2021 Aggieland Primer & Apartment Guide

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Your 2021 GUIDE to BRYAN, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY & BLINN COLLEGE

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CONTENTS

Classes for all ages

8 am and 10:45 am 9:30 am

W E D N E S D AY M I N I S T R Y N I G H T

Texas A&M Rec Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 TAMU Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5:45 pm Supper Classes begin at 6:15 pm Music Ministry 7:15 pm

Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 – 10 Basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 – 13 All Around Aggieland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 – 15 Corps of Cadets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 – 19 2021 Apartment Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 – 22 Blinn College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Track & Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Transportation Services . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 – 29 The Association of Former Students . . . . .30

P U B L I S H E R C RY S TA L D U P R É ADVERTISING MANAGER LINDA BRINKMAN P U B L I C AT I O N D E S I G N E R C O U R T N E Y H E R N A N D E Z 4 | J u l y 1 9, 2021

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TEXAS A&M REC SPORTS

HAve fun WHile getting fit Article provided by Texas A&M’s Department of Recreational Sports

The mission of the Department of Recreational Sports (“Rec Sports”) is to promote activity, wellness,

and development opportunities by providing high quality, inclusive experiences and facilities for the

students and community of Texas A&M University.

By committing to this mission, Rec Sports is able to offer A&M students

Texas A&M’s Rec Center

numerous opportunities for recreation, fitness, and fun.

Drop-in recreation is available at most Rec Sports facilities and costs Texas A&M students nothing each time they visit because the fee is automatically included in their fee statement. The only thing students need to access the facilities is a valid ID. Rec Sports facilities include: • Student Recreation Center (“Rec Center”): 400,000 square feet of recreational space that includes a strength and conditioning room, indoor courts/gyms, third-floor track, indoor and outdoor pools, climbing and bouldering walls, outdoor rental center, and more • Polo Road Rec Center: located on main campus

near University Drive and Polo Road, this facility offers free weights, strength equipment, cardio machines, and group fitness classes • Penberthy Rec Sports Complex (outdoor fields) • Omar Smith Instructional Tennis Center • Physical Education Activity Program (PEAP) Building Rec Sports also offers a variety of programs and services that promote activity and wellness to the Aggie community, including but not limited to: • Intramural sports • ESports • Sport clubs (37 different clubs) • Group RecXercise classes • Boot camps and specialty classes

• Swim lessons and lifeguard certification classes • Personal and small group training • Outdoor trips, clinics, and equipment rental • Banquet and event services • Employment opportunities • With more than 1,000 student employees, Rec Sports is the largest employer of students on campus! Visit the employment page at recsports.tamu.edu to learn about types of jobs available, open positions, and how to apply.

For more information about Rec Sports, download the Rec Sports app (available from the App Store and Google Play) or visit recsports. tamu.edu.

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TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

TRADITIONS Article provided by the Traditions Council

HoWdY

Howdy is the official greeting of Texas A&M University. Greeting each other with a “Howdy!” identifies us as the friendliest university in the world.

gig ‘eM

Gig ‘em is the universal sign of approval for Aggies.

Coined by P.L. “Pinkie” Downs, Class of 1906, when at a Yell Practice before the 1930 TCU football game Downs asked, “What are we going to do with those Horned Frogs?”

In reference to frog hunting, he said, “Gig ‘em, Aggies!” and made a fist with his thumb extended up as one

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asked to. Texas A&M went on to beat Centre College 22-14.

Today, Aggies stand at all football and basketball games, from the opening kickoff “till the final gun is sounded,” symbolizing our readiness to go into the game or help our fellow Aggies whenever we are needed.

would when using a gig.

It was the first hand sign of the Southwest Conference for 25 years until t.u. copied the idea from the Aggies and created their Hook ’em Horns. Now Aggies give each other this sign to encourage and motivate each other.

tHe 12tH MAn

On Jan. 2, 1922, the Aggies from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas played the Prayin’ Colonels of Centre College, Kentucky, in the Dixie Classic. After the tough 1921 football season, the Aggies were “completely exhausted,

both physically and mentally,” according to Red Thompson, a yell leader at the time. But the Aggies came ready to play, and the game’s first points (and the first points allowed by Centre all year) came on a safety off a muffed punt in the end zone.

At half time, Coach Dana X. Bible’s

Southwest Conference Champion Aggies were winning, but every player on the Aggie team except for the 11 on the field was injured. Coach Bible remembered that a sophomore multiple sport athlete, who had recently stepped down from football to focus on the new basketball season, was sitting in the press box helping identify players on the field. Coach Bible requested that the player, E. (Earl) King Gill ’24, come down to the field and suit up.

E. King Gill went under the stands with a couple blankets and the injured team captain, Heine Weir, to put on his uniform. E. King Gill then stood next to Coach Bible for the rest of the game, ready to play, but was never

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MidnigHt Yell

Beginning in 1913, Corps companies would practice and learn yells; “learning heartily the old time prep.” Aggies in 1934 said that yell practice was “something that cannot be experienced by an outsider” and “something only an Aggie can feel.”

In 1931, the first official Midnight Yell Practice was held before the t.u. game on the steps of the YMCA building. Today, Midnight Yell is held the Friday night before a home game in Kyle Field. If playing an away game, Midnight Yell is held on Friday night close to where the game is being played.

Aggies practice yells and sing songs for the next day’s game; the

yell leaders tell a junior and a senior fable; and then the lights go out.

That is when you get to “mug down” and kiss your date, or if you don’t have a date, take a lighter, “flick your Bic” and hope to find another Aggie looking to mug down.

silver tAps

Silver Taps is one of the most sacred and significant traditions at A&M. Silver Taps is one of the final tributes held for any current graduate or undergraduate student who has passed during the year.

Silver Taps is held the first Tuesday of the month following a student’s death.

Starting in the morning, the flags on campus are flown at half-staff. The names, classes and majors of the fallen Aggies are on cards placed at the base of the flagpole in the Academic Plaza and on the Silver Taps Memorial. Throughout the day, students can write letters to the families of the fallen Aggies. That night at 10:15, all the lights on campus are extinguished. Hymns are then played on

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the Albritton Bell Tower. Around this time, students gather silently in the Academic Plaza. The families of the fallen Aggies are also led into the plaza. At 10:30, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad marches into the Academic Plaza at a slow cadence. Once they arrive, they fire a three volley salute in honor of the fallen Aggies. After the last round is fired, buglers atop the Academic Building begin to play a special rendition of “Taps” called “Silver Taps” which is unique to A&M. They play it three times, once to the north, once to the south, and once to the west, but never to the east, because it’s said the sun will never rise on that Aggie again.

After the last note is played, the one thing you can hear is the shuffling of feet as students return silently to their lives.

