More than 100 applicants for UConn President's job

The committee searching for the next University of Connecticut president hopes to start narrowing the field this week.

During a UConn Board of Trustees meeting last week, board Chair Lawrence McHugh said UConn has received more than 100 applications and nominations.

He said the applicants and nominees are “promising candidates” and he expected the trustees to begin reviewing candidates when it met yesterday (N0v. 15).

Former UConn President Michael Hogan left the post this summer to take the president’s job at the University of Illinois.

The university had a pool of about 500 candidates when trustees selected Hogan as the 14th UConn president in August 2007.

Former UConn President Philip Austin, who held the position from October 1996 to August 2007, was appointed by trustees in June to serve as interim president.

McHugh announced a 39-member committee in July, comprised of trustees, faculty members, student leaders, staff, administrators, alumni and state and local officials, as well as representatives from the private sector, to help search for the next president.

The search committee agreed in September to hire Witt-Kieffer, one of the largest executive search firms in the nation, to help with the search.

McHugh said Tuesday the search committee is working well with Witt-Kiefer and he hopes to begin interviewing candidates next month.

He also said the candidates can be generally divided into three categories: current presidents and provosts of top research universities, presidents and deans of smaller institutions and those who are not currently working in the academic field.

“The most important things we’re going to be looking for are leadership, the ability to relate to our stakeholders, and a strong academic background,” said McHugh.

“We’re going to select a president who can maintain the excellence that UConn has achieved and will keep us on that path going forward.”

Posted Nov. 16, 2010

UConn students celebrate Philanthropy Day

The University of Connecticut Storrs campus celebrated Philanthropy Day Monday (Nov. 15) for the first time, with students themselves being asked to donate.

The purpose of the day was to educate UConn students about the importance of philanthropy and to thank UConn’s alumni and friends who have supported the university.

The day was hosted by the UConn Foundation’s Student Philanthropy Committee.

UConn alumn David Barton, a member of the UConn Alumni Association and a UConn donor, has issued a challenge to all UConn students: Give $5 or more to an area of interest and he will match each gift dollar for dollar up to a total of $25,000.

Student participants who visited the Student Philanthropy booth at either the Student Union or Fairfield Way entered to win several prizes, including an iPad. And there were giveaways at two dining halls.

Barton and members of the Student Philanthropy Committee hope Philanthropy Day will build awareness of the importance of giving among UConn students, particularly as part of the University’s $600 million capital campaign entitled “Our University. Our Moment. The Campaign for UConn.”

The campaign seeks to increase support for education, research and outreach.

“Students need to understand the economics of education, that tuition pays for about one third, the state pays another third, and philanthropy and grants pay the rest,” Barton said. “In fact, the day they start, they are recipients of philanthropy from people who have gone before them.”

Numerous UConn students have become a part of the Student Philanthropy Committee, including Rebecca D’Angelo. “As a scholarship recipient, but more so as a student, I think I have a lot to be thankful for,” she said.

Those interested in making a donation can visit www.studentgiving.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-1173. For stories of giving, visit ourmoment.uconn.edu.

Posted Nov. 16, 2010

State to audit Mansfield Nov. 2 votes

Mansfield is among the cities and towns across the state of Connecticut randomly selected by Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz to have its Nov. 2 election results audited.

About 10 percent of polling places will be audited. In all, 734 polling precincts were used Nov. 2, so 74 will be audited.

In addition to the mandated post-election audit, officials in Bridgeport will also be reviewing results from precincts in that city where polling hours were extended on Election Day.

“We had one of the closest election results for Governor in Connecticut history on Tuesday Nov. 2,” said Bysiewicz. “Therefore, I have ordered that all polling precincts chosen for the post-election audit examine machine counts for the governor’s race… as well as two other offices selected at random.”

Voters “must have continued confidence that their votes were recorded accurately and that’s why the independent audits are so vital,” Bysiewicz said.

“Record numbers of Connecticut residents cast ballots on Nov. 2, and we don’t just take the machines’ word for it. So we will have every ballot cast in a full 10 percent of all our precincts hand counted and matched against the machine totals,” Bysiewicz said.

Locally, Ashford also will be included in the audit.

The audits can begin no sooner than Wednesday, Nov. 17 and must be completed by Monday, Nov. 22.

Mansfield polling sites slated for audits are the Mansfield Library/Buchanan Auditorium District 3 and the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building District 1.

Posted Nov. 16, 2010

Mansfield wants input on police options

As part of an ongoing study to examine options for police services, the town is currently seeking input from residents.

The town has posted an online study on its web site and consultants for the study have been meeting with town officials and residents in focus groups to talk about the town’s police services.

The town began working with Management Partners and the Police Executive Research Forum, or “PERF,” in September.

Town Manager Matthew Hart said in late September the study, which will cost $68,500, will likely take months, although town officials hope consultants can finish it before the end of this fiscal year.

The survey asks members of the public a series of questions about any past interactions with Mansfield resident troopers, their biggest public safety concerns and the options they want the town to explore.

Mayor Elizabeth “Betsy” Paterson said the town is currently looking at four options, including the possibility of maintaining its current resident trooper’s office.

The town is under jurisdiction of the state police at Troop C in Tolland and Mansfield has its own sergeant, seven resident state troopers and four part-time officers to police the town.

Among other options, the survey asks residents if they want the town to increase the number of resident troopers in Mansfield.

The town could also seek to expand its relationship with University of Connecticut police, giving the department more jurisdiction in town.

The other options include the town creating its own municipal police department or trying to establish a regional department with other area towns.

Paterson said residents and town officials have voiced a wide range of concerns and opinions and she is not sure what the consultants will recommend.

“There are several options, and of course cost is a factor,” she said, noting the creation of a municipal police department can be “very expensive.”

Paterson also said the process for implementing any changes would depend on the recommendations, but added residents will have “quite a bit of input” on any potential decisions.

The survey is currently available at www.surveymonkey.com/s/MansfieldPoliceSurvey. The town has also posted a link on its web site, www.mansfieldct.gov.

Posted Nov. 16, 2010

Leigh Duffy is new director for Windham No Freeze Hospitality Center

With a newly painted inte­rior, finished floors and a new executive director, Windham No Freeze Hospitality Center Inc. officials say they are now ready to serve those most in need.

The center, at 1110 Main St., is operated by the non-profit group and provides a space where homeless men and women can come in out of the cold and be safe.*

“We’re quite excited about it actually,” said John Burton, chairman of the no-freeze board of direc­tors, adding directors feel as though they have a good base of community support heading into the season.

The shelter also has had some improvements which include new paint, finished floors, bunk beds instead of cots, wall art and more volunteers than previous years.

Burton said the new space will be “more hospi­table.”

The shelter also has a new executive director.

Leigh Duffy replaces David Fenn, who had served as the center’s executive director since 2006.

Duffy said the hours this year will be extended, with the center operating from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., and it will maintain its 28-person capacity.

She said there will also be office hours Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. for people to drop off donations. People can also call (860) 450-1346 to make arrangements.

Duffy said the shelter still needs shampoo, blankets, pillows, sheets, bedding and plain white socks.

Duffy added that at a recent training session, there was an abundance of volunteers.

“I am very excited to be in this role,” Duffy said in a statement. “I was there from the beginning, have volunteered overnight and helped to bring services to the shelter, as well.”

“She’s absolutely a collaborator,” Burton said of Duffy, adding she’s one of the founders of the project and has a “real passion” for the community and the shelter.

The local shelter shares space with Dan’s Adult World, an adult bookstore, which is located in the rear of the building.

This season will be the third year at the Main Street building.

Guests at the shelter are provided with a place to sleep, bedding, toiletries for showers, coffee and a meal on Saturday nights when the local soup kitchen does not operate.

The no-freeze shelter also recommends out­reach services to its guests.

Donations to the No Freeze Hospitality Center can be sent to: The Windham No Freeze Project, P.O. Box 46, Willimantic 06226.

A fundraising event is planned for Jan. 22 at the Willimantic Elks Club, when four bands will play at a birthday bash for Bruce John, with the proceeds going to the shelter.

Posted 11-16-2010

*The Holy Family Shelter on Jackson Street specifically serves women and children.