page 11 page 10 page 5 page 12 page 14 The University of Iowa EDITOR Linzee Kull McCray Readers who wish to change University Relations Publications DESIGNER Kimberly Cooke their mailing address for 300 PCO, Suite 370 PHOTO EDITOR Tim Schoon Spectator may call Alumni Iowa City, IA 52242-2500 Records at 319-335-3297 Spectator www.uiowa.edu/Spectator Published by The University of or 800-469-2586, or e-mail Spectator Volume 42 • Number 1 • Fall 2008 Iowa for alumni and friends. [email protected]. University Relations Publications The University’s beloved waterway 300 PCO, Suite 370 Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500 A River Ran Through It turned from friend to foe

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED or several weeks in June 2008, are evident across campus. It was one of the most catastrophic next five days, endangering nearly every campus life revolved around the All fall classes proceed as sched- events experienced on campus, with the building along its banks. On June 13, F rising Iowa River on the University uled. Although the auditorium remains Iowa River cresting three feet above levels University officials made the unprec- of Iowa campus. closed, Hancher is presenting 17 perfor- reached during record flooding in 1993. edented decision to suspend normal As the waters swelled, students and mances around Iowa City this academic Above-average rainfalls led to rapidly campus activities for a week to focus on faculty, neighbors and alumni, staff and year. Students occupy the previously rising river levels in late May and early flood preparation. strangers came together to build sandbag flooded Mayflower Residence Hall. And June, putting University officials on alert. By the time the Iowa River crested on walls around buildings; pass documents scholarly activities, cultural events, and Guided by a Flood Emergency Response June 15, every at-risk campus area had to higher ground at the Main Library; and creative work continue. Plan and lessons learned during the 1993 been fortified—thanks to the tremendous rescue artwork, costumes, musical instru- “We are a stronger, more vibrant flood, University teams worked fast to volunteer effort. The UI Museum of Art ments, and more on the arts campus. University and University community adjust to changing circumstances. collection, including Jackson Pollock’s It was an extraordinary effort to today thanks to the thousands of people Sandbagging operations intensified as 8-by-20 foot Mural, was removed. About protect the cultural treasures, history, who have sacrificed and contributed so the situation grew more dire, and faculty, 10,000 feet of shelf space was cleared at and knowledge at the heart of The much over these past months,” says students, staff, and volunteers made the Main Library. Dozens of pianos and University of Iowa. President Sally Mason. plans to relocate threatened offices, other instruments were rescued from Months later, parts of campus continue All told, the floods forced closure of research, books, and artwork. On June 10, the Voxman Music Building. to recover. Floodwaters punished buildings 20 buildings; relocated scores of depart- the Coralville Reservoir topped the “We’ve all pulled together to meet this and key utilities, scientific research, and ments and offices; soaked athletic fields; emergency spillway for the first time challenge,” said Mason in June. “Mother The Flood of 2008 performance spaces. But signs of progress and washed away untold research. since 1993, and river levels rose for the Nature, I think, has thrown everything she could at us. And we fought back What Happened?—page 1 heroically.” Unprecedented flooding wreaked havoc on the When the floodwaters finally began to

UI campus tim schoon by photo recede, they revealed mucky, musty classrooms, labs, offices, and auditoriums. Who Helped?—pages 4–5 In Hancher, water had risen from the Volunteers massed on the banks of the Iowa River to basement, swamping more than a dozen help protect the University rows of seats. In the Music Building, at What’s Next?—pages 6–7 least seven Steinway grand pianos, Reacting and reassessing: the University moves forward fifteen Steinway upright pianos, two

IN THIS ISSUE THIS IN harpsichords, several practice-type The Accidental Administrator—page 3 organs, and a Baroque organ sustained Wallace Loh retuns to Iowa as the University’s new provost damage. While challenges remain, cleanup has The Aftermath of Angolan Conflict—pages 8–9 proceeded faster than expected. The Professor finds healing after years of war inspiring, unprecedented efforts of so many people continue today, now focused Dearly Beloved—page 13 on building a stronger, revitalized UI research uncovers hindrances to newlyweds’ University of Iowa. happiness “I thank everyone who has been—and continues to be—part of our remarkable recovery,” says Mason. —Madelaine Jerousek-Smith

Mid-June floodwaters surrounded the Art Fireworks launched from the University’s Hubbard Park on July 4 lit the sky above Old Capitol as the flood Building West (lower right), Museum of Art, waters of 2008 began to recede. The event—usually based in flooded City Park—offered a welcome taste and other buildings while breaching levees near the Iowa Memorial Union (top center). of normalcy during a historic summer, and marked the fact that campus and community had, together, Spectator come through the flood with spirits intact. Volume 42 • Number 1 • Fall 2008 photo by tom jorgensen fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 1 Tippie College of Business Dental College Receives 82 percent of study participants got their Researcher to Investigate For the Record Celebrates 150 Years $1.5 Million for Renovation blood pressure under control, compared Knee Rehabilitations of Business Education Delta Dental of Iowa will contribute to 23 percent of controls. New UI research could lead to more “I’m always by the river and just Business education has been a part of $1.5 million to help renovate the 35-year- “In busy offices, physicians may have effective knee rehabilitation and deter- happen to be capable of helping.” the University of Iowa for 150 years, old Dental Science Building that houses only a small window of time with each mine which older adults with painful or Coming and the Tippie College of Business is the UI College of Dentistry. The $45-mil- patient, and their immediate concerns stiff knee osteoarthritis will be most likely Steve McGuire, professor of art celebrating that sesquicentennial. lion multiyear renovation project will take over,” Carter says. “These are to benefit from particular interventions. education in the College of Liberal “We’ve come a long way since the first transform the building by updating and complicated patients, and a team Neil Segal, assistant professor of Arts and Sciences, on the three Back business class was offered in the History expanding clinical areas, increasing approach improves our ability to adjust orthopaedics and rehabilitation in the incidents in which he has rescued people Department in 1858,” says Curt Hunter, classroom and student space, and their therapy and monitor their progress.” Carver College of Medicine, received a from the Iowa River during the past dean of the Tippie College of Business. upgrading dental research facilities. The five-year, $1.18 million grant from the 15 years (Reader’s Digest, Sept. 2008). college educates more than 80 percent Paul B. Beeson Career Development to Iowa “We’re now the largest and highest- ranked business college in the state, and of the state’s dentists, and its general Awards in Aging Research Program to “When someone dies in Oxford, we’re the largest educator of business and specialty dental care clinics receive Notice Anything Different? help advance treatment of knee osteoar- New provost big funerals are expected, as are leaders in Iowa. Certainly, that’s some- about 125,000 patient visits each year. thritis and to reduce disability in older casseroles.” thing to celebrate.” The Spectator staff hopes that you adults with this condition. Business education at Iowa traces do. Rising postal rates have created returns to a Stephen Bloom, professor of its roots to a history class called Moral Team Approach to Hypertension a challenge for us, and our response journalism in the College of Liberal Philosophy offered in the spring of Working together, physicians and has been to recreate Spectator. Nursing Efforts Improve place of potential Arts and Sciences, on a truism he 1858. The class examined what was pharmacists can more effectively control Thanks to the many wonderful Elder Care in Iowa learned in interviews with the people then known as political economy, which patients’ blood pressure, says Barry readers who responded to last Researchers in the UI College of Nursing of Oxford, Iowa, for the book The included elements of what would become Carter, professor of clinical and hospital spring’s online Spectator survey, are teaming up with staff members at allace Loh first set foot in Iowa more than 40 But first he completed a PhD in psychology at the Oxford Project, coauthored with Peter economics, finance, and commerce. pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy. we learned you enjoy reading about long-term care facilities in eastern and years ago, a college-bound teenager equipped University of Michigan in 1970, then studied ethnic and Feldstein, professor emeritus of Today, more than 14,000 Tippie An expert on hypertension, Carter University events and people. Our northeast Iowa to address two common W with limited English and $200 sewn into his religious conflict at the University of Louvain in Belgium. photography (Washington Post, Oct. 5). alumni are living and working in Iowa, develops models for collaboration new format was designed both issues of older adults in health care facili- jacket lining. Born in China and raised in Peru, he’d come He earned a law degree from Yale in 1974. out of a total of more than 40,000 living between health professionals to target to reduce our mailing costs and ties: pain management and incontinence. to the United States to study on his own. Over the years that followed, Loh did legal work, taught provide shorter stories for busy “The people I met were so friendly and generous,” he at universities across the United States and in China, and “Our study suggests it doesn’t, and alumni around the world. chronic diseases. A recent study placed UI gerontological nursing professor readers. We’ll continue to note recalls. “My four years in Iowa had a lasting impact on became, as he puts it, an “accidental administrator.” we think it’s important to share pharmacists in medical clinics, where Janet Specht and her colleagues will survey results (including your my life.” He was appointed dean at the University of Washington this evidence so people can use it they worked closely with doctors to determine the best educational tech- requests for an online version of This summer Loh returned to a similar welcome, but law school, then became vice chancellor for academic affairs to continue to support diversity in External Support recommend blood pressure medication niques to help registered nurses and Spectator) in the upcoming months. with a very different purpose—becoming University of at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Before returning education.” Hits Another Record High and strategies to help patients comply certified nurse aides use the most current University of Iowa faculty, together with with treatment. As always, we’d love to hear from knowledge to care for elders with pain Iowa executive vice president and provost, the University’s to Iowa, he served as dean of arts and sciences at Seattle Angela Onwuachi-Willig, professor staff and students, generated an all-time The approach controlled blood you and welcome any and all and urinary incontinence. chief academic officer. University. in the College of Law, on a study that record $386.2 million in grants and pressure in 89 percent of patients, feedback. You can reach us at For Loh, the job brings Loh also worked as calls into question the common argu- contracts for UI research, education, and compared to about 53 percent of patients 319-384-0044, by post at 300 PCO, his career full circle. His policy director for former ment that affirmative action hurts service during fiscal 2008, a 2.2 percent in a control group where pharmacists Suite 370, Iowa City, IA 52242- UI Researchers Make early experiences in Iowa “Those of us in administrative positions Washington governor Gary the people it was designed to help increase from 2007. The total exceeded didn’t make recommendations. Among 2500, or by e-mail at spectator@ First Measurements of the helped propel him into know it’s not what we do that matters Locke, an experience that (Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct. 8). one-third of a billion dollars for the sev- patients with diabetes—which compli- uiowa.edu. Solar Wind Termination Shock academia, law, and leader- broadened his perspective ship. on higher education. enth consecutive year and also marked cates hypertension treatment—about Voyager 2, a University-affiliated space- —it’s what we inspire others to do that “The idea of returning “I’ve a better apprecia- the 22nd consecutive year in which Iowa craft launched in 1977 and now on its “About the time American wages to Iowa, the place where tion of the public demand has attracted more than $100 million in way out of the solar system, has made makes for progress.” became stagnant (in the late 70s and I’d started my life in the for expanding institutional external support. the first direct observations of the solar early 80s) for most of the middle United States, had real accountability, student wind termination shock, according to class, all of a sudden you could buy appeal,” Loh says. “As I learned more about the University, access, and affordability,” he explains. “But I also believe, two UI space physicists. The termination a car with no money down; you I felt there was a good fit in terms of what I care about— more than ever, that the public research university is a Intrastate Rivals Team Up shock is where the solar wind, which could buy a house with no money academic excellence, public service, and diversity.” state’s best hope for the future.” for DNA Research continuously expands outward from the down. There [were] all sorts of Those values inform Loh’s goals as provost, which At Iowa, he says, campus and community embrace this The University of Iowa and Iowa State sun at over a million miles per hour, is ways to sell goods to people whose include fostering a vibrant intellectual community that helps service ethic. “There’s a sense of common unity and University are pooling their resources to abruptly slowed by interstellar gas. incomes weren’t going anyplace.” the University compete for top faculty and cultivating shared purpose here that’s stronger than at many other significantly enhance both institutions’ In a paper published in Nature, Don a diverse, globally connected campus. institutions, and this makes the University of Iowa a very Kevin Leicht, professor of sociology genetic research capabilities. Gurnett, principal investigator for the Loh’s personal experience helped shape this perspec- special place,” he adds. in the College of Liberal Arts and Each institution has purchased a spacecraft’s plasma wave instrument and tive on education and globalization. His family sought Loh wants to advance new programs that help students Sciences (U.S. News & World Report, massively parallel DNA sequencer, a J.A. Van Allen/Roy J. Carver Professor asylum in Lima, Peru, at the close of the Chinese civil war, succeed and keep an Iowa education accessible and Oct. 9). a state-of-the-art instrument capable of of Physics and Astronomy in the College and once he graduated high school, Loh set his sights on affordable. With that in mind, he and his wife, Barbara— deciphering DNA sequences at the rate of of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Bill college in the United States. whose great grandfather, Loh notes, emigrated from millions to billions of bases in a single Kurth, a UI research scientist, say the UI “A red flag should go up, and more In a library in Lima, he found catalogs for only three Scotland to Iowa—have established a scholarship fund for run. The highly sensitive technology instrument detected an intense burst of screening should be considered colleges, two of them women’s schools. The third, Iowa Iowa residents. uses an approach called single molecule plasma wave turbulence. beyond the routine.” Wesleyan College, offered him a scholarship. Above all, he wants to provide the academic leadership detection with amplification, which helps The UI observations are expected to He later transferred to Grinnell College, where he that keeps the University a resource for the state and the Sandra Ramey, assistant professor researchers identify rare genetic variations help physicists understand how cosmic earned his bachelor’s degree and joined the Civil Rights world. “Those of us in administrative positions know it’s in the College of Nursing, on police that traditional approaches overlook. rays, which are potentially hazardous to “Come all alums of Iowa and blend your voices true”—Hawkeye Marching Band Movement, traveling south with fellow students on voter not what we do that matters—it’s what we inspire others to officers’ higher risk for cardiovas- The two machines—each with unique astronauts, are produced by the turbulent members taught students the “Alma Mater” and other school songs during a Welcome registration drives. The experience spurred his interest do that makes for progress,” he says. cular disease due to chronic stress, advantages—will be available on a fee- fields that exist in such shocks. Investiga- Week block party to open the fall semester. The event drew hundreds to the President’s in law, where he saw the opportunity to advance social —Lin Larson according to recent research for-service basis to researchers at both Residence—also the site for a leadership course taught by President Sally Mason this tors note that a number of surprising change. (American Medical News, Oct. 20). universities and to other institutions and fall and celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the residence. observations made by Voyager 2 will private companies. cause theories to be revised.

