The Battalion — January 13, 2024 by The Battalion

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SPORTS A&M braces for biggest home test of the season against No. 6 Kentucky. B1

OPINION Get out your Bingo cards. Opinion columnist predicts the events of 2024. A4

Small step, big leap for Aggies

A&M recieves $37.6 million for in-space operations research By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia

The United States Space Force tapped Texas A&M to lead its joint-effort Space Strategic Technical Institute for In-Space Operations, or SSTI-IO, researching innovations for in-space operations. On Jan. 8, the Space Force and Air Force Research Laboratory announced they selected A&M to lead the joint SSTI research effort, along with the University of Cincinnati. Both universities will receive a combined total of $49.9 million in funding, and A&M confirmed on Jan. 10 it will receive $37.6 million for the five-year project. A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said the decision was made after Gen. B. Chance Saltzman felt impressed after he visited A&M’s RELLIS campus and witnessed its progress in building the nation’s biggest hypersonic test tunnel. “Today’s announcement is just more evidence that Texas A&M will make sure that Texas not only maintains but grows its role as a leader in the new space economy,” Sharp said in a Jan. 9 statement. “No university is better equipped for aeronautics and space projects than Texas A&M.” SSTI-ISO is a collaborative effort between academics and industry partners, including researchers and students from the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Texas at El Paso, Prairie View A&M University and the Southwest Research Institute. Across all institutions, A&M said

Nicholas Gutteridge — THE BATTALION

An astronaut suit stands in front of Neil Armstrong’s famous quote at an exhibit in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum on Jan. 12, 2024.

more than 50 students and researchers will collaborate on the project. A&M mechanical engineering

chair professor Robert Ambrose, Ph.D., will direct the program. Ambrose serves as the director for

Space and Robotics Initiatives for the A&M Engineering Experiment Station and has over 20 years of ex-

perience at NASA. “This is a real dream team for in-space operations,” Ambrose said in a Jan. 10 statement. “These are professors that I have known for decades in some cases, and I’m really excited to bring everyone together to help the Space Force with its important mission in space.” Ambrose said his team will conduct extensive testing and integrated testing to evaluate and refine their ideas for use by their industry partners. According to the press release, the project has received support from space industry leaders, such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Intuitive Machines, Blue Origin, Lunar Resources, Novium, Aegis and Axiom Space. The Space Force said the research effort will focus on procuring technology for spaceflight experimentation and space-related signal, energy and transportation technologies, following the In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing National Strategy. “Focus areas for the selected proposals include researching robotic servicing and associated modeling and simulation, developing testbeds, as well as CubeSat berthing and refueling technologies, developing constructive operations, large-scale in-space assembly and debris mitigation,” the Jan. 8 press release reads. University President Mark A. Welsh III said A&M has a long history of conducting world-class research to further space exploration technology. “This announcement not only acknowledges that Texas A&M is at the vanguard of space science and engineering, but it also emphasizes the exceptional quality of our world-class faculty,” Welsh said in a Jan. 10 press release. “We are grateful to the U.S. Space Force for providing us with the opportunity to continue our work in this vital domain.”

‘False and irresponsible’ President Welsh addresses national security concerns following watchdog report By Hilani Quinones @hilaniq

Julianne Shivers — THE BATTALION

President Mark A. Welsh III answers reporters questions on Oct. 4, 2023 at the Hall of Champions.

Texas A&M seeks to squash recent allegations of its Qatar campus compromising national security. Despite doubts regarding the findings of these reports, A&M has spoken up about misinformation. In a Jan. 4 X post, the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, or ISGAP, alleged the existence of a “confidential agreement” that grants Qatar “unprecedented control over research and standards, faculty, curriculum and budgets at Texas A&M … which hosts sensitive nuclear research and weapon development research.” ISGAP also released a 17-page document titled “Hijacking Higher Education Qatar, The Muslim Brotherhood and Texas A&M” as part of its “Follow the Money” project. Starting in 2012, the project studies the funding of U.S. universities by foreign institutions that promote antisemetic ideologies or are

