The Battalion: September 4, 2017 by The Battalion

Silver Taps

TUESDAY NIGHT WE HONOR THE FALLEN when 10:30 p.m. Tuesday where Academic Plaza

Sapphire Jones Brian Bullock 4/29/96 — 7/4/17

Sarah Flanagan 1/15/98 — 6/28/17

Candace Benefiel 7/7/57 — 8/1/17

Benjamin Hopper 9/3/92 — 7/27/17

Caroline Killian 2/13/96 — 6/26/17

Mahmoud Ma’Arouf 9/8/78 — 6/13/17

Sapphire Jones 6/15/97 — 4/20/17

In honor of Aggies who have died, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad will march in Academic Plaza and fire three rifle volleys of seven shots. Buglers from the Aggie Band will play a special arrangement of Taps.

SILVER TAPS ON PAGES 4, 5, 6 & 7

Trayveon Williams scored a touchdown during the first quarter. At the end of the game, the Aggies return to the locker room with the first loss of the season. C. Morgen Engel — THE BATTALION

HISTORIC MELTDOWN 35 POINTS IN 19 MINUTES

By Alex Miller @AlexMill20 PASADENA, Calif. — It was the comeback that did not seem possible. But with 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen turned the unthinkable into a reality, throwing his fourth touchdown pass of the quarter to Jordan Lasley in the corner of the endzone after faking a spike to give the Bruins a 45-44 lead. “It was a sleeper play. We were going to go up and spike it,” Rosen said of the winning touchdown. “So we faked it, threw it up, DB kind of realized at the last second that the play was a play and I thought that’s what helped us. [Jordan] made an incredible catch.” “The chips just fell in our favor today.” Four plays later, Texas A&M was stumped on fourth down as backup quarterback Kellen Mond was stopped less than a yard short of a first down, sealing the win for the Bruins Sunday night at the Rose Bowl.

A loss that A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said was unexplainable. “We’re not making excuses for anything,” Sumlin said. “We didn’t get it done … They kept fighting and they made more plays than we did in the fourth quarter.” Rosen’s fourth quarter was unbelievable, going 19-for-26 and 292 yards. Overall, Rosen was 35-for-59 and 491 yards, with all four touchdowns coming in the fourth quarter. In the end, Rosen avenged himself against A&M. “No one ever lost hope, but at a certain point, you’re not really looking at the scoreboard anymore,” Rosen said. “We just had to put our head down and play football.” The A&M secondary was not at full strength during Rosen’s roar, as safety Donovan Wilson left the game in the third quarter which forced the Aggies to switch things in the secondary. “When Donovan was ruled out the rest of the night, then you have a couple guys in there, because he’s the dime in certain packages, he’s a safety in other packages,” Sumlin said. “We’ve got Carper and a couple other guys back there to try and fill that void with the nickel and dime packages.”

With 4:08 left in the third quarter, however, a Bruin comeback seemed like a fantasy as A&M kicker Daniel LaCamera knocked home a 48-yard field goal to give the Aggies a 44-10 lead. “It was a great feeling,” running back Trayveon Williams, who rushed for 203 yards said. “We had a lot of energy, a lot hype on the sideline.” The Aggies’ outrageous offensive production, however, then came to a screeching halt. After exploding for 342 yards and 38 points in the first half, the Aggie offense became abysmal in the final thirty minutes, gaining just 129 yards while tacking on just six points. Following the final field goal, A&M recorded just 84 yards. A&M was unstoppable on the ground in the first half, racking up 286 yards, but produced a mere 96 in the second half. “We weren’t able to run it as effectively as we did in the first half because of a change on their part,” Sumlin said. “We were down a quarterback and at that point, running and throwing MELTDOWN ON PG. 2

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C. Morgen Engel — THE BATTALION

The last lost that came in Sept. was in 2013 when the Aggies lost to Alabama with a score of 42-49.

MELTDOWN CONTINUED become a little different.” The Aggies struggled in the passing game all night, however, going a combined 9-for-30 and 89 yards. Starting quarterback Nick Starkel was not flashy in his debut for A&M, going 6-for-13 and 62 yards, but con-

sistently led the offense down the field. After suffering an apparent leg injury in the third quarter, Starkel left the game for good. His replacement Mond, had a rough time, going 3-for-17 and 27 yards. “I talked to him after and it was a learning experience for him, for any young guy,” Sumlin said of Mond. “It was going to be a learning experi-

ence for any of the three quarterbacks that were coming in here … The guys who played tonight, I know that they learned from their mistakes … but we have to help them as an offense.” Armani Watts said the Aggies must have amnesia to move past this record loss. “The main focus now is we’ve got to finish games,” Watts said.

WILD ART

Aggie Band in Disneyland The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band marched through Main Street USA in Disneyland, California on Saturday, Sept. 2. The band played Aggie favorites such as The Aggie War Hymn.

