MONDAY, MARCH 4 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2019 STUDENT MEDIA
Silver Taps Noah Joseph Gunhouse Dec. 20 1995 - Jan. 16, 2019
Grant Jacson Hernandez April 13, 1999 - Jan. 6, 2019
TUESDAY NIGHT WE HONOR THE FALLEN when 10:30 p.m. Tuesday
Van Le Sept. 7, 1997 - Feb. 10, 2019
where Academic Plaza
Hannah Michalski April 21, 1993 - Jan. 19, 2019
Kristen Lane Moss Aug. 3, 1992 - Dec. 15, 2018
SILVER TAPS ON PAGES 3 & 4
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Dwight Roblyer, Class of 1984, will deliver the keynote speech at the 2019 Campus Muster.
Samantha Mahler — THE BATTALION
Oklahoma native Kaitlin Butts took the Republic of Texas Fest stage to perform songs including “Marfa Lights” and “Wild Rose.”
Texas-sized celebration Josh Abbott Band headlines Wolf Pen Creek Republic of Texas Fest By Samantha Mahler @ mahlersamantha Fans of Texas country music braved the cold, early spring weather in celebration of Texas Independence Day. The Republic of Texas Fest was held on March 2 at Wolf Pen Creek Amphithe-
ater. The lineup included Josh Abbott Band, Parker McCollum, Wade Bowen, John Baumann, Kaitlin Butts and Grant Gilbert. A portion of the proceeds from the event went to JAB Cares, Josh Abbott’s philanthropy that raises awareness and financial support for organizations close to fans’ hearts. Josh Abbott Band headlined the show, opening with their song “My Texas” and following up with “She’s Like Texas,” another ode to the Lone Star State, as well as their new song with Carly Pierce, “Wasn’t
That Drunk.” Kaitlin Butts, a rising country singer, was the only female performer at the Republic of Texas Fest. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native said she always wanted to be a country singer, but didn’t think it was possible. She credits Texas radio and loyal country music fans for getting her name out there. “In Oklahoma, we don’t have as much of a following as Texans do,” Butts said. “You guys have radio support here for even
Roblyer to speak at Campus Muster Lecturer selected for his years of service, commitment to core values By Khadeeja Umana @ Deeja_Umana Political science lecturer and retired Air Force Col. Dwight Roblyer, Class of 1984, will deliver the keynote speech at the 2019 Aggie Muster ceremony in Reed Arena on April 22. Speaker executive David Pham said Roblyer was selected because of his commitment to Aggie core values, his dedication to his country and community and his recognized efforts to go
FESTIVAL ON PG. 2
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Brawl in the dance hall
Charity boxing match breaks record, ends with crowd fight By Hollis Mills @ sillohsllim
Jesse Everett— THE BATTALION
Shiner Park hosted Aggie Fight Night and donated nearly all proceeds to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
While a 50-degree wind chill cut through the streets on Saturday night, the inside of Shiner Park steamed with a flurry of fists as students and alumni alike gathered to watch 10 bouts at Aggie Fight Night.
A communal effort between Bryan’s Longoria Boxing Club and three chairmen of the event, Aggie Fight Night is an annual charity boxing exhibition that places 20 amateur fighters in the ring to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. However, tensions on the canvas found their way into the crowd Saturday night. Following one too many tussles among audience members, officials declared, for the safety of all in Shiner Park, an abrupt end
to the event with only one bout remaining. In response to this decision, event co-chair and finance junior Jake Walden called the conclusion “a shame,” and said the actions of few “were not representative of what Aggie Fight Night stands for.” For the last 10 years, nearly 100 percent of proceeds earned have gone directly to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, one of the nation’s leading oncology FIGHT NIGHT ON PG. 2
Aggies defeat two ranked opponents Texas A&M pitching rotation stifles Baylor, TCU, Houston By Brian Bass @ BrianBass4 Superior pitching and defense led Texas A&M to a sweep of the Shriners College Classic at Minute Maid Park over the weekend, with wins over No. 18 Baylor, No. 17 TCU and Houston.
The Aggies finished off the tournament with a 3-2 win over the Houston Cougars, who trailed throughout the game on Sunday. A&M struck first with a double in the fourth inning from Logan Foster that allowed Braden Shewmake to cross home plate to make it 1-0. Leadoff hitter and infielder Bryce Blaum solidified the A&M lead with a homerun to the Crawford Boxes in left field to make it 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning. “Our team motto is dominate fast-
ball strikes,” Blaum said. “When they throw it in there we’re going to get our best swing off’s in. That’s something we pride ourselves in as well and we just try to put our best swing on the ball every time.” Houston made its best effort in the to come back in the sixth, with a double from senior first baseman Joe Davis allowing third baseman Justin Triolo to score from third base, making it 2-1. However the Aggies responded in BASEBALL ON PG. 6
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Junior second baseman Bryce Blaum celebrates hitting a home run on the first pitch of the Shriners College Classic.
