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The Battalion | 6.29.21

Independence Day sparks freedom appreciation Veterans reflect on Core Value Selfless Service By Lauren Discher @laurendischer

PROVIDED

University studies sophomore David Glen joined the U.S. Army following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

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As Americans prepare for Independence Day, student veterans emphasize the importance of the freedoms that make America unique. Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 every year. The date was set aside to commemorate the birth of the United States as an independent nation when the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. It’s a day of picnics, barbecues, baseball games and time with loved ones. Texas A&M will be hosting a drive-in style fireworks show at the RELLIS campus in celebration. But significantly, Independence Day is meant to appreciate the liberties Americans hold and those who fight for them. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 brought devastation to the U.S., university

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studies sophomore David Glen said he was inspired to serve his country. “That’s pretty much the reason why I joined the military,” Glen said. “I was deployed to Afghanistan and then spent my last year in Korea.” As a veteran, Glen said his experience in the military resulted in Independence Day holding more significance. “To me, it’s a celebration of our freedoms,” Glen said. “Especially when I think of all the wars veterans have fought, it reminds me to hold onto those freedoms.” Since returning from deployment, Glen said he values time with loved ones more than ever. “The Fourth of July, I always like to spend it with my family, especially after missing them when I was in Afghanistan,” Glen said. “This year, we’re going to the fireworks in Kurten and having a barbecue.” Also hoping to catch fireworks, veteran Shawna Uhl, Class of 2020, said her military experience was incredibly impactful. After

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NEWS

The Battalion | 6.29.21

CVMBS email incident need-to-knows

via vetmed.tamu.edu

Since hearing of an accidental reply-all email, Kris Anderson, Class of 2009, called on the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to terminate Hardy through an online petition.

Former, current students call on CVMBS to take administrative action By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel After receiving an accidental reply-all email from College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, or CVMBS, program director Vince Hardy, students took to Twitter to tell of the email which was believed to be harsh to the LGBTQ+ community. Here is what you need to know about the situation: On June 15, Hardy accidentally replied-all to an email that was sent to promote an LGBTQ+ event. The original email was sent to all within

INDEPENDENCE DAY CONTINUED years of intensive training from the Great Lakes to Pensacola, FL, Uhl said she received her station assignment. “I was stationed in Jacksonville, FL, then medically retired [after] I got into a car accident, which put everything on hold,” Uhl said. “But while I was there, it was a good experience. I enjoyed flying and loved what I did for the amount of time I was able to.”

the CVMBS as a celebration of the June Pride month and fundraiser for the Trevor Project, a group that works to prevent suicide in the LGBTQ+ community. Hardy responded to all who received the email with negative connotations toward the LGBTQ+ community and said he wishes to not receive any messages promoting events in the future. “As a Christian and a pastor of churches, I do not promote or celebrate sexual perversions,” Hardy said in his reply. “Rampant sexual perversion and the killing of poor innocent children (and the nation’s acceptance of these sins) are two things that lead to God’s judgement upon a nation and its demise.” The following day, Hardy sent an apology statement to those in the college who received his reply. He apologized to those who were hurt by his email response and said he believes

all people should be treated fairly. “I have a love for all people and deserve to treat them with the respect and dignity that they deserve. While I appreciate that any words from me may be viewed with skepticism, I ask all those to whom the email was sent to forgive me for my insensitivity and lack of a manifestation of love from the CVM family. I love you all and am truly sorry for the pain and anguish this has caused,” Hardy said in the email. CVMBS dean John August addressed the situation later that week in an email to the college with a message subject “difficult conversations in a strong college.” “I have taken administrative actions based on the incident this week,” August said in the email. “I, and you, must continue to make our college a great place to work and learn - one in

which everyone is appreciated, respected, and safe; where opportunities flourish for personal and professional growth; and where professional conduct is both expected and valued.” Kris Anderson, Class of 2009, said she believes that the college has not done enough and started a petition on June 19 to terminate Hardy due to his behavior toward LGBTQ+ students. The petition has gained 2,000 signatures, respectively, within the five day period in which it has been active. Anderson said she has seen similar behavior within the CVMBS during her college years and urges the university to take action. “Within the past few decades, the university as a whole and the College of Veterinary Medicine specifically have made strides in terms of inclusion of people previously tar-

