Work is progressing steadily and on schedule for a Feb. 20 grand opening of the new diversity center, currently in construction on the third floor of Newcomb Hall, officials associated with the project said yesterday.
"We hope that, assuming no last minute glitches, construction will be completed on Feb. 15," said Bill Ashby, associate dean of students and director of Newcomb Hall. "They started installing the flooring today, all the painting is done, the electrical work is all done."
He added that furniture and audiovisual equipment for the space, including a 61-inch plasma television, should be installed by early February.
Ashby made clear that the space would not serve as office space in any way, shape or form, but rather serve as a welcoming and inviting space designed to bring people together.
"It'll be a programming venue," he said. "The seating capacity will be probably between 65 and 75 if you get rows of chairs in there."
According to Shamim Sisson, a dean in the office of student life and chair of the diversity center's advisory committee, events already being planned for the new space include weekly lounge nights and a variety of unique speakers intended to provoke discussion among people who might not normally interact with each other.
Minority Coalition Chair M. Bruce agreed with Sisson's hopes for the center.
"I think that the center has a lot of potential to serve as a place for a lot of provocative thought," Bruce said. "Hopefully, it will be strong resource for the community."
When the room is not being reserved for specific programming or used for group meetings it will be available to serve as an "urban chic" lounge and a resource center where a number of periodicals, videos and DVDs will be available for student perusal, Ashby said.
Sisson advised that groups interested in utilizing the new space after it opens are able to reserve it for meetings and presentations by contacting the Newcomb Hall reservations desk. There is one condition, though, she said for groups who desire to use the space when they make a reservation.
"People who reserve space for the center will be asked to talk about how their event is related to the mission of the center," Sisson said. "Students in any group who want to reserve space can find that mission statement about the center on the [Newcomb Hall] Web site."
While much work has been completed on the center, one component -- its naming -- remains to be decided upon.
"We're still actively seeking some sort of name for the center itself," Student Council President Daisy Lundy said.
Students who would like to submit a possible name for the center or artwork to decorate its walls must do so by Friday, Sisson said. The center's name will be revealed at its grand opening celebration Feb. 20.
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