2017 Brazos Valley Apartment Guide Inside!
Your 2017 GUIDE to BRYAN, COLLEGE ASTATION, A&M UNIVERSITY & BLINN T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E G G I E L A N D PTEXAS RIMER JULY 27,COLLEGE 2017 | 1
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 2
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 3
TEXAS A&M
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
FIND A STORE NEAR YOU | MATTRESSFIRM.COM
JULY 27, 2017 | 4
From cheering the team on in the stands to helping you head back to campus with all you need, we’re proud to be a part of Aggieland tradition. After all, Aggie MaroonTM runs deep in our veins. NOW SERVING YOU WITH 4 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: 1900 Texas Avenue South, College Station
949 William D. Fitch Parkway, College Station
725 E. Villa Maria Rd., Ste. 1300, Bryan
1609 North Texas Avenue, Bryan
©2017 HEB, 17-5780
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 5
A&M baseball/softball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 A&M track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 A&M Rec Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Things to do in B-CS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 A&M football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 A&M basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Blinn College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
STAFF
PUBLISHER
Association of Former Students . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Crystal Dupré ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Sean Lewis
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Linda Brinkman SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
Shauna Lewis
SPECIAL SECTION COORDINATOR
Kristi Lester
PUBLICATION DESIGNER
Angela Wooten
A&M Career Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Texas A&M Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Code Maroon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Corps of Cadets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Spiritual life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Study Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
HOWDY AGGIES!
About Texas A&M University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID
CARPOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 A&M Transportation Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Cover Photo Contributed by Texas A&M University Howdy is the official greeting of Texas A&M University.
Our Services • • • • •
Fall 2017 Brazos Valley Apartment Guide Included on page 25! T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
Scholarships & Financial Aid can guide you through the options for funding your education.
Advising for Student Aid Scholarships, Grants, Loans Veteran Services Student Employment Money Education 24/ 7 access to financial aid information at howdy.tamu. edu
financialaid@tamu.edu 979.845.3236 VISIT FINANCIALAID.TAMU.EDU
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 6
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 7
l l a b t f o S Baseball / pearances kept s apthe ballpark ie r e S d l r o W e g ColAlgegie fans coming to appearance. A&M had come
By RiChaRd CRooMe The Eagle The spring of 2017 marked the first time both Texas A&M diamond teams reached their respective College World Series in the same season. In recent years, both programs had flirted with playing on the ultimate stage, but it had been six seasons for the baseball team and nine for the softball team since they had opened the door to Omaha and Oklahoma City, respectively. Unfortunately for the Aggies, the door slammed shut way too early in both cases. Neither team was able to claim a victory in the doubleelimination tournaments that conclude with two teams facing off in a best-of-3
series for the NCAA title. Still, finishing as one of the last eight standing proved to be quite an accomplishment, one both squads can build on in upcoming seasons. The softball team finished 47-13 and tied for third in the Southeastern Conference, which had 10 teams in the final Top 25 poll. A&M was unlucky in not getting to host a Super Regional, which made wins in Games 2 and 3 at Tennessee that much sweeter after having eliminated rival Texas at home in the regional. The CWS wasn’t as kind with losses to Florida and UCLA, but with nearly the entire team returning in 2018 and a new stadium on the horizon, the Aggies should be among the favorites to return to Oklahoma City, where their
best finish under coach Jo Evans is a runner-up showing in 2008. The baseball team’s trek through the 2017 season wasn’t quite as smooth as what their neighbors on the other side of Olsen Boulevard endured. The Aggies, who had a program-record 13 players drafted less than seven months before the 2017 opener, went 36-21 in the regular season, lost eight of their last 10 games, returned from the SEC tournament without a victory and had their fingers crossed when the NCAA tournament bracket was announced. A&M got in and that was all it needed. Five straight wins — three on the road and two unexpectedly at Blue Bell Park — had the Aggies celebrating their sixth CWS
within one game of making it to Omaha the previous two seasons, and coach Rob Childress was quick to recognize members of those teams when talking about their latest journey. A&M will have to wait, though, to get its first CWS win under Childress, who would have celebrated his 500th career victory in 12 seasons at A&M if the Aggies could have extended their stay one game. The Aggies lost to Louisville in the schools’ first meeting and TCU, which has become A&M’s Achilles heel considering the Frogs have eliminated the Aggies three straight years. Win No. 500 will be no problem for Childress, but that elusive first victory in Omaha will again take some work. The Aggies have holes to fill, but
Eagle file photo Tori Vidales proved late in the season she can carry the team with her bat, helping the Aggies reach the WCWS for the first time since 2008. have a solid foundation considering they had five freshmen play in its final game, including All-American second baseman Braden Shewmake and cleanup hitter Hunter Coleman. The Aggies also have
the experience, both good and bad, of knowing it’s not always the best teams that advance. Give a squad an opportunity and if it can play its best baseball at the right time, there is no telling where it will take them.
Track
Indoor title anothe in A&M track’srcfaepather
Associated Press photo Fred Kerley evolved into one of the world’s top 400-meter runners his senior season at Texas A&M. By RiChaRd CRooMe The Eagle With a little bit of a twist, Texas A&M track and field continued its championship
ways in 2017. As A&M’s head coach, Pat Henry had won eight NCAA outdoor track and field titles — four each by the men and
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
women. Never before, though, had the Aggies won an indoor title. That all changed on March 11 when A&M’s record-setting 4x400-meter relay team edged Florida in the final race to give the Aggie men the NCAA indoor championship by half a point over the Gators. The ninth national title under Henry proved to be the most gratifying with it coming in front of a home crowd at Gilliam Indoor Stadium, which made for an amazing atmosphere that reached a peak in the hotly contested 4x400. A&M had hosted the indoor championships on two other occasions and had just missed out on a similar celebration, with the women finishing second in 2009 and the men second in 2011. A&M track had arguably the two biggest names in the sport collegiately in 2017 with Fred Kerley and
Lindon Victor. Both are among the three finalists for the 2017 Bowerman Award, college track’s highest individual honor. Kerley claimed four NCAA gold medals, winning the individual 400 indoor and outdoor titles and being an integral part of the 4x400 relay teams that finished off each national meet with a victory. Unfortunately for the Aggie men, winning a second team title just eluded them, with rival Florida edging the Aggies in Oregon for the outdoor championship. Victor, an Olympian for Grenada, defended his NCAA decathlon title. Earlier in the season, at the SEC meet, he set the collegiate mark with 8,539 points. Kerley also set a collegiate mark, running a 43.7 in Austin in the NCAA preliminaries. A month later he won the U.S.
AGGIELAND PRIMER
national title in the 400, joining two other former Aggie track and field athletes — Ameer Webb in the 200 and Donavan Brazier in the 800 — atop the winner’s stand. A&M track will have to move on without Kerley and Victor, but the cupboard is never bare for a program that has established itself as one of the top four in the country. The Aggies return three individuals who medaled at the NCAA championships, including John Kyriazis, who cruised to a national title in the javelin. Kerley’s brother Mylik also returns in hope of continuing the Aggies’ dominance in the 400 meters and the 4x400 relay. The Aggie women were 12th
indoors and 13th outdoors nationally, but the roster was dominated by freshmen and sophomores and a return to the elite appears imminent with 800 runner Jazmine Fray, sprinter Danyel White and javelin thrower Audrey Malone leading the way. But the most obvious change in A&M track and field will be the building of an outdoor facility to match the indoor venue, which will again host the NCAA championships in March 2018. The outdoor facility will seat 2,200 and is expected to be completed by August 2018. Major meets have already been scheduled, including the Southeastern Conference meet.
JULY 27, 2017 | 8
A & M Rec Sports Get fit and have fun
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
Photo contributed by A&M Texas A&M’s Rec Center
Off RegulaR PRice • OffeR exPiRes 10/31/17
Code #2304
SAVE $2.00
Code #2303
SAVE $3.00
Code #2302
• Boot camps • Aquatics classes • CPR certification courses • Outdoor Adventures • Indoor climbing • Strength and conditioning • Massage therapy • Equipment rental Visit the Rec Sports website or pick up a Fall 2017 Rec Sports Guide for program schedules and cost information. Rec Sports is proud of the development opportunities made available to Texas A&M students in the form of employment and leadership. Each year, Rec Sports employs close to 1,000 Aggies, making it the largest employer of students on campus. To find out what types of jobs are available and how to apply, visit the employment page on the Rec Sports website. For more information about Rec Sports, visit recsports.tamu.edu. Article provided by Texas A&M’s Department of Recreational Sports.
SAVE $4.00
Code #2301
SAVE $5.00
Code #2300
SAVE $6.00
SEASON SEATING
The Department of Recreational Sports provides Texas A&M University students with a wide range of opportunities for fitness, fun and recreation. Drop-in recreation at the Student Recreation Center (“Rec Center”) costs nothing each time you visit because the fee is automatically included in your fee statement. Just show your student ID for access to the recently renovated and expanded Rec Center, which includes the strength and conditioning room, indoor courts and gymnasiums, third-floor track, natatorium, indoor climbing and bouldering walls, outdoor recreational area and more. Free play is also available at the Penberthy Rec Sports Complex (the department’s outdoor fields) and the Omar Smith Instructional Tennis Center. In addition to drop-in recreation, Rec Sports offers a variety of programs and services to help students live an active, healthy lifestyle. Offerings include: • Intramural sports • Sport clubs • Group RecXercise classes • Specialty programs
Bryan
Tower Point
1612 WVilla Maria Dr. 100 979.779.8900 #
College Station
943 William D. Fitch Pkwy 351 979.690.3800 #
980 E. University Dr. 979.260.1700
20 OFF Future MVP & Triple
$
wITH THESE COUPONS AT COLLEGE STATION STORES ONLY
Play Haircuts
GUY-SMART STYLISTS • OPEN EVERY DAY • TVs PLAYING SPORTS
VISIT SPORT CLIPS AND GET A SHARP CUT AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 9
So Much To Do...
d n a l e i g g A d n u o r All A Station e g e l l o -C n a y r B ings to do in Th
So you’re going to be new in town, and you’ll need to find your way around! While there’s so much more to see and do in Aggieland than can fit in this publication, here are a few of our iconic locations that are essential to being a Bryan-College Station local.
