SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 140

WHEREAS, Aggies and Longhorns will unite today at the State Capitol to celebrate Orange and Maroon Legislative Day 2007 and to promote higher education in the State of Texas; and

WHEREAS, Delegates from The Association of Former Students and the Texas Exes--the two alumni associations for Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin--have set aside the longstanding rivalry between these two outstanding institutions in a symbolic gesture of unity and state pride; and

WHEREAS, Alumni from the two schools total more than 700,000 and Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin have a combined annual enrollment of more than 95,000 students, with over 22,000 students receiving degrees each year; the schools boast superb museums and libraries, including the George Bush Presidential Library and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, and both universities are renowned for their exceptional research; and

WHEREAS, Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin help prepare Texas youth for higher education through the universities' six outreach centers located throughout the state, and more than 90 percent of the centers' participants have successfully pursued higher education; and

WHEREAS, The universities' faculties feature Nobel laureates and nationally recognized scholars, and the student bodies include national merit scholars, gold-medal winning Olympians, and many of the Lone Star State's most promising young people; in addition, the schools offer an amazing range of postgraduate opportunities with nearly 300 graduate degree programs; and

WHEREAS, Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin have established themselves as preeminent institutions of higher education on the state, national, and international levels, and Texans are fortunate to have access to these two exceptional state university systems; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th Legislature, hereby recognize February 7, 2007, as Orange and Maroon Legislative Day and commend alumni from Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin for their commitment to promoting higher education in the Lone Star State. Zaffirini, Ogden, Watson, Wentworth

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 7, 2007.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate