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Marian Wright Edelman to address morning grads Afternoon program features editor at Science magazine Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), will be the speaker for Old Dominion’s morning commencement ceremony May 5 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Speaking to graduates at the afternoon ceremony will be R. Brooks Hanson, deputy editor for the physical sciences at Science magazine, regarded as the world’s leading journal of original scientific research, global news and commentary. The morning ceremony, for graduates from the colleges of Arts and Letters, Health Sciences and Engineering and Technology, will begin at 9 a.m. Exercises for graduates from the colleges of Business and Public Administration, Education and Sciences begin at 2 p.m. Edelman has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans her entire professional life. Under her leadership, the CDF has become the nation’s strongest voice for children and families. Its mission is to “Leave No Child Behind” and to ensure every child “a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start and a moral start” in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. A graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law School, Edelman began her career in the mid-1960s when, as the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, she directed the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund office in Jackson, Miss. In 1968, she moved to Washington, D.C., as counsel for the Poor People’s Campaign, which Martin Luther King Jr. had begun to organize. She founded the Washington Research Project, a public interest law firm and the parent body of the CDF. For two years she served as the director of the Center for Law and Education at Harvard University and in 1973 founded the CDF. Edelman’s many honors include the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize, the Heinz Award and a MacArthur Foundation Prize Fellowship. In 2000, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, and the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award for her writings, which include eight books. Among them are “The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours” and “I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children.” In his role as deputy editor at Science magazine, Hanson oversees the recruitment and management of all scholarly articles within the broad area of physical sciences, supervising more than a dozen staff members to ensure timely coverage of all disciplinary developments, both in original research and in the journal’s commentary sections. Hanson works closely with the editor-in-chief and executive editor to develop and implement policies and procedural changes, and interacts with scientists around the world to stay abreast of current developments and recruit research and review papers. He has been with the magazine since 1987, and was named to his current position in 1998. Hanson earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Bucknell University and a doctorate in geology from the University of California at Los Angeles. His areas of interest include Earth and planetary science, paleontology, anthropology, archaeology, numerical modeling, science policy and social science. Back to top
An immunologist and researcher known in the United States and abroad for his work on the molecular and cellular immunology of human T cells, Platsoucas will assume the position here this summer. The Board of Visitors granted him tenure as a professor of biological sciences and approved his appointment April 6. Before being named to an endowed professorship at Temple’s Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology in 1993, Platsoucas was a professor in cancer research and immunology, and deputy chair of the Department of Immunology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He also has held posts at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Medical School. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Patras, Patras, Greece, and a doctorate with training in biochemistry and immunology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His recent work as a lymphocyte biologist has focused on the role of T cells in the development of autoimmune diseases and the immune response of T cells to human tumors. (T cells are white blood cells that typically protect against infection and disease, but sometimes take opposite courses, failing to marshal defenses, attacking the body’s own cells or triggering diseases.) Platsoucas began a five-year term at the helm of Temple’s College of Science and Technology when he became interim dean in 1998. He won the permanent position in 2000 after nearly two-thirds of the science and technology tenured faculty at the university wrote a letter to the administration supporting him. The letter called Platsoucas “an academic star, well recognized internationally as being at the frontier of research in a very hot field.” Provost Thomas Isenhour said of Platsoucas: “He combines the best of administration and science. He is innovative and will help ODU achieve our goal of joining the top 100 public research universities. From his colleagues at Temple, we have heard nothing but rave reviews.” Among his recent projects, Platsoucas was principal investigator on a multimillion-dollar National Institutes of Health grant to study chronic rejection of heart transplants. He has authored or co-authored more than 150 articles and other writings on the molecular and cellular immunology of human T cells. Joseph H. Rule, associate dean of the College of Sciences, has served as interim dean since September 2006 when Richard V. Gregory moved from dean of the college to chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Back to top “Taste of India” comes to campus April 22 The Asian Indian community in Hampton Roads will celebrate and share its heritage and culture from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 22 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. “Taste of India,” which is free and open to the public, will highlight the culture, politics and history of India through live performances, ethnic foods and a wide variety of exhibits and booths. A live video presentation from New Delhi, India, featuring Gov. Tim Kaine, will address “Indo-U.S. Relations and the Surging Indian Economy.” Vendors will sell food from all regions of India and performances will include professional dancing, music and a Bhangra competition, a traditional dance from the Indian state of Punjab. According to Vinod Agarwal, professor of economics and organizer of the event, the celebration is designed to showcase the vibrant culture of Asian Indians living in Hampton Roads, a group which he says contributes $140 million annually to the local economy. For more information about the event visit www.TasteofIndiaHR.org. Back to top
Eligible classified employees may receive assistance for up to 15 credit hours per year (six each for the fall and spring semesters and three for the summer sessions). Eligible part-time classified and hourly employees are eligible to receive 75 percent of the benefit or less (prorated upon the hours worked per 40-hour work week). Eligible faculty and faculty administrators can receive full tuition support for up to three credit hours each semester, and three hours during the summer sessions, at the in-state rate. The Tuition Assistance Program for dependents and spouses of employees is not available in the summer. Spouses and dependents of full-time faculty, faculty administrators and classified employees are eligible for assistance for six credit hours in the fall semester. The benefit for dependents and spouses of part-time classified and hourly employees will be prorated upon the hours worked per average 40-hour work week, not to exceed 75 percent of the benefit. Tuition assistance polices can be found at www.odu.edu/af/humanresources/benefits. Application forms are available online at http://forms.odu.edu/browse.php?cat=4. For more information call 683-4237. Back to top
Panelists will be: Jens Bischoff, “Climate Change: An Alternative View”; David Burdige, “The Science of Climate Change”; Fred Dobbs, “Climate Change and Public Health”; and Skip Stiles, “Climate Change and Public Policy.” Glen Sussman, professor of political science, will serve as moderator. For more information contact him at 683-3841 or gsussman@odu.edu. Back to top
The institute offers faculty the opportunity to learn from the successful practices and innovations of their peers, and gain practical tips on the use of podcasting as a teaching and learning tool. At the first afternoon session, participants will see demonstrations of various technologies used on campus, and meet with Faculty Innovator Grant recipients, online course developers and podcasters. The remaining sessions will focus on portable online delivery (POD), using the Internet and portable devices such as hand-held audio and video players. For details visit www.clt.odu.edu/si/si06. Back to top
Among her letters of support was one from Barbara Winstead, professor of psychology, who noted that Lewis “is always rational, calm and diplomatic. Even when she is passionate about her mission, she proceeds in such a reasonable and deliberate manner that others must respond to her in kind. This makes her a force to be reckoned with and a powerful force for the welfare of women on campus.” At the award ceremony, Lewis was also cited as a great mentor for women and one who always finds time to assist with their academic goals. She was further recognized for her role as chair of the university Child Care Committee and her help in increasing interest in and appreciation for the Women’s Caucus. Lewis first joined the university in 1985 as director of interdisciplinary studies. She has served in her current position since 2004. Back to top Swain’s research cited in Newsweek magazine Research by David Swain, University Professor of exercise science, was cited in the March 26 issue of Newsweek. In an article titled “On Your Marks ... Moderate exercise is fine, but a more vigorous workout has added benefits,” the author notes research published last year by Swain and Barry Franklin, director of cardiac rehabilitation at William Beaumont Hospital, that found vigorous exercise has more benefits than moderate exercise that burns as many calories. In the study, the pair analyzed studies that compared exercise intensity with coronary-heart-disease risk, controlling for the number of calories burned. Those who exercised vigorously had greater improvements in aerobic capacity and glucose control and greater reductions in blood pressure. The full text of the article can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17662257/site/newsweek. Back to top