connected to terrorism. The report alleges Qatar acquired ownership of over 500 A&M research projects in sensitive fields such as nuclear science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotech robotics and weapons development. In return, ISGAP said A&M received over a billion dollars in funding. Following its report, ISGAP sent a letter to senior U.S. officials to urgently investigate the issue. On Sunday, Jan. 7, A&M President Mark A. Welsh III released a statement addressing allegations A&M’s campus in Qatar was exposing sensitive research and information to foreign adversaries. Welsh said the research conducted at Qatar does not involve nuclear technology, weapons or national security research. “The research conducted at this campus focuses on energy, water and environment, carbon capture, smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science and data analytics in the energy sector,” Welsh said. “... nor does the Qatar campus have any connection to nuclear reactor research done in Texas or the Los Alamos National Lab. The insinuation that we are somehow leaking or QATAR ON PG. A3

LIFE&ARTS

The Battalion | 01.13.24

Sophie Villarreal — THE BATTALION

Students talk navigating spring term, how to stay balanced, prepared By Sydnei Miles @Sydnei_M04 With unwrapped presents, popped fireworks and many cheers to the new year, the time all students dread has arrived: spring semester. After such a short break, some students struggle to find academic motivation again. These suggestions will help prepare for a smooth start to the semester. Set a schedule Assignments often seem never-ending and become overwhelming. Setting a schedule allows for better time management and makes a busy timetable less intimidating. Communication and international studies sophomore Odyssey

Butler-Borner said marking down time commitments and obligations is beneficial for ensuring a proper work-life balance. “I’ve been adding everything to my calendar,” Butler-Borner said. “Like anything and everything that’s been popping up, I’ve been adding it to my Google calendar. So whether it’s classes, [organization] events, whether it’s work, I’ve been adding it all to my calendar, so I can go ahead and see and I can try and plan my life around that. I’ve also worked on clearly blocking out personal time to focus on myself.” Planning everything out is key to staying on track, biology freshman Aishat Amoo said. “I use a good [old] fashion like a physical planner,” Amoo said. “If I don’t write it down I’m not remembering to do [it,] so yeah, I think that’s definitely something that I have to keep with me.” After last semester, engineering freshman Avery Adams said she plans to better schedule her assignments and not procrastinate. “I think I need to start work ear-

lier,” Adams said. “To get ahead of that work, ask questions, go to my office hours and to not stress out. … I can stress myself out to the point where I don’t want to do anything anymore, and that’s not really healthy. So, I’m going to take a different approach to it, and get into it beforehand and take necessary breaks.” Create boundaries As external demands such as jobs, organizations and personal affairs begin to pile up, time seems to slip away. Creating boundaries helps build parameters in your day-to-day schedule and allocate time to what’s most important. It’s often tempting to follow what others do or commit to everything even when assignments and work await. Sacrificing personal fun and learning when to say no to get work done is important, Amoo said. “I definitely learned that people should have their own boundaries,” Amoo said. “I feel like there are a lot of instances where I could have

decided to go with what everyone else’s schedule was instead of prioritizing whether I had a test or something. I think definitely having boundaries and priorities is something that I’m taking [into] next semester.” Creating strict boundaries like rest days is useful when trying to prioritize physical and mental health, Butler-Borner said. “I’ve been … making sure that I have time, like blocking out specific hours where it’s like, no, this is going to be time specifically for me to rest,” Butler-Borner said. “I’ve also been trying to move things off of certain days if possible. Like Sunday, I try not to do any work unless I absolutely have to.” Pulling all-nighters is a common trend among college students, but Amoo said as she’s learned to build her own boundaries when it comes to studying, this method isn’t beneficial for her. “I’m very ready to stop, very ready to limit myself and very ready to take breaks,” Amoo said. “I have certain boundaries; for instance,

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when it’s past 12 [a.m.], I’m not doing schoolwork. I might be awake past 12, but it’s not schoolwork. I always make sure I have ‘me’ time at the end of the day. I’ll just study all I can and then sleep because I’m never pulling an all-nighter.” Maintain personal interests While school is of utmost importance, indulging in personal hobbies can help relieve stress by focusing on something other than all of life’s responsibilities, Butler-Borner said. “I’ve been trying to find, I guess, a more creative outlet,” Butler-Borner said. “For instance, baking: I used to be super into baking, but once I started college, I realized that I haven’t really been doing that because I’ve been so busy, even though I’ve loved doing it.” Apply these tips as you wish, and maybe this semester could be the best one yet.

