THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2022 STUDENT MEDIA
Football comes home: Ole Miss preview, analysis
Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’: What to savor, what to skip
SPORTS ON PG. 7
CRITICISM ON PG. 4
Silver Taps
Andrew Paul Coleman Oct. 14, 2002 — Oct. 4, 2022
Meghana Devi Kodali March. 24, 2002 — Sept. 25, 2022
TRIBUTES ON PAGE 6
High speed, slow progress
Jonathan Taffet— THE BATTALION
The 8446 Union Pacific train runs in front of Kyle Field on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.
Texas Central Railway’s progress faces skepticism, slow-downs By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia1 Announced in 2012, private railroad company Texas Central proposed its idea for a self-described “Texas high-speed train” that will be the “first truly high-speed train project” in the U.S.
and Texas, according to its website. However, the now decade-old project has shown nothing but slow progress. The proposal for the infrastructure project claims its 240-mile-long track will connect Texas through three passenger stations in North Texas, Brazos Valley and greater Houston within a 90-minute high-speed train ride. According to the project timeline, Texas Central estimates the project to be completed by 2026, when the rail-
way will be fully operational for commercial use. Texas Central estimates the project to cost $20 billion to complete. However, they expect the project to have a direct cumulative economic impact of $36 billion over the next 25 years. Texas Central also estimates that construction will create 17,000 jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs once the railway is operational. Texas Central states the project will be privateTRAINS ON PG. 3
How to stay safe this Halloween
Faculty Senate discusses diversity Professors vote in favor of affirmative action By Jack Lee @JackTheBatt During its meeting on Monday, Oct. 17, the Texas A&M Faculty Senate passed a resolution endorsing diversity programs such as A&M’s ACES Plus Fellowship, designed to attract more underrepresented minority faculty. The program has recently been the target of a lawsuit by University of Texas professor Richard Lowery for alleged discrimination. According to the Office for Diversity, the vice president for faculty affairs will allocate a sum of $2 million for the ACES Plus Program for the 2023-24 fiscal year. SENATE ON PG. 3
Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION
Tips, resources to stay scarily safe this Halloweekend By Amanda Hare @AmandaHare_11 With Halloween coming up, students can stay aware of crime in the area, specifically any suspicious activity. Suspicious activity is defined as anything that is out of place, and students can
report this by calling (979)-845-2345. The University Police Department, or UPD, publishes monthly crime logs of reported crimes. In all of August, the crime log contained four reported cases of assaults, two cases of stalking and 38 cases of theft or burglary. From Oct. 1 to Oct. 20, the crime log contained 12 reported cases of assault, five cases of stalking and 42 of theft or burglary. Halloween will occur Monday, Oct. 31. “UPD is available to receive and investigate re-
Football players face indefinite suspension By Grant Gaspard @grant_gaspard Sam Khan Jr. from The Athletic reported three freshmen from the Texas A&M football team have been suspended indefinitely due to a locker room incident after the 30-24 loss to South Carolina. A&M cornerback Denver Harris, wide receiver Chris Marshall and offensive lineman PJ Williams are among the three freshmen suspended and will be absent for the remainder of the year. The three were reportedly in the restroom stall following the game with a marijuana vape pen, an anonymous source within the program confirmed to The Battalion. These freshmen were part of the top-ranked Class of 2022 recruiting class, and two of the three players were starters in the Aggie lineup. Harris had 14 total tackles, 10 individual and three pass deflections, and a midseason accolade for Freshman All-American. Marshall ends the year fourth out of the receivers in receptions with 11 and tallied 108 yards for the season. PJ Williams has yet to see a snap this season. Harris and Marshall were also previously suspended in September for the game against Miami as a disciplinary measure after failing to adhere to curfew. Editor’s Note: The identity of the source has been kept anonymous in order to protect them from possible backlash per The Battalion’s anonymity policy.
ports of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, assist in securing medical attention, participate in evidence preservation and collection, conduct criminal investigations of crimes and inform the individual of legal and administrative options both on and off campus,” the University Annual Security Report said. “Criminal investigations may occur independent from a conduct proceeding.” Students can find information about how to report anything as well as available services in the Annual Security Report. To prevent theft, Special Operations Sgt. Josh Deleon said students can get items engraved for free at the police department. “During Halloween, we typically see more suspicious activity, just people playing pranks,” Deleon said. “[This fall] we have seen an increase in theft calls, whether that range from bikes, scooters, computers and unfortunately even catalytic converters.” Thefts and burglaries have been the top reported crimes this fall, Peleon said. “With Halloween coming up, people are going to be out and about. We want our students to be safe if they plan on going out to parties,” Deleon said. “Let somebody know or go in groups. Of course, don’t drink and drive. Don’t leave SAFETY ON PG. 3
Who you gonna call? Bryan Ghost Walk explores city’s haunted past, present By Neha Gopal @_10Novel On the night of Oct. 22, Downtown Bryan looked like a ghost town. By 8:30 p.m., all the stores were long closed and a peculiar stillness held the rust and exhaust from the train tracks. A few people milled about in front of the library, with the wind softly howling through the clear sidewalk. In other words, it was the perfect setting for the Bryan Ghost Walk. Amber Tindall, the tour guide for the
night, donned a black corset and skirt suited for the occasion. “In this haunted history tour, we cover the history of how Bryan came to be,” Tindall said. “We cover more of the dark history of Bryan that nobody knows [about] and also cover how to interact with ghosts and investigate with spirits — we use investigation tools on tour for people to interact [with].” After working for a different ghost tour company in Houston, Tindall understood the ghost tour business. Tindall reassured those on the tour that Downtown Bryan’s “spirits” were more like your friendly Casper ghost than throat-slashing ghouls. GHOSTS ON PG. 2
With 3-Week Winter Minimester Classes Classes begin December 19 www.blinn.edu/winter blinnbound@blinn.edu
* Available online
Cameron Johnson — THE BATTALION