UESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015 I SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 I © 2014 STUDENT MEDIA I ©THEBATTONLINE
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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.
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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
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