There is a dream on Jordan Avenue. \nIt's made of limestone and glass, excitement and anticipation.\nFor about 20 years, the Theatre and Drama Department and the African American Cultural Center have desperately needed new facilities. And after decades of waiting, the Theatre/Neal-Marshall Education Center finally fulfills the dream.\nThe building includes both the Theatre and Drama Center, with two theaters and studios for the practice of skills such as acting and lighting design, and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, housing the Black Culture Center and the African American Arts Institute, which includes the IU Soul Revue, the African American Choral Ensemble and the African American Dance Company. The Office of Diversity Education and Community and School Partnerships will also move into the facility.\nWith both groups in need of new facilities since at least the early 1980s, then-IU President Tom Ehrlich suggested in the early 1990s combining the two projects to save time and money, said Clarence Boone, assistant alumni director of the IU Alumni Association.\nNow, nearly 20 years after the idea for each expansion was conceived and more than two years after construction began, the 117,000-square foot building formally opens Friday.
African-American culture\nThe African American Culture Center, then also known as Black House, was created in 1968. Within a few years, it became apparent a new building would be necessary. A dwindling infrastructure, a desire to expand programming and a need to introduce better technology were main reasons for rebuilding, said Joe Russell, former dean of African-American affairs.\n"The idea came about once we were in the Black Culture Center on Jordan Avenue that the facility could not accommodate all the emerging activities that were being developed as well as the mentoring and tutorial program, and we began to look around and think about what would be the next step," Russell said. "The initial thought is to think globally and to think and dream as wide as one can, and that's what we did."\nIn 1979, a letter was circulated requesting ideas for capital projects. Herman Hudson, who founded the African American Arts Institute and retired as professor emeritus of Afro-American Studies, responded, suggesting a new black cultural center, said Vicki Roberts, assistant vice chancellor for academic support and diversity.\n"At that point it was clear the house was quickly deteriorating, and was not big enough to handle the growing needs of the center," Roberts said.\nAfter a proposal for a new building was submitted, the Indiana state legislature began contemplating the necessary $21 million in government funding in the late 1980s. Once approved, another $5 million would be needed in private donations to make the construction concept a reality, Boone said.\n"It was a tough sell," said Charlie Nelms, vice chancellor for academic support and diversity. He said some legislators feared an African-American culture center would represent separatism on campus. Also, it was a challenge to boost the project to high-priority status among other University projects, he said.\nRaising $5 million from alumni was a task that sometimes sparked African-American alumni to recall memories of alienation when they were students, Boone said. But after seeing the big picture and anticipating a bright future for the University, Boone said they gave generously to the project.\n"It represents one of the first times in this University's history people of color came together and gave their heart and gave their resources," said Boone, who also serves as president of the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club, which serves approximately 2,000 African-American alumni. \nThis endeavor shows diversity has become a priority at IU, said Gloria Gibson, associate vice chancellor for multicultural affairs.\n"I think that it is a symbol that IU is committed to diversity, that it is committed to providing services and programming for African-American students and that it is committed to a philosophy whereby all students should be aware of the diverse world views of other students and to begin to understand and appreciate those world views," Gibson said.\nNelms said the structure highlights the importance of multiculturalism at IU.\n"I think that it makes a statement about the value IU attaches to the notion of diversity," Nelms said. "I think it sends a very symbolic and substantial message. IU has long been a leader among major universities in reaching out to students."\nThe Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, which is named after Marcellus Neal and Frances Marshall, the first male and female African American graduates of IU, is now a tool for recruiting minority students, Russell said.\n"(It is) a place where (students) can find administrators who look like them and are willing to help them," Russell said. "As they travel through the building, pictures will be a drawing card for them."\nFor performers within the African American Arts Institute's groups, it means having a centralized location for the performing arts. The African American Dance Company, for example, will no longer be forced to practice in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; the new space offers adequate rehearsal space, said Charles E. Sykes, administrative director of the African American Arts Institute.\nOn an academic level, the building will house the Black Culture Center library, Gibson said. About 30 to 40 new computers will also be available to all students, Nelms said.\nGibson said the opportunities for new programming and creativity with the multimedia options will make education even more attainable.
Theatre and Drama Center\nLeon I. Brauner's old office has paint peeling from the ceiling and drywall sticking out of the walls. The theatre department chairman uses it as an example of the state of the current theatre and drama building.\n"This is the chairman's office, it gives you an idea of what some of the other spaces look like," he said with a laugh.\nBut the building, built in the 1930s for a theater department of only about 50 students, has for at least 20 years been an obstacle, Brauner said. The old building could not accommodate the roughly 320 students now studying theatre and drama.\n"This had become a real problem and a real issue," he said, "This is a nationally certified and nationally ranked program. We're ranked very high, and had been for many years. The last time we were recertified, the certification team from Washington said, 'You've got to have the facilities to support your program or you are not going to be recertified.' It was that much of an issue."\nNow, the department has two new theaters, one of which is the Ruth N. Halls Theatre, a 443-seat theater with high-end technical equipment. The Wells-Metz Theatre seats 246 and includes movable seating and two balconies. Studios for acting, design and lighting also are ready for student use. It is one of the most advanced theater facilities in the country, Brauner said.\nThe new building will also help theater studies to recruit. It has already begun advertising the facility in national theater trade magazines and journals, he said.\nThe old building, which includes the University Theatre, will be renovated this summer into more classrooms and administrative offices.\nSpending about 30 hours per week talking with architects about the needs of the department, Brauner said the functionality of the space lets faculty get back to its main goal: education.\n"So much of our energy, including the energy of the students in our program, was spent overcoming the obstacles of this building rather than put to creative purpose that were shortchanging everybody," Brauner said.\nThe building, nestled between the Musical Arts Center, the Lilly Library and the Main Library, will be noticed by many students who pass by every day.\n"I think that here we have a wonderful facility in the heart of campus," Nelms said. "It's a gem in the crown of the arts plaza"