Silver Taps has been occurring for over 100 years. The first Silver Taps was in 1898. At Silver Taps, you stand where Aggies have stood for generations.

You are connected to those who have come before you. This tradition is unique to Texas A&M, as no other university in the world honors their students in this way.

Bonfire

Students used burning Bonfire as a pep rally where speeches were made and yells were led,

often outlasting the actual burning of the fire. The first Bonfires in 1909 were built with trash and other scraps around campus.

It wasn’t until 1912 when logs started to become the standard for building Bonfire.

Starting in the 1950s, building Bonfire became more organized while each class strove to make it bigger and better than the ones before. The tallest Bonfire was built in 1969 and was about 109 feet tall with a 105-foot center pole.

Ninety-two years after bonfire first began, almost to the hour, on Nov. 18, 1999, at 2:42 a.m., the Bonfire stack collapsed and took with it the lives of 12 of our fellow Aggies and injured 27 others.

The Bonfire collapse was quite possibly the most trying event in the history of Texas A&M, but it also allowed us to better understand the true meaning of the Aggie spirit. Many of us believe that Bonfire did burn that year when 90,000 Aggies, friends and families gathered at the Polo Fields on the night Bonfire was to burn to silently hold candles together.

generation to the next.

Muster is a way for Aggies to renew their loyalty to their school and their friends.

Aggie Muster is a special time set aside to honor members of the Aggie family. Aggie Muster traces its roots back to San Jacinto Day, which was a Texas holiday in the 1840s that celebrated Texans’ defeat of the Mexican Army in the battle of San Jacinto.

In 1899, the cadets decided to hold a San Jacinto Field Day on April 21. It was a day of fun and activities without class.

During the world wars, this tradition of meeting on April 21 evolved to include a memoriam for those who were absent. In World War I, Aggies met all over the trenches of Europe and at army posts all over America. The most famous Aggie Muster was held during World War II in 1942 on the small island of Corregidor in the Philippines. Major General George Moore, ’08, led a group of recently commissioned

Aggies in a moment to honor the valiant Aggies who had died, hold a yell practice, and sing the War Hymn with all their strength, all under heavy enemy fire.

In 1924, the first campus Muster was held in Guion Hall, and Muster has been held on campus since.

Campus Muster is now the largest of the over 300 Musters held worldwide.

The most important and moving part of the Muster ceremony is Roll Call for the absent.

The Roll Call lists the names of every local Aggie who has passed during the year, as well as missing members of the 50 year reunion class. As each name is read, a candle is lit, and the family and friends answer, “Here,” to symbolize that while that Aggie has fallen, they are still with us in spirit.

reveille

Reveille is Texas A&M’s beloved mascot and the First Lady of Aggieland. She has been mascot since

Muster

Muster represents the Aggie spirit that binds Aggies to their school and to one another. It is more than a ceremony; it is a responsibility that is handed down from one

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1931, when some cadets found her wounded by the side of the road in Navasota and snuck her into their dorm. All Reveilles since Reveille III have been Rough Collies. Miss Rev leads the football team onto the field at every game, and is attended by a sophomore in Company E-2 of the Corps of Cadets.

Aggie ring

The Aggie ring is a unique representation of achievement by an Aggie. Aggies take

pride in earning their little piece of gold from the greatest university in the world. The Aggie ring is unlike any other because students cannot design their own class ring or order it at any time. The Aggie ring can only be ordered when an Aggie completes 90 hours, 45 of which must be from Texas A&M University.

The top of the ring features a shield that symbolizes the protection of the good reputation of the alma mater. There are 13 stripes in the shield that symbolize the 13 original states and Aggies’ intense patriotism. The five stars found in the

shield refer to the five phases of Aggie development: mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise and integrity of character.

The eagle on the top of the Aggie ring symbolizes agility and power and ability to reach great heights and ambitions.

One side of the Aggie ring holds a large star encircled with a wreath of olive leaves joined together by a ribbon near the bottom of the ring. The large star symbolizes the seal of the State of Texas authorized by the Constitution of 1845. It is encircled with a wreath of olive leaves, symbolizing achievement and desire for peace and live oak leaves, symbolizing the strength to fight.

The leaves are joined at the bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these traits to accomplish one’s ambition to serve.

The other side of the Aggie ring contains an ancient cannon, saber and rifle, symbolizing that the citizens of Texas fought for their land and our determination to defend our homeland.

The saber stands for valor and confidence, and the rifle and cannon stand for preparedness and defense. On both sides, the United States and Texas flags are crossed to symbolize the dual allegiance to nation and state.

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FOOTBALL saying it just for the quarterback I am very pleased where they’re at, they got to get better without a doubt, but there’s a lot of pieces around them and need to get better.”

That improvement has to start in the offensive line that returns only one starter. That starter is junior Kenyon Green, who is All-American and is projected to be an NFL first-round draft pick.

This year, he will move from guard to tackle.

“As a leader, I need to step up more and get a hold of the offensive line,” Green said.

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The 325-pound Green set a good example in the spring, voted the offensive most valuable player.

The rest of the line is short on experience but not talent. Junior Luke Matthews moves in at center, the latest in a long line of standout Matthews who have played for the Aggies.

The projected starting guards are sophomore Layden Robinson, who saw quality action last year, and redshirt freshman Aki Ogunbiyi, who shared spring training’s most improved offensive award with

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wide receiver Jalen Preston. The other tackle likely will be Jahmir Johnson, a graduate transfer from Tennessee who made 17 career starts for the Vols.

The Aggies have the running backs that could make any offensive line look good. Isaiah Spiller as a freshman was well down on the depth chart, but by the end of his sophomore season he was one of the best in the Southeastern Conference. He rushed for 1,036 yards on 188 carries last season to earn All-SEC honors.

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game, completed 16 of 31 for 211 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Calzada was 19 of 40 for 253 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Calzada has played in only three games and King but two, with neither making a start, yet quarterback play isn’t Fisher’s biggest concern.

“I’m worried about the pieces around them,” Fisher said after the spring game. “We got to play better around them I think they’re making tremendous progress right now and I’m not

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where we wanted to go and [we’re] still not quite where we want to go.”

The Aggies, who are 26-10 under Fisher, will have a chance to get to where they want this season with 14 returning starters. The biggest question mark on offense is replacing quarterback Kellen Mond who was a three-year starter. Mond, under Fisher’s tutelage, matured into a NFL third-round pick.

Sophomore Zach Calzada and redshirt freshman Haynes King are Fisher’s latest pupils.

King, in the spring

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Texas A&M flirted with making the College Football Playoff last season, settling for a 41-27 victory over North Carolina in the Orange Bowl to cap a 9-1 season.

The Aggies ended the season with an eightgame winning streak and were ranked fourth in the final Associated Top 25, their highest since the 1939 national championship team.

