MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2018 STUDENT MEDIA
Dean Zhu — THE BATTALION
The Student Government Association’s health campaign encompasses nutrition, fitness, mental health and safety.
Howdy to health SBP’s health campaign looks to highlight campus resources By Jordan Burnham @RJordanBurnham
contain the Alabama defense and allowed seven sacks on Mond. Alabama senior defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs accounted for three of those. Alabama dominated the game from the start when junior linebacker Mack Wilson intercepted a Mond pass on the first possession to set up a 30-yard touchdown pass by Tagovailoa just 50 seconds after kickoff. “The defensive lineman had me wrapped up and I thought Jace [Sternberger] was open,” Mond said. “[I’ve] just got to take the sack or throw it away.”
Student Body President Amy Sharp is rolling out a new campaign that aims to improve the health of the student body by focusing on nutrition, fitness, mental health and safety. The three primary goals of the campaign are to let students know that Texas A&M cares about their health, to educate them about the resources that already exist and to connect them with those resources, Sharp said. The campaign’s focus areas are pertinent to every student and each has its own set of associated topics for the campaign to address, Sharp said. “They have unique needs and unique ways to educate, but we are trying to utilize every platform we can find to get that information out,” Sharp said. “We’ve designated different months to each issue.” September’s focus was on sexual assault, and October will be focused on mental health. Rather than making isolated programs that have a short-term impact, Sharp said leaders are focused on bringing awareness to pre-existing resources and knowledgeable personnel. “Members of [student government] are not the best qualified to go create a health-focused event and program,” Sharp said. “We can do that, but there’s already so many organizations on campus that do that very well because their areas of expertise.”
ALABAMA ON PG. 2
HEALTH ON PG. 2
Rolled by the Tide Grant Nicholls — THE CRIMSON WHITE
Texas A&M had 393 yards of total offense in Saturday’s 45-23 loss, the highest against Alabama this season.
Aggies struggle to keep up with Alabama, fall 45-23 in SEC opener By Hannah Underwood @hannahbunderwoo No. 22 Texas A&M opened Southeastern Conference play with a 45-23 loss to No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Alabama sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was the driving force for the Crimson Tide, going 22-of-30 to notch 387 passing yards and four touchdowns in the Tide’s rout of A&M.
A&M quarterback Kellen Mond totaled 294 yards, passing for 196 and collecting 98 yards on 18 carries. Mond also threw two interceptions in the game, his first turnovers of the season. The Aggies missed several opportunities to score, only breaking into Alabama territory on six of 13 drives. “We moved the ball at times, had opportunities to score,” A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Right before the half [we] had it to a one-score game with about three minutes to go in the half. We’re 21-13, they hit a big play. We gave up too many of those.” The Aggie offensive line struggled to
Aggies Teach for America Graduates help address educational challenges across the United States By Katie James @kaytayjames
Turner Harbert — THE BATTALION
Statistics and other data on Teach for America participants and outcomes provided by teachforamerica.org
For the past three years, Texas A&M has been a top contributor to the Teach for America program, now ranking sixth in the nation in number of teachers committed. Graduating students from across campus have committed to teach for two years in low-income communities where resources can sometimes be scarce. These students are not necessarily education majors. Teach for America provides its members training and support to fulfill their terms, and from there, some choose to stay in the field of education while others go on to become lawyers, policy makers, doctors and everything in between. Blessing Emeghara, recruitment manager for Teach for America, said she is excited by the growth she has seen over the past couple of years at A&M. “It’s cool to see so many people dedicated to A&M’s core values,” Emeghara said. “There are so many people willing to learn and gain a diverse perspective, and the Aggie Network is really at work. Many Aggies are going into Teach for America, and they encourage other Aggies to do it because they see the value.” Sociology senior Carolina Zarate said she never thought she would become a teacher, but realized joining Teach for America could help her achieve her career goal of working as a lawyer focused on public policy. “Teach for America was perfect for me because I always heard it was best to get some
work experience before going to law school,” Zarate said. “Working in a district without the basics will be a learning experience that helps me understand problems with current policy,” Zarate said her previous volunteer experience inspired her to look into how she could help those in low-income communities without the same opportunities she had. “I’m from the Rio Grande Valley region and had nice schools but only 20-30 minutes away from me were schools without even the basics,” Zarate said. “It’s not that they were less worthy, they just had less opportunity. I think it’s cool how in Teach for America we are all tackling the same problem with our different strengths.” Sydney Bay, recruitment director for Teach for America and former recruiter for Texas A&M, said the program provides perspective that can benefit participants no matter what career they pursue. “I like to call Teach for America ‘leadership development grad school,’” Bay said. “You can find overlap between your career path and Teach for America. The course of the entire country’s issues stems from education.” At its core, Teach for America is striving to address the issue of educational inequity, or educational opportunity not being equally distributed among race and class, Emeghara said. “After Teach for America, you see the world with a different sense of urgency,” Emeghara said. “The young kids you see going through hard things have a name and a face. You have the privilege of knowledge, so you can no longer be a bystander. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”
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Price Includes Logo and Name (More logos available) Shop for Little Aggies to an Aggie Xmas etsy.com/shop/aggiesandbows by Charlotte, Reveille’s Seamstress For A&M Sterling Jewelry: stores.ebay.com/charboeg979 1711 N Earl Rudder Fwy Bryan, TX 77803 979-778-2293 charboeg@yahoo.com
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Cushing Library is currently displaying footballs signed by the national championship-winning 1939 Aggie football team.
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AR Photography will be set up to have your FREE portrait taken for Texas A&M University’s 2019 Aggieland yearbook.
ALL CLASSES: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Thursday September 24th thru October 5th The Sanders Corp Museum Library It’s your yearbook. Be in it.
Megan Rodriguez, Editor in Chief Luke Henkhaus, Managing Editor Taylor Fennell, News Editor Anthony Pangonas, News Editor Jordan Burnham, Asst. News Editor Kathryn Whitlock, Life & Arts Editor Hannah Falcon, Life & Arts Editor Samantha Mahler, Asst. Life & Arts Editor
Angel Franco, Sports Editor Abigail Ochoa, Asst. Sports Editor Cassie Stricker, Photo Chief Jesse Everett, Asst. Photo Chief Daoud Qamar, Video Editor Kevin Christman, Asst. Video Editor Sanna Bhai, Special Sections Editor
THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the 2018 fall semester and 2019 spring semester (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 StudentAffairs.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.
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Sports memorabilia included in Great Depression exhibit By Salvador Garcia @SalGarJr Three recently restored footballs bearing the signature of the 1939 Aggie football national champions help bring the story of Texas A&M in the Great Depression to life. The footballs are displayed at the Cushing Library’s current exhibit, “A Time of Great Resolve.” This free exhibit depicts the hardships faced by A&M during the economic depression of the 1930s and presents the footballs among other university-related artifacts from the decade. The exhibit will be on display until Feb. 22 when all items owned by Cushing, including the three footballs, will be reshelved but remain available to students upon request. University archivist Greg Bailey said the three footballs each commemorate a different game. “Those are the only three we have,” Bailey said. “[One football] after the first game of the season against Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State. One after the game against the University of Texas, which was the last game of
the regular season. And one after the Sugar Bowl victory, when they became national champions.” Preparing the footballs for display took months due to the deflated state they were in when the university acquired them, Bailey said. “[We had to] get the footballs pliable to inflate them and then make sure that the bladders were able to hold the air and then close them back off, so it took a number of months to get them restored,” Bailey said. The national championship is an important moment in A&M’s history, and Bailey said artifacts such as the footballs are able to connect people with the past in a more personal way. “One of the big aspects of the 1930s for A&M was obviously the national championship,” Bailey said. “Those footballs deal directly with that. It’s a different way to interest people. … A photograph or document might not elicit an emotion from someone as much as seeing an artifact.” Reading room and front desk coordinator Leslie Winter said the archives and artifacts housed in Cushing Library are important because they allow students to experience primary sources firsthand. “They’re open for anyone to see,”
Winter said. “Being curious is valid. You don’t have to have a class assignment. … Everything we’re doing here is to make sure you see something. If you go back to primary source, it’s hard to have an opinion that’s biased.” Oceanography freshman Henry Woods Johnson said he saw Cushing as a peaceful place to study, but said he paid little attention to the items in the library until he noticed the exhibit. “I found that the peace and quiet and not having as many distractions is a much better environment,” Johnson said. “Beside studying, I haven’t really looked around to see what they have here at Cushing. But as I’m entering and leaving today, I was looking at the uniforms they have in the corners and it was interesting to see the history that they have here.” Looking at these artifacts piqued his interest, Johnson said. His curiosity led him to wonder what else might be stored at Cushing. “I think it’d be awesome to see what they have,” Johnson said. “I would love to see what’s the oldest thing they have here, how far back do the archives go. Just to see the history of A&M.”
