A limited number of student rush tickets are available for ONLY $14 to tonight’s MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY'S COWBOY CHRISTMAS in Rudder Auditorium! Hurry! Available only at the MSC Box Office. Please limit 2 tickets per student. Student ID is required. This offer not valid for tickets already purchased.
Sorority strengthens bonds amid Stryker family tragedygreek life
A&M salutes Loftin with bowtie giveawayFirst 1,500 students to receive bowties Tuesday at game
w. basketball insideopinion | 7
Grow up and go HAMWith another graduation looming on the horizon, Jessica Smarr takes a look at the imminent doom that is adulthood, and she doesn’t like what she sees.
FILE PHOTO
The Texas A&M women’s basket-ball team will honor University
President R. Bowen Loftin on Tues-day as he concludes his final year in office by giving out free bowties, a Loftin fashion staple, to the first 1,500 students through the doors for “Dr. R. Bowen Loftin Appreciation Night.”
The team will face off against San Diego State at 7 p.m. in Reed Arena in the Aggies’ homecoming following a 1-2 performance in the Paradise Jam Classic in the Virgin Islands.
In the tournament, A&M was upset by Texas and Syracuse and defeated Memphis, falling to 4-2 on the season. The team looks to rebound against an Aztecs squad with a 1-4 record.
Despite the pair of losses, A&M
James SullivanThe Battalion
has maintained its standing in the polls, ranked No. 11 in the Coaches Poll and No. 23 by the Associated Press. San Diego State is unranked in both polls.
The Aggies enter the home match-up No. 18 nationally with 55.3 points
University President R. Bowen Loftin and women’s basketball coach Gary Blair ‘hump it’ during the Kentucky game last February at Reed Arena.
See Basketball on page 8
Grant awarded to support STEM education
higher ed
Jennifer Reiley The Battalion
Shelby Knowles — THE BATTALION
Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the presentation Monday for a grant for STEM education.
The $150,000 grant presented to Texas A&M University on Monday to support education in science, technology, en-
gineering and mathematics highlighted the ever-growing eco-nomic focus of STEM technology in Texas and the role Texas A&M University plays in STEM research.
The grant, which will be given over the next three years, was presented by The Cognizant Technology Solutions Corpora-tion at the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing at
See STEM on page 3
Members of Delta Zeta have come to-gether in a time of tragedy to show
support for their sorority sister, Stephanie Stryker, who lost her parents and brother in an auto accident Nov. 26.
Among other efforts, a website has been made for Stryker, a junior biochemistry ma-jor, on EverRibbon.com by her Delta Zeta sisters to raise money to cover expenses and dues as a Delta Zeta member. Delta Ze-
tas from across the country have donated to Stryker.
Leann Taylor, freshman business admin-istration major and Delta Zeta member, said she had no doubt that Delta Zeta members would be there for each other in the face of tragedy.
“They will always be there for you, if any-thing happens we will always have each other to lean on,” Taylor said.
Holly Flores, sophomore biology major and Delta Zeta member, said Stryker has
enough to worry about without concerning herself with expenses.
“Finances should be the least of her worries right now,” Flores said. “She has gone through such a huge tragedy. We want to do everything we can for her. She has always been there for us and now it is our turn.”
Stryker tweeted Thursday her ap-preciation of the support shown by the
Caroline CorriganThe Battalion
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December album previewStudents highlight anticipated albums for December, from Britney Spears to Childish Gambino.
She has gone through such a huge tragedy. We want to do
everything we can for her. She has always been there for us and now it is our turn.”
— Holly Flores, sophomore biology major and
Delta Zeta member
COURTESY
Architectural graduate students Nooshin Esfahani (left) and Chen Han examine a design concept for a proposed children’s health care facility in New Jersey.
