Traditions
Texas A&M University prides itself upon the Aggie Spirit and traditions. Here are a few examples of them
Silver Taps
Silver Taps occurs on the first Tuesday of the month in honor of undergraduate and graduate students that have passed away the month before. The first Silver Taps was held in 1898 and honored Lawrence Sullivan Ross, the former governor of Texas and President of A&M College. Silver Taps is currently held in the Academic Plaza. Around 10:15 that night, the lights are extinguished and hymns chime from Albritton Tower. Students silently gather at the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross. At 10:30pm, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad marches into the plaza and fires three rifle volleys. Buglers then play a special rendition of Silver Taps by Colonel Richard Dunn. Taps is played three times from the dome of the Academic Building: once to the north, south, and west. It is not played to the east because the sun will never rise on that Aggie again. After the buglers play, the students silently return to their homes. Silver Taps is a sacred tradition that Aggies hold dear.
Leave a Penny On Sully
Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross became president of the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas in 1891 at the end of his term as governor. His efforts to keep the college open while governor are legendary, and some credit Ross as the embodiment of Aggie Spirit and tradition. He served as president until his death in 1898. The statue of Ross or "Sully" as he is affectionately called, is one of the most revered works on campus. The statue overlooks the Academic Plaza, which serves as a venue for a number of speakers, special events and traditions. Many students leave pennies at the base of Sully, hoping it will bring good luck when taking exams.
The Aggie Ring
The Aggie Ring is a unique representation of achievement by an Aggie. Aggies take pride in earning their little piece of gold from the greatest University in the world. The Aggie Ring is unlike any other because at most other students cannot design their own class ring or order it at any time. The Aggie Ring can only be ordered when an Aggie completes 90 hours, 45 of the hours being from Texas A&M University. With very few changes made throughout the long and deep history of the ring, all Aggie rings are nearly identical, with the last change being made in 1963 when The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas became Texas A&M University. The oldest ring is that of the Class of 1889, which featured the letters AMC entwined on the crest. Records indicate that E.C. Jonas, Class of 1894, designed the first A&M ring that included most of the same symbols still used today. In 1933, a committee was charged with defining criterion for attaining a ring, and the requirements have existed since then.
Core Values
Excellence
"Set the Bar"
Integrity
"Character is destiny"
Aggie Honor Code: "Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do".
Leadership
"Follow Me"
Loyalty
"Acceptance Forever"
Respect
"We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we."
Selfless Service
"How can I be of service?"
12th Man Spirit
Aggie football fans are called the 12th Man, meaning that they support the 11 players on the field and would be willing, if it were possible, to enter the game if necessary. To further symbolize their "readiness, desire, and enthusiasm," it is traditional for students in attendance to stand throughout the game. The tradition began on January 2, 1922, at the Dixie Classic where A&M played Centre College. A&M had so many injuries in the first half of the game that Coach Dana X. Bible feared he wouldn’t have enough men to finish the game. He called into the stands for E. King Gill, a reserve who had left football after the regular season to play basketball. Although he did not actually play, his readiness symbolized the willingness of all Aggies to support their team to the point of actually entering the game. A&M won 22–14, but E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. In recent decades, the 12th Man is represented on the field by a walk-on player who wears the No. 12 jersey and participates in kick-offs.
"The 12th Man Spirit is a willingness to go above and beyond for the team and those around you. It is the desire to be of service and is borne from good character and integrity."
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University became reality when The U.S. Congress laid the groundwork for the establishment of it in 1862 with the adoption of the Morrill Act. The act auctioned land grants of public lands to establish endowments for colleges where the "leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and mechanical arts. In 1871 the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas was established as a land-grant college by the Texas legislature. Formal Instruction began in 1876. In the 1960's, the state legislature renamed the school Texas A&M University and under the leadership of James Earl Rudder, the school became racially integrated and coeducational. Membership in the Corps of Cadets became voluntary. Texas A&M's RHA chapter was founded in 1972. Texas A&M was inducted into the Association of American Universities in May of 2001 as a Tier 1 Research University, based on the depth of the University's research and academic programs. For more information please visit tamu.edu
