As No. 14 Texas A&M football has surged to a 6-1 record, it finds itself staring at a mirror image: the No. 8 LSU Tigers. Both teams fell in Week 1 to storied college programs but have responded with conviction by ripping off six-game win streaks to position themselves atop the SEC. Saturday, the Tigers will take on the Aggies at Kyle Field with the opportunity for both sides to bolster their College Football Playoff aspirations.
While both A&M and LSU have premier matchups looming in the future — No. 5 Texas and No. 15 Alabama, respectively — the result of Saturday’s game will clarify the rest of the season for both programs. With two losses likely being the maximum to still reach the College Football Playoff, the loser could face the daunting task of winning out.
“We are in a really good spot,” coach Mike Elko said. “We are in a really good opportunity, and we want to take advantage of where we are. A lot of times you see [that] on the rise up, you have to learn through failure. We are trying to not do that.”
The highly-anticipated matchup will mark the 58th meeting in the rivalry. LSU holds a 35-20-2 lead all-time, but the most recent six games have split evenly between the two college football titans.
LSU’s hot streak is in large part due to the success of redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
The 6-foot-2 pocket passer has bided his time to get the opportunity to lead the Tigers, first being stranded behind future A&M QB Max Johnson and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Now at the helm, Nussmeier has displayed poise and accuracy, averaging the most completions per game in the SEC.
“The quarterback is very special.
He has a big arm,” junior safety Bryce Anderson said. “Their receiver corps is very special. I feel like it’s going to be one of the best, as a
group, the best receiving corps that [A&M has] seen this season with [fifth year wide receiver Kyren] Lacy, [redshirt sophomore WR] Aaron Anderson. … We’re going to have to keep a top on the coverage and limit the big plays.”
A bevy of NFL-caliber talent surrounds the passer to form the nation’s eighth-best passing attack. Junior offensive lineman Will Campbell and junior OL Emery Jones Jr. bookend an offensive line that has given up the second-fewest sacks in the country while Lacy has hauled in six touchdowns, the second-most in the SEC.
As the Aggies’ defense has begun to flourish, it’s been able to lean on an explosive pass rush to harass the opposing quarterback. With 11 sacks in the last three games, A&M received contributions from stars like junior defensive end Nic Scourton and Bowling Green transfer junior JACK Cashius Howell.
Against the Purple and Gold, A&M’s front faces its most imposing foe yet. If the Tigers can smother the Aggie pass rush, Nussmeier will have the time to pick apart the sec-
ondary and keep the Tigers in favorable down-to-go situations, further limiting the pass rush.
The focus on trench warfare is not limited to one side of the ball, as LSU boasts a high-level pass rush that has the seventh-most sacks in the nation. Dealing with questions around the health of sophomore left guard Chase Bisontis, junior right tackle Dametrious Crownover could draw the short straw of lining up across from the SEC’s second-best sack artist, senior defensive lineman Bradyn Swinson.
“We [knew] people [were] going to go down,” Crownover said. “We knew that. It was our goal for us to be like, ‘Oh, we lose somebody. Who’s next?’ Somebody’s got to be able to step up in that position and know their role that they’ve got to play and know how we want them to play and match our standard.”
The Maroon and White’s offense will look to bounce back and establish a level of consistency that has eluded it this season. Redshirt sophomore QB Conner Weigman’s one-touchdown and two-interception performance against Mississippi
State was a microcosm of his entire season: flawless for stretches, but also costly mistakes that hold the team back.
Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein understand the importance of starting fast to rely on the road-grading run game that averages 219 yards per game. In games when the Aggies crack 150 yards on the ground, the offense averages 38 points, compared to just 22 points in games under that threshold. Winning the line of scrimmage is the recipe to success for either team in this matchup.
Under the lights of Kyle Field, the country’s eyes will be on the Aggies in the most anticipated matchup of the week. A&M has a simple task: Beat a blossoming LSU team — donning new black uniforms — and keep the hope of the ultimate goal alive.
“I’m very excited,” Anderson said. “Night games at Kyle Field are always electric. This is going to be even more electric knowing the atmosphere of the game and how much the game is going to mean. We’re dialed in. We’re locked in.”
A&M welcomes LSU in fight for SEC throne
Graphic by Pranay Dhoopar — THE BATTALION
Aggies’ offense set for tough test with Tigers’ defense
Weigman faces Tigers with playoff implications
By Kolton Becker Sports Writer
After a successful trip to Starkville, Mississippi that resulted in a victory over Mississippi State, Texas A&M football faces its biggest conference test so far this season when LSU comes to town at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The last three times LSU played at Kyle Field, A&M secured wins, and the Aggies will hope to send the Tigers packing with another loss.
The Aggie offense has posted 30 or more points in four games this season, most recently against the Bulldogs, where they registered 34 points. Led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman, the offense amounted to 217 passing yards and 137 rushing yards, with eight receivers and five rushers contributing to the overall offensive success.
“I think Conner Weigman is a really good quarterback,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “He is deceptive in terms of his speed, and he’s got very good weapons.”
In the turnover battle, though, A&M gave the ball away twice and will need to hold onto the ball if it wants to come out on top with a victory. It will hope to flip the script this weekend against a hungry Tiger defense that is No. 67 in total defense, allowing 358.4 yards per game and 5.75 yards per play.
“We trust Conner, and Conner should trust himself because he’s
really talented,” coach Mike Elko said. “We want him to trust his eyes and go through his progressions and make the throws that he is capable of making. He knows he has to protect the football.”
On the ground, the Maroon and White have seen junior running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels get most of the reps. Moss leads the team with 674 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while Daniels has 292 yards and five touchdowns. The success in the run game has resulted in the duo continuing to bulldoze defenses, with both scoring in the same game three times this season.
A successful spot that the Aggies executed well in last week was on third down. A&M finished with a season-best 63.4% on third down conversions, going 9-of-14 on the day. To defeat the Tigers, the Aggies must continue moving the sticks like they have been doing recently.
The LSU defense must figure out how to quickly shut down the A&M offense, because if it doesn’t, it could cost it a ticket to the SEC Championship in Atlanta. Last Saturday, the defense gave up 277 yards in a 34-10 win at Arkansas. To replicate that success, LSU’s key playmakers will need to ensure that there are no miscommunications, blown coverages or distractions.
“You have to prepare and understand that in that environment,” Kelly said. “You have to block out those distractions because if you don’t, they will affect the outlook of certain games.”
Unfortunately for the Tigers, they will be without star junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., who was one of the top 2025 NFL Draft prospects before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. But LSU has a next-man-up mentality, where sophomore LB Whit Weeks and senior LB Greg Penn III have had to step up and lead the team in solo and total tackles.
“I think sometimes when your best player, your most talented player, goes down, sometimes everyone else sort of elevates themselves around it, and I think they’re playing really good football,” Elko said. “I think they have gotten more and more comfort able on defense with the system.”
Senior safety Major Burns and sophomore cornerback Ashton Stamps have also had to be in a mindset to step up in the second ary. They will be tasked with de fending the deep depth chart of A&M wide receivers, while senior defensive ends Braydn Swinson and Sai’vion Jones must apply pressure to upset Weigman.
The 12th Man will be ready and rocking on Satur day for a matchup with plen ty of SEC and playoff impli cations.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge,” Elko said. “It’s going to be a great envi ronment. It’s going to be an opportunity for us to go out there and show we belong on this stage.”
A&M defense tasked to stop LSU’s dynamic air attack
By Eric Liu Sports Writer
Following a tough 34-24 road victory against Mississippi State, No. 14 Texas A&M football is headed back to Kyle Field to face No. 8 LSU in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The 1-5 Bulldogs looked to be a comfortable matchup on paper, but the Aggies’ defense faced more resistance than expected from true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. A&M’s defense will have to tighten up in the red zone in order to limit the explosive LSU offense.
“We gave up three touchdowns in four trips, and so all of a sudden now it’s a 24-point game instead of a 17-point game,” coach Mike Elko said. “And I think that plays a big difference in the outcome.”
Despite giving up the red zone touchdowns, there were plenty of positives when it came to the defense. The front-seven made the Bulldog backfield miserable all afternoon, tallying a season-high 11 tackles for loss that forced many obvious passing downs.
Expect junior defensive linemen Cashius Howell to get more playing time against the Tigers. Howell had an all-around stand-
out performance with a sack, a tackle for loss and an astounding three passes deflected and played well when given more coverage responsibility.
The Wrecking Crew will have its hands full trying to stop LSU freshman running back Caden Durham, who had the best game of his young career last week after tallying 101 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. A hard runner, Durham isn’t afraid of contact and is capable of breaking into the second level.
The disruptive defensive tackle duo of junior Albert Regis and senior Shemar Turner will be there to clean up inside, but A&M’s ends will have a hard time when forced to contain on the outside. LSU’s pair of junior offensive tackles, Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., are both projected first-round picks and capable of opening big gaps for Durham to run through.
The matchup between Campbell and junior DL Nic Scourton will be one to watch. The nation’s best offensive lineman will be going up against another projected first-round pick, and fireworks should ensue. Look for Scourton to use a variety of speed and power rush moves to try to get free.
The Aggie defense will be tasked with bringing down redshirt junior QB Garrett Nussmeier. Top 10 in the nation in both passing yards and passing touchdowns, Nussmeier has worked his way up from being a third-stringer
to one of the best in the country.
“I think he’s really comfortable in their system,” Elko said. “He’s gotten his opportunities over the first couple years when the opportunities presented themselves, and I think that’s prepared him to come into this stage this year and really be their leader. He can throw the ball over the field. He’s got a tremendous arm, and he’s got a lot of moxie.”
Nussmeier has a plethora of weapons to throw to, but the obvious standout is fifth year wide receiver Kyren Lacy. Like Nussmeier, Lacy has had to wait for his opportunity after being in the shadow of NFL rookie standouts Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Now that he’s the No. 1 guy, Lacy has been able to show out and lead the Tigers in receiving yardage and touchdowns.
Though he isn’t the fastest athlete, Lacy has spectacular route-running skills and is capable of getting open in a second’s notice. The Aggies will have their hands full trying to guard him and should keep a watchful eye on him in the red zone.
The linebacker core of sophomore Taurean York and junior Scooby Williams features usual downhill guys but will have to be on the lookout for passes to the middle of the field. Williams made his first career interception against the Bulldogs last week and is fully capable of making a game-changing play.
Asst. Photo Chief Hannah Harrison
Brian Kelly’s kissing
The plot to bring A&M’s first alternates to life
Inside the 2012 scheme, from duping players with decoy equipment to helmets in hallways
By Ian Curtis Features Editor
When Texas A&M football wide receiver Ryan Swope entered the visiting locker room in Starkville, Mississippi on Nov. 3, 2012, he found the holidays had come early.
Instead of the maroon uniform Swope was used to sporting for the Aggies, he found instead a black jersey with maroon stripes, black pants and the most beautiful helmet he’d ever had the chance to play in.
“It’s kind of like Christmas,” Swope said. “You show up, you go downstairs, you open a bunch of presents and Santa Claus has your jersey laid out on the couch and you’re like a little kid ready to go put that thing on and go get the W.” Santa, in this case, was then-equipment manager Matt Watson, thencoach Kevin Sumlin and an inner circle of a few key stakeholders determined to bring the gifts to life.
And delivering those presents — A&M football’s first-ever alternate uniform — turned out to be a months-long plot of secrecy, deception, deliveries to Watson’s driveway and a decoy-packing of the team’s equipment truck.
“It’s an exhaustive process,” Watson said. “But it’s very rewarding if you can pull it off, once you see the reaction from the players and everybody. Of course, getting the win is paramount. You have to win.”
Beginning the black out
The Southeastern Conference requires teams who choose to wear white jerseys at home to give advance notice to their opponents. So when Mississippi State decided to honor the 2000 Independence Bowl — where the Jackie Sherillled Bulldogs beat the Aggies 43-41 in the middle of a snowstorm — and welcome A&M to the SEC by wearing all-white alternate uniforms, Sumlin had an idea to turn the Bulldogs’ special event on its head.
“Coach Sumlin called me,” Watson said. “He says, ‘We need to do something different about that. We
ought to wear black.’”
And so began the plan to debut A&M’s first-ever alternate uniforms, fulfilling a vision for the Aggies’ brand that Sumlin had as soon as he was hired.
“He used Oregon and Oklahoma State as two examples of teams that had kind of parlayed an alternate uniform identity into a recruiting benefit,” Watson said. “It helped them get attention is the best way to put it … It gave those two programs an identity, and that’s what he was trying to do with us.”
Initially, the plan was kept to an inner circle of Sumlin, Watson, the head of Adidas’ football department at the time Mark Daniels, thenA&M vice president for marketing and communications Jason Cook, and then-university president R. Bowen Loftin.
“The circle was very, very tight at the beginning,” Watson said. “To my knowledge, it was probably five people in the beginning on campus, all the way right up until right before stuff started arriving.”
The uniform side of things was produced by Adidas, with the helmets belonging to the Aggies’ helmet partners at the time, Riddell and Schutt. The hydrographics to create the unique black-fading-tomaroon effect on the helmets were done by a company out of Oregon.
“I worked directly with Adidas and Jason Cook on the design concepts of what we were throwing around,” Watson said. “I would relay things to Adidas, they would come back with concepts, we talked to Jason and got input back from that side, ‘This is what coach wants to do. Are you guys good with this?’ ‘Absolutely.’”
Then came the hard part: Keeping everything under wraps.
Cloak-and-dagger
Swope says it’s easy for alternate uniforms, though intended to be motivating, to become a detriment.
“You’re a player, and you’re getting so focused mentally, physically for your opponent that you’re not really even thinking about a uniform or a helmet or anything like that,” Swope said. “Sometimes, it can be a distraction if you find out too early.”
Watson agrees. He says he’s never been accused of winning a game for the Aggies, but he has been accused of losing one. So the decision that week in 2012 was made to keep
the uniforms a secret until the last possible moment.
And as the equipment started to arrive, that meant Watson had everything shipped to his house personally. Soon, dozens of helmets lined the hallway behind his couch, and boxes began to stack up against his windows.
“There was zero room for error, period,” Watson said. “We didn’t have the luxury to have something not show up on time or not. For us to be able to work on it with as few people as we were working with in order to keep it secret, it was going to take us much longer to prepare everything.”
