The Battalion — November 10, 2022

Business school breaks ground on new facility

Texas election results

By Staff Report

Editor’s note: Results were updated as of 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, and remain unofficial. The full, online version of this story, available at tx.ag/election22, will be updated as more information becomes available.

Unofficial election results for both Brazos County and the state of Texas were released on Tuesday, Nov. 8, following the conclusion of the 2022 midterm election.

In addition to the statewide elections that included the offices of governor and attorney general, local election results will determine how the city of College Station and Bryan proceed regarding transportation, the Northgate District and infrastructure.

Below are the unofficial results for Brazos County and statewide 2022 midterm elections:

U.S. Representative District 10

Michael McCaul — R - 158,784, 63.3%

Linda Nuno — D - 86,123, 34.3%

Governor

Greg Abbott — R- 4,428,420 54.8%

Beto O’Rourke — D- 3,544,133 43.8%

Lieutenant Governor

Dan Patrick — R - 4,309,246, 53.8%

Mike Collier — D - 3,484,341, 43.5%

Attorney General

Ken Paxton — R - 4,270,526, 53.4%

Rochelle Garza — D - 3,487,112, 43.6%

Comptroller

Glenn Hegar — R - 4,487,553, 56.4% Janet Dudding — D - 3,255,870, 40.9%

County Judge

Duane Peters — R - 38,448, 71.36% Clyde Garland — L - 15,428, 28.64%

District Clerk

Gabriel Garcia — R - 37,229, 65.90%

Searcy L. Toliver — D - 19,260, 34.10%

Abbott wins third term

Students react to Republican incumbent’s re-election

By John Chapa @ JDChapaBatt

With over 98% of the votes in and Greg Abbott ahead of Beto O’Rourke by 11 points, the incumbent will hold his Texas governor seat for another term. With 59.7% of Brazos County reportedly voting for Abbott and 38.5% voting for O’Rourke, Texas A&M students shared

2022 midterm takeaways

By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt

Across the country, millions of Americans voted on amendments, governors, mayors and senators in the 2022 midterm elections. Though the Texas A&M community is most affected by election results from Brazos County and the gubernatorial race, here are three midterm election takeaways from beyond state borders.

Full of firsts

Broken barriers in race, gender and sexuality were evident across the nation in a variety of races, especially in gubernatorial elections. Sarah Sanders will be the first female governor of Arkansas, Wes Moore will be the first Black governor of Maryland, Maura Healey of Massachusetts is the nation’s first openly lesbian governor and Maxwell Frost of Florida is the first member of Generation Z to win a seat in Congress. According to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the

2022 midterms marked the first time members of the LGBTQ community ran for office in all 50 states, and a record-setting number of women ran for governorships, according to Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

It’s all up to Georgia … Again.

The Senate had 35 available seats across the nation, and Georgia’s senate race was particularly high-profile, as former pro football player Hershel Walker ran a tight race against incumbent Raphael Warnock. As of Wednesday, Nov. 9, neither candidate had 50% of the votes, initiating a runoff election. The tight race, combined with Walker’s strategic move to Georgia — as advised by Donald Trump — will be continued this December.

Abortion access protected In addition to the local and state

their feelings about the gubernatorial election results.

Telecommunications media studies junior Dianne Word said she felt extreme fear and disappointment after the poll results came in.

“Texans are unwilling to vote blue even though it’s clearly voting for common interests and values,” Word said. “Republicans are voting for the party no matter the candidate. You should vote for the best candidate no matter what, not the party.”

Political science senior Blake Martin said he wasn’t surprised that Abbott came out victo-

rious.

“Leading by 11 points was what I expected,” Martin said. “We saw a lot more voter turnout in south Texas than in previous years. I was impressed with the overall turnout.”

Texas Aggie Democrats President and political science senior Christopher Livaudais said he attributed Abbott’s victory to his popularity and Texas’ history of being a red state and Abbott is not Ted Cruz in terms of popularity.

“Abbott might be the most popular Republican in the state … Every election he’s run, he

Community concerned for saftey

By Caroline Wilburn @carolinewilb

Texas A&M’s campus safety has been called into question by students and community members following several safety threats that have taken place in the past week.

elections with candidates staunchly pro-life or pro-choice, Kentucky and Michigan had abortion-specific legislation on their ballots. Though Kentucky is a historically Republican state, the majority voted against Amendment 2, which would remove abortion rights from their state constitution. Moving forward, this may

help abortion advocates secure access, with minimal restrictions, in the state.

On the other hand, Proposal 3 in Michigan, after winning by a 56.7% majority — according to the Associated Press — adds the right to contraception and abortion to the state’s constitution.

According to a post spread on social media, a 20-yearold woman allegedly approached the Gamma Phi Beta sorority house late Monday night claiming she had lost her 19-year-old brother while playing hide-and-seek. The girl requested to use the house’s phone but was denied by members of the sorority. After being denied the use of a phone, the individual allegedly walked across the street and met up with three men. Law enforcement was called to the scene quickly after.

November brings Aggie Rings

Students receive gold for academic achievements

By Anna Deardorff @annardeardorff

Thousands of Aggies are ready to receive their gold and many plan on making the festivities last all night.

Almost 2,200 students will receive their ring this Friday, Nov. 11, between 12:005:45 p.m. at Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. Aggie Park will be open for students and visitors, with various vendors, live music and the Moore Family Creamery.

The first Ring Day dates back to 2000, growing in size each year. Annika Roberts, a

communications assistant at The Association of Former Students, said an intense amount of planning goes into ensuring the happiness and safety of an estimated 12,000 attendees.

“It’s a big process that starts really early,” Roberts said. “It takes months to plan, and we want to make sure that every single Aggie receiving their ring has a good day and that whoever they choose to bring with them to celebrate also has a good time.”

The newly constructed Aggie Park was first available for public use on Sept. 23. Construction on the park began in February 2020, with conversations of its existence dating back at least 15 years, according to The Association of Former Students Vice President Scot Walker.

