● thursday, august 2, 2012 ● serving texas a&m since 1893 ● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media

thebattalion

At many commencement ceremo-nies, graduates are often urged to pause and take stock of their college careers. For one student, this consists of a nearly 15-year long odyssey through hospital beds and rehabilitation clinics. It started with a bloody and defenseless man lying beaten on a Huntsville road.

Halting every few moments to col-lect his thoughts and with frequent glances down to his Aggie Ring, Don Mathews Jr., senior agricultural leader-ship major, prepares to once again tell his story — his terrifying account of a September 1998 night that forever changed his life.

Don was at a friend’s house celebrat-ing his 21st birthday party. A group from Madisonville, unknown to most partygoers, showed up and were asked

A couple thousand Aggies will sit in Rudder Auditorium next week as they take the first step toward their future

For women’s basketball head coach Gary Blair, Texas A&M University has been home for 9 years and dur-ing his time here, he has seen players step out into the world. Come Aug. 9, he will be delivering the commence-ment speech to students as they step out.

Blair first arrived at Texas A&M University in 2003 after 10 years as the head coach of the Ar-kansas Lady Razorbacks, where he led them to the 1998 Final Four. After taking over the head coaching position, he led the Aggies to seven straight NCAA Tournament appear-ances. And most historic of all, he took them to their first NCAA Final and National Championship in 2011.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center, currently a Texas A&M Sys-tem entity, could merge with Texas A&M University, increasing the Uni-versity’s research stature.

The System Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on merging the two institutions at its Thursday and Friday meeting.

System Vice Chancellor for Mar-keting and Communications Steven Moore said HSC research dollars will now come under the Texas A&M University umbrella, adding to the total research conducted by the Uni-versity.

Moore said A&M could be push-ing $1 billion in applied research ex-penditures, merging HSC research dollars with research efforts already in place at A&M.

The increase of funds to A&M would improve the University’s na-tional rankings in research expendi-tures as a tier-one research institute.

Aaron DeeringThe Battalion

Trevor StevensThe Battalion

See Merger on page 6

See Commencement on page 6

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Don Mathews Jr., senior agricultural leadership major, received life-threatening injuries on Sept. 25, 1998 that left him with traumatic brain injuries and memory loss.

After suffering a savage beating 14 years ago, Don Mathews Jr., is ready to walk the stage Blair to

speak at ceremony

graduation

Regents to vote on merger

health science center

Road to resilience

Michael Dror The Battalion

Quick bioBlair graduated from Texas Tech in 1972 after a tour with U.S. Marine Corps. He then completed his master’s in education from Tech in 1974.

Student benefi t on Saturday A benefi t for Susan Kettlewell, senior biomedical sciences major and mother of two who is battling a rare disease, is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday at Kroger on Rock Prairie. Food will be served and donations are welcome. Kettlewell was recently diagnosed with Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis. She has undergone eight surgeries and will travel to the Mayo Clinic in Rochestor, Minn., for treatment. The benefi t is to raise money to fund her visit to the clinic.

insidetraditions | 2Who’s whoLegendary men with ties to Texas A&M University are spotlighted in the summer paper’s last tradition series.

sports | 4ESPN GameDayESPN GameDay crew visited Aggieland Tuesday to fi lm a promotional commercial for the network. Visit The Battalion’s YouTube page to see exclusive interviews with ESPN College GameDay talent, Kevin Sumlin and more.

campusOld Main closesOld Main Drive between Wellborn Road and Olsen Boulevard will be closed Friday through Monday and from Aug. 11 to 13.

Editor’s noteThis will be the last issue of the summer paper. Please visit thebatt.com, Facebook or Twitter for news and updates throughout the summer.

Professor, staff offer advice to ease exam stress

With the stress of exam sea-son, poor nutrition and sleep deprivation can be as promi-nent as textbooks and pencils. Roughly 32 percent of Texas A&M University students in-dicated stress affecting their academic performance last year according to the Ameri-can College Health Associa-tion’s National College Health Assessment

Sharon Robinson, associate professor and nutrition exten-sion specialist in the Depart-ment of Nutrition and Food Science, said stress takes a toll on students’ bodies and minds as they seek shortcuts to suc-cess.

“When students are study-

ing for finals it may be tempt-ing to load up on coffee or en-ergy drinks,” Robinson said. “However, caffeine should be limited to no more than 300 milligrams per day by healthy adults. Three regular cups of coffee contain about the daily limit.”

Lauren Dorsett, health edu-cator at Beutel Health Center, said students need to remember their health as a priority while tackling exams. She said Beu-tel receives countless students every semester with symptoms like exhaustion, headaches and muscle tightness which stems from poor nutrition and stress.

“There are several things students can do to help

Amber Jaura The Battalion

Jennifer Nguyen — THE BATTALION

Third year veterinary medicine student Joe Pluhar studies Wednesday evening in the Memorial Student Center.

Bryan Walmart to begin construction

Construction is expected to begin on a second Walmart in Bryan, located off Harvey Mitchell Parkway and Villa Maria Road within the next 30 days.

“They have 18 months to get it completed but they will probably get it done in less than a year,” said Dennis Goehring, director of economic devel-opment for the city of Bryan.

