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TODAY’S EDITION Convocation welcomes new SPECTRUM students. VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY VOLUME 21 NUMBER 38 THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1999 Convocation for first-year students planned for Saturday By Catherine Doss expected to attend and will be seated according “For example, the group includes an international importance of beginning the year with a In a move to emphasize the importance to college. During the event, deans from each student. Each one has an interesting story to strong academic focus. of academics, Virginia Tech has scheduled college will present their incoming students to tell,” Daniel said. Faculty members and administrators its first-ever convocation for first-year President Paul Torgersen, Meszaros, assembled “Our goal is for every entering freshman to are invited to participate in a processional students on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m. in members of the faculty, and the university feel like he or she has a peer, someone with attired in full regalia. Those interested in Cassell Coliseum. community. whom they can identify,” Daniel said. “We feel participating should contact Daniel at 1- “This fall we welcome what is arguably Members of the Academy of Teaching this will be an excellent way to introduce students 3341 or by e-mail at [email protected]. our best entering class ever,” said Provost Excellence will briefly introduce one student to the academic excellence as well as the spirit Processional participants should gather at Peggy S. Meszaros. “The convocation is from each college and University Studies. and culture of Virginia Tech.” the tunnel leading to the coliseum playing designed to emphasize academic excellence These students will then talk about their reasons “We want this to be a team-building floor between 7:30 and 7:45 p.m. as part of the freshman orientation process. It for coming to Virginia Tech and their goals. experience for first-year students,” Meszaros Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, is the best way to put academics front and “These diverse student speakers come said. “We want them to feel welcome here and the convocation was designed by several center for the entering class.” from every walk of life,” said Ron Daniel, excited to launch their college career at Virginia members of the Academy of Teaching More than 4,500 first-year students are associate provost for undergraduate programs. Tech.” She will speak briefly about the Excellence. Statistics New members celebrates 50th appointed anniversary to BOV By Sally Harris STEEL By Anne Fowler It was 1949, Truman was president, and Structural Governor James Gilmore has announced the appointment of Beverly H. Sgro, William at Virginia Tech, the Department of Statistics work was formed, making it only the third in the C. Latham, and Donald R. Johnson to the country after Iowa State and North Carolina continues Board of Visitors. State. This year, the department is celebrating on the Sgro, of Asheville, N.C., is currently the head of Carolina Day School. Sgro served as its 50th anniversary. ACITC As part of the celebration, the department interim head of the Collegiate Schools in held a conference on “Statistics: Modeling Building. Richmond between 1998 and 1999. Processes in Science and Industry” August (B. Veltri) Previously, Sgro served as Virginia’s secretary 13-14. It featured sessions on process and of education during Governor George Allen’s quality control, experimental and sampling administration. In addition, she worked at design, medical and biopharmaceutical Virginia Tech as dean of students, as executive statistics, linear mixed models, bayesian assistant to the vice president for student statistics, and nonparametric estimation. affairs, and as assistant director of student Speakers from across the country were activities. Sgro succeeds former BOV invited, including Penn State, Los Alamos member, Cecil Maxson of Richmond. National Laboratories, Princeton, North Latham, of Haymarket, has served as Carolina State, and, of course, Virginia Tech, chairman of the board of Budget Motels, Inc. as well as the president of the American since 1972. He has opened, owned, and Statistical Association. (See NEW MEMBERS on 4) The department honored Boyd Harshbarger, its founding father, who served as department head from 1949 until 1972. Board meeting “He was one of the pioneers…and was able to convince a skeptical administration that scheduled here Virginia Polytechnic Institute should have By David Nutter its own department,” said Klaus Hinkelmann, Tech announces record support The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors another former department head. Shortly By Sherry Bithell surpassing last year’s total by 27 percent, will meet on campus Monday, Aug. 23, at 1 before Harshbarger’s death in 1998, the Virginia Tech supporters have contrib- received $3.5 million. Intercollegiate p.m. in Squires Brush Mountain Room. department