Iowa State University


4-3-97

Contacts:
Rafael Rodriguez, Minority Student Affairs, (515) 294-6338
Alan Nosworthy, Black Cultural Center, (515) 292-1598 or (515) 294-6338
John Anderson, University Relations, (515) 294-6136

RENOVATED BCC FACILITY TO BE REDEDICATED APRIL 10

AMES, Iowa -- The newly renovated Black Cultural Center (BCC) will be formally rededicated at a ceremony Thursday, April 10. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the BCC, 517 Welch Ave. An open house will follow the brief ceremony.

Several people will speak at the ceremony, including ISU President Martin Jischke, Minority Student Affairs Director Rafael Rodriguez and BCC President Allan Nosworthy.

The BCC is a private, non-profit organization created in 1969 to promote cross-cultural understanding and provide programs to benefit ISU students and employees. It provides a place for students and employees to gather and discuss issues of African American life and culture, hold cultural events and programs and find resources of interest to African Americans.

Work on the BCC's facility began last fall after Iowa State formalized its relationship with the BCC and committed at least $40,000 for the renovation project.

Under a new 10-year agreement, the university officially recognized the BCC as an organization affiliated with the university. It also established terms for the university and the center to provide support for each other.

The agreement rose out of an offer made by university officials last year to help renovate the facility. ISU also will cover the costs of utilities, special property assessments and general liability and casualty insurance for the facility. The ISU Foundation is providing assistance in fund-raising endeavors to benefit the center's operations.

Under the new agreement, the BCC will give special attention to programming that supports the success of African American students; maintain communication with the African American Studies Program, the director of Minority Student Affairs (MSA), the ISU Black Faculty and Staff Association and appropriate African American student organizations; and seek the advice and guidance of the director of MSA regarding major changes in the activities of the center. Center officials have agreed that the MSA director will be an ex-officio member of the BCC board.

The BCC and the university each will designate three to four people for a coordinating committee that will meet regularly to discuss programs and operation of the center.

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Diana Pounds, University Relations, dpounds@iastate.edu
Copyright © 1997, Iowa State University, all rights reserved
URL: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/releases/97bcc4.html
Revised 4/3/97