The Battalion — February 29, 2024

Two students to be honored at Silver Taps ceremony on Tuesday,

SBP candidates debate for spring student body election

By Hilani Quinones @hilaniq

Student Body President, or SBP, candidates debated at the Memorial Student Center, or MSC, Flag Room ahead of the spring student body election on Thursday, Feb. 22. The debate was moderated by Assistant Director of Student Assistance Services Angela Winkler and a member of the election commission.

The debate consisted of four questions.

Moderators asked candidates how they planned to collaborate with student organizations and clubs to ensure their voices are heard and needs are met.

SBP candidate Carter Ostrom said one of his goals as student body president is expanding student organization opportunities.

“One of my goals is cutting administrative costs,” Ostrom said. “A lot of [student organizations] are dedicated to doing service events. Except, the money that is paid by student dues are going up to setting up these events instead of having the university stepping in.”

SBP candidate Val McNeill said voting for her is a vote for transparency.

“I’m currently doing this in my campaign by advocating for city hall services,” McNeill said. “Moving forward, it would be a focus on promoting what the student government is actually up to and making sure students have a place to tune in and know what’s going on.”

SBP candidate Ankit Lulla said

he is pushing for a “Pass the Mic” initiative in his campaign.

“There would be a space where they can advocate for themselves,” Lulla said.

SBP candidate Luke Kohler said getting student organizations the resources they need to succeed is a priority.

“One of the main points in my campaign is getting student organizations the ability to grow,” Kohler said. “I think every organization on campus deserves to be supported … we believe every student deserves a voice.”

SBP candidate Ben Crockett said he would like to continue bringing students together.

SBP candidate Cade Coppinger said he wants to get everyone together to collaborate.

“I would like to gather organizations like the Corps, IFC, at an event and all that …,” Coppinger said. “I think that would unify the campus overall.”

Moderators asked candidates what strategies they propose for communication between A&M’s Student Government Association, or SGA, and the student body to foster transparency and accountability.

Coppinger said continuing to reach out and giving direct communication lines.

“Focusing on the way we’re giving opportunities is important,” Coppinger said. “Taking feedback and communicating with adminis-

tration and surveys could improve that.”

Crockett said he would like to implement a weekly “come complain” desk outside the MSC.

“... A great way to hear what’s going on in their every day student experience is making yourself available,” Crockett said.

Kohler said his campaign sees a viable opportunity to bridge the gap between the student body and government.

“... before this, I had no idea what SGA was and I had a lot of questions,” Kohler said. “I can confidently say that there is a huge disconnect between what SGA actually does and preconceived notions people have about it. I think SGA has the tools to do great things.”

Lulla said he’s a leader who leads with empathy over authority.

“... I want to be a friend to all,” Lulla said.

McNeill said posting minute meetings and open forums are not enough for transparency.

“At the end of the day if students don’t know to come to this, they’re not coming,” McNeill said. “Getting SGA in front of people earlier is important. It starts at Fish Camp. It starts in the dorms.”

Ostrom said he wants to bridge the gap between SGA and students.

“Every time I ask a student ‘have they voted in the student body election?’ their answer is no,” Ostrom said. “... Having places right outside the MSC and being out there and

talking to students will be a really great way to get that going.”

Candidates then asked each other questions.

Ostrom asked Lulla which platform point he’d focus on first and foremost.

“Subsidizing menstrual products on campus is the top issue I’m focusing on,” Lulla said.

McNeill asked Crockett how he could ensure people after him would continue his mission to end the “No More Than Four” policy.

“The key for them would be focusing on civic engagement, bringing students across campus to city hall,” Crockett said.

Lulla asked Coppinger how he could unite the campus.

“For starters, I need to acknowledge that my experience is different from others,” Coppinger said. “It takes me sitting down asking way more questions than it takes me making statements. I think just being a good listener and wanting to reach out to people is key.”

Kohler asked McNeill how she plans to improve disability resources.

“A surprisingly common issue students face is that they will be ghosted by professors when there are times they need to take time off school,” McNeill said. “I am advocating for a crisis communication precedence to be set.” Crockett asked Ostrom what specifically he wants to advocate for, referring to Ostrom’s campaign

promise to uphold the value of “advocacy.”

“I am focused on giving back to future Aggies,” Ostrom said. “Telling high school students about the college experience will do that, and I am big on Selfless Service.”

Coppinger asked Kohler to discuss more about the misconceptions he held about SGA prior to running.

“It’s more of a lack of awareness of what SGA actually does,” Kohler said. “You reaching out to them and being like ‘I want to help you’ and being able to teach them what you can do is the best way to form that relationship.”

Candidates then answered questions based on student feedback. W Society, ethics and law junior Kathleen Parks said she thought the debate went really well.

“We have a lot of really high caliber students running for student body president, and I think they did an excellent job tonight,” Parks said. “Crockett came with some really good policy points, and I think I trust him now more than ever to lead the student body.”

Political science junior Owen White said he thinks the candidates followed the Aggie Core Values well during the debate.

“I think we got a lot of good questions in,” White said. “I’m still deciding who I’m going to vote for, but I’ve found some candidates I really believe in. I’m happy about this debate overall.”

Graphic

ASSEMBLING AN AGGIE LEADER

SIX CAMPAIGNS. ONLY ONE WINNER.

CADE COPPINGER

for airport assis-

VAL MCNEILL

Industrial distribution junior from Frederick, Maryland

Vote Val for transparency in student government

As a former Class Council chief of sta , McNeill hopes to combine her leadership skills and entrepreneurial experience for student body president. McNeill has extensive experience in business and even has a patent-pending medical device. Her campaign looks to address disability services, transportation and local government involvement to create tangible changes that students can play a part in.

Platform: Disability services: Advocate for proper treatment by professors during physical, mental health crises.

Local politics: Continue to stand against “no-more-than-four.”

Anti-pothole: Ensuring the city is pothole-free.

CARTER J. OSTROM

Society, ethics and law junior from Pearland Carter cares

Currently, Ostrom is the president of Twelve, a four-year social service organization on campus. Ostrom has experience leading and monitoring other crucial aspects, such as budgets, which is why he hopes to reduce costs for other student organizations, like paying to table at MSC Open House. Carter said his approachability would make him well-suited for student body president.

Platform:

Advocacy: Expanding organization opportunities.

Service: Keeping campus beautiful.

Opportunity: Giving back to future Aggies.

Tradition: Establish “Remember an Aggie” fund.

BEN CROCKETT

such as fighting against “no more than four” residential restrictions. Since August, he has served as the vice president for Municipal Affairs in SGA and has created petitions advocating for student interests.

Crockett has a range of experience in policy and advocacy, evident through his involvement in Student Senate and the Student Government Association. With a background in political science, Crockett said he can represent the needs of students by continuing his grassroots advocacy efforts,

Platform:

Advocate for affordability.

Tackle housing insecurity, food instability. Fight “no more than four.” Free textbooks, OERS.

LUKE KOHLER

Finance junior from Houston

Lead with Luke

While lacking formal SGA experience, Kohler said he makes up for it with a genuine passion to serve A&M. Kohler wants to bridge the gap between students and their campus leaders while amplifying their student experience. His campaign is based on supporting students, both on and o campus.

Platform:

Connection: Streamline com-

munity calender, campus events with campus app for students.

Experience: Establish virtual IDs, implement academic rest days, create course material scholarships. Well-being: Implement mental health programs, create Northgate safe zone, subsidize Lyft ride program.

ANKIT LULLA

Commit to Ankit

Mechatronics and computer science junior from Coppell

Lulla brings diverse leadership experience from multiple student organizations and currently serves as executive vice president of Class Councils. As a rst-generation Aggie, Lulla said he wants to use his background to foster inclusivity and safety on campus, and he is commit-

ted to addressing student concerns to improve the Aggie experience and its accessibility for all.

Platform:

C: Communication, engagement.

O: Organization, support.

M: Mental health, wellbeing.

M: Maternity, campus safety measures.

I: Infrastructure, facilities.

T: Teaching, academic support.

KYLER FIFE

Communication sophomore* from Odessa Favorite yell: Locomotive Favorite tradition: Silver Taps

2021

Kent State game at Kyle Field. There, he was inspired by the passion of the Yell Leaders and the striped stands in honor of 9/11. Now a sophomore, Fife’s involvement in student organizations has

changed his life, and he wants to give back to the community by serving the 12th Man. Fife is a member of the Corps of Cadets in Squadron 5, and he is a member of the Traditions Council.

SAWYER RABALAIS

Communication sophomore from Mans eld

Favorite yell: A-G-G-I-E-S

Upon graduating high school, Rabalais applied to A&M but was initially redirected to attend an A&M system school. However, Rabalais’ journey to A&M has taught him perseverance and hard work. He said his mom raised him

Favorite tradition: Bon re Remembrance

BROOKE HUFF

Ag communications, ag leadership junior from Madisonville

Favorite yell: Locomotive

Favorite tradition: Aggie Ring, Silver Taps

Huff is a second-generation Aggie who has dreamed of becoming a Yell Leader, with her love for A&M instilled in her during childhood. As an officer for TAMU PAWS, a philanthropic women’s organization dedicated to help-

ing animal rescues, Huff said she is dedicated to serving. She has a background in cheerleading and her campaign is based on breaking the norm. Running as an independent, her slogan is “Why not now? Why not her?”

on the Aggie Core Values and hopes to embody the Aggie Spirit as a Yell Leader. Currently, he is a member of multiple organizations, such as Philosophy Club, Walton Bonfire and counseling for Aggie Transition Camps.

GRAYSON POAGE

Civil engineering junior* from Marble Falls

Favorite yell: Locomotive

Favorite tradition: Reveille

This year, Poage has served as a junior Yell Leader. Poage wants to be a senior Yell Leader because he’s been inspired by the relationships he’s made at A&M and wants to spread joy. Poage said he values

LUKE WIDENER

Economics sophomore* from Cincinnati, Ohio

Favorite yell: Locomotive

Favorite tradition: Farmers ght

Widener embraces his second-generation Aggie heritage with his deep-rooted passion for A&M’s traditions. Initially drawn in by the camaraderie of A&M while visiting as a child, Widener hopes to foster the same sense of pride and unity in other students. As a sophomore, he advised freshman cadets on the Corps’ Fish Drill Team, turning them into national champions; he’s proud to be a part of Company E-2.

the privilege of meeting new people while representing A&M. He is a current member of the Corps of Cadets and has previously served as the mascot corporal for E-2.

JAKE CARTER

Finance junior* from San Antonio

Favorite yell: Locomotive

Favorite tradition: Muster

JOSIAH BRANTLEY

Favorite yell: Locomotive

Industrial distribution junior* from Austin

Favorite tradition: Silver Taps

As a first-generation Aggie, Brantley said he embraces the unique values and traditions of A&M and hopes to further his connection with the Aggie Spirit. Brantley seeks to share his spirit

with others, as he wants to give back to the university that’s given him so much. Currently, he serves as the chaplain of Company L-1 as a member of the Corps of Cadets.

During his time as a junior Yell Leader, Carter has channeled his enthusiasm and love for A&M into energizing the 12th Man. Carter is running for a senior position to humbly serve others and uphold the values of A&M. He is a current member of the Corps of Cadets in Company E-1.

Student government elections are a time when our social media is filled with campaigns, all hoping to garner your vote come Feb. 29.

The following is a quick crash course on student government and why your vote matters in this election.

The Student Government Association, or SGA, in its most basic form, exists to serve and represent all students at Texas A&M University. Composed of the executive, judicial and legislative branches, they all continuously work for the betterment of the student life here at A&M. While it may not always seem apparent, a representative from SGA typically provides student input to the administration or our university stakeholders regarding decisions that can affect dining, transportation services, academic affairs, mental health resources, student housing and so much more.

The two branches that students directly influence are the executive and legislative

branches. The Student Body President, or SBP, is, of course, the most well-known election as they are the ones that represent the student body to those at the system level, the top of the administration and the heads of our other university stakeholders.

The SBP also organizes their Executive Cabinet, which works alongside the SBP to ensure the Student Senate legislation is implemented and other SGA activities are coordinated. Having interacted with different SBPs over the past couple of years, I can say they are frequently the first to be reached when making decisions that will affect the student experience. An extension of the executive branch is the four commissions and 13 different committees that are part of SGA.

While the SBP election is the most wellknown, I would like to highlight the Student Senate elections, the legislative branch of SGA.

The Student Senate, for those who may not be familiar with SGA, is “the voice of the student body.” There are three main types of legislation that the Senate can pass: acts, bills

and resolutions. An act is a change to the SGA code, a bill is a binding statement that would require a particular action be taken by a part or whole of the SGA and a resolution is a non-binding statement of opinion of the Student Senate.

Beyond the legislation, the Senate confirms the members of the president’s cabinet, student representatives to university committees and the justices for the SGA judicial branch. Moreover, each senator serves on a Senate Committee that interfaces with those concerned with our university. It is in the various Senate Committees where most advocacy work occurs behind the scenes.

With a brief overview of what the SGA does and the impact it can have on improving our campus, the importance of your vote cannot be overstated. This Feb. 29, a vote in the student government elections is your opportunity to help shape student input and advocacy on our campus.

So, what can you do? In my opinion, I would do the following. First, I would educate myself on who each candidate is,

what they stand for and how they plan to represent me. Ultimately, I would cast my vote for those who understand the diverse voices and backgrounds of our campus. Having a student government filled with those who recognize our campus is a melting pot ensures that students of all backgrounds and differing opinions are properly represented.

Next, I would cast my vote for those who embody and follow our Aggie Core Values; after all, “they are guideposts we live by and show in our words and deeds.” The Aggie Core Values also unify all Aggies, current and former, together.