Aggies hope to rout Tigers to keep bowl hopes alive

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on the sideline before the start of Texas A&M’s game against Ole Miss at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION

Cameron Johnson — THE BATTALION

Cameron

consistently outruns every other statewide Republican,” Livaudais said. “In addition to the year and Texas being a pretty red state and [Abbott] being one of the most popular figures, it was an uphill climb from the get-go. Greg Abbott is not Ted Cruz. That race came down to within two points because Ted Cruz is much less liked than Abbott is.”

O’Rourke formerly ran for U.S. Senate against Republican nominee Cruz but ultimately lost by a small margin. This was O’Rourke’s best chance of winning an election, Martin said.

“The best chance [O’Rourke] had was against Cruz because Cruz isn’t as popular as Abbott,” Martin said. “Cruz has more tension with the media. Abbott is more popular. [O’Rourke] was a new figure on that scale, that’s what happened and helped him out against a not-as-popular senator.”

Word said there wasn’t much more O’Rourke could’ve done to win because he went above and beyond for his campaign.

“I think Beto [O’Rourke] did everything he could do,” Word said. “I think he is a force against nature. That man traveled so much

during the election cycle. He knocked on doors and spoke at universities. That’s what makes this so difficult because he did everything he could do and still lost. He did more than anyone thought that he would.”

Livaudais said there were issues at hand that he thought were going to be more significant among voters.

“I expected the power grid issue and winter storm to be a bigger deal,” Livaudais said. “I expected the mass shooting in Uvalde to be a bigger deal, but [Abbott] won Uvalde pretty big. It surprised me, especially given his comments — ‘As bad as this was, it could’ve been worse.’ I felt this was in pretty bad taste given it was the day after 19 children were killed. Even if it was true it could’ve been worse, that’s not what you say after a mass tragedy.”

Martin said he is optimistic and hopeful about Abbott addressing some of the voting issues brought up in the gubernatorial election.

“I hope that [Abbott] can decrease violent crime and secure the border more in Texas,” Martin said. “I hope he’ll make protecting schools a priority. Both [ the U.S.] House [of Representative] and Senate will be able to work with him on that.”

According to Hobby Hall residents, late Monday night two men entered the building claiming to be maintenance workers. After resident advisors confirmed the two men were not official university maintenance workers, local law enforcement was called to the scene. No additional details have been provided at this time.

The city of Bryan Police Department is currently investigating two separate sexual assault cases that occurred on Nov. 5 and 6. The assaults took place near Southwest Bryan between Wellborn and Texas Avenue, according to Bryan Police.

The suspect has been described as a Black male between 5-foot-6 and 6-foot with a medium-athletic build. Currently, no arrests have been made.

Police have increased patrols in the area, but community members are encouraged to remain inside and secure their homes until a suspect is arrested.

A&M students are encouraged to take advantage of on-campus safety resources such as Corps of Cadets Escorts, the Friend Walk feature in the Code Maroon App and Blue Light phones to contact first responders.

In a Nov. 8 press release, the University Police Department said they have received several calls and messages from the campus community and concerned parents about the two sexual assaults that occurred in the neighboring city of Bryan over the weekend.

UPD Chief J. Mike Johnson said there was no Code Maroon alert issued as the system is utilized for active critical emergencies such as in-progress situations that pose an imminent, life safety threat to the community. This system is not utilized for crime reporting.

Johnson said Timely Warning notifications, or Crime Alerts, are typically utilized to alert the campus to Clery crimes happening on or immediately adjacent to the campus in compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy

and Campus Crime Statistics Act. After consultation with the Bryan Police Department, Johnson said it was determined the crimes occurred outside of the notification area. Although a Timely Warning was not required, UPD utilized official social media channels to amplify the Bryan Police Department’s alert and share important personal safety reminders.

Bryan Public Information Officer Kole Taylor encourages students to stay vigilant in their day-to-day activities.

“Whether it be walking home from the bars, the library, whatever it may be, just being aware of your surroundings,” Taylor said. “If you get a funny feeling about something’s not right, you should probably listen to those cues because we’re instinctual creatures as humans.”

Taylor said Bryan Police will release information as quickly as possible via social media while prioritizing the integrity of the case and its victims.

“We aren’t able to release everything that we have just due to keeping that, and with it being a sexual assault, we have to think about the victim’s safety and keeping their identities not public as well,” Taylor said. “We’re going to release things as quickly as we can because we want the community to be aware of what’s happening with this, we want them to help us. We’re going to try to provide as much information as we can.”

As the case gains more traction on social media, Taylor said the community should avoid rumors and false information.

“There has been a lot of information floating out there that does appear to be inaccurate,” Taylor said.

“I think if you’re going to share information, make sure you’re getting it from a confirmed source, not a random person.”

Any individuals with information concerning the crime are encouraged to contact 979-361-3888. Any suspicious activity should be reported to 911 as the suspect is considered armed and dangerous.

RING DAY CONTINUED

“The park was conceived, designed and built as a gift to the current students,” Walker said. “You can go and find peace and tranquility and beauty. That park is not just a gift today, it’s a gift that will shape the Aggie experience for generations to come.”

On Ring Day, students bring an average of six to seven guests, ranging from friends to family. For marketing senior Miranda Negrete, this day is made special by who she’s surrounding herself with.

“My family is coming into town, and my parents are coming up from the Rio Grande Valley,” Negrete said. “I don’t come from a family of Aggies, so getting my ring is really exciting for me to also show my family what it means to be an Aggie [by] going out into the world and having a mutual connection from just a little piece of metal on your finger.”

To be eligible for an Aggie Ring, students must complete 90 hours, 45 of those being at Texas A&M. According to The Association, the first ring was created in 1889 and over 15,000 were distributed last year alone. Communication junior Tatum Hines said the process of getting her ring was a foreign experience to her.

“No one in my family has gone to A&M, no one knew what the Aggie ring was,” Hines said. “It’s something super special that I can have for myself and build for my future family, and I’m excited to be a part of the A&M cul-

ture more as a whole.”

