The Battalion- July 13, 2021

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The Battalion | 7.13.21

Breaking tradition of racism Current, former students comment on racist Corps of Cadets experiences

By Emma Wright Guest Contributor Nicholas Salter, Class of 2021, said as a senior African American in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, he was used to hearing racist jokes from his white peers. The jokes were often based on stereotypes, such as assuming Salter likes fried food or saying he “acts white.”

“They take a stab at who I am as a person by taking a look at my skin color...instead of talking to me first,” Salter said.

A&M’s history of racism dates back to its significant figures, many of whom were former Confederate soldiers and Klansmen, evidenced by records and archives in the Cushing Memorial Library. The persisting prejudice has prompted the university to fund programs such as the Green Dot Bystander Intervention

Training Program, which trains participants to stop acts of power-based violence when witnessed. A&M also provides affinity groups where students of color can meet, like the Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee, in response to racism on campus.

Salter is one of 2,380 Black students at A&M. Demographic data shows Black students are 3.3 percent of the total student body, according to A&M’s Office for Diversity.

White students make up 54.5 percent of the student population, with Hispanic students at 22.5 percent and Asian students at 8.8 percent.

In the Corps, the largest student organization on campus, African American students make up 2 percent of the population, according to a 2015 article in the Austin American-Statesman.

As one of only 50 African American cadets, industrial engineering senior Chloe Edison said she is still mistaken for other Black cadets – by her white leaders – whom she looks nothing like.

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With only 3.3 percent of Black students taking up A&M’s student body, members of the Corps of Cadets reflect on racist experiences and discuss possible solutions for the future.

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The Battalion | 7.13.21

Students regain study abroad opportunities

PROVIDED

Following a year of pandemic precautions, A&M’s Education Abroad office is seeing students return to study abroad programs throughout the world and across the country.

As international travel restrictions loosen, education abroad resumes

By Lauren Discher @laurendischer After COVID-19 kept people in their homes and brought students studying abroad back to the states, Aggies are anxious to get out of the house and once again experience new places.

In the spring and summer of 2020, Texas A&M’s Education Abroad program was forced to make the tough decision to bring many students back home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the program has sent students abroad in increasing numbers, always maintaining the health and safety of students as their top priority. Additionally, Aggies are taking advantage of opportunities to travel for both work and pleasure as more countries become available to tourists.

Interning at a nonprofit in Chiang Mai, Thailand, marketing senior Reagan King said

she has had an interesting experience getting to learn about the culture as someone who lives there, rather than someone visiting for a short period.

“It’s nice to be able to travel, but I definitely have a lot less freedom to do so here than in America due to the restrictions that have been put in place,” King said.

In order to enter the country, King said she had to test negative for COVID-19 and quarantine for 14 days.

“Thailand is in the midst of another wave, so you have to wear a mask everywhere,” King said. “It isn’t prevalent in Chiang Mai, which is why I was able to come, but it’s definitely still a big concern here.”

Due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Thailand, King said her opportunities have been limited.

“Thailand’s economy is very tourist based, especially in Chiang Mai, so a lot of people are out of work, and there aren’t very many activities to do that you would think of when you think of Thailand,” King said. “But I have had the chance to go to some of the night markets,

eat amazing food and visit Doi Suthep and other temples while I’ve been here.”

Currently in Alaska, Abigail Scott, Class of 2020, said her group encountered various COVID-19 related obstacles on the way there.

“We drove from Florida to get here, so we had to go through Canada,” Scott said. “There were a lot of restrictions going through Canada, especially because we weren’t Canadian citizens, so we weren’t going to quarantine because we were literally just trying to get through the country.”

During her time in Alaska, Scott said she is able to experience various new places like the town of North Pole, in which there are many North Pole and Santa Claus themed attractions.

“We came up last August, so I’ve been here about eleven months now,” Scott said. “I’ve been to Denali National Park, we’ve gotten to do a lot of hiking and there’s a natural hot spring up here that I’ve done. I’ve had to put my car in[side] because it’s been negative 40 degrees, but it’s been fun.”

As more people get vaccinated and restrictions are lifted, Scott said it’s a relief to see life return to normal.

“It’s great that things are opening back up, and I’m glad to be able to go to places and not have to wear a mask,” Scott said.

Also recently in Alaska, Megha Viswanath, Class of 2021, said her trip was much needed.

“We went road tripping and hiking and went on a cruise where we saw whales and other wildlife,” Viswanath said.

On the flight and at the airport, Viswanath said masks were required at all times.

