The Battalion - August 27, 2020

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2020 STUDENT MEDIA

Silver Taps

TUESDAY NIGHT WE HONOR THE FALLEN

STREAMED ON KAMU-TV AND A&M’S FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM

Steven Devon Anderson

Aidan Alexander Berwick

Asa Thomas Graham

Caitlyn Mychele Harman

Erik Alexander Medina

Cody Allen Reinhard

Prescilla Marie Sanchez

Elizabeth Anne Slovak

July 3, 1998 - April 2, 2020

July 26, 2001 - July 28, 2020

October 16, 1998 - June 19, 2020

June 6, 2002 - May 30, 2020

August 3, 2000 - March 10, 2020

May 15, 2001 - May 31, 2020

October 17, 1998 - May 15, 2020

June 26, 1995 - June 25, 2020

SILVER TAPS ON PAGES 3-6

COVID-19 by the numbers

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Silver Taps will be live streamed Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 10:30p.m.

Silver Taps goes virtual

Silver Taps to be delivered online this fall due to safety concerns Source: Texas A&M University Dashboard

Graphic by Gabrielle Shreve — THE BATTALION

The Texas A&M COVID-19 Dashboard bar graph communicates self-reported cases, not results from on-campus testing.

Texas A&M reports over 400 positive COVID-19 cases in past month, numbers rising

By Staff Report @TheBattOnline

F

our weekdays into the start of fall classes, Texas A&M launched its COVID-19 dashboard and released data regarding the presence of the virus among A&M students, faculty and staff.

Since Aug. 2, 407 total cases of COVID-19 have been self-reported to the university, with 358 of these cases coming the week of Aug. 16. A&M Provost and Executive Vice President Carol Fierke addressed increase in a university-wide email on Aug. 25.

“As students have returned, we are seeing an increase in COVID-19 diagnoses in this population and in the community,” Fierke said. “Texas A&M understands the importance of COVID-19 testing and the critical nature of sharing data with the Aggieland community.”

On A&M’s first day of class on Aug. 19, 22 students self-reported a positive test result for COVID-19. In the three days following, 265 students reported positive test results: 51 on Aug. 20, 101 on Aug. 21 and 113 on Aug. 22. There is currently no data available for the days succeeding Aug. 22.

Fierke said the university will update the dashboard weekly, “though data [is] being monitored daily by our health experts and administration.”

A&M Chief Risk and Compliance Officer Kevin McGinnis said main updates to the dashboard will be input on Mondays with

By Brady Stone @bradystonex

some data updated throughout the week.

The university is receiving the data from two sources, the self-reported positive cases and the results from on-campus testing, McGinnis said.

At this time, there is no system in place to ensure individuals who take multiple tests are not double-counted in the dashboard, Director of Student Health Services Dr. Martha Dannenbaum said.

“There may be duplication of individuals over the course of several weeks,” Dannenbaum said. “They may have had a test and then three days later were told they were in close contact with somebody [with COVID-19], so then, five days later from that, they get another test. So this is just the raw number of tests, it’s not the unique individuals that have taken a test.”

The Brazos County Health District

Texas A&M’s 122-year-old tradition of honoring current students who have passed away will be delivered in a new format this fall.

Held on the first Tuesday of every month from September through April, Silver Taps will move to a virtual format due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. The first Silver Taps of the semester will be held on Sept. 1 at 10:30 p.m. and will be streamed on KAMUTV and on A&M’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“We worked tirelessly to provide an outlet in which students can continue to honor their peers, and stand with the families and friends of our fallen Aggies,” Traditions Council Silver Taps Chair Noah Vaughn said in an interview with Texas A&M Today. “While the ceremony may look different this year, and may feel a little farther from the rustling leaves in Academic Plaza and the chiming of the bell tower, please know that it means all the same to the families of the honorees.”

DASHBOARD ON PG. 2

SILVER TAPS ON PG. 6

Company E-2 freshmen meet Reveille IX Senior officers welcome next generation of Corps members

By Camryn Lang @CamrynLang Reveille IX kicked off the training of the Company E-2 freshmen with a special introduction.

The freshmen of Company E-2, otherwise known as the Mascot Company, officially met Reveille IX on Monday, Aug. 24 as well as the senior officers. In the Corps of Cadets tradition known as “Whipping Out,” freshmen are directed to introduce themselves to the highest ranking officer in their company and, as the First Lady of Texas A&M, Reveille must be addressed before all other officers.

During the event, nine freshmen cadets introduced themselves to Reveille through her handler, university studies sophomore Batie Bishop.

While the traditional Whipping

Out practice requires freshmen to “whip out” their hands to formally greet seniors with a handshake, new university guidelines have forced the cadets to adapt their introductions.

The freshmen cadets and senior officers wore face masks while the underclassmen stated their names, hometowns and majors. Once this was done correctly, freshmen were instructed to introduce themselves to each upperclassman while maintaining a safe social distance. The tradition marks the beginning of the cadets’ year-long journey to possibly earn the privilege of becoming Reveille’s next handler.

