newsandnotes
New format in store for December commencement December commencement will have a new look, as well as a new location – the Ted Constant Convocation Center – this year. A major change in format will be the absence of individual college ceremonies, but the Dec. 15 graduation will not lack for pomp and circumstance. During the commencement program, as their names are called, participating graduates will walk across the stage, shake hands with President Roseann Runte and their respective dean, and receive their alumni certificate and key chain. Pictures will be taken of each graduate with President Runte. “We are excited to utilize our new state-of-the-art convocation facility to add to the uniqueness of this momentous occasion for our graduates and their families,” said Maggi Curry-Williams, chair of the university Commencement Committee. “The move to campus from Scope limits our options for individual college ceremonies since four were held in Scope, and there are not enough large venues on or near our campus to accommodate all of these gatherings. So as not to penalize our graduates, each will be specially recognized as they process across the stage.” And when they do, as a bonus for friends and family seated throughout the facility, each graduate will be shown on the scoreboard’s four Jumbotron screens. Another change will have the new doctoral degree graduates hooded toward the end of the ceremony. While the new format will make for a longer commencement program – Curry-Williams estimates the entire program will last two-and-a-half to three hours – she said the goal is to get all of the graduates across the stage in an hour and a half. Based on past commencements and this year’s graduating class, approximately 1,172 graduates are expected to take part in the program, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. Because the Constant Center has less seating capacity than Scope, each participating graduate will be issued five tickets for family and friends to attend the ceremony, down from the seven tickets handed out for previous commencements in Scope. “To accommodate the overflow, we are investigating having a live video stream of the ceremony at several on-campus sites,” Curry-Williams said. “Also, as we did for the first time last May, we will broadcast the commencement program live on the university Web site.” She added that the Commencement Committee will meet in January to determine whether the spring graduation program will be held at Foreman Field or the Constant Center. For more information about December commencement, visit the Web site www.odu.edu/commencement. Back to top Bond referendum approval sets stage for renovation and construction The results of the Nov. 5 higher education bond referendum – an endorsement of the demonstrated need for renovation and new construction by 73 percent of Virginia voters who cast their ballots – was certainly well received on the campuses of the commonwealth’s public colleges and universities. For Old Dominion, it means more than $44 million to renovate four buildings and to construct two new facilities for teaching and research. “Nov. 5 was a great day for Old Dominion University. The referendum amounted to a one-day, $44 million capital campaign. I am indebted to our students, our alumni, our faculty and staff for their hard work and support,” said John R. Broderick, vice president for institutional advancement, who served as regional coordinator for the higher education bond campaign. “We were able to make our case to thousands of constituents because so many people were willing to get involved. Obviously, all of us at Old Dominion owe special thanks to Dr. Runte and Elizabeth Wallace, our governmental relations coordinator, for their hard work.” Robert L. Fenning, vice president for administration and finance, said the first round of funding from the bond sales isn’t anticipated until July of next year. “All of the state institutions that benefit from this referendum are being urged to phase in the projects over five years.” Fenning and his staff have developed and submitted a tentative schedule for the university’s projects to the state Department of Planning and Budget, a schedule that he said “could change minimally or drastically,” based on cash flow projections and the need to keep the maximum amount of new debt incurred by the commonwealth in one year to $250 million. According to the initial timetable, the Technology Building renovation, construction of a new Physical Sciences Building and renovation of Alfriend Chemistry Building laboratories would be the first projects undertaken. Renovation of the Batten Arts and Letters Building and Hughes Hall, and construction of a new Tri-Cities Center, would follow. A major concern throughout the renovation and construction process is finding ways to minimize the impact upon employees. In some cases, employees will be temporarily relocated to other buildings during the renovations. In addition, Fenning said he worries about the availability of equipment funding, which was eliminated from the projects. Equipment funding would be appropriated for each project as needed, he added. In concert with the pending renovation and new construction, the Office of Facilities Management is preparing