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Blasts brace global resolve ‘Well-planned’ attack threatens national security Jennifer Keith

The Battalion wo bombs exploded Monday near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three, injuring more than 180 and leaving, in what President Barack Obama called an “act of terrorism” on Tuesday. “Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror,” Obama said Tuesday in his second public response to the Boston bombings. “What we don’t know, however, is who carried out this attack or why, whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual.” The Associated Press reported that federal agents found that the Boston Marathon attack was carried out with kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and other lethal shrapnel — indicating that the bombs were meant to inflict maximum damage. Reports also said both bombs were stuffed into black duffel bags and left on the ground. A July 2010 intelligence report by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security stated that pressure-cooker explosives have been used in Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and were used in the May 2010 attempted bombing of Times Square. The explosions killed 8-year-old Martin Richard of Boston, 29-year-old Krystle Campbell of Medford, Mass. and a Chinese graduate student at Boston University whose name was not released at time of press on Tuesday. The attacks that the FBI have called “wellplanned” resulted in many victims suffering wounds to the lower extremities, with some requiring amputation. Though the bombings occurred on Patriots Day, a Massachusetts state holiday to commemorate the first battles of the American Revolution, the attack’s connection to the holiday is unclear. Larry Napper, senior lecturer at the Bush School of Government and Public Service and former ambassador to Kazakhstan and the Republic of Latvia, said the bombings may have been linked to the holiday. “It seems to me that it would be hard to believe

Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

Students come together in a moment of silence in front of the Sul Ross Statue to show support and raise awareness for the attack in Boston and the ongoing conflict in Syria.

Vigil couples Syria, Boston crises Mark Doré

The Battalion hen two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three on the eve of a planned campus vigil for an ongoing Syrian civil war, the choice for the student organizers was clear — light candles for both. Members of the A&M Arab Student Association held a vigil Tuesday in Academic Plaza for a pair of crises that organizers said seem unrelated at surface level, but are bound by a global context. Damen Smien, event coordinator and junior international studies major, said the decision to incorporate the Boston bombing with the Syrian-awareness vigil was an easy one. “The fact that it happened on our own soil, we want to acknowledge that and honor those who were hurt from it while incorporating what’s going on in Syria,” Smien

said. “There have been 80,000 people killed already [in Syria]. It’s a global issue that as Americans, as global citizens, as Aggies, we need to be aware of and combat.” Syrian warplanes swooped over the quiet town of Saraqeb in the country’s north Saturday, the Associated Press reported, dropping bombs on a residential district and leaving 20 dead. Activists say an average of 120 people are killed daily in violence and clashes related to the Syrian civil war across the country. “In Syria, it’s not Boston every day, but many times per day,” tweeted Jean Pierre Duthion, a French expatriate in Damascus, Syria. The United Nations said more than 70,000 people have been killed in Syria’s two-year conflict. Smien said civil war erupted between rebel groups and the authoritarian regime of President Bashar al-Assad at the beginning of the Arab Spring. “Syria is a very sectarian country,”

Smien said. “They just want freedom from the dictatorship.” Two explosions at the Boston Marathon on Monday wounded more than 170 people and killed three. The FBI is investigating the blasts as a terroristic act, but little is yet known regarding those behind the attack. Maggy Ibrahim, vice president of Arab Student Association and senior international studies major, said she has a joint vested interest in both crises. “It’s my duty as an Arab and as an American to remember both, and that’s the reason we incorporated them together — a massacre anywhere is a massacre,” Ibrahim said. A&M students from Syria stood at a unique cultural crossroads at the vigil Tuesday. One such Syrian student, senior industrial engineering major Ahmad Tarabichi, said he and the other attendees stood for the people of Syria as well as Boston under the

See Boston on page 2

See Vigil on page 2

student senate

Veto override vote to hit floor amid end-of-session agenda Kadie McDougald The Battalion

