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The Battalion
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The Student News Site of Texas A&M University - College Station

The Battalion
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The Student News Site of Texas A&M University - College Station

The Battalion
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All content by Wade Feielin
Joseph Benigno

SBP-elect Benigno looks ahead to his tenure

Wade Feielin
March 25, 2015
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood gave a presentation at the George Bush Presidential Library Wednesday evening. 

Ex-transportation director encourages bipartisanship

Wade Feielin
March 25, 2015
Ted Cruz

Cruz seals spot as first presidential candidate, profs weigh in on candidate’s place on political spectrum

Wade Feielin
March 23, 2015
Wade Feielin — THE BATTALION VPSA candidate Daniel Pugh meets with students at a meet-and-greet Thursday. 

Vice president of student affairs candidate visits campus

Wade Feielin
March 12, 2015

Black Gold: Professors discuss state of world oil market

Wade Feielin
March 12, 2015

MSC Abbott holds annual leadership conference

Wade Feielin
March 8, 2015
Joseph Benigno

Allegations arise among SBP candidates of threats, political favors

Wade Feielin
March 4, 2015
Election Commissioner Emma Douglas Vanessa Pena — THE BATTALION

SBP contenders trade arguments at trial hearing

Wade Feielin
March 3, 2015
Allison Bradshaw and Tim Lai — THE BATTALIONMichael Murtha is present at the Judicial Court hearing regarding to alleged SBP election violations. 

Elections in flux: Push to penalize alleged SBP campaign infractions rolls on forward

Wade Feielin
February 26, 2015
Timothy Lai — THE BATTALION Economics junior Brandon Loughridge and environmental design junior Tyler Blanton are training for an Ironman in honor of their friend diagnosed with MS.

A plan, a purpose, a cause. Two students band together to race against MS

Wade Feielin
February 24, 2015
Tanner Garza — THE BATTALIONRenee James, author and Sam Houston State astronomy professor, spoke on campus Monday.

Science Unshackled’: Prof talks astronomy

Wade Feielin
February 23, 2015
Photo by Tanner Garza Physics professor and science author Renee James visited campus Tuesday to give an astronomy seminar and to discuss the intersection between curiosity, creativity and scientific potential that she explores in her books.

Science Unshackled”

Wade Feielin
February 23, 2015

Movement to erect statue continues

Wade Feielin
February 18, 2015
The three candidates for student body president — Joseph Benigno, Michael Murtha and Isaiah Tsau — engaged in a public debate Monday to inform the student body of their respective platforms.Topics included embracing diversity on campus, increasing voter turnout in elections and bridging the gap between the student body and the Student Government Association. In the context of the Corps of Cadets appointing its first female commander Monday, the candidates were posed with the question of how to develop younger students and underrepresented groups at Texas A&M. Murtha said Aggies of all backgrounds need to have the ability to share their opinions and work together, making a Unification Council an important part of his platform.“From an early age, I had the opportunity to work with so many diverse backgrounds,” Murtha said. “Diversity doesn’t boil down to race, sexual orientation or anything else but it is still a factor we have to account for. All those different matters still deserve representation because we want to reach out. We need committee members who know all areas of campus, and we need liaisons in each area of campus.” Benigno said it is important that all students think of themselves as Aggies, not just a subset of the overall student body.“When you recognize the true attributes a person has and recognize attributes in a group, the best campaign team isn’t men or women or a certain racial group, age, class year, part of Texas — it’s all things,” Benigno said. “I think raising these people up to think of themselves as Fightin’ Texas Aggies is the most important message I can send. If you want to be here and have an opportunity to win and lead, you can.” Tsau said just looking around the debate, the effect diversity has had on campus is evident.“Debates didn’t look like this in the past,” Tsau said. “We’re not here to complain, we’re here to take initiative.  We’re trying to get involved and we are the Aggie family.” After opening statements and general questions about diversity and leadership styles, moderator Matt Josefy, former SBP and Class of 2004, directed questions at specific candidates.Murtha was posed with the question of how he would deal with future controversy in light of him abstaining on the concealed carry bill passed by Student Senate. “When the bill came up I did a lot of thinking,” Murtha said. “As a Republican I stand for concealed carry, but as a representative of the student body I vote how the students want. 57 percent of students did not want concealed carry so I couldn’t pick one side or the other to justify a vote. I didn’t want to put my own beliefs into action as a representative of 900-plus voters. In the future, I would say this needs to be a referendum because such controversial issues need to be addressed by the student body directly.” Tsau was asked about his lack of past Student Government experience. He said being involved and adaptable will help him perform his duty as potential SBP.“It’s true I was not involved in Student Senate,” Tsau said. “However, you’re going to remember your student body president at ground-level investing in your life — not policy.  I believe all policy can be replicated and duplicated and we can all still collaborate and work for the betterment of Texas A&M.” Being involved in student government since his freshman year, Benigno was asked how his administration would be different from those of past presidents.“Because I know them I’ve been able to see and think critically about them for three years now,” Benigno said. “There’s a lot they’ve done well and could do better. When an issue comes up for a student body president, I think knowing how each person dealt with issues will be valuable and I think Kyle [Kelly] had done an excellent job this year.  Because of that there is nothing major I would do differently in terms of cabinet structure and goals in SGA.” General studies freshman Angelarose Israni said she liked the idea that the candidates could bounce policy and other issues off one another, regardless of who wins the election.“I think at the end of the day, whoever is elected can take on each others’ policy,” Israni said. “When it comes to voting, I think personally I would pick the person who would be able to take on different situations because you can implement policy but I think it takes a certain type of character and person to deal with a lot of situations that the student body president has to deal with.” Human resources senior Alexandra Jung said she thinks the candidates were similar on a lot of issues, making continuity possible.“I found it interesting that a lot of things they’re running for are similar,” Jung said. “Obviously a lot of people have preferences as to what they would prefer to see in office and the fact they all seem to be good friends and have similarities, you’d think they’d have similar effects in office. They kind of allow you to give them a little bit of trust so you’re like, ‘Okay, this is who I like, this is what I really like.’ It’s just reassuring.”Polls open at 9 a.m. Thursday morning  and close at 3 p.m. Friday.Shelby Knowles — THE BATTALION Candidates Joseph Benigno (left), Michael Murtha and Isaiah Tsau fielded questions at the debate Monday.

