The Battalion: August 30, 2016 by The Battalion

The new director of Breakaway Ministries, Timothy Ateek will speak at the first Breakaway of the semester on Aug. 30.

BATT THE

THE BATTALION | THEBATT.COM

What: Breakaway worship service When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30 Where: Reed Arena

Timothy Ateek:

Story by John Rangel @rangel_online

Meet Breakaway’s third director Brian Okosun — THE BATTALION

“A

bide” has special meaning for Timothy Ateek. The word resonated with him in Breakaway co-founder Greg Matte’s preaching during Ateek’s undergraduate years, and its biblical meaning continues to influence his ministry more than a decade later as Ateek returns to Breakaway — not as a student or guest speaker, but as its director. inspire college students and bring his ministry to every part of the modern college campus.

“There’s a word in [John 15] — ‘abide’ — that Jesus gives us to define the type of relationship he wants us to have with him,” Ateek said, referencing his favorite Bible passage. “Greg defined that word as, ‘To abide is to be desperately dependent on Jesus and restfully resonate in him.’” Ateek will lead his first Breakaway Tuesday evening as director in front of more than 10,000 Aggie students. He aims to continue the work laid by Ben Stuart — Breakaway’s previous director — but a life journey defined by complete trust in his Christian faith reveals a man not afraid to envision change,

BIRTH OF A MINISTRY Ateek, Class of 2003, lived in Dunn Hall his freshman year, was involved at Grace Bible Church and joined a fraternity. He said the best part of his college experience, however, was Breakaway. “One of the reasons coming back to A&M and being a part of Breakaway is so exciting and special is that Breakaway was my favorite part of my college experience,” Ateek said. BREAKAWAY ON PG. 3

FILE

More than 10,000 A&M students gathered in Kyle Field for the first Breakaway of the spring 2016 semester.

STATE

FOOTBALL

A&M implements clear bag policy University follows national trend with security-oriented mandate By Joshua Samuel & Chevall Pryce @jsamuelthebatt & @ChevallP Beginning this season, sports fans attending any ticketed Texas A&M athletic event — including football — are only permitted to bring clear bags into the venue. Bags such as backpacks, purses, camera cases and fanny packs are no longer allowed. Clear bags can’t exceed the dimensions 12” by 6” by 12,” according to 12thman. com. One-gallon, resealable plastic freezer storage bags are allowed, and the maximum logo imprint size for bags is 4.5” tall and 3.4” wide. Exceptions have been made for small clutch bags — with or without a strap — and “medically necessary items” that have been inspected at designated areas. Mike Caruso, associate athletics director for game operations who is spearheading the implementation of the policy, said the policy was implemented after careful consideration.

Ethan Dias — THE BATTALION

The first hearing for David’s Law, an attempt to make cyberbullying a misdemeanor, was heard before the Texas Legislature Aug. 23.

Texas legislators continue to fight for David’s Law N

TTALIO

HE BA

ill — T

W Alexis

Only clear 12”by 12”by 6” bags will be permitted into A&M sporting events.

FOOTBALL ON PG. 2

TICKETS

First ticket pull of season draws hundreds Students comment on football season, new “off the wood” rule By Alex Miller @AlexMill20 Hundreds of students lined up before sunrise on their first day of school to pull tickets for the football season opener against UCLA — and the lines stayed long all day. “Line up for ticket pull starts at 5 a.m. every morning during game week so there were definitely students there when the workers got there at 6:45 [a.m.],” Jharen Rosborough, human resource development senior who works in ticket operations for the 12th Man Foundation said. “The vibe was full of excitement and anticipation as our first game nears.” Alongside senior-designated Monday pull, group pulls were also buzzing, with many Fish Camp and Impact leaders gathering sports passes from their small group freshmen to go to the game together in

Brian Okosun — THE BATTALION

Hundreds of students waited in long lines Monday for ticket pull for the first game of the season.

hopes of creating a positive experience in their first home game. “A lot of these freshmen are coming in and haven’t made their group of friends yet,” finance sophomore and Impact lead-

er Andrew Ballard said. “So it allows us to kind of bring these freshmen alongside us to the game, give them a group to go with and people to hang out with at the game.” TICKETS ON PG. 2