Student Senate will vote Wednesday to uphold or override Student Body President John Claybrook’s veto of S.B. 65-70 — also known as the Religious Funding Exemption Bill — which stirred controversy in early April. Claybrook and Speaker of the Senate, Scott Bowen, issued a statement after the veto decision, giving intent to postpone the veto override indefinitely — effectively ending discussion of the bill. Bowen said he and Claybrook later realized the student government constitution and bylaws stated that a vote must take place and could not be postponed as was initially believed. Judicial Court Associate Justice Julian Whitley, junior political science and history

major, issued a statement in response to the original release by Claybrook and Bowen, stating that a vote must be held. “The [response statement] was a simple correction from the previous statement released,” Whitley said. With all the other, end-of-session issues to work through, Bowen said he wants to drop the controversy and move past S.B. 65-70 altogether. “I can’t speak for individuals but I think in general most people want this issue to be over and move on to other things,” Bowen said. “There are a lot of other things we’re dealing with and a lot we need to go over Wednesday night. This is probably the least important of them. It’s time to move on to something else.” Bowen said he doesn’t believe the veto override will receive the two-thirds vote needed at Wednesday’s meeting.

Scott Bowen “We recognize there isn’t enough support to overturn the veto,” Bowen said. “Any sort of effort to actually do so would be completely unproductive. It’s not worth dragging ourselves and the student body through this debate again.”

Christopher Russo, electrical engineering graduate student and speaker of the 66th Session, said he doesn’t believe the veto will be overturned and hopes to move on as well. “For me, the original message of the people on the bill has been lost,” Russo said. “I don’t expect any sort of any real concentrated effort to overturn the veto but I can’t speak on behalf of the other senators.” Bowen said his mission now is to get through the override vote quickly. He said a motion to amend the debate and cut out non-required aspects of the meeting will be presented so that limited time may be spent on the bill. “We want to cut out the remaining things you usually have in the overturn effort,” Bowen said. “We want to check the constitution-mandated boxes and then let the bill die.”

Sophomore tennis standout exemplifies sportsmanship characteristics James Sullivan The Battalion portsmanship is an applied definition of respect, an unwritten code among the global athletic community. For Jeremy Efferding, a sophomore in the Texas A&M men’s tennis program, sportsmanship runs deeper than athletics, personifying a way of life. The kinesiology major said statistics and rankings fade over time — strong character lasts forever. “No matter what, win or lose, you have your reputation the rest of your life,” Efferding said. “Tennis comes and goes, but your reputation stays forever. My parents really stressed a lot [about] having a good attitude and respecting your opponent — giving an inch rather than taking an inch, which is not common as much in college tennis.”

Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

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SEC Tournament The Texas A&M men’s tennis team travels to Oxford, Miss., for the SEC Tournament, running Wednesday through Sunday.

Recruited out of Boca Raton, Fla., the blue chip, five-star prospect quickly earned a reputation for his courteous approach on the court. Efferding proceeded to win multiple sportsmanship honors throughout his career, bringing home the prestigious Bill Talbert Sportsmanship Award in 2008, an accolade given annually by the U.S. Tennis Association to the Top Four junior players who exemplify the “finest qualities of sportsmanship.” Efferding excelled on the court throughout high school. He dominated Florida courts, winning the state individual title three times, including the Florida Closed 18’s Championship in 2010, and

earned the opportunity to participate in the USTA National Training Program. During his recruitment, Efferding found A&M emphasized an ideal he held in high regard — sportsmanship. “Here with the Aggies, the coaches are such men of character and they really stress [good sportsmanship] upon us,” Efferding said. “They won’t deal with bad behavior or bad character and that really rubs off on the whole team. It’s a number one priority and I try to emulate what they teach.” When he arrived, the A&M coaching staff began tweaking Efferding’s game, which focused on defensive play. Assistant coach Bob McKinley said advancing Efferding’s offensive capabilities dramatically increased his threat to more experienced players. “If somebody watched him last year, the way they would describe [Efferding] would be — in tennis terms — a grinder, meaning all he would do [was] play defense,” McKinley said. “Now, the See Tennis on page 4

inside lifestyles | 2 Art show on full display The College of Architecture biennial faculty art show in Stark Galleries features a diverse collection of art from professors of various departments. The show exhibits the talent and creativity of A&M professors as well as works in several mediums.

lifestyles | 3 Looking up at the stars Star parties, bi-monthly events hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, allow students the chance to star gaze with advanced equipment. The events are facilitated by various members and students involved in the department.

