principles and improving, or even saving lives,” said Kathryn Bennett, a public health graduate student. “Public health is thus incredibly impor-tant because it addresses these primary determi-nants of health: genetics, lifestyle, environment and availability of health care.”

However, those in favor of recognizing the

www.MammaMiaNorthAmerica.com © L

ittle

star

GET TICKETS!MSC BOX OFFICE979-845-1234www.MSCOPAS.org

TONIGHT, TOMORROW AND THURSDAY!FEBRUARY 22-24 • • 7:30 PM RUDDER AUDITORIUM

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*Rush tickets available now to all three MAMMA MIA performances. Please limit 2 tickets per student. Student ID required. (You must present a valid student ID when picking up RUSH tickets at MSC Box Office.) Limited availability. Not valid on previously purchased tickets.

*

● tuesday, february 22, 2011 ● serving texas a&m since 1893 ● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media

thebattalion

Fire sparked in the Zachry Engineer-ing Center on Monday. Spence Street filled with emergency and rescue crews.

“I could smell that the smoke was from something electrical,” said Rob-ert Battleson, a senior electrical engi-neering major in the building at the time of the fire.

The fire alarm sounded and many students left, leaving belongings inside the classrooms.

“Smoke filled the classroom and

when we came outside at 2:10, there was smoke on the side of the roof,” said Renee Eimer, a senior electrical engineering major.

After evacuating the building, on-lookers saw black smoke and flames from the top of the southeast corner of the building. The fire was reported on the third and fourth floors. Eleven fire vehicles were on the scene. Eight of the vehicles responded from College Station and three came from Bryan.

“Nobody will tell us officially what is going on,” said Jeana Goodson, aca-

demic adviser and Zachry evacuation team member.

Students and onlookers waited for reports of what had happened.

“At approximately 2:15 we received word of a fire in Zachry building with smoke in the southeast stairwell,” said Sgt. H. Allan Baron of the University Police Department.

The number of students and faculty in the building at the time of the fire is unknown. There were no reported injuries to people in the building or firefighters.

“I was on the burning side of the building and saw firefighters axing on the roof and putting holes in it to put water in and vent the smoke,” said Matt Foster, a senior electrical engi-neering major who was on the second floor studying.

University police informed on-lookers and students the building would not open for the remainder of the day.

“The fire was located in a chase pipe

Christine PerrenotThe Battalion

Fire in Zachry causes concern

Program aims to enhance public health

Texas A&M, a leader in academic excellence and innovation, has solidified its role in the com-mitment to bettering the overall health of society with progress made by Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health.

“From water-treatment programs to HIV initiatives and workplace safety, public health professionals are incrementally changing the way the world functions, incorporating wellness

Naila Dhanani Special to The Battalion

inside

scene | 3‘Mamma Mia!’MSC OPAS presents Mamma Mia! at 7:30 p.m. today in Rudder Auditorium. To purchase tickets call 979-845-1234 or log on to www.MSCOPAS.org.

sports | 4Nothing stops NatashaSenior hurdler Natasha Ruddock, from Jamaica, has overcome a serious knee injury and is in the process of rewriting the A&M record books for Head Coach Pat Henry’s nationally ranked team.

Loftin petitions on behalf of A&M

The 82nd Legislature is in session assessing and deciding solutions to the many chal-lenges facing Texas, namely the general revenue shortage result-ing in budget cuts for numerous state agencies, such as higher education. President R. Bowen Loftin petitioned the Senate Fi-nancial Committee on behalf of Texas A&M Wednesday.

“Our message to the leg-islature is that Texas A&M is efficient, effective and a great value; and we have a significant impact on the state of Texas,” Loftin said.

According to Comptrol-ler Susan Combs, the general revenue, which is expected to peak at $77.3 billion after a $4.3 billion deficit and an $800 mil-lion transfer to the Rainy Day

Trevor StevensSpecial to The BattalionCourtesy photo

Students in the Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health are conducting research to better the health of society.

b!

See Budget on page 5See Health on page 6

coming wednesday

Yell leader profi lesProfi les on the yell leader candidates will be in Wednesday’s paper. Check it out to learn more about each candidate.

community wellness budget cuts

campus news

University fi ghts eating disordersStudent Health Services and the Texas A&M Student Counseling Service sponsor an Eating Disorders Awareness Week this week. Activities include a panel discussion on eating disorders at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Room 281 of the Student Recreation Center and a “Don’t Fight Your Genes” jeans drive. Donations will be accepted Wednesday in the John J. Koldus Student Services Building and Friday in the Wehner Building.

