Editor: Roy Summerford. Contributing editors: Bob Lowry, Janet McCoy, Mitch Emmons and Richarde Talbot.

The AU Report is published by the Office of University Relations at Auburn University. Issues appear every two weeks during academic quarters.

Official distribution by campus mail includes full-time faculty and staff at campus offices. Copies also are mailed to trustees and officials at AU at Montgomery.

Deadline for receiving items is noon on Tuesday before publication. Direct inquiries, suggestions and items to 23 Samford Hall, Auburn University, Ala. 36849-5109. Telephone 334/844-9999.Electronic mail:summero@mail.auburn.edu

Auburn University nearly doubled its previous record in the recently concluded Campaign Auburn fund drive, bringing more than $201million in commitments from alumni and friends.

In festivities Saturday honoring donors, AU President William Muse and National Campaign Committee Chairman Earle Williams said the commitments, totaling $201,628,801, represent a vote of confidence in the university by its faculty, staff, alumni and fri ends.

The six-year campaign, which ended Dec. 31, exceeded its goal by more than $26 million.

The previous high for a fund-raising campaign at Auburn was $111 million in the Auburn Generations Fund of 1980-85.

"In an era when appropriations from the state are clearly inadequate, Auburn must look to its alumni and friends for the financial support that protects and enhances the quality of our programs, faculty and students," said Muse. "The success of
Campaign Auburn demonstrates that Auburn people stand solidly behind their university and are eager to help it succeed."

Muse said alumni and others contribute to the university with the understanding that their money will not be used as a substitute for state support.

"Funds received through private giving are committed to providing a margin of excellence beyond state appropriations, usually in areas of need specified by the donor and can only be used for that purpose," he explained.

"The campaign's success will not help us meet the immediate and very demanding need for adequate funds for day-to-day operations. That is the responsibility of the State of Alabama, not our alumni," Muse said.

Williams, a Virginia and Washington, D.C., business leader, attributed the success of the campaign to the "Auburn Spirit." He noted that the campaign attracted more than 58,000 gifts, with 48,000 coming in amounts below $1,000.

"The strength of this campaign has been the many thousands of people who through their collective effort have made a difference for future generations of Auburn students," Williams said.

"Today's students will get a boost from Campaign Auburn, but the greatest impact will be felt by future Auburn students," said Williams, a 1951 graduate. "That is why we chose the name Campaign Auburn: The Next Generation.

"While the next generation is just starting its education, Auburn is using resources from this campaign to build the academic programs and establish scholarships those students will need when they are ready for college," he added. "The way we will make A uburn great is by each generation helping the ones that come next."

All the major campaign goals were realized as alumni and friends of the university committed $77.3 million to Auburn's endowment, $2.3 million over the goal; $30.2 million for facilities, $5.2 million over the goal; and $94.2 million for ongoing and other programs, nearly $20 million over the goal.

Of those commitments, most is already in hand. The final $61.8 million is in pledge and estate commitments that will be fulfilled in the future.

Muse said faculty and staff showed an unparalleled commitment to Auburn through gifts totaling $1.7 million. The faculty and staff's Family Campaign focused on increasing endowments for scholarships and the library.

The Auburn Alumni Association also committed $1 million to scholarships, adding to the association's ongoing scholarship and faculty development programs.

Nearly 40 percent of endowment contributions through Campaign Auburn went to scholarships for undergraduates and fellowships for graduate students. Another 16 percent was committed for professorships and faculty awards.

The $42.7 million from gifts received so far for the endowment has combined with the investment growth to raise Auburn's endowment from $79.2 million in October 1990, when the campaign started, to $177.7 million as of Dec. 31, when the campaign ended.

The campaign's largest donation was land in Hoover valued at more than $7.5 million from John E. Wilborn, a 1945 graduate, for program quality improvement in the Department of Building Science. Wilborn, a Birmingham businessman, was the first graduate o f Auburn's building science program.

Campaign Auburn differed from many capital campaigns because of its emphasis on building quality indicators such as scholarships, faculty support and program support.

Among the more visible products of the campaign are the portals at the university's Thach Avenue entrance. They were financed in part through donations from the late Hiram "Felix" Cochran, a 1955 Auburn graduate who also helped finance landscaping across campus. Numerous alumni contributed to the landscaping of Samford Park, repairs to the Samford clock tower and renovation of several campus buildings.

Other alumni helped finance construction of the new baseball park, and Jonathan Bell Lovelace financed the athletic museum, which now bears his name.

The largest donation for construction was $5 million from the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance Companies for an agricultural services center. The center will house soil testing and diagnostics laboratories.