That meant taking some risks and making some sacrifices, like Watson making sure he was at home for every delivery and hoping no curious Aggie fans would come wandering past his garage.
“I actually have a picture of my garage with a bunch of the helmets stacked up under my carport that anybody could have seen,” Watson said. “Or something could have gotten taken really easily. So that was a little nerve-wracking on the shipping side of it.”
As the game inched closer, more of the equipment staff was let in on the plot. But there was one last test: Getting all the way to Starkville with dozens of players and coaches convinced that the Aggies would be wearing maroon.
So Watson and his staff packed the equipment truck twice.
“Students were pulling over maroon jerseys on the shoulder pads, putting maroon helmets in the back,” Watson said. “Everybody we packed as if it was like a normal road game but using a colored jersey. And then we came back up before the truck left one night, and put all of the alternate stuff on the truck, secretively.”
The deception continued even on game day: As far as Mississippi State knew, A&M would be wearing maroon. The visitor locker room was already packed with maroon apparel by Aggie staffers before the swap to black was made.
Revealed at last
Then, the months of hard work and secrets paid off with the reveal.
“It’s probably the best looking uniform that I’ve ever played in, to be honest with you,” Swope said. “I wish they would have given us those helmets. It was that cool. It
was definitely a treat to show up and black it out.”
Watson says seeing the players’ excitement and hype for the uniforms made the effort worth it.
“Seeing everyone come in oneby-one and just that look of ‘Oh wow,’ it validated the work and everything our staff had put in,” Watson said. “All the people that were involved in the planning and design process like that made it worthwhile right at that point. And of course, the way the team performed was outstanding.”
A&M would win that game against Mississippi State 38-13, with Swope leading all receivers with 121 yards on nine receptions. Next week, clad in all-white, the Aggies would go on the road and upset No.1 Alabama.
“Look good, feel good, play good was the motto we always used,” Swope said. “It’s definitely true … It can go one of two ways, either really good or really bad. And that year, every alternate uniform we had was really good.”
Watson, who was involved in the early stages of planning the Aggies’ newest black uniform to be worn against LSU on Saturday before leaving the program last April, says the new uniforms were first proposed under former coach Jimbo Fisher, and current coach Mike Elko signed off on them after he was hired.
He hopes the last alternate uniform he had a hand in creating at A&M will perform just as well on
the field as his first.
“I have an older son that’s actually on the team,” Watson said. “I know he’s excited about it. It’ll be fun to see it out there and hopefully get a win and put the final stamp on it, and make it a complete success.”
The uniform of Texas A&M football wide reciever Ryan Swope in the locker room before Texas A&M’s game against Mississippi State on Nov. 3, 2012.
Texas A&M football helmets lined up in the hallway of the home of equipment manager Matt Watson.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Swope
Photo courtesy of Matt Watson
Around the SEC
Week 9
A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR THIS WEEK’S GAMES
By Matthew Seaver Asst. Sports Editor
No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt
Saturday, Oct. 26 — 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network
FirstBank Stadium — Nashville, Tennessee
The Texas Longhorns were riding high heading into their Week 8 matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs — until the Bulldogs’ defense made a mockery of both redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers and redshirt freshman Arch Manning. Meanwhile, the Vanderbilt Commodores are on a three-game win streak and ranked for the first time since 2013. Graduate QB Diego Pavia has the Black and Gold on the verge of its first bowl appearance since 2018. With coach Clark Lea on the
sidelines and Pavia under center, Commodore fans might have another upset in the works when the Longhorns come to town. Texas needs to prepare to dominate in Nashville if it hopes to rebound from the spanking it was dealt by Georgia. Vanderbilt has a blueprint for defeating top-ranked teams, but Texas might retaliate more than Alabama did in Week 6. This game will also determine the age-old argument of Texas versus Tennessee barbecue.
Alabama is clearly not the same team that it was under Nick Saban; meanwhile, Missouri needed a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the 2-5 Auburn Tigers. After their offense was muzzled by the Volunteers in Week 8, the Crimson Tide and redshirt junior QB Jalen Milroe are looking to feast on the Tigers’ defense. Missouri needs to feed its wide receiver corps, including senior wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. and junior WR Luther Burden III.
In order to win this game, coach Kalen DeBoer is going to need to toughen up his softened program as Alabama has just the 56th-ranked total defense in the country. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ stubborn defense allows just 10 points per game. The last time Alabama lost two games back-to-back was in 2013, so Father Time, please don’t fail me now. In the words of internet personality Druski, “I don’t give a piss about nothing but the Tide!”
Prediction: Alabama 24, Missouri 21
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Saturday, Oct. 26 — 11:45 a.m. on SEC Network Davis Wade Stadium — Starkville, Mississippi
While Arkansas and Mississippi State have very different records, BetMGM has the Razorbacks as just a seven-point favorite over the Bulldogs. That is because of one reason: freshman QB Michael Van Buren Jr., who took over under center when starting redshirt senior QB Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Van Buren has single-handedly rescued the hopes of the Bulldog fans, throwing for 792 yards and two touchdowns so far.
Arkansas turned the ball over three times versus LSU in Week 7, and Mississippi State forced two takeaways against Texas A&M — whoever wins the turnover margin in this matchup will come out on top. If the Razorbacks manage to stay out of their own way, they should be able to feast on a Bulldog defense that allows 33 points per game, the 17th highest in the country. This little piggy is going to Starkville to win a football game.
Prediction: Arkansas 35, Mississippi State 31
Oklahoma at No. 18 Ole Miss
Saturday, Oct. 19 — 6:30 p.m. on ABC
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium — Oxford, Mississippi
Ole Miss enjoyed a bye week last week after suffering an overtime loss to LSU in Week 7, while Oklahoma just fired its offensive coordinator after being outscored 69-10 in its last two games. Coach Brent Venables is running out of options fast in his first year in the SEC.
To paraphrase Anakin Skywalker, otherwise known as Ole Miss senior QB Jaxson Dart: If the Rebels still want a chance of qualifying for the College Football Playoff, they have
no other option than winning out the remainder of the season. The Sooners trudge into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with the sixth-worst total offense in the country and the hometown Rebels have the second-best only behind the Miami Hurricanes. The only thing worse than Oklahoma’s offense is the spelling of the Ole Miss QB’s first name — give me the Rebels plus the spread, as BetMGM only has them as 20.5-point favorites.
Prediction: Ole Miss 52, Oklahoma 10
GALLERY: Softball vs. Temple College
By Chris Swann & Micah Richter
Aggie fans got a sneak peek of head coach Trishia Ford’s new squad during softball’s exhibition against Temple College at Davis Diamond on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.
Texas A&M Aggies pitcher Sydney Lessentine (7) pitches the ball during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
Texas A&M Aggies infielder Kennedy Powell (1) reacts after hitting a double during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
Texas A&M Aggies infielder KK Dement (16) and catcher Gracyn Coleman (22) reacts after Dement’s home run during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
The Aggies react after the end of an inning during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
Trinity College Leopards infielder Anissa Hill (11) attempts to tag out Texas A&M Aggies outfielder Allie Enright (33) during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
Texas A&M Aggies infielder Kylei Griffin (35) reacts after a strikeout during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
Texas A&M Aggies infielder Frankie Vrazel (8) hits the ball during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
Texas A&M Aggies infielder Koko Wooley (3) reacts during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
Texas A&M Aggies infielder Mac Barbra (31) throws her bat after drawing a walk during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
A batting helmet and bats are laid on the bench in the Aggie dugout during Texas A&M’s exhibition game against Temple College at Davis Diamond.
