|
Utah Valley University finally has a name to match its University Parkway address, and the street showed it yesterday.
On Monday, intertwined green "U" and "V" symbols were found painted at intersections along University Parkway in Orem to celebrate the transition from Utah Valley State College that is finally official. Today is the first day the school can be officially known as Utah Valley University.
The change to university was accompanied by a party that lasted all day. Monday festivities began in the morning when seven former student body presidents took sledgehammers to the wall between the Liberal Arts Building and the new library, rendering it officially open. Festivities lasted all day and into the night, including a dance that lasted until midnight.
UVU president William Sederburg said he would not be dancing until midnight and he didn't get inside one of the bouncy houses set up for children outside the park.
"I've got to be sharp for tomorrow," Sederburg said.
More than 15,000 people, including Utah Senate President John Valentine and other community and university leaders, celebrated at UVU's Brent Brown Ballpark in the 90-degree heat with an outdoor concert that included a clogging duo of UVU students and country music stars Josh Gracin, Joe Nichols and Collin Raye. There was even a Neil Diamond impersonator. Introduced by Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn, Diamond is rumored to be Sederburg's favorite.
Valentine said the transition to university began for him when he was in the house of representatives and students would ask for an educational opportunity close to home.
"Today is a fulfillment of a dream I had back in 1988 when I first ran," Valentine said while eating a pork sandwich under a tent in ballpark. People kept coming up to him and congratulating him on the success. One woman came and thanked him for her job. Because UVSC needed to hire more tenured professors at the time, it hired more PhDs, including her.
Utah Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said this UVU is exactly what he had in mind.
"Its every bit what I would hope for," Valentine said.
Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, called the occasion "historic."
"This is as important to the community as when Brigham Young Academy became Brigham Young University," Bramble said. Bramble sponsored SB 70 on the floor of the Utah Senate when the name change passed the Legislature last year.
"I'm happy we're finally a university, and that's why I'm here," said UVU sophomore Bryan Sperry as he toured the new library.
The day began with tours of the university's new library -- a ribbon cutting is scheduled for 10 a.m. today. Activities included guest lectures, performances and demonstrations including a belly dancing demonstration in the afternoon.
"I think it's stunning. I think it's beautiful. I think it's taking us to a place where we've needed to be for a really long time," said UVU honors program coordinator Tiffany Nez.
The library has five floors and thousands of square feet of glass with views of Utah Lake and Mount Timpanogos.
"I didn't know Orem was so beautiful," said UVU freshman Rachel Kitto.
Former student body president Kris Coles said the school already felt changed Monday afternoon before the official midnight deadline had even passed.
"Today, walking through the library, it felt different," Coles said. "It felt more, I guess, collegiate, more up to date."
It's more than just the newness of the Library. Coles said the UVU name is getting respect in the community.
"It feels like people notice finally," Coles said.
• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
