Texas A&M University，我只在那里呆了两年，对它的感情，远不如一般的本科生深。美国人知道这个学校的很多，可能是因为美式橄榄球队，还有每年的大篝火。这学校有丰富的传统，好多故事，校色是酱紫色(Maroon, 也是本篇文章的颜色)，同学之间的互相称呼应该是" howdy Aggie"。除了政府拨款，这学校各方面的捐助也特别多，多是石油工业上赚的钱。我们上学的时候，州内学费只有65美元一个学分，好多同学都有奖学金，商学院的楼群都是新盖的，里面的设施，不在五星级酒店以下。意料之中是，老布什的总统图书馆就建在这里。
A&M 的室内体育馆是我见过最好的，三层，刚一进去我都傻眼了, 室内游泳馆，跳水馆，200 米跑道。那时一群中国女生还组织了排球队，在国际学生联赛上荣获冠军。现在再也凑不齐这么多人了。A&M 还有专门的军校, 一群楞头小伙子, 充满活力充满自豪感. BONFIRE 是我毕业那年出事的,所以，前一年的感恩节前那次，我们目睹了最高最悬的一次。 啊，想想，还是很怀念那在那里度过的时光和那个安静美丽的大学城 College Station。
下面是这封信的原文:
December 7, 2006
To the Aggie Family:
The United States Senate yesterday voted to confirm me as the 22nd Secretary of Defense. I will be sworn in and take office on December 18th, and will resign as the 22nd President of Texas A&M that same day.
And so it is final. My last official act as President will be to preside at the commencement ceremonies on December 15-16.
You already know that I am leaving this incredible University reluctantly and with a heavy heart. By the same token, Aggies - more than anyone else - understand why I must do so.
Our University is in good hands and on an upward course. All the major initiatives - expanding the faculty, new undergraduate degree programs, greater diversity, more than half a billion dollars in new construction - 90% of it for academic facilities, and unprecedented involvement of faculty, staff and students in decision-making - are on track, taking us to new heights of academic excellence. It is now also evident that our athletic program is on track to reach a new level of national competitiveness.
As the end of my service as President draws near, please know that: for the rest of my life I will always be an Aggie. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, as long as I live I will bleed Maroon.
A final request to all in the Texas A&M family. Never forget who we are and where we came from. Never forget the Aggie Code of Honor. And never forget the obligations of duty and honor and country.
God bless all of you, God bless Texas A&M, and God
bless America.
Gig 'em Aggies.
Until we meet again.
Robert M. Gates
President
Texas A&M University
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