President speaks of university's progress: final

St. Edward’s University President George Martin said the university has prospered despite tough economic times when he addressed a crowd of faculty, staff and students today.

The fall 2009 President’s Meeting commemorated Martin’s 10th anniversary with St. Edward's. Since his inauguration in October 1999, Martin has worked to implement a 10-year plan of improvements. The plan, consisting of seven strategic priorities, aims to make St. Edward’s one of the best small universities in the country.

Martin considers this effort to be a growing success. The university has received several accolades in recent years, including being named among the top five “Up-and-Coming Universities” in the Western region by academic peers, according to a survey conducted by U.S. News and World Report. St. Edward’s also ranked among the top 10 universities in Texas according to Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

In addition to celebrating the progress and accomplishments of the university, Martin spoke of economic challenges.

In preparation for the 2009-2010 school year, Student Financial Services received an influx of queries, and more people used the online financial aid calculator than ever before, he said. But St. Edward’s still welcomed its largest freshman class yet, with 757 students joining the campus community.

While this year’s enrollment rates were not compromised due to financial instability, Martin feels this could change.

“Some people say the year ahead is going to be more difficult than this past year,” he said. “We’re going to see public schools as a bigger threat than ever.”

Martin said he expects financial issues to become more of a deciding factor in college choice next year, because most of this year’s students had already set their minds on St. Edward’s before the economy went into such a steep decline.

Martin said that as financial strain increases, students are likely to become more needy, and he emphasized the critical role that St. Edward’s faculty and staff play.

“Sometimes I think we get so busy doing day-to-day that we forget,” he said. “What I really want you to understand is the impact you have on the lives of students.”

Martin expanded on the university’s partnership with France and the First Year in France program. The program allows French students to come to St. Edward's for their final three years of college. During their first year, they complete intensive American culture and English language classes at Institut Bois-Robert in preparation to study abroad.

Martin also introduced new faculty members, profiled the demographics of the freshmen class, announced technological and facility improvements on campus and discussed recent grants and awards.

“I really enjoyed President Martin’s speech,” Junior Rebecca Rodriguez said. “It was cool to hear about all the changes going on at SEU. I also thought the Topper Turbo ad was a funny addition.”

Topper Turbo, a new St. Edward’s marketed energy drink, was distributed to attendees as they entered the Mabee ballroom. The can design features Topper, the university mascot, and the slogan “It’ll give you hooves.”

The meeting began with a short video clip attributing Martin’s philanthropic achievements to the Topper Turbo drink. Images featured a photoshopped Martin, can in hand, participating in various extreme sports.

In celebration of Martin’s anniversary, university trustees Carolyn Gallagher and Brother Richard Daley commented on his performance and reminisced about their first impressions of him.

Both Gallagher and Daley were on the initial selection committee that hired Martin from his previous position as academic dean of St. Peter’s College in New Jersey.

“We did an intensive nationwide search, but I think it was clear to all of us that George was head and shoulders above everyone else,” Gallagher said.

When Martin was instated as president, he sought advice from the board of trustees, asking what their expectations were for his career with St. Edward’s.

“Take us to the next level,” Daley said.

Like Daley, other staff members said Martin has widely exceeded those expectations.

“Its exciting to see the progress we’ve made over the past 10 years” Residence Director Joseph Andrews said. “And I’m excited to see what the future has in store for the community at St. Edward’s.”

Lede Writing Exercise: Hard News

1. Print: Three to four children in the United States die every day from child abuse or neglect, according to a survey released yesterday by the Child Abuse Prevention Center.
1. Online: Three to four children in the United States die every day from child abuse or neglect, according to a survey released yesterday.

2. Both: Police arrested nearly 150 people for protesting outside of a Milwaukee abortion clinic yesterday.

3. Print: A delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint yesterday when an armed man threatened his life in exchange for the food he was carrying.
3. Online: A delivery driver for was robbed at gunpoint yesterday for the Chinese dishes he was carrying.

4. Print: Smoke and flames woke a homeowner yesterday when a lit cigarette set fire to her Main Street home.
4. Online: A cigarette was responsible for a house fire resulting in $45,ooo in damages.

5. Print: Murders and violent crimes rose during the first three months of the year, according to a report released yesterday by the Texas Bureau of Investigation.
5. Online: Murders in Texas rose by more than half, according to a report released yesterday.