By Alice Corcoran @AliceJ_Corcoran Young adults may suffer from depression, anxiety and at times even take their own lives due to bullying and harassment that takes place via the Internet. Texas legislators are aiming to put an end to these occurrences and the negative impression it leaves on children and teen lives. Named after 16-year-old David Molak, an Alamo Heights resident who took his own life Jan. 4, 2016 due to consistent cyberbullying, David’s Law had its first hearing in Austin Aug. 23. The fight for the passage of the legislation is spearheaded by State Senator José Menéndez. The law, if passed, would make electronically harassing or bullying anyone under the age of 18 through text messages, social media, websites or apps a misdemeanor. It would also force schools focus on preventing cyberbullying, allow for investigation by schools into cases of the offense off-campus, as well as require schools to make counseling available for both the victim and the aggressor. “The rate of suicides amongst teens [in Bexar County] has tripled this year alone,” Menéndez said at the news conference. “When we went to school, we could get away from bullies.” According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, there are 17 states that have criminalized cyberbullying. Senator Menéndez’s proposal is modeled after Grace’s Law, which was passed in 2013 by Maryland lawmakers. Grace’s Law made cyberbullying a misdemeanor punishable with a $500 fine and up to a year in jail. The proposal by Senator Menéndez to make cyberbullying a crime is opposed by those who DAVID’S LAW ON PG. 3

Senior Boot Bag

FOOTBALL

“A World of Healthy Products for Your Family!”

We’ve got Years g 28 AN ebratinPowders CelOFFERING Protein

ALTERNATIVE Garden of Life nin kOneTHEYou! AllTO a TVega h Nutribiotic Rice Protein ort

• •

ur Supp

•

for Yo “SAMENESS” Nutiva

•

Price Includes Logo and Name

•

Manitoba Harvest

OF AT STOP BY TODAY LivingSHOPPING Harvest Nature’s Spiru-tein BIG-BOX toPlus Enter ALL VARITIES

(More logos available)

•

Shop for Little Aggies to an Aggie Xmas I have adult and other things in between.

•

Our Gift Today Basket Drawings SUPERMARKETS Genesis

•

etsy.com/shop/aggiesandbows

LIQUID 100

by Charlotte, Reveille’s Seamstress

4303 S. TEXAS AT ROSEMARY 4303 S. TEXAS AT ROSEMARY BRYAN 979-846-4459 BRYAN • 979-846-4459 MON-FRI 9 TO 6 SAT 9TO 4

charboeg@yahoo.com

Owned Celebrating 21 25 Years 26Locally Celebrating the 22 Years of of Serving the Brazos Brazos Valley!

979-778-2293

MON–FRI 9 TO 6 • SAT 9 TO 4

We Deliver!

1741 University Dr.

979-846-3600

Sun.- Wed. 10am-midnight

1740 Rock Prairie Rd. Hours

979-680-0508 Thurs.-Sat. 10am-1am

batt THE

The IndependenT STudenT VoIce

TexaS a&M

SInce

1893

Sam inChief Chief MarkKing, Doré, Editor Editor in Aimee Breaux, Managing Editor Katy Stapp, Managing Editor Asst. Managing Editor JenniferPryce, Reiley,News Chevall Editor Lindsey Gawlik,Sports NewsEditor Editor Angel Franco, Samantha King, Asst. News Chris Martin, SciTech Editor Editor Katy Stapp, Asst. NewsEditor Editor Gracie Mock, SciTech JohnMcCormack, Rangel, SciTech Josh LifeEditor and Arts Editor

Katie LifePhoto & ArtsChief Editor LeahCanales, Kappayil, Carter SportsEditor Editor AlexisKarels, Will, Video Shelby Knowles, Photo Editor Olivia Adam, Page Designer Asst. Photo Editor Allison Bradshaw, Zuri Sanchez, Page Designer Meredith PagePage Designer Rachael Collier, Saunders, Designer Claire Shepherd, Page Designer Kirsten Jacobson, Page Designer

