Spring Break
Robert Gates to speak at Muster
Former A&M president will return to Aggieland to speak at Muster
By: Calli Turner
Issue date: 2/10/09 Section: News
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, former Texas A&M president, will return to campus for April Muster.
Jena Bentley, Muster chairwoman and a management information systems graduate student, said the Muster committee worked with the president's office to secure Gates as the April 21 keynote speaker.
"We worked with President Murano's office and asked him through her with a letter inviting him through her and a letter from the Muster committee also," she said.
Jason Joseph, a freshman biochemistry major, said he followed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, so he was aware of Gates and anticipating his arrival.
"Once I heard that Robert Gates was coming I was pretty excited," Joseph said. "It's exciting to know that an Aggie has been so successful and I'm curious to see what he has to say."
Aaron Burkhard, a freshman mathematics major, said he is glad Gates will have a homecoming.
"It's wonderful to have him back here," he said. "He did such a great thing for the Aggie nation and is doing a great service to us under Bush and Obama."
Hunter Neely, a freshman biomedical science major, said she and other Aggies were excited to hear the news.
"I'm really excited and I know a lot of other people will be really excited because of how awesome he was at A&M and everyone was so upset when he left so everyone will love to have him back," she said.
Bentely said the security level for the ceremony will remain the same as past Muster ceremonies, so students do not need to worry about special accommodations. She said the committee does not want Gates to overshadow the purpose of Muster and that he felt the same way.
"He's the kind of person that doesn't want to overshadow Muster," Bentley said.
Muster is celebrated in more than 400 places worldwide and serves to unite Aggies. The Roll Call for the Absent honors Aggies who have fallen since the last Muster Roll Call.
Gates became president of Texas A&M Aug. 1, 2002, and left his post to be sworn in as secretary of defense on Dec. 18, 2006. He served as interim dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service from 1999 to 2001. Prior to his tenure at Aggieland, Gates was the director of the CIA from 1991 until 1993.
On Dec. 1, 2008, President Barack Obama announced that Gates would remain as the secretary of defense.
Jena Bentley, Muster chairwoman and a management information systems graduate student, said the Muster committee worked with the president's office to secure Gates as the April 21 keynote speaker.
"We worked with President Murano's office and asked him through her with a letter inviting him through her and a letter from the Muster committee also," she said.
Jason Joseph, a freshman biochemistry major, said he followed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, so he was aware of Gates and anticipating his arrival.
"Once I heard that Robert Gates was coming I was pretty excited," Joseph said. "It's exciting to know that an Aggie has been so successful and I'm curious to see what he has to say."
Aaron Burkhard, a freshman mathematics major, said he is glad Gates will have a homecoming.
"It's wonderful to have him back here," he said. "He did such a great thing for the Aggie nation and is doing a great service to us under Bush and Obama."
Hunter Neely, a freshman biomedical science major, said she and other Aggies were excited to hear the news.
"I'm really excited and I know a lot of other people will be really excited because of how awesome he was at A&M and everyone was so upset when he left so everyone will love to have him back," she said.
Bentely said the security level for the ceremony will remain the same as past Muster ceremonies, so students do not need to worry about special accommodations. She said the committee does not want Gates to overshadow the purpose of Muster and that he felt the same way.
"He's the kind of person that doesn't want to overshadow Muster," Bentley said.
Muster is celebrated in more than 400 places worldwide and serves to unite Aggies. The Roll Call for the Absent honors Aggies who have fallen since the last Muster Roll Call.
Gates became president of Texas A&M Aug. 1, 2002, and left his post to be sworn in as secretary of defense on Dec. 18, 2006. He served as interim dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service from 1999 to 2001. Prior to his tenure at Aggieland, Gates was the director of the CIA from 1991 until 1993.
On Dec. 1, 2008, President Barack Obama announced that Gates would remain as the secretary of defense.
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