The Battalion - November 25, 2019 by The Battalion

STUDENT TOY DRIVE ON PG. 3

HOLIDAY HYGENE ON PG. 6

DISMANTLING disability FILE

The 2017 Student Bonfire Stack collapses into itself, sending a shower of sparks into the air.

Carrying the torch

Aggies reflect on origins of Student Bonfire ahead of 2019 Burn Night By Sanna Bhai @BhaiSanna Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Director of Disability Resources Kristie Orr, junior Taylor Sutton and senior Victoria Mancuso await the opening of the new Student Services Building. Disability Resources was one of several student services relocated to West Campus in late 2015.

Aggies with invisible and visible disabilities discuss accessibility and universal design at Texas A&M By Brady Stone @bradystonex

ntroduced in the House and Senate in 1988 and signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Thirty years after its passage into law, on the campus where President Bush is now buried, the ADA has served as a guide for how Texas A&M and the country at large provide access and accommodation for all

of their students and citizens. Texas A&M Disability Resources was initiated in 1980 as Services for Students with Disabilities and renamed several times before arriving at Disability Resources this October. Disability Resources combines its three guiding principles — equity, collaboration and excellence — to promote an environment where disability is seen as a valued aspect of diversity, said Director of Disability Resources Kristie Orr. “Our mission is to collaborate with faculty, staff and students in order to provide an equitable learning environment for students with disabilities here on our campus,” Orr said. “We collaborate with faculty, staff and students, and it is intentionally that order because our goal is to make Texas A&M more accessible and welcoming and not relying as much on accommodations.” Disability Resources is currently housed on west campus but will complete its move

into the new Student Services Building on main campus next semester. Upon a student’s first visit to Disability Resources, they will meet with one of nine access coordinators with whom they will discuss accommodations to help them complete their education. Some of the accommodations offered through Disability Resources include extra testing time, American Sign Language interpretation, lecture transcription, peer note-takers, access to the instructor’s notes and access to text-to-speech software. Although these accommodations do aid students in completing their classwork, Orr said proper preparation from instructors with Disability Resources allows students the opportunity to access their education without requesting the resources they require. “We want our learning environment to be accessible to everyone,” Orr said. “We ADA ON PG. 7

Following the collapse of Aggie Bonfire on Nov. 18, 1999, students were unaware of what the future held for this honored Aggie tradition. A task force set up after the collapse spent 18 months deliberating the future of Bonfire at A&M, said Ann Goodman, former associate director for Student Organization Services, Conduct, Marketing & Development. A survey was sent out to the students asking for their opinion on the return of Bonfire. Although the students were in favor, the costs, legal liability and safety were a bigger concern. According to the 2002 Aggieland yearbook, then-university president Ray M. Bowen reached out to 693 safety firms about Bonfire, and only one responded with any interest in representing A&M in the future. However, after further review, it was determined they were unqualified to handle such a big project. Due to these concerns, on Feb. 5, 2002, Bowen announced that Aggie Bonfire would not take place that year. “I was a member of the task force that was identified to look at a safer possibility of doing Bonfire safely, and ultimately after a year and a half of meeting, [Bowen] finally came to the decision that he did, which I personally believe STUDENT BONFIRE ON PG. 2

FOOTBALL VS. LSU

Saturday, Nov. 30 Tiger Stadium 6 p.m. on ESPN

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In the 2018 LSU matchup, then-sophomore Kellen Mond threw for 287 passing yards against the Tigers.

Aggies look to break Tigers’ winning streak LSU seeks revenge in Thanksgiving weekend matchup against A&M By Hannah Underwood @hannahbunderwoo After a close 19-13 loss to No. 4 Georgia in Athens, No. 24 Texas A&M will finish off the regular season with another road game in Baton Rouge. LSU is currently the No. 1 team in the nation and is coming off a 56-20 win over Arkansas.

