Maroon Life - New Students' Guide to Aggieland 2019

NEW STUDENTS’ GUIDE TO AGGIELAND

MAROON LIFE

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REC SPORTS

What can I do at T H E

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JOIN US DURING HOWDY WEEK AT:

INTRAMURAL SPORTS

SPORT CLUBS

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

GROUP FITNESS CLASSES

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

INDOOR CLIMBING

This interactive, FREE event provides an opportunity for the Texas A&M community to explore ways to help create and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Various activities will highlight each area within the Department of Recreational Sports. Along with our partners, we will be providing food and swag on a first come, first-served basis.

AQUATICS CLASSES

DROP-IN RECREATION

RecSports recsports.tamu.edu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

GETTING INVOLVED || 28 ORGANIZATIONS FROM SPORTS TO SERVICE AND FAR BEYOND

04 || POINTS OF INTEREST

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO || 29

AN OVERVIEW OF SOME KEY CAMPUS LANDMARKS

AGGIE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS GRADUATES IN JOB SEARCH

05 - 15 || A&M TRADITIONS

DORM DECOR || 31

FROM ‘HOWDY’ TO ‘HERE,’ AGGIELAND REMAINS UNIQUE

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR ON-CAMPUS LIVING SPACE

18 || STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT

TELLING AGGIES’ STORIES || 33

JAILLET’S ROAD TO REPRESENTING HIS FELLOW AGGIES

19 || MSC PRESIDENT KOOT LOOKS TO PROVIDE A HOME FOR ALL STUDENTS

26 || COLLEGE MEAL TIPS EATING RIGHT WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

STUDENT MEDIA CONTINUES LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE

HOME AWAY FROM HOME || 34 NEWEST STUDENT HOUSING OPTIONS IN B-CS

READY FOR KICKOFF || 36 AGGIE FOOTBALL LOOKS TO BUILD ON RECENT SUCCESS

NEW STUDENTS’ GUIDE TO AGGIELAND

MAROON LIFE

The statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, the third president of Texas A&M, is the oldest on campus.

It is tradition for students to leave pennies on Sully for good luck before taking an exam.

About the cover: Reveille IX is in her fifth year as Texas A&M’s mascot and the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets.

Cover photo by Cassie Stricker Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 3

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As you begin your journey in Aggieland, take Texas A&M’s core values to heart

Dear Aggies,

I

want to keep this letter short because much like your time in Aggieland, the best is yet to come.

This collection of stories from current and former Battalion writers is meant to serve as a guide to Texas A&M, with information on the history, traditions and people who make this university what it is today. There are also some tips that we hope you’ll find useful as you adjust to college life.

Whether you’re totally new to Aggieland or someone who’s had their sights set on A&M since childhood, I think you’ll learn something new.

Even after a few years on campus, I’m amazed at how much there is to explore.

No matter what you do here, you’ll probably become familiar with A&M’s core values — respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. But it’s important to keep in mind that these aren’t just words (or MSC entrances). They really do mean a lot to the people of this university, and they’ve come to mean so much to me too. If you commit to live your life by these values as so many others have, I think you’ll find your experience in college and in the rest of your life to be all the better for it.

Respect is the value that all others stem from. And in a group as large and far-reaching as the Aggie family, respect is absolutely essential. So respect the perspectives and experiences of your fellow Aggies, your instructors and A&M’s dedicated staff. Families sometimes disagree, but as long as we remain respectful and understand that our differences can make us stronger, we can make A&M a welcoming home for everyone. And while we’re on the subject, don’t forget to respect yourself. There will certainly be some hard times, but never forget that you are capable of achieving excellence, and be sure to take care of yourself along the way.

At A&M, there are opportunities for leadership around every corner.

Personally, I think seizing these opportunities is a vital part of every Aggie’s experience. Even if you don’t think of yourself as confident or outgoing, there are so many different ways to be a leader, and until you step out of your comfort zone, you won’t fully know how great you can be. So whether you’re student body president, an officer in one of A&M’s many student organizations or that cool person in the class group message who is always there for your peers, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to lead.

The way I see it, loyalty and integrity stem from understanding and honoring the commitments you have made — to yourself, to your fellow Aggies and to this university. When you enroll here, you’re joining more than a school. You’re joining a network of Aggies that supports each other and expects great things from each other.

When we all keep our promises, working together is an easy thing to do. And when we all commit to being honest, our bonds of trust are unbreakable.

Lastly, selfless service is a value that A&M is particularly proud of, and for good reason. An education carries with it an obligation to improve the world around us. This is the mission we are all called to, and I’ve seen just how great Aggies are at answering that call. I feel confident that you will see that too, and I hope you’ll find the same enthusiasm for service. So find something you’re passionate about, and let your core values guide you. There are problems that need solutions and so many questions that need answers, but I know you’re up to the task. You’re an Aggie now; and that’s just what Aggies do.

Thanks and Gig ‘em, Luke Henkhaus ’20 Fall 2019 editor-in-chief

SPRING 2019 Megan Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief Luke Henkhaus, Managing Editor Jane Turchi, Special Sections Editor Cassie Stricker, Photo Chief Meredith Seaver, Asst. Photo Chief Angel Franco, Sports Editor Abigail Ochoa, Sports Editor Jordan Burnham, News Editor Sanna Bhai, Asst. News Editor Henry Mureithi, Asst. News Editor Kathryn Whitlock, Life and Arts Editor Hannah Falcon, Life and Arts Editor Samantha Mahler, Life and Arts Editor Brady Stone, Page Designer

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Graphic by Nic Tan — THE BATTALION

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 5

REVEILLE • F I SH CA M P • T- CA M P • HOW DY C A M P • G I G ‘ E M • HOWDY • AGG I E RIN G • H OWDY WE E K • CO R P S O F C A DE TS • YELLS • SPEC I AL U N ITS • M A RCH TO THE BR A ZOS • WA R H YM N • S PIR IT OF AG G I ELA ND • PE NN IE S O N SU L LY • FI N A L R E V I E W • FIGHT I N’ T EX AS AG G IE BA ND • Y E LL LE A DE R S • 12 T H M A N

TRADITIONS • EL EPHANT WA LK • M ID N IG H T Y E LL • M A RO O N O U T • M UST ER • T HE B I G E V E NT • M E MO RIA L ST U DE N T C E N T E R • R EPLANT • SI LVE R TA PS • SE N IO R B O OTS • R I N G DA N C E • G O OD B U L L • WHO O P • B O N F IRE RE M E M B R A N C E • W I L DC ATS • ROS S VOL U NT EE RS • F ISH D RILL TE A M • B O N FI R E B U R N • ECHO TAPS • PARS O N ’S MO UN TE D CAVA L RY • S E N I O R B O OTS • FAMI LY WEEK E N D • CE NTURY TRE E • P O N D H O P P I N G • HULLABALOO • Y E LLS • TH E SPIRIT O F ‘ 02 • M U G DOW N • V ICTORY YEL L • RIN G DA NCE • B O OT DA NC E • P U L L O U T DAY • THE BAT TALI ON • RIN G DAY • CO RPS B R AS S • FI S H S P U R S •

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‘Stand for each other’ Silver Taps honors students who have passed away each month

By Tyler Snell and Gracie Mock @Tyler_Snell2 & @g_mock2

I

Silver Taps is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 p.m. in Academic Plaza.

t may seem like a normal Tuesday, but as students walk through Academic Plaza, they notice the flag at half-mast. Cards with a student’s name, class and major lie at the base of the flag and atop the Silver Taps Memorial.

Throughout the day, letters are written to the families of the students who have died in the last month. The bell tower chimes “Amazing Grace” while lights are dimmed throughout campus, and moonlight sets in over Aggieland.

Students gather to stand in silence for the fallen.

Once the clock strikes 10:30 p.m., all is quiet until the footsteps of the Ross Volunteer Company are heard across the plaza. Students stand at attention as family members of Aggies who died in the last month are led into the plaza.

The Ross Volunteers march to the center of the plaza in a slow cadence and fire off three volleys of seven shots to honor the current graduate or undergraduate students who have died.

