**Part of this may, or may not, appear in the Daily Gamecock and/or the State Newspaper. I felt a need to explain how much Andrew means to us that know him well. I haven’t heard back from either of the papers regarding the submission so I thought I’d go ahead and share. Feel free to add reasons why he rocks via comments and/or share this letter.
1/31/2011
Dear editor,
I write today wishing my friend and former USC Student Body President, Andrew Gaeckle, a speedy recovery. Early Saturday morning, Andrew was senselessly robbed and shot in Washington, D.C. He is recovering from a gun-shot to the back that fortunately, missed his spine. While he is expected to make a full-recovery, this event reminded his family, friends, and USC alumni just how blessed we are for having Andrew. We are counting our blessings that he is alive.
Andrew is one of the best people I have ever known. Andrew and I have been friends since his freshmen year in 2005 when we lived in the same dorm, tailgated, and attended just about every football game together. This friendship would become stronger as we both took leadership positions a few years later in 2008, when I served as President of the Grad Student Association (GSA) and he was President of the Student Body (SGA). That year was a bit controversial for us as Andrew and I led different sides of a spirited debate about USC student governance. Instead of taking the debate over SGA and GSA personally, we worked together despite the pressures not to. We proved that even at the student leadership level, you can disagree without being disagreeable and get things done.
Learning about what happened to Andrew sent shock-waves through the throngs of people who know and love him. For those of us who are lucky enough to have Andrew as a friend, it is hard to describe just how much of a source of positivity, force for good and compassion he is. Examples of Andrew’s goodwill are numerous: his mission trips, his devotion to those less fortunate, his ability to make us all laugh, his leadership and vision, and his loud, goofy, yet always welcome, cheers for his Gamecocks. In fact, we all have our own “Gaeckle” stories. Thankfully, his story is not over.
In 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt was shot by a would-be assassin in what many thought was his heart. As history would have it, the bullet entered Roosevelt’s body but never reached his heart because the politician’s thick folded speech in his breast-pocket slowed the blow. Roosevelt did what many would never contemplate after being shot, he opened his folded pieces of paper and went on with the speech: “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”
While it is quite clear that the events that transpired on Saturday leading to Andrew being robbed and shot in Washington, D.C., differ greatly to that of Roosevelt’s story, it is clear that in many ways we are just as fortunate not to have lost Andrew. Andrew’s service as a friend, leader, and Gamecock alumnus will continue. Similarly, anyone who knows Andrew would consider “Bull Moose” an appropriate symbol/nickname. Comparisons to Teddy Roosevelt’s personality aside, Andrew proves that in fact, it will take more than a bullet to kill his drive.
Suffice all this to say that Andrew Gaeckle is one former student body president, alumnus, and Gamecock fanatic who made a difference during his time at USC and in Columbia, SC. In fact, we are blessed to continue having him in our life as a true friend and shining example of USC. He is a strong and amazing person, and thank God he is going to be with us all much longer.
Please join me, and his Gamecock family, in wishing him a speedy recovery! Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Reed T. Curtis
