By Rocco Colella

The Curry Student Center is officially middle-aged.

The center is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, and Northeastern plans to honor the center next week.

Student Government Association’s (SGA) Vice President for Student Services Nicole Martino is helping organize the events for the birthday celebration on Feb. 2 during activities period. A luncheon will kick off the party.

During the lunch, a slideshow will be shown featuring articles and photographs about the student center and events held within its concrete walls during its 40-year history.

Martino said she is excited to unveil a tapestry specifically designed for the event. It depicts flags from countries around the world, symbolizing the diversity and acceptance that Northeastern encourages and strives for, she said. The tapestry will become a fixture in the student center.

After the lunch and presentations, cake will be served for dessert in true birthday style. Martino said the cake is large enough to feed plenty of hungry huskies.

“Let’s just say it’s big enough so every student who wants a piece can get one,” she said.

Throughout the week, groups and organizations with offices in the student center are encouraged to put displays in their office windows. Each group and organization has the opportunity to show its appreciation and pride in the student center.

Martino said she and the rest of SGA are looking forward to next week’s events. She said new students at Northeastern, as well as veteran staff members, will enjoy the events.

Bob Grier, who has been with the student center since 1975, said he is proud of the center and the people who keep it alive. As director of student center operations, Grier is in charge of delivering services and needs to the students, from food to retail services, and a big part of his job is handling reservations for events.

The student center has evolved over the years, but its purpose has never changed. However, when Grier first arrived at Northeastern 30 years ago, he said he remembers a very different scene than what students see today.

The building was much darker inside and students were able to smoke indoors, he said. But while some differences were apparent, the underlying student mentality has not changed.

No matter what political or social climate the days presented, “the feelings and passions the students have for NU have never changed,” Grier said.

Now, as the student center celebrates its 40th birthday, Grier said he is surprised at how fast time passes. He said he tries to think more about the future instead of dwelling on the past.

Grier said he can see himself celebrating many more birthdays with the student center.

“I’ll hang on for a while,” he said. “I’m still walking.”