Staff writer

Albrecht best candidate, Tucker close secondENDORSEMENT

Texas A&M is lucky to have two candidates who stand head

and shoulders above the rest running to be Aggieland’s next student body president. Hilary Albrecht and Chris Tucker have all the right things neces-sary to be a successful student body leader.

Albrecht, a junior political science major, is the candidate with the most experience, most knowledge and she is most poised to make an impact next year. After working closely with other student leaders and administra-tors through her position as speaker of the student senate, Albrecht is capable of accomplishing a great amount for

students.Tucker, a senior university studies

major and member of the Corp of Cadets, has taken a different route to-ward candidacy. Tucker has excelled in leadership positions in nearly every organization he has joined. He is also extremely easy to approach and will fight for students’ inter-ests above his own. A&M would be in good hands with Tucker.

Albrecht receives the en-dorsement because she is the candi-date who is most prepared to be the most effective as our next student

body president. Albrecht will focus on the issues most important to students, such as academics, student services and communication.

For far too long there have been empty promises from student

body presidents that never become more than vote-garnering, feel-good lines during campaign season. Albrecht is a candidate who will break

the mold and continue talking to and fighting

for students after the votes are counted.

Albrecht compiled a timeline for her team’s goals, and the open com-

munication she has displayed this year through her current position will provide the accountability to these goals that other campaigns and past presidents have lacked.

Her involvement in the student government association, college of liberal arts, Memorial Student Cen-ter and Greeklife provides her with much needed range of understand-ing. Student body presidents have to understand the needs and desires of a diverse student body of 50,000 plus, and Albrecht is ready for that respon-sibility.

The Battalion recommends Hilary Albrecht for 2011-2012 student body president without reservation.

The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having fi nal responsibility. EDITORIALBOARD

Experience is the deciding factor in The

Battalion’s endorsement.

Matt WoolbrightEditor in Chief

junior sociology major

Megan RyanManaging Editor

senior English major

Taylor Wolkenjunior economics major

Jill Beathardsenior English major

Connie Thompsonjunior communication major

VVOTEggieland

22011

Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION

Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION Courtesy photo

A fire broke out Monday afternoon in Zachry. Classes in the building were canceled for the remainder of the day.

See Fire on page 2

Pg. 1-02.22.11.indd 1Pg. 1-02.22.11.indd 1 2/21/11 8:42 PM2/21/11 8:42 PM

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the battalionClassified

Advertising• Easy

• Affordable• Effective

For information, call845-0569

THE BA TTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily , Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at T exas A&M University . Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion , Texas A&M University , 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111.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. News offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@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 979-845-2696. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678.Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each T exas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year . To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover , or American Express, call 979-845-2613.

thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893

Matt Woolbright, Editor in Chief

fully equipped

2 ‘Mamma Mia!’

OPAS will present Mamma Mia! from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in Rudder Auditorium. To purchase tickets call 979-845-1234 or log on to www.MSCOPAS.org.

1 Art workshop

exhibitionFigurative paintings and drawings by students in Artist in Residence Ron Cheek’s workshop

will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. through Friday at

the Langford Architecture Center.

3 Coff ee hour

The Glasscock Center director’s search committee welcomes students and faculty for coffee, tea and pastries from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday in room 311 of the Glasscock building.

pagetwoFor daily updates go to thebatt.com ● Facebook ● Twitter@thebattonline

courtesy of NOAA

thebattalion 02.22.2011

Wednesday 20% chance of showers high: 73 low: 61 Thursday 40% chance of thunderstorms high: 77 low: 54Friday partly sunny high: 76 low: 48

Today20% chance of showers High: 77Low: 47

Association sponsors Ballroom Blitz

The pulses of dancing mu-sic flooded the A&M United Methodist Church Family Life Center, Saturday. Classes of excited men and women, Uni-versity students and middle-aged couples learned to bust classic ballroom moves in the third Brazos Ballroom Blitz sponsored by the Texas A&M Ballroom Dance Association.

Susan Quiring, of Susan’s Ballroom Dance, said danc-ing is a wonderful relationship builder.

“There’s only one leader on a dance floor,” Quiring said, as she clapped one of her long-time students, Brandon Sosa, on the shoulder. “The guy is the only one who leads. It builds trust.”

TAMBDA and Susan’s Ball-room Dance started the day-long workshop three years ago to provide dance lessons to Bra-zos Valley citizens in all differ-ent genres of dance, from the rumba to the cha-cha to coun-try waltz.

“The Ballroom Blitz is a community-wide event to teach the Brazos community how to dance,” said Brittany Ali, a senior sociology major and president of TAMBDA. “Susan approached us with the idea, and we get people of all ages.”

Quiring, who teaches dance lessons for TAMBDA on Tues-day nights at the Unitarian Uni-versalist Church, said she was sitting around brainstorming one day and decided the com-munity needed a day of dance.

The Blitz had three different dance styles taught every hour. All-day participants received the chance to learn up to five different dances. At 7 p.m., they all had the opportunity to show off their newly acquired skills at the evening dance.

“Tango and the cha-cha are two of my favorite dances — I like Latin dances,” Ali said. “Tango is a smooth dance, not Latin, contrary to popular be-lief.”

Another TAMBDA mem-ber, Josh Kelfer, a junior bi-ology major, said he joined the dance association because women like men who can dance.

“It’s never a disadvantage,” Kelfer said. “You get to dance with a lot of different women.”

Ali said she has different spiels for convincing students to join the association.

“If it’s a guy, we use our ra-tio: there are usually two guys to every girl,” Ali said, as Josh chuckled beside her. “It’s also good exercise; we’ve gone to health expos to show how dancing can keep you healthy.”

Kelfer said The Village Café in Bryan offers salsa dancing on Saturday nights. He also said you can use country west-ern dances such as the country waltz and the polka at frequent-ed college clubs such as Hurri-cane Harry’s or The Texas Hall of Fame.

“We usually go to Austin or Houston to use what we have learned from Susan,” said Nat-alie Smith, who attended the Ballroom Blitz with her fiancé. “We have been students with Susan for about two years.”

Smith and Sosa started dance lessons together two years ago as friends. After becoming dance partners, they began to date. Smith and Sosa said they want their wedding party to learn a dance for the wedding in March.

“Our first dance as a married couple will be the cha-cha,” Sosa said.

Smith and Sosa said they love the cha-cha because the energy and rhythm are fun and lively.

“I would say for a guy, it’s a really big deal to lead a woman on a dance floor. It’s impres-sive,” Sosa said.

Quiring said most men do not like to dance for a com-bination of three reasons: the first being that the woman he dances with is heavy as lead; the second is that his dance part-ner has “noodle arms,” which make her impossible to lead on a dance floor; and the third, that she wants to lead and drags him around the floor.

“We start off simply. We teach them to walk one foot in front of the other,” Quiring said. “Almost all women love to dance, and almost all men love women. Women die for men who can dance.”

Quiring said even if a man can only execute five steps, as long as he can execute them well, a woman will be im-pressed.

“A man who can do five steps well is much more im-pressive than a man who can do 30 steps poorly,” Quiring said.

Katie WhiteThe Battalion

music

Quiring gives private lessons to many brides and grooms wanting to learn a traditional dance for their wedding. She said, however, dancing is not limited to couples.

“I would never have started dancing if I was required to be part of a couple,” Quiring said.

Smith said Quiring rotates class members so every person

gets the chance to dance, and so everyone can dance with differ-ent people.

“It’s not an awkward thing,” Smith said. “It’s not like you’re standing in the corner waiting for someone to choose you to dance.”

They will marry and dance their favorite cha-cha at their wedding reception March 26.

Stephanie Leichtle — THE BATTALION

Seniors Kyle Jones, chemistry major, and Stephanie Hendrickson, environmental studies major, dance the cha-cha at Brazos Ballroom Blitz. The ballroom dance workshop was sponsored by Susan’s Ballroom Dance and the Texas A&M Ballroom Dance Association.

that went to the roof,” Baron said.

Emergency vehicles blocked some faculty cars. Any students with valuables in the building

had to wait for an emergency escort to take them into the building once it was declared safe.

“The cause and exact point of nature of the fire is still being investigated,” Baron said.

The damage to the building at the time of the fire was un-clear.

Fire Continued from page 1

Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION

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page302.22.2011thebattalion

sceneb!

things you should know before you go 5

1 Genocide in Darfur

lectureMustafa A. Sharif will speak about modern-day genocide in Darfur at 6:30 p.m. today at the MSC Forsyth Center Galleries in Downtown Bryan. The lecture accompanies the exhibit “When They Came To Take My Father,” photography of Holocaust survivors, presented in partnership with the Texas A&M Hillel Center.

