The Battalion — November 16, 2023 by The Battalion

We Remember Miranda Denise Adams ‘02 - Christopher D. Breen ‘96 - Michael Stephen Ebanks ‘03 - Jeremy Richard Frampton ‘99 - Jamie Lynn Hand ‘03 - Christopher Lee Heard ‘03 - Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr ‘03 - Lucas John Kimmel ‘03 - Bryan A. McClain ‘02 - Chad A. Powell ‘03 - Jerry Don Self ‘01 - Nathan Scott West ‘02

Samuel Falade — THE BATTALION

BONFIRE

The Battalion | 11.16.23

Photo courtesy of James Williams

Former Bonfire volunteer James Williams’, Class of 1992, Bonfire pots, used to protect volunteers while building the stack and continue to be used today.

Aggie Spirit continues to burn bright Bonfire’s meaning has shifted to remembering, honoring lives lost in 1999 Collapse By Stacy Cox @StacyCox05 The Aggie Spirit persists even after tragedy. Created in 1907, Bonfire “became a symbol of the deep and unique camaraderie that is the Aggie Spirit,” according to Texas A&M. To prepare for the annual event, students would create a stack of vertical logs to burn and bring together 30,000-70,000 people who all shared the burning desire to defeat the University of Texas. With the exception of 1963, the on-campus Bonfire tradition would continue until the tragic Bonfire Collapse in 1999. At about 2:42 a.m. on Nov. 18, 1999, the

Bonfire stack fell during construction and claimed the lives of 12 Aggies and injuring 27 others. The Bonfire Memorial was officially dedicated in 2004 to remember and honor those lost. The site features 89 stones representing the number of years the Bonfire burned on campus, 27 stone panels for each student injured and 12 portals for each life lost. Architecture junior Karli Holland is the chair of the Bonfire Remembrance ceremony for the Traditions Council. “I always thought I knew what the Aggie Spirit was, but it wasn’t until my freshmen year when I went to the Bonfire Remembrance ceremony that I really figured out what it is,” Holland said. After attending her first Bonfire Remembrance ceremony, Holland said it was a turning point for her. “These students are not just names and not just faces,” Holland said. “These people were brothers, sisters, daughters and sons, and I feel

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that it is our duty as Aggies to come out and remember them every November.” After the on-campus collapse, A&M halted Bonfire from being held on campus, but in 2002, Aggies invested in the tradition began holding a student-led, off-campus version. Head stack of Student Bonfire and industrial distributions senior Jackson Gloyna leads volunteers to help assemble an off-campus stack to burn, keeping the Bonfire alive. “It’s what it means to be an Aggie,” Gloyna said. “It’s what an Aggie is. We work hard, and we play hard … It’s something that no other school would be able to fathom what we do here. We really do make the impossible come true.” Former Bonfire volunteer James Williams, Class of 1992, said before the Collapse, Bonfire was known to generate lots of excitement for the University of Texas rival football game. “The Bonfire brought the whole campus together because of all the activities and events to get it to the point where it would burn,”

James said. Former Bonfire volunteer Rob Williams, Class of 1991, said the anticipation for the event was a highlight of fall semesters. “Two things that the fall semester was about, football and the Bonfire, and it was … just as much a part of the culture as saying Gig’em or Howdy,” Rob said. Ever since burn became an off-campus event, Rob said he feels like an important piece of A&M history is missing. “Today, even though we don’t have the actual Bonfire lit and burning itself, the Aggie Spirit still burns within us, and the spirit of those that passed away will always be in our hearts,” Holland said. “Despite our losses, we’re still the tight-knit community that we were back then, it’s still gonna be part of who we are as Aggies, and that spirit just always works.” The Bonfire Remembrance ceremony will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2:42 a.m. at the Bonfire Memorial.

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BONFIRE

The Battalion | 11.16.23

Perspective: ‘We burn to build again’ Opinion columnist says Student Bonfire unites Aggies in Spirit, labor Charis Adkins @Charis_Batt Aggie Bonfire: We burn to build again. Since its beginning as a small trash fire in 1907, Bonfire has burned bright almost every year as a testament to Aggies’ undying flame of love for their school — and, of course, the burning desire to beat the hell outta TU. For those who build it, Bonfire symbolizes the Aggie Spirit and perseverance. More than that, it’s about spending early mornings and incredibly late nights with people you can count on. In the woods and at Stack site, your worth isn’t determined by exam scores, essays or your GPA. You’re measured by the time and sheer effort you put into the organization and the hours of sleep you squander just to build something out of nothing. Describing Bonfire to someone who’s never experienced it is almost as impossible as finding a toucan in the woods, but I’ll try my best. I was a bit of a late bloomer as a fish, so my first Bonfire event was Halloween stack 2021. I knew next to nothing going into it, having been assured that I’d “figure it out” once I got there. After spending 20 minutes riding silently in a coupe with a man adorned as Megamind in head-to-toe blue body paint and a black cape and another man dressed as Wong from Dr. Strange, shaved head and all, I was ready for anything. Surprisingly, “anything” wasn’t enough. You have to remember, I knew literally nothing going into this. I was even shaky on who the Redpots — the head honchos, for those uninitiated — were. We got out of the car and immediately people were yelling “I need some meat!” and students were running every which way with one hand on their pots like 1940s businessmen late to a board meeting, clutching their fedoras against the wind. Come to find out, “meat” is just anyone without a position of leadership. After a short calibration period, I moved my first log, standing far on tree end across from a girl with a Blue’s Clues shirt who cursed like a sailor. She helped me with the calls — it was a small log, a good one to learn on — and thanks to our height I saw her on most of the other logs I got under that night.

Photo courtesy of Jerome Lednicky

Bonfire members gather at sunset to slam logs to build the stack at the burn site on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.

After moving logs for a while I found myself on a rope about to slam a massive log onto Stack. This is accomplished manually thanks to a pulley system, but due to the size of the log most of the meat was on that rope. It still took us a good bit of pulling, but there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing bark crash against bark and knowing that you and your fish buddies did that. I loved every minute of Halloween stack, so much so that I went back the next day, and the next, and before I knew it, we were slamming dorm logs and I hadn’t missed a single one. Bonfire supplied something I had been missing in college — a step back from grades and homework, just spending 6-8 hours with a bunch of other people who love tradition and working with their hands. We built Bonfire by hand that year, as we

have every year before and will every year in the future. But it’s about more than just building the fire … to quote the old adage, “It’s about the friends we make along the way.” The connections you make from Bonfire are something special. Trust is quick to build — you don’t jump underneath a 500-pound log without believing that your buddies will help you keep it up. Your crew is the reason you’ll spend nine hours in the Texas heat swinging on trees or hefting logs onto trailers and still leave with a smile. I’ll never have conversations like the ones I shared with my fish buddies while downswinging in the woods or sitting around on logs during push shifts when the cold sets in. Bonfire becomes your family, especially during the throes of November. It’s fun — every crew has its little idiosyncrasies. For example, if you ever want to see a man go

rabid, find anyone in Walton and say the word “load.” These values and connections are why, to anyone in Bonfire today, it’s about more than just building a big fire and hoping we beat the LSU kitty cats. It’s about the sting of blisters, faded Dixie Chicken hats and falling a log right where you want it for the first time. It’s about foggy mornings on Highway 6 and Brownpot specials around perimeter fires, about the scream of chainsaws and holes in your grodes and the last time you ever hump it to yell “Build the hell outta Bonfire.” It takes all of that to realize that Aggies don’t build Bonfire. Bonfire builds us. Charis Adkins is an English junior and opinion columnist for The Battalion.

Former Battalion editors reflect on Bonfire Fall 1999 student newspaper staffers remember coverage of the tragic accident By John Chapa @JDChapaBatt A quarter of a century ago, tragedy struck campus after the 1999 annual Bonfire collapsed and killed 12 students. Two former Battalion staff members discussed their experience covering the tragic event and how the Aggie community came together after the collapse. On Nov. 18, at 2:42 a.m., the Bonfire stack collapsed. Fall 1999 Campus Editor Emily Snooks, Class of 1999, said she received a call from another staffer shortly after the stack fell, who helped break the story before any other media outlet. “I think Doug Shilling, our sports editor at the time, called [in] a panic stricken voice, saying, ‘Stack fell,’” Snooks said. “I said, ‘I’m on my way,’ got in the car and headed for the Polo fields. It was too early for the press to be there, but there were EMTs and fire department working on the scene.” Snooks recalled the sound of generators

powering the lights shining on the stack, which forced students to make quick decisions, she said. “The response team in charge … debated about whether they should shut down the lights and the sound of the generators because they were trying to hear people groaning or tapping on a log,” Snooks said. “With people that were stuck inside this massive pile of logs, this was the only way they could hear and know if there was a student somewhere in the stack.” Snooks and a few Battalion members worked on the story immediately following the event. The Battalion printed daily at the time and halted the printing process that night to include the Bonfire Collapse story in the morning issue, Snooks said. “The night of Bonfire [Collapse] is the one time that we had to say, ‘Stop the presses’ because the paper was going to go in print for the next day without any mention of Bonfire,” Snooks said. “We had already put the paper to bed, but we had to stop the presses and still get something printed so students would have something in the morning, information about what happened on campus.” Fall 1999 City Editor Carrie Ward, Class of 2000, said she had just visited the stack the night before the accident and remembered the mayhem that ensued over the next week. “The night before, my boyfriend, who’s

now my husband, and I had gone after I got off work from The Battalion,” Ward said. “We grabbed a sandwich or something and sat in front of the Bonfire, sitting, eating and watching them work on it. We left and next thing I know, we’re getting phone calls, hearing sirens and hustling around to find out what is happening. People trickled in with different stories and things they had seen. It was traumatic.” Snooks said students, the community and businesses viewed The Battalion as the local news source back then because of the publication’s extensive local and state coverage. “It was something that was written by students for students,” Snooks said. “There was an academic advisor, but it wasn’t a heavy-handed advisor at all. The newspaper was very autonomous. We managed our budget ourselves and printed every day. I’m fairly certain we didn’t include AP stories at the time. I remember The Daily Texan did. We focused on only local and state stories covered by students. That is something that I thought was very unique to The Battalion.” In addition to the stack falling, Snooks said multiple tragic events happened in the 1999 fall semester, taking a toll on the newsroom and the student body. “In September, there was a skydiving accident with [five] students,” Snooks said. “Then, there was a group of students walk-

ing to a fraternity party who were struck and killed by a car. I remember the editors and I would talk about how it was a tough, challenging semester covering a lot of deaths.” Fall in 1999 was solemn, but powerful. The tragic accident strengthened the Aggie community and a special moment at the last football game that season strengthened the value of remembrance, Snooks said. “I will never forget that during the [A&M]/ UT game that following week we had a ‘silent T,’ meaning the band ended their performance at halftime by not playing any music and formed the [Block] T,” Snooks said. “There were several minutes of silence across all of Kyle Field as the T moved off the field. So quiet, you could hear birds.” Reflecting on her days in the newsroom, Snooks said she misses working with her colleagues the most and working in the newsroom late trying to make print deadline. Ward said nothing could’ve prepared the students for covering these heavy pieces. “It was kind of an honor to share these people’s stories, making sure that all these people who died were honored,” Ward said. “Trying to do that in a very respectful way, you learned a lot of lessons on how to talk to people and cover a story while being very respectful. Balance the two and not cross lines.”

STORY OF THE

STACK A comprehensive evaluation and timeline of the Bonfire Collapase Illustration by Nikhil Vadi @nv.deluxe

Story by Caleb Elizondo @CalebElizondo7 Following the 1999 Bonfire Collapse, Texas A&M asked an independent commission to determine the cause of the Collapse. Their findings were published in a 38-page final report on May 2, 2000. According to the report, Bonfire stacks became increasingly complex over time as students added new features and size “nearly every year.” The university was also not heavily involved in the construction despite the increasing scale, and

6’

height and diameter restrictions were “never well communicated or enforced.” The report attributes the Collapse to both physical and organizational factors. Physical factors included the aggressive wedging of second-stack logs into the first stack and insufficiently-strong wires used to tie logs together. The stack did not utilize steel cables, despite using them in previous years. These factors, and several others, resulted in the root cause of the Collapse: an excessive outward force and lack of containment, or hoop, strength. According to the report, the second-stack logs produced an excessive force that the wires could not contain, resulting in the stack shifting, center pole fractures and shortly the Collapse. The report said these physical failures were rooted in organizational shortcomings including the lack of a design process and risk management. “This failure, which had its roots in decisions and actions by both students and university officials over many years, created an environment in which a complex and dangerous structure was allowed to be built without adequate physical or engineering controls,” the report reads. All information present in these diagrams is courtesy of the report.

8’

11’ Stack 2

Stack 3 Stack 1 Stack 4

Cavity Bonfire Stack Collapse Diagram

13’

ter

Pe ri

ter

Entrance

Food TentCISD Tent

CommandPost

CenterPole

Dire ct Fal ionof l

15’

Morgue

RehabTents N E

W S

Map of Area of Post-Collapse

20’

Over 400 volunteers gather to assist inrescueefforts

4 students are confirmed dead

10:14 a.m.

8:35 a.m.

Heavy equipment arrives to dismantle Bonfire

8:30 a.m.

The center pole snaps and falls within seven seconds

8:00 a.m.

2:49 a.m.

Rescue units arrive on the scene

4:00 a.m.

Bonfire Advisor Rusty Thompson and senior Red-Pots inspect stack

FHK, Moses, and Aston Halls, Companies D-2, K-2, C-2, and Squadron 16 and 17 begin their shift

2:28 a.m.

10:30 p.m.

Timeline of Events from November 17-18, 1999

12:00 a.m.

6’

First official press conference is held announcing progress and current fatalities; Ray Bowen announces cancellation of the 1999 Bonfire

Results of motion detectorarereleased; tappingandmoaning are heard

Upper logs wedged between lower logs

Wedging Effect

Upper logs wedged between lower logs

Lack of inward sloping stacks

Vertical Log Effect

Upper logs wedged between lower logs Morebuilt-outonupper stack creates more stress on lower stack

Lack of inward sloping stacks

Overbuilding Effect Center pole and upper stacksbuiltoutvertically Upper logs wedged between lower logs Morebuilt-outonupper stack creates more stress on lower stack

Ground Slope Effect

Lack of inward sloping stacks First stack built out perpendicular to ground, but topped-off horizontally

Hoop stress - from internal forces pushing outward

10 students are confirmeddead, 1 unconfirmed

Hoop Stress and Hoop Strength Defined

Night

ReedArena Memorial Service

12:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m. Last time moaning andtapping are heard

9 students are confirmed dead; Fire Department initiates a more aggressive dismantling of base level

7:00 p.m.

Task Force One arrives on the site

6 students are confirmed dead

1:30 p.m.

11:15 a.m.

12:05 p.m.

Hoop strenght capacity to withstand hoop stress

Privatevigilsand rescue efforts continueintothe night

NEWS

The Battalion | 11.16.23

New US archivist visits Bush Library

Shogan discusses importance, role of National Archives By Stacy Cox @StacyCox05 On Wednesday, Nov. 15, recently-appointed Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, Ph.D., toured the George H.W. Bush Presidential Museum and Library, where she could experience first-hand the importance of these museums and libraries. Shogan assumed her role in May after being appointed as the first woman to be the National Archivist by President Joe Biden. Prior to her current position, Shogan served in a number of positions on Capitol Hill, such as senior vice president and director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association. She has also worked in the U.S. Senate and the Library of Congress. As the archivist, Shogan is responsible for storing, safeguarding and displaying historical national documents and artifacts within the National Archives and Records Administration, or NARA. The responsibility of America’s Archives is to secure the information, provide resources and inform the public of our history. NARA displays documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights in Washington, D.C. “At the National Archives, we are the record keeper of the United States … we are the place where all of the records of important decisions and moments in U.S. history,” Shogan said. Shogan said she sees the archives as an essential resource for holding the public and

elected officials accountable for their actions. “All democracies, no matter what format or degree, must have transparency and accountability,” Shogan said. “If you don’t have that in a democracy, you won’t be able to sustain the vitality of democracy for very long because you are cutting off the ability of the citizens to be able to influence their government.” Shogan said these records are vital to help sustain America’s government. “Without those records, you can not have accountability,” Shogan said. “Without accountability, you cannot have a healthy, working democracy.” Recently, Shogan has initiated a promising educational program associated with the National Archives. NARA has begun expanding its programming for education and K-12 teacher resources for American history and civics classes. “If you are a [student] and you haven’t been over to the Bush Library … you should absolutely do so because this is an amazing resource to learn about an entire era of American history told through the life of President Bush,” Shogan said. Shogan said she encourages students to help serve our country in any way possible, regardless of the act. For students interested in public service, Shogan noted there is no time or place to get involved, especially because of many current political divisions. “It can be challenging today when we look at our politics and society because we see a lot of divisiveness,” Shogan said. “However, if you genuinely believe that you have something to offer to our country and nation, whether that’s in running the National Archives like I am doing, I would absolutely encourage [students] to explore that interest.” For students interested in learning more

Samuel Falade — THE BATTALION

First female appointed U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan, Ph.D., takes a tour of George Bush Library and Museum in College Station on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.

about the National Archives, Marketing and Communications Director of NARA Amy Raines said there are multiple opportunities to get involved with the agency, such as attending one of the many programs it holds. Robert Holzweiss, Ph.D., is the Acting Director of the Bush Presidential Library and Museum and explained the process for obtaining new artifacts and documents, which help keep the National Archives alive. Bush Library and Museum views most donated items, according to its artifact donation guidelines. While not all are accepted if the item has significance regarding the Bush Library and Museum, the item will be considered for display, that is if that individual with the item went through the proper procedures. “We don’t want people just to drop off the item,” Holzweiss said. “We want people to

contact us in advance through bush41.org. There’s contact information based on what department your item may belong to.” Director of the Office of Presidential Libraries Kara Blond encouraged students to utilize their free admission to the Bush Library and Museum to connect with areas of interest. “You can take historical examples of foreign policy, immigration, et cetera and compare it to what we see today,” Blond said. “Overall, helping students draw a connection in their everyday life and education.” The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Texas oysters in dire straits

