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Physics prof selected as a Va. Outstanding Scientist BY MICHELLE NERY Anatoly Radyushkin, professor of physics and senior scientist at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, has been named a Virginia Outstanding Scientist of 2004. The award, given by the Science Museum of Virginia and the Office of the Governor, honors scientists who have made a recent contribution to basic scientific research extending the boundaries of any field of science. “Anatoly Radyushkin is a world-class scientist in our world-class physics department. Through his eyes we have a glimpse of the innermost workings of nature,” said Provost Thomas L. Isenhour. Radyushkin is an internationally recognized nuclear theorist and a pioneer in the development of generalized parton distributions (GPDs). GPDs are a set of mathematical functions that have allowed physicists for the first time to obtain a three-dimensional snapshot of the inner structure of the particles that make up the nucleus of the atom. This work is giving scientists a glimpse of the structure and dynamics of the basic building blocks of matter. “GPDs allow scientists to use an accelerator to get the effective resolution power of an electron microscope and an X-ray installation,” said Radyushkin. This work has opened a new field of scientific investigation that allows the measurement of the properties of protons and the comparison of these measurements with theoretical predictions. Radyushkin is the third Old Dominion professor to be named a Virginia Outstanding Scientist. Cynthia Jones, eminent scholar and professor of ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences, was named an Outstanding Scientist in 2003 and Daniel Sonenshine, professor emeritus of biological sciences, was honored in 1994. Radyushkin, a recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Research Award in 2001, completed his predoctoral work at Moscow State University in the Russian Federation and received his Ph.D. in physics there in 1978. He is a permanent staff member of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics in Dubna, Russia. He came to Virginia in 1991 as a visiting senior scientist at Jefferson Lab, which is funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Since 1992, he has split his time as a full professor of physics at ODU and senior staff scientist at Jefferson Lab. Radyushkin is the author or co-author of 90 journal articles in his field, which have been referenced in more than 4,400 other publications. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1996. Harvey Schenkein, assistant dean of research at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, and John J. Tyson, distinguished professor of biology at Virginia Tech, were also honored as Virginia Outstanding Scientists of 2004. Radyushkin and the six other 2004 Outstanding Scientists and Industrialists were introduced to the Virginia General Assembly March 2. They will receive their award medallions during a banquet at the science museum March 30. Back to top
The event, scheduled for noon to 7 p.m. in the Ted Constant Convocation Center arena, will also feature demonstrations of groundbreaking work, such as the use of tiny electrical pulses to impact cells and organisms, and modeling, simulation and visualization techniques for applications ranging from flight to crowd behavior. Among the approximately 150 poster presentations and displays will be several interactive exhibits. More than 100 faculty and students from all six colleges will be on hand for Research Day to explain their projects and answer questions. “Because of the substantial growth ODU has experienced and the resulting increase in the number of faculty doing a variety of research, this is a great opportunity for both the campus community and the general public to explore some exciting, new work,” said Robert Ash, interim vice president for research. “For our faculty, in particular, this is an opportunity to discover what their colleagues are doing in other colleges and to explore things they can do together. “This is a chance, too, to give young people a better understanding of how research is done in higher education and why they should consider attending a research university in the future.” A reception, sponsored by the Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center, a department of Northrop Grumman Newport News, is scheduled for 4:30-6 p.m. in the arena. All of the Research Day events are free and open to the public. Leroy Hood, president of the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, will give the Research Day keynote address, “Systems Biology: Deciphering Life and Changing Medicine,” at 6 p.m. Hood, who received his Ph.D. at California Institute of Technology and an M.D. at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is internationally known for his groundbreaking contributions to molecular biotechnology and genomics. His professional career has included instrumental contributions to the development of the DNA gene sequence and synthesizer, and the protein synthesizer and sequencer. He played a role in founding biotechnology companies such as Amgen, Applied Biosystems, Systemix, Rosetta and MacroGenics. Ash, who describes Hood as a stimulating speaker, added, “Dr. Hood