Administrators, staff and students gathered on the ground floor of the Norris University Center Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the building’s official opening in 1972 with speeches, an acapella concert and a Norris-shaped cake.
The “Official Big 40th Happy Birthday Celebration” (so named by Northwestern News) was the latest event in the yearlong celebration of Norris’ grand opening in 1973, when it replaced Scott Hall as the Northwestern student center.
The birthday celebration featured brief remarks by University President Morty Schapiro and Patricia Telles-Irvin, Vice President for Student Affairs, who commented on the need to continue to improve the Center’s offerings and increase space for student groups.
After performances by a capella group Freshman 15, including arrangements of “Happy Birthday” and the Northwestern Alma Mater, the event concluded with the unveiling and cutting of a Norris-shaped cake, complete with fondant landscaping.
Debra Blade, Assistant Director for Building Services and co-chair of the Norris 40th Anniversary Committee, considered the event a success. Blade (Speech '79) first came to work at Norris as an undergrad and previously helped organize the 10th and 25th anniversary celebrations.
Planning for the 2012-2013 year of events began last spring. The events have become progressively larger during her tenure, said Blade.
“We didn’t have direct participation from the president or vice president for the 25th anniversary,” said Blade. “I think they’ve been very supportive.”
When asked what should be done to Norris before the next major anniversary, Blade echoed Telles-Irvin’s remarks about a lack of space.
“We need larger meeting room spaces,” said Blade, “we need a space where a third of our campus population can come and gather.”
Although Blade would rather not see Norris changed into a completely new, “sterile” building in order to make such an expansion possible, she was quick to add that it “was not the brick and mortar” that gave Norris its 40-year-old charm.
“It’s the people,” said Blade. “The people make it exciting.”