Good Night Irene and Thanks to So Many

For many of us on campus and throughout the Hampton Roads region, we could not wait to utter the words, "Good Night Irene."

The storm did its share of damage to the campus, but it never dampened the spirit of the many employees who stayed here during the torrential rain and steady winds. They kept the ODU community updated on the latest storm-related news and pulled together as a team in an effort to minimize damages and class-related interruptions.

I will avoid naming names in this space because there were so many superstars. I would encourage you, however, to find a way to say thanks to the folks in public safety, facilities and grounds, OCCS, housing and food services. Our emergency preparedness people and senior administration performed admirably throughout this hurricane.

I should add that many of these same people are now taking on the task of handling similar challenges at their own homes. I cannot say thank you enough to all of you!

If you ever wondered for a second why The Chronicle of Higher Education named ODU a great place to work, just look around at your fellow employees, especially during a crisis. They execute with poise and perfection. We are blessed to be in a community where talent and hard work are evident in everything we do - from classroom instruction and research to serving students or each other.

Have a great semester.

John R. Broderick

President