The Battalion — August 19, 2023

Opinion: State of the Unit Address ROOMMATE ON PAGE A6

A&M soccer kicks off 30th season of play

GALLERY ON PAGE B1

Howdy Week kicks off

UPD changes marijuana enforcement

By Caleb Elizondo @CalebElizondo7

University Police Chief Mike Johnson notified the Texas A&M System Board of Regents of changes to the department’s marijuana enforcement in a meeting Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Johnson said marijuana possession under two ounces is infrequently pursued. The University Police Department, or UPD, would no longer be arresting individuals with under two ounces of marijuana, Johnson said.

Instead, the UPD will confiscate the marijuana and release the person. The case will then be presented to the county attorney. If the attorney decides to pursue charges, the UPD will make contact. Johnson said this protocol is intended to better manage department resources and help out-of-state students unfamiliar with Texas law.

Campus events bring new, returning students together in Aggieland

By Nicholas Gutteridge @nico_gjc

Starting Aug. 17, Howdy Week welcomed students to Texas A&M with informationals, giveaways and new openings, including an Ice Cream Carnival and the debut of a “Champion Station” at the Memorial Student Complex, or MSC, Barnes & Noble.

The Aug. 18 carnival hosted over 25 booths and thousands of students, according to the Communications Manager for Student Life Mariah Patrick.

“The ice cream carnival is a resource fair intended for students, so they get to know about all the resources and activities that are available

on campus,” Patrick said. “We have all sorts of free items as well as giveaways here at the end for students to come enjoy, get free ice cream, cool off in the shade, as well as collect some good resources that might help them.”

Patrick said she thought the event was a success.

“I mean, it’s packed — we’re getting rid of our hats and our towels, all the resource tables are very busy with students,” Patrick said. “It’s an event we’ve built on year-over-year, and I think it keeps getting better and better.”

Many of the resource tables were for the various offices and departments available for students, such as the Office of Sustainability.

“At our table today, we have a couple of activities,” Kelly Wellman, the director of the office, said. “One is educational, in that you can spin the wheel, get a number [and] answer a trivia question to learn more about [A&M] and all the great things we’re doing.”

Wellman said the purpose of the tabling was to raise awareness about what the Office of Sustainability does at A&M, including their intern-

ship and job opportunities.

Technology management senior Nathan Armour worked at multiple tents, including a station giving ice cream to students.

“I’m just happy to serve the people, you know,” Armour said. “The main goal is to make students feel welcome to A&M. To tell them we are a family here, that we care for them and that we want the best for them. We’re here to support them throughout their entire academic journey.”

Coinciding with the carnival, A&M also debuted a “Champion Station” at the MSC Barnes & Noble location, furthering the already-existing partnership to include additional Champion apparel at a set location.

“Welcoming Champion Station into our great university bookstore, directly across from Kyle Field, makes it more convenient than ever for Aggie fans to show their spirit,” Shane Hinckley, A&M’s vice president for brand and business development, said in an interview with

CHAMPION ON PG. A4

Meet Gen. Welsh III

New interim president aims to improve communication

By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia

On July 30, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III was approved to be the interim president of Texas A&M by the System Board of Regents. Welsh was appointed as acting president on July 21 following the resignation of former President M. Katherine Banks.

Welsh served as dean of the Bush School of Government & Public Service from May 2016 until this July. With his new position, Welsh brings a wealth of military service and leadership experience. Prior to serving as dean, Welsh was a four-star general and the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Welsh commanded the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and served as associate director of military affairs at the CIA.

Welsh graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1976. However, Welsh has deep roots within Aggieland, which started with his father, Mark A. Welsh II, Class of 1946. Since he was 6 years old, Welsh frequently visited campus to attend A&M events and traditions, becoming immersed in the campus culture.

“Texas A&M just always stood for something,” Welsh said. “When I was 6 years old,

I’m sure I didn’t quite comprehend the Core Values. [The Core Values] just stand for something that was strong, straightforward, patriotic [and] proud. Pride is a big thing.”

To him, A&M symbolizes patriotism, freedom, loyalty and honor.

“That’s what it meant to me when I was 6 years old,” Welsh said. “It still means those things to me now, and I’m way past 6.”

As a child, Welsh looked up to his father, an Air Force fighter pilot and an exceptional leader, who most importantly, was a proud Aggie who instilled his love of A&M into his children. Welsh has come to live his life by the Aggie Core Values, embracing the same pride of A&M. While in the military, Welsh interacted with many Aggies who all shared immense pride for the university.

“After a while, it’s hard to ignore that if there’s just this overarching feeling that something good is happening in College Station, Texas,” Welsh said. “That’s how I see A&M. It’s something really, really good.”

Welsh said part of the reason why A&M is distinguished from other universities is due to its student body, staff and faculty.

“[Students have] got the ability to come to a university that has a world-class faculty,” Welsh said. “They’ve got a staff that’s insanely loyal to the institution because they believe in it. They believe in you.”

Welsh said A&M’s faculty are hopeful and believe their students can make a change.

“You’re walking into a classroom with a world-class faculty who are going to give you an education that you’re not going to be anywhere else,” Welsh said. “You may have some places with a bigger name in a particular area, but you’re not going to get a better education than you’re going to get at [A&M].”

As president, Welsh wants to focus on creating meaningful communication across all levels of the institution. Welsh said his primary job right now is to listen.

Before the academic year begins, Welsh is completing a “listening tour,” meeting with dozens of student groups, staff organizations, professors and faculty to gather feedback.

“Leadership is a gift,” Welsh said. “It’s given by those who follow, and you have to work hard to be worthy of it.”

Welsh said the best thing about A&M is that the institution is always looking forward to improving and advancing. When problems in an institution occur, Welsh said the most important thing is to react properly.

“We made mistakes in the United States Air Force too,” Welsh said. “When we did, we acknowledged them, we figured out what to fix and we moved forward. That’s all you can do.”

Welsh said this approach to implementing problem-solving in large institutions like A&M heavily values communication.

“[Communication is] the key to a university being successful because we’ve got phenomenal-

WELSH ON PG. A5

“If we run across someone and that’s all they have in their possession, less than two ounces of marijuana, we’re going to confiscate it and then we’re gonna release them at that time,” Johnson said. “We’re going to present that to the county attorney. If they choose to accept charges and issue a warrant then we will come back, and we will make contact with that person and we will take them before the court.”

On Thursday, County Attorney Earl Gray said the new UPD policy would not change how his office prosecutes cases.

During the same meeting, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives Greg Hartman requested a 15% budget increase for the 2024 fiscal year. Hartman said this money would be used to hire more officers, buy equipment and increase compensation “to help with recruitment and retention.”

Regent Micheal Plank said UPD officers should prioritize violent crimes. Regent Jay Graham said the College Station Police Department was targeting students.

“College Station PD has told me personally they kind of assume our students are guilty when they pull them over because they are students,” Graham said. “I was told by one of their sergeants that, ‘They’ve got drugs, they’ve got alcohol, they’re a student.’ And so they question and they push, and they try to get them to volunteer to let them look in their car.”

In a press release, College Station Police Chief Billy Couch said they will investigate the matter.

“We don’t see them as the university’s students but as community members,” the statement reads. “We are proud of our student body and enjoy the unique aspect they bring to the community. The men and women of the College Station Police Department work hard to build sustainable partnerships with all members of our community.”

The Battalion will return online on Sunday, Aug. 20, and in print on Wednesday, Aug. 30, following the first week of classes. Fall editions are published weekly, stands can be found at tx.ag/ battstands.

Texas A&M staff distribute 12th Man towels to students during the Ice Cream Carnival as part of Howdy Week at the 12th Man Plaza on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.

Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION

Interim president speaks to Faculty Senate

On Monday, Aug.14, Interim President Mark A. Welsh III spoke to the Texas A&M Faculty Senate regarding recent controversies, academic freedom and the next steps for the university.

A&M was recently featured in national headlines regarding faculty practices and treatment. First for the botched attempt to hire Kathleen McElroy, Ph.D., to run its new journalism program. The news was closely followed by the revelation that clinical assistant professor Joy Alonzo was placed on administrative leave after allegedly criticizing Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, the resignation of former-President M. Katherine Banks and sex discrimination allegations at A&M Qatar.

Faculty Senate Speaker Tracy Hammond opened the meeting. Hammond said faculty must work alongside the administration

despite mistrust and that additional policies, transparency and a renewed emphasis on core values are necessary to protect faculty.

“People have lost role models, mentors, deans and faith in the university,” Hammond said. “Even more are terrified for what is coming next. Our values were shaken to the core. For most of us, it feels like part of A&M died this month.”

Welsh said he began his tenure by speaking to students, staff and faculty.

“I’m trying to figure out — besides the obvious events that have been in the news — what has caused all the consternation, the confusion, the frustration,” Welsh said. “Most of it, people have expressed to me, comes from a feeling they don’t know what’s going on or they weren’t included in the conversation.”

Welsh said he is working to identify communication breakdowns and policies that frustrate faculty.

“The big stuff that everyone is frustrated about has to do with the MGT report and the plan that followed,” Welsh said.

The MGT report was authored by MGT Consulting and outlines recommendations for improving efficiency and effectiveness. Some of these recommendations were adopted or

modified in Banks’ Path Forward initiative, which included combining the colleges of sciences, liberal arts and geosciences, establishing a department of journalism and several administrative reorganizations.

Welsh said he asked a task force to evaluate the status of the Path Forward.

“Let’s figure out which of these initiatives are on track, and we can just encourage it to continue,” Welsh said. “If some of those initiatives are not on track, we’ll take a deeper dive and figure out why not. Are they just the wrong idea? Are they scoped wrong? Are they scaled wrong? Do they need more resources? What can we adjust to make them be successful? And then the third set of initiatives may be things that are really struggling and then we have big choices to make.”

Welsh said this process would take about a month and that he encourages faculty to be involved in the conversation. Welsh also said he was concerned about facility funding and wants to ensure they have the proper resources.

Senator Jorge Alvarado asked why McElroy’s hire caused controversy with regents and administrators and said he was concerned it might happen again. Documents and text

messages released by the Office of General Council showed Banks was heavily involved in McElroy’s hiring process. Welsh said he didn’t know and that the university president should not have been involved in a department-level hire.

“Somebody can call and offer an opinion on something, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it,” Welsh said. “The hiring process is owned and operated by the university. I mean, period. We make that call, and we hire the faculty that will be best for the job we need them to do.”

Senator Rajesh Miranda, Ph.D, said he was concerned by Alonzo’s treatment and wanted to know it wouldn’t happen again. Welsh said he thought McElroy’s case was distinct from Alonzo’s.

“The decision to suspend [Alonzo] and put her on paid leave was made not as a punishment but as a quick decision because the person who made it did not know what was happening around this whole investigative action,” Welsh said.

Welsh said he asked another task force to look into additional policies to ensure similar

TREN DY , D E SIGNER & VIN TAGE

EARN CASH FOR CLOTHES Welcome Aggies!!

By Caleb Elizondo @Calebelizondo7

Welsh forms team to evaluate former president’s initiatives

The Acacdemic Building on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Indepth look: Failed hiring of Kathleen McElroy

Trouble all around

By Nicholas Gutteridge @nico_gjc

Kathleen McElroy, Ph.D., was set to lead Texas A&M’s journalism program into the future, reviving the major after a 19-year hiatus, signing off on the position on June 13. But weeks later, she’s returned to the University of Texas at Austin with a $1 million settlement, and multiple A&M administrators resigned as a result, including former-President M. Katherine Banks.

Now, the A&M University System has published an internal review and its investigative findings alongside over 500 pages of emails, texts and documents. This, along with a set of Public Information Act requests by The Battalion, shows what truly transpired behind the scenes.

A journalism director — the perfect match?

McElroy was first suggested as the journalism program’s director by the communication department’s head, Hart Blanton, Ph.D., in a July 17, 2022 memo to José Luis Bermúdez, the former Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. There, he praised her “30 years of experience working at the highest level in the journalism industry.”

“If we follow these recommendations, I believe we can achieve the goal of recruiting Dr. McElroy to become the interim director of journalism at TAMU and possibly our first permanent director,” Blanton wrote. Bermúdez and the Vice President of Faculty Affairs N.K. Anand agreed with the memo, and on April 6, McElroy submitted an official applica-

Two days later, Texas Scoreboard published an article titled “Aggies Hire NY Times ‘Diversity’ Advocate to Head Journalism Program.” It highlighted her work at The New York Times, a portion of it involving race and DEI.

According to the internal findings, the article “generated numerous calls and emails to the [President’s Office], including from the Rudder Association and other former students, raising questions about why a DEI proponent would be hired to serve as director of the new journalism program.”

The report also found that six-to-seven members of the Texas A&M Board of Regents contacted Banks soon after, raising concerns about McElroy’s hiring. The group, all appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, oversees policies and administration for all 11 campuses under the A&M system.

Over the next few weeks, new offer letters were made and reviewed, but nothing would be sent out until after a July 6 Board of Regents meeting due to a hold put by Regents Chairman Bill Mahomes. According to the internal review, the Board “did not direct Banks to modify the terms of the [three-year appointment] offer” during the meeting.

But later that same day, Bermúdez recounted that Banks instructed him to change the terms to a one-year appointment and to call McElroy to tell her she was coming into a “difficult environment.”

Bermúdez called McElroy the following day, warning her that A&M might be “sufficiently unwelcoming” and that she should see if there is a way to retain tenure at the University of Texas at Austin if the hiring falls apart.

On July 8, Bermúdez texted Blanton to expand on his worries.

“The Sul Ross Association and Rudder Association are gunning for her,” Bermúdez wrote. “They have no power, of course. But people who do have power listen to them.” Bermúdez would send multiple appointment letters to McElroy over the next few days, and in a July 10 call, McElroy “expressed displeasure that the faculty appointment letter provided only a one-year appointment.”

Bermúdez texted Banks the same day, stating he believed McElroy “has pulled out.”

“Ok,” Banks responded. “I assume all [of our] texts were deleted.”

Then, on July 11, the Texas Tribune published an article detailing the multiple offer letters amid “DEI hysteria.” At this point, McElroy had not yet denied the offers.

The day the article went live, Bermúdez apologized to Banks.

“Don’t worry about it,” Banks texted. “I think we dodged a bullet. She is an awful person to go to the press before us.”

The story spread nationwide, and on July 17, Bermúdez resigned as interim dean.

tion for the position.

Over the next month, faculty worked to solidify the journalism degree plan, and on May 11, Bermúdez emailed Blanton, giving the go-ahead for him to recruit McElroy.

But there were worries. Just hours later, Bermúdez texted Blanton, saying he and Banks would “rather not have any publicity on [McElroy] until after the [legislative] session is over.” “Reporters shouldn’t know anything,” Bermúdez wrote. “Just don’t leak.”

During that legislative session, a debate raged over diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, in public universities, and Bermúdez was worried McElroy’s previous experiences with DEI and The New York Times would impede the hiring.

They then told McElroy the process would take another month due to “administrative requirements and the need to process paperwork.”

The session ended on June 1, and Bermúdez was authorized to move the hiring process forward five days later.

The hiring was officially revealed in a public ceremony on July 13, where she signed a contract giving her a tenured position as the director of journalism.

While the investigation proposes the regents had issues purely with McElroy’s experience in DEI, revealed text messages tell a different story, with one regent, Jay Graham, making his opinion known in a group chat with Regent David Baggat and another unknown individual.

“In regards to the info on journalism hire, I sent this to [Chancellor Sharp] and [Banks],” Graham wrote. “Please tell me this isn’t true … I thought the purpose of us starting a journalism department was to get high-quality Aggie journalism with conservative values into the market. This won’t happen with someone like this leading the department.”

