UNCThe magazine of The UniversityCharlotte of North Carolina at Charlotte for Alumni and Friends • v16 n3 q3 • 2009
Learning to Serve UNC CHARLOTTE | chancellor’s letter
Levine Scholars = Future Leaders
You don’t have to look far to see that However, what makes this initiative so UNC Charlotte has undergone amazing special, and so important, is its goal — to transformation in just a short time period. develop compassionate, ethical leadership The campus experience has changed in for our region. The program’s emphasis nearly every regard since the University’s on community service will provide founding. These changes include the Charlotte with a cadre of truly committed many new academic initiatives at the young people devoted to working in our bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels neighborhoods and with community and facilities that provide our students organizations across the city. and the community with the best possible Charlotte is a vibrant, growing city. In environment for learning that we can create. designing this program, it was the wish of In this issue of UNC Charlotte magazine, the Levine’s, as well as the desire of those you will learn about a new, exciting at UNC Charlotte who were involved in initiative that signifies the University’s shaping the program, that our scholars maturation as an academic institution (see connect with all that Charlotte has to “Learning to Serve,” on page 10). In fact, offer. Through their service to community the recent development of the University’s and dedication to life-long learning, we premier scholarship program, the Levine believe the Levine Scholars will make an Scholars Program, is a watershed moment in enormous impact on our campus and in the the University’s history. community as they engage with Charlotte’s In partnership with Sandra and Leon civic, corporate and non-profit leadership. What makes this Levine and the Leon Levine Foundation, The first class of Levine Scholars will the University has created a four-year, arrive in fall of 2010. We hope you will join initiative so special, full ride scholarship program specifically us in welcoming them to the Queen City, aimed at producing citizen-leaders for the and we look forward to sharing news of and so important, is Charlotte region. Over just the next 10 their accomplishments with you. years, the Leon Levine Foundation has its goal — to develop committed to providing more than $9.3 compassionate, million in merit-based scholarships. Cordially, A scholarship initiative of this magnitude ethical leadership for will not only strengthen the University’s ties to the community; it also will allow our region. UNC Charlotte to compete with the best institutions in North Carolina and throughout the United States for Philip L. Dubois academic talent. Chancellor
UNC CHARLOTTE magazine www.UNCC.edu contents | UNC CHARLOTTE
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20 features departments 10 Learning to Serve 3 News Briefs 26 Center Stage 14 The Gift of Literacy 28 49ers Notebook 36 Building Blocks 18 Living Together 38 Alumni Notes 22 The Health 41 Perspective Care Conundrum alumni profiles 32 A Journey Through Time 16 Brian Toomey 32 student success 20 Rocking the Campus
On the cover: On Aug. 18 Leon and Sandra Levine joined Chancellor Dubois to announce the creation of the Levine Scholars Program. The campus will welcome the first Levine Scholars in fall 2010. Cover illustration by SPARK Publications. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 1 UNC CHARLOTTE | editor’s desk
Whole Lotta Stakin’ Going On
This 2009-2010 academic year at UNC Charlotte will be the greatest The University of North Carolina at Charlotte ever. It will be hard to beat 2008-2009, but this year will see even more Volume 16, Number 3 velocity in the University’s trajectory, even as we begin a slow climb out of an awful recession. Philip L. Dubois The recession is important to mention only so that it can be set aside Chancellor as a topic of hand-wringing regarding the growth of UNC Charlotte. Ruth Shaw Certainly, recession-related budget cuts have played havoc with important Chair of the Board of Trustees and practical plans UNC Charlotte had for our faculty and staffing levels to finally catch up – almost – with our rate of growth. Not only did the Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Community Affairs campus experience a reduction in force to the tune of a relatively modest David Dunn 13 displaced employees, but we are also unable to hire scores and scores of Editor new people for positions that were desperately needed. Gloomy? Not when Director of Public Relations you consider the good news. John D. Bland Leaf thorough these pages and you will see examples of changes that signal more than Creative Director continued growth; they signal critical mass of the sort that fires school spirit – not just among Fabi Preslar alums and students, but among all people of goodwill who are willing to stake their claim in UNC Charlotte. Contributing Writers Rhiannon Bowman Start with the cover story. The creation of the Levine Scholars is the largest individual Phillip Brown gift commitment ever presented to UNC Charlotte. The program commences immediately Lisa Lambert Paul Nowell with marketing and recruitment and will yield our first cadre of super-scholars next fall. The Allison Reid University, through the generosity of philanthropic titans Leon and Sandra Levine, has just Karen C. Wilson stepped to a higher plane. Read about it beginning on page 10. Staff Photographer See the photo spread about the big, beautiful Student Union, pages 4, 34 and 35. This Wade Bruton awesome facility is huge in ways beyond its 196,000-square-foot size. The union is the new Circulation Manager magnet for students because it provides for them a much needed home away from home on Cathy Brown campus – a home with all the amenities that a first-class university should offer. Also this year, two strategically important facilities will rise from the ground – our Design & Production SPARK Publications Center City classroom building at Ninth and Brevard uptown and our Energy Production Infrastructure Center on campus. Much has been written and said about both, but to be able to actually see them becoming real is going to be fantastic. A third such facility was completed UNC Charlotte is published four times a this summer: the Bioinformatics building. With the Center City building, we stake our claim year by The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., to enhanced access to people who live and work uptown, and become an even more significant Charlotte, NC 28223-0001 presence – a true landmark – in the Center City. With EPIC, we are working in partnership ISSN 10771913 with the leading energy organizations in the Charlotte region to train specialists and develop new technology. With Bioinformatics, we’re building one of the largest such programs in the Editorial offices: Reese Building, 2nd floor United States. The University of North Carolina Finally, UNC Charlotte’s “Stake Your Claim” branding campaign is hitting full at Charlotte throttle with advertising, giant pickaxes located around town and the introduction of the 9201 University City Blvd. 4.NINER K run and walk event to help raise funds for scholarships. There’s a whole lotta Charlotte, NC 28223 704.687.5822; Fax: 704.687.6379 stakin’ going on at UNC Charlotte. The University of North Carolina at Regards, Charlotte is open to people of all races and is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability.
John D. Bland, Editor Printed on Director of Public Relations recycled paper 17,500 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of $.70 per piece, for a total cost of $12,300.00.
2 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Avoiding and Treating the a Common Injury Ankle Sprain
By Lisa A. Lambert
nearly 23,000 Americans each day. As the academic year approaches and you and your loved ones gear up to take to the field, consider the following advice:
When Sprains Happen With any ankle sprain, the ankle should be immediately immobilized to protect the joint and allow the injured ligaments to heal. The ankle should be immobilized for at least a week for the simplest sprain, 10 to 14 days for a moderate sprain and four to six weeks for more severe sprains. As with other such injuries, the recommended first aid for an ankle sprain, goes by the acronym RICE: R for rest, I for ice, C for compression, E for elevation. In other words, get off the foot, wrap it in an Ace-type bandage, raise it higher than the heart and ice it with a cloth-wrapped ice pack applied for 20 minutes once every hour (longer application can cause tissue damage). This should soon be followed by a visit to a doctor, physical therapist or athletic trainer, who should prescribe a UNC Charlotte professor and sprains are characterized by partially or period of immobilization of the ankle and undergraduate athletic training director completely torn ligaments. rehabilitation exercises. An anti-inflammatory Tricia Hubbard recently made headlines with Commonly, sprains are caused when the drug may be recommended and crutches research into a common, often ignored health foot lands on an uneven surface or object provided for a few days, especially if applying issue — the ankle sprain. and turns either in or outward beyond the pressure to the ankle is too painful. If you Hubbard joined experts at the National acceptable range of motion. Athletes often can’t walk more than five steps without Athletic Trainers’ Association annual meeting suffer sprains and tears when they land limping you should be using crutches. to review research evidence for methods used wrong after jumping, make quick directional Athletes who’ve suffered sprains should to prevent recurrent ankle sprains. changes or step on another player’s exercise preventive measures during future What they found was not surprising; appendage. Along with athletes, women physical activities. Studies show that wearing what is surprising is how few athletes (of the wearing high heels or platform shoes are at a lace-up ankle brace is more effective than professional and weekend warrior variety) higher risk, Hubbard said. taping the ankle in preventing re-injury. properly deal with ankle injuries. These Without proper treatment what might While circumstance dictates a good many pesky injuries take more time to heal than seem like a simple ankle sprain develops into injuries, others are preventable. Hubbard said most people realize, and most sprains require chronic, long-term joint pathology for some wearing shoes appropriate for your activity rehabilitation regimens. 30 to 40 percent of people, Hubbard said. goes a long way. Sprains result when the elastic fibers In a July 2009 New York Times article, that hold the ankle together, ligaments, are Hubbard provides tips for prevention and Lisa Lambert is senior writer stretched beyond their normal range. Severe treatment of ankle sprains, which affect in the Office of Public Relations. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 3 UNC CHARLOTTE | news briefs news briefs
students in mind and with their input,” said bookstore. The Union also hosts a 210-seat Student Union Associate Vice Chancellor for the Student movie theatre, lounges, meeting rooms, Union Jim Hoppa. an art gallery, outdoor and patio seating Ushers in The Union becomes the new areas and ample space for gathering, study headquarters for the Student Activities and relaxation. Services include a copy and New Era Office, providing a connection and mailing center, laptop computer checkout, A new era in UNC Charlotte’s history resources to almost 300 student hair salon, ATMs and the I.D. Card office. and student life began this fall. After 10 organizations and activities. The Student Movies, which are free for current students, years of planning and two-and-a-half years Government Association, Campus will be open to the public for a nominal fee. of construction, the new $65 million, Activities Board and Student Media Office The new Union replaces UNC 196,000-square-foot Student Union will have permanent offices in the Student Charlotte’s Cone University Center, built opened. Union. The building also houses the Center in 1962. The Cone Center will remain At virtually every university, the student for Leadership Development and the open to provide space for meetings, student union is the community center of the Multicultural Resource Center. support and additional campus dining. campus serving students, faculty, staff, The Union houses a variety of food alumni and visitors. “Everything in the options as well as Barnes and Noble at Student Union has been done with the UNC Charlotte, a new two-story campus Continued on p. 34
Ribbon-cutting ceremony, Sept. 24
4 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu news briefs | UNC CHARLOTTE
CRW I eLCOmes First Entrepreneur-in-Residence Biomedical engineer Guy Rachmuth, is the first-ever Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI). Rachmuth, who recently relocated from Cambridge, Mass., will work to match researchers and technologies with high-level professionals who have the Guy Rachmuth ability to create new private sector relationships that may lead to new startup business ventures or licensing opportunities to existing companies. An accomplished entrepreneur, Rachmuth designed novel integrated Helene Hilger will lead a project to produce brown grease-to-biodiesel technology circuits that mimic brain signals in real- through UNC Charlotte’s Infrastructure, Design, Environment and Sustainability Center. time for his thesis work as a post-doctoral fellow at MIT. He completed the work New IDEAS Center to Help Fuel under the direction of the MIT/Harvard Regional Biodiesel Production Efforts Division of Health Sciences. He later UNC Charlotte, together with Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities, Central Piedmont launched NeuroAnalogICs, a start-up Community College and the Centralina Council of Governments, recently was company aimed at commercializing this awarded a Green Business Fund Grant presented by Gov. Bev Perdue at a reception thesis work. The company attracted held this month. The $85,000 grant, along with a $99,850 grant from the Biofuels venture capital investments and Center of North Carolina will aid in the study and development of a highly integrated government grants. biodiesel production facility for Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities. The Charlotte Research Institute’s The regional partnership will cultivate an oil seed crop on five acres of land owned new Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) by Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities and irrigated with reclaimed water to produce program is designed to support scientific, biodiesel fuel. entrepreneurial and commercialization According to Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities, technology for converting virgin opportunities at UNC Charlotte. seed oils and yellow grease into biodiesel is well proven, however much less study has Rachmuth, who holds an M.S. and been done on brown grease currently removed from restaurant grease traps and black Ph.D. from Harvard University in grease collected in sewer lines. Often grease is taken to landfills because it is mixed biomedical engineering, has consulted with wastewater. Grease poured down drains is the leading cause of sanitary sewer for life sciences-oriented startups and overflows in the Utilities 4,000-mile wastewater collection system. investment banks in the Boston area. The work will be conducted through UNC Charlotte’s new Infrastructure, Design, “The Charlotte Region is growing Environment and Sustainability (IDEAS) Center; Center director, Helene Hilger will significantly and attracting high quality serve as the principal investigator of the project. The Center will determine how much consultants from around the world,” brown grease is generated in the county, its chemical makeup and how much biodiesel Carl P.B. Mahler II, director of UNC could be produced from the region. The funding also supports a vetting process to Charlotte’s Office of Technology identify qualified vendors with brown grease-to-biodiesel technology. Transfer stated. Students from UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College will The Entrepreneur-in-Residence assist with various aspects of the projects. Central Piedmont’s Center for Sustainability program is a 12-month appointed will produce learning modules from the agricultural and biodiesel production position. Licensing revenue from existing activities to strengthen the Charlotte region’s green workforce. UNC Charlotte-owned technologies are Centralina Council of Governments is administering the grants through its Clean reinvested back into the University to Fuels Coalition. support additional research activities. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 5 UNC CHARLOTTE | news briefs news briefs
Cone Distinguished “Her (Aliaga-Buchenau) was completed at Georg- Professorship awarded enthusiasm and devotion August Universitat Gottingen, to Aliaga-Buchenau make her an excellent where she majored in French Associate professor of German Ana-Isabel mentor,” said Lorden. “She and English literature and Aliaga-Buchenau is the latest member of encourages students to study linguistics. the faculty to receive the Bonnie E. Cone abroad and those who excel The Cone Early-Career Early-Career Professorship for Teaching. She to continue for advanced Professorship in Teaching was received the honor at convocation, Tuesday, degrees.” established in 1992 to recognize Aug. 18. Robert Reimer, chair a faculty member who exhibits In presenting the award, Provost Joan of languages and culture excellent teaching early in his Ana-Isabel Aliaga-Buchenau Lorden cited Aliaga-Buchenau’s role in studies, in support of Aliaga- or her career. A three-year revising the German curriculum to make Buchenau, wrote, “She represents that appointment, the professorship includes it “more appealing to students without which makes our profession rewarding and an additional salary stipend and faculty compromising on standards and tradition.” ultimately a joy to practice.” development funding. In addition, the Aliaga-Buchenau also is credited with Aliaga-Buchenau joined UNC Charlotte recipient’s name is inscribed on a special revitalizing the Certificate in Translation: in 2002. She earned a Ph.D. and a master’s permanent plaque. Only five members of German, considered the program’s most in comparative literature from UNC the University faculty may hold this title at popular option. Chapel Hill. Her undergraduate work the same time.