Environmental studies senior Dalton St. Romain and commander of E-2 said although the tradition calls for a handshake, the cadets have adjusted this to ensure the health and safety of the members of their company.

“We have been following safe protocol [and] the guidelines of the

university and Corps,” St. Romain said after the conclusion of the event.

“We’re here, we’re doing stuff and at the end of the day that’s what I want to do. When I got picked as the commander of the unit I was like, ‘Man, in my senior year I might not get to lead,’ but the Corps made it work and made it happen... All you can do is just pray that each day is a good day.”

Despite the changes, Romain said he’s ready to prepare the next generation of E-2 officers to one day replace himself and the other upperclassmen as Reveille IX’s caretakers.

“I’m so grateful to be back here on campus and having the chance to inspire, mentor and coach 45 other people in my unit, including myself,” St. Romain said. “Despite the whole pandemic and the fallout from it, we’ve been doing our best to follow CDC and state guidelines while also keeping a purposeful and rewarding training environment for our outfit.”

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Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Sophomore “2nd Dog” Caroline Sauter tends to Reveille IX while freshman Kamie Lee introduces herself.

Fall 12-week courses begin Sept. 3

blinnbound@blinn.edu

Courses that fit your schedule.

Tuition that fits your budget.

NEWS

2

The Battalion | 8.27.20

Brady Stone, Editor-in-Chief Camryn Lang, Managing Editor Julia Potts, News Editor Myranda Campanella, Asst. News Editor Hannah Underwood, Sports Editor Jenny Streeter, Asst. Sports Editor Shelby McVey, Life & Arts Editor Rebecca Morris, Life & Arts Editor Maroon Life Editor

Henry Mureithi, Opinion Editor Joshua Howell, Asst. Opinion Editor Cole Fowler, Arts Editor Meredith Seaver, Photo Chief Kaylee Cogbill, Asst. Photo Chief Mitchell Beddingfield, Multimedia Editor Annie Wells, Asst. MM Editor Cori Eckert, Page Designer

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays during the 2020 fall semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media,a unit of the Division of StudentAffairs.Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com.

Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

Source: Texas A&M University Dashboard

Check Ring Eligibility: Aug. 27 - Sept. 15 Order Dates: Aug. 27 - Sept. 16 Aggie Ring Day: Nov. 20, 2020 If you meet the requirements after Summer 2020: 1. Login or create an account at AggieNetwork.com

by Sept. 15 to check your Ring eligibility.

2. In the Aggie Ring tab, click on "Order Your Aggie Ring".

• Follow the steps to customize your Aggie Ring; your eligibility will be checked after this step.

3. If approved, submit your order online or schedule an appointment to order in person by 5 p.m. CT on Sep 16.

4. On your appointment day, visit the Aggie Ring Office to select your Ring size (with official Aggie Ring sizers) and pay for your Aggie Ring.

• FULL PAYMENT IS DUE AT TIME OF ORDER. • Pricing is available online.

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Important notes regarding Ring Orders: 1. ONLY the person ordering an Aggie Ring will be allowed into the Aggie Ring Office area.

2. Online orders are encouraged. You may visit a local jeweler to determine your Ring size. If available, please ask to use their wide-band sizers.

3. Sizing tips and a paper sizer are also available on AggieNetwork.com.

4. Social distancing practices will be required in the Alumni Center.

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6. Health screening questions will be asked upon arrival.

7. Face coverings (cloth face covering, surgical mask, etc.) must be worn by individuals (faculty, staff, students and visitors) in indoor public areas on the Texas A&M University campus, including the Alumni Center.

8. Sneeze guards have been installed, and Ring stations, sizers and finishes will be sanitized between customers.

9. Our check-in process has been modified to limit contact. You will be asked to scan a QR code on your phone upon arrival.

Texas A&M has not named a positivity percentage that would lead to all classes shifting online.

DASHBOARD CONTINUED contacts those who test positive to ensure they are not counted twice in the numbers they report and to make sure they are positive, Dannenbaum said.

The current positivity rate at A&M is 12.9 percent and was 16.89 percent the week of Aug. 16. In May, the World Health Organization said rates of positivity should remain at 5 percent or lower for at least 14 days in order for the reopening of states to be considered safe.

McGinnis said there is currently no positivity rate that would make all classes shift online because “it depends upon lots of variables.”

“We don’t want to pigeon hole this into the box that says if we hit 17 percent we’re going to close down,” McGinnis said. “It just depends on severity, it depends on the outbreak amongst campus members that aren’t students.”

McGinnis said the university does not currently have plans to report groups of infected individuals, or campus hot spots.

“We have not, to date, tracked that, because we have not had an issue,” McGinnis said. “We do have beds set aside in housing for quarantine and that sort of thing; over 200 hundred and we’ve only used [about] 10 of them so far. We

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do not see that demand on resources. If resources were to get tight, perhaps we’d include that. We by no means think this will be the end of the dashboard unless we see the end of COVID, but we know that’s not the case. So we will update it with other things. We will update it as we move forward.”

