President George W. Bush announced the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Wednesday. Bush nominated former CIA chief and President of Texas A&M University Robert Gates the likely successor.

Rumsfeld is Bush’s longest serving Cabinet member, and has served as defense secretary since the beginning of Bush’s first term in 2001.

However, Bush said the resignation came because Rumsfeld recognized the need for a new perspective during this “critical time” of war.

Many were shocked by Rumsfeld’s resignation. Brittany Farrell, a senior in economics and political science and chair of the College Republicans, was one of those surprised by the announcement.

“I’m really sorry to see him go,” she said. “I really truly believe he did always have the absolute best interest of the United States [in mind].”

According to Drew Ball, senior in political science and president of the College Democrats, he was in awe when he first heard the news.

“I immediately started thinking of what was behind it, the reasons,” Ball said.

According to Michael Cobb, assistant professor in political science, Rumsfeld leaving was a “done deal” before the election. He said they waited until after the election to announce it because the current administration doesn’t like to admit mistakes.

“There’s no way that Rumsfeld decided to hold off until the day after election, and this is his choice to quit,” Cobb said. “He was clearly told to go.”

According to Cobb, if the administration had openly fired Rumsfeld they would be admitting he did a bad job, and that’s the last thing they want to do.

“Rumsfeld was a very strong individual who was hands-on in shaping the design of how this war was implemented and conducted,” Cobb said.

Bush said he didn’t know Rumsfeld was leaving, but insisted that Gates will bring a “fresh” perspective to the war.

Cobb said Gates, coming into the position of secretary of defense, will inherit Rumsfeld’s legacy as well as everyone else’s opinions on the war.

Major Bill Medley with the Army ROTC said the change in leaders would have no impact on North Carolina, and that life in ROTC programs across the nation will be affected in “absolutely no way, form or fashion.”

The position of Secretary of Defense is manned by somebody,” Medley said. “Just because you have a change in people doesn’t mean policy is going to change overnight.”

Cobb said he doesn’t think students, or many Americans for that matter, are aware of the changes this resignation could bring about, coupled with the Democratic control of Congress for the first time since 1994. According to Ball, students should be the first to care.

“As young people we’re the ones who tend to end up in military service, so it’s especially important to us,” Ball said. “Eighty percent of the troops in Iraq are under 35.”

Farrell said she respects the administration’s ability to recognize the need for multiple perspectives on the war.

“A fresh perspective … is very important in situations like this, where you’re making grave decisions about the country,” Farrell said.

She added that it is undeniable there have been difficulties in Iraq.

“War is unpredictable,” Farrell said. “This could end up being a very positive thing.”