FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2017 STUDENT MEDIA
INSIDE
FOOTBALL: JARRET JOHNSON & UCLA’S QUARTERBACK FEATURED SCITECH: HARD SCIENCE VS. SOFT SCIENCE
A&M and UCLA will wear a special sticker on their helmets to honor the victims of Hurricane Harvey during Sunday’s game. FILE
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Aggies head west to start season against UCLA By Heath Clary @Heath_Clary
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or the second-straight year, Texas A&M will kick off its 2017 football season against UCLA. This time, though, it will be at the Rose Bowl, the first time in school history the Aggies will play in Los Angeles’ historic stadium. Last season the Aggies outlasted the Bruins in a 31-24 double-overtime victory, and they
will look to do the same thing Sunday as they try to improve head coach Kevin Sumlin’s career record in season openers to 9-1. “It’s exciting to go back to the West Coast and play in front of a lot of family and friends,” junior wide receiver Christian Kirk said. “I’m just ready to get there — I went to the Rose Bowl once and it’s an exciting place. You can feel all the history and tradition that’s been within the stadium and to get the opportunity to go in there and play a big-time game against UCLA is exciting.” The Aggies return five starters on offense and seven on defense, but Sumlin has yet to announce who will take the first snap at quar-
terback. The sixth-year head coach did indicate at Tuesday’s press conference he knows who will start but wants to keep UCLA guessing. Whether it ends up being senior Jake Hubenak, redshirt freshman Nick Starkel or true freshman Kellen Mond, Sumlin does not want to give the Bruins an idea of who to prepare for. “We’re happy with our plan. We know what we want to do and started to work that plan last week,” Sumlin said. “We’re continuing with it as it is. They’ve all got strengths, and the young guys have some weaknesses. The older guy has more knowledge, and he
should. We’ve got different levels of experience. I’ve been pleased, and the staff’s been pleased. We’ll continue down the road we started down a couple weeks ago.” Fortunately for the Aggies, they do have several offensive weapons that should take some pressure off the eventual quarterback. Kirk, a consensus preseason All-American, is the SEC’s top returning receiver and will anchor the receiving corps while running back Trayveon Williams will try to build on last year’s 1,000-yard freshman campaign. Keith Ford will share carries with Williams, PREVIEW ON PG. 3
New laws, including David’s Law, take effect
Cyberbullying, texting while driving addressed with new legislature By Meredith McCown @mccown_meredith
On Sept. 1, 60 new laws will go into effect in the state of Texas with two that have ties to A&M, David’s Law and the HandsFree Law. David’s Law, or Senate Bill 179, requires an anti-cyberbullying policy in school districts and will establish a precedent for allowing further investigation in the matter. Additionally, the Hands-Free Law, or House Bill 62, will ban texting and driving statewide. Governor Greg Abbott signed both into action in June. Chris Molak, David’s brother and Class of 2017, told The Battalion last semester that he hopes this law will encourage people to take a stand against cyberbullying. “I hope for one, it shows those who have been affected negatively by cyber abuse and harassment, let them know that this kind of thing shouldn’t be tolerated,” Chris said. “Also, I hope it mainly serves as a deterrent for parents to get involved with their kid’s lives, and actually feel like there could be some repercussions if their children misbehave, in the ways that we couldn’t pursue legally the first time around, so we’re trying to just create a precedent for families to go through.” Maurine Molak, David’s mother and co-founder of David’s Foundation, said the new law holds the opportunity to be effective not only in Texas, but across all states. “We’re hoping that other states will look
at this as a model law and be able to use it because it is comprehensive, a lot of states just felt like it was the school district’s responsibility to address this,” Maurine said. “And we felt like it’s not just a school issue, and it’s not just a parental issue, and it’s not just a legal issue. It is all of those people working together, it is a community response to an epidemic, and we all have to get involved in this issue.” Regarding David’s Law taking effect, Maurine said the kids and parents of this generation will play a significant role in making a change in society. “A lot of the problem is everything is being done through screen and you’re not seeing the person on the other end, and so a lot of the youth have lost that ability for empathy and being able to understand that somebody else has been hurt because you’re not seeing that person’s face,” Maurine said. “It’s going to be important for them to be part of the solution.” To raise awareness, the David’s Law Foundation began a sticker campaign, where each sticker has an anti-bullying pledge with a phrase that says, “I pledge to never use my device as a weapon.” As of now, Maurine has sent over 120,000 stickers across Texas, including entire school districts. “It’s a symbol, ‘I will not be that person. COURTESY I will not be that cyberbully, and I will stand up for somebody if I see somebody being a David’s Law, which establishes an anti-cyberbullying policy in Texas schools, is named after target,’ Maurine said. “It’s all about raising 16-year-old David Molak who took his own life after consistent cyberbullying. awareness and bringing it out into the light, but this is a very serious issue. We just can’t “And having a visual sign, a reminder about there’s a soul behind every screen,” Maurine brush it under the rug anymore.” Maurine hopes that David’s Law will be it will hopefully slow people down. That they said. “And that you never know what day the more than a legal regulation, but rather some- will think before they send. That they will person on the other end or what battle that thing that impacts the world for years to come. remember David and they’ll remember that person is fighting.”