Buglers play a special rendition of “Taps” called “Silver Taps” from the top of the Academic Building with no sheet music — the song has been passed down over the years and is played from memory. They play once to the north, once to the south and once to the west, but never to the east because the sun will never rise on those Aggies again.

As the family members are led out of the plaza, students make their way home in silence and the lives of the fallen Aggies are remembered.

The first Tuesday of every month is a special time in Aggieland, as Silver Taps is held to honor students who died in the previous month. The tradition began in 1898 to honor Lawrence Sullivan Ross, former governor of Texas and president of Texas A&M. Traditions Council, an organization within the Department of Student Activities, began running the ceremony in the 1970s.

“It’s the way the Aggies show that they are there for another student no matter what and that even if the student passes away, they are still part of the

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Aggie family and that we’re going to stand for each other,” said Katherine Cornell, 2017-2018 Silver Taps chair.

Before the night of Silver Taps, family members of the deceased are invited to campus for a reception. The Battalion, A&M’s student-run newspaper, publishes memorial articles about the students’ lives. For a new Aggie, this experience can be an emotional time.

“Silver Taps is not seen, it is felt,” Cornell said. “The impact that it has on these families makes my job one of the most rewarding ones.

Families have said things such as Silver Taps is one of the most honorable things that they’ve ever encountered and that the Silver Taps ceremony has made a huge impact on them and their healing process.”

Students have also been able to send letters to the family members since Traditions Council took over the ceremony as a way to get students involved and connected to the students being honored.

“We definitely encourage the student body to write to the families. It really, really, really means a lot,” Cornell said. “Even just seeing the amount of letters pour in for their students is incredible, so for those families to be able to read how much support that the current students are giving the families is amazing.”

History junior Abby Hemmi said she didn’t grow up knowing Aggie traditions and attended Silver Taps for the first time after her friends encouraged her to go.

“My friends were like, ‘This is a really big tradition,’ and I had no idea what it was or what to expect but I went with them because you do stuff with friends,” Hemmi said. “I got a lot out of it actually and it made me feel more part of the Aggie family.”

A&M students are frequently told about the Aggie family and Spirit of Aggieland, but most do not completely understand it until attending a Silver Taps ceremony.

“To me, Silver Taps really is the absolute embodiment of the Aggie Spirit and what it means to be a part of the Aggie family,” Cornell said. “You can go stand and be part of the 12th Man on Saturday at football games, but standing for your fellow Aggie at Silver Taps really makes you a part of the Aggie family.”

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Each year on April 21, Aggies around the world gather at Muster ceremonies to honor the lives of Aggies who died in the last year.

‘Softly call the Muster’ Photos by Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

ON CAMPUS AND AROUND THE WORLD, AGGIES REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

By Savannah Mehrtens @SJMehrtens

E

ach year on April 21, current and former Texas A&M students and community members gather to remember and honor the Aggies who died in the last year.

The tradition of Muster started over a century ago, and it has evolved over the years to become the ceremony Aggies know today. The largest Muster is held on campus, though numerous others take place around the world. It is often said that if there are two Aggies within 100 miles

of each other, they should gather, share a meal and remember their days at A&M on April 21 of each year.

Kathryn Greenwade, Class of 1988 and vice president for communications and human resources at The Association of Former Students and Class of 1988, said she believes Muster is the most somber and powerful A&M tradition.

“In my opinion, Muster is the greatest of our Aggie traditions because it truly boils down what being an Aggie is all about,” Greenwade said. “[Which is] having respect for our fellow Aggies, having

loyalty to our school, having a strong affinity and connection and fondness for our university. All of those things are included in the Muster ceremony or the Muster gathering.”

Greenwade said the reach of Muster is another element that sets it apart. Aggies around the world gather to share a meal and answer “Here” for those they lost in the past year.

“We [have] Musters take place in over 300 locations around the world,” Greenwade said. “Those range from more formal gatherings like in Reed Arena with the

campus Muster, to very informal casual gatherings of just a few people out of state, out of country.”

David Pham, speaker executive for the Aggie Muster Committee and Class of 2019, said Muster is a tradition unique to A&M. “It’s the one tradition that I believe sets us apart from other universities,” Pham said. “It’s a time that has a somber component to it because we are remembering those who have passed, but also time for Aggies to come together, so we also have the camaraderie component to it too.”

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WE REMEMBER THEM

Miranda Denise Adams ‘02 Christopher D. Breen ‘96 Michael Stephen Ebanks ‘03 Jeremy Richard Frampton ‘99 Jamie Lynn Hand ‘03 Timothy Doran Kerlee Jr. ‘03 Lucas John Kimmel ‘03 Bryan A. McClain ‘02 Chad A. Powell ‘03 Jerry Don Self ‘01 Nathan Scott West ‘02

Each year at 2:42 a.m. on Nov. 18, students gather around the Bonfire Memorial to remember the 12 students who died when the stack collapsed in 1999.

Photos by Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Aggies honor the 12 who lost their lives in the 1999 Bonfire collapse

By Sanna Bhai @BhaiSanna

A

tradition that began as a way to celebrate Texas A&M’s victory over the University of Texas in 1907, Aggie Bonfire, is now remembered on Nov. 18 each year at 2:42 a.m. in honor of the 12 Aggies who died during the Bonfire collapse in 1999.

Bonfire was a long-standing tradition that typically occurred around Thanksgiving each year, where thousands of Aggies gathered to watch it burn. On Nov. 18, 1999 at 2:42 a.m.,

the stack collapsed, killing 12 and injuring 27.

In memory of those who died, a memorial was built five years later in the same spot Bonfire last burned on campus. Each year, students gather for a somber Bonfire Remembrance Ceremony.

The design and planning of the Bonfire Memorial began immediately after the collapse. Overland Partners completed the construction five years later. The memorial consists of three main parts: the Tradition Plaza, the History Walk and the Spirit Ring.

The entrance of the memorial is the Tradition Plaza. It includes the Spirit Wall, which is intended to separate the memorial from the rest of the world, and the Last Corps Trip Wall, which displays the poem that was read

before Bonfire was lit each year. The History Walk leads to the memorial and symbolizes 90 years of Bonfire with 89 granite stones arranged in a north-south line, beginning with 1909. Finally, the Spirit Ring surrounds the memorial site, representing the Aggie Spirit uniting students. Twelve portals are around the ring, facing the hometowns of the students they commemorate. The 27 students who were injured are represented by stones that connect the portals to complete the circle.

Since Bonfire is no longer officially affiliated with the university, the tradition continues off-campus with Student Bonfire, a student-run organization separate from A&M. Each year, students in the organization spend months before Burn Night cutting logs and

building the stack, which is burned before the last football game of the regular season.

From 2002 to 2005, student volunteers in Student Bonfire funded the project, but starting in 2006, the organization began to receive financial support from what they call “Friends of the Fire,” which helps cover costs of site leases, tractors, trucks, ropes, cables, logging chain and other equipment.

Following the 1999 collapse, modifications to the stack design were made to ensure the safety of the participants. New safety precautions require all logs to touch the ground, a wedding cake design where each tier is smaller than the last, an unspliced center pole and four poles called “Windle Sticks” which are used as framework for the stack.

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Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

ROOTED IN TRADITION

Travis Burdick and Haley Neu, both Class of 2018, dated for two years before getting engaged under the Century Tree.

Century Tree remains an important part of campus and Aggie love stories

By Vernesha Hazel @verneeshaaa

W

alking through Academic Plaza, one may see an unusually shaped tree right in the heart of Texas A&M’s 5,500 acre campus. However, it is more than a unique oak. The Century Tree’s long, drooping branches make up one of A&M’s most beloved monuments.

According to university archivist Greg Bailey, the Century Tree is thought to have been planted in 1891, making it one of the first trees on campus. There are documents stating the Century Tree was one of the first live oaks planted on campus, placed in the center of the old parade grounds, Bailey said.

“When the college first opened, parade grounds were in front of Old Main,” Bailey said. “In the archives, there are pictures of Old Main that show the tree in the background, supporting that. That’s where the tree was really planted.”

The Century Tree was named an official Famous Tree of Texas by the Texas Forest Service in 2011. As stated on their website, this award honors trees which “have been a

witness to some of the exciting periods and events in Texas’ frontier history.”

Bailey said the Century Tree used to be just another tree on campus and didn’t have its name until the late 1900s. “[The Century Tree] really didn’t have much of a significance much into the 1960s and ‘70s,” Bailey said. “It was basically referred to as ‘the large oak tree in front of the Academic Building’ and was a common meeting-up place for people.”

Kamryn Crowder, Class of 2018, said the tree is a landmark she passed on a daily basis.

“I learned about the Century Tree for the first time when we came on a campus tour back in high school,” Crowder said. “Then when I came to A&M, I was a telecommunication media studies major, so I had a lot of classes in Bolton, which is right behind the tree, so I always saw the tree on the way to class. It has always seemed to be a good representation of the life and tradition of the

campus.”

Bailey said there is a superstition that the branches of the Century Tree hold power over an Aggie’s love life. According to the tradition, if a couple walks under the tree together, they will eventually wed. This happens to be the case for Kenneth and Sarah Graham, both Class of 2019.

“We would actually walk under [it] anytime we were in Academic Plaza, just for fun,” Sarah said. “I would say that the Century Tree is somewhat of a tradition in itself.

Most Aggies understand what the tree means and they respect that.”

The tradition also states that proposing

under the tree will lead to an everlasting marriage. Kenneth proposed to Sarah there after a Midnight Yell practice during the fall of their junior year and were married on Dec. 29, 2018.

Kenneth and Sarah aren’t the only couple to have their moment under the Century Tree. On Oct. 22, 2017, Haley Neu and Travis Burdick, both Class of 2018, took their first stroll under the tree together.

“We had been together for two and a half years when he proposed the first time we walked under the tree,” Neu said.

According to Bailey, the university is doing a lot of work to make sure the tree is around for years to come.

“University Grounds has done a lot of work with the supporting of the branches,” Bailey said. “Because some of them are so large, a huge aspect is trying to mitigate lightning strikes and prevent oak wilt.”

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A little piece of Aggieland Aggie Ring symbolizes A&M’s storied history, treasured experiences in B-CS

By Sanna Bhai @BhaiSanna

O

ne hundred and twenty-eight years ago, a tradition began that would become one of the most prominent symbols of Texas A&M — the Aggie Ring.

The first Aggie Ring was created in 1889. In A&M’s early years, each class would design their own ring, leading to drastic, or sometimes minor, changes. It was not until the 1930s that the look of the Aggie Ring began to resemble what it is today.

Although the design has changed over the years, the message behind the ring remains unchanged, according to Kathryn Greenwade, vice president of The Association of Former Students and Class of 1988.

“It’s a visible representation of our connection to Texas A&M, and it is something that we all wear proudly because we are all proud to be connected to the university,” Greenwade said. “I think the cadets in 1889 felt that same passion and loyalty to Texas A&M that students today feel.”

Today, the design consists of a five point star, a rifle, a canon, a saber and an eagle. Because the design of the ring from 1889 to the early 1900s wasn’t consistent, it would be unrecognizable to Aggies today. Rings from the turn of the 20th century have a square black face engraved with the letters “TAMC,” along with the class year split up on the both sides.

In 1930, the overall design changed drastically, placing a red stone in the middle of the ring. The controversy prompted then-university president Thomas Walton to standardize the ring design in 1933.

Since the standardization, very few changes have occurred. In 1967, the manner in which the name of the university appeared changed, reading “Texas A&M University” to reflect the official university name change. In 1998 the ring began to be manufactured in one piece. The changes in the ring’s design, while maintaining the tradition of the school, are similar to the school’s overall history, according to Greenwade.

“I often tell people that the Aggie Ring is like Texas A&M itself,” Greenwade said. “Whereas the physical presence may have had changes over the years, but the heart and the meaning of what truly matter has stayed the same.”

Aggie Rings can have an antique or natural finish, but white gold and polara rings have to be antiqued. Regardless of the finish, the Aggie Ring has the same meaning in every form, according to Greenwade.

“It is a symbol of our unity,” Greenwade said. “It is a symbol of our values and it’s something we can all share.

It’s a very visible reminder that we wear daily, to Texas A&M and the Aggie Network.”

Right: Biomedical sciences senior Elizabeth Seaver and business sophomore Thomas Seaver celebrate at the spring 2019 Ring Day. Photos by Annie Lui and Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 12

‘GOT A LITTLE STORY

FOR YA, AGS’

The yell leaders wait at the 50-yard line for the clock to strike 12 before beginning Midnight Yell.

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Midnight Yell remains one of A&M’s most beloved pre-game traditions

By Samantha Mahler @MahlerSamantha

B

efore the Texas A&M football team rushes onto the field on game day and the 12th Man stands ready to take action, a tradition unlike any other takes place.

Held at Kyle Field the night before a home football game, Midnight Yell gives Aggies the opportunity to perfect their yells before facing the opposing team the next day.

Midnight Yell features singing, storytelling and, of course, plenty of yelling. More than 25,000 people attend Midnight Yell before each home game.

The tradition began in 1913 when a group

of freshmen cadets were gathered in T.D. “Peanut” Owens’ dorm. The cadets wanted to have a pep rally for the upcoming football game, and they wanted to make it unlike any they had seen before. Cadets decided to practice their yells for precision on the steps of the YMCA building at midnight.

When the group approached their senior commanders for permission, they were told the yell practice couldn’t be made into an official event, but there was a possibility the Yell Leaders would show up. Sure enough, they did, along with the majority of the Corps of Cadets. The crowd practiced the yells for the next day’s game and sang the Aggie War Hymn and the Spirit of Aggieland. “[Before] the next game, it happened again,” said John Maldonado, former Traditions Council public relations chair and communication junior. “They picked up the

tradition of it, and before every home football game they would gather on the steps of the YMCA Building and have yell practice.”

A few years down the line, Owens became a Yell Leader. Legend has it his feet were so big, they couldn’t fit on the steps of the YMCA Building. To keep his balance, Owens would pace back and forth on the steps, and soon enough, the other Yell Leaders followed suit.

Over the years, various activities have been added to the schedule of Midnight Yell. To get the crowd in good spirits, the Yell Leaders started taking turns telling fables about how the Aggies will beat their opponent.

“They tell the story of Ol’ Rock either outsmarting or bettering his opponent in any capacity,” Maldonado said. “It’s a really fun way to get everyone laughing at yell practice and to relax into the yells.”

Maldonado said another tradition began to unfold when cadets started inviting students from Texas Woman’s University to football games and women began attending Midnight Yell as well. This began the practice of kissing one’s date once the lights dimmed, commonly referred to as “mugging down.”

Today, students without a date will either use a lighter or turn on the flashlight on their phone — which makes it easier to find another dateless student in the dark — in hopes of finding someone to “mug down” with.

Even when the football team is on the road, Aggies still have time to practice their yells. On the Thursday night before an away game, Aggies gather at the 12th Man Memorial statue next to Kyle Field for yell practice. A smaller Midnight Yell is also held on Friday at a designated location in the town where the game is being played.

Keepers

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of the

spirit Cadets play unique role in traditions, observe many specific to the Corps

Final Review symbolizes the transition to the coming year’s Corps leadership.

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

By Jane Turchi @ JaneTurchi

T

he Corps of Cadets is famously known for keeping tradition at Texas A&M. While many of the traditions they participate in are observed by all students, there are some which are unique to cadets. From their special role in Silver Taps, to receiving their Corps Brass, cadet involvement in tradition runs deep.

Corps Brass Culmination The Corps holds the Corps Brass Culmination ceremony at the end of November. After three hours of physical training, freshmen cadets receive the Corps Brass they will wear for the remainder of their time in the Corps.

Philosophy junior and member of C-2 Mason Loss said the event is meaningful to cadets because of the unique sense of community it creates.

“Culmination was really big for me because it’s you earning your place in the Corps,” Loss said. “Going through this awful workout that’s just so intense and so difficult but finally getting to the end of that and you’re rewarded with this thing — you feel like you earned it together with all of your closest friends.”

