Remarks—Dedication of the Marjorie Watters Longley ‘47
Student Leadership Suite
Daniel F. Sullivan— February 20, 2004

Trustee emerita Midge Longley has made a spectacular gift commitment to St. Lawrence, the major portion of which will help to fund the construction of this new student center. Today we dedicate the Marjorie Watters Longley '47 Student Leadership Suite in her honor. This suite, in front of which we are now gathered, houses the Hill News , the Gridiron , and the Thelomathesian Society offices, work, and meeting areas. Joining us to honor Midge today are Midge's niece Jennifer, and her long-time friend and former trustee Aitchee Ellison from the Class of 1945 and her husband Hank.

When those of you who don't know Midge well hear a bit about her background and achievements, you will understand why this place in the student center is the absolutely right place for her recognition.

Let's start with why the student center. First of all, Midge's trusteeship at St. Lawrence, beginning with her appointment to the board in 1969, has always been heavily about students. She served as chair of the Student Affairs Committee of the board from 1978 to 1988, and then served as chair of the Academic and Faculty Affairs Committee from 1988 to 1993. She has always understood that St. Lawrence's mission and goals start and end with students—they, and their education, are our reason for being. Throughout her trusteeship she has been a strong voice for students. Indeed, her own financial commitments to St. Lawrence over the years have involved major support of two student scholarships—the Akwesasne and Clarence Gaines Scholarships—because, as a scholarship student herself at St. Lawrence, she understands the huge impact on student lives scholarship support can have. And now her recent gift in support of new student center construction, along with even further support of her scholarships, is another powerful statement of her commitment to students.

Why, then, this Student Leadership Suite? Listen, for a minute, as I summarize Midge's own leadership and engagement, and you will understand:

As a student: Kappa Kappa Gamma (secretary), Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board (now ODK), Dean's list, broadcasters club, sports press bureau, news bureau, women's chorus, chapel choir, symphony club, Spanish club, Portugese club (vice president), campus council, SLU Club (president), Mummers (theater), debate club (secretary), Scarlet Saint (editor), Gridiron, Laurentian, Hill News , basketball, tennis, varsity cheerleader (captain), honorary women's athletic association.

As an alumna: Alumni Citation (1968), Athletic Hall of Fame (2003), Alumni Executive Council, alumni club president, telethon worker, career conference panelist, class reporter, class agent, career advisor, President's Circle Membership Committee, Reunion Planning Committee (chair), Reunion Development Committee (co-chair)—all of this on top of her outstanding service as a University trustee and trustee emerita.

In her career: sports and feature writer for The Lockport Union Sun and Journal , joined The New York Times as a proof reader in 1948 and then became: first woman department manager; manager of marketing, research and development of the book and educational division; circulation sales manager; director of public affairs; and assistant to the director of consumer marketing. In 1987, she started her own public relations consulting firm—Gramercy International.

In her community she gave leadership to such organizations as: New York Council for Adult Education (president); Manhattan Board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews; Member of the Metric Advisory Board; The New York State Advisory Council on Vocational Education; the New York State Advisory Council for Postsecondary Education; American Forum for Global Education (chair); the New York City Mayor's Council for the Environment; and many, many more.

St. Lawrence students are known for their active engagement on campus, and for their community engagement as alumni. Having Midge's name on this student leadership suite will forever be a reminder to the students who use this space of where the bar really is for active student engagement—if today's students can come even remotely close to the standard Midge has set throughout her whole life and career, they will make a huge difference indeed.

Midge, it is with love, with heartfelt thanks, and with deep respect for all you have done for St. Lawrence, and for your community and world that we dedicate today this Marjorie Watters Longley '47 Student Leadership Suite.