Lincoln, Neb. - Oct. 3, 2001 - Many of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications' closest friends and supporters will come together Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. to dedicate Harold and Marian Andersen Hall, the college's new home.
The event pays tribute to the more than 40 people and organizations from around the country whose major gifts to the University of Nebraska Foundation made possible the purchase and renovation of the former Security Mutual Life building at 200 Centennial Mall.
It also marks the official naming of the building after longtime university supporters Harold and Marian Andersen of Omaha. The couple served from 1993 to 2000 as co-chairs of Campaign Nebraska, the foundation's comprehensive fund-raising effort that raised more than $727.7 million in private support for the university. Both are past chairs of the foundation's board of directors.
In addition to their own volunteer service and support, the Andersens are responsible for securing more than $2.9 million of the $6 million raised for the purchase and renovation of the building.
Terry Fairfield, NU Foundation president and CEO, said the naming of the building commends the Andersens' long history of leadership and support as well as their achievements as NU alumni. "The years of support and dedication that Harold and Marian have shown the university and the foundation are exemplary," he said. "They are the only husband and wife to have both served as chairman of the NU Foundation. As leaders of Campaign Nebraska they traveled throughout the country to encourage support of the university. Naming this beautiful facility in their honor is an appropriate way to express the university's gratitude."
Dean Will Norton said the college is proud to have dedicated friends like the Andersens. "We are extremely grateful to the Andersens for their support and for their work to bolster the college," he said. "By their tireless work, they have enabled us to enlarge our profile as one of the leading media programs in the nation."
Harold Andersen is the former publisher and chairman of the Omaha-World Herald Co. and was elected a NU Foundation trustee in 1962. Marian Andersen was elected a trustee in 1974 and followed the example of her father, C. Wheaton Battey, who was one of the first NU Foundation trustees. In 1984, she became the first woman elected as chair of the NU Foundation Board of Directors, and Harold Andersen was elected as chair seven years later.
Charles Overby, chairman and CEO of the Freedom Forum in Arlington, Va., will join university representatives as a speaker at the event. The Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan, international foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people, and it focuses on the Newseum, First Amendment issues, newsroom diversity and world press freedom. The organization is a longtime supporter of UNL's journalism college and provided a major gift to help acquire Andersen Hall.
The University of Nebraska Foundation is a nonprofit corporation supplementing support for students, faculty, facilities and programs at the University of Nebraska's four campuses through gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and other foundations.