April 17, 2020

Happy Friday, Everyone!

You’ve heard a lot from me this week—and may yet hear more, because we continue to navigate crises large and small for our entire community. You may recall that my Friday messages are dedicated to good news. So this afternoon take a look at these opportunities to do something nice for yourself. Here you will find resources to relax, get fit, or be creative. You will also find something to celebrate: two of our students being named Truman Scholars!

Missing out on live music? The School of Music, Theatre and Dance in the College of Liberal Arts has taken their “This Week at the UCA” concert series online, offering wonderful performances from our faculty in a variety of genres.

What about art? The Gregory Allicar Museum of Art at CSU recently updated their site with new programs and videos, so grab some of your family and check it out—no velvet ropes or crowds to contend with.

I’m also delighted to note that creativity and innovation are still very much part of our campus community during this challenging time, and that the Allicar Museum wants to support those things. Just accept their social media challenge (#recreategama) to recreate a work of art from the museum collection with what you have on hand. I am looking around my kitchen at Magnolia and seeing a lot of dried pasta, some olives …

And if you are worried about the phenomenon that people are calling “the quarantine 15,” our Adult Fitness Program is here to help, with a wide variety of exercise videos. Lace up your sneakers or get out your yoga mat to work out virtually with fellow Rams.

Finally, this past Monday I had the incredible honor of actually breaking the news to CSU’s two 2020 Truman Scholars, Sarah Greichen of the College of Business and Brianne Lauro in the Warner College of Natural Resources and Design. Watch their surprise and excitement—and meet their families—in these videos. And if you know either of them, shoot them a congratulatory email or text, as an alternative to the high-five or hug you might have otherwise given them on campus.

Thank you all so much for all you do to keep our community strong and vibrant, even from afar.

Warmly,

Joyce