“We’re not done yet,” A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said after the Orange Bowl victory.

“We’ve had some good years, but we’re not

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Junior running back Isaiah Spiller earned All-Southeastern Conference honors last season and was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist a­er rushing for 1,036 yards.

(AP photo)

continued from page 9 Spiller can’t rest on his laurels because of Devon Achane, who opened eyes in the Orange Bowl as the freshman rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns to be the game’s most outstanding player. The emergence of Spiller and Achane gives A&M the option of using versatile Ainias Smith more in the passing game. Smith, who moved to running back somewhat out of necessity late in the 2019 season, rushed for 300 yards on 49 carries with four touchdowns last season. He might have been more valuable in the passing game, with 43 receptions for 564 yards and six

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touchdowns. Smith and fellow junior tight end Jalen Wydermyer are difference-makers in the passing game.

Wydermyer had 46 receptions last season for 506 yards and six touchdowns to be a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top tight end.

Much is expected from A&M’s defense, which returns all but two starters from a unit that allowed only 317.3 yards per game to rank ninth in the country. The defense could have as many as five senior starters – tackle Jayden Peevy, end Micheal Clemons, linebacker Aaron Hansford, cornerback Myles Jones and safety

Leon O’Neal Jr. “The guys that we have coming in and the guys that we have that are staying, man, it’s going to be crazy,” junior defensive end DeMarvin Leal said. “I just can’t wait to see it.”

Leal blossomed last season with 37 tackles to lead the linemen.

He also had several big plays, including a 43yard interception return against Alabama. The 6-4, 290-pounder is a tough matchup because he can play inside or on the edge.

“I feel very comfortable at playing both positions,” Leal said.

“We have our packages, and certain packages require me to be in the inside.”

A&M’s defense was featured on the cover of this year’s Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine, which labeled it the “New Crew,” a spinoff of Aggie great defenses in the past called the “Wrecking Crew.”

Sophomore tackle McKinnley Jackson, who showed flashes as a freshman, will join Leal, Peevy and Clemons in what should be an active and disruptive front four in the fourth year of defensive coordinator Mike Elko’s system.

Clemons and Leal shared the spring training most valuable player award.

The concern on defense is who replaces linebacker Buddy Johnson, who was the

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leading tackler and the unit’s heart and soul.

Redshirt freshman Edgerrin Cooper had a good spring, but he has competition.

“Tarian Lee has played great all spring and Edgerrin Cooper,” Fisher said. “All of those guys have done a really nice job. They are the next generation of guys that have to step in and that’s what they’re here for.

I think we have good talent there, we just have to get them to master everything that they’re doing, but you can see the ability they have.”

A ball-control offense has helped the defense stay on the sideline. The Aggies ranked third last year in the country in time of possession (34

minutes, 49 seconds), which helped an offense that averaged 32.6 points per game to rank 37th.

A&M will be able to continue to use a ballcontrol approach if the revamped offensive line pans out, but the Aggies could be able to become more of a big-play offense this year with so many veteran weapons.

“It’s crazy, and just to see their growth, both Isaiah and Ainias from their freshman to sophomore year,” Mond said. “One thing that’s pretty special and makes them a lot different from a lot of other people, they’re all versatile in both the pass and the run game. We were able to this year do a lot of diverse things with each one of those guys, and we were able to execute at a high level.”

Mond was a big factor in helping the offense limit mistakes. A&M had only eight turnovers to rank 19th in the country.

Turnovers might rise with inexperience at quarterback along with A&M possibly willing to take more chances.

A potential plus for A&M this season could be a favorable schedule that includes playing defending national champ Alabama at Kyle Field on Oct. 9. The Aggies’ only road games before that are facing Colorado in Denver on Sept. 11 and Arkansas at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium on Sept. 25.

Those teams were a combined 7-9, which is why many believe the Aggies will be 5-0 when the Crimson Tide comes to town.

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BASKETBALL/SOCCER

BY ROBERT CESSNA • ROBERT.CESSNA@THEEAGLE.COM

The challenge for the Texas A&M basketball teams is moving forward from vastly different roller-coaster seasons.

The women had one of the more memorable seasons in school history, going 25-3 and reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

The Aggies won their first Southeastern Conference regularseason title, highlighted by a 65-57 victory over fifth-ranked South Carolina that made A&M 9-0 against ranked teams. As sports was recovering from COVID-19, the Aggies opened the season 12-0, and after a loss at unranked LSU, they bounced back to win 11 straight for the best start in school history. A&M put itself in position to win a national championship and opened the NCAA tournament by beating Troy 84-80 and Iowa State 84-82 in a pair of thrillers, only to fizzle in a 74-59 season-ending loss to Arizona.

The men had a different kind of fizzle, having eight SEC games canceled because of COVID-19. The Aggies finished 8-10, including 2-8 in league play, finishing 13th in the 14-team league, ahead of only Vanderbilt. A&M lost six of its last seven games as interest in the program faded.

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Senior Kayla Wells has made 94 career starts, including 92 straight. She’s made 305 of 379 free throws (80.5%). (Eagle photo/Cassie Stricker)

“We’ve got to get better,” A&M head coach Buzz Williams said after a season-ending 79-68 loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament.

The team stayed in the spotlight and not in a good way: In less than two months, nine players entered the NCAA transfer portal with all but walk-on guard Jackson Young finding new homes.

Finding new teams were guards LaDamien Bradford (Louisiana Tech), Jaxson Robinson (Arkansas), Savion Flagg (Sam Houston State), Cashius McNeilly (TCU) and Jay Jay Chandler (South Alabama), forward Emanuel Miller

(TCU) and center Kevin Marfo (Quinnipiac).

A&M also lost assistant coach Jamie McNeilly, his highly touted nephew Cashius McNeilly, who signed with A&M but never played, taking a medical redshirt as a freshman and then opting out of the last season because of COVID-19.

“Players having the ability to change, I think there is no problem with that,” Williams said.

The mass exodus allowed Williams to revamp his roster.

Plano shooting guard Manny Obaseki from John Paul II and point guard Wade Taylor from Lancaster are incoming

four-star freshmen along with 6-9 center Ashton Smith from Legacy the School of Sport Sciences in Spring. Williams hit the transfer portal hard, adding Wyoming point guard Marcus Williams, 6-11 center Javonte Brown-Ferguson from Connecticut, and 6-8 power forwards Henry Coleman III from Duke and Ethan Henderson from Arkansas along with junior college shooting guard Aaron Cash from Grayson College.

“Are we choosing and recruiting the right ones in the portal? I hope so,” Williams said.

