The Battalion - November 5, 2020 by The Battalion

PATH TO 270

BIDEN

253

214

TRUMP

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR All of the facts and figures in The Battalion’s election content were collected as of 12 a.m. on Nov. 5. Several races have yet to be called and updated information will be available online at thebatt.com.

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John Cornyn defeated Mary “MJ” Hegar in Texas’ U.S. Senate race.

John Cornyn wins fourth Senate term Incumbent Cornyn defeats MJ Hegar by almost 10 percent By Brady Stone @bradystonex

via White House Photostream

It is unknown at this time whether President Donald Trump will be waving hello to a second term or goodbye to the White House.

Results of 2020 presidential election remain unknown as ballots continue to be counted in several battleground states

Texas Democrats’ hope of a blue Texas was snuffed out Wednesday evening as top-of-the-ballot Democrats failed to flip the state in their favor. Coming off of Beto O’Rourke’s narrow loss to Ted Cruz in 2018, Democrats had hoped Mary “MJ” Hegar could unseat incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the U.S. Senate race. Cornyn, 68, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and will enter his fourth term with almost 54 percent of all votes against Hegar. Texas U.S. Senate Race

By Julia Potts @juliaapotts

John Cornyn, REP: 5,933,782 (53.6%)

Mary “MJ” Hegar, DEM: 4,840,866 (43.7%)

fter more than 100 million voters cast early ballots nationwide, the 2020 presidential election is nearing its end during one of the most turbulent election years in

history. According to the Washington Post, the trend of thousands of positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed each day have not stopped since the election began. Despite this, the CDC permitted voters who have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19 to vote in person, with precautions. “CDC’s recommendations for isolating someone who has COVID-19 or quarantining someone who was in close contact with a person with COVID-19 would not preclude them from exercising their right to vote,” the

Source: The Associated Press Graphic by Gabrielle Shreve — THE BATTALION

CDC said in an email to CNN. On Tuesday afternoon, preliminary exit polls from ABC News showed that a plurality of voters said the economy was the most important issue in the country, not COVID-19. Among those topics surveyed in the exit polls for the most pressing issues, the top three were

34 percent for economy, 21 percent for racial inequality and 18 percent for COVID-19. Brazos County results show President Trump with over a 10 percent vote lead as of Tuesday night after polls closed. While Trump PATH TO 270 ON PG. 2

Cornyn had a strong turnout in Brazos County after a late campaign visit to the Bush Library on Oct. 29. He secured 58.67 percent of Brazos County’s votes and held Hegar to 38 percent. Hegar conceded the race to Cornyn Tuesday shortly before 9 p.m. in a Twitter post. “I’m so proud and incredibly grateful for all of your support,” Hegar said. “Together, we’ve worked so hard, and overcome so much, shattering expectations along the way. We’ve built a powerful grassroots movement from the ground up, and I know our fight here in Texas U.S. SENATOR ON PG. 2

Local election results pour in for Brazos County College Station City Council sees one race head to recount, one to runoff By Myranda Campanella @MCampanella_ Final results for the Brazos County local elections came in late Tuesday evening after polls officially closed at 7 p.m. According to the College Station city blog, results are not yet official as the election commission still has to count absentee, military and provisional ballots. Mail-in ballots determined to be qualified will be counted after 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 10. These mail-in ballots will be particularly pertinent in determining the winner of College Station City Council Place 1 which, as of Tuesday evening, was in favor of incumbent Bob Brick (50.01%), a research specialist at the

Texas A&M Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, ahead of Jason Cornelius (49.99%) by a mere six votes. If elected, Cornelius would be the first African American to serve on the city’s council. City Council Place 5 candidates Craig Regan (37.4%) and incumbent John Nichols (45.7%) will advance to a runoff election, as neither candidate received the 50 percent plus one vote majority required on Election Day. College Station City Secretary Tanya Smith said the council will consider adopting an ordinance calling for a runoff election to occur on Tuesday, Dec. 15. If the ordinance is adopted, early voting will run from Nov. 30 through Dec. 11, excluding weekends. Regan and Nichols will advance ahead of third candidate Brian Alg (16.9%). In the meantime, Nichols will continue to serve in LOCAL ELECTIONS ON PG. 2

Kaylee Cogbill — THE BATTALION

Brazos County results are not yet official with the election commission still needing to count absentee, military and provisional ballots.

blinnbound@blinn.edu www.blinn.edu Winter Minimester starts Dec.12 and the Spring semester starts Jan.19.

