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re: Tonight, Texas A&M's campus will darken for Silver Taps
Posted on 2/4/14 at 11:10 am to Pettifogger
Posted on 2/4/14 at 11:10 am to Pettifogger
quote:
I don't know enough about TAMU to call out any specific tradition, nor do I really want to. It just seems at some point, rather than letting traditions come naturally, the focus became developing a lot of traditions for the sake of being very traditional. Not sure anything is wrong with that, I just wonder how I'd feel if there were a tradition for everything I encountered as a student or alumni. Basically I'm curious as to whether I'd get tired of it or feel like it was forced.
This is a convenient fabrication people use as some sort of detraction that can't be disproven. It reeks of Skip Bayless logic and complete ignorance.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 11:36 am to betweenthebara
It's not surprising outsiders are jealous of A&M's history and traditions. This is what being an ag is. People around the country recognize what A&M stands for.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 12:01 pm to Pettifogger
"I suspect this was well orchestrated with the intention of being repeated. "
…and I suspect it's possible you're right in this case. However, it is possible that Silver Taps ceremony did change some in its earliest years. It hasn't changed since my first one in '69, so any evolution of the tradition was before then.
Basically it was worth doing, so sure it was worth putting some thought into. We still do it because it's still worth doing and it's worth doing well to respect those who have passed.
Traditions, however, don't have to emerge from random acts and then evolve over a number of years "to get it right".
…and I suspect it's possible you're right in this case. However, it is possible that Silver Taps ceremony did change some in its earliest years. It hasn't changed since my first one in '69, so any evolution of the tradition was before then.
Basically it was worth doing, so sure it was worth putting some thought into. We still do it because it's still worth doing and it's worth doing well to respect those who have passed.
Traditions, however, don't have to emerge from random acts and then evolve over a number of years "to get it right".
Posted on 2/4/14 at 12:05 pm to Pettifogger
An intention by whom though? The school was run exclusively by former or currently serving military officers and NCOs for a long portion of its early history. When tasked with running a military college designed to build young officers they naturally designed campus life to mimic military life at the time. Over time, the military's traditions have changed a bit, and so have A&M's, which explains the slight disparity. Practicality can have a large part to do with it, in the case of uniforms and general customs. Other traditions were started in the military by Former Students (Muster) and then transferred to A&M as a whole after the fact. Some traditions have entirely been lost, such as the pipeline A&M grads had for certain branches of the military (Artillery) (Other SMCs had their own as well, West Pointers generally, and still do, got the lions share of Infantry and Engineering slots) Its really a patchwork.
I can say that there are some 'forced' traditions on campus, and they were pushed by either civilian students looking to boost their resumes (Big Event) or the school administration attempting to make some kind of safety initiative a 'tradition'. None of those have gone over well and are generally looked on with disdain.
I can say that there are some 'forced' traditions on campus, and they were pushed by either civilian students looking to boost their resumes (Big Event) or the school administration attempting to make some kind of safety initiative a 'tradition'. None of those have gone over well and are generally looked on with disdain.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 12:17 pm to cokebottleag
quote:
Big Event
that counts as a tradition?
I always thought it was simply a community service initiative that several other schools are part of.
This post was edited on 2/4/14 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 2/4/14 at 1:14 pm to Dr RC
quote:
that counts as a tradition?
That's how I remember them marketing it on campus. Worst Idea ever.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 1:25 pm to TbirdSpur2010
An author, who IIRC was an aggie, described A&M's tradition of Silver Taps this way: "but their best tradition is one you wish they never had."
Posted on 2/4/14 at 1:30 pm to Prof
The best tradition is Muster, but that description also applies.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 1:49 pm to Roger Klarvin
I was going to mention Muster.
