While Union during the summer was quieter than during the academic year, the campus was hardly still. Having few students on campus provides a good opportunity for campus to go through significant renovations. This summer, campus not only saw new developments, but 18 new faculty members were added, according to Brian Carrier, vice president for student life and dean of students.
Miller Tower had 49 bronze bells installed, completely replacing the former audio track system.
“It’s a musical instrument designed to bring beauty to the environment,”University President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said in a news release. “One of the quickest ways to see God is through beauty. This will be a reminder even as we mark time that the Creator is the one who owns time.”
Cardinal and Cream had a chance to write about the bell-making process in the 2015 Fall magazine.
The school’s live mascot, Buster, went to a training camp over the summer to better prepare him for his role on campus this fall.
Food services underwent some change as well. The salad bar in the Brewer Dining Hall was expanded to include new pasta salads, couscous, and tabbouleh, among other things. The Lex saw renovations, a new paint job and expanded menu choices.
Not only was the Lex painted, but various parking lots had new lines repainted, and the Fred Delay Gymnasium’s fascia boards were repainted. The gym also got new bleachers and seatbacks.
Barefoots and the Bowld are now connected better by a new sidewalk, and an ADA curb-cut/ramp has been installed on the sidewalk from the aquatic center to the parking lot.
People wanting more places to sit outside can now enjoy the benches set outside of the Logos library.
Gardening improvements have changed the landscape of campus as well. Many trees were pruned and thinned out around the aquatic center, between the Logos and the Carl Grant Events Center, and other areas around campus. In all of these locations, new sod has been laid out.
In addition to the physical improvements on campus, 18 new faculty members have started teaching classes this year, according to Carrier.
Henry Allen, a former visiting professor of history, was promoted to the department full time this year.
Jay Beavers, a professor with an emphasis in the teaching side of English, joins the English department faculty.
The education department is welcoming three new faculty to the department: Jill Henderson, Teri Evans, and Molly Nied.
There are five new nursing professors: Cathy Aslin, Dana Lusher, Chasity Mullins, Karen Pratt, and Ashley York.
Emily Brandl, Samantha Duncan, and Zachery Halford have joined the pharmacy faculty.
The Biology Department has two new members, Hannah Henson and Euna (Esther) Choi.
Additional hires include Karen Dotson in the social work department, Aaron Hardin as a photojournalism professor in the communications department, and Duncan Nicol in the school of business.
