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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