4/17/13 12:39 AM

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Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

thebattalion 4.17.2013 page2

Art show exhibits talent of A&M faculty Joseph Nash The Battalion

wice per year, professors and faculty members of the University showcase their artistic prowess in the College of Architecture faculty art show, a bi-annual exhibit held in Stark Galleries. From the College of Architecture to the Department of Visualization, the show represents faculty and talent from a vast array of academic backgrounds. “It is mind blowing to see the scope of talent and all the kinds of work that are submitted,” said Howard Eilers, associate professor for the Department of Visualization whose work is being shown in the exhibit. “It showcases the variety of talent we have here on campus.” Eilers contributed a special selection of photographs to this year’s show. “I studied photography all throughout my schooling and when I was approached by the [Aggieland] Lions Club to photograph a rodeo for special needs children, I jumped on the opportunity,” Eilers said,

describing some of his work included in the show. “The expressions that those children made were mind blowing.” Eilers said she loves to capture photographs of sunsets, especially in Utah. “Purely visual, scenery and individual expressionism are what I focus on,” Eilers said. Eilers said the art show has grown into a large production on campus, and that it is not limited to one section of study. “Apart from showcasing faculty talent, the show gives students an outlet,” said Rodney Hill, professor for the College of Architecture and another contributor to the show. “They can see what can be done using all sorts of mediums.” From photographs and bronze works to iPad creations, the exhibit contains a diverse collection of work, decorating Stark Galleries with a miscellaneous blend of colors and textures. Various pieces made by A&M faculty in the show are regularly featured elsewhere on campus, outside of the exhibit. Hill has contributed a great amount of his work to other parts of the University,

including the wood carvings telling the story of Texas A&M located in the Memorial Student Center, the Obelisks of Learning located in Evans Library and the graduation mace used at Texas A&M’s campus in Qatar. “I love what I do. I love working with people and putting in the time and effort to complete a piece,” Hill said. Kayla Bonczek, senior horticulture major and a student worker for Stark Galleries, said the exhibit is a popular attraction, with various classes utilizing the exhibit for creative analysis. “I see a lot of students come in here on their own, as well as in classes as a part of a field trip,” Bonczek said. Eilers said the exhibit shows how diverse art can be. “The show gives students a chance to really see just how many ways art can be created,” Eilers said. “We are not limited to one medium or idea. They can see what is out there and maybe the show can spark an interest in them to find out what they love and encourage them to pursue it.”

Boston Continued from page 1

this was not a calculated timing,” Napper said. “It may have been related to the Patriots Day holiday — maybe it was someone who had an axe to grind as far as Patriots Day — or it was a matter of opportunity. Everyone knew that there would be a crowd there in Boston.” Andrew Nastios, executive professor at the Bush School and Scowcroft Institute Fellow said the attacks may have been politically motivated. “I think whoever did this was trying to make a political statement with maximum possible casualties because there is a huge crowd at the Boston Marathon,” Natsios said. “Second, it’s Patriots Day, so they are making some sort of political statement that Americans are not safe even on their national holidays.” Nastios said it’s fair to say that it makes Americans feel more insecure. “They’ve kind of gotten over the fear generated in the 9/11 event; it has dissipated after all this time,” he said. “Now there may be fear of other places and that may affect public confidence in going to events where there are masses of people.” Natsios said the implications of the bombing would be profoundly different depending on whether they are determined to be a domestic attack or a foreign attack. Richard Barrett, a former U.N. coordinator for an al-Qaida and Taliban monitoring team, said the relatively small size of the devices in Boston and the timing of the blasts suggest a domestic attack rather than a foreign one. Though more than thousand miles away, the Boston attacks were part of the personal stories of two individuals in the A&M community. Robert Shandley, international studies department head at A&M, ran the Boston Marathon, but finished the race an hour before the bombing. He explained the initially celebratory environment of the marathon that soon came to resemble a bloody war scene. “It’s truly amazing because it’s a big local event and therefore that much more saddening when something like this hap-

Vigil Continued from page 1

common bond of Texas A&M. “Once you’re an Aggie, you’re always an Aggie,” Tarabichi said. “I represent Aggies in Syria, so I stand with Aggies because we grew up in a community here at Texas A&M and we don’t accept such a thing no matter where it is.” Ibrahim said urgency among students for situations such as Syria is important in order to prevent future terroristic attacks. She said war-torn environments such as Syria allow terrorist groups to reach out to the underprivileged and provide food in exchange for assistance. “Terrorism in general sprouts out of places that are unstable,” Ibrahim said. “If this continues, it’s a very good chance that any terrorist orga-

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Acacia Jarvis, junior mechanical engineering major, browses the paintings at the College of Architecture’s Faculty Art Biennial Tuesday evening in the J. Wayne Stark Gallery in the MSC.

