Page 12A» Monday. August 31, 1998
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ExCEL teamleaders Eric Durham, a senior speech communications
major, (far left) and Paula Hardeman, a junior biomedical science
major, (far right) talks to Maco Faniel, a freshman speech communi
cations major, and Steve Edwards, a freshman biology major, (left to
right) during a discussion session Saturday.
ExCEL conference
helps students adjust
Member FDIC
First American Bank, SSB
BY NONI SRIDHARA
The Battalion
With a theme of “Carpe Diem
— Your Future Starts Now,” the
11th annual Excellence uniting Cul
ture, Education and Leadership
(ExCEL) conference drew 250 par
ticipants Friday and Saturday at the
Memorial Student Center.
ExCEL is a conference orga
nized primarily by upperclassmen
to help minority freshman make
the transition from high school to
collegiate life at Texas A&M.
Zuleika Carrasco, director of pub
lic relations for ExCel and a senior
Spanish major, said that although the
conference is designed to help minor-
•ity students, any student may attend.
“The conference is not only there
to help students, but to help ease par
ents’ fears as well,” Carrasco said.
Rafael Lara, assistant head of the
Educational Curriculum and Instruc
tion department said the main objec
tive of ExCEL conference is to pro
mote a work ethic among students.
"We want to let the participants
know that they have the same op
portunities as everyone else if they
are willing 5to work at it.” Lara said.
Alvin Larke, a professor in the
department of agricultural educa
tion, was the keynote speaker at this
year’s conference.
“In life decisions cost you. Suc
cess may even cost you a few
friends, but you have to go against
the grain sometimes," Larke said.
“Success comes when you get rid
of your fears.”
'The conference is
not only there to
help students, but
to help ease par
ents'fears as well."
— Zuleika Carraso
ExCEL director of public relations
The ExCEL weekend included
various seminars and workshops
for the incoming freshmen.
One program, “What You Don’t
Know Can Hurt You,” had upper
classmen performing skits dealing
with issues such as loneliness, al
cohol abuse and violence.
Melinda Hill, a ExCEL participant
and freshman business management
major, said the conference has al
ready affected her college career.
“This session really helped me
because you get to know some of
the professors before the start of the
school year,” Hill said.
Record
turn out fori
BY AARON MEIER
The Battalion
The largest pool of wotneti
A&M history turned out (or
fall rush last week.
Nine-hundred-fifteen wi
the week. Before its conclusi
urday, 180 dropped out,
Jessica Townsend, th
chair for Delta Zeta sorority
pyschology major, said thosf
drop out for various reasons.
“A lot of girls realize thatthet
just isn’t for tliem,” Townsend si;
really don’t like the whole rush p
some are cut from the sorority:
looking to join and decide not tor
part of the Greek communitym
On the fourth day of rush,:
hellenic Council decided each
would allow a maximum of
each pledge class.
The entire rush process co
with Bid Day on Saturday. Thh
bid process was altered toensurt
vacy of the women participate
“In past years, we all would
Oak Park and the girls wouldrece
bids,” said Karen Baiger,Panhelk
chair and a senior education ma
problem was when guys woulds:
their front porches with kegs ton:
girls on Bid Day. If the girl didn’t^
from the sorority she wanted,she
be crushed. We wanted to nu
process about the girls.”
This year, each girl was caile
room in the Memorial Student
where rush counselors would dd
bid to the girl, Baiger said, thentt
selors would then ask if they wen
with their situation. If not, thegiii!
be able to openly discuss any pi
they might have with theirrushcou
This fall’s Bid Day was changi
national level as well.
Barger said all the sorority’sn
presiding bodies decided toelimii
cohol and men from theBidDayi
“This would make it about their
Barger said. “ We have been lucky th
of the men have respected this decs
agreed to hold parties on Sunday.'
Barger said this year’s rush hat
minor violations of the rush rail
nothing significant.
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Wisdom of Yoda
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August 31-September 4
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