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UT Martin’s Volume XLVI, Summer/Fall 2008 See page 16 for The Campaign for Tennessee. Chancellor’sChancellor’s Corner Corner e are optimistic about we have identified budget reductions in Wour campus direction as the 2008-09 budget, we are also faced with we prepare for the upcoming year escalating fixed costs such as increases in energy, health care, maintenance contracts that includes welcoming the first and minimum wage adjustments. These fixed class admitted under our revised expenses are greater than the new revenues admission standards, the comple- generated by the six percent tuition increase. tion of several construction and We are actively engaged in study to better renovation projects and the initia- manage revenues and expenses. During the tion of a comprehensive review of coming months, we will seek actions to con- trol costs that include improved management academic program offerings. Our of energy usage, adjustments in academic enhanced admission standards should programming, exploring strategies to use Dr. Thomas Rakes enable the university to better focus our UT Martin Chancellor technology to enhance services and possible student services and academic support outsourcing of selected operations. An im- ensuring even greater opportunities for portant part of this process will incorporate our students to succeed. Although our periodic discussions among employees and campus is still busy with several construc- students to help identify avenues through tion projects, renovations to the Business which we can realize sustainable cost savings. Administration Building were completed We will continue to this summer with the faculty returning In addition to strategic attention to budget to the building in June, and phase two of management and program adjustments, we build capacity with- University Village is scheduled for com- will work to more clearly align academic in our units, but pletion by the beginning of fall classes. and student affairs programs to ensure better A new diagnostic laboratory for animal linkages that will capitalize upon existing also analyze essen- study was opened at the end of the spring strengths of our institution. For a number of tial services, includ- semester. An expansion of Brehm Hall years, leadership and community service out- ing administrative is under way, and we are involved in reach have been a staple within a number of finalizing plans for completing a manage- our programs. This year, we will specifically and instructional ment agreement to relocate classes to the develop an umbrella-type of organization to programs, in order Parsons Center. In addition to a number improve management of leadership, intern- of ongoing priorities, two areas of focus ship, community service, citizenship and to maximize student will be a major thrust for the coming year service learning. We plan to blend activities access and our over- and beyond. We will continue to build and programs associated with the American all effectiveness. capacity within our units, but also analyze Democracy Project and what was formerly essential services, including administra- LEAD Academy with the Tennessee Campus tive and instructional programs, in order Compact to build our capacity to integrate to maximize student access and our over- leadership and service learning to directly all effectiveness. improve business and community partner- ships, as well as, links within our region and The campus and state face fiscal chal- beyond. lenges. Recent decreases in state appro- priations reduced UT Martin’s budget We have a host of exciting athletic events by 5.8%, which equals an approximate scheduled this year, and of course, Home- decrease in funding of $1,926,000. A coming is set for Oct. 4 with Martin Gras in tuition increase of six percent will gener- the Quad beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed ate approximately $1,497,000 in revenue by the Skyhawks vs. TSU football game at that will help restore a portion, but not 2 p.m. We appreciate your support of UT all, of lost state appropriations. Although Martin and hope that you will return soon to campus for a visit. We are actively engaged in study to better manage revenues and expenses. 2 THE UNIVERSI T Y OF TENNESSEE A T MAR T IN CAMPUS SC ENE MAGAZINE UT Martin’s Published semiannually by The University of Tennessee at Martin Campus Volume XLVI, Summer/Fall 2008 Martin, Tenn. 38238 Dr. John Petersen, President The University of Tennessee System Scene Dr. Thomas Rakes, Chancellor The University of Tennessee at Martin Len Parks Solomons Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Charley Deal See page 26. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Kara Hooper Campus Scene Editor Special Sections: Trevor Ruszkowski The Campaign for Tennessee p. 16 Coordinator of Photographic Services New Alumni Center Opens p. 26 Editorial Contributions Keith Carver, Charley Deal, Bud Grimes, Joe Lofaro, Rita Mitchell, Tom Rakes, Len Solomons Features Design and Layout Working for Iraq’s Future p. 4 Kara Hooper Garry and Betsy Phillips are directly involved in nurturing democracy in Iraq by working in judicial security and strategic planning. Photo Contributions Steve Green, Bud Grimes, Rita Mitchell, Young Alumna Researching for the Cure p. 6 Trevor Ruszkowski Amanda Raley Lowery, the first UT Martin engineering student to Copy Editors earn a Ph.D., is working on a gene therapy project for targeted Bud Grimes, Nan Lamb, Rita Mitchell delivery of genes to cancer cells. Pull! p. 8 UT Martin student, Seth Paugh, helped to create a Clay Target Shooting Club, which has generated a great deal of interest Original story ideas, photo ideas and manuscripts may be used at the editor’s discretion. Photos and among current and prospective students. submitted works cannot be returned. Comments and feedback may be directed to Kara Hooper, Campus Scene Editor, [email protected], 304 Administration Building, Martin, TN 38238. 30,000 copies printed News Briefs p. 10 by Ambrose Printing, Nashville, Tenn. Departments University Advancement p. 18 Athletic Communications p. 22 The Real Deal: Alumni Relations p. 28 Alumni Notes p. 30 In Memory p. 34 Summ ER /FALL 2008 3 F I T ’S T R U E T HA T OPPOSI T ES A tt RAC T , GARRY (’77) AND IBE T SY PHILLIPS WILL T ELL YO U T HA T T HEY DID NO T AGREE ON mu CH OF ANY T HING B EFORE T HEY M ARRIED . Today, the couple agrees on one thing for sure – the United States must succeed in Iraq. Middle East stability hangs in the balance. Garry and Betsy are directly involved in nurturing a democracy in this cradle of civilization. He is developing a U.S. Marshals- type service for judicial security, while Betsy directs the Office of Joint Strategic Planning and Assessment at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Garry began a 20-year Navy career shortly after graduating from high school, a career that included embassy assignments in Tokyo and Sri Lanka. He retired from the Navy in 1975 and graduated from UT Martin in 1977 with majors in political science and English. He taught English at Westview High School in Martin for two years and then worked in UT Martin’s Office of International Programs, where he taught English as a Second Language. Betsy earned a political science degree and, like Garry, a master’s degree in public administra- tion at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, where they first met. Both were selected for the Presidential Manage- ment Intern Program (now called the Presidential Management Fellowship Program), which seeks about 200 people each year who have master’s degrees to work for the federal government in mid-management positions. When they arrived in Washington, neither knew anyone By Bud Grimes 4 THE UNIVERSI T Y OF TENNESSEE A T MAR T IN CAMPUS SC ENE MAGAZINE Working for Iraq’s Future else, so they started spending a lot of time together Garry and Betsy don’t have ordinary jobs, but then and eventually married in 1985. life in Iraq is anything but ordinary. They live in The Phillips accumulated significant federal gov- a trailer-like “hootch” that’s about 30 feet by 10 ernment experience before accepting their current feet with two rooms and a bathroom in the middle. appointments in Iraq. They share strong, non-par- They walk to work and arrive in their embassy of- tisan views about what has happened –– and might fices by about 7 a.m. The embassy building is three happen –– in Iraq, and both believe they can make stories high and was once the main Hussein palace a difference through their service in this volatile in Baghdad. The room he shares with about 40 oth- er people was Saddam Hussein’s “decision room,” part of the world. “I think what the United States The Phillips pose with Ryan and the multinational forces are doing in Iraq is which he said includes “a painting of scud missiles Crocker, U.S. ambassador very important to stability, in not only Iraq, but the flying off into the air. It’s kind of garish.” to Iraq. entire Middle East,” Garry said. Personal comfort and safety are among the many Betsy’s office is unique to the U.S. Embassy in sacrifices being made by the Phillips and countless Baghdad, she said, in that the embassy works with others for Iraq’s future. Both are clear that the U.S. the U.S. military and the other multinational must succeed in establishing a democratic govern- forces in Iraq on long-range planning. ment. Betsy quoted Dr. Tony Cordesman, senior fellow with the Centre for Strategic & International The plan is updated regularly in cooperation with Studies in Washington, D.C., in an August 2007 the military, and besides managing this plan, the report in which he said, “Most certainly, while the office’s seven-member staff engages in “red-team U.S.