UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 8, Page 1                        
October 22, 1992                                       
Acierno Arena is named to honor $1 million donor       
                                                       
     University President David P. Roselle announced Tuesday a $1 
million gift to the Bob Carpenter Center fundraising campaign from
business man and developer Frank E. Acierno of Greenville.   
     In response to Acierno's gift-the campaign's largest from a
single donor-the University has named the center's arena in his honor,
by vote of the Executive Committee of the University's Board of
Trustees.                                                    
     The gift brings the University close to reaching the $6.5 million
private fundraising goal for the campaign, Roselle said, adding that
the University will be "working diligently" in the next few months to
complete the campaign.                                       
     "The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Mich., has made a challenge grant
of $350,000 toward construction of our $20.5 million facility, and we
are using that gift right now to make special appeals to alumni and
other friends of the University for their support," Roselle said. 
     The 134,000-gross-square-foot building is funded by $12 million 
from the state of Delaware, with the remainder coming from the
University and private gifts from individuals, businesses and
foundations.                                                 
     At a media conference in the Bob Carpenter Club of the new Bob
Carpenter Center, Roselle described how Acierno's gift came about.
     "We at the University of Delaware were aware that Mr. Acierno has
contributed generously to his alma mater, the University of Virginia,
and that Alumni Hall on the grounds of that institution has within it
a large room named in his honor. We were also aware that Mr. Acierno
has a considerable interest in athletics and had, for example, made an
earlier attempt to become one of the owners of the Philadelphia
Eagles," Roselle said. "Finally, we knew that Mr. Acierno is a
financial supporter of several Delaware causes, including being a 
major supporter, just as an example, of the News Journal Needy Family
Fund."                                                       
     "We are delighted that Mr. Acierno saw the Carpenter Center
project as an opportunity to bring together his interests in 
athletics, in higher education and his demonstrated generosity to the
state of Delaware," Roselle said. "Frank, on behalf of the University
of Delaware, we thank you very, very much."                  
     Acierno put a more personal face on the reason for his generous
gift: David Roselle, whom he called "a man with a mission."  
     "Dr. Roselle got in touch with me about five months ago and asked
if I would consider contributing to the Carpenter Center," Acierno
said. After a couple of tours of the facility and discussion about
contributing, the turning point came in June, Acierno said, when the
Roselles went to the University of Virginia for their son's  
graduation. At Virginia, where Acierno had earned a degree in
chemistry, the Roselles visited Alumni Hall and noted that Acierno had
made a major contribution to its renovation and expansion.   
     After the Roselles returned to Newark, Acierno said, he and the 
president "got together here again, walked through again, and by now,
as many times as he had me walking through here, I already felt that I
was a part of it. It was exciting, and his enthusiasm was obviously
something that rubbed off on everybody, including myself.... 
     "I believe that this facility will be a major contributor in 
elevating the University of Delaware from a good University to a great
University, and I'm proud to be part of it," Acierno said.   
     Acierno's association with the University goes back some 26
years, he said, through his involvement with Towne Court and Park 
Place apartments, which have provided housing for many students and
faculty. His late wife, Carolyn, and one of his sons, Michael,
attended the University, and he has attended sporting events at
Delaware for more than 30 years, he said. Another son, Frank Jr., 
attended the announcement Tuesday.                           
     R.R.M. (Ruly) Carpenter III, son of the man for whom the Bob
Carpenter Center is named and a member of the University's Board of
Trustees, told Acierno, "I am most appreciative of the sacrifice that
you have made here.... We-the University and my family-are forever
grateful, and let's just hope that there are many victories ahead for
us in this wonderful facility. Steve (Steinwedel, head men's 
basketball coach,) and Joyce (Perry, head women's basketball coach,)
have assured me that there's no problem with that, and I think Tubby
(Raymond, head football coach,) is extremely happy with the facilities
that he has for his football players."                       
     Charles M. Forbes, vice president for development at the
University, said, "Those of us who are professionals in development
work can really and truly appreciate the value of leadership, the 
value of commitment and the value of service. There is a great example
in two gentlemen sitting right here today, both of whom have provided
this type of leadership and service and financial commitment.
     "I'm especially grateful, Ruly, for your family's leadership of 
the University of Delaware's athletic program. It's marvelous.... 
Frank, you've just done a wonderful thing by making this magnificent
commitment," Forbes said.                                    
     At the conclusion of the media conference in the Bob Carpenter
Club, reporters and guests walked down to the new basketball floor,
where three basketball players-Merel van Zanten, Spencer Dunkley and
Anthony Wright-unveiled the words "Acierno Arena" painted in large
letters at each end. The 60-by-112-foot floor is the same one used in
April at the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal and
final games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. After
the three games were played on it, the 203-panel floor was dismantled
and shipped back to its maker where it was refinished.       
     Also attending the media conference Tuesday was Dallas Green, a
member of the Carpenter Center Campaign Steering Committee.  
     The new building, which Roselle said "will quickly become the
most well attended facility in the state of Delaware," opens with its
first major concert on Friday, with a performance by Bob Dylan.
     The two-level Bob Carpenter Center includes comfortable seating,
most with seat backs and armrests, for more than 5,000 spectators for
basketball, academic ceremonies, concerts or televised sports events,
as well as new and expanded locker rooms for men's and women's
basketball and for football. The building also includes administrative
offices, multipurpose classrooms, new athletic trainers quarters, an
expanded Sports Medicine Clinic and a new strength training center.
     Other upcoming events at the center include Bill Cosby on Oct. 30
(sold out); "Midnight Madness," a preview of men's and women's
basketball, on Oct. 31; Parents Day, Nov. 7; a Center for Black
Culture concert on Nov. 13; country stars Kathy Mattea and Hal Ketchum
on Nov. 14; an exhibition men's basketball game on Nov. 16; and
women's basketball on Nov. 19. For ticket information, call the center
at 831-4012.