Alumni

FROM THE PRESIDENT

This has been a full and active fall semester. In September, the College's Annual Day of Service saw hundreds of students, alumni, faculty, and staff volunteer across Lake County at outdoor parks, social service agencies, and other charities. Homecoming brought more than 3,500 people to campus for a weekend of great fun, which included a Taste of Chicago lunch, special lectures by professors, a family carnival and, of course, the traditional football game, this year against Beloit College.

The presidential campaign season also caused a lot of excitement on campus. The College hosted a number of political speakers, such as political polling expert Nate Silver and former U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA), and also featured several of our expert faculty in panel discussions on the candidates and major national issues. Our students, as politically diverse as the country, actively worked for both major candidates, debated and analyzed the issues, and, of course, voted. Five members of the Stentor newspaper staff and several dozen students went to Grant Park in Chicago to watch the election results and experienced an exciting moment in history as the election was called for President-elect Obama.

Unfortunately, this fall also ushered in an unprecedented economic downturn, which has affected millions of individuals and institutions in this country and around the world. The College made a number of cuts and changes to alleviate pressure on our operating budget while preserving and protecting the integrity of our educational mission. Among our changes: we reduced administrative funds, canceled a small number of spring courses with very low enrollments, reduced non-compensation spending by all academic and administrative departments and programs, and postponed the spring issue of Spectrum (our next issue comes out in June).

In addition, after consulting with the leadership of our Board of Trustees, we decided to postpone until May or June the construction of a $17 million addition to our Sports Center that will provide three multi-purpose courts, and indoor running track, a weight and fitness area, a dance and aerobics studio, and other recreational spaces. It will now be our goal to complete the addition — profiled in a previous Spectrum — in March 2010.

Although the temporary delay is disappointing to the students, I am convinced that it is necessary and, under current circumstances, the most prudent course to take. Once built, the Sports Center addition will be a great new facility on our campus, like Donnelley and Lee Library, Mohr Student Center and Stuart Commons, Buchanan Hall, and Farwell Field, and one in which I am confident you will take great pride.

The College continues to move forward. We are working to hire great new faculty; planning still new courses and programs that will challenge, engage, and delight our students; and, at nearly $70 million, the College is well on its way to reaching our capital campaign goal of $100 million.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement. To you and yours, I send my very best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season.

Stephen D. Schutt
President