A day in the life of a Corps woman
Fifty years after first joining the Corps of Cadets, women in the Corps continue to excel
By Theresa Lozano & Amy
Leigh Steward Life & Arts Editor, Editor in Chief
By design, they don’t stick out. Each boot falls in line with the rest. Each uniform is exact in what it displays. Each cadet trains alongside the others, lives alongside the others — and ultimately takes care of the others.
Fifty years ago this fall, Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets took a bold new step.
A class of 51 cadets became the first women to join the Corps, falling in step with the century of Aggies that came before them and becoming the beginning of the line of all who would follow. Half a century later, just under a fifth of the Corps is now women. These cadets — from Reveille’s handler to commanding officer for Parsons Mounted Cavalry and every role in between — continue what the trailblazers first started decades ago in 1974.
Leah, A-2, early morning
The sun has barely risen above the Quad, but Leah Bechert is already up — and focused. The biomedical sciences freshman is attempting to slick back the perfect cadet bun in the mirror of her dorm after breakfast. She’s starting to get the hang of it after two months, cutting her time from an hour to just 10 minutes.
“Gel is your best friend — and hairspray,” Bechert said. “It kind of sucks because some days you wash your hair, and you’re like, ‘Okay, I don’t want to put a bunch of gel on my hair,’ but you have to, especially if you want it to stay down. ”
After waking up around 5 a.m. every day, Berchert has to prepare for formation, train with her outfit, head to breakfast and get her class material together before her 8 a.m. lecture. But Bechert said it’s not as bad as it sounds; it’s just a matter of getting into the groove.
“You kind of psych yourself out for the most part,” Bechert said. “Then you get there, and you realize, ‘Okay, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.’ The PT is not as bad as it seems. They definitely challenge us physically. However, they encourage you at the same time.”
From using fake rifles on the drill field during Army lab to crafting fish spurs for the first time, Bechert said while being a fish is different, it’s more fun than she thought it’d be.
“Even though this year definitely is more challenging, I think it teaches you a lot about yourself and who you are,” Bechert said. “… Sometimes you’ll feel out of place, especially because in the Corps, you’re an outsider to everyone else because you have a different experience. But I think having strong leaders, especially strong female leaders to look up to, definitely helps.”
Olivia, SQ-20, midday
Over on the Fiddler’s Green, Olivia Baptiste is busy overseeing the Parsons Mounted Cavalry. Dedicated to becoming a veterinarian, the biomedical sciences senior spends five days a week feeding and caring for the over 70 horses and mules, not to mention the roughly 300 other “cav jocks” that call Parsons home. Although the job is intimidating, it doesn’t scare Baptiste away.
“There’s so much, and you don’t want to be the one to mess it up,” Baptiste said. “What we do is very dangerous. You’re taking 73 1500-pound animals through a crowd of 500 … 1,000 people … There’s definitely lots of pressure in the sense of it’s such an incredible opportunity. They represent what I truly believe is the best part of the Corps, and have what I think is the best opportunities to get people — in terms of leadership — actually doing things that are impactful and seeing the results of your action.”
Currently, half the cavalry leadership team is female led with Baptiste being the unit’s third ever female commanding officer, along with her XO — the detachment executive officer, the second in command — making them the first female CO-XO group.
“I was like, ‘Well, what are people going to think about a half female command team?’ Baptiste said. “And Chaz, who was the CO last year, just told me, ‘Pick the best people for the job. It doesn’t matter if they’re women or if they’re men. Just pick the best people for the job.’ I think we kind of took that into tryouts. We looked and said, ‘We have a lot of females,’ and it’s almost half and half — which compared to the Corps it’s about a fifth. So we’ve got a lot of girls out there.”
Aggies use algorithm to find love, friendship
Inside the ‘Marriage Pact’ matching students
By Leticia Schenkel Life & Arts Writer
This semester, Aggies have a new option other than dating apps and pick-up lines — a more scientific method known as the Marriage Pact.
The matchmaking survey is designed to pair students based on their compatibility. Applying economic theory to research on the “romantic market,” two students at Stanford University developed the Marriage Pact algorithm in 2017 — and what started as a class assignment quickly resulted in over 4,000 participants looking for their mathematically-perfect partner.
The phenomenon didn’t stop at Stanford, and it made its way across college campuses in the United States — eventually making its way to Texas A&M. So far, 88 schools have taken part in the initiative, with over 400,000 students participating in the survey. The experiment is meant to be fleeting — only lasting one week a year — a unique approach aiming to represent the fast-acting atmosphere love brings.
With over 50 questions to answer, the online survey touches on a multitude of topics, ranging from morality to questions about taboo subjects. After an open period, it closes and matches two statistically-similar students, providing each with the other’s email.
The team responsible for bringing the Marriage Pact to Aggieland includes hospitality, hotel management and tourism sophomore Katelynn Healy.
“A&M is such a big school,” Healy said. “It can be hard to meet other people. The Marriage Pact is a great way to meet people that you could get along with … that you otherwise would have never been able to meet.”
The survey isn’t only a dating algorithm. It can link friends together that might have never crossed paths on campus.
“People don’t understand how easy it is to make friends,” Healy said. “I feel like bringing it to a college campus is really helpful to kind of break the stereotypes around unfamiliarity and shying away from it.”
With such a large student population in mind, the Marriage Pact team ran into some roadblocks when it came to student participation. They soon realized that word-of-mouth marketing would only bring them a limited number of participants. Biomedical sciences sophomore Aman Anoop advertised it in a myriad of ways, even dressing up as Cupid to convince students to participate.
After dying in Brazos County, a trip to Austin follows
Local medical examiner’s office to open in 2026
By J.M. Wise News Editor
Out of the 1,337 deaths that occurred in Brazos County in 2023, 117 of those deaths were sent to Austin for an autopsy, where the closest medical examiner is located. Only following a two-hour trip and $3,891 can the Travis County medical examiner send a report back to College Station.
To address the issue, Texas A&M’s medical school is partnering with the Brazos County’s Commisioner’s Court to open a medical examiner’s office in 2026, with the construction of the site finished by September of 2025.
While the majority of Texas counties don’t have their own office, medical experts say the new office will allow elected officials and students to take advantage of autopsy services while serving Brazos Valley’s growing population.
Dr. Amy Waer, the dean of A&M’s medical school, said she is looking forward to medical students serving the community through the addition.
“There’s significant cost, but more importantly, significant delays — three to nine months — for families who are grieving,” Waer said. “They don’t get that closure, and often there’s paperwork that cannot be filed until the death certificate that is filed with the autopsy.”
Autopsies in Texas are performed when a physician is unwilling or unable to certify the cause of death. These can be accidents at home, suicides, homicides, traffic accidents or any unattended death deemed suspicious.
“There’s a huge national shortage of forensic pathologists, and hopefully once we get everything up and running, we can increase that educational role,” Waer said.
“Ideally, I would love to see at some point a forensic pathology fellowship that we can partner with the county.”
Currently, there are only 24 medical examiners and coroner’s offices in Texas, with the vast majority of counties using justices of the peace to certify and sign death certificates. Judge Rick Hill, one of four justices in Brazos County, has certified close to 1,000 deaths in the past 10 years.
“Autopsies are a definite process that takes time,” Hill said. “If you
have a difficult autopsy — where they are having trouble trying to figure out what happened — then there are more tests run. Genetic tests run, things like that. Toxicology takes a lot of time.”
According to Hill, the length of time it takes to receive an autopsy report will not change significantly with the creation of a local morgue. However, Hill and the other three justices will have more flexibility with their work.
“I will not have the call at two o’clock in the morning, waking me up out of a dead sleep to go to a death,” Hill said. “People don’t die Monday through Friday, eight to five, do they? They die any time of the day or night. I’ve had weekends where I’ve had two or three in a night.”
For Waer and Hill, the opening of the medical examiner’s office will alleviate issues previously involved with autopsies — like transportation of the body or delivery of a death certificate.
“There are family members there, and we have final say,” Hill said. “So the philosophy I use is, given the circumstances, if this was my mom or dad or brother or sister … Would I want an autopsy?”
Medical education has recently
come under scrutiny in Texas after the University of North Texas’ medical school using unclaimed bodies for profit in medical research. A&M’s willed body program has a page dedicated to the transparency of their operations, and medical students hold a memorial service for the friends and family of the person who donated their body.
“Our first-year students have the privilege of learning human anatomy on our cadavers,” Waer said. “Our willed body program provides those. It’s a 100% voluntary willed body program where
we receive our cadavers, and we’re very proud of that. It’s a very respectful process.”
Waer and Hill both expressed their desire for greater support from local officials to make the transition between Travis County and Brazos County easier. Waer said she is looking forward to the contributions the office will be able to make to A&M’s forensics programs.
“It’s not just medicine, right?” Waer said. “At the university level, it will open up a lot of educational opportunities for learning and research.”
(From left to right) Biomedical sciences senior Olivia Baptiste, biomedical sciences sophomore Sarah DeLacerda, biomedical sciences freshman Leah Bechert and animal science junior Madison Cronin pose for photos in the Quad on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.
Photos by Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Olivia Baptiste leads her outfit before Texas A&M’s football game against Missouri at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION WOMEN ON B4
The morgue in Travis County that Brazos County uses for autopsies.
Photo courtesy of the Smith Group
Where America’s past comes to life
By Shalina Sabih Features Writer
World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and over a century of military history rest in solemn stillness, encased in a metal warehouse just off Highway 6 at the Museum of the American G.I., where echoes of battles fought long ago are brought back to life.
Tanks, artillery and uniforms preserved in pristine condition stand as silent guardians of the past. But here, history doesn’t just sit behind glass — it roars to action. Engines rumble, cannons thunder and the past is not just remembered but felt.
Executive Director Leisha Mullins, alongside her beloved corgi guide dog named Annie, passionately tells these veterans’ stories — not just through words but rather the very uniforms they wore, the weapons they carried and the vehicles they operated.
Annie, with her short legs and loyal demeanor, has become somewhat of a mascot that adds a touch of warmth to the museum’s atmosphere. Each piece of history at the Museum of the American G.I. is a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought.
“The vehicles are the hook,” Mullins said. “They draw people in, but once they’re here, they become captivated by the deeper history behind each exhibit.”
College Station native Corbin Olson, a lifelong visitor of the museum, said his family regularly embarks on road trips across the country to explore museums. He regards the American G.I. as his favorite and especially appreciates the wide range of displays, an aspect that captivated him as a child and made each visit a unique and enriching experience.
“Seeing all these pieces of history was something I will never forget,” Olson said. “I have never been to a museum that was more alive.”
Among the museum’s most treasured pieces are the uniforms that proudly display the legacy of those who served. From white and blue World War I uniforms to neatly-kept fatigues from the Vietnam War, the attention to preservation is remarkable, with garments in such good condition that not a single thread hangs loose.
A notable uniform display belonged to Capt. Robert Acklen, Class of 1963. His uniform stands as a tribute to the men and women from Texas A&M who have served their country. Nearby is a U.S. Air Force F-86 fighter pilot flight suit worn by Lieutenant William R. Stade, Class of 1964. His suit, with its vintage patches and worn edges, captures the look of fighter pilots during the Korean War Era, a significant part of military aviation history.
One of the most poignant areas is the Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit, where an array of dog tags solemnly represent 3,417 Texan soldiers who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. Among them, 102 black dog tags symbolize the Texans missing in action, serving as a haunting reminder of those whose fates remain unknown. Mullins said the exhibit underscores a powerful message: No man left behind.
“It’s not all about driving a tank or flying an airplane,” Mullins said.
“There is a sacrifice involved with all of our veterans,” Mullins said.
“They’re willing to give their life for service to our country, and we need to be able to honor them by telling their stories and what they have done.”
The museum’s collection is built on donations from families of veterans and often employs students eager to help preserve this living history.
Maritime archeology and conservation graduate student Tyler McStravick said he worked at the museum for about two months through a work-study program.
After visiting as a student, he said he was struck by the museum’s significance and thought it was one of the best attractions in the
Bryan-College Station area.
“We have all these armored vehicles here, and they all run,” McStravick said. “It’s pretty amazing. This museum gives everyone a better idea of the experience of people who served and what they went through.”
Exhibits rotate every so often, with vehicles moving from inside the building to the gravel path for “History in Motion” and “Living History” exhibits. Volunteers gather monthly to learn how to operate the vehicles. Mullins said it’s not just about popping in and driving a tank — there’s a process to operate them, and it requires careful training to ensure safety.
University studies senior Zachary Hashey, a volunteer who gravitated toward the museum to get the behind-the-scenes experience of operating the vehicle, said he assisted visitors during events and helped them get on and off the machines of war. Hashey said he saw visitors light up when they saw the tanks revive during the “History in Motion” events.
“There’s nothing that compares to seeing a tank fire, the static and the intricate details in real life,” Hashey said. “I think the museum does a really great job with “History in Motion,” and it really does give people a sense of scale of what it felt like to see the tanks in the battlefield.”
The performance and overall appearance of vehicles such as the Ford GPA ‘Seep,’ River Mark II Patrol Boat, M18 Hellcat tank and AH-1F Cobra helicopter stand as testament to the detailed restoration work performed by the museum.
“None of these vehicles looked how they look now when we got them,” Mullins said. “We do a ground-up restoration and disassemble and strip everything out of the hull, and then we sandblast it and repair it.”
Mullins said the World War I-era French Renault FT-17 tank displayed in the museum was provided by a family who could not repair it by themselves. During that time, the museum cultivat-
ed a relationship with a group in England that had two variations of the tank. Through a combination of luck, finding parts in flea markets and working with others, staff were able to fully restore the tank.Mullins said restoration projects are often a collaborative effort, requiring both creativity and resourcefulness to turn a relic in need of repair into history.
“My favorite restoration was the ‘Tar Heel,’ an M3 gun motor carriage,” Mullins said. “It’s a very rare vehicle, and that particular one was a special restoration project.”
