The Battalion - April 10, 2019

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2019 STUDENT MEDIA

Dropping the ball PROVIDED

“Finding Neverland,” a nationally touring Broadway show, will have two performances in Rudder Auditorium.

Flying to Aggieland Cast of “Finding Neverland” share their love for the theatre ahead of two-night showing at A&M By Rose Moczygemba @MoczygembaRose “Finding Neverland” tells the story of how J.M. Barrie created the world of Neverland and its fascinating characters, including Peter Pan. First premiering in 2012, the show eventually made its way to Broadway in March 2015. Now, it travels all over the country, with its next stop at Texas A&M. The show will play in Rudder Auditorium on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Conor McGriffin, who plays both Captain Hook and Charles Frohman in the production, graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in musical theater in 2014, but had a long acting career before that. McGriffin has performed in several professional productions before this, including “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Annie,” “Hairspray” and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” This is his fifth national tour. NEVERLAND ON PG. 4

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Senior third baseman Chandler Morris slides into first base after attempting to steal second.

Aggie baseball maintains losing streak with non-conference loss By Grant Spika @GrantSpika No. 12 Texas A&M baseball welcomed Texas State to Blue Bell Park on Tuesday as they looked to get back

on track after losing a series to LSU last weekend. However, the Bobcats started hot, scoring five runs in the first inning and ultimately taking the win 5-3. With the loss, the Aggies fall to a 25-9-1overall record and 7-4-1 in SEC play, while the Bobcats improve to 2112 on the season and 7-5 in Sun Belt. Sophomore lefty Dustin Saenz got the start on the mound for A&M after

a stellar performance against Texas last week. Saenz retired one batter before the Bobcats loaded the bases and forced Saenz to balk — an illegal move by the pitcher to deceive the runners on base which results in runners advancing to the next base — allowing the first run of the game. Saenz then walked the next batter to BASEBALL ON PG. 4

UPD, Carpool talk rideshare safety Following South Carolina student death, Aggies urged to stay aware By Camryn Lang @CamrynLang

FILE

Uber suggests double-checking the license plate, make and model and driver’s photo before entering a vehicle.

Around 2 a.m. on March 29, University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson was kidnapped and murdered after mistakenly entering the car of a stranger that she believed to be her Uber driver. The tragedy made national headlines and called into question the safety of rideshare apps — especially for students. It has prompted schools and authorities to take a closer look at rideshare apps, but no drastic changes have resulted from the crime. According to Uber, users should double-check car details by matching the characteristics described on the app. These include the license plate number, the car’s make and model and the driver’s likeness to the provided photo. Uber also recommends sharing trip details with friends, riding in the back seat of the car to ensure a safe exit and avoid sharing personal information with the driver. Texas A&M Police Lieutenant Bob-

by Richardson, Class of 1995, said students should avoid focusing only on their phones when waiting for their driver’s arrival. He recommends students stay aware of their surroundings throughout the process. “Trust your instincts; that’s what we in our culture don’t do enough of,” Richardson said. “A&M is a safe community, so we take that for granted sometimes. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.” Richardson said if a user enters a situation where they feel threatened, they should immediately leave and call 911. “We would also recommend sitting in the back of the car instead of the front. In the front, you’re accessible to the driver,” Richardson said. “So if you’re in the back, it gives you separation. You can get out if you need to.” A&M’s Carpool is a student organization that provides a free service to students who need a safe ride home. The group works Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights during the spring and fall semesters. Allie Migura, director of public relations for Carpool and agricultural economics junior, said the organization’s mission is to provide students with a

comfortable experience from a fellow Aggie they can trust to get them home safely. “One of [the Carpool founders’] main things is that the service had to be something that his fellow Aggies trusted,” Migura said. “We’re peers; we trust each other. They get in our cars knowing that we’ll get them home safely.” Team leader for Carpool and management information systems sophomore Jacob Miller said the group has a station exclusively for students leaving Northgate. “The Northgate station is right behind the Dixie Chicken,” Miller said. “There’s barricades and a bunch of green shirts. There you sign up for a ride, and when they arrive, we walk you to your car. There’s definitely no getting in the wrong car.” Miller said Carpool is meant to give students a transportation option with minimum usage obstacles. “One of the most common questions that we all get is, ‘why not just drive for Uber and get paid for it?’” Miller said. “I think what separates Carpool from that is that everything we do is to give you a reason to not drive home drunk. So when rates get up to $80, we’ll get you there for free.”