From wikipedia:
Aggie Muster is a time-honored tradition at Texas A&M University which celebrates the camaraderie of the school while remembering the lives of Aggies who have died, specifically those in the past year. Muster officially began on April 21, 1922 as a day for remembrance of fellow Aggies. Muster ceremonies today take place in approximately 320 locations globally. The largest muster ceremony occurs in Reed Arena, on the Texas A&M campus.[1] The "Roll Call for the Absent" commemorates Aggies, former and current students, who died that year. Aggies light candles, and friends and families of Aggies who died that year answer “here” when the name of their loved one is “called”. Campus muster also serves as a 50th year class reunion for the corresponding graduating class.[2] Some non-campus muster ceremonies do not include the pageantry of the campus ceremony, and might consist simply of a barbecue.[1]
The most well-known Aggie Muster took place during World War II in 1942 on the Philippine island of Corregidor. At this time, Corregidor was the last American stronghold against the Japanese forces in the Philippines, and Japanese artillery and warplanes were constantly attacking. An estimated 1.8 million pounds of shells pounded the island in one five-hour stretch. The American artillery commander on Corregidor was Brigadier General George F. Moore, a 1908 graduate of Texas A&M.
With the help of Major Tom Dooley, class of 1935, Moore gathered the names of 25 other Aggies under his command. Despite the fierce fighting as the Japanese laid siege to the island, on April 21, 1942 Moore held a roll call—known as muster in army terms—calling the names of each of the Aggies under his command.[4][5]
Only twelve of the twenty-five survived the battle and the POW camps to which the survivors were sent.[4] Dooley told a United Press correspondent about the gathering, and the reporter sent an article back to the USA about the 25 Aggies who had "Mustered." The story captured the imagination of the country and "helped boost American spirits at a time a lift was badly needed."[5] (T. R. Louder, the last known Corregidor Muster survivor, died on May 21, 2001, and his name was called at Muster 2002 in College Station.)
From wikipedia:
Aggie Muster is a time-honored tradition at Texas A&M University which celebrates the camaraderie of the school while remembering the lives of Aggies who have died, specifically those in the past year. Muster officially began on April 21, 1922 as a day for remembrance of fellow Aggies. Muster ceremonies today take place in approximately 320 locations globally. The largest muster ceremony occurs in Reed Arena, on the Texas A&M campus.[1] The "Roll Call for the Absent" commemorates Aggies, former and current students, who died that year. Aggies light candles, and friends and families of Aggies who died that year answer “here” when the name of their loved one is “called”. Campus muster also serves as a 50th year class reunion for the corresponding graduating class.[2] Some non-campus muster ceremonies do not include the pageantry of the campus ceremony, and might consist simply of a barbecue.[1]
The most well-known Aggie Muster took place during World War II in 1942 on the Philippine island of Corregidor. At this time, Corregidor was the last American stronghold against the Japanese forces in the Philippines, and Japanese artillery and warplanes were constantly attacking. An estimated 1.8 million pounds of shells pounded the island in one five-hour stretch. The American artillery commander on Corregidor was Brigadier General George F. Moore, a 1908 graduate of Texas A&M.
With the help of Major Tom Dooley, class of 1935, Moore gathered the names of 25 other Aggies under his command. Despite the fierce fighting as the Japanese laid siege to the island, on April 21, 1942 Moore held a roll call—known as muster in army terms—calling the names of each of the Aggies under his command.[4][5]
Only twelve of the twenty-five survived the battle and the POW camps to which the survivors were sent.[4] Dooley told a United Press correspondent about the gathering, and the reporter sent an article back to the USA about the 25 Aggies who had "Mustered." The story captured the imagination of the country and "helped boost American spirits at a time a lift was badly needed."[5] (T. R. Louder, the last known Corregidor Muster survivor, died on May 21, 2001, and his name was called at Muster 2002 in College Station.)
Posted on 2/4/14 at 2:13 pm to Pettifogger
A&M has a million traditions and each one came about in different ways. Silver Taps started because our most influential President, Lawrence Sullivan Ross, died and they had a ceremony to honor him. The ceremony was so well received that they decided to do a similar ceremony whenever a student died. Of course, back then A&M was a very small college of just a few hundred people that were all male and all going in to the military so Silver Taps was a rare and very special event. As time went on and with the nature of having a student body of 50k there is a Silver Taps almost every month now.
There is a saying at A&M, that if you do something twice it becomes a tradition so you have lots of small traditions. That said, there are the "Major" traditions that are on a different level. Those are Silver Taps, Muster, The 12th Man (ie students standing for the entire game), Yell Practice, and of course formerly Bonfire. There are also lots of smaller but strongly followed traditions such as the Aggie Ring, Reveille, Gig'em, saying "Howdy", etc. Then you have a lot of Corps specific traditions.
The main thing is A&M has a truly defined culture that is designed around bringing Aggies together through common threads. It's not the right place for everyone, especially if you are rebellious and dislike authority. I love it though and love the bond that exists between Aggies. It's a special place.
There is a saying at A&M, that if you do something twice it becomes a tradition so you have lots of small traditions. That said, there are the "Major" traditions that are on a different level. Those are Silver Taps, Muster, The 12th Man (ie students standing for the entire game), Yell Practice, and of course formerly Bonfire. There are also lots of smaller but strongly followed traditions such as the Aggie Ring, Reveille, Gig'em, saying "Howdy", etc. Then you have a lot of Corps specific traditions.
The main thing is A&M has a truly defined culture that is designed around bringing Aggies together through common threads. It's not the right place for everyone, especially if you are rebellious and dislike authority. I love it though and love the bond that exists between Aggies. It's a special place.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 2:24 pm to aggressor
quote:
There is a saying at A&M, that if you do something twice it becomes a tradition so you have lots of small traditions.
I've never heard this but this is probably what I was getting at the entire time.
Once upon a time, me and my buddies had adopted TAMU as a secondary team. That was partly because we knew a lot of Texas AU students who pulled for Texas, and partly because we thought we were similar schools in that both are conservative and occasionally accused of being cult-like.
Since then, you've joined the conference and aligned with Alabama, so I hate you and think you're weird as shite, but I nonetheless appreciate your cultish nature and I'm glad someone has surpassed Auburn in the SEC in that regard.
I don't know how I'd feel about all of A&M's many traditions, but certainly this one is worthy of admiration. Also, not to lavish too much praise on you, but I think it's interesting that A&M can largely maintain its culture despite its size. I know not everyone participates and that number may grow in time, but that situation certainly isn't replicated in other schools of comparable size.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 2:37 pm to Pettifogger
This is one tradition I could get behind.....very cool
The yell leaders and shite is just...umm....I don't get it.
The yell leaders and shite is just...umm....I don't get it.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 3:06 pm to lsusteve1
A lot of traditions have died at A&M - after Bonfire fell, it was never the same. Some still remain, and always will. Silver Taps, the 12th Man, etc... But a piece of what made A&M special died when Bonfire fell and those students died.
We used to have a LOT more traditions.
We used to have a LOT more traditions.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 3:15 pm to ColoradoAg
Super respectful but very cultish
Posted on 2/4/14 at 3:17 pm to TbirdSpur2010
That's a really awesome tradition. Horrible that it has to happen, but I truly respect the Texas A&M culture... even if we jokingly make fun of it sometimes.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 3:33 pm to Bama Bird
Short on time, so I haven't read since page 1. This has probably been said, but A&M was small, all male, and all military for 90 years. The environment in which these things developed is very different than the big, somewhat generic, state school that A&M is today.
My grandfather, L.M. "Diddy" Welch, was class of '25. Not only was A&M small, rural, all male, military, but he went there during prohibition. I can't imagine how boring that must have been. Actually, he had a guy in Navasota who would load a train car with whiskey for them. They apparently were good and loaded much of the time.
My grandfather, L.M. "Diddy" Welch, was class of '25. Not only was A&M small, rural, all male, military, but he went there during prohibition. I can't imagine how boring that must have been. Actually, he had a guy in Navasota who would load a train car with whiskey for them. They apparently were good and loaded much of the time.
Posted on 2/4/14 at 4:49 pm to TbirdSpur2010
Now that's a WOW. Thanks for sharing.
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