The Battalion .... College Station (Brazos County), Texas
Thursday, August 23, 1956
PAGE 4
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Traditions, Customs Make A&M Unique
WASHING DOWN OLD SULLY—Squadron 13 Fish give
Sully his first washing and polish job for the 1955-56
semester. (This was in Sept. ’55). This is how tradi
tions begin at A&M. The members of Squadron 13 plan
to be the first to wash and polish Sully each year from now
on.
Since A&M was established in
1876, its customs and traditions
have grown to help make this
school one of the most unique in
the world.
For the past 80 years customs
and traditions have come and gone
at A&M, some remaining only a
few weeks while others have lasted
nearly the whole time. It is these
which make the school rich in its
heritage.
Probably the first tradition and
one of the most important is that
“Once an Aggie always an Aggie”.
The class of 1880, first to grad
uate is said to have inaugurated
it to promote school spirit. Today
as we Aggies travel around the
country we often meet one of these
Aggies from older classes who in
evitably greets us as a long lost
brother and goes all out to make
us feel at home. This custom of
sticking together is now world
known, and wherever two Aggies
meet, no matter what their ages,
there is sure to be much hand
shaking and back slapping.
Another great custom at Aggie-
land is speaking to and meeting
everyone you come in contact with.
This custom isn’t as old as most
of us may think. F. J. Mikeska,
’28, now an engineer in Shreve
port, La., says when he went to
school here nobody spoke as they
do now. This has changed now,
however, as you all so well know.
The familiar “howdy” rings from
dawn to dark throughout the cam
pus.
Another tradition which dates
well back into the beginning of the
school is the custom of the senior
ring. The first Aggie senior ring
was worn by the class of 1894.
The design has changed very lit
tle, so today we still wear the ring
designed by that class.
The tradition of class distinction
stems from the military training
at A&M. The adage “rank hath
it’s priviledges” is very true here.
The senior is the top dog and his
word is law. The junior enjoys
some prestige over the sophomore
and the “fish” who are low men
on the ladder. By the way “fish”
is the name given the freshman by
one of the classes in the 1880’s,
which one is not exact. The “fish”
catches all the little messy jobs
and lives only for the next year.
The Aggie has a language all
his own. A person eating in one
of the cadet mess halls would like
ly starve unless initiated in the
Aggie mess hall slang. For ex
ample meat is called “bullneck”,
butter is “grease”; beans, “artill
ery”; dessert, “cush”; and syrup,
“reg”, a term which stemed from
the early 20th century cadets’
name of “regulator” given syrup,
because it was then sent in big
100 pound barrels. By the time the
cooks reached the bottom of the
barrel, fermentation had set in and
made it into a very effective lax
ative.
Other terms which are familiar
to the Aggie are “Bull”, which
means one of the Army officers
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stationed here to teach military
science; “the gate”, meaning the
North gate business district; and
one of the most important words
to every Aggie—“sack”, meaning
his own bunk where he catches as
catch can, 40 winks.
The Corps Trips are another
tradition which is of long stand
ing. Today the Corps Trips are
made by automobile to the cities
to watch football games, but in
the early days the school would
rent a train and the entire Corps
would pile in and chug away to
the game.
There are many traditions in
volving Corps Trips. One of the
most widely known is the Twelfth
Man tradition. It started in 1922
when the Aggies played a football
game against Centre College in
Dallas. The opponents were tear
ing the Ag’s up and the reserves
on the Aggie bench were fast
dwendling away. When the coach
was down to his last reserve a
young sophomore named King Gill,
who had worked out with the team
several times dashed out of the
stands where he was sitting and
suited up. Gill didn’t get to play,
but his gesture gave the school it’s
famous tradition and today during
the football games the entire stu
dent body, dates and anyone who
happens to be in the Aggie section
stands while the team is playing,
ready to go in as the Twelfth
man.
Another Corps Trip tradition
which is not as pleasant as the
Twelfth man tradition concerns
the trip to Waco, for the Baylor
game in the 20’s. During the game
thei’e was a fight between several
of the students from both schools.
