The Battalion - October 2, 2017 by The Battalion

Silver Taps

The Oct. 3 Silver Taps will honor the students who died in the past month and those from the Sept. 5 ceremony that was canceled due to lightening.

Nikhil Bhatia 12/21/92 — 8/29/17

Shalini Singh 3/27/92 — 9/2/17

TUESDAY NIGHT WE HONOR THE FALLEN when 10:30 p.m. Tuesday where Academic Plaza In honor of Aggies who have died, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad will march in Academic Plaza and fire three rifle volleys of seven shots. Buglers from the Aggie Band will play a special arrangement of Taps.

Brian Bullock 4/29/96 — 7/4/17

Candace Benefiel 7/7/57 — 8/1/17

Sarah Flanagan 1/15/98 — 6/28/17

Benjamin Hopper 9/3/92 — 7/27/17

Caroline Killian 2/13/96 — 6/26/17

Mahmoud Ma’Arouf 9/8/78 — 6/13/17

Sapphire Jones 6/15/97 — 4/20/17

SILVER TAPS ON PAGE 3

A CLOSE CALL

Sophomore running back Trayveon Williams rushed for 56 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown in Saturday’s game against South Carolina.

A look at the Aggies’ strategy and outcome over Gamecocks By Angel Franco @angelmadison_

24-17

When the Aggies went into halftime, it was uncertain if they had enough in the tank to pull off the win. They struggled to move the ball down the field and seemed as if the defense was going to spend the majority of the game trying to contain South Carolina’s passing game. However, once back on the field for the second half, A&M turned it around and came back to defeat the Gamecocks 24-17. The biggest aspect of the game was how the Aggies were able to run the ball down the stretch and put pressure on South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley. In the last few weeks, the Aggies have found a lot of success when they run the ball. Saturday night, A&M rushed for 237 yards in comparison to South Carolina’s 23 yards. Its safe to say the Aggies have one of the most dynamic running back corps in the country. In addition to that, all of the Aggies’ touchdowns came on the ground. A&M running back Keith Ford pow-

ered through to the end zone totaling two touchdowns and 71 yards. Trayveon Williams also contributed to the Aggies success, rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown. Ford said the biggest thing that led to the Aggie’s success was their ability to keep their composure. “Even though we were down and facing adversity, we still fought,” Ford said. “We still had good composure. We were still positive. We weren’t going at each other. We stayed as a team and we executed. We knew if we executed we were going to get the win.” Although it may had not have seemed like it, Mond led the Aggies in rushing. His ability to extend plays late in the game was a critical component of A&M’s victory. The more Mond plays, the better he gets, there’s no other way to put it. He is a completely different player now than when he first debuted for the Aggies. Now with four starts under his belt, Mond is starting to grow into that dual-threat that can attack on the ground and through the air — like he should. Following the game, South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp said Mond’s ability to read the defensive scheme and adjust in the game ANALYSIS ON PG. 2 Spencer Russo — THE BATTALION

Reveille reigns as queen of NCAA Miss Rev named best live dog mascot in honor of responsible dog ownership day By Katherine Garcia @Katiegarcia2018

Jenny Hollowell — THE BATTALION

Biomedical science sophomore Jacob Scroggins became Reveille IX’s handler over last summer.

The highest ranking member of Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets has been named best college dog mascot by the NCAA. In celebration of dog ownership day on Sept.13, the NCAA counted down the best dog mascots in college football, and on the top of the list sat A&M’s mascot — Reveille. President Michael K. Young made a statement in an email interview about Reveille’s recognition. “For those who know and love Texas A&M University, it is no surprise that Reveille has been voted Best Mascot in the NCAA,” Young said. “Aggies everywhere share an incredible affinity for Reveille, as well as every time-honored tradition at Texas A&M. She is yet another example of what continues to make our campus truly unique.” Similar to many traditions at A&M, Reveille has

a humble beginning. In 1931, a group of cadets took in an injured dog on their way back from Navasota, according to Devin Lubin, human resource development senior and Traditions Council member. “They weren’t allowed to keep dogs,” Lubin said. “The dog sleeps through the night, and then the next morning, when they blow [the bugle call] Reveille to wake everybody up, the dog starts barking.” Lubin said after 30 of years of different dogs on campus, each given the name Reveille, the official mascot of A&M was adopted in 1960 in the form of a collie. The collie’s handler is always a sophomore in the E2 outfit of the Corps of Cadets, according to Lubin. Like past mascot corporals, biomedical science sophomore Jacob Scroggins started caring for Reveille IX over the summer to create a bond. He said Miss Rev is more than a mascot to the student body. “She represents the dog that everyone left at home,” Scroggins said. REVEILLE ON PG. 2