All the newcomers along with a handful of

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returning players led by junior guard Andre Gordon and sophomore guard Hassan Diarra will try to help Williams find the magic he had in his first season when the Aggies were 16-14, including 10-8 in the SEC, capped by seasonending back-to-back victories at 17th-ranked Auburn and at home against Arkansas on Senior Day. It’s certainly been one of the more topsy-turvy offseason Williams said after the season-ending loss to Vandy that they’d diagnose every part of the program “because A&M deserves better.”

That’s what women’s coach Gary Blair has

been able to deliver in his 18 seasons at A&M, making 15 straight NCAA tournaments.

Last season was one of his most rewarding following the 2019-20 NCAA tournament being canceled by COVID-19.

The 2020 tournament was played, but confined to the San Antonio area with no fans allowed to attend until the Sweet 16.

“This year [meant] more to me as a coach than any team I have ever coached because of what these young people had to go through,” Blair said. “Winning the national championship [in 2011] was great, but that championship team did not have to go through what these young ladies and all the people in our country have had to go through.”

A&M climbed to a program-record second during the season in the Associated Press’ Top 25 and ended at No. 4 in the final regular-season poll, another progam best. And its .893 winning percentage was the program’s highest.

Some thought A&M should have been a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, which would have been another first. The Aggies settled for a No. 2 seed and didn’t live up to expectations. A&M was 2-2 in its last four games, also losing to

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16th-ranked Georgia in the SEC tournament semifinals.

“Did we peak too early?” Blair said, referring to a 23-1 start that included a 13-1 SEC record, but he didn’t think so. “We played our butts off all year.”

A&M might have to overachieve in order to match last season’s success after having a program- and nationbest trio of players taken in the WNBA draft. Replacing center Ciera Johnson, power forward N’dea Jones and shooting guard Aaliyah Wilson is a huge challenge as they combined for 230 career starts. Johnson, in addition to being the player the offense went through, was the player everyone followed.

Jones had the most rebounds and doubledoubles in program history and Wilson was a first-round pick who made an opening-day WNBA roster and is still in the league.

A&M caught a huge break when wing Kayla Wells and sixth woman Destiny Pitts both opted to return for a senior season. Wells has made 94 career starts, averaging 13.4 points the last three seasons.

Blair said Pitts was the best pure shooter he’d coached when she transferred in from Minnesota and she proved it, hitting 49 of 106 from 3-point range for 46.2%. A&M will be a huge threat from the perimeter as Wells is shooting 36.9% from 3-point range in her

career – 104 of 282.

A&M’s third returning starter is junior point guard Jordan Nixon, who didn’t disappoint in her first season after having to sit out the 2019-20 season after transferring from Notre Dame. Nixon hit buzzerbeating layups to beat Arkansas twice, then capped a 35-point game against Iowa State in the NCAA tournament with a layup at the buzzer for the 84-82 overtime victory. That came on the heels of 21 points in the victory over Troy.

“What a young lady to have coming back,” Blair said. “[It’s] very similar to Johnny Manziel when he got all that attention for beating Alabama back then.”

A&M will have newcomers inside.

Candidates from within the program are sophomore forward Maliyah Johnson and sophomore center Kenyal Perry along with a pair of transfers in junior center Sydnee Roby (Miami) and senior forward Aaliyah Patty (Ohio State).

Blair’s most important newcomers, though, are on the bench after losing longtime assistants Amy Wright (Oklahoma) and Bob Starkey (Auburn).

They were replaced by co-associate head coach Vernette Skeete and assistant coach Greg Brown who joins longtime assistant Kelly Bond-White in trying to make Blair’s 50th season in coaching special

soCCer

A&M soccer coach G Guerrieri is a dozen years short of Blair, but he’s the dean of Aggieland mentors, entering his 29th season.

Guerrieri and his players are coming off their own roller-coaster type season as they played a split season because of COVID-19.

A&M went 7-2 in the fall and 4-1 in the spring to earn the No. 7 seed for the NCAA tournament, which a like the women’s basketball tournament was played entirely in North Carolina so COVID-19 protocols and testing could be observed.

A&M (12-4-1) beat South Florida in the first round 2-0 and won 4-3

on penalty kicks over Oklahoma State after a 3-3 tie in regulation, but lost to North Carolina 1-0 in the Elite Eight.

“This [was] a super year and hopefully they’ve set the stage now for something that could be even more special later in 2021,” Guerrieri said.

A&M returns sophomore forward Barbara Olivieri who led the team with 21 points (8 goals, 5 assists).

Senior Karlina Sample was co-SEC defender of the year. Junior goalkeeper Kenna Caldwell, was 8-3-1 with an 0.89 goal allowed average with seven shutouts.

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J u l y 1 9 , 2021 | 13

ALL AROUND So you’re going to be new in town, and you’ll need to find your way around!

While there’s so much more to see and do in Aggieland than can fit in this publication, here are a few of our iconic locations that are essential to being a Bryan-College Station local.

tiMe to eXplore

1 4 | J u l y 1 9, 2021

Downtown Bryan and College Station’s Northgate District are major hotspots for food, fun and live music. Downtown Bryan features the “must do” monthly event of First Friday, which is held on the first Friday of the month and includes art, music, a great shopping experience and awesome restaurants.

The Northgate

District features some of the best food and bars in the area!

While at Northgate make sure to stop by the Dixie Chicken for the it’s famous Tijuana Fries and a game of 42, the State Game of Texas! Both Downtown Bryan and the Northgate District are packed with things to keep you busy day or night.

for tHe foodies Bryan-College

Station has a variety of unique restaurants for all the foodies coming into town.

You can head down to Mad Taco and Fuego for out-of-thisworld handcrafted taco combinations, or if you are running low on clean clothes you can head to

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Harvey Washbangers, which is a famous laundromat and hamburger joint.

C&J Barbeque and Koppe Bridge restaurants are both local favorites. If you are looking for an Authentic Brazilian Steakhouse dine at Casa do Brasil where there is a local musician featured every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday night for live

music.

If you venture to Downtown Bryan, be sure to take a picture with the “I love Carbs” wall at Caffe’ Capri, and end the night with an exquisite piece of chocolate from the legendary Chocolate Gallery.

CAn ’t MAKe it HoMe for BreAK? During the

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

AGGIELAND Thanksgiving holiday, take a day trip to the Texas Renaissance Festival, where you can go explore the land of lords and ladies, along with purchasing a turkey leg and a flower crown. Thanksgiving also gives way for the beloved festivities leading up to the Aggie’s showdown with LSU. Winter Break calls for a visit to one of Texas’s biggest Christmas Attractions, Santa’s Wonderland. From

a stroll under the lights to steaming hot chocolate, we guarantee it will put you in the Christmas spirit! If you are in B-CS for spring break, then make plans for a lake day.

Lake Bryan is the perfect water hot spot to float and catch some rays, while listening to live music. The Easter holiday features a “presidential” experience. The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum hosts

its annual Easter Egg Roll that is modeled directly from the White House Easter Egg Roll and features food, prizes and a whole lot of fun.

entertAining tHe fAMilY You’ll need

somewhere to go when the family comes to town, and luckily the Brazos Valley is full of great places to choose from. From Messina Hof Winery, Museum of The American G.I. to the Aggieland Wild

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CORPS OF CADETS Keepers of tHe spirit, guArdiAns of trAdition At teXAs A&M

Article provided by the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets

The Corps of Cadets develops well-educated leaders of character who embody the values of honor, courage, integrity, discipline, selfless service and respect. Cadets are academically successful, highly sought-after and are prepared for the global leadership challenges of the future. ● The Corps is the largest and oldest student organization at Texas A&M, and it is also the largest uniformed body of cadets in the nation, outside of the military academies. ● Cadets gain leadership knowledge in a military-style 1 8 | J u l y 2 0 , 2021

environment that complements their academic education and prepares them for a lifetime of success; however, membership in the Corps carries no military obligation. ● This fall, approximately 2,300 men and women will be members of the Corps — all participating on a voluntary basis. ● Most cadets pursue a career in the public or private sector; however, the Corps consistently commissions more officers than any other institution in the nation other than the service academies. An average of 40 percent of cadets pursue a military

commission in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. ● The Corps offers the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership (HCEL), a unique program through which cadets can earn a Certificate in Applied Ethical Leadership.

HCEL directly supports the Corps mission statement and enhances students’ capacities to be value-adding leaders in both the public and private sectors of the workplace. Moreover, HCEL also provides career readiness support to cadets including internship and job assistance. ● The Corps of Cadets

Athletics Program offers opportunities for athletes in the Corps to compete at the club sport level in a variety of sports. Corps club sports teams participate in competitive sporting events across Texas and the United States. Corps Club Sports teams include baseball, soccer (men and women), basketball (men and women), marksmanship (men and women), triathlon (co-ed), marathon (co-ed) and lacrosse (men). ● The Corps Global Leadership Initiatives program provides opportunities for cadets to study abroad as part of Cadet

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Exchanges (currently programs established with Germany and Australia), and participate in international excursions, which are high-impact, shortduration overseas experiences in countries of strategic importance to the United States.

These international excursions focus heavily on the four elements of national power: diplomacy, information, military and economics, with a heavy emphasis on religion and culture, as well. Recent excursions have taken cadets to Israel, Japan/Okinawa, Mexico, Singapore/ Indonesia, Georgia/ Armenia, Germany/ Poland, China/Taiwan, Korea, Qatar, the Philippines, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Chile and India.

trAditions

Cadets in the Corps are at the heart of the Aggie Spirit. Because Texas A&M was a

military college for most of its first 100 years, many of its most cherished traditions grew out of the Corps experience. The university’s Bonfire, Yell Practice, the Twelfth Man, yell leaders, the Aggie mascot Reveille, Aggie Muster and Silver Taps traditions all originated with the Corps. The Corps of Cadets is thus referred to as the “keepers of the spirit” and “guardians of tradition.”

Reveille is the official mascot of Texas A&M, and the Company E-2 in the Corps of Cadets has the privilege of being her official caretaker.

Reveille eats, sleeps, and attends classes with her handler, also known as the Mascot Corporal.

CAdet life

The Corps of Cadets delivers the ultimate Aggie experience. It starts with a worldclass university with 145 years of tradition.

The Corps builds on that foundation,

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

guiding cadets as they develop their leadership abilities, while focusing on academic success at one of the nation’s premier universities.

Cadets are a large, visible tradition at Texas A&M, and enjoy the benefits of being the premier leadership organization in the state of Texas, while also being an integral part of a world-class tier one research institute.

Many cadets are active on and off the Quad and hold leadership positions in many student organizations.

This unique opportunity gives

them a well rounded college experience.

The knowledge and leadership skills gained through the Corps better prepares cadets to face life after college, whether that’s service in the military or a career in the public or private sectors.

ACAdeMiCs

Academic excellence is the top priority of the Corps of Cadets.

During the academic day, cadets attend class, study and attend to their personal business. Freshmen and sophomore cadets also have a study period called “Evening Study

Time” (EST), which is a mandatory multihour period Sunday through Thursday evenings. This time is dedicated to studying, projects, group work, supplemental instruction and test reviews.

The Corps of Cadets has a team of full-time scholastic performance specialists who provide tailored academic advice and mentoring to all cadets, no matter their major. They provide instruction for coping with college academics, assist with course schedules, and provide mentoring and

academic assistance to cadets.

The Corps provides academic support for cadets to help them achieve academic success. Supplemental instruction, tutoring, test reviews and on-call academic assistance are all provided free to cadets to help them succeed academically in a very rigorous

of the most-traveled university marching bands in the nation.

The Ross Volunteer Company, the oldest student organization in the state, is a very prestigious, highly select student organization composed of junior and senior cadets. The unit is the official Honor Guard for the Governor of

compete in precision drill competitions around the country, and have won the national championship almost every year since they were created in 1946.

Additional Corps special units also include the Corps Color Guard, the Corps Center Guard and the O.R. Simpson Honor Society,

academic environment at Texas A&M. Cadets have achieved some of the highest grade point ratios (GPRs) ever achieved in recent years, and fouryear graduation rates for cadets exceed the university rates.

Texas and marches in major parades and participates in various campus events throughout the year.

Parsons Mounted Cavalry, formed in 1973, is the only collegiate mounted cavalry unit in the nation, and is reminiscent of the mounted cavalry once present at Texas A&M. This is a parade and show unit composed of 70 horses and four mules, as well as an artillery half section. The cavalry unit, composed of junior and senior cadets, represents the university at ceremonial events and parades across Texas.

Fish Drill Team is a precision drill team composed entirely of freshman cadets. They

a prestigious unit for those cadets who have achieved academic excellence at Texas A&M.

Corps speCiAl units

The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is the largest military collegiate marching band in the United States. The band is famous for its unique style of military precision drill and is an integral part of the Corps of Cadets.

Performing at all home football games and several away games, the Aggie Band is one T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

A PA R T M E N T G U I D E

Members of the Corps represent Texas A&M University at numerous public events throughout the year.

They provide a visible reminder of the legacy of Texas A&M at many campus, state and national ceremonies.

The Corps of Cadets is open to all qualified applicants, and membership in the Corps carries no military obligation.

For more information, see corps.tamu.edu or facebook.com/ aggiecorps.

