A ribbon cutting ceremony, reception, building tours and a basketballgame between the Indiana University NorthwestRedhawks and the Purdue North Central Centaurs will be partof the Grand Opening Celebration of the IU Northwest’s new AcademicActivities Building on Feb. 8.

Built for the student population at the university, the Academic ActivitiesBuilding will include a new gymnasium, suspended walking-track, fitnesscenter, computer lab, art gallery, 321-seat auditorium, bookstore, seminarrooms and the Women’sStudy Center.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin the celebration at 4:30 p.m.on the main floor of the new building and will include remarks from ChancellorBruce Bergland, Indiana State Representative Vernon Smith, and GaryMayor Scott King. Scheduled until 5 p.m., the ceremony will also includeremarks from Marilyn Vasquez, executive vice-chancellor of academicaffairs; Linda Anderson, studentactivities director; and student representatives, Sam Hamod, ThomasSpudic, Hillary Thieling and Preston Thomas.

Following the ceremony, commemorative tickets for the game will be distributed,and hot dogs, chips and other refreshments will be available to communitymembers at no charge.  Tours of the new two-story building will begiven until 6:15 p.m. 

As IU Northwest’s last basketball game of the season, the “christening”of the new gymnasium will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a ceremonial tip-offby Chancellor Bergland, followed by the official tip-off between the Redhawksand the Centaurs. During halftime, the Merrillville High School Pep Bandwill perform.

“I want to personally invite community members to join us at this grandopening event,” says Chancellor Bergland. “The evening promises to be agood time for all.”

The new Academic Activities Building is located on the corner of 33rdAve. and Broadway on the IU Northwest campus. Basketball game tickets arelimited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at thedoor only. Campus parking will be open free of charge to visitors. Formore information on the Academic Activities Building Grand Opening, telephone219-980-6792..