The Battalion: April 7, 2017 by The Battalion

H O U S I N G 12 TIPS TO HAVING A FUN (AND SAFE) RING DUNK PAGE 2

G U I D E

I N S I D E

VIETNAM VET, AGGIE REMAINS RETURNED TO FAMILY PAGE 3

RING DAY COLUMNS PAGE 4

Rachel Grant — THE BATTALION

FULL CIRCLE

Series of accidents, crowdfunding lead to surprise Aggie Ring order

Leah Kappayil — THE BATTALION

Friends of English senior Lino Anunciacion raised money via GoFundMe after several events left him unable to pay for his Aggie Ring.

By Chevall Pryce @ChevallP

etween a broken down car, a burned down house and a sick grandmother, Lino Anunciacion felt like it would take a miracle for him to afford his Aggie Ring. Anunciacion, English senior and president of Mic Check, a non-profit poetry organization in Bryan, seemed to have one bad incident after another while saving money for his Aggie Ring. After the initial fear of having to give up on his piece of Aggie gold, friends and his Mic Check family swooped in to make sure Anunciacion wouldn’t leave Aggieland with a bare right ring finger. It began when Anunciacion reached 90 credit hours in the fall, the minimum requirement for students to order their Aggie Ring. “I had been saving money. At that point I had about $800. To save the money, over the summer I was working full time,” Anunciacion said. “Also, I’m a spoken word poet so I was touring around the country with a friend of mine doing shows and stuff to make money. Once we got off the road, my car broke down. The brakes literally fell off of my car.” Repairing his car cost Anunciacion most of the money he made while working, leaving him to strive toward getting his ring the next semester instead. After continuing his poetry tour, along with selling books he’d written, Anunciacion partially made the money back. But the hits kept coming. “I’m leaving the place that I’m staying in Austin and I back into a pole that’s in my blind spot. It breaks the sideview mirror completely off,” Anunciacion said. “My grandma had gotten sick and we needed to cover some stuff for her, so I gave my mom some money, about $200. So essentially all of the tour money was gone again. But I still had another leg of the tour to do.” Earlier this spring, Anunciacion received a phone call from his mother: His house had burned down. “Afterward, my mom calls me and tells me everything’s fine, everybody’s safe. But, to cover the ANUNCIACION ON PG. 6

Class of ‘09 Aggie to be reunited with her ring After 2 years, Natalie Cervantes’ ring was found in a pawn shop in San Antonio By Mariah Colón @MariahColon18

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

As Ring Day approaches thousands of Aggies prepare to get their Aggie Rings and check off another box on their A&M checklist. Natalie Cervantes, Class of 2009, won’t receive a new ring, but will be reunited with an old one. Cervantes misplaced her Aggie Ring more than two years ago and assumed the ring had disappeared forever. “I lost my ring in a bathroom two and a half years ago, and after it did not resurface for a week I assumed it had be stolen and more than likely sold/melted for the metal,” Cervantes wrote on Facebook. “Obviously for any Aggie, it’s a pretty awful feeling but I resigned myself to replace the ring at some point.” This weekend, Cervantes will be given her original Aggie Ring after years without it. A series of events was set into motion when San

Antonio Police detective Angelica Leal, Class of 1997, stumbled upon the ring while out on her day off from work. “The morning that I was off from work I was near a store that sells Alkaline Water next to the pawn shop and I was waiting for the store to open and thought, ‘Oh, the pawn shop is open, let me kill time,’” Leal said. “As soon as I entered the door the ring was just right there … I walked up and asked the lady if I could see the ring … The only reason I wanted to see the ring was to see if there was a name on the inside.” Leal said she knew something was wrong when she noticed that the engraving on the ring was almost entirely etched out. “I thought to myself, ‘There’s no way an Aggie would pawn their ring,’” Leal said. “When I saw that it was etched out I thought, ‘Wow this is definitely lost, stolen or something was criminally behind it.’” Leal took a photo of the ring and shared it with fellow Aggies who worked with her. Leal said the photo spread like wildfire and eventually found its way to Clinton Haby, Class of 2002. CERVANTES ON PG. 2

batt

RINGDAY

the battalion

THE BATTALION | THEBATT.COM

Sam King, Mark Doré, Editor Editor in in Chief Chief

The Battalion | 4.7.17

Classified Advertising

The BATTALION BaTTalion is published THE published daily, daily, Mondaythrough through Fridayduring duringthethe Monday Thursday fall fall and and spring semesters Tuesday and spring semesters andand Tuesday and Thursday during during the summer Thursday summer session session (except University holidays and exam (except University holidays and exam periods) atatTexas A&M University, College periods) Texas A&M University, Station,Station, TX 77843. Offices areare ininSuite College TX 77843. Offices Suite L400ofofthe theMemorial MemorialStudent Student Center. L400 Center. Newsroom phone: editor@ News: The979-845-3315; Battalion E-mail: news departthebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt. ment is managed by students at Texas com. campus, in local, and national display A&MFor University Student Media, a unit advertising 979-845-2687. For of the Divisioncall of Student Affairs. Newsclassified advertising, call 979-845-0569. room phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: ediOffice hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday tor@thebatt.com; website: http://www. through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. thebatt.com.

• Easy • Affordable • Effective

12 TIPS TO HAVING A FUN (AND SAFE) RING DUNK

For information, call 845-0569

BUFFET COMBO

Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

By Kylee Reid @CoastalAg Jacob Martindale — THE BATTALION

ALL DAY / EVERY DAY

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT PIZZA, PASTA, SALAD DESSERTS & FREE DRINK REFILLS

BRYAN 2003 S Texas Ave | (979) 775-2424 COLLEGE STATION 1905 S Texas Ave | (979) 694-2424

Online Parking Permit Registration Now – July 5

2 3

transport.tamu.edu

Just Point. Click. Permit.

Matt Ballard, ‘17 Geographic Information Science & Technology

Brandon Jones ‘18, Mechanical Engineering

Eryn Behne, ‘17 Political Science

Alexander S. Jones ‘18, Political Science & Economics

Cole M. Bordner, ‘17 Industrial Distribution

Jackson Kuplack ‘17, International Studies

Katie Alison Brock, ’18 Biomedical Sciences

Daniel Leung ‘17, Industrial Distribution

Daniel Brubaker, ‘18 Mechanical Engineering

Rebecca Matlock ‘18, International Studies & French

Brittany Elise Bullock ‘17, Human Resource Development

Hope Miller ‘17, Accounting & Business Honors

James Cash ‘17, Wildlife & Fisheries Science

Krystal Moczygemba ‘18, Agriculture and Life Sciences

Colten W. Claxton ‘17, Business

Hunter Montgomery ‘17, Genetics

Marshal Akiva Covin ‘18, Biomedical Sciences

Bridget O’Brien ‘18, Agribusiness & Animal Science

Jose Carlos Davila Labastida ‘17, Chemical Engineering

Brian Peck ’17, Agribusiness & Agricultural Economics

Kevin Dwyer ‘17, Electrical Engineering

Vinathi Polmraju ‘19, Biomedical Sciences

Matthew A. Gaal ‘17, Civil Engineering

Melodie Ann Raese ‘17, Animal Science

Hannah Gerken ‘18, English

Roel Ramon ‘17, Telecommunication-Media Studies

DeForest Gordy ‘17, Political Science

Elias J. Rosedahl ‘17, Mechanical Engineering

Jeffrey A Gustafson Jr. ‘17, Supply Chain Management

Daniel Bradley Rosenfield ‘17, Communication

Jonah B. Haefner ‘18, Nuclear Engineering

Travis Stebbins ‘18, Visualization & Computer Science

Zach Hardy ‘18, Nuclear Engineering

Kevin Sun ‘17, Psychology

Joseph Alexander Hernandez ‘17, Chemical Engineering

Joshua Sutton ‘17, Food Science and Technology

Katherine Salter Huff ‘16, Kinesiology

Rachel Welch ‘17, Business

Jarek Lynn Ingros ‘17, Aerospace Engineering

Kyle Wiggs ‘17, Mechanical Engineering

Jill Jackson ‘17, Psychology

Grace Wright ‘17, Accounting; MS in Finance

Be aware of alcohol poisoning If you suspect a person is suffering from alcohol poisoning call 911 IMMEDIATELY. Symptoms include: • Unconsciousness or semi-consciousness • Fever or chill • Vomiting • Difficulty breathing • Bluish gums or fingernails

