BAIR

MOTHERS WEEKEND COLUMN Living through change at BYU-I

by Adam Bair BAI00009@BYUI.EDU Mr. O.C.D.

Change — the wheels of progress. These wheels seem to be working overtime in Rexburg; even if you visited the campus just last year things have changed since then. New buildings, new professors and even a new interim university president are just some of the many changes at BYU-Idaho.

Many still remember the days of Ricks College when the visiting diner had few choices for eating out and a trip to Idaho Falls was the only way to have any fun. While the latter may still be true, things have changed dramatically in just the last year. With the addition of a new theater and several new eateries, Rexburg is a happening place.

It seems all of the changes started in June 2000. I was in the Hart Auditorium the day President Hinckley announced that Ricks College would become Brigham Young University-Idaho at a press conference in Salt Lake City. No longer would we be one of the largest private two-year colleges in the United States — we would become a university.

This was the summer that the last classes were being taught in the old Spori Building. I still remember the wide windows, green drapes (which were said to be a fire hazard) and large front steps.

Students would sit in the windowsills for hours working on homework. There were two groups of students in the windows — those who followed the sun and those who loved the shade. The staircases leading to the second and third floors were narrow and well-worn with the footsteps of our forbearers.

That November the old building was scheduled to be demolished to make way for the new, bigger and safer Jacob Spori Building. In the process of the demolition the old building caught fire, and the company in charge of demolition allowed the building to burn. The Spori burned most of the night and the next morning. The only things left were the green drapes said to be fire hazards.

The next winter was filled with snow and icy sidewalks; some things never change. A major remodeling of the library was in order, making more space for students.

Everyone on campus could see that Ricks College’s hours were coming to a close. However, we all saw something on the horizon. That day came for me on June 6, 2001. I was in the last graduating class of Ricks College. Future graduates would not have to explain to everyone they met who the Ricks person was and how he got a college named after him.

After graduation I left on my mission. The school was in transition and so was my life. The university was busy making major adjustments to start offering upper division classes. I was busy learning a new language, preparing discussions and adjusting to mission life.

Time passed and soon I returned to Rexburg to attend BYU-I. At first it seemed that while the school was still in Rexburg, it wasn’t Ricks College. The campus was now much larger with additional buildings and countless construction and remolding projects, but it did not take long to find the trademarks of Ricks College.

One of the most important elements was the faculty — professors who care about you as an individual and want the best for you. I have found professors who truly are teachers. They give some of the best advice to students. When I have a problem it is not uncommon to find me on the couch of a trusted professor getting advice about life, class and school.

This campus is known for friendly people; a trait that is uncommon in today’s world, as most people are generally cold and uncaring. When I returned to Rexburg I was shocked as people who I knew or didn’t know would always say hello. At first it was a little weird having people say hi to me when I didn’t know them. However, it did not take long to readjust to this new way of life.

There are countless things that make this campus unique. From a focus on students, to faculty who want to teach, to a friendly campus: these things were true of Ricks College and even more true of BYU-I.

So my fellow Ricks College alumni, while the campus is changing constantly, just keep in mind that our time at BYU-I is similar to our time at Ricks College. While there may be thousands or more people on campus and new buildings at every turn Rexburg is still the home of a loving campus community