The Battalion - March 17, 2021 by The Battalion

GOING DANCING

Courtesy of Craig Bisacre — 12th Man Athletics

The No. 4 Texas A&M women’s basketball team enters the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed in the Mercado Region.

A&M enters tournament as No. 2 seed for fifth time in program history, faces 15-seed Troy in first round By Hannah Underwood @hannahbunderwoo

fter dropping out of the SEC Tournament with a loss to then-No. 16 Georgia, Texas A&M women’s basketball will enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed of the Mercado Region, the league announced during the Selection Show on Monday.

The Aggies are set to face No. 15 Troy, who won the Sun Belt Conference Championship on March 8 with a 73-65 win over Louisiana-Lafayette. The two teams will meet for the first time in program history at 5 p.m. on March 22 at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. The Trojans are on an 11-game win streak with a 22-5 overall record. Despite A&M’s loss to Georgia in the semifinals of the conference tournament, the Aggies were expected to be the No. 1 seed heading into the NCAA Tournament after finishing the regular season with a No. 4 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll. Though they missed out on a top spot, senior center Ciera Johnson said the Aggies aren’t too disappointed following Monday’s Selection Show.

“We’re not upset with this,” Johnson said. “I mean yeah, we wanted to be No. 1, but hey, we came up short against Georgia. When you don’t handle business, that’s what happens. You have to reap the consequences of that.” A&M coach Gary Blair said the results of Monday’s Selection Show don’t matter; instead, he’s ready to show off his team on the national stage, regardless of seeding. “I don’t mind,” Blair said. “I love to go out and show people what this team can do and what this coaching staff and I can do to put together a game plan. That’s what I’m really proud of.” Senior guard Kayla Wells said A&M had moved on from its loss and is now taking the lessons learned in stride. “That was a wake-up call that we needed,”

Wells said. “I’d rather it happen in the SEC Tournament than in March Madness where we’d be going home for good.” The Aggies are heading into the NCAA Tournament with a more serious mentality, knowing a single loss will end their season, Johnson said. “We weren’t locked in [against Georgia],” Johnson said. “They wanted it more than we did, and it showed … Now, if somebody wants it more, we’re going home and we’re done for the year.” While missing out on the No. 1 seed gives the Aggies something to prove next week, Johnson said the rankings don’t matter at the end of the day. “We can use it as extra motivation, but GOING DANCING ON PG. 4

Will Nye — THE BATTALION

Friday, March 19 will mark the only day of Texas A&M’s 2021 Spring Break.

Aggies alter Spring Break plans Students share how they will take advantage of three-day weekend By Shelby McVey @shelbyxbreann Spring Break at Texas A&M is looking a bit different for the second year in a row. It has been one year since students left for Spring Break in 2020 and didn’t return as COVID-19 swept through the country and Brazos County alike. This year, in an attempt to subdue the spread of COVID-19 in the campus community, A&M has limited Spring Break to just one day, Friday, March 19. With this change, students’ plans for this much-anticipated break have differed from those in the past. For sociology senior Mel Ramos, Friday will be just like any other day. “The only thing different is I won’t have class this [Friday],” Ramos said. “But other than those 50 minutes, it’ll be exactly the same as any other week.” Operating on her normal day-to-day schedule, Ramos said it would be silly to use the word “break” to even describe this day

off. “A break would involve being able to relax and not worry about work or school,” Ramos said. “But I still have things due on Friday and this weekend, so I’ll still be doing assignments and studying [on top of] working.” Biomedical sciences sophomore Maci Felts has planned her Spring Break around this given day and said she is using virtual classes to her advantage. “Me and then some of my friends decided to try to plan around the one day we have off, so we left [for South Padre] Saturday and are heading back on Wednesday,” Felts said. “Meanwhile, we are still keeping up with our homework and classes while we are here, and when we don’t have any class, we go to the beach or go get dinner and hangout.” On top of dealing with this unusual break the university has given, health junior Haley Jones said her semester plans were altered at the hands of the historic winter storm Texas experienced the week of Feb. 14, leaving thousands without power and in warming centers across the state. SPRING BREAK ON PG. 4

Kaylee Cogbill — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M will require students living on campus, students attending face-to-face classes and student employees be tested for COVID-19 this month.

