Southeast Missouri State University President Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins still recalls seeing little girls who donned the infamous "ruby, red slippers" to match "The Wizard of Oz" character Dorothy as they sat in anticipation with their parents in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall when a touring production performance of the show was held at the River Campus.

"My guess is that if we didn't have it here, they probably wouldn't see it," Dobbins said.

This academic year marks the River Campus' eighth year of operation. Since its opening, a surge of appreciation for the fine arts has emerged in Cape Girardeau, although the journey was anything but smooth sailing.

The process to plan, build and renovate around a 60,000 square foot seminary near the Mississippi River totaled nine years.

"The thought was that we [Southeast] would, in fact, have a school for the visual and performing arts -- art, theater, music and dance," Dobbins said. "When you think about that, we want all of those disciplines to work together, and what better way of doing that if they were all co-located on the River Campus?"

The Vincentians, a Roman Catholic order established by Saint Vincent DePaul, originally owned the seminary building but sold it for use by Southeast in 1998. Even with the purchase, there were some who remained skeptical about such emphasis for the arts in southeast Missouri, according to River Campus Assistant Director Bob Cerchio.

"I'm always amazed at people's ability to sum up a region -- 'Oh, this region couldn't support the arts,'" Cerchio said. "What we find is, is that if the arts are there and if the arts are given a chance, they will succeed in pretty much every place."

The project was able to pass through the state legislature by only requesting that the State of Missouri pay for half of the construction. The rest of the funding was split between the City of Cape Girardeau and donations.

Cerchio pointed out that regardless of naysayers, more people came forward in support of such an addition for the community. Fundraising came in at all donation levels, without which the project would have ceased to move forward. The Holland, Bedell, Rust and Crisp families, among others, provided gifts to complete what now stands at 518 S. Fountain St.

"I was amazed at the support that this community gave for the arts when the opportunity was presented," Cerchio said. "I forget how many hundreds of people, individuals, donated from $100 on up. Walk around and count the plaques. ... Hundreds of just regular, individual folks gave amounts small and large so that we could have the River Campus."

Cerchio also added that execution would have never been possible without the Board of Regents.

"Don Dickerson was president of the Board of Regents at that time and saw the potential, he was able to explain the potential to the Board of Regents and they jumped in with both feet," Cerchio said. "There was nothing half-hearted about the Board of Regents' commitment to the River Campus. It truly is, it comes from their support, from their giving 110 percent to the project."

More than an educational institution, the River Campus acts as a center of entertainment through performances, art exhibits and workshops for locals in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area, according to Cerchio.

"If there is a loss on a show, the Board of Regents covers them," Cerchio said. "They've not committed to 'funding,' but they've committed to the arts, and if that means doing a show that even with a sellout is going to lose money, as long as it is a quality production, as long as it is a nationally or internationally recognized production, the Board of Regents recognizes that the university's mission, one of the university's missions, is public service. That's a large portion of public service that this board and this university provides for the people of Cape Girardeau."

Dobbins said the addition of the River Campus has also allowed for the university to expand campus wide. When the River Campus first opened only 225 majors were offered at Southeast. Now, there are more than 500.

The opening of the River Campus Center this year not only supplied a new residence hall with a learning community-style focus but also lent an extra 26,000 square feet of academic space. Practice rooms as well as art and dance studios alike line the halls of the latest structure.

Cerchio said that the accrual of a third building contributed a certain something to the unity of the campus.

"We weren't done, when we moved in here the River Campus wasn't done," Cerchio said. "With the addition of this building, it really has brought us to a sense of completeness. ... The River Campus Center has added a sense of soul to the place."

Nonetheless, growth is never out of the question. Cerchio leaves the future open and said he doesn't think "we're anywhere near the top" of where the program can go.

"I think when people look back they'll say, 'This was a great decision,'" Dobbins said.