In the fight an Aggie was killed
accidentally by a thrown chair.
The entire Corps left the game,
stole the train fhey had come from
college on, and returned to A&M
to load up the cavalry and artill
ery. The Aggies worked all night
loading the train with the small
army of cadets in full battle dress,
with the intent of going back to
Waco and leveling the campus of
Baylor. The Governor called out
the National Guard however, and
the train was stopped before it
got to Waco. For this reason there
has never been another Corps Trip
to Baylor and there probably nev
er be, such is the bitterness over
the event.
Another custom at A&M is Final
Review, which is held on the last
day before final exams in the
Spring. At this time the Corps
stages a full dress review on the
main drill field. After once pass
ing by the reviewing stand under
the command of the seniors the
command is turned over to the
junioi’s, next years seniors and
they march by saluting the grad
uating seniors.
Uniform customs change as do
the uniforms. At one time the
campaign hat was worn and you
could tell a cadet class by the way
he wore his hat. Today the cadets
wear the overseas type cap but
they have retained a different style
of wearing it for each class.
There are many solemn and
beautiful cex-emonies at A&M. The
Aggie Muster held each year on
April 21 to commemorate Aggied
killed during the year throughout
(See TRADITIONS, Page 6)
SIGNING UP FRESHMEN ELECTIONS — Last year’s
freshmen talk to Doris Bahlman, clerk in Student Activities
Department, as they fill out cards to file in Freshmen class
elections. These are held in the fall semester each year.
The vice-president of the Freshmen Class represents his
class in the Student Senate.
* GROCERIES ^
1 Pound Caxx
MARYLAND CLUB COFFEE . 99c
Niblets—Whole Kernel
GOLDEN CORN 2 cans 35c
Green Giant—303 Cans
BIG TENDER PEAS . . 2 cans 41c
46 Oz. Can—Texsun
GRAPEFRUIT JUICE 25c
Nelda Brand—303 Cans
TOMATOES 2 cans 25c
Kimbell’s—303 Cans
MUSTARD GREENS . . 2 cans 21c
Armour’s Star—12 Oz. Can
CHOPPED HAM .
. 49c
* FROZEN FOODS ^
— PICTSWEET PRODUCTS —
Cut Golden Corn, Spinach, Green
Peas, Peas & Carrots, PKG.
Mixed Vegetables, Cut "I
Broccoli, Cut Green Beans . . J-v
PRODUCE
Seedless '
GRAPES . .
Green
BELL PEPPERS
Green
CABBAGE .
Yellow
ONIONS . .
. 2 lbs. 29c
. . 2 lbs. 25c
. 2 lbs. 9c
. 2 lbs. 15c
^ GROCERIES ^
3 Lb. Can ’
C R I S C O 92c
Kimbell’s—20 Oz. Tumbler
STRAWBERRY PRESERVES, 49c
Banquet Brand—No. 2'/2 Can
PEARS 29c
Hunt’s—No. 2/2 Can
PEACH HALVES 27c
14 Oz. Bottle
HUNT’S CATSUP
Libby’s—303 Can-
BEETS .
-Small Whole
. . 19c
.33c
Woodbury’s—Bath Size
TOILET SOAP
. 4 cakes 39c
MARKET
Hormel’s—Dairy Brand
SLICED BACON
Wisconsin Daisey
CHEESE . ,
lb. 49c
lb. 59c
Armour’s Star
FRYERS . . .
Armour’s Star
WIENERS . .
Fresh
GROUND MEAT . .
Meaty
SHORT RIBS . .
RUMP ROAST . .
Square Cut
SHOULDER ROAST
VEAL CHOPS . .
ROUND STEAK . .
lb. 45c
lb. 45c
lb. 29c
lb. 29c
lb. 49c
lb. 39c
lb. 59c
lb. 69c
SPECIALS FOR THUR. AFTERNOOON—FRI. & SAT.—AUG. 23-24-25
CHARLIE'S
NORTH GATE
WE DELIVER —
FOOD
MARKET
COLLEGE STATION
For A Quick Bite-
SUGAR N SPICE DRIVE-IN