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Before his death, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been living in the U.S.
‘Chilling effect’
A&M professors offer perspectives on murder of Saudi Arabian journalist By Katie James @kaytayjames
Josh Gleason — THE BATTALION
The paper used in Jenn Hassin’s “Respect” exhibit is made by hand from recycled military uniforms.
CREATING A COMMUNITY OF RESPECT Artist encourages reflection, interaction with exhibit in Langford’s Wright Gallery By Meagan Sheffield @mshef350 Air Force veteran and artist Jenn Hassin encourages the community to reflect on the meaning of respect in her newest art exhibit. “Respect” is on display in the Wright Gallery in Langford Building A until Oct. 29, featuring five separate pieces. Hassin rolls up handmade paper made from recycled military uniforms to create her art. The interactive piece “Intention” allows visitors to write what respect means to them, roll their paper up and add it to the piece. Hassin said she hopes her art will encour-
age others to live by a set of principles and work together with others. “It seems as though core values and respecting one another, no matter what your personal differences may or may not be, is kind of an afterthought [for many people],” Hassin said. “I wanted to take this opportunity of exhibiting my work and push this idea of respect, along with other core values, to the student body. I wanted to bring a platform for students to engage and think about respect for a moment.” Hassin said writing is an important part of her life, and she wanted to create something that others could contribute to. “I find that the practice of sitting down and putting my thoughts, wants, worries and wishes down on paper makes that invisible thought something tangible,” Hassin said. “By having individuals add to the piece, my
intention was to bring this practice up to those who participated.” Hassin was a dental technician in the United States Air Force. She attended St. Edward’s University and was working to become a dentist when she discovered her interest in art. “I took a ceramics class and instantly fell in love with the fact that I could take mud and then turn it into artwork,” Hassin said. “I was a natural at working with the material and decided to switch my major to art after that semester. I knew it was the right way for me to be able to make work with the intention of making a difference in this world that we live in.” Hassin’s other works have also centered around the military and government. Her piece titled “Letters of Sacrifice” is
After Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 2 and never emerged, the Saudi government is offering an explanation that does not satisfy the rest of the world. A permanent U.S. resident, Khashoggi had been using his platform as a writer for The Washington Post to criticize the Saudi government. He visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain divorce papers that would enable him to remarry. His Turkish fiancée waited outside the consulate but never saw him again. The Saudi government initially denied that anything happened to Khashoggi in the consulate, but early Saturday, it released a statement claiming he had died in a fistfight and that 18 Saudi suspects had been arrested. They deny that the killing is connected in any way to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or King Salman, according to the Associated Press. Gregory Gause, professor of international affairs and head of the International Affairs Department at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, said he was surprised to hear about Khashoggi’s death. “It’s uncharacteristic of Saudi Arabia to do something this high profile,” Gause said. “They are not kind to dissidents at home, but the JOURNALIST ON PG. 2
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Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION
Senior defensive lineman Kingsley Keke said facing Nick Fitzgerald will be a challenge.
Rested and ready Aggies look to earn their second consecutive SEC road game win By Abigail Ochoa @AbigailOchoa88
summer and said her projects required practical problem-solving skills. “For example, some customer is walking around Walmart and if there is some water on the ground, they might fall and break their leg,” Yuan said. “There are cameras on the ceiling so it will detect if there is water on the floor and it will automatically let the employees of the Walmart know and to remove the water so it will be safer.” Yuan said the goal is to help students through hands-on experience and develop useful tools that may also improve upon the work that Walmart is already doing. Walmart has also sponsored the Graduate AI course this semester and will provide the top 10 students in the course’s project competition with an interview for an
After a restful and rejuvenating bye week, the No. 16 Texas A&M football team is eager to show the changes it has made in practice and its ability to tack on another win on the road against a tough SEC opponent. The Aggies made the most of their off week, enjoying a Monday without practice and a weekend free of competing on the field. “I was able to go home,” tight end Jace Sternberger said. “I got to watch my little brother — they had a game Friday night. Then Saturday, I just watched football. [I got to] be a regular person for awhile. It was nice.” Despite the week of rest, A&M made sure to get back to the basics during practice, in hopes the team could clean up offensive and defensive errors made in the beginning of the season. “We did a good job as far as our work ethic and getting better on ourselves,” head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We worked on our fundamentals — just going back to blocking, then stretch blocking, then zone blocking, then gap blocking and taking on blocks. All the things on offense and defense you don’t get enough time to do during the season.” A&M’s biggest issue on defense will be controlling Mississippi State’s veteran quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. He has 644 rushing yards on
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Walmart Dallas lab director Carlos Riojas (right) and professor Zhangyang Wang speak to Texas A&M graduate students.
