2010 was a historic year for Butler University. The Collegian compiled a list of Butler’s most unforgettable moments to jog your memory, even though we know you haven’t forgotten yet.
NO END IN SIGHT FOR CONSTRUCTION IN JORDAN HALL (February 7): After more than 25 years of construction on Jordan Hall, there is no end in sight for repairs. The building is made of granite and limestone, which is the cause for the constant repairs, Gerald Carlson, director of maintenance services, said. The cost for the renovations is being covered by the maintenance budget, except for the specialty limestone, he said. The limestone for the custom made archways alone cost just less than $120,000. Students will continue to see construction on Jordan.
THE JESS ZIMMERMAN CHRONICLES COME TO A CLOSE AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR (February 10): Then-junior Jess Zimmerman and university administrators came to an agreement after more than a year of lawsuits and negotiations. The lawsuit came after Zimmerman posted a controversial blog at the end of 2008 about university affairs. After Zimmerman filed for a temporary restraining order with the Marion County Court system, which led to him receiving a $100,000 bond order from university lawyers, the involved parties were prompted to reach a final confidential settlement.
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT INSPIRES TRUTH IN CLOWES (March 31): The sold-out crowd at Clowes Hall was just as lively as Madam Secretary herself when she took the stage in March, saying that human progress can only happen when old truths are put to the test. “The pursuit of truth is a global one,” she said. After the speech, Albright was presented with a rhinestone-encrusted Butler Bulldogs pin from Butler’s Black Student Union, adding to her extensive collection, which has traveled U.S. museums and even appeared in Washington, D.C.’s Smithsonian.
BASKETBALL MAKES HISTORIC RUN IN NCAA TOURNAMENT (April 7): The story of Butler’s run in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament is one that is unprecedented in the university’s history. The 2010 team made their first trip to the Elite Eight, the Final Four and a National Championship game. The No. 5-seed Bulldogs went into the final game against the No. 1-seed Duke Blue Devils on a 25-game-winning streak, the longest in the nation at the time. On its way to the championship, the Bulldogs defeated No. 12-seed UTEP, No. 13-seed Murray State, No. 1-seed Syracuse, No. 2-seed Kansas State and No. 5-seed Michigan State. 70,930 people were in attendance at the April 5 game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Sophomore guard Gordon Hayward shot the final shot from the half-court line in hopes of tying the game with seven seconds left on the clock. The ball hit the front of the rim and bounced to the floor, ending the game and the Bulldogs’ streak with a final score of 61-59.
STEVENS SIGNS ON FOR 12 MORE YEARS AS HEAD COACH (April 14): After Butler’s men’s basketball team’s 2010 success, players and fans were concerned 33-year-old head coach Brad Stevens would take an offer to coach elsewhere. So when he signed a 12-year contract in early April, players were relieved. “He’s an Indy guy at heart. He’s fallen in love with what Butler has to offer,” then-sophomore guard Ronald Nored said. “It’s also exciting for the Butler community. Brad’s their guy.”
HAYWARD LEAVES BUTLER, SIGNS WITH UTAH JAZZ (April 21): When then-Butler University sophomore and starting guard/forward Gordon Hayward announced his eligibility for the 2010 National Basketball Association’s draft, he made history. In June, the Utah Jazz selected Hayward in the first round of the draft, making him the first player from Butler to play in the NBA and the fourth to play professionally. Hayward was the No. 9 pick overall.
BUTLER WELCOMES BIGGEST FRESHMAN CLASS IN SCHOOL’S HISTORY (August 25): Butler University welcomed the biggest freshman class in the university’s history in August. The 1,067 new students left some upperclassmen concerned about the financial aid they receive being reduced. The big number doesn’t mean financial cuts, though. The financial aid current and future Butler students receive will not be reduced, Tom Weede, vice president of enrollment management, said. He said they are happy students want to come to Butler, and the university will make accommodations where they are needed.
COLLEGE OF MISCOMMUNICATION? (October 13): The head of Butler University’s advertising club filed a complaint with the Council of Presidential Affairs about the College of Communication after posters promoting a speaker for the club were removed. Senior Jonathan Spear, president of ADrenaline, said he felt his free speech rights were being violated. The dean and the associate dean of the college disagreed with Spear, and felt there was a conflict of interest with the speaker coming to talk to the club. The opposing concerns, however, did not stop the guest from the Miami Ad School from coming.
BYE BYE, BOBBY – FONG TO LEAVE BUTLER (November 3): After 10 years as Butler University’s president, Bobby Fong announced he will be leaving Butler at the end of the 2010-11 academic year to take the job as president of Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. Since taking the position at Butler, the university has seen record-breaking numbers in endowment and enrollment.
BUTLER CONDUCTS EXTENSIVE DEAN SEARCH FOR LAS, JCFA (Ongoing): When College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Michael Zimmerman’s contract was not renewed and Jordan College of Fine Arts’ Dean Peter Alexander retired last year, dean searches began. In February, Jay Howard, formerly of Indiana University- Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC), replaced Zimmerman when he was selected as LAS’ new dean. Ronald Caltabiano, associate dean of San Francisco State University’s College of Creative Arts, will replace Alexander as JCFA dean July 1.
Editor’s Note: This article was revised Thursday, January 27 at 9:51 p.m. to reflect a correction made by one of our readers regarding the Black Student Union giving Madeleine Albright a rhinestone-encrusted pin when she visited. The pin was not from University President Bobby Fong.
