Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Jordan Bryan [Click to enlarge]

"Were we to become a Top 10 university and lose that spirit, those traditions, our culture, we would be nothing more than another giant education factory. A big brain with no heart. Hell, we might as well be in Austin."

That quote was questionably attributed to former Texas A&M President Robert Gates, and resonates with Aggies, encapsulating the University's pride and zeal in its tradition into modernity. There is plenty to be said about maintaining the uniqueness of A&M (you'll never hear me say cultural heterogeneity is bad), but we do have to tread lighter than ever in understanding exactly what we mean when we say tradition, spirit and culture.

A&M is replete with a unique culture and attitude, so much so that the above quote, even without direct citation, could easily be attributed to any member of the Aggie family. Not only does Aggieland value tradition but values that value of tradition. It isn't news that tradition occupies the place generally reserved for progress at other universities. It's what makes A&M so different.

Where we have to be careful is assuming tradition and 21st century progress are opposed to each other. A glance at those Top 10 universities would quickly demonstrate how shortsighted that assumption can be. Far from being polarized in one direction or another, many of this nation's oldest universities are easily on par with A&M in the tradition department. School pride, unique events, involved alumni and sports pride are, sadly, not unique innovations of A&M. Still, they are an integral part of A&M's tradition, as well as the tradition of other top universities.

The point is that a Top 10 attitude can, and should, easily coexist with our traditions. A&M is increasingly shedding its provincial image and beginning to demonstrate itself as a center for scholarship and intellect, which will undoubtedly seem to compromise the foundational principles and values of A&M. As our excellence in science, arts and business increases we will see a shift in public misconceptions of A&M, fortified by our increasingly knowledgeable faculty and research focus. We're steadily gaining the potential to be a national force in academia but will our attitudes facilitate or retard it?

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools