AU Report
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 biweekly. Official distribution by campus mail includes free distribution to full-time faculty and staff at campus offices. Copies are also 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, AL 36849-5109, e-mail: summero@mail.auburn.edu phone 334/844-9999.
Memorial pending for AU professor who died in airliner crash
A memorial for AU College of Education faculty member Dennis Sabo is pending, but faculty and students in the college remembered him Monday as an outstanding teacher, colleague and friend.
Sabo, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, was presumed dead, along with 108 other people, in the crash Saturday of a ValuJet DC-9 in south Florida.
Sabo was returning to Auburn from Miami where he watched his son, Dennis J. Sabo Jr., graduate from the University of Miami with a degree in engineering.
Richard Kunkel, dean of the AU College of Education said the college had not confirmed any plans for a memorial, and will make none until Sabo's family has scheduled services.
"The college leadership met this morning and plans are very much contingent based on the plans made by the family," he said. "Mrs. Sabo is returning from Miami later today, and I know among the many things she will be dealing with she'll be thinking about that.
"We want to be supportive of those kinds of plans and take part in them. It's important for those to be developed in the immediate near future. At some later date the university and college community will be creating some form of a memorial, for both our students and faculty and colleagues, but we don't want that to be distracting to Mrs. Sabo and the family."
James Kaminsky, head of the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, Barry Schreier, a psychologist at Drake Student Health Center and faculty from the Department of Counseling and Counseling Psychology planned to speak to students in Sabo's classes. Sabo during spring quarter was teaching three classes -- two undergraduate classes on Organization and Administration of Education and one graduate class on Advanced Leadership and Supervision. In addition, he supervised five graduate students completing internships.
Kaminsky said he has also received telephone calls from Sabo's associates in the community, in addition to AU faculty, offering to teach the remainder of Sabo's courses.
Kaminsky, who hired Sabo in September 1993, said "it was obvious from his interview that Dennis was going to be a superstar and he lived up to every expectation.
"Dennis was clearly a part of this department's future and now he can only contribute to its legacy. It's truly tragic," he said. "The best part of all of this is to see how the whole community has pulled together A good number of our undergraduate and graduate students as well as our faculty have been visiting the departmental office all day offering condolences, and colleagues have telephoned from the community.
"It's been immensely rewarding to see how Dennis touched those in his classes."
Sabo championed perfect school system
Dennis Sabo, the AU education professor presumed dead in the ValuJet crash, idealized the perfect public school system and championed his commitment through hard work and example, his colleagues say.
"Dennis was a very practical person," James Sasser, principal of the Sanford Middle School in nearby Beauregard, said. "His experience was very valuable to us and we'll really miss Dennis."
Sabo, an assistant professor in Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology in AU's College of Education, was aboard the ValuJet DC-9 that crashed Saturday in the Florida Everglades near Miami.
A former school principal, Sabo had been working with the faculty and administration staff at Sanford Middle School for the past two years on programs related to school reform.
Under a coalition between Auburn and the state's secondary school systems, funded by a grant from Alabama Power Company, Sabo had been the primary developer and researcher helping to create more effective faculty-administration organizations within public secondary school systems.
"When we learned of the program, we sort of took the ball and ran with it," Sasser said. "Dennis was our primary contact with the university. He had conducted some (interpersonal relationship) climate surveys in our school and was here at least one time each month working with our faculty."
Sanford personnel were preparing to begin a series of attitude and communication workshops this summer as part of the program, Sasser said.
"What we have done was just the beginning of the relationship between Sanford with the university," he added. "Dennis had been a school principal and teacher. He knew teachers and students, and was very practical, very concerned. It will take a lot to find someone who can step into his position."
Sabo came to Auburn three years ago after taking early retirement from a New Jersey school system. He had earned his doctorate from Rutgers and was very active in building closer ties between Auburn and local school systems. Sabo had conducted numerous workshops at elementary and middle schools in east Alabama and west Georgia.
"Dennis was very positive and focused in his work," said Marsha Pope, media specialist at Sanford Middle School."He understood public school systems and he wanted his own students to learn what is out here in public education."
AU Faculty receive teaching grants
Thirty-three AU faculty members have been awarded 25 competitive teaching Grants-in-aid from AU's Teaching Effectiveness Committee.
The majority of money for the grants came from a one-time $100,000 gift from AU's Concession Board, says Carol Daron, assistant provost for undergraduate studies. In addition, $14,000 in interest was used to support the Daniel F. Breeden Faculty Enhancement Grants.
"Regular teaching grants-in-aid have not been available for several years because of a lack of funding, and members of the Concessions Board and the Teaching Effectiveness Committee thought it would be appropriate to grant some one-time money for projects to enhance teaching," Daron said.
The Concessions Board collects monies from campus vending machines. Daron said a committee to review proposals was established, and 73 proposals were submitted.
"There is a great diversity in both the types of proposals and departmental faculty," she said. "Teaching is traditionally a poor-boy and this is a good way to say we all appreciate teaching and the care, time and creativity teaching takes as well as the faculty who put so much time into it."
Here is the list of faculty, including their department affiliation and a brief description of their proposal:
**DANIEL F. BREEDEN FACULTY ENHANCEMENT GRANTS: Carolyn McCreary, computer science and engineering, retention of freshmen engineering students through an ability-based learning seminar; Elizabeth Senger, curriculum and teaching, to revitalize the teaching of mathematics and mathematics teacher education through materials support; and Philip Zenor, mathematics, to develop software workbooks to supplement course material for honors calculus and calculus for engineering and science.
** COMPETITIVE TEACHING GRANTS-IN-AID: Marcia Boosinger, Draughon Library, to enhance the AU Libraries World Wide Web site to include a series of web pages which provide introductory on-line instruction in the use of and orientation to library resources and services; William Brawner and Judith Hudson, radiology, the development of interactive video instruction in veterinary radiology; Thomas Brush, educational foundations, leadership, and technology, to revise and enhance computer applications in education class; Danny Butler, marketing and transportation, computer-aided business decision making and technology course; Donald Buxton, anatomy and histology, to develop an interactive computerized neuroanatomical learning aid to supplement three courses in the DVM professional curriculum; Thaddeus Chase, mechanical engineering, acquisition of presentation type computer/projection equipment for use in teaching core mechanical design courses.
Willis Hames, Mark Steltenpohl and Lorraine Wolf, geology, virtual field experiences for physical geology classes; Robert Hannafin, educational foundations, leadership and technology, to revise and enhance teaching and technology class; Charles Hendrix, pathobiology, to update present technology using computer assisted instruction for courses in veterinary parasitology; David King, geology, revising and teaching a course on Alabama dinosaurs; Scott Kramer, building science, using information technology-based case studies to teach project management; Yehia El Mogahzy, textile engineering, interactive university/industry education in textile engineering: The Mobile Class Room Richard Penaskovic, religion program/history, to attend a teaching institute on process education; Joe Perez and James Clark, Physics, on-line web demonstration catalog to increase the number of physics demonstrations; Chetan Sankar, management; and P. K. Raju, mechanical engineering, an innovative instructional method to develop higher-level cognitive skills of undergraduate students.; Stephen Seidman, computer science and engineering, faculty teaching workshop: Focus on Learning; Paul Starr, sociology, enhancing the core course: Society, Culture and the Environment.
David Sutton, communication, to move the Multimedia Project class to the distribution stage; Guy Beckwith, Lindy Biggs, Bill Trimble and Jim Hansen, history, all technology and civilization faculty, to develop a technology and civilization video project: Production of a video anthology to accompany assigned books in the three-quarter technology and civilization survey courses; Gary Wagoner, art, to support the acquisition of instructional equipment needed for full implementation of curricular improvements in ceramics; Thomas Webb, chemistry, installation and testing of computer-controlled experiments for honors general chemistry laboratory; and Cliff Webber, fisheries, to develop a series of hands-on laboratory and field experiments to supplement existing activities, a limnology home page and use of the home page in limnology courses.
Committee recommends dental insurance for AU faculty, staff
A university committee has recommended to President William Muse that Auburn make basic dental insurance available to faculty and staff.
Under the Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan recommended by the Insurance and Benefits Committee, each participant would be limited to two dental exams with x-rays and cleaning per year. Cost would be $6 per month for individuals and $19 for family coverage.
Dependents' benefits would include tooth sealants through age 13, topical fluoride through age 18 and space maintainers for prematurely lost teeth through age 18.
The committee, in a May 1 letter to Muse, asks that the university pay half the cost of the voluntary coverage Ñ $3 per month for each participating employee. The committee estimates that if the university paid half the cost and all employees enrolled, the plan would cost the university $165,000 a year.
If cost-sharing is not feasible, the committee recommends that the university make the dental option available to all employees willing to pay the full amount.
Muse is reviewing the proposal before deciding whether to submit it to the Board of Trustees.
Committee Chairman John Aull of Chemistry said the committee recommended the basic package as an inexpensive and simple way to improve employee benefits at a time when the university lacks funds for pay raises or other benefits.
"This would be basically an encouragement for people to use preventative dentistry," said Aull.
He said the committee decided against proposing a comprehensive dental package because the plans were deemed too costly at $40 or more per person and too complex to gain passage by the board at present. "We want to get a simple plan in place and see how many people participate," Aull said. "If it is popular, we might expand it later."
Jaeger selected Graduate Faculty Lecturer
Richard C. Jaeger, Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering, has been named the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lecturer for 1996.
Jaeger was chosen for the Graduate School's highest honor by a graduate faculty committee based on his achievements both as a researcher and a teacher, said John Pritchett, interim dean of the Graduate School.
"Dick Jaeger is a shining example of what we feel graduate education should be about Ñ accomplished faculty working with bright students to address contemporary issues," said Pritchett.
"He is the ideal person for this honor as the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship starts its second 20 years," Pritchett added, noting that the program celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1995.
As Graduate Faculty Lecturer, Jaeger will present an address on a topic of public interest in his field. Jaeger will speak on "The Age of Electronics" at 4 p.m., May 22, in Broun Hall Auditorium. A reception honoring Jaeger will follow his remarks.
Jaeger, who is director of the Alabama Microelectronics Science and Technology Center at Auburn, said he will focus on the development of microelectronics since the early 1960s through development of the Pentium processor and offer some thoughts on future developments.
Engineering Dean Richard Walker called Jaeger one of the college's best all-around faculty members. "He is an outstanding scholar and he is recognized by his peers around the world," said Walker. "It is appropriate that he be recognized by his peers here at Auburn."
A researcher and manager for IBM before joining the Auburn faculty in 1979, Jaeger is editor of the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, and he was founding editor of the journal IEEE Micro from 1980-82. He was elected a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in 1986 in recognition of his contributions to computer technology. Pritchett said Jaeger is being honored as an excellent teacher as well as for his research achievements. The Electrical Engineering professor has long been recognized as an outstanding member of the graduate faculty, the Graduate School dean said.
The lectureship includes a $2,000 award sponsored this year by Alumni & Development, the Graduate School and the College of Engineering.
Distinguished Faculty Lecturers, 1975-96
AU, state officials meet with Mexican officials over trade
AU faculty and state officials met with Mexican officials in Mobile over the past weekend to develop opportunities in trade and other areas benefiting both countries.
Representatives from 11 states bordering the Gulf of Mexico signed the Gulf States Governors' Accord on May 13, 1995, pledging their support in creating international partnerships in areas including economic development, tourism and educational and cultural exchanges. This year's conference sought to build on the groundwork begun a year ago.
Richard Guthrie, associate dean and assistant director of international programs at AU, said the alliance promises great opportunities for the state of Alabama as well as for the university. Alabama and the Mexican state of Tabasco are working together in the area of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Representatives from each of the five U.S. states Ñ Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas Ñ chair one of the major working groups, with the exception of Florida which has two groups. Representatives from the Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Yucatan work with a U.S. counterpart to explore mutually beneficial opportunities in their respective work groups.
Guthrie said the people of Tabasco are particularly interested in oyster and shrimp production. Restauranteurs in Cozumel and Cancun, two sites favored by tourists, have expressed interest in importing breeds of English cattle to cross breed with Mexican cattle for better quality meat, he said.
"Aquaculture is an area we at Auburn can really help them with in several of the Mexican states, and Alabama cattle farmers can satisfy some of the needs in Cozumel and Cancun," Guthrie said. "Perhaps we can begin to put together the details on how we can implement some of these ideas regarding oyster, shrimp and cattle during this meeting."
Richard Compton, executive assistant to the governor for economic development, said the accord is promoting better relations and friendships between the countries. And people like to do business with their friends, he said.
"Both countries are involved in agriculture and forestry, and we could be very helpful with the development of the aquaculture industry in Mexico. We have some of the folks in Auburn that are experts in the filed who are very willing to help in that regard," Compton said.
Compton said the potential for increased business in the six Mexican states is great. Development in the areas of forestry, fisheries and cattle production promise the most immediate benefit to Alabama, he said.
"We're still feeling our way toward selecting the particular projects within the work areas that we want to work toward. We want to avoid a scattershot approach," Compton said.
Guthrie said that while investment and trade are the focal points of this initiative, there is much more to be gained.
"It's also for the overall goal of increased tourism between the United States and Mexico, and to increase the interchange in the areas of cultural and environmental activities," Guthrie said. "There are excellent opportunities for us at Auburn to develop training programs, educational exchanges and collaborative research projects in Mexico as a result of these partnerships."
Auburn to host international business conference
Auburn on May 21 will host an International Business Conference Ñ "Business Strategies and Management in the Global Market" Ñ for companies interested in overseas trade.
The conference, sponsored by the AU College of Business and its International Commerce Center and the Small Business Development Center, will bring together marketing and trade experts, bank executives and chief executive officers. It will be at the AU Hotel and Conference Center, starting at 7:30 a.m.
"This conference is designed for all businesses who are interested in exporting their products and services," said Gary Hannem, director of the SBDC. "During this one-day conference you receive an overview about the entry requirements that executives and managers need to obtain about international operations.
"It will give participants an understanding of the complexities of the global market, and personal experiences from successful entrepreneurs will be shared."
Hannem said some of the topics to be address include: "How Do I Begin?" "International Transportation," "Examining International Finance," and "Governmental and Cultural Influences."
The agenda includes:
* 7:30 a.m. Registration, coffee, juice and breakfast snacks
* 8:29 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. - Danny Butler, assistant professor, AU Department of Marketing; Brian Davis, director, Alabama Industrial Trade Commission, Tucaloosa; Mike Lee, president, Freight Forwarder; John Wilson, president, SouthTrust Bank; Jack Wright, Finance Chief, Small Business Administration, Birmingham.
** 9:40 a.m.- 10:30 a.m., International Marketing - Danny Butler, assistant professor, AU Department of Marketing.
** 10:45 a.m. - Jim Pursell, chief executive officer, Pursell Industries, Sylacauga.
** 11:15 a.m. - Mike Lee, president, Freight Forwarder.
** 11:45 - Lunch
** 1 p.m. - International Assistance - Cheryl Mullins, international trade specialist, Alabama Development Office.
** 1:50 p.m. - International Finance - Ray Gibeau, international finance export chief, U.S. Export Region in Atlanta, Small Business Administration
** 2:15 p.m. - Break
** 2:30 p.m. - International Finance - Neil Elliott, vice president, SouthTrust Bank; Bill Pugh, professor, AU Department of Finance
** 3:30 p.m. - Questions and Answers
The early bird registration fee is $60 and $75 after May 10. Registration includes lunch and breaks.
Mail Registration to: Dr. Bill Sauser, College of Business Outreach, 415 W. Magnolia, Suite 109, Auburn University, AL 36849-5248. Phone: 334/844-2352; FAX: 334/844-4092.
