Neil Albert Salonen UB President

All of us feel the aftershocks. There have been anthrax scares on campus. Our faculty and staff experts are now regulars on television and radio and in the newspapers. They’re speaking about the politics, the religious, the psychological, the forensics or visa issues. It’s a proper role. It shows the positive impact UB has in Connecticut and the region. What is a university if it cannot share, and cannot educate beyond its walls?

Just as impressive is the great spirit of the people of UB. The counseling faculty and students immediately opened and staffed a crisis line for those affected by the attacks. The Naturopathic and Chiropractic Colleges opened their clinics to treat and detoxify firefighters and other volunteers affected by the smoke and air after putting in hours and days at ground zero. The Scribe ran reports from the scene. Young and old contributed to relief funds and volunteered their help. A counselor led a group aiming for recovery. Students of all nations debated the impact of the attacks. But they taught a lesson in living together with respect and in harmony. There could be no better example of a school practicing what it preaches. We say we are educating for the real world. We say we are encouraging the values of learning, respect and caring. We are among the most diverse colleges in America, and among the most international. But here in this crisis, with its capacity to pull the campus apart, the UB community and students pulled together as one, united in our humanity.

Other good emerged. The young men and women of the soccer teams played their hearts out. The men lost by one point in the division championship tournament. The women hold an impressive record of wins. The health sciences group - Fones, nutrition, chiropractic, naturopathic - put on a wonderful health fair. Graphic design staged a fascinating gallery exhibit celebrating auto racing. The School of Education and Human Resources won renewed state approval of its program for educating and credentialing teachers. The family, faculty friends and students from over the years paid a tribute to the late George Blake, the English teacher who for so many years mentored so many students that he was regarded as our "Mr. Chips."

The fiery colors of the campus trees are giving way to winter's tones. The winds are picking up over the Sound. The chill in the air penetrates. Nature's calendar is not unlike our own. It reminds us that next year, this university turns 75. It will be eventful, and we hope that you will be back to campus to take part in the celebration.