Betty DeMent, AU vice president for Alumni and Development, said the most successful aspect of the campaign was the involvement of hundreds of volunteers who gave of their time as well as financial support. "Without the support and leadership of these me n and women, it is doubtful that the campaign could have enjoyed this level of support," she said.

DeMent said the Auburn University Foundation and the National Campaign Committee rallied support for Auburn from alumni and friends around the world during the public phase of the campaign from September 1994 through December 1996. "The campaign committe e members' devotion to this institution and its mission are evident in the way they have worked to prepare Auburn for the next century," she added.

Muse said a number of new and unfulfilled needs remain. He cited the need for a new Large Animal Clinic, a Poultry Science building and an art museum, all of which have been partially funded with private support. More funds must be found to produce the se and other facilities, he said.

Auburn also will continue to seek support for scholarships, faculty development and other goals to maintain and enhance quality, he added.

"It is my hope that we will continue to build upon this foundation as we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of a new century," Muse said.

Technology leasing proves successful in Student Affairs

A new technology replacement program implemented successfully in Student Affairs could provide a way to keep up with the changing technology , says AU's interim chief information officer.

Purchases of computers and related equipment have always been viewed as a capital expense, just as construction costs of buildings which are expected to last 50 to 100 years. But computers do not have the same life span and are often obsolete before we re alize it, said Jim Stone.

Stone said a computer's technological life span is now three to five years, a trend that will likely continue for another decade or more. And as faculty, administrators and students increasingly use technology in their work and studies, it becomes increas ingly critical that technology be available, functioning and replaced at intervals the technology demands, he said.

"Life Cycle funding looks to the campus' technological future while considering present resources. We've got to keep pace, and our funding model doesn't help us.
As technology becomes central, we need to consider moving expenditures to the operations/maintenance side," Stone said.

Life Cycle funding treats technology expenditures as a recurring, predictable expense. Instead of buying computers, departments can enter into a leasing program for a designated period of time. When the lease agreement expires, the lessor may enter into a new agreement with the same equipment or with other equipment that better fits current needs.

After evaluating and assessing Student Affairs and obtaining permission to test the feasibility of such a program, the department entered into a lease agreement with the Division of University Computing in September 1996. Stone said Student Affairs seeme d ideal for the leasing plan because technical support was essentially exhausted and the department needed some of everything. Replacement infrastructure funds were used to initiate the program and plans were implemented for future budget allocations to continue the agreement.

The Office of Financial Aid was one of the beneficiaries of the agreement. Director Kaye Storey said the program has proven beneficial in her office.

"The Federal government is pushing the financial aid community into a paperless process. Since we receive the student need analysis in an electronic format available on the PC, and we now do all direct lending on the PC, they recommended a particular mach ine -- speed, memory, etc. We had to upgrade or we could not have processed for the 1997-98 school year," Storey said. "Since the agreement, our office has experienced a significant increase in speed and efficiency in many of our processes."

The short effective life-span of computers is one reason the lease concept may be beneficial throughout campus, Stone said, because once an item -- like the computer -- becomes part of the work output of an office, the way in which that item is funded nee ds to change.

"Life cycle funding makes the dollar flow predictable and regular. It also avoids the mistake of buying too much and keeping technology too long so it no longer fits the need," he said.

School of Accountancy awards endowed professorships to two

Kent Fields and Arlette Wilson, both professors in the AU School of Accountancy, have been named to endowed chairs in the College of Business. Fields is the Charles McKenzie Taylor Jr. Professor in Accounting, while Wilson is the KPMG Peat Marwick Profess or in Accounting.

Fields, a member of the Auburn faculty since 1984, did his undergraduate work at the University of North Texas. He received a master of professional accounting degree from the University of Texas at Austin and earned his Ph.D in accountancy from Texas A&M University. He is a certified public accountant.

The native of Snyder, Texas, has served on the editorial boards of The Journal of Accountancy and the Accounting Systems Journal. At Auburn, he teaches financial accounting, cost accounting, auditing and accounting systems at the graduate and undergraduat e levels. Fields was chair of the University Senate in 1995-96.

The Taylor Professorship in Accounting was established through a gift from C. Mack Taylor.

Wilson, who has been at Auburn since 1985, received her undergraduate degree in statistics and her masters degree in accounting from the University of Mississippi.
She completed her Ph.D at the University of Arkansas in 1983 with concentrations in the areas of accounting, quantitative methods and industrial engineering.

Wilson, who is a CPA, certified management accountant and certified internal auditor, teaches in all areas of financial accounting, accounting theory and cost accounting. She has received several teaching awards, including the Beta Alpha Psi Outstanding T eacher.

