| William Jewell receives major gift for sorority complex
William Jewell College has received a $2 million anonymous gift designated for construction of the college's Sorority Complex and Greek Common.
"Our donor has provided the College with tremendous momentum as we move toward the completion of our fundraising for this important project," says Dr. Chad Jolly, vice president for advancement. "Our alumna benefited from a vibrant living and learning community while at Jewell and has demonstrated a deep commitment toward providing this same experience for future generations of women at the College."
The $12 million, state-of-the-art residential complex will include four sorority houses with suite-style rooms and private bathrooms. The complex will feature a multi-purpose room accommodating up to 250 people, a fitness center, private study rooms, modern laundry facilities and lounges. A Greek Commons building will join the four houses and serve as a focal point for Greek Life on the campus. The college seeks to raise another $3 million to open the facility by fall 2009.
"Jewell continues to attract many top students who rightfully have high expectations for their living and learning community," says Dr. Rick Winslow, vice president for student affairs and dean of the college. "An emerging trend across the country is to rebuild or renovate campus housing to provide amenities and educational resources that today's college students require. The Sorority Complex and Greek Commons will allow Jewell to remain a premier liberal arts college, providing an outstanding living and learning environment that will attract the quality students that the college has always celebrated."
Semple Wing, where the college's four sororities are currently housed, was built in 1957 and has not received any major renovations since its construction. The new Sorority Complex will be built on the site of the former Regent's Quad apartments just north of the Mabee Center for Physical Education. Regent's Quad took the brunt of the tornado that struck the campus in May of 2003. One of the complex's three buildings was completely destroyed, and the other two were too heavily damaged to be repaired and were razed.
"The Sorority Complex project represents a significant investment in the students of William Jewell College," says Molly Laboube, senior mathematics major and president of the Panhellenic Council at William Jewell. "Sorority members are historically among the highest-achieving members of the college community. We appreciate this commitment to providing an enhanced environment that will foster long-term relationships and stimulate thinking on leadership and service to others."
The Sorority Complex represents the last project initiated under the "Jewell Rising" campaign begun following the tornado strike of 2003. Already completed are the rebuilding and renovation of Melrose Hall, renovation of a former fraternity house that now houses the Fred and Shirley Pryor Center for Leadership Development, and the renovation and expansion of the Yates-Gill College Union.
The Sorority Complex project is the first phase of a proposed long-term Campus Housing Master Plan that calls for upgrading of all residence halls on campus.
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