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QRanaaammißaßfsirsiH nmml First copy free Volume 55 lssue 2 West Georgia celebrates 100 years By Mariam Abuhaidcri Staff Writer mabuhaideri@yahoo.com West Georgia turned 100 last Friday and to celebrate this special day, the university organized it’s first ever Black Tie Gala. It was a red carpet event and was held in the Ballroom of the new Campus Center. This event gave guests an opportunity to celebrate the successes the university has experienced in its one hundred years of existence. Guests arrived for the Gala dressed in their elegant attire for the event. McClain Photography ottered photography services in the lobby of the Technology- Enhanced Learning Center and guests were then escorted to the red carpet by R.E.A.L volunteers. Many of the guests were truly grateful for what the university has accomplished. “It is a true honor to be a part of such a phenomenal event. Our university has come a long way and all this is due to the efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and our supporters,” said Dr. Sethna. Chancellor of he Tree planting ceremony marks UWG milestone ,: %-grrj ? *&■ i L *'- ' ** a. ~■ I . i L - iVFjr T ' Xif . riirm♦r 1 *- ■■*■*• # JPp-- ' ?•' ijftr .. ... ’ ; -Br *W Photo by Josh Grubb UWG President Dr. Beheruz Sethna, right, and Dr. Tim Hynes, center, participate in last Friday’s tree planting event. ®h t (§£OtX|Xtt “The Student Voice at the University of West Georgia since 1934” University System of Georgia Erroll B. Davis, Jr., State Representatives Mark Butler, Michele Henson, Tim Bearden and Tommy Benton and Senator William Hamrick, 111, were all on hand to celebrate the event. The event started with a cocktail reception at 6:30 pm while UWG’s Marching Band entertained guests at the patio. Acting President Dr. Thomas Hynes Jr. served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the guests. Guests were then served with a state of the art five course dinner and champagne. After dinner UWG President Beheruz Sethna thanked all contributors and said a few words about the university's progress and threw light on future projects. He concluded his words by introducing the new Chancellor. Chancellor Erroll B. Davis, Jr. said that the UWG Centennial is magical. He also stated that the UWG is older than the system itself. “The University of West Georgia is a vibrant and important jewel to the university system,” he said. www.thewestgeorgian.com He wished UWG the very best as it moves into its second century. After the Chancellor’s remarks, guests were shown a video premier of UWG’s history. The video featured alumni, faculty and staff, a past president and families of past presidents who reflected on the past 100 years. The Founder’s Award is the University’s highest Honor and was presented to Dr. Anne and Fred L. Richards and Lucille Commander, the former wife of the late President Townsend. Dr. Tara Singer, Dr. Hynes, Dr. Sethna and his wife and the Richards' presented a toast to the institution on its birthday. Guests then took to the dance floor and danced to the beats of “The Grapevine, “ Atlanta Society of Entertainers’ Band of the Year in 2000. Although this event was the main attraction to those who have a passion for UWG, this event was the beginning of a series of events that were scheduled on Friday to mark the university’s 100th birthday. - ■ If ftttbgL $ KM Hip y jiflj \ j 100 ]|nnM —* UK MiHH Contributed by Debby Novak Mass Communications Professor Dr. Glenn Novak, emeritus, shows off the car in which he chauffered UWG President Dr. Beheruz Sethna to the centennial festivities. By Larry Peel Sm// Writer larry@ioncinenui.com Thirteen years after the formation of the 4th District A & M School, then- Principal J. Melson had an idea. To commemorate the birth and growth of the school and its hope for the future, Melson wrote to the governors of each of the nation’s 13 original colonies and requested each to send a gift of an oak tree indigenous to their state. Each governor complied and the trees were planted on the front campus of the school, which at that time had been a cotton Held. The event was renewed on August 18 in a ceremony before several dozen students, alumni, staff, faculty, and community leaders with the ceremonial planting of the Hrst of 13 trees to be placed around campus. Alumni Eddie and Woody Cole donated the trees, each of the same type as originally planted in 1919. The Centennial Oak Trees were donated by the brothers in honor of their parents. The ceremony was hosted by Dr. Andy Leavitt, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations, who described the university’s plan to incorporate a synopsis of the tradition in this year’s Centennial Time Capsule, which will be opened in 2056 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the institution. The capsule will include both a map of the current campus and the tree “SssPsMiisyp Wednesday, August 23, 2006 locations as well as GPS coordinates of the trees in case of significant campus changes in that time. The program included comments by former UWG President and current University Chancellor Dr. Beheruz Sethna. who said, "These trees are the living symbols of the students of our second century. They are rooted in the earth, just as this university is rooted in its community and the branches reach out just as our students and programs branch out for a global reach and impact.” The Honorable Wayne Garner, mayor of Carrollton and the Honorable Robert Barr, Chairman of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners, each presented Dr. Sethna with proclamations observing the university’s Centennial. The ceremonial planting commenced with seven groups representing the essential elements of the success of the University of West Georgia. Representatives of current students, staff, faculty, alumni, administration, the Cole family, and the community grasped gold shovels and following Leavitt’s dedication "In the name of all who have come before us, and all who are yet to come, we dedicate this tree”, proceeded to plant the oak. Audience members representative of each group were then invited to come forward and fill in the hole with the remaining soil. The event concluded with refreshments which included bottled water and cake provided by Aramark.