The Battalion, May 7, 2018 by The Battalion

SPRING GRADUATION EDITION

The Class of 2018 started their time in Aggieland in the fall of 2014 with approximately 10,835 freshman, according to Data & Research Services. At the time, Kyle Kelly was Student Body President and Patrick McGinty was the head Yell Leader. The football team went 8-5 overall that fall, and won the Liberty Bowl against West Virginia. In the Spring 2015 semester, we wrapped up our first year of college with the retirement of Reveille VIII and arrival of Reveille IX. Michael K. Young became president of the university that same semester. Our sophomore year saw the opening of a completely renovated Kyle Field. The Corps of Cadets was led by the first female Corps Commander, Alyssa Michalke. Joseph Benigno was Student Body President and Zach Lawrence was the head Yell Leader. Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at the Hyperloop Design Competition in February and in March, the men’s basketball team made it to the Sweet 16. Our junior year began with Cullen Gillaspia being named the 12th Man and the Kyle Field crowd chanting “50,000” at UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen during the football season opener. Hannah Wimberly served as the fourth female Student Body President and Chris Wilder was the head Yell Leader. The spring semester was highlighted by Myles Garrett being selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. A few months later, Aggie baseball made their first trip to the College World Series since 2011. Our senior year began with Hurricane Harvey hitting the Texas coast, and Aggies joining together in the relief efforts. As part of this commitment to service, all five living former presidents gathered at Reed Arena for the One America Appeal relief concert. Bobby Brooks served as the first openly gay Student Body President and Ian Moss was the head Yell Leader. The football team went 7-6 overall and Jimbo Fisher was hired at the end of the semester. Finals began with a snow day, making Aggieland a winter wonderland. This spring began a day later than expected due to another snow day. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams advanced to the Sweet 16. Aggieland mourned the death of former first lady Barbara Bush and stood to watch her funeral motorcade pass by on the way to her final resting place at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. In between all this were the moments spent in class, at sporting events, in organizations, hanging out with friends and so much more that defined the Class of 2018’s time in Aggieland. As over 8,000 Aggies walk the stage this weekend, the next chapter of life opens up. Congratulations, Class of 2018 graduates. You’ve earned it.

Graduation preview on pg. 2

Senior columns on pg. 3

Commissioning cadets on pg. 5

Senior Boot Bag Senior Boot Bag

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The Battalion | 5.7.18

Brad Morse, Editor in Chief

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Computer science senior and first generation college student Matthew Reeves is set to graduate this May.

New experiences, new horizons Aggie reflects on experience as first generation college student By Jordan Burnham @RJordanBurnham In May of 2016 1,470 first generation college students graduated from Texas A&M. 1,649 graduated in May of 2017 and a greater number are expected to graduate this May, according to the Office of the Registrar. With an increasing number of students attending college for the first time, The Battalion sat down with computer science senior Matthew Reeves to discuss his experience as a first generation college student. After graduation, Reeves is moving to Phoenix where he has accepted a position as a software engineer for American Express. Reeves said he is the first person in his family to graduate from college in almost 20 years, as the last person to graduate in his family was his mother’s cousin. “It’s a mixture of emotions,” Reeves said. “To be a degreed individual — it’s a big thing for my family, so they’re really excited for me.” According to Reeves, attending

school for the first time came with its own challenges second generation students might not encounter, but those challenges made the experience worthwhile. “Everything was new for me, every single experience I had when I came to college was new, and it was great and I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world,” Reeves said. “It’s great, but it’s also a challenge.” Reeves said the two most influential people throughout his collegiate career were his mentor Arthur George and his mother. “Seeing my mom help me get out of high school, go to college — at the same time taking care of a newborn baby,” Reeves said. “My sister was one or two when I went away to go to school, so it was really inspiring, seeing her work so hard made me want to work hard.” George, who Reeves met his freshman year, was a senior VP at Texas Instruments at the time. “He was able to give a little more light, especially in the technical aspect of my degree,” Reeves said. “I could always ask him for help on things like how you balance your school life with extracurriculars.” According to Reeves, his experience