OPINION
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The Battalion | 9.1.17
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Aggie football will travel to California to play their first game of the season, a little over a week after Hurricane Harvey devastating Texas.
Josh McCormack, Editor in Chief Gracie Mock, Managing Editor Alexis Will, Creative Director Katy Baldock, Social Media Editor Angel Franco, Co-Sports Editor Heath Clary, Co-Sports Editor Luke Henkhaus, News Editor Brad Morse, SciTech Editor
The power of sports after disaster strikes
Mariah Colon, Life & Arts Editor Cassie Stricker, Photo Editor Chris Davila, Multimedia Editor Sarah East, Page Designer Ty Wilson, Page Designer Taylor Chojecki, Page Designer Grace Neumann, Page Designer
THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the fall and spring semesters 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.
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It’s okay to be excited for Sunday, sports helps us heal Angel Franco
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@angelmadison_
ometimes, in the wake of a disaster, act of evil or time of hardship, people look for an outlet to distract themselves — even it’s just for an afternoon. One of those distractions often times is sports. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, there have been some on social media who are opposed to major sporting events still taking place after the devastation of Harvey, including Sunday’s Texas A&M-UCLA game. Earlier this week I felt that it was disrespectful for me to be excited for the return of college football when millions of people less than 100 miles from me were losing everything. However, after a long talk with my mom, she said something that I just couldn’t ignore. She reminded me that while the majority of the victims are going through some of the worst times of their life, they want to be able to root for something thats bigger than them, even if it’s for a little amount
time. That idea got me thinking about the power of sports and what it can do to bring people together even in the darkest of times. When the September 11 attacks occurred, the NFL canceled the second week of the season. However, when all play resumed, the nations response was one of overwhelming sense of unity. The events that transpired that Tuesday morning were for a moment—even if it was brief — not on the minds of Americans. The great thing about sports is that no matter what your political affiliation, race, gender or anything for that matter, it can always unite — even if you aren’t a regular fan. Another moment, one of which is close to the hearts of thousands of Aggies, is Bonfire. Last November, I had the opportunity to speak with former A&M head football coach R.C. Slocum. What he said will stay with me for the rest time. “I thought the game — with our students and with what had happened — it would all be better as an Aggie family and stick together,” Slocum said. “I thought there would be some
AGGIELAND YEARBOOK
It’s not too late to order your copy of the 2017 Aggieland Yearbook, a photojournalistic record of the 2016-2017 school year. The 115th edition of Texas A&M’s
Official Yearbook will be available before the holidays. Go online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase.
$75.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)
healing for everybody and some consolation.” The game, which was played in College Station, was dedicated to the 12 Aggies we lost that November night. It embodied the Aggie Core Value of loyalty, loyal to one another and to everyone who was dealing with the tragedy. All of this brings me to think about the importance of the A&M game on Sunday. The Greater Houston area is home to many who have ties to Aggieland and have endured the worst week of their lives. Not only that, several players have direct ties to the disaster, like sophomore Trayveon Williams, whose family was rescued by the Coast Guard. This game gives those people something to look forward to even if it’s just for a few hours. For a moment in time all they have to worry about is the Aggies bringing a win back to Texas and making their first visit to the Rose Bowl a memorable one. Angel Franco is a telecommunication media studies junior and sports editor for The Battalion.