Along with a day full of festivities, students typically plan ring dunks with their friends. Dunks begin at the time of their graduation date, such as 9:23 for a member of the Class of 2023, and consist of dunking their ring in a 60 ounce pitcher full of beer or their favorite beverage.

“I am dunking with four of my other friends all together that night at 9:24 sharp,” kinesiology junior Morgan Garrison said. “We all got engraved pitchers and we’re all dunking together in beer.”

The Association reported that 153 volunteers signed up to assist on Friday, 45 of which are students. The majority of rings are being distributed to the class of 2023, with almost a perfect split between the large (49.7%) and small (50.3%) sizes.

Walker, who also will serve as the live Master of Ceremonies during Ring Day, reminds students that two forms of identification are required to receive your ring during the designated time slots. Live updates will be posted on @AggieNetwork on Twitter, and more information may be found on their website.

“I often say that Ring Day is like your birthday and Christmas and a family reunion all rolled up into this one fantastic day,” Walker said. “It’s a celebration of achievement, and I would encourage the ring recipients to just relax. If you earned a ring, we’re gonna get you a ring on your hand Friday.”

Dancing for a cause

Chi Omega hosts philanthropic event in Rudder Auditorium

By Emma Lawson @ELawsonAtTheBat

Student organizations at Texas A&M plan to take to the stage on Nov. 11 and 12 with passionate performances to raise money for local philanthropies in the process.

Organized annually by Chi Omega for 44 years, Songfest is a stage performance competition and silent auction held in Rudder Auditorium, where organizations from around campus come together to perform, compete and raise money for philanthropies. Each year’s Songfest is unique and includes choreographed dances, music, costumes and even props. Although Songfest is a competition, the main goal is to help fundraise for a good cause, and in 2021, it raised over $227 thousand for philanthropies like Make-A-Wish and Still Creek Ranch. Although tickets are sold out, there is still the possibility of more becoming available and students can enter the silent auction through their website.

Recreation, park and tourism sciences senior Clara Liu is the head Songfest chair and said Chi Omega has been working hard to keep Songfest running smoothly.

“I do all the Rudder stuff on my end, and payments as well,” Liu said. “But what’s unique about my team is how united we are and how much we help each other out.”

Chi Omega is dedicated to hosting the show for the good of others, Liu said.

“Songfest isn’t just about us, even though it’s a fun show to watch. It’s all about giving back,” Liu said. “Thousands of Aggies are uniting together to support a lot of local and national philanthropies.”

Although Songfest tickets are currently sold out, Liu said there is a possibility that more tickets will be available.

“It’s not guaranteed, but I can say that there’s a high possibility that the link will reopen with a few more tickets people can purchase,” Liu said. “Keep checking the website to stay updated.”

For students who are unable to buy tickets, it is still possible to support the event and donate money for a good cause, Liu said.

“Students can go and visit the philanthropy booths and silent auction happening Saturday night,” Liu said. “They just won’t be able to access Rudder without a ticket.”

Kinesiology senior Caiti Dodge is representing Kappa Alpha Theta at Songfest and said the show combines her two favorite things: danc-

ing and service.

“Songfest is where I met some of my best friends, but ultimately, I joined a sorority because I wanted to serve,” Dodge said. “I also grew up a dancer, so this is perfect.”

Theta is raising money for Court Appointed Specialized Advocates, or CASA, and Scotty’s House, a child advocacy group. Due to both of their philanthropies being child-centered, Dodge said they chose “Narnia” as their Songfest theme this year.

“We want to put on a show that our kids can be proud of and watch,” Dodge said. “All the themes are pretty different, but I think this is a super family friendly show. It always is.”

Although Songfest is a competition, Dodge said there is a strong sense of camaraderie between each organization because all money goes toward a good cause.

“I think this is an event that captures the Aggie Spirit,” Dodge said. “Yes, we’re all competitors, but ultimately, we’re competing to help places in our community. Everyone’s a winner at that point.”

Computer engineering senior Rajat Malani is representing Aggie Men’s Alliance, or AMA, at Songfest and said it partners with the Houston Methodist Cancer Research Program as their philanthropy.

“We had a member who passed away due to cancer about four or five years ago,” Malani said. “He was taken care of by the [Methodist Cancer Research Program], so we moved all of our donations toward them as a thank you.”

AMA is partnered with Theta for their Songfest performance, and Malani said he is excited to be playing the lion.

“It’ll be a lot of stunts, and I’ll have a unique costume, which I can’t wait to show,” Malani said. “The girls have also been working their butts off, so shout out to them.”

Malani said Songfest is an amazing way for him to better know the Aggie community and earn money to give back to an organization that helped the AMA in the first place.

“Songfest means creating lifelong friends, getting to know new people and getting closer to all your brothers,” Malani said. “It’s just a great way to raise money and a fun way to raise money.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke speaks in Rudder Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.

Cameron Johnson— THE BATTALION

Criticism: New Harry Styles music video not everyone’s cup of tea

‘Music for a Sushi Restaurant’ video

Release Date: Oct. 27, 2022 Video Director:

By Emma Ehle @EmmaKEhle4

Aube Perrie

8/10

Harry Styles’ newest music video, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” (2022), is a bizarre yet artistic take on fame, fortune and exploitation; and not everyone is a fan.

Styles released the “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” music video on Oct. 27 at 12 p.m. ET after teasing it the day before on his Instagram, posting a photo of himself with a full, untamed beard reminiscent of his role as Jack Chambers in Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling” (2022). The post’s reactions reflected the immediate upheaval of Styles’ fanbase, with even the most devoted Harry fans expressing their distaste for the pop star’s new look in the music video.

Since its release, the “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” music video has remained fairly divisive among Styles’ fans, with some applauding his artistry and creative vision, while others find it a bit too offbeat and outlandish for their liking.