Senior Boot Bag
LIFE&ARTS
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The Battalion | 3.4.19
Price Includes Logo and Name (More logos available) Shop for Little Aggies to an Aggie Xmas
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A SH W EDNESDAY THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6TH
SH ERVICES (Liturgy of the Word and distribution of Ashes) § (Bldg F, Rm120) § § § § § SH EDNESDAY ASSES (a full Mass, including A shes and Communion) § § (in Spanish, Act Ctr) §
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7:00 am at St. Mary's 9:00 am at Blinn College 10:20 am at Rudder Theater 12:00 pm at St. Mary's 12:40 pm at Rudder Theater 5:45 pm at Rudder Theater
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Samantha Mahler — THE BATTALION
The Republic of Texas Fest featured performances from artists including Grant Gilbert (left), Kaitlin Butts, John Baumann, Wade Bowen, Parker McCollum and the Josh Abbott Band.
5:30 pm at St. Mary's 7:30 pm at St. Mary's 7:30 pm at St. Mary's
ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CENTER ~ 603 603 CHURCH AVE AT NORTHGATE CATHOLIC STUDENTS ASSOCIATION ~ AGGIECATHOLIC.ORG
THE TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA BOARD INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR
Editor-in-Chief
BATTALION THE
FESTIVAL CONTINUED just local artists, where in Oklahoma, I kind of had the misconception that if you’re doing music, you’re either at Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood status, or you’re just playing bar gigs.” Butts said College Station is a rowdy and wild crowd, which is why she likes it so much. She said her favorite part of performing is hearing the crowd get excited about music. “I also get really giddy on stage and excited,” Butts said. “I don’t get nervous. I get too hyper to where my voice shakes.” Raised about an hour and a half outside of College Station in Conroe, Parker McCollum has two studio albums under his belt. While performing at the Republic of Texas Fest, McCollum teased fans with a preview of a new song. Though he said he’s never “gotten into trouble” in College Station, McCollum described Aggieland as a great town.
“It’s just wild,” McCollum said. “Any time you play college towns or towns this big, we always have so much fun. People love music, and country music especially. We’ll always come play in College Station.” Spanish junior Cole Rodriguez surprised his girlfriend with tickets to the Republic of Texas Fest. Rodriguez said he was most excited to see McCollum perform, and that the musician exceeded all expectations. “I thought that he was going to put on a hell of a show, and he did,” Rodriguez said. “I like that he’s upbeat — definitely the best part of the show.” pm at junior Nicholas Shofner had never seen any Architecture of the5:45 performers before,Theater but said he will be buying tickets pm at Rudder in the7:30 future see Mary’s Parker McCollum, John Baumann and pm to at St. Kaitlin Butts again. pm at (Spanish) “Seeing them was very exciting,” Shofner said. “I loved hearing ‘Eagle Ford’ for the first time in person, and I loved hearing ‘The Truth’ from Parker McCollum in person.”
The IndependenT STudenT VoIce of TexaS a&M SInce 1893
Summer 2019 & Fall 2019 –Spring 2020 Summer editor oversees print, digital and special editions from May 13, 2019, to Aug. 11, 2019. Fall editor oversees print, digital and special editions from Aug. 12, 2019, to Dec. 15, 2019. Fall and spring editor oversees print, digital and special editions from Aug. 12, 2019, to May 17, 2020.
Qualifications for editor-in-chief of The Battalion are: REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester. PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society) or equivalent; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible editorial position on The Battalion or comparable daily college newspaper, – OR – Have at least one year editorial experience on a commercial newspaper, – OR – Have completed at least 12 hours in journalism, including JOUR 203 (Media Writing I) and JOUR 303 (Media Writing II) or JOUR 304 (Editing for the Mass Media), or equivalent.
Application forms should be picked up from and returned to Douglas Pils, Student Media General Manager, in Suite L410 of the MSC. Deadline for submitting application: 5 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2019.
Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION
Sophomore Judd Oefinger of BYX defeated SAE’s sophomore Gunnar Smith.
