Campus News and Updates: September 5

September 5, 2012

Howdy from your President!

* We will celebrate the accomplishments of our outstanding faculty and kick off the academic year with a new approach to our annual Academic Convocation tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Rudder Exhibit Hall. No regalia, no marches across campus in triple-digit heat, just a time to come together as an academic community and say "thank you" to all who help keep Texas A&M among the nation's best public universities.

* Our preliminary fall enrollment is 50,769 for the College Station campus; 2,025 for the Galveston campus; and 519 for the Qatar campus, for a total of 53,313.  In addition, the Corps of Cadets is the largest in 30 years, with 2,303 cadets on the first day of the semester. Whoop!

* Dr. Gus Cothran, a professor in the Animal Genetics Lab in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is part of a team that has identified the gene in horses that controls gait (http://tx.ag/hfbczi). Their work, which could have major implications in the horse racing and horse breeding world, is the cover story of the current issue of the international journal of science, "Nature."

* Drew Nelson '13 reminds us that it's not too late to get tickets for First Yell, featuring Aggie country music greats Robert Earl Keen '78, Rick Trevino '93 and Granger Smith '02 at 8 p.m. at Kyle Field, just before our historic, first Midnight Yell Practice as members of the SEC. Tickets and more information can be found at www.12thmanfoundation.com.

* As you have no doubt heard, ESPN's College GameDay will be on campus Saturday broadcasting from Simpson Drill Field (8 a.m. on ESPNU, 9 a.m. on ESPN) in advance of our first SEC game against the Florida Gators. Nathan Quiñones '12 joins me in asking the campus community to use our traditional greeting of "Howdy!" as we welcome the ESPN crew, our visiting Gator fans, and returning members of the Aggie Family this weekend, and into the future.

* Chris Bena '08 asks that we show "what separates the 12th Man from the rest in college football" by bringing our 12th Man towels to the game on Saturday. As a special treat, we will have 25,000 SEC-branded 12th Man towels available as a memento for anyone who leaves their towel at home.

* Finally, Joe Routt Blvd. between Rudder Tower and the Koldus Building will be completely open on Thursday, just in time for the Corps March In this weekend.

Until next week, Gig 'em Aggies. In the meantime, you can always reach me at president@tamu.edu or follow me on Twitter(@aggieprez).

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin '71
President