KINGSTON, R.I. — May 27, 1999 — Alumni and friends attending the University of Rhode Island’s Alumni Weekend will get a glimpse of what the new Convocation Center will look like as URI officially unveils the floor plans and architectural renderings of the new facility. The plans will be presented following the Alumni Breakfast and Annual Meeting, which takes place Saturday, June 5 from 8:30 – 11 a.m. in the Ram’s Den at the Memorial Union on URI’s Kingston Campus. Led by Robert M. Beagle, vice president for University Advancement, as master of ceremonies and Alan Wasserman ’75, URI Alumni Association President, the event includes a talk by keynote speaker John Geddes ’74, deputy managing editor at The New York Times, remarks from President Robert L. Carothers, and the presentation of Distinguished Alumni Awards. At 11 a.m. Larry Bacher, program manager from Gilbane Building Co., and Kathy Mallon, URI director of strategic planning and executive assistant to the president, will present the renderings and provide an update on the Convocation Center project. The largest building project ever at URI, the Convocation Center will host basketball games and other athletic contests, in addition to major University celebrations, such as commencement and convocation ceremonies, alumni programs, concerts, and major cultural events. The Center will seat about 8,000, and in a given year, is expected to host 30 men’s and women’s basketball games and about 50 other events. Financing for the $43.6 million Convocation Center project will include $15 million in private gifts, $18 million in state appropriations, and $10.6 million in revenue bonds. There will also be a separate ice skating facility that will house two ice rinks. URI long ago outgrew its largest venue, Keaney Gymnasium, which was completed in 1953 for a student body of 2,183. The University now enrolls about 10,700 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate students, and has about 2,500 employees. For more information, contact the URI News Bureau at 401-874-2116. -xxx- For More Information: Linda Acciardo, 401-874-2116