Office of the President

Speeches & Reports

Message to Texas A&M Students, Faculty and Staff

September 22, 2009

Howdy from your Interim President!

• Thank you to the many readers who have sent me comments. Please keep them coming. Several of you asked why the flags on campus were not flown at half-staff following the death of Nobel Laureate and Texas A&M professor Dr. Norman Borlaug Sept. 12. The answer is simple: Only the U.S. President or Texas Governor can make that decision. Information on the Oct. 6 memorial for the Father of the Green Revolution – which will include Secretary of Defense and former Texas A&M President Robert Gates – can be found at http://borlaug.tamu.edu/memorial.php.
• It was great fun to be one of the first to walk through the 12-foot Aggie Ring on the grounds of the Association of Former Students building. If you’re a Texas A&M staff member, the Association invites you to stop by Friday evening to see the renovated building and hear the Singing Cadets at 5:30. Faculty will have a similar opportunity next month.
• Texas A&M's Facebook page has a new feature called Face2Face — interviews with campus leaders and the chance for our Facebook fans to send comments and questions. I will be talking about leadership during times of adversity (based primarily on our experiences in Galveston with Hurricane Ike and the sinking of the Cynthia Woods). It will be posted on Oct. 2, and my answers to comments will be posted Oct. 5.
• If I shake your hand in the next day or so, I might be doing so with a sore arm. I got my seasonal flu shot yesterday, and I hope you will do the same. All Texas A&M employees are encouraged to get shots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. today and Wednesday at the General Services Complex on Agronomy Road. To make it more convenient for you, we are asking those whose last names begin with A-N to go Tuesday, and O-Z on Wednesday. Information on parking and costs can be found at http://employees.tamu.edu/docs/misc/fluflyer.pdf.
• Finally, don’t forget to mark your calendar for next Thursday’s Academic Convocation. At 2:30 p.m. in Rudder Theatre, I will be giving the annual state of the university address, which will outline Texas A&M's progress related to Vision 2020 and our commitment to the Academic Master Plan.

Until next week, Gig 'em Aggies! Send your comments or questions to president@tamu.edu.

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin '71
Interim President