thebattalion ! thursday,
april 5, 2012
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student government
Senate opens outsourcing debate University staff demonstrate before senators vote Chase Carter
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Custodial staff member Francisca Martinez pleads with the Student Senate to take a stance against outsourcing.
The Battalion The Student Senate passed a bill Wednesday evening advocating for student representation in any further discussions regarding the outsourcing of facilities services at Texas A&M. Staff workers and students petitioned during the open forum portion of the meeting before the Senate voted or debated, voicing opinions and sharing personal anecdotes to the assembly.
“During my freshman year, I felt out of touch on campus,” said Berenice Hernandez, sophomore bilingual education major. “The only people who would ever say ‘Hello,’ or ask me how my day was going were the custodial staff. They helped me get through a very rough first year.” Staff workers turned out to petition for their benefits and positions. Some held signs reading, “Trash is disposable, we are not” and, “Aggies never lie, cheat or steal.” Custodial supervisor Blanca Pinalez shared her personal experience working for a privatized company prior to employment with the University. “When you separate the workers from the community, you lose loyalty and trust,” Pina-
Keep off the grass: MSC Traditions
lez said. “We bring joy and familiarity to the students here, and that’s something you can never get with private vendors.” Custodial supervisor Francisca Martinez received a standing ovation after she pleaded on hands and knees for the assembly to protect “the only work I know: taking care of that cherished field [Kyle Field] step by step and game by game.” Bill authors Scott Bowen and Mark Womack stressed that the Senate desires the highest possible service for the University at the best price, but also said senators were concerned with outsourcing’s ramifications for the “Aggie family.” See Student Senate on page 5
How to play: 1. Grab a die from your favorite board game and roll it. Use a coin or other small object fo for a game piece. Please do not take a penny off Sully. 2. M 2. Mov Move ove 11ov 1-6 -6 sp sspac spaces. ac If you land on a space with a dot, learn about a tradition 33. The player who reaches the MSC first wins
Say HOWDY! It’s the official Aggie greeting
You’ve reached the Giant
You’ve reached the Century Tree. Don’t walk under it alone!
Aggie Ring.
Pick up your bling and go to Ring Dance Dance!!
You’ve reached
Muster.
Light a candle to pay respect to fallen Aggies.
Are you wearing a hat?
You’ve arrived at the MSC! You win!
Take it off! Show some respect!
Jorge Montalvo — THE BATTALION
Students reminisce about MSC, anticipate opening Kalee Bumguardner The Battalion
Countless Aggies have walked through the Memorial Student Center during its 71-year history. For the last three years, however, no student has been able to experience the building’s culture and tradition. Known as Texas A&M Univerity’s living room, the MSC was the primary gathering spot for students on campus, and those who were attending school when it was open still remember what it was like to be inside. “For me, it was a home away from home,” said Sarah Welborn wildlife and fisheries sciences graduate student. “The MSC was instantly friendly and comforting because so many Aggies had been there before me. I liked the ambiance. I liked the old feel.”
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Welborn, who has been an A&M student since 2005, said she can’t wait to explore the nooks and crannies of the new MSC to see if it measures up to the old one. “I loved the MSC so much,” Welborn said. “I cried like a baby when it closed down. It was not cool.” Senior human resource development major Gabe Marenco said the MSC unifies the University. “The MSC is a place that connects all of campus together,” Marenco said. “It unifies Texas A&M. It’s a place where everyone can come hang out, have fun, eat, study and take a nap between classes. I’m really excited to have that sense of camaraderie in the center of campus again.” Marenco said that one could feel the spirit emanating from the MSC, and See MSC on page 6
EDITOR’S NOTE This is the second in a four-part series rediscovering the Memorial Student Center and its historical and cultural impact on the Texas A&M campus. If you would like to share a favorite memory or thought about the MSC to be considered for future publication, please send a message to editor@thebatt.com.
Hallowed tradition rooted in MSC grass Justin Mathers The Battalion
When the Memorial Student Center reopens April 21, the building and its traditions will be uncharted territory for many Aggies. Those students will quickly become acquainted with a loud and important command: “GET OFF THE GRASS!” The grass that surrounds the MSC is considered one of its most important legacies. It is a living memorial dedicated to all Aggies, past or future, who have given or will give their lives in wartime. In order to respect the 955 Aggie soldiers killed in the line of duty, A&M tradition prohibits all Aggies from stepping on the grass that surrounds the building. Following the closing of the MSC, a three-by-five foot section of the memorial grass was removed from the
northeast corner of the lawn and transferred to the Bonfire Memorial where it will remain a symbolic reminder to students that the old grass will always be a part of Texas A&M University. With the reopening just around the corner, students who only had a shortlived experience with the building are both looking forward and looking back. Brian McDonald, senior history major and Residence Hall Association president, fondly remembers his short time with the memorial grass. “Although the MSC has been closed for much of my A&M career and the grass gone, I still remember that special turf,” McDonald said. “I remember the loud shouts of ‘Get off the grass!’ anytime anyone thought it was a good idea to venture off of the paved path. And I distinctly remember being deathly See Grass on page 3
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