FIGHT NIGHT CONTINUED Megan Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief Luke Henkhaus, Managing Editor Jordan Burnham, News Editor Sanna Bhai, Asst. News Editor Henry Mureithi, Asst. News Editor Kathryn Whitlock, Life & Arts Editor Hannah Falcon, Life & Arts Editor Samantha Mahler, Life & Arts Editor
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 StudentAffairs.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.
research centers. In attendance for the rumble was Jerry Nelson, a representative of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. The non profit is dedicated to following in the footsteps of Jon M. Huntsman Sr., a philanthropist who spent a lifetime and nearly $2 billion fighting a disease that has plagued so many, including himself. “Jon Huntsman said, ‘My Generation couldn’t end cancer, but this is the generation that will be the one to find an end,’” Nelson said. “That was Jon’s whole purpose, to alleviate the suffering from cancer as his mother died in his arms when he was a young man. He said his promise, as he left the cemetery the day that they buried her, was that he was going to do everything he could to end cancer.” According to Nelson, one in two men and one in three women will develop cancer in the U.S. However, Nelson said the future is bright as the undergraduate chapters across the nation will donate $2 million to the fight against cancer. “I just see this generation as an incredible group of individuals that understand this at a younger age, and that’s going to make the world a lot better,” Nelson said. “That’s why they will be the generation to end cancer, because they know and they have the heart to give.” Spencer McDonald, event co-chair and finance junior, said watching local fighters go toe-to-toe provides great entertainment, but he is most grateful that it is representing the Huntsman cause. “I think everyone on this Earth knows someone who has been affected by cancer, and this event helps us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” McDonald said. “There’s
a lot of dark in this world and there’s a lot of bad. I think everyone here tonight can take steps to do something that’s helpful to someone else in the world.” Paying the Huntsman message forward is similarly shared by Walden and Cale Soudelier, also a co-chair and finance junior. Explaining why charity boxing was the right event to pair with funding cancer research, Soudelier said it’s something different for college students to do on the weekend. “It takes a lot of work to put together, but it’s really cool for the students and people coming out, and it’s also great for the fighters who get to represent their organizations,” Soudelier said. Walden said this year’s Aggie Fight Night was already on track to surpass the bar set last year — a trend he hopes to see continue. “Since last year’s group put it on, we were able to donate $20,000,” Walden said. “This year we’re looking to donate $25,000, maybe even $30,000 in ticket sales to Huntsman. I just hope this continues to grow and more organizations want to get involved.” Manuel Longoria, head coach and owner of Longoria Boxing Club, ensured every fighter was sanctioned through U.S.A. Boxing and properly trained ahead of the event. Longoria said the passion he developed for boxing in his youth kept him strong on days stricken with tragedy. He said Aggie Fight Night has been a way to give back to the community that gave him life. “That they’re raising funds for a good cause makes it special, but it’s seeing these kids come into my gym and sweat, bleed and give their best performance,” Longoria said. “For them to win for their friends, for their fraternities and their fellow Aggies — that’s what makes this special.”
SILVER TAPS
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The Battalion | 3.4.19
Silver Taps Dec. 20 1995 - Jan. 16, 2019
NOAH JOSEPH GUNHOUSE A caring son with a love for music and sports By Jane Turchi @ Jane Turchi
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oah Joseph Gunhouse was a confident man with a passion for his family a n d f r i e nds.
The construction science senior was born close to Christmas, which was always a special time in his family’s home, said Noah’s mother, Shelly Gunhouse. “He was a Christmas baby and at his birthday time, he always wanted to make sure that we didn’t mix birthday and Christmas together,” Shelly said. Noah always spent Christmas surrounded by family and friends, celebrating special traditions. “Noah’s last Christmas was a great Christmas like no other,” Shelly said. Noah traveled to go hiking in Colorado and New Mexico for family vacations, but his favorite place to visit was the beach. “We have a really big family and family has always been really important,” Shelly said. “We always got together with our family and did things and went on lots and lots of vacations.” Noah was especially close with his older brother, Regan, and the two were often referred to as twins. Shelly particularly remembers when she went with Noah to Crockett to take his driver’s test, and how he was determined to beat his brother’s score. After passing the test with flying colors, Noah took Regan for a ride. “Before all was said and done, Noah ran into the median and got the car stuck on the median the first night with his driver’s license,” Shelly said. “That’s a forever story that will be really funny. He wasn’t a great driver, but he did a lot of other things really well.” Noah attended Klein High School where he graduated along with many of his childhood friends. “He was smart, he was caring, he was kind,” Shelly said. “He had a lot of friends. Everybody who met him loved him. He never met a stranger.”
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Noah Gunhouse (top right) was a construction science senior who had wanted to attend Texas A&M since he was in middle school.
Noah also had a love for music; he enjoyed many genres like rock, country western and rap, but especially loved classic country artists like Johnny Cash. Noah also taught himself to play piano. “He just really enjoyed music a lot,” Shelly said. Noah played baseball, basketball, football and ran track, but the sport he loved the most was lacrosse. While practicing against brick walls, Noah broke many windows before becoming proficient at the sport. Noah also became an escort for Klein High School’s drill team, the Bearkadettes. “He was just a silly, funny guy,” Shelly said. “He was always joking around, always laughing very good natured, very easygoing.” Noah grew up in Houston’s Hosanna Lutheran church, where he was baptised, attended Sunday school and was confirmed. He also served as an acolyte, an usher and a singer in the choir. “He was also a really good speaker,” Shelly said. “He would get up and tell stories and at church. Sometimes he would read and he was just really good at that kind of thing.” Although he was annoyed when his brother — who always wanted to go to LSU — attended A&M before him, Noah soon joined Regan at A&M after studying at Lone Star Junior College for a year. Having a desire to be an Aggie since middle school, Noah received his Aggie ring in November 2018 and was expected to graduate in December 2019. Shelly said that Noah taught her that no situation was worth getting too upset about because it would all work itself out somehow. “He liked to think about things positively instead of negatively,” Shelly said. “He wanted to make people proud and that was his number one goal. … And he made everyone in the family proud, especially his grandfather.”
Sept. 7, 1997 - Feb. 10, 2019
VAN LE An optimistic friend with an unmatched work ethic By Megan Rodriguez @MeganLRodriguez
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an Le’s witty sense of humor and overwhelming positivity could put a smile on anyone’s face, while his unwavering commitment to his career goals inspired those around him.
The petroleum engineering junior was born in Vietnam and moved to Colorado in 2013 as a part of a high school exchange program. In 2015, he moved to Houston with his great aunt and uncle and attended Houston Community College before transferring to Texas A&M. Le loved to talk about history, go hunting and spend time with his German Shepherd, Zoey. He dreamt of becoming a fighter pilot but also had a desire to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue petroleum engineering. Le always made high grades and would volunteer to tutor fellow students, eager to help others learn and reach their full potential. Le was fluent in Vietnamese and English and was learning German and French in his free time. Christopher Hart had been one of Le’s best friends since they met when they were playing online video games in 2011. Hart said the 13hour time difference between Texas and Vietnam meant they had to speak either early in the morning or late at night, but this small inconvenience couldn’t stop them from talking nearly every day. “We just kind of clicked,” Hart said. “We were into the same things. We both loved military history. Every time we talked we usually talked about military history. Sometimes we talked about politics and we’d get into very heated debates about that.” Once Le was living in Texas, the two would make time to see each other every couple of months. Hart said they loved to go hunting together, and once Hart earned his pilot’s license, he would take Le flying when he could. “When I took him for the first time in a small airplane, I let him fly for a little bit and he really
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loved it,” Hart said. “He hadn’t decided what he was going to do in the military yet, but after he went with me, he decided he wanted to be a fighter pilot. … He was a real go getter. He would have made it for sure. He would have been top of the list. Would have been able to fly whatever he wanted for sure.” Hart said Le was a beloved part of the family; he would visit on holidays and Hart’s father even taught Le to parallel park before he took his driving test. “I felt like he was a brother and my parents felt like he was their son,” Hart said. “When he was over in Vietnam and we were still just online friends, he would talk to my mom. When he would have a breakup or girl troubles in school, my mom would walk him through it. He was a character. Full of life.” Hart is now a commercial pilot and said there was one time he had the opportunity to fly to College Station, so he made it a point to see Van. “He showed me his duplex that he was living in and we got to eat at the Chicken and spend the day together,” Hart said. “That is one of my last fond memories with him, before he passed away.” Hart said Le’s sense of humor and energetic personality could always pair together to lift someone’s spirits, even in the worst of times. “I cannot even imagine what Van would have accomplished after graduating,” Hart said. “In life he achieved everything he set his mind to and more. His journey was cut way too short.” While Hart said he has an abundance of memories from their nearly eight years of friendship, he said there were also lessons from Le’s life that he plans to keep with him. “He inspired me to just pick something I love doing and go for it,” Hart said. “He would push through everything. Just plowed right through and kept going, and I am going to keep that with me. I am going to live the way he lived his life.”