TiMe To eXPloRe
Downtown Bryan and College Station’s Northgate District are major hotspots for food, fun and live music. Downtown Bryan features the “must do” monthly event of First Friday, which is held on the first Friday of the month and includes art, music, a great shopping experience and awesome restaurants. The Northgate District features some of the best food and bars in the area! While at Northgate make sure to stop by the Dixie Chicken for its famous Tijuana Fries and a game of 42, Aggieland’s version
of dominos. Both Downtown Bryan and the Northgate District are packed with things to keep you busy day or night.
foR The foodieS
Bryan-College Station has a variety of unique restaurants for all the foodies coming into town. You can head down to Mad Taco and Fuego for out-of-this-world handcrafted taco combinations, or if you are running low on clean clothes you can go down to Harvey Washbangers, which is a famous laundromat and dual hamburger joint. If you venture to Downtown Bryan, be sure to take an obligatory picture with the “I love Carbs” wall at Caffe’ Capri, and end the night with an exquisite piece of chocolate from the legendary Chocolate Gallery.
Can’T MaKe iT hoMe foR BReaK?
During the Thanksgiving holiday, take a day trip to the Texas Renaissance Festival, where you
can go explore the land of lords and ladies, along with purchasing a turkey leg and a flower crown. Thanksgiving also gives way for the beloved festivities leading up to the Aggie’s showdown with LSU. Winter Break calls for a visit to one of Texas’s biggest Christmas Attractions, Santa’s Wonderland. From a stroll under the lights to steaming hot chocolate, we guarantee it will put you in the Christmas spirit! If you are in B-CS for spring break, then make plans for a lake day. Lake Bryan is the perfect water hot spot to float and catch some rays, while listening to live music. The Easter holiday features a “presidential” experience. The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum hosts its annual Easter Egg Roll that is modeled directly from the White House Easter Egg Roll and features food, prizes and a whole lot of fun.
Hof Winery to the Franklin Drive-Thru Safari, plan a fun-filled weekend that shows off Aggieland! To see a resourceful list of all of the exciting attractions B-CS has to offer, head to our website, experiencebcs.com.
and MuCh, MuCh MoRe
There are plenty of adventures to be had in your time in Aggieland. Be sure to follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ ExperienceBCS to stay up to date on the awesome happenings all year long! Article provided by Experience Bryan-College Station.
enTeRTaining The faMilY
You’ll need somewhere to go when the family comes to town, and luckily the Brazos Valley is full of great places to choose from. From Messina
Stay updated on news, sports and fun things to do!
Free Delivery! Minimum Lunch $10 Dinner $15
SUNTHURS: 11:00AM 10:00PM FRISAT: 11:00AM 10:30PM
The Morning Reveille
Y oou r first Ga me m Da y r se! Pu rcha
jnlboutique .com • 979.704.6596 750 William D. Fitch STE. 110 Mon. Tue. Wed. & Sat. 10-6 •Thur.-Fri. 10-7
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
Call (979)776-9999 Sign up today for The Eagle’s newsletter! Simply go to www.theeagle.com and click on the newsletters at the top of the home page. AGGIELAND PRIMER
2305 Boonville #650 • Bryan
Call (979)696-3666
3515 A Longmire Drive • College Station
www.tjinchinadiner.com JULY 27, 2017 | 10
FOOTBALL
A&M football, Su mlin working to g et
Eagle file photo Safety Armani Watts will lead a defense that has to replace a handful of starters in the 2017 season. Eagle file photo Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin is being called on to get his team above the 8-5 mark the Aggies have had the past three seasons.
By Richard Croome The Eagle Texas A&M football has been consistently good since joining the Southeastern Conference in 2012. Whether it’s good enough, though, is something that has been and will continue to be a hot topic in Aggieland. The Aggies’ 8-5 finishes over the past three seasons have taken eerily similar paths, one that has made fans somewhat frustrated and wary of what the future holds. Great starts followed by late struggles have given critics reason to be pessimistic no matter how well things were going initially. A&M has opened with victories over ranked teams in each of the last three years and has gone at least 5-0 in each of those seasons while reaching the top 10 in the polls. The finishes have dropped the Aggies out of the Top 25. A&M is 1-8 vs. SEC schools in November and, just as bothersome, 3-7 at home against SEC teams over the past three seasons. All of the above makes for an interesting 2017 for A&M football and head coach Kevin Sumlin, who enters his sixth season at A&M with a 44-21 record. Another 8-5 record, no matter how it is accomplished, will not be considered worthy of where the program should be. A&M is thought of as having everything it needs — facilities, recruiting base, fan base, etc. — to be among the elite, or at worst the Top 25. Since 1930, Sumlin’s winning percentage of .676 is second only to R.C. Slocum’s .721 among A&M coaches. But with no top three finish in the SEC West division in the past four years, the Aggies have fallen into a middle-of-the-road rut. That trench could get deeper and longer with another fourth place finish or worse in the standings. Another problem for the Aggies is they will have to replace many of their better players from last season, beginning with defensive end Myles Garrett, the first player in A&M history to be the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL draft. The Aggies will also have to replace two of their other top defensive players in defensive end, Dante Hall and safety Justin Evans, along with
over 8-5 hump
offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemenor and deep threat Josh Reynolds on offense. All four were selected in the draft. A&M also lost Avery Gennesy, an all-SEC offensive tackle, and quarterback Trevor Knight. The Aggies have recruited well the past two seasons, and still have All-American candidate Christian Kirk at wide receiver and a highly-rated backfield of Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford. On defense, the Aggies will look for the return from injury of safety Armani Watts to lead a veteran secondary that will line up behind a young front seven.
It’s a tough ask for that group to improve on where the Aggies have finished recently, but one of Sumlin’s strengths is to sell the us-against-theworld mentality to his players. The interesting plight for A&M and Sumlin is they are in somewhat of a no-win situation. The Aggies must get off to a good start to keep the fans from getting disgruntled immediately. But even if they do start well, with their recent history, there will be many doubters until results can be produced in late October and November.
THREE
LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU
NOW OPEN TILL 1 AM
1741 University Dr. • (979)846-3600 1740 Rock Prairie Rd. • (979)680-0508
PAPAJOHNS.COM @ppjcs
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
@PapaJohns_CS
@ppj_cs
Papa John’s College Station
JULY 27, 2017 | 11
l l a b t baske
ide v o r p d l u o h s e l schedu , s m ia all l b il t W e k f s o a b n r M & A Retu r s fo plenty of thrill A&M’s Kennedy won’t be the only one hoping for more depth in the 2017-18 season. Gary Blair often used just one bench player in getting his team to a 22-12 record and the second round of the NCAA tournament. Two of those six players that saw a majority of the minutes were seniors, but Blair is hoping Chennedy Carter, the highest-ranked recruit of his tenure, the rest of the No. 9 ranked recruiting class and the improvement of three sophomores and two transfers from last year’s squad will help his rotation in the upcoming season. The A&M women, who won the national title in 2011, have made the NCAA tournament for 12 straight years under Blair and have won at least one postseason game in 10 of those seasons. The latest victory was a 63-61 win over Penn in which the Aggies scored 26 of the last 29 points of the game.
Eagle file photo Robert Williams’ play above the rim gives the Aggies plenty to be excited about for the 2017-18 season.
By RiChaRd CRooMe The Eagle About the best thing that happened to Texas A&M basketball in the 2016-17 season actually came a little more than a month after the Aggies had tipped off for the final time. Freshman Robert Williams, who many had predicted to be an NBA Lottery pick, surprised almost everyone by announcing he would return for his sophomore season. With that news, the Aggies became a trendy Top 25 team for the upcoming season despite having just finished 16-15 and not being selected for the NCAA tournament or even the NIT. Williams, a 6-foot-9 four-star recruit, burst onto the scene as a high-flying freshman who at one end seemingly could dunk from anywhere and on the other end would block a shot out of nowhere. As the season progressed, so did Williams, and so did talk of him being A&M’s first oneand-done since DeAndre Jordan in 2008. His return, coupled with a trio of talented juniors — Tyler Davis, Admon Gilder and DJ Hogg — who helped the Aggies make the NCAA tournament as freshmen, gives the Aggies hope for an entertaining and, more importantly, T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
lucrative season. The Aggies will need to play better basketball than they did the previous season with one of the more decorated nonconference schedules in the country. A&M plays four games against teams in the Top 10 of early polls. Just as intriguing is where many of the games will be played. The Aggies travel to Germany to play West Virginia in the Armed Forces Classic and then will tip off twice in Brooklyn, New York, at the Legends Classic. A&M then has games at Southern California, against Arizona in Phoenix and at storied Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas. The Aggies will need their four veterans at their best if they are to return to the NCAA tournament and make a run at least as deep as they did in 2016 when they made it to the Sweet 16. A&M coach Billy Kennedy will also need freshman point guard JJ Caldwell to be the player he is advertised to be. Caldwell, a four-star 6-1 point guard, had to sit out last season because of an NCAA ruling, and it hampered dramatically what Kennedy wanted to accomplish. The Aggies had no depth at guard and Admon Gilder was on the court the full 40 minutes in many games while at a position he was not accustomed to playing.
AGGIELAND PRIMER
Eagle file photo Admon Gilder proved to be the Aggies’ workhorse in the 2016-17 season, and will again be counted on if A&M is to make a run toward the NCAA tournament.
JULY 27, 2017 | 12
© 2014 Whataburger Restaurants LLC
P R O U D L Y S U P P O R T S T E X A S A & M S T U D E N T S , F A C U L T Y A N D S TA F F
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 13
Texas A & M Blinn TEAM The Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM (Transfer Enrollment at A&M) Program is a collaborative, co-enrollment partnership that allows students to enroll at both schools with part-time admission to Texas A&M. Since 2001, this pioneering initiative has allowed thousands of additional, qualified students admission into the Texas A&M University freshman class. The TEAM program is offered to qualifying students during the Texas A&M freshman admissions process. Participating students are enrolled in one academic course at Texas A&M each semester and complete the remainder of their courses at the Blinn-Bryan campus. Students who complete 45 Blinn credit hours and 15 Texas A&M credit hours within two years, with a 3.0 grade point average at each school, are automatically admitted to Texas A&M. TEAM students can apply for transfer admission sooner when they meet the eligibility requirements. TEAM students reap the benefits of both campuses, including access to Texas A&M’s on-campus housing, library resources, recreation center, health center, food services and student tickets to Aggie sporting and performing arts events. At Blinn, they experience lower tuition and smaller class sizes, which many students find advantageous in the transition from high school to a university. “The TEAM Program is a tremendous partnership that demonstrates the collaborative potential between elite fouryear institutions such as Texas A&M and community colleges with strong academic standards such as Blinn,” said Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District. “We are very proud to be part of a program that has proven so successful in helping students realize their academic dreams.”