ALABAMA CONTINUED Tight end Jace Sternberger proved once again to be a valuable asset to the Aggie offense, accumulating 59 yards on three receptions and catching one touchdown. Fisher credited Alabama’s dominant outing to their ability to create and put pressure on the opposing team. “We moved the football and had opportunities,” Fisher said. “But if you come up short and kick a field goal, and then get a 3-and-out and all of a sudden they score and score, they keep staying ahead two or three scores.” The Aggies weren’t completely outmatched on the field, however, as junior punter Braden Mann averaged 60.8 yards per punt on five punts, overtaking the previous NCAA record of 60.4 yards set by BYU’s Lee Johnson in 1983 and tied by Oklahoma State’s Quinn Sharp in 2010. “Mann was outstanding in the game,” Fisher said. “[He] had a 60 yard average, he’s been kicking it that way in practice every day.” Despite his record-breaking showing, Mann said the numbers aren’t everything. “It’s cool to have a record, but if I could just put my team in position to succeed more,” Mann said. “I have to put more of those punts inside the 20 and not at the 20 because of touchbacks. The individual stats are alright, but I have to have a better game in terms of field position.” A&M’s freshman kicker Seth Small booted three goals for Texas A&M, including a 52-yarder that tied the season-long record set by Daniel LaCamera in the season opener against Northwestern State. With this loss, the Aggies fall to 2-2 overall and 0-1 against SEC opponents. Hannah Saad — THE CRIMSON WHITE
Sophomore Kellen Mond threw for 196 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
HEALTH CONTINUED Sharp said the idea for a health campaign came when she was running for student body president and speaking with students about their needs. “It’s just really rewarding to play a part in fixing some of those issues and helping to close some of those gaps, so I hope the health campaign is an effective way for them to get educated and also feel better about their time at A&M,” Sharp said. Executive vice president and political science senior Valentina Tovar said one of the main goals of the campaign is
to eliminate the stigma that it is wrong to reach out about mental health. “Self-care is a really important thing and I think as college students is really easy for us to worry about our GPA or how involved we are,” Tovar said. “But I really think it’s important to focus on ‘Okay where am I at? Where’s my health at? How am I doing?’” Operations executive vice president and nutritional science junior Sarah Swiney said the campaign aims to raise awareness about resources and make them as accessible to students as possible. “The resources available in Aggieland really are so abundant, but a lot
of it is just communication so students can know where to find them,” Swiney said. Sharp said she hopes the effects of this year’s campaign will come organically, as students become educated about health and subsequently help others learn about its importance. “My goal was to serve the people who put me in office and the current student body I was elected to serve by making a maximum impact on them,” Sharp said. “My hope is that every student in the student body at some point this year will be touched by the health campaign.”
OPINION
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The Battalion | 9.24.18
Creative Commons — THE BATTALION
The fall season officially began Saturday, Sept. 22.
Falling for Fall
Creative Commons — THE BATTALION
“White Boy Rick,” directed by Yan Demange, stars Matthew McConaughey and Richie Merritt.
It’s time for pumpkin spice and everything nice
“White Boy Rick” worth the runtime
Taylor Fennell @TaylorPaige1299
Strong performances from McConaughey and first-timer Richie Merritt make for an engaging film Keagan Miller @KeaganMlr “White Boy Rick” tells the fascinating true story of a teenage FBI informant and drug kingpin as he deals with the struggles of living in poverty. The plot takes place over the course of a few years, and tracks Rick as he transforms from a 14-year-old dropout helping his dad sell guns, to a 17-year-old drug mogul with enough money to provide for his family. Along the way, the movie shows how the FBI encouraged Rick to start buying and selling drugs in an effort to set him up as an informant in the Detroit drug scene. The film also shows Rick’s sister’s decline into addiction, and her subsequent rise back into sobriety. Matthew McConaughey did an excellent job as Rick’s father and had a few opportunities to show off his talent through some particularly emotional scenes. I really felt his character’s pain and shame. McConaughey had the most tragic role to play, and his acting helped me to understand the subtle depths of that
tragedy. By the end of the film, Rick’s dad had completely let him down in just about every way. He always insisted that Rick could do anything he wanted, and he stood idly by as his son got involved in something that almost got him killed. He utterly failed as a father, and his desperation shone through McConaughey’s performance. I was also impressed by Richie Merritt, the 17-year-old first-time actor who starred as Rick. He didn’t quite have the same emotional depth as McConaughey or the other more seasoned actors that surrounded him, but his blasé attitude somehow managed to contribute to his character. Merritt was perfect for the role. Cinematically, I would hesitate to call the film beautiful. But that’s okay, because beauty isn’t what director Yann Demange was going for. The visual style is one designed to convey realism and an environment where murder and theft is the norm. The film’s visuals go a long way toward creating an environment in which it might be understandable for a teenager to start selling hard narcotics, and in which his father thinks that might be an alright idea.