New service aids in library searches on computer
A new service offered through AUBIExpress, AU Libraries new electronic document delivery system, will help patrons who need to obtain a journal article they would otherwise be unable to find.
AUBIExpress, which is linked to the libraries' electronic home page, AUBIEPlus (http://www.lib.auburn.edu), updates services provided by the libraries' Interlibrary Loan department in that it allows electronic searching for specific articles that are not available at the libraries or through full-text databases.
The service is being offered as a pilot project for spring quarter, said Linda Thornton, head of the Interlibrary Loan Services.
ÒIt's been very frustrating for faculty, students and staff to try to obtain articles from journals that have been canceled, and as in the past, it's been difficult to get the article quickly if it's not in a database,Ó said Thornton.
ÒWe've been able to obtain material for people in two to three days, and sometimes the same day with this service, when in the past it could take up to three weeks,Ó she said.
During the trial phase, the libraries will underwrite the cost of each article up to $25, she said. ÒThe money is not coming from the libraries' materials budget, but rather funds were identified to allow us to try this program.Ó
Thornton said those are eligible for Interlibrary Loan services Ñ faculty, staff and enrolled students Ñ will be able to use this new service. Requests can be submitted through any reference desk, the Interlibrary Loan Department or electronically under AUBIExpress.
ÒWe can obtain articles from journals, magazines and newspapers, papers from conference and reports,Ó she said.
Patrons using the service must submit requests with full citational information. "We can't do a subject search on this service. We need to make sure that an article is not in a journal available in one of the libraries or in one of the full-text databases," she said. ÒThis service is for items not available locally such as articles from serials that have been canceled or that are not in our collection.Ó
Survey of library serials usage conducted on computer
An on-line survey of self-reported serials usage in the AU Libraries will run through June 7.
The Periodicals Review Committee, a subcommittee of the University Senate Library Committee, is conducting the survey as one measure to be used in deciding which serials to cancel when necessary.
The survey replaces the procedure of circulating printed lists of serials and asking departments to survey their faculty, said Thomas Sanders, head of the Serials Department and chair of the Periodicals Review Committee.
"We need to generate as much response to this survey as we can to get the clearest picture we can of actual library use as perceived by individuals using library materials," Sanders said. "We urge everyone on campus to participate." To date, approximately 50 people have completed the survey.
"We wish we could assure library users there would be no further cuts at this time, but that is unlikely in the face of projected 10-plus percent price increases this year and a level budget. We currently project a need to cancel $200,000-$250,000 worth of subscriptions by the end of September, with subscriptions to cease with December 1996 in most cases." PRC members say the results of the survey should be valid over the next three to-four years and can be used as user input on cancellation projects during that period.
There are several important changes:
The survey is on-line. Participation requires Netscape 1.1 or higher, with a future possibility of using Lynx. (Netscape is available from the Division of University Computing. It should be available if you are dialing in using AUAccess.)
Patrons may also complete the survey using library computers. To participate in the survey, go to the library homepage, AubiePlus at (http://www.lib.auburn.edu); scroll down to "Other Indexes and Databases;" click on "S;" then click on "Serials Survey for Auburn University."
Another change is that responses are not limited to a pre-defined call number range. Respondents may determine which titles and subjects are of interest.
A third change is that the survey is not one of departments but rather individuals.
Finally, the survey is not confined to only faculty. "In response to library committee concerns, the survey is open to faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, administrators and staff," Sanders says.
The on-line form allows access by subject area and by title to accommodate the fact that some people will be interested in specific titles and other will want to review everything we currently subscribe to in particular subject areas.
Respondents will be asked to identify whether the title is essential, heavily used, moderately used, seldom used, he says. "We ask that people not rank journals they do not personally use."
A title not assigned a value will default to 'of no interest to me.' Because the total list is more than 5,000 titles, people are not expected to respond to all titles in one sitting. "It is possible to sign on to the survey as many times as necessary over the month the survey form will be available," he added. "Duplicate responses will be deleted.
"If there are titles you know you use which do not appear on the list, or if you are not sure of the exact title, there will be a place to enter the name of the journal as you remember it," he says.
An additional use of the data collected will be to affiliate specific serial titles with the departments in which someone reports use. "We expect to use this data in cases where a title is suggested for cancellation in order to free money to enter a new subscription," Sanders says. "Under these circumstances we would want to be able to consult all departments which might be affected by the change."
Committee members are Carol Trinchitella, serials acquisitions librarian, Steven McFarland of history, Jennie Raymond of business and John Grizzle of fisheries.
If you have questions about the survey or need advice as to how to access it, please contact Trinchitella at 4-1725 (ctrinchi@lib.auburn.edu) or Sanders at 4-1726 (tsanders@lib.auburn.edu).
Promotion and Tenure List
The Provost's Office has announced the following promotions and additions to Auburn's tenured faculty for 1995-96:
Associate Professor
College of Education
Marie F. Kraska, Vocational and Adult Education.
School of Human Sciences
Dorothy H. Cavender, Consumer Affairs.
College of Veterinary Medicine
Philip D. Mansfield, Small Animal Surgery; Stuart B. Price Jr., Pathobiology.
AU Libraries
Librarian III
Henry H. McCurley Jr., RBD Library, Cataloging.
Associate Professor and Tenure
College of Agriculture
Lee I. Chiba, Animal and Dairy Sciences; W. Robert Goodman, Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology; William John Moar, Entomology; Dennis A. Shannon, Agronomy & Soils; Edward J. Sikora, Plant Pathology; J. David Williams, Horticulture; Floyd M.Woods, Horticulture.
College of Architecture, Design & Construction
Laura Prange, Industrial Design.
College of Business
Claire E. Crutchley, Finance.
College of Education
Barbara H. Ash, Curriculum & Teaching; Debra C. Cobia, Counseling & Counseling Psychology; Yong T. Wang; Health & Human Performance; Patricia A. Whang, Educational Foundations, Leadership & Technology.
College of Engineering
Sabit Adanur, Textile Engineering; Yasser A. Gowayed, Textile Engineering; Roy J. Hartfield; Aerospace Engineering, Peter D. Jones, Mechanical Engineering; Robert F. Ripley, Aerospace Engineering; Stuart M. Wentworth, Electrical Engineering.
School of Human Sciences
Catherine A. Solheim, Family & Child Development.
College of Liberal Arts
Kelly D. Alley, Sociology; Susan L. Brinson, Communication; Jill A. Crystal, Political Science; Jeremy M. Downes, English; Timothy Dykstal, English; Anthony T. Gadzey, Political Science; Nancy J. Haak, Communication Disorders; Kelly D. Jolley, Philosophy; Carlton E. Nell, Art; Robin Sabino, English; Christa D. Slaton, Political Science; Judy R. Troy, English; Franklin D. Walters, English.
School of Nursing
Jennifer B. Hamner, Nursing.
School of Pharmacy
Ajay K. Banga, Pharmacal Sciences.
College of Sciences and Mathematics
Chin-Che Tin, Physics.
College of Veterinary Medicine
Judith A. Hudson,Radiology; Stephen D. Lenz, Pathobiology; Hui-Chu Lin, Large Animal Surgery; Douglass K. MacIntire, Small Animal Surgery; Eva A. Sartin, Pathobiology; James G. W. Wenzel, Large Animal Surgery.
AU Libraries
Librarian III and Tenure
James M. Gravois , RBD Library, M&D; Linda L. Thornton, RBD Library, Circulation.
Professor
College of Agriculture
Sacit F. Bilgili, Poultry Science; L. Upton Hatch, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology; Jorge A. Mosjidis, Agronomy & Soils; Gregory L. Mullins, Agronomy & Soils; Michael G. Patterson, Agronomy & Soils; James W. Prevatt, Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology; Kenneth M. Tilt, Horticulture; Glenn R. Wehtje, Agronomy & Soils.
College of Business
Roger W. Garrison, Economics; Chetan S. Sankar, Management; Paul M. Swamidass, Management; Arlette C. Wilson, School of Accountancy.
College of Education
Mark G. Fischman, Health & Human Performance.
College of Engineering
Winfred A. Foster, Aerospace Engineering; Gopal A. Krishnagopalan, Chemical Engineering; Chwan-Hwa Wu Electrical Engineering.
School of Human Sciences
Connie J. Salts, Family & Child Development
College of Liberal Arts
Gary Zuk, Political Science.
School of Pharmacy
Diane E. Beck, Clinical Pharmacy.
College of Sciences & Mathematics
Troy L. Best, Zoology-Wildlife; Christopher I. Chalokwu, Geology; Andreas J. Illies, Chemistry; James A. Saunders, Geology; Charles E. Savrda, Geology.
College of Veterinary Medicine
Richard C. Bird, Pathobiology; Sandra J. Ewald, Pathobiology; Steven A. Kincaid, Anatomy & Histology; M. Gatz Riddell Jr. , Large Animal Surgery; John Schumacher, Large Animal Surgery.
AU Theatre presents ÔJazz TalesÕ May 16-19
AU's Department of Theatre will present the musical "Jazz Tales: From Africa to America With Love" at Telfair-Peet Theatre May 16-19.
The play, compiled, choreographed and directed by Dyann Robinson, is a theatrical anthology of black folktales from Egyptian mythology to contemporary American rap. Robin Jaffe, assistant professor of theatre, designed the scenery; Jamie Bullins, visiting assistant professor of theatre, designed the costumes; and Jeremy Gossett, a senior theatre major from Pell City, designed the lighting.
"I feel that what we think of as jazz music really is a description of the overall essence of black culture," Robinson said. "We are a jazz people and these are some of our Jazz Tales."
The musical illustrates the cultural gift that African slaves brought with them and gave to America through the stories they told using words, music and dance. The gift was their polyrhythmic approach to life with regard to philosophy, religion and artistic expression, she said. Performances are scheduled May 16-19 at 8 p.m., as well as a Saturday matinee at 2 a.m.
The recorded music of Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, percussionist Greg Wilson, Ray Charles, the Sounds of Blackness, the Tuskegee University choir, black country musicians and Willie Guy Rainey serve as a backdrop to the tales and choreography of "Jazz Tales."
Individual tickets for each performance are $12 for general admission; $10 for AU faculty and staff and senior citizens; and $8 for AU students. Tickets can be reserved and purchased by calling the AU Theatre Box Office at 334/844-4154.
Michigan State president to speak at Auburn
M. Peter McPherson, president of Michigan State University, will lecture at AU on Thursday, May 16, as part of a symposium series on the role of land-grant universities.
The public lecture will begin at 4 p.m. at the AU Hotel and Conference Center.
