The Battalion — December 5, 2023 by The Battalion

Christmas time is here College Station hosts first ever Christmas parade featuring Santa, Aggie Band By Sydnei Miles @Sydnei_M04 Aggieland kicked off the month of December with its first ever holiday procession. On Saturday, Dec. 2, College Station held its first Christmas Parade, which began at Post Oak Mall and concluded at Central Park. Uplifting the fun holiday spirit, guests enjoyed sounds from the Aggie Band, decked-out floats and an appearance from Santa Claus himself. Attendees watched from the side as fire trucks, horseback riders, motorcyclists and more paraded through the streets. The most classic Christmas carols and songs played simultaneously, and parade participants passed out candy and bells to children watching along the street. Several organizations, schools and groups participated in the parade, boosting the variety and diversity of participants. CHRISTMAS ON PG. A6

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Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION

College Station Fire Department drives through at the College Station Christmas Parade Dec. 2, 2023

This is The Battalion’s last print of the fall 2023 semester to allow our staff to enjoy the holiday break. The Battalion will return in print on Jan. 12, 2024.

A broad range of opportunities Merzouga was her favorite. The group didn’t

vices program coordinator Jessica Meado

ulty-led trips, one of which is led by professor

one of the top-ranked universities for study abroad opportunities. A&M ranked first in the US for sending students abroad, with 569 students visiting other countries during the 2020-21 academic year, according to Open Doors, a ranking program a part of the Institute of International Education. There are three main types of programs that a student can attend, A&M Global Ser-

foreign university for transfer credit to A&M, Meado said. The second type of program a student can participate in is an exchange program which is also for transfer credit, Meado said. “Either Education Abroad or the colleges have partnerships with specific institutions where we send them our students, and they send us their students,” Meado said. The final type of program offered are fac-

“When I go back to France, I know what to expect,” Bausseron said. “When I go back to France with the students, they will notice things that I don’t notice anymore as being new.” Communication professor Nathan Crick has led trips to both Italy and Ireland. The Department of Communication & Journal-

A&M leads the United States in do any educational tours but instead went said. Meado works specifically with affiliate Sylvie Bausseron. Bausseron said the trip goes bashing, stayed in a nice hotel and rode provider programs, organizations that create to Perpignan during the month of June. study abroad, foreign exchange dune camels. study abroad or internship opportunities for As an immigrant originally from France, Foulkrod’s experience, found among many students. An affiliate provider is a company Bausseron said she always enjoys returning to opportunities, experiences students, has helped push Texas A&M to be that provides study abroad programs through a her home country. By Richard Hicks JOUR 203 contributor In summer 2023, international studies junior Ella Foulkrod studied abroad in Morocco for 10 weeks under the tutelage of professor Salah Ayari. Foulkrod loved the trip, but said the last big thing the group did together in

From first setting foot on campus to walking across the stage, we’re proud to support students on every step of their Aggie journey.

ABROAD ON PG. A4

NEWS The Battalion | 12.05.23

Ashley Acuna — THE BATTALION

Barber Jacob Cervantes cuts engineering freshman J.R. Vaquera’s hair on Dec. 4, 2023, at 4.0 Cuts Barber Salon in the Memorial Student Center to maintain his cadet clean hairstyle.

Businesses cool as students head home Bryan-College Station stores brace for winter break, look to attract local customers By Ashley Acuna @AshleyMAcuna Local businesses are preparing for winter break and graduation. With the conclusion of the football season and the holiday break approaching, small business owners and chains in Bryan-College Station are bracing for a slowdown as college students travel home for the holidays. But for some businesses, this is peak season. Football season is how many chains make their money, and they lose customers when it ends. Jake Weaver, manager of Chimy’s Cerveceria in College Station, said the restaurant attracts the most customers during the football season. “It is absolutely wild,” Weaver said. “The volume is crazy, and usually, we hit maximum capacity early on in the night. Usually, we have a line out the door to the road.”

At Chimy’s, Weaver said their clientele is predominantly college students, and graduation season is the last surge of customers that come into the chain before they lose most of their business. Chimy’s is under new ownership and is aiming to cater to local residents so they can continue receiving business when college students are away. In one example, Weaver said they’ve introduced a promotion to attract customers during winter break. “We switched over where we now have $3 margaritas on Mondays, and I feel like that is a big [promotion] for that slow day of the week,” Weaver said. “This year we are definitely kicking it up a notch and making sure that everyone knows that we have the best deals for drinks in town.” Bakery owner and hairstylist Abigail Johnson said she receives unique orders only for this town — cookie orders for ring dunks and graduation. However, Johnson said since students come and go, she only has them for a limited time, especially when it comes to hair styling. “I’m in a unique position because working in College Station is dependent on college students, but those students are not always the

most reliable,” Johnson said. “As a hairstylist, it’s great because if I meet freshmen and do their hair for four years, that’s awesome — but then, uh oh, they graduate, and they are gone.” Johnson said during the slow Christmas break, she prepares for the following season by stocking up on the items for her bakery and strategic financial allocation. The winter break is typically less busy for her hairstyle services as well because people already have their hair done, Johnson said. “It gets busy right before the holidays because everyone wants their hair done for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Johnson said. “After the holidays, people don’t have the money to spend on their hair, they just spend it on Christmas, so they will wait until March.” While different businesses are feeling the drawbacks of their customer presence, some businesses thrive during winter months. Samantha Sand, Class of 2022, is a photographer and said around 65% of her customers are college students. She said she experiences peak demand during the fall and winter, as most people want their holiday and graduation pictures during that time. One way she

capitalizes on this high-traffic season is by introducing promotions, Sand said. “A lot of my business is driven from Facebook or social media, and I find a lot of clientele from there,” Sand said. “[I] offer mini sessions for the holidays so that people don’t have to spend out of their budget, but they can still have those photos to memorialize and have them captured in time.” Sand has a 1-year-old baby, and to make sure she can provide for her family, she sets money aside to prepare for the slow seasons in the summer by comparing her current income with previous years, she said. Co-owner of 4.0 Cuts Barber Salon Ramsey De La Cruz helps operate its three locations around College Station. De La Cruz said he is grateful for how God is taking care of his business and family because of how well they are doing. “Eight years ago when we opened up in Northgate, and for a few years after that, the holidays did affect [the business],” Cruz said. “Though as we have grown … nowadays, we don’t see an overturn.”

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ABROAD CONTINUED FROM A1 -ism’s COMM to Italy trips last for an entire spring semester in Castillo and Florentino, Crick said. After that, he said he organized his own trip for students to Florence. “I wanted one where it was more immersive in the cultures itself and in more of an urban setting,” Crick said. Crick also leads trips to Galway and Dublin in Ireland, he said. Meado, Crick and Bausseron all said they agree that the university fosters a good culture for studying abroad with each college being represented in the Education Abroad office. The College of Engineering also has the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs, and Mays Business School has the Center for International Business Studies, Meado said. The Education Abroad office holds outreach events through presentations and tabling, and has multiple advisors who are able to discuss any program, including more specialized ones. “Any student that wants to — is even remotely thinking about wanting to have an international experience — I would highly encourage to talk to advisors,” Meado said. The Education Abroad office also serves as a passport office, which is open to the public, according to the Global Engagement Services website.

The office also is committed to diversity, winning the Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education award in 2021 from Diversity Abroad, an organization that helps minority students experience international education, according to the Diversity Abroad website. The Education Abroad office offers a 24/7 helpline for students abroad, as well as other services, according to its website. “We try to do check-ins,” Meado said. “Just to triage any issues students may have.” Each person engaged with helping students travel abroad offered similar advice to those unsure about whether to study abroad or not: do it. “If you don’t, you’ll regret it,” Bausseron said. Meado, Crick and Bausseron cited the many benefits of experiencing unfamiliar places. “Studying abroad is a completely irreplaceable experience because it immerses you in situations culturally,” Crick said. Foulkrod encouraged students to do what she did and study abroad. “You get stuck in one environment in college,” Foulkrod said. “Have a culture shock before you graduate.” Richard Hicks is a communication senior and contributed this article from the course JOUR 203 to The Battalion.

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Charcuterie storefront to arrive at Lake Walk Graze & Gala to open new retail brick-and-mortar location in Febuary 2024 By Kaila Tindall @kailatindall There is nothing more satisfying than the aesthetics of a charcuterie board — a mouth-watering combination of fruits, meats, cheeses and more, and now, a new establishment is bringing this to Aggieland. The Board Room by Graze & Gala, a local charcuterie board business, will launch its first in-person location in early February 2024. The District store will be located in the heart of Bryan’s Lake Walk District, an upscale outdoor area filled with boutique shopping, unique restaurants and live entertainment. During the boredom of the COVID-19 pandemic, owner Meredith Dickey stumbled upon a new passion: creating charcuterie boards. Dickey said the idea sparked for the brick-and-mortar store back in March after the continued success of her first company, Graze & Gala. “I wanted to do this full time, but I needed to have a good establishment,” Dickey said. “I wanted to have a place where I can [host] people and events … I wanted my own space.” The boards Dickey makes incorporate food items like salami roses, fig spreads, sliced cheeses topped with fresh herbs and Ferrero Rocher or Ghirardelli chocolates, according to Graze & Gala’s website. The boards range from $75-300 in price and from small to extra large in size, with one option being “feeds a crowd,” that serves up to 26 people. “The Board Room will have new offers I’ve never done before,” Dickey said. “I’ll have build-your-own charcuterie board classes, wine and cheese pairings, fun girl’s nights and events.” Dickey said she plans to include a retail section in her new store after customer feedback. This will include a variety of crackers, jams, olives, pickles, meats, cheeses and chocolates, among other items. “If you want a charcuterie board but not an elaborate one made by me, you can come in and shop [for] literally anything that comes on my boards,” Dickey said. The storefront will have grab-and-go charcuterie cups and cones, as well as an option to order ahead. Store hours are Tuesday - Thursday: 11:00 AM - 7 PM and Friday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 9 PM, according to The Board Rooms website. After a collaboration with Aggieland Hu-

Photo courtesy of Jet Norway

An elaborate new concept of enjoying wine and cheese is coming to Bryan’s Lake Walk District.

mane Society, The Board Room will feature something for furry friends Dickey said, with ‘bark-cuterie’ boxes for sale in the stores retail section. This will include a charcuterie-themed, dog friendly treat. The initial online business of Graze & Gala began when a friend of Dickey’s asked to buy one of her charcuterie boards after seeing her post them on Instagram. After the fact, he encouraged her to sell them. “He was like, ‘Would you actually make me one of your boards? My fiancée [is] obsessed with them,’” Dickey said. Originally thinking no one would want to buy her creative boards, Dickey said she now sees how fast her business has taken off. The business has expanded to include elaborate crudité platters, brunch spreads, sandwiches and salads, according to Graze & Gala’s website. “For the first year and a half, it wasn’t really a business,” Dickey said. “It was more of a food blog and a thing I did for friends and family … but now it’s definitely my full-time career.” Kate Chapman, marketing director for Lake Walk, said she was one of Dickey’s first

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Graze & Gala customers during the Christmas of 2020. “I had her do [charcuterie] boxes as Christmas gifts for some friends,” Chapman said. “From that very beginning, you could tell she had a passion for this — entertaining and talking to people.” Julieanna Diaz, a former co-worker of Dickey’s at Oldham Goodwin, said she learned of Graze & Gala when Dickey would bring charcuterie boards to work. “I got to taste her stuff before I even knew what Graze & Gala was,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is really good.’” Diaz won Graze & Gala’s Halloween giveaway this year and enjoyed a special coffin-themed charcuterie board. Dickey’s business truly reflects how she connects with people, Chapman said. “I think the business she created in Graze & Gala is a testament to her personality, interests and unique ways of being able to connect with people,” Chapman said. “What better way to connect with people over charcuterie, food that encourages conversation, collaboration and gathering.” The Board Room is a full-circle moment-

for Dickey, Chapman said, since Dickey was a marketing intern for The Local at Lake Walk in 2020. “She was a part of Lake Walk from a different perspective and now she will be a part of us as a permanent member of our Lake Walk community,” Chapman said. Chapman said she is thrilled to add The Board Room to the uniqueness of Lake Walk. “We look for businesses that offer something unique and special to this community that you can’t find anywhere else,” Chapman said. “To offer a business like The Board Room here at Lake Walk, we think it adds something new to the Bryan-College Station market.” A ton of growth has happened over the span of a year, and Dickey said she is excited for what The Board Room will offer to the community. “The amount of support that people have given me in my business is shockingly insane,” Dickey said. “I would not be able to take this step without that support … that means more to me than anyone could ever imagine.”

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CONGRATULATIONS!

CHRISTMAS CONTINUED FROM A1 The parade not only uplifted the spirits of the attendees, but also of the participants, Olivia Thomas said. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the College Station Christmas Parade reflected just that,” Thomas said. “It was great to participate in the parade and see the diverse group of people who lined the streets to attend.”

The parade ended with a beautiful lighting ceremony in Central Park and many relished the sight of festive lights. After the parade, many attendees stayed to enjoy the Christmas in the Park event which included photos with Santa, delicious hot cocoa and many other foods and holiday treats.

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Kathryn Guan Kenner Taylor Lauren Moran Lindsey Farber Makensie Till Marc Choucair Marek Good Maria Ramirez MJ Josyula Morgan Matheny Nikki Kanzler Pravalika Manchi Ryan Galley Ryan Messick Ryan Williamson Swapnil Dash Sydney Horak Tori Burkett Victoria Ryan Vivian Zheng

International Student Christmas Eve Program Come experience Christmas Eve! The program is a traditional celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth followed by a free traditional Christmas dinner.

Sunday, December 24 4:00pm-6:00pm You must register to attend… www.Beautiful-Savior.net Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 1007 Krenek Tap Road College Station, Texas 77840 For more information call: 979-693-4514

Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION

Atendees dressed up as Santa Claus and The Grinch walk through the College Station Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 starting at Post Oak Mall.

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OPINION

The Battalion | 12.05.23

Cheer is contagious: Act accordingly Opinion columnist Charis Adkins says Christmas doesn’t have to lose its charm as you age

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Charis Adkins @Charis_Batt Remember when Christmas was fun? Like nauseous-from-excitement, not-sleeping-awink fun? You were laying in bed on Christmas Eve, alight with nerves, your eyes flying open every few seconds when you thought you heard the faintest noise from the rooftop. Creeping up to the tree before the first rays of dawn to see which brightly wrapped packages had your name on them and whether Santa had taken to the cookies. It wasn’t just the gifts that excited you — a whole day with no school and the whole family together, visiting with extended relatives and even more free time to look forward to before the new year. It was an excitement that lasted for weeks before Christmas Day. How about Polar Express day at school, with watered-down hot chocolate in tiny styrofoam cups and those

nameless sugar cookies with the frosting? And those Advent calendars with little chocolate figures for every day of December? I can taste them now — slightly stale and with that plastic topnote. Santa’s magic was real in a way not a lot of things were, and even though we didn’t have any white Christmases in my part of Texas, the holidays were always holly, jolly and full of cheer. Christmas used to be fun. Pure, ephemeral joy, one day out of the year. What happened? Life, I guess. The inexorable march of Father Time dragging us into adulthood with all the apathy and real-life responsibilities that hang onto his coattails. The sad thing is I don’t even remember the last year I looked forward to Christmas so much that the mere thought of it sent flutters of excitement into my stomach. I didn’t know it was the last time. You never do. That goes for everything, I suppose. I used to be so excited for school field trips that I’d lay out the clothes I was going to wear days in advance and barely get a lick of sleep the

night before. When was the last time you looked forward to something that much? The truth of it is we’re never going to get that back. Pure, innocent joy is hard to come by these days. You can get a sense of it still if you’re in the business of looking. Like when you ace a test you thought you were going to fail, when you meet a really cute dog or when you frolic through a field like in the movies. Y’all ever frolicked? There’s nothing like it, really. Losing that childlike wonder and excitement is all part of growing up, and it’s true that we’re never going to feel the same way we did back then. But that’s not to say that Christmas can’t still be fun — we just have to find new, different ways to get there. Whoever said Polar Express days had to stop in elementary school? I say you fire that bad boy up on your TV and invite all your buddies over for hot cocoa and a movie night. It’s a great respite from the stress of finals, and I guarantee you’ll enjoy the somewhat horrifying uncanny-valley animation style much

more with friends. Cheer is contagious. Decorate your apartment, even if it’s just candy canes and little cutouts from the dollar store. Blast Mariah Carey from your car with the windows down. Bust out those ugly sweaters and wear your Grinch pajama pants and Santa hat to your final. I’ve seen stranger things on campus. I don’t know about you, but as I’ve grown older, giving gifts has become more enjoyable than receiving them. I don’t know if there’s anything better than seeing someone’s face light up and hearing the words, “You remembered!” Things have changed for us, and sometimes those childlike feelings are hard to come by. But if you really want them, and you really try, maybe Christmas is a day you can find them in again. Charis Adkins is an English junior and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

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Former wide reciever Quartney Davis gets tackled by Oklahoma State defense during the 2019 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on Dec. 27.

Room for seconds A&M to face Oklahoma State in Texas Bowl for the second time

By Hunter Mitchell @HMitchell1001 In its first bowl appearance since the 2020 Orange Bowl, Texas A&M football is staying close to home and will face off against a former Big 12 foe in Oklahoma State in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. The game is set for Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 8 p.m. at NRG Stadium in Houston. Both schools’ last matchup against one another came in similar fashion, as the Aggies beat the No. 25 Cowboys 24-21 in the 2019 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl. Oklahoma State is 9-4 and, after beginning the season 2-1 with a blowout loss to South Alabama, went 7-2 in conference play to make it to the Big 12 Championship game where, they lost to Texas, 49-21. Despite being hired last week, coach Mike Elko will not lead the Aggies in the bowl game. Elijah Robinson, interim coach for the Aggies’ last three games, was set to lead A&M

in its bowl game, but recently announced he was leaving the program to become the defensive coordinator for Syracuse, so his status for the Texas Bowl is unknown. The Cowboys are led by sophomore running back Ollie Gordon II, who has emerged as one of the best running backs in the country. The Fort Worth native is first in the country in total rushing yards, second in rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns and No. 16 in rushing yards per carry. A&M comes into the game ranked No. 17 in rushing defense and fourth in tackles for loss, led by junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who is tied for ninth in the country in tackles for loss. Sophomore quarterback Max Johnson has already found a new home in North Carolina, and with sophomore QB Conner Weigman sidelined for the season, sophomore Jaylen Henderson will get his fourth career start against the Cowboys. All time, A&M leads the series against Oklahoma State 189, but the last 10 matchups are an even split at 5-5.

