TRA Annual Member's Meeting
2025 Speaker Summaries
Greg Sindelar '04 - CEO Texas Public Policy Foundation
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, expressed pride in his association with The Rudder Association and his commitment to higher education reform. He reflected on his journey from finance and business marketing to leading two think tanks, emphasizing the importance of preserving tradition and advancing conservative policies in Texas and beyond.
Sindelar highlighted recent federal executive orders under President Trump aimed at combating antisemitism, dismantling DEI programs, promoting school choice, countering radical indoctrination, and restricting federal funding for institutions mandating COVID vaccinations. He praised these policies as transformative for higher education.
At the state level, he outlined key legislative priorities, including accreditation reform, restoring grading standards, eliminating low-ROI college programs, preventing foreign influence in universities, closing DEI and CRT loopholes, reforming boards of regents, and ensuring legal residency for tuition benefits. He emphasized the need for vigilance in defending conservative values in education, urging continued engagement to shape policy and protect Texas A&M’s legacy.
Sindelar closed by reaffirming the importance of the Rudder Association’s mission, likening its role to steering a ship through turbulent times and preserving the fire of tradition for future generations.
Olin Buchanan, Writer & Radio Personality for TexAgs
Our next speaker was Olin Buchanan, a sports columnist since 2012 with past experience at Rivals, Yahoo, and multiple Texas newspapers. He has covered Texas A&M sports extensively and is a Heisman Trophy voter. Buchanan is also a radio co-host on The Zone 1150 and appeared in the 1999 film Varsity Blues.
Olin Buchanan expresses his passion for covering Texas A&M sports, acknowledging both the highs and frustrations. He notes that the baseball team’s slow start isn’t concerning, basketball has hit a rough patch, and football needs to improve consistency. He emphasizes his commitment to objectivity in reporting and welcomes audience questions.
A commenter references A&M’s 1939 national championship, which Buchanan acknowledges still counts. He shares a lighthearted story about his LSU-affiliated son and discusses A&M’s historical underinvestment in athletics. However, he believes the program is now seriously competing at a high level, similar to schools like LSU.
He discusses Texas A&M’s increasing investment in its athletics, comparing it to major programs like Texas and Alabama. He highlights improvements in facilities, NIL deals, and media rights sales, which are bringing in significant revenue. He notes that A&M learned from past mistakes, particularly in coaching contracts, ensuring Mike Elko’s deal is performance-based rather than overpaying upfront. He provides examples of player NIL valuations, with some athletes commanding over a million dollars in the transfer portal. A&M has been aggressive in securing top talent, emphasizing the necessity of competitive spending to remain relevant.
Despite last season’s disappointing finish, Buchanan believes A&M is close to breaking through, needing just a few key adjustments. He stresses the urgency of moving past their 1939 national championship legacy and hopes the program will soon reach the next level.
Cody Harris '06, State Representative
The next speaker was Rep. Cody Harris. He acknowledges those preserving Texas A&M’s conservative values. He shares his family’s history with the university, including his grandfather’s time there during WWII and his own formative experiences, such as witnessing the last on-campus bonfire. Harris recounts his childhood in rural Texas, where his family endured financial hardship, teaching him the values of hard work, determination, and community. He later attended Texas A&M, joined the Aggie band, and ultimately chose to prioritize his relationship with his high school sweetheart, now his wife of 20 years.
Rep. Cody Harris recounts his decision to run for office after his predecessor’s retirement and highlights his legislative work on conservative policies, including banning elective abortion, constitutional carry, restrictions on gender-related policies in schools, and prohibiting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives in public institutions. He critiques DEI coursework in Texas universities, arguing that it enforces ideological indoctrination and wastes taxpayer money. He advocates for eliminating these courses to prioritize more academically rigorous education.
Rep. Cody Harris criticizes the requirement of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) courses in universities, arguing they waste students' time and resources. He states that mandatory DEI courses force students to spend millions of hours on politically biased, intellectually questionable content. Harris also mentions that DEI courses are often infused into all levels of academia, from general education to specific major requirements, leading to problematic assignments and readings. For instance, Arizona State University requires students to take a "diversity and civility" course, where they must develop PR plans for hypothetical pop stars with non-traditional pronouns.
