The Battalion — October 27, 2022

High

slow progress

Football players face indefinite suspension

By Grant Gaspard @grant_gaspard

Sam Khan Jr. from The Athletic reported three freshmen from the Texas A&M football team have been suspended indefinitely due to a locker room incident after the 30-24 loss to South Carolina.

A&M cornerback Denver Harris, wide receiver Chris Marshall and offensive lineman PJ Williams are among the three freshmen suspended and will be absent for the remainder of the year. The three were reportedly in the restroom stall following the game with a marijuana vape pen, an anonymous source within the program confirmed to The Battalion.

These freshmen were part of the top-ranked Class of 2022 recruiting class, and two of the three players were starters in the Aggie lineup.

Harris had 14 total tackles, 10 individual and three pass deflections, and a midseason accolade for Freshman All-American. Marshall ends the year fourth out of the receivers in receptions with 11 and tallied 108 yards for the season. PJ Williams has yet to see a snap this season.

By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia1

Announced in 2012, private railroad company Texas Central proposed its idea for a self-described “Texas high-speed train” that will be the “first truly high-speed train project” in the U.S.

and Texas, according to its website. However, the now decade-old project has shown nothing but slow progress.

The proposal for the infrastructure project claims its 240-mile-long track will connect Texas through three passenger stations in North Texas, Brazos Valley and greater Houston within a 90-minute high-speed train ride. According to the project timeline, Texas Central estimates the project to be completed by 2026, when the rail-

way will be fully operational for commercial use.

Texas Central estimates the project to cost $20 billion to complete. However, they expect the project to have a direct cumulative economic impact of $36 billion over the next 25 years. Texas Central also estimates that construction will create 17,000 jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs once the railway is operational.

Texas Central states the project will be private-

Harris and Marshall were also previously suspended in September for the game against Miami as a disciplinary measure after failing to adhere to curfew.

Editor’s Note: The identity of the source has been kept anonymous in order to protect them from possible backlash per The Battalion’s anonymity policy.

ports of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, assist in securing medical attention, participate in evidence preservation and collection, conduct criminal investigations of crimes and inform the individual of legal and administrative options both on and off campus,” the University Annual Security Report said. “Criminal investigations may occur independent from a conduct proceeding.”

By Jack Lee @JackTheBatt

During its meeting on Monday, Oct. 17, the Texas A&M Faculty Senate passed a resolution endorsing diversity programs

ON PG. 3

By Amanda Hare @AmandaHare_11

With Halloween coming up, students can stay aware of crime in the area, specifically any suspicious activity. Suspicious activity is defined as anything that is out of place, and

Who you gonna call?

Bryan Ghost Walk explores city’s haunted past, present

By Neha Gopal @_10Novel

On the night of Oct. 22, Downtown Bryan looked like a ghost town. By 8:30 p.m., all the stores were long closed and a peculiar stillness held the rust and exhaust from the train tracks. A few people milled about in front of the library, with the wind softly howling through the clear sidewalk. In other words, it was the perfect setting for the Bryan Ghost Walk.

Amber Tindall, the tour guide for the

night, donned a black corset and skirt suited for the occasion.

“In this haunted history tour, we cover the history of how Bryan came to be,” Tindall said. “We cover more of the dark history of Bryan that nobody knows [about] and also cover how to interact with ghosts and investigate with spirits — we use investigation tools on tour for people to interact [with].”

After working for a different ghost tour company in Houston, Tindall understood the ghost tour business. Tindall reassured those on the tour that Downtown Bryan’s “spirits” were more like your friendly Casper ghost than throat-slashing ghouls.

Students can find information about how to report anything as well as available services in the Annual Security Report. To prevent theft, Special Operations Sgt. Josh Deleon said students can get items engraved for free at the police department.

“During Halloween, we typically see more suspicious activity, just people playing pranks,” Deleon said. “[This fall] we have seen an increase in theft calls, whether that range from bikes, scooters, computers and unfortunately even catalytic converters.”

Thefts and burglaries have been the top reported crimes this fall, Peleon said.

“With Halloween coming up, people are going to be out and about. We want our students to be safe if they plan on going out to parties,” Deleon said. “Let somebody know or go in groups. Of course, don’t drink and drive. Don’t leave

“UPD

Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION

Northgate: New housing

Highrises begin to change landscape of Northgate

By Kenzie Allen & Madison Umphrey @kenzieranae & @u_madison

Northgate housing options are being expanded due to the population increase.

The Northgate area is expanding its living quarters by bringing in the newest housing complex, The Rev. This speci c complex is already in the process of moving forward with leasing contracts, online showings and soon-to-come in-person showings as well. The rising population has caused a need to expand not only with housing but convenience.

College Station Mayor Karl Mooney said the recent increase of residents in the city has changed throughout the years.

“It used to be Northgate did not have anything higher than three stories,” Mooney said. “We now have The Rise, Aspire, Traditions [and] The Domain. There

“Otherwise, I [would] probably have horrible ratings,” Tindall said. “Spirits mostly want to tell their story. They’re trying to get a hold of somebody that will listen to them and get their information to you.”

Public opinion varies wildly regarding how people view ghosts, ghouls and demons. Some cross themselves upon hearing about the supernatural, while for others, it’s purely cinematic entertainment, especially the cheesy horror flicks. The underlying reason for Tindall’s belief comes from a frightening experience she experienced at just 6-years-old.

“[I] got stuck in an elevator for three hours at the Queen Mary Hotel in California,” Tindall said. “We were stuck in the middle of doors, so there wasn’t much access from anyone. [Everyone in the elevator] started hearing rattling and tapping on things and hearing voices.”

Years later, Tindall discovered the Queen Mary was one of the most haunted places in the country.

Bryan’s untold violence and misfortunes are explored in depth in the adult version of the tour. Tindall led the group through some of Bryan’s most haunted and disturbing histo-

are now three more [highrises] under construction.”

Mooney said the newest addition, The Rev, is expected to be much taller compared to other housing units in the Northgate area. All updates about The Rev can be found on their website.

“The Rev [is] going up now at 19 stories, Aspire and [The] Rise are about [15] and [18] stories,” Mooney said.

Mooney spoke about other Northgate locations listed as student-housing development sites, including the half-acre property at Boyett Street and University Drive. The property currently houses Gig’em Food Mart and the Abu Omar Halal food truck and was listed for sale as a high-density student housing site for $5.2 million.

Biomedical sciences junior Taylor Moncrief said the appeal of close-quarters housing is largely one of accessibilty.

“I de nitely think the [Northgate] area is bene cial to students,” Moncrief said. “I have seen a lot of growth in the area, not just with housing but also convenience.”

One of Northgate’s most convenient aspects is its proximity to campus. This proximity makes it easier for students to get to campus, often without the use of a vehicle.

“Things have evolved,” Mooney said. “With the university growing, it becomes necessary to try to nd ways to be closer to

ry as she introduced them to the city’s ghouls and ghosts. The prickly tree looked more like fingers rather than branches as the group walked past the desolate Palace Theater, the quiet antique shops and the orderly String and Horn instrument store.

After seemingly being unsuccessful in contacting a young spirit named Wendy, strange occurrences started happening as the devices began picking up words such as “mommy,” “play” and “cry.” According to Tindall, ghosts, including these kindred spirits, often follow tours to later destinations. While closely following the group of people on the guided tour, the more innocent and wideeyed walkers grew more uncomfortable and frightened.

