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President announces major gift for Center for the Arts 5 p.m., Oct. 17, 2003--At Mondays semiannual General Faculty meeting, President David P. Roselle called attention to the story in The Chronicle of Higher Education about the University's successful approach to deferred maintenance. He also said UDs trustees had authorized the replacement of the Pencader Residence Halls and architectural drawings were now available. And, he told the faculty about expected academic dividends from the renovated Early Childhood Learning Center, which will open next summer.
A few hours earlier, Roselle said, he had learned that the University would receive one of the largest gifts in its history to build its proposed $42 million Center for the Arts. "We're at the end of our five-year capital campaign, The Campaign for Delaware, which at last count raised $365 million," Roselle said. "I had expected to extend this campaign for one more year to raise money for the arts center. There remains fundraising to be accomplished but what is required is not nearly as daunting." The $42 million Center for the Arts, to be constructed off Orchard Road in what is now the Amy E. du Pont Music Building parking lot, will provide new performance spaces for music and theatre plus a large practice venue for UDs Marching Band and many smaller practice rooms for music students. The architect is Ayers Saint Gross of Baltimore. The new Center for the Arts would open in 2006. A new parking deck, to be accessible off Elkton Road and Amstel Avenue, will be built in the grassy area where the Marching Band currently practices. It will accommodate 715 vehicles and will more than replace the parking removed by the construction. Construction of the parking deck will be started in spring 2004. When the president sat down, his audience applauded his news. At the beginning of the meeting, memorial tributes to Carl B. Klockars and John R. (Russ) Mather were presented by their colleagues. Carl Klockars had flavor. He held himself, his colleagues and his students to high standards, Joel Best, professor of sociology and criminal justice, said. He was willing to take and hold an unpopular position when he thought a principle was at stake. In spite of serious health problems, he continued to teach and to pursue his research. Russ [Mather] contributed significantly to the education of UD students. He was the major adviser for six Ph.D. students and 17 masters students, and he taught thousands of undergraduate students, many of whom took his introductory physical geography course, Cort Willmott, professor of geography, said. In 1999, he established the John R. Mather Fellowship in Climatology to help future graduate students in that field, and his family and colleagues suggest contributions to that fellowship may be made in Mathers memory. Article by Cornelia Weil To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |