thebattalion ● monday,
april 20, 2009
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2009 student media
Protest
for protection Students wear empty holsters to demonstrate support for Texas bill Rebekah Skelton The Battalion
I
n a national weeklong protest against state laws and school policies that keep students from carrying handguns on campus, students will wear empty holsters to demonstrate their desire to carry handguns on campus. The demonstration is part of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus’s third national Empty Holster Protest. On April 8, the Texas House of Representatives was presented with House Bill 1893, which passed through the House committee with a 77-vote majority. HB 1893 calls for concealed handgun license holders to be able to “carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder’s person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state.” The bill is waiting to be voted on by the House. To receive a CHL, people 21 and older must take a 10-hour class,
which teaches when people can and cannot defend themselves. There are written and shooting tests that must be taken upon completion of the class. CHL holders must also pass state and federal background checks. The background checks do not allow for any felonies or domestic violence. To receive a CHL, the only offenses that can be present on the applicant’s recors is traffic tickets for the past five years.
“
We are mindful that Texas A&M is, and has long been, an exceptionally safe place for students, faculty, staff and visitors; thanks in no small part to a well-trained and professional campus police department and to the caliber of the people who populate our campus.” — Elsa Murano Texas A&M University President
Roughly 314,000 Texans have CHLs, and statistics show license holders have a 5 percent lower crime rate than the average population. See Gun Control on page 8
Photo Illustration by Nicholas Badger — THE BATTALION
TS plans facelift for pothole-plagued Lot 30 Lot 30, the parking area around the Northside residence halls, will be closed in mid-May for a 90 day, $300,000 renovation project.
■ Northside lot to close for summer renovation Joaquin Villegas
Natasha Sankovich— THE BATTALION
KULA links A&M to plight of North Korea Event info For more on the Korean Undergraduate Leaders of A&M and LiNK, e-mail kula@kula. tamu.edu.
Jane Lee The Battalion April is Asian Heritage Month, and the Korean Undergraduate Leaders of A&M are spreading awareness of its culture and information about the philanthropy to the Texas A&M community. Angela Kim, founder of the organization, said she started KULA in 2008, when she realized how underrepresented Korean Americans were at A&M. “I saw how large the undergraduate Korean American population was, and thought it was time that we needed an organization to ourselves,” Kim said. Heeseon Choe, a junior biology major, presents a cultural lesson at every meeting. “Many Korean Americans feel detached from their homeland, so KULA makes sure that we bring awareness and acceptance to our unique customs and culture,” Choe said. Cultural lessons include the appropriate methods to wearing the traditional clothing, special days of the year and continuing the opinions of North Korea and
The Battalion With its dips, bumps and holes, the Northside Residence Hall parking area had gained a reputation as one of the most
Meet the parents Parents’ Weekend events included Ring Day, the Maroon and White Game, concerts and the Bevo Burn Barbecue.
scene | 3 Above: Greg Rensvold, a senior agricultural systems major, stands with his parents outside Friday at the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center after receiving his Aggie Ring. Below: the Singing Cadets perform Saturday at their year end concert in Rudder Auditorium.
See KULA on page 10
decrepit lots on campus. Now, Lot 30 is getting a makeover. “Transportation Services did a complete condition assessment of all the parking lot facilities, and we felt like Lot 30 is not representative of a high quality university such as Texas A&M,” said Rodney Weis, executive director of Transportation Services. See Lot 30 on page 10
A&M wins international grant on African affairs ■ University receives funds to research regional issues with University of Namibia Joaquin Villegas The Battalion Texas A&M received an international accolade on April 14, earning a grant that pairs the University with the University of Namibia to address regional and national issues in the Sub-Saharan region. A&M was one of the winners of the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grant Competition, an event supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Higher Education for Development, HED. The applications were reviewed by panels of independent peers that based its decision on qualifications by the HED. The reviewers were chosen to represent a variety of regional expertise and were staff members of American institutions of higher learning. The competition pairs universities and colleges in the U.S. with institutions of higher education in Africa to create deSee Africa on page 8
Photos by Natasha Sankovich — THE BATTALION
Pg. 1-04.20.09.indd 1
4/19/09 11:42:19 PM
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Sunny
Sunny
Sunny
High: 79
High: 82
High: 84
Low: 53
Low: 57
Low: 62
pagetwo
AGGIE MUSTER BBQ
thebattalion 4.20.2009
Please join the Aggie Family
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Sbisa Dining Center 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Use your meal plan, cash, credit card, or Aggie Bucks
DINING SERVICES diningservices.tamu.edu
THE KIDS KLUB after-school program is NOW HIRING for the Fall '09 semester!!!
Batt blogs
sports | 5
corrections In Friday’s edition of The Battalion, “Veteran wisdom� was written by Steve Humeniuk.
Equestrian team wins championship
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.
The Texas A&M equestrian team brought home the 2009 Varsity Equestrian National Championship in western riding. The Aggies came in second overall. Read sports writer Brett Sebastian’s recap of the national championships.
If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion apply online at thebatt. com, or come by MSC 032, 845-3313.
voices | 9
thebattalion.wordpress.com For a look at what goes on behind the scenes of The Battalion’s studentled newsroom, check out Editor-in-Chief Nicole Alvarado’s blog.
Technology is sweeping the generation Columnist Christen Beck explores the rate at which electronics and technology are sweeping the population and the value of the solitude we are missing out on.
battsports.wordpress.com Sports Editor Brad Cox weighs in on the Aggie baseball team at the midpoint of the season in his From the Press Box blog. battdesign.wordpress.com Designer Kevin Alexander talks about aspects of the design behind The Battalion in his blog Inside the Design.
Belting it out Are you available Monday thru Friday, 2:45pm to 6:15pm? Are your ready to make $8.00 - $8.75 (based on experience) per hour? If you answered yes, we may have the job for you!