5 A capella concert

A capella groups from Texas A&M, including HardChord DynaMix, The Femmatas and Apotheosis, will perform with groups from other universities at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Rudder Auditorium. Tickets will be $5 at the door and are sold through the MSC Box Offi ce.

4 2011 G.L.O.W.

Maggies and Aggie Men’s Club will have the annual Giving to Light Others’ Way (G.L.O.W.) 5K to raise money for the organizations’ philanthropies at 8 p.m. Friday, beginning in Lot 50 on campus. Pre-registration cost is $10 and can be paid at the promotional tables in the Commons, Wehner and Koldus this week.

2 ‘Sangre de Mi

Sangre’The International Film Series will present Sangre de Mi Sangre, winner of the grand prize at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Koldus, Room 227. The fi lm depicts the life of Pedro, a recent immigrant in New York City, during his diffi cult search for his unknown father.

3 Student works

festivalThe Department of Performance Studies, in collaboration with the Department of English, will have its second New Works Festival. The event will present a series of student-written, -directed and -produced short plays over the course of four days, beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday in Blocker, Room 140.

With all the addictive intrigue of daytime television’s “Who’s my baby’s daddy?” talk shows and the catchy tunes of famed Swedish pop group ABBA, it should come as no surprise that the musical Mamma Mia! has proven infectiously popular over the past 12 years. Having already charmed its way into the hearts of more than 45 million audience members around the world, the top-selling Broadway musical will make its Aggieland debut with MSC OPAS at 7:30 tonight in Rudder Theatre.

“One of the best parts of Mamma Mia! definitely has to be the story line. It’s extremely funny and heart-warming,” said Maha Kaissi, a junior biomedical sciences major and professed ABBA fan. “Mamma Mia! has something to offer everyone, no matter what age you are. Even my 7-year-old sister loves it.”

The set-up for the show seems like something more akin to the long-awaited conclusion of a predictable chick flick: pro-tagonist Sophie is going to marry the man of her dreams, amid the timeless romance of a Greek isle, no less.

Yet this blushing bride finds herself flustered over a much bigger dilemma than the usual bridesmaid drama and seating arrangement catastrophe. She might know the man who will

meet her at the altar, but which of her mother Donna’s three lovers of yesteryear will rightfully escort her

down the aisle? So the hunt for our leading lady’s biological Daddy Warbucks be-

gins. It might sound like something one would catch on a late night pseudo-reality game show, but Mamma Mia! adds the musical flair of ’70s Europop to the scene.

“[The songs] may sound a little different from the original tracks, but that’s just because [ABBA mem-bers and co-writers of Mamma Mia!]

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus didn’t have the original musical ar-

rangements written down,” said Michael Roberts McKee, who plays Eddie, best man

to Sophie’s fiancé in the production. “So what they did is listen to the songs over and over and over

again so they could write down the musical compositions in standard sheet music form.”

McKee said the musical has a cross-generational appeal be-cause it attracts both older audience members who were fans of ABBA’s music in the ’70s, as well as younger onlookers who were introduced to classics such as “Dancing Queen” and “Take a Chance on Me” by parents.

“I’ve always been a really big fan of ABBA since my par-ents are huge fans as well. I grew up listening to their songs, so when I found out about Mamma Mia!, I was ecstatic,” Kaissi said.

The 2008 film adaptation of Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried as the famous mother-daughter duo, brought the stage show to the silver screen — and to mass audiences across the nation. In fact, it became the highest gross-ing musical movie of all time, grossing $600 million worldwide during a time when other Broadway darlings like Hairspray, Phantom of the Opera and Rent had already taken center-stage at the cineplex.

“I feel like the movie helps to provide better exposure for

Rebecca BennettThe Battalion

Broadway musical of ABBA songs to come to campus

Take a chance on ‘Mamma Mia!’

Courtesy photo

The finale of Mamma Mia! is a trio of unannounced ABBA hits, during which audience members are encouraged to sing, dance and clap along with the cast.

Student RUSH tickets can

be purchased with the

presentation of a student ID for $25 today at the MSC Box Offi ce.

the musical. Many people haven’t had the opportunity to see musicals on stage, so a movie really reaches out and increases their fan base,” said Laura Duffie, director of operations for MSC OPAS and a junior wildlife and fisheries sciences major.

McKee said he had been a part of the cast for a few seasons and had noticed a huge growth in the show’s audiences, par-ticularly the younger audience segment, after the film’s release.