an updated Facilities Master Plan for the university. The last detailed plan was created nearly seven years ago. “A draft Master Plan for the Norfolk campus, incorporating student and faculty growth projections from the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, is scheduled to be presented to the university administration in early February, with the goal of presenting a completed document to the Board of Visitors at its April meeting,” said James R. Pearson, director of real estate and space management. “At a minimum, the plan will provide an outline for gauging future capital construction requirements, utility upgrades, technology support needs and campus infrastructure expansion.” Outlined below are brief descriptions of the Old Dominion projects that will be financed by the bonds, along with proposed timetables, as provided by Fenning and Ron Tola, assistant vice president for facilities. Technology Building – Design money is expected in July 2003. The project will be bid in late spring 2004 and be completed in late 2005. Cost: $9.1 million. This renovation project will upgrade the structure and major systems, consolidate the College of Health Sciences (departments located in Spong Hall will ultimately move to the Technology Building), upgrade the University Theatre (located inside the building) and improve the instructional technology and clinical/practicum equipment. Improvements will include ADA/accessibility, asbestos abatement and the reconfiguration of interior spaces. A large component of the project will be an upgrade of classrooms and labs. Improvements will also be made to the HVAC and mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems, and a fire suppression system will be installed. Alfriend Chemistry Building labs – This renovation project will be bid next summer and completed by late 2003. Cost: $731,000. This comes on the heels of several earlier laboratory renovation projects accomplished with institutional funds. Two instructional labs, totaling approximately 2,000 gross square feet, will be renovated. In addition, a small room will be created to provide support space for computers and instrumentation. Physical Sciences Building, Phase II – A preliminary requirements analysis for this new building is under way. Funds for design are expected in mid-2003, followed by the project bid a year later and completion in late 2005. Cost: $13 million. To be built in an area near the west end of campus, which is being physically defined as a quad of science buildings, this 50,000-gross-square-feet facility will accommodate the various departments from the College of Sciences. It will provide additional laboratory space to ease the problems caused by current overcrowding and the projected rise in undergraduate enrollment. In addition, it will house research labs, as well as such technical support spaces as clean rooms, cold rooms and instrument rooms. Batten Arts and Letters Building – Design work will begin in July 2004; the bid process and construction will commence as soon as possible, based on the availability of “swing space,” office space where displaced employees will be relocated during the construction. Work will probably not begin before 2005, however. Cost: $9.6 million. The purpose of this project is to create a more effective teaching/learning environment through upgrades of the building and its systems, reconfiguration of space to meet instructional needs, and providing new-technology capabilities to many of the classrooms. A major component includes upgrading classrooms and furnishings with the focus upon the installation of new or updated technology (mediation) in 38 rooms. The project will also include asbestos abatement, resolution of long-term mechanical system functional design problems, and the upgrade of spaces and finishes. Hughes Hall – This renovation will be one of the last two projects to be designed and bid. Cost $5.6 million. The project will include upgrades of the HVAC and other major systems. In fact, all of the building’s systems will be renovated and the interior spaces reconfigured to accommodate a variety of university space needs. The roof, exterior walls and lobby areas also will be replaced. Hughes Hall will constitute the largest area of swing space during the overall renovation and construction process on campus. Tri-Cities Center – This new higher education center, to be built away from the main campus to accommodate primarily full-time employed students from Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk, will be one of the last two projects to be designed and bid. Cost: $6.1 million and a $2.25 million match. Back to top Illumination coming to Kaufman Mall Dec. 3 Old Dominion’s second annual Illumination, a holiday tradition, will bring a glow to Kaufman Mall at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, on Kaufman Mall. Hosted by President Roseann Runte and the ODU Faculty/Staff Alumni Chapter, the event will usher in the holiday season with light, music and words of inspiration. Guests are asked to bring a canned food donation for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia in exchange for a candle to help light up the mall during the ceremony. Also during the program, a holiday wreath above Webb Center will