The Battalion: March 22, 2017

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 2017 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2017 STUDENT MEDIA | @THEBATTONLINE

A&M changes event policy in response to Richard Spencer visit last December

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By Luke Henkhaus @Luke_Henkhaus Texas A&M has changed its official policy on event hosting after white supremacist Richard Spencer’s controversial speech at the MSC on Dec. 6 sparked protests and debates throughout the A&M campus and community. Under the new policy, external clients must secure a sponsorship from a recognized Texas A&M student organization, academic or administrative unit or from a member of the A&M System before they are permitted to submit a request for use of an on-campus space. By sponsoring an external client, the organization will also be required to attend that client’s event as well as assume responsibility for unpaid costs or property damage associated with the event. University spokeswoman Amy Smith said the policy changes arose out of a concern that future events in the same vein as Spencer’s could lead

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Freshman forward Robert Williams announced Tuesday he will stay at A&M for his sophomore season.

SPENCER ON PG. 3

ONE MORE YEAR

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Freshman Robert Williams announces he will return to Aggieland next year By Lawrence Smelser @LawrenceSmelser

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exas A&M freshman forward Robert Williams announced Tuesday that he will be returning for his sophomore season in Aggieland. Williams, a projected lottery pick and the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year,

met with his family and A&M head coach Billy Kennedy and decided to pass on potentially being a top-10 pick to play another year and improve his game. “First of all, I would like to thank God for blessing me with the awesome opportunity to play at a great university like Texas A&M,” Williams said in a statement. “I would also like to thank my parents, family, coaches, teammates and fans for supporting me through my freshman year. I love A&M and it was a great experience which helped

me grow and get better as a player and a person. Williams went on to explain he felt like he still had room to grow and mature on a college court. “Although I’ve grown, I still feel like I would benefit from another year of college. This will give me more time to mature and develop my game before moving on to the NBA. With that being said I’ve decided I owe it to myself to stay another year at Texas WILLIAMS ON PG. 2

‘A LIFELONG SPORT’

SpaceX recently announced its goal to fly two private citizens around the Moon.

Space tourism now more possible than ever, experts say By Mikayla Andrade @MikaylaAndrade

A&M Equestrian Team ranks 4th in the country’s collegiate teams

As SpaceX continues to push the horizon of space exploration — most recently with its ambitious goal to fly private citizens around the Moon — space tourism is an up-and-coming reality. Since the new year, there has been exciting news about space exploration. A nearby collection of potentially habitable planets was discovered and SpaceX announced that it would send two private citizens around the Moon. As the world population increases, the depletion of resources could necessitate further human

By Madeline Brennan @madkathbren Texas A&M University’s Equestrian Team, composed of 55 Western and Hunt Seat, or English, riders, currently ranks fourth among the nation’s collegiate equestrian teams, having beat TCU 12-7 in the last home competition of the season this past Saturday. On Thursday, the team will compete against Auburn in the SEC Championship for Equestrian. As a year-round sport, Texas A&M’s Equestrian Team competes in shows in the spring and fall, including SEC and national championships. Competitions are free to the public and each one showcases the two disciplines of collegiate riding through four events: Equitation over fences, equitation on flats, horsemanship and reining. Each discipline is made up of 15 riders, with five riders showing at each competition. Riders, like other athletes, are recruited from high schools based on past performances at championships, and the recruitment process often begins as early as junior year. Psychology junior Katie Resnick competes in the horsemanship event, a branch of the western discipline. Horsemanship requires riders to complete a complex pattern of eight maneuvers where they are judged by their positioning and connection with the horse. However, unlike junior or professional riding, amateur, or collegiate, riding requires riders to practice and compete in “catch ride,” or riding unfamiliar horses, in order to diversify their skill, Resnick said. “The name of the game with collegiate equestrian is that you are getting on a horse you’ve never ridden before, riding it for four minutes, and then going off and doing your pattern,” Resnick said. “It’s all about diversity.” Like many of her teammates, Resnick says it’s the love and passion for horseback

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SPACE TOURISM ON PG. 3

A&M prof to give keynote address in Vatican City By Rachel Knight @ReKnight18

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The Texas A&M Equestrian Team will compete against Auburn on Thursday in the SEC Championship for Equestrian.

riding that drives her determination to perform well and proudly represent Texas A&M. Although only a handful of collegiate riders go on to ride professionally, Resnick believes her love of horses will always remain an integral part of who she is. “Horses are not only my hobby, they’re what keep me sane,” Resnick said. “I need

to be around them just to reduce stress, to breathe sometimes. I know my life will always revolve around horses and I will always have horses in my life, whether or not I work directly with them. And that’s the amazing thing about riding — it’s a lifelong EQUESTRIAN ON PG. 2

Texas A&M professor Rabi Mohtar will present his keynote address at Watershed, a conference held in Vatican City intended to start a global conversation about the importance of water to the future. Pope Francis will kick off the conference with his General Audience Wednesday and Mohtar will address the 400 international thought leaders expected to be in attendance at 8:30 p.m. Mohtar said he views Watershed and its unique venue as an opportunity to promote understanding of a global issue on a global stage. “I have been involved in water resources management and raising awareness towards water issues for many years,” Mohtar said. “Vatican City, Rome is a unique platform to continue raising awareness for the importance of water to world economies and sustainability of natural resources. I appreciate the Pope’s humanitarian MOHTAR ON PG. 3


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