On Sept. 28, Butler President James Danko gave his annual State of the University Address in the Schrott Center. The center was filled with Butler alumni, students and faculty.
President Danko was introduced by retired professor Paul Valliere. Valliere spoke about his time at Butler University starting in 1982 and discussed the necessary balance between tradition and change.
Mark Rubick, a member of the alumni board of directors and Class of 1999 graduate, said he came to hear Danko’s vision of the future.
“I came today for the Alumni Board of Directors meeting and to hear President Danko’s vision of the future,” Rubick said. “I also like to take advantage of everything this campus has to offer.”
Rubick said his hope for Butler’s future is that it will continue to grow and advance.
“Alumni are thrilled with the growth and advancement of the university,” Rubick said. “I am excited to see what the next growth will be.”
President Danko discussed the progress Butler has made, the challenges the university faces, and what the future has in store. Senior Xavier Colvin and Katie Moore, Butler alumna from the Class of 2008, also spoke about their experiences at Butler.
Nattalie Lewis, housekeeping worker at Butler University, said she decided to attend the address because the information was important to her. Lewis also hopes that in the future Butler University will continue to have successful graduates.
“I decided to come to hear what President Danko had to say because the information is important for me to know,” Lewis said. “I hope that Butler will have more successful graduates and students can go directly into their chosen fields.”
Danko emphasized the idea that bold thoughts, decisions and action allow Butler to continue to grow and develop. He stated that Butler’s priority of innovation, joining the Big East, improvements on living and learning buildings, increased growth and the new addition of South Campus have been huge accomplishments for the university.
As far as a focus for the future, Danko said he would like to work to improve diversity, campus safety, wages for staff and retention and completion of first-generation college students and students of color.
Senior marketing major Olivia Schwan said her hope for Butler’s future is student growth.
“I hope Butler will give students academic and personal growth,” Schwan said. “I hope Butler will continue to be a place that helps all students regardless of their background.”
Danko said he looks forward to a future that will allow Butler to continue to evolve while maintaining the essence of Butler’s ideals. He said he hopes that when students return back for homecoming in the future that when they step on campus it will feel the same way it did when they were a student themselves.