Debate offers student body glimpse of SBP candidates

Wade Feielin
February 17, 2015
Sarah Lane — THE BATTALION University Provost Karan Watson leads the Vision 2020 forum Tuesday. The discussion centered on nine objectives that would improve student outcomes.

Open forum recalibrates Vision 2020 strategy

Wade Feielin and Wade Feielin
February 10, 2015

SGA kicks off ‘Gig the Vote’

Wade Feielin
February 1, 2015

Panel will break Ebola down in layman’s terms

Wade Feielin
January 28, 2015

Mini Med School takes health to community

Wade Feielin
January 22, 2015
Provided Luis Hurtado

Q&A: Professor weighs in on race to save Ridley Sea Turtle

Wade Feielin
December 8, 2014
Vanessa Peña — THE BATTALIONAkhilesh Gahawar

Researchers develop injectable treatment for wounded soldiers

Wade Feielin
November 19, 2014

A&M researchers contribute to sea turtle symposium

Wade Feielin
November 17, 2014
 

B-CS Habitat for Humanity builds 250th home

Wade Feielin
November 9, 2014

Ring experience different for first-generation Aggies

Wade Feielin
November 6, 2014
Tanner Garza — THE BATTALIONMike Southerland, Former At-Large Councilman.

Election season: Bryan City Council candidates

Wade Feielin
November 1, 2014

A&M students develop interactive media app

Wade Feielin
October 18, 2014

Brazos County Health Experts Address Ebola

Wade Feielin
October 17, 2014
Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION Plant pathology doctoral student Nasie Constantino has trained her guide dog Axel to nudge or “shake” with her when he smells ketones through her breath, letting her know her blood sugar level has deviated from normal.

A nose for distress

Wade Feielin
October 13, 2014
Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION Andrew Metscher, economics junior, balances schoolwork and family life while running for Texas state representative in district 14.

Student launches state representative run

Wade Feielin
October 13, 2014
Dee Huggan — THE BATTALION Madison Jones (left), Jared Knowles and Matt Kinsel developed a multi-purpose cleaning cloth that is worn like a glove.

A&M students develop multi-purpose cloth

Wade Feielin
October 8, 2014
PROVIDED Map shows a Texas Land Trends report that shows changes in ownership size of privately held farms. 

Study: Texas farmland shrinking drastically

Wade Feielin
October 7, 2014
Andrea Jonama shot a 228 at the “Mo”morial Tournament. 

Women’s golf to travel to Schooner Fall Classic

Wade Feielin, Wade Feielin, and Wade Feielin
October 1, 2014

Texas gubernatorial campaigns pick up speed

Wade Feielin
September 29, 2014
Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

No.6 A&M opens division play in Dallas

Wade Feielin
September 24, 2014
 

Bike bait’ program pays early dividends

Wade Feielin
September 13, 2014
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