TUESDAY, JULY 10 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2018 STUDENT MEDIA
A look at PETA’s history with A&M pg. 2 Locals protest family separation pg. 5 GI Bill exhibit debuts pg. 7
On June 30, locals gathered on Briarcrest Drive to support the “Keep Families Together” movement, which protests the separation and detainment of immigrants at the border of Mexico and the U.S. Sarah East — THE BATTALION
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to todays puzzles
Taylor Fennell, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION is published every other Tuesday during the summer session (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. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@ thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt. com. 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.
A&M faces suit from PETA Filing is newest development in campaign against research labs By Asha Fuller @asha_fuller13 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has filed a second lawsuit against Texas A&M University in the most recent installment of a long-running campaign protesting the university’s use of dogs in its Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) medical research labs. This second lawsuit, which accuses A&M of withholding public records, comes just one month after PETA filed its first lawsuit against the university for censoring its Facebook comments. PETA’s campaign against the lab at A&M officially began in December 2016 with the public release of video footage of dogs inside the university’s labs. Since it began, PETA’s campaign has included protests at university events such as football games and graduations, advertising vehicles driven around campus and social media posts.
Kelly Brown, associate vice president of marketing and communications at A&M, defended the university’s use of a lab which tests on animals, saying it is required by the FDA. “Testing on animals is required by the Federal Drug Administration before the drug can be tried by people,” Brown said. “A drug born out of research done at Texas A&M is currently in human clinical trials. While DMD occurs in both children and dogs, the disease is not as severe in dogs, which means dogs offer a unique opportunity to learn as much as possible, thereby helping all affected by DMD.” According to Dr. Alka Chandna, PETA’s vice president of laboratory cases management, PETA first found out about the use of dogs in A&M’s research labs in 2013, after receiving video footage from an unnamed inside source. Chandna said the organization conducted research to find out what was happening in the labs before it began its campaign. “[At first,] we did not go public because we had to do a certain amount of due diligence, and that included
submitting a records request to Texas A&M to request information about the dog laboratory,” Chandna said. Chandna said the university initially gave PETA thousands of pages of records about the dogs in the labs. After the release of the video, A&M released statements challenging the validity and relevance of the videos, prompting PETA to submit more records requests to the university. Chandna said many of the requests had been sent to the attorney general’s office and others were ignored. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences could not be reached to comment. PETA has filed lawsuits against other universities across the country, with the majority of the lawsuits being focused on withholding records. Chandna said that, despite the protesting campaign, PETA holds no ill will towards the university. “We have never said that A&M University is bad … We admire what they’re doing and we admire the campus. The campaign, whether it’s at A&M or any other campus, has never been against the university at large. It [is the experiments] at the university we are taking issue with,” Chandna said. Graphic by Sarah East
PETA activists protest at the last home game of the season by unfurling an 8-foot long banner. Security escorted the activists out of the stadium.
PETA receives video footage of dogs from inside A&M’s research labs from an unnamed source.
PETA begins protesting A&M’s medical labs by initially sending letters to the university.
PETA files lawsuit against Texas A&M for censoring its Facebook comments. The organization claimed the university violated the First Amendment.
PETA interrupts graduation with banners in 2017. In 2018, the organization used Snapchat filters and a dog mascot to protest graduation from outside Reed Arena.
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 # 8 20.1.2.3.8 28
Rule Date Student Rule Website Updated Examinations 06/14/2018 Violation of College, Program, Departmental or Course Rules 06/25/2018 Student Conduct Files and Records 06/11/2018
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.
PETA files second lawsuit against the university, this time for failure to release records relating to the medical labs.
For up-todate news throughout the summer, visit thebatt.com.
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Living resilient
Aggies explore solutions to world hunger at TFF Global Summit in Rio de Janeiro By Asha Fuller @asha_fuller13
The winners of the 2018 Grand Innovation Challenge, Team LiveResilient, will travel to Rio de Janeiro to attend the Thought for Food (TFF) Academy and Global Summit, which begins on July 23. The TFF Academy and Summit is a weeklong event which will bring academics, industry leaders and entrepreneurs from across the globe together to learn about the latest technologies in agriculture and work together to solve major problems concerning world hunger. The academy and summit will feature 36 keynote speakers, master classes and a capstone project.