Senior Boot Bag Senior Boot Bag

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The Battalion | 10.2.17

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Spencer Russo — THE BATTALION

Kellen Mond and Keith Ford ran for a combined 165 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s win over South Carolina.

ANALYSIS CONTINUED Gamecocks faced on Saturday. “A lot of those were scrambles and a lot of those were in man-to-man coverage,” Muschamp said. “We got displaced in our gaps and we had a hard time running him down. They had a couple of designed quarterback runs and they did a nice job especially with the one third down before we made a stop when there was five minutes left to go in the game. He got bounced out of the gap in that situation and give Mond credit. He made some plays when he had to.” The Aggies found themselves trailing early in the game due to USC quarterback Jake Bentley’s ability to attract A&M’s weak spots in the secondary that led to big plays. It’s no secret that the A&M secondary is one of the weaker points on the A&M team. Once South Carolina figured out its best bet was to attack the Aggies through the air, Bentley continued to attack and ended up throwing for 256 yards while com-

pleting 17-of-30 passes. Not only that, Bentley was averaging about 15.1 yards a completion. Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said the USC offense was really effective, prompting the Aggies to change their defensive approach. “South Carolina decided that they couldn’t run it at all, so they just said we are going to throw it every snap which is not what they have been doing,” Sumlin said. “They threw it every snap and were effective doing it. We had to change some things and mix up some coverages in the second quarter after we gave up some yardage and big plays.” But when everything looked like it was going against A&M, the defense came in and made sure it gave the offense some time and room to work with. The defense held South Carolina after Christian Kirk mishandled a punt return which he fumbled and lost in the first quarter. That defensive stand is what led to South Carolina’s kicker Parker White missing the field goal and

keeping the game even at zero. In all, the Aggies recorded seven sacks in the game, bringing their season total to 20 and ranking them No. 2 nationally in sacks. A&M offensive lineman Erik McCoy said the defense was what kept them in the game especially when trailing. “They came out and they played awesome. In the second half, they put it on and enforced their will,” McCoy said. “Seeing them do that made us want to do the same thing. Them getting stops, after stop, after stop, makes us really want to score. They are doing their job, so we have to do ours.” A&M needed this defensive surge to happen considering the next opponent they are set to face — Alabama, who averages over 500 yards of total offense per game. The Aggies will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 7, as they host the No. 1 Crimson Tide at Kyle Field. Kickoff is set for 6:15 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

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THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (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.

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Reveille IX attended the Southwest Classic against Arkansas Sept. 23 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

REVEILLE CONTINUED home,” Scroggins said. Scroggins said he and other fellow cadets were enthusiastic at the NCAA’s decision. “We were all really excited about it,” Scroggins said. “We weren’t really surprised because she’s the most well taken [cared of] dog in the world. So we were excited, but we weren’t surprised.” According to Scroggins, when Reveille isn’t making appearances, she spends her time like any other dog would. “She knows when it’s business and when it’s playtime,” Scroggins said. “So once we put the blanket on her, she’s all business, but then back in the dorms we play with her in the hall, so stuff like that.” When she’s running down Kyle Field, according to Scroggins, Reveille never has any problem getting ready. She embraces the loud music and cheering crowd. “I think she’s the best. I think she handles it really well and I think that she performs each and every Saturday,” Scroggins said.

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SILVERTAPS

The Battalion | 10.2.17

Dec. 21, 1992 - Aug. 29, 2017

NIKHIL BHATIA Dedicated researcher who enjoyed all aspects of life By Emily Bost @EmmyBost

ikhil will be remembered by his family and friends for his unwavering willingness to help others, his expertise in his field of study and his openness for what life had to offer. After devoting his undergraduate and graduate studies to the field of water, Nikhil was about to begin his doctorate degree in water management and hydrological sciences at Texas A&M. Although he dedicated years to his field, which garnered him success and recognition from industry professionals and his peers, he centered his studies around helping others to learn and succeed. “He’s not proud of himself. He never shows it,” said Uvashree Mohandass, Nikhil’s friend and water management and hydrological sciences graduate student. “He had done so much as far as I know he loves teaching, he wants to teach and he was so excited about being a TA this semester…He would never agree, but he is a very good researcher and has published so many papers.” Nikhil served as a mentor and friend to those around him, always willing to help anyone who needed it.

PROVIDED

Nikhil Bhatia was a talented research with a passion for helping others.

“He was very caring and he used to treat us like brothers and he used to just help us and guide for what to do,” Shubham Jain, Nikhil’s roommate and water management and hydrological sciences graduate student said. Nikhil’s expertise in his field of study made him stand out among his peers and professors, Uvashree said. Before visiting a professor for help, Nikhil’s friends said they would go to him for help first. “I think he is the only person in the entire water department whom all the professors knew by name,” Sayantan Samanta, Nikhil’s

roommate and water management and hydrological science graduate student said. “All the professors knew him by name because of his academic success … he was one of the brightest students in our program.” His passion for research and love for travel led him around the globe to various research conferences and vacation destinations. He spent six months in Canada for an internship and spent time in Mexico, Singapore and China traveling and researching. “He was excellent at his academics … He went to Canada on a summer internship and

very few students get that and he got that from the university [in India],” Shubham said. “He was an excellent student and he worked on his thesis and he was going to do his Ph.D. in the field of water.” Outside of his studies, Nikhil spent his time cooking elaborate recipes and making up innovative ones of his own, according to Siddharth Singh, Nikhil’s friend and water management and hydrological sciences graduate student. He often cooked biriyani, his favorite Indian dish made with chicken and Indian spices, to share with his friends. When he didn’t feel like cooking, Nikhil and his friends would go out to local Mexican food restaurants in College Station, eat at Antonio’s on Northgate or grab burgers from The Pavilion on campus, Siddharth said. Nikhil’s favorite sport was cricket and he would stay up through the night with his roommates and friends to watch India’s national cricket team play back-to-back matches against Pakistan. He and his friends would play their own cricket matches on the basketball court at College Main Apartments. Siddharth said Nikhil was a genius whose legacy will live on in the memories of his family and friends, and even in those that did not know him personally, for his academic contributions to his field of study. “I have heard from many professors that the water industry as a whole has lost a very valuable person,” Shubham said. “He would have achieved a lot in the field.”

June 15, 1997 - April 20, 2017

SAPPHIRE MARIE JONES Brilliant scholar driven by her love of others By Brad Morse @Bradsmorse53

apphire Jones is remembered for her undeniable intelligence, desire to help her fellow Aggies and her want to make the world a brighter place.

To help her achieve her ambitions, Sapphire Jones volunteered at the Student Counseling Services HelpLine and had plans to attend medical school following her graduation. MaryAnn Jones, Sapphire’s mother, said she will always remember Sapphire’s love and respect for her family. “She was super sweet, for me, she never treated me, or her sisters, disrespectfully,” MaryAnn said. “I really think a lot of that was just, Sapphire was so easy going, she wasn’t that kind of person who got upset.” MaryAnn added that Sapphire was a loyal friend, who was able to maintain friendships even when rifts in her friend group came around. She said Sapphire did not allow others to sway her opinions of her friends, and stayed close to those who she cared about. “She was always, always there for her friends,” MaryAnn said. “She just honored her friendships that much, she was that kind of person.” An academic stalwart, Sapphire majored in psychology and was awarded a full scholarship.

PROVIDED

Sapphire Jones will be remembered for embodying the Aggie spirit and her passion for others.

By her sophomore year, she was a member of several prestigious honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Pi National Society of Leadership and Success, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Among her bevy of achievements, her admission to the Texas A&M’s Pre-Med Fellows Program, a program that is offered to 10 sophomores each year and guarantees an early admission to Texas A&M College of Medicine, stands out. “She was incredibly bright,” Susan Vavra, HelpLine coordinator, said. “Her admission

to the Pre-Med Fellows program, she was one of the 10 who got into that program. One of the things that [admissions to the program] shared with me, was that when she interviewed for one of those 10 spots, it was a unanimous decision for them to bring her into that program.” Tim Jones, Sapphire’s father, said that Sapphire’s love for others bled into other areas of her life, including animals and pets. “The thing that makes Sapphire Sapphire, is that she was just a humble and caring person,” Tim said. “She had this incredible fondness for animals. She would spend every weekend

going to the humane society and caring for pets. Caring, for her, is just something that she did.” Tim said that her empathy for the plight of others is what drove to to volunteer at the HelpLine, and that she once cited completing the training as the proudest moment of her life. An aspiring physician, Susan said that Sapphire would have gone on to help more people after her undergrad and medical school graduations. “One of the things that hurts my heart so much is thinking about what a great Aggie doctor she would have made,” Susan said. “She just made really easy connections with people, and when I think about what the world is going to miss out by her not being able to have patients of her own, that part of it just … she would have been fantastic in that role.” MaryAnn said that of all the memories she has of Sapphire, one in Ireland stands out. “I often smile to myself, we were in Ireland one time, and we had been like two hours, so we got out to admire the view,” MaryAnn said. “She just got out of the car and started sprinting, like a wild pony. And it was so beautiful … like a young colt, she was just running. All the bystanders were just looking at these two beautiful girls just running in the fresh air. It was such a beautiful sight. The freedom and the expression of that spirit, makes me smile.”

March 27, 1992 - Sept. 2, 2017

SHALINI SINGH A kind-hearted, energetic problem solver By Sanna Bhai @BhaiSanna

halini Singh will be remembered for her ravishing personality, eagerness to help and confidence in herself and the the people around her. She always strived to be the best version of herself and highlighted the best aspects of others, from her friends to her family. Her bright personality impacted so many lives.

There is a saying in Delhi, India, “Dil walon ki Delhi,” which means people from Delhi are big hearted. Shalini was the epitome of this saying. She had a big heart and would go to any length to help others. Dharmraj Giri, graduate student in epidemiology and a friend of Shalini’s said even though he had first connected with her online in India and had not met in-person then, she assured him that he would travel with him to Texas A&M when his I-20 was delayed. “She would always tell me not worry and that we all will fly together to A&M and to

PROVIDED

Shalini Singh was a soulful person with an energetic personality, who lit up the room.

get other things ready, as I waited for my I-20 arrives,” Dharmraj said. “She would always tell me that it’ll get done even before I know it. Certainly you know how kind and nice she was, if she was like this to people she has met only on the phone.” When he first met her, they spoke like they had known each other for years. Dharmraj said that she made the transition for him and many others smooth and easy with her invit-

ing personality and helpful attitude. Strong willed, independent, and a dreamer are three adjectives her friend of eight years, and graduate student in epidemiology, Ranu Chouhan, said described Shalini. In every room she entered, there was an aura surrounding her, drawing people near; it was impossible to miss her with her striking personality and affection for others, Ranu said. Her presence not only had an effect on

people, but also on animals. They had a special place in their life, from her dog, Tomma, who died a year exactly before her, to strays roaming the streets. Even at her short time at Texas A&M, she made plenty of animal friends, said Ranu. Throughout her life, she was always full of energy and ready to face everything head on. She never left the house without being properly dressed up, even if it was just an errand to run. She always wanted to look her best. “She was usually just high on life, I would sometimes joke with her that she did not have blood running through her veins, it must be something else that keeps you so energized all the time,” Ranu said. She was the life of her family and immensely close to her brother, Ranu said and that losing Shalini, she had lost a part of her. Shalini and her brother had an incredibly strong relationship. They depended on her for every small problem. Although being in India, if he had a problem, the first person he would call was Shalini. She would always have a solution for him. They were best friends before siblings, and were inseparable. “My heart is completely broken at this immense loss and I firmly believe we are all a little less because of it,” Ranu said. “The world is a little less bright without her in it.”