2 The University of Iowa Spectator fall 2008 photo by tim schoon photo by tim schoon fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 3 May 2, 2008 Above-average June 14 Thousands of volunteers rainfalls increase Iowa River levels help with sandbagging operations. • and put University officials on alert Main Power Plant is shut down. • for flooding. Twelve buildings remain closed due to flooding. • Johnson County is declared a presidential disaster area. May 6 The University’s Critical Incident Management Team meets to discuss flooding potential in June 15 All possible areas on Mayflower Residence Hall and campus at risk of flooding are fortified, Hawkeye Court Apartments. thanks to a tremendous volunteer effort. • Four more buildings are reported flooded, and utility systems June 3 Facilities Management and remain the greatest challenge. • The housing staff begin building a Iowa River crests higher and sooner sandbag wall around Mayflower than expected. • The UI Foundation because of rising waters. establishes a flood relief fund.

June 16 Companies specializing June 5 The release rate from the in restoration and reconstruction Coralville Reservoir is increased, begin recovery effort. • The power raising concern that it may reach the is restored to nine buildings, thanks emergency spillway level for the first to temporary boilers. time since 1993. • Dubuque Street, a main campus artery, is closed. June 17 A total of 20 buildings are reported flooded. • 250,000 unused June 5–8 UI staff and volunteers Protecting Sacred Ground Massive volunteer effort helps lessen flood’s wrath sandbags are donated to communities build sandbag walls around the arts downriver. campus and other threatened s the Iowa River swelled during University, building sandbag walls and where the need was greatest. As new formed. Jackson, who jotted down many Clapp Recital Hall parking lot, natural buildings on the east and west sides the first week of June 2008, staff rescuing books, film, musical instruments, estimates showed the waters would rise of the names on a battered clipboard he leaders emerged, Jackson says. People of the Iowa River. June 19 President George W. Bush from Facilities Management research, and much more. further than previously expected, volun- carried with him, noted the principal of all ages observed the process, got A tours campus by helicopter. worked around the clock to stay ahead of “The volunteers overwhelmed and teers returned to build the walls higher. from a local school and his family, the the hang of it, and showed others what the floodwaters. invigorated us,” says Dave Jackson, as- At the UI Main Library, volunteers UI Student Government president and to do. Departments like athletics and June 9 All events and activities on But they were exhausted and over- sistant to the associate vice president for came by the hundreds when a call for the arts campus are suspended. the Faculty Senate president, men from student life were particularly valuable June 23 University operations whelmed by the task of protecting a Facilities Management. “We absolutely help went out. Volunteers scrambled to nearby rural communities, and fraternity in leading the volunteer efforts, Jackson resume, with many classes relocated. growing number of University of Iowa couldn’t have done this without the rescue irreplaceable pieces of University members. And there was the Iowa City says, because building teamwork is part buildings. On June 6, a call for volunteers volunteers.” history—bound copies of the Daily Iowan, contractor—whose own home had been of their everyday roles. June 9–11 The UI Museum of Art June 25 University officials implements its disaster plan, went out from by the Office of Student Guided by the University’s Flood the late James Van Allen’s papers, records destroyed by a tornado not long ago— “Everyone was really coming together Life and UI Student Government. Within Emergency Response Plan—finalized from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, even a who donated equipment and vehicles to to save the University,” Jackson says. announce arts courses will be offered preparing items to be transported as planned for the fall semester. off campus. Ninety-nine percent of 30 minutes, hundreds of students in April 2007 for a 100-year flood, not collection of vintage Hawkeye game films. help in the efforts. “It bordered on passion and obsession. the value of the collection is saved. showed up to help. a 500-year flood as this was—Jackson Chains of students, faculty, staff, and At the sandbag camps, which were They were protecting sacred ground.” Throughout the next week, thousands helped coordinate the efforts, showing friends snaked through the building’s set up along Madison Street and in the —Madelaine Jerousek-Smith July 3 Officials announce that of students, faculty, staff, alumni, neigh- volunteers how high to build the walls stairwells, passing delicate documents Mayflower Residence Hall will be June 10 The arts campus is bors, and friends turned out to protect the and organizing groups in locations hand-to-hand, piece-by-piece, to higher open and ready for move-in by evacuated. • The Coralville Reservoir ground. Meanwhile, teams shuttled carts Aug. 23, as originally planned. tops the emergency spillway, and loaded with boxes and cartons up freight river levels are projected to exceed elevators. those of 1993. “It brought to mind the 1966 flood in July 9 Main Library reopens. Florence, Italy, when it seemed like half the country turned out to save the city’s August 15 Several key buildings June 11 University officials shift cultural treasures,” says David McCartney, open for fall classes: Mayflower their flood-control focus to buildings University archivist. “It was very moving to Residence Hall, the English-Philosophy located south of Iowa Avenue. see this remarkable community support.” Building, the Adler Journalism and At the Voxman Music Building, Opposite page: Sandbag walls reached Mass Communication Building, and School of Music staff moved all new or 9 feet high in some locations, while book brigades scrambled to save irreplaceable the Becker Communication Studies June 13 Levees around the arts recently restored pianos off campus, as items from the Main Library’s basement campus are breached. • Summer Building. well as 20-25 older pianos weighing 600 storage. session classes, events, and camps to 1,000 pounds each. A group of stu- are suspended, and most employees dents helped move faculty office equip- This page: Thousands of volunteers from August 25 Fall classes resume. • are asked to stay home. • Volunteers ment and several of the band and choral the University, Iowa City, and neighboring The University continues efforts to communities flocked to Madison Street, form a book brigade to move books music libraries. reopen buildings, bring the Power in the Main Library basement to fortifying the Main Library, Lindquist Throughout the volunteer effort, the Center, and other nearby buildings—then Plant back online, and plan for future higher levels. atmosphere was festive at times. Old filling another 500 tons of sandbags later floods. friends reunited; new friendships were donated to towns downstream.

