The Battalion — April 13, 2023

THURSDAY, APRIL 13 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2023 STUDENT MEDIA

Thursday 80 ° 59 °

Friday 82 ° 70°

SA prevention, awareness month at A&M

Health Promotion collaborates for campus, community events

By Sneha Bhale @SnehaBhale

Ringing in 90 hours A&M to award 6,760 Aggie Rings on April Ring Days

By Caroline Wilburn @Carolinewilb In a tradition dating back to 1899, over 6,000 students will receive their Aggie Ring in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center on April 13 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 14 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Though there are six Ring Days each year, the three largest take place in September, November and April, with April being the largest overall. The December, May and August Ring Days are typically the smallest with only a few hundred Aggie Rings distributed.

Aggie Rings are earned by undergraduate students with at least 90 hours and graduate students who complete a predetermined percentage of their degree progress, which differs from program to program. Most April Ring Day recipients qualified to order their ring at the end of the fall semester.

While all Aggie rings share a similar design, students do have the choice of two different sizes, three distinct materials and two unique finishes.

For the largest Ring Day of the year, 3,255, or 48%, of rings ordered are the larger size while 3,505, or 52%, are the smaller, and 40% of recipients ordered diamonds. As part of the several types of rings available to order, 5,942, or 88%, of recipients purchased 10K and 625, or 9%, ordered 14K. Additionally, 1,678 rings, or 25%, purchased have an antique finish and 4,813, or 71%, have a natural finish. Other additional styles include Polara, which 3% of students ordered and white gold, which 1% of students ordered.

Class of 2023 and 2024 make up the largest percentage of ring recipients this year but there are 110 recipients from the Class of 2022 and 208 from the Class of 2025.

The over 45,000 expected attendees will be assisted by 421 volunteers and association staff. Parking is not available at the Alumni Center, but ring recipients and guests are encouraged to pay for parking in the West Campus Garage. Shuttles will run at regu-

lar intervals between the parking garage and Alumni Center from 8:15 a.m. to one hour after the conclusion of each Ring Day. Ring recipients and their guests may enter the north end of the Williams Ring Lawn during their 15-minute ticketed time slot, which needs to be pulled from AggieNetwork.com, and should bring with them their ring receipt, student ID and driver’s license or passport.

Live updates, including schedule delays will be announced on @AggieNetwork social media accounts. Students, friends and family attending April Ring Day can find more information by visiting the Aggie Network website at the QR code below.

April is nationally observed as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. This issue affects the Aggie Community as a whole and Texas A&M Health Promotion Center is working to acknowledge this matter. The Health Promotion Center is collaborating with student organizations, faculty and local resources in the Bryan community.

The Health Promotion Center provides free resources for anyone on campus and offers the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program, STAND up trauma-informed violence prevention programs. The center also offers programs to learn more about alcohol and substance abuse. Health Promotion Specialist Megan Woodfield said health promotion empowers all Aggies to embrace a culture of holistic well-being that fosters their academic, personal and professional success.

“The Office of Health Promotion leads the campus in educational prevention initiatives related to all forms of power-based personal violence including sexual assault,” Woodfield said. “Our office works with campus, community and student organization partners to not only host our own events during April but also promote, to the best of our knowledge, all related events happening on campus related to sexual assault.”

Many students and faculty are unaware of the resources and how accessible they are on campus, Woodfield said. In times of crisis, the health promotion center is there for guidance and problem-solving. Sexual violence affects people differently and a community can be valuable as a support system.

“The team who has worked on this programming has put so much intentionally into creating opportunities where all Aggies feel comfortable and empowered in engaging with this content,” Woodfield said. “Our goal is to make this month something that brings education, community building and prevention work together to create a campus where survivors are supported, allies are equipped with the tools they need to help and sexual violence is not tolerated.”

For the month, initiatives and events have been planned to inform students about resources available to them on a local level and SAAPM ON PG.3

Featured Family Weekend festivities Aggieland to welcome an expected 45,000 visitors

Center located next to Houston Street and Aggie Park. Recipients will receive their rings according to their day and time listed on their tickets.

By Ruben Hernandez @battandmuse

Friday, April 14

As many Texas A&M students debut their Aggie gold, friends and family will make a pilgrimage to Aggieland to bring support and celebration for the commemorative applicants. With the intersection of the bringing of family and the upcoming weekend, this time of year has been appropriately dubbed “Family Weekend.”

As with many Aggie events, Family Weekend has 104 years of tradition backing its importance in A&M culture. The events span from Friday, April 14, to Sunday, April 16, mainly occurring on campus and Downtown Bryan. Here are the list of events to look forward to participate in as a family this weekend: Thursday, April 13 Aggie Ring Day — From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., both on Thursday and Friday, Aggies will covet the emblem of their 90 hours of hard work and dedication. Moving from last years’ reception at Kyle Field, Ring Day will be held this year at Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni

Aggie Mom Boutique — The crossover between motherhood and Aggie spirit has never been so fabulous at this apparel shop.

Featured both on Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be located at the Bethancourt Ballroom, Room 2300 of the Memorial Student Center.

Family Weekend Musical Bingo — A fun family event that highlights the hits of the past 50 years of musical talent, with a chance to win one of the $50 gift cards. The event will last from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Rudder Exhibit Hall at Rudder Tower.

Freudian Slip Improvisational Comedy Show — If in need of a good laugh to cheer up the mood, head over to this show that consists of games and audience participation. The event lasts from 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Rudder Forum on Rudder Tower.

Spring Concert Series at Aggie Park — Connect with friends and strangers with a free concert hosted by Town Hall, featuring opening act Grace Gardner and headliner Charlotte Sands. The event will last from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Wood Stage at Aggie Park.

Saturday, April 15

Rock the CASA 5K — Get your blood pumping with the 38th Annual 5K Run and Fun Walk hosted by Kappa Alpha Theta for CASA Voices for Children. The event lasts from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a registration fee of $18, either a 5K run or 1-mile walk, and the first race starting at 9 a.m.

Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market — Receive a little piece of Bryan through the local farmers’ market, hosting a variety of produce and goods to sell for all to enjoy. The event lasts from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 500 N Main St, Bryan.

Explore Aggie History — Deep dive into the relics and traditions of Aggieland at the on-campus display. The event lasts from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Cushing Memorial Library.

