The Battalion

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The Battalion
TypeStudent newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Texas A&M University
PublisherTexas A&M University Student Media
Founded1893; 131 years ago (1893)
HeadquartersCollege Station, Texas, US
Websitewww.thebatt.com

The Battalion (The Batt) is the student newspaper of Texas A&M University. Started in 1893 as a monthly publication, it continues to this day, now as a weekly print and daily online paper. The Battalion is entirely student-run and covers the university and surrounding Bryan-College Station area.

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now known as Texas A&M University), had two literary societies, the Calliopean and the Austin. The societies collaboratively published a literary magazine, College Journal from 1889 until 1893. The College Journal appeared monthly, describing the activities of the college and its students in "the flowery prose of the time."[1] College Journal ceased publication in 1893 when the two societies collaborated on a newspaper, called The Battalion.

Masthead of the first issue of The Battalion, Texas A&M's student newspaper, on October 1, 1893.

Vol. 1, No. 1 was published on Sunday, October 1, 1893. In the first issue's salutatory, it reads:

"With this issue The Battalion makes its politest bow to the public and asks its esteemed patronage. As our valued predecessor, The Journal, has enlisted among the ranks of the defunct, we deem it our duty to see that the cadets will yet have a paper to be proud of.

The Editor in Chief here takes advantage of the opportunity offered to thank the societies for the position they have so generously assigned him. He shall do everything in his power to make these pages lively, interesting and instructive, and, with such gifted associate editors to contribute to its columns, he feels that he cannot possibly fall short of his aim.

Boys, this paper is yours. Make it something. Lend all your assigtance [sic] possible. It is your duty, and should be your pleasure, to write something for every issue. The editors will endeavor to obtain most of its contributions from among you, and as it will prove beneficial in more than one way, you ought to be proud of the opportunity. There is much talent in the corps that has been dormant long enough, and as the first and greatest object of a college paper should be to arouse and then cultivate the literary tastes of its students, we consider it our initial duty to create immediate enthusiasm in this line. Every cadet, from his entrance to his graduation, should furnish us with at least one article for every number. Try this plan, and we will ere long have a paper that can claim its rank high up among the literary editions of every college in the Union!

Again asking the support of the general public, we present you with this, our initial effort, and gracefully yield to your further demands."

— E. L. Bruce, The Battalion, Vol. 1, No. 1

This new publication used a more journalistic style as it covered campus events, and even included photographs;[1] however, early issues still strongly resembled prose, and included sections of poetry, humor and essays.[2]

June editions originally acted as a yearbook before one was officially adopted by the university in 1903. While women weren't allowed to officially attend A&M until 1963, starting in 1893 women could enroll in classes and participate in student organizations. This included The Battalion; Ethel Hudson — the first woman to enroll in A&M courses in 1893 and an honorary member of the Class of 1895 — helped edit the annual yearbook issue.[3] Women have served as reporters, writers and editors of The Battalion throughout its publication.

Early 1900s[edit]

In 1904, The Battalion began publishing weekly. Around the same time, the Austin and Calliopean Literary Societies handed publication over to the Association of Students, causing a stylistic shift from literary writing to news coverage.[4]

The A&M College Trouble of 1908[edit]

Image from The history of the A. & M. college trouble, 1908 by Paul D. Casey. Depicts Henry Hill Harrington, president of Texas A&M University from 1905 to 1908.

Four years later saw The Battalion amid what was eventually known as the A&M College Trouble of 1908.[4] While there had been turmoil in years prior about university restrictions on students, unrest between the students and faculty came to a head after a series of events involving university president Henry Hill Harrington. Harrington ordered history professor Charles W. Hudson and his family — including his popular son and current A&M student — to be confined to their campus home after Hudson's grandchild developed whooping cough. Harrington also attempted to order visiting relatives to return home to New York but was unsuccessful.[5]

The decision overruled guidelines created by college physician Dr. Joe Gilbert, who created a standard whooping cough quarantine preventing visitors to the house but little more. This was interpreted as disrespecting Gilbert and questioning his competency; this angered students since Gilbert was another popular campus figure. According to Henry C. Dethloff’s Centennial History of Texas A&M University, "Gilbert had something of a hero image among cadets and the public because during the Galveston storm of 1900, he had carried a young damsel in distress from the wreckage of the storm and married her immediately afterward."[5]

Class president T.J. Beesley[6] and the senior class of 1908 petitioned Texas' governor to remove Harrington from office. A month later in February, when the board of directors fully exonerated Harrington, roughly half of the student body left campus in protest; the walkout made national headlines at the time.[7]

1908 class president T.J. Beesley and newspaper editor Chas. Homeyer, Texas A&M. From the book The history of the A. & M. college trouble, 1908 by The Battalion's local editor Paul D. Casey.

