After the excitement of having my photo taken with so many of our May ’08 grads, the quiet of summer is a bit hard to take. I hope our newest alumni and students who are away for the summer will visit often online. I miss you. I’ll try to post photos and news from campus to help you stay in touch.

The most exciting thing right now is the ongoing construction of the Markin Family Student Recreation Center. We can finally see the full outline of the building and the arched windows that will surround the new pool. This will be an impressive structure. Everyone is looking forward to its opening with great anticipation.

The grounds crew has also been busy planting, trimming, and sprucing up campus. I have a lovely view of some “Bradley red” geraniums planted by the intriguing Nita Sunderland sculpture outside of the Hartmann Center. This is definitely one of the quietest times of the year on campus. Soon, however, summer camps, freshman orientation, World of Wonder, and other events will bring people of all ages to campus. I am looking forward to an exciting summer!

This week started out with peculiar weather. On Monday, we had cold winds, rain, sleet, and snow. Gradually the weather has become more spring like. Today, the campus is a riot of color, with purple lilacs, pink magnolia blossoms, magenta flowers on the crab apples, bright green grass, and some lovely tulips and daffodils that have kept blooming through the cold snap.

Students are soaking up the sun, playing Frisbee or lying on the grass reading. I have noticed that faculty and staff also seem to be finding many reasons to be outside. The grounds crew has added new rose bushes and other flowers to create an even lovelier campus.

Many people have come outside to take advantage of a wonderful tradition: the Bradley Pottery Club’s Pottery Sale and Ice Cream Extravaganza. For $5, people can select a handmade bowl and fill it with ice cream. Although the ice cream sale ends today, the pottery sale continues through tomorrow. The range of work offered is impressive. Students are selling the beautiful bowls, pots, cups, and vases they have made over the semester. Each semester, people look forward to this sale, where they can purchase a one-of-a kind piece of art for a reasonable price.