And if you dig deep enough into the abyss of elementary school memories, you might just remember the ’90s ABBA tribute group A-Teens, who also hailed from Stockholm, and released The ABBA Generation, an entire album of ABBA covers with a modern electronica, synthesized pop feel.

“I remember listening to ABBA and A-Teens growing up,” Duffie said. “All of the fun and catchy music really comple-ments the musical well. The songs fuel the energy and plot for the entire show.”

McKee said his favorite song to perform was the production’s finale, which is actually an unannounced trio of songs that al-lows “the actors to have a little dance party with the audience.”

“I love ABBA’s music. They’re classics and always seem to have the ability to make any day brighter. I feel like the musical adds a lot to the songs because it adds a storyline to accompany

the lyrics,” Kaissi said. “Mamma Mia! also puts a new spin on some of the songs that you maybe wouldn’t have interpreted that way, like ‘Voulez-Vous.’”

A word people often use to describe the musical is “fun.” Simply “fun.” It seems a lengthier adjective would be incon-gruent with the show’s easy-go-lucky tone and discotheque-worthy musical score.

“It’s an easy fun time, and I think it brings people who might not otherwise go to the theater to come because they are fans of the music. They might not want to see a darker show or a Shakespeare play, but they’ll see this because it’s more light-hearted,” McKee said. “It’s a nice escape from exams, stress, all that … a great chance to escape for a few hours and get to sing and dance and clap with the cast.”

This Scandinavian pop invasion of a Mediterranean paradise — quite the geographical juxtaposition of theatrical elements — has, according to McKee, far outlived the average lifespan of a Broadway show.

“It’s been running a long time, even with the economic downturn,” he said. “It’s survived, which is a great thing, and it really says something about the appeal of the show. Its interna-tional success says a lot.”

Pg. 3-02.22.11.indd 1Pg. 3-02.22.11.indd 1 2/21/11 7:27 PM2/21/11 7:27 PM

AGGIELAND 2011

Featureyour organization

in the 2011 Aggieland yearbookhow to GET A CONTRACT:

TURN IN A CONTRACT:

TAKE A PIECEOF A&M HISTORY WITH YOUReserve your 2011 Aggieland

The 109th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook — the Aggieland — will chronicle the 2010-2011 school year: traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, greeks, campus organizations, and seniors and graduate students.

By credit card go online to http://aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office, Bldg. #8901 in The Grove (between Albritton Bell Tower and Cain Hall). Cost is $64.90, including shipping and sales tax. Hours: 8:30 A.M. to �4:30 P.M. Monday–Friday.

sports thebattalion 02.22.2011

page4

women’s basketball | A&M takes on Texas Tech for the final time this season at 7 p.m. today at Reed Arena.

baseball | The Aggies look to build on their season-opening sweep when Prairie View A&M visits at 6:35 p.m. today.

softball | The Aggies welcome in Texas State for a midweek matchup at 6 p.m. today at the Aggie Softball Complex.

“I definitely want to win the NCAAs, both indoor and out-door this year,” Ruddock said. “And later on down the road, I want to make my Jamaican world-championship team. That’s always been my dream. And to know my idol Melaine Walker is the world champion gives me confidence that I can do it like her.”

Ruddock developed her competitive drive at St. Jago High School in St. Catherine, Jamaica, where she had the class-four Jamaican record in the long jump. Ruddock said she loved the long jump be-cause she excelled in the event and refused to be out-jumped. Her high school coach used her drive to introduce Rud-dock to the hurdles by threat-ening to keep her out of the long jump if she did not com-pete in the hurdles.

“I had the record for class-four in Jamaica, so the long jump was special,” Ruddock said. “He started punishing me with the hurdles, and then I started winning so I figured, ‘Hey, I better stick with this.’”

Ruddock’s career as a hur-dler took off from there.

Ruddock exploded on the scene after placing high in world competition before she was 18, and went on to a junior college nation title while at-tending Essex County College. She was heavily recruited but

only visited three universities in order to maintain her grades as a dean’s list student.

Ruddock visited LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M, but had always considered LSU her dream school. In Jamaica, she heard of the success of LSU’s track team under the direc-tion of then-Head Coach Pat Henry, who seemingly brought back hardware from the NCAA Championships year after year. Upon her visit to College Sta-tion, Ruddock said she enjoyed the sense of family among the athletes and quickly adapted to the Aggie way of life.