All majors encouraged to apply. Applications are available at
CSISD-Community Education, 1812 Welsh Street • 979-764-5430 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm or online at: www.cstx.gov/kidsklub Application deadline: April 29, 2009 at 4pm • Staff must be available for training Aug. 17th and employment to continue through Dec. 18th, 2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS
College Station ISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Barack Obama speaks at the 5th Summit of the Americas.
thebattalion
Obama attempts to make US ‘leader’ of democracy
Nicole Alvarado, Editor in Chief
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — Defending his brand of world politics, President Barack Obama said Sunday that he “strengthens our handâ€? by reaching out to enemies of the U.S. and making sure that the nation is a leader, not a lecturer, on matters of democracy. Obama’s foreign doctrine emerged across his four-day trip to Latin America, his ďŹ rst extended venture to a region of the world where resentment of U.S. power still lingers. He got a smile, handshakes and even a gift from incendiary leftist leader Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and embraced overtures of new relations from isolated Cuban President Raul Castro. In Washington, both Democrats and Republicans said Sunday that they wanted to see actions, not just rhetoric, from Cuba. Associated Press
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
Kenny Ryan, Opinion Editor Sarah Linebaugh, New Media Editor Tiffany Tran, Graphics Editor Jon Eilts, Chief Photographer
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 ofďŹ ces are in 032 Memorial Student Center. 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 classiďŹ ed advertising, call 979-8450569. Advertising ofďŹ ces are in 032 Memorial Student Center, and ofďŹ ce 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.
John David Swiger — THE BATTALION
Singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin performs Saturday at BYX Island Party at Grace Bible Church. McLaughlin was one of six bands that performed.
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“Look & Leaseâ€? & get $300 plus all fees waived! UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ ÂœÂ“ÂŤiĂŒÂˆĂŒÂˆĂ›iĂŠ->˜`ĂŠ6ÂœÂ?Â?iĂžL>Â?Â?ĂŠ ÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŒ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ-ÂœÂœĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠ,iĂƒÂœĂ€ĂŒĂŠ*œœÂ?ĂŠĂœĂ‰,>ˆ˜ˆ˜}ĂŠ >L>˜> UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ+Ă•ÂˆiĂŒĂŠ-ĂŒĂ•`ÞÊ ÂœĂ•Â˜}iĂƒĂŠEĂŠ ÂœÂ“ÂŤĂ•ĂŒiÀÊ >L UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠĂ“{‡ ÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŠÂş iĂŒĂŠ ÂˆĂŒÂťĂŠ ĂžÂ“ĂŠĂœĂ‰ Ă€iiĂŠ7iˆ}Â…ĂŒĂƒ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ/ĂœÂœĂŠ9i>À‡,ÂœĂ•Â˜`ĂŠ/>˜˜ˆ˜}ĂŠ >VˆÂ?ÂˆĂŒÂˆiĂƒ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ Ă•Â?Â?‡-ÂˆĂ˘iĂŠ7>ĂƒÂ…iÀÉ ÀÞiĂ€I UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ Ă•Â?Â?ÞÊ Ă•Ă€Â˜ÂˆĂƒÂ…i` UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ , ĂŠ >LÂ?i]ĂŠ Â˜ĂŒiĂ€Â˜iĂŒĂŠEĂŠ7>ĂŒiĂ€ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ/iĂ?>ĂƒĂŠ E ĂŠEĂŠ Â?ÂˆÂ˜Â˜ĂŠ-Â…Ă•ĂŒĂŒÂ?iĂŠ Ă•ĂƒĂŠ,ÂœĂ•ĂŒiĂƒ +2//(0$1 '5 : & 2 / / ( * ( 6 7$7 , 2 1 7 ;
979:485:0516 0 ) 30 _ 6DW 30 _ 6XQ 30
W W W. Z O N E A T C S . C O M thezone@jpi.com
I Â˜ĂŠĂƒiÂ?iVĂŒĂŠÂ…ÂœÂ“iĂƒÂ°ĂŠ “iÂ˜ÂˆĂŒÂˆiĂƒ]ĂŠĂ€>ĂŒiĂƒĂŠEĂŠĂƒÂŤiVˆ>Â?ĂƒĂŠĂƒĂ•LÂ?iVĂŒĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠVÂ…>˜}i°
Rachael Goynes, News Editor Mindy Rife, City Editor Teri Ruland, Enterprise Editor Amanda Casanova, Lifestyles Editor Brad Cox, Sports Editor
4/19/09 10:25:01 PM
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Sunny
Sunny
Sunny
High: 79
High: 82
High: 84
Low: 53
Low: 57
Low: 62
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AGGIE MUSTER BBQ
thebattalion 4.20.2009
Please join the Aggie Family
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Sbisa Dining Center 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Use your meal plan, cash, credit card, or Aggie Bucks
DINING SERVICES diningservices.tamu.edu
THE KIDS KLUB after-school program is NOW HIRING for the Fall '09 semester!!!
Batt blogs
sports | 5
corrections In Friday’s edition of The Battalion, “Veteran wisdom� was written by Steve Humeniuk.
Equestrian team wins championship
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.
The Texas A&M equestrian team brought home the 2009 Varsity Equestrian National Championship in western riding. The Aggies came in second overall. Read sports writer Brett Sebastian’s recap of the national championships.
If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion apply online at thebatt. com, or come by MSC 032, 845-3313.
voices | 9
thebattalion.wordpress.com For a look at what goes on behind the scenes of The Battalion’s studentled newsroom, check out Editor-in-Chief Nicole Alvarado’s blog.
Technology is sweeping the generation Columnist Christen Beck explores the rate at which electronics and technology are sweeping the population and the value of the solitude we are missing out on.
battsports.wordpress.com Sports Editor Brad Cox weighs in on the Aggie baseball team at the midpoint of the season in his From the Press Box blog. battdesign.wordpress.com Designer Kevin Alexander talks about aspects of the design behind The Battalion in his blog Inside the Design.
Belting it out Are you available Monday thru Friday, 2:45pm to 6:15pm? Are your ready to make $8.00 - $8.75 (based on experience) per hour? If you answered yes, we may have the job for you!
All majors encouraged to apply. Applications are available at
CSISD-Community Education, 1812 Welsh Street • 979-764-5430 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm or online at: www.cstx.gov/kidsklub Application deadline: April 29, 2009 at 4pm • Staff must be available for training Aug. 17th and employment to continue through Dec. 18th, 2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS
College Station ISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Barack Obama speaks at the 5th Summit of the Americas.
thebattalion
Obama attempts to make US ‘leader’ of democracy
Nicole Alvarado, Editor in Chief
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — Defending his brand of world politics, President Barack Obama said Sunday that he “strengthens our handâ€? by reaching out to enemies of the U.S. and making sure that the nation is a leader, not a lecturer, on matters of democracy. Obama’s foreign doctrine emerged across his four-day trip to Latin America, his ďŹ rst extended venture to a region of the world where resentment of U.S. power still lingers. He got a smile, handshakes and even a gift from incendiary leftist leader Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and embraced overtures of new relations from isolated Cuban President Raul Castro. In Washington, both Democrats and Republicans said Sunday that they wanted to see actions, not just rhetoric, from Cuba. Associated Press
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
Kenny Ryan, Opinion Editor Sarah Linebaugh, New Media Editor Tiffany Tran, Graphics Editor Jon Eilts, Chief Photographer
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 ofďŹ ces are in 032 Memorial Student Center. 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 classiďŹ ed advertising, call 979-8450569. Advertising ofďŹ ces are in 032 Memorial Student Center, and ofďŹ ce 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.
John David Swiger — THE BATTALION
Singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin performs Saturday at BYX Island Party at Grace Bible Church. McLaughlin was one of six bands that performed.
DON'T MISS OUR ANNUAL
CRAWFISH APRIL 25TH BOIL: 12PM-6PM 750LBS OF THE GOOD STUFF!
RATES STA:RT AT ONLY
$465
+POTATOES 'N CORN
? Y V N E L POO
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“Look & Leaseâ€? & get $300 plus all fees waived! UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ ÂœÂ“ÂŤiĂŒÂˆĂŒÂˆĂ›iĂŠ->˜`ĂŠ6ÂœÂ?Â?iĂžL>Â?Â?ĂŠ ÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŒ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ-ÂœÂœĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠ,iĂƒÂœĂ€ĂŒĂŠ*œœÂ?ĂŠĂœĂ‰,>ˆ˜ˆ˜}ĂŠ >L>˜> UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ+Ă•ÂˆiĂŒĂŠ-ĂŒĂ•`ÞÊ ÂœĂ•Â˜}iĂƒĂŠEĂŠ ÂœÂ“ÂŤĂ•ĂŒiÀÊ >L UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠĂ“{‡ ÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŠÂş iĂŒĂŠ ÂˆĂŒÂťĂŠ ĂžÂ“ĂŠĂœĂ‰ Ă€iiĂŠ7iˆ}Â…ĂŒĂƒ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ/ĂœÂœĂŠ9i>À‡,ÂœĂ•Â˜`ĂŠ/>˜˜ˆ˜}ĂŠ >VˆÂ?ÂˆĂŒÂˆiĂƒ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ Ă•Â?Â?‡-ÂˆĂ˘iĂŠ7>ĂƒÂ…iÀÉ ÀÞiĂ€I UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ Ă•Â?Â?ÞÊ Ă•Ă€Â˜ÂˆĂƒÂ…i` UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ , ĂŠ >LÂ?i]ĂŠ Â˜ĂŒiĂ€Â˜iĂŒĂŠEĂŠ7>ĂŒiĂ€ UĂŠUĂŠUĂŠ/iĂ?>ĂƒĂŠ E ĂŠEĂŠ Â?ÂˆÂ˜Â˜ĂŠ-Â…Ă•ĂŒĂŒÂ?iĂŠ Ă•ĂƒĂŠ,ÂœĂ•ĂŒiĂƒ +2//(0$1 '5 : & 2 / / ( * ( 6 7$7 , 2 1 7 ;
979:485:0516 0 ) 30 _ 6DW 30 _ 6XQ 30
W W W. Z O N E A T C S . C O M thezone@jpi.com
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Rachael Goynes, News Editor Mindy Rife, City Editor Teri Ruland, Enterprise Editor Amanda Casanova, Lifestyles Editor Brad Cox, Sports Editor
4/19/09 10:25:01 PM
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DINING SERVICES
monday 4.20.2009
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Meal Plan 101 Today Sbisa Dining Center 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Questions? Get answers about meal plans and dining on campus.
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Decemberists go too far with imagery and creative lyrics
T
he Decemberists’ Colin Meloy is a different breed of frontman. Though contributing his acoustic guitar and vocals to the band may have played a hand in making it one of indie rock’s most popular bands, what sets him apart is his love for British folk music. When tearing through The Decemberists’ discography, you will come across many songs based on English folktales, as well as cautionary tales and fables created by Meloy. This has been the band’s shtick throughout its career. Meloy’s keen sense of old English tales, in collaboration with his creative writing degree from the University of Montana, provides a musical style many artists have never contemplated exploring. The Decemberists’ latest release, “The Hazards of Love,” goes after one of rock music’s most coveted concepts: the “rock opera.” Meloy and the gang put together 17 tracks for the new album that was initially slated to become a play, but later had the idea scratched because Meloy though it was “unstageable.” Though unstageable in a theatrical sense, the band took the album to the stage in its entirety on the first night of South by Southwest in Austin. The story follows a young woman, her shape-shifting lover, a queen of the forest and a rake, who is hired by the queen to capture and kidnap the young woman. This may seem a bit much when it comes to cramming plot into songs, but for fans familiar with The Decemberists’ work, it is the usual. The album nicely shows that the indie folk style the band typically exhibits can
be seamlessly morphed into hard rock riffs without losing Meloy’s acoustic guitar as the centerpiece. Lead guitarist Chris Funk shines in the tracks “A Bower Scene” and “The Abduction of Margaret,” in which he deploys dark guitar effects to accompany the even darker lyrics. “The Rake’s Song” stands out the most on the album because it contains a simple acoustic guitar pattern and appears to be the most radio-friendly. That is until the listener pays close attention to the lyrics. The rake’s menacing character is fully explained in this song, telling a sub-story of a man who is left with three children after his wife dies, and sings almost joyously how he plans to kill each of his kids because they were unwanted. Fans of The Decemberists may find dark lyrics of “The Rake’s Song” matched with upbeat music a reoccurring theme from past albums, but newcomers to the band could easily walk away from this song appalled. Meloy lyrically allows the Rake’s children a bit of retribution towards the end of the story by having their spirits attack him. Although Meloy is usually right on point with his character developments and plot progressions in his songs, “The Hazards of Love” becomes ambiguous at times. This is the first time The Decemberists have had one story flow throughout the entire album, and it appears to veer off course in different moments, throwing off the continuity of the tale. It is difficult to distinguish where the story is because the lyrics tend to focus a bit too much on imagery. The album has a couple of great guest performances by
Stephen Shepperd
Band’s album may disappoint prospective fans Becky Stark of the band Lavender Diamond and Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, singing the roles of the young woman and the queen, respectively. Worden’s vocal portrayal of the queen outshines any other element on the album, vividly channeling every evil queen seen in Disney movies. Meloy, on the other hand, sings the parts of the Rake, the woman’s shape-shifting lover and narrator. This causes the songs to be confusing and forces the listener to work hard to follow the plot. Old fans of The Decemberists will be accustomed to such tales as the one told in “The Hazards of Love,” but new listeners may turn and flee from any future opportunity to listen to the band. You will not find any songs such like “O’ Valencia” or “July, July,” songs that attracted many fans to the band. The new album’s concept, though an honorable attempt, appears to fly over our heads. The story becomes uninteresting and awkwardly dark, and the music is less than what we have come to expect from Meloy and his band. “The Hazards of Love” shows exactly how far The Decemberists can take their style, and proves it is further than anybody really wanted them to go.
