thebattalion ● monday,
february 17, 2014
Aggies attend nationwide Christian conference
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Allison Rubenak
The Battalion
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he venue that usually serves as home to the Houston Rockets instead housed thousands of young adults for an annual Passion Conference — their expectant voices echoing in unison throughout the Toyota Center. More than 17,000 young adults and college students ranging in age from 18 to 25 flocked to Houston on Friday and Saturday for one of the Christian conferences. The conference this year was hosted in two cities: Atlanta, Ga., and Houston. Founded in 1997 by Atlanta-based pastor Louie Giglio, Passion aims to engage and empower young Christians through worship music and messages given by well-known speakers. Prominent figures in the Christian community, such as Beth Moore, Francis
Artist’s name — THE BATTALION
Chan and Judah Smith, spoke at this year’s conference, and worship was led by Grammy winners Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman, along with other leading names like Hillsong United, Crowder and Kristian Stanfill. While universities from all across the state were represented, Giglio said Texas A&M had the largest representation at the conference. “Everybody started whooping and stuff,” said Maggie Moetteli, junior recreation parks and tourism major, while describing the moment when participants were made aware of the attendance statistics. Moetteli said this year was her fourth year to attend the conference. She said seeing A&M students at the center brought her a feeling of community. “I think it was an awesome representation of what our generation in general can acSee Passion on page 5
Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION
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fitness
Joseph, Cheshire reach agreement
Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION
Itzel Cortes, senior kinesiology major, (at desk) checks student into the Rec Center on Sunday.
Rec preps for spring break crowd Attendance increase met with increased staff Knox Yellin
Special to The Battalion
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hether it’s to uphold New Year resolutions or get into better shape for the beginning of swimsuit season, the human physique is on the forefront of students’ minds during the spring semester. James Nash, associate director of facilities at the Student Recreation Center, said there was an increase of
69,160 check-ins between the fall of 2012 and the spring of 2014. Sophomore economics major Samuel Tillotson said he believes the influx in attendance comes from people trying to achieve a “spring break body.” “The atmosphere is different,” Tillotson said. “There seems to be more tension from people trying to get in sets during the spring, while the fall is much more relaxed and people seem more nonchalant.” Tillotson said regulars just have to work through the crowds. “The large amount of people can become annoying, but you just have to work through it,” Tillotson said.
The influx of new students throughout the spring semester prompts the Rec staff to make several changes every year. Kaitlyn Zarosky, a head weight room attendant and senior kinesiology major, said the weight room prepares for more Rec participants by scheduling more employees than usual for the busier parts of spring. “They usually put more people on each shift,” Zarosky said. “In the weight room they put four attendants instead of two or three. We also have recap meetings and go over policies at See Rec on page 6
transparent with the student body, student senate and the Board of Regents. Joseph and Cheshire met to discuss the upcoming trial Lindsey Gawlik Saturday evening and came The Battalion to an agreement over the impeachment proceedings. he impeachment of stu- Both released statements on dent body president their discussions and what Reid Joseph took a new turn they mean for Wednesday’s this weekend as the involved trial, and Cheshire said in an parties met to discuss ways to interview that he would no move forward, longer be seeking and a member Joseph’s removal of Texas A&M’s from office. Board of Regents “My goal spoke in support through the whole of Joseph. process was just Joseph was to have everyimpeached Feb. thing followed 11 when student and basically have senator Cary all of the codes Cheshire gathfollowed and all ered the necessary Reid Joseph of the actions folone-thirds suplowed through,” port of Student Cheshire said. Senate with 21 student senator Cheshire further said in signatures. The impeachment his statement that his meeting was originally based on the with Joseph cleared up some allegation that Joseph has not of the allegations brought to fulfilled his obligations as stu- bear. dent body president by failing “During the conversation to file a weekly report of legis- that followed, I was made lation and a monthly financial report, and failing to remain See SBP on page 5
Trial will no longer seek removal from office
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integrity
w. basketball
Office enforces Aggie honor system
Gilbert leads Aggies over Crimson Tide
University staff works to keep students accountable
Win marks 9thconsecutive 20-win season
Duncan Rankin The Battalion
Patrick Crank
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ince September 2004, the Aggie Honor System Office has opened its doors to students and faculty to review violations and adjudicate cases from falsified doctors’ notes to plagiarized papers, and everything in between. Timothy Powers, Class of 2001 and the head of the AHSO, said over the past three years, the AHSO has maintained an average of a little more than 200 cases per semester, with around 80 percent of those in either plagiarism or direct cheating. “If a student has been accused of academic misconduct then our office needs to be aware of that,” Powers said. “We may have a student who is plagiarizing in multiple classes, but if the faculty isn’t telling us then that student may just get multiple slaps on the wrist instead of coming to our office
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The Battalion
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and being held accountable. The other part of that is if a student is accused of cheating and is reported to our office then that student has a chance to appeal, where through the professor only they may not.” Lauren McAuliffe, a writing consultant with the University Writing Center and a speaker in the Academic
Integrity Development Program, said most plagiarism violations are really unintentional. “In the plagiarism workshops we really try to focus on the fact that most plagiarism is not intentional, because most students don’t understand that,” See Honor Code on page 6
he No. 14 Texas A&M women’s basketball team defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 71-46 Sunday in Tuscaloosa, improving its road record in SEC play to 5-1. With the win, the Aggies (20-6, 10-2 SEC) bolster their streak of consecutive 20-win seasons to nine. Sophomore Jordan Jones continued to lead with her play at point guard, posting 10 assists for the fourth time this season and continuing to set the tone for the Aggies on defense.
“I think Jordan Jones is the best defensive point guard in our league,” said A&M head coach Gary Blair. “I think she does a great job. The charge that she took and the other things she did against Alabama’s guards early, she did really well.” A&M was able to hold Alabama (11-14, 4-8 SEC) to less than 50 points, marking the eighth time they’ve done so this season, and the fourth time against an SEC opponent. “This team was built with defense first,” Blair said. Senior center Karla Gilbert led the team in scoring with 15 points and has scored double-digit points in the last six games. “[Gilbert] was a load in See Basketball on page 2
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