Time Capsule Placement Ceremony
June 1, 2012
On Thursday, May 31st, with the help of ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï students, faculty, alumni, board of trustees, sponsors, and U.S. Ambassador Pamela Spratlen, a time capsule was laid in the foundation of the new ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï campus building to signify the beginning of construction. Later next week, concrete will begin pouring, and the 16,000 sq. meter campus will begin to rise from the ground.
The occasion was marked with words from ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï President Andrew Wachtel, Ambassador Spratlen, and Chair of the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees William Newton-Smith. Dr. Newton-Smith said that the 50-year capsule gave much too short a time horizon, and that he would prefer to have it be opened in 3012, or better yet, to merely place an infinity sign on the capstone. The capsule, he said, would then serve as motivation for all future generations of ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï students and faculty.
Ambassador Spratlen thanked the Kyrgyz government for their support of the university through their generosity regarding the current ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï campus, and was equally excited about the US government's support of ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï and its move to a new, modern facility.
President Wachtel shared that in 50 years, he hopes that students will talk about the new campus as the "old campus building," and that by 2062 ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï will have multiple buildings and campuses, and be not only the best university in Central Asia, but one of the best in the world.
The time capsule was laid in cement, and contained issues of the New Star student newspaper, the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Magazine, several business cards from current staff, faculty, sponsors and board members, several library cards from graduating students, and ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï paraphernalia. The capsule also included letters from the alumni, student senate, president, as well as a compact disc of ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï events, which we sincerely hope will be able to be played in 2062.