Pausing at an inconspicuous mom-andpop shop, Tindall explained how spirits often latch onto dusty past objects in such stores and cause paranormal activity. In other words, one man’s antiquity is another man’s nightmare.

As Tindall described how lamps sometimes come on out of nowhere, two younger girls gasped in horror saying they had just seen a brass lamp flicker briefly before turning off within seconds. Breaths fogged up the glass as others peered inside the store for any signs of paranormal activity but failed to see anything.

campus. It is almost a hardship to have to drive to campus with the way it is spread out.”

Political science senior Hannah Mowrey said her experiences living at The Tradition, now called 12 North, on Northgate were positive.

“Where I lived was really close to campus,” Mowrey said. “It was a 10-minute walk to classes, and I had a bike to get to campus.”

Since these residencies are considered student housing, they can foster a sense of community similar to that of a college dorm. Being surrounded by other A&M students is another appealing factor for those seeking nearby housing.

“Overall, I really liked the location and met a lot of great people living on Northgate — more than any other apartment I’ve lived at,” Mowrey said. “I can’t stress enough how good the community was.”

Mooney said other businesses on Northgate are seeking to take advantage of the proximity to campus as well, even if they are not building a new residence.

“These areas would like to sell their space to students who would like to buy a parking space from them such as The Rise and Aspire,” Mooney said. “There may even be a little competition on pricing for parking.”

One of the most unsettling parts of the tour happened in a dark alleyway, a scene suitable for a Batman origin story. Tindall explained how a man, supposedly a Spanish speaker, was a familiar presence in this area. Danny Reyes, a tour participant who spoke Spanish, volunteered to translate as guided folks asked questions about the spirit. This ghostly presence was assumed to be a construction worker based on words like “labor” and “hands.” However, after asking questions about children and potential spouses, the air became heavier, and the EVP recorder started picking up certain frequency irregularities. The words picked up were much harsher and more threatening than the spirit of young Wendy.

Words like “murder,” “threat,” “run” and other ominous utterances came across the device. When the recorder started picking up “666,” the tour guide abruptly moved on to the following location as many had backed away from the circle. One person on tour, Blinn freshman Elizabeth Morris, retreated into the comfort of the lights, saying the situation “felt really off and wrong.”

The final chapter of Bryan’s murderous history left some confused and staunchly skeptical and a few hungry, mostly me.

Like Tindall, Reyes said his beliefs about

paranormal beings result from personal experiences at his previous home. The bizarre events spooked Reyes for over five years and led him to move to a new home several years ago.

“At that house, something was always touching me, and [it] would sit down on the bed and the bed would move like somebody sitting there and it would hold the sheet so I [couldn’t] get up,” Reyes said. “One night, we were sleeping, and a thunderstorm lit up the skies. And a figure was standing over the bed.”

Reyes later said he discovered the property was over a little cemetery.

A central theme of the tour is the power of storytelling and exploring some of Bryan’s more obscure shadows, regardless of whether you believe in the paranormal. Tindall said the story of Downtown Bryan is a far more complex and deeper narrative than most people know. Tindall wanted to explore the town’s history through a curious mindset, even if it meant venturing into its darker spots. During these guided tours, she invites others to join her as she explores the hauntings of Bryan.

“I just knew Downtown Bryan had a story that needed to be told,” Tindall said.

It’s more than an ordinary towel.

Most of the year, this $2 cloth is destined to either be stowed away until next season or become a handy-dandy shop towel in dad’s garage. But what it lacks in Egyptian cotton, it makes up for in pride. If you have ever seen 80,000 of these waving at once in a churning sea of white, you know this towel is much more than a humble handkerchief—it helps 11 men play with the power of 12.

By contributing scholarships and support for esteemed campus programs, donors to the Texas A&M Foundation give Aggie students, faculty and staff something to cheer about every day. Learn how you can help build a brighter future for Aggies today and tomorrow at txamfoundation.com.

The Dixie Chicken sign during sunset on Northgate on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.

Arianna Menchaca — THE BATTALION

vately funded and describes the proposed railway as a “tax payer[,] not [a] tax taker.”

The fully electric railway project targets nearly 100,000 Texan “super commuters,” who travel between Houston and Dallas-Forth Worth more than once a week, according to Texas Central and a study conducted by Mitchell L. Moss and Carson Qing. The project aims to provide an efficient and environmentally low-impact travel method, but the project is currently overshadowed by its growing history of legal issues and lack of public developments.

Notably, multiple legal cases have been pursued because of Texas Central’s tactics to acquire land through eminent domain. According to Cornell Law School, local, state and federal governments can enact eminent domain to take private property for public use if the property owners are properly compensated.

Property owners who live along the railway’s proposed route have been protesting against the construction of the railway for years. Texas Central has been adamant about conducting surveys of private property for its route, but many affected landowners don’t want to give the project right-of-way permission for the route.

In a KXXV article, affected landowners, many of whom own rural land near the proposed route, are concerned about the environmental impacts, safety risks and aesthetic issues that may result from railway construction.

Although the project has faced several court cases since 2016, many affected Texans waited in anticipation of the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in James Fredrick Miles v. Texas Central Railroad and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc.

On June 24, the Texas Supreme Court decided to rule in favor of Texas Central’s right to eminent domain in Miles v. Texas Central. Texas Central had long-standing issues with the company’s classification, which would im-

SENATE CONTINUED

ACES Plus was designed to promote quality faculty coming to A&M and uses funds to provide 50% matching base salary and benefits, up to $100,000, to mid-career and senior tenure-track hires from underrepresented minority groups.

The recent inclusion of associate and full professors in the program opens the path for Lowery’s lawsuit, who, as an associate professor at UT claims he could hypothetically be discriminated against due to an inability to apply for the fellowship on the basis of his race.

Faculty Senate Speaker and instructional associate professor of communication and journalism Dale Rice said in last month’s meeting several senators requested the senate, in wake of the recent lawsuit, “reaffirm its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.” Rice said the executive committee of the senate unanimously approved putting forth a resolution on the matter for the senate to vote on. The resolution, which endorses the ACES Plus fellowship program, was read by Janice Epstein, Ph.D., faculty senate secretary and instructional associate professor of math.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate of Texas A&M University reaffirms its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Epstein read for the resolution. “Be it further resolved that the executive committee supports the goals of programs such as ACES Plus that aim to diversify the ranks of faculty to better represent our state and our student body. I move approval of this resolution attachment.”

Mays Business School senator and associate professor of finance Adam Kolasinski, Ph.D., said he opposes the resolution because he believes the ACES Plus program is racist and potentially illegal.

“There is some significant probability a court will rule the ACES Plus program is illegal,” Kolasinski said. “I don’t know exactly what that probability is, but it certainly is well above zero. Now ask yourself, how would it make this body look if we ended up endorsing a program that turned out to violate federal civil rights? If you are serious about supporting the ACES Plus program’s goal of moving the structural composition of our faculty to parity with the state of Texas, then we are effectively supporting the replacement of two-thirds

pact its right to eminent domain.

However, the apparent “win” for the project was not widely celebrated.

On June 11, Texas Central’s CEO Carlos Aguilar announced his resignation from the company via LinkedIn. Aguilar had held the position since December 2016.

“While I could not align our current stakeholders on a common vision for a path forward, I wish the project the greatest success and remain convinced of the importance of this venture for the safety and prosperity of ALL Texans,” Aguilar wrote.

Engineering News-Record reported that Texas Central’s board had shortly disbanded after Aguilar’s resignation but before the Miles v. Texas Central ruling.

Besides its history of courtroom conflicts, Texas Central has made few public announcements about any progress of the project.

The Battalion reached out to Texas Central for an interview, but Texas Central declined — instead offering a comment.

“It has been an eventful summer for Texas Central, and we continue to move forward,” Right of Way Director Katie Barnes wrote.

On behalf of the company, Barnes also wrote that there was no additional information to share beyond the most recent press release, from July 8. This most recent release came after a two-year hiatus, as the earlier was published on Sept. 21, 2020.

“Texas Central remains open for business under its new management, is continuing to seek further investment and is moving forward with the development of this high-speed train,” Barnes wrote.

The press release is short, giving little substantial information regarding the project’s progress. Texas Central briefly thanked project investors and stakeholders, stating that the company has made significant strides in the project over the last several years.

“We look forward to being able to say more about this at an appropriate time in the near future,” Texas Central wrote.

to three-quarters of our Asian faculty solely because of their race. If you support this resolution, I ask you, which three-quarters of your Asian colleagues do you want to get rid of?”

Kolasinski proceeded to question if professor of mechanical engineering and Vice President for Faculty Affairs N.K. Anand, Ph.D., an Indian American — along with other white and Asian supporters of the ACES Plus program — would be willing to resign in order to achieve a university faculty that more closely corresponds to Texas demographics. The ACES Plus program does not contain procedures for terminating current faculty.

“Is N.K. Anand, one of the architects of the ACES Plus program and an Asian willing to resign his position to bring about structural parity with the state population?” Kolasinski said. “This is, of course, nothing to say to all the white senators who support this program. Whites aren’t overrepresented on our faculty to nearly the degree Asians are, but they’re overrepresented nonetheless. Are all you white supporters of the ACES Plus program willing to step down so that we can move toward structural parity with the state of Texas?

Somehow, I doubt it.”

College of Engineering Senator and associate professor of engineering technology and industrial distribution Angie Hill Price said she disagreed with Kolasinski’s comments and supports the resolution because she believes diversity programs like ACES Plus are needed to better represent Texas taxpayers who fund A&M.

“I am almost speechless,” Hill Price said. “I think that that was extraordinarily offensive, but you’re entitled to your opinion and to your freedom of speech and I appreciate the fact that you have that. I absolutely disagree with the things that you said. I support this resolution and, so I’d like to [point out] that [the resolution] doesn’t say that we are specifically supporting those programs, but programs that are things such as [the ACES Plus program]. I hope that we can help support our [diversity and inclusion initiatives] and support the coordinating board initiatives to be able to better represent the people of the State of Texas who are paying for our services and paying taxes to support us, and so I would encourage you to support this resolution.”

The resolution passed with 54 votes in favor

votes against.

SAFETY CONTINUED

[alcoholic drinks] unattended. And don’t get behind the wheel. Call CARPOOL, call Uber or call a friend to get home safely.”

While suspicious activity can increase during Halloween, Sexual Assault Resource Center, or SARC, Executive Director Lindsey LeBlanc said, statistically, sexual assaults do not.

“The thing that we see with sexual assault is that it doesn’t discriminate,” LeBlanc said. “There are no particular situations, incomes, that become a higher risk. We do know that there are certain situations that make the likelihood of sexual assault higher and one of those is actually interpersonal relationships. Eighty percent of survivors know their perpetrators.”

SARC is located in Bryan and supports sexual violence survivors through advocacy, crisis intervention and counseling programs.

“We also work to end sexual violence

through our education and prevention program,” LeBlanc said. “We spread the word on consent and boundaries and healthy and unhealthy relationships, as well as directly supporting survivors immediately following an assault as well as through their healing journey. We do individual and group counseling, and we provide referrals for protective orders or housing changes.”

As for how to stay safe during the upcoming holiday, Deleon said students should be aware of their surroundings by staying off their phones and not using headphones when walking at night. He said this also allows others to know that one is alert and not an easy target.

“If anything happens, get to a safe place and then contact the police department,” Deleon said. “You can contact our non-emergency line, or you can contact 911 and let us know what’s going on. We can get officers or get you medical assistance if necessary.”

Travis

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The 8446 Union Pacific runs in front of the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

Jonathan Taffet — THE BATTALION

Criticism: 44-year-long series concluded

Director: David Gordon Green

Date: Oct.

By Shea Kissell @SheaKissell

The embodiment of evil returns for its final film in Miramax and Blumhouse’s “Halloween” trilogy. “Halloween Ends” serves as the 13th installment in the franchise, but that’s not to say it picks up the story of the 12 other movies. Without getting into the convoluted timeline, “Halloween Ends” retcons over all other “Halloween” movies outside its own trilogy, besides the original 1978 film.

The trilogy as a whole has done a surprisingly good job of rebooting the franchise in a way that pays respect to the original without copying it line-for-line. Both 2018’s “Halloween” and 2021’s “Halloween Kills” expand off the unique concept of a faceless evil first created by John Carpenter in 1978,

while still maintaining its connections and recapturing what made Michael Myers’ initial appearance so iconic.

The film, like the previous two, is directed by David Gordan Green and stars the original actors, Jamie Lee Curtis as the babysitter turned serial killer hunter Laurie Strode, and Nick Castle as the iconic faceless Michael Myers.

Curtis, after being involved on-andoff within the franchise for 44 years now, still takes her role seriously and brings a certain enjoyable charm to the screen which the “Halloween” movies could not survive without. Castle’s performance as Myers is as cold and as menacing as always, and his physical acting underneath the mask and mechanic suit remain unmatched.

Tonally, “Halloween Ends” takes things in a slightly different direction. Instead of putting its main focus on its infamous villain, the movie spends most of its screen time on the protagonist, Laurie Strode, and what remains of her shattered family as they deal with the trauma and loss they’ve sustained in the past few years.

Criticism: Restrained, introspective synthpop of ‘Midnights’

herself to her immediate experience, thus elevating her artistry above the fray of tabloid fodder. Swift lands digs on herself like only she can, her lyrics probing within depths most appropriate for the witching hour. For 13 taut tracks, 44 minutes and eight seconds in total, Swift lays it all out and implores us to do so ourselves.

A significant portion of the film is disconnected from anything that Michael Myers is currently up to, and the mask-wearing maniac himself doesn’t appear for quite a long time in the film.

This isn’t to say the film is boring or uneventful, but I certainly wasn’t going to the theater expecting a serious drama about overcoming tragedy.

Nevertheless, a slasher flick is a slasher flick, and this one still manages to deliver even more blood and guts than the previous two, despite Michael Myers’ reduced screen time. In fact, every “Halloween” trope manages to make its way into the film, including: characters walking off fatal injuries, characters making really bad decisions in peril, babysitters and clunky dialogue.

