The Battalion - October 22, 2020 by The Battalion

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

A recording of the Aggie Band will be played at the unveiling of the Bush statue in Hungary.

Aggie Band to honor George H.W. Bush Marching recordings to be played for statue unveiling in Hungary By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band has been asked to record songs for the unveiling of a new statue of former President George H.W. Bush in Budapest, Hungary. The invite comes from the U.S. Embassy in order to help memorialize Bush for his contributions during the Cold War and his life of public service. The Aggie Band will record two signature marches including the Aggie War Hymn and the Noble Men of Kyle to play during the unveiling of the statue. “[George H.W. Bush] had a great love for this university and the Aggie Band,” senior Combined Band Drum Major Kyle Medlock said. “When the Bush Foundation asked us to provide a recording of two of our standard marches, we, of course, love serving the Bush family and the university so we are thrilled to be asked to do this.” The band’s leadership has selected a 96-person band to perform for the filming. The selection was based off of the top ranking cadets and the dedication that cadets have shown on the drill field. According to Medlock, the band is composed of the leaders on and off the drill field. “It is an awesome opportunity, especially during COVID[-19],” Medlock said. “Limited opportunities to have things that we normally would do to send a recording overseas to Hungary and have a bunch of people see what we do and present ourselves in that way and serve the Bush family.” AGGIE BAND ON PG. 3

Kaylee Cogbill — THE BATTALION

One of A&M’s three COVID-19 testing kiosks available is located outside of the MSC in Rudder Plaza.

A&M debuts COVID-19 testing kiosks New coronavirus testing format provides free, walkup appointment options for anyone on campus By Myranda Campanella @MCampanella_

exas A&M now has three free walkup COVID-19 testing kiosks available for anyone in the state to utilize. On Oct. 12, A&M opened the first two COVID-19 testing kiosks on campus outside of the Memorial Student Center and the Commons. A third kiosk opened the week of Oct. 19 outside of the Mays Business School. The kiosks offer free, self-administered tests to anyone who walks up from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Individuals are given the same oral swab tests that are available at Student Health Services and through A&M’s Random Testing Program, Director of Student Health Ser-

vices Dr. Martha Dannenbaum said. Unlike the Curative Inc. tent and Beutel Health Center, members outside of the A&M community are welcome to utilize the kiosks, Dannenbaum said. “Not only can faculty, staff and students take advantage, but other individuals can as well,” Dannenbaum said. “I think particularly of our SSC and Chartwells staff who are not A&M employees but are integral to our campus, so this allows them access to testing as well.” Dannenbaum said the kiosks are a part of A&M’s partnership with Curative, Inc., a California-based national testing company that originally tested the kiosks at the University of California-Berkeley. The kiosks have built-in up to 400 tests per day at each station, Dannenbaum said, which helps to maintain the campus’ main supply of COVID-19 tests funded by the A&M System. Dr. Angela Clendenin, director of the Brazos Valley COVID Investigation Operations Center and instructional assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiol-

ogy and Biostatistics, said the kiosks were implemented to increase accessibility to COVID-19 testing and are a part of A&M’s comprehensive surveillance program to identify the spread of the virus among the campus community. “If you can make tests available to people who are thinking they’ve been exposed and it’s a little easier to get a test, then they’re more likely to do it,” Clendenin said. “Having these kiosks in areas that a lot of people will traffic through — given the number of people on our campus right now — it makes it easier.” In addition to the testing kiosks, Clendenin said Curative also has a mobile van that offers walk-up testing. “It’s actually been in the Aggie Fan Zone before football games,” Clendenin said. “It just gives us some flexibility where, if you can’t come to get a test at a testing site, then we can bring that to you.” Clendenin said A&M’s partnerships with Curative and the Brazos County Health KIOSKS ON PG. 3

Blooming in Aggieland Bryan flower shop embraces family traditions, supports A&M community By Lauren Discher @lauren_discher

Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

The Petal Patch Florist is located in Bryan on Texas Avenue.