Despite the daunting matchup that looms ahead, A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said his confidence in the team remains high. “There’s heart, there’s soul, there’s ability, there’s toughness,” Fisher said. “And we’re coming.” LSU coach Ed Orgeron has instilled that same culture of confidence in his team, and it was on full display on Saturday when the Tigers barely acknowledged their win over the Razorbacks. “There wasn’t going to be any celebra-

tion for beating Arkansas,” Orgeron said after the game. “They haven’t beaten anyone in a long time.” The stoicism of the Tigers is rooted in their anticipation of a post-Thanksgiving matchup with A&M. This weekend’s game is sure to be a grudge match, as Orgeron is leading the Tigers on a mission to exact revenge on an Aggie squad that bested them 74-72 in a seven-overtime thriller last season. GAME PREVIEW ON PG. 4

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FILE

After A&M moved to the SEC in 2012, the ‘t.u. frathouse’ placed at the top of the Bonfire was changed to an ‘LSU Tiger litter box.’

STUDENT BONFIRE CONTINUED is the right decision,” Goodman said. Students, such as Dion McInnis, Class of 2003 and current advisor to the upper leadership of Student Bonfire, did not agree with Bowen’s decision and chose to walk out of the press conference. “We weren’t walking out in protest; we were walking out because we knew what we had to do and we knew what the challenges were and now we had to get it done,” McInnis said. “It was organic. .... We all said the same thing. They asked us, ‘What are you going to do?’ And we told them, ‘We’re going to build Bonfire.’” In 2003, the first Student Bonfire was built at the Boondocks Recreational Center prior

to the Thanksgiving game against the University of Texas. Those taking part in Student Bonfire worked in memory of the 12 Aggies who lost their lives in the collapse, said Rachel Swindell, Class of 2019 and member of Student Bonfire. “They died doing this, and I think the tradition was to just do it because they did it and they loved it,” Swindell said. “Bonfire didn’t build the Aggie Spirit. The Aggie Spirit built Bonfire. I think that’s just so important, and continuing on why we do it.” The university has no affiliation with Student Bonfire, and Goodman said although she understands why students want to continue this tradition, the A&M-endorsed Bonfire ended when it should have. “I have talked to a number of students who are passionate about Student Bonfire, and I

respect their passion, and I would never encourage them to not move forward with their passion, but I could never go back to that,” Goodman said. “I feel like Bonfire lived its life, and it needed to end when it did.” Continuing the tradition off-campus, Student Bonfire starts cutting the logs in early September and finishes by late October. The center pole is delivered the week before Halloween, and the raise takes place within that week. To ensure that those participating are kept safe, Student Bonfire has created a new method to stack the logs and still achieve the multitiered, “wedding cake” look. In this method, each log is required to touch the ground, ensuring stability, said Swindell. The camaraderie created through the process of building Bonfire has been an integral

part of the tradition before and after the collapse, Swindell said “It’s really just a family that you can come into away from home as a freshman, but once you’re in it, after you’ve realized, ‘Hey, this is a family,’ there is so much more,” Swindell said. The Bonfire is set to burn on Nov. 26 at 8:50 p.m. sharp at the stack site off Old Hearn Road in Bryan. A Yell Practice will begin at 8:15 p.m., and the speaker of the night, Warren Barhorst, Class of 1988 and former member of the 12th Man kickoff team, will deliver his address at 8:30 p.m. The Head Stack, who oversees Student Bonfire’s operations, will recite the “The Last Corps Trip,” and Barhorst will explain the history of Bonfire and what it represents today.

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Thanksgiving events around Aggieland With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there will be many holiday celebrations and activities taking place throughout the upcoming week. For anyone spending their Thanksgiving break around Bryan-College Station, here are four events to keep your eyes peeled and stomach empty for.

Thanksgiving at Campfire Nov. 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted at the Stella Hotel, there will be a full Thanksgiving meal complete with campfire flare. Enjoy a carving station, gulf seafood display, charcuterie selections, Texas-inspired sides and gourmet desserts. Adult tickets are $55 each.

2019 B-CS Turkey Trot Nov. 28 at 8 a.m. Via Help Swim Help the Children Facebook page

Students assist professor Keith Swim (center) with donations for the Help Swim Help the Children toy drive.

