Workers continue to make major progress on the $10.6 million transformation and expansion of Ballentine Hall. Now completely cloaked in its new gray granite exterior, the project is on budget and will be completed on schedule in June. All rough mechanical work is in place, including electrical lines, plumbing, heating and sprinklers, and sheet rock installation is nearing completion. The structure should be totally enclosed by the end of October.

To commemorate the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, the campus community held a series of events honoring those that lost their lives. In the Memorial Union (left), a photograph of the twin towers and a plaque inscribed with the names of the five URI alumni who died was unveiled by (l-r) Alumni Relations Director Michele Nota, President Robert L. Carothers, Student Senate President Dom Murgo, and Memorial Union Director Bruce Hamilton.

Later, 2000 students marched up the elephant walk from Butterfield Road to the Quadrangle where they held a candlelight vigil.

Tetsuji Watanabe (left), a professor at Kyushu University in Japan, visited Rhode Island last month to learn about educational partnerships between universities and high schools. During his stay here, he visited Classical High School in Providence to meet with University of Rhode Island graduate student Brad Hubney (right), a teaching fellow from URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography who is teaching at Classical this fall, and Nancy Carriuolo, associate commissioner for academic affairs at the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education, who wrote an acclaimed book about K-16 educational collaborations. The three are pictured at a large fish tank used in Classical’s environmental science program.

Construction on two new parking lots began in late summer to help alleviate the Kingston Campus’ chronic parking woes. Located at the dairy barn and at an area formerly used for parking for football games and homecoming, the 1,000 new spaces will be designated for commuter students and parking for Ryan Center events. The lots should be completed in December.

More than 400 amateur and professional cyclists and 1,000 spectators flocked to URI for the Cox Charities Cycling Classic on Sept. 7. Competitors included an Olympic gold medalist, the Russian national champion, and a U.S. champion pedaling around the Kingston Campus in a series of races during the all-day event. Proceeds benefited charities throughout Rhode Island.

Rhody Ram greets incoming freshmen as they arrive at The Ryan Center for First Night activities. About 2,400 freshmen students enrolled at URI this fall, making it the largest freshmen class ever. Forty-seven percent are from Rhode Island, and 55 percent are female. Included in the freshmen class are 21 sets of twins, three sets of triplets, and 33 students who ranked first, second or third in their high school graduating classes.