The Shapiro family, students, faculty, administrators, trustees, and other guests gathered in the Shapiro Campus Center, Thursday evening, to celebrate its official opening. Initial mingling was followed by the official ribbon-cutting, done by Carl Shapiro, as well as remarks by University President Jehuda Reinharz, Waltham Mayor, David F. Gately and Student Union President Ben Brandzel '03. Student volunteers gave tours of the building and caterers served food to the crowd. Attendants heard an a cappella presentation and watched a tribute video to the Shapiros in the center's new state-of-the-art theater.

"Can you believe what you are looking at?" Reinharz remarked in his speech. "Two years ago we stood, looked at a hole, a boulder, 150 to 250 cars and a building that was crumbling - and look at what we have now."

"Carl and Ruth, I don't think we can thank you enough for everything you have done," Reinharz said.

Gately spoke of the important relationship between Brandeis University and the city of Waltham.

"This is a very historic occasion both for Brandeis and the City of Waltham." Gately said. "Brandeis and Waltham continue to have an important community relationship . the classrooms and buildings in Brandeis house the future leaders."

Attendees ate an array of appetizers, including potato pancakes, cheeses, spreads, and crackers. After the speeches, the crowd was ushered into the new Carl J. Shapiro Theater. A performance was given by members of various campus a cappella groups, including Spur of the Moment, Starving Artists, Manginah, University Choir, and Voicemale.

A brief video in tribute to the Shapiros was then viewed. The Shapiro family, distinguished guests, and administrators then adjourned to a dinner, while students left, many to change into semi-formal dress for the Shapiro Soire, which began at 10 p.m. that evening. The event, planned by the Campus Center Transition Team, had a masquerade theme.

"This is an exciting moment," Dean of Student Life, Rick Sawyer said. "I'm thinking a lot about many of the students who had an influence three and four years ago over what ought to be in this building, even though they may have graduated and are not here, as well as the people on my staff who may have worked with us."

"We're all very proud of the building," Project Manager Ed Berry said. "There has been a lot pulled together at the last minute. It's very gratifying to see it all come together, but what is most gratifying is to see students in it."

"It was so thrilling to see students' reactions as they walked into the library for the first time. We heard things like 'oh my God, oh my Lord, oh this is awesome.' That's the best part," Berry added.

Rhonda Zinner, daughter of Carl and Ruth Shapiro, and a member of the Board of Trustees, spoke to the Justice for the Shapiro family.

"We're thrilled about it; its been a long time in the planning and the construction, and to see it open and all the students really enjoying it is just great," she said.

"My family has had a long history with Brandeis University," Zinner explained. "It goes back to my grandfather ... and over the years, my folks came to know the different people, and continued their involvement."

The building, a $25 million gift from the Shapiros, was created by architect Charles Rose.

"(The campus center) has a very large footprint on campus," Jean Eddy, Director of Students and Enrollment said regarding the architecture, "it has to blend with everything around it, and I think its done that. And I for one like the color."

"Its functional, its elegant, one of the nice things about it is that many of the rooms have full daylight all day long, I think it feels very comfortable. I love the color," Reinharz told the Justice.

"It's different, it's eye catching, its something everybody talks about- not everybody might like it, but that's what architecture should be about. Architecture is about aesthetics, and when you start paying attention, you understand the functionality of the building. So I love it," he said.

"I happen to like it, I like modern architecture," Stephen Kay, president of the Board of Trustees, said. "Brandeis has always had modern architecture, and has always been cutting-edge. A lot of these buildings, when they first were up, looked a little avant-garde, but I think, particularly after the copper tones down a little bit, it's just going to fade right into the campus. It is very good space, in the center, convenient to everything else. It all came together," Kay, said.

"I think that's what we needed most, what else would we build - we're not going to build a hockey rink at Brandeis. This was the number one project. Number two was the dormitories, that's going up now also . near the main parking lot. Those two things we felt would make student life better, and would make people want to stay here," he said.

"It gives students, for the first time, wonderful space with which to work, and play and do whatever they want to do," Reinharz added. "I felt it was very important that students have a real campus center - we didn't have a real campus center to speak of, it was a priority to me. The University is for students, and a campus center is a necessity, not a luxury."

"I think this will become the heart of the whole place," Kay said. "I think it's wonderful. It's something we could not have done without the Shapiro family - we simply could not have afforded a building like this unless they came and said specifically we want to do it and we want to do it first class and we'll pay for it. I think it's a great building. I hope it gets well used by students, and becomes the center of student life on campus."

"What ought to be in this building is a lot of students. This is here for our student body. There's very few administrators in here. Its meant to be a facility for our students. Every amenity we could think of is in here," Sawyer said.