President Arthur May, who previously launched the five-year campaign at a March 25 event in St. John's, said he is more than pleased to see the completion of this much-needed facility. "Since it opened its doors in 1975, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College has experienced a severe shortage of non- academic space as a result of a growing student population," he said. "It didn't take long to identify this lack of space as a need The Opportunity Fund should address."
The Student Centre Annex was built as an addition to the existing Arts and Science Building at a cost of $1 million. A facility management board, consisting of Sir Wilfred Grenfell administrative officials, the CSU, and a business adviser (whom the students will hire), will oversee development of the facility. The new Student Centre Annex will provide space for students' union offices, reading rooms, dining space with retail outlets, a conference room, clubs and societies, and a student/faculty/staff pub and lounge, and will be in full operation when the students return in September.
"Grenfell College is developing and maturing in all sorts of ways, including the roles, responsibilities and expectations of our students," said Katy Bindon, principal, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. "The Student Centre Annex will provide space that will enrich and enhance the quality of student life on campus, and give an opportunity for the students' union to provide more effective and dynamic leadership across the broad spectrum of academic and extracurricular events that will help to prepare our graduates for the challenges of the future."
The Opportunity Fund is the largest fund-raising campaign in Memorial's history. It will raise funds to increase scholarship and fellowship endowments, support new teaching and research initiatives, and improve student services programs and facilities. To date, the campaign has raised $15 million in private sector pledges. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has agreed to match donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis.