It has been 10 years in the making. A facility created specifically to embody diversity and community and to be a central meeting spot for all University students. Welcome to the new Mills International Center.
More than 300 people from the University community and beyond – many visiting from overseas – came to Friday evening’s grand opening. Some University alumni came all the way from Japan to show their support.
“Oh my goodness, people have been fundraising for this for years,” said Sonja Rasmussen, coordinator of the Mills International Center. Rasmussen and her colleagues worked to raise $1.3 million from 185 donors from all over the world. “None of this is state funds,” she said.
Named for retired Associate Vice President and Director of International Programs Thomas Mills, the center is located above the post office in the EMU. Originally an outpost of the main library, the area was converted to a student lounge. In 2001, it opened as the International Resource Center, with the project to remodel already underway.
“We wanted this to be a welcoming environment for all UO students, a home away from home for international students or any students who are far away from home,” Rasmussen said. “It should not look like a monoculture; it should represent cultures of the world; it should be cozy, welcoming and full of resources to connect people to the world.”
Ultra suede couches in soft, dark colors line the back of the room, which is spiced up with elegant patterned carpets – including a particularly bright one from Azerbaijan. Hardwood shelves display a wealth of resource books.
“The University of Oregon has friends from all over the world,” Rasmussen said.
Indeed, this seemed to be the case in the crowded Mills Center. Guests hugged and mingled in tight circles and enjoyed cheeses, crackers, fruits and vegetables as staff members congratulated each other on a job well done.
“It’s always nice to be back,” said University alumnus John Kageyama. “I’ve made many friends here. I always say, here (pointing to his heart) I’m 50 percent University of Oregon and 50 percent Japanese.”
University student Ayako Naraba, who is an exchange student from Japan, attended the reception to get to know her fellow students.
“I came here today because this is a good way to meet people,” Naraba said. “It’s a good way to make friends. I’ll be back here.”
Vice President of University Advancement Allan Price has high hopes for the Mills Center’s long success.
“I hope that more students really realize that this is a place to gather,” Price said. “You don’t have to be an international student; you can be from South Eugene and come here and have a place.”
Price, who has been involved with this project for about six years, said the most rewarding part was seeing everyone coming together in harmony.
“If you really look around and see the diversity of cultures and races and interests, people from all over the world, all in one place- it’s exactly what (Mills’) vision was. It’s exactly as he described it: a gathering place for people from around the world,” Price said. “People often look at difference as a problem, but I think if you look around here, you’ll see that difference is the solution.”
“I think this is a platform for taking international efforts to an even greater level,” Price said. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to be a portal to the world.”
International programs expert Thomas Mills was thrilled by the reception and with the new center.
“I was pretty overwhelmed and shocked that they would do that,” Mills said when asked of his reaction to the University naming the center for him. “At the same time, it’s a great honor, and when I had a chance to reflect on it, I can’t say how pleased I am that they wanted to do it.”
Mills said the most challenging part of opening the International Center was raising the money needed for such an expansive project. Once an architect was hired, a conceptual plan was put together. With an established budget and a professional plan, organizations started responding more to donation requests. The ASUO also provided 60 percent of the funding needed to carry out the renovations.
With University President Dave Frohnmayer at his side, Mills visited alumni in countries all around the globe, including Japan, Singapore, Germany and France. Evidently, this gesture was successful.
“I hope people will come to the center and take advantage of the 200 or so programs that take place here,” Mills said. “I hope it’ll create an atmosphere where people learn to appreciate other cultures.”
Former IRC Coordinator Anne Williams attended the reception and was all smiles as she made her way across the crowd to congratulate Rasmussen.
In between speakers, students performed cultural dances from around the world, and spoke the Mills International Center motto “Meet the world here,” in several different languages.
“I had no idea how long a process like this takes, but it’s been a wonderful learning experience,” Rasmussen said.