TheBattalion04192012

Page 1

! thursday,

april 19, 2012

! serving

texas a&m since 1893

!"first paper free – additional copies $1 !"© 2012 student media

thebattalion

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

The Flag Room sits in the heart of the MSC as a lounge, living room and a tradition. Flags, globes and cowhide couches contribute to the atmosphere.

Welcome home

Hall of Honor immortalizes Aggie heroes

Eco-friendly features fuel renovated MSC

Barrett House

The Battalion It’s time to welcome the renovated Memorial Student Center to the University — a grand opening to the edifice that houses the heart and soul of the A&M campus culture. As the living room of campus, the MSC will serve as home to student organizations, host for University events and gateway to Aggieland for campus visitors — all in an eco-friendly environment. This is because the renovated MSC was designed to reduce environmental impact and contribute to a greener future. The MSC joins environmentally friendly buildings on campus including the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building, which met Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. The buildings were designed and built with human and environmental

The Battalion In a reverent, secluded hall of the Memorial Student Center, sunlight illuminates the names of Aggie heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country. The identities — dating from World War I to the War on Terror — are etched in glass punctuating the East end of the Hall of Honor. Mere steps from the standing glass, seven elaborate ornament cases house the Medals of Honor earned by seven former students for valor in combat during World War II. Luke Altendorf, director of the Memorial Student Center, said this is a change from the original Hall of Honor that only had names of casualties from World Wars I and II. “What we’re doing is working with the Sanders Corps Center to assure that we’re going to recognize

Amber Jaura

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

The Hall of Honor displays the likenesses and medals of seven Aggies who received the Medal of Honor for valor in combat. all the Aggies that have died in combat,” Altendorf said. There are also areas on the glass without inscription, reserved for Aggies who will die in combat in future years. The improved Hall of Honor is home to the memorial nature of the Memorial Student Center. When designing the building, Altendorf said those involved had to decide what kind of approach to take.

Dining options fill campus living room Chase Carter

The Battalion When the MSC opens its doors on Saturday after three years of renovation, students will be able to satiate their stomachs and social cravings with a host of new choices. “I routinely ate lunch in the MSC my freshman year with friends,” said psychology major Bruce McLemore. “Finding seating took either luck or strategy when everyone was packed in there.” Building designers sought to alleviate lunchtime traffic by opening the seating area, allowing for multiple entrances and exits. To accompany the larger and more spacious dining area, the MSC boasts five new concepts aimed to please the palette of any discerning diner. “Smokin’” provides barbeque entrées ranging from chopped beef and rotisserie chicken to pulled pork and sausage. Students can also purchase fried chicken, strips or nuggets on select days. Traditional barbeque and cobbler and pie for dessert complete the southernSee Dining on page 2

HUGE SELECTION

“Do you take the whole building and make it all reverential? And will that damper the celebratory things that happen in this building?” Altendorf said. “Or do you zone so that parts of the building are more somber and reverential versus celebratory.” Altendorf said the designers accomplished the goal of combining See Hall of Honor on page 3

Ready for use

MSC | 4 & 5

You’ve seen the MSC from the outside — get acquainted with the building layout and new features, complete with maps and photos. health as specific objectives. Kelly Wellman, sustainability officer in the Division of Administration, said the MSC’s functionality embodies the Aggie Spirit with an environmental twist. “Several features have been added to make the MSC more environmentally friendly. One of the most notable is the addition of natural light,” Wellman said. “Bringing the outdoors in through glass exterior improvements and skylights has created a See Green on page 3

EDITORIAL

Student union reopening completes University Three years have passed since our student body had a proper home. The Aggie spirit has survived in pieces during this period through the unity of the Twelfth Man, the glimmer of the Aggie Ring and the somber reverence of Muster and Silver Taps. But this spirit lacked continuity in the student body’s everyday affairs, subtly weakening students’ connection to one another and to many of A&M’s most reverent traditions. It’s been years since we celebrated the sense of community embodied by a student union. It’s been years since we actively, daily recognized the humble sense of service at A&M’s heart — keeping off the grass and removing our hats out of respect for the sacrifices of former students who once loved the University as we do now. On Saturday, we begin to fill this void three years in the making.

0% FINANCING

Although we were not at A&M in 2008 to approve of the renovation project, current classes shouldered much of the resulting cost — both financial and to our University experience. Willingly or otherwise, we sacrificed our time with the MSC as a service to future students. We took the change in stride, learning to call A&M “home” even without its living room. This is the only A&M three classes of students have known — an incomplete A&M, similar in this regard to the college that existed prior to the MSC’s opening in 1951.

For those who walked the MSC’s halls in the 61 years since, the building was, and will again be, students’ first and most lasting impression of the University. In the coming year, it will be students’ role to restore the MSC’s traditions and importance to the Aggie way of life. By filling the building every day — embracing its features and honoring its traditions — current and future students will learn to regard the MSC as former students did. The student body will learn to love the MSC as it loves A&M.

EDITORIALBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having final responsibility. Robert Carpenter Editor in Chief senior applied math major

Jordan Williford Managing Editor senior agricultural journalism major

Alec Goetz Planning Editor junior English major

Naila Dhanani Opinion Editor junior biomedical sciences major

TWO DAYS ONLY

Friday & Saturday, April 20 & 21

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