4 The University of Iowa Spectator fall 2008 photos by tim schoon photos by tim schoon fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 5 Medical Institute Hawkeye Ingenuity Makes Flood Donation The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has contributed $1 million to The University of Iowa and the Finding creative approaches to the University’s Carver College of Medicine to help the biomedical research enterprise short- and long-term recovery challenges recover from the effects of the summer 2008 flood. rehearsal spaces, and musical groups are practicing returned to campus in October and are available for Despite escaping the floodwaters, and performing at churches and schools around town. faculty, student, and class use while stored in the Main the medical college—in particular And the Department of Theatre Arts is holding classes Library’s Special Collections. the biomedical research commu- in leased space near downtown, while fall productions As various units adapt for the short term, campus nity—was seriously affected by the go on in performance spaces around Iowa City. leaders are turning their focus to the future, planning shutting down of the UI Power The show goes on for Hancher Auditorium’s for a revitalized University that’s stronger than ever. Plant. The plant provides steam, 2008–09 season, too, although the building remains “We can’t fall into the trap of thinking that this is which is essential for air condition- closed. Broadway and dance events—which depend on the worst possible scenario—many people thought that ing and temperature control as well a large stage and advanced technical capabilities—have following the flood of 1993, and we saw that was false,” as autoclave operations and hot been canceled or postponed, while 17 smaller events Guckert says. water production; these capabilities Making Educational will be performed in venues around the campus and “We are a very complex campus and I would expect must be maintained to keep the Lemonade Out of Lemons community. Regular programming will resume in some very creative approaches to protecting ourselves research enterprise operational. The flood of 2008 had many disastrous conse- January 2010. against future threats. We’re harnessing the interest, The contribution helps pay for a quences throughout the region. But like true “Hancher is more than a building,” says Chuck talent, and expertise of a number of individuals on this number of temporary systems that educators, faculty and staff members at The Swanson, Hancher executive director. “We weren’t campus. We also want to work collaboratively with Iowa provide steam and chilled water Below: The Iowa River overtook north Riverside Drive on the arts campus, also swamping Mayflower Residence Hall (bottom left), lower City Park, University of Iowa also saw it as an opportunity going to let this flood stop us. That’s where we got our City and Coralville in developing mitigation strategies. to the Carver College of Medicine and the Park Road Bridge near Hancher Auditorium. Above: Recovery for learning and research. theme for the coming year: ‘Can’t contain us.’” In the end, I am confident that we will employ a facilities on the west campus. began once the river crept back—temporary ducts and massive blowers For laboratories in engineering and hydrology, The University of Iowa Museum of Art’s collection myriad of solutions that will help us achieve the critical dry buildings while crews scrub and strip anything touched by floodwater. flood research is a natural. Among the many was moved to storage facilities in Chicago during the balance of both enjoying and protecting against a river topics researchers hope to study are the movement flood. Because its riverside location is too risky for that is the defining physical feature of our university.” and deposit of sediments and pollutants, flood storing and displaying art in the future, the museum’s For continuing coverage of the University’s recovery warning systems, and the flood’s effect on nutrient he scene at The University of Iowa was plans are uncertain. But portions of the collection, efforts visit www.uiowa.edu/floodrecovery. cycling in Mississippi backwaters. Collaborative familiar as fall semester classes resumed in including 250 prints, drawings, and photographs, were —Madelaine Jerousek-Smith efforts between colleges include a study on living August. New students and families unloaded with floods by members of both hydroscience and minivans outside of Mayflower Residence Hall. T engineering and urban and regional planning, Students lined up for books and picked up new and another conducted by faculty members in Hawkeye gear. They hurried to classes, attended geography, sociology, and education on the effects Welcome Week events, and studied at the Main Library. of severe flooding on public school students. Other But while campus cleanup and recovery efforts are studies will examine the mental health effects proceeding faster than expected after record summer of the flood on those who suffered individual flooding, parts of campus continue to recuperate. or work losses, compare air samples collected Around many flood-affected buildings, tubes pump- before the flood with those collected afterward, ing warm, dry air snake out of doors. Inside, contrac- and assess the increase in patients seen during tors work diligently to clean and repair damages. the flood in the University of Iowa Hospitals and The Iowa Memorial Union—the hub of student activity Clinics Emergency Treatment Center. on a normal school day—remained closed through Susan Murty, associate professor of social October. Much of the arts campus—including Art work, saw the flood as an opportunity to expand Building West, Voxman Music Building, and the Theatre on the University’s emphasis on service learning: Building—likely will be in recovery mode for the entire responding to real community needs while school year or longer. deepening students’ understanding of academic Boilers at the UI Power Plant—which sustained material. To that end she developed a seminar in about $25 million in flood damage—returned to full which students complete assigned readings relat- operation in time to provide winter heating. But infra- ed to disasters and disaster response, log flood structure repairs continue to demand tough choices relief volunteer hours, and write a paper and and short-term solutions. journals that reflect their experiences. “Students “Despite outward appearances, we are nowhere near are interested and want to give back,” says Murty. normal operations here,” says Don Guckert, associate James Throgmorton, professor of urban and vice president and director of Facilities Management. regional planning, is teaching a course for first- “Most of the hard work lies ahead. We feel good about our year Honors students, Learning from the Flood. accomplishments so far, but we face a long road.” In addition to completing assigned readings and Arts classes have been spread among several papers, students in this seminar hear from guest locations. A former home improvement store in Iowa speakers with expertise in architecture, geology, City, for example, was renovated over the summer to A lot of drive, a little time, and, appropriately, a touch of creativity landed alternate homes for displaced arts programs. The UI Foundation created the UI Flood Relief Fund to support needs not covered by insurance or other facilities management, and more. house most visual arts studios and faculty offices. The Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (top left) and other local congregations opened their doors for organ lessons. Meanwhile, resources. To learn more or make a gift, visit www.uifoundation.org/2008-flood. School of Music fitted two buildings near campus for a former Menards store (above) was transformed into a unique collaborative space for studio art programs.

