1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

State-of-the-art technology enhances safety of Transylvania’s North Broadway crosswalk

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Partnering with the state, Transylvania University is improving campus safety through the addition of state-of-the-art technology and major renovations to campus grounds. The North Broadway crosswalk between Third and Fourth streets has been equipped with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, which feature motion sensors that activate multiple flashing lights when pedestrians approach. The signals are especially helpful at dusk and night when motorists may have a difficult time seeing pedestrians. “These crosswalk improvements will enhance the safety not only of our students, faculty and staff, but also of motorists traveling along North Broadway,” President Seamus Carey said. “We appreciate the state Transportation Cabinet’s assistance in making these upgrades a reality.” The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet manages improvements to North Broadway, which is U.S. Route 27/68 through Lexington. The university, along with local and state transportation officials, explored numerous alternatives before deciding on the beacons. The solar-powered devices are similar to ones installed a few years ago in front of the Transportation Cabinet building in Frankfort. Additional safety enhancements to the Transylvania crosswalk include reducing the width of the crossing to a standard size, reconfiguring the sidewalks on both sides of Broadway to direct pedestrians to use the crosswalk and new signage. Also, the university is permanently closing a semicircular roadway and parking lot in front of the newly-renovated Carpenter Academic Center, formerly the Haupt Humanities building. Transylvania will install brick pavers in front of Carpenter to create a walkway, which will still

Transylvania recognizes area first responders at annual luncheon

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Transylvania University recognized local first responders today as part of an ongoing effort to foster a safe campus by strengthening community partnerships. Transy’s Campus Emergency Response Team’s annual luncheon was a chance for the Transylvania community to meet with public safety officials, express their gratitude and discuss initiatives that mutually benefit the campus and Lexington community. “We hope this event will help to further develop Transylvania’s professional working relationship with local emergency personnel in preparedness for any event,” said Gregg Muravchick, Transylvania’s director of public safety. This past year the university collaborated with local agencies for a wide range of activities—from the recent investiture ceremony of a federal judge on campus to participating in the Special Olympics to offering self-defense classes presented by UK’s S.T.A.R.R. program. Community partners attending today’s event included the Lexington Police and Fire departments, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, University of Kentucky Police Department and the FBI. “As a group, we like to review any incidents that have occurred during the past year, not only as a debriefing, but as a learning opportunity,” Muravchick said. “We also explore the community issues our Transylvania public safety officers need to be aware of so we can provide a safer campus environment and offer assistance to the larger community.” In addition to strengthening ties with the surrounding community, officers in Transylvania’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) regularly attend emergency and professional training, receive medical assistance certification and have implemented an

French major to biotech CEO

David Hysong ’09 David Hysong ’09 has always lived large and largely for others. He could easily be the inspiration for a liberal arts action figure, a cerebral MacGyver with entrepreneurial gifts, a strong faith and a desire to put himself on the line for others.  Hysong has worked undercover in Cambodia to fight human trafficking. He founded an NGO to help refugee children. After being hit by a 12-ton bus, he managed to walk again, attend Harvard Divinity School and was selected for Navy SEAL training. In the past two years Hysong has become founder, CEO and patient of Shepherd Therapeutics, a biotech company with offices in Nashville and Boston, created to find cures for rare forms of cancer. Diagnosed with a head and neck cancer that has no targeted therapy, Hysong quickly assessed the limitations within the existing oncological landscape. He traded special operations in the military for a different kind of warfare. The 250 forms of “rare” cancer actually comprise 42 percent of all cancer diagnoses, Hysong notes. Together, they are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Even so, the pharmaceutical industry neglects rare cancers in order to invest in fewer therapies affecting larger numbers of patients. Hysong could see the life-saving opportunities being missed. He created Shepherd Therapeutics to revolutionize how rare cancers are treated and the ecosystem around them. Operating with low overhead and a big-picture idea that connects existing resources, Shepherd Therapeutics

Transylvania hosts national seminar on liberal arts, digital technology

LEXINGTON, Ky.—A seminar to foster national dialogue about the role of the liberal arts in the digital age kicked off today at Transylvania University. The Transylvania Seminar, Liberal Education: Approaching the Digital drew professors from schools across the country including Vassar, Rhodes and Bard colleges. It builds on Transylvania’s commitment to prepare students to face the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century with a grounding in liberal arts values.  “The seminar aims to contribute to a national conversation on the idea of liberal education and the mission of the liberal arts college amidst the extraordinary possibilities, as well as the potential challenges, created by digital technologies,” said Laura Bryan, Transylvania’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university. Tying into the seminar, Transylvania launched a Digital Liberal Arts initiative last year to teach students how digital technologies affect the world of today and tomorrow. The university also recently added a digital arts and media major and hired a digital content and technology integration specialist. The seminar, which runs through Saturday, features a plenary with Kathleen Fitzpatrick, director of digital humanities and professor of English at Michigan State University. She is the author of “Planned Obsolescence: Publishing, Technology and Future of the Academy” and “The Anxiety of Obsolescence: The American Novel in the Age of Television.” Along with her talk, the seminar is raising questions about how liberal education is changing—and what is its relevance—in the digital age.

Princeton Review lists Transylvania among nation’s top schools

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Princeton Review has once again included Transylvania University in a book featuring the top 15 percent of the nation’s colleges. “The Best 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition,” which came out today, highlights Transylvania for its value, quality of education, location and how it prepares students for success after graduation. “We picked the 384 ‘best’ colleges for our book primarily for their outstanding academics; we highly recommend each one,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and the book’s lead author. “However, we know applicants need far more than an academic rating or ranking to find the college that will be best for them.” In the section on Transylvania, many students pointed out how well the university prepares them for postgraduate studies. In fact, graduates have a 96 percent acceptance rate to medical school and a 100 percent acceptance rate to law school. In addition to the overall list of 384 schools, which is alphabetical as opposed to a ranking, the Princeton Review spotlights how colleges excel in specific areas. Additionally, the university’s inclusion in this year’s Colleges That Pay You Back category showcases not only its affordability, but also career outcomes for graduates. Transylvania is a top-20 school in the College City Gets High Marks category. Being in Lexington gives Transylvania students a variety of opportunities, including “widely available” internships, according to the Princeton Review. Students also noted the benefits of living so close to downtown, including “a ton of