Through TEAM, students enjoy the university experience afforded by Texas A&M and the smaller classroom environment and lower costs offered at Blinn. Students enrolled in 15 semester credit hours in the TEAM program save as much as $1,500 compared to students enrolled in 15 credit hours at Texas A&M. “Cost savings for TEAM students are phenomenal,” said Dr. John O. Beaver, Dean of Educational Partnerships. “In addition to the lower costs Blinn offers, students are eligible for Texas A&M financial aid, dorm residence and activities such as sporting events.” The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recognized TEAM with its “Recognition of Excellence” in 2013, and in 2014 awarded the program its coveted Star Award as one of the top educational initiatives in the state. For more information on the TEAM Program, visit: www. blinn.edu/team. Article provided by Blinn College.
Photos contributed by Blinn College Students relax outside the Student Center at Blinn College in Bryan.
Blinn College Founded in 1883, Blinn College is the premier two-year college in Texas. Nationally recognized for its affordable educational excellence, Blinn complements its traditional course offerings with online courses and high school dual credit, and prepares students for quick employment through its workforce certification programs. Out-of-district students who enroll in 30 credit hours at Blinn during the 2017-18 academic year will save $3,717, approximately 42 percent, in tuition and fees compared to the average Texas public university, and $24,856, or 86.9 percent, compared to the average Texas private university. On top of Blinn’s low tuition and fees, the Blinn Foundation offers more than 200 endowed scholarships available to incoming and returning students from a wide range of backgrounds, majors, academic backgrounds and experiences. Blinn students and prospective students can register for external scholarships and participate in grant programs. Blinn’s academic transfer rate regularly ranks among the highest in the state and the nation. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Blinn’s academic transfer rate of 34.2 percent ranks second in the state and far exceeds the statewide average of 21.1 percent. In addition to transfer agreements with the state’s leading four-year universities, Blinn is home to pioneering co-enrollment programs such as the Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM (Transfer Enrollment at A&M) Program and the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn. That combination of affordability and academic rigor helped Blinn attract 19,422 students district-wide in Fall 2015. Blinn recently announced a new partnership with The Texas A&M University System that will allow Blinn to build a new facility at Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus, formerly Riverside Campus. The new campus establishes a new educational community combining a major university system and a community college at a single physical location. This co-location will allow Blinn College students to transfer seamlessly to leading universities throughout The Texas A&M System in the years to come. The site also creates opportunities for Blinn to partner with other organizations and institutions located on the RELLIS
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
Campus, including high-end, innovative, private research and development companies, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. Located adjacent to State Highway 47 and Highway 21, the RELLIS Campus is named for the Texas Aggies’ core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. In addition to its strong academic reputation, Blinn is a leading workforce trainer for the region. A recent publication from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board indicates that 94.9 percent of students enrolled in Blinn College technical programs in Fall 2015 are now employed and/or enrolled in higher education. This marks the thirdhighest percentage among the 82 public two-year Texas institutions in the state. Blinn offers a wide range of technical programs, including applied business, art and visual communication, child development, criminal justice, hospitality management, information management, office administration, paralegal, real estate, and veterinary technology. Blinn also offers renowned health science programs. Based at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, where students obtain hands-on learning at the 26,000-squarefoot Blinn College Simulation and Clinical Labs, Blinn’s Health Sciences Division includes the associate degree nursing, dental hygiene, emergency medical services, fire science, health information technology, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technology, surgical technology, therapeutics manufacturing, and vocational nursing. Blinn’s state licensure exam pass rates were 89.74 percent for the last academic year. Additionally, Blinn’s Division of Technical & Community Education offers a wide range of technical and career course offerings, including certified medication aide, certified nurse aide, electrical technician, HVAC technician, machinist, medical secretary, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, professional truck driver, and welder. For enrollment and financial aid information, visit www. blinn.edu. Article provided by Blinn College.
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 14
The Association of Former Students Throughout your Aggie experience -- from your new student conference to ordering your Aggie Ring, to commencement, to Muster and even your 50-year class reunion -- one organization, The Association of Former Students, will be with you each step of the journey. Founded in 1879, The Association of Former Students will provide a total impact of $11.7 million to Texas A&M University during the 2017-2018 academic year. Your first experience with The Association will likely be during your New Student Conference, as you experience the historical and interactive exhibits in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, detailing the organization’s history and impact on Texas A&M. On these same grounds, you and your classmates will try on a Class of 2021 Aggie ring and gather for yell practice surrounding the 12-foot bronze Aggie ring on the Haynes Ring Plaza during Gig’em Week GatheRing. As you become involved in student life, The Association will be there, as well, providing staff support and funding for scholarships, traditions and student activities. Toward the end of your time as a student, you will visit The Association to order your own Aggie ring and celebrate that achievement on Ring Day! As graduation approaches, you and your family will be invited to attend The Next Tradition (TNT) to learn how you can remain active with the Aggie Network and become involved in supporting the organization that enriched your collegiate experience.
When you graduate, you may leave College Station, but you will always be part of the Aggie Network and will have a home in Aggieland – the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. When you return for football games, you can watch the game on the Alumni Center’s Huddleston Video Wall in a family-friendly environment. As you gather for class reunions, you can reminisce and share the story of Texas A&M with your family through exhibits housed on the Neely Mezzanine. You can find information on local A&M Clubs, Aggie Muster gatherings in your area and the annual Coach’s Nights events through AggieNetwork.com. And who knows, you might even become one of the select few honored each year by The Association and Texas A&M as a Distinguished Alumnus! Most importantly, as a former student, you can assure that future generations of Aggies enjoy an inspiring and enriching collegiate experience by faithfully giving back through The Association’s Annual Fund, just as those who preceded you have done for 138 years. The Association of Former Students proudly promotes Texas A&M and our core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service, and connects Aggies to one another and to their alma mater. To learn more about The Association, please visit www. AggieNetwork.com, call 979-845-7514 or follow Aggie Network on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Article provided by The Association of Former Students
Photo by Patrick Danielczyk, The Association of Former Students Aggies gather at a past Gig’em Week GatheRing, an event held each year for incoming freshmen the week before school starts.
A&M Career Center Committed to your success, the Career Center is here to help you. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are passionate about helping students to make their dreams come true, and we encourage you to drop by, get to know us, and learn more about our services. As you consider what your dreams may be and what career success may look like for you, keep in mind that the key is figuring out what you want to do and then focusing your search for jobs, whether these are full-time, internship, cooperative education or summer jobs. For those of you seeking further education after you graduate, focus your attention on those programs that interest you the most, whether these are graduate programs or professional schools, such as law and medicine. And it is never too early to start! The Career Center has staff dedicated to first- and second-year students, helping freshmen and sophomores to explore their interests and discover opportunities. Take advantage of all the Career Center’s resources. Start by scheduling an appointment with your career coordinator. These advisors have both work experience and education in the majors they serve and will give you in-depth information about your career options. They will also work closely with you to develop effective job-search strategies. And, our professional school advising staff can help you to learn about, and to plan for, admittance to law, medical, dental and other professional schools. We also have a wide variety of programs, so meet
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
with employers and graduate and professional school representatives during career fairs and networking events, learn from leaders in their fields through panel discussions and videos, connect with former students through the Aggie Network, and take part in resume reviews and mock interviews. Further, our online system, HireAggies, provides you with the opportunity to apply for full-time, internship and cooperative education jobs with thousands of employers. HireAggies also offers Career Explorer, an interactive tool that helps you figure out what jobs best fit your interests, values and skills. The Career Center serves all students, regardless of major, classification, grades or work authorization. The Center does not require a minimum grade point average to apply for positions listed in HireAggies. And we continue to provide support to Aggies after graduation. Former students can access job postings, advising and several of our online resources for life. The Career Center is located in 209 Koldus, just across the street from the Memorial Student Center. Please find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and view our videos on YouTube - #StartNow - #HireAggies. We’re committed to your success and we’re ready to help you. For more information, visit HireAggies.com or call 979845-5139. Article provided by Texas A&M University Career Center.
H o w d y, A g g i e l a n d ! The Theatre Company Is ready to rock you This season!
The Brazos Valley’s Premiere Home Of Musical Theatre
Other shows this season include:
WWW.THEATRECOMPANY.COM FOLLOW US ON
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 15
Texas A &M University traditions howdy
Midnight Yell
Howdy is the official greeting of Texas A&M University. Greeting each other with a “Howdy!” separates us as the friendliest university in the world.
gig ‘em
Gig ‘em is the universal sign of approval for Aggies. Coined by P.L. “Pinkie” Downs, Class of 1906, when at a Yell Practice before the 1930 TCU football game Downs asked, “What are we going to do with those Horned Frogs?” In reference to frog hunting, he said, “Gig ‘em, Aggies!” and made a fist with his thumb extended up as one would when using a gig. It was the first hand sign of the Southwest Conference for 25 years until t.u. copied the idea from the Aggies and created their Hook ’em Horns. Now Aggies give each other this sign to encourage and motivate each other.
The 12th Man
On Jan. 2, 1922, the Aggies from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas played the Prayin’ Colonels of Centre College, Kentucky, in the Dixie Classic. After the tough 1921 football season, the Aggies were “completely exhausted, both physically and mentally,” according to Red Thompson, a yell leader at the time. But the Aggies came ready to play, and the game’s first points (and the first points allowed by Centre all year) came on a safety off a muffed punt in the end zone. At half time, Coach Dana X. Bible’s Southwest Conference Champion Aggies were winning,
Aggies stand at all foot ball games, symboli needed.
zing the th Man,” or their but readiness to go into“12 the game if
every player on the Aggie team except for the 11 on the field was injured. Coach Bible remembered that a sophomore multiple sport athlete, who had recently stepped down from football to focus on the new basketball season, was sitting in the press box helping identify players on the field. Coach Bible requested that the player, E. (Earl) King Gill ’24, come down to the field and suit up. E. King Gill went under the stands with a couple blankets and the injured team captain, Heine Weir, to put on his uniform. E. King Gill then stood next to Coach Bible for the rest of the game, ready to play, but was never asked to. Texas A&M went on to beat Centre College 22-14. Today, Aggies stand at all football and basketball games, from the opening kickoff “till the final gun is sounded,” symbolizing our readiness to go into the game whenever we are needed.