Enjoy a family friendly atmosphere with a one mile run or at the 5K. The cost to participate is only $20 for students, with all proceeds going to local nonprofit organizations. Registration for the event ends Nov. 27. The event will be held at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center on Highway 6 and Rock Prairie Road.

Aggies eager to give back with toy drive Texas A&M professor organizes holiday giving program with the help of student volunteers By Julia Potts @juliaapotts Business professor Keith Swim started collecting and donating toys about 20 years ago and soon turned his hobby into an annual program at Texas A&M. Help Swim Help the Children focuses on delivering presents to kids in local hospitals and Child Protective Services. With help from students, Swim has expanded the toy drive and has been able to grant the requests of many children throughout Brazos County. Although Swim has been running the drive for many years, he said the driving force behind it is the students who participate. “My students and former students and organizations on campus donate their time, their money, their effort, their gift cards and then go shop,” Swim said. “Then in December we spend a day here at Wehner wrapping presents, and then we deliver them.” Marketing junior Emily Henson has been involved with this drive since the fall of 2018. She said she decided to join because she wanted to help others. Henson and her roommate, accounting junior Madelyn Hill, are now heavily involved in running the toy drive. “My roommate and I are kind of coordinators to Swim,” Henson said. “We talk in classes and encourage people to donate toys and funds. We also organize the volunteers to help shop, wrap and deliver.” Hill heard about the toy drive while attending one of Swim’s classes. She said she has been involved in service projects since she was a child and wanted to find more opportunities to continue in College Station. “Growing up, we always went and decorated our local nursing home, knocked on the doors and talked to a lot of the older people,” Hill said. “That was our favorite thing to do every Christmas. Coming here, I knew I needed to find some way to give back.” Hill said one of the ways they advertise the drive is with a Christmas tree in the Wehner building where students can offer to adopt a child, meaning they buy the gifts requested by one of the children on their list. “Anybody in Mays can go over to the tree, take an angel off the tree, sign their name and adopt a kid,” Hill said. “Also, throughout different management classes, [Swim] mentions his Venmo, so you can Venmo him and donate.” Henson said seeing the reactions from the kids and the employees at the hospital and CPS has been her most enjoyable experience in the toy drive. “Last year, our delivery was probably one of my favorite days,” Henson said. “Just to see all of the workers and how

appreciative they were, and to see how much this makes a difference in all of those kids’ Christmases.” Henson said some people are reluctant to donate because of the financial strain of being in college, but she encourages people to give at least a small amount to children who often have even less. “The toy drive has really just impacted me in a way that has shown me that the season is really about giving,” Henson said. “Even if it’s not much, because we’re all in college, every little bit makes a difference.” Swim said one of his most memorable experiences with the toy drive was when a severely burned boy that he had given toys to in the past approached him as a student some years later. “He was in my class last spring,” Swim said. “He came up and told me, ‘I’m that little boy.’” Hill said she is excited about any opportunity to provide some community service, especially for Help Swim Help the Children. “This is one of my favorite things to do,” Hill said. “I look forward to doing this every year, doing something along the lines of giving back and helping people at this time of year. It kind of just puts everything into perspective and makes you realize, ‘I’m very fortunate in my life to be able to give back to people that don’t have the same things that I do.’” More information about Help Swim Help the Children is available on the program’s Facebook page.

The Local - Thanksgiving Edition Nov. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. Take some time and check out the annual Thanksgiving market at The Local. This event is free to attend and will feature over 30 vendors, food trucks and live music. Shop from artisan vendors, get seasonal gifts and eat some delicious food. The event will be located at Lake Walk Town Center in Bryan.

