NEWS The Battalion I 2.2.15 NEW DONORS EARN IN YOUR FIRST 2 DONATIONS *100 TWO LOCATIONS TO DONATE AT! 1979) 315-4101 I |979) 314-3672 4223 Wellborn Rd 700 University Dr E., Ste 111 Bryan, TX 77801 | College Station, TX 77840 Ordering L 1 O LAST CALL F0H ORDERS ii Feb. 12 Order OeacSlixie: Feb 13 Angie Ring Day: April 17, 2015 HOW TO CET YOUR AGGIE RING ON APRIL 17, 2015: If you meet the requirements after Fall 2013: 1. Log in to AggieNetwork.com by February 12 to check your Ring eligibility. (You will need to create an account on this website.) • Your records will be reviewed and your eligibility status will be displayed online instantly. 2. If eligible, schedule an appointment online to order your Aggie Ring at the Aggie Ring Office. » Select from available order dates between Feb. 2 - Feb. 13. • If you are unable to order in person, submit an order to the Aggie Ring Program prior to the deadline. 3. On your appointment day, visit the Aggie Ring Office to find your Ring size {with official Aggie Ring sizers) and pay for your Ring. • FULL. PAYMENT IS DUE AT TIME OF ORDER. • Pricing is available online. • Ring Loans are available to qualified, currently enrolled students at the Short Term Loan Office. Visit AggieNetwork.com/Ring for full details. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: 1. SO cumulative completed undergraduate credit hours. 2. 45 undergraduate resident credit hours compieted at TAMU. 3. 2.0 cumuiative GPR at Texas A&M University. 4. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university. GRADUATE STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: 1. Defended Thesis Due to ordering deadlines, you may order at the beginning of the semester you will graduate. Your Aggie Ring will be delivered on Aggie Ring Day if you have defended your thesis prior to the deadline set by the Office of Graduate Studies, if you do not defend your thesis prior to this date, your Aggie Ring will be held until the qualification is met. 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university. Master'? NonThesis Option 1. 75% of coursework completed for degree program at TAMU. 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university. Ph.D. Students 1. Accepted as a Ph.D. candidate at TAMU. 2. Must not be on academic probation, suspension, dismissai, expulsion, or on honor violation probation from the university. The Association ^ OF FORMER STUDENTS’ TEXAS A&M U N ! V 6 R. S ! T Y *• AggieNetwork.com Visit wwwAggtemtwarkxommrng for complete details or csSS the Apgie Ring Program at 84>-1050. BATT The Independent Student Voice of Texas A&M since 1893 Mark Dore, Editor in Chief Aimee Breaux, Managing Editor Jennifer Reiley, Asst. Managing Editor Lindsey Gawlik, News Editor Samantha King, Asst. News Editor Katy Stapp, Asst. News Editor John Rangel, SciTech Editor Katie Canales, Life & Arts Editor Brandon Wheeland, Sports Editor Carter Karels, Asst. Sports Editor Shelby Knowles, Photo Editor Allison Bradshaw, Asst. Photo Editor Meredith Collier, Page Designer Claire Shepherd, Page Designer THE BATTALION is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845- 0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Groundhog Day: 10 groundbreaking facts By Lindsey Gawlik rs. Once a year, people wait anxiously to see if one furry little friend, a groundhog, will see his shadow. If he does, legend claims there will be six more weeks of winter. In honor of Monday’s Groundhog Day. here are 10 fun facts about the day. 1. Groundhog Day, although celebrating its 129th official year in its founding town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is believed to be around 300 years old. 2. The tradition originated from a Ger man holiday called Candlemas Day, the day exactly between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. If the sun came out that day, it was believed winter would continue for six more weeks. 3. The town of Punxsutawney draws thousands to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. Last year’s at tendance was around 18,000, despite Groundhog Day falling on Super Bowl Sunday. 4. Attendance has increased since the famous movie made in 1993 starring Bill Murray. The record year is 1997, with around 35,000 visitors. 5. Last year, York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped the groundhog New used for the New York Groundhog Day ceremony. The groundhog, named Charlotte, died a week later of internal injuries. 6. In the 128 years the tradition has been celebrated, Phil has seen his shadow 102 times. Only 17 years show Phil did not see his shadow. Nine years have no record. 7. According to legend, the current Phil is 123 years old. He is said to have been born in 1887, although most ground hogs only live for 10 years. The supposed reason for his lon gevity is because he is fed an elixir called “groundhog punch” every summer that guarantees another seven years of life. 8. Phil has a posse called the “inner circle,” to whom he tells his annual prediction. Phil’s inner circle is seen at all ceremonies wearing top hats and is in charge of caring for Phil throughout the year. 9. The earliest reference to Groundhog Day in text can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Cen ter at Franklin and Marshall College. The excerpt from the diary' of James Morris reads: February 4, 1841 — “Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shad ow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.” 