Unprecedented heat, overfishing threaten local ecosystem By J.M. Wise @j_m_wise25

This summer, as unprecedented heat waves and droughts rocked the continental U.S., the Texas oyster fishing community was shocked by plummeting oyster counts and increasing levels of diseases. The threat continues to impact the local economy and the future health of Galveston Bay, according to local experts. Texas A&M-Galveston Ph.D. student Aurora Gaona Hernandez spent the summer studying oyster populations and discovered an alarming trend. “We have been observing … a decrease in the population of the oysters,” Hernandez said. “They have reduced up to 80% of their historical population. Recently, I have performed a study in the Bay, and I have found moderate to heavy infection intensity of [dermo] disease … two weeks ago I went to the Bay, and 80% of the oysters I pulled out were dead.” Dermo disease, also known as Perkinsus marinus, is a parasite that attacks oyster tissue and is responsible for oyster reef collapses and mass die-off events in the Gulf. “Texas Parks and Wildlife has found that due to the decrease in oyster population, some fishing

spots have had to be closed,” Hernandez said. “A lot of people have been affected by this.” Galveston Bay ecosystem leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Christine Jensen has over 20 years of experience working with oyster populations in the Gulf Coast and attributes many of the declines to overfishing. “There has been a decrease in the oyster population since the early 2000s,” Jensen said. “Most of it is overfishing from pressures in [Galveston] Bay, but climate change also plays a role in [decreasing catches].” The increasing environmental pressures combined with overfishing cut the 2022 oyster season short, reducing it to six weeks from the six months it normally lasts. “Mother Nature gave us a onetwo punch with droughts and floods,” Jensen said. “In droughts … the salinity of the ocean increases … which increases the number of predators and also brings in more diseases. Floods cover the oysters with sediment, and that happened with [Hurricane] Ike and Hurricane Harvey.” Spending many summers fishing since 2008, international studies senior Jakob Holzweiss said he has witnessed firsthand the declining oyster populations and the negative effects it has on the Texas economy. “I have noted that due to … population declines, there’s less fish in Matagorda [Bay] specifically,” Holzweiss said. Holzweiss said he has noticed less bait being sold and less fishing boats out on the water.

Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Texas game wardens inspect for commercial oyster harvest compliance during Operation Bahia de Aransas.

“There’s less bait fishermen… their sales have gone down,” Holzweiss said. “Not exponentially, but minorly … I have rarely caught anything that I understood to be diseased, but I agree with the decline in quality of seafood catches.” To help raise awareness, Hernandez is presenting her findings at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation conference and hopes that her research findings will incentivize locals and scientists to support conservation efforts. From her findings, Hernandez said there are higher infection levels than past data, and 50% of oysters

are infected with parasites, ranging from mild to moderate levels. “Oysters are valuable economic resources, but they are also habitat builders … when oysters decrease, other species that depend on them will decrease as well,” Hernandez said. “Oysters are related to everything else in the bay.” The Texas Parks and Wildlife system continues to support conservation efforts and is looking to expand them in the future, Jensen said. “Oyster mariculture is moving a lot of catches from public to private farming, and that’s taking off a lot of pressure from overfishing,” Jen-

sen said. “[Texas Parks and Wildlife] also has a leasing program … where we say, ‘You can grow oysters here in this area, on the bottom of the sea, instead of a cage,’ and that’s also bringing in a lot of support.” Oysters are crucial since they’re one of the only resources that is both a fishery and a habitat for organisms, Jensen said. “They’re critical for the local environment, they filter the water as well as protect the shoreline,” Jensen said. “Oysters are also very resilient … I have hope they can rebound and come back.”

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OPINION

The Battalion | 11.16.23

Zombie apocalypse in Aggieland? Opinion columnist Benjamin Barnes says lifeless classrooms are creating lifeless students

Madeline Tesch — THE BATTALION

Physics students in the MPHY 205 classroom congregate for their 10:00 am physics class.

Benjamin Barnes @Ben_Batt24 Attention! This is a PSA to all students at Texas A&M: we’re in a pandemic. No, not the one that started in 2020. This one has surprisingly flown under the radar and appears to be confined to the classroom. Early reports are saying it is highly contagious and possibly correlated to prolonged exposure to distractions on personal devices. Common symptoms among the infected include the inability to contribute to meaningful discussions, refusal to make eye-contact with professors, tuning out lecture material and a contorted posture that is usually hunched over a laptop. Witnesses are comparing the infected to ghoulish zombies. In all seriousness, tell me this isn’t exactly how most lectures go down. Unenthused students drag their feet to class in an attempt to intermittently take notes in between iMessaging others and catching up on work for other classes. While playing Snake and reviewing slides for other classes may seem harmless enough, there are a few problems with this behavior. The most obvious dilemma is that you’re bumming out your profs, man. How would you feel if you became one of the nation’s best in your field of expertise and then were expected to gleefully instruct a class full of tepid guys and girls who start packing their bags five minutes before your 50-minute class ends? This is after they’ve scrolled through TikTok and sent Snapchats the other 45-minutes, of course. “They post the slides online, what’s the big deal?” This is precisely the issue. When did it be-

