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BATTLING BAMA AGGIES FACE CRIMSON TIDE SATURDAY By Heath Clary @Heath_Clary Texas A&M will play its second-straight home contest Saturday as No. 1 Alabama comes to Kyle Field for a primetime evening kickoff at Kyle Field. Both teams are fresh off SEC wins, with the Aggies (4-1, 2-0 SEC) defeating South Carolina 31-24 in a hard-fought game, while the Crimson Tide (50, 2-0 SEC) dominated Ole Miss 66-3. A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said his team will not change its demeanor simply because of the high-profile adversary. “Our emphasis of what we’re doing here is not going to change because of the opponent,” Sumlin said at Tuesday’s press conference. “We’ve approached things like that since Week 1. We’ve got goals every week internally that we’re trying to reach and I think this team responds to that – trying to get a little bit better every week.” Alabama poses serious threats to the Aggies both offensively and defensively. The Tide ranks first in the SEC in total offense with over 500 yards per game and also lead the conference in scoring defense, yielding a meager 8.6 points per contest so far this season. The Crimson Tide offense, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and receiver Calvin Ridley, have yet to turn the ball over this year, and winning the turnover battle will be crucial for the Aggies if they want to knock off the nation’s top team. “That will be huge,” defensive end Landis Durham, who leads the Aggies with 5.5 sacks, said. “We’re looking forward to changing that for them.” Kellen Mond continues to develop as a passer for the Aggies. The freshman signal-caller completed over 70 percent of his passes against the Gamecocks last week while also rushing for a team-leading 95 yards, and he seems to look more comfortable every week in Noel Mazzone’s offensive. PREVIEW ON PG. 3 C. Morgan Engel — THE BATTALION
Clery Report shows spike in offenses Security statistics point to increase in incidents By Savannah Mehrtens @SJMehrtens
COURTESY
Business administration freshman Rebecca Weathers met Reveille IX Thursday night for a private photo-op following previous encounter.
Reveille incident response University, student address story of surprising snapshot By Luke Henkhaus @luke_henkhaus An image of Reveille IX appearing to snap at a student while they posed for a photo garnered attention on Twitter Thursday morning, provoking a swarm of response and speculation from commenters. Neither Reveille nor anyone present was harmed, Texas A&M University Spokesperson Amy Smith confirmed. Those who later gave accounts of the event reported that Reveille’s paw or tail may have accidentally been stepped on, causing her to snap, Smith said. “From the photos, she was surrounded by what I see as well-meaning Aggies who were hugging and sometimes grabbing or petting her from behind and that might have scared her,” Smith said. Business administration freshman Rebecca Weathers, the student pictured next to Reveille, said she and around 20 other people met Reveille during a photo-op organized by Weathers’ Kappa Alpha Theta big and the presence of so many students, many of whom had not met the mascot previously, could easily have become overwhelming.
“I just approached her to take a picture from the side so I don’t think she got a good glimpse of me before I went to take a photo of her, so I think she just wasn’t very sure who I was and that would be scary for me too if someone I didn’t know tried to take a picture with me and I didn’t see them beforehand,” Weathers said. Weathers and Reveille met again for private photo shoot Thursday night. The pair posed on a couch together and Weathers said she enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the mascot in a more serene setting. Weathers even got to fed Reveille one of her favorite snacks – cheese. “My experience today, it was just me and Rev and a few other people, like the handler, and it was honestly just awesome,” Weathers said. Respecting boundaries and taking care not to create an overwhelming or surprising experience is important when meeting any animal, Smith said – even one as well trained as the First Lady of Aggieland. “She’s got a good temperament, but any animal that is grabbed from the side or from behind or stepped on might snap and so she snapped,” Smith said. “I think it’s a lesson to all of us that this is not somebody in a costume. This is a real animal.”
The information contained within the 2017 Annual Security Report released by the University Police Department on Sept. 29 shows increased tallies of incidents reported under the files of rape offenses, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Each offense has a different definition for how incidents can be marked. These statistics are then classified by five different categories in three constitutive years as on campus property, on campus student housing facilities (a subset of the on campus category), non-campus property, public property and unfounded crimes. The statistics are not broken down by any socioeconomic indicators, rather each count is a single incident of that report. “It is very complicated,” UPD Lt. Bobby Richardson said about to the way the statistics are reported and classified. Essentially, if one person reports incident cases of an offense in one sitting, but the type of incident varies or incidents occurred at different times and places, they are filed as the total number of incidents and not the singular reporter. “If there is a separation in time and space, it is considered a separate event,” Richardson said. Although systems such as required Haven training, Step In. Stand Up. and CLEAR workshops have provided the opportunity for increased awareness among students, sexual assault related offenses are still underreported, according to Richardson. “We know statistics show that sexual assault goes underreported,” Richardson said. “So
there’s a lot of programs, not just through the police department but the university uses to bring people’s attention and educate them about what it is and make them more aware.” Stalking reports have greatly jumped from 21 on campus reports with 10 in residential facilities in 2015 to 76 on campus reports with 19 in residential facilities in 2016. Stalking is expansively defined in its formatting to include actions or conduct towards a specific person to cause suffering or anguish of the victim in any way, therefore allowing many cases to be filed under this label. Additionally, domestic violence cases have increased from 8 on campus with 2 in residential facilities in 2015 to 15 on campus with 12 in res-
idential facilities in 2016. Dating violence increased from 13 on campus with 9 in residence facilities in 2015 to 17 on campus with 6 in residence facilities in 2016. “It’s hard for us to do anything unless it’s being reported,” Richardson said. “I think a lot of that is due to the Step In. Stand Up. program. The CLEAR office has done a really good job of awareness and education. The best thing that we want people to know is that if they don’t want to call the police, there are other options available.” Rape offenses have increased from 13 with 11 of those in residential facilities in 2015 to 30 with 25 of those in residential facilities in 2016, and non-campus increase from 2 offenses in 2015 REPORT ON PG. 2
Josh McCormack, Editor in Chief 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. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@ thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt. com. 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.
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One of the reasons this rule is being put in place by Alternative Transportation Services is to prevent bike theft.
Bike registration to become mandatory Transportation services looks to build a more complete database By Kenya Robinson @_KenyaJ
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Mandatory bike registration will go into effect next month in order to have a more accurate database of bikes on campus. Beginning Nov. 1, Texas A&M Transportation Services will require all students, faculty and staff to complete full registration of their bikes. Cyclists can register their bikes for free online until Oct. 31. After Nov. 1, all campus bike riders must pay a one time fee of $10 to register each bike. Ron Steedly, manager of Texas A&M Alternative Transportation Services, said this new bike registration will allow Transportation Services to know exactly who is riding their bike on campus and make it easier to communicate with the cycling community. Steedly went onto say optional bike registration has caused issues in the past, such as when it came to identifying the owner of bikes that were stolen or
locked. “Customers would register their bikes but never put the registration sticker on their bikes,” Steedly said. “Without the registration sticker being displayed, we still have no way of knowing who owns the bike or a way of communicating with them. If a bike is registered, this is an easy process. If not, proof of ownership may prove more difficult for the bicycle owner.” According to Steedly, there is a chance that the $10 registration fee will increase in the next few years in order to fund the bike program, which includes the fix-it stations and the borrow a bike service that is free of charge for all Texas A&M affiliates. “Even from the beginning, the registration fee has not been set to cover the complete cost of the bike program,” Steedly said. “We have intentionally set it lower to help ease into the change. The registration cost and sticker is a one-time requirement. It is not an annual fee.” Steedly said that local and university police would also benefit from a more complete database of bicycle information, especially one that includes serial numbers. UPD Community service
officer Lt. Bobby Richardson said a complete database is exactly what the campus needs. “This new registration system is beneficial for us as a police department and it’s beneficial for the students,” Richardson said. “The biggest problem we had is when students would register their bikes and not put enough information in the database. If you’re only putting the brand name of your bike and no more information in the system, that really doesn’t help us. With registration being mandatory, that would help us tremendously.” President of the TAMU cycling team Charles Arnold said although the new registration could help reduce theft, he is more concerned about his safety when riding his bike throughout campus. “I know they have good intentions to provide programs for people,” Arnold said. “But the main thing for me at least, I just want to feel safe when I ride into school. Some areas on campus don’t even have bikes lanes. The services that help us find our bikes, fix our bikes and other things, I mean that’s great, but I really just want to feel safe on bike.”
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to 3 in 2016. Martha Garcia Opersteny, execuutive direcTHE tor of the Sexual Assault Resource Center, RICHARDS said GROUP she believes that more offenses are being reported rather than an increase of incidents. TRG JOB: SBU-18-0208 “I believe there’s a lot more awareness, CLIENT: and that is probably the reason for the inSMU crease,” Opersteny said. “It’s my opinion AD NAME: and my hope that it’s not that the number of Origami Newspaper incidents are more frequent, but that people PUBLICATION: are Battalion learning that it’s OK to report, that it’s Texas A&M important INSERTION DATE(S):for them to report what happened 10/6/17to them, or to others.” TRIM: The victims report will never go under 4.9375investigation (3 col) x 10.5 if the perpertrator’s name is LIVE: not provided. According to Jennifer Smith, Same as trim the Title IX Coordinator, the victim of the BLEED: N/A crime can report or seek help without having to identify themselves on public record. COLOR: “It would end up in that annual crime re4cp port that you referenced, but it would only QUESTIONS: Kathleen Pendergast show up in the report as a number that some214-891-2918 body made a report that they were sexually assaulted,” Smith said. Some resources for victims include reporting the incident to the UPD, the Title IX office and the Sexual Assault Resource Center, student counseling services and staff at the student health services. These are confidential reports and can be filed under the alias “Jane Doe” or “John Doe.”
“If a student has had something happen to them, that there are options and there are resources for them out there,” Smith said. “They can call me, they can call the dean of students and they can talk to student counseling, or to the folks at the medical center, and you know, we can help them.” Even though the crime reports only show a tally of reports without details of the reporter, victim or perpetrator, many are presumed to still remain unreported. “I think all of those crimes, sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, are all underreported,” Opersteny said. “Even with the increase, and we see that awareness is going up, it’s becoming OK to report, there are still a lot of people that are not reporting. I would guesstimate that it’s probably still maybe 70 percent not reporting.” If victims of an offense do not want to file a report, they have the option of going to the student counseling services or to SARC for guidance help after such incidents. Opersteny said that if victims are seeking help, SARC resources are available and free of cost. “If you are not ready to report to somebody on campus, please come talk to us,” Opersteny said. “We are here and we believe you.”
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Senior defensive lineman Zaycoven Henderson and sophomore linebacker Tyrel Dodson celebrate after a crucial play during the game against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium on September 23, 2017.
A&M defense needs to enter game prepared to face-off with Alabama By Ryan MacDonald @Ryan_MacDonald2 From their electric receiving corps to their Heisman candidate quarterback to their gruesome offensive line, there’s no secret the Alabama Crimson Tide offense is a welloiled machine. The Texas A&M defense was on their game in last Saturday’s win against South Carolina but will need to up their performance even more as they host the Crimson Tide on Saturday night. The Aggie run defense was incredibly porous against Arkansas two weeks ago, allowing the Razorbacks to run 226 yards. However, the Aggies plugged the holes in last week’s game, holding South Carolina to just 26 rushing yards. The key to the Aggies success against the South Carolina run game was duo linebackers Otaro Alaka and Tyrel Dodson who combined for 14 total tackles. The duo was so strong that they eliminated the run as an option for the Gamecocks in the fourth quarter and made them throw the ball which proved fruitless. The run defense will need to be repeat that kind of performance in order to keep up with Alabama’s running back corps that has three running backs with over 200 yards. The Crimson Tide present a lethal one-two punch with freshman running back Najee Harris, known for his speed, and powerful junior running back Bo Scarbrough who is challenging to bring down. Aggie junior defensive lineman Jarrett Johnson said in order to contend against a multidimensional team like Alabama, the run game has to be established early and momentum has to be on the Aggie side right out of the gates. “It’s important to make sure that they don’t start the game off fast, so to stop them from
starting off fast, we need to start off fast,” Johnson said. “He who strikes first wins, and that’s the philosophy that we’ll have to implement in this game.” The Alabama offensive line has done a phenomenal job of getting past their opponents’ defensive line and getting blocks on linebackers, opening enormous holes for their running backs. Johnson recognizes that they’ve got to match Alabama’s physicality on Saturday. “We’ve got to bring pressure, fill gaps and shed blocks,” Johnson said. “We have to control the line of scrimmage and you can’t let those guys push you back and open up seams. We can’t let their offensive line climb up to the second level.” After losing Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall, questions surrounded the inexperienced Aggie pass rush, but the unit has found immense success and currently ranks second in the nation in total sacks (20) and fourth in the nation in sacks per game (4.0). The Aggies game against Arkansas seemed to be a real turning point for the unit as they erupted for six sacks. The Aggies followed it up a week later with seven sacks against South Carolina. Junior defensive end Landis Durham came to Texas A&M as a linebacker but has found success with his hand in the dirt this season, leading the team with 5.5 sacks. Two of those sacks came in his strong performance last Saturday against the Gamecocks, leading to Durham’s recognition as the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Highlighted by Durham, the pass rush will have their work cut out for them trying to get to Alabama’s dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts who is mobile in the pocket. Hurts was dominant in his freshman season and has turned it up a notch this season especially in his ground game, running the ball 55 times for an average of 8.4 yards per carry. “[Hurts’] gotten better and he continues to get better. They’ve advanced in their (Runpass Option) packages but, they’re moving
the ball down the field and they’re also taking some more shots down the field,” A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said. In order to have a chance in this game, the Aggie pass rush needs to get to Hurts and find a way to force Alabama’s offense into turning the ball over, something they have yet to do this season. Durham said he is confident the Aggies will be the team to force that first turnover of the year. “That will be huge [to get that first turnover], we’ll be looking forward to changing that for them,” Durham said. The Texas A&M secondary has been an area of weakness this season, as they continually have blown coverages that lead to easy touchdowns for the opposing team. This weakness has allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for an average of 291.6 yards per game against the Aggies. The secondary will need to step their game up and keep a keen eye on a loaded receiving corps highlighted by Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley, who A&M Head Coach Kevin Sumlin recognized as a scoring threat every time he touches the ball. “He’s an explosive player, he is fast,” Sumlin said. “He’s bigger than you think he is, he’s very quick and he’s become a really good route runner which has become a little bit scary. He can make the big play but he can also be a run after catch guy.” In order for the Aggies to remain competitive against Alabama, the secondary needs to be rock-solid and can’t afford to have the miscommunication mishaps that have plagued them throughout the season thus far. Senior defensive back Armani Watts needs to continue his vocal leadership in order to ensure the secondary corps is on the same page. Despite the enormous game that lies ahead, the Aggie football team is treating it as just another game, emphasizing the importance of going (1-0), which Sumlin has preached all year.
The Aggies will look to maintain their effective ground game in hopes of taking pressure off Mond. The three-headed monster of Keith Ford, Trayveon Williams and Kendall Bussey has been productive all season long, and Ford plunged in for two hard-earned touchdowns against South Carolina, including the game-winner. “We have gotten to the point of an identity on offense, and I think everybody knows what that is,” Sumlin said. “We’re going to have to continue to get better as people hone in on that identity and have some other wrinkles and things that come off of that. I think our running backs and offensive line haven’t been perfect, but they’ve played very well at times.” The Aggies’ offensive line, which Sumlin and Mazzone rotated with regularity throughout most of the first four games, appears to be more set in stone heading into Alabama. The line will have to play well against an Alabama defensive front seven that is once again stocked with talent. “We know every year that they’re going to have a good defensive front,” offensive lineman Erik McCoy said. “Their linebackers are fast, their D-Line is fast and they’re definitely going to be the biggest test we’ve had so far this year. But we’re up to it and we look forward to having the challenge.” Alabama has allowed fewer than 80 rushing yards per game in 2017, but the Aggies experiencing success on the ground would go a long way toward keeping the score close and having a chance to pull off an upset late. And while the Crimson Tide have certainly been dominant, the Aggies boast a level of talent that Alabama has not seen this season, especially considering Florida State’s Deondre Francois was injured early in the fourth quarter of the FSU-Alabama season opener. “This is by far, I think, the strongest team that we’ve played to this point all the way around,” Tide coach Nick Saban said earlier this week. “This is certainly going to be a big challenge for us in a division game on the road.” The Aggies and Crimson Tide will kick off at 6:15 p.m. at Kyle Field and will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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Seeing double: A tale of two dynamic duos Alabama’s pair of Ridley, Fitzpatrick reflect A&M’s tandem of Kirk, Watts By Alex Miller @AlexMill20 They are one of the most dynamic receiver-safety duos in the nation. They lead their team in receptions and tackles. And both are depended upon to make key plays in critical moments. This duo is not Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk and Armani Watts, though. It is Alabama’s Calvin Ridley and Minkah Fitzpatrick — a tandem the Aggie stars may think they are seeing double of this weekend against the Crimson Tide The similarities of production and accolades in both pairs are eerily alike. All four players were named Preseason First Team All-SEC. Kirk and Fitzpatrick were First Team AP All-Americans at receiver and safety respectively. Ridley was listed Second Team wide receiver, being edged out by Kirk. Ridley is listed as an outside receiver despite being slightly undersized at 6-foot-1, but he makes up for it with exceptional mechanics and technique. “He is an explosive player, he is fast. I think he’s the shortest guy they’ve got out there at 6-1,” A&M head coach Sumlin said of Ridley at Tuesday’s press conference. “He’s bigger than you think he is, he’s quick, he’s become a really good route runner too, which is scary.” In the offseason, Ridley said he still had room for improvement, despite being named to All-SEC teams his first two seasons. “I just want to get my feet back quicker so I can go out there and beat people,” Ridley said at SEC Media Days in July. His extra work has paid off, as his team-leading 24 receptions are over three-times as much as the second-leading receiver for the Crimson Tide. Ridley’s versatility also allows Alabama to use him in all facets of the passing game. “He’s explosive getting down the field, can make the big play down the field, but he can also be a run after catch guy,” Sumlin said. “You add all that up, he’s in the screen game,
Sam MacDonald — THE CRIMSON WHITE
Junior wide receiver Calvin Ridley runs towards the endzone during Alabama’s game against Colorado State on September 16, 2017.