Starting the conversation New mental health organization hopes to spread awareness to A&M students By Shreya Rao @Shreyarao_ Aggie Mental Health Ambassadors was founded in the fall of 2018 by three students with a mission to bring more counselors to Texas A&M. Chief executive officer and chemical engineering senior Grace Dansby said the organization wants to empower students to educate the world about mental health. “We strive to make the Texas A&M student body an active force in changing the culture on mental health at our university and hopefully in surrounding communities and around the globe,” Dansby said. AMHA consists of five committees: programs, policy, awareness, training and development. The programs committee was in charge of the free ‘Mental Health is Real Health’ event at Rudder Theatre and Rudder Exhibit Hall on April 5. AMHA invited two mental health professionals who gave a presentation on anxiety and depression followed by a question and answer session. After the event, there was a resource fair with multiple on- and off-campus mental health

resources for students to learn about. Dansby said she thinks AMHA’s biggest connection to students is their ability to relate to them in a way Student Counseling Services has not been able to since they are closer in age and have similar experiences. “I think sometimes, especially with mental health, our peers are so much more willing to talk to their friends, individuals in their life or other college students who potentially might be experiencing the same things rather than someone who might be deemed a professional,” Dansby said. Sociology senior and programs committee chair Hannah Sokora said she hopes the organization starts conversations about mental health and helps get rid of the taboos that often surround the subject. “I think as a college student, we all go through something at some point in our college career, and being able to be open and being able to talk about that with other students or faculty or peers is really important for our overall well being,” Sokora said. “Even though we are new, it’s a great opportunity to grow as a student body in learning that it’s not just your physical health that matters.” Programs committee member and human MENTAL HEALTH ON PG. 4

PROVIDED

Lisa Elliot gives a presentation on the recent rise of anxiety and depression.


OPINION

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The Battalion | 4.10.19

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“The Beach Bum” has an all-star cast including Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Efron.

‘The Beach Bum’ is a perfect hangout movie Korine’s latest work is a breath of fresh air in American cinema

Megan Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief Luke Henkhaus, Managing Editor Jordan Burnham, News Editor Sanna Bhai, Asst. News Editor Henry Mureithi, Asst. News Editor Kathryn Whitlock, Life & Arts Editor Hannah Falcon, Life & Arts Editor Samantha Mahler, Life & Arts Editor Jane Turchi, Special Sections Editor

Cole Fowler

Angel Franco, Sports Editor Abigail Ochoa, Sports Editor Cassie Stricker, Photo Chief Meredith Seaver, Asst. Photo Chief Daoud Qamar, Video Editor Kevin Christman, Video Editor Brady Stone, Page Designer Sydney Clark, Page Designer

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armony Korine has represented the boundary-pushing spirit of American independent cinema since the 90s, famous for his distinctive, trailblazing depiction of the lost voices of the United States. His latest work, “The Beach Bum,” provides a sharp critique of American culture’s obsession with searching for meaning in an arbitrary world, while providing a lifeline to creativity within American cinema. “The Beach Bum” follows the aimless misadventures of Moondog, who could be played by none other than Matthew McConaughey, as he indiscriminately lives his flamboyant, independent lifestyle. Thematically, the film contrasts well with the depiction of self-indulgence in pursuit of rebellion seen in “Spring Breakers,” but Korine purposely strips his narrative of even the slightest aspect of structure so audiences reflect the disaffected relationship of Moondog and his environment. Korine’s undercurrent of anarchy to cinema standards has always

THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the 2019 spring semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of StudentAffairs.Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

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influenced his work, yet “The Beach Bum” provides a new layer of creativity to his filmography. In the 90s, Korine was the only American director to follow the Danish film movement, Dogme 95, founded by Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. Von Trier and Vinterberg’s movement provided guidelines for art films with the intent to take creative power from film studios and give creative freedom back to the director. Korine embraced this doctrine, and “The Beach Bum” is a modern interpretation of the Dogme 95 movement. Korine’s lack of narrative structure or character arch serves as more than a simple deviation from usual American cinema. It allows Korine’s cultural dissection to be on full display, and his constant cinematic subversions continue to keep the audience engaged throughout the runtime. Without Korine’s decision to eschew structure, his themes and McConaughey’s performance would not have the desired impact. Korine’s directorial influence is overtly obvious throughout the runtime, but he rests the success of the narrative on the immense acting talent of McConaughey. Between crushed tallboy cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and burrito-sized

joints, McConaughey’s immense screen presence allows Moondog to embody the American spirit of reckless abandon. Korine populates Moondog’s life with a stellar supporting cast, which seemingly enters and exits the narrative just like the tide on the shore of the Florida keys. McConaughey embodies Moondog, and the line between actor and role is more than just blurred. Korine’s screenplay displays his sharp, fundamental understanding of classical American storytelling, yet this knowledge is used to undermine each aspect of Hollywood style. However, while the characters in his films seem to spit in the face of their environment simply for the enjoyment of rebellion, Korine’s punk approach to cinema is anything but solely self-indulgent. Moondog’s recklessness directly reflects Korine’s recklessness, which reflects that of the audience. Much like McConaughey’s embodiment of Moondog, Korine’s art exists on the murky border of cultural depiction or criticism and his own version of American neorealism. Cole Fowler is an English junior and columnist for The Battalion.

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Julianne Moore stars in “Gloria Bell,” which was released nationwide on March 22.

CONGRATULATIONS!

‘Gloria Bell’ is underwhelming The film has its touching moments, but it’s more bad than good

Almost 6,300 shiny new Aggie Rings will be delivered at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center

April 12

8:45 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

April 13

8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Aggie Ring Tickets distributed online at: tx.ag/AggieRingDayTicket

NEW EVENT INFO • Entrance to Aggie Ring Day moved to Throckmorton Street. • Park in West Campus Garage or Lot 100 & ride the Aggie Ring Shuttle which will drop off on Throckmorton Street. • Houston Steet will be closed.

Visit tx.ag/RingDay for more information. Celebrate responsibly. The Association of Former Students and Texas A&M encourages Aggies to celebrate this significant moment, but celebrate it responsibly. The Association of Former Students and Texas A&M do not endorse or support any activities involving binge drinking.

The Association of Former Students is HERE for Aggies during their days as students and former students, THERE for Aggies as they make their way around the world and EVERYWHERE that the Aggie Network needs us to be.

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Keagan Miller

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@KeaganMlr

ebastián Lelio’s film “Gloria Bell” is a self-indulgent movie that drags on far too long for its own good. The movie tells the story of its titular character, a middle-aged divorced grandmother trying to navigate life’s struggles. The film has its merits, showing in fascinating detail the day-to-day life of an average woman who doesn’t have all the answers. There were a few beautiful moments that simultaneously showcased the magnificence and the frustration of family life. Julianne Moore, who plays Gloria, is utterly convincing not only in her determination as she pushes through the airport’s crowds, but also as she sobs after seeing her daughter walk away to start her new life. However, while the film does have some touching moments, they are not enough to sustain a movie which gets too wrapped up in its own main character. The main point of the first part of the film seemed to be that Gloria wasn’t a hero or even a protagonist but just a woman who hadn’t figured her life out. However, I was surprised when she was presented in later parts of the movie as a woman incapable of doing wrong. The movie doesn’t really have a plot in the traditional sense, so I won’t worry about spoiling it. There is one point in the second half of the movie when Gloria, after being annoyed that her boyfriend’s phone

won’t stop ringing, dumps the phone into a bowl of soup, ruining it. She then laughs loudly and repeatedly while her boyfriend, played by John Turturro, tries in vain to clean it off. I expected this scene to be a lesson for Gloria; something she would look back on later in the movie and regret. I was disappointed when it was instead presented as the act of an independent woman standing up for herself. The story got so wrapped up in its character that it had her do some pretty horrible things and present them as things to be proud of. The acting was good, although I felt the film relied a little too heavily on Moore. She had the most screen time, with many scenes of just her alone. While she did a great job with some of them, I got the impression she wasn’t up to carry an entire movie almost all by herself. “Gloria Bell” tells the story of an average woman. She’s not a superhero; she’s not a villain; she’s just herself. And while there are certainly ways to tell the stories of normal people, (just see “Private Life” or “Dazed and Confused” for proof) this film lost sight of its own premise halfway through. I didn’t really enjoy “Gloria Bell.” It has its moments, but I wouldn’t say the good parts make the bad parts worth it. It’s not a terrible film, but it’s not something I would recommend watching.

Keagan Miller is a psychology junior and columnist for The Battalion.


LIFE&ARTS

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The Battalion | 4.10.19

by the musical intellect these kids had when we first came here. They knew all this Irish stuff that I grew up on.” CS: “And that was just the first generation of kids we encountered. It’s remained true year after year.”

