NEWS
The Battalion I 2.2.15
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IN YOUR FIRST 2 DONATIONS
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TWO LOCATIONS TO DONATE AT!
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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.
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