thebattalion l wednesday,
february 20, 2013
l serving
texas a&m since 1893
l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media
Students receive non-A&M affiliated email poll Mark Doré
The Battalion
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wo polls meant to gauge student opinion regarding renovation funds for the east side of Kyle Field reached student email accounts. An organization called “Aggie Polling” released a survey to an uncertain number of University email accounts before midnight Tuesday. This poll came prior to and separate from a University poll expected to be sent to the entire student body via email beginning at midnight.
Potentially three surveys regarding the student body’s role in funding stadium upgrades will be presented to students this week — the two aforementioned polls sent via email and a separate referendum put on by Student Government Association that will be accessible alongside student elections Thursday and Friday. Aggie Polling’s survey refers to Aggie Polling as “an independent student-run project.” The web address “Aggiepolling.com” redirects to an online publication called “Aggie Guardian.”
On its website, Texas Aggie Conservatives, TAC, lists among its officers Marc Pitts as editor-in-chief of Aggie Guardian. Pitts’ email address is affiliated with TAC. Aggie Polling and TAC also list the same P.O. box. The poll by the A&M administration was motivated by University officials’ concerns about the language of the SGA referendum. The A&M administration proposes 60 percent of the renovation to the east side of Kyle Field be funded by an increase in the University Advancement Fee while the SGA referendum proposes 40 percent come from a UAF
increase. The remaining fund source would come from an increase in sports pass prices. The poll by Aggie Polling contains more questions than either the SGA or A&M administration survey. The survey by Aggie Polling asked whether the SGA or A&M administration poll would have “binding power,” whether the A&M administration would widely or quickly publish the results of its poll, whether funds should be drawn from existing sources rather than from a fee increase and whether or not and to what extent Kyle Field should be upgraded.
SEC championships
Butterfly effect
CAMPUS
2013
ELECTIONS
Voting for student body elections will take place on Thursday and Friday at vote.tamu.edu.
inside
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arts | 2 Aggies got talent
The Student New Works festival is all about local Aggie talent, giving theatre students the opportunity to write, direct, and stage original works of drama.
voices | 2 Failure to lead
COURTESY
Junior education major Cammile Adams placed fifth in the 200-meter-butterfly final in the 2012 London Olympics.
Swimmer uses Olympic experience to further goals Krishnan Seshadrinathan
The Battalion t the 2012 London Olympics, competing alongside the likes of Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, junior education major Cammille Adams said she felt like a “small fish in a big pond.”
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In the 2013 SEC Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships — which began on Tuesday — the fifth-place finisher in the Olympic 200-meter-butterfly isn’t so easily overshadowed. Adams said asking questions of Phelps, Lochte and other Olympians was of benefit to her. “It was such a close team, in spite
of having a big age difference,” Adams said. “It was so good to hang out with [Phelps], [Lochte], Natalie [Coughlin], Rebecca [Soni], and Dana [Vollmer], to have people to rely on and to ask them questions.” Adams said the support given to the U.S. Olympic team doesn’t mean she doesn’t appreciate the 12th Man. “It has been fun to see so much of the 12th Man come to the meets,” Cammile said. ‘’I don’t think you get that kind of school spirit anywhere else. It speaks volumes about the University.’’ Hailing from Cypress, Texas, Adams started to swim at the age of four.
Since then, there has been only one thing on her mind. “My first swim meet was when I was five,” Adams said. “My dad was a swimmer, he was a swimmer in college and he is a coach. So he got me into it.’’ Coming to Texas A&M was an easy choice for her, and it speaks volumes about the quality of the program here. “I looked at four different schools; they are all in the SEC now,’’ Adams said. ‘’Looking back, I definitely feel like I made the best decision. I don’t See Adams on page 3
muggle life
A&M quidditch teams seek national championship John Odom
The Battalion hey may not fly through the air at break-neck speeds or fight trolls in bathrooms, but ranked No. 1 in the world, the Texas A&M quidditch team is not to be disregarded as a group of
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wand-waving fanatics. With more than 800 teams in the U.S. alone, quidditch has evolved from a group of enthusiasts’ pet project in 2005 at Middlebury College into a national sport about the spirit of competition and camaraderie.
“We don’t think we fly. We’re not role playing. We’re competing in an athletic event,” said Rebecca DuPont, president of A&M’s quidditch team and junior bioenvironmental science major. See Quidditch on page 4
Student Body President John Claybrook criticizes Student Senate for failing to provide accurate representation of its constituents.
sports | 3 Thank you, 12th Man A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair shows appreciation for student support during Monday’s home loss to Kentucky.
campus | 5 Curriculum revival Faced with a declining number of applicants, A&M faculty members are working to preserve and revive the Africana studies program, which offers a minor and graduate certificate.
Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION
From left: Sophomore Andrew Cantu, junior Andrew Dinwoodie and junior Bailey Murphy run down the field during Quidditch practice at Penrberthy.
The Battalion endorses SBP candidate A
FILE PHOTO
Reid Joseph
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fter interviewing both candidates, the editorial board of The Battalion has decided to endorse Reid Joseph for student body president. Our goal was to determine which candidate we thought would most selflessly represent the student body to University administrators and local and state communities. Joseph displayed characteristics crucial to a position of public leadership. He deflected focus from himself and demonstrated the student body’s need for a selfless leader. His personable nature was exemplified in the ease with which he moved around the newsroom, shaking hands, asking questions and referring to us by name. Joseph showed sincere humility, responding with confidence to questions about campus issues such as the role of mandatory student fees, but
honestly acknowledging there are aspects to such issues to which he didn’t know the answer. Joseph recognized a need to increase communication between the student body and Student Government Association by proposing thoughtful plans to fulfill the needs of connectivity between the two entities. He presented a clear understanding of how delegation is necessary to lead an executive branch that represents a massive student body. For example, Joseph proposed implementation of a new community outreach team that would help bridge communication to the diverse student groups across the University. Joseph could have had a better understanding or plan of action to collaborate with the legislative branch of SGA, which presents student opinion before the A&M administration and Texas Leg-
islature. However, he expressed sincere desire to continue learning about student concerns to help best represent the student body. Joseph’s campus involvement and his postgraduation plans speak to his discipline and professional demeanor. The Battalion fully supports Reid Joseph for the position of the 2013-2014 student body president of Texas A&M.
EDITORIALBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its editorial board, with the editor-in-chief having final responsibility.
2/20/13 1:50 AM