Beginning in 1913 Corps companies would practice and learn yells; “learning heartily the old time prep.” Aggies in 1934 said that yell practice was “something that cannot be experienced by an outsider” and “something only an Aggie can feel.” In 1931, the first official Midnight Yell Practice was held before the t.u. game on the steps of the YMCA building. Today, Midnight Yell is held the Friday night before a home game
led by the Corps of Aggies practice yells, night Yell Practice. Mid a ing dur Cadets,
in Kyle Field or the Thursday night before an away game at the E. King Gill statue at the northeast corner of Kyle Field. It is also held on Friday night close to where the game is being held out of town. Aggies practice yells and sing songs for the next day’s game; the yell leaders tell a junior and a senior fable; and then the lights go out. That is when you get to “mug
CON NECT. DI NE. UN W I N D. Whether you’re a local, or visiting from out of town, make yourself at home at The Stella Hotel.
down” and kiss your date, or if you don’t have a date, take a lighter, “flick your Bic” and hope to find a random mug.
Silver Taps
Silver Taps is one of the most sacred and significant traditions at A&M. Silver Taps is one of the final tributes held for any current graduate or undergraduate student who has passed during the year. Silver Taps is held the first Tuesday of the month following a student’s death. Starting in the morning, the flags on campus are flown at half-mast. The names, class and major of the fallen Aggies are on cards placed at the base of the flagpole in the Academic Plaza and on the Silver Taps Memorial. Throughout the day, students can write letters to the families of the fallen Aggies. That night at 10:15, all the lights on campus are extinguished. Hymns are then played on the Albritton Bell Tower. Around this time, students gather silently in the Academic Plaza. The families of the fallen Aggies are also led into the plaza. At 10:30, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad marches into the Academic Plaza at a slow cadence. Once they arrive, they fire a three volley salute in honor of the fallen Aggies. After the last round is fired, buglers atop the Academic Building begin to play a special rendition of “Taps” called “Silver Taps” which is unique to A&M. They play it three times, once to the north, once to the south, and once to the west, but never to the east, because it’s said the sun will never rise on that Aggie again. After the last note is played, the one thing you can
KUT • TOMS J Ohnny WaS LUcKy • T riba L renUar ha Le bOb
Established 1991 Located in Kroger Shopping Center College Station 4100 Lake Atlas Drive, Bryan, TX | 979-421-4000 | thestellahotel.com | @thestellahotel
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
979.485.8991
Mon-Fri 10aM – 6pM • Sat 10aM – 5pM
JULY 27, 2017 | 16
hear is the shuffling of feet as students return silently to their lives. Silver Taps has been occurring for over 100 years. The first Silver Taps was in 1898 for Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Texas A&M’s seventh president. At Silver Taps, you stand where Aggies have stood for generations. You are connected to those who have come before you. It is also a tradition unique to A&M because no other university in the world honors students in this way.
Bonfire
Students used burning Bonfire as a pep rally where speeches were made and yells were led, often outlasting the actual burning of the fire. The first Bonfires in 1909 were built with trash and other scraps around campus. It wasn’t until 1912 when logs started to become the standard for building Bonfire. Starting in the 1950s, building Bonfire became more organized while each class strove to make it bigger and better than the ones before. The tallest Bonfire was built in 1969 and was about 109 feet tall with a 105foot center pole. Ninety-two years after bonfire first began, almost to the hour, on Nov. 18, 1999, at 2:42 a.m., the Bonfire stack collapsed and took with it the lives of 12 of our fellow Aggies and injured 27 others. The Bonfire collapse was quite possibly the most trying event in the history of Texas A&M, but it also allowed us to better understand the true meaning of the Aggie spirit. Many of us believe that Bonfire did burn that year when 90,000 Aggies, friends and families gathered at the Polo Fields on the night Bonfire was to burn to silently hold candles together. Even though Bonfire may never be the same as it was prior to 1999, the burning desire that every Aggie holds in his/ her heart for the Aggie family can never be extinguished.
Reveille
Reveille is the mascot and first lady of Aggieland, and has been since 1931 when some cadets found her by the side of the road in Navasota. After the death of Reveille I in 1944, there were some interim mascots
Reveille attends every A& M
game.
before Reveille II. She leads the football team onto the field at every game, and is attended by a sophomore cadet in Company E-2.
Muster
Muster represents the Aggie spirit that binds Aggies to their school and to one another. It is more than a ceremony; it is a responsibility that is handed down from one generation to the next. Muster is a way for Aggies to renew their loyalty to their school and their friends. Aggie Muster is a special time set aside to honor members of the Aggie family. Aggie Muster traces its roots back to San Jacinto Day, which was a Texas holiday in the 1840s that celebrated Texans’ defeat of the Mexican Army in the battle of San Jacinto.
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
In 1899, the cadets decided to hold a San Jacinto Field Day on April 21. It was a day of fun and activities without class. During the world wars, this tradition of meeting on April 21 evolved to include a memoriam for those who were absent. In World War I, Aggies met all over the trenches of Europe and at army posts all over America. The most famous Aggie Muster was held during World War II in 1942 on the small island of Corregidor in the Philippines. Major General George Moore, ’08, led a group of recently commissioned Aggies in a moment to honor the valiant Aggies who had died, hold a yell practice, and sing the War Hymn with all their strength, all under heavy enemy fire. In 1924, the first campus Muster was held in Guion Hall, and Muster has been held on campus since. Campus Muster is now the largest of the over 400 Musters held worldwide. The most important and moving part of the Muster ceremony is Roll Call for the absent. The Roll Call lists the names of every local Aggie who has passed during the year, as well as missing members of the 50 year reunion class. As each name is read, a candle is lit, and the family and friends answer, “Here,” to symbolize that while that Aggie has fallen, they are still with us in spirit.
aggie ring
The Aggie ring is a unique representation of achievement by an Aggie. Aggies take pride in earning their little piece of gold from the greatest university in the world. The Aggie ring is unlike any other because students cannot design their own class ring or order it at any time. The Aggie ring can only be ordered when an Aggie completes 90 hours, 45 of the hours being from Texas A&M University. The top of the ring features a shield that symbolizes the protection of the good reputation of the alma mater. There are 13 stripes in the shield that symbolize the 13 original states and Aggie’s intense patriotism. The five stars found in the shield refer to the five phases of Aggie development: mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise and integrity of character. The eagle on the top of the Aggie ring symbolizes agility and power and ability to reach great heights and ambitions. One side of the Aggie ring holds a large star encircled with a wreath of olive leaves joined together by a ribbon near the bottom of the ring. The large star symbolizes the seal of the State of Texas authorized by the Constitution of 1845. It is encircled with a wreath of olive leaves, symbolizing achievement and desire for peace and live oak leaves, symbolizing the strength to fight. The leaves are joined at the bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these traits to accomplish one’s ambition to serve. The other side of the Aggie ring contains an ancient cannon, saber and rifle, symbolizing that the citizens of Texas fought for their land and our determination to defend our homeland. The saber stands for valor and confidence, and the rifle and cannon stand for preparedness and defense. On both sides, the United States and Texas flags are crossed to symbolize the dual allegiance to nation and state.
The Aggie ring can only be ordered when an Aggie completes 90 hours, 45 of the hours being from Texas A&M University.
CODE MAROON Code Maroon is Texas A&M University’s emergency notification system. Code Maroon uses multiple notification methods in a best effort to reach campus members in an emergency – by SMS text message, Texas A&M email, KAMU-FM radio, campus cable television, Emergency Alert System radios, desktop pop-ups, classroom speakers and compatible fire alarm speakers, Twitter and RSS. Code Maroon is only used to provide official notification of critical situations that pose an imminent, physical threat to the community. To receive text message alerts, campus members must have a Texas A&M NetID or Single Sign On (SSO) identifier and sign up for Code Maroon. The university strongly encourages campus members to sign up to receive text message alerts as recent tests of the Code Maroon system indicate that text messaging is a faster method of notification than email. Anyone can receive Code Maroon alerts by subscribing to the Code Maroon RSS feed or following “TAMUCodeMaroon” on Twitter.
In an emergency, Texas A&M will post additional emergency updates and announcements at emergency.tamu.edu as they become available. To sign up to receive Code Maroon text alerts and learn more about Code Maroon, visit codemaroon. tamu.edu. in an emergency, what should you do? Be aware of your surroundings. Being aware of where you are and what is happening around you can help you to understand how information, events and your own actions will impact your safety and your ability to protect yourself, both now and in the near future. Protect yourself. Based upon your assessment of the situation, use your best judgment to protect yourself and, if possible, others. Call for help. Any emergency service can be summoned by calling 911. help others. Once you are safely away from the danger, warn others of the hazard and help if you can without putting yourself in danger.
For more information on emergency preparedness
visit www.tamu.edu/emergency.
Article provided by the Traditions Council. Photos provided by Texas A&M University.
AGGIELAND PRIMER
Article provided by Code Maroon.
JULY 27, 2017 | 17
s t e d a C f o s p r Co exas A&M T t a n io it d a r t ians of
, guard it ir p s e h t f o s Keeper The Corps of Cadets develops well-educated leaders of character who embody the values of honor, courage, integrity, discipline and selfless service; are academically successful; highly sought-after; and who are prepared for the global leadership challenges of the future. • The Corps is the largest student organization at Texas A&M, and it is also the largest uniformed Corps of Cadets in the nation, outside of the military academies. • Cadets learn leadership in a military-style environment that complements their academic education and prepares them for a lifetime of success; however, membership in the Corps carries no military obligation. • This fall, over 2,500 men and women will be members of the Corps — all participating on a voluntary basis. • Most cadets pursue a career in the public or private sector; however, the Corps consistently commissions more officers than any other institution in the nation other than the service academies. An average of 40 percent of cadets pursue a military commission in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. • The Corps also offers the Hollingsworth Leadership Excellence Program, a unique program through which cadets can earn an “Academic Certificate in Leadership Studies.” The program also offers opportunities for internships and job placement for cadets. • The Corps of Cadets Athletics Program offers opportunities for athletes in the Corps to compete at the club sport level in a variety of sports. Corps club sports teams participate in competitive sporting events across Texas and the United States. Corps Club Sports teams include baseball, soccer (men and women), basketball (men and women), marksmanship (men and women), triathlon (co-ed), marathon (co-ed) and CrossFit (co-ed). • The Corps Global Leadership Initiatives program provides opportunities for
cadets to study abroad as part of Cadet Exchanges (currently programs established with Germany and Australia), and participate in international excursions, which are highimpact, short-duration overseas experiences in countries of strategic importance to the United States. These international excursions focus heavily on the four elements of national power: diplomacy, information, military and economics, with a heavy emphasis on religion and culture, as well. Recent excursions have taken cadets to Israel, Japan/Okinawa, Mexico, Singapore/Indonesia, Georgia/ Armenia, Germany/Poland, China/Taiwan, Korea, Qatar, the Philippines, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Chile and India.