Grace Neumann, Page Designer

The BaTTalion is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and

THE BATTALION is published daily,Thursday Monday during throughthe Thursday the(except fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and summerduring session spring semesters and and Thursday the summer session (exUniversity holidays andTuesday exam periods) at Texas during A&M University, College Station, cept University holidays and L400 examofperiods) at Texas A&M University, College TX 77843. Offices are in Suite the Memorial Student Center. Station, TX PPD 77843. are in Suite800_v4.pdf L400 of the Memorial Student Center. HatsOffices NP news Battalion 7/20/16 2:39 PM News: The Battalion department is managed1by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs.

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M UniNewsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http:// versity in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: www.thebatt.com. 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement

by The Battalion. For campus, local, anddoes national Advertising: Publication of advertising notdisplay imply advertising, sponsorshipcallor979en845-2687. by For classified advertising, 979-845-0569. hours display are 8 a.m. to dorsement The Battalion. For call campus, local, andOffice national adver5 p.m.call Monday through Friday. battads@thebatt.com. tising 979-845-2687. For Email: classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office Subscriptions: part5 ofp.m. the Monday Universitythrough Advancement entitles each Texas A&M hours are 8 a.m.A to Friday. Fee Email: battads@thebatt.com. student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional

copies $1. Subscriptions: the University Advancement Fee entitles Texas A&M2:39 stu- PM PPDA part Hatsof NP Battalion 800_v4.pdf 1 each 7/20/16 dent to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

The Battalion | 8.30.16

TICKETS CONTINUED Rosborough said throughout the day-long excitement workers behind the ticket windows worked to make sure the first ticket pull of the season ran as efficiently as possible. “We started off slow,” Rosborough said. “But once the new employees got the hang of ticket pull and the old ones shook off some rust, it went as smooth as possible with such a large demand and crown waiting.” Students who pulled tickets Monday also found a new request at the top of their tickets which read, “Step ‘off the wood,’ stand on the concrete.” The request, which is being described by the university as a “new tradition,” drew some criticism from students and on social media. Briscoe Elliott, community health junior and Corps of Cadets member, said he is not excited about the new policy because it directly opposes the original A&M tradition of stepping off the wood. “It’s kind of disappointing,” Elliot said. “I know [Kyle Field] is a new stadium and all, but it’s a pretty big tradition to stand on [the wood] and then step off when somebody gets injured and in different yells.” Elliott said he is still skeptical about how well the new request will be enforced. “There’s no way they are going to make 100,000-plus people not [stand on the wood],” Elliott said. “I think it is going to be extremely hard to implement it unless they have the ticket concierges just going down the rows.”

CLEAR BAGS CONTINUED “We always evaluate what we do,” Caruso said. “We are always looking to try and improve what we do, both from a presentation standpoint and enjoyment standpoint for the fans and also from a safety standpoint.” Caruso said the clear bag policy is a growing trend across the country. “The clear bag policy models the NFL policy,” Caruso said. “It’s happening out in the PAC-12 … There are eight other schools in the SEC that are doing it this year. Actually, if you are going to all of the Texas A&M football games — home and away — this year, you will be required to have a clear bag.” Caruso said the clear bag policy hopes to catalyze the entry process into sports venues. “[The policy] should speed up the checking of the bags, it should make it more efficient and more effective,”

Brian Okosun — THE BATTALION

Hundreds of students lined up outside the Bucky J. Richardson Zone Monday to pull tickets for Saturday’s football game against UCLA, some waiting more than an hour before receiving them.

While juniors and sophomores will claim their seats for this weekend’s game Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, some freshmen are eager to wait their turn in line to get their ticket on Thursday, as some will be attending their first game ever in Kyle Field this Saturday. Keith Sivarajah, computer engineering freshman, said he’s anticipating his

first game as a student and being a part of all the excitement of game day. “I’ve never been to an A&M game before and it’s going to be my first one,” Sivarajah said. “I’m excited for everything that goes on from before the game: tailgating, seeing the whole stadium on their feet and then watching A&M beat the hell out of UCLA.”

Caruso said. “We are allowing for a safer stadium and a faster entry for all those that are coming in.” Free clear bags will be available to athletic event attendees all season, said Caruso. “Every parking lot attendant will have clear bags to make them available to people, as well as having clear bags for people at all the shuttle stops,” Caruso said. Texas A&M has implemented this policy a year early compared to the SEC requirement of 2017, according to the 12th man website. While other schools may not be implementing the policy in 2016, the website said Texas A&M is doing so to proactively enhance the safety of all who will attend sporting events on the Texas A&M campus. Caruso said the SEC’s schedule for implementing the policy did not influence Texas A&M’s decision on when to implement its own. “We had talked about it for a couple of years, and we were going to do it

whether the conference did it or not,” Caruso said. “We think it’s timely from the standpoint of other schools around the country that are also implementing it.” General studies sophomore Carson McAnally said while the clear bag policy seems excessive, additional security for an area with a high concentration of students makes sense. “I think [the policy] is a tad bit paranoid, but at the same time I think it definitely is going to tie down a little bit with security, as far as the fact that we have so many students in one generalized area, so yes I think it will help,” McAnally said. “It’s got its pros and cons.” Daniel Valdez, engineering freshman, said although he believes the new policy is a nuisance he understands it may be a necessary trade-off for the safety of everyone at the games. “It’s reassuring that you can go to a football game and feel a lot more confident that you can go to this football game and be safe,” Valdez said.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Leah Kappayil — THE BATTALION

Campus was filled with students Monday as fall classes began. Only 67 school days left before winter break, Ags!

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 30 Weigh 110 - 220 lbs.

Tue. 9/6 - Fri. 9/9 Wed. 9/14 - Fri. 9/16 Wed. 9/21 - Fri. 9/23 Wed. 9/28 - Fri. 9/30 Outpatient Visit: 10/6

Men and Women 18 to 50

Up to $4000

Men and Women 18 to 50

Up to $1200

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 32

Thu. 9/15 - Sun. 9/18 Outpatient Visit: 9/23

Men and Women 18 to 55

Up to $1000

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 19 - 30 Females at least 110 lbs. Males at least 130 lbs.

Fri. 9/16 - Sun. 9/18

Men and Women 18 to 50

Up to $1500

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 32

Fri. 9/30 - Sun. 10/2 Fri. 10/7 - Sun. 10/9

FROMTHEFRONT

The Battalion | 8.30.16

BREAKAWAY CONTINUED “Early on, I wanted to be a part of things that would help nurture my relationship with the Lord, and Breakaway was a huge part of that. I’m sure that I missed some Tuesday nights, but I just can’t remember missing one.” Ateek said his decision to go into college ministry was made gradually. His father, a clinical psychologist, sparked an interest in psychology that led to Ateek’s area of study. Every summer, however, he would return to his high school ministry in Dallas as an intern. Ateek said he wrestled with what he viewed as two separate paths — psychology or Christian ministry — throughout college. But a junior-year psychology conference convinced him to break from his dad’s profession and pursue another path that — in hindsight — wasn’t so different after all. “Now that I am where I am having been in full time ministry for well over a decade, I see that it wasn’t an either-or decision — God just wanted me to use what I learned in psychology in a ministry setting,” Ateek said. “Such a large part of what I do is counseling with students — talking with them about the hurts in their lives and the areas of their lives that are broken.” A LEAP OF FAITH Two and a half years at seminary followed by time as a student pastor at an Austin church kicked off Ateek’s ministry after college. He married and had a stable and promising future in sight when an opportunity prompted Ateek to change course and take a leap of faith. Vertical Ministries, a Baylor Bible study similar to A&M’s Breakaway, was in need of a full-time director. It had started in 2009 in a coffee shop across the street from Baylor’s campus and had outpaced the organizational abilities of its student and volunteer staff.

DAVID’S LAW CONTINUED believe it to be an infringement on First Amendment Rights. “Technically it’s an infringement, but with how connected the world is there does need to be a repercussion in place,” history sophomore at Texas A&M Heather Jacobs said. Industrial engineering sophomore Adhika Putera said she believes there should be repercussions but that they shouldn’t be overly severe. “We are using social media constantly and aggressively,” Putera said. “Even if they [the aggressor] left a comment innocently, the vic-

And it had no money — less than $1 — said Dale Wallace, director of students at Vertical today. “[Vertical] had just started — there was good momentum, there was a lot of passion, but not a lot of direction,” Wallace said. While Vertical was growing in Waco, Ateek said he and his wife were discussing a mutual feeling — God was preparing them for some-

board of directors after his talk that offered him the director’s position, with a catch — they couldn’t promise him a salary. “I basically started by accepting a volunteer position, but the Lord was really faithful,” Ateek said. “We moved to Waco and we didn’t have to worry about money once. We did take a big leap. We loved life in Austin. It was really comfortable. It was very certain, very

“I am here to simply do what God asks me to do, and that is continue the good work that he’s [Ben Stuart] already been doing over the last 26 years.” Timothy Ateek,director of Breakaway Ministries

thing more than their current situation in Austin, and Vertical seemed to resonate with that calling when Ateek spoke there for the first time. “We really sensed a new chapter of ministry was coming,” Ateek said. “We didn’t know what it was. I had different job opportunities on the table that had full time salaries and benefits and they were stable and great opportunities. But none of them felt right. And then I was asked to come and speak at Vertical, and I went, and I fell in love with it in large part because of the impact Breakaway had on my life.” Ateek received a letter from Vertical’s

predictable. And Vertical wasn’t predictable.” MINISTERING TO THE MODERN CAMPUS Vertical gained a full-time director in Ateek and the ministry exploded, said Garrett Mindrup, current student president of Vertical Ministries at Baylor. Mindrup described Ateek as a man who tirelessly poured himself into bringing Vertical to every aspect of Baylor. Student volunteers grew from less than 10 to more than 70. Praise and worship was moved to increasingly larger on-campus venues as

attendance skyrocketed. But throughout this growth, Mindrup said Ateek made it a point to maintain Vertical’s sense of family. Meetings were held off campus at a faculty sponsor’s house, where Ateek and the sponsor would serve dinner to the students before having open conversations about the Bible and Christian ministry. When Mindrup mentioned he and a group of male volunteers were looking to study the Bible as a group, Ateek began regularly inviting them over to his house to start a Bible study group. “He’s a man who really loves and cares about college students and he wants to see them come to know and love the lord Jesus that he loves and he’s a big visionary,” Mindrup said. “He’s always asking how we can improve this, how can we reach more college students.” RETURNING TO TEXAS A&M Ateek was Vertical’s director for four years, during which time he kept close ties to Texas A&M, making the hour-and-a-half drive from Waco to College Station several times a year to speak at Breakaway. The morning after one such talk in April, Ben Stuart revealed over breakfast to Ateek and his wife that Breakaway’s board wanted him to return when Stuart stepped down as director to become a pastor in Atlanta. Ateek said the invitation came at the right time again, as he and his wife were once more discussing the call to move on. He doesn’t view himself as Breakaway’s new leader, and does not believe the ministry must be changed in any way. “God has asked me to come to Breakaway,” Ateek said. “That’s why I’m here. God doesn’t need me to lead Breakaway because he’s the leader of Breakaway. I am here to simply do what God asks me to do, and that is continue the good work that he’s [Ben Stuart] already been doing over the last 26 years.”

tim could take it a different way. The law is necessary as long as the punishment isn’t too harsh.” Menéndez said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled there are boundaries when it comes to “free speech”. “You can’t yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater is a classic example,” Menéndez said. “You also can’t make threats against someone’s life and defend it as free speech.” The proposed law has support in the Texas State Senate as well as in the Texas House of Representatives, where Representative Ina Minjarez is spearheading the initiative. The Texas Legislature convenes in January, and voting on David’s Law will take place at that time.

The first hearing of David’s law was held in Austin on Aug. 23.

Ethan Dias — THE BATTALION

classifieds

Place

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

BED AND BREAKFAST Romantic Getaways & Engagements, secluded cabin suites. All Day, All Night. www.7flodge.com 979-690-0073.

CHILD CARE Child care needed for family, call 361-563-8214 for more information.

FOR RENT 2 blocks from campus, 4bd/3ba, updated kitchen, remodeled granite/marble countertops, $575-675 per room, 979-229-7440. 3 blocks from campus, 3bd/2ba, updated kitchen, granite/marble countertops, $575-675 per room, 979-229-7440.

When

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

FOR RENT 2bd/2ba Oak Creek condominiums, 2320 Jaguar Dr, Bryan. $700/mo, newly remodeled, W/D, pets ok, Free cable/internet, 4untis available, 979-595-2801 ext4. 3 months free rent at the brand new Retreat Apts!!! Take over a years lease!!! 8/19-7/31. On the shuttle route. Private bedroom and bathroom. Fully furnished. Rent $714/mo. Please text or call 281-734-4177. Dorm room at The Callaway House for the 2016/2017 school year, Price greatly reduced!! 770-403-6335. Large selection of 3-2 duplexes. Pick yours now, starting at $995. Ready to go. Laminate and ceramic flooring, all appliances. Close to campus. See now. On Line Real Estate 979-268-8620.

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.

HELP WANTED Artist needed to make design for conceptual invention, contact 979-599-2152 for more information. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com

thebatt.com

HELP WANTED

Busy Development company in Cayman Islands, seeking graduate familiar with BIM and construction processes. Contact Ian@davenport.ky or 354-926-7825.

Frittella Italian Cafe, Casual but elegant environment; need motivated individuals with good work ethic, neat appearance and personable. We will train, apply in person.

Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for interview.

Individual needed for internet search to compare and create government mail-out document, $500 for time/effort, contact 979-599-2152 for more information.

Computer Programmer needed, contact 979-599-2152 for more information.

Local carpet cleaning company looking for part-time positions. Willing to work around class schedule, great pay for college students. Random drug testing. Must have clean driving record and pass background check. Call 979-693-6969 for more info. Part-time receptionist, $8.50, 1-8 Tuesday, Thursday, every other Saturday 9-1. Contact David Barrett 979-774-2603.

HELP WANTED Wish to hire hard-working student to promote new, live, interactive FREE sports app to be launched this fall. Contact Dr. Miller at 832-922-8119 or 281-3706911.

LOST & FOUND Pair of trifocal Fendi frame glasses in hot pink case lost on campus at the end of school year in June. If found please call 979-218-6082. Reward $100.

REAL ESTATE Southwood Valley 3/2/2, granite, cul-de-sac, $168,000. Team Mcgrann TAMU'93 Civil Engineering 979-739-2035/777-6211, Town&Country Realty, Hablamos Espanol!

ANSWERS

to todays puzzles read the fine print.

the

battalion Classifieds

Call 845-0569 To Place Your Ad

GREAT DEALS EVERY TUESDAY

THE BATTALION | THEBATT.COM

BAT T COUPONS THE

SCITECH

The Battalion | 8.30.16

CENTRAL STATION

1519 S Texas Ave • College Station, TX 77840 supercuts.com

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL! $

3 OFF HAIRCUT

Coupon valid only at 1519 S Texas Ave location. Not valid with any other offer. No cash value. One coupon valid per customer. Please present coupon prior to payment of service. Printed in the USA © 2016 Supercuts Inc. Expires: 10/01/16

Leah Kappayil— THE BATTALION

FREE appetizer (1 per table with meal purchase) Expires 8/26/16

not valid with any other offer 222 n. main, downtown bryan (979) 822-2675 www.theplaceforitalian.com

PHOT0S FOR THE 2017 AGGIELAND SEPT. 19th thru OCT. 13th Monday thru Thursday 10am - 3pm Should any student be unable to make the specified times on campus they can contact Specialties directly to set up a complimentary in-studio appointment at 979-696-9898. Any graduating seniors who wish to set up a cap/gown photo will need to contact the studio at 979-696-9898. Cap/Gown sessions cost $21.95. ALL CLASSES will be in the yearbook. Photos are taken at the SANDERS CORPS MUSEUM LIBRARY!

