 "Photo: Osa Okundaye")
Howdy Ags!
As classes get underway and we head into the first round of tests, I want to take a moment to recap everyone on the progress made on the Memorial Student Center Renovation and Expansion Project over the summer. It was no secret the MSC was closing, but many of you were probably taken by surprise when you returned to campus to find it finally happened. On Aug. 17 we turned the building over to Vaughn Construction with a small ceremony to mark the occasion. This ceremony included the conversion of our MSC from a "memorial" to "construction and renovation status." In doing so, we temporarily suspended the traditions of not walking on the grass and removing our hats so that the construction crews can work safely.
While MSC traditions are important to us, we must also recognize that the MSC and surrounding grounds are now a construction site. Equipment will need to be stored on the grass and hard hats are required to enter the building. This does not mean that we should forget the sacrifices made by Aggies before us - in fact, it is our duty to keep the traditions and history of the MSC alive in the student body until we return to the building in 2012. When the MSC opens its doors again, it will be to a new generation of Aggies: Aggies who may have never experienced the MSC as we did. For those of us who remember the MSC as it was, it is our job to share our stories and to talk about its rich history. And for the Class of 2013, it is your job to learn why we removed our hats before entering the MSC and did not walk on the grass.
Take a minute to read the inscriptions on the seven Congressional Medal of Honor plaques, which now hang in Rudder Exhibit Hall. Stop to look at the detail in the wood carvings on the second floor of Rudder Theater, and ask someone why the Flag Room is so special. These are the traditions and memories that we must keep alive. These are the traditions that will return to the renovated MSC - reminders of the Aggie Spirit and the importance of selfless service.
As for the construction itself, we are currently in the asbestos abatement phase. Asbestos was thought to be a great fireproofing material in the 1950s when the MSC was originally built, and even more was added for good measure during the first renovation in the 1970s. Before demolition can begin, all of the asbestos must be removed from the building - this is a long and labor-intensive process, so while it may seem like nothing is happening from the outside, you can be sure that people are hard at work inside the building. Bookmark our project Web site (http://ourmsc.tamu.edu) and use it as a resource for project updates and relocation information. When demolition begins and walls start coming down, you will also find pictures documenting our progress online.
While living without the MSC is not going to be easy, I know that we will make the most of the temporary inconvenience. Aggies are resilient, and we are already seeing new patterns emerge as students find creative locations for recruitment, dining and lounge space. If you haven't had lunch in Duncan yet, I highly recommend trying it out - the cadets don't bite and the food's actually pretty good. Couches for napping and tables for studying have been moved to Rudder Exhibit Hall and the second floor of Rudder Theater, and recruitment is well underway near Koldus, Sbisa and Academic Plaza. Our MSC Open House welcomed more students than before and (despite the sauna-like conditions) was a big hit.
Flexibility is the key for the next three years, but we do want to alleviate the inconvenience as much as possible. From dining carts to additional furniture, we are doing our best to provide alternatives for students who spent many hours each day in the MSC. On Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. we will be hosting an Open Forum in Rudder Theater for students to discuss many campus issues including construction, dining and transportation. This is a great opportunity to tell us what challenges you are facing and how we can help make living without the MSC easier for everyone. If you have specific concerns, feel free to send me an e-mail (president@msc.tamu.edu) or stop by our new home on the second floor of Koldus.
Gig 'em and good luck this semester!
Stephanie Burns '09 60th MSC President