METRO

The Battalion | 01.13.24

Warm campus welcomes, but cold as F° Arctic winds to blow through the Brazos Valley until Wednesday By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia Although the spring semester brings warm welcomes for returning Aggies, residents are preparing for Arctic cold to blow through the Brazos Valley until Wednesday. The below-freezing air will arrive by Sunday, Jan. 14, and temperatures are expected to be at or below 32 degrees for about 72 hours, ac- The Academic Building covered in snow on January 10, 2021. cording to predictions from meteoWednesday, Jan. 17 — Low of Weather Watch from Jan. 15-17, rology experts at KBTX. 17 and high of 44 degrees warning Texans of higher electrical According to KBTX, temperaThursday, Jan. 18 — Low of 36 demand and the potential for lower tures for Bryan-College Station are and high of 50 degrees reserves. However, ERCOT said it expected to be: Residents should beware of wind expects grid conditions to be norSunday, Jan. 14 — Low of 28 gusts throughout the weekend and mal. and high of 34 degrees the beginning of next week, as wind Local meteorologists said they Monday, Jan. 15 — Low of 26 chill can make the air feel as cold as do not expect icy road conditions and high of 30 degrees -3 to 5 degrees, KBTX said. in Bryan-College Station, howevTuesday, Jan. 16 — Low of 15 On Jan. 10, ERCOT issued a er, residents should closely monitor and high of 33 degrees

QATAR CONTINUED FROM A1 compromising national security research data to anyone is both false and irresponsible.” Welsh said the A&M-Qatar campus has been instrumental in advancing education and research since its founding. “We have graduated more than 1,500 engineering students and currently serve over 730 students,” Welsh said. “Many of these graduates are taking leadership roles at major energy companies in Qatar and around the world. The endorsement of academic programs and student activities by many U.S. and multinational companies underscores the campus’s significance in shaping the future generation of engineers. A&M’s Qatar campus also achieved a significant milestone in recent years as women now constitute half the student population.” The Qatar campus operates under the same research compliance offices as the main campus and complies with U.S. laws and regulations, Welsh said. “All research and its funding at the Qatar campus is reviewed and managed through the same A&M research compliance offices as the main campus,” Welsh said. “All A&M campuses, including Qatar, follow the same

FILE

the weather forecast and beware of any National Weather Service announcements. A&M students are expected to return for the first day of class on Tuesday, Jan. 16, but if weather conditions change, will receive updates through email and Code Maroon. Residents should take precau-

tions to protect themselves, others and their homes before the hard freeze: Protect your pipes: Pipes can cause damage to homes, apartments and buildings if they freeze and burst. Outdoor exposed pipes, such as faucets or sprinklers, are more likely to freeze and should be drained and covered. If pipes are unable to be covered, such as indoors, residents should allow faucets to slowly drip to prevent freezing. Sink cabinets can be left open to allow warm air to travel underneath. Protect your pets: If able, bring pets indoors throughout the day and night to avoid the harsh cold. Keep outdoor animals warm by placing their shelter away from wind, placing hay or setting up heat lamps. Check water regularly in case it freezes. Protect your plants: Move outdoor plants in containers inside or in the garage to avoid cold. If unable to be moved, water them before the freeze and cover them.

policies related to research and funding, which means each abides by state and federal research and export control regulations.” In light of the reports, Welsh said A&M continues to monitor developments in Qatar, affirming commitment to the university’s high standards for security. “Texas A&M remains vigilant in monitoring developments in the region, especially since early October,” Welsh said. “We will continue to engage Chancellor Sharp and the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on this matter, and will keep our faculty, staff and students informed if/as the situation changes.” ISGAP director Charles Asher Small, Ph.D., reiterated the allegations and said Welsh “dismissed” their findings in a Jan. 9 statement. “At the same time, it is important to note that President Welsh did not dispute Qatar’s ownership of over 500 research projects, including its Intellectual Property and student information — we believe this is a critical point that requires further examination,” the X post reads. “We therefore call for an urgent meeting with President Welsh to present the full findings and foster transparency in addressing the serious implications highlighted in our report.”