The new Walmart is projected to have an im-pact on the taxpayers of Bryan.

“It will be a positive cash flow back to the tax-payers because you are going to have values of $30 to $40 million of entities to be taxed. There are no tax abatements; there are no incentives in terms of tax abatements or anything like that. The only money the city is putting in is to put up a speed light at Jaguar Street and Villa Maria Road,” Goeh-ring said.

Although the city is not putting any money

Allison LinderThe Battalion

See Walmart on page 6See Stress on page 5

student health b-cs

COURTESY PHOTO

Don Mathew Jr.,’s friends visit him while he recovers from a 20 day long coma. Mathews spent months relearning and rehabilitating basic functions. See Mathews on page 4

Pg. 1-08.02.12.indd 1Pg. 1-08.02.12.indd 1 8/1/12 10:31 PM8/1/12 10:31 PM

Legendary Ags

R udder, Sully, Norman Borlaug — all influential to the Spirit of

Aggieland. These men are icons of Texas A&M University and

are hailed by all Aggies for what they have done to create this

University’s legacy of selfless service.

thebattalion

traditions page 2

thursday 8.2.2012

University visionaries

Perennial powerhouses

James Earl Rudder was Texas A&M University’s president from July 1, 1959 to March 23, 1970 and Texas A&M University System’s president from Sept. 1, 1965 to March 23, 1970. Rudder, hero of D-Day as Commander of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion, which stormed the beach at Pointe du Hoc, was serving as vice president when appointed president on June 27, 1959, effective July 1, 1959. In 1963, during Rudder’s administration, the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas became Texas A&M University. Enrollment doubled as participation in the Corps of Cadets was made optional and women were admitted. In addition, the research program was greatly expanded and academic and faculty standards were improved. On Sept. 1, 1965, when Marion Thomas Harrington retired as Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, the title was changed to president, and Rudder took over this position as well, both of which he held until his death on March 23, 1970. Rudder received an honorary law degree from Baylor University in 1960. Rudder, Class of 1932, was the second Aggie to serve as president.

Maj. Gen. James Earl Rudder

Lawrence Sullivan Ross was president of Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College from Jan. 20, 1891, until his death on Jan. 3, 1898. Students pass by a statue of his likeness in Academic Plaza every day, placing pennies at his feet in hopes of good luck. Ross is often credited with saving Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College from closure in the 1890s. Rumors of many problems surrounded the school, and the state legislature declined to appropriate money for improvements to the campus because it had little confi dence in the school’s administrators. The job was offered to Ross. During Ross’s seven-and-a-half year tenure, many traditions formed. These include the fi rst Aggie Ring and the formation of the Aggie Band. Ross’s tenure also saw the school’s fi rst intercollegiate football game, played against

the University of Texas. Upon Ross’ death, students had the fi rst Silver Taps ceremony, a tradition still practiced when a member of the Texas A&M community dies.

Lawrence Sullivan RossJohn Wayne Stark received a bachelor’s degree in history from Texas A&M University in 1939. He attended the University of Texas Law School but withdrew before graduating to serve in World War II. After the war, he returned to campus in 1947 to oversee construction of the Memorial Student Center. Over the following years, he played a major role in developing on-campus programs such as the Opera and Performing Arts Society, the Student Conference on National Affairs, and the Great Issues and Political Forum programs. Many world leaders and famous performers have come to campus as a result of those programs. Stark became the Texas A&M sponsor for Experiment in International Living in 1959. This program enabled approximately 400 Aggies to travel overseas to live and work. In 1980, after 33 years of serving as the MSC director, Stark retired and continued to serve the University for a decade as special assistant to the president.

J. Wayne Stark

Gov. Rick Perry, Class of 1972, was a member of the Corps of Cadets, Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, senior class social secretary and Yell Leader his senior year. Perry said the Corps gave him the discipline to complete his animal science degree and earn a commission in the Air Force. In a 1989 interview he said that he was probably a bit of a free spirit, not particularly structured well for life outside of a military regime. He said he would not have lasted at Texas Tech or the University of Texas. Upon graduating, Perry was commissioned in the Air Force and completed pilot training in February 1974. He was then assigned as a C-130 pilot to the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base. He left the Air Force in 1977 with the rank of captain, returned to

Texas, and went into business farming cotton with his father. In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat. In 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties,

becoming a Republican. In 1990, as a newly minted Republican, Perry challenged Jim Hightower, the incumbent Democratic Agriculture Commissioner.

Perry narrowly defeated Hightower. As Agriculture Commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to

other states and foreign nations. In 1994, Perry was reelected Agriculture Commissioner by a large margin. In 1998, Perry chose not to seek a third term as Agriculture Commissioner, running instead for lieutenant governor. Perry thus became the state’s fi rst Republican lieutenant

governor since Reconstruction. Perry assumed the offi ce of governor on December 21, 2000,

following the resignation of George W. Bush, who was preparing to become U.S.

President. He won the offi ce in his own right in the 2002 gubernatorial

election. He was reelected in the 2006 gubernatorial election. In the 2010 gubernatorial election, Perry became the fi rst Texas governor to be elected to three four-year

terms.

Gov. Rick Perry

Gary Blair is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in Texas A&M history. Blair, appointed in 2003 is also one of the winningest active Division I coaches in the women’s basketball. Blair has guided Texas A&M to a program-

best No. 1 ranking in the national polls and a school-record seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a historic run to the program’s fi rst

national championship in 2011. Blair is one of only three all-time NCAA Division I women’s basketball coaches to lead two different teams to the NCAA Women’s Final

Four, Texas A&M and Arkansas. He currently ranks in the top 15 in career victories and in the top 25 by winning percentage among active Division I coaches.

Gary Blair

Robert M. Gates, served as President of Texas A&M University from Aug. 1, 2002 to Dec. 16, 2006. Gates previously served as interim dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M and as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2006, Gates offi cially resigned the presidency to assume the role of U.S. Secretary of Defense. As University president, Gates made signifi cant progress in four key areas of the University’s “Vision 2020” plan, a plan to become one of the top 10 public universities by

the year 2020. The four key areas include improving student diversity, increasing the size of the faculty, building new academic facilities and enriching the undergraduate and graduate education experience. During his tenure, Gates encouraged the addition of 440 new faculty positions and a $300 million campus construction program, and saw increases in minority enrollment. On Feb. 2, 2007, Gates was conferred the title of president emeritus by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

Robert Gates

Pg. 2-08.02.12.3.indd 1Pg. 2-08.02.12.3.indd 1 8/1/12 10:17 PM8/1/12 10:17 PM

thebattalion

traditions page 3

thursday 8.2.2012

International innovators

A central fi gure in the “green revolution,” Norman Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for developing high-yielding, disease resistant wheat for consumption in third world countries. Before his death in 2009, he was a distinguished professor of international agriculture in Texas A&M University’s department of soil and crop sciences. For 27 years, he collaborated with Mexican scientists on problems of wheat improvement; for the last ten or so of those years he collaborated with scientists from other parts of the

world, especially from India and Pakistan, in adapting new wheats to new lands and in gaining acceptance for their production. In 2006, the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University was named in his honor. The institute aims to discover and promote solutions for the world’s agriculture and food challenges. Borlaug has received extensive recognition from universities and organizations in six countries: Canada, India, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan and the U.S.

Norman Borlaug

Adrian Smith, Class of 1966, has designed some of the world’s most recognizable structures, including

the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, the world’s tallest structure. More important than

designing internationally renowned buildings, however, Smith’s main

goal is to help others and to protect the environment. Smith is known for

designing structures that are sensitive to the physical environment. Pearl River

Tower, the world’s fi rst net-zero energy skyscraper that he designed with Gordon Gill, is currently under construction in

Guangzhou, China. Smith creates highly sustainable projects, integrating energy-effi cient systems and technologies into his designs. In his

college years at Texas A&M University, Smith was involved in the Corps of Cadets while studying architecture. He said the program provided him with infl uential professors and a good education that prepared him well for a career. Smith has designed structures all over the globe, has won more than 110 major awards for design excellence and is a forerunner in designing environmentally sustainable buildings.

Adrian Smith

Greg Hall, Class of 1982, led the team of engineers who developed the “Plan B” drilling plan that

rescued the 33 trapped Chilean miners in August 2010. His company was able to bring the miners up from 2,300 feet underground after being trapped for 69 days. In a forum, Hall said,“If it was a job for profi t, I would have walked away immediately because

the risks were too high. But it’s different when you’re drilling for people and not for profi t.” Experts said this rescue serves as a signifi cant example of crisis management.

Greg Hall

Stories by Robby SmithIllustrations by Elyse WudeckTHE BATTALION

Pg. 3-08.02.12.indd 1Pg. 3-08.02.12.indd 1 8/1/12 10:18 PM8/1/12 10:18 PM

said. “There [are] game changers out there, but they don’t make you any less of a person. Perhaps people dealing with disabilities can under-stand life even better.”

Don, too, learned far more than he expected from that fateful Sep-tember night. Once an eager par-tygoer, Don has learned to take life more seriously.

“Now, I’m much more aware of people with difficulties and disabili-ties. Before the injury, I was a com-pletely different person. I partied and lived a typical college life. Now I’m much more cognizant of how the party life is not the way to go,” Don said. “You have to take care of buddies, help others. You have got to love your friends and family.”

thebattalion

news page 4

thursday 8.2.2012

partygoers, showed up and were asked to leave after a fight broke out.

As Don left the party, three men from that group brutally assaulted Don and left him for dead. Though he had never met any of them, they proceeded to punch and kick Don as he lay lifeless on the ground. The three men had chosen a random victim in retaliation and brutalized him.

Barely breathing, Don was driven by friends to Huntsville Memorial Hospital. He was then transferred to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, while doctors gave him a 50 percent chance of surviving the trip, Don said, recalling the details told to him in the ensuing months and years.

“Of course, he has no memory of that entire year,” said his mother, Regina Mathews, who has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate her son. “We’ve gathered info from dif-ferent people who were there, or pieced together information from the trials. Don’s had quite a struggle dealing with his traumatic brain in-juries.”

Don’s closed-brain injury — considered the worst class of brain trauma — left him in a three-month coma. For the next year, Don is shuttled from hospital to hospital, recovery seeming further and fur-ther away.