By the end of it, “Halloween Ends” is able to wrap up every character’s story in a way in which they deserve and finishes the film on a satisfying note. Hopefully Hollywood, after making a movie where the characters spend most of their time moving on from Michael Myers, will be able to do the same and leave the franchise to rest after it has

of the album. It recalls “The Archer,” with a bite. The song continues the rumination that began in “Anti-Hero,” contextualizing her self-sabotage within her romantic life. Swift grapples with an ambition in conflict with traditional amulets of female accomplishment; while her lover “wanted a bride, [she] was making her own name, chasing that fame,” Swift repeats in the hook.

been so neatly wrapped up. But studios are willing to continue to milk any kind of film as long as it keeps making money, and “Hollywood Ends” proved that Michael Myers can still fill up a movie theater, even 44 years after his debut. The film made over $40 million in its opening weekend, putting it at first in the box office.

Critically however, “Halloween Ends” has been met with mixed reviews and currently sits with a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5/10 on IMDb.

All in all, this film isn’t perfect. It tries to do a lot at once: add more complexity to all its protagonists, conclude Michael Myers’ story and provide some secondary villainy in his absence. Some of it falls through and doesn’t lead anywhere, but I cannot deny the fact that, in the contemporary Hollywood world of cheap reboots, “Halloween Ends” pulls through and does its preceding films justice while successfully playing the conclusive note of the Michael Myers saga.

None of this is news about Swift, whose disparate public image, equal parts flowery and shadowy, has moved toward an integration throughout her oeuvre. This is, after all, the same Swift who wrote an entire album by herself 12 years ago just to prove that she could. Swift has ceded some control 12 years later, but on “Midnights,” she is still the mastermind.

By Rashid Eldoma @rashideldoma

Taylor Swift has always been a control freak, a fact apparent to both fan and critic alike. From her career’s inception, through liner notes and Easter eggs, Swift has told us how to listen to her songs. This often involves the time of day: The opening track of Swift’s second album, “Fearless,” signals a good morning with a bright snare. “1989” is an afternoon album for easy-listening, while “reputation,” with its introspective darkpop, is for those aimless nighttime drives.

Released on Oct. 21, “Midnights” is for the tossing and turning at the end of those night time drives. When aimlessness and sleeplessness prevail, “Midnights” keeps you company.

The concept album, a kind of late-night dream pop rumination, depicts various midnights throughout Swift’s life. Like “folklore” and “evermore,” she doesn’t confine

It’s not a Swift album if I don’t laugh at least once. Sometimes it’s at the absurd tragedy of her self-confession which I can recognize within myself. Other times it’s because she’s really funny — which shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s a fan. Her lead singles typically lean toward self-parody.

“Anti-Hero” is the understandable choice for lead single upon first listen. Swift lays out all her insecurities and introduces herself as the problem. It’s classic Swift camp, in the lineage of “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space” and “Look What You Made Me Do.” Unlike the last two efforts, however, Swift meanders back into the realm of relatability. Not many of us can relate to celebrity feuding and romancing, but all of us have undermined ourselves. We have all felt ourselves the anti-hero.

“Midnight Rain” is the keystone

“Midnights” falters only when Swift moves away from jubilation and reflection, which becomes apparent in “Vigilante Shit.” The song seems to recall “Royals” and “6 Inch,” by Lorde and Beyoncé respectively but falls flat without either artists’ swagger. In the hands of Swift, “Vigilante Shit” sounds nothing more than a panoply of selfhelp platitudes one might easily find repinned on Pinterest.

“Mastermind,” another highlight, pokes at Swift’s Machiavellian machinations. It is both a confessional and an ode to neuroticism we are often told is toxic in relationships. “Mastermind” reframes the control-freak from the harbinger of doom into a triumphant, relatable hero figure.

“No one wanted to play with me as a kid, so I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since,” Swift sings. “To make them love me and make it seem effortless.”

STANDOUT TRACKS :

Track 6: “Midnight Rain”

Track 12: “Sweet Nothing”

Track 13: “Mastermind”

TRACKS TO SKIP: Track 8: “Vigilante Shit”

CASH

CLOTHES

Artist: Taylor Swift

Courtesy of Republic Records

Opinion: Like sardines in a can

Every semester, the time comes when students have to register for classes. This should be a straightforward process: make a registration worksheet, hit submit during your allotted time and receive a schedule that reflects your choices.

Instead, registration days at A&M are complete mayhem. In order to reduce website traffic and avoid Howdy Portal crashes, students are spaced out and given time windows as early as 5 a.m. Depending on what major or college one is in, sections fill up in the blink of an eye, throwing off carefully planned schedules and leaving many students with no other options than 8 a.m. lectures or 7 p.m. labs.

Those in STEM programs, which compromise a major portion of the student body, especially receive, the short end of the stick. Class availability in these majors is infamously elusive, to the point where many students are unable to take courses required for graduation. This results in involuntary super seniors who are forced to endure extra semesters in order to receive their college degree.

Yet another pressing impact of A&M’s overcrowded capacity is the availability of services and resources.

students: a goal to be achieved with the “25 by 25” initiative.

“25 by 25” aims to increase engineering enrollment to 25,000 students by 2025. Though the initiative claims progress will be achieved mainly through retention programs, not the addition of more students, the plan’s creation in 2013 was meant to address the “issue” A&M faced in turning away thousands of qualified applicants who would then be recruited by other universities. Monopolizing future engineers is the true goal, it seems.

According to Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, 25 by 25 is a measure to meet growing demands for engineers and “keep our nation competitive in the global landscape.”

I doubt our nation will benefit from student success and productive learning environments being put at risk. Enhancing “quality and excellence” is a difficult feat when mass admissions disrupt every aspect of our university — from transportation to counseling.

Sofia Sloane

Every conceivable aspect of Texas A&M University is bursting at the seams.

Buses: Students stand crammed shoulder-to-shoulder. A lucky minority gets a seat — the rest are herded backward and subject to blaring orders mandating all bags be set on the grimy floor to make more room. Heels meet toes and arms flail at every jolting stop.

Classes: Rows upon rows upon rows of seats aren’t enough, as many students resort to sitting in aisles or random chairs and tables scattered at the back of lecture halls.

Traffic: Whatever Google Maps say the ETA may be, add a good five to 10 minutes. Every Aggie knows patience is a virtue when trying to drive through campus streets — busy crosswalks, hundreds of cars and frequent stoplights make for a frustrating commute. But what else can be expected from a university of 73,180 students?

As of 2021, A&M is home to more people than the entire population of Greenland. Not only does our university enrollment rank highest in all of Texas, but A&M constantly battles the University of Central Florida to claim the spot as America’s largest public university.

With that being said, increased university attendance is something to be celebrated. Each individual deserves to pursue a higher education, a right that is encouraged today for

people of all backgrounds and identities. Considering A&M admission was limited to white males up until the 1960s, the current student body size can be regarded as a sign of progress and changing times.

The issue, however, arises in the fact that, currently, our university simply isn’t equipped to handle the sheer size of attendance. As Aggies continue to pour in — while A&M systems and infrastructure remain the same — students pay the cost.

The points mentioned above — buses, classes, traffic — are only the tip of the iceberg.

To start, A&M barely has enough housing to fit all students. Every semester, housing waitlists displace many applicants to off-campus accommodations or to “overflow” dormitories.

