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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1997)
The Battalion \ ¥ 17 17 'i .. \T 1 t s I..,; , sivon from the streets Volunteers, including students from Texas A&M, make the Boys and Girls Club in Bryan a safe place for area children to play, study and grow. Page 3 Monday • January 27, 1997 Amy Dunlap, The Baitai ion Markieth McGill plays foosball at the Bryan unit of the Boys and Girls Club. By Melissa Price The Battalion T housands of kids across the nation are picking up a Boys and Girls Club membership card instead of a gun or needle. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, whose mission is to pro vide a safe, fun environment for at- risk youth, has continuously grown in popularity and size since it opened its doors to disadvantaged children in the 1860s. While clubs across the nation join together to ensure a positive place for kids, the Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley is making a difference to the youth of Bryan- College Station. Angela Ware, director of educa tion at the Bryan unit of the Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley, said the purpose of the Boys and Girls Club is to enhance the chil dren’s lives socially, academically and athletically. Ware said she works at the Boys and Girls Club for one reason — the kids. “Wherever there is a child, that’s where we’ll be,” Ware said. For only $8 a year, children ages 6-18 can take part in the activities that the club offers. Despite the low cost of membership, no child is ever turned away for financial reasons. Children can play a variety of sports such as basketball, flag foot ball, pool and laser tag, but the ad ministrators at the Bryan Unit stress the importance of education as well. Students have access to tutor ing, a large library and a full- equipped computer room. Ron Rolett, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Bra zos Valley, said he has been involved with Boys and Girls Clubs since he was six years old. He got involved because it was convenient for his mother to drop him off there when she needed to run errands, but soon Rolett found himself going there every day after school. Rolett recently visited the Little Rock, Ark., Boys and Girls Club unit he had gone to as a child. He then realized how much the Boys and Girls Clubs of America had done for him and other children. He said the reason the Boys and Girls Clubs of America are so successful is be cause of the people who wofk there. “We have a caring, professional staff totally dedicated to youth de velopment,” Rolett said. “That is what sets us apart from others. To a lot of kids we serve, we may be the one solid thing in their life.” While some of the kids come to the Boys and Girls Club of Biyan to play sports and get help with their homework, others come for differ ent reasons. Amanda Towell, a fifth-grader at Kemp Elementary who has been going to the Boys and Girls Club for a year, said she loves going to enjoy all the organization has to offer. “The only thing I don’t like about this place is that my mom picks me up too early,” Towell said. “But there are a lot of ftm games, and they have good pickles in the snack bar.” Patrick Austin, an eighth-grader at Stephen F. Austin Middle School who has been going to the Boys and Girls Club for six years, said the Boys and Girls Club of Bryan has done a lot for him and his sister Patricia. “It will keep some of the kids off the street,” Austin said. “It is a good place to go when you don’t have anything else to do.” Even though most of the chil dren go to Boys and Girls Club for a good time after school, one of the main reasons the children at tend because of the caring staff and volunteers. Traci Thomas, director of pro gram operations at the Boys and) Girls Club of Bryan, said working there has given her a greater out look on life. “You may talk to 10 kids and reach only one of them,” Thomas said. “But that is one more child you are helping.” See Club, Page 4 rrow Mj jcted Low 14°F :sy of TAMSO f Metzer's devotion helps steer Student Activities score? By Kimber Huff The Battalion G enerations of students pass ing by the Student Activi ties’ main desk have found Mtiendly smile and a kind word from Janie Metzer. Metzer has 3een the secretary and adviser for he Student Activities office for al- ost 20 years. She began her career at Texas J&M In 1978 because, as her chil- Iren got older, she had less family esponsibilities. “I never-worked before because got married young,” Metzer said. So I went back to high school and ooksome business courses.” Metzer said a friend told her bout an opening in the Student Activities office, so she applied md got the job. Raising a family, working with teighborhood children and teach- ng Sunday School gave Metzer ex perience with young people, and nade her enthusiastic about get- inga job at A&M. “My expectations have been ex- eeded,” Metzer said. “Working ith students here has been the ost fulfilling part of my life.” Besides being the receptionist for Student Activities, Metzer han dles room scheduling for Student Activities and composes the monthly activity list. She also keeps schedules for the yell leaders during the summer. In addition, Metzer is the secondary adviser to several groups, including Aggie Wranglers, Tau Kappa and Sig ma Phi Lambda. Metzer said she is constantly busy do ing different things. “That’s what makes it so neat,” Metzer said. “I wouldn’t like doing the same thing all the time.” Metzer said she has seen many changes in her job over the years as the Student Activities office out grew the MSC and the Pavilion, fi nally moving to Koldus. However, Metzer said the quality of students attending A&M is one thing that has not changed. “They’re still just great kids,” Metzer said. “I’ve always been im pressed by their caring and thoughtfulness. I see the same thing as each generation comes up to take over. We have a lot to be proud of in our students.” Metzer said she considered get ting another job at one time, but decided against it. “It’s wonderful working for Dr. Caroline Adaire. She has always been there for me. It’s a joy working with students. That’s why I’ve stayed here,” Metzer said. Cody Bowman, a senior animal sci ence major, has worked with Met zer in the Student Activities Office. “She’s a wonder ful woman,” Bow man said. “She’s always got a nice, cheerful smile when you walk in.” John Bynum, a student worker and a senior business major, said Metzer has a great personality. “She’s one of the sweetest peo ple I’ve ever been around,” Bynum said. “She pretty much loves every body and knows everybody, and everybody likes her.” “She’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever been around.” John Bynum Senior Business Major Bowman said Metzer tries to cheer up students who are having a bad day, and she always gives out candy that she keeps on her desk. He said Metzer is always helpful. “You always know that if you need anything, you can go to her,” Bowman said. Metzer said the best part of her job is working with students and talking about things that are going on in their lives. “I’m more like a mom to a lot of them,” Metzer said. “I’ve always enjoyed being there for them.” Sometimes former students come back to visit Metzer, bringing their children or stories of new jobs. “It’s really great to see how far Aggies go,” Metzer said. She said another great experience at A&M was having a Fish Camp and aT-Camp named after her. Metzer said there is a common thread running through all Aggies: They always think about what they can do to help others. She said this contributes to the suc cess of A&M graduates. Overall, Metzer said she has had a wonderful 18 years at A&M, and the students are the best part of the job. Janie Metzer has been the Student Ac tivities secre tary and ad viser for nearly twenty years. Stu dents say Metzer, who also acts as secondary adviser to several stu dent organi zations, goes out of her way to be friendly and helpful to students. Tim Moog, The Battalion 2ity Editor Sports Eo* ! 3|nion Editor /eb Editor i Editor iartoon Edto- , jn jhe Division 13 Reed McD 0151 u.edu; lnter" e,;: "he Battalion ising, callS 43 ! 5 p.m. Mon® ick up a sin# 'and $50P e,i ! fall and spring V holidays an 4 n,W 77840> sA&MUnlve"' JWCE OUT font 1997 1ACSCSpring£eadersfi.ip drip What is it? Student leaders - the top 50 - and one weekend When is it? Look out APRIL 3-6, 1997! 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