The North Dakota State University Equity and Diversity Center ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alba Bales House on North University Drive (north of Ceres Hall).

President Joseph A. Chapman will speak at 3 p.m. Guided tours and an open house begin at 3:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

The Equity and Diversity Center will serve as an inclusive environment where individuals of diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations are respected. "We value all identities while challenging the varied forms of oppression and discrimination," she said. "We celebrate our shared human experiences while affirming and enriching the dignity of diversity."

The Equity and Diversity Center serves as a safe and inviting gathering space as well as an empowering resource, cultivating a nurturing, accepting campus climate by coordinating education and social activities, programming and development opportunities. "It is our mission to advocate for social justice among traditionally under-represented groups while establishing a sense of community on campus and in the Fargo-Moorhead area," Gravley-Stack said.

For more information, contact Gravley-Stack at (701) 231-7091.