Homer Segovia The Battalion
Ten Aggie architecture graduate students recently had the opportunity to represent one of the top two health architecture programs in the nation at
Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fla.The Architecture for Health Studio was invited by
Nemours, an organization that operates children’s health care centers across the country, to present design concepts for a new ambulatory health care center that will be located in New Jersey. Nemours will likely hire an architectural firm
See Stryker on page 2
See Architecture on page 2
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to develop a final design based on what was learned from the students’ presentations.
Victoria Garcia, architec-ture graduate student, said though she has worked on health care projects before, the fact that this project was a children’s facility made it the most detailed design that she’s worked on.
“I think because it was a children’s facility we had to think, ‘Okay, would a child enjoy this?’” Garcia said. “We needed to make all of the spaces welcoming and invit-ing, but at the same time they needed to have the functions that they were required to have for medicinal purposes. So I think that was a chal-lenge, making scary, intimi-dating rooms more friendly, more welcoming.”
The teams focused on mak-ing the health care facility a sustainable building, including additions such as solar panels and windows that increase the amount of natural light that enters the building or pay-ing particular attention to the shape of the building itself.
“For me, the challenge is to combine the sustainable things with the interesting things that would attract children and combine those two together and build our building,” said Jiayu Chen, architecture grad-uate student. “That’s why our building is very funny — the shape is funny, but the shape is useful for sustainable design.”
While the students fo-cused on sustainability of the building, they also faced the challenge of building on wet-lands, an environment difficult for construction.
“So when we thought we had 60 acres, it actually turns out to only be 30,” said Andy Ilges, architecture graduate student. “They wanted the first phase second phase and surface parking on 75,000 square feet. Fitting all that
onto the property they se-lected was really not going to happen in the way that they wanted.”
While the various pro-gram requirements of the health care facility made the design more complicated than a usual studio, Ilges said the process was easier be-cause they were working on a real architecture project rather than one made up by a professor.
“The fact that we were working with a real client and real consultants really helped because we were able to reach out to them throughout the semester,” Ilges said. “We had several Skype sessions and emails back and forth, just ask-ing questions and getting in-formation that contributed to our project, so I would say the most significant thing about this is that we were actually working on a real project with real people.”
Dealing with real clients and consultants means the end product of the students’ proj-ects may result in a building that is brought to life, not just to be a grade.
“There are many that have been built,” said George Mann, Ronald L. Skaggs endowed professor. “Most projects architects [com-plete] don’t get built because the financial feasibility isn’t studied or there’s something that goes awry.”
To resolve this, Mann fo-cused heavily on improving the communication skills of each of the students by making them give presentations, cre-ate unique business cards and perform other exercises.
Nanven Dogun, architec-ture graduate student, said the amount of attention that Mann places on communica-tion was bothersome at first, but that it prepared him for dealing with people in the ar-chitecture industry.
“A lot of the things he started making us do that we were not used to were an-noying, but after some time you kind of understand why he was doing those things,” Dogun said. “He had told us why, but when we saw them happening, when we go out and meet people, everything he said could happen did hap-pen, so it’s more like he takes a lot of time to focus on the real practical aspects of what the practice is going to be and not just focusing on a floor-plan for the whole semester.”
Mann said each year brings different students to his studios that require different methods of instruction, but there is one thing that remains constant about his method.
“I never tell my students what to design,” Mann said. “That’s like telling somebody what clothes to wear.”
APPROACH THE BENCHMaking the decision to attend law school is huge. Deciding which one to go to can be intimidating.At South Texas College of Law/Houston you will find: x an exceptional faculty
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Deadline for fall, 2014 admission is February 15, 2014
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December 4, 2011 at 3:00 PM in Rudder AuditoriumTHE ANNUAL CHORAL HOLIDAY CONCERT
THE HOLIDAY SPIRITOF AGGIELAND
December 2, 2012 at 4:00 PM in Rudder AuditoriumDecember 8, 2013 at 3:00 PM in Rudder Auditorium
The BaTTalion is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.
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. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: [email protected]; 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 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: [email protected].
