Dear Bellarmine University students, faculty and staff,

Given the enormity and seriousness of the recent tragedy on our campus, I recommend now that we turn our attention to four things:

1. Let us continue to storm the heavens with prayer for Katie McCoy, her deceased infant daughter, Katie’s family, friends and roommates – and indeed all of us touched by the tragedy.
2. Let us be sure as members of the Bellarmine community not to keep whatever pain, emotion and confusion the tragedy may have engendered bottled up inside us. Rather, let us be sure to talk with one another about what has occurred and about our experience of it – with friends, and if you wish, with professionals in our community.
3. Let us also use the tragedy to remind ourselves and one another that no man or woman among us is or needs to feel like an island, lonely, isolated and cut off from others – either consciously or unconsciously. As individuals, we are born into society, into personal contact and relationships with other human beings. We should always remember that nothing in our experience on this earth is so painful that we cannot reach out and discuss the situation with trusted others. And this is a very important point from my perspective – we must always remember that reaching out and getting help, actively and aggressively seeking support and direction from others, personally and professionally, when we need it, is absolutely and in no way whatsoever an act of weakness. Rather reaching out and getting help when we need it is a powerful, loving action that evidences enormous personal strength.
4. Finally, let us be sure now to get on with our lives as individuals and as an academic community. Without in any way diminishing the sadness or enormity of the recent tragedy, it is important for us now to return our attention to full participation in the life of our great University. We owe that to ourselves and to one another. Peace.

Here’s This Month’s Update

Nominations open for "The Bellarmines"
It's not too late to make a nomination for the faculty and staff awards. We are still accepting nominations on our website for our 2007-2008 faculty and staff awards. The awards recognize the distinguished achievements of faculty and staff in living the core values of the Bellarmine campus community. To nominate a faculty or staff member for one of these prestigious awards, please visit the nomination page. The page includes descriptions of the awards, along with a form you can use to make a nomination. Just enter the name of the nominee, your name (optional), choose the appropriate award, and include a brief description of why your nominee is deserving. Award winners will receive a beautiful stoneware "Bellarmine jug."

New Multi-Use Recreational Path Project

If you haven't been across the street to Joe Creason Park lately, check it out. Walkers, joggers and cyclists have a new recreational destination, thanks to a new paved multi-use path system that was dedicated on Friday, Oct. 5 by Mayor Jerry Abramson. The project includes a new pedestrian bridge over Beargrass Creek, 4,500 feet of new asphalt, and a new pedestrian entrance to the park at Newburg Road and Trevilian Way. The path connects Joe Creason Park property with Bellarmine property to create four possible walking routes, ranging from a half-mile to 1.5 miles.

Stephen A. Williams "Knighted" By Bellarmine

Bellarmine “knighted” Stephen A. Williams at the university’s annual Knight of Knights black-tie dinner and dance celebration on Saturday, Oct. 13. The honor has been bestowed upon an individual since 1998 in recognition of outstanding support and service to the university.

Sir Williams, president and chief executive officer for Norton Healthcare, has been with Norton since 1977 and has served as president/CEO since 1993. A native of Lola, in western Kentucky, Williams has the unique distinction of having served as CEO of Kentucky's smallest hospital at the time (Livingston County, 26 beds, 1972-77, at age 22) and now serving as CEO of Kentucky's largest health care system.

Heyward To Speak, Serve As Fellow

Retired President of CBS News Andrew Heyward will serve as a Fellow at Bellarmine’s Institute for Media, Culture and Ethics this fall. He will visit the Institute Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, and his activities will include meeting with students in communications classes, speaking to the Student Government Association about broadcast network coverage of Presidential elections, and a public lecture on November 1. The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Frazier Hall, and Mr. Heyward is expected to speak about his experiences at CBS News and the state of network news.

Recently, Heyward was in the news when former CBS anchor Dan Rather sued the network and three executives for $70 million. Rather asserts that the network violated his contract by giving him insufficient airtime on "60 Minutes" after forcing him to step down as anchor of the CBS Evening News in March 2005. As part of his public lecture and within the limits prescribed by CBS attorneys, Heyward will discuss the lawsuit and circumstances regarding Rather’s departure from CBS.

Study Rates Bellarmine’s Website As Nation's Fifth Best

The National Research Center for College & University Admissions (NRCCUA) ranked our admissions Web site as the best in the South and fifth among all 3,087 schools in the nation. The 9th annual "Enrollment Power Index," a research-based analysis, rates how well the functionality and design of college and university Web sites provide information to potential students to take them from prospect to applicant.

This rating by students is especially gratifying because we recently redesigned the site to provide better service to our students and prospective students and all of the work was accomplished in-house, by staff members who are all Bellarmine graduates.”

Welcome Dr. Louis Heuser

Dr. Louis Heuser has joined the faculty of the Lansing School as Asst. Professor and has joined the University as Executive in Residence. His work will revolve around Health and Wellness for the campus. Dr. Heuser in collaboration with Dr. Mark Wiegand are planning a Personal Wellness elective course for Spring 2008. In addition, the program planning and curriculum development is well underway for a major in Exercise Science. The pilot first course for the Exercise Science major is being planned also for Spring 2008.

Congratulations Drs. Boyce and Golemboski

Congratulations to Dr. David Boyce and Dr. Karen Golemboski who have been awarded grant funding from the Kentucky Physical Therapy Association. The research topic is "The Relationship between the Application of Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy (MIRE) and the Liberation of Nitric Oxide".

"Innovative Learning Activity"

Congratulations to Professor Joan Masters on the publication of her article, "Innovative Learning Activity", in the Journal of Nursing Education, August 2007.

Wellness Wednesdays

Senior Nursing Students in Nursing 415, Community Health Nursing with their Instructor, Karen McCoy are have been recognized in the Courier Journal for the "Wellness Wednesdays" at Wayside Christian Mission. Students are presenting an interactive educational experience for the women at the shelter. Seniors with Dr. Beverley Holland are conducting basic health checks and providing information about health-related topics at the Senior Wellness Center on Burnett Street.

Nursing Majors Publish

Congratulations to Dania Ng, Janice Morgan and Monica Key, nursing majors, on the acceptance of their research article for publication in Kentucky Nurse.

President's Update suggestions

If you have a suggestion for an item for the President's Update, please send it to Jim Welp in the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.