The Battalion — April 28, 2022

THURSDAY, APRIL 28 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2022 STUDENT MEDIA

INSIDE THIS EDITION

LIFE & ARTS: VALOR PEER-MENTORING, PG. 2

SPORTS: NFL DRAFTEE FEATURES, PG. 4-5

POSTER: ONE YEAR OF REVEILLE X, PG. 8 PUBLICATION NOTICE The Battalion will publish its final edition of the spring 2022 semester on Monday, May 9.

FILE

Community members can vote on campus in Memorial Student Center Room L526.

Early voting for primaries takes off in Texas Brazos County special election to begin May 7 for 15 primary spots Cameron Johnson — THE BATTALION

Sexual assault awareness shirts were displayed for Denim Day in Rudder Plaza on Wednesday, April 27.

‘Creating spaces’ of hope Organizations, facilities reflect on Sexual Assault Awareness Month as it comes to a close, resources remain available

By Morgan Gentry @thebattmorgan Content warning: This article contains mention of sexual assault.

T

he trauma of sexual assault is a battle that does not have to be fought alone. Through awareness, prevention and support, one can make the journey toward healing.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or SAAM, when individuals and organizations come together to bring public attention to different forms of sexual violence in an effort to educate the community on prevention and support. At Texas A&M,

many organizations and facilities host a series of different campus events to spread awareness, educate the public and show support for victims.

Health Promotion specialist Megan Woodfield said hosting these events, the division worked to ensure the events created a comfortable environment.

“This is a topic that centers around trauma and can [be] a hard thing for a lot of folks to talk about,” Woodfield said. “Creating spaces where we can talk about support aspects and how this impacts [people], without folks from campus or community required to report things, can [make] students feel safe in sharing their experience and getting the resources they need.”

Student Health Services, or SHS, Chief Nursing Officer Kristen Ely said sexual assault awareness and prevention is important for college students as the campus population is at high risk.

“A lot of [cases] do go unreported just because there tends to be a lot of shame and blame associated with the sexual assaults that

‘Centennial Campaign’ brings new era to A&M Athletics

Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

The Centennial Campaign aims to provide student-athletes with a variety of mental and physical health support programs.

4 new athletic, health facilities to be constructed behind Kyle Field

By Jake Ward @JWard_23 Just over 100 years ago, in a battle against Centre College, the legend of the 12th Man was born at Texas A&M when E. King Gill valiantly suited up for the Aggies while they faced injury, despite not being a member of the team. Fast forward a century, A&M has spent the 2021-22 academic year celebrating the anniversary of the 12th Man through various programs — specifically during the football season — but on Monday, April 25,

the university unveiled its biggest plan yet: the Centennial Campaign.

The Centennial Campaign will bring four new complexes to the A&M campus right behind the south side of Kyle Field, where KAMU is currently housed. This includes an indoor football performance center, an indoor stadium for track and field, an academic and wellness center for student athletes as well as a redesigned Bright Football Complex.

The new indoor track stadium will be paired with E.B. Cushing Stadium for the A&M track and field teams. This move is designed to both celebrate the championship-winning program as well as lead to more events being hosted in College Station.

occur,” Ely said. “So, letting them know that Student Health [is] here to be their advocates … we want them to be comfortable coming to us to get the care that they need and the resources that they need afterward.”

SHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tiffany Skaggs, Class of 1999, said SHS provides many health services and resources to sexual assault victims.

“We can take care of their medical needs, put them in contact with our psychologist at [the] Sexual Assault Resource Center,” Dr. Skaggs said. “We can [also] make sure they have safe housing, make sure their physical needs are taken care of and then we can do the follow-up, [where] we can do emergency contraception if that’s needed.”

Act to End Sex Trafficking and Assault, or AESTA, is an organization at A&M that strives to advocate and educate the community on issues revolving around sex trafficking and violence. Social media and public relations chair Michelle Arnold, a community health junior, said during April AESTA RESOURCES ON PG. 3

With the recent success of the 2022 recruiting class for A&M football, the redesigned Bright Football Complex and the indoor performance center will serve as a way to attract future classes of similar prestige.

