The Battalion — March 24, 2022

THURSDAY, MARCH 24 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2022 STUDENT MEDIA

LIFE & ARTS: SMALL

INSIDE THIS EDITION BUSINESS TIPS, PG. 3

OPINION: LT. GOV. & TENURE, PG. 5

SPORTS: PRO DAY UPS AND DOWNS, PG. 8

‘Job’s not done’ Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

Juniors guard Andre Gordon (20) and forwards Everett Vaughn (12) and Aaron Janecek (25) celebrate with the Reed Rowdies after Texas A&M’s win over Wake Forest, 67-52, on Wednesday, March 23. The Aggies are headed to the NIT semifinals in New York on Tuesday, March 27.

A&M advances to NIT semifinals for first time in school history, defeats Wake Forest at final home game

By Kay Naegeli @KayNaegeli

A

s the Texas A&M men’s basketball team left Reed Arena for the final time of the 2021-22 season, “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys blasted throughout

the arena.

On Wednesday, March 23, A&M punched its ticket to New York City with a 67-52 win over Wake Forest, advancing to the National Invitational Tournament semifinals for the first time in university history.

The Aggies are now heading to the concrete jungle, with skyscrapers just as tall as the obstacles they have overcome this season.

The final obstacle that stood between the Aggies and Madison Square Garden proved personal for A&M head coach Buzz Williams.

Williams and Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes worked alongside each other as assistant coaches at A&M from 2004-06, and the pair still stay in touch.

“He is one of my favorite people in the world,” Williams said. “I did not want to play him. [I] have the utmost respect for him.”

The first half began with simple, fun basketball for A&M. A hot start for the Aggies created an 11-2 lead at the first media timeout. Wake Forest struggled to shoot, airballing three times and only scoring 15 in the first half. A&M’s defense halted its usual offensive firepower and held ACC Player of the Year, senior guard Alondes Williams, to just three points at the half.

“It was one of the more fun games,” graduate guard Quenton Jackson said. “We were able to turn them over 21 times. Everybody was flying around, [and] everybody hooked

up.”

The half slowed down for the Aggies, though, as they weren’t able to shut out Wake Forest’s offensive efforts forever. The Aggies progressively joined the Demon Deacons with poor shooting from deep. Both teams entered the locker room shooting 7.1% from behind the arc. It was the first time Wake Forest had shot less than 20% in a half since March 3, 2011, against Georgia Tech.

The Demon Deacons came back out with a chip on their shoulder, ready to claw their way to New York. An 8-0 Wake Forest run cut A&M’s lead to 10, and it was a back-andforth affair until the Aggies settled down and BASKETBALL ON PG. 2

Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

Kyle McClenagan — THE BATTALION

A group of roughly 20 undergraduate and graduate students marched from Century Square to the Administration Building on Wednesday in protest of recent administrative oversight.

Students protest lack of representation at administrative level Student sit-in demonstration takes place at Administration Building

By Kyle McClenagan @KMcclenagan Students braced heavy winds as they marched from Century Square to campus in protest of recent university administrative decisions.

On Wednesday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m., just over 20 student protesters gathered in Century Square to begin their march to the Jack K. Williams Administration Building in what would eventually become a silent sit-in demonstration against university administrators. Among the protesters’ chief concerns

were the influence of the former student organization The Rudder Association, or TRA, the removal of ‘diversity’ from Fish Camp’s Core Values, the resistance to Draggieland and recent decisions regarding the independence of The Battalion.

General studies junior and organizer Ellis Howard said they held the protest to show current university leadership that student voices must be heard.

“We want student voices at the table; we want decision-making power when the administration is making decisions for us,” Howard said. “We want TRA to get out of our business. They don’t belong here.

They’re former students … I’m pretty sure all of them are over 50 years old [and] they PROTEST ON PG. 2

Head broadcaster Andrew Monaco has worked for A&M Athletics since 1985 and took on his current role in 2018.

Andrew Monaco provides

familiar voice to A&M Broadcaster brings decades-long experience of sports radio to A&M

By Luke White @lukewhite03 The past several years have ushered in a new era of Texas A&M Athletics.

In 2018, Jimbo Fisher took over as head coach of the football program, 2019 saw Buzz Williams take the reins of the men’s basketball team and finally, 2022 has featured the arrival of Jim Schlossnagle as head baseball coach and the departure of Gary Blair after a 19-year tenure at the helm of women’s basketball.

