■ Reading of ‘War Letters’ marks Veterans’ Day, page 4 Inside ■ Men’s soccer extends unbeaten streak to 10 games, page 6 The Campus Chronicle Vol.XVIII, No. 10 November 1, 2002 for the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts News Briefs Research Massachusetts Review center wins radio program debuts “MR2,” a new, one-hour ra- $12m grant dio program produced by The Massachusetts Review, Elizabeth Luciano takes to the airwaves on Fri- NEWS OFFICE STAFF day, Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. on The Materials Research Sci- WMUA, 91.1 FM. Featuring interviews with ence and Engineering Center artists, writers, artisans, (MRSEC), which conducts re- scholars and notable person- search in fields ranging from alities, each program will nanoscopic devices to bioma- have two half-hour segments. terials, has received a six-year, The debut program will in- $12.24 million grant from the Na- clude interviews with poet tional Science Foundation (NSF). and English professor Dara MRSEC is the only center of Wier and Hans Teensma, cre- this type in the nation dedicated ative director of Disney and solely to the study of polymers. Family Fun magazines, both The University was one of 12 in- based in Northampton. stitutions chosen from a field of Launch of EMS 100 contenders during this fund- system planned ing cycle, according to Thomas P. Russell, director of the center. Campus administrators The grant represents a 33-percent and state and federal envi- increase in federal funding for the ronmental officials will kick off a pilot project designed to center. better protect the environ- “The awarding of such a con- ment on Monday, Nov. 4 at siderable grant, especially consid- noon in 1633-34 Lederle ering the intense competition for Graduate Research Center. external support, underscores the UMass is one of five New quality of the research that’s con- England schools selected to ducted at the University. We ap- participate in the EPA-spon- preciate the NSF’s investment in sored pilot program to our people and their research ef- voluntarily implement an forts,” said Chancellor John Environmental Management Lombardi. System (EMS). Lederle was chosen for The center began as the Mate- the pilot because the large rials Research Laboratory in 1974, volume of research con- and evolved into MRSEC in 1994, ducted there is representa- with a $7 million grant from the tive of the type of research NSF. It is located in the Silvio O. that occurs on campus. Conte National Center for Poly- “The tools and methods mer Research. Scientists from dis- developed at Lederle in the Stan Sherer photo ciplines including polymer sci- pilot program can then be Taking over ence and engineering, chemical easily transferred to other engineering, chemistry, physics, areas of the campus,” says A creeping plant envelops files at the Biological Sciences Library in Morrill Science Cen- and plant biology are among Donald Robinson, director of ter. Environmental Health and those conducting research at the Safety. center, Russell said. Several environmentally “MRSEC at UMass exemplifies friendly practices are already the interdisciplinary nature of re- in place at Lederle, including Unions target trustees on contract funds search today,” said Frederick W. a centralized stockroom for Daniel J. Fitzgibbons arrive. The unions have been Byron Jr., interim vice chancellor the receipt of chemicals, and CHRONICLE STAFF Bulger favors pressing President William M. for Research. “I am particularly an extensive program of Bulger and the trustees to press grateful for the exceptional leader- waste recycling, he said. The presidents of two campus ‘full funding’ unions will again raise the issue legislators to take up the contract ship which Tom Russell has pro- of unfunded contracts when the board. Johnson is a clerical staffer issue. The unions are also appeal- vided since he became MRSEC Scholar discusses director.” ‘Blacks and Jews’ Board of Trustees meets at the in the English Department and ing for a special legislative ses- Mullins Center next Wednesday. Story is a History professor. sion to consider funding for the “I am enormously proud of the Professor Laurence Tho- Ron Story, president of the Mas- Campus unions, whose con- collective bargaining agreements. faculty, staff, and students, who mas of Syracuse University sachusetts Society of Professors, tract funding was vetoed by Act- During a trustee committee have continued to make MRSEC will speak on “Blacks and and Donna Johnson, president of ing Gov. Jane Swift earlier this meeting in Boston last week, Bul- one of the most outstandingly Jews: The Question of Group successful research centers in our Autonomy and Narrative the University Staff Association, year, are planning to demonstrate ger addressed the issue. SEE , PAGE 3 Identity” on Thursday, Nov. 7 are scheduled to address the outside the arena as the trustees SEE PACTS, PAGE 3 GRANT at 4 p.m. in 301 Herter Hall. An African-American and Sephardic Jew, Thomas is a Five College Library Depository opens for business this week professor of philosophy and political science at Syra- This Friday, the first of ap- for the Strategic Air Command in cupied by lesser-used materials. sponsible for organizing, manag- cuse, where he also is a proximately 500,000 volumes will the Northeast. Amherst College is On hand to supervise the first ing and furnishing services of the member of the Judaic stud- begin moving from the Five Col- leasing about 10,000 square feet phase of the transfer of selected shelving facility. ies program. lege campus libraries to a unique, of its property to the Five College materials will be the new project Spoolstra earned a master’s of In his lecture, Thomas will off-site storage facility owned by Librarians Council to house the manager, David G. Spoolstra. library and information science explore the role narrative Amherst College. Five College Library Depository Spoolstra, who was selected last year at Simmons College. identity and group autonomy Known locally as “the bunker,” (FCLD). by the council following a na- Prior to accepting the Five Col- play in African-American and the facility near the Notch on The storehouse is expected to tional search, is based at Amherst lege post, he worked in a corpo- Jewish communities, drawing Route 116 in South Amherst for- ease pressure on campus libraries College, reporting to its librarian, rate library as an information spe- on parts of his own life for il- merly served as the headquarters by freeing up shelf space now oc- Willis Bridegam. Spoolstra is re- SEE , PAGE 3 lustration. STOREHOUSE 2 November 1, 2002 The Campus Chronicle Letters Grounds staff gearing up for winter’s worst Winter is here again (although it’s a little earlier than usual)! Snow removal is one of Grounds Management’s major responsibili- ties during the winter. Our employees work long hours in harsh conditions to ensure the safety of the campus community. Physi- cal Plant Grounds Management and Aca- demic Custodial employees –– who do the lion’s share of snow plowing and shoveling –– and other Physical Plant workers, Hous- ing Services employees, and many others, all respond quickly and efficiently to clean the campus of snow and ice. They clear miles of roadways and side- walks, and shovel and sand thousands of steps. They work nights and 16-hour shifts; many of our employees don’t see their families for days during serious storms. We clear snow from most walkways on campus, but some are what we term “three- season walkways” –– stone, gravel, or nar- row walks provided to the campus commu- nity for their convenience during the spring, summer, and fall. These walkways aren’t cleared in the winter. We will continue to experiment with an innovative, environmentally safe de-icing agent called Ice Ban Magic (now called Ice B’Gone). The main ingredient in Ice B’Gone is Ice Ban, a byproduct of distilling plants in the Midwest, which manufacture beer, other alcoholic beverages, and ethanol. It consists mainly of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and sugar, and is also used as a cattle Stan Sherer photo feed substitute that looks and smells like Yarde work molasses. Ice B’Gone, the product UMass Christy Patrick (right), graduate assistant director, sophomore Andrew Harris (center), and senior Douglas Devanney Amherst is using, is a mixture of Ice Ban prepare to hang Art professor Richard Yarde’s 69-inch by 180-inch watercolor, “Coming and Going: the Walking and magnesium chloride. Blues,” in the Herter Gallery. Yarde’s exhibition, “Recent Works on Paper,” is on view through Dec. 1. The opening Snow removal is a significant and many reception is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 4-6 p.m. times a thankless responsibility. It’s easy to second-guess us; we’re not perfect. But it’s a complex task I believe we handle with the utmost professionalism and responsibility. Donations sought for annual Fill-A-Bus drive Plowing miles of sidewalks and roadways is a challenging task. With snow flying, it’s During the week of Nov 4-7, the annual CSL Office at 5-2015. ing serves as a resource to the entire cam- often difficult for our plow operators to see Fill-A-Bus drive for the Amherst Survival In order to encourage participation, or- pus community. Each year, it sponsors pedestrians. So for your own safety, please Center will be held daily from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. ganizers will be separating the residence community service fairs, one-day service keep a safe distance from plows to allow in front of the Student Union. Sponsored life donations and Greek Affairs donations. events, the Fill-A-Bus and the Chancellor’s our staff plenty of room to clear snow and by the Office of Community Service Learn- Donations will be tallied to see which Community Service Awards.