The Battalion — November 18, 2021 by The Battalion

We Remember Miranda Denise Adams ‘02 · Christopher David Breen ‘96 · Michael Stephen Ebanks ‘03 Jeremy Richard Frampton ‘99 · Jamie Lynn Hand ‘03 · Christopher Lee Heard ‘03 Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr ‘03 · Lucas John Kimmel ‘03 · Bryan Allen McClain ‘02 Chad Anthony Powell ‘03 · Jerry Don Self ‘01 · Nathan Scott West ‘02

‘IT’S HOW WE LIVE OUT THE SPIRIT OF AGGIELAND’

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Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

‘It’s how we live out the Spirit of Aggieland’

Illustration by Kelly Burroughs — THE BATTALION

Gaines’ legacy:

Cast forever

Statue of Black Texas legislator, education advocate to be unveiled By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel

Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

Since the Nov. 18, 1999, collapse of Bonfire, Aggies have gathered at the site of the tragedy to remember those who were lost.

Aggies honor 12 lost from Bonfire collapse 22 years ago at living memorial on campus every Nov. 18 at 2:42 a.m. By Kathryn Miller @KathrynMiller0

s the years go by, Aggies will always remember the fallen 12. Nov. 18, 1999, forever changed Texas A&M and the Aggie community. Even though many current students weren’t alive when the Bonfire

collapse happened nearly a generation ago, they are still impacted by the accident and grieve the lives lost. Visualization sophomore Cameron Close said Bonfire Remembrance helps the Aggie community remember what those who died stood for. “They died doing what they loved, seeing as they were dedicated enough to do it at almost [3 a.m.],” Close said. “That’s the heart and dedication they put into it. Remembering them is more than just remembering their death and their enrollment at A&M. It’s about the Spirit of Aggieland.” Industrial distribution senior Harley Avery said Bonfire Remembrance portrays how the Aggie Spirit is ever-continuing and undying, and is a way how Aggies young and old can come together and remember

our history. “It’s a memorial to the way the community came together and the way that the campus came together,” Avery said. “And it’s a living memorial for the students that passed; it’s a way that we can make sure that we never forget them. They were out there because of their undying love for A&M and its traditions. They were out there doing what they loved. It’s so important for us as a student body to remember that they were Aggies just like us. They were just students — students who had a passion for the university and students who had a passion for the traditions … that’s something that we as Aggies should embody. That love for our university, that love for our traditions, but REMEMBRANCE ON PG. A4

‘Defeated’ students speak out about Astroworld 2021 Music festival with 10 deaths continues effects 2 weeks later By Kalin Kerr @KerrKalin Thousands of fans broke past Astroworld’s gates. Paramedics carried bodies out of the pit. A Texas A&M student begged event staff to stop the show. But the venue hosts did nothing. Following the Nov. 5 Houston event, the death toll of the lethal concert has claimed 10 lives including A&M electronic systems engineering technology senior Bharti Shahani and, most recently, 9-year-old Ezra Blount. Over 50,000 people gathered in Houston for the Astroworld 2021 music festival. Chaos erupted when crowds surged forward and

began crushing individuals and preventing movement for escape. Many A&M students attended and posted recounts of the event. “[It was] impossible to breathe, as our lungs were compressed between the bodies of those surrounding us,” university studies senior Seanna Faith McCarty said to her 131,000-large Instagram following on Nov 6. “More people began to scream for help; some began to collapse. The music continued. Hundreds of people ripped their vocal cords apart screaming for help, but we were not heard.” Shahani was set to graduate in spring 2022. She attended the concert with her sister Namrata Shahani and her cousin Mohit Bellani. She was then sent to the ER with several injuries and on a ventilator, showing no brain activity. She passed away a few days later. Bellani told AP News Shahani’s last words

to her were, “Are you OK?” According to ABC13 News, family attorney James Lassitor acknowledged the viral video of a woman pulled on a stretcher from the intense crowd and being dropped by event police was in fact Bharti Shahani. Accounting junior Christian Rodriguez, who attended the festival and has attended Astroworld in the past, commented on the physical experience of being in the crowd. “It was just so many people in one area, to where if a certain number of people moved to the right, everyone was gonna move to the right,” Rodriguez said. “There was a point where I had no control over where I was moving. It was pure chaos, honestly. I’ve never been scared in any of those situations, but I can say without a doubt that I was pretty scared during the first 15 minutes of the show.”

Decades in the making, former Texas Sen. Matthew Gaines will now have a permanent place on Texas A&M’s campus. On Friday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m., A&M officials and students will gather for the unveiling and dedication of the bronze Gaines statue located near the Student Services Building in the new Yolanda and Jimmy ‘65 Janacek Plaza. Gaines, a former slave, was born on a plantation and became an early advocate for freed peoples’ rights. According to a Texas A&M Today article, a Matthew Gaines Committee was originally formed in the 1990s, though the committee lost steam after the Bonfire collapse, a change in administrative leadership and a budget crisis. The movement did not regain momentum until 2017. “During the fall 2017 student legislative cycle, the Texas A&M University Student Government Association, the Graduate and Professional Student Council and the Residential Housing Association each passed legislation in support of commemorating Gaines,” the article reads. “Previous attempts to construct such a statue did not move past the student legislative process.” After raising $35,000, former Vice President for Student Affairs Daniel Pugh and a group of students hosted a public art competition in 2020, where the artist team of David Alan Clark and Mary, or MJ, Johnson Clark was selected to design and construct the statue. “We are particularly drawn to sculptures that depict those underrepresented in public art, [such as] women and people of color, and artwork that tells a story that needs to be heard,” MJ Clark said to Texas A&M Today. “This sculpture can have an influence on the ever-moving river of students and faculty who will walk past it on a daily basis.” Former Graduate and Professional Student Council President Matthew Etchells said the Gaines statue will remind A&M of its roots. “As you walk from the Memorial Student Center and up the Military Walk to the Academic Building and then curve back around, it should be the narrative of Texas A&M,” Etchells said. “As you walk out of the MSC, you should see Matthew Gaines, and that’s the first thing you read about. You can see a linear journey. Then as you walk around, you can read about Old Main and the Academic Building. You get a better understanding of our Core Values and our traditions, and all these pieces start to line up. Without the inclusion of Matthew Gaines, it’s like starting a story, but you’ve torn out the page that says, ‘Once upon a time.’”

ASTROWORLD ON PG. A4

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LIFE&ARTS

The Battalion | 11.18.21

‘It’s not about us’

Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

The Bonfire stack was unattended on Nov. 18 as students took time off to remember the 12 fallen Aggies.

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Student Bonfire honors fallen Aggies through annual tradition By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt As the Aggie family gathers to remember the 1999 collapse of Bonfire on Nov. 18, Student Bonfire works to keep the most widely recognized tradition of Texas A&M aflame. Student Bonfire is an opportunity for students to build and burn “the stack,” memorializing the 12 Aggies lost in the tragic collapse. Though following the tradition has evolved, to ensure safety of students and staff involved, the burning Spirit of Aggieland has never been extinguished. Recreation, parks and tourism sciences senior and “brownpot” Connor Lloyd said his first introduction to the organization was through his unit, Squadron 16, in the Corps of Cadets. “One of the victims of the collapse, Timothy Kerlee, was from Squadron 16,” Lloyd said. “[Squadron 16] goes heavily into what Bonfire is and why it still happens. I got into [Bonfire] with all my buddies at the time, and then it just kind of grew from there as I got to know more.” Bonfire Remembrance is extremely special to both Student Bonfire and himself personally, Lloyd said, especially because of his time spent with the Kerlee family. “A lot of things that we do out here, we do in memory of the 12,” Lloyd said. “From what I know of those people, I feel like they would still want the tradition to keep going. I stayed with Tim’s parents over the summer of 2020. From what I know about Tim from his family, I feel like he would have wanted [Bonfire] to keep going. The people who passed away in the tragedy cared about it a lot. That’s why they were there at 2:42 in the morning.” Oceanography senior and “senior redpot” Christopher Crain said attending Bonfire Remembrance on campus is extremely important to the organization. “We take Bonfire Remembrance very seriously, so no work gets done [on the night of the memorial],” Crain said. “Nothing is going to get touched. Everybody here goes to the remembrance, and we don’t bring anything Bonfire-related. It’s not about us. It’s not about what we’re currently doing. It’s about the 12 who passed away, and we take that very seriously.” After the collapse, Student Bonfire continues the mission of honoring the memory of the 12 through building and burning the stack: a

giant assembly of logs. Bonfire first started in 1907, and many second-generation Aggies, such as wildlife and fisheries sciences senior Jordan Berry, have a family history of participation. Berry said when she started at A&M, she wanted to see what her mom remembered fondly. “My mom was in Bonfire. She’s Class of ‘92,” Berry said. “I thought it was one of the core traditions of A&M because it was one of the founding memories my mom had coming here. I thought I might as well give it a shot and see what she loves so much. I haven’t missed a day since.” Lloyd said working on Bonfire throughout his time at A&M has created many friendships and a spirit of community. “My favorite thing about [Student Bonfire] would be the camaraderie,” Lloyd said. “Throughout all the different activities that we have, whether it be cut or load or stack, you get to know the people that you’re around because you’re working with them all the time. The friendships that I’ve made out here are definitely my favorite part.” Berry said the bonds she made through the organization have supported her and are of great importance for incoming students. “It’s a family. There’s some people here that if I leave, and I’m three hours away and I had a popped tire, they would drive those three hours for me,” Berry said. “It definitely is a close family, especially for freshmen that left their real family to go experience their own life. Now they have this core group of people that would do anything for them. That’s super important.” Crain said students with an interest in learning more about Bonfire are invited to reach out and help continue building the tradition. “Even if you come out here for a single day … you can say that you helped build Bonfire,” Crain said. “You don’t have to be out here 24/7 to be able to be a part of the tradition and at least get a taste of what it was [originally] and get to experience what it is now.” Berry said being a part of this community of hard work, and seeing what it can accomplish together, is what has made Student Bonfire special. “If you have free time, you have all these people you just truly love and are there for you, and you’re there for them,” Berry said. “You’re able to go out and build something fantastic and see the progression of your hard work. You can see how the land changes, and then [at stack], you can see all of the work you put into it once it’s finally built. It’s really fun to watch it change over time. Then, you get to set it on fire.”

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NEWS

The Battalion |11.18.21

Photo by Hannah Shaffer — THE BATTALION

Elephant Walk, a tradition for Texas A&M seniors, ended in Kyle Field with a Yell Practice led by senior Yell Leaders Woods Johnson, Memo Salinas and Noah Ferguson.

Elephant Walk: March down memory lane Seniors gathered to walk through campus for final time to honor class unity, reflect on Aggie experience By Hannah Shaffer @hannahsban The Class of 2022 came together for the last time to remember it’s time as students and celebrate the experiences they shared along the way. Seniors gathered in front of the Jack K. Williams Administration Building at 7:22 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 to participate in Elephant Walk, which honors their time as students at Texas A&M. Elephant Walk is one of A&M’s oldest traditions, dating back to 1922, occurring every year before the last home football game. Seniors walk around campus for the final time as

a class, visiting historic landmarks and listening to speeches by Yell Leaders, distinguished alumni and others. Business and finance senior and director of Elephant Walk Spencer Neumann said the tradition provides seniors the opportunity to reflect on their time as students and acknowledge the hardships they have overcome to reach their last year. “It gives [seniors] the chance to see how they’ve grown from freshman year to now,” Neumann said. “It really took me back and gave me a chance to think about where I’ve come from since I was a freshman.” Elephant Walk earned its name from its first occurrence when seniors put their arms on their friends’ shoulders, looking like elephants marching to die. As seniors make their way through campus, they link arms to represent the unity felt among their class. “It has always been my favorite tradition to work because everyone is really happy to be

Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

Most current students were not even born in 1999, but that has not stopped a new generation of Aggies from commemorating the lost.

ASTROWORLD CONTINUED Rodriguez said Travis Scott tends to encourage this behavior, according to his documentaries and past performances. Earlier in the day of the Nov. 5 event, Astroworld security was overwhelmed at the V.I.P. entrance by dozens of gate-crashing fans, according to Rolling Stone. Rodriguez said it was one of the worst crowd atmospheres he has experienced and that it was a different feeling than years past, using the word “defeated.” The show ended earlier than expected. “I don’t think Travis could have done much, other than stop the show. Whenever he saw someone that needed help, he stopped the show. He probably stopped the show three to four times to allow some attention

on the people that needed help. I think the main issue was the set design, lack of security and poorly trained medical staff,” biomedical sciences sophomore Nick Bingham, who attended the concert, said. The Shahani family attorney, Lassitor, commented in ABC13 News on the lack of trained medics and security, and blames producers, as well as Live Nation, for the design of the set and the barricades, which suffocated fans. “A lot of it had to do with the way it was set up, so for some reason it was all the artists on one stage, and then Travis Scott was on the other stage. The way the stage was set up made it really hard to get out because you had the stage and then a medal barricade that ran through the middle of the crowd,” Rodriquez said.

there,” Neumann said. “It gives students the time to walk through campus and think about all of the good and bad times they have had here at A&M.” The walk began at the Administration Building and led students to several landmarks throughout campus, including the Liberal Arts & Humanities Building, Fish Pond and the Quad, before ending the night with a Yell Practice on Kyle Field. International studies senior Travis Long said Elephant Walk made him think about his past and future as an Aggie. “The walk made me realize that my time as an undergraduate is actually coming to an end,” Long said. “Everything I have done for the past four years is about to be put into action.” Elephant Walk represents the bittersweet reality that students will no longer stand as the 12th Man, but rather as alumni of the university. Student Body President and communica-

tion senior Natalie Parks said Elephant Walk was a time for her to remember the people she has met throughout her years at A&M. “I committed to Texas A&M because of the people and students in the community,” Parks said. “My affiliation with the Class of ‘22 has always been so profound to my identity and who I am as a person, but also who I am as an Aggie.” Just as elephants would part ways after walking together, seniors will part ways after their time as students come to an end to carry out the Aggie Spirit in their new lives. In her speech during Elephant Walk, Parks said the tradition represents the futures of students after graduation. “We are together for four years, and then we go out into the world to impact different things,” Parks said. “Despite what differences we might have had during our time at A&M, we started it together, and we are going to end it together.”

REMEMBRANCE CONTINUED

ple who pulled their peers out of the stack, those that were building it in the first place, those who tried to save as many Aggies as they could and those that we couldn’t save — we should still be taking actions to try and save their memories.” Polisetty said Bonfire Remembrance means a lot to her because she can honor the memory of those affected by the tragedy and continue to take action to preserve their stories. People can always remember something, but one must make a decision to take action for remembrance, Polisetty said. “Collapse was a tragedy. It had so many opportunities to pull us apart and make this institution feel weak, or that we weren’t able to grow,” Polisetty said. “But I think instead of bouncing back and pretending like it didn’t happen, A&M was able to grow so much as an Aggie family, and we realized how much stronger we truly are together. Even just the stories of the football team coming in and offering like their practices to come and pull logs out of stack — truly every part of campus came together. And that’s something that we can always look to as inspiration.” Animal science and agriculture leadership junior Dylan Sione, Bonfire Remembrance chair, said the tradition is the ultimate example of the Aggie family. “As an institution, I think Bonfire Remembrance is the way that we live out the Spirit of Aggieland,” Sione said. “[Bonfire] is the way that we live out the beliefs that we espouse: respect, loyalty and integrity of what we believe. When we sing ‘The Spirit of Aggieland’ and we sing the chorus, ‘We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we,’ I think that Bonfire Remembrance is a physical embodiment of that, because it’s the way that we remember these students, both as individuals and as a collective part of A&M.”

mostly that love for other Aggies.” Bonfire Remembrance is a way for students to remember why the Aggie Spirit is important and how it continues to be important even as university traditions evolve, Avery said. “As our school evolves and grows, [Bonfire] is a way to remember that it really is from ‘Howdy’ to ‘Here,’” Avery said. “It doesn’t just stop at ‘Here’ — we will always remember our Aggies because they’re always going to be a member of our family. The second you step foot on this campus, you’re one of us. ‘Us’ is the Aggie community and the Aggie Spirit; we’re all in it together no matter what and no matter what our differences.” As a member of outfit C-2 in the Corps of Cadets, Close said the Corps has many specific traditions they partake in to honor Bonfire. “We have dorm logs that are the biggest logs that we cut down toward the end of the Bonfire season,” Close said. “Each crew gets one, and we carve Nathan Scott West’s initials, NSW, into it because he was the cadet from C-2 who died. A lot of people carve his initials into their axe handles, which they use during Bonfire, and it symbolizes that even though something tragic happened, we proudly stand to continue their legacy and continue what they loved doing.” Close said despite interfering beliefs among the Corps about continuing to do Student Bonfire, C-2 still makes sure to honor and know the name of the Cadet who was lost without allowing individual opinions to get in the way of remembering Nathan Scott West. Biology sophomore Sophia Polisetty said even though she’s from an Aggie family, she never understood the magnitude and significance of Bonfire Remembrance until she came to A&M. “It truly gave me this realization that remembering somebody is an action — it’s not just a thought,” Polisetty said. “Those peoBingham mentioned the significant pain experienced by the shoving of elbows into his chest and the extreme lack of fresh air due to the crowd compressing. “People were getting carried out of the pit pretty consistently like an hour before Travis got on stage,” Bingham said. “Once the performance started, everything just got worse, and the crowd was moving even more. Sometimes people would start violently pushing or punching people to make room so that they could breathe.” The Houston Police Department is conducting criminal investigations into the deaths of the concert-goers. Texas government officials are looking to increase precautions for future events. According to the Texas Tribune, the festival’s executive producer and director had the authority to shut the event down, but

