BEST OF AGGIELAND 2021
MAROON LIFE
WE S U PPO R T
It’s no secret: There’s something special about this place. It has a spirit that can ne’er be told, a vision that can’t be contained and an Aggie community that never wavers. We at the Texas A&M Foundation work hard to build a brighter future for Texas A&M University because we believe it is worth protecting the things that differentiate Aggieland as a unique institution of higher learning. As a nonprofit organization and the primary academic fundraising institution for Texas A&M, we build and sustain relationships between former students, friends and the university to support scholarships, faculty research, campus facilities, college programs and student activities. Aggieland is our home, and it’s where we partner with you to lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. Learn more about our mission at txamfoundation.com.
Building a brighter future for Texas A&M University.
WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN! The University Libraries is happy that Evans Library & Annex has been voted Best Place to Study again. #HowDoYouLibrary
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 || LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
LAYNE’S CHICKEN FINGERS || 18 BY MICHAELA RUSH
BY LAUREN DISCHER
AGGIE TIKTOK || 20
04 || RX PIZZA TRIVIA
BY AUBREY VOGEL
BY AUBREY VOGEL
CHICK-FIL-A || 22
06 || CENTURY SQUARE
BY MORGAN GENTRY
BY LAUREN DISCHER
H-E-B || 23
08 || VET HOSPITAL
BY CALEB POWELL
BY NATHAN VARNELL
11 || DUTCH BROS BY KATHRYN MILLER
12 || MIDNIGHT YELL
EDITORIAL STAFF
BY CAROLINE WILBURN
Myranda Campanella, Editor-in-Chief
14 || DIXIE CHICKEN BY LAUREN DISCHER
Julia Potts, Managing Editor Lauren Discher, Special Sections Editor Aubrey Vogel, News Editor Michaela Rush, News Editor Casey Stavenhagen, Sports Editor Caleb Powell, Opinion Editor Nathan Varnell, Asst. Opinion Editor Robert O’Brien, Photo Chief Cori Eckert, Design Editor
16 || EVANS LIBRARY BY MICHAELA RUSH
Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
Photo by Robert O’Brien — The Battalion
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Graphic by Gabrielle Shreve — THE BATTALION
Aggieland is home to hundreds of businesses and traditions, but this edition of Maroon Life showcases the “Best of Aggieland” as voted on by readers of The Battalion.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Lauren Discher invites students, community-at-large to ‘love the old, but embrace the new places and experiences’ Aggieland has to offer
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Dear Aggies, ollege Station is an ever-growing city; this is evident in the amount of construction found on practically every other street corner. Growing up here, I remember the grassy fields where cattle grazed just a few
short years ago, which now house local favorites like H-E-B and Dutch Bros on Jones Crossing. I remember the old hotel and married student residences that once stood where Century Square is now. The quickly increasing number of new restaurants, stores and other businesses that
continue to arrive in Aggieland provide a larger, more diverse pool to choose from to narrow down which of these are truly the ‘Best of Aggieland.’ Each fall, we send out a poll to Texas A&M students in order to determine their preferences out of various catego-
ries. Then, The Battalion’s staff members interview owners, employees and customers to learn how these establishments started, what their respective atmospheres are like and what they offer the community, to name a few. This magazine acts as a guide to some of the most-loved locations here, and I encourage you to flip through the pages and try out some of the incredible places or activities mentioned. College Station is a city with deep-rooted traditions that all started in 1876 when Texas A&M opened its doors. The university currently boasts over 69,000 students, who make up more than half the city’s population of almost 120,000 people. These students and former students value the school’s traditions, which spurred us to include the new category of Best Tradition, which resulted in a win for Midnight Yell. Speaking of traditions, or what may as well be one, now three-time winner, Dixie Chicken, continued its winning streak in the category of Best Bar. Additionally, long-time favorite Sterling C. Evans Library was voted Best Study Spot, also for the third time. To maximize the usefulness of this magazine, we decided to include categories that will give the reader the absolute essentials, whether visiting Aggieland or exploring the place they call home. With classic categories like Best Date Spot, Best Veterinarian and Best Coffee, and new categories like Best Aggie-Owned Restaurant, Best Aggie Influencer and Best New On-Campus Dining, you’re sure to find something that interests you. Bryan-College Station, better known by many as Aggieland, is a unique place that keeps people coming back. I, myself, was born and raised here, and when I graduate, I suspect I’ll visit to find my hometown very much the same, but also different in the best way. The push and pull between tradition and change has continued throughout generations and will continue for many more. But this is the beauty of Aggieland: it keeps growing and changing, yet the spirit of it stays the same. So, whether you decide to step through the swinging wooden doors of the Chicken for the very first time or try out one of the many new eateries, I would encourage you to continue to love the old, but embrace the new places and experiences this area has to offer. And if you need help deciding where to go first, read on. Lauren Discher is an English senior and special sections editor for The Battalion.
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BEST TRIVIA: RX PIZZA AND BAR
Serving up slices of knowledge
Photo by Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION
Located in Downtown Bryan at 200 W. 26th St. and in South College Station at 1664 Greens Prairie Road, Rx Pizza and Bar hosts trivia nights every Thursday at 8 p.m.
Rx Pizza and Bar feeds mind, body with weekly Thursday night trivia By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel
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In California, you can’t legally buy a mousetrap without having what?” For questions like the one above and more, many locals and college students flock to the College Station and Bryan Rx Pizza and Bar locations on Thursdays nights from 8 to 10 p.m. for weekly trivia.
Working in the food industry since his sophomore year, Jake Mitchell, Class of 2009, along with his childhood friends, founded Rx Pizza and Bar in 2016 to share the love of the industry with Aggieland. Mitchell said because he enjoyed participating in bar trivia himself, he thought Rx was the perfect place to gather community members for some fun, following a week at work. “I played a lot of bar trivia. It’s just an activity that I thought was really fun, something I’ve done for years,” Mitchell said. “It’s one of the first event sort of things that I wanted to get going at the bar, and we started within
about six months of opening.” Long before the trivia begins, Mitchell said the building fills with hungry guests ready to dive into pizza and race to the finish to be crowned as the victor of trivia night. The restaurant houses patrons in the main area as well as a backroom and the patio area when the weather is accommodating. Before arriving on trivia nights, Mitchell encourages guests to check out the Rx Pizza and Bar Facebook page for weekly hints and watch for announcements of the occasional themed night, such as Harry Potter or Game of Thrones.
“If you follow Aggieland trivia, then you can have some guidance for two of the questions that will be asked during the night,” Mitchell said. “There’s a lot of questions, so two doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a win, but it’s helpful to know a couple.” Starting at 8 p.m., the trivia master takes over the restaurant and gears up guests to begin the two hours of questions. “It all gets announced over the PA [system], and people will physically write their trivia answers on a piece of paper, and then they run it up to the trivia master, who keeps track of all the scores,” Mitchell said.
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The types of questions range from pop culture to science and even include music questions where guests must name the artist of a song, bartender Kirstin Rivera said. “The level of difficulty for the questions is quite hard, but a lot of guests respond well to them and usually know the answer,” Rivera said. “The Facebook hints absolutely help our guests figure out the questions.” Not only is Rx known for its weekly trivia nights, but also its unique flavors of pizza, Rivera said. From flavors like “Loaded Spud” and “Urban Cowboy” to traditional pepperoni, Rivera said each slice is made with hand-pulled mozzarella and handmade dough, then fired in a brick oven before being delivered to each table. Additionally, the restaurant features 12 cocktails, including the “Seasonal Smash” and “Penicillin” in addition to various beers and wines to enjoy while testing your mind. “One of our cocktails — known as the Painkiller — is our signature drink, which we offer frozen or on the rocks,” Rivera said. “It’s close to a piña colada, but ours stands out [because] it’s creamy and citrusy with a coconut rim to top it off.”
The restaurant also features a pizza and cocktail of the month, which Mitchell said always provides a unique twist to the menu. Each week, there is also a different trivia beer, which is only $3 all night. “Teams that have the funniest name or if the trivia master says that [a team] had a particularly funny answer or something, as long as the team is old enough to drink, then we will sometimes buy that team a round of shots or something like that, just to encourage the fun atmosphere there,” Mitchell said. Not only does the winner get to take home the honor of trivia winner for the week, but Mitchell said first through third place will take home gift card prizes to bring when they come back and visit. “[Trivia night] is just a fun opportunity to kind of challenge yourself,” Mitchell said. “It’s a fun way to test yourself, and it’s just a fun atmosphere, whether you’re winning or you’re not as good at trivia that week. It’s still a fun experience, and you get to have some pizza and drink with friends.” Oh, and by the way, in California, you can’t legally buy a mousetrap without a hunting license. Keep that one in the back of your mind for future trivia nights.