Traditions
Cadets in the Corps are at the heart of the Aggie Spirit. Because Texas A&M was a military college for most of its first 100 years, many of its most cherished traditions grew out of the Corps experience. The university’s Bonfire, Yell Practice, the Twelfth Man, yell leaders, the Aggie mascot Reveille, Aggie Muster and Silver Taps traditions all originated with the Corps. The Corps of Cadets is thus referred to as the “keepers of the spirit” and “guardians of tradition.”
Cadet life
The Corps of Cadets delivers the ultimate Aggie experience. It starts with a worldclass university with 140 years of tradition. The Corps builds on that foundation, guiding cadets as they develop their leadership abilities, while focusing on academic success at one of the nation’s premier universities. Cadets have their own unique military-style organizations, wear distinctive uniforms, live in dedicated residence halls and eat in their own dining facility, and participate in a wide variety of university student organizations and events. Cadets are a large, visible tradition at Texas A&M, and enjoy the benefits of being
Photo contributed by A&M The Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets forms a Block T on Kyle Field.
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
Photo contributed by A&M The A&M Corps of Cadets participates in the 2017 Final Review. the premier leadership organization in the the Aggie Band is one of the most-traveled state of Texas, while also being an integral university marching bands in the nation. This part of a world-class tier one research institute. fall, the band will have approximately 430 members. The Ross volunteer Company, the oldest academics Academic excellence is the top priority of student organization in the state, is a very the Corps of Cadets. During the academic prestigious, highly select student organization day, cadets attend class, study and attend composed of junior and senior cadets. The unit to their personal business. Freshman and is the official Honor Guard for the Governor sophomore cadets also have a study period of Texas and marches in major parades called “Evening Study Time” (EST), which is a and participates in various campus events mandatory multi-hour period Sunday through throughout the year. Parsons Mounted Cavalry, formed in 1973, Thursday evenings. This time is dedicated to studying, projects, group work, supplemental is the only collegiate mounted cavalry unit in the nation, and is reminiscent of the mounted instruction and test reviews. There are three full-time scholastic cavalry once present at Texas A&M. This is a performance specialists in the Office of the parade and show unit composed of 50 horses Commandant, who provide tailored academic and four mules, as well as an artillery half advice and mentoring to all cadets, no matter section. The Cavalry unit, comprised of junior what their major may be. They provide and senior cadets, represents the university at instruction for coping with college academics, ceremonial events and parades across Texas. fish drill Team is a precision drill team assist with course schedules, and provide composed entirely of freshman cadets. They mentoring and academic assistance to cadets. The Corps has four, four-story Leadership compete in precision drill competitions around Learning Centers equipped with state-of-the- the country, and have won the National art computer labs, as well as small and large Championship almost every year since they group study rooms. These facilities are located were created in 1946. Additional Corps special units also include on the Quad, where the cadets live, and are dedicated solely to the academic success and the Corps Color Guard, the Corps Center Guard and the O.R. Simpson Honor Society, a professional development of our cadets. The Corps provides academic support for prestigious corps unit for those cadets who have cadets to help them achieve academic success. achieved academic excellence at Texas A&M. Reveille, the official mascot of Texas A&M, Supplemental instruction, tutoring, test reviews and on-call academic assistance are all is cared for by Company E-2 in the Corps of provided free to cadets to help them succeed Cadets. Members of the Corps represent Texas A&M academically in a very rigorous academic University at numerous public events throughout environment at Texas A&M. Cadets have achieved some of the highest the year. They provide a visible reminder of the grade point ratios (GPRs) ever achieved in legacy of Texas A&M at many campus, state recent years, and four-year graduation rates and national ceremonies. The Corps of Cadets is open to all qualified for cadets exceed the university rates. applicants, and membership in the Corps carries no military obligation. Corps Special units For more information, see corps.tamu.edu or The fightin’ Texas aggie Band is the largest military collegiate marching band in the United facebook.com/aggiecorps. States. The band is famous for its unique style Article provided by the Texas A&M Corps of of military precision drill and is an integral part of the Corps of Cadets. Performing at all home Cadets. football games and several away games,
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 18
Nurturing your
spiritual life
After your first day on campus, you’ll be in a daze. Too many faces, too many places and too many instructions. After a week, you’ll miss home and the simplicity of life before college, at least until the first Aggie football game. Your academic life has many avenues to help nurture it along and keep your head from spinning, like tutors and study groups. In the midst of all the action, you may forget to take a step back and indulge your spiritual side. Many organizations around the BryanCollege Station area have programs to help nurture your spiritual life. These programs come in various forms, and can be found all around the area. There are Bible- and
restoration sanctuary
church-related programs such as Bible study groups, worship services, retreats and choirs. If you are wanting to find a religion that fits you or wish to join a church that reminds you of the one where you grew up, The Eagle has a complete listing of all churches online. The worship directory lists the pastors and gives information about each church across the Brazos Valley. For more information, visit www.theeagle.com/brazos_life/worship_ directory. For a list of A&M religious groups, visit the Student Activities website at studentactivities.tamu.edu, and click on “Get involved,” then “Organization Search,” and look under the “Religious” category.
Serving The Aggieland Campus Community
University Lutheran Chapel and Student Center Lutheran Student Fellowship All Nations Christian Center
WORSHIP
Sunday Worship Celebration 10:45am Weekly services are held during the Fall and Spring semesters.
BIBLE STUDIES
Sunday Morning Bible Class 9:30am Meets weekly during Fall and Spring semester.
Weekly Small Group Bible Studies TBA
SUPPERS
Sunday Night Supper 6:00pm Held weekly during the Fall and Spring semesters.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Service Projects & Mission Trips LSF Retreats & Social Activities International Student Ministry • English Classes
University Lutheran 315 College Main • C.S. • 979-846-6687 • Pastor: Rev. Paul Hoemann e-mail: ulctamu@verizon.net • website: ulctamu.org
a home away from home
seek find
transformation
friendship Small groups
Freshmen
Bible Study
Jesus
Fellowss hip
Community
Lunch Bible Study
Crossbound Choir
Transformation
Food Service
Worship Intramurals
Men’s Bible Study
and ye shall
Home Sunday
Family School Women’s Bible Study
Texas A&M Wesley Foundation
Methodist Student Center
Worship • 7pm Sundays • 8:30pm Wednesdays 201 Tauber St. — www.tamuwesley.org — lkjm T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 19
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 20
SPECIA L PRICES FOR STUDEN TS!
AND!
OPAS SEASON
GIEL G A N I S R E T CKBUS
2017-18
BLO
SEP
26 & 27, 2017
7:30 PM itorium Rudder Aud
17
NOV 7 & 8, 20
7:30 PM itorium Rudder Aud
, 2018 JAN 23 & 24
7:30 PM itorium Rudder Aud
Sponsored by edit Union Aggieland Cr
, 2018
FEB 20 & 21
7:30 PM itorium Rudder Aud
Sponsored by ontics Elms Orthod y Clinic ah Veterinar & Shenando
18
APR 17-19, 20
7:30 PM itorium Rudder Aud
MSCOPAS
TEXAS A&M REC SPORTS S AV E T H E D AT E : THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 7PM - 10PM STUDENT RECREATION CENTER tx.ag/recapalooza BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 21
Welcome to Aggieland Aggie Owned & Operated Jarrad and Elisha Mcleod Class of 2003 & 2006 Bryan/College Station’s #1 and Only Aggie Owned and Operated Source for Mattresses!
Kohls
Spec’s
Chick-fil-A Napa Flats
979-696-1255
Harvey
George Bush
2 Convenient Texas
1731 S. Texas Ave. • 979-696-1255
Central Station Shopping Center next to napa flats T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 22
Aggies helping Aggies since 2002 All the BeSt BrAndS under One rOOf
Headboards bed Frames mattress toppers pillows sHeets
Queen Mattress sets as low as $19900
free lOCAl delivery
Your choice of a 2 Pack of Gel coated Luxury Down Pillows or one Chiligel Cooling Body Pad Free with ANY MAttress
purchased over $25000
with ANY MAttress purchased over $10000
While supplies Last
Expires 9/15/17. Not valid on previous purchases. Must present coupon for offer. See store for details.
Expires 9/15/17. Not valid on previous purchases. Must present coupon for offer. See store for details.
WD Fitch 40
t Locations South Hwy 6 Chick-fil-A 979-690-6016
Lowe’s
4461 Hwy 6 S. Ste A • 979-690-6016 Corner of William D Fitch & Hwy 6 in front of Lowe’s
Follow us on T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 23
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTION – FALL 2017 PPO.TAMU.EDU
Brazos Valley Worldfest – Nov 18 – Brazos County Expo Center brazosvalleyworldfest.org Community of Scholars ‒ Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Event October 2017, final date TBD Rudder Auditorium
Fred Haise 2016 Speaker
B/CS Chamber of Commerce Youth to Career Fair Oct 18 - Brazos County Expo
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 24
ApartmentGuide
Find the apartment of your dreams!
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 25
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 26
ApartmentGuide BRAZOS VALLEY
Tips for moving to college . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Finding a pet-friendly apartment . . . . . . . . . . .33 Save money moving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 When renting is best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Fall 2017 Brazos Valley Apartment Guide Begins Here!