“We were elated when she decided to come here,” sprinter coach Vince Ander-son said. “She put a narrated photo slideshow on Facebook that was extremely Aggie-loyal. We learned something about her there, that we didn’t know the depth of when we recruited her.”

Anderson admitted the dif-ficulty of getting to know a person during a recruiting pro-cess, but described Ruddock as “kind-hearted” and “quiet-natured” throughout the re-cruiting process. He said those qualities were confirmed once she stepped on campus, and he started coaching her.

In her first season as an Ag-gie this past year, Ruddock posted six of the top 10 times on A&M’s all-time list. As she

continued to speed toward the 60-meter individual title, Ruddock and her coaches be-lieved she could break all ex-pectations until the regional meet in Austin.

Ruddock was warming up for her event, going through her normal routine with intense concentration. She started prac-ticing her approaches when she had a misstep and felt pain in her left knee.

“I still don’t know how it happened; my leg just went down and it kept giving out on me,” Ruddock said.

The heart-broken athlete would soon find out the inju-ry could stop her from reach-ing her pinnacle, as an MRI showed a torn ACL and menis-cus. She prepared to enter un-charted waters as she had never undergone surgery. She said she felt nervous and wondered if she would return to full form

after surgery, but relied on her family and teammates for sup-port and encouragement.

“I was scared and talking to my mom on the phone and she started praying and cry-ing,” Ruddock said. “I was on the phone with my brother, sister and mom and we were all praying and crying. I even YouTube’d and Googled the surgery and asked ‘is this re-ally what I’m going to go through?’”

The surgery was successful and Ruddock enjoyed visits from family, friends and coach-es while in the hospital. Henry and Anderson visited to com-fort her and encourage her on the road to recovery.

“I just wanted to see her smiling face,” Henry said. “She may not have wanted to see my smiling face, but I needed to know she was OK.”

Ruddock began a ruthless

pursuit of full recovery with help from trainer Matt Key, as she did pool workouts, lifting and coor-dination drills to regain strength and balance in her knee. She ran for the first time since the in-jury in mid-October; only four months after having surgery. She said she was excited to be jogging and hopping again, and it built her confidence to start practicing hurdles again only a month later.

Ruddock continued training and regaining confidence in the stability of her knee, and won her first race since the injury at the dual meet against LSU on Jan. 22.

“Even at the meet, I was ner-vous because in the warm-up I couldn’t get the approach right, but in the race, I just went,” Ruddock said. “In my mind I knew I just had to go. I know I’m physically ready, so it’s just up to me to trust my legs some

more. I have to get my full con-fidence back and trust myself.”

Despite a plague of inju-ries, Ruddock is pursuing her dreams with cautious prepara-tion and concentrated tenacity.

“She’s a very ferocious com-petitor when she hurdles and warms up,” Anderson said. “She’s very focused and very dialed-in. That’s a quality we really love in an athlete; some-one who can really concentrate on the task at hand.”

Ruddock will continue to focus on the task at hand to ensure she reaches her goals of competing for a national title and making the Jamaican Olympic team. She said she considers the injury as a sign that she can overcome diversity to make her dreams come true.

“I take it as a sign that God has a plan for me and I’m going to take it one step at a time,” Ruddock said.

Adrian O’ Hanlon III The Battalion

Courtesy photos

Ruddock overcomes knee injury to excel

Leaping over adversity

Senior Natasha Ruddock won her first race since suffering a severe knee injury Jan. 22 against LSU.

Natasha Ruddock, senior Aggie hur-dler, has a polite and soft-spoken personality that masks her tenacity as

a world-class hurdler and fierce determina-tion to return to top form from a potentially career-threatening injury.

Pg. 4-02.22.11.indd 1Pg. 4-02.22.11.indd 1 2/21/11 7:25 PM2/21/11 7:25 PM

thebattalion

news page 5

tuesday 2.22.2011

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puzzle answers can be foundonline at www.thebatt.com

ETYMOLOGYWhen racing, jockeys would have to keep the reins of their horse tight so that they could urge their horse to run fast. However, if they were far ahead and in the lead, they could slacken up a bit, releasing their tight hold on the reins. This action gave rise to a phrase which is widely used to describe an uneven outcome in favor of one of the contestants. What phrase are we talking about here?

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BBogart’s Casa Blanca B&B/Week-end Restaurant. Now bookingrooms for all University events.Gated 4 acres, 12 elegant roomswith private bath and heated pool.Green Parrot Bar. Hearty Southernbreakfast. (Hollywood in Texas).www.bogarts.org (936)825-1969.

