The Battalion — July 6, 2023

Local leaders support MSC early voting

Committee recommends return of on campus polling option

By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia

After the controversial removal of the Memorial Student Center, or MSC, as an early voting location last year, it has been readded as a recommended voting center.

On Wednesday, June 28, the Brazos County Commissioner’s Court held a public workshop session to review all voting center recommendations. Multiple community members, students and representatives from local voting advocacy groups attended the meeting at the Brazos County Administration Building to listen to the Vote Center Review Committee’s presentation, led by Brazos County Elections Administrator Trudy Hancock.

Listed on their online agenda, there are 24 recommended voting locations, which notably include the MSC and the College Station City Hall.

In July 2022, the MSC was not selected as an early voting location by a 4-1 vote, with several voting o cials citing the logistical costs of adding additional proposed locations. Instead, the MSC was replaced by the College Station City Hall. This change was proposed by Precinct 3 Commissioner Nancy Berry, who intended to help reduce confusion for residents who struggled with navigating the Texas A&M campus layout.

Student debt relief overruled

Court rules Biden’s proposal unconstitutional, unauthorized

By Jack Lee @JackTheBatt

On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down President Joe Biden’s federal loan forgiveness program, putting about 20 million people back on the hook for repaying up to $20,000 in student loans.

On August 23, 2022, Assistant Attorney General for the O ce of Legal Counsel Christopher Schroeder opined that loan cancellation via executive order was legally possible under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities For Students Act, which authorizes the federal government to grant educational nancial relief in response to “war or other military operation or national emergency.” Biden’s administration later issued up to $20,000 of debt relief under the justi cation of economic relief for the COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 29, 2022, the states of Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina brought legal action in a federal court against Biden, claiming that the loan cancellation program was unconstitutional, overstepping the executive branch’s power. While initially dismissed, the case was appealed and eventually argued before the Supreme Court.

Multiple A&M students voiced their opinions at the following meetings, along with the A&M Student Senate passing legislation to advocate for the reinstatement of the MSC, stating that removing the central building on campus interfered with students’ access to voting. Former Precinct 2 Commissioner Russ Ford was the only dissenting vote against the location change, being outspoken about how other members didn’t understand the importance of the MSC and ensuring student voters were not disen-

NEWS: Terry Price: In memoriam, 1968-2023

ON PG. 2

franchised.

Although many students on campus drive, not all commissioners accounted for the distance from campus for students who lack such resources. The city hall is no less than 30 minutes one-way if students walked, and factoring in waiting times and walking back, many students expressed concerns over dedicating so much time within their schedules to vote.

In October 2022, students advocat-

VOTING

SPORTS: Bahama blast, new baseball cast ON PG. 4

OPINION: Why summer ings always zzle out ON PG. 6

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote “the Court [concludes] that ‘[t]he basic and consequential tradeo s’ inherent in a mass debt cancellation program ‘are ones that Congress would likely have intended for itself.’ … the Court has required the Secretary [of Education] to ‘point to ‘clear congressional authorization’’ to justify the challenged program.”

The court’s opinion o cially struck down federal student loan cancellation unless Congress at a later point approves such a program. In response, Biden said via an o cial statement the termination of his nancial relief program was unjust.

“The average amount forgiven in the PPP — the pandemic loan program — average amount forgiven was $70,000,” Biden said. “Now, a kid making $60,000 bucks, trying to pay back his bills, asking for $10,000 in relief — come on. The hypocrisy is stunning.”

In contrast, Pete Sessions, the congressional representative for the area of Texas including Texas A&M, endorsed the decision in a Tweet.

“I applaud the Supreme Court’s ruling against President Biden’s unconstitutional student loan forgiveness program,” Sessions wrote. “The ruling is a victory for our constitution, and a rea rmation of our commitment to the rule of law … such reform cannot be implemented by unilateral executive action.”

Megan Williams — THE BATTALION Content via Brazos County Commissioners Court. For more information visit thebatt. com.

MSC VOTING CONTINUED FROM

the A&M chapter of Mobilize, Organize, Vote and Empower, or MOVE Texas, partnered with Mothers Against Greg Abbott to arrange for shuttles with Aggie Spirit Buses.