Hydrate

Let carbonated drinks sit

Don’t dunk on an empty stomach

Have a trash can nearby

If you dunk in beer or a carbonated drink, make sure you let the drink sit AT LEAST a few hours in advance with a layer of Saran wrap over it. This will get rid of the carbonation and reduce the chances of you throwing up during or after your dunk.

Have something in your stomach when you dunk! This will help absorb the alcohol (if that’s what you’re dunking in) and make you feel better after. DO NOT eat a huge meal right before. In that instance you will need to make sure you follow TIP 6.

Vomiting following a dunk can be possible due to the large amount of substance introduced into the system in a short period of time. Make sure if you do have to throw up, a place to do so is nearby. A bucket or trash can may prove invaluable.

“I posted it up in [two] groups and both of them started taking off. It was kind of ridiculous; my notifications didn’t stop for like a week,” Haby said. “Everything else was getting buried in notifications by these two posts. I think they were shared close to 4,000 times or something like that. It’s great to see that.” Clifford Dorn, Class of 1981, saw Haby’s post and took action to buy the ring and orchestrate a plan to bring it back to College Station. He contacted the pawn shop and told them he wanted to purchase the ring, then posted on Facebook asking for someone in the San Antonio area to pick it up for him. Avery Crenshaw volunteered. “Long story short, I end up sending [Crenshaw] the money and she went

Pranav Kannan ‘18, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

Senior Boot Aggie Moms’ Boutique Bag April April7th 8 & 8th 9 See me at the th

Friday: 10-5 Saturday: 9-5 Located in the

MSC Ballroom Brazos County Aggie Mom: Charlotte Boegner, Reveille’s Seamstress since 2003 Shop for Lil’ Aggies to an Aggie Xmas I have adult and other things in between

with Front Pocket

Price Includes Logo and Name (More logos available)

979-778-2293 charboeg yahoo.com @

www.etsy.com/shop/aggiesandbows

For A&M Jewelry: stores.ebay.com/charboeg979

8 9

Don’t dunk alone

Choose your dunk drink/material wisely In the past, dunks have been done in many different things, not just alcohol. Choose what YOU want to dunk in. Some unique choices to consider could be: • Chocolate milk • Soda • Iced tea • Cheeto puffs Don’t be afraid to mix it up, or dunk in less than the normal pitcher amount.

Make sure you’re not going to fall off the elevated surface should you choose to dunk from a platform. Have someone spot you both front and in the back to make sure you don’t have to leave your dunk early to get stitches.

When hosting ring dunks, be mindful of neighbors and city ordinances!

Drink water leading up to your dunk! Becoming dehydrated while drinking can be extremely dangerous. Make sure you’re hydrated both pre and post-dunk.

CERVANTES CONTINUED

Nicole Gabler ‘17, Master of Public Service and Administration

Be careful on elevated surfaces (audience and dunker)

10 11 12

If you’re hosting a backyard dunk be mindful of a few things: • Make sure you have adequate and legal parking for all the people in attendance. Think ahead! Getting towed would put a damper on anyone’s party. • Let your neighbors know you’re having a party, better yet, INVITE THEM! There is nothing worse than having a large loud party next door that you had no idea was happening. Be courteous Ags; be good neighbors.

Dunk with friends, or wait until other friends get their rings and then dunk together. You don’t have to dunk right away, if at all, but if you do make sure you are dunking with other people `— it’s much more fun.

Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty Now is not the time to wear your Sunday best. The Aggie Ring dunk is a messy tradition, so make sure you’re prepared. Some examples of great things to wear: • Trash bags • Ponchos • Bibs • Old T-shirts

Don’t Swallow Your Ring Accidents do happen. Make sure this one does not happen to you. • Tie some fishing line to the ring and the handle of the pitcher • Slow down drinking toward the end in order to make sure you don’t actually swallow it. • Plan ahead

Take pictures and have fun This is a no brainer. When a person dunks their ring, they are surrounded by their friends and family. Make sure it’s well documented no matter how messy you might look and make sure you’re having fun. This event is about you and your journey at A&M, not anyone else’s. Your dunk is your day — enjoy it!

up and picked up the ring and another Aggie, [Natalie Celeste ’13], said, ‘I’m going down to College Station on Sunday and I’d be glad to bring it up to you.’ So she carried it up here and I got it over to the ring office, and they went through their investigation and did all their magic CSI work and found out some of the letters in the name on the inscription that was still visible.” Katherine Scarmardo, Class of 2009, contacted Cervantes saying they had a team looking at the engraving on what seemed to be a match for her ring. “When she first told me the story I was extremely skeptical it was mine due to how long the ring had been gone ... She called me the following day to confirm it was my ring, and that the Association wanted to update the story with my name,” Cervantes said. “After that it’s been like living in a dream. I

feel like I won the lottery.” Dorn along with the rest of the people who helped get the Aggie Ring back to Aggieland will hand Cervantes her ring during Friday’s Ring Day ceremony. Cervantes said the range of emotions she felt when she received that call spanned from surprise to gratitude to joy, and everything in between. “It wasn’t so much that it came back, it was how it came back that impacted me the most,” Cervantes wrote. “You have this entire network of strangers working hard to return something to you. It is a very special feeling. You feel a part of something great, which all Aggies know, but it doesn’t hit you until something like this happens. I’m incredibly thankful to be a part of such a great university, and overjoyed to have my ring back.”

SPRING RING DAY NUMBERS MORE AT THEBATT.COM

More than 6,200 rings 2,974 male rings 3,262 female rings

RINGDAY

The Battalion | 4.7.17

“We will continue to tell this story. He will be given this recognition that he so very much deserves.” Kathryn Greenwade, vice president of the Association of Former Students The Campbell Family — THE ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS

(Above) Air Force Col. William Campbell went missing in action in 1978. In 2014 his remains were discovered. (Left) Col. William Campbell’s Aggie Ring is on display in the ring collection at the Clayton Williams Jr. Alumni Center. Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Final resting place Remains of Aggie veteran found 48 years later, following recovery of his Aggie Ring in 1991 By Meredith McCown @Meredithrhoads

early 30 years after Air Force Col. William Campbell went missing in action during the Vietnam War, his Aggie Ring was found in a Thailand jewelry store and sent to his wife. Now, 48 years after his disappearance, Campbell’s remains will finally be returned to his family. Campbell, Class of 1952, was listed by the military as “killed in action — body not recovered” in 1978 after his plane was shot down by enemy fire over Laos in 1969. His wife, Claretta “Boo” Campbell, and four children lived through ambiguity about his whereabouts for almost 30 years. Then Campbell’s Aggie Ring was delivered to Claretta by United States military officials in 1991. She wore it until her death in 1995. In December of 2016, military officials positively identified William’s remains, which were discovered in 2014. A ceremony will be held in May, and William’s casket will be escorted from Honolulu, Hawaii to Arlington National Cemetery. William’s oldest daughter, Cathy, remembered back to when her family received news of her father’s Aggie Ring being recovered. She said they couldn’t believe it. “It was shock, and I remember that our mom was very excited about it,” Cathy said. “It had been about 20 years after his plane went down … With really very little to no information, and then all of a sudden, we learned that somebody over in Southeast Asia was wanting to sell the ring, and also indicating that they might have indication about the owner of the ring as well.” At the request of his wife, William’s ring currently resides in the Association of Former Students ring collection in the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center. Kathryn Greenwade, vice president of the Association of Former Students, said because of the significant Aggie presence and influence in the different branches of the military, the Aggie Ring is easily identifiable, even to those who didn’t attend Texas A&M. “That’s one of the interesting things about the Aggie Ring is that it is easily spotted by even non-Aggies,” Greenwade said. “The only thing connecting anything to [William] to what had been found was the Aggie Ring at that point.”