Alex Miller — THE BATTALION

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! 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.

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

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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The Battalion | 9.4.17

Gallery serves as community space SEAD gallery feature creativity and learning By Madeleine Brennan @madkathbrenn What was once the home of a worn, blue-carpeted IRS building now houses the SEAD Gallery & Bookshop, a center for community engagement and art in Downtown Bryan. Situated among the little shops lining the street, the SEAD Gallery & Bookshop revolves around community. It offers a collective learning experience through art, design and drawing in local and international artists alike to contribute pieces to their ever fluid gallery. SEAD, which stands for Science, Engineering, Art and Design, works on engaging people of all age groups through art and encourages the innovation found at their intersection. The SEAD Gallery focuses on creating a space for more creativity and showing other towns and neighborhoods how to do the same, Joan Quintana, director of the SEAD Gallery, said. “We are in the business of community development, supporting the places where entrepreneurs thrive and encouraging people to create and explore,” Quintana said. “The idea really isn’t about us, it’s about helping and showing other communities how to do the same and have the same types of experiences.” The SEAD Gallery’s exhibit is in constant motion, featuring artists of every background and every style. The Gallery presently showcases the work of Hailey Herrera, a native of South Korea, who works with every medium in her art, from wax to rice paper to watercolors. And although the Gallery primarily sees work from local artists, Quintana said, SEAD has also sponsored international artists. “There was an artist living in residence from Amsterdam who had an exhibit called ‘Characters,’ which was a showcase of all these unique cows of a herd,” Quintana said. “The way she captured their personal-

ities and quirks was absolutely astounding. Artists see things differently, capture things and open our eyes.” In the eyes of Angela Witzkoske, a journalism senior and intern at SEAD, being able to meet and interact with the artists who come in and out has been the most rewarding part of her time working with the SEAD Gallery. “At typical galleries, you don’t get that personal connection with the artists, but because we’re primarily a local gallery, I’ve gotten to meet the artists we feature,” Witzkoske said. “It’s different. It’s not something you see everyday. The art is always different, we feature whatever and whoever. Everybody can come. Everybody can show off their art.” From local creatives and resident artists from Amsterdam to kids’ summer programs and adult learning opportunities, SEAD is devoted to innovation and the pursuit of knowledge on every front. Callie Storie, Gallery Coordinator, explained that in conjunction with its gallery, SEAD has recently opened and expanded its bookshop and welcomes all residents to come and study among the life and movement of the gallery. SEAD has also grown their summer SEAD Academy, an innovation program for children of all ages, and SEAD After Dark, an opportunity for people of all age groups and backgrounds to come and discuss their thoughts and beliefs. “I think that’s what SEAD brings to the community — more community,” Storie said. “It’s a place where people can bond with other people over learning and engaging with the world around them.” As the SEAD Gallery grows, Storie hopes that more and more people will engage with the art and culture of their city and invites students to come by and do the same. “We have the space open to the community, and during normal business hours, students are welcome to have a seat and study,” Storie said. “We are a place for community, by community. I would love for people to come and make it their place, to come and take ownership of this place as a place they love.”

Photos by Samuel Moffatt — THE BATTALION

The SEAD in Downtown Bryan is often a place to gather, share ideas or buy a book.

Kate Hanson — THE BATTALION

MSC Open House is held throughout the MSC at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

Fall MSC Open House showcases 470 student organizations Thousands of students traversed the MSC getting information on various organization found at A&M By Gracie Mock @g_mock2 Freshman, transfers and current students alike gathered in the Memorial Student Center Sunday Sept. 3 to walk through the nearly 500 student organizations and find their perfect fit on campus. Kaitlyn Simmons, economics junior and director of MSC Open House, began working on the biannual event when she got her position last April, making it about six months in the making. Simmons said it takes a lot of teamwork to make the MSC Open House happen. “I have a couple really great members and a lot of really awesome volunteers, so volunteer training on what to look out for and then making sure that we have a really clear registration

process for all the organizations,” Simmons said. This semester’s Open House had 470 organizations participate, Simmons said, and they hope to host more in the future. Kim Nguyen, sociology junior and national ambassador for her sorority, Sigma Phi Omega, said they have participated in MSC Open House for years and that it is beneficial for their organization. “MSC, I feel like it’s where a lot freshman and people who want to join new orgs come, so it’s a good way to not advertise, but put out our name,” Nguyen said. “I feel like it’s always crowded at MSC Open House, so it’s a good turn out all the time.” Nguyen said participating in MSC Open House has given her sorority a good opportunity to recruit. “A lot of our girls, actually, that we talk to came from us talking to them at MSC,” Nguyen said. “And they always come back to our events and say ‘oh yeah we met you and we wanted to come back to talk to y’all more.’ So yeah, definitely, MSC Open House does help us out.” Jessica Olalde, animal science freshman, said she attended` Open House to find out what organizations are available for

