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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2001)
Friday, September 7, 2001 THE BATTALION Page 5 b-r \Sly Letter, Feeding 5000 to perform Saturday at Shadow Canyon in memory A&M student Chad Garren who died in the June 2001 Houston floods By Ktm PRI-JSFR THE BATTALION Can anyone know the best way to truly honor the life of someone they loved and lost? Most would reply “No." but try their best regardless. Members of the band Sly Letter will be doing then best this Saturday, to celebrate the life of a friend and fellow Aggie. Sly I otter, along with the band Feeding 5000, will perform the Chad Garren Memorial Concert from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m Saturday at Shadow Canyon. Chad Garren died June 9 in the Houston floods caused by Iropical Storm Allison. He was a 21' vear-okl junior man agement information systems major set to graduate December 2001. Garren was interning in Houston with Enron Corp. and was living w iih two members of Sly Letter. Mark McDavid. one of Garren\s summer roommates and the mandolin/ back-up vocalist for Sly Letter, was with Garren and another friend, Jeremy Harmon, when they were caught in the floods. McDavid and Harmon survived. McDavid -aid it was Sl\ Letter's idea to have the memori al concert for Garren. “We came ap with it as a band,” McDavid said. “We were all good friends w ith Chad. It seems natural to honor him this way: he was a big fan of our music," The members of Sly Letter discussed the idea ot the memo rial concert with Garreo’s parents. Joe and Cindy, and his brother Travis, who is a sophomore industrial distribution major at A&M, and got their consent. Travis Garren said that he thought the concert was an appropriate way to honor Chad because he loved music and frequently attended concerts, especially those of his friends’ band. Sly Letter. Tra\ is said that his main goal for Saturday’s concert is to gather people together again and celebrate Chad's life. “My main goal is to have |Chad’s| friends come back again and talk about it," he said. “It's what he would want. Arid other students w ill get. to enjoy the concert and its benefits.’’ Travis said. All of the money from the concert will go directly to the Chad Garren Memorial Scholarship that was established by the Texas A&M Foundation and Enron Corp. The scholarship will go to a student from Chad's high school to pay for his or her education at A&M. The first recipient of the scholarship will be Travis Garren. McDavid said this is what Chad Garren would have want ed because Travis and (.'had were very close “I think the concert will be a good resolution to what hap pened,” McDavid said. “The coolest thing about it is that the money goes to Ch d s brother. It's like Chad’s pas mg for his little brother to go to school. He loved his brother so much.” Scott Taylor, a former A&M student arid lead vocalist for Feeding 5000. said that Feeding 50(HJ’s goal is to get as many people out to Shadow Canyon as possible to help support the Garren family and to raise money for the memorial fund. “It’s for an incredible cause.” Taylor said. “Hopefully ii w ill open a lot of people’s eyes to the reality of life and death.” McDavid and Iravis said that overall, they hope to cele brate Chad s life as lie touched the lives of so many. Travis said that Chad was a wonderful man that loved his friends and family. "He was well-respected and always had a smile on his face." he said, “He was really goal-oriented and his honesty, was remarkable. He was my brother, my role model, my inspi ration, my best friend," Travis said. “Chad was the most gen uine person I’ve ever met. He was so admirable, personable, really funny and friendly. He wasn't fake about it either: that's just the way he was. He would want to be remembered that way. too -— in an upbeat, positive, fun way.” Travis said he realized the impact Chad's life had on the community after his death. “Random people would come up to me, and still come up to me, and tell me stories about Chad and bow they were impacted by him/’ Travis said. "1 didn't realize it before, but lie affected so many lives. He inspired people to do and be their best.” McDavid said he was blown away by the overwhelming support from A&M and the student body. He said there was a standing-room-only crowd at the funeral in Garren's home town of Weatherford, Texas. Travis said everyone’s support has really helped him deal with the loss of his brother and is CC He was my brother, my role model, my inspiration, my best friend. ” — Travis Garren, sophomore industrial distribution major, brother of Chad Garren CHAD GARREN very thankful for all the cards, prayers and stories people have shared with hint. While attending A&M, Travis was* involved in the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, was a Fish Camp counselor.in 1999 for Camp Jackson and worked for the City.of College Station Kid’s Club where he served as a mentor, played with the kids and helped them with social skills. The concert will begin at 9 p.m. at Shadow Canyon with a performance b\ Feeding 5000. From 10:00 to 10:30 p.m.. there will he a storyteller's memorial, planned by Travis and McDavid. in which members of Sly Letter wilt share memo ries of Chad