Reveille VII retired in spring 2008. The Office of Student Affairs is searching for a replacement.

A&M still searches for next Reveille

By: Sadie Michalk

Posted: 7/23/08

Texas A&M students and the Aggie family will have to continue to wait for the introduction of Reveille VIII, as the search for the new mascot continues.

Kevin Jackson, the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, said administrators are working thoroughly to find the replacement for the retired Reveille VII.

"We have been working with several training organizations to try to narrow down the search," Jackson said.

Jackson said that the search has been narrowed down to about ten different training organizations, but did not give specific details about what breed the next Reveille will be or when she will be selected.

Jackson stressed that while there is no deadline for the introduction of the next mascot, the tradition that is Reveille remains important.

It was announced in February that Reveille VII would retire at the end of the 2008 spring semester. A 16-person committee was formed to make recommendations on the type of dog that would best fit the role of mascot. Their findings were released in May.

The most significant recommendation given by the search committee was that Reveille VIII must already have certain levels of service dog training before being selected as the next mascot.

Jackson said that the resignation of Dean Bresciani, the Vice President for Student Affairs whose office is responsible for Reveille, will not have a significant impact on the search for Reveille VIII.

"There was already a process and a plan in place prior to his resignation," Jackson said. "We will continue to follow that process just the same now."

Bresciani and the Office for Student Affairs were in charge of the original search committee and the subsequent search for Reveille VIII.

Another administrative change taking place since Bresciani's resignation is that the Corps of Cadets will now be under President Murano and her office. The corps of cadets cares for and houses Reveille.

However, Jackson and the Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Jason Cook, said that will have no direct effect on the search for thef mascot.

"My understanding is that we have always been working with the President's office anyway," Jackson said.

"We have always maintained close contact with [President Murano] and her office throughout this search," Cook said. "The move will not impact the search for Reveille.

"It is just another tangible demonstration of [President Murano's] support for the Corps."

Cook said President Murano was highly interested in the search and she was working with the Office for Student Affairs and other campus groups and organizations to find Reveille VIII.

"She is not directly involved in the search since it is officially being led by Dr. Kevin Jackson," Cook said. "However, President Murano is keenly aware of the traditions surrounding Reveille and she remains very committed to the search."