Photo by Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION
Rx Pizza has a number of other weekly specials on their menu at both its Bryan and College Station locations.
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BEST DATE SPOT: CENTURY SQUARE
Upscale entertainment minutes from campus
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Photos by Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION
Century Square, located off University Drive directly across from Texas A&M’s campus, has become a center of College Station retail and dining in just a few years since its 2017 opening.
Walkable outdoor venue introduces modern atmosphere to Aggieland By Lauren Discher @laurendischer
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ith over 40 establishments that call Century Square home, the dynamic, multi-use center offers everything from trendy breakfast bites to luxury hotels. For couples looking for a cute date, Century Square has no shortage of food, shopping and entertainment. Current vendors include Mess Waffles, Piada Italian Street Food, Pokeworks, Zoës Kitchen, Hemline, Grass Stains, Kendra Scott, Lululemon, Star Cinema Grill and much more. Created by Midway, a real estate investment and development firm, the site was designed with the intention of bringing an urban feel to a central area in the Brazos Valley. Pleasing to the eye, the location also sports picture-worthy murals and statues
— the most recent being the Gig ‘Em statue carved by Reverand Butter from a large oak in the area lost to the winter freeze. As Century Square has grown, new restaurants and shops have popped up. Opened in September of 2021, Velvet Taco is a notable new restaurant with an unexpected menu and “very late” hours. Velvet Taco manager Zachary Gonzales said the restaurant has something new happening every day, but Tuesdays are excitingly hectic, as the restaurant gets ready for its weekly taco feature. According to its website, Velvet Taco puts a new spin on Taco Tuesday, offering a new weekly flavor inspired by global cuisine. “It’s a lot of scratch recipes, starting early in the morning, continuing throughout the day and hopefully getting a busy night time dinner crowd,” Gonzales said. “It’s different than any place I’ve worked at for sure.” Regarding the menu, Gonzales said it consists of gourmet tacos inspired by recipes around the world.
“The tacos are anything from the traditional Indian dish of Chicken Tikka Masala to a regular American-style bacon burger taco or chicken and waffles,” Gonzales said. “It’s kind of off-the-wall, fancy tacos. My favorite drink off the menu is the Kick Ass Margarita. We have both frozen and on the rocks, and they’re made with premium tequila, so they’re awesome. My favorite taco is the Angus Brisket, No. 12.” Another notable spot is longtime resident Mo’s Irish Pub, which exceeds the expectations of a typical pub, manager Justin Roueche said. “Mo’s is unique,” Roueche said. “We can turn into a sports bar, we can turn into a rehearsal dinner spot, we can turn into a ring dunk, we can turn into a graduation party. Our space is super malleable, so it just matters what people are looking for. We’re blessed with this giant space.” Roueche said the restaurant has been known to organize trivia nights, but is hosting more music-related events as of late.
“In the past, we’ve had fish races and turkey bowling, all kinds of crazy things,” Roueche said. “Our most recent event is a philanthropy concert to help with Type 1 diabetes and Camp Sweeney. All the proceeds will be going to that. We’re also doing a UFC fight and an ugly sweater contest, [and] we’re doing live music. We have a four-piece rock band that’s playing, so we’re super adaptable to do all kinds of fun stuff.” According to its website, Mo’s was inspired by traditional Irish pubs and culture and features a multitude of drinks for those over 21; their signature Mo’s Mules include the Aggie Mule and Texas Mule. Mo’s also offers brunch and late night snacks, as well as its Irish-American menu. “It’s the traditional American burgers and some common stuff, but it does have traditional Irish food like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie,” Roueche said. “We make our own bread, make our own mashed potatoes, sauces, etc., so it’s delicious.” At the center of Century Square is The Green, a grass gathering area that is the destination for various events like small concerts, trivia nights and outdoor games. Events at The Green include movie nights, The Front Porch live music series and exercise classes. During the holiday season, The Green hosts various festive events like the Brazos Gingerbread Build-off, a holiday artisan market and the daytime New Year’s Eve event for kids. In addition to the events that occur on The Green, education senior Susie Burke said Century Square’s restaurants and boutiques offer a practically endless combination of activities to fill up one’s day or weekend. “There is so much to do,” Burke said. “Sunrise yoga with Lululemon, a candy shop. There’s so many great places to eat and a couple bars to hang out with your friends at. And the stores tend to run a bit pricey, but their clothes are quality. My favorite restaurant there is Hopdoddy [Burger Bar]; me and my mom go there a lot. I also like Merge Boutique because they have the cutest clothes.” Burke said she can attest that Century Square is a great spot for dates, as it is where she had her first date with her boyfriend. “Me and Lucas went to Piada, and we’ve been dating for almost two years now,” Burke said. “We go back all the time. There’s something about the ambience.” According to the Century Square website, the Midway leadership team is comprised of many former students of Texas A&M who are deeply engaged in the university’s culture and its vision for the growth of the Brazos Valley. “Redefining the Brazos Valley, Century Square’s 60 acres creates a dynamic community center where people work, shop, play and connect,” its Facebook page reads.
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BEST ANIMAL CARE: TEXAS A&M SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Comprehensive care for companions Photo by Cameron Johnson — THE BATTALION
Located on University Drive, Texas A&M’s Small Animal Hospital is a state-of-the-art veterinary care facility which works to treat pets and train future veterinarians.
A&M combines innovative teaching, treatment at Small Animal Hospital By Nathan Varnell @newsncv
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exas A&M’s Small Animal Hospital marries a nationally recognized standard of care to a collaborative learning environment to provide the best treatment possible. Seeing over 20,000 patients a year, the hospital’s patient care teams pass a wealth of knowledge from faculty through residents, technicians, nursing staff and fourth-year veterinary students, and have launched projects to reach the most disadvantaged and overlooked patients in the broader community. Marketing and outreach program manager Traci Hansen said veterinarians from all across Texas, and even other states, refer their four-legged patients to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, or VMTH, for specialized care. Some owners will drive hours from all parts of the state to seek care, Hansen said. “There are two different, distinct hospitals, one for all small animals — cats, dogs, bun-
nies, whatever — and then the large animals,” Hansen said. “I break it down because even just talking with friends who aren’t familiar with what I do, I say there’s the small and large animal hospital and they are thinking great dane versus chihuahua.” One initiative which sets the VMTH apart from other veterinary practices is its outreach projects, one of which will be launching in January. Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical assistant professor of telemedicine, served in private practice for 28 years before joining the VMTH in 2018. Her role is twofold, she said, teaching fourth-year veterinary students about general practice in the professional world, while simultaneously developing the telemedicine program. Telemedicine has become crucial to the VMTH’s outreach in recent years, Teller said. “We identify people that do not have the resources to access regular veterinary care, frequently for financial reasons or transportation reasons,” Teller said. “Perhaps because they’re elderly and they can’t get to where they need to be … or they may live in an area where there’s not a veterinarian to provide care.” In the fall of 2020, Teller arranged a pop-
up veterinary clinic in Brenham for low-income pet owners. The VMTH team provided vaccinations, tested animals for internal and external parasites, treated minor wounds and worked to cure skin and ear infections, Teller said. After treatment, the team followed up with telemedicine until the spring semester of 2021. The VMTH has done the same in the city of Caldwell and is preparing for the next project in Bastrop County. Teller said the patients and their owners are predominantly reached through an appeals program or groups such as the United Way Assistance Program. Beyond the learning environment for veterinary students, the VMTH has also taken the opportunity to incorporate youth in local 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America. “One of my favorite [stories] from the Brenham project was a woman in a wheelchair who had three dogs,” Teller said. “We started them on medication to treat the parasites, the fleas and the heart worms, and she sent us the most heartwarming message. Remember, this was peak-COVID[-19], so she couldn’t even get out of her house. She was just like, ‘You have saved my life. I have been so worried about how I would care for my
dogs. And I can sleep so much easier every night now knowing that they have been taken care of and will continue to be healthier pets because of it.’” Teller said she teared up at the message and knows the experiences have meant a lot to students, too. “It’s a pretty amazing educational opportunity for our students as well, because they’re working with a population of pet owners that they’re not normally exposed to at the vet school,” Teller said. “I think it gives them a broader perspective of pet owners, and that there are ways to help them even if [the owners] don’t have lots of funds to to be able to expand on taking care of their pets, that there are still ways that we can help provide care for the pets and alleviate some of the stress and concerns that the owners have.” For the average animal owner, Teller emphasized the importance of preventive care, which is the VMTH’s focus when going out into the aforementioned communities. Not only vaccinations, but also seemingly inconspicuous issues such as a proper weight and diet, Teller said. “The No. 1 problem that we diagnose is obesity,” Teller said. “And so especially for
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Photo Courtesy of Texas A&M’s Small Animal Hospital
The Small Animal Hospital treats animals ranging from dogs with military rank to house cats. The facility also works to reach under-served communities across the state.
