thebattalion l friday,
november 22, 2013
l serving
texas a&m since 1893
l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media
50-year flashback: John F. Kennedy assassination
1963: ‘Bonfire’ yell practice goes on as usual tonight Maybe best ever says yell leader Editor’s Note: This is the frontand-center story from The Battalion on Nov. 26, 1963, four days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It is reprinted exactly as it appeared 50 years ago, typos and all.
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he traditional Aggie Bonfire has been cancelled, out of respect of our late President, but the yell practice scheduled tonight is intended to demonstrate to the world that the Aggies desire to beat the University of Texas is as great as ever before if not greater, Head Yell Leader Mike Marlow stated Wednesday. Action on cancellation of the
bonfire came during a meeting Friday night of the various deans, administrative officials, Coach Hank Foldberg, and student leaders in the office of President Rudder. The meeting had been called by the president following the assissination of President Kennedy in Dallas. In a unanimous agreement, it was decided to cancel the bonfire in the light of national mourning following Kennedy’s death. Rudder told the group that “we should do what is in good taste for Texas A&M,” and “since we are a military school, in a sense, our Commander-in-Chief was slain.” Coach Foldberg announced that the decision would in no way dim the spirit of the football squad, and thought the student leaders acted in good taste.
The football game and bonfire are small things in the overall scene of this national tragedy he said. Following the group’s decision, which President Rudder described as one of the finest actions he had ever seen the student body at A&M take, a meeting for juniors and seniors was held in Guion Hall to explain the decision and the reasons which made it necessary. “We realize that this bonfire would probably have been one of the largest in A&M’s history,” Marlow said, “but that is all the more tribute and sacrifice we are making for the death of our President.” The head yell leader commented that the spirit of the student body as a whole, has rarely been higher for the upcoming game.
“This new spirit is especially noticeable among the civilian students,” he said. “Probably in no other time in the history of the school, have civilians been prepared to do so much toward the construction of the Aggie bonfire.” The yell practice scheduled for tonight will be around the centerpole of that bonfire-thatwas-to-be, just as it would have been with a bonfire, Marlow said. At 8 p.m. the band will march through the campus picking up students, making a special trip to the old area, the civilian dorms and Henderson Hall. “This could be the best ‘bonfire’ yet,” Marlow said, “and if FILE the students show as much spirit tonight as they have shown in Band students play taps during the 1963 the past week, we are sure to memorial services in G. Rollie White Coliseum, beat the teasips Thursday.” honoring the late President Kennedy.
HOWDY FARM BREWS B-CS LINKS A majority of the produce grown by Howdy Farm is cultivated in the garden behind the Horticulture Building.
crime
Naked man not charged, says UPD John Rangel The Battalion
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New brewpub sources produce from A&M garden
Photos by Alexander Nelowet — THE BATTALION
Blackwater Draw Brewery has brokered a deal with Howdy Farm for fresh vegetables.
Alexander Nelowet
The Battalion he Howdy Farm, an on-campus farm that sells produce throughout the community, has recently found a buyer in a new brewery on Northgate. The recently opened brewpub, Blackwater Draw, is buying a large amount of its produce from the student-run farm. Chris Steele, co-owner of the brewpub, said getting local food from Howdy Farm fits into his vision for the company. “The whole idea behind the brewpub was brewing beer here locally and we wanted our whole concept to be ‘fresh beer, fresh food,’” Steele said. “We are trying to get as many things
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locally and we ran into some guys from Howdy Farm, so we started getting a lot of produce from them. We are trying to orient our menu on what we buy from them.” Senior aerospace engineering major, James Kim, said he appreciates the idea of being able to eat food produced on the A&M campus at a local establishment. “It’s really cool that we have a brewpub in the heart of Northgate that sources produce from Howdy Farm,” Kim said. “It’s also comforting to know the food you’re eating comes straight from an Aggie-run farm that promotes organic and environmentally-friendly methods.” See Howdy Farm on page 3
tudents on campus Wednesday were greeted by the sight of a naked man claiming to be Jesus. Lt. Allen Baron of the University Police Department said the individual was approached by UPD officers who decided he was in need of medical attention. “It was a criminal incident, but he wasn’t charged or arrested,” Baron said. “We made contact with the individual and helped him seek medical assistance and at that point he was turned over to others.” Baron declined to comment on the individual’s current condition or any other specifics. Philosophy graduate student, Tad Duncan, said he spotted the individual walking near the MSC in the early afternoon and that the individual was wearing no clothes and carried only a skateboard. “It’s not every day you see a naked man walking around with a skateboard claiming he’s Jesus.” Duncan said. Duncan saw the individual near Hart Hall and said most of the students in the vicinity tried to avoid him.
liberal arts
College boosts faculty numbers COURTESY
Statistics professor Cliff Spiegelman says the evidence surrounding the bullets fired into John F. Kennedy’s car could be circumspect.
jfk assassination: 50 years later
Skepticism lingers as anniversary passes A&M professor to discuss conspiracy validity Friday Alexander Nelowet The Battalion
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he assassination of John F. Kennedy is still surrounded by doubt and conspiracy, even 50 years later. For one Texas A&M professor, this speculation is well founded. To mark the 50th anniversary of
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President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, statistics professor Cliff Spiegelman and former FBI crime lab scientist William A. Tobin will discuss the validity of some of the evidence in the Kennedy case. Spiegelman said he has researched the methods used to determine how many bullets were fired into Kennedy’s car. He said his findings challenge the testimony given by Vincent Guinn that there were no more than See Conspiracy on page 3
Bryan Johnson — THE BATTALION
Players celebrate Allie Bailey’s overtime goal to lift A&M over Utah on Nov. 18 in the NCAA first round.
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faced the Red Raiders in 18 previous matches, out-dueling Tech to a lopsided 16-11 ledger. Friday’s matchup will be the first time the Aggies will square off against a nationally ranked Tech team. “We have a lot of respect for Tech and what [head See Soccer on page 4
See Faculty on page 2
A&M battles Tech in NCAA tourney The Battalion he No. 13 Texas A&M soccer team will lace up for a meeting with exconference foe No. 18 Texas Tech (18-2-2) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Aggies (18-4-1) have
Aimee Breaux espite University-wide budget cuts, the College of Liberal Arts has found the means to hire 34 new permanent faculty members. According to the College of Liberal Arts, the 34 new faculty will add to the existing 365 faculty members, a number that will increase the college faculty by almost 10 percent. Of the 34, two will be hired as department heads, 19 as tenured professors and 15 as associate professors, said dean of Liberal Arts José Luis Bermúdez. Bermúdez said the hiring of 19 tenured professors is unusual but it gives the department strategic advantages. “It gives us an opportunity to
soccer
Clay Koepke
34 new positions added, including 2 department heads
11/21/13 8:26 PM