The Brazos Valley florist shop, Petal Patch, has paved the way for local flower shops through its partnership with Texas A&M and its emphasis on tradition. Petal Patch is a custom flower shop located in Bryan. The shop is highly involved in the community and with A&M, providing arrangements for Aggie events such as home football games and Muster. Its services include weddings, sympathy arrangements and everyday arrangements. Shop owner Elizabeth Humphries said she bought the shop from her mother-inlaw in 2012 and feels it is her duty to share this gift with others. “My mother-in-law was one of the first florists here in town, so she taught many of the other flower shop owners in the area,” Humphries said. “She somewhat pioneered the market, so it’s important for me to carry on the tradition.” The shop works with the 12th Man Foundation and provides all of the flowers for each home game, Humphries said.

“We do the common areas like the Hall of Champions, the founders areas and inside some of the suites, as well as the athletic director and opposing athletic director’s suites,” Humphries said. “We’ve always donated and been a part of Muster and are involved in events all over campus.” Humphries said she strives to interact with customers and the community. She does this through Patch Camp, a hands-on experience taught by members of the Patch team where individuals can learn to make different flower arrangements and crafts. Humphries said she often hires Aggies either through the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences or through internships. “I’ve had many that started here and then went off to start their own floral business, so it’s great to be a part of that,” Humphries said. One such student is horticulture senior Savannah Gravens, who said Humphries acts as a mentor to many. “Elizabeth was so willing to take me under her wing and provide herself as an invaluable resource for my floral experience and education,” Gravens said. “That was what really made me excited to join the patch team.”

blinnbound@blinn.edu www.blinn.edu Winter Minimester starts Dec.12 and the Spring semester starts Jan.19.

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LIFE&ARTS

The Battalion | 10.22.20

Choosing a new path FILE

Valerie Wilson, an academic advisor in the Department of Communication, said changing majors is common for college students.

By Alex Stebel @alexsteb11 It’s common for students to feel troubled about their current course of study, and changing majors is more popular than most may think. Each student is different in regard to their decision process. Valerie Wilson, an academic advisor for the Department of Communication, said she changed her major five times before discovering what was right for her. “Students can be really lucky if they do pick the right major first,” Wilson said. “I’d say that is more of the exception than the rule.” Wilson said a contributing factor to the popularity of changing majors is students may never have had experience in a certain

area they once thought they were interested in. She said once students gain experience in a certain realm, they may realize it’s not for them. “I think that changing majors is smart because the only thing worse than realizing you’re in the wrong major is then staying in that major,” Wilson said. “I think it’s a good way to explore.” Agriculture communication and journalism senior Grace Crow said she had to experience her original major, agribusiness, before realizing it wasn’t meant for her. “I grew up around agriculture and showed animals so I figured it was similar to running a business,” Crow said. “I figured it might be something I would enjoy and thought it would set me up to find a well-paying job.” Crow said in selecting a major, she chose what sounded like the smartest decision for her, but once she began the coursework it wasn’t as enjoyable as she once imagined.

When Crow realized she wasn’t happy in her first major, she said she sat down with her mother to reevaluate her options and came to a conclusion about what she wanted in a degree. “I think you definitely go through big changes throughout college and find out who you really are, and that just might cause you to change your major,” Crow said. Finance senior Nick Stebel explored two different schools and majors throughout his college career. Stebel said sometimes it takes time to realize your first major isn’t really what you want to do. “When I first chose my major when applying for schools, I looked through all the business categories and chose one that I thought looked interesting,” Stebel said. “I definitely was not well informed at all at the time.” Wilson said students who are unsure of their course of study and make the decision to change might open the door to unforeseen

opportunities. “Since so many students change their majors, don’t worry if you have to change your major,” Wilson said. “It can lead to some really good things, and even just the process of exploring your options can help you develop a lot as a person. Don’t be afraid of going through that process.” Crow said a student’s decision to change their major is a personal one that shouldn’t be affected too much by outside influences. “Be honest with yourself and pick something you really enjoy,” Crow said. “Don’t let other people influence your decision or make you feel like one major may not be as good as another because you can always find a way to use your education if you are passionate about the subject.” For A&M students looking for more information regarding a change of major, visit us.tamu.edu/Change-of-Major.

