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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1981)
>age 8B THE BATTALION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1981 WO weddings performed each year Chapel open for contemplation or ceremony By JANE G. BRUST Battalion Staff During hard and hectic times, vhen individuals may be looking or a quiet place to be alone, the til Faiths Chapel is open to them. Located on the north side of the Texas A&M campus, on Houston itreet, the chapel features a com- brtable auditorium, reading Oom, meditation room and a andscaped courtyard. It’s avail- ible to all University students, ormer students and employees of Jl denominations and creeds. A chapel regulations brochure ays the purpose of the chapel is to encourage the spiritual ex- iression and development of the 'exas A&M University com- nunity. ” Donald Albrecht, the assistant lirector of student activities who landles the administrative opera- ions of the chapel, said an average if 31 student group activities are icld in the chapel each month, long with a variety of special vents. Jewish bar mitzvahs, Ipanish quince anos celebrations nd weddings are a few examples. “There’s a wedding almost ev- ry weekend,” Albrecht said. There have been as many as 10 in weekend. We allow two hours >r the ceremony, to get ’em in nd get ’em out. “There are a lot of weddings round Valentine’s Day and gra duation.” Albrecht said the chapel olds at least 100 weddings each ear. Those interested in being mar led in the University chapel must eserve the chapel through the tudent Activities Office and pick p an information sheet. For example, the information heet provides a list of up-to-the- iSt-minute wedding details and arking designation for guests, he sanctuary seats 179 guests and ilding chairs may be added to in- rease the seating capacity to over 00. The fee for a chapel wedding ; $35. The sheet also states that the University does not employ any- to perform the wedding so duples must invite their own linister. At one time, however, Texas &M did provide a minister to erform marriage ceremonies. ,ogan Weston, an ordained linister, was coordinator of reli- ious life for the University. Dur- ig his tenure of 10 years, Logan Efered religious counseling in- tuding marriage counseling for lose whom he would marry. He performed more than 2,700 mar riages and had a hand in the plan ning of at least 300 others. He re tired in 1978. Memorial and funeral services are also held in the All Faiths Chapel. A funeral service for Marine Capt. Steve White, Class of ‘76, was held in the chapel in The architectural expla nation written by Vroo- man says the chapel building was designed to be “more like a shelter in a garden than closed building. ’ an en- June. White was killed in the jet crash aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz. “There are no organized church services in the chapel,” Albrecht said, “so the University won’t be competing with local churches — that’s the only restriction. He said, however, that some special student services in the University chapel are given by local ministers, and Student Y, a University organization, periodic ally holds Christian non- denominational services. Muslim students meet in the chapel at least once every week, Albrecht said, and they use their own special mats and rugs to kneel upon. Other groups such as Campus Crusade for Christ hold meetings in the courtyard area, he said. “The student groups aren’t necessarily all recognized Univer sity groups — some groups of resi dents from particular dorms may decide to have a Bible study in the chapel,” Albrecht said. As with wedding ceremonies, all prayer meetings and Bible stu dies must be scheduled through the Student Activities Office. In addition to providing area for group meetings, the All Faiths Chapel provides area for reading and meditation. Albrecht explained that many of the available books and maga zines come from University sub scriptions paid for by the wedding fee funds and donations from indi viduals and Texas A&M mothers’ clubs. Some special student services in the University chapel are given by local ministers. Student Y, a University organization, periodically holds Christ- non-denominational tan services. The chapel is open 24 hours a day, except for periods when the University is closed for holidays; then the chapel is locked. Former students raised the money for the chapel, and they built and furnished it as well. In 1955 the officers of the Asso ciation of Former Students appeared before the Board of Di rectors and presented them with a gift of $200,000 for the chapel con struction. In addition, the Asso ciation agreed to assume all