ILR building dedication ceremony brings labor, management together

ILR Dean Edward J. Lawler cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the school's new building April 17, accompanied by, from left, Cornell President Hunter Rawlings; Deborah K. Smith, Merck & Co.; Edward J. Cleary, AFL-CIO; Rhonda Weingarten '80, United Federation of Teachers; and John Bronson '75, PepsiCo. Robert Barker/University Photography

By Darryl Geddes

As representatives of labor and management looked on, Dean Edward J. Lawler used a giant pair of scissors to cut the red ribbon officially dedicating the School of Industrial and Labor Relations' new $23 million teaching facility.

More than 500 guests, alumni and others attended last Friday's dedication ceremony, held under a giant tent on Tower Road.

"This is an absolutely state-of-the-art facility," said President Hunter Rawlings, who stood, beaming, before the 116,000 square-foot building. Rawlings and others used the dedication ceremonies to extol the virtues of the ILR School.

"This is one of Cornell University's young schools, but it has united theory and practice, which is the hallmark of a great university," Rawlings said.

ILR School Dean Edward J. Lawler acknowledged various state lawmakers, including state Sens. James J. Lack, James L. Seward and Ronald B. Stafford, who supported funding for the school's new facility.

Deborah K. Smith, senior vice president for human resources for Merck & Co., representing business at the April 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony, commended the ILR School for producing exceptional students. "People who are bright and prepared for the challenge of the business world are the kind of students we find in the ILR School," she said.

Edward J. Cleary, president of the 2.3 million-member New York State AFL-CIO, representing labor, showed his agreement with the school's mission by noting that education is one of the most important tools by which to enhance the quality of life for workers.

Also participating at the ribbon-cutting were Rhonda Weingarten '80, president of the United Federation of Teachers, and John Bronson '75, senior vice president of human resources for PepsiCo, a major contributor to the ILR building campaign.

Seth D. Harris '83, acting assistant secretary of policy for the U.S. Department of Labor, brought congratulations from Labor Secretary Alexis Herman and offered a testimonial to the school's worth. "Everyday, I draw on the knowledge I was given in Ives Hall," he said, referring to what used to be the ILR School's main facility.

Edward S. Nelson, chairman of the board of trustees of the State University Construction Fund, which provided most of the funding for the new building, said the great partnership between Cornell and New York state would continue.

But it was ILR senior Donna Asaro who spoke about the building's real value to students.

"ILR students finally have a place to call home," she said, noting that her four years as an ILR student required her to take courses at various sites around campus.

After the dedication, guests were invited to participate in a cake-cutting ceremony under a tent in the ILR parking lot. The cake won raves, not only for its taste but its design -- it was a 150-pound chocolate hazelnut replica of the new building, created by Famous Cakes of Seattle.

The Friday dedication ceremony was the highlight of the ILR dedication weekend that attracted more than 1,000 alumni and friends to campus. The celebration began Thursday evening with building tours and other activities. Friday's events featured several labor-related panel discussions and even a folksong tribute to the world of work. (See story on the panel discussion by professional sports representatives.)

Former ILR Dean David Lipsky '61 was honored Saturday night as the recipient of the Groat Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding ILR alumnus. (See story.) Also honored was Cornell alumna Anne Evans Estabrook '65, MBA '66, who was presented with the Jerome Alpern Distinguished Alumni Award for her support of the school's activities.

Despite being officially dedicated this past weekend, the new ILR building has been open to students since January. The new building is expected to become the center of Cornell's distance learning initiatives, since it contains the most-advanced distance learning technology on campus.

In the name of high tech, the ILR School produced a live transmission of the building dedication ceremony to web surfers, through video streaming.