■ Reckhow named director of Environmental Institute, page 3 Inside ■ Noted chemical engineer Vladimir Haensel dies, page 5 The Campus Chronicle Vol.XVIII, No. 16 December 20, 2002 for the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts News Briefs SPIRE EH&S to detonate chemical compounds weathers Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) staff are plan- ning to dispose of two air- major test sensitive chemical com- Sarah R. Buchholz pounds on Sunday, Dec. 22 CHRONICLE STAFF in a remote campus location beginning at 7 a.m. The two SPIRE, the campus’s new compounds, one amounting online registration tool, had its to less than one gallon and first workout between Nov. 14 the other just a few grams, and Dec. 3 when nearly 15,500 un- will be destroyed by a small, dergraduates and more than 1,800 controlled explosion, accord- graduate students registered for ing to James M. Field, haz- spring classes. The participation ardous waste officer at EH&S. The chemicals are cur- level of undergraduates in pre- rently in a laboratory in the registration was consistent with Lederle Graduate Research that of recent years while the Center and cannot be safety number of graduate students disposed of within that build- choosing to pre-register rose 38 ing, Field says. The two com- percent from last year. pounds will be transported in Approximately 95,000 course secure containers to the seats were filled during pre-regis- demolition site where they tration, according to Associate will be destroyed by a con- Chancellor for Information Tech- trolled explosion in a pit, cov- nologies Rosio Alvarez. Roughly ered by a blast shield, he says. 1,400 course sections have been The UMass Police, Am- Stan Sherer photo filled and another 200 classes herst Fire Department, State Escape Claus have electronic wait lists, said Police Bomb Squad and Two seasonal visitors, who declined to identify themselves, exit Hasbrouck Lab while Elizabeth Pyle, registrar. Chemistry faculty are assist- spreading some holiday cheer. The student at left is carrying a CD player and recordings of “The system was effective ... ing on the disposal. chamber music. in some clunky, if not perfect, way, but it’s effective because the Employees offered faculty scheduled into SPIRE a free body scans sufficient number of appropriate The School of Public Taking a virtual spin on the Big Dig courses,” said deputy provost Health and Health Sciences John Cunningham. “And that is (SPHHS) and University Elizabeth Luciano Web simulation younger drivers to anticipate dan- always the key to a successful Health Services (UHS) are NEWS OFFICE STAFF gerous situations on the road; registration.” offering employees free total Nervous about negotiating the previews changes and determining the safety of “While registration was suc- body scans on Jan. 14-15 Big Dig when it opens early next voice-activated car phones. This cessful in facilitating students’ from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the for Boston drivers year? particular project marks the first enrollment in courses, we were in- Radiology Department at terested in how students received UHS. Through the efforts of Me- ment and the Massachusetts collaboration between a driving the SPIRE system,” Alvarez said. The body scans are done chanical and Industrial Engineer- Turnpike Authority. simulator lab and a major federal with a new state-of-the-art ing professor Donald Fisher and The effort is part of Fisher’s re- construction project, Fisher said. SEE SYSTEM, PAGE 5 LUNAR Prodigy bone densi- his assistants, drivers can test- search at the Human Performance “Putting a test drive on the Web tometer that measures bone drive their routes through Boston Laboratory, a facility that includes makes sense, because it reduces New awards density and body fat. before ever pulling out of the a driving simulator in which a se- the potential for accidents,” he The device was acquired driveway. Using the Web Big Dig dan is placed before three said. in the fall of 2001. It is used Drive, an online, virtual version of screens, onto which highways The Web Big Dig Drive cur- to recognize for clinical health assess- the Big Dig’s tunnels and high- and neighborhoods are projected. rently details all of the Central Ar- ments and by academic re- ways, drivers can feel confident The “car” reads the driver’s tery tunnel sections of Interstate top seniors searchers working in exer- 93 north and southbound, extend- cise science, nutrition, and about traveling their new routes speed, direction, and even eye Sarah R. Buchholz athletics. The densitometer is when the massive highway movements as input. Other re- ing 1½ miles in each direction. It CHRONICLE STAFF also details the section of the equipped with software for project debuts in early 2003. The search projects at the lab have in- Chancellor John