Congratulations to our students for raising some $43,000 for cancer research — and especially to “Colleges Against Cancer,” the campus student organization that helped organize SVSU’s Relay for Life. Even though this year’s Relay came seven weeks earlier than last year’s, their hard work in 2013 raised $8,000 more. A special thanks to all of you who helped them reach this goal. (For those interested, Relay for Life teams are still accepting donations.)

As we approach spring break, we also want you to know that several of our students will be off doing community service through the Alternative Breaks program. We’re incredibly proud of them for giving up their vacation time to do good work. Here are some of the things student groups will be focused on:

• Helping military families in Hinesville, Georgia
• Working with victims of domestic violence in Morehead City, North Carolina
• Combating the effects of homelessness in Atlanta, Georgia
• Spending time with at-risk youth in Newark, New Jersey

A few of the All-University Awards, to be presented near the end of this academic year, are still accepting nominations. Please give some thought to our colleagues who might be deserving of these honors.  

I think we’re all ready for spring break. I hope you have a chance to relax and enjoy it.