Spring Break
Gates: stepping out and stepping up
By: Melissa Appel
Issue date: 5/11/09 Section: News
While enrolled as an undergraduate at Texas A&M, Class of 2009 graduates have seen two presidents of the United States and two presidents of Texas A&M. The two presidencies would seem more distant except for the role of one man in connecting the two offices.
On Dec. 18, 2006, Robert Gates was sworn in as Secretary of Defense under the George Bush administration. Simultaneously, Gates vacated his role as Texas A&M president.
Gates left his presidency in order to serve his nation in a higher office. In an e-mail informing students of his departure, Gates said, "I'm deeply honored, but I'm deeply saddened."
Many students and faculty echoed his sentiments. Although having an Aggie in Washington, D.C. provides honor and pride to Aggies everywhere, Aggie students expressed disappointment in losing the beloved president.
"It was sad to see him go, but it was good to know he was going to serve our country," said senior applied mathematics major Annchen Knodt.
Gates had already served Texas A&M in a formal office before assuming the presidency; from 1999-2001, he acted as interim dean of Mays Business School. Gates began his term as Texas A&M President on Aug. 1, 2002, after former president Ray Bowen stepped down from office in order to concentrate on teaching in the Texas A&M Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The impact Gates had on the campus and the spirit of the 12th Man was evident at his sendoff ceremony held at the end of 2006.
"The ceremony when he left was so cool," Knodt said. "That was one of my big Aggie pride moments - just how everyone supported our president."
The ceremony mirrored both the patriotic and Aggie heart within Gates.
"What stuck out in my mind was the yell," said Allison Vierus, a junior English major. "We said, 'Beat the hell out of terrorists.'"
Gates has formally returned to Aggieland twice since he left his presidency. In October 2007, Gates was on campus to receive the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service for 2007. On April 21, 2009, Gates served as a speaker at Aggie Muster.
On Dec. 18, 2006, Robert Gates was sworn in as Secretary of Defense under the George Bush administration. Simultaneously, Gates vacated his role as Texas A&M president.
Gates left his presidency in order to serve his nation in a higher office. In an e-mail informing students of his departure, Gates said, "I'm deeply honored, but I'm deeply saddened."
Many students and faculty echoed his sentiments. Although having an Aggie in Washington, D.C. provides honor and pride to Aggies everywhere, Aggie students expressed disappointment in losing the beloved president.
"It was sad to see him go, but it was good to know he was going to serve our country," said senior applied mathematics major Annchen Knodt.
Gates had already served Texas A&M in a formal office before assuming the presidency; from 1999-2001, he acted as interim dean of Mays Business School. Gates began his term as Texas A&M President on Aug. 1, 2002, after former president Ray Bowen stepped down from office in order to concentrate on teaching in the Texas A&M Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The impact Gates had on the campus and the spirit of the 12th Man was evident at his sendoff ceremony held at the end of 2006.
"The ceremony when he left was so cool," Knodt said. "That was one of my big Aggie pride moments - just how everyone supported our president."
The ceremony mirrored both the patriotic and Aggie heart within Gates.
"What stuck out in my mind was the yell," said Allison Vierus, a junior English major. "We said, 'Beat the hell out of terrorists.'"
Gates has formally returned to Aggieland twice since he left his presidency. In October 2007, Gates was on campus to receive the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service for 2007. On April 21, 2009, Gates served as a speaker at Aggie Muster.
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