master’s Non-Thesis Option 1. 75% of coursework completed for degree program at TAMU. 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university.

Ph.D. Students 1. Accepted as a Ph.D. candidate at TAMU 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university.

AggieNetwork.com

TAKE A PIECE OF A&M HISTORY WITH YOU Reserve your 2011 Aggieland The 109th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook — the Aggieland — will chronicle the 2010-2011 school year: traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, greeks, campus organizations, and seniors and graduate students.

Visit AggieNetwork.com/Ring for complete details or call the Aggie Ring Program at 845-1050.

thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893

Matt Woolbright, Editor in 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.

By credit card go online to http://aggieland. tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall).

Cost is $64.90, including shipping and sales tax.

Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.

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 979-845-0569. 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 979-845-2613.

Pg 2-2.7.11.indd 1

2/6/11 6:34 PM

things you should know

5 before you go 1

‘The Color Purple’

MSC OPAS will present The Color Purple from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in Rudder Auditorium. To purchase tickets call 979-845-1234 or log on to www.MSCOPAS.org.

2

Trio GraLaQ

The Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts will present GraLaQ from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Hagler Auditorium.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Lunar New Year dinner

3

4

America’s Got Talent

NBC’s show America’s Got Talent will be having A Lunar New Year dinner will be from 5 to 9 auditions Feb. 12 and 13 p.m. Thursday at Sbisa. in Houston at the Houston Reliant Center.

Meal plans, dining dollars, cash and credit cards are accepted at Sbisa.

Singing dinos

5

MSC Town Hall presents Jurassic Park: The Musical at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in Wehner 113. Doors open at 6 p.m. for students with yers. Patrons will have the chance to ask the creators questions following the show.

b! thebattalion 02.07.2011 page3

scene

Vanna for a day Aggie strives to be gameshow star Steven Olivier The Battalion “WHEEL! OF! FORTUNE!!!�

These three words have been screamed by audiences for more than 27 years, and it is still one of the most recognizable calls in syndication. Wheel of Fortune has been the No. 1 game show since its creation in 1983, and since then there has been a total of $190 million awarded to contestants trying to spell out phrases to win cash and other prizes just by spinning the giant wheel. This show brought the game show host Pat Sajak and his assistant Vanna White who revealed the letters as they were called out.

More than 90 million Americans have never known a world without Wheel of Fortune, and for one Aggie, it was her world.

Anna Horn, formerly Anna Rash, a former student of Texas A&M, has been a huge fan of the show for as long as she can remember, and now she has the opportunity of a lifetime: to be Vanna White for a day. Wheel of Fortune offered a contest to fans of the show where they can submit videos to be voted on for a chance to be Vanna. The winner will fly down to Los Angeles at the end of the month to become the assistant for a day, all paid for by the show’s producers. Anna is calling out to the Aggie community to help make this possible, because she is one of five finalists in the contest.

Horn was born and raised in San Marcos and graduated from

San Marcos High School. She attended Texas A&M, and she graduated in 2008 with a degree in marketing. While in Aggieland, she became involved with the Big Event for three years and was the director in 2008. She lives in Friendswood, a suburb of Houston, with her husband Ryan.

She works in sales for Freeman, a company specializing in tradeshows and corporate events.

Anna is no stranger to the Wheel of Fortune experience. When she was at A&M, she was a contestant on the show after going through two auditions and a written essay, winning a total of $27,700. “You’re standing there, you’re holding Pat Sajak’s hand,� she said. “It is the most nerve-racking thing you could imagine.�

To put it in perspective, a total of 10,000 fans audition each year to be on the show, and she was one of 600 to be on it.

Anna has been watching Wheel of Fortune for more than 25 years. “I first started watching the show with my grandmother for as long as I could remember.

Growing up, I was always guessing the answers correctly before the contestants and, of course, I loved Vanna White. I thought I was getting good at it, so I was watching more.�

Anna had the opportunity to meet Vanna in person when she was a contestant on the show. “Vanna came up to us in a track suit and regular makeup�

Anna said. “I was star-struck, but she came up to us and told us not

Vote for Anna The video is available at www. wheeloffortune.com. Vote for Aggie Anna Horn to win the chance to be Vanna for a day. to worry about it, and that everything will be fine.�

It was after Anna appeared on the show that she felt inspired to return. “I heard about the contest after watching an episode of Wheel of Fortune,� Anna said, and with the help of her sister-in-law Brittany, who is a freshman at Texas State, she made a short video and submitted it to the show via its website. The next day, she received a call informing her that, out of more than 900 people who auditioned to be Vanna for a day, she was chosen as one of five finalists.

The video features her explaining the reasons as to why she should be Vanna for a Day, such as living in evening gowns (humorous examples include waking up in a sparkly dress and baking cookies in a red gown) and showing a clip from when she was a contestant. Voting runs through the end of today. The contestant with the most votes will become Vanna. The episode with the winner will air in either March or April.

Through this experience, Anna has proved anything is possible if you just give it a shot. “It’s so random,� she said, “but if you try it, then you just might be surprised.�

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Aggie Professors see notable change Christine Perrenot The Battalion Thinking back on early memories of Texas A&M University makes it clear to professors how many things have changed for the better and how many things still need improvement at the school. A&M staff share a passion for teaching and preparing students for life after college.

While some things have stayed the same for much of A&M’s history, new traditions and developments continuously emerge. Professors at the University have different perspectives about development and change in academics and student life. Developments within the University have affected the professors that have been at A&M for many years.

Professor Patricia Lynch, a student in 1978, has been teaching at A&M since 1989. Lynch said some of the most beneficial changes she has seen in her time here are that the University are “making more of an effort towards diversity, getting involved in campus activities and the emphasis of undergrads in research efforts.�

Lynch works with the special education department and said: “it has been re-vamped and re-

vised.�

Lynch said student life and academics have changed.

Things like inquiry-based learning and writing intensive classes challenge students and give them a different approach. “There are efforts being made to raise academic standards,� Lynch said.

Senior lecturer and assistant undergraduate adviser in the Department of Chemistry Tammy Tiner has also been with A&M for many years. She started as a graduate student in 1976 and became a chemistry lecturer in 1981. “Change at Texas A&M comes very deliberately. The school maintains a personal feeling for students that do not have to feel faceless on campus.

There has not been a loss of cultural identity with the growth of the school,� Tiner said. “The growth of the school has been tremendous. There has been development specifically in the Career Center, supplemental instruction and study abroad programs,� Tiner said.

Kenn Harding, professor in the chemistry department, said: “There has been growth in terms of number of students, the size of the campus and buildings on campus.�

Through his work and time with the University, Harding said he has been able to participate and help the chemistry department develop. “The University has made a continuous effort to get students involved and interacting with each other. The University instills the concept of participation in service and recognizing that activities outside of the classroom are important in student development,� Harding said.

Academics have progressed and changed through the years.

There is more emphasis on undergraduates in research efforts and in improving standards of academics. “There are more big classes, and I continue to teach as many students or more,� Tiner said.

There might be developments or traditions that seem odd to professors, but there tends to be a common support and understanding of the change that is often necessary for a school to make. “Change just happens,�

Lynch said. “There has been positive change in the campus becoming more diverse since the University has been making such an effort at diversity.�

2 arrested in fatal fraternity shooting YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Two men angry over a dispute at an Ohio fraternity house party left the gathering and returned early Sunday, spraying bullets into a crowd and killing a Youngstown State University student who was trying to separate two groups, authorities said. Eleven other people were injured, including a 17-year-old with a critical head wound.

The men were arrested and charged later Sunday with aggravated murder, shooting into a house and 11 counts of felonious assault, Youngstown police Chief Jimmy Hughes said. The suspects are in their early 20s and from the Youngstown area, but Hughes withheld their names pending further investigation. “These guys were in the location for a little while before the shooting occurred,� he said. “Something happened that they became unhappy.

They had some type of altercation.�

The shooting occurred at a two-story brick house in a neighborhood of once-elegant homes, many of which are now boarded up. The house party had been bustling with 50 or more people

Track Continued from page 1

other races on their legs earlier in the meet,� Beard said. “We had so much heart and courage. To be a second away from the school record while setting the meet record here is quite an achievement by this group at this time of the season.�

early Sunday, Hughes said. “Somebody just got shot!� a caller tells a dispatcher on a recording of the 911 call.