6 The University of Iowa Spectator fall 2008 Top photo by Tom Jorgensen, Bottom photo by Kirk Murray Aerial and IMU photos by tom jorgensen, Clapp and Riverside Drive photos by tim schoon fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 7 War and Peace Learning from Angola’s recovery and reconstruction ow do young generations find normalcy questionnaire geared toward discerning Angolans’ Barkey’s research, which was recently in the last 15 years they felt isolated and that they when all they know is two decades of war? present health concerns and levels of wellness. published in the journal Human Organization, had been forgotten.” Nanette Barkey (below) H How can exhuming the dead bring peace “How does a society pick up where things took her to the city of Kuito, which was under Not only are Angolans feeling newly connected, asked Angolans to document of mind to surviving relatives? left off during the war?” asks Barkey, assistant siege for 18 months in 1993–94. All buildings but they are also able to tell their life stories their world in pictures. Clockwise from top left: A Nanette Barkey’s research in the war-ravaged professor of anthropology and community and sustained structural damage, and the city’s utility through another aspect of Barkey’s research. Her ruined home awaits recon- nation of Angola explored those questions during behavioral health. “That process of culture change infrastructure was destroyed. Nearly 20 percent of “photovoice” project involved giving eight women struction (a family continues the summer of 2007, primarily through inter- caught my attention when I first worked in Kuito the city’s population died during this period. and four men disposable cameras and asking to occupy the ground floor). views and observations that she used to create a in the mid-1990s.” War erupted again in Angola in 1998. Peace them to take pictures that represent their lives in Neighborhood children in a was achieved in 2002, yet the price of war was present-day Kuito. scout troop head to church. evident: the dead were buried in graves scattered The photographs capture family, friends, Congregations like the around the town. Today, hypertension and distress neighbors, and co-workers taking part in a wide “Church of Peace” play a central role in social life. are prevalent among survivors. Also common are array of activities. Scenes at home, work, and Children carry their own stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and diabetes— church are prominent. People are shown partici- chairs to class at a battle- all related to hypertension. pating in recreational activities or congregating scarred school. Paralyzed boys But Barkey found that many Kuito residents in the streets. The photos don’t shy away from seek treatment at a clinic that are putting the past behind them. Bodies have capturing the effects of the war; reconstruction also serves many Angolans been exhumed from backyard graves and given and growth are evident in the images. who lost limbs to landmines. proper burial in a special cemetery. Churches The participants each picked six photos to be are preaching forgiveness, which many younger used in an exposition that will be presented in Angolans find appealing. Kuito; Washington, D.C.; and Iowa City. The “Many Angolans in their 20s and 30s are not photographers shared with Barkey the problems dwelling on hatred, and they are going back to and successes they encountered during the religion,” Barkey says. “What’s past is past—they project, along with context and meaning behind see a time of being reborn.” the photographs they selected. Local government and international “Their pictures show lives that are returning organizations have brought expertise in health, to normal,” Barkey says. “Rather than just being agriculture, and education, and new businesses victims of war the participants were able to tell are starting. the rest of their story. They shared their perspec- “They feel connected to the rest of the country, tive on the post-war recovery process.” a part of the world,” Barkey says. “At many points —Christopher Clair

8 The University of Iowa Spectator fall 2008 Angola photos courtesy of Nanette Barkey / Barkey photo by tim schoon fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 9 Age May Have Helped Obama, Hurt Clinton Hillary Clinton may have had a better shot at the White House if she were younger, a University of Iowa study suggests. Speedy Americans expect women to reach their peak performance as leaders at age 43, four years before men’s perceived peak at age 47, the study found. They also believe women’s contributions at Delivery work start to decline at 59.7, compared to age 61.3 for men. Results Those expectations may have hurt Clinton, who was 60 during the primary season, but helped Barack Obama, who at the time was approaching the “ideal” leadership age of 47, says Michael Lovaglia, Are In a sociologist in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who led the study. Results also showed that older, more educated individuals with high-powered careers prefer older bosses. For each year of the respondent’s age, the ideal leader- ship age increased by one-sixth of a year. Getting a Firm Grip Key to Job Interviews But at some point in their 50s, Lovaglia It’s official: the handshake is as important as notes, respondents started to prefer a Hawkeye Poll works to interpret voting tendencies everyone says it is when looking for a new job. boss younger than them. Research by Greg Stewart, associate professor The study was a nationally representa- of management and organizations in the Tippie tive online survey of 1,996 adults avid Redlawsk and the American political process officials would use the data as they consider a wireless Professor’s research enhances disaster relief efforts College of Business, confirms that a firm, solid ranging in age from 18 to 92. To measure are not strangers, as his role as a delegate at access program. handshake is an important part of a successful job people’s views on the ideal age of male the 2008 national Democratic convention shows. “We’ve developed the credibility to do this sort of D earing reports of delays in emergency supplies This kind of research differs from most of Campbell’s interview, while a dead fish grip can end the and female leaders, researchers asked at So it should come as no surprise that his political science project,” he says. “Our students consistently rise to the reaching the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami other logistics research, which typically looks at ways interview before it even begins. More important what age men and women make the best courses provide students myriad opportunities for civic challenge of doing quality work—I’m quite proud of them.” victims, Ann Campbell thought there must be a for businesses to improve delivery times and manage than dress or physical appearance, the handshake boss at work. engagement. Once Redlawsk’s students take to the phones to H better way of getting relief to victims of disasters. Since inventory. The parameters she considers in for-profit seems to be a trigger that sets off an interviewer’s Redlawsk, associate professor of political science at conduct their poll, they soon realize that the data are overall impression of a candidate. The University of Iowa, spearheaded a surveying effort to more than simple numbers—they represent the complex then, the associate professor of management sciences transportation logistics include: the most efficient in the Tippie College of Business has been researching number of trucks, where hubs should be located, a The study marks the first time researchers University Names gather the “how” and interpret the “why” of Iowa voters’ thoughts of real people. have quantified the importance of a good hand- tendencies on political issues. “The students find themselves talking to people who relief logistics—how to get supplies to an area before cost-efficient delivery network that provides timely Medicine, Public Health Deans and after disaster strikes. She is one of a few people in delivery for all customers, and how to get inventory out shake in the job interview process. The research That effort, now known as the Hawkeye Poll, grew are giving serious thought to the campaign—or in some was conducted with 98 students in the Tippie The University of Iowa has appointed new out of a strong tradition of survey work by Redlawsk’s cases people who give little thought to the process,” transportation logistics to do so. the door as quickly as possible. deans to the Carver College of Medicine “I became interested in relief logistics a few years Over the years, Campbell has interviewed officials College of Business who were participating in students, who for years have conducted exit polling at Redlawsk