Campus
Happenings

Photo by Brian McNea Delia Koo, MSU alumna and longtime supporter of MSU’s international initiatives and of international students, chats with Bernard Gallin, professor emeritus of anthropology, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Delia Koo International Academic Center, housed in MSU’s International Center.

Koo International Academic Center opens doors

MSU's International Center and the Office of International Studies and Programs (ISP) have a higher profile now, thanks to the recent addition of a third story onto the academic wing of the building. The expansion project, which added more than 12,000 square feet of new space to the academic wing of the building, was made possible by a major gift from Delia Koo, MSU alumna and longtime supporter of MSU's international initiatives and of international students.

On the afternoon of May 8, guests from MSU and the surrounding community celebrated the completion of the Delia Koo International Academic Center and honored Koo for her generosity and continued support of MSU's international mission.

The ribbon-cutting was preceded by remarks from Dolores Cook, MSU trustee; Lou Anna K. Simon, MSU interim president; Charles Webb, vice president for University Development; John Hudzik, ISP dean; and MSU students Xiaodong Liu and Zakia Louise Posey. A reception and open house followed the formal dedication ceremony.

In late February, the new space became the home of several ISP units: the Asian Studies Center, Canadian Studies Centre, Center for European and Russian Studies and Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. In addition, it houses the office of the Volunteer English Tutoring Program, established by Koo in 1983. The facility also includes state-of-the-art meeting and conference rooms, a catering kitchen and offices for visiting international scholars.

"For years ISP has felt somewhat hampered by the need for more space," said Dawn Pysarchik, ISP associate dean and coordinator of ISP's participation in the building project. "These expanded physical facilities, made possible by Delia Koo's generosity, will enable ISP to be an even more effective facilitator of MSU's international mission."

DPPS conducts annual spring bike cleanup

The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety is conducting its annual bike cleanup through July 31.

Bikes that are not registered with the department, including those attached to bicycle racks, will be impounded. Bikes that are in disrepair, or attached to meters, signs, railings and other objects will also be impounded.

Any bike in proper repair that is attached to a bicycle rack and is registered with the department will not be impounded.

Students who left campus for the summer were required to remove their bicycles from campus.

Anyone interested in registering their bicycle may do so free of charge at the Department of Police and Public Safety during normal business hours.

Concert marks Children’s Choirs 10th anniversary

A concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of the MSU Children’s Choirs program will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, in the Great Hall of the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts.

General admission tickets are $7 and are available only at the Wharton Center Box Office. All four choirs from the MSU Community Music School Children’s Choirs program will perform separately, with a joint performance to end the concert.

The choirs include the Preparatory Choir, under the direction of Liz Reed, for grades 2-4; the CMS Singers, for grades 4-7; The MSU High School Treble Ensemble, for grades 9-12; and the MSU Children’s Touring Choir, for grades 4-12, all under the direction of Mary Alice Stollak.

In its 10 years, the MSU Children’s Touring Choir has sung with major symphony orchestras, commissioned more than 11 new works, and performed for state and national choral conferences. The choir was the official representative of the United States at the recent World Symposium on Choral Music, where the children sang for 3,000 delegates from 73 countries. The choir’s music was recently featured on National Public Radio highlighting choirs from the symposium.

The choir has produced three CDs and is recording its fourth this year. Stollak is the founding director of the choirs.

Kedzie Reunion to honor Class of 1953

The MSU Alumni Association will host the Kedzie Reunion (formerly the Patriarchs Reunion), honoring those MSU graduates of 50 years, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on June 6 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

The program begins in the auditorium with a student panel discussion, “From MSC to MSU…College Life Today.” An information fair will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Big Ten Room A of the Kellogg Center. The information fair will include displays and information from numerous colleges, campus museums, University Development and more. A traditional luncheon and induction ceremony for the class of 1953 follows at 12:30 p.m. Chris Holman, publisher of The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Interim MSU President and Provost Lou Anna Simon will make a few remarks to the inductees. Following the luncheon, the class of 1953 will meet on the east patio near the Kellogg Center for their class picture.

A bus tour of campus including a stop at the Kresge Art Museum will begin at 3:15 p.m. followed by an ice cream social at 5:30 p.m. at Cowles House.

For the last 75 years, the Kedzie Reunion has been one of MSU’s most significant traditional celebrations. All class members prior to 1953 are also invited to this special spring event.

For more information regarding the Kedzie Reunion, contact Sharon Radtke by calling 432-1690 or Barb Susa Fineis at 432-2211 or visit the MSU Alumni Association Web site at www.msualum.com

Participants can register online.

Copyright 2001 Michigan State University Division of University Relations.