SPECTRUM VOLUME 24 NUMBER 13 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2001

TODAY’S EDITIONSee page 2 forinformation onuniversity activities.

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY http://www.unirel.vt.edu/spectrum/

(See GATOR BOWL on 4)(See PROVOST on 4)

(See INTERIM on 4)

NPR president, White House correspondent to speak here Interim deannamed for Artsand Sciences

Clara B. CoxLay Nam Chang, head of the physics

department, has been named interim dean ofthe College of Arts and Sciences, effective inmid-January when the current dean, RobertC. Bates, leaves to become provost atWashington State.

“Dr. Chang emerged as an energeticand effective scholar who combinesestablished leadership experience at VirginiaTech with a quiet passion to move the collegeand the university forward in its quest forenhanced stature and success. He iscommitted to the goals of diversity andexcellence, and he is prepared to face thechallenges and opportunities that lie ahead,”Provost Mark G. McNamee said inannouncing his selection for the position.

McNamee had asked members of thefaculty and staff within the college tonominate candidates for the position.

Chang, department head since 1995,joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 1978after working on the physics faculty at theUniversity of Pennsylvania for seven years.He has conducted research at MIT and theUniversity of Chicago and has been a visitingscientist or visiting instructor at institutionsof higher education in Denmark, BritishColumbia, Singapore, and the United States.Since earning a Ph.D. in theoretical physicsfrom the University of California at Berkeley,he has written extensively for refereedjournals and has published numerous reportson his work.

Engineers,mathematicianget AF grant

By Sally HarrisA team of engineers and a mathemati-

cian from Virginia Tech and the Universityof Florida has won a $556,511 grant fromthe Air Force Office of Scientific Researchto work on theory and algorithms for global/local design optimization.

The design of large-scale systems suchas automobiles, aircraft, and ships involvemultiple disciplines such as structures, flu-ids, propulsion, economics, and manufac-ture. These systems require a decomposi-tion of the global optimal-design probleminto disciplinary sub-problems that ideallycan be done concurrently and independently,said Layne Watson, professor of computerscience and mathematics in the College ofArts and Sciences.

“Typically the subsystems are coupledand cannot be optimized independently of

Provost solicitscandidates’ namesfor dean position

By Clara B. CoxUniversity Provost Mark G. McNamee

is soliciting assistance in identifying possiblecandidates for dean of the College of HumanResources and Education. The current dean,Janet Johnson, has announced that she willretire next summer.

“At the end of August, the Board ofVisitors approved an update to the strategicplan, including a set of ambitious goals toincrease the university’s stature as one of thenation’s leading research universities. Weare looking for a leader for the College of

Tech to faceFlorida Statein Gator BowlThe Virginia Tech athletics

department has announced that it willaccept a bid to play in the 57th ToyotaGator Bowl.

Tech will face Florida State on Jan.1, 2002 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville.Kick-off is set for 12:30 p.m., and the

By Karen DillonNational Public Radio President Kevin

Klose and NPR’s White House Correspon-dent Don Gonyea will speak at the DonaldsonBrown Conference Center Wednesday, Dec.5 at 4 p.m. The event, hosted by WVTFPublic Radio, is free and open to the public.

Klose and Gonyea will discuss a vari-ety of news-related topics including NPR’scoverage of the September 11 terrorist at-tacks. Audience members are encouraged toask questions and make comments through-out the discussion.

Before joining NPR in December 1998,Klose served as president of Radio FreeEurope/Radio Liberty. Klose, a former edi-tor and national and foreign correspondentof The Washington Post, is also an award-winning author and international broadcast-

ing executive. He is a founder of the IntermediaSurvey Institute of Washington, a non-profitresearch firm specializing in media and opinionsurvey in Eurasia.

Gonyea was named NPR’s White HouseCorrespondent in January 2001. His coverage ofPresident George W. Bush can be heard onNPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered,and Talk of the Nation. Gonyea has been report-ing for National Public Radio since 1986. Beforecovering the White House, Gonyea spent nearly15 years in Detroit reporting on the automobileindustry and labor issues. In addition to his workwith NPR, Gonyea has been a contributor to TheNewsHour with Jim Lehrer and PBS’s This Weekin Business. His work is also seen and heard onthe BBC, the CBC, and in the Columbia Journal-ism Review.

National Public Radio is a non-profit newsand cultural radio programming service, with600 stations and a weekly audience of almost 15million listeners. Founded in 1970, NPR hasbeen the primary source of global news andinformation, and music and cultural program-ming for generations of radio listeners. NPRNews operates around the clock, with bureausin key cities in the United States, as well as inmajor cities throughout the world.

WVTF Public Radio is a National PublicRadio (NPR) member station broadcasting lo-cally produced and national news and informa-tion, public affairs, classical and jazz music,entertaining programs, 24 hours a day on 89.1FM in Roanoke, 88.5 and 89.3 FM inCharlottesville, 91.9 FM in Marion and on theWorld Wide Web at www.wvtf.org.

(See ENGINEERS on 4)

Shelton announces organizational changesin Office of Budget and Financial Planning

(See SHELTON on 4)

By Larry HinckerIn keeping with the university plan to seek

alternative revenue streams for the universityand to assist with the development of new statefunding model that will benefit Virginia Tech,while strengthening financial practices withinthe university, organizational changes withinthe Office of Budget and Financial Planninghave been announced by Dwight Shelton, vicepresident for budget and financial manage-ment.

Bea Mahan, formerly director for budgetdevelopment and financial planning, is nowassociate vice president for budget and finan-cial planning. Mahan will continue to focus on

financial planning and analysis and on devel-opment of the university’s appropriations re-quest to the state for the operating and capitalbudgets. She will also coordinate leadershipactivities in the budget and financial manage-ment areas in Shelton’s absence.

“Bea’s new appointment will alsostrengthen our ability to support the work ofVice President Ridenour and Provost McNameein establishing the university’s strategic initia-tives,” Shelton said.

Tim Hodge, formerly the director of bud-get operations, is now the budget director.Hodge’s title signifies an elevation in his re-

LAB TOUR Assistant Professor John McDowell, right, provides information for Laboratory EmployeeProfessional Development Network members Harriet Williams, left and Judy Yan. The group toured various labsand learned about new technologies at the Fralin Biotechnology Center on Wednesday. This was the secondin a series of tours for laboratory employees. The College of Veterinary Medicine hosted the first tour, whichassisted the network to identify opportunities to share resources, expert knowledge and skills from differentparts of the campus. For more about the LEPD Network, contact Terri Tishman at uld@vt.edu . (J. McCormick)

‘Dr. Chang emerged as anenergetic and effective scholarwho combines establishedleadership experience at VirginiaTech with a quiet passion to movethe college and the universityforward....’

2 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2001

ACTIVITIESEVENTS

BULLETINS

SEMINARS

Binmore to present Buchanan lecturesKen G. Binmore director of the Center for Economic

Learning and Social Evolution, University College, London,will be on campus December 3 through 7 to present the 2001James M. Buchanan lectures, titled “Game Theory and theSocial Contract.”

Binmore is an economist with major contributions in

Friday, 30Pay Date for Faculty and Staff Members.International Club, details TBA.

Saturday, 1Football, 1 p.m., Lane Stadium: Miami.Men’s Basketball, 7 p.m.: At UVA.

Sunday, 2YMCA Hike, 1:30 p.m., YMCA Parking Lot.Faculty Recital, 3 p.m., Squires Recital Salon.

Monday, 3University Council, 3 p.m., 1045 Pamplin.Men’s Basketball, 7 p.m., Cassell Coliseum: VMI.Ensemble Concert, 8 p.m., Squires Recital Salon.

Wednesday, 5CommonHealth Program, 5:30 to 8 p.m., 135 War

Memorial Hall: Adult CPR.“With Good Reason,” 7 p.m., WVTF.Women’s Basketball, time TBA: At Pittsburgh.

Friday, 7Men’s Basketball, 9 p.m. Thorpe Classic: Murray State.International Club, details TBA.

Friday, 30Highlands in Chemistry, 11:15 a.m., 3 Davidson: Paula

Hammond, MIT.MCBB, 12:20 p.m., 102 Fralin: Paul Dent, MCV/VCU.Philosophy, time, location TBA: Stephen Turner, South

Florida.

Wednesday, 5Geological Sciences, 3 p.m., 4052 Derring: Kurt

Rudolph, ExxonMobil.ESM, 4 to 5 p.m., 110 Randolph: In Lee, KAIST.

Thursday, 6Geological Sciences, 4 p.m., 4069 Derring: Wayne

Lusardi, NCUAUIMS.