Uhl said Independence Day means celebrating the privilege of being a free nation and thinking of loved ones who have been and are still in active duty. “I think that’s something we need to showcase more and have that comradery,” Uhl said. “It means a lot because I’ve had friends go overseas and go on deployments, and some have made it back, but others haven’t. It definitely is much more to me than just another

day.” In regard to his military experience, Marine Corps veteran Robert Liu, Class of 1977, said it was both diverse and rewarding. “I served four years in the Marine Corps as a radiation supply specialist and got deployed once on a boat,” Liu said. “For the most part, I worked a lot in the warehouse. I worked a little bit on the accounting side as an accounting clerk, and I enjoyed it and all of the people.”

For him, Liu said the Fourth of July equates to looking back at the nation’s history and honoring the core value of selfless service. “It makes me look back on the founding of this country, and I cannot even begin to imagine what it was like when they were writing this document and what they were going through,” Liu said. “The military continues to carry on that tradition of protecting our country.”

CVMBS ON PG. 11

LIFE&ARTS

The Battalion | 6.29.21

PROVIDED

In collaboration with Texas A&M Athletics, MSC Town Hall will host their third annual music festival on campus, with music, entertainment and food throughout the event.

12th Jam returns to campus August 28 Large-scale music festival hosts local, national talent in Aggieland By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt As the fall semester quickly approaches, MSC Town Hall and Texas A&M Athletics have teamed up to bring the 12th Jam music festival to campus on Aug. 28. The event is a collaboration between students and staff of A&M and will host a variety of talent, according to its website. “For our third annual music festival, we are so excited to have a multitude of amazing artists such as CAM, Morgan Evans and Dayglow perform as headliners in the heart of College Station. Along with the several other talented bands to be playing throughout the day from Luna Luna, Montclair, 13th Hour, Joe Major and Ben Goldsmith to keep you entertained,” the website reads. Additionally, the grounds will host food, games and other outdoor activities for all at-

tendees, and tickets can be purchased through Reed Arena. As a co-executive of 12th Jam, psychology senior Heather Haratsis said she is beyond excited to share her hard work with her fellow students. “12th Jam is one of my biggest passion projects,” Haratsis said. “It’s going to be amazing, and we’re super excited to make this event happen. It’s going to be at the end of Howdy Week, get everyone back to school [and] everyone back on campus.” Though this is the first large-scale festival on campus, the idea for 12th Jam has been in development for years, Haratsis said she hopes this grand kick-off will lead to an opportunity for 12th Jam to return annually. “The idea of 12th Jam has been around for a long time,” Haratsis said. “We’ve had two smaller ones so far, but I know way back in Town Hall history, the idea of 12th Jam came from an older alumni. It’s really crazy because she thought about that so long ago, and wanted to have a big music festival here. Now we’re actually at that bigger scale, and

it’s our hope that it’s really successful so we can keep making it bigger.” Though a large festival is a significant time investment, 12th Jam has been driven by students both on- and off-stage. MSC Town Hall program advisor Kendall Walker said Aggie involvement is key for audiences and staff behind the event. “One of the great notes about 12th Jam is the student involvement,” Walker said. “That’s in student bands, students at Texas A&M are in some of the support bands we’re hosting, as well as students like Heather get experience in the music industry and have their voice heard. The student component is definitely at the forefront of the event, in the talent and the promotion and execution of it.” Walker said the festival greatly boosted its growth by collaborating with Texas A&M Athletics. “It’s a 50/50 partnership between MSC Town Hall and Texas A&M Athletics,” Walker said. “We’re working in tandem on the event, which has been a really great success getting it off the ground in a really big way.”

In addition to providing great music, Haratsis said she believes 12th Jam could become a new tradition if it attracts a large enough audience. “If it’s a success this year, it’ll be a success next year, it’ll keep getting bigger and bigger,” Haratsis said. “More students will be excited, like [they] can’t wait for 12th Jam next year, and it’ll become a new Aggie tradition. That’s what I really want to happen with 12th Jam, and I can totally see it happening. I want all students to be as pumped about it as I am.” With the excitement and hard work ahead for MSC Town Hall and its partners, Haratsis said she greatly encourages interested students to apply to join the team. “I do think that 12th Jam is going to be super cool, and I hope more people want to join the 12th Jam subcommittee,” Haratsis said. “I’d love to get to know them and hear their ideas about what artists they want to come next year, and what they want it to look like.”

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The Battalion | 6.29.21

Kunz, Mu punch tickets to Tokyo

Courtesy of Erol Anderson

Former Texas A&M athletes Annie Kunz and Athing Mu will be representing A&M and America in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Two Aggies qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in career firsts By Jennifer Streeter @jennystreeter3 Following their events in the final day of the Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 27, former middle distance runner Athing Mu and former combined events specialist Annie Kunz will be representing Texas A&M on a global stage. Mu, now representing Nike, won the 800-meter event, setting an Olympic Trials

record time of 1:56.07. This time is the current world-leading mark and is the second fastest run by an American all-time. Ajeé Wilson holds the American record with a time of 1:55.61, which she set in 2017. Mu’s time bettered her previous American Under-20 record and ranks No. 3 on the U-20 all-time world list. Mu said running the fastest 800-meter time of any American at the Olympic Trials is an amazing benchmark in her career. “Honestly, I wanted to break some record,” Mu said. “Twenty-five years is a really long time and it feels awesome. I knew it was within me and it feels great to have my name

down next to it for the next U.S. Trials.” However, Mu will not be the only Aggie at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After ending day one of the heptathlon in first place with 4,042 points, Kunz continued her lead. She ended the two-day competition with an all-time personal best and world-leading score of 6,703 points. Her day started with a personal best in the long jump at 21-4 (6.50-meter) and equaled her personal best in the javelin 147-10 (45.06-meter), before running 2:15.24 in the 800-meter. Her score easily surpassed the Olympic qualifying standard score of 6,420.

Kunz said her qualification for Tokyo demonstrates anything is achievable if one sets their mind to it. “There are moments when I thought I couldn’t do it and they were there with me,” Kunz said. “I can’t wait to get home and celebrate with loved ones. Just to be with them and enjoy the experience with them this week... I never in a million years thought I could score what I scored tonight. Hard work pays off. It really does.” This will be both of the Aggies’ first qualification for a U.S. Olympic team.

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OPINION

The Battalion | 6.29.21

OPINION

via Twitter @GregAbbott_TX

Governor Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 474 allowing pet owners to continue to chain dogs outside without access to shelter and water.

Abbott vetoes himself into doghouse Opinion columnist Zach Freeman says Abbott’s petty, reckless use of veto power is often self-serving Zachary Freeman @ZachAtBatt

eemingly inspired by the perfunctory success of Disney’s Cruella, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made his own strides in the eradication of dog-kind last week. Abbott’s decision to veto Senate Bill 474, or SB 474, continues to allow owners to chain dogs outside without access to water or shelter, and this move did not earn him a luxurious spotted fur coat. Instead, Abbott received scorn from animal advocates, organizations like the Texas Humane Legislation Network and the public via the trending Twitter hashtag

#AbbottHatesDogs. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support in the Texas House and Senate, Abbott blocked the bill on the basis that “Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization.” The “micro-managing” Abbott was referring to was the imagined complexity in determining whether or not a dog’s collar is too tight or its tether too short. SB 474’s requirements of a restraint of at least “10 feet” or “five times the length of the dog” is not overly confusing or restrictive. If an owner chooses to take on the responsibility of having a dog, this level of understanding its care and requirements should be a bare minimum. SB 474 wasn’t “micro-managing” – it was common sense.