According to Greenwade, William always wore his ring, making the discovery especially meaningful to his loved ones. “I think it’s symbolic of many things,” Greenwade said. “When I give tours of our ring collection, Colonel Campbell’s ring is one that I always stop and tell the story, because I think it represents that there are still Aggies who have not returned from war. And that remains have not been positively identified, so he represented that.”

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Though Cathy was only 17 years old when she lost her father, she cherishes her memories of William, especially the way he’d listen to her. “My favorite memory of my dad was … he was a very patient listener,” Cathy said. “And so if I was having trouble, maybe with some of my school work, or a boyfriend, I could go to him and just talk to him about whatever happened to

be going on. And he wouldn’t tell me what to do, but he just listened really well.” Cathy said while losing her father was one of the hardest things she’s had to face, it made her into the person she is today. “You hear sometimes that people will talk about a tragedy that happened in their life, but in the long run, they turn it around and make it a good thing,” Cathy said. “It hasn’t devastated us completely. I just have a greater appreciation for life, and a realization of the gift that I’ve been given.” Air Force Col. Ralph Dresser, William’s best friend growing up, said the duo acted more like brothers than friends. They both joined the Air Force at the same time when they graduated from A&M in 1952. “He has been my best friend for over 70 years,” Dresser said. “He was the best man at my wedding. We first began to be like brothers when we were in junior high school … After that, we became great best friends that lasted almost inseparably for the next 20 years.” In May, William’s casket will travel from Honolulu, through Dallas, to Reagan International Airport in Washington D.C., leading to his final burial at the Arlington National Cemetery, where his wife’s urn will be buried alongside his. The day the casket will be picked up from Honolulu happened to fall on May 16, William’s birthday. “Now I take a deep breath, and we will all be able to officially bury a part of our father, and we take a deep breath, and go on with the rest of our lives,” Cathy said. “And no longer have that great unknown that was always there.” Lt. Col. Bryan Gilpatrick, William’s grandson-in-law, who is an Air Force pilot currently stationed in Okinawa, will escort the casket in honor of William. Cathy said Gilpatrick’s deeper understanding stems from the years he spent wearing an MIA bracelet with William’s name on it, as well as the shared bond of being an Air Force pilot. “It also represents a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of the military, too,” Cathy said. “They mean it when they say, ‘No person left behind, they will not be forgotten, we will continue to look and to try and get answers for you.’ And that has happened for our family.” Greenwade said the Campbell family’s story is one that will be told for years to come. “We will continue to tell this story,” Greenwade said. “We are very happy that his family will finally have the chance to appropriately honor their father and that he will be given this recognition that he so very much deserves.”

RINGDAY

The Battalion | 4.7.17

April 8

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. live music all day 30+ artists and craftsmen kids activities

PROVIDED

Journalism senior Chevall Pryce transfered to Texas A&M in the spring of 2016 and will receive his ring Friday.

Worth its ‘wait’ in gold

Texas-Siz Steamrolleed Printmaki r Competiting on

7 months, 59 credit hours, and an Aggie Ring Chevall Pryce

Thanks to our generous partners

DowntownBryan.com

@ChevallP

n Friday, I receive my Aggie Ring after a little more than a year in College Station. After running myself through the ringer by taking 59 credit hours in seven months for this shiny piece of gold, I learned my lesson. It’s not a cliché that hard work pays off or grinding and studying until my eyes bleed. It’s not even about how honored I am to receive a ring steeped in more than 100 years of tradition, with enough symbolism and tradition to make it worth the pretty penny it costs. I learned that the only person I needed to prove anything to was myself. When I came to College Station, ready to move on from a university I grew out of, I felt inadequate. I did everything I could to be a part of the maroon bubble. I collected Aggie gear in bulk, went to every sports game, learned all of the yells and said,

“Howdy” to every person I met. I even have the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s first and only record on vinyl. I felt like I needed to force myself into the culture. So, obviously the biggest step was getting my Aggie Ring. With hope in my heart for that ring and the goal of graduating in four years, I took four Spanish courses in four months. I probably didn’t learn a lick of Spanish and I was the most stressed I’d been my entire college career, all to impress a community of people I didn’t know - for the most part. When I finally reached enough credits to order the ring, I was more relieved than proud. I didn’t feel cheery about the late nights finishing 20 Spanish assignments or the times I almost threw my laptop across the room. That moment felt less like a gift and more like weight had been lifted. In that moment I realized that this past year was worth more than most of my college career. Not because of absurd amount of credits earned, but because of the moments between the classes and the homework. This Friday, I’m not paying attention to the hours I wasted working for this piece of Aggie Gold, but to

the experiences that were behind it; the adrenaline I felt when I opened my admission letter; the protests and social events hosted by Aggies trying to make this university better that I covered for The Batt; the old friends who held on when I moved miles away; the times when my parents had to lift me up when I was in a rut emotionally and financially; the abundance of late nights in the newsroom working alongside some of the best, award-winning collegiate journalists and friends to the sound of broadcast news and wisecracking; the even later nights on Northgate relaxing after a week of studying for the next. This ring is for my friends and family that helped me live through these last 15 months in College Station. It’s a sign that I’ve matured and grown as a man. It’s a sign that I stuck it out and became the third member of my family to graduate college. It’s a sign that there’s much, much more to come after I walk across the stage in Reed Arena with that piece of paper in my hand and this ring on my finger. Chevall Pryce is a journalism senior and news editor for The Battalion.

PROVIDED

CONGRATULATIONS! Join the celebration as 6,200 shiny new Aggie Rings are delivered today at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center

April 7

9:45 a.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Telecommunication senior Alexis Will (second from left) and her family celebrate the graduation of her younger brother from high school.

More than just 90 hours The Aggie Ring holds you accountable for the values that shape you

April 8*

9:00 a.m. - Noon

*Because of record numbers, we added pickup times the morning of April 8th. Ring Day activities will be limited on April 8th.

Ring Tickets distributed online at AggieNetwork.com. Visit tx.ag/AprilRingDay to assist in planning your Ring Day experience. Over 40,000 guests are expected on Aggie Ring Day, so please prepare accordingly.

April 7, 2017 - Important Reminders • The Haynes Ring Plaza is a restricted area for ticketed Ring recipients and their guests. The Ticket Check is on the west side of the Ring Plaza. • The Aggie Ring replica is not a photo station during Ring Day. Personal photography stations are available outside of the Alumni Center. • The Aggie Ring Shuttle drop off is on Houston St. on the west side of the Alumni Center.

