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Two ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ alumni are providing our community with their perspectives on the disasters in Japan and the effects on the people there. Amy Jo Jenkins '05 expressed her thoughts in a telephone interview and Asami Sudani '06 provided a written message via Facebook.

Ian Baltutis '08 leads a group of young alumni who will give $20,000 to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ if the goal of 1,200 donors to the IGNITE Challenge is reached by March 31. Baltutis explains the group's bonus gift in a special video announcement. So far, 655 young alums have made gifts to the university and had them matched 5-to-1 by ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ alumna and trustee Kerrii Brown Anderson ’79 as part of the Challenge. The total raised so far is $183,706. Anderson also will donate an additional $20,000 to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ if the 1,200 donor goal is met.

The Office of University Relations has launched a major enhancement of the E-net news and information system, organizing videos produced by offices and individuals across campus into a central viewing system that includes a variety of video categories. All members of the campus community are invited to submit videos to this site and to explore the creative projects produced by others. Access the site with the tab at the top of the E-Net page, or go to:

The ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Alumni Board returned to campus March 4-5 to take part in the group's annual spring meeting. The board members focused on two ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Commitment themes in which alumni will play vital roles over the next decade: the building of a vibrant alumni network and the restructuring of ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Career Services.

Leslie Johnson needs your help to win $10,000 for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ. The manager of the Phoenix men’s basketball team, Johnson, a junior marketing major from Raleigh, N.C., is one of four finalists in a video contest sponsored by the UPS Store in which people can vote for their favorite collegiate basketball manager.

Five ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ students from Japan were joined by about 75 fellow students on March 15 in planning the community's response to the earthquake and tsunami in that country. The brainstorming session was held in the Isabella Cannon International Centre, where students came up with many ideas to raise relief funds and send messages of encouragement to those who are suffering in the wake of the disaster.

The ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ campus community is planning efforts to provide support from those suffering the effects of a massive earthquake and tsunami. The efforts were launched at the March 15 College Coffee, where students from Japan spoke about the disaster in their homeland.