feared causing further riot. “‘A statewide task force will look for ways to beef up security at Texas concerts after the deaths of nine attendees at rapper Travis Scott’s performance during Astroworld Festival in Houston,” Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday. Live Nation has had similar events in the past where individuals have died, cultivating many lawsuits, according to the Houston Chronicle. Following the event, more than 100 lawsuits have been filed against Scott, Live Nation and rapper Aubrey Drake Graham, who appeared on stage with Scott. Thousands of fans packed tightly into general admission as the famous rapper continued for 40 minutes.

NEWS

The Battalion | 11.18.21

Ciao, Antonio’s

Photo by Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice, a staple of the Northgate District, has closed its doors forever. Many students have spoken up about how this has affected them.

Aggies say goodbye to local favorite, threaten to boycott replacement By Lauren Discher @laurendischer Antonio’s has sold its last slice. After 17 years of serving Aggies on Northgate, Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice permanently closed its doors the weekend of Nov. 6. The owners cited issues on Northgate such as parking challenges as their reason for selling the building space. Though the owners said a new pizza place should be replacing Antonio’s shortly, many Aggies are disappointed and plan on boycotting the new joint.

After hearing Antonio’s had closed down, university studies senior Jessica Moreno said she would miss the place. “We would go every time after going to Northgate,” Moreno said. “It was always a long line, but we would wait in it because we love the pizza so much.” Though there are other food options on Northgate, Moreno said they don’t compare. “This past weekend, I got a little sad because I wanted to go [to Antonio’s], and it’s not there anymore. There’s other food, but it’s not the same as Antonio’s.” That was when she came up with the idea for the memorial, Moreno said, which has gone viral on Aggie Twitter and Instagram. “For [Texas] A&M at least, we memorialize

everything,” Moreno said. “I woke up Tuesday and texted [my roommate] Astrid that I wanted to do a memorial for Antonio’s,” Moreno said. “I was like, ‘Do you want to help me?’ And she was down, so we bought all this stuff.” The memorial features handwritten signs reading “Gone but not forgotten” and “Gig ‘em forever,” as well as candles and flowers. Nursing senior Astrid Torres-Johnson said the popularity of the memorial and the amount of pictures taken of it surprised her. “I don’t think a lot of people know we did it, but I have seen it on everybody’s stories, which is kind of cool,” Torres-Johnson said. “I really expected more people to add to it, but I think they’ve only added beers and

koozies.” Frequent Antonio’s patron Sarah Turner, Class of 2015, said the pizza place was part of the appeal of returning to College Station after graduating. “I make it a point to go back there every time I visit,” Turner said. “In the past six years since I’ve graduated, if I go to College Station, Antonio’s is guaranteed. I went there all the time during my undergrad. I could probably put together an entire photo album on my phone of pictures of Antonio’s.” Though Antonio’s is not a recognized tradition, Turner said it’s become an Aggie staple, since many students have shared experiences there. “I genuinely liked their pizza, but obviously, I have emotional ties to it for other reasons,” Turner said. “I lived close to that area my senior year, and I stayed in College Station an extra year after I graduated, so it was close by me, and I just loved the pizzaby-the-slice concept. I’m the kind of person who can’t make up my mind as far as food, so I liked that without getting a whole pizza, you could pick a piece of buffalo chicken, a piece of Florentine.” Because the restaurant closed without warning, Turner said she was unable to say goodbye or have one last slice of pizza. “I’ve commented on their Instagram posts, pleading for them to come back,” Turner said. “If they had given a warning, like, ‘Hey, we’re going to close in two weeks,’ I would have driven to College Station from Fort Worth to eat there again one more time. I probably would have cried the whole time, too, but I would’ve made a six-hour roundtrip just to get there.” Since she is no longer local, Turner said she doesn’t plan on trying the pizza joint which is replacing Antonio’s. “I feel like a lot of why I went there was because I was familiar with it, and I had a special attachment to it,” Turner said. “I may hold a bit of a grudge and refuse to go just out of principle. There’s plenty of things to eat around there now, and I don’t have any connection to the new place.”

Criticism: Tuning into true classics 1770s are back, better than ever as local orchestra returns with boom By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt

Photo Courtesy of Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra — THE BATTALION

Members of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra performed at Rudder Theatre.

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Serenity, beauty and an ode to loved ones: the three key ingredients to the classic, multi-movement serenade piece. On Sunday, Nov. 14, the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, or BVSO, performed its “Wind Serenade” concert, featuring a select group of winds in Rudder Theatre. Directed by Marcelo Bussiki, these three selections brought a calm — serene, even — environment to local audiences. Though some audiences may be familiar with the work of Mozart, Dvoák and Strauss, concert-goers had the opportunity to arrive early for a talk, hosted by Ann Thompson, on the history of the composers and their music. Since the repertoire performed by BVSO is often hundreds of years old, these built-in lessons create an accessible and enjoyable experience for all. This concert — the second in the 40th year of the BVSO — was led by the wind instruments: flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons and French horns. The stars of this concert, however, were the principal clarinetist and oboist, Jill Stewart and Rebecca Fairweather-Haskins, respectively. The ensemble jumped right into the heart of the concert, with the full eight movements of Mozart’s “Serenade No. 10, K. 361/K370a ‘Gran Partita’ in B Flat Major.” This piece is nearly an hour long, but the density was nonetheless greatly appreciated by audience members who had gone over a year without the local symphony orchestra. For those unfamiliar with the serenade, this

Mozart piece is truly a paragon of the format, balancing the reservation and hesitation of love through the clarinet with the excitement and conversation of a new relationship as the clarinet and oboe engage in a dialogue of sorts, responding in kind to each of the woodwind phrases. However, due to the immense length, this piece is not for the impatient or new orchestra fans, as the eight movements, without break, can be confusing to dissect and differentiate. On the other hand, “Serenade in E Flat Major, Op. 7” by Strauss, clocking in at just under 10 minutes, is a fabulous introduction to the serenade. Much of the simplicity of this piece is due to the inspiration it draws from Mozart, as well as Mendelssohn — another prolific composer. The gentle horn and sweeping motion throughout allowed for a culmination of a more dramatic sound, contrasting with the initially light and gentle piece. Finally, Dvoák’s “Serenade for Wind Instruments, Op. 44 in D Minor” rounded out the concert, bringing in an additional voice of the cello, which served as an echo for the bassoon features, played by Eric Stone Miller. Alongside a featured cellist, Miller was able to both synchronize their deeper instrumental voices as well as create a back-and-forth dialogue, creating a deeper, more dramatic sound for the middle movements. Overall, the concert was a warm welcome back to the world of symphony orchestra, due not only to the expected talent of performers, but also the choice to make the repertoire a true ode to the Brazos Valley community, which continually supports the ensemble. For audiences hoping to join the future, BVSO’s 40th season will resume with its annual “Holiday Pops” concert on Dec. 12.

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OPINION

The Battalion | 11.18.21

Photo by Christina Telep via Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0)

The timeframe to celebrate Christmas has encroached far enough on Thanksgiving argues opinion writer Kaelin Connor.

War on Thanksgiving Opinion writer Kaelin Connor says to hold off the Christmas decor and appreciate Thanksgiving Kaelin Connor @KaelinAC

“

There isn’t a War on Christmas in this country. There’s a War on Thanksgiving.” — Jon Stewart, political satirist. Autumn leaves, 84 degrees and not a single freeze. Fall in Texas is here, and we should be focused on one thing — Thanksgiving. In my childhood home, you wouldn’t catch my mother dead with a single Christmas light until after Thanksgiving. Her house was decorated floor to ceiling

with cornucopias, turkeys and gourdes. We never Black Friday shopped — we decorated. However, my family is increasingly an anomaly in this situation. There is an annual, archaic argument among Americans over when Christmas festivities should begin. Well, naturally, the inflatables and flocked trees should make their grand debut on Nov. 26 — after Thanksgiving. For a lot of people, this holiday is being fully celebrated for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there may still be empty seats at the table, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to reflect on our lives’ bless-

ings and treasures. It’s a judgement-free zone to stuff our faces with every comfort food known to man. It shouldn’t be sidelined for St. Nick and gingerbread houses. Flakey biscuits, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and, of course, the perfectly carved turkey — not to mention the beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, lamb, rams, hogs, dogs, chicken, turkeys, rabbit, (You name it!) — shouldn’t be overshadowed by Mariah Carey and Nat King Cole. Thanksgiving deserves more appreciation, not just because it’s an American holiday, but because it’s a family- and

friends-centered holiday. It’s specifically designed to bring together every person and thing for which you’re thankful. It’s the least we could do for our mental health after the isolation we’ve endured. Don’t get me wrong, a magical Christmas tree puts any turkey or pumpkin to shame. Who wouldn’t want to look at the dazzling fir next to the lit fireplace? Christmas is one of the most prized seasons of the year, so people will naturally want to celebrate it sooner rather than later. However, the month of November is a time for different types of celebrations. Whether it’s religious or social, Thanksgiving has many different interpretations that all boil down to being grateful for where we all are. Kickstarting Christmas festivities takes away from Thanksgiving. Christmas brings presents and joy, sure, but Thanksgiving recognizes and appreciates our families, friends and lives. Thanksgiving may bring about your hippie Aunt Helen, grouchy Grandpa Tim and crazy cousin Tiffany to the table, but please note, not everyone has these people. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have people who they can surround themselves with. Not everyone is able to afford a warm, homemade meal. Regardless of what you or anyone else have, the life we have is worth being appreciated. Remember — there will always be someone who would happily trade places with you. Thanksgiving is a holiday in which everyone can realize their fortunes and be able to express thanks for them. Christmas, however, will have its time. Whether it’s Santa Claus or the birth of Jesus, millions of people around the world will join in celebration. Fortunately, the U.S. has an additional opportunity to kickstart the festivities by acknowledging our opportunities and blessings. As for big box stores, it’s understandable why the full Christmas assembly is on display. Many people want to jumpstart their Christmas shopping, especially with this year’s crazy supply chain backup. However, the displays could be saved ‘till after Halloween, Hobby Lobby. Instead of jumping to hang ornaments and fall off ladders, sit down and enjoy the pumpkin pie and crisp fall air. After all, they won’t be around forever. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all, and have a merry Christmas … later. Kaelin Connor is a psychology senior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

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A&M seeks redemption

in final home matchup

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Texas A&M’s defense is looking for redemption this weekend in the team’s last home game of the season after a less than perfect performance in Oxford, Miss.

A&M seeks victory on Senior Day at Kyle Field on Nov. 20 against Prairie View A&M, opponents’ second meeting By Michael Horton @mhhort

fter watching the slim chance to sneak into the College Football Playoff vanish on the road after falling to Ole Miss, the Aggies are looking to finish strong at Kyle

Field. On Saturday, Nov. 20, the No. 16 Texas Aggies will host Prairie View A&M in the maroon and white’s final home game of the season. The matchup will serve as Texas A&M’s annual “Maroon Out” game, in which the school encourages students and fans to pack the stands decked out in Aggie maroon. This will be A&M’s second matchup with Prairie View in the schools’ histories. The inaugural showdown occurred in 2016, when the Aggies dominated the Panthers at home to the tune of 67-0. The Panthers are the first and only Football Championship Subdivision opponent on the Aggies’ 2021 slate. Although FCS teams are usually heavy underdogs when facing Football

Bowl Subdivision teams, that assumption has been less of a guarantee in the 2021 season. In the first 11 weeks of the season, 12 FCS schools have pulled off upsets against FBS squads, tied for the total number of such outcomes in the three previous seasons combined. In the Monday, Nov. 15 press conference, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said the team needs to prepare for “faceless opponents,” meaning the Aggies should practice with the same intensity every week, regardless of their upcoming opposition. “[Prairie View] does a very good job,” Fisher said. “You’ve got to play [the same way] all the time, anywhere. Especially with the transfer portals, there’s guys at this level of football that are [FBS]-level players that left for different reasons. There’s players everywhere.” Fisher’s caution is warranted, as the Panthers have carved out an impressive resume in 2021. They will enter Kyle Field with a 7-2 record, their best start since the 2015 season. They also boast a 6-1 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, placing them first in the SWAC West. Senior quarterback Jawon Pass has dominated on both facets of the Panthers’ offense, passing for 16 touchdowns and rushing for four. The Panthers have also formed a punishing duo at running back, as freshman Jaden Stewart and senior Lyndemian Brooks have combined for 963 yards and nine scores on the ground.

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Prairie View also has a stout defense, allowing the third-fewest points per game in the SWAC, at 23.6. On Monday, Nov. 15, Prairie View coach Eric Dooley said his players are excited for the opportunity to compete against A&M and showcase their talent on a large stage like Kyle Field. “It’s a constant grind,” Dooley said. “I don’t believe in a ‘season’ getting better; I think you get better everyday, and that’s what we set out to do. It’s going to be great for our guys to have this opportunity.” The Aggies enter the weekend with a 7-3 record overall and a 4-3 record in the Southeastern Conference. Last week, they saw their four-game win streak come to an end in a 2919 loss to No. 10 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Nov. 13. Fisher said the loss was the result of unforced errors from the Aggies on both sides of the ball. Despite those inconsistencies, he said he was proud of the team’s ability to fight for the full 60 minutes. “It was encouraging to get ourselves back [in the game],” Fisher said. “It was disappointing that we didn’t keep the poise and execute in those critical moments … We had our opportunities, but we just didn’t play well enough in that game.” Redshirt sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada has led the passing game for the Aggies for a majority of the season. He has thrown for 1,793 yards, 12 touchdowns and

nine interceptions. His two favorite targets, junior tight end Jalen Wydermyer and junior wide receiver Ainias Smith, have accounted for a combined 942 yards and 10 scores. A&M balances its passing attack with a running back duo of its own, as junior Isaiah Spiller and sophomore Devon Achane have given defensive coordinators fits all season. Spiller has rushed for 914 yards and five touchdowns while Achane has totaled 816 yards and seven house calls. The Aggies balance their offense with a defense that terrorizes opposing quarterbacks. The team has rattled off 29 sacks in its first 10 contests, good for fifth in the SEC. Senior defensive lineman Tyree Johnson has led the charge, accounting for eight sacks. Junior defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal is also frequently in the mix, with 6.5 sacks to his name. The squad also has playmakers in the secondary, as senior safety Leon O’Neal Jr. and sophomore cornerback Jaylon Jones each have two interceptions. On Monday, Leal said the atmosphere at Kyle Field is special, and the team is excited for the opportunity to compete for one final win this season at its beloved stadium. “I definitely feel like it will be very emotional,” Leal said. ”Our first time playing at Kyle Field was crazy, and the last is supposed to be [even more] memorable. I’m ready for this game and to have fun with it.”

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The Battalion | 11.18.21

Fly, Aggies, fly

Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

The Texas A&M men’s basketball team has had a dramatic opening to its 2021-2022 season and is now 4-0 for the first time since the 2015-2016 season.

Men’s basketball nets another win against Houston Baptist Huskies By Grant Gaspard @grant_gaspard Dunks and defense best summarize Texas A&M men’s basketball’s latest victory. A&M won its fourth straight game to start the season against Houston Baptist University 73-39 on Wednesday, Nov. 17. This win marked coach Buzz Williams’ longest winstreak as a coach at A&M and the team’s largest margin of victory this year. In the first three games this season, A&M struggled in both transition defense and defensive rebounding. Although, the matchup against the Huskies was a step away from these issues, Williams said. “I thought we played incredibly hard today,” Williams said. “We played for one another, we didn’t give up points in transition and, when the ball was shot, it was easily our best job in being physical and not giving them

