By JORDAN MARSHALL
Staff Writer
The Ropp Center and Tolliver Hall blend the old with the new. The Ropp Center, first built in 1918 to house Tech's presidents, can now be used as a faculty and staff lounge, as well as a place to house visiting dignitaries. Tolliver Hall, first used in 1940 as a dining hall, is now a cyber cafˇ where students can drink coffee while browsing the Internet until 2 a.m.
Homecoming weekend, Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau dedicated the Ropp Center and Tolliver Hall in two ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
"Homecoming is a wonderful time, a time to remember past, tie it to the present and plan for the future," Reneau said.
"The Ropp Center is the oldest remaining structure in use on Tech's campus, and what a wonderful idea to deed and name it after the 11th president, R.L. Ropp. It gives me a very special feeling to equally dedicate it to the university's faculty and staff," Reneau said.
Reneau said he has for a long time wanted to give something to the the faculty and staff of Tech.
"Seventeen years ago they supported me strongly to be president of Louisiana Tech and they have continued that support," Reneau said.
Reneau said he was able to renovate the Ropp Center, as well as Tolliver Hall, through the money provided by Aramark.
"No public money [is] involved here," Reneau said.
Two of Ropp's children, four grandchildren, and his great-grandson attended the ceremony.
"If my dad could be here I believe he would want to borrow my sport coat and tie because he loved everything about Louisiana Tech including its colors of blue and red," John Ropp, the second child of Dr. R.L. Ropp, said wearing a blue sports coat and a red tie.
Ropp said his father would walk the extra mile for each student and faculty member.
Ropp presented Tech with a creed for excellent teachers written by his father. The son said, Ropp's family had the creed framed and they wanted to give it to Tech to put in he Ropp Center.
Dr. Jim King, vice president for student affairs, said Tolliver Hall mixes the old with the new. The 120-foot mural, named the Spirit of Tech, has pictures taken from old Lagniappes displayed on the wall in Tolliver.
"The idea for creating a dynamic campus center was created 10 years ago through the centennial campaign with the partnership of Aramark," King said.
Jennifer Porter, Student Government Association president and a senior marketing major, also made a speech at the Tolliver ceremony.
"On behalf of the students of our university, I want to thank Dr. Reneau and Dr. King for renovation of Tolliver," Porter said.
Porter said the students' technological needs are met through the cyber cafˇ as well as the students' needs of expanded hours.
Devie Sabalza, a junior interior design major, said she likes the convenience of Tolliver Hall.
"Sometimes when I have class and everything else is closed except the cafeteria, I go to Tolliver because they are opened later than everywhere else. It is just very convenient," Sablaza said.
She said she also liked the atmosphere of Tolliver Hall.
Reneau thanked Billy McConnell, owner of BAS Construction in Rayville and graduate of Tech; Mike Michelle, director of food services; and the two firms of architects -- Ashe, Broussard, Weinzettle Architects of Alexandria and Smith, Tipton, Bailey, Parker Architects of Baton Rouge -- for their participation in The Ropp Center and Tolliver Hall.