V. Lombardi is Massachusetts Turnpike (Inter- use in both adult and pediat- effort is a collaboration with the cluded determining optimal calling for nominations from the state 90) that starts at the Pruden- ric applications. Massachusetts Highway Depart- signage for the Big Dig; teaching faculty for a new set of awards to The body scans will be tial Center and heads eastbound recognize outstanding seniors, done by appointment and on under Four Point Channel and according to the Provost’s Office. a first-come first-serve basis. through South Boston to the por- The awardees will be designated To schedule an appoint- tal of the Ted Williams Tunnel. It as University of Massachusetts ment call 7-5157. will soon detail the section of In- Amherst Leaders for the 21st terstate 93 that starts south of the Century. Chronicle begins Massachusetts Turnpike and also As many as 12 awards will be holiday hiatus heads under Four Point Channel presented at the 2003 Commence- Due to the observance of to the portal of the Ted Williams ment ceremony. Recipients will re- the Christmas and New Tunnel. ceive an adaptation of the Chan- Year’s holidays, the Chron- To use the system, drivers log cellor’s Medal. icle will not be published on onto the site (www.ecs.umass. “He wanted to take the oppor- Dec. 27 and Jan. 3. edu/hpl), click on the Big Dig but- tunity of Commencement to rec- Publication will resume ton on the left-hand side, and ognize a group of outstanding with the Jan. 10 issue. The then view their test drive. students who are both talented deadline to submit items for The site shows all the details a academically and also have con- that issue is Friday, Jan. 3. driver will need, including tributed to the University with ex- For information, visit the Stan Sherer photo signage, pavement markers, and ceptional performance in other ar- Chronicle’s Web site (www. Traffic is light on a computerized image of a Big Dig tunnel devel- side barriers, Fisher said. “We’ve eas,” said interim Vice Chancellor umass.edu/chronicle) or call oped in professor Donald Fisher’s Human Performance Labora- included not only driveable sur- 5-4818. tory. SEE DRIVERS, PAGE 3 SEE MEDALS, PAGE 3 2 December 20, 2002 The Campus Chronicle Letters Friends for the Homeless send appreciation Just in time for the holidays, Amherst rence Savings Bank underwrote the operat- Friends for the Homeless, Inc. is distribut- ing expenses, including a new banner to ing the results of its 14th annual Shelter hang in the center of town. Every year, sev- Sunday community-wide appeal to raise eral organizations from the University of funds for the homeless and hungry in our Massachusetts supply large numbers of midst. Checks were presented this week to canvassers to ensure a successful cam- four area organizations dedicated to pro- paign. Students in fraternities and sorori- viding food, shelter, clothing and emer- ties at UMass supplied 152 volunteers. Al- gency aid: the Grove Street Inn, a shelter pha Chi Omega sorority and two fraterni- for men and women in Northampton; the ties, Delta Epsilon and Sigma Phi Epsilon, Amherst Survival Center, which provides sent over 25 volunteers each. Over 87 stu- meals, clothing, household goods and gro- dents in the Boltwood Project, a UMass ceries; Not Bread Alone, which provides community service project through which weekend and holiday meals, as well as gro- students earn college credit, also partici- ceries and fresh produce; and First Call for pated in Shelter Sunday. These students Help, which provides referrals and emer- joined with volunteers from local faith com- gency assistance. munities, service organizations, individuals Since Oct. 27, $26,853 has been received and families. from residents of Amherst, Pelham and Amherst Friends for the Homeless, Inc. Hadley. While more than $16,000 was col- thanks everyone for their participation and lected on the day of the door-to-door cam- support. To make a donation, send checks paign, checks continue to arrive in the mail. to Amherst Friends for the Homeless, Inc., The funds raised this year have topped last P. O. Box 1071, Amherst, MA 01004-1071. year’s high by over $10,000. Organizers attribute their success to the AARON BOUSEL support from 300 volunteers and the gener- president, osity of area residents. In addition, Flo- Amherst Friends for the Homeless, Inc. Stan Sherer photo Local businesses thanked for support Cold shoulders A bust on the art collection floor in the Du Bois Library keeps the winter Come into the Student Union on any better parent and I am very appreciative of chill away with a borrowed sweater. The identity of the bust is unknown, given Monday evening and you will see it.” but Library staff are eager to hear from anyone who may know the figure UMass student parents and their young The Black Sheep, La Cucina di portrayed by the sculpture.