Mayor of College Station

John Nichols — 12,297, 63.52%

Rick Robison — 5,314, 25.39%

Jacob Randolph – 2,321, 11.09%

College Station City Council Place 1

Mark Smith — 11,269, 56.87%

Aron Collins —8,545, 43.13%

College Station City Council Place 2

David Levine — 9,289, 56.87%

William Wright — 8,545, 43.13%

College Station City Council Place 5

Bob Yancy — 10,494, 52.14%

Nicole Galluci — 6,996, 34.76% Willie B. Blackmon — 2,636, 13.10%

Mayor of Bryan

Bobby Gutierrez — 9,287, 52% Brent Hairston — 5,538, 31% Mike Southerland — 3,024, 16.9%

The music video, in essence, is a commentary by Styles on being used in the music industry and how he will inevitably be discarded by the public once he is no longer entertaining to them. In a thought-provoking take on a song that most fans just considered to be a fun and whimsical trumpet ballad, Styles portrays himself as a merman in captivity, singing for sushi restaurant patrons in order to escape being cooked and added to the menu. As Styles’ singing merman persona brings in more customers to the restaurant, his diva status rises until he loses his voice and comes to the realization that his fortune, in both preservation and fame, was fleeting.

Between the trumpet-playing shrimp, tentacles and infamous “incel Harry” beard — as it is called by some fans — it’s indisputable that the music video is, to put it simply, weird. With most of Styles’ past music videos reflecting a level of creativity that is just extensive enough to remain acceptable in the court of public opinion, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” takes Styles’ knack for unique videos a few steps past his normal realm of colorful and quirky.

I am, however, of the firm belief that weird does not equate to bad. In this vibrant and evocative take on one of Styles’ innermost thoughts, “Music

Bryan Single Member District One

Paul Torres — 776, 50.4%

Raul Santana — 763, 49.6%

Bryan Single Member District Two Ray Arrington — 1,176, 56.8% Rafael Peña III — 893, 43.2%

Bryan Single Member District Five

Marca Ewers-Shurtleff — 1,167, 40.1%

Anjuli “A.J.” Renold — 941, 32.4% Kyle R. Schumann — 800, 27.5%

Bryan Single Member District Six Kevin C. Boriskie — 11,856, 75.3% Patrick Giammalva — 3,890, 24.7%

Proposition A — Passed — 17,411, 68.65%

Proposition B — Passed— 15,532, 61.90%

for a Sushi Restaurant’’ is entertaining, striking and just glaring enough to be provocative. While personally, I find more oddity in the fact that the subject matter of the music video does not appear to align whatsoever with the song, this is not significant enough to warrant some of the criticism the video has received. Furthermore, fans quickly dismissing “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” as weird or discomforting, should take a moment to not only consider the message of the music video, but also

contemplate how it may apply to themselves in terms of Styles’ metaphor of being devoured by the public.

Ultimately, the “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” music video, despite its bizarre material, is a fun and clever take on fame that reflects Styles’ astuteness as an artist. Regardless of whether or not he continues to release videos with the same eccentric twists as this one, the creativity of the music video was an inspired move by Styles that will not easily be forgotten by the public.

Mays breaks ground

Business school to invest in facilities, student success

By Madison Umphrey @u_madison

Texas A&M held a ceremony on Oct. 28 celebrating the groundbreaking innovations to Mays Business School.

Mays Business School plans to expand while bringing in additional space to provide students with expanded educational resources. The advanced facility will be about 82,000 square feet with several lounge and study areas and will offer the latest technology, learning studios, a cafe and an outside complex.

The Dean of Mays Business School Ricky

Griffin said the symbolic groundbreaking on a new facility is to enhance and not replace our existing building.

“It is going to be a state of the arts facility with innovative classrooms and learning studios,” Griffin said. “We will have tables, movable desks and video monitors and all sorts of digital hook ups and technology available.”

Head of the James Benjamin Department of Accounting Nate Sharp said the new building will hopefully be a more popular study area.

“This new building is going to become kind of like the crown jewel of the Mays Business Education Complex and we are very excited about it,” Sharp said.

Griffin said they have already begun some of the building’s infrastructure work.

“The expected completion date is late fall MAYS ON PG. 4

Artist: Harry Styles

Cameron Johnson— THE BATTALION

A&M puts a ring on it

By John Chapa @JDChapaBatt

My parents introduced me to Texas A&M before introducing me to most of my extended family. I donned A&M footies and a nightcap after being in the world for less than an hour. This was one of the best things my parents could have ever done for me.

I declared my loyalty to our in stitution at 4-years-old. Of course, I didn’t use those exact words, but it was ultimately clear I would grow up with no desire to attend any other college.

My mom and dad are both Aggies, Classes of 1991 and 1988 respectively. Growing up, they shared unforgettable moments from their times at A&M. I knew I would never regret coming to this school.

My favorite part about A&M is the traditions. While there are traditions as old as the institution

itself, A&M continues to adopt new traditions. The Aggie Ring has existed for over 100 years, but Ring Day only became a tradition at the turn of the century. These traditions remain etched into A&M’s history with the help of us, the student body.

One of my other favorite parts of A&M is the core values of the in stitution, especially selfless service. Serving others is an integral part of being an Aggie. Forty years ago, the Big Event started in Bryan-Col lege Station. I joined a Freshman Leadership Organization, or FLO, because of the group’s mission to serve others. I joined the OPAS student committee to serve patrons who attend spectacular performanc es hosted in Rudder Auditorium.

I joined The Battalion to serve A&M by capturing the history that students make at our school and surrounding communities.

Truly, I joined The Battalion for a few reasons. The first reason would be I find writing to be an

important, necessary skill. I have always had the immense pleasure of writing. It also helped that my favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, wrote for his university newspaper. The next reason is that The Bat talion is one of A&M’s longest tra ditions and the independent paper serves the entire student body. The Battalion has given me the oppor tunity to help capture history made at our campus and surrounding communities.

I hope all Aggies know that they will forever be a part of A&M’s history.

I want to thank my parents for all of their love and support in every thing I do, as well as for ingraining the Aggie spirit in me since I was a baby. I want to thank my sisters; you are all very important to me.

Mom attributes my kindness to being your older brother. I want to thank everyone I’ve had the plea sure of meeting at Texas A&M and being able to call my friend.

of 2024 so [it will take] just about two years with full occupation [and] use in 2025,” Grif fin said.

Sharp said the building will be focused on experiential learning.

“The classrooms are designed as learning studios which means they’re very versatile,” Sharp said. “They can be used in different ways and different formats.”

Griffin said there will be a lot of public space and a large, open atrium lobby for events.

“We can actually seat 250 people for seated events,” Griffin said. “There will be a quick service cafe and lots of tables and huddle spaces and collaboration spaces and so forth. This will be a visually stunning place to help bring people together.”

Finance senior Alexandra Steward said as of now, there are not a lot of places around the business school that have a large enough area with adequate spacing for students to collab orate and work.

“Fortunately, I have heard that the new business school has been designed with this in mind. They are planning to provide more group study areas,” Steward said. “I believe this will be a big improvement in the lives of business students.”

Sharp said there will be innovation in terms of classroom technology that will take the whole education experience to the next level.

“That is something we have learned alot about,” Sharp said. “The students of the next decade and going forward for decades in the future — they are using technology differently from when this building was designed.We are going to have innovation in terms of classroom technology that will really take the whole edu cation experience to the next level.”

Sharp said the new classrooms have white boards all the way around them so you can write on the white boards and any wall of the classroom.

“There’s natural light in every single class room so they are brighter,” Sharp said. “We talk alot about learning on display with the new classrooms which means visitors come into the building they can see what the class rooms look like. They can watch the learning that is taking place in those rooms.”

Griffin said he wants those teaching the courses to have knowledge on the new tech nology for a smooth learning experience.

“We are going to make sure that the classes that we schedule in those learning studios are people who understand how to use that tech nology and take advantage of it,” Griffin said.

Steward said the business school is desper ately in need of new seats as most of them are worn down and broken.

“The desks that are attached to the seats are too small,” Steward said. “This presents a challenge when students are taking an exam.”

Griffin said there are a couple of things in addition to the building itself including a large outdoor area called Collaboration Commons, an area reminiscent of Aggie Park.

“It is going to be landscaped with sidewalks and seating areas, some covered areas where people can just sit and talk and work on proj ects and so forth,” Griffin said.

Sharp said the new building will be a place

where former students can come back and be a part of our Center Executive Development.

“Mays does a lot of executive education and all of that is going to be housed in the new building as well,” Sharp said.

Griffin acknowledged the effort that is be ing put into the new building.

“We have a number of major donors that have stepped forward and made some finan cial contributions,” Griffin said. “It is truly a collaborative effort to get this building up off the ground.”

Sharp said the division of Mays Business School will become the preeminent business school in this country.

Life & Arts reporter John Chapa tells his Aggie story and shares excitement about Aggie gold

Finance junior John Chapa will receive his Aggie Ring at 12 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

PROVIDED

A sign for the Mays Business school in maroon lettering on the Wehner Building on Nov. 22, 2021.

Abbey Santoro— THE BATTALION

MAYS

Offense: One last chance

By Brad Bennett @Brad_Bennett13

Saturday’s matchup between Texas A&M and Auburn is a battle of the worst teams in the SEC West both having records of 3-6. The loser of the game will miss out on a bowl game. Such an outcome would put either team in unfamiliar territory, so it’s safe to say both could use a win.

For A&M, much of this season’s struggles have been attributed to its offense. This is due in large part to the revolving door at the quarterback position and struggles on the offensive line. Last week’s loss to Florida was no different.

In the game, A&M found itself with a 24-21 lead at halftime. Unfortunately for A&M, its offense sputtered in the second half as Florida scored 21 unanswered points to win the game 41-24. Junior running back Devon Achane attributed the second-half performance to A&M losing concentration.

“I feel like we had a lot of energy in the first half,” Achane said. “Basically, just us coming out fast. In the second half, we just lost focus. It’s just something that we [got to] fix.”

The maroon and white offense initially did a great job of running and throwing the football but was unable to combat adjustments made by the Gators at halftime. Coach Jimbo Fisher said the Aggies’ inability to establish the run hurt their offense in the second half.

“[We] came out in the second half and we just couldn’t get it going again [on offense],” Fisher said. “Couldn’t

get the running game going again. [Led to us getting] in some third and longs.”

Due to true freshman quarterback Conner Weigman being out with the flu, sophomore quarterback Haynes King stepped in his place and performed admirably but struggled with consistently finding his target on passing plays. The backup only managed to complete 23 out of 45 passes.

Fortunately for A&M, freshman receiver Evan Stewart and sophomore receiver Moose Muhammad III continued to play well and looked like true building blocks for the team’s offense. Achane also chipped in 127 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Luckily for A&M, this week’s matchup against Auburn presents its offense with an opportunity to find its footing. Auburn’s defense has made a habit out of giving up points to its opposition. The unit has given up at least 35 points to the opposing team’s offense in five out of its last seven games.

Despite Auburn’s struggles on de-

fense, they still have talented players A&M will need to watch out for.

Senior edge rusher Derick Hall and junior defensive end Colby Wooden have combined for 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. Auburn’s ability to pressure Weigman and contain the running game could decide the outcome of the game.

Fisher expects Weigman to be back on the field in Saturday’s conference matchup.

“They cleared him,” Fisher said. “He took IV’s [and medicine] all weekend. [He] should be good to go [for] practice.”

The return of Weigman should give a boost to A&M’s offense as a whole. The freshman quarterback threw for four touchdown passes and 338 yards in his first game against a ranked Ole Miss team. A&M hopes he can continue to build on his first start and take control of the quarterback position.

Kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., is set for 6:30 p.m.

By Luke White @lukewhite03

It’s often said that “defense wins championships,” and while the Texas A&M football team is nowhere near that level of success, the Aggies could use a win now more than ever.

Since falling to Florida 41-24 last week, the sense of urgency within the program has ramped up tenfold, as the maroon and white sit at 3-6 entering their matchup with Auburn on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Auburn, Ala. This means A&M must win its remaining three games this season in order to qualify for a bowl game. As the team closes out the season with the Tigers, UMass and No. 7 LSU, it’s time for the Aggies to play their best ball of the season.

“You always need a win, you need a win every week,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “I don’t know if it’s any worse than any time else, because, to me, I need a win every time I play … You’ve got to play the moment, play the game, get the results you want based on how you perform each and every week.”

Key to such a turnaround will be the Aggies’ defense turning a corner as well. A week after giving up 390 rushing yards in a 31-28 loss to Ole Miss at home, the unit surrendered 492 total yards to the Gators. Florida scored on all but two possessions in the first half, one of which came just a minute before halftime. The visitors went on to score 21 unanswered points to close out the game.

Of course, it didn’t help that much of A&M’s roster was depleted due to,

in addition to other factors, an outbreak of flu among the team. As a result, freshman defensive back Bryce Anderson was unavailable. Junior defensive back Antonio Johnson was out once again due to injury, as well.

“You miss him; he’s a great player, and you miss his leadership,” Fisher said of Johnson. “He’s working his tail off [to get back on the field] … He’s one of the guys pushing guys, being a great leader when he’s not out there playing, and hopefully we can get him back out there.”

The Aggies’ injury troubles continued, as Fisher announced after Saturday’s game that sophomore defensive lineman Fadil Diggs and sophomore defensive back Deuce Harmon will be out for the remainder of the season due to injury. And let’s not forget the suspension of freshman defensive back Denver Harris.

Coupled with Fisher’s statement on Monday that there are still ramifications of the flu outbreak, it’s evident that A&M’s defensive depth is significantly limited. So much so that walkon senior linebacker Sam Mathews was forced to step up and enter the last game, finishing with six total tackles. Out of high school, the League City native played quarterback at Division II Harding University in Arkansas for a year before choosing to attend A&M and try out for the team.

“I really found a role on the team being a special teams guy, and I took it seriously,” Mathews said. “You never know where things can go, so just grinding and being in the right spot on special teams, that led … to them having the confidence to put me in with the starting defense on Saturday against Florida, which was crazy to me … My last defensive snap before coming to A&M was freshman year of

high school.”

While the status of some of the defense’s starters remains unknown going into this weekend, things haven’t been all bad for the unit this season despite a rough past two weeks. The Aggies rank 11th in the nation in passing yards allowed with an average of 173.6 yards per game, while their 23.2 points allowed per game are tied for 46th in the country. Opponents have only scored on two-thirds of their red zone trips, tied for the fifth-best rate in football.

“We’ve been harping on missed tackles, just being in the right spot to fit the run, having eyes on the quarterback ready to break,” Mathews said. “It’s all stuff that we take seriously and harp on during practice, so during the game, we can get it right … It’s going to take a whole lot more buying into the process, because the talent is there.”

Luckily for A&M, they get to take on an Auburn squad that ranks 11th in the SEC with an average score of 24 points per game — we’ll look past the fact that the Aggies rank dead last. The Tigers find themselves in the same situation as A&M, sitting at 3-6 and needing to win their final three games to make a bowl berth. Thus, Saturday’s matchup can be viewed as a de facto elimination game for the loser.

Coincidentally, Auburn is also looking to snap a five-game losing streak. After firing head coach Bryan Harsin after a 9-12 record in 21 games, the Tigers promoted running backs coach Carnell Williams to interim head coach, who led the team from a 21-point deficit against Mississippi State to force overtime before falling 39-33. Not a bad debut, to say the least.

“Offensively, for us, it’s going to be a lot better,” Williams said. “We can have some time to — not making

excuses

The Aggies must be prepared to stop the run game against Auburn, something that has been their weakness in the past several games. The Tigers boast two feature running backs along with a quarterback that knows how to use his legs. Redshirt freshman signal-caller Robby Ashford, despite completing just 32% of his passes for 75 yards against the Bulldogs, ran for 108 yards, including four sacks and two scores.

Meanwhile, junior running back Tank Bigsby and sophomore tailback Jarquez Hunter compose a dangerous duo for Auburn as they combined for 143 yards and each had a touchdown last week. Bigsby’s eight rushing touchdowns rank fourth in the SEC, while Hunter’s six have him tied for sixth. Ashford is right behind with five touchdowns. The Tigers rank last in the conference in passing yards with just 201.4 per game but are eighth in the SEC with 181.1 yards on the ground per contest.

“Tank [Bigsby], he’s one of the best backs not only in the SEC, but in this country,” Fisher said. “I’ve had great respect for him and the way he runs the football ever since I’ve watched him play. He’s physical, he’s tough, he’s got great speed and can make you miss. Ashford, so athletic and can make you move, can get on the edge, can throw it and do the things they do.”

Saturday’s contest will serve as a make-or-break point for the Aggies and their postseason aspirations. For A&M to prolong these postseason hopes and avoid simply playing for pride, a strong defensive effort against the rushing attack will be necessary. It could very well be the difference between a bowl berth and sitting on the couch at home, watching it on TV.

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A&M offense looks to survive Auburn away match, regain run game

Defense: Players stepping up

— truly have a whole week to really watch Texas A&M and come up with a plan.”

A&M depends on defense to remain bowl eligible

Robert O’Brien & Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

By Grant Gaspard @grant_gaspard

No. 7 LSU @ Arkansas

Saturday, Nov. 12 — Razorback Stadium — Fayetteville, Ark. 11 a.m. on ESPN

a steamy bowl of jambalaya until stepping foot in the bayou. Jayden Daniels is currently leading the team in rushing and passing yards with 619 yards and 1,994 yards, respectively.

Daniels will look to continue the Tigers’ current Tigers’ three-game win streak when they step foot in the Natural State on Nov. 12.

