046957030004_0003.ps 9/29/03 10:44 PM Page 3 046957030004_0004.ps 9/29/03 10:46 PM Page 4 Terms up to 72 months for new and used. Out of state? We can express mail your check. 5-minute approval and 100% financing available to qualified members (includes tax, title & warranty). No origination fees or prepayment penalties. * Rate as of 10/1/03 and subject to change. Other great rates are available for longer terms. Call today for more information (517) 333-22222 • 800-MSU-4-YOU apply online at: www.msufcu.org MAIN OFFICE EAST LANSING BRANCH MERIDIAN BRANCH WEST SIDE BRANCH OAKLAND BRANCH 600 E. Crescent Road 523 East Grand River 1775 Central Park Drive 653 Migaldi Lane 3265 Five Points Drive East, Lansing, MI 48823 East Lansing, MI 48823 Okemos, MI 48864 Lansing, MI 48917 Auburn Hills, MI 48326 046957030004_0001.ps 9/29/03 10:51 PM Page 1 Michigan State University • Fall 2003 • Volume 21, No. 1 Cover: MSU RADIOLOGY LAB BOASTS NATION’S BEST Design by David Giordan With a new state-of-the-art cyclotron and scanner, MSU Radiology Photos by Tim Potter now boasts the most advanced technology in the nation. 18 THE CAMPUS HERITAGE INITIATIVE: PROTECTING THE IRREPLACEABLE A new campus initiative to preserve MSU’s heritage begins with a look at the historic buildings east of Circle Drive known as “Lab Row.” 22 STARS TWINKLE IN MSU’S JAZZ PROGRAM MSU’s new jazz studies program has unfolded with great panache, led by the many star performers on its faculty. 26 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAGICAL TALES A new book brims with fresh, previously untold anecdotes about Editor, MSU Alumni Magazine MSU’s 1979 championship basketball season. MSU Union East Lansing, MI 48824-1029 34 Include name, address, phone, email and MSU degree/year Departments (if applicable). Letters may be edited. President’s Perspective In-Basket Via fax: Around Circle Drive (517) 432-7769 Sports Via email: Alma Matters [email protected] State’s Stars Via web: Obituaries http://www.msualum.com/ Lasting Impressions magazine/formltr.cfm CLICK RIGHT THROUGH FOR MSU msualum.com PAGE 1 046957030004_2 10/3/03 1:56 PM Page 1 PRESIDENT’SPERSPECTIVE MSU Alumni Magazine Robert Bao Editor With President Peter McPherson’s return to campus, I want to Geneva Tupper Advertising Manager use a hockey analogy to reflect a bit on what the past five months have Dave Giordan meant. Design Each December, the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Tim Potter Junior Hockey Championship beckons. One of our star players is cho- Photography sen to contribute on the international scene. That individual will grow and be strengthened by the opportunity, and the experience will ele- MSU Alumni Association vate his game to the next level. Keith A. Williams Meanwhile, the team back home is expected to keep winning. In the absence of their star, other Executive Director players have to step up and play a little better. Nancy Brent In this case, when the star player returns he is a bit different. Any of us would be after such a life- Associate Director changing experience. Just like when students study abroad, they return and see things anew, David Brown through the prism of their international experience. Assistant Director The team is different, too. They’re stronger. While their star was gone, everyone had to pick up Louise Cooley Assistant Director some of the slack, to take their own performance to the next level. Andy Henderson When President McPherson left, the Board of Trustees and he had confidence that Team MSU Assistant Director would rise to the occasion and meet the challenges here. And we have confidence that Peter’s recent Sharon Radtke experiences, coupled with his ten years of stellar service to the university, mean that that together Assistant Director we’ll be an even better team than before. I believe we are. L. Patrick Scheetz It is always a privilege to serve Michigan State University, in whatever role for which one is cho- Assistant Director sen. It has been for me. I appreciate the confidence of the Board and the support of the entire com- Sandy Soifer munity during these past five months. Assistant Director I look forward to getting back to work with Peter. We’ll need all of our collective energies and Bev VandenBerg strengths to handle the challenges that are ahead and to continue the work of building an MSU for Assistant Director the 21st century and beyond. Beverly Carnahan Executive Staff Assistant Regina Cross Sincerely, Marketing and Sales Coordinator Cheryl Denison Marketing and Sales Coordinator Tim Potter Information Officer Lou Anna K. Simon Dominic Schimizzi Interim President Business Manager Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jackie Sweet Membership Coordinator Advertising Manager, Geneva Tupper (517) 432-1951 • fax (517) 432-7769 Photo by Tim