Artificial intelligence on aisle two A&M researchers partner with Walmart on video surveillance tech By Henry Mureithi @HenryMureithi5 Collaborations between Texas A&M and the Walmart Technology Office in Plano are underway to introduce artificial intelligence technologies to the supermarket giant’s operations. Walmart hopes to find new techniques to build digital and analytical solutions that will improve current internal processes. This work is a continuation of previous joint ventures between A&M computer researchers and Walmart developers, said assistant professor of computer science Zhangyang Wang.
“Walmart would like to increase their visibility among students interested in [AI and Machine Learning] careers,” Wang said. “Walmart’s Dallas Lab has been collaborating with me for a while.” Wang is working with Ph.D. candidate Ye Yuan to write a paper focused on person re-identification, or person re-ID. This concept uses AI in video surveillance to detect and track whether a person of interest has been observed in another place and time by another camera. It could be used at Walmart to maintain public safety or obtain data through customer tracking. “[They are] computer vision projects,” Yuan said. “We collaborate with Walmart to help to Walmart to better serve the customers.” Yuan interned at Walmart’s lab over the
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“Respect“ is on display in the Wright Gallery in Langford Building A until Oct.29.
ART EXHIBIT CONTINUED made of rolled condolence letters and is currently displayed in the Pentagon. “When my work is around people that are directly related to the subject matter, I find that it can feel as though the work is being digested exactly the way I want it to be,” Hassin said. “I am pleased that it has been in front of the people that actually make decisions about the war. I hope that they walked away and thought about it after.” Wright Gallery director Cecilia Giusti is the head of the gallery’s curating
committee, which meets once every other week to determine what will be displayed in the gallery. “[Hassin] was ideal to have her art shown here at A&M,” Giusti said. “Through her husband, who’s an Aggie, she was very engaged with A&M and knows about the traditions of the Corps and all the support we [have for] veterans.” Hassin hosted a series of workshops in July where volunteers, including Corps of Cadets members, helped shred the uniforms to make the paper used in her art pieces. When the exhibit opened on Sept.
11, about 100 people attended and contributed to “Intention.” “[The exhibit] meant a lot because I know what I felt to watch [family members] leave and then be gone for months or get injured and come back, and their lives are forever changed,” said College of Architecture administrative coordinator Shanielle Veazie said. “I felt like it kind of put us together at that moment because we all got to define what respect was to us, and everyone had a different definition, but it was just empowering to see that it meant something to everybody.”
THE TEXAS A&M STUDENT MEDIA BOARD INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR
Editor
Aggieland 2019
Qualifications for editor-in-chief of the Aggieland yearbook are:
REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester; PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society); • Have demonstrated ability in writing, editing and graphic design through university coursework or equivalent experience; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible position on the Aggieland or comparable yearbook.
Application forms should be picked up from and returned to Douglas Pils, Student Media General Manager, in Suite L410 of the MSC. Deadline for submitting application: 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 7, 2018.
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
Junior tight end Jace Sternberger holds the A&M record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season.
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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
Angel Franco, 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 Sanna Bhai, Special Sections Editor
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. 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. 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.
