WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2018 STUDENT MEDIA One of Jesse Medina’s customers travels an hourand-a-half from Smithville just to have Jesse cut his hair.
Cutting edge tradition Jesse Medina has been giving haircuts in College Station for the past 62 years By Miranda White @mirandakw Creating looks for over half a century, a local barbershop owner is still going strong, providing fresh cuts to residents in the Bryan-College Station area. Jesse Medina grew up in the B-CS area and served in the Korean War on the U.S.S. Jason. After returning to Bryan, he opened Aggieland Barber Shop off the corner of College Main and University Drive in 1956. In 1978, he relocated to the second floor of the building, where he still operates today. During his service in the U.S. Navy, Medina said he became tired of his position on deck in the frosty Japanese weather, so when a barber offered him a chair below the ship’s deck, he immediately accepted. With no previous experience cutting hair, Medina said he learned quickly, practicing on the 400 men aboard the U.S.S. Jason. “The barber who offered me his chair said I had a natural talent,” Medina said. “Well, I guess I do since I have been doing it for 64 years.” Medina, 84-years-old, has developed a loyal customer base, some of whom travel many miles just BARBER ON PG. 2
Casey Dawson — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher sits with Boling High School recruit Verson Jackson at an A&M basketball game.
Signing on for victory Texas A&M football recruits to make their committments official By Ryan MacDonald @Ryan_MacDonald2
Cassie Stricker— THE BATTALION
The Texas A&M football program gained 10 players in the inaugural year of the Early Signing Period that took place from Dec. 20-22. The 10 new players were meager in comparison to other major programs across the country, due to uncertainty regarding the coaching staff. Despite the low number, the early signing class has no shortage of talent, with signatures from five four-star players, including the No. 2 junior college tight end in the nation, Jace Sternberger, and the No. 13 offensive tackle in the nation, Colten Blanton. Both players are already enrolled. The Aggies hired Jimbo Fisher on Dec. 1 in the weeks leading up to the Early Sign-
ing Period; however, Fisher had to juggle assembling a coaching staff virtually from scratch and jumping on the recruiting trail. Despite the extreme task at hand, Fisher hit the ground running on recruitment, traveling across the state and hosting recruits just days after his arrival. Another thing working against Fisher was the NCAA “Dead Period” that lasted from Dec. 17 to Jan. 11, in which coaches were not able to have any contact with recruits. With the new staff intact, A&M coaches had a tight turnaround to ensure they hung on to recruits from the last regime who neglected to sign during the Early Signing Day Period and to set out recruiting their own players. The coaching staff was helped by current commits, most notably four-star defensive end Max Wright, and from current and former players, including Johnny Manziel. Since Fisher and his staff have taken over, NSD ON PG. 2
Keeping the momentum
Kevin Chou — THE BATTALION
Junior point guard Admon Gilder attempts to score on a South Carolina defender.
Aggie basketball hopes to capitalize on their recent win By Angel Franco @angelmadison_ Riding the momentum gained last Saturday after defeating South Carolina at home, Texas A&M looks to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive as they travel to take on No. 8 Auburn. The Aggies are owners of an abysmal 1-5 road record this season — four of those losses came from conference play and the other was a road loss to Kansas. A&M head coach Billy Kennedy said the team’s inconsistency has been a major factor in their demise. “We haven’t had consistent practices, consistent play,” Kennedy said. However, in the last two games, the Aggies have shown a glimmer
of excellence that is keeping their dreams of making it at least into the tournament alive. Kennedy also said A&M has had success in the past against Auburn on the road and hopes to replicate it come Wednesday night. “We’re playing better as a team, we’ve played well there before,” Kennedy said. “[Hopefully] we can go in there and understand the magnitude of the game and play well again.” But with his team’s lack of reliability, Kennedy said he isn’t fully able to know what to expect at Auburn. “I wish I could tell you I knew what I was going to get from this team,” Kennedy said. “We haven’t been consistent enough for me to feel that well.” With junior guard Admon Gilder returned to the starting line up, the Aggies have shown improvement M. BASKETBALL ON PG. 3
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Transportation Services is currently struggling to handle the responsibilities of the growing College Station population.
Going forward with the growth Transportation Services discuss plans to adapt to the increasing student body By Jane Turchi @JaneTurchi While providing service from as early as 7 a.m. to past midnight on some routes, Transportation Services has been unable to keep up with the growing student population, but is taking action to alleviate the problem. According to their website, Texas A&M’s Department of Transportation Services is responsible for nearly 37,000 parking spaces in over 150 parking lots and five parking garages — more than any university in the country — and continues to see growth in the future. As A&M continuously breaks
record enrollment numbers, more stress has been placed on the school’s transportation services. Transportation Services also states on its website that it currently has a maximum capacity with a fleet of 100 buses, as the budget does not allow the purchase of more. Increasing the number of buses would cost an approximate $90,000 to $180,000 per-year, per bus as well as $500,000 to purchase each new bus. “Transportation Services’ biggest difficulty is limited funding for transit,” said Debbie Hoffman, associate director of Transportation Services. “Our bus service and fleet are not funded at the same rate of increase the campus is seeing in population. This makes it impossible to provide the same level of service per student as we have in the past.” A&M busses provide roughly 50,000 TRANSPORTATION ON PG. 3
Student Rush Tickets Only $20 TUE & WED, FEB 6 & 7 Mature Themes
Get Tickets: MSC Box Office 979-845-1234 *A limited number of student RUSH tickets are available for ONLY $20. These tickets are available at the MSC Box Office. Please limit 2 tickets per student. Student ID is required. This offer not valid for tickets already purchased.
NEWS
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The Battalion | 2.7.18
NSD CONTINUED
Grounded in History
the maroon and white has received commitments from Deneric Prince, Tyree Wilson, Jalen Preston and Leon O’Neal. O’Neal, a four-star commit, is the most recent to announce his decision for the Aggies and single handedly lifted the Aggie class from the No. 35 recruiting class to No. 23 when he announced his decision on Monday. O’Neal was committed to A&M under the previous staff, however, he decommitted when they left. Fisher and his staff were able to lure O’Neal back to Aggieland. With the integration of the new Early Signing Period, the coaching change and the mediocre 2017 season, most people thought this would be a down-year on the recruiting front. However, Fisher has recovered phenomenally and will have a realistic chance to nab 18 of the nation’s top recruits on Wednesday’s Signing Day. Most notably, Fisher has a chance to land four-star commits Jaylen Waddle, Bobby Brown and Joseph Ossai. Waddle, arguably the top receiver in Texas, will choose between Alabama and A&M and will announce his commitment at 3:30 p.m. Brown originally committed to A&M under the
The story of Texas A&M’s buildings and statues By Luke Henkhaus @Luke_Henkhaus MEMORIAL STUDENT CENTER
FILE
A memorial to fallen Aggies and the living room of campus, Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center holds a special place in the past, present and future of the student body. The building opened its doors on Aggie Muster Day in 1951, dedicated to the Aggies who lost their lives in World War II. The building was rededicated in 1976, expanding to include Aggies who died in all wars – past, present and future. Due to the MSC’s status as a “living memorial” to these students, all are asked to remove their hats when entering and to avoid stepping on the grass outside. The original structure contained a number of features current students would recognize, including ballrooms, piano practice rooms and the iconic Flag Room. However, the building as students know it today would not exist without significant renovations. After closing for construction in 2009, the MSC officially reopened on Muster Day in 2012. Portions of the old MSC were repurposed or reincorporated in the new design, preserving much of the building’s original look and feel. One feature that didn’t make the cut, however, was the MSC bowling alley.