STAFF
PUBLISHER
Crystal Dupré ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Sean Lewis
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Linda Brinkman SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
Shauna Lewis
SPECIAL SECTION COORDINATOR
Kristi Lester
PUBLICATION DESIGNER
Angela Wooten
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A PA R t M E N t G u I D E
JULY 27, 2017 | 27
EDUCATION Tips for Students Moving to College
Statepoint Moving into your own place is a milestone that makes you feel like a grown-up. And with the new school year approaching, you may be thinking about signing a lease for your first apartment or sharing a house with roommates. So now what? As you head to campus, here are important tips to consider before and after you sign on the dotted line: Pick Your Place Every property offers different features, so do your homework before locking into a lease. Compare amenities for each rental to decide which fits your needs best. Is location the most important factor? Does a big bathroom top your list? Will you have a set parking spot or on-site laundry? Next, shop around. Websites like Trulia can keep you on-budget by offering quick and easy cost comparisons. Consider living with a roommate to split rent and other expenses. Make sure you understand the contract before you sign. Who pays for utilities? Who is responsible for repairs? What
happens if you break the lease? Read the contract thoroughly, and ask the right questions. Peace of Mind Once you’re moved in, find a secure place for valuables like jewelry and electronics such as laptops and tablets. Your landlord may require you to have renters insurance in case of theft or damage to your property, but if not, it’s a good idea to review your options. Often times your personal items are covered under your parents’ existing homeowners policy, but not always. At Erie Insurance, for example, single, fulltime students under 24 are automatically covered. But, part-time students or students 24 and older may need to get their own renters insurance. A renters policy can cover your personal property inside and out of the home. So, your laptop or bicycle would be covered if it was stolen while you were at a coffee shop or anywhere else. In addition to damage or theft, renters insurance can cover additional living costs caused by a covered property loss beyond your normal living expenses -- even if it’s not your fault. For instance, your neighbor could accidentally start a fire or overflow
a bathtub, ruining your apartment and its contents. Renters insurance can offer a place to stay during these unforeseen circumstances. And in case you’re concerned about the cost of renters insurance, it may be less than you think. For example, if you have a car, you may be able to bundle your auto and renters insurance together for a multipolicy discount, which in some cases may add only a few dollars a month to your total cost. Protect Your Ride Sharing your ride with a friend for a grocery run? Remember insurance usually follows the car – not the driver. That means you should be covered if your friend gets into an accident with your vehicle. But be sure to review your policy before giving anyone the keys. Consider a parking plan, since space on campus is usually limited, especially
if your rental agreement doesn’t include a designated spot. Find a well-lit area, ideally with some form of security. Don’t forget to lock your car, and always store packages or valuables in the trunk or take them with you. Another option? Leave your car at home. Many college campuses are walkable, so you might not even need a car. Heading to college and getting your own place can be an exciting new adventure. Plan ahead so you can rest easy once class is in session.
Leasing • saLes • ProPerty ManageMent
aPartMents • Houses D DuPLexes • FourPLexes conDos/townHoMes WWW.ALPHAOMEGAPROPERTIES.COM 979.774.7820 • 979.774.7328 (FAX) 2600 E VillA MAriA rd • BryAn T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 28
OFFERING REDUCED RATES ON ALL FLOOR PLANS
4050 Pendleton dr • Bryan • 979.776.0417
www.parkhudsonapts.com T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
Park Hudson Place apartments promise some of the finest amenities v i b i his . ou sp ci us, c iv p m h m s ff u p p s uch s, i c ui g mi w fl i g, ck igh i g i h ki ch i i g , v -siz g ubs w sh s s i v h m . Wh h u ch s us u -si busi ss c simp x b h s -s swimmi g p wi h c b s u su isc v h k w v f uxu . C c us c m liv h diff c !
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 29
BR AND NEW STUDENT COTTAGES
Sign Your Leas Today! W W W.T H E J U N C T I O N A T C S . C O M
CALL OR TEXT US FOR MORE INFO! 979.721.9160 | 2415 JUNCTION BOYS RD.
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 30
8085 AtlAs PeAr Dr • BryAn
(844)709-7720
www.hawthorneattraditions.com T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 31
CASA VERDE TOWNHOMES
“Unique floorplan with excellent location” Huge 2 bedroom, Hollywood bath townhomes. Private deck and off street parking. Full size Washer/dryer available. Some with fireplaces. Convenient to TAMU and A & M Consolidated.
795/$825
$
701 through 811 navarro • collEgE station
DEXTER PLACE
“Very affordable 3 bedroom duplexes” 3 bedroom, 2 bath floorplan. Ceramic tile in wet areas. Wood look plank in living rooms. Ceiling fans. Full size washer/dryer. Front and rear porch. Lawn and pest control provided. 4 locations for phone, cable And LAN for high speed internet access. On shuttle route.
995
$
1600 and 1700 Blocks dExtEr and MEdina • collEgE station
701 BALCONES
“Recently remodeled with taste and style” 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartments. Includes Full size washer/dryer, plantation blinds, Upgraded fixtures and hardware, ceiling fans. On shuttle route. Very affordable! $
925
701 E BalconEs • collEgE station
SOUTHWOOD PLACE
“Luxury living at an affordable price” 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartments. Stainless steel appliances including microwaves and icemakers. Full size washer/dryer. Plantation blinds, ceiling fans, Some fenced yards. Pet Park. Shuttle route.
895/$995
$
2100 southwood dr • collEgE station
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 32
Pointers for apartment dwellers who want pets Metro Creative Connection Animal lovers who want to welcome pets in their homes may be hesitant to do so while renting. Some might not want to pay additional fees on top of their normal security deposits, while others may fear that pets will cause damage to homes their owners don’t own, leading to potentially costly repairs down the road. Renters should know that it’s both possible and even common for people who rent to have pets. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 72 percent of American families who rent their homes have pets. While it might take a little extra work to find pet-friendly apartments, the lasting rewards of pet ownership could outweigh any brief hurdles renters may have to clear as they search for pet-friendly living arrangements. Animal lovers who rent but want pets may need to move out of their current apartments before they can welcome pets into their families. As that process begins, renters can take steps to ensure they find a place both they and their future pets will find welcoming. • Start your apartment search earlier than you otherwise might. Many landlords do not accept pets, so expect the search for a pet-friendly apartment to be more involved than it would be if you did not intend to get a pet. As a result, start your search earlier than you have in the past, giving yourself as much time as possible to find a pet-friendly apartment that also
meets your other needs. Local animal shelters may keep a list of pet-friendly properties, or you can contact local realtors who can help you find buildings that allow pets. The earlier you begin your search, the more time you will give yourself to find a place that has everything you need. If you delay your search, you may have to settle for a place that’s pet-friendly but fails to meet your other criteria. • Get it in writing. Before signing a lease, read it carefully to make sure it clearly spells out that you are allowed to have a pet. Read any restrictions regarding the type of pet and the size of pet you’re allowed to have. For example, many landlords who allow dogs will only allow dogs up to a certain weight. If you have your heart set on a Great Dane, then an apartment that only allows dogs that weight 25 pounds or less won’t be a good fit. Read the terms regarding pets carefully so you know exactly what you can and cannot have and exactly how much you will have to pay to bring pets into your new home. If there are no terms regarding pets in the lease, ask that specific terms be added before you sign. Doing so will protect you down the road should the landlord discover any petrelated damage when you move out. • Do your homework. If you have never before owned a pet, then speak with a local veterinarian regarding your work schedule, your living arrangements and your expectations as a pet owner. The HSUS notes that problems with housing are
the leading reason pets end up homeless. While no pet owner envisions taking their pets to a shelter and giving the animals up for adoption, such scenarios play out every day. By speaking with vets and local pet professionals, you can adopt the right pet for you and your apartment, greatly
reducing the chances that you will be forced to give the pet up in the future. Animal lovers who rent their homes can still welcome pets into their families. For more pointers on renting and pet ownership, visit the HSUS at www.humanesociety.org.
24 HOUR SERVICE
YOUR COMFORT SYSTEM SPECIALISTS
936-439-6765 | WWW.BNHSERVICESTX.COM
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 33
One Stop...
SALES/PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
FREE LOCATOR SERVICE We do all the work! DUPLEXES
HOMES
TOWNHOMES APARTMENTS FOURPLEXES
A Br y
i on t at
a
C ol l e g e S / n &
Company
Tr a d iti o n
to Good Service! 9 7 9
696-4464
Now with 3 Locations to Serve You!
Bryan/College Station/Houston www.equitybcs.com
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A par t men t G u ide
JULY 27, 2017 | 34
time your move right to save money Metro Creative Connection Buying a new home is the most expensive purchase a person is likely to make in his or her lifetime. It also can be one of the more stressful. The Employee Relocation Council states that moving is the third most stressful event in life, following death and divorce. But a well-timed move can reduce stress and save money. Moving during certain times of the year can result in considerable savings. Moving during the summer, when children are out of school and the weather is nice, can make a move more manageable. Keep in mind that because late spring and summer are the peak moving seasons, they also tend to be more expensive. Many moving companies and truck rental agencies will charge a premium if you use their services during the summer. Furthermore, crews may change in the summer when students on vacation could fill in for regular, more experienced movers. High prices are not only reserved for those who buy a new house during the spring and summer. Renters may find spring and summer is also the peak season for rentals. Many apartment managers can attest that the dates between June 2 and August 30 are quite busy in terms of apartment turnover. College students are more likely to move as soon as the academic year ends, and many landlords plan leases to expire in
the summer months to ensure that re-renting places will be easier thanks to a flooded apartment market. According to Apartment Wiz, a Houston-based apartment locating service, although there might be greater apartment availability during the warmweather months, it also means greater competition between prospective tenants. That greater competition can drive up prices. But apartments are harder to fill in the fall or at the onset of winter. That’s because many people do not want the hassle of moving once school has started or the weather has chilled. Landlords who are stuck paying utilities and advertising fees for vacant apartments are far more likely to negotiate rent prices, lease terms and even security deposits during the winter in an effort to fill the apartment quickly. People sitting with homes on the market are also more likely to negotiate during cooler months when foot traffic has fizzled out. That can make shopping for a home in the fall advantageous to home buyers. Here are some other tips to reduce stress and save money when moving into a new home or apartment. • Move mid-week. Weekends are a prime time for truck rentals and moving companies. Pick a Tuesday or a Wednesday to move, and you’re much more likely to find
an available moving service (even during peak moving months); you may even be able to negotiate a lower rate. • Pick a mid-month moving date. Many people move at the beginning of the month when leases are up or after mortgage payments are made. Fewer people move in the middle of the month, so you might find more affordable moving deals if you can wait a few extra weeks. • Schedule a fall or winter move. The American Moving and Storage Association
says half of all moves occur during onethird of the year -- between the beginning of May and Labor Day. Beat the rush by moving outside of these dates. • Get an early start. Many people underestimate the amount of time it takes to actually move their belongings. Try to schedule a moving company to come very early in the morning to give you ample time to pack up the truck and unpack at your new home.
··BRING THIS AD IN FOR A FREE MEDIUM POPCORN··
& Mon-Fri 9-6 • Sat 9-4
Closed Sunday
“Locally Owned and Serving the Brazos Valley since 1988”
Wheat & Gluten Free Products, Bulk Organic Grains, Rice, Mixes & Flours, Organic Frozen Pizza, Entrees,Veggies, Ice Cream & Breakfast Items, Organic Breads & Cereals, Soy & Grain Milks, Organic Fresh Produce & Fruit Juices, Free Range Eggs, Buffalo Meats, Vitamins & Minerals, Herbal Supplements and Beauty Aids.
