PHYSICS National Science Foundation awards $4.4 million grant, 4 AUTISM INSTITUTE $7 million grant will aid in study of disorder in toddlers, 7 SOCIOLOGY Sibling tension may be at the The Faculty-Staff Bulletin of Florida State University heart of bad behavior, 8 VolumeSTATE 43 • Number 1 June 30 - August 3, 2008 Atwell named president of FSU Alumni Association Florida State University Vice Presi- dent for University Relations Lee Hinkle has announced the appointment of Scott Atwell as president of the university’s Alumni Association. Atwell has served as the chief of staff in University Relations and as director of Special Projects over the past two years. The Florida State University Alumni Association has 27,000 active members and serves 270,000 alumni worldwide. “I have worked closely with Scott for many years now, and he has a solid track record of success,” Hinkle said. “He is exceptionally talented and has the will and ability to provide outstanding lead- ership for the Alumni Association.” Scott Atwell, president of the Alumni With extensive credentials that in- Association, standing in front of the Pearl Tyner clude a lengthy career in broadcasting, Welcome Center at the FSU Alumni Center.
Please see ATWELL, 12 FSU Photo Lab/Bill Lax Lab/Bill Photo FSU Eppes Professor to receive prestigious mathematics prize
By Jill Elish (SIAM) in San Diego, Calif., and deliver ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS the Reid Prize Lecture the following day. Florida State University Professor The prize includes an engraved medal Max Gunzburger will receive a presti- and a $10,000 cash award. gious mathematics prize in recognition “Joining the list of the very distin- of his work in computational mathemat- guished mathematicians who have previ- ics and developing mathematical models ously been awarded the Reid Prize is tru- of science and engineering problems. ly a great honor,” Gunzburger said. “It is Gunzburger, a Francis Eppes Profes- extremely gratifying to be recognized by sor and director of the School of Compu- my peers. At the same time, I recognize tational Science, will receive the W.T. and that my work has very much depended Idalia Reid Prize in Mathematics July 8 on the help of many colleagues, postdoc-
FSU Photo Lab/Bill Lax Lab/Bill Photo FSU at the annual meeting of the Society for toral researchers and especially students, Max Gunzburger Industrial and Applied Mathematics Please see GUNZBURGER, 8
Nine months after graduation, 99.6 percent of the Florida State University College of Law’s Class of SPREAD 2007 was employed, pursuing a graduate degree or not seeking work, according to the official data theWORD released by the National Association for Legal Career Professionals. 2 • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • STATE STATEThe Faculty-Staff Bulletin of Florida State University Vol. 43 • No. 1 unicomm.fsu.edu/pages/State.html
Editor in Chief hello!hello! Jeffery Seay
Writers Jill Elish LucyLucy HoHo Libby Fairhurst Barry Ray Bayard Stern
Director of News and Public Affairs Browning Brooks
Assistant V.P. and Director of University Communications Franklin D. Murphy
Vice President for University Relations Lee Hinkle
President of Florida State University T.K. Wetherell
Board of Trustees Chair Jim Smith When it comes to costuming students for the thing,thing, waswas II realizedrealized thatthat studentsstudents havehave nono timetime toto Vice Chair theatricaltheatrical andand operaticoperatic productionsproductions ofof FloridaFlorida eat out. One thing is the cost, another thing is the Harold Knowles StateState University,University, LucyLucy HoHo hashas itit allall sewnsewn up.up. timetime concern.concern. SoSo whenwhen studentsstudents finishfinish aa class,class, theythey The renowned Tallahassee seamtress has been come here and they can eat and run. I prepare extra Derrick Brooks The renowned Tallahassee seamtress has been come here and they can eat and run. I prepare extra Susie Busch-Transou craftingcrafting costumescostumes forfor FSUFSU sincesince 19681968 and,and, priorprior foodfood atat nightnight forfor 1010 oror 2020 people,people, dependingdepending onon Emily Fleming Duda toto that,that, diddid soso forfor thethe theatertheater departmentdepartment ofof thethe day.day. II knowknow whichwhich daysdays thatthat moremore studentsstudents areare David Ford IndianaIndiana UniversityUniversity whilewhile herher husband,husband, retiredretired FSUFSU likelylikely toto come.come. It’sIt’s nothingnothing fancy,fancy, justjust veryvery simple.simple. Manny Garcia professor Ting Jui “John” Ho, was finishing his Most of the time it’s chicken. Sometimes beef stew, William “Andy” Haggard doctorate in anthropology. But what most people sometimessometimes friedfried noodles.noodles. MostlyMostly itsits CollegeCollege ofof MusicMusic Laymon A. Hicks don’t know is that Mrs. Ho, who also is a local students,students, somesome businessbusiness schoolschool students,students, andand therethere James E. Kinsey Jr. restauranteur,restauranteur, regularlyregularly cookscooks lunchlunch forfor on-the-on-the- isis aa nicenice mixmix ofof Chinese,Chinese, JapaneseJapanese andand AmericanAmerican Richard McFarlain go FSU students who might be an ocean away people, and my assistants here. I was born in Taiwan, Leslie Pantin Jr. Lab/Ryals Lee Photo FSU Jayne Standley fromfrom homehome andand feelfeel isolated.isolated. MuchMuch moremore thanthan which used to be occupied by Japan. So I speak both costumescostumes areare mademade inin herher shopshop inin thethe basementbasement ofof Chinese and Japanese, so that’s why Chinese and The deadline for the thethe KuersteinerKuersteiner MusicMusic BuildingBuilding —— fellowshipfellowship andand JapaneseJapanese peoplepeople comecome here.here. II listenlisten toto thethe students,students, August 4 - 24, 2008, issue is a sense of belonging that grow out of heartfelt and they talk about their examinations and tell me 4:30 p.m. on TUESDAY, JULY 29. hospitality are Mrs. Ho’s specialty. about their problems. They think of me like a mother LH:LH: What happened, in beginning this lunch toto helphelp themthem andand guideguide them.them.
