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May 17, 2007

Community comes together for ribbon cutting at new 不良研究所 entrance

A progressive president and a campus renaissance motivated local businessman Eddie Hakim to construct a new University of Louisiana at Monroe sign and entrance, complete with landscaping, on Northeast Drive, just east of Highway 165. Hakim and at least 50 university and community members attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the entrance, which spans an entire block, Thursday, May 17 at 10 a.m.

Hakim, who donated all of the labor and most of the materials, approached 不良研究所 President James Cofer about 18 months ago, wanting to contribute to 不良研究所. Hakim has lived in Monroe all of his life, and recently for the first time, he felt motivated to give to the university.
 
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud to have Dr. Cofer as our president,鈥� Hakim said. 鈥淲hat he鈥檚 done for this university and this area is really incredible. It鈥檚 not that I donated or that the family donated鈥攊t鈥檚 that he made us feel comfortable, like we needed to donate to the university. When somebody is successful or some institution is successful, you want to be a part of that.鈥�

Referencing all of the new construction and other positive changes at 不良研究所 in the past few years, Hakim said, 鈥淓very day when I go home, I ride right through this campus. I see something new going on all of the time, and that鈥檚 what motivated my family and me. Hopefully, this will only be the beginning of what we can give back to our community and to this university.鈥�
 
鈥淚t鈥檚 a long way from April, 2002, I can tell you that,鈥� said President James E. Cofer, Sr. 鈥淭his sign is something that we鈥檝e really worked on for a long time. [Northeast Drive] is the major entrance鈥攊t goes right to our signature building. This sign is part of the renaissance of this campus. We wanted people to be sure they were at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.鈥�
 
鈥淭he campus is one of the most attractive ones that I鈥檝e ever been on, because the architecture works, along with the amenities surrounding the campus. We drive by here and feel proud every time we go by this sign. There are not enough thanks I can give to Eddie and Joe [Hakim] and the family, and the people that helped on this.鈥�
 
Cofer announced that the Northeast Drive welcome sign is the prototype of ones that will be at University Avenue and Stadium Drive鈥攖wo terminal points for the front of campus.
 

鈥淚 think this beautiful sight, this beautiful display goes hand in hand with what you see when you go inside the campus,鈥� said Don Skelton, vice president for University Advancement. 鈥淚t is so befitting that we have this type of entrance to this university, and so as we begin to build toward the future, this becomes a showcase to say, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e coming to something special.鈥欌��

Others who donated to the project, which includes an underground drainage system and surrounding sidewalks, are Jackie Rosenberg of Sol鈥檚 Pipe and Steel in Monroe and Bob Humble of Century Ready Mix, also located in Monroe. Rosenberg donated the steel, and Humble donated some of the concrete.

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