CON V ERGING CA MPUS & COMMU NIT Y
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2025
MARYVILLE, MISSOURI
NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
VOL. 114, NO. 8
@THEMISSOURIAN
Northwest’s financial aid fund given proceeds of lecture sales RAIEA SALERNO News Reporter | @Raiea_Salerno
Northwest’s Pay It Forward Fund, an emergency assistance program for students, recently received $3,000 from a recent lecture. The Pay It Forward Fund assists students who struggle financially, including with medical costs and emergency transportation, according to Northwest’s Student Affairs. Gerry Brooks, an educator of 27 years, gave a lecture Sept. 21 in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. Through ticket prices, he raised $3,000 to help Northwest’s Pay It Forward Fund. Brooks was University President Lance Tatum’s roommate when they attended Troy University in the 1980s. He said this is why he hosts fundraisers for Northwest. Brooks raised more than $8,500 at his Sept. 22, 2024, lecture for the Pay It Forward Fund. “I did this out of a relationship with Dr. (Lance) Tatum and Jill (Tatum),” Brooks said. “I do workshops and conferences for school districts and educational conferences, but have not done any other fundraisers, other than this one, just because of the relationship that I have with them and the college.” His lectures are often about creating more positive school climates and helping administrators to lead in more constructive ways. He said he would do similar fundraisers for Northwest in the future due to the positive impact it has on students. Through both fundraising attempts, he has raised $11,565. Selena Foreman, administrative specialist with Northwest Student Affairs, said the Pay It Forward Fund started as an emergency fund loan at Northwest in 2008. She said after students receive funds from the program, they are encouraged to pay it forward by completing community service, but this is not required.
SEE DONATION | A4
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
Construction worker Alan Villa unloads pallets from a forklift to help set up for construction on Northwest’s Administration Building Nov. 21. The Administration Building will be inaccessible for the remainder of this semester and throughout the spring semester.
Offices move during renovation
N
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
orthwest’s Administration Building will be inaccessible for the remainder of this semester and through the spring semester due to construction. The temporary closure has relocated every office in the building, with most moving elsewhere on campus. There are 19 offices that typically occupy space within the Administration Building. These began relocating Dec. 1. The University is using the B.D. Owens Library, the J.W. Jones Student Union, Colden Hall and Wells Hall for these offices. There are also two temporary building units located in Parking Lot 27, behind the Garrett-Strong Science Building, that are housing multiple offices. The only office that has been moved off-campus is the President’s Office, which is now temporarily located at 720 College Ave. on property owned
by the Northwest Foundation. Northwest’s Assistant Vice President of Facility Services Dan Haslag said construction is expected to last until August, with the intent of reopening the Administration Building by the fall 2026 semester. “Compared to some of the infrastructure upgrades in other buildings, this project is probably the more invasive, as we’re going to be really disrupting activities in that building, which (cause) us to temporarily close the building,” Haslag said. Typically, Parking Lot 27 is used by commuting students; because this lot is now closed, there will be multiple other parking lots available. Commuting students can now use lots 26, 28 and 38; resident students may park in lots 26 and 28; lots 25, 26 and 29 are available to employees; and there is now handicapped accessibility available near the Garrett-Strong Science Building in lots 25, 31 and 38. During the construction period, the
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system of the Administration Building will be replaced. Haslag said this process requires the ceilings of the building to be torn out because the air ducts and other equipment are located there. This construction is a part of the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Project. Haslag said this portion is a part of both the second and third phases of the project. “In the year where a lot of Phase II work is occurring, that’s where a lot of the planning, the construction drawings, etcetera, were taking place, but the actual construction is set to start in January,” Haslag said. He said it is necessary to replace the HVAC system in the Administration Building because it is past its life expectancy and is considered a highly prioritized building within the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Project plan.
SEE CONSTRUCTION | A4
Happy Garden to possibly shut down due to undisclosed issues RYAN KING Missourian Reporter | @TheMissourian
EMILIA RAMANAUSKAS PHOTOGRAPHER
Open for over 20 years, Happy Garden is searching for a replacement cook to stay open. The restaurant plans to continue business until a decision is made.
AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1914.
For over two decades now, Maryville has been served authentic Chinese food from the longstanding Happy Garden. However, the future of the Asian cuisine titan has become undetermined. Happy Garden has remained a consistent presence within the Far Eastern eateries in Maryville for a long time. The restaurant has persisted through over 20 years of open doors in the food industry, which is unheard of for a small town restaurant. Approximately 60% fail within the first year, while 80% fail within the first five, according to the National Restaurant Association. With these harrowing numbers on the table, Happy Garden defied the odds for multiple decades. It has stayed firm with its menu and has continued to provide a comforting hospitality experience, according to customer reviews. But Father Time waits for no one, as the restaurant has seemingly found itself in the midst of a cook crisis. With only details coming from an outside family member not affiliated with the restaurant, and the restaurant’s unwillingness to address the situation, Maryville residents have been
left confused and hesitant about what’s to come. Maryville resident Dylan Taylor is just one of those concerned. He said he would be heartbroken by the eatery’s departure. “Happy Garden closing would be a tragedy for the food scene in Maryville,” Taylor said. “They for sure have the highest quality food out of all the Chinese restaurants in town.” The Asian cuisine scene for a long time has been stagnant, with just Happy Garden, Simply Siam, Hy-Chi and Joy Wok being the main choices for residents. Recently, the market has welcomed two new businesses to the area in the past couple years. Raku Hibachi Sushi and Ramen, and Lola’s Lumpias and Filipino food have made some noise in their short tenures in Maryville, but their respective menus are focused on foods from different cultures than those of Happy Garden. With such little information known at this time, only speculations can be made about why one of the longest-standing restaurants in Maryville is unable to find a replacement cook. Taylor said that he believes the small town employment landscape could be the reason as to why.
SEE HAPPY GARDEN | A4
PLEASE
RECYCLE