come normal for students to find skipping class a more productive use of their time than not? For the students who do show up, that’s great. I applaud you. I’m sure every professor enjoys a full classroom, but what difference does it make if you’re not actually going to be fully present? And yes, I know this isn’t indicative of every student — there are always a few good ones in every class. Nonetheless, it’s hard for a professor to drive home a point if they’re forced to extract answers from the same four students every time they ask a question. Take it from Jennifer Mercieca, Ph.D., a rhetoric and cultural studies professor at A&M. She noticed first-hand a drop in students’ engagement over the last few semesters and attributed it to a change in what is deemed acceptable inside the classroom. “When I was in school, I was always the student who wanted to sit and argue with the professor, and I feel like that’s how you get the most out of college,” Mercieca said. “You just don’t get that anymore.” When students come to class and are glued to their laptops, Mercieca said she feels left in the dark. “I’ve always assumed that students must be very overburdened with other work and are likely doing the readings for other classes,” Mercieca said. Sadly, this is something we’re all guilty of at some point or another — I’m no exception. However, I’d say this is a problem that goes beyond students just being attached to their devices. From my perspective as a student in this age of high-tech innovation, part of the problem is that technology has outpaced our traditional learning model. The college learning structure is roughly the same as it was 40-years ago: show up, sit down and take notes over what’s

on the board. Don’t even get me started on the fact scantrons are still a thing. When students can share their notes with the press of a button or watch crash course videos covering the same material covered in lecture, there is little motivation to show up. Sharing a similar sentiment, communication junior Emily Hansen said most classrooms are suffering due to a lack of creative approaches. “Professors get up there and teach straight from the powerpoint, which we already have access to after class … so it’s like the thing that would motivate us to go to class is missing,” Hansen said. Hansen also said professors used to be the sole bearers of this information, which is no longer true. “It’s almost like we’re just here just to get our degree,” Hansen said. “You can find almost anything the professor is teaching online, but you’re not going to get a degree from A&M online.” So, how do we bridge this divide between professors and the rising army of the undead students? I’m afraid it’s not as simple as doing away with technology or prohibiting professors from posting their slides on Canvas. Instead, this change can only start with people working together to find better ways to implement technology while also building synergetic environments students can’t get outside of the classroom. “I feel like I go all in,” professor, doctorate student and resilience coach Andrew Christjoy said. Christjoy teaches two communication courses and has steadily built a reputation among students and staff as being a captivating teacher. “There is maybe a mystique at the university level where you [professors] have to be reserved and professional … but I also feel like

people really appreciate energy and passion,” Christjoy said. Having started his profession in special education, this is the area to which he attributes most of his success inside the classroom. Christjoy says his biggest takeaway was figuring out how to accommodate students with various disabilities and then catering towards the areas of learning that worked for them. “Nowadays it’s not like you just have [the students’] respect, you have to earn it,” Christjoy said. Christjoy said he thinks this is entirely achievable through collaboration and more engaging lesson plans. Above all, Christjoy said professors need to make personal connections with their students. “I care about them as people, and if we lose that and simply structure education to checking things off a box … then I think we’re completely missing our mission in academia,” Christjoy said. Based on Christjoy’s advice and student input, it is apparent that professors need to build lectures around their personal strengths and encourage open discussions. As for us students, we need to prioritize our professors’ time and realize that the benefits of interacting in a classroom will no longer be available to most of us after our brief four years at this institution are over. What exactly do we gain from taking this privilege for granted? Well, there you have it. The cure to students’ zombified habits lies not in a miraculous antidote but in efforts to create instruction that mirrors human connection. If we continue to allow our classroom to wither up and die, we can’t be surprised when students follow suit. Benjamin Barnes is a telecommunication media studies senior and opinion columnist for The Bat-

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Zoe May, Editor-in-Chief Emma Moser, Business Manager Hayden Arevalo, Business Manager Ryan Lindner,Opinion Editor Ana Sofia Sloane, Asst. Opinion Editor Luke White,Sports Editor Hunter Mitchell, Asst. Sports Editor Kylie Stoner, Asst. Sports Editor Pranay Dhoopar,Video/Graphics Editor Chris Swann, Social Media Manager Sophie Villarreal, Engagement Manager

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SPORTS

JIMBO FIRED

A&M athletics buys out Fisher’s contract, begins search for new football head coach By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

On Sunday, Nov. 12, Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork addressed the media after the announcement that Jimbo Fisher had been relieved of his duties early Sunday morning. Mark Robinson, associate director of football operations, was also let go. “We are not in the championship conversation and something was not quite right about our direction and the plan,” Bjork said. Bjork said he came to the conclusion after last Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss, and recommended to Interim President Mark Welsh III that a change had to be made the following Sunday night. “Athletic Director Ross Bjork has my full support as he begins a national search for a new head coach,” Welsh wrote in a statement. “I am confident he will find a great coach and leader with a commitment to the values that drive Texas A&M.” With the resources available to them, A&M football was not reaching its full potential, Bjork said, and despite a blowout victory against Mississippi State the night prior, A&M Athletics had to move quickly with the early signing period approaching next month. “You’re either moving forward, or you’re stuck,” Bjork said. “We were stuck … You know how you’re driving down the highway and it’s a four-lane road … I like 75-80 [MPH]. Somebody’s in the left lane, and they’re going

55 and they won’t move over. We were that car going 55. Something had to give.” Defensive line coach Elijah Robinson will fill in as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Bjork said part of the timing for the firing was so Robinson could get used to the role against an easier opponent in Abilene Christian as opposed to LSU or A&M’s future bowl matchup. “Elijah is all about the players,” Bjork said. “The reaction was awesome today when he spoke to the team. I wanted somebody that players would gravitate towards. It’s going to be a lot coming their way. We know what that means. I’ve already seen a lot of positivity about his leadership.” Fisher’s termination will cost a $76.8 million buyout; Bjork said Texas A&M Athletics and the 12th Man Foundation will soley pay the full amount. “We will use unrestricted contributions within the 12th Man Foundation for the first one-time payments,” Bjork said. “The athletic department will fund the annual payments for the remaining portion by growing our revenues and adjusting our annual operating budget accordingly.” Bjork said that he will hire a football advisory group to help in the search for a new head coach, as well as gather information from former players and industry experts. “Here’s the profile of what we will work from,” Bjork said. “A coach that has a program identity, great interpersonal skills, track record of player development, commitment to academics, a recruiting machine, supreme organizational skills, culture of discipline, passion for the game, proven winner, strong leadership skills, involved in the community, of course knowledge of X’s and O’s and someone that understands and also can capitalize in today’s modern-day athletics.”