Final Review Final Review is an event where the entire Corps of Cadets assembles at the Simpson Drill Field for a full military review. It is the last official requirement Corps members must complete before they are released for summer break. The tradition consists of two passes in review, in which cadets march in front of a reviewing party consisting of various dignitaries and the Corps commandant. The first re-

view of the day is for all Corps students of the school year followed by the second review, in which that year’s freshmen, sophomores and juniors pass in front of the graduating seniors.

At the end of the spring 2019 semester, Squadron 23 member Matthew Trumm attended his last final review.

“Final review is special each year for different reasons,” Trumm said. “Your freshman year, you’re no longer a freshman; you’re an upperclassman. Your sophomore year, you’re finally a whitebelt, which gives you more privileges. Your junior year, you finally get to wear your boots, and your senior year, you’re finally done.”

Final review is a symbolic time for underclassmen as they honor graduating seniors and take on new roles in the Corps as the year comes to a close, Trumm said.

“Final review is the official ‘Congratulations, zips. You’re done,’” Trumm said.

March to the Brazos Each year, the Corps runs the largest student-led March of Dimes fundraiser in the country. March to the Brazos was originally held on April Fool’s Day to prevent cadets from playing tricks but ended in 1912. The event was restarted in 1977.

It begins with a nine-mile trek from main campus to the Brazos River, where the cadets compete in various competitions. On their return, the senior class “dies off” and rides buses while next year’s seniors lead the cadets on their return to campus.

“It’s kind of like we’re in our new roles, and we are going to act accordingly,” Trumm said.

Donations gathered as part of the march

support the March of Dimes’ work to improve the health of mothers and babies.

“You do the whole thing together as an outfit,” Loss said. “It really draws you close and brings you together because at the end of the day, you’ve walked like 18 miles together.”

Silver Taps and Echo Taps Silver Taps was first held in 1898 to honor Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Today, it is a university-wide tradition to honor students who have passed away. It is held in Academic Plaza on the first Tuesday of the month throughout the school year.

Josh Donnell, Class of 2019, was a member of the Ross Volunteer Company. In addition to serving as the official Honor Guard of the Governor of Texas, the RVs are responsible for performing the 21-gun salute at Silver Taps and Aggie Muster.

“There’s nothing like Silver Taps and Muster anywhere,” Donnell said. “So I think being a direct part of that and being given the opportunity to help in any way is just an amazing part of being an Aggie.”

English senior Nathanael Duty is a member of the H-1 outfit. Duty said on the day of Silver Taps, freshmen cadets carry note cards with the names of classmates who have died. “[Silver Taps] creates an atmosphere or culture where people value someone after their death, so they take a moment and remember the legacy that someone has created,” Duty said.

Similar to Silver Taps, when a current member of the Corps dies or there is a national tragedy, the cadets have an Echo Taps ceremony at the Quad. The ceremony begins

at 10:30 p.m., when cadets line the length of the Quad at attention. A bugler plays taps at one end of the Quad followed by another bugler at the opposite end who echoes the call.

Annual Echo Taps ceremonies are held in remembrance of tragedies including the Sept.

11 terrorist attacks and the collapse of Aggie Bonfire on Nov. 18, 1999.

“I think it’s important that we maintain these traditions because that’s who we are,” Donnell said. “It’s a joke that if something happens twice it’s a tradition, but I think that there’s a greater meaning behind traditions that people don’t realize.”

The First Lady of Aggieland As the story goes, a group of cadets hit a small black and white dog when they were traveling back from Navasota in January 1931.

They took the dog back to their dorm and hid her since pets weren’t allowed on campus.

When the “Reveille” wake-up call was played the next morning, the dog barked, so the cadets named her after the song. The following football season, Reveille led the band onto the field as the official mascot.

The current mascot, Reveille IX, assumed her role in May 2015. Reveille is the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets, boasting five silver diamonds.

Miss Rev is accompanied by a mascot corporal, who is a sophomore cadet selected from Company E-2. During the 2019-2020 school year, geographic information science and technology sophomore Colton Ray will serve in the role as Reveille’s caretaker and handler.

Reveille attends classes with the mascot corporal and tradition states that if she barks, the class is canceled.

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 14

‘NATIONALLY FAMOUS’

Photos by Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

America’s largest military marching band started with just 13 volunteers

By Samantha Mahler @ mahlersamantha

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ne iconic phrase has long been associated with the precision-style marching only found in Aggieland: “Ladies and gentlemen, now forming at the north end of Kyle Field, the nationally famous Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.”

With around 400 band members, the Aggie Band is the largest military band in the nation. As a distinct part of the Corps of Cadets, the band members live in close community with one another, making it a marching band unlike any other.

Around 1894, Joseph Holick traveled by train to College Station looking for work. A skilled leatherworker, Holick wound up repairing and making boots for cadets, eventually creating Holick Manufacturing Company, which makes boots for senior members of the Corps.

As the story goes, Holick also shared his musical talents with the Cadets. Word of

this eventually got to then-A&M president Lawrence Sullivan Ross, who asked Holick if he would be interested in forming a band.

Holick found 13 volunteers, borrowed militia uniforms and spent $100 on instruments, thus creating the Aggie Band.

Other collegiate marching bands went away from military marching style, which ultimately made the Aggie Band unique. Col. Jay Brewer, senior associate director of the

Aggie Band, said this style and the fact that the band lives together as a unit are what make the Aggie Band exceptional. Brewer serves as the familiar voice of the band during its performances.

“I think it’s popularity is pretty evident if you’ve ever been to Kyle Field and you hear the student crowd and others echo my introduction to the band,” Brewer said. “They stand the whole time these young people are

on the field. It’s a testament that this is something special; this is something unique. And wherever we go, we get that and then some.”

Within the Corps, there are six band-specific units to which members can be assigned.

These cadets have similar schedules to nonband Corps members, but with the added obligation of band practice five days a week, Aggie Band members have a different level of responsibility.

“They’re very good and very dedicated at what they do, and it takes a great deal of time and energy and sweat and some tears along the way,” Brewer said. “There’s a lot more to it to be in the Texas Aggie Band than preparing halftime drills and preparing march music.”

The Aggie Band resides in two halls on the Corps Quad. There are three floors in each building, and each of the six units is assigned its own floor.

Civil engineering senior and 2019 Band Commander Nick Rossi said although everyone in the band may look uniform on the field, it is really a melting pot of cadets from a wide variety of backgrounds. Still, one thing is the same for each member: the band spends the majority of its time in close proximity with one another.

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 15

During the fall semester, the Aggie Band wakes up around 5 a.m. each day to practice halftime marching drills.

“It’s really neat because at the end of the day, we’re all going to come back here to these two dorms, and we’re all going to lay down in the same relative vicinity, and we’re all going to get up and go do the same thing the next morning,” Rossi said. “That’s really special — something bringing us into some kind of common ground to do something that’s not just for us.”

Ross Beazley, industrial distribution junior and alto saxophone, said the relationships within the Corps are unparalleled, but a little more so within the Aggie Band.

“Not every major unit outside the band

gets the opportunity to intermingle nearly as often as we do,” Beazley said. “I think that’s super, super cool because I get to go see other people from five other outfits that I don’t get to see on a regular basis and make connections and make relationships with them.”

Rossi said he is confident the friendships he’s made within the Aggie Band will be relationships he’ll have for life. He credits these connections to living together and being able to see his buddies at their best and worst.

“We all see each other at the 5 a.m. wakeup call whenever your hair is a mess, all half an inch of it,” Rossi said. “Whenever you’ve got

bags under your eyes and whenever you’ve got that exam the next morning.”

In 2001, the Aggie Band received the Sudler Trophy, which is awarded to a collegiate-level marching band that demonstrates the highest level of excellence. However, for many members of the band, the honor of playing while former President George H.W. Bush’s casket was carried off the train before his burial in College Station was the highest award they will ever receive.

“The fact that he wanted specifically us to be there — that I think trumps any award that we could possibly be a part of,” Beazley said.

“Just being part of something so special and characteristic and important to our country.”

Cadets in the Aggie Band earn a one-hour kinesiology credit each semester they are active. Brewer, who has been announcing the band at halftime since 1981, said he believes members should earn at least a six-hour credit because of their dedication to each other and the band.

“It’s about who you are and what you’re made of, but more importantly, what you’re passionate about,” Brewer said. “More importantly than that, this is about not so much what we do, but whom we do it with.”

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 17

LIFE IN AGGIELAND Everything you need to have a great year

The Starbucks on the Quad, often referred to as “Quadbucks,” is a popular study and snack spot on campus.

Megan Cusick — THE BATTALION

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 18

JAILLET’S JOURNEY Student body president recalls path to office, plans to improve the Texas A&M experience

By Sanna Bhai @BhaiSanna

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fter taking office in April, student Body President Mikey Jaillet is leading Aggies this school year.

The journey to becoming student body president started in October, as Jaillet consulted those he trusted to be certain this was something that would be best for him and the Aggie community.

“I really thought about it — talked to my mom, talked to all my mentors, prayed about it — and realized this was something I thought I needed to do,” Jaillet said. “I wanted to run because I wanted to try and serve students in the best aspect possible.”

Kaci Katusak, management senior and Jaillet’s campaign administrator, has known Jaillet since childhood. Katusak said Jaillet has encouraged her to become her best self, and when he approached her about running for SBP, his passion sprouted from every bone in his body.

“It started with him being the friend who always told me to do more and saying that what I dreamed for myself wasn’t big enough and I should strive to be bigger,” Katusak

said. “When he was speaking to me about being SBP, I saw that spirit in him and him wanting to push that forward.”

Jaillet’s passion to serve began at a young age when his father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Jaillet said his father was a huge part of his life. In seventh grade, he started raising awareness about ALS through blue wristbands, which eventually led to raising $50,000 for the cause. MJs Army — the charity Jaillet started for his father — has continued to grow.

“My dad was the light of my life,” Jaillet said. “He was the most positive guy in the world; he really wanted to live life to the fullest, and he always believed that you can make a positive out of a really bad situation.”

Keeping his father’s teachings in mind, Jaillet did not fear losing the election. Jaillet said he would have been thankful for the experience, regardless of the outcome.

“I realized that if I lost this race 10,000

votes to one, yeah I would be sad and bummed, but the relationships I would be able to make along the way made this so worth it and I would do it a hundred times over again,” Jaillet said. “I think getting to speak to organizations, made me open my eyes and see how big and welcoming the Aggie family is.”

Jaillet said he will focus on fulfilling his campaign promises, starting with transportation.

“I have been able to talk to people from the Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Texas A&M Transportation Services, and they are all in agreement that we need to get a task force with a student voice there as well,” Jaillet said. “We can work to make traffic a little bit better and communicate the resources that are already there.”

Jaillet said he plans on using the Matthew Gaines statue project as a stepping stone to

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representing a more diverse community at A&M. Gaines was a former slave and Texas senator who voted for legislation that ultimately led to the creation of Texas A&M. “With regards to the Matthew Gaines statue, we are really excited about that opportunity and really using it not as the finish line, if you will, but as the starting point about how we can create and launch more of an education effort and communication effort with diversity,” Jaillet said.

Jack Tucker, management junior and Jaillet’s campaign manager, said he believes Jaillet’s integrity, experience as interfraternity council president and his welcoming personality will translate well to his position as SBP. “Something that really stuck out to me was his willingness to go the extra mile for those he stands for and represents … and to really go to battle for those he is elected to represent,” Tucker said. “At the end of the day, he is a man of his word and lives and breathes integrity.”

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 19

MSC UNITY

Student center president sets sights on creating a welcoming home for every Aggie

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By Savannah Mehrtens @SJMehrtens

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emorial Student Center President Oriana Koot, biomedical science and psychology junior, is leading the 70th MSC executive team for the 2019-2020 school year.

Koot started as an MSC officer at the beginning of her sophomore year as chair of the MSC Fall Leadership Conference. She spent her freshman year in MSC Aggie Leaders of Tomorrow, where she served as a staff member. Koot is a first-generation college student and said she found a home through her Freshman Leadership Organization, which eventually led to her new role as MSC President.

Among other goals, Koot aims to help unify the committees housed within the MSC and make the executive staff more approachable.

Koot said she views herself as someone who can unite students in the MSC by bringing together different committees with diverse

missions.

“There’s around 1,300 MSC members in the 19 different committees, and each of the committees are so different and have such different mission statements,” Koot said. “I see my role as a person to unite those and bring all those different people together under the same MSC umbrella and really kind of give them a purpose to be in the MSC and see that bigger picture.”

As she prepared to enter her role as a prominent leader on campus, Koot said the MSC remains a welcoming place for all students. For those who are not on a committee, Koot said events, like last year’s performance by actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj, present another opportunity for the MSC to offer representation and a sense of community.

“We’re somewhere students can come to and just really feel like they have a home, really feel like they belong in one of the 19 different committees we have,” Koot said. “We also put

on different programs to allow the students who might not be in the MSC to still feel like they are a part of A&M’s campus.”

As she transitioned into her position, Koot said she looked up to previous MSC President Taylor Welch, and the executive staff.

“I never thought I would be able to be the MSC President, especially now, but they really believed in me, and they really encouraged me to go for it and saw something in me that I didn’t see,” Koot said. “Taylor Welch has helped me, since I got the position and even before, so much in trusting in me and believing in me. I really look up to them, all of my mentors in the MSC, even from my freshman year.”

Welch and Koot first met when Koot was chair of the Fall Leadership Conference, where both were able to connect with fellow student leaders.

“We’ve worked together the past few months as we’ve transitioned, and it’s just been really exciting to see how much passion and enthusiasm she has,” Welch said in April.

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“I feel like Oriana is the kind of leader that cares not only about the MSC programs but also the individual leadership development of all students.”

Koot said she is looking forward to the team she will be working with and is ready to continue learning how to best serve A&M. “Even though I’m young and I have a lot to learn, I am willing to learn, and I’m willing to put in the work to serve the MSC and to serve Texas A&M as best I can,” Koot said.

“I’m just so grateful for this opportunity, and I’m especially so grateful for those I will be working with next year because they’ve already done amazing things.”

Jack Oldham, supply chain management senior and MSC executive vice president of business, will be working on administrative functions across the MSC. Oldham has been director of the Fall Leadership Conference and will work with Koot on the executive team.

“I think Oriana is one of the most qualified individuals for this position,” Oldham said.

“She has a lot of experience within the MSC and outside of the MSC that has prepared her to take on this role, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll bring to the position and to the Memorial Student Center as a whole.”

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 22

BEST OF AGGIELAND WINNERS Every year, The Battalion sends a survey out to students asking them to vote on their favorite places to shop, eat and visit in Bryan-College Station. Results are published in the Best of Aggieland edition of Maroon Life Magazine. Take a look at this year’s winners, and keep an eye out for our survey this fall so you can cast your vote for the next magazine.

Photos by Brandon Holmes, Josh Gleason, Cassie Stricker and Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

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THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 23

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THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 26

AN APPETITE FOR HEALTH Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M AgriLife Extensions Services’ L.I.F.E. 101 program looks to provide students with information about nutrition and budgeting for healthy food.

Program offers advice to students on maintaining a healthy diet in college Jane Turchi @ Jane Turchi

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hile transitioning into college, students learn to juggle new responsibilities including classes, paying rent and navigating campus, but students often neglect an important aspect of college life: their diet.

While A&M offers a variety of meal plans for students, many Aggies struggle to maintain a balanced diet while in college.

Nutrition graduate student Jennifer Deluca recalls struggling to eat healthy because of her busy schedule. According to Deluca, when students are struggling to navigate new class schedules, their health is often negatively affected.

“I think it is a shock to students how much time and planning and effort goes into a healthy diet,” Deluca said. “As students struggle with getting their courses under control, they’re also learning how to eat well, exercise when they should and things like that.”

While a student’s first instinct might be to eat processed food when in a hurry, Deluca said there are other options out there.

“There’s a lot of other options so that you don’t just have to turn to the processed foods that have a lot of added sugar, salt and fat,” Deluca said. “While those can be quick and filling and they can do it in a pinch, and they’re okay sometimes, I think students tend to rely on those things a lot.”

Learning Information From Extension 101 is a research-based educational outreach program that is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extensions Service. L.I.F.E. 101 focuses on providing students with important, credible information about food and health. Nutrition extension assistant Carley Carpenter is the L.I.F.E. 101 coordinator.

“Moving to college for the first time for most students is the first time they will be living on their own,” Carpenter said. “Along with that comes making their own food, and for some they’ve never had to do that and so that’s a major challenge in having to plan for meals, shop for meals, let alone even just cooking for your meals.”

According to Carpenter, the program was founded to fill gaps in students’ knowledge

about nutrition and health topics.

“This is a time period in their life when you’re really setting habits for the future, so what you get comfortable doing now is something you’ll continue later on once you graduate from college,” Carpenter said.

“With L.I.F.E. 101 we’re hoping to provide those practical tips to help you get comfortable and get familiar with what is a nutritious eating pattern.”

Carpenter said it is important for students to have realistic expectations for what changes they can make in their diet. Carpenter advises students to build a balanced eating pattern that fits their lifestyle.

“We all know that we’re supposed to eat fruits and vegetables, the whole grains and low-fat dairy products; it’s actually doing that that is the difficult part,” Carpenter said.

“The tip for that is remembering to eat a variety of different foods from all of those groups throughout the day.”

When looking for cheap nutritious food, Carpenter said not to be afraid to buy from the can aisle or freezer section because these pre-prepared foods can easily be added to any meal. Carpenter also suggests that students prepare meals in advance.

“I usually plan to make one to two recipes for each week, this will give me anywhere from four to eight meals that I can use for lunch or dinner,” Carpenter said. “By the end of the week I end up saving time and money because I’m not sitting in a drivethrough line for 30 minutes and not having to pay for one meal that costs me $10 I can get three meals that cost $10.”

Deluca said when students incorporate healthy food into their diet they could have more energy during the day. Deluca suggests students pay attention to nutrition facts and limit sodium, fat and sugar. Students can rinse canned food to greatly reduce their sodium intake, Deluca said.

“You’ll generally feel better,” Deluca said. “I automatically feel better compared to when I’m constantly eating things that contain lots of fat, greasy things that can upset students’ stomachs or salty things that can make you feel thirsty and dehydrated and run down.”

L.I.F.E. 101 will be hosting a food budgeting event, How to Make Healthy Convenient, in the fall. Up-to-date information can be found on the L.I.F.E. 101 AgriLife Extension Instagram.

WELCOME TO

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Zachry Engineering Education Complex: It’s the newest—and

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biggest—building on Texas A&M’s campus. Drop in 24/7 to hit the books or enjoy a coffee from the largest Starbucks on campus.

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Don’t miss out on these campus must-sees! You can enjoy these amenities, and many more, thanks to the generosity of donors to the Texas A&M Foundation.

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The Quad: Renovated in recent years with the help of private gifts,

Memorial Student Center: Drop

don’t miss this mecca for all things

in to grab a bite to eat or listen to

Corps of Cadets! While you’re here,

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the soothing sounds of the piano in

remember to keep an eye out…you

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the Flag Room. Visit the Hall of

just might see Miss Rev.

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Honor to learn about eight

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outstanding Aggies or join one of

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the many MSC organizations focused on leadership, cultural awareness and arts programming.

The Leach Teaching Gardens: Enjoy the great outdoors at this seven-acre oasis on West Campus.

Donors contributed to create 21 themed gardens, an

John D. White ’70 – Robert L. Walker ’58 Music Activities Center: This building will be the

outdoor classroom, a pavilion and even a vineyard.

new home of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and all 14 of the university’s bands, choirs and orchestras

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following its completion in June.

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THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 28

FINDING YOUR PLACE FILE

The MSC Open House at the beginning of each semester provides students the opportunity to learn about some of the many organizations they can join.

Getting involved at A&M is easy with over 1,000 organizations

By Marina Garcia @margar211

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ew students at Texas A&M can often feel more at home by joining an organization or activity with people who share a similar interest.

Giving new and current students an opportunity to scope out the different organizations and activities they can be a part of, this semester’s MSC open house will be Sept. 1, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Texas A&M has over 1,000 activities for students can join, and each one is unique. Tyler Sellers, assistant director for student activities, said new students should try out as many organizations as they can.

“I think it’s okay to test the waters and see what kind of groups you might really connect with,” Sellers said.

Students should also be realistic about how many activities they are able to do without consistently without feeling overwhelmed, Sellers said.

“We would encourage you to manage your time well and recognize that it’s going to be a learning curve to transition into college, so don’t overwhelm yourself,” Sellers said.

Students can attend the open house to meet members of each organization in person, but another opportunity to learn about different organizations is by visiting maroonlink.tamu.edu. Students can search through organizations based on their interests and can also get in contact with the organization to learn more about how to join.

“It’s a good way to search through with specific areas of interest that you might have or topics you might be interested in looking at and identifying some of those groups,” Sellers said.

Many organizations at A&M are dedicated to community service. One of these groups, The 12th Can, is a student-run food pantry that serves students, faculty and staff facing food insecurity. Electrical engineering senior Michael Collum said he joined the organization to give back to the local community.

“My freshman year I just got really connected, joined a bunch of organiza-

tions, but I really felt like I needed to serve the Aggie community more directly, and I heard about the 12th Can,” Collum said.

Collum knew immediately after attending meetings that the 12th Can was for him, and he went on to be the membership director for the organization. Collum said being an active member in an organization doesn’t have to take a lot of time out of students’ schedules, but commitment can certainly be rewarding.

“As with any service here at A&M, you get out of it what you put into it, and it’s definitely been awesome to go all in with the 12th Can,” Collum said.

Another activity offered to students is intramural sports. At A&M, these include officiated sports such as volleyball or basketball and non-officiated sports like racquetball or badminton. Director of intramural sports Nicholas Heiar said students can pick teams where they learn the game, play competitively or just enjoy a sport with friends once a week.

“We offer different skill levels for different sports, so it’s designed to be whatever you want it to be,” Heiar said.

Heiar also said being a team member in an intramural sport doesn’t take a lot of

time out of a student’s week.

“The misunderstanding some people have about intramurals is that it takes a big commitment,” Heiar said. “Typically, in intramurals, you would sign up for a time that you can play.”

The intramural teams meet up once a week for a game and Heiar said the Student Recreation Center provides a large amount of equipment for students to use while they play. Students can sign up for a team online at IMleagues.com. More information about intramural teams can be found on recsports. tamu.edu/programs/intramurals/.

If students want to start a new organization, they can go through the Department of Student Activities. The department has informationals that students can attend to learn about the process of starting a new organization.

Sellers said that overall, being a part of an organization or partaking in an activity is a good way for new students to connect with others.

“To be able to find some community of other people that have like interests or like passions is really a great way to begin to feel even more at home in a really special place,” Sellers said.

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 29

Aggies helping Aggies

Annie Lui — THE BATTALION

After graduation, students can use The Association of Former Students’ website, AggieNetwork.com, to make communicating with fellow Aggies as simple as possible.

Aggie Network provides critical connections with former students Camryn Lang @CamrynLang

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s new students step onto campus, they join an enormous family: the Aggie Network.

This international web of people provides students with opportunities to connect with generations of Aggies who are eager to share their knowledge and help students find their way into a career. Students can connect with other Aggies to learn more about their careers and pursue internships or jobs.

Whether it’s the gold shield on their finger, a 12th man shirt or even a simple “Howdy!” it’s never difficult to spot a fellow Aggie who is willing to help.

Students need to take advantage of the moments when former students visit campus

for special events or lectures, said Kathryn Greenwade, Class of 1988 and vice president for communications and human resources at The Association of Former Students.

“A lot happens organically,” Greenwade said. “Students and former students have a chance to interact at different events throughout the year. … A lot of times when former students come back to campus and they’re asked to speak to a class or a student organization, a lot of things can happen there. Students will learn about job opportunities or internship opportunities.”

Paul Pausky, Class of 1978 and associate director of former student career services, said current students have multiple tools that will help them get in the room with an Aggie of interest.

Pausky advises students to use the Find An Aggie directory on The Association’s website to find people who have specific occupations or live in certain locations. Creating an account with the website also allows students

to message Aggies through an Aggie Network email address so the recipient will immediately recognize where the email is from.