McGinnis said these numbers are meant to be used as a record of the virus rather than for public use.

“Our data was created to assist in the epidemiology side,” McGinnis said. “It was not created to provide us information for public consumption.”

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SILVERTAPS

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The Battalion | 8.27.20

August 3, 2000 - March 10, 2020

ERIK ALEXANDER MEDINA A dedicated Aggie with love to spare

By Julia Potts @juliaapotts

K

nown for his encouraging nature and ability to make friends wherever he went, Erik Alexander Medina influenced the lives of many.

The beginning of his life was rocky, but just like his challenges later in life, he persevered. Erik’s mother, Klaudia Medina, said Erik, the oldest of two, was her first love.

“As a mom, that’s where I learned the meaning of unconditional love,” Klaudia said. “He came into this world six weeks early, so he was a preemie. He had some breathing difficulties when he was born, and he required a little more care than a lot of babies, but he soon caught up.”

Erik’s heart was always in the right place, Klaudia said, comforting and assisting the other students when he started school.

He was at the top of his class early despite being the youngest of his peers, and he loved complex puzzles and reading, even if it wasn’t exactly what he was supposed to be doing.

“Erik was not problematic,” Klaudia said. “He was very friendly, loving and helpful with his peers when they would struggle academically. The extent of the problems that I had with him was the teacher calling me because he was carrying extra books in his backpack so he could do his reading while the teacher was [instructing] the class.”

Among his other traits, Klaudia said Erik was determined in school, in his fraternity and in all he decided to accomplish.

As a biomedical sciences major, Erik had plans to become a doctor, and his mother was confident he would achieve his long-time goal.

“I think the three most important traits he had was that he was very dedicated, responsible and he followed through with everything,” Klaudia said. “He would have done it. I have no doubt that my son would have been a doctor because that’s what he wanted from a very young age.”

Klaudia said Erik was excited to come to Texas A&M and

PROVIDED

Erik Medina was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

kept himself busy with classes and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Fellow fraternity member and high school friend of Erik’s, Tristen Gonzalez, said Erik was happy to be an Aggie.

“I think that was the reason he was so excited to join the fraternity and be a part of the Aggie family because it made him a part of something a lot bigger and he wanted to be connected to a lot of people,” Gonzalez said. “He loved talking to people.”

Blinn student and close friend of Erik, David DeLeon said Erik showed dedication in so many ways, especially at A&M. “He really gave his all in everything that he did — especially class,” DeLeon said. “He was a really hard-working guy. Day and night, he’s studying… He did it with a smile on his face.

He wasn’t one to complain about anything.”

DeLeon said Erik was one of his best friends and he valued him for the attention and care he gave to the ones he loved.

“Despite his extreme dedication to study[ing], he always found the time to spend time with the people he loved,” DeLeon said. “He always had a smile on his face. He was always the light of the room, and he never failed to spread joy and laughter to everyone he met. I’m just really blessed to be able to say that I was able to share a smile with him, and I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way because he was just that kind of guy.”

Gonzalez said Erik was driven academically, but also pushed his friends to do the same. Erik would drag him out of bed if he knew there was something Gonzalez had to do. He said Erik was like the angel on his shoulder telling him to do the right thing.

“Even after staying up until 5 a.m., he’d wake us up at 8 a.m. to go to the library, even when we didn’t want to get up,” Gonzalez said. “He was just that kind of person that just made the people around him better people. For that, I was most grateful for having met him.”

One trait everyone valued in Erik was his openness and warmth to others, whether they were a friend or stranger.

“There were friends that didn’t know each other, [but] in speaking with them, he had this motherly nature about him, where they were comfortable with him,” Klaudia said. “He brought them in, one of the girls described it as [if] he was a glue. A glue to two different groups, where he made them feel comfortable with each other. That’s something nice. Not everybody can do that. That’s something special, I think, that he had.”

Erik’s mother said he lived life to the fullest, always giving all of his efforts, whether it was in school or his relationships with friends and family. He loved others just as they loved him.

“I have a lot of peace in knowing that my son had a happy life down to the last day,” Klaudia said. “He was enjoying just spending time with his friends [and] he had worked really hard in school.”

May 15, 2001- May 31, 2020

CODY ALLEN REINHARD A passionate politician who always wore a smile

By Shelby McVey @shelbyxbreann

K

ind-hearted, intelligent and unafraid of showing his true self, Cody Allen Reinhard will be remembered by his family and friends for his radiant personality.

A graduate of Killeen ISD Early College High School with honors, Cody took pride in every nomination, honor and award he received. Cody proudly served as a member of the Bell County Young Republicans and as a board member of the Washington Crossing Foundation, which encourages the patriotism of George Washington and his leadership.

During his time as a political science major at Texas A&M, Cody made his bright plans for the future known to anyone he met. Cody’s friend and former classmate Emma Stinette said she was convinced Cody would one day change the world.

