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January 29, vol xv, number 1 Events Calendar Jan. 29 Wellness Center Groundbreaking STT Jan. 29 Financial Literacy Workshops STX Jan. 29 Financial Literacy Workshops STT Jan. 31 Playing Ring at Reichhold Center STT Feb. 4-5 Thurgood Marshall Conference STT Feb. 6 Climate Workshop STT Feb. 7 Mario at Reichhold Center STT I t was standing room only in the Dining Pavilion on UVI’s St. Thomas campus for the viewing of the inau- guration of President Barack Obama. Students, employees and members of the commu- nity gathered in front of the large screen TV to witness the nation’s fi rst African-Ameri- can president take his oath of offi ce. The air was fi lled with anticipation, then the crowd erupted into cheers as cameras panned in on Obama entering the Capitol Building. Attend- ees stood as Obama said his oath, bursting into applause and cheers when he had fi n- ished. Many wore t-shirts that bore Obama’s name or likeness and Obama pins that were distributed by the Student Activities Offi ce. President Obama’s rise as leader of the United States meant similar things to UVI students. “It means a lot, not only because he’s African American,” said freshman Ciaira Joseph, but also because of “his thoughts, his purpose, the ideas he has for changing America.” Freshman Shantee Seive- wright remained in the Din- ing Pavilion watching inau- gural proceedings after most spectators had left. She was taking notes for an English class assignment. She said that Obama’s presidency rep- resented freedom. “I feel we’ll be included this time,” she said. Senior fi nance major Ad- lah Donastorg III said the 2008 presidential election sparked his interest in na- tional politics. “I have high expectations for him,” Donas- torg said of the new president. “Hopefully he can live up to them.” Jamalie Thomas, a soph- omore accounting major, said President Obama’s inaugura- tion was the fi rst one that he has watched. Thomas was amazed at the turnout. “The number of peo- ple there for (the inauguration of) one person is just unbelievable,” he said. Thomas said he was touched by the reaction of people who lived through segregation and also lived Top: UVI students and employees, and members of the com- munity gather at the St. Thomas campus’ Dining Pavilion to view the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Bottom: Students applaud at the Inauguration ceremony. Inauguration Watches Draw Dozens Feb. 10 Public Relations Workshop STX Feb. 11 Institutional Advancement Forum STJ Feb. 12 Institutional Advancement Forum STX Feb. 13 Public Relations Workshop STT Feb. 14-16 USVI Agriculture Fair STX Feb. 17 Institutional Advancement Forum STT See Inauguration on Next Page Prepared for Emergency GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu dateline: UVI 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 dateline: UVI is a production of the UVI Public Rela- tions Offi ce. Contact us by telephone at 340-693-1056 or by fax at 340-693-1055. T wo presidential candidates were introduced to the University com- munity on Jan. 27, 28 and 29. Dr. Calvin Jamison and Dr. David Hall, the fi nal- ists to replace UVI President LaVerne E. Ragster, were selected after an exten- sive national search process. The UVI Board of Trustees will meet on Jan. 30 and 31 to interview the two candidates and hopes to name the new president in early February. Dr. Jamison is presently the vice president for Busi- ness Affairs at the University of Texas at Dallas, and is a clinical professor in the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences. He has over 25 years of experience in higher education, corporate America and local govern- ment. Dr. Jamison holds B.S., M.A. and Ed.D degrees from Virginia Tech. Dr. Hall is currently a Professor of Law at North- eastern University School of Law and has had a career as an administrator in the law school and the university. Dr. Hall holds both doctorate of juridi- cal science and LL.M. degrees from Harvard Law School, a J.D. and M.A. from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. from Kansas State University. The presidential search was con- ducted by a 15-member Search Com- mittee appointed by the UVI Board of Trustees. It included a broad rep- resentation from UVI and the Virgin Islands community. Isaacson Miller, a national executive search fi rm, was retained by the Board to assist the Search Commit- tee in recruiting and screening candidates for the posi- tion. The search process included the review of over 70 applications received in response to local and national advertisements as well as the search fi rm’s contact with over 300 leaders in higher education on the U.S. main- land and the Caribbean. Dr. Ragster will step down on June 30, after seven years at as president of UVI. UVI Presidential Search Yields Two Finalists Dr. David Hall Dr. Calvin Jamison St. Croix’s Acting Campus Executive Ad- ministrator Nereida Washington, right, and St. Thomas Acting Campus Execu- tive Administrator Lilly Mae Durante strategize at a Jan. 16 emergency drill on UVI’s St. Croix campus. An explosion and fi re with injuries were simulated. The drill was designed to test the effectiveness of the St. Croix campus emergency response procedures. Once the drill was completed, HOVENSA Fire Chief Bob Miller said the drill had served its purpose. to witness the historic inauguration. “He’s setting the standard high for what we can be,” Thomas said, “and he’s just so cool, he’s just so smooth.” Inauguration Watch stations were also set up on the St. Thomas campus at the Student Activities Center and the Health Services Offi ce and on the St. Croix campus at the Cafetorium. Inauguration Continued