he’s in the downfield cross country game, he’s running double-move routes. He’s not just a one-dimensional player.” Ridley’s game has only escalated this year with Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts expanding his game. “The way they’ve done some things with Jalen off of some max-protection and some half-bootleg situations where he gets a little depth and works down the field, that’s when he becomes a real problem,” Sumlin said. “We’ve got to have great eyes in the backend off their play-action, but we also have to be able to challenge them enough in coverage to where they’re not just flipping screens out there to him and they’re getting 5-6 yards a pop.” The good news for Sumlin is that he and the Aggies have Ridley’s clone on their own team in Kirk. “Ball in his hands he’s a problem, and down the field he’s an even bigger problem because he’s fast,” Sumlin said comparing Ridley to
Kirk. Kirk trails Ridley in receptions (23) by one, ranking them third and second respectively in catches this season in the SEC. While Sumlin knows the threat Ridley poses across the perimeter, Saban is trying to solve covering Kirk’s added dimension – the kicking game. An area he showed Saban his skills in 2015, taking back a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown. “Christian Kirk is maybe the most explosive player, returner, receiver, runner of anybody in our league,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said at his Monday press conference. “No matter how hard you try not to kick the ball to him, sometimes he’s going to get the ball. I think the real emphasis has to be on your coverage team doing a really good job.” Across the ball on defense, Kirk will be covered by Minkah Fitzpatrick who Sumlin believe is more than one of the nation’s top safeties. “Minkah Fitzpatrick, I think, should be
no just on the Thorpe Award list, I think he should be on the Heisman list,” Sumlin said. “He’s one of the best players in the country.” During his tenure at Alabama, Fitzpatrick has rotated around the entire secondary, allowing him to line up in any position needed. He also has a knack for turning picks into points, having taken five interceptions back for touchdowns, including two against A&M in his last visit to Kyle Field in 2015. “He’s played all those positions back there in the secondary, and you can tell he’s a frustrated offensive guy because when he gets his hands on the ball, he tries to score every time he has it,” Sumlin said. Like Watts, Fitzpatrick has anchored the secondary at strong safety this season, and leads the Crimson Tide in total tackles, as Watts does for the Aggies. “I feel like Minkah’s one of those guys who I’ll say is like a ball hawk,” Ridley said. “He’s always around the ball, he always hustles, and that’s one of the main reasons he’s always around the ball. “When you can beat Minkah in something, you know you did something rig ht.” As for Fitzpatrick, he maintains a business-like mindset while continuing to make glamorous plays. “I’m a quiet guy, but I just do things how they’re supposed to be done, lead by example,” Fitzpatrick said at SEC Media Days. Saban recalled at his Wednesday press conference having a strong liking for Fitzpatrick since recruiting him and eating dinner with his family on a in-home visit. Fitzpatrick’s work ethic is one that Saban and him see eye-toeye on, which Saban said makes coaching fun for him. “You like being around him, you certainly like the way he plays,” Saban said. “You like the way herembraces and tries to do things that you’d like for him to do, which you refer to as the process of helping him be a better player and us being a better team which he has always been 100 percent committed to.” “When you have the best players on your team that are really, really good guys, it’s always really fun to coach and he’s certainly one of those guys who makes it fun to coach.”
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vertebrae caused bone fragments to come close to his spinal cord, prompting immediate surgery to repair the injury. Miles away from her family, Danielle encountered an unexpected group of women who selflessly showed up to support her and Ken through the toughest part of their time in the hospital. While Ken was in the intensive care unit, nurses told Danielle that they had visitors. She said she was confused considering they had no friends or family members in Colorado. When she walked out to see who was visiting, she found a group of women clad in maroon. The Pikes Peak Aggie Mom’s Club were standing in the hospital waiting room bearing gifts, blankets and much needed support. “I broke down and was like ‘Oh they’re here … they’re family,’” Danielle said. “As soon as I walked around the corner, it felt like seeing my family standing there waiting for me.” Karen Schiller, Class of 1992, was one of the mom’s who instantly connected with both Ken and Danielle. That instant connection not only helped the Beldens emotionally, it helped Karen was well. “When I had the opportunity to meet Danielle and Ken and support them in their time of need, I felt like maybe that’s why we moved to Colorado Springs, was to be there in that moment,” Karen said. “It was just very special to get to know their family and the great people that they are and I’m just glad that I was able to be there in their time of need and that I have them as lifelong friends.” Once Ken was cleared for rehab, he began this journey to being fully recovered with an optimistic attitude. Ken was given a back brace, walker and other tools to help get him up and moving. Ken’s sister, Courtney Hohnecker, who currently serves in the Air Force, was able to get emergency leave to join Ken and Danielle in their road trip back home once he was released from the hospital. Due to Ken’s condition they were forced to stop every 45 minutes for him to walk around a stretch. One of those stops included a local Amarillo attraction — Cadillac Ranch. Upon arrival to the ranch, both and Danielle and Courtney were concerned the distance from the road to the cars was too far for Ken to walk and tried to convince him that it was better off that they should continue their long journey home. Ken, however, was not having it. The perseverance and determination to complete a task once he had set his mind on doing something which Ken was known for helped him walk the quarter mile to the cars and back despite his mother and sister’s dismay. “Seeing the cars in Amarillo was a really interesting experience,” Courtney said. “At first we were like well maybe we shouldn’t go to it, cause we pulled up and it was quite a walk from the edge of the route to the cars themselves, but he insisted so he drug the walker through all the rocks and everything just to see the sunset over the cars. It was really something.” While Ken, Danielle and Courtney were in Colorado Springs, Ken’s Father, Brian Belden stayed in Texas working to make sure Ken would not skip a beat when it came for him to return to school. In that time, Brian received hundreds of emails, calls and letters from Aggies all over wanting to offer their help. Brian, who is not an Aggie himself, was overwhelmed with the outpour of support. For years, Ken struggled to describe the spirit that comes with being an Aggie to his parents. Brian, who served in the military, thought back to all the Aggies he came in contact with in the past and remembered that when there was a person in need, Aggies were the first to offer help. “I didn’t think much of it until I looked back at it,” Brian said. “The outpouring of support from students, the alumni, the families. It was amazing. There was so many people reaching out. It was just like a giant extended family. You can’t describe it to people … you just can’t.”