people who may not be able to afford hip replacements or crucial surgery or manage diabetes, so much of that can just be avoided by keeping their pet at its proper weight. Yeah, it’s not glamorous, but it’s necessary.” A recent standout patient of the Small Animal Hospital’s oncology unit is one Major Paddy. An English springer spaniel who is, yes, a Major in the U.S. Army and has served as a CIA bomb dog, oncology resident Christian Stocks said. “He is obviously very well trained and has this ability to be very focused, which isn’t surprising, but it’s different than a lot of our patients,” Stocks said. “He’ll come and bring you the toy, lay it down in between your feet. And he won’t make a movement, he won’t do anything, he’ll just sit and wait for you to
throw it, and he’ll do the exact same thing; he’ll do that over and over and over.” Major Paddy has a disease called cutaneous lymphoma, an aggressive skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. Stocks said Paddy’s treatment serves as an example of how the VMTH brings the innovations in human care into the world of veterinary medicine. In Paddy’s case, his skin cancer may eventually need radiation treatment, which provides an opportunity to employ a specialized, 3D printed support mold for targeting his skin. “In the canine world, there are often a prominent few case reports, but no large research behind it,” Stocks said. “So it is a newer field, mainly because of access and the resources that we have to put into something like this. So luckily, you know, Major
Paddy has the disease that we can use this in and an owner that has kind of good access to 3D printing. It’s not something that we use very often at all, but hopefully something that we’re hoping that we can use to write a case report and further this very unrecognized field of radiation oncology.” For Major Paddy and all other furry patients, one of the best qualities of the VMTH’s services is the ability to implement all units in concert, Stocks said. Cases are managed alongside not only the medical and surgical units of oncology, for example, but also the cardiology and ophthalmology services. “We have this ability to treat cancer, but if these patients have other issues, or if they experience side effects, they’re getting the highest kind of quality of care from different
specialists,” Stocks said. Health systems are all interrelated, so the collaboration and affinity for research within VMTH allows high quality treatment strategies — that are a little more advanced — to be developed, Stocks said. “It’s truly a team effort,” Teller said. “The primary care services in the college and in our ancillary support, like from Tracy [Hansen] in administration, has been tremendous. And it’s a wonderful way for us to [give] back to the community. It really makes us feel good about what we do every day. And of course, we would certainly accept donations from anybody that wants to donate as well, to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Residence Life DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
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the GARDENS Apartments fully-furnished apartments conveniently located on campus near the Engineering complex and the Polo Road Rec Center next to the shops and restaurants of Century Square
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BEST COFFEE: DUTCH BROS
Dutch invasion Dutch Bros has taken over with sweet, caffeinated drinks, treats By Kathryn Miller @KathrynMiller0
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fter opening its first Texas location on Wellborn Road last January, an Oregon-based coffee company has slowly invaded Aggieland. Dutch Bros Coffee now boasts four locations in Bryan-College Station, with a fifth soon to begin operations. Established in Grants Pass, Ore., in 1992, Dutch Bros’ mission is to serve delicious coffee and to make a difference through a commitment to each community they serve. The Dutch Bros culture in action is “unexpected, unprompted and unbelievable,” and together its customers and the Dutch Bros Foundation give back through donations, grants and giveback days. Regional operator Bryce Schnieder said he loves the mentorship opportunities at Dutch Bros. “At Dutch Bros, my goal as regional operator is to foster good people and to host a safe environment where I can set them up for the rest of their lives,” Schnieder said. “Our employees set the bar high, and we make sure we get energized people who are excited to work here.” Something that sets Dutch Bros apart from other coffee chains is that employees hand-make everything, and because Dutch Bros’ customers have extended a warm welcome to the coffee chain, Schnieder said. “It’s the people doing it — the espresso, the milk, the flavors,” Schneider said. “We take care to perfectly handcraft every single drink. Coming to Texas … we were so welcomed by the community, and we committed to staying here.” Geographic information sciences and technology senior Emily Gill said as a customer, her favorite aspect of the company is how it treats its employees. “I have so many friends that work for Dutch Bros and absolutely love it,” Gill said. “They always say they’re very much valued as a worker there. All of the shift
managers take a lot of interest in [them] and make sure they’re safe and happy. I feel really good about purchasing from them because I feel like they treat their workers great.” Dutch Bros’ takeover of College Station has been evident due to the love and dedication shown by students, Gill said. “Contrary to a whole lot of other coffee shops, some people have made such posts like their whole personality, like that’s what they do,” Gill said. “Plus, for college students, we all drink a ton of coffee. I think that Dutch Bros is probably the best-tasting coffee around, way better than Starbucks. I think they’ve made a great difference [in College Station] and brought the community together to try something new.” Communication senior Emma Ferguson said her favorite thing about Dutch Bros is the unique experience every time. “They’re not like a normal coffee shop like where you go and it’s like, ‘I want to get a latte,’ ‘OK, here you go,’” Ferguson said. “They genuinely want to know all their customers, and I think that’s what gets them really good business.” The jobs, experience and atmosphere Dutch Bros provides has helped the Aggie community, Ferguson said. “Compared to Starbucks — which A&M has so many of — Starbucks does have good benefits, but I feel like Dutch Bros gives good qualities to all of their employees,” Ferguson said. “That gives [employees] a good advantage when they want to get a job out in the real world [when] dealing with customers and stuff.” As a coffee lover who has tried nearly every coffee place in College Station, Ferguson said Dutch Bros is now her No. 1 choice for coffee. “As a customer, their atmosphere, coffee-getting experience and how great their coffee is makes it my favorite coffee place,” Ferguson said. “Anyone who’s tried it knows they’re amazing. I don’t know what it is about them, but every time I need a little pick me up, I go there and feel like I could do hundreds of pages of homework after. Everything about them makes me feel so much better.”
Photos by Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION
Dutch Bros has several locations in Bryan-College Station, the first of which is located at 12065 Wellborn Road.
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BEST TRADITION: MIDNIGHT YELL
Fan-favorite tradition
Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
The night before every Texas A&M football game, thousands of Aggies attend Yell Practice either in Kyle Field for home games, or at an away-game location.
12th Man unites old, new to call on Aggie Spirit in pre-gameday tradition By Caroline Wilburn @Carolinewilburn
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cannon, a “Whoop!” and the bright shining lights of Kyle Field are staples of Texas A&M’s Midnight Yell tradition. Held every midnight before a football game, Aggies gather in Kyle Field to perform yells, tell fables and prepare for the upcoming game. The tradition of Midnight Yell dates back to 1931 when a group of cadets gathered on the steps of the YMCA Building at midnight to practice choreographed yells. Today, the tradition brings together more than 25,000 Aggies each week. Education freshman Madison Hardwick
said Midnight Yell is a chance to be with friends, family and fellow Aggies, and is a special time to reflect on what students past and present love about A&M. “The feeling of Midnight Yell is electric,” Harwick said. “I get goosebumps every time, and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of the 12th Man.” Civil engineering senior and Traditions Council member Drew Dorsett said the goal of the organization is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn about A&M and what makes it great, which includes traditions like Midnight Yell. “The most important part about Midnight Yell is we are, as a student body, the 12th Man,” Dorsett said. “We are willing to put it out there for our team. We’re willing to step in if they need us. It’s just a way of coming together as a group of Aggies and putting our best foot forward, [and being] there for our
university and just showing that we are still the 12th Man in spirit.” Yell Leaders, a group of five students who are the official spirit organization of the university, play a special role in Midnight Yell. Former Yell Leader Will Alders, Class of 2017, said these late nights were a favorite memory of his time in Aggieland. “To know that, come Friday night, Saturday morning at midnight, thousands of Aggies will gather at the stadium to practice yells and enjoy some light-hearted fun at the other team’s expense makes the whole week exciting for the Yell Leaders,” Alders said. “I would have butterflies in my stomach the whole week leading up to Midnight Yell, particularly if I had to deliver one of the fables that week.” Dorsett said Midnight Yell is the main tradition that sets A&M apart, as it is a unique way of showing support for the team that is
unlike any other school’s pregame prep. “We keep to the same tradition of telling a fable and the Yell Leaders coming out in their overalls. It’s been this way for so long that it ties us to the fact that we’re a traditional university, but it’s also fun, and people like to go to Midnight Yell at the same time,” Dorsett said. “It shows that just because something is traditional, doesn’t mean it isn’t a fun thing.” Alders said A&M has a reputation for being different, not only in the state of Texas, but across the nation. “I think Aggies like to embrace this difference and wear it as a badge of honor, knowing no one else is like us,” Alder said. “Perhaps that’s part of what makes A&M better than the rest. Midnight Yell is one of those traditions that few people understand if they’re not an Aggie.” Alders said he sees Midnight Yell as a way to show love for the university and support
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the football team before a game. “When most everyone else is sleeping or partying, [we] practice yells and have a great time together,” Alder said. “Not only does this help the student body, the 12th Man, get prepared to yell their hardest at the game the next day, but it also creates excitement on campus that carries over to gameday, making the whole game day experience that much better.”
“The commitment to each other, the camaraderie, the passion, the tradition all combine at Midnight Yell to display the Aggie Spirit to all who attend.” WILL ALDERS, FORMER YELL LEADER
Midnight Yell is a time to see future, current and former students come together to participate in a tradition they love, Hardwick said, and no other school can get as excited for football games. “Midnight Yell is a huge part of the Aggie Spirit,” Hardwick said. “You see everyone involved, and the fans bring it all to Kyle Field.
To me, Midnight Yell is a time to be with my friends and contribute to a tradition [with] all of our hearts. It’s where I met new friends and made so many memories I won’t forget.” Dorsett also said Midnight Yell embodies the Aggie Spirit and shows how the community is willing to go above and beyond to support fellow Aggies. “It shows that we are willing to sacrifice our Friday night to show up and be there for our football team,” Dorsett said. “If you win or you lose, the important part is we’re willing to go out there and sacrifice some of our valuable time as college students to come together as a group of Aggies and show that we are here to support the team that will be playing the next day.” Alders said he still enjoys traveling to College Station for a game day weekend and attending Midnight Yell. “I love to watch the current Yell Leaders do a terrific job of leading the 12th Man in preparation for the game on Saturday,” Alder said. “Watching and participating in Midnight Yell as a former student is always exciting for me as it causes the memories from when I was a current student to come flooding back. I will always think Midnight Yell is one of the most special traditions in college football. “The commitment to each other, the camaraderie, the passion, the tradition all combine at Midnight Yell to display the Aggie Spirit to all who attend.”
Photos by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
Yell Practice features stories from the Yell Leaders, poking fun at the opposing team and calling on the Spirit of the 12th Man.
THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 14
BEST BAR: DIXIE CHICKEN
3X WINNER
Reuniting Aggies new, old since 1974
Photo by Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION
The Dixie Chicken has been located at 307 University Drive for 48 years, serving beer and bar food to patrons in a casual, cowboy-esque environment.
Northgate staple Dixie Chicken upholds Aggie-favorite status By Lauren Discher @laurendischer
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espite many local establishments closing their doors and new ones filling the spaces, Dixie Chicken has remained a Northgate favorite for almost 50 years. Since 1974, Aggies have flocked to Dixie Chicken to enjoy pitchers of beer, games of
pool and plates of the well-loved Tijuana fries. Dixie Chicken, or simply “the Chicken,” as dedicated patrons call it, has become a favorite for old and new Ags, as a place that brings people together no matter how long they’ve been apart. Going to the bar has become a tradition for many, and it is the birthplace of dunking the Aggie Ring in a pitcher of beer, though the practice is not allowed at the bar anymore. Through its many years of operation, the Chicken has undergone few changes, giving it both history and renown. Since his uncle worked at the Chicken in its early days, university studies senior Clay-
ton Collier said his connection to the bar runs deep. “He’s told me stories about what all they used to do and about the original owner,” Collier said. “My uncle was actually one of the guys that helped start the tradition of Bottlecap Alley, which is pretty cool.” Some of his best college memories are from the Chicken, Collier said — his favorite being Thursday night in March of 2020. “It’s a night I still talk about today with the guys,” Collier said. “We all got together and sat on the back porch. We stayed there, just talking, having a few drinks and laughing all
night long. We were probably there from the hour it opened until the time it closed.” The Chicken has truly weathered the storm, both literally and figuratively, as the bar’s roof collapsed in the spring of 2020 due to severe weather. Despite various struggles, the oldest bar on Northgate has prevailed, keeping its swinging doors open for generations. Collier said he attributes the Chicken’s long-time success to its unique nature. “When you see the Chicken, it stands out,” Collier said. “You see bars nowadays, and they have more of that modern look. But when you look at the Chicken, you can just
THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 15
Photo by Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION
The Dixie Chicken has invented numerous traditions and has made itself an Aggieland institution.
tell something’s different about it. The history behind it, the small traditions that have been formed around it alone is just amazing. That continued tradition of people coming back after graduating and then bringing their family or their sons and daughters to experience it is really special.” Though other bars strive for an old country feel, Collier said the Chicken is the only one which captures it in a way that is genuine, rather than cheesy. “It definitely has that essence of a cowboy bar,” Collier said. “It’s like those movies from the ‘80s with the wood floors; it just looks old. At the same time, with the crowd that’s in there, you know it’s still alive. On a pretty normal basis, I’ll grab a thing of Tijuana fries and a double-whiskey and coke. The Chicken has had quite a bit of my money.” Communication senior Josh Pink said above anything else, he is continually impressed with the food and drinks the Chicken offers. “The first time I went was when I was a sophomore, and I went and got lunch there with my mentor from the Corps [of Cadets],” Pink said. “It’s still my favorite burger in College Station. I get the Freddy Burger and Tijuana fries, and they have my favorite margarita on Northgate.” Pink said the Chicken has proven to be a place that brings people together. “It was my 22nd birthday a couple weeks ago,” Pink said. “It was nice because me and my friends are all pretty busy, and we hadn’t all been in the same place together at the same time in a long time. We were [at the Chicken] from 8 p.m. until closing, and it was good to just have my friends there from different circles, like my friends from my outfit, my [Cavalry] friends, my non-reg friends.” Like Collier, Pink said the Chicken feels different than other bars, which is likely what brings many Aggies to its doors. “I think there’s something special about it that makes it timeless, and that’s what it has going for it more so than anything else,” Pink said. “It doesn’t have the most competitive prices or a Michelin Star for food or anything, but it’s always going to be there, and it’s reliable in that way. You can’t be there and be in a bad mood.” In his almost six years of working for Dixie Chicken, marketing director Adam Drake said the bar has given him a one-of-a-kind experience. “It’s really cool seeing everyone come in on gameday, seeing everyone on social media talk about how [the Chicken] has become such an important part of their college experience, and then as it’s gotten older, how it’s stayed the same and how they still love coming back,” Drake said. In light of multiple establishments on Northgate closing in 2020 and 2021, Drake said it’s humbling that the Chicken continues to be an Aggie favorite. “We know how hard it is,” Drake said. “We’ve been here since 1974, almost 50 years, and we just try to do our best for our customers and we try not to change too much. We want to remain who we are, and I think people really appreciate that.”
THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 16
BEST STUDY SPOT: EVANS LIBRARY
3X WINNER
‘Your apple a day’ Sterling C. Evans Library serves as campus study spot for over 50 years By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt
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eed a coffee? Starbucks! Need a printer? Open Access Labs! Need to make a video for class? Rentable cameras and studio space! Need to get away from everyone? Personal study rooms! Voted as the Best Study Spot in Aggieland for 2021, the Sterling C. Evans, or Evans, Library has everything college students need to succeed. From the beginning of the fall 2021 semester through Nov. 30, Evans Library and Annex welcomed over 700,000 visitors. Associate dean for user services of Evans Library Susie Goodwin has been working at the campus hub since 2000 and said she loves her role at the libraries and is passionate about improving the facilities for students. “It is a great place to work,” Goodwin said. “We are service professionals; we want to help [students] discover and innovate and create and get you in touch with the right resources. I really enjoy when we renovate, taking these visions [of the librarians] and the feedback from my students and turning that into new spaces that are usable and will get used.” Because of its central location on main campus, Evans is a favorite stop for many students during the day and the evening hours, outside regularly scheduled lectures and labs. International studies junior Silas Cunningham said the location, in addition to the first-floor Starbucks, make it a great place for him to visit midday. “When I’m going into Evans, it’s usually in between classes because it’s convenient,” Cunningham said. “It’s a nice place to go to. There’s coffee in [the library] … a café that I don’t have to go far to to get work done, and it’s a two minute walk from my next class.” For some, the coffee, and its aroma, is a helpful study tool, and performance studies junior Rubesela Benitez said she enjoys the caffeine as well as the different styles of study spaces. “I feel so comfortable leaving my stuff and going to get Starbucks and then coming back,
knowing that my stuff is still going to be there. If you’re someone that likes to have coffee, maybe study at Starbucks,” Benitez said. “If you like quiet, like complete silence, maybe use one of those study rooms or a quiet floor. If you just want to chat with your friends, definitely use the second floor.” Cunningham said he also feels safe leaving his belongings in the library when going on a coffee break, and being able to do so has helped him establish a strong study routine. “Usually, I go through the main door, snatch a spot in the Starbucks by the two long tables facing [toward] each other,” Cunningham said. “I set my stuff up, open my laptop, connect my headphones to listen to music and get in line for a drink. I usually get a cold brew, and I’ll sit down and take five minutes to make sure I know everything I need to do and have a moment to reset.” In addition to the physical space, the support staff at the library make it a great study spot. Psychology senior Yerb Rodriguez was introduced to the librarian staff and databases
“This is your space. We want to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, and that’s what we strive to do, and to help you with your research.” SUSIE GOODWIN, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR USER SERVICES
early on, and said they don’t feel hesitant to use these resources. “It’s a really safe space; I feel comfortable there,” Rodriguez said. “Freshman year, I had to go to this event to learn the databases through the Century Scholars program. I appreciated that they taught us how to access resources that the library had. It was concise and easy. I’ve used the Writing Center, and they’re really helpful, too. I’ve gone without an appointment, and the fact they’re available is really nice.”
Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
Evans Library houses a majority of the 6 million books within the University Libraries’ extensive collection.
THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 17
Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
Evans Library and the Library Annex have late hours to accomodate any student’s study schedule, open until 2 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
MIDNIGHT YELL Voted BEST Aggie Tradition!
Goodwin said she encourages students to use the library support, especially as she missed out on that help during her own undergraduate career. “[In my undergraduate degree], I never asked a librarian for help,” Goodwin said. “When I went to library school, I realized I was so stupid. I should have asked because they’re the nicest, most helpful people I’ve ever met. I would go to the library and study, but I would avoid the reference desk at all costs. I don’t know how I managed.” This accessibility to staff is another plus for Rodriguez, alongside what they said is a thought-out setup to the building itself. “At the Annex, right away there’s that printing center, so if I need to print something quickly, it’s right there. You don’t have to go out of your way,” Rodriguez said. “I appreciate that the people at the front desk are accessible at the Annex and Evans. At Evans, I like those long rows of benches; it’s convenient to just sit somewhere quickly if you may not be there for too long.” These design choices and accessibility options are a key part of Goodwin’s position within the library, and she said her hope is
that the library is able to provide different types of spaces to help students with a variety of preferences. “Every floor is a little different and has a different feel,” Goodwin said. “The library is like a little city, and it changes throughout the day and throughout the semester. Come around finals, and it’s a very different feeling than midterms, or at the beginning of the year when people are just trying to check us out to see what’s available, where they might study in the future, but then everyone kind of wants to get their own little special spots that they like.” With many resources available for students, Goodwin said she hopes students will utilize the spaces to their benefit and make library attendance a part of their academic routine. “This is your space. We want to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, and that’s what we strive to do, and to help you with your research,” Goodwin said. “Think of the library as like your apple a day. It’s good practice to come to the library, even if it’s just to meet up with your friends and take a break from your rushed class life.”
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THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 18
BEST AGGIE-OWNED RESTAURANT: LAYNE’S
‘Soon-to-be-famous,’ already favorite
Photos by Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION
Layne’s Chicken Fingers is a College Station classic located just across from Texas A&M’s campus. The Aggie-owned-and-operated business has expanded across Texas since its 1994 founding, but the original building at 106 Walton Drive has stayed true to its Aggieland roots.
Aggie-owned, operated Layne’s stands out among dining scene By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt
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fter nearly 30 years of serving its “soon-to-be-famous”chicken, Layne’s Chicken Fingers continues to be a staple in the Bryan-College Station community. While the chain has now grown across the state of Texas, the original location in College Station has kept students and locals well-fed, earning it the title of Best Aggie-owned Restaurant. At the original Texas Avenue location, shift-lead Treasure Robertson said employees are tight-knit, even with the owner, which has created a positive work environment.
“Because we’re locally owned, the owner will come in, and you don’t see that in [large chains],” Robertson said. “The owner comes in and likes to work with you, and you build relationships with the owner and the other general managers and [know people] at all three locations.” Robertson said all of the offerings at Layne’s are delicious, but he has two favorites for patrons wanting to sample the menu. “My favorite meal is the half plate, which is three fingers, a half order of fries, regular [Layne’s] sauce, and I also order ranch,” Robertson said. “I get the five-finger plate with no potato salad, extra fries with extra sauce and a ranch, with Dr. Pepper or sweet tea.” Anthropology senior Makenzie Uwe described herself as a Layne’s fan, and said now that she’s tried this local favorite, there’s no going back.
“I prefer Layne’s, absolutely,” Uwe said. “I used to be a [Raising] Cane’s gal, and then I started going to Layne’s, and it’s cheaper. It’s more food, and it’s more consistent for me.” The biggest difference in consistency from Cane’s to Layne’s, Uwe said, is with the sides, particularly the sauce and fries. “The fries are always crispy and salted and not bland and sad,” Uwe said. “Layne’s sauce, it hits different.” Renewable natural resources junior Matt Levins, another Layne’s lover, said this chain is not only delicious, but better than its competitors. “I had a lot of friends who worked [at other chicken chains],” Levins said. “It tastes like rotisserie chicken that they stripped off the bird, breaded and fried and said, ‘Okay, here’s your chicken, give me $12.’” Levins said, in contrast, all the components
of the plate at Layne’s — with the potato salad, chicken fingers, sauce and fries — compliment each other and create a rich flavor profile. “Layne’s has juicy chicken; it’s a light, crispy breading, which is complimented by a peppery sauce that adds flavor to the chicken and fries and everything in between,” Levins said. “The sauce is an addition, but not a necessity.” Robertson said her experience working at Layne’s shows off the local favorite’s strengths to both potential customers and employees. “[What makes us the best] is that we’re locally owned, and when you come in, you’ll be greeted happily, you just see a happy face,” Robertson said. “It’s our energy, we treat you like you work here also. We’re more of a family, we joke around with everybody, and we try to have conversations with our customers also.”
THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 20
BEST TIKTOK INFLUENCER: @BRITTANY_BROSKI
Aggie TikTok starts new, digital tradition
Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
@Brittany_Broski is one of the most popular creators on TikTok, with over 6 million followers. As a member of the Class of 2019, she spearheaded the “Aggie TikTok” community after releasing her debut kombucha reaction video during her time at Texas A&M.
Brittany Tomlinson, aka ‘Kombucha girl,’ paves way for Aggie creators By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel
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aking its debut in 2016, TikTok has taken social media by storm and transformed the entertainment industry. Since its release, many Aggies have taken the university’s traditions online by sharing what it’s like to be a Texas A&M student while slowly building up what they call “Aggie TikTok.” Though this community was not crafted overnight, Aggies such as former student Brittany Tomlinson, Class of 2019, known as “Kombucha Girl” have paved the way. After posting a video of herself trying a kombucha drink, her comical 20-second video took off, becoming a meme dominating both TikTok and Twitter. Since posting her video in 2019, Tomlinson’s account, @brittany_broski, has grown to 6.4 million followers and 282 million likes.