is truly a pioneer in pushing the boundaries of information technology and biotechnology in directions that have never been explored previously.” As the William Gates III Professor at the University of Washington, Hood formed a cross-disciplinary Department of Molecular Biotechnology in 1992. In 2000, he co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology, a research enterprise dedicated to systems approaches to biology and medicine. The institute merges the disciplines of biology, medicine, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry and engineering to understand and solve specific problems in the life sciences. Recently, Hood was awarded the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize for Invention and Innovation. Back to top Real estate developer makes largest alumni gift to ODU Robert M. Stanton, a well-known Hampton Roads real estate developer, Old Dominion alumnus and former rector, recently made the largest planned gift, $1.5 million, of any alumnus in the university’s history. His donation serves as the lead gift in a campaign to create a $4.5 million endowment, which will establish the Robert M. Stanton Chaired Professorship in Real Estate and Economic Development. “I hope that this record remains standing no longer than 15 minutes,” said Stanton, who as one of the earliest members of the university’s Educational Foundation board helped to increase the Educational Foundation endowment value to its current $115 million. Stanton was a founding member of ODU’s Real Estate Foundation board when it formed in 1994 and served as its first chair until 2003. The assets of the Real Estate Foundation grew from $500,000 in land, property and a small amount of cash provided as seed money by the Educational Foundation to more than $10 million when he stepped down as chair. The endowment for the Robert M. Stanton Chair is being supplemented by a $1.5 million matching gift from Frank Batten, retired CEO and founder of Landmark Communications. Batten, who recently gave $32 million to the university, inspired Stanton with his generous gift. The remaining third of the $4.5 million endowment will be raised from alumni and members of the Hampton Roads real estate community. The professorship will be jointly housed within the Department of Finance and the Center for Real Estate and Economic Development (CREED). The endowment will provide funding for both the chair and for CREED. “I cannot overstate the importance of this gift,” said Nancy Bagranoff, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration. “Bob Stanton has had a wonderful relationship with the university and the funding for CREED ties with the college’s mission to support economic development.” The funds will also support increasing enrollment in the real estate major through curricular changes, scholarships and internships. The goal is to bring national recognition to the real estate program and to support the college’s focus on economic development. Four scholarship endowments currently are available to students enrolled in the real estate program. Stanton earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from ODU in 1961. He began his real estate career at Goodman Segar Hogan Inc. in 1966 and rose through the ranks to become president in 1975. He retired from GSH and organized Stanton Partners in 1993, specializing in commercial real estate investments. He has been involved in some of the region’s most significant developments, including Lynnhaven and Greenbrier malls. He also led the development of The World Trade Center, Riverside Corporate Center and, most recently, 150 Main. He continues to be involved with several projects in various stages of development. He remains actively involved in the community, serving on the boards of many organizations, including the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation, the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation, Tidewater Scholarship Foundation, Lynnhaven River-2007, Greater Norfolk Corporation and the Virginia Marine Science Museum. He has been honored for his service to the community and real estate industry throughout the years. He was named Outstanding ODU Business School Alumnus in 1982, ODU Distinguished Alumnus in 1986, Executive of the Year by Professional Secretaries International in 1991 and Distinguished Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America in 1991. The College of Business and Public Administration was established in 1961 and today has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students in its undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Back to top
In “Ghost Wars,” Coll examines the CIA’s involvement in the covert wars in Afghanistan that fueled Islamic militancy and gave rise to Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda. Written in a news style, the book comprehensively tells the story of the CIA’s program against Soviet troops, the rise of the Taliban and the CIA's secret efforts to capture or kill bin Laden in Afghanistan after 1998. Coll, who has served as managing editor of The Post since 1998, has been a reporter, foreign correspondent and editor at the newspaper since 1985. He won the 1992 Livingston Award for outstanding international reporting. Coll was the speaker for ODU’s December 2002 commencement.
Money raised will go to the following charities to benefit the families of those who lost their lives: Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Freedom Alliance and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. The ROTC programs are seeking volunteers to help raise funds, run the flag or both. The Run for Freedom will culminate with a large-formation run for the last mile onto Kaufman Mall, where there will be a ceremony at approximately 12:30 p.m. on April 8. The final mile is open to anyone interested in running. Registration tables will be set up from noon to 1:30 p.m. March 16-18, 23, 25 and 30 and April 1 in the South Mall of Webb Center. Registration forms are also available at www.odu.edu/runforfreedom. Women’s NCAA Regional tickets now on sale Four of the best teams in women’s college basketball will compete at the Ted Constant Convocation Center March 28 and 30 in the NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament. Tickets are on sale at the Constant Center box office or can be ordered by calling 683-4444. Tournament books are $30 for adults and $20 for students and youth. Individual-session tickets, if available, may not be purchased until the day of the game. The winner of the March 30 regional final will advance to the Final Four. Back to top
They will have performed in several concert venues, including the famed St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh and the historic Abbey of Mull Island. Back to top
SCHEV’s Academic Affairs Committee and Resources Committee will conduct concurrent sessions from 8:30-10 a.m. in the Board of Visitors Room and River Rooms, respectively. The Outreach Committee will meet from 10-11 a.m. in the River Rooms. The full council will meet from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Board of Visitors Room. All of the meetings are open to the public. Back to top
The program will feature lectures and multimedia presentations by the following ODU and community members: Francis Adams, associate professor of political science and geography, on “Continuity and Change in Latin American Politics”; Samuel Coppage, associate professor of information technology and decision sciences, on “Art and Censorship in Modern Brasil”; Fred Warren, lecturer of communication and theatre arts, on “The United Nations in the Eye of the Storm”; and Capt. David Ashe, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, on his experience as Jewish lawyer who was charged with restoring the judicial system in Baghdad. The presentations will take place from 3-5 p.m. in the Burgess Room of the Batten Arts and Letters Building. Back to top
Raisor was on the losing team in one of the most storied basketball games ever played – the 1954 Indiana high school championship, which spawned the movie “Hoosiers.” He documented his experiences in his 2003 memoir, “Outside Shooter.” The program will also be broadcast on the Web at www.withgoodreasonradio.org beginning March 12.
Named to the squad were seniors Cora Gerardi (Fredrica, Del.), Melissa Leonetti (Erdenhiem, Pa.), Angie Loy (Loysville, Pa.), Elizabeth Sharpe (Durham, N.C). and Tina Walker (Suffolk), junior Lynn Farquhar (Alexandria), sophomores Janelle Engle (Mt. Joy, Pa.), Mary Cate Gordon (Oreland, Pa.) and Jenna Mclane (Stowe, Vt.), and freshman Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.). Loy becomes the third Lady Monarch to earn national academic honors throughout her four-year career.
The event is free to the public with a donation of a children’s book, which will be given to F.O.R. Kids in Norfolk, a charity for homeless families. Donations will also be accepted for the sorority’s national philanthropic charity, Choose Children. Children must be preregistered to ensure they receive a gift. To register, call 233-3379 or visit alphaxideltaprvp.tripod.com. Back to top
The university’s Community Service Committee, chaired by Cecelia Tucker, director of community relations, has been working with civic leagues in the Highland Park, Lamberts Point and Larchmont neighborhoods to identify areas for cleaning. A number of ODU administrative units and student organizations have already pledged volunteer support for Community Care Day, but anyone who would like to participate is welcome. A daily announcement with additional details and an address for registering online will be posted the week of March 15. Back to top
The annual fund drive, which raises money for everything from library materials to scholarships, kicks off March 23 and will wrap up the last week of April. Last year, 695 employees and emeriti faculty contributed $155,707 to the campaign. Alice McAdory, director of admissions, and Ron Tola, assistant vice president for facilities, will serve as campaign co-chairs for a second consecutive year. “The annual drive for the Old Dominion University Fund is our golden opportunity to invest in the future, not only of ODU but in America,” said Tola. “I hope my colleagues at the university have been as impressed as I have with the growth of our campus and with the vision of President Runte and the Board of Visitors for the future. Please join me in helping to make Old Dominion a better place for our students, faculty and staff – the return is immeasurable!” Campaign packets, including pledge cards, are scheduled to be sent via campus mail to all employees on March 23. Those who made a donation in last year’s campaign will also find a surprise in their packets, said the development office’s Ashley Privott, coordinator of the Campus Community Campaign. Gifts to the 2004 fund drive can be made via payroll deduction and designated for any campus area. For example, contributions may be restricted for use by a specific college, the library, athletics, academic or athletic scholarships, or the Alumni Association. Unrestricted gifts will be applied toward Dominion Fund priorities. As in years past, those who contribute $100 or more will be entered in a contest to win a reserved parking space for one year. Anyone who contributes $100 or more to the athletic department’s Big Blue Club will be entered in this contest as well as a drawing for two basketball season tickets. Also at the end of the campaign, a trophy will be awarded to the office or area with the highest rate of participation. Back to top
