April 1, 1999 / Volume 18, Number 18
News Bureau | Calendar | II Info | II Archives
- Patented composite material repairs cracks in pavement
- Plagued by potholes? A special composite patented by the UI -- and now commercially available -- may pave the way to smoother, longer-lasting roads.
- Technology used to improve train safety
- New technologies are under study by UI researchers to try to eliminate the kind of collisions between highway vehicles and trains at grade crossings that resulted in the Amtrak crash at Bourbonnais on March 15.
- Sheep provide valuable research, training
- Just across the street from the Assembly Hall, three little lambs take turns hopping onto the backs of their sleeping corral mates and chasing their mother for between-meal snacks.
Roger Ebert to host festival of overlooked films April 22-24
Engineers earn while they learn in cooperative program
Campus recycling effort keeps growing and growing
Service-learning provide hands-on learning and outreach
RAD courses offered spring, summer ... Early music ensemble featured ... Free brief therapy sessions offered ... Performance forums open to public ... Religion issues explored on new series ... Research biologist on 'Prairie Fire' ... Petals & Paintings benefit, exhibition ... Dads awards nominations due April 22 ... 'On the Rocks' is April 16-17, 23 ... Fraud discussed at SUAA meeting ... Olivier exhibition April 3-16 ... Cards identify good and bad insects ... AAAS wants comments on Internet ... Entrepreneurship is focus of lecture ... KCPA celebrates 30 years with carnival ... Globalization problems discussed ... Independent Counsel Act to be debated ... Journalist David Broder to speak April 8
benefits briefs
Retirement sessions continue
Plagued by potholes? A special composite patented by the UI -- and now commercially available -- may pave the way to smoother, longer-lasting roads.
Applied to concrete or asphalt surfaces, the material covers cracks like a huge adhesive bandage, reinforcing the surface and preventing the cracks from spreading and causing further damage.
"Seasonal and daily temperature changes are enemies of any road surface," said Barry Dempsey, a UI professor of civil engineering and director of the university's Advanced Transportation Research and Engineering Laboratory. "Low temperatures cause pavement sections to contract, which creates new cracks and widens existing joints and cracks."
A common remedy is to spread a thin asphalt- concrete overlay on the damaged pavement, Dempsey said. "Because the overlay is fully bonded to the pavement, however, stresses cause the cracks to propagate up through the overlay. This 'reflection cracking' not only allows water to percolate into the pavement and weaken the base, but also contributes to rapid deterioration of the overlay."
The UI material is engineered to effectively block the upward propagation of cracks, joints or potholes in existing pavement.
The composite consists of three layers: a low- stiffness geotextile as the bottom layer, a viscoelastic membrane layer as the core, and a very-high-stiffness geotextile as the upper layer. The materials work together to relieve stress at the crack and provide reinforcement to the overlay, thereby preventing the crack from propagating.
The material functions as a base isolation layer in the pavement overlay system, Dempsey said. "When thermal contraction occurs in the underlying pavement, the low-stiffness geotextile -- which is fully bonded to the pavement -- absorbs some of the horizontal movement. The sandwiched viscoelastic membrane layer allows movement between the top and bottom geotextiles, while the high-strength upper geotextile limits the stress in the overlay to which it is firmly bonded."
In 1994, after testing the composite's performance in the laboratory, Dempsey selected a field test site on a state highway near Rochelle, Ill. The composite was placed on a number of cracks and joints in the pavement, and its performance and durability were evaluated over time.
"When we developed this material, our goal was to keep cracks from spreading for three years," Dempsey said. "We have now completed five years of field testing, and the product's performance has surpassed our expectations. The material has effectively reduced the occurrence of reflective cracking by more than 75 percent."
An exclusive license to market the composite has been granted to Contech Construction Products Inc. of Middletown, Ohio.
New technologies are under study by UI researchers to try to eliminate the kind of collisions between highway vehicles and trains at grade crossings that resulted in the Amtrak crash at Bourbonnais on March 15.
The UI College of Engineering Railroad Program is conducting research on how various applications of advanced technology -- from fiber optics to steel cable barriers -- can help improve grade crossing safety.
"We're hopeful that the research conducted here will contribute to the resolution of a problem crucial to developing high-speed passenger rail in the Midwest," said Christopher Barkan, director of railroad programs.
In 1997, highway-train collisions caused 1,020 crew injuries and 266 passenger injuries on Amtrak passenger trains alone. While most of the injuries were minor, grade-crossing accidents cause tens of millions of dollars in property damage annually. In addition, about 2,000 motorists are seriously injured or killed every year at grade crossings.
Fred Coleman, a UI professor of civil engineering, is evaluating an alternative to the familiar white-and-red crossing gate. Known as the Vehicle Arresting Barrier, it involves a net made of 1/2-inch steel cable that is lowered across a highway when a train is approaching. The net is designed to stop even a speeding truck.
Three test installations of the apparatus are in place on the Union Pacific line between Chicago and St. Louis used by Amtrak trains. Coleman and investigators for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are currently testing the performance of the barriers.
Another approach to grade-crossing safety is to add a second set of gates at a grade crossing. This would prevent motorists from driving around the more common single gate located on the right side of the highway.
Coleman has completed an analysis of the proper design and operation of the so-called four-quadrant gate, and a technical report is scheduled for publication soon.
How to notify drivers that a train is approaching a crossing other than the traditional flashing lights and locomotive whistle is another area of UI research. One approach under study by Rahim Benekohal, a UI civil engineer, is to install a device not unlike a speed radar detector in highway vehicles. The device would set off a flashing light or buzzer in the vehicle whenever a moving train is nearby.
Benekohal and IDOT are also working on systems to improve the integration of roadway traffic signals with rail crossing gates. This is important to help avoid accidents such as the one that occurred in Fox River Grove, a Chicago suburb, several years ago.
Another project at the College of Engineering is the use of fiber optic technology for detecting trains and measuring their speed in order to time the startup of the grade crossing systems better. Current technology relies mostly on electrical circuits running through the rail itself to detect the coming of a train.
Fiber optics might work by detecting the weight of an approaching train. Shun Lien Chuang, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is the lead researcher in the project.
For more than a 100 years, the UI has run one of the nation's most extensive university railway research programs.
In addition to IDOT, research on these new technologies has been funded by the Association of American Railroads, the trade association of major U.S. railroads, and the Transportation Research Board, an arm of the National Research Council.
Just across the street from the Assembly Hall, three little lambs take turns hopping onto the backs of their sleeping corral mates and chasing their mother for between-meal snacks.
Lambs are traditionally the harbinger of spring, and this set of frisky triplets at the UI's sheep barn are among the first to be born this season. In a month, dozens more will be born at the barn on St. Mary's Road, and the public is invited to stop in to see the newborns.
About 120 ewes and rams of various ages -- including one of the notorious black sheep -- live in the 85-year-old barn on St. Mary's Road. Richard Cobb, a part-time shepherd and UI extension sheep specialist, said sheep have a five-month gestation period. This time of spring is usually a busy lambing time, as is early fall.
Sheep kept at the UI barn are used by agriculture and veterinary medicine students to get experience in the handling and care of the animals. Cobb frequently demonstrates how to shear the sheep to students and the public, as well as the practice of docking the young lambs' long tails for better hygiene and disease prevention.
Faculty members use the sheep for ruminant research, he said, and the UI has made significant findings concerning sheep nutrition.
Animal science students also learn how to determine if and when sheep are ready for market and slaughter. The majority of the sheep kept at the barn, Cobb said, end up in the UI's meat-processing department.
Because the sheep are gentle and defenseless, they often fall victim to coyotes or dogs, even though the sheep barn is on the edge of campus, Cobb said. He keeps a llama named Camen at the barn to scare away the dogs and coyotes, he said.
Sheep production in Illinois has decreased dramatically through the years. Only about 85,000 sheep are in the state now, he said. And in 1995, the sheep barn was destined to be eliminated. That plan changed with the new College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Dean David Chicoine, according to Cobb. The proposed new master plan for the South Campus relocates the sheep barn, however, to South Race Street.
If people would like to see the young spring lambs, Cobb said people are welcome to stop by between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Most of the young'uns will be born in the month of May, Cobb said.
Film critic Roger Ebert has chosen the 10 films that he will showcase and celebrate at his festival of overlooked films April 22 to 24 in Champaign-Urbana. He also has announced the names of the actors, critics, producers and writers who will attend the event.
Ebert describes the films as a "cross section of important cinematic works that have been overlooked by audiences, critics and distributors." They range from "Battleship Potemkin," the 1925 Russian classic by Sergei Eisenstein, to "Maborosi," a 1995 Japanese film of "astonishing beauty and sadness" about a woman whose happiness is suddenly shattered, Ebert said. The Eisenstein film will be projected using a rare 35 mm print. Live music by the Concrete Orchestra will accompany the film.
Ebert, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and UI journalism alumnus, will host "Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival" at the historic Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign, and at the UI College of Communications. He is dedicating the festival to Gene Siskel, movie critic at the Chicago Tribune and co-host of "Siskel and Ebert," who died Feb. 20.
Most of the films are works that Ebert has admired, but that "have not received wide distribution, or if they have, have not reached a wide audience," Ebert said. The film critic also is bringing some of the directors, producers and actors from the films to the screenings. Ebert will introduce each film and lead a discussion after each film has been shown. In addition, he will moderate panel discussions (see below) on related topics and meet with College of Communications students.
The other films:
"Autumn Tale" (France, 1998), written and directed by Eric Rohmer, is the final chapter in the director's "Tales of the Four Seasons" series. Its central character is vineyard owner Magali, played by Beatrice Romond.
"Dance Me to My Song" (Australia, 1998), written by and starring Heather Rose, is set in Australia and tells the story of a young woman who is trapped physically because of cerebral palsy, and trapped psychologically by a cruel caregiver.
"Hamsun" (Sweden, 1996), directed by Jan Troell and starring Max von Sydow, tells the story of author Knut Hamsun, a Nobel Prize-winning Norwegian novelist and nationalist who took up the Nazi cause.
"Household Saints" (United States, 1993), written and directed by Nancy Savoca and starring Lili Taylor and Tracey Ullman, is about Italian Americans in New York who begin with a form of madness they are comfortable with and end with a madness only a saint could understand.
"Surrender Dorothy" (United States, 1998), directed by and starring Kevin Di Novis, is an unusual and gripping story about a twisted co-dependent relationship.
"Shiloh" (United States, 1997), directed by Dale Rosenbloom and starring Michael Moriarty and Rod Steiger, explores the rite of growing up and taking responsibility, and the fierce emotions children have about pets.
"Thirteen" (United States, 1997), directed by David D. Williams, explores the ebb and flow of a relationship.
"Tron" (United States, 1982), written and directed by Steven Lisberger and starring Jeff Bridges, is a stylish Disney Studios technological sound-and-light show about computers.
Tickets are $5 per film or $30 for a festival pass, which admits one person to all films. Tickets are available at the theater ticket office at 356-9063; it's open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The festival is a non-profit production of the UI College of Communications. Ebert is donating his time to the festival.
Festival guests include:
More information is available at www.ebertfest.com, or from Nickie Dalton, 333-2350 or n-dalton@illinois.edu, or festival director Nate Kohn, (706) 542-4972 or n-kohn@illinois.edu.
Show times
April 22 (Thursday):
3 p.m. "Dance Me to My Song"
6 p.m. "Thirteen"
9 p.m. "Household Saints"
April 23 (Friday):
6 p.m. "Battleship Potemkin"
9 p.m. "Maborosi"
|midnight "Surrender Dorothy"
April 24 (Saturday):
10 a.m. (children's free matinee), "Shiloh"
1 p.m. "Hamsun"
5 p.m. "Autumn Tale"
8 p.m. "Tron"
Higher pay, greater job security and a deeper understanding of career goals are three of the many benefits available to students enrolled in the College of Engineering's Cooperative Education Program. Students who participate in this voluntary program can earn while they learn, and gain valuable technical knowledge and professional work experience while they explore the job market.
"A co-op student alternates semesters of work and semesters of study, generally three or four times with the same employer," said Richard Coddington, director of the program. "These students graduate with a bachelor's degree in five years instead of four, but they also have one year of professional experience. Thus their starting salary is adjusted upward to reflect this added value."
Students generally make between $10 and $20 an hour during their first work term, Coddington said. "But the closer they get to graduation, the more they make, since they have more useful knowledge and skills that can come to bear in the workplace."
To complete the co-op program, students must accumulate one year of work experience with the same employer, Coddington said. "That could be done in two semesters plus a summer, or some other reasonable combination of work terms. The schedule is flexible to accommodate the needs of both students and employers."
While freshmen must complete one semester of course work before enrolling in the co-op program, transfer students may enroll immediately. Approximately 250 students currently participate in the program, working at nearly 100 companies located throughout the United States.
When not attending classes, Beth Markowski, a junior from Park Ridge, Ill., works as a management consultant in the Chicago office of Ernst & Young LLP. Markowski's major is industrial engineering, but she concedes she is more interested in the business side of engineering rather than the technical side.
"This has been a great experience for me because my work at Ernst & Young has been very business oriented," Markowski said. "The variety of tasks encountered in management consulting appeals to me, and I really enjoy meeting with clients and searching for solutions to their problems."
Markowski learned about the co-op program while she was a student in high school, and thought it would be a good way to earn money to help pay for her college expenses. "In addition to the income, however, I'm also making important business contacts and gaining valuable work experience before I graduate," she said. "It's a good way to get your foot in the door."
Sean McCone, a junior from Havre de Grace, Md., also heard about the co-op program while he was in high school. "It was a major selling point in my choosing to attend the UI," McCone said. "Through the co-op program you can get a lot of practical engineering experience while going to college. Not only does this put you a couple of steps ahead of everyone else, it also breaks up the monotony of just attending classes and doing homework."
A civil engineering major, McCone works as a co-op with Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, a civil engineering firm in Baltimore. He already has completed four work terms with the company, and is looking forward to his next assignment.
"I've been very lucky," McCone said. "So far, I've been able to work in four different departments, from transportation design to construction inspection. This 'on-the-job-training' has helped me focus on what I'm really good at and what I like doing the most."
The experience of seeing what engineers actually do in their jobs is one of the co-op program's most tangible benefits.
"The exposure to genuine engineering practice may open the students' eyes to a different area that they hadn't thought about, and might reshape their thinking about which technical electives they should take," Coddington said. "Students can ask themselves: 'Is this really what I want to do when I graduate? If it is, then what course work do I need to take in order to help me do that?' "
Paul Sudkamp, a junior from Sigel, Ill., already has seen a strong connection between the courses he takes and how they relate to his job. A mechanical engineering major, Sudkamp co-ops with Rolls Royce Allison, a manufacturer of jet engines in Indianapolis.
"On one of my first days at work, my supervisor asked me to determine whether a particular metal plate would be strong enough for a certain application," Sudkamp said. "I was baffled, so he showed me how to do shear calculations for the first time. This past summer, when one of my instructors taught our class how to do shear calculations, I thought to myself: 'This is meaningful because we really use this stuff.' Some of my classmates didn't make that connection, however. To them, it was just busy work."
While it is important to understand how to derive equations, "it's also important to know how to use those equations in the working world," Sudkamp said. "There's a big difference between theory and practice. As a co-op, you learn how to use what you have learned in class. I'm constantly learning on the job."
Students interested in the co-op program can attend a two-day job fair held every semester. "This past October, we had approximately 800 students visit with 58 companies," Coddington said. "We have a wide variety of companies looking for students with all kinds of backgrounds."
About two-thirds of the UI's graduating co-ops accept permanent employment with their co-op employer, Coddington said. "The students already understand the organization, the professional opportunities available, and the nature of the work responsibilities with their co-op employer. It's truly a winning combination."
About 133 semi-truck loads of paper and cardboard leave the UI campus each year bound for reuse somewhere on the planet.
That amounts to about 5.5 million pounds a year. Or 15,068 pounds a day. Or 1,883 pounds an hour from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The good news is that those numbers continue to improve every year, according to Tim Hoss, recycling and material reduction coordinator.
"We continually strive to improve what we're doing," Hoss said.
Recycling efforts on campus have been helped by the new recovery and processing facility, which opened in 1997 at the university's Waste Transfer Station. The facility also allows for manual sorting of trash to find recyclable materials such as bottles and cans. And with the new facility, recyclable materials can be baled into marketable forms, Hoss said, so they can be shipped direct to bring in much higher prices.
For example, the aluminum cans are shipped directly to Alcoa, which uses them to make aluminum sheets that are used to make new cans, according to Hoss.
"We ship our cardboard to a cardboard mill where they turn it into paperboard, and then it's shipped out to corrugators who turn it into boxes," Hoss said.
There are recycling programs in more than 225 campus buildings and residence halls, Hoss said.
"It definitely is a campuswide program."
For more information on campus recycling and other information such as community drop-off sites for at-home recycling, go to www.oandm.uiuc.edu/recycle/index.html.
What you can recycle on campus
"Paper Only" receptacles:
"Cans Only" or "Bottles and Cans" containers:
Other acceptable materials
Unacceptable paper -- Do not put these items in recycling containers
Please place recyclable items in the appropriate bins. Do not assume that if you throw something in the trash that it will be sorted out at the Material Recovery Facility. Think before you throw: Using the appropriate bin is vital to the success of the recycling program.
More and more, university professors are taking their students out of the classroom and introducing them first-hand to the challenges of "the real world" through course work that emphasizes community involvement and service-learning.
Educators from throughout Illinois will meet April 8-9 at the UI to compare notes and hear what some of the national experts on service-learning have to say about this approach to education, which is gaining momentum on college and university campuses nationwide.
The UI will host the Illinois Campus Compact's third annual faculty symposium, "Promoting Community/University Partnerships for Civic Renewal and Social Justice Through Service-Learning." The event is co-sponsored by the UI's Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield campuses, and by the University YMCA.
The ICC is part of a national network of universities that joined forces in 1985 to promote greater community and public service and to integrate the values of liberal learning, service-learning and civic responsibility within the core curricula. Ken Reardon, a UI professor of urban and regional planning and chair of the symposium's planning committee, said the UI and several other Illinois colleges and universities were among the earliest members of the Campus Compact.
"During the past 15 years, significant progress has been made in directing the considerable research, teaching and outreach capacity of our higher educational institutions toward the solution of critical social problems," Reardon said. "By creating curricula requiring the integration of theory and practice within the often 'messy' context of local community-building, student learning outcomes have been enhanced."
Among what Reardon described as "excellent examples" of such approaches to learning at the UI's Urbana campus are: the Consortium for Collaborative Economic Development, East St. Louis Action Research Project and Partnership Illinois.
Reardon, a driving force behind the East St. Louis project, said it's important to bring together individuals with an interest in service-learning because "further progress in promoting community service-learning and other civic education programs has been stymied by a lack of faculty exposure to the principles and practice of experiential education." And, he noted, there is still only limited research available on the outcome of these approaches, along with inadequate models for promoting sustainable community/university partnerships.
The keynote speaker at the symposium will be Dwight Giles, professor of the practice of human and organizational development, Vanderbilt University. Giles is the author of three books and numerous articles on experiential education, service-learning and liberal learning, including "What's the Learning in Service-Learning?" with co-author Janet Eyler.
Other nationally known leaders planning to participate include Mary Ryan, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Experiential Education, one of the nation's premier public internship programs; Jerome Lieberman, associate dean of education and founder of University of Southern Florida's nationally recognized community/university development partnership; and Ray Bromley, chairman of the department of urban and regional planning, State University of New York at Albany, and director of a successful service-learning in South Bronx.
The meetings will begin with a pre-conference session on principles and practice of service learning at 1 p.m. April 8 in Temple Hoyne Buell Hall. Pre-conference presentations and workshops will continue throughout the afternoon, with a dinner and keynote scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Symposium workshops are scheduled the next day, following breakfast sessions with the national leaders, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
The cost to attend the pre-conference and conference sessions is $75 for ICC members, $110 for non-members. The cost for the conference alone is $50 for members, $75 for non-members. Registration forms, which should be completed and returned by April 2, are available at the symposium's Web site: www.imlab.uiuc.edu/eslarp. For more information, call 244-5384 or (309) 438-8123.
Illinois 2000 calendar tells UI's colorful history
By Huey Freeman
When 15-year-old James Newton Matthews arrived as the first student at the Illinois Industrial University on March 2, 1868, he did not know if it would remain open until he graduated. One Chicago newspaper predicted the country school would soon fail.
The school later changed its name to the University of Illinois, Matthews went on to become a successful doctor and poet -- and the newspaper folded.
Matthews also didn't know that his university would still remember and honor him 131 years later.
A short item about Matthews will be included in a large-format calendar being produced by the Office of Publications and Marketing.
On the Illinois 2000 Calendar, each month will feature a color photo of a university landmark and stories from the school's history.
"With the millennium, I thought this would be a nice project for alums, faculty and students to feel proud of the campus," said Don Kojich, director of the office.
Either editorially or photographically, every college and instructional unit will be included in some form or another, Kojich said.
"This is a project I'm really excited about," he said. "To my knowledge, this hasn't been done before."
Advance orders for the calendar can be placed at the Illini Union Bookstore. The advance price is $6.50 each, or $6 for purchases of 100 or more copies. To receive the discount, departmental orders must be in by April 22.
"We're making it available [to departments] now at half price to offer this as a service for the campus," Kojich said.
The calendars will be in the bookstore for retail sale on Aug. 15 for $12.95.
U.S. News releases its annual graduate school rankings
Many UI colleges and departments achieved high rankings in the annual U.S. News & World Report of "America's Best Graduate Schools" published March 29.
Rankings of top Doctoral Programs:
Chemistry (overall No. 6):
Specialties
Analytical (4);
Inorganic (5);
Organic (8);
Physical (7)Computer Science (overall No. 5):
Specialties
Hardware (3) ;
Software (6) ;
Artificial Intelligence (7) ;
Databases (6)Hydrogeology (8)
Mathematics (overall No. 17)
Specialties Algebra (9);
Logic (4);
Number Theory (4)Microbiology (6)
Physics (overall No. 8)
Specialties
Condensed matter/solid state (1) ;
Nuclear (9) ;
Nonlinear Dynamics/Chaos (7)
Graduate and Professional School Rankings
Business Schools (Overall No. 36)
Specialties
Accounting 5Education (Overall No. 11)
Specialties
Administration/supervision (9);
Social/Philosophical Foundations (5);
Educational Psychology (3);
Elementary Teacher (5);
Secondary Teacher (6);
Special Education (5);
Vocational/Technical (2);
Counseling/Personnel Services (10);
Curriculum/Instruction (5)Engineering (Overall No. 6)
Specialties
Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical (7) ;
Computer (2);
Electrical/Electronic/Communications (3);
Materials (2);
Mechanical (5);
Civil (1);
Environmental/Environmental Health (3);
Chemical (8);
Nuclear (2)Law (Overall No. 23)
Library Science (Overall No. 1)
Specialties Services for Children and Youth (7);
Information Systems (5);
Music Librarianship (2)
Further information on the rankings is at the U.S. News Web site at www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/bcrank.htm.
1999 Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award winners
The thousands of staff employees of the UI -- from cooks to clerks, technicians to typists, machinists to mail messengers -- make an important daily contribution that keeps the UI among the top-ranked universities.
Seven of these employees have been named Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award winners for their exceptional accomplishments and service to the university. Each was recognized at a banquet March 31 with $2,000 and a plaque. Recipients' names also are commemorated on a permanent plaque in the Personnel Services Office.
Winners may be nominated by any member of the campus community -- faculty or staff members (co-workers or supervisors) or students. Nominees are evaluated by a selection committee that includes past winners of the award and administrators. Winners are approved by the campus director of Personnel Services, the vice chancellor for administration and human resources and the chancellor. A complete list of finalists is posted on the Web at www.pso.uiuc.edu/cdsa/default.htm.
Karen Andrews is the only full-time secretary in the Bureau of Educational Research, a service unit within the College of Education designed to promote and support faculty research in the college.
"Since much of what we do involves grant writing, timelines are often short and tempers run high," said Lizanne DeStefano, director of the bureau. "In this highly stressful environment, Karen does much of the typing, Xeroxing and manuscript preparation for the bureau." Andrews' assistance in preparing such grant proposals and research manuscripts is much appreciated. "Karen was extremely resourceful in turning [my research] into neat, articulate, organized papers, and even suggested ways I could improve upon them," said Liora Bresler, professor of curriculum and instruction. Arthur J. Baroody, professor of curriculum and instruction, said, "While I was in the bureau, she prepared numerous manuscripts and several grant proposals for me in an accurate and timely manner. Unlike some word processors, Mrs. Andrews did not merely key in words but read my handwritten notes for meaning, looked for possible errors, and either corrected obvious errors or brought possible errors to my attention."
In addition, Andrews was described as exceptionally bright, thorough, insightful, efficient and as always willing to go the "extra mile" to complete a task. She also was credited with creating a warm, congenial atmosphere in the office -- from her "random acts of kindness" to freshly brewed coffee every morning (she does not drink coffee) to recognizing others' accomplishments. "She makes our office a very special place to work," DeStefano said.
"Janet Slade expertly handles the complex daily operations of the Campus Honors Program, a busy, high-profile operation with 500 active students, an alumni association, and a scrupulous and challenging annual admissions process," said Carol E. Bernson, CHP assistant director, in nominating Slade for this award.
"Janet's job requires her to do a great many different things, and she excels at everything that is demanded of her," said Richard W. Burkhardt Jr., professor of history and former CHP director. "She is remarkably resourceful, steadfastly reliable, and exceptionally competent. She also is absolutely dedicated to doing work of the very best quality. On top of this, she is wonderfully encouraging to others."
In addition to coordinating clerical support for four CHP administrators and assisting them with many projects and hiring, training and supervising another secretary and 11 student hourly employees, she maintains student records for Chancellor's Scholars and organizes many CHP events. The events include classes, receptions, special meetings and computing sessions.
In the campus's move toward a paperless environment, Slade has led the way in her department seizing each opportunity to learn new computer operations and increase efficiency.
Since joining CHP in 1988, Slade has been an excellent ambassador for the program and the UI. She takes care of questions from anxious parents, eager students and assists faculty members with last-minute requests. Students recognize her fairness, respect her forthrightness and appreciate her concern for their well being.
"There is no question in my mind that Janet Slade is one of a small elite, one of the most effective, pro-active, accomplished, and responsible members of the UI support staff," said Bruce Michelson, CHP director.
Sheryle Carpenter shows "efficiency, organization, creativity, dedication, dependability and most of all congeniality," according to N. Narayana Rao, associate head of the department of electrical and computer engineering.
Among her responsibilities, Carpenter coordinates visits for prospective students, coordinates the department's orientation program, maintains records, interacts with teaching and graduate assistants, and organizes department events such as the annual picnic and recognition banquet.
"Characteristic of her approach has been her constant assumption of more and more of the duties needed to carry out the task," said Bruce C. Wheeler, ECE associate head and professor. "Sometimes she is responding to a suggestion, but more often she takes the initiative. For example, she understands that her job is to 'manage the ECE undergraduate awards and scholarships.' No further description of the task is necessary because she thinks of everything that needs to be done and then constantly improves upon what she has done before."
She is often the first and only person a graduate student may know when they arrive on campus, said Karen Coperich, an ECE graduate student. "She makes each one of us feel welcome and that we are an important part of the department," Coperich said. "During recruitment visits, Sheryle goes out of her way to cater to the student's individual needs and interests. One particular example is her assistance in recruiting female students, a minority within the engineering and technical fields. Sheryle makes a conscientious effort to provide prospective female students an opportunity to meet other women in the department if not within their research area of interest."
Paul Gulliford is responsible for maintaining the grounds on the northeast section of campus, the largest area assigned to a single grounds worker. His duties include grass mowing, snow removal, tree pruning and trash removal.
Juanita L. Bradley, supervisor II of Mail Services, who nominated Gulliford stated that he "knows what is required daily, weekly and seasonally to keep the area showplace clean. And at all times he projects a positive, cheerful, pleasant attitude."
Known to many as the "Singing Mower Man," Gulliford takes pride in his work and his accomplishments don't go unnoticed. "From the beginning, Paul has taken control of the areas, maintained them meticulously and set the tone for the care and attention given the north campus by all of its occupants," said Anthony Graziano, special assistant to the president.
In addition, Gulliford has assisted in innovations such as the "tote boxes" that now trail behind the mowers. Due to his initiative, grounds workers may now place trash into these boxes while mowing, saving the time and expense of another employee walking the route to gather trash.
He also participated in the conceptual planning for the Engineering Quadrangle north of Engineering Hall. "His advice about the selection and placement of trees, about the characteristics of the slopes and sidewalks was right on target," Graziano said. "As that area develops, Paul affords it the same vigilant oversight he gives to all of the grounds extending now from Green Street to University Avenue. The appearance of the north campus and the maintenance of its grounds have become an important element in the working attitude and the pride of the thousands of people who learn, work and visit on the north campus."
Prior to his February retirement, Paul Bunting supervised the "physical arrangements and setup for public events." Since 1989, he worked with a variety of university employees -- including every Operation and Maintenance craft and every campus department or unit hosting a public function -- and all student organizations. He supervised all the details necessary to host a successful event, including street closings, preparing estimates, processing work orders and doing spot checks of facilities before, during and after the event.
The results of his organizational skills, attention to detail and dedication have been felt across the campus as well as beyond. This past year was particularly remarkable as he provided critical assistance during the campus visit of President Clinton and Vice President Gore in January 1998.
"Paul is a wonderful resource," said Babette M. Hiles, director of special events. "He knows everything there is to know about producing an event on campus. He listens to your event ideas and then provides suggestions on how to make them become a reality. Paul can anticipate your needs and come up with suggestions that alleviate problems before they arise."
"The manner in which Paul interacts with others is in and of itself a morale builder and booster," said Randolph Kornegay, interim superintendent of Building Services. "Paul is always positive, enthusiastic and cheerful in his dealings with others. When problems surface, Paul is already working on solutions."
With Bunting's retirement, Kip Mecum, assistant director for operations, O&M, said, "The only thing we can be certain of is that his departure will leave behind a set of shoes that few if any will be able to fill."
Over the course of her 22-year career with the UI police department, Krystal Fitzpatrick has provided service to thousands of people in the university community. "Kris is an outstanding police officer and university employee," noted the nomination letter signed by three people. "Her unique blend of compassion, humanity, humor and no-nonsense boundaries has made her a role model for members of her own department and the larger community as well."
Olvier J. Clark, director of Public Safety said, "Capt. Fitzpatrick has exceptional organizational skills and does multiple tasks extremely well, such as the supervision of the criminal investigation unit and crime prevention unit for the UI and all the tasks associated with those two units."
Fitzpatrick also is in charge of recruitment activities for the department and public information. This includes developing brochures, planning recruiting fairs, assisting with the testing process and also coordinating the selection process for new police officer candidates."
Among her many accomplishments, Fitzpatrick assisted in the development of model guidelines in a sex crimes investigations manual for Illinois law enforcement that is used throughout the state. The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault recognized Fitzpatrick for her accomplishments and assistance in developing these materials. She also was instrumental in the development of a comprehensive campuswide safety campaign called "Truth or Dare."
In addition, Fitzpatrick was lauded for always taking the time to talk with victims and interact with members of their families, co-workers and staff members during times of crises.
Of the 28 years that Lawrence "L.C." Owens has worked for the Operation and Maintenance Division, 25 have been in the Locksmith Shop. His responsibilities include cutting all the keys that departments require on a daily basis (more than 50,000 annually) and maintaining all the inventory for them. In addition, he stays abreast of all the lock changes made throughout campus to ensure that the correct keys are issued. "In performing his duties, L.C. is directly involved in the safety and security of the entire campus," said Robert C. Ward, locksmith at O&M, in nominating Owens. His technical knowledge for his job is unsurpassed, according to Ward. "His knowledge of the key inventory and distribution system for campus is mind boggling," Ward said. "L.C. can recall even the most intricate of details regarding individual and master systems in any number of departments on this campus."
He also serves as a mentor and trainer to other locksmiths at the UI, taking the time to share his skills and vast knowledge of the trade. "Always with a friendly smile and words of encouragement, L.C. is ready, willing and able to help others at any time," Ward said. "He is not just a co-worker, but a trusted adviser and personal cheerleader for me and so many others. Yet at the same time he is not so egotistical as to think he knows it all and also learns from the rest of us."
When anyone calls or walks into the Locksmith Shop, the first person they will encounter is Owens, who is eager to serve them with a smile and a pleasant greeting. He makes sure every customer is a satisfied customer.
Visitors to the annual College of Veterinary Medicine Open House at the UI on April 10 may want to allot plenty of time to take in a full lineup of activities. This year the event also celebrates the college's 50th anniversary.
In addition to the popular petting zoo and exhibits that focus on animals and veterinary medicine, there will be a symposium -- "Animals Among Us" -- featuring Roger Caras, president emeritus of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Joseph Bielitzki, NASA's chief veterinarian since 1996.
An auction to benefit student scholarships already is accessible on the World Wide Web. Items for bid include vacation packages; sports items signed by football, baseball and hockey stars; "Oprah Winfrey Show" hats and T-shirts signed by Winfrey; and 50th anniversary bandannas carrying the autographs of celebrities such as Joan Baez, Dave Barry, Elizabeth Dole, Harrison Ford, Elton John, Nick Nolte, Dolly Parton, John Travolta and UI men's and women's basketball coaches Lon Kruger and Theresa Grentz. Bids can be placed through the Web site at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/admin/gala/index.htm.
A gala reception, banquet and dance (tickets required), beginning at 6 p.m. at the Illini Union, will end the day.
The headquarters for the open house, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana. Guests will have the opportunity to pet various animals, learn about first aid for dogs and cats, and explore the veterinary profession. There also will be demonstrations of horse grooming, cow milking and sheep shearing at various locations within the veterinary medicine complex. Food will be available for purchase in the cafeteria.
The open house -- chaired by third-year students Lisa (Maki) Wardisiani of Franklin Park and Christine Villarete of Palos Park -- also will have displays on parasites and surgery, and on the science and technology of animal health and production.
At 2 p.m., Caras and Bielitzki, who is a UI graduate, will speak on the interactions between animals and humans. The symposium will be held at Foellinger Auditorium, on the south end of the UI Quad.
In addition to his service to the ASPCA, Caras has written more than 60 books and has done animal stories for major television and radio news shows. Among his books are "The Bond: People and Their Animals," "A Cat is Watching: A Look at the Way Cats See Us," "A Dog is Listening: The Way Some of Our Closest Friends View Us," "A Perfect Harmony: The Intertwining Lives of Animals and Humans Throughout History," and several ASPCA care manuals covering dogs, cats and other creatures.
Bielitzki is responsible for the oversight and coordination of animal care and veterinary activities at all NASA facilities. He has served more than 20 years in veterinary care and medicine, including positions at the National Institutes of Health's Regional Primate Research Center at the University of Washington and at the Yerkes Primate Research Center at Emory University, Atlanta.
Immediately after their talks at the "Animals Among Us" symposium, a panel of experts will discuss the speakers' comments, and the public will be able to ask questions of the panel and speakers. A reception will follow the symposium.
Admission to the open house and symposium is free. Parking will be available in UI Lot F-27, located near Lincoln Avenue and Hazelwood Drive. Buses are welcome.
The UI College of Veterinary Medicine is the state's only veterinary school and one of only 27 nationwide.
More information about the college, the open house and other activities is available at www.cvm.uiuc. edu or by calling 333-2760.
The cliché about a few bad apples spoiling the bunch is getting tossed around a lot among Urbana-Champaign Senate faculty members as they debate a new policy concerning tenure.
The new policy, written and proposed by an ad hoc Senate Committee, would require a new system for periodic reviews of all faculty members -- without exception.
Donald Uchtmann, chairman of that committee, told senate members at the March 22 meeting that the existing policy on faculty reviews is good but can stand improvement. For example, evaluations are not required for all faculty members, and though most departments do have annual reviews, a few do not, he said. Under the proposed policy, reviews would be required at specified intervals and according to a campuswide standard, Uchtmann said.
And he pointed out that it is difficult to say now what department does or does not do annual reviews of its faculty members because such a policy doesn't exist. Unit and department heads were mailed surveys seeking information on their review procedures and only 75 percent responded, he said.
Critics of the new policy say simply that it's not necessary. They say it is not fair to impose these new standards on all faculty members just because a few department or unit heads are lax in doing evaluations.
One portion of the proposal allows for a "broader review," which could be aimed at professors who are not meeting expectations. Those professors might be asked to participate in a remediation plan for improvement in teaching or new research. Another piece of the proposal calls for a review of the department's review system every five to seven years.
David Berg, professor of mathematics, suggested the change is being made to accommodate a few "bad apples" on staff. The numbers of faculty members who don't produce or do their jobs well is very small, he said, and not enough to warrant a sweeping change aimed at all faculty.
Matthew Finkin, a law professor and tenure-issue committee member, told the senate he is skeptical of parts of the document as well, but he said it is necessary in today's climate because public institutions have to be responsive to the attacks on tenure that come from "outside" the university.
"The resistance to the tenure system is palpable," he told the senate. As middle-class and professional Americans have suffered lost jobs and salary cuts and paid higher taxes, they question the protection afforded professors through tenure.
"They wonder why these professors should be treated differently than anybody else," Finkin said.
There are not a large number of inept faculty members at the UI, he said, but the proposed policy is responsive to the public concern and demand for accountability. It calls for a system of "fair and even-handed evaluations," he said. Under current policy, some department heads have tough systems of evaluation while others seem to decide issues like merit raises by throwing darts at a board, he said.
"Are we enacting the policy because we need it or because we need better public relations?" asked Alfred Kagan, professor of library administration.
But George Friedman, professor emeritus of computer science, said the new policy is needed to ensure fair treatment across the campus. He said though he's been at the UI for more than 30 years, he has never known how his raises were determined.
"I think this is an excellent policy," Friedman said. "If there is a nonproductive faculty member there is a possibility you could make a productive faculty member out of him because of this."
Uchtmann told the senate that the ad hoc committee would consider all the comments and continue its discussions. He expects the proposal to come before the senate again at its April 19 meeting.
The proposal and related documents are available at: www.uiuc.edu/providers/senate/tenure.html.
RAD courses will be offered:
All courses will be in Room 100 IMPE. Cost for the course is $12, which includes a workbook/reference manual. However, participants will have to pay a daily IMPE fee if they do not have a campus recreation semester pass.
For more information about RAD, go to www.dps.uiuc.edu/police/rad.htm. To enroll, contact Julie Spoonemore at spoonemo@illinois.edu.
RAD sponsors are the UI Housing Division, the Illini Union Bookstore and the Division of Campus Recreation.
The free concert begins at 2 p.m. at the Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion. The concert also will be broadcast live on WILL-FM (90.9/101.1 in Champaign-Urbana) with host Brian Mustain.
Performers will be Britton Plourde, baroque flute; Robin Kearton and Geoffrey Muckenhirn, baroque violin; Linda Dietzen, viola; Ben Hayek and Sara Honstein, cello; Kerry Heimann and Nicholas Temperley, harpsichord; Richard Rossi, counter-tenor; Kathy Linger, soprano; Keith Bean, cornetto; John Glisson and Maureen Reagan, sackbutt; Mark Perry, lute; and William Goetz, trombone. Kearton directs the group.
On the program are "Concerto Primo in G major," by Georg Philipp Telemann; Concerto in G major for Flute, Strings and Basso Continuo, by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach; and other selections.
The Early Music Ensemble replaces the Corelli String Quartet originally scheduled to appear.
Second Sunday Concerts are part of WILL-FM's Prairie Performance Series.
In addition to receiving treatment, participants will be asked to fill out questionnaires about their problems and their reactions to the counseling. Participation will be kept confidential. For further information, call 333-1213 or e-mail telehealth@talon.outreach.uiuc.edu.
Forums, which are open to the public, will be held each Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Audio Visual Room (Level 3 South) at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Remaining forums:
Shoemaker, a Presbyterian pastor, will explore issues of faith, spirituality, religion and ethics with guests such as film critic Roger Ebert, and authors Doris Betts and Jack Good. He'll encourage listeners to call in with questions and comments during the one-hour live program.
The April 4 program will feature Rabbi Norman Klein and Elizabeth Shapiro of Sinai Temple in Champaign talking about "Issues in American Jewish Life Today." On April 11, Bill Placher of Wabash College and Don Ottenhoff, editor of the Christian Century magazine, will discuss "Christian Theology for a Wider Audience." On April 18, Ebert will talk about "Films and the Spirit" and on April 25, guests will be Bill Schoedel, founding professor of the religious studies department at the UI, and the Rev. Bruce Heck of Champaign. Their topic is "Scholarship and Faith."
Shoemaker has been director of the McKinley Foundation, the Presbyterian campus ministry at the UI, for 18 years and teaches a course in religious studies at Parkland College.
Post's book, published by Human Kinetics, is a guide to the 100 most interesting trails in Illinois, with information about the length and difficulty of each trail, a map of each trail, and information on park hours and facilities.
Post has worked as a research biologist for the survey since 1978.
"Prairie Fire" is Channel 12's monthly cultural magazine series about the people and places of Central Illinois.
Champaign florist Rick Orr is guest curator of Petals & Paintings. The exhibition features floral arrangements, created by regional floral designers, that respond to works of art selected by Orr from the museum's permanent collection.
The gala opening reception begins at the museum at 6:30 p.m. Guests may meet the designers who created the displays and enjoy a variety of hors d'oeuvres, wine and music. During the evening there will be a raffle of an original floral pastel donated by artist Carol Wald.
Tickets for the gala are $45. For information or reservations, call Krannert Art Museum at 333-1861.
The Petals & Paintings exhibition may be viewed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 17 and from 2 to 5 p.m. April 18. Admission to Krannert Art Museum is free and open.
Nominations are now being accepted for all categories. Award recipients will be presented with a monetary award as well as a plaque. Winners' names will be put on a plaque in the Fred H. Turner Student Services Building. Nomination applications will be screened and judged by members of the Dads Association Board of Directors.
Nomination forms may be picked up in the Office of the Dean of Students, 15 Wardall Hall or call Nancy Rotzoll at 333-7063. Forms are due April 22.
The plays are "After the Rock Left," written by Bilal Dardai and directed by Vicky Hyla; "Closer to Heaven," written and directed by Jason Minard; "More Than Words," written by Jim Schneider and directed by Amit Rana; and "The Bus Stop," written by James Stahl and directed by Bilal Dardai.
Performances take place at 9 p.m. April 16, 17 and April 23 in Krannert Center for the Performing Arts' outdoor amphitheater. Admission is $3; tickets can be purchased on performance evenings in the Krannert Center lobby. For additional information or for rain location information, call the OTR hotline at 333-3552.
KCSA, a non-profit student-run organization, supports the performing arts and the activities of Krannert Center.
Ratcliffe is director of the Champaign Regional Attorney General Office. His presentation will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Illini Room C of the Illini Union. The presentation will be preceded by a reception at 1:30 p.m. in the South Lounge and a brief business meeting at 2 p.m. The meeting is open to all annuitants-retirees and survivors. Spouses and friends are encouraged to attend as well as current faculty and staff members.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would like a copy of the SUAA newsletter, contact Betty Hembrough at 367-0628.
Olivier, a native of France, trained at the Fine Art School of Paris and studied ink techniques. It is her work on ink that she will exhibit at the UI, her first U.S. exhibition.
For more information, contact Karine Bon at 355-0395 or kbon@illinois.edu.
The series consists of 32 plastic laminated photo cards designed to help identify common pests of vegetable and flower gardens. The photos help identify the insect and the kind of damage it causes. Non-chemical control recommendations also are provided on the cards. The cards are about the size of baseball cards.
The new series is a companion piece for a series developed a year ago titled "The Good Guys! Natural Enemies of Insects." These photo cards identify beneficial insects that can help control garden pests. "The Good Guys!" consists of 31 cards .
To order a set of "The Bad Guys" or "The Good Guys" photo cards, send a check or money order for $8 each to Illinois State Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., MC-652. To order by phone, call 333-6833.
A statement from AAAS stated, "We want researchers in all disciplines and academic levels to review the report and offer their insight. "We would like to hear from researchers in the humanities as well as science, graduate students as well as tenured professors and administrators."
The preliminary proposal is located on an interactive Web site at www.aaas.org/netpolicy. The site will be available for comment until May 1. In mid-May, AAAS will summarize the comments for inclusion in a final report to the NSF in June.
The NSF has played a historic role in expanding network communications for the pursuit of research and education activities. With the end of its vBNS (Very High Performance Backbone Network System) at the end of 1999, NSF is re-evaluating its role in high-speed computing networking.
Jacobs, a UI alum, was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 1992 by Inc. Magazine, Ernst and Young, and Merrill Lynch. His company was named one of the top 200 small companies in America by Forbes Magazine and Business Week in 1992, 1994 and 1995. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has recognized Falcon as a top 50 company in the St. Louis area since 1992.
Jacobs' presentation is the inaugural event in the annual V. Dale Cozad lecture series in entrepreneurship. Cozad founded Cozad Asset Management in 1972 and he was one of the co-founders of Cozad Westchester Agricultural Asset Management. He has been a longtime supporter of the UI and an active member of the Commerce Business Advisory Council.
Established as a memorial for Cozad by an endowment from Peter and Kim Fox, the service is funded in part by additional gifts from the family and friends of Cozad.
The event features the UI's I-Pan steel drum band and Dr. Wu's Rock and Soul Revue, a parade complete with a Dixieland band and floats, dancing, jugglers and fire-eaters, tarot card readers, caricature artists, costume and mask contests, Carnival cuisine and a cash bar. Local celebrity Tony Clements, director of UI Campus Recreation, a nationally known motivational speaker and host of the Clements Comedy Cafe, will be master of ceremonies. Krannert Center's guest artist-in-residence Margaret Jenkins will be the honorary grand marshal.
Carnival tickets may be purchased through the Krannert Center Ticket Office. All proceeds will be applied to the Studio Theater renovation project, which will include state-of-the-art lighting, acoustical upgrades, new performance floors and draperies, a new roof and a fresh coat of paint.
Christine Catanzarite, associate director of IPRH and co-organizer of the conference, said, "We look forward to an exciting three days of troubling questions and global thinking." IPRH is a new interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research unit of the UI.
The conference "promises to investigate all this trouble, not to resolve it but to clarify its features and suggest new directions for inquiry," said Michael Bérubé, IPRH director and co-organizer of the conference. The main speakers, together with IPRH faculty and graduate student fellows and invited speakers from across the campus, "will address a wide array of cultural phenomena," Bérubé said, "ranging from the conflicts and alliances among immigrant and indigenous populations from Australia to Arizona, to the rich music traditions of the black and Latin Caribbean, to the historical transformations and cultural continuities of Judaism."
Two screenings also are scheduled: Coco Fusco's "The Couple in the Cage," and Amitava Kumar's "Pure Chutney." The current IPRH fellows will present the culmination of their research on subjects relating to the program's theme this year: "Diaspora, Identity, and Expressive Culture."
More information about speakers and the conference is on the Web at www.iprh.uiuc.edu.
The statute has come under fire in the wake of the investigation of President Clinton by Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr. Congress is debating whether to extend the 21-year-old reform law, which is set to expire June 30.
The participants in the panel discussion will be Terry Eastland, publisher of The American Spectator and author of "Ethics, Politics, and the Independent Counsel"; Abner Mikva, former White House counsel and professor in the UI College of Law; Andrew D. Leipold, a professor in the College of Law who was a consultant to Independent Counsel Starr; and Katy Harriger, a professor of political science at Wake Forest University and author of "The Independent Counsel."
The panel discussion is part of the Paul H. Douglas Ethics in Government Program and will be moderated by Jack Knott, director of IGPA.
Broder, 69, grew up in Chicago Heights, Ill., and always wanted to be a journalist. After a two-year stint in the Army, he covered rural Illinois for the Bloomington Pantagraph, his first newspaper job.
He later went to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Washington Star and New York Times before joining the Post in 1966, for which he also is a political correspondent.
To help employees determine the plan best for them, two types of meeting have been scheduled. At general information meetings, representatives from SURS will describe the two new options. Representatives from each of the service providers -- Aetna, ICMA and TIAA-CREF -- also will conduct informational meetings.
The remaining presentations in Illini Union, Room A:
SURS overview sessions:
Self-managed plan provider sessions:
These are approved events for staff employees. Employees may be released from work to attend a SURS presentation and a service-providers' presentation without loss of pay, departmental operations permitting, and with appropriate supervisory approval. The approved time with pay may be combined with the lunch break if requested by the employee. For more information, see the Benefits Center home page at http://webster.uihr.uiuc.edu/benefits.
The Office of Academic Human Resources, Suite 420, 807 S. Wright St., maintains the listings for faculty and academic professional positions. More detailed descriptions are available in that office during regular business hours. Job listings are also updated weekly on its Web site at: http://webster.uihr.uiuc.edu/ahr/jobs/index.asp. Any other information may be obtained from the person indicated in the listing.
faculty
Agricultural and Consumer Economics. Assistant professor, agricultural finance. PhD or equivalent in agricultural economics, finance, business or economics required. Availability: negotiable. Contact Raymond Leuthold, 333-1815 or rmleuth@illinois.edu. Closing date: June 15.
Aviation, Institute of. Assistant professor. PhD and research interest required. Must have Certified Flight Instructor certificate with airplane and instrument ratings. Available: Aug. 21. Contact pilot training office, 244-8606. Closing date: June 15.
Educational Technologies, Center for. Director. PhD required. Internal search at Urbana campus; must be a tenured faculty member at the Urbana campus. Should have been personally involved in courseware development and should be interested in promoting effective use of technology in education. Available: May. Contact George Badger, g-badger@illinois.edu. Closing date: April 9.
Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering. Faculty (rank open). PhD in nuclear engineering or fields related to biotechnology required. Must demonstrate the ability or the potential to develop a strong research program. Available: August. Contact James Stubbins, 333-2295. Closing date: May 15.
academic professional
Aviation, Institute of. Aviation education specialist (one or more positions). Bachelor's degree and Certified Flight Instructor certificate with airplane and instrument ratings required; master's and/or PhD desired. Available: Aug. 21. Contact pilot training office, 244-8606. Closing date: June 15.
Campus Recreation. Associate director. Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred in marketing, advertising, communications, recreation, sports administration or related field and five years' experience in a marketing position. Demonstrated experience in staff management, marketing research, working with print media, radio and publications and an ability to recommend and develop targeted marketing campaigns desired. Available: July 1. Contact Robyn Deterding, 244-6423 or rdeterdi@illinois.edu. Closing date: April 30 or when position filled.
Commerce and Business Administration. Assistant director, commerce career services. Bachelor's degree in business, student personnel, administration or related area required; master's degree a plus. Minimum of two to five years' professional experience in higher education or human resources setting and proficient computer skills, especially Web-based technology. Available: May 21. Contact Lois Meerdink, 333-4483. Closing date: April 9.
Crop Sciences. Research specialist, agriculture. Bachelor's degree in agronomy, plant breeding or related field with experience in small-plot field research and possession of, or ability to acquire, a Class A CDL and an Illinois public pesticide applicator license required; master's for which field research was conducted preferred. Must have experience with machinery and small-plot research equipment, word processing, spreadsheet and data analysis computer programs. Available immediately. Contact Emerson Nafziger, 333-4424, ednaf@illinois.edu Closing date: April 1.
Development. Assistant director. Bachelor's degree required. Two years' work experience and knowledge of the university and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences preferred. Available immediately. Contact Patti O'Bryan, 333-7108. Closing date: April 19.
Educational Technologies, Center for. Computer-assisted instructional specialist (Web-based faculty support). Bachelor's degree and two years' relevant work experience in the use of computer-based instructional materials required. Must have significant experience with Web-based course development, course management software and in-depth knowledge of standard Internet information delivery systems and communications tools. Should have classroom teaching experience. Available immediately. Contact Cel Daniel at c-daniel@illinois.edu. Closing date: April 9.
Finance. Assistant director, finance administration. Bachelor's degree with a minimum of two years' administrative work experience required; master's in business administration or related field and administrative experience in a university setting desired. Available: April 30. Contact Morgan Lynge, 244-9416 or m-lynge@illinois.edu. Closing date: April 15.
Graduate College Fellowship Office. Director. Bachelor's degree required; master's or PhD preferred. Should have significant work experience in an academic setting, preferably with knowledge of the Urbana-Champaign campus. Available: July 1. Contact Kathy Jessup, 244-7650 or jessup@illinois.edu. Closing date: April 12.
Human Resources. Director, human resource policy and administration. Bachelor's degree in a related field and substantial experience supporting human resource services in a complex organization required. Should have knowledge of legal and regulatory issues governing the management of HR operations. Experience participating in the implementation of a modern HR information system is desired. Available: July 1 or before. Contact Karen Hyde, 333-9063 or khyde@uillinois.edu. Closing date when position filled.
Illinois Natural History Survey. Technical research scientist. Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology or related field, scuba certification and a valid driver's license required. Familiarity with field sampling and identification of aquatic organisms and use of microscopes preferred. Available immediately. Contact Susan Key, 244-7790. Closing date: April 12.
Intercollegiate Athletics. Program coordinator. Bachelor's degree, preferably in marketing, sport management or business administration and a minimum of three years' athletic administration or relevant business experience required. Available immediately. Contact Warren Hood, 333-2474. Closing date: April 7.
International Education and Research, Center for. Associate director (CIERA and Study Abroad program). Master's degree required. Available: May 3. Contact Sharon McLeod, 333-0857. Closing date: April 16.
Library and Information Science. Research programmer. Bachelor's in computer science, experience with statistical analyst, UNIX, Windows and NT operating systems required. Must be fluent in Perl, SQL, HTML and UNIX Shell programming languages. Familiarity with C++, VBScripting, JAVA, Adobe PageMaker and Acrobat, Microsoft Excel and relational database design using SQL preferred. Available: May 1. Contact Dorlene Clark, 333-3281 or dorlene@illinois.edu. Closing date: April 15.
Library and Information Science. Visiting computer maintenance coordinator. Bachelor's degree and three or more years' relevant experience in the maintenance of computing equipment required. Should have some programming experience using Perl, UNIX Shell and batch programming languages. Must have knowledge of and facility with DOS, Macintosh, Windows 95 and NT operating systems. Knowledge of SQL, C, CC++, UNIX, Microsoft Office, Corel Office Suite and NT client-server applications preferred. Available: May 1. Contact Dorlene Clark, 333-3281 or dorlene@illinois.edu. Closing date: April 15.
Minority Student Affairs. Assistant to the director (one or more positions). Master's degree and at least two years' relevant work experience required. Should have demonstrated ability to relate to diverse populations, particularly racially and ethnically underrepresented students. Preference given to individuals with demonstrated and verifiable technical skills in one or more of the following areas: Spanish language proficiency, computer technology, assessment/evaluation, knowledge of statistical procedures and marketing. Available immediately. Contact Priscilla Fortier, 333-0054. Closing date: April 26.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. Research specialist, agriculture. Bachelor's degree in horticulture or related plant science and undergraduate course work and/or experience in vegetable and fruit crops required. Must have a driver's license. Knowledge of various horticultural crops and experience in experimental plot work, data collection and tabulation desired. Available immediately. Contact LuAnn Schiff, 244-1484. Closing date: March 31.
On-Line Office. Assistant to the director. Bachelor's degree and two or more years' general administrative or project management experience, preferably within a university setting required; master's preferred. Must have experience using a personal computer and a variety of application software, including electronic mail and Web browser. Familiarity with administrative policies and procedures at the UI and experience with and understanding of Internet-based learning technologies preferred. Available immediately. Contact Lynn Ward, 244-6465 or uionline@uillinois.edu. Closing date: April 23.
Political Science. Assistant to the head. Bachelor's degree and administrative experience required; preferably in university setting. Should be competent with FileMaker Pro, MS Word, Excel and Eudora software. Available: May 10. Contact Peter Nardulli, 333-3880. Closing date: March 31.
University Counsel (Chicago). Claims analyst. Bachelor's degree required; nursing or other medical experience preferred. Claims experience desired. Available immediately. Contact Donna Debelak, (312) 413-3029 or Debelak@uic.edu. Closing date: April 23.
Veterinary Medicine. Research programmer, office of computing services. Bachelor's degree and two years' relevant experience with expertise in information systems and end-user computer support required. Available: May 1. Contact Yvonne Sergent, 244-1829. Closing date: April 12.
Water Survey, Illinois State. Assistant professional scientist, program coordinator. Bachelor's degree and knowledge of water-quality issues, farming practices and environmental science required. Must have demonstrated ability with computer systems and software including word processing, spreadsheets and graphic design. Available immediately. Contact Human Resources, Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, MC-674, 333-0448. Closing date: March 31.
staff
Personnel Services Office, 52 E. Gregory Drive, Champaign, conducts open and continuous testing for civil service classifications used on campus. More information is available by calling 333-2137. Or visit its Web site at: www.pso.uiuc.edu.
Norman K. Denzin, professor in the Institute of Communications Research and of sociology, of criticism and interpretive theory, and of cinema studies, has released the third volume of his "Cultural Studies," (Ed.), published by JAI Press, 1998. His book "Interpretive Ethnography" (Sage, 1997) has been nominated for the 1998 Charles Horton Cooley Award given by the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction.
Robert Jimenez, professor of curriculum and instruction and of Latina/o studies, won the 1999 Albert J. Harris Award for his article: "The Strategic Reading Abilities and Potential of Five Low-Literacy Latina/o Readers in Middle School." The article appeared in Reading Research Quarterly, July/August/September, 1997. The award is sponsored by the International Reading Association. It is granted annually for an outstanding contribution to the diagnosis or instruction of learners experiencing problems developing as readers and writers.
Richard Ford, professor emeritus of plant pathology, was designated executive director of the Consortium for International Crop Protection in December. The consortium has moved its head office to the Urbana campus. Ford, head of the department of plant pathology from 1972 to 1992, served for 18 years on the consortiums' board of directors as the voting member representing the UI. The consortium focuses on workshop education worldwide.
C. Ward Henson, professor of mathematics, was re-elected secretary-treasurer of the Association for Symbolic Logic (ASL) for a three-year term that began Jan. 1. He has served as secretary since 1982 and in the joint position since 1984. ASL is the principal international professional society for the field of logic, with 1,400 members throughout the world. The ASL administrative office is located in Altgeld Hall.
John Katzenellenbogen, Swanlund Endowed Chair of Chemistry, will receive the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award given by the American Chemical Society. The award recognizes Katzenellenbogen's work on chemical solutions to real-life problems in biology and medicine, specifically, for the development of agents to image breast tumors based on their content of estrogen receptors, which can be used to select patients for specific hormone therapies.
Frederick K. Lamb, professor of physics and of astronomy, was named the first holder of the Brand and Monica Fortner Endowed Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics. Lamb was recognized for his contribution to high-energy and relativistic astrophysics. He also pioneered the study of neutron stars and black holes using X-rays.
The American Academy of Microbiology announced that Stanley Maloy, professor of microbiology, has been elected to the rank of fellow. Maloy was recognized for his scientific excellence, originality, leadership, high ethical standards, scholarly and creative achievement. The mission of the academy is to recognize scientists for distinguished achievements in microbiology and provide microbiological expertise in the service of science and the public.
John A. Lynn, professor of history, has won the 1998 Phi Alpha Theta book prize for his book, "Giant of the Grand Siècle: The French Army, 1610-1715" (Cambridge University Press, 1997). Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary society, awarded Lynn the prize for a "subsequent book," as opposed to its longstanding "first-book" prize, which Lynn won in 1985 for his "The Bayonets of the Republic: Motivation and Tactics in the Army of Revolutionary France, 1791-94" (UI Press, 1984).
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich reappointed Judith McCulloh, assistant director and executive editor of the University Press, to a six-year term on the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. McCulloh had served two terms on the board as an appointee of Minority Leader Robert Michel. As board chairman in 1996-98, she led a nationwide effort to secure permanent authorization for the center, which Congress granted it in October. The American Folklife Center was created by Congress in 1976 to preserve and present American folklife.
William O'Brien Jr., professor of electrical and computer engineering, of bioengineering and of nutritional sciences, has received the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Society's Achievement Award for 1998. The award is the highest societywide award presented to a member in special recognition of outstanding technical achievements. O'Brien was cited for his "leadership in establishing a broad knowledge of the interaction of ultrasound with biological tissue, including bioeffects, exposimetry and clinical standards, and for fostering in his students the joy of discovery."
Andrea Press, professor in the Institute of Communications Research and of speech communications and of women's studies, released a new book this January. The book, "Speaking of Abortion: Television and Authority in the Lives of Women" (University of Chicago Press), was co-written with Elizabeth R. Cole.
Leslie J. Reagan, professor of history, of women's studies and in the College of Medicine, has won the 1998 Willard Hurst Prize from the Law and Society Association for her book, "When Abortion Was a Crime: Women, Medicine and Law in the United States, 1867-1973" (University of California Press, 1997). Now also published in soft cover, the book won the 1995 President's Book Award from the Social Science History Association when it was still a dissertation.
Husband and wife Joe and Phyllis Williams have been UI building service workers for 20 and 23 years, respectively. He works in eight different buildings, mainly for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, while Phyllis works to keep Krannert Art Museum neat and clean. They live in a 78-year-old craftsman-style home on Urbana's Main Street with four cats. Marks on their kitchen wall note Joe's height, as well as the heights of Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan and Mark McGwire. When they're not rooting for the Bulls or Cardinals, they refinish furniture, pour "sweat equity" into their home, and look for bargains at auctions. She is on the Urbana Planning Commission and together they have a motor carrier route for The News-Gazette.
What does it mean to be a building service worker?
Phyllis: It seems like an amazingly simple thing to do and yet it's not. Over the years, the amount of area that we've taken care of has grown incredibly. In 20 years it's more than doubled. And you really have to do a lot of juggling. What you find is instead of the image of the idiot mop-flopper it really takes a pretty good work manager, to go over the job and not just keep an area clean, but keep the people in those places happy too.
Phyllis, you have a bachelor's degree from the UI?
Phyllis: Yes, in history. There's no future in it. (She laughed.) I went back to school because it was unfinished business. I put 20 years between my sophomore and junior years. It was wonderful -- once I got over the first day of class. I had a girl in one of my classes say, 'Oh it's so great when you old people come back to school!' So it's scary at first but then you settle in and you kick their young butts academically.
How did you do it? And why haven't you used the degree?
Phyllis: I worked from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and took three classes a semester. I graduated in 1995. I had made good grades, but graduate school wasn't an option, so it was mainly a sense of accomplishment. I'm the first person in my family to have a college degree. And I feel like I'm a better cleaning lady because I have that.
And we both went to school. Everything I read, Joe read.
You did?
Joe: Oh yeah, I read all of her books. They were fun.
Phyllis: We just had all kinds of interesting things to talk about.
Joe: I really like the Roman and Greek history and all that. Phyllis was more interested in Russian history.
Phyllis: I had some history professors that were just wonderful. We just met everybody, went to history parties, and just talked to folks.
What do you do when you're not working?
Phyllis: We just got a computer in January so we're online now. We joined the '90s just before it was too late. We don't want to do anything too fast. We said for years 'Why would anyone want a computer at home?' and we lived like Quakers and then all of a sudden we've gotten modern. (She points to workers installing air conditioning in their home.) Air conditioning and a computer all in the same year! We also are avid birdwatchers and gardeners. I grow the best tomatoes in Champaign County.
Joe, do people tell you that you look like someone?
Joe: Who do they say I look like? (He asks Phyllis.) Oh yeah, William Hurt.
Phyllis: When we got married we went to Chicago on our honeymoon and we went to Marshall Field's for lunch in the Walnut Room. I held our place in line while Joe ran an errand. I'm standing in line behind two women and all of a sudden they shout, 'Oh my God! It's Norm Abram!' And I'm asking, 'Where? Where?' And it turns out it was Joe.
Joe: I was probably wearing a plaid shirt. (He shrugged.) I hear that a lot too.
So do you build furniture like Norm the Master Carpenter?
Joe: It's more refinishing old seemingly hopeless pieces than building new ones. Usually I reglue loose joints and strip off paint, trying to make it look better.
Phyllis: He also upholsters furniture.
Joe: I've done a few projects, mainly just simple things. But if it needs work, I'll try to fix it.
Do you like your jobs at the UI?
Joe: Oh yes, mainly because of the people you see there. The work is fairly routine once you get used to it, but office occupants and others in the area get used to seeing you and you find out what's happening in their lives and they find out what's happening in yours. We have formed several friendships away from work with the people we clean for.
Phyllis: You really become valued as part of that workplace. Joe and I really do feel a sense of loyalty to our people.
Do you call yourselves janitors?
Phyllis: I call myself a cleaning lady. I know it seems a bit old-fashioned, but you know the cleaning lady knows everything. (She laughs.) There is a certain routine to it and a certain talent that's required because there is a lot that's not routine in things that come up. You need to be flexible when you work for people. You need to be smart and tuned in to what's going on. Help has to be helpful to the departments. And we are the face of O&M [Operation and Maintenance Division] for our people, so we sell a whole department.
And it's a good job. We don't come home and cry because of what we do all day. In fact, we come home and laugh about some of the idiotic things that go on.
We're not just the mop floppers. We're professionals in a workplace, well-rounded human beings.
And just the other day, we were waiting to punch the time clock with eight to 10 BSWs, talking about sending jokes out on e-mail or some problem with the memory on our home computers. And I thought, Wow! Janitors and computers. This is great! It's just wonderful as a matter of fact.
Scott retired 1981 after 20 years of service.
Survivors include two daughters, a sister and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or an organization of the donor's choice.