Kevin O’Connor Kommentary April 2

Formal Installation Of Mark Welsh As Texas A&M’s 27th President

The formal installation of Mark Welsh as Texas A&M’s 27th president took place Friday morning (October 25). Welsh said when he was first asked to do an investiture ceremony, he “gave it a pretty flat no”. Then he learned it was a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages and he said “Aggies value tradition.” Welsh also said the ceremony is more about the university, adding the president’s job is an opportunity and a challenge to earn the trust of A&M’s faculty, the confidence of the staff, the respect of current and former students, and the support of the A&M system leadership, the board of regents, and the legislature. Welsh said “accepting that challenge publicly holds me accountable. And I do believe in accountability.” Welsh recognized his parents. His father was an Aggie who fought in World War two, Korea, and Vietnam. His mother raised seven children while working as an elementary school teacher. Introducing Welsh was his daughter, Liz Beechinor, A&M class of 2010. Symbols of the investiture, the university mace and a medallion, were presented by A&M system chancellor John Sharp. Congressman Michael McCaul, whose wife and three of their children are A&M graduates, presented Welsh with a congressional resolution. Also speaking were A&M system board of regents chairman Bill Mahomes, A&M faculty senate speaker Angie Hill Price, university staff council chairwoman Kat McLelland, and provost Alan Sams. Click below to hear comments from Mark Welsh and the introduction from his daughter Liz Beechinor. Listen to “Comments from Mark Welsh and his daughter at the investiture of Texas A&M’s 27th president” on Spreaker. Click below to hear additional comments from the investiture ceremony. Listen to “More comments from the investiture of Mark Welsh as Texas A&M’s 27th president” on Spreaker. A collection of images from the investiture ceremony are screen shots from the live webstream provided by Texas A&M:

Bryan ISD School Board Recognizes Two On Campus Lifesaving Rescues

The Bryan ISD school board recognizes two on campus lifesaving rescues that have taken place during the fall semester. Rudder High principal Rachel Leighton shared the response of what happened in August, when an unconscious man was found in a parked vehicle. The man, who had delivered an ID for a Rudder student, had been in the vehicle for three hours during 100 degree temperatures. Bryan High principal Lane Buban shared the response of what happened in September when a substitute teacher became unconscious. The man who was rescued at Rudder was among those at Monday’s board meeting (October 21) presenting gifts to those who were involved. Buban says the teacher who was rescued has resumed working at Bryan High. Click below to hear comments from the October 21, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting. Listen to “Bryan ISD school board recognizes two on campus lifesaving rescues” on Spreaker.

Brazos County Election News Includes A Reminder To Not Walk Out Of A Voting Center With Your Ballot

A message to Brazos County voters is to not walk out of a voting center with your ballot. Brazos County elections administrator Trudy Hancock says if you go outside still holding your ballot, state law does not allow you to re-enter to drop off the ballot. And you can not vote a second time. Hancock also says there are two other steps for your vote to count. After making your selections, the ballot has to be printed. Then the ballot has to be scanned before it is placed in the ballot box. Early voting in Brazos County continues through the weekend and through next week. Hours are Saturday (October 26) from seven until seven, Sunday (October 27) from ten until four, and next Monday through Friday (October 28-November 1) from seven until seven. Brazos County commissioners Wanda Watson and Nancy Berry shared observations about voting center activity at the end of Tuesday’s meeting (October 22). Click below to hear comments from Wanda Watson and Nancy Berry:   News release from Brazos County elections administrator Trudy Hancock: The Brazos County Elections Administration would like to remind all voters to please place your printed ballots in the boxes before you exit a polling location. Voting in Brazos County is a multi-step process. After marking selections at the voting both, the voter must then print the ballot. They then take that printed ballot to a separate machine to scan their ballot. This is where the ballot is counted before it drops into the ballot box. Placing the paper ballot in the scanner before exiting the polling location is a critical step. Without it, none of the other steps are valid. Your Brazos County elections administrator, Trudy Hancock, and her staff want to make sure every voice is heard and every vote counts. Please do not leave your polling place with your paper ballot. It is not a receipt. It is your vote.