Illness Plagues UPJ U N I V E R S I T Y
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F E A T U R E I N T H I S I S S U E Chancellor Are you dreading your student Mark Norden- evaluations of teaching? CIDDE has some advice on how to make those berg addresses evaluations work for you..................2 the highs and How can technology enhance the lows of higher classroom experience? Speakers education in U N I V E R S I T Y at the Senate plenary session share some techniques......................3 his American Experience lecture. See page 5. TIMES VOLUME 46 • NUMBER 15 APRIL 3, 2014 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Does Pitt need Bomb threat suspect released pending appeal an online dam Busby, indicted ing to the terms of his bail. guards and security apparatus. Published reports show that in August 2012 for a “We have taken all available His indictment also charged him Busby, the founder of the Scot- speech policy? A series of emailed bomb legal action to extradite him to face with international extortion for tish National Liberation Army threats to Pitt between March 30 charges in western Pennsylvania emailing (via computer servers agitating for independence from hould Pitt institute an and April 21 that year, has been after he faces pending charges in in Austria and the Netherlands) the U.K., has a history of making online speech policy for released from detention in Ireland the U.K.,” Hickton said. “We are promises that he would suspend bomb threats and using actual faculty? while he appeals Scotland’s efforts closely monitoring the proceed- his threats if Chancellor Mark A. letter bombs. S to extradite him and try him on ings overseas and are working to Nordenberg withdrew a $50,000 Nordenberg has issued a state- That question was debated at the April 1 Faculty Assem- terror charges. Busby has been obtain his extradition to the U.S. reward for information about the ment on Busby’s release; see box. bly meeting and will be on jailed on a European Union war- on the charges pending here.” perpetrator. —Marty Levine n the agenda of the next Senate rant since July 2012. Busby threatened the campus tenure and academic freedom United States Attorney David with more than 40 hoax bomb Statement from Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg committee meeting. J. Hickton of the Western District notices to news media, Pitt University Senate President of Pennsylvania noted in a state- employees and others, causing Bomb-threat suspect moved to Michael B. Spring told Assem- ment that Busby has been living multiple building evacuations “supervised residential control” in Ireland bly members that in a poll of since March 21 in a Dublin hostel and other campus disruptions, more than 70 four-year colleges, and has no Internet access, accord- as well as an increase in security During the spring of 2012, the Pittsburgh campus went through half said they were consider- a particularly disruptive period, when it was victimized by a series of ing instituting such a policy. bomb threats. In dealing with those threats, the safety of all members The issue has gained traction Illness plagues UPJ of the campus community was the top priority for the University. recently after an incident at Of course, that also was true before those threats were received and the University of Wisconsin- suspected outbreak of toms according to the state health has been true for the nearly two years that now have passed since LaCrosse was reported in detail norovirus had affected department are nausea, vomiting, those threats ended. by The Chronicle of Higher A115 students at Pitt- diarrhea and possible stomach Like everyone else who had the chance to observe the collective Education. A faculty member Johnstown as of March 31. cramping, has no treatment and reaction of those most directly affected — particularly the responses there emailed her students While the campus Office of usually wanes within two days. of our students — I remain proud of the strength, resiliency, and saying an assignment would Health and Counseling awaits “We are still not aware of selflessness that regularly were on display as we moved through be “impossible to complete the results of state Department of where everything started,” said that time of crisis. What easily could have become a divisive and until the Republican/Tea Party Health test kits used on students, UPJ spokesperson Natalie S. even more disruptive experience, triggered by real inconvenience controlled House of Repre- which could take one to two more Bombatch. and understandable anxiety, instead produced new and lasting com- sentatives agrees to fund the weeks, for an official diagnosis, In a March 31 statement, munity bonds that are reflective of the commitment that we have to government.” The email was campus officials have requested campus President Jem Spectar the University and to each other. shared by students on Twitter that ill students with transporta- said, “The situation could last as I am writing now to advise you that there has been a recent and known by thousands by tion go home and those sickened long as the entire month of April,” development regarding Adam Busby, the individual indicted as the the next day, prompting the on campus isolate themselves for but noted that the campus had person responsible for sending the emailed messages that threatened governor to call the university 72 hours, with campus dining ser- returned to normal operations Pitt. Mr. Busby had been incarcerated in Ireland, while facing a president. vices delivering meals to students after a brief period of office clo- number of charges and extradition requests. However, the Irish court “If you read the story in The if requested. sures and building disinfection. system has authorized his transfer from prison to what is termed Chronicle of Higher Education The virus, whose major symp- —Marty Levine n “supervised residential control.” Essentially, he now is living in a it’s, I think, an academic’s worst hostel on terms that are designed to restrict both his movement and nightmare,” Spring said. his access to the Internet. “The question is whether We were advised of this development by the United States the Senate, in your opinion, Student wins a Goldwater Attorney and representatives of the FBI. As those who were on this should be proactive on this Computer ical Engineering and the Robert campus two years ago will recall, law enforcement professionals matter?” engineering Von der Luft Professor in the from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, working with City of Some Assembly members and physics Swanson School of Engineering. Pittsburgh police and representatives from other law enforcement were firmly opposed to such major Emily Crabb’s research interests include agencies, provided invaluable assistance during that challenging a policy. “I think we should Crabb has been studying the physics of nanoscopic time, and everyone who benefited from their help remains deeply be proactive about this, and I named a 2014 and microscopic systems. grateful. And as would be expected, federal law enforcement remains think we should be proactive in Barry M. Gold- In 2013, she coauthored the actively engaged in seeking the extradition of Mr. Busby to this ensuring that there’s no policy water Scholar- academic papers that were pub- country so that he can be prosecuted on the charges arising out of implemented to restrict the ship winner. lished in the journals ACS Nano the threats to Pitt. freedom of expression in fac- Three other and Langmuir, respectively. To be clear, we do not expect a recurrence of the 2012 situation. ulty,” one member said. “We’ve Pitt students This semester, Crabb is study- However, we know that vigilance and preparation are important gone down this road before have received honorable mentions ing computer engineering abroad aspects of a safe community. Therefore, I wanted to advise you of historically in this country and in the national 2014 Goldwater at the École Nationale Supérieure this recent development. In doing so, let me also remind you that the it’s a big mistake.” Scholarship competition: Andrew de l’Électronique et de ses Appli- professionals of the Pitt police department have received extensive Another member argued Abboud, majoring in biological cations in Cergy, France. training and are experienced in dealing with a wide range of threats. that it’s imperative for students sciences and religious studies; After graduating from Pitt, The University also has established response-procedure protocols, to feel safe in the classroom: “I Angela Beck, majoring in bioengi- Crabb plans to earn a PhD degree developed an effective emergency notification system, and built don’t think it’s OK for profes- neering, and Alexandre Gauthier, in physics and pursue a career important technological capacities, including tools that enable us to sors to say whatever they want, majoring in physics. conducting theoretical physics remotely monitor unfolding events and to secure at-risk facilities. whenever they want.” The Goldwater Scholarship research as well as international As noted above, Pitt has not stood alone in addressing such security The Chronicle of Higher encourages outstanding students collaborative research. issues, either during the bomb-threat siege or after the threats had Education article is posted on to pursue careers in mathematics, Crabb is the 42nd Pitt student ceased, and we continue to work cooperatively and collaboratively the Senate’s website, where the natural sciences or engineer- to have won a Goldwater Scholar- with other law enforcement agencies as one key dimension of our faculty are encouraged to leave ing. The award goes toward ship since 1995. ongoing focus on safety. With the help of those agencies, we will a comment. tuition, room and board, fees and Institutions can nominate continue to monitor this situation.