The Mahoning County coroner’s office identified the dead student as 25-year-old Jamail E. Johnson. He was shot once in the head and multiple times in his hips and legs; an autopsy is planned Monday, said Dr. Joseph Ohr, a forensic pathologist with the coroner’s office.

Capt. Rod Foley said Johnson apparently was trying to separate two groups when he was shot. “(Johnson) was just an excellent, excellent young man, and our loss runs deep,� said Christopher Cooper, a legal officer for Omega Psi Phi fraternity. The senior had recently traveled to North Carolina for a fraternity program emphasizing manhood and scholarship, Cooper said.

Johnson’s fraternity brothers were trying to decide whether to return to the house, he said. They were “very solemn, very alarmed, very hurt,�

Cooper said.

Associated Press

Gerald Phiri also shined in the big city lights, winning the 200-meter race with a time of 20.96. Phiri said it was a successful day, and the meet was good practice for the championships. “This year I’ve been running good 200s, and Coach Henry wanted to use today as an opportunity for me to run back-to-back 200s on the same

day,� Phiri said. “When we are in the national championships, I’ll be expected to run a fast 200 and then come back an hour later and do it again. Today was good preparation, and I feel confident now going into the national championships.�

After this week’s success, it seems the Aggies are poised to continue improving to the NCAA championships.

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2/6/11 9:40 PM

basketball | The women play Oklahoma at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Reed Arena.

track&field | The Texas A&M Challenge (Big 12, C-USA, PAC-10, SEC) will be at 12 p.m.

Saturday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

sports

tennis | The men will take on Troy at 1 p.m. Sunday.

thebattalion 02.07.2011 page5

Green Bay Packers’ Charles Woodson (21) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Wallace, right, during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

Pack steals Super Bowl ARLINGTON, Texas — Forget Lombardi on Broadway. Green Bay has the newest Super Bowl hit: Aaron Rodgers.

Capping one of the greatest postseasons for any quarterback, Rodgers led the Packers to their first NFL championship in 14 years Sunday with a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers reclaimed the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named for their legendary coach who is making his own star turn in New York these days in the play named after him.

Rodgers, the game’s MVP, thrilled his legion of Cheesehead fans with a spectacular six-game string that should finally erase the bitterness of the Brett Favre separation in Green Bay. He’s not equal with Favre in Super Bowl wins, yet he extended the Packers’ record of NFL titles to 13, nine before the Super Bowl era.

The Packers QB threw for three touchdowns, two to Greg Jennings, and the Packers (14-6) overcame even more injuries, building a 21-3 lead, then hanging on to become the second No. 6 seed to win the championship. Coincidentally, the 2005 Steelers were the other.

Rodgers threw for 304 yards, including a 29-

yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson, who had nine catches for 140 yards to make up for three big drops. Rodgers found Jennings, normally his favorite target, for 21- and 8-yard scores. “Wow! It’s a great day to be great, baby,�

Jennings said.

Then the Packers held on as Pittsburgh (145) stormed back. “We’ve been a team that’s overcome adversity all year,� Jennings said. “Our head captain (Charles Woodson) goes down, emotional in the locker room. Our No. 1 receiver (Donald Driver) goes down, more emotions are going, flying in the locker room. But we find a way to bottle it up and exert it all out here on the field.�

Few teams have been as resourceful as these Packers, who couldn’t wait to touch the trophy honoring their coach — and their title. Several of them kissed it as Roger Staubach walked through a line of green and gold. “Vince Lombardi is coming back to Green Bay,� NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said as the silver prize was handed to the team.

Associated Press

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news

page 6 monday 2.7.2011

thebattalion

Continued from page 1

New School for Design, University of Arizona and University of Florida, five marketing students, the maximum number any school can receive, were awarded $5,000 scholarships and are guaranteed internships with New York companies.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said YuJin Yong, senior marketing major and scholarship winner. “I will be starting with Neiman Marcus in August as part of their executive training program.”