her to potentially join. “I just wanted to get more involved,” Olalde said. “I saw a preview online and it interested me so I wanted to have a better look into it.” Olalde said the organizations that stuck out to her were the Pre-Vet Society, TAMU Cupcakes and PAWS, thelast because of her love of dogs. Olalde made her way through the crowds with her friend Alexia Marez, biomedical science freshman, who said she came for similar reasons. “I came to see the different organizations, to see what would fit me best, with my personality and interests,” Marez said. The volunteer organizations were of the most interest to, Marez said. “I like the Pre-Med Society, the Red Cross Association, because I like to volunteer and do stuff like that,” Marez said. “I like to be out in the community and help out.” With over 1,000 organizations A&M, MSC Open House serves to help students find the ones they want to join. Open House is held at the beginning of every semester has been part of campus life since the 1950s, according to their website.

SILVERTAPS The Battalion | 9.4.17

Silver Taps April 29, 1996 - July 4, 2017

BRIAN EDWARD BULLOCK A tireless friend who found the adventure in everything to him.” One of Brian’s virtues that stood out to his dad most was his moral compass. Many people trusted him for advice and decisions because they knew that his moral compass was immensely strong. After Brian’s passing, many people approached Dan and Lisa Bullock with

By Sanna Bhai @sannabhai

rian Edward Bullock was known as the friend of the friendless, the glue that held any group together and an ear to all. Growing up in the town of Burnet, Texas, Brian was raised as an Aggie country boy. He enjoyed playing basketball, a good piece of steak and everything nature had to offer from hunting to fishing to hiking. Recently he had acquired a new hobby of participating in adventurous sports, which gave him the chance to discover another side of nature. Brian’s father Dan Bullock said Brian loved to admire the outdoors and he took in every bit. “He was really into adventure and thrill seeking and just really loved nature,” Dan said. “I mean, he was just eating up as much as he could. He loved nature and what he called God’s creation. He loved being out in the mountains and the streams and seeing the sunrise and sunset and really enjoying the outdoor life and adventure.” One of Dan’s favorite memories of his son is of him playing basketball. Being a huge Johnny Manziel fan, his cheering section at his high school basketball games had shirts made with a picture of Manziel’s body with Brian’s face attached with his hands up doing money signs. He loved Manziel and basketball so much that he even broke some rules at his high school. “After Brian hit three [pointers] he’d do the money sign as would his whole cheering section,” Dan said. “Coach told him not to do it anymore. Brian was a rule follower and so normally would have listened, and in fact meant to, but instinctively did it [the] very next shot and was taken out of game. Coach couldn’t believe Brian did that, but it was honestly not intentional.” Growing up as an Aggie, the Aggie Spirit lived within him and the honor code encompassed his way of life Dan said. “Brian tried to make everyone around him happy, whether he knew them or not,” Dan said. “He was as accepting and honest as a person could be.”

“Even as a little kid, we have learned from Brian and it has been amazing to see how many people he has impacted at just 21 years old.” Dan Bullock, father

PROVIDED

Brian Bullock, with mother, Lisa, was known for his strong moral compass and after his passing, his mother had “what would Brian do?” bracelets made.

“He grew up a huge A&M fan and I remember driving up to the games and him and his friends would have pictures of Stephen McGee taped to the windows and he loved all that,” Dan said. “As big as an A&M fan

he was, when he passed away and we were looking for a grave site back there in Burnet and [we found out that] Pinky Wilson, the guy that wrote the Aggie War Hymn, was buried in Burnet and Brian’s spot is right next

one question: what would Brian do? “Independently, we have had three or four people come and tell us, what we had been talking as a family about, and that is that they would ask themselves ‘What would Brian do,’” Dan said. “Brian had such an incredible moral compass and was so thoughtful of others, in fact his mom now has a bracelet now that says ‘what would Brian do?’” He was a person that was always there for others, even if it was just lending his ear to listen or providing a shoulder to lean on. Even his parents were surprised at how many people were his close friends and how he had directly or indirectly touched their lives. “We can’t say that we necessarily instilled that in him, he was born that way,” Dan said. ”Even as a little kid, we have learned from Brian and it has been amazing to see how many people he has impacted at just 21 years old.”

Feb. 13, 1996 - June 26, 2017

CAROLINE ST. CLAIR KILLIAN A joyful inspiration who brought a smile to every face make it home, she found hope and good news in the form of Killian’s favorite food, green grapes, at a dinner with her friend, who had set up the GoFundMe page. “A plate of Tapas came out and there were two huge green grapes on them and green grapes were her favorite thing ever,” Tarryn said. “Then Annie looked at me and said ‘The GoFundMe is at $3,000 now you’re going home’ and at that moment I felt [Caroline] there with me calming me down and saying ‘They’re here for you. This family is incredible, the Aggie Family,’ and just seeing the green grapes and hearing [Annie] say that I just felt her there with me.”