The relay begins at 7 p.m. April 13 in Webb Center and continues until 7 a.m. April 14. Live entertainment, activities and food will be provided for participants. To join a team, volunteer or obtain more information, visit the Web site www.acsevents.org/ODU. As part of the fundraising efforts, orders will be taken through April 14 for six-inch pots of petunias, begonias and impatiens. The cost is $3, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society on behalf of the Office of Student Activities and Leadership team. Orders should be placed at nkiger@odu.edu. Back to top
Both teams constitute a test program for Division I schools. The ODU student-athletes put together the care kits on March 20th in the new ODU soccer complex. Other educational partners include middle schools, high schools and Sunday schools. Hospitality for the Homeless receives donated amenities from partners nationally, including hotels and resorts, dentists, orthodontists, retailers and manufacturers, as well as the public. Back to top
Fliers advertising the event will be distributed soon via campus mail. Reservations are due May 11. Back to top
For details or to register, contact Genese John: 683-4539 or gjohn@odu.edu. Back to top
The 2006 Lady Monarch team earned a combined 3.42 GPA. Back to top
Tuition for in-state undergraduate and graduate students will increase 5.5 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively, under the state-mandated 6 percent ceiling. Tuition will rise 5.9 percent for both out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students. Combined with the comprehensive fee, full-time, in-state undergraduate students will pay $6,528 for 30 credit hours, a $430, or 7.1 percent, increase over this year’s rate. In-state graduate students will pay $7,494 for 24 credits, a 6.6 percent increase in tuition and fees. Room and board rates will increase an average of 5.9 percent, or $373. Out-of-state undergraduate students will see a 6.5 percent increase in yearly tuition and fees, to $17,748; out-of-state graduate students will pay $18,478 for 24 credits, or 6.5 percent more than in 2006-07. The Transportation Research Institute, to be located in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology, will address mobility and safety issues, and has the potential to attract substantial extramural funding national recognition for ODU in a critical and growing area. In other action, the board approved an Early Retirement Incentive Plan for Faculty for 2007 and 2008. Passage of the plan follows the board’s approval of parameters in December. The goal is to encourage the retirement of senior faculty, retain sufficient salary to hire replacements at the assistant professor rank and create additional positions with the salary remainder. In other matters, the board approved a revision to the Policy on Evaluation of Faculty that formalizes the involvement of faculty committees, particularly the college promotion and tenure committee, in the pre-tenure review process. The board also approved the granting of the title of emeritus to the following faculty members:
Retroactive granting of the emeritus title was approved for six former faculty, who retired as assistant professors but met the criteria for emeritus status. At the time they were awarded tenure, promotion to the rank of associate professor was not automatic. They are: Violet Breneiser, Marion Carroll, Curtis William Howard III, Richard A. Palmer, David Pancoast and Kenneth Karloff. Chanele Bryant was announced as the board’s choice to serve as its 2007-08 student representative. She is a sophomore business management major from Northern Virginia. Back to top
“As acting vice provost, Nancy made several important contributions. Two of the most noteworthy are the development of a very popular online program in criminal justice and the acquisition of the subcontract from ITA International for Cultural Awareness Training for the U.S. Navy,” said Provost Thomas Isenhour, who announced the appointment. “Nancy has displayed excellent management skills in leading our very complex distance learning program. “She has also worked to develop a strategic plan, in line with the University Strategic Plan, and has stimulated a great deal of interest in distance learning across the university,” the provost added. Prior to joining Old Dominion on Feb. 25, 2006, Cooley was the academic affairs and planning director at the State Council of Higher Education, and from September 2003 to August 2004 served as acting executive director of SCHEV. Before her arrival at SCHEV, she was dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Ferris State University in Michigan, and prior to that held leadership positions in the offices of Information Technology, Academic Affairs and the Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development at Central Michigan University. During her year as executive director of SCHEV, Cooley secured $225,000 from the Dominion Foundation to fund the Virginia Outstanding Faculty Awards Program for three years after the General Assembly cut the funds from the state budget. She also provided oversight for the development of Virginia’s GEAR-UP grant, and her team was successful in securing a one-year continuation award and a supplementary federal award totaling more than $1 million. Back to top
SCHEV voted 7-3 to allow the classes for five years, until the 2011-12 academic year. The university will be required to submit a report on its success for the permission to be renewed. Additionally, ODU may offer no more than 25 of the approximately 350 total classes as lower-level classes, and it must explore additional collaborations with Tidewater Community College and Norfolk State University to provide joint undergraduate programs. ODU will offer 10 four-year degree programs at the center, allowing students to take all of their courses for a bachelor’s degree there. The programs, in health services, education and counseling, communication, criminal justice and management, are designed to help meet the workforce needs of the city of Virginia Beach. Approximately 4,500 ODU students live in Virginia Beach, and more than 3,500 take classes at the center each year. Further, 475 faculty and staff members live in Virginia Beach, and the city is home to some 15,700 ODU graduates. The university opened the center, located on Concert Drive between Princess Anne and Rosemont roads, in August 1999. The $14.5 million facility was built on 36 acres of land donated by the city of Virginia Beach. ODU oversees operation of the facility, which also offers selected NSU classes. Prior to fall 1999, ODU and NSU operated the Virginia Beach Center on Little Neck Road, which opened in 1988. Back to top
Spencer joined the faculty in 1956 and taught European diplomatic history. He served for several years first as the chair of the Division of Social Studies, then as chair of the new history department from 1963-67. He left Old Dominion in 1967. Born in Swan Quarter, N.C., Spencer was a World War II veteran. Before coming to Old Dominion, he taught briefly at Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C., and later joined the University of Georgia, where he retired as professor emeritus in 1988 after 21 years. While at Old Dominion Spencer co-authored with Lynn M. Case a manuscript later published as “The United States and France: Civil War Diplomacy,” a book which received a Phi Alpha Theta honors award in 1970. In subsequent publications he explored the Confederate European experience in “The Confederate Navy in Europe” in 1980, and “Raphael Semmes: The Philosophical Mariner” in 1997. Spencer is survived by his wife, Betty,; daughter, Lucy, of Winston-Salem; and son, Buddy, of Stanardsville, Va. Memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of the Piedmont, 2200 Old Ivy Road, Suite 2, Charlottesville, VA 22903, or the Alzheimer’s Association, 674 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Back to top
Greg Cutter, professor of chemical oceanography, is the recipient of Old Dominion’s 23rd annual Faculty Research Achievement Award. The award plaque and a $1,000 check were presented to him at the closing ceremony of Research Expo 2007 on April 5. “Professor Cutter is honored for his outstanding research over more than 20 years at Old Dominion and for his international reputation as a scholar and scientist,” said Mohammad Karim, vice president for research, who presented the award. The 2007 recipient has faculty appointments in the departments of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences as well as Chemistry and Biochemistry. Cutter, who has published more than 50 articles in prestigious journals, including Nature and Science, has received funding in excess of $5 million for his research. Much of his support has come from the National Science Foundation. He is a principal investigator in the NSF-funded Hall-Bonner Program for Minority Doctoral Scholars in Ocean Science. His research interests include processes affecting trace element speciation and distributions in natural waters and sediments, paleoceanographic tracers, analytical methods for aquatic chemistry and computer modeling of geochemical processes. For his research, he has ventured into waters all over the world, from the South Pacific to the Western Arctic, spending more than 500 days aboard research vessels. He was chief scientist for 10 of the cruises. In the summer of 2005, Cutter was among an international team of scientists who participated in a trans-Arctic research expedition, gathering samples and data that are expected to help us better understand climate cycles through the ages and present-day global warming. In 2003, he was Cox Visiting Professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University. “Although this award recognizes Dr. Cutter’s outstanding research contributions in the field of marine geochemistry, we are equally proud of his contributions to our undergraduate and graduate education programs, as well as his service to ODU and the larger community,” said Richard Zimmerman, chair of ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences department. “Two of the numerous examples of his contributions in these areas include his pioneering development of our senior capstone course sequence that gives all our undergraduate majors a real research experience in their final year at ODU, and his leadership as coordinator of the Hall-Bonner Program.” In accepting the award, Cutter thanked his students, especially the five who have received doctoral degrees under his mentorship, and his wife, Lynda, who is his lab manager. Cutter edits the quarterly Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin and has served as a manuscript reviewer for numerous publications, including Journal of Geophysical Research, Marine Chemistry, Nature and Science. He joined the ODU faculty in 1982 after earning a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He was a research associate at the Center for Marine Studies at UC Santa Cruz while he was a graduate student. Back to top
The grant from the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) will be administered by the Hampton Roads Research Partnership, which hopes to spur growth in three clusters: modeling and simulation, bioscience and sensors. With the grant, which was announced March 22, the region will seek high-paying technology-sector jobs to offset recent job losses from military and industry cutbacks, including the pending closing of the Ford Plant in Norfolk. Old Dominion will oversee the grant’s modeling and simulation cluster. VMASC, together with military and industry facilities involved in modeling and simulation, has been educating workers, performing research and facilitating business startups for nearly a decade. Modeling and simulation, according to recent studies, contributes more than $400 million a year to the Hampton Roads economic output. Regional authorities hope the sector will double in size over the next few years. “The grant will allow ODU and its partner institutions to push further the regional modeling, simulation and visualization agenda,” said Mohammad Karim, vice president for research. He noted that VMASC will get about $400,000 per year for the next two years from the EDA monies and matching funds. ODU also will play significant roles in the work of the bioscience and sensors clusters, according to Karim. The bioscience effort will be overseen by Eastern Virginia Medical School and the sensors effort by the College of William and Mary. Hampton Roads Partnership, the parent organization of the research partnership, is a public-private group that promotes regional development. Lee Beach, the research partnership’s executive director, said some of the money will go toward augmenting the salaries of faculty researchers whose projects help to create jobs in the region. Back to top
U.S. Air Force Gen. Lance L. Smith, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, and President Roseann Runte will co-host the symposium, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 18 and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 19 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The event brings together senior leaders in the political, military, academic and business worlds, who will address the transatlantic relationship – past, present and future. It is open to the campus community, but registration is required (683-5759). The symposium will be a major event in this year’s Norfolk Azalea Festival, an annual salute to the enduring relationship between Hampton Roads and NATO, and a highlight of the International Conference Series, which explores how principles of democracy that tie back to Jamestown have evolved. This year’s Most Honoured Nation for the Azalea Festival is the United Kingdom. According to Timothy J. Sullivan, chairman of the Democracy Conference Planning Council, the symposium “highlights the importance of the United States’ alliance with the UK, its shared history, its current vibrant relationship and its strategy for the future.” Strategies for future global engagement is a critical focus area for Runte. She noted that, “as we contemplate the future of our globe, the organization of resources and reserves, coordination of supply and demand, and knowledge of models of government and governance are of vital importance.” Smith knows firsthand the relevance of the symposium topic. In his view it is particularly timely because of the changing global strategic environment and the growing importance of Alliance operations. “From relief efforts in Pakistan to the current mission in Afghanistan, NATO is helping to set conditions for peace, stability and democracy for years to come,” he stated. The International Conference Series on the Foundations and Future of Democracy is sponsored by the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission. The yearlong series is bringing noted democratic scholars, political commentators and governmental practitioners together at Virginia university sites to explore elements of successful democratic systems and the future of mature and emerging democracies around the world. For more information visit the ODU symposium Web page, www.act.nato.int. Back to top
Following a short ceremony at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, starting at 1 p.m., participants will walk to the Colley Avenue bridge, where each will be given a flower to drop in the water. In all, 3,400 flowers will be released, representing the number of U.S. troops who have died to date. The walk is open to the campus community and the general public. Donations will be accepted for the Matthew Wallace Patriot Scholarship, named in memory of the brother of current student Abigail Wallace, and son of ODU alumni Keith and Mary Bopp Wallace, who died last July while serving in Iraq. For more information or to make a donation to the scholarship fund, go to http://orgs.odu.edu/msu.
Do a search on the Web for just about anything, and you’re likely to get innumerable “hits.” But just how much of this information is accurate – or current? To help students make informed decisions about the sites they visit and information they read, Perry Library will sponsor a new one-credit course next fall, Research in the Information Age. Open to all students, the accelerated, eight-week “hybrid course,” AL 201, will be taught by Cynthia Wright Swaine, instruction services librarian, and Karen Vaughan, coordinator of the library’s Digital Services Center. “Several faculty members have expressed strong interest in the course, which will be the first of its kind at ODU,” said Swaine. The focus will be on information literacy, including such aspects as evaluating resources, especially Web sites, for accuracy and currency. “It’s amazing how many biased Web sites are publishing under the guise of being the absolute truth. It’s also amazing how many people don’t question what they are reading. We’ll help students learn how to judge more closely about what they are finding by having them analyze Web sites as one of their assignments,” Wright explained. Delivered mostly via Blackboard, the course will also address ethical use of information (including plagiarism and copyright). In addition, the course will cover the use of major “finding tools” and digital libraries, database structures and search techniques, choosing and refining a topic for research and the cycle of information. The course will include a few face-to-face sessions; a textbook, articles, videos and Web sites will be used throughout the eight weeks. Instruction will incorporate weekly assignments, hands-on work at computers, video and other multimedia components, discussion and chat. Coursework will culminate in an annotated bibliography project. Swaine and Vaughan are hoping that faculty and advisers will encourage their students to take the pilot course (it will also be offered next spring). Students should register for the course, which is listed under the College of Arts and Letters, at Leo Online. Those who successfully complete the course will be able to:
Peery, a popular and respected professor among creative writing students, will speak on “Making It Up as You Go Along: The Writing Life.” The Friends of the Library Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to Douglas Ziegenfuss, professor of accounting. The dinner will be held in the River Rooms of Webb Center. A reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 6:30. Tickets are $30 ($25 for life members); checks made payable to Friends of the Library should be mailed to: Friends of the Library - Author Dinner, 229 Perry Library. Reservations are due by April 18. A National Book Award finalist for “The River Beyond the World,” Peery is also the author of “Alligator Dance.” She has received NEA and Guggenheim Foundation fellowships, the Whiting Foundation Writer’s Award, citations in “The Best American Short Stories,” several Pushcart Prizes, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award. Her stories appear in Kenyon Review, Shenandoah, American Short Fiction, Southwest Review, Southern Review and other literary journals. Ziegenfuss has been a member of the accounting department since 1989 and has served as chair since 2002. His area of specialization is auditing, and he has particular expertise in the areas of operational, fraud and information technology audits. He has written three books and a host of articles on topics related to auditing practice. Among his awards are Auditing Educator of the Year, Outstanding Accounting Educator and the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. For more information about the dinner contact Fern McDougal at 683-4141or fmcdouga@odu.edu.
“What the Thunder Said” tracks the wayward progress of sisters Mackie and Etta Spoon, who leave home to forge their own separate paths, each setting off in search of a new life, and each finding a fate different than she expected. Through shifting perspectives, voices and characters, Peery follows the sisters, their children and those whose stories intersect with theirs as they range across the high plains of the West in the decades after the Great Depression. Fellow ODU faculty member and writer Sheri Reynolds describes Peery’s new work as “deep and rich and risky and complicated.” Reynolds adds: “[Her] characters span age and gender and type, but whether privileged or pocked, they all face some sort of exile, and Peery’s compassion for the flawed and noble alike illustrates her fine understanding of human nature. You can’t write like this unless you have a big and worn-in heart.” Back to top
Recognized for her expressive and exuberant performances, as well as for her radiant voice, Blackwell is a familiar performer at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Seattle Opera. Also an accomplished singer of the concert repertoire and recitalist, she has performed with the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Dallas symphonies, and the New York Philharmonic. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students. They may be purchased at the Arts and Letters Box Office in the University Theatre or at the door. Back to top
The concert will include a wide variety of dance styles, with choreography by guest artists, ODU faculty and students, and performances by university students and faculty. Adjunct faculty member and guest artist Joni Petre-Scholz contributes a contemporary ballet to music by Judy Garland. The theme is “glamour in the face of drama” – combating feelings of sadness by getting dressed up and going out with friends. New adjunct faculty member and guest artist Bellamy Eure premieres an original modern dance piece that grapples with issues of conflict and resolution. Two new works come from Jessica Page, the first of which is a high-energy hip-hop dance, featuring nine dancers performing street and urban dance styles with a jazzy flair. The second, a jazz dance, incorporates samples of 14 songs from television programs such as “The Muppet Show,” “Bewitched,” “Mission Impossible,” “Wonder Woman” and “Batman.” In this dance, the stage is designed to appear as a TV screen with changing channels. Twenty-one dancers will explore the content of programming and the impact television viewing has on the impressionable minds of children. A modern dance choreographed by Tami White and a tap dance choreographed by Sarah Miller complete the program of works by adjunct faculty guest artists. Selected student-choreographed works will also be featured. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for ODU students. They may be purchased at the door, or in advance at the Arts and Letters Box Office in the lobby of the Health Sciences Building, or by calling 683-5305. For more information call 683-3002 or 683-4354. Back to top
D’Earth will also offer a series of free clinics and open rehearsals April 19-23 as artist in-residence with the music department. The residency will culminate in two performances in Chandler Recital Hall at the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center. The first, with ODU’s Big Band, will be a free performance at 4 p.m. April 22, and the second with the Toomey Quartet on April 23. For details about the residency schedule and free sessions, call 683-4061. Tickets for the April 23 performance are $15 for general admission and $10 for students. They may be purchased at the Arts and Letters Box Office in the University Theatre or at the door. Back to top
Old Dominion will sponsor a wide variety of activities and programs, everything from tree planting and shoreline cleanup projects to an Environmental Film Festival, in celebration of Earth Week, April 16-21. Presentations will highlight such environmentally friendly initiatives as recycling, oyster gardening and alternative fuels, including a demonstration of a “veggie mobile” that runs on organic material. In addition to promoting traditional recycling efforts, the university will collect old tennis shoes throughout the week as part of its participation in the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program. Instead of cluttering landfills, the worn-out footwear will be used as materials in the construction of basketball and tennis courts, athletic fields and running tracks. Shoes will be collected in the lobby of Webb Center. ODU students, faculty, staff and friends of the university are invited to participate in Adopt-A-Stream cleanup outings on campus Monday and Tuesday, April 16-17. The Environmental Film Festival will kick off April 18 in Webb Center and will include the screening of nine movies, including an outdoor presentation of the Academy Award-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” at 8 p.m. on Kaufman Mall. On April 19, Checkered Flag Auto-motive will host the Old Dominion Green Car Show on the mall, featuring hybrid vehicles, electric cars and Segway Scooters. For more information about Earth Week events call 683-4495 or visit www.odu.edu/af/ehs/earthweek.htm. A complete schedule of events follows: Monday, April 16
Tuesday, April 17
Wednesday, April 18
Thursday, April 19
Saturday, April 21
The annual award honors a college member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) for its development of a groundbreaking program in the career services field. “We were faced with providing our services to a growing student population, our entire alumni population, and a large national distance-learning program,” said Tom Wunderlich, assistant dean of career management. “It was apparent that we needed to provide all career management center programs electronically to students and alumni.” ODU’s Cyber Career Center debuted in 2003 and was fully implemented last year. It focuses on using existing career center technology in a proactive manner to provide three levels of service: live (face-to-face), live (distance), and self-paced (distance). For clients seeking live, face-to-face service, the center is staffed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with graduate students who are trained as” cyber coaches.” They meet with students and provide traditional walk-in service. Cyber coaches also are available to clients seeking live distance services four evenings a week, interacting via live chat, e-mail, two-way audio/video conferencing, and phone. The CMC is supported at all times by its Virtual Career Assistants (VCAs), who are provided by a telecommunication answering service. All calls taken by VCAs are followed by e-mails to the appropriate CMC staff member. “The VCAs provide a triage service,” Wunderlich said. For those who prefer a self-paced career exploration or job search, the Cyber Career Center houses all of the CMC’s seminars in an audio/video format, which are are also available on CD. “Since the launch of our Cyber Career Center, we have seen an increase in services to our client populations, particularly the alumni and distance student populations,” Wunderlich said. The Career Management Center will be honored during the NACE National Meeting, May 29 to June 1 in New York. Back to top
Jamboree chairman Jack Ankerson announced the award, named for former Virginian-Pilot sports editor Tom Fergusson, at the annual banquet. Runte was honored for spearheading the largest explosion in athletic facilities and programs in Old Dominion’s history. She was commended for her improvement of sports facilities as well as being the driving force behind the formation of future teams in football, volleyball, crew and softball. The city-owned golf course, adjacent to the campus on Powhatan Avenue, is used by the ODU men’s and women’s programs. Nearby, work will begin on a 50,000-square-foot football/field hockey/ Just around the corner are the expansion and restoration of Foreman Field, which will serve as home when the football team begins play in 2009. “With Dr. Runte leading the way, the future of ODU athletics has never been brighter – and that's not just because of football,” Ankerson said. Back to top
