American Centre Opens with Presidential Approval

Clinton sends good luck message

Philip Lader, United States Ambassador to the UK, recently opened the National American Studies Centre, a joint project between JMU and Liverpool Community College.

In a ceremony which was attended by over 80 guests, the Ambassador praised the role of the Centre in promoting goodwill and understanding between the people of Britain and the United States, and also spoke of the vibrancy of the city of Liverpool and its people. After unveiling a plaque to commemorate the opening, and officially launching the Centre’s redesigned website, the Ambassador read out a letter of support sent by President Bill Clinton.

Based in the Aldham Robarts Learning Resource Centre, the Centre houses a huge range of literature and artefacts and amongst the exhibits on view was the James Audubon Collection, an extremely rare series of books featuring hand painted portraits of the ‘Birds of America’. The Learning Methods Unit has transferred the Collection to CD ROM and the Ambassador was able to view the finished product for the first time. Also on view were the recently completed CD ROM’s featuring the history of Camell Laird Ship Yard and Liverpool Football Club.

Buford Crites, Professor of Communications at the College of the Desert, symbolically presented the Centre with a US flag which had been flown over from Congress. In return the Provost, Professor Jennifer Latto, presented Buford with a JMU flag.

.

On a light hearted note the Ambassador commented that he too had worked in higher education and agreed with the Woodrow Wyatt statement that politics is best learnt with the professionals at university rather than the amateurs at the White House! Summing up his day in Liverpool the Ambassador joked: “Bett Midler once said ‘when it’s three o’ clock in New York it’s 1938 in England.’ She was dead wrong.’

Ambassador Philip Lader unveils the plaque as Liverpool Community College Principal Wally Brown and LJMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Toyne look on

Since the re-launch of the American Studies Centre Internet site in February till the end of May 1999,140,000 hits have been received from as far away as Russia and South Africa.

Ambassador Philip Lader, LJMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Toyne and Liverpool Community College Principal Wally Brown inspect the new-look Centre