Berry apologized in September 2022 and said she was in favor of reinstating the MSC early voting location in 2023. Hancock admitted the MSC was a popular early voting location, later stating she hoped the city hall would still be a viable voting location for students, according to KBTX.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Hancock began her presentation by addressing an ADA survey of the 24 voting centers, entailing what changes were made to ensure physical accessibility. Hancock ensured all issues would be fixed by the beginning of the early voting period.

Aggies mourn loss of coach

During public comments and discussion, several speakers testified.

Maggie DiSanza, a University of Texas English junior, member of the MSC Votes Coalition and is the Central Texas campus organizer for Texas Rising, read a letter on behalf of the Texas Civil Rights Project.

“Texas A&M is the largest university in the country, with an enrollment of over 74,000 students, and a sizable portion of the student body are eligible voters,” DiSanza said. “Therefore, in order to ensure that Texas A&M students, who are central to the community fabric of Brazos County, are able to easily cast their ballots, it’s imperative that a polling place be established on campus, that many of these voters traverse on a daily basis.”

DiSanza said campus polling locations provide access for students to make their voices heard — who are often young, first-time voters — sparking continued, lifelong patterns of

Defensive line coach leaves legacy after battle with cancer

By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

On Friday, June 23, Texas A&M defensive line coach Terry Price passed away at 55, confirmed to KBTX by a family member. A former A&M football player confirmed to KAGS News that Price lost a battle with Stage IV cancer.

civic engagement.

Kennedy Fears, the Central Texas advocacy field organizer of Texas Rising, read a letter on behalf of Common Cause Texas.

“As elected officials and representatives of the campus community, it is imperative to remember that communities know where their center is and population hubs are,” Fears said. “Today, you have students and advocates telling you that the MSC is a necessary location for the enfranchisement of student voters.”

Fears said it’s imperative that the Commissioner’s Court listens to advocates so that “students do not need to come to [Brazos] county every year, every election, continuing to speak on the same case about the MSC polling location.”

Prairie View A&M University graduate Kala Washington represented herself, briefly speaking about her experience with voter suppression due to a similar polling location

Price played for A&M on the defensive line from 1986-1989 and was a four-year letterman during his time in College Station, winning two conference championships during the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

After going in the 10th round to the Chicago Bears in the 1990 NFL Draft, Price spent two years in the NFL before returning to A&M to coach on R.C. Slocum’s staff as a volunteer and finish his degree in sociology.

As a coach, Price made stops throughout the South, coaching at

closure while at PVAMU.

“When we were moved and got our polling location taken away … our numbers went down to one-fourth of the voters that we normally had,” Washington said. “As you can see, that’s a large number when you’re looking for having your constituents’ voices heard.”

Washington said the MSC polling location can act to bridge the gap between the campus and community when non-student residents vote there.

Republican Party of Brazos County Chairman Elianor Vessali, clarified that while she was in favor of reinstating the MSC, the moving of the Precinct 3 early voting location to the city hall was not disenfranchisement.

“Having [the voting location] at College Station City Hall, as it was — down the road, equidistant of what students maybe travel to go to classes on West Campus or elsewhere — was not suppression of the vote.”

Ole Miss and Auburn before returning to College Station to coach the defensive line for the Aggies in 2012.

Price was renowned as a recruiter, bringing talents such as Myles Garrett, Daylon Mack and Justin Madubuike to Aggieland. He also helped the Aggies in their record-setting 2022 recruiting class, bringing in many high-end talents in Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, LT Overton, Enai White and Jadon Scarlett.

As well-known a coach and re-

cruiter as Price was, he was arguably more well-known for his barbecue skills, frequently hosting his famous D-line barbecues for his players.

Price leaves behind his wife Kenya and his two sons Alex and Devin, both of whom graduated from A&M this spring. Devin played three years for the Aggies before transferring to FAU this past off-season. Price also leaves behind a lasting legacy that is felt by all of the players whose lives he touched.

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Defensive line coach Terry Price speaks with the media about his defense’s new look during media availability on Thursday, March 26, 2015.