SB 474 was one of 21 bills vetoed by Gov. Abbott in the 2021 legislative session. In the same breath, Abbott condemned SB 474 for contributing to “over-criminalization” and vetoed two crime reform bills explicitly tackling over-criminalization. HB 686 would have allowed earlier parole eligibility for inmates who committed offenses while under the age of 18, and SB 237 would reduce penalties for trespassing, allowing officers to ticket and release offenders. These two bills and similar crime reform offer real and much-needed change to Texas’ sometimes-overzealous legal system and a draconian tendency to deliver disproportionate punishment. The next-most notable veto was blocking funding for the Texas legisla-

ture. Abbott’s decision came after Democrats in the Texas House walked out to prevent the passage of the voter restriction Senate Bill 7. Abbot justified his decision by saying, “funding should not be provided for those who quit their job early, leaving their state with unfinished business and exposing taxpayers to higher costs for an additional legislative session.” Going tit for tat, it is not Abbott’s job to veto bills for his personal gain or sense of petty justice. Abbott’s job is to represent the people of Texas and ensure everything possible is done to enrich and benefit our lives. Otherwise, why are we even keeping him around? Many of the other bills on Abbott’s chopping block would have been nothing but helpful for the people of Texas. For example, Abbot vetoed an addendum to Texas public school curriculum to cover domestic violence. Abbott rejected SB 1109 for not giving parents the choice to opt their children out of an education discussing domestic abuse. It is a massive oversight to allow parents, who may potentially be abusers, control over whether their children can be taught to recognize signs of abuse and what to do about it. Reintroducing an abuse education bill that guardians can opt to skip negates the benefit this learning provides. Over the last year, Abbott has failed to enact meaningful change addressing failures in Texas’ electric grid during the winter and summer. Abbott also ignored expert opinion and lifted COVID-19 restrictions in order to appeal to a Trumpian base, disregarding the safety and health of his state. It’s clear that many of Abbott’s recent vetoes serve to appeal to that same vein of voters. Abbott’s decision to forgo his duties and obligation to all Texans for brand loyalty is not going unnoticed and may not be as successful as he hopes. All things considered, it is clear why Abbott would want bills like SB 7 to pass. The more people who vote in Texas, the less likely it is Abbott keeps his position after the 2022 election. Things may not go “alright, alright, alright” for the current governor if he stays on this unpopular and self-destructive path. As Abbott says, “Texans love their dogs,” and if Abbott forces us to choose between him and them, it’s clear who’s getting stuck in the doghouse. Zachary Freeman is an anthropology senior and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER

Texas A&M reports

Aggie Band, Emergency Medical Services see influx of positive cases

By Brady Stone @bradystonex

Under the Clery Act, Texas A&M identified two new has COVID-19 clusters as of Nov. 9: one among the Aggie Band (Artillery

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two additional COVI

D-19 clusters

Band, Dorm 12) and one Medical Services (Events). within Emergency ates several indicators and variables to confirm These reports are the The reports of these fifth and sixth clus- a cluster. The indicators A&M looks new clusters came ters at A&M and are for are the number of positive the COVID-19 cases, the same day the A&M football team canceledthe since late September. first to be confirmed timeframe encompassing in-person activities The current data A&M after two players and all has made available the cases are attributable cases and whether staff member one at time of publication tested positive for COVID-19. to a specific event, 257 total cases of COVID-19 lists location or group. At this time there The variables A&M on campus as at are no reported clusters “active” as of Nov. looks among the are population, activities 8. A&M football and mitigation. All According to their Nov. 14 game against team, but the team’s website, A&M evalu- of these criteria are considered in determining Tennessee has been potential clusters and an appropriate response. postponed due to contact tracing and subsequent quarantines.

Analyzing the electio Kaylee Cogbill —

THE BATTALION

Aggie Ring recipients can pick up their rings on Nov. 17, 19 and 20.

November Ring Day to allow two guests Association eases COVID-19 restrictions for upcoming event

Illustration by

Gabrielle Shreve

— THE BATTALION

By Myranda Campanella @MCampanella_

Changes have been COVID-19 restrictions made to the for Aggie Ring Day this November. Ring Day, which had

“My entire professional career has been shaped by my time spent working at @TheBattOnline as a student reporter and editor. I’m no longer in the J-biz, but make no mistake: I use elements of what I learned there every hour of every day. Can’t imagine my life without it!” True Brown, ’04, Agricultural Journalism Director of Development, A&M Foundation

previously become Ring Week this semester, will be held on Nov. 17, 19 and 20. Recipients President-elect Joe can choose a time between Biden is proceeding 8:30 a.m. and 5 with a transition of p.m. on Tuesday or power and announced Thursday or between via Joe Biden Facebook his 13-member COVID-19 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Friday to pick up task force on Nov. their Aggie Ring. 9. Texas A&M’s Public Different from the Ring Policy Research Institute Week held this Kirby Goidel, Ph.D., past September, the said the president-elect get anything done. They want the Association of Former country to is unlikely to fulfill his Students will now allow dream of unity any time be in a better place.” soon after America’s up to two guests into recipients to bring Communication professor longtime disintegration Jennifer Merof trust in institutions and the Clayton W. Haynes Ring Plaza cieca, Ph.D., author across Williams, Jr. Alumni of “Demagogue for Democrats and Republicansthe country — by President: The Center with them Rhetorical Genius to alike. of Donald “[President Donald] during their assigned pick up their rings Trump,” said Biden’s Trump has been time. All guests will focus on healing the By Myranda Campanella unique. His goal is be required to wear to keep his core support- nation and moving past polarization face coverings inside @MCampanella_ ers… And one way is a mesthe Alumni Center, sage for all of that he keeps them according to the Ashappy one particular America and falls in line with is by going after the sociation’s website. other side,” Goidel rhetorical strategy: the said. role.” “In that type of environment, “priestly “We do not encourage he 2020 presidential it’s very hard ditional guests to campus,”you to bring adMercieca has seen a wave of election to imagine that in the short-term this a statement on changes in to change.” is going this rhetoric said many presidents have utilized the website reads. “The electoral politics. throughout history, two guests in must which Despite Trump’s harsh be accompanied by the leader evokes the values the Within a week of ring rhetoric while atof the nation during winning tacking the left der to enter the restricted recipient in ortimes of crisis. This Pennsylvania, President-elect throughout his presidency, is area around the Goidel said he believes Joe Biden has announced Alumni Center, the Trump’s more authentica clear departure from Biden Ring Plaza and inside a COVID-19 task turn rhetorical style where force, reached out to some of that rhetoric will be able to he says exactly what the Alumni Center foreign allies and plans building.” he thinks, Mercieca announce his senior to after rebuilding trust across down over time said. Vice President of “Where [Biden] differs cabinet members. Amerthe nation. the Association of from Trump probica is already beginning “In Congress, it’s become Former Students ably the most is the to see the effects. De- polarized Kathryn Greenwade way that he is constantly so spite the current president’s that it’s hard to imaginepartisan and evoking American values, refusal talking about what bipartisanto concede ship, but I think the election, the Biden RING DAY ON PG. a lot of them want Washing- he thinks America means,” 6 Mercieca said. gun making changes. Administration has be- ton to work better,” “He’s much more Goidel said. “They However, Director optimistic about America didn’t of get into politics to fight all the time and never

A&M experts discuss 2020 election results, rhetorical strategies of both President Donald Trump, Joe Biden

ELECTION ON

A&M-Tennessee game postpo

‘Over a dozen’ A&M football players quarantined due to contact tracing

Staff Report

The Texas A&M football Meredith Seaver — The Battalion from Nov. 14 to Saturday,team’s game against the Tennessee Volunteers has been Dec. 12. postponed

DROPPING A CLA

Get back on track with the Winter Minim ester!

PG. 2

ned

A&M players are currently undergoing SEC’s 14-day quarantine the protocols and will be unavailable until they complete the two week process.

“Since the beginning of COVID-19, the Texas A&M’s upcoming matchup with health and safety of our student-athletes, Tennessee has been coaches and staff has postponed, the SEC been our nounced on Tuesday, an- Bjork said in a press release No. 1 priority,” Nov. 10. The announcement ic department. “Throughoutfrom the athletter A&M coach Jimbo came one day af- months, the we have been reminded last several Fisher said a player and a staff member how important it is to both tested positive COVID-19 following for scenario be flexible and nimble because this was expected to happen. the their Nov. 7 win over Aggies’ return from are disappointed While we we are not able result, the team canceledSouth Carolina. As a weekend, we are appreciative to play this all in-person activity on Monday, Nov. 9, of the SEC’s and moved its scheduled foresight to build in the flexibility meetings to Zoom. that allows us to reschedule the Tennessee A&M Director of Athletics Sophomore safety Demani game.” Ross Bjork said while the postponement Richardson has is unfortunate, it is also tested positive for COVID-19, crucial that the team with his test coming practice caution in light the South last week and causing him to miss of the recent positive tests. Carolina game. In Bjork told ESPN’s his statement, Heather Dinich on Bjork said Richardson’s tested Wednesday, Nov. positive after 11, that “over a dozen” FOOTBALL ON

SS?

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inter

“Learned so much during my time there and definitely made lifelong friends. Wouldn’t be who I am today without my time at The Batt.” Doug Fuentes, ‘01, Journalism Registered Nurse/Assistant Nurse Manager, Baylor Scott & White “The Batt is where I learned my craft and caught the journalism bug. Hopefully many more generations will get the same opportunity.” Matthew Watkins, ’08, Political Science Managing Editor for News and Politics, Texas Tribune “I would not be the journalist I am today or have the goals I do now if it wasn’t for The Battalion. These students are the future of news. We need them.” Chevall Pryce, ’17, University Studies/Journalism Reporter, Houston Community Newspapers

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PATH TO 270

BIDEN

253

“I wouldn’t be anywhere without The Battalion!” C. Morgan Engel, ’18, Telecommunication Media Studies Photographer, Clarkson Creative formerly with Minnesota Vikings/San Diego Chargers “As a reporter and editor at The Batt, I learned real-time lessons: how to live A the ethics of journalism; skills that made success as an entrepreneur publisher Local election results pour in for Brazos County possible; and the conviction that journalism matters.”

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

Creative Commons

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

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

via White House Photostream

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

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

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

By Julia Potts @juliaapotts

fter more than 100 million voters cast early ballots nationwide, the 2020 presidential election is nearing its end during one of the most turbulent election years in history. According to the Washington Post, the trend of thousands of positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed each day have not stopped since the election began. Despite this, the CDC permitted voters who have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19 to vote in person, with precautions. “CDC’s recommendations for isolating someone who has COVID-19 or quarantining someone who was in close contact with a person with COVID-19 would not preclude them from exercising their right to vote,” the

College Station City Council sees one race head to recount, one to runoff By Myranda Campanella @MCampanella_

Angelique Gammon, ’81, Journalism Professor, Texas A&M, former owner & publisher of Insite Magazine

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

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

John Cornyn, REP: 5,933,782 (53.6%) Mary “MJ” Hegar, DEM: 4,840,866 (43.7%)

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

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

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

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

Kaylee Cogbill — THE BATTALION

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

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OPINION

The Battalion | 6.29.21

OPINION via vetmed.tamu.edu

On June, 15, Vince Hardy, program coordinator in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, accidentally replied-all to a mass email chain promoting a campus Pride event.

Where John August dropped the ball Opinion writer Joshua Howell addresses comments of College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences dean on Vincent Hardy Joshua Howell

@JoshuaEHowell

o those who don’t understand why so many Aggies felt John August’s message fell short, consider the following hypothetical, cheekily tailored for an SEC audience. Suppose after a particularly poor football season, say 6 - 7, Jimbo Fisher took to his podium and said the following: “I know our fans are disappointed in our lackluster year. I am too. But I would invite you all to remember our 2020-2021 season, in which we went 9 - 1, losing only to Alabama. We finished fourth overall. That was pretty great, right?” One can see the TexAgs forums now. “Jimbo Fisher has lost his edge!” “What does the previous season have to do with anything?” “How are you going to improve next season?” No one would call for Fisher’s firing, but the general sentiment would be that our head coach had lost a step since 2014, when he won a national championship with Florida State University. Excellence is an all-encompassing effort requiring tireless pursuit. A preoccupa-