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.
thebattalion The IndependenT STudenT VoIce of TexaS a&M SInce 1893
Jake Walker, Editor in Chief
thebattalion
newspage 2
tuesday 12.3.2013
Greek system.“The Aggie family and beyond that Greek
family brings tears to my eyes with their over-whelming support,” Stryker tweeted. “You are all beyond perfect.”
Lauren Suarez, junior communication ma-jor and Delta Zeta member, said the sorority will open its house from 1-4 p.m. on Thursday for the community to sign letters and drop off gifts for Stryker.
“At 4 o’clock we are going to have a prayer outside our house for people to gather for a si-lent prayer for the Stryker family,” Suarez said.
Flores said she met Stryker at the first A&M football game last year. Nervous as a
new member in Delta Zeta, Flores said Stryker welcomed her with open arms.
“She was so excited to meet me and she didn’t even know me,” Flores said.
Kara Comte, Delta Zeta advisor, coordinat-ed a bus to take about a third of the chapter members to the Strykers’ family church, Sun-Creek United Methodist in Allen, this com-ing Wednesday for the funeral, Flores said. The Strykers were active members in their church and the Delta Zetas will be there to show support.
Delta Zetas encourage not only the Greek community, but all of Texas A&M to show their support for a fellow Aggie in this diffi-cult time. Taylor said Delta Zeta members are planning a candlelight ceremony on campus for Sunday, but they are still awaiting clear-ance from the University.
StrykerContinued from page 1
Yomi Adenuga — THE BATTALION
Architecture professor George Mann and his students discuss the task of designing a 75,000-square-foot sustainable ambulatory health care facility.
ArchitectureContinued from page 1
BAT_12-3-13_A2.indd 1 12/2/13 10:39 PM
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We’ve got your number2013-2014 Texas A&M Campus DirectoryConvenient listings of departments, administrators, faculty, staff, and other information about A&M.
Departments: You may charge and pick up Campus Directories in the student media office in suite L400 of the msC. Cost is $4 per copy. please bring a student media Work Order. Delivery by request. Call 845-2646 for info.
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tuesday 12.3.2013
Texas A&M. The Monday presentation
event included speakers Gov. Rick Perry, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp, state Rep. Bill Flores and Gordon Coburn, president of Cogni-zant.
Flores said STEM edu-cation is important for the future of the U.S. but it is suffering in today’s environ-ment.
“Basic research is the seed corn that we sow to maintain a future that is physically and economically healthy for our country,” Flores said. “To-day our country’s ability to sow that seed with a healthy research function, like we do at A&M, is impaired. One of the challenges is the severe shortages of STEM gradu-ates.”
The projected employ-ment rates in science and math fields in the upcoming years motivated both Cogni-zant’s award of the grant and the move of its headquarters to College Station, Coburn said.
“STEM education is criti-cal for the continued growth of America’s innovation economy and global com-petitiveness,” Coburn said. “Cognizant is one the larg-est STEM recruiters in the United States. We expect to hire over 10,000 professionals in the United States over the next three years, and during this same period we expect to increase our workforce here in Texas by at least 750. A majority of those jobs, we hope, will come from Col-lege Station.”
Sharp said Cognizant’s fo-cus on STEM education sup-ports A&M’s own commit-ment to educating the next generation.
“The Texas A&M System produces more STEM teach-ers for our public schools and private schools, secondary and elementary schools in the state of Texas than any,” Sharp said. “We produce 40 percent of all the teachers that are in classrooms in the state of Texas.”
Michael Pishko, director of the National Center for
Therapeutics Manufacturing, accepted the award on behalf of the facility. Pishko said the grant would benefit programs that support and encourage the next generation to pursue degrees in science and math fields.
“We are extremely grate-ful for Cognizant’s sponsor-ship of our STEM programs that we have over the sum-mer for high school students across the state of Texas,” Pishko said. “Through Cog-nizant’s support we’ll be able to provide scholarships to better serve the economi-cally disadvantaged students here in the state, particularly those who haven’t tradition-ally pursued careers in science and engineering. Through this investment, we’ll also be able to support our teacher workshops where we bring high school students from across the state and they bring what they learned here to our classrooms.”