second-chance points.” With the help of a bounce pass by sophomore guard Marcus Williams, junior guard Andre Gordon picked up his first points of the game on a baseline cut to the basket. Down early in the first, freshman guard Wade Taylor IV drove to the rim and finished with an and-1 to give A&M a 10-9 lead. From there, the Aggies sparked a 9-0 run that started with a Taylor jump shot and finished with a slam and two free throws from junior guard Aaron Cash. Junior guard Tyrece Radford said Cash, who started on the bench, lived up to his role as the “energy guy” for the Aggies after subbing into the game. “[Cash] did a great job coming into the game and forcing two turnovers,” Radford said. “One of the turnovers led to a dunk, and the energy that he brought was amazing today.” After seven missed attempts, Radford knocked down the first three of the game for the Aggies. Fifth-year guard Quenton Jackson let it fly from outside the arc and drilled three-

straight 3-pointers to give A&M a 35-21 boost and finish the second quarter. Radford finished the first half as the Aggies’ leading scorer with 11 points; Jackson followed closely behind with nine. Defensively, A&M forced 13 turnovers and six steals; two blocks from sophomore forward Henry Coleman III cemented the defensive dominance. The Aggies started the second half with a monster slam from 7-foot freshman center Javonte Brown. The next nine minutes featured five-straight dunks by the Aggies, allowing zero points for the Huskies, with one coming off a tip by freshman guard Manny Obaseki that had fans out of their seats. Cash elevated the next three possessions after Obaseki’s dunk. The final slam of the 22-0 run featured Marcus Williams rising over two Houston Baptist defenders for a powerful finish. Jackson punched his ticket to this season’s NBA dunk contest with his next two dunks. The first was an alley-oop pass from Taylor that required Jackson to levitate to catch and finish. The second was a windmill dunk that

had Jackson’s head at the top of the rim, holding Reed Arena in awe. The Aggies led the game in all statistical categories against the Huskies with 43 rebounds, 19 assists and 12 steals. They also finished with 38 points in the paint — just one less than Houston Baptist scored through the whole game. Cash finished the night with a double-double on 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson and Radford tied as the team’s leading scorers, finishing with 13 points each. As a team, A&M finished with nine dunks, eight of which came in the second half. Despite receiving limited reps at practice, Cash said his performance reflected the potential he and his teammates have to succeed on the court. “I see it as a step moving forward,” Cash said. “We aren’t trying to go backward, so our goal as a team is to just keep getting better.” A&M will return to action when it travels to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational in Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 22 to face off against Wisconsin at 1 p.m.

SPORTS

The Battalion |11.18.21

AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WEEK 12 By Ryne Ryskoski @rusty_ryskoski_

This weekend’s Southeastern Conference play features only one ranked matchup and four inter-conference games.

This Saturday, Nov. 20, the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide will host a surging No. 25 Arkansas team, No. 17 Auburn must find a new

No. 25 Arkansas (7-3) at No. 2 Alabama (9-1) Saturday, Nov. 20 - Bryant-Denny Stadium - Tuscaloosa, Ala. 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS Despite this past weekend’s 59-3 Alabama win over New Mexico State, the Crimson Tide have looked vulnerable, which says a lot given they’re a top-4 team in the country with only one loss. Alabama’s offense, which averages the most points per game in the SEC, has been just fine. Heisman-candidate and freshman quarterback Bryce Young became the first Crimson Tide quarterback to throw for five first-half touchdowns against New Mexico State. However, the Tide’s defense — a signature characteristic of head coach Nick Saban’s teams — has lacked its initial strength dating back to the 2010s Alabama teams, with many blowout losses. It allowed 24 points by Tennessee three weeks ago, and nearly got upset by LSU on Saturday, Nov. 6, winning 20-14. There’s also the 31-29 win over Florida and the loss to Texas A&M in which Alabama allowed 41 points. Sophomore linebacker Will Anderson isn’t the problem, leading the country in sacks with 12. But the Crimson Tide are going to need a few more defensive players to step up in the last couple weeks of the regular

season if they want to have a shot at beating Georgia in the SEC Championship and continuing the reign as national champions. After losing three of four games in October, Arkansas has come back to win three straight, including a ranked win over Mississippi State and a close 16-13 road win at LSU. Sophomore quarterback KJ Jefferson has quietly performed well during the win streak, too, with no interceptions, 440 passing yards and six passing touchdowns. He doesn’t have the yardage or passing touchdowns of a Matt Corral or Will Rogers, but his efficiency, as shown by a fourth-best SEC quarterback rating of 161, is a big reason why Arkansas has been successful this season. The defense is nothing to be overly intimidated by, but it is strong against the pass and doesn’t give up many points. Alabama should be able to take this one fairly easily if it plays like it should, but don’t be surprised if Arkansas pulls off some trickery on offense and gives the Crimson Tide something to overcome. Prediction: Alabama 38, Arkansas 17

starting quarterback at South Carolina and the winner of Florida-Missouri will become bowl-eligible.

Florida (5-5) at Missouri (5-5) Saturday, Nov. 20 - Faurot Field - Columbia, Mo. 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network Herein lies another matchup of two teams trying to claim bowl eligibility. However, Florida’s program hangs in a strange position after the odd 70-52 win over Samford. The Gators have now given up 175 combined points in their last four games, an average of 44 per matchup. That tells pretty much all that needs to be known about how this season has gone for coach Dan Mullen. Florida, now sitting at 5-5, has two weeks left to earn a place in a bowl, with Missouri and Florida State on the schedule. You’d think those would be easy wins for the Gators, but after Samford led them 4235 at halftime and put up over 50 points, along with how the last few weeks have gone, nothing is out of the question. A positive, though, is junior quarterback Emory Jones, who threw for 464 yards and scored six touchdowns in the win. It was easily his best career game and a good way to bounce back offensively after only scoring 24 points combined in the previous two weeks.

