Peterson, G.P. (Bud)

Scholarly Materials And Research @ Georgia Tech

SearchDIRECTORIESCAMPUS MAPGeorgia Tech Home Office of the President Letters & Bulletins With Thanks to our Unsung HeroesIntroductionPresident's WelcomeAbout Dr. PetersonPresident's CabinetPublicationsSpeeches & PresentationsLetters & BulletinsEditorialsNotes from the PresidentStaff ResponsibilitiesOrganizational Chart (pdf)Institute EthicsContact the PresidentWith Thanks to our Unsung HeroesJanuary 13, 2011Three days later than planned, welcome back to campus. I hope you stayed safe andwarm, and are ready to start another semester at Georgia Tech. The combined effects ofseveral inches of snow and ice, along with freezing temperatures, resulted in continuedhazardous driving conditions as well as numerous challenges on campus. The decisionto reopen late today was a difficult one. While many were home waiting out the storm,we owe a debt of gratitude to numerous volunteers — employees, members of theInterfraternity Council (IFC) and other students — who went above and beyond toprovide services on campus and help ensure everyone’s safety in a very challengingsituation.Our public safety professionals, including the Georgia Tech Police Office of EmergencyPreparedness, worked around the clock to do everything possible to ensure safety.Facility crews worked on campus beginning Sunday night to help clear streets andsidewalks. On Tuesday, working to battle ice on our more than 400-acre campusbecame especially challenging as temperatures plummeted. It quickly became apparentthat the 5th Street Bridge connecting the main campus to classes and restaurants atTechnology Square was a concern due to ice. I received a note from the president ofWaffle House, who by the way was out shoveling snow and stayed at work until 1 a.m.Monday serving customers, including hundreds of Tech students. We can all be gratefulfor student volunteers, and in particular the IFC, for lending many hands to clear thesidewalk over the 5th Street Bridge on Tuesday, and working again on Wednesday toclear sidewalks and building entrances.The several thousand students who were already on campus, along with the staffmembers working, were able to use the Student Center 24/7, enjoy hot meals, andwork out at the CRC. Students even participated in special activities and programscoordinated by Residence Life staff. Health Services was open, and the trolleys evenmanaged to run once the streets were passable.The spirit of camaraderie was everywhere. On Wednesday morning I stopped by bothBrittain and Woodruff Dining Halls and talked to a number of the students and severalof our public safety officers who were getting something to eat. The food looked good,and I was impressed with the resourcefulness of staff, using food that was already onhand in the dining halls as well as stock from the food court. Managers worked 14-hourdays and lived in the Hampton Inn on North Avenue. Students were very grateful, andsome even volunteered to help serve because of staff shortages. I also stopped by theCRC, which was packed. It was a nice system: eat hearty, and then work it all off in thegym!2010 Annual Report (9.2M PDF)(/president/sites/president/files/GeorgiaTech2010InteractiveAnnualReport.pdf)Georgia Tech Fact Book(http://www.irp.gatech.edu/factbooks/factbook.html)Recent Trends and Milestones:Summer 2010 (2.0M .pdf)(/president/sites/president/files/trends-milestones-summer-2010.pdf)Ethics(/president/ethics)About Dr. Peterson(/president/about)LETTERS & BULLETINSWith Thanks to our Unsung Heroes | Office of the President http://www.gatech.edu/president/lettersbulletins/011311.html1 of 2 2/21/11 2:46 PMThe students I talked to were happy, but ready to get going with classes. In true GeorgiaTech efficiency, a number of the faculty had made assignments, posting homework viaT-Square. Some even held classes via Skype!I hope that the communications on Tech’s website kept everyone updated with thelatest information. While classes were cancelled and most employees were not requiredto report to work, we can all be very thankful for those employees who were designatedas “emergency essential” by their departments, as well as the many volunteers whoworked alongside them to take care of the Georgia Tech community.Welcome back, and thanks from all of us.With Thanks to our Unsung Heroes | Office of the President http://www.gatech.edu/president/lettersbulletins/011311.html2 of 2 2/21/11 2:46 PM

Letters & Bulletins: With Thanks to our Unsung Heroes

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Letters & Bulletins: With Thanks to our Unsung Heroes

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Scholarly Materials And Research @ Georgia Tech