of A&M, its traditions and its students.

Consider the resolve and strength of those at the turn

of the century when one of the greatest traditions of Aggieland became one of its greatest tragedies, the day Bonfire collapsed. Even though we lost 12 family members, we became stronger.

Two years later, we saw the patriotism and love for country inherent at A&M when Kyle Field became a symbol of American pride days after Sept. 11, 2001.

Fundraising for victims of the Virginia Tech shootings and Hurricane Ike relief are only two examples of the volunteer spirit prevalent at this university.

Take advantage of your time here. You’ve heard it a million times, but it’s im-portant. There are more than 800 student

organizations at A&M, and I’m sure one of them matches your interests and passions. Maybe it’s The Battalion.

Perhaps you love knowing what’s going on at A&M and want to keep students in-formed. Or you relish the idea of improv-ing your writing, photography or video skills. Maybe you want to share opinions with a column or podcast. Regardless, you will never be bored. Every day is differ-ent. If we have piqued your interest at all, shoot me an e-mail, and we can sit down and talk.

Whether it’s with The Battalion or an-other one of A&M’s phenomenal groups, we want to encourage you. Make a mark on Aggieland while you are here, and then make a mark on the world when you leave. Your time here is so short, and we are fortunate to be here. There are thousands wishing they were in your shoes, but you have earned the right to be here. Make the most of it.

To contact Matt Woolbright, send him an e-mail at editor@thebatt.com

● special edition ● serving texas a&m since 1893 ● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media

thebattalionLeave a mark

The Battalion was here before the Aggie Ring design we know and love, before the Ross Volunteers and even before Silver Taps, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and Yell Practice. The only tradition older is Muster.

The Battalion is the student voice of Texas A&M University. And I am honored to serve as its editor-in-chief for fall 2010 and spring 2011.

I began writing for The Battalion before attending classes my freshman year, and I knew long before that I would be serv-ing Aggies by reporting when I arrived in Aggieland. This will be my third year on

staff, and I have learned so much. In the beginning, I did not realize the hard work that goes into making a single issue.

The Battalion staff devotes about 100 man hours a day to produce the paper. It is completely student-run and student-produced. We are the student voice and, as such, we want to know what you have to say. If you have a story idea, e-mail it in; if you have a suggestion or complaint, give us a call. We serve you. We need to hear from students to learn what happens in their lives.

That is my favorite part of the job. Every issue, a story reminds me of the uniqueness

T EXAS A&M is a special place. It’s filled with both

incredible faculty and ambitious students, and its halls

echo with traditions honored for decades. I want to tell

you about one tradition with which I have fallen in love. Like

many other things at Texas A&M, this tradition centers on

service. However, unlike most traditions, it is 117 years old. Matt

Woolbright

junior sociology major and fall

editor-in-chief

Note from the editorThis is a special edition to show how The Battalion is produced and the processes we go through to get a paper to the stands each morning.

Honor 117-year-old tradition: read The Battalion Workload500 hours a week in the fall and spring to produce the paper

350 hours a week in the summer to produce the paper

7,000 hours a semester in the fall and spring to produce content for the paper

3,500 hours a semester in the summer to produce content for the paper

17,500 hours annually

1,850 pages produced each year by students

How to apply

If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion apply at thebatt.com, or call 845-3313.

The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out. We particularly encourage freshmen and sophomores to apply, but students may try out regardless of semester standing or major. No previous journalism experience is necessary.

How to submit a story idea

To submit a story idea to The Battalion, send it to metro@thebatt.com and editor@thebatt.com. You are the eyes and ears of the campus and this is your student newspaper.

You should include the time, date and place of the story idea. Please include

at least three contact names, e-mails and phone numbers. The Battalion is a student publication, so please include student contacts. Let the staff know who is important in the story idea, why it’s important that they cover it, what the story idea is, when it is taking place (timely coverage is best), where the story idea is and how does this story idea pertain to students at Texas A&M.

Also, the editors are asked to answer: Why do I care? for each of the stories they assign. Let them know why students should care about the story idea you are proposing.

The editors of The Battalion are asked to plan content at least two weeks in advance. If you know of a story idea that can be planned early, send the idea in as soon as you can. The earlier, the better. If you know of a student, faculty or staff story that would make a great profi le, please send us your ideas.

If it’s breaking news, call the newsroom ASAP 845-3315 to report news.

For more information, go to thebatt.com/about-us

Getting involved with your student newspaper

The GroveThe Battalion newsroom is south of Albritton Tower off Wellborn Road.

About_us_pg1.indd 1About_us_pg1.indd 1 7/12/10 5:59 PM7/12/10 5:59 PM

Vicky Flores

Junior MIS major and summer 2010

editor in chief

Julie Rambin

Senior philosophy major

Angela

Washeck

Sophomore communication

major

Rebecca

Bennett

Senior English and communication

major

Jeffery

Frankens

Junior international studies major

Evan Andrews

Senior visual studies major

Why The Battalion? Hands down, The Battalion is the best job. I love to write, I love peo-ple, I love hearing people’s stories. I like knowing about things that matter and break-ing that news to fellow students. It has honed my skills and further confirmed that this is what I’m supposed to do with my life. You should apply because you’ll come out smarter and more cre-ative. Plus, you’ll add something to your resume while having fun!

Random Fact: My favorite food is salad. Yum! Ian McPhail

Senior history major

Why The Battalion? The Battalion gives students the chance to voice their opinions, and to be paid to do so, an opportunity few college news-papers provide. Over the past two years, working for The Battalion has given me the incentive to con-stantly improve my writing, a skill useful for every-thing from essays to impressing friends with Facebook posts. Freedom of press is an essential American value, and The Battalion and particularly the opinion desk plays an important role in enabling students to exer-cise their First Amendment rights in a tangible way.

Random Fact: I am color-capable, and actively choose not to recognize the dif-ference between red and green, or any color with an adjective preced-ing it.  

I enjoy working for The Battalion because it makes me feel more con-nected to what’s going on at the University and in the community. I’ve been fortu-nate in meeting and talking with different student leaders, all of whom are inspir-ing because of the visions and dedi-cation they have for their passions. Working for the paper has made me more aware of the sheer vari-ety of impressive endeavors that Aggies pursue. You should apply to work for The Battalion because it’s an enjoyable way to serve the campus, get con-nected and gain professional expe-rience.

Random Fact: Due to being a Marine Corps brat, I have lived in five states and Iwakuni, Japan.

David Harris

Senior economics major

Working for The Battalion — along with weekends at Northgate — is one of the highlights of my college career. Having the oppor-tunity to cover something I love while at the same time being able to voice my opin-ion is something that has had a profound effect on me. It’s a pretty empower-ing experience to see your fellow students in class reading your work. Hence, why you should apply. That and the fact that it gives you the opportunity to work with great, experienced peo-ple. Regardless, if you enjoy put-ting pen to paper and talking with extraordinary peo-ple who litter our wonderful cam-pus, then send in an application.

Random Fact: I was born on Christmas Day.

My job is fun for me because I enjoy fixing prob-lems. I like the variety — I edit all content, design pages, and fact-check. Working at The Battalion has made me a more focused writer and helped me clarify my career and life goals. If you like writing and want to improve your skills, you should apply.

Random Fact: My last job was in an emergency room.

My experience at The Battalion has taught me how to manage my time and how to work as part of a team. I have learned that there is always work to be done and efficiency is a key factor to success in a career field.

Random Fact: I’m hoping to someday work for Pixar.

I work as a pho-tographer and desk assistant for The Battalion. This job allows me to develop my skills as a photographer and use my pas-sions to be a part of the Texas A&M community. As a photographer, The Battalion allows you to be a part of a support sys-tem that will help develop skills that will last a lifetime.

Random Fact: I traveled to the Middle East in summer 2010 to work on a film.

Hometown: HoustonSomething people don’t know about me: I’m obsessed with my cat, Lucy.Why I am working for The Battalion: I love to write and be creative. Days in the newsroom never quite go as planned. Working at The Battalion brings the excitement and anxiety of the unexpected. Working for The Battalion is challenging, but it is far more rewarding. The Battalion has allowed me to interview and meet interesting, inspiring people and to learn more about the world. I’ve experienced the most marvelous stress and sense of accomplishment putting The Battalion together, and the latter is something every college student needs more of. The most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: Being a part of the Bonfi re issue and interviewing Christopher Heard’s parents.

I began working for The Battalion before I attended college classes. I practiced journalism in high school for three years before I arrived in Aggieland and knew I wanted to continue at A&M. I love informing students, sharing little known stories and the pulse of the newsroom. Journalism is a thrill for me. It’s never the same, and it’s always about telling other people’s stories. So I learn more about A&M daily. I love this school, and I love The Battalion more than I can put into words.

Matt

Woolbright

junior sociology major and 2010-2011

editor in chief

Megan Ryan

Senior English major and 2010-2011

managing editor

Hometown: McKinney, Texas

Internships: I will be interning in Washington, D.C., in fall 2010 through the Public Policy Internship ProgramSomething people don’t know about me: I’m a rather poor croquet player.Why I am working for The Battalion: I love meeting and learning about people. Being a reporter has given me the opportunity to meet (directly or indirectly) and get to know numerous distinguished former students as well as current students who are doing great things at this University and in their respective communities.The most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: Receiving a letter from the wife of distinguished alumnus (and former NASA Deputy Administrator) Dr. Aaron Cohen thanking me for the article I wrote about her husband.If I had two spare hours, I would: Cook

Robert

Carpenter

Junior applied mathematical

sciences major

Hometown: Hallsville, Texas

Career track: Planning to go to seminary after graduation.

Internships (past and future): World Gospel Mission writing internship for “The Call” magazine, summer 2010. College Pastoral Internship Project with the Texas Annual Conference, summer 2010.

Something people don’t know about me: I have wanted to write a book since I was in the fi rst grade, but I decided it should be a math textbook to incorporate my love for math and language into one. I have since outgrown the math textbook part of the dream, but I plan to write a book.

Why I am working for The Battalion: To gain journalism experience and enjoy this opportunity that is available in college.

Most memorable moment: My interview with Mary Bolton Eckles the week after her 100th birthday. I went to her house, and we talked for close to an hour.

Brandi

Tevebaugh

Junior English and political science

major

Hometown: Rogers, Texas

Something people don’t know about me: when I was little I used to pretend I was Katie Couric from The Today Show bringing breaking news to my friends and family via our home video camera

Why I am working for The Battalion: because I love fi nding out interesting situations, circumstances, talents, and expertise about people I never would have guessed and discovering the unique stories of the people around me

Most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: speaking to the families of Bonfi re victims and having the honor to write their incredible stories of courage and strength ten years later

If I had two spare hours, I would: play tennis, volleyball, basketball, ultimate Frisbee…basically any kind of sport.

Katy Ralston

Junior communication

major

Hometown: Midland, Texas

Career Track: Going on to get a master’s in architectural conservation.

Something people don’t know about me: I did a dance solo that my sisters choreographed for me to Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again.”

Why I am working for The Battalion: I originally wanted to gain some experience in the world of journalism but when I changed my career goals, I stayed because the work was fast-paced and interesting, not to mention the amazing people I got to work with.

Most memorable moment: Oh man, that’s a toss up. I was so excited when I got to talk to the bassist of Flyleaf but I think my favorite was my interview with a couple students that went to Ghana on a mission trip. I met them in the Flag Room of the MSC and I felt so bad because I kept them there for about two hours just talking about their experiences. They were such nice people and really good sports about it.

If I had two spare hours I would: drive around and take pictures of my favorite nature spots.

Lorelei Willett

Senior history major

Beau Holder

Freshman English major

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Internships: Summer 2010 with the Tribune & GeorgianSomething people don’t know about me: I’ve traveled to fi ve different countries and listen to music from all over the world, including Japanese, Spanish and Catalán.

Why I am working for The Battalion: More than half of my family members are Aggies; I’ve always dreamed of coming to A&M and I’ve always dreamed of writing for The Battalion.

Most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: Getting to interview Bryan Davis, Derrick Roland and Donald Sloan for a feature about the seniors before the last basketball game.

If I had two spare hours, I would: Do whatever tickled my fancy.

Laura Sanchez

Senior communication and

spanish major

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Internship: ABC 13 production intern in Houston

Something people don’t know about me: I was in the hamburger challenge at a Houston Rockets basketball game and was able to run across the court in front of thousands of people and try to “dress” my friend’s life size hamburger bun!

Why I am working for The Battalion: I am part of something thousands of students at A&M read. It’s also helping me gain experience in mass media that can’t be gained by just taking some journalism courses.

Most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: When I called a student to get his quotes on a particular story and he told me he recognized my name and had been reading my articles a lot, I felt like a celebrity!

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Internships: Ker & Downey Luxury Travel Magazine and ABC 13 Houston (KTRK-TV)

Something people don’t know about me: I was valedictorian of my eighth-grade class

Why I am working for The Battalion: I want to gain experience as a writer and also learn more about all the aspects of producing a paper. The Battalion is a nationally recognized paper and it has given me the tools to be successful not only in the journalism fi eld, but it has also given me other various skills for everyday life.

Most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: Covering the protesters gathered outside Rudder when President Obama came to speak was defi nitely memorable. It was interesting to hear people’s reactions from both political parties. There were also lots of crazy costumes and posters which made the event quite entertaining.

If I had two spare hours, I would: Take my dog to the park. She loves to play fetch and then jump into the nasty lake water.

Ann Littmann

Junior English major

Hometown: San Antonio

Career Track: I plan to go to law school.