10. The first official Groundhog Day was cel ebrated Feb. 2, 1886. The ground hog, as reported by The Punxsutawney Spirit, did not see his shadow that year. SM, ' Theb attau 0n What you should know: SPORTS MOREATTHEBATT.COM MEN'S TRACK: COMES WITHIN THREE-HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND OF 4X400 RECORD RAILWAY CONTINUED between Dallas and Houston in less than 90 minutes. The technology has been used to great success in Japan, where high-speed rail connects several impor tant cities. Boles also said such an accessible route would solidify Texas A&M in the na tion’s consciousness. “This route would provide service from two huge international airports — DFW and George Bush Intercontinen tal,” Boles said. “Visiting professors, world leaders and prospective students will have unprecedented access to Texas A&M like no other university has in the U.S.” The B-CS station cur rently planned would lie approximately 15 miles outside College Station. Rebecca Cowle, Class of 2012 and outreach co ordinator for the Texas Central Railway, said this station would provide a safe trip to and from the station for students and others in the community. “Texas Central Railway has been working with Texas A&M and elected leaders in B-CS for years,” Cowle said. “We have identified some ways to pro vide a safe alternative mode of travel for students while staying true to our pri vate-led model. ” Allan Rutter, research scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, said the developers have not finalized a precise station location until a proper cost-benefit analysis has been conducted. A final verdict is still far ahead in the fu ture. “[Developers] need to decide if put ting a station in our area increases their chances to maximize revenue,” Rutter MEN'S TENNIS: AGGIE TENNIS PREVAILS IN RAIN-SOAKED WEEKEND AGAINST NO. 5 OSU said. “Given this rail project is privately funded, the decision of where stops go and how many there are is a matter of whether it makes financial sense or not.” In addition to financial matters, de velopers are paying careful attention to how building a through-route and sta tion would affect people residing on or close to the desired property. Blanche Brick, College Station City Council mayor pro tern, said while pub lic interest in the high-speed rail is strong, no one wants their land to be taken. “Not many people are excited at the prospects of a route going through their property,” Brick said. “Everybody recog nizes the advantages, and ultimately private inves tors need to consider the needs of the community and their best interests in location.” According to informa tion provided by Texas Central Railway, the Federal Railroad Admin istration and Texas De partment of Transporta tion held in late October and early December a series of 12 public meetings along the Dallas-Houston cor ridor to solicit initial public feedback. Representatives of TCR attended the meetings in order to hear firsthand the concerns of the public and to answer questions informally. The Environmental Impact Statement process, led by the Federal Railroad Ad ministration with the help of TxDot, is estimated to be completed in 18 to 24 months. The Environmental Impact Statement will also help determine the overall cost of the entire project. If all goes to plan, the rail service is expected to begin in 2021. "[Developers] need to decide if putting a station in our area increases their chances to maximize revenue." Allan Rutter, research scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute MEN'S GOLF: TEES OFF SPRING CAMPAIGN IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA VOTE CONTINUED will fill student senator and yell leader positions, as well as next year’s student body president. “This election is setting the at mosphere for the 2015-2016 SGA,” Douglas said. “This election season especially we want everyone to be ed ucated and aware of what’s going on.” Douglas said SGA has experienced a voter participation decline over the past few years. 2012 voter turnout was more than 15,000 participants, but by last year’s election it had dropped to about 11,000. Douglas said while 2012’s numbers might be due to the higher candidate numbers —- there were six SBP candidates instead of the two to three candidates since — the participation drop nonetheless requires a rethinking of the way SGA generates voter interest. Jeff Claybrook, communication executive vice president and political science senior, said SGA hopes to have 15,000 to 20,000 students vote in this election, or approximately 30 percent of the student body population. Wimberly said students don’t real ize the policy influence that elected members of SGA have. “Whenever there’s a search team that needs to come up for a dean, presi dent or vice president, administration automatically turns to SGA because they have been elected by the students and are representative of the student voice,” Wimberly said. Douglas said there are plenty of opportunities for students to become informed for election season. A can didate meet-and-greet is planned for Feb. 15 in the MSC, and SGA hopes to interact with students through Face- book, Twitter and social media. Doug las also said a debate between student body president candidates will be held for students to better understand the candidates’ positions. MUsit >voJF(cohc‘{ux *) i 111<> FLU BUG GOT YOU? Ta. ''T. % “ Individuals. 13-65 vears of age v t ^ ' B Fever Chills, Headache, Body Aches, Cough, Congesium JWiscx::>voJBSes . Ay V )