Freshman year, I was placed on the waitlist and waited months to ultimately be assigned a building on the Corp of Cadets quad — an option that wasn’t even advertised. Currently, three corp dorms: Harrington, White and Lacy, serve as “Plan B” housing options when Southside or Northside residence halls reach maximum occupancy. Two of these dorms, White and Lacy, are mixed — two floors for cadets, two floors for non-cadets.

Though this repurposing of space is somewhat creative, the dorms are meant for cadet living conditions — the communal showers, bathrooms and 12’ x 10’ living area starkly contrast other spacious modular dorms. To say I lived a cramped two semesters is an understatement.

It doesn’t end there.

Due to high student demand, the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, is known for lengthy waiting times and delayed appointments. Similarly, academic advising meetings are difficult to book, with students having to choose dates days or weeks in advance. University parking availability is a hit or miss, even after purchasing parking passes that cost hundreds of dollars. Don’t drive? Take the bus to class — but keep in mind it may be out of service due to reaching max capacity and skip your stop.

All of these services are paid for by tuition or out-of-pocket expenses, but yet they are unable to properly meet the needs of the student body. This disparity between supply and demand has an impact on every student’s college journey — one academic advisor meeting could be the deciding factor in a major being dropped or kept. A missed bus could result in a late exam. One CAPS visit could reroute someone’s life.

Our college experience isn’t meant to be a constant battle for basic aspects like dorms, classes and services — thousands of dollars in tuition and attending a nationally renowned university should merit readily available opportunities for all. When graduation dates and student success are put on the line, it’s clear that change is needed.

What does this change look like at A&M? If lowering admissions or creating more class sections sound like worthy solutions, think again.

On the contrary, the leaders of our university have decided that Aggieland needs more

Furthermore, the city of College Station is looking to invest in the development of student-friendly housing in areas surrounding A&M. As an initiative in the “Middle housing proposal,” the city hopes to build residences that are better geared towards students’ needs in terms of density, walkability and amenities.

In an interview with The Battalion, councilwoman Elizabeth Cunha shared insight into the relationship between local housing and student enrollment. “Every time we make more bedrooms, A&M accepts more students,” she said.

In other words, as the Bryan-College Station area expands and provides more off-campus housing options, the number of students at A&M increases in response. Will university infrastructure and systems change to accommodate this growth? As of now, the answer seems to be no.

Though housing, traffic, classes, services and many more factors bear the cost of overwhelming student enrollment, A&M continues to devote time and money to measures that only encourage further population growth.

If only our university could attempt to mitigate these effects or maybe invest the same time and money used to renovate Kyle Field into structural reforms, perhaps progress could be made in improving student life at A&M.

In he meantime, we Aggies will wait. Like sardines in a can.

Ana Sofia Sloane is a political science sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Silver Taps

ANDREW PAUL COLEMAN

An Aggie who reached for the stars in all he did

By Michaela Rush

For aerospace engineering sophomore Andrew Coleman, the decision to apply to and attend Texas A&M was a no-brain er. Though he could have attended any institution closer to his home of Erie, Pa., his father, Richard, said Andrew took a leap of faith toward Aggieland.

“[During Andrew’s senior year] we looked at him and said, ‘Hey, what are you thinking about for colleges? We should start looking.’ He just says, ‘I’ve already picked. I’ve already picked and started applying.’ We’re like, ‘OK, where?’ and he says ‘Texas A&M,’” Richard said. “After his freshman year, he had the grades to get into [aerospace engineering]. He was very proud of that moment. We all were.”

Though he was driven to pursue aerospace engineering by his mechanically-focused mind, Andrew’s passions extended to math decathalons, playing the trumpet, running cross coun try and expanding his historical and cultural knowledge while roadtripping with his mother, father and sister.

Andrew wasn’t outgoing by nature, but coming to A&M gave him a sense of community and a new passion to delve deeply into. His father said seeing his son so enthusiastic during football games and donning Aggie gear was a welcome sur prise.

“He couldn’t have been prouder to have been an Aggie. Like a lot of intelligent individuals, he was sometimes socially awkward, maybe he didn’t want to go to football games, but he studied and knew the school inside and out,” Richard said. “Last year at a game, I watched him, someone who was shy and usually hard to engage in things, link arms with everyone around us and do every yell at the top of [his] lungs.”

Beyond his Aggie spirit, Andrew embodied the Aggie Core Values even before he started university. As he proved Excel lence through academics, he also shared his knowledge with family, friends and peers through acts of Selfless Service. His father also described him as having deep Integrity throughout his life.

“His integrity was second to none. He missed one day in his entire school career because he knew it was important to be in

school,” Richard said. “He was never late for anything, he was ahead of his contemporaries … His teachers were amazed, that even though he was months ahead of most, he would finish his work and go help other kids … You couldn’t question his integrity in any form, he was the most honest person I’ve ever met.”

His love for knowledge extended outside of academics, Richard said, especially through their shared love for roller coasters and new thrills. A favorite recent memory was their summer trip to amusement parks, as a part of their 250 coaster ride saga.

“Andrew and I shared a love of roller coasters. By nature of my business, I’m on the road a lot, but the last few summers we’d go on a road trip and do 50 roller coasters in five days,” Richard said. “This past summer, it turned out that I had a fractured vertebrae on day two, and had some other issues going on, and I was trying to push through. That kid was so worried about every step I was taking, but we had more fun than ever. All he was worried about was making sure I could get to the next ride and get home. I [saw] genuine care, like you don’t see from many kids that age anymore.”

In both amusing and academic pursuits, Andrew always wanted to learn more and to share it with those around him. Richard said Andrew’s curiosity and broad knowledge con stantly surprised him.

“[During the trip,] I asked him if he knew about the CN Tower, and he said, ‘Oh, are you talking about the Skywalk?’ and he just started rattling off every figure about it,” Richard said. “I had never mentioned the CN Tower to him before. We just never understood how a kid even at 18 … how he devoured this knowledge and could answer all this stuff. It’s not a specific memory, just a lifetime of being blown away by every fact and figure that he came across.”

“He never showed off in that way, it’d have to come up naturally. He wasn’t trying to one-up anybody, but if you wanted the answer to something, he’d give it to you,” Richard said. “He’d never make you feel stupid for not knowing it, he may have a little smugness for knowing it, but never made fun of you.”

To reflect his passion for flight, the stars and new adven tures, the Coleman family will send Andrew’s ashes into space, through the Celestis program. Even though Richard said he misses him greatly, he feels this ceremony will honor his mem ory in a unique and meaningful way.

“In honor of the career he was pursuing, there is a program where you can send ashes into space, and we thought it was the way we could do the most for him,” Richard said. “I could always get him talking about NASA or SpaceX or Artemis, and now he’s going to be on the same type of rocket he’d be studying and talking about for a long time.”

By Kathryn Miller

After graduating from Bellaire High School as a Brown Scholar and a National Merit semi finalist, Meghana came to Texas A&M with aspirations to become a doctor. Meghana was a student researcher at A&M and a research assistant at Baylor College of Medicine, while also working as a camp counselor with chil dren with special needs at the Children’s As sociation for Maximum Potential.

On top of her passion for the sciences, Meghana was flexible in her studies — she also wrote for the Eckleburg Project, A&M’s literary journal. The last piece she wrote for the journal was “Fish Market,” last October.