By Mariah Colón @mariahcolon18

rom being a Fish Camp counselor to the Delta Gamma vice president of communication and interacting with every person she could in between, Caroline St. Clair Killian greeted every stranger she met with a warm welcome and a loving smile. “She had a vibrant and contagious personality that she shared with everyone she met,” Tarryn Glenn, management junior and close friend to Caroline, said. “You could meet her for five minutes and be her best friend. You felt like you really knew her.” Tarryn met Caroline in Fish Camp and the two became inseparable after they went through sorority recruitment together. Tarryn said while most of their time spent together was split between spontaneous sleepovers and delirium-inducing study parties, Caroline always found a way to make the most of any situation she was in and would bring infectious laughter and happiness to whoever she was with. “Her thing was to make people laugh,” Tarryn said. “If she could make you laugh then she was happy. I laughed 24/7, all the time with her. She knew that there was always something she could do to make someone smile and that is what she was about at all times making people smile and making them feel special.” Psychology senior Anna Mussleman was another close friend to Caroline and said that Caroline was a perfect example of a caring Aggie who loved people and would pour her heart into making everyone and anyone feel at home. “The Aggie Spirit is definitely something that she carried so near and dear to her heart,” Mussleman said. “One thing that she said helped her decide to go to A&M was the people here and that when she was on campus people would talk to her and ask how she was doing and that was something she always did as well. She’d walk up to anybody and ask how they were doing and then make them laugh with some super weird and probably

“She knew that there always something that could do to make someone smile and that is what she was about at all times making people smile and making them feel special” Tarryn Glenn, friend

PROVIDED

Caroline Killian (right), with friend, Tarryn Glenn, had a loving heart that was seen in her efforts to be friendly with everyone and make her friends laugh.

kind of inappropriate joke and make them feel like they were on top of the world. She wanted to make sure that everyone felt loved even if it was a stranger on campus.” Anna and Tarryn said some of their favorite memories of Caroline were from the everyday moments they would spend together, like getting ‘Pitty Pizookies’ when any of them were

feeling down, watching Taylor Swift goat videos for hours or studying together with breaks of laughter in between. After Caroline’s accident, a GoFundMe page was established to bring Tarryn back to the United States for the funeral. Tarryn said that even in the midst of the uncertainty over whether or not she would

Tarryn and Anna said the friendship that they shared with Killian was beyond comparison and that Killian impacted their lives throughout their friendship and continues to do so even now. “She was always happy,” Tarryn said. “For me, I know I can never be her but to honor her I guess I want to always be happy and say yes to everything. She never said no, she always took life as it came and did everything to the best of her ability and went with it and always had a smile on her face throughout every situation.”

SILVERTAPS The Battalion | 9.4.17

Silver Taps Jan. 15, 1998 - June 28, 2017

SARAH ELIZABETH FLANAGAN Selfless student loved and missed by all she touched through trails and cliff jumped together, despite Sarah’s fear of falling. “My second semester at A&M was the best part of my life because I got to spend it with her, whether it was studying or avoiding studying together,” Alexander said. “Spending time with her made me the happiest I have ever been in my life. We both couldn’t wait to get back to College Station so we could be back at A&M and no longer an hour drive apart like we were in the summer.”

By Emily Bost @EmmyBost

nown for her love for life, dedication and light-hearted disposition, Sarah Elizabeth Flanagan incorporated her propensities to help others, be active and find the best in every situation. “She really was terrific,” Sarah’s mother, Joan Flanagan said. “She had a great attitude and opinion about everything. She was very strong-minded and strong-willed. She was so confident, just in her own right.” Sarah showed a constant willingness and desire to be involved. At Clear Falls High School in League City, Texas, she invested her time in tutoring other students in math and committed herself to academics and sports. “We had so many people contact us and tell us how she was helping them study to get through different classes — calculus and things like that,” Scott Flanagan, Sarah’s father, said. “She was near the top of her high school class. She was number 14 out of 560 students, so she really did well. Really smart.” Seeing Sarah continuously excel in school at numerous academic award ceremonies and watching her finish second in the state wrestling tournament as a freshman at Clear Falls High School are among Scott’s most cherished memories of his daughter. Sarah showed the same eagerness to become involved immediately upon her arrival to Texas A&M. Sarah joined the Society of Women Engineers before the fall semester of her freshman year and loved everything about A&M, Joan said. Sarah spent her freshman year at A&M as a general engineering student with the hope of gaining acceptance into the chemical engineering major. She applied her same strong work ethic and focus to her college coursework as she did every aspect of her life. When she decided to do something, she became fully committed to it, Scott said. “She was really excited about going to school at A&M and becoming an engineer,” Scott said. “She liked the school. She loved being there.” After moving to College Station for her freshman year at A&M, Sarah quickly discovered an appreciation for Gumby’s pizza rolls. Her mother said Sarah missed them so much during her summer at home after her first year she joked about driving two hours from League City to College Station just to buy 50

