October 3 Spectrum
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TODAY’S EDITION See page 4 for an article on a PECTRUM possible malaria S breakthrough. VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY http://www.spectrum.vt.edu VOLUME 25 NUMBER 6 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2002 Restructuring efforts under way; more to follow Tech a leader By Mercedes Meeks Hospitality and Tourism Management moved not change.” In its effort to move into the ranks of from the College of Human Resources and In other restructuring activity, a new School in new aerospace America’s top-30 research institutions, the Education into the Pamplin College of Business. of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences has university has begun implementing the re- The Design Consortium, established by been formed. “This school adds another institute structuring plan approved by the Board of the Colleges of Human Resources, Architecture dimension. Not only do you have departments By Liz Crumbley Visitors in June. and Urban Studies, and Arts and Sciences in from different colleges, which are formerly Virginia Tech and the University of Four departments became affiliated with 1994, has moved together under one umbrella from the College of Engineering and the College Virginia are the leaders of a consortium new colleges on July 1. The Department of college—Architecture and Urban Studies. The of Veterinary Medicine, now Wake Forest selected by NASA to create the National Art and Art History moved from the College consortium consists of programs in apparel University’s medical school is also a partner,” Institute of Aerospace (NIA), a research- of Arts and Sciences to the College of design, architecture, art and art history, interior Merola said. “It is expected that this school will and-education collaboration with a potential Architecture and Urban Studies. The Interior design, landscape architecture, and theatre arts. grow participation from many of the science value of $379 million in grants over the next Design Program moved from the College of “To most students we hope that the changes departments.” 20 years. Human Resources and Education to the are relatively transparent,” said Joe Merola, Changes in the College of Arts and Sciences “The NIA will be a world-class insti- College of Architecture and Urban Studies. senior administrative fellow for restructuring. are next on the horizon. The largest college tute,” said Malcolm McPherson, interim dean The Department of Communication Studies “There are obviously many students who will within the university will become two new of the College of Engineering. “Our consor- moved from the College of Arts and Sciences report to a different dean for certain colleges. One will be a college of sciences, yet tium will team with the NASA Langley to the College of Human Resources and administrative issues, but beyond that the to be named; the other will be a college of arts, Research Center in Hampton to do the most Education. And the Department of student’s interaction with the department should (See RESTRUCTURING on 3) advanced aerospace and atmospheric re- search, develop new technologies for the nation and help inspire the next generation Police ticketing careless pedestrians on campus of scientists and engineers.” Other university members of the Na- Improving pedestrian safety is and has tional Institute of Aerospace Associates con- always been a priority for the Virginia Tech sortium are the American Institute of Aero- Police Department (VTPD). In a policy insti- nautics and Astronautics Foundation, Geor- tuted October 1, pedestrians will be ticketed gia Tech, North Carolina State University, for crossing any street on campus in a care- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical less manner. A careless manner is defined as State University, and University of Mary- walking out into the street without looking, land-College Park. thereby causing cars to stop. The ticket will The bulk of the work in preparing the carry a $30 fine plus $47 in court costs. successful proposal was carried out by a Officers will be posted at high-traffic areas writing team with members from each of the such as Washington Street, around the seven partner institutions and chaired by Drillfield, Perry Street and in front of Walter O’Brien, head of Virginia Tech’s McBryde. Department of Mechanical Engineering. “Dr. This decision is only a small part of the O’Brien and his team did a truly outstanding changes that have been made on campus in an job,” McPherson said. effort to improve pedestrian safety after a The Virginia Tech engineering college student was struck by a car near Lee Hall on and the University of Virginia School of Washington Street in April. Engineering and Applied Science led the The VTPD will be enforcing Code of consortium in vying for leadership of the Virginia laws (46.2-923 and 46.926) that NIA through a competitive process initiated deal with pedestrian offenses. The code states by NASA in 2001. Their competitors in- that “when crossing highways, pedestrians Virginia Tech Police Department officers were on duty at intersections this week as the new cluded other universities in Virginia and (See POLICE on 2) policy went into effect. (R.Griffiths) from throughout the U.S. (J. McCormick) The NIA will be located near NASA Langley. The strategic partnership will fos- ter research in revolutionary aerospace sys- Navy to use Tech’s remote-control excavator tems, planetary capture-and-entry technol- By Anne Fowler ogy, aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, A team of Virginia Tech mechanical and acoustics; structures and materials, air- engineering (ME) students, working with borne systems, atmospheric and vehicle sen- Texas-based National Instruments Corp., sor system technology, and atmospheric the U.S. Navy and Case Construction Equip- The chemistry and radiation sciences. ment, has developed a remote-control excavator Ultimately, research in these areas could method for operating an excavator that will in action, lead to improved weather forecasting and dig for ordnance at the Naval Surface War- with no better understanding of climate changes, fare Center in Dahlgren. operator in (See TECH on 3) Thanks to the remote-control technique, the cab. a Navy operator will work from inside the Bonds on the safety of a shielded trailer 1,000 yards from (M. Kiernan) the excavation site. Ballot The students modified LabVIEW soft- ware developed by National Instruments to November 5 enable the excavator’s operator to manipu- late the machine’s two dual-axis joystick Register to Vote controls via the Internet. Meanwhile, the operator can observe by October 7. (See NAVY on 4) 2 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2002 ACTIVITIES Torgersen. Biomedical Sciences, Engineering, 3 to 4 p.m., 110 EVENTS Faculty Development Workshop, 3 to 5 p.m., 1120 Holden: Laurie Locascio. Friday, 4 Torgersen. Geological Sciences, 3:30 p.m., 4069 Derring: Rick Last Day to Drop. Law. International Club Program, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Cranwell Wednesday, 9 MSE, 3:30 p.m., 100 Hancock: Jennifer Franklin and Center. Faculty Development Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, 1120 Guofeng Bai. Torgersen History Faculty Research, 3:30 to 5 p.m., 427 Major Saturday, 5 Family, Work/Life Resources Program, noon to 1 p.m., Williams: Dan Thorpe. VT Open House. DBHCC room C. STS, 4 p.m., 132 Lane: Joe Pitt. Chamber Music, 8 p.m., Blacksburg Presbyterian YMCA Noon Slide Show, noon, Cranwell Center. Church. “With Good Reason,” 7 p.m., WVTF. Monday, 7 YMCA Hike, 9 a.m. YMCA parking lot. Biochemistry, 4 p.m., 223 Engel: Mary F. Roberts, Thursday, 10 Boston College. Sunday, 6 Faculty Development Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, 3060 Horticulture, 4 p.m., 409 Saunders: Jonathan Watkinson. VT Open House. Torgersen. Ensemble Concert, 8 p.m., Squires Recital Salon. Faculty Development Workshop, 3 to 5 p.m., 1120 Tuesday, 8 Torgersen. Monday, 7 Service-Learning Center, 12:30 p.m., DBHCC: Heather Women Faculty Research Series, 4 to 5:30 p.m., DBHCC. Switzer. University Council meets, 3 to 5 p.m., 1045 Pamplin. Football, 7:45 p.m.: at Boston College. ESPN. Faculty Development Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, Ensemble Concert, 8 p.m., Squires Old Dominion Ball- Wednesday, 9 1120 Torgersen. room. Faculty Development Workshop, 3 to 5 p.m., 1120 OIRD/Political Science, noon to 1:30 p.m., 527 Major Williams: Marc Barany. Torgersen. Friday, 11 Faculty Development Workshop, 3 to 5 p.m., 3060 International Club Program, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Cranwell Torgersen. Friday, 11 Center. MCBB, 12:20 to 1:10 p.m., Fralin auditorium: Channe Tuesday, 8 Gowda, Penn State. Leadership Development Workshop, 9 a.m. to noon, SEMINARS Geological Sciences, 3:30 p.m., 4069 Derring: Clark Johnson, University of Wisconsin. DBHCC room C. Friday, 4 Faculty Development Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, MSE, 3:30 p.m., 100 Hancock: Richard J. Matyi, Quan- MCBB, 12:20 to 1:10 p.m., Fralin auditorium: Jeff Dangl, tum Metrology Group, NIST. 1120 UNC—Chapel Hill. Faculty Development Workshop, 3 to 5 p.m., 3060 BULLETINS MAP MURI to sponsor plenary lectures sylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Grad student to speak on AIDS in Africa The Macromolecular Architecture for Performance Engineering, Geoffrey W. Coates from Cornell University, De- Natural-resources grad student Marc Barany will speak on (MAP) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative partment of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and Donald J. Leo “The AIDS Plague in Africa—Some Research Needs and (MURI) will sponsor a session of three plenary lectures from from Virginia Tech, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Contributions from the Natural Resources Sector” on 3 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, in 3 Davidson Hall. For more information, contact Cheryl L. Heisey, 1-3329, Wednesday, Oct. 9, from noon to 1 p.m. in 527 Major Williams.