The Battalion — February 1, 2024 by The Battalion

Thursday 2/01 Mostly cloudy 70/48

@thebattonline

SPORTS Aggie basketball ends home stint with matchup against Florida Gators. B1

SILVER TAPS A&M to honor Logan Kael Jones during Feb. 6 Silver Taps ceremony . A2

Experts break down signs of stalking Stalking for Love panel addresses unhealthy media portrayals By Stacy Cox @StacyCox05

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

A portrait of Texas A&M assistant coach Alyssa Mautz at Ellis Field on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

From lost student to inspired coach Assistant coach Alyssa Mautz reignites her love for Aggie soccer By Kylie Stoner @sportsbystoner Alyssa Mautz has walked on Ellis Field’s grass in three roles: a soccer player, a student and now, a coach. After a rollercoaster start of a professional career that saw her spirit for Aggieland drain, rejoining the A&M soccer program and moving back to College Station resparked her passion for the university. “I fell in love with this school again,” Mautz said. “It’s not just because of soccer, it’s because of this

program, because of the school.” As a 10-year National Women’s Soccer League veteran for the Chicago Red Stars, the forward earned 142 caps with 85 starts.

miss sometimes. ‘Is it going to come back?’ The financials were crazy. It was almost to a point of like is this even doable because we weren’t making anything.” The Red Stars signed a historic contract in women’s soccer on Jan. 16 with Mallory Swanson earning an estimated $2 million. Mautz played with Swanson for Chicago from 2020-2022, but in the O’Fallon, Missouri native’s first year in the league, she was making only a $6,000 salary. “For the love of the game, it was all worth it,” Mautz said. Her passion for the game was sparked as a kid when she played in a church league, but Mautz did not anticipate soccer bringing her all the opportunities she has had.

gal battle with an ex-franchise owner Dan Borislow. A new opportunity began as Mautz played for the Chicago Red Stars in the Women’s Premier

“For the love of the game, it was all worth it” ALYSSA MAUTZ In her rookie season, the Aggie soccer alum played for Sky Blue FC in the final year of the Women’s Professional Soccer program which quit operations in 2012. The collapse of the WPS was caused by a lack of resources and an ongoing le-

Soccer League Elite, which folded within the year. Not long after the collapse of the WPSL Elite was the start of the NWSL, which has been operating since 2012. “It was iffy for the first four years,” Mautz said. “It was hit and

MAUTZ ON PG. A3

Online media and culture often conflates love and obsession. However, local psychology experts look to educate and spread awareness on the subject. Hosted on Jan. 30, the Stalking for Love: Prevention and Awareness Panel analyzed how media portrays stalking, the behaviors associated with stalking and what students can do to prevent or avoid becoming a stalked individual. Students may hear attitudes similar to “I really like this person, so I went ahead and found out everything about their life.” The panel discussed that while this may seem like a joke, these playful but harmful comments become some of the first signs of stalking. Denise Crisafi, Ph.D., coordinates interpersonal violence prevention and health promotion within Texas A&M’s Division of Student Affairs. Crisafi said many students say they’ve experienced stalking, dating violence or tracking but don’t report it. “The main reason for this is that they felt like it was their fault, people would blame them or they brushed it off as ‘Maybe it wasn’t that serious as I thought it was,’” Crisafi said. Answering a poll during the panel, audience members said the Netflix original show “You” and its character Joe Goldberg was a popular example of stalking depicted in media. “After the first season of ‘You’ came out … people would say ‘I would let him stalk me and assault me,’” Crisafi said. “At the time, it may be joking however, when we normalize these toxic traits, it becomes more difficult for survivors and is not beneficial for anyone.” A video played during the panel said movies and television shows PANEL ON PG. A2

‘There ... every step of the way’ A&M Veteran and Military Services receives award By Mia Putnam @MiaBatt25

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

The William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher Education award sits on the Associate Director of Veteran & Military Services’ shelf in her office on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 at the Veteran Resource and Support Center.

During her sophomore year at Texas A&M, Class of 2021 graduate Lyssa Losa enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, later deploying to Iraq for nine months and completing several other orders. While on deployment, Losa would have to step away from taking classes. Despite an already stressful situation, Losa said the Office of Veteran and Military Services made it easy every step of the way. “The [Veteran Resource & Support Center] was integral in my ability to come back to school,” Losa said. “Before I left, I brought them my orders, and they made sure that everything was taken care of so that way when I came back, I didn’t have to go through the whole process again because it would have been a

whole barrier to prevent me from coming back. They were there for me every step of the way.” With over 4,200 current veterans and over 7,500 dependent family members needing resources across 11 A&M system campuses, the Office of Veteran and Military Services stays busy with only two full-time staff members. However, this has not stopped the office from earning the prestigious national award for its dedication to serving students like Losa. In January, the A&M system was awarded The William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher Education Award. Presented by the Student Veterans of America at its 2024 national conference, the award recognized A&M’s ongoing commitment to supporting student veterans and their families across Texas. Associate Director of the University System Office of Veteran & Military Services Monteigne Long said the Tolley Champion award was an honor to receive on behalf

of A&M. “It was a huge honor to receive this from the Student Veterans of America, just that they recognize the work that we are doing for student veterans and military-connected students, not just on the main campus but across the A&M system,” Long said. In a Jan 18. press release from the A&M system, the Student Veterans of America said A&M’s staff created a fostering environment for military-affiliated students across the 11 campuses. “[A&M’s Office of Veteran and Military Services] is fully staffed and operates at the system level, exemplifying a strong commitment to the success of student veterans,” the Student Veterans of America said in the statement. Chancellor John Sharp also commended the Office of Veteran and Military Services on its exemplary work over the past 11 years and the A&M system for receiving the prestigious award. VETERANS ON PG. A2

www.blinn.edu • blinnbound@blinn.edu

CAMPUS

The Battalion | 02.01.24

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Architechture graduate Shawna Uhl, a U.S. Navy veteran, works at the front desk of the Veteran Resource and Support Center on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 in the Memorial Student Center.

PANEL CONTINUED often present stalking-like behavior as a harmless or endearing part of romantic courtship. Kensley Clark is a part of Phoebe’s Home, the Outreach and Prevention Coordinator Against Domestic Violence. “These behaviors portrayed in media that are actually stalking are normal for our generation and culture to laugh and joke,” Clark said. Crisafi said the trope of pursuing someone even after being rejected is an incredibly concerning behavior. While people may joke about

VETERANS CONTINUED “Texas A&M and the ten regional universities in the Texas A&M System are committed to serving veterans because it’s the right thing to do,” Chancellor Sharp said in the press release. The Office of Veteran and Military Services offers a number of opportunities and resources to student veterans and military-affiliat-

stalking, Crisafi said she wants others to know that stalking is the number one behavioral predictor of whether a sexual assault will occur. Victim Advocate at the University Police Department Jessica Laney explained how these portrayals of stalking in media are harmful. “‘If she says no to me last time, but if I show up this time and try again and again, then I can win her over when ...,’” Laney said. “In reality, abuse starts out with these small, recurring patterns of stalking.” Lindsey LeBlanc, the executive director at the Sexual Assault Resource Center, said social media

may have negative moments, but a few positive ones have come from social media developments, such as support groups and the #MeToo movement. While it suggests that only women are affected by stalking, Kacey Sisson, the owner and founder of Kacey S Consulting Marketing Agency in Downtown Bryan, reinforces otherwise. “A lot of these portrayals of stalking are about a man seeking women,” Sisson said. “However, it does not just happen to women from men. It does not matter who you are. People are people, and any-

one can behave however they want to no matter what the consequences are.” Madelyn Cavazos, a bilingual survivor advocate at Unbound Now, expanded on this sentiment. “When a woman is the one stalking, it’s comedic and weird from the norm of the man filling this role, even though they’re essentially doing the same thing, but since it’s a woman and she’s traditionally not meant to be the pursuer, its meant to make you feel like it’s a strange thing,” Cavazos said. Crisafi said discussing others who may be affected doesn’t minimize

violence against women. Instead, she said it reminds society that not all survivors fit the stereotypical image. Not only are women and men affected, but the Outreach Coordinator of STARK Carrie Martinez said individuals from minority groups are especially affected. “Saying stop is something that should not be feared, and instead, it should be seen as something that can give you strength,” Martinez said.

ed students across Texas. “We have done things like partnering with a non-profit in the state called Meals for Vets,” Long said. “They offer a free meal plan to eligible student veterans. We implemented that here on the main campus and then exported that program across the A&M System, so now almost all of our regional campuses are partners with Meals for Vets.”