Wharton had served as assistant dean of student services in GMU’s School of Public Policy since May 2001. He previously was associate dean of admission for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and had held various admissions positions with Pennsylvania State University. Wharton has a master’s degree in counseling, with a concentration in college student personnel, from Shippensburg. He succeeds Michele Spires, who had served as director of the Northern Virginia Center since it opened in 2000. She stepped down due to the reassignment of her husband, who serves in the U.S. Air Force. “Mr. Wharton’s enthusiasm, energy and knowledge of the area will result in new opportunities for Old Dominion University to increase its statewide recognition as an outstanding educational institution,” said Anne Savage, ODU’s vice provost for distance learning. “I would like to commend Michele Spires for her work as director. She did a great job.” The Northern Virginia Center is a state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the educational needs of working professionals and adult students. It offers 22 undergraduate (upper-level classes), 12 graduate, and four certificate and professional development programs. In addition to traditional instruction, the center provides access to sophisticated university distance learning courses, including those offered via videoconferencing, videostreaming, satellite and the Web. More than 300 students currently take classes at the center. Back to top
Senators voted unanimously that each nominee for University Professor should teach a minimum of three courses per year, including at least two undergraduate courses. The current policy calls for a minimum of one undergraduate course per year. It was further recommended that the Promotion and Tenure Committee, instead of the college deans, be charged with selecting tenured faculty members to serve on the University Professors Committee. In its rationale statement regarding the proposed policy on faculty and faculty administrator hiring, the senate noted, “Many universities in the U.S. discourage employment of faculty who earned their degree from the same university. Though we are not opposed to this policy we do not want to encourage it either.” Also in the rationale statement, the senate outlined the following open-searches policy exceptions that may occur with the approval of the president:
The statement further noted that a set of new hiring procedures would be developed soon. The senate’s recommendations for the University Professors policy and the proposed policy on faculty and faculty administrator hiring will be forwarded to the president. The Faculty Senate is scheduled to meet again at 3 p.m. March 23 in the Portsmouth/Chesapeake Room of Webb Center. Back to top
Known for its strong health-related programs, research, and dedication to the education of women and minorities, TWU has 10,000 students. The main campus is located in Denton, Texas, and there are three other sites in Dallas and Houston. “After nine years of ‘deaning,’ I am ready for the challenges and opportunities this new role presents,” Samuels said in a letter to her colleagues. “Nonetheless, it will be difficult to leave the college and ODU, which will be sometime in June. “It has been a genuine privilege and honor to work with all of you. I have enjoyed very much being a part of this university, and we at ODU have much of which to be proud. With the leadership that all of you bring to ODU and this community, the future ahead is very bright.” Back to top
Pekar will deliver his remarks in conjunction with a screening of “American Splendor” at 7 p.m. March 24 in the Mills Godwin Jr. Life Sciences Building auditorium. Based on Pekar’s life of and his autobiographical comic books, “American Splendor” features many interesting layers: the life of Pekar and his wife, Joyce Brabner, as characterized by actors, actual interviews and footage of the couple, including various animated sequences that bring the spirit of the comic books to the screen. Other screenings and events on the festival calendar include: Monday, March 22
Tuesday, March 23
Wednesday, March 24
Thursday, March 25
For a complete listing of films and events go to www.odu.edu/filmfest. Back to top
Her talk, “The Camera Does Not Lie: Social Change Through Documentary Film-Making,” will be at 8 p.m. in the Mills Godwin Jr. Life Sciences Building auditorium. It is free and open to the public. Kennedy's work focuses on pressing social concerns, including poverty, domestic abuse, drug addiction, human rights, AIDS and mental illness. Many of her films have appeared on the HBO, A&E, MTV and Lifetime networks. “American Hollow,” a documentary about an Appalachian family caught between century-old tradition and the encroaching modern world, was broadcast on HBO’s “America Undercover” series and received a Nonfiction Primetime Emmy Award nomination. “Different Moms,” a film about mentally handicapped parents raising their children, aired on Lifetime Television. Most recently, Kennedy directed and produced “Pandemic: Facing AIDS,” which follows the lives of five people living with AIDS. In addition to her film career, Kennedy is a social activist and human rights advocate. She has been a member of several Robert F. Kennedy Memorial human rights delegations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies at Brown University . The annual Wallenberg Lecture, part of the President’s Lecture Series, is sponsored by the Marc and Connie Jacobson Philanthropic Foundation. It honors the memory of one of the legendary figures of World War II. For more information about the lecture call 683-3114. Back to top
Though places obviously matter a great deal to someone in his field, Allen said he was reminded of the truth in Franklin’s quote during his stay in Turku, Finland, late last year as part of the Fulbright Scholars program. Allen said he could switch on the television there and see shows like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and “Fear Factor” and noted that parts of the Scandinavian countryside reminded him of the upper Midwest back in the States. But certain things about the people of his host country – “the Finns’ unusual, ancient language, their often serious quiet demeanor, their passion for a strange sour candy called Salmiakki and the zealous sanctity of traditions like the sauna” – snapped him back to “Finland reality.” Allen returned in November from his Fulbright program, which consisted of teaching at the University of Turku and conducting research on his project, “Teaching Geographic Tools for a Wireless World: A Comparative Analysis of Timberlines from North America and Fennoscandia.” Because Finland is smaller and more homogeneous than the United States, students have kind of a skewed view of America, Allen said. So he tried in his classes to communicate how diverse the U.S. really is in culture, region, environment and politics. “It seemed a lot of Finns personify the U.S. mindset in the person of President Bush,” he noted. “There was some animosity to U.S. unilateral politics and Iraq, but there was also plenty of respect and feeling for Americans’ interests. “Being so advanced technologically – Finland having come from a very poor, agricultural country to a leading, albeit small, high-technology nation in 50 years – I found it very Americanized on the surface. They are very proud of their inventions and abilities to transform ideas as well.” Nokia, Fiskars, music and architecture are some of Finland’s better-known exports, Allen said. College degrees: ODU, B.S. in geography, 1991; UNC-Chapel Hill, Ph.D. in geography, 1995 Birth date: Jan. 25, 1969 Hometown: Richmond, Va. Spouse: Kim Allen, homemaker and educator Children: Nathan 7, Annika 4 Pet peeve: People throwing cigarette butts onto the streets Favorite place on campus: Sailing Center, for weekend sailing in summer Most memorable campus experience: Mr. Rogers’ commencement speech in May 2000 Most treasured possession in my office: Flag of Fiji Islands, because it reminds me of the lessons learned studying abroad for five months as an ODU junior Whom I most admire at the university: My geography colleague Chris Drake, who inspired me to switch majors as an undergraduate and opened my eyes to the whole wide world Last book read: “Digital Fortress” by Dan Brown Favorite movie: “Star Wars” Activities or organizations outside the university: Green Acres Presbyterian Church; Windsurfing Enthusiasts of Tidewater Favorite song: “New Year’s Day” by U2 Idea of the perfect day off: Summer day on the Outer Banks with family and friends, surfing in the morning, sailing/windsurfing in the afternoon, barbecue in the evening Hobbies: Surfing, windsurfing, camping, amateur meteorology, gardening Favorite TV show: College basketball, especially UNC and the NCAA tournament Favorite meal: Grilled or smoked salmon, herbed mashed potatoes, asparagus and a “quality beverage” Favorite area restaurant: Roger Brown’s, Portsmouth Vice: Occasional excess caffeine Favorite sport: Surfing Last vacation: August 2003, spending two weeks in a cabin with family on a Baltic Sea island before starting my Fulbright semester in Finland Last smart thing I did: Set up my Finnish cell phone to work in U.S. and access Internet Last dumb thing I did: Climbed onto icy, sleet-covered roof of my house to clear debris Worst job: TV repairman Profession, other than the one I’m in, I might like to attempt: Ecotour guide Appropriate epitaph, for when the time comes: He took the road less traveled Back to top
Formerly occupied by the Office of Public Safety, the renovated facility at 49th Street and Hampton Boulevard is large enough to host up to 150 guests. A tea room opens onto a garden area at the north end of the center, and a brick patio will serve as a site for outdoor functions. The Alumni Association board made a contribution of $420,000 to renovate the building as a gift to the university. “The gift is the largest ever to the university from our organization,” said Donna Morris ’77, who chairs the board’s Alumni Center Committee. “The funds were used to renovate a building on campus that many alumni remember visiting to either purchase a parking pass or pay a parking ticket. “It seems appropriate to create a place to make new memories at this highly visible campus site. This new home for the Office of Alumni Relations will also provide a very comfortable welcome center for alumni visiting their alma mater.” Longtime ODU supporter Barry M. Kornblau ’77 also made a significant individual contribution to the