April 8, 2017 - Important Reminders • No shuttle available. Parking will be available according to the Family Weekend parking. • Ring Day activities will be limited on April 8th. See Aggienetwork.com/ring/ ringday/ for more details. AggieNetwork.com

Alexis Will

@AlexisMWill

s a first-generation Aggie, there were plenty of traditions for me to learn and even more for my supportive parents to understand. Last winter, I told them I would be eligible for my Aggie Ring this spring. They a had a hard time understanding the importance of the Aggie Ring and I struggled to explain the importance of it to them. An old Aggie proverb tells it best, “From the outside looking in you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out you can’t explain it.” When I first told my parents about my accomplishment of being able to order my Aggie Ring, one question that came up was, “Why would you get a ring before you graduated?” My mother graduated from the College of New Jersey — Trenton State at the time — and my father graduated from Ohio State University. Neither of them received their college rings for one reason or another. My parents don’t really care if I receive my ring before or after graduation — they are proud of my achievement either way. But this question made me think about the Aggie Ring. I couldn’t pinpoint an explanation behind the reasoning for receiving my Aggie Ring before graduation. I under-

stand it is the sign that I have completed 90 hours and that I am an Aggie. But, what does this gold I will wear for the rest of my life really mean to me? For me, it is a physical embodiment of the Aggie spirit. The sign that I’m a part of a family — the Aggie family — one that holds certain values such as selfless services and respect to a high standard. I think the reason that it is so exciting to get my ring before graduation is that it shows that I’m close to finishing what I started, and that I have motivation to continue moving forward on the final stretch to graduation. The reason you wear your class year facing you, before graduation, is to remind you that you haven’t graduated yet. It is a daily reminder to continue pushing toward your goal of graduation. And upon graduation, you turn your Aggie Ring to face the outside to remind everyone, including yourself, of your accomplishment. On Saturday, when I’m surrounded by friends and family to celebrate this achievement I hope my parents see why the Aggie Ring is a special ring. One that invites you into the family, holds you accountable for your values and is a physical symbol of the Aggie spirit. And that my proud parents, who will celebrate not only their 25th wedding anniversary, but also their daughter’s accomplishments will continue to provide constant support as I move into my final stretch until graduation. Alexis Will is a telecommunication senior and multimedia editor for The Battalion.

NEWS

The Battalion | 4.7.17

A&M Student Media takes home 67 awards at TIPA conference The Battalion, Aggieland yearbook received first place overall excellence By Luke Henkhaus @Luke_Henkhaus After another year of serving the maroon and white, Texas A&M Student Media took home the gold. From March 30 to April 1 representatives from Texas A&M Student Media, which includes The Battalion and the Aggieland yearbook, attended the 2017 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, or TIPA, conference in Dallas. The conference included competitions, workshops and discussions covering every aspect of college media. As part of the conference, colleges select their best work from the previous year to be judged alongside selections from other schools across Texas, according to communication senior and editor-in-chief of The Battalion Sam King. “Colleges from around the state send in submissions in a variety of different categories — everything from news stories to podcasts — and the entries are judged and subsequent awards are given out,” King said. After the TIPA award ceremony Saturday morning, A&M’s student media emerged with a total of 67 awards, including individual excellence awards for several student media staff members, King said. Both The Aggieland and The Battalion placed first in overall excellence — the conference’s top award.

“This was a great showing for us and many of the categories we entered in for the first time were categories we won in and that’s always exciting,” King said. “Our multimedia desk sent in submissions for the first time this year and they took home several awards, including first place in recurring podcast.” The TIPA awards present an opportunity to recognize how far A&M’s student media has come over the years, according to agricultural communication and journalism senior and 2016 Aggieland editor-in-chief Katy Baldock “I think it shows the progress that student media is making,” Baldock said. “I think each year, it seems Student Media wins more and more awards.” This year’s honors have set the bar high for the future of Aggie student media, according to English senior and Battalion managing editor Katy Stapp. “Getting all these awards is a wonderful thing, but it also presents a responsibility to live up to that measure of ‘best college newspaper in the state of Texas,’” Stapp said. “I am very confident the staff will continue to do that next year.” King said while a little recognition is certainly nice, student media’s role in the Aggie community is its own reward. “We never have and never will do what we do for the awards,” King said. “Our goal when we sit down each year is not to clean up at competitions, but to make sure that our audience is being served with the highest quality and most relevant content we can provide.”

PROVIDED

News editors Luke Henkhaus, Megan Rodriguez, sports editor Angel Franco and life and arts editor Josh McCormack represented Texas A&M Student Media at the 2017 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference in Dallas.

classifieds

Place

an ad Phone 979.845.0569 Suite L400, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University

FOR RENT 3bd/3ba duplex, big backyard, close to campus, call 979-693-4900. Affordable 1bd apartment, close to campus, on TAMU bus route, call 979-693-4900. Brand new 1bd/1ba, walking distance to campus, call 979-693-4900.

When

to call 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day

FOR RENT Luxury condo, close to campus, brand new, granite countertops, with wood floors, contact 979-693-4900. Northgate 1/1, 2/2, 3/2, and 3/3 & 3/2 house, parking free, walk to campus. aggievillas.net Available now. Call 979-255-5648.

SPECIAL

see ads at thebatt.com

Private Party Want ads

$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.

FOR SALE Cadet boots/spurs, excellent condition, size 11, $490, 972-234-4265. Cadet Corps senior boots by Holick's, size 91/2, truly immaculate condition, $700, 972-937-0489. If You Have Something To Sell, Remember Classifieds Can Do It! Call 845-0569

Large 2/2 duplex with fenced backyard. On shuttle route, large closets, and lawn care provided $825 979-693-1448

Offering July 31, 2017 move in! 1/1, 1/1.5 loft, 2/2, 3/3, Wolf Creek Condos, owner/broker, 979-777-5477.

Less then a mile from campus, fully furnished, only $500/per room, call 979-693-4900.

Prelease for August: Large 2/1 duplex with vaulted ceilings, fenced yard $750. 979-693-1448

the battalion

FOR SALE Jim Baker's Unified Theory Of Everything, Book Pre-Sale. Save 50% before 05/14/2017. Only at Baker's Books, 22237 Katy Frwy, Tx 77450

HELP WANTED Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $75-$150/hr, up to $500/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com

HELP WANTED Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for interview. Frittella Italian Cafe, Casual but elegant environment; need motivated individuals with good work ethic, neat appearance and personable. We will train, apply in person. Tutors wanted. Late afternoons and evenings Mon-Thurs and Saturday mornings. Math/Science a plus. Call Sylvan Learning Center 979-846-4988. Leasing Agents Needed! The Cambridge is looking for confident and charismatic students. Work around school schedule. Call (979)-694-1500 Little Guys Movers now hiring FT/PT employees. Must be at least 21 w/valid D.L. Apply in person at 3209 Earl Rudder Freeway, 979-693-6683

ANSWERS

to todays puzzles

HELP WANTED NEED A SUMMER JOB? The City of College Station is hiring recreation assistants for youth summer programs, lifeguards and water safety instructors to teach swim lessons. Enjoy flexible hours, a fun working environment and an equal opportunity employer. Certification programs are also available. For complete details, visit cstx.gov/parks PART TIME SWIM COACHES NEEDED. Aggie Swim Club looking for coaches with min 1-year experience to coach 10&Under swimmers in College Station. Year round hours Mon-Thur 4:15-7:45pm or Mon-Fri 5:45-7:30. Competeitve salary and paid training. Contact Coach Shannon at aggieswimclub@suddenlink.net Work around your class schedule! No Saturday or Sundays, off during the holidays. The Battalion Advertising Office is hiring an Advertising Sales Representative. Must be enrolled at A&M and have reliable transportation. Interested applicants should come by our office located in the MSC, Suite 400, from 8am-4pm, ask to speak with Joseph.