Along with partnering with several non-profit organizations, Long said the office works to provide student veterans with access to career readiness resources and opportunities to engage with industry partners, including Fortune 500 companies. “There were mentoring programs that paired you with someone who was in a background where you wanted to be eventual-

ly,” Losa said, reflecting on her use of these programs. “There were career services programs to meet with employers who wanted to recruit veterans.” Long said the goal of the Office of Veteran and Military Services was to create best practices for veterans offices — not just in the A&M system — but all over Texas. “If the A&M system can be a leader in supporting these stu-

dents, then it puts us on the national scale to be recognized for the work we are doing,” Long said. “So that one day we can take the programs and the work we do and export it not only across the state, but across the nation.”

cash for

clothes 24 10 T E X AS AVE S IN COLLE GE STAT ION

Senior Boot Bag

Price Includes Embroidered Logo and Name (More logos available) Shop for Little Aggies for an Aggie Xmas etsy.com/shop/aggiesandbows by Charlotte, Reveille’s Seamstress Aggie Mom & Grandma For A&M Sterling Jewelry: stores.ebay.com/charboeg979

1711 N Earl Rudder Fwy Bryan, TX 77803 979-778-2293 | charboeg@yahoo.com

@UPTOW N CO L L E GE STAT I O N

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

We Are

2022AGGIELAND BACK With a newschool and A photojournalistic record of the 2021-2022 year. The 120th editionimproved of Texas A&M’s officialof version yearbook. Distribution The will be Summer or Online. Fall 2022. Battalion Go Online to tx.ag/BuyTheAggieland or call 979-845-2697 to make your purchase. It’s only $65 ($81.19 with Tax & Mailing Fee)

OLDER AGGIELANDS

You can order past Aggielands at tx.ag/BuyTheAggieland. All proceeds from sales go back to the students in some way and keep alive this Texas A&M tradition that was started in 1895.

FEATURES

The Battalion | 02.01.24

‘I just wanted to be a leader’ MAUTZ CONTINUED

Beginning her collegiate soccer career at Saint Louis University and transferring to A&M in 2008, Mautz attended an Aggie soccer youth camp years prior and had A&M on her mind ever since. “I saw how good [the Aggie soccer players] were and was like ‘I’m not good enough,’” Mautz said. The forward played at A&M from 2008-2010 and played 67 matches with 21 goals scored. After the 2010 season, she dove into her professional career early. Mautz later returned to Aggieland to finish her education — twice. “I thought it would be easy to come back to school and be a normal student, but it’s just different,” Mautz said. Mautz felt lost during her first attempt at returning to classes. She said she felt disconnected from the school and what she envisioned her

life to look like. “I hit pretty much the rock bottom,” Mautz said. “Just left school, just kind of gave up on it and moved down to Tampa and became a nanny.” The soccer veteran said she prioritized her mental health and was rewarded with another chance at professional soccer. The NWSL emerged from the ashes of WPS and the WPSL Elite. Once Mautz was settled in the new league, she continued her studies, earned her degree then went back to being a full time professional athlete. As her time in the league went on, Mautz noticed a mindset and priority shift in her teammates as women’s soccer’s popularity increased. She said the drawback of the growth in the sport was the lack of team atmosphere as people began to care more about money and endorsements. Rory Dames was the head coach of the Red Stars from 2011 until his resignation in 2021. Due to miscon-

duct allegations, Dames and three other coaches have been banned for life from the NWSL as of Jan. 9, 2023. The final head coach Mautz played under was Chris Petrucelli, who led Chicago from 2022-2023. Already dealing with coming back from her second ACL injury, Mautz had to endure the coaching change. Whereas Dames had instilled confidence in her post-injury play, Petrucelli made her fight harder for her spot and prove herself, Mautz said. Mautz felt she was playing better but getting less time on the pitch under her new coach. As her role on the team began to change, she said she began to think about what really mattered to her. “I just wanted to be a leader,” Mautz said. “I just wanted to show the young ones what it was like to be a pro.” Out of the blue, Mautz got a call from her college head coach G Guerrieri. He informed her about the assistant coaching position at