Coburn said Cognizant is looking forward to work-ing with A&M to promote STEM education.
“The grant will support STEM by giving money to programs focused on edu-cating high school students about careers in science and math fields,” Coburn said. “I plan to come back next year and talk about what people in the corporate world are looking for today in college graduates. Texas A&M does a good job of showing how exciting math and science can be in college and afterward. Cognizant can show the cor-porate side of the industry.”
Cognizant’s move to Texas is part of a movement of busi-nesses to Texas, Perry said, as they realize the opportunities the state offers.
“People know they can come [to Texas],” Perry said. “They can risk their capital. People who risk their capital can know they can keep more of what they work for, and they in turn can hire people to allow families to be better taken care of. That’s the great story of Texas over the last 10-plus years. [Cognizant] could have picked anywhere in the United States, and they chose Texas. More specifi-cally, they chose the Bryan-College Station area.”
STEMContinued from page 1
Shelby Knowles — THE BATTALION
Gordon Coburn, president of Cognizant, speaks Monday at the presentation of a STEM grant to A&M.
BAT_12-3-13_A3.indd 1 12/2/13 7:25 PM
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2. 45 undergraduate resident credit hours completed at TAMU.
3. 2.0 cumulative GPR at Texas A&M University.
4. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university.
GRADUATE STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:Master’s Thesis Option 1. Defended Thesis Due to ordering deadlines, you may order at the beginning of the semester you will graduate. Your Aggie Ring will be delivered on Aggie Ring Day if you have defended your thesis prior to the deadline set by the Office of Graduate Studies. If you do not defend your thesis prior to this date, your Aggie Ring will be held until the qualification is met.
2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university.
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HOW TO GET YOUR AGGIE RING ON APRIL 11, 2014:
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Visit AggieNetwork.com/Ring for complete details or call the Aggie Ring Program at (979) 845-1050.
Check Ring Eligibility: Jan. 3 - Feb. 6
Order Dates: Jan. 6 - Feb. 7
Aggie Ring Day: April 11, 2014
thebattalion
newspage 4
tuesday 12.3.2013
COURTESY
Century Singers (first
four rows), Singing Cadets
(in white) and Women’s
Chorus (back left and back
right) sing the Hallelujah Chorus from
Handel’s “Messiah,”
which is sung at the end of
the concert each year.
Century Singers, Singing Cadets and Women’s Chorus will join Sunday
for a holiday-themed concert, “Holiday Spirit of Aggieland.”
Eric Posada, assistant director of Cho-ral Activities and director of Century Singers and Women’s Chorus, said the concert will features the choirs and small ensembles within each choir — Century Sounds from Century Singers, One A-Chord from Women’s Chorus and the Aggienizors from the Singing Cadets.
“It gives the community and people associated with A&M and the surround-ing area the chance to listen to all three choirs,” Posada said. “We definitely want to be in the Christmas spirit so we’ll have a mixture of well-known carols and other classical, appropriate pieces for the holi-day season.”
Kimberly Cuccia, senior accounting major and Century Singers member, said each choir and its small ensemble will
have its own concert. Cuccia said Cen-tury Singers will begin with “Carol of the Bells” and sing a variety of music, includ-ing classic Christmas carols and the pieces “Shout to God” and “Ave Maria.”
“This is the only concert that all three choirs get together for all year,” Cuccia said. “A big part is unity and it’s a great way for all of us to have a Christmas con-cert and come together and be blessed with music of the season, but I think it’s also just very efficient for all three to per-form at the same time and it’s a great way
to promote all three groups together.”Jill Terpilowski, senior education ma-
jor and Women’s Chorus member, said the chorus will do traditional Christmas songs such as “Oh Christmas Tree” and more contemporary tunes such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
“We’re doing a mix of things that people have definitely heard before and would recognize as Christmas and then more traditional choral works,” Ter-pilowski said.