Editor’s note: In the Sept. 4 Silver Taps issue, Sapphire Jones’ memorial did not have a photo included due to an inability to reach her parents before publication. At the request of her family, we are running her story again with a photo and quotes from her parents.

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The Battalion | 10.2.17

A Step In, Stand Up workshop was held in April to educate students on how to support sexual violence survivors.

START OF A CONVERSATION FILE

Step In. Stand Up. speaker series to raise awareness about sexual assault By Tyler Snell @Tyler_Snell2 Hoping to foster more conversation, Step In. Stand Up. will be hosting renowned violence prevention activist Jackson Katz on Wednesday, Oct. 4 and Thursday, Oct. 5. Katz has spoken across the U.S. and the world about topics relating to issues of gender, race and violence, and is also a leading figure in gender violence prevention in professional and college sports and the military. He will host six lectures over the two days which will be held in Gates Ballroom in the Memorial Student Center. “Dr. Katz is a pioneering researcher in issues related to men and masculinity and gender realms,” said Heather Wheeler, Women’s Resource Center program coordinator. “I think he really brings a fresh perspective in addressing some of the issues in our various communities.” Some topics to be discussed by Katz include Blurred Lines: Sex and Violence in Media and Real Life, Violence Against Women is a Men’s Issue and Gender on the Agenda: The Socialization of Children in a Culture of Violence, among others. “I’m excited for the range of different au-

diences I am going to be speaking to both students, faculty and staff,” Katz said. “I am going to get the chance to work with a lot of different people in a short amount of time in both intimate settings and public lecture settings.” Harrell hopes students and community members that attend the lectures will be able to start more conversations pertaining to gender violence and sexual assault. “We are in a learning environment, and part of the purpose of any education that we receive here is to give us different lens to look at and see how that fits in our own lens walking into the room in the first place,” Harrell said. “Hopefully, students will take that conversation and engage in dialogue with their peers when they leave.” Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Smith said Katz’s lectures will provide a great opportunity for students to be more aware of sexual assault issues on campus. “I am most excited that this is another opportunity to make our students aware of sexual assault,” Smith said. “It’s such a great educational opportunity for our students and community to become aware of the issues and to facilitate conversation.” Associate Director in the Dean of Student Life Kristen Harrell said Katz was chosen after some smaller discussion groups used his book. “We thought Dr. Katz was a good fit, and we had used his book with a number

of students to try to help educate on issues like interracial violence and violence against women,” Harrell said. “We thought that he would be able to speak well to the population in a non-combative manner on these topics.” Wheeler said Katz was originally only planned for one day but decided to make it two in order to reach a larger number of students and community members. “One of the biggest roles we had to go through was fundraising to be able to bring him here,” Wheeler said. “It has been a lot of reaching out to different parts of the campus community to advertise the event and to get people involved in planning and encouraging people to come to the event.” The Step In. Stand Up. program works to bring more awareness to sexual assault on campus, and Harrell hopes Katz’s speech will only add to the current programs and dialogue. “I think [the speech] with combination with other work we are doing on campus will help bring a light to the broader climate of violence that happens in a society and in a culture, and folks can understand the bigger implication of even the language that we oftentimes use,” Harrell said. “We may continue to shift in what I think we have already been positively doing on A&M’s campus by fostering a culture of respect and integrity and really connecting with the core values of the institution.”

PROVIDED

Jackson Katz, violence prevention activist, to speak on campus later this week.

