Volume 43, Number 6: September 30, 2005 University of North Dakota
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University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special University Letter Archive Collections 9-30-2005 Volume 43, Number 6: September 30, 2005 University of North Dakota Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/u-letter Recommended Citation University of North Dakota, "Volume 43, Number 6: September 30, 2005" (2005). University Letter Archive. 274. https://commons.und.edu/u-letter/274 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in University Letter Archive by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of North Dakota | University Letter: DATE Skip to main content. University Letter Home Submit Article Search Archive Subscribe Unsubscribe UND Home University Relations University Letter DATE Friday, March 27, 49636 ISSUE: Volume 43, Number 6: September 30, 2005 TOP STORIES University will hold two winter commencement ceremonies Dec. 16 Joan Hawthorne named assistant provost President Kupchella delivers “State of the University” address Oct. 18 UND experts concerned about aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita EVENTS TO NOTE Biology seminar will focus on reptiles Speaker on American Indian health to deliver nursing Homecoming lecture Farewell coffee will honor Vorland, Penwarden Physics colloquium will focus on biopolymers Alumni Association will host open house Centennial All-School Gala set for Sept. 30 Chamber music recital set for Sept. 30 Rummage sale will benefit hurricane survivors Greater Grand Forks Symphony opens “Season of Five Batons” “Barn Dance” features traditional steps Mozart piano quartet to perform at Museum Open forum set for prevention specialist candidate Agenda listed for Oct. 3 graduate committee meeting Dual exhibitions by Sefcovic opens Oct. 3 Celebrate Uruguay Monday night Profs to broadcast Oct. 3 solar eclipse Global Visions film series begins third year Reception will honor Nancy Krogh Transportation offers large passenger van training Leadership series continues UND’s UNICEF will host “Hope Across Borders” Counseling center sponsors mental health screenings Grant and contract training session offered Christus Rex hosts book study Agenda listed for University Senate meeting Beyond Boundaries registration early bird deadline is Sept. 28 Peace Congress will honor Janet Kelly Moen Law students hold run/walk Lecture series marks 100th anniversary of theory of relativity Career Fair set for Oct. 12 Participants sought for charity ride, walk/run https://apps.und.edu/uletterarchive/uletterOld/09302005.html[7/26/2019 11:46:39 AM] University of North Dakota | University Letter: DATE BORDERS presents training in Minot U2 lists workshops ANNOUNCEMENTS University may charge for open records requests NIH/IdeA COBRE calls for white papers Nominations for faculty awards accepted through Nov. 4 Proposals sought for Wenstrom research scholars SPSS licenses available Student webmaster position available at Union “Mouths of Ash” exhibition extended Please fill out bookstore survey Employee door prize winners named Fall into fitness by walking Studio One lists features Media donations sought Wear green and white Friday to benefit Y University will hold two winter commencement ceremonies Dec. 16 Because of the increasing number of graduates receiving degrees in December, the University will hold two winter commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 16, at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. All candidates receiving graduate degrees will participate in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Undergraduate degrees will be awarded at 2 p.m. This change will better accommodate the University’s growing number of winter graduates and their guests. The current single-ceremony format will be retained for commencements in the spring and summer. We hope that this change will encourage even greater participation by our December graduates and create a more comfortable, welcoming environment for guests. – Charles Kupchella, president Joan Hawthorne named assistant provost The vice president for academic affairs and provost is pleased to announce that Joan Hawthorne has been appointed assistant provost for assessment of student learning, a position previously held by Kenneth Ruit. Dr. Hawthorne will continue to serve half-time as writing across the curriculum writing center coordinator, a position she has held full-time since 1997. Duties in her new position include providing leadership in developing and implementing UND’s institution- wide assessment program with its goal of continuous improvement of student learning outcomes. – Greg Weisenstein, provost President Kupchella delivers “State of the University” address Oct. 18 President Kupchella will deliver his annual State of the University address Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 3:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom. Everyone is welcome. UND experts concerned about aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita https://apps.und.edu/uletterarchive/uletterOld/09302005.html[7/26/2019 11:46:39 AM] University of North Dakota | University Letter: DATE Several experts in the fields of disaster preparedness and recovery at the University are concerned about the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the Gulf Coast. Tracy Worsley is the program coordinator for BORDERS (Biochemical Organic Radiological Disaster Educational Response System) Alert and Ready, a federally-funded continuing education and training program at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The program is designed to improve the individual and collective ability of healthcare professional practitioners to prepare for and respond to disaster and acts of bioterrorism. “The problem is that there are not enough trained, professional emergency managers,” said Worsley, who has extensive background in disaster preparedness and recovery of six hurricanes and several other natural disasters including Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and the Grand Forks flood of 1997. “There are not enough programs out there to train people how to develop and implement disaster preparedness plans.” Worsley did stress, however, that being prepared is up to the communities, if that be a state, city, county or group of counties. They need to put together a plan that will work for their threats and with their resources and, if the need arises, follow that plan, he said. “You can have the most wonderful plan in the world,” said Worsley, “but it is no use if it is not exercised, revised to the situation and followed.” One of the toughest parts of reacting to a disaster is maintaining the community’s health care infrastructure. “The medical system will be overwhelmed for quite a while,” said James Hargreaves, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of internal medicine and a clinical associate professor of community medicine at the medical school. “Routine illnesses still occur, despite disaster,” said Hargreaves. “People still have heart attacks and strokes. Then, on top of that you need to deal with illnesses and injuries related to the disaster. All with very limited resources. They have a major task ahead of them.” Hargreaves cites several issues that hospitals and clinics in the areas hit by Katrina will have to deal with to get the medical infrastructure back up and running, including securing clean water, new lab equipment and air conditioning and sterilization systems. “They should also be aware of some things that we saw after the flood of 1997 in Grand Forks,” said Hargreaves. “We saw a lot of carbon dioxide poisoning due to improper use of generators and injuries such as broken bones and hernias. We need to get the word out about the proper use of generators, that they need ventilation, and to not to do more than you can handle during clean up.” Jacque Gray, an assistant professor at the Center for Rural Health at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, is concerned about the short- and long-term psychological issues that will arise in that area and here in Grand Forks. “Just because it didn’t happen here doesn’t mean people here won’t react to it,” said Gray, a clinical psychologist, whose online training, “Psychological Effects of Trauma,” is available on the BORDERS website, www.bordersalertandready.com. Gray says that watching a disaster like Katrina on the news can bring back memories and flashbacks for people who have suffered through disasters, such as the Grand Forks flood of 1997. “Recovering from something like that is long-term,” she said. “It doesn’t just go away over night.” What is important now for the people affected by Katrina is to find a social group to belong to, such as a spiritual group, and to tell their story. “Finding something to hold on to tends to be helpful,” she said. “People who go through something like this tend to tell and retell their story as a way to work through what happened. This is a very important process.” Donna Morris, an associate professor of nursing, understands that process. “As a recent immigrant from the Gulf Coast, I know what it is like to choose what is the most important to you to take with you,” Morris said. “These people are trying to deal with life events in the midst of a natural disaster that you don’t have any control over.” That’s true for working professionals, too, said Thomasine Heitkamp, chair of social work. “What was hard about New Orleans is that it was first responders and they need to take care of their families.” Professional service providers feel a deep need to respond to the needs of others, even though their own lives are in turmoil, said Heitkamp. She said it is important for professionals to respond “to the degrees possible,” but that they also need to watch out for themselves and their families. https://apps.und.edu/uletterarchive/uletterOld/09302005.html[7/26/2019 11:46:39 AM] University of North Dakota | University Letter: DATE And while there is much work for service providers to do now – “you start with the physical needs: food, clothing, shelter” — there will be much to be done for some time, said Heitkamp.