Potter COPYRIGHT 2003 MSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MSU Alumni Association MSU Union East Lansing, MI 48824-1029 (517) 355-8314 MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity institution. PAGE 2 FALL 2003 MSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE 046957030004_0003.ps 9/29/03 11:02 PM Page 3 INBASKET GARDENING INSTITUTE was named by Presidents Roo- CHEAP HOT DOGS? Thanks for highlighting sevelt and Wilson to many na- Re “One Million Hot Dogs” (p. www.gardeninginstitute.com tional posts, including two years 5, Summer 2003). How do you (Spring 2003). It seems that on- with the American Expeditionary provide so much food for a rev- line resources are growing at an Force in Europe dealing with re- enue of $57? astonishing pace and MSU Glob- construction after World War I. Lewis Weingarten, ’62 al is working at filling many nich- Robert L. Christensen, ’58 Fayetteville, NC es—including gardening, which I Deerfield, MA love. The program through the ☛ Hot dogs are cheap, but not that Horticultural Gardening Insti- Excellent issue (Spring 2003), cheap. It should have read “$57 tute provided me with a great op- great balance of articles. I rec- million.” –Editor. portunity to expand my knowl- DYNAMIC PLAN ommend that you arrange for a edge, to apply it in my own Great cover story on the dy- special reprint of the article MSU PROJECTS backyard, to meet new friends namic plan to expand the Kresge “MSU’s Iconic Professors.” Projects such as “The Sparty with the same interests, and to Art Museum. The expansion will O. Donald Meaders, EDD ’57 Project” (cover story, Winter draw upon the expertise of ex- enhance an impressive collection Okemos 2003) and “The New Hannah perts such as Norm Lownds, Art of art currently shown in outdat- Sculpture and Public Art On Cameron or John Gaydos. ed, inadequate space. ☛ Done! As part of a faculty recog- Campus” (cover story, Spring Dana VanPoperin Ron Rademacher, ’65 nition program, the Heritage Café 2002) offer new giving opportu- St. Clair Shores Mason of the MSU Union has printed the nities for alumni. I’m also de- story of “MSU’s Iconic Professors” lighted to learn that the under- SPARTAN NOSE HELMETS Delighted to read about the fu- as brochures. To obtain one, call graduate student government Enjoyed the article about the ture of Kresge Art Museum. I’ve (517) 355-3460 or email wa- (ASMSU) has pledged $75,000 changes Coach Smith has made been a docent at Kresge since I [email protected]. — Editor. for the Sparty Project. I hope all in the MSU football team moved to East Lansing five years former student leaders can add (“Buckle Up For The New ago and continually marvel at this NEWS WAS PREMATURE their support to this MSU Alum- Smith Brand Of Football,” Sum- campus treasure. The new addi- Your Summer 2003 issue ran an ni Association campaign. mer 2003), except for the state- tion will be a fantastic plus for obit for Gregory W. Syfert, ’68, of Lana Dart, ’59, M.A. ’64 ment that the block “S” on the MSU and the community. Winnetka, IL. Greg is one of my Lansing helmets would be replaced by Susan Patterson, ’65 closest friends, and I can say that “Sparty.” Sparty is the large East Lansing he would be greatly surprised to mascot that looks like an over- learn of his passing. He is proba- MORE ICONIC PROFESSORS stuffed doll and helps to raise bly out working on one of his race spirit and enthusiasm for our I was very pleased to note the cars as I write this. teams. The figure appearing on inclusion of Kenyon L. Butter- Mike R. Morrow, ’72 the sides of the helmets is a Spar- field among “MSU’s Iconic Pro- Walled Lake tan helmet, worn in ancient fessors” (Spring 2003). Some ☛ We regret the error. An erro- times by Spartan soldiers. Inci- years ago, while researching his neous “deceased” notice slipped into dentally, the nose piece in the role in the Smith-Lever Act and our database, but fortunately this is front distinguishes it from the the creation of the Cooperative a very rare type of error. –Editor. flat-front helmet worn by the Extension Service, I discovered Trojans, who were their enemies. some additional facets of his ca- Bruce M. Campbell, ’61 reer also worthy of note. He was UPDATE president of three land-grant col- Pearl Beach ☛ Jim Sterba, ’66 (see Winter leges (MSU, Rhode Island, and 1980), longtime correspondent for the New York University of Massachusetts) and Times and Wall Street Journal, and recipient of MSU’s Distin- all three have Butterfield Halls guished Alumni Award, has published Frankie’s Place (Grove Press, named for him. During World 2003), a “charming” and “audacious” memoir about his summers War II, the battleship USS Keny- on the Maine coast that Joan Didion calls “a joy to read.” on Butterfield was launched, per- haps a unique honor for a univer- ☛ Daniel B.