The culmination came on November 30. A cold rain stopped falling just long enough for a crowd of nearly 100 people to witness the ribbon-cutting that symbolized a new era for IU South Bend.

After the ribbon cutting, Chancellor Una Mae Reck unexpectedly invited everyone to walk across the bridge and to step foot on the other side. Nearly everyone made the trip.

In her dedication remarks, Reck acknowledged the efforts of the many people who supported the pedestrian bridge over the last 17 years, including Congressman Chris Chocola, State Representative B. Patrick Bauer and former IU Board of Trustee member Cora Breckenridge.

The 600 foot-long, 10 foot-wide, red steel bridge spans the St. Joseph River and links the main campus to 26.5 acres that will be the site of additional recreational fields, walking and bicycle trails, and student housing.

The pedestrian bridge and student housing have been tied together since both were unveiled in the campus master plan nearly 20 years ago.

As construction began on the bridge, the IU Board of Trustees approved guidelines for regional campuses to apply for student housing. As the finishing touches were being put on the bridge, the finishing touches were being put on IU South Bend’s proposal for student housing.

On September 22, after a unanimous vote by the IU Board of Trustees, IU South Bend became the first IU regional campus to be approved for student housing. Phase 1 of the $20.3 million student housing project includes approximately 400 beds designed as a mix of one-, two- and four-bedroom apartment-style units. The State Budget Committee must approve the project before construction can begin.

The pedestrian bridge and student housing were first proposed in 1989. In 1994, the purchase of the former Playland Park by IU brought the projects closer to reality. Then it took 12 years and three chancellors for the approvals and funding to be secured before construction could begin.