A flash flood wrecked havoc on UofL's Belknap and Health Sciences Center campuses Tuesday, Aug. 4, when six inches of rain fell in 75 minutes. Some students, faculty and staff were rescued by boat, and 29 buildings flooded--resulting in millions of dollars in damages to classrooms, computers, laboratories, offices and infrastructure. Despite the damage, the university will be up and running in time for Aug. 24 classes. "Everyone is pitching in to make sure campus is as normal as possible for the return of students," says President James Ramsey.

The University of Louisville Board of Trustees praised President James Ramsey during its annual evaluation of his job performance during its meeting July 29. Trustee Salem George told the board that Ramsey is eligible for $113,858 in performance bonuses this year, but Ramsey is declining the additional pay, saying he won't accept a salary increase while UofL's faculty and staff are receiving the same pay as last year.

UofL's Cardinal Singers traveled to South Korea in July to compete in the World Choir Championship--and came back with first places in sacred music and mixed chorus. But after wining first place in all their competitions, they were told that a gala event and further competitions would be canceled because some participants tested positive for the H1N1 flu. None of the UofL students became ill.

More than 2,400 incoming UofL freshman and 1,800 parents participated in 10 student orientation sessions earlier this summer. The students got an initial glimpse of what everyday life on campus is like. They also formed letters in the word "Louisville" in front of the Student Activities Center. View the gallery. The students will be back on campus for Welcome Weekend Aug. 20.

UofL's J.B. Speed School of Engineering Human Powered Vehicle team unveiled July 24 its first working prototype of a vehicle built for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers competition. "The goal is to design and build a viable human-powered vehicle for the utility classification of competition from scratch," said master's student Scott Casson, one of three students who created the prototype.

Saturn is rotating five minutes faster than previously thought. Wave patterns in Saturn's clouds show that scientists have been using the wrong rotation rate for the planet, said Timothy Dowling, a UofL planetary atmospheres researcher who helped make the discovery. An article on the finding appears in the July 30 issue of Nature.

UofL catcher Melissa Roth and the USA Softball Pan American Qualifier team defeated Venezuela 2-0 and Canada 3-1 to win the Gold at the Pan American Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela, Aug. 9. Team USA went 13-1 in the qualifier and earned a spot in the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2010 International Softball Federation Women's World Softball Championship.