Thanksgiving PotLuck at Duddley’s Draw Nov. 28 from 3 to 7 p.m. Duddley’s Draw will host its annual potluck, complete with all the ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. The event is free, and Duddley’s will provide turkey, ham, cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and mac n’ cheese. By Oscar Fuentes

Luke Henkhaus, Editor-in-Chief Samantha Mahler, Managing Editor Sanna Bhai, News Editor Camryn Lang, Asst. News Editor Hollis Mills, Life & Arts Editor Meagan Sheffield, Life & Arts Editor Hannah Underwood, Sports Editor Brian Bass, Asst. Sports Editor Jane Turchi, Maroon Life Editor

Meredith Seaver, Photo Chief Henry Mureithi, Opinion Editor Cole Fowler, Asst. Opinion Editor Lexi Ellis, Social Media Editor Daoud Qamar, Multimedia Editor Robert Castro, Asst. Multimedia Editor Demi Navarro, Asst. Multimedia Editor Brady Stone, Page Designer Sydney Clark, Page Designer

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

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FOOTBALL

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FILE

The Aggie defense reaches in an attempt to block an LSU kick during the 2018 Thanksgiving game in Kyle Field.

Recreating the rivalry Is LSU the new Texas to Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies? Hannah Underwood

@hannahbunderwoo

t has been eight years since Texas A&M and the University of Texas last met on the gridiron. Though talk of reinstating the rivalry continues, nothing has come of it. But a candidate for a new rival now awaits a Saturday matchup with the Aggies. Hypothetically, if A&M was going to

select a rival to replace the Longhorns, LSU might make the most sense. Sure, there’s the Aggies’ 2012 upset of then-No. 1 Alabama that has created and maintained tensions between the teams since, but the Crimson Tide already has a heated rivalry with in-state SEC opponent Auburn. Arkansas is also in contention to replace the Longhorns on A&M’s rivalry list, and those games are already treated as a rivalry match, being hosted at a neutral site. But annual trips to AT&T Stadium aren’t enough to make a rivalry,

even though the matchups have been closely contested in recent years. The case for LSU is far more compelling. The appeal of the Texas rivalry is due in part to the proximity of the Longhorns. Austin is just under a two-hour drive from College Station; Baton Rouge, on the other hand, is a five-hour trek. But it is still much closer than Tuscaloosa and Fayetteville. The Aggies and Longhorns also have a deep history, with the first game between the two ending in a 38-0 Texas

win in 1894. The 117 games that followed have been special to players and fans alike, including the first game after the collapse of Bonfire in 1999, which A&M won 20-16 in Aggieland. But A&M’s history with LSU is almost as rich. The two met for the first time in 1899, with the Aggies taking a 52-0 win in College Station. The A&M-LSU matchup didn’t happen again until 1906 when A&M joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Since then, 55 games have followed, with only 13 of those being conference matchups. While the A&M-LSU rivalry may not be as drenched in tradition as A&M-Texas is, the 2018 showdown between the Aggies and the Tigers holds a place in history. The seven-overtime thriller, which ended in a 74-72 A&M victory, is the highest-scoring game in Football Bowl Subdivision history and is tied for the longest in NCAA history. Prior to that win, LSU had bested A&M in every season since the Aggies made a move to the SEC in 2012. In that first season out of the Big 12, A&M fell to No. 6 LSU 24-19 in a loss that kept A&M out of the SEC Championship game. Also in that year, then-quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy, despite having his worst performance of the season against the Tigers. Manziel went 29-of-56 for 276 passing yards in that game, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Though not as powerful a rivalry as A&M-Texas, Saturday’s matchup is already being treated like a rivalry game, with head coaches of both teams making bold statements in their post-game press conferences last Saturday. “We’re coming,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It’s going to be on,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “I’ll never forget that game last year. We’re gonna be ready.” Hannah Underwood is a journalism junior and sports editor for The Battalion.

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A&M vs. LSU

Luke Henkhaus

Editor-in-Chief @luke_henkhaus

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I can’t understand a word Ed Orgeron says, but he sounds like he means business.

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Sanna Bhai

News Editor @BhaiSanna

SANNA Saw Varsity’s claws off

HOLLIS

Hannah Underwood

Sports Editor @hannahbunderwoo

I probably shouldn’t say this, but as I’m writing this, it is Nov. 24, 2019. Exactly a year ago, A&M topped LSU for the first time since 1995. Yes, I do believe in miracles.

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Life & Arts Editor @sillohsllim

There won’t be an inopportune Gatorade shower to save us this time.