Something people don’t know about me: I’m a fi rst-generation Aggie.

Why I am working for The Battalion: I am working for The Battalion because I love being able to tell others stories, and I love the news business plain and simple. I love the fast-paced work environment. I love seeing everyone on campus walking around with The Battalion in their hands, knowing I was a big part of it. It is such a great experience being able to meet all kinds of people from all backgrounds of life and have the opportunity to tell their story. The best part is knowing that I have left my legacy at Texas A&M in print.

Most memorable moment: Being able to see Stephen Hawking’s lecture and covering it.

If I had two spare hours I would: Go to a rock show.

Hometown: Alvin, Texas

Something people don’t know about me: In high school, I planned on being a music education major at Sam Houston State University. I still sing, but I went to my fi rst love, sports.

Why I am working for The Battalion: I love writing, I love sports, and most importantly, I love Texas A&M. To have an opportunity to write for a paper as recognized as this is amazing.

Most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: Interviewing Dennis Goehring, one of Bear Bryant’s “Junction Boys.” Talking to a living Aggie legend. Writing the Derrick Roland story was right up there, though.

Kyle

Cunningham

Junior sport management major

Jill Beathard

Senior English major and spring 2010

managing editor

Hometown: Argyle, Texas

Internship: For a newspaper in Dublin, Ireland, summer 2010.

Something people don’t know about me: I had my nose pierced for about a month.

Why I am working for The Battalion: I started working for The Battalion because I love to write and hope to pursue a career in journalism. I continue to work here because I feel The Battalion is the voice of the amazing and unique student body of Texas A&M, and because the people I work with every day are people I have a lot in common with and have bonded with during those late nights producing a paper.

Most memorable moment: Going to Halo dressed like a dude for a column.

If I had two spare hours I would: Probably waste it. Because I don’t know what to do with myself when I’m not at The Battalion.

Hometown: Brownwood, Texas

Career track: Heading off to law school next year to learn how to advocate for others outside of a weekly newspaper column.

Something people don’t know about me: I spent my entire childhood living next door to the various prison’s my father supervised. I have some crazy stories.

Why I am working for The Battalion: I enjoy writing and I’m in love with Texas A&M so I try to combine the two to make this university a better place. Plus journalism is interesting —sometimes if you just sit and listen, people will tell you anything and everything to fi ll the silence.

Most memorable moment I have had as a student journalist: Sitting in on the Board of Regent’s meeting when Elsa Murano’s resignation was announced. The panicked excitement and awkward tension in the room was unbelievable.

If I had two spare hours, I would: Sit down and write about something that bothers me in the world. Then I would submit it for print. So those two hours would start out as spare and turn into work.

Stephen

Humeniuk

Senior political science major

inside thebattalionThe First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

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thebattalion

the making of the battalion

I never thought I’d be

a desk job kind of

person. I never once

pictured myself at a desk

in front of a computer and

a keyboard every day. But

here I am, typing away and

having the time of my life.

When I applied to The Battalion about a year and a half ago, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew how to read and write, and that’s about it. I ap-plied because I love writing. Little did I know that within a year I’d learn to love de-tecting misplaced commas and lining up text on a page layout. It’s even more surprising to me that I spend the majority of my time putting together a newspaper.

That’s what I find special about working for The Battalion. We teach students how to put the paper together. I knew how to string a few sentences together when I got here, and now I’m the one who sends the pages to the pressroom in Huntsville at the end of the night.

That could be you. If you’re willing to learn, we’re willing to teach. If it weren’t for the managing editors before me, and the editors-in-chief who believed in me, I might have quit the news business before I got to experi-ence what it’s like to have my name on the front page. To get the chance to talk to a soldier in Afghanistan. To get an e-mail after a story is published expressing gratitude for taking the time to talk to them and tell their story.

Robert D. Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, talked about some problems he sees as businesses try to recruit recent college graduates.

“What he needed to know was how to think, how to write, how to speak intelligently, how to find information and make sense out of it, how to argue coherently and how to do basic math,” he said. These are things students can learn from working at The Battalion. For the most part, these are things I could not have learned in my courses, but it is part of my day-to-day life working in the newsroom.

This newsroom isn’t just about putting out a paper, though. It’s about learning how to talk to people — the people you’re interviewing, your boss, the team you’re leading. It’s about learning to deal with conflict and criti-cism. It’s about time management and diligence. It’s about late nights and last minute changes. Most importantly, it’s about accomplishing something. Being a part of something campus wide — writing something your peers and elders might actually read. It’s about writing or taking a photograph or drawing a picture of something that is going to make the paper better.

