bonfireedition
● thursday,
november 17, 2011
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
campus
Years
Students work to finance education
12
Work study program offers benefits to students with need
A ggies
Amber Jaura
Jerry Don Self ‘01 Chad A. Powell ‘03 Jamie Lynn Hand ‘03 Bryan A. McClain ‘02 Lucas John Kimmel ‘03 Nathan Scott West ‘02 Christopher Lee Heard ‘03
The Battalion One in five students enrolled at A&M this semester work on campus, which is among the highest percentages among American universities. With a combined payroll of approximately $63 million, student workers can be found all over campus keeping Texas A&M operational while gaining experience. Junior finance major Jesse Trevino splits his time between studies and a work study position at A.P. Beutel Student Health Center. He said maintaining a high academic standard while holding a job is no easy task. “This is the first semester I have to balance school and work. At first I thought it would be easy, but when it comes down to it, working four hours per day, Monday through Friday, isn’t as easy as it seems,” Trevino said. Trevino said his employer has been conscious of his responsibilities as a student, and allowed him to plan work hours around school. Nora Cargo, associate director for A&M Scholarships & Financial Aid, said many of the students employed See Work study on page 6
Christopher D. Breen ‘96 research
Miranda Denise Adams ‘02 Jeremy Richard Frampton ‘99
Micheal Stephen Ebanks ‘03 Timothy Doran Kerlee Jr ‘03
Algae poisons Gulf Red tide worsened by drought, harms fishing industry Roland Ruiz
collapse’s impact reverberates 12 years later Joanna Raines The T he Battalion
T
welve years ago, Texas A&M was changed forever when Bonfire collapsed, claiming 12 Aggie lives. “Those were some of the hardest days on this campus,” said Kathryn Greenwade, Class of 1988
and vice president of the Association of Former Students. “You could feel and sense the grief when you walked around campus.” The collapse in 1999 struck at the heart of the A&M comSee Bonfire on page 4
The Battalion Intensified by historic drought conditions, the Gulf of Mexico has been subjected to the invasive and life-threatening algal bloom known as red tide, which has killed 4.2 million fish since September. Red tide is a brownish-red algae, known as phytoplankton or Karenia brevis, that produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin — a compound that disrupts normal neurological processes. During drought conditions, the Gulf of Mexico is more susceptible to red tide because the algae favors warm, salty water. As fish swim through the red tide, they ingest red tide cells, which attack their nervous system and paralyze the fish, causing them to suffocate. In oysters, the neurotoxin becomes a heat-stable compound that cannot be cleared by cooking the oyster. The Texas Department of State Health Services shut down oysSee Red tide on page 3
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Today mostly sunny High: 66 Low: 39
Friday partly sunny high: 70 low: 60 Saturday mostly cloudy high: 78 low: 66 Sunday showers high: 81 low: 66
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thebattalion 11.17.2011
basketball
A&M men to play in Madison Square Garden, women travel to Arkansas Adrian O’Hanlon III
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2K Sports Classic Thursday 6 p.m. — No. 19 Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State 8 p.m. — St. John’s vs. No. 15 Arizona Friday 3:30 p.m. — Consolation game 5:30 p.m. — Championship game *all games on ESPN2
Courtesy of THE NEW YORK TIMES
Madison Square Garden opened its fourth incarnation of the arena in New York City in 1968. The Garden housed the legendary New York Knicks of the 1970s that won NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973. up, but right now Jordan’s played really well,� Cyprien said at a press conference Monday. “He’s brought it every day in practice and that’s what Coach [Kennedy] is about and what we’re about.� MSU senior Dee Bost knows how to share the basketball, ranking second on the school’s all-time assist list. Bost is also proving his scoring ability this season averaging 17.3 points per game. Junior forward Arnett Moultrie is second on the team in scoring this season with 16.3 per game and is averaging 12.7 rebounds. The 6-foot-11inch, 249 pounder is one of three starters taller than 6-feet-8-inches for the Bulldogs, looking to test A&M’s bigs that have contributed nearly 60 percent of the offense this season. The No. 6 Aggie women will be the highest ranked opponent to play at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock at 7 p.m. Thursday. On Tuesday, A&M’s 2011 title team received its championship rings before the Aggies rocked No. 9 Louisville
Up next: A&M women Thursday 7 p.m. — at Arkansas-Little Rock Sunday 1:30 p.m. — Mississippi State 76-58 on ESPN2. Senior guard Tyra White leads the team with 17.5 points per game and sophomore center Karla Gilbert leads in rebounding with seven a game. UALR is 1-1 on the season after losing 69-60 to Southern Methodist Monday. Freshman Taylor Gault set a career high with 20 points and senior Marian Kursh had 17 points with a teamhigh of seven rebounds. Thursday marks the sixth A&MUALR matchup, with the Aggies ahead in the all-time series record 4-1. A&M won last year’s meeting 87-41 at Reed Arena before both teams made NCAA appearances — UALR lost in the first round and A&M won the championship.
