By Lynelle Ward
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

The University of Houston-Clear Lake students, faculty and staff celebrated the future construction of the new student services building with an informal groundbreaking ceremony called the Big Dig on Nov. 19.

Darlene Biggers, associate vice president for student services and dean of students, and Ron Mills, professor of science, headed the committee for the Big Dig. The event was scheduled to give recognition to students who helped make the building a reality and give dedication of the ground before construction begins in December.

Many students have worked on the project since it started in 1990; therefore, current and former students were invited to the ceremony to show appreciation for all those who helped.

"The Big Dig was a memorable experience for me personally because I hope to be able to come back to that building and know that I was a part of the building process," said Daniel Waits, vice president of the Student Government Association."It would be nice to come back when my kids are small and show them my picture on the wall and show them I actually was a part of that."

The ceremony began in the Bayou Building, Atrium II. SGA members, accompanied by a mariachi band, led a procession out to the future site of the new building. More than 400 students, faculty and staff cheered as they lined up along the perimeter of the building.

"This is the largest construction project at UHCL since 1975 when the Bayou Building was built," said William Staples, university president.

Sue Fellman, coordinator for student life leadership development, told the history of the building project. Fellman started working on the building project in 1990 when she was SGA president.

While a student, Fellman helped promote student involvement in the building project. She also headed a committee that testified before the Austin state legislature on the need for the building. After graduating, she continued supporting the building project through her work in the Student Life Office, leading current student leaders involved with the building project.

Biggers and Mills then recognized students, faculty and staff who worked closely on the building project. Those recognized received salutatory plaques with a miniature gold shovel on front.

To dedicate the ground, students representing Bangladesh, the Hispanic culture, India, the Muslim culture, Pakistan and Turkey, explained how their cultures or countries blessed a new building.

Farhana Chowdhury from the International Student Organization, representing Bangladesh, recited the Bangladesh national anthem, "Amar Shonar Bangla."

Jessica Olveda, Beatritz Darst and Maggie Portela Wiegandt from Hispanics Advancing Culture and Education, recited the Hail Mary prayer in Spanish.

Aparna Padmaja, Mekhala Samsi, Jayaraman T.V., Devdutt Mistry, Kashif Syed, Tapan Mehta, Amit Singh, Sudheer Boora, Prithi Antony and Alphy Daizen Koonthily from the Indian Students Association, offered flower petals to the Bhoomi (earth) and broke a coconut as they recited Montras (holy hymns) in Sanskrit.

Kashi Syed and Asma Dar from the Muslim Students Association, recited words from the Quran.

Murtaza Jaffery, representing Pakistan, and Murat Dagli, representing Turkey, each explained how their country blessed the ground.

After the ground blessing, school officials and SGA officers officially broke ground located near the site designated for the front entrance with a ceremonial dig.

Jeff Petry, Student Government Association president, playfully threw dirt at fellow SGA officers to commemorate the day. "[The ground breaking] was the most exciting event the university has had in years," Biggers said. "So many people worked so long and hard to make this happen that it was great to celebrate together and come together as a community."

From top to bottom: SGA leaders Jeff Petry, Maggie Wiegandt and Daniel Waits lead the parade outside; administrators, faculty, staff and students gather at the site of the new building; EL Mariachi Jalisciense entertains the crowd; Darlene Biggers presents the "Big Dig" plaques to students, faculty and staff who worked on the project; Aparma Padmaja, Alphy Daizen Koonthily, Amit Singh, Budheer Boora and Prithi Antony bless the new ground; Ron Mills, William Staples, Darlene Biggers, Edward Hayes and Michelle Dotter officially break the ground at the future sight of the new student services building.
photos by Lynelle Ward, Mindi Funderburg and David Rachita.


The celebration concluded with entertainment provided by the El Mariachi Jalisciense band and a free luncheon at the future site of the new building.

The construction will start in December and continue for approximately 18 months. An official groundbreaking ceremony, scheduled Feb. 21, is planned to promote community awareness.

"We wanted to have this first ceremony so students would not have to share the spotlight and before any digging was started," Biggers said.

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