As we move to the close of the old year and look forward to new opportunities and adventures in 2007, I wish you all the happiest of holidays, peace and love.
Monthly Archive for December, 2006
A retiring professor received the following tribute from a student following his final class meeting. In Bill Keelty’s words, it was "the goldest gold watch" he could ask for. I can think of no greater tribute for any educator.
To: Keelty, Bill
Subject: Adieu!
I had hoped to stop by tonight to collect my exam and wish you well in your retirement, but that didn’t exactly work out. I live 40 minutes away, and I can’t really spare the time. I still have some studying to do, we’re moving in two weeks and Christmas is fast approaching. Busy, busy, busy. At any rate, I would also like to thank you for a few things. When I signed up for this class, I wasn’t exactly enthused about the curriculum. I love English courses, but reading drama and poetry are activities that rank somewhere between getting a root canal and paying taxes. It turns out that they aren’t so bad after all. Perhaps it was your knowledge and passion for the material. Or maybe something inside me clicked. Whatever it was, I really enjoyed this class and the poems and plays we studied. I owe you a debt of gratitude for sparking my interest in these formerly dull genres. Thank you. My high school teachers used to tell me, more than ten years ago, the same thing that some of my professors have been telling me. They think I should be an English major, and I agree. I’m not sure if this is a testament to my abilities in English or my disabilities elsewhere. Whatever the case may be, I have a growing family to look after. I believe I once told you that I am a business major, as that is the most practical path to follow. The problem is, I don’t want to be an accountant. I believe my future may lie elsewhere. In short, I have decided to change my major to English. After that, who knows? I’ve always wanted to go to graduate school. Or law school. Whatever happens, I have found the courage to believe that I will be able to take care of my family with an English degree. I deliver pizzas now and we’re fine. I guess the point is that I feel you are in some way responsible for my decision. There are a lot of factors, but your teaching was certainly one of them. Thank you. Thank you so much for making English 102 a fantastic class. I will never forget your passion for things that others would have been bored with decades ago. See you in the funny papers. Matthew
Professor Keelty,
Bob Berezowitz, Coach, 1981 - 2006
I was honored to accept a scholarship check from the Alonzo Stagg family during pre-game festivities at Saturday’s Stagg Bowl. The generous gift will be added to UW-Whitewater’s general scholarship fund.
It was my privilege to conduct a graduation ceremony (via telephone conference) this morning for our student athletes in Virginia who will not be able to participate in Saturday’s commencement event on campus. Paul Plinske, athletic director, and Steve Summers, deputy assistant chancellor for student affairs, assisted on site. Robb Widuch & Steve Wegner will receive their baccalaureate degrees, and Willie Will (IA graduate assistant) will receive his master’s degree.
I joined a group of well-wishers at noon and watched the Warhawk football team and their coaches board the buses and head for the Stagg Bowl. Many students, alums and parents will be joining them in Salem, Virginia to cheer them on to the national championship. Safe travels, everyone. I’ll see you there.
Last week, a freshman student fainted in class. She was not breathing and did not have a pulse.
Amy Edmonds, UWW’s Senior Women’s Administrator in Athletics, performed CPR until Steve Hillmer brought the AED. EMS came quickly. The defibrillator saved the student’s life.
I am grateful to the staff of the Williams Center for exceptional performance in an emergency. Thanks to them (and a well-equipped building) a possible tragedy was averted.
Friday was starting to feel like a lot of Mondays — last day of the Regents’ meeting, several appointments in the afternoon, catching up on office mail after two days away. But all the craziness subsided at the employee holiday party. The snow-covered CA atrium made a beautiful setting for us to gather and eat from an amazing assortment of food offerings. My favorite: Warhawk potatoes…they are naturally purple.
Joe and I had a wonderful experience last night. Three UW-W students joined us for dinner at our home and we spent a nice evening by the fire learning more about them and sharing a meal. The event was part of the "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?" program organized by Sandi Scott-Duex and Tisa Mason. Members of their freshman learning communities were invited into the homes of university employees for dinner and conversation. What a great idea!
Earlier this academic year, I met with various groups on campus and urged them to “think globally” as they approached their goals for the year. The Black Student Union, under the able leadership of Shedrick Daniels, is doing just that. Today the group is addressing the world AIDS crisis at a meeting in McCutchan Hall. I hope you will plan to attend. Notices are up around campus or you may call Rick at 472-3147 for details.