The two-part project consisted of a two-page paper summarizing the project and then developing the merchandise plan and mobile campaign. An interview process with board members in New York also went into the project.

“The judges are definitely looking for creativity throughout the development of the project,” said Marisol Hernandez, a senior marketing major and scholarship winner. “It is focused on fashion after all, which is a very creative and distinctive industry. So, they really wanted to find creative ways to come up with a whole new and fresh idea that could be doable and that no one else had already done. Besides creativity, the analytical skills were crucial in order to demonstrate that our idea of a unique private label brand would dif-

PLACE

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ferentiate itself from the competition.

These analyses included primary and secondary research and a deep study of the fashion environment, social media and mobile app techniques. In addition to all this, they were expecting for all students to follow the guidelines strictly as they wrote them out, and of course that’s what we did and it’s very exciting to say that the judges were truly impressed on how we, the Texas A&M students, did everything just the way they wanted it to be.”

The Fashion Scholarship Fund began in 1971 with the purpose to award scholarships to outstanding students passionate about fashion. The FSF internship program began in 2005 and it has placed FSF winners in internships with prestigious companies such as Kenneth Cole, Phillips-Van Heusen, Polo-Ralph Lauren, Macy’s and Fishman Tobin, among others.

The deadline to submit an entry was Nov. 15, and winners were notified Dec. 13. The Geoffrey Beene Scholarship Awards Dinner took place in New York on Jan. 11 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel Grand Ballroom.

“We had to go to a dinner and reception in New York as a recipient,” said Alexandra Sinatra, a senior marketing major. “We had the opportunity to meet presidents and CEOs of Macy’s and other high New York companies.

It was a great networking opportunity and the fact that they were coming up to us and were interested in our ideas was a very humbling experience.”

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FOR RENT

Continued from page 1

ternational affairs student and Traditions Council member. Cadets gathered after dinner every Monday, Thursday and Friday for yell practice.

“In 1932, some cadets were in Peanut Owens’ dorm in Puryear Hall when they came up with the idea of making the freshmen fall out of their dorms for a Midnight Yell Practice,” Kaehr said. “That night, the two senior yell leaders, J.U. ‘Two Gun’ Parker and Earl J. ’Horsefly’ Berryhill met everyone at the stairs of the YMCA building to host the first Midnight Yell Practice. Railroad flares and torpedoes were stuck into flower pots to light the area.”

Today, Yell Leaders pace back and forth because Peanut Owens had feet that were too big to fit on the steps of the YMCA building, so he walked back and forth to keep his balance. Eventually, the other Yell Leaders joined in too.

However, the origin of moving yell practices to midnight and Yell Leaders pacing are not the only evolved traditions.

Until the end of World War II, there were only four Aggie Yell Leaders. After the war’s end, a fifth veteran Yell Leader was elected.

The use of a lighter originated from the fact that freshmen without dates would light matches to spot

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favorite upperclassmen.

Aside from preserving information regarding A&M traditions, Kaehr also has personal sentiments toward Midnight Yell.

“As a graduate student and member of Traditions Council, I feel uniquely privileged. Coming from a University that did not have such a tradition before home (or away) football games, it is hard to describe the euphoria and electric atmosphere of each Midnight Yell,” Kaehr said. “It’s a phenomenal tradition that really does get us fired up to support the Fightin’ Texas Aggie football team each Saturday and it is one of the many reasons I love Aggieland and being an Aggie.”

Students said Midnight Yell is one of the most sacred Aggie traditions. Amanda Overfield, a sophomore communication major, enjoys how the practice unifies the Aggie family.

“I love Midnight Yell because it allows all of us Aggies to come together and get excited before a game,” Overfield said. “It’s another one of Texas A&M’s great traditions that brings us together and sets us apart from other schools.”

Tony Shurtleff, a senior finance major, is proud to go to a University that buries itself in tradition.

“I love Midnight Yell, because it shows what A&M is all about,” Shurtleff said. “[It’s] the passion we all have for our school and the bond that we all have as students.”

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2/6/11 6:20 PM

EDITOR’SNOTE The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of Texas A&M University, The Battalion or its staff.