State is the faculty-staff bulletin of Florida State NewsMakers University. As the university’s document of record, it is “Thirty years ago, a family doctor could have had a panel of 1,500 patients and seen published 16 times annually by the Florida State University Communications Group — every three weeks during the fall them each for enough time, given them personal care and met all their needs. There was and spring semesters, and monthly during the summer. the ability for doctors to make a nuanced diagnosis that’s not possible in a more frag- Submissions should be e-mailed to [email protected]. mented, mobile society.” Dr. Robert Brooks, associate dean for health affairs and professor of Underwriting is handled by the Florida State University Communications Group. Inclusion of underwriting does not family medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine, as quoted May 14 in TIME constitute an endorsement of products or services. For rates, magazine. Brooks was discussing the reasons for the rise of medical “concierge” or “boutique” call Crystal Cumbo at (850) 487-3170, ext. 352. People with disabilities who require special practices, where patients pay higher premiums to receive such perks as “no-waiting” office visits accommodation for any event listed in State should call the unit that last longer and around-the-clock availability to their doctors. The personalized medical sponsoring the event, or for the hearing or speech impaired, use the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8770 (voice) or treatment used to be standard, but has been displaced by an insurance industry that rewards 1-800-955-8771 (TDD). Requests for accommodations must doctors for seeing more patients in less time. be received at least five working days before the event.State is available in alternative format upon request. FSU makes headlines around the world: www.fsu.edu/~unicomm/news
STATE • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • 3 proportion of neutrons to protons,” Ta- bor said. “The accelerator laboratory also is an ideal hands-on training ground for NSF awards Ph.D. students. We look forward to being able to provide even more students with these unique research opportunities.” physics department Nineteen students currently are pur- suing doctoral research in experimental The nuclear physics at FSU. They come from as close as Florida and as far away as BIG $4.4 million for India, drawn to FSU by research oppor- Story tunities unavailable at all but a handful of U.S. universities. More information nuclear research about the laboratory is available at www. physics.fsu.edu/nuclear. The past two years have been a pe- By Barry Ray at FSU and director of the university’s riod of substantial growth for FSU’s NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS John D. Fox Superconducting Accelera- nuclear physics program. In addition to Florida State University’s internation- tor Laboratory. “We are excited about the the development of RESOLUT, a nuclear ally renowned nuclear physics program opportunities it will provide for devel- theorist, Professor Winston Roberts, has will now expand its experimental ca- oping forefront research and for training joined the physics faculty. And in 2007, pabilities with a new $4.4-million grant students.” the physics department was chosen as from the National Science Foundation. Within Tabor’s laboratory, the NSF the host site for the National Nuclear FSU’s Department of Physics (www. grant will increase the capabilities of the Physics Summer School — a significant physics.fsu.edu) has just received a new RESOLUT rare ion facility, which en- honor typically accorded to the top nu- three-year grant from the NSF to fund a ables researchers to fire a beam of atomic clear physics programs at U.S. universi- research project titled “Studies of Nucle- particles through a steel tube at speeds ties. ar Reactions and Structure.” The project approaching 60 million miles per hour “As a member of the experimental will support fundamental research in — roughly one-tenth the speed of light nuclear group myself, I am obviously experimental nuclear physics and the — and then to observe the nuclear reac- very pleased with this wonderful news training of doctoral students for service tions that occur. Knowledge of such reac- — but as the chair of the department, I to the nation in scientific research, educa- tions is critical to the field of astrophysics am doubly pleased,” said Mark Riley, the tion and national security, as well as the and the interpretation of observations Raymond K. Sheline Professor of Phys- enhancement of economic competitive- made by new astronomical observatories ics at FSU. “This renewal award is a most ness. around the world. significant vote of confidence by our “This grant expresses a great vote “Using RESOLUT, we are able to peers and the NSF of the continued vital- of confidence in our laboratory by the study how the most fundamental prop- ity and impact of the research carried out NSF,” said Samuel L. Tabor, the Nor- erty of nuclear structure, the shells, by the outstanding nuclear faculty and
man P. Heydenburg Professor of Physics changes with increasing imbalance in the students at FSU.”