Unlike the tamu.edu email, this account is available to students after graduation.

Pausky also suggests using websites like Careershift or LinkedIn to analyze the career paths of other Aggies in a certain field. But above all, he recommends that students take the time to understand what their purpose is and to reach out to Aggies to see how they found theirs.

“Your passion is emotion,” Pausky said.

“It’s influenced by not only emotion, but by external factors. I say focus on your purpose.

The difference is your purpose is passion with a goal.”

Jordan Baucum, Class of 2006, used to be a student assistant at The Association. One of his first assignments was to pick up a board member from the airport. During the short ride he spoke to Shariq Yosufzai, president of global marketing at Chevron, about his

experience as a marketing major. This conversation led to an internship the following summer and a 12-year career in public relations at Chevron. Baucum said while his experience was unique, students shouldn’t be afraid of reaching out.

“I think every alumni feels an obligation — I know I certainly do — that if a current student reaches out to me, the least I could do is be timely in my response and be available,” Baucum said.

Greenwade said the Aggie Network is about taking the time to build those relationships rather than simply asking for favors.

“We find that the Aggie Network works best when you’ve invested in it,” Greenwade said. “You need to spend some time getting to know people within the network before you need help so you’ve established that network. You will find that most people are willing to help you.”

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Adding color to the college life Tips for making your dorm room feel like home — even on a tight budget

By Camryn Lang @CamrynLang

Photos by Kaylee Cogbill — THE BATTALION

Paints and other craft supplies can help brighten up even the most drab spaces.

Your college journey presents many new and exciting challenges, but at the end of the day, there is nothing better than coming back to a place that feels like home. For incoming students, the dorm can be the first place to express yourself and your newfound independence. However, being a college student doesn’t leave a lot of space in the budget for expensive decorations, so here are a few ideas to get you started.

Use Your Wall Space Each dorm is unique with its own storage features, furniture configurations and dimensions, but they’re share one characteristic: they’re tiny. However, the blank white walls give you a chance to showcase your style upward rather than outward. According to the Texas A&M Resident Handbook, permanent changes to the walls are not permitted, but there are many ways to showcase personality without causing damage.

Designate an area to exhibit your best college memories with a picture wall. To begin the project you’ll need string, clothespins and command hooks. Pin the strings to the wall and use the clothespins to attach photos. Play with the design by using colored string or twine and adjusting the string horizontally or vertically. If you don’t like the look of Polaroid pictures, head over to a campus printer and utilize some of your $30 of alloted printing money to make black and white photos in a variety of different shapes and sizes.

Keep It Tidy To utilize the space efficiently, it’s important to keep clutter at bay.

Mugs and jars are useful for holding pens and pencils and are customizable with a little bit of paint. For a rustic look, a small tin can wrapped in twine and secured with hot glue will work just as well.

Dorm bathrooms typically have an open storage area and may even be in full view of anyone who walks in.

A clear mason jar can display everyday essentials like cotton balls, ear swabs and toothbrushes or can serve as a makeup brush holder. Paint the lids to add some color and utilize unused ones as jewelry organizers. If it’s looking a little dark, placing fairy lights or tea lights in storage spaces that are embedded in the wall can illuminate the area and create a tranquil environment.

Make it Green Sustainability is everywhere at A&M; you’ll see reusable water bottle filling stations and trash cans with specific compartments for recyclables all around campus. Implementing sustainable habits into your room is good for the earth and your wallet. Carol Binzer, director of administrative and support services for Residence Life, said you can take advantage of A&M resources by adding a plant to your room.

“Plants make great decor; not only do they liven up the room, but they help filter the air,” Binzer said. “The horticulture department has a plant sale, so it’s not hard to get plants once you’re here. You don’t necessarily have to bring them from home.”

Mason jars, mugs and used candles can be repurposed into pots for low-light, indoor plants.

A bottle of paint can transform the plant pot and make the addition of the plants look more cohesive with the rest of the room.

If you’re not up to taking care of a real plant, try stringing up some colorful fake flowers with clear fishing wire. Adding a couple rows of flowers at the head of your bed can create the illusion of a headboard and add some dimension to the white walls.

Things to Remember It’s important to create a space that you can make your own, but keep in mind the room is the property of the university. Check the Resident Handbook if you have any questions about what is allowed or speak with your Resident Advisor for specific information about your particular dorm. According to Daoud Qamar, Battalion multimedia editor and a former resident advisor of McFadden Hall, it’s important to carefully asses your room at the beginning of the semester and to respect the space while it’s yours.

“Be thorough with your room condition; any damage you make you are liable for,” Qamar said.

“As long as at the end of the semester you walk back into the same room, you could really do a lot with the space.”

Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center DOUG PITCOCK ’49

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THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 33

REPORTING IN AGGIELAND

The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association awarded The Battalion first in Overall Excellence in Newspapers for 2018.

Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION

Student media provides space for growth, professional experience

By Savannah Mehrtens @SJMehrtens

T

here is a tradition older than the city of College Station and the Texas A&M football team located in the basement of the Memorial Student Center: A&M’s student-run newspaper, The Battalion.

The Battalion is part of student media, which is also home to the Aggieland yearbook and Maroon Life magazine. It is in print and online at thebatt.com, providing a place for students interested in learning to write or refining their established journalistic skills to be published.

Luke Henkhaus, economics senior and editor-in-chief of The Battalion, has worked at the newspaper for his entire college career.

When he first applied, Henkhaus had no experience with journalistic writing, but has since served as news editor and managing editor.

“My first story was terrifying, but it was

a really good learning experience; it was sort of exhilarating to work on, and that really is what set the tone for the rest of my college experience,” Henkhaus said. “I really have felt so grateful to be a part of The Battalion.”

The student-led newsroom provides the community with a unique perspective, Henkhaus said. The Battalion staff can capture the student experience and important aspects of life at A&M in ways other publications may not explore.

“There’s a lot of places to read about Texas A&M and to hear Texas A&M news, but there’s nowhere else you can really hear it from specifically a student perspective,” Henkhaus said. “I think there’s a lot of stories that we can bring to people that other outlets just really don’t have the ability to bring.”

Douglas Pils, general manager of student media and Class of 1992, said journalism plays a critical role in society. He said it is important to teach students how to create and consume news, as well as recognize the difference between what is real news and what is false or deceptive. While working in student media, students learn valuable,

marketable skills, Pils said.

“That’s the kind of experience that makes the resume piece of working here valuable to everybody that walks through the door for jobs of all kinds, not just journalism,” Pils said.

Sanna Bhai, political science senior and news editor at The Battalion, began working at the paper in September of 2016 as a freshman and has since served in different editorial roles since her start as a science and technology writer.

“It’s a way for students who are interested in this kind of field to get some experience, and those who are not, it gives them a way to learn how to work in the professional world,” Bhai said. “It also gives students a voice. On such a large campus, that’s sometimes hard.”

Meredith Seaver, meteorology senior and photo chief for The Battalion, had only practiced photography as a hobby until she came to The Battalion in the summer of 2017.

Since then, she has covered events including former president George H.W. Bush’s funeral procession in College Station, Aggie football, Hurricane Harvey and countless

other newsworthy moments.

“Everyone that I know at A&M has their one big involvement usually that they have, and I was looking for that for me because I had just left one,” Seaver said. “The Battalion has become that for me. It’s like my home away from home. It’s the family I have when I’m not with my family.”

Samantha Mahler, agricultural communications and journalism senior and managing editor at The Battalion, said the student-run newspaper has helped her tie together what she is learning in her classes with real experience.

“It’s been really cool for me to kind of test drive it, put together everything that I’m learning in my classes; it’s tying everything together,” Mahler said. “It’s just been a really fun experience. I can’t imagine what my college experience would be like without The Battalion.”

Any A&M student can work at The Battalion regardless of experience by submitting an application at any time throughout the year in MSC L400.

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 34

HOME SWEET HOME

Photos by Josh Gleason — THE BATTALION

The Ariza College Station Apartments on Harvey Road is one of the recently developed apartment complexes in the Bryan-College Station area.

New apartments offer Aggies a bit of everyday luxury in B-CS

By Khadeeja Umana @Deeja_Umana

I

f you’re looking for an apartment home that suits the space, location, or features you need to succeed, there are a few newer options around Bryan-College Station.

