TEMPE, Ariz. — Ground was broken here for a long-awaited and much anticipated new home of the Tempe Institute of Religion and student stake center at Arizona State University.
The former building was razed on Jan. 24 and the groundbreaking ceremony was held on Feb. 11. The building is expected to be completed by summer 2007. In the meantime, students will attend institute classes in rented classrooms on campus.
Prior to the groundbreaking, Elder W. Rolfe Kerr of the Seventy and Church Commissioner of Education spoke to a crowd of nearly 400 university, civic and Church leaders, as well as parents and students. He gave credit to ASU President Michael Crow, who has been at the university's helm since 2002.
"We would not be here if it were not for President Michael Crow," he said. "We are part of a vision that will be mutually beneficial."
Elder Kerr said that expanding this institute fits well with the policy and philosophy of the Church to strengthen local institute programs. "This institute will become a source of strength for students in Arizona," he said.
"If, while you're here, you enroll in at least one class every semester, you will have the spiritual development you need to help bolster you in personal decisions and you will gain a first-rate education," he said.
Church leaders had hoped to expand the institute for many years to meet its growing needs but had not been supported by previous university officials. The institute, which was built in 1964, was located on nearly three acres of Church-owned land, which at that time was on the eastern edge of campus. As the campus grew, the institute became surrounded by university buildings and parking structures. Today, ASU's Tempe campus has the largest single-campus enrollment in the United States with more than 51,000 students.
"When I first came here I was shocked to find that the university wanted to get the Latter-day Saints off campus," said President Crow. " 'Why would we need to do that?' I asked. We need to encourage them to prosper. Students are more successful when they are connected to their family, their religion, and their community; it makes for a more well-rounded student."
Craig Olson, CES area director for Arizona and New Mexico, said that shortly after President Crow came to ASU, President Crow met with CES officials and asked how the university could help the institute remain on campus. "That was a 180-degree change," Brother Olson said. "We are very grateful. We have been waiting for this for a long, long time."
University officials and Church leaders worked out a plan that would allow the institute to expand while remaining at the same location. This agreement included allowing the Church to trade a vacant lot it owned near the school's football stadium for a similar piece of property adjoining the institute to give more area for a parking facility.
The new, two-story institute building will have more than 40,000 square feet for administrative offices, classrooms, a chapel, gym, and several multi-purpose rooms. There will also be outdoor seating around the building and tree-shaded plazas. In addition, a much-needed, nearly 200,000-square-foot four-level parking structure will be built adjacent to the building to accommodate up to 648 vehicles.
City and university officials were pleased with the plans for the new institute, noting in public records that "the proposed architecture relates well to the urban setting of Arizona State University Campus" and that the project will "benefit the ASU campus and community at large."
President Crow spoke prior to the groundbreaking and said he believes the LDS community and university officials can work together to move forward because they both believe in education, have faith in the future, are committed to student success, and agree that an institution of higher learning should give students access to the full spectrum of learning experiences. He said it was important for the university to reach out to all people, including the LDS community, who helped settle the area, establish the school and are committed to the state.
"If we build the right environment, it can be a place where we can come together to work, worship, think and mostly learn," he said. "It is not the government's responsibility to build a university; it is the responsibility of the community. We are building a university that your community can be proud of."
The new institute building isn't the only project benefiting LDS students at ASU.
Last year, under President Crow's direction, a new Healthy Living Community was established in an on-campus dorm facility. ASU students may request housing here if they agree to abide by the stricter standards, which are similar to BYU's. For example, visiting hours for the female-only and male-only residence halls are enforced and alcohol, tobacco and drugs are banned.
President Crow also changed policy by allowing students who are awarded merit-based scholarships to put those scholarships on hold to serve missions. Previously, those scholarships were forfeited if a student interrupted his college enrollment. "Of course, we want them to come back here," said President Crow. "That experience adds to their whole educational experience." He is also pushing for the university to give credit for foreign language skills.
The new institute building will also house the Tempe Arizona University Stake, which was created in January 2001 and now includes eight wards of college students. President David K. Udall said he is pleased that the stake will have a new home. Currently, stake leaders share office space at a nearby stake center and wards are meeting at various locations in Tempe and Mesa.
Hyrum Wright, institute director, said that while the Tempe Institute usually enrolls about 1,400 students, he hopes the new building will dramatically increase enrollment. "This is a building that we can grow into," he said. "It could accommodate nearly 5,000 students."
He hopes students will bring their friends to enjoy what the institute has to offer. "We invite everyone, regardless of their denomination, to come here. It is an open facility for young people."
Adam Carlson, president of the Tempe Institute Student Council, said friends from school are already asking him what's going on with the building. "It creates an excitement about the Church and people ask about it."
He said he appreciates the investment the Church is putting into the new building. "It's going to be wonderful."