MUSIC Private Piano/Voice Instruction. Pianist for Weddings and Special Events. Call Scott today at 979-204-0447. www.brazosmusicgroup.com

REAL ESTATE Team McGrann wants to LIST/SELL your property! 979-777-6211/979-739-2035, Town&Country Realty.

ROOMMATES 4/4 University Place condo, W/D, private bath, pool, on shuttle, student community, $350/room, Call 979-690-8213 or 979-422-9849.

THE COVE POOL & DAY CLUB OPEN APRIL 28TH!

WE'RE HUNTING FOR TOP TIER TALENT

RINGDAY

The Battalion | 4.7.17

LINO CONTINUED insurance it was about $600. So again, completely wiped out any savings I had, which is fine,” Anunciacion said. “Obviously I prioritize my family’s safety over everything. I’m glad that I was in a situation where I could help with that.” Aryan Safi, member of Mic Check and civil engineering junior, said he was surprised Anunciacion rejoined a protest he had been participating in when he learned the news. “I asked him if he wanted to go, and he said it was all fine,” Safi said. “Despite what he had just heard about … He knew where he was and he felt compelled to stay. In the short amount of time that I’ve known, him he’s demonstrated some qualities that some people don’t express in a lifetime.” After the protest, Anunciacion, Safi and Austyn Degelman, Mic Check vice president, went to Denny’s. While eating, the three talked for hours. Anunciacion’s recent struggles,

most notably his house, gave Degelman an idea to help her friend. “I realized that we’re in this community together. The poetry community is about family and taking care of each other, so I just really wanted to do something for him,” Degelman said. “He does everything for everyone else. All of his savings went to his mother that night. He just emptied his bank account for her.” Degelman started a private Facebook event, created a private GoFundMe and invited anyone she thought might donate money for Anunciacion, all in secret. Within a short amount of time, more than enough money was raised through donations. Although the original limit was $500, Degelman increased it at the request of donors. “I posted in that group like 20 times a day,” Degelman said. “It got to over $1,200 in two days. I was just blown away.” At Anunciacion’s last poetry show in Houston the audience members and his friends gathered around him at the end of his set when

he was getting ready to head back to College Station. “Everyone just kind of gathers around me and I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’” Anunciacion said. “Camera lights are on and Austyn walks up to me and is like, ‘Hey, so on Monday you told us everything that happened and we all grouped together to get $1,200 for you.’” As a result of the generosity of his friends, Anunciacion was able to afford his Aggie Ring right before the spring deadline, but he decided to give the money to his mother for their home instead. But there was yet another surprise for him around the corner. “I was going to give that money to my mom. While the insurance had covered the house, we still had to replace things,” Anunciacion said. “She said the church was helping us with the house and taking care of it, so she told me to take the money and order the ring ... Then I got to order my ring. The deadline was that Friday.” Degelman said the event is still overwhelm-

ing to think about. “You just never really understand how good people actually are. I had no idea. Some people donated everything from $1 to $100. I had people trying to hand me money the night of and I told them to give it to him themselves,” Degelman said. “Getting to witness that happen and watching your friends take care of each other is really wonderful.” Anunciacion said he is thankful for the donation from his fellow Aggies that he has known from the many organizations he has been in and looks forward to getting his ring this weekend. “A lot of my careers in college kind of just converged in this one moment where everyone that I had ever interacted with came and supported me in this moment,” Anunciacion said. “In a weird way it was like everything was kind of coming back full circle as far as all the time and dedication and commitment I’ve had to Texas A&M, the Bryan-College Station community at large and all the volunteer hours I put in.”

“Let the love of learning rule humanity”

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Office of Undergraduate Studies Proudly Announces Our New Members for 2017 Induction Ceremony & Introduction of the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Juniors for Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University at Galveston, and Texas A&M University at Qatar. Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 2:00 PM Rudder Theatre Complex The mission of Phi Kappa Phi is to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education & to engage the community of scholars in service to others. www.phikappaphi.org FACULTY

David A. Bessler Richard H. Gomer

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Kasey Heath, Outstanding Junior Katheryn Victoria Bailey Blaine Balliett Virgilia Adele Beyer-Junfin Catherine Bogdan Jennifer Morgan Borski Jason Burow Sara Camille Casas Brittany R. Clark Chase Curtis Collins William S. Craddock Madeline Nicole Davis Luke DeVille Brittany Nicole Dworaczyk Dillon Casey Elder Mason M. Elgin Marlee Madison Garland Ashley Halfmann Rachal Hittson-Smith Sean M. Jankowski Hector Leyva Jimenez Montanna Jones Arthur J. Knowles Anh Kim Le Gabrielle Lessen Crystal Martinez Katelyn N. McLeod Keefer Blake Patterson Logan Perry Alexandra Danielle Phoenix Jessica L. Puente Morgan Elizabeth Rogers Eric Wayne Saathoff Paul S. Smith Haley Amelia-Anne Turner Kelsey White McKenzie Kay Wilkinson Kelsey Williams Isabelle Yang

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

Kolby M. Broussard, Outstanding Junior Michelle A. Davis Matthew Espurvoa Alex Fontenot Austin Garner Monica D. Garza Madeline Meekins Griselda Montenegro Sarah Nicole Waronoff

MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL

Rachel Keathley, Outstanding Junior Madeline Bitting Katie Blackford Evelyn Camille Bose Michael Jia-fwu Chen Victoria Ellen Gerald Travis C. Klein Anthony Konop Mike Lai Deodath Mahase Kenneth Andrew Martin, Jr. Savannah Holle Schmidt Karin Furubotn Sesiano Haley Sheffield Steven E. Upshaw

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Hannah Smith, Outstanding Junior Taylor Alcorn Gabrielle Balcar

Paige M. Berger Joel Berrien, Jr. Sarah Malec Biehunko Emily Bishop Casi Blackmon Lillian Brannen Cassandra Brawner Emily Brooks Elizabeth Capone Catherine Carr Tien Quynh Davis Ashley Edgar Kyle Elliott Sharon Riegel Fernandez Julia Gann Kristen Celine Gregory Jessica Hall Brittany Hickerson Olivia Johnson Michelle Kathryn Krezinski Martha Sue Kuhn Anna Grace Ledbetter Leslie K. Lowry Sherri Rose MacWillie Isabella C. Manuel Alison Tierney McGuire Mary Catherine McIntyre Justin Donald Mullinnix Ronald J. Nail Kimberly Peters Lora Elizabeth Pippin Victoria Quinonez Grace Roeder Staci Rougas Jessica Shugart Bianca Monique Soliz D’Nesha Strait Kellie E. Taylor Brittney Thoede Abigail P. Turner Cristina Vargas Brent Tyler Wallingford Alie Watson Gang Zhu

DWIGHT LOOK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Kendal Paige Ezell, Outstanding Junior Grayson Aldrich Ogbonnaya Bassey Hannah Bratton Savannah Jule Bryce Willie D. Caraway IV Joseph D. Carlson Joseph Ramon Clegg Carlo De Guzman Aaron W. DePaolo Mark Michael Richards Douglass Elvis de Jesus Duran Sierra Swapnil Chandrakant Dusane Loic Tenandjo Feujio Rachel Fowler Brennan Gaber Shubhankar Goswami Maria Alejandra Hernandez Saenz Zachary Kitowski Han Li Yangyi Liu Drew Mills Kelly Mullen Lucas M. Nesbitt Charles Zachary Ransome Michelle Rhodes Katherine Grace Ruff Timothy Christian Sitorus Andrew Garret Sivon Alvin Teh Ashley Tucker Rachel M. Unruh Matthew A. Walck Samuel Watson Brian Scot Welborn II Lauren Whitney

Ying Zhang Yupeng Zhang Isaac David Zhukovsky

Magdalene Sykes Alexander Haron Vidal Alyson Lianne Yee

COLLEGE OF GEOSCIENCES

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: GALVESTON

Chimnaz Nadiri, Outstanding Junior Victoria Bartlett Andréa Darrh Brennan Kacie Flannery Harrison R. Hastings Andres Montalvo

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Loraine Maxwell, Outstanding Junior Rebecca Albers Hayley Hansen Clary Lisa Adelia Coryell Carlee Crocker Samantha Escobedo Nicole R. Ethier Madeline Flanagan

Krystal A. Fogle Hannah Guyton April Hill-Jackson Hannah Hoskins Clay Johnson Rebekah Michelle Jones Sapphire M. Jones Brandon William Lentz Maria Laura Massimo Lauren Mathews Maria Moore Adam Mousselli Thomas Ochoa McKenna O’Donnell Miquelle Ann Perez Sarah Porter Kayla Jade Potter Grant A. Rodgers Benjamin L. Sheppard Madeline Steck Rylie Steppick Kristen Stubblefield Cecelia Estelle Swanson Victoria Elizabeth White Brittany Wyman Joohee Yang

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Lindsey Ray, Outstanding Junior Patrick McLean Bibb Jr. Karissa Renee Chastain Mary-Catherine Clark Yitong Dong Lindsey Kessel Brinda Krishnaswamy Diego Regalado Sherdina E. Romney Thomas E. Settlemyre Emily Shives Patricia Stanton Matthew Wey

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Sarah Lin Speights, Outstanding Junior Alana Leigh Carrasco Dylan Alexander Black Marshal Akiva Covin Sebastian Garcia Victor Garcia Paulina Ketcham Kathryn Kientzy Gabrielle Marie Lester Delanie Faith Moses Usman I. Nazeer Leah Poffenberger Abigail C. Spiegelman Christina Beth Sumners

Samuel E. Rieta, Outstanding Junior Katherine Adams Erica Atkins Alexis Becker Taylor Jamail Benson Bjorn C. Briggs David E. Butschek Dayton A. Corbiere Cody Cumba Michelle Christen Day Jesus M. Duran Ramirez Samantha Ray Gaudet Kayla E. Godwin Nicole A. Halder Emma Halter-Mann Christena Hoelscher Thomas Paul Johns Haley R. Lawson Ella McIntire John McIntyre James Payne Kylie Samantha Reinert Shari Marijani Rohret Katharine Elizabeth Spratt Linda L. Stevens Blake A. Swaney Laura Toungate John P. Weldon

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: QATAR Shaikha Al-Qahtani, Outstanding Junior Mohamad Abdul Ghani Neil Alvin Adia Mariam Al-Awadi Mohammed Al-Boinin Abdulla Al-Sulaiti Abouelkassim Becetti Nikolayevich Dela Rosa Jamileh Fouladi Mohammad Hasiri Wafa Imran ElSherif Mahmoud Mohamed Mohamed Neeraja Renganathan Wuzhou Wan Muhammad Zia

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: SCHOOL OF LAW Gregory Butz Gregory Franklin Traci Phipps

GEORGE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES David Fujimoto Mark A. Ruth

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH Raul Guillermo Lopez Valle Mahmoud Yakub Ma’aruf Micaela Sandoval

COLLEGE OF NURSING Carolyn Elizabeth Mobley Michelle Nighswander

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Lindsey Leann Kennedy

BATT THE

THE BATTALION | THEBATT.COM

INSIDE PG. 5 Living in Bryan vs. College Station PG. 12 How A&M is prepping for 25x25 PG. 13 Stories from an on-campus senior

THE 2017 HOUSING GUIDE

Sydney Farris â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE BATTALION

YOUR GUIDE TO HOUSING, LIVING AND MORE

Recommended by over

94%

apartmentratings.com

RATES AS LOW AS $449

COME JOIN US AT OUR

OPEN HOUSE TUESDAY APRIL 4

Attend the Park West Open House on Tuesday, April 4th to lock in our low rates! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be offering Hard Hat Tours so you can get a glimpse of what life at Park West is all about. Come join us for a chance to win a $250 gift card!

JOIN US FROM 1:00PM-5:00PM SO GRAB A FRIEND, TAKE A TOUR, AND SECURE YOUR APARTMENT FOR FALL 2017!

NOW LEASING FALL 2017

COLLEGE STATION

HOUSINGGUIDE

The Battalion | 4.7.17

CRIME STATS

Moving to College Station? Here’s a statistical breakdown of reported crime in the neighborhood from the 2015-2016 year. Information via CSPD. Need to report a crime? The CSPD can be reached at 979-7643601 or at 911 in emergency situations. Graphic by Sydney Farris

Cubby Hole Texas

STORAGE SELF1821 E. 29th St.

979-779-6999 www.cubbyholeusa.com

• Moving & Storage Supplies • On Site Manager

• 24 Hour Recorded Video • Computerized Access Gates

FREE Use of Truck to Move Into Your Cubby Hole! STUDENTS OR STAFF RENT BEFORE END OF FINALS... PAY NO DEPOSIT ($10) & GET FREE LOCK ($8.99) ID & COPY OF THIS AD REQUIRED AG OWNED AND OPERATED.

HOUSINGGUIDE

The Battalion | 4.7.17

LIVING IN

BRYAN

C-STAT

With plenty of housing options and both towns within a reasonable distance from campus, editors Josh McCormack and Alice Corcoran weigh the pros and cons of each community. Laura Haslam — THE BATTALION

By Josh McCormack @_joshmccormack Cheaper cost of living In comparison, Bryan offers a more affordable cost of living than College Station. In my experience, when discussing rent and utilities with friends, I am always the one with the fewest expenses. I also have more space. I live in a spacious four-bedroom house in a nice neighborhood. While Bryan might be thought of as distant from the university, I live an easy five-minute drive from Kyle Field. In comparison, people who live closer to campus can pay hundreds of dollars more for less space. Community living One of the nicest parts about living in Bryan is the fact that I feel as if I’m in a small town, rather than a college town. Living in Bryan, I feel, has given me insight to what post-college life will be. I have had the opportunity to talk with my neighbors about

school and what they have going on in their life. I also love getting to go to the stores or restaurants where I’m not just another college kid — a place I can frequent and get to know who works there, becoming a regular. The community experience is one of the best parts of living outside of College Station; it will give you the opportunity to be a student and get a preview of adult life. The hippest part of town While College Station has Northgate, Bryan has its own entertainment district — Downtown Bryan. Here lies some of the best bars in town and the most unique, independently owned restaurants. Downtown offers a variety of experiences to enjoy. On the first Friday night of every month students can take part in First Friday. There is music, dancing, food, books and every store comes out in full force to make the block party happen. Living in Bryan can give you a quick 10-minute drive to this wonderful area.

By Alice Corcoran @AliceJ_Corcoran More restaurant variety, cheaper prices Northgate is housed in College Station, and is the known bar district for students. Northgate is home to many iconic, unofficial Aggie traditions — like grabbing something to eat at Dixie Chicken or walking down Bottlecap Alley. College Station also has much more variety in dining options, ranging from on-campus, to fast food, to sit-down restaurants; Mexican to Chinese to Italian to bakeries. Bryan does not have the number of restaurants to compare to College Station’s “Restaurant Row,” located on University Drive, and consequently Bryan does not have the many quick, cheap, latenight, college budget friendly places College Station has to offer, either. Closer to campus and to friends; Transportation Services College Station offers an unrivaled prox-

imity to campus. Additionally, Texas A&M’s Transportation Services extend throughout College Station, and at some apartment complexes a bus will pick you up at the complex entrance, or at the most a bus stop is a five-minute walk away. While these services extend to Bryan, they are not as readily available. If you don’t have a car, good luck getting to class. Furthermore, the majority of students live in College Station and so you are closer to your friends. More Coffee Shops, open later Bryan is home to some unique coffee shops — Harvest and The Village Cafe and Art979 Gallery among them — but College Station houses many more: Lupas, Sweet Eugene’s, Minuti Coffee, Republic Coffee and 1451 Pastries and Coffee, to name a few. Coffee shops in College Station are not only more numerous, but they are open later. The latest a coffee shop stays open in College Station is 2 a.m. Compare this to Bryan’s latest coffee shop, Harvest, which closes at 10 p.m.

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BE FRIENDS @THEBATTONLINE

THEBATTONLINE

THE BATTALION

@THEBATTONLINE

1101 SOUTHWEST PKWY COLLEGE STATION, TX 979-693-0804 www.theVINTAGEatCS.com GRANITE, STAINLESS, MICRO, LEF, ON SHUTTLE, DOG AND CAT PARK, AMAZING AMENITIES, AFFORDABLE RATES

WIN 1 YEAR FREE RENT

DIAMOND DISCUSSION A

BATT SPORTS PODCAST

BATT SPORTS REPORTERS BREAK DOWN THE 2017 A&M BASEBALL SEASON ON

SOUNDCLOUD AND ITUNES.

Rent Rent Don't drag it Don't drag it Don't drag it Don't Don'ttodrag it home Mom! home to Mom! home to Mom! home to Mom! Storage You home to Mom!

3400 Longmire Dr 3400TX Longmire C.S., 77845 Dr

4074 State Hwy 6 S 4074 State Hwy 6 S C.S., TX 77845

3007 Longmire Dr C.S., 77845 Dr 3007TX Longmire 979-694-2186

625 S Graham Rd C.S., TX 77845 625 S Graham Rd 979-690-3792

2306 S College Ave

2306 S College Ave Bryan, TX 77801 Bryan, TX 77801

Storage You STORE IT! STORE IT! Can Trust! STORE IT! STORE IT! Can Trust!

C.S., TX 77845

C.S., TX 77845 979-694-2186

C.S., TX 77845

C.S., TX 77845 979-690-3792

1109 Baker Ave Bryan, TX 77803 1109 Baker Ave 979-775-5738

Bryan, TX 77803 979-775-5738

STORE IT! 50% OFF 50% OFF

50% OFF 50% OFF 50% OFF

Our six Bryan/College Station storage facilities feature:

Featuring a unique rooftop pool, and the largest fitness center in the area, we are ready to rock your college experience. Sterling Northgate is the newest luxury housing community for students just like you. Visit Our Leasing Office to experience VIRTUAL REALITY!

* Fully-Fenced Facility Your 1st Month's * Electronic Access Your 1stGateMonth's Rent * Drive-Up Access Your 1st Month's Your 1st Month's Rent * Month-To-Month Rentals Your 1st Month's * Online Bill Pay Rent Rent * Free Move-In Truck With Rental

50% OFF

Your 1st Month's Rent Rent

3400 Longmire Dr C.S., TX 77845 3400 Longmire Dr C.S., TX 77845 Dr 3007 Longmire

C.S., TX 77845 3400 Longmire Longmire Dr Dr 3007 979-694-2186 C.S., TX TX 77845 77845 C.S., 3400 Longmire 979-694-2186 Dr 3007 Longmire C.S., TX 77845 Dr C.S., TX 77845 3400 Longmire Dr 979-694-2186 C.S., TX 77845

4074 State Hwy 6 S C.S., TX 77845 4074 State Hwy 6 S C.S., TX 77845 625 S Graham Rd C.S., TX 77845 4074 HwyRd 6S 625 SState Graham 979-690-3792 C.S., TX TX 77845 77845 C.S., 4074 State Hwy 6 S 979-690-3792 625 S Graham C.S., TX 77845Rd C.S., TX 4074 State77845 Hwy 6 S 979-690-3792 C.S., TX 77845

2306 S College Ave Bryan, TX 77801 2306 S College Ave Bryan, TX 77801 1109 Baker Ave

Bryan, TX 77803 2306 S College Ave 1109 Baker Ave 979-775-5738 Bryan, TX TX 77803 77801 Bryan, 2306 S979-775-5738 College Ave 1109 Baker Ave Bryan, TX 77801 Bryan, TX 77803 2306 S College Ave 979-775-5738 Bryan, TX 77801

979-464-9010

3007 Longmire Dr C.S., TX 77845 3400 Longmire Longmire Dr Dr 3007 979-694-2186 C.S., TX TX 77845 77845 C.S., 979-694-2186 3007 Longmire Dr

625 S Graham Rd C.S., TX 77845 4074 HwyRd 6S 625 SState Graham 979-690-3792 C.S., TX TX 77845 77845 C.S., 979-690-3792 625 S Graham Rd

1109 Baker Ave Bryan, TX 77803 23061109 S College Ave Baker Ave 979-775-5738 Bryan, TX TX 77803 77801 Bryan, 979-775-5738 1109 Baker Ave

HOUSINGGUIDE

The Battalion | 4.7.17

MAKING ROOM(s)

A&M is working to have 25,000 engineering students by the year 2025.

Engineering Dept. plans to increase retention rates to meet 25x25 goal By Alex Sein @alexandrsein

Jenny Hollowell — THE BATTALION

ince the 2013 announcement of the 25 by 25 objective — the plan to have 25,000 students enrolled in the College of Engineering by 2025 — there has been doubt about the university’s ability to handle that many engineering students. The College of Engineering needs 6,831 more students to reach its goal of 25,000, and no new dorms currently being planned or built. Additionally, Texas A&M President Michael Young has decided not to drastically increase the overall student population in the coming years, making the project an ambitious goal. However, the College of Engineering has a plan that circumvents that need — instead of bringing in new students to increase the number enrolled in engineering, it will work to increase retention rates, according to Katherine Banks, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Engineering. “We only have approximately a 57 to 58 percent retention rate,” Banks said. “We need to make sure that the students who start in engineering have every opportunity to succeed and graduate.” The College of Engineering plans to increase retention rates to around 75 percent, which would provide the students needed to reach 25,000. The strategy for increasing this rate involves having around 3,100 on-campus students participating in living-learning communities, which are dorms that offer free tutoring and academics-related social events to their residents. Mark Weichold, professor of electrical and computer engineering, said he helped set up Living-Learning Communities in the past that drastically helped increase retention rates. “The impact on retention is remarkable,” Weichold said. “Students had a sense of belonging and a sense of shared trials and tribulations for the first semester or so of freshman year.” According to Weichold, the retention rate soared above 80 percent for students

in living-learning communities, which is why the Engineering Department is putting so much emphasis on these residencies. The plan, according to Banks and Weichold, will not require the construction of any new dorms, nor the influx of new students — instead, existing dorms, mostly on Southside near the Commons, will have living-learning communities in them. Although there is already such a community in Mosher, Valerie Taylor, senior associate dean for Academic Affairs, said it doesn’t meet the demand of an engineering program of this size. “We have an engineering living-learning community, currently, but it’s limited to 650 students,” Taylor said. “Starting in the fall of 2017, we can go up to 3,100, which is great, and so for the 3,100, we’re open to incoming freshmen, as well as sophomores, as well as students from our remote sites.” This is all consistent with the university’s plans for the coming years. According to Carol Binzer, director of administrative and support services in the Department of Residence Life, the university has handled, and will continue to handle its marginal growth in different ways. “In 2012, just a short time after the University Apartments at the Gardens opened, several of the buildings were designated for upperclass students wishing to stay living on campus,” Binzer said. According to Binzer, those students were mostly engineering students due to the proximity of that complex to their classes. According to her, White Creek, which opened in 2015, also counts as on-campus housing, but beyond that, the only current construction on campus is renovation work. In accordance with Young’s plan to limit the influx of new students, the College of Engineering has made it clear that it will only add 852 new undergraduate and graduate students by 2025, according to its official statement on 25 by 25, with many other engineers coming from programs such as the engineering academies. The key, according to them, is not to add more freshman to the college, but to keep current students enrolled in the program.