NEWS

The Battalion | 11.5.20

Graphic by Gabrielle Shreve — THE BATTALION

At time of publication, Republicans and Democrats are tied with 47 seats each in the Senate and Democrats have an 11 seat majority in the House of Representatives.

PATH TO 270 CONTINUED won Texas’ 38 electoral votes, it was by a much smaller margin. “Trump’s Texas margin over Biden — which Decision Desk HQ showed as 52.2 percent to 46.4 percent early Wednesday — marks the second-closest statewide race for the White House in the last quarter century,” a Texas Tribune article stated. Trump announced he would receive a few hundred visitors at the White House for a celebration party in the event of his election. On the evening of Election Day, he gave a speech to supporters in which he stated that he had already won the election. “This is an embarrassment to our country,” Trump said in his speech. “We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election. So our goal now is to ensure

the integrity for the good of this nation. This is a very big moment. This is a major fraud in our nation.” Hours before Trump, Biden gave his own speech Tuesday, encouraging viewers to be patient while the votes are being counted. He also expressed confidence that the turnout of this election will be in his favor. “We knew this was going to go long, but who knew we’re going to go into maybe tomorrow morning, maybe even longer,” Biden said. “But look, we feel good about where we are. We really do. I’m here to tell you tonight, we believe we’re on track to win this election.” The national election results carried on into Wednesday morning, as votes were still being counted in several states. At time of publication, candidates continue fighting for the lead as votes from states like Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Nevada and Georgia are still being

counted. While some experts estimate that the final votes will be counted by Wednesday afternoon, both candidates have yet to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. “The fate of the United States presidency is hanging in the balance, with Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, battling for three familiar battleground states — Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — that could prove crucial in determining who wins the White House,” an AP News article read. While Biden has the highest number of electoral votes so far, with 253 according to AP News, the Trump campaign has already announced they will request a recount in Wisconsin, a state Trump won in 2016, after votes for Biden pulled ahead. On Wednesday evening, Trump filed lawsuits against Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia to stop voting counts. It was an-

PLACE 3

nounced by the New York Times later that afternoon that Biden was the projected winner of Michigan’s 16 electoral votes. The House of Representatives and Senate results are likewise still being counted. As of noon on Wednesday, Republicans have a one vote lead in the Senate, and Democrats have a 10 vote lead in the House. The New York Times announced Wednesday afternoon that Biden was the projected winner of Michigan’s 16 electoral votes. Later that evening, the Trump Administration filed lawsuits in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia to contest voting counts, according to AP news. The House of Representatives and Senate results are likewise still being determined. As of 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Republicans and Democrats are tied in the Senate, and Democrats have a 11 seat majority in the House.

PLACE 4

PROVIDED

Graphic by Gabrielle Shreve — THE BATTALION

U.S. SENATOR CONTINUED is far from over.” Hegar, a 44-year-old Air Force veteran and mother of two, overcame a tough primary challenge against a large Democratic field of 10 candidates to make it to the Nov. 3 general election. In a virtual speech, Cornyn declared victory over Hegar and fielded questions from reporters via Zoom. “I’m so happy to share this moment with my wife Sandy, who has been by my side since I ran for District Judge in San Antonio a long time ago,” Cornyn said. “I want to thank every Texan across our great state who cast their ballot; this is a historic election for so many reasons. Whether I earned your vote, or whether you were pulling for my opponent, I’m honored and committed to serving and representing all Texans.” When asked by a reporter how important it was for him to create a brand that was separate from President Donald Trump’s, Cornyn

praised the work he and the president have done together. “While people are focused on the different personalities, I’m proud to work with this president,” Cornyn said. “When I disagree with him, as you’ve heard, I prefer to do that in private. He’s accessible, he listens and I have been able to move the needle with him and sometimes get him to see things my way.” In closing out his interview, Cornyn said reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats is something that must be done to solve difficult issues. “I get the greatest satisfaction in solving problems that other people have not yet been able to solve,” Cornyn said. “The only way to do that is true bipartisan effort. It takes time and it takes trust — something that has been in short supply in Washington D.C. “I am a proud conservative, a proud Texas conservative. I will work with anybody who is willing to join arms with me and join causes with me to be able to make some progress where progress is possible.”

Linda Harvell and Elizabeth Cunha were elected to College Station City Council on Nov. 3 to Place 3 and 4, respectively. The race for College Station City Council Place 1 is entering a recount and the race for Place 5 is entering a runoff.

LOCAL ELECTIONS CONTINUED the position, according to the city blog. “I am optimistic about my record and the opportunity I have to continue to serve the city of College Station,” Nichols told The Eagle. According to an article in The Eagle, Elizabeth Cunha’s (57.9%) election to Place 4 ends a year-long race that began last November when former councilwoman Elianor Vessali (Rep.) resigned to campaign for the U.S. Congressional District 17 seat. “I am grateful that campaigning is behind me so the serving can start,” Cunha told The Eagle. College Station City Council Place 3 winner Linda Harvell (59.7%) told The Eagle that the city needs to focus on recovering from COVID-19 first and foremost, which starts by instigating dialogue between the council and citizens. “I am very much an advocate of reaching

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out to our community,” Harvell told The Eagle. “We need to hear what they say; we need to have some good dialogue. I think that is important as we move forward.” Down the ballot, Republicans claimed victory in every contested race. The Republican candidates for County Sheriff, County Attorney and Precinct 2 County Commissioner all won with over 60 percent of the vote. All seven of the Bryan city charter amendments on the ballot were passed, according to the City of Bryan’s website. These propositions were for the ability to reject bids, council term lengths, annexation law compliance, broadband internet, council election requirements, fixing a typographical error and private waste haulers. College Station election results canvassing will occur during the City Council’s Nov. 12 meeting, and the newly elected council members representing Places 1, 3 and 4 will be sworn-in.

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The Battalion | 11.5.20

Getting ready for the Gamecocks

Paul Burke — THE BATTALION

Senior quarterback Kellen Mond had 260 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Aggies hoping to keep calm under pressure, defend six-year win streak By Meghan Sharber @meghan_olivia02 After being undefeated against South Carolina since 2014, No. 7 Texas A&M prepares to continue its streak on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Aggies enter this matchup with a 4-1 record after defeating Arkansas 42-31 on Oct. 31, while the Gamecocks sit at 2-3. Coming into the Aggies’ third away game of the season, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said there are certain qualities that make a good road team. “I think being on the road, you’ve got to understand that you’re going into a hostile environment,” Fisher said. “Everybody there except for the Aggies that are allowed to get tickets are not going to be for you. So, you do have to have a chip on your shoulder. You’ve got to expect hostility. You’ve got to be able to stand by yourself and stand with

your brothers on the team, and it becomes a mentality like that, which hopefully you have at home too.” Last season, the Aggies dominated the Gamecocks 30-6 in Kyle Field. Senior quarterback Kellen Mond threw for 221 yards and sophomore running back Isaiah Spiller rushed for 129 yards. This season, South Carolina senior quarterback Collin Hill leads the Gamecocks with 1,076 passing yards and five touchdowns, but has been sacked 16 times. Meanwhile, the Aggies have accumulated 14 sacks this season. A&M junior defensive end Tyree Johnson said the Aggies have improved defensively this season. Senior linebacker Buddy Johnson leads the team with 54 tackles and senior Micheal Clemons leads with four sacks. “We really sat down and the whole summer we worked,” Johnson said. “All we did was talk pass rush, sacks and what could happen on Saturdays. What you reap is what you sow. If you work hard, you get what you want.” Fisher said South Carolina plays well at

home with the support of a strong coaching staff, and night games in Columbia may be tough for the Aggies. “Will [Muschamp]’s a heck of a football coach,” Fisher said. “Mike Bobo, I’ve known him a long time. Very good football coach. They’ve got really good players. Both corners are ones projected to be first rounders, one preseason, the other one this season. So very good there. They’ve got rush guys up front, 52 and those guys can rush. The backers, 53 and those guys, make a ton of plays. Five, six up front, those guys are strong.” Fisher said the Gamecocks’ running backs can move the football well. Sophomore Kevin Harris leads the team with 535 rushing yards and sophomore Deshaun Fenwick follows with 208 rushing yards. Harris also leads the team with eight touchdowns in five games. “The young back 20 is really doing a great job for them in my opinion,” Fisher said. “Physical. Quarterback’s doing a good job there. Of course, Smith had a big play on us last year. He’s a really good receiver. Tight

ends are good. They’ll have a good scheme.” Senior offensive lineman Carson Green said due to COVID-19, road games are not as loud as usual which allows the team to remain relaxed. “South Carolina, from what I remember, it is a great place to play,” Green said. “They have ‘Enter Sandman’ playing and the bird cawing every third down. For us this year as an O-Line we are trying to make an emphasis on being really calm. If we mess something up, we cannot be panicking.” This week, Green was recognized as the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, pointing toward him to lead the offense in the upcoming game. “I wish everyone was recognized because I think for one of us to do good, everyone around you has to be doing good too,” Green said. A&M will face the Gamecocks on Nov. 7 at Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN.

