LIBRARY DEDICATION

Political science department honors Laliotes family for generous donation

East Carolina University’s Department of Political Science honored John and Ann Laliotes for their generous support during the dedication of the newly renovated John Laliotes Political Science Library on March 28.

Dr. Alethia Cook, department chair, welcomed guests and officially thanked the Lalioteses for their contribution, Provost Ron Mitchelson and Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Dean William M. Downs for their support of the project, and others involved in the process.

The library, located in Brewster C-105, will be used as a place to study, network, work on group projects, hold club meetings and more.

“It has been a huge improvement of this space,” Cook said. “It will be great in helping to teach our students about professionalism and professional conduct in the workplace and in recruiting new students and faculty.”

According to Cook, the library, located in Brewster C-105, is vitally important to the department. Students use it as a place to study, network, work on group projects and hold club meetings. The space is also used for seminar classes, graduate student and faculty presentations of research, faculty meetings and as a space to host guests, including featured speakers and those who apply for faculty positions with the department.

“We [students] are very thankful for the generous donations made by John and Ann Laliotes towards the renovation of the political science library,” said William Neal, president of the Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honors society and ECU senior majoring in political science and history. “After several months of anticipation, we are happy to have a home for collaboration and critical thinking with our peers and faculty within the Department of Political Science. The newly renovated library will support success for years to come.”

Ann Laliotes spoke on behalf of both her and her husband, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

“John and I are honored to be able to support the political science department initiatives, their faculty and their students,” Laliotes said. “Critical thinking skills, as taught by John’s professors, established an important principle in every classroom that followed throughout his life.”

Thus, said Laliotes, it is appropriate that the quote, “Critical thinking begins here,” is placed front and center on the newly renovated library wall.

“Political science prepared him to be an educated world citizen and also an active participant in democratic society. And John says, ‘Thank you ECU, and thank you political science,’” said Laliotes.

In her closing remarks, Laliotes asked guests to read the quote by James Madison that appears below the mural of the capitol building at the opposite end of the room. She said it is as timely today as when it was written.

The quote reads, “The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”

The Lalioteses are both ECU graduates, and it was at ECU that they met and fell in love, leading to a 49-year marriage. John graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1969. He is a first-generation college graduate of parents who emigrated from Ireland and Greece. Ann earned her bachelor of arts degree in Spanish in 1969 and a master of library science in 1973. She later went on to work for the Division of University Advancement at ECU.

Faculty from the Department of Political Science mingle with friends and donors before the dedication of the newly renovated library.