“We also had to wear masks on the cruise ship, as well as in federally regulated areas, but other than that, if you were vaccinated, you were okay,” Viswanath said.

In her experience, Viswanath said traveling has been incredibly beneficial for her mental health.

“It was a mental break from staying home, especially because I hadn’t really gone on any trips during COVID[-19],” Viswanath said.

“Just being able to get out of Texas and have new experiences was refreshing.”

NEWS

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The Battalion | 7.13.21

Angelina Alcantar — THE BATTALION

Members of A&M’s Corps of Cadets call for representation and unity within the largest student organization on campus.

CORPS CONTINUED “They’ll try to justify it, make jokes and excuses that ‘all Black people look alike,’” Edison said.

The majority white environment of the Corps, combined with the strict leadership hierarchy and the cultural value of stoicism, make reporting incidents of racism difficult, Edison said.

“It feels like you can’t go to anyone to complain about it because they’re either going to ignore you, dismiss it or tell you that you’re being too sensitive,” Edison said.

Rank doesn’t insulate cadet leaders of color from racist attitudes, Brandon Dalton, Class of 2021, said. As an African American commanding officer of an outfit in the Aggie Band, Dalton said during leader meetings, his comments are seen as less valid. Some students also assume he has certain political and social leanings, he said.

“They see me as just a color until they get to know me,” Dalton said.

A&M has a well-documented history of

racism. Significant university figures such as Lawrence Sullivan Ross, John Garland James and Hardaway Hunt Dinwiddie were Confederate soldiers, according to the book “Second Five Administrators of Texas A&M” by David Brooks Cofer. Early 20th century A&M yearbooks contain photos of students in Ku Klux Klan robes and blackface. The Klan had a strong, documented presence at A&M as multiple faculty members identified as Klansmen. Klan rallies were promoted at football games and students formed the Kream and Kow Klub, an organization that copied the Ku Klux Klan.

The racism of the past that still lingers today at A&M is the target of Denise Crisafi and the campus-wide Green Dot program.

As health promotion coordinator for the Office of the Dean of Student Life, Crisafi is fighting racism by training individuals to counteract bystander syndrome.

Bystander syndrome is a bystander’s inaction in a high-risk situation due to their assumption that someone else will stop it.

Crisafi oversees the Green Dot Bystand-

er Intervention Training Program, which teaches participants to directly intervene in an emergency situation, delegate someone else to intervene or distract the aggressor.

While women are mostly the victims of power-based violence, Crisafi said gender is not the only factor in determining risk.

“Rates of power-based violence are highest among women who identify as Black or African American and women who identify as Native American,” Crisafi said.

Green Dot training tends to focus on those individuals, Crisafi said. For reporting or more resources on power-based violence, she encourages students to visit tx.ag/StandUpTIC. In the classroom, Leroy Dorsey, associate dean for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives, said he exposes bias by teaching his students how minority groups are portrayed in popular culture. He said he incorporates news stories into his lectures, including the media portrayal of Asian Americans shortly after the March Atlanta shootings. Later that day of the lecture, Dorsey said a student emailed and thanked him for addressing the shooting.

“How do you make inclusion real for a lot of different students?” posed Dorsey, who said he encourages other faculty members to ask themselves the same question. “You need to think of ‘How do I ensure that they see themselves in what I’m teaching?’”

For students of color, Edison recommended joining affinity groups. Edison is a member of the Woodson G. Carter Black Awareness Committee and the Texas A&M chapter of the NAACP. “I really appreciate them,” Edison said.

“They make me feel less alone.”

Within the Corps of Cadets, Salter suggested cultural awareness education with the inclusion of Black speakers could be incorporated into training times to expand inclusion and anti-racism.

“Being able to branch out of what you know already and to be exposed to different cultures and be exposed to different kinds of people I think could help out a lot,” Salter said.

The Corps media relations office was asked to comment, but declined.

Dalton drew on the Corps of Cadets motto “Per Unitatem Vis,” Latin for “Through Unity, Strength,” and said the A&M core value of respect should be emphasized among cadets.

“I think the best way to combat it is to emphasize unity in the Corps as a whole,” Dalton said. “The process of getting better starts with the Corps as a whole and then working our way down.”

Creative Commons

Cushing Memorial Library and Archives will feature the exhibit until Dec. 16.

LGBTQIA+ history exhibit now open An LGBTQIA+ history exhibit at Texas A&M is now open to the public to view historical pieces as well as personal stories.

“Coming Out Together to Share our History: LGBTQIA+ Collections in College Station, Houston and Beyond” will be displayed at the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives until Dec. 16, according to a press release from Texas A&M University Libraries.