“My first memory since the ac-cident is of summer 1999 at a rehab facility in Galveston,” Don said. “I remember being in a wheelchair.”

The wheelchair proved to be a source of frustration for Don, a con-stant reminder of his injuries. The tall, athletic student loved playing sports before the attack, and be-ing bound to his chair was just the first of many struggles Don came to face. He soon discovered he’d lost 40 pounds in the hospital, and was forced to relearn almost everything about day-to-day life. He said he’d taken for granted the simple things, such as walking, talking and re-membering.

“Even after he was awake, he couldn’t talk for four months, he couldn’t focus, and you didn’t’ know if he understood you,” said Regina. “It was like having a baby, then watching him grow up all over again. All his developments came in stages. It’s never like in movies where you’re suddenly awake and ready to return to life.”

Despite these hardships, and knowing how difficult it would be to live a normal life, Don came to believe in one mission: to receive a degree from Texas A&M Univer-sity. He shared his goal with nu-merous doctors he came in contact with, many of whom applauded his ambition but cautioned him from getting too hopeful. With injuries such as Don’s, the brain’s ability to retain information is often so dam-aged that memorization, a key part of many college classes, is hampered.

While working with her son, Regina warned Don that Texas A&M was a challenging school in its own right, and with his injuries it was OK to seek success elsewhere.

MathewsContinued from page 1

COURTESY PHOTOS

Don Mathews Jr., celebrates his birthday with family before the attack, above. The three suspects received 10-, 15- and 20- year sentences.

Photos by Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Lights, camera,action

M ore than 3,500 students appeared for the ESPN

College GameDay commercial shoot featuring

Midnight Yell at Kyle Field. Fans came out hours

before gates opened at 7 p.m. with the line stretching to

West Campus. Filming ended at 4 a.m.

Blinn students Joshua Vogt and George Till receive an

autograph on their 12th Man towels from head

football coach Kevin Sumlin Wednesday morning

during the ESPN College GameDay commercial

shoot at Kyle Field.

ESPN film crew monitors the commercial shoot Wednesday morning during the ESPN College GameDay commercial shoot at Kyle Field.

But, Don remained adamant.““I’ll never give up. I’m going to

A&M,” Don said.Despite doctors’ doubts, Don

enrolled in adult education classes online, then signed up for classes at Sam Houston State University. In fall 2000, less than two years after his attack, Don was doing the un-thinkable — he was back on track for a college degree.

By January 2005, Don trans-ferred to Texas A&M as a psychol-ogy major to achieve the degree de-nied to him eight years earlier. Don said he wanted to be a counselor for disabled crime victims — he want-ed to help people recover from the same issues he was forced to over-come. However, despite his ambi-tions, vestiges of his injuries came to haunt him. Depression, a com-mon ailment for brain trauma sur-vivors, took hold and sidelined his education. In 2009, he was forced to leave school for 10 months.

When he came back, his learning problems continued. Despite de-

voting countless hours to his stud-ies Don can only take one class per semester. Even so, Don was unable to pass a memorization-heavy class required for his major. After being unable to resolve the issue and at-risk of failing the class, Don consid-ered leaving Aggieland for what he feared would be the last time.

However, with the help of Uni-versity staff and the Agricultural Leadership department, Don was able to secure a new major, one that ensured he could continue to study at A&M.

Still another year away from graduation, the Mathews family re-fused to give up. Regina began to give Don different medications to alleviate his depression, use novel learning techniques and memori-zation drills to guarantee her son would achieve his dream.

“We’re probably the reason the cost of index cards shot up in the past years,” she joked.

When not studying, Don and Regina work to ensure that the

tragedies they suffered don’t occur to others. Working with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, Don helps crimi-nals see the face of their victims in an effort to stop them from repeat-ing their actions. One of her hardest experiences was confronting one of the men who assaulted her son dur-ing the trial.

“I brought pictures of my son ly-ing in the hospital to the bewildered prisoner,” Regina said. “Then I said, ‘You took something precious from me. In my faith, I forgive you.’”

The prisoner was astounded that the mother of the man he beat could forgive him for what he did.

“I think it made a bigger impact than shouting would have,” Regina said. “Those might have been the first kind words he’d heard in his life.”

The prisoner died from disease six months later, still in prison.

Don also managed to set aside his anger and forgive his attackers. In an essay for a class, he wrote, “Forgiv-ing those guys has been the hardest thing I ever have done in my life. I pray they come into a real relation-ship with Jesus Christ and earn their redemption by being allowed into heaven.”

Don said he found forgiveness to be one of his strongest sources of healing.

In August, Don will finally grad-uate with his bachelor’s degree, overcoming over a decade of strug-gles. He no longer plans to become a professional counselor, and instead will return to Huntsville to find a part-time job and continue his stud-ies online with a seminary in Dallas.

Although his limp, back brace and stilted speech serve as long-last-ing scars of his attack, Don’s Aggie Ring and degree are an inspiration to his friends and those who know him. The lessons he and his moth-er learned on his path to recovery taught them about perseverance and humanity.

“Sometimes, seeing a disabled person you might just stare or ig-nore them. But you have to remem-ber, all it takes is one accident to put you in the same situations,” Regina

See the original stories of Don Mathews Jr.,’s accident printed in 2009.

Don Mathews Jr., left, depends on family while he recovers from his injuries.

Part one: Shattered

Part two: Road to recovery

Pg. 4-08.02.12.indd 1Pg. 4-08.02.12.indd 1 8/1/12 10:21 PM8/1/12 10:21 PM

LARGE NON-SMOKING ROOM

Great Food • Security • Unlimited Pull & Event Tabs and Much More!

Event Packages

& Planning Available774-7266

OVER $60,000 won weekly• Monday thru Saturday 1st Session 6:30, 2nd Session 8:00• Sunday - 1st Session 6:00pm, 2nd Session 8:00pm• 1/2 price paper on Thursday• $10.00 1/2 price FortuNet Electronics• Thurs. - Free Beer (limit 2)• $2500 session play• 1/2 price full pay Monday, Wednesday and Friday

www.brazosbingo.com

1805 Briarcrest, Bryan

(corner of 29th St. & Briarcrest)

979-776-0999OPEN

7 DAYS A WEEK!

thebattalion

news page 5

thursday 8.2.2012

AUTO

2005 Jeep Wrangler Sport 6-cyl,auto/trans, 4wd and cd. $13,900.Call 979-220-7510 for moredetails.

FOR RENT

$1200 Pre-lease, 4 bedroomhouses, W/D, pets ok, near TAMU.Call Maroon & WhiteManagement, 979-422-5660.

$1350/mo, 2 story house, 4/2/2,newly remodeled, comes withW/D. 979-777-2849.

$395 Room in shared 4/2 house.Walk to TAMU. 9 month leaseOk. Call Maroon & White Man-agement, (979)422-5660.

2 bdrm/2bath duplex. Brand new.1000 sqft. All appliances included,W/D. Nice, quiet country setting.Water is included. Extra land forhorses is a possibility. Energy effi-cient heat pump. Electric bill is su-per affordable! Super nice!! Veryclose to main campus/Health Sci-ence Center, beat the traffic!! Callfor more information979-777-2253.

2-3/bedroom apartments. Somewith W/D, some on College Main,remodeled with dishwashers,Great deal! $175-$600/mo.979-219-3217.

STUDIES IN PROGRESS

J&S Studies, Inc.979-774-5933

1710 Crescent Pointe Parkway, College Station, TX 77845www.js-studies.com

FACIAL ACNE STUDYVolunteers ages 12 and older, with facial acne are needed to participate in a 12 week clinical research study with an investigational topical medication. All eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Acne Evaluations by a Dermatologist • Study Medication • Compensation up to $250.00 for time and travelVolunteers will need to make 5 offi ce visits over the 12 week period.

For more information please contact:

ATHLETES FOOT STUDYVolunteers ages 18 and older are needed to participate in a 6-week clinical research study with an investigational topical medication for athletes foot. Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • Study related medication or placebo • Medical Examinations related to study • Compensation up to $150.00 for time and effort

For more information please contact:

URINARY TRACT INFECTION STUDYFemale volunteers who think they might be experiencing a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) are needed to participate in a 2 day clinical research study of an investigational study medication for the pain that is associated with a UTI. Symptoms of a UTI include: Pain, Burning and Frequency when urinating. Eligible volunteers will receive at no cost: • UTI Assessments by a Study Doctor • Antibiotics for their UTI • Study Medication • Compensation up to $100.00 for time and effortEligible volunteers will be required to make 2 offi ce visits. There is no cost to you for participating in this research study.

For more information please contact:

PRIVATE PARTY WANT ADS

$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.

PLACE AN ADPhone 845-0569 Suite L400,Memorial Student CenterTexas A&M University

WHEN TO CALL8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through FridayInsertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day

SPEC

IAL

classifiedssee ads at thebatt.com

puzzle answers can be foundonline at www.thebatt.com

FOR RENT

2/1 completely remodeled, newapp. & W/D (808 Navidad) $569,2/1.5 townhouse style, with W/Dconnect & fenced yard (1208Verde) $589, Only $200 deposit,NO HUD, 979-450-9093 or979-450-9094 (espanol).

2bd/1ba apartment, 800sq. ft.New appliances, carpeting andtile. W/D. bus-route. $575/mo.210-391-4106.

2bd/2.5ba unique floorplansw/balcony views of Kyle Field.Brand new luxury apartment con-dos. Fullsize stainless steel appli-ances, W/D, designer ammenitiesgranite/wood/tile, bus stop. Only36units on Holleman at Wolf Pen.www.broadstoneranchat-wolfpen.com, www.aggie-landleasing.com, 979-776-6079.

2bd/2ba 4-plex. Spacious floor-plan, W/D connections, close tocampus. $550/mo.www.aggielandleasing.com979-776-6079.

2bd/2ba single floor townhome,gated, security system, small back-yard, River Oak Wolf Pen district,$1300/mo plus bills, 210-912-8042.

FOR RENT

2bd/2ba unique floorplansw/balcony views of Kyle Field.Brand new luxury apartmentcondos. Fullsize stainless steelappliances, W/D, designer am-menities granite/wood/tile, busstop. Only 36units on Hollemanat Wolf Pen.www.broadstoneranchat-wolfpen.com,www.aggielandleasing.com,979-776-6079.

