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Academics - Texas A&M University
Topic Started: Jun 7 2012, 08:48 AM (250 Views)
humbletx


for those with college age children, or grandchildren - there are many many positive reasons to consider Texas A&M. The Ag programs are some of the best in the US - engineering the same excellent grad programs and professional schools - good enough to be sponsored by both Rice University and the University of Texas for membership in to the AAU.

Even 'BowTie", during his introduction to the SEC this week "Texas A&M's academics will gain more attention through the publicity generated by competing in SEC athletics. We haven't had a good national stage so one of the drivers for me was the recognition that the SEC provides a lens through which the world can see Texas A&M for its many dimensions. We think this is going to be a great boost for the brand, if you will, for Texas A&M and puts us on a national stage like we haven't been before."

IMO its refreshing to hear someone speak so openly about academics at their institution in a sports focused venue.

The along comes this, at the tail end of the GTFO tour of Texas A&M.. Add to this Will Muschamp and his simplistic shot at College Station..

"On October 31, 1994 my father came home from work, walked into the kitchen, and announced he had something to tell us. He had been transferred to Beaumont, Texas. I was a senior at a high school outside of Buffalo, New York. My parents decided that my mother, brother, and I would remain in New York until the end of the school year. We would relocate after the year was over and I had graduated.

At that point, I had settled on attending the University of Dayton, a tiny Catholic university in Dayton, Ohio. I can't remember why I wanted to go to Dayton, other than they offered me a lot of scholarship money, and had my chosen major. Perhaps the prospect of learning calculus from a priest intrigued me. With the move to Texas, it made sense for me to consider going to college in the state of Texas. Rice's tuition was impractically high, but the state universities in Texas were cheap. And unlike the state schools in New York, the universities in Texas weren't crappy commuter campuses -- they were real universities.

And so, in the spring of 1995 I boarded an airplane, met my father at the Houston airport, and set off on a three day drive to visit the campuses of Texas A&M and The University of Texas.

When I was three years old my mother, father, newborn brother, and I moved from Akron, Ohio to Beaumont, Texas. After a stint there, and another in Houston, we moved when I was ten to the suburbs of Buffalo. So Texas, and Texas culture, wasn't entirely foreign to me. But I didn't grow up knowing Aggies and their ways. Texans often take Aggie silliness for granted. Natives grow up with this silliness, rather than happening upon it all at once. I happened upon it all at once. I was not prepared.

Our trip first took us to in College Station, Texas. When you first hear the name, College Station sounds a lot like State College, PA. "College" is the critical word in the names of these two towns. It almost makes them seem the same. Further confusing matters, both are small university towns in rural settings. I had already visited Penn State, and the differences between these towns seemed stark. State College is a pretty town, and College Station is an ugly hell hole.

I knew Texas A&M had this group of students who participated in a quasi-military organization, but when I was first confronted by them, I found it startling. I know this is far from an original statement, but for those of you unfamiliar with the uniform of the Hitler youth, the Aggie Cadets come very close to achieving this look. Tan uniforms and heavy boots, it felt like the end of the Weimar Republic. On my tour I learned that Corp members had to wait until they were a senior before they earned their jackboots. It is good that they wait; with great power comes great responsibility.

It is hard to overemphasize the strangeness of the Aggie Corp of Cadets. The Wikipedia page that covers this organization is worth reading, if only for the table that describes the uniforms. White cotton gloves are only worn "for formal functions." And when wearing these gloves a "rubberized gripping surface on the outer surface of the palms are authorized only for those carrying sabres, guidons, flags, or bugles." I will be honest, I had to look up the word guidon. It is a little flag.

I learned that the Aggie marching band was composed only of Corp members. (I crossed band participation off my list.) And then they showed me videos of the band goose-stepping up and down the field during football games, while the crowd cheered them on. This was a scene that was just too weird for description. They say it sends chills down your spine -- it seemed more like shivers.

The campus tour I received at Texas A&M was largely a description of all of the strange and esoteric traditions of the university. Every once in a while, the tour guide would point out a dorm or a library. I was struck by the placement of these traditions at the center of life; they were so important that they were the first thing you were told about upon visiting the campus. When examining these traditions it is really the little touches that make all the difference, and it is their devotion to these little touches that show that the Aggies are truly batshit crazy. My favorite little touch has to do with the Aggie clock tower. For those unaware, the clock tower on the Texas A&M campus uses Roman numerals. But to represent the number four on the face of the clock, they use "IIII" instead of "IV." Apparently, the letters "I" and "V" look too much like the letters "T" and "U" to some Aggies. It is my hope that Aggie physicians do not share this hang up.

(And let's unwind that a little bit. Do the letters "I" and "V" really look like "T" and "U?" This is normally the sort of connection that is only made by schizophrenics.)

At the end of the day, I was concerned. Maybe studying in Texas wasn't right for me. Dayton wasn't too far; there were direct flights that ran between Dayton and Houston. I was looking for a place to get an education, not a membership in a cult."

***
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Napervol
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The Swing Doctor

My daughter just finished her freshman year there. Loves it. Lived off campus behind the Dixie Chicken, and got a spot on campus this year. Huge school, huge beautiful facilities, new buildings,etc. Also a Rudy's in town
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humbletx


Napervol
Jun 7 2012, 04:42 PM
My daughter just finished her freshman year there. Loves it. Lived off campus behind the Dixie Chicken, and got a spot on campus this year. Huge school, huge beautiful facilities, new buildings,etc. Also a Rudy's in town
aaah Rudy's an Austin institution - several have opened in the Houston area.

Its good to hear your daughter is enjoying Collie Station. Lots of nice places to visit in the Hill country - easy drive from B/CS.

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Napervol
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The Swing Doctor

yes, close enough to San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston
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*JollyVolly
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A Very Manly Man

Naper...I LOVE your Cas Walker avatar. He spoke our high school assembly once....and he was a hoot......

They don't make em like Cas any more.....
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RedneckVol
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Apprentice
[ * ]
Tex, interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

A couple of points, if you don't mind. The Roman numeral thing where IIII is substituted for the correct IV is very common. If you look at watches and clock faces that use Roman numerals you'll find that half or more use IIII. That's a dumb person thing moreso than a Texas A&M thing. It's used because folks can't tell a IV from a VI. Seriously. It gets on my nerves and I refuse to have a clock or watch that uses IIII. I'm crazy that way...

Also, about the gloves. I've had to use a sword while wearing gloves (as a Knights Templar in the Freemasons). Without those grippers on the palm, there's no way you could do anything with the sword and hold onto it without extreme effort. Just drawing, saluting and returning the sword with smooth gloves would be a pain in the arse.

A guidon is indeed a little flag...but it's used to help align formations of folks (normally of a military nature) while marching or on parade. So it's important for those who are marching in formation. I'm sure you know that but I thought I'd put it out here for those who might not.

Looking at their uniforms, one style appears to be more like the WW2 style "Pinks and Greens" of the US Army Officer variety. The other uniform of black shirt and tan pants differs from the Hitlerjugend in that the Hitler Youth wore a tan shirt with black pants (in imitation of the brownshirts or SA uniforms) or a completely black uniform. Looking at the photos on the Wiki page about the Corp, the boots look like riding boots to me instead of hob nail jackboots. Had they been in tan shirts and black pants...with jackboots...then I'd be expecting to hear Horst-Wessel-Lied by their band the first time they were in Neyland!

I'm not disputing that they're nuts, however! They very well may be!

Just wanted to give a little insight.

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humbletx


Napervol
Jun 8 2012, 11:02 AM
yes, close enough to San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston
per chance did your daughter attend "fish camp"?
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humbletx


RedneckVol
Jun 8 2012, 02:03 PM
Tex, interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

A couple of points, if you don't mind. The Roman numeral thing where IIII is substituted for the correct IV is very common. If you look at watches and clock faces that use Roman numerals you'll find that half or more use IIII. That's a dumb person thing moreso than a Texas A&M thing. It's used because folks can't tell a IV from a VI. Seriously. It gets on my nerves and I refuse to have a clock or watch that uses IIII. I'm crazy that way...

Also, about the gloves. I've had to use a sword while wearing gloves (as a Knights Templar in the Freemasons). Without those grippers on the palm, there's no way you could do anything with the sword and hold onto it without extreme effort. Just drawing, saluting and returning the sword with smooth gloves would be a pain in the arse.

A guidon is indeed a little flag...but it's used to help align formations of folks (normally of a military nature) while marching or on parade. So it's important for those who are marching in formation. I'm sure you know that but I thought I'd put it out here for those who might not.

Looking at their uniforms, one style appears to be more like the WW2 style "Pinks and Greens" of the US Army Officer variety. The other uniform of black shirt and tan pants differs from the Hitlerjugend in that the Hitler Youth wore a tan shirt with black pants (in imitation of the brownshirts or SA uniforms) or a completely black uniform. Looking at the photos on the Wiki page about the Corp, the boots look like riding boots to me instead of hob nail jackboots. Had they been in tan shirts and black pants...with jackboots...then I'd be expecting to hear Horst-Wessel-Lied by their band the first time they were in Neyland!

I'm not disputing that they're nuts, however! They very well may be!

Just wanted to give a little insight.

the roman numeral deal relates to a long ago deal - and the Texas mascot..
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Napervol
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The Swing Doctor

humbletx
Jun 9 2012, 09:39 AM
Napervol
Jun 8 2012, 11:02 AM
yes, close enough to San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston
per chance did your daughter attend "fish camp"?

Yep......all freshman do, or at least most.
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