China unhappy with Chan’s comments HONG KONG — Action star Jackie Chan’s comments wondering whether Chinese people “need to be controlled” have drawn sharp rebuke in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Chan told a business forum in the southern Chinese province of Hainan that a free society may not be beneficial for China’s authoritarian mainland. “I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not,” Chan said Saturday. “I’m gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we’re not being controlled, we’ll just do what we want.” He went on to say that freedoms in Hong Want more info? Call Health Ed: 979Ǧ458Ǧ8322
Kong and Taiwan made those societies “chaotic.” Chan’s comments drew applause from a predominantly Chinese audience of business leaders, but did not sit well with lawmakers. Chan “He’s insulted the Chinese people. Chinese people aren’t pets,” Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Leung Kwok-hung told The Associated Press. “Chinese society needs a democratic system to protect human rights and rule of law.” Associated Press
Student Health Services * Health Education * Aggie Reach present:
CATWALK
For hiv/aids awareness
Fashion Show and Mini Health Fair FREE Anonymous HIV/Syphillis Rapid Testing available!
When: Thursday, April 23, 2009 Time: 7pm Admission: FREE Location: Rudder Theatre Entertainment by: Fade 2 Black & Alpha Phi Alpha!
Featuring Clothing From: The Buckle Dillard’s Gap Maurice’s The Closet Door
D PR OO IZ R ES !
Mini Health Fair prior to show– starts at 6:30pm Visit each table, get a raffle card stamped, and enter it for a chance to win great prizes! Prize donations provided by: The Closet Door, Jimni, Heritage Menswear, and others!
Pg. 4-04.20.09.indd 1
‘17 Again’ No. 1 at box office LOS ANGELES — Zac Efron has taken the box office crown from his Disney teammate Miley Cyrus. Efron’s Warner Bros. comedy “17 Again” debuted as the top weekend movie with $24.1 million in ticket sales. The No. 1 opening solidifies the big-screen potential for the star of Disney’s “High School Musical” series. Cyrus’ “Hannah Montana: The Movie” slipped from first place to fourth with $12.7 million. Premiering at No. 2 was “State of Play” with $14.1 million. Associated Press
4/19/09 11:19:49 PM
sports
Frank pushes A&M to No. 3 in Big 12 The women’s tennis team finished the regular season with a 6-1 win Sunday at Kansas. Sophomore Morgan Frank won both her doubles and singles point, helping the Aggies to clinch the No. 3 seed for the Big 12 Championship, which will be on April 23-26 at Norman, Okla. Frank
thebattalion 4.20.2009 page5
A&M rides away from Waco as national champ ■ Equestrian defeats TCU in western riding, finish No. 2 overall Brett Sebastian The Battalion The Texas A&M equestrian team’s western riders took home the 2009 Varsity Equestrian National Championship in western riding Saturday after downing defending champion Texas Christian 7-1 in Waco. The Aggies placed sixth in the hunter seat riding, putting them at No. 2 overall in the championship standings. The Aggies won the western
championship for the second time in three years with a record of 14-1. It is A&M’s seventh national championship in the 10-year history of the sport at the varsity level. A&M’s horsemanship riders went 4-0 against TCU and 11-0 in the tournament. Freshman Katie Lisabeth, junior Carolina Gunn, senior Sibyl Parsons, and sophomore Randi Standley all earned wins to help the Aggies beat TCU. “I believe this win was very well-deserved,” horsemanship coach Beth Bass told AggieAthletics.com. “We were more focused this week than I have ever seen this team at any competition since I’ve
Freshman wide receiver Jeff Fuller runs after making a catch Saturday in the Maroon and White Game. The game is a split squad scrimmage to showcase Texas A&M’s spring practices.
See Equestrian on page 8
Christine Soriaga— THE BATTALION
Progress report ■ Spring game shows advances made for fall season Michael Teague Christine Soriaga — THE BATTALION
In Sunday’s game against Nebraska, senior pitcher Kyle Thebeau makes his first start in more than a year Sunday at Olsen Field. Thebeau led Texas A&M to a 10-1 win.
Pitching prevails in series sweep against Nebraska Brad Cox The Battalion Before Sunday’s game against Nebraska, Texas A&M senior Kyle Thebeau did not know if he would be starting on the mound against the Cornhuskers. The reliever has been used out of the bullpen exclusively in 2009 and had not started since receiving the loss against Northern Colorado on Feb. 23, 2008. Sophomore Barrett Loux was expected to start the game, but did not because of a
minor injury. “When I think about it, this could be my last start as a pitcher ever,” Thebeau said. “I was a starter in high school and I started some my freshman and sophomore years [at A&M], so I really wanted to try to make the best of it because that could be the last time I start a game.” The struggling Cornhuskers, who have lost 12 of their previous See Baseball on page 7
The Battalion Improvement has been the theme of the Texas A&M football team. In the annual Maroon and White Game Saturday, the Aggies displayed their progress and gave fans a preview of what to expect in September. Emerging from Saturday’s scrimmage were two up-and-coming players on the A&M roster. One of the top performers was junior linebacker Von Miller. At the new “Jack” position, Miller utilized his speed to get into the backfield and recorded two sacks. Miller’s versatility and athleticism have given him the nickname “Matrix.” “He was in a league of his own out there today,” said A&M Head Coach Mike Sherman. “I think changing our defense and allowing him to have the ability to rush the quarterback has afforded us the chance to have a legitimate pass rusher that we really didn’t have last year.” As a sophomore in a new defensive scheme, Miller played in every game and recorded 44 tackles and 3.5 sacks in the 2008 season.
