PresRelease

Chris, who is a CA in Towers on Keller/Fenwick Fourth Floor, then arranged a chance for me to have lunch with some Towers residents and discuss what’s going on at UConn and how students can make best use of their time here. We had a little trouble getting the date set – because of my schedule – but Chris persevered and we finally got it together. Here’s a picture of us at Towers – all well documented by date, by Chris’s camera:

In the picture are Aris Ristau (one of the Hall Directors for Towers), Alisa Geller (one of the Complex Coordinators for ResLife), Fernando Dutra (another Towers Community Assistant), Jonathan Burros, Caroline Yu, Adam Blum, Stephen Zocco, Kathleen Fox, Arpit Sood, Janelle Cortes, Sharielle Applewhite, and Chris Ferraro. I don’t think I have the names in the same order as the picture. Can you find Chris?

Yesterday we dedicated the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial on the Storrs campus to our UConn alumni who have died while serving our country. I want to express my appreciation to Myles Martel, Class of 1965 and member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and to all of the UConn alumni who worked and contributed to make this significant memorial a reality. A Roll of Honor, to include the names of those University of Connecticut sons and daughters who gave their lives while serving the nation, will be placed on a permanent plaque at the Alumni Center. I was honored to be asked to make some remarks at the dedication, and I’ve posted them on my office’s web page.
Veterans Memorial Committee
Dr. Francis Archambault, Jr.
Mr. Phil Barry
Lt. Col. Anthony Esposito
Mr. Dymitri Dutkanicz
Dr. David Larson
Ms. Lisa Lewis
Ms. Annette Lombardi
Dr. Myles Martel
Ms. Lisa McGuire
Ms. Kathleen Venezia

On November 3, poet, activist, dancer and actor Maya Angelou, one of the great voices of contemporary literature, spoke to an overflowing Jorgensen Auditorium about how one person and one generation passes hopes and dreams forward. “You are all already paid for,” she told our student audience. There’s a news report of the event in the 11/04 Daily Campus. Dr. Angelou’s appearance was co-sponsored by SUBOG in collaboration with the African American Cultural Center, the Asian American Cultural Center, the Puerto Rican & Latin American Cultural Center, the Rainbow Center, and the Women’s Center. Thanks to the SUBOG Lecture Committee and its Chair, Kristan J. Ingraham, for making this evening possible.

Kristan Ingraham

Dr. Angelou asked that UConn post two of her poems on its web pages, so that they may be part of our resources for everyone to read. Kristan is posting these on the SUBOG web page, but I’d like to have them here on my own pages as well. Just click on the titles to read “A Brave and Startling Truth” (written to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations) and “Uncle Willie.”

You never know who you’ll run into at a UConn football game. Governor Jodi Rell was at the West Virginia game on November 1 at Rentschler and was all decked out in UConn gear. In fact, the Governor was everywhere. In this next photo, she is tailgating with Pauline Panatieri and Emilia Mascaro:

Of course, I always try to get into as many pictures as I can. Here (from Mike’s Bus to the Homecoming Game), you’ll see me with Sarah Morton and Lizzie Terrell:

And then I found Anna Cullen in the stands during half-time. But the really neat thing about this photo is that, in the background right next to my nose, you can just barely see Keanu Reeves. He’s wearing the white cap with the blue visor.

One more football game at the Rent this year: Saturday, December 6 vs. Pittsburgh.

It’s important that we give back to the community services in our towns and cities that support us, our jobs and our mission as Connecticut’s flagship public university.  At a time like this, when our communities are at risk and our service agencies are stretched to their limits, we all need to step up to help our neighbors who face very challenging circumstances.  This act of giving brings us together in common purpose, for a public good.  Even a small contribution makes a difference, and shows that you care.

The annual Connecticut State Employees’ Charitable Campaign (CSEC) is underway.  This week you will be receiving a campaign packet with information about the campaign and the agencies that benefit from our donations, as well as a form that allows you to contribute by way of a regular deduction from your UConn paycheck.  Over the next few weeks, Stefanie Landsman, the Storrs CSEC coordinator, and I will provide you with updates on our efforts.  In addition to campus-wide emails, we will be posting information on our new campaign website: http://www.csec.uconn.edu/. Be sure to check regularly for campaign resources and updates.

I encourage you to think for a moment about how you can help, and to return the pledge card with your commitment to this year’s campaign. We are all in this together, and together we will help each other meet this challenge.

I thank you in advance for your support of this year’s Charitable Campaign.  I’m giving, too.