These complexes will include areas specifically designed for recruiting. With future student-athletes in mind, there will additionally be areas within the academic and wellness center where athletes will have the ability to spend time on content creation and brand development in wake of the NCAA’s decision regarding name, image and likeness.

“When we recruit student-athletes to Texas A&M, we are investing in them athletically, academically and in their personal lives,” Director of Athletics Ross Bjork told 12thMan.com. “The new Academic and Wellness Center will be at the center of their complete development as leaders who will be equipped to impact the world. It’s going to be a place where our student-athletes can gather and get the support they need to grow each and every day.”

After breaking ground on this new campaign, A&M will likely spend close to $200 million in various upgrades and renovations, according to Billy Liucci of TexAgs. The university will be relying on the support of donors and former students throughout this process, as they have before, similar to the upgrades given to Kyle Field in 2015. A&M hopes to secure $120 million for this project through donations when all is said and done, according to 12thMan.com.

When Texas A&M Athletics and the 12th Man Foundation unveiled the plans for the Centennial Campaign, no timeline for completion was given. For further information regarding the facilities, visit www.TheCentennialCampaign.com.

By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel Voting is underway again in Brazos County for runoff elections which began Monday, April 25.

Ahead of the May 7 special election, early voting in the Brazos County will feature ballots for two state of Texas propositions, with proposition No. 1 being for a limitation on the total ad valorem taxes for elementary and secondary education on the residence of elderly or disabled individuals. Proposition No. 2 suggests an increase in the residence homestead exemption for $25,000 to $40,000. Additionally, there are two propositions for Brazos County Services Districts No. 3 and 4, concerning the local and used sales tax, not to exceed 1.5%.

The ballots for both the Democratic and Republican parties are also posted on the brazosvotes.org website for the upcoming runoff election on May 24 with early voting beginning May 16.

The Democratic ballot features state races including Michelle Beckly and Mike Collier for lieutenant governor, Rochelle Mercedes Garza and Joe Jaworski for attorney general, Janet T. Dudding and Angel Luis Vega for comptroller of Public Accounts and Sandragrace Martinez and Jay Kleburg for commissioner of the General Land Office. Locally, Prentiss E. Madison Sr. and Wanda J. Watson will battle for county commissioner Precinct 4 and Darrell Booker and Celina Vasquez for justice of the peace in Precinct 4.

The Republican ballot features statewide races between Ken Paxton and George P. Bush for attorney general, Tim Westley and Dawn Buckingham for commissioner of the Land Grant Office and Wayne Christian and Sarah Stogner for railroad commissioner. At the local level, the ballot sees Kyle Kacal and Ben Bius for District 12 state representative, Gabriel Garcia and Margaret Meece for district clerk, Russ Ford and Chuck Konderla for county commissioner Precinct 2, Keith Ballasy and Rudy Schlutz for precinct chair 27, Mary Stasiowski and Mark S. Browning for precinct chair 64 and Brandon Gaines and Maria Schams for precinct chair 88.

To participate in early voting for the runoff election, voters should already be registered and must bring a valid form of identification, according to brazosvotes.org.

Locations:

• Brazos County Election Administrator Office — McLeod Training Room • Arena Hall • Galilee Baptist Church • College Station Utilities Meeting and Training Facility • Texas A&M Memorial Student Center — Room L526

Dates and times: •

April 25-29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• May 2-3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

LIFE&ARTS

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The Battalion | 4.28.22

Aggies of

VALOR

FILE

Aggie success program Veteran Aggie Leaders for Outreach and Resources, or VALOR, helps current veteran students achieve their professional and academic goals with skill development opportunities.

Program offers academic, career resources for student veterans

By Kathryn Miller @KathrynMiller0 Veteran Aggie Leaders for Outreach and Resources, or VALOR, helps student veterans attain holistic success at Texas A&M by providing student veterans with resources and skill development opportunities to reach their personal and professional goals.

