New dining hall to open at Saint Mary's
By SARAH NESTOR
Senior Staff Writer
Saint Mary's class of 2003 will open the new Noble Family Dining Hall on May 15 at noon during the annual Alumnae-Senior Luncheon. The Alumnae Association Board of Directors luncheon to honor the class of 2003 will kick off Commencement weekend and is free for all graduating seniors, although reservations are required. Seniors can pick up their tickets from May 7 to May 9 in the Alumnae Relations Office and additional tickets for guests are available for $12.
The luncheon is the first of several events over Commencement weekend to take place in the new dining hall on May 16 and 17. The Baccalaureate dinner on May 16 and the graduation brunch on May 17 will also be held in the new dining hall. Seniors will be admitted for free with IDs and tickets for guests can be purchased from the Student Activities Office.
Groundbreaking for the new Noble Family Dining Hall and Student Center began last April, after four years of planning and construction continued over the past year.
The three-level 80,000-sqaure-foot structure is being built in two phases, costing $17 million. Phase I involved the construction of the new Noble Family Dining Hall, originally planned for completion in June 2003.
However, construction went smoothly and this year's seniors will be the first to experience the new facility, although the new dining hall will not be open for general dining during Senior Week, according to College spokeswoman Melanie Engler.
Phase II, which includes demolition of the old dining hall and construction of the student center is expected to finish by December 2004.
The center will include all the current Haggar facilities, student lounges, a small theater, a cyber café, Campus Ministry and a copy shop.
According to College President Marilou Eldred, $16 million of the needed $17 million has been raised as of March and she expects the student center to open in December 2004.
All News Stories for Wednesday, May 7, 2003
