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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1998)
-|9JAUI 3AJ3S OJ p9JD3[3 uij asoip JO sapiuijjB pus suoiuido aamo s.uaxoA Nionvxxva M 1 8661 'I mdv • XupsaupaM M O 1 '1 V A. l .V £1 71 M 1 Voter’s Guide Wednesday • April 1, 1998 athletics, our service and our spirit. When the 12th Man walks into Kyle Field and looks down at the yell leaders, they should be able to say, “that guy was in the Commons. That guy ate in Sbisa. That guy played at the Rec. That guy was in my class. That guy smiled and said “Howdy” to me. That guy shook my hand. That guy knows my name. That guy is asking for your support. I would like the honor of being your yell leader at Texas A&M. Vote Wesley Butler for junior yell leader. Michael Chu Junior Yell L( E ven though the world changes, tradition here at Aggieland lives on. Among those traditions is that of yell leaders leading the student body on in cheers to pump our beloved teams. I feel that I would make a great junior yell leader because of certain qualities and attitudes I maintain. Very easy going and quick to jump head-in, I believe that the student body will see that a yell leader is very approach able and just like you and me. Someone who wants to lead but is willing to learn and take advice so that they may improve and better serve others. Most important what I can offer the University and fel low Ags is the promise of integrity and upholding the ideas upon which A&M was founded. A good balance of fun and work along with unmatched enthusiasm and an invitation for suggestions on how to better represent you is what I promise you. Aggie word and that’s no bull. After all, a yell leader is elected to represent you and the University. Candidate David Grotheim Junior Yell Leader Candidate H owdy! My name is David Grotheim, and I am running for the position of junior yell leader. Several years ago I attended my first ever Fightin’ Texas Aggie football game and saw first-hand how awesome the spirit of Aggieland actually is. The unity of the students, and the school pride that I saw made a lasting impression upon me, and implanted within me the desire to be a part of this incredible university. Now as a student I have gained a new understanding of what it means to be an Aggie. More than just another member of the student body, an Aggie is a person with strong character. He or she takes pride in tradition, and holds himself to a high code of honor, but most impor tant, an Aggie is a man or woman of integrity. As a Christian I strive not only to be a man of integrity, but to follow God in all aspects of my life. As a yell leader I will not only represent our school as a member of the student body, but truly show the meaning behind the title “Fightin’ Texas Aggie” by being a man of integrity. Troy Hinojosa Junior Yell Leader H owdy Ags! My name is Troy Hinojosa and I want to be your next junior yell leader. I want to tell you something that I hope will help you distinguish me from the rest of the candidates. It’s true that I am a proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2000, but I’m also a proud member of a smaller group here on campus. I, like many other students on campus, have spent a number of years defending this great country of ours. Yes, that’s right Ags, I’m veteran. I’ve spent time in the Gulf and I’ve spent time in Somalia and I’ve been all around the world. I care about this University so much that I, at age 25, want to be your next junior yell leader. I think that being a Yell Leader is more than just leading the 12th Man in yells, it’s about being an ambassador of the 12th Man to the rest of the world. I know what it’s like to represent something larger than yourself to the rest of the world. For four years I wore my uniform with pride and represented the Navy and the United States all around the world. Remember me when you go to vote, I’m Troy Hinojosa and I want to be your next junior yell leader. Thanks and gig’em. Hank Hollywood Junior Yell Leader Candidate H owdy Ags! My name is Hank Hollywood ,and I am a sophomore ag-science major from Celina, TX. I am bidding for one of the two openings for junior yell leader. Five gentlemen will be chosen to represent not only the student body of Texas A&M, but also former and incom ing Aggies. These five gentlemen have the privilege not only to lead yells on Kyle Field and in other sports facilities, but to be men who instill enthusiasm, synergy, integrity and character into the hearts and lives of each and every member of the Aggie family. It is important that we select gentlemen who will put their personal agenda aside and ask, “What can I do to enhance Texas A&M University?” No matter what the outcome, I will be honored to know that I was even considered to represent such an awesome and diverse student body at Texas A&M. So I ask that on April 1 and 2, that you please give careful consideration to have Hank Hollywood represent you as one of your junior yell leaders. Thank you and gig’em! Mike Lemonds 5 j Junior Yell Leader Candidate H owdy! Let me start with this — I am having so much fun with this campaign! Running for junior yell is a terrific experience. I hope everyone has stopped by our lemonade stand — we’re trying to put a little fun into your week, too. But all fun aside—I realize that I am asking a lot of the A&M student body. I am asking you to make me one of the most visible repre sentatives of this campus. I am asking you to support who I am and what I stand for. What do I stand for? The answer to that is easy — I stand for you. A yell leader isn’t just someone in a white outfit who whoops and hollers with the crowd. A yell leader is someone who stands for the spirit, the tradition and the students of A&M. I want to make a difference this year — A&M needs a yell leader who represents the majority of its students. I need you to help me make that difference I need your vote. Stop by the stand and have a cup of lemonade, share in my enthusiasm and see how I can represent you. Thanks, and gig 'em—Vote Mike Lemonds for junior yell. Durward Dunn Class of '00 President Candidate H owdy, I’m Durward Dunn, and I’m running for Class of 2000 president. If you are reading this, it means that you care enough about our class to want to participate and get involved. Think about this question: “Have you ever had trouble working with a class council event; or have you ever found out about a class activity at the last