Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship

On 5 March 2010, the university I attend, the University of Southern Mississippi, had a grand opening of the newest building on campus, the Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. When I attended the grand opening, there were photographers, camera people, Dr. Saunders, Former Senator Trent Lott and his family, and Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant. There was no dry seat in the conference room the ceremony was held at except for these two rows that were reserved for people who did not show up until the start of the ceremony. I kind of found that a waste but understood it was very respectful not to pursuit those seats while there was someone speaking during the ceremony. After everyone spoke, Dr. Saunders and Phil Bryant unveiled a big plaque to Trent Lott. This plaque was mesmerizing when I took the first picture of it being unveiled. Afterwards, my friend Hana and I roamed around the new building. We began climbing the stairs which are very nice. Better than the Liberal Arts Building. We went through to see the kitchen and offices on the second floor. As we finished roaming around on the second floor, I saw the many quotes that are on opposite sides of the building, one quote that caught my attention that was said by Donald Trump, this quote was on the West Side of the building saying, "If your going to think, think big." Finally we made our way up to the 3rd floor. Up there was a nice conference room and an exact replica of Trent Lott's office when he was a U.S. Senator. I loved the twin chandeliers outside his replicated office. Also at the top of the 3rd floor I believe that there is a Southern Miss Seal and know for sure that there is National Seal. Both Seals are at the top of the building, one facing highway 49 and the other facing the MM. Roberts Stadium (aka the Rock). After this historic moment I witnessed, it inspired me to become a better student and also a better person.

(I took this photo, that cake tasted AMAZING!)

If you are interested to visit the new building, feel free, no one will stop you from looking around, or at least I don't think they will. Here is the article on the university website.

The "Art" in front of the Liberal Arts Building

A few weeks back I last saw the Liberal Arts Building (also known as the L.A.B./LAB) as it has always been. I have not been there in about a week and I have been hearing my friends talking about a "monstrocity" that was placed outside of the LAB in the middle of the court yard. I did not believe them until I saw it for myself. I, like my friends, dislike this piece of art in the middle of the LAB court yard. I am opposed to this piece of art. To me, I see this as just a waste of steel because it is infront of the LAB. When you look at it, the two pieces almost look like its in the shape of "06" as in the year of 2006. There is no plaque saying who made it and what it is exactly. I am curious of what it exactly is. Another thing that bothers me is the colors used. It doesn't really suit the LAB, but it wasn't my decision to put it there. If it were, I would just leave the LAB court yard as is, the architecture is great and needs no additional monuments to help it stick out. I want to put a suggestion box next to this structure to see the other student's input, or take a survey in person to everyone I see at the LAB.

You can visit my major's department of history here.

World War II

Just recently I was watching Band of Brothers. One of the greatest TV mini series that has been made. I saw on my old Cadre's Facebook page about another mini series that is coming out on 14 March 2010. This got me thinking of my trip to the National World War II Memorial Mall in Washington D.C. in Summer 2004. This experience was captivating and mezmorizing. My brother and I spent the whole day videotaping and taking pictures while there. It was the most emotional memorial I have ever seen in my whole life. As i continued on taking pictures and video taping there are quotes from the commanding generals at that time such as, General Doughlas MacArthur, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, General George C. Marshall, and Admiral Nimitz. The most touching thing to me was the wall of stars. The wall of stars stands for every 10-100 dead American Soldier during WWII. As I continued looking on, I noticed the clam water reflecting the image of the stars. To me that was symbolism to our generation to look into our own reflection and make a difference like they did, not by becoming a soldier, but by helping society. I would love to visit this memorial at night some day.

Visit the website here.

the Southern Miss Chapel

As I began to look back at my years here at Southern Miss, I began to think of the hang out spots around campus my friends and I would go to my Sophomore year, Fall 2007-Spring 2008. We hung around places around the Southern Miss campus such as the Power House Court yard/Sun square, Cook and McCain Library, the Hub, Freshman Quad benches, and Freshman Quad cubby hole (opening in Bolton Hall near Jones Hall). But the one that I enjoyed the most was the Danforth Chapel. I remember seeing the stain glass windows inside and the engraving of alumni. Another thing I remember was the pamphlet mentioning the history. Some people even got married in that little chapel. But like most things, this place got old and I no longer visit that chapel, yet the memories I hold in me remind me of the friends I made and still have to this day thanks to those places especially the Danforth Chapel.

http://www.usm.edu/union/chapel.php

Fort Benning Day 0

Today I drove with my family to Fort Benning, Georgia for my brother's Commissioning Ceremony. He will be the first officer in our family since World War II and also the first of the Third Generation Resurreccion to be a Soldier. This got me thinking about my future because like my brother, I too was born an Army Brat. I was originally in the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (Army ROTC) here at the University of Southern Mississippi. I had potential to go through with it but decided it was not the college life for me and withdrew. I still would like to join the Army after I achieve my college degree like my brother did. If I did not withdraw from Army ROTC I would be a commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (Gold Bar Insignia). So far I have 2 more semester left here at USM and at the same time I am ready to hurry up and get out and I don't want to leave Hattiesburg, or atleast the people here. I love my friends here and would not trade them for anyone else. But in reality, it is inevitable that I will leave them behind and pursue my dream of being a Soldier. It will be an honor to defend my family and friends.

http://www.columbusgachamber.com/ftbenning/history.cfm

Cultural Exhibit at McCain Library

My first visit to the McCain Library was quite interesting. There were so many collections that were on display for my history class. There were many displays such as civil rights movement era that includes Freedom Summer that was here in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, another was about the Ku Klaus Klan members, Camp Shelby during World War II and many others. There was this one display that caught my attention was the Sullivan versus Kilrain fight. It was the last bare knuckle fight because it was outlawed in the United States. This fight was suppose to be fought in New Orleans, Louisiana but was then moved north to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. After seeing the files on the Sullivan-Kilrain fight, I became very intrigued to see what else I could find interesting in the McCain Library.
When I returned to the McCain Library recently I decided to find information on World War II in the Pacific Theater in the Philippines. My grandfather on my father’s side was a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of guerilla forces in Northern Luzon, Philippines and my grandfather on my mother’s side survived and escaped the Bataan Death March, this subject automatically interested me to see if the McCain Library had any archive information that went back to those days.

http://www.lib.usm.edu/spcol