Cuccia said she was drawn to the choir because of its style and the type of music it performs.
“I’ve been singing for a very long time and I knew I wanted to keep music in my life,” Cuccia said. “Century Singers has been like a family to me in my time here at A&M, so it’s a great way to do what I love. [We’ve had] a variety of majors come together and do something we love and break away from school.”
Holiday Spirit of Aggieland will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rudder Auditorium. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door and can be purchased in the MSC Box Office.
Singing acts to join voices for holiday concert
Kadie McDougaldThe Battalion
choral activities
Groups to mix carols with holiday-themed musical pieces
[The concert] gives the
community and people associated with A&M and the surrounding area a chance to listen to all three choirs.”
— Eric Posada, assistant director
of Choral Activities
BAT_12-3-13_A4.indd 1 12/2/13 7:57 PM
thebattalion
music page 5
tuesday 12.3.2013UPCOMINGALBUMS
DECEMBER12/3 12/10 12/10 12/10
“I’m looking forward to Spears’ new album because a couple of the songs that came out during the sum-mer were very good and I have had them stuck in my head since day one. She went through a phase where her music wasn’t as good, but it’s gotten a lot better recently.”
Britney Spears“Britney Jean”
“I was introduced to Childish Gambino during my fresh-man year. A few of his songs have been on my radar lately and they were pretty good and he’s released two singles that I’ve liked so I’m looking forward to the rest of it.”
Childish Gambino
“Because the Internet”“I didn’t know they were coming out with a new album, but I’m still excit-ed even if it is a live one. They’ve always had that re-ally thick, bass-heavy, ston-er-rock type of sound, and I’m curious to see how that will translate over. Hopefully we’ll see a new studio album soon.”
“I feel like they are really laid back and it kind of chills you out, you know? So they’re enjoyable to listen to. The songs that I’ve heard from them just make me want to listen to more, so I’m really excited for their new stuff.”
Zac Brown Band“The Grohl Sessions
Vol. 1”
“I first got exposed to B.O.B. in his very first album. I’m really excited for this release because in his last one he had a lot of featured artists and that was really enter-taining. All his songs sound really different and I really like that.”
B.O.B.“Underground
Luxury”
Mastodon“Live at Brixton”
12/17
— Kirby Bosse, senior health major
— Michael Mayfield, senior mathematics major
— Chris Faucett, senior nuclear engineering major
— Benjamin Sullivan, senior computer science major
— Katie Gourley, senior political science major
Compiled by David Cohen and William Guerra — THE BATTALION
BAT_12-3-13_A5.indd 1 12/2/13 7:38 PM
What are the facts?National Security. The balance of military power,
as compared to its neighboring Arab enemies, isdecisively in favor of Israel. Israel’s military might issubstantially greater than that of any combinationof its potential adversaries. It is highly unlikely thatany Arab state would venture to attack powerfulIsrael. Military threats are more likely to come fromnon-state adversaries such as Hamas or Hezbollah.Israel’s non-state enemies arearmed with thousands ofrockets, virtually all of themsupplied by Iran. But Israel’ssophisticated missile defensesystems would be fullycompetent to intercept and incapacitate virtually allsuch incoming rockets.
The only credible threat would be an implacablyhostile Iran. It is, however, certain that Israel, withor without the help or approval of the United States,would not allow Iran to be in a position to attack. Ifworse came to worst, there is, as a last resort,Israel’s own nuclear potential, which, thoughunconfirmed, is purported to be formidable.
A Strong Economy. Next to military power, astrong economy is a fundamental requirement for asuccessful future. Israel’s economy is vastly ahead ofits neighbors – unique in the Middle East and equalto most and superior to some European countries.Israel was admitted into the Organization forEconomic Cooperation and Development (OECD), aunion of the most developed countries of the world.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) hasexpressed its confidence in Israel’s long-term vitality.
