Department of Communications and Marketing

Re-dedication of URI's World War I Memorial Gateway:
In 1917-1918, Rhode Island State College’s enrollment was 562, while the number of men from the college who served in World War I was 334. “It’s important to remember the dramatic impact that the war had on the college community,” said URI President Robert L. Carothers as he participated in the re-dedication of the Memorial Gateway on Upper College Road. “Today, as a community that grew from a college into a university, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of this monument to those who sacrificed so much in World War I. We are committed to keeping these gates open for future generations of Rhode Islanders and those who come from beyond our state.” Link for press release and more photos.

URI SMILE program founder named one of Rhode Island’s Women of the Year: Carol Englander sure has plenty to smile about. The middle school teacher has been named one of Rhode Island’s 2008 "Women of the Year" by the Rhode Island Commission on Women as a result of her work with the University's Science and Math Investigative Learning Experience (SMILE), which Englander started at URI 14 years ago.

Climate change causing significant shift in the species composition of coastal fish communities: A detailed analysis of data from nearly 50 years of weekly fish-trawl surveys in Narragansett Bay and adjacent Rhode Island Sound has revealed a long-term shift in species composition, which scientists attribute primarily to the effects of global warming. According to Graduate School of Oceanography Professor Jeremy Collie, the fish community has shifted progressively from vertebrate species (fish) to invertebrates (lobsters, crabs and squid). Research by Collie and his colleagues is published in the July issue of the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

Papers shed light on last R.I. trial to end in execution: Calling it the most important find of his professional career, labor and industrial relations Professor Scott Molloy, and a URI staff member have found papers belonging to Job Durfee, the 19th century Supreme Court chief justice who presided over the last case involving capital punishment in Rhode Island.

Swan building dedicated to honor long-serving provost: The dedication ceremony of the M. Beverly Swan Hall at the University on May 14 captured the essence of the long-serving provost woman. It was dignified and hilarious. Swan stepped down from her position as URI’s provost and vice president for academic affairs after serving 17 years in that post. Swan has since been named the Justin Smith Morrill Distinguished University Professor.

Event raises record amount for Rhody the Ram endowment: The 5th annual Rhody the Ram Yard Sale raised a record-breaking $2,700 earlier this month, nearly double what was raised last year. The fund-raiser benefits The Rhody the Ram Endowment, which provides financial support to students who serve as the University's mascot.

Link here to read about the University's branding initiative.

URI race walker strides to make Olympic team: Mike Kazmierczak turns heads wherever he goes. People even imitate him. The junior political science and sociology major is a race walker. He’s not just any run-of-the-track race walker.

Professor analyzes rare textiles from Honduran ruins: Very few textiles from the Mayan culture have survived, so the treasure trove of fabrics excavated from a tomb at the Copán ruins in Honduras since the 1990s has generated considerable excitement. Professor Margaret Ordoñez spent a month at the site in 2004 and has since been analyzing tiny fragments of 49 samples she brought back to her lab to see what she could learn from them.

President receives lifetime achievement award: The New England Board of Higher Education honored President Robert L. Carothers with the 2008 Eleanor M. McMahon Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award is named for the late Rhode Island higher education commissioner, scholar and educator.

Making Business Sense at URI: As President Robert L. Carothers notes in this opinion piece, based on the trend over recent years, the state support of URI will reach zero in about 2020. In the current fiscal year, the State of Rhode Island pays for only about 14% of the University’s total budget of some $524M, and next year the percentage will be lower yet. In short, the current system of funding Rhode Island’s state university is not sustainable.

Safety on campus and URI's EmergencyAlert system: The rapid notification system, EmergencyAlert, is just one component in the University's comprehensive emergency response program. Read the Feb. 2008 Quad Angles article for details.

Spring 2008 Dean's List

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		Link here for live images of construction projects in progress

Spring 2008 Dean's List

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