Christian Association space changes hands

For more than 70 years, the structure at 3601 Locust Walk has been known as the Christian Association building. But that is about to change. The University bought the building last fall and has since transformed it into student offices and performing arts space. And now the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life has begun a contest to select a new name for the building. The contest is open to all Penn students and will run until Tuesday. According to Ty Furman, the coordinator of Student Performing Arts and head of the renaming contest, student enthusiasm has been encouraging. "I would say I have, [and this is] really a rough guesstimate, well over 100 suggestions," Furman said yesterday. However, according to the VPUL office, the name selected from the contest may be only temporary. Donors are still being sought for the renovation project, and the building will more than likely be officially named after the principal contributor. Penn students were informed about the contest via e-mail and through various newsgroups and listservs. Suggestions can be submitted via e-mail to Furman at tyf@pobox.upenn.edu or in writing to his office at 3601 Locust Walk. The contest will officially end on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The names will be reviewed by a committee of the occupants of the building, which include the Pan Asian American Community House, La Casa Latina, the Greenfield Intercultural Center satellite office, UMOJA and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, among other programs. The grand prize will be a $500 gift certificate at the Penn Bookstore. The final decision on the name will be made by Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. Of course, if the name is only temporary, why have the contest in the first place? Leah Smith, director of communications for VPUL, explained why the temporary name is necessary. "Typically, that's what happens around campus. It's if and when a donor is found [that the temporary name will be replaced]. We don't want to keep calling it the former Christian Association building," she said. An open house will be held in the newly renovated building within the next few weeks, tentatively on October 2. This event will be open to the entire Penn community.