Alabama State University News Sep 23, 2010 Harris Delivers State of University Address at Fall Convocation Students, faculty, staff, alumni and other ASU supporters turned out in large numbers Thursday, Sept. 23 to hear President William H. Harris deliver the annual State of the University Address. The Alabama State University campus community packed the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in large numbers on Thursday, Sept. 23 to hear the University's 12th president deliver his annual State of the University Address. Dr. William H. Harris proclaimed that in 2010, "It's a great time to be a Hornet!" "So much has happened in just 12 months," Harris said. "We are working diligently to make the 2020 vision a tangible reality." Throughout his address, Harris reflected upon the great strides made on several fronts by the University - programmatic, physical, public perception, organizational and service. The most noticeable of the achievements, he said, is the $120 million in ongoing construction projects on campus. Currently, construction is under way on a new football complex, the Levi Watkins Learning Center, new baseball and softball complexes, the new soccer/intramural field, a new residential life facility and a new Student Center. Harris also announced plans to bring football back to campus with a planned $60 million football stadium. "We know you are experiencing growing pains of the University," Harris said. "Parking is probably the greatest inconvenience for us all. But be patient with us. When the physical transformation is finished, we will have a campus of which we may all be proud. We are trying to make a place better than we had." Those were welcome words to many students attending. "I'm glad this parking situation won't last forever," said Renee Jackson, a junior. "But I guess we have to be patient." Harris also said that his office, the University's Board of Trustees and the Leadership Team are committed to moving ASU forward, but still need help from the ASU community. "We will do everything within our power to advance and improve all that is ASU," he said. "But we also need your help and your commitment to do your part in supporting the University's mission and vision. This is my ASU... This is your ASU... This is our ASU!" The Fall Convocation also was marked with rousing performances by the University Choir, the Mighty Marching Hornets Band and the Dramatic Guild. Capping off the convocation was the traditional singing of the University hymn. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.