Mond finds his mojo A&M faithful in quarterback after Mond breaks records By Jennifer Streeter @JennyStreeter3 During Texas A&M and Arkansas’ first matchup at Kyle Field since 2012, senior quarterback Kellen Mond added another impressive performance to his fourth season with the Aggies. With 260 passing yards, the signal caller became A&M’s new all-time leader in total career yards with a 15yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Jalen Wydermyer in the third quarter. He now has accumulated 10,015 yards of total offense during his four years in Aggieland. The record was previously held by the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel, with 9,989 total career yards. A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said he has

always had the utmost faith in Mond’s abilities. “I know what he can do [and] how he can do it,” Fisher said. “I’ve always believed in him and always felt very good about him. He keeps growing every week, and he keeps playing better.” In the Halloween game, Mond accounted for three passing touchdowns to help A&M earn its ninth consecutive victory over the Razorbacks, 42-31. Before the matchup with the Razorbacks, the signal caller had 46 total rushing yards for the season thus far. Against Arkansas, Mond was almost able to double that number with 32 rushing yards. Sophomore running back Ainias Smith said he is proud of Mond and his accomplishment. “Kellen has definitely been playing very well,” Smith said. “I’m liking the way he [has] stepped up as a leader this season and just his poise and how relaxed he is. He’s very confident in

himself, and he’s confident in the confidence he has in us.” Mond said he spent the offseason evaluating himself and his play, which has allowed him to be successful this year. “Being able to look yourself in the mirror and being able to continue to grow, that’s part of everyone’s growth,” Mond said. In addition to the record he broke against the Razorbacks, Mond also recently became A&M’s all-time passing leader during the third game of the season against Florida. He currently holds A&M’s all-time passing record with 8,623 passing yards. Mond said he is looking to continue developing as a player. “For me, I think I still have a lot more work to do,” Mond said. “I think my growth is nowhere it can be. By the end of the season I want to continue to grow.”

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5 things to watch for during A&M-South Carolina

Junior defensive back Devin Morris totaled four tackles against Arkansas on Oct. 31. Paul Burke — THE BATTALION

By Emily Wedemeyer @emilynwed

1 3

Texas A&M’s 42-31 win over Arkansas last week marked the team’s ninth consecutive victory over the Razorbacks. This week, the seventh-ranked Aggies hope to keep their six-year winning streak alive against

Mond making his mark

This season, senior quarterback Kellen Mond is rewriting A&M’s history books by breaking multiple school records. The play caller surpassed 10,000 yards of total offense in last week’s game and became A&M’s career total offensive yardage leader, formerly held by 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. Now midway through the season, Mond has accumulated 10,015 total career yards, 1,244 of which are from this season with 12 passing touchdowns With at least five games remaining this season, Mond has several more records within reach.

South Carolina strengths and struggles

South Carolina sophomore running back Kevin Harris leads the Gamecocks with 535 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season and is ranked 18th nationally in rushing yards. Harris is a viable weapon that has helped South Carolina accumulate over 400 total yards each game, but the offensive line has allowed 16 sacks this season. The Gamecocks’ offensive line must have a much-improved performance in order to protect quarterback Collin Hill from A&M’s dominant defensive line, which has claimed 14 sacks for a total loss of 93 yards this season.

their cross-division rival South Carolina. Here are five things to watch for as A&M travels to Columbia to face the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Third down success

A&M currently holds the highest third down conversion percentage in the NCAA with 58.7 percent. While the ability to convert starts with strong protection from the offensive line, a quarterback’s accuracy and reliability are also influential factors — Mond is currently completing 64 percent of his passes. Additionally, having the option to move the chains either on the ground or through the air is a huge advantage because it creates diversity in play-calling and allows success in those critical downs.