says. “They then take these responses and mock job interviews with representatives from and the College of Public Health. Johnson County voting sites. Caroline Tolbert, an as- aggregate them into something media friendly and ago because it was an area that I felt could make an from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Rheumatology expert Paul Rothman impact on people’s lives and which could help those in the American Red Cross to find out what these Iowa City–area businesses. The students also met sociate professor of political science and departmental research friendly—two very different things.” at various times during their interviews with five was named dean of the Carver College of colleague, approached Redlawsk about expanding this This work gives the students a much better under- need,” she says. agencies do when a disaster strikes. Tim Kidwell, Medicine, effective June 1. Rothman, who Relief logistics differs from humanitarian logistics, senior director of Emergency Services of the American trained handshake raters who subtly introduced survey capability, which led to about 100 of their students standing—and a healthy skepticism—of the polling they themselves and shook hands, but otherwise did had served as professor and head of inter- conducting a telephone survey in the spring of 2007 will consume in various media. an area that logisticians recently have became more in- Red Cross’s Greater Houston chapter, believes Camp- nal medicine in the college since 2004, terested in. Humanitarian logistics focuses on the best bell’s work could prove useful to his organization. not participate in the interviews. focusing on Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential “I tell the students that by the time they’re done, they The study found that those students who earned his medical degree at the Yale caucuses. might question all surveys, even ours,” Redlawsk says. way for nonprofits to deal with long-term problems, such “Sometimes, it’s easy to get tunnel vision,” he says. University School of Medicine and com- as getting vaccines to remote populations, whereas “We don’t look at things objectively when we’re too scored high with the handshake raters also were “We asked questions about race and gender, whether “They will see how hard it is to translate what responders considered to be the most hireable by the inter- pleted his medical residency at Columbia- those factors would be problematic,” says Redlawsk, who are telling you into one of the predetermined set of relief logistics looks at how to mitigate disasters. The close to a situation. Ann’s work might provide some Presbyterian Medical Center in New York latter involves questions like: what supplies need to be insight that we might not have thought of before.” viewers. Stewart suspects that the handshake is serves with Tolbert as Hawkeye Poll codirector. “Our data answers.” important because it is one of the few things that City. He succeeds Jean Robillard, who generated a profound media response, and it became There’s more to Redlawsk’s political teachings than stocked before and after a disaster, where would these Massive disasters such as the earthquakes in China stepped down to focus on serving as UI supplies be located, and how can we take care of people (2008) and Pakistan (2005) and Hurricane Katrina provides a glimpse into a person’s individuality clear we needed to build on that.” polling. His Political Campaigning students had a unique during the first few minutes of an interview. vice president for medical affairs. The Hawkeye Poll soon gained financial support from learning opportunity during the first week of the fall faster after a disaster? (2005) are prompting relief agencies to improve their Susan J. Curry, previously the director Unlike normal delivery networks, which are profit- ability to respond to a catastrophe. Campbell’s research “We probably don’t consciously remember a the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Office semester, when Redlawsk was serving as a delegate at the person’s handshake or whether it was good or of the Institute for Health Research and of the Provost, and political science students conducted Democratic National Convention in Denver. Redlawsk driven, the design of a relief-logistic network is moti- could help them aid and save more people than they Policy and professor of health policy and vated by fairness—making sure everyone gets the same have ever done before. bad,” Stewart says. “But the handshake is one of political surveys during subsequent academic sessions. met with his class via web cam, and gave the students a the first nonverbal clues we get about a person’s administration in the School of Public An Iowa-focused general election survey was conducted taste of life on the convention floor through a blog, where supplies at about the same time and at the same speed. “It seems like many of the lessons we’ve learned Health at the University of Illinois at It also considers constantly changing conditions—a from disasters that have happened in the last five years overall personality, and that impression is what we in the fall of 2008 and plans call for a policy-oriented poll he posted writings, photos, and video segments with remember.” Chicago, became dean of the College of in the spring of 2009. ordinary and “celebrity” delegates. breakdown in communication networks, for example, are of the same vein: the more plans you have in place, Public Health on Aug. 1. Curry, who has or roads that could become impassable. the better, even if things don’t happen in exactly the Stewart’s paper, coauthored with UI doctoral The students’ surveying capacity is not limited to “The students were required to follow the blog and students Susan Dustin and Todd Darnold, as well done extensive research on smoking ces- political queries. Redlawsk has a large-scale project in the provide responses to issues,” Redlawsk says. “The basic “If your UPS package is really late, you maybe could way you think they might,” Campbell says. sation and prevention, earned a doctorate complain and get your $12.95 back,” she says. “In relief —Po Li Loo as former UI professor Murray Barrick, was works to survey Chicago residents in lower-income neigh- goal was to connect students to the convention.” published in September in the Journal of Applied from the University of New Hampshire borhoods about technology use and availability. Chicago —Christopher Clair logistics, it’s not the same. For one thing, you’re not before completing a postdoctoral fellow- paying for the service. It sort of changes the priority Psychology. ship at the University of Washington. system a little.”

10 The University of Iowa Spectator fall 2008 photo by tim schoon photos by tim schoon fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 11 and articles like “100 Ways to Look Beautiful” that are written to sell products. Durham also encourages girls to produce their own media—techno-savvy kids can use video cameras and editing tools to The Pursuit of create their own age-appropriate messages. And she cites web sites and magazines that promote a girl-friendly vibe. “Hotness” Sharing her research outside of ’Til Death academia has always been a goal for Durham, and she came to Iowa in Professor’s research offers part because of its reputation as a place where good writing matters. The Do Us Part caring adults a way to opportunity to spend a semester at the University’s Obermann Center for help children analyze Advanced Studies also furthered her work. Learning to navigate “It’s a great community,” she says. media messages “Faculty and staff members shared their bumps in the marital road perspectives on the journal articles and book proposal I wrote during that semester. Their igi Durham has been featured in People magazine. input was invaluable.” Durham is serving as ow do couples drift from a She found that 29 percent are physically the associate faculty director at the Obermann She’s advised moms and daughters on Fox’s The promise of “I do” to a declaration aggressive—including pushing, Owning a Home Doesn’t G Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. She’s done a Center this fall, supporting other faculty H of “I don’t”? grabbing, and shoving—and that wives a parent, mobility, and even vehicle stint on Martha Stewart Living Radio. members in their research endeavors. Erika Lawrence, assistant professor of are more likely to be aggressive than Necessarily Benefit Families ownership showed effects on child These are not typical media outlets for University Durham continues to teach journalism psychology in the UI College of Liberal husbands. The American dream of owning a welfare measurements, home professors discussing their academic research. But for classes and sees the results of the Lolita effect in Arts and Sciences, is trying to find out. “I was surprised at how common it is home may not be that much of a ownership did not. Durham, the interest from mainstream media was just her own students. She once asked students to raise She studies newlyweds and the hitches for new couples to engage in some sort benefit for kids and families after all, His argument contradicts a what she’d hoped for. their hands if they knew someone with an eating that hinder their happiness. of physical activity, and it’s not play according to a UI study. general belief that home ownership “I wrote the book so that it would be accessible, and disorder, one that presumably was brought on by The first five years are crucial in a wrestling—it’s during an argument,” Home ownership has virtually no is inherently good, a way of thinking the reception has been great,” says Durham, a professor after dissatisfaction with their body. marriage, Lawrence says, and the explains Lawrence, noting that the study impact on several measures of child that was behind the push to create an in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. intercourse… “Every hand went up,” says Durham. She finds that frequency of failure is disheartening. did not include battered women who welfare, including high school “ownership society” earlier this “I’m getting letters from moms and dads who appreciate You don’t need to use many students have never thought about or had a way “The rate of divorce for first marriages feared for their safety. graduation rates, behavior, and math decade. One consequence of the push the strategies I suggest.” contraception if you don’t have to critically discuss the media images they’ve seen all has been at 40 percent for the last decade The study also found that aggressive and reading test scores, the study to increase home ownership rates, The book is The Lolita Effect: The Media Sexualization sex very often. If you haven’t gotten AIDS their lives. She’d like media literacy to become com- or two,” she says. “My goal is to better husbands typically are married to aggres- shows, contradicting earlier studies Barker says, was that some people of Young Girls and What We Can Do About It and the after having sex a lot, you are immune to it…” monplace, “as important as math and reading,” in K-12 understand how couples go from being sive wives, while nonaggressive hus- that claim a correlation. who could not afford homes were strategies are concrete suggestions for helping young Unlike some who criticize the sex-saturated environ- curriculums and hopes her book will help adults open a really happy and wanting to spend their bands are likely to have nonaggressive David Barker, adjunct professor of encouraged to buy anyway, and girls and boys deal with the Lolita Effect, defined by ment in which we live, Durham acknowledges that dialogue with children. lives together to divorce or severe, wives; husbands’ aggression has a more real estate and finance in the Tippie lenders were encouraged to give them Durham as the increasing sexualization of ‘tween girls children are sexual beings and that there can and “My research has shown me that parents are extremely unremitting distress. Are there ways to negative effect on marital satisfaction, College of Business, used information mortgages. That inflated a real estate (between the ages of 8 and 12) in pop culture and should be a natural, healthy progression of sexuality. influential,” she says. “Even 13-year-olds admitted to me predict outcomes?” but couples in which the wives are from several sources, including a bubble that, now burst, has forced advertising. The trend is fueled by marketers’ efforts to But, she notes, because children are bombarded daily that they heard what their moms said to them.” Recent research by Lawrence has aggressive are more likely to divorce; recently released U.S. Department of millions of homeowners into create cradle-to-grave customers. The Lolita Effect is with sexual messages that aren’t in their best interests— —Linzee Kull McCray shed light on some early tribulations and aggressive couples were aggressive Education database called the Early foreclosure and is dragging down the based on Durham’s 13 years of research. she cites as examples Abercrombie and Fitch’s thong in marriage: parenthood and physical at the start of their marriage, rather than Childhood Longitudinal Study, to test economy. That research had its genesis during Durham’s underwear for ten-year-olds adorned with the phrases aggression. One study showed that new- after marital distress. the hypothesis that home ownership The study, “Homeownership and graduate school years at the University of Florida, “Eye Candy” and “Wink, Wink” and toy manufacturer lywed couples—defined in the study as Early intervention, Lawrence suggests, has beneficial effects on children. Child Welfare,” was published in where she worked with sexual assault and recovery Tesco’s pink plastic Peekaboo Pole Dancing kit—it’s up those in their first four years of mar- may help marriages last longer and lead He found that while such factors as Real Estate Economics. services. As her awareness of violence against women to adults to help kids understand sex. riage—who become parents experience couples to have more satisfying relation- family wealth, race, divorce, death of grew, she became curious about the implications of our “It’s like driving: you wouldn’t stick your child in a higher drop in marital satisfaction in ships. She currently is designing a series culture’s obsession with fashion and beauty, and at a car and say ‘Go!’” she says. “We teach them the traffic their first year of parenthood than those of workshops to teach couples skills they what age that begins. Durham turned her attention to rules. Sex has rights, responsibilities, and risks, and we who delay expanding their family. can use to become better partners. media aimed at middle school girls, like Seventeen and need to help children manage the tricky terrain.” “Adjusting to an infant is extremely Most therapists, she says, focus on YM magazines. That terrain is fraught with images created by savvy difficult for couples, but most recover,” conflict management and fail to inquire What she found was a focus on fashion and beauty advertisers, who are tapping into the increasingly she says. “In fact, the stronger the about other important aspects of a that operated within very narrow parameters. well-to-do market of ‘tween girls. The narrow vision of marriage is before parenthood, the better relationship—like how the partners “The emphasis is on a thin, voluptuous, Barbie-doll beauty not only creates dissatisfaction with one’s looks, the chances are of recovering after.” support one another when one has a bad look,” Durham says. “It’s a look that’s nearly impossible but also encourages the purchase of products to help Lawrence recruited 156 couples in their day, or how they communicate their own to achieve, so girls become dissatisfied with their own one fit the norm. And the dissatisfaction creates lifelong first six months of marriage—104 became needs. bodies.” Durham also notes that media aimed at young customers for companies who use younger and younger parents within four years and 52 remained “Many different aspects contribute to girls constantly emphasize looking “hot” and appealing models to promote their products. When the sexual ideal childless—and had the parent couples a fulfilling relationship. Fortunately, to boys, but provide very little information about the becomes a 13-year-old girl, what hope does a mature respond to marital satisfaction surveys certain skills are teachable,” she says. facts of sex. As part of her research, Durham talked woman have of ever achieving it? after six months of marriage, a month “The trick is to teach them early, when directly with middle school students and learned that No matter our intentions, it’s nearly impossible to before the baby’s birth, and six and 12 couples are happy—and motivated to many rely on media for sexual information, and many escape these media messages. That’s why Durham months postpartum. Childless couples stay that way. After years, it is harder to remain “frighteningly ignorant” about sex. suggests teaching children media literacy from a young were surveyed at comparable times. let down your guard and put these skills “Here are some things I’ve learned from talking to age: helping them recognize and analyze the motives In a separate study of aggression, into practice.” girls,” says Durham in the first chapter of The Lolita behind fashion features that use sexually charged pop Lawrence surveyed 164 couples annually —Sara Epstein Moninger Effect. “You can’t get pregnant if you jump up and down icons like Paris Hilton to promote body-baring clothing during their first three years of marriage.

