I was passed this and asked to post it as it gives a good insight into where the Corps currently is, where it was, and what needs to happen in order to save the Corps.

Yes, I know I will get lots of blowback on how former CTs / CT parents are constantly meddling in Corps affairs and it should be up to the kids to change the Corps. And actually, yes, you are correct. The Corps should be run by the young men and women who make up the Corps, just like every other student organization..

That leads me to this article, which like I mentioned was passed to me, and I have no relationship with the author....

https://thebeagledotcom.wordpress.com/2025/03/19/can-we-still-save-the-corps-part-1-of-3/

I am not going to post the blog post in whole as it is rather long and worth the 5 minute read if you are interested.


Points of Interests...

Let the Cadets Lead the Corps

Cadet morale is very low as the cadets feel as if the Trigon has taken the cadet promotion process into a completely backroom process with little cadet input.

Trigon doesn't value cadets input on who should lead the outfits and major or minor units.

The Trigon has replaced a 'meritocracy' with a DEI scoring system based on contract status, race, gender, and outfit membership.

Leadership positions are chosen with no feedback as to why the 1st Sergeant was not given the CO role, even though they had no counseling or demerits the previous year. There is no transparency.

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There will be more on the DEI issue in Part 3. But I think the main concern is simply "optics". Most of the rest of the country now recognizes that DEI was just an excuse for animus. Yet there remains a deep self-consciousness about the Corps appearing too white or male

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Just as in the scholarship process and hiring practices today, while white males make up a majority of the Corps, they are intentionally being disproportionately replaced by minorities and females to try to change the demographics of the Corps due to 'Optics'

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The cadet leadership doesn't have to mirror the demographics of the Corps. But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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The author ends with how the new Commandant should be given a chance with time to get into the position, determine the good and bad, and given a chance to succeed. That being said, he should be willing to listen to the current cadets, parents, and former cadets who are most affected by the decisions that the Commandant and Trigon make.

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

Ryan the Temp said:

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

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I can tell you the current process is no more fair. It just ends up with geeky aholes in charge that nobody likes or respects. The bulls like them because they suck up to them and they can threaten to hold their contract hostage whenever their buddies get out of line.

Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Quote:

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

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I can tell you the current process is no more fair. It just ends up with geeky aholes in charge that nobody likes or respects, but the bulls like them because they suck up to them and they can threaten to hold their contract hostage whenever their buddies get out of line.

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When I was in, it was just a handful of guys picking all their friends for leadership positions.

Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Quote:

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

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I can tell you the current process is no more fair. It just ends up with geeky aholes in charge that nobody likes or respects. The bulls like them because they suck up to them and they can threaten to hold their contract hostage whenever their buddies get out of line.

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Correct

Ryan the Temp said:

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Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Quote:

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

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I can tell you the current process is no more fair. It just ends up with geeky aholes in charge that nobody likes or respects, but the bulls like them because they suck up to them and they can threaten to hold their contract hostage whenever their buddies get out of line.

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When I was in, it was just a handful of guys picking all their friends for leadership positions.

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When was that?

25 years ago

I was in 30 years ago and all the significant leadership positions were set by the end of your freshman year so long as you could keep a ~2.5 GPA and stay out of major trouble like getting arrested.

Some of that was good because leadership hierarchies can be established early. The bad side of that is that leadership positions become pass downs and it leads a lot of cadets to disengage. There was no room for late bloomers, etc….

As a compromise I would let the Trigon select new Corps Staff each semester to give leadership opportunities to those who aren't in their outfit leadership chain and leave outfit leadership alone.

Regardless of what was good or bad in the past, the current corps
Is broken and will not last as
Constituted


We
Need a change back to what worked

Not against trying some new things as well as long as it is not effected or inspired by politics

oldord said:

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Regardless of what was good or bad in the past, the current corps
Is broken and will not last as
Constituted


We
Need a change back to what worked

Not against trying some new things as well as long as it is not effected or inspired by politics

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Yep, morale is as low as it has ever been.

Rising whitebelts are quitting at unprecedented levels.

I didn't know a single person who quit going into Jr or Sr year, unless they failed out or had to go home cause a parent died, etc.

My oldest is in the Corps and already convinced his two younger brothers to just join Christian men's orgs instead. I am hoping things change before my youngest gets in, but never thought I would have a non-reg kid

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Twenty four male volunteers agreed to live there, with half acting as prisoners and the other half as guards. Very soon, the guards began treating the prisoners in harsh and abusive ways, and the experiment had to be abandoned after only six days.

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Sort of reminds me of August football practice in HS and all the hazing and crap that went on between 2-a-days.

that's a well written article

I am interested in learning how the associate commandant meredith simpson came into her role and remains a fixture surviving 2 prior commandants

this is most concerning as there clearly is institutional continuity in leadership selections based on gender and contract status

what are her qualifications for the role? who hired her and why?

based upon things i've heard, the new commandant needs to clean house and get back to merit based selections

n1mr0d said:

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that's a well written article

I am interested in learning how the associate commandant meredith simpson came into her role and remains a fixture surviving 2 prior commandants

this is most concerning as there clearly is institutional continuity in leadership selections based on gender and contract status

what are her qualifications for the role? who hired her and why?

based upon things i've heard, the new commandant needs to clean house and get back to merit based selections

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I don't know the answer to how she got there.

She started in the Corps academic side and at some point moved over to Asst Commandant for Academics and Intl Programs (whatever that means). I think she now plays an integral part in the Trigon operation and while in person she seems nice, I think we are learning she is behind a bunch of the DEI stuff in the Corps as well. So call that Two-Faced or whatever you want.

I agree that a house cleaning is in order. It started with Michaelis, then Ramirez at Student Affairs, but I think Welsh left her in place to have a hold over to help the interim commandant, but with the latest round of new COs, 1st Sgts, etc. it appears this interim commandant did not change anything to return this to 'Student led' as the author described above, so the Michaelis / Simpson plan is still in effect to some level.

Ryan the Temp said:

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Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Quote:

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

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I can tell you the current process is no more fair. It just ends up with geeky aholes in charge that nobody likes or respects, but the bulls like them because they suck up to them and they can threaten to hold their contract hostage whenever their buddies get out of line.

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When I was in, it was just a handful of guys picking all their friends for leadership positions.

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Oh no, how terrible. This will lead the kids to finding out how things work out in the real world. Where being personable and friendly to your peers and usually +1 and +2 managers is a key component to success. What a bad thing for them to learn.

I'll tell you how leadership worked in the band, and was fortunate my dad asked when I joined from on of the current zips that year. The answer? Forget about leadership and just work your ass off to be the best fish you can be, and take care of your buddies. Turns out, that was excellent advice. For both my time in Aggieland and long after.

Yep. Some people lead by seeking the authority to do so. Others do by being an admirable example of how to be. Others lead by being respected and having influence regardless of rank.

Outfit leadership was often determined in the first year where you were being hazed and worked mercilessly.

Some guys pined for it but the hard workers that garnered respect moved to the top of the pile.

Interviews were mostly a formality. The only difference I saw between real world leadership and unit leadership was maturity.


Some guys killed it after school but were not there yet at A&M

Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Quote:

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

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This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

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I can tell you the current process is no more fair. It just ends up with geeky aholes in charge that nobody likes or respects. The bulls like them because they suck up to them and they can threaten to hold their contract hostage whenever their buddies get out of line.

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That part has always been that way.

aggiez03 said:

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I didn't know a single person who quit going into Jr or Sr year, unless they failed out or had to go home cause a parent died, etc.

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Wait?! Juniors and Seniors are quitting? WTF?!

Chips2003 said:

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Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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Quote:

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But if the Trigon wants to avoid such scrutiny, it might want to step back from the process and let the cadets choose their leaders like every other student organization on this campus. The cadets are not going to discriminate unfairly and might actually reinaugurate a meritocracy.

---

This here is actually pretty close to what I referring to, and I can tell you from my time in the Corps, when cadet leadership had much more substantial influence in who was selected for leadership positions, the bolded part was definitely not the case.

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I can tell you the current process is no more fair. It just ends up with geeky aholes in charge that nobody likes or respects. The bulls like them because they suck up to them and they can threaten to hold their contract hostage whenever their buddies get out of line.

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That part has always been that way.

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I know. It's despicable though. A grown man holding a college kid's career and college education (if the contract is covering the costs) in jeopardy because his buddies choose to act like college kids is a cowardly and detestable thing to do. Any bull that has ever made threats like that is a giant piece of ***** That's not teaching leadership, it's a giant ****ing loser bullying those he has power over.

I'm interested to see what Episode 3 looks like when he gets to DEI.

Meanwhile, my family won't have anyone eligible for the Corps for another 15 years so whatever is happening today will have played out by then and at that point, I'll just be sitting around waiting to get invited back to campus for Muster for my class's 50th Anniversary.