THURSDAY, MARCH 28 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2019 STUDENT MEDIA
NO APRIL SILVER TAPS Silver Taps, typically held on the first Tuesday of each month during the fall and spring semesters, will not be observed this April. The ceremony honors Texas A&M students who have passed away since the previous Silver Taps. “To the best of our knowledge no student has passed away during the previous month,” said Student Assistance Services administrative coordinator Davanna Minter. “As a result, Silver Taps will not be observed on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.”
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Joseph Nagyvary has conducted extensive research on the types of wood used for violin fingerboards.
STRING THEORY Professor emeritus looks to change violin business with research on fingerboards By Shreya Rao @Shreyarao_ With 40 years of experience in violin research, Joseph Nagyvary’s passion for the instrument began during his childhood in Hungary. Before getting the chance to conduct his research, Nagyvary spent his youth wanting to learn the violin. Eventually, his passion for playing took another path. “I grew up during World War II in Hungary and as a child I wanted to learn the violin, but after the war there was a hunger in Hungary and my mother had to sell our violin for food,” Nagyvary said. “I had no chance to learn after that for many years. I had my first violin lesson in my escape from Hungary to Switzerland in 1966 after an uprising against the Russians. That’s when I had the first chance to learn the violin, but my teacher told me I was too old at 22, 23 to learn things. So then, I decided I would do some research and find out why the old Italian violins are so much better than the other violins.” When he came to Texas A&M in 1967, Nagyvary worked as an associate professor of biochemistry. When he received a research grant through the Texas Advanced Technology Program in 1980, he started his scientific work on violins. Nagyvary studied the technology of preservation of violins made by legendary master craftsmen Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri. He also started researching the modification of violin fingerboards in 1989, which he picked up again two years ago to continue his work. Currently, Nagyvary is looking to retrofit the material of fingerboards to improve the sound of the violin. He has concluded that the wood now used for violin fingerboards, like ebony, has a heavier weight and does not create the same sound of great violins like those of Stradivari and Guarneri, which are made of lighter woods like maple and poplar. “Originally, the old Italian famous [violins] did not use ebony,” Nagyvary said. “The old Italians used old Italy wood like maple, and those woods are much lighter. So my theory was that one should really go back to the lighter woods because we know that weight is not good for the sound of the violin.” VIOLINS ON PG. 4
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
Then-sophomores Meagan Banowsky and Danielle Alford work in flower beds during The Big Event in 2017.
Big day for giving back Thousands of students set to serve community during The Big Event By Henry Mureithi @HenryMureithi5 On Saturday, Texas A&M students will be participating in The Big Event — the largest student-run single-day service project in the country. The program allows students to give back to residents in the Bryan-College Station community. This year, students
will be participating in a total of about 2,700 service projects. According to Molly Murphy, business honors and marketing junior and Big Event outreach executive, around 20,000 students typically register to participate in the Big Event. This year, the staff expects 19,000 students to volunteer in Saturday’s service projects. “Throughout the years, we’ve seen a continued commitment from A&M to want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, but to also want to connect with residents and the Bryan-College Sta-
tion community,” Murphy said. Murphy said the organizers try and assist as many B-CS residents as possible. “What I’ve been amazed by, for the most part, is how many residents sign up from word of mouth,” Murphy said. “Whereas in the past we’ve had to recruit residents pretty heavily, now it’s gotten to the place where we advertise the Big Event in places where residents frequent. But more than that, I feel so many residents are coming because of the referrals.” Murphy said Big Event reflects A&M’s BIG EVENT ON PG. 3
One Aggie to another Former tight end Campbell mentors players at Pro Day By Angel Franco @angelmadison_ There’s a saying at Texas A&M that the Aggie Network is strong. It’s widespread, and it can help both current and former students in many ways, including in the search for employment. For a few Aggies, one of the biggest days of their job hunt process happened Tuesday at the McFerrin Athletic Center. A&M football held its annual Pro Day, in which professional scouts from across the country visited Aggieland to find eligible players for the upcoming NFL Draft. Representatives from all 32 NFL teams, an NFL general manager and an Alliance of American Football general manager were in attendance. Seventeen players from the
2018 Texas A&M football team showcased their talents in hopes of landing on a professional football roster. One of the scouts in attendance was Dan Campbell, Class of 1999, who is currently an assistant head coach and tight-end position coach for the New Orleans Saints. “It feels great [to be back in College Station]; I don’t recognize this place,” Campbell said. “All the growth that has taken place and all the development — it’s pretty special.” The night before the Pro Day, Campbell said he was able to give advice to tight-ends Jace Sternberger and Trevor Wood as well as former 12th Man Cullen Gillaspia about the draft process because he’s been in their shoes before. “I flew in last night and met with those guys,” Campbell said. “I got to sit with them in the classroom and watch a little film.” Campbell says he does this to PRO DAY ON PG. 2
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Former 12th Man Cullen Gillaspia works with Dan Campbell during a tight end catching drill.
New crop on the block AgriLife studies methods to make artichoke farming more prevalent in Lone Star State By Giselle Warren @GiselleWarren16
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The Texas A&M Agrilife Research and Extension Canter at Uvalde is looking into new farming techniques to increase artichoke production in Texas.
Throughout Texas, artichokes are not a commonly produced crop. Texas A&M AgriLife is pushing to change that with new developments in farming techniques. The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde has been looking at several aspects of artichoke growth, from irrigation to nitrogen management in the soil, as well as seed quality to enhance germination. Researchers are developing and strengthening these techniques to produce more
quality products, which could lead to higher consumer acceptance. According to center director and professor of vegetable physiology Daniel Leskovar — who is leading these research efforts — making artichokes a more well-known product in Texas will boost the state economy. “Artichoke is a crop that is not known in Texas and is grown almost exclusively in California,” Leskovar said. “Artichoke is a plant that can thrive in our environment. It’s a plant that can produce different types of products that can bring high economic returns to farmers.” However, before Texas can reap the benefits of artichokes becoming a top commercial crop, growing techniques need to be thoroughly established. ARTICHOKES ON PG. 4