The exhibit will feature selections from The Banner Project and paraphernalia from the Houston bar Mary’s, along with other showcases.

“Cushing Library has drawn from their extensive LGBTQIA+ collections to add memorabilia from various LGBTQIA+ events like the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, a copy of The Intersexes, the first English language defense of the LGBTQIA+ community and other materials from their various LGBTQIA+ collections,” the press release reads.

Programming and outreach librarian Francesca Marini originally suggested the idea for the exhibit, and said she recognizes the positive impact that a collection such as this can make.

“It shows how rich and complex LGBTQIA+ history is, both in the College Station, Houston area[s] and in the country as a whole,” Marini said in the release. “It shows how communities have archived their own history to make sure it is documented and passed onto future generations.”

— Julia Potts

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MOVIEREVIEW

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The Battalion | 7.13.21

via imdb.com

Released on July 9, “Black Widow” premiered in theaters and is available to stream on Disney+. The film diverges from others from the Marvel Cinematic Universe by exploring themes of gender and sisterhood through Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh.

Johansson perfects “Black Widow” Film Critic Katen Adams says “Black Widow” introduces humorous dark side to Marvel Cinematic Universe

“Black Widow” Director: Cate Shortland Release Date: July 9, 2021 Runtime: 2 hours 14 minutes

By Katen Adams @Katen_ann As the 24th Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, film, “Black Widow” was released July 9 after its original plan of release was soiled by the COVID-19 pandemic and postponed from May 1, 2020. This long-awaited film starring Scarlett Johansson introduces a new storyline and dives straight into Natasha Romanoff’s background, anticipated since references in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Directed by Cate Shortland,

“Black Widow” is now available to watch in theaters and streaming on Disney Plus with premier access.

The Marvel Universe is a massive combination of storylines, but the origin story they have yet to explore is Romanoff’s. As the only original female Avenger with no artificial superpowers, the spotlight on Romanoff has been long overdue. After “Avengers: Endgame,” seeing Johansson’s character on the big screen is bittersweet for Marvel fans but lifts spirits through its humor and familial aspects.

“Black Widow” explores a relationship dynamic fans are not used to seeing.

Throughout Marvel, there are romantic relationships, best friends and the notorious brother bond of Loki and Thor, but “Black Widow” brings sisterhood into the mix. This film is full of hilarious

remarks, but those that stand out involve the relationship Romanoff has with her “sister,” Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh.

Since the two characters are highly trained assassins, their physical dynamic is thrilling to watch, just as their entertaining dialogue leads the film. The characters have hysterical conversations related to wardrobe and other topics that are just a bit funnier to those that have firsthand experience of a sister bond.

There is a humorous scene dedicated to a dark green and black vest filled with pockets that is part of Belova’s wardrobe that first appears in “Avengers: Infinity War,” filmed a couple of years before “Black Widow.” With this, Marvel continues their complexity through small details.

David Harbour’s character, Alex-

ei Shostakov, also known as the Red Guardian, is dedicated to the laugh.

Throughout the film, Shostakov brings humor through dialogue and physical actions. Harbour has made a name for himself, specifically in the Netflix original series “Stranger Things,”and gives a fantastic acting performance in “Black Widow,” almost as if the part was made for him. Rachel Weisz also does a tremendous job playing Melina Vostokoff and portraying the mother figure in the dysfunctional family. Their family is twisted, but these actors work well together onscreen, making the dynamic between their characters exciting to watch. Marvel is masterful when it comes to integrating characters from different storylines into new shows or movies.

BLACK WIDOW ON PG. 7

MOVIEREVIEW

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ANSWERS

It is no surprise this film fits right into the ultimate Marvel storyline, but it also captures a darker side of the MCU that hasn’t been seen before. Romanoff was trained as an assassin in the infamous Red Room, mysteriously located in Russia, and the theme of the film is perfect, but the intro credits grasp and introduce corruption in a new way that doesn’t exactly feel like the MCU. The intro credits tell a story transitioning from the beginning of the film that shows Romanoff as a child, to a flashback to the period after “Captain America: Civil War,” but feels like it is not necessarily geared toward the typical Marvel demographic.

There are plenty of “woah” moments throughout the film, especially in the well-balanced assassin action scenes, but the music is hit-or-miss. Sometimes the music perfectly fits the scene, but in others, it feels slightly off, specifically in the intro credits.

The post-credit scene is a tear-jerker but makes the moments in the film between Romanoff and Belova that much sweeter. After ten years as Black Widow, Johansson has perfected her character.

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