You perform Stout Irish Rock, but according to your website you’ve been influenced by the songs of Johnny Cash and Black Sabbath. What was about those two that paved the way for you? PROVIDED

Blaggards is a “stout Irish Rock” band that has drawn inspiration from Black Sabbath and Johnny Cash. The band can often be found performing at O’Bannon’s Taphouse on Northgate.

Blaggards: Rocking O’Bannon’s since 2005 Based in Houston but performing with the spirit of Ireland in their hearts, Blaggards is a four-piece ‘Stout Irish Rock’ band and frequent guest of honor at O’Bannon’s Taphouse on Northgate. Battalion Life & Arts writer Hollis Mills sat down with three members from Blaggards’ rocking quartet to discuss life as a performer, College Station vibes and Johnny Cash. Would it be appropriate to call Blaggards an O’Bannon’s staple? Patrick Devlin (guitarist, vocalist): “I think you’re exactly right. As far as O’Bannon’s goes, we’ve been playing here since they opened and we’re one of the only bands that was able to come back again and again and again, so yes, staple. I think that’s the nail on the head.” Michael McAloon (drums): “Is O’Bannon’s turning 15 years, this year? They’re one behind us.” PD: “I don’t know. I can’t count past 10, but it’s probably 15, so we’ve been here since the opening.”

We’re here in an Irish pub, of course we’d have Irish rock, but in a broader sense what is it about College Station that you enjoy coming back to?

PD: “Honestly, without being presumptuous ... Chris, the owner, brought us back time after time because we do Irish, and he really did his best. If you’ve ever visited O’Bannon’s you’ll know that he actually went to post offices in Ireland and got the font, the design and all of that. This is all authentic stuff, so he really did his homework and he wanted somebody in here that could do the Irish stuff, yet could keep your attention, so that it’s not [PD hums a hokey Irish tune]. He wanted authenticity, but also it’s a college town, you have to bring a certain amount of energy because face it, everybody’s young here. I mean I’m the oldest one in College Station by about 100 years now. Again, I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but he brought us back so many times and he liked what we did, and that actually kept us on track doing this.” MM: “Yeah, and I think another thing is the kids in College Station are better than anywhere else in the country, and we play all over the U.S and the world. Everybody here pays attention. They don’t miss a beat. If we throw in something crazy and then we take a break, they’ll say ‘Hey that was cool you guys did that!’ but everywhere else we’ll go, it goes over heads and they

miss it. Everybody here parties hard, but they’re so respectful.” Chad Smalley (bassist, vocalist): “Especially when they’re drunk. It’s amazing.”

As a college student, I think we’re always looking for something unique, something that doesn’t feel stagnant or pandering, so what is it about Stout Irish Rock that is a fresh alternative? PD: “I know for us, Chad and I have been doing a podcast every week, and this actually came up. Country music came straight from Irish music. Blues came straight from Irish music. You hear the same chord changes, but we kind of smuggled it in, because we do drape some country over it and put a lot of rock on it. There’s a lot of twists and turns.” “We’ve played shows with bands that do Irish music seasonal, and it’s very see through, very transparent. It’s a niche for them, but we do it yearround, and all of us listen to it and are constantly adding to our repertoire. We’re actually in the studio right now recording our new record and we’re putting a lot of that stuff in it. Thanks to College Station, we were able to come in here and throw a little bit of country around, but we were flabbergasted

PD: “Listening to Black Sabbath as a kid was a big, big eye opener. On one side everybody else was doing their hippie rock; everything was peace and love, and then the other side was that kind of pop. These guys came in with doom and heavy, and it wasn’t easy. It was a kind of jazz and blues dipped in it, but they did their own thing. With Johnny Cash, that’s another guy who just transcended. You could put him in the country category and he’s perfectly happy, but then you could put him in the rock category and the pop category too. Barriers didn’t bother him.” MM: “For me, Johnny Cash is real and he’s not the prettiest voice, he’s got a lot of gravel in his voice, but to me he’s just one of those singers that when he sings, it sounds like he’s singing to you personally. With Black Sabbath, there’s so much influence, and anything heavy rock you can trace a lot of it back to Sabbath. They were one of the first to do this stuff. When I was a kid listening to music, you just catch on to a Black Sabbath album and it just hits you and you’re like ‘Man, this is totally different than everything else.’” CS: “There’s something about Johnny Cash. He just goes really well with traditional Irish stuff, because all really old country and all the old bluegrass came from the Irish tradition. He’s found his way all throughout this genre. It’s deep in the veins.”

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NEWS

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Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Sophomore pitcher Chandler Jozwiak threw for one inning with three strikeouts. He was one of eight Aggie pitchers to see the mound against the Bobcats.