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OVER
The Battalion Making its first road trip of the season, No. 19 A&M men’s basketball tips off against Mississippi State at 7:05 p.m. Thursday in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The Aggies and Bulldogs face off in the semifinal of the 17th annual 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer to be aired on ESPN2. Thursday marks the Aggies’ fourth game in Madison Square Garden and associate head coach Glynn Cyprien said the team is amped to play in the historic basketball arena. “There will be some ‘big-eyed’ guys’ [but] we’re excited about it,� Cyprien said. “We’re excited to play against a good team and good opponent, and we want to see how we’re going to fare against a good program.� Junior forward Ray Turner has made an impact since making his Aggie debut this season, averaging seven rebounds and leading the Aggies in scoring with 20 points per game. Turner’s mix of length and athleticism has given him an advantage at the small and power forward positions. Last season’s leading scorer for A&M, senior forward Khris Middleton is out for three to four weeks with a torn meniscus. Starting in Middleton’s stead against Southern was freshman forward Jordan Green who scored six points and grabbed two boards. Cyprien said Green brings a ‘wiry’ defensive presence but he would like a veteran to start. “We’d really like for Naji [Hibbert] or one of those older, veteran guys to step
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Robert Carpenter, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111. 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. News ofďŹ ces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@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 979-845-2696. For classiďŹ ed advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising ofďŹ ces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and ofďŹ ce hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. 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. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.
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Pg. 2-11.17.11.indd 1
11/16/11 11:49 PM
news thebattalion
page 3 thursday 11.17.2011
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Dead fish line the beaches of the Gulf Coast after suffering the effects of red tide, a type of phytoplankton that becomes poisonous in warmer waters.
Red tide Continued from page 1
ter season, which was supposed to begin Nov. 1, in the Gulf of Mexico due to red tide. Meridith Byrd, marine biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said that although it’s not safe to eat the oysters due to the neurotoxin, it is safe to eat fish, crab and shrimp. “The reason why it’s safe to eat fish, crab and shrimp is because the neurotoxin affects the organs and not the meat,” Byrd said. “Since the cancellation of the oyster season in the Gulf of Mexico, it has affected the oystermen that rely on oysters as a source of income to feed their families. Businesses that rely on oysters that come from the Gulf of Mexico have to go to other states to obtain their oysters.” Lisa Campbell, professor in the Department of Oceanography, said that red tides have occurred historically in the Gulf of Mexico and are a part of the natural cycle. “To explain when and why red tide occurs, we have a number of active research projects that involve monitoring bloom abundance and developing predictive models,” Campbell said. “My research is funded by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the Texas Sea Grant Program, which support training of graduate students in research on red tide.” Byrd said that red tide can be harmful and fatal for pets and encourages people not to bring
their pets to the beach. “Since dogs have smaller bodies compared to humans, fighting off the neurotoxin would be much more difficult for a dog,” Byrd said. “Dogs can easily ingest the neurotoxin by licking their fur and grooming themselves. There have been documented dog and coyote deaths due to the red tide in the past.” Campbell said the Gulf of Mexico obtains the red tide once every few years and the last red tide that occurred was in 2009. “Although the current continuing algal bloom is not the most damaging to have occurred, the bloom is nonetheless affecting large areas of the Texas coast,” Campbell said. The Texas Sea Grant’s mission is to develop a better understanding of Texas’ coastal resources through research, outreach and educational programs in support of sustainable use and conservation of resources for the benefit of the economy and environment. Jim Hiney, communications coordinator for the Texas Sea Grant College Program, said the grant provides about $800,000 annually in competitive research grants to scientists at a number of the state’s accredited universities. The Imaging Flow Cytobot is a funded project from the Texas Sea Grant, developed by Campbell, which combines video and flow cytometric technology to capture high-resolution images. This instrument will be able to develop predictive indices for early warnings of harmful algal bloom events that occur in the Gulf of Mexico.
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2011-2012 Texas A&M Campus Directory Listings of departments, administrators, faculty, staff, students, and other information about A&M, plus yellow pages.
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EPARTMENTS: If you did not order Campus Directories, you may charge and pick them up in Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Cost is $3 per copy. Please bring a Student Media Work Order.
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TUDENTS: If you ordered a 2011-2012 Campus Directory, stop by Bldg. #8901 in The Grove, (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall) to pick up your copy. Please bring your Student ID. If you did not order a Campus Directory, you may purchase a copy for $3 plus tax (by cash, check or credit card). Call 845-0569 for info. Hours: 8:30 A.M.–4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday
Pg. 3-11.17.11.indd 1
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news
page 4 thursday 11.17.2011
thebattalion
Josh McKenna — THE BATTALION
A student follows the 1999 Bonfire timeline Wednesday in Rudder Exhibit Hall.