be illuminated. All students will be represented at the event, with special participation by international and military students. The University Chorale will perform, under the direction of Nancy Klein, and light refreshments will be served. The Illumination ceremony is free and open to the university community, friends of Old Dominion and residents of neighborhoods surrounding the campus. Reservations are requested at 683-3097. Back to top Nov. 19 blood drive offers unique competition for CAA’s 10 institutions The athletic department and Delta Sigma Theta will sponsor a blood drive on campus Tuesday, Nov. 19, as part of the Colonial Athletic Association’s “Have a Heart” Blood Challenge. Those who want to give blood should come to the North Mall of Webb Center between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. “This represents a wonderful opportunity to show good team and school spirit for a worthy cause,” said President Roseann Runte. “I will be there to make my donation and I hope to see you there as well.” Back to top New parking plan in place for Constant Center events As new parking plans are implemented for the new Ted Constant Convocation Center, university officials are working to minimize the impact on campus parking as much as possible. “Event parkers” will be directed to the new parking deck, lots east of Hampton Boulevard and the two major lots on campus (lot 27 in front of the Field House and the parking deck at 43rd Street and Elkhorn Avenue), said Don Runyon, assistant vice president for auxiliary services. “Although we realize these changes will be inconvenient for some of our university community members, we appreciate their patience and suggestions on how to improve these plans,” Runyon said. On event days, the Constant Center parking deck at 41st Street and Hampton Boulevard will have signs posted and the first two levels will be blocked at 7 a.m. to reserve spaces for big Blue Club parkers and for special guests and visitors. Upper levels will be available for all parkers on event days, but restricted to “exit only” after 3 p.m. Lot 17 at 46th and Hampton will have a limited number of parking spaces reserved on event days to accommodate loading crews for events. At 3 p.m., this lot will become “exit only” and reserved for vehicles with special parking passes for events at the Constant Center. Back to top Army ROTC team wins brigade event for 1st time The Army ROTC program’s Ranger Challenge team of 10 students recently won the brigade competition at Fort A.P. Hill, beating teams from James Madison University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech and West Virginia University, among others. Events included obstacle course, patrol, first aid, communications, construction of a one-rope bridge, 10-kilometer ruck march and litter carry. This marked Old Dominion’s first victory in this event. Back to top Children’s books, gifts on sale today at Child Study Ctr. Popular children’s books and gifts will be on sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, in the lobby of the Lions Child Study Center. This is the final day of the scholastic book fair, which is sponsored by the Student Council for Exceptional Children and the National Student Speech, Hearing and Language Association. Proceeds will benefit the reading programs at James Monroe and St. Helena elementary schools. Back to top
Food baskets and grocery store gift cards will be given to deserving ODU employees who are nominated. Nomination forms were mailed across campus last week and are due Friday, Nov. 15. For more information call Steve Daniel, project coordinator, at 683-3093. Back to top
Her topic will be “Financial Management for Women.” Back to top Sailor wins Singlehanded National Championship Sophomore Anna Tunnicliffe of Perrysburg, Ohio, captured the ICSA/Vanguard North America Women’s Singlehanded Sailing National Championships Nov. 10, and teammate Corrie Clement of Metairie, La., finished fifth. It was ODU’s 13th national championship in that sport. Tunnicliffe is the first Lady Monarch to win the singlehanded title. She won the Lutz trophy by finishing Sunday’s racing with a third and a second place in her final three races. She tallied 69 points, 10 ahead of Molly Carapiet of Yale in the 16-person championship regatta. Tunnicliffe finished first, second or third in nine of the 16 races. Back to top Offices can request free student help for projects Offices and departments on campus that could use extra help on special projects or events are invited to request assistance from the Student Temporary Assist Team (STAT). STAT was created as another opportunity for students who have a federal work study award as part of their financial aid package. Team members are assigned to work short-term assignments to assist with such projects as preparing mass mailings, data entry and other activities that require extra assistance. There is no charge to individual offices, departments or organizations to use the STAT program. Requests for assistance should include the day(s) and time(s) assistance is needed, a brief description of the task that will be assigned and the number of students needed. All requests should be sent to Koren Goodman at kgoodman@odu.edu. Back to top Native American heritage to be showcased next week
