| The Top 9 University News From The Past Academic Year |
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| Written by Jason Boyd, The Shorthorn news editor | ||||
| Wednesday, 12 August 2009 01:23 PM | ||||
 Former Movin’ Mavs head coach Jim Hayes’ empty wheelchair sits between players, family and friends during the Jim Hayes Memorial Tournament on Nov. 8 at Texas Hall. The team and the university retired his No. 11 jersey. Hayes died May 24, 2008, from an intestinal blood clot. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran) Pepsi Looking around campus, only PepsiCo Inc. vending machines can be seen. It wasn’t always that way. Over the 2008 winter break, the school signed an exclusive contract with Pepsi rather than its previous vendor, Coca-Cola. The school gets a few deal incentives like Gatorade supplies for the Athletic Department and scoreboard signage. Special Events Center For more than 20 years, university administration dreamed of it, and in spring 2009 the UT System Board of Regents approved initial plans for a $73 million, state-of-the-art facility that will host indoor-sport games, commencements and speeches. Rock Wall Completed The Maverick Activities Center’s Phase II opened March 2008, but the MAC had one piece of the puzzle missing from its plans — a rock wall for climbing enthusiasts. Hiccups like structural engineering set it back, but by mid-spring 2009 students began climbing to the top of a new wall. Ice, Ice Baby The second week of spring 2009 was marred, or blessed depending on how you look at it, with class cancellations because of ice. Just goes to show that even in a semester termed “spring,” there can still be snow days. Election 2008 Although campus elections are a big deal, it was trumped by the bigger one – President Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain’s race for the White House. We know now who won, but at the time the campus was abuzz as students picked sides, debated and campaigned for their favorite candidate. Student Congress distributed more than 4,500 voter registration cards to students and hosted debate watch parties for both sides to watch as one. Hurricanes Ike and Gustav The Salvation Army Family Life Center on West Abram Street provided beds, food and a dry place to stay for Hurricane Gustav evacuees in fall 2008. Shortly after, when Hurricane Ike blew in, the Maverick Activities Center was on call by the American Red Cross to receive up to 325 evacuees. The evacuees never came, but MAC officials agreed to house them in the back of the first floor, near the open courts, for up to 10 days. Natural Gas Wells Pay Off The university received its first gas revenue check of $528,495 in late January from Carrizo Oil & Gas, who is drilling underneath university soil into the Barnett Shale. The Shale is more than 5,000 square miles of geologic formation containing natural gas across nearly 20 North Texas counties, including Tarrant County. Carrizo erected its first rig in fall 2007. Drilling began in November 2007. Gas started flowing in November 2008. Former Movin’ Mavs Coach Enters Hall Fame Posthumously Jim Hayes became a Hall of Famer on March 2009 when the National Wheelchair Basketball Association inducted him as the contributor. The Paralympics gold medalist founded the Movin’ Mavs program in 1989 and was its only coach until May 2008, when he died at the age of 58 from an intestinal blood clot. How About Them ’Boys? The Dallas Cowboys move into its new stadium in Arlington this September. Other than affecting the view, city officials have commented on the positive impacts of the local economy. It’s not just football in the new stadium, U2 will solidify the stadium as a viable music venue Oct. 12. The arena will also host the 2010 NBA All-Star game, 2011 Superbowl XLV and 2014 NCAA Final Four tournament. Views: 723 | E-mail
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 August 2009 01:25 PM ) | ||||
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