architectural and engineering costs. The building was dedicated in 1958 with the following persons participating in the ceremony; Dr. M.T. Harrington, president of Texas A&M College; J. Earl Rud der, vice president of Texas A&M; Harold Dunn, chairman of the Board of Directors; Richard N. Conolly, president of the Former Students Association. “They (the former students) paid every penny since the state didn’t pay for it,” Albrecht said. An architectural competition, approved by the American Insti tute of Architects, was held to select the architect for the chapel. Participation was limited to for mer students of the Department of Architecture of the college. Ernest Langford, Class of 13, then head of the architecture de partment, voluntarily served as an architectural adviser. Winner of the competition and designer of the chapel was Richard Vrooman, Class of ’52. The architectural explanation written by Vrooman says the chapel building was designed be “more like a shelter in a garden than an enclosed building. It was developed to fit among existing trees and to be visually open to ward the interior court garden.” The explanation also says that because the chapel is designed for people of all faiths, the fixed sym bolism is handled in a subtle fashion. “The colored glass window de sign emanates from an interlock ing Cross and Star of David lines are vertical, horizontal inclined parallel to the roof slope, beginning with the offset Cross and the stylized Star, these lines are developed into an abstract pat tern.” Other books and magazines are brought in by individuals and left for others to read. Chapel rules state that reading materials may not leave the chapel. Professor says , of death helps acceptance ease fears 846-7785 319 Patricia FAST DELIVERY • INGREDIENTS MADE FRESH DAILY! NOTHING FROZEN (EVEN OUR DOUGH). • DELICIOUS THICK CRUST PIZZA, DELIVERED HOT TO YOUR DOOR—AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. WE’RE UP LATE: MON.—THURS. 4P.M. —12:00A.M. FRI. 4:00P.M.—2:00A.M. SAT. 11:00A.M.—2:00A.M. SUN. 11:00A.M.—12:00A.M. Accepting our own mortality is the first step to ward accepting the death of loved ones, says a profes sor of health and physical education at Texas A&M University who teaches a class on death and dying. “The older the person, the more accepting we are of his death as we often say he lived a rich, full life,” said Dr. Gayle Schmidt. “But when parents die at 45, or a brother or sister dies, it somehow hits harder and we begin to realize it could happen to us at any time.’ Schmidt said these deaths bring about a deeper awareness of our own humanness and mortality. “As long as we are in control of things we can deal with them. We feel comfortable with an agenda, with knowing what’s going to happen, ” she said. “Many of us would like to think of death like a meeting’s ad journment, as life’s last piece of business. “But it can slip upon us before we even get to new business, ” she said, “and when it does there’s no way we can call a point of order. ” Schmidt teaches her students — many of whom will become counselors, educators and health profes sionals — how to cope with death, how to see it as a natural process and how to help others who fear dying. She pointed out that older Americans today are changing the image of growing older as fewer of them spend their final years in nursing homes and many remain active throughout their 70s and 80s. “Some older Americans are unsure of their goals and have a hard time finding a purpose for living, Schmidt said. “It is important that counselors are able to reach these people and show them and their relatives how to deal with death on a positive basis. We should learn to live each day, one by one and enjoy each to the fullest, she said. “People who are not afraid of living will not be afraid of dying,” Schmidt said. «****#****#**¥****. ONE COUPON PER PIZZA **************** 4 00 Off ; 16”SUPER EXPRESS PIZZA Name_ Phone $000 Off 16” PIZZA WITH ANY THREE ITEMS Name. Phone ONE COUPON PER PIZZA Expires 10-15-81 ONE COUPON PER PIZZA Expires 10-15-81 ******* $ I 00 Off 12 ” or 14” SUPER EXPRESS PIZZA Name. Phone $ 1 00 Off ANY 16’PIZZA WITH ONE ITEM Name. Phone Expires 10-15-81 ONE COUPON PER PIZZA Expires 10-15-81 $ I 00 Off 12” or 14” PIZZA WITH ANY THREE ITEMS Name. Phone 50COff ANY 12”PIZZA WITH ONE ITEM Name. Phone ONE COUPON PER PIZZA Expires 10-15-81 ONE COUPON PER PIZZA Expires 10-15-81 : l : I : I :i i : l l I l I J Now Better Than Ever. You Will Be Pleased With These Caretuily Prepared and Taste Tempting Foods. Each Daily Special Only $2.13 Plus Tax. “Open Daily” Dining: 11 A.M to 1:30 P.M. — 4:00 P.M. to 7:00P.M. 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