Baggat agreed in the following message, and Graham continued with his thoughts.

“[Banks] told us multiple times the reason we were going to combine arts and sciences together was to control the liberal nature that those professors brought to campus,” Graham wrote. “We were going to start a journalism department to get high-quality conservative Aggie students into the journalism world to help direct our message.”

On June 19, Regent Michael “Mike” Hernandez III emailed Banks and Sharp to express his disapproval of the hiring, as he worried she would be influenced “by the time she has spent in New York and Austin.”

“A letter offer of employment is not binding, but it does present a PR predicament,” Hernandez wrote. “Granting tenure to somebody with this background is going to be a difficult sell for many on the [Board of Regents]. My sincere hope is that you both will figure out a way to completely put the brakes on this, so we all can discuss this further.”

Bermúdez would call McElroy that same day, where she stated she’d be open to being non-tenured. Bermúdez and Banks then agreed on a Professor of Practice position, a threeyear appointment that required a new contract.

Bermúdez then asked Banks how much support they would get from the top of the university.

“Absolutely nothing,” Banks texted. “Nothing, nothing. She is going to have a very rough road here.”

The beginning of the end

On July 20, Banks met with the A&M Faculty Senate, where she denied any knowledge of contract changes. However, Banks had discussed the changes over a month before, most prominently on June 27, when Bermúdez sent her three contract changes to review over text. Banks resigned a day later, on July 21.

The Board of Regents then held a meeting on July 30 to discuss the failed hiring and a potential settlement with McElroy, and on August 3, a $1 million settlement was reached between the two parties.

A message from Sharp accompanied the findings from the internal review.

“We surely learned of some bad decision-making to which almost no one was privy at the time,” Sharp wrote. “To begin with, I want to apologize publicly to Dr. McElroy and fervently hope we can eventually heal with our mutual love for [A&M].”

*Editor’s note: Kathleen McElroy is a financial supporter of The Battalion.

How a failed hire, closed-door dealings led to a university-wide shakeup

Cash in on student discounts

Being an Aggie comes with unique deals, benefits

By Nicholas Gutteridge @nico_gjc

Texas A&M offers a suite of exclusive deals, perks and discounts for current and former students, with most having only one requirement: be an Aggie.

Starting small, A&M’s technology services offer free software for students, such as Microsoft 365 and Matlab, totaling 19 different pieces of software on the official website.

But having a student email is just as important. With it, students can get a free Canva Pro subscription or enroll in Spotify’s student discount, lowering their cost to $5.99 a month and getting them access to Hulu for $1.99 a month.

Amazon Prime also offers six months free if students sign up with an A&M email, with the subscription half-off for $7.49 per month once the trial is up. Having a student email also guarantees students a one-time discount — up to 40% — on any technology: laptops, printers, accessories and more.

Target offers exclusive discount deals if students verify their status through Target Circle.

If students forgot to pick up any last-minute necessities, Target offers a one-time 20% discount off your cart until Aug. 26.

Students and faculty also have access to a personal webpage they can create under the A&M banner. The university also offers access to the Jobs For Aggies site, a hiring service open exclusively to current and former students. The site hosts 2,931 full-time and part-time jobs, internships and co-ops as of August, with positions available for Aggies in most major cities.

A&M also partnered with PerksConnect to reach students with a large number of specials: Instacart deals, Disney World tickets, gym membership deals and more.

It goes without saying, but being a student also gives access to A&M’s large alumni network: over 500,000 former students strong, ready to assist their fellow Aggies.

Multiple centers are also on the campus itself. The Math Learning Center assists students with the major math courses in the university: MATH 151, 140, 142, 151, 152, 251, 304, 308, 409, 412 and 470.

The Science Peer Learning Center does the same for major science courses, and the

CHAMPION CONTINUED FROM PG. A1

Texas A&M Today.

The debut occurred in an event in front of John J. Koldus building next to the Ice Cream Carnival. It featured a live DJ, food, a photo booth and a prize wheel.

The general manager of A&M’s Barnes & Noble, Holley Scott, shared the excitement.

“This shop brings excitement with new signage, fixtures, displays, lighting and most importantly, an expanded Champion product line in both men’s and women’s apparel,” Scott said. “We’re super excited for the students to see all the new merchandise in our Champion Station when they arrive back on campus during Howdy Week.”

Hinckley said this deal was “just the beginning.”

“We have much more on the horizon, including a ’70s vault collection rolling out in 2024,” Hinckley said.

At the event, Champion merchandise was given out by staff, one of which being Makenzie Henton, an apparel merchandising major from Baylor University and intern for Champion.

“So we’ve been super excited because we’re trying to better our partnership with A&M

and get more students on campus involved, so it’s been a really good turnout so far,” Henton said. “We’re happy to see all the students be super excited about the brand.”

Henton came to College Station to help staff the Howdy Week event.

“Aggieland has got a pretty good partnership, actually,” Henton said. “We have our Champion capitol in the bookstore, too, so that’s this big, special tribute to Champion products. It’s been really, really cool to see. It’s definitely growing — we’re still fostering it, nurturing it, but it’s grown pretty big.”

Thousands of students attended both events, such as sport management freshman Luke Rasmussen.

“I saw that there were events [on campus], but I didn’t expect it to be this big,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said he was excited about the champion apparel as well.

“It’s sweet,” Rasmussen said. “It’s awesome, it’s huge. Yeah, [the Champion Station] is a great setup.”