Israel is a fount of productivity. Most majorAmerican companies have subsidiaries andresearch/development affiliates in Israel. Israel is aworld leader in microchip technology, in medicalinstrumentation, in missile defense, in robotics, inunmanned aerial vehicles and in many othercategories. Although much effort has beenexpended by Israel’s enemies to isolate iteconomically, that is a forlorn cause and willcontinue to be unsuccessful.
As a result of ceaseless exploration, huge oil andgas fields have been discovered in the Israeli sectorof the Mediterranean, which, beginning almostimmediately, will fulfill its domestic demands andwill, in all likelihood, propel Israel to become anexporter of such products.
A Cohesive Society, a Flowering Democracy.Unique in the Middle East, Israel is a democracy onthe US model. That means a state of laws and of thewill of its citizens. Although a highly militarizednation, and in contrast to all of its neighbors, therehas never been any hint of a putsch or of a coup inIsrael. It has the same important institutions as ourcountry, including the nation’s Supreme Courtplaying an important and decisive role.
Despite havingsuccessfully integratedmillions of people since thecountry’s creation in 1948 –the population is essentiallyhomogeneous, united by the
Jewish faith. Even the large block of Sovietimmigrants has been successfully absorbed. Thelarge contingent of Ethiopians has had a somewhatmore difficult adjustment. Many of the Arabcitizens, even though all venues are available tothem, have still not fully accepted their country.Much work remains to be done. The most difficultremaining division is between the secular majorityand the ultra-religious haredim. But even they arebeginning to adapt and to integrate, with many ofthe young haredim willing to serve in the IDF, thecountry’s military. Israel is blessed with adisproportionate number of college graduates –probably the highest percentage of population inthe world. It has the highest number of Nobellaureates to population and the highest percentageof patents issued.
International Relations. Even despite itsproblems with Arab and Muslim nations, Israel hasfull diplomatic relations with 156 out of 193 U.N.members. The only implacable enemy is Iran,which, under the Shah, was one of Israel’s firmestallies. Turkey, also a former close friend, is, underits current Islamist government, in an ambiguousrelationship with Israel. The two fastest growingand most populace countries – China and India –are in friendly relationships with Israel. They arenot infected by the anti-Semitic virus that haspoisoned much of Europe. They think of Israel as anancient civilization, just like their own. But themost important international connection by far isthat with our country, the United States, which hasbeen a strong and generous supporter of Israel fromthe very day of its creation and considers it to beone of its most important and most reliable allies.
To receive free FLAME updates, visit our website: www.factsandlogic.org
You deserve a factual look at . . .
Israel: Its Success for the Long HaulWhat Are Israel’s Great Strengths to Achieve Its Continued Success?
On its 65th birthday, Israel can be described as a great success. Now, looking forward, we need to projectwhat Israel will be like for the next 60 to 100 years. From what we can foresee, it is going to be a continuationof its success. There are good reasons for this optimistic assessment.
Yes, indeed, with its strong military, its flourishing economy, its cohesive population, and its firminternational relations, the future of the Jewish state for the next 60 to 100 years seems to be assured.
FLAME is a tax-exempt, non-profit educational 501 (c)(3) organization. Itspurpose is the research and publication of the facts regarding developmentsin the Middle East and exposing false propaganda that might harm theinterests of the United States and its allies in that area of the world. Your tax-deductible contributions are welcome. They enable us to pursue these goalsand to publish these messages in national newspapers and magazines. Wehave virtually no overhead. Almost all of our revenue pays for oureducational work, for these clarifying messages, and for related direct mail.
This message has been published and paid for by
Facts and Logic About the Middle EastP.O. Box 590359 � San Francisco, CA 94159
Gerardo Joffe, President138
“Yes, indeed, the future of theJewish state for the next 60 to
100 years seems to be assured.”