Meghana indulged in the arts and played violin while also doing classical Indian dance, both in high school and while at A&M. Inter national studies sophomore Ria Pawa danced with Meghana and said she who made her feel like she belonged.

“She made the effort to ask me to hang out one-on-one, she wanted to know my thoughts, and she validated my thoughts and choices in career when others had not,” Pawa said to the Houston Chronicle.

Rantha Kumar was Meghana, as well as her 16-year-old sister Nikhila’s, Indian dance in structor for six years. Kumar said everything about Meghana was perfect.

Kumar said throughout her time know ing Meghana and her family, they became extremely close. Meghana and Kumar had a deep relationship that was more than just teacher and student.

“Meghana had a great sense of humor, and we would laugh at a lot of things. I would tease her, and she would laugh,” Kumar said. “My students call me ‘Auntie,’ because they think of me as not just a teacher but some

one as a member of the family. And that’s what I considered myself. I considered myself a member of their family, even their mother had become very, very close to me.”

Kumar said after lessons, she and Meghana, along with her mother and her sister, would chat for hours — not just about dance, but also about their lives.

“Their mom would tell me, ‘Oh my god, Meghana is so stubborn, she won’t listen to me,’ and I would say, ‘Meghana, are you stubborn?’” Kumar said. “Meghana said, ‘No Auntie, that’s what my mom keeps telling ev erybody, it’s not true.’ We laughed and I told her mom, ‘Don’t worry. If you want anything done, tell me, I’ll ask her. She’ll listen to me.’ I’m very happy and proud that she respected me that much to listen to me — it was not just a joke. Meghana had not just love but a lot of respect for me, and I’m so glad that we had that mutual affection for one another.”

Kumar said many of her students reject their Indian culture — but not Meghana.

“Meghana and her sister never complained, they loved dressing up and wearing Indian clothes,” Kumar said. “When they went to any Indian event, they were so traditional. They never lost sight of their roots either cul turally or religiously or any other way. That was quite amazing that they respected their traditions, and we’re quite proud of it. They transition from one culture to the other with ease. Meghana looked so beautiful in her In dian outfit.”

Kumar said Meghana was lovely, inside and outside, intelligent and bright in every way. Meghana had a promising future ahead of her, taking the best from both her backgrounds.

“Everything about her was perfect,” Kumar said. “She was so pretty, so intelligent. She was a very good child. She was a wonderful blend between Indian and American cultures — a perfect blend. She learned the best from both of her cultures.”

Aerospace engineering sophomore Andrew Coleman will be honored at Tuesday’s Silver Taps ceremony in Academic Plaza at 10:30 p.m.

eghana Kodali worked every day toward

bright

Offense: From the bottom

A&M offense readies for Ole Miss defense

By Brad Bennett @Brad_Bennett

Texas A&M football’s offensive struggles have been one of the main reasons the team finds itself 3-4 and on a three-game losing streak. Luckily for A&M, there is still time to salvage its season and build momentum for the future.

Up next for the Aggies is a home matchup against the No. 15 Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m. The game presents an opportunity for the maroon and white, as the Rebels’ defense gave up 45 points in a loss to LSU last week.

In regard to last week, Aggies’ coach Jimbo Fisher said A&M’s offense played well in spurts but was

unable to do enough to defeat South Carolina on the road.

“We’re moving the ball much better offensively, [but we have] to play more consistent,” Fisher said. “Got some guys banged and got to get some chemistry, ran the ball really well in the first half, second half not as much, didn’t get the running game going. It was like four guys on, one guy off ... We couldn’t get it going.”

Most importantly, Fisher said A&M needs to keep the pedal to the metal on offense and get the ball to its most explosive players.

“Keep staying aggressive,” Fisher said. “We had some shots [against South Carolina] that we didn’t get off and had some guys down there open. We’ve got to stay aggressive, we’ve got to get the ball to the playmakers, guys who get touches that can make guys miss and score, like [junior running back Devon] Achane … The thing we’re going to do is stay aggressive.”

Despite the loss, Fisher was pleased with the way both of A&M’s quarterbacks, sophomore Haynes King and freshman Conner Weigman, performed against South Carolina.

“I’ll tell you what, if you go back and watch Haynes [King], he played [a] very good football game,” Fisher said. “A lot of good throws put us in great positions, had good runs, scrambled, did get some pressure on third downs and made some good thirddown throws, [and] led us on some really nice drives. He played a very solid football game and made some really big-time plays. Conner [Weigman] went [in] and did a really nice job. He’s worked his butt off every week. He understands what we’re doing.”

One of the real assets for A&M has been the reliability of newly promoted sophomore kicker Randy Bond. With all the issues with A&M’s offense, Bond’s ability to make field goals has kept the team in games. Bond made three field goals in A&M’s loss to South Carolina.

Bond made sure to be ready if his number was called to start for the maroon and white.

“I was just preparing all week to start like I do every week,” Bond said. “It just came Friday that, ‘Hey, you’re going to be playing this week.’ So I just took confidence from that, went out, did what I could in the game.”

For Ole Miss, its defense has struggled throughout this season. Even before last week’s loss to LSU, Ole Miss gave up 34 points to Auburn at the bottom of the SEC West.

Rebels’ coach Lane Kiffin attributes Ole Miss’ defensive issue to injuries and missed tackles. Kiffin specifically mentioned missing junior defensive lineman Cedric Johnson and senior linebacker Troy Brown.

“We’ve got to tackle better,” Kiffin said. “Certainly hasn’t helped [with junior defensive end] Cedric Johnson not being available at all two weeks ago and being very limited. He tried to play but wasn’t himself. Then [senior linebacker] Troy Brown in both games [had] to come out due to injuries. Those are two really significant players. We’ve got to tackle better and limit explosive plays, which is what we had done really well early in the year.”

Defense: Looks to recover

to the LSU Tigers last week. Ole Miss defeated the Aggies last year in Oxford, Miss., snapping the team’s threegame win streak against the Rebels.

line’s focus and gave insight into how important it is that the Aggie defense prevents big runs from the Rebels.

By Shanielle Veazie @shanielleveazie

The Texas A&M football team will be back home at Kyle Field for the first time since Week 3. The squad will take on the Ole Miss Rebels this Saturday, Oct. 29, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

At the start of the season, A&M was a hot topic after securing the No. 1 recruiting class. These days the Aggies are still pretty popular, and there is plenty of discussion surrounding the team after going 3-4 so far this season.

The Rebels are currently 7-1 after suffering their first loss of the season

Both teams will need to play well on either side of the ball to secure the win, as Ole Miss looks to bounce back and the Aggies search for a victory to help shift the narrative of their season.

Although the Aggies have struggled with rushing defense, the line has made major improvements throughout the season and has been making momentum-shifting plays in the last few games.

Last week against the South Carolina Gamecocks, senior defensive back Demani Richardson came up with major stops, tallying 12 tackles and recording the third double-digit tackle game of his career.

Richardson spoke on the defensive

“I feel like it’s a big part,” Richardson said. “We struggled a little bit, but I feel like we’re getting better each week and every day. We’re going to keep making it one of our key points, and we’re going to keep doing a good job of it.”

Causing chaos for Spencer Rattler, the Gamecocks’ redshirt junior quarterback, was sophomore defensive lineman Fadil Diggs. Diggs forced a fumble and recorded a sack, his third of the season.

True freshman Bryce Anderson also dominated against South Carolina. The young defensive back tallied three tackles, one forced fumble and snagged two fumble recoveries.

The maroon and white will need the presence of Richardson, Diggs and Anderson to dismantle the Ole Miss offense.

The Rebels’ offense is led by sophomore quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart

makes for a dangerous combination when he is able to connect with his running backs, freshman Quinshon Judkins and junior Zach Evans.

The dynamic duo are rushing beasts. Judkins leads the squad’s offense with 831 yards rushed for a total of 12 touchdowns. Evans follows closely with 605 yards rushed for a total of seven touchdowns.

Dart can also strike at any moment, having recorded 378 rushing yards of his own this season.

“[Evans is] a heck of a player,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said. “The key to [Ole Miss] is, you watch it, and it always has been, it’s running the ball.”

Rebels’ coach Lane Kiffin spoke with the media to discuss preparing his team for the Aggies after a loss and hitting the road to Kyle Field.

“Their crowd is always one of the hardest places to play in the country,” Kiffin said. “I’m sure they’ll come prepared to get back on the winning track. It’s going to be a big challenge.”

Michaela Rush, Editor-in-Chief

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AROUND THE SEC

By Luke White @lukewhite03

No. 19 Kentucky at No. 3 Tennessee

Saturday,

Volunteers’ coach Josh Heupel has the Tennessee train rolling in Knoxville, Tenn., and it doesn’t look like there are any signs of stopping. The Volunteers are off to a 7-0 start, highlighted by a thrilling 52-49 win over Alabama on Oct. 15, led by redshirt senior quarterback and Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker. The Virginia Tech transfer has racked up 18 touchdowns and 2,093 passing yards this season, good for second-most in the SEC. His top receiver, junior Jalin Hyatt, leads the country in receiving touchdowns with 12, and his 769 receiving yards lead the conference, too. Tennessee’s powerful passing game should create an interesting matchup against the Wildcats, who boast the No. 14 pass

defense in the nation, allowing just 178.3 yards per game. In fact, Kentucky’s defense as a whole ranks No. 14 in the country, allowing 5.04 yards per play and 295.4 yards per game. The Wildcats have allowed 24 points or fewer in 11 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the FBS. The defense will likely have to pick up the slack for the offense, which ranks third-to-last in the SEC despite being led by an NFL-caliber quarterback in senior Will Levis. While the Volunteers’ offense may be held at bay, Kentucky likely won’t be able to keep up on the scoreboard in a game that will serve as the appetizer to Tennessee’s date with No. 1 Georgia the following week.

No. 25 South Carolina

The state fair may have ended, but they’re still partying in Columbia – South Carolina, that is. Aside from determining geographical dominance, “The Battle of Columbia” will be a chance for the Gamecocks to grow their win streak to five games and cement a spot in the Top 25. Vibes are good among the South Carolina faithful after second-year head coach Shane Beamer and Co. led the team to wins over then-No. 13 Kentucky and Texas A&M, its first-ever

win over the Aggies, in the past two weeks. Missouri, however, needs every win it can get as it battles for bowl contention. Sitting at 3-4, the Tigers have upcoming conference matchups with Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Close games have been a theme of its season, though, as Mizzou’s past four games have been decided by an average of 4.25 points.

Baseball to face Bearkats

By Matthew Cobb @MatthewCobb_

On Sunday, Oct. 30, Texas A&M baseball will host the Sam Houston State Bearkats in an exhibition game at 1 p.m in Blue Bell Park.

A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle will try to build off of last season’s Omaha, Neb, run. Schlossnagle won a regional championship, super regional championship and appeared in the semifinals in his first year in Aggieland.

The Aggies lost key players this offseason, such as pitcher Micah Dallas and outfielder Dylan Rock to the MLB draft. Additionally, the Aggies lost their stud behind the plate, as catcher Troy Claunch signed with the Chicago White Sox as an undrafted free agent.

Schlossnagle does not plan to skip a beat this year, however, as the second-year coach brought in key contributors.

Pitcher Carson Lambert transferred from South California and will be pivotal for the Aggies’ rotation. Sophomore shortstop Hunter Haas transferred from Arizona State to join the Aggies and should improve the suspect A&M defense.

The roster appears ready to compete for a championship after the Aggies shocked the SEC with their run last summer. For this to

happen, however, the Aggies must play excellent baseball. It is tough to get to Omaha, but it is even tougher to get back.

Schlossnagle knows this and plans to get his crew ready to go this fall. There is no substitute for facing live pitching from another staff, and the Aggies will face off against the Bearkats’ best.

Sam Houston State finished with an overall record of 31-25, finishing 21-9 in conference play last season.

The Aggies rode for their red-hot bats in the 2022 tournament and will look to relight some of that fire on Friday. To do just that, the Aggies added another slugger this offseason in true freshman Jace LaViolette. LaViolette hit three home runs in an exhibition game against Lamar and looks primed to be an elite player at the college level.

Baseball fans should be ecstatic to see LaViolette in the lineup with veteran batters including senior Austin Bost and junior Trevor Werner. Pitchers will likely be rotated in, and elite talent will be on display in Olsen Field.

Sunday should be a glimpse of what’s to come this spring season for A&M baseball.

at No. 1 Georgia

The Gators and Bulldogs will duke it out in the 99th edition of the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” played at the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Georgia enters as one of six remaining undefeated teams in college football, and while this year’s squad hasn’t been as dominant as last season’s Bulldogs were, it is still arguably the top team in the land. While 2021 Georgia was anchored by its defense, the 2022 squad has been led by its offense, scoring 41.71 points per game, good for third in the conference. Senior quarterback Stetson Bennett’s 2,033 yards are the third-most in

the SEC, while sophomore Brock Bowers is one of the best tight ends in the game. Florida, on the other hand, is still looking to turn the corner as a program under first-year head coach Billy Napier. The Gators sit at 4-3 on the season but appear to be headed for a 6-6 or 7-5 year. Sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson is at the helm of an offense that ranks ninth in the conference with an average of 31.43 points per game, teaming up with sophomore running back Montrell Johnson Jr. as leaders of the scoring attack.

Arkansas at Auburn

Both Arkansas and Auburn enter Saturday’s game coming off a bye week, and the break likely couldn’t have come at a better time for the Tigers. Riding a three-game losing streak, head coach Bryan Harsin’s seat seemingly gets hotter and hotter with each passing week. At 3-4, his team must turn a corner now if they want to compete for a bowl berth. A win won’t be easy, though, as the Razorbacks, despite their deceptive 4-3 record, have plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Sophomore running back

Raheim “Rocket” Sanders leads the SEC in rushing yards with 870, while adding seven touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Defensively, junior linebacker Drew Sanders completes the “Sanders” tandem with a conference-leading seven sacks, while redshirt senior defensive lineman Jordan Domineck adds to one of the top pass rushes in the country with five sacks of his own.

Junior defensive back Dwight McGlothern leads Arkansas’ secondary with three interceptions, second-most in the SEC.

Prediction: Arkansas 38, Auburn 14

Georgia 35, Florida

Oct. 29

TIAA Bank Field — Jacksonville, Fla.

p.m. on CBS

Missouri

Williams-Brice Stadium

Columbia,

on

Network

Stadium

Auburn,

on

Network

Prediction:

like uber, but for longer distances.

