New vistas bring back romance at ULM

Originally published in The News-Star newspaper, October 22, 2006

If you went on a romantic campus walk last week, hopefully you found just the right sights - possibly the art-deco front of Brown Hall or the Louisiana State University and Northeast Louisiana State College Seals or our lovely bayou.

One of the things you and the object of your affection (remember the purpose of the walk I mentioned last week) should have noticed are some sights that have never before been seen on our campus - new vistas, if you will.

For example, if you walk just south of Ouachita Hall - by the way, in the late 1960s this was the scene of many "good-night" kisses in a mad rush just before the dreaded 9 p.m. curfew, not to mention fogged up windows in parked cars, perhaps a new vista in itself back then - one can see Malone Stadium through the trees. This view is new and unique. If you exit Starbucks at University Commons and look north from the circle, you can see far up Bayou DeSiard. From the famous footbridge, which some swear moves as you walk across it, one can see the lights of University Commons. All are wonderful new vistas and representative of our changing campus.

And of course, you can view the sunrise and sunset. One can imagine the campus has changed just enough to showcase these wonders as you get out of class or sit early in the morning with a cup of tea.

Seeing these sights should instill a feeling of pride in our campus - and if you can also explain some of the sights (for example who Coach Malone was) all the more romantic and special the moment might be.

As we enjoy these new vistas, hopefully we will remember that this is not the first time. When Ouachita Parish Junior college opened, there was not much to look at - a large unfinished building with an unpaved circular drive in front and only fields behind. In the fall of 1932, a football field was built just north of what was to become T.O. Brown Hall. No additional buildings were built until 1938. One can only imagine the excitement among the students and faculty as the new student center was built. Within two years, their vistas included not only the Student Center, but also a new Brown Stadium and fine arts and library buildings.

So much to see these days. And as new sidewalks are opened, one can now walk from University House along the bayou, cross the bridge and then cross the footbridge and walk back to Starbucks or cross over to University Avenue by the new Student Health Center and walk by Ouachita Hall and to the front of the campus. Soon the walks along DeSiard will be finished, extending our path even further. And all the while walking there are not only new vistas to discover and savor but also thoughts of the past which walk with us.

What a lovely, romantic journey our college has built for us to take.

Dr. John Knesel, ULM Professor