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Photo Chief @MeredithSeaver

MEREDITH SAMANTHA

GAME PREVIEW CONTINUED “It’s going to be on,” Orgeron said. “I’ll never forget that game last year. We’re gonna be ready.” The Tigers are a much different team than the one the Aggies faced in 2018. Two weeks ago, senior quarterback Joe Burrow led LSU to a 46-41 win over Alabama, in which the offense garnered 393 passing yards and 171 rushing yards. Against Arkansas, the Tigers climbed to 352 passing yards and 260 rushing; LSU had only 366 yards of total offense in regulation against A&M last November. On Saturday, LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss broke the school record for most single-season receptions at his position, with 35 catches for 410 yards and one touchdown. The Tigers also became the first team in SEC history with a 4,000-yard passer in Burrow, two 1,000-yard receivers in Justin Jefferson

and Ja’Marr Chase, and a 1,000-yard rusher in Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The Aggies faced No. 4 Georgia in Athens, holding the Bulldogs to 260 total yards. However, A&M is also coming off its worst rushing game of the season, as the Aggies went minus-1 in rushing yards during Saturday’s loss. “Coming out with a win would have been big for our confidence, but I think this is still boosting our confidence,” junior linebacker Buddy Johnson said. “We just played with the No. 4 team in the country, and those guys were pretty good. We were going toe-to-toe with them.” The key word in the Jimbo Fisher Era has been grit, and the Aggies have displayed that continually throughout the season. Their four losses all came against opponents ranked in the top 10: then-No. 1 Clemson, then-No. 8 Auburn, then-No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Georgia. In those games, A&M lost by margins

LSU is the third No. 1 ranked team we are playing... Third time’s the charm? Staff Picks this season brought to you by my brothers :)

of 14, eight, 19 and six, respectively. Junior wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon said the team’s mindset toward its loss to the Bulldogs would decide how its matchup with a third No. 1 team will go. “It’s how we take this game,” Ausbon said. “We lost the game by six points, [which] shows you how close we are. We play a different team next week.” The Aggies will also have to clean up mistakes before facing LSU, Ausbon said. A&M had seven penalties on Saturday for a loss of 45 yards, all on offense. “Hats off to [Georgia], but I want to just see us compete with no self-inflicted wounds,” Ausbon said. “Going into this game, I want to see us capitalize on those opportunities.” The Aggies will ride into Death Valley on Saturday to face an undefeated and topranked LSU squad. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Samantha Mahler

Managing Editor @mahlersamantha

Like Tony says, they’re grrrrrreat, and I have no faith in my team.

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

The Aggies will play their last regular season game in Baton Rouge at LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

FOOTBALL

The Battalion | 11.25.19

74-72: A look at LSU’s last loss On Nov. 24, 2018, then-No. 22 Texas A&M topped then-No. 7 Louisiana State University 74-72 in seven overtimes. It was the Aggies’ first win over the Tigers since 1995. Here are some of the key moments from the historic game.

3Q — 07:16

After sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond threw three incomplete passes to go three-and-out, junior punter Braden Mann booted a 46-yard punt to the Tigers’ 29-yard line. LSU’s Jonathan Giles dropped Mann’s punt to give A&M possession, which the Aggies capitalized on with a one-yard touchdown run by Trayveon Williams to take a 24-17 lead.

4Q — 10:12 A&M kept a lead over LSU into the fourth quarter, until LSU linebacker Devin White forced a fumble on the 42-yard line that the Tigers recovered and returned 58 yards to score, tying the game at 24.

4Q — 06:41 LSU took its first lead of the game as quarterback Joe Burrow connected with tight end Foster Moreau for a 14-yard touchdown.

4Q — 00:26 On a second-and-10 at the end of the fourth quarter, Mond fumbled the snap, then recovered it to throw an interception in the endzone, prompting the Tigers to douse coach Ed Orgeron in Gatorade prematurely. The referees reviewed the play and determined that Mond’s knee was down when he fumbled the snap, giving the Aggies an eight-yard loss, but voiding the interception.

