MONDAY, AUGUST 27 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2018 STUDENT MEDIA
ZACH IS BACK
Photos by Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION
The completed Zachry Engineering Education Complex willto provide enhanced learning facilities to students.
After four years of renovations, Zachry welcomes students By Jordan Burnham @RJordanBurnham As the school year begins, the recently reconstructed Zachry Engineering Education Complex will open its doors for students to begin taking classes and using the updated facilities. The Zachry Complex, which has been under renovation for the past four years, now features an increased size, updated, state of the art engineering technology and an emphasis on space for socialization and collaboration. Updates that further set the building apart from its previous version include its Fischer Design Center, rooftop garden and active-learning style classrooms. According to Dean of Engineering M. Katherine Banks, the Fischer Design Center boasts 60,000 square feet and functions as a versatile makerspace, a collaborative area providing students the technology to work on a range of projects from 3D printing to woodworking. “We currently have 20,000 square feet in our Engineering Innovation Center,” Banks said. “The 60,000 square feet we have in the Zachry building [design center] will allow students even more room to create and test their designs.” Not only does the building feature new technology updates, it also showcases art with an engineering connection and foundation. The outdoor E-Quad will incorporate various mathematical formulas into its design, ZACHRY ON PG. 2
New actions against sexual assault
FILE
Reveille VIII served as Texas A&M’s mascot for eight years and will be laid to rest in the Reveille cemetery on the north end of Kyle Field.
Honoring Reveille VIII Funeral service for former mascot to be held Thursday Staff Report The Corps of Cadets will give a final send-off for former mascot Reveille VIII at her funeral service Thursday morning. Reveille VIII passed away on Monday, June 25 at 12 years old. The funeral service for the former first lady of Aggieland will be held at The Zone Plaza on the north side of Kyle Field on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 8:30 a.m. The service is open to the public and expected to last 30 minutes. A burial alongside her predecessors in the Reveille Cemetery will occur 30 minutes after the service concludes. Reveille VIII began her reign in Aggieland in August 2008 and retired to Texas A&M’s Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center in May 2015. In a statement
announcing the mascot’s passing, University President Michael K. Young thanked the Aggies who served Reveille throughout her life. “Our university mascot is one of the most beloved and unifying traditions at Texas A&M,” Young said. “I encourage Aggies and Texas A&M supporters to join in honoring Reveille VIII for her service to our institution. I would also like to thank the Corps of Cadets Company E-2, the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and the Stevenson Center for maintaining the highest standard of care for Reveille VIII throughout her time as mascot and during her retirement.” Since the service will take place on the same day as the Northwestern State football game, freshman ticket pull has been relocated to the east side of Kyle Field. At noon, north ticket windows will open for public ticket sales.
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
University President Michael K. Young addressed the new Title IX actions at a media briefing.
Investigations yield changes to A&M’s Title IX policies By Taylor Fennell @TaylorPaige1299 University President Michael K. Young recently approved 11 actions aimed at improving procedures and resources involved in Title IX sexual misconduct cases. Announced on Aug. 20, the actions are based on recommendations from internal and external investigations into the university’s handling of such cases. The investigations were launched after survivors of sexual assault brought their experiences to light this summer, many calling for a more supportive process for survivors and increased accountability for students found
responsible for sexual misconduct. Two internal committees comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, and members of local advocacy organizations provided the president with recommendations that resulted in nine of the 11 actions. New reporting guidelines designed to limit the number of times a survivor must recount a painful or traumatic experience are among the actions taken. Dr. Robin Means-Coleman, vice president and associate provost for diversity, co-chaired the first committee, which examined the student experience throughout the Title IX investigation process. She said the previous procedures often required survivors to retell their story multiple times throughout the reporting process.
“What is a strength is also complicated and that is we have a number of intake points where one can report what has happened to them…” Means-Coleman said. “That might be through counseling services, it might be a faculty member, it might be a roommate. We worked hard to then talk about how many times does a survivor have to tell their story? How can we make that more comfortable and trauma-informed for a survivor?” The second internal committee, chaired by vice president for student affairs Daniel Pugh, made recommendations on student sanctions and eligibility for participation in extracurriculars. The committee made it clear in a summary of their recommendations TITLE IX PG. 2
Megan Rodriguez, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the 2018 fall semester and 2019 spring semester (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. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@ thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt. com. 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.
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The Battalion | 8.27.18
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Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION
The renovated complex has features such as the Engineering Innovation Center which are meant to enhance education.
ZACHRY CONTINUED according to Banks. “What’s different about this I think is that it isn’t just a building for classes— this is an educational facility that is an active educational facility,” Banks said. “In other words, the building teaches as well as houses classes— and that’s unique.” The Zachry complex is the largest academic building on campus with 525,000 square feet, or about 12 acres, said regents professor and senior associate dean for academic affairs Mark Weichold. The Zachry building is dedicated to the field of engineering as a whole, al-
lowing for an interdiscipliary approach to projects, said ocean engineering senior David Nelle. “Most of the engineering buildings, more or less, belong to a specific major,” Nelle said. “Zachry, on the other hand, is just the college of engineering so they have labs set up from all of the different majors.” One item that will be housed in Zachry is the Aggie Ring of Gerald “Gerry” Griffin, Class of 1956, according to engineering media relations coordinator Aubrey Bloom. “Gerry Griffin, who was a flight director for the Apollo missions, including Apollo 13. His Aggie Ring was actually taken to the moon and back, and it’s going to be in this facility,” Bloom
said. According to Weichold, more than 13,000 students are set to take classes in Zachry this fall, and about 200 faculty members will be teaching there. The Student Engineers Council made the first donation for the building — one million dollars, which Banks said shows the remarkable selflessness of Aggies. “They would never benefit from that building itself, but they felt strongly that they wanted to contribute to improving engineering for future students, and that’s certainly the Aggie way,” Banks said. Zachry’s building dedication will take place Sept. 7, 2018.
PROVIDED
President Michael K. Young’s 11 approved actions were a result of the committees’ recommendations.
Check Ring Eligibility: Aug 27 - Sept 6 Order Dates: Aug 27 - Sept 7 Aggie Ring Day: November 2 HOW TO GET YOUR AGGIE RING ON NOVEMBER 2, 2018: If you meet the requirements after Summer 2018: 1. Log in to AggieNetwork.com by September 6 to check your Ring eligibility. (You will need to create an account on this website.)
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3. On your appointment day, visit the Aggie Ring Office to find your Ring size (with official Aggie Ring sizers) and pay for your Ring. •
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TITLE IX CONTINUED that representing the university in extracurricular activities is a ‘privilege’ not a ‘right.’” The president’s actions call for A&M’s dean of students, not an organization or team, to decide any necessary interim restrictions. Additionally, decisions for eligibility to return to participation in extracurricular activities will be made when the findings of an investigation are presented, not when a student returns from suspension. Pugh’s committee also developed a detailed new sanctioning model for students, laying out maximum and minimum consequences for students found responsible for various types and levels of sexual misconduct. Remaining actions based on the internal committees’ recommendations include improved access to counseling services, a streamlined, central website for resources and communications about investigations and required nota-
Senior Boot Bag
tions on transcripts of students suspended, dismissed or expelled as a result of Title IX cases. “We feel part as our responsibility, even to other institutions and students at other universities to ensure that if there are determinations made and concluded, that that’s actually noted on the transcript of the involved student so that people can be aware of that if there are attempts to transfer and move on…” Young said. Higher education law firm Husch Blackwell was hired to conduct an external review, producing a 23-page report that examined existing university policies and provided recommendations about new ones. As a result, Young approved enhancements to the Title IX office, redefining its role and introducing additional resources and authority. A Title IX deputy coordinator, a case manager and two investigators will be hired to support the Title IX office. Employees required to report violations will be taking additional training courses. At a press briefing, university officials spoke about their plans to move forward with the 11 actions and outlined additional future steps. The university
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will explore more resolution models, launch an implementation task force to ensure policies are enforced and establish benchmarking considerations aimed at making sure Texas A&M University is a national leader in Title IX policy. Plans also include a faculty and staff sanction task force to examine guidelines for sexual misconduct cases involving faculty and staff members. Provost & executive vice president Carol Fierke said it’s crucial to keep the university’s core values in mind when handling sensitive situations and working to maintain the safety of students. “The most important thing is that we, the leadership and everyone at Texas A&M must continue to aspire to live our Aggie core values in all that we do and all that we are,” Fierke said. “Our primary concern is the safety and ability for all of our members of our community to thrive on campus and so that is really our goal moving forward.” Young’s full statements, along with links to the internal and external reports, are available online at president. tamu.edu. To learn about options for reporting sexual misconduct, visit urc. tamu.edu/title-ix.
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Notice of University Student Rule Revisions Additions, deletions and changes to the University Student Rules may occur over the course of the year. The following student rules have been revised: Rule # 10
Rule Grading
Date Student Rule Website Updated 07/31/2018
Each student has the responsibility to be fully acquainted with and to comply with the Texas A&M University Student Rules. Student Rules can be found at http://student-rules.tamu.edu.
SPORTS
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The Battalion | 8.27.18
Aggies look to build stronger defensive unit under Mike Elko
Texas A&M will face the No.1 and No. 2 teams in the initial AP Top 25 poll in its first month of the season. Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
Defense looks to stand up to highranked early opponents By Abigail Ochoa @AbigailOchoa88 With a new coaching staff, six new players and eight returning, the Aggies’ veteran-filled defensive line is looking to prove themselves as they hit Kyle Field on Thursday against Northwestern State. A&M faces two heavy offensive teams just four weeks into their schedule — No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Clemson. As the Aggies come within three days of their season opener, a few key players are leading the pack while new additions look to make a name for themselves. Junior linebacker Tyrel Dodson has been a staple for Aggie defense in the past two sea-
sons. Despite missing the SEC’s all-conference team, Dodson finished last season with 105 tackles, 5.5 sacks and three picks. One change fans can hope for from Dodson this year is his understanding of the game. This is due in part to new defensive coordinator, Mike Elko. Dodson said the new freshmen are showing their ability to be coached and because of this, he is confident they will be able to fill any position. “A lot of guys are just coming in [and] are being very coachable right now,” Dodson said. “A lot of guys are just willing to learn and just willing to be coached. It’s going really good.” One defensive player Dodson doesn’t expect to change in his attack is defensive back, Larry Pryor. Making a career-high nine tackles against Louisiana and six tackles against Arkansas, Pryor finished last year with 12 ap-
pearances. “I’m seeing the same Larry Pryor that [you] saw in the Ole Miss game and Arkansas game and in every game, he has played here,” Dodson said. “Same old good Larry Pryor that is smart and has really good ball skills.” Another defensive lineman hoping to make himself known this season is sophomore Justin Madubuike. Earning the defensive MVP last spring, Madubuike finished the season off with 20 tackles in 13 game appearances. With the hopes of seeing the field more, Madubuike is one of the best in his position, according to junior offensive lineman Erik McCoy. “I think Madubuike is already an all distance caliber player,” McCoy said. “He and I didn’t have a lot of time on the field to show it, but that kid is a beast. He can really play… he’s one of the best defensive tackles I’ve ever seen.”
Practice seemed to be the biggest indication for players on how the defense will stack up against tougher competition. Dodson called the matchups between the Aggies’ offensive and defensive line competitive and in line with what they’ll face when playing against other SEC teams. “The competition has been like beautiful,” Dodson said. “I mean, it’s been like hard nose, SEC football. Defensive line and offensive line, they’re going at it every day. ... we’re going to be pretty good.” On the other side of the football, McCoy said matchups against a good defensive line have been helpful for the offensive line as they prepare for the season ahead. “As the offensive line, we’re just competing against the defensive line. We have a very good defensive line…we have some good competition going in there,” McCoy said.