Van Le’s friend Christopher Hart said they would go hog hunting together, and while they never got anything, the two made many memories on the Hart family ranch.
MUSTER CONTINUED above and beyond as an educator. “He has always lived a life of service and a life that is very focused on being integrous,” Pham said. “Students who have taken his classes know that Dwight Roblyer is more than just an educator.” Pham said much of the student body knows Roblyer as the instructor who opens his home to Aggies who don’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving. He also serves on the Aggie Honor Council and often emphasizes the importance of integrity. “When you see Dwight Roblyer, you know that there is no tarnish to his name,” Pham said.
Roblyer said the Muster subcommittee contacted his wife and arranged a dinner under the pretense that he would be meeting with students who needed help with a decision. “The Muster subcommittee took great glee in how surprised I was,” Roblyer said. “What they told me is that I was selected because I embody Aggie values, which is a very pleasant thing to be told. I think one of the things that I hear from students is that my efforts to try and make them understand that I really care about them, as individuals and as who they are going to become, really resonates.” Roblyer said Muster remains an incredibly meaningful tradition as it offers Aggies a chance “to mark the relationships that we did have, the relationships that we do have and the relationships that we will have.”
In addition to the many Aggies being honored, this year’s Campus Muster will also be celebrating the lives of President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush. “I think Muster is a very special but also a very unique thing that we do here,” Roblyer said. “George H.W. Bush was my commander in chief for the entire time that he served as our president. I was active duty Air Force at the time.” Despite the high-profile additions, Muster Committee Chair Helena Shakesby said everyone being honored at the ceremony will be recognized equally. “[The Bushes] are definitely people of impact in the Aggie family, as with other people we will be honoring this year,” Shakesby said. “Every Aggie family’s legacy is just as important to us.”
SILVER TAPS
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The Battalion | 3.4.19
Silver Taps April 21, 1993 - Jan. 19, 2019
HANNAH MICHALSKI A loving vet student with a giving soul By Sanna Bhai @ BhaiSanna
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nown for her compassionate, gentle, animal-loving nature, Hannah Michalski found happiness in serving others — especially her four-legged friends. Hannah’s mother, Susan Michalski, said she wants everyone to know what a wonderful person Hannah was. “She was caring, she was considerate and she always wanted to help people,” Susan said. “And not only people but animals as well. She was smart and intelligent and just had a beautiful smile and a beautiful attitude.” Her love for animals became her passion at a young age. As a child, she knew that becoming a veterinarian was her life goal, and she did everything possible to achieve that goal. “She knew at age 11 that she wanted to be a vet and didn’t want harm for her animals in any way,” Susan said. “That was one of the things she very much believed in.” Hannah went to the University of Arizona for her undergraduate education, where she began serving those in need. From veterinarian groups to mobile clinics, she took every chance to serve others. She volunteered at a pig sanctuary and horse races to take care of the animals there. She went on her first international trip to Ecuador where she was able to travel to small villages and provide assistance, Susan said. Her father, Bruce Michalski, said Hannah always made it a point to expand her horizons. As an undergrad, she took part in a Rugby team, proving that she could push herself to new limits. “I have just wonderful memories of a very strong-willed, strong-minded woman,” Bruce said. “She stretched herself like most people don’t. She was always interested in exploring
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Hannah Michalski (center) had a love for animals that inspired her to study veterinary medicine at A&M after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona.
things that matter and would try and make a difference wherever she could.” Upon finishing her undergraduate degree, she applied to five veterinary schools, but Texas A&M was always her top choice. “She did apply to all five different schools and she got into them, but she knew she wanted to go to A&M, and when that letter came, it was definitely a day of celebration,” Susan said. Her love for animals united her with her dog Luna. During her time at the Crossroads Animal Clinic in Arlington, she had adopted two dogs and one cat already, but when she met Luna, she had an instant connection and knew that the dog was for her. After Hannah’s constant insistence, her parents let her keep Luna, and she became a loyal companion. “We already had two big dogs at home and weren’t really ready to take on a third, but she was insistent that this dog was for her and they bonded immediately,” Susan said. “Luna was always at her side and always protecting her, and they were definitely a pair.” Her father cherished the one-on-one time he spent with his daughter the most. “I enjoyed so much doing things just her and I,” Bruce said. “We used to hike a lot in Arizona with our dogs. She would go to ball games with me, just she and I. … It was the personal one-on-ones that we would do.” Hannah also spent her free time sampling craft beers and following small Indie bands, Susan said. Hannah created a connection with everyone she met and took the time to get to know them. Bruce said that when people met her, they could feel her gentle, caring nature. “When she looked into your eyes, she was looking in your soul to connect with you, always on a real level that mattered,” Bruce said. “We can’t tell you how much we miss her and how much she will be missed in the community.”
Aug. 3, 1992 - Dec. 15, 2018
KRISTEN LANE MOSS The life of the party with unforgettable style By Hannah Falcon @ hannahfalcon_
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risten Moss’s family and friends all agree that she was the life of the party. Her funny one-liners, incredible style and positivity will never be forgotten. Kristen, originally Class of 2015, returned to Texas A&M to pursue her master’s in public health. Kristen’s father, Scott Moss, and the rest of her family were proud to add another Aggie to their family, following her older sister, uncles, grandfather and cousins. “She explored other schools, and we didn’t discourage her,” Scott said. “Then one day I was driving down the street coming home, when all of a sudden she got out in the middle of the street and started waving this letter. I knew right away that it was her A&M acceptance. She was so proud to go, she was so proud to be accepted, she was proud to be there.” Born with a heart condition, Kristen never lost faith or strength — something that inspired her friends, family and everyone she met. “My dad, when she was going through all those surgeries, said ‘She’ll surprise you one day,’” Scott said. “I guess she did surprise a lot of people that she did so well.” Kristen’s older sister, Katie Zamora, Class of 2011, reminisces on their daily interactions, whether that was attending a Shania Twain concert or sending each other memes. Katie and the rest of her family remember Kristen’s many talents, from dancing to knitting to writing. “She was a great writer and you could hear her voice through her writing,” Katie said. “Her Twitter account is hilarious. She has so many one-liners, and it’s so funny. I’m like ‘How did you even think of that?’ Just the stuff that goes through her head.” Sarah Caffey, Class of 2011, worked with Kristen at
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Kristen Moss (left), Class of 2015, and her friend Ashley Webb, Class of 2014, attended Aggie football games together.
the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases. According to Sarah, Kristen brought life into the office through her style. Kristen started “Tassel Tuesday” at their office, when all the girls would wear tassel earrings to work. “It doesn’t matter how long that you’ve known someone, but that you can really make a difference in someone’s life,” Sarah said. “I feel like Kristen touched people in our office in that way. She was just truly good inside and out. I think that she taught that to a lot of the people who were around her.” Kristen and her health promotion group had a bowling social in the spring of 2018. In a statement from Gabi Duhon, Hannah Hoffman, Jonathon Rodriguez and Sarah Sanchez, they describe a moment when everyone was dancing and suddenly a drink fell onto the floor, causing everyone to shift their attention. “Everyone turned around and saw Kristen looking down with guilty eyes,” the statement reads. “She finally looked up at us all, put her hands up in the air, and said, ‘It was me.’ We all immediately busted out laughing and from then on it became a signature quote that we would all say.” In their statement, Kristen’s friends describe the way she always reminded them not to take things too seriously, but when it was time to study she would make sure everyone was doing what they needed to. “It was Kristen, who when told the hardest news of her life, turned to God for support,” the statement said. “It was Kristen who continued to fight and be optimistic through it all. Little did we know that through all of this, it was Kristen who brought us all closer together. It was you; Kristen, who has inspired us all and changed our lives forever, and we will never forget you. You will be with us until graduation, and way beyond that. We will miss you constantly, but we will always be thinking of you.”
April 13, 1999 - Jan. 6, 2019
GRANT JACSON HERNANDEZ Editor’s note: At the request of his family, a tribute article for Grant Jacson Hernandez will be published at a later date.
Grant Hernandez was a business administration sophomore.
Via Grant Hernandez’s Facebook page
NEWS
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The Battalion | 3.4.19
Creative Commons
LEFT: President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty in 1987. RIGHT: President Donald Trump announced withdrawal from the INF Feb. 1.