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The Battalion | 10.22.20

Kaylee Cogbill — THE BATTALION

Free COVID-19 testing is available to students, faculty, staff and the local community. Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

KIOSKS CONTINUED Department have helped identify the spread of COVID-19 both on campus and in the community. “We want to get to a point where we can provide the best educational experience for our faculty, staff and students that we possibly can,” Clendenin said. “You can’t do that without an aggressive testing strategy, and you can’t have an aggressive testing strategy if people can’t get tested because they don’t

PETAL PATCH CONTINUED Gravens said getting to create at the Patch has been one of the greatest opportunities of her college experience. “I get to learn so many new things about not only floral design, but customer relations and business as well,” Gravens said. “From getting to make and deliver arrangements for the suites at Kyle Field for game day, to setting up weddings and making everyday arrangements, each day is new and exciting.” Gravens said being at the Petal Patch has

have access.” Dannenbaum said there was previously concern the campus wouldn’t have enough tests to meet the high demand early on in August and September. However, the addition of the testing kiosks has ensured there is enough testing availability on campus along with the tests administered at the SHS medical tents and through the curative Ink. “There’s no reason somebody can’t get a test on our campus,” Dannenbaum said. “There’s plenty of opportunity, and it doesn’t cost.”

taught her just how much florists play a role in peoples’ lives. “Whether it is helping a college student pick out flowers for a first date, designing someone’s wedding bouquet or even honoring a lost loved one, working at the Patch has taught me to be more aware of people’s lives around me,” Gravens said. Gravens said Petal Patch has shown her that simple, yet personal gifts can truly affect people. “I’ve learned how meaningful flowers can be and that one small gesture can brighten someone’s day,” Gravens said.

The George H.W. Bush statue unveiling at the U.S. Embassy in Hungary will include a recording of two marches by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.

AGGIE BAND CONTINUED The unveiling of the statue, created by Hungarian sculptor Istvan Mate, will occur on Friday, Oct. 23 in Budapest, Hungary. In a joint statement, U.S. Ambassador David B. Cornstein and Gergely Gulyas, the Hungarian Prime Minister’s chief of staff, said the project was created to honor Bush’s overseas diplomacy. “[The statue] expresses our mutual appreciation and gratitude for the statesman who contributed to shaping the future of Europe and within Hungary through his commitment and strong morals, and through his advocacy for democracy and against communist dictatorship,” a statement in an article from ABC News reads.

As one of the few selected to participate in the band, sophomore Braden Alexander said this experience is special to Aggie Band members. “It was a unique experience because it’s one of those things that really only happens once in a lifetime,” Alexander said. “With just how grand the scale is just like another country statue being up in place and being part of such a small group is quite an honor.” The Aggie Band was also asked to play at Bush’s funeral in College Station in 2018. “Just our willingness to serve [the Bush] family, it’s a great group of individuals that have served this nation and we are just happy to be able to serve them in whatever capacity,” Medlock said. “It’s really special to us that we’re in his family’s heart and in his heart.”

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The Battalion | 10.22.20

AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE IN WEEK 5

By Casey Stavenhagen @CStavenhagen

Following a week of upsets in the SEC, six teams have the week off. In the showcase match of Week 4 in the SEC, Alabama coach Nick Saban

improved his record to 22-0 against former assistant coaches. Alabama now stands at the top of the SEC as the only team left undefeated.

