thebattalion ● tuesday,
october 9, 2012
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media
David Cohen — THE BATTALION
The Cassatt String Quartet performs for College of Liberal Arts faculty at their fall reception Monday afternoon at the Annenberg Conference Center.
Cassatt crescendo Musicians perform pieces from Russian, A&M composers Elise Brunsvold The Battalion
F
or a moment, there was silence. A subtle stillness permeated the concert hall as the quartet straightens their posture. An inhalation, and then the bow pulled across the strings of the violin with the vibrations resonating outward as the opening notes of the musical composition.
The world-renowned Cassatt String Quartet will collaborate with students and faculty in their upcoming concert, sharing both new sounds and professional instruction for the Texas A&M musical community. The Cassatt String Quartet’s per-
formance will function as the opening to a new season for Texas A&M’s Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts. The concert, featuring pieces by composers such as Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and Texas A&M professor Peter Lieuwen, is meant to enter-
tain and teach students. Jennifer Leshnower, a violinist in the Cassatt String Quartet, said the group is excited to work with students and faculty during their residency on campus. “The opportunity to stay and work together and go into classes where students work is very special and something that the Cassatt Quartet enjoys immensely,” Leshnower said. “GreenSpace,” the piece composed by Lieuwen, calls for a triplestring quarter, therefore allowing students of the Texas A&M Orchestra the opportunity to work with the
professional ensemble. “It’s designed as a teaching tool and as a means for the Cassatt Quartet to share [techniques] with the students,” Leshnower said. Lieuwen’s piece celebrates the parks and national forests of the country while touching on the unification and harmony of these areas with those of a more urban nature. Lieuwen said the piece includes contrasting elements, bringing together two differentiating motifs. “It’s rhythmically vibrant,” Lieu-
Showtime and ticket prices ◗ The concert will be in Rudder Theater at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
◗ Tickets can purchased online at boxoffice.tamu. edu or at the MSC Box Office in the lobby of Rudder Tower. Regular tickets are $10, student tickets are $5.
See Cassatt on page 6
campus
Freshmen find Common Ground Julie Blanco The Battalion Freshmen liberal arts majors gathered to hear author Adam Shepard share his experiences and advice so they could relate to one another as they begin their college careers. The 2012-2013 Common Ground Lecture for the College of Liberal Arts — where Shepard spoke — was held Monday evening
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at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. The Common Ground Lecture is an annual series for freshmen liberal arts students. This is the seventh year the event has been held. The goal of the lecture series is to provide the liberal arts community with a bond through reading and to provide students with a co-curricular experience, said the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts José Luis
Bermúdez. The College of Liberal Arts is the heart of Texas A&M and graduates more students each year than any other college, Bermúdez said. Books that are selected for incoming liberal arts students to read are ones that not everyone agrees with or likes. They are meant to be of debatable topics. See Common on page 3
The Big SEC welcome
Due to decreases in government funding, NASA struggles to continue as a source of national pride and job opportunity for scientists and engineers.
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Adam Shepard addresses freshmen from the College of Liberal Arts at the 7th Annual Common Ground Lecture Monday evening.
liberal arts
College recognizes faculty achievements Jon Cooley
column | 5 From the outside looking in Voting in the Venezuelan election in Houston on Sunday drew closer ties to home country and U.S.
Julie Blanco — THE BATTALION
Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION
Union Directors from both The Big 12 and SEC schools meet at Texas A&M to tour the MSC and give presentations about educational performance Monday afternoon.
Special to The Battalion Incoming faculty and notable academic achievements were recognized by the College of Liberal Arts in a reception showcasing topics from shipwreck exploration to the awarding of various endowment funds. Professors and students in the College of Liberal Arts came together at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center Monday evening to congratulate the academic achievements of faculty and students, as well as welcome new faculty members during the college’s fall reception. Six professors were awarded fellowships within the Rothrock and Cornerstone programs. These awards are given to professors who have excellent professional records and have a high im-
pact on students in the classroom. The recipients are given funding to continue with their future research projects and innovative teaching methods. Four professors were appointed with endowments and professorships from various organizations to continue their research. One of the professors was also a new faculty member recruited from the University of Texas at Dallas. Catherine Eckel, the chair of the Sara and John Lindsey Professor in Liberal Arts, teaches economics and focuses on how social actions of people affect their financial decisions. Upon receiving the appointment, Eckel said she hopes to do pilot research with new students and help send them to workshops, See Award on page 3
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