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Former head coach Jimbo Fisher questions a referee’s call during Texas A&M’s game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

New coach, same kick time A&M hosts ACU in final home game of season at 11 a.m. with interim coach Elijah Robinson

By Cade Harris @cadeharris_ This Saturday, as the Aggie Intro plays and the fireworks shoot off, it won’t be Jimbo Fisher who runs Texas A&M out of the tunnel. Rather, it will be interim head coach Elijah Robinson and the Aggies who are set for their first game without Fisher in six years. The news came Sunday morning that the Maroon and White were moving on from Fisher after the Aggies annihilated Mississippi State 51-10 in front of over 103,000 at Kyle Field. Coming into College Station on Saturday is Abilene Christian, who will be playing its final game of the season with a 5-5 record. Talent-wise, the gap is large between the Aggies and Wildcats, with ACU playing in the FCS ranks. The result on the field is predictable, however the way that result is reached is in question. With Robinson at the helm, things are likely to change with the Aggies’ play on the field. It is uncertain how much Fisher let offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino call plays on his own, but that could be answered if the offense looks different than it has all season. The offense already looked new and im-

Julianne Shivers— THE BATTALION

Sophomore QB Jaylen Henderson (16) runs through a tackle in Texas A&M’s game against Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 at Kyle Field.

proved last weekend against the Bulldogs, as the Maroon and White were forced to make a switch at quarterback with redshirt sophomore Max Johnson being unavailable. Fresno State transfer sophomore quarterback Jaylen Henderson got his first start for the Aggies against MSU.

However, if someone did not know Henderson was in his first start, they might have thought he was a veteran given his quick decisions on throwing the ball and fast pace on the field. Henderson accounted for four touchdowns in the game, splitting them evenly between passing and rushing scores.

This week, it is still uncertain who will be the starter at quarterback for the Aggies. “Coach Petrino has a great resume, and I trust and believe in him and everything he decides to do moving forward with the offense whether Max [Johnson] is available or not or Jaylen [Henderson] is available or not,” Robinson said. “I trust him to do the right thing for these players and for this program to make sure that we are in the best situation to win.” When given a new leader, preparation for the games are likely to be different as well. Robinson alluded to that, while emphasizing that the players are of the most importance. “We’re going to do things that’s going to allow those guys to have fun, play with juice and energy and understand that it’s going to be okay,” Robinson said. “Whatever that is, as a staff we’re going to come together to make sure that we make the adjustments that need to happen for those guys to enjoy this next few weeks and to play as well as possible.” Some Aggie fans may worry that the buyin from the players will not be as strong now that their head coach is no longer with them. Given the brotherhood the players have with one another, Robinson suggested that wasn’t something he’s worried about. “We have a unique group of guys, and we have a great leadership crew,” Robinson said. . “Those guys will get them riled up, they’ll get them ready to go, and we’ll prepare the same then we’ll be ready to go on Saturday.” As far as the Wildcats are concerned, it’s uncertain how their players will stack up PREVIEW ON PG. B2

SPORTS

The Battalion | 11.16.23

PREVIEW CONTINUED FROM B1 against power-five competition with this weekend’s game being their first of such. ACU junior quarterback Maverick McIvor needs 177 yards passing to eclipse the 2,000 mark. McIvor has also shown the ability to take care of the football, throwing just five interceptions this season, however there is no

doubt Molver is up against the toughest defense he has faced all season with the Aggies ranked No. 12 in FBS in total defense. Overall, it will be a major mismatch this weekend. ACU ranks No. 72 in FCS in total offense and No. 115 in total defense. Those rankings are alarming for a team coming into a hostile environment with the second best total defense in the SEC and an offense ranked

No. 52 in FBS. Regardless of the gap in talent, the Maroon and White faithful will want to pay close attention to the way the team is run by Robinson. He has been asked about being a contender for the full-time job. Athletic director Ross Bjork said that everyone is being considered. “Right now, everybody is a candidate,” Bjork said at his press conference on Sunday

when he addressed the media over Fisher’s firing. If Robinson can lead the Aggies to a 3-0 finish that includes a win in Baton Rouge and a victory in the bowl game, he may make a case for the job. However, that all starts this weekend at 11 a.m. when the Aggies look to avoid being scratched by the Cats.

ONWARD WE GO CJ Smith & Julianne Shivers — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M’s Women’s Soccer defeated Colorado 1-0 to advance to the second round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament at on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 at Ellis Field.

Aggie soccer takes on Florida State in rematch for second round of NCAA Tournament By Kylie Stoner @sportsbystoner It’s time for a rematch against No. 1 in the nation. Texas A&M soccer hosted Florida State for its first game of the season in August. The tables have turned with the Aggies traveling to Tallahassee, Florida to play the Seminoles in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The garnet and gold completed their first undefeated season with a 16-0-1 record. The only tie was to North Carolina in September with three goals per side. The Maroon and White were far from an unbeaten season with a record of 10-7-4. In the early season match, Florida State struck first with a goal by senior forward Beata Olsson. The game was equalized for A&M with graduate forward Sammy Smith’s header goal. The Seminoles pulled ahead with a late goal by junior midfielder and forward Taylor Huff. Late goal losses and poor shot-to-goal ratios were the epitome of Aggie soccer’s season. A&M totaled 389 shots to 45 goals while its

opponents shot nearly half the amount at 196 with 23 goals. Florida State shot 335 times to result in 59 goals. The Aggies need to finish their chances to pull ahead of the best team in the country. That’s easier said than done, but with A&M’s chances mostly beginning from transition, it must make each shot count. The Maroon and White’s young backline will be tasked with containing senior midfielder Onyi Echegini, Florida State’s leading goal scorer with 13 this season. She played only 59 minutes against A&M in August, but is expected to have more field time if the Maroon and White stay competitive throughout the match. While senior forward Jazmine Wilkinson is the leading goal scorer for the Aggies with 10,

nine other players have two or more goals, sharing the wealth. Every player on the pitch for A&M can score, and that goes all the way back to fifth-year goalkeeper Kenna Caldwell. Saving 55 shots this season, Caldwell has also gotten on the scoresheet with a free kick from distance against Tulsa in August. Junior and freshman defenders Macy and Margo Matula have played over 3,400 minutes combined as the defense’s most stable assets. The Aggies and the Seminoles will kickoff at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 at the Seminole Soccer Complex and can be streamed on ESPN+.