PAID ADVERTISEMENTthebattalion
newspage 6
tuesday 12.3.2013
10:20am SundaysSimple. Relational. On a Mission.
lifechurchonline.netBuck Weirus Spirit Award
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Applications availableDecember 31, 2013
puzzle answers can be found on page 3
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the
In response to the Texas A&M Board of Regents’
October approval of tuition and fee guidelines for the next academic year, a public hear-ing will be held by the Texas A&M University Council for Strategic Budgeting to inform the public and get student in-put.
The hearing will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Rud-der Forum and will include a presentation by the University on the tuition and fee plans for the upcoming year in addition to a question-and-answer ses-sion with students, said Shane
Hinckley, interim vice presi-dent for marketing and com-munications.
Brittany Bounds, president of Graduate Student Council and voting student member on the Council for Strategic Budgeting, a board created in 2012 to make budget recom-mendations to the president, said the meeting is a means of complying with state law.
“According to the state of Texas, the University has to offer a guaranteed tuition and fee plan for students,” Bounds said. “Texas A&M University has to fall in line with that plan so [A&M provost Karan Wat-son] is probably going to ad-dress this problem, as well as an opportunity for guaranteed tuition, and then open it up for student questions.”
Reid Joseph, student body
president and student voting member on the council, said the plan that will be presented Wednesday is not necessarily the final product that will be brought before the Board of Regents.
Bounds said this event is representative of the council’s deeper dedication to being open to student input.
“They have several stu-dents, both undergraduate and graduate students, sitting on the council and before any decisions are made they ask for input from our respective bodies,” Bounds said. “I think that it’s completely appreciat-ed from the students who do have the ability to provide in-put to decisions that are made by the administration.”
Council invites student input on A&M budget
Aimee BreauxThe Battalion
Public hearing to be held Wednesday
Although the Wednesday and Thursday before finals are designed to give students
time to prepare for their upcoming exams, some Aggies use the days to escape the stress of long semester.
Emily Wischnewsky, senior education ma-jor, said she will spend reading days celebrating.
“My birthday is Tuesday, so I’m going to be celebrating that and the end of the semester before finals start,” Wischnewsky said.
Sierra Shields, sophomore general studies major, said she always does something fun.
“Last year, some friends and I went bowl-ing,” Shields said. “This year, aside from work-ing, I plan to go to the movies and just relax. It’s not fun to be super stressed about everything, so
I always take a couple days to myself.” Emily Brown, junior business major, said she
is going to relax by getting into the Christmas spirit before finals.
“I am going to decorate my apartment,” Brown said. “I also want to go to Santa’s Won-derland this year. The best way to relax before finals is to get coffee and walk around looking at lights with some friends.”
Sarah Petta, senior anthropology major, said she will use the time to go camping.
“I don’t have finals until Monday so I’m tak-ing advantage of having a few days off before graduation,” Petta said. “Camping is always the answer to free time.”
For the full story, go online at thebatt.com
Students get creative with time afforded by reading daysCameron SteeleThe Battalion
BAT_12_3_13_A6.indd 1 12/2/13 6:59 PM
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thebattalion
opinion page 7
tuesday 12.3.2013
If you have ever seen a girl in a white Hyndai Sante Fe rocking out her inter-pretive “Call Me Maybe” dance, I’m sorry. Also, you’re welcome. Because let’s be real, my car dancing skills are killer.
I listen to Top 40 stations almost exclusively on my way to class. This usually only involves a slight amount of guilt and a large amount of steering wheel drumming, but recently, disaster struck in the form of Colette Carr’s new song, “HAM.”
In her song, Carr talks about get-ting together with a bunch of her lady friends and going, going, going, going “ham.” This apparently must be well funded and involves a bit of bopping about and the removal of clothes. I think there is also ice cream.
I spent the entirety of my ride in dis-tress. What in the world did this mean? Why was she “going ham”? What drove her to that? The best explanation I could come up with was she was a young, rebellious Jewish girl who had decided to break Kosher and eat some bacon.