“I blitz the quarterback every play, and that’s what I do best,” Miller said. “Any good defense, you always have pressure on the team. That frees up the safeties and lineFuller backers and makes everything a lot easier.” After pulling in 50 catches and a school-record nine touchdowns as a freshman, sophomore receiver Jeff Fuller has taken the next step in becoming a star for the Aggies. Fuller had nine receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown Saturday. “I came out here and felt like I had something to prove,” Fuller said. “You cannot take practices off. You need every single practice to make you a better player. I feel that I’ve grown as a player in many ways and I need to continue to grow and have a good time with it.” Junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson struggled early in the scrimmage, completing two of his first six passes and falling victim to four sacks in the first quarter. “I think it just took a little bit to get started and get the jitters out, but in the second half we played pretty well,” Johnson said. “I just found a rhythm and once you get in a rhythm it’s pretty easy to score.” Like a veteran, Johnson settled down and finished 14-of-29 passing for 206
yards and a touchdown. Johnson was confident in the pocket despite the defensive pressure he was under. The A&M offensive line, crippled by injuries, was no match for the Aggies’ defensive front that recorded six sacks and held the offense to 118 yards rushing on 54 carries. Despite having two scholarship cornerbacks dressing Saturday, the A&M secondary was successful with four interceptions. “Defensively, we’re starting to solidify ourselves on a scheme and how we want to play defense,” Sherman said. “I think we are faster right now because we’re more instinctive at allowing our players to play. Last year, we maybe did too many things and limited them reaction wise.” Sophomore running backs Cyrus Gray and Bradley Stephens had strong showings as their battle for the starting position continued. Stephens ran for 18 yards and a touchdown, and Gray had 22 yards for a touchdown of his own. The workhorse, however, was freshman Jay Tolliver, who had 18 carries for 63 yards. A&M will finish its spring with two more practices this week. Despite the initial disappointment, Johnson said the team is looking forward to going back to work and analyzing the scrimmage.
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The Battalion The third Aggie Invitational golf tournament was a two-team race as No. 20 Texas A&M and No. 2 Oklahoma State slugged it out this weekend at Traditions Golf Course. The two teams were the only teams in the tournament to shoot under par, with the remaining 10 teams shooting at least 20 strokes above par. Despite an early run to take the lead in the final day of the tournament, the Aggies struggled down the stretch for a second place finish behind the Cowboys. “Oklahoma State played very well, but we beat ourselves,” said A&M Head Coach J.T. Higgins. “We didn’t close very well on the last few holes and Oklahoma State showed why they are a championship team.” The tournament was shortened from 54 holes to 36 holes because rain on Friday night and Saturday morning delayed the tournament starting time. With rainy conditions allowing relief to contestants on Saturday, scores were lower than normal. Half of the teams in the field recorded under par scores. After the first round of play, A&M carded a team score of 14 under par, five strokes behind tournament leader Oklahoma State, which posted a team score of 19 under par. The rest of the teams in the tournament were at least 10 strokes behind the Aggies.The story of Saturday was the contest between A&M senior Bronson Burgoon and Oklahoma State sophomore Rickie Fowler, who were paired together during the round. Both Burgoon and Fowler carded tournament record-breaking scores of 65, or seven under par. Fowler, ranked No. 9 nationally, started the round strong, recording birdies on six of the first nine holes he played. Fowler cooled off on the back nine, making one birdie, but completed his round bogey free. Burgoon’s round was similar to Fowler’s — it was bogey free — but Burgoon spaced out his birdies, recording three on the front nine and four on the back. “The course played about as easy as it could but you still had to make putts and hit good shots,” Burgoon said. “I knew I had to make some birdies to get
Baseball Continued from page 5
13, failed to avoid the sweep Sunday as Thebeau led the No. 23 Aggies to a 10-1 win. Thebeau pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and striking out four without allowing a walk. The four hits were all in the first four innings, after which the right-handed pitcher retired the final 12 batters he faced. The Corpus Christi-native leads A&M all time in appearances with 94 and is seventh all time in strikeouts with 233. “His performance, his toughness and perseverance is everything we’re about as a program,” said A&M Head Coach Rob Childress. “I couldn’t be more proud of that guy.” Freshman southpaw Estevan Uriegas entered the game in the eighth inning to close for the Aggies. Uriegas, who had thrown 4.1 innings in 10 appearances before Sunday, was lights out, striking out four of the final six batters and not allowing a base runner. A&M improved to 25-14 overall and 11-7 in Big 12 play with its second conference sweep of the season. The second place Aggies trail conference-leading Texas by one game, setting up the showdown between the two rivals in May to be a key conference series. The win wrapped up a 4-0 week that began with a 7-3 win against a Top 5 Rice team on the road. The Aggies did all their damage in the second and fourth innings, scoring five runs in each. All of A&M’s starters recorded at least one hit and six batters recorded at least one RBI. Junior designated hitter Joe Patterson, who transferred to A&M from Seminole State College before the season, paced the Aggies with four hits and two RBIs. His single in the fourth
on top of the leaderboard. I was a little frustrated at first, and knew I had to step up my game.” After the course Burgoon to dried up Sunday, the playing conditions were more difficult. The 12 teams competing in the tournament combined to score Hurley an average of 26 strokes worse on Sunday than Saturday. Player scores Saturday averaged to 73.04. On Sunday, they were five strokes worse at 78.05. Tournament leader Oklahoma State recorded a team score of 13 over par on Sunday, 32 strokes worse than their Saturday score. The Cowboys were led by freshman Morgan Hoffman, who posted the low round of the day with a 70, or two under par. Hoffman’s round was not good enough to catch his teammate, Fowler, who recorded a score of 73, or one over par, capturing the individual title for the tournament with a score of six under par. The Aggies, who entered Sunday trailing the Cowboys by five strokes, came up three strokes short despite scoring better than the Cowboys as a team Sunday. The Aggies recorded a team score of 20 over par on Sunday and blew a 10-stroke lead they carried into the final five holes of play. During the final five holes, the Aggies shot five over par, but the Cowboys shot six under par, which was good enough to nip the Aggies for the title. Sophomore John Hurley and senior Matt Van Zandt led the team. Hurley finished the tournament tied for fourth place individually after posting a 71 on Sunday to finish the tournament at one under par. Van Zandt finished the tournament tied for eighth place after carding a score of 73 during the final round. Burgoon, who entered Sunday tied with Fowler, ended up with a second round score of nine over par, finishing tied for 16th individually. Burgoon struggled on the back nine, recording five bogeys and one double bogey to close the round.
inning scored sophomore right fielder Brooks Raley from third base and senior first baseman Luke Anders from Patterson second base. “I was just trying to keep hitting the ball hard like I have been and see what happens,” Patterson said. The Aggies started the sweep Friday with an 8-2 win against the Cornhuskers. Sophomore pitcher Brooks Raley threw 7.1 innings, allowing one run, two hits and striking out four. Saturday, A&M used an eightrun sixth inning to clinch the series win against Nebraska with a 10-1 victory. Freshman Ross Hales started the game, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing one run on five hits. Junior Alex Wilson, who has started on Saturdays this season, was used out of the bullpen and pitched 3.1 shutout innings, earning the save.