Don’t forget to preorder your copy of the 2018 Aggieland yearbook. The 116th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Ordering can be done online at aggieland.tamu.edu, or by calling 979-845-2613. Distribution will be the Fall 2018.
2016 Aggielands and previous yearbooks are now on sale. Stop by room L400 in the MSC or call 979-845-2613. $40.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)
FOOTBALL
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Defensive end Jarrett Johnson played behind Myles Garrett last season, but found playing time vs. Tennessee.
BIG CLEATS
TO FILL FILE
Jarrett Johnson tasked with replacing Myles Garrett By Grant Spika @GrantSpika
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hen Myles Garrett was selected first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, he made history by becoming the first number one pick in Texas A&M football history. The defensive end was a force to be reckoned with during his time in College Station, logging 31 sacks and 47 tackles for loss in two years. Now that Garrett is playing on Sundays for the Cleveland Browns, it’s time for senior defensive end Jarrett Johnson to take over. Johnson hails from Katy, Texas, and attended Seven Lakes High School, where he bullied offensive linemen on his way to becoming a four-star recruit and top-40 player in the state of Texas. Johnson tallied 59 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four sacks in his senior year at Seven Lakes, earning him District 19-5A defensive player of the year honors. Johnson committed to A&M on June 2, 2013 over offers from Baylor, Missouri, Northwestern, Oklahoma and Texas, among others. “I respect him fully, I love the guy, and I learned a lot from him,” Johnson said of Garrett. “He’s an amazing player, so being able to watch him play and perform took away some of the heartache of not being able to play as much as I wanted to.” In addition to learning on the field from his predecessor, Johnson and Garrett also learned from each other off the field
in the classroom, because of their shared interest in geology and paleontology. The two studied together and would even talk about class while in defensive meetings and defensive ends coach Terry Price would have to get to get them back on topic. In his first three years, Johnson recorded 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks behind Garrett. In 2016, Johnson shined in the Prairie View A&M University and Tennessee matchups in front of the home crowd at Kyle Field. Against Prairie View Johnson notched two sacks, one of which resulted in a safety, and against Tennessee, Johnson recorded a career-high six tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Johnson showed plenty of great flashes while getting extended playing time in 2016 due to Garrett’s injury issues. “He’s a sneaky good guy,” A&M offensive lineman Erik McCoy said. “He has all of the physical attributes of a guy like Myles, and the guy can play. He’s a very smart player, he’s hit me with some nice moves a couple of times in practice. Be prepared for him, he’s going to show some people something this year.” After Garrett was taken first overall and his counterpart on the defensive line Daeshon Hall was taken in the third round, Johnson has to provide consistent play along with fellow senior defensive lineman Qualen Cunningham. On a defense that gave up an average of 442 total yards per game and 192 rushing yards per game last year with Garrett and Hall, Johnson and Cunningham have to be leaders and bring a change to the defense along with defensive coordinator John Chavis.
“You’re not looking for one player to replace those two,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “But I think those top four [defensive ends] will have the opportunity to approach that production this year, and if they do that, you’ll get what you’re looking for.” Since Johnson is from Houston, Hurricane Harvey has had an impact on his family, like many Aggie players, but his family is safe and he’s looking forward to playing in the Rose Bowl against different competition than his teammates. “I’m excited,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to go play some football against somebody else in California. I’m excited to play with my teammates and show everybody what we’re capable of and what we’ve been working on during the spring and fall camp.” The pressure might be on Johnson, but his head coach and his teammates believe in him. Johnson’s patiently waited for his time, and now that Garrett is gone, his time has come to be a leader and a playmaker on defense. “It’s his time,” Sumlin said. “People forget that he got a lot of snaps last year because Myles was hurt. He’s got experience, he’s got savvy, he’s gained weight to hold the point a little bit more and he’s an every-down guy now. I know he’s anxious to play and anxious to lead.” Johnson and his Aggie teammates will start their season in the Rose Bowl against UCLA on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. The matchup will be televised nationally on Fox.
