nber 11, eas( ge- or hand really more than for )k at them.No wledge this, but leyseem to bed i. with all this is ks seems to be here issolittlec Be Here Mown (MoniingGlor, xi le Student Leader Advisory Board (SLAB) is start- wonder whyili in g its second year by looking for different ways to ex- )ly collectedii pand the diversity of Texas A&M. SLAB, which advises the student body president on ise on the level j;her is to John tul McCart- iorge Harri »the Beath s frontmen. Die t. The defining r rock music on: uis been mind- ability, inter- ic minor innova of that musica! y could probate kgo. rch unk started Merge Records :s in highlyun- a ns such as the and Neutral Thursday • September 11, 1997 C The Battalion ampus Board seeks to encourage diversity across campus By Brandye Brown Staff writer al and artisticie -ampus issues, is comprised of 18 student leaders from Jse Your Ilhml different A&M organizations. Curtis Childers, student body president and a senior isis is only wort agricultural development major, said SLAB, formerly the ht becauseofti Student Body Executive Council, is concerned about ampus diversity and cross-organization involvement. “The best outcome for this year would be that all the members of our own organizations would have in- reased awareness of other groups and realize the co- aperation that is involved as we all sit on a unified aoard together,” Childers said. Martin Hodges, Student Government director of mi- aority affairs and a senior journalism major, said the diversity of A&M helps create more traditions and a aroader Aggie spirit. He encouraged SLAB members to continue to address diversity issues on campus. “SLAB has the opportunity to set a precedent for universities across the nation,” Hodges said. “We are more unified as student leaders. By promoting the di- tion to rock'm verse interests of the entire student body, we show the uation that Texas A&M is a world-class university.” Childers said that in the wake of the Hopwood deci sion, the issue of diversity requires more than discussion. “We need to work with Aggie recruitment services blet future students know this is a state school open il, rap, altematM to everyone,” he said. “We might not have large offers lind-numbingpi of money, but we can offer Aggie spirit and hospitality. This is a big step for A&M’s unity and a tremendous op- band thatsgfr portunity for the student body.” Childers said he plans to use SLAB to increase his exposure to student body opinions. “First, it will make me more effective at decision naking,” Childers said. “I will share the information iiscussed at SLAB meetings with the Senate and the ■ Executive Council. Secondly, we plan to be a proactive as pickingupi nt. uperchunkislil ner's market ft: Continued from Page 1 body. If there is an important issue we feel should be addressed by the University, we will take it to the ad ministration or whomever it concerns. Because SLAB is such a representative group, it will be very influen tial when we present our opinion.” Laurie Nickel, SLAB chair and a senior business analy sis major, said SLAB is backed by enthusiastic and vision ary student leaders despite being a new organization. “It is wonderful to see the cooperation between the student leaders, who have been wanting unity so bad ly,” she said. “We listen to the challenges of each orga nization, and we are working together to address these issues. The student leaders in SLAB are motivated enough to find out how we can best be utilized to ben efit Texas A&M students.” Childers said that SLAB has an important role in passing on information from the student body to Stu dent Government. “The more face-to-face interaction, the better suc cess we will have in communication,” he said. “We want student input on all University decisions. Student Government wants to know what students want. Our goal is to advocate student opinion, to make sure it is heard and to hear what Student Government can do for the students of Texas A&M.” Alice Gonzalez, speaker of the Student Senate and a junior agricultural development major, said SLAB helps her gain insight on the opinions of other student groups. “It’s easy to get caught up with a small group and not realize that there are so many other small groups out there,” she said. “With everyone pulling together to af fect our campus, it makes for better organizations and better relationships with other organizations.” Nickel said the entire quorum of SLAB is available to the student body president to look to for advice and support. “I am amazed and excited about the way we work together, forgetting our own factions,” Nickel said. “It is inspiring to see the direction that A&M is going, which in my opinion is the only way left to go to im prove the University. Unity of the student body is the key link that has been missing.” Courses ist PC tech with component urs to fit you stop by ouf 33 South Text: . or call: 5, Inc. David said 31 education stu dents are taking classes at Crockett or Rock Prairie this semester; 200 education students are taking the classes at A&M. Charity Greer, a senior elemen- ary interdisciplinary studies major, as part of the program last spring, he said the program has helped er as a student teacher at Crockett. “It (PDS) has been very crucial to ny effectiveness as a student teacher,” he said. “I feel more confident going into the classroom, and I feel more at jasewith the leadership role.” David said other universities of fer programs in which students go :o elementary schools two or three days a week; A&M students are at the schools five days a week. “I think we have one of the best programs because it is so inten sive,” he said. “I know of no other II • • been 'life. e!! Association! js 1 27 (SGA je Tue., Sept >GA office jors! ty for you i-8:00p.m. during Ihiscvctf ajor’s workn nos e home 46-8660 I Supple ive at Rosemary public universities that require these students to spend as much time in public schools (elementary schools) as A&M does.” David said the program needs to be approved by some A&M organi zations and state agencies before ed ucation students will be required take education courses at local ele mentary schools. He said he hopes PDS will be a part of the elementary education curriculum by Fall 1999. Greer said elementary education students should be required to par ticipate in the program because it raises standards for teachers. “I think this will help teachers in the long run acquire more respect because they go through more training,” Greer said. Cindy Gordon, a first-grade teacher at Crockett Elementary and A&M Class of ’79, said PDS is a good program because it gives students more experience in the classroom before they student teach. She said she can tell the difference between NEED A LIFT? That was then. This is now! ' ' Well fake you to churchl FBC, Bryan Fish Pond 9:05 Commons 9:15 Provided By Compass College Ministries, FBC Bryan Born to Lead? Run in Freshmen Elections FILING BEGINS TODAY! 14 IA MSC (Down by the Multicultural Office) student teachers who participated in the PDS program and students who did not. “Most beginning teachers get only 14 weeks of experience in the classroom,” Gordon said. “PDS stu dents are in the classroom for 14 weeks and then student teach for 14 weeks. These beginning teachers will have been in a classroom for over a year (before they teach in their own classroom).” Gordon said these teachers are more confident in the classroom and know how to discipline stu dents. She also said PDS students know what methods of teaching and discipline work in real life, not just in textbooks. She said PDS students help by giving teachers more one-on-one time with students. “I can’t imagine being without the PDS students,” Gordon said. “I wish every school would participate in this program, but I wouldn’t give my PDS students up to another school.” PREPARE P - - m * Ijf rf ] T H F £\H Tmcr;F f. Ml i nil i i ii lllli il^ J * k Jf ..... < , _ *■ ALBUM IN STORES NOW 1-900-62B0NE6 www.ruthlessrecords.coin 0©1997 Ruthless Records. All Rights Reserved. y\]MDERSENJ CoiNrsEJirriisrG ANDERSEN WORLDWIDE SC INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COME HOME TO OPPORTUNITIES IN... ASIA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA MALAYSIA PHILIPPINES JAPAN S.KOREA HONGKONG THAILAND SINGAPORE INDONESIA TAIWAN FRANCE GERMANY BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA NETHERLANDS VENEZUELA BRAZIL ARGENTINA MEXICO