HOUSINGGUIDE

The Battalion | 4.7.17

COURTESY Alexis Will — THE BATTALION

Pay attention to your roommates: The life of an on-campus senior It could save their life Angel Franco

@angelmadison_

n the two years that I’ve been at A&M, the hardest thing I’ve learned to do is adjust; adjust to new experiences, adversity and most importantly, living with people who aren’t family. When you get a new roommate, you learn their habits and they learn yours — good or bad. There’s a saying that goes, “You don’t know a person well enough until you’ve lived with them.” There are so many things you learn to notice when you share a living space, which is why it’s important to pay attention to the little things. Last September, one of my roommates found out she was Type-1 Diabetic. We wouldn’t have ever found out until I insisted on taking her to the hospital after several weeks of her feeling sick. When we came back from summer break, I noticed she had lost weight, which at the time didn’t seem like a big deal. Since she lived an active lifestyle as a lifeguard during the summer it wasn’t surprising. However, it was the little things that I noticed that made me worried. She would become tired no matter what she did. Even if it was just waking up and making breakfast. The weekend before school started we spent the day lounging around mentally preparing for the new semester. In that day, my roommate must have taken at least five naps and said she was tired. She was different. Clarissa is the kind of person who is usually full of energy and life. However, the bubbly person I knew

was spending her time asleep and in a weird mood. Which caused the worry alarms in my head to go off. We talked about it and said it might be the flu, but then again we aren’t doctors (at least not yet). We both kept an eye on it in the following days and she only got worse. Then, on the Tuesday after the UCLA game, before she left to class she looked pale. When I asked what was wrong, she told me she had just vomited. I asked her if she was sure she wanted to go to class, she said yes, but if anything happened, she’d call me. Later that day, she called asking me and my other roommate Andreah if we could pick her up at the PEAP Building on West Campus to take her home because she had just thrown up and wasn’t feeling well enough to drive. When we arrived, she had no color in her skin and looked sick. Andreah and I made the decision to take her to the emergency room. When we got there, the doctors took her in and ran tests. Her sugar levels came back over 400, which according to the doctors, wasn’t good. After running a few more tests, the doctors were able to determine that she was diabetic. There is a point in the semester where you feel like work is burying you alive and that’s understandable. Just make sure to pay attention to the people you live with — no matter the relationship. Check in on them ask them how they’re doing and feeling. Because you never know if those little observations can save their life.

Angel Franco is a telecommunication sophomore and sports editor for The Battalion

Josh Hopkins

@texasjoshua1

fter a freshman year of eating nothing but pizza, burgers and Chick-fil-A, sharing a small room with a strange person who sleeps half a dozen feet from you and communal bathrooms, most folks are ready to move out. I decided to give it another shot — and you should, too. Since I first moved into the room back in the fall of 2013 I was sure I’d end up living in an apartment somewhere. But, four school years of living on one side of a room a casual stroll away from some key campus locations later, I have to say, it’s turned out pretty well. As many campus dwellers would attest, there are a couple big obstacles to overcome to survive living on campus. First among them is surviving roommate interaction. Despite my desperate attempts to get friends to stay on campus as roommates, I’ve somehow managed to secure a different random roommate every year. Some years went great, and others I made it through, but in each case a certain sage advice was proven clear: “You don’t need to like your roommate, you just need to live with them.” With some good ground rules and a little luck it’s certainly manageable. The next hurdle, of course, takes some careful planning and perhaps a little cooking expertise to overcome. While campus certainly has a nice number of options for food, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner on campus seven days a week takes you through the variety really quick. Surviving is all about rotating where

you eat and stocking up on soup, Ramen and sandwiches to throw in just for the sake of variety. Apart from the likely health concerns, a semester of eating nothing but Rev’s will make you not want to think of burgers ever again. As many with big families can attest, having to share bathrooms is the worst. Be it coordinating shower times, the theft of toilet paper or a mosquito infestation a little bit of communication goes a long way to smoothing out restroom woes. If you can overcome these obstacles you too can discover the true benefits of living on campus. In the end it’s the small things that really count, a stable Internet connection, seemingly unlimited warm shower water, and no heat, water or Internet bills are some nice places to start. Easy and convenient access to food — if admittedly expensive — is a nice bonus to living next to the nexus of bus routes running through the city. A dorm acts as an obvious base of operations to work from and return to throughout the day, and the potential for afternoon naps is unrivaled. Overall, while it’s tempting to leave campus in search of something better, once you leave there is no coming back. The commute times, required shopping trips and year long leases turn into some big downsides, unforeseen in the excitement of getting your own place. While staying on campus may not be for everyone, I personally will take that extra hour of sleep over being off campus every day of the week.

Josh Hopkins is a history and political science senior and SciTech editor for The Battalion

Text

HOLLEMAN to 77599 to schedule your tour today!

Two Bedroom Blowout Sale! Lease during Parent’s Weekend & get ½ OFF the First Month’s Rent!* *Special Valid on 12 Month Lease 1, 2, & 4 Bedrooms, Roommate Matching, Wood Plank Flooring, Granite Countertops, Queen Sized Beds, Built-in Bookshelves, Sleek Black Appliances, Fully Furnished, Individual Leases, On Aggie Bus Route, 24 Hour Clubhouse, 24 Hr fitness Center, Resident Game Lounge, Outdoor Grilling Areas, Study Rooms, Resort Style Pool, Internet up to 100Mbps, Social Events, Pet Friendly 979-703-8240

2200 Cottage Ln., College Station

HollemanCrossing.com

D E V I WA

S E FE

AIVED W E V I E C RE EN YOU FEES WH EASE SIGN A L HOURS 8 4 N I H WIT ING OF TOUR REAT! THE RET

M O C . N O I 7840 GESTAT

E L L O C T A RE T E EGE L R L O â&#x20AC;¢ C 9 , D 638 NES-BUTLER R . 4 0 7 . 9 7 9 JO 2045

TX 7 , N O I T A ST

Tour at any American Campus community & enter to win

1 YEAR FREE RENT! SAVE UP TO $300 WITH REDUCED FEES

UPGRADES COMING FALL 2017!

Apply online today at

AMERICANCAMPUS.COM

OFFICIAL STUDENT HOUSING PARTNER OF TEXAS A&M ATHLETICS Rates/installments, prize & fees are subject to change. Rates/installments do not represent a monthly rental amount (& are not prorated), but rather the total base rent due for the lease term divided by the number of installments. The typical lease term is approximately 11.5 months of occupancy which coincides with the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic calendar. The full lease term will consist of approximately 50 weeks & commence in or around August 2017 & end July 2018. Drawing will be held 7.15.17. Limited time only. See office for details.