To address this, Harris introduced House Bill 2548, the Freedom from Indoctrination Act, which bans mandatory DEI courses in both general education and program-specific curricula. The bill also prohibits using state funds for DEI courses and ensures that students won't be coerced into these courses. The bill is hailed as the strongest anti-DEI legislation in the nation by groups like the Goldwater Institute and is strongly supported by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Harris calls for immediate action to remove what he sees as left-wing indoctrination from Texas universities.
Jake Carter '25, Head Yell Leader
Jake Carter, the Head Yell Leader at Texas A&M, shared his personal story about choosing to attend A&M. Coming from a family with different college affiliations—his father attended t.u. and his mother went to the University of Missouri—Jake had no initial connection to A&M. Despite considering military academies or playing college football, he ultimately chose A&M after being encouraged by his father, who saw the value and tradition of the school. His father had been battling esophageal cancer throughout Jake’s high school years, and attending A&M was a way for Jake to honor his father’s wish before his passing.
At A&M, Jake has been involved in several initiatives, including building relationships with key figures such as new President Welsh, football Coach Elko, and Athletic Director Trevor Alberts. He highlights the personal and approachable nature of these leaders, who took time to meet with him and others, making him feel valued. Jake also praises Coach Elko for his character, especially noting the coach’s efforts to engage with students and answer their questions, which contrasted with the previous coaching staff.
Dion McInnis '03, Student Bonfire
Lastly, Dion McInnis gave a detailed presentation on the history, challenges, and future of the Aggie Bonfire tradition, emphasizing the resilience and dedication of the students involved. Dion highlighted the 2010 incident where a burn band prevented the bonfire from being lit on time despite significant investment and preparation. However, the tradition continued with lessons learned, including the realization that the act of burning the bonfire is not the goal, but rather a step towards building the next one.
Dion mentioned the passing of torches by the Aggie yell leaders in 2012, symbolizing the ongoing commitment and motivation to uphold the legacy of the bonfire, even in the face of adversity.
With this encouragement, the students moved forward, holding classes in Rudder Auditorium for the first time in 25 years and returning to the woods to cut trees by hand. McInnis shared the story of the corps commander cutting his first tree, a proud moment for the Aggie spirit.
The students also learned from the challenges of 2020 and worked to improve their processes, including preparing the site earlier to maintain safety and efficiency. The tradition of carrying logs on their backs and digging holes by hand was kept alive, with former students returning to experience the familiar tasks.
Fast forward to 2024, the Aggie Bonfire faced significant challenges, starting with a phone call in December 2023 from a group wanting to build the bonfire on campus. Dion McInnis emphasized that the students leading the effort were determined to build the bonfire, despite media and logistical concerns. Although there were suggestions for engineers and contractors to build the bonfire, the university president supported the idea that any bonfire not involving students wouldn't be a true Aggie Bonfire.
The Aggie Bonfire structure has evolved over the years, with significant improvements made by later generations. One key improvement was the addition of four additional poles - called the “Windle Sticks” - attached to the Centerpole with crossties, forming a more robust internal framework.
The process of constructing the bonfire involves carefully wiring each log, ensuring that every log touches the ground, which is a challenging but crucial part of the structure. Despite the smaller logs as the stack grows, the construction process remains demanding. In 2010, the bonfire passed a significant structural test when a demolition expert determined the best way to take it down would be to burn it, proving the stack's durability.
A unique and memorable event occurred in 2003 when the Aggie Band built an outhouse for the bonfire, which was placed on top of a 65-foot stack. Over the years, the center pole, once the primary focus, is now less of a concern. The true focus is on the twist that occurs when the stack burns and the wires slip, creating a dramatic visual as the stack begins to twist.
Despite facing numerous challenges, the Aggie Bonfire tradition continues to thrive, with each year's bonfire being a testament to overcoming obstacles and turning them into opportunities for the community. The work for Bonfire 2025 is already underway, continuing the legacy of resilience and teamwork.