Maroon Goons

A&M’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in four straight games and leads the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss. Consequently, senior right guard Carson Green was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week following the Aggies’ win over Arkansas. The seasoned veterans that make up the offensive line have evolved into a cohesive unit and are a testament to A&M coach Jimbo Fisher’s declaration that there is no substitute for experience. The offensive line deserves credit for allowing the Aggies to average 464 offensive yards per game due to its unwavering commitment to blocking up front and battling in the trenches.

New offensive tools

A&M fans were eager to see junior wide receiver Hezekiah Jones take the field last week for the first time since 2018 after suffering a ruptured achilles during 2019 fall camp. Jones accumulated 47 yards on five receptions against the Razorbacks and demonstrated his longtime chemistry with quarterback Kellen Mond. A&M’s freshman running back Devon Achane recently made his collegiate debut and has recorded 59 yards and one touchdown. Jones and Achane are valuable offensive tools that provide additional depth in A&M’s offense and could emerge as leaders as the season progresses.

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AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE IN WEEK 7

By Ryne Ryskoski

Last week , SEC football didn’t see any Halloween surprises. No ranked teams lost, and four of the six home teams won. Looking toward this weekend, the schedule only features four SEC games, but involves one of the

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most important matchups of the season in an SEC East battle between a pair of AP Top-10 teams.

No. 8 Florida (3-1) at No. 5 Georgia (4-1)

Tennessee (2-3) at Arkansas (2-3)

Saturday, Nov. 7 – Sanford Stadium – Athens, Ga. 3:30 p.m. on CBS

Saturday, Nov. 7 – Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville, Ar. 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network

This afternoon’s CBS matchup has big implications for the SEC East standings. Anything can happen in college football, but after this weekend, neither team, as of now, is scheduled to face another ranked opponent. It’s very likely the winner of Florida vs. Georgia will play in the SEC Championship as they sit at second and first in the East, respectively. Florida’s strength is its offense, led by its dynamic Kyle duo in senior quarterback Kyle Trask and junior tight end Kyle Pitts. Georgia is a bit more balanced but certainly has a more consistent and intimidating defense. Trask holds the SEC’s second-best quarterback rating at 189 and is tied with Matt Corral for most passing touchdowns in the conference with 18. Georgia’s defense currently ranks 13th in

the country in yards per game, 11th in yards per play and fourth in touchdowns allowed among teams who have played at least five games. The offense, on the other hand, ranks sixth in the SEC in points per game and 10th in passing yards per game. However, the Bulldogs do have a potent rushing attack that ranks third in the conference in terms of rushing yards per game with 175. Overall, Georgia appears to be the more cohesive team on paper and has a clear defensive advantage over Florida, whose defense gives up an average of almost 30 points per game. This game will ultimately come down to which defense can make a few crucial stops, and the evidence supports that Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs can do just that.

Tennessee is coming off of a bye week following a three-game losing streak to Georgia, Kentucky and Alabama. The Volunteers started the season 2-0 with wins against South Carolina and Missouri, but have struggled as they’ve faced stiffer competition. Over their last three contests, they’ve allowed an average of 42 points a game while only scoring an average of 15 points. They’re 24 percent on third-down conversions, have had 24 penalties and have also lost the time of possession battle in all three losses. The volunteers have also averaged only 267 total yards per game in that time. They managed to score just seven points against Kentucky as quarterback Jar-

rett Guarantano threw two pick-sixes. For Arkansas, since losing to Georgia on opening weekend, the Razorbacks have gone 2-2, but they’ve been a lot more competitive this season with new head coach Sam Pittman, Florida quarterback transfer Feleipe Franks and the emergence of sophomore receiver Treylon Burks. Arkansas will host the Volunteers, and in its last home game against Ole Miss, a 33-21 win, Burks hauled in 11 balls for 137 yards and a touchdown while the defense forced a stunning seven turnovers. That likely won’t happen again, but Arkansas is the overall better team, has more consistent quarterback play and the coaching advantage in this one. Prediction: Arkansas 24, Tennessee 21

Prediction: Georgia 30, Florida 27

WEEK 7: STAFF PICKS A&M vs. South Carolina Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. on ESPN

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On Election Day, about 50 people associated with pro-Trump, pro-Biden and anti-abortion groups gathered in Rudder Plaza to speak about political issues and current events.

‘I can feel the tension on campus’ Students await presidential election winner amid vote counting delays By Bec Morris @BecWrote With presidential candidates Joe Biden and President Donald Trump currently claiming 253 and 214 electoral votes respectively, the nation is anxiously awaiting the remaining 71 electoral votes to determine the fate of the next four years. Students are among those holding their breath as the final points are tallied, with thousands of absentee ballots going through the hand-counting process. However, computer science junior Ryan Jones said this delay caused by late counting of votes might lead to an inaccurate decision. “The issue currently I see is that with this delay, we have a debate between security and risking voices,” Jones said. “This is always a tricky situation, but unfortunately one that security generally wins. The risk with every risk is so drastic security-side [that] if we don’t

try to handle it, the entire election could be decided by misinformation. I do feel bad for those left out, but I’d rather the election miss two votes than count 100 wrongly.” Jones, who works in cybersecurity on campus, said he wants all voices to be heard, but wants this pivotal election to stay beyond doubt. “In my line of work, we typically see the government is really only better than the free market at war, and even then, only in terms of manpower,” Jones said. “As for personally, I am very much a fan of doing my own thing, and thus prefer to stay out of others’ things. So if it isn’t clear enough, I want things fair and open so everyone has a chance to do what they want or need to.” Another student, business administration freshman Elias Will, said the delay is to be expected due to the number of mail-in ballots this year, which is no cause for concern. “I personally am not worried about delays considering that this is the most mail-in ballots we’ve ever had, which takes more time to count,” Will said. What does concern Will is the future of

America’s economic prosperity, which he said will vary depending on which candidate makes it into the White House. “As for what happens to our economy, it depends on who wins,” Will said. “If Trump wins I think our economy will continue to make its way back to looking somewhat of what it was before the virus [COVID-19] with him slowly opening things back up. If Biden is elected, however, I think our economy will start to decline as he plans to be more strict on what and when businesses are open.” No matter the outcome, businesses around the country are preparing for potential violence and vandalism after results are announced. “Along with that, the partisan divide is becoming a totem burning match,” Jones said. “At this point, I doubt either side actually gets what the other is thinking or trying to debate.” Students like economics sophomore Debra Wawi said they feel great anxiety while waiting for results. “It’s honestly incredibly nerve-wracking, and I’ve had to distract myself from refreshing

the results because I know it won’t do me any good,” Wawi said. “I can feel the tension on campus because we are so divided, and it is obvious. We have a current leader who incites division, violence and bigotry through his words and actions, and I am praying for a change. I want people to be kinder and more understanding, but there is just so much hatred right now.” This election is Wawi’s first in the United States after moving from Qatar, and she said the division is palpable. As people with world experience, Wawi said she and her family appreciate democracy but fear for the outcome of this particular election. “I keep asking my parents if the energy or vibe of this election is similar to others and they tell me it’s never been this bad,” Wawi said. “My mom is Venezuelan and my dad is Lebanese so they know what it’s like to live in countries without established democracies, and so they value the ability to vote here. It’s been hard because they hear the rhetoric of our current president and worry about his desire for power and control.”

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The Battalion | 11.5.20

OPINION

Creative Commons

Columnist Sam Somogye says Main St. is a representation of local businesses while Wall St. represents the elite.

Wall St. and Main St. are two very different things Columnist Sam Somogye says we need to realize the stock market is not always an accurate representation of the country’s overall economy Sam Somogye

“

@samsomogye

The stock market hit an all time high today.” That statement is one which fills investors all over the country with joy. It even sent the president into a Twitter frenzy, who made sure all of his followers knew the stock market was doing well. However, there is a little secret many people either do not know or simply neglect when tracking the stock market. The secret is that the stock market is not an indicator of the economy’s overall well-being. To understand the differences between Wall St. and Main St., we first must define what they are. Main St. is a concept that is a micro-representation of the country’s entire economy. Don’t let the term “micro” fool you, though. While it may be a small scale representation, it has huge implications for every day Americans. Main St. represents small local businesses and small independent firms. Wall St., on the other hand, is a symbol of the elite. It is composed of large investment firms and high dollar players, while Main St. is filled with mom and pop shops. The most obvious example of the stock market not representing the coun-

try’s economic strength can be seen by examining how it fared during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, the unemployment rate hit an all time high of 14.7 percent. Consumer spending also plummeted during that month. Businesses all across the country were shutting down, and people who lived paycheck to paycheck were faced with harsh realities, like figuring out how they were going to pay their mortgage or buy groceries. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq had an uptick of six percent, the S&P 500 rose over three percent, and the Dow Jones wasn’t far behind with an advance of 608 points. These notable gains in the markets are significant with or without a global pandemic. The high unemployment rate matched with growing market numbers is a perfect example of the reality that the markets don’t always care how the rest of the economy is doing. Many people are using the stock market gains to predict a v-shaped recovery for the rest of the economy. There could be some truth to this prediction. The current unemployment rate is just under eight percent. Yes, that is a stark difference compared to the unemployment rate in April. However, it is a slow recovery. The stock market does not seem to care about the pace of the rest of the economy’s recovery since numbers in the

markets are continuing to show promise. Overall, the progress on Wall St. is not in sync with the rest of the country, where real Americans are continuing to feel the pain every single day. The federal government also plays a role in all of this. Ugh — when does the government not play a role in anything? Anyway, the Federal Reserve, an independent government organization, has been a dear friend of Wall St. throughout the pandemic. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has had a fast-handed approach throughout the country’s financial crisis. With Powell’s leadership, the Fed inserted $3 trillion to sustain the markets. A large portion of that money was dedicated to boost the corporate bond markets — a saving grace for Wall St. investors. On the other hand, everyday Americans are much more reliant on another institution that generates loathsome feelings for many Americans: The United States Congress. Congress managed to get one stimulus package passed months ago (or what feels like years ago): the CARES Act. With that legislation came direct payments of $1,200, $250 billion for extended unemployment benefits and $350 billion in small business relief loans, just to name the highlights. These are all things that helped the Main St. part of the economy. But as everyone knows, nothing

via White House Photostream

Justice Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in at the White House on Oct. 26, 2020.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett is a threat to the working class Columnist Caleb Powell says Barrett’s record should worry middle and working class Americans. Caleb Powell

@calebpowell23

ver since Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court, liberals everywhere have clutched their pearls and rushed to decry Justice Barrett’s record. Many Democrats are worried about Barrett’s influence on election cases, abortion rights and Trump’s taxes. Barrett’s danger, however, lies in her record regarding workers’ rights. Over 70 percent of Americans identify as middle or working class. Regardless of political affiliation, we should all be concerned about Barrett’s future votes. Barrett has historically sided against workers as a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In Webb v. Financial Industry Regulation Authority,

FINRA, the plaintiffs sought FINRA’s arbitration for being wrongfully fired. However, the plaintiffs contended FINRA didn’t “properly train arbiters,” were guilty of “interfering with the arbiters’ discretion” and failed to allow arbiters to collect evidence. Because the parties resided in different states, both the plaintiffs and FINRA agreed to take the case to federal court. However, Barrett sided with the majority and claimed the court had no jurisdiction, even with the parties originating from different states. Justice Ripple dissented, ripping the majority for ignoring “established law of the circuit and tells future district courts to ignore” the same precedents. Essentially, Barrett ignored legal precedent that said the court had to hear the parties’ arguments. Such blatant disregard for precedent should concern all working class citizens. The Supreme Court is

built on following prior rulings’ precedents, and Barrett seems unlikely to care about injustice facing workers. Moreover, Barrett has undermined federal protections for defrauded consumers. In Federal Trade Commission v. Credit Bureau Center, the CBC offered “free” credit evaluations to consumers, but also enrolled them in a monthly monitoring service. The CBC did so without the consumers’ consent and notified them after they were registered for the $29 per month service. The FTC noticed and took legal action to prevent the CBC from scamming consumers in the future and required them to pay $5 million in restitution. Americans are no strangers to big corporations scamming them (I’m looking at you, Wells Fargo). The FTC exists to prevent companies from harming the American people. Yet Barrett still sided with the CBC and the majority of the

good lasts forever. These funds were only a bandaid to cover a gaping wound. Money ran out and people continue to suffer. Congress, to the disbelief of many people, went quiet. A divided Congress with the House controlled by the Democrats and Senate controlled by Republicans left everyday Americans wondering: Where the hell are y’all now? Since the first relief package was passed, there has been no legislation to help everyday Americans, and it doesn’t look hopeful that a second relief package will be passed anytime soon. Wall St. can survive without Congress since they have institutions like the Federal Reserve filled with unelected bureaucrats calling the shots. For everyday Americans, that is not the case. Just because you wake up to your Robinhood account notifying you that your Snapchat share is up 320 percent doesn’t mean your local coffee shop isn’t suffering from the economic sanctions of this pandemic. Moving forward, we all must remind ourselves that Wall St. and Main St. are definitely not the same. Sam Somogye is a political science senior and columnist for The Battalion.

