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Ram ASURamPage.com
Vol. 86 Issue 13
January 24, 2020
University Center hosts memorial display
What’s in store!
ASU opens semester mourning the loss of a departed Ram
New Equipment
Mbulelo Maqungo, staff writer
Pg. 2
Master’s program Pg. 2
Away games update Pg. 2
Sidewalk Survey Pg. 3
Loneliness Pg. 3
Ax on ‘Flix Pg. 3
Ready, Set, Go Pg. 4
Amongst the daily commotion of diners and visitors in the Houston Harte University Center hangs a lone blue and gold flag in remembrance. Student Affairs and the SGA on Jan. 17 placed an ASU flag underneath the main stairwell in honor of a student who passed away. Twenty-one-year-old Ulises Valentin Frausto, junior, from Roby, Texas, passed away on Dec 15, 2019. The management and marketing major was one of two casualties of a 2 a.m. car accident along Loop 306 by Furniture Row. Beginning early Friday morning, students and faculty had the opportunity to pass by the tribute and share stories of Frausto’s impact. “Ulises made every person he met and every situation they may be going through feel valued,” sophomore Mackenzie Subia said. “Even when we were in high school, he always tried to lift other people up.” During his time at ASU, Frausto spent time as a member of the Association of Mexi-
can-American Students. “Ulises was a close friend of mine since we both started class here and joined AMAS around the same time,” said Cody Vasquez, AMAS recruitment and alumni chair. “I didn’t know a lot of people at first, but he and a few other guys instantly gravitated towards me and formed a close group. He was a real down-toearth guy.” AMAS President Eryck Rodriguez said how easily Frausto’s personality brightened people's days. “I personally met him through Cody one evening and he was so comfortable to talk to,” Rodriguez said. “He had such a distinct laugh.” Originally, Student Affairs, SGA, and MSAP collaborated during Homecoming to pay homage to current students and alumni who have passed away, but inspiration from other universities helped lay the groundwork for a new tradition. Dr. Javier Flores, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, said
the concept of a flag memorial came from Texas Tech University, ASU’s sister school. “Since our main flagpole isn’t on a path most folks often pass by, we came up with the idea to place the flag in an area with high traffic to bring it to the student's attention,” Flores said. Flores said he hoped through this tragedy, the campus community can come closer together by sharing their experiences for those who might not have known Frausto. “This gives our students, faculty and staff, the Ram Fam, an opportunity to gain even the slightest bit of closure or healing while in mourning,” he said. “Ulises has the kindest soul I’ve met,” junior Kimber Ragan said at the memorial. “If there’s one way I want him to be remembered, it’s with that smile that could light up an entire room.” Photo by Cora Bishoppetty: Ulises Frausto’s portrait shines in the limelight, located in the Houston Harte University Center. Frausto was a junior majoring in marketing and management.
A unique building provides unique challenges Construction of the ASU Mayer Museum continues despite delays Ixchel Sotelo, staff writer As the second week of the spring semester comes to a close, the construction of the ASU Mayer Museum is underway and the structure of the building is starting to take its form. “Right now, the slab has been poured and the steel is going up on it, so that’s been really exciting because you can really start to see the shape of the building at that point,” said Cody Guins, director of facilities planning and construction. “It’s pretty abstract.” According to a 2018 Ram Page story, the 13-month project was said to be completed in early 2020. Due to delays in permissions for expenditures and design features, the museum’s completion date has been moved to September of 2020. “We wanted it to be a unique building on campus,” Guins said. “We feel that we have a really beautiful campus and we wanted to make sure that we didn't put something extremely abstract, but at the same time, we wanted something special because this is a special building.” In order to tie in the aesthetic of the buildings on campus while making the museum stand out, the building will feature the same type of facade materials as the other main buildings, but will have a distinct form with various angles. With hopes of attracting the commu-
nity, Guins said a lot of time and thought was put into the building. Once completed, the community can expect various exhibits including work by the visual arts department, the West Texas Collection and a gallery space with a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex. “ASU has a really good connection with the San Angelo and West Texas community and we want the community to come on
campus and experience ASU,” Guins said. “We want the community to be very much involved and this facility is really going to help us keep that going.” Photo by Ian Saint: Sunsets over the construction of the new museum on campus. Construction of the new gallery will cost an estimated $14.2 million.