Friday, 7MCBB, 12:20 p.m., 102 Fralin: Maynard Olson,

Washington.Philosophy, 3 p.m., 225 Major Williams: Joe Neisser,Radford.

Highlands in Chemistry, 11:15 a.m., 3 Davidson:Wenbin Lin, North Carolina.

evolutionary game theory, bargaining theory, experimentaleconomics, political philosophy, mathematics and statistics.

His lectures are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 3, in 3008Pamplin from 4 to 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 4, in 1045 Pamplinfrom 4 to 5:15 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 5, in 1045 Pamplin from4 to 5:15 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 6, in 1001 Pamplin from 4 to 5:15p.m., and Friday, Dec. 7, in 1045 Pamplin from 4 to 5:15 p.m.

Planning begun for Women’s Month 2002The Women’s Month Committee has begun planning for

Women’s Month 2002. Those who would like to propose anevent for inclusion on the calendar should contact the Women’sCenter for a form. Deadline for submissions is December. 7.For more information, contact Denise Collins, assistant directorof the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech, Price House, 0270,or call 1-7806.

Changes under way at Shultz parking lotBy Steve Mouras

The Shultz Parking Lot (adjacent to theShultz Dining Facility in the Upper Quad area)is in the final stages of having a new parkinggate installed. The gate will generate the needfor the following changes/events:

The northern entrance of the lot (closest toMcDonald’s) was permanently closedNovember 19. The decision to close the entrancewas based on safety issues with traffic onTurner Street, and the steep slope of the entrance,which would also have been a serious issue if agate were installed. The former entrance isplanned to be used as the roadway inside Shultz

Lot to a smaller lot with increased handicapparking spaces.

The gate will be activated on January 7.The gate will remain designated for faculty andstaff use from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday. Faculty and staff permit holderscan gain access with a Hokie Passport or bypurchasing a transponder ($25 one-time costfor the hands-free option) at Parking Services.Visitors can gain access by getting a key codenumber from Parking Services. Retirees whouse Shultz Lot must contact Parking Services tobe entered into the parking system. Anyone

who uses a permit that was purchased underanother person’s account also must contactParking Services for Hokie Passport activation.To confirm the parking gate will open forHokie Passports, call Parking Services at 1-3200. Hokie Passport, transponder, or key codewill permit access to both gates and all futurefaculty/staff gates.

A training session for the gate will be heldon December 6 from 9-10 a.m. in 434 MajorWilliams. There will be a 30-minute informationsession on the gate system and its operationsand to answer questions.

Professors teach course to women engineers in France

BRRG endows polymer science scholarship

By Sally HarrisFor two weeks, Gary Downey, professor

of science and technology studies and TechPh.D. Juan Lucena, associate professor of sci-ence, technology, and globalization at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, co-taught atwo-week version of their Engineering Cul-tures course at the International Institute forWomen Engineers (IIWE) in Paris, France.

The course was funded by a grant from theU.S. National Science Foundation and hostedby EPF: Ecole d’Ingenieurs. The IIWE brought

together 30 outstanding female engineering stu-dents from all over the world, including AmiArief of Virginia Tech, to learn about the globaldimensions of engineering practice and theirimplications for women. Participants includedstudents from 17 countries, including Tanzania,Malta, Australia, Finland, Norway, Austria,Palestine, France, England, Tunisia, Brazil,Greece, Indonesia, Guatemala, Spain, and theUnited States.

The purpose of Engineering Cultures, ahighly popular course among engineering stu-

dents at Virginia Tech, is to help students be-come global engineers by learning to work withpeople who define problems differently thanthey do. The course explores the ways in whichwhat counts as an engineer and engineeringknowledge has varied significantly around theworld, Downey said.

For example, where British engineers valuepractical knowledge, tend to work in privateindustry, and constitute a relatively low-statusoccupation, French engineers value theory, as-

(See PROFESSORS on 3)

By Liz CrumbleyA $25,000 scholarship for Virginia Tech

undergraduates has been established by theBlue Ridge Rubber Group (BRRG), a regionalsubdivision of the Rubber Division of theAmerican Chemical Society.

The BRRG endowment will provide ascholarship each year for a junior or senior whois studying polymer science while majoring inchemical engineering or chemistry.

BRRG has 216 members in North Caro-lina, Tennessee and Virginia. Members are

manufacturers and suppliers of polymers, chemi-cals and equipment for the rubber industry.