Prediction: LSU 31, Arkansas 20

No. 9 Alabama @ No. 11 Ole Miss

Saturday, Nov. 12 — Vaught-Hemingway Stadium — Oxford, Miss. 2:30 p.m. on CBS

Alabama coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide are back on the road for the fourth time since conference play began, and so far it has not been pretty. They are currently 1-2 on the road in the SEC after consecutive away game losses to then-No. 6 Tennessee and then-No. 10 LSU. Now, they will have to face Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and his 8-1 Rebels. However, the last time Alabama

lost three regular season games was in 2010, and I do not see this happening until they face Georgia in the SEC championship. If Kiffin continues his bold behavior toward athletes half his age, especially against the NFL-caliber players at Alabama, another absence from the SEC championship will be the least of his worries.

Prediction: Alabama 42, Ole Miss 24

No. 1 Georgia @ Mississippi State

Saturday, Nov. 12 — Davis Wade Stadium — Starkville, Miss. 6 p.m. on ESPN

A video erupted on social media last week of Mississippi State coach Mike Leach folding up the chairs on the sideline midway through its one-possession win against Auburn last week. Similar action will take place with the fans who brought their own seats to Davis Wade Stadium as the Bulldogs come into

town.

The only time you’ll see senior wideout Caleb Ducking waddle is when he waddles to the sideline after being clamped by redshirt sophomore defensive back Kelee Ringo all game.

Prediction: Georgia 30, Mississippi State 10

Soccer set to saw ‘em off

Trinity Byars has scored a whopping 16 goals so far this season. Her teammate with the closest amount of goals scored is freshman center back EmJ Cox with seven.

“They have got a loaded roster,” Guerrieri said to 12thMan.com.

By Kylie Stoner @sportsbystoner

The NCAA Tournament streak continues for Aggie soccer, as the team enters its 27th appearance in 28 years. Texas A&M will face off against the University of Texas in a Friday evening match on Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.

In the top-right quadrant of the bracket, Texas is the No. 7 seed. The Longhorns were given a higher seed due to their 7-0-2 conference record, while the Aggies were given an at-large bid. An at-large bid is an invitation to the tournament from the selection committee.

Historically, this matchup has been in favor of the maroon and white, but the No. 16-ranked burnt orange and white have the edge this season. The Longhorns have a season record of 14-2-4, and the Aggies have a record of 9-6-5. A&M has a 21-5-2 all-time record against the University of Texas.

“It’s a big event for soccer in the state of Texas whenever these two teams get together,” coach G Guerrieri said to 12thMan.com.

When these two rivals last met, A&M defeated Texas 4-1 in an Ellis Field victory to advance to the NCAA Tournament Round 2 in 2019. The two teams meet again with the same outcome on the line, but this time in Austin at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

“You know that there’ll be a lot of energy,” Guerrieri said to 12thMan.com.

For the Longhorns, sophomore forward

Sophomore forward Maile Hayes has been racking up honors and awards since early October. Hayes won SEC Offensive Player of the Week three weeks in a row. She also was awarded All-SEC First Team with her nine goals this season for the Aggies.

In the goal box for Texas, graduate goalkeeper Savannah Madden has 16 goals allowed this season. Madden hasn’t given up more than two goals a game so far this fall. A&M’s senior keeper Kenna Caldwell has allowed 21 total goals this season. Caldwell hasn’t had a shutout since Oct. 10 in a 1-0 win over Rice.

In the regular season, both teams played Florida and TCU. A&M defeated Florida 4-1 and UT won 3-2. In their games against TCU, the outcomes differed. The Longhorns tied the Horned Frogs 1-1, but the Aggies lost 2-1 to the Fort Worth-based school.

The Longhorns will be coming off a 1-0 loss to West Virginia in the semifinal of the Big 12 Soccer Championship. They were given the title of regular season champions of their conference.

Returning to play off of a 2-1 overtime Round 1 loss in the SEC Tournament to Mississippi State, the Aggies will look to take control of their fate in the postseason.

The winner of this massive rivalry game will go on to play in Round 2 against the winner of the Duke-Radford game. The Round 2 game will be on Friday, Nov. 18.

Missouri @ No. 5 Tennessee

Saturday, Nov. 12 — Neyland Stadium — Knoxville, Tenn. 11 a.m. on CBS

After a disappointing showing against No. 1 Georgia the week before, No. 5 Tennessee will have a chance to double the offensive statistics it failed to achieve against the Bulldogs on Nov. 5. Missouri is a below-average team with a below-average record, and the only chance

they have at stopping the Volunteers is if Otis Smith returns to the Tigers and holds junior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt to zero catches.

Prediction: Tennessee 42, Missouri 13

Beignet, Boudin and Baton Rouge, La. LSU is currently hotter than your grandmother’s gumbo on a chilly Louisiana Saturday night. First-year coach Brian Kelly has the Tigers sitting at No. 7 in the nation after consecutive wins against two top-10 teams in then-No. 7 Ole Miss and then-No. 6 Alabama. LSU is led by a junior quarterback from California who had never sniffed

Aggies return to NCAA postseason play against familiar burnt-orange foe

Senior F/M Jai Smith (25) bounces the ball off her foot during A&M’s match against Mizzou at Ellis Field on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022.

Cameron Johnson— THE BATTALION

Off to Auburn: ‘We keep fighting’

“I know that it’s not been a great season, but we still want to come out and win,” Achane said. “We have to watch film, correct things and at practice, focus on the little errors.”

By Shanielle Veazie @shanielleveazie

The winning drought continues for Texas A&M football as last week’s 41-24 loss to the Florida Gators extended the Aggies’ losing streak to five. The 3-6 squad was burdened by flu and injuries, causing several key players — including freshman quarterback Conner Weigman and 11 other starters — to be out.

Led by sophomore quarterback Haynes King, the Aggies showed up big in the first half but lost momentum and concluded the second half scoreless.