minute, too late to par ticipate?” If you answered yes to either of these, then it shows that there is a problem. Class council belongs to YOU, the Class of 2000; you should not have to fight or struggle to get involved. With E-Walk and other activities going on next year, having full participation from everyone who wants to help will cause these activities to mean more to our class. IT’S YOUR CLASS — EXPECT MORE!! Also, being an Aggie involves participating in the big picture. We can do this by setting up a mentorship program where the junior class helps the fish start out right, instead of them struggling for a semester and not reaching their full potential as a class. Together we can SET THE NEW STANDARD for the way class council can be done! God bless & gig’em. Kyle Valentine Class of '00 President Candidate H owdy fellow Ags. How do you feel about promoting communication, involvement and making a differ ence on the A&M campus? My name is Kyle Valentine and my campaign goals are based upon these three fundamental concepts. I am running for the position of Class of 2000 president. With successful planning, publicizing and execution of events and activities, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of the students on this campus and leave a mark of the Class of 2000 for Aggies both young and old to see. Turning these goals into reality requires experience, lead ership and innovation. As current Class of 2000 Vice President, I have seen the inner workings of student govern ment at Texas A&M first hand. Government is based upon the ideas of the people. I assure you that the ideas I promote will be based upon the II 8661 'l ludy • Aepsaup^M Wednesday • April 1, 1998 •’■ ■w’l' ''t paziiuopuBjj aamo s c uaxoA W, M The Battalion m Voter’s Guide Nathan Bigbee Student Body President Candidate H owdy, I’m Nathan Bigbee, and as a candidate for your SBRI hope that you will consider the potential impact of your decision. My personal visionis long-term. While A&M is currently deciding what it will be doing the next few decades, I find it critical that someone of experience and initiative lead the student body. My years serving on the Senate have brought me to understand the true nature of campus administra tion, and my desire to bring Texas A&M to world - class status underlies my devotion to service. At a time when Texas A&M University is showing interest in being a top 10 university, what can you do as Student Body President to further this goal? The goals ofVision 20/20 should be our paramount concern. Thereputation of our school is the greatest factor affecting how far we can collectively go when we graduate. First, any credible advanced institution has got to have top - notch research — even for undergraduates. I’d like A&M to host an undergraduateresearch contest, funded by the colleges, and publicized nationwide. We also have to increase priority for funding greater acqui sitions to our libraries. Second, to save university resources, we need to increase academic efficiency (average years required to graduate) by subsidizing students’ tuition for any credit hours over 14. As Student Body President, what steps can you take to improve diversity on campus? Coming from a hometown where my ethnicity is in the minor ity, and a Corps unit where eight different countries are represent ed, I understand the impact of cultural differences. We need to ensure that, as an academic institution, our primary concern is how we are preparing students to relate to a world not only of dif ferent skin colors, but of different languages, religions, ethics, gov ernments and economics. We must first prioritize funding for our student exchange and study abroad - programs, and take initiative on international con tacts. Second, we should drastically expand and facilitate instruction in our foreign language departments, and create more business classes related to international operations. I would be willing to advocate tuition reduction/elimination for students in language classes, especially in industrial and business-related majors. As Student Body President, how do you envision holding on to A&M’s rich traditions while allowing the University to make progress? These two ideas are far from being mutually exclusive. There are many outstanding examples of traditional yet progressive institutions of higher learning (Washington, Harvard, Chicago, for starters). The key to remember is that the two spheres — cultural and academic - are separate; both can be simultaneously dynam ic. Too much of either is no good. At A&M, both are essential to ourselves and our self-image. And as long as our SAT requirements are higher than those for spirit, we’ll be doing just fine. Texas A&M, and that is why this year I created the position of Chaplain in our Student Senate. Now, I am running for Student Body President for those same reasons. Inside my bifolds and on my Web page (http://nac.tamu.edu/joe) you will find twelve promises I am making to you, the 12th Man. These are not ideas and this is not a platform - these are promises I am making to each one of you. These promises will be posted in the window of the Student Government Office. As each one is accomplished they will be checked off for you to know that I am keeping my promis es. I know my vision can become a reality, but I need your help to do it. Gig 'em, God bless, and go vote. At a time when Texas A&M University is showing interest in being a top 10 university, what can you do as Student Body President to further this goal? My heart knows Texas A&M is the greatest university m the world, but in order to be a world-class university the administra tion must realize the reason A&M is so great is because of the stu dents the 12th Man The administration speaks of bemg a world- class university-1 speak of treating the 12th Man as world-class students Faculty and staff have been serving themselves for so long that they forgot their purpose, to serve you. I want to bring that focus back and when each one of us is treated as world-class students, this will truly be a world-class university. As Student Body President, what steps can you take to improve diversity on campus? “We are Aggies first, brought together by our common love for and devotion to our school.” I feel our diversity will unite us, because we share one bond, a love for Texas A&M. I wiU promote unity through diversity by creating more need-based scholarships through a new program caUed Aggie One; by