Tomlinson has led the way for both herself and other Aggies to share their connections worldwide, helping unite current and former students. The videos can be funny or informative, teaching users how to DIY or learn a skill they may not know, such as agricultural leadership, education and communications graduate student Audrey De La Zerda, or @goldree1, who uses the platform for nail tutorials. De La Zerda said she began her account after her brother encouraged her to share her talents with TikTok. “I was doing my nails one night and [my brother said I] should post this to TikTok and see how people respond to it, and [it went] really well. It received over 900,000 views,” De La Zerda said. “That started my journey on TikTok, and then if people asked for tutorials on how I did that first manicure, I responded to that and started making more and more tutorials. As I posted more, my followers and views and questions grew.” Since starting her account in July of 2021, De La Zerda has garnered 21,500 followers and 472,300 likes for her tutorials. “It’s pretty crazy because it has grown so
quickly in less than a year. I just can’t believe it because I’ve always done my nails since like middle school or high school; it’s just a fun thing that I’d like to do,” De La Zerda said. “Getting to share one of my passions and knowing I get to teach people about stuff that I enjoy is really exciting. I have a surreal moment every week like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ It’s grown so big, so fast, and people really enjoy what I share.” De La Zerda said she has learned a lot about what her followers enjoy viewing and how to make tutorials informative while also interacting with her followers. “I used to make my videos a little bit longer and draw them out, and then as I’ve learned what people like, I’ve made them a little bit shorter,” De La Zerda said. While doing her nails, De La Zerda said her followers would occasionally catch a glimpse of her Aggie Ring, which led to many Aggies leaving comments. “Some people will comment like, ‘Oh, I see your Aggie Ring. I didn’t know you were an Aggie, too. I love following your page, you’ve taught me so much about nails,’” De La Zerda said. “It makes me really happy
when I see that.” Other Aggies, such as sports management senior Hunter Prabhu, or @cstatgrubber, have used their accounts to help support local businesses and inform users about buisnesses they may not know about. In Prabhu’s case, he features locally owned restaurants unique to the Bryan-College Station area. Coming into college as a freshman, Prabhu said his mother encouraged him to start a food blog, but was not sure he wanted to make a website. So, when TikTok began to grow in popularity, he took his shot. “TikTok was that perfect platform where I can literally create one-minute videos, just have people watching what I eat, and all these restaurants that can be discovered in conversation that people don’t even know of,” Prabhu said. “The success that has come from it is unbelievable, it just shows how TikTok is just the new wave of social media.” Since creating his account approximately a year ago, Prabhu has gathered almost 8,100 followers and 52,900 likes and has even been recognized in public. “The first time I ever got recognized was while I was at work. I work in a country club, and it kind of completely threw me offguard,” Prabhu said. “It’s honestly pretty cool seeing how I’m kind of College Station-TikTok famous. I love my followers, and I appreciate every single one of them” Prabhu said he encourages students and residents of the area to support local businesses when choosing a place to eat. “If you ever need a place to eat, go local,” Prabhu said. “A lot of restaurants and business [owners] are not from College Station, but they come to College Station for opportunity. We have 70,000 students here, and then on top of that, you have all the [permanent] residents. College Station is a great place to start your business, especially if you’re a restaurant.” With his graduation approaching in May, Prabhu said he hopes to pass the torch to another to continue the account in support of local businesses. “I’m not going to be in College Station forever, sadly,” Prabhu said. “What I want to do is to pass this along to someone else, someone who’s an Aggie, someone who likes food and who’s willing to carry on the tradition.”
NOW IS THE TIME
to pre-order your copy of the
2022AGGIELAND A photojournalistic record of the 2021-2022 school year, the 120th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Distribution will be Summer or Fall 2022. Go online to tx.ag/BuyTheAggieland or call 979-845-2697 to make your purchase.
It’s only $81.19
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OLDER AGGIELANDS You can order past Aggielands at tx.ag/BuyTheAggieland. All sales proceeds go back to students and keep alive a Texas A&M tradition that started in 1895.
THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 22
BEST ON-CAMPUS DINING: MSC CHICK-FIL-A Second Chick-fil-A campus location sees high foot traffic, good service By Morgan Gentry @TheBattMorgan
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ith just over one year of operation, the Memorial Student Center, or MSC, Chick-fil-A has proven to be a fan favorite when it comes to Texas A&M’s on-campus dining. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Chick-fil-A offers an array of menu options for customers to choose from. Alongside the variety, staff members work hard to provide excellent quality service to customers to ensure they have a positive experience. Assistant director of dining services Martin Perez, Class of 2003, serves as the current location manager. Perez has been working at Chick-fil-A for two and a half years, with one and half of those years at the MSC location. Perez said his favorite part about work is the interaction between team members and customers. “It’s just watching the interaction … especially with our regulars, seeing how [they] interact with each other, not only placing the order, but actually having a conversation while waiting for their food to come up,” Perez said. “It’s fun to see that interaction … because the atmosphere feeds off of each other, and being able to see that … it really brings home what the mission of Chick-fil-A is, to have the best experience possible.” Chick-fil-A general manager John Yeager began his experience back in the summer of 2019 by putting together the build-out and establishing the new MSC location. Yeager said he believes what sets Chick-fil-A apart is the strong culture reinforced every day through students’ feedback. “We’ve got a number of options where the students can give us feedback,” Yeager said. “Typically, the feedback you get is not generally all that positive. But, I’ve got to say the preponderance of the feedback that we get [at] Chick-fil-A, it’s got something wonderful to say … [about] the guest experience, and it just keeps you getting up in the morning and heading out. [It keeps] everybody positive and … [it] makes it the best place to work on campus, in my opinion.” Throughout the week, the restaurant’s popularity can be seen with long lines, often
Aggies love to ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
The Chick-fil-A located in Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center is one of the campus’s newest and busiest restaurants.
extending past the food court, filled with eager students excited to sate their hunger. Journalism junior and Chick-fil-A front-of-house supervisor Jaylin Oliver said he believes the home-like environment influences the continuation of students’ return to the restaurant. “I think that we have … [a] friendlier and more at-home environment when you come in,” Oliver said. “We have regulars that come in a lot of [the] time, and we try to remember what they like [and] keep a good conversation going, so I think having those experiences and moments [are] what brings them back every time. I mean, it’s Chick-fil-A, who doesn’t want it?” Director of marketing and guest experience Stephanie Denson said with plans to renovate the MSC food court, the university wanted to figure out what the people wanted. After collecting surveys from various students and faculty, Chick-fil-A was a popular choice “Chick-fil-A, of course, is always a No. 1 on a majority of college campuses,” Denson said. “So, we [were] excited to bring up the brand new Chick-fil-A to the Memorial Stu-
dent Center, and it has not lost popularity, and we don’t see it going down anytime soon.” Along with popularity, most notably comes high-volume crowds, especially during the rush hours of lunch and early dinners. Despite the large wave of customers coming in, Perez said the employees always ensure preparations are made for handling the high traffic times. “We’re pretty much a hub for all students coming in and leaving the main campus, so the way we deal with that is we try to get them through our line as quick[ly] as possible,” Perez said. “Just being prepared for the lunch rushes [and] knowing the class times [is a] key component to us. Doing little things like that really helps anticipate the lines that we’re going to be getting during the day.” Yeager said, in the first year, the new location changed line plans five times because the managers are constantly thinking of ways to effectively get meals to customers. “It’s all about working up the efficiency and trying to get the hot food across the counter to the guests as quickly as possible so they’re not standing in that line very long,” Yeager said.
“There’s a lot of operational stuff that goes into the calculations on how we can get the guests from point A to point B. Every offseason, we break it all down again and take another look just to make sure that we’re just as sharp as we possibly can be.” The MSC Chick-fil-A also boasts expanded menu options which aren’t available at any of the other on-campus locations. This includes some dessert and drink options offered exclusively at the MSC location. “We have iced coffee and frosted lemonades. Dessert-wise, we have brownies and cookies,” Perez said. “And for the morning people that want breakfast … we have yogurt parfaits.” Denson said, ultimately, she believes the hard work of the employees at the restaurant is what makes it one of the best. “Their team [and] these guys here have a lot of passion for what they do, and there’s a reason why they are the most popular location on campus,” Denson said.
THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 23
BEST GROCERY STORE: H-E-B
Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION
The H-E-B located at the intersection of Wellborn Road and Harvey Mitchell Parkway is the first-ever winner for the Best Grocery Store in the ‘Best of Aggieland’ magazine.
Here, everything really is better Partners, community valued above business at Aggie-run grocery store By Caleb Powell @calebpowell23
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espite newcomer Brookshire Brothers joining Texas A&M’s campus in April of 2021, Aggies still prefer Texas staple H-E-B. The votes are in, and the Jones Crossing H-E-B has been chosen as the best grocery store in Aggieland. The store, located off Wellborn Road, is open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Managers, employees and customers alike are drawn to its person-first customer service approach. Francisco Hidalgo, Class of 2007 and general manager at the Jones Crossing H-E-B, said in an email to The Battalion that the store is successful because of its goals to serve the community.
“We are a purpose-driven company,” Hidalgo said. “We want to make every Texan’s life better. We do it through the products we sell, hunger relief, emergency response, health and welfare and public education.” H-E-B is able to serve a myriad of customers and drive community outreach because of its employees, or partners, Hidalgo said. “Our partners are our greatest competitive advantage,” Hidalgo said. “We invest in our partners, and they are the heart of everything we do.” The partners at H-E-B couldn’t agree more, many of whom are current students at A&M. Human resources and sociology junior and H-E-B partner George Crump said his team works well because of the manager’s hands-on leadership style. “The main store director, or store manager, is very vocal that he wants all of us to succeed,” Crump said. “He motivates us every day. He even works out there with us sometimes.”