COURTESY

Boston Marathon runners look on as smoke plumes from one of the finish-line explosions that killed three and injured more than 170. pens, because they are all out there cheering for people who they don’t know,” Shandley said. “There was lots of generosity of spirit going on.” Boston streets are usually filled with celebration the evening after the marathon. But Shandley said Boston was a quiet and eerie ghost town Monday night. Shandley described the marathon as tightly secured, saying he saw bombsniffing dogs and security snipers on a roof near the starting line. “If anything it speaks to their preparedness,” Shandley said. “They were ready for the worst, and sadly, they got it.” Senior kinesiology major Zach Ginnings also participated in the Marathon, and Shandley said that after the two met, they supported each other all the way across the finish line. Like Shandley, Ginnings had fortunately finished the race long before the bombings and heard of the news when he turned on the TV. “My hotel was about three blocks from the finish line where the attacks occurred and I had just gotten inside when the bombs went off,” Ginnings said. “I took a nap and I woke up about 3:30 p.m. with over twenty texts on my phone asking if I was OK. I had no idea what they were talking about until I turned on the news.” Shandley said before the beginning of the marathon, there was a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the shoot-

nization can choose Syria, for example, as a location to have people and they can reach anywhere in the world, even here in College Station.” Smien said many students aren’t aware of events in Syria but that Americans would benefit from a stable Middle East. “This is a humanitarian appeal to the conflict that’s going on there because in the end, what’s going on there affects us, whether directly or indirectly,” Smien said. “A stable Middle East is important to us as Americans. Having a democratic Middle East can only help us. Democracies are less likely to go to war with democracies and having that spread is a good thing for both us and them.” Among those who follow events in Syria, Ibrahim said the focus is often on the regime or politics rather than the people of Syria. Twenty percent of the population re-

ings in Newtown, Conn., and that the marathon’s 26 miles was said to signify the 26 people killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. An envelope addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi which tested positive on Tuesday for ricin, a potentially fatal poison, reportedly heightened concerns about terrorism a day after the Boston Marathon bombings. Danny W. Davis, Bush School lecturer and director of the Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security, made a connection between the Boston bombings and ricinpoisoned letter, and the 9/11 attacks and anthrax threat letters in 2001. “There were the anthrax-laced letters sent to the Senate Office Building in DC. and Clayton Waagner was conducting a deception campaign against the abortion industry,” Davis said. “Between September and December 2001, Waagner sent well over 500 anthrax threat letters to abortion clinics around the country.” Davis drew a parallel between to the terrorist threats and attacks of 2001 and those of 2013, and he expressed his speculations about the source of Boston’s recent bombings. “The fact that no Islamist group has come forward to claim credit [for the bombings] is interesting,” Davis said. “I am beginning to think there might be others than Islamists behind the bombings in Boston.”

quires humanitarian assistance, she said, and 5,000 are fleeing the country daily, resulting in 1 million refugees. Matthew Kohman, junior environmental design major, said side-by-side media comparisons of both incidents are intriguing. “I found it pretty interesting that something as horrible as Boston is so prolific in the news, but without trying to sound inconsiderate, the Syrian crisis is massive in comparison,” Kohman said. Students in attendance shared varied insights into manners in which Americans and the A&M student body can support both international and domestic disasters. Tarabichi said, while fundraising for relief and support is important, informing people as to what’s going on — in Boston and in Syria — would be more beneficial. Kohman said one way to increase awareness involves

something that can be accomplished behind a computer screen. “Something like booking a news site as your homepage on your computer instead of Facebook goes a long way to being the world-minded person,” Kohman said. “This is probably one of the first times in history that we can communicate with people all over the world, so why not take advantage of it?” Others say collective campus knowledge of an issue can lead to change. Alyssa Gainer, junior environmental design major, said the Aggie community has sway beyond College Station. “As Aggies, we make an impact when we get behind an issue,” Gainer said. “With the publicity we’ve gotten recently for sports and other things, people care about what we care about.”