By Angel Franco @angelmadison_
A
little over two weeks after being named a senior Yell Leader, Ken Belden’s world came to a screeching halt when he felt the back tires of his all-terrain vehicle lose traction, sending him down a hill in Colorado Springs, Colorado before losing consciousness. Even with a collapsed lung and three fractured ribs making it hard to breathe, Ken couldn’t help but think about the people who helped him achieve his goals. “The thing that scared me above all else was that I had finally gotten this awesome position and that by some sort of freak accident that would get taken away,” Ken said. “I wasn’t worried for my own personal reason for being a Yell Leader. What bothered me the most was the fact that there were so many people that had pushed me along the way. To think that they would support me that whole way only to see me not fulfil the role. That was legitimately what bothered me the most.” Before Ken — a first generation A&M student — and his family could experience the power of the Aggie Spirit during his recovery, he first had to learn what it meant to be an Aggie.
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
After being in an ATV accident over spring break, senior Yell Leader Ken Belden recounts his recovery.
- William Ernest Henley
LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Growing up in Austin, attending Texas A&M was never on Ken’s radar. However, after meeting — as fate would have it — former Yell Leader Keaton Askew, Class of 2006, during his junior year of high school, that all changed. Ken originally planned to join the armed forces after graduating, so when the Air Force arose during the conversation, Keaton took the opportunity tell Ken about the Corps of Cadets. After Keaton explained what the Corps was and what it had to offer, Ken decided to visit Aggieland and partake in the Spend the Night with the Corps program. Once on campus, Ken said he fell in love with A&M, but wasn’t too sure about becoming a cadet because he wasn’t positive about wanting to join the military. However, when he arrived for his New Student Conference, he knew that there was no other place for him besides the Corps. Keaton’s former squadron, Squadron 17, was full when Ken enrolled, so a recruiter within the commandant’s staff placed him into Squadron 2, also known as Gator 2. According to Ken, one of the most significant times in the life of a cadet is earning their Corps brass, a tradition which signifies the completion of their introduction to the Corps. “It was hard man, the first three or four months of my college career were way more difficult than I can even re-imagine or remember,” Ken said. Ken continued to earn leadership positions within the Corps and was named the guidon bearer for Squadron 2 his sophomore year. As the guidon bearer, Ken not only acted as a liaison between the sophomore class and upperclassmen within the outfit, he would march alongside the Commanding Officer. Throughout his junior year, Ken became a member of the Ross Volunteer Company, the official Honor Guard of the Governor of Texas. As an RV, Ken serves during Muster and Silver Taps. Ken’s experiences with some of A&M’s most beloved traditions fostered a desire to represent Aggies at the highest level possible. Almost three years later, Ken would have the opportunity to serve the university once more after selected to run for the position all Aggies recognize — Yell Leader.
FIVE FOR YELL
Being elected for the official Five for Yell ticket is a lengthy and strenuous process. Each cadet who is up for the position goes through several rounds of peer voting and interviews. After not being named to the campaign his sophomore year to be a representative for the junior class, Ken decided that he truly wanted to be a Yell Leader and decided to go through the process once more at the end of his junior year. So, when he learned that he would be a part of the ticket as the ‘third-wheel’ senior yell candidate, Ken was elated. “Having not gotten it and then going through the process again and not really giving up on that idea that I wanted to do it, and I knew that I wanted to do it for the right reasons,” Ken said. “[It] really meant a lot to see that come to fruition … it meant a lot.” Ken, Ian Moss and Cooper Cox would be announced to the rest of the student body as the candidates for senior yell. Gavin Suel and Connor Joseph, were elected as the junior class candidates. On Feb. 24, 2017, almost two months after he began the journey of running for yell leader, Ken heard his name called as he knelt down with the rest of the group in Academic Plaza, directly in front of the Sul Ross statue in the heart of campus. Surrounded by friends and family, Ken had finally achieved one of the milestones for which he had worked for so tirelessly. A few weeks later, the accident 900 miles away in Colorado threatened that vision of running onto Kyle Field for his first Midnight Yell.
THE ACCIDENT
Ken and his Corps buddies decided to spend their spring break in Colorado. The day of the accident, the group was exploring supply chain management senior Connor Jones’ grandfather’s ranch in Colorado. As they drove through the property, Ken found himself behind the majority of the group but ahead of Connor and Aaron Puente, community health senior, who were the last two of the group. Connor and Aaron were the first to find Ken after he lost control of his ATV. As they moved closer to Ken, they realized something had gone wrong and quickly rushed to his side and began calling the others in the group for help. “When we first got there, his eyes were kind of rolling all over the place,” Aaron said. “There was blood coming out of his nose. He was rolling around on the ground, so he was completely out of it — he wasn’t conscious. Then he came to and he was in a lot of pain. It looked pretty bad.” Due to their isolated location, it was harder for first responders to reach Ken.