VALOR is a peer-mentoring program allowing first-year student veterans to access resources to develop connections with A&M’s student veteran population, and create an educational plan to help with their future academic success and career.

VALOR graduate assistant Carly Mark said in the mentoring program, non-first-year student veterans take on a peer mentor position to advise first-year student veterans. Through this peer-mentoring program, Mark said VALOR becomes a support system for new student veterans to successfully acclimate to A&M. Mark said the transition to A&M from military service is a difficult process, because not only are veterans dealing with transitioning to the university, they may also be dealing with complications from their deployment.

“With veterans moving from military service into A&M and not being the traditional

student, they already have a bunch of different things going against them,” Mark said. “Not only do they have someone to relate to in this program, but we work on helping them with academic success, building a support system within the community and their financial success, because a lot of them use [Veteran Affairs] benefits, which is different from most of us.”

VALOR also aids veterans with professional development, such as looking into internships and resume building, Mark said.

“Because many of the veterans who come in are older — not 18 — they have a good amount of experience already,” Mark said.

“We help them condense those experiences into a resume that’s good for outreaching. Like in our name, we’re here to outreach for them and give them the resources they need to succeed at A&M.” Mark said VALOR’s biggest event is Vet Camp Extended Orientation, held the week before classes start each semester. Mark said Vet Camp is like a big welcome to A&M, where student veterans can meet other veterans to relate to, and also companies that could offer them future internships or provide resources.

“This past Vet Camp, we brought in recruiters from different companies, like the FBI and Charles Schwab came,” Mark said. “We brought the veterans in and they talked to all the different recruiters to start gaining internship opportunities. What we found is it was like a professional social networking event. In

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the past, we’ve brought in different community resources, such as Brazos Valley Cares.”

As a peer mentor with VALOR, history junior David Haney said student volunteers such as himself, who have the heart and desire to advocate for student veterans, are the foundation of the program.

“To have an organization or program like VALOR, where student veterans with that kind of drive see their peers succeed and get the most out of their time here at A&M, it’s a great opportunity and it’s really an honor for those students who are participating,” Haney said.

Haney said the most important job of a peer leader is to be the face of what VALOR stands for, as well as being of service to the student veterans and supplementing their needs.

“It’s not a bureaucratic process. It’s a process of getting to know the student veteran, making a connection with them, finding out what it is they need and what [VALOR] can do to either fulfill that need either at the Veterans [Resource & Support Center, or VRSC], or to connect them directly with someone,” Haney said. “In this day and age, it’s really easy to call a place and then get transferred to someone else that transfers you to someone else to transfer to someone else. It can be time-consuming and frustrating, so our job is to cut out all of that and be the middleman.”

Getting a contextual relationship and connection with the student veterans and helping them to resolve issues they face on campus

is what Haney said is his favorite part of VALOR. VRSC assistant director and co-founder of VALOR retired Sgt. Maj. Donald Freeman said the program imitates assimilating to the military, so the veterans have a sense of familiarity.

“In the military as you go from one duty station to another duty station, you’re always assigned a sponsor and that sponsor’s mission is to help integrate you to whatever your new duty station is,” Freeman said.

“That’s why we created it, we wanted to make sure that the veterans didn’t feel left out or isolated. It’s kind of like a [permanent change of station, or PCS,] move — where you move from a duty station to duty station — but you move from a duty station to college in a kind of like a PCS ... move. We want to make sure that they get well integrated into A&M and they have no issues whether it’s academics, financial, social well-being or career for life after college.”

Challenges student veterans face on top of adjusting to A&M’s academic environment may be overlooked, Freeman said. These include navigating childcare and trying to figure out what businesses provide after-hour services or military discounts for veteran families, as well as monetary issues such as which doctors will offer them health care benefits, Freeman said.