Why was it special? Mullins said a Marine Corps veteran, Ed Eyre, approached the museum after his wife passed away and asked them to restore the Tar Heel. One of Eyre’s buddies had driven that configuration of the vehicle, and he wanted to honor his friend’s memory by painting it similarly.
“The first time we showed it in action, Ed and his buddy drove it,” Mullins said. “They had the biggest smiles on their faces because they took a time in their life, which was the horrific fighting, and turned it into a positive experience of presenting that vehicle.” Mullins said the museum’s commitment to preserving military history, whether through restoring a rare M3 gun motor carriage or honoring Texas soldiers in the Vietnam Heroes Exhibit, keeps the memory of veterans alive. To her, it’s not just about the machinery or the battles fought — it’s about the people behind the uniforms, the sacrifices made and the legacy they left behind.
“It’s the stories, and it’s the people that are the important thing,” Mullins said. “You can’t evaluate historical events in current modern lenses. You have to learn from your past.”
The Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit, which holds dog tags for every Texan who died in the Vietnam War, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
Various items owned by American soldiers positioned on display at the Museum of the American G.I. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
Abdurahman Azeez — THE BATTALION
OPINION
Isolate yourself, Aggies
Take a deep breath.
You’ve finished your week. It was stressful, but you got through alive.
You want to drink, forget about all your stresses and have a good time on a great Friday night — whatever that may look like. But, you want to do it with people. Because who doesn’t want to do it with people?
You text your roster, hoping that any of them will be willing to get into something tonight.
They’re all doing something. Damn it.
You see what your roommates are up to, hoping they might want to go to Northgate or just drink and have some fun.
They’re all doing things that do not include having fun.
You text your other friends, hoping that they might be in the same situation as you — alone on a Friday night. They’re doing things, too.
So what do you resort to? Drinking by yourself and maybe watching a movie or binging a TV show?
For some, this is the worst-case scenario on a Friday night. But for me, it’s the greatest thing ever.
I’ve always been alone. I had friends growing up — I’m not a loner — but I liked being by myself; I get anxious in a social environment, and any type of social interaction just pushes my limits of what I can handle. So, I generally grew to being by myself more, which I was
fine with.
What I’ve found from this experience of loneliness is that I’m not actually lonely. Loneliness is “being without company;” there’s nothing that says loneliness is an after-effect of everything going wrong, causing you to be lonely.
Most people think of being lonely as being in a room by themselves, depressed and hating everything. But this simply isn’t the case. When did loneliness become a bad thing? When did the value of our social lives exceed the importance of being alone? Why do we view this as punishment?
Loneliness is not a consequence of disappointment in your social life.
What do movies tell us is the ideal college life? Party all the time and act like there’s no tomorrow. This image has been ingrained in our heads since our teenage years, and we’ve come to the point where if you’re not blacking out every single day, you’re doing college wrong.
I’m here to tell you that you ar-
en’t doing it wrong. There is no right answer. Being alone is as important as having a social life.
Now, I’m not asking you to be alone all the time. Being by yourself can get incredibly depressing if you do it too much. But, as college students, we are so susceptible to the idea of our entire college life needing to be this great, big and continuous event where every single day we must be doing things that live up to this stereotypical college life that everyone is apparently having.
People who look at isolation as a consequence seem to think that whenever something goes wrong in their life, they need to do something. They itch to not be alone. They go to the clubs and get blackout drunk to try and forget about everything because they can’t sit down with themselves and deal with their emotions head-on.
If we aren’t happy with ourselves on the inside, how are we supposed to convince others we are happy?
And I’m not talking just about
going out to bars; nerds, I’m talking to you too. Students who participate in 7,000 different organizations suffer from this too. Filling up your schedule to avoid spending time alone will make you lose yourself as much as those going to the clubs.
Yes, it’s fun walking around campus and seeing people you know in your academic clubs and talking to them — I love doing that too; it makes me feel important.
But, you know what’s even more fun? Being happy with who you are, apart from the organizations and extracurriculars you’re a part of.
At some point, you’re going to be lost in all these activities and lose yourself in the process. No amount of social interaction can amount to the value of cherishing what you can provide for yourself.
This is an epidemic among college students and it must be cured.
Some might have a hard time sitting down and figuring themselves out, but that’s exactly what your college career is meant for: discov-
ering who you are and exploring what you like. This absolutely must include that alone time as well as time in social environments.
It’s like maintaining your health — you should eat healthy, exercise and take your daily supplements to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The same goes for finding yourself. You should go out and try new things, but most importantly have time to yourself.
So, as I’m sitting here drinking my glass of wine, alone, I am happy. Yes, I’ll probably go out tomorrow and have a good time, but not because I need to. What I need is to be content with myself. I’m not going out to find myself or to be content, because I’ve already found it.
Once you learn to use your isolation for good, you’ll be able to find the happiness that you’re looking for.
Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.
What’s the last book you read?
Was it “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling? Maybe a Colleen Hoover romance or a Stephen King thriller? Or perhaps you’re immersed in the fantasy worlds of Sarah J. Maas?.
While these popular authors have undeniable appeal, there’s something missing in today’s literary landscape that’s all too often overlooked: classic literature.
But why do these works seem to gather dust on the shelves?
Truth be told, people don’t seem to see the value of classic books. And it’s tragic. In an age of instant gratification, classic literature offers idiosyncrasies that are timeless. Here are just a few.
Language
The language and sophistication of classic literature are unparalleled.
There is a certain art to the rhetoric; just like how our high school vocabulary is more nuanced than
our middle school vocab, the level of expression in classical literature is markedly higher than in modern writing.
But why is this?
Writers of old didn’t have access to instant data like Google. Instead, they had to absorb great amounts of knowledge from conversations, readings and the like, which forced them to infer many meanings from the same word.
For example, “lucid” can be used in the context of a “lucid explanation of a theory” (clear) or “lucid headlights” (bright). Nowadays, we can simply search the various meanings in seconds. Authors of classics didn’t have the luxury and instead had to read book after book until an alternate meaning was placed in words.
As such, writers were able to see vocabulary in multiple contexts, heightening their inventory of vocabulary usage.
This also allowed writers to use singular, beautiful words to encapsulate a whole phrase —like “zephyr” instead of “gentle summer breeze.” Using elegant language turns words on paper into an art form, one that touches the mind and the soul.
ative. Scenes from books I’ve read still shake me to this day.
If someone were to ask me, “Describe to me the perfect ideal romantic setting,” I couldn’t help but describe the pristine setting Edith Wharton sets in “The Age of Innocence.” “The shore descended … to a walk above the water planted with weeping willows … bay spreading northward in a shimmer of gold … shore growing faint in the sunset haze.”
How can one not fall deeply into the gorgeous pools of romanticism and the picturesque narratives of classic literature? To me, I’m able to live my idealistic life through the characters of these books. And what makes this vicarious living so covetable is the writing’s ability to capture the everyday mundane and make it wonderful. Plus, who doesn’t like dramatic scenes of passionate love?
Meaning
Take the opening line of Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina”: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” In this singular, first sentence, Tolstoy is able to speak a universal, thought-provoking truth of how humans share universal joy, but feel unique, multifaceted, and disconnected sadness.