All comic hell is about to break loose as the citizens of Tuna cope with seasonal traumas.
TUE & WED, NOV 29 & 30 2UDDER !UDITORIUM s 0SPONSORED BY
SPECIAL TICKET PRICES FOR STUDENTS! Call 979-845-1234. Buy online MSCOPAS.org
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Bonfire
Remembering Stack
Continued from page 2
Exhibit Hall, Friday-Monday in G. Rollie White Coliseum ◗ Bonfire Remembrance Ceremony: 2:42 a.m. Friday at the Bonfire Memorial
◗ Bonfire Display: Thursday in Rudder
munity through one of its most cherished traditions. Tim Sweeney, associate director of student activities, worked closely with the families of the injured and deceased following the collapse. His memories of that time are characterized by the feeling of helplessness across campus. “It took away the innocence,” Sweeney said. “A&M felt that they had something different than other universities … It took away some of the feeling of ‘we can do anything we set our mind to.’” The Bonfire stack collapsed at approximately 2:42 a.m. on Nov. 18, 1999. When the center pole snapped, the noise reverberated across campus, and many ran to the scene. Witnesses described the atmosphere as chaotic, with panicked students, sirens and lights from emergency vehicles. When Bonfire collapsed, it fell in on itself, complicating rescue efforts. Sweeney described a predicament in which rescue workers removing logs risked causing the stack to shift, endangering students still trapped underneath. Meanwhile, Sweeney waited with families who were uncertain about their loved ones’ status. A day passed before many of the deceased were identified. In the months following the tragedy, the Bonfire site — now marked by a memorial — was treated as a crime scene. Yellow tape surrounding the fallen logs remained on campus through the spring semester and served as a constant reminder of A&M community’s loss. For many, the game against the University of Texas every fall serves as a reminder of the Bonfire accident. But campus is a different place today than it was 12 years ago. Marty Holmes, Class of 1987 and former yell leader, said students today only know Bonfire as a part of history. “The student body probably doesn’t realize it’s gone,” Holmes said. The tradition began in 1907 when a group of cadets built a bonfire in celebration of an Aggie football victory. Cadets led the first on-campus Bonfire two years later. As with many Aggie traditions, it grew stronger with age. Bonfire was eventually built to reach outstanding heights, showing students’ burning desire to beat rival Texas. On top of the 55-foot wooden spectacle was an orange outhouse. It represented a “t.u. Frat house,” and was labeled with the freshman class year. Bonfire was the tradition that consumed the fall semester. Normal organizational divisions disappeared as students came together for one common goal. “It was a massive undertaking from September up until the night it burned,” Holmes said. Each class had a different responsibility. Juniors and seniors cut the wood. Sophomores
cleared the ground with machetes. Freshman gathered the logs to take to the front road. “Everyone had a chance to participate … People could be involved in many different ways,” Greenwade said. Many sororities contributed to Bonfire on cookie crew. These students baked cookies and brought hot chocolate to the workers at “cut” — where students downed trees that were transported to “stack” on campus. Regardless of students’ age, residence or organization, Bonfire was a common thread that knit the Aggie Spirit together in the fall. “It gave campus a central purpose. It brought people together that wouldn’t normally cross paths,” Greenwade said. Artifacts from the 1999 Bonfire can be found today in the University Archives. The tradition continues on a smaller scale. Student Bonfire constructs a non-university sanctioned stack every year. It is smaller and structurally safer than the design that collapsed 12 years ago. “Simply building bonfire is how we keep the tradition alive. That camaraderie and love for Texas A&M is still there, just as strong as it ever was,” said Dylan Smith, senior chemical engineering major and 2010 bonfire chief. Some students and former students believe the absence of on-campus Bonfire has left a hole that needs to be filled. They have a desire to keep the tradition alive. “I do think it would be nice to have something people could rally around in the fall,” Holmes said. Holmes said that the Big Event is the tradition that comes the closest to bringing the camaraderie that characterized Bonfire. Finding a tradition to replace Bonfire in the fall, Greenwade said, will have to come naturally and be student run. “It will have to emerge and evolve as Bonfire did. It will need to begin with the student body,” Greenwade said. As the A&M community reflects on the 12year anniversary of the tragedy, the steadfastness of the Aggie spirit rings true with many. Aggies continue to come together with every midnight yell, football game and Silver Taps. “I see this campus come together in other ways,” Greenwade said. “Our Aggie spirit transcends that one event.” Many Aggies worldwide will never forget the tragedy that struck the Twelfth Man early that November morning. It is a wound that continues to heal. But the scar is a reminder that while the fallen will never be forgotten, there remains unity in the Aggie family. “Bonfire wasn’t what gave A&M its spirit,” Sweeney said. “The A&M spirit made Bonfire.”
