Our Winning Teams
G O O D
A F T E R N O O N ,L A D I E SA N DG E N T L E M A N .I am pleased to have the
opportunity to report to the Committee today and share news with you about the University of
Maryland. Your support of the University in the past year has been generous, and I believe you
will be pleased with the return on your investment.
I would like to extend an invitation to every legislator to visit the campus.This past fall
w e had the opportunity to welcome to the University the Senate Economic Health and
Environmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Blount, and the House Economic Matters
Committee, chaired by Delegate Busch.These committees toured some of our new buildings,
learned of our goals and progress in key areas, and shared some of their concerns and interests.
We are always eager to have members of the General Assembly visit our campus, get to know the
University, and see first hand why we feel such pride in the service we provide to the State.
Please let Ross Stern know of your interest, and we’ll be happy to arrange for a visit.
The State of Maryland has been most supporti ve of the Uni versity.You have g iven us a
mandate to rise to the highest le vel of achievement, and we have been the beneficiary of much-
needed resources that have helped us achie ve that goal.Your faith in the institution has been
crucial and has been rewarded. It has inspired us and has been matched by an energy and
commitment to achievement that have propelled, and continue to fuel, our extraordinary
momentum. Our accomplishments have brought us new visibility among potential students,
among star faculty whom we wish to recruit, U. S. and international governments seeking
expertise of a major research university, national policy makers who want advice and counsel on
a variety of issues, national research funding organizations, and the general public. Our success is
making news nationally and locally. In Spring 2001, during the “final four” basketball play-offs
The Baltimore Sun reported in a front page story titled “Campus on a Tear” that sports were just
catching up to our academic achievements. In this past December, The Washington Post picked up
on the same theme and wrote about our “Other Winning Teams,” taking off from news about
our exciting football team’s trip to the Orange Bowl to highlight our winning academic teams.
We ha ve had another outstanding year, and we remain on track in our pursuit of
excellence across the University. Our Bold Vision. Bright Future Campaign has met and
surpassed its goal, and donors and friends are increasing their involvement, as Appendix A
illustrates. With the continued support of the General Assembly, we will press on at a rapid pace
tow ard the top echelon of research universities.
In the testimony this year, I would like to update the Assembly on our current
accomplishments and outline the increasingly important role we play in the State’s and nation’s
agenda.
The University Leads in the Best of Times and the Worst of Times
The University, like the countr y,w as tested in unusual ways during Fall 2001 and has emerged
with new strengths. Several major e vents demonstrate the University’s ability to respond
positively to challenges and highlight its national stature.
National Tragedy and Day of Mourning: September 11
Our entire campus community, faculty, staff, and students, w as shaken after the horrific and
tragic events of September 11. A large number of our students come from the Northeast
region, and many of our University family suffered personal losses. We lost alumni, former
employees and students. Our campus moved rapidly to express the deep sympathy we felt
for all and to offer reassurance to members of the Islamic faith in our community. On
September 12, in a moving memorial service on the Mall, more than 10,000 faculty, staff,
and students gathered, each carrying a flower, to remember those lost. Out of the event
emerged a new spirit of solidarity that bound us together as a community.
Tornado and Aftermath: September 24
The first tornado in the area in many years touched down on the campus with devastating
effect on September 24. Two students, children of a University employee, lost their lives.
The temporary quarters of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) were
completely destroyed; hundreds of cars were tossed and crumpled; ten thousand trees
were damaged; and student housing was rendered temporarily unsafe. The response was
immediate and overwhelming.The campus organized assistance to help students find
shelter and food and deal with insurance claims. An outpouring of assistance from the
surrounding area, from fire departments, restaurants, private citizens, brought much needed
help. A dedicated physical plant staff worked round the clock to remove dangerous debris
and correct building problems.The MFRI staff pulled together, and the unit continued
its outstanding work training State and national fire crews.The short recovery time was
amazing and heartwarming. Once again, the University’s response to an emergency
was outstanding.
Opening of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center: September 29
Thanks to the effort of our staff, the gala opening of the stunning new Performing Arts
Center occurred on schedule, five days after the tornado.This state-of-the-art multi-venue
center is a tribute to the vision of State legislatures who voted in 1993 to support the arts
in Maryland; to Governor Glendening’s early commitment to this center; to everyone
who worked to realize the dream; and to the private donors who have given generously
to nourish the arts in Maryland. The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is unique in its emphasis on education and performance: it provides a place where generations of
future artists can receive a superb education, where community groups can gather and area
students can receive an introduction to the arts, and a venue where Maryland residents can
attend outstanding performances by international stars. Over 1,000 events are scheduled in
the Center in this inaugural year.The Center has attracted more donors and brought more
private support to the University than any other program at the University. In music,
theater, and dance, the Clarice Smith Center will be the crown jewel of the arts at the
University and in the State.
American Association of Universities Annual Meeting: October 22 -26
The University was delighted to host the annual meeting of the presidents of the
prestigious AAU universities, the top 61 public and private research universities in the
country.We showcased our new Performing Arts Center and outstanding student
performers in an event at the Center and introduced them to Maryland history and
cuisine at a banquet at Riversdale Mansion.
First U.S.-China Science Research Park: November 8
During a visit to the Peoples Republic of China where he was an invited speaker at the
World Productivity Congress, President Mote signed a Memorandum of Understanding
between the University of Maryland and the Ministry of Science and Technology of
China to establish a US-China Science Park at College Park, which will be China’s first
overseas science park and the cornerstone of China’s research outreach in this country.
Nelson Mandela Lecture: November 14
On November 14, President Nelson Mandela, a towering figure among world leaders, delivered the annual Anwar Sadat Lecture on Peace in the Cole Field House. President Mandela’s lecture, the only one he delivered to an American university, was attended by a
crowd of 10,000 students, faculty, staff, and invited guests.
Distinguished University Professor Emeritus David Driskell named as recipient of Frederick Douglass Award: December 14
The University System of Maryland has selected Uni versity of Maryland Professor
Emeritus David Driskell as recipient of the Frederick Douglass Award this year. Former recipients of this lifetime achievement award include Kweisi Mfume and Dorothy Height. In Dr. Driskell’s honor, the College of Arts and Humanities is establishing the Driskell Center for Studies in the African-American Diaspora to attract world famous researchers and educate the next generation of scholars to build on Dr. Driskell’s legacy. A gala is scheduled for September featuring a benefit performance by Bill Cosby. Professor Driskell is curator of the Cosby’s private collection of African-American art.
These are a few of the events that were milestones during the past year.
In 1988, the legislators of the State of Maryland put into law their desire to create a public
research university equal to the very best public research universities in the country. This
commitment and mandate was reaffirmed in 1999 in SB682.The University of Maryland is
ranked among the very best, and we intend to move to the top. The General Assembly of
Maryland can have confidence that the University’s contributions to the State will continue to
be excellent.
Our students, faculty, and programs continue to repay the State’s in vestments by a remarkable growth in quality.
The University plays a key role in forwarding State of Maryland and national agendas.