the year and leads the conference with 3,130 yards during his time with the Bulldogs. He has also maintained 768 yards through the air and holds a completion percentage of .470. A&M senior defensive lineman Kingsley Keke said Fitzgerald’s talent under center will be challenging for the defense. However, Keke said knowing what to expect from Fitzgerald will give them the extra edge on Saturday. “He can run. He can run for days,” Kingsley said. “He’s killed us with his legs so we have to account for that. A guy like that at the quarterback posi-
WALMART CONTINUED internship at the Walmart research lab. The top three additionally receive an $800 computer graphics card and the top two teams will have a chance to present their work in front of Walmart representatives. Yuan said her three-month internship at Walmart was quite impactful
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tion that can run like that is tough.” As for offense, the Aggies are focusing on what they do best — running the ball while maintaining a strong passing game. Junior running back Trayveon Williams said watching Mississippi State’s 19-3 loss against LSU last week helped him understand what it will take to defeat Mississippi State’s athletic defense lineup. “Offensively, on our part, we’re going to have to establish a run and be able to throw the ball,” Williams said. “But I’m excited with our game plan and everything that we have.” The Aggies are 3-1 against SEC opponents, but have struggled to hold a lead. A&M has won the past three con-
ference games by a touchdown or less, earning the three wins in the fourth quarter or in overtime. Sternberger said A&M’s ability to come back from adversity late in the game comes from preparation and practice. “I wouldn’t necessarily say we are comfortable with it,” Sternberger said. “If you get comfortable in football, then something’s going wrong. I would say we’re more prepared for situations.” The Aggies will face off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday at the Davis Wade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
since she had ample opportunities to implement new ideas. “I really enjoyed the atmosphere,” Yuan said. “I think everyone [was] so nice and so helpful. They did not force me to do something. I thought they gave me more freedom.” Yuan said students, whether undergraduate or graduate, should explore AI topics since the field is expanding
quickly, especially in the private sector. “Recently, I was in Houston for the Grace Hopper conference — the human engineering conference,” Yuan said. “This was my third time there and the thing about this year is that more and more companies have some AI applications in their booth. If they are interested, this is a great direction for [students] to go.”
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A pre-kindergarten class from Becky Gates Children’s Center will perform at Friday’s anniversary celebration.
CELEBRATING TWO DECADES OF CARE Children’s center to commemorate 20th anniversary at Friday event By Daniella Gutierrez @dani_talia95 On Oct. 26, the Becky Gates Children’s Center will celebrate 20 years of serving the families of Texas A&M students, faculty and staff. The center is open year-round and provides children between 12 months and five years old with quality learning programs. Some of the guest speakers at the event will include Vice President for Student Affairs Daniel Pugh, Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, the center’s benefactor Dorothy McFerrin and Becky Gates herself. The pre-kindergarten class from the center will perform a few songs during the celebration. Erica Ritter has been the director of the center since June 2017, overseeing the suc-
cess and effectiveness of the programs and ensuring that the center provides quality early education for the children. Ritter said the center has played an important role in the university for students, faculty and staff alike. “For our parent students, it’s imperative for someone to have somewhere close by so they can attend class, so they can attend study groups, so they can be active participants across campus while knowing that their children are taken care of — and not only taken care of, but that they’re also receiving that foundation of a lifetime of learning by being at a quality early education center,” Ritter said. Ritter said that the 20-year anniversary is a major milestone, and she’s excited to see the center flourishing after two decades. Associate vice president of the Division of Student Affairs Tom Reber, who is responsible for overseeing the business aspects of the division, said keeping the center updated is a vital part of preparing
children for their educational future. “We try to do our best to make sure the center looks as new as the day it opened,” Reber said. “If you ask kindergarten teachers in town, they can probably tell you what children come to them from the Becky Gates Children’s Center because they are so well prepared when they get to kindergarten.” Reber said he is looking forward to seeing the center’s namesake and benefactor back in town for this week’s event. “[I appreciate] any time we have an opportunity for Mrs. Gates and Mrs. McFerrin to come back to campus, whether it be an anniversary celebration or whether they be back in town to see the students,” Reber said. “They both have given great support to the center and love the students here and love to interact with them.” The 20-year anniversary celebration will take place Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with remarks beginning at 4 p.m.
brazenness of this is unique in recent years.” For weeks, the Turkish media has leaked findings from their government’s investigation, claiming there was video footage of a cleaning crew entering the consulate and that investigators reported smelling chemicals and fresh paint when they were finally allowed to enter. According to The Washington Post, these would be convincing signs of a cover-up. Instructional assistant professor of journalism Hannele Rubin said she is alarmed by this event and what it means for journalists in general. “When it comes to government corruption, journalists tend to be the canary in the coal mine, sounding the alarm,” Rubin said. “Khashoggi was the most prominent victim, but there are many other human rights abuses under authoritarian regimes like Saudi Arabia’s.” The Turkish government and U.S. officials agree it is highly likely that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman, was directly involved or at least knew about the plot to kill Khashoggi, according to the Associated Press. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump called the situation “the worst in the history of cover-ups,” though he has been hesitant to condemn the crown prince or the king, citing the importance of the U.S. arms trade with the kingdom. “There is speculation that the Trump family has economic interest in Saudi Arabia, but who knows?” Gause said. “Saudi Arabia bought property in Trump buildings and Trump hotels. I don’t think he owns property in Saudi Arabia, but clearly he has business dealings with them.” The suspicion of the royal family’s involvement has already led to international backlash, according to Gause. In an act of protest, many high-profile business leaders have pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative being hosted in Saudi Arabia next week. “This will eventually dissipate because of the strategic importance of that part of the world, due to oil, and because people have interests in economic and political relationships with Saudi Arabia,” Gause said. Rubin said she does not want the world to let this go as journalists are an important line of defense against government corruption and abuse. “The best disinfectant is sunlight,” Rubin said. “The best way to combat corruption is by revealing it. If honest, public-service minded journalists can’t do that, who will? My other concern is when journalism can be so dangerous, who will be the next person to step up? I’m afraid these incidents might have a chilling effect on would-be reporters.” According to a surveillance video leaked by CNN, Khashoggi’s clothes were worn by a man leaving the consulate on Oct. 2 in an apparent attempt to cover up his death. The man later changed out of the clothes in a public restroom. According to the Associated Press, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the killing must have been plotted days in advance, and he wants the suspects tried in Turkish courts. “The only weapons journalists have are their words, their compassion and their curiosity,” Rubin said. “Khashoggi and many other journalists have been assaulted, imprisoned and killed just for using words.”
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From truck to table MESS Waffles serves delicious food in a convenient location Meagan Sheffield
M
Photos by Brandon Holmes — THE BATTALION
The chicken and waffles at MESS come in three sizes with a variety of topping options.
@mshef350
ESS Waffles, Etc. is a new casual dining restaurant offering visually appealing comfort food, though the prices may be a little high for some college budgets. The Aggie-owned and operated restaurant specializes in dishes such as chicken and waffles, French toast and macaroni. It was originally operated as a food truck from 2014 to 2017, but opened its brickand-mortar location at 170 Century Square Drive in College Station at the beginning of the month. However, due to the restaurant’s recent opening, they currently have a limited menu. The restaurant is located on a small corner with few other surrounding storefronts. However, the large windows, wood and marble accents and white honeycomb-textured walls make the limited space feel clean and modern instead of dark and cramped. There is also plenty of seating and table space if students want to study while having breakfast or a midday meal, including a covered and lit seating area outside. I ordered from the weekday breakfast menu. Although I had to wait a few minutes because there was not someone at the register when I first arrived, the service overall was attentive and friendly. After I received an order number and sat down, both plates came out within 10 minutes. One thing MESS Waffles does consistently is deliver well-presented food. The pictures posted on their social media and menu closely reflect what is actually served. The Nutella Waffles are topped with sliced bananas, drizzled Nutella and powdered sugar. They also provide the option to add vanilla ice cream
on top for anyone in the mood to make it more of a dessert. The four waffles were thinner than I expected, and the dish was also served a little on the cold side. However, even with all of the sugary toppings, the waffles were not overwhelmingly sweet, and I was able to finish the plate. The chicken and waffles is one of MESS Waffles’ staple dishes. It comes in snack, regular and plus size and can be topped with maple aioli, honey mustard, spicy honey or maple syrup. I ordered the snack size topped with maple syrup, which is half of a large waffle with one piece of chicken. The waffle was light, fluffy and thicker than those in the Nutella Waffle dish. The chicken was lightly breaded and juicy. Although the amount of black pepper in the breading could be considered a little spicy if eaten by itself, the chicken nicely complements the sweetness of the waffles. My total for two plates with small serving sizes was about $13. The prices for the entrees on the menu range from $5 to $13. While regular drinks are around $2, their fresh-squeezed orange juice and mimosas can exceed $6. For a college student on a tight budget looking for a large and filling meal, MESS Waffles will probably not be their first choice. However, the restaurant is a good place to have brunch with friends or to have a snack and study in a relaxing setting. The location on Century Square also puts the restaurant within walking distance of several other shops near campus. MESS Waffles provides delicious and Instagramable food if you are willing to pay the price. Meagan Sheffield is a biomedical sciences freshman and Life & Arts reporter for The Battalion.
‘The Haunting of Hill House’ puts new spin on source material Director Mark Flanagan brings terror to Netflix in 10-episode horror series Jane Turchi
I
@JaneTurchi
n time for the Halloween season, Netflix has created a new adaptation of a gothic horror classic. Loosely based on the book of the same name written in 1959 by horror and mystery author Shirley Jackson, “The Haunting of Hill House” series was released on Oct. 12. The book has been successfully adapted to the screen before, spawning the 1963 film “The Haunting” and its 1999 remake. This series goes beyond the classic horror film by taking advantage of the extra character and story development made possible by the lengthened 10 episode format. The series was acknowledged by horror author Stephen King as “close to a work of genius” on Twitter. Variety reviewer Daniel D’Addario also called the series “an effective scarefest that is at its best when the tale does more than jolt the viewer.” The series is partly inspired by the “The Haunting,” and while the storylines are very different, the series makes several clever references to the film. Throughout the series, viewers find ghosts lurking in unexpected corners and shadows. Audiences continue to find more mysterious figures upon rewatching the series. All 10 episodes were created by American filmmaker Mike
Flanagan, the series’ director, writer, editor and executive producer. The series follows the five children of the Crain family: Steven, Shirley, Theodora (Theo), Luke, Eleanor (Nell) and their parents Olivia and Hugh. The series’ main storyline occurs in the present, but the plot is developed through flashbacks to their childhood when the family temporarily moved into Hill House, a large old mansion, in the summer of 1992. Ambitious house renovators, the Crains have purchased Hill House as their next project. As work continues on the home, the parents discover a complicated floor plan and a room with a red door that cannot be opened. After the tragic death of their sister Nell, the family must rally together to uncover the truth of the past that their father never told them and the ghosts that may continue to haunt them. “The Haunting of Hill House’s” cast is nothing short of ideal. The suspension of disbelief is never interrupted by the casting since the actors who play siblings look related and their performances feel like that of a real family. Michiel Huisman, known for his roles in Game of Thrones, Orphan Black and Age of Adeline, leads the cast as Steven Crain, the eldest child of the family. Now an acclaimed author of horror novels, Steven remains skeptical about the supernatural despite the effect it’s
had on his family. His performance relates with the audience’s doubts about the reality of the haunting. Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Victoria Pedretti play Luke and Nell Crain, the family’s young twins most greatly affected by the events at Hill House. Both their performances as young adults struggling with the ghosts from their childhood are compelling as the series tackles the issues of drug abuse and suicide plaguing their lives. Kate Siegel plays Theo, the middle child, who works as a children’s psychologist in the present day. Siegel is known for other well-received thrillers such as Oculus and Hush. She also co-wrote Ouija: Origin of Evil. In multiple ways, the show represents cinematography at its finest. The series reaches its height in episode six, a 56-minute episode shot in only three lengthy scenes. This style of filming presents the viewer with dynamic camera work and a raw, real performance from the cast that will put any viewer on edge. While a second season remains unconfirmed, the 10th episode ended with the potential for a return. Finally revealing the mystery of Hill House and the red room within, Flanagan has set up the show for a possible continuation.
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Life & Arts reporter Jane Turchi says “The Haunting of Hill House” is able to improve character development with extended screen time.
Jane Turchi is an international studies junior and Life & Arts reporter for The Battalion.
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION
Vinyl Record Show www.VinylRecordShow.com Saturday, October 27th The Brazos Center 3232 Briarcrest Drive Bryan, TX 77802 Regular Admission - $5 10am-4pm Early Bird - $10 8am-10am (Good for the entire day) There will be over 60 tables of Vinyl, CD’s, and plenty of music memorabilia at the show! For more info: 210-415-2972 or email musicconnection@sbcglobal.net CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK
THE BUSH SCHOOL “WHAT’S NEXT?” SERIES THE DEATH OF JAMAL KHASHOGGI:
What’s Next for Saudi Arabia and US–Saudi Relations? Panelists: Bush School Middle East Faculty Experts Dr. F. Gregory Gause, III & Dr. Erin Snider Monday, October 29, 2018 • 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM 2404 Memorial Student Center (MSC) Texas A&M University bush.tamu.edu/khashoggi