center. In recognition of his gift, the Alumni Association has recommended to the Board of Visitors that the building be named in his honor. Other donations have included a $40,000 gift from the ODU Black Alumni Council and $51,000 from Geico, an Alumni Association affinity partner. Among the items to be displayed in the center’s social area will be books by alumni authors, yearbooks, back issues of alumni periodicals and ODU memorabilia dating back to the Norfolk Division days. A plasma-screen television, a gift from alumnus Jeffrey Ainslie ’83, will be installed for watching Monarch and Lady Monarch basketball away games. “This is a dream come true,” said Claire Ackiss ’99, director of alumni relations. “The Alumni Association had been looking at plans for an alumni center since 1985 or before. Our alumni need a home, a place to come back to. Now, they finally have a home and a presence on campus.” Alumni will have a variety of naming opportunities associated with the new center. A gift from one prominent 1942 alumnus and his wife has resulted in a name for one of the center’s rooms – the Wells and Jane Gresham Conference Room, and Robert Hardison ’67 (M.B.A. ’79), a former Alumni Association president, will have his name on the Alumni Center terrace. Back to top
Performing on a fortepiano based on a circa 1790 original five-octave instrument by the Viennese builder Johann Schantz, he will play Haydn’s Sonata in G major, Job. XVI, 40; Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Rondo in c minor; Mozart’s Sonata in B-flat major; Johann Baptist Cramer’s 7 Variations on Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen; and Beethoven’s Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 7. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. Bilson has been in the forefront of the period-instrument movement since the early 1970s. His performances of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert on late 18th- and early 19th-century pianos have been a major contribution to the restoration of the fortepiano to the concert stage and to recordings of “mainstream” repertory. His rich and varied concert career is divided between solo performances, chamber music, lieder recitals and orchestra concerts. He is a frequent soloist with leading early-instrument orchestras and often tours with cellist Anner Bylsma. In high demand for lectures throughout the world, Bilson is the Frederick J. Whiton Professor of Music at Cornell University, where he directs keyboard studies in 18th-century historical performance practice. He is also an adjunct professor at the Eastman School of Music and regularly gives workshops and master classes at some of the most prestigious music schools throughout the world. Tickets for the concert are $15 for general admission; $10 for ODU faculty and staff, senior citizens and non-ODU students; and $5 for ODU students. Tickets may be purchased at the box office in the Diehn Center atrium or by calling 683-5305. Old Dominion’s Diehn Concert Series is made possible by a grant from the F. Ludwig Diehn Music Fund of The Norfolk Foundation. Back to top
But they’re among the subjects the ODU chapter of the national philosophy honor society has taken on in its spring semester Philosophy Slams. About 30 students and faculty gather inside a campus classroom on Tuesday afternoons to discuss the week’s topic. The spontaneous discourse ranges from light-hearted to heated as the group compares and contrasts its beliefs. “In our culture, we’re taught to stay away from certain topics,” said David Wood, president of the university’s national philosophy honor society chapter. “‘Oh, you don’t want to offend anyone,’ ‘To each his own,’ ‘Let’s just agree to disagree.’ The idea is that we should avoid confrontation at all costs. “Frankly, as a philosophy student, I find this attitude repulsive. We need to face the issues head-on, and that’s exactly what we do at Philosophy Slam. Every week we pick a topic, get a room full of students and professors, and go head-to-head for an hour. Sometimes we get nowhere. Other times we arrive at some consensus. But we always learn something.” “Of course, the students are being ironic in playing on the combative, Neanderthal style of discourse found in everything from sports to politics,” said Lawrence J. Hatab, chair of the philosophy department. “They want to embody the contest of philosophical ideas as a lively encounter meant not to conquer but to foster discovery. We’re proud of their effort to make philosophy a part of their lives and bring it to others.” One recent presentation dealt with Hume’s essay “Of Miracles,” in which he argued that miracle claims should never be believed. It was followed by a short presentation by Mike Licona, a local Christian debater, who presented a case for the resurrection of Jesus. Back to top
“This is the fifth consecutive time that our laboratory has been inspected with no deficiencies found. Sue Nagle, our laboratory supervisor, deserves the credit for running an excellent lab,” sid Jenny Foss, director of Student Health Services.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the community room of Village Pointe, located at 1220 38th St., Norfolk. Aimed at increasing the community’s awareness of available events and services at the new Village Pointe center, the health fair will provide general health information as well as blood pressure, cholesterol and dental cancer screenings. Information will also be provided about community resources available to the elderly, such as Village Pointe’s free fitness classes and weekly health and wellness teaching on Thursdays.
