50@50: UN Secretary General attends FIU’s official groundbreaking


To celebrate the university’s 50th anniversary, FIU News will share 50 moments in FIU’s history as part of our “50@50″ series. We continue this weekly series with Betty Perry, wife of FIU’s first president Charles Perry, recalling a visit to FIU by UN Secretary General U Thant for the university’s official groundbreaking. 

When UN Secretary General U Thant arrived in South Florida to speak at FIU’s official groundbreaking on Jan. 25, 1971, he was a few hours early.

With some time to spare, President Charles “Chuck” Perry took one of the world’s most important leaders on an impromptu air boat ride before the event began. Betty shares the story with us.