DaNCe|MuSiC|TheaTre Performing Arts Calendar 2009-2010 Season Features Full Slate of Events
The Department of Music proudly announces the Faculty & Friends Concert Series; a series of concerts performed by UNC Charlotte’s outstanding faculty along with their friends and colleagues. This series of concerts will feature masterworks of the chamber music and vocal repertoire, a tribute to jazz legend Charlie Parker, and the Inaugural Recital of violinist David Russell, the newly appointed Anne R. Belk
for the Performing Arts the Performing for Distinguished Professor of Music. The Department of Music will also present nearly 30 student ensemble performances during the 2009 – 2010 season. These concerts feature UNC Charlotte’s choirs, concert bands, jazz ensembles, orchestras, and chamber ensembles. Season subscriptions for the Theatre Mainstage Series, the Dance Ensemble Series, and the Faculty & Friends Concert Series are on sale now at www. unccboxoffice.com and through the Box Office located in Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. except on university holidays. For additional event and venue information, call the Box Office at 704-687-1TIX (1849) or visit www.performances.uncc.edu.
6 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu D pai U.S. Postage U.S.
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w The University of North Carolina at Charlotte The Arts Robinson Hall for the Performing 9201 University City Boulevard NC 28223-0001 Charlotte, w Architecture initiated last year + Architecture values innovation, provocation, and curiosity. We train future leaders We and curiosity. provocation, innovation, Architecture values + 2010 Season! - Architecture + Printing and distribution of this publication was made possible, in part, in part, made possible, Printing and distribution of this publication was T i AA-CREF. through the performing arts audience development support of at UNC Charlotte to highlight the creative arts in the identity of our university. Dance, Music, and Theatre performances at Robinson Hall are living Theatre and Music, Dance, at UNC Charlotte to highlight the creative arts in identity of our university. life of creative leadership. examples of our mission to teach arts disciplines and prepare students for a of experiences that audiences at Robinson Hall have always Our 2009-2010 performing arts season sustains the promise of an enriching variety American stage through a series of plays that will raise compelling season shines the spotlight on Theatre Department of The enjoyed. dozens of concerts performed by our instrumental and vocal student The and potential as a creative people. history, questions about our identity, highlighting our performing faculty in the Department of Music, ensembles will be complemented this year by a special series of performances And our Department Belk Distinguished Professor of Music. Anne R. the newly appointed including the i naugural Recital of violinist David Russell, the power and intrigue of movement. of Dance will again surprise and inspire through performances that celebrate Arts performances demonstrate how the College of These and we aim to enrich our of the arts to contemporary life; we present the relevancy and theatre; dance, in the creative disciplines of music, my hope is that After the curtain comes down and last note has been played, community through the shared experience of live performance. Our goal is to move you! colleagues and strangers alike. family, our performances are a catalyst for discussion and connection among friends, to seeing you at Robinson Hall! and i look forward in the arts this year, our performing arts season central to your investment i hope you will make Lambla Ken Welcome to our 2009 Welcome Arts a part of the new College Arts, to another exciting season at Robinson Hall for the Performing Welcome Arts College of
Dean Attack!Creative. Art Printing and designed by Wallace Printed by Architecture at UNC Charlotte. By purchasing a subscription Architecture at UNC Charlotte. + our role as a subscriber means so much more to us than just being a part of our audience. All subscription income our audience. our role as a subscriber means so much more to us than just being part of The Rewards of a Robinson Hall Subscription a Robinson The of Rewards valued patrons. most Robinson Hall subscribers save money and enjoy the benefits of being our Significant Savings series are priced at up to 25% off already affordable single Theatre and Dance, Subscriptions to each of our Music, off-subscription performances. to additional, you receive vouchers for free tickets as a subscriber, Plus, prices. ticket the greatest performing arts value a look at the season and you will see for yourself that Robinson Hall offers Take in our community! Flexibility and Security hassle- and quick, for a different performance within each series, Subscribers enjoy the ability to exchange tickets free replacement of any lost or forgotten tickets. e xtra Discounts and i nsider nfo at UNC available Our three primary series are just part of the exciting array performing arts experiences offer many performances throughout the year beyond Theatre and Dance, Departments of Music, The Charlotte. as a subscriber you will save 10% vouchers, i n addition to receiving free ticket those included in our subscriptions. purchased. on any additional tickets a Supporting r ole y Arts directly supports the mission of College and leaders through the scholarships teachers, artists, you are investing in our aspiring student performers, Being a subscriber is also being an educational leader! possible. revenues make program activities that our ticket 704-687-1T i X (1849) | www.performances.uncc.edu news briefs | UNC CHARLOTTE
International Programs A rmy, Air Force ROTC Get New Home in Renamed Memorial Hall Plans Speakers and Films During the past year, the Brocker Building, which housed the former Student Health Center, The International Film Series at UNC has been transformed. Now Memorial Hall, the building has become the headquarters for the Charlotte is co-presented by the Office Army and Air Force ROTC programs on campus after a year long complete renovation. of International Programs and the Global The Brocker Building formerly Film Initiative and funded through the served as the University’s student Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund. health center from the early 1970s. Six films will be screened on-campus In late 2007, UNC Charlotte during the 2009-2010 academic year. The opened a new state-of-the-art films are critically acclaimed and examine Student Health Center located at the universal themes of love, tragedy, family intersection of Cameron Boulevard and community through the lens of people and Mary Alexander Road. Facilities across the globe. Film titles include: Getting Management Design Services was Home (China), Mutum (Brazil), Possible given the task of converting the old Lives (Argentina), Sleepwalking Land building into the new home of the (Mozambique), Song from the Southern Seas ROTC departments. (Kazakhstan) and What a Wonderful World The entire interior of the building (Morocco). Details will be provided as they was demolished and removed. The are confirmed. University Classroom Support For more information on these and other Department has installed new “Smart events, contact Rebecca Vincent at rebecca. Room” capabilities in the classrooms [email protected] or 704-687-7305. to bring the building up to current
UNC Charlotte friends and alums are also University standards. Brown Mathew by Photo Memorial Hall invited to join the OIP Facebook Group for “Memorial Hall is a milestone information on these and other events or in the history of ROTC at UNC follow our new blog, Niner International, to Charlotte,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Rogers, commander of AFROTC Detachment 592. “I get the scoop on upcoming programs, read attended UNC Charlotte 20 years ago as an Air Force ROTC cadet. Having a dedicated Military international perspectives of students and Science and Aerospace building demonstrates the University’s commitment to our programs. We colleagues or provide feedback. are grateful to be here.” A wall inside the entrance way to the building has been reserved for the design and Business affairs vc named construction of a memorial that will commemorate UNC Charlotte students who have served in outstanding leader any branch of the Armed Services and lost their lives in service to the country. Elizabeth Hardin, vice chancellor Army and Air Force cadets will conduct the research to find the UNC Charlotte Veterans for business affairs, was among the 25 who have died in the line of duty. outstanding women from the Charlotte Lt. Col. Eddie Johnson, chair of Military Science and Leadership Studies, stated, “It is an area honored at the 13th annual Women in honor for Army ROTC to be housed in a building dedicated to fallen veterans. As we move Business event presented by the Charlotte through uncertain times, it will serve as a monument to those who have sacrificed and to the Business Journal. future leaders that will come from Memorial Hall.” As head of the Business Affairs Division, Hardin serves as chief financial and administrative officer for UNC Charlotte. In center. Hardin also is with a master’s degree from that role, she is responsible for policy, strategy providing leadership in the Harvard Business School, and operational oversight for the campus development of the most Hardin held positions with administrative infrastructure that provides broadly encompassing campus Sara Lee Hosiery Corp., Booz the people, space and dollars necessary for master plan in the University’s Allen Hamilton and Bank of the University to fulfill its institutional history. The plan will address America before joining the mission. not only the specifics of the University. During her UNC During the past year, Hardin chaired campus’ infrastructure but the Charlotte tenures, Hardin the steering committee for the Center University’s integration with has served as special assistant City Building project. Earlier this year, its surrounding community. to the chancellor, interim the University broke ground on the $50.4 She also created the fiscal Beth Hardin executive director of the million project, which is the only UNC roadmap that has enabled the University to Charlotte Research Institute and associate system classroom building conceived and weather the loss of more than 12 percent of vice chancellor of business affairs. She also designed specifically to serve the business, its general funds. was vice president for administration at the organizations and residents of an urban A graduate of the University of Georgia University of Wyoming from 2003 to 2006. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 7 UNC CHARLOTTE | news briefs news briefs Wilder to Lead UNC Crossroads Charlotte J. Murrey Coordinator Wins Atkins Library Prestigious Civic Stanley Wilder, former associate dean, Engagement Award River Campus Libraries, University of Susan Harden is the recipient Rochester, of the 2009 Civic Engagement is UNC Professional of the Year Award. Charlotte’s new Harden, coordinator for UNC head librarian. Charlotte’s Crossroads Charlotte According to initiative, recently received the Joan Lorden, award from Campus Compact provost and during a special ceremony held vice chancellor on campus. for academic A national coalition of affairs, Wilder more than 1,100 college and “is highly university presidents, Campus respected as a Stanley Wilder Compact represents some thought leader six million students who are for the profession (in academic research committed to fulfilling the civic libraries)” and is known by his colleagues purposes of higher education. “as an innovator who has removed barriers The Civic Engagement to access library resources.” Professional of the Year Award Wilder said he was impressed with the highlights the critical and level of support Atkins Library received valuable role of the community from University leaders and across campus. Susan Harden engagement professional in “The UNC Charlotte community clearly higher education. It honors an loves its library and understands how a individual who not only has become a vital link strong library contributes to teaching between the community and campus but who is central to realizing the vision of the and research. Inside the library and out, engaged campus. UNC Charlotte exudes a strong sense of During this past year, Harden introduced new Crossroads-themed courses such as aspiration, a committed resolve to be great. UCOL 1200 Freshman Seminar and LBST 2215 Citizenship. More than 600 students Implementing a strong engagement participated in the courses, which resulted in almost 2,000 community service hours. approach with faculty, staff, students and In addition, Harden spearheaded the development of a strategic network of Crossroads the community, Wilder has successful partners for service learning and event collaboration. These partners include: Charlotte- experience in areas such as collection Mecklenburg Schools, Levine Museum of the New South, YWCA and the Public development, digital scholarship, scholarly Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. communications and fund raising. He Crossroads Charlotte is a broad-based effort to address the challenges of race, class currently oversees a $3 million project and privilege in Charlotte. More than 50 area governmental, corporate, nonprofit, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon faith-based and educational institutions are active Crossroads partners. Foundation that will result in, according to Wilder, an “open source search system unifying retrieval of print and electronic scholarship.” and Human Services’ Department of Public generation of public health workers,” said Health Sciences, the UNC Charlotte Public Andrew Harver, chair of Public Health Public Health Programs Health Program becomes the fourth in the Sciences. Earn Accreditation state to earn CEPH accreditation, joining E. Winters Mabry, MD, Health Director, The Council on Education for Public UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, and Mecklenburg County Health Department Health (CEPH) recently awarded initial East Carolina University. In total, CEPH noted, “National certification demonstrates five-year accreditation to UNC Charlotte’s has accredited 80 public health programs how UNC Charlotte has strengthened Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) and 41 schools of public health worldwide. its offerings, and become a resource for and Bachelor of Science in Public Health “We are among a selective set of developing a highly trained public health (BSPH) degree programs. institutions that demonstrate the faculty workforce to meet current and emerging Associated with the College of Health talent and broad vision to prepare the next challenges, and to respond to the ongoing
8 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu news briefs | UNC CHARLOTTE needs of our diverse community.” Department of Computer Science in in Business Administration program, recently “This accomplishment is a significant UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing was crowned Miss North Carolina 2009. step in our strategic plan to increase our and Informatics, will receive $646,982 As winner of the pageant, Southard educational and research capacities in public during the next five years to support her receives a $12,000 scholarship and the health,” said Karen Schmaling, Ph.D., research, “Educational Data Mining for chance to compete for the Miss America dean of the College of Health and Human Student Support in Interactive Learning crown next January in Las Vegas. Southard Services. Environments.” earned undergraduate degrees in business and “I am honored and delighted to receive dance from Elon University. Student Health the NSF Career Award to advance my Center Receives research in developing software to make Computer science AAAHC Accreditation education better for students learning professor receives UNC Charlotte’s Student Health in science, technology, engineering and NSF grant Center recently received accreditation mathematics,” said Barnes. “This award Yu Wang, by the Accreditation Association for will enable us to engage more graduate and assistant professor Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC/ undergraduate students in computer science in the College Accreditation Association). research that has a direct benefit on society.” of Computing According to David Rousmaniere, Creating intelligent learning technologies and Informatics director of the Student Health Center, from data has unique potential to transform Department achieving this distinction distinguishes the the American educational system, by of Computer University’s Student Health Center from building a low-cost way to adapt learning Science, has many other outpatient facilities. environments to individual students, while received a “We believe our patients deserve the advancing research on human learning, grant from the best,” stated Rousmaniere. “When they see Barnes said. National Science Yu Wang our certificate of accreditation, it means that The goal of her project is to create Foundation we as an organization care enough about technology for a new generation of data- (NSF) for the collaborative research project our patients to strive for the highest care driven intelligent tutors, enabling the rapid “An Integrated Environment-independent possible.” creation of individualized instruction to Approach to Topology Control in Wireless More than 3,600 ambulatory health care support learning in science, technology, Ad Hoc Networks.” The total grant, which organizations across the United States are engineering and mathematics (STEM) is for $462,561, is from the foundation’s accredited by AAAHC. Ambulatory health fields. It has the potential to develop Networking Technology and Systems care organizations seeking accreditation individualized learning support for a Program. by the AAAHC undergo an extensive broad audience, from children to adults, Wang, in collaboration with Harish self-assessment and on-site survey by including students who are traditionally Sethu from Drexel University and Liang experts – volunteer physicians, nurses and underrepresented in STEM fields, Cheng from Lehigh University, will study administrators who are actively involved in Barnes said. how to intelligently control the topology ambulatory health care. The NSF Career Award is the of wireless ad hoc networks so energy The Student Health Center, located at foundation’s most prestigious honor in consumption and network interference the corner of Cameron Boulevard and Mary support of junior faculty who exemplify the are reduced while capacity is maximized. Alexander Road opened in fall 2007. The role of teacher-scholars through outstanding These new algorithms will speed up the $7.5 million building, at almost 32,000 research, excellent education and the actual deployment of energy-efficient high- square feet, features 21 medical examination integration of their education and research performance wireless ad hoc networks with rooms. Services provided include, but programs within the mission of their benefits to many known civil or military are not limited to, general medicine, organization. applications. gynecology, physical therapy, radiology, A wireless ad hoc network is a loose nutrition and psychiatry. Belk collection of wireless devices that are capable College of communicating with each other without Computer Science Professor Student the aid of any established infrastructure Receives NSF Career Award Crowned or centralized administration. Minimal Computer science professor Tiffany Miss North configuration and quick deployment Barnes is studying how to use artificial Carolina make wireless ad hoc networks suitable intelligence to transform education. Katherine for a variety of applications, such as Her efforts have resulted in a prestigious Southard, a disaster recovery or military battlefields. National Science Foundation (NSF) student in the Wireless ad hoc networks are expected Career Award. Belk College of to play an important role in the future Photo by Lenn Long Lenn by Photo Barnes, an assistant professor in the Business Master Katherine Southard wireless generation. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 9 10 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu feature | UNC CHARLOTTE
New scholarship Learning program to foster To Serve community engagement By Paul Nowell
UNC Charlotte’s rising star is about to shine even brighter. “We hope that the Levine In the fall of 2010, the first group of 15 Levine Scholars will take their place among their peers on campus, attending classes and starting to look Scholars will engage in lives for ways to use their extraordinary talents and gifts to make the Charlotte community a better place to live. of learning, service and The prestigious academic awards were made possible by philanthropists Leon and Sandra Levine, who donated $9.3 million leadership here in the region in August to UNC Charlotte over 10 years for the merit scholarship we love and call home.” program to develop community service leaders. Al Maisto, associate dean for the Honors College at UNC Charlotte and Interim Director for the Levine Scholars Program, said the concept His words are not hyperbole. The program has been compared derived from the Levine family’s ongoing efforts to give back to the with the esteemed Morehead-Cain Scholars at UNC Chapel Hill, Charlotte community. Park Scholars at North Carolina State University and Benjamin N. Maisto noted the Levine Foundation has been very active in Duke Scholars at Duke. supporting causes ranging from medical care to museums and The largest individual academic gift commitment in the higher education. university’s history, the Levine Scholars Program triples the amount “Here’s a way to inculcate leaders from this city, the state and even the entire United States into this community,” he said. “Our hope is for them UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois (standing) joins Sandra and to stay here after they graduate so they can instill their academic prowess, Leon Levine at a press conference to announce the largest individual leadership skills and business talents into the Charlotte community to gift in University history. The $9.3 million gift will fund the new Levine strengthen its level of giving and philanthropic accomplishments.” Scholars Program.
www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 11 An overflow crowd gathered in the new Student Union to learn more about the University’s premiere scholarship program. The inaugural class of Levine Scholars will join the University community in fall of 2010.
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois called the creation of the Levine Scholars Program a “transformational” event for the University. “To me, this is more than the establishment of a scholarship program,” he said. “It’s a watershed moment in our history.” Dubois said the Levine Scholars Program signals UNC Charlotte’s maturation as an academic institution as the university seeks to compete with top institutions in the state and country for academic talent. “What makes this initiative so special, and so important, is its goal – to develop compassionate, ethical leadership for our region,” Dr. Mike Richardson and Niles Sorensen, vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs, were instrumental in planning he said. for the Levine Scholars Program. The scholarships will cover all tuition and fees, housing and meals, books, a laptop computer, and funding for four summer experiences, as well as an $8,000 grant to support community of four-year aid that UNC Charlotte offers incoming freshmen. service work over four years at UNC Charlotte. The value for Within four years, officials hope to have 60 Levine Scholars in-state students will be about $90,000 and about $140,000 for on campus. out-of-state students. Levine, founder of the successful Family Dollar Stores chain, Eleven scholars will come from North Carolina; four from across said he and his wife were pleased to use some of their foundation’s the country. They'll work with Charlotte's corporate and civic leaders. $200 million for the merit scholarships. Other beneficiaries of Provost Joan Lorden said: “Today’s students in general, and the foundation include The Levine Museum of the New South, especially the brightest and most talented students, are looking for Levine Children’s Hospital and the Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish more than just a classroom experience. They want a real laboratory Community Center. to test what they learn and to make meaningful contributions to “We are delighted by the opportunity to be able to support a the community. program that exemplifies one of the most fundamental values – that “Those opportunities are abundant in Charlotte and the Levine individuals can make a real difference in the community,” Levine Scholars Program will give UNC Charlotte the opportunity to told a packed news conference on the UNC Charlotte campus on actively recruit these young people and offer a financial package that Aug. 18. “We hope that the Levine Scholars will engage in lives convinces them to attend here.” of learning, service and leadership here in the region we love and call home.” Paul Nowell is media relations manager at UNC Charlotte.
12 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu feature | UNC CHARLOTTE Pound the Pavement Oct. 24 event to boost need-based scholarship support
By Phillip Brown
“We hope the Charlotte community will stake their For fall semester, UNC Charlotte 7:30 a.m. with a start time of 8:49 a.m. at claim in support welcomed a record enrollment of nearly the new Student Union on Craver Road. 24,700 students. Come spring, a significant Participant fees are: $15 for UNC Charlotte of education number of these students may be unable to students, $26 for single runners/walkers continue their studies due to state budget and $49 for couples or families of four if by providing cuts to need-based financial aid. registered prior to Friday, Oct. 23. Onsite Rather than standing still, UNC registration will be higher. Children age 14 assistance to Charlotte leaders are racing to assist these and younger are free. students through the 4.NINER K. A 4.9 “One hundred percent of all race these students.” kilometer race/walk, the 4.NINER K is proceeds will go directly to the 4.NINER –David Dunn designed to be a community-wide event to Fund,” said Edna Dash from university raise funds for need-based scholarships. relations and community affairs, who is “This year, financial aid applications are helping to organize the race along with the up 30 percent. With less aid from the state, University’s Alumni Association. “Besides some of our neediest students will be unable supporting such a worthwhile cause, to return in the spring,” said David Dunn, runners and their families will enjoy a post- vice chancellor for university relations and race barbeque and other activities, including community affairs. “But UNC Charlotte 49er Fan Day.” is a pioneering institution. We’ve always Following the race, prizes will be awarded exhibited a ‘can do’ attitude when tackling to the overall top three male and female any problem. We’ve staked our claim to participants as well as the top three men and providing an outstanding educational women per age groups. At 11 a.m., 49er Fan experience for the greater Charlotte region. Day begins in Halton Arena; UNC Charlotte We hope the Charlotte community and the men’s and women’s basketball teams will hold UNC Charlotte family will join us in this scrimmages, and players will sign autographs. fund-raising effort and stake their claim in Online registration can be completed via support of education by providing assistance the Web at http://syc.uncc.edu/4NINERK. to these students.” aspx. For more information about The first-ever 4.NINER K run/walk the 4.NINER K or to request mail-in is set for Saturday, Oct. 24, on the UNC registration forms, e-mail Dash at edash@ Charlotte campus. Registration begins at uncc.edu.