her alma mater. The NWSL veteran didn’t have retirement on her radar at all, she said. After about two days of her tight timeline, Mautz told Guerrieri that she was returning and retired from professional soccer. “This is a pretty big change,” Mautz said. “Like I’m hanging up the boots, and I haven’t looked back.” After a successful player career, she has turned to preparing the next generation of professional athletes. Mautz said sophomore defender Carolyn Calzada reminded her most of herself as a player — despite their position difference — with her competitive nature mixed with a light-hearted personality. Coach Mautz will enter her third season with the Maroon and White this upcoming fall season. “I’ve been in [the player’s] shoes, and now I’m on the other side,” Mautz said. “I feel like that’s been really cool to see because I never really understood why [the coaching staff] did some things.”

OPINION

The Battalion | 02.01.24

A modest letter to Stanley stans

Jaime Rowe — THE BATTALION

Opinion writer says we should think twice about mindlessly buying the next TikTok fad Isabella Garcia @Isa_TheBatt Among the plethora of wishlist items suggested on trendy TikToks over the holidays were the infamous Stanley Tumblers. Though Stanley has only recently become a viral hit, it’s been around since 1913. In fact, its sensational Quencher tumbler was initially such a flop in 2010 that it was temporarily discontinued. It wasn’t until being promoted on a mommy blog that their profits soared from $70 million in 2019 to over $750 million in 2023. TikTok users have helped document the extent of consumer craze over the Stanley with videos showing stampedes trampling Target shoppers all to get ahold of the limited-edition Valentine’s tumbler. In one location, the pink metal bottle sold out in under four minutes. A few days ago, a woman was arrested for stealing over $2,500 worth of these Quenchers. Next thing you know, they’re going to be sold on the black mar-

ket. I mean, they’re already being resold on Ebay anywhere from $150 to over $300. That’s like three Barnes & Noble trips — and trust me, that’s a lot. But to be frank, it’s just a moderately overpriced water bottle. Who cares so long as no one is getting hurt, right? Unfortunately, Stanley cups are just one indicator of a rapidly growing problem: the extreme susceptibility plaguing teenage girls on social media. The cute stickers and velvet scrunchies of the VSCO girl trend was one thing, but 13-year-old girls are now asking for luxury clothes, cosmetics and skincare made for women in their 30s. Consider the jaw-dropping items on a recent 13-year-old’s Christmas list, comprised of brands like Dior, Apple, Lululemon, Charlotte Tilbury, Gisou, Drunk Elephant and, of course, Stanley. Other young girls use $50 serums and $62 moisturizers daily. For reference, my own moisturizer — which I use sparingly — is a whopping $20. Let’s face it: the pre-teen era is dead. Gone are the days of Justice

and Limited Too, where every young girl’s plush journal decorated with its signature sequin initial has been replaced with $70 foundations and $130 Lululemon leggings. At this rate, toddlers will be the new terrible teens. Actually … they already are. When did all these little girls go from Disney Princess washable makeup kits to acting more adult than a college student like myself? And by whom are they being told they need this extravagant lifestyle? Us. The largest demographic on social media, specifically TikTok, is young girls, and the vast majority of influencers are 18-24 year old females. So when the feeds of these thousands of impressionable little girls are flooded with luxury cosmetics, clothing and accessories every single day, can you really blame them for setting their hearts on being like what they see? While these young girls may just see it as playing with makeup, they’re internalizing the belief that they need to live by a set of obscenely unrealistic standards — not only to gain the acceptance of boys, but

of other girls, too. In the heartbreaking words of two little sisters begging their mom for expensive, trendy Drunk Elephant skincare products in a viral video last summer, “All I watch are girls who do their face with these … I want it so bad.” The younger sister began to cry. Not only are these standards maliciously contorting the emotional well being of young girls, they’re physically harming them as well. Remember the trendy Drunk Elephant brand I mentioned earlier? Aside from their most popular products being ridiculously overpriced, they’re chemical exfoliants. In other words, they are not suited for anyone under 21 — nevermind 9-year olds who end up getting chemical burns. How much further will this escalate? As young adult women, we serve as older sister figures and set the example. Not just as influencers — but with how we let ourselves be influenced. No one is more guilty than us when it comes to hopping on the latest trends, so of course young girls think they have to do it as well.

Whether it’s Stanleys, Lululemon, Golden Goose shoes or North Face backpacks, choosing to base such large aspects of our physical appearance disproportionately on the most outrageously expensive trends subconsciously perpetuates the unreasonable notion that this is how you measure your self-worth. If we are not careful, this extreme version of “Keeping Up with the Joneses” will continue to ensnare the minds of those who participate by creating an obsession with chasing an unattainable and harmful ideal. So maybe next time you’re thinking of buying your eighth $50 water bottle just because darceymcqueenyyy says blue is the “most perfect cup EVER,” try to remember what sort of message that sends to every little girl who just wants to fit in. Isabella Garcia is an economics sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Don’t rain on my parade

Samuel Falade — THE BATTALION

The intersection of Bizzell Street and College Avenue on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.

Opinion columnist says students should look for the silver lining in rainy days Charis Adkins @Charis_Batt So … how about that weather? The thorough rinsing almost all of Texas received this past week meant one thing here at Texas A&M: students complained about wet feet and used the weather as an excuse to skip out on class. Yes, A&M’s drainage system is almost as bad as our class registration process. Yes, during heavy rainfall, you can see water actively jumping out of manhole covers in favor of puddling on the concrete on the north side of main campus. And yes, College Station is so windy that the rain never falls straight down so umbrellas are kind of useless anyway. I hear your wet socks and inverted umbrellas, and I’ll raise you

empty sidewalks and the beauty of nature. It’s time to stop complaining about the rain and start appreciating it. Everyone around here seems to be secretly made of cotton candy. If as much as a light drizzle is falling, my GroupMe chats are inundated with messages in the spirit of “love having wet shoes in class” and “not coming to campus today, don’t feel like messing with the rain.” That’s actually one of the reasons I love rainy days — campus is much less crowded than on a clear day, which means my walks to class are actually enjoyable. I mean, sure, my $5 Walmart umbrella can’t handle even one gust of honest-to-goodness College Station wind, but that’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make. I will concede that it’s terrifying to walk in the rain when your laptop is only a couple of zippers away

from the gale. Pro tip: If you don’t have a waterproof case, wrap that bad boy up in a couple of gallon Ziplocks and maybe a trash bag or two, then slip on some wellies and maybe a poncho, and you’re golden. I will also concede that being cold and wet is about 10 times worse than just being wet, but let me hit you with a scenario. You finally make it home after a wet, chilly day, drop your stuff at the door and jump straight into a steaming hot shower. Bonus points if you throw your towel into the dryer beforehand so it’s nice and warm when you get out. If that doesn’t sound like heaven on Earth, I don’t know what is. Finally, my last piece of advice for enjoying rainy days: enjoy them. Listen to the raindrops drumming out a cryptic tattoo all around you — on the pavement and leaves, on the roof of your car, around the ribs of

your umbrella. Walking around on a rainy day with one ear plugged into the Lord of the Rings soundtrack is the closest I’ve ever come to feeling like I was on a Middle-earthian adventure. Even without music, rainy days can be an opportunity to just think. In our world of constant screens and speech, being alone with your thoughts can be difficult to achieve. One of the most peaceful summer nights I spent here at A&M was atop the Northside Parking Garage during a heavy storm. 10/10, would recommend — as long as there’s no lightning, obviously. After the last drops have been squeezed from the clouds, it’s still not over yet. I maintain that the whole “find a rainbow after every storm” thing is pretty overstated — I’ve been in a ton of storms and I’ve only seen a handful of rainbows —

but that post-rain smell is divine. True fans know that’s the petrichor charm. Then again, if you’re not really into the whole sensory experience, you could always take solace in the fact that a rainy day means you get to say “Oh yeah, we needed this” to whoever will listen. That’s got to count for something. Either way, I recommend the next time the sky cracks open and raindrops start rapping on your window and beckoning you outside, maybe you should go hear what they have to say. Charis Adkins is an English junior and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

TRADITION

The Battalion | 02.01.24

SILVER TAPS September 1, 2001 — November 4, 2023

Logan Kael Jones By Amy Steward

true Aggie with love for the people and world around him.

Logan was one of those people whose kindness left a permanent impression. More than anything, he cared about those around him, his grandmother Mary Nixon said. “He was very sweet, kind and he always thought about other people before himself,” Mary said. “We could talk about him for hours.” As an Aggie, Logan loved Texas A&M’s traditions and atmosphere, and he hoped to use his experiences to fuel his passion for the environment. Mary said she remembers the moment he realized what he wanted to do. “He called me all excited one afternoon,” Mary said. “He said, ‘There’s this major. It’s urban planning and design. I think this is just perfect for me.’” Logan felt connected to the natural world and wanted to help conserve it through sustainable planning. One of the key moments in his life came after his first year of college. Logan spent that summer working at Rocky Mountain National Park among the mountains and valleys, coming back forever touched by the beauty there. “After that summer, he was sold,” Mary said. “He knew he could preserve these beautiful, majestic landscapes that he just loved. He always loved the mountains.” Logan lived in Boerne and had strong connections to his community. He was an active member of his church and graduated from Boerne High School, where the theatre program and other departments became a second home. He regularly met his former English teacher for coffee, advice and to talk about life. “He used to meet his teacher from high school, Mr. Paul Yoder,” Mary said. “They would meet at Black Rifle Coffee Company and chat and visit. That was one of his favorite places. Yoder delivered Logan’s eulogy in November.” In college, Logan continued to connect with the people around him, both through his major and as a part of Fellowship Church

in Bryan. His mother, Sara Jette, said he was always the one comforting people who were struggling or being there when he was needed. After he passed away, people messaged her and Mary with countless stories of the impact his actions had on them. “I think it’s his kindness for others and thinking more of others than himself that define him,” Sara said. His family said they have many memories of Logan going out of his way to help people. However, it was the little, everyday moments that displayed his personality. “He would always rush to open doors for people,” Mary said. “When he was here, he would just get up and wash dishes. Nobody had to say anything to him. He just did. One of our friends, when I talked to her, she said, ‘I can just see him standing at my kitchen sink right now doing the dishes.’ He had a servant’s heart.” Besides service, Logan had a love for reading, hiking and animals and bonded with his father and older brother through target shooting. He was also known for his sense of humor. “He was always funny, even as a little boy, and blunt,” Mary said. One of her favorite moments was when Logan was about 4 years old and their family was getting ready to go somewhere. “Logan was impatient, and I told him that it took a little time to put everything together so that I looked good when I went out,” Mary said. “He looked at me and he said, ‘Mimi, it’s not working!’” Throughout his four years at A&M, Logan could often be found in his favorite place, the Flag Room, listening to the piano and enjoying its respectful, comforting atmosphere. “He loved the Flag Room,” Mary said. “He would call me sometimes, and he would say, ‘Guess where I am?’ and I could hear a piano playing in the background.” In September, Logan earned his Aggie Ring. His family said he was so excited to get it because he loved the unique parts of A&M and would do everything he could to spread the Aggie Spirit. “He loved the traditions at A&M,” Mary said. “He could tell you all about them. Right before his grandfather passed away, we went

Provided

The family of Logan Kael Jones requests that anybody struggling with mental health be directed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 988 or with campus mental health resources, available online, in-person and over the phone after-hours at (979) 845-2700.

up to visit. He pushed his grandfather in his wheelchair all over campus and he could tell him about almost every building. He knew the campus like the back of his hand. We probably walked three or four miles that day. He loved all those traditions.”

classifieds see ads at thebatt.com

PRINT ADS EQUAL FREE ONLINE CLASSIFIED

SPECIAL

When to call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day

If you pay for a print classified, it runs for free on www.thebatt.com, which receives two million page views every year and this past year had 10.5 million impressions on advertising content placed on the site. The Battalion, thebatt.com and the TX A&M Battalion 1/31/24 Crossword PuzzleJunction.com Maroon Life magazines are great ways to reach readers at Texas A&M.

TX A&M Battalion 1/31/24 Sudoku

7 9 8 1 2 1 7 5 4 7 1 5 8 2

Bryan ISD is seeking a Mandarin Chinese teacher (high school position). If interested, send resume to: HR, 801 S Ennis, Bryan TX 77803

Subleasing ASAP in Northgate. 1 room in a 3 bed, 2 bath unit. Spacious, New York Style. $799 per month. Call (979) 436-7888

6 8 4 3 5 6

Zoe May, Editor-in-Chief

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: www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement byThe Battalion . For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2697. For classified advertising, call 979-845-2697. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com.