My only real complaint with the movie is that it wasn’t as tight as it could have been. The plot seemed ever so slightly stretched, and maybe a little disorganized. In order to accurately portray some of the more important events that actually happened, the movie adds one or two things that detracted from the narrative as a whole. I thought that the one-hour, 56-minute runtime should have been condensed a little bit. However, considering the filmmakers were juggling historical accuracy as well as dramatic plot, this is a minor complaint. Overall, I found “White Boy Rick” to be an interesting and emotionally engaging film. I was very impressed by Merritt’s acting debut, and by the subtlety McConaughey brought to his character. The runtime could’ve been a bit shorter, and a few plot points could’ve been trimmed away to make the film neater, but otherwise I would definitely recommend this film.
It’s now officially fall, which means your Instagram feed will soon be full of riding boots, oversized sweaters and pumpkin-scented candles (if it isn’t already). If this sounds a-maize-ing to you, check out the ways you can celebrate the season. Fightin’ Texas Aggie Corn Maze Presented by the Texas A&M Agronomy Society and opening on Oct. 5, the fourth annual Fightin’ Texas Aggie Corn Maze will offer a fun challenge and perfect photo opportunities. From a birds-eye view, the maze has the iconic A&M block T logo carved into it. Along with the maze, this year’s events will feature a pumpkin patch, vegetable garden and booths with different activities. Admission is $7 for guests older than three years old, and all proceeds go to the Texas A&M Agronomy Society.
The return of pumpkin spice With five Starbucks locations on campus, there’s no excuse for not grabbing a Pumpkin Spice Latte. If you’re in the mood for something a little different, other seasonal drinks include the Salted Caramel Mocha or Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte. Harvest Maroon Fest What could be more fit for fall than an event with “harvest” in the title? Seriously though, the Turnpike Troubadours and Randy Rogers Band are teaming up to present this concert at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater on Oct. 12 and it’s sure to be stellar. Learn more at harvestmaroonfest.com. Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football It’s still Jimbo season, and nothing says, “It’s fall, y’all” like college football. Unable to make the game? Keep up with the Aggies at home and away by following thebatt. com for updates each week. Taylor Fennell is a telecommunication media studies sophomore and news editor for The Battalion.
Keagan Miller in a psychology junior and life & arts reporter for The Battalion.
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HELP WANTED Carpentry skills needed for small house remodel project close to campus. $20/hr. Must have tools and truck. Ryan 512-961-7110 or jra@jamesryananderson.com
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HELP WANTED Club volleyball coaches needed! Salary plus expenses. Practices Wednesdays &Sundays, December-April. Two tournaments a month. brazosvalleyjuniors@gmail.com
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MUSIC Private Piano/Voice Instruction. Pianist/Vocalist for Weddings and Special Events. Call Scott today at 979-204-0447. www.brazosmusicgroup.com
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Grant Nicholls — THE CRIMSON WHITE
Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond was sacked seven times in the loss to the Tide.
What we learned: Texas A&M vs. Alabama
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Kellen Mond continues to improve Kellen Mond’s ability to extend plays kept A&M in the game. In the first quarter, Mond had a 54-yard run that set the Aggies up in the red zone and resulted in a touchdown. Mond’s rush was also the longest of the game. Through the air, he was 16 for 33 with 196 yards passing and one touchdown and two interceptions. “I thought he competed and played very well,” A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “There were a couple of throws [and] decisions I thought he could’ve come back, but that always happens. Overall, I thought he competed and played a solid game.”
Capitalizing on momentum swings With Alabama punter Skylar DeLong averaging only 36 yards a punt, A&M was given good field position. On three of the six Alabama punts, A&M started on the 43, 48 and 42-yard lines. However, the last two drives resulted in punts. Following the loss, sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond said he was unhappy the offense was unable to capitalize. “That was something we practiced a lot,” Mond said. “We knew coming into this game that it was going to be something that was going to be really big for us. Not being able to execute down there — I guess you can say I was disappointed — but we continued to play not matter what the score was.”
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Braden Mann’s record-setting day Braden Mann broke a single game NCAA record that stood for 35 years, averaging 60.8 yards on the five punts he kicked during the game. Mann is also averaging 51.7 yards per punt overall this season and according to the A&M sports information department, he’s on pace to break Drew Kaser’s record from 2015. “I could have done a lot of things better, that’s for sure,” Mann said. “It’s cool to have a record, but if I could just put my team in position to succeed more. I’ve got to put more of those punts inside of the 20 instead of at the 20. The individual stats are alright and stuff, but I have to have a better game in terms of field position.”
By Angel Franco
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2018 AGGIELAND It’s not too late to order your copy of the 2018 Aggieland, a photojournalistic record of the 2017-2018 school year. The 116th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook.
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