www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 13 UNC CHARLOTTE | feature
Diane Browder is champion of disabled students TheGift Literacyof
By Lisa A. Lambert
Diane Browder understands the profound provide individuals with disabilities equal Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB) is multi- joy of literacy. As a child, her mother access to educational opportunity, led Browder year program with seven distinct levels and instilled in the young girl a passion for to a career in special education. A desire to ongoing assessments that allow students to reading that she would nurture for life. share the gift of literacy inspired Browder to progress at their own pace. Browder, the Snyder Distinguished Professor embark on a research project meant to shed Sam sits across a table from Amy. She of Special Education at UNC Charlotte, light on best practices in literacy education for holds up an index card and asks Sam to has made a career of passing along that joy students with disabilities. point to the word that best describes Moe, along with other educational opportunities Her research team’s review of the literature the star of the ELSB curriculum. “Is Moe to countless children who just a decade ago revealed that a tested, effective literacy a frog, or a book?” she says. He rocks back would have been written off as unable to curriculum for moderately to severely in his seat and thrusts his finger forward, learn even the most basic literacy skills. disabled students simply did not exist. So touching and repeating the correct word. Children like Sam. Sam, a precocious she led the team to create one. Amy praises his choice and he smiles 8-year-old, was born with Downs Syndrome. “Dr. Browder’s work exemplifies solid, broadly, clearly pleased. Sam’s special education teacher, Amy, empirical research in an area that is an Prior to the passage of the Individuals had searched for a years for a way to help extremely difficult one in which to conduct with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) her students master basic academic skills research,” said Martha Thurlow, director in 1975, Sam would have been denied including word recognition. of the National Center on Education access to education. As late as 1970, many Browder understood Amy’s frustration. Outcomes. “She applied creativity to an area states had laws excluding children who For nearly three decades she has maintained where others were thinking inside the box were deaf, blind, emotionally disturbed or a close connection to K through 12 schools, — novel approaches that helped move her intellectually disabled. talking to teachers and parents about the thinking and her research light years from In the last 30 years a sea change has pitfalls and successes of modern special where they would have been otherwise.” taken place — the nation has moved education programs. The result of Browder’s work is a from paying little or no attention to the A ground-level awareness of the problems language-rich literacy curriculum for needs of individuals with disabilities, to inherent in educating moderately to severely children ages 5 – 10 with moderate to accommodating these individuals’ basic disabled students, coupled with a passion to severe developmental disabilities. The Early needs, and finally to providing programs and
14 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu feature | UNC CHARLOTTE services for all children with disabilities and “Dr. Browder’s children is a long-term gain,” Browder said. their families. In addition to her research and work in the Before the enactment of IDEA, most work has changed schools, Browder has helped to shape the next individuals with moderate to severe generation of education leaders as coordinator disabilities received services in isolated the way we of the doctorate in special education at UNC settings. In 1967, for example, almost Charlotte. The UNC Charlotte special 200,000 persons with significant disabilities educate and the education department recently was ranked were housed in state institutions. Many of in the top 10 nationwide by the Chronicle of these settings provided only minimal food, expectations Higher Education for scholarly productivity. clothing and shelter. She also mentors a talented research team While educational opportunities for we hold for who have conducted teacher training in children with disabilities have grown by places as diverse as California, South Dakota, leaps and bounds since the implementation students with the Chicago and Louisiana. of IDEA, Browder’s research led the way most significant While at UNC Charlotte, Browder has in demonstrating how to teach academic secured more than $8 million in federal content including not only literacy, but cognitive research funding and student support monies. also math and science to students with She has published several books that are significant cognitive disabilities. Her work disabilities.” considered seminal within the field of special also contributed to understanding how these education. These books provide teachers students can “show what they know” through with tools to successfully integrate students alternate assessments. findings on alternate assessment and access with developmental disabilities into the “It is fair to say that Dr. Browder’s work to general curriculum to craft national mainstream of American schools. has changed the way we educate and the policy. At the request of former U.S. “Her research has helped to make sure expectations we hold for students with Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, that students with significant cognitive the most significant cognitive disabilities,” Browder was named to the National disabilities are no longer pushed to the side Thurlow said. Browder’s contributions were Technical Advisory Council, created by and segregated in special classrooms. She has also recognized by the American Association the Department of Education to strengthen led the fight to integrate these children into on Education Research where she was selected No Child Left Behind. American society and schools,” said Steve as the Special Education Distinguished Browder cautions that, though strides have Graham, editor of the journal Exceptional Scholar of 2009. been made to improve special education, the Children. “For those children who are most The ELSB curriculum is being used by U.S. educational system needs a significant, vulnerable, Dr. Browder has increased the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, who have sustained investment in research to keep likelihood that they will be able to serve a partnered with Browder to test educational forward momentum. purposeful and meaningful life, living and innovations for the past decade. The ELSB “I think what’s going to be really important working alongside the rest of us.” was also endorsed by the Council of Special for special education in the 21st Century In addition to her professional training, Education Administrators and is being used is to maintain some of the gains that have Browder learned some very important in school systems nationwide. And lawmakers been made, and to keep funding research. I lessons from her niece, who is severely have taken notice, using Browder’s research hope people will remember that investing in disabled. Witnessing the struggles and triumphs of a family member increased Browder’s commitment to a field in which she has excelled and to which she has made immeasurable contributions. Browder noted that the many teachers and students who share her work continue to inspire her hopes and expectations. “I have short-term and long-term hopes for students with moderate and severe disabilities. In the short term, I hope they’ll delight in learning, and in the long term I hope that learning is durable and applies to life outcomes as adults,” she said. “My hope is that they’ll sustain the joy of learning for a lifetime.”
Diane Browder was awarded the 2009 First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal. Lisa Lambert is senior writer She is pictured with Chancellor Dubois and First Citizens executive Marc Horgan. in the Office of Public Relations. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 15 UNC CHARLOTTE | alumni profiles
By Rhiannon Bowman The Accidental Fencing Instructor
16 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu alumni profiles | UNC CHARLOTTE
Brian Toomey got started in fencing – swords, while teaching students to play what Toomey calls, not boards – because he needed to take one more “physical chess.” class to fill his schedule during his sophomore year But unlike chess, he said, the board is constantly at UNC Charlotte, not because he was in love with changing. Fencing, Toomey said, is about playing the sport. In truth, fencing was his third choice for games against your opponent and realizing every an alternative elective. fencer has different advantages and disadvantages. Nonetheless, he quickly became passionate Fencing, which got its start more than 1,000 about the sport. By his senior year, he was president years ago in England, often brings to mind images of the university’s fencing club. After graduation, of knights weighted down with chain mail, he returned to campus to volunteer as an assistant heavy armor and large shields. Today, fencing is coach. Today, Toomey, now 33, owns the Charlotte a competitive sport, not a form of warfare. The Fencing Academy on Reames Road advent of bullets ended the need to carry a sword In 2002, he started the academy with three onto the battlefield. students. Now, the school boasts a roster of 90. Fencing is one of only four sports included That number doesn’t include students who in every modern Olympic Games since the participate in satellite programs, where the first in 1896, according to the U.S. Fencing academy hosts beginner classes, at various private Association. Women were first allowed to schools and for the Mecklenburg County Parks compete in 1924, though it wasn’t until the and Recreation Department. 2004 Olympic Game in Athens, Greece, that In addition to offering classes, the academy women’s Sabre, a type of sword, became an offers weeklong camps and teaches students official part of the Olympic program. and parents how to repair equipment. When Even though the sport is highly competitive, possible, Olympic fencer Peter Cox, who Toomey encourages his students to play when participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, they’re practicing, and not to take themselves too participates in the clinics. seriously. Besides sharing his expertise, said Toomey of “It’s like any other martial art,” he says, “it takes Cox, “He’s always been a good mentor.” a long time to get good at the basics.” And, he Presiding over the UNC Charlotte fencing added with a boyish smirk, “Often, at first, you just club, Toomey said, laid the foundation for the get beaten up. You have to learn how to lose before
UNC Charlotte alumnus Brian fencing academy. It gave him experience managing you learn how to win.” Toomey got his first taste of large groups and promoting the sport. However, One of the reasons why Toomey is attracted to fencing as an undergraduate. managing the fencing academy is not his day job. fencing is that it allows him to exercise his martial He now owns Charlotte By day, the computer science major is a computer arts skills. “I like the one-on-one competition,” he Fencing Academy and passes on his love of the sport to the programmer at Bank of America. said. Plus, Getting to hit people with metal swords academy’s 90-plus students. While his job helps keep the academy’s books is always a little fun.” in the black, Toomey said he foresees a day when Though many fencers in the sport might sniff at he can work at the academy full time. Meanwhile, being compared to martial artists, Toomey thinks his friend of a dozen years, Jeff Kallio, handles the it’s a natural fit, “because,” he said, “you have to academy’s day-to-day operations. He also is a UNC take the time to practice movements over and over Charlotte graduate who earned a degree in criminal again until you can do them without thinking. justice in 2004. Discipline is mandatory.” “The kids Both men are excited about sharing their love “The kids have a lot of practice making of the sport with their students. “We have such mistakes,” said Kallio. But, he added, the sport have a lot of a solid impact on the kids,” said Kallio, adding “builds responsibility and true self reliance.” that the sport boosts confidence and instills Kennedy agreed, adding that fencing takes a practice making leadership skills. big time commitment. One thing her family likes Grace Kennedy, whose two sons are about the sport is, unlike in sports such as soccer, mistakes, but academy students, calls fencing, “the sport of fencers get to choose which competitions they good manners.” She said she’s witnessed a big want to participate in, often deciding with the help the sport builds difference in her teenage sons, both of whom of their coaches. responsibility and have attended the academy for four years. “This is a very supportive atmosphere,” she Another bonus for her: Her boys are able to said. “Egos are left at the door. Everyone is treated true self-reliance.” compete against females and adults, something the same.” nearly unheard of in other sports. The coaches lead by example, displaying the Rhiannon Bowman ’08 is a sport’s core values of honor, integrity and courage, freelance writer based in Charlotte.
www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 17 UNC CHARLOTTE | feature
Using public spaces to promote Living cultural understanding Together By Lisa A. Lambert Charlotte and the words “growth and development” are synonymous. The region has added nearly 150,000 newcomers since 2000. City leaders, non-profit organizations, private citizens and business owners grapple daily with issues that arise from rapid growth and demographic change. Like many major metropolitan areas, development in Charlotte has come in waves, with Uptown as the epicenter and each new suburb springing up farther still from the core of the city. This form of growth constitutes urban sprawl. Travel just a few miles from Uptown to witness the consequences of sprawl. Abandoned shopping centers sit back from the road amid desolate acres of cracked pavement parking lots — once an optimistic paean to consumerism, now a sad reminder that time marches on and tastes change. “As these areas become less attractive to middle class shoppers, you find a middle-belt of aging urban areas. These second-tier suburbs, constructed between the 1940s and 1980s, are now hemmed in,” said Jose Gamez, UNC Charlotte associate professor of architecture and urban design and director of the Design + Society Research Center. “Nicer suburbs are now found further out.” City planners, aided by UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute, have begun to re-imagine the region’s growth patterns with an emphasis on compactness and quality of life. Sustainability has become a watchword. At the same time, the middle-belt areas have attracted new inhabitants, often recent immigrants. Gamez studies the circumstances found in the middle-belt areas. Jose Gamez Before the 2008 economic crisis and concurrent
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Center Provides Gamez points to one ongoing project as a prime example of kind Expertise to Community of collaboration fostered by the center. The project was a public art study conducted on behalf of the Arts and Science Council on Through his work as director of the College of Arts + Architecture’s Central Avenue. Design + Society Research Center, Jose Gamez hopes to chip away at “I made the case to them that one way to begin to repair some some of the misunderstanding that fuels cultural conflict, while giving of these older, auto-oriented neighborhoods would be to offer more UNC Charlotte students an opportunity to work with the community amenities like public art that would give people a place to sit, move to hone their skills and solve real-world problems. around,” he said. “We did a study looking at opportunity sites where The Uptown studio engages UNC Charlotte students and faculty we’d be able to introduce art and landscaping that would build the with civic leaders and developers on projects ranging from public visual fabric. We proposed that they could recognize the international green space to public art. qualities of that corridor.” “It’s important to expose students to a set of real world The community’s residents reached consensus after some constraints and to instill in them a sense of civic responsibility. As wrangling over the nature of the artwork and what it would depict. professionals, architects will often be asked to engage in a civic A mural project representing the old and new elements of life along debate,” Gamez said. Central Avenue has been commissioned. The The center has evolved into a think-tank murals will be printed on canvas and hung focused on urban design-related issues. from storefronts. rise in unemployment, Charlotte was ranked long way to allow developers and government ninth in the nation for immigrant population to rebuild and repair cities, making them growth. Nearly 10 percent of the city’s pedestrian friendly and creating greater degrees inhabitants hail from Latin America. of population density. A significant portion of the immigrant With greater density comes a stronger social population has settled in the middle-belt fabric and increased social interaction. areas Gamez described. He said these areas “Legal constraints have often shaped a lot are attractive to newcomers because they are of what cities end up with. For instance, San affordable and are located within close range of Francisco has an historic Chinatown that’s a employment opportunities. tourist attraction and highly prized amenity Taco trucks, like this one, were the subject of “A whole host of cultural patterns come with controversy in cities across the United States, because in the 1800s the city enacted a series immigrants — they use the space differently than including Charlotte. of laws that wouldn’t allow the Chinese to from the way often intended, or designed, to be live outside of a certain district,” he said. “In used,” Gamez said. an odd way the restriction had a long-term Empty asphalt can become a springboard for “The arguments around noise that were benefit. The social fabric of that part of town informal activities such as people congregating made were probably not malicious, but at has persisted and maintained a magnetism for or street vendors selling food and amenities. the same time this is an urban landscape and folks of Asian descent.” Conflicts arise when these activities violate diversity is a part of that,” Gamez said. “The Gamez points to Chinatown as one example existing legislation, including zoning laws, or rub legislation has begun to stifle an emerging of a set of negative conditions arising from up against cultural norms. population that has a lot of ‘publicness’ as part segregation that produced an odd benefit. Case in point – Charlotte city leaders recently of its lifestyle — North Americans are not as “We appreciate the benefit without thinking passed an ordinance to prohibit taco trucks from public; we have different cultural norms.” about the circumstance that produced it,” he said. selling food after 9 p.m. The ordinance also The cultural rituals of Latin Americans Charlotte has witnessed explosive growth in stipulated that trucks stay 400 feet from each and Europeans include daily gatherings and its immigrant community in recent years, so it other and residential areas. socialization outside of the home. is likely conflicts such as the taco truck affair will The ordinance caused quite a stir. Proponents “Some of it has to do with dense urban continue to arise for public debate. argued that the trucks provide a service conditions and wanting to get into an open In the meantime, Gamez, who grew up in (affordable fast food) to clientele who often space. Those things don’t always synch up Texas and earned master’s and doctoral degrees don’t get off of work until late in the evening. cleanly with the way North Americans live,” in California, said spaces that encourage rather Opponents argued that the trucks are a nuisance he said. than prohibit social interaction can go a long way and that their presence encourages loitering, One step toward mitigating cultural conflict to increasing understanding among Charlotte’s littering and loud noise. At the heart of the and enhancing understanding between dynamic population. controversy was a clash of cultures driven by immigrants and long-time residents involves dispute over the activities that should or should remapping the legal landscape. Gamez said Lisa Lambert is senior writer in not take place in public space. that revising outdated legislation would go a the Office of Public Relations. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 19 UNC CHARLOTTE | student success Rocking the Campus (And the World?)
