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Sophomore George Janca will enter the 2017 season as the Aggies’ starting third baseman.

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Texas A&M has not been on the Princeton Review’s list of LGBTunfriendly campuses since 2014.

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LGBT Aggies talk about growing A&M community By Ariel Hayes @ArielKHayes In 2014, the Princeton Review named Texas A&M University one of the least LGBT friendly campuses in the country. But for the last two years, A&M has been left off that list and the local LGBT community, while small, has established a considerable presence on campus. Although biomedical sciences sophomore Drew Scowcroft said his identity as a gay man initially caused nervousness about coming to Texas A&M, his experience at Fish Camp calmed his nerves. “Once I got in all my friends were like, ‘Drew, you realize it’s on the list for one of the most LGBT unfriendly schools?’ Which at the

time it was, but now it’s not. After that I was nervous about it, but Fish Camp made me not nervous anymore,” Scowcroft said. “Fish Camp is such a great organization when it comes to diversity. They really got a good message across.” Scowcroft said being gay is not his most defining or important characteristic, but it has affected his growth as a person, his sense of empathy and his political stances. “It’s definitely made me the person I am today. I’m a lot more sympathetic because of it because you just go through hardships that others don’t go through and it forces you to find yourself early on,” Scowcroft said. “I’m very left-leaning, and maybe that is because of my sexuality. I’m very passionate LGBT ON PG. 4

Lawrence Smelser — THE BATTALION

George Janca poised for breakout season in 2017 Former shortstop to start new season as third baseman with focus on hitting this year By Heath Clary @Heath_Clary

STUDENT BODY I ELECTIONS The following students are campaigning for various elected positions in the upcoming student elections

Student Body President Kilian Bresnahan Robert Brooks Arthur McIntosh Benjamin Ikwuagwu

Senior Yell Leader Jeremiah Lopez Cooper Cox Ian Moss Jordan Dunson Zachary Harvey Kenneth Belden

Junior Yell Leader Gavin Suel Zachary Kocurek Connor Joseph Jake Ryan Cason Strnadel

Class Presidents Austin Burmeier (2020) Jordan Hoffart (2019) Amy Sharp (2019) Robert Ramirez (2018) Briannah Wheeler (2020) Bo Garza (2019) Jackson Oldham (2020) Stone Kinsey (2020) Viet Nguyen (2020)

Voting will be held Feb. 23-24

f the glass on the newly renovated Rec Center is ever in jeopardy of being shattered while Texas A&M is taking batting practice, chances are George Janca is at the plate. Head coach Rob Childress said Janca hits the ball further than anyone in the program, and his repeated moonshots instill fear in ace pitcher Brigham Hill when he realizes he will have to face him in intrasquad scrimmages. “I just go up there and try to hit it as far as I can,” Janca said. “I’m going to have an approach up there, but when it comes down to it I’m trying to hit it absolutely as hard and as far as I can. I just try to hit it really, really far and really hard.” The sophomore from Georgetown is slated to begin the season as the Aggies’ starting third baseman, and his

offensive upside is expected to shine in 2017. He was thrown into the fire last year as a freshman and started the first 28 games of the season at shortstop before Austin Homan took over. Janca’s final stats from his first season left much to be desired, but hitting in the SEC is extremely difficult for any freshman — especially when you factor in the added pressure that comes with playing a premium position like shortstop. “It’s not that he was weak physically or had a bad swing. Day in and day out in the SEC, it’ll chew you up. When you’re facing guys that are up to 95 [mph] with two pitches and sometimes three, it’s tough,” Childress said. “He’s a year older, a year more comfortable and I believe he’s going to have a really good sophomore year. He’s going to hit for some power.” The move to third base should be beneficial for Janca and the Aggies. As a converted shortstop, his range and arm strength project well at the hot corner, and playing a less demanding position will allow him to focus more on his hitting. JANCA ON PG. 2

TAMU Press gains recognition By Maddie Brennan @madkathbren Hidden behind the Aggie Band Hall in the back parts of Southside, the bustling offices of the Texas A&M University Press work each day to promote knowledge in the form of books. Founded in 1975 by John H. Lindsey and Frank H. Wardlaw, the Texas A&M University Press has since endeavored to establish itself as a top-tier university press. Since then, the press has seen huge growth and now publishes 50 to 60 books a year in a variety of topics like AgriLife sciences, history and politics, wildlife and fisheries and more, and has won more than 500 book awards. The Assistant to the Director and Rights Manager Linda Salitros said the TAMU Press’ publications have changed over time to encompass a broad range of interests and engage people in and out of scholarship. “When I came here in ‘95, what I saw being published were very scholarly books that only grabbed the interest of scholars in that field. I really saw our list flip a bit when [Shannon Davies, Press Director] came here,” Salitros said. “We were publishing books that the general public would enjoy reading. It really changed the

Leah Kappayil — THE BATTALION

The TAMU Press publishes around 50 to 60 books each year on a variety of topics.

whole complexion of our press, and people started to notice us.” As head of the Texas Consortium, the TAMU Press facilitates the publishing of eight other small university and literary presses, providing services like distribution, warehousing of books and marketing. Some of these presses

include the TCU Press, the UNT Press and the Texas State Historical Association Press. Recently featured in Texas Monthly, the TAMU Press’ recognition grows everyday. Unbranded, a book following the TAMU PRESS ON PG. 3