3/2 CS Duplex. Fenced, shuttle,very large. Treehouse Trail, Cy-press. www.c4properties.net979-268-1074.

3/3,3/2 Houses, Townhouses&Apartments, 1250-1400sqft.Very spacious, ethernet, largekitchen, walk-in pantry &closets,extra storage, W/D, great ameni-ties, on bus route, now pre-leas-ing, excellent specials.979-694-0320.www.luxormanagement.com

3/3s, 2/2s, $1050+, $890+, granite,close to campus, cable/internet in-cluded, owner broker979-777-5477.

3bd/1.5ba House under one milefrom campus. $850/month, $400deposit. 1106 Georgia979-255-8637.

4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Houses,Townhouses, Duplexes&Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Veryspacious, ethernet, large kitchen,extra storage, W/D, greatamenities, on bus route, nowpre-leasing, excellent specials.979-694-0320.www.luxormanagement.com

4/4.5 luxury townhome, $500/mo,on bus route, available August,each bedroom as own thermostatand bathroom, includes W/D, 3/2brick house in CS w/ garage andlarge fenced yard, renovated,available in August, $1250/mo,4b/3ba brick house in Bryan, 903Lazy Lane, Available in August,$1550/mo, Waypoint Properties,979-450-3011,www.waypointonline.com

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

6bd/4ba., 2-car garage. CentralAC, fenced, good parking.Haswell Dr., Bryan. $2000/mo.979-822-0492.

903 San Benito, 3/2/2, W/D, onshuttle route, $1000/mo,979-268-5206.

FOR RENT

911 Gardenia, CS. AvailableAugust 1st, new 2 story brickhome, 4bd/2.5ba, perfect studenthousing close to A&M Campuswith 2-car garage, patio for grill-ing and a small fenced yard,$1500/mo., First Month's Rent isYour Deposit! Call or text817-915-0258 or emaildshelton@buxtonco.com. Hurry,time is running out!

Apartment: 2/1at Southwest Park-way and Anderson. $500/mo. Onbusroute. 682-365-0282.

August Leasing. 4bd/2ba house.Close to campus, wood floors, tilefloors, ceiling fans, W/D, fencedyards. 979-776-6079.www.aggielandleasing.com

August Move In, spacious3bdrm/2bth duplex, W/Dprovided, $895/mo. 979-693-0551.

Available August 15th, 2bd/2baapartment, W/D, approximately900sqft, $575/mo, call210-387-5030.

Available August. 4/4 house inBuena Vida. W/D, newappliances, granite, fenced.gigem95@verizon.net713-252-5555.

Beautiful 2bd/1ba duplex in C.S.,3-minutes from campus, remod-eled, all new, many extras, W/D,Internet, cable, drapes, fencedbackyard, quiet, one week free,979-422-3427.

Big 2/2 in fourplex. Balcony, W/D,water paid, near shuttle, $650.979-324-5835.

Big 3/2 duplex, W/D, lawncare,tile, near shuttle, fenced yard,$1050. 979-324-5835.

College Station: 3/2, 1240sqft.Newly remodeled! All StainlessSteel Appliances! Close to shuttle,W/D, lawn/pest/maintenanceincluded. 905 Balcones (offWelch), $1000. KAZ Realty979-324-9666.

Country Living! Short drive tocampus. 3bdrm/1bath home.Kitchen, dining and den. Garagew/carport, fenced yard w/2 largedog pens. Barn and feed silow/three to four fenced acresw/corral. $895/mo. Call979-255-5555.

Cozy 2bd/1ba condo. OffWellborn, in Bryan. Fireplace, FP,no HUD, $495/month total.254-589-0585. 254-289-8200.

Cozy 2bdrm/2bth condo 3-blocksfrom campus, yard, w/d connec-tions, over 1000sqft., no HUD, up-dated, $595/mo total, 506-A Col-lege Main Available August.254-289-0585, 254-289-8200.

FOR RENT

http://sites.google.com/site/aaar-entalcs/ Duplex for rent, 2/1, nodeposit, 1000sqft, $675/mo.979-450-0098.

Just available! Close to campus,College Main and Eastgate areas.2bd/1ba., some w/dishwasher,1-fenced, some bills paid.$325-$450/mo. 979-219-3217.

Need to sublease my apartmentat The Heights in CS, call409-781-0313 or emaildoemar1@sbcglobal.net

Newer 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 townhomes,close to campus, cable/internet,$810-$1200. Broker/owner979-777-5477.

Northgate. 2bd/2ba. Walk tocampus. aggievillas.net.Call 979-255-5648.

Reduced rent, 3bd/3ba duplex,Paloma Ridge Drive CS, $950/mo,pets OK, W/D included, backyard,tile floor, close to campus,713-594-3787.

Spacious 2bd/1ba, C.S. duplex,3-minutes from campus, Internet,cable, W/D, remodeled, fencedfront and backyard, 1000sqft,beautiful with many extras, oneweek free, 979-422-3427.

FOR SALE

$135,999 reduced, must sell, 4/2,1923sqft, excellent condition, 2A/C, 1405 Todd Tr., 979-450-0098.