No. 2 Alabama (4-0) at Tennessee (2-2)

Kentucky (2-2) at Missouri (1-2)

Saturday, Oct. 24 — Neyland Stadium — Knoxville, Tenn. 2:30 p.m. on CBS

Saturday, Oct. 24 — Faurot Field — Columbia, Mo. 3 p.m. on SEC Network

The Alabama team that played against Georgia in the 41-24 Alabama win is the best it has been in years. Quarterback Mac Jones is white hot, now leading the NCAA in QBR with three consecutive 400-yard passing games. His last 400-yard performance was against a top-three defense. Much of Jones’ performances have been assisted by wide receiver Jaylen Waddle who should seriously be considered in Heisman talks. Waddle has averaged over 20 yards per catch through four consecutive 100-plus yard receiving games and has demonstrated an aptitude for big plays, boasting two games with 85-plus yard receptions. Heading into last week’s game, it was well known that Alabama had one of the best offenses in the country. The main

takeaway from the game was how well the defense — which had been lackluster to say the least — stepped up, forcing a scoreless second half. Tennessee’s trajectory is nearly opposite from the Tide’s. After the last two weeks of self-destruction, the Volunteers find themselves with identity issues and quarterback doubts. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano threw two interceptions last week, both of which were returned for touchdowns in the 34-7 loss to Kentucky. Running back Ty Chandler, who seemed to be the starter through the first two weeks, has now been replaced by Eric Grey, who rushed for 128 yards on 24 carries. The Volunteers need a bye week, but instead they get to host the SEC’s top team.

Two teams that have shown tremendous up-ticks in performance will meet in Columbia on Saturday. Missouri had a week of rest to hone in the potential it displayed in its Week 3, 45-41 upset over LSU. Freshman quarterback Connor Bazelak, who started his first game of the season, completed a tremendous 85 percent of his passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Larry Rountree III also posted his best game of the season, rushing for 119 yards on 18 attempts. After missing last week when the Tigers were set to host Vanderbilt but ultimately did not due to Vandy being unable to field the minimum number of athletes, Missouri might

have some tricks up its sleeve despite being largely unproven. The Kentucky Wildcats have dominated the rushing game in the SEC. Six players had rushing attempts in last week’s showing against Tennessee, contributing to Kentucky’s average of 206 rushing yards per game. The Kentucky defense was key in last week’s performance, forcing two interceptions that were both returned for touchdowns. This allowed Kentucky to play its brand of football that chews through the clock. If Kentucky can continue to force mistakes on the opposing defense, their offensive game plan can be a serious issue for teams that cannot consistently make defensive stops. Prediction: Kentucky 35, Missouri 28

Prediction: Alabama 45, Tennessee 14

Auburn (2-2) at Ole Miss (1-3) Saturday, Oct. 24 — Vaught Hemingway Stadium — Oxford, Miss. 11 a.m. on SEC Network

Both Auburn and Ole Miss fell victim to upsets last week. Auburn’s 30-22 loss to South Carolina seems to have exposed the biggest issue for the Tigers. Quarterback Bo Nix has been unremarkable this year averaging 55 percent completion and 217 yards per game. Where he had excelled was in protecting the football, but as he threw three interceptions last week, this became questionable. Expect to see more conservative passing from Nix this week in attempts to bring his completion percentage up and limit turnovers against a weaker defense. Also, rushing attempts are likely to increase, as Nix has been a solid rusher. Running

back Tank Bigsby has averaged 6.1 yards per carry and could be leaned on more, especially after his two consecutive 100plus yard rushing games. Ole Miss might be facing very similar struggles to Auburn, or even more vividly, Mississippi State. Last week, quarterback Matt Corral, who had previously been exceptional, threw six interceptions in the 33-21 loss to Arkansas. After Arkansas exposed Mississippi State’s air raid and forced three interceptions in Week 2, Mississippi State has been winless. The same thing will happen to the Rebels unless they show the ability to adapt and adjust their gameplan. Prediction: Auburn 31, Ole Miss 24

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The Battalion | 10.22.20

OPINION

Creative Commons

Columnist Caleb Powell evaluates why Democrats and Republicans alike have been unable to pass a second COVID-19 stimulus bill.

