SEMO dedicates new building

A scissors-wielding robot arm cut the ribbon Saturday and sent red, white and blue balloons soaring into the sunny sky at the dedication of the nearly $9 million Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building at Southeast Missouri State University.

The high-tech ribbon-cutting followed a 1 1/2-hour ceremony under a large red and white tent at which dignitaries talked of both patriotism and the polytechnic school. Over 200 people attended the event, many of them standing outside the tent.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast president, said the university considered canceling the dedication because of terrorist attacks on the East Coast earlier in the week but decided it would be best to proceed.

Those gathered at the ceremony prayed in silence for the thousands killed and injured in Tuesday's attacks before singing "God Bless America" to the accompaniment of Southeast's Golden Eagles Marching Band. Many in the audience wore flag lapel pins or red, white and blue ribbons.

"It has been a terrible week," said U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson. Still, she said, the United States won't be defeated by terrorists. "We will never let those cowards bring us to our knees."

The Cape Girardeau Republican said the attacks have united Americans. "You all are an aroused democracy," she said. "With an aroused democracy, victory is close at hand."

U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., said the terrorist attacks may have killed 5,000 or more people on the East Coast, but psychologically the attacks were felt nationwide.

"It didn't just hit the victims. It hit all of us in our hearts," he said.

Bond urged the crowd to recognize the political, economic and military strength of the nation.

The U.S., he said, will strike back at terrorists. Bond said terrorists started the "war" and the U.S. will end it. "We will choose the means, the place and the time to do it."

Before the ceremony, Bond said the war against Osama bin Laden and other terrorists won't be waged just in the skies. "We probably will have to put men and women on the ground," he said.

"This is not going to be one of those video-game wars like Desert Storm," said Bond, referring to the Gulf War. "We are going to lose people. We are going to get body bags at home."

State of the art

Amid the talk of tragedy and war, dedication speakers praised the polytechnic building for its state-of-the-art equipment that will train students for today's high-tech manufacturing jobs.

The building on the north end of campus east of the science complex is named for the Seabaughs, both graduates of Southeast. The elderly Cape Girardeau couple donated more than $1 million to help fund construction of the building.

Otto Seabaugh is a 1936 industrial education graduate. Della Seabaugh graduated from Southeast in 1941 with a teaching degree.

The Seabaughs attended the ceremony, but didn't speak at the dedication, preferring to let others take center stage.

Afterward, Della Seabaugh praised the building's modern architecture. "I think it looks like a polytechnic building should look," she said. "It's clean-cut."

mbliss@semissourian.com

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