MAILCALL GUESTCOLUMNS Make your opinion known by submitting Mail Call or guest columns to The Battalion. Mail

call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters

‘

will be read, but not printed. The Battalion will print only one letter per author per month. No mail call will appear in The Battalion’s print or online editions before it is verified.

Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 | mailcall@thebatt.com

voices thebattalion 02.07.2011

EDITORIAL EDITORIALBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having final responsibility.

Editor in Chief Matt Woolbright junior sociology major editor@thebatt.com Managing Editor Megan Ryan senior English major Taylor Wolken junior economics major Josh McKenna freshman biology major Connie Thompson junior communication major

EDITORIAL

SBP regulation rules out free speech When students are threatened out of talking to the press, there is a problem. Election Commissioner Cameron Medlin sent an e-mail to potential candidates Sunday, informing them they could not speak to The Battalion regarding the Student Body President race without a consequence.

In light of the exorbitant amount of Facebook campaigning and a handful of pre-campaign retreats, The Battalion sought to give the student body the whole story about each of the candidates. We did not expect any problems talking about students with pages advertising their candidacy, however, we ran into

dates will be fined or disqualified for a snag when Medlin’s stance had articles appearing in The Battalion, it candidates-to-be telling reporters might as well read, “You are only they couldn’t be in the newspaper allowed to talk to whom Medlin says for another week and a half. you can talk to, and don’t “Since no one has filed, and bring up the free no one is a candidate, then speech argument.” contributing comments In an effort to Spoiler alert: If or statements in this level the playing students run for article are considered field, the election office in the real a violation in the eleccommissioner steps on the rights of world, no one tion rules and regulacandidates-to-be. will tell them not tions,” Medlin said to talk to the press. in the e-mail. “This is This is Texas A&M considered pre-campaignand the candidates – ing, and it is not allowed in err, potential candidates – are the rules.” adults, there is no place for a rule While the rule might say – and that limits their rights. that is even unclear – that candi-

GUESTCOLUMN

Freedom for Egypt

T

he uprising in Egypt, the Arab World’s most populous nation, is one of the most important developments in the post-Cold War period. The repercussions for the U.S. National Security can be greatly devastating or stabilizing; however, this is not just about policy but about a people’s noble struggle for freedom and democracy.

For the first time in the Middle East, the U.S. is finally being confronted with its rhetoric of promoting democracy and inalienable human rights. Thus far, we still have a choice to either affirm ourselves as a nation that truly seeks democracy or one that blindly cares about its short term interests and thus perpetually damned to be perceived as being on the wrong side of history.

Growing up in Egypt I only knew one president: Hosni Mubarak. Though I went to a private Coptic school his portrait was in every classroom and every public square. He has been ruling Egypt since 1981 and his reign is older than that of many Egyptians. In 1979, Egypt signed the first peace treaty by an Arab nation with Israel. Egypt thusly had the blessing of the U.S., which invested heavily in assuring the suppression of any possibility of war between Egypt and Israel. The price for this peace was the adamant and preposterous support of Mubarak’s regime.

Pg 7-2.7.11.indd 1

page7

After a short period of economic recovery, the emboldened Mubarak regime began to turn on its own people. Mubarak enforced his desire to be president for life by expanding the Internal Security forces and Mokhtar placed the Egyptian people Awad under a state of constant senior political fear. So called “Emergency science major Laws” that have been in place since 1967 allowed the government to: arrest anyone and detain them without probable cause, the torture of detainees, unwarranted wiretapping, outlawing of critical protests, and censoring of the press. In this atmosphere of oppression and unwavering U.S. military aid, corruption intensified in the country at every level and businessmen friendly to the regime moved to monopolize certain industries and services to be sold at inflated prices.

Abandoned by the world and their government, the Egyptian people, once proud and dignified, were again subdued and abused like the days of French and British colonial rule.

Regular Egyptians still struggle to survive and provide for their families. A conservative figure puts 40 percent of the population in Egypt living on less than $2 a day. Even educated Egyptians with high degrees struggle to find employment.