“Imagine coming here as a traditional student, worrying about registering for classes, your dorm room, those types of things. Then, multiply that times 10 when you’re married, have family and other obligations,” Freeman said.

Freeman said VALOR’s peer-mentoring system is effective because the mentors understand exactly what first-semester veterans are going through since they were once in their same position.

“As an assistant director of the VRSC I can tell the student, ‘Hey, this is in your best interest that you should take advantage of this program,’” Freeman said.

“They listen to us, but they listen to their peers a lot more frequently, so it’s like listening to a friend versus listening to your parents. It’s more important for the peer to teach those student veterans rather than somebody like myself from higher ed[ucation].”

For more information about VALOR or to apply as a peer mentor, visit https:// aggieveterans.tamu.edu/valor/. To help support the program’s development and to become a donor, visit the program’s Texas A&M Foundation donation page.

They’re more than a good pair of boots.

Looking for breathable footwear to work all day in and go two-stepping afterward?

Look elsewhere. These handcrafted boots weren’t made for walking so much as they were for marching. But for the cadets who wear them around campus, they represent years spent working hard, learning to lead and building friendships that last a lifetime.

It’s always possible to tell when an Aggie just got their senior boots—no one stands taller.

Through impactful scholarships, Texas A&M Foundation donors support thousands of Texas A&M University students as they march into their careers. Learn how you can help build a brighter future for Aggies today and tomorrow at txamfoundation.com.

LIFE&ARTS

3

The Battalion | 4.28.22

Cameron Johnson — THE BATTALION

Students hung up shirts in Rudder Plaza to bring awareness to the prevalence of sexual assault on and off campus.

RESOURCES CONTINUED increased its social media presence to spread awareness.

“We did a post that talked about the statistics surrounding sex trafficking and violence in the U.S.,” Arnold said. “We also open[ed] to the platform that men, women and people who identify as non-binary are all victims of sexual trafficking assault. It’s not the stereotype that just women are victims of rape or assault or sexual harassment.”

LET’S BE FRIENDS

As a victim of sexual assault, Arnold said the organization wants to let campus individuals know there are ways to advocate for themselves to get help and support.

“Going through that experience is a very lonely experience and there’s a lot of survivors that end up having mental health crises, self-harm, suicidal thoughts [or] substance abuse, and that’s just an experience that we don’t want our fellow Aggies to have to go through,” Arnold said. “There should be a community that welcomes and supports survivors [in] aiding them and their healing pro-

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cess, as well as empowering them to speak up if that’s what they want to do.”

Woodfield hopes all awareness surrounding SAAM allows victims to see there is support for them, as the Aggie community stands with them.

“I would hope that they’re able to know that there are a lot of people on campus who are trained in trauma-informed care response, who care about them and want to help guide them to whatever they feel they need to heal and grow,” Woodfield said. “Aggies care about each other and support each other —

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and not just in April, but year-round.”

Ely said individuals who may not have experienced sexual assault, but know or see someone that is, should speak up.

“Be willing to intervene, of course keeping yourself safe, but say something if you see something you think that is uncomfortable or if you feel that the person is in danger,” Ely said. “Make sure that you’re there for people if you know you’re able to help [and] if they need to be helped.”

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SPORTS

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The Battalion 4.28.22

Isaiah Spiller aims to ‘prove the doubters wrong’

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Running back Isaiah Spiller, Class of 2023, pushes the defense away during Texas A&M’s last SEC home game versus Auburn at Kyle Field on Nov. 6, 2021.

Spiller set to go from Saturdays to Sundays as he enters NFL Draft

By Jordan Epp @j_epp22 On Sept. 7, 2019, the Texas A&M football team was facing an uphill battle — the Aggies were playing against the No. 2 Clemson Tigers, and things just got worse. Then-sophomore running back Jashaun Corbin was on the ground and wasn’t getting back up.

Down 17-3 just five minutes into the third quarter, then-junior quarterback Kellen Mond faked the handoff to Corbin, who slipped into the flats on the left side of the field for a screen pass. After Mond lobbed the ball in Corbin’s direction, a Clemson defender ran down Corbin from behind, grabbing his back and dragging him down awkwardly for a 4-yard A&M gain.

