To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "uipres@uillinois.edu" <uipres@uillinois.edu>

Reply-To: uipres@uillinois.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - presmail





December 3, 2001


Dear Colleagues:

As we end the semester and make plans for the upcoming celebrations and 
family gatherings, my wife, Joan, and I would like to extend our warmest 
wishes to you for a restful and memorable holiday season.

Perhaps this December we are more aware than ever of how important family 
is and more appreciative of those we too often take for granted.

At the university, the sentiment is similar. Your earnest commitment to 
teaching and research and all the other supportive efforts that keep our 
university operating at top-notch quality is the reason we are one of the 
best universities in the world. The successes achieved on our campuses are 
diverse and far-reaching, yet all are directly attributable to the people 
who seek answers to the tough questions, who inspire students, and who 
make this university run so well. Thank you for making those efforts.

Looking back on 2001, we see that in one sense it has been a wonderful 
year. We have talented new chancellors on board with unbridled energy and 
high expectations for all the opportunities that lay ahead.

However, we sadly experienced a historic tragedy just weeks after the start
of the fall semester. Some of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni 
suffered personal losses and grief. Many struggled to understand. And the 
economic impact of the September events clouds some plans for the 
university in the coming year.

Whatever the outcome, I know with certainty that this university will 
continue to seek and provide excellence and be a haven for the kind of 
conversation and understanding needed in this new century. We have much to 
look forward to in the new year.

So our thanks and best wishes go out to you for a joyous and peaceful 
holiday season and a healthy and happy 2002.



James J. Stukel
President
uipres@uillinois.edu
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the President

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