Experience
or while enjoying a
Gourmet Meal from our
Back Stage
Bistro
Student Ticket Pricing at Select Times
4303 S.Texas Ave. @ Rosemary • Across from Café Eccell • 846-4459
950 N. Earl Rudder Freeway 979-774-4200 | www.pccmovies.com OFFER EXPIRES 5/31/2018
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A ggie P rimer
JULY 27, 2017 | 35
Unlimited Digital Access Hurry! Don’t miss this limited-time offer!
ONLY 3.95 A MONTH $
Be a part of
your Aggieland community!
Now that you, as a student, and your parents are becoming members of the Aggieland community you can all keep up on the local news with Unlimited Digital Subscriptions to The Eagle for only $3.95 per month! Nobody covers this area like The Eagle with the latest news, sports and interactive content. It’s only a click a way. To get your digital subscription, go to theeagle.com/digitaloffer or visit theeagle.com and click on SUBSCRIBE. T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
A ggie P rimer
JULY 27, 2017 | 36
Study Abro a d Are you ready t o go interna tional?
The Study Abroad Programs Office supports Texas A&M University’s commitment to develop global leaders through transformational opportunities abroad. Last year 5,330 Aggies participated in course work, research, internships or service learning opportunities in 106 different countries. We engage students, faculty and staff to participate in high quality international experiences, and prepare the A&M community for a diverse society. Below is the excerpt from a blog written by students participating in the Research Experience for Undergraduates, directed by Dr. Chris Houser of the College of Geosciences. Participants designed and conducted research projects that focus on the rich biodiversity surrounding the Soltis Center for Education and Research in Costa Rica. “This post comes to you from the ecohydrology team. Nathan, Olivia, Gracie and I (Esther) will be focusing on the study watershed’s
hydrology, which includes quantifying sap flow, throughfall, and groundwater table depth, as well as constructing a weir to get streamflow data. Rounding out our first week at the Soltis Center, we met with several challenges. Technical issues like finding which USB port actually works on the netbook, locating gaps in huge data sets, and late delivery of materials for the weir site slowed our progress. But we successfully made headway on weir site preparation, relocated throughfall gauges, and downloaded data at the sap flow site. We’re working out the kinks, and with the arrival of three of our faculty mentors today, things are getting into full swing! We have a weir trail, a tarp fortress to keep the construction site dry, sap flow data since January, a throughfall network, and our list of accomplishments can only grow from here.
Something we really enjoy at the Soltis Center is getting to see biodiversity firsthand. We’ve seen bullet ants, toucans, hummingbirds, vipers, lizards, and heard the beating of bird wings, which we first mistook for jaguar growls. We also see armies upon armies of leafcutter ants. They travel long distances with leaves or flowers many times their size. Hanging up tarps at the weir site, we’d see leaf-cutter ants coming down the trunks of extremely tall trees, carrying their precious cargo home. This first week, we’ve occasionally felt like little leaf-cutter ants at the top of a tall tree. There’s a lot to do and a long way to go before we can reach our goals, but like the determined ants, we carry on with our eyes on the prize. We’re excited to continue onward and upward in our projects and to experience more delights of Costa Rica this coming week.” Sincerely yours, The leaf cutter ants
Photo contributed by A&M’s Study Abroad Programs Office An A&M student observes leaf cutter ants.
Contact the Study Abroad Programs Office to learn about all the different high impact, international opportunities available through Texas A&M University. Visit Studyabroad.tamu. edu or call 845-0544. Article provided by the Study Abroad Programs Office.
when RenTing Can Be a SMaRT deCiSion
Metro Creative Connection Conventional wisdom suggests buying a home makes more financial sense than renting. In many cases, this is true. However, renting is sometimes a smarter approach than buying. As with any financial decision, all of the options and circumstances need to be weighed before jumping in. Making a major purchase requires doing your homework. The following are some reasons why renting can be more beneficial than buying. • You are young. The National Association of Realtors says the typical first-time home buyer is 31 years old. People who are younger than that and uncertain about their futures should not feel pressured into buying simply because it is presumed to be the adult thing to do. Renting and feeling your financial way, which can include seeing how a job pans out or where your budget lies after paying off debts, might make more financial sense than buying. • The price-to-rent ratio is too high. Buying may seem like a wise idea, but it could be causing you to spend more than necessary, particularly if you check the price-to-rent ratio and find homes in your area are not fairly priced. Figuring a P/R ratio includes finding two similar houses (or condos or apartments) where one is for sale and the other is for rent. Divide the sale price of the first place by the annual rent for the second. The end result is the P/R ratio. So if a home sells for $300,000, and there is a house around the corner renting for $1,200 a month, divide $300,000 by $14,400 (the annual cost of renting). The ratio would be 20.8. A rent ratio above 20 means the cost of home ownership will exceed the cost of renting. The higher the P/R ratio, the more sense it makes to rent instead of buy.
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
• Home prices continue to rise. Some people find themselves being priced out of certain neighborhoods or cities. RealtyTrac recently analyzed median wage and home-price growth between 2012 and 2014, ultimately finding that, while the typical worker’s earnings increased a meager 0.3 percent during the study period, median house prices were up by 17 percent. Wages have not recovered from the Great Recession as quickly as home prices have, and some people may need to rent out of necessity. • A market shortage makes it harder to find an affordable home. The number of homes available for sale in many areas of the country has fallen below the number that realtors say is required for the market to be in balance. Therefore, even when a home becomes available, demand drives the price up to where it may not be affordable or fiscally smart to purchase. In such instances, renting may be the best option. • You don’t meet the buying criteria. Don’t buy a home based on market conditions or pressure from others. Instead, buy when you’re financially ready. This means being out of debt; having between three and six months of expenses in an emergency fund; enough cash for a 10 to 20 percent down payment on a fixed mortgage; and when your mortgage payment will be no more than 25 percent of your monthly take-home pay, according to financial expert Dave Ramsey. Renting can be a smart move in many instances. Only when individuals are financially and emotionally ready to buy should they begin searching for their first homes
AGGIE PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 37
y t i s r e v i n U M A & s a x e T About ent activities • d tu S n io • it n g gs and Reco Rankin y a d • o T M & a • Texas
Texas A&M University is the state’s first and largest public institution of higher education, created as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1862 to provide a practical education to a broad cross-section of the population. In 1871, the Texas Legislature established the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and provided funds for construction on land donated by Brazos County. The college opened in 1876 as an all-male college, and all students were in the Corps of Cadets. In 1963, the Texas Legislature elevated the college to become Texas A&M University. Soon after, Texas A&M admitted women as degreeseeking students and made participation in the Corps of Cadets voluntary. Today, women students make up nearly half of the total enrollment of 66,175 (60,435 on the College Station campus), and the Corps has more than 2,000 cadets, a record in recent decades. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum opened in 1997 on west campus, making Texas A&M one of only a few universities to host a presidential library.
Texas a&M today
Texas A&M is one the nation’s largest, most comprehensive and most prestigious universities, ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide. It is one of only 17 institutions nationwide to hold the triple land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations, is a member of the Association of American Universities, and is ranked in the top 20 nationally in National Science Foundation funding, at $892 million. Texas A&M operates two branch campuses: a marine-oriented campus in Galveston and an engineering-oriented campus in Doha, Qatar, fully funded by the Qatar Foundation. In addition, it operates centers in Mexico, Costa Rica and Italy. Texas A&M offers nearly 200 undergraduate majors and nearly 250 graduate degree programs through 19 colleges and schools, including the Texas A&M School of Law in Fort Worth and the Texas A&M Health Science Center, with locations throughout the state. The university also offers professional degree programs in law, veterinary medicine, medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and public health. In keeping with its land-grant mission, Texas A&M emphasizes student involvement in research. Faculty, who are among the top scholars in their fields, work toward innovative solutions to some of the most daunting challenges facing the world today, including human, animal and plant health; environmental sustainability; and energy.
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
Texas A&M is known around the world for providing an excellent education at a reasonable cost. More than one in four members of each freshman class are the first in their families to attend college. Texas A&M ranks first in the nation for success with low-income students, and is first in Texas (and among the top nationally) in graduation rates. In addition, Texas A&M ranks first among the state’s public institutions for the lowest student loan debt held by graduates. Texas A&M is a global university, ranking third in the nation in the number of students who study or work abroad, and attracting more than 5,500 students from more than 150 countries outside the United States. Students and faculty are committed to learning for a lifetime through a variety of high-impact teaching practices. These include undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, writing-intensive courses, service learning, diversity and global learning and collaborative projects. Graduates from Texas A&M must demonstrate the ability to think critically, work and cooperate with others, communicate effectively, practice ethical leadership and live and work effectively in a diverse and global society. Texas A&M graduates are known as leaders. Texas A&M ranks in the top 10 nationally for graduates who get well-paid jobs, and is first in Texas (and among the top nationally) for early- and mid-career earnings of graduates. The Aggie Network provided through The Association of Former Students is ranked third among the nation’s alumni associations.
to succeed academically, get to know the university’s history and traditions and make lasting friendships. Students develop leadership skills through more than 1,000 student-run clubs and organizations that focus on academic cohorts, community and volunteer service, professions and careers, international cultures and global issues, sports and special interests. In keeping with Texas A&M’s core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service, many Aggies are involved with service projects, fundraisers and other charitable efforts, including the following: • The Big Event, which began when six students spent a Saturday cleaning up a cemetery in 1982, has become the nation’s largest one-day, student-run service project. Aggies spend a day each March working in the local communities on projects ranging from painting, to yard work, to cleaning. In 2017, more than 22,500 students (and some faculty
and staff) completed more than 2,500 tasks. The Big Event has been adopted at several universities across the United States and other countries. • CARPOOL is a student-run, safe-ride program through which any community member can receive a free, non-judgmental ride home from Aggie student volunteers on weekend nights. Since its founding in 1999, CARPOOL volunteers have given nearly 260,000 rides. • Replant Day is an annual fall event when hundreds of Aggies plant trees around the local community and in areas of need, such as Bastrop State Park after it was decimated by wildfires in 2011. Efforts such as this helped Texas A&M become a Tree Campus USA honoree by the Arbor Day Foundation. Texas A&M’s academic excellence, core values and focus on leadership development have made it a destination of choice for students, faculty and staff from around the world. Article provided by Texas A&M University’s Division of Marketing and Communications.