The Battalion | 7.06.23 L&A

Located on 404 Main St. in Downtown Bryan, Sweet Repeat Resale has been home to the latest fad that is thrifting since February. Local owner and Bryan-native, Michael Cordova, opens his doors for customers to enter the world they once knew: their childhood closet. As graffiti paints the walls from the hands of local artists and racks of unique, thrifted finds occupy the store. Michael wanted to build a place that brings happiness out of shoppers.

Michael said he always worked in sales, from selling insurance to working for a flooring start-up company until COVID-19 hit, resulting in him being laid off and searching for another source of income. Michael’s daughter is the reason he started hunting for clothes, he said, by keeping a close eye on her fashion taste and buying clothes he thought she would like. For her birthday, all she wanted to do was thrift.

“I’d really jumped in then into reselling … I guess it was the whole vibe at the time is what attracted me,” Michael said.

Michael began selling clothes online and in Navasota, where he had the opportunity to set up booths outside of stores. Michael said he noticed he did not have the right product and was not making money.

“I stopped selling and I started buying, buying, buying,” Michael said. “Now, I’m hunting for clothing.”

His wife, Cathy Cordova, said they have a room designated to racks of clothes in their house from Michael’s hunting. For the last two years, she said, they were searching for the perfect and affordable storefront to display the business they built on their own while bouncing back from the repercussions of COVID-19. At the intersection of West 23rd and Main Street stands the blessing of a place that the Cordovas said they gained when they saw the building was for sale.

“He had these little corners of the [other] stores, but he was looking for his own store,” Cathy said. “And when this place came up for sale, it was the right timing.”

Being in Downtown Bryan

Thrifting’s never been so sweet

By Caitlyn Porras @caitlyncarole

allows customers to find their way to them, Cathy said. With the growth that the surrounding streets are receiving, it felt comfortable for the Cordova’s to have their business located where the base of the community is appreciated and supported.

“The community has been so supportive, whether it’s [Blinn] students and Aggies … high school students, [or the] Downtown Association,” Cathy said. “He’s gotten the support from the community.”

Cathy said they are trying to be as supportive as the local community has been to them. Kindness is a two-way street, and they support the events that are happening in Downtown Bryan and offer costume pieces for The Theater Company of Bryan and their productions. The couple aims to create a safe space for the community where everyone is welcomed, Cathy said.

“I’ve had great conversations with all kinds of people here … I am supporting the people that need support,” Michael said.

With the store being his only means of income, Michael said he does not have as much time to go out and buy thrifted finds, leading to the local business being the only store in town to trade with their customers. He said he feels obligated to give his thrifters the best deal that he can with the chance to negotiate.

“I try to have something for everybody,” Michael said. “You can find everything [in the store].”

The future plans of Sweet, Repeat, Resale are to help people with fashion. Michael said he wants to begin catering to more customers and hunting for the clothes they are looking for. If customers are trying out certain pieces, he will continue to pull and hunt similar styles to make sure they feel the happy feeling that Michael hopes to create in his store.

“I’m going to try to do the best I can for you so you leave with that [clothing],” Michael said.

Sweet, Repeat, Resale is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“I try to have something for everybody”

Michael Cordova, Owner of Sweet, Repeat, Resale, watches as his wife, Cathy Cordova, talks about the store in Bryan, Texas on Thursday, June 28, 2023.

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Michael Cordova and Cathy Cordova talk about an item as they check out a customer.

Michael Cordova holds their locally crafted upcycled jeans displayed in their store.

Ballin’ in the Bahamas

Touching base: Transfers

Aggies set to play Bahamian,

Lithuanian, Argentinian professional, national teams from Aug. 7-10

By Luke White @LukeWhite03

Looking to build upon a 25-10 showing in the 2022-23 season, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team will earn a tune-up with a tropical twist from August 6-12. The Aggies will travel to the Bahamas, where they will take on three international teams in competition at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

The team will be allotted 10 additional days of practice in preparation for the foreign tour, a right entitled to college programs every four years. A&M last faced international competition in 2019 with a tour of Costa Rica before coach Buzz Williams’ first season at the helm of the program.

season

The action will begin on Monday, August 7, with a 5 p.m. matchup against the Bahamian National Team before a noon tipoff on Wednesday, August 9, against Lithuanian pro team Zalgiris. The Aggies will take on Argentinian pro team Obras Basket at noon on Thursday, August 10, to round things out. Each game will take place in the Atlantic Imperial Ballroom.