Junior running back Devon Achane was completely unstoppable, scoring all three touchdowns made by A&M. Ranked third in the SEC for rushing yards, Achane totaled 122 yards on the ground against Florida’s defense and marked his fourth 100-yard game of the season.

Noticeably, Achane did not get many touches on the ball in the second half. Coach Jimbo Fisher said the team could not get the running game going in the second half, preventing a strong closer.

“We got in the drop-back game, which was tough,” Fisher said. “They were able to run the football. That was the other thing. They were able to continue to run the football and move the clock. It’s a shame. We had a chance to be right there and just didn’t get it done.”

This has been a season of constant adjustments for A&M due to injuries, and it has affected the team and its success. Fisher said that he has not experienced anything like it.

“It’s one of the worst I’ve had as far as that goes,” Fisher said. “[Sophomore defensive lineman Fadil] Diggs will be out for the year. He’s had an injury. [Sophomore defensive back] Deuce Harmon will be

out for the year, just had surgery. A couple of other guys are banged and bruised. We’ll have to wait and see where they’re at and what they’re doing. Besides the sickness and the guys coming up out, that’s neither here nor there. You got to play with the guys you got, and we have plenty of good players.”

Clearly, the season has not gone exactly as the Aggies envisioned. Junior offensive lineman Layden Robinson said despite a disappointing

season, the team is keeping its heads held high.

“You never fold during tough times because that means you’re a weak-minded person,” Robinson said. “I feel like this team is not a weak-minded team at all. That’s why we keep fighting every single time we face adversity. I feel like that’s the reason why we keep our heads up. You just have to take stuff like this under the chin. Even though it’s like a repetitive

thing that’s happening, we just have to bear down and figure out what’s wrong. That’s the main thing, for a problem, you’ve got to find a solution.”

The Aggies will go back on the road to take on the 3-6 Auburn Tigers, who, like A&M, have struggled this season to execute and produce on either side of the ball. Both teams have only one conference win and would benefit greatly from pulling off the victory Saturday.

The Auburn Tigers have seen drastic changes this season, as head coach Bryan Harsin was fired just before of last week’s game. Harsin finished his time at Auburn with a 9-12 record.

Filling the leadership gap as interim coach for the Tigers is running back coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams. Led by Williams, Auburn is coming off a 39-33 loss to Mississippi State, but the team displayed major resilience and played hard.

In the second quarter, the Tigers fell behind 24-3 but rallied back to take the lead twice late in the fourth quarter and force overtime where the Tigers ultimately fell short.

“Forget the scoreboard,” Williams told his team at halftime. “We’re going to keep fighting, keep punching. Those kids didn’t blink. Nobody quit.”

Despite the loss, Williams said he was proud of the squad, especially after such a rough week of ups and downs.

“I’m so proud of my guys — they fought,” Williams said. “I emphasized two things all week, serve and believe. Those guys exemplified that. We didn’t complete the mission, but I’m proud of those guys. They fought their tail off.”

Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. kickoff will mark the 12th matchup between the two teams, with A&M holding on to a 6-5 winning advantage over Auburn.

Although the two teams’ seasons look very similar, a battle of ground versus air could ensue on the Tigers’ home turf. The Aggies have recorded 1,120 rushing yards and 2,166 passing yards this season while Auburn has rushed for 1,630 yards on the ground with 1,813 passing yards.

The matchup between the Aggies and the Tigers will be a mustwatch as two teams with mirroring seasons hit the turf, both with hopes for a much-needed victory.

Becoming better: Women’s basketball opener

By Neomi Brown @neomib_03

The Texas A&M women’s basketball team will open its 2022-23 campaign in Reed Arena with a pair of non-conference matchups on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sunday, Nov. 12 against Army at 2 p.m.

The Aggies are coming off a losing season, where they posted a 14-15 overall record and 4-12 in conference play. Notably, longtime head coach Gary Blair retired at the end of the 2021-22 season and former Georgia head coach Joni Taylor now leads the team.

Taylor takes the helm and the challenges of such a young team that is predicted to finish 11th in the conference according to the SEC Preseason Media Poll. Taylor said she feels that prediction is accurate.

“The timeline for us is we want to be better today than we were yesterday,” Taylor said. “We were picked 11 out of 14, and I would say that’s very accurate in terms of where we

are and what our league looks like.”

Coming into this season, the Aggies are a fresh team with players that have little to no game experience which makes this season that

much more difficult, Taylor said.

“That’s what’s challenging,” Taylor said. “They’re all young, and even if they’re not young in age, they are very ill-experienced.

The players that returned and our newcomers don’t have a ton of playing experience. You take [graduate forward Aaliyah] Patty and [senior center Sydnee] Roby out of it, most of our returners didn’t get to play much last year because of the starters that had been in the program that last couple of years. We’re the second-youngest team in the SEC.”

With this being her first year coaching in Aggieland, Taylor said the support she has received is appreciated, especially the mentorship of A&M men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams,.

“Buzz [Williams] has been absolutely wonderful,” Taylor said. “We chat all the time, and he’s been great, so I look forward to learning from him. You talk about someone who has a brilliant mind, not just as it relates to basketball but life. I’m super excited to soak up everything I can from him.”

Taylor said that despite the challenges presented this season, the team remains focused on improving each and every day, embodied by its season motto: ‘Becoming.’

“Our motto is ‘Becoming’ for a reason,” Taylor said. “That is what this year is about; we’re becoming sisters, becoming consistent, becoming rebounders, becoming scorers. Becoming whatever that blank is, we want to fill it, and right now, it’s becoming consistent.”

It’s like ube r, but

r lo nger dist a nces.

Women’s basketball head coach Joni Taylor answers questions at a press conference in Reed Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022.

Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION

New head women’s basketball coach Joni Taylor poised to lead young team to season success

Junior DL McKinnley Jackson (35) tackles Florida RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (2) during Texas A&M’s game against Florida at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.

Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION

A&M football on the road again, set to face Auburn on Nov. 12