Two major portions of the plan are complete, including drafts of the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) and the Mitigation Strategy. The HIRA identifies the natural hazards that could affect ODU, assesses the extent to which the university is vulnerable to the effects of these hazards, and serves as a basis for the development and prioritization of potential mitigation measures. Additionally, the strategy recommends a course of action to eliminate, reduce or manage the effects of the hazards on the university. ODU will now submit the draft plan first to the VDEM, and then to FEMA, for approval. “This grant provides an important opportunity to focus upon reducing Old Dominion’s vulnerability to hazardous events,” said Robert L. Fenning, vice president for administration and finance. “When coupled with our current emergency plans and recovery procedures, the hazard mitigation plan enables the campus to better protect itself from future disasters.” Comprehensive in nature, the plan includes natural hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, thunderstorms and winter storms. In addition, it examines the vulnerability of Old Dominion to building fires, hazardous materials spills and terrorism, among other manmade hazards. Led by the Office of Public Safety, an advisory committee of a cross-section of university personnel developed the plan in conjunction with Dewberry, an emergency management consulting company headquartered in Fairfax. Assistant Chief of Police Rudolph Burwell managed the project for ODU. Back to top
During her two-year term, she will steer a group of leaders from national educational associations, institutions of higher education and the private sector in guiding 273 ROTC programs and more than 1,600 Junior ROTC programs from across the nation and from military installations abroad. The group is charged with providing expert and continuous advice to the Secretary of the Army and other senior leaders on a variety of educational topics and programs. Specifically, the members will discuss and advise Army leadership about educational policies, curriculum, philosophy and objectives, while addressing ROTC program effectiveness, methods and management. “Dr. Runte’s selection to chair the ROTC Program Subcommittee is just one more example of her strong commitment to the goals of the Army ROTC program,” according to Maj. Gen. W. Montague Winfield, commanding general of the U.S. Army Cadet Command. In addition to annual meetings, Subcommittee members also contribute time and expertise to co-publishing, with the Cadet Command, articles for trade magazines and related publications. They also utilize conferences and meetings as a platform to advance the story of the Army ROTC. “I am honored to be taking on this important mission for the Army and its worldwide corps of senior and junior ROTC students,” said Runte. “I look forward to working with Army leaders and the many ROTC instructors and students. They are some of our nation’s finest, most respected and accomplished scholars. I am humbled at being asked to contribute to their educational growth and development.” Back to top
– “Dolls, posters keep U.S. soldiers close” “They have never come to an agreement as to who actually controls those waters [regarding the long-disputed boundaries between Iraqi and Iranian parts of the Shatt al-Arab waterway].” (Sara Russell, instructor, Maritime Institute ) – “Tony Blair says clash with Iran may move to ‘different phase’ if diplomacy fails” “I would suspect most of these individuals will be absorbed in the Hampton Roads area, if they choose to do so, without having a significant effect on the economy.” (Vinod Agarwal, professor of economics) – “Future is uncertain for 3 local Ford suppliers” “It comes down to the ability of the town leaders to persevere and some things may have to fall to the wayside.” (Leonard Ruchelman, eminent scholar of urban studies and public administration) – “In Exmore, a conflict about governance” “You’re discharging into freshwater, and then it’s moving into the saltwater. You’ve essentially moved the problem downstream.” (Margie Mulholland, associate professor of ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences.) – “Organic nitrogen’s role being assessed” “I am passionate about film, but I’ve also always had a passion for academia. I love teaching, I love teaching film and I like talking about film and meeting filmmakers.” (Peter Schulman, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures) – “Movie fans can talk and watch at ODU/Norfolk film festival” “It is a huge deal, especially for the men. I mean it is really big for the men. The women are pretty consistent with getting in the tournament a lot, but the men haven’t gotten in in a while.” (Christina Licud, Mace & Crown editor, on the editors pulling an all-nighter to get the paper out on time, which featured the ODU basketball teams joining “March Madness”) – “From supporters, words to play by” “While technology offers a way to catch students plagiarizing, I have found that its most important benefit is not the ‘gotcha’ aspect but rather the opportunity it provides for a teaching moment. When I tell students I will be using software that can detect matches in their work vs. the work of others, I have the chance to talk at some length about plagiarism – what it is and why it is wrong.” (Nancy Bagranoff, dean, College of Business and Public Administration, in a letter to the editor) – “Lessons on plagiarism are a tool for fighting it”
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