Former Yankee makes Aggieland home On break from baseball after surgery, Ethan Carnes follows family legacy, attends A&M By Samantha Mahler @MahlerSamantha Former Yankees pitcher Ethan Carnes is earning his degree from Texas A&M after he decided to take time off from baseball in the fall of 2017 following an elbow injury. The university studies architecture senior, now 26 years old, grew up in an Aggie family but decided to focus on pursuing a career in baseball. His journey through the sports world has included time at Texarkana College and Howard College, Division I baseball, independent baseball and even international stints in Italy and
FILE
Canada. When playing in Italy, he injured his elbow and had to undergo Tommy John surgery, in which a healthy tendon was removed and used to replace a torn arm ligament. “I’m kind of working it out to where if it all works out perfectly, I’ll be healed up, have my degree, try out for baseball one more time,” Ethan said. “If it doesn’t work out, I can start my career and the next chapter in my life.” He said even though he is still getting used to not playing sports, he is happy with his new life as an ordinary student. “I’m definitely enjoying not having to wake up at 5 a.m. for weights,” Ethan said. “In the back of my mind, I’m always missing the game of baseball. If you’re a true baseball player, you’re always going to miss it no matter how old you get.” James Conway, Ethan’s grandfather and Class of 1961, said he knew Ethan was special when he began playing teeball. “The things he did were just natural,” James Conway said. “He had an arm. He could throw. He had speed. He could bat. He was doing home runs at an early age. I knew he was destined for greater things.” Austin Carnes, Ethan’s brother and Class of 2010, said his brother’s discipline has helped him move through obstacles in the past. “He’s very grounded in his faith,” Austin said. “He knows what’s important in life, and he knows that baseball first starts out as a passion, and then it becomes a game. For a select few, it becomes a financial means of employment. I think his love for the game has kept him going.” Conway, Ethan’s third cousin and Class of 1974, said Ethan’s strong moral character sets him apart from many baseball players. Conway said Ethan is capable of accomplishing whatever he sets his mind to. “Being at A&M is something that he aspired to,” Clayton Conway said. “He wasn’t sure if he would get to go there as far as his baseball career was concerned. I think Texas A&M will play a big role in accomplishing his goals.” Ethan has been coaching the sons of family friend Kyle Gordley, Class of 1998. “They just really respond to him because he has a great way of expressing himself and expressing his love for the game,” Gordley said. “It’s really cool to be around him, especially in a baseball setting, more so than any coach I’ve ever been around.” Currently, Ethan has plans to become a project manager in the construction industry and open a business with his brother. However, he said he is still itching to get back on a baseball field. “I know I still got some left in the tank to maybe throw again off the mound,” Ethan said. “If it’s God’s purpose for me to pitch again, I’m gonna do it. If I feel like it’s not, I’m gonna see where he takes me in the next chapter of my life.” Following an injury to his pitching arm, Ethan Carnes is taking time to earn his degree.
FILE
Junior Hollann Hans led the Aggies with 12 kills in the loss.
A&M falls to OSU in championship game Aggies suffer first loss of the season in straight sets to Buckeyes in Columbus tournament matchup By Alek Caro @orackela Saturday evening, Texas A&M completed two of three games in the D.C. Koehl Classic in Columbus, Ohio. A&M mounted a comeback during their first game of the day to defeat Albany 3-1. The Aggies lost their first set 26-24 before turning it on and winning the last sets 25-15, 25-13 and 25-16. A&M won their sets thanks to key contributor junior hitter Hollann Hans. Hans had a match high of 25 kills. Contributions also came from senior Amy Houser with a team high of 16 digs, sophomore Camille Conner had a double-double of 42 assists and 15 digs, and freshman Allison Fields had 11 digs in her first start for the Aggies. The win would advanced the Aggies to the Koehl Classic championship game against tournament host Ohio State. In their second game of the day, the Aggies fell to Ohio State in straight sets. The loss marks A&M’s first loss of the season. In the championship game, Ohio State won all three sets against the Aggies. Both teams came into the match 2-0, with wins over Ohio University and Albany. A&M juniors Bookah Palmer and Hans were selected for the all tournament team. Hans led the Aggies with 12 kills, while Conner had 31 assists and Houser led the Aggies with seven digs. New A&M head volleyball coach Laura Kuhn said the environment of playing inside St. Joseph Arena against the home crowd was overwhelming at first. “I think the atmosphere got us at the beginning, and that is just something we have to grow through,” Kuhn told 12thMan. com. “Towards the end of the third set it became us, and I think they finally settled in.” On the other side, Ohio State had the tournament MVP Lauren Witte lead the match with five blocks, all tournament selection Mia Grunze led Ohio State with 13 kills, and Ohio State had a 9-2 advantage in total blocks. The Aggies return to the court on August 31 when they take on Indiana in the Penn State Classic.
LIFE&ARTS
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The Battalion | 8.27.18
MSC Open House is attended by thousands of students each year.
FILE
Make the most of your Aggie experience Whether it’s through philanthropy, student media or traditions, there is a way for everyone to get involved at Texas A&M. As MSC Open House approaches, it’s a great time to think about where you can fit in and stand out on campus. To search for organizations at A&M, visit stuactonline.tamu.edu or talk to representatives in person at MSC Open House on Sept. 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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Continue the tradition Organizations that connect students to the traditions of A&M ensure that the spirit of Aggieland lives on. Traditions Council, a student government committee, organizes events including Silver Taps and educates people about various traditions. Aggie Muster Committee oversees the planning of the solemn ceremony held April 21 and hosts the 50-year class reunions that occur on Muster weekend. Class Councils puts on traditions such as Elephant Walk and FishFest. Ultimately, you can play a role in whichever tradition you love the most.
Serve others Service organizations can be organized based on interest, a selected philanthropy or values. Groups like Aggie Sweethearts, Aggie Babes and Aggie Royals are women’s organizations that partner with specific philanthropy organizations. Aggie Guide-Dogs and Service-Dogs is an organization that promotes the training of animals who support individuals with disabilities. BUILD constructs portable medical clinics that are shipped across the world to areas in need. Service organizations are a great way to be involved and help others here in the community and beyond.
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Spread the Aggie spirit Every athletic team at A&M needs supporters! Spirit organizations like Aggie Aces, Aggie Angels and Reed Rowdies help fill stands at home games and facilitate game day operations. If there’s a team you feel passionately about, help them by attending their games and joining their spirit organization.
Live and learn Whether you are studying engineering or liberal arts, there are academic organizations designed to bring you together with like minded students of your college. These groups promote their field of study by forming networking groups, taking trips to businesses in the industry and often helping students find the perfect study buddies.
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Keep up with campus news Student Media organizations play an important role at the university by documenting everyday life as well as historic events in Aggieland. The Battalion and The Aggieland yearbook have featured articles and photos of A&M’s most memorable moments — from Johnny Manziel’s football plays to major scientific breakthroughs and presidential visits to campus. These stories couldn’t be told without a slew of talented photographers, writers and multimedia producers, so if you feel like writing the next chapter of A&M’s history, we encourage you to come apply in L400 of the MSC.
By Taylor Fennell
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The Battalion | 8.27.18
PROVIDED
"The Happytime Murders" had a $40 million production budget and as of Aug. 26, it made an estimated $10 million on its opening weekend, according to boxofficemojo.com.
Dead on arrival “The Happytime Murders” fails to deliver on promising premise Keagan Miller
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@KeaganMlr
elissa McCarthy’s latest comedy, “The Happytime Murders,” is a barely-funny procession of forced jokes and shock humor. By the end of the 91-minute runtime, I could count the number of times I chuckled on one hand. The script just wasn’t funny. Any good comedian knows timing and delivery are the keys to comedy. The writers and editors must not have gotten the memo. The majority of the jokes fail because of poor delivery and the ones that don’t are killed by the writers’ inexplicable tendency to over explain them. The only truly humorous moments in the entire film were spoiled in the trailers. But poorly written, over-explained jokes weren’t the only problems with the film. The acting was noticeably awkward, especially in scenes where a human character interacted directly with a puppet character. Most of the actors, especially McCarthy, didn’t have the skills to make the puppets come to life. Be it through a sidelong glance, difficulty maintaining “eye contact,” or more frequently an utter lack of emotional delivery, McCarthy and the rest of the cast’s performance made me constantly aware that despite the movie’s somewhat clumsy analogue for racism, puppets aren’t people. The plot too, seemed clumsy and sloppy. The idea that some mysterious puppet or person is systematically killing all the cast members of a 1980’s puppet-starred sitcom sounds like it has potential, but the movie takes it in a direction that not only introduc-
es several plot holes, but also invalidates one of the only semi-legitimate relationships in the entire film. Out of all the characters portrayed in the movie, the one who seemed most relatable and sympathetic was not McCarthy as the sole human star, but rather her private eye puppet counterpart. Phil Phillips, voiced by Bill Barretta and controlled by a team of puppeteers, was literally the only character with distinct and consistent motivations. A puppet upstaged McCarthy in her own film. The one and only good thing about “The Happytime Murders” is its concept. When I first saw the trailers a few months ago, I was actually excited for this film to come out. I was thrilled at the idea of a neo-noir private investigator film with a Muppets-style puppet as the star, seemingly reminiscent of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” McCarthy’s involvement was just an added bonus. I remembered liking her in “Tammy” and “Identity Thief,” two otherwise questionable movies which she managed to breathe some sort of life into. In her latest outing on the other hand, McCarthy adds absolutely nothing of value. Her character exists merely to be the clueless brunt of a few jokes, and the witless delivery device of a few more. As for the PI angle, the plot was too sloppy to make it worthwhile. Overall, “The Happytime Murders” was a waste, not only of time and money, but also of a perfectly good movie concept. It wasn’t funny, it wasted its premise, there was almost no emotion in it at all and what little story there was came riddled with plot holes. This movie isn’t worth a trip to the theater. Keagan Miller is a psychology junior and life and arts reporter for The Battalion.
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