I am pleased to report that Boston University is continuing to receive outstanding support from all its constituencies. Although our gift totals are running a bit behind last year's, this is principally because of one very large corporate gift that we had received by this time last year. Other very large gifts are under discussion, however, and I hope to report on them to you in a future issue.

	Photo by Vernon Doucette

Despite some attention from the media focusing on Boston University's "drama" last fall, I can assure you that the spirit on campus is high. Students and faculty are as immersed as ever in learning and research, the heart of a great university such as Boston University. Indeed, when the president and I recently met with the head of a major national foundation, although he asked a few questions about the events of the past year, he spoke warmly about Boston University's excellent faculty, great students, and outstanding research, and he made clear that the foundation looks forward to discussing funding for our projects in areas of shared interest.

Similarly, at receptions held recently in California, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, alumni were very positive about the current state of the University and were particularly happy to meet and greet our new president ad interim, Aram Chobanian. (Photographs from these events are in the "News" section of the current Bostonia.) Aram inspires confidence and respect very quickly wherever he goes. Receptions with alumni, friends, and parents are scheduled all around the country this year. I know that we will be meeting many of you there, and I look forward to introducing you to President Chobanian.

As always, you will find in these pages stories highlighting the joys of giving. We continue to find great inspiration and significance in the gifts our alumni, friends, and parents make to Boston University. While we can never acknowledge all of these gifts adequately, we highlight a few here to give you a sense of the variety of activities being supported and of the kinds of gifts that are being made. Certainly I hope you will find examples here of particular interest to you, or that you will be in touch with us about your own special interests in giving. There really is a tremendous joyful benefit in reaching out to help your alma mater and those programs you care about most. On behalf of the University, I thank those of you who are already doing so. I look forward to updating you in the next issue, when we will print our annual roster of those who have contributed $1,000 or more in this fiscal year, and I hope to see that roster grow! All best wishes.

Cordially,