6. Print: A depleting ozone layer could lead to an increase in skin cancer, according to a report released by the United Nations Environment Program yesterday.
6. Online: A depleting ozone layer could lead to an increase in skin cancer, according to a report released yesterday.

7. Both: A woman was charged with attempted murder yesterday when she set fire to her wheelchair bound husband.

8. Print: Broadband users spend more time on the Internet than those with dialup, according to a recent survey released by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
8. Online: Broadband users spend more time on the Internet than those with dialup, according to a recent survey.

9. Print: Princeton University is cracking down on grade inflation.
The university initiated a cap on the number of A’s allowed each semester.
Online: Princeton University is fighting grade inflation by limiting the number of A’s.

10. Both: Approximately 70 million Americans have trouble sleeping, according to a recent survey.

President Speaks of University's Progress

St. Edward’s University President George Martin highlighted developments in the university community when he addressed a crowd of faculty, staff and students today.

The fall 2009 President’s Meeting commemorated Martin’s 10th anniversary with St. Edward's. Since his inauguration in October of 1999, Martin has worked to implement a 10-year plan of improvements. The plan, consisting of seven strategic priorities, aims to make St. Edward’s one of the best small universities in the country.

Martin considers this effort to be a growing success. The university has received several accolades in recent years, including being named among the top five “Up-and-Coming Universities” in the Western region by academic peers, according to a survey conducted by U.S. News and World Report. St. Edward’s also ranked among the top 10 universities in Texas according to Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

In addition to celebrating the progress and accomplishments of the university, Martin spoke of economic challenges.

In preparation for the 2009-2010 school year, Student Financial Services received an influx of queries, and more people utilized the online financial aid calculator than ever before. But St. Edward’s still welcomed its largest freshman class yet, with 757 students joining the campus community.

While this year’s enrollment rates were not compromised due to financial instability, Martin feels this could change.

“Some people say the year ahead is going to be more difficult than this past year,” he said. “We’re going to see public schools as a bigger threat than ever.”

Martin said he expects financial issues to become more of a deciding factor in college choice next year, because most of this year’s students had already set their minds on St. Edward’s before the economy went into such a steep decline.

Martin said that as financial strain increases, students are likely to become more needy, and he emphasized the critical role that St. Edward’s faculty and staff play.

“Sometimes I think we get so busy doing day-to-day that we forget,” he said. “What I really want you to understand is the impact you have on the lives of students.”

Martin expanded on the university’s partnership with France and the First Year in France program. According to a St. Edward’s press release, “This program allows students to earn credit during their first year, while studying at Institut Bois-Robert, and preparing for the transition to an American university.” Students come to St. Edward’s for their final three years after taking extensive English and American culture classes at the French institution.

Martin also introduced new faculty members, profiled the demographics of the freshmen class, announced technological and facility improvements on campus and discussed recent grants and awards.

“I really enjoyed President Martin’s speech,” Junior Rebecca Rodriguez said. “It was cool to hear about all the changes going on at SEU. I also thought the Topper Turbo ad was a funny addition.”

Topper Turbo, a new St. Edward’s marketed energy drink, was distributed to attendees as they entered the Mabee ballroom this afternoon. The can design features Topper, the university mascot, and the slogan “It’ll give you hooves.”

The meeting began with a short video clip attributing President Martin’s philanthropic achievements to the Topper Turbo drink. Images featured a photoshopped Martin, can in hand, participating in various extreme sports.

In celebration of Martin’s anniversary, university trustees Carolyn Gallagher and Brother Richard Daley gave their opinions of the president’s progress and reminisced on their first impressions of him.

Both Gallagher and Daley were on the initial selection committee that hired Martin from his previous position as academic dean of St. Peter’s College.

“We did an intensive nationwide search, but I think it was clear to all of us that George was head and shoulders above everyone else—literally,” Gallagher said, taking a playful jab at Martin’s towering height.

When Martin was instated as president, he sought advice from the board of trustees, asking what their expectations were for his career with St. Edward’s.

“Take us to the next level,” Daley said.

Like Daley, other staff members said Martin has widely exceeded those expectations.

“Its exciting to see the progress we’ve made over the past ten years” Residence Director Joseph Andrews said. “And I’m excited to see what the future has in store for the community at St. Edward’s.”

New Blog

This blog will be utilized for online writing as part of the Journalism 2 class at St. Edward's University for the Fall 2009 semester.