'We Fight for the Future of This Classic American Research University'
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■ Four faculty receive NSF CAREER awards, page 4 Inside ■ Parents benefit from ‘Dinner on Us’ program, page 8 The Campus Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 21 February 14, 2003 for the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts News Briefs ‘We fight for the future of this classic UMass Police to step up child safety efforts American research university’ The UMass Police Depart- ment will conduct additional traffic enforcement, with spe- cial emphasis on safety belt Lombardi invokes call to and child safety seat viola- tions, during Child Passenger action in inaugural address Safety Week, Feb. 10-16. The enforcement initiative Sarah R. Buchholz skills and the hope that he has CHRONICLE STAFF is part of the department’s brought them for the campus. participation in the Gover- Coming from as near as Hill- “He is the most honest, most nor’s Highway Safety side, the Chancellor’s residence, unpretentious, most effective aca- Bureau’s Click It or Ticket and from as far as Venezuela, fam- demic leader I have known,” said Campaign. UMass Amherst ily, friends, colleagues, and admir- John Ryan, former president of In- is the only university police ers traveled through falling snow diana University, where Lombardi department in the state par- Feb. 7 to see John V. Lombardi in- taught history and served as ticipating in the grant-funded augurated as chancellor of the dean of international programs program. Amherst campus. and dean of arts and sciences, “Our extra traffic enforce- Lombardi, who has served as among other things. ment during Child Passenger chancellor since July 1, was in- “You have given the student Safety Week will serve to re- vested by Board of Trustees chair body at UMass something that is mind everyone that Massa- Grace Fey and President William hard to find: hope,” said David chusetts law requires chil- M. Bulger, as other members of Carr, president of the Student dren 12 and under to be prop- the board and alumni, officers of Government Association. He erly restrained in a child the University and state and fed- added that Lombardi is “in the safety seat, booster seat or eral dignitaries looked on. trenches with the students, dig- safety belt,” said Chief Bar- Serenaded by the University ging to a better student life.” bara R. O’Connor. “This is a Wind Ensemble, directed by Mu- Germán Carrera Damas, doctor primary enforcement law, sic and Dance lecturer Steven of history at the Universidad Cen- which means an officer can Dennis Bodner, and the Univer- tral de Venezuela and former Ven- stop a driver for just having a sity Choirs, directed by Music ezuelan ambassador to several child passenger 12 and under and Dance professor E. Wayne nations, lauded Lombardi for his improperly restrained.” Abercrombie, approximately 1,000 “inexhaustible will to work with a members of the campus commu- dedication immune to any kind of State pension fund nity joined 150 representatives disturbance.” from higher education institutions “He maintains a laser-like fo- lost $2.1b last year Stan Sherer photo around the U.S. and more than cus on building and maintaining Chancellor John V. Lombardi delivers his inaugural address dur- The state pension fund 250 additional robed faculty from excellence in teaching and re- posted its worst ever loss ing ceremonies at the Mullins Center on Feb. 7. More photos the University in witnessing the search,” Bulger said. “I had the pages 6-7. last year, losing $2.1 billion event. Walter Chesnut, retired privilege of selecting [him]. It is a or 8.9 percent of its value. professor of Music and Dance, choice that will always be a Since August 2000, the played the University fanfare. source of pride for me.” $26 billion fund has lost $6.5 The audience was welcomed In his inaugural address, Lom- 800 attend gala dinner billion, an average of 5.2 per- by Bulger, and Lombardi was offi- bardi struck notes now familiar to cent annually over the past Daniel J. Fitzgibbons ties, aimed at showcasing the cially greeted by seven well-wish- the campus: teaching and re- CHRONICLE STAFF three years. According to the campus’s teaching and research ers, who spoke of his leadership SEE CHANCELLOR, PAGE 3 Trust Universe Comparison As the floor of the elegantly prowess, demonstrates the Service, the median decline appointed Mullins Center slowly campus’s ability to succeed. for all state pension funds in New campus foundation filled for the gala inaugural dinner “We have engaged every the U.S. was 4.3 percent. on Feb. 6, Chancellor John V. single part of the institution to to focus on fund-raising Lombardi simply seemed to be ev- produce what you see here to- Bush taps Bromery erywhere. At one moment he was day,” he said. “It didn’t matter what role people had — they said, for presidential panel Barbara Pitoniak of volunteers,” Lombardi said. greeting guests, then posing for ‘Yeah, we can help.’ ... This event is Former Chancellor Ran- NEWS OFFICE STAFF “Private donors and volunteers photographs with dignitaries, the model for what we can do.” dolph W. Bromery has been In a bid to boost the involve- tend to be ‘campus-specific’ in electrifying the crowd with an Universities, said Lombardi, selected by President George ment of volunteers in fund-raising offering support. Their enthusi- evangelical address extolling the have an ability to transform W. Bush to fill the remainder efforts, Chancellor John V. Lom- asm is generated by their respect virtues of his new campus and people. of an unexpired three-year bardi this week announced the for faculty and students. The by evening’s end, tearing up the “That transformative power we term on the President’s Com- creation of the University of Mas- foundation is a way for us to cap- dance floor with his wife, Cathryn. have is what gives the University mittee on the National Medal sachusetts Amherst Foundation, ture that enthusiasm and mobilize Running up the ramp leading its strength,” he said. “But what it of Science. His term on the a private, non-profit corporation volunteer leadership in support of to the stage, Lombardi wrestled gives more than anything else is panel will extend through 2004. established to raise private sup- the campus.” the microphone from the podium our future.” Bromery, 77, recently port for the campus. The endowment for the and planted himself at center Then inviting the guests to be stepped down as interim “In its last capital campaign, UMass Amherst Foundation stage. Flanked by two huge part of his crusade for the cam- president of Roxbury Com- UMass Amherst demonstrated its presently totals $56.5 million. screens projecting his image, pus, Lombardi, assured them that munity College in part to un- capacity to raise significant Lombardi said all funds raised by Lombardi declared, “This univer- they “have no idea how much fun dergo experimental prostate funds,” said Lombardi. “The suc- the foundation would be spent at sity is a triumph.” we’ll have as we build this special cancer treatment at Johns cess of that campaign indicates the Amherst campus. The campus Looking across the dozens of institution.” Hopkins University. the campus has the ability to par- foundation will maintain an ac- tables filling the floor of the The message resonated with Currently Commonwealth ticipate at a higher level of private count with the system-wide Uni- arena, the chancellor said he was the crowd, which jumped to its Professor of Geosciences fund-raising, and that we can versity of Massachusetts Foun- attracted to UMass because of its feet, applauding until the chancel- Emeritus, Bromery served as build on that earlier success. The dation, which will in turn act as huge potential. “The people here lor relinquished the stage by say- chancellor from 1971-79. He UMass Amherst Foundation is the campus’s “investment are all waiting to be mobilized. ing, “Now let’s dance.” also served as interim presi- the vehicle to accomplish that banker.” They are all waiting to do some- It was a casual end to a classy dent of Westfield State Col- goal. Lombardi explained that while thing interesting.” affair that attracted a host of fac- lege and interim chancellor of “The foundation is a mecha- the foundation will have a small Lombardi said the organization of the two-day inaugural festivi- Higher Education. nism for harnessing the support SEE DEVELOPMENT, PAGE 3 SEE CELEBRATE, PAGE 3 2 February 14, 2003 The Campus Chronicle Letters Professor echoes praise for Lombardi This letter is to commend Provost [Charlena] Seymour’s letter “On the eve of inaugural, praise for Lombardi,” (Feb. 7) which so eloquently and thoughtfully an- ticipated the very special energy and quali- ties of our new chancellor, which were only reinforced by the inaugural festivities of the past few days. The inaugural events brought so many of the faculty, administra- tors, staff and students as well as alums, dignitaries and guests together in an excep- tional way which was energizing and in- credibly uplifting. The high point was the inauguration itself and the speech of Chan- cellor Lombardi (with a faculty member be- hind me commenting that the chancellor did not even need an oxygen tank afterwards) which was nothing short of truly inspira- tional. To see many of the alums and former faculty singing the “Alma Mater” by memory seconded the specialness of this institution as did many of the speeches. Students afterwards called the inauguration and the dynamism of our chancellor “sim- ply amazing.” I expect that there will be many more oc- Stan Sherer photo casions for standing ovations in the years Customer service ahead for UMass Amherst.