The planned departure of a president, a major gift and the announcement of a new hockey arena topped the list of most read stories on Union’s news site in 2024.
President David R. Harris
The top item was a September piece in which David Harris informed the campus community that this will be his final academic year as president of the College. Harris, who became Union’s 19th president in July 2018, said he will step down on June 30, 2025. He added that he has no firm plans for his future beyond Union, but said he does not intend to pursue another college or university presidency.
An April story detailing the Class of 1980 graduates Rich and Mary Templeton’s gift of $40 million to strengthen the College’s distinctive integration of the liberal arts, engineering and computer science, was the second most popular story. In 2020, the couple’s $51 million gift was the largest in Union’s history. The $91 million committed by the Templetons over the past several years highlights the couple’s strong belief in the future success of their alma mater.
Class of 1980 graduates Mary and Rich Templeton
The third most read story was the announcement in February of a new arena for the men’s and women’s Division I hockey teams at nearby Mohawk Harbor. Scheduled to be ready for the 2025-26 season, the $50 million project features a 2,200-seat ice hockey rink with capacity expanding to 3,600 for other sporting events, trade shows, special events and conventions.
Construction is ongoing for the new arena at Mohawk Harbor that will be the home of the men’s and women’s Division I hockey teams in fall 2025.
Also in February, a story on Union’s connection to the Stanley cup tumblers craze generated the fourth-most clicks. The College’s archives house the most extensive collection of papers of the tumbler’s inventor, William Stanley Jr. The collection was gifted to the College in 1984 after the Stanley Library at General Electric in Pittsfield, Mass., closed.
Rounding out the top five was a July story about the former Phi Delta Theta House, one of the iconic buildings on campus, being torn down after years of being plagued by structural and mechanical issues.
The rest of the top 10 included a story about the Class of 2024; the announcement of Emmy Award-winning writer, comedian and actor Ben Schwartz '03 as the featured speaker at Commencement; profiles of the five co-salutatorians of the Class of 2024; Prize Day winners; and a look back at the night rock icon Bruce Springsteen performed in Memorial Chapel 50 years ago.
On Union's official social media accounts, the top posts by engagement on Instagram and TikTok was asking faculty “who are you wearing” at Commencement. On Facebook, it was the announcement of the demolition of Phi Delta Theta house; LinkedIn, Ben Schwartz '03 to be Commencement speaker; X, the announcement of the new hockey arena; and Threads, a recent snowy campus scene.
The former Phi Delta Theta House overlooks the 50-yard line at Frank Bailey Field. Built in 1914 and largely vacant since 2012, the house was torn down after years of being plagued by structural and mechanical issues.
Stories that originate on Union’s award-winning news site are frequently featured in national, international and local media outlets.
In 2024, faculty, students and staff were mentioned in major media outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Inside Higher Ed.
Content on the site has been honored by the Council for the Advancement of Secondary Education (CASE).
The 10 most-viewed stories of 2024:
Bruce Springsteen performing in Memorial Chapel in 1974.
1. President Harris to step down at end of this academic year
3. Men’s and women’s hockey teams to play at new $50 million arena at Mohawk Harbor
4. The Stanley cup craze: Origins of the trendy tumbler housed in Union’s archives
5. End of an era: Former Phi Delta Theta House set to be demolished
7. Comedian and actor Ben Schwartz '03 to be Commencement speaker
8. Meet the five co-salutatorians of the Class of 2024
10. Spirit in the Night: 50 years ago, Springsteen delivers an unforgettable performance at Union