5 3 8 6 1 4 2 9 7

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays in the 2024 spring semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Newsstand locations can be found at tx.ag/battstands. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

7 8 1

6 4 2 8 9 7 5 1 3

Emma Moser, Finance Manager Hayden Arevalo, Advertising Manager Ryan Lindner, Opinion Editor Ana Sofia Sloane, Assoc. Opinion Editor Luke White, Sports Editor Hunter Mitchell, Assoc. Sports Editor Kylie Stoner, Assoc. Sports Editor Pranay Dhoopar, Video/Graphics Editor Chris Swann, Social Media Manager Sophie Villarreal, Engagement Manager

1 7 9 3 5 2 6 8 4

CalebElizondo, Managing Editor AnaRenfroe, News Editor Hilani Quinones, Asst. News Editor Kyle Heise, Photo Chief Ishika Samant, Assoc. Photo Chief Sydnei Miles,Life & Arts Editor Amy Steward, Asst. L&A Editor Anna Deardorff, Special Sections Editor Emily Pritchard, Distribution Manager

4 2

Solution

Private home w/ furnished room for rent, private bathroom access to kitchen, security system in quite neighborhood in North Bryan. non smoker (references required) (979) 204-3832

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

8 1 6 5 4 3 7 2 9

FOR RENT

Across

4 5 7 1 2 9 3 6 8

Highly motivated individual needs for medical office to help with patient vital signs , filing, faxing , etc… fax resumes to (979) 776-2271 …part time hours

9 2 3 7 6 8 4 5 1

Senior Boots size 12 1/2. Complete with Boot Bags, Tear Drop Spurs, and Boot Pulls in original box. Medium wear with original soles. Made by Village Cobbler. $675.00. call (214)762-4406. In Allen, Texas.

7 6 4 9 8 5 1 3 2

HELP WANTED

2 8 5 4 3 1 9 7 6

FOR SALE

PuzzleJunction.com

3 9 1 2 7 6 8 4 5

Place an ad Phone 979.845.2697 Suite L400, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University

3 9 1 2

2 8 5 4

7 6 4 9

9 2 3 7

4 5 7 1

8 1 6 5

1 7 9 3

6 4 2 8

5 3 8 6

10 11 12 13 14 15 1 ___ vapeur (steamed) 16 17 18 4 Quick punch 19 20 21 22 7 Massage locale 10 Corgi and pug, 26 27 23 24 25 e.g. 12 Be in arrears 29 30 31 28 13 Cocoon contents 33 34 32 16 Domicile 18 Door sign 35 36 37 38 39 19 Charged particles 20 Big Apple 40 41 42 43 attraction, with 47 48 44 45 46 “the” 21 Gesture of assent 50 51 49 23 Title-holder 26 Dead letters? 53 54 55 52 27 Garden-variety 56 57 58 59 60 61 28 Sweat source 29 Knee/ankle 62 63 64 connector 31 Member of the 65 66 67 Donner party? Copyright ©2024 PuzzleJunction.com 32 Singer DiFranco 33 Sing the praises 58 Period of time 8 Huff and puff 38 News squib of 62 Riding horse 9 It may be framed 39 Not shallow 34 Islands dish 63 Monopolist’s 11 Gunk 41 Tiny bit 35 Border portion 14 Animal toxin 43 Foofaraw 37 Washed-out 64 Scoop 15 Popped up 44 Calendar abbr. 40 Was in front 65 Driver’s need 17 Prune 45 Chimera 41 Like sour grapes 66 Aircraft 20 Time div. 46 White house? 42 1773 jetsam 22 Morse E compartment 47 “Cool” amount 44 Parting word 67 Squirt 23 Busy bee in Apr. 48 Indian 47 Brewer’s need 24 Sharpen metropolis 48 Owner’s Down 25 Jejune 50 “Hyperion” poet acquisition 26 Purge 51 Children’s game 49 Encourage 53 Sicilian rumbler 1 Put two and two 27 Earth 50 Youngster together 29 Hourglass contents 54 Fizzy drink 51 Beat 2 Cattle call 30 Embrace 55 Kind of child 52 Solidify 3 Get older 31 Revolver inventor 57 Toupee, slangily 53 Jellied delicacy 4 Make one 33 Stead 58 Chem class 54 Mine kind 5 Barley beards 34 Hair line 59 Orkin target 56 Sinus of Valsalva 6 Entreat 36 Kind of club 60 Tabloid topic locale 7 Kind of cycle 37 Goombah 61 Fate

