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Dear Faculty, Staff and Students:

Election night brings a roller coaster of emotions: excitement, anxiety, hope, fear and happiness. But, today, it is vital that we take all of those feelings and turn them into activism. As a 130-year-old institution, we must continue to support those who are elected in Kentucky. There may be some of us who are happy with the outcomes of the state and federal campaigns, and some who may be disappointed. We, as voters, should be proud of the democratic process, which allows us to take a stance and express our views.

Most importantly, as Americans, we will continue to unite to work with each other. As a University, we will forge ahead and continue to thoughtfully exchange ideas and embrace different views.

We congratulate our newly elected officials, and we are thrilled to continue working with those who have been re-elected to their posts. As Thorobreds, we need to stay encouraged and keep our eyes toward the future because we have a lot of work ahead of us to pave the way for another 130 years.

On November 11, we will honor Veterans Day.  Today’s convocation speaker, Mr. Ronald Spriggs, who is the executive director of The Ron Spriggs Exhibit of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., will help us to remember why we are resilient as Americans and the importance of service to all mankind.

Louisville’s native son and boxing legend Muhammad Ali said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,” so we must remember that it is important to continue to let our voices be heard, be present and engaged in the issues that matter to us and continue to work diligently in our communities.

We are Thorobreds, which means we are versatile, open-minded and strong individuals. We will continue to work across the aisle to help this University build a stronger foundation for generations to come.

 

Sincerely,

Aaron Thompson, Ph.D.

Interim President