ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL EVENTS TO MARK UNIVERSITY'S 125 YEARS

Southeast Missouri State University will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a variety of activities next month.

The university is calling it "April Showcase Month."

It features everything from a quilt honoring the university's history to a performance by master illusionist David Copperfield.

Southeast has celebrated its heritage this academic year with the theme, "Honoring Yesterday, Creating Tomorrow."

Jim Biundo, assistant to the president for university relations, heads up the 125th anniversary committee.

"Our goal initially for the 125th anniversary celebration was to recognize and honor the people who have gone before to help create this university," said Biundo.

"At the same time, we wanted to showcase the many fine things which are happening now and which are leading the institution into the future," he said.

Biundo said April will be the high point of the school's anniversary activities.

An exhibition honoring the role of women in Southeast's history will be on display in the University Center throughout April.

Southeast will mark a stitch in time when the River Heritage Quilters Guild presents a special handmade quilt to the university Monday.

The 95-by-125-inch quilt will be presented at 7 p.m. in the University Center Program Lounge. The quilt will be unveiled at 7:30 p.m.

The Quilters Guild has nearly 100 members from Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri.

The quilt, which has taken about a year to complete, is a dedication to past and present buildings on the campus.

The centerpiece of the quilt depicts Academic Hall and each of the perimeter blocks represent other buildings on campus, including the original Normal School.

Copperfield will perform shows at 6 and 9 next Wednesday night at the Show Me Center.

Winners of Southeast's 125th anniversary essay contest will read from their works at a public celebration at 3 p.m. on April 8 in Kent Library's Little Theatre.

Those who entered the contest were asked to write on topics used for essays read at the university's "closing ceremonies" at the end of the first school year on June 25, 1874.

The ceremony was held at Turner's Hall, now the Royal N'Orleans Restaurant.

Those entering this year's contest were asked to submit revisions on the original topics, "The Power of Trifles," "School Days," "Celebrated Rivers," "Paddle Your Own Canoe" and "Cape Girardeau in 2025."

On April 10, Southeast will hold a Lyceum at 8 p.m. at Academic Hall.

Lyceums consist of lectures, dramatic interpretations, singing, dancing and instrumental music. Southeast's first Lyceum was in 1906.

"What better way to honor Southeast's history than to compile a Lyceum of collected stories, essays, poetry, song and dance from throughout Southeast's past and to present it in the great hallway of Academic Hall, where so much of our history was born and where Southeast's tomorrow will be created," said Dr. Roseanna Whitlow.

Whitlow, an instructor in the speech communication and theatre department, compiled, directed and appears in the Lyceum.

Doors open at 7 p.m. The Lyceum is free to the public.

Officials from colleges and universities abroad will visit Southeast as part of the school's "Celebrating Our Diversity Week," April 11 through April 17.

Highlighting the week, which coincides with International Week, will be a visit by 16 dignitaries representing 12 institutions and organizations with whom Southeast has exchange programs.

They include dignitaries from Japan, Nigeria, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, United Kingdom, Wales and France.

The international guests will share their perspectives on the role of international exchange from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on April 13 in the University Center Party Room.

The delegation will dine that evening at Wildwood, the home of Southeast President Dr. Dale Nitzschke.

Southeast's annual International Festival-International Carnival will get under way at 4 p.m. on April 11 in the University Center.

The festival showcases international activities on campus. International student organizations present displays and ethnic food.

Each day of the week will be designated as a "regional day," with a different region of the world featured in food, photos and artifacts.

A rededication of the university's World Trade Center Satellite Office will be held at 5 p.m. on April 12 in Robert A. Dempster Hall's Glenn Auditorium.

A four-day residency by the Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels will be featured April 21 to April 24.

Two presentations on the Holocaust will be featured April 21.

April Showcase Month extends into May.

All of the living former presidents of Southeast have been invited to attend the annual Copper Dome dinner on May 7 at the Show Me Center.

Southeast's 125th anniversary will wrap up with spring commencement on May 15.