BARBER CONTINUED to have him cut their hair. Ron Martins, a 78-year-old customer, said Medina has been his barber since 1978. Once a month, he makes the hourand-a-half drive from Smithville. “Jesse is the reason I stay nearby,” Martins said. Medina said he specializes in the flattop haircut, but can improvise anything. “When one walks into his shop, they may think they are going to get, a 60s haircut, but he really knows the modern
styles and can do what anyone asks,” customer Khaleel Abubasha said. Medina’s shop decor features classic pictures of his Navy career, old articles written about him and an antique telephone and cash register. “I like the vintage style of his shop and listening to his stories about life,” Abubasha said. Medina said developing relationships through conversation is one thing he loves about his job. “My favorite thing about my shop is the people that come in,” Medina said. “I enjoy the
previous staff, then decommitted and committed to Alabama when they left. Brown took an official visit to A&M last weekend and the Aggies are in a close race to land the defensive end. Brown has not announced when he will be signing. Ossai’s final two are Texas and A&M, and most experts are calling it a toss-up. Ossai has not announced when he will officially put pen to paper. When all is said and done, Fisher will likely have put together a class that ranks in the Top 15 in the nation, a truly remarkable feat, all things considered. The coaching change may have come at a good time for the Aggies as they lost just eight starters. Fisher’s staff is also in very good shape with the class of 2019 after picking up commitments from Brian Williams, Kam Brown and Bobby Wolfe. The A&M 2019 class currently ranks as the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation, according to 247sports.com. Whatever happens on Wednesday, it is evident that the new A&M coaching staff has revamped its recruiting efforts and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
one-on-one conversations I have with my customers.” Because of A&M’s diverse population of international students, Medina said it is fascinating that he has customers come from all over the world for a haircut. “I can do haircuts that others don’t do, or don’t like to do, so people from all over the world come to me,” Medina said. Medina said the friendly students and his customers are his favorite thing about College Station. Starting in the 50s and 60s, Medina said his customers were generous and gave him
A&M football tickets. “I remember when football tickets were only $5.50 and customers would come and bring me tickets,” Medina said. “I would always bring my brother or a friend to enjoy the evening.” Medina said he has grown as a person over the years. He said as a minority, he came to College Station with a chip on his shoulder, but as he spent more time here, he realized the Aggie family is accepting and loving. “You must focus on where you are now and not where you used to be,” Medina said.
Casey Dawson — THE BATTALION
classifieds
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FOR RENT 203 Luther $2800. Beautiful 4/3/2 in historic area of College Station just a few blocks from campus. Completely renovated with wood & tile flooring throughout. 979777-5436 3/2 home on 5 acres, private entry, option to keep horses, pet deposit, $1200/mo, 20 minutes from campus, partially furnished, 979775-4264.
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$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.
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Baptist church needs nursery workers for Sunday mornings and evenings and Wednesday evenings. Please call Mary at 979-776-5000 or email mary@christsway.org
Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $75-$150/hr, up to $500/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com
Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for interview. Part-time child care help needed. Apply in person at Fit for Kids. 3609 East 29th Bryan, Tx.
HELP WANTED Estimating/Sales position. If you love working with design and people call 979-574-7474 or email resume contact@aggielandcarpetone.com Tutors wanted for all subjects currently taught at TAMU/Blinn and Sam Houston State starting at $10/hour. Apply online at www.99Tutors.com 979-255-3655. 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.
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MUSIC Private Piano/Voice Instruction. Pianist for Weddings and Special Events. Call Scott today at 979-204-0447. www.brazosmusicgroup.com
REAL ESTATE BUY/SELL with Team McGrann! Michael, TAMU'93 Civil Engineering, 979-739-2035, mcgranntx@yahoo.com Nadia 979-777-6211, mail@nadiarealty.com Town&Country Realty. Hablamos Espanol!
TUTORS Need a Tutor? Friendly, helpful one-on-one private tutors for all subjects at TAMU/Blinn and Sam Houston State. Check us out at www.99tutors.com, 979-255-3655.
to todays puzzles
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battalion Classified Advertising Easy Affordable Effective For information, call 845-0569
2018 AGGIELAND PHOTOS STARTING FEBRUARY 12TH! Specialties Photography will be set up to have your FREE portrait taken for Texas A&M University’s 2016 Aggieland yearbook.
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.
ALL CLASSES: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Thursday in the Sanders Corp Museum Library
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.