JOSH ROSEN’S REVENGE UCLA quarterback eager to get back on field, avenge last year’s loss to A&M By Alex Miller @AlexMill20
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he scene spoke for itself as UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen squatted in shock after Texas A&M safety Justin Evans swatted away the Bruins fourth-and-goal pass in overtime to seal the Aggies 31-24 win last season. Just minutes before the game-ending pass-breakup, Evans made a leaping interception on what could have been a game-winning drive for UCLA in regulation. That play came moments after Rosen threw his arms up to enhance the crowd noise prior to the snap – a cherry on top to his “50,000” comments earlier that week. Since then, Rosen said he has watched a lot of A&M film. Rosen may have studied the Aggies endlessly this offseason, but gave a rather smart answer as to what he has learned about the squad he will face on Sunday. “We haven’t really seen many of their games this year because they haven’t played any. You can watch some of their players from last year,” Rosen told reporters following Wednesday’s practice. “They’ve got a lot of really good guys coming back.” Rosen said earlier in August that he has spent separate film sessions studying NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Ryan. While A&M and UCLA open this season playing an unconventional Sunday game, Aggie players acknowledged that Rosen may fill the shoes of Brady and Ryan as a Sunday starter himself one day. “He’s a guy that’s going to be a really good quarterback in the NFL one day,” A&M defensive tackle Kingsley Keke said at Tuesday’s press conference. “He has an amazing arm, but we’re going to do our best to make him feel us.” Rosen felt the A&M defense last year, as the Aggies sacked him five times and forced him to throw three interceptions. While Rosen boasts a rocket arm, the key to A&M having similar results as last season may be to force him to throw on the run. “We’ve got a couple things we’re going to do to make him move around in the pocket, make him get out the pocket and feel uncomfortable a little bit,” Keke said. The Bruins though know they must shake up their game plan to provide a different outcome. “Schematically, we definitely want to attack a
PREVIEW CONTINUED forming one of the SEC’s best running back duos. On the offensive line, the Aggies do not know who will start and how they will be positioned, but there is a lot of experience in the group that has continued to develop under second-year coach Jim Turner. “I think we have a little more experience playing together,” sophomore center Colton Prater said. “Last year’s line was a lot of guys who hadn’t really played together much, but
few different things,” Rosen said. “We’re going into this game with a little bit different of a mindset.” Even if the Aggies can apply the same pressure they did at Kyle Field, the A&M play-callers know they cannot back down, emphasizing Rosen’s toughness and ability to never quit while making key adjustments throughout the game. “We knew he was smart, we knew he is bigger than you think he is, you knew he had the ability at the line of scrimmage, he made some checks, some changes, threw some great balls,” A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We hit him and we hit him a lot and he got better. It’s not supposed to work that way, it’s supposed to go the other way and the more we hit him the better he got, particularly in the fourth quarter.” UCLA, however, may have depth issues on the offensive line with senior Kenny Lacy suffering a season-ending hip injury. The Bruins setback is one the Aggies hope they can capitalize on. “It always does when you lose one of your starters, obviously it’s going to affect your game a little bit,” senior defensive end Jarrett Johnson said. “Hopefully for them their second-string guy is not that far off than their first-string guy, but that can definitely be a disadvantage. We always take advantage of any opportunity we have and that will be one of them.” With kickoff approaching, the time has come for Rosen to put his learning to practice. Rosen nearly completed a 15-point comeback victory against the Aggies last season, and maybe after studying Tom Brady’s Super Bowl LI film, he has discovered the secret to finish the job at his place. Through the off-field events of last season and months of waiting, Johnson feels that Rosen may indeed be seeking revenge against A&M. It may even be in his signal-calling DNA. “Any good quarterback is competitive by nature, so obviously that edge is with him at all times,” Johnson added. “Maybe he feels like he has something to prove against us.” After suffering a season-ending shoulder injury half-way through the season last year, Rosen is even more eager to strap on his shoulder pads. “You just want to beat them as much as you do anyways,” Rosen said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve competed against anyone that’s not in a UCLA jersey, so I’m just excited to get on the field and play football again.” Keke though summed it up simply – let the talking do itself on the field. “Football is football, everybody likes to talk or say stuff, but who cares, let’s just play,” Keke said.