MUSLIM STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION PRESENTS
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Pg. 4-11.17.11.indd 1
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HELP WANTED ARE YOU READY FOR BASKETBALL? NEED EXTRA CASH? We need officials for our Youth Basketball League. Pay ranges from $9.00 to $11.00/game. Games last about one hour. Training begins 01/14/2012. Email dhudspeth@cstx.gov call 764-3424 Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for YOUTH BASKETBALL. Season begins early 01/2012! Email dhudspeth@cstx.gov call 764-3424. Full-time medical technician for growing allergy practice wanted. 4-year degree and 1-year commitment required. December graduates welcome! We are looking for an intelligent, positive, friendly person to join our team. We teach skills that are an asset for anyone interested in a career in healthcare and can help a candidate get into medical school. E-mail resume to docmgr@yahoo.com Leasing Consultant(s)- Looking for dynamic individuals for multiple Bryan/College Station apartment communities. Full and/or Part time positions available immediately. Weekends required. Candidates who enjoy a fast paced environment, possess strong sales background with customer service skills. e-mail resume to willowickmgr@comcapp.com
HELP WANTED Wanted: Energetic people for Kids Klub After-School Program. Employment begins Spring Semester, 1/4/12. Applications accepted at 1812 Welsh, Mon.-Fri., 8am-4pm. Kids Klub, 979-764-3831. www.cstx.gov/kidsklub
LOST & FOUND White male husky- blue eyes; Red/white female husky- blue eyes. Missing Wednesday 11.09.2011. Call 817-313-0012.
Tutors wanted for all subjects currently taught at TAMU/ Blinn and Sam Houston State starting at $8.25/hour. Apply on-line @ www.99Tutors.com, 979-268-8867.
OPEN THANKSGIVING DAY! from 11am-9am
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Calculus and Physics tutor needed. $20/hr. Call 979-845-1775 Donald Cantrell. 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.
If You Have Something To Sell, Remember Classifieds Can Do It!
TICKETS
Call 845-0569 I need Ag football tickets! 713-436-6244 (office) or 713-454-9776 (cell).
the battalion
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Party Block Mobile DJ- Peter Block, professional 22yrs experience. Specializing in Weddings, TAMU functions, lights/smoke. Mobile to anywhere. Book early!! 979-693-6294. http://www.partyblockdj.com
PETS Chinese Emperial ShihTzu Teacups. $350-$500. Expecting Maltipoos. 979-324-2866. linda_d_54@yahoo.com
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BRYAN: 2/1.5 NEWLY RENOVATED MIDTOWN MANOR APTS, AVAILABLE NOW, STARTING AT $535 FOR QUALIFIED PART-TIME STUDENTS, W/D CON, POOL & FREE INTERNET, CABLE & MORE! $535-$575/mo 979.775.2292 www.twincityproperties.com
COLLEGE STATION: 2/1 DOWNSTAIRS UNITS AVAIL, WALKING/ BIKING DISTANCE FROM TAMU, ASF 825, ALL APPL, CENTRAL A/H, WOOD FLOORING, W/D CONN! $515/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
BRYAN: 2 BEDROOM FOURPLEXES & DUPLEXES! SOME HAVE FENCED YARDS, PATIOS, F/P OR BALCONY, PET FRIENDLY, FREE CABLE & INTERNET, W/D CONN, ALL APPL! $515-$715/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
BRYAN: 3 BEDROOM HOMES, W/D
STUDIES IN PROGRESS ATHLETES FOOT STUDY
Volunteers ages 12 and older are needed to participate in a 6 week clinical research study of an investigational topical medication for the treatment of Athletes Foot. Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study Related Medication • Skin Exams by a Dermatologist • Compensation up to $200.00 for time and effort For more information please contact:
HAIR LOSS WWW.UBSKI.COM
1-800-SKI-WILD • 1-800-754-9453
STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In College Station. 100% Free To Join. Click On Surveys. The Callaway House, a private student housing residence hall, is accepting applications for Community Assistants for the Spring Semster. Apply in person at: 301 George Bush Drive West or Apply online: http://www.americancampus.com/our-company/employment. EOE.