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Emma Moser, Finance Manager Hayden Arevalo, Advertising Manager Ryan Lindner, Opinion Editor Ana Sofia Sloane, Assoc. Opinion Editor Luke White, Sports Editor Hunter Mitchell, Assoc. Sports Editor Kylie Stoner, Assoc. Sports Editor Pranay Dhoopar, Video/Graphics Editor Chris Swann, Social Media Manager Sophie Villarreal, Engagement Manager

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OPINION

The Battalion | 01.13.24

SHE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN

Opinion columnist Charis Adkins shares some of her predictions for 2024 Charis Adkins

@Charis_Batt

Welcome to 2024! If the past few years have been any indication, this one’s bound to be a doozy. What does the new year have in store for Aggies? It’s impossible to know for certain, but I’ve done my best to pull together some of the most probable events based on both history and random chance. Again, these are just a handful of the most likely, very realistic events that will play out in 2024. Happy New Year, everybody! January 20: Texas A&M files for bankruptcy following the Jimbo buyout. January 28: A&M announces a new “30 by 30” plan to matriculate more engineering students because

everyone knows we don’t have enough of them crawling around already. February 1: Students begin camping out for the U.T. game. March 31: Brother Jed is reanimated and returns to campus with Sister Cindy to fight for the Lord. May 14: A&M announces another multimillion-dollar renovation for Kyle Field. Coincidentally, Heldenfels collapses on the same day due to disrepair. June 20: The Mugdown decides to start writing funny satire instead of what they’ve been doing. July 3: Bitcoin skyrockets. July 5: A&M mints limited edition Revcoin. It’s a huge hit with Old Ags. July 10: Jimbo mints contesting limited edition Jimbocoin. It’s a

huge hit with frat guys. July 11: Everyone briefly remembers that NFTs exist, then laughs. July 13: Bitcoin crashes, to no one’s surprise. Revcoin and Jimbocoin both go under. August 20: The College of Arts and Sciences is separated back into independent Colleges of Liberal Arts, Science and Geosciences. All is right in the world. August 25: Kathy Banks infiltrates campus perimeters and usurps the presidency from Mark Welsh. August 26: Kathy Banks reforms the College of Arts and Sciences out of spite. August 31: The Fightin’ Texas Aggies beat the Notre Dame hunchbacks. Cheers and high fives all around and everyone tells Jimbo where he can stick it.

September 7: The Fightin’ Texas Aggies lose to McNeese, somehow managing only to score 1 point the whole game. Everyone begs Jimbo to take us back. September 20: Mark Welsh finally locates and destroys Kathy Banks’ final Horcrux and regains presidency. September 21: Kathy Banks is banished to the steam tunnels. October 15: All of A&M is briefly consolidated into the College of Engineering and Other Stuff. October 16: Following heavy backlash, all colleges are sorted back into their original classifications. The College of Arts and Sciences remains consolidated.

November 30: A&M beats U.T. in a record-breaking game! Oh, who are we kidding? They’re going to destroy us on our own turf. December 1: There’s a sudden, inexplicable spike in the sale of longhorn meat in College Station. Also, the McRib makes a comeback. December 31: Chancellor Sharp ascends to his final form. There ya have it, Ags. Based on a patented mix of statistical analysis and things that were revealed to me in visions, these are the most likely events to transpire in 2024. Charis Adkins is an English junior and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

November 21: Excited to finally be relevant again, Bonfire burns twice as bright to usher in an Aggie win over U.T.