Via Facebook
LEADING THE 12TH MAN
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
UNCONQUERABLE SOUL
The story of senior Yell Leader Ken Belden’s journey from Austin to College Station then from hospital bed to Kyle Field While they waited, Aaron tried to call Ken’s mom, Danielle, to tell her about the accident, but due to their location and poor cell service all Danielle heard was parts of an explanation and then left in the unknown. Once paramedics realized that taking Ken to the hospital via ambulance would be impossible, they called in the helicopter to lift him out. He was in the air within two hours. Back in Texas, Danielle and Brian Belden, Ken’s parents, were left helpless as they waited for an update that would allow them to get to Ken as soon as
possible. Danielle said those hours in between the initial call and the call from the hospital were some of the toughest hours she has ever had to endure.
ROAD TO RECOVERY
Ken suffered a concussion, three fractured ribs, a separated shoulder, a collapsed lung, three pelvis fractures, a compound fracture in the L1 and a burst fracture in the L4 vertebrae in his spine. “I’m writing down, punctured lung, broke his pelvis, tears were falling down
SEPT. 9, 2017
FEB. 24, 2017
MAY 6, 2017
Texas A&M student body elections are held, Ken was selected as a senior Yell Leader.
Ken marches in the Corps of Cadets Final Review, wearing a back brace two months following his accident.
JAN. 30, 2017
PROVIDED
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
SEPT. 22, 2017
Ken steps onto the field for his first Midnight Yell.
While on spring break in Colorado, Ken was involved in an accident after loose gravel caused his ATV to lose traction.
Spencer Russo — THE BATTALION
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
Ken leads the 12th Man for the first time in the Aggies’ home opener against Nicholls State.
SEPT. 8, 2017
MARCH 12, 2017
Ken Belden was named as a Five for Yell candidate on Facebook.
my eyes and I was writing on this little sticky note and the sticky note was too small,” Danielle said. “I had to turn the little sticky note over and write on the back and write all the injuries and I’m crying and I’m looking up at my husband saying, ‘Oh my God.’ It was horrible, but he was alive and he was moving. All the rest of it I got through.” Less than 12 hours after they received the call, about the accident, Danielle was in Colorado by Ken’s side. Due to the injuries suffered in his back, Ken went through an eight hour spinal surgery. The burst fracture in his L4
Almost six months after his accident, Ken was able to make full recovery and fulfill his dream of running onto Kyle Field for the first time at the Midnight Yell practice before the Nicholls State game. Senior Yell Leader Ian Moss spent the majority of the summer with Ken and was able to see first hand what Ken did to be ready for that first midnight yell. “It was cool, because the previous time we had him out there, he actually still had his back brace on for the spring game Midnight Yell,” Ian said. “To be able to see the progress that he had [made] ... To see the joy it puts on his face and how much fun he has out there. He was meant for this position … To see the hard work he put in over the summer and have him out there with us has been an absolute joy.” For Ken, the Yell Leader position has always been to serve those who are impacted by the position. Ken said there aren’t many people who get the opportunity to impact such a vast group of individuals the way Yell Leaders can. “Through the course of your life you have an opportunity to impact a small amount of people in a big way or a large amount of people in a small way,” Ken said. “But there are a few times in your life where you’re presented the option to impact a lot of people on a very large scale … In the role [as a Yell Leader] I’ve discovered the big thing behind being a Yell Leader is perpetuating the Aggie Spirit. For me, a lot of this job has been just trying to help people understand that feeling of walking out in public, seeing an Aggie Ring and being like ‘Okay that person is family to me in some way.’ As a Yell Leader I think a lot of what I’ve tried to do is to continually remind people what it means to be a part of the Aggie Family.” While the bright lights of Kyle Field shone down on him for the first time, Ken said he couldn’t help but feel the emotions of the last few months hit him all at once and struggled to contain them. He couldn’t help but think back at the time he was struggling to breathe as he walked down the halls of the hospital in Colorado Springs. He remembered all the times he recited his favorite poem ‘Invictus’ by William Ernest Henley when he needed strength to get through the tough parts in his life. Ken remembered that all that transpired in the last few months can now be simply looked back as a bad nightmare.
Ken receives his Aggie Ring completing the required 90 hours to get his ring.
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
FOOTBALL
6
The Battalion | 10.6.17
WEEK 6: YELL & STAFF PICKS
Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Alabama
LSU vs. No. 21 Florida
Saturday, Oct. 7 @ 6:15 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 7 @ 2:30 p.m. on CBS
Ian Moss
Head Yell Leader
I may have been born in Alabama. But I was born an Aggie. We are about to roll the Tide.
IAN
MAYA
Ken Belden
Senior Yell Leader
COOPER
LUKE
The most fun part about playing Alabama every year is walking around trying to decide which of their fans actually went to school there.
KEN
CONNOR
SAVANNAH
Connor Joseph
Luke Henkhaus
Junior Yell Leader
GAVIN
News Editor @luke_henkhaus
Nick Saban still wears Crocs and cargo shorts.
Cooper Cox
Last week wasn’t the first time LSU has had trouble with Trojans.
Gavin Suel
Senior Yell Leader
Junior Yell Leader
The 12th Man has the opportunity Sat. evening to shock the country! We have to show up, we have to be loud and we have to give Alabama an environment that they have never encountered before. If that happens, we have the opportunity to BTHOalabama.
Maya Hiatt
If the 12th Man gets behind our Ags like they did in the 4th quarter against South Carolina, no one — not even Bama — stands a chance.
Page Designer @MayaHiatt
In a game of rock, paper, scissors who wins, a gator or a tiger?
classifieds
Place
an ad Phone 979.845.0569 Suite L400, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University
ANNOUNCEMENTS The Student Affairs Fee Advisory Board will hear departmental budget requests on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 beginning at 6 p.m. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held in Suite 117 of the Koldus Student Services Building. For more information, please visit http://safab.tamu.edu and click on "Schedule” at the top of the page. Students are encouraged to provide feedback on departmental presentations, which are posted at http://safab.tamu.edu/departmentalproposals-for-fisical-year-2019/
If You Have Something To Sell, Remember Classifieds Can Do It! Call 845-0569
the battalion
When
to call 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day
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
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.
FOR RENT
HELP WANTED
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.
HELP WANTED $12/hr, Set your own schedule, Daytime/Evening/Weekend spots available, Apply Online at collegestationmaid.com
HELP WANTED
Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $75-$150/hr, up to $500/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com
Little Caesars Pizza now hiring pizza makers, apply in person at either Southwest Parkway or Boonville location.
Cheddar's and Fish Daddy's now accepting applications. Apply within, University Dr.
Part-time accounting clerk position at Aggieland Carpet One, duties include bank/credit card reconciliation and other small duties, basic accounting knowledge required, please call 979-574-3910 or email resume to csmith@aggielandcarpetone.com
Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for interview.
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
Part-time caregiver help needed. Fit For Kids 3609 East 29th Bryan, Tx. 979-846-1143 Part-time file clerk-receptionist MWF 12pm-8pm and every other Saturday 8:30am-6pm. Call College Station Ford and ask for Roxane. 979-694-2022
2bd/2ba rates reduced & starting at $699! Call Renaissance Park at 979-696-9771 today.
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.
ANSWERS
to todays puzzles
HELP WANTED 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.
MISCELLANEOUS It's here! ww.textbookaroo.com Make money, Save money! Buy or sell your textbooks, student to student! Hop online with TEXTBOOKAROO Looking for cadets to perform Saber Arch at military wedding in Brenham, Tx December 27th 2017. Please contact hmusgrove15@gmail.com for details.
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!
the
battalion Classified Advertising Easy Affordable Effective For information, call 845-0569
GET YOUR PHOTO TAKEN 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. ALL CLASSES: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Thursday in the Sanders Corp Museum Library until October 19th!
It’s your yearbook. Be in it.
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. 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.
FOOTBALL
The Battalion | 10.6.17
7
AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WEEK 6 By Kevin Roark @Kevin_Roark
OLE MISS AT NO. 12 AUBURN Surely it’s not already Week 6. The Tigers are rolling into this one after rocking nearly all of their competitors. Their only loss has come by the hands of the defending National Champion Clemson. Even then, they only allowed Clemson to score 14 points, their lowest offensive output of their season by 17. The Auburn defense shouldn’t be troubled by the Rebels’ ground game; however, Ole Miss quarterback Shae Patterson was rattling off 400 yards per game before getting tossed around by Alabama. Plus, their rushing game is literally the worst in the country at 74.3 yards per game. Against the Auburn defensive front, they really can’t expect to have any success on the ground. Patterson is going to be slinging the ball every which way. If the Ole Miss defense can keep Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson, who has eight scores in the last two competitions, out of the end zone, they’ll have a shot. Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine any situation where Auburn doesn’t run the ball right down the Rebels’ throat. Expect Auburn to get ahead early and shorten the clock with their ground game. Patterson will try to keep things even but eventually will tally up too many mistakes. Prediction: Auburn 33, Ole Miss 13
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.
LSU AT NO. 21 FLORIDA In what’s starting to look more and more like a throwaway season despite their victories, the LSU Tigers are 3-2 with just one conference play win, not to mention their 24-21 loss to Troy last weekend. Florida, on the other hand, looks like they just like to keep things interesting. Luke Del Rio is out for the season (again) but they’re still churning out wins with Feleipe Franks who is no stranger to the system. Florida isn’t a great team but they know what they’re doing. LSU, on the other hand, can’t get the pieces together and are missing guys from their line and in the backfield. If they can flush Franks out of the pocket, they’ll have a chance at halting the Gators’ offensive production. If LSU running back Derrius Guice is back in the equation, he should expect a big workload considering Florida’s suffocating secondary. Expect this to be a low-scoring game, but eventually Florida will force a turnover in the air and put things to bed. Prediction: Florida 24, LSU 13
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Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
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