Classes will be conducted Aug. 19-23: three classes a day, 90 minutes per class, including Saturdays and Sundays. The rate of compensation for each class is approximately $108 and housing will be provided by the University of Kitakyushu. Airfare will be provided by the Office of International Programs. Recent participants in the program include Stacy Plichta (2003), Sangita Gopal and Gary Copeland (2002), Ed Neukrug and Alice Wakefield (2001), and Jill Jurgens and Sharon Raver-Lampman (2000). Applications are due March 26. For an application and more information contact Patty Wade at pwade@odu.edu or 683-5195.
With the opening of the new Engineering and Computational Sciences Building this spring, the Office of Computing and Communications Services will undergo a major relocation. All OCCS technical operations will move to the fourth floor of the new building, while the Customer Service Center will relocate to the former alumni office suite in Webb Center. The OCCS relocation will be completed in phases, with timing dependent upon the completion of the construction projects currently under way. Schedule changes and other information related to the move are available on the OCCS Web site at www.odu.edu/af/occs/news/themove.html. It is recommended that you check this site regularly, as dates are subject to change. Tentatively, the relocation of technical operations (main data center and support staff) to the E&CS Building will be done in phases during April and May. A move of this magnitude requires a substantial amount of cooperative effort, planning, scheduling and rescheduling. The primary focus is to complete the move with the least possible impact on services to the university, therefore most services will be moved on weekends, many on Sunday only. The current schedule for moving services is outlined below. Detailed information on server names and specific functions that will be unavailable is provided on the Web site as noted above.
Additionally, the Network Operations Center will be closed intermittently May 15-16. With the relocation of the Network Operations Center, student account password distribution will be transferred to the Customer Service Center. The Customer Service Center, which will be renamed the Technical Support Center (TSC), will move to Webb Center in May. The new location, near the Cyber Cafe, will provide easier access for faculty, staff and students requiring technology assistance. Specific questions related to the OCCS relocation may be submitted via e-mail to occshelp@odu.edu. Back to top
– “Close to Home: Seeing the Light” “Television tends to be the main centerpiece in our culture. TV in a sense creates instant history ... that shapes how we think about an event.” (Gary Edgerton, chair of communication and theatre arts, in a “Syllabus” review of his course Television Histories as Collective Memory) – “Course Examines How TV Affects Perceptions of Reality” “This bill restricts access.” (Jennifer Foss, director of student health services, on proposed legislation to eliminate on-campus access to emergency contraception) – “Panel Defeats Contraception Bill” “With what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan and with homeland security, I think it will continue. Even if a new president is elected, whoever comes in is not going to squash those programs.” (Vinod Agarwal, professor of economics, on the role of the military and defense sector in driving the local economy) – “Hampton, Va., Area Added Nearly 8,000 Jobs Last Year” “The result is the affirmation of an American institution, in this case, the spirit of the underdog.” (Phil Raisor, associate professor of English, on the 50th anniversary commemoration of Milan’s upset of Muncie Central in the 1954 Indiana high school basketball championship game, in which Raisor was a starting guard for the prohibitively favored Muncie Central Bearcats) – “Remembering Legendary Game” “I don’t know a great deal about Judaism. I wanted to change that. If you’re going to college to be educated in the Western world, you need to know about the influence of Jews and Judaism on Western civilization.” (Ryan Elza, a junior from Norfolk) – “ODU Classes on Judaism Attract Non-Jews as Well as Jews” “The responsibilities are enormous, and a lot of people are counting on me.” (Susan Galvin, a 1992 ODU graduate with a degree in criminal justice, who recently became the first female major in the Williamsburg Police Department) – “Major Success: Williamsburg Officer Enjoys Rigors of Duty” “My personal feeling is ... people were not really afraid of us ... and therefore in general they tended to give us a ... truthful, reliable response.” (Jie Chen, associate professor of political science and geography, on his recent book, “Popular Political Support in Urban China,” which is based on a survey of residents in three districts in Beijing) – “Survey: Less Chinese Political Support” |