COVID-19 testing required for several subsets of A&M students Mandatory COVID-19 testing implemented following break By Julia Potts @juliaapotts Beginning next Tuesday, students falling under any one of three subset groups will be required to participate in Texas A&M’s new mandatory COVID-19 testing program. According to a March 15 university press release, the relevant groups and the dates in which they must be tested are as follows: “All students residing in university housing on the [Bryan-College Station] campus to test for COVID-19 March 23 - 24; “All student employees working on the B-CS campus and nearby university Health Science Center buildings to test for COVID-19 March 25 - 29; “All students in courses which are only offered face-to-face at the campus to test for

COVID-19 March 29 - April 2.” This program was started to help identify asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and isolate carriers before the disease can spread across campus. Students must make their appointments through the online testing portal and complete a survey on the day of their test. Those not required to test include those with symptoms who have already been reported to the university and those who have tested positive for COVID-19 on or after Jan. 1. Anyone who applies to the groups above that does not schedule and appear for a COVID-19 test could be reported to the university conduct office. Dean of the School of Public Health Shawn Gibbs said in a comment to The Battalion that these required tests aim to identify any cases that appear after the university’s shortened Spring Break and St. Patrick’s Day. TESTING ON PG. 4

SPORTS

The Battalion | 3.17.21

5 things to watch for in the NCAA Tournament

Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

Sophomore guard Jordan Nixon, senior guard Aaliyah Wilson, senior forward N’dea Jones and senior center Ciera Johnson have started in every game this season for the Aggies.

By Brady Stone @bradystonex

For the 15th season with coach Gary Blair at the helm, Texas A&M women’s basketball will compete for a national title in the NCAA Tournament. Heading into the tournament as a No. 2 seed for the fifth time in program history, a

N’dea Jones

Jones, senior guard Kayla Wells and senior center Ciera Johnson are expected to start in their 89th consecutive game on March 22 against No. 15 seed Troy. Having missed out on the chance to play in the tournament last season due to COVID-19, the trio may carry with them the most cohesive experience in the tournament after having made it to the Sweet Sixteen in 2019. Jones, Johnson and Wells average a combined 34 points per game this season and will make it hard for any defense to stop A&M from jump ball to the final buzzer.

Tempo off the bench

A&M’s only first-team All-SEC pick this season, senior forward N’dea Jones leads the team in rebounds and recently broke the program record for career double-doubles. She comes up big for the Aggies in important moments, and her 16-point, 14-rebound performance against South Carolina for the SEC regular season championship is proof of that. Expect to see Jones crashing to the glass at every opportunity to give A&M second chances throughout the tournament.

Senior leadership

Sweet Sixteen matchup against Arizona and an Elite Eight matchup with NC State are probable if A&M handles its business in the Round of 64 and 32. Here are five things to look for during the Aggies’ NCAA Tournament journey:

For many NCAA Tournament teams, a starter getting into foul trouble means slowing down as they sit out for a few minutes. But with bench players like senior guard Destiny Pitts and junior guards Alexis Morris and Zaay Green, A&M does the opposite. Pitts, who shoots 47 percent from the three-point line, offers a quick boost to the stat sheet and has a made three-pointer in all but three of A&M’s games this season. Both Morris and Green average around nine minutes per game and bring offensive efficiency shooting 52 percent and 40 percent from the floor, respectively.

Jordan Nixon

Balance

Leading A&M at point guard this season is sophomore Jordan Nixon. Nixon averages 9.5 points per game in her first season playing with the Aggies after redshirting last season, and she currently maintains a six game double-digit scoring streak. Two last-second daggers in close games against a sharpshooting Arkansas team in SEC play prove Nixon is the clutch player that Blair will look to in the difficult situations to come.

