University of Oregon unveils $1.3 million renovation to international center

EUGENE, Ore. --(Oct. 11, 2007)--The University of Oregon will unveil a $1.3 million-renovation to its international resource center, now named the Mills International Center on Friday, Oct. 12, at the Erb Memorial Union (EMU).

International performances in the EMU amphitheater will kickoff the grand opening at 2 p.m., followed by a dedication ceremony at 4 p.m. in the center, in the EMU above the post office. In addition to its up-to-date and extensive collection of international newspapers, the Mills International Center also offers travel and guide books. The renovation includes a state-of-the-art sound system and a large flat screen television for visitors to watch films and international news. The center is named in honor of Tom Mills, who retired in 2005 as associate vice president for international affairs.

"Tom's career-long efforts helped make the University of Oregon a home away from home for thousands of international students. The center he helped create has become a meeting place for the world right here on campus," said Chunsheng Zhang, vice provost for international affairs and outreach. "I can think of no better tribute to Tom's career than the Mills International Center."

In the 35 years Mills worked at the University of Oregon, he greeted countless international students in a station wagon at the airport, the train station or the bus depot. During his time at the university, the large reading room in the EMU evolved into a gathering place for both international students and those from the U.S. curious about traveling, cultural exchange and the world.

The center, which is overseen by coordinator Sonja Rasmussen, hosts more than 200 internationally focused gatherings each year, such as a film series and poetry night, as well as Friday afternoon coffee hours. Since its formal establishment as an international resource center in 2001, it has received about 15,000 visits each year from students, faculty and community members.

"The center really has become a focal point for the international community," Mills said. "The University of Oregon boasts such a strong commitment to international programs, from [UO President] Dave Frohnmayer to many of the students."

Mills spearheaded a campaign to raise more than $800,000 from the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, as well as private gifts and other funding sources, to renovate the center, giving the UO one of the premier international centers in the country. Included in the renovation are offices for international-student groups. The UO hosts more than 1,200 international students from close to 90 countries and offers more than 140 study internship abroad opportunities for students.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon’s flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of 62 of the leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact: Julie Brown, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

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