This week in the news
University of Richmond inaugurates ninth president
The University of Richmond has inaugurated its
ninth president in the school’s 176-year history.
A noted historian of the American south, Edward
L. Ayers recounted Friday the university’s history
before outlining his goals for the school. His goals
include a renewed focus on diversity, affordability
and improving its relationship with the city.
A former dean at the University of Virginia who
took the president’s job on July 1, Ayers won a
Bancroft Prize in 2004 for his book about the Civil
War. He has also been a finalist for the National
Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
Harvard University President Drew Gilpen Faust
gave opening remarks. Richmond Mayor L. Douglas
Wilder and Virginia’s Secretary of Education Thomas
Morris were also in attendance.
Brief by the Associated Press
Randolph-Macon receives $2 million gift
Randolph-Macon College received $2 million
from a Suffolk couple to support math and science
programs.
The late Muscoe Garnett, a 1930 Randolph-Macon
graduate, and his wife Dorothy left the gift.
About $1 million will create a math professorship
named for the couple. Also, $500,000 will go toward
a proposed science building on campus, and the
rest of the money will help establish a chemistry
professorship.
Muscoe Garnett was a student assistant in the
chemistry department during his time at the Ashland
school. He founded Garnett Oil Company, which
later was sold.
Brief by the Associated Press
VCU Massey Cancer Center reaches $500,000 goal
The Massey Fundraising Challenge reached its
goal of raising $500,000 with the Ukrop’s Monument
Avenue 10k.
More than 1,800 individuals and 111 teams
participated in the Massey Fundraising Challenge,
supported by a 37-member volunteer committee
chaired this year by Jim Merritt and Julian Ottley.
More than 300 volunteers helped stuff 30,000 race
packets and staffed water stations along the course,
among other jobs.
New this year was the “Friends Asking Friends”
online fundraising program, which allowed individuals
and teams to seek donations for their race
participation.
Also new this year were sales of paper race bibs
for $1 at area Ukrop’s stores, which raised more
than $5,000.
For more information about the VCU Massey
Cancer Center, visit www.massey.vcu.edu.
Staff report; information from Julie Dillon
Staff Senate to present Safety Fair
The VCU Staff Senate will host a Safety Fair from
10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Commons Plaza April 15.
Twenty-five companies covering topics ranging from
campus safety to health safety will be represented.
Among other initiatives, a VCU Alert table will
be set up for students to sign up for the emergency
text-messaging system.
In the event of rain, the fair will be moved to the Richmond Salons in the University Student Commons.
Staff report; information from the Staff Senate