J u l y 2 0 , 2021 | 19

21

TIPS FOR DORM ROOM AND CAMPUS SAFETY

22

HOW COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN TRANSITION TO LIFE ON CAMPUS

2 0 | J u l y 2 0 , 2021

A PA R T M E N T G U I D E

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

TIPS FOR DORM ROOM AND CAMPUS SAFETY Life on a college campus can be exciting, especially for freshmen enjoying their first taste of life away from home. As exciting as campus life can be, it also can be a bit nervewracking for students who have never before had to fend for themselves.

Administrators and security personnel work to make school environments as safe as possible, but incidents can happen on any campus. A recent report from Campus Safety and Security, there were 38,100 reported criminal offenses, including burglary and identity theft, on college campuses in the United States in 2017.

Students need not live in fear on campus, but embracing various safety measures can make life at

school that much safer.

Hide or loCK up VALUABLES.

You never know what may catch the eye of a thief. Devices and cash are near the top of lists of most commonly stolen possessions, but a desperate student may steal notes or even expensive textbooks if he or she is struggling.

Always close doors and lock dorm rooms when leaving. Keep valuables out of sight at school.

Consider buying a dorm room safe and lock your locker at all times.

prepAre for EMERGENCIES.

Research the school’s policies on emergency preparedness. Some have text alert systems for emergency situations like adverse weather

conditions, while others have clear guidelines on what students should do if they feel threatened in any way. Participate in fire drills and learn the nearest exits and protocols for emergency evacuations.

utiliZe tHe BuddY SYSTEM.

Most campuses are safe to move around, but it can’t hurt to schedule certain classes, particularly if they take place after dark, with a friend so you can walk to and from classes together.

Security experts say that elevators and stairwells are common places for assailants to target victims. If you ever feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and err on the side of caution.

instAll WindoW

ALARMS.

Many retailers sell battery-operated window alarms that can be adhered to windows. The alarms will activate if the window is opened or the glass breaks. These alarms can provide extra security even if your dorm room isn’t on the ground floor.

Be Alert WHen RIDESHARING.

MAintAin PERSONAL HEALTH.

Be sure to visit the doctor and stay current on necessary vaccinations, such as the one for meningococcal disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk for meningococcal disease in college students is slightly

higher than the risk in other teens and young adults who are not attending college. Other communicative diseases can spread more easily on campus as well.

Campus and dorm safety is multifaceted. Informed students can reduce their risk of being involved in accidents or being targeted by criminals.

The safety resource Safety.com says rideshare crimes are on the rise. Always identify your driver and vehicle before getting in and ask the driver to identify your name, as he or she will have it and your destination. Wait for the ride in a safe place, and try to avoid riding alone.

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J u l y 2 0 , 2021 | 21

HOW COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN TRANSITION TO LIFE ON CAMPUS

Much has been made of the challenges that have faced students and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift to remote learning and shortened school days was difficult for many families, forcing students to adapt to virtual school on the fly as their parents adjusted to working from home full-time while doing their best to keep kids engaged in their studies and occupied when school let out each day. Given those challenges, it’s no wonder so many families are looking forward to what figures to be a more normal school year in 2021-22. But that return will pose its own unique challenges as well.

Some students may be a little anxious as they prepare to return to campus this fall.

That transition could be especially difficult for incoming college freshmen, who must overcome any pandemicrelated concerns about returning to campus while also making the transition to life on a college campus. The following are

2 2 | J u l y 2 0 , 2021

some ways to make that transition go smoothly.

engAge in tHe COMMUNITY.

The Health, Counseling and Disability Access Services at the University of Missouri-St. Louis urges students to take advantage of opportunities to engage in their new communities as early as possible.

The HCDAS notes that first-year experiences are designed to help students connect with their new life on campus and make new friends.

All incoming freshmen are facing the same set of unique circumstances as the 2021-22 school year begins. That includes the adjustment from remote learning with limited social contact with peers to a return to more traditional academic and social settings. Navigating that transition alongside other incoming freshmen can make it a little easier to handle.

PLAN AHEAD.

Parents and their college-bound children

can prepare for the coming school year by learning about on-campus policies over the summer.

Will masks be mandated?

Will classrooms remain socially distanced? Are vaccinations required to attend class in person?

The sooner families learn these policies, the sooner they can begin planning for life on campus.

Parents also can look into on-campus resources designed to help students readjust to being back among their peers.

Knowing where to go for help should students need it can ensure any issues that arise are addressed promptly.

of their returns with students concerned about moving onto a college campus. Parents are urged to periodically check in with college students about any

anxieties they may have about being on campus.

Returning to full-time, in-person learning after the pandemic may be especially challenging for incoming college

freshmen. Such students can work with their parents over the summer to conquer their fears and prepare for the coming school year.

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enCourAge students to sHAre tHeir CONCERNS.

Opening up about any concerns they may have can help students as they emerge from the pandemic. Many parents were concerned about returning to the office in person, and they can share those concerns and the ultimate outcomes

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5 to Thrive in College Station TIPS

1

NO MORE THAN FOUR

Living off campus? Since at least 1972, the city does not allow for more than four unrelated individuals to occupy a dwelling unit. As an example, four friends living together in a home are complying with the ordinance.

Four siblings living together are also complying with the ordinance, but if an unrelated friend moved in, it would be a code violation.

2 MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

Introduce yourself and exchange contact information in case of emergencies or other problems. If an issue arises, would you rather they call you or the police?

3

4 AVOID CODE VIOLATIONS Many people don't think about city codes until they receive an unwelcome citation.

Familiarize yourself with our city codes by visiting cstx.gov/CodeEnforcement.

5 STAY INFORMED

Keep up with city events, programs, emergencies, notices and more by following us on social media. We'd love to hear from you too! /CityOfCollegeStation

@CityofCS

KEEP THE NOISE DOWN

That includes barking dogs. It's unlawful for anyone to willfully make or allow continued loud noise, especially from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. If you can hear the noise at the end of your property line, then it's too loud and everyone on your lease risks receiving a citation.

Learn More: cstx.gov/NewResident

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A PA R T M E N T G U I D E

J u l y 2 0 , 2021 | 25

OFFERS THE STATE’S HIGHEST TRANSFER RATE AND SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS Out-of-district Blinn students save 43% in tuition and fees compared to the average Texas public university.

Article provided by Blinn College

Students who choose the Blinn College District in 2021-22 can save more than $4,300 in tuition and fees compared to the average Texas public university.

According to data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s CollegeForAllTexans. com, out-of-district Blinn students taking 30 credit hours will save $4,335 in tuition and fees compared to in-state residents at the average Texas public university.

According to the site, the average tuition and fees for Texas residents taking 30 credit hours at a public university in 2021-22 will be $10,095. Out-of-district Blinn students pay $117 per credit hour in tuition and $72 per credit hour in general fees.

In addition to Blinn’s low tuition and fees, the Blinn Foundation offers approximately 300 endowed scholarships available to incoming and returning students from a wide range of backgrounds, majors, and experiences.

Current and prospective students can complete a single application to apply for all Blinn scholarships at www.blinn.edu/ scholarships.

Blinn’s 42-hour core curriculum transfers to any public college or university in Texas. Fifty-three percent of Blinn transfer students continue their studies at Texas A&M University. Sam Houston State University, Texas State University, the University of Houston, and Texas Tech University also rank among Blinn’s top five transfer destinations.

According to Texas

Higher Education Coordinating Board 2020 Almanac data, Blinn’s 45.9% academic transfer rate is the highest of any community college in the state. No other institution exceeded 40%, and the state-wide average was 24.1%.

While all Blinn students enjoy strong academics and affordability, the College’s five campuses offer them a variety of educational environments to choose from. At the Brenham Campus, students can enjoy oncampus housing as well as award-winning agriculture, athletic, music, and theatre programs. The Bryan Campus offers a commuter experience in one of the best college towns in the nation. At the Schulenburg and Sealy campuses, Blinn’s experienced faculty provide a personal touch

in a small-town, intimate setting.

In addition to its traditional campus offerings, the Blinn College District offers a variety of online degree and course offerings. Blinn’s online programs and courses are fully equivalent and hold the same accreditation as those offered in face-toface formats. These courses are complemented by full academic and student support to ensure that Blinn’s online students receive all the benefits of the traditional campus experience while enjoying the ease and convenience of an online education.

As a member of the RELLIS Academic Alliance, Blinn offers courses at The Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus that transfer seamlessly into the four-year bachelor’s

degree programs offered by the Texas A&M System regional universities also located onsite. For more information, visit www. blinn.edu/RELLIS. Blinn also has partnered with Texas A&M University to develop pioneering co-enrollment programs such as the Texas A&MBlinn TEAM Program, the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Bryan, and the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Brenham.

Prospective students can apply to Blinn

via the ApplyTexas. org application. Once admitted, they can register for classes at https://my.blinn.edu.

Blinn recommends that all students speak to an academic advisor prior to registering for classes.

Students can chat online with a Blinn admissions specialist between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at www. blinn.edu/admissions, and can call Enrollment Services at 979-830-4800.

To learn more, visit www.blinn.edu.

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T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

SPRING SPORTS

BY TRAVIS L. BROWN • TRAVIS.BROWN@THEEAGLE.COM

Before the Texas A&M outdoor track and field season, Aggie head coach Pat Henry didn’t mince words about his newest middle-distance runner, freshman Athing Mu. “She may be one of the single greatest female track and field athletes to ever attend this institution,” Henry said.

Mu in her only season with the Aggies proved her coach right, highlighting Texas A&M’s spring sports.

Between the winter indoor season and the outdoor track slate, Mu set collegiate records in the outdoor 400-meter dash (49.57 seconds), the outdoor 800 meters (1:57.73), the indoor 600 meters (1:25.80), the indoor 800 meters (1:58.40) and was the anchor in the recordsetting outdoor 4x400meter relay (3:22.34) with her having a 48.85 split. Her indoor 800 time also set an

under-20 world record.

“No matter what I do, there’s always more that can be done,” Mu said in the middle of the spring track season.

“I’m in college right now, breaking collegiate records, but there’s still more that can be done. There’s things that are in America, like there’s records that are American records, World Junior records and there’s also world records. There’s always just another level that you can go to, so I’m doing it now.”

After announcing in early June she would forgo the remainder of her college career and turn pro, Mu will have a chance to chase those dreams, foretold by Henry, beginning with the 2021 Olympics.

As the Mu era in Aggieland came to a close, a new beginning arose

Athing Mu spent one season at Texas A&M, but she set numerous collegiate records.

(AP photo)

for the Aggie baseball team with the hiring of former TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle. Schlossnagle took the Horned Frogs to the College World Series five times in the last 11 years. In 18 seasons at TCU, Schlossnagle tallied the most wins in school history with a 693-327 record, including a 255-107

conference record. He took the Horned Frogs to 15 NCAA tournaments, including seven super regionals.

“The goal is a national title,” Schlossnagle said.

“That’s it. There won’t ever be a day when the goal is any less than that.”

The new skipper replaces 16-year Aggie veteran Rob Childress, whose contract expired on June 30. With a 29-27 record, including a 9-21 Southeastern Conference record, A&M missed the SEC tournament and snapped a streak of 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

The Aggies finished in the bottom four in the SEC in batting average (.260), doubles (80), fielding percentage (.971), hits (493), home runs (66), slugging percentage (.417), WHIP (1.44) and walks

allowed per nine innings (3.97).

The brightest spot to a down season was the efforts of All-American Will Frizzell, who finished ninth in the conference in batting average (.434), as well as third in home runs with 19 and first in slugging at a .686 clip.

No effort was bigger than Frizzell’s 7-for-12, five home run series against Ole Miss, which saw the Aggies take two-of-three from the Rebels. It was one of their two conference series wins of the season.

“I’ve been here 16 years and I’ve never had anybody hit that many home runs [in a series],” Childress said.

The Aggie softball team made slightly better strides, making the NCAA tournament, but won only one game in the Norman Regional of the NCAA tournament, a 10-3 victory over Morgan State in the losers’ bracket. Two losses to No. 23 Wichita State ended the Aggies’ season with a 32-23 overall record, including an 8-16 SEC mark.

Catcher Haley Lee paced the Aggies with a .422 batting average and blasted

25 home runs, which ranked tied for third in the nation.

Lee also finished sixth in slugging percentage at a .955 clip.

A&M men’s tennis team made the longest playoff run in the spring, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. Led by returning standouts Valentin Vacherot, Hady Habib and Carlos Aguilar, the Aggies cruised through the first three rounds against New Mexico, Oklahoma and Mississippi State, before losing 4-1 to No. 2 Florida in the Elite Eight. Florida also ended the Aggies’ run in the SEC tournament in the semifinal round.

With the spotlight on new stars in all of A&M’s spring sports the 2022 season will feature breakout performances from the next generation of Aggie athletes and coaches.

Coming in 2021 - 2022 from The Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts at Texas A&M University

Growing Harmony • Cleopatra Boy • Vic’s Mix Brubeck Brothers Quartet Michelle N. Gibson and The New Orleans Original Buckshop SHE: A Choreoplay • SPORTSPLAY academyarts.tamu.edu T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

STUDENT TICKETS ARE ALWAYS $5 OR LESS! AGGIELAND PRIMER

J u l y 1 9, 2021 | 27

TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Article provided by Texas A&M Transportation Services

WHAt You need to KnoW Howdy! It’s time to plan for the upcoming fall semester.

