WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2017 STUDENT MEDIA Margot Lee Shetterly, author of “Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race,” discussed her book at the 2017 Common Ground Reading Initiative event in Rudder Theater Monday Night.
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN HISTORY
C. Morgan Engel — THE BATTALION
“Hidden Figures” author gives speech on her inspiration, passion for history By Tenoch Aztecatl & Gracie Mock @tenochaztec & @g_mock2 Before it was a blockbuster movie, “Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race” was a book written by Margot Lee Shetterly that told the stories of the women who were the computers behind putting Americans in space. Shetterly was hosted by the College of Liberal Arts’ annual Common Ground Reading Initiative in Rudder Theater and spoke to a crowd of students, professors and other guests
about the unexpected success of her novel and her recently discovered value of history. The “Hidden Figures” movie was released on Dec. 26, 2016 and grossed over $231 million. It starred award-winning actresses Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe as mathematicians Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson, respectively. Shetterly said she was delighted with the film’s cinematic storytelling and historical accuracy. The author also said she found herself sitting on the edge of her seat as she watched the movie. “From the opening scenes of the movie until the end credits … I watched the movie as if I had never heard of Katherine Johnson
or Dorothy Vaughan or Mary Jackson,” Shetterly said. Shetterly spent much of her speech highlighting the hidden contributions made by black female NASA mathematicians in the early twentieth-century and analyzing one question in particular. “Why then, has it taken so long to tell their stories?” Shetterly said. “We could have turned Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden and all of their colleagues into professional role models.” Aerospace engineering senior Makiah Eustices said seeing Hidden Figures was important for her because she comes from a biracial family and people of color weren’t often showed
in movies in this field she is currently studying. “We didn’t really get to see those types of movies highlighting black people in science and math, so I was already excited about space and exploration,” Eustices said. “I was excited to share that with my family and they were excited to learn more. None of us knew that there was these women doing these great things at NASA.” Before writing, Shetterly graduated from the University of Virginia in 1991 and originally intended to pursue a career in investment banking. She worked as an investment banker in New York City for approximately five years before moving to Mexico with her husband, Aran, where they founded their HIDDEN FIGURES ON PG. 2
No. 1 men’s golf claims third straight tournament victory Tremendous third round earns the Aggies an 11-stroke victory at Marquette Intercollegiate By Jack Holmes @Jack_Holmes98
Courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics
No. 1 Texas A&M has won a school-record three straight tournaments after taking first place at the Marquette Intercollegiate. The Aggies won the tournament by 11 strokes over second place UCLA.
No. 1 Texas A&M men’s golf team won its third consecutive tournament at the Marquette Intercollegiate in Hartford, Wisconsin on Tuesday. The Aggies dominated, winning with a total score of 2-over-par 866, 11 shots better than runner-up UCLA. It has been a strong start to the year for A&M as the Aggies also won their first two events of the season, the Badger Invitational and the OFCC Fighting Illini Invite. The Aggies started this weekend slower than usual, firing a 5-over-par 293 in round one, leaving them in fourth place. However, scores of 1-under-par 287 and 2-under-par 288 in the closing rounds saw A&M climb to the top of the leaderboard by tournament’s end. “These guys were amazing today,” A&M head coach J.T. Higgins said to 12thMan.com. “Erin Hills was tough - the greens were dried out, firm and fast and the wind was howling. We didn’t have our best stuff early and we got off to a rough start, but they kept it together and had a great back nine to pull away and win
again. Eight-under on the home stretch of a U.S. Open course is great golf and I could not be more proud of this effort.” Josh Gliege led the Aggies this weekend, finishing in a tie for third at 2-over-par. The sophomore shot a team-best 4-under-par 68 in the final round to jump nine spots on the leaderboard. Gliege was first in par 5 scoring this weekend at 7-under-par and was one of only eight players to record an eagle. He also recorded the third-most birdies this week with 13. Gliege has now shot par or better in eight of his last nine rounds. Junior All-American Chandler Phillips impressed again, finishing in a tie for sixth at 1-over-par. He led par 4 scoring this weekend at 3-under-par and was tied for sixth in birdies, recording 11. Also sharing the sixth spot was Andrew Paysse who showed consistency this week, carding rounds of 72, 73 and 72. The senior was fifth in par 4 scoring for the tournament at 1-under-par and was also one of the eight players to hole an eagle along with teammate Gliege. Freshman Reese Ramsey had a promising start to his tournament and came into the final round sitting in a tie for fifth at even par. However, a final round score of 84 saw him tumble 33 positions on the leaderboard where he ended his tournament in a tie for 38th. GOLF ON PG. 2
Breast cancer luncheon honors survivors Annual “Surviving and Thriving” event held at A&M to kick off national Breast Cancer Awareness Month By Ashley Nagel @ashleynagel Texas A&M University Health Science Center and the Pink Alliance, a nonprofit breast cancer awareness and support organization, held their 15th annual breast cancer awareness Surviving and Thriving Luncheon on Tuesday, kicking off national Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the Brazos Valley. Dr. Carol L. Byington, dean of the Texas A&M College of Medicine, senior vice president of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and vice chancellor for health services of the A&M University System, said it’s important for A&M to be part of an initiative that helps raise money for cancer awareness and also empowers survivors. “Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women,” Byington said. “Texas A&M University Health Science Center is eager to support local breast health initiatives, further cancer awareness and serve breast cancer patients through low-cost mammograms.” A&M and the Pink Alliance joined together to help with innovative research and prevention efforts through the Surviving and Thriving Luncheon. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Pink Alliance has worked with other local businesses in campaigning and fundraising events. Patricia Gerling, Pink Alliance member, luncheon committee member and 15-year breast cancer survivor, said each year a breast cancer survivor is invited as a special guest for the luncheon to talk about their experiences with breast cancer and
treatment. This year’s special guest speaker is Amy Robach, news anchor for ABC’s “Good Morning America,” a breast cancer survivor and advocate. “We are very excited to welcome [Robach] to Aggieland,” Gerling said. “In October of 2013, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after having her first mammogram, broadcast live in front of millions of viewers, on ‘Good Morning America.’” The event brings together breast cancer survivors from around the Brazos Valley to share their stories and be in the company of women that have similar experiences. “We have had sellout attendance the past two years with 800 plus people [coming to see the guest speakers] Joan Lunden and Kendra Scott and are nearing a capacity crowd this year,” Gerling said. “We are all passionate about breast cancer awareness.” Over the past 14 years, Surviving and Thriving, working together with Pink Alliance, has raised more than $675,000 for breast cancer awareness, health initiatives and aid for recovering breast cancer patients within the Brazos Valley. The proceeds from Surviving and Thriving have been able to support Pink Alliance’s Grant Initiative since 2015. The initiative provides financial support for women in the Brazos Valley who need mammograms, breast cancer equipment and support for women without health insurance. It also offers local breast cancer patients mammography screening events. The funds raised by the Pink Alliance through the Surviving and Thriving Luncheon and other fundraising events throughout the year go directly back to local cancer centers, St. Joseph Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society of the Brazos Valley, to provide funding for awareness and recovery for breast cancer survivors. AWARENESS ON PG. 2
Spencer Russo — THE BATTALION
ABC’s Amy Robach was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.