The team at the Jones Crossing H-E-B operates effectively because of their personal bonds, both inside of the store and outside of the workplace, Crump said. This social aspect is an asset to the store’s day-to-day operations. “We all know each other outside of work, and we do so much team building,” Crump said. “Team bonding, like anything, is essential because you’re building up your traits and characteristics … such as leadership skills, communication skills, mostly your everyday type of skills that you need to inherit … while you’re working your way up toward your career.” Building relationships at H-E-B extends beyond the trust he has with coworkers, Crump said. “I like being a cashier, being up front or welcoming people,” Crump said. “I have time to get to know customers, know the people who could potentially work at H-E-B. I call everybody family for a reason, and I use that characteristic at work, too, for a reason.”
Customers can feel the passion H-E-B partners pour into their store. Geography junior Jared Collinge said he’s always had good customer service. “My main experience with employees is speaking to cashiers, and they’re professional,” Collinge said. The main draw of the Jones Crossing H-E-B is the convenience factor, due to location and wide availability of products, Collinge said. “It’s really easy to just pull in there and leave,” Collinge said. “It’s really convenient to go there for gas — they usually have good rates — and then just stop by for groceries. It’s my one-two punch.” H-E-B was able to still effectively serve its customers and provide convenient service during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic because of good preparation, Hidalgo said. “The most obvious adjustment was having a plan for a pandemic long before it started,” Hidalgo said. “Our company had the foresight to prepare for the unthinkable.” Those preparations proved to be a significant help as Collinge said he relied heavily on H-E-B’s alternative services during lockdown. “I had to rely on H-E-B delivery, and that became really affordable and my go-to option when the pandemic hit,” Collinge said. “Everyone was really cautious about the virus, especially back then, so it provided the best way for me to get healthy food.” Although the delivery services H-E-B provided were helpful, Collinge said he still preferred shopping for groceries in the store. “I like retail environments, I guess,” Collinge said. “Especially during the pandemic when I wasn’t doing much, it would be fun to go outside [and] have a purpose to go do something.” The partners at H-E-B also love working face-to-face with their customers; Crump said he enjoys his role because of the people he meets. “It doesn’t feel like work because every time I’m there, I’ll be learning something,” Crump said. “I’m always having a great time, interacting with customers and getting to understand individuals besides myself.” Perhaps most significantly, the Jones Crossing H-E-B serves Aggieland as well as it does because it’s run by Aggies. Hidalgo said being a former student influenced his decision to come back to College Station and help other Aggies climb the chain at H-E-B. “[We have] set up a lot of processes to help my fellow Aggies succeed in getting a job with H-E-B,” Hidalgo said. “[Being an Aggie] has impacted me greatly. It’s one of the reasons why I came back to Aggieland.”
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MAROON LIFE
VOTING 2020
1
NG ALL THINGS VOTI
TUESDAY, OCTOBER
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A&M SINCE 1893
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ROLL TEARS ROLL
Family tradition
Aggies defeat No. 1 Crims
A third-generation coach, Texas A&M track and field’s Pat Henry is one of the winningest coaches in any NCAA sport
on Tide 41-38 in instant
classic
“I wouldn’t be anywhere without The Battalion!” C. Morgan Engel, ’18, Telecommunication Media Studies Photographer, Clarkson Creative formerly with Minnesota Vikings/San Diego Chargers
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— THE BATTALION
“My entire professional career has been shaped by my time spent working at @TheBattOnline as a student reporter and editor. I’m no longer in the J-biz, but make no mistake: I use elements of what I learned there every hour of every day. Can’t imagine my life without it!” True Brown, ’04, Agricultural Journalism Senior Director of Development, A&M Foundation
“It truly helped me figure out the direction I wanted to go in career-wise!” Bethany Irvine, ‘18, Communication Washington, D.C., Reporting Fellow, Texas Tribune
Senior defensive back Leon O’Neal Jr. recovered the touchdown in the ball fumbled by Alabama following drive.
By Jennifer Streeter @jennystreeter3
at the end of the
first quarter. O’Neal
returned the ball
to Alabama’s 41-yard
Robert O’Brien —
THE BATTALION
line allowing
Fisher recording the A&M to score a first-ever victory over his former boss. on Georgia in an eventual 41-24 victory over While the win is the Bulldogs. young man. He cares, aturday was an upset and nobody expect- not be fully satisfied great, Fisher said he will to the fourth For the Aggies, it all came down ed. For the ground game, it matters to him.” until he sees how his quarter, junior team by one touchdown, with A&M only leading Isaiah performs throughout Texas A&M football Spiller and sophomore running back the 31-24. “We can be special. rest of the season. running back Redshirt sophomore Devon Achane stole No. 1 University of defeated thenOur football team quarterback Zach the show. Spiller ran Alabama in front learning to play is Calzada found 46 yards and one touchdown. for of a sold-out Kyle his groove. With the Field on Saturday, teams and have against other great football behind 12th Man of the One highlight Oct. 9 with 106,815 him, the signal caller success. That’s night for fans last time A&M defeated in attendance. The to me,” Fisher said. “It shows what matters score in all three possessionsled the Aggies to Achane’s 96-yardthe maroon and white was a kickoff return for a during the first down in the 2012 upset in the Crimson Tide was ter, and it shows a lot of belief lot of charac- quarter. Additionally, touchin the third quarter. Calzada Bryant-Denny Stadium. It shows in themselves. before Alabama head coach a lot of belief in throwing an interceptionwas 10 for 10 Achane Nick Saban’s previous in the middle amount said he was in disbelief with the At halftime, Alabama their teammates.” record against his former of open green available went into the locker of the second quarter. assistant room coaches to him. trailing 24-0, with Texas was “There is not a harder on the scoreboard “I couldn’t believe A&M head coach for the first position in sports it Jimbo time since Oct. 17, 2020, so big,” Achane said. because the hole was when the Tide took to play than quarterback,” Fisher said. “After scoring that, “[I’m] very proud of Zach. the He’s a high-character feeling was just amazing. It gave us a lot momentum. It was a big opportunity for of us.”
S
GAME RECAP ON
PG. 3
From Jimbo, with love
Jimbo Fisher celebrates
The Aggies’ 41-38 Robert O’Brien — victory over the Crimson THE BATTALION forth by the A&M Tide was the result football team. of months of hard work put
56th birthday coach. Starting in 2010, Saban began terrorizwith win over former boss ing his former assistants who had since taken Nick Saban over their own programs By Ryan Faulkner With 24 straight wins as head coaches. @ryanfaulk03 record against his earlier and an undefeated four wins over Fisher, protégés, including Saban’s dominance Over five months ago, Texas A&M head threatened to continue with no end coach Jimbo Fisher in sight; beating the seven-time made national champion “We’re going to beat a bold promise: seemed to be a feat his ass.” unconquerable to those On the surface, this who, at one point, claim worked under the man. with many left wondering lacked substance, Even so, in Fisher’s words, Saban’s downsingle out one specific why Fisher would fall “was inevitable” coach because — Alabama’s going “someone was Nick Saban. After to do it, in time.” all, Fisher had already complished almost acAnd though everything there is to do Fisher himself he didn’t necessarily expect it, in college football — two ships, three conference national champion- whose arrival became the grand champion was foretold in his own prophand a College Coach titles, nine bowl wins ecy. of the Year award. But beating Saban, his On Saturday, Oct. 9, the unranked Aggies to-head competition former boss, in head- upset the undefeated had significance of No. 1 Crimson Tide own. its front of 106,815 fans at Kyle Field. Not in “I have the utmost only respect for Nick Saban. did the win put A&M back on track I always have, I always after two consecutive losses friends,” Fisher said. will and I consider us but it also gave to open its SEC campaign, “But That’s ball, and I respect we’re competitors. — proof he Fisher another win of his own could do him Starting in 2000, Fisher for that.” be impossible and take what was thought to worked under Sadown his former boss, ban as the offensive coordinator and quarter- mentor and colleague. backs coach for Louisiana Saban said he had no choice but to praise The two won a national State University. his former assistant, impressed championship towith A&M’s gether with LSU in ability to snap Alabama’s 2003, 19-game winning for the Miami Dolphins, but after Saban left streak. the duo’s path split. Even apart, the two “I have great respect men’s for [Fisher]. I always mained similar, something coaching styles re- say that. He is one of the best who Fisher attributes to ever did it,” the pair’s similar upbringings Saban said on the postgame from the “same CBS broadcast. neck of the woods” learned a lot when in West Virginia. I coached with him, “I Nearly a decade later, we had a lot of good and times.” another streak of success Saban went on yet By finally defeating as a college football Saban, Fisher FISHER ON PG.
“Learned so much during my time there and definitely made lifelong friends. Wouldn’t be who I am today without my time at The Batt.” Doug Fuentes, ‘01, Journalism Registered Nurse/Assistant Nurse Manager, Baylor Scott & White “The Batt is where I learned my craft and caught the journalism bug. Hopefully many more generations will get the same opportunity.” Matthew Watkins, ’08, Political Science Managing Editor for News and Politics, Texas Tribune “I would not be the journalist I am today or have the goals I do now if it wasn’t for The Battalion. These students are the future of news. We need them.” Chevall Pryce, ’17, University Studies/Journalism Reporter, Houston Community Newspapers
3
“As a reporter and editor at The Batt, I learned real-time lessons: how to live the ethics of journalism; skills that made success as an entrepreneur publisher possible; and the conviction that journalism matters.” Angelique Gammon, ’81, Journalism Professor, Texas A&M, former owner & publisher of Insite Magazine
1 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2021 STUDENT MEDIA
“... he would do and say these things with intent to get me more comfortable with him.”
“He was bragging about it.” “He was reported to the chairs two times and those chairs did nothing.”
“I thought I could trust him.”
A TRADITION, TARNISHED
“It appears as though there was a shortcoming ...”
“... while traditions are important, sometimes traditions need change.”
“... a concern that existed in 2017 was able to perpetuate itself for many years.”
“After Fish Camp, he sexually assaulted her.” “Who knows how many other girls this happened to?”
Failures in reporting process, unbalanced power dynamics create culture of sexual assault, harassment in Fish Camp By Myranda Campanella @MCampanella_ Editor’s note: The Battalion does not publish the names or identifying information of rape and sexual assault victims. The names of victims and assailants in this article have been altered or removed to protect the subjects’ identities.
Power dynamics, grooming, hookups
The unequal power dynamic that Fish Camp creates between counselors and incoming freshmen makes it easy for someone who has not learned healthy boundaries to assert predatory behaviors, Carroll Spitznagle said. “Whenever you have someone that’s in a position of power like that — especially with students that come from all over the world Content warning: This article discusses with different cultures and backgrounds — it sexual violence and predatory behavior. becomes, unfortunately, a way for survivors to be preyed upon,” Carroll Spitznagle said. “I thought he was someone I could trust.” Ashley said when she met her D.G. dad on the first day of Fish Camp, she thought he Journalism junior, “Ashley,” said this of the was nice and trustworthy. Once classes began, male counselor in her 2018 Fish Camp Dis- Ashley said her D.G. dad remained in contact cussion Group, who was supposed to “offer with her and often told her to call him if she advice about classes, College Station and any- ever needed a ride from Northgate, which he thing else you need as you begin your jour- insisted was commonplace between D.G. parney as an Aggie,” according to Fish Camp’s ents and their freshmen. website. On the night of Dec. 1, 2018, Ashley called Ashley’s D.G. dad sexually assaulted her her D.G. dad for a ride home from Northgate, four months into her freshman year at Texas but when he picked her up, he locked Ashley A&M — the unwanted campus welcome that inside his car and tried to force her to kiss she said stole her joy about the school. him and perform oral sex. Afterward, he drove Boldly stated on the front page of its web- them to his apartment in Park West instead of site, Fish Camp, founded in 1954, is “A to her house, as she had asked, and attempted freshman’s first tradition” at A&M. Howev- to rape her. er, sexual assault and harassment have woven In hindsight, Ashley said she realized there their way in as a hidden part of the tradition had been red flags, like how he as current students — D.G. would ask the freshman girls if “moms” and “dads” — are COMMON TERMS: they had boyfriends and when placed in positions of power he saved his contact name in over incoming freshmen. The Fish Camp - Texas A&M’s Ashley’s phone with a smiley result is an established culture freshman orientation program face. Ashley said she now sees of hookups, grooming and these subtle actions as her D.G. sexual assault and harassment D.G. - discussion group dad grooming her because he among counselors that extends was ultimately able to build well beyond the four-day sum- D.G. dad - male discussion trust and put her in situations mer retreat held two hours group leader that would have otherwise away from College Station. In been weird. addition, a failure to adhere to D.G. mom - female “I was a freshman. I was proper protocols — in which discussion group leader young, you know? I was comclaims of abuse and harassment ing into this camp as brand against counselors are passed new; I hadn’t been fully educated on the conalong to director staff and faculty advisors — cepts of grooming and sexual assault, so I nevhas created a climate that protects abusers from er thought it was weird,” Ashley said. “Lookrepercussions and subjects freshmen to pred- ing back now, he would do these things and atory behavior. say these things with intent to get me more Lauren Carroll Spitznagle, executive di- comfortable with him.” rector of the Brazos Valley Sexual Assault After confiding in other members of her Resource Center, said it is “common knowl- D.G. following the assault, Ashley said she was edge” among her peers that students have told her counselor had also assaulted his Fish been assaulted by Fish Camp staff. Camp partner and another freshman in their
D.G. freshmen] … and also to make friends,” Grace “His D.G. partner was very uncomfortable said. “He was bragging about it.” with him from the start. [She] asked to get a Muñoz said Fish Camp has a strict no-datnew partner, and they told her no,” Ashley ing policy, and counselors are encouraged to said. “The organization told her no, and she “keep it PG” with the freshmen and other had to stay with him. counselors during camp until continuity ends. “After Fish Camp, he sexually assaulted “Counselors are told time and time again her.” that their role is to serve freshmen, it’s to be Additionally, Ashley said she was told by a resource and to be a mentor,” Muñoz said. her D.G. mom that her assaulter was also reDespite these policies and constant remindported to chairs for sexually assaulting fresh- ers about Fish Camp’s main missions, Grace men in 2017 and 2019. Because of those said she has discovered it’s really common for chairs’ failure to report up to the director staff, students to pursue leadership roles within the as is protocol, he was able to re-apply to be organization for the wrong reasons and to a counselor again and again. Ashley said he overlook its dating policies. ultimately graduated from A&M in May 2020 with no consequences. “He was reported to chairs two times, and Reporting sexual assault those chairs did nothing,” Ashley said. “And on A&M’s campus because those chairs did nothing [in 2017], I was sexually assaulted.” Denise Crisafi, Ph.D., a Health Promotion Ashley’s D.G. dad denied the allegations coordinator within the Offices of the Dean against him in a comment to of Student Life, said A&M The Battalion and declined to defines sexual harassment in FACULTY ADVISORS comment further. University Rule 24.4.2 in acEven though Ashley recordance with federal law as ported her assault to Title IX “any type of unwelcome sexuDIRECTOR STAFF two years later, Fish Camp’s al advance” made by students, current Head Director Eric faculty, staff or campus visitors. Muñoz, Class of 2021, said it This includes sexual favors as CAMP CHAIRS is not common for victims of well as verbal and non-verbal Fish Camp-related sexual ascommunicative conduct of a saults to report their offenders. sexual nature that is “severe, CAMP COUNSELORS However, he said if someone persistent or pervasive enough told him assault is common to [prevent access to] an educawithin the organization, he tional, living learning environINCOMING FRESHMEN would be “very saddened, but ment,” Crisafi said. I also would not be as surprised Separately, sexual assault is as others.” definitively three different acts, Crisafi said: In addition to sexual assault, Fish Camp is rape, fondling and incest. She said there is no also a common place for counselors to meet scale for these acts in terms of importance, so dating or hookup partners, either among no one’s trauma is invalid. other counselors or, sometimes, even the “I think it’s really important for our campus freshmen, as was the case with now-junior community to understand that a lot of times, “Grace.” our initial reaction is to think of [sexual asGrace said she began hooking up with her sault] as rape,” Crisafi said. “And that’s true, D.G. dad within the first month of classes her and it’s incredibly valid. But it also includes freshman year, which Muñoz said is against other things that can happen in connection Fish Camp policy — counselors cannot be with it … or without the definition or action romantically involved with any freshmen un- of rape being present.” til their continuity program and membership Crisafi said national statistics show the risk ends in October each year. However, this pol- of sexual assault goes up within the first six to icy is not listed in Fish Camp’s Constitution eight weeks of the fall semester, particularly or by-laws. among freshmen. Grace said she quickly figured out her “Usually the risk of experiencing sexual viD.G. dad had ulterior motives for being a Fish olence and or alcohol poisoning and Camp counselor from the start. “He told me he did it to [hook up with FISH CAMP ON PG. 2
“My experience as a sports editor/writer was so much more valuable than most of my classes.” Carter Karels, ’18, University Studies/Journalism Junior Account Executive, Revolut “What I learned at The Battalion helped land internships with the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Dallas Morning News. It gave me skills to seamlessly integrate into a professional newsroom.” Angel Franco, ’19, Telecommunication Media Studies Communications Coordinator, Houston Dynamo/Dash
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