this year we’ve been together for a whole year.” For the Bruins, Josh Rosen returns as the undisputed starting quarterback. After missing the last six games of 2016 due to a shoulder injury, he enters this year with something to prove. The junior gunslinger racked up 343 yards against the Aggies last year and displayed the type of arm talent that has NFL scouts drooling. “There are new coaches at UCLA. The one common denominator is Josh Rosen, who was extremely impressive here at Kyle Field,” Sumlin said. “The big thing that I was impressed with was his toughness. We hit him and hit
FILE
Junior quarterback Josh Rosen will appear in his first game since receiving a shoulder injury, which ended his season, against Arizona State last season.
him a lot, and he got better. It’s not supposed to work that way. “It’s a real challenge for us playing one – if not the best – quarterbacks in the nation, right off the bat.” A&M will do its best to keep Rosen off balance with a defense that is reportedly much improved from last year’s unit that finished 10th in the SEC in total defense. Preseason All-SEC safety Armani Watts is back patrolling the secondary after showing off his playmaking ability in 2016. Linebacker Otaro Alaka is the Aggies’ leading returning tackler and senior defensive ends Qualen Cunningham and Jarrett Johnson
will attempt to fill the gaping holes left by outgoing rush ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. Sunday’s game, which marks the thirdstraight season the Aggies have opened against a Pac-12 opponent, is slated to kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised on Fox. “I’m excited for us and the guys to go down there and have a good time,” Williams, who rushed for 94 yards in last year’s season opener, said. “Enjoy the UCLA game, get a W and come back to College Station.”
NEWS
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Hanna Hausman — THE BATTALION
Business partners McCalley Cunningham (left) and Dayana Hansley (right) have taken Hansley multitool Aggies Invent project and turned it into a marketable product.
Aggie entrepreneurs will mass produce multitool for market By Megan Rodriguez @MeganLRodriguez Since she was a child, university studies business senior Dayana Hansley had an entrepreneurial spirit, but it wasn’t until her time in Aggieland, when she created a multitool for first responders, that her love for business became a viable career path. Hansley’s invention, The Motley Tool, was the result of Aggies Invent her freshman year. The 48-hour competition allowed Hansley and her team to develop a device which combined the 10 most-used tools by first responders into one device. Today, Hansley and her business partner, animal science senior McCalley Cunningham, have obtained a patent on the tool and are in the process of receiving the first metal prototypes, which they plan to send to fire departments for a test run. At the beginning of this business venture, Hansley was on a team with four other students from Aggies Invent and Cunningham was developing her own business models separately. While Hansley’s team won the weekend competition, they did not stay together after making the switch to Startup Aggieland, A&M’s business incubator. “Within about a year I was the only team member left from the original team,” Hansley said. “We had a lot of teammate
issues to work out and Startup Aggieland was very helpful … They provided a really good network and that is where I met my current business partner, and we have been working together for a year and a half now and it has been working extremely well.” The Motley Tool has undergone some changes throughout its development and now contains eight tools. The tools include multiple types of wrenches, one of which can open and close fire hydrants, one specific to working with oxygen tanks, a scraper and a hammer. While the invention was originally created specifically for teams that specialize in handling hazardous material, market research taught the team that firefighters could benefit as well. “Being an inspiration to others and wanting to give back to the community and help these first responders is really what’s driving us forward,” Hansley said. “We’ve talked to over 300 first responders now and they are all super excited about it. Just seeing the smiles on their face and them getting super excited to test it helps us to push through whatever roadblocks are coming at us.” Hansley and Cunningham were able to secure the patent for their tool on July 11 of this year. According to Shelly Brenckman, marketing coordinator at The McFerrin Center for En-
trepreneurship and Accelerator Manager at Startup Aggieland, this documentation was something the pair struggled to earn for a year, but with the assistance of multiple staff members at Startup Aggieland it was made possible. “I am proud of their professionalism,” Brenckman said. “I’m proud of how much they’ve grown as individuals and their courage to continue in the face of certain failure and to overcome all naysayers and all objections that stood in their path.” Hansley and Cunningham expect to receive the first metal prototypes at the end of September and send the product out to multiple fire departments for a one month trial period. This testing will allow the team to polish the tool before sending it to mass production in January 2018. After they mass produce The Motley Tool, the business duo has plans to create an entire line of multi-tools with the hopes to improve the lives of first responders. “We’re looking into other industries,” Hansley said. “The Motley Tool can actually be applicable to the military, the airline industry and maybe even oil and gas, but we want to expand into other niche industries to make tools specific to them. We want something tailored to exactly what they need for their daily tools. The lighter we can make anyone’s load,
The scientific split: dividing lines in the discipline Texas A&M professors examine the hard vs. soft debate over what is actually considered a science By Brad Morse @bradsmorse53 In the world of academia, there are several fields that can be qualified as science. There is debate, however, for what can and cannot be considered science. Generally speaking, there are two types of science: Hardscience and soft science, which are colloquial terms used to differentiate separate fields based on perceived rigor, methodology and objectivity. To put it simply, the natural sciences such as biology, chemistry and physics are considered hard, while the social sciences such as economics, sociology and jurisprudence are considered soft. Assistant psychology professor Brian Anderson said he would describe science as the general study of the physical world based on observations. “I tend to think of science as the study of the physical world through objectively observing data and drawing conclusions on the basis of that data,” Anderson said. “The term ‘scientific method’ is by definition intended to capture the practice of science, hence the name. If an individual practices the scientific method rigorously and honestly, I think that endeavor would qualify as the practice of science.” Anderson attributed the split between the two forms of science to the public’s perception of objectivity when it comes to the issue of bias. Anderson gave an example to describe this, saying that it’s harder to insert bias when evaluating the contents of a beaker than it is to insert bias into how you contextualize the results of a survey. When it comes to academic weight, Anderson said he doesn’t believe one discipline is more important than the other when they are practiced as they should be. “I think the public tends to underestimate both the extent to which data from the hard sciences is not always cut-anddry and open to interpretation, and the extent to which even something as soft as opinion data can be acquired and interpreted rigorously,” Anderson said. Physics and astronomy professor Dave Toback echoed Anderson’s sentiment, saying that every discipline asks different questions, each of which takes a different background to answer. “Different questions require different techniques,” Toback said. “Some of the techniques used by the people who do what is labeled hard sciences, are useless for the soft sciences and vice versa. However, many are powerful for both.” Toback said that he believes that sometimes the debate between hard and soft science goes astray. “The problem is it can be a proxy for a different question,” Toback said. “It’s a proxy for ‘Who is important? Who should be funded, who should be considered high status, who should be considered low status?’ ... To me, science is about the business of understanding, and understanding the natural world. It isn’t that hard is better than soft. They just ask different questions. Both are, and should be, valued.” Toback added that human beings interact with nature, and the study of those interactions is science, and falls under several umbrellas. The two forms of science do interact on occasion, according to Anderson. “There are some disciplines that sit at the intersection of these two conceptions of science,” Anderson said. “One ex-
Brad Morse — THE BATTALION
Science includes a wide variety of areas, not only encompassing different topics but the way research is conducted and analyzed, leading some to debate whether some facets should be considered a science at all.
ample would be social neuroscience, which uses techniques such as brain imaging to examine theories from the field of social psychology. You can certainly use ‘hard’ science techniques to study soft science topics, which to some degree emphasizes the arbitrary nature of the distinction.” Toback says that some like to contrast the hard sciences, like physics, to engineering or applied science, based on the merits of certain disciplines, citing engineering being an applied science whereas physics is not as an example. “Some people use the term `applied science’ or engineering as if it somehow less than, or not as good, as science,” Toback said. “That misses the point. If you are applying what we learn from science that is important. If you are applying what we know to learn more about nature, then that’s science. If you are applying science to build something useful, that’s also clearly important, but that’s not science research.”