tion with past successes would be the first indication that Fisher was no longer worth his $75 million price tag. Dissatisfaction with August’s statement runs along the same lines. To be sure, no reasonable person can claim Texas A&M hasn’t made progress in the 44 years since its Board of Regents said that “‘gay’ activities run diabolocially counter to the traditions and standards of Texas A&M University.” The string of successes August mentions in his message — as well as A&M’s LGBTQ+ Pride Center, a pillar to what we might call “A&M’s better angels” — is testament to that progress. But those are the successes of yesteryear — successes which, quite frankly, didn’t dissuade a College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences program director from issuing a homophobic screed claiming that “rampant sexual perversion” can “lead to God’s judgment upon a nation and its demise.” For August to list the successes he did without any discussion of repercussions — or, better yet, without any discussion of what the school could be doing to improve — was to arrange a lovely nest of laurels on which to rest one’s head. A football analogy may be crass, but stamping out homophobia — like stamping out racism, sexism, antisemitism and

all the rest — is also an all-encompassing effort requiring a tireless pursuit. It requires constant vigilance, a vigilance not on display in August’s message. Instead we got a highly sanitized missive which devoted a great deal of words to saying very little. It was a statement seemingly engineered to offend no one, but which paradoxically offended many. Truly, one questions whether August understands the enormity of the problem at hand. Consider just three examples of where August’s letter fell short: (1) August only refers to Vincent Hardy’s email as “highly offensive,” as opposed to the more apt description — homophobic. (2) August “want[s] to be very clear in condemning offensive speech in all of its forms,” but in doing so, he applies an “all lives matter”-filter to a case tightly bound to homophobia. (3) While making a passing mention to the threats Hardy received, August does not describe their character. It is therefore a matter of speculation as to whether these were threats to Hardy’s physical safety (which are useless to everyone and should be condemned by all) or “threats” akin to a recent petition asking the university to terminate Hardy from his role as program coordinator (which seem appropriate). At minimum, August’s letter would

have been improved by making clear the university was investigating the matter, with a more formal missive to be issued after said investigation was complete. That’s low hanging fruit, but it’s de rigueur for these matters. At least it would have been something. Better, though, would have been a statement confirming that while A&M is committed to being a marketplace of ideas, all marketplaces are subject to some degree of regulation, no matter how light. A&M does, and should, have a capacious definition of allowable speech from its staff, but if it wants to effectively educate its students, there are certain ideas the administration simply cannot tolerate. These ideas include such mainstays of toxic and dehumanizing discourse as “slavery was good,” “the holocaust didn’t happen,” “women are not equal to men” and “our queer students are destroying the nation.” But alas, we didn’t receive such a message, and it’s unlikely we ever will. What we got instead didn’t say much at all. Well, except for this: A&M cannot be bothered to take homophobia as seriously as it takes a game of football. Joshua Howell is a computer science Ph.D. candidate and opinion writer for The Battalion.

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geted by the school’s culture. We must be clear that messages such as the one included in Mr. Hardy’s original email subvert those efforts and are primarily hateful. Messages such as Mr. Hardy’s make the school a less inclusive and less desirable place to study, work and learn,” Anderson said in the petition description. “Those types of messages have no place at a public institution of learning.” Anderson also expressed her support for LGBTQIA+ Aggies. “You have so much support. You are not alone. You are not bad or wrong or unwelcome. Texas A&M is better for the diverse quilt made up of all of its people, and the only weak thread in that quilt is hatred. Please take action, be strong and reach out for support if you need it,” Anderson said. “Change happens over time; even setbacks like this allow change to launch forward.” Following the email and apology, August released a Facebook statement on June 21 saying the CVMBS is not in support of Hardy’s message and that it supports the LGBTQ+ community fully. “Our commitment to maintaining a welcoming, supportive and safe environment for the LGBTQIA+ community has been strengthened by this difficult incident,” August said “We are deeply hurt when one person’s voice does not represent our sincere aspirations.” Additionally, the post said the college has made “great strides” toward creating a list of awards made in recent years promoting diversity, including the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award and the creation of a video series from the CVMBS Diversity and Inclusion Office.

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