However, there remains a constant during this period, taking the form of a familiar voice on the Aggies’ radio broadcasts. Fans may not know his name nor recognize his face, but head broadcaster Andrew Monaco’s impact on A&M Athletics is undeniable.

Monaco took over as the “Voice of the Aggies” in 2018 upon the retirement of

Dave South, the Aggies’ long-time broadcaster who began his role with the university in 1985. Monaco is responsible for several duties, including calling home and away football, basketball and baseball games for the maroon and white, in addition to hosting the teams’ pregame and coaches’ shows.

“It’s an absolute honor,” Monaco told the 12th Man Foundation in 2019. “I’ll be honest, I still pinch myself because I know it’s the best job I’ve had. Aggies are so loyal and really are the best fans I’ve been around, so to be the ‘Voice of the Aggies’ is truly an absolute honor for me.”

Monaco’s hiring came at a pivotal point in A&M Athletics, characterized by numerous arrivals and departures of head coaches in Aggieland. He’s quick to acknowledge this fact and understands his own place in A&M’s legacy.

“It’s really fun that those coaches have welcomed me,” Monaco said. “You’ve seen how they’ve embraced the university. Not just their teams, but the university. It’s always MONACO ON PG. 4

NEWS

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The Battalion | 3.24.22

PROTEST CONTINUED

Kyle McClenagan — THE BATTALION

Students protested university administrators for leaving students out of key campus decisions.

BASKETBALL CONTINUED finished what they started. A&M was not letting its season end at Reed Arena.

“The numbers say that we have played really well defensively,” Williams said. “Tonight was our 38th game. I’ve never coached a season that had 38 games, and for sure, none of our players have played a season with 38 games.”

Reminding themselves of the roller coaster they have been on this season, the Aggies dialed in and held the Demon Deacons to their lowest scoring game of the season.

“I think they did get rattled by the defense,” Forbes said. “I think they sped us up. That’s part of their plan. Great defensive teams don’t hope that you miss — they make you miss.”

As the game clock ticked down, Williams called a timeout, checking Jackson out of the game for his last time at Reed Arena. The electric crowd of 8,201 fans rose to their feet, thanking Jackson for his contribution

haven’t been on this campus in years.”

Howard also stressed the importance of involving student leadership whenever the university makes decisions regarding student organizations.

“Having an individual from their organization at the table whenever the administration is having a meeting about them is one of the best ways for students to be heard,” Howard said.

Another of the protesters’ demands regarded the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue on campus, Howard said.

“Also, pushing for the removal of the Sullivan Ross statue from the Academic Plaza and taking that to the Texas Legislature, as they have the power to remove it,” Howard said.

Jyothis James, a fourth-year philosophy Ph.D. student, said he has been directly affected by administrative overreach.

“Texas A&M brought me in as their diverse monkey so that they can claim, ‘Look at this,’” James said. “I know one of the reasons they picked me is because I’m South Asian, I’m a safe one [and] I’m also gay, you can check off boxes.”

James said he fears university backlash

to this program.

“My emotions almost got the best of me because there’s a lot of love,” Jackson said. “Coming from California, I never expected it to end this way.”

The Aggies have won 10 of their last 11 games, seven by double-digits. But, there is still more basketball to be played, as the Aggies face off against Washington State on Tuesday, March 29 at Madison Square Garden. Sophomore guard Hassan Diarra, a Queens native, said he can’t wait to return to his home state and play in front of his family.

“I was thinking about going to New York the whole game. It’s a blessing to play in front of my family for the first time. I was just so excited,” Diarra said.

However, the job’s not done, Jackson said.

“It feels good to win my last game here at Reed, for sure, but New York is where we need to be. New York is where we got to handle business,” Jackson said.

might impede on his ability to receive grant money, which he and many other Ph.D. students live on.

“I can’t afford to live,” James said. “Knowing that the type of research that I’m doing and the climate on campus ever since the counter-protest [for] Sully Ross, I’m afraid of declaring that I’m working on critical race and semantic formalism because of the push back I could get.”

Haley Burke, a third-year philosophy Ph.D. student, said she attended the protest to support her friends who are feeling the stress of the university administration on their shoulders.

“I think a lot of students that are LGBTQA+ feel discriminated against by the administration by their lack of support of Draggieland and other such events on campus,” Burke said.

The university needs to hear the message, Burke said.

“I think the best outcome of today would be the administration to see that we do have solidarity and we do have friendship and we seek respect,” Burke said.

Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications Kelly Brown said in a comment to The Battalion that the protestors’ voices were heard by the university today, and the university always encourages

students to express their voices.

“Texas A&M welcomes individuals and groups who want to exercise their rights to free speech and freedom of expression,” Brown said. “Allowing different voices to be heard on various issues is part of the college experience — whether that’s through a peaceful protest or rally, talking to administrators or other lawful methods.”

Industrial distribution sophomore Nate Wilson, who passed the protest on his way to class, said he didn’t really understand the message.

“I’m confused as far as the purpose of it,” Wilson said. “Knowing that The Rudder Association is perpetuating the Aggie Spirit and the Aggie culture.”

However, after talking with one of the protesters, Wilson said he agreed that The Battalion should remain independent.

“When it comes to stuff like The Battalion, where it’s a student-led thing and [university administration] says, ‘Hey you can’t do that,’ I feel like that’s crossing the line a little bit,” Wilson said.

Whatever the outcome, James said he just wants student voices to be taken seriously.

“I don’t care if it’s conservative, I don’t care if it is liberal, but the students should be able to have their voice,” James said.

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Fifth-year guard Quenton Jackson (3) goes up for a break-away dunk against Wake Forest on March 23.

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LIFE&ARTS

3

The Battalion | 3.24.22

Local businesses share journeys Established, rising owners discuss struggles, successes of BCS stores

By Emma Lawson @ELawsonAtTheBat Every small business starts as an idea, but most people don’t see the work that happens behind the scenes to make those dreams a reality.

Entrepreneurship brings a variety of challenges, both financial and emotional. Over 20% of new businesses fail within their first year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Small businesses like Sabi Boutique, Abra-Ca Designs and Northgate Juice Joint shared their journeys from concept to creation, as well as some tips for new entrepreneurs hoping to break into the industry.

Salina Novotna-Williams, Class of 2020, said her business, Abra-Ca Designs, is still in its early stages.

“My business is still forming into its own entity,” Novotna-Williams said. “Abra-Ca started off as an upcycling business where I would take old clothes and upcycle them into something new.”

Her goal began to shift, which Novotna-Williams said led to using Abra-Ca for more than clothes.

“There’s always that kind of question of what you want to do for the rest of your life, and the more I thought about it, all I wanted to do was create,” Novotna-Williams said. “Whether it’s painting, creative directing or designing.”

When starting a new business, Novotna-Williams said it’s important to convince people the idea is attention-worthy. There is a learning curve that comes with figuring everything out, and Novotna-Williams said she would sometimes work hours on a design that would end up being difficult to sell.

“Don’t expect it to work out overnight,” Novotna-Williams said. “It’s going to take a lot of twists and turns, but at the same time, don’t let that discourage you. You have to put your time into it, and as long as you’re putting the work into it, eventually it’s going to pay off.”

Students who want to keep up with Abra-Ca designs can follow @abr.aca on Instagram.

Co-owner of Sabi Boutique Meredith McAuliffe said the shop began as a website before moving to a physical location.

“We started out online, and then we started doing trunk shows at friends’ homes,” McAuliffe said. “We would go in and set up shopping days in the College Station community, and we were really well-received because we were bringing something new.”

Creating a business is not an easy task, McAuliffe said, and there are often days when she sees the sunrise after working late nights in the shop.

Via @sabiboutique on Instagram

Meredith McAuliffe and Janis Stancik are co-owners of Sabi Boutique, located off University Drive East.

But, McAuliffe said she never stopped believing in her work and giving back to the community.

“We truly believed in what we were doing and the mission behind the business,” McAuliffe said. “But, of course, when you’re starting something new, there’s always a lot of emotion to it. Hopefully people will come; hopefully people will support Sabi and, hopefully, they will love it.”

Sabi Boutique is currently looking for interns and sales associates, which McAuliffe said is a great way for students to learn how to run a future business and gain college credit.

“We have interns that are working with us every semester, and it really is a great opportunity,” McAuliffe said. “We do a lot in e-commerce and we have a website, so there’s a lot of different avenues to learn.”

Students looking to intern at Sabi Boutique for university credit can visit the store’s

website.

Lisa Bradway, owner of Northgate Juice Joint for nearly seven years, said new business owners should focus on advertising their businesses, especially on social media.

“There is so much social media now, and there’s different types of people on different social media depending on their age group,” Bradway said. “Older people and businesses do Facebook, but now are beginning to do Instagram. That’s a challenge.”

Bradway said it’s important to know which social media platforms will appeal to a business’s intended audience and to do as much as possible to capture interest. Advertising is still tough for Northgate Juice Joint, especially after moving from their Northgate location to Bryan. However, Bradway said the biggest struggle overall was College Station’s regulations for businesses. New business owners should look up the rules and regulations for

any city in which they want to create a business, Bradway said.

“My No. 1 challenge is dealing with the city, which I never found pleasant,” Bradway said. “Northgate seemed like such a good idea, and we owned the property … Financially, it was difficult to do any renovations there unless you met these rigid requirements. You aren’t allowed to build unless you go up and out.”

Students wanting to learn more about Northgate Juice Joint can visit the business’s website.

“The more you try, the more things you do. The more you fail, the more you’re learning,” Bradway said. “Because as much as I know about the business environment, I still learn from trial and error.”

SPORTS

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The Battalion 3.24.22

FILE

Andrew Monaco is the radio voice of Texas A&M Athletics, calling baseball, basketball and football games home and away.

MONACO CONTINUED interesting to be a part of the history that’s here.”

Monaco’s journey to Aggieland comes after an extensive 30-year career in broadcast, featuring a wide range of sports across the country, beginning in his hometown of Philadelphia while in high school.

“I have no idea what I would do if I wasn’t a broadcaster,” Monaco said. “I’ve always wanted to be one. I got a taste of it in high school, as I had a teacher that used to work for NBC and he taught a broadcasting class. We got a chance to learn all about broadcasting and got time in front of and behind the camera. For someone that was fascinated with broadcasting, it was really cool to have that hands-on experience at such an early age.”

Upon graduation, Monaco made his way to the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1986 with a degree in broadcast journalism. While there, he wrote for the student newspaper, The Diamondback, as a sports editor.

“That offered a stipend, and I needed money to pay for school,’’ Monaco said with a chuckle. “I am of the belief that being able

to write helps you in broadcasting. They go hand-in-hand.”

Monaco’s start in professional broadcasting came in Atlantic City, N.J., where he worked as a radio host for a sports talk show after graduating from Maryland. In 1989, the NBA’s Orlando Magic hired him as a radio host on the Magic Radio Network.

“If I were to write a book, I’d call it ‘Right Place, Right Time,’ because it seemed to help me,” he said. “Living out of Atlantic City, I heard that one of the sports radio hosts was leaving, so I called the station and told them I was interested and I got hired there.”

He then began his work in play-by-play broadcasting with Minor League Baseball’s Orlando Cubs while also doing freelance work. From there, Monaco returned to the Magic, taking over as their television play-byplay broadcaster and worked as a studio host and courtside reporter. This job also gave him the opportunity to broadcast for the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle and International Hockey League’s Orlando Solar Bears.

Monaco added to his resume when the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs hired him, working in play-by-play broadcasting as a studio host and courtside reporter. During this 11-year period, Monaco helped cover the team as it

established itself as one of the most successful dynasties in basketball history, winning two NBA titles, three conference titles and seven divisional titles during his tenure from 2007 to 2018. At the same time, Monaco showcased his versatility by covering the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars and the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage.

“To be able to work for the Magic, the Spurs and Texas A&M, I’ve been blessed,” Monaco said.

Monaco’s versatility is one of his greatest assets as a broadcaster. His ability to cover a wide variety of sports makes him a great fit at A&M given his role as head broadcaster of football, men’s basketball and baseball.

“I’ve done volleyball, soccer and even mascot games, which has been my favorite,” Monaco said. “The versatility is what makes broadcasting so much fun. To me, you always get something to look forward to, and there’s not a lot of downtime. I’m really happy to have done a lot of different things. You get a chance to meet different student-athletes, and you get to meet different coaches.”

Monaco said his knowledge of different sports has grown over his career and has been largely influenced by those he has worked with during this time.

“I really appreciate that there were a lot of different people who shared an awful lot of knowledge with me, and I think it’s helped me prepare a lot better as I’ve gone along in my career,” Monaco said. “I’ve always watched and always played sports. I enjoy not just the sport itself, but the broadcast aspect. To me, it’s been a really fun marriage, if you will.”

Despite being at A&M for only four years, two of which were significantly affected by COVID-19, Monaco has witnessed firsthand and called several games and events that will go down in the A&M record books, including the football team’s victories over LSU in 2018 and Alabama in 2021. He said those will always personally stand out as some of the most memorable moments in his broadcasting career.

“It’s hard to beat seven overtimes [referencing the A&M football team’s 2018 victory over LSU],” Monaco said. “What a way to cap your first year. My phone was blowing up throughout the game, and at a certain point, you stop and say, ‘Wow, this is a part of history.’”

Monaco also said the football team’s win over No. 1-ranked Alabama in 2021 was a game that will always stand out in his memory.

“All the eyes were on that game,” Monaco said. “It was just so special, and I thought Kyle Field all year was something special. I always say there’s a reason student-athletes come here, and it’s for games like that. As a broadcaster, that’s the reason you come to Texas A&M.”

It’s important to keep in mind that playby-play is only half of the broadcast of a sporting event. Just as Monaco is an integral part of A&M’s radio broadcasts, so are his analyst partners, whether it be Dave Elmendorf for football, or John Thornton for men’s basketball. When paired with either of the two, Monaco can orchestrate a broadcast which is both informative and entertaining for the audience.

Both of the analysts shined at A&M as student-athletes, with Elmendorf starring on the gridiron and Thornton a leader on the hardwood. In their current roles, the pair can attest to Monaco’s leadership and expertise on air.

“When I first met Andrew, I asked him, ‘What’s your style? What do you want the broadcast to be?’” Elmendorf said. “He said, ‘Dave, I want it to sound like three guys sitting down, having a cold beer and watching the ballgame and talking about it.’ That’s a great goal that’s really hard to achieve, but he seems to make it so easy. That’s exactly what we do.

I couldn’t be happier. I’ve never had more fun broadcasting in my life.”

Thornton echoed Elmendorf’s comments and said Monaco’s flow and knowledge of his sport sets him apart from other broadcasters.

“Andrew has a great basketball background, and I think of our broadcast as just a conversation between two guys talking basketball,” Thornton said. “I like Andrew’s positive energy. Play-by-play is hard, and to be able to do that job, at that pace, especially with basketball, you’ve got to be very positive. You’ve got to have that energy, you’ve got to do your homework and he does that consistently.”

With his wealth of experience, Monaco offered his own advice to those aspiring to enter the world of sports broadcasting. Perhaps most importantly, he emphasized there is no direct path to success in the industry.

“Come in and embrace it,” Monaco said.

“Embrace where you’re working and always make it the best. You want everyone you work with to be sorry that you’re leaving and moving ahead, because you’ve made your mark. If it’s something that you love, go do it, put in the time, the work and the effort.

Put the time into the craft, and be yourself.”

Lastly, Monaco said those who are successful in the industry are never fully satisfied with themselves. In doing so, he reflected upon himself as he strives for improvement in his craft every day.

“Can I be better tomorrow?” Monaco asked himself. “It doesn’t mean that you’re not good, but to me it’s the standard. I’m not going to say, ‘OK, I’ve made it, and that’s it.’

I want to leave Texas A&M in a better place than when I got here.”

OPINION

5

The Battalion | 3.24.22

Dismantling knowledge Opinion columnist Caleb Elizondo analyzes Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s proposal to end tenure at Texas universities Caleb Elizondo @CalebElizondo7

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mid the moral panic regarding critical race theory being taught in public schools and universities, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a press conference where he proposed ending tenure for all new Texas university faculty hires. Additionally, teaching critical race theory would be specified as cause to revoke tenure. The rationale in doing so would allow for professors teaching critical race theory to be fired.

Upon initially reading the headlines, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself and disregard the matter in its entirety.

With midterm elections right around the corner, Patrick is blatantly attempting to stoke fears surrounding education. It was predictable, partisan and — at this point — not surprising. However, my mood shifted from mild amusement to dread when watching his comically Orwellian press conference.

“We believe in academic freedom, but everyone has guidelines in life,” Patrick said. “Everyone is held accountable [by] someone.”

The lieutenant governor claimed to have respect for academic freedom, yet directly stated he seeks to terminate those who teach progressive curriculum.

It is difficult to conceive of any such action which could undermine academic freedom in a more effective manner.

Patrick’s insinuation that professors aren’t “held accountable” simply because firing them is difficult is quite a dubious claim. Every academic institution is subject to criticism from its peers, students and the public alike. Simply because removal is rare does not make professors immune from broader pressures and discourse. Professors, just like anyone else, have the ability to engage in whatever speech they choose. However, if their ideas are to take root, then they require both the respect of their students and our society at large.

According to Patrick, if professors desired autonomy, they should’ve asked

his office what to teach.

“If [professors] really wanted academic freedom, they should have taken note of what we did last session when we banned critical race theory,” Patrick said. “They could have asked for an appointment with myself … and said, ‘Look, let’s work together on this’ and come up with the best outcome to teach our students.”

It seems the absurdity of deferring to politicians over history and science when crafting curriculum was lost on Patrick.

Apparently, in the lieutenant governor’s mind, “freedom” entails not just obedience to the law, but the partisan wishes of the lawmakers as well.

Regarding the Texas Legislature’s move to ban critical race theory, Patrick also said the policy has “overwhelming support of all people in the state.”

Contrary to Patrick’s claim, recent book bannings, changes in curriculum and the prohibition of “critical race theory” in public schools have been met with outrage from within Texas and beyond. According to a poll by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler, nearly two-thirds of Texans surveyed said they had either “no confidence” or “not too much confidence” that Texas’ elected officials could be trusted to decide which books should stay or go.

Most of us have read George Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm,” or Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” at some point in high school. Each of us has been exposed to themes of power corrupting institutions of knowledge since early adolescence. One would expect anyone seeking to undermine the autonomy of educational institutions would have the foresight to do so in a subtle manner.

However, Patrick asserts certain values such as academic freedom, yet in his preceding words blatantly threatens those very same principles.

“These men and women are paid to help students think critically, not what to think,” Patrick said while paving the way for curriculums to be more strictly controlled by the state. While Patrick claims to be partaking in a holy war against indoctrination, he actually further

Creative Commons — Gage Skidmore

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s proposal to end university professors’ tenure is a direct attack on academic freedom, opinion columnist Caleb Elizondo argues.

empowers the state to engage in the same behavior he claims to oppose.

Patrick’s particular brand of double-speech is laughably lazy and would be outright hilarious if it were not surprisingly effective. Even at Texas A&M, some student leaders seem to be amenable to limiting tenure and did not show up to vote for the Student Senate’s resolution in support of faculty tenure.

For example, student senator Donald Russell from the College of Education and Human Development caucus spoke against the resolution, and said tenure fails to incentivize professors to teach students effectively. Tenure, Russell argues, encourages professors to overly invest in their own endeavors and research at the expense of their students. “[Professors] lose touch with what is going on,” Russell said at the March 9 Student Senate meeting. “We have to make sure that professors are held just as accountable for their actions.”

While the critique that some professors are “out of touch” with their students can be valid at times, one would not let a lion into their house to solve a rat problem. While I am sure it would succeed in eliminating pests, the lion is likely to bring destruction to the resi-

dency. Similarly, allowing politicians like Patrick into our systems of tenure would undoubtedly cripple our ability to discuss race-related issues in the classroom.

If we allow Patrick to have his way, it will surely endanger the entirety of our institutions of higher learning, not just their autonomy. If the world knows Texas’ institutions lack independence and integrity, then anyone passionate about knowledge and its pursuit would simply leave. How can our state seek to recruit top talent when it is clear those in power like the lieutenant governor peer over the shoulders of our universities?

Many professionals and aspiring students, quite understandably, do not wish to operate in an environment so heavily and transparently threatened by politics.

The lieutenant governor’s statements are often verifiably false, harmful and intentionally misleading. While claiming to detest censorship and indoctrination, he shamelessly threatens free speech and academic autonomy. So, this November, remember if anyone desperately needs to be held accountable for their teachings, it is Dan Patrick.

Caleb Elizondo is an engineering freshman and opinion columnist for The Battalion

OPINION

6

The Battalion | 3.24.22

Give me a break Will Nye — THE BATTALION

Students often lead busy lives with up to 18 hours of classes and long hours at work. Spring Break offers many Aggies a reprieve from the everyday hustle and bustle.

Opinion editor Caleb Powell discusses work expected of students over Spring Break Caleb Powell @calebpowell23

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t’s 6:30 a.m., and I’m up and at ‘em, ready to BTHO my next assignment.

Now that Spring Break (Woo-hoo!) is over, students are back to waking up at the butt crack of dawn and passing out far after twilight. But, despite a nine-day respite, many of my peers still feel burnt out. Why? Assignments aren’t ever due during Spring Break.

Well, look no further than the infamous subreddit, r/aggies. You’ll find a myriad of students complaining about exams the Monday and Tuesday after the break ends. They whine about lab reports and being overworked.

As a fellow student and engineer, I know the problem. My generation simply doesn’t have the work ethic to keep up with college, let alone the real world.

Because Aggies don’t work hard during the semester, they shouldn’t spend Spring Break relaxing or decompressing

— they ought to spend their time at a job or studying.

The average student takes 12-15 credit hours per semester, but let’s take a look at my classes for an easy reference. I’m enrolled in three, three-hour courses, two one-hour classes and a one-hour lab for a total of 12 credit hours.

Organic chemistry requires six to nine hours of studying every week, but that isn’t much until you include homework on top of it. My differential equations assignments and studies add a mere six hours to the mix. And while I’m only getting one credit for my biomaterials lab, I get to spend two to three hours per week in Zachry and another 10 doing in-lab reports, extra credit and post-lab write-ups. All the other classes only add about four hours of work per week in total.

So, I’m spending 14 hours in class every week, and I only have — at most — 29 hours of studying and homework afterward! If other students taking the same course load as me whine this much, imagine how much people who take

15-18 hours complain about their work.

There’s no way anyone could get burnt out of their classes!

Of course, let’s not forget the two jobs I also work to feed myself, keep the lights on and treat my girlfriend well.

Between both my workplaces, I average 30-40 hours per week.

According to a 2018 study by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, a measly 70% of college students have a job. It stands to reason that many at Texas A&M also work long hours. As such, they would be lazy if they didn’t keep working those mind-numbing, tear-inducing jobs during Spring Break (which on-campus workers totally didn’t do already).

Lastly, students spend so much time on frivolous activities with student organizations. Many Aggies are obsessed with organizing the largest single-day service project in the nation, planning some of A&M’s long-standing traditions or building their resumes for careers.

These activities meant to serve the Bryan-College Station community,

build race cars and continue traditions like Muster or Silver Taps are optional.

If students wanted rest or more time to work on their classes, they could simply quit and not partake in organizations that represent A&M’s Core Values, rather than use Spring Break as a time to catch up.

Spring Break should be used for students to get ahead on their work, not go down to Florida for some wet t-shirt contest. Every minute of every day should be spent making money for rent and utilities, studying for three upcoming exams or finishing every homework assignment due between March and April.

I’m so not burned out after Spring Break, unlike my peers. I don’t come home and pass out from exhaustion.

However, I think I’ll just hit snooze one or two more times before heading off to class.

Caleb Powell is a biomedical engineering junior and opinion editor for The Battalion.

7

The Battalion | 3.24.22

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The Battalion | 3.24.22

A&M’s Pro Day ups and downs

Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

Seventeen current and former Texas A&M athletes participated in Pro Day ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. From left to right: Graduate linebacker Aaron Hansford, senior defensive back Leon O’Neal Jr. and junior running back Isaiah Spiller.

Student-athletes receive mixed results in front of 32 NFL reps

By Jordan Epp @j_epp22 On Tuesday, March 22, Texas A&M football hosted its annual Pro Day. Eleven Aggies and six players who had played at A&M previous to transferring participated in a series of athletic drills in front of multiple scouts and other professional staff and personnel.

All 32 NFL teams, and even one CFL team, the Edmonton Elks, were represented.

Among them were three general managers — belonging to the Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans — as well as 61 professional representatives and one head coach, Lovie Smith of the Texans.

The day started with 6-foot-2, 239-pound graduate linebacker Aaron Hansford’s broad jump, and arguably for the rest of the day, he seemed like the player who gained the most ground. At the NFL Combine, Hansford only tested his bench press, repping an impressive 225 pounds 24 times.

At Pro Day, however, he took part in the broad jump, vertical jump and 40-yard dash.

His results of 9-foot-8, 34.5 inches and 4.6

seconds were all strong performances, testing in the 58th, 72nd and 88th percentiles, respectively, among linebackers since 1987, according to Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Score website.

Beyond those feats, he showed off in the positional drills conducted by the Arizona Cardinals’ linebackers coach Bill Davis. Hansford, who likely helped his draft stock, has a meeting with the Indianapolis Colts in College Station scheduled for Monday, March 28, according to Cole Thompson of FanNation.

Another player who impressed was senior place-kicker Seth Small, who booted multiple field goals from 60-plus yards with ease, including a 63-yarder.

Four players along the defensive line participated, including junior DeMarvin Leal, graduate Micheal Clemons, senior Jayden Peevy and Buffalo graduate Josh Rogers. Among them, Clemons shined the brightest. He improved upon his 9-foot-8 broad jump and 24 bench press reps at the NFL Combine with a 7.2-second three-cone drill and 35-inch vertical at Pro Day, testing in the 72nd and 85th percentile, respectively, among edge rushers.

Rogers, who spent multiple years with the Aggies before transferring to Buffalo, competed at the Bulls’ Pro Day less than a week ago where he performed well. He didn’t test off

the charts in the broad and vertical jumps, but he looked light on his feet during positional drills.

Leal has seen his draft stock fluctuate since the end of the season due to struggles at the NFL Combine and concerns over his size shoeing him in as a “tweener,” or someone who is too big to play outside on the defensive line but too small to play inside. Leal ran a 72nd-percentile, 7.2-second three-cone drill; a 20th-percentile, 5.04-second 40-yard dash; and improved upon his 8-foot-10 combine broad jump with a 9-foot-2 jump, still only in the 35th percentile among edge rushers.

Senior lineman Tyree Johnson, who tied for third in the SEC in sacks in 2021-22, did not test but did met with teams in attendance.

Peevy had a 29.5-inch vertical and took part in positional drills.

Four defensive backs participated, including senior safety Leon O’Neal Jr. and three A&M transfers: graduate corners Travon Fuller of Tulsa, Kyle Meyers of Florida State and Tulane and Moses Reynolds of Incarnate Word — younger brother of Josh Reynolds, a three-year A&M receiver from 2014-16 and current Detroit Lion.

O’Neal, who was voted as the top defensive safety at the 2022 Senior Bowl on the American team by the tight ends and wide

receivers in attendance, has been drawing a lot of positive attention during the offseason.

At Pro Day, he posted a 35.5-inch vertical, a 4.22-second short shuttle, a 6.83 three-cone and a 10-foot-5 broad jump, testing in the 69th, 70th, 88th and 89th percentiles, respectively, among strong safeties.

On the offensive side of the ball, graduate quarterback Nick Starkel made his return to Aggieland after stints with the Arkansas Razorbacks and San José State Spartans. After concluding his sixth season of college football, he threw the ball around for all the offensive and defensive drills.

“This is the greatest university. 100% — hands down. I want my kids to go here,” Starkel said. “I reached out to [associate athletic director] Mark Robinson and I said, ‘Hey, could you ask coach [Jimbo] Fisher if it’d be OK if I came back and threw?’ I knew they didn’t have any quarterbacks that were coming out this year, because they had such young guys this past season.

Starkel showed off his strong arm during the receiving drills, tossing deep balls to junior tight end Jalen Wydermyer and graduate wide receiver Caleb Eagans of Mary Hardin-Baylor and East Texas Baptist.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Wydermyer looked good during pitch-and-catch with Starkel, who said the Dickinson product made him “look good.” But, the former 4-star athlete has been consistently sliding down mock drafts and projections with his disappointing results and drop issues on his tape.

Wydermyer’s Pro Day performance didn’t do much to quell his critics, as his 9-foot-1 broad jump, 5.03-second 40-yard dash and 25.5-inch vertical measured in the 25th, 13th and third percentiles, respectively, at the tight end position.

Junior running back Isaiah Spiller also tested below average with a 4.27-second short shuttle, 4.63 40-yard dash, 33-inch vertical and a 9-foot-6 broad jump, rating in the 62nd, 44th, 42nd and 34th percentiles, respectively, at running back. But, Spiller said his game speed and film are better indicators of his athleticism and that he had been recently dealing with a hamstring issue.

On the offensive line, both graduate Jahmir Johnson and junior Kenyon Green attended. Green not only participated in outside-lineman drills, but he also did center drills, getting reps of snapping and blocking.

Green, as well as Leal, reportedly has multiple meetings scheduled, including with the Dallas Cowboys, according to Jane Slater of the NFL Network.