Converse Breaks Ground for Phifer Science and Technology Hall

Converse College formally opened the 2002-03 academic year on Tuesday (Sept. 17) with an Opening Convocation service in Twichell Auditorium. Later that afternoon, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Phifer Science and Technology Building.

OPENING CONVOCATION
During the Opening Convocation service, members of the freshman class stood on the Twichell stage and signed the Converse Honor Code, a tradition that dates to 1928 but took place during the Opening Convocation service for the first time this year.

“In the past, we have held a separate ceremony for freshmen to sign the Honor Code, ” said Haven Hart, Dean of Students. “Holding the ceremony during Convocation – with faculty, staff, and fellow students as witnesses to support the pledge of the freshman class – is a way to demonstrate the importance of the honor tradition to the freshmen and to reinforce it to the rest of the college community.”

Serving as the keynote speaker, Ann Pletcher, Associate Professor of Accounting and recipient of the 2002 Kathryne A. Brown Teaching Award, likened the college experience to the construction of an Internet home page.

GROUNDBREAKING FOR PHIFER HALL
The 36,000-square-foot three-story Phifer Science and Technology Hall reflects the school’s commitment to preparing women for the ever-changing world of technology and scientific innovation. Housing the natural sciences-biology, chemistry, and biochemistry-the building will be designed for 21st century flexibility, student/faculty research, interdisciplinary teaching, and in-lab lectures. Construction will take approximately 16 months.

The hall is the direct result of lead gifts made by George Dean and Susu Phifer Johnson in 1998. These gifts were the impetus for The Johnson Challenge, which eventually netted more than $45 million, and was the first leg of the school’s $75 million capital campaign.

“George and I believe that the sciences and technology are central to the future of Converse College and want her students to have a contemporary building in which to learn and prepare for careers in these fields,” said Susu Johnson, an alumna from Converse’s class of 1965 and current member of the school’s Board of Trustees. George Dean Johnson is CEO of Extended Stay America and former chairman of the Converse Board of Trustees.

In Dec. 2001, The Kresge Foundation in Troy, Michigan, approved a $750,000 challenge grant for construction of Phifer Hall. Under the terms challenge, Converse must raise $2.3 million towards the project by July 1, 2003. “Kresge Foundation grants signify a prestigious stamp of endorsement in an institution,” said Scott Rawles, vice president for institutional advancement at Converse. “To earn this grant, we demonstrated to the Foundation the exceptional quality of our teaching, scholarly activity, and community outreach. That Converse was able to compete successfully against many other national applicants shows that the mission and vision of the college continues to impress donors at the local and national levels.”