By Karen C. Wilson
Rock and roll is as much a part of college as studying, but for some it’s serious “I’d love to be a business. pop musician. As Brandon Kirkley, a UNC Charlotte graduate student in communications, and long as I can make Jocelyn Ellis, a senior studying business administration, each serve as lead singers enough money to for their bands Brandon Kirkley and the Firecrackers and Jocelyn Ellis and The Alpha support a family, Theory. But they’re also trying to lead their groups toward commercial success and mass I’ll keep doing this.” appeal using knowledge and skills they’ve gained in their studies at UNC Charlotte. “My mom says she’d play Michael Both bands already have developed large Jackson when I was in the womb and I’d followings both on and off campus with start kicking,” Kirkley said. their unique sounds and original music, He had the tattoo long before the performing at Charlotte venues such as scandal-ridden artist died. This summer it Tremont Hall and others throughout the helped a fan recognize Kirkley as he lounged Carolinas. on the beach in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Brandon Kirkley and the Firecrackers, On the other arm, there’s a tattoo of who often go by the shorter acronym BKTF, the Queen City’s symbol, a crown. And has opened for several acts that have traveled if you look closer, you’ll see the skyline in through the region. Jocelyn Ellis and The there, too. Kirkley was UNC Charlotte’s Alpha Theory plan to perform in New York Homecoming King in 2008 so a crown City this fall. seems fitting. The bands recently helped celebrate On his upper left arm, there’s a small the grand opening of the new $60 million tattoo that simply says “Kitten.” The tattoo student union, performing at Norm’s Game honors a nickname his grandfather had for “I’d love to be a pop musician. As Room. Following the performance, they his grandmother. long as I can make enough money to took some time to talk about what they’ve Kirkley and UNC Charlotte graduate Chris support a family, I’ll keep doing this,” done and what they hope to do. Fulton, who plays bass and harmonica, are the Kirkley said. Brandon Kirkley and two constants in BTKF, Kirkley said. The two Kirkley will graduate in 2010 with the Firecrackers met when Kirkley was a sophomore studying a master’s degree in liberal studies, Brandon Kirkley, a graduate student at mass communications at UNC Charlotte. focusing on new and old media. He said UNC Charlotte, is hard to miss with his Drummers and guitarists have come and gone, his communications studies at UNC funky hair, cowboy boots, booty shorts and leaving to join the army or get married and Charlotte have helped him to market distinctive tattoos. “grow up.” But Kirkley and Fulton see their himself and the band. His tattoos tell something about who he band as a business and hope to make a living Over the summer, Kirkley took is, he said. from it for as long as they can. on another significant role at UNC Kirkley sports a black and white tattoo of the Kirkley describes the band’s music as Charlotte, becoming the first station late Michael Jackson on his right arm. Michael ’90s pop rock, but with influences from manager of Radio Free Charlotte, UNC Jackson is one of his favorite pop artists. throughout the decades. Charlotte’s new digital radio station.
20 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu student success | UNC CHARLOTTE
With nearly 25,000 students attending UNC Charlotte, the university needs a student-run radio station and now it has one called Radio Free Charlotte, said faculty advisor Scott Phillipson. The digital radio station started broadcasting in July, playing edgy underground music accessible via the Internet. The station also has interviewed various bands performing shows in Charlotte and plans to report UNCC news and possibly create a morning traffic report. “We’ve already probably had a least a couple of hundred students want to be involved in the station either as DJs or in leadership positions,” Phillipson said. “Some leadership positions are getting college credit.” Radio Free Charlotte is located in the basement of the new Student Union along with other Student Media organizations including the Utimes, Sanskit and Niner Online. Graduate student Brandon Kirkley manages the station. The radio station started with no funding, but has been able to build a staff by offering experience and college credit. The station’s staff includes Chris Wetterer, the assistant station manager, public The station started with no funding, relations director Alexa Smith, program manager Stephanie Lockwood, program manager Kirkley said, but has been building a reputation as a station where you can get Matthew Brown, sports director Scott Lieberman, and media director Jin-Hee Pae. something different, maybe something you “It’s terrible we’re not getting any funding,” Kirkley said. “But things are only going to haven’t heard elsewhere. Kirkley’s building get better.” his DJ roster now. Students don’t get Kirkley said the station has developed several podcasts it is broadcasting until it builds paid, but they can get college credit and its roster of DJs for continuous live broadcasts. Phillipson said he expected to go live in experience that may help them land a job September. after college, he said. Kirkley said the station is broadcasting music students may not hear anywhere else in “We’re underground edge music,” Kirkley Charlotte. said, adding that he has not played his own music on the station, but that the Phillipson said Radio Free Charlotte began as a project in his new media in station will have a show dedicated to local communications class. Students helped him work on the project for two years before it performers in the future. became a reality, he said. So far, Radio Free Charlotte, has had more than 2,700 page views and expects its audience to continue to grow as more people learn about the station. The potential audience for the station is unlimited, Phillipson said. “By doing it online, we can broadcast literally all over the world,” Phillipson said. Tune into Radio Free Charlotte by visiting www.radiofreecharlotte.uncc.edu and clicking “Listen Live.”
was playing around campus,” Seibold said. Jocelyn Ellis and He heard her CD and saw her perform the Alpha Theory and decided to ask her to sing with The While Jocelyn Ellis was testing her skills Alpha Theory. in every talent show she could find on “It was crazy,” he said. “It just clicked.” campus, The Alpha Theory was already Ellis has been the lead singer of the band jamming with members Jesse Seibold, the since last fall. Ellis and the band describe 28-year-old drummer, and UNC Charlotte their music eclectic mix of urban folk and senior, Jeff Taylor, the 32-year-old guitarist, indie rock. and Nathan Woolard, 28, a 2004 UNC Ellis studies business management at Charlotte alumnus. UNC Charlotte. She does independent Seibold, who graduates with Ellis in research on the music industry to learn December, said he first discovered Ellis in more. Her coursework and research has one of his economics classes. He overheard already helped the band, she said. Ellis her talking to another student about music. “I checked her out a few times when she Continued on p. 31 www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 21 UNC CHARLOTTE | feature The Health Care Conundrum Edited by Lisa A. Lambert
health care system and the proposals for • Invest in prevention and wellness change that are now circulating in the halls (effectiveness, efficiency) of Congress. • Improve patient safety and quality of care (effectiveness) What are the measures of a “good” • Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans health care plan, in your opinion? (equity) • Assure affordable, quality health coverage for Michael Thompson, Assistant Professor all Americans (equity, effectiveness) of Public Health and Coordinator of • Maintain coverage when you change or lose the Master of Science in Public Health your job (equity, efficiency) Program — A health system is comprised • End barriers to coverage for people with pre- of six components: health services delivery existing medical conditions (equity). (the actual services delivered to a patient or community, both personal and non-personal); William Brandon, Metrolina Foundation health workforce (the people performing the Distinguished Professor of Public services); health information systems; medical Policy on Health — In the current technology and products; health financing political context we need to focus on the and payment systems; and leadership and best practical plan that can emerge, not some governance. ideal “best.” A good plan should include the How a health system is organized reflects a following provisions: combination of political and pragmatic forces. • A public plan Typical indicators we use to assess health • Definition of basic comprehensive coverage William Brandon system performance include infant mortality that all health insurance plans would have rates, life expectancy at birth, access to care to achieve or exceed (measures such as immunization rates, • The end of subsidies for Medicare Health care reform has a long and storied insurance coverage, and appropriate utilization Advantage plans (but I’m unsure about history as a political hot-potato. The recent of primary and emergency care services) and ending subsidies for employer-sponsored debate over health care reform has raised ire cost (per person, as percent of gross domestic insurance) among Republicans and Democrats alike, product, and for specific procedures and • Reasonable limits on copayments (say while bringing issues Americans seeking conditions). 80%) and deductibles with annual medical care confront everyday to the fore. President Obama has outlined eight broad individual and family maximums As a new administration attempts to make principles or characteristics of the health system • Community rating of public, individual headway on the issue, a confused public he favors. These principles are largely in line and small group health insurance attempts to sort out the propaganda from with what we know to be the best practices for • Guaranteed issue the truth. community health: • Elimination of pre-existing condition With the hope of offering our readers • Reduce long-term growth of health care costs exclusions and waiting periods some nuance and clarity about a timely issue for businesses and government (efficiency) • Coverage of mental health conditions that affects us all, we asked UNC Charlotte • Protect families from bankruptcy or debt that is the same as coverage of physical experts some questions about the current because of health care costs (efficiency, equity) conditions (i.e., “mental health parity”)
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• Authority for the Federal government to years of work by advocates. Much of the negotiate lower payments for prescription action in encouraging healthy behaviors must drugs (in light of its volume purchases) occur at the State level. Think of Federal • Preemption of state regulation of health action to encourage states to enact seat belt insurance and motorcycle helmet laws. • Active federal regulation of self-insured employment-sponsored coverage along Is prevention emphasized in the with the anticipated federal regulation of current reform debate? Could more individual and small-group markets. of an investment in prevention/health education result in savings later? What are the main causes of the increase in health care costs? William Brandon — Early in the debate advocates of health reform tried to use William Brandon — The main causes of potential savings from prevention as part health care cost increases include: Expanding of the justification for claiming that health payrolls in the health sector (both the reform would not add to the deficit. The number of employees and the wages and “show me” attitude of the Congressional salaries); Increased application of technology; Budget Office (CBO) seems to have quieted The increasing cost of drugs, which will that dubious claim. Although everybody Michael Thompson escalate as biomedical researchers turn recent wants to see preventive care and healthy advances in biology into practical treatments lifestyles, the fact is that real dollars will have equitably, and efficiently operate a public or diagnostic tools. to be spent up-front for any real change to option plan, the opposition to health be achieved and savings, if the programs reform plays on people’s mistrust of the How have healthcare systems in other are successful, only come sometime in the government and the label ‘government run.’ countries treated the issue of personal future. So the green-eyeshade guys are The misguided fear that extending coverage responsibility? Are there reward probably right to be dubious about the to the uninsured and underinsured will limit systems and punishments for health claims of significant savings. the coverage those of us with insurance now behaviors? Are any such programs The best way to incorporate prevention enjoy ignores the facts. Medicare operates currently being considered for mass into the plan would be to include a hefty tax at less than one-fifth the administrative consumption in the United States? on cigarettes, the nastiest killer among the costs of private insurers. Medicare provides What are the pitfalls of drafting lifestyle issues, as part of its health reform guaranteed access to those who are qualified. legislation to promote or discourage financing. Partially financing health reform Medicare utilizes the existing private medical health behaviors? with “sin taxes” has not been a major part of services delivery system to provide clients the discussion. In this economic downturn their choice of care provider. William Brandon — Although it is possible many States have had to turn to these taxes Others mistakenly point to the high tax that the final health reform legislation will be for additional revenue. Moreover, many rates in European countries that provide written to encourage medical organizations of them also depend on income from the universal health care as a sign that public and insurers to emphasize preventive care, tobacco settlement. Thus, as a matter of options are inherently expensive. True, it is not realistic to include sanctions for practical politics, it is probably not feasible to European tax rates are higher than in the unhealthy individual behavior in health propose this effective form of prevention as US, even when combining federal and state care legislation. Health reform legislation part of health reform legislation. taxes. But, the gap is not as great as portrayed that insures universal access is going to be and is not an apples-to-apples comparison. hard enough to get enacted; Americans If a public option is available, Europeans finance virtually all of their resist having government tell us how to live would the insurance costs of those healthcare expenditures through taxes. The our lives. I’m sure that the most committed who are now insured go up? US finances its healthcare expenditures proponent will be happy if he/she can obtain through a combination of taxes, direct an individual mandate to secure individual Michael Thompson — Depending on how payments by individuals, and payments insurance. One way to enforce that mandate a public option is implemented, the costs by businesses on behalf of employees and is by charging the IRS to verify coverage should go down. Right now, private insurers dependents. Taken together, we spend more through its annual tax reporting system. mostly cherry-pick (screen to maximize than twice as much per person and nearly Does the lack of mandated behavioral membership of low-cost, health workers), three times as much as a percent of our gross change mean Congress doesn’t care? Not at leaving higher-cost groups for government domestic product and have poorer health all! This Congress is to be complemented programs and the ranks of the uninsured. outcomes. Paying two to three times more in its efforts to give the FDA regulatory Despite our history with Medicare for an inferior product hardly makes the authority over tobacco products after many showing that the government can effectively, present system seem like a good value. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 23 UNC CHARLOTTE | feature