and play songs that correlate. Sly Letter will then perform from 11 p.m. to 2 a,tn. McDavid said that his goal Saturday is to raise $10,000. Donations will be accepted at the concert and will go the scholarship fund. However, for anyone who cannot attend, donations can be sent to 804 E 27th Street, Houston, TX 77009-KU4. Checks can be made payable to the Texas A&M f oundation with Garren Memorial Scholarship in the memo portion. ■ ■ For more information about the concert, visit Sly Letter’s Website at w w vv.slyletter.com. For more information about the Chad Garren Memorial Scholarship, contact the Texas A&M Foundation. To find out more about Feeding 5000, visii ww w. feed ingSOOO. net. WMC\9 J'f/? ZJ Students find ways to be involved in U m/% ^ Jr K/C* w organizations and still maintain good grades By Jennifer Denton THE BATTALION Eddie Garcia, a sophomore business major, wakes up each morning and knows what his day will encompass. Although his day involves many aspects of busy campus life, he knows his priorities. From attending meetings for 2004 Class Council to finishing his duties as a Fish Camp counselor, Garcia always has a full day. Garcia is also a mem ber of the Texas A&M Honors Program, so his loy alties are to his studies and homework first. As operations chairperson for the 2004 Class Council, a former Impact and Fish Camp counselor, and an active member in campus ministries, Garcia said he needed a way to keep track of his schedule while still allowing study time, j “I had to get out a planner and schedule my weeks,” Garcia said. “I would recommend doing this to anyone who wanted to get involved but still have time for studying. First I penciled in what and when I needed to study, and then made time for social events and friends.” Garcia realizes he gives up time for organization meetings when he could be studying, but said he does not regret the way he spends his time. “The experiences 1 had and the friends I made ere worth more to me than the study time lost,” Garcia said. Dr. Betty Milbum, associate director of counsel ing for Student Counseling Services, gives several tips for students dealing with time-management issues. She suggests planning one’s days, being organized, and keeping one’s studies a top priority. “A student should try to plot out future exams and projects to help them set aside time for review and studying and then plan any extracurricular activities around these items,” Milbum said. While studying and maintaining a high grade- point ratio is important, Milbum recommends hav ing an outlet to clear one’s mind and to relieve the every day stresses of college life. “Students should become involved in some thing they enjoy, whether it is recreational or a spiritual component, they should have an out let,” Milburn said. Milbum also said students should be careful to stay away from “time bandits.” Some things “rob us of time where we could be using it more produc tively,” Milburn said. Watching television, napping during the daytime, or being idle are times spent without benefit being reaped. Students should be aware of these wastes and try to use these time slots for something more productive. Donny Dao, a junior engineering technology major, has had a lot of experience with time man agement. He is finishing up his duties as an Impact counselor, maintaining an active mem bership in Brothers Under Christ and holding down a job at the Rudder Box Office. As a new semester begins, Dao finds a way once again to prioritize and make time for studying. “I try to focus on what is most important at the time and just take each day as it comes,” Dao said. “I get home late and stay up later to study and some times get up early to study some more. I do whatev er it takes to get my work done.” Even though studying is important to Dao, he still tries to give 100 percent to all of his extracur ricular activities. “Do not get involved in too much stuff, but give your all in whatever club you are in,” Dao said. “Just know yourself and what you are capable of and remember not to stray too far away from your class es and studying.” Another good example of an involved, but study- oriented student is Roanne Perry, a sophomore envi ronmental design major. Roanne has homework and projects due every week, like most students. She holds the position of 2004 class historian and is enrolled in many studios corresponding with her classes. Her heavy load allows little time for much else. “I try to do stuff ahead of time so I do not get in a bind,” Perry said. “I always know I need to study. I try to tell myself that everything else should come second to studying because that is why I am here in the first place. Studying is for my future and the extracur ricular stuff is not,” Perry | said. Ik Perry said \ she studies main ly at night, but realizes everybody is different and rec ommends making a schedule that includes L time for fun and organi zations, but especially for studying. As another semester begun in Aggieland, each student will be bom barded with time management issues. Tiptoeing between the lines of study time and fun time can be dangerous, and it is important for students to maintain a schedule that works well for them, one that allots time for fun and maybe even more for hitting the books.