Apartment sale! Loveseat,double bed sheets, bed skirt,comforter and shams. Desk,chairs, end tables, vintage filecabinets, lamps, patio glider,computer accessories, schooloffice supplies, kitchen itemsPLUS graduation cap and gown.Campus View Apartments #75,Saturday and Sunday 8/4-8/5,9am-3pm. 512-422-7421 (leaveyour phone number in themessage).

INEXPENSIVE, OFF-CAMPUS LIV-ING! 2bdrm/2ba. mobile home,2.5 miles from A&M. Great forstudents looking to save moneyon housing. (Campus average:$2500/semester). ASKING$9,799.00 OBO TO OWN. Nomoving, no campus living regual-tions, location along shuttleroute, all appliances included.Call Blaine 940-867-2159.

Mens OCR 10-speed roadbike.44cm Shimano SORA gears. Greatcondition! $125. 979-224-2844.

Transfer Sale: Full size bed,modular couch w/matching otto-man, small desk w/chair, tv/bookstand. Excellent condition. Mustsell immediately! $1800 O.B.O.210-481-0159, 210-861-5572.

HELP WANTED

Athletic men for calendars,books, etc. $100-$200/hr, upto $1000/day. No experience.aggieresponse@gmail.com

Baptist church needs nurseryworkers for Sunday mornings andevenings and Wednesday eve-nings. Please call Mary at776-5000 or e-mailmary@christsway.org

HELP WANTED

Child Care- FT & PT shifts avail-able. Some nights & Saturdays re-quired. Apply in person at 3609 E.29th St., Bryan.

Dental/Surgical Assistant-Fast-paced multi-doctor practiceseeking dental/surgical assistant;no experience needed; full-time.979-764-7106.

Experienced tractor driver.Flexible hours, salary negotiable.979-279-6132.

Full/Part-time carpet cleaningtechnician available, non-smoker,good driving record, call979-693-4474.

J.Cody’s hiring meat cutters, applywithin 3610 South College. No ex-perience necessary, just commonsense!

Landscape internship. Learn howto perform commercial landscape,must be willing to work in in-credibly hot weather. 15-30 hrsper wk. Work shifts from3:00pm-9:30pm. 979-255-9000.

The Steamery now hiring carpetcleaning helpers to move furni-ture for the month of August,979-693-6969.

MUSIC

Peter Block Mobile DJ,professional 22+yrs. experience.Specializing in weddings, TAMUfunctions. Mobile to anywhere.979-596-2522.http://www.partyblockdj.com

NEEDED

El-Paso Bound? Need Someone totake a dresser-mirror to daughter.Will pay! Call 979-276-2378,979-218-1872.

PETS

Imperial Shih-Tzu puppies! 4-8lbs,rare liver, chocolate/white,black/white, $400 and up. 2 maleMaltipoos, $600/each.linda_d_54@yahoo.com979-324-2866.

ROOMMATES

1-Male roommate needed to be1-of-2 in 4bedroom house for Fall2012. $500/mo., plus half ofutilities and cable. Email ifinterested:ampiwonka12@gmail.com

2-female roommates needed.Large updated townhouse offSouthwest Pkwy. Bus-route, W/D,1/3-utilities. Large room$350/mo., smaller room $250/mo.,or both $550/mo. 979-204-9788.

Bryan, 2 roommates, $375 each,all bills paid, wifi, furnished,361-249-0387.

Female roommate wanted.2bdrm/2ba apartment. 1/2 rent,$287.50. Call 210-387-5030.

Roommate wanted. $300/mo., allbills paid. Fully furnished.979-777-4445.

SERVICES

Apple certified iPhone repairw/one year warranty,allphonetoys.com Member BetterBusiness Bureau. 979-694-2800.Student discounts available.

TUTORS

Spanish tutor/teacher, all levels.$20-$30 per 1-hour session. Classof ‘98. 979-268-7849.

the battalion

If You Have Something To Sell, Remember Classifi eds Can Do It!

Call 845-0569

maintain healthy habits during exams. It is important to get plenty of sleep — eight hours a night is best,” Dorsett said. “Also, focusing on a healthy diet and daily ex-ercise can also help beat stress, so it’s best to aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each day.”

Dorsett said while caffeine can fuel stu-dents temporarily, they should be aware of the dangers associated with them.

“The effects of too much caffeine can include headaches, irregular or fast heart rate, nausea, nervousness and dehydra-tion — qualities that can be detrimental to academic performance,” Dorsett said. “ In small doses, a cup of coffee for example

StressContinued from page 1

can be a helpful boost, but be cautious of how much you consume to avoid nega-tive side effects.”

While the effects of caffeine on the central nervous system can be attractive to students, experts advise that caffeine should not be taken in large quantities. Students should be aware of their intake. Many energy drinks contain much more caffeine than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s limit for soda, which is set at 65 mg caffeine per 12 ounces.

Dorsett said students should seek ener-gy from sources like exercise, healthy eat-ing and natural alternatives, like green tea.

“Ditch the sugary drinks like sodas and stick with good carbs from whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, nonfat dairy products and whole grains,” Dorsett said. “According to Meghan Windham, [reg-istered dietitian], Student Health Services

dietitian, focus on combining carbs like fruit and whole grains with lean protein for better sustained energy.”

