TRADITIONS
Four editors receive their bling as Aggie Ring Day celebrates 25 years of gold A4-5
SPORTS
Coach Buzz Williams leaves: Where does Texas A&M men’s basketball turn now? B1
Disaster Day: Expecting the unexpected
dents, athletic trainers, pharmacy students, public health students, dental students and members of the Corps of Cadets for disasters.
By Joshua Abraham Opinion Writer
When tragedies like Hurricane Harvey and the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred, society turned to law enforcement and medical professionals. People relied on their expertise to help solve these unfathomable situations.
However, disasters are never expected. When events like these happen, professionals must adapt to their surroundings and make the best of it, even if they don’t know how to deal with the situation. This is why Disaster Day was created: To practice the unexpected.
“There was a nursing student who was involved in Disaster Day who moved to Las Vegas,” international affairs and public health graduate student Amanda Munene, a member of the disaster response leadership team, said. “When they had the nightclub shooting there, she was the only one in her emergency room who had received some sort of training like this.”
Disaster Day is an annual event that trains medical and nursing stu-
The Aggie Boxing Club will hold second annual event at Bryan Texas Legends Event Center
By Kynlee Bright Design Editor
Twenty-two boxers will compete on Thursday, April 3, at the second annual Farmer’s Fight Night. Running from 6:30-10:30 p.m., the event held at Bryan Texas Legends Event Center will crown 11 victors.
Founded as a way to showcase boxing in a safe atmosphere, the Aggie Boxing Club has partnered with United Way of the Brazos Valley, a local, nonprofit organization.
As the largest student-led interprofessional emergency response simulation in the country, they aim to allow student teams to diagnose, treat and care for volunteer patient populations.
Taking place at Texas A&M’s Engineering Extension Service’s Disaster City, a facility housing training resources for emergency responders, this was the event’s 17th year running. The day’s theme
ally happened to these individuals.”
With over 700 participants, Disaster Day volunteers were vital in making the event a success. Many were volunteer patients, acting out their trauma and injuries, pushing the healthcare workers to give them the right care. Forensic and investigative sciences senior Kaitlyn Hale found out about this volunteer opportunity through her internship at the University Police Department.
“My supervisor informed us about this, and she thought it would be a great learning experience about what training first responders do in
That’s why I’m here, to learn and grow as a medical practitioner.
Mathew First-Year Medical Student “ “
was a train derailment that resulted in an oil spill that led to patients being contaminated or injured.
“One lady, half her leg got cut off,” third-year pharmacy student Alwyn Joseph said. “Somebody had a heart attack, another was blind. It’s just some cool scenarios that you’re able to find out what actu-
For $12, students and members of the Bryan-College Station community can attend the event, which serves as a fundraiser to give back to the local area.
“Every dollar that gets raised at the Fight Night is going to United Way,” international affairs graduate student and Aggie Boxing Club President Chase Johnson said. “We do our best to raise sponsor money and to run ads during the event to cover the event costs. We’re close enough now where effectively every dollar this year will go straight to United Way.” Last year, the event raised roughly $43,000 in revenue for United Way, and this year, the organizers hope to increase that number to $60,000.
mass casualty situations like this,” Hale said. “I’ve never thought about how EMTs, medics and first responders trained for stuff like this, and I just got a cool [patient] case where I have blood all over and a metal rod in me.”
Two simulations are done throughout the day to compre-
hensively prepare students to work in different areas of disaster relief.
Students, such as first-year medical student Ashwin Mathew, anticipated the event and the implications it may have on their professional lives.
“It was something that I was called upon,” Mathew said about his decision to enter the medical field. “That’s why I’m here, to learn and grow as a medical practitioner.”
Mathew and his team retrieved injured volunteer patients who were portrayed as hurt in the derailment, many of them covered in mock blood with pieces of glass or rods stabbed into their bodies.
They evaluated the patients based on injury severity in triage before being escorted to field hospitals for further evaluation and procedure.
Along with three different field hospitals, there were also pharmacy tents for obtaining medicine. Military cabins were even stationed and a medical evacuation helicopter was also present for extracting volunteer patients for more medical care.
“There’s a lot of stress even though it’s all simulated,” first-year medical student Ethan Green said “People are screaming and there’s chaos everywhere.”
But it’s the collaborative nature that allowed students to work in these settings and get the training they need for their future careers.
PARENT’S WEEKEND APRIL 4-6
Welsh rejects adding class to A&M core curriculum
WGST 205’s attempt to fufill social science credit was denied
By Nicholas Gutteridge Editor-in-Chief
Last February, Texas A&M
President Mark A. Welsh III rejected a request for a course focused on LGBTQ+ studies to fulfill the university’s social and behavioral sciences core curriculum credit, according to a memo obtained by The Battalion. It’s the first time Welsh has vetoed a course recommendation approved by the Faculty Senate and provost’s office since he stepped in as president two years ago.
Welsh denied core curriculum certification to WGST 205, a course in the Women and Gender Studies program titled “Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies.” The class is described as a “survey of the histories of and theories regarding” LGBTQ+ identities and communities and discusses several topics, including “institutional ways in which homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia are systemically deployed.”
A&M lists social and behavioral sciences courses as those that “focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human” and “involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture.”
“As a state-funded institution of higher education, Texas A&M’s core curriculum is meant to provide a broad, introductory knowledge base to ensure students are well rounded and equipped with the skills needed to be successful, productive citizens in alignment with state guidance,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to The Battalion. “After reviewing the recommendation regarding WGST 205, the president determined that it was not necessary to add this course to the core curriculum.”
The recommendation document included proposals approved by the Faculty Senate and provost’s office. On the memo’s final page, the line requesting WGST 205’s certification was crossed out, and a note that said it was “[n]ot approved” was added below with an accompanying handwritten “MW,” the president’s initials.
Welsh has approved hundreds of proposals that have passed through officiating bodies in the past, according to a further 17 memos obtained and reviewed by The Battalion. The documents show WGST 205 as the only request not approved.
WGST 205 was the base course for the LGBTQ+ studies minor, which stopped enrolling students last year due to low enrollment. The rejection also comes amid a string of university and A&M System decisions relating to sexuality and gender issues, including the regents’ on-campus drag show ban in February and the end of gender-affirming care at the A.P. Beutel Health Center in June 2024.
Theresa Morris, the WGST program’s director, did not respond to a request for comment.
Volunteers walk up an ambulance ramp during Disaster Day at Disaster City on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Federal memo targets graduation events
Education Department’s anti-DEI letter takes aim at funding for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ students amid recent political turmoil
By J.M. Wise News Editor
A letter from the Department of Education’s acting assistant secretary, Craig Trainor, aimed at curtailing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives went into e ect on Feb. 28. The letter alleges that attempts to hold separate graduation ceremonies — which four Texas A&M student organizations host each semester — are reminiscent of Jim Crow-era segregation. Independent student organizations are not under the scope of the letter, as legal precedent set in the 1980s determined that universities cannot compromise students’ right to free speech.
Gay Student Services v. Texas A&M University ruled in the students’ favor in the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after students alleged their First Amendment rights were restricted after A&M banned organizations that supported gay students. University funds, on the other hand, do fall
under the letter’s proposed guidelines.
Materials science and engineering Ph.D. student Sophia Ahmed is the president of the Queer Empowerment Council, or QEC, which hosts a Lavender Graduation ceremony for Aggies who identify as LGBTQ+ and their allies every spring.
“We haven’t been told anything because it would violate the First Amendment,” Ahmed said.
Across the nation, educators are pushing back against the guidelines implied in the letter, with the American Federation of Teachers suing the Trump administration on Feb. 25. In Texas, state legislation already banned DEI programs, leading to the closure of o ces across the state, including A&M’s Pride Center.
“Since Senate Bill 17, QEC has taken the helm of former Pride Center events, including Lavender Graduation,” Ahmed said. “We didn’t want that tradition to die.
Sometimes some students may not be comfortable with their identity in front of their family, or it might be a danger.”
According to Ahmed, a major source of funding for QEC was the drag show Draggieland, which has been forced into a legal battle after the Board of Regents banned on-campus drag shows across the A&M System on Feb. 28. A re-
cent ruling by Judge Lee Rosenthal granted a temporary injunction, which allowed for the show to continue as planned on campus.
At the College Station campus, the Department of Multicultural Services last held its Multicultural Graduation Ceremony in the spring of 2020.
Since SB17 was passed, the graduation ceremony has splintered into three di erent ceremonies. Other student organizations that hold alternative graduation programs include the Latinx Graduation, hosted by 10 Hispanic-serving student organizations, the Asian Presidents Council’s graduation ceremony and the Black Student Alliance Council’s ceremony.
