THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2021 STUDENT MEDIA
Gabrielle Shreve — THE BATTALION
September Ring Day will take place on Friday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Hall of Champions.
5,199 students to receive Aggie Rings First Ring Day of 2021-2022 academic year, estimated to be second-largest, allowing all family, friends of ring recipient By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel
D
ue to construction of Aggie Park near the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center, where Ring Day is traditionally held, 5,199 students will receive their Aggie Rings in Kyle Field’s Hall of Champions on Friday, Sept. 24 during the
second largest ring day of the year. Publications manager for the Association of Former Students Cait Shields said students will enter on the west side of Kyle Field with last names A through E entering in the southwest tower and last names F through Z entering in the northwest tower. Students receiving their rings and their guests should arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before their allotted time slot. When picking up their rings, students will be asked to show two forms of identification, which can include their driver’s license, Aggie ID card, passport or ring receipt they received when placing their order. To ensure a quick and easy process, Shields said students should screenshot or print their Ring Day ticket in the event of spotty internet
connection. Communications senior Khiara Estrada said although she was eligible to order her ring during previous semesters, she waited until she could bring her friends and family to receive her ring. “The part I’m most excited about is the actual ceremony of Ring Day. I could have ordered my Aggie Ring already, but I put it off because I wanted the whole in-person shebang,” Estrada said. “With all my loved ones, I’m excited we’re able to do that again and be surrounded by everyone I love. I’m really excited.” Estrada said she chose her mom to put her ring on her finger because she has helped guide her to this point in life. “She is the number one person that has
contributed to my success in literally every aspect,” Estrada said. “She has sacrificed so much for me.” Estrada said her family, friends and a former Fish Camp counselor will be in attendance for her ring ceremony at 2:30 p.m., and throughout the day she will have the opportunity to attend friends’ ceremonies to celebrate their accomplishments. Third-generation Aggie and agribusiness senior Cate Diezi said she has been looking forward to her ring since the day she stepped on campus her freshman year, because it serves as a symbol of the Aggie family and also invites a family tradition of their own. “The Aggie Ring encompasses all of the Core Values, which is something every Aggie RING DAY ON PG. 7
Biden announces COVID-19 Action Plan Six-pronged approach to midigate virus spread in schools, hospitals By Kyle McClenagan @KMcclenagan President Joe Biden’s new six-pronged approach to handling COVID-19 hopes to protect Americans while also introducing new regulations to help the economy and keep schools open amid the raging delta variant. The six-pronged plan aims to vaccinate the unvaccinated, protect the vaccinated, keep schools open, increase testing and mask requirements, protect the economy and improve COVID-19 care, all through a science-based approach. When it comes to vaccinating more Americans, the federal government has employed the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, to require either vaccinations or regular testing for nearly 80 million Americans, according to the Biden Administration’s official COVID-19 Action Plan, as stated on the White House website. “OSHA is developing a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vac-
cinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work,” the website reads. The White House website also mentions requirements for paid leave for all federal workers and Medicare and Medicaid-participating hospital workers to receive vaccinations. Getting more workers vaccinated is key to ending the pandemic, Biden said in an address to the nation on Sept. 9. “This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Biden said. “It’s caused by the fact that despite America having an unprecedented and successful vaccination program, despite the fact that for almost five months, free vaccines have been available in 80,000 different locations, we still have nearly 80 million Americans who have failed to get the shot.” On Wednesday, Sept. 22, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for individuals 65 and older and those at high risk for illness or exposure. These shots are expected to be available by the end of the week, according to ABC News. The Biden Administration also plans to keep schools and students safe through
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President Joe Biden pushes vaccinations as delta variant cases surge across the country.
BIDEN’S PLAN ON PG. 7
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