Exit from nuclear treaty raises questions A&M professors weigh in on effects of INF withdrawal on foreign relations By Noah Woods @noahwoods_3 On Feb. 1, the U.S. announced official withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. However, U.S. allies and citizens are uncertain of the effect of this discontinuation, and some are fearful of the direction this route will take them as the U.S. and Russia now have five months to renew the treaty before it is legally terminated. The development of nuclear weapons in 1945 brought tremendous shock and fear to the international environment. Armaments of this force were regulated, but it wasn’t until 1968 that the Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed, and a general consensus advocated for stopping the spread of nuclear weaponry. In 1987, the U.S. and Russia signed the INF Treaty, in which both parties agreed to eliminate large parts of their nuclear arsenals. The treaty was signed to further ensure stability, according to director of the graduate program of political science Matthew Fuhrmann. “To be understood in a broader context,
certain weapons can be seen as destabilizing or offensive,” Fuhrmann said. “One of the greatest fears in a world with nuclear weaponry is the possibility of attack due to miscalculation or accident. U.S. and Soviet officials saw the INF treaty as a way to reduce this danger.” Short and intermediate-range weapons allowed for decreased response time and forced nations to make quick decisions about how to respond to a perceived threat. It is for this reason that both the U.S. and the USSR decided to withdraw some of their weapons to eliminate the need to make this decision, reducing the possibility of retaliation due to miscalculation. However, this was not the only motivation for disarmament, as European powers also had a say in the matter, said associate professor of political science Michael Koch. “Throughout the 1980s, European politics had increasingly built up resentment toward the idea of nuclear weaponry and advocated against continuation of U.S. weapons in European territory for defensive purposes,” Koch said. Both international security and European sentiments led to the signing of the INF Treaty in 1987. Commitment to this treaty endured for over 20 years, but shortcomings
began to develop during Barack Obama’s second term, said director of the certificate in national security affairs Andrew Ross. “The U.S. had been protesting the Russian violation of the treaty due to their deployment of an intermediate-range,0 land-based cruise missile,” Ross said. “However, Russia claimed their launch was below the range of agreement of 500 kilometers, but the U.S. was not buying this and viewed it as a violation of the treaty.” While this was a catalyzing event that eventually had a hand in withdrawal, the Trump administration was the first to take formal action. Due to suspected Russian contravention of the treaty, allies and government officials anticipated withdrawal. Therefore, the issue did not lie within the actual decision for disengagement, but rather the communication of the decision. Koch said Trump’s decision to announce departure on the campaign trail before informing important leaders and allies amounted to diplomatic malpractice. “It really was a rational move to withdraw from the treaty; there’s no point in staying in something if the other country is not following it,” Koch said. “But deciding to leave key congress members and allies out of the
loop presented communication issues. It was less the outcome that was under criticism and more so how the outcome was presented.” While the U.S. and Russia both still have six months to renegotiate, the chances of this are unlikely, Fuhrmann said. “The horse has already left the barn because the intention to withdraw has already been announced,” Fuhrmann said. “The preferred option would have been to expend more diplomatic capital to make it clear Russia was to blame. Because we haven’t decided to act in this way, we have presented ourselves to the world as culpable for the collapse of the treaty.” Mainly, the issue at hand was not withdrawal itself, but how the U.S. decided to go about it. Ross said U.S. leaders failed to communicate effectively, they have exacerbated a preexisting issue with Russia and with how the U.S. is viewed by its European allies. “The White House does not care about what Europeans think about us,” Ross said. “How we are handling our allies not only nuclearly but economically is just stupid. If we continue in diplomatic interactions like this, we are heading down the wrong road, and we’re going to regret that.”
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HELP WANTED Part-time cleaning, day and evening, Monday-Friday. Call 979-823-1614 for interview. Looking to get real-estate license or have license but looking for a company to work for? Call 979-693-4900 or send resume to curtis@aafbcs.com Part-time office help needed. Hours are 8-1 or 11-5. Apply in person. 3016 East Villa Maria. Immediate opening. Seeking part-time Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter Monitor responsible for client intake/advocacy, answering hotline calls. Computer skills a must. Email resume to Jessica at ferrelj@twincitymission.org Call 979-775-2255.
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The Battalion | 3.4.19
Megan Cusick — THE BATTALION
Junior pitcher Payton McBride had two of the Aggies’ 11 hits against the Islanders and led with four RBIs.