Despite their regular season conference championship, A&M isn’t a flashy team full of players that will make highlight reels. What A&M will do, however, is smother teams with aggressive defense and dynamic scoring. The Aggies have players who can put up big numbers in the paint with Jones and Johnson, and from the perimeter with Pitts and Wells. Blair has crafted his team with an arsenal of players that he can rely on in any gametime situation that comes his way. A&M has options all over the floor which will make them a dangerous team to face with the NCAA Championship on the line.

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LIFE&ARTS

The Battalion | 3.17.21

PROVIDED

Marketing junior Ashley Odom smiles with her buddy, Morgan, at the annual Best Buddies barbeque with Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

Aggie Best Buddies fosters friendship, inclusion A&M organization connects students, community members with disabilities By Lauren Discher @lauren_discher Texas A&M’s Best Buddies program promotes an atmosphere of inclusion by creating lasting friendships between college students and community members living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989, Best Buddies International is America’s first national social and recreational program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD. A&M’s chapter began in 1993 and is one of 1,500 chapters worldwide. For those with IDDs, the program creates an opportunity for friendship, leadership development, integrated employment and inclusive living. Biology senior and chapter President Billie Nguyen said their chapter emphasizes building

relationships with those in the community. “Here at Texas A&M, we focus mainly on providing one-to-one friendships between college students and adults in the [Bryan-College Station] area, along with spreading the message of inclusion,” Nguyen said. “We hold monthly events, varying from holiday events, outdoor activities and sometimes, we partner with other organizations to spread awareness.” According to their website, Aggie Best Buddies remains active despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with safety guidelines in place to protect Aggies and their buddies. “Best Buddies is still accepting new members and will be pairing peer buddies with buddies, but it will be up to the peer buddies themselves whether they want to meet in person with their buddy while following proper social distancing guidelines,” the website reads. “Otherwise, peer buddies will be expected to maintain communication with their buddy via cell phone or computer.” The first step to becoming involved in Best

LET’S BE FRIENDS

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Myranda Campanella, Managing Editor Julia Potts, News Editor Bec Morris, News Editor Hannah Underwood, Sports Editor Jennifer Streeter, Asst. Sports Editor Casey Stavenhagen, Asst. Sports Editor Shelby McVey, Life & Arts Editor Jessica Le, Asst. Life & Arts Editor Amina Butt, Maroon Life Editor

Joshua Howell, Opinion Editor Caleb Powell, Asst. Opinion Editor Will Nye, Photo Chief Abbey Santoro, Asst. Photo Chief Mitchell Beddingfield, Multimedia Editor Annie Wells, Multimedia Editor Cori Eckert, Design Editor

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays during the 2021 sprint semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. THE BATTALION

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media,a unit of the Division of StudentAffairs.Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

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Buddies, Nguyen said, is to fill out an application online at aggiebestbuddies.weebly.com. “Once students apply to be a member of Best Buddies, we hold interviews, asking them questions to get to know them better and what they like to do,” Nguyen said. “Then, we compare the interests of both students and adults, matching those with aligning interests.” Nguyen said the adults paired with Aggies from the organization are from all over Bryan-College Station. “Some of them are from the Aggie ACHIEVE and PATHS programs, and others are from host sites in the area,” Nguyen said. Human resource development senior and chapter Vice President Katie Christman said her buddy, Miguel, has become an important part of her life. “Kind, fun-loving and authentic are just three of a thousand adjectives I could use to describe Miguel,” Christman said. “He shows me what true friendship is.”

In addition to her own buddy, Christman said she has also seen many close friendships develop through Best Buddies. “These relationships are beneficial for both parties involved because they both are able to make deep, long-lasting connections with each other,” Christman said. For adults with IDDs, Christman said continuous communication is important because they are often excluded from society. “Providing them with a source of friendship can benefit their health and well-being by giving them meaningful social connections and fulfilling social activities.” Christman said. “For the college students, this opportunity to be paired one-on-one with an adult with IDD allows us to connect with people outside of Texas A&M in the local community and be a source of friendship to those who really need it, while spreading the message of inclusion throughout campus.”

