So Long, Farewell

This is the year for a new beginning for quite a few people at Bellarmine. Dr. Cooper, a Communication department professor, Dr. Milton Brown, an Education professor are just two faculty members leaving. While they have left their mark on Bellarmine, there are two faculty members who are leaving who have made a huge impact in my life: Dr. Claudia Beeny and Mike Knox. This is my story of these two irreplaceable people.

Dr. Beeny, who most that work with her just call her Beeny when referring to her, is the reason I am involved at BU. My first experience on campus was Family Weekend my freshman year. We had a great group and we worked together very well. However, Dr. Beeny had so much energy with every idea we came up with, never turning anything down, even if it was off the wall and unreasonable to happen on our campus. She always had a smile on her face, bringing me up if I was having a bad day. As a freshman, I was a little nervous to take on a big event such as Family Weekend, but thanks to her, I became more confident in my leadership ability. Not only did she help with my confidence, but she was also a mentor. During my free time, I loved going to talk to her. She was always willing to help me out with any problems I was having, no matter how simple or how complicated. It was nice to have a faculty member that would not judge me for my decision making, but help me work things out. After Family Weekend was over, I applied for Homecoming under her wing. Yet again, she had more energy than I could imagine and it helped boost my concerns. Budget was nothing to her and she wanted to make everything happen. She has so much confidence in her students and it helps every activity that we plan.

The day I found out Dr. Beeny was leaving was dark. That may sound harsh, but it definetely was not a bright day. It was late afternoon, during our new Family Weekend committee's meeting. Jessica Bowman, who works in Student Affairs with Beeny broke the news. It took everything I had not to cry, but my eyes welled up with tears. She was "my person" as Grey's Anatomy would say and she meant a lot to me. A bad day was made better because of her and now she was leaving. My whole life was not going to fall apart but I knew from that point on that my Bellarmine experience was not going to be the same.

Mike Knox works in the SAC (student activities center) and I have worked with him mainly through Student Ambassadors, but a little with Homecoming as well. As a new student becoming an Ambassador, I was a little nervous, but Mike made everything so easy-going, the nervousness went away very quickly. Like Dr. Beeny, Mike has a lot of energy in what he does and he always has a smile on his face. He has kept me on my toes with making me laugh and remembering to have a good time while helping with SOAR and other events for incoming students. Even though I am not a morning person, he helps the pain of getting up for SOARs a little less due to his personality of being so much fun.

My first thought when I found out Dr. Beeny was leaving was, at least Mike Knox will still be here. I did not hold back the tears when I found out Mike was leaving. I was having a decent day the day I received the e-mail addressing the necessary students on campus. I had to read it twice before I went straight to his office. I did not cry in front of him, but I wanted to know about his new job and it is an amazing opportunity for him.

This campus will not be the same without those two very important people on campus. While I am excited about meeting those new members to our BU community, I will always hold a place in my heart for Dr. Beeny and Mike Knox. They have made a difference in my BU experience and it it was not for them, I do not know how my experience would be as great as it is. I wish them the best of luck, but want them to know, they will be missed more than they will ever realize.