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BASEBALL CONTINUED load the bases again before Texas State’s sophomore outfielder John Wuthrich smacked a grand slam over the left field wall. “It was disappointing in the first inning,” A&M head coach Rob Childress said. “We loaded the bases with nobody out and had our four, five and sixth batters up and couldn’t cash in one run. Then there again in the seventh, we had runners on second and third with our clean up hitters up and we couldn’t manage to scratch a run.” The four runs the Bobcats scored from the grand slam scored in the top of the first would eventually give them the win over the Aggies. “[Saenz] looked pretty good in the bullpen,” junior catcher Mikey Hoehner said. “I think a couple of fastballs just got away from him. He didn’t hit a couple of spots and it just didn’t work out for him. He never really got the wheels turning and that’s what happens when you face a team like that.” A&M took a chunk out of Texas State’s lead in the bottom of the fourth. The three-

AGGIELAND 2018

NEVERLAND CONTINUED

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“Since I was eight, I was doing children’s theater; then I got my first paid gig at 14,” McGriffin said. “Right out of college, ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ was my first professional gig. I’ve been very lucky to be working steadily ever since.” According to McGriffin, the cast performs “Finding Neverland” anywhere from seven to nine times a week. Their day starts by traveling to the location of their next performance. They then drop everything off at the hotel and head to the theater of the day to do soundcheck and get ready to perform. But in McGriffin’s opinion, the best part of being in this production is what comes after the performance. “My favorite part is when we leave the stage door and we see the kids looking for Peter and for Jeff [Sullivan], who plays J.M. Barrie,” McGriffin said. “They’re just so wide-eyed, and you see that the show has touched them. To see that what we’ve done has impacted them in such a positive way, I mean, there’s nothing in the world that compares to that.” Nine-year-old Brody Betts plays Michael and has been acting since he was six. His

MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUED resource and development junior Hannah Morrison said she has struggled with mental health throughout college. Morrison benefited from mental health resources on campus and decided to joined AMHA to help others who are struggling. Morrison said while SCS provides a lot of resources, it is hard for them to reach out to

2019AGGIELAND

run inning started with sophomore Aaron Walters singling to score freshman Joseph Menefee from third. Then sophomore Bryce Blaum hit a sac-fly to center to score the second run before senior Chandler Morris drove in Walters with a single. Similar to Texas State, the Aggies would begin and finish their scoring in the fourth. A&M’s bullpen kept the Aggies alive after Texas State jumped out early, remaining dominant throughout the innings with appearances from seven different pitchers. The bullpen combined for 8.2 shutout innings, gave up just four hits and struck out 12 Bobcat hitters. Childress said the pitching performance stepped up to the challenge, despite the lack of offensive power. “We had a heroic performance out of the rest of the guys,” Childress said. “Everybody else toed the rope, but we couldn’t get those guys in the game fast enough.” The Aggies will be back in action this weekend as they face No. 19 Auburn Tigers for another SEC series. Game one is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

first performance was as the grand duke in “Cinderella,” and he has been performing in shows ever since. “I have always loved music as long as I can remember,” Betts said. “I always sang around the house and played any instrument I could get my hands on. My mom was in a big show band and always took me to her gigs. She would have me come up on stage with her to sing sometimes or help her do raps in some of the songs. I just thought it was a lot of fun.” As part of the traveling show, Betts said he loves being in a new city every few days because he sees new things and performing in new theaters all the time. However, his favorite part of doing this production is the cast. “I have grown so close to them and they really feel like family to me,” Betts said. “I am going to be so sad for this tour to end because I will miss them so much.” Jake Vasquez, recreation, park and tourism junior chair of the OPAS student committee, said tickets for “Finding Neverland” are still available at boxoffice.tamu.edu. “It’s going to be a really great show,” Vasquez said. “It’s our last show of the season, so if people haven’t seen an OPAS show yet, this would be a great one to come to.”

students on campus. “We’re kind of seeing the connection between Student Counseling Services and the student body because for one they are all the way out there on West Campus and also they’re adults,” Morrison said. “So we can provide that connection by just referring someone to it and letting people know and being a peer telling you, ‘Yes, you should go to this and it’ll help.’”

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THE BATTALION

A photojournalistic record of the 2018-2019 school year. The 117th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Distribution will be the Fall 2019. THEBATTALION

Go Online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase.

@THEBATTONLINE

BATTALION MULTIMEDIA

$75.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)


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