University Writing Center assists and teaches all students with their oral and written work for free.

The Career Center gives professional career advice and resume guidance alongside mock interviews. It also provides students with VMock: an AI assistant that works to optimize resumes.

One of the largest perks Aggies gets comes from university libraries. With 1,266 databases, the libraries provide students with some of the most extensive resources yet, such as a free login to AncestryLibrary or Anatomy.tv, a full suite of interactive models of the human body.

The libraries also provide access to every major science database, from JSTOR to ScienceDirect, with the option to submit a form requesting the library to purchase access to a new database if a student or faculty member needs research provided by it.

Students can also reserve a Rosetta Stone language learning account for up to six weeks at the library, with wait times of around one week.

The video library in the Annex allows students to rent almost any movie, show or music, and if the library doesn’t have it, a new copy will be ordered. That, alongside the nearly 6 million volumes of books in the

multiple libraries across campus, ensures Aggies never run dry of things to do.

But the libraries aren’t done yet. Any student on campus can rent a large assortment of equipment for free, from headphones, microphones, projectors and webcams to laptops, camcorders, action cameras and digital cameras, alongside accessories for everything.

The equipment can be used anywhere, but oftentimes, it isn’t needed, as the library also offers a free studio space students can reserve with professional audio, video and lighting services available in it.

Being on campus also has more than a few perks attached: multiple movies, plays and shows often play at the Rudder Auditorium and Rudder Theater, offering free showings throughout the year. In the spring 2023 semester, the Memorial Student Complex Aggie Cinema played “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Top Gun: Maverick” at the Rudder Theater.

And if students would prefer not to leave their dorms? No worries, MSC Aggie Cinema has them covered with a website allowing free access to hundreds of the latest movies, the only stipulation being a connection to campus Wi-Fi.

Aggies line up during the celebration for the opening of Champion Station outside of the Koldus building on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.

Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION

-ly intelligent and energetic and ambitious students,” Welsh said. “We’ve got a phenomenally intelligent faculty, and we’ve got phenomenally dedicated, smart, street-smart staff.”

Welsh acknowledged that the university has received immense national media attention due to multiple controversies.

In June, the prospective journalism director, Kathleen McElroy, announced she would be returning to the University of Texas after complications with her job offer; following these events, the College of Arts and Sciences interim dean, José Luis Bermúdez, stepped down on July 17. Only days later, former President M. Katherine Banks resigned and retired on June 21 due to media attention negatively affecting the university.

“I think it’s also a time to remind ourselves that these recent incidents, they don’t identify [A&M] as an institution,” Welsh said. “They will do that if we let it. That’s not who we are. That’s not who we’re going to be in. So let’s get back to doing things the right way all the time. Let’s get back to embracing our core values. Let’s get back to focusing on that mission of preparing [students] to go change the world.”

Welsh emphasized the importance of students, staff and faculty being involved in the conversation to help improve the university.

“All of them need to be in the discussion,”

decisions could not be made by one person and would not be done quickly.

Speaker-elect Angie Hill Price said she was concerned by unclear guidance regarding Senate Bill 17, or SB 17, implementation. SB 17 was recently signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in June and bans diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, offices.

Welsh said he met with the Office of General Counsel and was “generally pleased” with their interpretation of SB 17.

“In general, if it is a student organization, then it’s fine to continue, we can support it,” Welsh said. “Faculty and staff advisors are OK for those organizations as long as we provide the same support to any other organization similar in nature. The only specific references to shutting this down were to things … activities that had DEI in the title.”

Senator Matthew Sachs said it was important to verify allegations published in Inside Higher Education. In the article, an anonymous member of Banks’ cabinet said leadership instructed MGT Consulting to present their own proposals as organic recommendations in the final report.

Welsh said. “They need to be part of our solutions — they need to be — have their voice heard in what we do going forward.”

To incoming students, Welsh encouraged Aggies to value that they’re attending A&M and said the opportunities are unbelievable.

“The people you’re sitting in studying beside or hanging out with are worldclass,” Welsh said. “They’re just unbelievably great people, and all of them have a kind of this look to the future. This is going to be good for everybody.

“Aggies, you’re gonna make this city better,” Welsh said. “They’re gonna make the state better. They’re gonna make the nation better. They’re gonna make the world better and be glad you’re part of that movement. There is no place that presents students more opportunity than this — or more fun, in my opinion.”

Welsh said the world needs Aggies that bring their brain, smile and energy to campus in College Station.

“Here’s where you develop your A-game and take it with you as you’re charged off campus at the end.”

To help achieve his vision for A&M, Welsh asked students to do one thing: “Be great at what you do, whatever that is.”

Welsh said he was not familiar with the article.

“My first concern right now would be, what do we do? Undo it all?” Welsh said. “There were opportunities for people to get engaged in this. We have everybody’s input still on file with the different initiatives.”

Senator Debjyoti Banerjee asked if Welsh intended to investigate past appointments and determine if anyone else inappropriately interfered with negotiations with McElroy. Welsh said he did not think doing so would be a “good use of resources” and that modifications to McElroy’s contract were only made by Banks and the former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

“If we’re looking for more people to blame, I’m just not that guy,” Welsh said. The full meeting can be viewed on the faculty senate’s YouTube page.