at Texas A&M has been amazing, even though the culture was completely different from his home in Dallas. “[It was] a humongous culture shock, especially racially,” Reeves said. “I’m from south Dallas which is primarily minority area, like predominantly black or Hispanic. Coming to A&M, which is predominately white, was a 180 for me. Later on, the A&M culture shock on top of that, [was] like the ‘Howdys,’ the Silver Taps, the Muster, the yells and the football games and everything like that.” Overall, Reeves said he enjoyed his time at A&M and his involvement on campus and in leadership positions played a role in his love for his time at the university. “If anybody reads this that is a first generation college student, don’t be discouraged if you aren’t as ‘good’ as some of your other counterparts that may or may not also be first generation college students,” Reeves said. “I think college is about perseverance and that’s one thing that I found out from my mom and watching her all this time, and being myself in college and watching my friends in college. Honestly, be proud. I’m proud that I’m a first generation college student.”

Over 8,000 Aggies set to walk the stage Students from across the university prepare to graduate By Daniella Gutierrez @dani_talia95

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Over 8,100 seniors are preparing to cross the stage and receive their diplomas this week. For some, this marks the culmination of their time in Aggieland and the beginning of a new chapter in their personal story. Spring 2018 graduation ceremonies for each college will be held in Reed Arena May 10-12. The first ceremony will be Thursday with May Business School at 9 a.m. At 2 p.m. the Bush School of Government and Public Service and College of Liberal Arts (Communication, Economics, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology) students will walk the stage. At the 7 p.m. ceremony, Liberal Arts (University Studies/Women’s and Gender Studies, Anthropology, English, Hispanic Studies, History, International Studies, Performance Studies and Philosophy and Humanities), College of Science and College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences students will graduate. Friday’s ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. with Agriculture and Life Sciences. The 2 p.m. ceremony will be for Architecture, Geosciences, Nursing and Public Health. The final Friday ceremony will be at 7 p.m. for Education and Human Development students. The last day of graduation ceremonies will be Saturday. The 9 a.m. ceremony will be for Aerospace Engineering, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. The 2 p.m. ceremony will graduate students of Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Material Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering,

Ocean Engineering and Petroleum Engineering. The Battalion spoke with a few of the Aggies preparing for graduation this week. Brooke Rodriguez, agricultural communications and journalism senior, will be graduating on Friday from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Rodriguez said her senior year was a meaningful one and she enjoyed every minute of it. “My senior year went by way too fast,” Rodriguez said. “I got my Aggie Ring, had some really awesome experiences working with 12th Man Productions and had a lot of fun with friends and family. All of these experiences made for a great senior year.” Rodriguez said she plans on moving back to her hometown of Kingwood and will be looking for a job in broadcasting, marketing or a sales rep position. Michala McCurdy, sociology senior, will be graduating on Thursday from the College of Liberal Arts. McCurdy said her senior year went well and she is going to miss College Station and the whole college atmosphere in general. “As spring semester started, it all hit me that I was going to be done and graduation was going to come a lot sooner than I was ready for,” McCurdy said. McCurdy said her favorite memory from her senior year was her ring dunk. Accompanied by her best friend and her father, Class of 1982, the three dunked their Aggie Rings together to make a memory McCurdy said she will never forget. “As terrible as it was having to chug four beers as fast as I could, I dunked with my best friend and my dad and had never dunked,” McCurdy said. “Because he’s a main reason I chose to attend A&M, it meant the world to me that he could not only be there and support me, but that he participated as well.” McCurdy said A&M has offered her