Lost in the chaos of Corbin on the ground holding his leg was true freshman running back Isaiah Spiller, standing on the sideline.

The Aggies were in capable hands. Spiller, like Corbin, was a 4-star athlete coming out of high school. He surprised Aggieland when he popped a carry to the right side and ran 85 yards in a Week 1 game against Texas State, his first collegiate appearance.

“I know he’s a freshman, but just the body size [that Spiller has helps him],” Mond said.

“I feel like he can take a pounding but still give us a lot of great carries.”

Spiller would go on to have an up-anddown freshman season. He started nine of the team’s 13 games, receiving double-digit carries in nine games and rushing for triple digits in four games. He had nine touchdowns, but he also had three games with single-digit rushing yards.

After falling just short of 1,000 yards in his freshman campaign, Spiller’s sophomore sea-

son was the chance to put his name on the map. Corbin transferred out of A&M in favor of the Florida State Seminoles, his home state, offering Spiller the full-time starting job.

In an abbreviated SEC-only regular season schedule — due to the impacts of COVID-19 across the world — Spiller took charge of his new role, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He produced 1,036 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, putting himself in the conversation among the nation’s most elite running backs, as the Aggies fell just shy of a College Football Playoff berth.

With NFL Draft buzz surrounding Spiller heading into his junior season, he had a chance to prove himself, but some worried the emergence of running back Devon Achane, who had a breakout freshman performance in the 2021 Orange Bowl, could diminish Spiller’s role. Some even hinted at the possibility of the speedy track star usurping the role as starter.

Meanwhile, Spiller and his inner circle were

undeterred.

“I’m going to tell you this: I told you we make goals every year,” Spiller’s father Fred told The Battalion, “To be that type of player, that Heisman candidate, the player to put his team on his back and make the plays necessary to take A&M to that national championship.”

While the loftier goals fell short for the Aggies in a roller coaster 2021-22 season, Spiller didn’t fail to overcome the hesitations of his doubters. He completed his junior campaign with an average of 5.6 yards per carry, seven total touchdowns and 1,000-plus yards for the second year in a row. He achieved his second-straight season without losing a fumble.

After declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft on Tuesday, Dec. 14, Spiller has been busy, receiving plenty of interest at the NFL level. He has had top-30 in-person, on-site visits with at least three teams at their team headquarters, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Washington Commanders and the Buffalo Bills.

However, his projection by the media has varied. According to both Pro Football Focus and Bleacher Report’s big boards, he is “RB11.” According to the Pro Football Network’s big board, he is “RB1.” According to the NFL Network’s big board, he is “RB4.”

His size is coveted by NFL teams. He runs with power and has the ability to cut hard and quick at the line to accompany his northsouth running style.

“I mean, he is huge. He’s the guy that everyone knows is going to get it, and we’re going to give it to him and he carries it. He’s a big part of what we do [in the run game] and also catching the ball out of the backfield,” Fisher said.

But, some question the likelihood that his skills translate at the next stage, particularly pointing to some below-average testing numbers. Spiller’s 40-yard dash was reported by Texas A&M Athletics as 4.6 seconds at his Pro Day, and he jumped 30 inches in the vertical and 114 inches in the broad at the NFL Combine.

“I didn’t really prove anyone wrong; people are going to hate on me,” Spiller said after his Pro Day, citing that his game speed is more indicative of his abilities than a simple drill.

A hamstring issue had hindered his ability to show off and show out during the offseason.

But, regardless of the haters, regardless of if he goes on Day 1, 2 or 3, if there’s one thing Spiller has lived by at A&M, it’s “prove the doubters wrong.” And, certainly, he won’t stop trying.

SPORTS

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The Battalion | 4.28.22

From Friday Night Lights to big city brights

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

After a close start, kicker Seth Small, Class of 2022, kicks his second field goal of Texas A&M’s Nov. 6, 2021, game against Auburn, making the score 6-3.

Kicker’s larger-than-life path from stands to stadiums started small

By Kay Naegeli @KayNaegeli As a Texas high school football player, playing under the bright lights of your high school football stadium may feel like the best moment of one’s life.

As an Aggie, kicking a field goal to upset Nick Saban and then-No. 1 Alabama in front of 109,835 fans is a high that will last a lifetime.

As a Christian man, growing a relationship with God and marrying the love of your life in college could be the answer to one’s prayers.

Or just maybe, hearing your name called at the NFL Draft could top it all.

For former Texas A&M place-kicker Seth Small, Class of 2022, when deciding on the best moment of his life, he could choose all of the above.

The molding of Small as an NFL-bound athlete started in the not-so-small town outside of Houston: Katy. During the 2015-16 football season, Small was enrolled at Seven Lakes High School and watched the Katy Tigers win its eighth Texas state championship.

The following year, he transferred to the program “where champions are made,” led by high school football coach Gary Joseph.

“[Katy is] about kids that are unselfish,” Joseph said. “The work ethic and work habits that this program has have made a lot of good football players. Those kinds of kids are going to be successful in life, not just as football players, but as people.”

When entering the doors of the Katy Field House, a red “Home of Champions” mural catches one’s attention, but not for long. The dozens of gold trophies displayed on the back wall reminds all athletes, coaches and guests of the program’s tradition of excellence and who developed within those walls.

Above the trophy case reads Katy Football’s motto: “When excellence becomes tradition, greatness has no limits.”

Joseph, a Texas High School Football Hall of Fame member, is the mastermind behind the Katy Tigers’ operation. In his 18 seasons as head coach, Joseph has won five state titles and accumulated an astonishing record of 241-23, or a 91.2 winning percentage.

Small is just one product of this nationally recognized program. Hanging on the walls outside of the team room are framed and signed NFL jerseys from former Katy Tigers, like New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton, former NFL offensive tackle Jorge Diaz, former A&M, NFL and CFL corner Terrence Frederick, former San Francisco 49ers center Eric Heitmann and former Tennessee Titans corner Ryan Mouton, who all have stood in Katy’s halls.

“The thing that stands out more than anything about [Small] is what kind of good kid he is,” Joseph said. “He always carried himself with class. He never made excuses. He was always one of those kids that wanted to sit there and work extremely hard to get better at what he did. He never tried to get out of anything.”

Even with the abundance of talent that has gone in and out the doors of Katy High School, Joseph said there is one moment with Small he will never forget.

“It was his senior year when we were playing The Woodlands, and he kicked a field goal on the last play of the game to win the game,” Joseph said. “He had already missed two earlier in the game, and he came over to the sidelines after they called a timeout to try to ice it and he said, ‘Coach, I got this.’ Just the poise and confidence he had in himself stands out more than anything.”

The 3-star kicker graduated from Katy in 2018 and moved 83 miles away to College Station.

Against Louisiana-Monroe his freshman year, Small got his first start after then-senior and starting place-kicker Daniel LaCamera injured his non-kicking leg in the previous game. “[Small] … the way he stepped up as a freshman. He hit those field goals, and I mean hit them,” coach Jimbo Fisher said in 2018.

“He did a great job and played really well.”

Ever since then, Small has yet to slow

down.

During his time as a student-athlete, Small has made history, scoring more points as an A&M football player than anyone ever has before — 377. He also holds the A&M record for all-time career field goals made at 71, including two he will never forget. Small kicked a pair of historic field goals to upset then-No.4 Florida in 2020 and then-No. 1 Alabama in 2021 in walk-off fashion.

Just as Small did to Joseph, he told Fisher the exact same words before the kick against Alabama.

“When I went out there to meet him, he said, ‘I got you, coach,’” Fisher said. “That’s a big kick in a big situation.”

Stepping up to kick the 29-yard field goal to roll past the Tide, Small repeated Psalms 23:1 in his head: “The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not be in want.”

Seth nailed the kick and sent Kyle Field into a frenzy, sparking the internet viral video of his wife, Rachel Small, leaping over the barrier to join her husband in celebrating one of the biggest moments of his life.

“Y’all probably saw how I felt,” Rachel said on her YouTube channel. “I immediately cried, and at some point in my crying, decided it would be a good idea to just hop the fence of Kyle Field.”

Yet, Seth said taking down Alabama was not the best moment of his life.

“It was the third best moment of my life,” Seth said. “Right after accepting Jesus into my heart, my true Lord and savior, and then after getting married to my wife this summer.

I rank this No. 3. This one takes the cake from Florida.”

Seth met his now-wife Rachel through an A&M new student group chat his freshman year. Three years later, in July 2021, the couple married and started sharing their love story and testimony through their following on social media.

The couple’s relationship is built around faith. Seth and Rachel have found a second home at the Restoration Church Bryan, where they spend their Sunday mornings growing their relationship with God and each other. Amid the craziness of the NFL Draft process, Seth said Rachel reminds him of the greater reason behind it all.

“My wife has been such a supportive rock for me,” Seth said. “To have her remind me of [the] truth and knowing that my work doesn’t come from how I perform, but who I’m doing this for.”

So, if or when Seth is drafted to an NFL team, it may not be the best day of life, but it’s simply because he has already discovered his true mission in life.

Playing on Sundays is his dream, but praying on Sundays is what Seth lives for.

OPINION

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The Battalion | 4.28.22

A Texas-sized loss Opinion writer Charis Adkins laments removal of state-shaped waffle iron Charis Adkins @Charis_Batt

Photo courtesy of Jerry Huddleston

After the Texas-shaped waffle maker was removed from Sbisa Dining Hall, opinion writer Charis Adkins mourns loss.

Myranda Campanella, Editor-in-Chief Julia Potts, Managing Editor Lauren Discher, Audience Engagement & Special Sections Editor Robert O’Brien, Photo Chief Ishika Samant, Asst. Photo Chief Aubrey Vogel, Co-News Editor Michaela Rush, Co-News Editor Kyle McClenagan, Multimedia Editor & Asst. News Editor Grant Gaspard, Asst. Podcast Editor

Cori Eckert, Design Editor & Business Manager Casey Stavenhagen, Sports Editor Kay Naegeli, Asst. Sports Editor Jordan Epp, Asst. Sports Editor Caleb Powell, Opinion Editor Nathan Varnell, Asst. Opinion Editor Kathryn Miller, Life & Arts Editor Caroline Wilburn, Asst. L&A Editor

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays during the 2022 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.

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On April 16, we walked into Sbisa Dining Hall, completely unaware of the tragedy that had occurred. We had no idea what an impact this loss would cause, no idea how empty Sbisa would feel from then on. Will we ever be able to move forward?

On the terrible aforementioned date, the Texas-shaped waffle iron, which is — sorry, was — one of the only redeeming qualities of Sbisa Dining Hall, was removed. There’s only one group of people despicable enough to be behind this: Californians. I expect they’re trying to kickstart Texas A&M’s “wokeness” arc.

Honestly, I never thought this day would come. I thought A&M was stronger than this. I thought our southern roots were capable of withstanding those Machiavellian modernists from the west. Apparently, I was mistaken.

These Ain’t-Texans — Texain’ts, if you will — come parading into our great state with their man buns, avocado toast and essential oils, and they try to tell us how to live our lives. They try to tell us that Texas isn’t the greatest nation in the world.

Well, they’re wrong. Texas is by far superior. And don’t get me wrong, California is a great place to live, if you’re an orange. They’ve ruined their portion of America, and now they’re trying to supplant ours!

As we all know, the key to appropriating any state lies in its waffle irons.

Frequenters of Sbisa are heartbroken by this tragic news.

“Every day I miss it more, my Texas state waffle iron,” philosophy freshman Jonathan Posadas said. “It was the only reason I really went to ‘Bisa … now I just go to have mediocre food shoved in my mouth. It gives me lots of time to think about what they took from us common folk.”

“From us common folk,” indeed. These Beau Brummell wannabes are trying to take the Texas out of Texas A&M! If we let them get away with this, what’s next? Will we sit idly by as they put beans in our chili? Will we do nothing as they erect In-N-Out Burgers where Whataburgers should rightfully stand? Remain silent as they tear down H-E-B and put up Whole Foods and Ralphs?

If we’re not careful, in a few years, the whole university will be filled with Spicoli-esque Californiacs. They might try to legalize marija-wana!

This cannot stand.

“It’s about more than just a waffle maker. It’s about our identity being taken away,” history freshman Jerome Lednicky said. “Being a Texan doesn’t have to do with the color of your skin or your sexuality. It’s about being independent while still being able to count on your neighbor. It’s about having a code and living by it.”

If we allow Texain’ts to dictate our way of life, our code is in grave danger.

Many students share these fears, and several consider the waffle iron’s removal a sign of what’s to come. Aerospace engineering sophomore Megan Welsh regards the confiscation as a direct violation of A&M’s commitment to tradition.

“There’s a saying around here, ‘Old Army does it twice,’” Welsh said. “They’ve had the waffle makers for over two years, therefore [they are] a tradition.”

If we allow the confiscation of the waffle iron, which tradition will be next on the chopping block? Will we leave for the summer, naively secure under the false pretense of tradition and return to the “Hello Crew” welcoming us to campus?

Some students worry this “wokeness” trend will progress.

“First it’s the little things like our waffle makers, then bam!

Next thing you know, they’ll be changing the whole name of the university,” general engineering freshman Hunter Cassidy said.

I’m inclined to agree — how long until we’re just A&M University? Or worse, America A&M University?

So, what can we do? Unfortunately, our opportunity to fly a tasteful rendition of the Gonzales flag has passed.

Will we ever be able to walk into Sbisa without seeing the empty space he left, or the counterfeits that dare to stand where he stood? No. Will we ever get him back? Doubtful.

But, we can use his memory as motivation in the battle to keep the Texas in Texas A&M. With this in mind, I have composed a piece that attempts to do justice to his memory: Ode to Texas-shaped Waffle Maker O Great Texas Iron, Thou tragic victim of a curtailed life, severed, Thy waffly beauty lost to us forever.

Can we endure this melancholy turn?

Though we now have lost thee, Never shall we lose thy tasty memory.

Thy spongy-sweet batter, now bittersweet reverie, A mere echo of thy symbolic authority.

Thou wast a southern ideal, a Texan paradigm.

A symbol of boots and hats, of Tejano, Of oft-recalled and fallen Alamo.

Thy significance, thy waffles, now lost to time.

They issue these circular counterfeits; poor substitutes For thy matchless Lone Star artistry.

In killing thee they kill our history, Steal our patriotism, our happiness pursuit.

Yea, we shall remember thee, our ‘bisa-bred swan, And thy departed beauty, unrivaled by bluebonnet.

We didn’t know how good we had it Until, lo! Thou wast gone.

Don’t let his memory die. Next time you find yourself in Sbisa, pay a visit to the waffle counter. Say a few words.

Maybe pour one out.

There will be more battles. The next time they try to take Texas from us, let us cry, “Remember the Texas Iron!” Let his memory lead us to victory!

Will you fight with us, or will you succumb to the west?

In this world, you’re either a Texan or a Texain’t. Ask yourself: which are you?

Charis Adkins is an English freshman and opinion writer for The Battalion. .

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Photos by Robert O’Brien & Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M went 2-1 against Alabama in a weekend series including a run-rule victory in Game 2 on Saturday, April 23. From left to right: freshman Cayden Baker (22), sophomore Grace Uribe (8) and senior Haley Lee (25).

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