Opinion: The politics of peaceful living

The only thing more certain than death and taxes in College Station is that you’re definitely going to have a roommate at some point. On top of that, unless you’re one of the 11,000 Aggies (including the Corps of Cadets) that manages to secure a dorm, the other 64,000 will probably be stuck in an apartment.

Your roommates can make or break your living experience, but achieving the highly sought-after peace of apartment life is easier than you might think: just be like the president!

Step one: Win over the people

Getting off on the right foot is vital to starting any presidential term, just as it is with new roommates. When you first move in and realize your bathroom doesn’t come with a shower curtain, this will be the perfect opportunity to invite your other roommates to go to the store with you. Since, apparently, these apartments are too cheap to even have trash cans, it’s likely they will need to go to the store as well. Some may dismiss winning the affection of

their roommates as unnecessary. They’ll regret it when they’re fighting for their life in the restroom after Taco Bell and realize they have no one to text for toilet paper.

Step two: Announce your agenda

Every president must have clear goals while in office. Likewise, creating laundry schedules and setting up a system for small chores, such as replacing paper towels, can only set your apartment life up for success.

Though I’m sure you’re planning on making Sunday laundry day, your roommates probably are as well. While you may be willing to spend the entire day waiting to start your load, there’s no guarantee they will do the same to take out theirs.

In addition, it would be good to reach out before move-in day and communicate any bulky items you may be bringing. Speaking from experience, you don’t want your kitchen to end up with four toasters.

Step three: Be ready for problem-solving

Okay. I’m going to say it. Yes, Emily, it doesn’t matter how loud you play The Weeknd on your speaker, I can still hear what — sorry, who — you’re doing at two in the morning. We all would love to bluntly speak our minds when others annoy us, but one wrong

word could quickly make an enemy out of yourself. On the other hand, feigning ignorance of exactly what noises are being made at the witching hour isn’t a viable long-term solution.

Instead, voicing your grievances with the eloquence of, say, a president, is much more likely to yield swift results. Subtly bringing up the structural integrity of the walls — emphasizing the lack thereof — whenever a “friend” is brought over is a classic remedy. If not, a passive-aggressive “could you keep it down please :)” text is a good last resort.

Whether discussing the terms for a peace treaty or kindly telling your roommate that just because a four-course meal is in a to-go box doesn’t mean it’s trash, effectively communicating whenever a problem arises is a critical skill for roommate diplomacy.

Step four: Commander-in-crisis

Apartment fire alarms go off at the most inconveniently random times, so your roommate won’t always be there. As such, you must be prepared to engage in a gruesome battle to save their cat.

Though the president may be commander-in-chief during war, your roommate’s cat certainly won’t follow your orders to just get in the damn backpack while the fire alarm blares at an ear-bleeding volume.

Though you may come out permanently

scarred, your roommate will greatly appreciate such a gesture and acknowledge your bravery. Even more menacing than the fire alarms, however, are the tow trucks. If you are required to speed after one at midnight with your roommate frantically pulling out all her cash so she can keep her car from being impounded, so be it.

Step five: Always equal 100

One of the biggest lies is that relationships should be 50-50. The truth is that we seldom have enough to even keep ourselves happy, never mind our partner. Some days we have 80, but others we may only have 10. When the country is at 40, we look to the president for the other 60.

Whether replacing the paper towels, being a shoulder to cry on or simply offering a cookie, you must try your best to give 70 when your roommates are only at 30.This is the only way to ensure they will pull 85 when you only have 15.

Though it’s so much easier to treat your roommates with thinly-veiled tolerance, this will only yield indifference in return. Give them lemons, and they’ll make themselves a glass of lemonade. But give them a glass of lemonade, and they’ll wash the glass for you.

TAILGATE time!

Isabella Garcia is an economics sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Isabella Garcia

@isa_thebatt

Aggie soccer celebrates 30 seasons of play

New depth boosts Aggies

How last season’s woes may become this season’s strengths

By Luke White @Lukewhite03

After a multitude of injuries and off-the-field issues forced the 2022 Texas A&M football team to force a handful of backups into action, those trials by fire could lead to a loaded depth chart this season.

Talent was never a question for the Aggies after four years of top-10 recruiting classes, including the nation’s top spot in 2022. It’s a massive leap in competition from high school to college, though, and that youth was evident at times as the team skidded to a 5-7 finish last season.

That was a far cry from the preseason expectations that awarded the maroon and white a No. 6 ranking and expectations of a College Football Playoff appearance. But injuries to sophomore quarterback Max Johnson, graduate wide receiver Ainias Smith, sophomore center Bryce Foster and others put a damper on those hopes.

Players getting hurt wasn’t the only problem. Freshmen such as defensive back Denver Harris, defensive lineman Anthony Lucas and wide receiver Chris Marshall impressed early on, but immaturity resulted in an indefinite suspension that ultimately saw them transfer.

If there was a silver lining to a season Aggies would like to forget, it’s the valuable experience

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gained by that freshman class and other players that began the year in a backup role. With the return of said injured players as well, A&M has the look of a team that could compete with the SEC’s top programs.

The Aggies rank in the top 10 of teams with the most returning production, with 82% of the offense and 77% of the defense coming back with a chip on their shoulders following a summer of conditioning.

Last year’s offensive line was at the forefront of the team’s injury woes with Foster and juniors Jordan Spasojevic-Moko and Aki Ogunbiyi going down for six games or more. As a result, freshman Matthew Wykoff, now at California, took over at center while freshmen Trey Zuhn III and Kam Dewberry saw their first significant playing time.