Rent Rankings and recognition
• Among the top nationally of “Best Value” universities (Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Kiplinger’s) • No. 1 public university in Texas for 10-year median earnings by graduates and lowest college-cost debt (College Scorecard) • No. 1 public university in Texas and No. 12 nationally for mid-career earnings by graduates (Payscale) • No. 1 in Texas in student four-, five- and six-year graduation rates, both overall and for minorities (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board) • No. 1 in the nation for “Best Overall Student Experience” and “Would Do It All Over Again (The Daily Beast) and “Happiest Campus” (Huffington Post)
Student activities
The majority of new Texas A&M students begin their college experience at Fish Camp, the largest student-run, extended orientation program for undergraduates in the nation. Fish Camp helps incoming freshmen learn how
AGGIELAND PRIMER
Photo contributed by A&M Aggies participate during Replant Day, when hundreds of Aggies plant trees in the community, as well as in areas of need.
JULY 27, 2017 | 38
CARPOOL
providing safe r ides in Aggieland CARPOOL is a student-run safe ride program that provides free, safe, non-judgmental rides home to anyone within the Bryan/College Station city limits. Our operating hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., when Texas A&M University is in session. To receive a ride, call our phone lines at 979-693-9905 or, if you are on Northgate, you can find our members behind the Dixie Chicken in lime green shirts and sign up there. CARPOOL will only take you to the place you are staying for the night. We do not take patrons to parties, bars, restaurants or any other business establishments. Additionally, CARPOOL is completely confidential, meaning there will be no mention of who was taken home, what occurred during the actual ride, or what a member witnesses while working. The only information that is asked of patrons is a name to list the ride under, the number of riders, the address from which to pick them up, the address for where they are staying for the night, and a phone number to call when the ride is there to pick them up. We do not ID patrons, and CARPOOL does not care how old
the patron is. Our only concern is to get the patron home safely. CARPOOL believes that it is the student’s choice whether to drink or not to drink. If a student does choose to do so, however, CARPOOL only asks that the student take responsibility and never drink and drive. Such a mistake was made by our founder, Jeff Schiefelbein, on Oct. 23, 1997, when he received a DWI in College Station, and began an 18-month probation sentence in which he lost his license and did 60 hours of community service. Schiefelbein was required to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Victim Impact panel where he heard a mother’s story of her high school daughter’s death. Her story inspired Schiefelbein to begin a program the community could rely on to get home safely after a night of partying. To ensure the comfort of patrons, CARPOOL vowed never to preach to students about drinking, but rather to accept everyone and let them know that CARPOOL is here to help. Thus, CARPOOL’s founding objective became to provide a free, safe, non-judgmental ride home to anyone, including current CARPOOL
Want to get to CL ASS on time?
members, in the area who needed one. After a year’s worth of hard work, CARPOOL gave its first ride on Sept. 16, 1999, and has given 269,194 rides since. You can find more on Schiefelbein’s story at docs.bryantx.gov/ dwi/#chapter5. None of this would be possible without the volunteers who devote their time to keep the community safe. CARPOOL opens applications each semester at Texas A&M, allowing for students to join the organization in order to volunteer and become members. The application is online, and consists of a few short essay questions, which is then followed by an interview before acceptance. The only requirements to join are that you be a current A&M student and at least 18 years of age. We highly recommend having a driver’s license and car insurance, but they are not required, and a car is not necessary as we receive rentals from Enterprise. Volunteering for CARPOOL is not limited to strictly driving. Members may answer phones; drive; navigate; sign up patrons on
Northgate; or advertise that we are running, by walking bar to bar. To find out more or to contact CARPOOL, visit our website at carpool.tamu.edu, email publicrelations@carpool.tamu.edu or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ tamucarpool). Article provided by CARPOOL.
CARPOOL volunteers mingle during a night of operations.
BIKES starting at $25999
LIFETIME SERVICE WITH EACH BIKE PURCHASE
Trek • GianT • elecTra Weekly Group Rides • Monthly Clinics Campus Location: 817 Texas Ave. S. • 979.485.2948 Main Location: 1705 Valley View Drive • 979.696.9490
aggieland-cycling.com PROUDLY SERVING AGGIES SINCE 1982 - RIDE LOCAL, BUY LOCAL T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 39
&
A M Transportation Services what you need to know
Howdy! And welcome to Texas A&M University. As the school year begins, Transportation Services is here to guide you through the process of getting on and off campus, so you can navigate the community like a pro! With so much taking place throughout the year, getting around can be a dizzying experience — even for the most seasoned student. Transportation Services provides many options, including alternative transportation choices that make navigating the campus and community as easy as possible. Let’s take a look at some of the great services offered to you as a new or transfer student. Parking and parking permits First, let’s talk about parking. If you plan on bringing a car to campus you will need a permit. Permits are required to park on campus, even on the first day of class. Parking permits are available for purchase at transport.tamu.edu. Once you purchase a permit, park in your assigned lot in a valid space with your permit displayed properly. Please be aware that if you loan your permit out, you are responsible for any citations issued to your permit. And permits may not be resold or transferred between individuals. If you drive to campus and do not own a permit, you can still park using one of the many pay-by-the-hour parking locations. Get real-time visitor parking garage availability at transport.tamu.edu/realtime or by
downloading the Texas A&M University mobile app — m.tamu.edu, and clicking on “Transportation & Parking.” Move-in parking and loading zones Move-in can be chaotic, but Transportation Services eases the process by offering free parking during this special time. As a new or transfer student, you will receive a map highlighting additional locations to park and designated areas where you can unload the items needed in your dorms. These limited unloading zones are meant for drop offs only; parking in a lot or garage that is designated for move-in and moving your items with a cart or hand truck is your best option. Riding the Aggie Spirit (bus service) Texas A&M transit service is fare-free to all students, faculty and staff; however, a Texas A&M ID is required to ride off-campus routes. Aggie Spirit buses service students on and off campus, providing a hassle-free way to get around throughout the year. When boarding the Aggie Spirit bus at off-campus stops, you must have your student ID ready to show the driver. Customers who do not live directly on a bus route may drive a short distance to a free Park and Ride located at First Baptist Church of College Station (Route 34). For real-time information, including bus schedules, location and occupancy, visit m.tamu.edu. Students may also use the
Brazos Transit District public transit system free of charge by showing their student IDs when boarding. Direct bus service runs from the Brazos Transit District main hub to campus daily. For more information on their routes, visit www. btd.org. aggie games As a new student you should be prepared for football game days. Texas A&M has sporting events throughout the year, but just like the saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” football is larger than life here in Aggieland. As more than 100,000 people descend on Kyle Field, there is more vehicle and pedestrian traffic than normal. As the game day environment changes, so do the rules for parking. For important information about parking rules for football or other special events, visit transport.tamu.edu. To keep up to date with sporting and other events throughout the community, Texas A&M’s Event mobile app, Destination Aggieland, is a must have for everything you need to know about game day and other events. Download Destination Aggieland (transport.tamu.edu/ Parking/events/football.aspx) today and follow us on Twitter @GetToAggieGame.
alternative transportation services Don’t have your own wheels? No worries. Transportation Services offers many alternatives to owning a vehicle on campus. In 2015 Texas A&M University was named Bike Friendly University, and we don’t take that title lightly. You can feel safe knowing we have you covered, so why not switch from horsepower to pedal power and get on your bike and ride. Don’t own a bike? No worries. We’ll let you borrow one for the day to see if you like it. If you decide that biking is right for you, a bike can be leased through the Bike Lease program for $50 per semester. The program provides durable bikes for your transportation needs in and around the Bryan-College Station community. Leasing a bicycle will allow you to save time and money. Monthly safety inspections are included. Or you can reimagine your ride by taking advantage of the Zagster Bike Share Program that offers 75 eco-friendly bikes from 10 on-campus locations, 24/7. You can even make quick stops with Photo provided by Texas A&M the convenient on-bike A senior in the A&M Corps of Cadets gets off one of the campus buses.
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
lock provided for your use. The Zagster mobile app will let you unlock a bike with just one click! Compare plans at zagster.com/tamu to find the one that fits your riding style. Don’t own a car and need to run some errands? We have you covered with Zimride, the social network for ridesharing. Whether you are looking for a daily commute to share as a driver or passenger or a one-time weekend trip, just post your ride on the Texas A&M private Zimride network and Zimride will search for your perfect match. Sign up today at www. zimride.com/tamu. If riding solo is more your speed, Zipcar is here! The car sharing program is a convenient transportation option available at rates starting at $7.50 per hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty and staff ages 18 and older. Gas, insurance and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/tamu. Need to get away? Kerrville Bus Company provides weekend bus service between College Station and Houston, Waco, Dallas and Grand Prairie with connectivity to many other cities via Megabus.com at their Houston, Grand Prairie and Dallas hubs. For more information, including costs and pick-up and drop-off times and locations, visit www.iridekbc.com/collegetransport.html. If you decide you want to sit behind the wheel of your own ride, consider the benefits of AggielandAutoClub.com, a partner of Texas A&M Transportation Services. AggielandAutoClub.com is introducing RoadAngel Maroon, designed to reduce costs on anything your car may need, like gas, car washes, oil changes, spare or lost car key replacements, lockout service, towing, fuel delivery, dead battery jump start/replacement and so much more. The service will review local auto services to find reliable (mostly Aggied-owned) businesses that sponsor AggielandAutoClub. com’s free RoadAngel mobile app. To get the RoadAngel app, text “AGGIES” to 979-2713551. Lastly, Transportation Services offers a variety of digital services to help you stay informed. Before you pack your bags, make sure you take time to download the following mobile apps to your smart device: m.tamu.edu Destination Aggieland (transport.tamu.edu/ Parking/events/football.aspx) Stay connected and follow us on Twitter: @aggiespiritbus, @aggieparking, @GetToAggieGame or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/daytoride . Wishing you safe travels to Aggieland. See you soon! Article provided by A&M Transportation Services.
JULY 27, 2017 | 40
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 41
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 42
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
AGGIELAND PRIMER
JULY 27, 2017 | 43
ExpEriEncE thE tradition
Open 10am-2am 7 Days a Week 307 University Dr. C.s. 979.846.2322
Open sUnDay-thUrsDay 11am-9pm FriDay & satUrDay 11am-10pm 3600 s. COllegeBryan 979.846.3306
IMER JULY 27, 2017 | 44 www.dixiechicken.comA G G I E L A N D P Rwww.chickenoilco.com
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E