The trip to the islands isn’t all about basketball, though. There, the maroon and white will take part in team-building exercises and cultural activities, while also lending a charitable hand to those in need.

“Obviously, the international competition and the extra days of practice are important, but the biggest benefit of a foreign tour is broadening the experience for the student-athletes,” Williams told 12thMan.com. “This is a unique opportunity for our guys to experience another culture. We will also get to serve those less fortunate than us while we are there. Our program is grateful to our administration and the 12th Man for their support of our Bahamas tour and [we] look forward to making some great memories.”

The three contests will offer fans the first glimpse of the team’s three newcomers in an A&M uniform. Williams and his staff recruited Bryce Lindsay, a guard from IMG Academy in Florida. Additionally, guard Eli Lawrence of Middle Tennessee State and guard Jace Carter of IllinoisChicago joined the Aggies as transfers.

A&M baseball says farewell to homeplate heros, bolsters roster with new talent from across the country

By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

After a disappointing end for Aggie fans — falling to the Cardinal in the Stanford regional — coach Jim Schlossnagle will have to replace many key pieces that have been a staple in Aggieland for years.

Seniors Austin Bost, Brett Minnich, Carson Lambert, Matt Dillard and Jordan Thompson have already left the program this offseason. Juniors like Trevor Werner, Jack Moss, Hunter Haas and Nathan Dettmer are all garnering professional attention. With a potentially massive roster overhaul, Schlossnagle has already hit the transfer portal this offseason to replace the pieces lost.

Ali Camarillo Jr., sophomore SS, CSUN

A sophomore from Chula Vista, California, Camarillo had a breakout season for the Matadors last year. An All-Big West First Team player, Camarillo ranked second in the Big West with a .371 batting average, fourth in slugging percentage with .611 and twelfth with 44 RBIs.

Ted Burton, senior 2B, Michigan After starting for the Wolverines for the last four years, Burton will trade in maize and blue for maroon and white come next spring. Hitting .301 on the year with 13 home runs, the All-Big 10 Third Team selection will bring much-needed experience to Aggieland. With 586 at-bats in his career, the Huntington Beach, California-native has started in 160 of the 164 games he has played in his career.

Charlie Paglianari, senior 3B, Fairfield

One of the biggest transfers the Aggies have landed this offseason, Paglianari brings one of the most explosive bats of any of the transfers A&M has landed. The Trumbull, Connecticut-native is BASEBALL ON PG. 6

Opinion: Three reasons summer flings don’t work

expiration date, your fling still has to meet all of the requirements a potential partner would. It’s unlikely you’re going to lower your standards by much, unless you’re steadfast in seeking a relationship that’s not going to last.

This is where the trouble starts and where most people, including myself, have imprudently resorted to chasing a summer fling. This is your formal warning to not do the same this summer, which for many of you may fall on deaf ears for one of two reasons.

Opinion writer Benjamin Barnes says it’s impossible ‘to half commit’

By Benjamin Barnes @Ben_Batt24

Summer — a time when the warm wind cools your panicked mind and deep-seated scholarly inhibitions. A season celebrated for focusing on yourself and prioritizing your own needs, which normally gets shoved to the side in pursuit of a degree the other nine months of the year.

Studying, organizations, recreational sports and other activities after class ensure we stay busy just about every waking hour during the all-too-familiar hectic semester. However, when our plate becomes a lot less full during summer, we usually seek something, or someone, to temporarily fill this void.

This brings me to my first problem with summer flings: timing. Unless you and your summer sweetheart made arrangements to get together prior, it can take several weeks to even find someone with the same thing in mind.

After all, even if the relationship has an

BASEBALL CONTINUED FROM PG. 4

coming off of a 2023 season where he hit .399 with 24 home runs, winning MAAC Player of the Year in the process.

Jackson Appel, senior C, Penn

A position that struggled offensively throughout ‘23 for A&M, Appel is yet another experienced transfer joining the team for ‘24. Appel started the past two years for the Quakers, hitting .300 while leading Penn in runs, triples and walks last season.