No more missing home games

Aggies return to play Rebels at Kyle Field on Saturday

By Jordan Epp @j_epp22

Forty-two days will have passed between Texas A&M’s last football game in Kyle Field against the Miami Hurricanes and the Aggies’ next home game against the No. 15 Ole Miss Rebels. A month and a half is a long span to go without playing on your home field, and yet the rollercoaster ride A&M football has experienced over that span has felt like even longer.

“Playing on the road is hard, you know, especially when you do it continuous weeks in a row,” senior tight end Max Wright said. “It definitely takes a toll. That feeling of being able to just prep for playing in Kyle Field all week and then just getting to be at home and playing in front of the fans is huge. Six weeks without being able to do that? That’s the longest I’ve ever gone without playing in Kyle Field.”

The Aggies have dropped three consecutive contests against SEC competition during this span that includes a bye week, losing in Starkville, Miss., Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Columbia, S.C.; furthermore, the consecutive top-15 wins the Aggies earned against Miami and Arkansas have looked less convincing as time passes. The two programs have combined for a record of 2-5 since playing A&M. Even in this situation, though, coach Jimbo Fisher believes the Aggies are right on the cusp of being able to put it together if they can put the mental mistakes behind them.

“Look at what we’re doing and the guys that we have,” Fisher said. “Look at the young players on this team, look at the young talent we have, look at the guys making

a lot of the plays … We’ve got a good nucleus of what we’re doing, [and] we’re only a play off in all those games.”

Currently sporting a record of 3-4, the Aggies sit in fifth place in the SEC West, tied alongside Arkansas and Auburn with a 1-3 record in conference play. As a result, A&M approaches a reality that it hasn’t faced since 2008: the risk of not making a bowl game.

While there are plenty of reasons for optimism and pessimism toward A&M football, there’s no denying that the team is headed in the wrong direction as the unit takes a mid-season slide that could cost the Aggies their postseason. With five games to go in the 2022 season, A&M is in a sudden race to earn three more wins for postseason eligibility, starting back home against Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 29.

The history between these

two programs has been unpredictable and surprisingly even. Since joining the SEC, the Aggies lead the series by a margin of 5-4. The home team has only ever won in three of the nine games, and the Rebels have narrowly outscored the Aggies 246-234.

This season may be less even, though, as the Aggies enter with a sub-.500 record and the Rebels with a 7-1 record, dropping their first game of the season last week to the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, La. Despite this, as evidenced by the teams’ past contests, this game will not be an easy win for either side.

“We’re getting ready to go play probably one of the topfive rosters in America,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “[A&M’s] guys are ultra-talented, and we’re going to play in one of the top-five hardest places to play. That’s a combination, obviously, that makes you have to do a lot of things

Final fall softball faceoff

By Cade Harris @cadeharris_

Texas A&M softball concludes its fall exhibition slate Friday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m. against Texas State at the Bobcat Softball Stadium in San Marcos.

This will be the third fall exhibition for the Aggies this year and last chance to show how they fare against competition other than themselves before the spring season. A&M defeated McClennan and Houston in its previous fall games by scores of 13-5 and 10-1, respectively.

A&M has been led offensively this fall by junior third baseman Trinity Cannon who homered in each game. Freshman first baseman and College Station native Aiyana Coleman has also been strong for the Aggies this fall with a homerun against Houston and four RBIs in total. The maroon and white have scored 23 total runs in their two fall exhibitions.

In the circle, the Aggies have only given up six runs in 17 innings. Senior pitcher Shaylee Ackerman got the start versus McClennan and sophomore pitcher Emily Leavitt started in the circle against Houston.

The Bobcats are coming off a solid season in which they finished third in the Sun Belt regular season standings and a win shy of winning the Sun Belt tournament and qualifying for a regional. Texas State has played seven games this fall and will conclude its fall slate on Friday as well.

During the 2022 spring season, A&M defeated Texas State 4-1 at Davis Diamond in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, March 9.

Although this game will end the fall exhibition slate for the Aggies, they will be back at Davis Diamond Friday, Nov. 4, for their Maroon & White Game.

For more information regarding Aggie Softball including the roster and 2023 schedule, visit 12thMan.com.

right in order to have a chance to win.”

Regardless of the obvious amount of talent the Aggies have, they are now in a position where they must be preoccupied with the prospect of reaching the postseason. The Rebels’ postseason sights are set higher, as they are tied with the Alabama Crimson Tide for the best overall record in the conference.

Ole Miss didn’t start the season with seven straight wins off the back of one side of the football; rather, the team is well-balanced on offense and defense. The Rebels’ offense averages 38 points per game, a mark that has yet to be eclipsed by A&M in a single game this season. Ole Miss’ offense will test the Aggies’ rushing defense as the Rebels aim to attack their opponents on the ground. Averaging 252.1 rushing yards per game, the Rebels have the best rushing offense in the SEC and the

third-best rushing offense in the nation.

Freshman running back Quinshon Judkins has emerged as one of the nation’s best young running backs, impressing to the extent that he is outperforming teammate junior running back Zach Evans, a former A&M recruiting target and the No. 2 running back prospect in the Class of 2020. Evans was limited in the team’s loss to LSU with an injury, but he may be healthy for the game in Kyle Field.

Ole Miss has also been a stout team defensively, allowing only 20.8 points per game. The strength of the team is the pass rush, earning 23 sacks in eight games, the best in the SEC and 14th best in the nation. Ten different Rebels have a sack, none more than junior defensive lineman Jared Ivey with 4.5.

As well, the Rebels play an aggressive style of defense that aims to create turnovers. This

has resulted in Ole Miss forcing and recovering seven fumbles and intercepting six passes. Their combined 13 turnovers forced are tied for second in the SEC. On the other end, the Aggies have been prone to turnovers offensively, losing five fumbles and throwing six interceptions.

A&M’s defense has continued to be its strongest side. The offense has not yet found its footing this season. Junior running back Devon Achane is the focal point of the offense and has 781 total yards and five total touchdowns on the season.

The passing attack has been inconsistent and unpredictable as the Aggies have played three quarterbacks this year. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Haynes King seemed to suffer an injury late against South Carolina that put freshman and former five-star quarterback Conner Weigman in the game. Weigman almost led an A&M comeback but fell short, but not before adding further fuel into the ever-burning furnace that is A&M’s 2022 quarterback battle. Another struggle has been the injuries that have plagued A&M’s offense this season, losing senior wide receiver Ainias Smith for the season as well as a trio of offensive linemen.

“I’m very confident that this team hasn’t checked out,” Wright said. “I think that as frustrating as the start of the season has been, there’s still a lot of ball left to play. There’s still a lot of great things that can happen in the rest of the season that can still help us finish out this year really strong.”

A&M has its back against the wall, and the season is rapidly winding down. Distractions like suspended freshmen don’t help A&M’s prospects moving forward as the team continues to feel like it takes two steps backward for each step forward, but a win over Ole Miss would be a huge step forward for a program looking to make a statement.

It’s like ube r, but

o r lo nger dist a

The Aggies take the field before the start of Texas A&M’s game against Sam Houston on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION

Junior P/OF Grace Uribe (8) gets a hit during the bottom of the second inning at Davis Diamond on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.

Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION