The Battalion - January 14, 2019 by The Battalion

Defeating opioid death Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Left: Quick-response kits include naxolone, a syringe, gloves and other items needed to administer the drug to people who have overdosed. Right: Professors Joy Alonzo (left) and Marcia Ory lead the Texas A&M Health Science Center Opioid Task Force.

Health Science Center provides critical training to students, law enforcement By Sanna Bhai @BhaiSanna A Texas A&M Health Science Center initiative looks to provide life-saving training to combat the growing number of deaths from opioid overdoses. There were over 63,600 opioid overdose related deaths in the U.S. in 2016 and there has been a 28 percent increase among the 15

to 24 age group since 2015, according to the CDC. A&M’s initiative — led by the health science center’s Opioid Task Force — will focus on training students to administer the overdose reversal drug naloxone, often sold under the brand name Narcan. Regents and distinguished professor of public health Marcia Ory and assistant clinical professor of pharmacy practice Joy Alonzo have led the task force since its creation in January of 2018. The task force has members from numerous fields, including pharmacy, nursing, medicine and dentistry. There are also faculty members and student ambassadors from universities and

cities across Texas. The program aims to correct common misconceptions and help students and community members recognize what an overdose looks like, Ory said. “People are familiar with students who drink too much alcohol; you give them coffee, take a walk or hit them on the head,” Ory said. “None of that is appropriate. You will die anyway [in an overdose]. That’s why it is important to understand what an overdose is and how you treat it and the dos and don’ts.” The task force has created quick-response kits that include everything needed to safely

administer naloxone to individuals who have overdosed. “The point is that if you overdose on opioids, you can die,” Ory said. “What we are training people is to understand how you can prevent deaths. This is what is called harm reduction.” Naxolone is used to reverse the effects of the overdose and put the patient into immediate withdrawal, Alonzo said. While the drug is not addicting, it is not a cure. It is only intended to save lives. “It’s not treatment,” Alonzo said. “All it OPIOIDS ON PG. 2

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The 86th Texas Legislature kicked off its session in Austin over the winter break. Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Sophomore center Ciera Johnson scored 18 points and made 11 rebounds, leading the Aggies to a victory over Alabama on Sunday.

Aggies roll past Crimson Tide at home Women’s basketball team finds confidence after Alabama victory By Abigail Ochoa @AbigailOchoa88 The Texas A&M women’s basketball team captured its second consecutive victory on Sunday, defeating Alabama 7043 at Reed Arena. “We put away the game in the third and it sure felt good,” A&M head coach Gary Blair said. “We needed this. Every win has been a grind for us. I told the TV crew we will not score in the 50s this game. But we got up to the 70s and that is like hitting a 100 for us the way it has been going lately. Give our kids a lot of credit.” A&M took control of the game early on and didn’t let up, leading by five or more in each quarter. Sophomore center Ciera Johnson led the pack with 18 points and 11 rebounds, making for her fifth double-double of the season. Fellow guards, sophomore Chennedy Carter and junior Sham-

bria Washington, were not far behind, with 11 points for Carter and a career-high 14 points for Washington. “Defensively, we held [Alabama’s] Cierra Johnson to 2-of-11 and Jasmine Walker to 3-of-11,” Blair said. “Some of it, they just didn’t hit her shots… but I think the key to the ball game was Shambria Washington. She ran the ball and played for 35 minutes.” This is the second consecutive game in which the Aggies were able to hold their opponents to 43 points. A&M defeated Vanderbilt 50-43 on Thursday, making for its first road game victory since the Maui Classic in early December. Both victories were credited to the Aggies’ dominant defensive play. Washington and sophomore forward N’dea Jones contributed to the defense’s success, combining for six steals and 22 rebounds. Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said her team’s performance was uncharacteristic, but she hopes returning to its home court will offer the team comfort in the next matchup.