12 The University of Iowa Spectator fall 2008 photo by tim schoon photo by tim schoon fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 13 UI Team Helps Shed Light Stepping Up World Bank’s Former Dean Leaves More Than administrative, and student-related on Schizophrenia Accountability $2 Million in Gifts for UI functions, currently located in 15 different A Refreshing Idea University of Iowa researchers contributed A UI international development expert Capping seven decades of service and buildings on and off campus. The to a study that found a particular genetic and a College of Law graduate have generosity to the University, Dewey Stuit, $47.7 million building, financed by state Engineering students’ water sanitizer lands EPA funding variation is associated with schizophrenia. proposed a new method of holding dean of the College of Liberal Arts and funding, University revenue bonds, The severe mental health disorder the World Bank accountable when its Sciences from 1948 to 1977, left a gift to private gifts, and federal appropriations, affects nearly 1 percent of people in the development projects damage communi- the UI Foundation of more than will be completed in late 2010. ome years ago, Craig Just traveled to Guatemala and The UI team was one of just six teams honored at the United States. ties in developing countries. $2 million. Stuit died Jan. 9, 2008. saw the scarcity of drinking water, the unsafe living competition, which yielded an additional $75,000 in EPA The study, published online in the The proposal, coauthored by law The gift added to funds created by Stuit conditions, the utter poverty. funding to further develop the project. Institute Aims to Spread S journal Nature Genetics, was led by professor Enrique Carrasco and law and his late wife, Velma. They provide That trip and others inspired Just, associate research “We hope to multiply the $75,000 award tenfold in the researchers at Cardiff University in the alumna Alison K. Guernsey (JD ’08), scholarships for CLAS and Honors Awareness of Assistive Technology engineer in the University of Iowa College of Engineering, coming year so we can make a substantial human health United Kingdom. Two other research suggests creating an independent Program students, professorship support Students with disabilities in Iowa—and to create a service-learning course called Design for the impact in our target countries,” Just says. groups simultaneously published mediation and arbitration process. This for the Department of Psychology, and dis- those who help them learn—had an Developing World. His course, in turn, has inspired Just, who recently received the UI Provost and President’s separate findings that identified three would replace the bank’s current cretionary funds for the Museum of Art, opportunity to benefit from the latest students from engineering and other fields to devote their Award for Teaching, embraces this mentoring and genetic variations and confirmed a Inspection Panel, which has come under the departments of psychology, religious technological advancements available talents to improving water, sanitation, energy, shelter, and networking role in the College of Engineering. He aims to previously known variation, all associated considerable criticism since its inception. studies, and theatre arts, the School of Art during the first annual Assistive food. embed one eastern Iowa professional engineer within with schizophrenia. Formed after World War II, the World and Art History, and the School of Music. Technology Summer Institute, sponsored Just’s projects have students cooking with solar ovens, each of his student design teams. And students who seek The Iowa study examanied DNA Bank helps developing countries build in July by the Iowa Center for Assistive designing easily assembled refugee shelters, and develop- guidance from Just have plenty of opportunities: he samples and thorough background their economies by providing financing Technology Education and Research in ing a handheld water sanitizer that would disinfect advertises his office hours as “almost unlimited.” information from 336 persons with and advice to, among other things, Gift Benefits New College of the College of Education. drinking water for impoverished communities around the “My courses go beyond the traditional classroom schizophrenia. construct the kinds of public infrastructure Public Health Building Teachers, speech pathologists, students world. This last project has yielded national recognition experience,” Just says. “I get the chance to travel with my Previous investigations have not countries couldn’t afford on their own, A $2 million grant from the Roy J. Carver with disabilities, parents, and counselors and additional research funding for Just’s students. students to poor countries, live dormitory-style in harsh involved such large sample sizes as the such as dams, highways, and power Charitable Trust of Muscatine, Iowa, will from across the state came to campus to “The projects in Design for the Developing World are conditions. You get to know people through those situations. three new studies did, and taken together, plants. The bank often has been criticized, help construct the first permanent home get hands-on experience using a variety all done with the mindset that technology isn’t enough,” I admire these students so much for what they do.” they provide strong evidence that schizo- though, for financing projects that harmed for the UI College of Public Health. of software programs that increase, Just says. “In many places, people truly rely on a sustainable —Christopher Clair phrenia may result from interactions of people or communities in the country The 130,000-square-foot facility, maintain, or improve functional capabili- environment for their livelihood.” Professor, Alum Featured in large stretches of DNA on multiple where the project was being built. will consolidate the college’s academic, ties of individuals with disabilities. Just and a team of four students— PBS Whitman Program locations in an individual’s genome, says engineering majors Aaron Gwinnup, English professor Ed Folsom and Iowa Donald W. Black, principal investigator Alexandra Keenan, and Tom Rhoads, and Writers’ Workshop graduate Allan for the UI site and professor of psychiatry urban and regional planning graduate Gurganus (MFA ’75) were featured in a in the Carver College of Medicine. student Joel Donham—took their idea PBS American Experience documentary for a water sanitizer to Washington, D.C., on poet Walt Whitman. Folsom, a well- for the National Sustainable Design Expo known Whitman scholar and professor Fruit Flies Help Understanding in April. This competition encourages in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, of Bacterial Infections college students to solve environmental was involved with the documentary for Sometimes it may be a good idea to problems by developing sustainable tech- five years, contributing six hours of “shoot the messenger.” nological solutions that are environmen- interviews and helping to edit the script. University of Iowa researchers and tally friendly, efficient, and economical. Gurganus, author of Oldest Living colleagues have shown that destroying a The handheld sanitizer project began Confederate Widow Tells All and Plays messenger molecule used by the when College of Engineering alumnus Well with Others, writes essays, stories, bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. John Hayes brought a municipal-scale and novels. aeruginosa) protects against infection- electrolytic chlorine generator to Just’s A related web site is at www.pbs.org/ related death in fruit flies. class. Hayes was taking it to developing wgbh/amex/whitman/poet. The research team, led by Joseph countries to provide bleach for drinking Zabner, professor of internal medicine water. The students were impressed, yet in the Carver College of Medicine, used felt they could improve upon the large- Center to Enhance Rural fruit flies to learn more about P. scale model. Health Care for Veterans aeruginosa, which is a major cause of “The students wrote a proposal to the The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs infections in individuals who are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Rural Health has given a hospitalized, have burn wounds, or have (EPA) to get what’s called Phase I fund- five-year, $10 million grant to the Iowa cystic fibrosis. The research, published ing,” Just says. “They received $10,000 City Veterans Affairs Medical Center to in the online edition of the Journal of to develop a chlorine generator with a establish the VA Midwest Rural Health Clinical Investigation, suggests that the different focus.” Resource Center. bacterium’s cell-to-cell signaling system The funding was used to continue Peter J. Kaboli, associate professor of is key to its ability to cause disease. study of the sanitizer during the 2007 internal medicine in the Carver College Furthermore, the researchers showed offering of Design for the Developing UI Press Book Documents Small-Town Iowa Life of Medicine and staff physician at the that a human protein, which can World. The students came up with a Iowa City VA center, will direct the new degrade the messenger molecule, After Church at Grandpa’s is one of the images featured in Sunday Afternoon on the Porch: Reflections of a Small Town in more accessible and sustainable version resource center. interferes with the communication Iowa, 1939–1942, published by the University of Iowa Press in June. The book combines recently discovered images by of the sanitizer. It is sized for individual The grant will support new initiatives system and significantly reduces the amateur photographer Everett W. Kuntz and text by writer Jim Heynen. Kuntz, a native of Ridgeway in northeast Iowa, households and works on a hand crank to enhance health care delivery to rural bacterium’s virulence. took the photographs of his hometown after graduating from high school, but shelved more than 2,000 negatives rather than batteries—a key aspect when veterans and to close gaps in quality The research may have important when he married and started a family; he rediscovered them shortly before he died in 2003. Heynen, author of The Boys’ considering the resources in poor and access to care that may result from implications in the development of new, House, blended fact and fiction to craft accompanying vignettes of Ridgeway life. More information is available at countries. geographic isolation faced by rural non-antibiotic therapies against bacterial www.uiowapress.org. veterans. infections.

14 The University of Iowa Spectator fall 2008 Whitman photo Courtesy of Ed Folsom / photo by tim schoon photo courtesy of ui Press fall 2008 Spectator The University of Iowa 15