Finally, I would vote. I would vote with conviction, knowing that I am contributing to the voice of the student body. Knowing that I am supporting those who will support all Aggies on our campus.

Marcus Glass is the Speaker of the Student Senate and guest contributor for The Battalion.

Chris Swann

From stick gures to striking conceptions

When she joined the visualization program, she was one of the only students that didn’t have extensive experience making art.

By Sameeksha Sharma @sharma_248

“Growing up, I never really took any art classes,” Autry said. “I grew up in a really small town with a graduating class of about 100 students, one main restaurant in town and two taco places. This is to say that most of the people there didn’t branch out into the creative fields — it was mostly agribusiness, marketing and finance.”

Autry now spends time at the Texas A&M studio or her home studio making commissioned pet portraits and other oil paintings.

“I transferred to visualization the fall of sophomore year and I have never looked back,” Autry said. “I had to start learning from the basics. Before this I had drawn stick figures. So most of what you see in my portfolio … has been picked up at A&M in the last two years.”

Autry is one of the winners from ArtFest 2023, a campus-wide art exhibition and competition featuring works of student artists from all fields of study in the Reynold’s Gallery. This year, she plans to submit three oil paintings, each distinct from the other in style and theme, which will be exhibited from Feb. 26 to April 24.

“I had always known that I loved creative work, but I don’t know if I would have had the courage to switch majors if I had never gotten some time to dedicate myself to creating and practicing,” Autry said. “Then, the pandemic gave me a lot of free time, and I somehow convinced my parents to buy me a mini iPad. I taught myself to make animations while reminding myself to stay confident.”

Autry said she loved delving into animation, sketching and sculpting, but it wasn’t until she began painting that she found her

artistic calling.

“Most artists will tell you they have a favorite media,” Autry said. “In the beginning … painting was just an elective and I took it because my friend said that it would be a fun class. I don’t know why but painting came naturally to me. I place a lot of the credit on my professor, Felice House, who not only helped me appreciate painting but also recommended me a New York art fellowship.”

Over the summer, Autry attended a month-long summer art residency program at the New York Academy of Arts where she got exposure to one of the largest artist communities in the country.

“The program was unlike anything I’ve done before,” Autry said. “We would work six hours a day for five days a week rotating through various art forms. Monday would be sculpting, Tuesday would be drawing, Wednesday was a contemporary art course … and so on. We got to visit the local museums with experienced art critics, participate in meet-and-greets with fellow artists and really soak in the diverse lifestyles and bright colors New York has to offer.”

Autry said she would love to go back to the city. She created her largest painting to date, measuring 5 feet by 3 feet, for the end-of-term exhibition, which will also be featured in the

ArtFest 2024 collection.

“The coordinators told us to go big or go home, and my friend and I took that literally,” Autry said. “We spent a Friday night in a dark room posing with different lighting, trying to get a reference image for the final piece. My self-portrait, which I call ‘Luminance,’ was created from one of those reference images. I want this piece to be more than me being in a dark room with a lamp. It is my journey of self-discovery and finding my creative drive after having tried so many different paths.”

Autry said she not only got a leap in practice and learning at New York but also found how fulfilling it was to be part of a larger community of artists that deal with similar ups and downs in their work.

“Art is about making you see things that maybe aren’t there,” Autry said. “Even though, sometimes, the art world can be picky and clique-y, there is room for everyone’s style of creativity. That’s one of the things I love about the visualization side of campus. It is a very judgment-free zone, because we all understand that you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do in order to get good reference photos. So if someone is posing on the sidewalk or sitting there and drawing, no one will judge that.”

Aggie creative shares unconventional artistic journey

Toryn Autry smiles in front of her self portrait on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION

SILVER TAPS

UTo change the world, Stephen knew he had to step outside of the box.

At 26 years old, Stephen was already achieving his goal. At Texas A&M, Stephen was completing his master’s degree in microbiology. Stephen’s career was about to take off, and he was set to graduate in May. Ste-

phen was passionate about conducting neuroscience research, and his opinions and contributions were sought after for his previous work in artificial intelligence, his father said.

Raised by his parents Victor and Esther in Houston, Stephen was immensely close with his brothers, Martin and David. Stephen was born in Texas shortly after his parents relocated from Nigeria so his father could complete his medical residency.

Attending the same Baptist

April 4, 2001 - September 18, 2023

Joel Jose Vazquez

By Sydnei Miles

AJoel Vazquez, an only child, grew up in Austin,

church all his life, Stephen was a faithful Christian, and his father said his strong beliefs led him to study at Baylor University for his undergraduate years. Stephen earned his degree in biochemistry and participated in a medical student organization. Initially, Victor said Stephen wanted to pursue medical school to become a doctor, in hopes of changing the world.

Inspired by his father, a psychiatrist, Stephen was passionate about advancing treatments for mental health. However, along his path to A&M, Stephen fell in love with researching neuroscience. Combining both of his passions, Victor said Stephen realized the best way to help was to step outside of the box and tread on new ground.

When Stephen was applying for graduate school, he felt attracted to what A&M could offer him. At A&M, he would be closer to his younger brother David, a current student and athlete, and connected to significant research resources. Not only that, Stephen loved the unique atmosphere of Aggieland.

“I think he felt that at A&M, he was able to explore his horizons without feeling like he was hedged in by a boundary,” Victor said. “He felt free to explore the skills he had, and he felt it was

where he played lacrosse throughout high school and relished in his love for nature. His deep appreciation for nature and the environment carried over into his Aggie career as he aimed to graduate in fall 2023 with a degree in

more of a laid-back environment compared to Houston, which he liked as well.”

While researching, Stephen studied under professor and neurology researcher Lee Shapiro, Ph.D, for over a year.

“He was always talking about it,” Victor said. “You could see his face light up when he was talking about brain cells, injured brain cells and what he could do to try to get brain cells repaired … He believed he was going to help find that missing chemical element that will allow brain cells to recover from injury.”

Alongside being a dedicated academic, Stephen was known as a witty, fun and loving person. At A&M, Stephen’s circle was small yet tightly knit, and he spent a lot of his free time with his brother David, often tagging along to hang out with other members of the swim team. David said one of the best ways they bonded was by playing video games together, such as Smash Bros or Elden Ring, but his overall favorite game was Overwatch.

To his friends, David said Stephen was always very supportive and the “first guy you call when something went wrong.” Recounting a time during his freshman year, David said he was hit by a car

environmental science.

Vazquez’s obituary reads he “loved and respected nature and the outdoors” and couldn’t help but be around water. He loved fishing, committed a great deal of his time to learning its ropes and many facets, and could often be found by several different bodies of water. Vazquez became skilled at various hobbies such as stringing pockets on his lacrosse stick, tying fishing flies and boating. Vazquez shared his love

and suffered a concussion.

“I didn’t really remember anything that night,” David said. “He came the next morning just to check on me. I didn’t even know he was coming.”

After Martin got married, Victor said his younger sons grew closer together and were like best friends. Victor said they spent a lot of time together, but all of the brothers always remained very close. When Martin and his wife eventually had their sons, Victor said Stephen loved playing with them. To them, he was their beloved “Uncle Steve.”

Victor said Stephen has always shown great promise. Stephen pushed himself to achieve greatness and participated in a multitude of activities, like his brothers. During his childhood, Stephen practiced taekwondo and obtained his black belt. At school, he even played soccer and football. Likewise, he was an avid music lover and played the saxophone for the band in middle school, and later learned how to play the guitar.

However, one of Stephen’s first signs of greatness was teaching himself how to read.

“I didn’t realize he can read at the age of 3 and a half years,” Victor said. “One

for the outdoors with friends as well.

The obituary reads that he was “loving, kind, generous [and] respectful.” He was a bright and wise soul to be around and his courageous approach to life was a testament to his true character.

For two years, Vazquez battled with a rare brain stem tumor. His obituary reads that his light will be missed and his adventurous spirit will continue to be an inspiration to many.

day, I went to his room and I saw him flipping from one video game screen to the next one. I’m like, ‘How do you know how to do that?’ He said, ‘Dad, I can read.’ … He started reading words on the screen flawlessly.”

Aside from learning, one of Stephen’s other greatest loves was traveling. Victor said the Oderinde family are all very outdoorsy people, but Stephen first connected with nature as a child in Cub Scouts. Until he was a teenager, Stephen was involved in Boy Scouts, soon earning Eagle Scout honors. Since their mother was an assistant scoutmaster, all of the Oderinde boys were in Boy Scouts, and all were excited to go on camping trips and travel together, his father said. David said Stephen loved Dubai, and it was his favorite destination. Stephen loved being physically active while exploring, including snowboarding, zip lining, scuba diving and more.

Above all, Stephen loved his family and friends the most.

“To our family … [he] was the glue that held everyone together,” his obituary reads. “... In our grief and pain, we gaze upwards and give gratitude to the Lord Almighty for the privilege of having loved Stephen.”

In seemingly must-win game, Aggies drop fifth straight to Gamecocks

By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

When it rains, it pours.

For a team that just a few weeks ago was close to a lock for the NCAA after beating No. 6 Tennessee, Texas A&M basketball has fallen all the way to first four out after four-straight losses.

After a 35-point road loss to Tennessee on Saturday, Feb. 24, the Aggies only had four chances to try to will themselves back in tournament contention, and it started with No. 18 South Carolina in Reed Arena.

In what felt like a must-win game for A&M, the Aggies came up short, falling to the Gamecocks, 70-68.

After a 3-point halftime deficit, the Maroon and White fell behind 13 with 14:27 left in the second half.

However, over the next 7:39 minutes, A&M went on a 22-8 run, taking its first lead at 6:48 off of a graduate guard Tyrece Radford 3.

The Gamecocks and Aggies bounced back and forth over the final 6 minutes, and with 16 seconds left, senior Gamecock G Ta’Lon Cooper missed a 1-and-1 free throw.

Senior forward Andersson Garcia grabbed the rebound, and junior G Wade Taylor IV went the length of the court to tie the game with a driving layup.

But the energy inside Reed Arena was short lived, as sophomore G Zachary Davis caught the drop-off pass under the basket, laying it up with 3.1 seconds left.

A shot-clock error on the first inbound made the Aggies reset and

inbound the ball again, Taylor attempted to drive the length of the court to try to win the game but slipped at half court, never getting a shot up.

This could be the nail in the coffin for the Aggies.

The Aggies had to get back on track with only a handful of games left on the schedule. A loss to South Carolina might seal A&M’s date for the postseason.

This is not to say the Gamecocks are a bad loss. They’re one of the conference’s best, but that’s why the loss stings that much more, considering it could have been the game to give the Aggies life to close the season.

Now, the Maroon and White sit at 15-13 with multiple Quad-3 losses and only three games left. All three games, Georgia, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, are potential resume boosters, but it may be too little, too late.

Before the loss, A&M was the second-to-last team in the first four out, but will most likely be sitting in the next four out following the loss. This means the three games left may still not be enough, regardless of the result.

The offense had inklings of last season, the defense did not.

It’s no secret that the A&M team that finished second in the SEC did its work driving to the hoop and either finishing or getting fouled.

The Aggies have struggled offensively this season, sitting at dead last in the conference in field-goal percentage. However, despite shooting only 38.6% tonight and making just 2-17 3s, A&M managed to hang with the Gamecocks thanks to its free-throw shooting.

The Maroon and White went 2225 from the charity stripe, a higher

clip than their 69.3% average this season. The only player who shot a free throw and didn’t make one was sophomore F Solomon Washington, who missed two.

The offensive formula that worked last season peaked through against South Carolina, but the other fist of A&M’s one-two punch from last year, its defense, didn’t make the same appearance.

The Gamecocks shot 45.9% from the field, sinking eight 3s in the process. This included giving up the final shot in the waning seconds to lose the game.

This is the third game this season that the Aggies have given up in the final seconds, with A&M falling to Arkansas and Vanderbilt in similar, last-second fashion. Without the late collapses, the Maroon and White could be sitting at 18-10, a completely different conversation from the 15-13 mark they’re at now.

The Aggies are playing with house money now.

When there’s nothing to lose, things can begin to change.

A&M is going to need an unprecedented turnaround to get into the postseason. But with its back against the wall, anything can happen. It happened two years ago, when the Maroon and White lost eight straight, then won five of six and was just snubbed from the NCAA tournament.

The only thing the Aggies can do now is give it everything. Another loss definitively means they’re out of contention, but winning out and making a run in the SEC tournament could make things interesting down the stretch. No matter what, the damage-control period is over. March is rapidly approaching, and if there’s any certainty about March, it’s that it is madness.

Texas A&M G Wade Taylor (4) reacts after loosing the ball down two points with three seconds left on the clock during Texas A&M’s game against South Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Reed Arena. South Carolina won 70-68.

Aggies take on the Globe[Life]

Aggies hope to continue red-hot start in Kubota College Baseball Series

By Eric Liu @_ericliu12

After a perfect 8-0 homestand to start the season, the No. 7 Texas A&M baseball team travels to Arlington from March 1-3 to play Arizona State and USC in the Kubota College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.

The season simply could not have started better for the Aggies with their offense humming to the tune of a .500 on-base percentage and a .372 batting average that ranks fourth in the nation.

Having scored 10 or more runs in five of their eight games, the Maroon and White look to continue their success with the trio of sophomore CF Jace LaViolette, senior DH Ted Burton and junior RF Braden Montgomery seemingly unable to cool down.

Ranked second and 10th in the nation with six home runs and a

1.167 slugging percentage, respectively, LaViolette has been making games look like batting practice by routinely hitting balls out of the park.

Burton currently has a team-leading .593 on-base percentage while Montgomery has been a run-scoring machine with his 12 runs batted in only behind LaViolette’s 18. He also got to show off his two-way prowess, getting his first A&M strikeout with a blazing fastball against Incarnate Word. With how hot the bats are, it’s easy to forget just how dominant the pitching staff has been. Ranked first in the nation with an impressive 0.95 ERA and second in the nation with a 0.88 WHIP, opposing offenses have been left looking for answers. Redshirt sophomore LHP Ryan Prager and sophomore LHP Justin Lamkin have been anchoring the rotation, having let up a grand total of zero runs in each of their two starts.

Arizona State presents a challenge for the Aggies, having an offense that can hit for both contact and power. Redshirt freshman Brandon

Compton, normally a LHP, has been playing DH as he recovers

from Tommy John surgery and has been putting on a clinic in the batter’s box with a team-leading .480 average and 1.447 OPS to start the season.

Sophomore OF Isaiah Jackson has been the team’s source of power, hitting four home runs and 15 RBI. The Sun Devils’ leading pitcher, freshman RHP Thomas Burns, hasn’t let the college transition get to him, holding opponents to a .156 BA with 14.46 strikeouts per nine innings.

USC looks to be an easier matchup having started 2-5, but shouldn’t be overlooked. While the offense has been a disappointment with its 3.5 runs per game ranked 273rd in the nation, sophomore C Jacob Galloway has been a bright spot. As a catcher, a position not known for its offensive output, Galloway has hit to the tune of a .391 average and his 1.239 OPS and .739 slugging percentage are nearly double that of his next closest teammate.

The Trojans’ pitching has been middle of the pack, but senior RHP Tyler Stromsborg has shown promise by leading his team with a 1.40 WHIP.

Court storming: Tradition or hazard?

Sports editor says court storming is part of the game, isn’t going anywhere

Hunter Mitchell

@HunterM1001

players, on average, are 6 foot 5 and 6 foot 6, 6 foot 8, 7-footers. They bang around for two and a half hours, and that’s just in games, not mentioning practice. So they can’t handle bumping into Ethan, the theater major once a year?”

Indiana’s Christian Watford’s 3-point shot to beat No. 1 Kentucky in 2011. Marquette over No. 1 Villanova in 2017. Northwestern’s win over Michigan in 2017, a team who had never made the NCAA tournament in its history up until that ticket-sealing victory.

Besides all being etched as some of the most well-known moments in college basketball history, what do all of these games have in common?

They were all followed by a court storm.

Synonymous with upset buzzer-beaters, wins over rivals and just about any victory of major relevance, court storming has been a tradition as old as hardwood and hoops itself. But now, there are those who would like to rid the game of it entirely.

“Fans don’t belong on the court,” ESPN Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas said on “Get Up.” “ ... The NCAA doesn’t want it to stop and by the NCAA, I mean the member institutions. They like the visual, they take pictures of it and put it all up throughout their institutions and locker rooms and use it in recruiting.”

Bilas later went on “First Take” and offered his opinion on how this time-honored tradition should be eliminated.

“One time, all you have to do is once they’re on the court, don’t let them off,” Bilas said. “Just say, ‘You’re all detained’ and give them all citations or arrest them if you want to and then court stormings will stop the next day.”

All of this comes in response to Duke star Kyle Filipowski injuring his ankle in the midst of an upset loss to Wake Forest on the road which, expectedly, ended in a court storm.

This, along with players like Iowa women’s basketball phenom Caitlyn Clark running into an Ohio State fan after a road loss, is dredging up the dialogue of eliminating court storming.

But how many athletes have ever been actually injured during a court storm? Zero. Filipowski was cleared to play in the Blue Devils’ next game against Louisville, and Clark was never in question of missing time post-collision.

“Give me a list of college basketball players severely injured from court storming in my life,” Colin Cowherd, host of the talk show “The Herd” said. “Men’s college basketball

While Cowherd’s take on the situation invalidates the safety that college athletes are entitled to, it does raise the point that in the decades that court stormings have happened, no player has ever missed a game because of a court-storming incident.

Court-stormings also tend to be reserved for wins over teams that fans didn’t expect their school to beat or wins over heated rivals.

You have to be aware, as a coach, that these things happen. If you’re like Jon Scheyer, coach of a blue-blood school like Duke, you have to know if you get beat, especially on the road in an upset, the fans are going to flood the court. It takes 10 minutes to inform your players that “Hey, these are the exits, this is our tunnel. If we lose, get off the court as soon as possible.”

The competitive-minded people out there would call this “preparing to lose” but rather it’s “preparing for safety.” Not to say Filipowski was in the wrong, no one should have insult added to injury after an emotional loss, but as opposed to some of his teammates, he made no concerted effort to get off the court after fans began to rush.

