Reveille IX Selection Committee Announced
Upon the announcement in September regarding the approaching retirement of Reveille VIII, a search began to find the right collie to fill Aggieland’s First Lady’s position. Interim President Mark Hussey selected Tom Reber, Interim Vice-President for Student Affairs to head a 12-member selection committee to choose a young collie who could serve several years as the University’s mascot. The dog would need to be able to handle crowds by the thousands as well as the stress associated with being the most famous face on campus.
While the committee has met for a few introductory meetings, the full membership had not been publicly announced until a University memorandum from last fall was recently released. The committee includes a diverse group of students, administrators, and outside experts. The members of the selection committee are:
- Tom Reber, Committee Chair, Interim Vice-President for Student Affairs
- Mark Hussey, Interim President
- Roy May ’15, Yell Leader
- Cesar Millan, renowned dog trainer
- Deanna Bosse ’13, President of Maroon Coats
- Rick Perry ’72, Former Governor
- Kyle Kelly ’14, Student Body President
- Barbara Bush, Former First Lady, Literacy Advocate, Author
- Hannah Weger ’15, Speaker of the Student Senate
- Scott Evetts ’15, Commander of Company E-2 (Mascot Company)
- Condoleezza Rice, NCAA Football Playoff Committee member
- Glen A. Laine, Vice President for Research
Some have voiced concern why experts from outside the University have been included in the committee.
“When choosing members for the panel, Mark [Hussey] and I both agreed that having a diverse and unbiased group would give us the most thorough oversight into the selection process,” said Vice President Reber.
Cesar Millan, the titular star of the hit television show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan, was asked to join the team due to his extensive work with rehabilitating dogs. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was invited due to her recent involvement with the new College Football Playoff Committee, while former First Lady Barbara Bush joined the team due to her work training their dog Millie to handle similar stresses of living in the White House.
The committee expects to have Reveille IX selected in time for Final Review in May — the Corps ceremony which marks the transition of leadership into the next year.
-North by North Gate
If you’ve ever wondered who you have to thank for “north” at Texas A&M being pointed towards the local bar district instead of the north pole, look no further. A political activist and local alcoholic, his claim to fame and life achievement was convincing the city of College Station to legally define “north” as “of or denoting the direction from any specified area, city, or country towards the Northgate Entertainment District.”