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Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

Sophomore Kellen Mond is the expected starting quarterback for the season opener.

Mond emerges as likely starting quarterback Reports indicate Fisher has selected true sophomore as starter By Angel Franco @angelmadison_ Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher may have found his starting quarterback. Monday evening, several reports surfaced claiming true sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond had won the starting job over redshirt sophomore Nick Starkel. Brent Zwerneman, A&M beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, wrote that an A&M insider confirmed the initial reports by 247sports.com earlier in the day, despite Fisher not officially making the announcement. On Aug. 23, A&M held its weekly pregame press conference looking ahead to the start of the season. At the time of the press conference, Fisher had yet to make a starting quarterback, but did have rave reviews for Mond’s fall camp performance. “His hand placement… his eyes [while going through progressions] have been tremendous,” Fisher said. “[Mond] is throwing the ball much more accurate down the field… He’s been throwing the ball with his feet and his hips very well… does a great job of keeping his eyes up in the pocket, making throws, delivering on time.” Beyond footwork and technique, Fisher said Mond’s team management skills have been improving as well. “Kellen’s accuracy, development and demeanor [have improved],” Fisher said. “Even his leadership. Kellen was a very quiet guy as QUARTERBACK ON PG. 4

Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION

Chancellor John Sharp presented University President Michael K. Young with a ceremonial key to the Doug Pitcock ‘49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center at the grand opening ceremony on Aug. 27.

Checking in Campus hotel accepts guests ahead of Aggies’ first football game By Anthony Pangonas @apangonas Texas A&M leaders came out Monday morning to celebrate the grand opening of the Doug Pitcock ‘49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, which has begun welcoming guests in time for Thursday’s football season opener. While the 250,000 square-foot hotel and conference center was set to be completed in time for the Sept. 8 Clemson game, vice chancellor of business affairs Phillip Ray said

the process ran ahead of schedule. The hotel project is one of many utilizing the university’s public-private partnership program, used to complete other major developments such as the adjacent Cain parking garage. “This is just another in a long legacy of projects that we’ve built on behalf of the benefit of Texas A&M without using a single dollar of university money or student tuition money,” Ray said. Also in attendance were Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp, University President Michael Young, chairman of the board of regents Charles Schwartz and the namesake of the hotel, Doug Pitcock. A long-time supporter of the university, Pitcock graduated with a degree in civil en-

gineering and went on to become one of the nation’s leading transportation infrastructure developers. During his career, Pitcock co-founded the major highway construction firm Williams Brothers Construction, became part of the National Transportation Policy Study Commission under Gerald R. Ford’s administration in 1976 and served as president of Associated General Contractors of America in 1984. Before becoming the namesake of the new hotel, Pitcock made his mark on Aggieland by funding numerous scholarships, fellowships and research projects. Schwartz said A&M’s hotel is the HOTEL ON PG. 4

Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION

The Jimbo Fisher Era of Texas A&M football will begin with the home opener against Northwestern State on Aug. 30. at 7:30 p.m.

Five things to know for Football Thursday Aug. 30 marks the first time Texas A&M football has hosted a Thursday game while school is in session, excluding Thanksgiving games and the 2005 Texas State game in late September which was moved to Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Rita. So you might ask, ‘What do I need to know about Thursday?’ Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

PARKING, PARKING AND PARKING

ARE BUSES RUNNING THE SAME?

IS CLASS CANCELLED?

Starting at noon, certain parking lots will no longer allow vehicles to enter. Noon - lots 61, 62 and 74 1:00 p.m. - lots 48, 60, 65, 67, 69, 72, 95, 97, 100, WCG, CSS and UCG. Certain lots will be vacated to make room for game day visitors. Be sure to move your car before your lot or garage’s designated time: 2:30 p.m. - lots 61, 62, 65, 67 and 74. 3:30 p.m. - lots 48, 60, 69, 72, 95, 97, 100, WCG, CSS and UCG. 5:30 p.m. - lots 18, 30e, 64, 70, 73, 98 and 114.

On-campus bus routes will operate under their normal schedule until 3:30 p.m., when bus route frequency is reduced. At 5 p.m., many buses will transition to gameday service, meaning some regular stops may be unavailable or moved. Most off-campus routes will also start out on their regular schedules, but some routes may end early or be altered to accommodate gameday routes. A full list of changes is available online.

No. (Unless your professor says otherwise).

4 5

FILE

Reveille VIII, pictured with former handler Ryan Kreider, served as mascot from 2008 to 2015.

ALTERNATE WAYS TO GET AROUND

Reveille VIII’s funeral

If you are one of the many students affected by the parking changes, you might want to consider taking an Uber or Lyft to class. Both rideshare services are offering $10 dollar discounts alid for two trips. If you and your roommates or friends have similar schedules, carpool. Not only will you reduce the number of cars on the road, you help save the environment. Or if you live close enough to campus to bike, Ofo is offering 10 free rides with a promo code. Finally, if you’re alright with braving the heat, you can walk to class.

Thursday morning, Reveille VIII will be laid to rest at the Reveille Cemetery at The Zone Plaza by Kyle Field. A service to honor the former first lady of Aggieland is set to begin at 8:30 a.m.

WAIT, WHAT TIME IS MIDNIGHT YELL? Unfortunately, you can’t sarcastically say “Uh, midnight” when the freshman in your class asks what time Midnight Yell is this week. Yell Practice will be held on Wednesday at 10 p.m.

For other helpful tips, bus schedules and a complete list of changes, check out footballthursday.tamu.edu.

By Angel Franco and Hannah Underwood

Due to the ceremony, there will be road closures affecting transit in front of the MSC and Kyle Field. The portion of Joe Routt Boulevard between Stallings Boulevard and Houston Street will be closed from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Commuters looking to enter or exit Cain Garage will need to use Old Main and Stalling Boulevard during this time. Staff Report

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The Battalion | 8.29.18

Private Piano or Voice Lessons Music Services for Weddings/Special Events Call Scott at 979-204-0447

Megan Rodriguez, Editor in Chief Luke Henkhaus, Managing Editor Taylor Fennell, News Editor Anthony Pangonas, News Editor Jordan Burnham, Asst. News Editor Kathryn Whitlock, Life & Arts Editor Hannah Falcon, Life & Arts Editor Samantha Mahler, Asst. Life & Arts Editor Sanna Bhai, Special Sections Editor

Angel Franco, Sports Editor Ryan MacDonald, Asst. Sports Editor Abigail Ochoa, Asst. Sports Editor Cassie Stricker, Photo Chief Jesse Everett, Asst. Photo Chief Daoud Qamar, Video Editor Kevin Christman, Asst. Video Editor Brandon Holmes — THE BATTALION

THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the 2018 fall semester and 2019 spring semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

Eating on campus can be difficult after university restaurants close, but meal prepping and stocking up on nonperishables can make staying full easy.

A guide to dorm room dining

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of StudentAffairs.Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com.

Tips on cooking and snacking for your on-campus abode

Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

By Hollis Mills @sillohsllim

AGGIELAND 2018

The average weekday on campus finds most eateries opening their doors at 10 a.m. and closing by 8 p.m., giving Aggies approximately 10 hours to satisfy their hunger. But for on-thego moments and the hours in between, the cabinet above your bed might be your new best friend. But just what kind of dorm room diner should you be? Are you the comfort food connoisseur? Or a tropical trail mix minimalist? This is, of course, a matter of personal preference, but four current Aggies agree that on-campus students should never leave a supermarket empty-handed. Kristin Moreno, former resident of Hobby Hall and biomedical sciences senior, recallsa few dining difficulties she faced when working late into the evening. “I remember I went to bed hungry a few times because I stayed up thinking things were going to be open, but after 8 on [the north side of campus] everything is closed,” Moreno said. “Everyone’s up really late studying and you’re hungry by then, and you don’t want to actually pay your money for stuff.” After some adjusting between

here

Texas A&M University Vol. 116

2018 AGGIELAND

It’s not too late to order your copy of the 2018 Aggieland, a photojournalistic record of the 2017-2018 school year. The 116th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Go Online to aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613 to make your purchase. $75.00 + Tax (Includes Mail Fee)

Don’t forget to also preorder your copy of the 2019 Aggieland yearbook. The 117th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook. Distribution will be the Fall 2019.

on-campus options and grocery shopping, Moreno said she found a solution. “It needs to be a good balance of storing in your dorm, like getting snacks and also making sure you actually have food to eat,” Moreno said. “I think it’s a good to have your meal plan and to also have something to fall back with. I know I stocked up on frozen foods and gallons of water, because College Station water was gross. It still is.” Darcian Dinh, resident advisor at Keathley Hall and civil engineering sophomore, said he opted out of a meal plan this semester in favor of a new approach. “Essentially, I meal prep,” Dinh said. “I find it a lot more beneficial to go to the grocery store, buy your own food and cook for yourself. Proteins, carbs and vegetables — that’s what goes into my meal prepping.” Dinh said this decision has not only proved healthier for him, but cost-effective, too. “It does take some time to kind of prep those things, but compared to the cost of going to Sbisa or buying a meal plan, I think it’s worth it,” Dinh said. “At H-E-B, they have this barbecued chicken that’s already seasoned, and you can just grill and pack them with some rice or beans. It will only cost you about three or four dollars, versus going to Chick-fil-A and paying seven or eight dollars for a meal.”

However, on-campus dining options are still a notable convenience for many students. Buying food on campus is less of a struggle, according to accounting junior and Fowler Hall resident advisor Carmen Ramirez. “You don’t see a lot of people cooking because everything is so accessible,” Ramirez said. “I know that you can do several things out of your microwave. Maybe cook an egg in the microwave, or a potato, but I’m more practical.” Ramirez said she sticks with quick and easy eats for her dorm. “I restock on granola bars, cereal and milk,” Ramirez said. “That’s something you can’t live without. You have to have that in your room for when everything is closed or just in case you don’t feel like Chick-fil-A or pizza again. I would recommend something like that rather than chips or cookies.” In between a few rounds of frisbee in the FHK Courtyard, Fowler Hall resident and biology freshman Zeke Havard said non-perishable items are his dorm room dining essentials this semester. “It’s quicker for one thing,” Havard said. “[Non-perishables] are more efficient and save time. They’re not going to get your room dirty; they’re not going to go bad. It’s just simple, easy to clean up and easy to make.”

AGGIELAND PHOTOS FREE portrait sessions for the 2019 Aggieland will take place during the 2018 Fall and 2019 Spring semesters. Look to your Battalion newspaper, social media or campus email for dates, location and times.

ANSWERS

to todays puzzles

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Graduate student Taylor Rogers reflects on the values embodied by late Arizona senator John McCain and the effect he had on her life.

Notice of University Student Rule Revisions Additions, deletions and changes to the University Student Rules may occur over the course of the year. The following student rules have been revised: Rule # 10

Rule Grading

Date Student Rule Website Updated 07/31/2018

Each student has the responsibility to be fully acquainted with and to comply with the Texas A&M University Student Rules. Student Rules can be found at http://student-rules.tamu.edu.

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Memories of McCain

Former intern speaks on the legacy of recently deceased senator By Kathryn Whitlock @kathrynwhitloc8

As memorial services begin on Wednesday for the late Arizona Senator John McCain, one Aggie is reflecting on the time she spent with this icon of American public service. McCain died on Aug. 25 after a year long battle with brain cancer. He was 81 years old. Time Magazine reports that after several days of funeral services in Arizona and Washington D.C., McCain will be buried on Sept. 2 at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Taylor Rogers, agricultural communications and journalism graduate student, met McCain as a child and was part of his last intern cohort in Washington, D.C. from July to August 2018. “I met him in the fourth and fifth grade,” Rogers said. “I travelled with the Arizona Farm Bureau because my dad was the president. As young people, I feel like we can’t talk to higher-up officials, but [McCain] would always say, ‘Come sit in my chair,’ or ‘What do you think on education?’ Everytime I met him, he was beyond personable.” According to Rogers, McCain radiated courage and maintained a sincere commitment to bipartisanship. “He’s not afraid to state the unpopular opinion,” Rogers said. “When I was in D.C., a lot of the bills that we worked on were bipartisan, and when he was sick, he even had a democratic senator introduce the

bill for him. He believed that we can still get along despite opposing opinions. Everybody might not always like what he has to say, but you know that he’s coming from a place of truth.” Rogers said determining a singular admirable aspect of McCain’s personality is impossible since he exemplified so many, from heroism to camaraderie. “Not only did he run for president twice, he was a prisoner-of-war,” Rogers said. “When the people who captured him realized that his father and grandfather were high up in the military, they offered for him to go, but he said no. He said that he was going to stay until his fellow men were allowed to leave. To him, it was all or none.” According to Rogers, there was a void in his office that could only be filled with his return. With news of McCain’s passing, Rogers said a period of grief ensued. “I was shocked and extremely sad having just been in his office with all of his staff,” Rogers said. “He and my dad were friends, so I was sad for my dad, too. There’s a mourning for the country and a mourning for Arizona. Yet, I have a great sense of honor and pride in knowing that I was his last intern.” Rogers said McCain’s actions have set a standard of reputable dignity for years to come. “From him, we have learned that you have to stick to your guns,” Rogers said. “We have learned that it doesn’t matter what side of the table you’re on; it matters that you get to be at the table. He taught us that your voice matters and deserves to be heard.”

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The Battalion | 8.29.18

PROVIDED

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded A&M professor Wendy Jepson a $500,000 grant for her collaborative study of water insecurity alongside nearly 40 scholars from around the globe. Water insecurity refers to the limited availability or poor condition of water in a certain area.

Securing water for the future Texas A&M professor, researcher awarded $500,000 NSF grant By Savannah Mehrtens @SJMehrtens Texas A&M geography professor and researcher Wendy Jepson is using a grant of $500,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to address issues of water insecurity with other experts in the field. Jepson will collaborate with the Household Water Insecurity Research Coordination Network (HWISE, RCN) to continue working with a pre-existing team of water security experts. Jepson, serving as lead principal investigator (PI) on the project, will join forces with PI’s from from the University of Miami, Arizona State University and Northwestern University. “That network is to build and solidify ex-

isting interdisciplinary collaborations that we have been working on in the past three years,” Jepson said. “The idea is we had these relationships, not only among ourselves, but also with about 40 other scholars from 25 different institutions in the U.S. and internationally. How can we solidify and organize these ideas and advance the social science around some critical global challenges that relate to water insecurity and sanitation?” The funding will contribute to workshops, outreach, collaborations among network members and allow lab-to-lab visits for individuals. It will also help increase mentoring for graduate and post-doctoral students, as well as early career scholars. Jepson said grants give a platform to speak with stakeholders, including collaborators from the Royal Geographical Society in London. John Tracy, director of the Texas Water Resources Institute, works with Jepson to study water insecurity in urban settings. He’s

a team member on “Pathways to Sustainable Urban Water Security: Desalination and Water Reuse in the 21st Century,” one of Jepson’s seven research projects. “What we’ve been primarily looking at is trying to understand how water infrastructure can be more effectively developed in urban environments to meet water needs of communities,” Tracy said. “We’re looking at it from the perspective of people feeling secure, both in the quantity of water and quality of water they’re able to access.” Tracy said his work usually brings water delivery agencies together to discuss how they can improve processes used to meet water demands in urban environments. However, in his collaborative research with Jepson, Tracy will strive to make people feel more secure in their water. “I think in general it’s looking at urban water security, and then [Jepson] is working with researchers all across the United States,”

Tracy said. “That will entail bringing together people for workshops, developing interactions with water utility companies, sort of people that would be interested in the information that would be generated from the research and trying to refine what should be the research questions.” Kent Portney, professor at The Bush School of Government and Public Service, contributes to Jepson’s research on how desalination facilities have affected issues of water availability in the areas where they operate. “Ultimately, the issue of water security is as much about fairness as it is about efficiency,” Portney said. “That’s what motivates these projects, and I’m sure that’s the same thing that motivates the projects that Dr. Jepson is involved in.” For more information on Jepson’s research, visit https://wendyjepson.net/research/

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The Battalion | 8.29.18

Graduate Students, Need to add another course this term? Texas A&M Engineering Online offers 40+ fully online graduate engineering courses for Fall 2018. Photos by Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION

Visit engineeringonline.tamu.edu to see the list of available online courses.

The Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center is a 250,000 square-foot facility that has the ability to accomodate up to 1,000 guests. The starting rate is $149 per night.

HOTEL CONTINUED leader among similar buildings at other college campuses, and the facility brings a host of new opportunities. “We are so proud that this is on our campus, and it’s going to mean so many things for us,” Schwartz said. “It will allow us to recruit faculty. It will help us recruit students. We will hold national and worldwide conferences in this conference center and people will always talk about this hotel, this facility, this stadium, this campus.” The Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center has been certified by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), a group of more than 300 meeting venues in 23 countries. Sharp said earning the IACC certified designation places A&M’s hotel in the top one percent of hotels around the world. “One of the things you strive for in the hotel business is to get this designation, and this hotel has received this designation last week,” Sharp said. Sharp said he is proud to use Pitcock’s name on campus, emphasizing the former student’s philanthropy and business ven-

tures. “He is a true Aggie,” Sharp said. “There isn’t anyone that deserves the honor of having this hotel named after him [more] than one of our greatest benefactors.” Accepting the ceremonial key to the hotel, Young said the facility reflects the quality and excellence for which the university is known. “There’s no place on any beach that compares to this location we have here,” Young said. “We want to represent to the world that this is what we look like, and we want everyone who walks across this hotel to know that Doug Pitcock is an alumnus of this university and what he stands for in this state and what he has done in this state.” Over half of the hotel staff is comprised of current and former students. Recreational, parks and tourism services junior Amber Crawley said working at the hotel gives her the opportunity to educate others about A&M’s culture. “You really get to capture the ‘howdy hospitality’ that we have here,” Crawley said. “You get to see what A&M is all about and you get to be the difference in those people that come in and ask what is A&M is all about and show why we do what we do.”

Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION

Sophomore Kellen Mond led the Aggies to a 5-3 record during the 2017 season, accumulating 1,375 passing yards and 340 rushing yards as a true freshman.

QUARTERBACK CONTINUED far as he’d tell you what he thought. Now he’s starting to come out of his shell, as I say, and has been doing a great job. I have been pleased with his progress.” Regardless of who is officially chosen to start, Fisher said last Thursday that both Mond and Starkel are expected to see playing time against Northwestern State come Aug. 30. “Somebody will have to start the game,” Fisher said. “But I feel very comfortable that both guys can go in and play winning football.” Mond said on Aug. 23 that whether or not he’s chosen, he’s been preparing to take the first snap all the same. “It’s still something that shouldn’t affect me,” Mond said. “I have to go out there and prepare like I’m the starter and try and play like I am the starter. Whatever comes between my preparation and work that week shouldn’t change whether I am the starter or we’re both playing.” As game day quickly approaches, Mond said he and the rest of the team are happy to start playing again.

“Definitely [feels good] to get out of this fall camp mode and actually get to prepare for another team instead of constantly playing against our own guys every single day,” Mond said. “It’s going to be a long week of preparation and getting ready for this team and looking forward to see what we can do game one.” For the first time in school history, A&M football will open its season on a Thursday. The last time the Aggies played a Thursday game in September was in 2005 when the university moved up its game against Texas State in preparation for Hurricane Rita. Mond said playing a few days earlier than usual has shaken up the preparation process a bit, but he’s ultimately looking forward to seeing the stadium packed with fans. “It’ll be kind of different, [with it being] two days earlier,” Mond said. “But we’re going to see what Kyle Field brings on a Thursday night, so it should be fun.” Fisher will make his A&M head coaching debut Aug. 30 against Northwestern State. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised on SEC Network. For more information regarding changes to game day operations due to the weeknight game, visit footballthursday.tamu.edu.