OPINION
Trump I versus Trump II, 10 days in — how is this term different from the last? A4
SPORTS
How will Aggie softball’s new lineup replace lost talent in 2025 season? B1
‘They rarely have all the facts’
For the past two years, President Mark A. Welsh III has faced pressure from right-wing website Texas Scorecard. A&M’s 27th president holds steady nevertheless.
By Nicholas Gutteridge Editor-in-Chief
The notification was one of a million.
She let it sit for a moment before grabbing the phone and bringing it to her face, expecting nothing more than a question from her co-worker or a response from the student she was helping.
But the email, sent from Texas A&M’s Office of Open Records, was unusual: Under the state’s Public Information Act, she was being asked
for copies of her syllabi and all emails she had sent containing the words “DEI” and “transgender.”
The professor’s main confusion came from the requestor, however. It was a name she had never seen before.
Who would be interested in what was ultimately less than a dozen emails? Her case wasn’t unique among faculty and staff.
Representatives of Texas Scorecard, a right-wing website that publishes articles about state and local politics, submitted more than 100 open records requests to Texas A&M and the System from 202224.
“Virtually every article they publish is not fully factual, sometimes not even close to factual,” President Mark A. Welsh III told The Battalion in a sit-down interview in November 2024. “They have never printed a retraction when we provided them the facts.”
Scorecard’s posts, however, spread like wildfire.
“I do find it interesting in all the articles and things over the last couple of years, I think there have been maybe four or fivecoures that are taught here that they’ve called out, out of 4,600,” Welsh said. “So even if you made the assumption that there was something wrong with those courses, this is clearly a very specifically targeted effort for some reason, with some long-range purpose in mind. But you’d have to ask them.
I don’t know what it is.”
Originally the print and online publishing arm of Empower Texans, a now-defunct advocacy group that spent millions pushing Republican priorities in the state legislature, Scorecard spun off into an
Eckleburg Project bounces back
Aggieland’s literary magazine returns thanks to new leaders with renewed vision, passion for writing
By Sophia Munoz Life & Arts Writer
The ever-present eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg may have simply been a metaphorical observer in the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic “The Great Gatsby” — but at Texas A&M, the eyes of the student body also dabble in poetry, photography and prose.
Inspired by the hit 1925 novel, The Eckleburg Project is Aggieland’s own literary magazine dedicated to amplifying student voices through artistic expression. After a period of behind-the-scenes
challenges that kept it on hiatus from 2022 to 2024, new leadership has revived the publication with fresh innovation and a renewed vision.
“I love the idea of a student literary journal, especially because I know so many people who have a huge passion for writing,” managing editor and English freshman Madeline Kiser said. “But they think that because of their major, they’re not going to ever be able to get their work out there. This is honestly just a really good thing for anyone if they want a chance to be published.”
Established in 2013, The Eckleburg Project has created an outlet for students looking for a personal approach to media.
Pieces unique to the magazine are featured in its print and online semester editions, with authors ranging from in-house staff and designers to outside artists and writers.
“We combine student artwork and student writing, prose, poems, all that kind of stuff, and end up publishing it at the end of the semester,” head of design and visualization senior Alyssa Lazarchik said. “ … We also invite the student body to get to submit their own work, which is really special because then there are people that maybe don’t have time to make their own artwork, but they want to put it somewhere. Then that gives them an avenue to do that.”
Although the student body is never short of creativity, a combination of decreasing submissions, dissolution of leadership and lack of funding led to the past halt of print copies. In the project’s most recent magazine, Lazarchik was tasked with designing a staff-only edition for all of 2024 as a result of dwindling submissions.
independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2020 chaired by Tim Dunn, a West Texas oil billionaire — one of the largest Republican donors in the state.
His son-in-law Keith Uhles works as director, and the website’s top two roles are held by Aggies: publisher and president Michael Quinn Sullivan ‘92 and Chief Executive Officer Nathan Ofe ‘09.
Beyond online posts, podcasts and email lists, the website also hosts a directory of state politicians and ratings for each, where it derives its Scorecard branding from, created by the groups Young Conservatives of Texas and Texans For Fiscal Responsibility. The latter is a long-time affiliate of the expansive political machine Dunn funds and directs.
The authors of Scorecard’s posts, often hardline, conservative activists, submitted 94 open records requests to A&M and 23 to the A&M System from late 2022 to 2024. These requests target records of all types, including syllabi, funding numbers, communications containing specific keywords and certain statistics, like a January 2024 request for the number of hormone replacement therapy treatments University Health Services offered. The fo spurred a two-part Scorecard series titled “Den of Degeneracy,” written by senior Scorecard writer Robert Montoya.
Montoya emailed the Board of Regents’ official email address on Jan. 24, 2024, and, in almost 1,800 words, detailed the information he collected on on-campus gender-affirming care, Transcend and Aggie Roses, independent student organizations that champion transgender rights and feminist values, respectively.
Montoya asked 10 times whether certain details helped “secure the core educational mission of Texas A&M.” If not, he asked, “what are you going to do to return the university to its core educational mission?”
The group’s executive assistant forwarded the inquiry — which was sent to the general Board of Regents email — to each regent’s individual email on Jan. 26, 2024.
ECKLEBERG ON A3
Photos by Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION
Left to right: Editors of The Eckleburg Project, freshman head of marketing Julie Megason, freshman managing editor Madeline Kiser, senior head designer Alyssa Lazarchik, and senior editor-in-chief Brigham Pettit, walk down the steps at Evans Library on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.
SCORECARD ON A3
Graphic by Kynlee Bright — THE BATTALION
Celebrating 50 years of women in the Corps of Cadets
50th anniversary of women in the Corps of Cadets marks an Aggieland milestone
By Lillian Haynes Life & Arts Writer
The banquet room was steeped in over half a century of tradition and courage, as both current and former cadets gathered to celebrate the legacy of the women before them.
The Corps Women’s 50th Celebration Dinner, an event organized by the Corps of Cadets Association, was hosted to commemorate the brave women — past and present — who fight to make the Corps a welcoming space.
Originally an exclusively male organization, women were only partly integrated into the corps in 1975, as the first all-female outfits — W-1 and Squadron 14 — were established.
Ten years later, integration continued when women began joining all-male outfits. Today, there are 419 women in the Corps, eight of whom command outfits.
Many of those in attendance witnessed the beginnings of female integration in 1975. Among them was Lieutenant General Lloyd S. “Chip” Utterback ‘75, the Corps’ interim commandant.
“This celebration is personal to me because I was there 50 years ago,” Utterback said. “The first women in the Corps stood on the quad my senior year, and I witnessed history.” Veronica Cruz Cowher ‘92, who formed a part of Squadron 14, recalled her time during the Corps as a time of resilience and perseverance in the face of discrimination, as she, alongside the other women in her outfit, stood
together to create change.
“We were breaking barriers, removing barriers of information and just becoming closer with one another,” Cowher said.
Despite the harsh treatment women received during integration in the 90s, former cadets emphasized rising above and continuing to have compassion, despite the challenges they faced.
“How you lead and leading with kindness is important,” Autumn Leveridge ‘98, who was part of the Aggie Band and Brigade Staff during her time in Aggieland, said.
Many of the women who served in the Corps during the early 2000s spoke of the drastic changes since the 90s, saying how, although imperfect, the environment was much more welcoming.
“[When I came to A&M], integration was really not on my mind,” Abby Williford ‘06, a former B-Battery in the Aggie Band, said. “I had female upperclassmen in my outfit and across the band. I would walk down the quad and see women in boots. It was definitely not on our minds that we were taking this bold move forward. And I think it is because of all the things [the women before us] had done.”
This sentiment was echoed by current cadets, who said they feel included and celebrated in their outfits.
“I have always felt very supported in the Corps,” biomedical sciences senior Olivia Baptiste, the current commanding officer of Parsons Mounted Cavalry, said. “I’ve had incredible men within the Corps of Cadets who have been mentors and incredible women … who have always supported me and inspired me.”
University studies senior Grace Wilson said that although some members are still not receptive to integration, they are greatly outnumbered by those who support her and her fellow cadets.
“There are some people in outfits where they aren’t as accepting, and there are those outliers you have to get over to your side,”Wilson said. “But I’m very grateful for those that paved the way so that I can be where I am.”
While focused on celebrating the achievement, many in attendance noted the importance of unity between men and women to create change and how they are more powerful together than apart.
“Authentic men have such qualities and beautiful gifts that help lead women, and women have such beautiful qualities to help lead men,” Baptiste said. “So together we get to take on the uniqueness of ourselves and build each other up.”
The dinner was attended by President Mark A. Welsh III, who expressed his immense pride in the progress that has been made and said they were nowhere near finished.
“We’ve come a long way, but
this journey is not even close to over,” Welsh said. “The Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M should be a shining example of a leadership program for everyone … It should be held up at the soul of Texas A&M because that’s what the Corps is. It ought to be the best of everything. It ought to have the best of everything. It should be represented by the best cadets we can find, men or women.”
The sentiment was shared by
Utterback, who recalled a phrase written by Charles Dickens to memorialize the occasion: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom and it was the age of foolishness.”
“It’s been 50 years,” Utterback said. “ … And I am extremely happy to report … that there are cadets, male and female, who are focused, they’re motivated, they’re proud and they’re making it happen, every single day.”
Potential H-1B restrictions stir uncertainty for Aggies, economy
International students, experts speak on effects of possible visa restrictions under new Trump administration
By Tenny Luhrs Associate News Editor
H-1B and Optional Training Program (OPT) statuses reached rejection rates up to 24% under President Donald Trump’s first term when he signed the Buy American and Hire American executive order, which strengthened immigration law enforcement. With Trump back in office, there is a sense of uncertainty for international students and the Texas economy alike.
An H-1B visa is a temporary work status designated for highly skilled workers, usually in STEM industries. OPT, a benefit of the F-1 status, extends students’ visas by one to three years, giving them time to find work before obtain-
ing an H-1B or other work status. Most international Aggies are STEM majors, making OPT and H-1B statuses very appealing.
“If you look at the international population here, majority of them, you’re talking about 70% of them are going to target H-1B,” Kathan Vyas, president of Texas A&M’s Indian Graduate Student Organization, said.
Vyas was drawn to A&M for its culture of tradition and support for research and multicultural activities. Like many international students, he came to College Station to live out the American dream.
“Back in India, I used to follow influential people from around the world, but the likes of Steve Jobs always intrigued me — all those big start-ups that happened in garages always intrigued me,” Vyas said. “America was like this flag-bearer of the start-up community and giving those opportunities.”
Director of A&M’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Samantha Clement said the ISSS office primarily works with
students and researchers on F-1 and J-1 statuses, respectively. They also aid students in the process of obtaining OPT authorization, a stepping stone between F-1 and H-1B statuses.
Clement explained that OPT programs are a type of work authorization that requires the employee to work in a field related to the degree they receive.
They are required to find employment within 90 days of their approved OPT start date and check in with the ISSS office to update their employment status.
“If a student is earning their master’s in construction science or computer science, or whatever it might be, they would have a hard time justifying why they were going to go be a photographer, for example,” Clement said.
OPT extends students’ F-1 status by one year, with two additional years for STEM majors. H-1B status is reliant on the endorsement of the employer, so OPT gives graduates time to find work and establish relationships with companies who will potentially bring them on under H-1B
status.
“With OPT, the student is the prime applicant and they are responsible for all the fees, for putting the application together, for submitting it to the U.S. government, etc.” Clement said.
