August 11, 1998: Volume 44, Number 1

President Urges More Talk on Campus Issues

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.

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