“Regardless of its impact on us, it pains us to see the tremendous negative impact this has on various university programs and initiatives that were bene cial to the entire student body not only on our campus, but many across the nation,” a statement from Latinx Graduation reads.
Business honors senior and president of the Asian President’s Council Hannah Bang said members of her organization have expressed concerns about the loss of scholarships and academic support as a result of the letter.
“We may not get the support we used to,” Bang said. “It doesn’t
really stop us from doing what we want to do and carrying out our missions, and honestly, I think it empowers us even more to stand our ground.”
While university funds may be directed to student organizations that do not have speci c interest in DEI, Bang said the impact has already been felt by students in her organization.
“The biggest issue we’ve been seeing and something we can de nitely do something about is mental health,” Bang said. “We’ve been trying to focus on how these issues, or really any issue in society, a ects us as a group and how that a ects us mentally and how we can be there for each other.”
Bang and other student leaders said they have been focusing on supporting students within their organizations with a sense of stability. The graduation ceremonies will happen as planned no matter what, they said.
“Because this is something that is really special to us, we do plan on keeping it as our annual thing,” Bang said. “Obviously, with the situation and legislation that is changing, we’re going to do our best to adhere to policies, and making sure that doesn’t take away from our mission.”
With ongoing litigation against the Trump administration, the legal landscape is liable to change
dramatically going into graduation season, according to legal experts and court battles, some of which have overturned the anti-DEI requirements.
“As a Recognized Student Organization, we are self-governing and able to freely establish our mission in spreading the values of inclusivity and diversity throughout Texas A&M University by celebrating the accomplishments of our Aggies in Spanish and English with the planning of the Latinx Graduation Ceremony,” the statement from Latinx Graduation reads. “In other words, the Latinx Graduation Ceremony will still be hosted on May 7th, 2025, from 1-3 p.m.”
The Asian President’s Council’s graduation ceremony will take place on April 17, and QEC’s ceremony will take place in April as well.
All organizations encouraged students to support graduating seniors and to attend graduation ceremonies they are interested in, regardless of ethnic, racial, sexual or gender identity.
“All student org leaders should know we are protected by the First Amendment,” Ahmed said. “That being said, I don’t think they should be afraid, but it’s always good to be prepared — whether that is or is not relying on school funds.”
Muslim student group builds bonds
Islamic students share how having a Muslim organization has shaped their Aggie experience
By Fallon Ferguson Associate Life & Arts Editor
With a student population of over 74,000, Texas A&M is the largest public university in the state of Texas.
It is a common occurrence for freshmen to enter such a large university and struggle to nd their place amongst hundreds of student-led organizations and thousands of students.
A&M’s Muslim Student Association, or MSA, aims to provide a faith-based community for those students with a plethora of events focused on socialization, education and giving back to the community.
“I think it’s really important that Muslims, or people that want to learn about Islam as a religion, have the opportunity to feel comfortable and feel at home even when they’re away from home, for example, here at Texas A&M,” said graduate nance student and MSA president Saad Akhtar. “And being able to have a community that can support you and make you feel less alienated, especially in such a big place.”
MSA also provides Muslim students with new friends and peers that they can relate and identify with, Akhtar said. This organization not only provides information about Islam to practicing Muslims in the community, but also to other students at A&M who have questions about Islam as a religion.
“We have this thing called Dawa table, and Dawa in Arabic
means invitation,” nance junior and MSA fundraising o cer Asad Ahmad said. “People can come up with questions about other faiths and other religions, or they can inquire about what Islam really is about.”
Despite attempts to correct misinformed ideas of Islam, there are still many preconceived notions about the religion that can a ect how others see its followers.
Some believe Muslims are taught violence and oppression, but Ahmad said these narratives are ultimately false and harmful. He said at its core, Islam is a religion based on faith and serving God.
“As a hijabi, as someone who outwardly presents Islam, I think that people, if they hadn’t met me, they would already have preconceived notions about the way that I act and the things I’m interested in,” political science sophomore and MSA campus relations o cer Emaan Vagher said. “I’ve always been a very outspoken, con dent person, but I think people automatically assume and put me in a box because I wear the hijab.”
While MSA does place an emphasis on education, the organization also provides a sense of unity and an opportunity for students to progress in their faith. Adjusting to college life is quite di cult, especially for international students and those who move from areas with higher Muslim populations to a community like Aggieland, where there is a large amount of religious diversity.
“MSA provided me with a really awesome community of people who are really guided by prophetic leadership, and are really interested in community work, and community for the sake of God,” Vagher said. “There’s so many people in MSA that are from Saudi [Arabia], Morocco or Egypt,
and they’re international students who also feel at home at MSA.”
The organization hosts events for members to get involved in the community, a majority of which focus on service and deepening connections among peers. The A&M chapter of MSA participates in an event known as “Showdown,” where MSA groups from other schools in Texas come together for a friendly competition consisting of sports and non-sports related activities, Ahmad said.
This event fosters a broader sense of community for Muslim students at Texas universities, and the service-led initiatives by MSA help build relations within the Bryan-College Station community.
“Once a month, we have an event called Project Downtown, and that is pretty much where we go to downtown Bryan and we just hand out food to people in that area,” Ahmad said. “Last semester we hosted a banquet in the MSC, and we had an auction. I kind of curated these items and they sold for a grand total of around $10,000 and we donated all of that to an organization called Charity Week.”
The group does not have any membership requirements, and they accept anyone and everyone,who attends events and/or meetings.
More information can be found @tamumsa on Instagram, as well as information on the local Bryan-College Station mosque and community center on the ICBCS website.
“We are a 75,000 person university, and even if 1% is Muslim that is still a lot of people,” mechanical engineering junior and MSA brother social o cer Hadi Tameez said. “There’s always somebody for someone who can be there.”
Left to right: A fall 2022 graduate holds up their graduation cap. Students pose for a photo at the Multicultural Graduation.
File photo by Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION Photos
Money donated to United Way supports their mission of aiding local non-profits in the Bryan-College Station area.
Not only are goals high for this Thursday night, but this year the Aggie Boxing Club will have 13 members competing in seven bouts, one of which will include a never-before-seen matchup against a fighter representing Texas State University Boxing.
“We ended up matching one of our boxers with a Texas State boxer,” Johnson said. “They reached out to us probably about a month ago. They’re trying to build a boxing program, and they saw what we did last year.”
Farmer’s Fight Night has not only gained attention from Texas A&M’s college competitors, but also from local boxing clubs.
Four of the 11 bouts will be fought by members from a local partner, Bryan Boxing, who has partnered with the Aggie Boxing Club. These boxers will compete against fighters from Pequeño’s Boxing, Armas Boxing, Apex Boxing Gym and Fighter Nation Boxing Gym.
“The reason we do that is so that we have a 20-year veteran of the boxing community who teaches our guys how to box correctly,” Johnson said. “He’s been a great resource to us, and as a result we’ve given him four slots for this year.”
While the club has extended
slots to local clubs, earning a spot in the ring through the Aggie Boxing Club is no small feat.
From seven months of workouts to the intensive tryouts, Aggie boxers endure numerous hours of training before competing in the ring.
“Being able to do this is a huge honor,” electronic systems senior Adam Le said. “It doesn’t feel real yet. I have been told that it won’t feel real until I step into the event center and it’s like ‘Oh shit, this is really happening.’”
For A&M’s boxers, this event serves as the first fight of their amateur records and can be the first step on a fighter’s path toward competing at the national level. This year, one of the members sent to nationals took part in last year’s Farmer’s Fight Night.
Although the event’s goal is to showcase talented boxers and give them the confidence and experience needed to compete in bigger bouts, the Aggie Boxing Club is aiming to please all community members this Thursday.
During intermission, two-step organizations as well as the Aggie Wranglers will perform to add diversity to the show and hopefully gain more community engagement, Johnson said.
“You know, show up, sit down and grab a beer or burger,” Johnson said. “Concessions and alcohol will be sold, just hang out. It’s going to be a good night.”
Deals galore: inside the Revello revolution
By Aayan Adnan
The college experience no longer has to be microwaved ramen with a plastic aftertaste because the dining hall closed early, nor settling for appetizers at restaurants while friends indulge in full-course meals.
These outdated college norms are being challenged by the up-andcoming Revello app, a platform that monitors and stores all local deals and discounts for dining, shopping and entertainment for users.
Behind this innovation are two Texas A&M students who created the plan in their dorm room at 2 a.m., industrial engineering junior Yuval Marom and computer science junior Jeff Slobodkin.
Despite their contrasting backgrounds, Marom and Slobodkin both allude to their time together as freshman-year roommates as a major stepping stone to where they are today.
“We would just be like up until two, three in the morning sometimes talking about this idea of wanting to do things that aren’t conformed to society,” Marom said.