Many classic writers gained
prominence for their ability to craft complex, yet accessible characters with deeply troubled psyches that remain relatable. In “Anna Karenina,” the plot is straightforward: an unhappy woman has an affair and grapples with guilt. Yet Tolstoy transforms this into a masterpiece, delving deeply into psychology and emotional turmoil, captivating readers from his time to the present. Or likewise in “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë. If summarized, the story is simply about a rather plain girl’s life. But Brontë uses Jane’s journey to convey tasteful philosophical ideas, pulling readers into a hurricane of emotions and profound self-reflection. Through reading classic literature, we can see the depth and complexity of human nature, viewed through the lens of beloved and relatable characters.
Perspective
Classic literature does more than just tell stories: It’s a portal to the past. These works allow us to experience the customs, values and struggles of different eras, helping us understand the worlds in which our ancestors lived.
Take “The Great Gatsby.”
Through Nick Carraway’s eyes, we’re transported to the opulent yet morally corrupt world of 1920s
America, where the glamor of wealth masks deeper social issues.
Or think of “Middlemarch,” where George Eliot takes us to provincial 19th-century England. We get to see societal expectations, politics and small-town life, all fit into the broader tapestry of human experience.
Even though these works are rooted in their respective eras, their themes remain strikingly relevant. The struggles with love, identity, ambition and morality depicted in these stories are not so different from those we face today.
By putting ourselves into the shoes of the novels’ personas, we get to view a drastically different cultural perspective. Classic literature doesn’t just offer a snapshot of history — it reminds us that, at our core, human nature hasn’t changed all that much.
Beauty
Finally, classical literature distills the human experience into something timeless — beauty that doesn’t fade but deepens with every read. It reminds us that in a world obsessed with the fleeting, true beauty endures, waiting for those willing to seek it.
Daniel Fu is a finance sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.
Opinion Writer
Daniel Fu
Opinion Writer
Joshua Abraham
CAMPUS
By Sophie Villarreal Social Media Editor
The Batt's tested guide to Halloweekend on Northgate
WOMEN CONTINUED
Madison, A-1, afternoon
While Baptiste tends to the horses, Madison Cronin, the brigade sergeant major of A-1, trains for the Ranger Challenge. A part of the first outfit created when A&M was founded, Cronin prepares daily for the infantry field she aspires to be in, physically training more than almost anybody else in the Corps for the competitions — especially the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
“In between each event, you have to ruck with 25 to 35 pounds, like one to two miles in between each event,” Cronin said. “By the end of the day you’ve done like over 20 miles of just rucking and a lot of physical stuff.”
The animal science junior plans to stay hands-on by serving in the U.S. Army after graduation. Growing up in Arkansas, she said her passion came from growing familiar with veterans in the area, saying specifically she felt like the infantry fit her personality best.
“When I joined the Corps, it was a very deliberate of a decision,” Cronin said. “I graduated high school a year early, so everything that I was doing was kind of new and strange … I researched a ton, especially because I was coming out of state to Texas and A&M, and so it was like, I looked up the Corps. I was like, ‘What does the Corps do? What is it like?’”
Her uniform is adorned with patches and cords featuring accomplishments ranging from the Ranger Challenge, awards, a shooting badge, academics and even the Army Airborne School. She admits she can’t stay away from the action too long, always
CONTINUED
“The word ‘marriage’ kind of scares people,” Anoop said. “Even though there's nothing marriage-related that we're doing. It's more of like trying to find your person in a sea of 60,000 people.”
Anoop is responsible for originally bringing the Marriage Pact to A&M. He first heard of the Marriage Pact through his cousin, a student at Rice University, before submitting a request to bring the survey to A&M through the Marriage Pact website last year.
Despite the name’s implications, there is no commitment to marriage required to participate
buzzing to be back in her element.
“The Corps is my favorite place around here,” Cronin said. “I love it … Every time I come back, it’s like a breath of fresh air. It’s like, ‘Yes — this is my place.’ This is where I love to be. There’s only a couple weeks in the summer where I’m happy to be back home. And then I get tired of sitting around, and I don’t get to see my buddies.”
Sarah, E-2, lights out
It’s the end of a long day, and Sarah DeLacerda needs some Reveille love. As one of the mascot handlers, DeLacerda walks to her dorm, stopping by the other two handlers’ room before stealing Rev after a particularly tiring stint of organic chemistry. The rough collie curls up in her favorite spot — DeLacerda’s pillow — and quickly falls asleep.
“Sometimes she’ll be sitting in my room, and I’m still like, ‘Wow. That’s the mascot of A&M,’” DeLacerda said. “I’m from Louisiana. I’m not even Texan. This isn’t even my state, but I love this girl so much. It’s just crazy as an out of state person, as a girl, all that stuff, that I’m able to take care of her.”
DeLacerda’s outfit, E-2, is the part of the Corps officially in charge of Reveille and her activities. Three sophomores are chosen each year to be her handlers, and it wasn’t until 2018 that one of them was a woman.
“E-2 was all male up until 2017, so it’s still relatively new to me and my sophomore class,” DeLacerda said. “The juniors in E-2 right now, the girls — there’s only four of them.They’re still in the first 10, and then my class will be in the first 17. It’s crazy to me that, for all of E-2, one of the oldest outfits on the Quad, and yet I’m still in the first 20 girls.”
and find a match.
“It's not like a real pact,” Healy said. “It's not a contract you have to sign or anything, but that's how it started. One of its big marketing slogans is that it’s the optimal backup plan.”
The idea of the Marriage Pact is that if someone can’t find love anywhere else, they will always have their scientifically-compatible partner to fall back on.
“Marriage is not something that's on my mind currently as a college student, but I think, secretly, a lot of people do want to get locked down,” Anoop said. “So, you know, I personally thought [Marriage Pact] was a cool idea, even if nothing comes from it.”
Now, the Queen of Aggieland is a regular part of DeLacerda’s everyday life. In her dorm, she still keeps a photo from the first time she met Reveille, back at an event with her family as a freshman.
“I waited in line to get a picture with the same dog that slept on my bed this summer,” DeLacerda said. “And it’s just a full circle. That picture is on my corkboard right beside a selfie we had from our first event together.There’s me waiting in line to see her, and then me getting a little selfie with her in the backseat of my buddy’s car.”
Being Rev’s handler makes DeLacerda one of the most visible members of the Corps, something she doesn’t take lightly. She said her favorite thing is using her position to make things around slightly brighter.
“When you’re with Rev, you forget some people haven’t ever seen her,” DeLacerda said. “They go through all of it, all four years, and graduate. I had one girl say that she did grad school, got her whole doctorate, did everything, never got to meet Rev and then she met Rev when Rev was with me. It’s stuff like that that just makes people’s day. She brings so much joy to people.”
Being a woman in E-2 is new — DeLacerda has met all but four of them since the oldest female members of the outfit are in their mid-twenties — but DeLacerda said she carries the traditions just the same.
“Being in the Corps as a girl, honestly, I don’t feel treated differently,” DeLacerda said. “You’re still waking up at the same time, wearing the same uniform, going through all that stuff, but you’re doing it as a girl. And I feel like it’s a big respect thing. I have a ton of respect for the girls who have been through E-2. I couldn’t even imagine being that first class.”
Not everybody thought the word marriage was daunting. Biomedical sciences freshman Nicola Chukwuemeka said she didn’t feel intimidated by the proposal.
