Holub calls for moving campus into top publics nationally
In his first public appearance since taking office earlier this month, new Chancellor Robert C. Holub called for moving the Amherst campus into the “upper echelon of public institutions of higher education in the United States.”
Addressing more than 400 guests at the annual Community Breakfast held Aug. 28 in Franklin Dining Commons, Holub said, “To continue moving our great flagship institution forward will require the energy of everyone gathered here today and of many people not assembled in this room.”
The chancellor also acknowledged the campus’ relationship with the region. “Just as we benefit when the communities surrounding the campus prosper, so too the communities in which we are embedded will thrive when the University succeeds,” he said.
Holub, who moved with his family from Knoxville, Tenn., said, “We are looking forward to experiencing a real New England autumn with its many distinctive colors and hues. I am, perhaps, less effusive about the snow thing, which I realize follows the foliage thing. But, I intend to keep an open mind: becoming a member of a new community means truly embracing it – including the frozen parts.”
The chancellor’s wife, Sabine, could not attend the breakfast as she was enrolling two of their daughters in elementary school. The couple also has an 18-month-old daughter who is attending day care on campus, he said.
The event, which is co-sponsored by the campus and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, drew its usual assortment of local civic and business leaders, legislators and members of the Five College community. The turnout, according to Ken Toong, director of Dining Services, was “the largest in recent memory.”
John Dubach, who emceed the breakfast, introduced Sen. Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) and state representatives Peter Kocot (D-Northampton), John Scibak (D-South Hadley), Ellen Story (D-Amherst) and Ben Swan (D-Springfield) as well as local officials from Amherst, Northampton, Leverett, Hadley and Deerfield. Lorna Peterson, executive director of Five Colleges, Inc. and the presidents of Hampshire College and Greenfield and Holyoke community colleges were also introduced.
Cinda Jones, president of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, praised the campus’ efforts to promote local businesses and called for greater cooperation in the future.
“Let’s work together to build and maintain a strong local economy that will attract students, faculty and money to UMass,” she said. “Let’s build a literal yellow brick road to downtown Amherst from the UMass and Amherst College campuses.”
Larry Shaffer, Amherst’s town manager, echoed Jones’ comments.
“The relationship between the town of Amherst and the University is strong and getting stronger,” said Shaffer. “I look forward to working with Chancellor Holub to improve our community.”
Esther Terry, interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life and co-chair of the UMass Amherst Charitable Campaign (UMACC), said the annual drive helps cement longstanding bonds between the University and area communities. Over the last 10 years, she noted campus employees have donated more than $4 million to local, state, national and international charities.
The event concluded with a performance by members of the Minuteman Marching Band led by director George N. Parks.
The Community Breakfast is coordinated by the Office of Public Affairs.
August 28, 2008.
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