Family Weekend Tailgate — Perform the Aggie practice of tailgating and receive food and camaraderie while attending games and other fun activities. The event will last from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Aggie Park next to Kyle Field, with food being given to the first 500 people.

Maroon & White Spring Game — Catch a glimpse of the maroon and white football team with this scrimmage for all to see. The event opens its doors at 2 p.m. and starts at 3 p.m. Public entrances include: Southeast

Tower, Northwest Tower, Northeast Tower, with entries 3 and 5 serving as premium entrances.

Sunday, April 16 Gladiator Dash — Get down and dirty with the 3-mile obstacle course mud run for Texas A&M men’s organization, One Army, to raise money for rescue center Still Creek Ranch.

Prices for registration include: $30 for current students, $37 for non-students, $40 for endurance race, $20 for young gladiators (under 18) and $10 for arena tickets. The event lasts from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Brazos Valley OffRoad Ranch.

Homegrown at Northgate — Head on over to the Northgate district and look forward to seeing local vendors, food trucks and live music to wrap up family weekend. The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Patricia Street Promenade and College Main.

Kyle Field Day — See the Aggie spirit in practice with this exposition of freshmen-led booths with their aim to to give back to organizations and nonprofits. The event lasts from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Kyle Field Plaza, featuring live music, food trucks and games.

For more information and planned events, visit familyweekend.tamu.edu.

* Available With May Minimester, online Summer I, and Summer II Classes May Minimester begins May 15 Summer I begins June 5 Summer II begins July 10 blinnbound@blinn.edu

RINGCOLUMN

The Battalion | 04.13.23

It’s about the little things Aggie bling is the dream Life & arts writer says relationships are the real prize

News reporter says embrace tradition, change

By Neha Gopal @10_novel

By Madison Umphrey @u_madison

As far as I can remember, I always gaped and awed at my father’s Aggie Ring. It was so tiny yet so grand. As a kid, I would try to pry it off my dad’s finger, usually with little success and always rewarded with quick scolding. I would roll the warm circular jewelry around my hand, feeling its texture, weight and shine. It’s easy to imagine the brown mousy me rolling this little ring between my even tinier fingers.

I enrolled at A&M in 2020, which was ultimately the best decision. I wanted nothing more than smooth cruising through my four years here, to walk onto the stage with my diploma. In my mind, a siren echoed from the ring, and degree, which meant I was one step closer to making it into the journalism industry vortex.

I saw university as a prison sentence — get through another day, silently outwaiting the clock.

It’s such a blessing to be able to attend a college so close to my roots; the grandest of plants are those closest to their roots.

But what I forgot was that these roots need nurturing. My aunt was part of the roots that built my foundation — she nurtured and cared for me. I remember small moments when I was seven years old and how proud I was marching with my aunt on campus. Despite living in the UK, my aunt always kept in touch and cheered me on.

I still have her letters and cards from over a decade ago, congratulating my “writing accomplishments’’ and encouraging me to keep writing. In other words, her small acts of kindness helped pave the way for my future passions, and I did not even realize it before it was too late.

Growing up, I always wanted to be a part of a big family with meaningful traditions. Little did I know Texas A&M would be just that.

It was March 9, 2021 when I received the best news during the midst of COVID-19: my acceptance letter into On Dec. 30 of last year, my aunt passed away after a long and torturous battle with A&M. It was a true moment of excitement where I began my studies as an ag commucolitis; she took her own life. The whole nications/journalism major that summer. time I was studying for tests and trying As a first generation Aggie, I did not to make notable career moves, I did not know what to expect. I studied through realize how much time I had already lost. the many traditions that I was so excited to I lost sight of what really mattered — the know and understand. people I love. I was so preoccupied with I knew there was a lot I wanted to trivial problems that I forgot to ask others how they did. I was so focused on gradua- accomplish during what little time I had tion and being a respected professional that left because I came in as a transfer. I have made the most of it and took advantage of I failed to see the destruction around me. every opportunity that this university has Nothing is more meaningful than our relationships. While the Aggie Ring means offered me.

As a reporter for The Battalion, I have a lot, it means nothing without the people who support me. Career advancements are grown to meet some amazing people, and necessary for living, but love gives us some- I have been offered lifetime opportunities. thing to live for. On its own, the ring is just I have attended career fair after career fair a klutzy accessory without the people who where I am now able to say I have accepted an internship of my dreams at Ball believed in me even when I didn’t.

Horticultural Company.

And while my aunt will not be there I could not have been able to face chalto see me get my ring, I hope she’s proud lenges and roadblocks without my Aggie of me when that moment comes. I try to treasure the small moments I had with her family who has continued to support me and helped to make me a better person. more than the ones I could have had. Life I truly know what it is like to have a big is about small things, small moments and family who is supportive, caring and helpsmall wins. Getting my Aggie Ring is for ful as my fellow Aggies have shown me. those who have and will always support If someone would have told me five me. On its own, the ring is meaningless. years ago that this is where my life would But, as my aunt continues to remind me, lead, I wouldn’t have believed them. I was the beautiful thing about life is that it’s unsure about what university would be the filled with little moments that, like the best fit for me, so I continued my studies at little Aggie Ring, are not so little after all.

a community college.

It was my first Aggie football game that I knew I did not want to be anywhere else.

From that point on, I was eager to get that acceptance letter in the mail.

I met with an A&M advisor my freshman year who helped me look through some majors and career paths that best fit my interests.

I drove into one of the many parking garages, scared to get out of my car and not know what I was doing. I had to stop a few people to make sure I was headed in the right direction. The first words were ‘Howdy’ along with a big smile and an offer to help.

I arrived at my destination to notice that I had scheduled the visit for the next week.

The advisor allowed me to come in early to discuss those career choices without any hesitation.

The first time I was on campus by myself made me feel so loved and appreciated.

To my Mom and bonus Dad, I cannot thank you enough for all the support you both provided me throughout this journey. I have always been able to rely on you both, and for that I am so appreciative. I love y’all so much and I am blessed to have y’all in my life.

It is now time to get this Aggie bling and fulfill every A&M student’s dream.