“I thought we gave up offensive rebounds, our free throws, which we worked on for two days … just a lot of mistakes that we haven’t been making,” Curry said. “A lot of self-induced errors that you can’t do, and our effort today was poor.” This win comes just one day after the A&M men’s basketball team traveled to Tuscaloosa and defeated Alabama 81-80 with a buzzer beater by sophomore guard TJ Starks. Johnson said securing the win is something that gives the entire team an extra boost as they prepare to face SEC opponents in the remaining regular season. “It boosts our confidence, it just shows what we’re capable of, and that we can do this,” Johnson said. “We just have to stay focused mentally and physically and we can pull off these kind of wins.” A&M moves to a 13-4 (2-2 SEC) record, while Alabama falls to 9-8 (1-3 SEC). The Aggies will be back on the road to face the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 20 at 3 p.m.

Holiday recap The Battalion looks back on a few of the break’s big stories from B-CS and Texas By Henry Mureithi @HenryMureithi5 Texas A&M may have been quiet over the winter break, but a lot was still happening in Texas and in Bryan-College Station. Here are some of the most important developments. Texas legislature convenes Jan. 8 marked the first day of the 86th regular session of the Texas Legislature since the November 2018 elections. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, replaced Joe Straus as Speaker of the House. With a significant push from re-elected Governor Greg Abbott, the legislature is poised to focus on school finance and property tax reform — both key issues in education funding debates. Bryan City Council annexation plans On Jan. 8, the Bryan City Council voted unanimously for a resolution to annex about 7,500 total acres of land that includes the Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus. The campus, which serves as a hub for advanced research and development, is expected to foster urbanization of the surrounding area, and the resolution reflects the council’s intention to organize and control that growth. RECAP ON PG. 2

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Check Ring Eligibility: Jan 14 - Feb 12 Order Dates: Jan 14 - Feb 13 Aggie Ring Day: April 12 & 13, 2019

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Each new year brings promises of change. A few common New Year’s resolutions for students include getting involved in a gym, maintaining a healthy diet and improving academic performance. Many have a hard time sticking to their resolutions, but have no fear — Texas A&M has many resources that can help. Diet: Want to shed the freshman 15? On-campus dining halls can help students maintain any type of diet they are trying to pursue. Each dining hall provides extra information along with each meal being served. Identifiers note the number of calories in a serving and whether an item is vegan or contains gluten. “If you have goals for the next year, portion control is a great way to meet those goals,” said Stephanie Benson, district marketing manager for Univer-

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does is save your life and let you live to fight another day, but the idea is that it can impact mortality rates.” In December, the Texas A&M University Police Department was trained and given kits to administer to people who have overdosed other local law enforcement agencies are also receiving kits and training. The task force has committed to training all health science center students and will facilitate easy access to the kits. The goal is to start training stu-

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Megan Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief Luke Henkhaus, Managing Editor Jordan Burnham, News Editor Sanna Bhai, News Editor Henry Mureithi, Asst. News Editor Kathryn Whitlock, Life & Arts Editor Hannah Falcon, Life & Arts Editor Samantha Mahler, Asst. Life & Arts Editor

Goodbye ofo, hello VeoRide The widely popular bike-share program on campus has been rebooted. A partnership with VeoRide marks Texas A&M Transportation Services’ new attempt at a major dockless bike-share program after the Chinese bike-share company ofo had its operating permit revoked by the City of College Station. Though ofo’s permit was later reinstated, the university cut ties with the company and turned to VeoRide. A&M and its new bike-share partner have plans to bring 2,400 of the new turquoise bikes to campus. Government shutdown affects some campus activities Texas A&M has been at least partially affected by the federal government shutdown that began Dec. 22. Various programs and facilities, including the

Angel Franco, Sports Editor Abigail Ochoa, Sports Editor Cassie Stricker, Photo Chief Meredith Seaver, Asst. Photo Chief Daoud Qamar, Video Editor Kevin Christman, Video Editor Jane Turchi, Special Sections Editor

THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the 2019 spring semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

sity Dining. Chartwells, the company that oversees A&M’s campus dining, has a dietitian for students to speak with to help improve their eating habits. The dietitian can assist students in creating a plan to start eating healthier. Students can set up a free appointment online at dineoncampus.tamu.edu/schedule-nutrition-appointment. Exercise: Want to become more physically active? Visiting the Student Recreation Center on campus is a great way to work out and have fun. In addition to its extensive lineup of sport and exercise facilities, the Rec offers an array of special classes and programs. “Each semester we have what we call free week … where people can try out classes and try out small group trainings to see if they like it before they pay for registration,” said Jerod Wilson, associate director of recreational sports. Looking for a specific activity to try out? The Rec Sports Spring 2019 Guide, located throughout the Rec, has full schedules with more information about the different classes available at the Rec.

“Getting in [the gym] is better than doing nothing,” said personal and small group training coordinator Stephan Opskar. More information about classes and programs is available online at recsports.tamu.edu. Education: Want to improve your academic performance? The Academic Success Center is a great way to get extra help with classes. The center provides students with free tutoring and Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions for a variety of classes. SI and tutoring program coordinator Lindsey Randolph said session schedules are available online at successcenter.tamu.edu. The center also provides academic coaches, who can help students become better learners. Randolph said one strategy to remember this semester is to set short and long term goals because achieving short term goals will make reaching long term ones seem less challenging. “Outline what your goals are and find your motivation,” Randolph said.

dents during the spring 2019 semester to ensure they are comfortable with administering the drug when necessary. “It is empowering you to actually administer that naloxone,” Alonzo said. “We want them to be so comfortable with this that they will advocate for it and teach other people how to do it.” This protocol is new to the Brazos Valley, but not new elsewhere. It has been used in other parts of the country, but now it has come to Texas and both Ory and Alonzo said they want it to help students and community members throughout the state and beyond. “What the health science center

wants to do is be proactive and be preventative,” Ory said. Alonzo said the team eventually hopes to expand their goal and educate and train all students at A&M since they are a resource to people around the world. “Additionally, these guys go out to practice everywhere in other states and we want them to be completely comfortable and be able to come up with the next intervention that is going to change the tide,” Alonza said. “We want the health science center to be a national resource to fight the opioid epidemic.”

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, scholarships, financial aid and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service have made adjustments due to the shutdown with no major disruption to operations yet. However, this may change as the shutdown continues. Confederate plaque to be removed from Texas Capitol The State Preservation Board voted unanimously to remove from the Capitol grounds the Confederate “Children of the Confederacy Creed” plaque, which falsely claims that the Civil War was “not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery.” The effort to remove the plaque was spearheaded by State Representative Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, with the support of Gov. Greg Abbott. Migrant teen detention camp to close The Tornillo migrant detention

facility, which was at one point the largest migrant teen housing camp in the United States, is in the process of shutting down. The facility had become a lightning rod for the controversy surrounding the child migrant detention policies of the Trump administration. Almost 2,700 teens at the facility have either been released to sponsors or transfered to other facilities, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. T3 research grants announced The new round of Texas A&M grants from the $100 million President’s Excellence Fund have been announced. Up to $3 million has been provided to fund innovative interdisciplinary work by A&M researchers. Each project will receive $30,000.

LET’S BE FRIENDS Notice of University Student Rule Revisions Additions, deletions and changes to the University Student Rules may occur over the course of the year. The following student rules have been revised: Rule # 39

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Reviewing a month of basketball Here’s what the men’s and women’s teams were up to over winter break By Jennifer Streeter @ jennystreeter3 Over winter break Texas A&M men’s and women’s basketball teams continued it’s non-conference schedule and began SEC play. Here’s what you missed during winter break: Aggie men’s basketball faces seven opponents over break. Oregon State, Dec. 15, Dam City Classic Sophomore guard TJ Starks was the lead scorer for the Aggies with 18 points. The Beavers were led by sophomore guard Ethan Thompson, who had 20 points. The game was a victory for the Aggies, with a final score of 67-64. Valparaiso, Dec. 19, Reed Arena The Aggies were led by senior forward Christian Mekowulu and sophomore guard Brandon Mahan, who each scored 20 points. Junior guard Bakari Evelyn was the lead scorer for the Crusaders with 10 points. This was the Aggies fourth win in a row; the final score was 71-49. Marshall, Dec. 22, Reed Arena A&M senior forward Christian Mekowulu and sophomore guard TJ Starks co-led the Aggies, with each posting 17 points. The Thundering Herd was led by senior guard Rondale Watson, who scored 19 points. This game marked the Aggies fifth straight victory; the final score was 92-68. Texas Southern, Dec. 29, Reed Arena

This game against the Tigers marked the end of the Aggies’ winning streak. Texas Southern was paced by senior guard Jalyn Patterson, while A&M was led by junior guard Wendell Mitchell. While it was a hard-fought game, the Tigers ultimately won 88-73. Arkansas, Jan. 5, Reed Arena Sophomore guard TJ Starks was the lead scorer for the Aggies. The Razorbacks were led by junior guard Jalen Harris. It was an extremely close match throughout, but the Razorbacks were able to clinch the victory 73-71. Kentucky, Jan. 8, Rupp Arena The Aggies were led by sophomore guard Jay Jay Chandler, while freshman guard Tyler Herro led the way for the Wildcats. This game marked the Aggies’ third loss in row, as the Wildcats won 85-74. Alabama, Jan. 12, Coleman Coliseum TJ Starks gave A&M a much-needed boost with a last-second buzzer beater that brought the Aggies their first conference victory. Junior Wendell Mitchell led the scoring for A&M with 18 points. With the win, the Aggies snapped a three game losing streak, winning by a single point, 81-80. Aggie women’s basketball goes 7-2 during winter break. UC Riverside, Dec. 14, Maui Classic Sophomore guard Chennedy Carter led the way for the Aggies with 26 points. The Highlanders were paced by sophomore forward Marina Ewodo, who scored 21 points. The Aggies led the entire game and won 70-63. Oregon State, Dec. 15, Maui Classic The Aggies won the Maui Classic with their 76-70 win against Oregon State. Once again,

sophomore guard Chennedy Carter was the lead scorer for the Aggies with 27 points. The Beavers were led by freshman guard Katie McWilliams, as she scored 19 points. University of Southern California, Dec. 19, Reed Arena The leading scorer for the Aggies was sophomore guard Kayla Wells with 26 points, while freshman guard Desiree Caldwell led the Trojans and posted ten points. After halftime, the Aggies came back from a deficit and won 71-51. Prairie View A&M, Dec. 23, Reed Arena Sophomore forward N’dea Jones set the pace for the Aggies and scored 15 points. Freshman guard Dominique Newman was the lead scorer for the Panthers with 14 points. The Aggies rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Panthers 70-57. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Dec. 29, Reed Arena A seventh consecutive win was earned for the Aggies when they defeated the UTRGV 84-61. Aggie sophomore guard Kayla Wells led the way with 21 points, while the lead scorer for the Vaqueros was junior guard Jameka Dowell with 14 points. South Carolina, Jan. 3, Reed Arena The Aggies ended their winning streak during their SEC opener. Redshirt freshman Te’a Cooper was the lead scorer for the Gamecocks, while sophomore guard Chennedy Carter led the way for the Aggies. The Gamecocks rallied and beat the Aggies 60-57. Louisiana State University, Jan. 6, Maravich Assembly Center The LSU Tigers beat the Aggies 63-52 af-

Annie Lui — THE BATTALION

Men’s and women’s basketball teams began SEC play over winter break.

ter rallying in the fourth quarter. The Tigers were led by sophomore guard Khayla Pointer, while sophomore guard Chennedy Carter was the lead scorer again for the Aggies. Vanderbilt, Jan. 10, Memorial Gym The Aggies claimed their first SEC victory of the season when they defeated Vanderbilt 50-43. Once again, sophomore guard Chennedy Carter led the way for the Aggies, racking up 27 points. Sophomore forward Autumn Newby and redshirt junior forward Mariella Fasoula co-led Vanderbilt, with 14 points each.

Restaurant Week to offer dining deals Bryan eateries look to turn first– timers into regular customers By Claudia Soto @ cisoto98

Abby Collida — THE BATTALION

Ronin is one of of 17 restaurants participating in Downtown Bryan’s first Restaurant Week.

Downtown Bryan is kicking off the new year with local cuisine during its first Restaurant Week. From 11 a.m. Monday through 10 p.m. Thursday, lunch and dinner specials will be served at all 17 participating restaurants with prices starting at $7.75. Three participants — Ronin Farm and Restaurant, All the King’s Men and Madden’s Casual Gourmet — claimed spots in Texas Monthly’s Best Eats of 2018 and 2019 Dining Guide. Sandy Farris, executive director of the Downtown Bryan Association, said the nonprofit organization hopes to continue their mission to promote the arts, culture and

commerce of Downtown Bryan through Restaurant Week. The last day of Restaurant Week will take place alongside Downtown Bryan’s Third Thursday Art Step, which showcases local artists. “We are always looking for ways to promote our downtown shopping, dining and entertainment options,” Farris said. “January is typically a slower time of the year, so we thought this would be a great time to encourage the community to make a resolution to support locally-owned businesses.” Katelyn Brown, senior events planner of the Downtown Bryan Association, said she encourages the Bryan-College Station community to visit these local restaurants on the weekdays throughout the year. “It’s about bringing exposure to those businesses,” Brown said. “Restaurant Week is meant to encourage visitors to try new restaurants, even if they already have a favorite one.”

Farris said all the participating restaurants are locally-owned and the menus are crafted by the owners and the chefs. “Dining in downtown means customers will experience a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else,” Farris said. “In many cases, the owners are present, and that makes for a totally different dining experience than one would have in a well-known chain restaurant.” Looking ahead, Farris said The Downtown Bryan Association hopes to make Restaurant Week an annual event. “The goal is to bring new customers to our restaurants and turn them into regular patrons, not only for dining but for all the other things we offer in Downtown Bryan,” Farris said. To learn more about the specials and see a full list of restaurants involved, visit downtownbryan.com/event/downtown-bryans-restaurant-week.

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OPINION The Battalion | 1.14.19

Most anticipated movies premiering in 2019 As new films are set to be released, Life & Arts writer Keagan Miller has identified a few upcoming movies to keep an eye on this year By Keagan Miller

Avengers: Endgame

Once Upon a 2 Time in Hollywood

Do I even have to say it? It should certainly go without saying that part two of what may have been the biggest blockbuster event in the history of film would be right at the top of any most anticipated movies list. Following last year’s “Infinity War” and 10 years of magnificent Marvel madness, Thanos and his nemeses’ return to the big screen will undoubtedly be the cinematic and pop-cultural peak of 2019. I don’t think there’s anyone out there that’s not looking forward to this monumental film. Set to release in April, “Avengers: Endgame” earns the number one spot.

This star-studded drama slated for July will be Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film to date. The remarkably talented director, known for his use of candid violence and creative dialogue, is one of my personal favorites, so I am eagerly awaiting what is sure to be another odd, humorous and dramatic hit.

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3 Joker

Star Wars: 4 Episode IX

Joaquin Phoenix. As the Joker. In a movie titled “Joker” that will be dedicated to realistically portraying the gritty details of the mysterious character’s origin. That’s all the info I need to get really hyped for this film, set to release in October. Granted, the DC cinematic universe hasn’t exactly rolled out the hits in recent years, but this movie shows real promise. Furthermore, “Joker” will launch a new universe for DC, separate from the one containing Jared Leto’s Joker and Ben Affleck’s Batman. “Joker” has me really excited. Let’s see if it can deliver.

The new Star Wars trilogy has had a controversial first two movies. Both “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi” were met with mixed reactions from fans and critics alike, especially after “Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams was replaced for the second installment. Abrams is back in the director’s chair for this currently unnamed conclusion to the trilogy, slated for a December release.

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For a full list of Miller’s most anticipated movies of 2018, go to thebatt.com

Fowler’s favorite films of 2018 Life & Arts writer discusses his favorite 2018 movies and how they affected the world of film Cole Fowler

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Matt Dillon played the role of Jack in Lars Von Trier’s “The House that Jack Built.”

@thecolefowler

any great directors, including Lynne Ramsay, Lars Von Trier, Alfonso Cuarón, Josephine Decker and Yorgos Lanthimos, all released movies in 2018, making it a big year in film. Alongside the established directors, the past year also introduced the film world to some brilliant up-andcoming directors with films such as Jim Cummings’ “Thunder Road,” Augustine Frizzell’s “Never Goin’ Back,” Paul Dano’s “Wildlife” and Jennifer Fox’s narrative debut, “The Tale.” Choosing my favorite films out of this group of incredibly talented filmmakers was a difficult task. Each contributed to the progression of the medium, and made 2018 such an enjoyable year for audiences around the world. This year was full of great horror films such as “Mandy” and “Suspiria.” It also gave us the newest addition to Lars Von Trier’s long and difficult history with the Motion Picture Association of America, courtesy of his latest film, “The House That Jack Built.” “Revenge” was a powerful addition to the horror subgenre of rape and revenge films, as Fargeat brought a female voice to the male-dom-

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2018 AGGIELAND The 2018 Aggieland are here and it’s not to late to buy your copy. The 116th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook is a photojournalistic record of the 2017-2018 school year

12. “Suspiria”

Directed By Luca Guadagnino 11. “Under The Silver Lake” Written and Directed By David Robert Mitchell 10. “Mandy” Directed By Panos Cosmatos 9. “Vox Lux” Written and Directed By Brady Corbet 8. “Roma” Written and Directed By Alfonso Cuarón 7. “Burning” Directed By Lee Chang-Dong 6. “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” Directed By Desiree Akhavan 5. “Revenge” Written and Directed By Coralie Fargeat 4. “Madeline’s Madeline” Written and Directed By Josephine Decker 3. “Let the Corpses Tan” Written and Directed By Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani 2. “The Tale” Written and Directed By Jennifer Fox 1. “The House the Jack Built” Written and Directed By Lars Von Trier For a full list of Fowler’s favorite films of 2018, go to thebatt.com Cole Fowler is an English sophomore and Life & Arts writer for The Battalion.

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inated genre. Her work upheaved nearly all of the tropes of the genre, and her film’s impact will certainly shape future film criticism. This past year was also full of gut-wrenching, emotionally impactful movies. “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” portrayed the nauseating account of a right-wing gay conversion therapy camp, and “The Tale” depicted Jennifer Fox’s personal, heartbreaking account of sexual abuse as a child. Each of these films recounted a few of the horrible aspects of our culture, but also gave hope to all of those affected by either of these atrocities. From the deconstruction of the art of acting in “Madeline’s Madeline” to the slow-burn, psychological mystery in “Burning,” this past year had a variety of films for all tastes. Hopefully 2019 can live up to the high standard this past year set. Of the 120-plus new releases that I viewed in theatres last year, I have selected my top 15 favorite films of 2018: 15. “First Reformed” Written and Directed By Paul Schrader 14. “You Were Never Really Here” Directed By Lynne Ramsay 13. “Shoplifters” Written and Directed By Hirokazu Kore-eda

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Texas A&M University Vol. 116

Go Online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase. $75.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee) Come by office L400 of the MSC and skip the mail fee charge.

Don’t forget to also preorder your copy of the 2019 Aggieland yearbook. The 117th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Distribution will be the Fall 2019.