This wasn’t right, but it was a solid guess.
As soon as I got to class, I opened up Urban Dictionary and searched, “going ham.” Because this is an (Aggie) fam-ily newspaper, we’ll pretend it means, “going hard as a mother-flipper.” Or fandango. Or maybe flatulence. Pick
your favorite “F” word and go crazy.I was ashamed. Not because of Carr’s
language. I couldn’t really give a flippin’ flatulence about that. I was ashamed that I was so far behind on my pop culture knowledge that I had to run to Urban Dictionary in order to understand the songs on my radio. It was then that the truth slapped me in my fandango-ing face — I am getting old.
This is serious. One day, you’re looking up song lyrics on the Internet, mildly concerned you’re losing touch with your generation. The next, you’re 50 years old and making your teenage kids uncomfortable as they crawl into your pelican-puke green minivan, ask-ing them about some word a bless-his-heart kind of kid just yelled at you.
I’m terrified of getting older. I graduate some weekend in May, the very same weekend I officially meet the real world — the one full of horrifying things like mortgages, balanced diets, matching clothes and fabric softener. This past Sunday, I realized I’m go-ing to have in-laws some day. That’s another entire family to disappoint with my psychology degree during federal holidays.
I am frankly not cut out for a real-world kind of life. Engineers and hard science students have crunched enough numbers and drawn enough diagrams to crush their souls into a 9-to-5 box. But I can’t even make myself wear shoes to
class. There’s no way I want my entire life to be described by a tax form.
I might be frightened of getting older, but there is one thing that scares me more than anything else possibly could — becoming boring.
I have no desire to give up dancing to trashy pop tunes in my car. I just plain don’t want to grow up to tell my theoretical future children to make their beds. In fact, I still don’t even know if I’m sold on this whole “college thing.” I’m still honestly considering running away to the circus, though I’m not sure anyone would be interested in my “Glorious Guinea Pig eats her weight in sociology notes” act.
That is why I say we rise up and change the rules. If we band together, we can change the definition of adult-hood. “Say no to minivans and ties with cartoon characters on them,” will be our rallying cry!
Actually, that’s not very catchy. First item on the agenda will be to assign a rally-cry committee.
We can do this. Those of you gradu-ating in December, you go out there and get things started. We are young and virile and they will put up with our antics as long as we keep paying into Social Security. Let’s go HAM. Or at least eat some bacon. I’d settle for that.
Jessica Smarr is a senior psychology major and copy chief for The Battalion
Jessica Smarr: The real world is
for the birds — or pigs
GROW UP AND GO HAM
I pride myself on my love of obscure music. Due to excessive exposure, I have even instilled a decent musical taste in my very sassy and very obese guinea
pig. But when I get in the car, all bets are off. The pop station goes on, the radio volume goes up, the windows roll down and all self-respect immediately vanishes to hide among the fast food bags on my floorboard.
Willi
am G
uerra
— T
HE
BA
TTA
LIO
N
BAT_12-3-13_A7.indd 1 12/2/13 7:10 PM
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thebattalion
sportspage 8
tuesday 12.3.2013
allowed per game and No. 25 in points al-lowed per possession. A&M will also have history on its side against San Diego State as it holds a 3-0 series lead, including a 92-56 drubbing the last time the squads met in 2010.
A&M is led by sophomore guard Courtney Walker, junior forward Achiri Ade and senior center Karla Gilbert, all of whom are averag-ing double-digit point totals this season. Gil-
bert and Ade also lead the team in rebounds per game, combining for 15.7 per game on the season.
For her play in the Paradise Jam Classic, Walker was named to the all-tournament team following her career-best 26-point per-formance in the loss to Syracuse. Walker av-eraged 17 points while shooting 50 percent from the field in the three-game event.
A&M head coach Gary Blair will search for the 650th win of his career, which would make him the 19th Division I coach to reach the milestone.