FSU Photo Lab/Bill Lax Lab/Bill Photo FSU
FSU Photo Lab/Ryals Lee Photo FSU FSU Photo Lab/Michele Edmunds Photo FSU Sam Tabor Mark Riley Winston Roberts
4 • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • STATE New research center debuts name, mission ‘Diversity’ office A new research center at Florida State develop research-based training and as- University will use research to support sessment tools.” takes new name, successful learning and assessment. CALA’s roots reach back to 1972, As a pioneer in the design of multi- when it began as the Career Education continues vital media instructional materials and cus- Curriculum Laboratory, created to assist tomized assessments, the aptly named the Division of Vocational Education with mission Center for Advancement of Learning and establishing career education in Florida. Florida State University’s Office Assessment (CALA) will Throughout the years, of Diversity and Equal Opportu- seek and develop alter- the center has provided nity, formerly known as the Office natives that both inform products and services for of Diversity and Compliance, has a policymakers and provide assessment, evaluation, new name but will continue to pro- practical applications for training and multimedia vide the same vital services. educators. Formerly part of the Center development to government, nonprofit Located within the FSU Office for Information, Training and Evaluation and private-sector agencies. of Human Resources, the Office of Services, CALA is located at the universi- Past and current clients include the Diversity and Equal Opportunity ty’s research and development complex Florida Departments of Education, En- is responsible for advancing and and begins operations July 1. vironmental Protection, Transportation, monitoring the policies and pro- “We take a holistic approach to in- Law Enforcement, and Children and cedures that affect the university’s struction, learning and assessment,” said Families, Florida Fish and Wildlife Con- Equal Employment Opportunity Faranak Rohani, the director of CALA. servation Commission, Tallahassee Fire (EEO), Affirmative Action (AA), “Our goal is to help our clients consider Department and Behavior Analyst, Inc. Americans with Disabilities Act the entire cycle of learning without sacri- To learn more about CALA, visit (ADA) and diversity and inclusion ficing any one element. To that end, we www.cala.fsu.edu or call (850) 645-CALA programs and initiatives. collaborate with them to set goals and (2252). In addition to conducting statis- tical analyses to ensure compliance FSU recognized for efforts in loss prevention with government reporting obliga- tions, the office’s responsibilities Florida State University’s Department The award recognizes Environmen- also include: of Environmental Health and Safety has tal Health and Safety’s dedicated efforts •Investigating complaints of received the “Award of Distinction for in loss prevention through an objective harassment, discrimination and/or Loss Prevention” from the state of Flor- comparison of the university’s safety retaliation; ida’s Interagency Advisory Council On program to established best practices in •Assisting with informal dis- Loss Prevention. loss prevention. The Interagency Advi- pute resolution through the Em- Dave Wiggins, chairman of the Inter- sory Council recognized FSU as having ployee Ombudsperson Program; agency Advisory Council, and Alex Sink, a safety program that far exceeds mini- •Evaluating requests for rea- Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, present- mum standards for recognition. sonable accommodation pursuant ed the award during a May 7 ceremony The Florida Department of Finan- to the ADA; to Environmental Health and Safety’s di- cial Services Division of Risk Manage- •Monitoring campus accessi- rector, Tom Jacobson, and assistant direc- ment sponsors the Interagency Advisory bility to include disabled parking, tor, Paul Burress. Council. structural compliance of build- ings, alert systems, university com- This month’s “FSU Headlines” mon areas, telecommunication and television show highlights Florida transportation; State University’s Center for Academ- •Conducting standardized or ic Retention and Enhancement, known customized training for employees as CARE, and features a story about a in the areas of EEO and diversity; unique College of Business program: •Monitoring University em- The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for ployment practices to ensure non- Veterans with Disabilities. “FSU Head- program is seen statewide on the Sun discrimination; and lines” debuts on WFSU-TV channel 11 Sports network (Tallahassee Comcast •Developing programs and ini- (Tallahassee Comcast Cable channel 5) Cable channel 28) every Tuesday and tiatives that promote and support a July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday each month on Sun Sports diverse work and educational envi- “FSU Headlines” also can be seen at 7:30 a.m. ronment. beginning July 16 on 4-FSU (Talla- In addition, “FSU Headlines” vid- For more information or assis- hassee Comcast Cable channel 4) on eo stories can be viewed anytime on tance, employees are encouraged Mondays at 6 p.m., Wednesdays at the Internet by logging on to www. to call the Office of Diversity and 9:30 p.m., and Fridays at 7 p.m. The fsu.com/video. Equal Opportunity, 645-6519, or go visit www.diversity.fsu.edu.
STATE • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • 5 20 and 14 million years ago. Florida that could be directly affected FSU’s latest Antarctic sediment by the future behavior of the Antarctic core acquisition was extracted from Ice Sheets and any resulting sea-level ‘New’ ancient deep beneath the sea floor of Antarcti- changes. By studying these glacial re- ca’s western Ross Sea, the Earth’s larg- cords of the past, geologists and cli- est floating ice body. The new samples matologists seek to better predict the Antarctic ––segments of a drill core that mea- future.” sures more than 1,100 meters in length The new cores came to FSU com- –– offer an extraordinary stratigraphic pliments of ANDRILL (ANtarctic geo- sediment record of sedimentary rock from the logical DRILLing), an international Antarctic continental margin that collaboration among more than 120 documents key developments in the scientists –– plus drillers, engineers, reveals climate area’s Cenozoic climatic and glacial educators and technicians –– from history. Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the By correlating that stratigraphic United States. FSU’s Antarctic Marine change history record with existing data and climate Geology Research Facility and its staff and ice sheet models, scientists from and associated geological science fac- By Libby Fairhurst FSU and around the world will be ulty play a key ANDRILL role, pro- NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS able to learn how local changes in the viding both on-the-ice curatorial ser- Southern Ocean region relate to re- vices during the drilling season and gional and global climate events. a permanent repository for the core Recent additions to the premier “Such knowledge will significantly samples recovered during the project. collection of Southern Ocean sedi- increase our understanding of Ant- In fact, earlier this spring, some 100 ment cores at Florida State Universi- arctica’s potential responses to future ANDRILL scientists and educators, in- ty’s Antarctic Marine Geology Research global-scale climate changes,” said cluding seven from the FSU “on-ice” Facility have given international sci- Sherwood W. Wise, Jr., an FSU geolog- curatorial team, converged at the Ant- entists a close-up look at fluctuations ical science professor and co-principal arctic Marine Geology Research Facil- that occurred in Antarctica’s ice sheet investigator at the Antarctic Marine ity core repository. They re-examined and marine and terrestrial life as the Geology Research Facility. “This is the latest core acquisitions to refine climate cooled considerably between critical for low-lying regions such as Please see SEDIMENT CORES, 7
6 • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • STATE SEDIMENT CORES from page 6 FSU, U. of Michigan to share $7 million their descriptions of the material and grant to study autism early intervention took additional samples for tests to extract even more information about By Doug Carlson children, we must develop treatment COLLEGE OF MEDICINE their history and the conditions under methods and family supports that are which the sediments were deposited. Researchers know that early inter- appropriate for toddlers. This is the Those hard-won, deep-sea sedi- vention is the key to better outcomes purpose of this study.” ment cores may be millions of years for children with autism spectrum dis- The researchers expect that the old, but the scientists found them in orders (ASD), but the effectiveness of study will provide important evidence mint condition at FSU. The Antarctic intervention with very young toddlers of parent-implemented intervention research facility carefully curates the is not yet known. for toddlers and will substantiate that samples in its large, 6,000-square-foot With a $7 million grant from the autism screening for toddlers is cru- refrigerated “Cold Room,” which is National Institutes of Mental Health, cial for families to access early inter- maintained at 34 F, temperatures gen- Florida State University and Universi- vention. erally found at the bottom of the sea. ty of Michigan researchers aim to find “The sediment cores recovered dur- out how effective early intervention is ing this year’s successful ANDRILL for children diagnosed with ASD by expedition have filled in a major gap the time they are 18 months old. The in the most direct record of the ice ac- study is one of the largest of its kind tivity yet recovered from the period of and one of the first to explore inter- about 20 to 14 million years ago,” said vention in children that young. Wise, who serves ANDRILL as a par- Amy Wetherby, professor of clini- ticipating (off-ice) scientist and mem- cal sciences and director of the FSU ber of its U.S. advisory committee. Autism Institute in the College of “The 1,139 meters of core retrieved, 98 Medicine, is principal investigator on percent intact, records the critical tran- the NIMH grant, along with UM Pro- sition from times warmer than today fessor Catherine Lord. to the onset of major cooling between “A preliminary study at FSU dem- about 14 to 13 million years ago when onstrated the feasibility and promis- a semi-permanent ice sheet formed ing results of this early intervention,” across most of Antarctica.” Wetherby said. “With the new funding Lab/Ryals Lee Photo FSU That record was created, said Wise, from NIMH, we will be able to train Amy Wetherby because sediments deposited close to researchers at the University of Michi- or beneath grounded glaciers alternate gan on early intervention and conduct Symptoms of ASD at 18 months with marine sediments, providing a large-scale study to examine the im- old include a lack of appropriate gaze; clear evidence of cyclical ice advances pact on toddlers with ASD and their lack of using eye gaze with sounds, followed by substantial retreats and families. The findings will underscore gestures and facial expression; lack of reflecting variations in sea-level, gla- the importance of early detection of sharing interest or enjoyment; lack of cial and climate fluctuations. The new ASD leading to early intervention.” response to name; lack of warm, joyful stratigraphic section housed at FSU Wetherby and Lord, the director of expressions; lack of showing or point- will allow scientists to devise more UM’s Autism and Communications ing gestures to get others to notice accurate models of the timing of past Disorders Center, will recruit 100 tod- objects or things of interest; unusual ice-sheet movements, volume changes dlers younger than 18 months old who melody of speech or babbling; and and variability, and paleotemperature have been diagnosed with ASD. Previ- repetitive movements with objects or fluctuations, and will enable a better ous research has shown that children with the body. understanding of the development 3 to 5 years old with ASD have the No single red flag indicates that a of Antarctica’s terrestrial and marine best outcomes if they are actively en- child has ASD, and a child with ASD life. gaged in intervention at least 25 hours may not show all of these characteris- The Antarctic Marine Geology Re- a week. Because children with ASD tics, according to Wetherby and Lord. search Facility was established at FSU typically are not diagnosed prior to However, children who show several in 1963 through the National Science age 3, research is not available on the should be screened for possible ASD. Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs effectiveness of earlier intervention. Parents of 16- to 20-month-old and now serves as the national reposi- “The future for children with ASD is children suspected of having ASD tory for geological material from the changing every day as we create more who are interested in participating in Southern ocean. It functions as one of services to support their strengths and the study should call the FSU FIRST the university’s two user facilities (the address or prevent difficulties,” Lord WORDS Project at (850) 488-5780 or National High Magnetic Field Labora- said. “As we develop ways of iden- the UM Autism and Communication tory is the other) for visiting research- tifying ASD in younger and younger Disorders Center at (743) 936-8600. ers from around the globe. STATE • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • 7 Low grades, bad behavior? Siblings may be to blame
By Jill Elish ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
We all know the story of a man named representative study of more than 11,000 Brady and the group that somehow adolescents in grades 7 through 12 in the formed a family. But if the iconic ‘70s United States. Her study is published in sitcom about a “blended” family reflected the journal Social Science Research. reality, the Brady Bunch likely would All stepfamilies are not equal — at have been dealing with much more than least in terms of their impact on children’s silly sibling squabbles. academic performance. Surprisingly, Here’s the real story: On average, teens who live in the most seemingly adolescents living with half- or complicated family arrangement of all stepsiblings have lower grades and more — those with both half- and stepsiblings school-related behavior problems, and fare better than those who live with only these problems may not improve over stepsiblings or only half-siblings. Tillman time, according to Florida State University theorized that perhaps the decision of
Assistant Professor of Sociology Kathryn the parents in these families to have Lab/Ryals Lee Photo FSU Harker Tillman. a biological child together reflects a Kathryn Harker Tillman “These findings imply that family stable relationship or one in which child formation patterns that bring together rearing is especially important. Only 1 children who have different sets of percent of youth in Tillman’s study lived had been living with their half- or biological parents may not be in the in this so-called complex blended sibling stepsiblings and found that it didn’t best interests of the children involved,” composition, however. really matter. Things did not tend to Tillman said. “Yet one-half of all Boys living with half- or stepsiblings improve with time. American stepfamilies include children appear to have the hardest time coping, “We cannot assume that over time, from previous relationships of both with average GPAs one-quarter of a children will naturally ‘adjust’ to the new partners, and the majority of parents in letter grade lower than boys who live roles and relationships that arise when stepfamilies go on to have additional with only full siblings. Girls with half- or families are blended,” she said. “This children together.” stepsiblings also had lower GPAs than research indicates that the effects of new Many studies have focused on the those living with only full siblings, but stepsiblings or half siblings may actually structure of parent-child relations in the difference was much smaller. Boys become more negative over time or, at connection to academic achievement, and girls in these types of families also the least, remain consistently negative.” but Tillman’s study is unique in that had more school behavioral problems, it focuses on the composition of the such as trouble paying attention, getting To date, this story, produced by FSU entire family unit. Tillman studied data homework done and getting along with News and Public Affairs, has been viewed from the National Longitudinal Study teachers and other students. by 953 reporters on the Eurekalert! on- of Adolescent Health, a nationally Tillman looked at how long children line science news service.
GUNZBURGER His research involves developing, ana- nessee. He began his career as a research from page 1 lyzing, implementing and applying com- scientist and assistant professor at New putational algorithms to help engineers York University and followed that with so I feel the prize also belongs to them.” and scientists solve problems in areas in- research positions at the Naval Ordnance SIAM established the Reid Prize in cluding aerodynamics, materials, acous- Laboratory and the Institute for Computer 1993 to recognize outstanding work in, tics, climate change, groundwater, image Applications in Science and Engineering. or other contributions to, the broadly de- processing, risk assessment and super- He received his doctorate in 1969 fined areas of differential equations and conductivity. from New York University, where he also control theory. The prize, one of the most For example, he has developed algo- earned his bachelor’s and master’s de- coveted in the field of applied mathemat- rithms for controlling fluid flows in order grees. ics, is awarded annually and may be giv- to reduce the drag around moving objects, Gunzburger is a member of SIAM and en either for a single notable achievement such as airplane wings. The practical im- has served as editor-in-chief of the SIAM or a collection of achievements. plications of such research could mean a Journal on Numerical Analysis and as Gunzburger came to FSU in 2002 from reduction of fuel consumption in com- chair of the Board of Trustees of SIAM. Iowa State University where he served as mercial aircraft. SIAM is an international community of a distinguished professor and chair of the Before Iowa State, Gunzburger was on more than 11,000 members, including ap- mathematics department. As an Eppes the faculty of Virginia Polytechnic Insti- plied and computational mathematicians, professor, Gunzburger is among the uni- tute and State University; Carnegie Mel- computer scientists and other scientists versity’s most eminent scholars. lon University; and the University of Ten- and engineers. 8 • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • STATE btw by the way >>The Office of University Communications holds a >>The Florida State University regular meeting for campus Police Department Foundation will public information officers and development professionals on the hold its third annual William Tanner second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 8:30 Golf Tournament July 24 at the Don Veller to 9 a.m. in 211 Westcott Building. Chaired by Assistant Seminole Golf Course, 2550 Pottsdamer Road. Tee time Vice President Frank Murphy, the “Comm Group” gives will be at 8 a.m., with each of the 32 four-person teams each person the chance to discuss upcoming events, competing for cash prizes and awards. All proceeds from campus initiatives or projects, or relevant issues as they the tournament will go toward benefiting the FSUPD pertain to media exposure or notification. Foundation. To learn about team registration, call Sgt. Employees who would like to receive a reminder to Herb Sweeney, (850) 644-1234, or visit www.police.fsu. attend the meetings may e-mail Mary Elizabeth Fox at edu. [email protected].
Honoring Holocaust educators FSU Photo Lab/Ryals Lee Photo FSU During Florida State University’s 15th annual Holocaust Institute for Educators, which was held June 22-28, four educators were recognized for their long-term commitment to its success by Neil Betten, FSU’s Dorothy and Jonathan Rintels Professor Emeritus of History, who has served as the institute’s director since its inception. Jan Karl Tanenbaum, an FSU professor emeritus of history, was recognized for 14 years of participation. The other three, recognized for 15 years each, were Susan Carol Losh, an FSU associate professor of educational psychology and learning systems; Monte S. Finkelstein, a Tallahassee Community College professor of history and dean of the TCC Division of History and Social Sciences; and Mark Goldman, a TCC professor of history and chairman of the TCC Honors Program. Pictured above, from left, are Tanenbaum, Betten, Losh, Finkelstein and Goldman. Over the past 15 years, 588 current and prospective teachers have been given instruction in how to teach the Holocaust in schools and colleges throughout Florida and the Southeast.
STATE • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • 9 RECOGNITIONS visitors and staff members have studied fundamental Tim Burke (University Po- concepts of fluid dynamics in lice, Panama City Campus) was oceanography, meteorology, recognized by the administra- CAMPUS Earth sciences and astrophys- tion of Gulf Coast Community ics. The program has been held College with the Being There at Woods Hole Oceanographic Award for his work on a sto- Institute since 1959, during len property investigation IN ACTION a 10-week summer session. that resulted in an arrest and One of the four founders was confession. The FSU Police De- Melvin Stern, Ph.D. (Ekman partment has an agreement to honorarium at the 22nd annual PRESENTATIONS Professor Emeritus of Ocean- help police the campus of Gulf meeting of the Sleep Research ography), recently retired from Coast Community College, Society, Baltimore, June. Carol Anne Clayson, Ph.D. the FSU Department of Ocean- which is across the street from (Meteorology, Geophysical ography and an associate of the FSU Panama City Campus. BYLINES Fluid Dynamics Institute), gave GFDI. Juan R. Guardia, Ph.D. the invited talk “Using a New Marin Dell, J.D., M.L.I.S. (Multicultural Affairs), has Anter El-Azab, Ph.D. (Com- Storm Surge Index to Evaluate (Law), and Elizabeth Farrell, been named as the recipi- putational Science and Materi- Changes in Surge Associated J.D. (Law), presented “When ent of the Outstanding Young als Science and Engineering), With Possible Climate Chang- to Jump on the IT Bandwag- Professional Award from the wrote the article “The Statisti- es” to a symposium of the on, When to Jump Off … and College of Human Sciences at cal Mechanics of Strain-Hard- American Geophysical Union When to Keep a Wary Eye on Iowa State University, Ames, ened Metals” published in the at its meeting of the America’s the Sidelines” at a conference Iowa. Guardia will receive the journal Science, Vol. 320, June. Joint Assembly, May, Fort Lau- of the Center for Computer- award in October. J.B. Ruhl, Ph.D., J.D. (Mat- derdale, Fla. At the same sym- Assisted Legal Instruction, Uni- Michael Rodes, Justin thews & Hawkins Professor of posium, the FSU Geophysical versity of Maryland School of Maloy, Scott Barrett, Ben Property, Law), co-wrote the Fluid Dynamics’ Program for Law, Baltimore, Md., June. Buckley and Hank Jacob book “The Law and Policy of Excellence in Geophysical Edu- Christine Franzetti, M.Ed. (University Police, Motor Unit) Ecosystem Services,” with Chris cation was presented an award (Thagard Student Health Cen- recently competed in the Mo- Lant and Steve Kraft, published that recognized its founding, ter), presented “Bobby’s TRUE torcycle Rodeo, a competition by Island Press, 2007. A review operation and continued par- Seminole Tailgate: Alcohol- involving 20 teams and more of the book, written by Robert ticipation for more than 50 Free Tailgating Celebration at than 80 riders, Charleston S.C. Costanza, was published in the years, in which time more than Home Football Games for Col- Rodes, Maloy, Barrett, Buckley journal Ecological Restoration. 500 student-fellows and 1,000 lege Students” at the 2008 an- and Jacob were awarded 4th nual meeting of the American place for the overall team com- News and Public Affairs wins national CASE award College Health Association, petition and 5th place for the Orlando, Fla., June; and will team Slow Ride competition. The five-member staff Power of Attraction” with psy- serve as the 2008-2009 chair- Rodes and Maloy received 4th of News and Public Affairs, chology Professor Jon Maner; elect for the Alcohol, Tobacco place honors for the Tether Florida State University’s of- “FSU Researchers Developing and Other Drugs Coalition of Ride, and Barrett received 9th ficial news and information Diagnostic ‘Lab On a Chip’” the American College Health place in the Advanced Road office, has won the Silver about a small device being Association; and will serve as King individual competition. Award in the national Coun- developed by biochemistry chairwoman of the Florida Friedrich K. “Fred” Steph- cil for the Advancement and professor Thomas Fischer; Higher Education Alliance for an, Ph.D. (Curt P. Richter Dis- Support of Education (CASE) “Fat is the New Normal, FSU Substance Abuse Prevention tinguished Professor of Psy- news writing competition. In Researcher Says” reporting until May 2010. chology and Neuroscience), the “General News Writing” on research conducted by Elizabeth Goldsmith, Ph.D. received the Sleep Research category, two stories by Jill economics Professor Frank (Human Sciences, Fulbright Society’s Outstanding Sci- Elish, two by Barry Ray and Heiland; and “Working Hard Scholar), presented the semi- entific Achievement Award one by Libby Fairhurst were Or Hardly Working? FSU Re- nar “Skyrocketing Gas and for his seminal discovery of submitted by News and Pub- searcher Studies Effects of Food Prices and the Real Estate the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus lic Affairs editor and Director Job Simplification On - Em Downturn: How U.S. Couples (SCN) as circadian pacemaker, Browning Brooks as a team ployee Productivity” featur- and Families are Managing” which is credited with helping entry. ing the research of manage- at the University of the West to launch the field of circadian The stories were: “One of ment Assistant Professor Ste- Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad rhythm research. For this ma- Deep Ocean’s Most Turbulent phen Humphrey. and Tobago, June. jor scientific contribution to Areas Has Big Impact on Cli- In winning second place, Amy Magnuson, M.S. the field, Stephan, along with mate” featuring the research the FSU team bested public (Thagard Student Health Cen- Robert Moore and Irving Zuck- of Assistant Professor Louis St. and private university and ter), presented “Diet and Ex- er, received the award that in- Laurent; “Can’t Take My Eyes college public affairs offices ercise Behaviors of College Off You: FSU Study Shows the from across the country. cluded a plaque and a $1,000 Please see CIA, 11
10 • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • STATE •OMNI-TE-2189, Travel and Expense for Representatives and Approvers (4440): July 15-T, News 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; •OMNI-TE-2189, Travel and Expense for Representatives and Approvers (4451): July 29-T, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; The •HR-PCARD-100, PCARD Proxy Training - New Proxies (4390): July 18-R, 2-4 p.m.; A6301 Human University Center; Resources •OMNI-SP-2089, Sponsored Programs Proposal Development (4237): July 22-T, 9-11 Source a.m.; 301 Student Services Building; •OMNI-SP-2189, Compliance for Sponsored Programs (4243): July 22-R, 2-4 p.m.; 301 Student Services Building; and TRAINING AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT •OMNI-SP-2489, OMNI Inquiry for Sponsored Projects (4252): July 24-R, 2-4 p.m.; 301 Student Services Building. >>TRAINING CLASSES: The Office of Human Resources’ Train- Registration: hr.fsu.edu/train (reference the 4-digit class ID). ing and Organizational Development summer schedule of classes Information: 644-8724. is available on the HR Training Web site: hr.fsu.edu. The following classes are free to employees and are held at the >>NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION: New employees can meet Training Center, Stadium Place, unless otherwise indicated: the orientation requirement either online or in a classroom. To reg- •ADA/EEO: Avoiding Minefields in Employment Practices (for supervisors and BSP) (4314): ister for either version, visit hr.fsu.edu. July 30-W, 2-4:30 p.m.; •The online option is easy to access, self-paced and always avail- •Compensation Processes (4161): July 21-M, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; able. Each participant must certify their completion of online New •Building A Healthy Financial Lifestyle (certificate series), session III (4374): July 12-Sat., Employee Orientation by faxing a completed copy of the “Certifica- 8:30 a.m.-noon; tion of Completion and Evaluation of Orientation” form to the Of- •Business Writing Certificate Series (certificate series); fice of Training and Organizational Development, as indicated on •Recording Meeting Minutes: The Art of Note Taking (4174): July 16-W, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; the form. •DROP (Metlife) (4358): July 2-W, 10-11 a.m.; •For those who prefer a classroom session, a schedule of the •Family Medical Leave Act (4300): July 22-T, 8:30-10:30 a.m.; on-site New Employee Orientation sessions are available, as well •FSU Culture and Ethics (for supervisors and BSP) (4318): July 9-W, 9-11 a.m.; as the registration form and location information, at hr.fsu.edu. Se- •Fundamentals of Discipline and Collective Bargaining Contract Administration (for super- lect the “New Employee Information” link to access information on visors and BSP) (4164): July 23-W, 1-4 p.m.; each of these options. Information: Pat Mullins or Sandra Dixon, •HR Faculty Processes (4298): July 17-R, 1-4 p.m.; 644-8724. •Interview Techniques (for supervisors and BSP) (4166): July 16-W, 1:30-5 p.m.; •Leading a Team (for supervisors and BSP) (4321): July 10-R, 2-4:30 p.m.; and >>A&P PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS: A&P employees must •Team Dynamics (for supervisors and BSP) (4329): July 17-R, 8:30-11 a.m. have their performance evaluated annually by their supervisors. It Registration: hr.fsu.edu/train (reference the 4-digit class ID). is important that these performance evaluations be completed in Information: 644-8724. a timely manner. The evaluations ensure that employees receive feedback on their performance and are a constructive tool to pro- >>OMNI TRAINING: mote improvement and development. •OMNI-GL-1000, Accounting and Budgeting Concepts (4215): July 23-W, 9 a.m.-noon; Evaluations for the 2007-2008 academic year, ending Aug. 7, •OMNI-GL-3000, Advanced General Ledger - Reporting and Using Optional Chart Fields should be completed and forwarded to the Office of Human Re- (4474): July 30-W, 8:30-11:30 a.m., A6301 University Center; sources by Aug. 29. Performance evaluations are not required •OMNI-GL-2000, General Ledger Journal Processing and Reporting (4219): July 23-W, for A&P employees who have been employed for less than three 1:30-4:30 p.m., A6301 University Center; months. •OMNI-HR-3100, eTime for Time and Labor Representatives and Supervisors 8.9 Employees with questions regarding the evaluation procedure (4228): July 16-W, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; can reference Section OP-C-7-G1 of the Division of Finance and •OMNI-TE-2589, Travel Card (4446): July 17-R, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; Administration/Human Resources’ Policies and Procedures, or call •OMNI-TE-2589, Travel Card (4447): July 31-R, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; Employee and Labor Relations at 644-6475.