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page 8 Week 13
monday 4.20.2009
thebattalion
The week of April 19 - April 23
Acct 229 Chem 107 Chem 228 Chem 228 Santander
Econ 202 Allen
Math 142 Math 151 Math 152
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Phys 201 Phys 208 Don't Panic Phys 218
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Africa Continued from page 1
velopment projects for the benefit of poverty stricken areas in Sub-Saharan regions. “This competition is an important opportunity to build the kind of higher education capacity critical to the development of Africa,” said Joseph Carney, director of USAID’s Office of Education. “We are delighted to see this effort moving forward and expect great results from these planning grants.” The competition was inspired by the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative summit meeting in Rwanda, a joint effort by higher learning institutions and the National Association of State Universities and LandGrant Colleges. “This initiative will produce long-term relationships,” said Peter McPherson, president of the association. “The [response] speaks volumes about the internationalization of our campuses.” Tully Cornick, executive director of HED, said the competition received attention from higher education institutions. “We were elated by the astounding number of highly qualified applications received and even more pleased by how many applications demonstrated a strong understanding of higher education needs in Africa,” he said. The competition received more than 300 applications. The U.S. was represented by a large number of universities and more than 30 Sub-Saharan countries were represented in the contest. The Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grant, which consists of $50,000, is awarded to 20 institutions that will be partnered for the development of a project. Among the subjects covered by the projects, the most prominent include agriculture, engineering, science and technology, economics and health. “The [winners] represent the best of these applications,” Cornick said. “It is our belief that measurable and sustainable impact [will be] made in these African countries.”
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Houston firefighters search the water for a vehicle that went into the bayou after heavy rains drenched the area Saturday in Houston. A fire official said five Houston children are feared dead after the car was swept away by high water.
Texas river crash kills 5 HOUSTON — Police filed intoxication manslaughter charges Sunday against a driver who lost control of his car while using a cell phone, plunging the vehicle into a rain-filled ditch and killing five children inside. Chanton Jenkins, 32, was in police custody facing four counts of intoxication manslaughter, one charge for each of the children found dead so far, said Houston police spokesman Kese Smith. Police said a relative told them Jenkins was the father of three of the victims. Jenkins failed a field sobriety test following Saturday’s crash, which occurred after heavy rain turned the ditch into a torrent. The results of a blood alcohol test were pending, Smith said. It was unclear if Jenkins had an attorney. The search was continuing for the missing victim, a 3-year-old girl. A dive team searched a bayou for the child Sunday afternoon, Smith said. The bodies of three boys — ages 4, 7 and 11 — were found inside the vehicle. A body believed to be that of a 1-year-old girl swept away from the car was found Sunday. The car crashed into the ditch about two miles from the point where it feeds into Greens Bayou, a waterway that begins in northern Harris County and flows eastward and then south for about 40 miles before emptying into the Houston Ship Channel. Jenkins and another adult escaped from the vehicle, along with a 10-year-old girl. It took 2½ hours to find the car in the ditch,
which had filled with 9½ feet of fast-moving water, and it was close to midnight before the current had eased enough for a dive team to recover the boys’ bodies and discover that the girls had been swept away, Smith said. Police said the vehicle was swept 100 feet from the spot where it left the road. Police said the adult passenger, who is Jenkins’ brother, told police Jenkins was the father of four of the children, including the girl who escaped. Jenkins’ brother told police rain was falling heavily when Jenkins answered a cell phone. He said Jenkins lost control when he hung up the phone and the car flew down an embankment into the ditch, Smith said. Family members and friends searched for the girls’ bodies Sunday, walking with police officers along the ditch, by then no longer filled with raging waters. At least 30 family members and friends gathered at the accident site and at one point some gathered in a circle and prayed. “We know they are not going to be found alive. But we’re hoping that they can just find them,” said Cheri Smith, 40, whose cousin is the mother of the two little girls. The girls, who were sisters, were cousins of the other children in the car, she said. Cheri Smith said the family was focused on the search and not the circumstances that led to the accident. Associated Press
determining whether or not to pass the bill, administrative and student government officials are researching how it will affect Texas A&M students if passed. “Before any decision is made at Texas A&M, it needs to be researched whether bringing more guns to campus will actually be effective in the increasing campus safety,” said Student Body President-Elect Eric Beckham, a junior petroleum engineering major. University President Elsa Murano said she is aware of the
Gun Control Continued from page 1
“I believe the bill gives lawabiding adults who are responsible and able to defend themselves everywhere else the ability to defend themselves on campus,” said Texas Director for the SCCC Daniel Crocker. “Every crime that happens off campus can happen on campus. It’s not a debate over who can carry but who can carry everywhere else.” While the House is busy
Equestrian Continued from page 5
been here. I’m beyond ecstatic. We knew this would be tough but I think we were the most mentally tough team this week and it showed in the ring.” The Aggies’ reiners added three wins of their own against TCU to finish the week 10-2. Seniors Amanda Ryan and Genna Fishgold and junior Maggie Gratny all had wins. Individually, Gunn continued her collegiate equestrian dominance by posting a week-best score of 154.5 to put her in the championship match. There she topped Kansas State’s Alyssa Freeman with a score of 152.5-140. “I knew I had to go hard but I knew I had a horse that was able to go hard,” Gunn told
Amenities
AggieAthletics.com. “I had confidence in both our abilities to do the job that needed to be done. What we did this week was unbelievable. Our western team has been incredibly strong all year but to perform the way we did this week was history making.” A&M lost the fifth place hunter seat match to Oklahoma State 5-2, giving the Aggies No. 2 overall. Georgia won the overall National Championship with 51 points. A&M, Oklahoma State, Auburn, and TCU rounded out the overall Top 5. “To end up as the reserve team overall for three straight years is a testament to the consistency of both of our disciplines,” Head Coach Tana McKay told AggieAthletics.com. “This is a demanding competition against the best riders in the country. It’s hard to put into words how proud I am of our team and our program.”
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legislation regarding concealed handguns on campus and said the University is studying legislation and the “possible ramifications for Texas A&M University if such a bill were to become law.” “We are mindful that Texas A&M, is and has long been, an exceptionally safe place for students, faculty, staff and visitors; thanks in no small part to a well-trained and professional campus police department and to the caliber of the people who populate our campus,” she said.
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voices thebattalion 4.20.2009 page 9
Christen Beckʼs Notes Christenʼs Notes | Notes about Christen | Christenʼs Profile
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The value of solitude
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Blank pages are scary no matter how much you write. And so, in preparation of written expression, I surround myself with the necessary equipment to make the experience as painless as possible: crappy Dell laptop (“Napoleon”) — check. iPod — check. Instant messenger — check. Facebook — check. Cell phone — check. Iʼm surrounded by sidekicks. These tools of communication my generation depends upon invade my daily life, and I now realize thereʼs something oddly perverse about how meager machinery overwhelms us. The convenience of technology creates an interconnected, global world. But through this, our society loses an element past generations considered a value: solitude. The voices from the radio fill a silent room. Walking to class is accomplished while listening to an iPod. Some find sleep impossible without the aid of a TVʼs buzzing glare. As I ride the bus and watch other passengers energetically text (or fake text) on their Crackberrys and iPhones, it is evident Iʼm not the only one afflicted. Weʼre never alone. Over the last several decades, weʼve become terrified by the notion. We tag ourselves in pictures on Facebook, as if to scream out, “Look, I have fun! I am visible!” Perhaps visibility is exactly what we seek in this technology-apt world. William Deresiewicz, writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, elaborated on this issue in his article “The End of Solitude.” Deresiewicz writes, “[t]he great contemporary terror is anonymity… if the property that grounded the self, in Romanticism, was sincerity, and in modernism it was authenticity, then in postmodernism it is visibility.” Every individual naturally desires to be the main character of their story. Once we mailed handwritten letters to our loved ones to share lifeʼs narrative. Black ink marks stained an avid letter writerʼs fingertips. Now, our existence is recognized by the hundreds of Twitter followers or Facebook friends. So why should you care? Whatʼs my point? There isnʼt a simple answer to these questions. While I studied abroad in England, I traveled to London to visit a British Museum exhibition that related to the term paper I wrote for a history class. I wanted to peruse the museum at my own pace, something I always · Somewhere between the Thames, a narrow desired, so I went alone. alley and the ruins of an ancient cathedral (whose name is still unknown to me), I became completely, terrifyingly, “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” lost. Void of the convenience of a cell phone or a friend to rely on, I eventually sat beside a rock wall of a nearby street, stressed and as the British say, “knackered.” I remained there for an hour, quietly observing the occasional passerby or black taxi whizz by. Itʼs extraordinary to watch the world turn around you while you are thinking about it. Though it may seem pretentious or unbelievable, I discovered more about life in that one hour than many discover in a year. Only through being alone with oneʼs thoughts can certain important realizations be found. The value of self, reflection, mindfulness and introspection have been devalued through technologyʼs invasion of our lives. Between our deadlines, assignments, appointments, meetings, tests, quizzes and social lives, recognizing the importance of solitude seems trivial. But youʼve got to stop and smell the roses in life. And, sorry, but the picture of flowers decorating your iPhone background doesnʼt count.
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Tracey Wallace — Stark Symbolism Except for a few key buildings around campus, it isn’t a secret that Aggieland architecture is a little outdated. From buildings resembling war bunkers to those representing the 1980s New Wave-era, A&M architecture could use a face lift. Yet, amid this concrete jungle, there stands one of the campus’ newest... 3 days ago · Comment · Like
The medical field has its fair share of moral debates. Stem cell research, living wills and sex education have been debated at length many times over the past decade. Yet these all have taken the sidelines as the current debate of the month is none of the above. The topic on everyone’s tongues now is about... 4 days ago · Comment · Like
Travis Holland — We’re not in Sherwood Anymore Under the Obama administration, America’s tax system is taking on an ugly shape. There has been a shift toward punishing the rich for having more money than most Americans. This stems from President Barack Obama’s view that the wealthy are deep money bags instead of a valuable asset to... 5 days ago · Comment · Like
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I think the author of “Western civilizations must accept different values“ is confusing cultural values with human rights infringements. The law legalizing marital rape for 10 percent of Afghani women is not a cultural value; cultural values are things like modesty, piousness, liking rock ‘n roll music, etc. Rape is not a cultural value, and if it is, it is not one a U.S.-backed government should espouse. Would you have described the genocides in Darfur as cultural values? The mass rapes of refugee women? Apartheid? China’s long standing tradition of female infanticide? Or how about the Nazi persecutions and genocides? Those were legal oppressions of a group, just like this law. Are they cultural values that western civilization should just “accept?”
From Daniel Nieswiadomy,
Class of 2007 In “Right to Health” on Thursday, the writer makes an intelligent defense against the “conscience clause.” However, while focusing on whether a doctor has an obligation to inform patients of every option, he misses the most important argument facing doctors. Most pro-life doctors do not want to be forced into performing abortions. The Obama administration’s policies on health are summed up by the head of Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius, who said not allowing abortion is “forced slavery.” The administration wants to have all federal funding eliminated for any hospital that supports a doctor who refuses to perform abortions. If you force pro-life doctors to perform abortions, you will destroy the entire health care system and lose a huge portion of excellent doctors and nurses. We can’t afford to open the door to even worse situations, like forcing doctors to end the life of a cancer patient who doesn’t want to suffer. The best doctors in the world do what they do because they believe in helping people in need. For the sake of all Americans, don’t force them to do something they think is immoral.
From Zach Jasnocha, senior history major Here’s a fun fact. The Obama administration tax hike on the highest-income Americans would still be almost 10 percentage points below what existed for most of the Reagan administration. The 3 percentage point increase would simply return the tax rate of the richest 5 percent of Americans to what it was in 1993 under Clinton. Beyond the hysteria surrounding the “socialist” tax policies of the Obama administration, it is clear that a different tax policy had to be adopted after the Bush years. No administration has been able to wage a large scale war that included the invasion of a foreign country and still cut taxes, yet somehow that’s exactly what happened when the Bush tax cuts were extended, costing the nation billions of dollars while we engaged in a war that even the most conservative of estimates say will cost us between $1 and $2 trillion. I know, “liberal” just doesn’t quite have the sting it used to, but before we start throwing around the word “socialist,” let’s understand that the tax policy changes we’re seeing are nothing new, but are absolutely necessary. The rich have had their tax break for the past eight years and it hasn’t worked out so well. Let’s see what happens when we give it to the other 95 percent.
From Greg Reinkemeyer, senior industrial distribution major
Kenny Ryan — Right to Health
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From Lizz Quinlan, senior psychology major
Designed by Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
I wholeheartedly disagree with last Mondays gun legislation editorial. And to bring up the sniper at the University of Texas is completely irrelevant to the issue. I agree allowing student or faculty concealed handgun license holders to carry would most likely not have done any good in that instance, considering the criminal was trained to kill in the Marine Corps. Let’s put a more relevant example in place — Virginia Tech. If student or faculty CHL carriers’ had been able to carry on campus, would they have been able to prevent Seung-Hui Cho from killing 32 people? If the professor who sacrificed his life to guard a door leading to even more students had a gun, would he have been able to prevent the murder of himself and others? Take a look at the Department of Public Safety Web site, which publishes conviction rates of CHL holders vs. total felony convictions. Of 61,260 convictions in 2007 in Texas, 160 were committed by CHL holders. I believe Virginia Tech and similar incidences could have been minimized if CHL carrying students and faculty had been able to carry their weapons on campus.
4/19/09 10:35:07 PM
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KULA Continued from page 1
South Korea. KULA’s philanthropy is LiNK, Liberty in North Korea. “When people ask if there is a difference between North and South Korea, most Koreans say there is no difference,” Choe said. “The war tore our country apart and the North is now communist, which we free Koreans feel that we need to help liberate,” said Sora Lee, a sophomore psychology major. LiNK is a nonprofit organization that provides protective services to North Korean refugees. “When people escape North Korea, they do not have automatic freedom,” Lee said. When refugees escape the country, most flee to China, where they work as prostitutes or in degrading manual labor to make pennies a day. LiNK secures homes and job opportunities for refugees and aids them in the transition to the modern world.
Lot 30 Continued from page 1
If you have been accused of a crime
QUALITY COUNTS How much is your future worth? JAMES & REYNOLDS 979-846-1934 http://jamesandreynolds.com
Jim James - magna cum laude, Texas A&M ’76; honors graduate, University of Texas School of Law ’78; Board Certified Criminal Law; named Texas Super Lawyer; Licensed in all Texas federal courts and U.S. Supreme Court; addressed Texas Bar Advanced Criminal Law Seminar last 3 years; highest rating Martindale Hubbell, A-V; Texas Bar Fellow. E-mail - jim@jimwjames.com
Cameron Reynolds - ’91 graduated from Texas A&M and Texas Tech law school. He is Board Certified in Criminal law and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly. He is a former assistant district attorney who is licensed in federal court and teaches at Blinn College. E-mail – cam@jimwjames.com
Craig Greening - grew up in San Antonio and attended Boston University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and from The University of Texas School of Law. He was a prosecutor in Brazos County and now practices with James and Reynolds. He is Board Certified in Criminal Law. E-mail – craig@jimwjames.com
thebattalion
Though all three of the lot’s sections are at the same level of disrepair, only sections A and B will be repaired, Weis said. Section C is located where the Department of Residence Life is considering building another residence hall, and he said it wouldn’t be “prudent to reconstruct and lose all the work due to the new hall.” “Of course, once the decision from Resident Life is made, we will be able to improve section C, if needed,” Weis said. Weis plans to begin the renovation in May, with sections A and B closed for the summer.
KULA’s contribution to LiNK includes monetary aid to the safe camps around the North Korean border where LiNK volunteers save refugees from being captured by the Chinese or North Korean government. “We are also trying to spread awareness of the atrocious acts in North Korea through presentations,” said Kim, who hosted a LiNK traveling group that showed a documentary of the acts occurring in North Korea. KULA wants other Korean Aggies to know they are major contributors to the A&M community. “When I first came to A&M, I barely knew any other Koreans and I felt alone,” Choe said. “Now, with KULA, I have met so many enthusiastic people that share my culture and way of life.” Reaching out to other cultures is an ultimate goal for Kim. “KULA is just starting up, but I feel that already people have a great respect for Korean Americans and our amazing culture,” Kim said.
“The project was scheduled at a time when campus population is at a minimum, so as to minimize the impact on users,” said Peter Lange, associate director of Transportation Services. Lange said the 90-day project includes restriping, resurfacing and other improvements. The renovation will also include improvements to lighting, additional handicapped parking and increasing the number of parking lots for motorcycles. In addition, the plan will close the two entrances coming from University Drive, and a new one will be built continuous with Boyett Drive, a street running perpendicular to Northgate. The closed-off entrances will be turned into parking spaces, netting one
more parking place in the lot. The funds for the renovation — which will cost about $300,000 — will come from an increase to the three-year parking permit fixed plan rate. “We allocated some of that money to repair and maintenance of the facilities,” Weis said. The money can also be used for “other parking lots in need of repairs, such as Lots 36 and 61, which are scheduled to undergo repairs in the near future.” “We highly encourage students to check our Web site.” said June Broughton, marketing and communications manager of Transportation Services. “Not only can students send suggestions, but check the progress of the current projects we got going on around campus.”
Obama keeps Bush and FBI secrets from public WASHINGTON — Despite a pledge to open government, the Obama administration has endorsed a Bush-era decision to keep secret key details of an FBI computer database that allows agents and analysts to search a billion documents with a wealth of personal information about Americans and foreigners. President Barack Obama’s Justice Department quietly told a federal court in Washington last week that it would not second-guess the previous administration’s decisions to withhold some information about the bureau’s Investigative Data Warehouse. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group, had sued under the Freedom of Information Act to get records showing how the FBI protects the privacy of Americans whose personal information winds up in the vast database. As a result, there is no public list of all the databases the FBI sucks into this computer warehouse. Associated Press
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