Above and Beyond
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Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Williamsburg, VA Permit No. 26 WILLIAM & MARY NEWS VOLUME XXVII, NUMBER 18 A NEWSPAPER FOR FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS THURSDAY, MAY 7,1998 Survey Finds Above And Beyond 70 Percent De//a Harris honored for outstanding service with Duke Award Of Students Volunteer hardware troubleshooting techniques, be¬ coming so skilled that she has saved numer¬ ous faculty members from certain computer survey conducted over the last two disaster and solved all but the truly unsolv- years by 100 sociology students has able computer riddles. determined that approximately 70 Other colleagues have described Harris Apercent of the undergraduate student as "a dream," "a facilitator of excellence," body at William and Mary participates in "the calm in the storm" and "a friend to fac¬ some kind of volunteer activity. ulty and students." Students from sociology instructor The nominating materials also gave Suzanne Hudd's course in social research Harris high praise: "She is central to our methods interviewed 357 students, or about community and is, in many ways, the glue 7 percent of the undergraduate student that holds us all together. We all benefit population. More than a third reported that from her desire to make the law school as they volunteered at least once a week while good as it can be. We all benefit from the more than half of the students said that they contagious warmth, humor and generosity volunteered more frequendy. she displays daily. We all benefit from and If the number of volunteer hours re¬ are enriched by her example." ported by the students is generalized to the Harris received her associate's degree overall student population, William and from Thomas Nelson Community College Mary students cumulatively volunteered for in 1971. She is the daughter of Lillian C. more than 150,000 service hours to the Col¬ Wright, is married to Robert Harris and has lege and the community this academic year. two children. While convinced of the accuracy of their Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Duke of findings, the students who conducted the Webster, N. Y., established the employee survey recognized considerable variation in service award to honor Charles' parents, the responses to interview questions. Some who served the College for many years in students reported litde or no volunteer ac¬ several capacides. Charles J. Duke Jr. gradu¬ tivity, while others said they volunteered ated from William and Mary in 1923, was ap¬ more than 10 hours a week. President Timothy Sullivan, former dean of the law school, rekindles old ties pointed to the Board of Visitors in 1926 and In conducting the study, the students with Delia Harris at a May 4 ceremony honoring her with the Duke Award. in 1934 was named bursar of the College used the latest technology in survey re¬ and assistant to the president. His wife, Vir¬ search, specifically the Computer Assisted hen Assistant Professor of Law ployee and carries with it a $5,000 prize and ginia Welton Duke, also played an impor¬ Telephone Interview (CATI) system located A. Mechele Dickerson had a a plaque. A committee of College staff mem¬ tant role in the administradon, hosting and in the Policy Studies Resources Lab in tricky computer glitch, she bers, administrators and faculty chose Har¬ funding events for the College. H Morton Hall. CATI allowed the students to called on Delia Harris, director ris from a pool of 100 nominations of 35 in¬ by Amy Ruth of the Faculty Support Center at the School dividuals submitted by members of the Col¬ of Law, for help. With customary efficiency, lege community. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5. Harris used her exceptional computer skills "Delia Harris exem¬ to try and fix the problem herself. Unable plifies much of what I re- t-'"-"' to solve the mystery of jumbled footnotes, spect so much about the however, she turned to the College's com¬ people in the William puter support services and then the soft¬ and Mary community," iuating semoi who will Sf^rf^^Rfe fiiSI yeai-out of ware manufacturer for assistance, finally de¬ Marcus said. "She is a college driving an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile termining that the problem had no solution thoughtful, compassion¬ around the country has been chosen as the 1998 and advising Dickerson to use another soft¬ ate, dedicated and tal¬ student commencement speaker. ware program while she continued to re¬ ented person. I can think Following keynote remarks at the May 17 ceremony search the problem. Sure enough, Harris' of no other individual from historian Joseph Ellis, Chad Carr will take a light- suspicion was correct. The software manufac¬ more worthy of receiving hearted look at the timeless theme of "What do I want to be turer soon released an updated version of the the Duke Award.' when I grow up." program to correct the very glitch Dickerson Harris, a native of "People are always asking about your future, so this topic had encountered. Newport News, has served seems particularly relevant to graduates," said Carr, a 22- This and coundess other examples of the law school in several year-old economics concentrator from Hershey, Pa. Harris' dedication and professionalism capacities during the past While uncertain about his own career goals, Carr prompted the College to name her the 1998 15 years. She is credited hopes that spending a year driving the Wienermobile, a recipient of the Charles and Virginia Duke with creating and over¬ 20-ft.