ROOMMATES
BRYAN: 4/2 TOWNHOMES, ASF 1600, PET FRIENDLY, ALL APPL, F/P, BALCONY, SOME HAVE FENCED YARDS, 2 LIVING AREAS, QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD! $995-$1075/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
COLLEGE STATION: 3 BED/2 BA WITH STUDY HOMES, NEAR TAMU BUS ROUTE, ALL APPL, WOOD FLOORING, NEWLY REMODELED, FENCED YARD, PETS OK! $795/mo 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
BRYAN: AVAILABLE NOW, OVER 3,300 sq.ft. - 8 BEDROOM OR 4 SUITES, Each 800 sq.ft. Suite Includes a Master Bedroom, A Study with Extra Closet, and a Full-Size Bath ALL BILLS PAID*, PETS OK, CALL FOR DETAILS 979.764.RENT(7368) www.twincityproperties.com
puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com
Volunteers ages 18-49 are needed to participate in a 8 month long research study with an investigational topical medication for Hair Loss. All eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study Related Examinations by a Dermatologist • Study Related Medication • Compensation for time and effort For more information please contact:
J&S Studies, Inc. 979-774-5933 1710 Crescent Pointe Parkway, College Station, TX 77845 www.js-studies.com
psst... 2011 Aggieland yearbooks are here. IF YOU did not order the 2011 Texas A&M University yearbook (the 2010-2011 school year), a limited number are available at the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Hours: 8:30 A.M.–4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday. $85 plus tax. Cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. IF YOU pre-ordered a 2011 Aggieland, it has been mailed to your billing address.
AggieNetwork.com
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news
page 6 thursday 11.17.2011
thebattalion
Gunman takes aim at White House
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, a man with an apparent obsession with President Barack Obama, has been arrested in Pennsylvania after the Secret Service discovered two bullets struck the White House while the president was away, authorities said Wednesday. A bullet hit an exterior window of the White House and was stopped by ballistic glass.
Work study Continued from page 1
w/ Josh Hoge ALL TICKETS $20 IN ADVANCE AT CAVENDER’S, THE HALL AND ONLINE
on campus are in work study programs. These students earn money that contributes to their financial aid package. Cargo said the number of students awarded work study funds changes each year, depending on state and federal funding levels. This funding, she said, has increased in each of the past 10 years. “We traditionally award more than what we are allocated in order to reach the target and fully utilize funds as best possible,” Cargo said. “Work study is a need-based program. Students with any financial need, as determined by FAFSA, are potentially eligible.” FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and is used by the government to determine students’ financial need and expected family contribution. Federal work study funds directed to A&M have averaged between $700,000 and $900,000 for on-campus employment in the past 10 years, and state funds have increased from $100,000 to $250,000. Cargo said student employment programs, including work study, are an important source of educational funding.
“Students reap the benefits of career exploration, professional development, networking and employment experience, as well as a paycheck,” Cargo said. Many work study positions involve more than answering phones or making copies. Students use the program to serve the community or gain educational experience. “Work study opens doors to unique opportunities through programs such as A&M Reads & Counts, in which Aggies are employed in local school districts to assist elementary and middle school students to read and learn math,” Cargo said, “and the Work Study Community Service Program, in which students work in area non-profit agencies.” Erika Richardson, sophomore general studies major, works at Poor Yorick’s coffee shop. She said working 20 hours per week can be stressful with school, but it has taught her to manage time more effectively. “I think of things long-term. While being a student worker, being a student comes first,” Richardson said. “But, at the same time, I have to fulfill the responsibilities that come with my job and work to get things done. “As student workers, our experience gives us the advantage of learning how to be professional and responsible in a workplace.”
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holiday gift guide
page 7
thebattalion
thursday 11.17.2011
Count your blessings, then get to work Anthony Hardwick, a part-time employee at a Omaha, Neb., Target store, launched a petition asking Target department stores to drop plans to open at midnight on Thanksgiving Day, when he learned of the chain’s plans to have employees report to work at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to work 10-hour overnight shifts.
