Last modified: Monday, June 15, 2009
Celebration of Campus and Community planned for Tuesday at IU East
Chancellor forgoing installation to focus on campus beautification
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2009
RICHMOND, Ind. -- Indiana University East will host a Celebration of Campus and Community on Tuesday, June 16, on the Springwood Hall lawn.
The public event is being held on the IU East campus and is replacing a traditional installation ceremony for Chancellor Nasser Paydar. The reception will begin at 2:30 p.m. with remarks by Indiana University President Michael McRobbie and Paydar beginning at 3:15 p.m. Members of the IU Board of Trustees will also be in attendance. WCTV Channel 20 will broadcast the formal program live.
During a time when the resources of both the state and east central Indiana are constrained, Paydar decided to forgo a traditional chancellor installation ceremony. An installation, with its pomp and circumstance, marks the beginning of a new chapter for a campus and can be a long, lavish affair.
"I would rather use these funds in a way that will have a lasting impact for our campus and community," Paydar said. "We hope that the community and our alumni agree and that they will want to show their support for this initiative."
Instead of holding a chancellor installation ceremony, IU East will designate these funds -- and invite community members to participate with support -- for a campus beautification initiative, which will include a sculpture garden with works from student, faculty and regional artists.
"These enhancements to the campus will signify a new beginning, and at the same time, pay tribute to Richmond's rich tradition in the arts as well as our exceptional educational programs in the arts," Paydar said. "IU East is already a beautiful place; adding public art through sculpture will create an outdoor learning environment for both the campus and the community to enjoy."
Plans for the campus beautification initiative and sculpture garden will be unveiled during the Celebration of Campus and Community.
With contributions from IU East faculty and staff, the project is already under way with the planting of more than 90 new trees throughout the inner campus. Paydar, students, faculty and staff also recently broke ground on the IU East Community Garden to promote environmental sustainability.
Paydar was named interim chancellor in July 2007 and became chancellor in January 2009.
For more information or to make a contribution to the campus beautification initiative, visit www.iue.edu/celebrate.