Entrepreneurs of Aggieland gather for their First Look event StartUp Aggieland offers students the opportunity to pitch and gain traction for their business ideas By Skye Lovelady @skyelovelady On Sept. 27, StartUp Aggieland, a program in the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship, hosted its first event introducing new business pitches and network opportunities. Blake Petty, director for the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship, said the event was the first look at the teams that applied for StartUp Aggieland and the first time they could pitch their business ideas. “So it’s important to note that yes, we are based out of the Mays Business School, but we are charged with assisting, supporting and marinating all entrepreneurs all across campus, no matter if they have an idea, if they have a business, an existing business, or if they are just curious about what it means to become an entrepreneur,” Petty said. Petty said that the McFerrin Center is the hub for entrepreneurship here at Texas A&M. “Startup Aggieland is one of the programs under the McFerrin Center … it is our accelerator for new companies,” Petty said. “It is the spot where entrepreneurial students can come meet, meet each other, test their ideas, change their ideas, build their business, build their teams … you can literally launch and grow your business while you are a student.” The McFerrin Center and Startup Aggieland is not just a place to proof the hundreds of business idea that come through them, it is a place where the staff goes beyond that and teaches the students to proof their own ideas before pitching them, according to Petty. “So we help students understand the principle of fail and fail fast, so that you don’t waste your time on an ideas that never is going to make it to market,” Petty said. “What we do is teach them the skills to evaluate which ideas they should continue pursuing.” Jose Quintana, Class of 1986, helped restore the Ice House on Main where the event was hosted. Quintana is the president of Advent GX, a community development and historic innovations company. “We have a business and technology incubator where we help about 52 companies grow, you know baby companies,” Quintana said. “So this happens to be one of our buildings. We rescue old buildings and make them accessible to the community.” The 107-years-old Ice House is located in the north end of historic Downtown Bryan. JT Natenstedt, engineering freshman and Caleb Feste, business administration freshman, started their own business called HighFive Protection and were invited to join StartUp Aggieland. They created a glove, called it the Stun Gun, that acts like a taser, however they have redesigned it to fit and function better. “What it is it’s a glove that is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, and it houses a powerful but discreet stun gun in the knuckles,” Natenstedt said. “And so what it does is it allows anybody, regardless of technical training or physical ability, to protect themselves in a moment’s notice, which is something that other products on the market lack.” Their idea began approximately a year ago in their business incubator classroom at Westlake High School in Austin, Tex-

Skye Lovelady— THE BATTALION

StartUp Aggieland hosted their first event of the semester at the Ice House on Main in Bryan.

as. They had 38 teams and only two were awarded $3,000 for their idea. Feste and Natenstedt won. Rusty Burson worked for The 12th Man Foundation from 1996 to 2014, and is the author of “The Entrepreneurial Spirit of Aggieland,” which is a collection of entrepreneurial and business stories from people all over Aggieland. “I had student workers who were so bright and ambitious, and I always wanted to figure out is there a way that I can connect these great entrepreneurs who I met and was raising money from and so forth, with the students,” Burson said. “Then by chance, and this is a God thing, a total God thing, I picked up The Battalion one day and there was an article about a new organization called StartUp Aggieland.” Burson has written 22 books, most of them relating to The 12 Man Foundation, and was ready to publish something dif-

ferent. Burson met with Startup Aggieland and shared his vision of the book about the entrepreneurial spirit that flowed through A&M, and all he asked for in return was their support and said that he would give 100 percent of the proceeds to Startup Aggieland. He was inspired from a book called Traveler’s Gift, by Andy Andrews, that expressed that there is more learned from other people than from experience. “If we can learn from people without having to make the same mistakes … that’s true knowledge, that’s why I kind of got this vision,” Burson said. “All of these [entrepreneurs in the book] went through amazing hardships and difficult times … So I just wanted to try and inspire students that if you [have] a business idea don’t wait, and go for it.”

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The Battalion | 10.2.17

A rendering of the Leach Teaching Garden shows the seven and a half acre space that will feature and event lawn, butterfly gardens, nut orchards and more.

New garden addition to campus plans to open next semester PROVIDED

The project seeks to create a green space to preserve the nature of A&M By Rachel Bowerman @rlbowerman Phase I of the Texas A&M University Gardens is set to open in Spring 2018 and will feature a pavilion, an event lawn, the Leach Teaching Gardens and more, giving residents a new outlet to gather and connect with nature. The Gardens project began more than 20 years ago with Dean Mark Hussey’s vision to preserve the campus’ flora and scenic landscapes. The Texas A&M University Board of Regents allocated the 40 acres of land surrounding the Agriculture and Life Sciences Complex to realize his vision in 1998.

The project manager for the Gardens, horticulturist Joseph Johnson, Class of 1988, said he has been involved with the project since its infancy. When Johnson was a student at A&M, Mark Hussey had discussed plans for the garden years before the land was set aside. “I got really interested in the idea when I was a student,” Johnson said. “I kept in touch with Dr. Hussey about it over the years and that’s how I got here.” The first phase of the initiative will occupy seven-and-a-half acres of the nearly 40 acre space designated for the project and will feature a pavilion, an event lawn, the Leach Teaching Gardens and more. This phase will cost around $9 million and has been funded largely by donations, as well as by the University’s maintenance endowment. “Right now the project is under the gener-

al contract of Quad-Tex Construction, which is a local company and they have done various projects here on campus and they have numerous subcontractors as well, a lot of them are local — and they also subcontracted out a company by the name of Landscape Art who’s doing the landscape installations and they’re out of League City,” Johnson said. According to Johnson, once this first stage of the project is completed, students, faculty and the general public alike will be able to enjoy the spacious outdoor facility. “We’re creating a wonderful learning space with the Leach Teaching Gardens,” Johnson said. “It will have some private landscapes, vegetables, fruit and nut orchards, some bee and butterfly gardens, vineyards. There’s about 25 vignettes within the seven-and-ahalf acres under construction.” The teaching gardens will offer a variety

of learning opportunities and are named in honor of Tim Leach who serves on the Texas A&M Engineering Advisory Council, and his wife Amy, who serves as his co-chair in the “Lead By Example” program. “We’re calling this first phase the teaching gardens so there will be a lot of opportunities for like outdoor teaching labs and things like that — horticulture classes, landscape demonstrations and things like that,” Johnson said. Johnson said this new space will have an impact on the relationship between A&M and the Bryan-College Station community through offering another venue space, providing information on the region’s horticulture. “We hope that The Gardens will be like the Central Park of the university,” Johnson said.

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an ad Phone 979.845.0569 Suite L400, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University

FOR RENT 203 Luther $2000. Beautiful 4/3/2 in historic area of College Station just a few blocks from campus. Completely renovated with wood & tile flooring throughout. 979777-5436 2804 Arroyo Court North $1590 3/2/2 with new tile floors throughout. Open plan with fireplace & large backyard. 979-7775436 2bd/2ba cozy condo 3-blocks from campus, fenced backyard, w/d connections, over 1000sqft, no HUD, $645/mo total. 506-B College Main 254-289-0585 254-289-8200

When

to call 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day

FOR RENT Wonderful 3/2 home located in Edelweiss off Rock Prairie. Great for 3 roommates, spacious backyard, $1350/mth. Call Gracie Liu 979-229-9278 Northgate 1/1, 2/2, 3/2, and 3/3 & 3/2 house, parking free, walk to campus. aggievillas.net Available now. Special price for January. Call 979-255-5648.

SPECIAL

see ads at thebatt.com

Private Party Want ads

$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.

HELP WANTED

Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $75-$150/hr, up to $500/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com Cheddar's and Fish Daddy's now accepting applications. Apply within, University Dr. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for interview.

Little Caesars Pizza now hiring pizza makers, apply in person at either Southwest Parkway or Boonville location. Part-time programmer needed. Expertise with Apple preferred. Pay is negotiable. For more information, contact jsell@tamu.edu.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED Part-time/Full-time help needed at Bell Fence Supply, pipe cutting, forklift operation, possible welding, etc, will work with school hours/schedule, call Doug Tucker at 979-703-8901 to schedule interview. Pianist needed for Sundays 9:15am-10:45am and chorus practice on Wednesdays 5:30pm6:30pm, $75/week, contact Charlie Ray 979-200-1552 or 979-778-1554. Work around your class schedule! No Saturday or Sundays, off during the holidays. The Battalion Advertising Office is hiring an Advertising Sales Representative. Must be enrolled at A&M and have reliable transportation. Interested applicants should come by our office located in the MSC, Suite 400, from 8am-4pm, ask to speak with Joseph.

$12/hr, Set your own schedule, Daytime/Evening/Weekend spots available, Apply Online at collegestationmaid.com

ANSWERS

MISCELLANEOUS Bored? Like to laugh? Need water to survive? If you said yes, READY SET COMEDY PODCAST is for you!

REAL ESTATE BUY/SELL with Team McGrann! Michael, TAMU'93 Civil Engineering 979-739-2035, mcgranntx@yahoo.com Nadia 979-777-6211, Town&Country Realty. Hablamos Espanol!

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battalion

Classifieds

Call 845-0569 To Place Your Ad

GET YOUR PHOTO TAKEN TODAY FOR THE 2018 AGGIELAND! Specialties Photography will be set up to have your FREE portrait taken for Texas A&M University’s 2018 Aggieland yearbook.

Should any student be unable to make the specified times on campus they can contact Specialties directly to set up a complimentary in-studio appointment at 979-696-9898.

ALL CLASSES: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Thursday in the Sanders Corp Museum Library until October 19th!

Any graduating seniors who wish to set up a cap/gown photo will need to contact the studio at 979-696-9898. Cap/Gown sessions cost $21.95.

It’s your yearbook. Be in it.

LIFE&ARTS

The Battalion | 10.2.17

MAPS prepares its members for professional school, career Community, mentorships created to help students By Deborah Anderaos @deborahanderaos Since 2014, The Minority Association of Pre-Medical and Pre-Health students (MAPS) at Texas A&M has set its goal to increase the number of students who get into medical school throughout the country. MAPS achieves this ambition by pairing its members with current mentors from A&M’s medical school, encouraging members to focus on volunteering and organizing in sending their members to yearly medical conferences. MAPS president and biomedical science senior MaKenzie Lee said MAPS members hold a lot of pride in their volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club and the Brazos Valley Food Bank. Anabel Adu, biology junior and social chair of MAPS, said volunteering is an important step in gaining critical communication skills that are needed for working in the medical field. “As a health professional, it is not going to be all about you, we are going to be helping other people,” Adu said. “Volunteering is important not just for our medical school applications but also so the members can have opportunities to help out in the community. This helps our members solidify that this is what you will be doing in the future.” Lee said the main benefit of being in MAPS is being able to get insight from the mentorship pairing program. Adu said the focus on having a mentorship pairing is to give members insight into the world of medical school that they would not otherwise receive. Princess Draine, general studies sophomore and second-year member of MAPS, said the benefit of having a mentor is an aspect of the organization she values.

“Having a mentor at A&M’s medical school is so helpful because we can ask them questions and know that they have already gone through the whole medical school application process,” Draine said. While Draine said the mentorship program has been influential, she said the biggest benefit for her has been learning how to network at the various medical conferences MAPS members attend. “I got to spend four days with MAPS at a medical conference in Georgia last semester,” Draine said. “We got to go to the conferences with our mentors from A&M’s medical school which made the event even more fun.” In addition to conferences and mentorships, Adu said as an organization they wanted to focus on the social aspect of MAPS as well by creating the first MAPS Week this year. The events included a profit share at Yogurtland, an OPSA presentation, study night, game night and ended the week by volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club. “Our events are all about our new members getting the chance to bond with the officers,” Adu said. “I know this week was test week so having a game night for members to come and hang out while getting to know other members and officers in MAPS was really nice.” Lee said she hopes that the MAPS Week events lead to closer relationships between members and officers and provide a welcoming environment for potential new members interested in joining. “MAPS is an organization where we strive to foster good relationships among our members,” Lee said. “It is a tight-knit community and it is by far the most intimate pre-medical setting that you can get at A&M. You get to be surrounded by students who are just like you who are all striving towards a common goal.”

Kinesiology sophomore (left) De’Jah Morgan and Jennifer Richard, pre-medical and psychology senior and vice president of MAPS converse at their meeting. Photos by Hanna Hausman — THE BATTALION

AGGIELAND YEARBOOK

It’s not too late to order your copy of the 2017 Aggieland Yearbook, a photojournalistic record of the 2016-2017 school year. The 115th edition of Texas A&M’s

Official Yearbook will be available before the holidays. Go online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase.

$75.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)

Don’t forget to preorder your copy of the 2018 Aggieland yearbook. The 116th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Ordering can be done online at aggieland.tamu.edu, or by calling 979-845-2613. Distribution will be the Fall 2018.

2016 Aggielands and previous yearbooks are now on sale. Stop by room L400 in the MSC or call 979-845-2613. $40.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)