KU News Release

KU’s Class of 2004 to be memorialized at Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center

LAWRENCE — When members of the Class of 2004 at the University of Kansas made the decision to honor their legacy, they collaborated with one of Lawrence’s most unique groups, Van Go Mobile Arts.

Class leaders selected the young artists at Van Go to create a mural for KU’s new Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center as their class gift. The 4.5-foot by 6.5-foot painted mural will be dedicated at 11:30 a.m. April 16 at the center, 1299 Oread Ave.

The Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center, a program of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, was conceived in 1991 by the Student Senate and became a reality in 1995. In spring 2001, a plan for a new Multicultural Resource Center was presented to the university administration. The following year, Student Senate presidential candidates listed the construction of a new Multicultural Resource Center on their platform. It was not until spring 2003, through the work of Jonathan Ng, Catherine Bell, Blake Shuart, Casey Collier, Destinee Maxwell, Mark Dupree and several other key administrators, that the university agreed to move forward with plans for a new center. Student Senate passed a resolution stating that it would supplement private donations from the Sabatini family with student fees for the immediate construction of an updated cultural center.

The Class of 2004 wanted to contribute as well. The officers had attended the dedication of Van Go’s mural at the Lawrence public library and were excited by the creativity and beauty of the art, painted by the high school students and professionals who are part of the national award-winning Van Go organization. They decided to present an original hand-painted mural by Van Go as their class gift to the new Multicultural Resource Center.

Van Go Mobile Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of high-needs youth, using art as the vehicle for self-expression, self-confidence and hope for the future. Naturally multicultural, Van Go’s artists range in age from 14 to 21.

The creators hope the mural will remain a lasting legacy in not only the university community but Lawrence as well, a permanent reminder of the power of diversity.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.