Team LiveResilient member and Ph.D. student Zahra Mohammed said she is eager to attend the academy and summit because it gives the team a chance to put their project into action. “It allows our team to share our project with experts around the world and go forward to the next step,” Mohammed said. Team LiveResilient won the Grand Innovation Challenge in February with the idea they developed to solve world hunger — seeds inoculated with beneficial bacteria that will improve plant tolerance to drought and other diseases. The Grand Innovation Challenge is a team event hosted by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in which graduate and undergraduate students from departments across the university create solutions to challenges created by the college. According to the Team LiveResilient TFF web page, there are natural microbes in soil which can form symbiotic relationships with plants. LiveResilient has created a “team” of
these rhizosphere bacteria to will grow with the plant to increase resilience. “The microbes support the plant by increasing nutrient acquisition, enhancing water uptake from the soil and attacking pathogens,” the web page said. “Our specially formulated group of microbes can provide farmers with higher yields, even in the face of drought conditions or pathogenic organisms.” Although Team LiveResilient’s inoculated seeds have the potential to be used by farmers across the globe, they are aiming to begin the project with women farmers in Africa. In a video pitch for TFF, the team said, “We are focusing on Africa, since it has the highest hunger rates. Africa also has the largest percentage of women in agriculture … The FAO estimates that if women farmers had the same access to resources as men, the number of hungry people in the world could be reduced by up to 150 million.” Team member Tessa Ries, Class of 2017, said her inspiration for the project came from
personal experiences. “Growing up on a farm gave me a heart for helping farmers, and drought is a challenge that many farmers around the world face,” Ries said. “When I was in Burkina Faso I met many strong women farmers who were doing their best to feed their families. I will never forget them and this project is something that I know can make a difference in their lives and make a better life for their daughters.” Ries said she wants people to understand the importance of TFF and projects like theirs. “It’s more than a competition. It’s a movement all about helping others,” Ries said. When implemented, Team LiveResilient’s project could play a role in feeding the growing population. “[I] would like for people to know that our project is unique and is a totally new, innovative project [that] will help to contribute to feeding the world,” Mohammed said.
Courtesy
Team LiveResilient is comprised of Ph.D. student Hala Khaled Nawaiseh, senior Biological and Agricultural Engineering major Hallie Supak, Tessa Ries, Class of 2017 and Ph.D. student Zahra Mohammed.
Courtesy
LIFE&ARTS
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The Battalion | 7.10.18
Happy campers explore world of nature Nature Center encourages local youth to experience the outdors hands-on By Victoria Fluellen @tori_fluellen The Nature Center at Lick Creek Park in College Station provides learning experiences such as scavenger hunts and bird watching for those who are interested in the outdoors. Lick Creek Nature Center made its grand opening in October and officially became active in January, according to Ana Romero, city of College Station parks & recreation manager. The center is home to an amphitheater, indoor and outdoor classrooms, hiking trails, bird watching stations, rotating exhibits, gardening, yoga and a monarch butterfly garden. The center also offers educational pro-
grams geared toward children, but welcomes visitors of all ages to explore from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday. The city of College Station did not have a space tailored toward nature before Lick Creek Nature Center, according to Margie Trame, assistant recreation supervisor for facilities and events. She said the center gives younger members of the community the opportunity to learn about nature in a new way. “There are many ways for us to introduce kids to different programs, and I think Lick Creek, the Center itself, is where you can get hands-on experience with different soils, plants, native plants,” Romero said. “It gives them a view of conservation, and it is extremely important for the kids to keep coming back to the parks and for them to enjoy the outdoor environment.” The Nature Center offers camps that deal with nature, insects, wildlife and survival skills
as well as themed nature camps, including Harry Potter and Spy/Lego camps that began this summer. The camps occur two times a day and typically include three to five camp supervisors who are grouped with 40 kids ranging from seven to 12 years old. “The camps are themed each week,” Emily Thornton, recreation supervisor, said. “Usually, we start with a hike of some kind. We try not to just do a hike, typically they are looking for bird nests, spider webs or different animal habitats. After the hike, we typically do some activity in the Nature Center including crafts or something related to the theme that week.” Community businesses including Bear Mountain, the College Station Game Warden, Urban Interface and Texas A&M Forestry help teach children techniques and skills at the center, according to Trame. The Nature Center’s main goal is to educate youth about the basic skills they would need while being
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out in the wild. “It’s exciting to see them learn something that they don’t typically have access to, especially now where everything is so technology focused,” Thornton said. “Now they get the chance to get their hands dirty, go on a hike, learn about insects, birds and different plants. It’s nice to teach kids something that they wouldn’t have an opportunity to learn.” Students at schools, including Rock Prairie Elementary School, visit the Nature Center to actively engage in learning class material in a physical setting, according to Romero. “You never see the kids bored,” Romero said. “They’re always active, moving and always seeing new insects or a new plant, building new survival skills. It is just amazing to see how their eyes open to the world.”
Victoria Fluellen — THE BATTALION
Sarah East — THE BATTALION Sarah East — THE BATTALION
Celina Vasquez, candidate for Brazos County Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4, stands with demonstrators outside of Rep. Bill Flores’s offices in Bryan holding a sign imploring congress to unite families at the border.
Demonstrations throughout the country seek fair treatment of asylum seekers and immigrants By Sarah East @saraheeast18
Lick Creek Nature Center features classrooms, bird watching stations among other features for visitors of all ages.
Hundreds of Bryan-College Station community members gathered in front of Rep. Congressman Bill Flores’s office in Bryan on June 30 to show their support for families separated and detained at the U.S.-Mexico border. The protest was one of many rallies across the nation where Americans spoke out against the treatment of asylum seekers and immigrants by the “zero-tolerance” immigration policy enforced by the Trump administration. The local demonstration was coordinated by several organizations including the Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network (BIIN), Brazos Sanctuary Coalition, Centro de Derechos Laborales, Council for Minority Student Affairs, Indivisible TX-17 and Brazos County Democrats. BIIN fundraising intern and sociology senior Soha Mumtaz said the demonstration is centered around equality for all. “The main message is that immigrants are human beings
and the fact that they’re treated as less isn’t something anyone should support,” Mumtaz said. “We should want an administration that runs this country to support all human beings and all individuals and treat them all equally.” Mumtaz said she wants people to believe that immigrants are people too. “These are our people,” Mumtaz said. “America was made on immigrants. How can we not accept them? How can we do this to innocent children? It’s not their decision to come here, or their families leave their home countries because they want a better life. They come to America for better opportunities, and to be treated like criminals is absolutely wrong.” Pastor Dan De Leon from Friends Congregational Church attended with members of his congregation and said despite heckling from opposing passersby, there was a positive and proactive energy from demonstrators and the community. “This is not about something that can be or need be politicized,” De Leon said. “It’s about human rights, justice and taking care of people, especially children, the littlest ones.” De Leon said the members of his congregation are speaking out against family separation and seeking the immediate
TC Langford, Chair of the Brazos County Democratic Party, protests the treatment of asylum seekers at the U.S.Mexico border.
reunification of detainees at the border. “I know that people have all kinds of different opinions and perspectives based on their media outlet of choice, et cetera, about the immigration issue, but regardless of what people are running from or trying to cross the border to get into, they’re human beings,” De Leon said. “We need to treat each other with the same level of compassion that we would treat our own neighbor.” Adriane Beer, a member of Indivisible TX-17, emphasized that the demonstration was less about political ties and more about human rights. “We are joining with all the other local groups that are for American values, American principles, what the Statue of Liberty stands for,” Beer said. “We’re built on immigrants. We believe immigrants and diversity make communities stronger.”
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Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari explores the history of the human race.
Sapiens: A thought
provoking take on human history Harari offers intriguing arguments on humankind’s past, present and future By Lauren Slusher @laurenlizabeth5 At first thought, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind seems an ill-fitting title. How could anyone successfully condense all of human history into something “brief”? After reading this book, however, Yuval Noah Harari’s purpose is clear: showing the reader how brief the history of Homo sapiens really is, and exploring the monumental advancements we’ve made during our short existence on this earth. Sapiens makes several bold, reasoned claims that force the reader to reconsider what we think about society and the way we teach history. The least of these is that the Agricultural Revolution was the worst decision Sapiens ever made. While I won’t flesh out Harari’s reasoning here, he does an excellent job of defending his uncommon claim thoroughly, even if the reader decides not to agree. Even more unsettling is his measured assertion that all of human unity is based on agreed-upon myths; first, the common belief in religion, then the rule of law, then the value of money. It’s disconcerting to consider that our society is founded on created ‘truths’ (think of what would happen in the United States if we all simultaneously refused to belief in the ideals of the Constitution). More fascinating than unsettling is Harari’s view of the Scientific revolution: the admission of ignorance was the trigger of the revolution. Overall, Harari does a good job defending his claims, even if the reader finds them odd or even uncomfortable. Sapiens is an informative, scientifically-backed analysis of our history and progression that will interest anyone who wants a big-picture perspective on the human race. The unique, retrospective view that Harari presents, coupled with intriguing considerations what built our societies and what makes them tick, makes Sapiens a thought-provoking read. If you’re looking for a comprehensive history, or just a book to make you think, I highly recommend Sapiens.
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GI Bill
Celebration
The George Bush Presidential Library welcomes ‘Greatest Legislation’ Exhibit By Chad Anderson @Chad_Anderson24 A new multimedia traveling exhibit sponsored by the American Legion features insight about the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, otherwise known as the GI Bill, and is on display in the atrium of the George Bush Presidential Library. The exhibit, “The Greatest Legislation: An American Legion Centennial Salute to the GI Bill,” is an audio-visual display which shows the impact of the benefits that veterans have earned throughout their time in the military. Benefits included in the bill range from education and housing to employment. John Hince, American Legion commander for the state of Texas, said the bill rightfully supports those who serve in the military. “They’re young men and women that are willing to put down their lives for this great country that have come and served and they should have that right to an education,” Hince said. The exhibit on display refers to the GI Bill as a “success in progress” and has three large sections with a timeline of important developments. These events include the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966, the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, and the current Forever GI Bill, signed by President Donald Trump last August. “The GI Bill has made us more of an egalitarian society, where this benefit makes more of a difference while serving more than just a handshake and a thank you,” Hince said. The American Legion is the largest veterans service organization in the country, with over 2 million members. While the American Legion looks to help the transition of veterans into civilian life, they also help provide financial assistance and donate
household items to veterans and their families. The organization has been a long-time sponsor of job fairs, which help veterans find work to provide for their families. David Anaya, George Bush Presidential Library public relations director, oversees the exhibits and said the GI Bill has impacted him personally. “I think this exhibit is going to give the perspective on how the American Legion Foundation gives the benefit to our war fighters from young to old,” Anaya said. “I’ve been able to even use it myself, which has not only helped me for my education, but my career as well.” The exhibit features audio and video recordings of 18 veterans who told stories of their military careers and what they did after their retirement. One interview shown on video is of Army veteran Kiara Blanchard saying, “I feel I wouldn’t have continued my education if I didn’t have the GI bill. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it.” On June 28, the museum hosted a Q&A panel discussion to celebrate the exhibit’s opening and the 10th Anniversary of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. One of the individuals featured on the panel was military admissions counselor at Texas A&M, Karen Allen. “What I was surprised about the exhibit, is what I do every day helping find soldiers and their benefits, I thought I knew the history of the bill and what goes into it. I was wrong,” Allen said. “It covers so much in a such a setting that you understand how the country and even how veterans were treated during that time.” Allen and her staff are located in the Veterans Resource and Support Center and are in charge of 1,500 student veterans and 2,300 students that benefit from the GI/Post 9/11 benefits. “I think the key to stay involved in our veteran generation is to inform and educate people and this exhibit does that, where it goes more than just a thank you,” Allen said. “It adds that value, not only to the College Station area, but onward as well.” The GI Bill “Greatest Legislation” exhibit is free and will be on display until Aug. 15.
The “Greatest Legislation” exhibit will be on display in the atrium of the Bush Library until Aug. 15 and is free to view.
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
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