Steve Karnowski, Margery Beck and Anne D’Innocenzio Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — That may be Thanksgiving for more retail workers this year, as stores desperate to pull in buyers on the first weekend of the holiday shopping season push their openings earlier and earlier. Unhappy workers who say it ruins their Thanksgiving celebrations are trying to persuade companies to back off, but retailers say they’re stuck: It’s what customers want. Reporting to work at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day ruins what is supposed to be a day spent with family, said Anthony Hardwick, who works part-time at a Target store in Omaha corralling carts. His online petition against Target Corp.’s plan to open at midnight on Black Friday had drawn more than 100,000 signatures from retail workers and the public by Wednesday, about two weeks after he launched it. “The folks that work at Target are going to be working all night overnight on one of the most hectic retail days of the holidays,” Hardwick said, “they need to be well-rested for that, so they have to miss out on Thanksgiving if they’re going to be working overnight.” Merchants are competing for shoppers on a weekend that can be critical for their annual sales and profits, and a growing number fear opening at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., as they have in recent years, may be too late in this challenging economy. More than a decade ago, major retailers used to open their doors around 6 a.m. on Black Friday, but over the past five years they started to move that up to as early as 3 a.m. A handful started limited testing of midnight openings several years ago. But midnight openings have proliferated this year, with Target Corp., Best Buy Co., Kohl’s Corp. and BonTon Stores Inc. all announcing 12 a.m. openings for the first time. Macy’s, which opened eight stores at midnight last year, is opening all of its 800-plus Macy’s stores nationwide at that time this year. Retailers say they’re responding to consumer demand for an ever-earlier start to the holiday shopping season. A National Retail Federation survey last year shows that the number of shoppers who flocked to stores opening at midnight following the Thanksgiving feast tripled in 2010 from 2009. “We have heard from our guests that they want to shop Target following their Thanksgiving celebrations rather than only having the option of getting up in the middle of the night,”
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
said Molly Snyder, a spokeswoman for Minneapolis-based Target. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, will be offering discounts on toys, home accessories and clothing starting at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The Bentonville, Ark.-based discounter, whose supercenters already operate around the clock, opened most of its other stores by midnight on Thanksgiving evening last year. Duncan MacNaughton, chief merchandising officer at Wal-Mart’s U.S. division, said customers said they would rather stay up late to shop than get up early. Toys R Us, which opened on Thanksgiving Day for the first time last year, plans to open an hour earlier at 9 p.m. Gap Inc. will open nearly 1,000 stores across its Banana Republic, Old Navy and namesake stores on Thanksgiving in the U.S. That’s about 10 percent more than a year ago, according to Gap spokeswoman Louise Callagy. Bucking the trend, Sears Holding Corp., which opened its Sears stores on Thanksgiving for the first time last year, is going back to 4 a.m. Friday this year. Its Kmart stores, however, will be open on Thanksgiving Day as they have been since 1991, spokesman Tom Aiello said. People in several fields — even retail — have traditionally had to work on Thanksgiving, said Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman for the National
Retail Federation. She noted that many drugstores and food stores remain open on the holiday. But it seems to be the midnight openings that shifted sentiment toward keeping Thanksgiving Day itself out of the fray - aided by the rise of social media, which have helped spread the word. “I think a lot of people, with these movements like Occupy Wall Street, I think a lot of people are getting tired of wealthier people taking advantage of the middle class and poorer people,” said John Stankus, a stocker at the Target store in Cypress, Calif., who signed Hardwick’s petition. “It’s their greed and their wanting to take advantage of us - because they’re not missing their Thanksgiving dinner.” Stankus, 22, said his extended family gets together only once a year, so he’ll miss the chance to see relatives who probably won’t arrive at his aunt’s home before he has to leave to get enough sleep before starting work around 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. “I’ll just get the crumbs and the leftovers they leave behind, but I won’t get any turkey at all and won’t get time to spend with my family,” he said. Stankus said he had considered not showing up and taking the consequences. Hardwick said that’s typical of the kind of support he’s heard from colleagues, including
some who are afraid to sign because they fear losing their jobs. Other retail workers said they’re just glad to be employed. Mary Huskey, who has worked at a WalMart in suburban St. Louis for 21 years, said most retail employees know they’re going to have to work on holidays, especially Black Friday. She plans to have Thanksgiving dinner with her family early in the day, catch a little rest and then ring up sales from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. “Retail is retail. People want to shop, and if they want to shop, we have to be there for them,” Huskey said. “It’s a living, and you know that when you go into it. I’m just thankful that I have a place to work, unlike other people that don’t have a job.” It’s not just big box merchandisers that will be open Thanksgiving. Anneliese Curtis Place said she’ll be selling cars at a Toyota dealer in Santa Barbara, Calif., until 3 p.m. on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The dealer opens every Thanksgiving, she said, partly because there are a lot of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the area who don’t celebrate the holidays, She anticipates they’ll sell “quite a few” cars next Thursday. “My family’s been really flexible about working around my schedule,” Place said. “I’m glad because a job is pretty important these days.”
11/16/11 7:51 PM
holiday gift guide
page 8
thebattalion
thursday 11.17.2011
Wal-Mart’s 3Q results show US turnaround Anne D’Innocenzio Associated Press The Kindle Fire is displayed at a news conference, in New York. Amazon’s first color tablet computer starts shipping Nov. 14. It takes up the competition with Apple Inc.’s iPad and Barnes & Noble Inc.’s Nook Color.
