12-08-2012, 12:11 PM
I recently came across this article on the Paisano written by an editor (on the Tuesday, December 4th edition) discussing how UTSA should have a museum dedicated to displaying its history.
It was an interesting read and I thought it would be nice to share it with you guys, especially since many of us have graduated from UTSA at various points in time to the point that what one alumnus experienced as a student at UTSA may not necessarily be the same (or similar) experience that another UTSA alumnus had mainly due to them being at UTSA at different and distinct times of UTSA's existence:
http://www.paisano-online.com/opinion/co...MNg3OSX8YM
Here's the text of it (by Stephen Whitaker):
"One day in 1976, a student arrived at the new campus on horseback and tied his horse in front of the Humanities building.
Don’t believe me? There may be a photograph of this within our very walls. Some may not know it, but UTSA has quite an interesting history.
The university that hugs the hills of northwest San Antonio has become a prominent thread in the colorful fabric of this city. Since our football team began playing at the Alamodome last fall, our bond with the city has only been strengthened.
As a leading institution in San Antonio, UTSA has set its sights on becoming an esteemed institution nationwide and worldwide. The government-partnered research conducted in cyber security is just one advancement that stands as evidence of our growing national footprint.
We are setting our sights higher and broadening our perspectives as we welcome an increasing number of international students to shape our diverse identity. The population of students from Europe and the Middle East is rising at UTSA. The university also boasts a strong Asian studies program that brings the best and brightest from around the world to our hills of oak and cedar.
This is UTSA as you know it today. However, the history of the university is just as intriguing. Unfortunately, aside from plaques and portraits on campus, few people know the interesting history of our university and its humble beginnings, even the silly (but true) stories of ingenious parking.
Our school needs a museum devoted to this rich past—a museum that can spread the voice, your voice, of the memories and achievements that shape our ambitious school.
No other university has an established museum dedicated to this endeavor. Our students and our story is unique, so let’s tell it.
Some may argue that 40 years isn't enough time to warrant a whole museum, but I say, if we wait any longer we will begin to forget the stories of the early years of our alma mater.
Not only would it benefit the alumni and current students, but keep in mind those future students who could visit the exhibits and see the hard work and dedication that built UTSA from a dream by the Texas Legislature into a very real and great university on the world’s stage.
The time has come for UTSA to have a museum and I intend to lead that charge, but I implore the help of my fellow Roadrunners.
For the alumni, a museum will host the sharing of stories and artifacts from their years at UTSA. We are creating what will stand behind for future Roadrunners, today.
For my classmates and educators, we are able to witness, experience and influence the traditions, achievements and the reputation our university.
The challenges of today will not be the challenges of tomorrow, but one day, wouldn't it be nice to come back to these hills and meet your fellow and future Roadrunners under one Sombrilla to tell the stories, behind the glass display, of greatness—of how you, me and the University of Texas at San Antonio, together, shaped history? ""
Personally, I feel that this should be more of an exhibit that an actual stand-alone museum per se. What I mean by that is that instead of a museum built that is entirely dedicated to UTSA's history, it can be an exhibit at UTSA's Institute of Texas Cultures for example; it should be an exhibit that occurs every year (for an X amount of months) and perhaps a large part of the museum (maybe even an entire floor) should be used for this exhibit that showcases UTSA's history. However, this would mean that UTSA would not be considered the first university to have a museum that's entirely dedicated to displaying UTSA's history anymore, but UTSA would still have an exhibit that is dedicated to it.
Now if in the future UTSA does built a museum on the Main Campus, Downtown, or elsewhere, the exhibit could also be done at this newly-built museum as well.
What do you guys think? Do you think that there should be a museum that entirely dedicated to showcasing UTSA's history?
It was an interesting read and I thought it would be nice to share it with you guys, especially since many of us have graduated from UTSA at various points in time to the point that what one alumnus experienced as a student at UTSA may not necessarily be the same (or similar) experience that another UTSA alumnus had mainly due to them being at UTSA at different and distinct times of UTSA's existence:
http://www.paisano-online.com/opinion/co...MNg3OSX8YM
Here's the text of it (by Stephen Whitaker):
"One day in 1976, a student arrived at the new campus on horseback and tied his horse in front of the Humanities building.
Don’t believe me? There may be a photograph of this within our very walls. Some may not know it, but UTSA has quite an interesting history.
The university that hugs the hills of northwest San Antonio has become a prominent thread in the colorful fabric of this city. Since our football team began playing at the Alamodome last fall, our bond with the city has only been strengthened.
As a leading institution in San Antonio, UTSA has set its sights on becoming an esteemed institution nationwide and worldwide. The government-partnered research conducted in cyber security is just one advancement that stands as evidence of our growing national footprint.
We are setting our sights higher and broadening our perspectives as we welcome an increasing number of international students to shape our diverse identity. The population of students from Europe and the Middle East is rising at UTSA. The university also boasts a strong Asian studies program that brings the best and brightest from around the world to our hills of oak and cedar.
This is UTSA as you know it today. However, the history of the university is just as intriguing. Unfortunately, aside from plaques and portraits on campus, few people know the interesting history of our university and its humble beginnings, even the silly (but true) stories of ingenious parking.
Our school needs a museum devoted to this rich past—a museum that can spread the voice, your voice, of the memories and achievements that shape our ambitious school.
No other university has an established museum dedicated to this endeavor. Our students and our story is unique, so let’s tell it.
Some may argue that 40 years isn't enough time to warrant a whole museum, but I say, if we wait any longer we will begin to forget the stories of the early years of our alma mater.
Not only would it benefit the alumni and current students, but keep in mind those future students who could visit the exhibits and see the hard work and dedication that built UTSA from a dream by the Texas Legislature into a very real and great university on the world’s stage.
The time has come for UTSA to have a museum and I intend to lead that charge, but I implore the help of my fellow Roadrunners.
For the alumni, a museum will host the sharing of stories and artifacts from their years at UTSA. We are creating what will stand behind for future Roadrunners, today.
For my classmates and educators, we are able to witness, experience and influence the traditions, achievements and the reputation our university.
The challenges of today will not be the challenges of tomorrow, but one day, wouldn't it be nice to come back to these hills and meet your fellow and future Roadrunners under one Sombrilla to tell the stories, behind the glass display, of greatness—of how you, me and the University of Texas at San Antonio, together, shaped history? ""
Personally, I feel that this should be more of an exhibit that an actual stand-alone museum per se. What I mean by that is that instead of a museum built that is entirely dedicated to UTSA's history, it can be an exhibit at UTSA's Institute of Texas Cultures for example; it should be an exhibit that occurs every year (for an X amount of months) and perhaps a large part of the museum (maybe even an entire floor) should be used for this exhibit that showcases UTSA's history. However, this would mean that UTSA would not be considered the first university to have a museum that's entirely dedicated to displaying UTSA's history anymore, but UTSA would still have an exhibit that is dedicated to it.
Now if in the future UTSA does built a museum on the Main Campus, Downtown, or elsewhere, the exhibit could also be done at this newly-built museum as well.
What do you guys think? Do you think that there should be a museum that entirely dedicated to showcasing UTSA's history?