Stress depletes the body of essential vi-tamins and nutrients, which are needed to stimulate the brain and keep students focused. Dorsett said students should plan ahead for more stressful times in their se-mester and remember to always prioritize their health.

Sydney Ware, junior nutrition major, said it’s hard to fit in proper sleep and meals when overwhelmed with finals.

“I run every day so during finals time I try to keep that up, but I don’t always eat properly when I’m stressed. I’d tell students to pack snacks and try to stay hydrated while studying. I drink a lot of green tea,” Ware said.

Pg. 5-08-02-12.indd 1Pg. 5-08-02-12.indd 1 8/1/12 8:31 PM8/1/12 8:31 PM

thebattalion

newspage 6

thursday 8.2.2012

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 Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Call 979-845-2696 for mail subscriptions.

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

Naila Dhanani, Editor in Chief

He is one of the winningest active Division I coaches in the women’s game with 620 vic-tories and is also one of only three coaches all-time in NCAA women’s to lead two schools to the NCAA Women’s Final Four. This year he was named as one of the inductees into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

University President R. Bowen Loftin told TAMUTimes he believes that Blair will give an engaging message to the graduates.

“Coach Blair is not only highly successful in leading and inspiring young women to excel on the basketball court, in the classroom and in

life generally, but he has also proved to be an extraordinary good-will ambassador for Texas A&M as he interacts with the public and the media in his unique manner,” Loftin said.

The conferment of degree ceremonies is on August 10 at 9 a.m. for graduates of the Bush Government and Public Service, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mays Business, Dwight Look Engineering, and Geosciences. The other con-ferment will begin at 2 p.m. for the graduates of Architecture, Education and Human Devel-opment, Liberal Arts, Science, and Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Students with GPAs of 3.50 or higher will graduate with honors. A GPA of 3.50 – 3.69 is Cum Laude, 3.70 – 3.89 is Magna Cum Laude, and 3.90 – 4 .00 will graduate Summa Cum Laude.

CommencementContinued from page 1

FILE PHOTO

Women’s basketball

head coach Gary Blair

will be the summer

convocation speaker.

However, Moore said be-cause time is an element, no immediate effect will be seen.

Linking the two institu-tions is expected to further interdisciplinary research pos-sibilities.

“Engineering, science and medicine are all converging now … having it all under one umbrella makes it all that

MergerContinued from page 1

much easier to do and easier to coordinate,” Moore said.

If the regents approve the merger at this week’s board meeting, the combination of the two schools could create redundancies in staff mem-bers. Moore said at this point, the chancellor’s office doesn’t know whether there will be cuts to staff positions.

It is planned that a joint committee — between Uni-versity President R. Bowen Loftin and HSC President Nancy Dickey — will be es-tablished to oversee any issue.

“The expectation is that [cuts] would be minimal,” Moore said.

The HSC, which currently carries “Texas A&M” in its title, includes the Baylor Col-lege of Dentistry as one of its six units.

Moore said the only part of the Baylor College of Den-tistry that isn’t already part of the A&M System is the name. The College belonged to Bay-lor University in 1918 until the state of Texas took over in 1971. It became part of the A&M System in 1996.

“We have proposed a new brand nomenclature to Bay-lor and await their response,” Moore said.

For A&M to have exclu-sive branding rights, a buy out would not be necessary, because the A&M System al-ready operates the HSC.

Some students in the Col-lege of Nursing have heard about potential cuts to HSC staff.

“Staffing cuts … would be really unfortunate,” said nurs-ing student Amanda Sliger. “We have some really amaz-ing faculty that genuinely care about how we’re doing and go out of their way for us.”

There are six schools in Texas that make up the HSC, including the Baylor College of Dentistry at Dallas, Col-lege of Medicine at Bryan and Round Rock, Col-lege of Nursing at Bryan and Round Rock, Rangel Col-lege of Pharmacy at Kingsville, School of Graduate Studies at College Station and Houston, and School of Rural Public Health at College Station.

upfront, it is putting a differ-ent deal on the table.

“We did agree to give them x percent of the sales tax if they complete and build this whole thing out to the magnitude they stated. But that’s not money out of our pocket, that’s money they earn to get it. That’ll go over a 50-year period of time.,” Goehring said.

The land that Walmart will be purchasing will cost close to $9 million, while the store itself will cost about $15 million.

“They are going to be add-ing another 150,000 square feet, so close to 300,000 square feet of property out

there. The real draw is to get other tenants to come out there and kind of cohort the project with them,” Goeh-ring said.

The city of Bryan spoke with Walmart three to four years back about a similar idea of bringing a second lo-cation to Bryan but officials said the market wasn’t ready for them to come in.

“Then these guys came by just about a year ago and were looking for a location and I just said the west side is where the growth is going to be. Then they did their research and they agreed, and that’s how they made a decision to come out there,” Goehring said.

For the full story, please visit thebatt.com.

WalmartContinued from page 1

Pg. 6-08.02.12.indd 1Pg. 6-08.02.12.indd 1 8/1/12 10:27 PM8/1/12 10:27 PM