While Saint Mary's campus was abuzz with anticipation of the groundbreaking of the new academic building, approximately 30 Trustees joined in the excitement as they flooded campus for their quarterly meeting. Thursday's groundbreaking ceremonies purposely coincided with the two-day meeting of the Saint Mary's Board of Trustees, Executive Assistant to the President Susan Dampeer said. "The Board's meetings began Thursday in rooms throughout campus and will once again remain closed to the public [with] the agenda not made public," Dampeer said. Although the meetings remain extremely private, the Chair of the Board will issue a report to the community about a week or two after the meeting, Dampeer said. The Trustees partook in committee meetings throughout the day Thursday and will hold their formal meeting today at the Student Lounge in the Student Center. The Board elected seven and appointed three Trustees to serve for three years during their April 2006 meeting, all of whom will be present at Friday's meeting. All new Trustees participated in an Orientation session Wednesday to interact with the members of the College community, Dampeer said. While the meetings and agenda remain under wraps, Dampeer said the Trustees take the opportunity to meet with select students while on campus. "Board members often interact with students," she said. "They will be having a discussion with student leaders and lunch with students."In addition to the newly elected Trustees, three board members were recently given Emeritus status during the spring meeting. Joyce Hank, William J. Schmuhl, Jr. and Sister Rachel Callahan all received this honor for their promotion of the wellbeing of Saint Mary's and their distinctively devoted duty to their Trustee position, among other accomplishments.