What’s the best approach to a public option? independent or quasi-governmental Michael Thompson — The best public agencies and care delivery to private and plan, in terms of health outcomes, is one municipal providers. that utilizes a community rating. That is, • a mixed system, which incorporates aspects the financial risk is equitably borne by all of two or more of the above models (like members of the community. A low-risk the United States) patient might end up paying a slightly higher The United States currently operates dictate to premium so that an extremely high-risk subsystems of all three types, and still has my doctor patient can pay an affordable rate. Some a substantial number who are uninsured. what she can of this cost-shifting, however, is offset Our military is served by a system identical do. But those by savings in ensuring timely, effective to the United Kingdom’s national health procedures are preventive care and early treatment to all, services. Our elders and our impoverished very rare. where the uninsured currently add about children are served by a national health $1,000 to an insured’s premium. insurance system (Medicare, CHIP), and Michael Two other factors must be considered employer-based coverage is similar to a Thompson — integral to a viable public option. First, the national sickness insurance system. Insurance coverage government should be allowed to integrate Unfortunately, the Cold War left us with is the gateway to its care systems or to leverage its buying the notion that socialism and communism our health care system. power across those systems. Second, payment are synonymous. They are not. The United Rationing exists now. What systems must be reengineered and realigned States operates many services in a “socialistic” changes under health reform to value the production of health over the fashion (that is for the benefit of all... is who participates in that delivery of a service. “United we stand, divided we fall”). We rationing decision and what see no threat to our ‘Americanness’ from their competing interests are. Why are we considering a public education, from emergency medical Currently the rationing is largely socialized system? and fire services, or from municipal water, vertical (you have coverage or you sewer, and trash services. Recognizing that don’t). A public system makes the Michael Thompson — As we engage we (individually and collectively) benefit, rationing more horizontal (ensuring in this debate, we must be certain to we support these services whether we use everyone has comparable access). disaggregate discussions on changes to the them or not and, in fact, take great pride An insurance company executive is health care delivery system and changes in offering these services. Why, then, is incentivized to charge clients as much in the health care financing and payment healthcare different? as possible and to pay providers as little systems, and to use precise terminology. as possible, maximizing profits. Insurance Far too often, the term socialized medicine Is there danger of the government companies further their aim by practices and nationalized medicine are used rationing care? Don’t insurance such as rescission, whereby the policies of interchangeably, when they are distinct. companies already hold that kind suddenly expensive clients are retroactively Globally, health care systems take on four of sway? revoked for the slightest omission or error primary models, all of which are “socialistic” in their reported medical history. Doctors to varying degrees: William Brandon — The short answer report factoring insurance coverage into their • a national health system, where the is that the U.S. government is not going treatment plans and options presented to government finances and largely runs to “ration” care. A good test of this claim patients. (employs) the health system (like the UK) is Medicare. Traditional fee-for-service A public plan executive’s interest are • a national health insurance system (like Medicare pays for all necessary medical care. aligned with the client’s: maximizing the Canada and Japan) where the government In fact, it almost certainly also pays for a health of its clients in order to keep costs finances the system through taxes and good bit of unnecessary care. Sometimes new down, as it is the clients, through direct, direct payments and operates healthcare procedures or drugs are introduced that are payroll, and other taxes who fund the system. like an insurance company contracting with not recognized for a while by Medicare. Such Worldwide, public systems and public option providers in private practice delays are the result of bureaucratic inertia. systems provide results (life expectancy, infant • a national sickness insurance system (like Although it rarely comes up in Medicare, mortality, access to and appropriate utilization The Netherlands, Germany) where the there are a few procedures like partial birth of care) far superior to the current U.S. system government finances the system through abortion that the U.S. government has for less than half the cost we now pay. By taxes and direct payments, but leaves decided it will not pay for. Personally, I find restructuring our system, we could fully cover the insurance company functions to it offensive that the U.S. Congress should every American in a way that provides timely
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access to basic primary and preventive care care in the 1990s after the failure of Bill legislation are enacted. It seems to me that and access to more specialized care. We could Clinton’s health reform plan and it did slow the House bill is an implicit preemption have coverage similar to what those who are the growth of health care costs. But the — take over — of the power given to the insured now enjoy, for about the same American people, urged on by organized States in the 1940s to regulate all sorts of total costs. medicine, revolted. The terms HMO and insurance. Many of the opponents of the managed care almost became obscenities for bills popular with Democrats want one to Will all the people who now are health care consumers. be able to buy insurance without regard to uninsured have some form of coverage the state in which one is residing. So maybe when government driven health care If a public option is available, one consensus is for the federal government reform is enacted? would the insurance costs of to take back its power to regulation health those who are now insured go up? insurance. Ha! I’ll believe that when I see it. William Brandon — The conventional wisdom is that it is impossible to cover William Brandon — The idea of the What alternatives to the literally everybody. In particular, no one is public option is that those getting insurance Administration’s proposals are proposing that the legislation cover illegal from the individual or small group model being offered by the opposition? immigrants. Depending on who is doing would switch to the public insurance plan the talking, I have heard proponents aim to if it was cheaper. It is pretty clear from the William Brandon — I’ve heard opponents cover 95 to 97 percent of those eligible (not proposed House legislation that those three suggest that “co-operatives” that will be including illegal immigrants). types of plans would be community rated generated outside of government can provide (with some kind of cross subsidy if one the cost-consciousness that current insurance What are some of the current plan suffered adverse selection). In fact, it arrangements do not promote. See my proposals to decrease health care costs is an important empirical question whether comments about Group Health of Puget overall? And what are the pros and insureds would migrate to the cheaper Sound above. cons of implementing these measures? plan on an annual basis if the coverage A deeper level of opposition suggests is comparable. (Insurance exchanges, an that a free market in which insurance William Brandon — This question is entirely new institution, will have to be has more de-regulation so that it can be important because of what both proponents formed and begin to function before we can bought across state lines would allow more and opponents seem to want to hide. find out whether consumers of individual Americans to gain access to affordable Have you noticed that nobody is talking insurance policies do move among the private insurance. This claim usually comes about managed care or HMOs — health offerings according to price.) What no with the complaints about specific coverage maintenance organizations that combine one seems to be talking about is the fact mandates by state legislation which increases the functions of providing health insurance that employment-sponsored insurance will costs. In the current context, most of the and the delivery of care? The fallback for continue to be experience-rated and that opponents at least give lip service to the those claiming that a public plan violates most employers, in fact, are large enough to need to end the exclusion of pre-existing Republican party principles is the “co- self-insure rather than purchase insurance conditions. But they are very quiet about operative,” which is supposed to be a part policies for employees. whether community rating would be of self-reliant, individualist western farmer- required. Without community rating those mentality. Almost the only health example To what extent would the government with chronic conditions will not be helped that these conservatives can provide is Group be directly involved in the when told “we don’t exclude you from our Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, which administering of health care? insurance pool, but to be covered you will was founded in 1947. Group Health is have to pay five times as much as those an HMO! Proponents of reform promise William Brandon — Clearly some level without your condition.” that health care costs can be reduced by of government will have to write the Vouchers or refundable tax credits have “integrated health care systems” such as the regulations governing how a brand new often been proposed by those who want to Cleveland Clinic. Although such health market for health insurance will function. expand health insurance coverage and avoid care systems often accept patients paying No one is talking about the U.S. government an expansion of government involvement. on a fee-for-service rather than prepaid (or administering health care (other than the Because of the high cost of health insurance, capitated) basis, the doctors are salaried and systems for the military, veterans, and native excessively high levels of funding would be the care is managed. Yet I have not heard one Americans which it currently organizes). required. And even experts favoring vouchers of the proponents say that cost control will What I don’t understand and have not or tax credits admit that the goal of universal be achieved by managed care instituted and heard anyone discuss, is how state regulation coverage would not be approached. enforced by salaried physicians working in a of health insurance can survive if the federal group practice model. provisions for the individual and small Lisa Lambert is senior writer The private sector instituted managed group markets contained in the House in the Office of Public Relations. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 25 UNC CHARLOTTE | center stage Lighting
the Way 2 Nature Intended
Recent advances in building science research and technology have opened up new horizons for daylighting, or harnessing natural light to illuminate building interiors. The Daylighting + Energy Performance Laboratory is a gem within the College of Arts + Architecture. The lab takes an active role in shaping public policy 1 and offers design assistance to architectural firms. Through applied research focused on energy systems and lighting technologies, the lab brings valuable solutions to the community.
1 Dale Brentrup, professor of reproduces the Piedmont region’s on top of the Storrs Building is used architecture and director of the overcast conditions and through as input for the lighting simulations Daylighting + Energy Performance physical modeling allows students processed by these machines. The Lab, leans on a model of the proposed and faculty to determine the most weather station collects data, such home for a new center with the effective ways to maximize natural as horizontal illuminance and College of Arts + Architecture – the lighting. irradiation, that help ensure accurate Center for Building and Integrated daylighting simulations for the Design Research. The center will focus 3 Looks like a bunch of computers, Charlotte region. Also collected on the study of energy performance right? Well, they are computers, are dry bulb temperature, relative and productivity. used as a parallel processor, this humidity, atmospheric pressure, “Beowulf Cluster” is a render farm precipitation and wind speed. 2 It’s a house of mirrors, it’s a used to process data for one program, These metrics are used to teach customized stand-up tanning the lighting simulation software students about the climatic forces device…no, it’s the Artificial RADIANCE. Information gathered their building designs should be Sky. The CIE overcast sky simulator from the weather station located responsive to.
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5 3
4 7
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4 Is it the precursor to the Segue? No, 6 But of course, it’s Ben Futrell. field acquisition system for evaluating it’s Zappy, the electric, three-wheeled Behind every great professor is a luminous distribution. That’s research- scooter. Zappy makes its rounds to local competent alum. Futrell graduated ese for quantitatively measuring the schools, for example, to demonstrate from UNC Charlotte with a master of brightness of surfaces with a camera. how solar radiation and other renewable architecture degree, and decided to This tool can be used for analyzing glare energies can be used in daily life. stick around. Now he coordinates the in daylit space and create verification activities of the Daylighting + Energy models for use in the render farm. 5 These lamps are not your ordinary Performance Lab. Graduate assistant reading lights — they are part of a kit Lauren Hargrave stands in the 8 What lab would be complete that is being used to verify concepts in background. without a skateboard? a new research venture between the lab Architecture student Colin Campbell and its corporate partners. The objective 7 And this might appear to be your (not pictured) keeps the skateboard is to develop new technology for the ordinary digital camera; actually, handy. One way to get the creative juices simultaneous control of glare, daylight it is…but it is used in a not-so- flowing, we suppose. But there’s one and electric light. ordinary way. The camera is part of a caveat – Dale’s not allowed to use it.
www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 27 UNC CHARLOTTE | 49ers notebook Men’s Basketball: Niners Face Xavier and Temple at Halton Arena
The Atlantic 10 has released The home schedule lines up as follows the 2009-10 men’s basketball (asterisks denote conference games): conference schedule which has November the 49ers playing four of the Thurs. 5 JOHNSON C. SMITH (Exhibition) A-10’s six 2009 post-season Fri. 13 UNC ASHEVILLE teams at Halton Arena. The A-10 December slate inclues home-and-home Wed. 2 East Carolina series with Xavier, Richmond Tues. 8 WINSTON-SALEM STATE and George Washington. In addition, Halton Arena will play Sat. 12 GARDNER-WEBB host to Duquesne, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph’s, Saint Louis Tues. 29 MERCER and Temple. Both Xavier and Temple participated in the 2009 January NCAA Tournament while Duquesne reached the NIT and Sat. 2 GEORGIA TECH Richmond advanced to the College Basketball Invitational. Sat. 9 ST. BONAVENTURE* Included in the schedule is the listing of five TV games Sun. 17 SAINT LOUIS* for the 49ers, including two nationally-televised contests. Wed. 27 TEMPLE* Charlotte’s home game with Saint Louis, Jan. 17, will be carried by CBS College Sports while the 49ers road game at February Massachusetts, Jan. 30, will be seen on ESPNU. Three other Wed. 3 GEORGE WASHINGTON* home games: vs. Temple, Jan. 27; vs. Duquesne, Feb. 17 Wed. 17 DUQUESNE* Sat. 20 XAVIER* and vs. Xavier, Feb. 20 will be part of CBS College Sports Wed. 24 SAINT JOSEPH’S* syndicated regional package. The Charlotte 49ers local television package has not been released. March The schedule has the 49ers playing four of their Sat. 6 Richmond* last six games at home, including the regular-season Tues. 9 A-10 Championship First Round Campus Site finale vs. Richmond, Mar. 6. The 49ers A-10 opener Fri. 12 A-10 Championship Quarterfinals Atlantic City, N.J. will be Jan. 9 vs. St. Bonaventure at Halton Arena. Sat. 13 A-10 Championship Semifinals Atlantic City, N.J. Game times have not been released. Sun. 14 A-10 Championship Finals CBS Atlantic City, N.J.
at a cost of either $1000 (Green) or $2500 along with Norm the Niner, delivered the (Gold). Flexible payment options are school supplies collected on campus to the available and you can purchase an FSL for as WSOC studio in downtown Charlotte. little as $29 a month. In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area alone, Money raised through FSL sales are critical there are more than 2,000 students who are to upfront costs in starting a football program. homeless, and one in two public school children Join the Rush to make Charlotte 49ers show up to school without the basic supplies. football a reality and purchase your FSL today Each year, the average teacher spends $1,200 by going to charlotte49erfootball.com or calling of their own money in order to provide the the athletic ticket office at 704-687-4949. necessary school supplies for their students. Last year, Classroom Central distributed C hARLOTTE Athletes Give more than $4.45 million in free school supplies In oRDER to protect our To School Tools Campaign to 80,000 students in our region. Charlotte house we have to build one! Once again the Charlotte 49ers have teamed collected 500 pounds of supplies for the 2008- Help make football a reality at UNC up with Classroom Central, Communities in 2009 school year. Charlotte by purchasing your FSL (49ers Seat School, and WSOC-TV Channel 9 for the License) today. 2009 School Tools Campaign to provide the 49ers to Host 6th Annual FSLs give you the right to purchase season basic school supplies for those students who are Let Me Play Luncheon tickets to Charlotte 49ers football games, unable to afford them. The Charlotte 49ers Athletic Department scheduled to hit campus in 2013! Student-athletes from the volleyball team, will host the 6th Annual “Let Me Play” FSLs are available at two different levels men’s basketball, and track and field teams, Luncheon, Monday, Nov. 2 at The
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Charlotte Convention Center. The event, and attracted 600-plus attendees. Proceeds a brainchild of 49ers Director of Athletics from the event benefit the Charlotte 49ers Judy Rose, celebrates the role that athletics women’s athletic program. plays in the development of young women. Registration for the event begins at 11:30 with 49 oH eRS t ost A-10 Women’s lunch and the program to follow at 12 noon. Soccer Championship Started in 2004, “Let Me Play” is The two-time defending Atlantic 10 intended to attract and mobilize influential Champion Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer women throughout the Charlotte team will host the 2009 Atlantic 10 women’s community and to illustrate the profound Soccer Championship, Nov. 5-8 on-campus effect that athletics can have on their lives. at Transamerica Field. The program annually includes key note The 49ers will be looking for their speakers as well as a presentation from third straight title and the automatic a current 49ers female student-athlete. NCAA tournament bid that goes to the Among those that have spoken at the tournament winner. event are 49ers academic and athletic all- The A-10’s top six teams will converge Americans Sharonda Johnson (track and on Charlotte for the three-day event. The field) and Lindsey Ozimek (women’s soccer) tournament opens on Thursday, Nov. 5 as well as former standouts Karen Shugart with two games between seeds 3-6. The (women’s basketball) and Krista Long top two teams receive first round byes and (volleyball). Shugart was serving as Aiistant will play in the A-10 semifinals, Friday, to the Special Agent in charge within the Nov. 6 against the first round winners. The Presidential Protection Division of the championship is slated for Sunday, Nov. 8. Secret Service while Long was Vice Preident Charlotte, which returned 10 starters of Ryland Homes. from the 2008 A-10 Championship team, Natalie English, Senior Vice President for will contend for their fourth straight A-10 Business and Education Advocacy with the regular-season title. The 49ers are led by 2008 Charlotte Chamber is chairperson of the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Whitney 2009 event. Weinraub and 2008 A-10 Midfielder of the Last year, the event raised $101,000 Year Hailey Beam. Oni Bernard, sophomore fullback/midfielder
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and lawmakers. U.S. - Russia Relations: Still, the perception of the United States as the world leader in space technology and therefore the leader in missile development was shattered with the beep of a tiny satellite. The space race was on. Citizens of the United States quickly rallied around a common cause — one-upmanship A Restart on a grand scale. By Lisa A. Lambert The space race had profound effects on the U.S. educational system, as well as on the psyche of the public. School children were July marked the 40th anniversary of Apollo with the same broad brush. But as the war challenged to excel in math and science and 11’s moon landing. Astronauts Buzz Aldrin raged on, United States and Soviet interests the public was encouraged to imagine, to and Neil Armstrong were the first men to ever more closely aligned, spawning a spirit of dream big. Space became the new frontier. walk on the moon — and the whole world collaboration against a common enemy. Which brings us full-circle. The United watched that iconic moment in awe. The “strange alliance” between the States put a man on the moon in 1969, an But before Aldrin and Armstrong, there United States and Soviet Union deteriorated event that was both a singular achievement was Yuri Gagarin, the first human in outer rapidly after the war, when the superpowers and vindication for the time and resources space, followed by a host of other Russian tried to implement two very different and devoted to the space program. cosmonauts, including Valentina Tereshkova, incompatible visions for the post-war world. After the moon landing, the space race who in 1963 became the first woman in space. The Cold War, characterized by heightened continued, though not at its previous frenzied For more than a decade, achievement in tension and intense rivalry, began in earnest in pace. Over the years, the space relationship space was a feather in the cap of the Soviets, 1945 and a nuclear arms race ensued. between the United States and Soviet Union and a thorn in the side of the United States. The United States had demonstrated its served as a barometer for relations on the UNC Charlotte Professor Emeritus of technological superiority with the creation ground. Political Science Nish Jamgotch focused and successful deployment of the atomic In 1975 the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project for most of his professional career on the bomb. During the Cold War, both countries culminated in a joint docking of the American relationship between the United States committed enormous resources to build up spacecraft with the Soviet spacecraft. and Russia. In view of the moon landing weapons stockpiles, creating what Jamgotch The primary purpose of the mission was anniversary, Jamgotch said now is the perfect calls the “delicate balance of terror.” technological and symbolic, marking the time to reflect on the legacy of the Cold War Then, in 1957, the Soviets launched a end to the tension of the space race and the and the ways in which the “Space Race” led gleaming, beeping silver satellite the size of a adoption of a policy of détente, or the overall to greater communication and diplomatic basketball into orbit. More important than easing of tensions between the superpowers. overtures between the Superpowers. what Sputnik actually accomplished was what Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union To appreciate the genesis of the space race the satellite signified – Soviet technological in 1991, relations between the United States requires a rudimentary understanding of superiority. At least, that’s what the American and Russia have entered a new, complex phase. United States – Soviet relations prior to and in public assumed. Soviet communism had committed suicide. the aftermath of World War II. While the successful launch of Sputnik was While much of the mutual ignorance of the Before the United States entered the war, a demonstration of advances in rocket thrust past is gone, profound cultural and ideological many politicians and military leaders painted technology, Jamgotch said Soviet power was differences remain, Jamgotch said. the German Nazis and Communist Soviets greatly exaggerated by the American media However, Jamgotch is hopeful – he said
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Stamp Collection stage chops through her performances at Continued from p. 21 UNC Charlotte events. Highlights U.S. – “When I came to college, my main thing Soviet Space Race taught the band to how to copyright its was that I wanted to chase my dream,” she music so it can’t be stolen. They credit her said. UNC Charlotte with helping turn the band into a profitable She performed for up to 500 people in small business. Professor Emeritus of some of the talent shows on campus, she “We get royalty checks and that’s thanks Political Science Nish said, “It prepared me.” to Jocelyn,” Taylor said. Jamgotch traveled To learn more about Jocelyn Ellis and Ellis said her family didn’t really want to the Soviet Union The Alpha Theory or to listen to their her to study music. And when she applied music, visit http://jocelynellis.net/. three times prior to the university’s school of music program, To learn more about Brandon Kirkley to its collapse and she didn’t get accepted. But Ellis said and the Firecrackers or to listen to their reconfiguration into nothing could stop her from trying. music, visit www.bktf.net. multiple states. Being a student and a budding recording During his travels, he amassed a artist at a major university has helped in Karen C. Wilson is a freelance collection of government-issued stamps other ways, too. Ellis said she earned her writer based in Charlotte. commemorating Russian achievement in space. Jamgotch donated his collection to UNC Charlotte. It is housed on the third floor of Indie Rock Alive and Atkins Library and will be featured in the Well in Charlotte Chancellor’s suite on the 5th floor of the Reese Building for the month of November. Indie-alternative rockers the Sammies also The inscription on the collection have some deep UNC Charlotte roots. reads: To highlight the importance of Guitarist Will Huntley and his brother, U.S. and Soviet achievements in space, Joe, who plays drums, grew up in nearby Wadesboro, N.C. They formed the band when and to encourage future U.S. – Russian Will would come home for long weekends cooperative relations, these stamps were from UNC Charlotte. donated by Nish Jamgotch, Jr., Professor Will Huntley graduated in 2001 with a of Political Science, 1966 – 1993. degree in marketing and Joe graduated The Sammies Jamgotch, a distinguished political from UNC Charlotte last year with a psychology scientist whose teaching career at UNC degree. Fellow band member Ben Levine earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering Charlotte spanned nearly 30 years, said from UNC Charlotte and two former band members also attended the university. “We have so much in our society that is Will Huntley said the university was the background to the formation of the Sammies. divisive and conflict-laden. We need more “When there was a lack of anything else to do, we’d grab some acoustic guitars and vigorous efforts that will bring us together crappy keyboards and just play anywhere,” he said. “Our biggest challenge was there were for joint, creative problem solving.” virtually no clubs to play at close to the University.” The public is invited to view Their fans would trek down to south Charlotte to catch the Sammies at The Room, a the collection. club which became a top venue for Indie music. They also played larger places such as the Visulite Theatre in the Elizabeth neighborhood. The influences on the band run as wide and far as their personal stacks of CDs, Huntley said, ranging from David Bowie to Lynyrd Skynyrd to the Strokes. “We grew up on classic the fundamental, and most important, lesson rock and we love pop songs,” he said. of diplomacy is as applicable today as it was Along with their local hero status, the Sammies have attained much wider success. Their during the Cold War: You must be willing songs have been featured in feature films such as “Employee of the Month” and popular to talk to your adversaries to come up with television shows including “Friday Night Lights.” mutually beneficial agreements. The Sammies are currently working on their third album. Meanwhile, Huntley and the “Now is the time to re-start our relationship others are putting their college education to use. with Russia,” he said. “There’s not a lot of money to be made in the music industry right now so we are fortunate enough to have been able to use our college degrees to find decent Lisa Lambert is senior writer in jobs,” he said. the Office of Public Relations. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 31 UNC CHARLOTTE | feature A Journey Through Time James Tabor leads a five-year archeological dig in Jerusalem
By Allison Reid
It wasn’t a typical summer break for UNC A view of the city of Jerusalem from the site of an archeological expedition led by UNC Charlotte professors James Tabor and Shimon Charlotte professors James Tabor and Gibson. Tabor, religious studies department Shimon Gibson. chair, and Gibson, an archaeologist and adjunct religious studies professor, led nearly 50 students, alumni and other volunteers in a team of epigraphic experts to determine an archaeological dig in Jerusalem in June the meaning of the text, which is clear but and July. During this second year of their cryptic. The ritual cup is made that much excavation at Jerusalem’s Mount Zion, the dig more newsworthy due to the inscription’s team unearthed an extremely rare 2,000-year- mysterious nature, says Tabor. He figures it old limestone cup inscribed with 10 lines of has been purposefully encoded, which adds Aramaic or Hebrew script. a new level of intrigue to the purpose and Although such ritual cups are common, meaning of the vessel. especially in areas that were inhabited by The extraordinary nature of the ritual cup priests, they are usually unmarked or bear has been covered by the media internationally, only a single line of text, such as a name, including the Jerusalem Post and the Los said Gibson. “To have 10 lines of text is Angeles Times. Tabor says he expects the dig to unprecedented,” he said in announcing get more media coverage after the inscription the find. The team unearthed this rare 2,000-year-old is deciphered. The cup has been handed over The inscription dates from the first limestone cup. The 10-line inscription is written to the The Israel Museum, where it will be put century A.D. and is being deciphered by in Aramaic or Hebrew. on display.
