New EMU Student Center celebrates grand opening

The opening of the new $40 million Student Center at Eastern Michigan University had all the fanfare expected of a brand, spanking new facility on campus.

There were opening speeches; the placement of a time capsule in the cornerstone for all posterity; and hundreds of students, faculty and staff entered the doors to be greeted by a gauntlet of students in green and white who smacked green balloons together in unison.

GRAND ENTRANCE: Hundreds of Eastern Michigan University students, staff and faculty are greeted by a throng of employees at the new EMU Student Center Nov. 6. The $40 million, 183,000- square-foot facility had its grand opening, which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony; the placement of a time capsule in the building's cornerstone; guided tours, a movie and an operating food court. Photo by Randy Mascharka

Visitors perused the bookstore; sampled the many tasty offerings at the food court; and watched Tom Cruise pull off a third "impossible" mission in the 250-seat auditorium. They ambled on tours that included looks at the large, green-carpeted banquet hall; a spacious art gallery; three cozy fireplaces; a bevy of conference and meeting rooms; a 24-hour computer lab and ample opportunities to catch a close-up glimpse of the panoramic campus view from the mammoth, east wall of glass.

"Welcome to one of the most exciting days we've had on this campus in a long time," said Jim Vick, vice president for student affairs, from the steps of the facility's west entrance.

"Winston Churchill said, 'First, we define our buildings. Then, they define us,'" said EMU President John Fallon. "This building will define us at EMU for some 50 years on into the future."

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