Article originally published in
The Herald-Palladium 06/03/2008, Page B01.
Written by Debra Haight, HP Correspondent
Reprinted with permission. 

Welcome to AU’s new ‘front door’

BERRIEN SPRINGS — Monday was a day for celebration for Andrews University officials, who welcomed the community to AU’s new “front door,” officially known as J.N. Andrews Boulevard.

The $2.5 million tree-lined entrance road off Old 31 features brick arches and a world globe at the university’s new entrance sign. “This is the day we’ve been waiting for for years,” Andrews President Niels-Erik Andreasen told the hundreds gathered for the road’s dedication. “This new entrance represents the fulfillment of a personal dream for me.

“I cringed at the unattractive, unwelcome way we greeted our guests. It was like we asked people to come through a back door or a kitchen door.

“Now we can welcome people in through the front door.”

Work on the new entrance began in September. The project was made possible by gifts from the late William Colson and his wife, Bonnie, as well as John and Dede Howard and Dr. David Cromwell, Andrews Vice President David Faehner said.

“They (the Colsons) came to visit the campus two years ago and heard a concert at the Howard Performing Arts Center,” Faehner said. “He asked who are the Howards and then said how can I give anything less ... ?

“He (Mr. Colson) heard about our vision for the road and said how can you have a quality school without a quality entrance. He said ‘God has given me so much, how can I refuse any worthy project?’” Local government officials also took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Berrien Springs Village President Bill Dustin said that the university can be proud of the new entrance, which has been “a long time coming.”

Oronoko Township Supervisor Ernest Hildebrand said he was glad to see the new entrance.
“I can remember Ed Wines giving me updates, and I kept hoping to see it in my lifetime and now we’re here. Praise the Lord,” he said.

Wines is a former Andrews vice president.

“The people who come here from other places to buy fruit ask me what’s here, and I say Andrews University and they ask, ‘Where is it?’” he said.

“This will make the university more visible to those in the community and to visitors. Congratulations for a project well done.”

Andrews Provost Heather Knight said the globe acknowledges that Andrews is a global institution with a global vision.

Andrews is the flagship educational institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with more than 3,000 students from scores of countries around the world.