One goal of this season is to the get beyond the myths about GTS. There are many that are out there. “It has always had an admissions crisis” – this is false, under Dean Ward Ewing recruitment was strong. “There has always been conflict between Faculty and Administration” – this again is an oversimplification of the truth. And under Dean Craig Anderson, faculty relations were good. And one myth that I wish to dispel today is the myth that the geothermal wells never worked.

In fact, to start with all the wells worked. And for approximately three years, the wells were fully functioning and successful. After Hurricane Sandy, some of the wells were damaged. But two of the wells are continuing to work. And they are working well. They are responsible for bringing warm water from the earth into the buildings on about half of the close. As Mr. Harry Soto, the director of facilities, told me about these two working wells, I did ask him to look at the other wells and see if there is anything that could be done to get them working.

In a time when we have a planet that needs some care, as you live, visit, and work on the campus, please do take some pride in the truth that we are greener than many entities in New York (come to that in the United States of America). It should be a matter of some pride.

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and President of The General Theological Seminary