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092823/Housing Guide 2023

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THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2023 VOLUME 98 ISSUE 2

SPORTS

LA VIDA

OPINIONS

PHOTO

HOUSING GUIDE

Texas Tech soccer takes strides in a record-breaking season to make program history.

A first-gen Hispanic student uses his experiences to light the way for others.

The DT staffers tackle the future of DEI on college campuses in a fight column over Senate Bill 17.

A photo essay depicts the Tech Rodeo Team as they prepare for the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo.

View sponspored content from Lubbock housing options.

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PG 1B-6B

INNOVATION

Science building to invigorate CoA&S By AUSTIN WOOD Staff Writer

At the heart of the Texas Tech campus, near the Stangel/Murdough complex and science buildings, lies an ambitious construction project which is poised to become one of the most important academic additions to campus in decades. With a budget of $112 million, the new three-story 129,000-square-foot Academic Sciences Building will provide departments of the College of Arts and Sciences with a consolidated hub for both instruction and lab work. “This will give students access to state-of-the-art facilities, for learning, for conducting laboratory work,” Tech president Lawrence Schovanec said. “This is what we should be able to provide for our students and faculty at Tech.” Construction began in December of 2021 after years of planning. Schovanec said the building’s concept originated from an evaluation of the campus’ strengths and weaknesses. “The genesis of a project like this always starts with the univer-

PABLO MENA/The Daily Toreador

The projected budget of the new Academic Sciences Building at Texas Tech is $100 million.

sity assessing its needs and what we need to do to address those needs,” Schovanec said. Once the need for increased space was identified within the CoA&S, which includes some of the oldest buildings on campus, university officials began consult-

ing with department chairs and faculty to pinpoint exactly what was needed in the new building. “We knew Arts & Sciences would be the primary occupant of that building, they meet with every department of that college, even if they’re not going to be us-

ing it,” Schovanec said. “So they wanted to get faculty input, they also met with students to get a good balance between the space that would be allocated for instruction and space for research.” Schovanec said. Constructed by Western Build-

ers of Amarillo and designed by Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects Inc., the building will follow the Tech campus’ unique Spanish Renaissance style. The building will complete construction in June and contain space for the Departments of Geosciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Psychological Sciences, according to the Tech System website. “Each day, the campus community will see approximately 135 construction workers advancing this project that will serve so many areas within the university. Currently, the exterior façade is ongoing for the 129,000-squarefoot project, which includes brick and stone, masonry and windows, along with roofing being installed,” Billy Breedlove, vice chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction of the Tech System, said in a written statement. When completed, the building’s advanced facilities will give staff and faculty the ability to engage in research that may otherwise have been impossible. Schovanec said he believes the building will provide the facilities to keep Tech a competitive Tier 1 research school. SEE INNOVATION, PG. 2

OPINION

Capturing sentiments of my Hispanic heritage Jacob Lujan is a sophomore electrical engineering major from Corpus Christi.

JACOB LUJAN/The Daily Toreador

Stoles resembling the traditional serape style are displayed in the Library’s Hispanic Heritage Month exhibit and are worn by graduates hononred by the Raider Riojas Alumni Network. Raider Riojas fund and present scholarships to students and participate in the Hispanic Graduate Convocation Sept. 24, 2023.

As a photojournalist, I’ve had the opportunity of experiencing events outside of my scope of interest. I began my journey with The Daily Toreador last year and had the privilege of taking pictures during Hispanic Heritage Month; covering these events assisted me in reconnecting to the traditions and culture that make up the person I am today. Growing up, Hispanic heritage was not an integral piece of my childhood. My parents faced discrimination and exclusion throughout their life, and this resulted in their hesitant to im-

merse me in Hispanic culture. In an effort to protect me from the same struggles they faced growing up, my parents never taught me a lick of Spanish. My inability to speak the language prevented me from fully experiencing Hispanic culture in ways that my cousins could. The ability for my cousins to speak Spanish enabled them to form stronger bonds with each other, and my grandparents, in ways that I never could. Not understanding their jokes or listening to their stories led me to feel isolated from my family and cut off from my Hispanic roots. This upbringing caused me to be pleasantly surprised by the many Hispanic-rooted traditions that Tech celebrates. Tech’s constant efforts to cultivate a Hispanic-embracing community exposed me to a side of my culture that was absent growing up. Reflecting on the many His-

panic celebrations that I have covered in the past year, each event has slowly redefined the connotation of Hispanic Heritage Month in my mind. Through the lens of a photojournalist, I was able to capture aspects of Hispanic Heritage Month I had not experienced in my childhood. Photographing individuals from all walks of life, I was able to see and experience a strong community with a sense of inclusivity despite backgrounds and language barriers. Even though my childhood lacked a strong Hispanic influence, Tech has now connected me to a community of people that grounds me in my Hispanic roots. While I still struggle with my identity, I am learning to love my history and culture through its rocky edges and truly celebrate the joy of Hispanic Heritage Month. @JacobLujan_DT

JACOB LUJAN//The Daily Toreador JACOB LUJANThe Daily Toreador

Auntie Villalobos, in a traditional yellow dress, and Natalie Montano perform in a traditional Folklorico dance in celebration of El Grito at Red Raider Plaza Sept. 15, 2023.

The Goin’ Band from Raiderland rehearses its show. The Goin’ Band plans to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month during halftime of the Texas Tech matchup against Houston.


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