Dear members of the Colgate community,

After more than three years of visioning, planning, raising funds, and collaborating with neighbors and local and state officials, I am very pleased to announce that Colgate’s board of trustees has given final approval for project costs to build a new Center for Art and Culture (CAC) in the Village of Hamilton.

Designed by renowned architect David Adjaye, the $21-million, 17,000-square-foot center will be as visually stunning as it will be notable for the art, culture, and educational opportunities it will bring to our region. In addition, the center is projected to have an estimated annual economic impact of $4 million in the community and will drive more economic activity and create many jobs in central New York. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.

Many people deserve credit for bringing this project to life. Crucial financial support and expertise for the project have come from Nancy Crown P’10, member of Colgate’s board of trustees, and Mark Falcone ’85, P’12, a trustee emeritus.

The CAC initiative has engaged members from across our community over time to get us to this important moment of trustee approval. Professor Linck Johnson deserves special mention for his unwavering commitment to the project, having led the original committee work to conceive of the CAC and now continuing to help that vision evolve. Doug Hicks has ably led the building committee to achieve design drawings and to move forward into construction planning and educational programming. Professors Mary Ann Calo, Dewitt Godfrey, Carol Ann Lorenz, and Jordy Kerber have dedicated countless hours to developing plans for the CAC that will support the educational missions of the Picker Art Gallery and Longyear Museum of Anthropology. Anja Chavez, Jill Shaw, and other members of the Picker and Longyear teams have creatively contributed to the planning.

I also want to acknowledge Hamilton Mayor Margaret Miller and Joanne Borfitz for their community planning efforts. Annie Angueira, Joe Bello, and Trish St. Leger have been invaluable in their construction planning. The advancement team has dedicated themselves and continues to work to raise financial support for the CAC. And many thanks also to Brian Hutzley and Bruce Moseley whose good work helped garner a $750,000 grant from the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (REDC). You can read that story here.

Read more about trustee approval of the CAC in this web story.

-President Jeffrey Herbst

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Flu activity is currently quite high across the country, and we’ve had a number of confirmed cases this week on campus. Below are some basic tips to prevent the spread of this illness.

Health Tips:

• Wash hands frequently (soap and water, or waterless hand sanitizer).
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing (best to “catch” in your elbow).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Eat well.
• Get rest.
• Don’t smoke.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, phones, computers, etc.

If you get the flu (high fever, achiness, coughing):

• Stay out of crowds, and from work or school until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
• Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups, eating utensils, etc.
• Call your doctor’s office.
• Take Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen for fever and/or achiness.
• Drink fluids and eat bland foods.

If you have not yet had a flu shot, it may still be helpful to get one. They are available at your doctor’s office, your local pharmacy, or the Student Health Center. For more information, please see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Take 3 Actions to Fight the Flu.”

Sincerely,

Merrill L. Miller, M.D.
University Physician
Director, Student Health Services

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Dear students:

Welcome back to the snow-covered streets of Hamilton, New York! As I look to the New Year, I have asked myself, what does it mean to be part of the Colgate family? And are the “ties that bind” us strong enough to withstand campus unrest and protest? I believe our differences can make us stronger, provided we treat each other with dignity and respect – especially when we disagree, or when our beliefs and values are challenged. It is our humanity that will unite us and that will help us find the moral common ground to create a Colgate for all.

A diverse and inclusive environment is fundamental to a liberal education and a just and democratic way of life. But diversity doesn’t create inclusion. Inclusion occurs when we value respectful interaction with each other, regardless of one’s background or beliefs. A liberal education requires that we explore a range of subject areas more deeply and that we question pre-conceived notions about our world. A liberal education helps us consider opposing viewpoints, analyze the merits of an argument, and confront stereotypical thinking. Theoretically, this makes sense but what does it mean in real-time, when our values and way of life are challenged? This is when the hard work begins.

On a personal level, it has been uncomfortable for me to examine what I believe, who I am, and how our university and society operate. Self-examination begets personal vulnerability because we may not have the answers, nor may we fully understand another person’s experience. In response, we seek out the familiar and attempt to restore a sense of order. But for me, I know that change can also be liberating if I don’t allow my discomfort and assumptions to get in the way of my need to listen, to consider new ideas, and to be respectful and caring in my relationships.

At Colgate, many have heard the call for improving the campus climate, and several good initiatives are underway related to faculty and staff skill development, curricular innovation, student engagement and programming, and institutional leadership and support. As your dean, I long to be able to report, “all is well, and we will have these problems addressed soon.” But that is not true because cultural change happens over time. That should not mean that we wring our hands in despair and say it is too difficult to change ourselves, or Colgate.

We can embrace the events of the fall, consider what they mean for our own personal development, and stay open to the work that we began together. We can have a strong Colgate family, where we look out for each other, during times of agreement and conflict. I believe that we can build a Colgate that is a caring and an inclusive place for all.

Sincerely,
Dean Nelson

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