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O tHER findings The dig also produced a sequence of building remains dating from the first century A.D. through the Byzantine (fourth century A.D.) and Early Islamic (sixth century A.D.) periods. One interesting find was a house complex with a mikveh, or purification pool, with a remarkably well-preserved vaulted ceiling. Inside the house, the dig team found three bread ovens that dated to the year 70 A.D. Ten murex shells were also found on the site. These shells are believed to have been used for the dye that priests used to color the vestments at that time. This further proves that the dig site was once the priestly quarter of Jerusalem, according to Tabor. In addition, a large, arched building with a mosaic floor from the Byzantine period Journey through Time,” will highlight the Nearly 50 students, alumni and other volunteers joined an archaeological dig in was uncovered. diverse and complex cultural history of the area – Jerusalem in June and July. covering Muslim, Jewish, and Christian history. Unprecedented project “We’re committed to preserving all levels of UNC Charlotte is the only U.S. university culture,” says Tabor. “Unlike other archaeological the best during the Mount Zion excavations that has been given a license to dig in Jerusalem digs, we’re purposefully leaving the site intact, so will facilitate my graduate studies and help me in more than 20 years. visitors to the park will be able to explore the full narrow my research interests.” “There are archaeologists at other prestigious range of history of this multicultural area.” Students can participate in the dig for either two- or four-week periods, with a two-week commitment equaling a three-hour course credit. Tabor points out that students don’t have to be specializing in religious studies or archaeology to benefit from the experience at Mount Zion. “They can come with no dig experience, and in two weeks we give them enough exposure that they’re useful to the dig,” says Tabor “We call it a field school.” Tabor says the most rewarding aspect of the dig experience for students may be the exposure to the incredible diversity of Jerusalem. “They are observing and experiencing first hand the complexity of the Middle East,” says Tabor. “Every day, students will see orthodox Shimon Gibson, an archaeologist and adjunct Not your typical study Jews walking with Muslims and Christians. religious studies professor, and James Tabor, abroad experience religious studies department chair. Jerusalem is just this huge panoply of everybody Religious studies graduate student Melissa mixed together, and that can be an eye-opening Fleischer won a competitive $1000 scholarship experience.” universities who are extremely jealous of us in from the journal Biblical Archeology Review to For more information about the Mount Zion that regard,” says Tabor. “They ask me, ‘How did participate in this summer’s dig. She is writing excavation, go to www.digmountzion.com. The you pull this off?’” an article about her experience with the dig dig and the development of the park rely on The Mount Zion dig, co-sponsored by that will be published in the journal in early gifts from individuals and organizations. For the religious studies department and the 2010. Fleischer says her experience on the dig in more information about contributing, contact anthropology department, is a five-year project. Jerusalem was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sharon Harrington at [email protected] or Tabor hopes to complete the digging by 2012, “I had always dreamed of having the 704-687-0082. and the team’s goal is to start developing an opportunity to dig in the Holy Land,” says archaeological park in 2013, depending on Fleischer. “I loved that I was able to represent Allison Reid is director of communications funding. The park, which will be called “A UNC Charlotte. The opportunity to learn from in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 33 UNC CHARLOTTE | 49ers notebook
Continued from p. 4 Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Student Union
The Union is 196,000 square feet. 10 That is more than 20,000 square feet larger than the Biltmore House. It’s the equivalent of 41.7 basketball courts or 7,289 pool tables. There are actually four pool tables inside the building (no basketball courts).
It took more than 659,511 accident-free 9 man hours to construct the magnificent building. No one was injured during the construction process.
This is the first building on campus with 8 waterless urinals, saving up to 40,000 gallons of water per year. (That’s money we’re not flushing away).
Every Starbucks employee endured 7 over 75 hours of intense training and is certified on at least 27 specialty drinks and lattes, making it quite easy to get a skinny-frappy-caramel-mocha thingy.
The Union has created more than 100 6 new student jobs and counting. In one week, the Crown Commons Pizza 5 Station will use 375-plus pounds of cheese.
There are 72 steps in the Rotunda 4 staircase (10 trips per slice of pizza). With 23 flat panel displays throughout 3 the building, the Union offers 1,156 digital inches of viewing pleasure.
The Student Union is the new 2 headquarters for more than 300 student organizations and activities planning more than 1,600 events a year that educate and involve over 200,000 annual attendees.
The Union represents a milestone 1 in UNC Charlotte’s history.
34 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine | Q309 www.UNCC.edu 49ers notebook | UNC CHARLOTTE
Above: Works by UNC Charlotte art professor Jamie Franki were featured in the first public exhibit at the art gallery in the new Student Union.
Left: Chancellor Dubois officiated at the formal dedication of the Student Union on Aug. 28.
www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 35 UNC CHARLOTTE | building blocks
W MB hEN iSS onnie S pEAKS… Convocation 1965 – when we were still UNC-C. Miss Bonnie Cone, UNC Charlotte founder and, at that time, acting chancellor, addresses the university’s first convocation as a four-year, UNC system school. On July 1, 1965, Charlotte College was elevated to become UNC Charlotte, the fourth branch of Consolidated University of North Carolina that then included only UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. State and UNC Greensboro. Miss Bonnie loved UNC Charlotte so much that she is buried on campus, on the edge of the Susie Harwood Garden, near Fretwell Hall. No one has ever Staked their Claim like Miss Bonnie Cone. For a biography of this amazing woman access http://cone.uncc.edu/bonniecone.
36 UNC CHARLOTTE magazinemagazine | | Q309 Q309 www.UNCC.edu Ivy League taLent FROM a MagnOLIa
tOwn.To find world-class talent, you don’t have to look any farther than UNC Charlotte. Whether it’s academics, athletics, or the arts, we’re home to top achievers and leaders. 23,000 students strong and growing, UNC Charlotte boasts an award-winning faculty, notable alumni, and an outstanding student body. Stake your claim to a university that’s home to academic achievement.
Kenechukwu Onwugbolu Mona Abbasi, Marketing, Honors Program, Class of 2011 Biology/Pre-Med, Honors Program, Class of 2011 www.UNCC.edu Q409 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 37 UNC CHARLOTTE | alumni notes alumni news
Alumni Association Presents TIAA-CREF About UNC Charlotte Alumni Association: Alumni Golf Classic The UNC Charlotte Alumni Association serves more than 80,000 Date: Monday, October 12, 2009 UNC Charlotte alumni. In addition to serving alumni through our Registration: 8 a.m. affinity and advocacy programs, the Alumni Association serves UNC Shotgun Start: 9:30 a.m. Charlotte students by providing scholarships. For more information on Where: Pine Island Country Club the Alumni Association, visit www.unccharlottealumni.org. 1701 Stoneyridge Drive Charlotte, NC
The Alumni Association will hold shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. will get $250. After registering online, the Alumni the 11th annual TIAA-CREF Alumni the event officially underway. A light Association will contact you. Golf Classic on Monday, Oct. 12, at breakfast and lunch will be provided For more information on the golf Pine Island Country Club. Head men’s during the day. tournament, contact the Alumni basketball coach Bobby Lutz will be If you would like to play in the TIAA- Association at 704-687-7799, or visit our playing in the tournament. All proceeds CREF Alumni Golf Classic, please fill out Web site at www.unccharlottealumni. will support the Dr. Greg Davis needs- the registration form on our website or org. For more information on Pine Island based scholarship fund. call the Alumni Association at 704-687- Country Club or to learn more about our Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. the 7799. The tournament is $125 per player. sponsors, please visit www.pineislandcc. morning of the tournament, and a Hole sponsorships can be purchased for com, or www.tiaa-cref.org.
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Have you signed up for Niner Connection yet? UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Launches Online Community
The Alumni Association has officially launched Niner Connection, an online community for UNC Charlotte alumni. Niner Connection allows alumni to network and socialize online through the Alumni Association’s new website. “In format it is similar to Facebook, except that Niner Connection is only open to UNC Charlotte alumni. Alumni can search for former classmates, post class notes, set up personal profiles, update contact information, register for events, and set up October Reception at blogs. It really is amazing what the system entails,” said Katie Conn Suggs, director of Childress Vineyards marketing and communications for the division of Development and Alumni Affairs. Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 With the new system, the Alumni Association hopes to encourage alumni Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. involvement with the University. Where: Childress Vineyards “This system allows alumni to connect with each other and the University like never 1000 Childress Vineyards Road before. We’re excited to see how our alumni respond to it,” said Chip Rossi, director of Lexington, NC Alumni Affairs. The new Web site and Niner Connection can be found at www.unccharlottealumni.org UNC Charlotte alumni in the Triad area For more information, please contact the Alumni Association at 704-687-7799. of North Carolina will be gathering on Oct. 7 at Childress Vineyards in Lexington. Along with Chancellor Dubois, head men’s basketball coach Bobby Lutz and head women’s basketball coach Karen Aston will be at the event to share information about their upcoming seasons. If you would like to attend the October reception, please register and include payment through our website. Registration is $15 per person and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and wine. The Alumni Association will host a number of regional alumni receptions in 2009-2010. Please continue to check our Web site to see if we’re coming to a city near you! For more information on the Triad event, contact the Alumni Association at 704-687-7799 or 800-745-8622 or visit our Web site at www.unccharlottealumni.org. For more information on Childress Vineyards, call 336- 236-9463 or visit www.childressvineyards.com. “Plan C” for football stadium At their Sept. 17, meeting, UNC Charlotte trustees reviewed Chancellor Dubois so-called Plan C for a temporary football stadium to be located on the site of an eventual permanent stadium. Previously, the plan has been to modify the Belk Track & Field facility to serve as a temporary football stadium. But further analysis showed that the most cost-effective option was to situate the temporary stadium in space adjacent to Phillips Road, between the Hayes Baseball Stadium and the Charlotte Research Institute complex. Pictured here is one option for the stadium; no final decisions have been made. www.UNCC.edu Q309 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 39 UNC CHARLOTTE | alumni notes 1970s
Richard Best, ’79, an award-winning architect, has donated $100,000 of his $1 million dollar prize from a United Arab Emirates real estate PUT ON YOUR TV reality show to help end world hunger. 1990s
Lewis “Wile” Bridgforth, ’93, RUNNING recently earned a master’s of science in management of information systems from Lawrence Technological University. Rodney Graves, ’97, took a position with UVEST/LPL Financial in March 2006. SHOES& Thomas Nesbit, ’99, has pledged 50 percent of profits from his STAKE YOUR CLAIM book Deep Fried to 826 National, a nonprofit organization that helps children write and publish. Jason Suggs, ’98, recently earned a master’s certificate in Return on Investment (ROI) methodology from Villanova University. 2000s
Samantha Badger, ’08, a Fayetteville native, is working as an associate producer for the “Fox News Rising” morning show on the Fox Charlotte TV station. She is featured on a segment called “Sam on Cam,” in which she teaches people about Twitter. Samantha also was featured recently on the cover of Charlotte Style magazine. RUN/WALK FUNDRAISER FOR NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS Rob Covert, ’06, is currently working for UNC Charlotte as an application analyst. Cassie Duncan, ’09, was recently 10-24-09 selected to be an “agent” of the Fiesta Movement, a six-month-long SYC.UNCC.EDU social media campaign designed to generate excitement about the highly anticipated Ford Fiesta, the new fuel-efficient small car that goes on sale next year. As part of the Fiesta Movement, Duncan is one of 100 individuals who will test drive and “live” with a European version of What are you doing? the Ford Fiesta for six months. It is time to share what you’ve been up to lately and let other Alumns help Jason Feltis, ’08, recently began you toot your horn or spread the word on small or large achievements. We employment with Inmar, CMS in Winston-Salem. want to hear from you. Visit Alumni Affairs Web site at www.unccharlottealumni.org Susan (Cannon) Heffron, ’99 & ’02, married Brian Heffron on April 25, and tell us what you’ve been doing. 2009. The couple currently resides Or write Alumni Affairs, UNC Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd. in Fort Mill, S.C. Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
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Why Develop Cancer Vaccines? By Pinku Mukherjee
Cancer is a global disease and remains a cell-induced inflammation. Despite its obvious recognized by our immune system as “foreign” major cause of death worldwide. We all know scientific appeal, utilizing vaccines as an approach against which an immune response can be of someone close to us who has been affected to prevent or treat cancer has not been fully elicited. Yet, the tumors adapt various immune by this devastating disease. Conventional exploited. This prompted my work to develop escape mechanisms to hide from the activated cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy or immune-modulating therapies against cancer. immune cells. In principle, we have been able to chemotherapy, are non-specific; they target not In recent years, there has been a surge of marshal the exquisite specificity of the immune only the rapidly dividing cancer cells but affect interest in developing vaccines against cancer, system to precisely target cancer cells without normal dividing cells, which results in side effects which I strongly believe has the potential harming normal cells. and limited treatment efficacy. Surgical removal for controlling disease, prolonging time to Our research focuses on the development provides a good prognosis for tumors confined to recurrence and ultimately even serving as a of novel cancer vaccines that not only activate the primary site, but patients with advanced-stage preventive measure. The relatively new human the existing immune response against the cancers are at high risk of relapse and metastasis. Papilloma virus vaccine against cervical cancer “foreign” tumor-specific proteins but also Such cancers eventually become resistant to proves this possibility. However, few cancers suppress the factors that allow the tumors to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and oncologists are induced by viruses. In general, our immune escape immune recognition and death. The have nothing much to offer these patients. system is extremely efficient at getting rid of goal is to develop immune memory against As an immunologist, I realized early in my foreign proteins. Because cancers arise from the cancer, so that if the cancer recurs, it will career that medical treatments that control the our own cells that have undergone genetic be recognized immediately as foreign and immune system are amongst the most successful mutations, our immune system is tricked to be rejected. The implications of developing and widely utilized. For example, vaccines believe that the growing tumor is “self” and immune-based therapies are profound as they prevent bacterial and viral diseases; immune- should not be attacked. present an attractive alternative to cancer suppression avoids the rejection of organ Recent advances in tumor management. The expectation is that such and bone marrow transplants; immunology reveal that tumor an approach will cause fewer side effects and antibodies treat arthritis; and cells do express altered “self” prevent metastasis and recurrence better than aspirin reduces immune proteins that can be conventional therapies.
www.UNCC.edu UNC CHARLOTTE magazine One of three larger-than-life Stake Your Claim pickaxes adorns First Citizens Plaza in Uptown Charlotte.
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