During our first Block Break of this academic year, there was tremendous excitement on campus as students, faculty and staff participated in a wide variety of activities, getting to know one another outside the classroom. As part of these “Orange Rush” activities, we, as a campus community, participated in Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day. “Nettie Day” is named for Nettie Fowler McCormick, one of the College’s first benefactors, and for whom McCormick Hall was named. Nettie was known, in addition to her generosity to Tusculum College, for her insistence on clean living environments. In the earlier days students would wear white gloves and “check” the cleanliness of campus buildings and offices, as Nettie used to inspect students’ rooms and give them the “white glove treatment” when she visited the campus. Nettie Day, which began in 1913, has evolved to take on a more generalized community service emphasis that supports the College’s mission and civic arts emphasis. Today Nettie Day is our introduction our new students, to Tusculum College’s commitment to service.
Reflective decision-making, concern for others, and action to make the world a better place are and have for 222 years been ingrained in the key values of this institution. It is a hallmark of the Tusculum student and the Tusculum alumni. Tusculum strives to encourage in its students a commitment to service and to make the world a better place for us all. Additionally, academic studies have shown tremendous benefit from participation in community service, including an increased emphasis on priorities that value and honor intimate relationships, an increased confidence when facing adversity and increased joy in daily life. Nettie Day 2015 was a resounding success, and is one of the many reasons I am very proud to be part of this community.
Best Regards,
Nancy B. Moody, PhD