a lot during her time as an undergraduate student. One of the most important things she said she has learned is how to work with people who have different backgrounds and beliefs than her. “I learned how to work with people who I don’t agree with on most topics, and how to get past that in order to accomplish tasks and that can be easier said than done,” McCurdy said. Blake Thurman, finance senior, will be graduating on Thursday from Mays Business School. Thurman said his time at A&M went by much faster than he thought it would, but he has grown both physically and mentally since starting college. “While time as a student is so limited, it is so incredibly special,” Thurman said. “I was a shy, quiet individual as an incoming freshman, and while that has changed so much in the past four years, I would like to tell that shy, quiet individual how remarkable the staff, students and fans of Texas A&M are.” Thurman said A&M has taught him valuable skills he will use after he graduates, and the most important thing he is taking with him are the Aggie Honor Code and core values. “I’ll leave this university with an excellent education,” Thurman said. “However, it is the respect, leadership, honor and selfless service that A&M has taught me and that I will undoubtedly carry with me through life that I consider to be the most essential.” Thurman said two of his favorite memories both involved Aggie football — his first game and his last. “As the Aggie War Hymn was being played for that last time, the compilation of all of the great memories at Kyle Field struck and the realization hit me of how special attending each and every game as a Texas A&M student was,” Thurman said. After graduation, Thurman said he plans on working as a financial analyst for a few years to gain a greater understanding of the business world. Thurman said he plans to open his own business one day and hopefully give back to A&M.

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PROVIDED

Brad Morse took over as the Editor-in-Chief of The Battalion during his senior year at Texas A&M and will be attending law school in the fall.

Curtain call I didn’t come this far to only come this far Brad Morse

@BradSMorse53

’m not going to lie: I’m excited, nervous, anxious, proud, humbled, scared and optimistic. This bevy of contradictory emotions is probably confusing, so let me tell y’all why I’m feeling all of these at once. I’m about to graduate from Texas A&M. There’s so much I want to say about my time in Aggieland, but to be frank, words won’t do any sort of justice to what A&M means to me. So here goes nothing. I still remember when I knew I wanted to come here. February during my senior year of high school, all the colleges I applied to had gotten back to me. I had plenty of options, which didn’t make my decision-making process any easier. Then, an ice storm hit and my high school canceled classes for a week. I decided to tour the schools on my shortlist, with A&M being the last destination. I remember staying in my cousin’s apartment and talking to her about why she came here. I visited with a high school friend and met her friends. Two completely different people who had found their niche. On the drive home, I ruminated. At this point, I was between A&M and a much smaller school, and a thought popped into my head: “You can always make a big school smaller, but you can never make a small school bigger.” There is a place here for everyone, and everyone here finds their place. I got home late that night and found my mother reading in the living room. She asked me how my trip went, and I had a quick answer. “Mom, I want to be an Aggie.” I’m probably making it seem more poetic through my rose-tinted glasses, but I am so glad I ended up here. Looking back, I don’t see how I looked anywhere else. A&M transformed me in so many ways, and I have so many people to thank. To A&M, thank you for allowing me the honor of joining the Aggie family. To Phi Delta Theta, I could not have asked for a better group of men to call

my brothers. To The Battalion, thank you for allowing me to pursue one of my great passions. To my beloved family, thank you for putting up with me these last four years and never wavering in your support. It hasn’t been an easy road. There have been plenty of late nights spent studying, emotional moments, failed tests and days where I questioned if I deserved to be here. But there have been many more great memories. Unforgettable days spent with my fraternity brothers, hilarious production nights spent in the newsroom, classic sporting events, Silver Taps and Musters so humbling I can barely describe them and of course, countless pitchers downed amongst laughs and smiles at the Chicken. I’ve learned so much here. From the professor who taught me about Zen-Buddhist Catholicism and the beauty in the small things to the deaf classmate who asked me to describe how music sounds to him, the knowledge I have gained both in the classroom and out has made me into a better man. That’s a debt I will forever owe this wonderful place. I’m sitting here trying to do my best David Foster Wallace impression, but I’m approaching my word count. I can’t write enough about how much this school means to me. So thank you, A&M. For every single moment. And thank you to everyone I’ve crossed paths with while I was here. A wise old man once told me to always end your writing with a quote, since whoever said it was probably more famous and intelligent than you’ll ever be, plus it will make you seem smart and cultured, even when you’re not. I think this one sums up my time at A&M perfectly. “No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride ... and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well ... maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten,” — Hunter S. Thompson. Thanks & Gig ‘Em. Brad Morse is a sociology senior and editor-in-chief for The Battalion.