4Q — 00:01 A Kendrick Rogers catch in-bounds meant the clock continued to run with only three seconds left in the game, and the Aggies attempted to spike the ball to stop it. The original ruling on the field stated that time ran out before Mond was able to spike the ball. However, upon review, the referees determined he was successful, which gave A&M one final second to tie the game.

4Q — 00:00 With the game on the line, Mond threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to junior Quartney Davis, and Seth Small booted the extra point to tie the game at 31 and send it into overtime.

First Overtime Otaro Alaka sacked Burrow for a 10-yard loss on the third play of the overtime period, setting up a 50yard field goal attempt for LSU kicker Cole Tracy. He was successful, and A&M matched the score with a 23-yard field goal by Small.

Third Overtime Rogers tied the game at 49 with a one-handed catch on A&M’s two-point conversion attempt to send it into a fourth overtime.

Seventh Overtime Burrow scored on a 10-yard run but missed a receiver on the two-point conversion attempt. Davis caught the 17-yard touchdown pass to tie the game, and Mond completed the two-point conversion with a pass to Rogers to give the Aggies their first win over LSU since 1995. Photos by Cassie Stricker and Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

OPINION

The Battalion | 11.25.19

Washing away a myth

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

As Thanksgiving approaches, a lesson in hygene may be in order Joshua Howell @JoshuaEHowell

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A 1944 poster from the U.S. Public Health Service reminds employees to wash their hands.

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Keagan Miller on Taika Waititi’s ‘Jojo Rabbit’

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I’ve got a story for you, Ags. Several years ago, I visited a friend’s home for our weekly board game night. There was a woman present, a mutual friend of the hostess and I, who for the sake of anonymity we shall call “Maggie.” A handful of us sat huddled around the coffee table, playing a game one member of our group had been wanting to share. At one point during the evening, Maggie excused herself to the bathroom, which was close enough to be within earshot. Several minutes uneventfully passed before we heard the toilet flush and the quick, quiet creak of an opening door. I turned, and there was Maggie, ready to re-enter the game. I looked at her quizzically. “Maggie, did you wash your hands?” Let’s stop right there. I’d like to think that, once or twice in our lives, we’ve all left the restroom in haste, too eager to get back to what we’ve been doing. Maybe a friend called us out. Maybe they did so publicly. But in those moments, I’d also like to think that, however embarrassed we may have been, we went back to finish the job. Not that day. Reader, I wish to convey to you not merely the answer she gave me, but the tone in which she expressed it, for the following was articulated with such confidence, with such assertiveness, with such an attitude of, “How dare you even ask me such a thing!” that words can scarcely do it justice. “No!” she exclaimed defiantly. After my feet again found firm ground, I suggested to her calmly (at least I tried to be calm; I do not doubt that I failed): “Maggie, I think you should wash your hands.” But she refused. She refused on something I dare say approximated principle. And after several minutes of back and forth — time I frankly had not planned on committing to this — there then came the kicker, the foundation for her entire argument, the belief she held in her core that was incompatible with the belief I held in mine. “Girls don’t need to wash their hands when they leave the bathroom,” she educated me. As an olive branch, she offered that she always washed her hands before she

ate. But she assured me that, when it came to the day-to-day, it was simply unnecessary for women to wash their hands in the same way as it was necessary for men. Again, let’s stop right there. I like to think of myself as a liberal man, as something of a progressive. I believe the patriarchy exists. I read Jessica Valenti, and I have a copy of “The Second Sex” on my bookshelf. I’ve even skimmed it once. This is to say that, while I am far from perfect, I’m aware that it is generally bad practice for men to lecture women on the subject of their bodies. However… I am also a man of science (computer science, but does it matter?), and patriarchy or not, I am reasonably certain that women have to follow the basic rules of hygiene before leaving the restroom. (I say “reasonably” because if I get emails from The Battalion’s female readership explaining why Maggie was right, I have every intention of recanting this column. Please provide thorough academic citations.) So I confess to it, reader. I confess to it all. I mansplained. And I did so at length. Why, you ask? Were there no other women present willing to speak up? Three were there. Two of them were speechless. The other, the hostess — and it is here I shall provide a detail so absurd that it will prove my story to be true — agreed with Maggie: She, too, was not in the habit of washing her hands after using the restroom. To this day, I’m not sure if either or both of them continue to pop up from the commode and gallivant determinedly into the next room, ready to spring all manner of germs onto the unsuspecting. But I did what I did. I am not proud of it, but I have made my peace with it. There’s no broader point here, in case you were wondering. There are no studies to cite nor professors to source, no philosophy essays to quote nor arcane letters to submit as evidence. These are merely the musings, or perhaps the ramblings, of a 28-year-old going on 80. He wants nothing more than to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and to plead with every last one of you — man, woman, boy and girl — to wash your hands before you feast. Joshua Howell is a computer science Ph.D. student and columnist for The Battalion.

