This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
From Marsh Memorial


Dear Friend of Springfield College, SpRInGFIELD CoLLEGE STuDEnTS AnD FACuLTY have started the academic year on a campus that looks vastly different than when they left it in May. As many of you know, on the afternoon of June 1, a tornado struck western Massachusetts and left devastation in its path. not long after members of the staff and faculty had left for home at the end of the workday, the tornado reached the campus and was tearing down trees, breaking windows, and sending mattresses from International Hall into Lake Massasoit. (See page 8.) Thankfully, there was no injury to students, faculty, or staff. In the aftermath, the campus was closed for four days to allow


crews to work unimpeded, but the College resumed its normal schedule on June 6. A successful Reunion 2011 was held June 9- 12, and SoAR (Summer orientation, Advising, and Registration), Camp Massasoit, and summer sports camps went on as scheduled.


Also lost during the tornado were hundreds of century-old


trees, including many specimen trees on naismith Green. These trees have been cleared away, and the green spaces have been resodded. We estimate the total cost of the damage to the campus at $7-10 million. Although these losses have changed our vantage, they have


not changed our vision. nor have they changed our mission, or those who live it every day. In fact, within hours of the tornado, our alumni, students, faculty, and staff rallied to do what they know best: Serve. Volunteers participated in clean-up efforts on the campus, and worked to support those in our neighborhood who also suffered tremendous damage. (See page 6.) Additionally, others have made monetary contributions to the


Spirit of Renewal, a fund which is designated toward the College’s tree replanting program. Springfield College is grateful to these individuals and groups. one such group was comprised of a number of local and regional colleges, which made a donation to be applied to the cost of replacing those magnificent trees. (Read on page 17 about an alumni couple whose relationship with Doc Brainerd prompted another such gift.) Although the tornado rocked our boat for a short


President Flynn and Justin Felisko ’12, editor of the Student newspaper and one of the many student volunteers who helped with the campus cleanup and service


An aggressive renovation schedule and a resilient College


community combined to ensure that three damaged residence halls were fully ready for occupancy when our students arrived on Labor Day weekend. Damage to the windows and roofs of Reed and Massasoit was quickly repaired. Restoration work on International, which was damaged much more extensively, proceeded steadily throughout the summer, concluding just before Labor Day.


time, it never diverted us from our true course. our recent ten-year reaccreditation by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the new England Association of Schools and Colleges (nEASC), and the addition of the newly opened Stitzer YMCA Center (see page 10) and Springfield College Museum, were bright moments in the past year. other campus improvements during the summer were the renova- tion of the Administration Building, the addition of more “smart” classrooms, new bathrooms in Lakeside Hall, and the extension of wireless service. We contin- ue to focus on our strategic plan, as well as other projects related to campus master planning, including opportunities made possible through recent land acquisitions adjacent to the campus. All things considered, it was a dark moment for Springfield College. However, the College’s resilience,


and the hard work of many individuals, resulted in an aggressive response to this harsh act of nature. And, today the College is just as strong as ever, as enthusiastic about the future, as well prepared for that future, and as deeply committed to our long- standing mission as we have ever been.


Sincerely,


Richard B. Flynn, Ed.D. president


2 TRIANGLE 1 Vol . 83, No. 1


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35