Students slowly returned to A&M after the protest, but the Trouble didn't end there. An April issue of The Battalion ran an article disputing Harrington's stance on the protest. He claimed unrest had ended on campus and there were no more problems between students and faculty, which the article contested.[4] A&M's board of directors responded by directing Harrington to establish order — seven junior Battalion editors were suspended and an order put in place to censor future publications.[4]

Protest against Harrington continued throughout the summer. As a result, Harrington resigned as university president in August.[5] Censorship rules remained on the books for The Battalion; however, they were almost never enforced and eventually forgotten.[4]

Paul "KC" Casey's account provides the main record of the period from students' point of view. Working in 1908 as local editor for The Battalion, he chronicled the events in his book The history of the A&M college trouble, 1908.[6]

World War I[edit]

As the main local source of news at the time, The Battalion broke the news of America declaring war and joining World War I to much of the Bryan-College Station community. The below images are reprinted from The Battalion.[8] Texas A&M was heavily involved in the war effort and had a larger percentage of graduates enlisted than any other university;.[9] in September 1918, the entire senior class enlisted.[10]

  • Members of the Signal Corps putting up equipment on the drill field.
    Members of the Signal Corps putting up equipment on the drill field.
  • Morse code training for cadets in 1917.
    Morse code training for cadets in 1917.
  • The Horse Cavalry during a drill in 1917.
    The Horse Cavalry during a drill in 1917.
  • Officers of the Corps conducting Sabre Drill on the main drill field.
    Officers of the Corps conducting Sabre Drill on the main drill field.
  • A 1917 tent pitching practice put on as a corps-wide class by the Military Department.
    A 1917 tent pitching practice put on as a corps-wide class by the Military Department.
  • Retreat formations held on Military Walk before marching into Sbisa Hall for evening dinner in 1917.
    Retreat formations held on Military Walk before marching into Sbisa Hall for evening dinner in 1917.
  • The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band of 1917.
    The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band of 1917.
  • The Battalion's caption reads, "The latest model of military tractors pulled the old howitzers along with the cadets sitting at attention on the cassions."
    The Battalion's caption reads, "The latest model of military tractors pulled the old howitzers along with the cadets sitting at attention on the cassions."
  • A collection of headlines and stories describing A&M's involvement in World War I.
    A collection of headlines and stories describing A&M's involvement in World War I.
  • Article describing a training camp set up for senior cadets during World War I, about a month after the United States entered the war.
    Article describing a training camp set up for senior cadets during World War I, about a month after the United States entered the war.
  • Article covering A&M juniors enrolling in World War I military training in Leon Springs, TX.
    Article covering A&M juniors enrolling in World War I military training in Leon Springs, TX.
  • Article describes the enlistment of seniors after spring 1917 graduation.
    Article describes the enlistment of seniors after spring 1917 graduation.

Mid-20th century[edit]

1954 staff walkout[edit]

In February 1954, the Student Life committee voted for a special committee to oversee student publication. The entire staff of The Battalion quit in protest the next day.[11] The staff announced the walkout on the paper's front page, saying:

"The Battalion writers and editors quit their jobs last night in protest to a Student Life committee action which they claim will censor the college newspaper.

Ed Holder and Jerry Bennett, co-editors, announced their resignations after the Student Life committee voted to recommend to the Academic Council that a special committee be set up over student publications.

The remainder of the newspaper staff turned in their resignations later."

— Ed Holder and Jerry Bennett, The Battalion


The rest of the four-page issue, in addition to typical news, featured letters to the editor from resigning staff. Each explained their grievances and why they chose to quit.[11]

At the time, The Battalion's walkout made headlines. “Censorship is hidden with advice and assistance,” Holder and Bennett said in a press statement. “To us, it still means the same thing. This committee has been set up to stop The Battalion from printing the truth about things at A&M which are embarrassing to some individuals.”[4]

A new staff was announced one month after the mass resignation, featuring many protesting writers returning in new roles. The two new co-editors, Harri Baker and Bob Boriskie, were formerly the campus and sports editors, respectively; Baker and Boriskie sought Battalion staff approval before taking the positions. Walking out worked as intended and no oversight committee was formed.[4]

Present[edit]

In February 2022, Texas A&M University administration unsuccessfully attempted to cease The Battalion weekly print release, despite the organization's independent status.[12][13][14] This led to significant backlash from the publication, as featured in their "Print is not dead" edition, and started a student movement, #SaveTheBatt. The publication continues to print weekly, each Thursday, and distributes across Texas A&M's campus and the Bryan-College Station community.

Distribution[edit]

The Battalion is published on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters, and on dates corresponding with New Student Conferences during the summer sessions. The print version is distributed throughout the Texas A&M campus to interested students, faculty and staff. Many places throughout College Station, such as restaurants and apartments, receive copies to distribute to their customers.

A&M's Cushing Memorial Library keeps an incomplete archive of past Battalion print issues.[15]

Honors[edit]

Princeton Review named The Battalion as the twentieth best college newspaper in the nation in its 2008 edition of The Best 361 Colleges.[16] Along with four other university newspapers, The Battalion received honorable mention in the 2004 National College Newspaper Convention held by the Associated Collegiate Press.[17] The paper was named the winner of the 2008, 2019 and 2022 National Pacemaker Award. It was also a Pacemaker finalist in 1996, 1997, 2012, 2021 and 2023.[18][19]

In October 2022, The Battalion was recorded as having an average of 116 shares per article and was ranked 8th in the U.S. for most consistent engagement per article.[20]

Aggieland yearbook[edit]

The Battalion has been involved with production of Texas A&M's yearbook since its creation. Originally, the June issue of The Battalion served as an unofficial yearbook. In 1895, the Olio became the first separate production, printed after a series of The Battalion editorials arguing for a college annual to be created. The next yearbook wasn't printed until 1903, under the name the Longhorn.[21] This has no affiliation with Texas A&M's rival school University of Texas-Austin or their mascot the Longhorns, since UT didn't adopt longhorn cattle as its mascot until 1916.[22]

The Longhorn published each year from 1903 to 1948, except for 1943 to 1945 when World War II interrupted publication. In 1949, students voted to change the name to Aggieland, which the yearbook has used until present.[21]

The 2000 edition of Aggieland was named an ACP Pacemaker finalist for its coverage of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse.[21] In 2004, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2018, it was listed as a finalist as well. Aggieland won the 2008 and 2013 Yearbook Pacemakers.

Aggieland's office is located at the front of The Battalion's office in the Memorial Student Center. Both productions fall under Student Media in the Texas A&M Division of Student Affairs. Aggieland's current editor-in-chief is Emily Escobedo.[23]

Battalion staff[edit]

Notable past editors and writers[edit]

Ernest Lynwood Bruce (1876-1949) was the first Editor in Chief of The Battalion in fall 1893. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1894,[4] then attended the University of Texas School of Law and became a prominent attorney in Orange, Texas.[24] From 1913 to 1917 Bruce represented Texas' 14th District — then covering Jefferson, Liberty and Orange Counties — as a Democratic state legislator.[25]

Singer-songwriter and actor Lyle Lovett wrote for The Battalion as a journalism student in the late 1970s.[26]

Current editorial staff (Spring 2024)[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Benner, Judith Ann (1983). Sul Ross, Soldier, Statesman, Educator. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. p. 225. ISBN 9780890961421.
  2. ^ "Texas A&M Newspaper Collection". Texas A&M University Archives.
  3. ^ Henton, Lesley (June 23, 2022). "Texas A&M Celebrating 50 Years Of Title IX And The Aggies Who Broke Barriers". Texas A&M Today. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h snoadmin; report, Staff (October 3, 2018). "Looking back on The Battalion's 125-year history". The Battalion. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "February 15, 1908: A Student Uprising at Texas A&M". The Chronicle of Higher Education. February 15, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Casey, Paul D. (1908). The history of the A. & M. college trouble, 1908, by Paul D. Casey, class 1908. Waco, Tex.: J.S. Hill & company.
  7. ^ "DIFFICULTIES IN TEXAS COLLEGE. Governor Asked to Mediate in Trouble Between President and Student Body". New York Tribune. February 15, 1908. p. 5.
  8. ^ "A&M 1917-1918". The Battalion. p. 2.
  9. ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "Texas A&M University". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "Tradition spanning generations - A&M;'s 125th". web.archive.org. September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Holder, Ed; Bennett, Jerry (February 23, 1954). "Battalion Co-Editors Resign in Face of Publication Committee". The Battalion.
  12. ^ "Breaking: President Banks demands The Battalion stop printing". The Batt. February 12, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  13. ^ McGee, Kate (February 12, 2022). "Texas A&M students protest after president ends print publication of 129-year-old Battalion newspaper". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  14. ^ Jaschik, Scott (February 14, 2022). "Texas A&M President Forces Student Paper to Be Online Only". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "Texas A&M Newspaper Collection". Cushing Memorial Library & Archives.
  16. ^ The Princeton Review 2008 Best Colleges Rankings Princeton Review Accessed August 22, 2006.
  17. ^ "National College Newspaper Convention". Associated Collegiate Press. Archived from the original on February 18, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  18. ^ Zdenek, Meredith (November 3, 2008). "The Battalion staff honored with award". The Battalion. Retrieved November 3, 2008.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "2008 ACP Newspaper Pacemaker Winners". National Scholastic Press Association/Associated Collegiate Press. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
  20. ^ Levy, David (October 4, 2022). "We ranked the best college newspapers in 2022 by traffic and engagement". Degreechoices.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c "The History of The Aggieland". The Battalion. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  22. ^ "How UT's Famous Longhorn Mascot Got His Name". Southern Living. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  23. ^ D0I7-T-A-M-U-D-U-M-M-Y. "Home". yearbook.tamu.edu. Retrieved February 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 06, 1949, Image 4 « Texas A&M Newspaper Collection". newspaper.library.tamu.edu. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Member profile". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  26. ^ "Lyle Lovett & His Large Band".

External links[edit]

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