Why can’t we get another stimulus bill passed? Columnist Caleb Powell discusses why Americans need a second round of stimulus checks Caleb Powell

@calebpowell23

don’t think anyone thought a onetime $1,200 check and extra unemployment benefits would serve as long-term relief for working-class Americans. Last month, Texas had an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent, up from 6.8 percent in August. Compounding the problem, the additional $600 benefits for the unemployed expired at the end of July. Many Texans did not qualify for additional extended benefits, indicating the problem isn’t going away for our state anytime soon. Considering 70 percent of Americans support an additional round of stimulus checks, we’re

left wondering why our politicians have left us floundering. To put the first stimulus package into perspective, let’s look at how it would affect an average college student: me. Since I’m a dependent, I didn’t receive a stimulus check in March. Even if I had, the $1,200 the CARES Act provided would have barely covered two months of my rent, let alone utilities and groceries. (Keep in mind, 120 million Americans also have credit card debt and 107 million need to make car payments as well). The stimulus checks are by no means a long-term solution — few people will last for more than a month on $1,200. When over 40 million Americans are facing evictions, it is clear the public needs relief, and they need it now.

Thankfully, both Democrats and Republicans believe the American people need additional economic relief. What bamboozles me, however, is the fact that they haven’t been able to pass another stimulus bill in months. It seems that even when we agree on something in this country, we still can’t do anything about it. Much of the disagreement between the two parties stems from how much money each respective side is willing to provide. The White House is willing to offer $1.9 trillion, but Democrats are pushing for a $2.2 trillion dollar package. Their bill would reinstate the weekly $600 extra unemployment benefits, provide another round of $1,200 checks and provide billions to state and local governments. Their bill would also refund

the Paycheck Protection Program, a loan which supports struggling small businesses. Lastly, Democrats want to inject over $200 billion into the education system and child care programs. GOP Senators, however, are only willing to consider a $500 billion package, about a quarter of what both Democrats and Trump administration are considering. Their bill would refund the Paycheck Protection Program. Moreover, it would provide an additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits but would not include more stimulus checks. Furthermore, Mitch McConnell hasn’t given a time frame for a vote on the Senate floor if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump eventually reach a deal. As such, there is the potential a vote wouldn’t occur for over a month even if Democrats and Republicans reach a consensus. The Senate has been embroiled in Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings, her final confirmation vote slated for Monday. Deciding who should succeed the notorious RBG is one of the Senate’s most significant responsibilities. However, Senate Republicans also left Antonin Scalia’s seat open for a record 422 days to block Merrick Garland’s nomination in 2016. They can afford to delay Barrett’s confirmation for a few weeks — because citizens’ needs should always come before politics. McConnell has supposedly stated that he wants Trump to avoid striking a deal with Democrats ahead of the election. He is concerned working on a new stimulus package would distract Republicans from campaigning, thus creating significant cracks within the party ahead of election day. GOP Senators shouldn’t be opposed to funding more stimulus checks. Almost two thirds of Republicans support a second wave of $1,200 checks, indicating the GOP is again more concerned with consolidating than representing their constituents. It’s clear the desire to maintain political dominance has superseded both the will and needs of the American people for McConnell. If we want to help other Texans avoid evictions and afford basic needs, we need to pressure Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to start focusing on passing a stimulus package. Many people in Texas cannot afford to wait until after the election for additional relief, and we need to act soon to ameliorate their suffering. Caleb Powell is a biomedical engineering sophomore and columnist for The Battalion.

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The Battalion | 10.22.20

Right time, right place Courtesy of Bailey Orr — Texas A&M Athletics

Sophomore defensive end DeMarvin Leal has totaled seven tackles, four quarterback hurries, one sack and one fumble recovery in 2020.

DeMarvin Leal is taking advantage of ‘right time, right place’ situations By Hannah Underwood @hannahbunderwoo Texas A&M senior offensive tackle Carson Green needs just three words to describe sophomore defensive end DeMarvin Leal: “A freak athlete.” Leal has certainly proved that on the field. So far this season, Leal has totaled seven tackles, four quarterback hurries, one sack and one fumble recovery. His most impressive accomplishment though, is an interception he managed to return 43 yards against Alabama. “First he picks the ball, he catches it, so that’s pretty impressive,” Green said. “Then he starts running and he does a hurdle when someone tackles him. He’s 300 pounds, that’s pretty impressive.” Leal said the success of his sophomore season

is simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. “All glory to God,” Leal said. “Just being in the right place at the right time, it’s supposed to happen. Fortunately, I’m there.” In 2019, Leal totaled 38 tackles, five quarterback pressures and a pair of sacks. He said his improvement this year isn’t a result of anything special. “I just go out and do what I need to do, play my game,” Leal said. “I don’t really focus on everything like my name and the hype behind it. I just go out and do my job.” Despite Leal’s humility, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said the sophomore’s success is a result of his dedication to his craft. “He has an unbelievably competitive nature,” Fisher said. “When he’s on the field, I don’t ever see him loaf for one second. I don’t care what drill it is, what we’re doing or how we do it. Those kinds of guys change [the] culture of an organization. They’re great players, and they’re highly recruited players who play...

with their effort and toughness.” Leal has also proven himself to be a versatile player for the Aggies, switching between defensive end and tackle during games. “Both of those positions, I love them both,” Leal said. “I’ve been playing them all my life, so being able to go inside and out, I really don’t care. It’s just like, ‘Let’s do it.’ It doesn’t matter when, where or how, I’m down.” Coming out of Judson High School in Converse, Texas, Leal was listed as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 player in Texas, according to 247sports. Despite receiving offers from Texas, Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and more, he chose to move just over 150 miles northeast to College Station. “I knew I wanted to come here from day one, since my freshman year, getting this offer,” Leal said. “I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I just wanted to explore and look around and make sure I was picking the right place, get all my pros and cons, making sure I was good myself going into college.”

Leal’s choice came down to one thing. “[A&M defensive end] coach [Terry] Price is the biggest reason,” Leal said. “That dude’s a legend. Being able to play with him behind my back, I knew I was going to be able to explode and prosper as an athlete.” Despite all the success Leal has had on the field, Green said his off-the-field improvement has been equally impressive. “Leal’s a great teammate,” Green said. “I don’t think anybody would say anything bad about him at all. He brings a lot of juice to the team, during practice he’s always yelling. I might not like it, it gets kind of annoying. He definitely brings the energy that we need and he’s making a bright future ahead. Especially as a leader. You can tell that a lot of people are looking up to him, and he’ll fill one of those leadership roles in the future.” Leal said the yelling he does during practice is to get the younger players used to the game atmosphere. “When you’re in the game and you go against other athletes, most of them, what they try to do is get into your head to mess up your game, try to distract you,” Leal said. “That’s my biggest thing, just trying to talk a whole bunch of mess to not only make them better, but to get them used to that so they won’t react in a negative way.” For Leal, being a leader starts with the personal relationships he develops with his teammates. “As a team, we’ve gone through a lot, and we’ve come together and closer than we were before,” Leal said. “Being able to speak to everybody, being able to get to know everybody’s names and know where they’re from, what they’re about, it went a long way.” While trying to step into his leadership position on the field, Leal was also dealing with the possibility of a canceled fall season. He said the Aggies are grateful they have a chance to play. “We worked so hard during this whole pandemic just to come back and play,” Leal said. “Our mentality as a team is to be great, to get those dubs.” In the middle of a challenging SEC slate, Leal said facing high-power offenses each week can get grueling. However, this challenge is exactly what he and his teammates signed up for. “It’s a challenge that we as a defense are ready for,” Leal said. “We already know what we signed up for when we signed our Letter of Intent. We came here to play SEC ball. We don’t see it as a challenge, we just see it as another offense and we’re trying to get after it every single time.”