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SPORTS

Blue-blood

bounce back? A&M hunts for first SEC win against No. 6 Kentucky at Reed Arena By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001 Conference matchups wait for none, and amid their first two-game conference losing streak since February 2022, Texas A&M men’s basketball has no time to breathe as the No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats roll into Reed Arena on Jan. 13. After being picked to finish second in the conference, the Aggies now sit with Florida, Arkansas, Missouri and Vanderbilt as the only 0-2 schools in the SEC. A&M’s conference-opening loss was its first SEC loss at home since, in a mirror event, LSU beat the Aggies on Feb. 8, 2022. This also snapped a two-game conference opener winning streak. In conference play, the Maroon and White are shooting an abysmal 27.3% from the field and 17% from 3, all while only averaging 7.5 assists a game with 15.5 turnovers. Only two players are shooting over 30% from the field: senior forwards Henry Coleman III and Andersson Garcia, the latter of whom has only shot nine times. A bright spot for the Aggies has been offensive rebounding, a category A&M leads the nation in with 18.3 a game. Garcia is No. 1 in the conference and fourth in the country in offensive rebounds, averaging 4.2 while coming off of the bench for 12 of A&M’s 15 games. Coleman also contributes on the offensive glass, coming in No. 28 with 3.36 offensive rebounds. “[Garcia] does not want to let his teammates down, and he does not want to let me down,” coach Buzz Williams said. “I need to be more like Andy. He probably watches more tape than any player I’ve coached since Nickeil [Alexander-Walker].” Despite the offensive woes, the Maroon and White defense held both conference foes to an average 39.8% shooting percentage and 23.9% from deep, with neither opponent scoring above 70. Auburn’s 23rdranked scoring offense averages 83.5 points per game but only mustered 66 against A&M, turning the ball over 12 times. “You can argue that [second-chance points] is arguably our best offense,” Williams said. “... We were really good on Tuesday on the offensive glass. I think the other thing is, it’s not just our forwards on offensive rebounds, it is our forwards on offensive rebounds and it is our guards on shots at the rim. Fourty-percent of our

Graphic by Sophie Villarreal — THE BATTALION

shots against Auburn were in the charge circle, and we shot 40%. You need to finish at a higher rate, regardless of your position.” Although the defense has risen to the occasion early in SEC play, the Aggies are facing a completely different animal offensively in Kentucky than what LSU or Auburn presented. The Wildcats are highly ranked in almost every major offense category. Kentucky comes into the matchup against A&M No. 2 in scoring offense, No. 3 in assist/turnover ratio, No. 10 in effective field goal percentage, No. 7 in fastbreak points and No. 21 in 3-pointers per game. Williams said that Kentucky is averaging 1.37 points per possession in the first six seconds of the shot clock, which is first in the country. “What I told our team was if Auburn was fast, Kentucky is a hallucinogen,” Williams said. “... It’s like a drug. And what happens? You hallucinate. That’s Kentucky in transition. Super duper fast. Fourteenth fastest team in the country. Sixty-four percent of their shots have been attempted in the first 12 seconds of the possession, and they shoot an enormous amount of shots in transition from 3.” In 15 games, A&M has cracked 80 points four times. In the same amount of games, the Wildcats have failed to reach at least 80 points only once, that coming in their loss to UNC-Wilmington. Kentucky has also cracked 100 points twice, scoring a season-high 118 against Marshall. The Wildcats have seven scorers averaging at least 8 points compared to A&M’s four. Kentucky is led by senior guard Antonio Reeves, who is averaging 18.6 ppg. The Wildcats also start three freshmen in G D.J. Wagner and forwards Justin Edwards and Aaron Bradshaw. Off the bench, freshmen guards Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard both contribute double-digit scoring, with Dillingham second on the team with 14.4 ppg. The only positive for the Aggies is that Kentucky is not the strongest defensive team this season, coming in tied for 257th in scoring defense and 98th in opponent field goal percentage. Williams has yet to beat Kentucky during his tenure at A&M, going 0-3, with the Wildcats currently on a four-game winning streak against the Aggies dating back to 2019. “I think it’s good when you feel pressure to win,” Williams said. “I think we all feel pressure to win in our jobs, and when we don’t have success, and we care, we want to do better. If you’re not doing that, then you probably have the wrong job.”

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION