College of Business to host opening celebration for Barsema Hall Sept. 23

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College of Business to host opening celebration for Barsema Hall Sept. 23

by Joe King

The faculty and staff of the College of Business will throw a housewarming party of sorts, Monday, Sept. 23, when they host the official opening celebration for Barsema Hall.

"We hope that the entire campus community will take advantage of this opportunity to meet the Barsemas and to see what they have provided for the college and the university," said Sue Braffet, director of alumni relations for the college.

Dennis and Stacey Barsema are responsible for the construction of the building that bears their name, having donated more than $20 million to the university two years ago for its construction. At that time they set as their goal providing "an absolute world class college of business."

"I think that they have succeeded in helping us to create exactly that," said Dean David Graf. "They have enabled us to put the latest technologies into the hands of our students and professors, and provided us with a building that is comfortable and functional. It has provided us with a unique feeling of community. We hope that everyone — faculty, staff and students — will take time out on Sept. 23 to join us in celebrating what is truly a dream come true for Northern Illinois University."
The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. with a keynote address by Dennis Barsema in the Barsema Auditorium. Drawing upon his personal experience in the telecommunications industry, Barsema will present a lecture titled, "Righting the Ship: How Do We Rebuild After the Telecom Fall?" Barsema, who has experienced all facets of the boom/bust cycle of that industry, is currently chairman, president and CEO of Onetta Inc., and will describe what he believes must be done to restore the technology sector to its previous prominence.

Barsema Hall Opening Celebration

Monday, Sept. 23
Dennis Barsema
11 a.m.
Address by Dennis Barsema — Barsema Hall Auditorium
"Righting the Ship: How Do We Rebuild After the Telecom Fall?"

Noon
Opening Celebration and Program — Barsema Hall Atrium

12:30 to 3 p.m.
Building Tours

Refreshments will be served.

A shuttle bus will run between the entrance of the NIU Visitor Parking Lot and Lots A and A1 behind the Engineering Building on Kishwaukee Drive from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A shuttle bus also runs from the west side of the Holmes Student Center and the west entrance of DuSable Hall to Barsema Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Barsema Auditorium

Barsema Hall will be formally dedicated Sept. 23. Ceremonies
will include a keynote address
in Barsema Auditorium by its
namesake, Dennis Barsema.

Immediately following the address there will be a brief program in the Barsema Hall atrium featuring comments from university dignitaries as well as from the Barsemas.

From 12:30 until 3 p.m., the public is invited to tour the building. Staff and student guides will be located throughout the building, and members of the faculty will demonstrate some of the technological highlights. Refreshments will also be served.

"It's hard to say exactly what we are most excited for people to see," Braffet said. "Between all of the amazing technology, the wonderful atrium and the sense of community it provides, and the overall beauty of the building, we are just delighted to show it off and share our excitement with the university community."