The KPMG Peat Marwick Professorship in Accounting was established through a grant from KPMG Peat Marwick, an accounting firm.

Chair named for Zoology & Wildlife

Michael Wooten, a member of the College of Sciences and Mathematics at AU since 1986, has been named chair of the Department of Zoology & Wildlife Sciences.

"The College of Sciences and Mathematics has placed a high priority on its biological sciences programs and, as a visionary, Dr. Wooten will provide important leadership in achieving that priority," said COSAM Dean Stewart Schneller. "I am delighted he h as accepted the chair position."

Wooten, who joined the AU faculty as an assistant professor, was promoted and received tenure in 1991 as an associate professor. He has served on more than 30 standing and ad hoc departmental committees, three COSAM committees and was instrumental in the development of COSAM's existing admissions packet while serving as chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Author of 29 peer-reviewed articles, including three book chapters, Wooten has been a frequent reviewer for the National Science Foundation, American Midland Naturalist, Journal of Mammalogy and other professional groups.

Wooten has taught several courses in genetics and biology, coordinated eight sections of laboratory instruction per quarter. He also has developed numerous web pages for instructional use.

Since 1988, he has generated $421,000 in continued external support to support his research and has continuously acquired new technologies to enhance laboratory capabilities within the department.

Jarvis to head Academic Support Services

Kathryn Jarvis, a Florida educator who joined AU on April 1 to lead the Academic Support programs, plans to build on the successes of the past and to research issues of student success.

"One of the things we're asking Dr. Jarvis to do is explore other programs and opportunities we need to help our students succeed academically. We're looking for an early warning system that would identify students in trouble before they're in danger of a n academic warning or suspension," said Grant Davis, assistant vice president for student life.

Jarvis said she has some definite plans for Academic Support including initiating research and working more closely with faculty.

"I think that Academic Support Services and Study Partners has been running effectively for years and years. What they haven't been able to do is more tracking on how students succeed," Jarvis said.

"I think we could do some research on what works and why it works; what doesn't work and why; how to help students succeed and if they do succeed how; if they leave, where do they go. Really asking some questions and doing qualitative and quantitative res earch. And talking to students. I want to find out what they think," she said.

Jarvis earned a bachelor's degree in communication disorders from the University of Florida, a master's degree in in education and child development from Tufts University in Boston and a Ph.D. in higher education with a minor in special education. She wor ked on policy issues at the State Board of Colleges and University of Florida from 1993-97, served as acting president and dean of faculty during her tenure at Beacon College in Central Florida from 1986-92; and at colleges in Massachusettes.

"We're very excited to have Dr. Jarvis joining our team. She has a wide range of experience, which will contribute to her focusing the Academic Support program on providing services and programs that will foster the success of Auburn students. She brings a great deal of energy and vision and we're looking forward to enhancing programs and services in the academic support area," Davis said.

Economics Department added to Templeton Honor Roll

The Wilmington, Del.-based John Templeton Foundation has named Auburn University's Department of Economics to the Templeton Honor Rolls for Education in a Free Society.

Named for financier and philanthropist John Templeton, the "honor rolls," are a series of awards that identify and publicize "outstanding individuals and institutions in American higher education."

Less than 120 of 800 nominees among individuals, books and institutions are selected for the honor rolls. The honorees were chosen for their commitment to excellence in liberal arts by an executive committee that includes three Nobel Prize winners.

"In short, your department has been selected as an outstanding example of the best in American higher education," the organization said in a letter to David Laband, head of the AU Department of Economics.

"It is particularly gratifying for the Department of Economics to receive this award because it means that we are developing a truly national reputation for excellence," said Laband. "Without question this reflects the efforts and successes of our facult y, who are simply outstanding in the classroom and highly accomplished and visible in terms of their contributions to the science and practice
of economics.

"Both within and beyond the traditional classroom setting, we strive to foster a better understanding of the fundamental importance of economics in every American's life," he said. Being named to the Templeton Honor Rolls is a significant achievement, on e that we hope to continue to live up to."

The honorees, including the AU Department of Economics, will be recognized in Washington on May 21 at a luncheon in the Senate.

Town-Gown Softball game scheduled for May 2

The alliance between the city of Auburn and Auburn University will be broken for a good cause on Friday, May 2, when students and faculty face Auburn residents in the annual Town and Gown softball game.

All proceeds raised through the game will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, said J.R. Smith, game chair. "Each year different sponsors donate money on behalf of the ball game and the Alabama Power Service Organization matches all the donations," he sai d. "Donations tend to reach from $12-17,000."

The 7 p.m. game at the Auburn City Softball Complex is free entertainment for people to come and see their friends play, but it will be interesting to see if the town's winning trend continues, Smith said. "This is the fifth year for the game and the tow n of Auburn is up three games to one," he said.

Auburn has a lot of talented players, but the university is bringing in a few secret weapons, said Jane Moore, university team manager. "Auburn University
President William Muse will help coach and Sarah Graziano and Deb Sonnenberg, who are Olympic softball players and coaches of the AU softball team, will be playing for the university team," said Moore.

Noted designer to present Grisham-Trentham Lecture

Apparel and home furnishing designer Alexander Julian will be the 1997 Grisham Trentham Lecture in Human Sciences on May 13-14.

Julian will speak on "The Colourful World of Design" at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 14, in the AU Conference Center auditorium.

"Mr. Julian's innovative use of color as an aspect of design has earned him accolades from all quarters of the industry," said Michael Solomon, who is coordinating the lecture program.

Julian is the first American clothing designer to design his own exclusive fabrics and has received numerous awards from this work, including being the youngest designer ever inducted into the Coty Hall of Fame. He has received five Coty Awards and two Cu tty Sark Menswear Awards.

In addition, Julian was the first fashion designer to design professional and college sports uniforms, including the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, the University of North Carolina men's and women's basketball uniforms, and car racing and crew suits for Mario A ndretti, Michael Andretti, Nigel Nansell and Paul Tracey.

In addition to his couture menswear collection and a men's sportswear collection known as "Colours by Alexander Julian," Julian has created fragrances for men and women, designed home linens since 1981 and in 1994 launched a 150-piece collection of reside ntial furniture under the Alexander Julian Home Colours label.

This is the 11th year of the Grisham-Trentham Lectureship, developed by retired consumer affairs professor Gary Trentham to bring internationally respected fashion experts to campus each spring allowing students the opportunity to learn first-hand about t he fashion industry. The lectureship is named for Grisham and sponsors Charles and Betty Grisham of Huntsville.

Lecture to focus on changes in managed health care

A special lecture in pharmacy this Friday will focus on changes in managed health that affect the profession and society.

Dennis Helling, pharmacy operations director of Kaiser Permanente of Colorado, will discuss the trends in health care and health care reform in a lecture titled "Tomorrow's Health Care Reality: Are You Ready?" from noon-1:15 p.m. in the Pharmacy Auditoriu m.

Pharmacists can receive one hour in continuing education credit for attending the lecture, which also will benefit pre-pharmacy and pharmacy students and others interested in the direction of the profession, said Diane Beck, interim associate dean in the School of Pharmacy.

Helling, who is also an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, has writen more than 80 journal articles and book chapters. He has presented more than 60 papers at scientific meetings and lectured at 25 international meetin gs.

He serves on the Commission on Goals with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and is vice chairman for the state of Colorado Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board. Helling serves on the AACP-PEW Commission Task Force on Managed Care's Impact on Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacy Education.

Among honors he has received are the ASHP Award for Achievement of Sustained Contributions to the Literature of Hospital Pharmacy, and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumnus Award for Service to the Profession.
Helling's lecture is sponsored by the AU School of Pharmacy, University Lecture Series and Hoescht Marion Rousell Inc.

Morrison receives Veterinary Medicine award

Edward Morrison, an associate professor of anatomy in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has received the 1997 Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence at Auburn.

The award is sponsored by Exton, Pa.-based Pfizer Animal Health.
Morrison, a member of the AU faculty since 1990, has overseen research related to the olfactory system for several years since earning his doctorate at Kansas State University in 1980.

"During Dr. Morrison's tenure at Auburn, his leadership has resulted in the development of a strong and most promising research program in neuroscience," said L.M. Krista, professor and head of anatomy and histology at the AU College of Veterinary Medicin e. "He has established an excellent research laboratory, gained both national and international recognition and has made major contributions to the growth, visibility and credibility of the departmental research program and for the University."

Morrison's work -- which spans both human and animal species -- focuses on the olfactory system and how it relates to neurogenesis, or the growth of replacement nerve cells.

"The olfactory system is unique, the only system capable of replacing nerve cells normally and when injured," said Morrison. This means that the olfactory stem cell is capable of generating new neurons for the life of the individual.

"Our work has shown that olfactory neurons transplanted into different areas of the brain of host animals survive, continue to produce new neurons and form new connections," he said.

Morrison was also among the first to determine that the olfactory system is vulnerable and a possible entry site for bacteria into the central nervous system of catfish.

