Originally published in The News-Star newspaper, July 30, 2006

I guess this is the time of the year known as the "dog days" of summer, that time of heat and lying about like the dogs in the shade on the porch.

Although summer school is approaching its final week, the end of July is not quite close enough to the fall to get excited. This is the time of year, and has been since that first summer of 1931, for that final rest-up before fall classes, for visiting relatives near and far and for faculty members to begin remembering that, as author Jay Parini puts it, "fall means starting over, springing into life again after the torpid drowse of summer."

Hopefully the remaining days of summer will pass quickly, and soon we will be marching across the bridge to Convocation in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, singing our new Warhawk fight song and sacred Alma Mater and greeting a new freshman class all full of fear and trembling at the prospect of their first college lectures - their first steps as the class of 2010 - much the same as the class of '33 began their first steps in September 1931.

Also, by the way, I am reminded that about half the columns for this anniversary year are already done - and there is yet so much to write about ... Dean Cline, President Slater, World War II, Walter Savage, new programs and faculty, airplanes, the College Friend ... the list is almost endless.

One of the things a number of us hoped for in this anniversary year was a growing excitement on campus and in the community at the realization that there is so much history here to describe and celebrate. The excitement of compiling our history is beginning to mount as people find old files, old photographs and odd pieces from our beginnings. Some of this history, as we found this week, exists only in single pieces, while some, like T.O. Brown Hall, stand complete, secure and serene.

This week, thanks to the excellent memory and efforts of Brealon Sisson, we now have part of an original seat from the auditorium. It was located on a catwalk in the very hot and very high loft of Brown Auditorium. I thought it was a terrifying climb, and must admit to only going to the top of the ladder at the entrance to the loft.

Brealon, however, seemed right at home climbing over pipes and under ductwork. Soon, he returned with the part and promised to find the rest of it when the weather cools down a bit.

Hopefully, the entire chair can be restored and take its rightful place of honor as a witness to all that happened from 1931 until 1968, when it was replaced during a renovation. There is something magic about imagining it being there where so many watched and spoke and listened and sang and performed and graduated.

Just think - a piece of history, long out of sight and now part of our 75th celebration.

Have a great day at ULM.

Dr. John Knesel, ULM Professor