“We know that Virginia Tech has an ex-cellent polymer-science program and we’re al-ways trying to find good employees for thepolymer industry,” said Rick Swenson, a formerBRRG chairman who initiated the endowment.“My last goal as chairman was to establish ascholarship that will continually support stu-dents entering our industry.”

“It is our hope that the endowment willpromote interaction, on a regional level, be-

tween Virginia Tech and the Blue Ridge Rub-ber Group,” said current BRRG Chairman WileyBetts, who presented the first endowment checkto Virginia Tech. “Since our industry is a ma-ture one, there is a significant need to cultivateand recruit students and stewards at the point atwhich they are making career decisions.”

U.S. News & World Report’s “America’sBest Graduate Schools 2000” survey rankedVirginia Tech’s polymer program fifth in thenation.

Study may offerbetter clean-upof gasoline spills

By Sally Harris

In an effort to enable more effective cleanup of gasoline spills, Virginia Tech geological-sciences researchers are looking at whethermicrobes use terminal electron accepting pro-cesses (TEAP’s) sequentially or simulta-neously.

Jackson M. Spain is conducting the re-search as part of his master’s thesis, under thedirection of Madeline Schreiber, assistant pro-fessor of geological sciences.

Underground storage tanks such as thoseat service stations sometimes leak, creatingunderground gas plumes, Spain said. The gasthen can get into the groundwater. The mostdangerous components of the gasoline are ben-zene, toluene ethylbenzine, xylenes, or BTEX,because they are most soluble and most likelyto get into the groundwater. BTEX compo-nents particularly benzene, are carcinogenic.

Bio-remediation, which relies on natu-rally occurring subsurface bacteria to breakdown contaminants, is an accepted treatmentmethod for cleaning up gasoline spills. Theterminal electron accepting process (TEAP)that bacteria use to break down gasoline com-pounds exerts a strong control on the extent andefficiency of bio-remediation. The use of oxy-gen (aerobic respiration) yields the most en-ergy to the bacteria and thus results in the mostcomplete and rapid bio-remediation. Whenoxygen is not present, bacteria can use otherTEAP’s, such as nitrate reduction, iron reduc-tion, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis, tobreak down gasoline compounds.

“Our study is looking at two specificTEAP’s, iron reduction and methanogenesis,”Spain said. “We’re studying how the heteroge-neities of Fe(III) concentrations affect whichTEAP’s are used. We’re trying to see if thedifferences in the Fe(III) concentrations would

(See STUDY on 3)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2001 SPECTRUM 3

Spectrum, a faculty-staff tabloid, is published eachFriday during the academic year, with the exception ofcertain holidays, exam weeks, and the summer. Copydeadline is noon Friday. No advertising is accepted. Spectrum is a non-profit publication of the Office ofUniversity Relations: Lawrence G. Hincker, associate vicepresident for University Relations; David Nutter, director ofcollege and media relations.

EditorJohn Ashby, 1-6961

Assistant Editor

Production ManagerMelinda Shaver, 1-8524

Business Manager1-8819

Letters to the editor and questions for "Ask Spectrum"should be addressed to the editor, 102 Media Building,Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Electronic Spectrum: http://www.unirel.vt.edu/spec-trum/ Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employ-ees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color,gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran sta-tus, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Any-one having questions concerning discrimination or ac-cessibility regarding the programs described in this news-paper should contact the Equal Opportunity AffirmativeAction Office: 540-231-7500 (v), 540-231-9460 (TTY).

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTEAND STATE INIVERSITY

EMPLOYMENTCLASSIFIED POSITIONS

FACULTY POSITIONS

STUDYContinued from 2

PROFESSORSContinued from 2

FULL TIMEOne full-time food-service positionavailable.Communications Officer, 000657Y, PB3, Police.Coordinator of Administrative Affairs,007879R, PB 4, Executive Vice President’sOffice.Development Associate, 007880S, PB3, University Development.Financial Planning Manager, 007567F,PB 5, BFP.Fiscal Technician, 007882B, PB 3,CHPM.Housekeeping—Night Crew, 007814H,PB 1, RDP.Housekeeping Manager, 006926H, PB3, RDP.Housekeeping Supervisor, 000269H, PB2, RDP.Housekeeping Worker, 000096H, PB 1,RDP.Housekeeping Worker, P002005C, PB1, Physical Plant.Laboratory Safety Inspector, 007491Y,PB 4, EHSS.Laboratory Specialist, 007707B, PB 3,CE.Medical Technologist, 002596M, PB 4,VTH.Multimedia Systems/ApplicationsSpecialist, 002054A, PB 4, VBS.Operations Manager, 007121H, PB 4,RDP.Programmer Analyst, 000800Y, PB 5,IRM.Shopleader, 007125H, PB 1, RDP.Shopleader Supervisor, 007797H, PB1, RDP.Sous Chef, 007881H, PB 3, RDP.Sous Chef, 000940H, PB 3, RDP.Technical Director, Digital Library/Archives, 006789G, PB 5, LibraryArchives.Transportation Planner, 007498F, PB 4,OT.

PART TIMEAnimal Care Technician Large Animal,W020066M, PB 2, VTH.

Animal Care Technician/Small Animal,W022675M, PB 1, VTH.Audio Support Specialist, W023130J, PB3, UUSA.Graduation Analyst, W022980G, PB 2,Registrar.ICU Veterinary Technologist LargeAnimal, W022218M, PB 2, VTH.Laboratory Specialist, W023305M, PB 3,APS.Office Services Specialist, W023338J,PB 2, Dean of Students.Office Services Specialist, W020153J,PB 2, FWS.Radiologic Technologist, W022238J, PB3, Health Center.Security Guard, W020470Y, PB 1, Police.

UNIVERSITY ONLYOffice Manager/Supervisor, U000934B,PB 3, Computer Science.

OFF CAMPUSAdult Program Assistant, 006602J, PB 2,HNEF.

Adult Program Assistant, 006604J, PB 2,Prince William County.Agricultural Supervisor, 000319M, PB 3,Tidewater AREC.Efnep Adult Program Assistant, 006103M,PB 2, VCE—Prince William County.Public Relations/Marketing Associate,W023339Y, PB 3, IALR.Radio Announcer, W020800S, PB 3,University Relations/WVTF Radio.Youth Program Assistant, 007464J, PB 2,HNFE.Youth Program Assistant, 005889J, PB 2,HNFE.Youth Program Assistant, 007233J, PB 2,HNFE.

NON-INSTRUCTIONALUniversity Development. Associate/Assistant Director of Gift Planning (2).

Contact: Rhonda Arsenault, 201 PackBldg. (0336). Review begins immediately.University Development. Director ofDevelopment, College of Arts/Sciences.Contact: Rhonda Arsenault, 201 PackBldg. (0336. Review begins immediately.University Development. RegionalDirector of Major Gifts. Contact: RhondaArsenault, 201 Pack Bldg. (0336). Reviewbegins immediately.University Development. Special GiftsOfficer. Contact: Rhonda Arsenault, 201Pack Bldg. (0336). Review beginsimmediately.Biochemistry. Research Associate.Contact: Katherine Phillips, 111 Engel(0308). Review begins immediately.Software Technologies Laboratory.Software Engineer/Developer. Contact:Bert Hubbard, 1900 Kraft Dr., Ste. 105(0460). Review begins immediately.

pire to work in government, and constitute thehighest-level occupation in the country, Downeysaid.

During the IIWE, students discussed rel-evant concepts in the morning and then testedtheir insights in the afternoon through visits toindustrial settings. “For example,” Downeysaid, “on the day we compared the identities ofwomen engineers with those of engineers whohappen to be women, we then visitedSchlumberger, a global company of Frenchorigin that specializes in hi-tech instrumenta-tion for oil exploration. Senior women engi-neers candidly discussed their experiences asengineers and as women in a multi-nationalenvironment.”

Following seminar meetings on corporatecultures, the group visited ALTIS, a joint ven-ture between IBM and Infineon, and the designcenter of Renault, where students could see notonly the merging of different corporate cul-tures, but also the complexities of differentnational cultures operating in the same engi-neering environment. A discussion of engi-

neering education and practice in Germany wasfollowed by a visit to Rohde & Schwartz, aGerman engineering company that builds someof the world’s best electric measurement equip-ment.

“Student assessments of the institute ex-perience were strongly positive,” Downey said.“As one of the participants put it, ‘This was agreat experience. I loved meeting students fromall over the world and learning about differentcultures.’”

cause the TEAP’s to be used simultaneouslyinstead of sequentially, which is how the theorypredicts and how it’s now modeled.”

If the researchers find that the Fe(III) con-centration does affect the use of TEAP’s so thatthey are used simultaneously, scientists canbetter model the degradation of a plume. “Then,if we can better model the process, we can betterclean it up,” Spain said. “We can better modelhow long it would take for remediation to occuror how long we would have to get the gas outbefore it became a bigger problem.”

Lederman co-edits gender, science readerBy Sally Harris

The essays and book extracts in The Gen-der and Science Reader, co-edited by MurielLederman of Virginia Tech and Ingrid Bartschof the University of South Florida, provide acomprehensive feminist analysis of the natureand practice of science.

In the book, well-known feminist writerschallenge the self-proclaimed objectivity ofscientific practice by uncovering the gender,class, and racial prejudices of modern science.The writings draw from a range of media, in-cluding feminist criticism, scientific literature,writings about scientific education, and the popu-lar press.

The book is divided into six sections, eachaddressing an aspect of gender and science.Through both analytical evidence and personal

testimonies, the section on “Women in Sci-ence” looks at women’s access to the study ofscience and to employment in that field. “Creat-ing Androcentric Science” explores the genderedorigins of science at the time of the Enlighten-ment. “Analyzing Gendered Science” providesfeminist methodologies and epistemology forthe study of science. “Gendered Praxis” pro-vides examples of the ways gender bias canaffect and distort scientific work. “Science andIdentity” looks at how science reinforces gen-der and racial stereotypes. And “Feminist Re-structuring of Science” looks at the future offeminist science studies.

According to Sylvie Coyaud writing inNature, “The editors nicely balance the differ-ent schools of feminist theory.” The essaysinclude that of John Lukacs, which looks atquantum mechanics with a religious focus. Thereare also two essays that, according to Coyaud,provide “comic relief” as they tell “how pastresearch in the life sciences proceeded appar-ently unaware that human organisms, unlikebacteria, come in two versions, or blinded by aneagerness to assign inferior quality to femalecells, genes or brains.”

The final section of the book discussesways that the feminist view of science has

already changed some fields, such as medicalresearch, and how equal-opportunities poli-cies in the United States “have improved their{women’s} lot in publicly funded research,”Coyaud said.

Included in the book are introductions toeach section, plus a comprehensive bibliogra-phy of feminist science studies for those in-volved in the teaching, research, or study ofscience.

The contributors include well-knownfeminist writers such as Donna Haraway,Evelyn Fox Keller, Hilary Rose, and CarolynMerchant, as well as biologists ChristineWenneras and Agnes Wold. According toCoyaud, the research of Wold and Wenneras“showed that women had to publish 2.6 timesmore than men in order to obtain the samequality scores for post-doctoral fellowshipapplications submitted to the Swedish Medi-cal Council.”

Lederman is an associate professor ofbiology and is affiliated with the Women’sStudies Program. Bartsch is an assistant pro-fessor of Women’s Studies at the University ofSouth Florida and is a practicing ecologist.

The book is published by Routledge.

“Although the university and the collegeare facing some great challenges, these in turnspawn extraordinary opportunities. As we strivetoward meeting President Steger’s goal ofreaching the top 30, we will be positioningourselves better to fulfill our potential to be thekey player in higher education in the state. Ilook forward very much to meeting thischallenge, with the help and support from thefaculty and staff of the college. And I lookforward to working with the provost and thepresident and others in the university as webegin the process,” Chang said. He noted thatBates would be “a tough act to follow.”

A replacement for Chang to head theDepartment of Physics will be named within aweek.

According to McNamee, the College ofArts and Sciences, Virginia Tech’s largestcollege, is beginning “a substantive discussionof new organizational models that could enhancethe ability of the college to achieve its strategicacademic goals.” He has asked Chang, he said,to lead the effort to evaluate options so that anational search for a permanent dean can beginas efficiently and effectively as possible.McNamee said he hopes to have a permanentdean selected within 12-18 months.

Chang will work with Bates over the nexttwo months to ensure a smooth transition,McNamee said.

INTERIMContinued from 1

4 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2001

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAIDBlacksburg, VA Permit No. 28

Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061

IN OTHER NEWS

ENGINEERSContinued from 1

each other without communicating data duringthe design process,” Watson said. “As systemcomplexity grows, this communication becomesa bottleneck, and the time required for high-fidelity subsystem simulations also grows. Thisproject will develop mathematically rigorousdecomposition theories so that large-scale de-sign problems can be effectively solved onmassively parallel supercomputers.”

Another aspect of the project is the devel-opment of cheap surrogate approximations toexpensive simulations. This both reduces thesubsystem evaluation time and improves theconcurrency of the global design process.

“Innovative and radical approaches tolarge-scale optimal design are being explored,both theoretically and empirically,” Watsonsaid. “Computational paradigms such as global/local optimization and cellular automata (mod-els or approaches to computation), which areunproven but hold considerable promise forimplementation on massively parallel comput-ers, will be adapted to engineering design prob-lems.

“This project is interesting because it in-volves both mathematical theory and engineer-ing experiments,” Watson said. “Computer-science students are excited about working on a

project where the things they design, like com-posite aircraft-wing panels, are actually builtand tested in the lab. Engineering students getto work with our Beowulf supercomputer inTorgersen Hall, something they normallywouldn’t have access to.”

In addition to Watson, the project teamconsists of Zafer Gurdal of the Department ofAerospace and Ocean Engineering and the De-partment of Engineering Science and Mechan-ics at Virginia Tech, and Raphael Haftka of theDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, Me-chanics, and Engineering Science at the Uni-versity of Florida.

PROVOSTContinued from 1

Human Resources and Education who wants tohelp shape and realize our goals,” McNameesaid in a recent letter to the faculty. The deanwill direct a college that consists of sixdepartments, 160 faculty members, 60 supportstaff members, and 3,600 students.

McNamee has asked that the universitycommunity review the advertisement for theposition at http://www.provost.vt.edu and directinquiries and referrals to Gregory Brown, deanof the College of Natural Resources and chair ofthe search committee. Brown can be reachedelectronically at browngn@vt.edu or viatelephone at 1-5481.

“Searches for senior positions such as thiscan shape an institution for years to come,”McNamee said. He also said that the universityis especially interested in receiving nominationsof women and minority members “who wouldbring not only their professional expertise, butalso their personal perspective to the university’sacademic administration.”

game will be shown on NBC.“We are ecstatic to be going to our seventh

New Year’s Bowl in nine years,” said VirginiaTech Head Football Coach Frank Beamer. “Thisis certainly a compliment to our program and toour great fan support. We’ve had a lot ofexperience with bowls lately and no one treatsus better than the great staff at the Gator Bowl.”

Virginia Tech is 8-2 heading intoSaturday’s game against top-ranked Miamiwhile the Seminoles are 6-4 heading into theirfinal game with Georgia Tech on Saturday.Tech and FSU last met two years ago in NewOrleans, with the Seminoles taking a 46-29Sugar Bowl victory to claim the nationalchampionship.

The match-up will be the 31st meetingbetween the two schools, with the Seminolesholding a 19-10-1 lead.

The Virginia Tech Ticket Office will begintaking orders for tickets Tuesday morning.Orders may be placed by stopping by the CassellColiseum Ticket Office or by calling 1-800-VATECH4. Tickets for both the general publicand Tech students are $40.

GATOR BOWLContinued from 1

sponsibilities to carry out the allocation ofresources and to execute the internal budgetplan. Hodge will be responsible for coordinat-ing the development of internal budgets for theuniversity and will provide analysis and assis-tance to academic and administrative depart-ments in the administration of their annualoperation budget.

Executive Vice President Minnis Ridenoursaid of the organizational changes, “Dwighthas been charged with providing leadership toimprove our internal-control environment andthe financial management of the institution. Hehas also been asked to assume a greater leader-ship role of working with state entities in devel-oping and improving funding guidelines thatwill enhance the long-term funding for Vir-ginia Tech. In this role, he will work directlywith his colleagues from other universities andwith the staff of legislative money committees,SCHEV staff, and the executive budget officestaff. Through the appointments of Mahan andHodge, Dwight will be in a position to focus onimportant initiatives such as strengthening busi-ness practices and procedures and internal-control activities.”

As a part of this new focus, Shelton willcontinue to work closely with the leaders of theuniversity’s academic programs andadministrative units to implement soundbusiness practices across the university. Theseefforts will include such items as thedevelopment of best-practices seminars,business-training opportunities for fiscal andadministrative staff members, and supportservices to departments.

SHELTONContinued from 1

Participants sought for innovative program Study shows jobs hinder students

Tech campus loses historic treeOn November 17, Virginia Tech lost one

of its most beautiful and well-known trees, anAmerican elm next to Patton Hall.

Approximately 116 years old, the elm wasplanted or became established as a wild seedlingabout 10 years after the university was founded,and about 40 years before Patton Hall was built.Positioned next to a sidewalk where hundreds ofstudents and faculty members pass each day, thetree began developing rot in the center of thetrunk, and thus became a serious hazard.

Following advice from professional ar-borists, university officials decided to removeit. American elms have suffered from a number

of severe problems, most notably Dutch-elmdisease. Since 1967, Professor Jay Stipes of thePlant Pathology, Physiology and Weed ScienceDepartment, and a world-renowned expert inDutch elm disease, has been treating the treewith chemicals to keep the fungus in check. Heand many students over the years have kept thetree relatively healthy.

Approximately 15 years ago, the universityattached cables to keep the tree together, but itcontinued to deteriorate. However, there areplans to replace the tree with new elms thatgrow rapidly and are resistant to Dutch-elmdisease.

Until recently, it was believed that attain-ing good levels of fitness and strength requiredhours of training per week. That probably isn’ttrue.

An interdisciplinary research team atVirginia Tech, supported by ASPIRES funds,has developed a better understanding of themechanisms involved in inducing fitness andstrength adaptations. Their innovative worksuggests that, with specific prescriptive,progressive protocols, appreciable increases infitness and strength can be obtained in minimaltraining time per week. In addition, some newresearch shows that modest but focusedreductions in food intake combined with exercisecan lead to continued weight loss andmaintenance of weight loss over a two-yearperiod.

The team is recruiting participants foradditional studies. The team features JanetWojcik, Lesley Fox, Carrie Blankenburg, andRichard Winett from the Center for Research inHealth Behavior in the Department ofPsychology in the College of Arts and Sciencesand William Herbert and Sharon Nickols-Richardson from the Laboratory for Health andExercise Science in the Department of HumanNutrition, Foods, and Exercise in the College ofHuman Resources and Education.

Many people cite lack of time for exerciseand feelings of deprivation during weight-lossattempts as reasons they do not stick toprograms. In these respects, the Tech programmay help break barriers to exercise training andweight management.

The researchers are beginning anotherphase of their program and are activelyrecruiting participants. The program is a 16-week aerobic and strength-training programwith the possible addition of a nutrition andactivity program followed by a 12-week follow-up period. After baseline testing, participantswill be randomly placed in one of three possiblestudy groups. Participation takes only about 60to 90 minutes per week, with actual trainingsessions taking about 30 minutes twice perweek.

In exchange for their involvement in thestudy, participants will receive at no cost state-of-the-art assessments, including assessmentsof fitness, physical activity, strength, body com-position, bone-mineral density by DXA analy-sis, lipids, and nutrition.

Participants will also train at no cost in aprivate facility on North Main Street, with eachsession supervised by a personal trainer, andsome participants will also receive personalnutritional counseling. The total value of the

By Jean ElliottKusum Singh, a professor in educational

leadership and policy studies, questions thebelief that part-time jobs benefit high-schoolstudents.

Her research, which was published in TheJournal of Educational Research, suggests thatstudents who work more than 20 hours perweek take fewer math and science courses.Those students also perform more poorly ontests in those subjects than students who workfewer hours.

The unusually large study looked at morethan 26,000 sophomores and seniors from about1,000 high schools nation-wide. It examinedthe impact part-time work had on students’course-taking and their achievement on mathand science standardized tests. Even when socio-economic status and previous educationalachievement were taken into account, jobs stillhad a “significant negative effect” on coursework and achievement in math and science.

“The first 15 hours of work didn’t seem tomatter,” Singh said. “But after that, whenstudents are working 20 hours or more, it startsinterfering with school performance.”

The number of high-school studentsholding part-time jobs has risen steadily overthe past two decades. Forty-two percent ofhigh-school seniors, 33 percent of juniors, and15 percent of sophomores worked part time in1994, according to the U.S. Bureau of LaborStatistics. The United States is one of the fewindustrialized nations where adolescentscommonly both work and attend school.American students’ performance on science

and math tests has lagged compared with thatof other countries—an often-cited concern foreducation policymakers.

Singh’s study, like several others, foundno evidence that students suffer academicallyif they limit work to under 15 hours a week.Some research suggests that when a high per-centage of students at a school hold part-timejobs, the school’s teaching and learning atmo-sphere shifts because teachers begin to lowertheir expectations for student performance.

Singh believes a more critical look at theissue is needed. “The common wisdom sayswork is good for children, but that is moretheoretical than empirical,” she said.

STUDENT DEATH NOTICE

Cory J. Keeling, Pamplin College ofBusiness.