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FRAME FINAL Going Up Construction workers begin installing roof trusses on the first of fourteen new residential life buildings set to open in the fall of 2008. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mailed from zip code 37229 Office of Alumni Services Permit No. 4398 1050 Union University Drive Jackson, TN 38305 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PRESIDENT THE FROM Looking toward a Hope-filled Future nion University suffered massive dam- prayer, recognizing anew our deep depend- breaking for 14 new residence life complexes. volunteers have come to campus to offer their starting to move in directions that are a bit age from an EF-4 tornado on Feb. 5, ence on God. We have asked God to bring We continue to make progress, though each help for us. Todate, we have had more than more normal in terms of work patterns, at which is described throughout this issue renewal out of the rubble across our campus. day for the past several weeks has seemed 5,000 donors from all 50 states respond to least a “new normal.” Uof the Unionite. Bringing destruction to The 14 days between Feb. 5 and Feb. 19 like a week unto itself. our recovery and rebuilding efforts. We We ask that you please continue to almost all aspects of our residence life area were some of the most demanding and chal- We are grateful for God’s grace to us over thank God for every donor and every gift. remember us in your prayers. Please pray for and to several other key buildings on cam- lenging that any of us have ever faced. Our these past days as we have moved from “uue- We have received more than $9 million in our students, particularly our injured stu- pus, the $40 million hit has been declared faculty, staff, and students came together as mergency” to “uurecovery” to “uurebuilding” gifts and commitments, for which we are dents who need God’s care and blessing. We one of the most significant disasters in volunteers to do whatever they could to help for those of you who have been following on so very grateful. will pray for God to touch the hearts of Southern Baptist history. On the morning of with the initial recovery efforts, including the the Websites (all news is now at uurebuild- Our estimates are that even after the many friends in the days to come to help us Feb. 5 we had about 3300 students in class. retrieval of student belongings from the ing.com). While we have a lengthy path in insurance settlement, we will need an addi- tains us while we work diligently and wait with the massive challenges that we now More than 1200 of those were on campus dorms. The diligent efforts of our trustees, front of us, we certainly have much for tional $9 million above and beyond the gifts patiently. Hope is not escapism, but is an face. We have been overwhelmed with vol- when the tornado struck. That evening, we administrators, faculty, staff, and students which to be grateful. The new residential life that have already been received. Of course, energizing motivation for faithful living in unteers who have helped immensely, and we took 51 students to the hospital. Nine were working together across the campus have project is moving forward. We all pray for this is not just for rebuilding, but also for the here and now. In the midst of life’s chal- will probably need more help in the months seriously injured. Thankfully all have now been a joy to behold. God’s blessings on this important project. recovery of lost revenue. We have refunded lenges and struggles, hope stabilizes our lives, to come. But for now, we really need your been released from the hospital. The work of Classes were able to begin again on Feb. The repair work on all of the other buildings more than $2 million in spring housing fees serving as an anchor to link us to God’s faithful prayers as we trust our great God to our student life team on Feb. 5 can only be 20, yet, things have been anything but nor- has now started. We have five contractors to students who moved off campus. We also faithfulness. Hope shapes and directs our open the windows of heaven to provide for described as heroic. Everyone who saw the mal. The spring schedule has been revised by and numerous subcontractors at work on have lost considerable revenue from other pro- service and gives it motivation so that while our significant financial challenges. We thank campus during the first 36 hours has been Union’s gifted and creative academic leader- campus led by a single architectural and grams we have had to cancel this spring and we wait and watch, we work faithfully. God for your friendship and your encourage- overwhelmed by the fact that the lives of all ship. Numerous classes have had to be engineering firm. Each day seems busier summer.Weare in uncharted waters function- I can’t say thank you enough to all who ment to Union University during these most of the students who were on campus on that rescheduled in various places around the city. than the day before. ing in an “essentialist mode,” but we are press- have prayed for us, encouraged us, served us, challenging and hope-filled days. Tuesday evening were spared. For God’s More than 800 students have now been relo- Our Trustee Board has approved a five- ing on with God’senablement and the encour- supported us, and provided gifts for our providential protection we are most grateful. cated from the residence life area that has phase plan that has enabled us not only to agement of friends from around the country. campus or our students in recent days. Soli Deo Gloria Amazingly, we were able to gather togeth- now been demolished. function this spring, but has mapped a path We move forward from this unforgettable People across this campus have literally been er on campus as a community exactly two We played our first home basketball that will help us move forward with the fall event with hope. Hope is a powerful word--a working around the clock every day for these weeks later (Feb. 19) in a standing-room- games in front of a packed house on semester, and will help us complete all of the driving force in life. Hope includes a desire past weeks. We offer our heartfelt thanksgiv- only worship service in our chapel. We lifted Thursday (Feb. 21). The next day we held a rebuilding, repair, and recovery efforts by for something, but it is even more than that. ing to all who have given of themselves to our voices in praise and bowed our hearts in forward-looking and hope-filled ground- 2009, Lord willing. Well more than 4,500 It is an eager, confident expectation that sus- help restore Union University. Things are David S. Dockery 2 Special Edition 2008 www.uu.edu 3 UNIONITE UNIONITE X I XII I X I XII I I X I X I I I X I X I I I I I I IV I I I IV I I I V V V I I V IV I V V I I V About the cover The Union University Magazine Junior Heather Martin and Julie Boyer (’01) Special Edition 2008, view the wreckage from which they escaped after UVolume 59, Number 2 an EF-4 tornado slammed the Hurt and Watters President complexes Feb. 5. Both women recorded their David S. Dockery thoughts about the experience. Read excerpts Senior Vice President of these and other inspiring stories of survival for University Relations in this special edition. Charles A. Fowler Associate Vice President for University Communications Mark D. Kahler Assistant Director of University Communications Juanita Cotner Director of News and Media Relations Tim Ellsworth Director of University Promotional Strategies Beverly Vos Director of Creative Services Todd Mullins Graphic Design Specialist Sarah Belcher Director of Visual Communication Jim Veneman University Photographer Morris Abernathy Web Development Agent Cam Tracy CONTENTS Editorial Office Unionite February 5, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. 1050 Union University Drive 6 Jackson, Tenn. 38305-3697 A tornado rips through Union’s Jackson campus, Phone: (731) 661-5211 injuring 51 but killing no one. Eyewitnesses react Fax : (731) 661-5177 Web site: www.uu.edu to a defining moment in the history of Union University. E-mail: [email protected] Numbers to Know (Area code 731) 36 Recovery Begins Admissions 661-5210 Possessions are recovered and wrecked buildings Advancement 661-5050 Alumni Services 661-5208 are demolished. Recovery begins at Union. Athletic Office 661-5130 Church Services 661-5281 Events/Info Dawg 661-5048 Financial Aid 661-5015 LifeWay Bookstore 668-9492 Rebuilding: Bigger, Stronger, Better Switchboard 668-1818 56 Union breaks ground for a 14-building residence life center Unionite is published bi-annually by Union on the site of the former Hurt and Watters complexes. University, 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, Tenn. 38305-3697. Union University is an academic community, affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, equipping persons to think Christianly and serve faith- fully in ways consistent with its core values 62 A rebuilding campaign for Union University of being excellence-driven, Christ-centered, Needs remain as Union recovers. people-focused, and future-directed. ©2008 Special Edition 2008 www.uu.edu 5 UNIONITE February 5, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. I Winds estimated at 200 - 240 MPH I 86 injuries I 51 injured victims taken to the hospital I 9 injured victims admitted I No fatalities I 31 campus buildings damaged I 19 campus buildings with major damage 6 Special Edition 2008 www.uu.edu 7 UNIONITE UNIONITE ebruary 5 had been a day in tracked the storm live.