Brady starts anew
Oct. 24, 2006
A group of project ambassadors participate in the groundbreaking ceremony Friday afternoon outside Brady Commons. The ceremony marked the beginning of the $60 million expansion of Brady Commons.
The Missouri Unions have taken another step toward turning the fences and cleared land around Brady Commons into an expanded student center.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday at the center's construction site at the corners of Hitt Street and Rollins Street to mark the official beginning of the expansion. The ceremony was followed by a reception on Kuhlman Court.
Missouri Students Association President John Andersen said most students realize the campus needs to keep evolving. He said the expansion will make campus "immeasurably better" by adding more social, dining and studying space.
"I think it's going to be more of a place people want to go rather than have to go," he said.
Matt Sokoloff, the student coordinator for the new student center project, said support for the project is growing among students.
"We had a lot of students come out to see the groundbreaking of the new building," Sokoloff said.
The project has been the subject of some controversy over the use of Thomas A. Brady's name. Brady is the namesake for Brady Commons. According to the blog "Not MY Brady," part of a movement to rename the student center, Brady was a documented racist, sexist and homophobe.
Patrick Buckalew, one of the bloggers, said the group will continue their efforts.
"We're still working on legislation for the MSA, and we're continuing to talk to student organizations and classes," he said.
The students plan to continue posting on the Web site, and efforts will be featured in The Advocate, a gay and lesbian magazine, Buckalew said.
"It's a well-circulated LGBT magazine," he said. "We're very excited."
Buckalew said that though he disapproves of using Brady's name for the new building, he approves of the project itself.
"I'm excited about the new building and the new space," he said.
Students will still have a chance to get involved in planning the student center, Sokoloff said.
"We get e-mails all the time from students who are just learning about the project and are excited," he said. "I think there's still many opportunities for students to get involved."
Representatives of the project sat near the stone mock-up outside of Brady Commons soliciting students' opinions on the façade, Sokoloff said. They will also bring furniture into Brady Commons for students to try and offer feedback.
"Every time we come to one of the points where decisions need to be made, students are involved," he said.
According to the MU Student Center Web site, portions of the expansion will open in fall 2008, and the project will be completed by fall 2010.
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