“She had a great attitude and opinion about everything. She was very strongminded and strongwilled. She was so confident, just in her own right.” Joan Flanagan, mother

PROVIDED

Sarah Flanagan had a love for her education, and became very involved in student activities when she started at Texas A&M.

pizza rolls to bring home and freeze. “Her favorite thing in College Station was probably ordering Gumby’s pizza rolls,” Sarah’s boyfriend Alexander Huck said. “They would give her extra pizza rolls every single time. It always said ‘plus one’ or ‘plus two’ on her box. They just knew her.” As an active member of diverse groups of people and activities, Sarah was able to make friends in any new setting, while maintaining her friendships from her childhood, Joan said. “Most of the friends she had, she had her whole life,” Joan said. “She made new friends

all the time but she literally still has best friends that she met in preschool.” Megan DeLeon, Sarah’s close childhood friend, knew Sarah as someone who would never let a second pass her by without making the most out of it. When Sarah was not studying or helping others study, she filled her time with fun and excitement, leading a well-rounded life, Megan said. She was someone that constantly worked hard and knew what she wanted in life, Megan said. One of his favorite memories of her involved their trip to Austin where they hiked

Sarah and her brother Sean Flanagan, 21-year-old Texas Tech student, were both siblings and good friends, Joan Flanagan said. They shared a close relationship in which they were honest and humorous with one another. “Her and her brother were friends, they really were,” Joan said. “When he went away to college, she sent him a glitter bomb because she missed him. He opened it in his dorm room and that was not funny, because his roommates were not happy. He mailed her a card from someplace else that said ‘Hey, you’re adopted.’ I’m serious, all these things probably costed me twenty-five bucks a pop, but it was just funny. They talked every day, or they texted. They were friends. I know he misses her.” When Sarah was little, she would always fall asleep watching TV on the couch or in her parents’ bed. This is Scott favorite memory of his daughter. “I would carry her upstairs and put her in her own bed, and say ‘I love you baby,’” said Scott. “She would always say ‘Good night daddy, I love you too.’”

June 15, 1997 - April 20, 2017

SAPPHIRE MARIE JONES Brilliant scholar driven by her love of others By Brad Morse @Bradsmorse53

apphire Marie Jones is remembered for her undeniable intelligence, desire to help her fellow Aggies and her drive to make the world a brighter place. To help her achieve ambitions, she volunteered at the Student Counseling Services HelpLine and had plans to attend medical school following her graduation.

An academic stalwart, Sapphire majored in psychology and was awarded a full scholarship. By her sophomore year, she was a member of several prestigious honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Pi National Society of Leadership and Success, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Among her bevy of achievements, her admission to the Texas A&M’s Pre-Med Fellows Program, a program that is offered to 10 sophomores each year and guarantees an early admission to Texas A&M College of Medi-

cine, stands out. “She was incredibly bright,” Susan Vavra, HelpLine coordinator, said. “Her admission to the Pre-Med Fellows program, she was one of the 10 who got into that program. One of the things that [the admissions staff] shared with me was that when she interviewed for one of those 10 spots, it was a unanimous decision for them to bring her into that program.” While Sapphire was a serious student, Susan said it was her personality and love for others that separated her from the rest. “She was academically driven, but she just had a love for life, for education, a respect for education,” Susan said. “But outside of that academic side, [she was] so easy to connect with. She had a great sense of humor and had that beautiful, generous heart to do something like volunteer to listen to her fellow students.” Compelled by her desire to help those who she could, Sapphire took her role as a HelpLine volunteer with an immense sense of duty. She would come in weekly to talk to her fellow volunteers, where her consideration and compassion to those who would call for help shone through. Susan said that when she thinks of Sapphire, her sense of humor and funny comments will

always stand out, but that she had a very serious, introspective side, that was humbled by her time as a volunteer.

“She had a great sense of humor and had that beautiful, generous heart to do something like volunteer to listen to her fellow students.” Susan Vavra, advisor

An aspiring physician, Susan said Sapphire would have gone on to help more people after her undergrad and medical school graduations. “One of the things that hurts my heart so much is thinking about what a great Aggie

doctor she would have made,” Susan said. “She just made really easy connections with people, and when I think about what the world is going to miss out by her not being able to have patients of her own … she would have been fantastic in that role.” Sapphire’s close relations to her fellow volunteers had a profound impact on them, and a number of SCS volunteers traveled to her funeral together. “We actually chartered a bus to her funeral service,” Susan said. “Several of her fellow HelpLiners had a role in her funeral. Her parents asked me to say a prayer, and two of her fellow HelpLiners were pallbearers. And I think that says everything that you need to know, for someone who was involved in this program less than a year to make that kind of connection with people. It says everything you need to know about who she was as a person.” Susan said Sapphire was the quintessential Aggie and embodied everything about the Aggie spirit. “She was just one of those people who was meant to be an Aggie,” Susan said. “And it’s so sad that she was set to go to A&M Health Science center, and we aren’t going to be able to see that come to fruition.”

Here.

SILVERTAPS The Battalion | 9.4.17

Silver Taps Sept. 8, 1978 - June 13, 2017

MAHMOUD YAKUB MA’ARUF Teacher, student and friend loved by all who knew him being someone that will advise me, and we always shared advice and plans for the future. That is what I miss really about him, Mahmoud. He was a very, very close companion.” Mahmoud and Aisha Yusuf, his best friend from Nigeria and doctoral student in health promotion and community health plans at A&M, were neighbors in the same apartment complex in College Station. She said he impacted her life in a unique way. “He’s that kind of person that touches everybody’s life if he comes across you,” Aisha said. “The thing I remember most is he was more or less the person who took care of my kids when I had a class, when I was busy … Mahmoud is that kind of person, he would drop everything he was doing to do something for somebody, even if it would inconvenience him.” Muhibah Kila, another best friend of Mahmoud and graduate student at A&M, recalled

By Meredith McCown @ mccown_meredith

nown for his passion for knowledge and lighthearted sense of humor, Mahmoud Ma’Aruf is remembered by his loved ones through the way he selflessly cared for people. Mahmoud called Nigeria home and was born there in 1978. In pursuit of becoming a medical doctor, he graduated from medical school in 2004. After that, he left for the United Kingdom and received his Master’s in public health. Following graduate school, he returned to Nigeria to complete his residency as a community physician and was promoted to senior registrar during his medical training. With his dissertation standing between his current degree and becoming a doctor, Mahmoud came to the U.S. for the first time, while on scholarship to obtain his Ph.D. at Texas A&M. Ibraheem Karaye, Mahmoud’s cousin and doctoral student in the School of Public Health at A&M, said Mahmoud was diligent and driven to achieve his full potential as a student. “Mahmoud was very, very hardworking, very focused,” Ibraheem said. “He was actually the type that would … use the best of his time to get the best. And he did believe that he would have a very promising future.” En route to the U.S. to attend A&M together as doctoral students, Ibraheem and Mahmoud were coming through immigration at the airport. Even in things as monotonous as handing his I-20 form to the officials at the airport, Mahmoud found a way to make people laugh. “He asked Mahmoud if he was coming to the U.S. for graduate study, and he was like ‘Yes, I’m actually a doctoral student, I’m coming here for the first time,’ and then they all laughed and then the immigration office had told Mahmoud, ‘Well, it’s not too late to [run],’” Ibraheem said. “He was the kind that would joke about things, some things that ordinary people would probably take offense to, Mahmoud wouldn’t do that.” Along with studying and reading public health books, teaching was also a passion for Mahmoud, although he was never employed as a teacher. “Mahmoud was a bookworm, always reading and studying,” Ibraheem said. “But then, I have seen him delight pleasure in teaching stu-

“He was a loyal friend, he was a selfless friend. He was the best person in the world. I’ve never met anyone like him and I don’t think I’m going to meet anyone like him.” PROVIDED

Muhibah Kila, friend

Mahmoud Ma’Aruf (left) brought knowledge and joy into the lives of those who knew him.

dents, graduate students. He was not a teaching assistant, he was not employed, but every time you would see him teaching students.” Many of the students he taught came to his funeral, revealing their admiration and respect for Mahmoud. “I’ve seen a lot of these students, both the Nigerians or international students and American students, most of them attended his funeral actually,” Ibraheem said. “They took a three-hour drive to Austin. That’s what it will tell you, how highly regarded he was to them. He was very selfless with his time.” Ibraheem said above achievements and suc-

cess, Mahmoud viewed school as an invaluable opportunity to learn and to gain knowledge. “Mahmoud really, really, really believed in academic excellence,” Ibraheem said. “He really believed that school shouldn’t only be about earning grades, but understanding, having the knowledge. He was the type that actually believed in learning and not just passing through school.” More than anything, Ibraheem said he misses the cherished friendship he shared with Mahmoud. “He was a brother to me, I miss his companionship,” Ibraheem said. “I miss him for

a time that she had to switch research topics at the last minute, and Mahmoud stayed with her until she chose a new topic and wouldn’t leave until she felt confident to submit it. “I still got an A on the paper, he was the first person I called when I got the paper,” Kila said. “I can never forget that day, he was a lifesaver.” Kila said Mahmoud was one of a kind. “He was a loyal friend, he was a selfless friend,” Kila said. “He was the best person in the world. I’ve never met anyone like him and I don’t think I’m going to meet anyone like him.”

July 7, 1957 - Aug. 1, 2017

CANDACE RENEE BENEFIEL A librarian with a passion for books, movies and A&M and she always wanted to be helping people. She was a frequent member of our committee on appointment, promotion and tenure. She served for years on the Aggie Honor Council.”

By Angel Franco @angelmadison_

andace Renee Benefiel is remembered by family and friends as a loving, selfless and caring person. Her passion for movies and helping others is what she was loved for the most.

Renee Kelley, Candace’s niece, said Candace had a deep passion for learning and loved sharing it with those around her, some of which were the thousands of students that walked the halls of Evans Library. “She’s probably one of the most interesting people you could know,” Renee said. “She thoroughly enjoyed learning and sharing what she learned … She was a librarian but not what you think of with a usual librarian.” Renee said one of Candace’s favorite pastimes was to watch movies. Not only did she watch them, but she could name various facts about most of the movies she had seen. “She loved movies, you could pretty much say any movie and she would know what year it was made and who was in it,” Renee said. “She was kind of the family movie critic so if there was a movie you wanted to see she you would call her first and ask: ‘Well what did you think about it?’” One of Candace’s biggest passions was vampires, from movies to books and even TV shows. Renee said Candace was very involved in a group of fans from a popular TV show called “Moonlight,” so much that she traveled around the country meeting other fans and building lasting relationships. “She was very involved in it,” Renee said. “We would go and meet these people all over the United States and made really good friendships. She had more friends than I could’ve ever imagined.”

“She’s probably one of the most interesting people you could know. She thoroughly enjoyed learning and sharing what she learned.” Renee Kelley, niece

PROVIDED

Candace Benefiel came to Texas A&M first in the 1980s and loved the campus since, especially mascot Reveille.

Pixie Mosley, close friend and coworker of Candace’s at Evans library, said she will be remembered as someone who was always ready to help, especially when it came to helping

Aggies. “She was really really engaged in a lot of service to the campus,” Pixie said. “She always had a really great sense of humor on things

Candace’s welcoming and loving personality is what made her unique, according to Pixie. “Her acceptance of people, she was so open and she really liked to engage with people,” Pixie said. “She really liked working with folks.” The never ending love for Texas A&M came naturally for Candace. First arriving to Aggieland in the 1980s, Candace spent a majority of her life immersed in the university and the library, something that Renee said she didn’t mind at all. “She enjoyed the Aggie life, she enjoyed her job, she enjoyed the people that she worked with and she loved the library,” Renee said. “She loved Reveille, she was a dog person so who doesn’t love Reveille? She loved her students, she was a good listener and very helpful, everyone who has reached out to me has reiterated that.”

NEWS

The Battalion | 9.4.17

Silver Taps Sept. 3, 1992 — July 27, 2017

BENJAMIN LANGSTON HOPPER A dedicated son excited to be an Aggie By Lauren McCaskill @lemoct21

enjamin Langston Hopper will be remembered for his integrity, perseverance, love and devotion to his family and friends through his intentionality and dedication to improve himself. Benjamin was a molecular biology junior who loved to spend his summers at the Frio River surrounded by the people he loved. Benjamin was very dedicated to personal nutrition and wellness, and always loved to watch the Aggies play. He had a diverse selection of novels he liked to read and loved to play golf in his free time. Benjamin’s parents, Luanne Boyd and John Hopper, Class of 1986, said he was hardworking. During his time at A&M he had to take time off and one of Luanne’s favorite memories of Benjamin was hearing the excitement in his voice when he told his parents he received his second acceptance letter to Texas A&M. Benjamin will be remembered for his kindness and respect for himself and others. He loved to learn about nutrition and exercise and how they affected the body. “If he said he was going to be somewhere or do something or call you back, he would,” Luanne said. “If he said something he was going to do it.” Nicholas Hopper, Benjamin’s younger brother, said his favorite memories with Benjamin comes from one of their trips to the Frio River in which the river flooded and Benjamin went out of his way to care for his grandmother.

PROVIDED

Benjamin Hopper’s younger brother Nicholas Hopper said Benjamin’s perseverance and selfless service were qualities his family saw him embody.

“The flood water was about 4 or 5-feet high,” Nicholas said. “Ben took care of Grandma, cleaned out the cabin, really provided for her.” Nicholas said that he will remember kayaking the floodplain for over seven miles during the day that summer and enjoyed spending that time with him. Benjamin loved to travel and is remembered by his father for their memories visiting New York City and getting to see the Dalai Lama at the University of Colorado. “One of my favorite memories with Ben was when I dropped him off at DFW airport and he said ‘Dad, I’m glad you’re my dad,’” John said. Luanne said she remembers Benjamin as being loyal to his friends, honest, forthright, and determined to improve his academics. Perseverance was a quality his family saw him exemplify. “I learned [from Benjamin] that if you put your mind and give it all your focus, you can achieve it,” Luanne said. Nicholas said that he will miss intentional discussion and mentorship from his older brother the most. “The types of conversations he’d have with people were ones with value. He had a good perspective,” Nicholas said. “The way I view the world was shaped by how he viewed the world.” Nicholas said that Benjamin exemplified selfless service through the random acts of kindness he would perform for other people, often going unnoticed. “Benjamin taught me to be true person,” Nicholas said. “He was pretty real with what he’d say, he could see into people pretty well and went one hundred percent with everything he did.”

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.

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

Cheddar's and Fish Daddy's now accepting applications. Apply within, University Dr. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for interview.

Club volleyball coaches needed! Salary plus expenses. Practices Wednesdays &Sundays, December-April. Two tournaments a month. brazosvalleyjuniors@gmail.com

HELP WANTED Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $75-$150/hr, up to $500/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com

HELP WANTED 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. Ranch Helper, part-time, near Wheelock area, needed for ranch up keep, works involved fence repair, mowing, tractor operation, chainsaw operation and other duties that may arise, must have transportation, flexible schedule, $11.50/hr, 979-589-3142 or 979-218-6356.

HELP WANTED 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.

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!

ANSWERS

to todays puzzles read the fine print.

the

battalion

Classifieds

Call 845-0569 To Place Your Ad

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.

NEWS

The Battalion | 9.4.17

Welcome Back students

free small sub

COURTESY OF Roman Villarreal

Members of the National Guard used rafts to transport people and supplies through the more flooded areas of Houston.

to redeem, just bring this coupon & your student I.D. into Firehouse subs.

A&M Cadets answer the call

Valid only at 1507 Texas Ave S, College Station, TX 77840 No purchase neccassary. offer valid through 09.30.17

Cadets join National Guard to help rescue efforts after Hurricane Harvey

Limit 1 per customer. Must present student ID and this ad to redeem. Small sub only.

By Kenya Robinson @_KenyaJ

FAMILY

“

“ People love me like

-Matt

Hilton Conference Center • Sundays at 10:30am

CHRISTLAND.ORG

Twenty-six members of the Corps of Cadets were deployed with the National Guard on Monday, Aug. 28 participating in search and rescue missions and humanitarian aid to support the victims affected by Hurricane Harvey. All of the cadets that were deployed are currently a part of the Simultaneous Membership Program, which allows cadets to attend Army ROTC at Texas A&M and serve in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard at the same time. The Cadets are expected to return sometime in the next few days for the second week of classes. This is the first time the Cadets have been activated to respond to an emergency situation with the National Guard, according to business honors senior Daniel Arghavani. Arghavani and seven other cadets from A&M were attached to the 1-124 Cavalry Regiment that was stationed in the Katy area and extended east to Orange County, Texas. Arghavani said the evacuees that he rescued during one of his missions this past week were appreciative for his help. “When we were pulling people out of their apartments where the water was over 5 feet high, residents were super grateful that people were just willing to come back for them regardless,” Arghavani said “It’s really great to see what a lot of social media outlets don’t portray. There’s no tension. It’s just people helping people.” International studies senior Noorddin Alsawfta served in Orange County, Texas

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)

where he was able to participate in the planning and logistics of the different task forces. Alsawfta said that this experience was crucial in helping him prepare for his future career as an officer in the Army. “I’ve done lots of military training and many military exercises, but this is the first time I’ve actually been on a real life mission,” Alsawfta said. “Real people are involved, there’s real lives at stake and I got a meaningful understanding of how things work between the command staff and the guys on the ground. It taught me a lot of things.” Renewable natural resources senior, Jackson Laughead served in the 36 infantry division that was stationed in a shelter right next to NRG Stadium. Laughead said he was worried about his classes at first, but his academic advisor was able to work everything out with his professors. “My academic advisor is the best person in the world,” Laughead said. “She contacted every single one of my professors to let them know what I was doing and that I was excused. She promised to work with them to figure out how I can make up my work when I get back, so that was good.” Laughead said he was thrilled to see so many donations from all of the country pour into the shelter. He said that the amount of aid received by the shelter was plentiful and really boosted the moral of the citizens affected by the storm. “I was just so proud when we drove in and just saw signs that said ‘We are no longer accepting donations,’” Laughead said. “The people of Texas, and really every other state, have just donated so much that we have everything we need. The victims are completely taken care of at the moment and it made me really proud to see that.”

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)