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isn't the University of Texas in the Peoples Republic of Austin?

This would be funny if it wasn't so true. However, I've been a graduate student in the college of engineering for several years and find engineering students are generally much more conservative than the campus as a whole.

The student body is actually not even that bad. We do have some professors who are off the deep end (journalism Prof. Robert Jensen is an example). And the residents of Hyde Park where I live and downtown Austin seem to be either really liberal or socialist. I think most students though just don't pay attention to politics, get through their degree, and get on with life.

I did my undergrad in New York. I never figured that the move from New York to Texas would take me deeper into liberal territory.

As far as UT / Aggie football... I think *in general* UT fans are pretty friendly. I have had nice things said about us for instance by many Ohio State fans who were in town for our game. (Incidental I found the Buckeyes to be very amiable when they were here... it was a real treat to see their cheerleaders at the Posse East, my favorite local bar, right before the game).

However, my sister goes to A&M. I've had the most hateful things said to me by Aggies at games, and even professionally haven't been to impressed with their behavior. I think that it is in bad taste to not refer to my school by name in a professional setting (Aggies refuse to say UT, instead call us TU, or worse) and last time I was introduced in a professional setting to an Aggie (out of school 20 years) his first statement to me: "Are you a queer boy?". The worst though is probably the treating of a friend of mine who is a "1%-er" at A&M. I think A&M is a good school but sometimes when people take the school spirit thing too far I think it also wants to be a cult.

-paridel

Opps, meant to post my last message to you.

No real offense meant in that post, my younger sister graduates from A&M in two weeks and I couldn't be prouder. I think A&M is a world class school with a great campus. I am involved in several research projects with A&M students and faculty and they are all quite sharp.

I do think however that it would be nice if we could get it back to a "friendly" rivalry between the schools. For instance... all the local austin Aggies with their "better France than TU" during the last national championship. Didn't make a lot of sense to me. All the Aggies I know personally were also cheering for USC 'cause they weren't TU.

If A&M made it instead of us I would have been cheering for them, a fellow *Texas* school, over California any day.

Maybe that is just me being petty.

-paridel