SPORTS

BACK TO

BLACK Aggies look to end home stand with win over Gators By Eli Meschko @EliMeschko Open season for alligator hunting in Texas needs to come early for the Aggies. Texas A&M men’s basketball will end its three-game home slate when it faces off with the Florida Gators at Reed Arena on Saturday, Feb. 3. The Maroon and White have only faced off with the Gators 17 times and are 8-9 overall. However, recent history favors the Aggies as they hold a four-game win streak over Florida heading into this matchup. A&M fell to Ole Miss 71-68 in its last time out to drop to 3-4 in the SEC. Shooting problems continued to plague the offense as the Aggies shot just under 40% while making 30% of their 3-pointers. The biggest issue in the loss to the Rebels was free throws. A&M made 22 trips to the line but made 54.5% of its attempts. Although the Aggies won the rebounding battle 42-34, the missed opportunities at the charity stripe proved costly in the end. Junior guard Wade Taylor IV had another monster game with 30 points, but even he shot just 62.5% from the line — nearly 20% lower than his season average. Taylor can’t continue to do it all. He’s accounted for over 25% of A&M’s total points on the year and needs help. Graduate G Tyrece Radford notched his third-straight game scoring double-figures, but he shot just 34% in that stretch. Junior G Jace Carter has struggled to find a shooting rhythm since joining A&M. The Illinois-Chicago transfer is shooting 32% from the field and 20% from 3 — both more

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Junior F Andersson Garcia (11) blocks Tennessee G Zakai Zeigler (5) during the 2023 Blackout game on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Reed Arena.

than 10% lower than last year’s averages. If Carter and Radford can get it going, it may be the boost the offense needs. The Aggie offense will need to find some answers heading into this matchup as the Gators average just over 85 points per game to the Aggies’ 73.8. However, Florida’s defense does give up 8 more points a

game in comparison to A&M. Florida started SEC play 1-3, but has won its last three games and currently sits 4-3 in the conference. Florida has a matchup with No. 10 Kentucky before facing A&M, but the Gators’ explosive offense can be attributed to the fact that they have five players averaging double-digit points — four of whom are guards.

Junior G Walter Clayton Jr. averages nearly 16 points per game and has scored double-figures in all but three games. His backcourt partner, graduate G Zyon Pullin shoots 38% from 3 and has yet to score under 10 points so far this season. Junior G Will Richard averages just under 12 a game and had 18 in the Gators’ overtime win over

Georgia. Sophomore G Riley Kugel has had a rough last three games, but he averages 10.5 points a game and has a season-high of 25. Unlike past games, A&M isn’t the clear favorite to win the rebounding battle as Florida has two players ranked top-5 in rebounding in the conference. Florida graduate forward Tyrese Samuel grabs 8.3 rebounds per game, right behind A&M senior F Andersson Garcia who grabs 8.7 a game. He also averages 13.2 points per game on 59.4% shooting. Sophomore center Micah Handlogten is a force in the middle. He stands at 7-foot-1 and pulls in 7.9 rebounds a game. He also scores 7.4 points a game on 67.4% shooting and while he’s only shot eight 3’s this year, he’s made five of them. The biggest key for both teams is who can win the rebounding battle. Both teams are fantastic at rebounding as A&M ranks seventh in the nation in rebounding margin while the Gators rank close behind at 10th. A&M is the nation’s leader in offensive rebounds at 18.65 per game while Florida is ranked second at 16.25. However, the Gators are ranked 23rd in defensive rebounds at 28.4 while the Aggies are tied for 204th at 25.15. It’s clear that Florida is a superior offensive team. If the Gators can win or keep the rebounding differential about even in this matchup, they have a good chance at running away. But if the Aggies can find a way to dominate the boards, they have a chance at hanging around. Or, if anyone not named Taylor can produce offensively for A&M, the Maroon and White might have a chance at winning against a Florida team that is 1-2 in away SEC games. The matchup will be televised on ESPN 2 with tipoff set for 3 p.m.