Every student needs an environment that allows space, comfort and rest when they are not busy with the bustle of daily life. Some things you may want to consider when looking for an apartment are rates, location and amenities offered at different complexes. As B-CS has grown, so has the number of options you can choose from. There are even a few newer apartment homes that now have units available.

Ariza College Station Apartments The Ariza College Station Apartments is a located on Harvey Road.

It provides many amenities, such as a 24-hour fitness center, a swimming pool, 24-hour package concierge,

a dog wash, volleyball court, valet trash, garage parking and more.

Property manager Michelle Shaver said the functionality and the location of the apartment complex is what makes it stand out.

“We have very functional amenities that cater to all residents whether you are a student or a professional,” Shaver said. “The atmosphere is also very calm and serene because we’re located near a wooded area around a lot of trees, but we’re also one road away from everything you need.”

Berkeley House The Berkeley House is another luxury apartment home that opened in August of 2018. Associate Jonathan Maldonado said residents appreciate where they are located and the services available. Berkeley House provides study rooms, a fitness center, a pool and a common area for the residents to utilize.

“We’re located right off of Wellborn, which is a good spot because we’re really close to everything,” Maldonado recently said. “We’re probably 10 minutes away from Kyle Field, and we’re really close to the new HEB that just opened up, so that

puts us in a really good location.”

Pershing Pointe Townhomes Pershing Pointe Townhomes is a new complex that offers townhomes for students who are looking for a larger living space. Director of sales and marketing Julia Kott said the modern floor plan features woodplank flooring, granite countertops and spacious rooms.

“Living at Pershing, you will feel out of the way of the craziness of campus but close enough to still make it to class on time,” Kott said.

“We are upscale living at its finest.

We offer two-car garages, individual backyards on each unit, pet friendly [amenities], patio balconies and a pet friendly community.”

Choosing where you’d like to spend a couple of semesters or even your entire college career can be a difficult decision, but looking at these new apartments in the B-CS area can hopefully make your search a little easier. Whether you’re looking for package concierge, a spacious backyard or a location near a wooded area that makes your mornings a little more scenic, you’ll find a place in Aggieland that suits you.

G N I L TACK C E S E TH

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 36

Photos by Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

After a 2018 full of firsts, A&M football looks toward new season

By Brian Bass @brianbass4

T

exas A&M football is in a new era. After being hired from Florida State in 2017, head coach Jimbo Fisher brought forth a new culture that included a higher level of physicality and changes to the offensive system.

Fisher led the Aggies to a 9-4 record in his first season at the helm, following a 7-6 season finish by former head coach Kevin Sumlin in 2017.

A&M boasted one of the hardest schedules in the nation in 2018, playing the No. 2 Clemson and No. 1 Alabama in the first four weeks in the season. Despite losing both games, the Aggies played both teams closer than any other opponents had that season.

After dropping the SEC opener to the Crimson Tide, A&M won three straight games, defeating Arkansas in the Southwest Classic, besting No. 13 Kentucky in overtime and securing a road victory against South Carolina.

Despite a pair of losses on the road to Mississippi State and Auburn, the Aggies returned home and picked up a win over Ole Miss. Following another win over UAB, LSU was set to visit Kyle Field for the last game of the regular season.

In the most polarizing win of the season, the Aggies defeated LSU 74-72 in seven overtimes for A&M’s first conference win over the Tigers and the highest scoring game in FBS history.

The Aggies sat at 8-4 on the season going

into the bowl season and earned their way into the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against North Carolina State, where they would dominate the Wolfpack 52-13 for their first bowl game win in four years.

A&M’s pro-style system revolved around sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond, who recorded 3,107 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Second-team All-American running back Trayveon Williams dominated the SEC with 1,760 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Mond found success with a young, talented receiving corps, headlined by tight end Jace Sternberger. In his first year starting for the Aggies, Sternberger had 832 yards with 10 touchdowns, earning first-team All-American honors.

The Aggie defense became the third best rushing defense in the nation, according to NCAA.com, allowing only 3.2 yard per carry and 95.2 rushing yards per game.

Now the Aggies enter the 2019 season.

After losing a majority of the key players from 2018 to the NFL draft and graduation, A&M will be forced to start younger players.

Mond returns as the Aggies’ signal caller, along with the talented receiving corps, minus Sternberger.

Look out for starting wide receivers Quartney Davis, Camron Buckley, Jhamon Ausbon and Kendrick Rogers to make a major splash on the receiving end of the ball.

Fisher and his coaching staff also took advantage of the recruiting scene in the offseason, picking up the No. 3 recruiting class, according to ESPN. Among the signees were three No. 1 prospects at their respective positions, including offensive tackle Kenyon Green, tight end Baylor Cupp and junior college cornerback

Elijah Blades.

Cupp is expected to replace Sternberger at tight end, and both Blades and Green are expected to make a major difference at their positions as well.

Similar to the 2018 season, A&M will face one of the hardest schedules in the country.

Week one, the Aggies will face Texas State, which made a head coaching change over the offseason. Former A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spatival took the reigns in hopes of turning the program around.

A&M will also complete its home-andhome series with current national champion Clemson during week two. The Tigers are expected to be the No. 1 team in the country, led by a Heisman Trophy favorite Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne and wideout Justyn Ross. With the defensive line depleted after this year’s NFL draft, the Aggie secondary will have a chance to make a major statement early in the season.

A&M returns to Kyle Field in week three with Lamar. The Aggies will use this game to test its depth and prepare for Auburn the following week.

After a heartbreaking loss to Auburn last year, the Aggies will look to take advantage of the SEC opener in College Station. The Tigers lost a highly touted signal caller in Jarrett Stidham last year to the NFL draft and are expected to start true freshman Bo Nix under center this season.

Following a pair of games at home, A&M will make the trip to Arlington for the Southwest Classic with Arkansas. Despite a rocky 2018 season, head coach Chad Morris had an impressive year in the offseason, recruiting positions of need and picking up transfer quarterbacks Ben Hicks and former A&M quarterback Nick Starkel.

Alabama will make a trip to Aggieland after a bye week for the Aggies, and it won’t be an easy one for either team. A&M played the Tide closer than any team last season with the exception of Clemson. Alabama still boasts Heisman Trophy runner-up Tua Tagovailoa under center. This will be the biggest game of the season at Kyle Field.

In the second road game of the season, A&M will visit an Ole Miss team, which lost most of its offense over the offseason. The Rebels are ineligible for a bowl game this season after the NCAA placed sanctions on the football program during the Hugh Freeze era.

In another major home game, Mississippi State will come to Kyle Field with a depleted team of their own after losing a lot on both sides of the football. A&M hasn’t defeated the Bulldogs since 2015, and will have as good a chance as ever to do that this season.

UTSA will give A&M a break in the rigorous SEC conference slate, followed by a visit from South Carolina the week after.

The Gamecocks return quarterback Jake Bentley and wideout Shi Smith, who made their mark in the SEC East last season.

In the last two games of the season, the Aggies will be tested with road contests at Georgia and LSU. Georgia is likely a topfive team this year, with starting quarterback Jake Fromm going into his third season. The Bulldogs have been in the SEC championship game and the national championship game in the past two years.

LSU will have a lot to prove in 2019.

Following a tough regular season schedule of their own, the Aggies and the Tigers will clash following the seven-overtime thriller last season. Expect LSU to play intense football with the Aggies in Baton Rouge.

l

ecia k Sp e e 8/26 em W Gig’ /22 thru 8

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Catherine Manga, Family Nurse Practitioner, is here and ready for patients.

1602 Rock Prairie Road, West Bldg., Ste 230 • 979-693-2586

2020 AGGIELAND Don’t forget to preorder your copy of the 2020 Aggieland, a photojournalistic record of the 2019-2020 school year.

The 118th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook.

Distribution will be the Fall 2020.

Go online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase. $75.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)

AGGIELAND PHOTOS FREE portrait sessions for the 2020 Aggieland will take place during the 2019 Fall and 2020 Spring semesters. Look to your Battalion newspaper and campus email for dates, location and times.

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