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The Battalion | 11.25.19

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Director of Disability Resources Kristie Orr shows Victoria Mancuso the office spaces in the new Student Services Building. The new space will have more room for staff so that students looking to speak with an access coordinator will have shorter wait times.

ADA CONTINUED do this by making sure that there are things put in place in the classrooms so that students won’t need to ask for accommodations, because they have already been built into the class.” This proactive practice is known as universal design and was created so all people can access and understand the environment regardless of their ability or disability. “Think of universal design from an architectural standpoint, because that’s where universal design started,” Orr said. “Things like ramps or curb cuts are made for people that use wheelchairs to have access, but really ramps help everyone. The same thing can happen with learning. “If an instructor puts their notes on eCampus so that they are online and available for everyone, then students who need note-taking as their accommodation will not need that accommodation anymore because the notes are available to everyone.” Similarly to how universal design has evolved from ramp access to access to lecture notes, the ADA has also evolved to accommodate people with invisible disabilities in addition to people with visible disabilities. Today, universal design methods are common throughout a student’s education in primary school, secondary school and even in a student’s pursuit of higher education. Communication senior Victoria Mancuso benefits from universal design along with the accommodations provided to her by A&M Disability Resources.

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Victoria Mancuso is a communication senior that uses Disability Resources.

Diagnosed with dyslexia in kindergarten, Mancuso has used accommodations throughout her education to help with reading and processing the material she is taught. “I get notes from all of my professors and I take my tests in the testing center with ex-

tended time,” Mancuso said. “I also use textto-speech to take my tests and do major assignments, and if I don’t have access to that, I can go to Disability Resources and have someone read things to me.” Like Mancuso, agriculture leadership and development junior in the Corps of Cadets Taylor Sutton also uses accommodations provided by Disability Resources. Sutton, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 3 at age 4, not only benefits directly from universal design principles within her curriculum, but from ADA compliance across campus.

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Taylor Sutton is a ag. leadership and development junior in the Corps of Cadets that uses Disability Resources

“You can’t really judge a person by what you see on the outside because there are barriers and challenges that you can’t see,” Sutton said. “You may have the assumption that ‘she’s in a wheelchair so she can’t do this,’ but actually I can do those things and so much more.” Despite the physical limitations of her wheelchair, Sutton said she participates in Corps activities just as every other cadet does. “I’m there every morning for formation and I’m doing [physical training] with everyone else,” Sutton said. “Although I’m not able to do pushups or whatever else they do, I still participate. When they go on runs, I’m right behind them going as fast as my wheelchair can go.” Outside of the Corps, Sutton uses Disability Resources for accommodations within her classes and participates in several student organizations. “Despite being in a wheelchair and having muscle weakness, I’m still able to contribute,” Sutton said. “I’m really trying to get myself out there to show people that despite what limitations I do have, I’m still able to contribute to the university just like everybody else.” Much of A&M’s campus is ADA compliant, though compliance and convenience are

not the same thing. Having to go through back entrances, being forced to sit in the back of auditorium-style lecture halls and the occasional out-of-service elevator are just a few of the accessibility issues that Sutton said she has experienced. “I haven’t had any issues [entering] any buildings yet other than having to go through back entrances in a few,” Sutton said. “Sometimes in buildings, the elevators won’t work so I just won’t be able to go to class that day.” In situations like this, Orr said students are accommodated outside of the classroom by professors through one-on-one instruction or with class notes provided by their instructors. “We have had issues in Heldenfels, for example, where the elevator is out of service,” Orr said. “So we work with the faculty member to set up one-on-one tutoring with the student who was unable to attend class so that they get the same information as the other students while the elevator is being fixed.” Short-term compliance issues like elevator issues, flooding or an automatic door being jammed are handled on a case-by-case basis. Long-term compliance issues like buildings having no ramps or elevators are handled in tandem by Disability Resources, the Office of Risk and Compliance and the Registrar’s Office. “In situations where there is a crisis like an elevator not working or floodings, we will work with faculty and the student to take care of the issue on a short-term basis,” Orr said. “If it is an issue that will last longer, then we will work with the Registrar’s Office to get the class moved to a different building.” For the most part, ADA compliance and accessibility issues can be reported to a campus ADA Coordinator, but for a few of the buildings on A&M’s 143-year-old campus, compliance cannot be required. According to ada.gov, “A public accommodation generally would not be required to remove a barrier to physical access posed by a flight of steps, if removal would require extensive ramping or an elevator.” This exception proves problematic when considering a building like the Military Sciences Building on main campus. As one of the only buildings on campus without an elevator, the structure is inaccessible for anyone unable to climb stairs. “There are only a few [buildings] that are a problem,” Orr said. “We encourage students to look online or to go visit the building if they think they will have trouble accessing the building. If we know a building is inaccessible, we will notify students, but we work with about 2,500 students a semester, so we are unable to look at everyone’s schedule.” An accessible entrances feature is available on aggiemap.tamu.edu for students and visitors who may need help navigating campus. Additionally, Associate Vice President of the Office of University Risk and Compliance Peggy Zapalac said ADA concerns can be

directly reported to ada.coordinator@tamu. edu. Another issue faced by students using accommodations has resulted from the transition period involved in relocating the Student Services Building. Mancuso said because of the move to a temporary space on west campus, testing centers have become crowded. “During finals, you are probably in a class with 30 other people, which isn’t a lot, but it’s a big step up from the four people with you during regular exams,” Mancuso said. “The people on your left and right are probably taking a different test and that may make you lose focus on your test. I get nervous when people finish their tests before me, too.” Orr said this issue will be addressed with the move to a more permanent home on main campus.

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

The testing center within the new Student Services Building offers large, medium and individual testing rooms.

“Our new testing center will be about twice the size of the one we have right now, so it will be easier for us to accommodate the students that need testing modifications,” Orr said. “We have taken every student and their accommodations into account when designing this new building.” Opening for student use during the spring semester, the new Student Services Building will house Disability Resources, Student Counseling Services, Residence Life and the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Accessibility features in the new building will include single-person testing rooms, carpet designed in a uniform way so it does not disturb a student with focusing disorders, wind chimes by the entrances to signal to students with vision impairments that they are nearing the door and bathrooms built to be accessible to students who use a wheelchair or crutches. Even with the plethora of accommodations available through Disability Resources and at the new Student Services Building, Mancuso said it is imperative that students remember the importance of advocating for their needs. “Having this disability has made me a bigger advocate for myself, and it has taught me a lot,” Mancuso said. “Having accommodations ready for you is great, but learning to advocate for yourself has definitely become a strength of mine.”

Don’t forget to also pre-order your copy of the

2019AGGIELAND It’s not too late to order your copy of the

2020AGGIELAND A photojournalistic record of the 2019-2020 school year. The 119th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Distribution will be the Fall 2020. Go Online to tx.ag/BuyTheAggieland or call 979-845-2697 to make your purchase.

2019 Aggieland, a photojournalistic record of the 2018-2019 school year. The 117th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook.

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FREE portrait sessions for the 2020 Aggieland will happen again during the 2020 Spring semester. Look in The Battalion paper, thebatt.com, social media or campus email for dates, locations and times.

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