“He was so intelligent,” Stinette said. “I was just in awe of everything that came out of his mouth. I thought for sure we would be voting for him for president one day. He was younger than me, but I just felt like he was on an entirely different level with the kind of knowledge he had.”

Stinette said from the moment she met Cody, he was never anything but respectful not only toward her as a friend, but also to those with whom he disagreed.

“No matter what, he was always kind,” Stinette said. “It didn’t matter that he had a different opinion than you. We had a history class together, so of course, things got political sometimes. He made sure everyone was heard, and then he was so kind and deliberate about his response.”

Cody was involved in state and local politics, serving as an

PROVIDED

Cody Reinhard had a passion for politics.

intern for Texas District 31 Representative John Carter. The latter said Cody’s drive and motivation to make a change are what made him stand out from the rest of the applicants.

“When he decided to seek an internship with my office, he wrote in a letter, ‘I see it as my personal responsibility to be a part of the forces which better our country,’” Carter said.

“For such a young man, it was a powerful declaration of his commitment to our community and our nation.”

When he wasn’t volunteering his time to local and national political campaigns, Cody was proudly hard at work on his political blog, where he published weekly essays on matters rang-

ing from the 2020 election to defending freedom of speech.

Carter said this, along with his other achievements, is what made it clear that Cody’s overall purpose was to make a difference.

“It’s obvious based on his achievements he had worked towards that goal from the start,” Carter said. “Cody was an exceptional young man with an immensely bright future ahead of him. He will be greatly missed by Team Carter.”

Angela Webb, a friend of Cody’s, said meeting him her freshman year was one of the reasons her first year at A&M was so memorable.

“I was immediately drawn to his radiant personality,” Webb said. “He never failed to put a smile on my face and make me feel welcomed and loved in every situation.”

With an infectious smile and witty sense of humor, Webb said she wants Cody to be remembered for his love of others and his authenticity.

“I love remembering Cody’s genuine, pure and illuminating smile,” Webb said. “It could make anyone in the room happy. There was absolutely no way to keep a straight face if he was smiling at you. He genuinely made me so incredibly happy ... every time we saw each other.”

In the time Webb spent with Cody, she said one thing was clear — Cody was one redass Aggie.

“He absolutely adored A&M and College Station,” Webb said. “I personally had an incredibly tough freshman year. As a result, I developed a bit of a disliking towards A&M [and] I was even planning on transferring. He told me, ‘But Angela, A&M is the best university on this earth, and you’re a part of it... I’ll see you again next year by the time I’m done convincing you.’

From that day on, Cody would remind me how lucky I was to be an Aggie.”

July 26, 2001 - July 28, 2020

AIDAN ALEXANDER BERWICK A unique soul with a kind heart

By Rebecca Morris @RebeccaSheWrote

A

idan Alexander Berwick, to friends, family and strangers alike, is a name that means kindness, love and a spirit unlike any other.

Aidan, a Houston resident and pre-med genetics student, was a dedicated swimmer, National AP Scholar and loving brother, known to all as a gentle, intelligent and caring individual.

When Ajay Ramsunder met Aidan in seventh grade, the two clicked immediately — their mutual shyness creating a bond that lasted from middle school into college.

“He was kind of quiet like me and so I just really liked spending time with him,” Ramsunder said. “We just liked sitting with each other and spending time with each other.

Our lives just always seemed to connect in such a way that we never had a reason to actively lose contact with each other.”

Ramsunder said Aidan never met a stranger or friend he wouldn’t help. Ramsunder recalled a time when his bike broke on campus and Aidan rushed to his aid.

“I was like, ‘Hey this happened,’ and he said, ‘Let me help you push it back to your dorm,’” Ramsunder said. “I was like, ‘You really don’t have to do that dude,’ but he said, ‘There’s no problem,’ and he actually wanted to help. He helped me push it most, if not all, the way there and after we went and got dinner. But he was there, and he just wanted to help me with my bike and just everything that had happened.”

Throughout his life, Aidan exemplified selfless service and loyalty, always showing compassion, kindness and love to everyone he met.

PROVIDED

Aidan Berwick enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends.

“Honestly, every time I talked to him, he’d always ask me how I was doing,” Ramsunder said. “He would always be there for me. He was never actively rude or mean to anyone that I knew of. I never had a bad memory with him because he was so kind and such a good person. If I needed something, he’d always be like, ‘Here, let me help you with that.’ I didn’t

even ask him. He was just always there.”

Aidan was a scholar, tutor and all-around hard worker. He never failed to make time for friends or fun activities such as watching anime or playing “Super Smash Bros.” and “Dungeons & Dragons.”

“He’d always invite me over to play ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ with his best friends, and he’d always try to stay connected with me even if we hadn’t talked in a while,” Ramsunder said. “We connected on D&D and video games, and I started getting into anime because of him. He was just that kind of person who always looked out for his friends and was always super kind to everyone.”

Any encounter with Aidan would leave a lasting impression of uniqueness that shone from his soul, Ramsunder said.

“He was just a person who if you met him, you’d know he was someone that was different, someone that was new, someone you hadn’t ever met before,” Ramsunder said. “He was someone you want to spend time with, someone you want to learn more about because he was such an interesting and unique person. If he ever opened up to you, you’d just be like, ‘Man, this kid is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.’ He just had that sort of personality.”

Aidan had a spirit full of love. Ramsunder said Aidan’s kindness, generosity and uniqueness will live on in his memory forever.

“Every few minutes, I’ll always think about him as a person, him as a friend,” Ramsunder said. “He was one of those onein-a-million people who would always be there for you. I wish everyone could have gotten to know him because he was such a very kind and gentle soul who would always help people and be around for everyone.”

SILVERTAPS

4

The Battalion | 8.27.20

June 6, 2002 — May 30, 2020

CAITLYN MYCHELE HARMAN A determined spirit with a passion to serve

By Myranda Campanella @MCampanella_

O

utgoing and determined, Caitlyn Mychele Harman will be remembered as an ambitious individual with a drive to help.

As an incoming freshman in the Class of 2024, she would have been a public health major, and her mother, Carmene Harman, said Caitlyn dreamed of going to nursing school.

“She was determined as a child, as a young lady in school,” Carmene said. “She worked hard for anything that was put in front of her. She was never a procrastinator, so when she got her mind set on something she was going to get it accomplished.”

Carmene said Caitlyn always talked about becoming a doctor, but changed her mind slightly when she had the chance to complete a clinical pathway program while attending Bastrop High School.

“She decided she wanted to become a nurse after working with memory loss patients,” Carmene said. “She liked working with the nurses and seeing what they did.”

Caitlyn’s best friend, agribusiness freshman Kate Kibby, said despite being shy around unfamiliar faces, Caitlyn was a risk taker who liked to get herself and her friends out of their comfort zones.

Provided

Caitlyn Harman dreamed of becomng a nurse after graduation.

“Around her friends she was just very outgoing,” Kibby said. “She was always a light in everybody’s lives, and she could put a smile on anybody’s face.”

Caitlyn lost her older brother, Christian, in 2017 due to complications with an enlarged heart. Carmene said their family created Christian’s Closet in Bastrop shortly thereafter to help other families with children in need, which was something Caitlyn was heavily involved in.

Kibby said Caitlyn’s other passion was volleyball, which she played from elementary school all the way through her senior

year when she earned a spot on the varsity team.

Caitlyn considered going to medical school at New York University, Kibby said, but she ultimately decided on Texas A&M to stay closer to home and to keep the tradition in her family. Caitlyn’s mother was Class of 1996 and her grandfather was Class of 1967.

“I know she was excited to get out of Bastrop and meet new people,” Kibby said. “She was just excited to get to do new stuff.”

Carmene said Caitlyn had the chance to attend the Aggieland Saturday prospective student event this past March before COVID-19 guidelines were put into place. Despite looking at other schools, Carmene said Caitlyn knew A&M was the university for her after attending the event.

“It made a big difference that Saturday,” Carmene said.

“She left there feeling like this is her family.”

Kibby said her and Caitlyn were excited to attend college together. The two had a very strong friendship since the fifth grade, when they became friends in English class.

“She was my shoulder to cry on,” Kibby said. “She was supposed to be my maid of honor at my wedding someday.

We were supposed to grow old together.”

Carmene said Caitlyn had a headstrong and ambitious nature.

“She was a turn-up-the-music-loud-in-the-car type of singer,” Carmene said. “Outgoing. Tried to make people laugh.

She was just a determined, determined person.”

October 17, 1998 — May 15, 2020

PRESCILLA MARIE SANCHEZ A loving daughter and sister, strong in faith

By Julia Potts @juliaapotts

P

rescilla Marie Sanchez was a dedicated student, daughter and sister who was rooted in faith, remembered for her kindness to everyone she encountered and her willingness to help those in need.

Born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Prescilla Marie Sanchez was always close with her family and God. She was involved with her church and led her local youth group.

Her mother, Lori Sanchez, said Prescilla was always there for anyone who needed a helping hand.

“When she was born, she was born a leader,” Lori said. “She was always wanting to help her brother and sister. She always helped other kids in school, helping them learn whatever they didn’t understand. She always had big faith in God and inspired other people in everything she did.”

Her mother also said Prescilla was both artistic and athletic.

When she got to Texas A&M, Prescilla made bracelets and sold them for a dollar. She also played many sports in junior high and high school and was a member of the National Honor Society.

“She was very athletic in high school and middle school,” Lori said. “She did soccer, volleyball, track, basketball. I think she loved volleyball and track more than anything, though.”

Some of her favorite moments with Prescilla were at home, relaxing. Lori said they were very close, and didn’t have to be

via Facebook

Prescilla Sanchez treasured her family.

doing anything special for their time together to be just that.

“I was really close [to] her. I’m close with all my children, but we had a special bond. She was one of my best friends,” Lori said. “She was always there for everybody. I think some of my most fun moments were just hanging at the house and being goofy and silly together. We love movies, having movie nights, game nights.”

Prescilla always treasured her family. Even with a mother, father, stepmother, five younger sisters, a younger brother and a large extended family, her love for them never exhausted.

“She was very family oriented,” Lori said. “We have a divided family, so she has like four other siblings on her dad’s side plus [her sister] Audrey, so she had a big family. She loved playing with the kids. We just really enjoyed our time together.”

Lori said she was worried when Prescilla only applied to A&M and no other universities. However, Lori said Prescilla

was not worried at all. She was accepted, but like any college student, the change took some getting used to.

“It was quite an adjustment at first, for her,” Lori said. “Of course, she was just like any college kid being away from their family. She’s the first one to go off to college, the oldest of all of her siblings. Once she got in and started meeting people and getting connected in the Christian groups and life groups, she soared.”

Prescilla may have been away from family at A&M, but she always had people near her and was welcoming to everyone, Lori said.

“She met anybody anywhere she went,” Lori said. “She always had friends. Nobody was really a stranger to her.”

When the news of Prescilla’s passing reached her friends in College Station, Lori said the condolences she received from the many people who knew Prescilla were touching.

“I’ve had tons of people I don’t know, college kids and friends of hers reach out,” Lori said. “What I keep hearing is what a beautiful light she was and how she encouraged and lifted everyone around her. She had her hard times too, just like any college kid, but she leaned on God more than anything, and she loved God with all her heart and her family.”

Lori said she wants Prescilla’s friends and classmates to follow her daughter’s lead and have faith, no matter how bleak a situation may look.

“I just want everybody who is reading her story to know: no matter what hard times or trials that are difficult to come through, God is helping you and lean on God because He will shine through and help you through,” Lori said.

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The Battalion | 8.27.20

June 26, 1995 - June 25, 2020

ELIZABETH ANNE SLOVAK A free spirit with a heart for service

By Hannah Underwood @hannahbunderwoo

T

hough she became an Aggie only a short time ago, Elizabeth Anne Slovak embodied Texas A&M’s core value of selfless service with family, friends and strangers alike.

It was Elizabeth’s passion for helping children with learning difficulties that pushed her to choose her undergraduate degree in communication disorders from Stephen F. Austin State University. She had just started to pursue her master’s in special education at A&M. Her fiance, Alex Crane, said Elizabeth originally wanted to pursue nursing but found speech therapy to be a better fit.

“She just wanted to help others,” Crane said. “She didn’t really know how to help others at the beginning. I think that’s why she thought about nursing, but there [are] certain things about handling people in that way that I don’t think she could have handled. She couldn’t deal with blood. This was the next best thing. She really felt that this was something she was good at and interested in.”

Elizabeth was also working as a speech therapist, and her mother Katrina said when Elizabeth was able to help a child, it made her hard work worthwhile.

“When she very first started, she was able to help a fouryear-old autistic child that had never spoken, and he’d been doing speech therapy his whole life,” Katrina said. “She was able to help him speak, and that was her favorite thing. She felt such gratification when she was able to help somebody, and she spent tons of time and energy trying to find ways to make it more interesting for them.”

When trying to engage her students, Elizabeth often employed unconventional approaches to her teaching, Katrina said, no matter how silly it might have seemed.

“It didn’t matter to her how stupid she looked doing it,” Katrina said. “The last three months, we’ve all been locked in here together working from home, and I could hear her upstairs. She had to do speech [therapy] on Zoom, and I could hear her up there, and she could not sing worth a lick. She was up there singing and stomping around, and I’m like, ‘Oh my

PROVIDED

Elizabeth Slovak had a calling to work with children.

God, how can you keep that up all day?’”

Elizabeth learned those skills from taking improvisation classes, Katrina said.

“She couldn’t sing worth a darn, but she was good about making up ditties and singing to people and improving impersonations,” Katrina said. “She was funny like that. You wouldn’t think it if you knew her casually because she was really a very sweet person, but she could be extremely funny doing impersonations and doing things with improv.”

Her witty and spontaneous nature also carried over to her family life.

Crane recalled a time when he and Elizabeth took a trip to Chicago while he was working in Iowa. Elizabeth signed the pair up for a murder mystery dinner, and on the way there, she revealed she had volunteered him to play the role of detective, the main part of the event.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, you did not do that.’ But it was lots of fun,” Crane said. “She brought out the best part of me, I think.”

Katrina said her favorite memories with Elizabeth were around Christmas, when the pair would take a weekend to make as much candy as they possibly could. Elizabeth’s favorites were the caramels.

“I’m not talking a little candy, we made 50 pounds of sugar candy, 30 pounds of butter candy,” Katrina said. “It started before I was married, and it just escalated. We just kept making more and more and trying different candies.”

The pair’s love for sweets extended far beyond the holidays, though.

Katrina said she often keeps a bag of chocolate in a drawer in her nightstand, “in case of an emergency.”

When Elizabeth discovered the stash, it soon became trouble for the duo.

“After she found out about the emergency chocolate, the two of us went through $40 worth of emergency chocolate in a week, and I had to quit doing it. I’m like, ‘Elizabeth, every day can’t be an emergency,’” Katrina said.

Elizabeth wasn’t only close to her own family. Her life’s work with people who have speech and hearing difficulties crossed over into her relationship with Crane’s father, who is almost completely deaf.

“She really connected with him, trying to talk with him,” Crane said.

As dedicated as Elizabeth was to family traditions and the children she helped, she was equally as devoted to everyone she met.

“Everybody says when somebody passes away that they were nice or they were the nicest person in the world, but Elizabeth never gave up on anybody,” Katrina said. “I don’t care what happened. I’ve seen people that I would have given up on a long time ago. She never did.”

For Crane, it was her openness and curiosity that drew him to “Free spirit Elizabeth,” as he called her.

“I’ve never met anyone that was so open and willing to try new things,” Crane said. “Most of the time people are hesitant in certain situations, but she was just willing to try anything. … She was just amazing in every way, I can’t even explain it.

It was a dream come true, honestly.”

July 3, 1998 – April 2, 2020

STEVEN DEVON ANDERSON An artist, an activist and an example

By Alyssa Gafford-Gaby @AGaffordGaby

A

s a generous friend who worked tirelessly within his community and expressed himself through art, Steven Devon Anderson will always be remembered for his endless joy and desire to help others.

An active member of the African American community at Texas A&M and several organizations, Steven always sought to help those in need. His close friend, La Tresia Wilson, said there was never a moment he wasn’t there for others.

“He was always caring, always working to seek success as much as possible and if you needed anything, he was there,” Wilson said.

Steven enjoyed socializing with people and making them feel as loved as possible. Even with all his commitments, he always made time for the important people in his life.

“The summer coming into A&M, Steven and I spent almost everyday and every weekend together,” Wilson said. “We would go go-kart racing. We’d go out to eat, go to the movies. Anything that he’d want to do, we always did it. We were also transitioning into college so we’d spend every moment together that we could. Those were some of the best memories with him, just talking all the time and spending time together.”

When Steven wasn’t spending time with his friends, he was devoted to academics and organizations to better the community at A&M. “He loved helping people and being involved with organizations,” Wilson said. “He had an on-campus job, so he was always working and trying to give back.”

Steven continuously fought for civil rights at A&M. Wilson said he was always looking for new ways to spread awareness for the African American community.

via Instagram

Steven Anderson fought for civil rights at A&M.

“He was an activist on campus, so he did a lot of the protests, he did a lot of the walks we did through campus,” Wilson said.

“He was the Vice President, at one point, for NAACP on campus, so that was something he was always doing.”

However, Steven’s generosity expanded beyond the African American community. Wilson said he was always searching for new ways to help those in need. Steven joined several organizations and developed relationships with professors and alumni to help him succeed while supporting others as much as he could.

“He loved being active in the community as much as possible and strived to make changes and help people be better.

He did a lot of that through his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha,

NAACP or any community events he could do,” Wilson said.

Throughout college, Steven made art as a way to express himself. He could always be found writing and had even begun authoring a book.

“He was very musical, and he was an artist,” Wilson said.

“He loved to draw. He loved to write poems and anything with music. That was his way of speaking and expressing himself, so he would always write poems and speak those at events to get out how he was feeling.”

Whether he was spending time with friends, working in his organizations or writing poetry, Steven always went out of his way to uplift others. Wilson said it was rare to see Steven upset, and he made it a personal goal to help others feel happier.

“Steven was a joyful person,” Wilson said. “He was always smiling and laughing. There were very few times where you could ever find Steven upset. He hated seeing people upset and seeing people mad, sad, down, whatever it is. He would always try to uplift them in whatever way possible.”

Wilson said Steven was special because he knew no stranger and would always go out of his way to help others.

“Steven lived to make an impact on somebody, whether it was a family member, a friend, whoever it was, even if it was a stranger,” Wilson said. “He lived to impact people so he would always try to have those conversations that make you think, make you challenge yourself and make you grow in the ways you express yourself.”

By exemplifying what it means to be a selfless servant despite hardship, Steven’s positive influence will never be forgotten.

“He had a passion and a drive behind everything he did,” Wilson said. “He was someone who was as powerful as he could be as a 21-year-old African American male, coming from a community that didn’t have much. Still, he came to A&M and struggled to make his way through, but he would never let those things he came from [to] define him. He would always find a positive out of every negative that was in front of him.”

NOW IS THE TIME to pre-order your copy of the

2020AGGIELAND It’s not too late to buy your copy of the 2020 Aggieland, a photojournalistic record of the 2019-2020 school year. The 118th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook.

Go Online to tx.ag/BuyTheAggieland or call 979-845-2697 to make your purchase.

2021AGGIELAND A photojournalistic record of the 2020-2021 school year. The 119th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Distribution will be Summer or Fall 2021.

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SILVERTAPS

6

The Battalion | 8.27.20

October 16, 1998 - June 19, 2020

ASA THOMAS GRAHAM A passionate artist with heart of gold

By Camryn Lang @CamrynLang

R

emembered for his relentless work ethic and generosity, Asa Graham was dedicated to spreading love to everyone he met.

Born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to Patricia and Brandon Graham on Oct. 16, 1998, Asa came into the world with the unique ability to incite joy in everyone he met. He was an active member of Paradigm: Forging Model Men of Aggieland, and excelled creatively as he pursued music.

His mother said Asa’s ability to spark joy in people started before he was born — nine months before to be exact.

“It was like lightning in my body and I thought, ‘What is going on?’” Patricia said. “Shortly thereafter, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. But the thing that came with the lightning strike was [that] I felt so much joy, absolutely so much joy. I laughed, and I just thought, ‘Wow.’ I cannot express how happy I was, and that happiness and that laughter that came out of me at that moment only grew every minute with Asa.” As the Graham family moved around the United States, Asa became adept at connecting with new people. He developed a nurturing nature that pushed him to set aside his own needs in service of others.

“Asa could see somebody that is hurting or uncomfortable and know how to make them feel at ease and loved,” Patricia said. “There were a number of times, countless — I’m not exaggerating — that he would come home from soccer practice without any soccer shoes on and he’d go and find an old pair to wear. I would never say anything to him. A day or two later, I would see another kid wearing his soccer cleats because he knew they needed them more than he did. And that was

PROVIDED

Asa Graham enjoyed soccer and music.

every bit of who his character was; it was generous, loving, so fun and full of joy.”

Brandon said Asa was a humble leader that possessed a quiet strength. In academics, athletics and the creative arts, he excelled because of his dedication and passion.

“He never was trying to draw attention to himself or boast in his own way,” Brandon said. “He could be in a situation where he knew the exact answer to the certain issue we were facing, but would just hang out in the background. Then, somehow, it would finally come to light and he would be sitting there on top of the answer the whole time.”

When it came time for Asa to leave home, selecting a university proved difficult as a soccer scholarship to the Colorado School of Mines offered a huge opportunity. In the end, staying close to his family was deemed more important to him.

“Asa, of course, was like, ‘How can this even be a decision?

I’ve been a soccer player my entire life. I’m going to the School of Mines,” Patricia said. “The absolute last night to accept his School of Mines [offer of admittance], and he had already had his A&M one as well, and literally minutes before midnight my husband looked at him and said, ‘Asa, I need you to stay close to home,’ and Asa looked at him and said, ‘Yes sir,’ and declined his acceptance to School of Mines and accepted his one to Texas A&M.” This change of heart led to a deep love for the Aggie Spirit, Patricia said. Asa attended Fish Camp, Impact and the New Student Conference, which began his journey as a Fightin’ Texas Aggie.

“When he was done with all of that, he said, ‘I 100 percent get it and I am a proud Texas Aggie and will always be.’ We felt extremely grateful for that and it is why we had Asa buried [in the Aggie Field of Honor],” Patricia said. ”He fully embraced the traditions and he was through and through a Texas Aggie.”

In his life, Asa never lost his joyfulness, and his family plans to carry that same attitude into the future.

“Six months ago, [I] was just coming to this realization that the key to all of this was to find authentic joy,” Brandon said.

“That’s how I would summarize his essence; he had an authentic joy about him.”

In celebration of his life, Asa’s mother said she hopes to continue to spread love to those most important to her, just as he did.

“I keep thinking about how passionate Asa is about everything he does and I would have to say that one takeaway or way I hope to honor Asa is to live with this in mind: go above and beyond for the people you love, you’ll never regret it,” Patricia said.

SILVER TAPS CONTINUED Dean of Students Anne Reber told Texas A&M Today that during the pandemic, Silver Taps is more important than ever this semester.

“It is likely that our students have experienced the loss of loved ones — family members, friends at home or know others who have experienced this type of loss since March when we were all last together in Aggieland,” Reber said. “During that time, our students may not have been able to honor those loved ones as they would have liked. Now that our students are returning to campus and our Texas A&M community, they will want to honor their peers who have also lost their lives as only they know how, and that is through

the tradition of Silver Taps.”

Although the delivery will be different, Reber said the ceremony will hold the same reverence.

“The families of our fallen Aggies will still participate in this semester’s Silver Taps ceremonies, and we would love to show them our student body supports them in their time of sorrow, even if it is virtually,” Reber said. “We will all be watching, we will be together, for ‘We are the Aggies, the Aggies are We.’ The Aggie Spirit will still be felt.”

For questions or more information about the virtual ceremony, contact Angela Winkler at angelaw95@tamu.edu.

Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Silver Taps will be streamed on Facebook, Instagram and KAMU-TV.

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