Despite the cold, rainy weather Friday afternoon, young and old gathered for the dedication of Carrie Chapman Catt Hall and the Plaza of Heroines at Iowa State.

Catt Hall will house the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences administrative offices, the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and the Philosophy Department.

Members of Pi Beta Phi sorority, of which Catt is an alumnus, dressed in clothing from 1880 to distribute programs.

Jane Cox, associate professor of theater, began the ceremony by encouraging the audience to help build a better society.

“To consider the past and the present isn’t enough,” she said. “We must aim higher to see the truth more clearly and better respond to the rights of others.”

Elizabeth Hoffman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, continued by describing how the establishment of Catt Hall was a way of responding to these rights.

The $5 million renovation project would never have been possible without the help of a long list of “saviors,” Hoffman said.

The list began with the community and campus activists who saved Old Botany Hall, now Catt Hall, from demolition three times and later placed the building on the National Register of Historic Places.

After the decision was made to rename the building Carrie Chapman Catt Hall, many people supported the project with time and financial contributions. Co-chairs of the Carrie Chapman Catt Campaign Committee, Sharon Rodine and John Axel, raised $825,000 in private funds for bricks and mortar.

The ceremony continued with Rodine’s description of her involvement with the Catt Center. She thanked members of the Sapphire Club for their early and significant contributions.

“It is said that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” Rodine said. “Your participation is a treasure. We are happy to have that treasure because we know your heart is with it.”

ISU President Martin Jischke then recognized those who dedicated such areas as the grand staircase, the verandah and several conference rooms. He quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in illustrating how important the energy of each person was in making the Catt Center possible.

“I am very proud to have Carrie Chapman Catt as part of Iowa State’s history,” Jischke said. “This building is a symbol of Iowa State’s commitment to equality.”

Iowa Lieutenant Gov. Joy Corning recognized the symbolism, but challenged women everywhere to set new goals and “accept nothing less than flawless honesty and integrity” from themselves and others. She thanked men for voting for the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

“Men reached a high level of wisdom that day,” she said.

The ceremony also included comments from student representative Jean Paul Dub‚, a senior in chemistry and the unveiling of a plaque dedicated by the League of Women Voters. The group’s state president Jan Beran and National President Becky Cain presented the plaque, which will be the centerpiece for the Plaza of Heroines.

Before the official recognition of the building by Jischke, Axel gave an emotional speech in honor of Mary Louise Smith and the Chair for Women in Politics dedicated in her name.

“Mary was truly dedicated to teaching and learning. I’ve never known a more wise and caring teacher,” he said.

Smith, on her 81st birthday, accepted the honor, saying, “I won’t say I’m speechless because that’s not my nature.”

She said she hopes the chair will serve to teach women about the importance of their participation in the fight for equality.

“My heart is full of gratitude, pride and appreciation,” she said. “I am very proud to be a part of the memory of Carrie Chapman Catt. It’s been a great birthday. You don’t have many parties like this.”

The ISU Pep Band concluded the ceremony by performing the “Bells of Iowa State” while members of the crowd sang.

Following the dedication, Cox performed excerpts of her play, The Yellow Rose of Suffrage.