4/17/13 12:20 AM

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Duplex, CS, nice 2bd/1ba, 3-minutes from campus, W/D, remodeled, fenced front and backyard, beautiful with many extras, one week free, $570/mo, 979-422-3427.

4bd/4.5ba house available in August, Southern Trace Subdivision. $1,700/mo, pets ok. 979-314-4505. Brand New, 4bd/4ba houses. walking distance from campus, AAF 979-693-4900.

Free locatoring service, Houses Duplexes and Apartments, 979-693-4900.

4bd/4ba private bathroom, $325 per room, Summer $260 per room, Wood/tile floors, large living room, new refrigerator, w/d, central a/c, walk-in closets, on shuttle. Student community, large pool, basketball court, sand beach volleyball. 979-574-0040, 281-639-8847.

Horse Lover’s Dream. 3bd/1ba, covered carport on 4acres wit pond and horse facilities. Minutes from TAMU. Recently updated all appliances including W/D. Pet and livestock friendly. Available August. Rent $1399/mo. aggielandrentals.com 979-776-8984

4bd/4ba University Place Condo for rent starting August 2013. $1660/mo. All utilities paid including internet. No pets. www.collegestationrent.com/tx/collegestation/227678-4-bed-4-bathcondo-all-bills-paid. Fred 281-460-0439.

Just available! Close to campus, College Main and Eastgate areas. 2bd/1ba., some w/dishwasher, 1-fenced, some bills paid. $325-$450/mo. 979-219-3217.

puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com

3bd/3ba, with 3-reserved parking spaces, @Fox Run Condominiums, 801 Luther Road West. Gated community, $1500/mo+utilities. 281-414-7676.

REPAIR

3or4 bedroom, 2-bath house. $1200-$1400/mo. Very clean. Hot tub. Close to campus. 979-777-2849.

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4-bedroom houses close to campus, large yards w/decks. $1300-$1600/mo. Call JC/broker (254)721-6179.

FOR RENT

2800 694979-

1 yr Warranty & Certified Techs

SINCE 2001

2-duplexes, 1202 Vineyard Ct., Both 2bd/2ba. Plantation blinds, W/D, ceiling fans, fenced backyard, lawn care provided. Near A&M bus stop and dog park. $800/mo+utils. (210)213-8823 or (210)213-9177.

WHEN

SPECIAL

see ads at thebatt.com

Looking for: huge closets, vanities longer than bathtubs, dedicated shoeracks, covered parking? 1/1, 2/2, 2/2.5. Falcon Point Condos. Broker/owner 979-777-5477. New townhouses close to campus. 4bd/4ba and 2bd/2ba available. On TAMU shuttle. Call JC/broker (254)721-6179, www.gamedaybcs.com Newer 1/1, 1/1.5 loft, 2/2, 3/3. Granite, ceramic, w/d, walk-in closets, cable and internet, shuttle. $820-$1560. Broker owner 979-777-5477. Nice! 4/2 2013-Rayburn. $1550/mo. Available Aug1st. Call Scott at 979-229-5007. Northgate. Newer 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 and 3/2. Washer/dryer. Walk to campus. Summer and 1 year leases okay. aggievillas.net. Call 979-255-5648. Now Leasing and pre-leasing for August! 4bdrm/2bth houses. Spacious floorplans. Great Location. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, w/d, fenced yards, refridgerator, icemaker,lawncare. 979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com Now preleasing large 3/2 duplexes, May-Aug leasing options, off of Holleman, on shuttle, view duplexes seven days a week, 979-774-4575. One month free rent on efficiencies and 2-bdrms, great move-in specials, free cable and ethernet. aggieapartment.com. Tamu shuttle route. 979-693-1906. Pre-lease for May or August 2/2 Duplex with large fence backyard. Pets ok, walk-in closets, great location, and shuttle. $775/mo. 979-693-1448. Storage for rent. Climate and non-climate. Starting at $29/month, and one month free. 979-693-0551. Summer house sublease. 2bd/$350/mo. W/D. University Oaks. Utilities paid. 281-865-2247. Sutter’s Mill 2bd/1.5ba Condo, $850/mo. deposit required, pets ok, pool, bus route, W/D, 361-563-8214. Two newer built 5/4’s for lease. Available 8/1. Northgate area! 281-814-0665

FOR SALE Huffy 24in. Blue, 15-speed ladies bike. Excellent condition, $60. Also have new cable-key lock, $10. (409)365-9726. New townhouses close to campus. 4bd/4ba and 2bd/2ba available. On TAMU shuttle. Call JC/broker (254)721-6179, www.gamedaybcs.com

GARAGE SALES HUGE GARAGE SALE! April 20 at Grace Bible Southwood, 8-1:30. Proceeds benefit adoption.

HELP WANTED Ags! Looking for summer work? Earn $9000.00 this summer, build your resume, great experience, call Taylor, 214-707-9145.

AggieNetwork.com

HELP WANTED Help needed to house-sit and care for animals at a ranch house in Plantersville. Person with some knowledge of horses required. Free rent, utilities, & horse boarding offered to chosen individual or couple. No yardwork required. Contact Debbie/Harry. hander1240@aol.com, 936-894-2767. Immediate opening. Energetic, high-energy office assistant for tele-marketing and busy real-estate office. 12:00-5:00pm. Call 979-693-3700 and ask for ext 437 Little Guys Movers now hiring FT/PT employees. Must be at least 21 w/valid D.L. Apply in person at 3209 Earl Rudder Freeway. 979-693-6683. Part-time job helping handicapped. Male student preferred. $360/mo. 5-10hrs/wk. 979-846-3376. Part-time summer help, apply in person, Conlee-Garrett Moving and Storage, 600 South Bryan Ave., Bryan. PT leasing agent, Saturdays a must. Call 979-693-1906. PT openings, customer sales/svc, no experience necessary, all majors welcome, start now for summer, internships available, 979-260-4555. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in College Station. 100% free to join. Click on surveys. Summer childcare needed for 2 kids starting in June, $250 weekly, email resume with references to AGGIEKIDS@HOTMAIL.COM Wanted: Energetic people for Kids Klub After-School Program. Fall semester employment begins 08/19/13. Application deadline May 3. www.cstx.gov/kidsklub, 979-764-3831. You love to teach, and with Sylvan, that’s just what you get to do. Be part of the Sylvan team! We’re providing after school tutorials throughout the Brazos Valley and need reading and writing teachers and upper-level math and science teachers. It’s a great way to do what you love and earn extra money. Give us a call at 979-846-4988.

PETS 2 male Yorkie puppies, 2-3lbs, 4mo. old, $800, linda_d_54@yahoo.com, 979-324-2866.

REAL ESTATE B/CS. Sell/Buy/Invest! Michael McGrann TAMU ‘93 Civil Engineering 979-739-2035, mike@aggierealtor.com Nadia McGrann 979-777-6211, Town & Country Realty.

ROOMMATES 2 or 3 roommates needed for 4bd/4ba apartment. Fully furnished with W/D. $475/mo includes utilities. Contact Kendall at k_aggie14@neo.tamu.edu. 2-rooms available in 4bdrm home off of Graham. Female, non-partiers, mostly furnished. $450/mo. 903-456-6543. Roommate wanted for summer or longer. 4bd/4ba condo, $250/mo. Fully furnished. 713-896-7566. Two male roommates needed (Fall). 4bd/4ba condo (Gateway Villas). Fully furnised, W/D, $500/mo + share of utilities. 432-689-6026.

TUTORS Need a Tutor? Friendly, helpful one-on-one private tutors for all subjects at TAMU/Blinn and Sam Houston State. Check us out at www.99tutors.com, 979-268-8867.

Architectural autocad drafter. ENDS and COSI only. Call 694-7059. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com

read the fine print.

Child Care FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan. City of Bryan now hiring lifeguards and water safety instructors, do not have to be certified, apply online bryantxjobs.com call 979-209-5222 for more information. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. Cotton Patch-College Station now hiring servers and greeters. Lunch availability desired. Apply at Rock Prairie and Hwy-6. An equal opportunity employer!

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Star parties offer outlet for astronomical interests

read the fine print.

Molly Livingston

the

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The Battalion

When & where

hile stars may be millions of miles away, the passions and studies they have inspired hit a much closer to home. Star parties allow students the opportunity to observe the night sky with advanced telescope equipment. These parties, facilitated and supervised by individuals of the Mitchell Institute in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, welcome all students and are perhaps best known for the students and professors involved in coordinating them. Daniel Nagasawa, a physics graduate student, is one such individual. While Nagasawa never took a physics class in high school, he now teaches astronomy classes at A&M. Nagasawa said he grew up in Jersey City, N.J., and wasn’t given very many opportunities to star gaze. He didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his passion. “I visited the planetatarium [at the American Museum of Natural History] a lot,” Nagasawa said. “I bought my first telescope when I was nine and that was it.” Despite a course load that didn’t offer classes that covered his favorite subject matter, Nagasawa Daniel Nagasawa was able to advance his knowledge of the universe in college. “I went to a small private Christian school in New Jersey that didn’t offer physics,” Nagasawa said. “I got into Stanford and I wanted to study stars.” After finishing at Stanford, Nagasawa began his graduate studies at Texas A&M. “I heard that Texas A&M was starting their program and I needed to start on the ground floor,” Nagasawa said. “They recruited me out of Stanford.” Nagasawa gives credit to George P. Mitchell for the advancement of the astronomy department, which he said has allowed events such as the star parties to take place, attracting more students to the department. “Our program is very young,” Nagasawa said. “Mitchell gave us the grant to fund the [astronomy] program.” Nagasawa said he has enjoyed the time he has spent here and is excited to see how the program evolves. “The astronomy program was practically non-existent less than a decade ago,” Nagasawa said. “I’ve been here for eight months and I love the research.”

The next “star party” occurs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in front of Sbisa Dining Hall on Wednesday. There is also one from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Simpson Drill Field on May 2.

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Tennis Continued from page 1

reason he’s playing better is that he can still do that if he needs to, but he plays much more offense.” By the end of Efferding’s first semester at A&M, he boosted his national ranking to No. 73, advancing to the finals of the International Tennis Association College Station Regional and defeating four opponents in the ITA Men’s All-American Championship pre-qualifying round. As his sophomore season rolled around, coaches focused more on Efferding’s offensive skills, hoping to use him as the Aggies’ leadoff competitor during team matches. “The coaches have been working [with me] a lot on penetrating the court, getting to the ball earlier, taking time away from my opponent and working on my serve,” Efferding said.

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Nagasawa works in the astronomy lab along side senior aerospace engineering major Emily Boster. After encouragement from friends, Boster chose to register for a physics class. “[They told me] the physics program here at A&M was good and [that I] should get involved in that,” Boster said. During her first semester, Boster began working in the astronomy lab and Emily Boster became more involved in the department. “Astronomers tell us [engineers] what they need and then the engineers basically make it from inception to design and then the astronomers use it,” Boster said. Boster’s passion and innovation in aerospace engineering led to her becoming one of the 2012 recipients of a scholarship given by the Astronaut Scholarship foundation. Twenty-eight students from all over the nation were awarded this honor. “A different astronaut went to all the different schools,” Boster said. “We were lucky enough to get Captain Jim Lovell from Apollo 13.” Boster recalled the day as being surreal. “It was really amazing,” Boster said. “One of the coolest days of my life. It was really exciting.” Both Nagasawa and Boster enjoy sharing their passions and encouraging other students to become more involved. They do this by attending and facilitating the bimonthly department “Star Parties.” These star gazing gatherings are open to anyone to show people that science is both accessible and interesting. Junior physics major Caitlin Campbell said she enjoys introducing other students to something that she is passionate about. “This gives people the opportunity at them [the stars] in a new way with fancy telescopes,” Campbell said. “It gives people an opportunity to look up and appreciate the sky because everyone takes it for granted.”

“I had a pretty good return, but holding serve has been key for me this season.” The hard work paid off through the spring season as Efferding defeated five ranked opponents including Virginia’s Alex Domijan, the nation’s top player and former U.S. No. 1 among collegiate players. “I had the match of my life, basically,” Efferding said. “It was an awesome and thrilling experience to have. It’s one of my most memorable college experiences.” Even with the success, Efferding has remained grounded and a strong sportsman. Teammate and doubles partner Jordan Szabo said Efferding’s personality and competitive edge balance well on the court. “He’s a great practice partner and a great teammate,” Szabo said. “He’s super fair. Even in the heat of the battle he’s fair and generous and nice to the opponent — almost too nice. He’s a competitor at the same time and he gets a good blend of both.”

Trevor Stevens Editor-in-Chief

The Battalion is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. 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. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; email: editor@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 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. 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. Call 979-845-2696 for mail subscriptions.

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