HISTORY OF UNITAS

            UNITAS was established in the early spring of 1997. Professor of Biology Twitty Styles, his wife Dr. Constance Glasgow , Professor of Biology Carl George and his wife Gail George worked with President Roger Hull and Vice-presidents Dan West and Linda Cool in the founding. One crucial intent of the organizing team was to create an enabling sum of money that would yield interest on a annual basis toward supporting diversity and community at Union College. The two professors each contributed a cornerstone amount and then wrote some three-thousand solicitations to the students they had taught in their combined 62 years at the College. The money resulting from the letters and the two faculty members was then matched by President Hull to establish the UNITAS Fund; the initial amount was about one-hundred thousand dollars.

          The inauguration of UNITAS was made in the late spring of 1997 in the Nott Memorial following the retirement ceremonies of both Professors Styles and George, Drs. Hull, West, Cool and Dean Christie Sorum officiating. It was a grand event, musicians from many countries, fine food and lovely flowers adding greatly to the fine ambience of the Nott Memorial, the proceedings expertly organized by Gail George and Constance Styles.

          A presidential advisory board was then appointed to promote funding applications from the faculty, staff and student body in support of diversity and community at the College. This group meets about six times each academic year to conduct the affairs of UNITAS. Sixty or more events have been supported thus far. Lectures, performances, student study programs,teas, seminars, workshops, library acquisitions, luncheons, receptions and many other activities have received support. One of the most successful sponsorings was that of a family of Balinese dancers and musicians who visited Union College in 2003. They worked with five different class groups at Union in addition to the making of a splendid public performance at the Yulman Theater. The prime criterion for support for all of these activities is that the request include means of bridge building among the diverse constituencies of Union College. Commonly, this is in part achieved by joint support of the event by different groups and agencies at the College.

          We believe that UNITAS is a unique institution among American colleges and universities. In a world of growing diversity an education is deficient unless those participating come to know and respect the wondrous array of people sharing the academic experience.