It’s your yearbook. Be in it.
NEWS
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The Battalion | 2.7.18
Scarcely social due to screens Society has become too focused on technology. Taylor Fennell @TaylorPFennell
S
Taylor Fennell — THE BATTALION
Memories are often missed when looking at our phones instead of enjoying the moments.
unday evening, as Justin Timberlake wrapped up the Super Bowl halftime show, I couldn’t help but watch the teenage boy beside him concentrate on posting a selfie of the experience. This wasn’t a quick snap of a photo to post later — from the moment #selfiekid took the picture, he was looking down at his phone. Afterward, I was surprised to realize that this instance didn’t annoy me. I actually related to the young selfietaker. I mentally assessed the similar occasions I have experienced and felt guilty. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have my phone out for the majority of the One America Appeal benefit last semester. Still, I know I’m one of millions of people who engage in this behavior every day. We somehow obtain the opportunity of a lifetime, whether that be breathing the same air as five former presidents or dancing beside Justin Timberlake, and we eclipse the experience by taking photos for our Instagram feed. Our motives are pure — we want to relive this memory forever and share it with our friends. However, by watching life through a screen, we miss out on the ability to truly enjoy the moment we’re in. There are elements of an experience
that simply cannot be portrayed through a screen. The spectacularity of any show is diminished with a camera and because our eyes are focused on images on our phones, music is not thoroughly appreciated. The chance to make the moment even better disappears when we pull our phones out of our pockets. This obsession with capturing everything in our lives has caused social interaction to evolve in an incredibly unhealthy fashion. There is no longer a need to ask loved ones about their day because we’ve already seen it on their Snapchat story. Conversely, we are upset when they don’t ask about ours, regardless of the fact that they saw our posts. We judge others for their captions and filters, essentially discounting the characteristics that make them human. I’m not proposing a ban on selfies, social media or the beautification of Instagram feeds. In fact, I encourage each of those activities. I am, however, advocating for appreciation of the adventures. Moving forward, I’ll concentrate on living in the moment and hope to snap some photos in the midst. After all, capturing photos of life is a fantastic privilege, but it means nothing if we can’t tell the stories that accompany them. Taylor Fennell is an international studies freshman and an assistant news editor for The Battalion.
TRANSPORTATION CONTINUED rides a day, according to the Department of Transportation’s Transit Facts and Figures page, but still struggle to accommodate the large number of students from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., often running behind schedule during rush hour. “Transportation Services plays a large role in helping students get to and from campus and class,” Hoffman said. “Additionally, they have a role in helping to mitigate congestion. However, many of the causes for congestion are beyond our control, such as construction and crowded city streets.” To arrive at campus more efficiently, Hoffman said students should plan ahead and prepare to use various modes of transportation. “There are a few things to consider when choosing the best mode of transportation for traveling to and from campus and we recommend that students research their options and plan ahead,” Hoffman said. “Waiting until the week that school begins to figure out how to travel to campus can cause a great deal of confusion and frustration that planning ahead can help alleviate.” In an effort to reduce the number of cars on the roads, Transportation Services has implemented various bike and car sharing programs, according to Hoffman. These efforts have also helped the city accommodate the student population growth. “One of our biggest successes we see coming in 2018 is a massive bike share program that will allow students, faculty and staff to use any of thousands of quality bikes that will be in placed throughout campus for a low semester price,” Hoffman said. “With the launch of this extensive service, we are discouraging people from buying or bringing personal bikes to campus.” According to Hoffman, bike shares will reduce the traffic around campus, improve parking and shrink the environmental impact caused by vehicles. “This program will greatly expand biking as an option for our campus community without any of the worries of flat tires, broken chains, bent wheels or theft,” Hoffman said. “Details about the program will be available on their site by the end of this semester and will be shared at New Student Conferences this summer.” Shianne McPherson, political science sophomore, said she has experienced buses running behind schedule due to traffic. She added, crowded buses make life hectic for everyday commuting. “I have been late to class a few times because the bus driver had to sit at a stop or because they tried cramming 100 people on a bus, which is rarely successful,” McPherson said. “The other day a bus driver sat at a stop and told us we weren’t going anywhere until there were two lines formed in the aisle so 20 more people could get on. I basically had people sitting in my lap.” Elizabeth Kelly, visualization sophomore, said she usually drives to campus to avoid being late to class but still struggles to find a parking spot. “I don’t have a parking pass but have parked on campus to get to class on time after sleeping in late,” Kelly said. “I end up paying for parking tickets instead. I guess by the end of the semester I’ll have paid the same amount of money as I would have to buy a parking pass.”
Graduate guard Duane Wilson dribbles the ball down court.
Kevin Chou — THE BATTALION
M. BASKETBALL CONTINUED on both sides of the ball. In the Aggies’ meeting with South Carolina, Gilder was 5-for-8 from field goal range and had 15 points of the night, contributing with a 16-point run early in the game. Gilder said although there has been an increase in success, he doesn’t believe his return is the only reason why. “I think we got the entire team back and so we’re together,” Gilder said. “Practicing more with everybody, feeling more comfortable and just getting back into the groove of where we were in October.” With the team dynamic being restored, Kennedy said he hopes his team can work on two crucial parts of their game. “Key thing is getting back in transition and taking care of the ball,” Kennedy said. “Two things that we haven’t done consistently on the road. That’s why we’re in the situation we’re in.” Heading into Wednesday’s matchup with the Tigers, Gilder said the team is going to have to use their size and athleticism to defend one of the best teams
in the country and the No. 1 team in the SEC. “Now we’re just going to have to use our length and matchup for shooting in the area,” Gilder said. “We have length, therefore we’re going to have to be able to slow them down a bit and focus on where their shooters are. They have many shooters, one through five, so play hard defense and buy into what we’re trying to do.” One of the Tigers’ lead scorers is junior guard Brice Brown, who averages 17 points a game and 3.5 three-pointers a game. Gilder said Brown has been one of the major focal points of his approach heading into this game. “I’m looking forward to [guarding Brice Brown], not just me but the whole team,” Gilder said. “We have our game plan here today, [which is to] stop the three point shooting, of course their transition ’cause they’re a dynamic transition team. We just got to know the offensive rebound.” Kennedy said Brown isn’t the Tigers’ only problem as they prepare defensively for Auburn. Kennedy said Auburn’s roster is filled with great shooters like Mustapha Heron and Jar-
ed Harper, who average 15.6 and 12.9 points per game respectively. “Brown is such a great scorer. Kennedy said right now he’s shooting the ball at a high level.” “Then you got three guys that in the last game score [combined] 68 points. It’s a tough call on them. All three of them are weapons.” The Aggies will return to Aggieland to host Kentucky on Saturday, much making Wednesday’s matchup that’s much more important for the Aggies if they hope to still be playing come late March. Gilder said he and the rest of the team look forward to potentially upsetting Auburn before returning home to defend Reed Arena. “I think this is a big test … I think that we need every win we can get right now,” Gilder said. “We’ve been doing a great job of winning at home, so now we’ve got to go on the road and go get one that we know is going to be very key for us in March. We go in there and get a key win that we need and come back and protect our house against a very well known opponent [in] Kentucky.”
THE TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA BOARD INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR THE
THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the 2018 spring semester and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: 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, 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.
Editor-in-Chief
BATTALION The IndependenT STudenT VoIce of TexaS a&M SInce 1893
Spring 2018 (The spring editor will oversee print and digital editions and serve through May 14, 2018)
Qualifications for editor-in-chief of The Battalion are: REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester. PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society) or equivalent; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible editorial position on The Battalion or comparable daily college newspaper, – OR – Have at least one year editorial experience on a commercial newspaper, – OR – Have completed at least 12 hours in journalism, including JOUR 203 (Media Writing I) and JOUR 303 (Media Writing II) or JOUR 304 (Editing for the Mass Media), or equivalent.
Application forms should be picked up from and returned to Douglas Pils, Student Media General Manager, in Suite L410 of the MSC. Deadline for submitting application: 3 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2018.
is information along with a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37 can be found at
tx.ag/OrgHazingReport Alleged incidents of hazing should be reported to one of the following offices: University Police Department: Offices of the Dean of Student Life: (979) 845-3111 (979) 845-2345 Office of the Commandant: Department of Student Activities: (979) 845-1133 (979) 845-2811
LIFE&ARTS
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The Battalion | 2.7.18
Photos by Dalia Muayad — THE BATTALION
The Step Right Up! exhibit includes approximately 60 pieces of memorabilia and is open for students to view at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries until March 14.
Spotlight on the Big Top: Behind the scenes of the circus A collection of memorabilia displays life behind the show from 1890-1965 By Kathryn Whitlock @Kathryn-whitloc8 Packed with colorful posters, photographs and costumes, the traveling Step Right Up! exhibit seeks to explore all facets of the circus, provide nostalgia and instigate an appreciation of the show. Curated by variety entertainer Timothy Tegge, this exhibit will be on display until March 14 in the J. Wayne Stark Galleries in the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M. Focusing on the time span of 1890 to 1965, Step Right Up! takes its viewers behind the scenes of the Big Top by featuring approximately 60 pieces of iconic memorabilia. When Tegge was very young, his father
left the business world and transitioned to show business, immersing Tegge in the circus world. “By the time I was 3, my parents decided it would be a great idea to put me into clown makeup,” Tegge said. “I made my debut in show business at the age of 3 by riding behind my dad on my tricycle in one of his shows. I always tell people that by the age of 10, I knew what I was going to do with my life. To this day, I never regret having to go to work.” Step Right Up! has been on the road for five years but will finish traveling after its time at A&M. Post-exhibition, the collection will be given back to Tegge to be used for future independent endeavors. “It’s very important that this living history continues,” Tegge said. “All of these artifacts visually tell the story of the circus, and I feel like this should be shown to the public. The circus is a piece of our culture. It’s very ro-
mantic and very mystifying. I feel like I am only getting started.” Until the exhibit closes, a series of programs will be held: a “Circus Music” presentation, Circus Camp, Tim Tegge’s public talk and walk-around, Texas Circus Tribute, a lecture titled “A Grand Aggregation of Wonders: America, Texas and the World at the Circus, 1793-1956” and Brownbag’s presentation of “Reminiscences of TAMU’s own Circus Researcher.” Cathy Hastedt, director of J. Wayne Stark Galleries, said she thought the exhibit would interest students and evoke an understanding of history. Within the gallery, there is a wall specifically dedicated to Texas circuses. “A lot of people don’t realize Texas was the headquarters for a lot of circuses, but a lot of them don’t exist anymore,” Hastedt said. “There was one in Gonzales, Texas, that was a community circus where anybody who lived
Purchase Your
2017 AGGIELAND YEARBOOK The 2017 Aggieland Yearbook is a photojournalistic record of the 2016-2017 school year. The 115th edition of Texas A&M’s Official Yearbook.
$65.00 + Tax ($10.83 for Mail Fee)
Go online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase. Skip the mail fee and come by Suite L400 in the MSC to purchase your book.
in the community could be a part of it.” Robert Harmel, political science professor, has his own personal collection of circus memorabilia. Recently, he began collecting photographs of presidents attending circuses, including one of George H.W. Bush “throwing his hat in the ring” for the presidency at a Ringling performance. Harmel, who also contributed to the Texas Circus section of the exhibit, said he believes that while the height of American circuses has passed, an audience for circuses will remain. “Most of us have attended a circus performance at one time or another, and most of us will do so again sometime in the future,” Harmel said. “The exhibit gives context for those experiences. It not only gives some sense of the historical relevance of circus as an entertainment form in America, but also some of the flavor of circus life behind the scenes.”
Don’t forget to preorder your copy of the 2018 Aggieland yearbook, a photojournalistic record of the 2017-2018 school year. The 116th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Distribution will be the Fall 2018. Go online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase.
$75.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)