AU President William V. Muse inaugurated the symposium with a lecture on April 18. Other speakers in coming months will include Elizabeth A. Zinser, chancellor of the University of Kentucky; and John V. Byrne, executive director of the Kellogg Commission and former president of Oregon State University.
University Outreach is sponsoring the symposium, which is entitled: "University Connections to Society: A Presidential Symposium on the Land Grant University and Contemporary Society."
David Wilson, vice president and associate provost for University Outreach at AU, says the lectures "continue a series of initiatives through which Auburn University is examining and developing its outreach function in accord with the resolutions of the 21st Century Commission." Michigan State's McPherson, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from MSU in 1963, was named MSU's 19th president in August 1993. While a student at MSU, he was on the student council and was junior class president. He was a Peace Corps volunteer who earned an MBA at Western Michigan University in 1967 and a law degree from American University Law School in 1969.
The former tax lawyer and bank executive was deputy secretary of the Treasury Department in the Reagan administration; administrator of the Agency for International Development and a tax law specialist for the Internal Revenue Service.
Veterinary Professor wins award for teaching effectiveness
If it's your first quarter in veterinary school, you could quickly be overwhelmed by all the new terms, concepts and dog anatomy you encounter. After coming to grips with the unending names of bones and muscles and such wonders of nature as the fulcrum effects of tendons, you're pleasantly surprised when an instructor explains the workings of bursas to you through the use of common, grocery store-variety plastic bags.
YouÕre both surprised and delighted when he uses a piece of rope to teach the basic organization of the nervous system.
Welcome to the world of Dr. Paul Rumph, a professor of anatomy and histology at AUÕs College of Veterinary Medicine and the recipient of the 1996 Norden Distinguished Teaching Award.
The award, presented at Auburn since 1963, is voted on by AU veterinary students, and recognizes outstanding classroom and laboratory teaching that contributes to the advancement of the profession.
"I believe people learn in different ways and at different rates, and I try to provide a variety of avenues through which our students can come to understand the fundamentals of anatomy in their first quarter of school," Rumph says. "I lecture and use books and short, two- to three-minute videos, as well as dissection of cadavers, but I also make use of common, everyday materials to demonstrate basic concepts. "I like to reduce things to elementary levels at the beginning of the class. I find this approach helps our students to more quickly understand the anatomy weÕre portraying.Ó
Anatomy is a difficult subject with massive amounts of vital information to organize, learn and eventually use in other courses and in practice.
Rumph says his goal is to help students get off to a good start. His first quarter students are tempted to break into applause when he announces that not only are they prohibited from taking notes in his class, but he will supply them with appropriate -- and accurate -- notes after each class.
"Studies have shown how frequently errors can crop up in student note taking," he says. "I want them to hear what I say and not miss an important point by taking time to write down something they think they heard. It costs to do it this way, but I provide them the notes after class." Rumph's students appreciate his attitude toward them. Comments from teaching evaluations this past year were filled with glowing tributes, calling him "the most effective teacher I've had at Auburn" and describing his lectures as "interesting and innovative."
"Dr. Rumph was always well organized and sensory oriented," recalled Carol Hungerford, a second-year veterinary student who took Rumph's class a year ago.
"When he taught us a series about cranial nerves, he had different exercises for us to do with each nerve. For the olfactory nerve, he turned the lights out and sprayed grape air freshener in the classroom so weÕd have a better understanding of how the olfactory nerve functions. I'm sure everybody in my class will long remember his cranial nerve lectures."
This year's Norden Award marks the fourth teaching award Rumph has received. He was recognized with the AU Student Government AssociationÕs annual teaching awards in veterinary medicine in 1982, 1993 and 1995. In 1993, he also received the Merck Agvet Award for Creativity, which is also associated with classroom instruction.
Fashion expert to be Grisham-Trentham lecturer
Valarie Steele, an authority on the connection between fashion and eroticism, will present the 1996 Grisham-Trentham Lecture in AU's School of Human Sciences Wednesday, May 15.
Steele, who teaches at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, will speak on "Fetish or Fashion? Why has Fetish Fashion Gone Mainstream?" at 9 a.m. in the Foy Union Ballroom. A reception will follow in 213 Foy Union. Both events are free and open to the public.
Educated at Yale University, Steele is the author of FETISH: Fashion, Sex & Power, Fashion and Eroticism, Paris Fashion, Women of Fashion, and Men and Women: Dressing the Part.
She is a member of the board of directors of the Costume Society of America; the advisory board of the Tokyo-based International Costume Association; and is one of only three U.S. members of the International Consultative Committee of Moda Documenta, Milan. She is also a member of The Fashion Group International.
Dubbed by the media as the "Fashion Professor," Steele has appeared on Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show and the Public Broadcasting System, and has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times.
This is the 10th year of the Grisham-Trentham Lectureship, developed by retired consumer affairs professor Gary Trentham to bring internationally respected fashion experts to campus each spring. The lectureship is named for Grisham, who taught at AU for 23 years, and given by Charles and Betty Grisham of Huntsville. Grisham, a member of the AU class of 1939, and Mrs. Grisham are longtime supporters of AU.
Campus Views
By Charles Mitchell
I grew up on a farm, but I am a product of an urban, liberal arts college. I have a strong appreciation for the arts and humanities, but my profession is in the agricultural sciences. We are fortunate to have strong programs and excellent faculty and students at Auburn in the arts. Nevertheless, I don't think Auburn University nor the State of Alabama has a national reputation as a center for the arts.
Also, in view of President Muse's recent comments at the general faculty meeting about building on our strengths and becoming a ". . . smaller, but a more significant University", I question the fiscal responsibility and need of an "art museum" at Auburn University as part of our mission.
An art museum would be nice, but this university has a land-grant mission and a worldwide reputation in the agricultural, engineering and basic sciences.
Alabama developed as an agrarian state and has become an industrial state. Our roots are in agriculture and our industry grew from Alabama's natural resources (e.g. textiles, iron and steel, mining, pulp and paper, hydroelectric and fossil energy,etc.). Then why aren't we building on Auburn's agricultural and natural resource heritage by establishing an agricultural or natural resources museum? Are we ashamed of our heritage and embarrassed by our agricultural history?
There has been a core of interest in an agricultural/natural resources museum and/or center on campus that goes back before President Martin. President Muse was made aware of this interest soon after he arrived.
The College of Agriculture was given a priceless collection of antique farm equipment and tools that is stored in the basement of the Agricultural Engineering building. I frequently receive calls from citizens with items relating to Alabama's agricultural heritage that they wish to donate to AU, but we have no place to store or exhibit them. About five years ago, the Johnson Farm Tools Committee in the College of Agriculture along with design support from students and faculty in the College of Architecture, forwarded a proposal to President Muse for a core museum to house the tool collection.
I was very surprised to read about efforts to raise money for an art museum but not too surprised to learn we have a new athletic museum on campus. We have excellent art museums in Montgomery, Columbus and Birmingham. Alabama has a music museum (Tuscumbia), a sports museum (Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and now Auburn), a mining museum (Sumiton), a space and rocket museum (Huntsville), and the Department of Archives and History in Montgomery. But Alabama has no facility to teach us and future students about what brought us here Ñ agriculture.
Auburn is a leading land-grant university. We have a worldwide reputation in the agricultural, environmental, and engineering sciences that promises to continue to grow. This year we celebrate the oldest, continuous cotton research experiment in the world, the "Old Rotation" experiment on our campus.
I congratulate the efforts of those responsible for raising the funds and support for the new arts museum and the new sports museum. Now I think it is time to recognize Alabama's agricultural heritage and Auburn's contribution to America's agricultural success story.
(Mitchell is an extension agronomist-soils and professor in the Department of Agronomy and Soils.)
Muse to address AAUP
President William Muse is scheduled to speak on his "Peaks of Excellence" program at the spring meeting of the AU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors on May 21. A reception will follow the 4:10 p.m. meeting in Room 112 of the Rouse Life Sciences Building.
Seminar to examine Internet advances
Charles Spindler of Political Science will present a seminar, "The Internet: Tool of the Revolution," at 4 p.m., May 21, in Ramsay 202, describing his work in developing and applying Internet-based instructional techniques. Spindler will describe his current work on development of Internet-based instructional tools. The project is funded by a $25,000 grant from MCI.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative returns to campus
AU's Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative will return to campus on June 11 and Aug. 13 from 10 a.m.-noon in the Payroll and Employee Benefits Office at 212 Ingram Hall. No appointment is necessary.
Lab provides statistical assistance
Stuck on the statistics for a research project? Need help conducting in-depth statistical analysis for a more complex project? Help is available through the Applied Statistics Consulting Lab of the Department of Discrete and Statistical Sciences. Formerly a department within the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, the consulting lab now makes its statistical services available to the entire campus. For details, contact the consulting lab in Comer Hall at 844-4900.
Forms required for employees to take classes
Employees planning to enroll in AU courses for credit must submit an approved UPO 200 (Request to Enroll in University Course Work) each quarter of attendance. The completed and approved UPO 200 should be sent to University Personnel Services. Forms may be acquired from departments or Personnel Services.
Marriage and 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.
Achievements
Malcolm A. Cutchins of Aerospace Engineering and faculty secretary of the Auburn ODK Circle has been elected to the General Council of the national leadership honorary Omicron Delta Kappa as director of Province VIII, which includes all universities with ODK Circles in Alabama and Mississippi. AU graduate Sally Jones Hill, '63, was elected president of the ODK Foundation. Cutchins and Betty DeMent, AU vice president for Alumni and Development, recently gave a paper at the ODK national convention at Purdue University.
Doris B. Morton of English has been named state chairperson for the National Association of African American Studies. In addition to promoting NAAAS in Alabama, she will work with other state chairpersons to plan future programs and conferences of the association.
Samia I. Spencer of Foreign Languages and Literatures has been awarded the 1996 "Prix d'Excellence" at the annual meeting of the Alabama Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French. The award cited her for outstanding contributions to the study of French language and culture. The award is the latest of several over the past decade for her teaching and other professional accomplishments, including a 1990 award by the government of France, making her a "Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques."
Robert Lyon, professor and head of the Department of Art, has been invited to hold a one-person exhibit at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. He also will be visiting artists at Rhode Island College in Providence, R. I. during the fall quarter.
Conrad Ross, professor of art, recently had a one-person art exhibit titled The Rhein at the University Center Gallery of the University of Alabama Huntsville.
Doug Olson, professor of art, recently signed a contract to have six of his photographs published in the Simon and Schuster Guide to Writing, 2nd edition, Harris and Cunningham, Prentice Hall.
