Campus News and Updates: December 14

Howdy from your President! Since graduation is this week and many of you will not be here next week, I have made this update a little longer than usual.

• I’d like to start with a big Aggie welcome to new head football coach Kevin Sumlin: http://tx.ag/426wu1. I agree with Athletics Director Bill Byrne when he said that Sumlin “is the right person to lead our football program into the Southeastern Conference. First of all, he is a terrific person. He is also one heck of a recruiter and he will put together a great staff.”

• Speaking of football, congratulations to placekicker Randy Bullock, whose record-setting senior season was rewarded with the 2011 Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate placekicker. He also received All-America honors from the Walter Camp All-America squad, the American Football Coaches Association, Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Weekly.

• Don’t forget: Commencement Convocation is 5:30 p.m. tomorrow in Rudder Auditorium, with speaker Andrew H. Card Jr., acting dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He held several top positions under three U.S. presidents (and is the one who whispered in President Bush’s ear about the attacks on September 11, 2001, when the president was reading to elementary school children). Everyone is invited to attend.

• Congratulations to everyone who will graduate this week. There are many activities planned, from our convocation tomorrow night, to commencement (http://graduation.tamu.edu/ceremon.html) to The Next Tradition (http://www.aggienetwork.com/events/tnt.aspx?rt=s) sponsored by The Association of Former Studentss. New this semester: Drive Thru & Get Your Decal, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow in the parking lot of the Williams Alumni Center, when December graduates can get Association of Former Students decals placed on their vehicles.

• Our Information Technology division will repair a damaged fiber line beginning Saturday and ending mid-week, which will cause all buildings on main campus to experience significant Internet outages. More than 800 computers will be available for individuals (who do not need to make a reservation) and work groups (for which reservations are needed at http://oal.tamu.edu/Classroom_Request_Form.php). More information is available at http://tx.ag/mtfdol.

• Students and faculty in the Center for Housing and Urban Development in the College of Architecture will play a key role in a new research, educational and engagement network to provide sustainability science to South Texas policymakers and residents: http://one.arch.tamu.edu/news/2011/11/16/chud-southtexas/.

• Marketing major Lauren Joy Ray ’13 is a great example of our core values of excellence and selfless service, among others. She launched the Be The Joy website (http://www.bethejoy.com/) to make colorful, paper-based beaded necklaces and bracelets crafted by Acholi women in Uganda available to the public. Profits help fund the education of young Ugandan women. Her story is athttp://maysbusiness.tamu.edu/index.php/ray-brings-joy-to-ugandan-girls-through-her-nonprofit/.

Until next week, Gig ’em Aggies. In the meantime, you can always reach me at president@tamu.edu.

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin ’71
President