“Once you go to an H-1B status, it is a work status, it is for employment, and you have to have the support of your employer, and the employer has to pay those fees.”
Texas, and Bryan-College Station businesses in particular, are frequent users of H-1B visas. Bryan-College Station was found to have the fourth largest H-1B approval rate in the country between 2010 and 2016.
Professor of economics Jonathan Meer, Ph.D., feels that H-1B limitations could damage the local economy.
“I think it would cause losses to everyone,” Meer said. “It would make professors less productive, it would mean that undergraduate students don’t have access to graduate students. … I think it would make this university worse off, it would make the state worse off
and it would make the country worse off.”
Vyas feels the rapid movements of the current administration are causing anxiety around immigration statuses.
“Why people are so scared right now with this is the way the administration’s approaching it,” Vyas said. “Not the end result, that’s something that people already expected, but probably with the stiffness and the quick action [Trump] is taking, this idea of him being a little reactive to situations is what I think is creating this fear.”
Vyas feels that increasing H-1B restrictions may not be so bad. Should H-1B status become harder to obtain, only the best candidates will be selected for the job, Vyas says.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be helpful or not helpful, but if everything that [Trump] has said is implemented correctly, the skillbased and merit-based resource system in the USA is going to help not only immigrants, but also Americans,”Vyas said. “And if that happens, I don’t see it to be that big a problem.”
“When does our administration’s obsession with student sexual preferences and lifestyles finally stop?”
Regent Mike Hernandez added to the email chain on Jan. 26, 2024, directly addressing Welsh. “Why is it any of their business and why do we allow the administration to continue to promote these liberal agendas that are clearly against the will of the Texas Legislature and of the vast majority of Texas taxpayers? This is the second time recently that this has come up and we were assured that this hold over [sic] nonsense from previous administrations is being eradicated.”
Hernandez then suggested having the Committee on Audit and Committee on Academic and Student Affairs, two regent-staffed groups, “make a plan to identify every misguided policy and practice like these and make sure they are eliminated ASAP.”
This isn’t the first time Scorecard’s work has been used by regents to advocate for policy and personnel changes. Messages and emails released as part of an internal investigation into the failed hiring of Kathleen McElroy ‘81 as A&M journalism director in 2023 show regent skepticism to her appointment was directly linked to a June 15, 2023, Scorecard article about her experience with diversity initiatives.
One regent, Sam Torn, emailed Regent Bill Mahomes the day after the article went live with a copy-pasted paragraph from the Scorecard story, saying, “This is a quote I would like explained prior to voting on [McElroy’s] tenure.”
“I thought the purpose of us starting a journalism department was to get high-quality Aggie journalist[s] with conservative values into the market,” Regent Jay Graham wrote in a June 16, 2023 text to then-President M. Katherine Banks, Chancellor John Sharp, Regent David Baggett and another unidentified individual. “This won’t happen with someone like [McElroy] leading the department.”
The national scandal rocked the university, ousted a president and
“We lost a lot of our reputation on campus, and people didn’t know we existed for a very long time,” editor-in-chief and computer science senior Brigham Pettit said. “And so we stopped getting submissions, so last year, what we did was we printed a staff-only edition because we were still running it as staff. We’re trying to open it up to submissions again. We’d love submissions from the student body.”
had a million-dollar conclusion. The scandal also fueled the growth of the influential conservative alumni organization The Rudder Association, according to the organization’s president, Matt Poling ‘90.
By August 2024, a TRA-hosted leadership dinner attended by approximately 60 students — including Yell Leaders and notable student government officials — was headlined by influential conservative figures, including State Rep. Brian Harrison ‘04 (R-10); former Texas governor Rick Perry ‘72; Senate Education Committee Chair Brandon Creighton (R-4); Brooke Rollins ‘94, whom President Donald Trump would nominate as agriculture secretary just months later; and Sullivan, Scorecard’s publisher.
“I met former student Michael Sullivan last year, as one of our board members is a friend of his and invited him to speak at our annual meeting,” Poling said. “Super nice guy who loves A&M. Often brings to light interesting issues on our campus that we did not even know about.”
By this point, TRA was using Scorecard’s content as catalysts for its advocacy.
As previously reported by The Battalion, an April 2024 email Poling sent to Sharp, Welsh and the regents cited Scorecard’s “Den of Degeneracy” series when listing over a dozen reasons why the university should end gender-affirming care on campus. A follow-up email from Clifford Hopewell, a TRA member and former president of the Texas Psychological Association, repeated the points and said it constituted “medical malpractice.”
New records obtained by The Battalion show that Welsh tasked Nancy Fahrenwald, the associate vice president for University Health Services, with leading a formal response to Hopewell on May 8, 2024.
“President may want us to refer students to the community for care,” Fahrenwald said in a text to a group chat with Matt Hoffman and Tiffany Skaggs, two top UHS administrators. “How would we do
Pettit joined the project in the fall of 2022 as a staff writer but finished the academic year as head staff writer, soon to start training for editor-in-chief.
His climb up the leadership ladder was not intentional, but rather the consequence of previous leadership graduating without properly passing the roles.
As a result, teams for marketing and screening were temporarily dissolved, and Pettit took on the
CAMPUS
that?”
Hoffman, an assistant dean at the nursing school, said Bryan-College Station was “GREATLY lacking in local providers” — especially after he closed his private practice several years ago, where he offered similar services.
“I hate to think of the financial burden, not to mention delay in care, that students would incur by having to go elsewhere,” Hoffman texted. “I know the both of you well enough that I feel comfortable sharing that the thought of having to send students away is heartbreaking to me.”
appointee” and criticized by the website for his past comments supporting diversity initiatives. One former student emailed Welsh after reading a Scorecard story to say he was leading the university down a “WOKE path.”
“You clearly don’t know me at all,” Welsh fired back in an email response. “I have no idea what ‘WOKE path’ even means and I’m certainly not leading anyone down one.”
Days before Welsh’s permanent appointment in December 2023, the criticism ramped up. Regent John Bellinger
heard along with this and other articles, I have many questions,” Bellinger wrote after an alum emailed him a Scorecard post.
Baggett, having read a Scorecard story about Welsh’s goal of increasing the percentage of women in the military, sent the post’s link to the regents Torn, Bellinger and Brooks as well.
The opposition wouldn’t work, however. The nine regents ultimately confirmed Welsh as the university’s 27th president on Dec. 12, 2023 in a unanimous vote. But more than a year later, Scorecard remains a continued presence on
“It’s not in my decision process
fore, I do what’s best for Texas A&M. I don’t feel pressured, influenced by Texas Scorecard or anybody else who weighs in with an opinion. It’s an opinion.
roles of head staff writer and editor-in-chief simultaneously to account for the loss.
Since then, current leadership has been working to revive the project to its former glory.
“Something that’s had to happen as we’ve restructured is basically, from a clean slate, bringing everything back together, all the officers,” Pettit said. “It is that energy of doing something brand new even though it’s not your job, but you’re excited to bring it in. I think all of the officers now have that sort of energy and that mindset. And that’s been huge.”
Among the new faces of The Eckleburg Project is business administration freshman Julie Megason who serves as head of marketing, a position revived this semester.
One month into the role, Megason is working towards a full social media rebrand and new recruitment tactics.
“She’s incredible,” Kiser said. “She took the branding and just ran with it. And so it’s looking really
good. She knows how to talk to people well, so a lot of it is credit to her, honestly. At MSC Open House, she went to a lot of people and was just really good at networking.”
The Eckleburg Project is encouraging applicants of all skill levels to apply so long as they are passionate about the magazine and what it stands for.
“The whole organization is really about just bringing the community together and creating something that’s fun,” Pettit said.
“We’re bringing something into the world that has never been seen before, and I think we all really love that feeling.”
The artists, authors and poets who look to submit to The Eckleburg Project can also opt to enter their pieces through individual submissions.
A maximum of three pieces can be entered into each category of poems, prose, photography and art by April 1.
All submissions go through a
strict blind review process, and the contributor has the option to enter their pieces under a pseudonym.
“It gave me a very productive outlet for all of my many ideas for poems and so many things that I wanted to write about,” English freshman Lane Fulwiler said. “Being a member of the project gave me an outlet for actually putting those ideas to paper and giving them to a larger audience.”
Close-knit and fueled with passion, the organization’s members continue to provide ways for students to express themselves in an environment of like-minded people.
“It’s really easy to say, ‘Oh, I don’t have time for this, I don’t have time for my hobbies,’” Kiser said. “But then every single day, if that repeats, it’s like, you’re gonna fall into that trap. Even if you don’t want to become part of a permanent team, honestly, submit your work. We’d love to read it.”
Left to right: Editors of The Eckleburg Project, freshman head of marketing, Julie Megason, freshman managing editor, Madeline Kiser, senior head designer Alyssa Lazarchik, and senior editor-in-chief, Brigham Pettit, smiles
Analysis: Trump then versus Trump now
From tariffs to MAGA, how presidential policy, priorities have changed from 2016 to now
By Kaleb Blizzard Opinion Writer
The day is Nov. 5, 2024.
After weeks of waiting, I found myself in The Batt newsroom, watching the votes roll in and making my final election day predictions.
“The polls say Trump will win, and they’re probably right,” I thought. “He’ll take Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona and North Carolina. Then he’ll probably win one more swing state, although I’m not sure which one. He definitely won’t win the popular vote though, that hasn’t happened for Republicans in ages.”
As we all know, President Donald Trump did end up winning the election, taking all the swing states I predicted. Shockingly, however, he took every single swing state and even the popular vote. It was certainly a historic day.
We’ve now reached Trump’s second term, and I’m trying to sort out just one question: How will this term differ from his first?
To answer this question, I think it’s useful to divide Trump’s past, present and future presidential actions into two primary categories: domestic and foreign.
First, we’ll look at the decisions Trump has made so far in this term. Then, we’ll compare these decisions to the early moments of his previous administration, seeing where the differences — or similarities — lie. I’ll establish
Trump’s ideological thru-line; a roadmap based on his present and past actions concerning how these two administrations might differ, or coalesce, as time goes on.
Domestic affairs
To date, 45 executive orders have been issued in Trump’s second term. These orders run the gamut on issues of policy; some seek to eliminate DEI initiatives — diversity, equity and inclusion — from the federal administration. Some are focused on deporting immigrants, while others still seek to simply rescind old executive orders, among other things.
Generally speaking, Trump’s 2025 executive actions can be classed into two groups: immigration actions and DEI actions.A third concern of Trump’s is economic action; even then, his most prominent executive orders relating to spending have been seriously contested in court and don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
He’s also placed a lot of emphasis on tariffs, but we’ll cover those later, as they’re more related to foreign policy.
so-called "Republicans in name only,” or “RINO” mainstays in his cabinet. The new cabinet is primarily composed of those fully behind the MAGA movement. What that means for the federal administration remains to be seen.
Trump has, of course, done things outside of executive action and cabinet-picking; however, it’s hard to fully estimate to what degree he’s changed, or will change, things outside of his written actions.
Nonetheless, the theme is consistent: Trump was more economically motivated last time, and now he’s focused on immigration and DEI.
Foreign policy
One word: tariffs. It’s going to take longer than 10 days for Trump to set the American foreign policy theme for his second administration, but there is an undeniable difference from his first administration. Trump is allin on tariffs now, contrary to his previously strong — although in contrast rather middling — use of them.
So far, Trump is planning to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods, with a small caveat of a reduced
10% rate for Canadian energy production. These tariffs have been delayed for the time being, but they’re still scheduled to come through the pipeline. In addition, Trump is putting a 10% tariff on all imports from China. He also said that tariffs on the European Union will happen “pretty soon.”
In contrast to this protectionist approach, Trump’s previous tariffs were mostly levied on certain goods such as washing machines, steel and aluminum. He didn’t even begin levying those tariffs until 2018, and — in a surprising difference from his current stance — he actually helped promote free trade in his first term through his negotiation of a replacement treaty for NAFTA, which provides for free trade between the U.S. and select North American partner nations.
It’s worth noting that I can’t accurately formulate the entire difference between Trump’s first and second term’s foreign policy priorities purely through his tariffs, especially just a few weeks into this administration.
The jury’s still out on what he will do in the next four years, and I have only a small lens through which to compare the potential differences that will arise. But it’s safe to say Trump will be far
more protectionist — and perhaps more isolationist — during this administration than the last.
Takeaways
I’m taking two things away from the new administration’s recent actions that might give us insight into what the future holds.
The first is that Trump is not very interested in economics, at least not for the moment. We’re going to get a boatload of antiDEI, anti-open immigration and heavily protectionist policies in the coming years. Whether he will move back to the traditional mores of Republican politics remains to be seen.
The second is that MAGA is a full-blown movement. Any beliefs that “RINO” ideas will return as the dominant influence in the Republican Party are now clearly mistaken. The Trumpian right is a force unto itself; one wrapped in populism, protectionism and a zealous mission to fight DEI.
Whether you believe this is good or bad, it’s coming. We’ve entered a new moment in American history.
Kaleb Blizzard is a philosophy sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion
'Art at its highest form': 'Brutalist' review
An incredible journey that embodies the immigrant experience
By Joshua Abraham Opinion Writer
Rating: 10/10
Preferences always come into play when discussing one's favorite films. You probably have a different favorite film than me, and that's OK.
But when we’re talking about defining the history of cinema, there’s only a handful of films whose impact is actually discussed. Sure, you can rave about “High School Musical” and “Mamma Mia” — I know, I have my similar favorites. But they aren’t the greatest films of all time.
From older classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Citizen Kane” to newer, but equally important, films like “Parasite” and “Get Out,” audiences have come to a consensus that these films have left an impact on cinema history.
“The Brutalist” absolutely belongs in this group.
Directed by Brady Corbet, actor and director known for directing “Vox Lux” starring Natalie Portman, “The Brutalist” transports us to post-World War II America.
The story centers on László, a visionary architect aiming to rebuild his life in America.
He starts working at his cousin’s furniture store when he gets an order from a wealthy customer that changes the trajectory of his life. Corbet is unlike any American filmmaker we’ve seen in modern
times. Comparable to the towering works of Paul Thomas Anderson and the aesthetics of Lars Von Trier, Corbet’s style is incredibly thought-provoking.
His scenes are like a dance through a ballroom — as we tap dance through the lives and experiences that this film represents, Corbet doesn’t compromise his style for the story and deftly lets his style bleed through in what is ultimately the story’s driving force. The performances in this film are also top-shelf. Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and Joe Alwyn are incredible. As famous as these performers are, we get lost in their transformations into these characters and have no room for mistaking what they’re
feeling.
The mise-en-scène is one of the best creations I’ve seen in a film this decade.
From the beautiful score, impeccable production design, delicious wardrobe, stunning cinematography and everything else in between, we’re living in 1950s Pennsylvania, the one these artists have created for us.
As much as I’ve mentioned how much I love everything in this film, what I find the most fascinating is its messaging, which is complicated.
On the surface, we’re presented with the immigrant experience.
László coming to America to start his life again is a story that many can relate to. What László goes through is truly heartbreaking,
but as an immigrant myself, is also something that’s happened to me — and I felt it deep in my soul.
László, being an architect, fights for the right to do what he wants.
As he works on the projects given to him, there’s always someone wanting to discredit or disallow him from doing what needs to be done for him to be successful.
In Brady Corbet’s acceptance speech for Best Motion Picture - Drama at the Golden Globes, he asks the audience to ponder on an idea.
“Final cut tiebreak goes to the director.” What this means is that he wants all films to represent the filmmaker's vision — not
the producers, the production company or the actors that were a part of the film.
And his film perfectly embodies this idea. He’s weaved his personal philosophy of what he believes is the proper way to work in the industry into this story about immigration. If that’s not genius, then I don’t know what is.
But the ball doesn’t stop rolling there.
We’re given commentary on displaced people and Zionism, perspective on people whose voice is repressed and shown the role of a partner in the shadow of a genius.
All of these ideas are presented to us for contemplation. Corbet throws these ideas at us and asks us to make sense of it.
We don’t have a definitive answer for what Corbet wants us to think about the film. Rather, he gives us pieces to a puzzle but the pieces can fit an array of combinations.
What we have to do is figure out what we want to get out of it and which puzzle we want to complete. It’s art at its highest form, and we’re all witnesses to the intelligence it entrusts us with.
These stories matter. Art matters. It’s about if you’re willing to accept the challenge of what the art is asking of you. And “The Brutalist” is worth a challenge.
“No one was asking for a three-and-a-half-hour film about a mid-century artist on 70 millimeters,” Corbet proclaimed in his speech. “But it works.”
Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.
Former President of the United States Donald Trump speaking with attendees at an Arizona for Trump rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Squirrel Thoughts: Aggie Ring Day
BLINN COLLEGE TRANSFER?
In agreement with Section 61.833 of
You may be eligible to earn your associate degree through reverse transfer if you:
• Have earned at least 15 credit hours at Blinn
• Have earned at least 60 total credit hours
• Meet current degree requirements
Next steps:
1. Send your official Texas A&M University transcript with TSI information included 2. Email grad@blinn.edu or call 979-743-5280 to check your eligibility
3. Complete the Reverse Transfer Application at www.blinn.edu/graduation/reversetransfer.html
Illustration by Elizabeth Garza — THE BATTALION
Aggies return to the diamond
A&M softball looks to start its season hot in Ford’s third year
By DJ Burton Senior Sports Writer
For Texas A&M softball, last season ended in heartbreaking fashion in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament at the hands of its greatest rival, Texas. This season, a mix of fresh and familiar faces look to do what the 2024 squad could not: make the Women’s College World Series.
In what was almost an upset for the ages, No. 16 A&M fell one run shy of downing No. 1 Texas in the Austin Super Regional. The Longhorns eventually made it to the finals before ultimately falling to Oklahoma.
The Aggies’ 2024 squad was loaded with talent that will be sorely missed in 2025. With catcher Julia Cottrill, second base Rylen Wiggins, first base Trinity Cannon, pitcher Shaylee Ackerman, infielder Sav Price and center fielder Jazmine Hill no longer with the program, A&M coach Trisha Ford will look to the remaining familiar, and the new fresh faces, to get the job done this season.
Familiar faces to watch
Senior P Emiley Kennedy finished the 2024 season with a 24-11 record and a 1.93 ERA. She also registered the third-most shutouts and complete games in the nation. Last season, she was named a D1 Softball First Team All-American, an NFCA Second Team All-American, a Softball America Second Team AllAmerican, an All-SEC First Team and a USA Softball Player of the Year Top 26 Finalist.
She has already begun her
2025 resume off strong, receiving Preseason First Team AllAmerican and Preseason Top 100 Player nods from both Softball America and D1 Softball. The lefty was also named to USA Softball’s Top 53 Player of the Year Watch List.
Another familiar face returning for the Aggies is senior infielder Koko Wooley. The La Porte native is a two-time All-SEC Second Team member, as well as being named to the 2024 SEC AllTournament Team and the 2024 NFCA All-South Region First Team. Wooley led the team in batting average, hitting .382 on the season. She also led in hits, stolen bases and multi-hit games.
Wooley joins Kennedy with 2025 USA Softball Top 53 Player of the Year Watch List and Softball America and D1 Softball Preseason Top 100 Player honors.
The Aggies also return senior outfielder Allie Enright, who hit .308 for the squad. She knocked 10 home runs and 41 RBIs last season.
Fresh faces join the fray
The Maroon and White have added some serious firepower through the transfer portal: graduate INF Mac Barbara from San Diego State, senior C Olivia “Ojo” Johnson and sophomore P Sidne Peters from Washington, junior P Grace Sparks from Ole Miss and sophomore INF Ariel Kowalewski from Florida.
Barbara joins the Aggies with a .368 career batting average and 45 home runs. She was named Mountain West Player of the Year in both 2022 and 2024.
The California native rounds out the Aggies’ trio of players receiving 2025 USA Softball Top 53 Player of the Year Watch List, Softball America and D1 Softball Preseason Top 100 Player nods.
Johnson, a Dawson High School alum, returns back to the
Lone Star State after accumulating a .257 career batting average, 483 slugging percentage, 19 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Joining Johnson, Peters left Washington for A&M after posting an 8-1 record with a 3.35 ERA and 70 strikeouts in her freshman season. The Santa Fe native earned Pac-12 AllFreshman Team honors.
Sparks came to Aggieland after boasting a 13-6 record with a 2.49 ERA and 88 strikeouts. She led the Rebels in ERA and shutouts last season.
The Aggies added Kowalewski late in December. The Travis High School alum returns to Texas after batting .308, recording 45 hits and eight home runs for the Gators last season.
On top of the phenomenal transfer class, the Aggies inked 10 freshmen to the squad in a recruiting class that ranked No. 12 nationally.
Notably, freshman INF KK Dement was named to Softball America’s Freshman Watchlist. The Selma, California native finished her high school career with a .565 batting average and 10 home runs.
The road ahead
Heading into the season, the Aggies have been ranked No. 7 in the Softball America and the ESPN/USA Softball Preseason Polls. In the NFCA Preseason Poll, A&M was No. 8. Across all three polls, the Aggies find themselves playing 11 of the teams in the top25 this season.
The Fightin’ Farmers’ success this season depends on their ability to fill offensive holes left by explosive hitters like Cannon and Cottrill and how many games they can steal from ranked opponents. With their influx of transfer portal and freshman talent, expect for the Aggies to be playing into late May, and even early June.
A&M looks ahead to ITA Indoor Nationals
Aggies seek success in third-straight ITA national tournament appearance in Dallas
By Olivia Sims Sports Writer
No. 14 Texas A&M men’s tennis secured a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships after two dominating performances last weekend against ranked UCLA and Harvard at the ITA Kickoff Weekend event. The Aggies had two long days of competition, beating both the Bruins and the Crimson 4-3, punching their ticket to the Indoor Nationals for the third year in a row.
The Maroon and White had a bit of a rough spell this last weekend against Pepperdine, dropping the match 6-1 for their first loss of the season. They are staying on the road this week as they head to Ty Tucker Tennis Center to face No. 4 Ohio State before heading to Dallas for the ITA Indoor Nationals.
The ITA Indoor Nationals showcases 16 of the top Division I men’s tennis teams in a hardcore four-day tournament. Last season, when the Aggies advanced to the ITA Indoor Nationals, they upset South Carolina in the first round before falling to TCU in the next round.
The Aggies don’t know their exact draw yet, but there are plenty of teams A&M should watch out for — including a pair of top-five programs from the Lone Star State.
Currently ranked No. 3 in the ITA rankings is Texas. The Longhorns are sitting at 6-1 with their most recent loss against No. 5 Virginia 4-3,
which has also punched its ticket to the tournament.
Before their upset loss, the Burnt Orange had been elite, sweeping all of their opponents except for two, in which they only gave up one point.The Longhorns have two ranked singles players on their roster: No. 10 junior Sebastian Gorzny and No. 11 redshirt freshman Timo Legout.
Another outstanding program that may stand in the way of the Aggies is the Horned Frogs. TCU is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, holding an undefeated 5-0 record as it looks for revenge after coming up short as the runnerups last year to Ohio State.
The Horned Frogs have had outstanding performances early in the season, beating ranked Stanford 7-0 and Baylor 4-1.
Both Stanford and Baylor have also punched their tickets for next weekend, putting both in the top16 men’s tennis programs.
While the Aggies have a tough test in front of them, they
amazing all season, but especially during the match against Harvard, securing the final point for the Aggies and advancing them to this tournament.
Papamalamis was the standout player for the Maroon and White last weekend, as he not only helped the Aggies reach victory but also achieved many firsts for his collegiate career. Papamalamis claimed his first ranked win over UCLA’s No. 12 sophomore Spencer Johnson in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.
Coach Steve Denton had nothing but positive remarks about Papamalamis, calling him the Aggies’ “freshman sensation.” Papamalamis was also named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.
Another star for the Fightin’ Farmers is senior Luke Casper, who has been solid in singles this season. The California native is currently 3-1 in singles matches this season, with his one loss coming at the hands of Pepperdine’s junior Linus Carlsson Halldin. Casper is coming off a phenomenal junior season as he dominated both the first and second round opponents of the NCAA Tournament, sending the Aggies to the Sweet 16.
Last season, A&M headed into this tournament as the 10-seed as they took on No. 7 South Carolina, defeating them en route to face No. 2 TCU in the next round, ultimately falling
There will be quite a few familiar faces at this tournament, including No. 12 TCU, No. 24 Wake Forest, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Virginia, No. 6 Columbia, No. 7 Duke and No. 20 Michigan. To say this tournament will be an intense showdown would be an understatement. The real test for all these teams will be who has
Top: Texas A&M outfielder Allie Enright (33) makes a diving catch during Texas A&M’s game against Albany at the first round of the NCAA Women’s College World Series at Davis Diamond. Bottom: Texas A&M infielder Koko Wooley (3) celebrates getting on base during Texas A&M’s game against UAlbany at the first round of the NCAA Women’s College World Series at Davis Diamond.
Wade Taylor IV
Men’s basketball, graduate guard
After a groin injury sidelined him for a period in January, Taylor found his footing with a stellar 25-point performance to lift A&M past South Carolina. The star sank seven 3-pointers in a reminder of the caliber of player he is.
Equestrian, sophomore
The emerging sophomore was a bright patch in an otherwise forgetful showing in the equestrian team’s 13-6 loss to No. 7 SMU. She helped win the Fencing event for A&M with a score of 80.
Lauren Ware
Women’s basketball, redshirt senior forward
With the Aggies searching for answers in a post-redshirt senior guard Aicha Coulibaly world, Ware has stepped up. Her interior presence has been felt as she has combined for 20 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks in her last two games.
Phichaksn Maichon
Men’s golf, senior
The Bangkok, Thailand native achieved his third career collegiate tournament title in the Sea Best Invitational. Maichon recorded an 11-under 202 finish and was the only Aggie to shoot in the 60s in all three rounds.
Five trade destinations for Browns’ Garrett
By Noah Ruiz Sports Writer
Reigning NFL defensive player of the year and former Texas A&M standout edge rusher Myles Garrett made it known publicly on Feb. 3 that he does not intend to stick around for another rebuilding season with the Cleveland Browns organization by requesting a trade.
A coveted piece for any defense, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has been nothing short of stellar since he traded his maroon and white for brown and orange in the big leagues.
Four All-Pro selections, six Pro Bowl nods and entrance into the elite 100-sack club makes Garrett a hot commodity for the entire league, but who sends a fortune to the Browns in return for this daring investment? Here are five teams that could make a play for the Texas native and why they should jump at the opportunity.
Green Bay Packers
Stalwart veteran meets young talent. The Green Bay Packers present a unique opportunity for Garrett to contend for a championship and provide leadership in the trenches. With an average age of just 25, the Packers boasted an admirable record of 11-6 this past season and earned a spot in the playoffs as the seven seed. Garrett would find himself alongside fellow veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary, whose combined efforts are sure to give Garrett the chance to compete for a Lombardi Trophy. Behind him, Garrett would find a youthful, yet elite linebacking corps in Quay Walker as well as standout linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Low risk, high reward.
Denver Broncos
Perhaps it is time for another Aggie to lead the Broncos defense. In Denver, Garrett would be stepping into an organization that not only has won Super Bowls but has done so relatively recently, when former A&M firstround pick Von Miller was named Super Bowl MVP in 2016. Here, Garrett would shore up
a stout defense that has been a no-fly zone thanks to cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Garrett could provide the talent needed to pressure the quarterback and force errant throws, which the Bronco defensive backfield is more than capable of handling.
With the help of defensive tackle Zach Allen and nose tackle D.J. Jones, it could be “MyleHigh” city for Garrett if he joins the 2024 reigning NFL sack-leading ball club.
Los Angeles Chargers
They’ve got the offense; now, take care of the defense. The Chargers are no strangers to talent on the offensive side of the ball, thanks to quarterback Justin Herbert. Now is the moment for second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh to make a move for the veteran edge.
The Chargers finished second in the AFC West as runners-up to the Kansas City Chiefs and looked like they’d advance to the second round of the playoffs until a collapse on both ends of the ball against the Houston Texans.
With Garrett in the mix, it is possible for his game-wrecking
ability to help settle things down for the rest of the defense in tight situations. With questions of veteran EDGE Khalil Mack’s future looming overhead, perhaps the Chargers’ front office can opt to haul in Garrett with a monster deal to pair him with EDGE Joey Bosa.
Minnesota Vikings
What once looked to be a doomed season turned into one of the most productive for the Vikings, and with the possible addition of Garrett, the “Purple People Eaters” may be due for a revival.Tied for the league’s thirdbest turnover differential, Minnesota is the perfect destination for one eager to contend for a Super Bowl.
The Vikings’ 14-3 record was in part due to a breakout year from veteran QB Sam Darnold, but the defense was as efficient as it gets in such a competitive division. With the combination of a powerful defensive line of outside linebacker Johnathan Greenard and defensive end Johnathan Bullard, Garrett could find himself on top of a division for once and make a run for his first Super Bowl title.
Dallas Cowboys Last, and arguably least likely to occur, is Jerry Jones dialing the Browns' front office in hopes of creating one of the greatest defensive lines of all time.
In Dallas, Garrett would be playing a co-host to a renewed Doomsday Defense thanks to rising star EDGE Micah Parsons, who has been just as dominant out of college as his hypothetical counterpart.
If one were to combine this recipe of strength on the line and lockdown through the air with CBs Trevon Diggs, Daron Bland and Caelan Carson, there would be very little to stand in the way of such a company’s success. As veteran EDGE Demarcus Lawrence’s contract is due to expire, it could be an opportunity to divert the money to capture Garrett and Parsons in a joint effort of dreams.
To the disappointment of many fans, this opportunity remains just that — hypotheticals and dreams — as this would require an expert general managing effort, one that is almost too good to be possible with the price tags on franchise players.
Around the SEC: Feb. 8
By Diego Saenz Sports Writer
Two of the top contenders in the Southeastern Conference clash in a heavyweight bout as No. 1 Auburn Tigers hosts No. 6 Florida in a rematch of last year’s conference championship.
Auburn is looking to become the third team in SEC history to go undefeated in conference play, a feat only accomplished by Kentucky in 1934 and 2015.
Florida, meanwhile, is enjoying an impressive season with a 19-3 record. The Gators’ backcourt experience in returning senior guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard
have propelled them to the SEC’s fourth-ranked offense, averaging 83.4 points per game.
Led by graduate forward Johni Broome, Auburn boasts the eighth best offense nationally, averaging 85.1 points per game. The Tigers’ scoring depth is a key factor in their offensive prowess, with five players averaging double figures. Can Florida slow down Auburn’s high-powered offense and avenge last season’s loss, or will the Tigers continue their historic season with another ranked win?
South Carolina at No. 14
Two struggling teams will face off this Saturday with the hopes of redirecting the trajectory of their seasons. Kentucky has dropped four of its last five games, most recently with a blowout loss to Ole Miss, 98-84. During this run, the Wildcats’ defense has been horrid, allowing 87.2 points per game.
Injuries continue to play a major factor in Kentucky’s performance, with its top two options at point guard being sidelined indefinitely in graduate Lamont Butler and fifthyear Kerr Kriisa.
The Gamecocks haven’t been playing too hot either, having dropped their last five conference games. However, they’ve kept these games close, in huge part due to timely shots hit by sophomore G Colin Murray-Boyles.
The question is whether Murray-Boyles’ offensive production will be enough to keep them in the game against a Kentucky team desperate for a win.
With Tennessee coming into town next, the Wildcats find themselves in a must-win situation to keep their season afloat.
Texas at Vanderbilt
Sat, Feb. 8 – Memorial Gymnasium – Nashville, Tennessee 12:00 p.m. on SEC Network
Don’t let both teams’ 4-5 conference records fool you — this game could very well define both of these programs’ NCAA Tournament chances. In a stacked SEC with eight ranked teams, neither squad can afford a misstep in what could be considered one of their “easier” matchups.
Both programs have faced a grueling first half of conference play, with the Longhorns having faced seven ranked teams, finishing 2-5 in that stretch. The Commodores, not far behind, have faced six ranked teams, going 2-4.
With injuries piling up, the ‘Horns have become a one-man show. Freshman G and projected lottery pick Tre Johnson has taken the conference by storm, averaging an SEC-best 18.9 points per game. Meanwhile,Vanderbilt has thrived at home, posting an impressive 11-1 record. Junior G Jason Edwards has been a standout for the Commodores, averaging 19 points per game on 50% shooting from the field and 37% from 3-point range. Edwards and Co. will look to continue adding wins to their impressive home record.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 74, Texas 69
Riding a high from coach John Calipari’s signature win in his return to Rupp Arena, Arkansas is in prime position to make a March Madness run. Alabama, on the other hand, is looking to make one final push for the top of the SEC standings. The 12th-ranked offense in the SEC is in desperate need of impressive performances from junior F Adou Thiero, freshman G Boogie Bland and their supporting cast if they want to keep up with Alabama’s top-ranked offense. Alabama senior G Mark Sears has emerged as one of the nation’s top scorers, averaging 18.1 points on 40% shooting from the field and 35.9% from beyond the arc. Take away Sears’ scoring ability and you still have to deal with four Bama players that regularly score in the double digits. With the Razorbacks’ streakiness and newfound momentum, this matchup could prove tricky for the Tide. The Razorbacks have proven they are capable of holding their own and pulling off upsets, so this game could prove a tricky one for the Crimson Tide. Nevertheless, Bama’s explosiveness may be too much for a lackluster Arkansas offense.
Kate Egan
Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION
File photo by Katelynn Ivey — THE BATTALION
Trinity Hindman — THE BATTALION File photo by CJ Smith — THE BATTALION
Jaiya Covington Track and Field, junior
Women’s Runner of
photo by
Archive Photo by C. Morgan Engel — THE BATTALION
Defensive end Myles Garrett looks towards the sidelines during the season opener against UCLA on Sept. 3, 2016.