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GUEST COLUMNS
The Corps has its own means of operations
By: Jordan Reid
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Opinion
Please allow me to provide my brief remarks regarding the "Cleaning up the Corps" article published in The Battalion's Voices section on March 31, 2009:
I am not a journalist and seek not to provide a riveting, subjective or emotional response to Tuesday's article entitled "Cleaning up the Corps." My purpose is simple and my intent honest: to provide an objective critique of the misinformation printed within the article.
1. The Corps identifies itself as "Keepers of the Spirit" and "Guardians of Tradition."
2 All major command positions within the Corps' chain of command are administratively vetted by the Commandant's Staff.
3. The Commandant's Staff under direction of Lt. Gen. Van Alstyne does not, and will not, actively interfere in student politics. The yell leader candidate selection process is run by cadets, not "the Trigon."
4. Cody Howdeshell was not truthful regarding his past; he admitted this in his official statement. When asked by the head yell leader a direct question regarding any serious misbehavior, Mr. Howdeshell failed to reveal his pending charges. The Corps headquarters and the head yell leader were unaware of Mr. Howdeshell's record.
5. The Corps does in fact have an internal program that seeks to uphold and enforce its constitution, The Standard, wherein its values are clearly articulated. When misconduct, including violations of the Aggie Honor Code, comes to light, the Corps discipline system seeks to justly rectify the problem. Institutions such as the Cadet Court and Cadet Honor Board are in place and do not shy away from their duties.
Having stated the above five points, the Corps leadership and yell leaders are guilty of this: we, as cadets, did not seek the necessary administrative support needed to properly screen our candidates. The selection process was inadequate and poorly administered. Prior to Tuesday's article, the candidate selection process had already been reevaluated with plans to conduct a proper administrative screening in the years to come.
Over the years, the Corps has made significant progress in developing its transparency, but we are not a spotless organization and will never claim to be so.
If anyone has questions regarding Corps values, policies or procedures they should contact Corps staff.
I am not a journalist and seek not to provide a riveting, subjective or emotional response to Tuesday's article entitled "Cleaning up the Corps." My purpose is simple and my intent honest: to provide an objective critique of the misinformation printed within the article.
1. The Corps identifies itself as "Keepers of the Spirit" and "Guardians of Tradition."
2 All major command positions within the Corps' chain of command are administratively vetted by the Commandant's Staff.
3. The Commandant's Staff under direction of Lt. Gen. Van Alstyne does not, and will not, actively interfere in student politics. The yell leader candidate selection process is run by cadets, not "the Trigon."
4. Cody Howdeshell was not truthful regarding his past; he admitted this in his official statement. When asked by the head yell leader a direct question regarding any serious misbehavior, Mr. Howdeshell failed to reveal his pending charges. The Corps headquarters and the head yell leader were unaware of Mr. Howdeshell's record.
5. The Corps does in fact have an internal program that seeks to uphold and enforce its constitution, The Standard, wherein its values are clearly articulated. When misconduct, including violations of the Aggie Honor Code, comes to light, the Corps discipline system seeks to justly rectify the problem. Institutions such as the Cadet Court and Cadet Honor Board are in place and do not shy away from their duties.
Having stated the above five points, the Corps leadership and yell leaders are guilty of this: we, as cadets, did not seek the necessary administrative support needed to properly screen our candidates. The selection process was inadequate and poorly administered. Prior to Tuesday's article, the candidate selection process had already been reevaluated with plans to conduct a proper administrative screening in the years to come.
Over the years, the Corps has made significant progress in developing its transparency, but we are not a spotless organization and will never claim to be so.
If anyone has questions regarding Corps values, policies or procedures they should contact Corps staff.
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