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2-3/bedroom apartments. Somewith w/d, some near campus.$175-$600/mo. 979-219-3217.

2/1 W/D Conn., Large fenced yard,Pets ok, very spacious, Good loca-tion. 1825 Wilde Oak. $600/mo979-693-1448.

2bd/1ba apartment, 800sq.ft. Newappliances, carpeting and tile. W/D.Bus route. $550/mo. +$300 deposit.210-391-4106.

2bd/2ba 4-plex. Spacious floorplan,W/D connections, close to campus.$550/mo.www.aggielandleasing.com979-776-6079.

3/2 Houses, Townhouses &Apart-ments, 1250sqft. Very spacious,ethernet, large kitchen, walk-inpantry &closets, extra storage, W/D,great amenities, on bus route, nowpre-leasing, excellent specials.979-694-0320,office@luxormanagement.com

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4/4.5, like new. High ceilings, hugeclosets, large front porch, tilefloors, all appliances, many extras.$1750/mo. Preleasing for August.979-229-6326. See photos and infoat www.texagrentals.com

4bd/4ba house, 3526 Wild Plum, re-frigerator, W/D, huge backyard!$1,650/mo. 361-290-0430.

FOR RENT

4bd/2ba house. Close to campus,wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans,W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079.www.aggielandleasing.com

4bd/4ba Waterwood Townhomeavailable June 1, $1760/mo, granitecounter tops, new appliance pack-age, a&m bus route.theccooks@gmail.com

Available now 2/1.5, W/D Connec-tions. Large fenced yard. Pets ok.Large closets, fireplace. 2404-BLong Drive. $575/mo. Call979-693-1448.

Brand New 4bdrm/4ba luxury cot-tage style home! With fenced yard,full front porch, 3 blocks from cam-pus, on bus route, $525/person permonth. Call 979-314-1333.

Duplex near campus. 2bd/2ba. W/D.No backyard. 307 Spruce. $650/mo.Call 254-760-8242.

Duplex, 3bd/3ba, 2 living rooms,great location and condition,$1250/mo, 281-491-5738.

Large 1800sqft, 2-car garage w/stor-age shed. 4bd/2ba, eat-in-kitchen,dining room, family room w/fire-place. Wood/tile floors, W/D, 2 re-frigerators, large patio, fencedyard. Lawn maintenance, pest con-trol service. $395/room. Available2011-2012. 832-326-3215.

Need summer sublet. 1bd $599/mofree water with great pet policy.210-213-5453.

New/Newer 1/1, 1/1.5 lofts, 2/2, 3/3.Available May and August.www.jesinvestments.comBroker/owner. 979-777-5477.

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FOR RENT

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2bd/1ba Anderson Place Apart-ments. W/D, cable/internet, all billspaid. $360/roommate. Male. Bus-route. 979-402-2486.

Female roommates needed.4/3 house, big rooms and closets,private bath, W/D, internet/cable.$400/mo +utilities. 817-734-3303

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Fund, will result in $72.2 billion in funds for the legislature. In 2009, the legislature passed a general revenue budget of $87 billion. Therefore, the state will have a shortage of at least $15 billion to maintain current expen-ditures.

Higher education receives about 12 percent of the state’s budget. Texas A&M will have an additional biennial budget reduction of $53.1 million in House Bill 1 and $34.8 million in Sen-ate Bill 1. As a result of less funding to the University and programs such as Texas Grant, students could have less financial aid available to them in upcoming years.

“Proposals that have been laid out include elimination for at least two

years of the initial funding in the Texas Grant Program and initial funding in the Top 10 Percent Scholarship Pro-gram,” said Delisa Falks, executive di-rector of scholarships and financial aid.

To relieve some of the financial burden on the state, legislators are con-sidering shifting public education and community college funding to local entities and changing the Texas Grant eligibility standards. Texas Grant is the state’s primary financial aid program, targeting lower income families.

“[Less funding to financial aid pro-grams] will likely decrease the op-portunity of higher education for first generation college students, and others will not be able to graduate on time because they will have to work to pay for school. For me, without financial aid, I would not be at A&M, unless I worked all the time,” said D.J. Skilton, a sophomore political science major.

To increase financial efficiency, A&M was directed to reduce the state budget 10 percent prior to this legisla-tive session, after a 5 percent reduction last year.

