收到新任國防部長的一封信

這兩天早就從媒體裡聽到了，羅泊特-蓋茨（Dr. Robert Gates）博士即將接任美國國防部部長的職位，我卻一直不知道，他竟然是我在美國上學的Texas A&M University的校長！直到昨天看私人郵件的時候，有一封信是 A&M 校友會來的，一般都是校友聯誼會通知呀，什麼商學院最新排名呀，這次打開，是 Gates 博士發給所有在校學生和校友的告別信。


Texas A&M University，我只在那裡呆了兩年，對它的感情，遠不如一般的本科生深。美國人知道這個學校的很多，可能是因為美式橄欖球隊，還有每年的大篝火。這學校有豐富的傳統，好多故事，校色是醬紫色(Maroon, 也是本篇文章的顏色)，同學之間的互相稱呼應該是" howdy Aggie"。除了政府撥款，這學校各方面的捐助也特別多，多是石油工業上賺的錢。我們上學的時候，州內學費只有65美元一個學分，好多同學都有獎學金，商學院的樓群都是新蓋的，裡面的設施，不在五星級酒店以下。意料之中是，老布希的總統圖書館就建在這裡。

A&M 的室內體育館是我見過最好的，三層，剛一進去我都傻眼了, 室內游泳館，跳水館，200 米跑道。那時一群中國女生還組織了排球隊，在國際學生聯賽上榮獲冠軍。現在再也湊不齊這麼多人了。A&M 還有專門的軍校, 一群楞頭小夥子, 充滿活力充滿自豪感. BONFIRE 是我畢業那年出事的,所以，前一年的感恩節前那次，我們目睹了最高最懸的一次。 啊，想想，還是很懷念那在那裡度過的時光和那個安靜美麗的大學城 College Station。

下面是這封信的原文:

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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