CIA Frank P. Tomasulo, Ph.D. at the first annual Made in from page 10 (Motion Picture, Television and the Bronx Film Festival, Bronx Recording Arts), chaired a pan- Community College. Students” at the 2008 annual Michael J. Mondello, Ph.D. el on ethnic identities at the meeting of the Southern Col- (Sport and Recreation Man- “The Sopranos’ Wake” confer- SERVICE lege Health Association, Savan- agement), participated in a ence held at Fordham Univer- nah, Ga., April; and co-present- symposium and presented the sity, New York City, and deliv- Dan Moore (Thagard Stu- ed “Nutrition Concerns of Col- paper “To Build or Not to Build: ered the paper “The Gangster dent Health Center) served as lege Students,” with Heather Examining the Public Discourse as Guinea Hero: The Complex the 2007-2008 statewide coor- Fisher, M.S. (Thagard Student Regarding St. Petersburg’s Sta- Representation of Italian dinator for the national BAC- Health Center), at the 2008 an- dium Plan” at the 23rd annual Americans in ‘The Sopranos’”; CHUS Network, an acronym for nual meeting of the American North American Society Sport Tomasulo gave a keynote ad- Boosting Alcohol Conscious- College Health Association, Management Conference, To- dress, “’Marty’ (1954): A Bronx ness Concerning the Health of Orlando, Fla., June. ronto, Calif., June. Tale or an Everyman Story?” University Students. STATE • June 30 - August 3, 2008 • 11 Sunflower debate ends in Mexico, researchers say By Jill Elish Pohl said. state of Morelos in the form of three large ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS In fact, the researchers argue that af- achenes, or shells. Ancient farmers were growing sunflow- ter the Spanish Conquest, the Spaniards “The Cueva del Gallo shells are in ex- ers in Mexico more than 4,000 years before tried to suppress cultivation of the sun- cellent condition and have unmistakable the Spaniards arrived, according to a team flower because of its association with so- sunflower traits, removing all doubt about of researchers that includes Florida State lar religion and warfare. the pre-Columbian presence of domesticat- University anthropologist Mary D. Pohl. José Luis Alvarado from Mexico’s In- ed sunflower in Mexico,” Pohl said. In an article published in the jour- stitute of Anthropology and History, Rob- Furthermore, the Mexican sunflow- nal PNAS (Proceedings of the National ert Bye from the Independent National er achenes are significantly larger than Academy of Sciences), Pohl and lead University of Mexico, and UC graduate those from eastern North America pro- author David Lentz of the University of student Somayeh Tarighatis also are co- viding further evidence that the Mexican Cincinnati said their evidence confirms authors of the PNAS study. The research domestication was a separate process. that farmers began growing sunflowers was funded by grants from the National One of the achenes was radiocarbon dat- in Mexico by 2600 B.C. The paper is in re- Science Foundation and the National Geo- ed to about 300 BC. sponse to scientists who still believe that graphic Society. Ancient people used the Cueva del Gal- sunflowers were first domesticated as an Pohl and Kevin Pope of Geo Eco Arc lo cave for rituals, even bringing their dead agricultural crop in eastern North Amer- Research discovered the early domesticat- to be buried there, Pohl said. Mesoameri- ica and that the Spaniards introduced the ed remains of sunflower a decade ago dur- can people traditionally believed that caves sunflower to Mexico from further north. ing an excavation of the San Andrés site in were the conduit for the passage of the sun “The evidence shows that sunflower the modern-day Gulf Coast state of Tabas- beneath the Earth at night and the home was actually domesticated twice — in co. Alvarado found more evidence for do- of fertility deities as well as the avenue of Mexico and then again hundreds of miles mesticated sunflower in a dry cave deposit communication with their ancestors in the away in the Middle Mississippi Valley,” at Cueva del Gallo in the west Mexican Underworld.
ATWELL duced, written and directed several of vice president for Student Affairs. from page 1 Florida State’s institutional messages for The consummate innovator, Atwell national television broadcasts. was the co-creator and host in 1995 of the marketing and promotions, Atwell first “Scott is a talented and creative leader, “FSU Headlines” television show, which joined the FSU administration in 1994 who has worked closely with the alumni continues to be broadcast statewide. He and directed its television and radio pro- and friends of Florida State,” said Wil- also was the co-creator in 1994 of the duction operations. liam G. Smith, chairman of the board, “FSU Headlines” radio program, which He created the Visual Media and Pro- president and chief executive officer of is still broadcast three times each week- motions Department within the Universi- the Capital City Bank Group. Smith has day across northern Florida. ty Communications Division and served chaired the boards of directors of the An accomplished speaker and pre- as its first director from 1998 to 2005. Alumni Association and the Foundation. senter, Atwell has served as master of “I have had the pleasure of working Atwell also managed FSU’s internal, ceremonies for many of the university’s directly with Scott on several projects, universitywide communications during most important events, including its and I believe he has the management emergencies — such as hurricanes — re- 150th anniversary celebration in 2001. skills, the people skills and the talent laying critical information to more than A native of Key West, Atwell moved to help the Alumni Association grow 50,000 faculty, staff and students and to Tallahassee in 1983 and worked as a and thrive,” said Reubin Askew, former their friends and relatives. graduate assistant to former FSU Sports Florida governor and currently an FSU In 1997, Atwell was the recipient of the Information Director Wayne Hogan. eminent scholar. A former FSU student university’s Gabor Superior Accomplish- Later he would go on to become a government president, Askew was a field ment Award for his writing and produc- sportscaster and the voice of the Semi- secretary for the Alumni Association in tion of a two-and-a-half-hour documen- noles for the CBS affiliate in Tallahassee, the 1950s and was named Alumnus of tary on the university’s history. WCTV, where he quickly rose to the po- the Century by the late President Emeri- In a series entitled “My Secret to Suc- sition of sports director. Atwell’s highly tus Bernard F. Sliger. cess,” Atwell traveled extensively, inter- creative and often-humorous sportscasts In University Communications, viewing high-profile alumni throughout became hugely popular and attracted Atwell managed a wide range of public the country for the FSU Headlines show sports fans and non-fans alike, and he affairs, marketing, and promotional op- and other promotion pieces for the uni- became well known throughout the Tal- portunities, including alumni and aca- versity and its Alumni Association. Atwell lahassee area and northern Florida. demic internal publications and online also was the writer, producer and host for Atwell also has served as a part-time Web content. He has worked closely “The Credit Card Monster,” a nationally adjunct faculty member in the College with FSU presidents, vice presidents and acclaimed video that offers sage advice of Communication. In 2003 the Tallahas- deans on strategic communications for to students trying to manage their credit see chapter of the Florida Public Rela- the university, as well as with presidents while attending the university. “Scott has tions Association honored Atwell with of the Alumni Association, Foundation shown exceptional ability to work with its first-ever “Communicator of the Year and Seminole Boosters. And he has pro- students and alumni,” said Mary Coburn, Award.”