The Office of Multicultural Student Services will present the final two programs in its observance of Native American Heritage Month next week.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, artisans and craftsmen from several American Indian tribes will display jewelry and crafts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the North Mall of Webb Center. Cathryn Janka will lead a demonstration of spinning and dye techniques the Navajos use in making blankets from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in room 151 of Perry Library. Back to top
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children and ODU students. Back to top
Homecoming week kicks off Monday, Nov. 18, and concludes Sunday, Nov. 24, when the Monarchs take on the UNC Tar Heels at 1 p.m. at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The homecoming parade gets under way at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 24 and will feature floats, marching bands, Old Dominion athletic teams and other organizations. Prizes will be awarded for the best floats. The parade will start on Elkhorn Avenue, travel east on 49th Street, north on Bluestone, east on Bolling and then go south on Hampton Boulevard to 43rd Street. The southbound lanes of Hampton Boulevard will be closed for the parade, and the northbound lanes will be converted for two-way traffic. Other homecoming activities include:
For more information call 683-3446. Back to top
To register for the contest contact Nicole Kiger at nkiger@odu.edu or 683-4818. Back to top Obituaries: Delinda E. “Dee” Knight, Herbert A. Gygi Delinda E. “Dee” Knight Delinda E. “Dee” Knight, 56, an Old Dominion employee for 27 years, died Nov. 10 in a local hospital. A native of Elizabeth City, N.C., and resident of Virginia Beach, Knight was an education support specialist in the student employment section of the Office of Finance. She previously worked in student employment processing for the offices of Career Development Services and Personnel Services. Knight was named Employee of the Year in 1991 by the Hourly and Classified Employees Association. Among the letters sent in support of her nomination for the award, a colleague wrote, “I do not believe that I have ever seen her give less than 100 percent, no matter what the circumstances. Her goal is to get the job done and done well. I have never seen her miss her goal.” Knight was a member of Norfolk Garden Baptist Church and the Ladies Sunday School Class. She is survived by her husband, Raymond T. Knight, and a daughter, Lynn Raye Knight, both of Virginia Beach. Other survivors include her sister, Jean Norvell of Edenton, N.C. A funeral service was conducted Thursday, Nov. 14, followed by burial in Colonial Grove Memorial Park, 3445 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. Herbert A. Gygi At the time of his retirement, he held the title of institutional planning and construction engineer. Gygi, Old Dominion’s first resident architect, was responsible for all capital outlay projects at the university. A number of campus facilities were built during his tenure, some of which won national architectural design awards. A Norfolk native, Gygi received a degree in architecture from Virginia Tech in 1939. He practiced his profession until being called to active duty in World War II. At the close of the war, he resigned his commission as a captain in the Army Air Corps and resumed the practice of architecture. He was also retired president of Compeco Cleaners. Gygi, who was a member of the American Institute of Architects and a 32nd-degree Mason, also held membership in the Shriners, Kiwanis, and Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. He was a former member of the Norfolk Optimists. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Grace L. Gygi, and three sons: Robert Murray, Charles Linwood Gygi and Mark DeKalb Gygi, all of Norfolk. He is also survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.. Back to top
I exercise at the Health and Physical Education Building, walking two miles daily on the balcony. Over the years I have become accustomed to picking up trash as I walk and placing it in a central location, until I can carry it outside to a trash receptacle. I understand that many of our layoffs came from the Physical Plant and affected housekeeping as well as maintenance. Last evening as I began to bend over and pick trash up, I thought how fitting it would be if one or more of the clubs associated with the H&PE Building would adopt it and provide weekly walk-throughs to pick up trash ... in much the same way a group adopts a section of highway. So as a community service, maybe the Exercise Science Club, the Recreational Sports Club and the Martial Arts Club, for example, would be willing to share weekly responsibility of trash pickup at the H&PE Building. For the Batten Arts and Letters Building, the Foreign Language Club, the History Club, the Honors Club, etc., could perhaps share the responsibility of all nine floors. And so on and so on. This university means a great deal to me. I was a student here, my husband was a student here, we are adjunct faculty, I have been a classified employee since 1984, and have two children attending the university.
The surcharge applies to both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as in-state and out-of-state students. For full-time students taking 15 credit hours, the surcharge means an additional $180 in fees next semester. Lauren Marsh, student representative to the board, noted that while students aren’t anxious to pay more, they do understand the necessity and “want to do their share.” The increase will generate about $1.8 million, according to Robert L. Fenning, vice president for administration and finance. Eighty percent of the surcharge will be used to prevent cuts in academic programs and 20 percent will be used to provide financial assistance to the neediest of students most affected by the increase. Back to top
Members of the campus community and general public are encouraged to stop by and donate a new, unwrapped toy to help make a child’s holiday brighter. The caravan will be at the Constant Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Back to top
The FLL competition requires students to design and build robots out of the plastic blocks and other elements, such as sensors, motors and gears, to perform specific tasks along a course – like picking fruit from miniature trees and clearing rocks from a miniature soccer field. The students will also be asked to come up with a solution to a particular problem using robotics technology, which meets the needs of city inhabitants. They will then present their research findings and conclusions. More than 100 students in all will take part in the competition; teams will consist of seven to 10 students. Each team will get four chances for their robot to negotiate the course, and one attempt in the technical and science/research portion of the competition, said Grace Little, event coordinator and assistant director of the Office of Computing and Communications Services. Contestants from the following organizations and schools will participate: Boys and Girls Clubs of South Hampton Roads; Chesapeake Bay Academy of Virginia Beach; Epes Elementary School in Newport News; South Greenbrier Intermediate from Chesapeake; Hampton’s Lindsay Middle School; Gloucester County’s Page and Peasley middle schools; Courtland’s Southampton Middle; and a group of local home-schooled students. Old Dominion faculty and staff will serve as judges. The event is free and open to the public. Winners from the competition move on to the state competition Dec. 8 in Blacksburg. Each year in September, FLL teams around the world begin work on identical problems, in which they engage in hands-on robotics design and scientific research. After eight weeks, the FLL season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments like the one being held at Old Dominion. FLL is a worldwide program for children created in partnership between LEGO Co. and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit group that designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering. Back to top
Co-sponsored by the College of Business and Public Administration, the luncheon will begin at noon and costs $30 for nonmembers. It will be held at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Due to limited space, reservations are required. Aaron, who also serves as the Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Chair, is an expert in budget policy and politics, fiscal policy, health care financing, macroeconomics, tax policy and income distribution. The author and editor of more than two dozen books, he is currently researching and writing about economic and social implications of a large increase in longevity, the financial plight of academic medical centers, health and pension policies in China, building a better tax system, and Social Security reform. For reservations call 683-4058. Back to top
Frederick Fennel will conduct the Virginia Chamber Players at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18. The performance will include Richard Strauss’ Suite in Bb Major, Opus 4; Persichetti’s Serenade No. 1 Opus 1; and Dvorak’s Serenade in D Minor, Opus 44. Fennell is widely regarded as the leader of the wind ensemble movement in the United States and is one of the most recorded living American classical conductors. While maintaining obvious devotion to the band and its music, he has pursued such wide-ranging activities as conductor of orchestra, opera and popular repertoire, and has made guest-conducting appearances with symphony orchestras and bands all over the world. His recordings include more than 30 releases on Mercury Living Presence, followed by the Telarc series in Cleveland and 31 releases with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. A third series with the Dallas Wind Symphony for Reference Recordings includes an Indie award-winner, “Best Classical Album, 1993,” for “Trittico.” On Monday, Dec. 2, Creo, a contemporary music ensemble in residence at Old Dominion, will present a concert at 8 p.m. with Russian-American cellist Tanya Anisimova. The program will include works by Keiko Abe, Anisimova, J.S. Bach, Elliot Carter, Ezra Laderman, Steven Stucky and Ashot Zograbyan. Anisimova, recognized as a champion of contemporary music, has been called a true master and an expert cellist whose performances are beguiling and maintain a spiritual authority. She recently recorded Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin and Six Cello Suites. In 1995, while a fellow at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, she recorded a CD of contemporary cello music composed specifically for her. Recent performances have included solo recitals in Salerno's Theatre dei Verdi, Prague Conservatoire and Moscow Conservatory’s Chamber Hall, as well as performances with pianist Claude Frank. She has won several competitions, among them the Concertino Prague and All-USSR String Quartet competitions. Creo, founded in 1998 by pianist Andrey Kasparov, assistant professor of music, includes mezzo-soprano Lisa Relaford Coston, clarinetist F. Gerard Errante, pianist Oksana Lutsyshyn and percussionist David Walker. Directed by Kasparov, the group performs a repertoire that consists mainly of works composed after 1945. Tickets for both the Nov. 18 and Dec. 2 concert may be purchased in advance or at the door. The cost is $15 for general admission; $10 for Old Dominion faculty and staff, senior citizens and non-ODU students; and $5 for ODU students with valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the Arts and Letters Box Office in the atrium of the Diehn Center or by calling 683-5305. The Diehn Concert Series is made possible by a grant from the F. Ludwig Diehn Music Fund of the Norfolk Foundation. Back to top
This is the final day of the scholastic book fair, which is sponsored by the Student Council for Exceptional Children and the National Student Speech, Hearing and Language Association. Proceeds will benefit the reading programs at James Monroe and St. Helena elementary schools. Back to top
Written and directed by faculty member Frankie Little Hardin, “The Mouse Bride” is a classic fairy tale about a father who has four beloved sons and an all-too-human question: Who will inherit the farm when he is gone? To discover his answer, he sends the boys on a mission to find their perfect brides, with surprising results. This charming tale, full of delight and wonder, reminds us all that a true heart may reside in the most unlikely of places. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22; 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24. Tickets are $3 for children and $5 for adults. Call 683-5305 for tickets or more information. Back to top
“Exhibitionists” includes artwork by the 2002-03 art department scholarship winners. Work in various media will be presented by undergraduates, including jewelry by Lisa Catron, pottery by Laurie Valentine-Dabbs, paintings by Christine Hield, drawings by Heather Bryant, woodcuts and screen prints by Erin Cross, and installations and assemblage work by graduate student Scott Williams. The University Gallery is open noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 350 W. 21st St., Norfolk. For more information call 683-2355 or go to www.metonym.org/studio/odu. Back to top Madrigal Banquet features music of Spain In celebration of the upcoming holiday season, the music department presents the 28th annual Madrigal Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7, in the atrium of the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center. This year’s banquet features music based on the rich folk-song and carol traditions of Spain. Under the direction of Lee Teply, the ODU Madrigal Singers and Collegium Musicum, performing on historically accurate instruments, will provide choral and instrumental entertainment while diners feast on a sumptuous meal. Tickets for the Madrigal Banquet must be purchased by noon Thursday, Dec. 5. Tickets for the event, including entertainment and a full meal, are $30 for general admission, $25 for non-ODU students and $15 for ODU students with valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the Arts and Letters Box Office in the atrium of the Diehn Center. OCCS Computer Corner: "Green Computing" at Old Dominion “Green Computing” is an initiative that encourages the environmentally conscious use of technological equipment. Computers (including monitors and printers) are one of the fastest-growing “consumers” of energy in the education world. However, it is not just the number of computers that is driving energy consumption upward; the way computers are used compounds the energy burden. Research shows that most personal desktop computers are not being used the majority of the time they are running and many personal computers are needlessly left on continuously. A typical desktop PC system is composed of the computer itself (the CPU or the “box”), a monitor and printer. Your system will require from 50 to 150 watts for a 15-17-inch monitor, proportionately more for larger monitors. The power requirements of conventional laser printers can be as much as 100 watts or more when printing, but much less if idling in a “sleep mode.” Ink jet printers use as little as 12 watts while printing and five watts while idling. Thus, a typical PC system can use electricity at the rate of 110 to 300 watts or more. Assuming you operate a 200-watt PC system day and night every day, direct annual electrical costs would be more than $125 (at $0.075/kWh). In contrast, if you operate your system just during conventional business hours, say 40 hours per week, the direct annual energy cost would be about $30. Considering the tremendous benefits of computer use, these dollar figures may not seem significant. However, when these cost are multiplied by the thousands of computers in use at Old Dominion University, the energy waste and expenditure adds up quickly. The following are some suggestions that may make it possible for you to reduce your computer energy consumption by 80 percent or more without losing any productivity or other benefits of your computer system. While the energy saving suggestions are appropriate for many campus PC users, some may be inappropriate for certain computer applications or work situations. When in doubt, discuss possible energy conservation measures with your supervisor to determine which steps can be taken without harming productivity. Buy “Energy Star”-compliant equipment and enable power management features. Thanks to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), personal computer systems purchased today can be easy on energy. “Energy Star” computers and monitors can be programmed to automatically “power-down” to a low-power state when they are not being used. These efficiency gains can be achieved without any sacrifice in computing performance. The EPA has estimated that providing computers with “sleep mode” reduces their energy use by 60 to 70 percent and ultimately could save enough electricity each year to power Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of 5 million cars. Turn things off whenever possible. This is the most basic energy conservation strategy for any type of equipment. Many faculty and staff simply “log off” their computer without ever actually shutting down the PC. While logging off is appropriate when you are going to be out of your office for a few hours, completely shutting down your system overnight, and especially on weekends, has numerous benefits. Not only is energy being saved, but rebooting the PC reloads the operating system and establishes a clean connection to the network. This process helps to resolve numerous network-access issues. Other Suggestions ...
Additional information on “Green Computing” is available on the OCCS Web site at www.odu.edu/af/occs/green_computing. Back to top
But few of these fleeting thoughts ever become reality. There are exceptions though. “With Good Reason” is one. The only statewide public radio program of its kind “we think in the country,” says producer and host Sarah McConnell, “With Good Reason” is an eclectic blend of timely and engaging features and interviews with faculty members from the commonwealth’s colleges and universities. “Each program is a mini-course brought to citizens for free,” McConnell said. This fall, “With Good Reason” celebrates its 10th year. Being on the air for a decade is no small feat, according to Bill Miller, station manager for WCVE-FM in Richmond and National Public Radio adviser to “With Good Reason.” “Most new radio programs fail within a year. A show that’s been on for 10 years is doing something significant to serve a need for information and entertainment in the communities where it’s heard,” he said. “With Good Reason” is produced for the Virginia Higher Education Broadcasting Consortium, of which Old Dominion University is a member, by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The show is broadcast in partnership with public radio stations in Virginia, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. Weekly programming is drawn from faculty who explore the worlds of literature, science, the arts, politics, history and business. By the end of this year, more than 800 faculty will have been featured on the half-hour shows. Gary Edgerton, professor of communication and theatre arts, is one of the more than 50 ODU faculty who have appeared as guests on the show. “With Good Reason is a terrific program,” he said. “It takes a liberal arts approach to issues of special interest to the general public. As a listener, I have always enjoyed the wide variety of topics that it covers in both a penetrating and entertainng way, covering what’s current and cutting-edge in the arts and humanities, to making the hard and social sciences relevant and understandable to all of us in our daily lives. “As a guest, too, I’ve appreciated the opportunity it provides me in sharing my research with a much broader audience outside of academe – which ultimately is what it’s all about.” According to McConnell, “The latest in research, pressing social issues, and the curious and whimsical provide the grist for lively discussion.” Topics range from “Corporations with a Conscience” to “Fiddling in Southwest Virginia.” A program that aired recently, “Bonds on the Ballot,” discussed the fiscally tough times academia finds itself in now, a situation similar to a decade ago when “With Good Reason” was conceived. “The show was born in precisely these kinds of tight budget times,” McConnell said. In the early 1990s, people in higher education were seeking creative ways to fend off the state’s budget ax. One administrator at UVa thought it vital to give scholars a voice, and to publicize that voice so the public and elected officials alike would not think of higher education as an inhuman entity. “People were thinking about colleges as being campuses and buildings. I was after a way that the public would see professors as people – whose knowledge did have applications in ways the public wasn’t noticing,” said Michael Marshall, director of academic communications at the UVa Law School. “There was a general public sentiment that schools deserved [budget cuts] because they were high-priced and professors had cushy jobs.” Marshall continues to serve as editorial adviser to “With Good Reason.” “To my knowledge, no other state has been able to form a consortium like we did,” Marshall added. “We proved what people thought couldn’t be done: getting colleges to hang together to do something bigger than each one – and interviewing professors engagingly.” John R. Broderick, vice president for institutional advancement at Old Dominion, was one of the former chairs of the show’s statewide advisory board. “We started this program with the goal to not only showcase the outstanding and cutting-edge faculty research being conducted at our state colleges and universities, but also to present that research in a way where listeners could learn something and at times receive valuable assistance in understanding an issue or solving a personal problem. I think we had lofty goals, but I also believe we succeeded.” Marshall credits the early success of the show to Brenda Pennell, then station manager at WMRA in Harrisonburg and now at WUSC in Los Angeles. She had the credibility with the other NPR managers in the state to “get inside their doors with the idea.” Both Marshall and Miller attribute the continued success of the program to McConnell, who joined the program as host and producer in 1999. “Not to take anything away from the show’s early years, but the production quality and the quality of programs now are more compelling, even more attractive to our stations’ audiences,” Miller said. “The program has really come fully into its own,” said Andrew Wyndham, executive producer of “With Good Reason.” “We are receiving a record number of listener responses and requests, the vast majority praising the content of the shows and the terrific job that Sarah is doing.” Wyndham said he sees the show entering a new era in its second decade, one marked by the “very high quality of the programs and a significant broadening of our reach.” This year, the show began streaming archival programs on the Web, and providing radio stations with “spin-downs,” or excerpts, of interviews. Stations use these during “drive-time, morning and evening,” he said. McConnell thinks the increased popularity of the program stems from spending “more time in our cars, starved for quality information.” “With Good Reason” fits this need, she said. “There’s no other show like it.” The closest prototype is Terry Gross’ weekday, hourlong show, “Fresh Air.” In the next decade, this format is what McConnell hopes to do for “With Good Reason.” “There’s a need for local programming in a time when satellite programming is wiping out the things that make our communities what they are,” McConnell said. “It would be fabulous for the show to be a live, daily, hourlong show.” Sound far-fetched? Maybe. It’s just an idea. Editor’s note: “With Good Reason” airs locally on WHRV-FM at 11 a.m. Monday. But if you missed a show, don’t panic. Programs are now audio-streamed. Go to www.virginia.edu/vfh/wgr/index.html, click on the show you want to hear, and listen to it on your computer. Rebecca Arrington is the news graphics editor at the University of Virginia and UVA’s representative to the “With Good Reason” radio program. Back to top Doctoral student awarded Congressional Fellowship Elizabeth Vogel, a doctoral student in the Urban Services/Management program, has been selected as a Congressional Fellow on Women and Public Policy for 2003 by the Washington, D.C.-based Women’s Research and Education Institute (WREI). Vogel was one of only seven women chosen to receive the institute’s highly competitive Capitol Hill fellowships, which are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in the public policy process. Vogel, who begins the eight-month fellowship in January, will serve as a legislative correspondent, working with members of Congress on women’s policy issues. WREI works to identify issues affecting women and their roles in the family, workplace and public arena, and to inform and help shape the public policy debate on these issues. A native of Indianapolis, Vogel received her bachelor’s degree in health administration and creative writing from Loretto Heights College’s University Without Walls program. She received her master’s in health services administration from the University of Michigan. Vogel has held a variety of positions in medical administration, including assistant director of hospitals at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis and vice president for administration at the Pediatric Education and Research Foundation of the Children’s Health System in Norfolk. At Old Dominion, Vogel has twice received a Constant Fellowship from the College of Business and Public Administration and was named Outstanding Ph.D. Student for 2000-01. In addition, she has served as president of the university’s Ph.D. association for the Urban Services Program and is a member of Phi Beta Phi and Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society for Public Administration. Back to top
The free talk is sponsored by the women’s studies department. Esack has lectured on Islamic theology, politics, environmentalism and gender justice all over the world. He is the author of “Qur’an, Liberation and Pluralism” and “On Being a Muslim: Finding a Religious Path in the World Today.” Back to top |