-long> lO-ft.-high vehicle shaped like a hot dog in a Award for outstanding service to the College. seeing the smooth opera¬ bun, will give him some direction. Beginning in June, The award was presented by President Timo¬ tion of the Faculty Sup¬ Carr will be among 30 college students from around thy Sullivan in a ceremony on May 4. Paul port Center, which assists the countrv who will take part in a public relations Marcus, acting dean of the law school, and law school faculty with Lampaign for Oscar Mayr hot dogs from 10 trav¬ Charles Duke, who established the award, word processing, manu¬ eling Wienermobiles rr Selected also made remarks. Harris will be acknowl¬ script preparation, com¬ "When I V>A>. in elementary school, 1 told edged at the College's commencement cer¬ puter support and other mv pjrents that I wanted to tit- a bus Student Grad emonies on May 17 and at the College's an¬ needs. Going above and drivci," said Can. a mem bet of • nual Employee Recognition Day in July. beyond the call of duty, the Gentlemen ol the College Speaker The Duke Award recognizes excep¬ Harris learned a variety "1 guess that d^iMms d<> come tional devotion to William and Mary by a of software packages and true in n misled y>rr ofwav* non-student, non-instructional faculty em¬ mastered software and 2 / WILLIAM <S MARY NEWS Prentis Awards Go To Community I/) Leader, Newspaper Columnist V> ommunity leader Stella Neiman and newspaper columnist and busi¬ Q) nessman Frank Shatz have been named the 1998 recipients of the Prentis Award from the College of William and Mary. Neiman and Shatz were honored for their service to the community and the Col¬ lege in an awards ceremony yesterday afternoon in the Great Hall of the Sir Christopher Wren Building. The Prentis Award is named for the Prentis family, whose 18th-cen¬ tury general store on Duke of Gloucester Street enjoyed an esteemed reputation in the community. The first proprietors were, appropriately, C named William and Mary Prentis. They and their descendants have been friends of the town and the College since William arrived in this coun¬ try, in 1720. "This year we recognize two individuals who, through their tireless devotion, have served the community and the College in various ways," said President Timothy Sullivan, who presented the awards. 'Their ef¬ E forts on behalf of the College have enhanced the programs we offer our students and the quality of life enjoyed by students, residents and visi¬ tors. William and Mary and Williamsburg are fortunate to have friends like Stella Neiman and Frank Shatz." Stella Neiman has been linked to the community and the College for more than 50 years and her roles have been as varied as her talents. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7. Coming To Grips With Campus Alcohol Abuse National experts, attorney general gather to solve growing problem of binge drinking WF e know some of scored by remarks offered by the change prevailing attitudes and ti the answers. We state's attorney general, Mark perceptions about alcohol," said have developed Earley, who pointed out that 38 Earley, who pointed out the im¬ some of the strate¬ percent of college students at perative of "creating a climate of Alumnus, Businessman gies. The question four-year institutions in this state personal responsibility" on college is, 'Why are we not making more are "binge drinkers"—that is, they campuses. Appointed To Board progress?'" consume five or more drinks at That sentiment was echoed by That was the puzzle posed by one sitting. Kenna Mills, a William and Mary Of Visitors alcohol-abuse researcher David 'The numbers can never accu¬ senior attending the symposium, Anderson to more than 100 col¬ rately depict the scenes of grief who said: "The leaders for stu¬ lege presidents, administrators and pain that are being repeated dents are students. It's wonderful Raul C. Jost, who assistance and others who last week attended again and again as yet another for administrators to care, but the earned his bachelor's to student a William-and-Mary-hosted sympo¬ young life—still full of opportu¬ dialogue has to happen with stu¬ (1976) and law (1988) leaders at- sium on the problem.