Passion from St. Pauli to Pullman

Sports writer explores fight between fan culture, pursuit of cash on two continents By Ian Curtis @Texiancurtis

The Jolly Roger: The iconic skull-andcrossbones flown by pirates across the globe as they stood and fought against the wealthy powers-that-be in pursuit of their own glory during piracy’s golden age. It’s fitting to see the flag embraced by Washington State and F.C. St. Pauli. On Sept. 9, Washington State players raised the flag in tribute of former coach Mike Leach, as the Cougars upset No. 19 Wisconsin 31-22. The Cougars hired Leach in late 2011 after seeing how his Texas Tech team was able to be a constant thorn in the side of the Big 12’s biggest names. At Washington State, Leach’s team would paint a similar picture, upsetting the Pac-12’s power players time and time again — the same schools who would go on to destroy the conference by jumping ship to the Big Ten and Big 12 in the name of securing more television revenue. Leach’s fascination with pirates became well-known. In them, he saw the traits that he would instill in his teams at every stop he made — and would go on to make his teams legendary: “Pirates function as a team,” Leach told

ESPN in 2008. “There were a lot of castes and classes in England at the time. But with pirates, it didn’t matter if you were black, white, rich or poor. The object was to get a treasure. If the captain did a bad job, you can just overthrow him.” It’s that idea that takes us to the waterfront district of St. Pauli in Hamburg, Germany.

Buccaneers of the league The first thing you have to understand about F.C. St. Pauli is blatantly, famously and unapologetically political. The club was one of Germany’s first to ban right-wing nationalist activities in the 1980s — around the same time that the team earned its “Freibeuter der Liga” nickname (literally: “buccaneers of the league”) due to its association with the Jolly Roger symbol. The district itself is a multicultural melting pot with a substantial immigrant population — something which has greatly influenced the team’s identity — one that is explicitly anti-racist, anti-fascist and left-wing. “FC St. Pauli is a club rooted in a city district,” the club’s guiding principles read. “It owes its identity to this and has a social and political responsibility towards the district and the people who live there.” On the field, St. Pauli is remarkably average. The club currently sits in 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German soccer, and has since it was demoted from the Bundesliga in 2011. Yet the club has been averaging near soldout attendance for years (COVID-affected

seasons notwithstanding) So what keeps St. Pauli’s fans — and fans of clubs across the continent — packing their ground, despite their middling on-field performance? And what has kept Washington State’s Cougar faithful — and fans of colleges across the United States — so devoted, despite upand-down play and the historic collapse of their conference? For that, we need a bit of a history lesson.

A club in every city and a city for a team The first reason European football and American college football have developed such devoted fanbases is simple geography. There is a football club in nearly every city — and every nook and cranny of every major capital — in Europe. Meanwhile, America’s professional leagues all hover around 30 teams, all in a handful of the nation’s major cities bar one (hello, Green Bay, Wisconsin!). And sure, there’s minor leagues, but without promotion and regulation — Europe’s not-so-secret weapon when it comes to keeping fanbases viable and thriving — they’re little more than an afterthought in the grand scheme of things. But in college? 49 states have a NCAA Division I football team. In the FBS alone, there’s teams everywhere from Los Angeles to tiny West Point, New York and Pullman, Washington. And in those small communities, these schools are everything. “The whole town bleeds crimson and gray,” Washington State student newspaper

The Daily Evergreen managing editor Sam Taylor said. “There’s Cougar logos in every storefront window and Cougar logos on our intersections. You walk into Pullman and it’s really like Disneyland for Washington State University.” St. Pauli has found a different way to engage its community: activism and local involvement. While Pullman as a city rallies around Washington State, St. Pauli rallies around the city of Hamburg through social programs that support the homeless, refugees and other marginalized groups. “The club is truly indebted to its fans and is run as sort of an extension of its local community rather than an instrument wielded by a wealthy billionaire or controlling interest,” St. Pauli Chicago Supporters Club co-founder Gary Norris said. “[St. Pauli] truly does resist the worst aspects of [the] commercialization of the sport. You can find plenty of inspiring stories about St. Pauli’s engagement with its local community in its district in Hamburg.”

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