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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1994)
SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING Hi colas Jon XYana CAGE LOVITZ GARVEY Trapped in FREE MOVIE POSTERS Tuesday, November 22 9:30 PM Rudder Auditorium Pick Up Free Passes at the IWSC Box Office Courtesy of Q S El El Q Q Q B QDD ron«LL,urenst,TEcus ALUAVS THE LOWEST PRICE FOR A COLLECT CALL- JAT&T DUE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23 rd At A Theatre Near You. Page 4 - The Battalion ASS ieli f e Tuesday • November 22, Century Tree provides proposal place for A<S?M students By Haley Stavinoha The Battalion With its big arms reaching out to hold anyone who decides to take a seat for a proposal of a life long commitment, it’s probably known as the most popular tree on campus. The live oak tree between the Academic Build ing and Bolton Hall is known as the Century Tree, but not too many people know its true age. Photographs in the A&M Archives show that live oak trees were introduced to the Texas A&M campus between 1900 and 1910. In fact, it has been referred to as the Century Tree before A&M’s Centennial in 1976. A fairly new tradition has come about that takes place only at the century tree. Many male A&M students who have a ring burning a hole in their pocket bring their girl friends to this famous spot. Johnathon Stark, a sophomore accounting ma jor, and Kristi Thomas, a junior political science major, just moved here from Odessa and said they wanted to be a part of A&M. But with a heavy workload, Stark decided the best tradition to participate in was proposing to Thomas, his girlfriend of three years. The perfect place was under the Century Tree. “I felt it would be a great way for both of us to become part of an A&M tradition together,” Stark said. He also said the experience went deeper than the tradition, because the tree was so overwhelm ing. Thomas, not expecting to be engaged until Christmas, said that Stark told her they were go ing to meet a friend on campus. “As he sat me under the tree, he read a poem he had written,” Thomas said. “He popped the question.” Stark said the limbs seem to surround the mo- Robyn Calloway/THEBm. The Century Tree is located behind the Acs mic Building and Bolton Hall. ment with beauty, energy and a special feelinj Jennifer Sikes, a junior psychology majors she knew what was going to happen when her boyfriend Dan Cox, a junior finance and Gem major, started leading her in the direction oftl tree. “I heard that getting engaged under thetre means the marriage is supposed to last aslonf the tree,” Sikes said. Cox said A&M students proposing undems the tree has always been understood to bespei Brian DiPaolo, a junior computer engineerii major and a member of Traditions Council,sa; the Century Tree tradition is not as well know seen as other Aggie traditions, but it is more known by women on campus. DiPaolo said he has learned another myth about the tree. “It is a bad omen to walk under the treeui you are going to propose to someone special a time soon,” DiPaolo said. ‘Qenerations’ keeps on trekkinf William Shatner (Captain Kirk) and Patrick Ste» (Captain Picard) star in “Star Trek Generations.” By Mark Smith The Battalion “Star Trek Generations” Starring: Patrick Stewart, Malcolm McDowell and William Shatner Directed by Rick Berman Rated: PG Playing at Shulman VI eeee (out of five) If a high action Star Trek adventure is what you want, “Star Trek Genera tions” moves along at warp 9. The film begins with the christening of the Enterprise B. Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Scotty (James Doohan) and Chekov (Walter Koenig) are along for the maiden voyage as a public relations move for Star Fleet. All the Enterprise B is supposed to do is go for a quick spin around the solar system, but fate intervenes. The new ship receives a distress call from sev eral transport ships. The Enterprise is the only ship within range and after a second of indecision Captain Harriman (Alan Ruck), the Enterprise’s new captain, orders the crew to respond to the call. Of course, Kirk is chomping at the bit to get back into the action, much like the previous movies in the series. Kirk can’t sit still and Scotty can’t help but tease him by saying, “Captain, is there something wrong with your chair?” Doohan and Koenig make only a brief appear ance, but play their parts admirably. Time jumps forward 78 years to the Enterprise D, with Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the rest of the Next Generation crew. While investigating an attack on a solar obser vatory, Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) and Data (Brent Spiner) uncover a weapon that can destroy stars. The creator, Dr. Soran (Malcolm McDow ell), escapes with the plans for the weapon and a kidnapped La Forge in a Klingon starship. The Enterprise gives chase and finds Soran planning to destroy a star to alter the course of a time-altering distortion shaped like a ribbon. The ribbon is a gateway to a Utopian alter dimen sion called the Nexus where Soran wants t« turn. McDowell turns in a good performance though you walk away wishing the advers! nature between Soran and Picard wouldl been developed more. The main plot, stopping Soran, is probablj weak link in the story. Picard and Kirk team to stop the “mad scientist.” But, the scenes* Kirk come off as cheesy. Fans have already* Kirk dying to get back into the action. In“Gc! ations,” they’ll see it again. The sub-plots are the most intriguing pari the movie. Picard has to deal with the absent a family in his life and being the last of the cards. Brent Spiner puts in a performance as all that many Next Generation fans have wantei see since the beginning of the television seri Data’s sub-storyline almost makes the movie, And the Enterprise D has a cataclysmic f| with the Klingons. Of course, it was probably necessary to pro'i the connection between the old generation! the new. However, the Next Generation is hf and with a motion picture budget, they are foi to wow audiences and boldly go where no onel gone before for many years to come. PICK UP YOUR COPY. If you ordered a 1994-95 Crmpus Directory, Stop by room 230 Reed McDonald Building between 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up your copy. (Please bring ID.) If you did not order a Campus Directory as a fee option when you registered for Fall '94 classes, you may purchase a copy for $3 plus tax in the Student Publications office, room 230 Reed McDonald. The Campus Directory includes listings of students, faculty, staff and other information about Texas A&M, ’94-95 Campus Directory