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SPORTS

The Battalion | 11.16.23

PLAYERS TO WATCH: ACU

By Eric Liu @ _ericliu12

Coming off of a tumultuous week with a blowout win over Mississippi State and the shock firing of Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M plays Abilene Christian in hopes of securing a winning record this season. Here are the players to watch when the Aggies face the Wildcats in their final home game of the 2023 season at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11:00 a.m. Blayne Taylor, Abilene Christian wide receiver Though Abilene Christian has a mediocre offense by most metrics, they have a tremendous weapon on the outside in 6-foot-5-inch junior wide receiver Blayne Taylor. Taylor combines his huge frame with surprising speed on the outside in the mold of a prototypical X-receiver. Known for his big-play ability, Taylor averages 16.0 yards per reception and currently leads the team in receiving yards with 543 and receiving touchdowns with seven. Against Tarleton State last week, Taylor showcased his skillset when he caught a beautiful back-shoulder fade in the endzone over a Texan defender. Senior A&M defensive back Demani Richardson will be tasked with guarding him on the outside as the Aggie’s best player in the secondary. Neutralizing Taylor will be key for the Aggies to shut down the Wildcat offense. Jaylen Henderson, A&M quarterback When tasked to fill in for sophomore quarterback Max Johnson last week, sophomore Jaylen Henderson seized the opportunity and ran with it, throwing for 150 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 60 yards and another two touchdowns. With Johnson’s health in question for this game, Henderson may be tasked with lead-

Megan Williams — THE BATTALION

Sophomore DL Walter Nolen (0) celebrates after sacking Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (4) during Texas A&M’s football game against Alabama at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

ing the Aggie offense for the second-straight week. Henderson’s running ability faces a terrific matchup against the Wildcat rushing defense which ranks ninth in the FCS at 213.4

yards per game. Henderson is willing and able to attack downfield, and with Abilene Christian having a poor pass rush that has only managed

11 sacks this year, he should have plenty of time throwing it deep. Henderson’s electric play will be a big factor in what should be an Aggie offensive explosion. Patrick Jolly, Abilene Christian defensive back Although the Wildcat pass defense has surrendered a middle-of-the-pack 242 yards per game up to this point, they have an exceptional 11 interceptions with senior Patrick Jolly leading the team with four himself. Jolly, a UCLA transfer, has performed wonderfully as the team’s defacto No. 1 cornerback, getting nine pass breakups while largely getting matched up with the opposing team’s best receiver on the outside. Jolly will have his hands full with the Aggie’s wide receiver group, as graduate Ainias Smith and sophomore Noah Thomas will test him with their speed and agility on routes near the line of scrimmage. Combined with the fact that sophomore Evan Stewart may potentially return this week, makes it so Jolly will face better receivers than he’s seen all year. His ability to create turnovers will be a major factor if Abilene Christian hopes to pull off the upset. Walter Nolen, A&M defensive tackle After racking up another four sacks versus Mississippi State, A&M currently ranks first in the FBS with 39 sacks on the year. While Bednarik Award semifinalist junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper leads the team with eight sacks, sophomore Walter Nolen’s ability to soak up double teams has given easier matchups when rushing from the outside. The Wildcat’s offensive line might be their strongest position group as they’ve only surrendered 11 sacks total. However, the inside of their line is vulnerable, which is Nolen’s area of expertise. If Nolen is able to exploit that weakness and cause havoc on the inside, A&M will continue dominating with its nation leading pass rush.

Frames from Jimbo’s last ride A&M became bowl game eligible with 51-10 win against Mississippi State at home, gave sophomore quarterback first start By Ishika Samant, Julianne Shivers and Megan Williams @ishphoto, @centenial.photography, @photos.bymeg The Aggies beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 51-10 on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Kyle Field. Sophomore quarterback Jaylen Henderson (16) started for the Aggies and scored two rushing touchdowns during the game. The Maroon and White’s defense held Mississippi State to under 250 total yards while forcing four turnovers and two interceptions. With this win, the Aggies are now

bowl eligible. Not only did Texas A&M’s win break a skid during this season, it also snapped a two-game losing streak to Mississippi State. The Aggies suffered a 26-22 loss to the Bulldogs at Kyle Field in 2021 before a 42-24 loss last year. Mississippi State has won six of its last 10 meetings with A&M, including three wins in a row from 2016-18.

SPORTS

The Battalion | 11.16.23

WEEK 12: STAFF PICKS Texas A&M vs. ACU

Brought to you by

Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. on SEC Network+

Caleb Elizondo

Zoe May

Managing Editor @CalebElizondo7

Editor-in-Chief @MayZoella

Jimbo no winbo.

Thank you, 12th Man Foundation, for your *generous* donation last week! Prediction record: 5-5

Luke White

Sports Editor @Lukewhite03

ZOE

CALEB LUKE

Kylie Stoner

HUNTER

Asst. Sports Editor @Sportsbystoner

It may be Jimbover, but I’m backin’ the maroon. Prediction record:

Hunter Mitchell

Asst. Sports Editor @HunterM1001

E-Rob’s audition take. Prediction record: 6-4

5-3-2

Prediction record:

KYLIE

Abilene Christian sounds like a Yellowstone antagonist. Prediction record: 7-3

Ryan Lindner

Opinion Editor @RyanLindner12

This should be a safe bet. Prediction record:

7-3

5-4

RYAN Ana Renfroe

News Editor @aeoenia

Leadership aside, I still believe in our boys. Prediction record:

7-3

Nico Gutteridge

Asst. News Editor @nico_gjc

ANA Gig’em from Berlin!