Only the wealthy elites are allowed to prosper in the country and receive the biggest benefit from U.S. aid. If an Egyptian man wants to get an ID card he would have to bribe a bureaucrat to get it on time. If a mother wants to see her daughter succeed in school she must bribe teachers and

Not only does the rule take away free speech, but it also hinders The Battalion’s ability to adequately inform the student body of news developing on campus. So instead, you won’t get to read about the “potential” candidates until about a week before you vote.

Allowing unlimited Facebook campaigning, yet limiting the students’ participation in an 118-yearold Aggie student newspaper is a double standard at best.

While Medlin may be able to stifle the free speech of the candidates, she cannot do the same to The Battalion.

This rule is wrong and needs to be changed.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Anti-government protestors throw stones during clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday. Egypt’s prime minister apologized for an attack by government supporters on protesters in a surprising show of contrition Thursday, and the government offered more concessions to try to calm the wave of demonstrations demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. professors by paying for private lessons or else they could fail her girl. Police officers are the most notoriously corrupt and abusive. Many cases of police extortion and torture are widely known by the people and used by the regime to keep people scared.

This barley touches on the list of grievances held by Egyptians against their tyrannical dictator of 30 years, but I hope it at least gives you some background.

It’s impossible to touch on all the nuances and possible outcomes of the current revolution. We are faced with one solution though, and that is

for our government to support the wishes of the Egyptian people to have basic freedoms that they have been denied for centuries. If there is still any faith in American exceptionalism by our people we must show our support for the Egyptian people in their revolution and let our government know that we must once again be on the right side of history. A democratic and free Egypt can have a chain reaction in the Middle East, and we would see democracy prevail and elevate the intrinsic wishes for peace and justice in the hearts of every Middle Eastern man and woman.

2/6/11 10:15 PM

photos

page 8 monday 2.7.2011

MSC SCONA 56: Cost of War, Cost of Peace Thu - Sat, Feb 24 - 26 Registration ends Feb 11 visit scona.tamu.edu for more info!

Celebrate Black History Month Black History Game Show Fri Feb 11 @ 7pm Studio 12 in the Commons MSC OPAS presents The Color Purple Tue - Wed, Feb 8 - 9 7:30pm Rudder Auditorium

Blockbuster Movie: Due Date Fri Feb 11 7 and 9pm Rudder Theatre

thebattalion

Snow day

MSC LEAF Spring Conference Growing in Wellness Sat Apr 2 Register today at leaf.tamu.edu 23rd Annual Student Conference on Latino Affairs Latinos in Politics Fri - Sat Apr 1-2 Register today at scola.tamu.edu

THIS VALENTINE’S DAY, Photos by Joshua McKenna — THE BATTALION

STRETCH YOUR IMAGINATION

NUMBER ONE IN FANTASY AND FUN!

Top: Students in Aggieland were issued a snow day Friday when classes were canceled for the day. Campus was covered in white, and students bundled up to play in the uncommon Texas snow.

Left: Friday morning, freshman biomedical engineering major Travis Jones played in the fresh powder of The Zone of Kyle Field, one of many students to pack snowballs and start snow fights.

3700 S. TEXAS AVE. (979) 703-7095

Be a Hometown Hero. Donate Blood.

You can do something to make a difference in someone’s life.

Visit the Scott & White Bloodmobile this week at Sbisa Dining Hall or Whener Business Building. Blood donation usually takes less than 45 minutes and can save up to three lives. Donors will receive free food, a 2011 blood donor eligibility calendar, 12 free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings, a Texas Aggie blood donor T-shirt and be entered in drawings to win a $25 Chili’s gift card and a $200 Wal-mart gift card donated by Jackson Hewitt Tax Services.

Sbisa Dining Hall Bloodmobile Schedule:

Whener Business Building Schedule:

Monday, February 7 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, February 10 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, February 8 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, February 11 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, February 9 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All the blood donated will remain in Central Texas so it will be available when you, your family or your friends need it most.

Support your local community. Be a Hometown Hero.

bloodcenter.sw.org

877-724-HERO

TUESDAY-THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22-24 7:30 PM • RUDDER AUDITORIUM

GET TICKETS!

MSC Box Office 979-845-1234 www.MSCOPAS.org )LQG 23$6 RQ )DFH%RRN

www.MammaMiaNorthAmerica.com

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