“A reduction of this magnitude will impact students in many ways. We may have larger classes, fewer sections offered and fewer services and activi-ties available to our students,” Loftin said.

Class structure would only be one of several changes in response to the state-mandated budget cuts. To help save money, Texas A&M and the Uni-

versity of Texas offered buyouts to 135 tenured professors. Increased tuition is another possible effect of the state’s fi-nancial predicament.

“[However,] our Board of Regents indicated last summer they are not in favor of University wide tuition in-crease for students next fall. Instead of responding to the state’s budget situ-ation by placing the financial burden solely on the backs of our students, we are looking at ways to increase ef-ficiencies and make strategic budget reductions,” Loftin said.

Beginning last fall, A&M partnered

with the University of Texas in an ef-fort called Together for Texas, pro-moting the value of the state’s two existing tier-one research institutions. Combined, the two universities edu-cate 20 percent of all students enrolled in higher education in the state of Tex-as (100,000 students), grant more than 22,000 degrees each year, and account for the large majority of the state’s re-search productivity.

“All in all, for every dollar the state invests in Texas A&M or UT, we re-turn $18 to the state’s economy,” Lof-tin said.

BudgetContinued from page 1

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value of public health are not negating the importance of clinical medicine. Dr. Craig Blakely, dean of the School of Rural Public Health, said the school has great working relationships with other institutions in the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Blakely said this communication fosters a greater sense of good health now that those in clinical medicine are advocating for the prevention of health issues.

The purpose of public health is to implement better quality of life for all people; not to simply rely on medica-tion or surgery as a means for regaining one’s health, but to find ways one can prevent illness.

Blakely said there are fewer costs and a bigger impact with public health. For example, cleaning up the environ-ment or relinquishing bad habits, such as smoking, go a long way in improv-

ing one’s health. Gains in life expectancy and de-

creases in the mortality rate are two of the best indicators of health status. Texas A&M’s School of Rural Public Health is working on just that.

Dr. Joseph Sharkey, professor in the department of social and behavioral health, is researching issues related to nutrition and health disparities. This research focuses on challenges regard-ing food choices such as food access, including proximity to stores, lack of public transportation, as well as finan-cial resources In some areas, the closest food resource is a convenience store, a fuel station or a dollar store.

These are major types of venues for cheaper food, canned food — basi-cally, food that Sharkey said does not promote good health in an individual. Environmental influences also play a large role in public health .

Sharkey said educating an individual and expecting them to do better is no longer a viable option. Additional fac-tors must come into play. If a citizen

lives a long distance from a store, lacks refrigeration capabilities or lives in an area of crime, finding quality food can be a significant hardship and thus a hurdle to obtaining good health.

Sharkey said working closely with the community is far more effective than simply entering an area, collecting data, then leaving. Along with faculty and students from the School of Rural Public Health, he has undertaken sev-eral projects within the communities of south Texas.

One was a Christmas project in which children from rural communi-ties were asked what they wanted for Christmas, and faculty members and students each sponsored a child.

Sharkey said community involve-ment is crucial in the promotion of public health. Most families in this area are hesitant to accept outsiders who want to get involved in their daily lives. However, with projects such as the Christmas event, members of the community are far more responsive and more goals can be reached, Shar-

key said.Furthermore, educating those inter-

ested in a career dedicated to public health is a primary initiative taken by the School of Rural Public Health.

“Our students enter with a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of others. They put off entering the job market to improve their skills, marketability and impact on their communities and the world by adding to their undergraduate edu-cation. As a faculty member, this dedi-cation to purpose and a cause greater than themselves is inspiring,” said Dr. Mark Benden, professor in the depart-ment of environmental and occupa-tional health.

It is often said students are signifi-cant indicators of the progress of an institution, and the School of Rural Public Health facilitates the active in-volvement of all students in research activities.

Part of what sets Texas A&M’s School of Rural Health from other such schools is its small size and the val-

ue placed upon student involvement. The school is able to facilitate stron-ger relationships between students and professors, and this can be tremendous in developing a student’s potential.

Blakely said students were invited to a speaking event regarding the Gulf oil spill. This event allowed to students to get a grasp on what really happened and how to prevent similar incidences in the future.

“Where I hope we are headed is towards more wellness and health-care and less ‘sickcare,’” Benden said. “What I mean by that is that for the most part, our current research and medical emphasis in dollars and people is focused on fixing people after they break. In the future, we should be more focused on prevention and well-ness to minimize the need for so much intervention.”

HealthContinued from page 1

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