NICO

Prediction record:

KYLE

Megan Williams

Kyle Heise

Asst. Photo Chief @Kyleheisephoto

6-4

Design Editor @meg_atx422

MEGAN

Abeline isn’t even a state.

Kyle is my father, call me Mr. Field. Prediction record: 6-4

Prediction record:

6-4

T R E N DY, D E S I G N E R & V I N TA G E

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SPORTS

The Battalion | 11.16.23

AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR FOOTBALL WEEK 12

By Eli Meschko @EliMeschko

Georgia 49

1459

9-0

– Michigan 6

1391 9-0

 1

No. 1 Georgia @ No. 18 Tennessee

Florida @ No. 9 Missouri

Saturday, Nov. 18 — 2:30 p.m. on CBS Neyland Stadium — Knoxville, Tennessee

Saturday, Nov. 18 — 6:30 p.m. on ESPN Faurot Field — Columbia, Missouri

Tennessee had a rough outing last week versus Missouri. The Volunteers lost 36-7 to the Tigers and were unable to establish their dominant run game. Coach Josh Heupel’s offense only had 83 yards rushing with an average of 3.6 yards per carry. Of course, some of that can be attributed to throwing the ball more when playing from behind. However, junior running back Jaylen Wright was held to just 22 yards, tied for his lowest total in conference play. Senior quarterback Joe Milton III led the way on the ground for Tennessee with 36 rushing yards. Milton also completed 22 of 34 passing attempts for 267 yards with a touchdown and interception. Getting the run game going will be vital for the Volunteers, but Georgia’s defense ranks 18th in the nation in rushing yards given up per game at 107.9. For Georgia, coach Kirby

Smart and the Bulldogs have continued their winning ways. Georgia rolls into this game a perfect 10-0 and beat down Ole Miss, 52-17. Junior quarterback Carson Beck has thrown for over 3,000 yards this year with 18 touchdowns. Early in the season, Beck’s go-to guy was junior tight end Brock Bowers; however, Bowers suffered an ankle injury and missed some time. Bowers came back from ankle surgery last week and scored a touchdown, but junior receiver Ladd McConkey has led the receiving core the past 3 weeks. The game being in Neyland will be beneficial to Tennessee, but the Volunteers may struggle to maintain drives if the running game is stuffed again. Expect Tennessee to come out firing, but Georgia should pull away in the fourth quarter.

The Gators come into the matchup on a three-game losing streak, including a 39-36 loss to a bad Arkansas team. The issue for Florida through this season has been its defense. The Gators have lost every game when the defense gives up over 30 points, besides the 24-11 loss to Utah at the start of the season. However, not everything is bad for coach Billy Napier’s team. Junior quarterback Graham Mertz has thrown for 2,720 yards this year, a career high in a season. He’s also thrown for 18 touchdowns, which is one shy of his career high. The most impressive thing for Mertz is that he’s only thrown two interceptions this year. During his last two seasons at Wisconsin, he threw a combined 21 interceptions. On the other side, Missouri is rolling into this game 8-2, with its only losses being against Georgia and LSU. Junior quarterback Brady Cook leads the way with 2,746

Prediction: Georgia 45,Tennessee 21

passing yards and 17 touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Luther Burden III has 984 yards on 68 catches, as well as eight touchdowns. Senior receiver Theo Wease Jr. has also been a great second option since his transfer from Oklahoma. Wease has 547 yards and five touchdowns on 43 catches this year. The biggest story is graduate running back Cody Schrader. After transferring from Division-II Truman State, Schrader had an alright season last year, but this year has 1,124 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He is averaging over five yards a carry and has added 191 yards in the pass game. Missouri’s defense looked good last week against the Volunteers, but Florida’s offense has shown its ability to put up points. The issue for the Gators is how poor their defense can play. Expect some fireworks with Missouri winning by a comfortable amount. Prediction: Missouri 41, Florida 27

Ohio State 3

1367 9-0

 1

Florida State

1277

10-0

–

Washington 1

1276 10-0

–

Oregon

1187 9-1

–

Texas

1110 9-1



Alabama

1109 8-1

 1

Louisville

897 9-1 

Oregon State

848 8-2  2

COMICS

Missouri

841 8-2

 5

Kentucky @ South Carolina

Saturday, Nov. 18 — 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network Williams-Brice Stadium — Columbia, South Carolina Kentucky comes into this been sacked 36 times this year, game 6-4 on the year and strug- yet he’s still thrown for 2,867 gling in conference play. The yards and 17 touchdowns. Wildcats started the year hot, His favorite target has been going undefeated through the senior receiver Xavier Leggette. first five weeks but lost all mo- Leggette has over 1,000 yards mentum after a 51-13 loss to receiving on 59 receptions. He Georgia. Since then, the only also has a team-high five touchwin Kentucky earned was versus down catches. The issue for the Mississippi State. Gamecocks’ offense is the lack of Senior quarterback Devin productivity outside of Leggette. Leary has over 2,000 yards passSenior tight end Trey Knox is ing and 19 touchdowns this year. second in receiving yards with Leary does a good job of spread- just 277 and two touchdowns. ing the ball out to different play- Sophomore receiver O’Mega ers as Kentucky has three receiv- Blake is third with 250 yards ers with over 30 catches a piece. receiving and two touchdowns. Sophomore receivers Dane All the games South Carolina’s Key and Barion Brown have 477 offense has struggled in this seaand 361 yards, respectively. Se- son were games that Leggette nior receiver Tayvion Robinson did not lead the team in receivhas 33 catches for 472 yards and ing. four touchdowns. The Wildcats However, Kentucky’s defense also lean on senior running back ranks 91st in the nation in passRay Davis, who has 929 yards ing yards given up a game. The rushing and 11 touchdowns on Wildcats’ defense could easily the year. show up and shut down South For South Carolina, this sea- Carolina’s passing game, but son has been one to forget. The things look promising for RatGamecocks are riding a two- tler and Legette. Expect a fun game win streak, but the wins game with Kentucky coming came against Vanderbilt and out on top. Jacksonville State. Senior quarterback Spencer Rattler has Prediction: Kentucky 31, South Carolina 23

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