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Show PACE 4 THE THUNDERBIRD WEDNESDAY MARCH 25, 1987 A SPIRIT IS BEHIND NEW STUDENT CENTER It's been a long time coming, but construction's now begun on Southern Utah State College's new Student Center. At the former site of War Memorial Fieldhouse, contractors are doing site work on the 35,000 square foot facility which will have many amenities to make life more pleasant here. Many deserve thanks for the facility, which is expected to be complete before 1938. Ken Benson, former director of student activities, began the vision for a new building in 972. It's taken more than 5 years for it to become a reality. At the time, the current student center was already inadequate and the student body is now nearly double its 1972 size. The need for a new student center and what should be in it were never in doubt. That SUSC would ever truly have such a building was, however, in doubt for many years. To bring the project to fruition, it took what Vice President for Student Affairs Sterling R. Church called a "vision to persuade others that it could become a reality," and the drive to see the project through. The credit for these qualities and what they now mean goes to President Gerald R. Sherratt. The facility will be a lesson on the virtues of patience. The persistence demonstrated by Sherratt and others engaged in the quest is a tribute to the persevering spirit of SUSC. As always, funding for the building was a major obstacle. Federal regulations prohibit the use of government funds for construction student buildings. Therefore, funding for the $2.3 million project was sought through channels; the search spearheaded by Sherratt. Original financial plans called for support through private funds. This was later abandoned as funds became available through the Federal Economic Incentive Program, designed to stimulate local economic growth. Working closely with Cedar City leaders, college officials obtained more than $2 million in these governmental revenue bonds. Just as the dealings were coming to a close, interest rates dropped to the point that the college could better fulfill its monetary needs with conventional revenue bonds. With two abandoned fundraising plans behind them, college administrators adopted and held fast to this plan. Under these guidelines, funding for the cen'er would come from student-relate- d revenues. A fee increase, instigated to raise funds for the building, quickly accounted for half of the amount needed for the center. That figure was matched by income from Auxiliary Enterprise Revenue Funds food service, the Bookstore and other student service outlets on campus. Sherratt has now brought to fruition two of his three major building goals: the Centrum and the Student Center. So, it would seem that his plans for a new Library are not to be scoffed at. 1 1 THE STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS OF SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE CEDAR CITY UTAH VOLUME 81, NUMBER 23 Editorial and News Directors: Carn LeBaron Danny Stewart Senior Staff Writer Kris Johnson Copy Editor Greg Prince Photo Editor Richard Engleman Production Manager Gavin McNeil Sports Editors Dale Cummings Advertising Representatives Teri Gadd Brooks Washburn Kellie Jensen Entertainment Editor Dawn DeBusk Faculty Adviser Larry Baker Lisa jane Laird The Thunderbird is published each Monday of the academic year by and lor the student body ot Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated with the College's department The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions ot communication of the publication's individual writers and do not necessarily retlect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single entity Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number Only the name will be printed Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing pn ileges Letters must be submitted by noon Friday tor inclusion in the following week s coition The Thunderbird editorial and advertising offices in SUSC Library 103 Mail at SUSC Box 7758 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720 (801) Students' Convo behavior deplorable 'Access' is a recurring column through which members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. This week's column is by LEE ANN TAYLOR, a sophomore majoring in Zoology. She is also an intern in the Convocation program. Once upon a time in a far away place, there was a college of 2,600 students. The campus was beautifully landscaped with patios, grassy malls and fountains. Traditional buildings existed d structures. Now on next to this campus was wonderful lecture series that was nationally recognized as a distinguished series by the National Association of Campus Activities. It brought such people as James Burke, Larry Linville and Dr. Timothy Leary to this far away place. The purpose of the lecture series was to deliver a variety of philosophies, personalities, topics and contemporary concerns to the college students and community members, raise awareness of the insitution and its programs and offerings, serve as an intellectual stimulus, and raise general knowledge levels about current national and international issues. The students loved the lectures and responded very well. They would anxiously flock to the Auditorium at 1 1 every Thursday morning equipped with their homework and letter writing tools. They would linger in the lobby just outside the Auditorium until 11:05 when they were asked to take a seat. No doubt they were discussing the day's side-by-si- solar-heate- topic and selecting the most intellectually stimulating people to sit next to When they were asked not to sit in the balcony, ihey resisted. Being aware of how rude it was to disrupt others with their frequent trips to the drinking fountain or bathroom, they graciously offered to sit in the balcony at the back. The students would listen to and concentrate on what the speaker was saying until their concentration was broken by the loud snores from an interested neighbor. The students looked at the speaker as someone respected in their field and as someone who had something important to say. They even listened when they weren't doing their homework or writing letters. They participated in the question and answer dialogue that is when they didn't leave 10 minutes early. The students filled out cards to be used for attendance and comments. Many students would sneak into the lecture minutes before it ended, but just in time to turn in the attendance card. The students also excelled in the commenting portion of the cards as well. Many of the returned cards Once upon a time at a college far, far away... demonstrated the effect the speech had on the students. Most of the students were left speechless after an especially challenging lecture and turned their cards in blank. But the students whose desire for intellectual stimulus was ripe merely wrote "boring." The evaluation of these cards by the coordinator of the lecture series led to improvements in the programming of the series. Many improvements had been initiated by the exchange of creative ideas that manifest themselves on these returned cards. These were exceptional students. Social issues were so important to them that they practiced talking and g during lectures. Interpersonal communication was essential to them, so they wrote home to their parents. We can only ponder what life must have been like in the wondrous atmosphere of learning that existed at this campus of 2,600 students in a far away place once upon a time. hand-holdin- |