One: you’re a horndog and have already swindled someone into a fruitless rapport. If this is you, stop it. You can at least wait until August to pretend you have feelings for someone. Two: you haven’t had the opportunity to start a summer romance but are nevertheless persistent on obtaining one. No, I wouldn’t advise double texting her, bud.

For the rest of you who held out this long on your own accord, stay strong. You’re making a smart decision by not opting to get involved in a romantic interest for the next seven weeks. I know College Station isn’t exactly the epitome of where true love is born, but I’m willing to bet neither is your hometown, especially given the short time frame you’ll actually be there.

This brings me to my second problem. As infatuating as you probably are, you could be getting played. Remember, they are just as bored and in need of someone to spice up their mundane summer evenings as you are.

Normally, this is a good sign and perhaps the only reason flings sometimes work out. On the flip side, this is a fairly common occurrence among college students. Just remember that if you find yourself bored enough to flirtatiously text the girls you could’ve gotten with in high school if only you had more time, they’re probably doing the same.

The backstop from Houston was an All-Ivy League First Team selection, and with Max Kaufer and Hank Bard being the only catchers on the roster for next season, will bring muchneeded depth.

Hayden Schott, senior OF, Columbia

In a unique scenario, Schott committed to the Aggies before last season while still playing for the Lions last spring. This is due to the fact Ivy League schools do not allow graduates to play varsity sports. In his last season for Columbia, Schott hit .333 and was tied for the team lead with 11 home runs, as well as posting a 1.000 fielding percentage in

Don’t think you’re special because they’re texting you winky emoticons or claiming “we could be cute for a season.” In my experience, unless you have met up and put those flirtatious texts to the test, you might want to consider slowly taking your foot off the pedal to gauge their interest.

Lastly, and most importantly, is expectations. Expectations may seem simple enough, that is assuming you find someone mutually interested in starting a fling, however, this is also one of the leading culprits in why these things often go sour.

Some people don’t even have the decency to tell you what their intentions are upfront. I think I’d rather have someone tell me “I’m just trynna hit” or “You’re my ‘plan b’ so I’ll hit you up if ‘plan a’ falls through” than be a girl’s beard all summer. True story.

In any case, even if you’ve both stated your terms and conditions upfront, feelings are unpredictable. You may both be on the same page at the beginning of summer, until only one of you catches feelings and

is hoping to turn the fling into something more long-term … ouch.

Are you starting to notice a trend? Communication is not ideal between two people who are only mildly

committed for two months of the year. You’re always either under or over invested. Clingy or disingenuous. Obsessive texter or booty caller.

It’s impossible to only “half” commit to anything. You either strap down and decide that this is a person worth building a relationship with or someone who is better left as a friend.

People aren’t transactions and feelings can’t be manipulated as a means to an end, no matter how much your boredom and body try to convince you otherwise.

Do yourself a favor and side step the whole idea of a summer fling. There’s no need to cry or chase after someone who will be gone just as quickly as they appeared. Enjoy living in the moment and seeing friends and family.

Now, if something does happen between you and a romantic interest, let it occur naturally. A little smooching session by the campfire or catching up with a long-lost crush at the grocery store shouldn’t be looked down upon, but for Godsakes, don’t even think

about turning into a temporary summer fling.

Ivy League play.

Zane Badmaev, senior RHP, Tarleton

The closest transfer for the Aggies, Badmaev committed to A&M in an effort to bring stability to a bullpen that struggled in ‘23. The Boerne-native made 22 appearances with 32 innings pitched for the Texans last season, holding a 2.81 earned run average with 46 strikeouts.

Tanner Jones, freshman RHP, Jacksonville State

Adding young depth to the pitching staff, Jones started 11 games for the Gamecocks last year with a pair of wins. The Thorsby,

media studies senior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Alabama-native held a 5.33 ERA with 43 strikeouts.

Eldridge Armstrong III, sophomore RHP, San Diego State

Another younger arm, Armstrong came out of the bullpen last year for the Aztecs. He appeared in 30 games, accruing a 5-1 win record with a 3.24 ERA with a 46-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Benjamin Barnes is a telecommunication

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