Hard Facts, a book of poems by Peter Huggins, instructor of English, has been accepted for publication by Livingston Press. It will appear spring or fall 1997.
Tim Dykstal, an assistant professor of English, has received an American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship for the 1996-97 academic year. He will spend the year at the Institute for Reseach in the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, completing his manuscript on the public function of an 18th century philosophical dialogue.
Conner Bailey of Rural Sociology has been invited to serve as one of three keynote speakers at the 1996 World Congress on Coastal and Marine Tourism in Honolulu, Hawaii, in June. Bailey, who has extensive experience studying coastal communities in Southeast Asia and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, has been asked to speak on the issue of social and economic impacts on coastal communities. Among the issues he will address are loss of local control over natural resources that occurs as governments and private tour operators seek to expand coastal and marine tourism.
Mark E. Meadows, emeritus professor/head of the Department of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, is the recipient of the American Counseling Association's Distinguished Professional Service Arthur A. Hitchock Award. The award recognizes outstanding service at the local, state or national level that reflects significant contributions to the professional concerns of the American Counseling Association.
Douglass Macintire, assistant professor of small animal surgery and medicine, is the new small animal editor of Compendium of Continuing Education, a refereed monthly journal for practicing veterinarians. Dr. Macintire has been at Auburn since 1990.
Bruce Berger of Pharmacy Care Systems has been named chair-elect of the Council of Faculties, the policy-making, governing body for faculty members of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy for 1996-97. He will assume office at the annual meeting of AACP in Reno, Nevada in July.
Upcoming Events
May 15 Human Resource Development Family Life Seminars, "Conflict and Healthy Relationships," "Balancing Work & Family," "It's Simply Money," AU Conference Center, Contact Personnel Services, 844-4145.
May 16 Thursdays at Three Workshop, "Abusive Relationships: What They Are, How To Know You Are In One," 3 p.m., Foy 203. Weaver Forestry Lecture Series, Terry L. Anderson, Montana State University, "Free Market Environmentalism: The Carrot and the Stick," 3 p.m., Conference Center. Presidential Symposium on the Land-Grant and Contemporary Society, Peter McPherson, president of Michigan State University, 4 p.m., Conference Center. Sigma Xi Initiation and Awards Banquet, 6:30 p.m., contact Anthony Moss, 101 Cary Hall.
May 17 Joy Goodwin Rudd Lecture Series, Richard Tidwell, University of North Carolina, "The Development of Novel Dicationic Molecules Against Opportunistic Pathogens, 1:10 p.m., Greene 230. Molecular Biology Seminar, Glenn P. Niemeyer, 3:30 p.m., Greene 203.
May 20 Recycling Trailer at College of Business through May 24. Blood Drive, Housing and Residence Life, Bloodmobile at Quad Center, 11 a.m-7 p.m.
May 21 Blood Drive, Housing and Residence Life, Bloodmobile at Terrell Cafeteria, 11 a.m-7 p.m. International Business Conference, "Business Strategies in the Global Market," sponsored by College of Business, International Commerce Center and Small Business Development Center, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Conference Center, Contact Gary Hannem, 844-4220, or Bill Sauser, 844-2352. Spring Meeting, AAUP, Guest Speaker: President William Muse, 4:10 p.m., Rouse Life Sciences Building 112. Meeting, Auburn Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Caucus, Haley 2011. Contact Barry Schreier at 4-5123 or Becky Liddle at 4-5160 for more information.
May 22 Blood Drive, Housing and Residence Life, Bloodmobile at Village Kitchen/CDV Extension, 11 a.m-7 p.m. Brown Bag Lunch, WomenÕs Studies Program, Cathy Solheim, ÒFamily and Work: Finding the Fit,Ó noon, Foy 203. Stop Smoking Class, 4 p.m., Drake 115.
May 23 Thursdays at Three Workshop, "Get What You Want And Not Be A Bully Or A Doormat: Assertiveness Training," 3 p.m., Foy 203.
May 24 Pathobiology Seminar, Edward Morrison, "Studies of the Olfactory System: Is It Good Just for Sniffing," 1:30 p.m., Greene 230 Molecular Biology Seminar, Wayne Jiang, 3:30 p.m., Greene 203. Workshop/Seminar for Logistical Regression, Michael H. Kutner, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, sponsored by Department of Discrete and Statistical Science. Registration: Mark West, 844-4931 or e-mail mwest@ag.auburn.edu
May 28 Brown Bag Lunch, WomenÕs Studies Program, Marilyn Bradbard, ÒSalary and Achievement of Female and Male Faculty in Family and Human Development Departments in the U.S.,Ó noon, Foy 203. Meeting, Habitat for Humanity, 6 p.m., Burton Hall.
May 30 Thursdays at Three Workshop, "The Real World V: Auburn. Making The Transition From College To Career," 3 p.m., Foy 203. AU Concert Band, 8 p.m., Telfair Peet Theatre. The honor society of Phi Kappa Phi will hold its Spring Quarter Initiation and Banquet at 6:00 PM on May 30, 1996 in the Foy Union Ball Room. Reservations may be made by contacting Dr. Clarence Johnson, Ag Engineering, 4-4180.
May 31 Molecular Biology Seminar, B. Smith, 3:30 p.m., Greene 203.
June 13 "Piaget for Teaching: 7th Constructivist Institute," through June 14. Contact Department of Curriculum and Teaching, 844-6747.