Kindle Fire sacrifices to get under $200 Peter Svensson Associated Press NEW YORK — The Kindle was always an odd product name. Amazon used a verb to name a thing, raising the question: Kindle what? Now we have the answer: Kindle Fire. The Kindle Fire is the first full-color, touch-screen Kindle. It’s available in the U.S. starting Monday for $199. A price like that for what’s essentially a small iPad is bound to light the flames of desire this holiday season. I want to cool those down a bit, or some of you will buy the Fire and feel burned. The Fire is the best Kindle yet, no doubt about it. It’s amazing that it costs half of what the first Kindle cost, just four years ago, yet does so much more than display books. It’s more of an all-purpose computer than an e-reader. It shows movies, TV shows and Web pages. It does email and lets you play games. You’ll be lucky to get any reading done, with so many other things to do. But it has to be weighed against the competition. When you do that, it becomes apparent just how spare Amazon had to keep the device to limbo under that $200 price level. The Kindle’s design is even starker than the iPad’s. It’s a black monolith with only one
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button — the power switch — and two jacks, for headphones and power. All the controls are on the screen. The screen measures 7 inches diagonally. It’s much smaller than the iPad by surface area, making the Fire more portable. It will fit nicely into a handbag, for instance. The size of the screen wasn’t much of an issue on the monochrome Kindles because they were mainly good for showing text anyway. But the responsive color screen of the Fire opens up a lot of possibilities, such as showing magazine and comic-book pages. Here, the small size of the screen gets in the way. It’s just too far from standard page sizes to do them justice. Magazine pages look tiny. Amazon has to jump through some hoops to make them readable, like including a mode that shows just the text. But flicking through a magazine is still a lot of work — and that’s one thing that should not be like work. Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color, launched last year, has the same problem — a nice color screen that’s too small. The iPad gets it right, for a few hundred dollars more. While we’re on the subject of “too small,” let’s talk about the Fire’s memory. It has 8 gigabytes of storage. That’s enough for more books than you’ll ever read, but 10 movies will eat up the whole thing.
The cheapest iPad, which costs $499, has twice as much memory. The Nook Color, which costs $199, also has 8 gigabytes, but it comes with a slot for memory expansion with cheap cards. I don’t understand why the Fire doesn’t have a slot like that. The very first Kindle did. There’s no step-up model of the Fire with more memory. Amazon says the Fire doesn’t need more memory because the company provides an online storage locker, where you can stuff all your music and other content. That works when you have Wi-Fi coverage, but not otherwise — the Fire doesn’t have the ability to use cellular networks, as some of the monochrome models do. The Fire also lacks a camera and a microphone. Those aren’t things you’d expect in an e-reader (the Nook also lacks them). But they are standard features on tablets and are quite useful, particularly for videoconferencing. Their absence is forgivable at $199. The color screen means, inevitably, that battery life suffers compared with e-readers that use power-sipping monochrome screens. Amazon puts the reading time at eight hours, compared with about 30 hours for the new $99 Kindle Touch, which has a monochrome, touch-sensitive screen and is designed just for reading.
Wal-Mart got an early Christmas gift: Its strategy of offering the lowest prices and shoppers’ favorite goods is starting to bear fruit just in time for the holiday shopping season. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Tuesday reported its first quarterly gain in revenue at stores opened at least a year after nine consecutive quarters of declines at its branded U.S. business. It did this by hammering its message of low prices across the store and restocking the brands and products that people care most about. That the world’s largest retailer is turning a corner is a positive sign for the retail industry and the U.S. economy as a whole. Its core low-income shoppers have been particularly hard hit by joblessness and the other challenges of the nation’s weak economy. The results indicate that those most hurt by the economic downturn are willing to spend if you offer them rock-bottom pricing. “The plan is working,” Mike Duke, CEO of Wal-Mart, said on Tuesday. “Customers are responding favorably.” It’s been a long road for Wal-Mart, which in recent years has been battered by a combination of the bad economy and its own bad decisions that caused U.S. customers to flee to competitors. U.S. shoppers could no longer depend on the company for the cheapest goods because it had strayed away from offering everyday low prices on all products to just doing so on select items. Additionally, shoppers no longer viewed Wal-Mart as the place for their one-stop shopping needs as the company scaled back on plus-size clothing, crafts and other popular items in an attempt to de-clutter its stores. Recently, Wal-Mart has been working to reclaim its reputation as the lowest-price leader by going back to the “everyday” low pricing strategy that its founder, Sam Walton, pioneered.