It’s your yearbook. Be in it.

Armani Cassel (left) and Neil McHenry (right) demonstrate a virtual reality simulation for Patrick Tam (middle).

From the MSC to outer space: virtual reality offers escape from real world By Gracie Mock @G_Mock2 Scuba diving, space pirate training and auto mechanic work took place in the MSC Sunday — all through a virtual reality simulation set up by the Texas A&M Visual and Augmented Reality (TAMUVR) organization. Using equipment owned by aerospace engineering senior Neil McHenry, TAMUVR was able to create a completely computer-generated world for MSC passersby to experience. “Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulated space that you are inside and your computer graphics are rendering what your space looks like completely, where augmented reality (AR), the computer is overlaying images on the world around you — like Pokemon Go is a real popular AR,” said Armani Cassel, meteorology senior and president of TAMUVR. McHenry said the system used to achieve the demonstration is the HTC Vive, released in June 2016, which includes a head mounted display, two controllers and two laser lighthouses. “The cost of [the system] is about $900 in total, after tax and shipping, just for the VR headset,” McHenry said. “To run it you have to have a computer, a relatively high end computer, that costs about $1,000 or more and that’s basically it for the HTC Vive.” Engineering freshman Jared Kizer stopped by the demonstration because he had previously used Google Cardboard, a type of virtual reality experience that utilizes apps and rudimentary cardboard goggles, but said the HTC Vive was a whole new level. “I did the one where it was space pirate training,” Kizer said. “There were drones flying at you and you had to shoot them or use a shield and block them [because] they were trying to shoot you.” Kizer said it took him a few minutes to acclimate to the simulation. “You can tell you’re basically wearing a screen, but after a couple of minutes, after moving around some, after looking around and being able to move controllers in your hands and watching the guns or shields turn with it almost identically to how it would be in real life, it becomes pretty convincing,” Kizer said. While the system was set up for fun at the MSC, it also has practical uses. “[VR has] applications in the professional arena with construction industries and overlaying, augmented simulations of future buildings as well as being able to train repairs for different machinery,” Cassel said. “It’s not just for fun, but that’s one of the biggest draws in terms of attention to it.”

McHenry said he is working on a project for NASA that will essentially be used to train astronauts by linking them together them in a simulation that will take them through an entire mission opposed to the separate systems typically used.

Leah Kappayil— THE BATTALION

Patrick Tam experiences a virtual reality simulation through the HTC Vive. “The astronauts will be able to jump into virtual reality — not just one person either — we’ll be able to link multiple people into a simulation and have them, in virtual reality, try to fit maybe seven or eight astronauts into a space craft and [have] them run a mission all the way from Earth to Mars,” McHenry said. Cassel said the purpose of the demonstration was to reach as many people as possible and to increase interest in virtual reality. “Right now, it’s one more opportunity for students to try out virtual reality demos here and, again I come back to where we’re talking about how expensive an investment it is, we want to make sure that students can at least have an opportunity to try it and also, not just students but anyone who’s walking by, walking on campus,” Cassel said. McHenry likened the increasing popularity of virtual reality to the late 1900s when computers and cell phones began their rise. “This is just the start of the virtual reality surge,” McHenry said. “Kind of like in the eighties when we first started having computers and mobile devices in the 2000s, now we’re having a lot of virtual reality devices.”

YOU CAN LAND A GIG IN SILICON VALLEY

OR YOU CAN APPLY

YOU KNOW TO PROTECT OUR NATION.

Sure, you could work for a buzzworthy tech company that has a playground in the lunchroom. Or you could come to the CIA – where you’ll embark on a mission to keep Americans safe. With your STEM background, critical thinking skills and intellectual curiosity, you’ll crack some of the toughest challenges imaginable – from developing the world’s most advanced technology to seeing the complex narrative in big data. This is your opportunity to have a career that’s as meaningful as it is challenging. Apply today. THE WORK OF A NATION. THE CENTER OF INTELLIGENCE.

Applicants must have US citizenship and the ability to successfully complete medical examinations and security procedures, including a polygraph interview. An equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workforce.

cia.gov/careers