Oftentimes, coaches of the home team, if ahead by a decent margin, will call a timeout so the opposing team can get their players off to avoid any risks. This mitigates any concern for player safety by doing so. Admittedly, this method only works in games where it is out of hand late. On buzzer beaters, there’s no way to quickly get players off the court in time.

The issue doesn’t lie in the court storm, it’s in player safety, but no winning player has ever complained about a court storm. At the end of the day, they’re students too, and everyone watching them play is a peer. Those players who celebrated with the fans on the court went to class with some of them the following Monday.

There is no right answer to this “problem.” Arresting hundreds of fans for storming a court is unrealistic (and dramatic), but player safety admittedly cannot be thrown to the wayside. The most obvious answer would be to wait until players have left the court, but that means holding back hundreds for about a minute or two, which could pose its own problems.

Either way, court storming is one of the most memorable and consistent traditions in college basketball, and it isn’t going anywhere. If you’re a court-storming fan, just watch where you’re going.

Sports editor says court storming isn’t worth the risk to players, staff

Luke White

@LukeWhite03

ing?” Scheyer posed. “It’s a dangerous thing.” Court storming embodies college spirit, but it comes at a cost to those that actually belong on the court: players, coaches and staff. While it may be fun for the fans sprinting onto the playing area, it represents a hazard to those trying to get off of it.

Traditions are a prime example of what makes college sports so great, and in my opinion, gives them the upper hand over professional sports.

The passion and spirit of college athletics is unmatched, making them a completely different product than what you’ll find at the professional level. You won’t find the pinnacle of sports fandom in urban jungles like Los Angeles, Miami or Atlanta, but rather in college towns such as Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tuscaloosa, Alabama and College Station.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina found itself in that discussion last weekend, when hometown Wake Forest upset No. 8 Duke in a men’s basketball game on Feb. 24. The win was one of the most significant in program history, and the Demon Deacon faithful acted accordingly with one of the sport’s most time-honored traditions: court storming.

The scene looked like when one steps in an ant mound, as students flooded the court to celebrate the euphoria of the game they witnessed.

However, it wasn’t all joy and glee for the Blue Devils’ sophomore center Kyle Filipowski, whose ankle was injured while trying to escape the melee. The team’s staff formed a human wall around him as he was helped back to the locker room.

Filipowski isn’t the only athlete at the top of their sport to risk injury with opposing fans after a court storming this season. Iowa senior guard Caitlin Clark, now the all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball, collided with an Ohio State fan on the court on Jan. 21.

Storming isn’t just limited to basketball courts, but football fields as well. In 2022, a Texas player was shoved from behind by a senseless Texas Tech fan. In 2023, a video surfaced of a Kansas supporter directly taunting an Oklahoma player in his face.

These negative instances have given rise to a debate that I’ll let Duke coach Jon Scheyer explain.

“When are we going to ban court storm-

These aren’t normal crowds we’re talking about, either. Imagine a court storming like Wake Forest’s, where, after witnessing an intense back-and-forth contest, fans flood the floor. They’re pumped full of adrenaline, and common sense may not take priority over the excitement of joining the crowd.

While rushing the court not only presents the risk of accidental harm to others, such as colliding or running into others, it allows those in the crowd to release aggression on opposing players and staff members. Regardless of the intent behind Filipowski’s injury, it could have been prevented by keeping fans where they belong: in their seats.

“I’ve already heard that there [are] some videos of [me] getting punched in the back, so I absolutely feel like it was personal, intentional for sure,” Filipwoski said. “There’s no reason why they see a big guy like me trying to work my way off the court and can’t work their way around me. There’s no excuse for that.”

So, how to go about preventing court storms? The simple solution seems to be an added security and law enforcement presence at high-profile games. I’ve seen it firsthand at Reed Arena, where a line of security formed around the perimeter of the court following wins over No. 2 Alabama in 2023 and No. 6 Kentucky this year.

The safety of those involved in the game ought to be paramount, and part of that is keeping opposing teams separated from fans. So, why not bring the home team to its fans, rather than vice versa? Give players the opportunity to celebrate in the student section with those that believed in them to pull out the win.

Only in college athletics are fans able to run on the playing surface postgame and not be put in handcuffs. Run on the court following a Warriors-Lakers NBA game and let me know how that works out for you.

Those rules are in place for a reason, and it’s to maintain the safety of the players. Fans are unpredictable, and when people are at risk, court storming is no longer a tradition, but a hazard.

Oh, and get off my lawn.

Tip off in Reed Arena during Texas A&M’s game against Tennessee on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at Reed Arena.