established the Boyd Harshbarger uted to the university’s third consecutive record Athletics-–boosted by the continued success The board will consider, among other Graduate Study Endowment Scholarship year in private giving, surpassing last year’s of its teams, including the women’s basketball business, the appointment of university and Fund for the Department of Statistics. all-time high by more than 45 percent. During team’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Sweet alumni distinguished professors, the 2000- Contributions may be earmarked for that fiscal year 1998-99, which ended on June 30, Sixteen and the football team’s sixth 2002 appropriations request, a proposal to scholarship and mailed to the Virginia Tech individuals, corporations, and foundations do- consecutive bowl appearance-–reached an all- finance new special-purpose housing. Foundation, 201 Pack Building (0336), nated $71,388,318. This performance comes time high of $8,943,906, breaking last year’s The committees of the board will meet Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061. on the heels of a comprehensive six-year cam- record total by 41 percent. And contributions at the following times and locations: Virginia Tech had had statistics courses paign, which ended June 30, 1998. to financial aid more than doubled. Academic Affairs will meet at 8:30 a.m. since 1935, when Harshbarger introduced The largest single donation ever made to Once again, current operations received in the Black Cultural Center, 126 Squires. the first one in the mathematics department. Virginia Tech, a $23-million gift of patents and the lion’s share of support; donors designated Buildings and Grounds will meet in At that time, very few universities had equipment from DuPont to the College of En- $29,531,356, up 52 percent from last year. executive session at 8:30 a.m. in the Board statistics courses, so when he received a gineering, helped propel the year in private Funds earmarked for endowment, capital fa- Room of the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Rockefeller Fellowship to get a Ph.D., giving. Even discounting the DuPont gift, the cilities, and sponsored programs comprised the Conference Center (DBHCC). The open Harshbarger took courses at George College of Engineering ended the year up $1.3 balance of the total. session is at 9 a.m. in conference room A. Washington University and Iowa State and a million from last year’s total. Alumni continued to give generously-– Finance and Audit will meet in executive (See STATISTICS on 4) The College of Arts and Sciences, (See TECH on 4) (See BOARD on 4) 2 SPECTRUM THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1999 ACTIVITIES EVENTS Saturday, 21 Wednesday, 25 Special Convocation, 8 p.m., Cassell Coliseum. With Good Reason, 7 p.m., WVTF: Topic TBA. Thursday, 19 International Student Orientation, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 22 Friday, 27 Squires Colonial Hall. Board of Visitors Meeting. Last Day to Add. Staff Senate, 5:30 p.m., 1810 Litton-Reaves. Monday, 23 Friday, 20 Classes Begin. SEMINAR International Graduate Student Orientation, 8 a.m., Board of Visitors Meeting. Owens Banquet Hall. Friday, 27 International Undergraduate Student Orientation, 9 Tuesday, 24 Materials Science and Engineering, 3 p.m., 114 Holden: a.m., Squires Brush Mountain A. Art Exhibit Opens, noon, Armory Gallery: Sculpture and S. S. Babu, Oak Ridge National Lab. Works on Paper, by Dean Carter. Student check-in requires parking changes BULLETINS to be held on September 10, from 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center. The event is From Thursday, Aug. 19 through Sunday, Aug. 22, co-sponsored by several academic departments at Virginia student check-in will cause a significant change in parking major study of democracy and democratization in East/Central Tech and Town of Blacksburg. For more information call 1- and traffic patterns on campus. Europe. 5624 or e-mail: [email protected]. During the four days of check-in, streets and parking lots A reception sponsored by the department of Urban Affairs closest to the residence halls will be designated as “one-hour and Planning will follow the public lecture. CPS rating classes open to area office workers loading.” These areas include parking lots near Schultz, Dryzek will also present at a faculty seminar September 7 The CPS Group, comprised of Virginia Tech employees Owens, Dietrick, Cassell Coliseum, half of Aggie Quad, I-Lot at 4 p.m. on his work in eastern Europe. For information, contact who have earned the rating of certified professional secretaries, (the cage), half of the Stadium Lot, Engel, and Wallace lots, James Bohland at 1-5517 or [email protected]. is kicking off a series of study classes during the fall for office and the following streets: Turner, Kent, and Washington; and professionals in the New River Valley area, giving office the south side of the Drillfield. Pamphlet explains staff roles in governance professionals in the area an opportunity to earn the CPS rating.