Toback said the labels of hard and soft, which are sometimes used because they are simple, are just not appropriate. “Sometimes hard vs. soft is misleading and unhelpful. If we consider physical science vs. social science, we realize they ask different questions,” Toback said. “For example: What are the principles that guide how two electrons interact vs. what are the principles that guide how a group of people act? Both are important scientific questions. So, why hard vs. soft?” Toback said it is clear there is some kind of difference between physics and sociology and they should be distinguished in a way that is useful. “Clearly, they can both be science so they should be labeled as such,” Toback said. “I just don’t like the titles when people use them to over-simplify, or imply one is better than the other.”
SPORTS
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The Battalion | 9.1.17
AROUND THE SEC
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WEEK 1 OF THE CONFERENCE
NO. 1 ALABAMA AT NO. 3 FLORIDA STATE
NO. 25 TENNESSEE AT GEORGIA TECH
Saturday night brings us what promises to be one of the most exciting and high-stakes openers of all time. A preseason No. 1 team has never opened a season against another team within the top three and we shouldn’t be surprised to see these two programs meet again in January. Despite sitting at the top of the nation’s leaderboard going into Week 1, the Crimson Tide face no easy task in this non-conference matchup. The Seminoles ended the 2016 season on a 7-1 run, with their only loss coming by a field goal to the future national champion, Clemson. Now these teams face off with two of the world’s most detail-oriented coaches on the sidelines. The squads haven’t shared a field since 2007, but that doesn’t downplay the history and tension stet this feel like a century-long rivalry. The ‘Noles have now handed the reigns to redshirt sophomore QB Deondre Francois. While it’s difficult not to start thinking “Heisman” when he steps on the field, Alabama would be the defense to stop him. Expect Saban and company to force a few mistakes from the young signal-caller, but not before State takes an early lead. Kickoff is Saturday at 7:00 p.m. CST in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Prediction: Alabama 28, Florida State 24
It’s another must-win for an SEC team looking to get into the CFP Playoff conversation. Lose and people won’t remember their name in Week 2. After a massive start in 2016, the Volunteers soon crashed and burned for the second half of the season. The veteran defense sees eight familiar faces from the top nine tacklers last year. With Georgia Tech breaking in a new quarterback and no Dedricck Mills in the backfield, the Yellow Jackets will rely on their experienced secondary to give Tennessee some resistance. The Vols will also debut Quinten Dormady as the new man under center. Expect Tennessee to keep the ball on the ground to avoid giving Tech’s secondary a chance to disrupt the young QB. Kickoff is slated for Monday at 7:00 p.m. CST in Atlanta. Prediction: Tennessee 34, Georgia Tech 17
BYU AT NO. 13 LOUISIANA NO. 11 MICHIGAN AT NO. 17 FLORIDA Another Top 25 matchup will hit the vaunted AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are praying to leave Texas with an untarnished record before heading into conference play. The Wolverines are arguably more talented from hash to hash, but with an inexperienced offense still under construction, the Gator defense won’t show any mercy. Despite a couple starters from the secondary departing Gainesville for the big leagues, Florida defensive coordinator Randy Shannon is back with a solid front seven and should be ahead of Michigan rebuilding wise. Unfortunately for Florida, their offense remains in shambles following the suspensions of WR Antonio Callaway and RB Jordan Scarlett. They’re even setting aside veterans Malik Zaire and Luke Del Rio to give freshman Feleipe Franks the starting quarterback nod. Expect this to be a battle of the defenses as both O’s struggle to cross the goal line. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST. Prediction: Michigan 23, Florida 14
Louisiana State will take on unranked BYU, but the game is no less significant for both programs. On the Tigers’ end, they feel a little underestimated after their star running back, Leonard Fournette, took his talents to the NFL. The matchup was originally scheduled to kickoff at NRG Stadium in Houston, yet in the wake of Hurricane Harvey the two squads will rendezvous at the Superdome in New Orleans, a technically a neutral site. LSU needs this game in order to prove their worth before heading into conference play. BYU’s sputtering offense will have trouble finding the end zone, but their defense will provide some hope in earning a win that will surely slingshot them into talks for the Top 25. The Cougars boast a loaded linebacker corps to counter LSU’s stout run game. However, if the Tigers can move the ball in the air via the hands of QB Danny Etling, they’ll be home free until late October. Kick off is Saturday at 8:00 p.m. CST. Prediction: Louisiana 24, BYU 13
By Kevin Roark @Kevin_Roark
classifieds
Place
an ad Phone 979.845.0569 Suite L400, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University
FOR RENT $550/mo, 1135sqft, 1bd/1ba for 2017-2018, Z-Islander, one roommate, contact 214-930-5413.
2bd/2ba cozy condo 3-blocks from campus, fenced backyard, w/d connections, over 1000sqft, no HUD, $645/mo total. 506-B College Main 254-289-0585 254-289-8200
Country living 3miles from campus, 2bd/2ba, 1139sqft on 5 acres, 713-562-8136, kz@galavalve.com
When
to call 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day
FOR RENT Room for rent in 3/1 available now, $450/mo, half in bills, large yard, new appliances, W/D in house, 1.5miles from campus & close to bus stops. Serious inquiries please call 512-957-1625 and leave message.
FOR SALE
SPECIAL
see ads at thebatt.com
Private Party Want ads
$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
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.
Cheddar's and Fish Daddy's now accepting applications. Apply within, University Dr.
Huge Sale! A&M Methodist Annex, 306 College Main. Furniture, linens, housewares, kitchenwares, shelving, books, electronics, etc. 7am-noon September 2nd. More furniture has arrived.
thebatt.com
HELP WANTED Club volleyball coaches needed! Salary plus expenses. Practices Wednesdays &Sundays, December-April. Two tournaments a month. brazosvalleyjuniors@gmail.com
REAL ESTATE BUY/SELL with Team McGrann! Michael, TAMU'93 Civil Engineering 979-739-2035, mcgranntx@yahoo.com Nadia 979-777-6211, Town&Country Realty. Hablamos Espanol!
Part-time/Full-time help needed at Bell Fence Supply, pipe cutting, forklift operation, possible welding, etc, will work with school hours/schedule, call Doug Tucker at 979-703-8901 to schedule interview. 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.
read the fine print.
ANSWERS
to todays puzzles
the
battalion
Classifieds
Call 845-0569 To Place Your Ad
AGGIELAND PHOTOS STARTING SEPTEMBER 20TH Specialties Photography will be set up to have your FREE portrait taken for Texas A&M University’s 2018 Aggieland yearbook. ALL CLASSES: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Thursday in the Sanders Corp Museum Library until October 19th!
It’s your yearbook. Be in it.
Should any student be unable to make the specified times on campus they can contact Specialties directly to set up a complimentary in-studio appointment at 979-696-9898. Any graduating seniors who wish to set up a cap/gown photo will need to contact the studio at 979-696-9898. Cap/Gown sessions cost $21.95.
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STAFFPICKS The Battalion | 9.1.17
Welcome Back students
WEEK 1: STAFF PICKS Texas A&M vs. UCLA
free small sub
Sunday, Sept. 3 @ 6:30 p.m. on FOX
JOSH
to redeem, just bring this coupon & your student I.D. into Firehouse subs.
GRACIE
Valid only at 1507 Texas Ave S, College Station, TX 77840 No purchase neccassary. offer valid through 09.30.17
ANGEL
Limit 1 per customer. Must present student ID and this ad to redeem. Small sub only.
HEATH
WELCOME BACK SPECIAL EXTRA LARGE 1 Topping Pizza
10
$
Carry-out & Dine-in Only
00
Gracie Mock
Angel Franco
Managing Editor @g_mock2
Sports Editor @AngelMadison_
I wish I was watching the game at the Rose Bowl, but my supervisor says I have to work.
Unlike Gracie, I’m going to the Rose Bowl and A&M is going to win in their first game.
Heath Clary
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Sports Editor @Heath_Clary
Editor-in-Chief @_JoshMcCormack
Starkel is going to make freshmen quarterbacks great again.
I’m a fan of House Starkel. Touchdowns are coming.
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