building a Matthew Gaines statue in honor of the man who helped found Texas A&M; and by working with U-Act to create a conference which brings leaders of organizations together to form an action plan to improve unity on campus. D*’s stop talking about diversity and unity and actually do something about it. As Student Body President, how do you envision holding on to A&M’s rich traditions while allowing the University to make progress? . , , . General Rudder faced this very question when we had to decide whether or not to allow women into Texas A&M. I befieve he made the right decision because he had the vision to realize that whatever is popular is not always right, and whatever is right is not always popular. He also had the strength to stand up for what he knew was right. As Student Body President, you must do what you know is best for Texas A&M and the 12th Man. If I had to make a decision like Rudder's, I would do what I knew would be best for Texas A&M. I would do it out of love for this school and love for the students I serve. Diversity-Bring administration and students of the Fifth Circuit schools together to discuss the impact of the Hopwood decision and what works to encourage diversity. Freshmen Concems-Create new freshman organizations and workshops to promote involvement and confidence in their new surroundings. Aggie Awareness-Further promote Reed Arena and Bush Library to increase awareness of Texas A&M nationwide. At a time when Texas A&M University is showing interest in being a top 10 university, what can you do as Student Body President to further this goal? In order to be a top 10 universtiy by the year 2020 we must cap italize on our strengths while forging ground for the future. We must further promote the Bush Library to the state and nation, meanwhile continuing to improve on expanding students’ acade mic options. As Student Body President, I will work together with the administration and students to expand on departments that are necessary for a top 10 school, including a law school. However, we cannot forget that it is our pride that will always put us on top! As Student Body President, what steps can you take to improve diversity on campus? A more diverse campus can be achieved by increasing aware ness of our international and cultural organizations. We do have diverse groups dedicated to promote their different cultures and we must support and promote these organizations. More stu dents involved in minority recruiting and introducing intra-um- versity forums would also improve diversity. As Student Body President, how do you envision holding on to A&M’s rich traditions while allowing the University to make progress? To progress successfully, all students and administration must be involved in the forethought of decisions. Being on the stu- dent/administration committee involved in the Kyle Field expan sion, I found that many decisions had already been made and our options were limited. Progress does not have to be made by tear ing down monuments that make our school great. As Student Body President, I will ensure that the student voice is heard in every decision. Joe Forman Jeff King Student Body President Candidate Student Body President Candidate H owdy! My name is Joe Forman. I’m an Economics major from Bryan, Texas, and I want to serve you next year as Student Body President. Becoming Student Body President was not a personal goal when I came to Texas A&M.The goal that I had was to improve this campus and to impact the lives of many people along the way. That’s why I helped create “Howdy Ags!”to bring back the Howdy tradition at H owdy! It is my hope that these focus points provide a strong combination of important issues that help improve student life while capitalizing on the strengths of our proud University. Advisor Evaluations-Have organizational and departmen tal advisor evaluations. Bus System-Improve consistency by posting schedules, and provide overhangs and lighting at stops. Communication Forums-Bi-monthly forums to encourage better cooperation between diverse university groups. Safety Awareness-Increase accessibility of information. Sponsor a one-week, all-out push to promote awareness of avail able assistance. Increase SBP Visibility-Set up a table for one-hour-a-week, rotating the site between colleges with the college presidents and senators available. Campus Issues Web site-Containing student input on campus concerns, Aggie calendar, forums, speakers and the SBP schedule. Broaden Academics-Work with the administration to express student concerns regarding liberal arts departments (i.e. lan guages, international studies), and the performing arts (i.e. the ater, music). T he standards that Texas A&M University has maintained for the last 121 years are the reasons that I chose to become an Aggie. However, Texas A&M is not currently ranked in the top 10. Recently, a team has worked to identify what it takes to reach top 10 status. As Student Body President, I will be an integral part of this team. We will work towards enhancements of and changes in the environment of Texas A&M University. The areas of the A&M environment that will be focused on are tradi tions, diversity and academics. Traditions are a vital part of what makes A&M unique. It is very important to me that these traditions not only be continued and promoted, but also expanded to include even more members of the current and former student body. I think that the most impor tant way a Student Body President can ensure that traditions flourish is by listening to and being supportive of ideas of all Aggies. As we move into the next century and increase our national prestige, traditions will be what set us apart from the rest of the elite universities. At A&M, the word diversity will cease to exist because it will be the very essence of the Aggie way of life. My plan for making this happen consists of two phases. First we must increase recruit ment efforts by providing scholarships for academically qualified students coming from a low socioeconomic background. Secondly, a committee will be established whose purpose is to recruit a well represented population. During the second phase, the overall atmosphere of campus will be focused on. While cur rent programs are being strengthened, funding will be provided for new initiatives that promote campus unity. The cornerstone of superior universities is academics. We must fnms nn farnitv research, undergraduate and graduate stn-