Ringing in senior year The ring you love most Arts criticism writer says hold on to college experiences, do not lose the ring

Life & arts writer says the small things in life are what make us Aggies

By Emma Ehle @EmmaKEhle4

By Richa Shah @WhoIsRichaShah

Up until about a year ago, I truly did not know much about the Aggie Ring.

I knew it was something I wanted, and I knew it would take me 90 hours of work to get there. Really, this was about it.

I didn’t come from an Aggie, “bleed maroon from birth” type of family. My parents, both native Coloradans, didn’t really care where I went to college as long as I made sure to keep visiting and was happy. While their kindness and genuine support for whatever I wanted is not something that I would trade for the world, my irritating indecisiveness on the subject almost made me wish I did have someone telling me what to do. Ultimately, I didn’t decide that I wanted to attend Texas A&M until fairly late into my senior year of high school — and I truly couldn’t be more glad that I did.

Throughout the past year, I’ve learned a lot about what the Aggie Ring means. I’ve learned it makes me a part of a close-knit and kind network, and that it represents more than one hundred years of beloved tradition. I’ve also learned that I need to do whatever it takes to not lose it. I’ve seen the results of this, and it isn’t pretty.

But most importantly, I’ve learned what the Aggie Ring means to me. To me, this ring is not only a physical representation of the three years of extremely hard work that I have put in at this institution, but also a

I got credit for completing over 90 hours last semester. I ordered my Aggie Ring in January. That Ring Day is coming up this Thursday.

I like jewelry. I wear cheap necklaces, anklets and bracelets that turn my skin green. This one won’t. Plus, I think it symreminder of everything that I have gained bolizes a little more than my Forever 21 here. Over the past years at A&M, I have mushroom necklace. been lucky enough to make some of my So now I’m sitting in class, not paying best friends with whom I hold experiences attention like I should be, and trying to that are not only unforgettable, but also understand why I care so much about this completely irreplaceable. I know that we will all be struggling together through our ring.

I received my acceptance letter into the ring dunk next semester, so that will add a whole other level to “what the Aggie Ring Aggie family in 2019. I got packed and moved to College Station, the “Home of means to me.”

Texas A&M University,” in 2020. I thought My ring is also a representation of evthat made me an Aggie, part of the 12th erything that I have learned about myself in my time at A&M. It represents how I re- Man. But that’s not really it, is it?

I think being an Aggie is all the little connected with my love of writing, as well things that bind us together. Maybe it’s as how I decided to cultivate this passion struggling to register every semester, maybe through organizations like The Battalion, A-line Magazine and The Eckleburg Proj- it’s genuinely questioning if the squirrels ect. To the staff of all of these organizations, are robots (spoiler: they are), maybe it’s wondering how many Starbucks locations I would like to say thank you and that there really are on campus or maybe it’s you’ve done more for me than you know. looking forward to dropping your ring To my friends and family, thank you into a full pitcher and hoping you don’t for your unconditional love and support swallow it. throughout these years. It means everyI think these have slowly made me more thing to me. of an Aggie. My admission portal said Hopefully senior year brings just as “Welcome to the Aggie Family” years ago. much love and joy as the past three have!

For nearly three years, I have been hoardThanks and Gig’em!

ing maroon t-shirts and noting “TAMU Class of ‘24” in my social media profiles.

So, do I see myself as an Aggie now?

I have never stepped on the A&M seal on Military Walk, so I assume I’ll graduate at some point. But this Thursday, I will have received my favorite piece of jewelry.

Here’s to me really becoming an Aggie.

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NEWS

3

The Battalion | 04.13.23

Ventilation investigation

Kyle Heise — THE BATTALION

A vent in the Evans Library Annex on April 10, 2023.

A&M scientists research how airways and vents could help reduce virus spread

By Camila Munoz @camilavmunoz Research conducted at Texas A&M AgriLife research facilities may answer the question of how airflow patterns play a role in the transmission and potential mitigation of the spread of airborne pathogens.

Maria King, Ph.D., of A&M’s Biology & Agricultural Engineering Department is researching how airflow through ventilation systems can affect the transmission of diseases and bacteria. After her primary research in 2016 on meat-facility testing, she noticed the impact their outdated ventilation had on the facility and the test subjects. In response, her team bought the mechanical blueprints of

their ventilation and began creating airflow models using Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation.

“I realized the ventilation system is not optimized,” King said. “Basically, the configuration of the air intakes and exhausts is such that it makes it so the dirty air is being transported all over the facility. So, understanding that these are large facilities and we are a big supporter of the industry, I have a lot of respect for them. It’s incredibly hard work, so we wanted to help them. So, we bought the mechanical blueprints.”

Moreover, their work centers on hospitals and the type of airflow received in the buildings. King said the team uses a ventilated hospital room chamber to run tests and collect data on bacteria and virus aerosols. They seek to study the optimal configuration for hospital ventilation to better protect patients and healthcare workers.

“We also extended into hospitals,” King said. “We have a three-quarter model cham-

ber here in our department, which is a fantastic tool. It’s fully ventilated. It has a [heating ventialtion and air conditioning] HVAC system for six air changes per hour which is the mandated air change for a hospital. That got increased during the pandemic to 15 or even 21 changes per hour. So we can disseminate viruses here and change the configuration of the HVAC system using this chamber, and then we can draw in a lot of tests with bacterial viruses.”

In the future, this research can potentially be applied to A&M. Initially, the research was in a small-scale model of a meat processing facility on campus but has since been expanding into larger facilities. The research aims to develop a universal template that can upload any mechanical blueprints and take air property measurements in any room and add it to their design. This would eventually design an optimized airflow model for any facility, including new dorms, buildings or other campus structures.

“When a building is in the design stage and we can take the blueprint and model what the airflow model is going to be like and how that configuration is maintained,” King said.

“I just really would like to emphasize that an engineering aspect can really tell the bacterial behavior or virus behavior and help us stay healthy. I just basically think that people would be happy to help in every way. Wherever it is possible to optimize the airflow pattern in a room or a facility.”

Biology sophomore Abi Schoch said she spends a lot of time in buildings old and new, such as the Innovative Learning Classroom Building and the Biology Building. She said she can notice a difference in the environments they produce.

“The newer buildings seem to be maintained better and I think that is so important with older buildings and making sure the ventilation systems are kept up to date to decrease the spreading of any sicknesses coming through,” Schoch said.

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L&A

4

The Battalion | 04.13.23

SAAPM CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Cameron Johnson — THE BATTALION

Shirts announcing sexual assault hang at Rudder Plaza on April 27, 2022.

within the university. Some of the initiatives are as follows: The Sexual Assault Resource Center of Brazos Valley, or SARC, is hosting a Paint It Teal Initiative on April 1 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

SARC is a resource available to support survivors of sexual violence through advocacy, counseling and crisis intervention and works to end sexual violence. Executive Director Lindsey LeBlanc said this month is 30 days for SARC to further their outreach, and bring intentional connection to the community with a very clear message about why sexual assault is important to talk about within the region.

“Roughly 49% of our client survivors are between the ages of 18 and 24,” LeBlanc said. “We know that college-aged youth are at risk of

higher rates of sexual violence and are working hard to end sexual violence on our campus.”

Students aren’t always aware of ways to keep themselves safe and comfortable, LeBlanc said, and raising awareness is a means to educate themselves and others.

“Ultimately, shining the light on sexual violence works to end sexual assault which is our No. 1 goal,” LeBlanc said. “We are closing out SAAPM [Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month] with our Shatter: A Survivor Fashion Show and just launched a discounted student ticket as we hope to see more students engaged in our work to bring an end to sexual violence.”

SLIDE is one of the organizations working with the Health Promotion Center on this initiative. Committee executive and education junior Kaitlyn Fernandez said SLIDE’s goal is to educate those on campus and in the

community.

“Throughout the month of April we use this time as a chance to amplify our voices and plan events that will engage students and community members in regard to sexual assault awareness,” Fernandez said. “As a student organization, we hope to help the student body of Texas A&M connect with different resources on campus and in the community.”

The Texas A&M Rec Sports’ Living Well is hosting early morning Sunrise Boxing from 6:15-7:15 a.m.

April 11-20 Students, faculty and staff are all welcome to attend this event.

As for events later this month, Denim Day takes place on April 26 and is the longest-running sexual prevention and education campaign practiced by many. The community wears jeans on this day to protest sexual and gendered misconceptions.

TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR

Editor-in-Chief

BATTALION THE

The IndependenT STudenT VoIce of TexaS a&M SInce 1893

Summer 2023 & Fall 2023–Spring 2024 Summer editor oversees print, digital and special editions from May 14, 2023, to Aug. 13, 2023.

Fall and spring editor oversees print, digital and special editions from Aug. 14, 2023, to May 13, 2024.

Qualifications for editor-in-chief of The Battalion are: REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester.

PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society) or equivalent; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible editorial position with The Battalion or comparable daily college newspaper, – OR – Have at least one year editorial experience with a commercial newspaper, – OR – Have completed at least 12 hours in journalism, including JOUR 203 (Media Writing I) and JOUR 303 (Media Writing II) or JOUR 304 (Editing for the Mass Media), or equivalent.

Photo courtesy of Destination Bryan

Art festival comes to town Variety of local artists to be featured in Downtown Bryan

By John Chapa @JDChapaBatt For over a decade, the Downtown Bryan Street & Art Fair has hosted local and statewide artists and vendors during Texas A&M Family Weekend. This Saturday, April 15, the fair hosts its greatest number of artists yet in the heart of downtown.

The state of Texas formally recognizes Bryan as a Texas Cultural District because of the community’s effort to foster the arts. This will be the fifteenth time that Downtown Bryan hosts the art fair.

Destination Bryan PR & Communications Manager Abigail Noel said the city has spent nearly half a year planning for the one-day event.

“Applications for artists opened up in October … it’s typical that we start planning up to six months in advance because not only do we get in touch with

artists, but also vendors and restaurants in Downtown Bryan,” Noel said. “We have 35 artists from the local community, as well as across the state of Texas, who applied and will be present this year. This is the largest number of artists attending ever.”

The fair will have more tents compared to last year that are not only art demonstrations, but also activities for the community to participate in. Family and friends of current A&M students will have the opportunity to create artwork of different mediums, Noel said.

“This year, there will be a sculpting tent, a seminar on canvas wrapping and bookmark making,” Noel said. “There are a lot of ways for the community to interact with the artists, and learn from their techniques.”

In addition to the workshops, the city will also partner with the Historic Queen Theatre for the first time to showcase short films created by A&M students from the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. While the City of Bryan offers new events such as the workshops and short film screenings, favorite events from previous years will

also return, namely artist Anet Ronen’s live 3D mural demonstration and the popular steamroll printing demonstration, Noel said.

“Anet Ronen will return this year and create 3D chalk art … it’s popular art, an optical illusion often found on social media where it looks like you might fall into a hole in the sidewalk, or you’re hopping rock-to-rock across a river,” Noel said. “Another demonstration people love to see are the lino prints. A huge steamroller runs over the linoleum stamps to press ink into the artists’ print.

The printmaking occurs by the Village Cafe and final prints will be for sale later in the day.”

The event will take place on North Main Street in Bryan from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is free to the general public.

Local restaurants on the main strip and adjoining streets will be open. The local farmer’s market will also take place the same morning. The fair offers something for everyone to enjoy this A&M family weekend.

To learn more about the Downtown Bryan Street & Arts Fair, visit destinationbryan.com.

Applications are available by request from editor@thebatt.com.

They should be returned to Michaela Rush, The Battalion Editor-in-Chief, in MSC Suite L410 or editor@thebatt.com.

Application deadline: 5 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2023.

Michaela Rush, Editor-in-Chief Kyle McClenagan, Managing Editor Caroline Wilburn, News Editor Kenzie Finch, News Editor Ana Renfroe, Asst. News Editor Ishika Samant, Photo Chief Kyle Heise, Asst. Photo Chief Ruben Hernandez, Life & Arts Editor Anna Deardorff, Asst. L&A Editor Sydnei Miles, Asst. L&A Editor Megan Williams, Page Designer

Emma Moser, Business Manager Dan Hung, Business Manager Caleb Elizondo, Opinion Editor Ryan Lindner, Asst. Opinion Editor Zoe May, Sports Editor Grant Gaspard, Sports Editor Luke May, Asst. Sports Editor Skylar Cheek, Social Media Editor Evelyn Peterson, Page Designer

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays in the 2023 spring semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs.

Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

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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.

OPINION

5

The Battalion | 04.13.23

Opinion: Something smells Fishy, Camp Opinion writer Maddie McMurrough says Fish Camp isn’t for everyone, and that’s OK. Maddie McMurrough

@MadsMcMurrough

As an introvert, my worst nightmare has manifested multiple times in my two years as a Texas A&M student.

The first and most memorable time was my mother dropping me off in the parking lot of Reed Arena. My draft notice had come in, and I was being shipped off to the Fish Camp theater of my introvert war.

Let me set the scene. The sun was rising over the horizon, and you could hear the barbaric yawps of overzealous counselors, thirsty for freshman blood.

While being pulled from my mom, I cried and told her I couldn’t believe I let someone pressure me into signing up for what seemed to be the impending death of my social battery.

Two years later, the shell shock has worn off, and I fully regret attending Fish Camp.

Fish Camp, “an Aggies’ first tradition,” is a three-day camp for eager, wide-eyed freshmen where they’re trained to become redass Ags. Throughout the duration, impressionable

youth learn about A&M traditions and their respective Wildcat.

Along with Fish Camp’s educational aspects, they preach about lasting friendships and meaningful encounters. However, my Fish Camp experience was anything but.

I will preface this by saying many people adore the camaraderie they sourced from this experience, but I, and many introverts alike, did not. Fish Camp is not for everyone, and that’s OK. My first grievance with Fish Camp surrounds the culture of the counselors. Your counselors make or break your experience, and college students obsessed with their next Instagram post shouldn’t hold the future of a young Aggie in their extremely tattooed hands.

Some counselors are obviously there for new followers and not to build lasting friendships. I was debased to a number — a follower count. My purpose came down to which pictures I posted and if I tagged them or not. A month after my session, the group chats went silent, and I never heard from them again.

Item two: the peer pressure surrounding Fish Camp enlistment. There’s an intense amount of pressure put on these 18-year-olds

to do their duty and attend camp. I never really wanted to go, but as someone who applied to A&M from out of state, I was coerced into signing up. I needed to do my bit and become a member of the Aggie Army.

With the endless propaganda and pressure, I found myself decked out in war paint ready to ensure every anti-Ag had been converted, and I hated every second of it. I asked myself if I really thought this was the best way to learn about the traditions and if this made me want to become more of a two-percenter.

One of my biggest issues surrounds the “trust” that is allegedly built in these camps.

I won’t spoil the secrets of camp because the counselors seem to get a rush from controlling completely unaware freshmen.There are many moments where you’re supposed to open up and trauma dump. It’s supposed to ‘get you close’ with your campmates, but all it did was make me extremely uncomfortable.

I met these people on a bus merely hours ago, and now I am supposed to trust them with my deepest secrets and fears? Absolutely not.

Oh, and by the way, there is no escape. You are virtually unreachable because your phones don’t have service. I contemplated calling for reinforcements to save me from this nightmare

camp, but unfortunately, I was alone to fight the internal war.

Current students, I call you to question your experience and ask yourself what attributed to the positive or negative aspects of your Fish Camp service. I salute all the brave Aggies who completed their tour without displaying fear and even salute the ones who shed a few tears for home.

Fish Camp counselors, I speak to you directly now. As leaders, how could you make these experiences less intimidating for introverts? How do you affect these students’ overall enjoyment of future Aggie affairs? Finally, don’t make this experience about yourself.

Because at the end of the day, it isn’t.

Your brightly dyed hair and overly-pierced bodies determine whether these students will be dishonorably discharged as two-percenters or if we will rise in the ranks of the Aggie Army, fighting against all other SEC fan bases.

So with the 2023 Fish Camp drafts coming up, will you lead your platoon to victory or to the trenches?

Maddie McMurrough is an agricultural communications and journalism sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Opinion: Do grades matter after graduation?

Opinion columnist Charis Adkins breaks down how one number can affect you for the rest of your life

Charis Adkins @Charis_Batt

If you’re anything like me, your biggest concern in college is slapping as many A’s on your transcript as possible. If any knowledge manages to osmotically force itself into your brain, that’s an added bonus.

This is a common doctrine among students.

And for some — like those planning to attend grad school — it’s undeniably necessary. But, for the rest of us, do grades even matter?

“C’s get degrees,” the old idiom goes … but they carry you a lot farther than that sheet of paper.Your first job after college is often determined, at least in part, by your grades.

You start to notice this early in your undergrad. Your ability to get an internship relies heavily upon your GPA — and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how good an internship

looks on your resume. But, especially as a recent grad, these two digits matter even when applying for a full-time job.

Employers like to look at grades as a measure of subject understanding and relevant intelligence.This is why several companies in the STEM field will ask for both your overall GPA and your major GPA, which is a GPA calculated only from your major-specific classes.

Employers can also use your grades to create performance expectations. It’s generally understood that a student with a high GPA has a good work ethic and time-management skills because they completed most, if not all, of their assignments and adhered to deadlines for their entire undergraduate degree.

For these reasons, several industries have GPA cutoffs — get below a B average and your resume goes straight to the shredder.

In fact, according to the Job Outlook 2019 survey, over 73% of employers screened candidates by GPA. Most industries had a cutoff of 3.0, including finance, real estate, pharmaceu-

tical manufacturing and various engineering services.

But don’t fret! This doesn’t mean you can’t find a job with a lower GPA. It’s mostly large STEM industries that utilize the GPA cutoff, and there are several industries and companies that don’t put weight on grades.

Additionally, the survey mostly included large companies such as Amtrak, T-Mobile and Phillips 66. If you don’t pass the cutoff, that just means you’ll have to look at narrower companies or markets.

So, bottom line? Focus on your grades.

Whether you’re applying for grad school or a 9 to 5 after graduation, it’s important to keep that GPA up, king.

But it’s also essential to live a little. Grades aren’t the only thing employers look at. Recently, several companies have turned to holistic reviews, putting more weight on extracurriculars and other non-numerical measures of your success.

Don’t put all your focus on grades, and

don’t worry too much if you’ve already ruined your shot at a 3.0+ — there are many ways to measure success and ability. Grades are just one.

Focus on leadership experience and community service, and get an internship if possible.

So, if there’s a moral to this logos-ridden story, it’s this: Grades may be more important than you think.

Consider going to that class you feel like skipping.Take 10 minutes to do the discussion post rather than scrolling through TikTok.You never know, your future (employed) self might thank you.

Charis Adkins is an English sophomore and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

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Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

The Aggie Dance Team performs during Texas A&M’s basketball game against ULM at Reed Arena on Nov. 7, 2022.

Aggie Dance Team fouette’s the competition A&M wins third national championship in The College Classic

By Zoe May @MayZoella As the Texas A&M cheer team secured a three-peat in the NCA nationals in Daytona, Florida. An hour’s drive away, the Aggie Dance Team won a hattrick of its own with a third national title in the Division IA Team Performance competition at The College Classic on April 9.

The Aggie Dance Team, or ADT, was created in 1990 as a student organization and transitioned during the 1995-96 season to join

the A&M Athletics support group. Led by fifth-year coach Amy Liefer, the Aggies took over the Orange County Convention Center, edging out runner-up Baylor with a score of 91.46 to the Bears’ 89.32.

“We are the National Champions and I could not be more proud of the Aggie Dance Team,” Liefer said to 12thMan.com. “The heart and soul that this incredible team put into the preparation of their routines, and the six amazing performances they had shows in the outcomes we received. Congratulations to all of the teams who competed this weekend and made the weekend an incredible experience. This has been such an incredible year together, and a team that is paving the way for this program to have great success as a competitive D1A dance team for many years to

come.”

ADT couldn’t sweep the competition as they fell second to Arizona State University in the Jazz competition as the ASU dance team scored 93.64, barely defeating the Aggies’ 93.30. Kansas State, Purdue and Michigan State took the rest of the top five with 90.94, 90.34 and 88.04, respectively.

However, A&M was redeemed when it was chosen to compete in The Battle and ultimately became Jazz Battle winner. The Battle includes “qualifying dance teams from the preliminary rounds [who] are selected and invited to perform hoping to win the Battle Cup,” according to TheCollegeClassic.com.

“We were selected to perform both of our routines, which is an incredible honor,” Liefer said to 12thMan.com. “I’m proud of the team

for being selected as the battle winner in jazz out of all the jazz performances for the entire weekend, even over [Jazz National Champion] Arizona State.”

In addition to its win in the Jazz Battle, ADT also walked away with the coveted “Wow Moment” award.

“The ‘Wow Moment’ award is a recognition of the unique stunt we have in our Jazz routine that consists of one girl flying over another who is doing a trick in air while being lifted by some other girls,” Liefer said to 12thMan.com. “Big thanks to our team manager for doing the research to identify some amazing stunts to get us to the final selection, and the team for continuing to push to achieve this insane masterpiece in the middle of an extremely difficult routine.”

A&M tangles with the Tigers ... take three Aggie baseball prepares to face Missouri in weekend matchup

By Justin Chen @chen_justin_ Fresh off a midweek loss against UTSA, the Texas A&M baseball team will face another SEC Tiger team in the form of Missouri in a three-game series, from Thursday, April 13, to Saturday, April 15, at Blue Bell Park.

The Aggies are coming off a tough loss against UTSA where pitching and hitting struggles resulted in a 5-1 loss.

Though the Fightin’ Farmers are 5-7 in conference play, the team kept the Auburn Tigers on a leash last weekend, winning the conference series 2-1. Freshman OF Jace LaViolette was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his efforts in the series, with a total of 10 RBIs and three home runs.

The black and gold are one game back from the maroon and white in conference play, sitting at 4-8. The Tigers have held notable non-conference wins, including over ranked Texas and TCU, but struggle against other SEC teams.

The Aggies and Tigers have matched up a total of 80 times, with A&M historically being the victor with 44 wins. However, their

last matchup in 2021 saw Missouri pullout a series win at Columbia, Missouri. A win for the Aggies will help them regain momentum as well as catch-up to LSU, who sit at 7-4, and a win for the Tigers will have them tie with Tennessee, who have a record of 5-7.

The maroon and white will look to junior RHP Nathan Dettmer to kick off the series matchup while coach Jim Schlossnagle will look for two other starters on Friday and Saturday. Dettmer comes into the series, having previously struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowing four runs in the series against Auburn.

Missouri comes into the matchup with three hitters above a .300 batting average,

with fifth-year INF Luke Mann hitting .336, freshman C Dalton Bargo averaging .320 and senior OF Ty Wilmsmeyer rounding out with .315. As a team, the Tigers have significantly out-batted their opponents, with an average of .273 against a .215 opponent average.

A&M will come into the contest with only two hitters above the .300 batting average, with junior INF Hunter Haas leading the way with .371 and junior INF Jack Moss averaging .359. The Aggies have cut the batting average close against their matchups so far, hitting for .276 while their adversaries average .264.

The series will kick off on Thursday at 7 p.m. and will air on ESPNU while the last two games will air on SEC ESPN+.

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The Battalion | 04.13.23

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A Nguyen — THE BATTALION

Freshman OF Jace LaViolette (17) hits a ground ball during a game against Ole Miss on Sunday, April 2, 2023.

Aggies collect cross-sport SEC honors Baseball, swim, dive, golf, tennis bring home awards for season, week performances

By Hunter Mitchell & Justin Chen @hunterm1001 & @chen_justin_ Jace LaViolette On Monday, April 10, freshman OF Jace LaViolette earned the first SEC honors of his career, being voted SEC Freshman of the Week.

The Katy-native played a major role in the Aggies’ road-series win against Auburn, the first series win on the plains since 2016.

LaViolette came into the weekend hitting .245 after a 1-4 hitting performance against Texas State in the Tuesday midweek game, but tore the cover off the ball against Auburn, hitting .455 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. Two of those home runs came in Game 1 of the Friday doubleheader, the second game of the series, as LaViolette sent two separate drives deep to right field to bring home four runs, helping keep Texas A&M in the game all the way to the ninth. The freshman also brought in a run on a fielder’s choice, giving him five RBIs in the game.

LaViolette also showed off his plate discipline by drawing four walks on the weekend, including three in the Friday rubber match.

The slugger will look to continue his impressive hitting against SEC Tigers as the Aggies welcome Missouri to Olsen Field on Thursday, April 13.