It will be surprising if Florida doesn’t win one of its last two games, but Missouri is on that same mission of fighting to get into a bowl with a 5-5 record. It’ll face Arkansas after this weekend to finish out the season. In this past weekend’s 31-28 win over South Carolina, Missouri had a great offensive showing from its rushers and sophomore quarterback Connor Bazelak. The play-caller threw for two touchdowns as senior running back Tyler Badie ran 34 times for 209 yards and a score. The Tigers can be expected to put together several scoring drives against the Gators, but Missouri’s defense is bad in almost every aspect excluding pass defense. Florida still has the offensive personnel to dismantle the Tigers through the run or pass, but it’ll have to get some stops and figure out what went wrong against Samford to allow over 50 points to an FCS school. Prediction: Florida 48, Missouri 30

SPORTS

The Battalion | 11.18.21

WEEK 12: STAFF PICKS Texas A&M vs. Prairie View A&M

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SPORTS

The Battalion | 11.18.21

4 players to look for ahead of A&M-Prairie View By Grant Gaspard @grant_gaspard

After falling short to Ole Miss 29-19, Texas A&M football is looking to finish the

season strong with just two more games left. Here are four players to look for ahead

of the Aggies’ next matchup against Prairie View A&M:

field goals, with 49 yards being his longest. A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said Small has been an outstanding person off the field and has also boosted roster morale at every given opportunity, which has included hosting Bible studies with his teammates.

“He is a better human than he is a player,” Fisher said. “He is what a teammate is and what a good person is. I have the utmost respect for him and who he is and what he does.”

Seth Small - A&M No. 47 Senior kicker Seth Small has been far from field goal range all season long. Last game, Small contributed seven of A&M’s 19 points, featuring a 43-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. He has kicked 100% on extra points and is 20-25 this season on via 12thman.com

Jawon Pass - Prairie View No. 1 Prairie View is currently second in the Southwestern Atlantic Conference, or SWAC, in total offense, and fifth-year transfer quarterback Jawson Pass out of Louisville, Ky., is the source to thank. In the 31-29 loss to Alcorn State, Pass

connected on 69% of his passes and threw for 342 yards with three touchdowns. Down 31-23 with less than eight minutes left in the game, Pass connected with freshman receiver Tre’jon Spiller for a 70-yard touchdown. The score gave them a chance to tie the game up at 31

with just a 2-point conversion. He has thrown for 2,327 yards and tallied 16 touchdowns this season. He currently sits third in the SWAC in total passing yards and passing yards per game. via pvpanthers.com

DeMarvin Leal - A&M No. 8 A&M forced three fumbles in the loss against Ole Miss, but only one was recovered, and it required the help of junior defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. Leal had five solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack against the Rebels last week.

The only sack of the game resulted in a fumble to lead A&M to its first touchdown of the game. After being down 15-0 at halftime, adjusting the tempo of the game was a major adjustment made by the defense in the locker room, Leal

said. “Being able to adjust to the pace of the game was huge for us in the second half,” Leal said. “There was definitely two differences between the first and second half.”

via 12thman.com

Antonio Mullins - Prairie View No. 0 5th-year receiver Mullins is Pass’ No. 1 target when it comes to the air this season. Mullins leads all Prairie View receivers in

receptions this season with 38-10 more than Jailon Howard, the team’s next-leading receiver. His longest catch of the year came from

their last game on Nov. 13, when he connected with Pass on a 30-yard touchdown pass for their first score of the second half. via pvpanthers.com

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The Battalion | 11.18.21

4 things to watch for in A&M-PVAMU

Photo by Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

The Aggies will face off against the Prairie View A&M Panthers in the 12th weekend of college football, and A&M’s final home game of the 2021 regular season.

By Brad Bennett @Brad_Bennett13

Texas A&M football returns home for Senior Day to face Prairie View A&M in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Disappointing offense A&M’s hit-or-miss offense has been one of the storylines of its season. In their last two games, the Aggies have managed to score only two offensive touchdowns. In last week’s loss, they struggled to even put a full drive together. A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said too many self-inflicted mistakes were the cause of the Aggies’ offensive woes. “Offensively, [we] moved the ball, but then we would shoot ourselves in the foot with a penalty, missed block or dropped ball,” Fisher said. “Just little things, and all of a sudden, it was not there.” If A&M wants to win its last two regular-season matchups and eventual bowl game, it must show more consistency on the offense. However, A&M has a great opportunity to get back on track against Prairie View.

Slow starts A&M has a tendency to start slowly on both sides, especially when it is the more talented team. In the first half of its last two games, A&M’s point differential has been a combined -12, with the offense only able to muster three total points. A&M can beat anybody, as seen on Oct. 9, but it can also lose games that should have been won convincingly. A&M has an opportunity to use this game as a way to get back on track as it enters the final stretch of its season. Only time will tell if the Aggies are able to take advantage of it.

Here are four things to look for in the teams’ second face-off:

Senior Day Saturday is important for a number of players on the A&M roster for one reason: It is the last time senior players will play on Kyle Field. It is sure to be an emotional day for everyone involved. Sophomore punter Nik Constantinou said the team is trying to have the seniors’ days of playing at Kyle Field end on a high note in front of the 12th Man. “The seniors ... have played a massive role in the culture-building of this [team],” Constantinou said. “For us, it’s not only playing for them and making sure they have the best send-out possible, but also [doing so] in front of the 12th Man. I don’t think you could ask for anything better.”

Pouncing Panthers

The Panthers boast a balanced offensive attack. They average 266 yards per game through the air and another 180 yards per game on the ground. Prairie View’s graduate quarterback Jawon Pass has thrown 16 touchdowns to seven interceptions. In the running game, the Panthers utilize a committee, with six players holding at least 30 rushing attempts each. However, A&M will be the best defense the Panthers face so far this season. Prairie View could have difficulty containing a maroon and white defensive line that has a tendency to take over the game.