The lack of experience was evident as the line struggled to support the quarterback and provide protection in the pocket. A&M’s offense faced difficulty in producing a consistent scoring attack and keeping the offense on the field.

However, the offensive line could well be one of the deepest spots on the team with a healthy group of returners in graduate Layden Robinson, junior Reuben Fatheree II and a highly-touted group of freshmen in Chase Bisontis, TJ Shanahan and Colton Thomasson.

“They’ve all worked all summer long,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “So we feel very good about that. And it’s a lot of guys with experience, so it’s not like you’re missing guys that haven’t played. [We] feel very good with that and should be ready to go.”

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A&M’s quarterback room features plenty of depth just a season after junior Max Johnson went down with a broken thumb three games after taking over for sophomore Haynes King’s poor start to the season. Sophomore Conner Weigman saw his first action after King was injured and went on to start the final four games of the season.

Weigman and Johnson return following King’s transfer to Georgia Tech and are joined by Jaylen Henderson of Fresno State, who played in five games over two seasons with the Bulldogs. Weigman appears to have a leg up in the quarterback battle, but whoever is named starter will have a strong supporting cast around him.

Smith leads a proven wide receiver corps with junior Moose Muhammad III and sophomores Evan Stewart and Noah Thomas. Smith enters the season as the unquestioned leader of the Aggies despite going down in the 2022 SEC opener.

Muhammad put the conference on notice with a highlight reel showing in the season finale versus LSU, while Thomas appeared on the radar towards the end of the year. Fisher has talked highly of the Pearland native and named him the offensive MVP in spring ball.

Smith spoke of the team’s growth and maturity over the offseason while discussing how the Aggies are seeking to play as a whole unit this fall.

“There’s more maturity on this team,” Smith said. “The young guys gained experience last year. The team camaraderie is as high as I’ve seen it.”

2022’s defensive line experienced injury firsthand in junior Fadil Diggs and senior McKinnley Jackson, with the pair missing four games each. Diggs and Jackson combined for five sacks and 12 tackles for loss and will lead a line featuring junior Shemar Turner and freshmen Shemar Stewart, Walter Nolen and LT Overton.

“The way they trained over the spring, the way they trained over the summer is getting bigger, stronger, faster,” assistant head coach Elijah Robinson said. “Just understanding what it means to play as a unit, I think those guys have done a really good job.”

Senior Chris Russell Jr. and Edgerrin Cooper were forced to take on a greater role at the linebacker spot and on the pass rush to compensate for the amount of youth on defense. Sophomore Martrell Harris Jr. saw action at the spot in his rookie season, picking up two sacks along the way as he joins Jackson State transfer Jurriente Davis at a unit that’s impressed the coaching staff in fall camp.

“We were extremely young last year in our front, but also talented,” defensive coordinator DJ Durkin said. “As you get a year into that, now those guys have a whole winter, spring, another summer under their belt. You can see the differences just in their body and with their physical abilities.”

Sophomore defensive backs Bryce Anderson, Jacoby Mathews and Jarred Kerr were thrown into the fire as freshmen but made a big impression in their first taste of college ball. They complement a loaded secondary with returners in senior Demani Richardson and juniors Jardin Gilbert and Tyreek Chappell.

“We have high expectations for Bryce, I think he did some really good things last year as a freshman,” Durkin said. “You take his playing experience from last year and go through a whole winter, spring, fall camp. I think he’ll just continue to keep getting better and better.”

The Aggies will have the opportunity to showcase their depth over a nonconference slate that includes New Mexico, Miami and Louisiana-Monroe. Still, over the grind of eight SEC games, the team’s mettle and resilience will no doubt be tested.

Spring ball, summer conditioning and fall camp have afforded returning players the opportunity to grow in their abilities individually while also allowing A&M to develop as a team. Lofty expectations are nothing new in the 979, and utilizing the squad’s depth will be key to living up to them.

Zoe May, Editor-in-Chief

A&M soccer chopped down

Late

By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

For Texas A&M soccer, there was no time for tune-ups to start the season.

After two exhibitions against SMU and Texas State in the preseason, the Aggies welcomed the No. 6 Florida State Seminoles to College Station for the season opener. Despite sharing similar final stats, the Seminoles’ one extra shot on goal ended up making the difference, giving Florida State the 2-1 advantage over the Aggies.

After the game, coach G Guerrieri said that despite the loss, he is proud of how his team played and how younger players stepped up to the challenge.

“I’m disappointed in the result, because I

thought that the players, both teams, worked and played really hard,” Guerrieri said. “I thought it was a very high-level game. People talk about college soccer being super physical and not sophisticated. I thought this was a very sophisticated game. It was a chess match in a lot of ways.”

From kickoff, the Seminoles controlled the majority of possession. A&M, who usually puts an emphasis on controlling the ball, was forced to play defense for most of the first half.

After breaking through the Aggies’ defense twice and getting two shots on goal in the first 20 minutes, the Seminoles opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Senior Florida State forward Beata Olsson sliced through A&M’s backlines, hitting a shot that floated high over graduate goalkeeper Kenna Caldwell’s head to give Florida State the 1-0 advantage.

