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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2015)
UESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015 I SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 I © 2014 STUDENT MEDIA I ©THEBATTONLINE BATT INK BMTALiON I IHFBATT.COM 'i Shelby Knowles —THE BATTALION Isaiah Tsau Michael Murtha Debate offers glimpse of SBP candidates By Wade Feielin ^ The three candidates for student body ^ president —Joseph Benigno, Michael Murtha and Isaiah Tsau — engaged in a public debate Monday to inform the student body of their respective platforms. Topics included embracing diversity on campus, increasing voter turnout in elec tions and bridging the gap between the student body and the Student Govern ment Association. After opening statements and general questions about diversity and leadership styles, moderator Matt Josefy, former SBP and Class of 2004, directed questions at specific candidates. Murtha was asked how he would deal with controversy after abstaining on a concealed carry bill passed by Student Senate. He said he personally supports concealed carry but couldn’t vote one way or another because there was no clear stu dent opinion. “I didn’t want to put my own beliefs into action as a representative of 900-plus voters,” Murtha said. “In the future, I would say this needs to be a referendum because such controversial issues need to be addressed by the student body.” Tsau said being involved and adaptable will help him overcome a lack of SGA experience “You’re going to remember your stu- VVjm Joseph Benigno Voting for spring student body elections will open Thursday dent body president at ground level invest ing in your life — not policy,” Tsau said. Having been active in SGA for three years, Benigno was asked how he would differ from past presidents. “I think knowing how each person dealt with issues will be valuable, and I think [student body president Kyle Kelly] has done an excellent job this year,” Benigno said. M0REATTHEBATT.COM W. BASKETBALL CORPS OF CADETS Walker’s night proves too much for Alabama Cody Franklin— THE BATTALION Courtney Walker had a career-high 27 points during Monday's game. By Tyler StafFord Behind a career-high 27 points from r Courtney Walker, the Texas A&M wom en’s basketball team defeated Alabama 70-49 Monday night in Reed Arena. With 1,325 points, Walker is now the No. 9 all-time scorer at A&M. “The thing I focus on more than how many I score is on percentages, being able to be ef ficient from the floor,” Walker said. “I think last game I was six for 18, today I was 13 for 20, so I’m much more proud of it today than the other day.” Junior Jordan Jones moved up in the Ag gie record books as well, dishing out 10 assists Monday night to move to fourth place all-time with 508. Courtney Williams and Chelsea Jennings finished in double-digit scoring with 13 and 10, respectively. Alabama (13-14, 2-10 SEC) held its own for much of the opening period, but A&M’s 10-2 run to close out the first half allowed the Aggies to go into the locker room up 31-19. A&M made 34-of-65'field goals (52 percent). The Crimson Tide clawed back to within 10 in the second half, but 11 straight points by the Aggies put the game out of reach. Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said Wil liams and Walker keyed the run that distanced the Aggies. “I think the Courtneys did a great job being more active away from the basketball,” Curry said. “They were able to find the seams and were then able to knock down some jump shots. Credit those guys.” With the win, No. 15 A&M (20-6) has re corded its 10th consecutive 20-win season, the 15th in school history. Head coach Gary Blair has 24 seasons with at least 20 wins in his career. The Aggies have won 16 straight games at Reed Arena, with 28 of their last 30 played at home. A&M returns to action Thursday night when it travels to Lexington to face the Ken tucky Wildcats. At the start of 2013, there were 323 females among 2,450 cadets —or 13 of every 100. ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ fffhrmm fimiTtiff ffHTTTTtf mfTTim ftfflmiii mnnm tttfttfftf TTfTTitfff By Lindsey Gawlik orty years ago, the Corps of Cadets first allowed women into its ranks. Now, it will M be led by one. Alyssa Michalke will serve as the first female Corps commander in the Corps of Cadets’ 139-year history. She will take command of the 2,400- plus member unit, the largest of its type in the nation outside the service academies. Current Corps Commander David T rigg informed Michalke of her ap pointment, which will be formally as sumed on May 9 at the Final Review process, a ceremony in which seniors lead their units in a march for the last time- and hand over the reins to the new leaders. “So it will be the first time the junior class, the Class of 2016, gets to put on their boots,” Trigg said. “At that time they will lead their first march-in onto Simpson Drill field and I will transition my role as Corps commander to Alyssa Michalke dur ing Final Review, in that ceremony.” Trigg said Michalke looks forward to this opportunity to lead. “She’s excited and feels very privi leged and humbled for the opportu nity to serve and I’m excited to see what she can do,” Trigg said. Michalke is a junior with majors in ocean and civil engineering and pres ently serves as Corps sergeant major, the highest rank for any cadet who is not a senior. She is the first woman to hold that position as well. Her mother, Nicole Michalke, Class of 1993, said she is still over whelmed with excitement. “When she was chosen last year as sergeant major, we knew this was a definite possibility because it usually transitions into that,” Nicole Michal ke said, laughing. “But we knew it MICHALKE ON PC. 3 Editorial: Corps leaders again make history - is this part of a new culture? Batt Asks: What do you think the new Corps commander means for the Corps? Other Corps leadership positions awarded Monday include the following: v ■ Deputy Corps Commander-External Matthew Vanderbloemen Deputy Corps Commander-Internal Daniel Ravenna Chief of Staff Jacob Zerr 1st Brigade Commander Knox Yellin 2nd Brigade Commander Daniel Stevenson 3rd Brigade Commander Kyle Sauer 1st Wing Commander Mary Godwin 2nd Wing Commander Kimberly Beiry 3rd Wing Commander Will Knape 1st Regiment Commander Ryan Pnithi 2nd Regiment Commander Mary Jo Martinez 3rd Regiment Commander Brian George Combined Band Commander Kevin Wilfong ■H ■11 PlZlfS mi&LFfMLL VS iSU TIGERS FEBRUARY 17.2015 | 8pm I REED ARENA l, : r J mm v : life [jhj/i pi 'iff •-L % 12w MAN SPORTS h. 1 GETS IN FREE — \ AIL"