Observations

Adapting to a Changing World

Message from President Woodward

Dear Friends,

We recently celebrated the graduation of students from the classes of 2020 and 2021—in five ceremonies over two days at the XL Center in Hartford. We recognize these graduates who persevered through a period unlike any other in our collective memories. These resilient and creative students epitomize an inner spirit running through this generation that helps push them to finish what they start, to find success in the face of tough odds, and to turn their dreams into realities through hard work, patience, tenaciousness, and a willingness to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Francis X. and Nancy Hursey, from an earlier generation or two of UHart alumni, have shown the same determined spirit in their own amazing story of professional achievement and personal resiliency. Through incredible ingenuity and daily hard work in engineering and health care, the Hurseys have literally saved the lives of thousands of people and will better the lives of thousands of future UHart students through their inventions, care, and generosity. At our soon-to-open Hursey Center on campus, the future of health care, engineering, and technology will unfold before our very eyes, day by day and generation by generation.

One hundred years is a long time. Yet, The Hartt School has been at the top of its game for that long a stretch; changing with the times, embodying excellence in a hyper-competitive world, and creating a century-long span of empathy and emotion, expression and energy. A list of stars, educators, artists, and award winners would take up the rest of this magazine! Thank you as you raise our spirits, express our anguish and joy, and make our daily lives so much richer by what you work so hard to do. Here’s to another 100!

Resiliency, patience, hard work, never giving up, realizing your dreams, adapting as needed, and seizing the moment; our graduating students, Frank and Nancy Hursey, and The Hartt School have done it all.

Showing those same traits this past March, our men’s basketball team earned its first-ever America East championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Congratulations to the Hawks’ players and coaches on a truly special season.

Staying on the athletics front, our Board of Regents voted on May 6 to begin the multi-year process of transitioning the University’s intercollegiate athletics programs from Division I to Division III. This decision was understandably confusing for some in the UHart community coming within two months of the excitement surrounding our men’s basketball team.

This decision was not made lightly. Over the past year, the University has engaged in conversations at the Board and campus level about the best ways to provide an exceptional academic and campus experience for all students, of which our intercollegiate athletics program is an integral part. The Board participated in a process that aligns with their responsibilities as fiduciaries and visionaries on behalf of all students, faculty, and staff. This ongoing process took into consideration some of the stark fiscal and enrollment realities that exist across all of higher education today and those associated with our budget and offerings.

The NCAA Division III philosophy states that colleges and universities “place the highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of all students’ academic programs.” The Board embraces this model and encourages the campus to seek and build bridges that span the academic and sport opportunities that are hallmarks of higher education. The Board and I are grateful for all that our student-athletes and athletics staff contribute to the University community. As we move forward, regents and University leadership are committed to building a future structure for the University that equitably and sustainably supports our students’ transformative academic, extracurricular, residential, athletic, and recreational educational experiences. Together, these signature experiences help sustain and create the very bright future of the University of Hartford.

We Want to Hear from You!

H welcomes comments and thoughts from readers and alumni, and while we can’t print or personally respond to each letter or email, we promise that we do read and appreciate them. Comments published on this page express the views of the writers and not the University of Hartford or staff of H. Letters and emails are edited for clarity, space, and UHart style.

MAIL: H Editor, Office of Marketing and Communication, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117

EMAIL: editor@hartford.edu

What a pleasant surprise it was to see the Summer 2020 issue, on page 65, mention “The Boss Was Here.” Was he ever! Thanks for choosing this. That year, I was privileged to run the Concert Committee on the Program Council. Although the Concert Committee produced the concert, we had to coordinate it with the Spring Weekend Committee. I still remember sitting at the entrance to the cafeteria by the dorms playing his record over and over again on a portable record player, trying to drum up some interest. Quite frankly, there wasn’t much.

Bruce was the opening of the three acts, followed by The Chambers Brothers and the headliner, Mountain. Bruce blew them away! Nothing could live up to, let alone surpass, his performance. The Chambers Brothers served as a pleasant diversion before the stumbling, bombastic attempted showmanship by Lesley West of Mountain.

Thanks to Larry Stern for sharing this poster showcasing that night in 1974.

It’s hard to believe that concert was close to 50 years ago. Bruce wrote and still writes the best lyrics (if you haven’t seen it, watch the 2019 movie Blinded by the Light), is probably the most erudite of the rockers, and is still relevant today. —Larry Stern ’75 (Barney)

I saw the box on page 56 of your summer issue about the fact that Bruce Springsteen had performed at the University on April 27, 1974. I remember coming out of the dining hall. A young man pulled up in his car and rolled down his window. He asked me where the gym was—I gave him directions. I thought he must be a student from one of the nearby schools coming to attend the concert that I knew was to happen in the gym later that day. I did not recognize his face, so I figured he was not a University of Hartford student.

My friends and I went to that concert. The fellow who had asked for directions was there all right. On the stage. First on the bill. None of us had any idea who he was. I did not learn his name until sometime after the concert was over. I was so impressed with him that I cannot remember who else was on the bill. —Alanna Mozzer ’74 (ENHP)

H, Summer 2020 issue

We are pleased to share that the summer 2020 issue of H was recognized for excellence by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, winning gold distinction in the District I awards competition.

FOR THE RECORD

Bill Dougal ’73 was named an Arts Hero by the Connecticut Office of the Arts in May 2019. His name was incorrect and the year of his honor unclear in the class note that appeared on p. 43 of the summer 2020 issue.