The Aggies finally broke through the Seminoles’ defense in the 39th minute. After junior defender Quinn Cornog launched a deep pass to junior forward MaKhiya McDonald, the

Lancaster native outran sophomore Florida State defender Heather Gilchrist in the corner. McDonald booted a cross to graduate forward — and Boston College transfer — Sammy Smith, who headed the ball past senior goalkeeper Cristina Roque.

“It was a perfect ball,” Smith said. “It couldn’t have been better. I saw her running up the sideline. No one can keep up with her, but I tried my best. I stopped running for a second so I was on my defender’s weakside, and so she didn’t see me coming in. [McDonald] just placed that ball perfectly, and all I needed to do was put my head behind it. I was glad it went in.”

The Aggies had one more shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but Roque — an All-ACC preseason selection — saved it, taking the game to the half tied 1-1.

“I think there’s a lot of things that we can look at that we can do better,” Guerrieri said. “ We’d like probably one more pass in our buildup would help us out. A little more pa-

tience in our buildup would help us out.”

In the second half, both squads locked up defensively all the way until the 86th minute. It was there the Seminoles took the 2-1 lead after senior Florida State midfielder Ran Iwai skewered the Aggies’ defense with a pass to junior midfielder Taylor Huff. Huff then scored right past a charging Caldwell, giving the Seminoles a 2-1 victory.

“Last season, we had a lot of games where we were scored on in the last couple minutes of the game, and we need to just cut that off completely,” junior midfielder Mia Pante said. “We can’t keep having that as a common theme with our season. So I think we can learn a lot from this, learn from our mistakes. But I think we can still walk away holding our head high from this game.”

A&M returns to action at Ellis field on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. against Washington State.

A&M players walk out before the game against Florida State on Thursday, Aug. 17 at Ellis Field

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Batt Bites: Where to eat in Aggieland

Battalion editors recommend their favorite spots to eat around Bryan-College Station

Zoe May

Editor-in-Chief

Potato Shack has quickly become my favorite “cheap” restaurant I have tried thus far. Every Friday until 9 p.m., their “Classic” spuds are only $5. It’s a little ways down Wellborn past the H-E-B, but if you live in the area or are out and about, it’s a go-to. The spuds are the size of two potatoes and are guaranteed to fill you up even

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Piada Italian Street Food is located close to campus. It’s fast and tastes pretty good too. I usually go for one of their pasta bowls but occasionally try the piadas or salads if I’m pretending to be healthy. There’s a wide variety of menu options and the portion sizes are respectable. It may not be cheap, but there’s an $8 student discount from 2-5 p.m. and all-day Wednesdays that I constantly take advantage of.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Truly, this is the only way to describe the joy of a hearty Big Mac from the oneand-only Golden Arches. If there is one thing I look for in a restaurant, it’s dependability and convenience. Located on about every street corner in College Station and incredibly consistent with their mediocre service, you can’t beat this staple of good ole’ American capitalism.

While it may be a chain, Torchy’s Tacos on Texas Avenue will always hold a soft spot in my heart. You could technically walk from campus there, but 9.5 times out of 10, you’ll need a ride. Despite this, nothing hits as differently as a “Trailer Park” taco — trashy of course — and a “Brushfire” taco. They even offer vegan and gluten-free options. If you get tired of their regular selection, they also offer breakfast options, like my personal favorite, the “Ranch Hand” taco, as well as a unique “Taco of the Month.”

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Searching for a vegetarian burger that doesn’t taste like cardboard? Look no further than Grub Burger Bar. Whether you’re unwilling to eat the mashed bean/mushroom meat alternatives that seem to dominate the food industry or simply tired of basic beef patties, Grub offers an option that is sure to appease all: The Maverick. With tasty add-ons such as frenchfried onions and garlic aioli, this Beyond Meat burger is packed with flavor and presents an unconventional twist to tradition. I have yet to try much else on the menu besides this entree and the fries, but it impacted me enough to earn a place on this list — a little pricey, sadly, but worth it.

Enjoying breakfast can be tough when you have certain dietary restrictions. Snooze, an A.M. Eatery boasts the regular breakfast fare, but offers lots of options for those looking for something different. The Bravocado Toast and Sweet Potato Veggie Smash Up are my personal favorite vegetarian options that can easily be altered to be vegan. The Tofu Scramble is another great vegan option. For some extra sweetness, sub out your choice of bread for vegan pancakes. Eating out while plant based can prove difficult, but there are many viable options in College Station if you do your research.

While everyone talks about their favorite restaurant that costs $9,999 per serving, or a fast food place located a quadrillion miles off-campus, I’d like to introduce you to my favorite stop: the 41st Club. Yes, that small sandwich place at the Bush School. I mean, what else can you ask for? Fresh, fantastic food, made right in front of you; cheap, cheap prices and a board filled with options — I recommend the Italian chicken, by the way. So next time you’re by the Bush School, stop for a second and smell the roses (or taste the chicken). Trust me — it’s worth it.

Nam Cafe offers a hearty variety of Vietnamese food at two locations, on Nagle Street and on William D. Fitch Parkway. Its Nagle Street location is steps away from campus, and it’s worth visiting with a friend. Their most popular dish is pho, offering several varieties like chicken, beef, shrimp and a vegetarian version. Although their pho with a protein can run you $13-15, their bowls are big enough to split. Whenever I’m craving their chicken pho, I ask for an extra bowl and share, otherwise, I’m guaranteed to have leftovers.

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