Seventh Circuit panel. They argued the FTC could not seek restitution for the defrauded Americans because doing so “doesn’t sit comfortably with the text” of the FTC Act. Again, Barrett outright ignored the court’s prior precedent. In the dissent, Judge Wood outlined how the Seventh Circuit had upheld the FTC’s ability to provide restitution in previous cases. He further pointed to how eight other circuits recognized the FTC’s right to seek restitution. Barrett ignored these prior rulings and instead decided to prevent the FTC from returning $5 million of defrauded money to Americans’ pockets. Barrett’s record on protecting average Americans somehow gets worse. Her ruling in Casillas v. Madison Avenue Associates subverted protections for average Americans from debt collectors. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, debt collectors are required to notify consumers when they need to communicate with the company in writing to use their FDCPA rights. Madison did not notify Casillas of this policy, indicating a clear FDCPA violation. As one might assume, Barrett sided with the company breaking the law — again. She specifically stated Casillas did not show any injury and that Madison made “a bare procedural violation.” The same circumstances occurred prior in the Sixth Court, and they reached the opposite conclusion. To put Barrett’s decision into perspective, I can make a “bare speeding violation” by driving 50 in a 40, but the cop is still going to give me a ticket. That’s like a judge acknowledging I broke the law yet letting me off since the cop couldn’t show my illegal actions hurt anyone. Republicans may love Barrett for her stances on social issues like abortion, but her record on worker and consumer protections affects conservatives, too. Barrett has time and again shown disregard for how other circuits have ruled and how her own court’s precedent. If she continues this trend as a Supreme Court Justice, previous rulings are all but null and void. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do now but hope other justices side with middle and working class Americans. Caleb Powell is a biomedical engineering sophomore and columnist for The Battalion.

LIFE&ARTS

The Battalion | 11.5.20

Election turnout breaks national records

Angelina Alcantar — THE BATTALION

Voter turnout for the 2020 election could reach over 150 million voters, according to the U.S. Elections Project.

2020 election could bring in highest quantity of voters in US history By Jacob Gauthier @StoryweaverJRG Voters came out in historic numbers across the United States for the 2020 general election. In 2016, almost 139 million individuals cast a ballot, with around 9 million of those votes coming from Texas. This year, it’s possible that over 160 million individuals cast their ballot during the election period, according to the U.S. Elections Project. In Texas alone, early voting numbers surpassed the total voting turnout in the 2016 presidential election, according to The Texas Tribune. Assistant professor of political science Ben

Ogden said two factors determine whether people vote: how much they care about the election and the costs of voting. However, Odgen said voters of both parties have prioritized this election. “The distinctions between the two parties are starker than they’ve ever been,” Ogden said. “Regardless of which side you’re on, people, when asked, tend to state that this election is the most important election of their lifetime, or one of the most important elections in a long time.” Brittany Perry, instructional assistant professor of political science, said there are many factors contributing to why people feel this election is important. “Because of the pandemic, our attention was more focused on political issues, especially surrounding identity-based issues and racial justice, for example, over the summer,” Perry said. “These are very motivating events for

people that have lost their job or feel economic stress. Because there’s such a divide between the two parties … that’s what makes the stakes feel really high as well.” In most elections, voter turnout is not this high, and Perry said there are multiple reasons eligible voters might choose not to vote. “People generally don’t pay all that much attention to politics, and there is a lot on the ballot, usually,” Perry said. “There are a lot of steps depending on where you live to actually be eligible to vote and to cast your vote.” Ogden said individuals’ other priorities may also be a factor in low voter turnout. “Historically, you also would see low turnout because of the fact that people had other things that they needed to do,” Ogden said. “If you’re somebody who has to work multiple jobs to make ends meet or have no control over your own work schedule, it becomes a lot more difficult to find the time to vote.”

Among those who found time to vote were students like nutrition senior Logan LeGard, who said he voted due to his personal beliefs. “I voted because I believe in the equality of all people,” LeGard said. “I believe in science, and I want to protect the environment. I want to see a change and improvement in the police system. I believe that the wealthiest people in America should contribute more to taxes, and I believe in providing more healthcare to more people.” Telecommunication media studies freshman Dianne Word said she voted because she believes the U.S. needs a leader who will acknowledge current issues and work to solve them. “This is me participating and showing that I care about my country,” Word said. “I want the world to be a good place to live in, and this is the way to do it.”