As the school year begins, we want to share with you all that Transportation Services has to offer to support your travel both on and off campus, so you can navigate the community like a pro!

With transit, parking and sustainable transportation options, such as bike share, ride share and car share, you can feel confident in navigating the campus.

Information about each of these and more are available on our website at transport.tamu.edu.

Let’s take a look at some of the great services offered to you as a new, returning or transfer student.

riding tHe Aggie spirit (trAnsit serviCe)

The Texas A&M transit service is fare free to all students, faculty and staff; however, a Texas A&M ID is required to ride off-campus routes.

2 8 | J u l y 1 9, 2021

Customers who do not live directly on a bus route may drive a short distance to a free Park and Ride located at First Baptist Church of College Station (Route 34).

Students may also use the Brazos Transit District public transit system free of charge by showing their student IDs when boarding.

Direct, daily bus service runs from the Brazos Transit District main hub to campus. For more information on their routes, visit www. btd.org.

Please remember, if you are not feeling well and especially if you are running a fever, please do not board the buses.

pArKing on CAMpus

There are shortterm, long-term and intermittent parking options available.

Long-term Parking: Customers who did not register during the registration period that ended July 7 may login online at transport. tamu.edu beginning

Aug. 1 to purchase parking in available locations.

Texas A&M now has virtual parking permits, meaning there are no hangtags or stickers: YOUR PLATE IS YOUR PERMIT. So, before you login to purchase parking, take a picture of your license plate to help ensure you enter it correctly. As soon as you complete your purchase, your license plate is immediately activated, and you are able to park in your assigned lot or garage. You may have one plate active at a time.

Short-term and Hourly Visitor Parking: If you want the option to drive to campus and are not registered for parking, you can use one of the many pay-bythe-hour visitor parking locations shown here: transport.tamu.edu/ vismap.

Hourly parking is expected to fill up fast in many locations. Do not plan on paid hourly parking as your primary strategy for accessing campus. Check out

real-time occupancy for paid parking in garages so you know before you go by checking to see if there will be space when you get to campus!

Ways to Pay for Visitor Parking: • Pay at machines at the visitor parking areas • Pay via phone using the ParkMobile smart phone app at visitor parking lots • Pre-paid Visitor Parking purchased online at transport. tamu.edu.

• Day: $10; Week: $25; Month: $45

Moving into residenCe HAlls

Move-In can be chaotic, but Transportation Services eases the process by offering free parking in designated locations.

During the movein period, there are designated 1-hour zones intended for drop offs only; parking in a lot or garage that is designated for move in and moving your items with a cart or hand truck is your best option. Check out the Move-In map at transport.tamu.edu/ movemap.

No parking is allowed

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in Fire Lanes, at the end of parking rows, or in a manner that restricts emergency access or the flow of traffic. ***NEW this year: be sure to adhere to your Move-In check in date and time by logging into myHousing portal. For more information on Move-In for on-campus residents, visit reslife. tamu.edu/movein.

2021-2022 parking permits are valid in lots designated as Summer/ Break at transport. tamu.edu/bsmmap.

Remember, your plate is your permit, so be sure to update your plate online to match the vehicle you are driving.

sustAinABle MoBilitY options

We also offer a variety of sustainable and shared mobility options that support all Aggies in being green, including car share, ride share and bike share.

We encourage you to consider all options, keep a multi-modal mindset and have a Plan B! Find your sustainable options at transport. tamu.edu/alternative.

trAnsportAtion MoBilitY MAster plAn

We are developing a mobility master

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

plan to help create a connected mobility ecosystem, where all modes of transportation are integrated into a seamless experience and aligned with parking and access policies, and we would love your input! Join

the conversation and help make an impact on campus at agsonthemove.com.

stAYing ConneCted

Transportation Services offers a variety

of digital services to help you stay informed.

Before you pack your bags, make sure you take time to download the Texas A&M University mobile app to your smart device.

There you can find: • The Parking &

Transportation section is a quick launchpad to all the services you’ll need to navigate campus.

• Destination Aggieland – your guide for coming to campus for games and events, offering information

on event parking, bus routes, maps and more!

Connect with Us! For the latest updates on transit, parking and gameday and event information and more!

• Twitter: @aggieparking, @aggiespiritbus,

@GetToAggieGame • Instagram: @tamutransportation • Facebook: @tamutransportation Wishing you safe travels to Aggieland.

See you soon!

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UP TO DATE?

Beginning fall 2021, your license plate IS your parking permit.

Login to My Account at transport.tamu.edu and make sure it’s correct!

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J u l y 1 9, 2021 | 29

THE ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS Article provided by The Association of Former Students

Photo by Patrick Danielczyk, The Association of Former Students.

Aggies gather at a past Gig’em Week GatheRing, an event traditionally held for incoming freshmen the week before school starts.

Throughout your Aggie experience – from your new student conference to ordering your Aggie Ring, to commencement, to Muster and even your 50-year class reunion – one organization, The Association of Former Students, will be with you each step of the journey.

Founded in 1879, The Association of Former Students will provide a total impact of $13 million to Texas A&M University during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Your first experience 3 0 | J u l y 1 9, 2021

with The Association will likely be during your new student conference, as you experience the historical and interactive exhibits in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, detailing the organization’s history and impact on Texas A&M. During Howdy Week, The Association will host you and your classmates for a yell practice and give you the opportunity to try on a Class of 2025 Aggie Ring. As you become involved in student life, The Association will be there, as well, providing staff support and

funding for scholarships, traditions and student activities. Toward the end of your time as a student, you will visit The Association to order your own Aggie Ring and celebrate that achievement on Ring Day! As graduation approaches, you and your family will be invited to attend the All Aggie Grad Party to learn how you can remain active with the Aggie Network and become involved in supporting the organization that enriched your collegiate experience.

When you graduate, you may leave College Station, but you will always be part of the Aggie Network and will have a home in Aggieland – the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. When you return for football games, you can watch the game on the Alumni Center’s Huddleston Video Wall in a familyfriendly environment.

As you gather for class reunions, you can reminisce and share the story of Texas A&M with your family through exhibits housed on the Neely Mezzanine. You

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can find information on local A&M Clubs, Aggie Muster gatherings in your area and the annual Coach’s Nights events through AggieNetwork. com. And who knows, you might even become one of the select few honored each year

by The Association and Texas A&M as a Distinguished Alumnus!

Most importantly, as a former student, you can assure that future generations of Aggies enjoy an inspiring and enriching collegiate experience by faithfully giving back through The Association’s Annual

Fund, just as those who preceded you have done for 142 years.

The Association of Former Students proudly promotes Texas A&M and our core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service, and connects Aggies to one another and to their alma mater. To learn more about The Association, please visit www. AggieNetwork. com, call 979-845-7514 or follow Aggie Network on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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