11/16/11 7:53 PM
holiday gift guide
page 9
thebattalion
thursday 11.17.2011
You can utilize everyday time for wise holiday shopping Michelle Chapman Associated Press If you’ve been inside a mall or department store this fall, you’ve heard it already. If you’ve strolled through the home or seasonal section of a Target or Walmart or another low-price general-merchandise store, you’ve seen it. And if you’re shopping online, the signs are abundant. Holiday hype is here. This year, with prices rising everywhere, the key to limiting your spending on gifts may be to reconsider the whole process, starting with where and when you shop. Instead of hitting the mall for early bird specials, coping with Black Friday or puzzling through online discounts, consider places you already patronize. We’re talking supermarkets, convenience stores and dollar stores. Carry a running list — whether in your head, on paper or in a notes file on your smartphone. And pick up gifts as you go about life. You’ll save money and time, and you’ll avoid crowds and website crashes. This is an especially effective way to keep from spending too much on small items like stocking stuffers, workplace grab bag presents and hospitality gifts. You probably don’t picture yourself shopping for presents while you’re buying milk and eggs, but why not? Grocery stores operated by California-based Safeway Inc., New Jersey-based ShopRite, Ohio-based Kroger Co. and other companies
stock toys and books all year. And the bakery aisle offers everything you need to make personalized gifts of cookies, cake or homemade candy. Stocking stuffers like lipstick, kitchen gadgets and gift cards are also readily available. And you can pick up wrapping paper or a bouquet at many large grocery stores. Patty Fishman, a vice president with Minnesota-based Supervalu Inc., said licensed graphic T-shirts, As Seen on TV items and a retro popcorn machine are available at some of its Albertsons, Jewel-Osco and other stores. Gift items this year include Mattel Inc. Fijit interactive robotic toys and the latest Michael Buble CD. “While price point is key for supermarkets, value and quality has become an equally important part of holiday merchandise,” said Christina Veiders, managing editor of Supermarket News.
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11/16/11 7:54 PM
page 10
holiday gift guide thebattalion
thursday 11.17.2011
Retailers court savvy shopper Robin McMacken
*/*
1 R E B M E C E STARTING D
ST
Associated Press Despite a holiday season dampened by a struggling economy and high unemployment rates, shoppers will find much to be jolly about in the ways retailers will court them this year. Savvy spenders in 2011 can expect extended store hours, free shipping offers, reasonable layaway programs and revved-up online shopping. There is good cause for retailers to spice things up for value-conscious shoppers. Although holiday retail sales for 2011 are expected to increase 2.8 percent to $465.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, that growth is lower than the 5.2 percent increase retailers experienced last year. The trifecta of holiday bargain days — Black Friday (always the day after Thanksgiving and arguably the busiest shopping day of the year), Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, and Cyber Monday on Nov. 28 — is surely not to be ignored, but keep in mind the Internet has made shopping a 24/7 bargain bonanza. Online retailers are prepping by optimizing their sites, beginning their marketing and promotions early, and planning plenty of free shipping promotions as they aim to provide value and convenience for their shoppers, according to Fiona Swerdlow of Shop.org. Big-box retailers such as Target and Macy’s will open at the stroke of midnight on Black Friday to get in additional holiday shopping hours. On the other hand, JC Penney is sticking with 4 a.m. except at stores in malls. In the meantime, other retailers are waiting to announce their plans. Layaway plans have re-emerged from the shopping days of yore as consumers work to eliminate credit card debt. Retailers and local boutiques started offering layaway plans in the summer. You can expect to pay 10 to 20 percent down for layaway items.
Smart shopping When it comes to holiday gift-giving, most of us have the same mindset: We want to give loved ones high-quality presents without the high price tags. Here are some tips to celebrate the season in style without breaking the bank:
◗ Shop early and often, according to Michelle Madhok, online shopping expert and editor of shefinds.com. Stores are expected to have smaller inventories this holiday season, so don’t delay if you have specific gifts in mind.
◗ Fend off holiday madness by staying organized. Madhok suggests creating shopping lists and budgets by registering (for free) on rememberthemilk.com.
◗ Take advantage of search engines that offer coupon alerts for savvy shoppers. Madhok recommends such sites as shopstyle.com and pronto.com. You can sign up for sale alerts and newsletters and tailor your account to include your preferred brands and products.
◗ Frequently visit such off-price stores as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls to snag brand names and designer fashions at a fraction of department store prices.
◗ Use free smartphone apps such as Coupon BUY, SELL, TRADE or REPAIR ANY USED PHONE!
FOR MORE DETAILS FACEBOOK.COM/AGGIELANDOUTFITTERS
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
All Phone Toys is one of the largest wireless retailers in the U.S. We have experience with all kinds of used cellular phones and have over 4,000 new cellular phones in stock! Come in and see what all the buzz is about! 11907 FM 2154 (Wellborn Rd.) 979-694-2800 3600 S Texas Ave. 979-260-0500
Sherpa, Google Shopper and Shop Savvy to ensure you are getting the best price in town or on the Internet, according to helpsavemedollars.com.
◗ Scour the newspaper for sales, coupons and inserts.
◗ “Like” the Facebook pages of your favorite retailers and follow stores on Twitter. Oftentimes, special deals and private sales will be announced. For example, you can register on New York & Company’s Faceboook page, for instance, for a free trip to New York City.
11/16/11 7:54 PM