President Roger Hull urged the campus community to “strive for perfection” by
continuing conversations on social and residence life, diversity and gender equity in
athletics in his address at the College's opening convocation on Tuesday.
“The steps we have taken do not signal a close to the conversation,” he said.
“The issues discussed elicit searching questions and intense debate, and both, I
think, continually challenge us and help define what is a first-rate college. Let the
conversations continue.”
On promoting diversity, he cited a number of initiatives already under way: incentives
for Union students of color to return to teach, a minority fellows program, meeting the
market for minority faculty hires, and the addition of four tenure lines for minorities.
On gender equity, he referred to bringing crew and women's ice hockey to varsity
status, designating a women's head coach for each sport who is not head coach of
another program, and more funds for recruiting women student-athletes.
Hull pointed to a number of physical improvements on campus – the renovated and
expanded Schaffer Library, the completion of the F.W. Olin Center, a new social space in
Old Chapel and improvements to athletic facilities and Memorial Chapel. He also mentioned
the less visible: a fund to encourage joint faculty-student initiatives outside the
classroom, a new eight-year Leadership in Medicine program, and six faculty books and
numerous articles.
The College received a record $27 million in gifts last year, and also set a record
– at over $4 million – in the Annual Fund, Hull reported. The endowment grew to
more than $240 million, and the College balanced the budget with no layoffs while meeting
the financial need of all students.
Alan D. Taylor, Marie Louise Bailey Professor of Mathematics, received the Stillman
Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
Sophomore Tania Magoon received the Phi Beta Kappa Prize for outstanding achievement in
General Education in her first year. Carin Litani '01, received honorable mention.
Charity McManaman '99, who is on a Term Abroad in Bulgaria, received the Phi Beta
Kappa senior travel award.