NEWS

The Battalion | 3.17.21

TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR

Editor

Aggieland 2022

Qualifications for editor-in-chief of the Aggieland yearbook are:

REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester; PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society); • Have demonstrated ability in writing, editing and graphic design through university coursework or equivalent experience; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible position on the Aggieland or comparable college yearbook.

Applications are available by request from aggieland.yearbook@gmail.com or dpils@tamu.edu. They should be returned to Douglas Pils, Student Media General Manager, in MSC Suite L410 or dpils@tamu.edu. Application deadline: 5 p.m. Monday, April 5, 2021.

TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR

Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

Senior guard Aaliyah Wilson leads A&M in points per game, steals per game and blocks per game.

GOING DANCING CONTINUED we’re not worried about the seeding. It is what it is,” Johnson said. “We have to go out there and play. If we don’t come out ready to play against Troy, we can lose. It wouldn’t matter if we were a 1-seed.” Ahead of Monday’s matchup, Blair said his team is focusing on getting off to a faster start. “You go for the throat early. You don’t sit there and just blend in,” Blair said. “We have been a slow starting team about the whole last month and a

half. We cannot afford a slow starting team.” After the loss to Georgia that ended the Aggies’ SEC Tournament run, Blair said he is not underestimating Troy. “Every game is a championship, and I guarantee you, Troy will be built up just like they’re coming from Athens with a big machine and everything,” Blair said. “I will give Troy so much respect, and that’s all we’re going to worry about.” The Aggies were the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament after finishing as SEC regular season champions and

have a 23-2 overall record, including a 9-1 record against ranked opponents. This year, Blair said the 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament are playing for much more than just a national title. “Whoever wins this tournament is the team that’s been able to adjust to protocol, been able to adjust to COVID[-19], been able to adjust to all the emotional things these 18- to 22-year-olds have had to go through,” Blair said. “We have done it as well as anybody, but we have not looked for excuses or opt-outs or this injury or that injury — we’ve said let’s bring it on.”

Ramos said students’ inability to make plans because of the university’s decision means putting more weight on the shoulders of already exhausted students. While they may believe it is in the best interest to keep students from traveling and potentially bringing COVID-19 back to campus, Ramos said most have already left College Station. “The decision isn’t really mitigating any risk when it comes to [COVID-19], but it will have negative effects on student and faculty mental health by taking away our chance to rest and recharge,” Ramos said. “Besides, most people can just Zoom from their vacation spots.”

SPRING BREAK CONTINUED “I’m going home to see my family because I haven’t seen them since the semester started,” Jones said. “I was going to see them [earlier], but the storm displaced them and with all of the makeup stuff I haven’t had a chance.” Jones said if A&M had given students the full week off, she’d probably still plan on making the drive home. “Honestly, if I was given a week I would probably be doing the same thing,” Jones said. “Just take the break to relax and turn around my burnout.”

TESTING CONTINUED “We see more infectious variants of the virus across the state and in our community,” Gibbs said. “The goal of this testing is to identify unknown positive cases of COVID-19 before they have a chance to increase, thereby blunting a potential surge in cases. We believe that this testing event will provide us the ability to finish the semester strong, and to continue expanding our on-campus activities.”

Editor-in-Chief

BATTALION THE

The IndependenT STudenT VoIce of TexaS a&M SInce 1893

Summer 2021 & Fall 2021–Spring 2022 Summer editor oversees print, digital and special editions from May 24, 2021, to Aug. 15, 2021. Fall and spring editor oversees print, digital and special editions from Aug. 16, 2021, to May 14, 2022.

Qualifications for editor-in-chief of The Battalion are: REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester. PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society) or equivalent; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible editorial position with The Battalion or comparable daily college newspaper, – OR – Have at least one year editorial experience with a commercial newspaper, – OR – Have completed at least 12 hours in journalism, including JOUR 203 (Media Writing I) and JOUR 303 (Media Writing II) or JOUR 304 (Editing for the Mass Media), or equivalent.

