UA News

The Pride of Arizona Marching Band led the celebration and official dedication to the first completed phase of the new Student Union.

Dozens of UA administrators, staff and students attended the ceremony for the opening of the new UofA Bookstores and Center for Student Involvement & Leadership, Greek Life and ASUA, on April 16.

UA President Peter Likins, UofA Bookstore Director Frank Farias and Arizona Student Unions Director Dan Adams participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony that was followed by a reception until 2 p.m. Ice cream was served in the new Center for Student Involvement & Leadership, Room 404.

UAB will be holding an open house on Tuesday, April 17, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Visit them for programming information, snacks and prizes. During the week of April 16-20 the UofA Bookstore will celebrate the opening of the new location with tours, contests, live music, author appearances, local chef demonstrations, and a scavenger hunt.

Take a tour of the new store and get reacquainted with all the UofA Bookstore and Student Union have to offer. There will be demonstrations of Gateway and Pentel products, and color paint demonstrations by Pacific.

Take an online survey and enter to win a free Palm Pilot as part of the official launch of UofABookstores.com. Guided tours of the building are scheduled each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

As part of the celebrations, Laura Chester will appear in the store on Tuesday at noon. Chester's newest book, "Holy Personal," features the small private chapels of individuals across the nation, with a particularly stunning focus on the Southwestern region. With photographer Donna DeMari - the first and only woman photographer to shoot for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, in both 1994 and 1995, as well as a featured photographer in a "Fashion Television" segment for VH1 - Chester captured the essence and spirituality of these unique spaces to create an interesting commentary on creating a personal holy place. The book is a beautiful tribute to individuality, creativity, and most of all, spirituality.

Although the new location has the same space as the old Bookstore at 24,000 square feet, it seems more spacious due to the widened aisles and heightened ceilings.

The Center for Student Involvement & Leadership, formerly the Office of Student Programs, is located on the fourth level in room 404. The center covers Greek Life, Student Leadership, Clubs and Organizations, Commuter Student Affairs, University Activities Board, Union Galleries and Sam's Place.

When the next phase of the UofA Bookstore is completed in December 2002, space will just about double allowing for a further expansion of merchandise.