“I think a lot of people are going to be excited about the test,” Chukwuemeka said. “Because I have never heard of something like this, and I think it's a new way to get people more connected with each other, even if it's not something that forms romantic bonds.”
Still, the social experiment doesn’t end after taking the survey.
The mystery of the perfect match continued to unravel until the Marriage Pact closed on Oct. 21.
“I'm kind of nervous,” Healy said. “If you take the quiz early,
it gives you hints throughout the week on your matches.”
Despite the nerves, others find that the element of surprise adds to the excitement.
“The mystery of it is kind of weird because there's some tension on you,” Anoop said. “ ... But then that's what makes it more fun, right?” Mystery aside, what started as a fleeting survey became a recurring event at campuses nationwide.
“It is like a big tradition at the colleges that it works at,” Healy said. “And I think that it could be really exciting here because A&M is rooted in tradition.” With the idea of tradition in mind, Anoop looks forward to the
future of the Marriage Pact.
“We'd love to do this every year,” Anoop said. “We want it to be something that other students are excited for.”
By the time the Marriage Pact closed on Oct. 21, it had over 1,500 people fill it out — and the team is only expecting to grow in the number of participants in the following years. More than just a way to meet romantic partners, Anoop said Marriage Pact is aiding Aggies to connect and form lasting friendships with each other.
“It's really not that deep,” Anoop said. “Fill out the forms, do your part, go out and meet those new people. You can always make friends out of them.”
Leah Bechert poses for a portrait in the Quad on Oct. 11, 2024.
Madison Cronin poses for a portrait in the Quad on Oct. 11, 2024. Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Reveille X during Texas A&M's football game against Missouri on Oct. 5, 2024. Micah Richter — THE BATTALION
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
New city housing plan aims to solve capacity crisis
City council initiative hopes to incentivize, create affordable units
By Stacy Cox Senior News Reporter
The College Station City Council approved a new housing plan last month aimed at addressing the city’s ever-increasing population and housing demand — especially among college students.
The Housing Action Plan has two goals: creating more diverse housing units and incentivizing the production and preservation of affordable housing units in the Bryan-College Station area.
David Brower, a city community development analyst and staff liaison for the Housing Action Plan Steering Committee, said the ideas stem from a 10-year-long plan aimed at improving the Bryan-College Station area.
“In that comprehensive plan, there are four separate action items, so this housing action plan at its core is an attempt to flesh out those action items and say, ‘How are we going to do that?’” Brower said.
Brower said the plan was under development while housing became a difficult market in the area. The report said that in 2023, the median sales price for a home not newly constructed was $389,000 — a “price that is out of reach for most middle-income families.” Roughly 58% of renters and 18% of homeowners spend more than 30% of their monthly income on housing costs.
“To purchase a home, rents have all just risen astronomically, and incomes have not kept up,” Brower said. “Now we need to think through and coordinate efforts to address this issue.”
Environmental studies senior Luke Morrison, an off-campus senator and chairman of the Finance Committee for Texas A&M’s Student Senate, said housing in College Station is complex, frustrating and — at times — discriminatory.
While the city’s new initiative
seeks to address various root causes of the housing crisis, Morrison said his biggest concern is with city ordinances, specifically the “nomore-than-four” ordinance making it a criminal violation if more than four unrelated individuals live in a single-family home.
“I think students, because of nomore-than-four and just the constraints on the housing supply in college and, more importantly, the affordable housing supply, struggle to find affordable housing that meets their needs,” Morrison said.
The issue has faced pushback in the past, especially within the Student Government Association. Student senators claim that ending the rule would allow more students to live in apartments, alleviating the city’s housing crisis. City government members claim the ordinance stops houses of large groups of students from disturbing local residents.
The city had multiple avenues of feedback when constructing the new initiative, Brower said, such as in-person and online surveys for students and community members.
“I'll just say that there was lots of good, constructive dialogue,” Brower said. “Our surveys had lots of responses. What everybody agreed on was that housing was getting cost prohibitive and really expensive and that we’ve got lots of single-family homes, multi-family homes, but we don't have a lot in between.”
From the surveys, Brower said the feedback they received from college students was consistent and largely revolved around affordability.
“A lot of it just sort of came down to, ‘Things are getting expensive, and I'm just so stressed and how affordability is the top priority for me,’” Brower said.
Morrison said college students are concerned not only with affordability but also about finding a place to live.
“The price of not just attending A&M and tuition is going up, but also, more importantly, all the externalities associated with rising inflation, increasing food costs and increasing housing costs,” Morrison said. “It becomes a struggle to find
affordable housing that also meets the needs of college students.”
Brower said the concern is not only coming from the college students but also city residents.
“We talked with lots of people, and the problem is we have a supply problem,” Brower said. “There's more people needing housing … Our strategies include selectively allowing and encouraging increased density. Look at our current ordinances, look at rezone areas and create a process for expedited permitting for affordable housing development.”
Morrison said that rather than considering college students as separate from other residents, the city needs to recognize students as community members.
“Recognizing A&M is the reason
College Station exists, and the contributions of A&M students to the community that make it the thriving and wonderful place I enjoy living in is the most important part,” Morrison said.
Brower said the city has already begun this process and has even more plans to use its position to help with development.
“The plan will look at areas to increase density, which will directly impact college students because there'll be more availability and more supply,” Brower said. “But it will also help create affordable units. The city's proactively reacting through middle housing and looking where increased density can go.”
Morrison said goal No. 1 of the plan focuses on creating and incen-
tivizing more housing units and diverse housing types.
“The city's proposals for that are to restrictively zone various parts of the cities,” Morrison said. “The easiest way for more diverse housing types to happen is organically through college students choosing to live closer to the university and residents who don't want to live near students living further away in South College Station.”
Since the plan was only recently approved by the City Council, Brower said it will take some time to see results.
“This isn’t going to be for a college student,” Brower said. “This isn't going to automatically be like a completely different housing market because it takes longer than a semester or two to build housing.”
DAILY FORECAST DOUBLECROSS SQUIRREL THOUGHTS by Josie Six
This Week in History
October 24, 1901
Annie Edson Taylor, 63, becomes the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive.
October 24, 1861
The transcontinental telegraph line is completed, allowing direct communication between America’s east and west coasts.
October 26, 1881
Wyatt Earp and other gangs face off at the shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.
October 28, 1919
Congress passes the Volstead Act, beginning American Prohibition.
October 28, 1726
The first edition of “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift, then writing anonymously, is published.
October 29, 2003
LeBron James plays for the Cleveland Caveliers in his NBA debut.
October 29, 1929
The “Black Tuesday” stock market crash occurs, kickstarting the Great Depression.
October 30, 1974
Muhammad Ali beats George Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle,” becoming heavyweight champion of the world.
Oct. 28, 1969
Photo of the Week: Final Stretch
The best snap from Batt Photo, as selected by our photo chiefs
The original caption reads: “Claudia Gordy (center with flowers), 1969-70 Aggie Sweetheart, leads 13 other sweetheart contestants from Texas Woman's University in the fine arts of 'humping it' on the track circling Kyle Field. The girls were invited down for the Baylor game by the Sweetheart Selection committee, which chose Miss Gordy Sunday. (Photo by Bob Stump)”