Applications are available by request from editor@thebatt.com or dpils@tamu.edu. They should be returned to Douglas Pils, Student Media General Manager, in MSC Suite L410 or dpils@tamu.edu. Application deadline: 5 p.m. Monday, April 5, 2021.

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“Cherry” is available in theaters and for streaming on Apple TV+.

‘Cherry’ makes weird mix of good, bad, artistic Film critic Katen Adams says Tom Holland easily fulfills mature acting role in new film “Cherry” Director: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo Release Date: February 26, 2021 Runtime: 2 hours 21 minutes By Katen Adams @Katen_ann The Russo Brothers, Joe and Anthony, have finally wrapped up the production of one of their most anticipated films, “Cherry.” Starring the duo’s favorite friendly neighborhood Spiderman, Tom Holland has broken out of his typical acting mold. As an original Apple TV+ film, “Cherry” was released on Feb. 26 and is based on a novel of the same name written by Nico Walker. The film follows a war veteran who has post-traumatic stress disorder and resorts to robbing banks to fund his drug addiction. Throughout the film, a wide variety of background music demonstrates the

year each section of the film is set and emphasizes different emotions in specific scenes. The Russo Brothers experiment with their style and apply several new characteristics that make the film feel all over the place while still serving a purpose. Different editing techniques appear to add some spice to the story, but the overwhelming use of narration takes away from the realistic feel the film portrays. Not only is it full of narration, but Holland occasionally breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience through the camera, expressing his thoughts and emotions and leaving no room for interpretation. The film is separated into six chapters, and each chapter’s introduction breaks storytelling norms when the titles are displayed on the entire screen in bold, white letters on top of a red background. The Russo Brothers made bold choices regarding “Cherry,” which could make or break a film depending on its audience’s preference. As advertised in the posters, Hol-

land plays the roles of a student, lover, soldier, junkie and thief who each have significant appearances, but the drug addict is given the most spotlight than any other role. After showcasing his acting abilities in “The Devil All The Time,” Holland doesn’t hesitate to take them a step further and completely blow the audience away. Holland’s acting ranges throughout the film, yet he manages to grasp each character perfectly. Holland has come a long way in his acting career, which is enjoyable to see unfold as he grows and potentially becomes Hollywood’s newest heartthrob, filling Brad Pitt’s shoes. Holland’s co-star, Ciara Bravo, who plays Emily in the film, also gives a fantastic performance. Holland and Bravo specifically shine in scenes depicting their characters’ opioid addictions, and it is shocking because of the environment they are in. Their performance is so believable that it makes the audience upset they could be actually suffering from addiction. Together, they deserve

a round of applause, and it would be a shame if this is the only time they have the chance to be an on-screen duo. The Russo Brothers never miss a detail, and they even include some fun ones like casting Holland’s little brother, Harry Holland, for a surprise cameo and showing Holland’s character drinking from a mug sold at Walmart that reads, “I Don’t Give A Sip.” Overall, the story can go either way, depending on who is watching. Many were not expecting the harsh realities of drug use and war in a film like this, and “Cherry” doesn’t necessarily meet the expectations of an audience that was thrilled for its release. Those that view the more artistic standpoint of “Cherry” can grow to love its flaws because of how the Russo Brothers nailed many of its filmmaking characteristics. Katen Adams is a university studies sophomore and film critic for The Battalion.

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CONGRATS 2020 GRADS

Photos by Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

Left: Former track and cross country athlete Raymond Gonzales attended a 2020 makeup graduation ceremony hosted in Kyle Field. Top Right: Students socially distanced in one section of Kyle Field before walking the stage. Middle Right: Students decorated their graduation caps with phrases like, “Wash your hands you filthy animals.” Bottom Right: All attendees of the 2020 makeup ceremonies were required to wear masks.

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