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2017 Aggie Muster Photo Story

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A&M students Sophie Roberts (right) and Jacqueline Gutierrez surpised professor Arnold LeUnes with a replacement Aggie Ring Sunday.

GIFTED IN GRATITUDE

Laura Haslam — THE BATTALION

Students surprise prof who lost his Aggie Ring in a house fire with replacement ring on his 79th birthday By Savannah Mehrtens @SJMehrtens

n Sunday afternoon, Arnold LeUnes’ was enjoying a celebratory 79th birthday meal with his family at Willie’s Grill and Icehouse when two of his students surprised him with a Class of 1960 Aggie Ring. Shaking out of excitement, he kindly accepted the ring and thanked his students, Sophie Roberts and Jacqueline Gutierrez, over roaring applause. It was 34 years ago when Arnold LeUnes lost his original Aggie Ring to a house fire caused by a gas unit in the ceiling. His six children and wife, Judy, are his most important concern, so he had

never purchased a replacement ring during their upbringing. Sophie Roberts, kinesiology junior, heard this story on the first day of his abnormal psychology class last semester and felt compelled to start a GoFundMe campaign that October to raise money to buy him a replacement ring. “It’s exciting; I haven’t had a ring for 34 or 35 years,” LeUnes said. Roberts said although LeUnes is a reserved man by nature, she could tell he was pleased with the surprise reveal. “He’s kind of quiet,” Roberts said. “I think he is very happy … I feel like getting it replaced by students who love and adore you is more special than when he probably got it the first time.” One table over from the LeUnes family, a group of students was finishing their meals at the time of the ring reveal. Robert Eichhorn, business administration sophomore, and Emma Wiegand, health LEUNES ON PG. 2

Bringing the Aggie Spirit to New York City Largest out-of-state alumni group seeks to recruit, help Aggies who are interested in moving to New York By Josh McCormack @_joshmccormack

Josh McCormack — THE BATTALION

Andy Ellwood and Ashley Powell have taken over New York Aggies club, helping it grow in numbers and resources.

Andy Ellwood took the New Jersey Turnpike into the largest city in America to begin what he describes as his new calling. Hoping to meet like-minded people, he found New York Aggies, the largest alumni group outside of the state of Texas. But Ellwood discovered a lack of the familial spirit he experienced in College Station. From that point on, Ellwood, Class of 2004, start-up entrepreneur and president of the New York Aggies, has worked to take the reins of the organization and spread the word of the Aggie family in the Big Apple. The New York Aggies’ focus lies in three main areas: To convince students that New York City is a viable option for work and life, getting talented students from the North East to A&M and fostering an Aggie family who do things together in NYC. NYC AGGIES ON PG. 4

AGGIES HOLD LOCAL MARCH FOR SCIENCE By Mikayla Andrade @MikaylaAndrade Aggies of all varieties flocked to campus Saturday to show their support for science in their everyday lives as part of a nationwide march had which movements in dozens of cities across the country. Hosted by the Aggies in Science Technology and Engineering Policy, or A-STEP, “March for Science” was a campus event that aimed to defend how science impacts health, safety, economy and government. The event kicked off with a march around Simpson Drill Field before transitioning into science demonstrations and a “Meet a Scientist,” session. Ryan Payne, geophysics graduate student and march organizer, said there is always room to learn more about science, so he urges people to start a conversation with scientists. “Science is really important for a lot of problems we’re facing today,” Payne said. “But it seems to be getting cut more and more out of the conversation, so I think the whole point of the March for Science is that people, who are scientist and care about science, are saying we need to consider this more carefully.” Among the attendees of the march were a few A&M alumni, like Sara Carney from the Class of 2013, Gina Wadas from the Class of 2015, Jessica Scarfuto from the Class of 2014, and Norman Guniasso, Class of 1975. Carney said she believes now is a particularly MARCH ON PG. 2

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

A group of locals joined A&M students for the nationwide March for Science Saturday on campus.

Spencer Russo — THE BATTALION

Texas House Bill 2899 would prohibit antidiscrimination laws in local government, including the addition of same sex bathrooms to accommodate those who identify as transgender.

Texas House Bill 2899 fate undetermined State legislature remains at impasse on controversial states’ rights bill By Luke Henkhaus @Luke_Henkhaus Following hours of public testimony extending into the early morning hours of April 20, Texas House Bill 2899 was ultimately left pending by the Texas House Committee on State Affairs. Although the language of the bill is subject to change, it currently aims to prohibit local governments from enacting measures dealing with protection from discrimination, ensuring that control of such measures is concentrated in the hands of the state government. City and school policies ensuring that transgender Texans are allowed to use the bathroom matching their gender identity would fall squarely within the range of prohibited measures, making bathroom policy a major point of discussion during the committee’s hearing. The bill has been presented as an alternative to Texas Senate Bill 6, which, in addition to containing restrictions on local ordinances related specifically to bathrooms, would also require people to use the bathroom corresponding with the sex on their birth certificates in government buildings. “[House Bill 2899] addresses a majority of Texans’ concerns as they relate to our most intimate public places,” said the bill’s author, Rep. Ron Simmons. “It does not prohibit a statewide nondiscrimination policy. What we’re saying is that this needs to be handled at the state level.” Some Texans expressed opposition to the bill, citing concerns about the elimination of existing local regulations which currently BILL ON PG. 4