Norwich officials investigating incident

For Immediate Release                                                     Contact: Daphne Larkin

Dec. 17, 2009                                                                    802-485-2886

                                                                                          dlarkin@norwich.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Norwich officials investigating incident

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Dec. 17, 2009) – Norwich University officials began an investigation yesterday into an incident involving cadets that occurred on December 6 on campus.

Yesterday afternoon Norwich officials received information of an occurrence that appears to violate our rules and possibly Vermont law. Norwich has notified the Northfield Police and will cooperate with their investigation. 

Norwich officials have begun the process of collecting statements, retained an outside investigator and will take appropriate administrative action as necessary.

At this time we will not release any further details because we do not want to prejudice police or internal investigations or students in the process of giving statements pertaining to the event.

We are making this announcement because we want the community to know that we take reports of this nature very seriously and we will pursue the truth and adjudicate any student found guilty of violating our rules or Vermont law.

“This is a message to students: The senior class knows this type of behavior is wrong, and we will respond in earnest to any report like this,” said President Richard Schneider. “Norwich has zero tolerance for any inappropriate behavior. We will not allow the actions of a few to tarnish the accomplishments of thousands of alumni and students over our proud 190 year history.”

Norwich has taken significant steps to address, among other things, the issue of inappropriate training and lack of mutual respect. This fall, the Corps of Cadets underwent a restructuring to provide the best leadership and educational environment. Also cadet leaders and freshmen annually receive extensive training in identifying and reporting inappropriate behavior.

“Norwich University is committed to provide the best possible environment in which we educate women and men to become 21^st century citizen soldiers,” Schneider said. 

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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Norwich University observes Veterans Day

For Immediate Release
Nov. 6, 2009
Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Norwich University observes Veterans Day

…To honor those that have served and those in our community preparing to deploy…

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Nov. 6, 2009) – The Norwich University community and the Corps of Cadets will pay tribute to all veterans with a special remembrance ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 1:15 p.m. on the Upper Parade Ground by the flag pole.

Our guest speaker will be Norwich University Professor of Military Science COL Steven P. Carney '82, USA.

An open reception will follow the ceremony in the Foyer of Jackman Hall.

Members of the Norwich and Northfield communities, area veterans, and those currently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States are cordially invited to attend.

The tribute on the UP includes nine minutes of canon fire in the Roll of Wars and a twenty-one gun salute.



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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Norwich University volunteers give to local community on Alumni National Day of Service

For Immediate Release
Nov. 2, 2009
Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Norwich University volunteers give to local community on Alumni National Day of Service

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Nov. 2, 2009) – Norwich University and the NU Club of Central Vermont will dedicate Saturday, Nov. 7, to community service in seven different sites throughout the region as part of the first NU Alumni National Day of Service.

Over 80 students, faculty, staff and alumni will give time to one of these sites:

• VT Food Bank: Volunteers will sort food for the Foodbank while earning purchasing credits for CERV, our Northfield Food Shelf.
• VT Cross Trail: Volunteers will be continuing to build a section of the trail in East Montpelier by hand, using no motorized equipment.
• Dog River Clean-up and Invasive Species Removal along the river
• Paine Mountain Clean-up
• Thatcher Brook Primary School: Volunteers will help to build Adventure Course/school playground.
• Northfield Conservation Commission: Volunteers will help to build a lean-to at the top for hikers.
• Habitat for Humanity: Volunteers will help to renovate a home in Orange.


That day the nation’s oldest private military college and birthplace of ROTC will launch its first ever coordinated national day of service with alumni clubs across the country.

“I’m very excited to see this idea come to fruition,” said Nicole DiDomenico, director of NU’s Center for Civic Engagement. “A dedication to serving others before selves is what bridges all of our students – current students and alums, civilian and military, American and international. The choice of incorporating service to others into one’s lifestyle has been a common thread among all NU community members and I believe, truly a unique and a distinguishing characteristic of our alums.”

On Nov. 7 11 alumni clubs located across the country will give time to their local communities.

Here’s a sampling of other events going on across the country:

• 3 Fisher Houses are being adopted (MD and DC Clubs) – we’ll be giving them a good scrubbing and providing bagged lunches for the residents heading out to medical appointments
• The Philadelphia Veteran’s Community Living Center will be enjoying a great lunch and afternoon of bingo thanks to the NU Club of the Delaware Valley
• Toys will be collected for the children of deployed troops in the Hudson Valley of New York and the Boston area
• Books will be collected for Operation Paperback in the Boston area and for the local VFW Book Drive in Central Florida
• An amazing care package is going to be put together for the NU Club of Iraq compliments of the NU Club of the Hudson Valley
• The San Antonio, TX Foodbank will get extra sets of hands thanks to the San Antonio Club
• Extra money will be raised to combat drunk driving and drug use at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, NC
• The Upper Valley Club will be partnering with the Upper Valley Vet Center to host the Mobile Vet Center (MVC) in White River Junction. Veterans will be invited to come out for support, counseling and advice provided by the MVC while Norwich students and alumni will provide food, warmth and listening ears.

National Day of Norwich Service - Central Vermont Chapter

Saturday, November 7, 2009
7:30 am - Meet up at Norwich University, Milano Ballroom
8:00 am - Carpools will disperse to the project of your choice
Afterwards we'll gather together again for some food and to share the stories of our service.

For more information or to register contact:

Nicole DiDomenico, director of NU’s Center for Civic Engagement, at 802-485-2670 or ndidomen@norwich.edu.

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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Rep. Welch to visit new nursing facility and simulation labs at Norwich

For Immediate Release
Oct. 16, 2009

Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

Paul H. Heintz
Communications Director
Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL)
202.226.8346(o) 202.577.7970(c)



NEWS RELEASE

Rep. Welch to visit new nursing facility and simulation labs at Norwich

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Oct. 16, 2009) – On Monday, Oct. 19 at 1:45 p.m., Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will visit Norwich University’s new nursing facility for a tour of the state-of-the-art simulation labs that were funded through a US Dept. of Education grant obtained by Welch.

The $335,000 DOE grant was used to purchase myriad teaching equipment including nine simulation mannequins; associated software to represent evidence based clinical practice; a computer driven medication delivery system to enable students to learn on high technology devices engineered to optimize patient safety in medication administration and various other high-tech equipment.

Norwich invested over $1 million to upgrade the building space to accommodate the brand new facility, which opened this fall serving 145 students in the undergraduate nursing program.

“By investing in this state-of-the-art nursing facility, Norwich University has once again demonstrated its commitment to training future leaders in the nursing profession,” Welch said. “Like many rural states, Vermont is projected to face a critical shortage of nurses in the near future. This expansion will help alleviate that shortage and improve the quality of nursing throughout Vermont.”

The new facility has already had a dramatic effect on the teaching opportunities for future nurses.

“This DOE grant represents more than just the addition of state of the art resources for our program,” said Valerie McCarthy, chair of the nursing department. “Since the start of the semester, the excitement and energy present in the students has been visible. Among our most important goals are to educate nurses for the military services and to alleviate the acute shortage of BSN nurses who will practice in the state of Vermont. We are grateful to Representative Welch for enabling us to contribute to these very important objectives with this wonderful grant.”


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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Norwich University fully reinstates wrestling and tennis programs

For Immediate Release
Oct. 14, 2009
Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Norwich University fully reinstates wrestling and tennis programs

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Oct. 14, 2009) – Norwich University officials announced today that due to record enrollments in the freshmen class, the wrestling and tennis programs will not be cut from the university’s varsity sports lineup but will remain fully funded beyond this season.

In December 2008 the University announced it would cut both programs due to budgetary constraints brought on by the national and global economic crisis, which reduced the university’s endowment and strained some students’ ability to pay for college. University officials wanted to cut costs to keep a Norwich education affordable.

Gifts from alumni and friends made to support the programs will be used to enhance these teams’ experience.

Wrestling will remain in Norwich’s varsity sport lineup on the same footing as other varsity sports; there is no roster cap, and Norwich will enhance its recruiting budget to help assure that any loss in team numbers will be overcome, according to university officials.

“I am extremely pleased that we have been able to bring back the two athletic programs that were originally dropped at the end of the school year last year,” said Tony Mariano, athletic director. “Both wrestling and tennis have been successful programs at the university and have had quality student-athlete participation. They will continue in full operation and we look forward to their future success in Norwich athletics.”



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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

For Immediate Release
Oct. 9, 2009
Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Norwich investigating students suspected of assault on another student

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Oct. 9, 2009) – Norwich University officials have begun an investigation into an incident in which several Rooks (freshmen cadets) allegedly assaulted another Rook after lights-out on Sunday night.

Norwich University officials are cooperating with Northfield Police, who are also investigating the allegations.

The alleged incident involved approximately 13 Rooks, and all students implicated in this event remain on campus.

The incident had been discovered and responded to by a team of cadre leaders on Sunday night.

The incident came to the attention of Norwich officials Monday morning when a member of the training cadre reported it to the Office of the Commandant, at which point Norwich began collecting statements from those allegedly involved.

“We applaud the cadre’s response to the situation Sunday night; they absolutely did the right thing,” said BG Michael Kelley, Vice President for Student Life and Commandant of Cadets at Norwich. “Any reported incident triggers close scrutiny by the administration. I can tell you that everyone, from the students to the senior administration, is deeply disappointed when these kinds of allegations are made,” he added. “This is not our culture and not what we’re about.”


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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

For Immediate Release
Oct. 8, 2009
Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Former US Comptroller, David M. Walker to present at Norwich

…Walker shares with the Central Vermont community his extensive experience as the US Government’s chief auditor and his advocacy for addressing fiscal and sustainability challenges…

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Oct. 8, 2009) – Norwich University’s Todd Lecture Series presents David M. Walker, former head of the US Government Accountability Office and currently president of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, on Tuesday, October 13 at 7 p.m.

Like a modern-day Paul Revere, Walker warns that while our country’s current fiscal crisis is eerily similar to the downfall of Rome, Americans have a proven historical capacity to overcome any challenge when “We the People” wake up and get going.

Walker shares an engaging historical perspective that takes listeners from Rome to the Founding Fathers’ original intent and from today’s modern-day challenges to tomorrow’s opportunities.

In spite of the fiscal crisis, Walker imparts his faith that Americans will respond with commitment to the sacrifices required to make sure that our future is better than our past.

Audience members will learn: lessons from history and our modern-day financial challenge; how the country arrived at its present condition and the implications of our “status quo” path; measures that must be taken to right the country’s financial ills and the importance of leadership and a call to action for our future leaders.

This event is free and open to the public.

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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).