It was during these late-night brainstorming sessions that the idea for Revello sprung up. Students had originally, and inefficiently,
shared local deals over Reddit and then communicated to update those deals on a laggy, hard-to-read and unorganized spreadsheet. Slobodkin saw this and knew just the solution.
“It’s like, why don’t we just find one consolidated place for [the deals], or create one for all these people to find them?” Slobodkin said.
But an idea is just half of the journey.
Slobodkin said onboarding businesses was a huge challenge, and despite Revello being an app programmed on a computer, it had taken much more manual labor than expected.
“We went door to door, knocked them down and just asked every manager for deals and their information for each of the deals,” Slobodkin said.
Marom added that even when they had compiled their deals, another challenge was convincing people to actually use their service.
They hadn’t originally developed Revello as an app — their prototype model was actually a website named collegetowndeals.com, and it had struggled as potential customers believed it to be a scam.
“[The website] forced you to sign in, and so they thought that we were trying to steal their information when they signed up,” Marom said.
However, Marom and Slobodkin stuck it out, and sure enough, the website took off once it gained momentum. Users were sharing it through social media, group chats
and even saving it as a shortcut on their phones — the demand for a streamlined compilation of the latest deals was growing.
Having seen the increasing traffic on the website, Marom and Slobodkin decided to slap on a logo and adopt the name “Revello” — inspired by the phrase “Hello Reveille” to reflect Aggie pride.
With some programming to wrap it all together, collegetowndeals. com became the Revello app.
“We’ve hit like a new user milestone of 2,000 users just recently,” Marom said. “ … And we also signed up Gumby’s as our first paying customer.”
With new deals continuously added, an increasing user base and new signed businesses, Revello is expanding with no intention to slow down.
In light of Revello’s success, Marom and Slobodkin have future ambitions beyond their app.
“A lot of people, I think, tend to go into some kind of job offer,” Marom said. “ … My plan is to take at least a year or two to just really dive deep into some kind of idea that I’m really passionate about and try to find my own company.”
Slobodkin further reinforced his vision with a sense of purpose toward his work.
“Value comes from building something for people as a service, even if it doesn’t make you a bunch of money,” Slobodkin said. “ … There’s pride in that that you can look back at and be proud of. That’s important to me.”
Yuval Marom and Jeff Slobodkin, co-founders of the app Revello, pose in the Battalion office on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Jackson Stanley — THE BATTALION
Amid Ring Day’s 25th anniversary,
Almost didn’t pull up
Football, school culture and more
By Pranay Dhoopar Graphics Editor
In the great words of JordanTerrell Carter’s song “24 Songs,”“I can’t believe we made it this far.”
This Friday, I will be stepping through the grand doors of theThe Association of Former Students to claim a symbol of pride,culture and tradition — my Aggie Ring.It’s surreal to think about how involved I’ve become with Texas A&M’s culture, especially when there was a time I was considering not even coming here at all.
Flashback to high school — growing up in California, all everyone knew was the UCs and the Ivy League. I’d never really heard about A&M, only seeing its name briefly during player introductions on Sunday Night Football. I was set on studying engineering, and my dad recommended a few colleges, helping me form a list that included A&M.
Not only does this school have an amazing engineering program, it has an amazing school culture. There is a story about every corner of campus.I was already half sold from all the traditions, because no other school has a culture like this.Then, the tour turned into walking in front of Kyle Field.
This is when the deal was sealed.I grew up watching a lot of NFL and love football but never got into college football since both my parents immigrated here,so I didn’t have a team to root for.
The tour guide talked about the walkout song and had us do the mini Yell Practice. At that moment,even though it would be far from home,even though I would not know anyone else attending, I was set on going to A&M.
Mechatronics Engineering Junior “
It’s surreal to think about how involved I’ve become with Texas A&M’s culture, especially when there was a time I was considering not even coming here at all.
Pranay Dhoopar
It’s turned out to be everything I was excited for on that tour and more. Immediately meeting a lot of very nice people, the Southern hospitality was real. Going to Fish Camp and learning more about the traditions, and then going pond hopping with them and even joining a Freshman Leadership Organization;all great memories.
Not really knowing much about the school, and wanting to go to a UC, I waited until the last day to apply — and almost didn’t, because I had a physics test the next day. I didn’t even submit my transcript for two months in the separate A&M application portal because I had missed the emails.
The crossed flags of the United States and Texas recognize an Aggie’s dual allegiance to both nation and state.
The chevrons honor Texas A&M’s military legacy.
The cannon, saber and rifle convey that the citizens of Texas fought for their land and were determined to defend it.
Going to every football game with my roommate and our friends, screaming our heads off to “POWER” and all the yells. Rushing the field freshman year when we upset LSU. Camping out for tickets rain or shine,making sure our ratios were right and, of course, the great t.u. ticket pull are all memories I will never forget.
Rain or shine, I’ve gone to every single football game I was in town for since I started here, and it’s definitely one of my favorite parts of A&M.
Then one morning, while in the bathroom, I casually checked my inbox and was pleasantly surprised to see the A&M acceptance email. Of course, I thought this was super cool because they have an amazing engineering program. However, as more collegiate responses rolled in, I was still set on staying in California.
The work-life culture here is phenomenal. Because of the people I’m surrounded by and the culture, I’ve been able to manage engineering, hanging out with my friends, going to events and even maintaining a side business of graphic design and art, of which a lot has been showcased here at The Battalion.
Being able to make artwork for all the major football games and bringing back the BTHO papers for basketball games has been so fun.Seeing the BTHO papers go up the first time at the Alabama game freshman year,I got chills.
My parents booked a tour for A&M over spring break, and I was telling them to cancel it because I was stuck on the idea of staying in state and didn’t want to miss a friend’s birthday party. But my dad forced me to go on the tour, and that changed everything.
I’m glad to have been able to work on artwork to encapsulate the amazing A&M culture, and continue this as I transition my brand to music. I actually think I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this at any other school,andThe Battalion has been a great part of the tradition and culture that A&M offers. This ring represents the traditions,the culture,the friends, the hard work and the memories all made here at A&M. It’s crazy how I almost didn’t end up here by waiting until the last day to do my application, forgetting to submit my transcript and then almost cancelling the tour.That’s why I say I truly believe I was meant to be here, and I am so grateful for my time here atA&M.Shout out my dad for real.
“I can’t believe we made it this far.”
More than a tradition
A tribute to my dad’s hard work
By Ashely Bautista Associate Photo Chief
Ring Day means so much to me. Not only does receiving my Aggie Ring mean I get to be part of an ongoing tradition that has been around for over 100 years and get to connect with other Aggies around the world, but it means I’m also forging my own path and achieving things others didn’t have a chance to.
ey for food for him and his family.
Once he came to the U.S., he was truly alone with no family or friends, barely making enough to survive.He got a job to provide and make better for himself.
He always thought of the U.S. as the American Dream and wished nothing more than to make things better for his children and to provide for them the things he didn’t get to have.
Ashely Bautista Communication Junior “
So while getting this ring has so much symbolism purely from being an Aggie, it means more to me because I am being reminded of struggles and achievements — not only those of my own, but how my dad worked hard to help me be here.
As a first-generation college studentfrom a small town 25 minutes away from Texas A&M, I’m very familiar with the Aggie community.
From working hard labor from sunrise to sunset, he always made sure we were getting by.
Even with multipule jobs, he made time for his family to display how he will always have me and my siblings backs any and everyday or time.
From going grocery shopping on the weekdays to driving to the movies or park during the weekend, the Bryan-College Station area was our second home.
To this day, my dad is the hardest-working man I will ever know, working multiple jobs so his family can have more than what he even had in his life.
Once he found out I got accepted to A&M, he couldn’t have been more proud of me and wished nothing more than success for me, as he saw I was going to one of the best universities inTexas.
When it came time to order my ring, I saw my dad in a new light.
So once my parents heard that one of the best, most amazing and greatest schools in Texas was right there, they wanted nothing more than to have one of their kids be a part of it.
I saw him being so excited to get a new toy as he saw me pick out my ring and get my ring sized. I saw my dad being so excited, so proud of seeing his hard work almost coming full circle.
While both of my parents have had a huge impact on my college experience, this story goes specifically to my dad,who has the biggest impact of all.
My dad is my No. 1 and will always have my back. So while getting this ring has so much symbolism purely from being an Aggie, it means more to me because I am being reminded of struggles and achievements — not only those of my own,but how my dad worked hard to help me be here.
Unlike me, my dad grew up with barely anything or anyone on his side. With an elementary-level education, my dad went into the workforce at a young age,barely making enough mon-
To my dad, Pops: I love you so much, and even if I don’t say it as often as I should, just know I am very grateful for you and everything you have and are doing for me.
When you see this I hope you’ll love it. Thank you for being there and for believing in me.Thank you.I am very happy you are my dad.
anniversary, four editors get their bling
The star symbolizes the seal of the State of Texas, encircled with a wreath of olive and live oak leaves.
The wreath of olive leaves represents achievement and desire for peace, while the live oak leaves symbolize the strength to fight.
The leaves are joined by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these traits to accomplish one’s ambition to serve.
Something for everyone
The tradition that won this twopercenter’s heart
By Tenny Luhrs Associate News Editor
I’ve never been too big on being an Aggie. No one in my family went to Texas A&M, I’ve never bled maroon and — y’all are really going to hate this one — I even grew up a Longhorn fan.As I watched my unicorn-blue graduation cap fly through the air that May night four years ago, I had a clear vision of what my next four years would look like –– and getting my Aggie ring was never a part of it.
there are a slew of opportunities that come along with being an Aggie –– notably the forever family and network embodied by the Aggie Ring.
As I watched my unicorn-blue graduation cap fly through the air that May night four years ago, I had a clear vision of what my next four years would look like –– and getting my Aggie ring was never a part of it.
I left my hometown of New Braunfels as fast as I possibly could,bursting at the seams to experience some change. I even spent most of the summer in Costa Rica before hightailing it to Arizona State.I shoved everything I could into the back of my Hyundai Kona and carried it up six flights of stairs to my new sixth-floor dorm room in Manzanita Hall.
Tenny Luhrs
Communication Senior
I had my reservations about A&M after I transferred, and I’m still a known two-percenter, but letting down my walls gave me the chance to see parts of the traditions and culture that I have come to admire. I’ll admit that I have never fully bought into the yells or most of the superstitions –– I have, in fact,walked under the CenturyTree alone –– but when I heard about Muster and SilverTaps, when I saw the impact that Fish Camp had on my friends — both as freshmen and as counselors or chairs — and when I participated inThe Big Event for the first time, I understood the community and connectedness that Aggies always describe. My time here has given me so much. I have found my passion and A&M has given me invaluable opportunities to pursue that passion before leaving campus. I have gained the greatest of friends,the most memorable of experiences and the most unique opportunities.
“
The eagle symbolizes agility, power and the ability to reach great heights and ambitions.
The five stars around the shield represent the five phases of Aggie development: mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise and integrity of character. The shield symbolizes the protection of the good reputation of the alma mater.
As I walked around my new home I saw the world in rose-gold.Arizona State’s campus was gorgeous,the student body was huge and there were so many opportunities waiting for me to grab them.
But slowly, the honeymoon period faded and I was left with the realization that I, at 18 years old and riddled with social anxiety,had moved hundreds of miles from anyone I knew to live in the tiniest corner of a dorm room known to man. I began to struggle, but I refused to let my family see me fail. I was so determined to be out on my own and completely independent that I chose to suffer in silence, until silence was no longer an option.
At the end of my first semester I could not have been happier to be flying home to the comfort I had always known. Being welcomed back into the warmth and familiarity of my family and lifelong friends was enough for me to know that I couldn’t go back.
I do miss ASU, and there are days that I wish I would have just“pulled up my boot straps,”but leaving ASU has brought me to where I am now, and that’s exactly where I need to be.
My choice to attendA&M was a bit of a no-brainer.I had tons of friends who already went here, and
Sports editor earns the final Aggie Ring for his family
By Matthew Seaver Associate Sports Editor
Six for six, and no, I’m not referring to Lombardi Trophies. I’m talking about my family’s record as Aggie Ring recipients. From my parents getting their rings in the 1980s — when there was no such thing as “ring day,” according to my dad — to my oldest sister getting hers in 2016 #old, this has been a moment I’ve waited 21 years for.
I may have only spent two short years here — graduating on time has been a labor of love — but I can honestly say that I am glad to be an Aggie. Getting my ring is a huge accomplishment. It embodies the countless hours I have poured into my coursework and organizations,but more than that it reminds me that I will always, for the rest of my life, have an army of Aggies standing behind me.
I am eternally grateful to my parents for their unconditional encouragement, and I hope they will be proud to see this physical manifestation of their support.
I can’t wait to slip that chunk of gold on my finger, not only to celebrate my accomplishments with my friends and family, but to show what my newfound Aggie family means to me.
A dynasty completed
to take a super-senior semester my freshman year,as going to college with him was a dream come true.
As a procrastinator, I’m currently writing this piece at 2 a.m. on Tuesday,April 1. Six hours ahead in Florence,Italy is the love of my life,Frida Guajardo‘26.She’s taught me so many things I never knew about myself,shown me what I want out of life and helped me realize that sometimes you just need to cry a little. I owe so much of where I am to her, I don’t know where I would be without her.Te amo, pookie.
e Seavers are shooting 100% on Aggie rings, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Everyone knows I’m a goofy, laid-back jokester. But one thing I’ll never joke about is my love for TexasA&M.I have loved this school since I can remember, learning to hate t.u.before I could even ride a bike.
Matthew Seaver Communication Junior
I obviously owe the honor of being able to call myself a second-generation Aggie to my parents, Louis‘88 and Kathleen Seaver‘88.My father served in the United States Air Force before moseying down to Texas from Johnson City, Tennessee. My mother, a first-gen college student, paid her way through college as a Korean-American military brat from Del Rio.
My mother has shown me what hard work looks like and that if you want to be successful in this life, then you’re gonna have to put in effort. My dad is the funniest person I’ve ever met, he’s taught me how to laugh at life even when it seems impossible and to not take yourself so seriously.
I definitely wouldn’t have made it to 90 hours or probably even into A&M at all if it wasn’t for the guidance of my three older siblings.
First, my oldest sister, Meredith Seaver ‘17, is my “redass” cohort. As the first of my siblings to step on campus she taught me countless traditions, like the difference between good bull and bad bull. She even signed me up forYell Leader camp, fueling my dreams of donning the white janitor uniform.
My middle sister, Elizabeth Maureen Seaver ‘20, was my second mother growing up — always taking care of baby Matthew. She’s taught me how to properly balance a college workload and reminds me to enjoy the journey, especially as her time in Aggieland was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, my brother,Thomas Seaver ‘22.A person I grew up admiring and always wanting to emulate,Thomas was the coolest guy in the room; even through hardship, he found happiness.Whether or not he did it on purpose, I am so happy he decided
I also have to thank the organizations that have helped me reach 90 hours, like Session B Yell-Off Champs Green Camp Moore showing me what it’s like to be loved for exactly who you are and MSC FISH for giving me my first group of real college friends here at A&M. Last and certainly not least, The Battalion — I wouldn’t even be writing this paper if I had never applied to join The Batt two years ago. Thank you to everyone in the Batt Cave for laughing at my jokes and acknowledging my Irish goodbyes. I’ve waited so long to get that thang on my finger and earn the right to knock the hullabaloo on the railing inside Kyle Field.
“
Completing the “Seaver Dynasty” is not only an honor but a mission I set for myself after my father’s stroke three years ago, shortly after my brother’s ring day. So if you take anything away from this article, let it be this: The Seavers are shooting 100% on Aggie rings, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Senate bill aims to ban all cannabinoids
Senate Bill 3 faces fierce opposition in the House, from industry leaders
By Emmanuel Daniel News Reporter
In a 24-7 vote, the Texas Senate recently passed Senate Bill 3 to ban hemp products across the state, a change proponents say is necessary because previous legislation made hemp-derived products too widely available. SB 3 needs approval from the Texas House before Gov. Greg Abbott can sign it into law.
Facing strong opposition from lawmakers in the Texas House and hemp business owners alike, analysts agree that the bill will have a rocky road ahead. Earlier this week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened a special session over the issue, designating the bill as a top priority.
“A license holder may not manufacture a consumable hemp product that contains any amount of a cannabinoid,” the bill reads. “A consumable hemp product … may not be sold at retail or otherwise introduced into commerce in this state.”
Nevertheless, hemp business owners and advocates largely disagree with the bill’s intent, arguing that the legislation takes aim at a legal industry with a distinct role in both Texas society and the economy.
“We’ve helped more than 75,000 people,” said Stephen Gurka III, the owner of Elevated Stash in College Station. “It
was very tting to open up a dispensary in the heart of College Station in 2020, when all the laws changed.”
Referring to House Bill 1325, the 2019 legislation spurred the state hemp industry, laying the groundwork for its size today. But State Sen. Charles Perry (R-28) — a key proponent of SB 3 — has claimed that the industry is taking advantage of privileges granted by the legislature and instead proposed a widespread ban on all products containing THC.
“There are strict regulations,”
Gurka said. “Now, there are a few regulations that fall short.”
Gurka and the co-owner of Elevated Stash, Alejandro Aguilar, have implemented regulations in place for the gaps that have appeared in previous legislation. In addition to lab tests, he instituted an age restriction on all of his products, ensuring adolescents and the youth at large do not gain access — a point of contention shared by state senators who passed SB 3.
“It’s little things like that — educating the consumer, making sure they get safe, reliable brands that are on the marketplace,”
Gurka said.
Perry, who drafted SB 3, has said that House Bill 1325 was originally created to support farmers and claims that most of the products on the market are high-potency, lab-manufactured THC products.
In a recent press conference, Patrick lambasted the drug as a “poison in our community,” demanding that the legislature “ban THC and shut all these stores down.”
“You might want to voluntarily close your doors because the investigations are going to continue, and I’m sure the lawsuits are about to come,” Patrick said. “You know what you’re doing.”
Gurka said misinformation remains rampant in the discussion of cannabis legality.
“This stu has been legal since 2018,” Gurka said. “There has not been any deaths.”
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, since they began recording data related to cannabinoid poisoning, 17 deaths have been called into the Texas Poison Center Network. This
number represents 0.1% of all calls, of which 53.7% are in minors under the age of 19.
Gurka doesn’t see a widespread ban as the solution to problems related to the hemp industry, such as accidental overdoses by unsuspecting youth and more. Instead, he said more testing should be enforced on products, with an emphasis on hemp shops without the required licenses to sell hemp-derived products.
“The Department of State Health Services actually has these rules in place,” Gurka said. “They should be going after the shops that don’t have these licenses.”
Texas A&M hosted the Texas
Cannabis Policy Conference in September 2024, which featured students and professors showcasing their improvements in hemp production and crop breeding.
As SB 3 moves through the legislature to House lawmakers for nal say, the bill stands as an encompassing blow to numerous hemp businesses across the state, whose hemp products have seen support from a variety of people.
“Everything we have is in this business,” Gurka said. “We have nine employees that rely on us. An outright ban would be devastating to the customers, to my employees and then above all, to the income I provide for my family.”
TXSEF: Texas teens’ innovative research
Secondary students from across Texas attended the fair to showcase their research to A&M faculty, staff, students
By Erin R. Wunderlich News Reporter
Over the weekend, the annual Texas Science and Engineering Fair, or TXSEF, took place at Texas A&M’s Zachry Engineering Complex and the Student Recreation Center.
A&M faculty, sta and students had the opportunity to judge college-level research projects created by sixth to twelfth grade students from across the state.
With over 350 judges and 1,200 students competing, the fair included 21 categories spanning across the engineering and physical sciences. This year, the competition is sponsored by the Texas Workforce Commission and ExxonMobil, who, combined, donated a total of $30,000 in scholarship awards to winning nalists.
Shelly Tornquist, the director of Spark! PK-12 Engineering Education Outreach at A&M, runs 12 programs throughout the year and has been spearheading TXSEF since 2019.
“The students that compete in the fair are doing graduatelevel research as teenagers. The kids that participate in the fair are high- yers,” Tornquist said. “The students that compete in the fair are doing graduate-level research as
teenagers. TXSEF is not just a fair to showcase amazing science, but also a chance for underrepresented or rst-generation students to gain opportunities and nd their academic path.”
The fair began on Friday with Night at the ZACH, where participants and their families were invited to join exhibitors at the Zachry Engineering Complex. Various A&M departments and student organizations were present, such as the departments of horticulture, chemistry, electrical and computer engineering, Women in Robotics, TAMU Think Tank, A&M Neuroscience and more.
“This night has been so fun,” Amaya, a high school junior from Colleyville, said. “We’ve seen so many cool subjects and everything is so interactive. The competition is helping me see things in a di erent perspective while meeting a bunch of people who are also interested in science. Texas A&M is de nitely on my college list.”
Amaya’s research project identi ed signs, such as high blood pressure and accelerated heart rhythms, to con rm that stress can cause severe blockages and heart disease.
“I want to nd a way to prevent fatal blockages and di erent heart injuries from happening,” Amaya said. “Your mental health has a really big impact on your physical
body.”
She said heart disease runs in her family, and that the inspiration for searching for answers comes from wanting to help her dad, who su ers from the disease.
“Even though this is a competition, I really just want to help people,” Amaya said. “Being accepted as a nalist would mean a lot to me. My research comes from the heart, literally.”
On Saturday, students were judged based on disciplinespeci c criteria, of which, discovery and practical application are emphasized.
“We have judges from Texas A&M University — both faculty and students — as well as representatives from several universities across Texas and multiple industries, including Lockheed Martin and SpaceX,” Spark! PK-12 Program Manager and TXSEF Judging Coordinator Pam Simmons-Brooks said. “As a long-time educator, it truly warms my heart to see students making connections, envisioning themselves in STEM careers, and seeing Texas A&M University as part of their future.”
Vikram, a high school freshman participant from Houston, created a brain tumor software system that analyzes data from MRI scans to classify tumors.
“Every 23 seconds, a person in the world gets diagnosed with a brain tumor, but for many people
it’s too late to do anything about it,” Vikram said. “That is what happened to my grandfather, and by the time radiologists saw the tumor in his brain he was already at stage four and passed away. My software can more e ciently solve that problem and help people.”
Vikram said he wants to become a biomedical engineer so he can develop new treatment plans for people with medical problems. His project is one of many, but he still believes: It may be the next advancement the world is looking for.
“Here’s the thing. These kids that come to TXSEF are full of such big dreams,” Tornquist said. “These kids that come to TXSEF are full of such big dreams. These kids may be the ones to develop a solution that could one day save my family, save your family. I take pride in helping them present their projects and helping them nd their place in our world.”
Finalists who win in the senior division — open to high school juniors and seniors — are selected to compete in the 2025 International Science and Engineering Fair, or ISEF, hosted by the Society for Science.
ISEF 2025 will take place in Columbus, Ohio at the Greater Columbus Convention Center from May 10 to 16. Sixth to twelfth grade students from over 40 countries will be competing to win.
A sign outside Elevated Smoke Shop’s College Station location reads “Honk for Hemp” on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
A child plays with materials at the civil engineering department’s booth during Night at the ZACH at the Zachry Engineering Complex on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
R. Wunderlich — THE BATTALION
OPINION
Satire: Senioritis outbreak hits campus
It’s looking grim for second-semester seniors
By Maddie McMurrough Opinion Columnist
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“I need help. I’m skipping class, I can’t seem to nd the energy to be productive and all I want to do is tan by the pool. I barely had the motivation to make this call. Please help!”
“Alright, we’re sending help. Just stay on the line.”
This call was recorded and sent to me from the College Station Department to Prevent Senioritis, or CSDPS, for my professional evaluation. By day, I write for The Battalion. By night, I combat senior-speci c viruses. I’m basically Batman.
This phone call was made by Patient A, a 22-year-old female belonging to the College of [REDACTED].
My professional diagnosis of Patient A? Terminal senioritis. It’s year four — wait, I mean stage four — and the only cure? A degree.
It’s o cial: We’ve entered senioritis season. So re-up on your shots — medical or alcoholic — keep up with your workload and remember to repeat your daily dose of “lock in,” because no second-semester senior is truly safe.
Since I found the energy to write this piece, it’s safe to say I haven’t succumbed to terminal senioritis yet, but I’m fearing for my GPA and my sanity. It’s infectious. One day I’m ghting for a parking spot in lot 100 and sitting in a full lecture hall and the next — I roll up to class with 10 minutes to spare, a front row parking spot and my choice of class seating arrangements.
In pursuit of a cure, I consulted a top-notch doctor who specializes in combating the e ects of early onset senioritis.
“Senioritis is an illness that infects second-semester seniors and is caused by warm weather and impending graduation,” Dr. Degree, senioritis specialist and legitimate doctor, said. “The symptoms are usually associated with poor attendance and even poorer grades. The a ected senior can usually be found laying in bed or, even worse, by the pool. If they’re poolside, they’re too far gone.”
In Patient A’s case, Dr. Degree’s diagnosis matched mine. She is
terminal and past help.
She will be taken to hospice care, which just so happens to be a pool chair next to a cooler of White Claws and SPF 15 tanning lotion. God rest her GPA.
“She cannot be helped,” Dr. Degree said. “It’s best to make her comfortable in her last few weeks as a college student.”
Patient B is a bit more of a challenge. No call was made to the CSDPS, but a tip was left by a group project member concerned for their upcoming presentation.
“Hi, my name is [REDACTED] and I’m worried about one of my group members,” the caller, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “He hasn’t done any of his work for the project. He shows up to class but he seems totally checked out.”
In the case of Patient B we have early symptoms of senioritis: glassy eyes, playing Minecraft during
every lecture and uncompleted assignments. He is near the point of no return, but hope is not lost for him.
“Patient B can be saved, but it won’t be easy,” Dr. Degree said. “He’ll have to lock in and stay on top of his work. My advice would be to avoid video games and Northgate for a week and do not, at all costs, skip class. He cannot be saved if he skips class.”
As a CSDPS professional, it is my duty to report my ndings to the public and spread awareness on how to prevent the spread of senioritis.
I have studied 200 seniors in various states of academic decay, and my ndings resulted in four tips to atten the curve:
Tip One
Whatever you do, do not skip class. You don’t have the time or
motivation to recover from it, no matter how strong-willed you think you are. It’s easy to reign in your will when you still have six months left of school, but impossible when it’s six weeks.
Tip Two
Stay on top of your workload as much as possible so you don’t get overwhelmed and, in turn, get your spirit crushed by busywork. Stamina is the name of the game, so remember: It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Tip Three
Give yourself a little leeway, but not too much. It’s healthy to spend some time with your friends blowing o steam or participating in a hobby when you need a break, but don’t slack o so much that you can’t recover. Balance is key.
Tip Four
Don’t forget that you still need to make a C or higher to graduate. If you lose sight of the endgame — AKA your degree that you’ve devoted the last four years to earning — then you may have to spend an extra year submitting Packback posts and working on group projects. No second-semester senior wants that.
So keep your eyes on the prize, lock in and nish out your college career strong. If you feel weak, call the CSDPS 24/7 hotline, which is also technically the number for DoorDash. Both options will help you fend o the illness. Dr. Degree and I are rooting for you.
Maddie McMurrough is an agricultural communications and journalism senior and opinion columnist for The Battalion
Satire: I was texted top-secret war plans
The A&M administration accidentally added me to their private group
By Wyatt Pickering Opinion Writer
Top-level Texas A&M o cials added me to a Facebook group chat discussing plans before the attack on the t.u. campus that occurred on March 15, 2025.
During this attack, t.u. mascot and beloved bovine Bevo was killed by an airstrike commanded by a group of Corps of Cadets members ying a stealth bomber jet.
President Mark A. Welsh III released a statement in the wake of the attack.
“It is unfortunate that Bevo had to pay the price for the sins of his Burnt Orange forefathers,” the statement reads. “However, as of March 15, darkness has been defeated and we have protected the rest of Texas from the moralless heathens that enroll at that godforsaken university.”
It is unclear why this highlyclassi ed information was being discussed on such an unsecure platform, not to mention why I was added to the group. My grandma won’t even tell me the hot gossip at the nursing home over text, and she isn’t in charge of planning a war against a rival university.
Initially, I didn’t believe the group chat was even real. Between the excessive use of emojis that do not mean what these A&M o cials think they mean and the random pictures of grown men
in St. Patrick's Day attire, most people would assume that it was a group chat for sad, lonely old men with receding hairlines. But that's when the group chat took a di erent — and, in my opinion, better — turn. Lieutenant General Lloyd S.
“Chip” Utterback ‘75, the Corps’ interim commandant, sent the following messages on March 15:
“Gentlemen and females, it is time for us to take back our place in Texas [Texas ag emoji] [bomb emoji] [bomb emoji].
“At 1600 hours, we will descend
upon the University of Texas campus with the full force of the semi-trained Corps of Cadets and show those blue-haired hippies the true meaning of school spirit [gig 'em emoji] [gig 'em emoji]! We will be targeting their beloved co ee shops with ground troops
and have a special air division with Reveille as commander targeting Bevo [cooked steak emoji] [cooked steak emoji].
“I cannot wait for those softhanded liberals’ shocked faces as they see what it truly means to be American [face with tears of joy emoji] [eggplant emoji] [eggplant emoji].”
The conversation continued, with multiple senior A&M leaders including their own updates and outdated memes.
Many t.u. students are now without their favorite iced matcha lattes and were forced to see their mascot voraciously consumed by Queen Rev in what can only be described as an act of “pure and malicious evil.”
I am proud of what our amazing university did that day. They had our best interest at heart by attacking those evil t-sips.
Many people might say that their use of a Facebook group chat to plan this attack was “irresponsible” and a breach of every security regulation.
However, it's totally OK for them to use this form of communication as long as they are not people we dislike, such as women running for president of the United States or members of an opposing political party.
People are so quick to judge nowadays, and we should give our leaders the bene t of the doubt. Who hasn’t leaked classi ed information to a journalist pertaining to top-secret war plans that might endanger citizens of the country you pledge to protect?
Wyatt Pickering is a business honors and nance sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion
LOST
c h 2 7 , 2 0 2 5 0 1 P . M . P l a z a
FINAL ‘BUZZ’ER
Buzz Williams heads to Maryland after leading A&M to three straight NCAA Tournaments
End of an era: Who should men’s basketball hire?
As Buzz Williams moves on to Maryland, where do the Aggies turn?
By Ian Curtis Managing Editor
The Buzz Williams era of Texas A&M men’s basketball is over.
As news broke on Tuesday that Williams would take the Maryland job — rst reported by Je Ermann of InsideMDSports — the pressure has suddenly shifted to athletic director Trev Alberts to make a hire that will keep the Aggies’ momentum up after three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Williams.
And with plenty of solid candidates — including North Texas’ Ross Hodge and McNeese’s Will Wade — already being hired this cycle, the race is on.
But before we get into the candidates, it’s important to recognize a few important things about A&M men’s basketball and its place on the totem pole of job quality.
One: A&M is, historically, a bad men’s basketball job. The Aggies have never made it past the Sweet 16. Since former coach Billy Gillespie took the Aggies to the 2006 NCAA Tournament, A&M has made it to the Big Dance 11 times, so there is more recent success — but not the type of foundation that will draw a coach from a major basketball- rst school, unless they’re in it for the challenge.
Because unlike many other football- rst schools, A&M men’s basketball plays third ddle behind the gridiron and baseball. With dated facilities — and baseball rst in line for an $80 million renovation after an earlier refresh in 2012 — Alberts needs to nd a coach who can do more with less, especially considering his focus on positioning A&M nancially
given the economic realities of college athletics in the revenuesharing era.
So from the home-run reaches to more realistic hires and a midmajor option or two, here are the coaches Alberts needs to pick up the phone and call.
Swinging big
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
No, Otzelberger will likely not leave Ames, Iowa, a place his wife played college basketball and where he has spent over a decade combined as an assistant coach, associate head coach, and nally, head coach.
But you have to give him a call all the same. Iowa State is another job without much basketball history, at a school where football comes rst.And in four years at the helm of the Cyclones, Otzelberger has taken them to a pair of Sweet 16s and made the tournament every year he’s been in Ames. It’s worth a call in the hopes he’s in the mood for a change of scenery.
Grant McCasland, Texas Tech
Lubbock might explode if Texas Tech has another coach leave for an in-state rival after coach Chris Beard left for Texas — and Tech athletic director Kirby Horcutt would open up his pocketbook to keep him in West Texas — but you have to at least give it a shot.
McCasland has built a resume worthy of a champion, and he’s also a Texas native with a long coaching career in the state, including multiple conference titles and an NIT championship at North Texas before taking Tech to the Elite Eight this year in just his second year in Lubbock.
This would be a slam-dunk hire if Alberts is willing to open up the checkbook and pry McCasland away from Tech. Assuming he’s willing to leave, of course.
Realistic
Chris Jans, Mississippi State
A&M needs a coach who has won at a football- rst school that doesn’t have the level of basketball resources that a Southeastern Conference rival like Kentucky or Tennessee can boast. Jans has done that in Starkville, Mississippi.
After taking New Mexico State to four Western Athletic Conference regular season titles in ve years, Jans took the Mississippi State job and has given the Bulldogs three-straight 21-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances. Before Jans was hired, Mississippi State had just one NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.
Steve Lutz, Oklahoma State
Lutz’s rst year in Stillwater, Oklahoma — a 17-18 showing ending in the NIT Quarter nals — may not be the impressive showing that will catch the eye of Aggie fans, but you have to look a bit deeper than that.
The San Antonio native has won everywhere he’s been, including taking Texas A&M –Corpus Christi to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 2022 and 2023, before taking the Western Kentucky job and sending the Hilltoppers to the Big Dance for the rst time in over a decade in 2024.
The Oklahoma State job was a rebuild. A&M — who graduated eight players this year and was looking at a roster rebuild regardless — would be a similar story. And what Texas native wouldn’t want to come home?
Mid-major madness
Scott Cross, Troy
How badly does Alberts want
to wipe the slate clean from the Williams era?
Because while Cross is a certi ed winner — the all-time winningest coach in UT-Arlington history and the man who rebuilt Troy with four-straight 20-win seasons — he was also the rst player Williams recruited when the latter was an assistant coach for the Mavericks.
The two have remained good friends to this day.
“They should have a statue of Scott in front of the arena at Arlington,” Williams said before the Aggies’ departed for the SEC Tournament. “ … He replaced me as an assistant before he had even earned his diploma.”
Would a mid-major hire from Troy excite A&M’s fanbase?
Perhaps not, but Cross is still a proven winner — the contract wouldn’t run as much as poaching a high-major coach like Jans.
Alan Huss, High Point
A long-tenured assistant at Creighton under coach Greg McDermott, Huss took his rst Division I head coaching job at High Point in 2023 and immediately took it to historic highs, including their rst-ever NCAA Tournament appearance this year.
Huss is 56-15 and has won back-to-back regular-season Big South titles at the helm of the Panthers.
He’s one of the hottest midmajor candidates left on the board this cycle. But it’s worth keeping in mind that Huss is widely expected to succeed McDermott as Creigton’s coach when the former ends up retiring in a few years.
So if the Aggies want to get their own long-tenured coach who won’t jump to another job a la Gillespie to Kentucky or Mark
and
to Maryland, Huss may not be the way to go.
Williams leaves with a record of 120-73 and two SEC Coach of the Year honors in his six seasons with the Aggies
By Noah Ruiz Sports Writer
Following an up-and-down season of emotion and broken records, Texas A&M men’s basketball will start a new era of college hoops in 2025 with the departure of coach Buzz Williams to Maryland, as rst reported by InsideMDSports’ Je Ermann.
“We would like to thank Buzz for his years of service heading up our men’s basketball program,” a statement from athletic director Trev Alberts reads. “We wish he and Corey and their family all the best moving forward. We are excited about the future of Aggie basketball, and we will nd the right leader for our program.”
Williams, who has spent the last six seasons with the Maroon and White, has led A&M to threestraight NCAA Tournament bids. He leaves Aggieland with a record of 120-73.
A two-time SEC Coach of the Year, the Van Alstyne native has brought his home-state team into prominence alongside the talent of a strong veteran roster, including all-time A&M scoring leader graduate guard Wade Taylor IV. Williams’ nal season put together a record-breaking campaign, defeating seven teams in the AP Top 25 Poll as well as notching the Aggies’ rst win over an AP No. 1 opponent in school history with a win over Auburn on March 5.
Now with a head coaching vacancy, A&M will look to act quickly as the transfer portal approaches its peak with the
on the horizon.
Turgeon
Williams
Clockwise from top: Coach Buzz Williams claps during Texas A&M’s game against Lamar at Reed Arena on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Players compete in Reed Arena during Texas A&M’s game against Ohio State at Reed Arena on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts speaks during his first press conference on Monday, March 18, 2024, at The Hall Of Champions.
Aggies take on the Bulldogs in Athens
A&M aims to continue conference dominance
By Olivia Sims Sports Writer
No. 4 Texas A&M softball has exceeded all preseason expectations thus far, posting a 31-5 record and outperforming its opponents 53-7 in the last ve games. The Aggies are headed east to face No. 16 Georgia, with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series 19-7.
In conference play A&M is 6-3, dropping two games to then-No. 3 Florida and one to then-No. 24 Alabama. The Aggies took care of business against then-No. 22 Auburn with an away series sweep as well as winning the series over Alabama.
Despite being ranked No. 16, Georgia is on a two-game losing streak, posting a 4-8 Southeastern Conference record thus far. The Bulldogs are coming o their away series against the Crimson Tide in which they dropped the series.
Key players
The Aggies have found a spark in junior right elder Amari Harper during SEC play, with Harper batting .600 o of 15 atbats.
“It gives me more con dence knowing like I have great batters behind me and in front of me,” Harper said following her outstanding performance against LMU.
The California native had a monstrous outing against Auburn earlier this year, recording ve hits, ve RBIs and two home runs to lead the Aggies to a sweep over the Tigers. While Harper did not consistently start or play until the series against Auburn, she has truly proved to be the right woman for the job.
The Bulldogs are led by junior in elder Tyler Ellison, who currently leads the team in batting average and runs, .375 and eight, respectively. Georgia has struggled in SEC play, posting a 4-8 record. It has lost every SEC series it’s played in — Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU and Alabama — but has taken one game from each of them.
Notable matchups
A notable common opponent for both A&M and Georgia is Alabama.
The Bulldogs are coming o a losing series against the Crimson Tide, while the Aggies won their series a week ago. In the Aggies’ sole loss against Alabama, they struggled with “miscues and didn’t get the big hit when [they] needed the big hit,” according to coach Trisha Ford.
In their two wins against Alabama, hitting was strong and led by sophomore rst baseman Mya Perez and graduate designated player Mac Barbara, going backto-back with home runs.
In the Bulldogs lone win against the Tide, they were able to get base runners on and back home safely due to three errors from Alabama. Georgia scored two unearned runs in the game, sending them to a 4-3 victory over the Tide.
In their losses, pitching seemed to be the problem. The Bulldogs gave up two home runs, for four total runs — a de cit they could not come back from.
Strengths and weaknesses
The Aggies have been extremely successful on o ense this season, batting a team average .310, with 45 runs o of 71 hits.
A&M has also knocked six balls out of the park, thanks to Harper, Barbara, Perez and freshman second baseman KK Dement.
Pitching has been an issue a few times for the Aggies, especially in their rst SEC series against Florida, in which they lost the series 2-1.
In one of those losses, the Aggies gave up four early runs o of junior right-handed pitcher Grace Sparks, who has been phenomenal all season. Sparks only got through 0.1 inning, before Ford looked to the bullpen to switch something up. As Ford shu ed through the lineup, the Aggies only recorded three strikeouts compared to four walks.
The Bulldogs have also had a few ups and downs, as all teams do. Their best performance came against then-No. 3 LSU, in which they won 11-3, in part due to an absolute bomb from freshman utility Mua Williams.
The Bulldogs have had issues staying consistent throughout conference play, as they have yet to win a series against an SEC foe despite eeting moments of o ensive brilliance against LSU. For this Georgia team to compete with the Aggies, they must play their dominant game through all seven innings.
A&M heads to Knoxville for Omaha rematch
Aggies face off against top-ranked Volunteers in SEC weekend series
By DJ Burton Senior Sports Writer
The last time Texas A&M baseball met Tennessee, it was a clash of titans as the then-No. 3 Aggies fell to the then-topseeded Volunteers in the 2024 Men’s College World Series Championship.
A lot has happened since the meeting in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Fightin’ Farmers got o to a hot start to the series and took the rst game 9-5. They handed the Volunteers their rst loss in the postseason with help from a verun third inning, solidifying the Aggies’ series lead.
However, A&M’s celebration would not last long after Game
1. Former Tennessee junior righthanded pitcher Drew Beam’s seven-strikeout, four-inning performance combined with a near-perfect relief held the Maroon and White to just one run. Tennessee hit a pair of tworun home runs late in the game to tie the series heading into the nal game.
The Vols went on to win Game 3, and therefore the national championship. All hell broke loose in Aggieland less than 24 hours later.
On June 24, 2024, the Texas Longhorns dismissed coach David Pierce, hours before the Aggies would take the eld in the third game. Whispers immediately began oating around that former
A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle was interested in the position. After the game ended, Schlossnagle adamantly denied the rumors of his interest.
“I think it’s pretty sel sh of you to ask me that question, to be honest with you,” Schlossnagle said in the postgame press conference.
“I left my family to be the coach at Texas A&M. I took the job at Texas A&M to never take another job again. And that hasn’t changed in my mind.”
Then, like a thief in the night, Schlossnagle found his way to Austin and went from one of the most loved to the most-hated man in College Station. The disgraced coach attempted to poach the Aggies’ entire sta and team.
Eleven total Aggies entered the transfer portal. The sudden exodus put the 12th Man into panic mode until a new skipper could be hired.
During the search, A&M reportedly pursued Tennessee coach Tony Vitello hard, and for good reason. Vitello completely turned the Vols’ program around following his hiring in 2017, and had led them to a 60-win season on the way to a national title.
Vitello, unlike Schlossnagle, stayed loyal to the program he worked so hard to build and signed to stay with the Vols through the 2029 season.
Eventually, the Aggies decided to elevate coach Michael Earley to the head position, having served as the team’s hitting coach under Schlossnagle. Earley originally followed Schlossnagle to Texas to serve in the same role in Austin.
“Michael is a very talented coach and recruiter,” athletic director Trev Alberts said. “But
what stood out to me was his character and the relationships he has built with his current and former players.”
A&M entered the season ranked No. 1 in the country, with Tennessee not far behind in the preseason rankings at No. 4 following its championship run in Omaha.
The Aggies returned nearly everyone they possibly could from last season’s roster and were poised to make another deep postseason run. But injuries to sophomore third baseman Gavin Grahovac, junior left-handed pitcher Shane Sdao, senior RHP Josh Stewart and sophomore designated hitter Caden Sorrell combined with the growing pains of a rst-year head coach have taken their toll on the Aggies’ season so far.
As for the Volunteers, eight players from their championshipwinning squad left for the MLB draft. Sophomore shortstop Dean Curley and redshirt senior center elder Hunter Ensley have been mainstays for Tennessee and have continued to be the heart of the team’s o ense as it has climbed to the No 1. spot in the country with a 26-2 record. With the Aggies’ slow start to the 2025 campaign, Earley and the squad have a chance to turn the tide with a series win on the road versus the best program in the country. The rst pitch of the weekend series is set for Friday at 6 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on ESPNU. The train yard situated just beyond the out eld wall should help the Aggies feel at home as they enter this David and Goliath situation.
Top to bottom: Texas A&M infielder KK Dement (16) hits the ball during Texas A&M’s game against LMU at Davis Diamond on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Texas A&M catcher Gracyn Coleman (22) throws the ball during Texas A&M’s game against LMU at Davis Diamond on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Photos by Rocio Salgado — THE BATTALION
Photos by Taylor Barnett — THE BATTALION
SPORTS
Aggies aim to stem Crimson Tide
A&M women’s tennis rides high on four-game win streak heading into Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Roman Arteaga Senior Sports Writer
Riding high from a four-game winning streak, No. 2 Texas A&M women’s tennis will take its talents to the Alabama Tennis Stadium on Sunday, April 6, to take on the No. 33 Alabama Crimson Tide.
After a convincing 4-1 victory against then-No. 7 Tennessee, the Maroon and White have a chance to improve their Southeastern Conference record and extend their momentum.
In their last match, the Aggies dropped the rst doubles point in their last seven matches. However, they more than made
up for it by capturing fourstraight singles points to secure the win.
A&M players to watch
The 2024 ITA National Player of the year, No. 2 senior Mary Stoiana, has been stellar for the Aggies this season.
Her silky smooth all-around game has earned her a 9-1 overall record in singles while also recording a 4-1 record in doubles.
What stands out about Stoiana is that, while she has incredible consistency beyond the baseline, she’s also not afraid to push up toward the net for volleys to secure easy points.
No. 11 junior Nichole Khirin has shown incredible e ort and skill so far.
Her ball-striking ability, consistency and power have made her a nightmare to compete against as she has dropped just
two singles matches and two doubles matches throughout the spring season.
No. 46 sophomore Lucciana Perez’s heart and resilience is something you just cannot teach. Her grit-and-grind playstyle has frustrated opponents who are never granted the opportunity for easy points. Her skills and mindset have helped her to an undefeated singles season with just one loss in doubles.
2024 ITA Doubles AllAmerican No. 57 junior Mia Kupres has proven to be an elite singles and doubles player this season.
Her incredible topspin-heavy forehand, consistent backhand and net game has made opponents scramble all over the court. Winning 64% of doubles matches and dropping only two singles matches, Kupres will be exciting to watch against the Crimson Tide.
Alabama players to watch
Coming into this match with just a 9-10 overall record, Alabama will look to break its six-game losing streak. Playing in front of their home crowd will surely make a di erence, as the Crimson Tide are a solid 7-5 at home this season.
In its last match against No. 18 South Carolina, Alabama played hard but ultimately fell 4-1. A lack of consistency and constant errors in singles allowed the Gamecocks to re balls past them. While the Crimson Tide secured the doubles point, they got swept in singles matches. No. 64 senior Petra Sedlackova will be a player to watch in this matchup. Her exceptional performances earned her a Second-Team AllSEC selection in 2024, and she has proven to be the leader of this Alabama team. Swedish junior Klara Milicevic will be
a solid presence for Alabama. While she has struggled with form in recent weeks, she can turn her game up at any time and push even the best players around when she is playing well.
Graduate student Maria Martinez Vaquero will also be a player to watch. While she has struggled to stay consistent in singles, the Spaniard has a 9-3 record in her last 12 doubles matches and will surely make the Aggies work for the rst point of the match.
The nal person to look out for in this matchup for the Crimson Tide is graduate student Sara Nayar. While the Australian hasn’t had much success recently in doubles, she has been a dominant singles presence. In nished matches this season, Nayar dropped just one singles match, winning the majority in straight sets. She will try to take control of the pace of her matches against the Aggies.
Lone Star Showdown on the court
Aggies look to snap decade-long losing streak against the ‘Horns in rivalry clash
Diego
Saenz Sports Writer
No. 13 Texas A&M men’s tennis will look to defend Mitchell Tennis Center and keep its Southeastern Conference title hopes alive when it hosts No. 5 Texas next week. The Longhorns, who sit at a perfect 10-0 in conference play, can clinch the regular-season championship with a win. Meanwhile, the Aggies need a victory to stay in the race, with two matches left in the regular season.
Adding to the intensity, this marks the rst meeting between the rivals as conference opponents.
With both teams sitting atop the standings, the stakes are blazing in the latest chapter of this heated rivalry.
History favors the Burnt Orange
It has been 12 years since A&M last took down its arch rival from Austin, with the Aggies’ most recent win coming in 2013. Since then, Texas has controlled the series by winning all six meetings. The Longhorns also lead the all-time series 14-5, taking eight of the last 10 matchups.
The teams met earlier this season at the ITA Indoor Championships, resulting in a 4-1 Texas victory. In the ITA Indoor Championship Match, the 4-1 scoreline doesn’t tell the full story — this match was far more competitive than it appears on paper.
A&M came out ring in
doubles, as No. 21 freshman Theo Papamalamis and junior Togan Tokac took down the No. 6-ranked duo of sophomore Lucas Brown and redshirt freshman Timo Legout. Texas, however, edged out the remaining two doubles matches by identical 6-4 scores, securing the doubles point and an early 1-0 lead.
Momentum continued in singles action as they claimed the rst two points, increasing their lead to 3-0. Senior No. 17 JC Roddick fought back to claim the rst point for the Aggies. But any hopes of a comeback were short-lived as No. 124 Brown put the Aggies to bed moments later, clinching the 4-1 victory for the ‘Horns.
Adjustments
Since their loss to , the Fightin’ Farmers have rebounded impressively, winning 12 of their last 15 matches, including a seven-match win streak during the stretch.
Coach Steve Denton has made key adjustments throughout the season, and they’ve paid o in a big way.
On March 23, he reshu ed the doubles lineup, introducing two new pairings: senior Luke Casper and redshirt freshman Ritesh Patil and senior Alan Magadan with sophomore Tiago Pires. These changes have given A&M a fresh look, adding new duos that weren’t in the lineup during the previous matchup against Texas. In singles, Denton put his trust in Magadan by giving him the nod against Arkansas a month ago. Magadan responded with an eight-match win streak, proving his reliability in highpressure moments. Though he has dropped his last two matches, Magadan has been crucial in A&M’s push for the top of the standings.
Key players
The only Aggie doubles pair to notch a win against Texas earlier this season, Tokac and Papamalamis, will remain together.
The Turkish-French tandem has built strong chemistry, compiling a 6-3 conference record with four un nished matches. They will most likely be matched up against Brown and Legout, who will be thirsty to get revenge on the Aggie duo. In singles play, both Tokac and Papamalamis have been perfect in SEC play. Tokac is currently riding a nine-game winning streak and hasn’t experienced a loss in over two months.
Papamalamis boasts a perfect 7-0 record in SEC play and enters the match ranked No. 33 in the ITA rankings.
Possibly the biggest wildcard in this Lone Star Showdown is senior Magadan.
The UTSA transfer began SEC play with a six-match win streak but has dropped the last two. It will be crucial for Magadan to return to his proli c form if the Aggies are to stay in the match against a Longhorn side that features four top-58 players.
SEC Championship hopes
Only two matches remain after the Longhorns and Aggies collide before the 2025 SEC Men’s Tennis Championships begin. Texas sits comfortably atop the SEC standings, holding a two-match lead over the rest of the eld. Meanwhile, A&M stands in second place, but with ve teams just one game behind. A win for Texas would clinch an SEC Championship in its debut season in the conference.
With A&M being the only team that can mathematically prevent it, this latest installment of the Lone Star Showdown has all the makings of an instant classic.
Left to right: Junior Mia Kupres reacts to winning a game during Texas A&M’s match against Texas at Texas Tennis Center on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. Senior Mary Stoiana reacts during Texas A&M’s match against TCU at Mitchell Tennis Center on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Photos by Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION
ENTERTAINMENT
Illustration by Zoe Rich — THE BATTALION