A&M Swim and Dive The A&M diving team finished the season as one of the best in the country and was awarded for its efforts. Men’s diving coach Jay Leraw earned another SEC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year, winning it for the third time in the past four seasons.

Four men’s divers brought home All-American honors at the NCAA Championships.

For their efforts, divers junior Victor Povzner was named to 1st Team All-SEC in the 1-meter and 3-meter, sophomore Rhett Hensley earned a spot to 2nd Team All-SEC in the 1-meter and junior Takuto Endo made his way into 2nd Team All-SEC in the 3-meter.

Joslyn Oakley earned Freshman Diver of the Year as well as being named to SEC All-Freshman Team following a stellar season. She finished in the top-five at the SEC Championships in the 1-meter and found herself with many top-five and top-three finishes throughout the season.

Freshman swimmer Giulia Goerigk garnered SEC All-Freshman Team honors as well as being named to All-SEC Second Team, following an impressive season that saw her grab bronze in the 400-yard individual medley at the SEC Championships as well as having one of the fastest times in the country in the event.

Junior swimmer Chloe Stepanek added another All-SEC award to her resume, being named to the All-SEC Second Team following a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle at the SEC Championships. She also grabbed All-American honors at the NCAA Championships, with a seventh-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle as well as Honorable All-American honors in the 100-yard freestyle and the 400-yard medley relay. She has been

named to the All-SEC Second Team for three consecutive years.

Freshman swimmers Connor Foote and Baylor Nelson made an immediate impact in their freshman season as two of the fastest freshmen in the country. Nelson won the 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard individual medley in the SEC Championships, earning co-recipient of the SEC Commissioner’s trophy. Foote and Nelson garnered All-American and Honorable Mention All-American honors at their first NCAA Championships.

Nelson joined Povzner on being named to All-SEC First Team while senior swimmers Kaloyan Bratanov and Anze Fers Erzen joined Endo and Hensley earned spots on All-SEC Second Team.

Koko Wooley and Keely Williams After dominant performances in a series sweep against Mississippi State, sophomore INF Koko Wooley and freshman OF Keely Williams won SEC Player of the Week and SEC Freshman of the Week, respectively On Tuesday, April 11.

Wooley’s best performance came in the series finale, as the La Porte-native hit 3-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs en route to a 5-1 victory to help give the Aggies the series sweep.

On the weekend, Wooley hit .455 with a double, a triple and three RBIs, with two stolen bases as well.

Williams went 3-8 in the series, hitting .375 and drew a walk in each game. The Cibolo-native also scored three runs on the weekend.

This is the first SEC Player of the Week award for the Aggies since junior INF Trinity

Cannon won it on Feb. 13. This is also the first time two A&M players have won SEC honors on the same week since Samantha Show and Payton McBride won SEC Pitcher and Freshman of the Week in 2017.

Sam Bennett After a historic performance in the 87th Masters on Thursday, April 6, to Sunday, April 9, fifth-year Sam Bennett earned SEC Golfer of the Week honors.

The Madisonville-native earned a spot at the Masters after winning the 122nd U.S. Amateur, and had one of the best performances from an amateur in recent memory.

Bennett finished 8-under-par after two rounds, the second lowest an amateur has scored in Masters history. It is also the best performance after two rounds since 1956.

After finishing the tournament 2-under-par, Bennett earned the Silver Cup for Low Amateur, finishing in 16th place which is the highest finish from an amateur since 2005.

Mary Stoiana Stoiana earned SEC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week for the third-straight week in the row, her sixth win of the season on Wednesday, April 12. Stoiana and freshman Mia Kupres handled Ole Miss in a doubles match, 6-1, to secure a victory on Court 2.

Stoiana then secured a singles victory which clinched A&M’s match victory over Ole Miss.

Stoiana and Kupres picked up another 6-1 doubles win in the second match of the week against Mississippi State before securing the second match, once again with a singles victory.

BECAUSE IT’S THE

AGGIE WAY But what does that mean?

It means access, opportunity and a hand up to those who embody the Aggie Spirit. It means letting promising young minds focus on their textbooks more than their finances. It means welcoming both those steeped in Aggie traditions and those about to discover them for the first time. And living the Aggie Way means investing in the next generation of leaders of character so they can embrace the Aggie Way, too.

Texas A&M University remains committed to expanding access and providing opportunities for qualified students to receive a transformative education. That’s why the university has pledged to raise $100 million more in scholarship funds over the next four years through the Aggie Way Scholarship Initiative. It’s our way to give more chances to succeed, more rewards for excellence and more reasons to believe the future is bright here in Aggieland.

Learn more about how scholarships fund lifechanging opportunities for hardworking students by scanning the QR code:

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Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Graduate G Dexter Dennis (0) loses possession of the ball during the SEC Championship versus Alabama on March 12, 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Commentary: Amateur hour is over Sports writer says freedom of choice is necessary for athletes regardless of level

By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001 Ah, the transfer portal.

Two words that will send a flurry of either intense joy or fury through the hearts and minds of college sports fans.

Since hitting the scene in 2018, the transfer portal has drastically changed the landscape of college athletics. A player used to have to sit out a year when transferring, deterring many players from leaving their schools. Now, athletes can leave without repercussions, changing schools quickly without penalty.

This shift in the player-school dynamic has divided the old-school and new-school fans alike. A rift has formed between those who enjoy the calm and those who embrace the uncertain storm.

Whose favorite player will transfer? Who will their team transfer in? The sheer number of players leaving the schools they committed to out of high school is unprecedented.

Already over 1,000 college basketball players have put their name in the portal this year, with surely more to come. It’s havoc, it’s bedlam, it’s complete mayhem.

And I love every single minute of it.

Why wouldn’t I? The reason that fans of professional teams love free agency is because of the uncertainty of it all. Watching the roster and trajectory of your favorite team change on

a dime makes professional off-seasons almost as fun as the regular season.

Amateurism in college sports is out the window. With Name, Image and Likeness already making waves in how athletes can receive profit from their image, the concept of a player being unable to move schools to pursue different opportunities when they present themselves is becoming increasingly asinine.

If a coach can leave whenever they want, why can’t a player? The double standard in college athletics has been blindly accepted for years, ever since the 1950s when the blanket term “student-athlete” limited the rights athletes had for worker’s compensation.

Now, the landscape of college sports is as free as it has ever been, and it should be embraced rather than ridiculed.

Almost one month into the opening of the college basketball transfer portal, major names have already entered.

Star junior North Carolina guard Caleb Love has already left the blueblood program to head to Michigan, entering and bumping into former junior Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson as he leaves for another school himself.

Sophomore Creighton guard Ryan Nembhard, who was expected to lead the Bluejays next year, surprisingly put his name in the portal. Freshman Alabama guard Jaden Bradley, who was expected to be a leader for the Crimson Tide next year, will be playing for a new team.

Every season will now see well-known names in different jerseys, stars shining under new lights. The parity the transfer portal creates is not just a benefit to college athletes, it’s

a necessity.

The reason bluebloods exist is because of the old-fashioned system college sports used to follow; the best players went to the best school, they would wait to get their time to shine and the best schools would win championships.

Now, the best players have the capacity to recognize their worth, to understand that they hold their future in their hands. College athletes can bet on themselves, believing they can go somewhere else and make an immediate impact.

Just this year, the Men’s NCAA Tournament was the first time a No. 1 or No. 2 has never made not just the Final Four, but the Elite Eight. The highest seed wasn’t even a No. 3 seed, it was a No. 4 seed in UConn.

The other three teams included No. 5 seeds San Diego State and Miami and No. 9 Florida Atlantic.

Eight of the 20 players for the starting five in this year’s Final Four were all transfers from other schools, including breakout stars like junior Miami guard Nijel Pack and junior FAU center Vladislav Goldin.

The transfer portal is giving haves to the have-nots. Players that would have never considered playing for a smaller program are becoming more accepting of it simply to get more playing time.

One of the main arguments against the transfer portal is that it eliminates the idea of loyalty to a university, the commitment to play for not just the name across your back, but the one across your chest.

Is loyalty propagated by the idea you will have to sacrifice an entire year of playing time

simply to leave a school truly loyalty? Or is it simply athletes becoming the victims of circumstance, giving the college sports fan peace of mind at the expense of the player’s livelihood?

And to say that the transfer portal kills player loyalty is disrespectful to the mid-major players who, after dedicating four years of their playing career to a small Division 1 university, want a chance to play on the biggest stage.

Players like senior Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas, senior Towson guard Nicolas Timberlake and senior North Texas guard Tylor Perry have all spent four years at their respective universities, and they deserve a shot on a higher-caliber team after they have all put their names in the portal this offseason.

The public praised professional quarterback Matthew Stafford when he made the decision to leave the historically under-performing Detroit Lions to go win a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams. These college players are in the same situation, a good player on a poor to mediocre team who wants at least one shot at winning the greatest accomplishment in their sport.

The mindset behind how college athletes are viewed needs to change. The old definition of amateurism is no longer applicable.

Quite, viewing them as if they’re children who have no idea what’s best for themselves.

The transfer portal is, yes, a mess, but it is a promising mess. It is a mess that gives chances, a mess that grants opportunities. So, you may scoff at the absurdity of the transfer portal, but when you embrace it, that is when you can truly embrace the beauty of it all.

A&M cheer takes a dip at Daytona

Aggies win NCA title for the third time in program history

By Kaci Williams @KaciWilliams17

On Friday, April 7, hand-in-hand with the 2023 national champion banner over its back, the A&M cheer squad raced into the iconic waters of Daytona Beach, Florida, a rite of passage that only the best of the best get to experience.

The National Cheer Association College National competition is the single event all year where each collegiate squad across the country gets one shot to take home the champion title. The score is based on one opportunity to hit a zero-deduction routine composed of 25% of the preliminary performance on Day 1 and 75% of the final performance on Day 2.

The Texas queens competed in the intermediate all girl division IA with 26 other squads. In the preliminary round, A&M

scored 98.0463 and 98.7037 in their final performance to receive an overall score of 98.5393. The team “hit zero” on both days of the competition, a term in cheerleading that refers to completing a perfect routine with no deductions. This means no stunts fell, every member landed their tumbling passes and no safety rules were violated. Every team’s goal is to hit zero at the national competition. The tenths of points for small deductions ultimately separate the national champions from the runner-ups, making for a fierce competition every year among the squads with no room for error.

Along with their national title, A&M cheer also received the highest overall score of the 2023 competition, surpassing the well-known Navarro squad of Navarro College, Corsicana and Netflix “Cheer” stars in the advanced division with a score of 98.08.

A&M cheer has had its eyes on taking back the title for three years since the last time winning in 2019. The squad won back-to-back national championships in 2018 and 2019. It is a team tradition to place the past champion-

ship banners out at every practice and recognize the end goal for the season.

“I think they look at those banners, every single practice that we lay out, and just thought, ‘alright, this is it,’” coach Atosha Rampy said. “‘This is our last shot,’ and they pulled it out both days. They were amazing.”

Running into the Daytona Beach water after winning a national championship is considered the peak celebration in the cheer community. Every squad looks forward to this after a year of preparation and hard work.

“I’ve never wanted to drench my entire body with clothes on in water as much as I did last night with my socks and my shoes on,” senior squad member Hannah Cooper said with a laugh.

Assistant coach and 2013-2016 A&M cheer alumni Abigayle O’Bannon said the squad took the national title home as a family, not individuals.

“I’ve always preached to them that the best team wins Day 1,” O’Bannon said. “Day 2 is an entirely different ballgame. It’s typically the team that comes in mentally strong and the

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team that’s a family that’s going to win Day 2.

They’ve just pushed really hard, and I think the fact that they are so close really made a difference this year.”

Despite being named the 2023 champions, A&M cheer places the group’s bond over all else and continues to stand as the backbone of the program.

“I think above all else, we just really wanted it for each other,” senior squad member Megan Dehls said. “We weren’t really worried about winning. We just wanted to do our best and be proud of what we did, and I think that’s exactly what we did. And that’s why we won.”

A&M cheer will return home from Daytona Beach, Florida on Sunday, April 8 to add its third national championship banner to the collection and another dazzling, four-post trophy to the shadowbox.

The squad will soon begin recruiting for the 2023-24 season. Follow @tamu_cheer on Instagram and visit its website for more information about recruitment clinics and tryout information.