THE TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA BOARD INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR
Editor
Aggieland 2020
Qualifications for editor-in-chief of the Aggieland yearbook are:
REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester;
Softball sweeps Texas A&M invite Aggies go 5-0 in final non-SEC weekend of the 2019 season By Angel Franco @angelmadison_ Looking for one last tune-up before the start of conference play, Texas A&M softball swept the final non-conference weekend of the season. The Aggies wrapped up the Texas A&M invite with a 7-1 victory over Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Sunday at Davis Diamond. In the bottom half of the first inning, the Aggies were the first to score after junior Kelbi Fortenberry, who singled and stole back-to-back bases to get into scoring position, was driven in by freshman Haley Lee. Senior Riley Sartain, who reached base after being hit by a pitch, was also driven in to give A&M the 2-0 lead. Two innings later, A&M extended its lead on a double to centerfield off of the bat of junior pitcher Payton McBride. Madi Jatzlau and Taudrea Sinnine, who were pinch running for Baylee Kingler and Lee, respectively,
scored on the hit. Sartain then drove two more runs in the bottom of the third inning and McBride added another to secure the 7-0 lead heading into the top of the fifth inning. McBride, who led the Aggies at the plate with four RBIs going 2-for3 with a walk, said she changed a few things while up to bat and was happy with the results. “I had a different approach today,” McBride said. “I worked on staying up the middle on all my hits. I tried to stay through them instead of rolling over.” Corpus Christi responded in the top of the fifth inning. After the Islanders loaded the bases after a single and back-to-back walks, Ashleigh Sgambelluri drove in the single run for Corpus Christi after reaching on a fielder’s choice. A&M played a total of 11 innings on Friday, run-ruling Corpus Christi and Lamar 8-0 and 9-1, respectively. In game one, the Aggies exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second inning and added one more run in the bottom of the fourth to secure the runrule victory. The second game featured
a three-run first inning, two-run second inning and a four-run sixth inning. Saturday featured another offensively centered game after the Aggies outscored Lamar 10-7 and Longwood, 4-1. A&M head coach Jo Evans said seeing her team bounce back from a 9-3 loss to Houston last Wednesday and 1-2 outing at the Mary Nutter Classic last weekend was a welcome and exciting sight, especially given that A&M welcomes No. 9 LSU to Aggieland this upcoming weekend. “We got a lot of work with each of the pitchers,” Evans said. “Hannah Mayo got a couple of starts, which was really important going into this next week with SEC starting. I feel comfortable with what we’ve got out there right now. We learned quite a bit about our team this weekend. We stayed more consistent with the lineups we used depending on which pitcher was out there.” The Aggies will return to Davis Diamond to host UT-Arlington on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
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PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society); • Have demonstrated ability in writing, editing and graphic design through university coursework or equivalent experience; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible position on the Aggieland or comparable college yearbook.
Application forms should be picked up from and returned to Douglas Pils, Student Media General Manager, in Suite L410 of the MSC. Deadline for submitting application: 5 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2018.
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Juniors Braden Shewmake and Bryce Blaum celebrate after Blaum caught the final out in the Aggies’ 1-0 victory over TCU.
BASEBALL CONTINUED
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eighth inning with a ground ball from Aaron Walters while the bases were loaded, allowing Chandler Morris to sore, extending A&M’s lead to 3-1. The Cougars struck again in the bottom of the eighth with another double to left field from Davis that pushed Triolo to score. A&M used five different pitchers over the course of the contest as freshman starting left-handed pitcher Jonathan Childress experienced forearm tightness and elbow issues after three innings, according to A&M head coach Rob Childress. “He got us off to a really good start and was in control of the game,” Childress said. “We’ll find out more this week. Each guy that came in behind him was outstanding and you never know when your name is going to be called. Might be at the least [opportune] moment that you think is going to happen and just like that, [Chandler Jozwiak] is in there.” The Aggies had 10 strikeouts while the Cougars only came up with six from the three pitchers they utilized. Saturday’s game versus TCU was not nearly as offensively oriented as the game on Sunday. Rather, it was a pitchers’ duel between A&M’s Asa Lacy and TCU’s Brandon Williamson. A&M escaped with the 1-0 upset over the No.17 Horned Frogs. Sophomore pitcher Lacy led the A&M
pitchers with nine of the 12 strikeouts against TCU, allowing only one hit the entire game. The Horned Frogs went 1-for-25 from the plate Saturday night. Williamson allowed the lone run of the game by walking Foster with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning. Williamson allowed two hits in five innings pitched, with five strikeouts of his own. A&M went 4-of-26 at the plate against Williamson and relief pitcher Jake Eissler. Following the game Saturday night, Childress said it was no surprise that Lacy and Williamson would be pitched for an extended period of time. “Those two guys are special and fun to watch,” Childress said. “[Williamson] does it awfully easy and made it look easy for the first three or four innings. He got into a little bit of a jam but got it right back and got them deep in the game.” The most dominant performance from the mound came on Friday night as junior pitcher John Doxakis only allowed one run and four hits while striking out 12 hitters against Baylor. A&M used the momentum generated by Doxakis to explode for four runs at the plate in the fourth inning, propelling the Aggies to their first win of the weekend 5-2. A&M returns to Blue Bell Park on Tuesday to face off with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on SEC Network+.