Morrison's work has been published in the most prestigious scientific journals and he has been requested to present his findings at numerous national and international meetings.

Morrison earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Massachusetts in 1970 before attending graduate school at KSU. He completed a master's degree in 1976 before pursuing his doctorate.

He worked in biological sciences research at Florida State University from 1982-85, including two years on a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health. Morrison was a member of the faculty of the Medical College of Virginia at Virgini a Commonwealth University for five years before coming to Auburn.

Electrical Engineering receives gift of equipment

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. has donated protective relays to the AU Department of Electrical Engineering in the form of microprocessor-based equipment that will be used to augment power system protection courses.

The equipment -- valued at nearly $20,000 -- will enable students to simulate real power system protection schemes.

The equipment consists of a SEL-321 phase and ground distance, directional overcurrent relay with fault location; a SEL-501 dual overcurrent relay; a SEL-587
current differential relay; a SEL-4000 relay test system; and specialized software for

"This equipment will facilitate laboratory support for existing power system protection courses," Charles Gross of the electrical engineering faculty noted. "It may also make possible a new course in microprocessor relaying."

The equipment was presented by Jeff Gregory, SEL field application engineer, who graduated from Auburn in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

Gregory has opened an SEL technical service center in Dothan, bringing to eight the number of facilities offered by Schweitzer nationwide to provide application and technical assistance to its customers.

More than 300 utilities commission relays manufactured by SEL, the first firm in the United States to provide highly accurate fault location and event reporting as a part of its power system protection engineering.

Interviews set for chief information officer candidates

Four candidates have been identified as finalists for the position of chief information officer at AU. Wayne Alderman, dean of the College of Business and chair of the search committee, says the four are:

€ John Scott Bryan, executive director of Information Technology Resources at Radford University in Virginia.

€ James Scanlon, director of information technology at Santa Clara University in California.

€ Donald Steward, associate director of telecommunications at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

€ Cliff Woodruff, dean of information technology at Salisbury State University in Maryland.

One-hour open forums will be at 3:45 p.m. on May 6, 14, 19 and 22 for the candidates to answer questions from faculty, staff and students. All of the sessions will be at Broun Hall Auditorium. Bryan will appear May 6, Scanlon on May 19, Steward on May 14 and Woodruff on May 22.

Auburn People: On the job or off, Charlie Crawford covers lot of ground

As superintendent of landscape services at Auburn, Charlie Crawford is known around the university for his role in efforts to beautify the campus. Away from campus, he is in a different world as a leading figure in one the most physically demanding of at hletic competitions.

A competitor in grueling triathlon competitions -- endurance events of swimming, running and bicycling -- since 1987, Crawford became commissioner of officials in 1996. As such, he is in charge of training referees for the USA Triathlon's National Federa tion, which sanctions all U.S. competitions in the new Olympic sport.

He also heads a competitive family, with son Ian and daughters Bryn and Elspeth competing in and winning triathlons for their age groups. Trips to triathlons with his children put his vacation time to good use, said Crawford, who has been an AU staff mem ber since 1975.

Crawford was chosen to train referees after his no-nonsense refereeing of the Hawaiian Ironman competition added competitiveness and increased safety in the bicycling events. His no-nonsense enforcement of the rules ended rules violations in which cyclis ts would gain an unfair edge by drafting -- riding so closely behind another cyclist that the trailing rider was being pulled along in the draft of the lead rider.

The Hawaiian competition is both the most honored and most gruelling competition of its kind anywhere. Events include a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2 mile run. Even the less challenging triathlon competitions typically include a 1,500 m eter (0.9 mile) run, a 24.8 mile bicycle race and a 6.2 mile run over two or three hours.

Crawford recalled the 17-hour Ironman competition as the most demanding and most fulfilling triathlon he encountered as a competitor. It is also the most challenging race to referee, he added. Referees patrol the race on motor cycles and have to break up packs of cyclists by weaving in to pull over and penalize tailgaters.

The 1972 AU graduate caught the eye of the national federation because of his strict enforcement of the rules as a referee in triathlons in the South. "The most important part of refereeing is controlling the cycling event," said Crawford.
"Drafting is dangerous and illegal in U.S. triathlon competition, but it had become common because the rules weren't being enforced strictly enough. I wanted to make sure the rules were enforced."

Crawford, who holds two bachelor's and a master's degree from Auburn, was drawn to triathlons in the mid-1980s as a way to keep physically fit and satisfying a competitive instinct. "Challenge is part of the national psyche," he explained. "I wanted to see how far I could go."

Triathlons are a family event for Crawford. Bryn, Elspeth and Ian often travel to events with him and compete in their age brackets. While Ian, 9, enters less often and mostly for fun, 11-year-old Bryn and 13-year-old Elsbeth are determined competitors who have won national championships in their age brackets.

Crawford, who has completed more than 100 triathlon competitions, including five Ironnan contests, has cut back on his participation as his refereeing activities become more time-consuming. Another factor, he said, is the desire to watch his children com pete. "I still compete from time to time, but when they are out there competing, I want to be there for them," he said.

Knecht retiring from College of Veterinary Medicine

Charles Knecht, head of the Small Animal Clinic in AU's College of Veterinary Medicine and an internationally respected researcher, teacher and administrator, has announced plans to retire effective June 1.

Knecht, at AU since 1979, is in his fourth decade in veterinary medicine, having served in private practice, in the Air Force and at three other universities.

Knecht earned his veterinary medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1956. He reached the rank of captain in the Air Force veterinary corps and practiced in Richmond, Va., Pittsburgh and Towson, Md., for seven years.

In 1964, Knecht began his academic career at the University of Illinois, completing a master's degree while serving a surgical residency. He was professor and chief of surgery at the University of Georgia from 1970-72 and at Purdue University from 1972-79 before coming to Auburn.

"Auburn has been a special place because of the family, the people you meet and work with, not only at the university, but in the town as well," he said. "Auburn people are extremely friendly and cooperative. You meet people on the street here, and when they ask how you're doing, they mean it."

Knecht's achievements have been instrumental in Auburn's standing in the worldwide veterinary community. He has been active in several honor societies and is a diplomate and past president of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, a diplomate and pa st president of the specialty neurology of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and past president of both the American Veterinary Neurology Association and the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians.

A prolific author and lecturer, Knecht has written two texts and 133 scientific articles, textbook chapters and proceedings. He has also served as editor for two scientific journals and has given more than 270 scientific presentations in the U.S. and in s ix other nations. In 1971, he invented a surgical device known as the Knecht Condyle Clamp.

Knecht serves as president of the Board of Directors of the Lee County division of the American Heart Association and is treasurer of the Auburn University Club. He is also active in St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Since his arrival in 1979, Knecht said the Small Animal Clinic has gained a dozen technical staff members and five faculty positions.

"The sophistication of veterinary medicine has increased since then," he said. "The knowledge base has grown and students have much more to learn now than they did a generation ago."

Knecht also said the department has generated enough income through its services and through the generosity of donors that it has added two stories to its original building. And the entire clinic, except for the surgery corridor, has been renovated, and architects are busy now planning for a surgical makeover.

One thing that hasn't changed, he said, is the bond between people and their pets.
"I remember having people bring in their animals in the '50s and the dogs and cats were in essence their children, just as it is today," he said.

Another constant: the chief mission of the hospital remains training tomorrow's veterinarians.

"We're first and foremost a teaching hospital," Knecht sids. "Our charge is to educate students. By far the majority of them, according to the practitioners I'm hearing from, are well prepared to enter the profession when they leave us."

Achievements

Stephanie Zieman Parker, senior academic advisor for the School of Nursing, has received the AU Student Government Association Advisor of the Year Award for 1996-97. The award is presented annually by the Auburn Organizations Board to recognize the academ ic advisor deemed most outstanding in a campus organization. Parker has been senior academic advisor with Auburn's School of Nursing since 1989. She received her R.N. degree and a bachelor's degree in education from Spring Hill College in Mobile and a mas ter's degree in health education from the University of Central Arkansas.

Avery Abernethy, associate professor in Marketing and Transportation and his co author George Franke of the University of Alabama, received the best paper of 1996 award from the Journal of Advertising for "The Information Content of Advertising: A Meta-Analysis."

Conner Bailey, a professor in Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology presented one of three plenary addresses at the World Aquaculture Society meetings, Feb. 19 23, in Seattle. The aquaculture society's meetings are a major international event bringing together scientists, producers, and suppliers associated with the aquaculture industry worldwide. Bailey was the first sociologist to be invited to present a ple nary address to the aquaculture society.

Mary Jo Wear, assistant director of AU's Office of International Programs and Services, is serving in 1996-97 as Southeast regional vice president and member of the board of directors of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars.

Ralph Mirarchi, a professor in Zoology & Wildlife, was recently honored at the Third Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society as a co-recipient of the 1996 editorship award for the outstanding publication in wildlife ecology and management. Mirarchi and three others edited the book Ecology and Management of the Mourning Dove. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, Mirarchi authored or co-authored six of the 29 chapters in the 567-page book.

Subhash Sinha, professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been named a Fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International. The Fellow grade is conferred upon a member with at least 10 years active engineering experience who has made sign ificant contributions to the field. The 125,000-member ASME International is a worldwide engineering society focused on technical, educational and research issues.

Tim Dodge of the Microforms and Documents Department, Ralph Brown Draughon Library, presented "The Transition to Digital Libraries for Government Information" at a colloquium at the University of Alabama on March 12.

Wayne Johnson, professor of Electrical Engineering, has been awarded senior membership status in the International Microelectronics and Packaging Society, a 5,000-member technical society for those involved in the design and fabrication of microelectroni c modules. Senior status is based on years of membership, service to the society and peer recommendations. Johnson is the faculty adviser for the student chapter at AU and served as guest editor of a recent issue of Advancing Microelectronics, the society 's magazine.

College of Education Dean Richard Kunkel recently represented the college as an invited participant at the National Teacher Forum in Washington. The forum for educational policy makers and leaders was hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and focused on issues of teacher preparation for the classroom. Forum participants also took part in a White House Rose Garden ceremony honoring the 1997 national teacher of the year.

William Sauser, executive director for outreach and professor in the College of Business, has been commissioned by the Presbyterian Church as a lay pastor. Upon completion of an intensive two-year program of study and supervised preaching, Sauser was awa rded a Certificate in Lay Preaching from the Lay Institute of Faith and Life, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga. On April 17, Sauser was commissioned by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley to preach in churches within central Alabama. He wi ll fill in for pastors when they are on vacation, study leave or away from their churches in ministry.

Campus Roundup

Celebrating five years

Department heads and community leaders surprised President William Muse on April 16 with a celebration at his office in honor of his five years at Auburn. In recognition of the anniversary, they presented him with a scrapbook covering his administrati on over those five years.

Summer program set for older children of employees

The Employers Child Care Alliance, of which AU is a member, is offering a summer program for children, ages 10-14, of employees. Called "Bridges," the program is designed for children who are too old for and/or balk at regular child care but need a super vised program of activities this summer. The AU Department of Family and Child Development worked with the Child Care Alliance to develop curriculum for the program. To reserve space for your child or get more information about the "Bridges" program, ca ll the Child Care Alliance at 749-8400.

Panel to discuss public's expectations of higher education

The environmental scanning newsletter Auburn Horizon will host a panel discussion on the question "What are the Public's Expectations of Higher Education." The event will be 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday, May 5, in Lowder 19. Panelists scheduled to participate in clude Distinguished University Professor Wayne Flynt, Honors Program Director Bill Gwin and Outreach Vice President David Wilson.

Volunteers sought for child development study

The Child Development Study Program in the Department of Psychology seeks volunteers for a study involving children, ages 6-11, and their parents. Participating parents will complete a questionnaire, and the children will take part in one lab procedure. Participants will be compensated up to $70 for their time and effort. Contact Mona El-Sheikh or graduate assistants at 844-6905.

Information session set for purchasing card users

The Purchasing Office will present an information session at 9 a.m., May 12, in Foy 213 for department heads or representatives and others involved in the implementation of the new purchasing cards. The session will provide information on uses and restri ctions of the cards, which end the need for vouchers in many departmental purchases.

Marriage & Family Therapy Center offers help

If you or your family are having marital, child, family, drug, alcohol or related problems, AU's Marriage and Family Therapy Center can help. Call 844-4478.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative to visit

AU's Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative will return to campus on May 13, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 12 from 10 a.m.-noon in the Payroll and Employee Benefits Office, Ingram 212. No appointment is necessary.

A '50s street party

The Platters and the Marvelettes will perform in Auburn at 8 p.m., Thursday, May 1, for a street party on Thach Avenue, across from Foy Union. The two groups helped to popularize the Motown sound of the late 1950s and early '60s, and were among the most p opular singing groups of that era. In case of rain, the alternate site will be the Student Activities Center.

Fulbright scholars assemble

Fulbright scholars at Auburn came together recently on the 50th anniversary of the international exchange program to discuss shared experiences and to recognize individuals who have participated in the program. One of the event's organizers, Emily Melvin , assistant dean in the College of Education, said current and former Fulbright scholars on campus are working to expand Auburn's contacts with universities abroad. Graduate School Dean John Pritchett recognized individuals who helped strengthen existing ties.

Spirit of Excellence

AU employees named Spirit of Excellence winners and their departments for March were Dianne Jay, Facilities Division; Brenda Turner, Provost Office; Tim Martin, Mechanical Engineering; and Maggie Ligon, Housing.

Campus Views: Don't look past mission in educating for careers

By Herbert Rotfeld

I entered a doctoral program because of a deep and intense curiosity, a love of learning and a pathological enjoyment of reading. Today, as an educator, I want to inspire students to learn, to teach my students so they could teach others. But since the s ubject of my scholarly passion is business, my students only want what they see as job certification. Many want credit but don't want to learn.

Since learning requires involvement of the students, a basic problem of modern education is the students who don't want to be in school. High school is something to be endured; they go to college only because a parent or school counselor told them to go. Unfortunately, as students are told to go to school, it is never emphasized that learning itself has value.

Courses in "great books" or other parts of the core are often seen as a torture to be endured and forgotten. Statewide, Auburn University has been criticized for requiring all students to learn "too much" math or history that might not be directly tied t o specific majors or jobs. Too many students and Alabama state legislators seem to indicate a belief that "Heaven forbid that the students might be required to learn something that does not have job market value."

Whether we like it or not, we need to attract students to our programs, so administrators want to deliver the job training students want. After all, we are paid, in part, by the student body. State schools need body counts to justify funding from the L egislature; private schools need the tuition income. Enrollments are used to justify courses and majors.

But the problem is more basic than that. Even the faculty often think in terms of their job skills. Today, even doctoral students go to school not to learn, but to get certified, so it should not be a surprise that so many graduates at any level fail to e xhibit interest or inspiration in learning.

And many faculty believe that business practitioners have more credibility that anyone on campus. It is amazing how many people got into business education not because of a love of scholarship but because they were not very successful as business professi onals. Now some former practitioners can be (and are) very respected scholars. Shifting from business practice to education can be a satisfying shift of career.

But it is a business school, not a business. Too many former business practitioners do not do any new thinking once they leave the business world, talk of training students (for the jobs they themselves once held) and demand that as business educators wh o "worked" they deserve a status they never possessed in business.
These men and women never learned to think and do not expect such strange behavior from students. It is no surprise that the graduates, like faculty, often leave with a world view as expansive as that of a pet goldfish.

I loathe to call upon the words of a practitioner to give what I say credibility. Yet in the reality I face, I must. Fortunately, I can.

At the two-day national education summit in Palisades, N.Y., the co-chair of the meeting pointed out that business leaders do not (and should not) want business education to be vocationally oriented. IBM chief executive Louis V. Gerstner Jr., told one se ssion, "It is not in the interest of business leaders to turn public schools into vocational schools. We can teach (the graduates) how to be marketing people.
We can teach them how to read balance sheets. What is killing us is having to teach them to read and to compute and to communicate and to think."

I can expect students and their parents to have a limited view of education, since all scholars in this country have done such a poor job of presenting to the rest of the world the value of being educated. But I expect more of faculty.

I await the time when business education will be a respected activity for a hard working scholar, instead of a training ground for future anti-intellectuals and home for retired executives who came to campus so they could themselves quit thinking.

(Rotfeld is a professor in the Department of Marketing and Transportation.)

Unsung Hero: Paula Dale, University Computing

This week's Unsung Hero is Paula Dale, specialist III, Information Technology for the Division of University Computing. She has been at Auburn for four years, and her primary responsibilities include the administration and supervision of the AU Technolog y Hotline.

She was asked:

I get the greatest satisfaction in my job when . . . university faculty, staff, and students receive prompt solutions to their computing problems or questions through the service provided by the AU Technology Hotline.
In my job area, quality is measured by . . . accurate and timely resolution of computing problems for clients who take advantage of the services offered by the Hotline.

If I could change one thing about Auburn (or my job), it would be . . . funding. The Hotline receives many more calls than the Consultants are able to answer. The last thing a client with a computing problem or question wants to hear is music while they are on hold or a busy signal. They want to speak with a Consultant as quickly as possible. I would love to have the funding available to be able to staff the Hotline with additional consultants and phone lines so that we could more effectively and effic iently handle the volume of calls we receive.

I've always wondered why . . . campus departments are hesitant to employ university students in paraprofessional positions. Our Hotline consultants, all university students, are talented, knowledgeable and do a remarkable job in a position which would ch allenge even the most technical full-time employee.

When people come to this campus, I want them to . . . see the beauty, spirit, and friendliness of the campus. I want them to feel welcome.

In my spare time, I like to . . . travel, horseback ride, read and visit with family and friends.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, April 29
€Kosolapoff Lecture: Nobel Laureate Mario Molina, "Threat to the Ozone Layer," 8 p.m., Chemistry Auditorium.
€Recycling Trailer at College of Veterinary Medicine through May 2.