Item: Marks says farewell to university

In a special interview with The Huntsville Item this week, Sam Houston State University President Bobby K. Marks reviewed a 41-year career that has witnessed the growth and development of a former teacher's college into one of Texas' important doctoral intensive state universities.

The Austin Hall Sesquicentennial

On a warm day in June 150 years ago Sunday General Sam Houston traveled up the hill a short distance from his Woodland Home to help mark the beginning of construction on Austin Hall, which has become Sam Houston State University's architectural symbol.

To honor this sesquicentennial occasion, the Peabody Memorial Library and archives is presenting an exhibit of memorabilia relating to Austin Hall's history. Peabody is located a few feet east of Austin Hall, in the university's historic Quadrangle, and is open from 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibit is scheduled to run June 25-July 13.

Today@Sam goes on to say that we know "Sam Houston slept here," in his Woodland Home. We know he attended meetings in Austin Hall. We know where he is buried, in a Huntsville cemetery north of the campus. But we can't find the Austin Hall cornerstone, and it too may be buried.

Austin Hall has been changed. Its cupola was removed so that a third floor could be added, and then taken off. The Old Main Building was built nearby, in 1889. The most recent work was completed in 1986 after the building was damaged by the 1982 fire that destroyed the Old Main, returning it to its pre-1881 appearance.

Somewhere along the way the cornerstone was covered, by earth or bricks. A pre-1881 photograph of the building, which is part of the Peabody exhibit, shows a white area on the northwest corner of Austin Hall, which might be a cornerstone.

But Ralph Spencer, an architect who is completing his third master plan for the Sam Houston State campus, said that "Masons always place the cornerstone at the northeast corner. I do not think one is there."

All in all it's just another brick in the wall.

Tougher Admission Standards Among Regents Actions

Tougher admission standards, a new name for the Department of Public Communication, and new fees relating to library use, correspondence courses and degree programs and majors offered online were among the measures approved Friday for Sam Houston State University by the Board of Regents:

• Approved contracts and purchase orders of $180,000 for renovation of the University Theater Center.
• $125,000 to replace the Sam Houston Memorial Museum roof, and $145,000 to replace auditorium seating in the Beto Criminal Justice Center.
• Approved preliminary plans for a $285,000 renovation of the Smith-Hutson Business Building.
• Approved demolition of Hathorn House, a two-story residence hall built in 1961, because of foundation settling and damage.

Houstonian: Golf course/convention center progressing quickly

From the Houstonian:

The Huntsville City Council will make its final choice on the architect to design the new city golf course by March 6, said Bob Hart, city manager. Anticipated completion date is fall 2002.

Last Thursday, Hart announced a contest to name the golf course. Officials hope the city’s history, long-standing relationship with Sam Houston State University and the topography of the land will be taken into consideration when people make up names for the 18-hole course.

The course is being built off Interstate 45 West on 154 acres of university-owned land behind Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Twenty more privately-owned acres were bought by the city to complete the necessary acreage.

SHSU is leasing the land to Huntsville on a 30-year contract for $40,000 a year. Other benefits to SHSU will be in the form of monetary savings, such as discounted greens fees for faculty, staff and students. Important to the university is the travel time and money that will be saved by having a home golf course for the Bearkat golf team. The team now has to go out-of-town to four different courses, Hart said.

Theta Chi To Break Ground For New House

The Houstonian reports Bearkat Boulevard, once thought of as a possible site for Fraternity Row, will soon have its first frat house:

The Theta Chi fraternity will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 26 with plans to finish the house by May of this year.

However, there are no plans to move other fraternity houses there, creating a Greek Row.

"We haven't talked about moving," said Sigma Chi Matt Mathieson. "We've been in our house since '83 and we're not looking to move."

While there have never been concrete plans, Bearkat Boulevard has often been thought of as a future sight for all fraternity houses. "That was the original idea," said Theta Chi Jason Boldt. "But I don't think it will happen."

"We just bought a house," said a Sigma Nu member. "I don't think we are going to move anytime soon."

"We're not moving," said Kappa Alpha Gary Bergholtz.

The fraternity houses, like the sorority houses, were once grouped together on campus. Eventually, however, each frat house moved off campus.

Houstonian: Still in bloom after 50 years

Half a century ago, a woman with a love for beauty, flowers and gardening began a process in Huntsville, which has continued throughout the years. Grace Longino Cox took those passions and created a fresh and beautiful look for the campus of Sam Houston State University in the late 1940s.

Cox came to SHSU as a student in 1922 and began the beautification process on the campus after the death of her husband, William Longino, a professor at SHSU. Cox was known for her remarkable jewel garden, located near Austin Hall. The jewel garden is a pool with pretty rocks and stones embedded around it, which were the jewels. After working on the campus for five or six years, Cox accepted a job as director of the Sam Houston State Museum and park. After 19 or so years as working as director of the museum and park, Cox retired.

In 1986, SHSU honored Cox by presenting her with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Houstonian: The problems of progress

If you have been late for class, had a hard time finding a parking space and trying to figure out where your organization meets, you are part of the student population experiencing the renovation effects of the Lowman Student Center.

Some students complain of the inconveniences, despite approving the renovations by an online vote in April of 1999 and therefore agreeing to a $40 increase in the student services fee.

Although construction began in early December, some students are just now beginning to experience the effects of the renovations.

All offices that were housed in the LSC are in the Frels and Wilson Buildings, which are across the mall area and face the LSC.

Houstonian: Just trying to get to class

Handicap accessibility seems to be a priority to some at Sam Houston State more than others. Robert Santos, an SHSU sophomore who is in a wheelchair, said he has made several strides to make changes on this campus. His biggest request for about six months has been to get remote control doors placed in the buildings with emphasis on the Drain and the Communication buildings.

Doug Greening in Physical Plant commented that ramps and curb cuts are higher on the list of priorities than automatic doors. "There is no law that requires automatic doors to be placed in the facilities," he said. He also said automatic doors are very costly. "As the price goes down we possibly will get more doors installed."

"It's funny how they (the school) have money to do all of this other stuff on campus but they can't get anything done about the making the buildings more accessible," Santos said.

Houstonian: Sam Houston Museum gets national accrediation

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum has been awarded the highest honor a museum can receive--accreditation by the American Association of Museums. Accreditation certifies that a museum operates according to standards set forth by the museum profession, manages its collections responsibly and provides quality services to museum visitors. Of the 8,000 museums nationwide, only some 750 are accredited.

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum is one of only four accredited museums at Texas universities, joining facilities at the University of Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor.

"We hope the people of Texas share our pride in having earned this prestigious honor," said Patrick Nolan, director of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.

Today@Sam: Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies for LEMIT Building

Dignitaries assemble to cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas headquarters building Thursday afternoon. The three-story, 30,000 square-foot facility on the Sam Houston State University campus houses a state-of-the-art distance learning center, teaching amphitheater, computer lab, tiered classrooms, traditional classrooms, seminar rooms and staff office space. The institute was created in 1987 to provide a means to develop administrative, analytical and leadership skills of law enforcement executives and senior managers.