Provided by Joeli Engel

C. Morgan Engel had his work recognized multiple times by the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press.

My unparalleled playground Texas A&M provided the opportunities to practice my skills C. Morgan Engel @cmefotos

few nights ago, I spent some late hours on campus with my camera in one hand and a tripod in the other. As I explored campus for the last time as a student, I did not photograph the more popular spots on campus, such as the Century Tree or the Architecture Quad, but instead the small and often overlooked details I believe make campus unique. As I walked past all the classrooms I sat in for hours on end to earn my degree, they all seemed minuscule compared to that one classroom in the basement of the MSC. The Battalion office became my favorite, and undoubtedly the most fulfilling, classroom on campus, and along the way I found the campus which surrounds it to be my photography playground. It was September of 2015 when I first walked into that classroom in the basement of the MSC to be greeted by then managing editor Lindsey Gawlik and editor-in-chief Aimee Breaux. I asked them if they would allow someone with no journalism experience whatsoever and mild photography experience to become a photojournalist for The Battalion. The overwhelming welcome I received from them and others at the paper made me realize I had just become part of something important. I worked countless hours inside that classroom and played as much as I could on the playground. I fell in love with the work, because I found using my camera to benefit something greater than myself and learning about photojournalism along the way was unbelievably fulfilling. Picking up a paper in the mornings on my way to class became my ritual. The sight of my byline was worth more than the money I was paid, because being able to see my work contributing towards something important was (and will always be) an incredible

feeling. Over the past three years, you have most likely seen a few of my photographs from the nearly 100 Aggie sporting events I covered. Significant moments on this playground I covered include the 2016 men’s basketball team winning the SEC Championship, the 2016 women’s basketball postseason tournament, Myles Garrett’s performance at Texas A&M’s Pro Day, the 2018 women’s swimming and diving team winning a third-straight SEC championship and the arrival of new head football coach Jimbo Fisher. Sometimes my Aggie playground extended beyond campus, including two separate trips to southern California. The first was to cover the 2016 men’s basketball team in the Sweet Sixteen against Buddy Hield and the Oklahoma Sooners, and the other to cover the 2017 football season opener against the UCLA Bruins at the historic Rose Bowl. I know visually documenting these events and others over my three years at The Battalion has made my work part of the history of not only The Battalion, but also A&M, which is empowering knowledge. Sports photography has become my muse, one I would not have discovered so clearly if it was not for The Battalion. It has pushed my creativity to new heights I did not know I was capable of. I owe a lot to this important student-led paper, and one day I hope to pay back that debt, but for now I can give this; As I move on, I know the classroom I found in the basement of the MSC and the surrounding playground has placed me on a trajectory I will follow for the rest of my career, towards new classrooms and new playgrounds. C. Morgan Engel is a telecommunication senior and photographer for The Battalion.

One last time My time here will be remembered by the late deadlines, the laughs and everything in between Gracie Mock @g_mock2

Provided by Cassie Stricker

Gracie Mock will be attending Texas A&M University School of Law this fall.

here’s a last time for everything. The last time I sawed ‘em off at Kyle Field as a student, the last time I walked to an undergraduate class and now the last article I’ll write for The Battalion. Four years ago, I walked into The Battalion newsroom and picked up an application, not realizing I would consider that place in the basement of the MSC home. It was a lot of hard work, a lot of running around to get sources, a lot of confusion as editors ripped apart what I thought was really good writing and of course, planning and communicating, doing both often. It seems like so long ago, but also just yesterday, that I started working here and I’m not sure how to sum up in just a few hundred words what it’s meant to me. I’m not going to define my time here by the bad, by what could’ve been. I’m going to remember all the good times, the silly times, the stressed out but worth it because the paper is going to look awesome times. My time is more than just always being on the clock and willing to answer questions or give advice no

matter the hour. It’s more than calling The Eagle and telling Jason we’re going to be sending pages late again. It’s the little moments in between all that which I will remember the most. The uncontrollable laughter after someone says something worthy of the quote wall. The fake HR reports. Saying “got ‘em” probably way too many times. Crafting the perfect tweet to roast The Mugdown. Hanging out in the newsroom well past when we’re done for the night, just talking and enjoying each other’s company. Once I’ve forgotten what it was that had us so frustrated (or maybe I’m just blocking those memories), these are the things I’ll hold in my heart from my time here. I have given so much to The Battalion and it’s has taught me so much in return. In four years I’ve learned the importance of meeting deadlines, what it means to sacrifice, what it means to be a good leader and how to deal with difficult people. These, along with so many more unmentioned, are lessons I will take with me even though I am not going into a career in journalism. I wouldn’t be the editor or writer or leader I am today without the editors who shaped me. Jennifer Reiley and Lindsey Carnett were my first editors when I was a news reporter and taught me how to write Battal-

ion style. John Rangel sparked my interest in science and technology. He also pushed me to be an editor. Sam King and Katy Stapp taught me what true leadership looks like and how to effectively lead a newsroom. Many more shaped me along the way, but these five deserve a special shoutout. Thank you to Mr. Pils for always keeping your office door open anytime I needed to talk and for being a resource. We’re very lucky to have you as an advisor and I especially appreciate all you’ve done for me. My Battalion experience would not be as great as it was without Angel, Cassie, Alexis and Taylor. These amazing women have always been there for me and were there to support me through the hard times. Thank you for the laughs, the cheese fry nights, Taco Thursdays and the movie nights. I wouldn’t be writing this without y’all. I love you guys. My parents have always been my biggest supporters. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my dreams and come to Texas A&M, and keep going now that I’ve been accepted to the law school. I love you both. I will forever be grateful for this organization, it made my four years at A&M incredible. Gracie Mock is a communication senior and managing editor for The Battalion.

GRADUATION

The Battalion | 5.7.18

MOMENTS

from the past four years Compiled by Luke Henkhaus @luke_henkhaus

Mascot Corporal protects Reveille VIII at football game

University President Michael K. Young takes office at A&M

Resting on the sidelines during the Aggies’ game against Southern Methodist University, Reveille VIII found herself in the path of an SMU receiver running out of bounds after an incomplete pass. Mascot Corporal Ryan Kreider stepped into action, throwing himself between Miss Rev and the receiver to keep the First Lady of Aggieland safe.

After four years as president at the University of Washington and seven at the University of Utah, Michael K. Young found a new home in Aggieland in February 2015.

Texas A&M selects Reveille IX

George R.R. Martin comes to Cushing Library for presentation

Corps of Cadets select first female commander

Kyle Field renovation completed

As Reveille VIII prepared for retirement, Texas A&M’s mascot search committee selected an Ohioborn rough collie named Twix to become Reveille IX. During the 2015 Corps Final Review, she officially took her place as First Lady of Aggieland.

The author of the popular book series that inspired the HBO hit show “Game of Thrones,” presented University Libraries with its five-millionth volume — a first edition copy of Tolkein’s “The Hobbit.” George R.R. Martin has a long-standing relationship with A&M and Cushing Library serves as a repository for his personal collection of letters, books and manuscripts.

On the 40th anniversary of the Corps of Cadets accepting women into their ranks, Alyssa Michalke, Class of 2016, was named Corps Commander, becoming the first female to fill the role in the Corps’ 139-year history. Just a year later, Cecille Sorio, Class of 2017, became the second.

After roughly 18 months and $485 million, the reconstruction of Kyle Field wrapped up in time for the season-opener against Ball State in 2015. With a capacity of 102,733, the home of Aggie football is the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference.

Elon Musk visits A&M for the Hyperloop competition

Myles Garrett makes history as No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick

Aggie baseball reaches the College World Series

Breakaway gets a new director

The billionaire visionary behind SpaceX and Tesla made a surprise appearance on the final day of the Hyperloop Competition on the A&M campus. Over 1,400 teams competed to design pods for Musk’s proposed Hyperloop system — a sealed tube greatly reducing air resistance and friction, allowing cargo to travel over 700 miles per hour.

For the first time in A&M’s history, an Aggie heard his name called first at the NFL Draft. Defensive end Myles Garrett was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, making him the fourth defensive player taken No. 1 overall in the last 18 years.

With a 12-6 win over Davidson College, the A&M baseball team advanced to the College World Series for the first time since 2011. The team was eliminated after two straight losses to Louisville and TCU.

Timothy Ateek, Class of 2003, returned to Aggieland as the third director of campus ministry organization Breakaway. Ateek had previously been a frequent guest speaker at Breakaway, traveling in from Waco where he served as the director of a similar program at Baylor University.

Cullen Gillaspia carries on the tradition of the 12th Man

Bobby Brooks serves as Student Body President

Aggie leaders BTHO Harvey

Five former presidents visit A&M for One America Appeal concert

Putting on the iconic No. 12 jersey, then-sophomore linebacker Cullen Gillaspia became the most recent in a long line of players designated to represent the spirit of the original 12 Man, E. King Gill. Gillaspia was given the honor the week of the 2016 football game against UCLA.

The first openly gay student to hold the office of Student Body President, economics senior Bobby Brooks served A&M between the 2017 and 2018 Muster ceremonies. During his time in office, Brooks focused on improvements and progress in diversity and inclusion, academics and student services.

What started as a tweet from sport management senior Greta Swift grew into a massive Aggie effort to support communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. Student leaders organized supply drives and service projects while partnering with Texas A&M Athletics to raise funds with BTHO Harvey t-shirts.

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama stood together in Reed Arena for the One America Appeal relief concert benefiting victims of the 2017 hurricane season. In addition to an already-stunning lineup of musical performances, the concert featured a surprise appearance from pop superstar Lady Gaga.

Mia Miller named first female Mascot Corporal

Business school baby goes viral

Men’s and women’s basketball reach the Sweet 16

Remembering Barbara Bush

A year after the gender integration of the E-2 mascot company, biology freshman Mia Miller was selected as Reveille IX’s new handler, making her the first-ever female Mascot Corporal. Responsibility for Miss Rev passed from Jacob Scroggins to Miller in a ceremony at the Reveille Cemetery in front of Kyle Field.

When senior Ashton Robinson couldn’t find a babysitter for her 10-month-old son Emmett, she emailed professor Henry Musoma to let him know she’d be missing class. Musoma responded telling her to bring her son to class and a picture of Musoma holding Emmett quickly went viral. The three made an appearance on The Ellen Show soon after.

With stunning second-round victories, the A&M men’s and women’s basketball teams punched their tickets to this year’s Sweet 16. The men flew out to Los Angeles and the women to Spokane, Washington, but both teams were sent back home to Aggieland by Michigan and Notre Dame, respectively.

A tireless advocate for literacy, the wife of the 41st president and mother of the 43rd, Barbara Bush was laid to rest on the grounds of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in April. After a memorial service in Houston, hundreds lined George Bush Drive as the former first lady’s funeral procession arrived in College Station.

Photos by Cassie Stricker, C. Morgan Engel, Jesse Everett and Alex Miller — THE BATTALION, PROVIDED and FILE

GRADUATION

The Battalion | 5.7.18

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Political science senior and 2017-2018 Corps Commander Bradley Sauer (left) and biomedical sciences senior Ryan Bindel (right) will become officers once they are commissioned.

Cadets joining the military reflect on A&M history of service The Corps of Cadets and ROTC prep graduates for success in every branch By Henry Mureithi @SOCOMBlack On Friday, cadets commissioning into the military service branches will complete their four-year journeys and officially take their oaths to become officers in the United States Armed Forces upon graduation. The military history of Texas A&M goes all the way back to its foundation as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, an all-male military college. Though much has changed in that time, the university continues to produce the largest class of military officers of any college outside the service academies, according to the Corps of Cadets website. “Especially since the Marine Corps is one of the military branches most passionate about their history and A&M as well, to me it feels like you belong. That you’re not going to be forgotten. That you’re doing something that’s good,” said John Voss, international studies senior and U.S. Marine Corps commissionee. “I have several friends who go to [the University of Texas] who are planning on joining the military and to them, it’s not a very prideful

military school, as you can imagine. And they are not just as passionate, in my opinion, about what they’re going to do as they could be if they had gone here.” A&M is one of six senior military colleges, all with a standing cadet corps. As part of their commitments in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs, the commissioning cadets were required to participate in the Corps of Cadets. As part of their training, cadets in the various ROTCs attended assessment and training exercises during the summers of their sophomore or junior years with students from across the country. Shawn McArthur, geographic information science and technology senior and U.S. Army commissionee, said the culture of the Corps gives cadets an advantage over the non-senior military ROTC programs. “The Corps just kind of gives you an advantage over the organizations that don’t [have a cadet corps] since we’re constantly in that military-type environment,” McArthur said. “The other [college] ROTCs do that a couple days of the week and then they are a normal college student, and here it’s a good hybrid between that and West Point, where you’re always in the military. It kind of just helps supplement that with being in a military lifestyle and being a college student. Our size

also makes it very competitive here.” Members of the Corps have served in every military conflict the United States has engaged in since 1876. One notable example is World War II and the current cadet uniform is derived from the Army uniform of that time. As told in the Standard, the official guideline book for the Corps, a total of 20,229 Aggies served in the course of that conflict, 14,123 of whom served as officers, surpassing the combined totals of the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. “It’s motivating,” said Alexander Kirkland, political science senior and U.S. Marine Corps commissionee. “It’s a very traditional thing and I think it’s motivating to think about all the things those guys did, all that they went through and to be kind of carrying the torch forward from where they left off.” Although A&M commissions cadets into all five branches of service — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard — most of them are commissioned through the three ROTC programs — Army, Navy (with a Marine Corps option) and Air Force. According to Jordan Anderson, geographic information science and technology senior and U.S. Marine Corps commissionee, the Corps forms an invaluable part of commissioning ca-

dets’ military training and development. “The two work in tandem,” Anderson said. “They are working to make us better leaders. I had an incredible opportunity to serves as the Second Regiment commander this year, so my leadership position demanded a lot of me on the Corps of Cadets side and the ROTC was there to help advise me and to help me become a better leader. The ROTC has done a phenomenal job of giving all the information and the technical knowledge that I need, but the Corps of Cadets has given me that hands on experience and actually an ability to apply it.” Marcos Velasquez, political science senior and Air Force commissionee, said the commitment of extended military service and its effect on familial responsibilities will form a large part of the career decisions he makes now and in the future. “I do want to do 20-plus years in the military and that’s going to require a lot of moving,” Velasquez said. “So I have to make sure my spouse is my number one fan and she’s going to back me up in every decision I make and who is going to make me make these tough decisions. The minute my wife says we moved one too many times, that’s when I’ll say that’s fine and change my priorities to my family.”

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The majority of students graduating from college seek a job post-graduation; approximately 77 percent of the 1.2 million 20-29 year-olds who graduated in 2017 looked for jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, there is a pay gap which can affect individuals’ salaries based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race or age, according to the American Association of University Women (AAUW). The pay gap, as defined by the AAUW, is the difference in men’s and women’s median earnings. In 2016, the earnings ratio, calculated as the median earnings of women divided by the median earning of men, was approximately 80 percent, meaning the pay gap was approximately 20 percent. Although both men and women’s earnings increase over time, the pay gap grows with age; there is a 22 percent difference in earnings compared to a man’s salary between women aged 18-24 and women aged 55-64. Melissa Ochoa Garza, sociology Ph.D. candidate, is completing a project for her dissertation studying observations of everyday sexism. “Essentially ... we’re trying to create a theory that explains how sexism is systemic,” Ochoa Garza said. “So in order to do that, we have to be able to find the dimensions of the daily types of sexism that happen that are accepted and are normalized, and then be able to say how those micro-level interactions are representative of a larger system of oppression.” Chika Nwachukwu, allied health senior, works in Ochoa Garza’s research lab. Nwachukwu said there is often sexism in the workplace where men will dismiss women from conversations, which she said she thinks could contribute to the lingering pay gap. “Women in male dominated fields, they feel often times ignored because usually the men try to shut them down, try to exclude them from the conversation, they try to silence them, they try to interrupt them, they are basically dismissed,” Nwachukwu said. “A lot of women, unfortunately, they internalize it. They become silent, they don’t fight it.” There is a sex segregation in the workforce, meaning women tend to work in lower paying jobs, according to data collected by FiveThirtyEight. Statistics show eight out of the 10 lowest-paid professions are at least 40 percent employed with women, while only four out of 10 can be said of the highest. “Predominantly female careers are going to be paid less because they’re careers that are seen as unproductive by society,” Ochoa Garza said. “So that’s like teachers, nurses, caregiving roles.” Ochoa Garza said from a sociological standpoint, there is more to this issue than

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meets the eye. The socialization of the sexes is often different, which could be a factor in this sexual segregation of professions. “While many people would say, ‘That’s a choice, women get paid less because they’re choosing those jobs,’ as sociologists we say, ‘Well, wait a minute, let’s back up,’” Ochoa Garza said. “Let’s look at socialization, let’s look at the kind of messages women are getting and the way they are being treated when they express interest in things that are considered feminine or for women.” Haley Peters, interdisciplinary studies senior, works as a tutor and will be a fulltime teacher in the fall. She said she has not experienced a pay gap due to the set salaries all teachers start with, but is aware of her profession being predominantly female. “Caretaker jobs or teacher jobs are a majority women and those are very lower-paid scale jobs,” Peters said. “It’s just like engineering or medical engineering are male dominated and higher pay.” Samira Choudhury, biomedical sciences senior, will take a gap year before going to medical school. During her gap year, she said she hopes to work for a non-profit specifically directed toward women’s health, or anything directed toward helping women and girls. “Obviously I think [equal pay is] a necessity in any career field, whether you’re a college graduate or not, but specifically for college graduates,” Choudhury said. “You have two groups of people who are going through the same curriculum … they’re going through the same rigor for four years, they’re faced with a drastically different response from employers. I feel like that’s really discouraging for people. So then that sentiment gets passed down and that can potentially discourage other females who are being disadvantaged.” Another layer to the pay gap is race and ethnicity. According to the AAUW, fulltime female workers in 2016 who are Hispanic or Latina, American Indian or Alaska Native, black or African American and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander had lower median annual earnings compared to non-Hispanic white and Asian women, with Hispanic women having the largest pay gap of 54 percent of a white man’s earnings. “There’s this gender gap that people always talk about,” Choudhury said. “I think a lot of people don’t realize that’s between white males and females, and so the disparity from the highest level is like the white male and then women of color is even lower.” Choudhury said it is important to her that everyone is equal, making it crucial to recognize that there is a clear pay gap between more than just gender. “Obviously I want everyone to be equal, but that to me is even more of an issue because … it’s including more than one type of prejudice into the mix,” Choudhury said. “So you’re having those two things affecting people’s livelihoods. I also am a female of color. I don’t want to have to go through four years of hard work to have to be put down below two other categories of people when we’ve all done the same thing.”

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