We make mistakes. We misspell words on occasion. We don’t see that there are two commas in the midst of a paragraph. We misunderstand some-thing a professor a told us and misrep-resent it in print. But we’re learning, and with a newspaper, there is always tomorrow. I’d like to invite you to be a part of tomorrow’s newspaper. Apply and be a part of making The Battalion.

To contact Megan Ryan, send her an e-mail at battcopy@thebatt.com

Imagine yourself here ...

Putting it all together

Megan Ryan

senior English major and 2010

managing editor

Graphics by Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION

SS

S

12

Story

3

the batt

Headline

HuntsvilleHuntsville

Gathering stories

Continously — Stories fill more than 1,800 pages a year

in print and online, informing students of news affecting

them. Stories must have three sources and tell all sides of

the story. We strive to cover major events, but we cannot

be everywhere at once so if you know something, tell us.

E-mail your story ideas to metro@thebatt.com.

Budget meeting3 p.m. — This is where we plan what is going in the paper. Desk

editors tell the staff what content they have for the day and the next

two papers. We discuss important issues of the paper, go over the

previous day’s paper and share reader feedback.

Editing Stories3 p.m. through the night — The Battalion uses the AP Stylebook,

but we also have our own specific style guide. We meticulously edit

every story, and each one must pass the desk editor, copy editor,

managing editor and editor-in-chief.

Designing pages

3:30 p.m. through the night — Desk editors design the page with

content using Adobe InDesign CS4, and page one designers layout

the cover. Desk assistants work one night each week, creating content

and designing pages. The editor-in-chief and the managing editor also

design pages. The finished pages are proofed by at least three editors.

Sending pagesUsually around 11 p.m. — The managing editor sends the pages to a pressroom

in Huntsville, 50 miles away. This involves formatting the page and uploading it to a

server. The final deadline is 1 a.m. After sending the pages, the managing editor calls the

employees at The Huntsville Item to confirm that pages were received. The editor-in-chief

and managing editor stay every night until pages are received.

Advertising8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Advertising is the financial heart of The Battalion. We are

out and about calling on advertisers, selling and creating advertising that generates

revenues of $1 million annually and supports a student payroll of more than

$250,000 a year. The Battalion reaches 48,000 students and 20,800 University and

System employees. The amount of advertising determines the number of pages for

each issue. Ads are placed, and pages are sent to the newsroom.

Final productBefore 6 a.m. — Stacks of papers are delivered to

the stands before 6 a.m. for students to pick up on

the way to class. And then we do it all over again.

Our missionThe Battalion, the student newspaper at Texas A&M University since 1893, is a forum for student expression, which serves the University community by accurately and fairly reporting the news of the day and by developing informed opinions regarding issues of interest to Battalion readers. The Battalion trains students in news journalism by setting high standards and by providing the resources and guidance to reach those standards.

Circulation◗ The Battalion publishes more than 180 issues a year.

◗ Fall and spring circulation is 22,000; summer, 10,000.

◗ The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during fall and spring semesters, and Monday through Thursday during the summer session.

Here it is: a new start, a

clean slate, a window of

opportunity. As you take

your first steps into your college

life, think carefully about who

you want to be.When I was a freshman, I had no idea what

I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be a part of a tradition, something unique. I wanted to leave my legacy at this University, so I applied for The Battalion.

I remember nervously walk-ing into the newsroom to hand in my

application, but when I ar-rived there I was surprised at the friendly welcome and knew I had found my home.

My freshman year, I was a reporter for the city desk, which I

loved. I had the opportunity to meet so many interesting people and it was my job to tell their story. As a reporter, you are the paper, and there is so much freedom in choos-ing whose story to tell and how to tell it.

As a sophomore, I started working in the newsroom as the city editor, which I loved even more. Articles came in from reporters, and my job was to edit all of the news stories and decide which stories would be published in upcoming issues. It was

a dream job to plan and put together the paper every day.

This summer working as editor-in-chief, I have learned so much about journalism and the news busi-ness. Not only have I learned about this career, but I have made friends and learned about who I am.

I encourage you to join The Battalion. We have news and sports reporters, opinion and lifestyle writers, photographers, page

designers, copy editors, videogra-

phers, graphic designers, podcast

personalities and advertising sales

representatives. There are many

ways to contribute and be a part of

this time-honored tradition.

Even if journalism isn’t your call-

ing, find out what is. Try everything

you can while you’re in college and

don’t let a moment go to waste. Get

involved and find your home within

Texas A&M, as I have found mine.

Discover for yourself what being an

Aggie is all about.

Make the most of Aggieland

Vicky Flores

junior MIS major and summer 2010

editor-in-chief

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