UNLV Magazine UNLV Publications

Fall 2003

UNLV Magazine

Barbara Cloud University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Jennifer Vaughan University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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Repository Citation Cloud, B., Vaughan, J. (2003). UNLV Magazine. In C. Weeks (Ed.), UNLV Magazine, 11(2), 1-20. Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/unlv_magazine/20

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Dental Detectives Dental Students Learning Forensic Techniques to Fight Crime

Nuclear Scientists Hope to Eliminate Controversial Waste Storage Issues

Gambling Addiction Experts Battle Old Stereotypes Through New Research

IN THIS ISSUE: GOLF COACH DWAINE KNIGHT DOUGLAS SELBY'S WINDING ROAD

Vol.ll No. 2 I Fall 2003

Photo by Geri Kodey

Editor: Cate Weeks Associate Editor: Diane Russell FEATURES Assistant Editor: Gian Galassi Art Director: john Hobbes Photographer: Geri Kodey 10 Knight Life Contributing Writers: Barbara Cloud Men's golf coach Dwaine Knight's 26-year jennifer Vaughan career includes many accomplishments on Contributing Photographers: the course, including an NCAA champi­ Lee Choo onship in 1998 and consistent top-10 Mattei Photo Department Mailing List Coordinator: national rankings. But he's also known George Musovski for demanding that his players succeedin the classroom. Vice President for University and By Cate Weeks Community Relations: Fred Albrecht Director, UNLV News & Public Information: Tom Flagg 12 Dental Detectives Asst. Director, UNLV News & Public Information: Suzan DiBella Whether it is identifying victims of a hotel fire, working domestic violence cases,or tracking teeth marks Director, University Publications and left at the sceneof a murder, dentists with training in forensicshave becomea valuable asset to law Reprographics: Les Raschko enforcementagencies and have a growing role in the war against terrorism. Publications Manager: Donna McAleer By Barbara Cloud

UNLV Alumni Association Officers 16 From Bad to Good President: Kevin Page Jst Vice Pres.: jim Kirkwood While the word 'nuclear' makes many shudder, ambitious 2nd Vice Pres.: Tina Kunzer-Murphy UNLV scientists are seekingwa ys to eliminate the harmful Treasurer: Kirk Hartle byproductsof spent nuclearfue l. Secretary: Rich Isreal By Gian Galassi Member-at-Large: Dianne Weeks Past President: jim Ratigan 20 Going for Broke UNLV Alumni Association Board Members Like alcoholism,pathological gambling is a devastating addic­ Nancy Flagg Sharlene Flushman tion that quickly and quietly sends the afflicted toward rock Bruce Ford bottom. UNLV professorsand alumni are leading the nation Karen Hore Kirk Hendrick in researchof the widely misunderstoodproblem. Cristina Hinds By Cate Weeks Rich Israel Chip johnson Jeff Knight Sam Lieberman Donya Monroe Christine Parris-Washington DEPARTMENTS Barry Shinchouse

UNLV Magazine is published in 2 Message from the President 24 Calendar of Events March and September by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 3 Campus News 26 Class Notes 4505 Maryland Pkwy, Box45!012 7 University People 26 Alumni Profiles Las Vegas, NV 89154- .I 01 2. http://www.unlv.edu/ 8 Books 32 Timeline UNI..V is an AA/EEO institution.

FALL 2003 I 1 II A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT CAROL C. HARTER CAMPUS NEWS

MGM MIRAGE Promotes Industry Diversity Through Hotel College Partnership A new partnership between MGM MIRAGE and the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administra­ With new high­ tion will help both organizations speed computer Community Transformation: bolster their diversity initiatives. The resources, bio­ partnership includes a financial logy professor Jeff Shen hopes commitment of $500,000 to UNLV The Role of UNLV to isolate water­ during a five-year period. saving genes in J. Terrance Lanni, chairman and the creosote CEO of MGM MIRAGE, sa id the s many of you may know, UNLV is actively pursuing an Second, major research institutions help keep bush {plant on partnership is part of the company's the right) so he agenda to become a major research university. Our agenda the best and brightest students in the state. strategic plan for diversity initia­ can develop a is not solely aimed at elevating UNLV's prestige on the Good students often investigate many institutions before decid­ A t ives. "To explore our future drought-tolerant national level, although this is a wonderful outcome we also hope ing which one they will attend. They ultimately make their choices prospects, we looked into the turf grass. to achieve. Rather it is based on UNLV's goal to become a major based on many factors, but certainly one important aspect is the pipeline of next generation leaders flagship university that both transforms and improves its commu­ student's perception of the opportunities available to them at a by examining the current student nity. To reach this goal, UNLV must produce the finest educated particular university. Many of the best students are attracted to a Computer Donation to Speed body at the Hotel College," he said . citizens and leaders, help solve university because of the "We found that UNLV, home to the many of the community's prob­ opportunity to participate in world's finest hotel college, is a Genome Research Projects lems, strengthen the area's eco­ University research creates knowledge the active intellectual life of the source of many of our best and nomic base and health, and faculty. Outstanding research A donation of 11 high-end SUN com­ ported by major federal governmental brightest executives, and (the col­ produce exceptional creative, that can lead to new technologies, programs, those that give the puters will help UNLV researchers build agencies, including the U.S. Department of lege) has been diligently working cultural, and athletic activities. most to the community and to more competitive research programs in Agriculture, the National Science Founda­ on issues related to diversity. Most universities in the commercial products, and jobs that have students, help attract great stu­ genome analysis. tion's EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Together, we will aggressively country that do these things dents. If UNLV does not have The Monsanto Co. donated the com­ Stimulate Competitive Research), and the recruit bright minority students." best are known as Research I or a significant impact on the economy. these programs, Nevada's best puters, valued at $1.25 million, to the uni­ National Institutes of Health Biomedical major research universities. students will search for them Activities will focus on student versity through the UNLV Foundation. Research Infrastructure Network;' Shen Quite simply, we aspire to that outside the state. When this recruitment, scholarships, intern­ The high-speed equipment will enable said. "This equipment will enable us to status not simply for reputation, but to help the people and the happens, it is a tragedy for Nevada because these bright people ships, mentoring, and professor UNLV scientists to speed up their research work much more efficiently to produce state of Nevada- to raise our state's fortunes - in every way. Let often do not return to live and work here, but instead stay in the externships. MGM MIRAGE execu­ in the area of "bioinformatics," a relatively genome analysis results." me give you some examples. state where they studied. tives will spend more time at UNLV new interdisciplinary field that integrates "Any time we receive sophisticated A prime example here at UNLV is the fact that students from interacting with students, Lanni said. mathematical sciences, computer sciences, equipment such as this, we improve our First, major research universities improve all over the world want to attend our William F. Harrah College of "We are thrilled to receive this and biology. Research on genome analysis academic reputation," said Ray Alden, exec­ student learning in a variety of ways. Hotel Administration - recently ranked by the Journal of Hospital­ support from MGM MIRAGE," said - the study of the genes of humans, utive vice president and provost. "It enables UNLV is working to create a student-centered learning envi­ ity and Tourism Education as the top hotel school in the country UNLV President Carol C. Harter. plants, and animals- is part of the bioin­ us to attract high-quality faculty and stu­ ronment in which students study with outstanding researchers in overall quality. Nevada students with an interest in the hospital­ " It present s an opportunity to formatics field. dents because it facilitates their research. It and teachers. Faculty with active research agendas and programs ity industry stay here to study; they choose UNLV because of the strengthen a partnership between Biology professor Jeff Shen said the new also promotes collaboration and provides are usually more knowledgeable and up-to-date about their dis­ opportunities that a great faculty and a great city offer. But they UNLV and Nevada's most important computers will cut the time it takes to ana­ faculty with greater opportunities to train ciplines - a factor that directly improves teaching. Such faculty also stay because the faculty members are active researchers in industry in the pursuit of a goal lyze data for his genome research from students in this emerging field." stay in close contact with their colleagues around the country, their industry and students therefore learn the newest systems, that all of us share: diversity." months down to a single day. Shen is Alden noted that the university is plan­ study new developments in their fields, and experiment with techniques, expectations, and perspectives. Four years ago, Hotel College working with other UNLV professors to ning to initiate an interdisciplinary bioin­ new interpretations of older data or methods, leading to new But a great university is not built on only one outstanding pro­ administrators aggressively sought pinpoint the water-saving genes in the cre­ formatics research/education program that discoveries. One very important byproduct of this faculty gram. Like other excellent universities, UNLV has many highly to increase diversity among the osote bush found in the Mojave Desert. will further enhance opportunities for activity is that students have access to the most recent informa­ regarded programs, including those in biology, mechanical engi­ faculty. Now, 19 percent of the col­ The goal is to produce a water-saving, yet study in this area. tion in their disciplines, an outcome that directly improves neering, business, law, physical therapy, creative writing, history, lege's faculty members are from environmentally safe, turf grass and other Carl Reiber, chair of the biological sci­ student learning. film, special education, and community counseling, to name a few. ethnic minorities. Future efforts landscaping plants with the genes from the ences department, said the computers will At UNLV, there are m any exceptional opportunities for stu­ will focus on diversity in the stu­ creosote bush. The availability of drought­ be used by faculty in a number of depart­ dents to work on sophisticated research projects and creative Third, major research universities improve dent body. Only 2.3 percent of tolerant turf, particularly for home and ments, including biological sciences, math­ performances in conjunction with faculty members. This experi­ the quality of life in the community. undergraduate students in the col­ golf course landscapes, could mean sub­ ematical sciences, and computer sciences. ence makes the students' education more meaningful and teach­ Universities with active faculty and research agendas are lege are African American and 6 stantially less water usage in state. "It will also markedly enhance our com­ es them skills that make them more marketable when they seek hotbeds of ideas. Many of the most significant discoveries that percent are Hispanic. "Our research has attracted the atten­ petitive edge in obtaining federal funding employment or apply for graduate school. continued on page 37 tion of scientists nationwide and is sup- for such research."

2 I UNLV MAGAZINE F A LL 2003 I 3 NEWS

UNLV-TV Puts Learning from Experience Community Job Business Development Center said Richard Flaherty, dean of the College Fair Planned Oct. 18 the Arts Front Expands Counseling Services of Business. "Serving this population is a critical part of what the college is doing UNLV's Jean Nidetch Women's and Center Through its Nevada Small Business to support the economic development Center will host its 10th annual Development Center (NSBDC), the UNLV of Southern Nevada and the state. The Community Job Fa ir from 8:30 a.m. From Academic Cafe to the popular College of Business is expanding the coun­ development center serves a vital role in to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the UNLV Totally Band in Vegas, UNLV-TV has seling services for companies in Las Vegas. our strategic plan as the major outreach Moyer Student Union. stayed at the forefront of the local academ­ Allan Bell, a volunteer with the Service effort to businesses." "Community Job Fair is an excel­ ic and entertainment scenes. Now the sta­ Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), will The Nevada Small Business Develop­ lent, cost-effective employee­ tion, headed by program director Laurie provide counseling services at the develop­ ment Center - part of the UNLV and UNR recruiting opportunity in today's Fruth, has created Front and Center, a ment center's offices on campus. Bell, who business colleges - is a statewide resource competitive world of multimedia showcase for fine arts that melds both arts has expertise in exporting and importing, for business assistance, providing a unique marketing," said Conee Spano, and academics. The show will air at 9 p.m. will focus on international business as well array of services, expertise, and training in director of the center. "Thanks to Sundays on Channel 70. as work with start-up companies. all areas including starting, growing, and the Southern Nevada businesses "UNLV is the cultural center of Las "Contrary to popular perception, 98 developing a business. that sponsor and support this excit ­ Vegas," Fruth said. "We do more cultural percent of the businesses in Nevada are For information, call (702) 895-4270 ing event, Community Job Fair has programming on this campus than any­ considered small businesses by the SBA," or visit www.nsbdc.org. grown to be one of the largest where else in Southern Nevada. I saw this recruiting events in our state." as an opportunity to develop a signature Spano expects nearly 2,000 job show that has a chance of building a Aging Center Opens Satellite Campus seekers to visit the 100 recruiters at strong following." the fair. The event offers job seek­ The first show, which aired Aug. 17, fea ­ The UNLV Center on Aging has estab­ of the Center on Aging to create a commu­ ers free access to the employee­ tured the more than 20 talented students lished a "satellite campus" at the Horizon nity-based 'learning laboratory,"' said Bar­ recruiting exhibits, parking, and and three faculty members who traveled to Pines Senior Apartments, a Nevada Housing bara Hirshorn, center director. "We want baby-sitting services. Scotland for the Edinburgh Arts Festival. and Neighborhood Development (HAND) to make the university's resources accessi­ The Alumni Grove on campus offers a shady and relaxing spot for study. The Jean Nidetch Women's Groups from the departments of dance, Through UNLV Alumni Association donations, more than 40 trees have been · property for low-income, older citizens. ble to the larger community. Through this Center is celebrating its 10th year film, and theater presented a planted along Alumni Walk. The satellite campus, established partnership, the Center on Aging can at UNLV. The center offers a schol­ variety of works at the through a new partnership between impact the well being of older people in arship program, services for adults acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe the Center on Aging and HAND, will the community. At the same time, it will returning to school, and social serv­ Festival. Front and Center Center Helps Caretakers of Dementia Sufferers enhance the ability of both organizations create important opportunities for learn­ ice information and referrals. Its followed the groups during to respond to particularly vulnerable ing and research for students and faculty." programs serve both female and their on-campus rehearsals People dealing with the high stress of Dementia can be a particularly devas­ older citizens. The focus is on at-risk The Center on Aging was created in male students. and interviewed the participat­ caring for sufferers of dementia have a tating illness, Floyd said, because most older residents, including those who are 2000 to study issues related to aging and to For information, call (702) 895- ing faculty members. new community resource. UNLV opened people are unaware of what to do when a socially isolated or are having difficulty help formulate public policy concerned 4475 or visit http://womenscenter. "A program focusing the Nevada Caregiver Support Center, loved one begins to experience the symp­ re-entering the labor force. with an aging society. unlv.edu/. on all of the arts has long located at the University of Nevada toms of the condition, which can include "This effort is also in line with the goal For information, call (702) 896-2770. been needed in Las Vegas School of Medicine Patient Care Center, memory problems, confusion, and dra­ and Southern Nevada," said Jeff Koep, 1707 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 200. matic changes in personality. Hall of Fame Inducts Film Director George Sidney dean of the College of Fine Arts. "This Funded by a grant from the Nevada The support center offers training program has the potential to increase the Division of Aging Services, the center classes on frustration management, prob­ The College of Fine Arts is debuting the In addition, an exhibition of previously exposure of the offerings of the College of offers services to the individuals, families, lem solving, behavior management, and Nevada Entertainer/Artist Hall of Fame at unseen photographs taken by Sidney will Fine Arts, as well as other entities. It's my and professionals who care for patients stress reduction. UNLV during a series of events in Septem­ be featured in the Donna Beam Fine Art hope that it will include a variety of fine with dementia. Individual caregivers and families also ber. The first inductee, George Sidney, will Gallery from Sept. 15 to Oct. 4. Personali­ arts entities, as we need to work together "Dementia patient caregivers are often can meet with behavioral health-care spe­ receive the award posthumously. Sidney ties such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, to create a strong base." at risk of experiencing high levels of stress cialists at the center to discuss specific was a three-time Academy Award-winning Elvis Presley, and Ann-Margret are cap­ As for the future of Front and Center, and exhaustion because the nature of the problems and solutions. Hollywood legend who directed such great tured through Sidney's discriminating lens. Fruth said the show will cover more than illness requires them to be on duty 24 The center provides the services on a films as Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate, Viva Las These candid Hollywood photos of the the traditional arts. "I define arts broadly;' hours a day," said Mark Floyd, a UNLV sliding scale based on the individual's or Vegas, and Annie Get Your Gun. people Sidney worked with regularly will she said. "Anything exciting or visually psychology professor and director of the family's ability to pay. No one will ever be The events begin Sept. 12 with a black tie be publicly displayed for the first time. stimulating would be excellent subject center. "The center offers services to help turned away due to lack of financial Film director George Sidney, pictured reception, sponsored by Reneta Schiff, in the Tickets for the awards ceremony are $25 matter. Future shows could include topics maximize the quality of life for the indi­ resources, Floyd said. here at a lecture for UNLV students with home of Corinne Sidney, George's widow. general admission and $10 with a valid ranging from book reviews to karate." viduals and families who serve as care­ For information, call the Nevada film professor Sean Clark in September The awards ceremony will be held Sept. 13 student I.D. Tickets to the black tie event For information, visit www.unlv.edu/ givers, as well as for the individuals who Caregiver Support Center at (702) 2001, will be the first inductee of UNLV's in Ham Concert Hall. Celebrity speakers are $500. programs/unlvtv/index.html. receive the care." 671-5085. Nevada Entertainer/ Artist Hall of Fame. will share their memories of Sidney. For information, call (702) 895-4292.

4 I UNLV MAGAZIN E F AL L 2003 I 5 CAMPUS NEWS

• Raymond Alden Ill, who has served as Finding Fault UNLV provost for nearly three years, has been Coburn Receives Se ismologist sets off promoted to the position of executive vice pres­ Alumni Association's ident and provost. Alden will be responsible for explosives to evaluate overseeing more of the daily internal university Faculty Award earthquake hazards operations, allowing UNLV President Carol C. Harter to devote more time to university­ W. Leon Coburn, associat e profes­ By Gian Galass i community relations. As provost, Alden already is the university's sor of English, received the UNLV hen UNLV seismologist Cather­ chief academic officer, overseeing UNLV's colleges, professional Alumni Association's Outstanding Fac­ ine Snelson wanted to measure schools, and libraries. Alden joined UNLV in 1997 as dean of the ulty Award. Wthe impact of ground motion on College of Sciences. "Duri ng his long career at UNLV, Dr. Coburn has the Las Vegas basin for a research project, never let down his standards, " sa id John lrsfeld, cha ir of she knew she couldn't just wait around for • Eric Sandgren was selected as dean of the Howard R. Hughes the English department. "His career as a teacher is an earthquake to occur. She had to make College of Engineering. Sandgren was the founding chair of Vir­ marked by his insistence that students learn no matter her own. ginia Commonwealth University's mechanical engineering pro­ how difficult it is for some of them to do so . It takes Using more than 7,500 pounds of gram. Sandgren has been a mechanical engineering professor at courage to stand by those standards one holds as invio­ ammonium nitrate-based explosives, Snel­ VCU since 1997. From 1990 to 1997, he was director of advanced lable. Dr. Coburn has done that ." son, along with more than 40 students, engineering at TRW Steering and Suspension Systems in Sterling Coburn, who retired in May, joined the campus in colleagues, and community volunteers, Heights, Mich. He previously taught at Purdue University and the 1969 and taught a range of English courses. His research detonated 11 carefully controlled explo­ University of Missouri, Columbia. He also has been a consultant has focused on composition and rhetoric, particularly imitation and modeling in the teaching of writ ing. He sions, or "shot points;' to produce seismic Geophysics professor Catherine Snelson is leading research on earthquake activity by for numerous companies, including General Motors, General recently completed research on Restoration writers John waves similar to what a small earthquake detonating controlled explosions across the Las Vegas Valley. She also monitors the Electric, IBM, and Xerox. might produce. Professors Wanda Taylor of area's reactions to worldwide seismic activity via computer programs. Dennis and William Congreve. geology and Barbara Luke of civil and • Ronald E. Yasbin is the new dean of the " I can think of no other profession in which the work environmental engineering also lended rock quarry and a chemical blast at the model being developed by Lawrence Liver­ College of Sciences. Yasbin had been a profes­ one does aligns so well with the principles of courtesy, their expertise to the project. Nevada Test Site. Preliminary analysis more and UNR scientists that estimates sor of molecular and cell biology at the Uni­ friendship, and civil behavior that make life pleasant," The August experiment marked the showed the Las Vegas basin to be much the effects of earthquakes on structures. versity of Texas at Dallas since 1995 and previ­ Coburn sa id. "To be chosen for t his award by the board final refraction survey of the Las Vegas deeper than previously thought, indicating The data will also be critical in the ously taught at the University of Maryland, of directors of the Alumni Association is an honor. It is Seismic Response Project, a two-year col­ that ground motion created by an earth­ development of"shake maps," which Baltimore, the University of Rochester's School also a surprise, considering the many outstanding facul­ laborative study designed to evaluate the quake would be both slow and sustained ­ identify areas that would be the most of Medicine and Dentistry, and at Penn State ty with whom it has been my privilege to work for the seismic hazards in the Las Vegas Basin. factors that contribute to extensive earth­ adversely affected by such an event. Offi­ University. He earned his bachelor's degree in zoology from Penn last 30-odd yea rs." "Explosives are the best way for us to quake damage. Other studies uncovered at cials can then plan how to dispatch emer­ State, a master's degree in genetics from Cornell University, and a Coburn served on a variety of campuswide commit­ record seismic waves without actually least eight tectonic faults that are capable gency resources to the areas likely to need doctoral degree in microbiology from the University of Rochester. tees and community service groups, including the South­ recording an earthquake because they cre­ of producing an earthquake of magnitude them most. ern Nevada W riting Project, National Council of Teach­ ate the same effect without producing any 6.5 to 7.0 on the Richter scale. The research is not limited to how the • History professor Joseph "Andy" Fry was ers of English, and the Nevada Humanities Council. of the damage," says Snelson, an assistant Should such an earthquake occur, says basin will react to an earthquake in the named a UNLV distinguished professor, the professor of geophysics. "Although explo­ Snelson, the valley could suffer more than immediate Las Vegas area; it also studies highest honor awarded to a faculty member. • Civil engineering professor David James received the 2002 sives are usually equated with their $11 billion in damages and a significant how ground motion from distant seismic Nominees must demonstrate extraordinary Engineer of the Year Award from the Southern Nevada chapter of destructive qualities, we use them in a very number of deaths and injuries. events will affect the valley. qualities both as teachers and scholars while the National Society of Professional Engineers. The Southern benign manner. Most people don't even Ultimately, the researchers hope to bet­ "If a large earthquake occurs within achieving national and international recogni­ Nevada branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers also know that we've done anything at all." ter educate the public and government 150 kilometers of Las Vegas, it's going to tion in their fields. Fry joined UNLV in 1975 named him Engineer of the Year for the Public Sector. The awards The team drilled holes approximately officials about earthquake preparedness. shake us pretty good and possibly cause and teaches courses on foreign relations, the history of the South were made in recognition of his service to the engineering soci­ 150 feet deep that crisscrossed the valley at "The data we're compiling will provide a some drastic results," says Snelson. "It's after 1850, and the United States' involvement in Vietnam. A pro­ eties and to the profession. 10 km intervals from Henderson to Sum­ geologic and geophysical model of the Las much more likely that we will experience a lific author, he is working on two books. The first is a comparison merlin and from Nellis Air Force Base to Vegas basin that will not only be used by quake like that in our lifetime than we will of the Fulbright Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings • UNLV preschool director Catherine Lyons Red Rock Canyon. A shot point was deto­ academics but also by city, county, and one in our valley." opposing the war in Vietnam and the Stennis Senate Armed Ser­ recently received two awards from the South­ nated in each hole and the ground motion state officials who need to evaluate loca­ Snelson is quick to point out, however, vices Preparedness Subcommittee hearings supporting a more vig­ ern Nevada Association for the Education of created by these explosions was recorded tions on which to build;' Snelson said. that although her research does not sug­ orous prosecution of the war. The second is a study of the Ameri­ Young Children. She received the organiza­ using 840 seismic sensors. That data will "This research will provide information gest a greater likelihood of a large earth­ can South and the Vietnam War (see Books, page 9). tion's Super Nova Award as preschool director help scientists develop a more detailed pro­ necessary to change existing building codes quake occurring in the Las Vegas Valley, of the year and its Zenith Award for her contri­ file of the basin's geophysical composition. as well as plan for mitigation in the event there really is no way of knowing when • Wole Soyinka, the Elias Ghanem Chair of Creative Writing butions to the field of early childhood educa­ The project began last year when that a large earthquake were to occur." one might hit. "Every place has a local haz­ at UNLV, was the focus of the fall 2002 edition of Modern tion. Lyons has worked at the UNLV/CSUN preschool for nine researchers from UNLV, University of The researchers will present their pre­ ard, and earthquakes just happen to be one Drama, the preeminent journal for theater criticism. The special years, serving as director for the last seven. The school serves chil­ Texas at El Paso, and the Lawrence Liver­ liminary analysis at the American Geo­ of ours," she said. "We may have been issue, titled "Soyinka and Postcolonialism," featured papers and dren with and without disabilities, ages 12 months to 5 years. more National Laboratory measured the physical Union meeting in December. The lucky so far, but we can't expect that our reviews of Soyinka's work by leading scholars in theater theory UNLV's new state-of-the-art preschool facility is expected to open effects of dynamite blasts from a nearby data will be incorporated into a computer luck will always hold out." and criticism. in January with expanded programs.

6 I UNLV MAGAZIN E F ALL 2003 I 7 BOOKS

Las Vegas sometimes led me to exclude interesting photos because I could during the Civil War, was deeply involved in what was once not tell by any clues in the photo where it might have been taken. known as Belgian Congo. What's on Your Bedside Table? Then and Now "Since Sanford was a Northerner, a Republican, and a diplomat, A photo of mules grazing along Boulder Highway was one that I It seems that people always have a stack of books beside I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the same for­ by Su Kim Chung really wanted to use but could not because of this problem." their beds. Here, people from across campus share their eign policy issues from the perspective of John Tyler Morgan, a Thunder Bay Press, 2002 Chung, who has a master's degree in history from California late-night reading materials. State University, Fresno, and a master's degree in library and infor­ Southerner from Alabama, a Democrat, and a politician." This As a manuscripts librarian mation science from UCLA, has been at UNLV since 1999. decision led to a biography of Morgan. "In the course of under­ President Carol C. Harter: Her eclectic collection of books standing Morgan's foreign policy connections, it became apparent in the Lied Library's special includes Theodore Rex, a biography of Teddy Roosevelt to me that there had been no overall attempt to study the South collections division, Su Kim by Edmund Morris; Be/Canto by Ann Patchett; The Lan­ and U.S. foreign relations." Chung sees many interesting Dixie Looks Abroad guage of Leadership by Roger Soder; American Myths, Fry not only sought to fill that gap, he also revived a UNLV things, particularly about The South and U.S. Foreign edited by Gary Hausladen; and September 11, 2001 : course on Southern history. Las Vegas, and so was well placed Relations, 1789-1973 American Writers Respond, edited by William Heyen with Reflecting on writing Dixie Looks Abroad, Fry says, "I guess the when a London publisher wanted to add Las Vegas two notable pieces by UNLV English professors Aliki Barn­ to its series about major American cities. by Joseph A. "Andy" Fry best evidence of the project's interest for me was that although the stone and Douglas Unger. " And I always have a whodunit The book series pairs historical photographs with photographs Louisiana State University Press, 2002 book was long - too long, in the writing - the topic was so engag­ going," Harter says. "Right now it's Cold Hit by Linda of the same scene today. Chung had to select only 70 photos from ing that I never lost interest. It truly remained fun from beginning Fa irstein." special collection's more than 40,000 images. She then researched In Dixie Looks Abroad, history professor to end." Fry's research currently is examining the role of the South in the what had happened to the buildings photographed. Joseph A. "Andy" Fry shows the quality of Joseph "Andy" Fry: The history professor and UNLV's United State's involvement in Vietnam, another topic that has been "I worked with a London-based publishing house whose editor work that this year earned him recogni­ 2003 Distinguished Professor says he is reading two books had only been to Las Vegas twice, so his main directive to me was tion as a Distinguished Professor, the top the focus of his classroom work. that are not directly tied to his scholarship- Will iam Ivy to avoid at all costs a book that consisted of photos of the desert award given by UNLV. Described as a Ha ir's The Kingfish and His Realm: The Life and Times of on the 'then' side and photos of giant casinos on the 'now' side," "graceful and engaging narrative;' quali­ Six Books Huey A. Long, and George Carl in's Napalm and Silly Chung says. "The editors also had problems with the word ties that, together with solid scholarship, of Sonnets Putty. Next on his list is Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs 'imploded; which I used in conjunction with captions for the earned its selection by the History Book Club, Dixie Looks Abroad and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. Dunes and the Sands. They kept trying to replace it with more del­ establishes the South as a major player in U.S. foreign relations. by Vlad imir Honsa _(IX BOOKS OF Although Fry grew up on the fringes of the South, it is his fas­ 1st Book Li brary, 2000 icate words like 'destroyed' or 'demolished,' but I stuck to my guns Jeff Koep: "Look, no plays!" quips Koep, dean of the Col­ and said you couldn't write a book about Las Vegas and NOT use cination with fo reign relations, honed when he went to graduate O or-."NF:fS lege of Fine Arts and professor of theater. He recently the word 'imploded.' school at the University of Virginia, that has shaped his research. When an academic retires, he or she reread Joyce Carol Oates' Foxfire and is ready to tackle "In selecting the photographs, I had to be conscious that every His first book grew out of his dissertation on HenryS. Sanford, does not leave intellectual life behind Army at Dawn, Vol. 1 by Rick Atkinson and The 12 Great­ one had to be of a building or scene that could be located and "who was a 'career diplomat' before the U.S . government acknowl­ with the office keys. Many remain active est Rounds of Boxing by Ferdie Pacheco, M.D. He also reproduced by the photographer today;' Chung continues. "This edged such an animal;' Fry says. Sanford, minister to Belgium in research or creative activity, continu­ ing to write and publish. Vladimir plans to read The Trials of Lenny Bruce by R. Collins and Honsa, retired professor of Spanish and D. Skover before he directs the play Lenny for the Neva­ Shannon Bybee: Evidence of a long career," said Dina Marie Zemke, a doctoral student at the linguistics, for example, recently published Six Books of Sonnets. da Conservatory Theatre at UNLV Feb. 6-15. William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration and editor Six Books is actually one volume with more than 700 pages. It Serendipitous Career in Gaming of the book. "Each selection contains powerful information that opens with Book Six, his most recent works, Sonnets of Flowers By Shannon Bybee, 2003 every gaming practitioner, regulator, and student can use." and Butterflies, written from 1982 to 2000, and concludes with to sustain a decent dissertation on confessional politics in Pearson Custom Publ ishing Prior to his appointment at UNLV in August 1994, Bybee Book One, Sonnets of the Death of Love, 1977-1978. the region." worked for more than 20 years in the private sec­ Honsa came to UNLV in 1970 from the University of Southern The Volga and Kama rivers come together in the Republic of In his new book, Shannon Bybee, a 33-year veter­ tor, serving as president and chief operating officer California, where he had been acting chair of the linguistics Tatarstan, in the center of the Russian Federation. Kazan, on the an of the gaming industry, shares his careful of United Gaming Inc. (now Alliance Gaming department. He held Fulbright professorships in Colombia and Volga, is its principal city, and Werth traveled there, as well as to observations of the global gaming industry with Corp.); chief executive officer and chairman of the Uruguay prior to joining UNLV to teach Spanish and linguistics. the central Russian historical archives in St. Petersburg. readers. Bybee is executive director of UNLV's board of the Claridge Casino Hotel, Atlantic City; He retired in 1988 and still lives in Las Vegas. "Probably the most interesting story about this is that I met my International Gaming Institute and teaches at the senior vice president of Golden Nugget, Inc.; and wife in doing this research," Werth said. His wife, Eliza veta Zueva, William S. Boyd School of Law. president of Golden Nugget Atlantic City Corp., At the Margins of Orthodoxy worked in the St. Petersburg archives, and they were thus thrown together frequently as she assisted in finding materials for his Arranged in six sections, the book covers a which operated the Golden Nugget Casino Hotel Mission, Governance, and Confessional Politics in variety of topics, from the history of the gaming in Atlantic City. He also served on the Nevada research. They have been in Las Vegas since 1999 and have a son. Russia's Volga Kama Region, 1827-1905 industry to the management and regulatory prac­ Gaming Control Board for more than four years Werth also spent seven months in 2001 researching a larger tices of casino operations to the issue of problem and practiced law with a specialty in gaming regu­ by Paul W. Werth study of religious tolerance in Russia; it's tentatively titled Arbiters gambling. Also included are examples of Bybee's latory issues. Cornell University Press, 2002 of the Sacred: 'Foreign Confessions' and Religious Toleration in the commitment to civic participation as well as an The book, which was supported in part by a Russian Empire, 1772-1914. overview of education and employment prospects for future grant from the Ace Denken Company of Tokyo, Japan, can be History professor Paul Werth's first book delves into the history gaming executives. purchased for $55 at UNLV's International Gaming Institute, of Russia beyond its capitals of St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Books section was compiled by Barbara Cloud, UNLV's "This book contains a diverse sample of the work Dr. Bybee located at the corner of Flamingo Road and Swenson Street, or "I was drawn into the curious m ulti-national region around associate provost for academic affairs. She is also the ed itor has shared with his many colleagues and students during his by calling (702) 895-3903. the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers:' he says. "It didn't of Minister to the Cherokees: A Civil War Autobiography by take long to realize that there was more than enough material James Anderson Slover.

8 I U NLV MAGAZIN E F ALL 2003 I 9 NLV men's golf coach Dwaine Kn ight was inducted into t he Go lf Coaches You have a reputation for emphasiz­ Assoc iation of America's Hal l of Fame earlier t his yea r, maki ng him the ing the "student" part of "student­ Ufi rst UNLV coach to be selected for a major sports hall of fame. athlete." Why is that? Kn ight's 26-year coaching career includes many accomplishments on the course, When I was a player at (the University including an NCAA championship in 1998 and consistent top-10 national rankings. of) New Mexico, my coach, Dick McGuire, But he's also known for demanding that his players succeed in the classroom. encouraged me to finish my degree even UNLV Magazine sat down with Knight as he was preparing his team to compete in though it meant putting off my ability to the NCAA cha mpionship tournament in May (the team placed 13th). play on the (PGA) Tour. Years later, he called me when he was getting ready to You're certainly in elite company in the Golfers seem to have a remarkable retire. I was struggling to make cuts as a GCAA Hall of Fame. To what do you memory for every shot they take. professional and he thought I'd enjoy attribute your success? What stands out for you? coaching. First thing they asked me when I You can put a lot of pieces in place, but The shot I remember the most over my put in my application was, "Do you have a unless you have community support and 26 years of coaching wasn't really a shot; it college degree?" That hit me like a ton of great players, you can't win tournan1ents. was a penalty (stroke) during the national bricks. My degree opened the door to a The golf community has opened up its championship we won in 1998. Bill Lunde wonderful career. I tell that story every time world-class courses to us, which allowed us hit his ball left on number 10 into a spot I sit down with parents and prospects. to attract top players. And we're now at where people couldn't actually see him or I'm pretty proud of the fact that, of the almost $4 million in endowments - that his ball. As he addressed the ball, it moved. students who have completed their four takes care of scholarships, travel, academic He replaced it and then hit it out and fin­ years of eligibility here, only three have not support, and recruiting. What they've given ished with a six. When he saw the score graduated. I think when these athletes do to the program gave us a chance to be com­ posted at a five, he realized that the scorer play professionally, it takes some pressure petitive at the highest level, to be able to hadn't seen the ball move and he in1medi­ off them knowing that they can do other produce contenders year in and year out. ately corrected the score. We were head-to­ things if that doesn't work out. head with Clemson and nobody saw what What has the community gotten in happened. That one stroke could have cost What's your advice for alumni who return for its support? us the championship, but he still called it want to encourage their kids to play? One of the promises the program held on himself. I think that speaks to playing You hear it a lot, but to be successful and when I first came was that if we could with integrity and honesty- that's some­ to make the commitment it takes for excel­ become a major player in golf, we'd open thing I hope all my players do. lence in any sport, you really have to have a up a window to who we are as a communi­ passion for it. That passion gives you the ty and as a university. I get a chance to tell And when they don't? energy and discipline to reach your dreams. the story of not just the gan1ing side of Las I had a player early in my career here So, you have to give kids a chance to find Vegas, but the community itself and what it who would have been eligible to play his their own passion. stands for as a place to live and get an edu­ whole senior year even if he made all F's. And, I think you have to give them sup­ cation. Once you become competitive at a He decided he wanted to just work on his port through the ups and downs. You know, national level, people seek out that story ­ golf game and not go to class. He was our through the recruitment process I was close they want to know how you did it. They best player - one of my first All-Americans to Tiger (Woods), and I always adn1ired his want to know how your university is help­ here - but I told him that I expected him to parents because, truly, the score didn't mat­ ing its community solve its problems. go to class and succeed in class; if he didn't, ter. All they asked of him was to do his best The people we bring here make an I wouldn't play him. He quit the team after every time he walked out there. That gave impact on the community. Some go on to that. It was hard on the team but they him a chance to fail, fail safely, and rebound. play professionally and carry the label of pulled together, and even went out and It allowed his confidence to grow. He's the UNLV with them across the world. And won the very next tournament. greatest athlete right now in the world and I many of those who don't play after college That decision set a tone here. People - think it goes back to that unconditional sup­ choose to stay here. Some are working in the players - can remember that and know I port. Greatness comes from that. industry. Daron Dorsey is now a graduate of wouldn't hesitate to not play them if they UNLV's law school and practices locally. weren't going to class. Any advice for the weekend golfer? Work on your short game. Recreational PGA Tour Gateway Tour Nationwide Tour golfers have limited time, and they always Chad Campbell, 1994-96 Bill Lunde, 1993-98 Cha rley Hoffman, 1995-99 want to hit the ball a long way. That feels Chris Ri ley, 1992-96 Chris Berry, 1995-99 Skip Kendall, 1982-86 Warren Schutte, 1989-93 Asian Tour great, but they need to ration their time. Adam Scott, 1998-99 Scott Lander, 1996-01 Gil berta Morales, 1993-97 They should spend 45 minutes on pitching, Ted Oh, 1995-97 putting, and sandplay, and just 15 minutes European Tour Canadian Tour James Oh, 2000-01 on the long game. Most people do it the Michael Kirk, 1998-00 Warren Schutte, 1989-93 other way around. m

10 I UNLV MAGAZIN E UNLV's top forensic experts are training the next generation of dentists to use their skills to battle both crime and terrorism.

By Barbara Cloud I Photos by Geri Kodey

trench-coated bloodhound named McGruff urges citi­ zens to "Take a Bite out of Crime;' but few realize how A much biting is a part of crime. Using bite marks to track criminals is the challenge for foren­ sic dentists associated with the UNLV School of Dental Medicine: Dr. Steven Smith, associate dean for clinical services; Dr. Marden Alder, an expert in dental diagnostics; and Dr. David Ord, direc­ tor of dental informatics. They believe that, whether it is identifying victims of a hotel fire, working domestic violence cases, or tracking teeth marks left at the scene of a murder, dentists with training in forensics have become a valuable asset to law enforcement and have a growing role in the war against terrorism. At UNLV, the group is infusing the dental school curriculum with comprehensive instruction in forensic techniques. Smith developed an interest in forensic dentistry in the late 1970s, when little train- ing on the subject was available. "In 1978 I was a member of the oral diagnosis/ oral medicine faculty at Northwestern. Patient folders containing treatment

Drs. Marden Alder, David Ord, and Steven Smith are infusing the UNLV School of Dental Medicine's curriculum with instruction in forensic dentistry techniques.

FALL 2003 I 13 forensics is based on sta­ ple are glued to CSI: Las Vegas. They also have a lot of small bite marks on his odontology here than any other place in dents and faculty, Alder says. "Most dental tistics. While it is pos­ thrive on Patricia Cornwall's mystery nov­ body. "It turned out that the heel on the the nation." schools are compartmentalized; UNLV is sible for two people els- she does a pretty good job of authen­ murderer's shoe had broken off and the Dr. Edward Herschaft, a dentist noted vertically and horizontally integrated. We to have identical tically portraying forensic investigations." nails were exposed. That's what made the for his forensic work, joined the UNLV will turn out well-rounded practitioners dentition, the odds Dentists, skilled in making casts of marks that looked like bites," he says. faculty this fall. In addition, Dr. Ray Raw­ able to hit the ground running." against it are so mouths in order to replace teeth, can use Hardware also figured into a malprac­ son, '64 BS Zoology and '78 BS Anthro­ But, to speak of forensic dentistry as a high that the legal their experience to cast evidence other­ tice investigation that Smith was asked to pology, is a local dental forensic expert specialty of its own, like orthodontics, is system relies on dental iden­ wise prone to disintegrate. assist using his forensic skills. A dentist who has worked on a number of high­ misleading, says Alder. tification to both confirm and rule Take pizza, for example. had done a root canal but had run out of profile criminal cases as well as the 1980 "One of the misconceptions among stu­ out a person's identity. In one particularly ugly Chicago mur­ the small posts normally used to form the MGM Grand fire. The state senator also dents and dentists alike is that you can 'go "People often go to a dentist more der case, two carpenters building a deck foundation for a crown. "So he went to teaches at UNLV and at the Community into' forensic dentistry;' says Alder. "There than they go to a physician, and the on an executive's home carefully observed his tool box and came back with a wood College of Southern Nevada. are only a handful of people across the types of treatment dentists provide her comings and goings. After completing screw and built a crown preparation In such an atmosphere, the dental nation who can make a living in forensic offer unique identification opportuni- the job, they returned one day with a around the screw," Smith says. "Unfortu­ school is well positioned to provide cut­ dentistry. It has to be an adjunct to a regu­ ties," Smith says. "So, we are in a prime truck and were in the process of loading nately, the crown loosened, and saliva got ting-edge forensic dentistry education. lar dental practice, so it is important that situation to assist in identification." it with her belongings when she came in and rusted the screw. The person died The school is new and not set in tradition­ dentists learn what to do and then pool He noted that forensic dentists saw a home unexpectedly. After duct-taping her of a brain abscess." al ways. Its emphasis on an integrated cur­ their skills as a team to do the identifica­ wide range of dental techniques when to the floor and killing her, they went on Alder remembers a case in which a riculum is attracting both top-notch stu- tion or whatever is required." 0 working to indentify victims of the with their loading. dentist used a magic marker to draw "cav­ World Trade Center attack. Identification As they hoisted a freezer into their ities" on the X-rays of a 6-year-old. Fortu­ was helped by the fact that dental records truck, a door came open and a couple of nately the child's mother had already were readily available. "Those making frozen pizzas fell out. They decided to taken the boy to another dentist who had dental identifications of victims of the take a lunch break, cooked the pizza, and pronounced his mouth free of cavities attack saw every type of tooth implant ate it at a table they had placed over the based on another set of X-rays. Suspicious system available." woman's body, leaving partly chewed of the sudden deterioration of the boy's records, dental X-rays, Smith sees a growing role for dentists pizza crusts scattered around the body. teeth, the mother complained to authori­ and dental chartings would frequently be in national security. To ensure correct Enter the forensic dentist. ties, and the fraud was discovered. Alder requested by the medical examiner or identification, bodies from Operation Smith researched pizza-eating habits ties this example into his instruction. police agencies for forensic purposes. I Iraqi Freedom were processed forensically and made plaster models of the crusts to "We want our students to be good started to wonder about who was receiv­ - including the use of dental records - use as evidence in court after the original dental diagnosticians," he says, "able to ing the records and where they received not just by reading dog tags, Smith says. pieces disintegrated. He was able to show recognize abnormalities such as the dif­ training in dental forensics." He also predicts dentistry will play an that the bite patterns on the crusts ference between real and fake cavities on A survey at the time indicated that den­ increasing role in responding to bioter­ matched the murderers' teeth. an X-ray." He added that this also helps tal school curriculums barely covered the rorism and other catastrophic events. More often, however, it is bites on peo­ students recognize when the patient subject. "It turned out to be about an hour A recent American Dental Association ple that lead investigators to the perpetra­ should consult a specialist. lecture in their programs;' Smith says. conference addressed the concern that not tors in a criminal case. "In a rape, there is As part of that training, future dentists Unfortunately, not much has changed, enough medical doctors are available to almost always some biting," Smith says, must make use of computer technology. he says. "Only minimal emphasis is placed handle a major terrorism attack. "We have either by the victim or by the rapist. Already dentists and law enforcement on forensic dentistry today. That's got to 165,000 dentists who could assist," Smith He recalled a rape and murder in an officers are exchanging dental records change." says. "Dentists can give injections, suture affluent Seattle suburb. The murderer fol­ electronically. Alder's introduction to forensic den­ tissue, and administer medications. We lowed a recently widowed woman home. Dr. David Ord, director of dental tistry was more personal and highlighted need to make sure that our dental school She was later found with multiple stab informatics and applied technology, says for him the tremendous service dentists graduates are properly trained for this wounds from multiple weapons. "The the potential for sharing information has can provide their local communities. kind of work." murderer also put a Clue game next to barely been tapped. The school's empha­ "I was practicing in a rural Arizona But most often, UNLV's dental gradu­ the victim's head, teasing the investigators sis on using technology in the field will town when five of my patients were incin­ ates are likely to be called upon to help to figure out where she was killed because result in students who are better prepared erated in a car crash," Alder says. "The police investigators in violent crime cases. blood stained the white carpet through­ to practice, he says. coroner in Tucson asked for records and Each dental educator has chilling stories out the house," Smith says. "Police had "On a national level, we're working to help in the identification - there were to tell about the cases he has worked. the weapons - a screwdriver, a knife, a improve our ability to transmit electroni­ eight people in the van; two were person­ They use the stories, together with pic­ corkscrew, and a hammer - but nothing cally so forensic teams have immediate al friends. I then realized that identifying tures both graphic and gruesome, during really to tie this to a suspect. When all was access to the records when they are work­ bodies was a real service to families - it's instruction of future dentists. said and done, the only identifying mark ing crash sites or death investigations," he In addition to the more routine dental procedures, students such as Casey Allman something the family really wants to get "I am surprised that people are so was a human bite." says. "In the future, there will be software are learning how to use their skills to assist law enforcement agencies and identify to maintain a database of dental records over with." interested in forensics," Smith says, shak­ Still, sometimes a bite is not a bite. victims of mass tragedies. The dental school emphasizes the need for students to Like most means of identification, ing his head. "They ask me, 'How can you In one of Smith's cases a victim had on missing people. UNLV is fortunate in use computer technology to enhance their future practices and improve the sharing including fingerprints and DNA, dental see this terrible stuff?' Yet these same peo- been stomped to death and appeared to that there are more experts in forensic of vital forensics information.

14 I UN L V M A G A Z IN E FALL 2003 I 15 While the word ~nuclear~ makes many shudder, ambitious UNLV scientists are seeking ways to eliminate the harmful byproducts of spent nuclear fuel.

n a speech to the United Nations in 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower outlined Ihis vision for nuclear energy, stating that the most important responsibility for the new science was to "devise methods whereby this fissionable material would be allocated to serve the needs of Alternatives to Deep Storage Facilities TRP currently supports 16 separate grad­ recycled, eliminated, or harnessed for from roughly 10,000 years to fewer than research tasks the TRP has taken on are mankind .. . of agriculture, medicine, and Established in 2001 with a $3 million grant uate research projects, called tasks, that other applications. 500 - thereby eliminating many of the addressing some of the technical hurdles other peaceful purposes:' from the U.S. Department of Energy, examine the technological requirements of "Ultimately, the end result of the current long-term environmental and of transmutation: Despite numerous advances toward this UNLV's Transmutation Research Program a process called nuclear transmutation. transmutation process is to recycle the safety concerns. Two tasks focus on the separation of end, nuclear power still evokes for many (TRP) is a multidisciplinary effort to Simply defined, nuclear transmutation used nuclear fuel and, at the same time, "Transmutation has the potential for uranium and other stable elements the catastrophic images of Hiroshima and address the ecological and economical converts volatile, radioactive isotopes almost totally eliminate its most hazardous completely doing away with the need for from used nuclear fuel rods. Nagasaki, the accidents at Three Mile management of the country's used nuclear into more stable isotopes by changing materials:' says Denis Beller, intercollegiate a deep geologic repository like Yucca Four tasks examine the fuel fabrica­ Island and Chernobyl, and, here in Neva­ fuel. Spanning six departments in three their nuclear structure. This is done programs coordinator for the TRP and a Mountain," says Anthony Hechanova, a tion process that prepares some of the da, the possibility of becoming a dumping colleges and involving more than 30 facul­ through neutron-induced fission or neu­ former research scientist at Los Alamos. nuclear engineer and director of the TRP. fission products for transmutation. ground for the rest of the country's ty members and 37 graduate students, the tron-capture processes conducted in "In doing so, we'll be able to decrease the "It just depends how far you want go with 10 tasks are concerned with the design nuclear waste. TRP is one of the most ambitious research nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. overall volume of waste, lower the remain­ the process. There are some concepts that of specific technologies required to But scientists and students at UNLV are efforts in the university's history. The result of both fission and neutron ing waste's radiotoxicity, and make the look at having all waste streams classified transmute high-level radioactive waste. developing technologies that could The program, which is administered by capture in problematic isotopes is lth.e storage of the material much more secure as low-level, which would allow for their Students and faculty from the mechani­ improve nuclear energy's tainted reputa­ the Harry Reid Center for Environmental same: the transformation of the most and emnomical." disposal at any of the many low-level cal engineering, computer and electrical tion - research that could lead to real solu­ Studies (HRC), is a component of the dangerous materials in used nuclear fuel Through transmutation, the life span waste sites around the country." engineering, physics, health physics, chem­ tions for the nuclear industry's most con­ Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative, a national (plutonium and other fissile materials) of the most problematic materials (long­ But some significant technological istry, and geoscience departments are con­ tentious problems while producing the program born out of the Los Alamos into safer, more stable, low-level waste, lived actinides) in nuclear waste could obstacles must be overcome before trans­ ducting the research. National laboratory benefits Eisenhower once imagined. National Laboratory in New Mexico. The which could then be more easily managed, be reduced by as much as 95 percent- mutation can become reality. The collaborators supervise the projects during

16 I UNLV MAGAZIN E FALL 2003 I 17 Like alcoholism, pathological gambling is a devastating addiction that quickly and quietly sends the afflicted toward rock bottom. UNLV professors and alumni are leading the nation in research of the widely misunderstood problem.

By Cate Weeks I Photos by Geri Kodey GOING FOR

icture your average gambling addict. her longtime employer, thinking she'll behavior, including the relatively new field Nature or Nurture? It's not necessarily the flashy guy at repay the money the next time she wins. of gambling addiction. He points to two In the young field of problem gambling, Pthe craps table, hooked on the rush When she hits rock bottom, in just a cou­ statistics that are pushing problem gam­ researchers can't yet offer solid statistics on of shooting the dice and looking to get ple of years, she'll be thousands upon bling research to the forefront: the social and economic toll that problem rich quick. It's the woman in front of the thousands of dollars in debt and will have gambling takes on society. Nor do they More money is wagered on gambling video poker machine - the successful few places to go for help. know why, for certain people, gambling than is spent on sports tickets, Realtor next door, your child's teacher, or "By and large, the thrill-seeking prob­ becomes a destructive obsession rather movies, music events, and video the bank vice president who approved lem gambler is an endangered species," than a simple pastime. Because the field is games combined. your home loan. She's robotically hitting says Bo Bernhard, a UNLV sociology and so new, widely accepted data is not avail­ 48 states have approved some form the "Bet All" key as she squeezes in an hotel administration professor. "Most able on the prevalence rates, that is, the of gambling in their jurisdictions. hour of gambling before she picks up her gambling addicts now are escapists. They number of gamblers who have a patholog­ son at soccer. don't engage in these behaviors to feel "Nevada is no longer the lone wolf it ical problem. Various studies estimate that As she spirals deeper into her addiction, great; they do it to feel numb. They often was when I was growing up here," says to be between 1 and 6 percent of all people no one the wiser, she'll steal from her son's want to escape from family issues or work­ Bernhard ('02 Ph.D. Sociology). "Not only who gamble. By comparison, the preva­ college fund. She'll get credit cards in her place stresses. All of us need moments of do we have more access to gambling than lence rate for alcoholism is 6 percent. husband's name and then hide the bills escape in our lives, but for pathological perhaps ever before, we also have more "There's an old stereotype that gam­ from him. She may even embezzle from gamblers, this desire turns destructive." access to money that technically is not bling addicts are born losers or masochis­ ours- through credit in its various config­ tic accidents waiting to happen- nothing Bo Bernhard, director of gaming studies, Old Stereotypes, New Research urations. It only makes sense that we invest could be further from the truth," says psy­ uses the casino laboratory at the Inter­ As director of gambling research at the some energy in increasing our understand­ chologist Rob Hunter ('76 BA Psychology). national Gaming Institute on campus to William F. Harrah College of Hotel Admin­ ing of the impact of gambling, both posi­ "Some of the brightest, most energetic, study problem gambling behavior. istration, Bernhard studies gambling tive and negative." competent people I've ever met I had in

20 I UN L V M A G A Z I N E FALL 2003 I 21 that room," he said, referring to the group meeting room at the He added that, until this year, therapists in Nevada were not and an investment in treatment programs, the experts say, and Center for Problem Gambling. required to attend the workshops or show any expertise in the Nevada is sadly lacking in both. Facing severe budget and tax Along with Bernhard and sociology professor Fred Preston, field of treating problem gamblers. This spring the Nevada Leg­ issues in its most recent session, the state Legislature did not Hunter launched the center in 1998. It is the only full-service non­ islature established a licensing program for problem gambling pass a bill that would have set aside $250,000 for problem gam­ profit treatment center in Las Vegas for gambling addicts. counselors. bling treatment. By contrast, Louisiana spent more than $2 mil­ The six-week program employs a combination of educational "I feel very strongly that academic training is a must before lion last year. therapy, peer counseling, and individual therapy. Its participants anyone treats problem gamblers," Ashley said. "Just because "I understand, of course, the number of economic challenges are required to attend the support group Gamblers Anonymous, you've worked in the human service field, or even specifically in this state faces, but I'm still embarrassed as a Nevadan that we and they receive a year of aftercare therapy sessions. the addictions field, doesn't mean you're competent to treat this have never spent a dollar to help treat this issue;' says Bernhard, a Bernhard and Preston serve as research associates. Their population of clients." fifth-generation Las Vegan. "Nevada sets the bar for every aspect knowledge helps clients understand and cope with their addic­ Problem gamblers have such unique characteristics that their of the gaming world, except problem gambling." tions. The center's Thursday night information session offers treatment must be specialized, he says. Diagnosing the pathologi­ The lack of funding for treatment only compounds the gam­ clients and their families a chance to learn more about the afflic­ cal gambler can be particularly difficult without proper training. bling addict's problems, Hunter says. His treatment center, which tion from the UNLV professors. At one recent session, a female "Pathological gamblers become pros at hiding their addic­ typically has a lengthy waiting list, doesn't charge for its services. realty executive posed this question: tion," Ashley says. "A couple might come in for counseling "This is a population that by definition doesn't have money "I was around drugs in the '60s. I've been a social drinker with­ because of marital discord or an addict may be depressed and to pay for treatment," he says. "By the time they get here, they're out a problem. I've lived in Las Vegas all my life and didn't gamble appear bipolar, but that might all be related to significant gam­ not only broke, but frequently heavily in debt - even the doc­ until recently. Why didn't I become addicted to something else? bling issues." tors and the lawyers." And why, only now, has this addictive behavior come out?" Bernhard added, ''Alcoholics have physical signs. They show up The center has kept its doors open through an array of corpo­ Part of the answer, Bernhard says, appears to lie in brain at the school play drunk, or their coworkers will notice the smell rate donations, most notably from Station Casinos and IGT, a chemistry. "A lot of academics posit that there are a number of of alcohol. For gambling addicts, invisibility is a luxury that turns manufacturer of gaming equipment. IGT employees also attend individuals in the population who just can't gamble, just as there out to be a curse. This can mean that 'rock bottom' hits after the information sessions at the center. are some who just can't drink. Though my training and sympa­ tremendous personal and financial damage has occurred because "Many in the gaming industry are taking a proactive approach thies are on the 'nurture' side, I've come to believe that some of the people in their lives don't intervene as soon. As this field and trying to avoid the model set by other industries that have that probably has to do with programming at the factory. In develops, we hope to reach people when this is at the !-just-had-a­ denied that there are any social costs associated with their prod­ problem gamblers, the brain experiences gambling as a reward in fight-with-my-wife stage, rather than I've-lost-my-family stage." uct;' Bernhard says. "Of course, there has never been a product in much the same way that cocaine addicts experience cocaine Reaching addicts sooner will take both awareness campaigns all of history that doesn't hurt a part of its clientele in some way." ingestion as a reward." The casino lab in the Stan Fulton Building at UNLV will be an Counseling professor Larry Ashley is leading UNLV's academic The Best Place for Treatment exceptionally useful tool in this kind of research, he adds. General­ programs in gambling addictions. Some of the area's gambling In a sense, Nevada is the best place to get treatment, the experts ly, studies on gambling behavior have used computer card games addicts are finding help through resource brochures available say. The state has experienced providers who pioneered treatment to simulate the activity. "In contrast to previous studies, many of in casinos. of gambling addicts as well as a growing group of UNLV scholars which have been conducted with desktop computers, we can tackling the issue. There's also an active Gamblers Anonymous approximate the real-life gambling experience in a far more support community. There are more than 100 weekly GA meet­ sophisticated way." Educating the Experts: ings for Clark County's 1.5 million residents, compared to Atlanta, Moving up from the molecular/brain chemistry level, Bernhard UNLV Offers Cutting-edge Academic Program which has eight meetings to serve its population of 4.2 million. believes that there are psychological and small-group issues affect­ Twenty years of research also has not given communities enough "When it comes down to it," Hunter says, "being a problem ing pathological gambling. Studies have focused on the distorted time to develop the resources necessary to treat problem gamblers, gambler in Las Vegas with its convenience store slot machines is cognitive process of pathological gamblers, comparing their urge says Larry Ashley, a counseling professor and coordinator of no different than being an alcoholic and having to walk by the to bet with the desire felt by the general population. And the UNLV's programs in additions therapy. This fall, UNLV will offer liquor department every time you need a loaf of bread." affects of problem gambling on interpersonal relationships have the first formal academic program for problem gambling thera­ And Hunter, Bernhard, and Ashley all agree that, although been studied. pists in the country. problem gambling has real social and economic costs that must be The sociological factors, however, are the least studied, Bern­ The counseling department is designing a certification pro­ addressed through enhanced treatment programs, gambling in hard says. Only in recent decades has problem gambling been gram for graduate students as well as a six-course undergraduate itself isn't a bad thing. considered a medical problem. For centuries, the issue was left to minor for students across campus. "As gambling moves into the mainstream, into the heartland of society's moral experts. "The minor will offer a foundation for people who want to the country, problem gambling will follow," Hunter says. "But that "Special collections at the Lied Library is filled with an amaz­ practice in this area, as well as offer a broad range of students - doesn't condemn the industry- Coors didn't invent alcoholism and ing collection of old sermons - angry voices from the pulpit who including those planning careers in the hotel industry, human I don't think slot-machine makers invented problem gambling." for years have been telling us how to define, diagnose, and treat resources, and any of the human service disciplines - insight into "I feel the native Las Vegan in me come out every time I problem gamblers. Their treatment, quite often, was to ostracize these issues;' Ashley said. address this," says Bernhard. "I believe we should have the right to and vilify the afflicted. He patterned the minor in problem gambling after the Nation­ choose our recreational activities. For the vast majority, gambling "Now medical and psychological experts provide this knowl­ al Council on Problem Gambling's certification requirements. is a fun and harmless activity. As a community, though, we have to edge, but their 20 years or so of work hasn't somehow erased the Eventually, completion of the minor will satisfy the education address the downside just as we do with drug and alcohol prob­ centuries of moral stigmatization. In this instance, an individual's requirements of the council's certification. "Previously, there's Alumnus Rob Hunter launched Southern Nevada's only non­ lems. If you spend any time with this population, you can see that suffering is profoundly affected by sociological forces far larger been no formal academic training for gambling addictions thera­ profit treatment center for gambling addicts with the help of this is an issue that affects all of us. They deserve our attention than those we tend to consider." pists -it's like we were supposed to get it by osmosis," he says. UNLV faculty and financial support from casino companies. and support." £!

22 I UN LV M A G A Z IN E FA LL 2 0 0 3 I 23 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

26-28 Men's Soccer: Tournament. 16 Women's Soccer: vs. Utah. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EVENTS November 2003 7 Music: UNLV Master 20 Music: UNLV Jazz II Call for times. Johann Field. 7:30pm. Johann Field. Singers. 4pm. Beam Music Ensemble. 7:30pm. Ham Sept. 13 Tailgate, Wisconsin away game, 9am CST. Game 895-3267. 895-3267. 1-2 Nevada Conservatory Center. 895-3332. Concert Hall. 895-2787 or starts 11 am CST. Event in Madison, Wise. 27 Charles Vanda Master 18 Football: Homecoming Theatre-University 739-3267. Company: Fall One-Act Play 8 Desert Chorale: Annual Sept. 19 Tailgate, Hawaii game, 4pm. Game starts 6pm. Series: Opera Verdi Europa game vs. Utah. Time TBA. Holiday Concert. 7:30pm. 21 Music: UNLV Symphony in Rigoletto. 8pm. Ham Sam Boyd Stadium. Festival. 8pm Nov. 1; 2pm Rebel Experience/Sam Boyd Stadium. Nov. 2. Ham Fine Arts Ham Concert Hall. Orchestra & Jazz Ensemble. Concert Hall. 895-2787 or 895-3267. 531-3550. Sept. 20 Dinner Theater, Annie Get Your Gun. 6pm. Tam Building. 895-2787. 7:30pm. Ham Concert Hall. 739-3267. 18 Women's Soccer: vs. BYU. 895-2787 or 739-3267. Alumni Center. 1 Women's Soccer: vs. SDSU. 12-21 Nevada Conservatory 30 Recital: Deborah Siebert, 7:30pm. Johann Field. Theatre: Praise! 8pm. 20-22 Nevada Ballet Theater: Oct. 4 Tailgate, UNR game, Spm. Game starts 7pm. 7:30pm. Johann Field. soprano. Beam Music 895-3267. Dec. 12-13 & Dec. 18-20; Rebel Experience/Sam Boyd Stadium. 895-3267. A Streetcar Named Desire. Center. 895-3332. 18 Cross Country: UNLV 2pm Dec. 14 & 21. Judy 8pm Feb. 20-21; 2pm Feb. Oct. 17 Homecoming Dinner, featuring Coach John Invitational Tournament. 1 Women's Volleyball: vs. Bayley Theatre. 895-2787. 21-22. Judy Bayley Theatre. Robinson. 5:30pm. Tam Alumni Center. Colorado State. 7pm. October 2003 Call for times. UNLV 13-14 Las Vegas Philharmonic: 895-2787 or 739-3267. Athletic Fields. 895-3267. Cox Pavilion. 895-3267. Oct. 18 Homecoming Tailgate, Utah game. Three hours 2 Recital: UNLV Faculty. Holiday Celebration 22 Best of the New York Stage: before kickoff (TBA). Rebel Experience/Sam 19 Recital: Christine Seitz, 1 Football: at UNM. 6pm. Concert. 8pm Dec. 13; 2pm Marvin Harnlisch featuring 7:30pm. Beam Music Center. 895-3267. Boyd Stadium. Catered by Applebee's. 895-3332. soprano. 4pm. Beam Music Best of the New York Stage: Dec. 14. Ham Concert Hall. the UNLV Classics and Jazz Center. 895-3332. 2 Music: 76+4 Trombones. Maureen McGovern 895-2787 or 739-3267. Orchestra. 4pm. Ham Oct. 20 Homecoming Golf Tournament. Canyon Gate 3 Women's Soccer: vs. UCLA. Country Club. Includes dinner. 11 Women's Volleyball: vs. 2pm. Ham Concert Hall. December 20 18 Deseret Book Company: Concert Hall. 895-2787. 7:30pm Johann Field. 895-2787 or 739-3267. Oct. 25 Tailgate, BYU game, 2pm. Game starts 4pm. 895-3267. Northern Arizona. 7pm. Cox String Quartet. 8pm. Ham Forgotten Carols with 26 Music: UNLV Wind Pavilion. 895-3267. 5 Music: UNLV Community Michael McLean. 7pm. Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ham Rebel Experience/Sam Boyd Stadium. 4 Football: at UNR. 7pm. Concert Hall. 895-2787 or 21 Music: UNLV Symphony Band. 7pm. Ham Concert 739-3267. Ham Concert Hall. 895-2787 Concert Hall. 895-2787 or Nov. 7 Dinner Theater, Macbeth. 6pm. Reno. 895-3267. Hall. 895-2787. or 739-3267. 739-3267. Tam Alumni Center. Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ham 22 Football: vs. Colorado State. 4 Las Vegas Philharmonic: Concert Hall. 895-3332. 7 Rebel Pride Council: Family 20 Best of the New York Stage: 27-28 Dance: Spring Concert. 8pm Nov. 8 Tailgate, San Diego State game. Two hours The Spirit of America Time TBA. Sam Boyd 22 University Forum: Jazz Weekend. 5:30pm. Pida Stadium. 895-3267. Maureen McGovern Holiday Feb. 27-28; 2pm Feb. 28. before kickoff (TBA). Rebel Experience/Sam Concert. 8pm. Ham Concert Plaza. 895-1754. Concert. 8pm. Ham Concert Judy Bayley Theatre. 895- Music. 7:30pm. Beam Music 22 Music: UNLV Madrigal Boyd Stadium. Hall. 895-2787 or 739-3267. Hall. 895-2787 or 739-3267. 2787. Center. 895-3332. 7-16 Nevada Conservatory Singers. 7:30pm. Beam Nov. 13 Winetasting event, sponsored by Frekin' Frog 5 Guest Recital: Ensemble Theatre-University 27-29 Nevada Conservatory Beer & Wine Cafe. 6pm. Tam Alumni Center. Versailles. 2pm. Beam Music 23 Men's Soccer: vs. San Jose Music Center. 895-3332. January State. 7:30pm. Johann Field. Company: Macbeth. 8pm Theatre-University Center. 895-3332. 23 Music: UNLV Women's 22 Music: UNLV Wind Nov. 12 Tailgate, Colorado State game, 6pm. 895-3267. Nov. 7-8, 13-15; 2pm Nov. 9 Company: Father Figure. Game starts 7pm. Rebel Experience/Sam 5-6 Recital: Bassoon. 7:30pm. & 16. Judy Bayley Theatre. Chorus, 2pm. UNLV Men's Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ham 8pm Feb. 27-28; 2pm Feb. 29 Boyd Stadium. Beam Music Center. 895-3332. 24 Music: 19th Annual 895-2787 or 739-3267. Glee Concert, 7:30pm. Beam Concert Hall. 895-2787 or (also playing March 3-7). Chamber Festival. 4pm & Music Center. 895-3332. 7 Music: UNLVWind 739-3267. Black Box Theatre, Ham For event information and ticket prices, call the 7pm. Beam Music Center. 8 Football: vs. SDSU. Time Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ham 25 Music: UNLV Symphony 31 The World Stage: The Fine Arts Building. 895-2787 UNLV Alumni Association 895-3332. TBA. Sam Boyd Stadium. Concert Hall. 895-2787 or 895-3267. Orchestra featuring UNLV Chieftains. 8pm. Ham Concert or 739-3267. at (702) 895-3621 or (800) 829-2586 Chorale. 7:30pm. Ham 739-3267. 25 Football: vs. BYU. 6pm. Sam Hall. 895-2787 or 739-3267. 28 Las Vegas Philharmonic: 9 Music: NEXTET Concert. Concert Hall. 895-2787. Boyd Stadium. 895-3267. Northern Exposures 15 Exhibit Opening: George 9 Women's Volleyball: vs. Air 7:30pm. Beam Music Center. September 26 Charles Vanda Master 29 Football: at Wyoming. Time February Concert. 8pm. Ham Concert Sidney's celebrity photo­ Force. 7pm. Cox Pavilion. 895-3332. 5 Best of the New York Stage: Series: Prague Chamber TBA. Laramie, Wyo. 895-3267. 6-15 Nevada Conservatory Hall. 895-2787 or 739-3267. graphs. Donna Beam Fine 895-3267. Ben Vereen in Concert. 8pm. Orchestra with the Eroica 15 Women's Volleyball: vs. Theatre: Lenny. 8pm Feb. 6- Art Gallery. Runs through 10 Best of the New York Stage: Ham Concert Hall. 895-2787 Trio. 4pm. Ham Concert Utah. 7pm. Cox Pavilion. December 2003 7 & 12-14; 2pm Feb. 8 & 15. Oct. 4. 895-3893. Faith Prince in Concert. or 739-3267. Hall. 895-2787 or 739-3267. 895-3267. 1 Music: UNLV String Chamber 8pm. Ham Concert Hall. Judy Bayley Theatre. 895- 16 Music: UNLV Symphony and Music. 7:30pm. Beam Music II INFORMATION 12 World Stage: Krasnoyarsk 895-2787 or 739-3267. 26 Men's Soccer: vs. 18 Music: UNLV Wind 2787 or 739-3267. Jazz Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ham Siberian Music and Dance Sacramento State. Noon. Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ham Center. 895-3332. 9 Faculty Recital: Janis McKay, Athletic Events: Concert Hall. 895-3332. 10 Women's Research Institute Ensemble. 8pm. Ham Concert Concert Hall. 895-2787 or 2 Author Luncheon: featuring (702) 895-3267 of Nevada: Annual Reception. Johann Field. 895-3267. bassoon. 7:30pm. Beam Hall. 895-2787 or 739-3267. 19 Football: vs. Hawaii. 6pm. 739-3267. Janet Lowe, hosted by College Music Center. 895-3332. Campus Operator: 3pm. Location TBA 895-4931. 26 Music: NEXTET Concert. (702) 895-3011 12-14 Opera Las Vegas: 8pm. Beam Sam Boyd Stadium. 895-3267. 19 Music: UNLV Jazz of Business Alumni Assn. 10-11 Dance: Fall Concert. 8pm 6pm. Beam Music Center. 11 Music: UNLV Symphony Campus Tours: Music Center. 895-3332. 19 Women's Soccer: at UNR. Ensemble. 7:30pm. Judy ll:30am. Las Vegas Country Oct. 10-11; 2pm Oct. 11. 895-2787. Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ham (702) 895-3443 6pm. Reno. 895-3267. Bayley Theatre. 895-2787. Club. 895-3362. 12,14 Women's Soccer: 895-2787. 28 Women's Volleyball: at Concert Hall. 895-2787 Arboretum Tours: Tournament. Call for times. 20-22 Dance: Fall Studio One 3 Music: Opera Preview or 739-3267. (702) 895-3392 19-21 Men's Soccer: Tournament. 10-26 Nevada Conservatory UNR. Times TBA. Reno. Johann Field. 895-3267. Concert. 2pm Nov. 22; 8pm Concert. 7:30pm. Beam Fine Arts Events: Johann Field. 895-3267. Theatre: How I Learned to 895-3267. 13 The World Stage: Nov. 20-22. Dance Studio Music Center. 895-3332. American Spiritual (702) 895-2787 12 Reception: Nevada 19-28 Nevada Conservatory Drive. 2pm Oct. 12, 19 & 26; 28 Music: Sierra Winds. One, Ham Fine Arts 3-7 Nevada Conservatory Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery: Entertainer/Artist Hall of Theatre-University 8pm Oct. 10-11, 15-18,22- 7:30pm. Beam Music Center. Ensemble. 8pm. Ham Building. 895-2787. Theatre-University (702) 895-3893 Fame Black Tie Reception. Company: Annie Get Your 25. Black Box Theatre. 895-2787. Concert Hall. 895-2787 Fuddy Meers. Marjorie Barrick Museum 6pm. Off campus. 895-4292. Gun. 2pm Sept. 20-21, 27-28; 895-2787 or 739-3267. 21-23 Nevada Conservatory Company: or 739-3267. 29-31 Nevada Conservatory 8pm Dec. 3-6; 2pm Dec. 7. of Natural History: 13 Football: at Wisconsin. 11am 7pm Sept. 21; 8pm Sept. 19-20 Theatre-University 18 Charles Vanda Master (702) 895-3381 11 Women's Volleyball: vs. Theatre-University Black Box Theatre. 895-2787 CST. Madison. 895-3267. & 25-27. Judy Bayley Theatre. Company: Fuddy Meers. Series: Moscow Festival UNM. 7pm. Cox Pavilion. Company: Fall One-Act Play or 739-3267. University Libraries: 895-2787 or 739-3267. 8pm Nov. 21-22; 2pm Nov. Ballet performing Carmen 13 Awards Ceremony: Nevada 895-3267. Festival. 8pm (also playing Nov. (702) 895-2286 23 (also playing Dec. 3-7). 5 Music: Chamber Orchestra. and Paquita. 8pm. Ham Entertainer/Artist Hall of 21 Women's Soccer: vs. 11 Football: at Air Force. 1-2). Paul Harris Theatre/Ham University lnfoline: Ham Fine Arts Building. 2:15pm. Beam Music Center. Concert Hall. 895-2787 or (702) 895-3131 Fame Induction. 6pm. Ham Northern Arizona. 4pm. Time TBA. 895-3267. Fine Arts Building. 895-2787. 895-2787 or 739-3267. 895-3332. 739-3267. UNLVtickets: (702) 739-3267, Concert Hall. 895-4292. Johann Field. 895-3267. 15 Music: UNLV Symphony 31 Music: UNLV Symphony 21 Charles Vanda Master 5 Best of the New York Stage: 19 Reception: Nevada Business toll-free (866) 388-3267, 14 Film: George Sidney Film 21 Music: Flute Recital featur­ Orchestra with The New Orchestra Annual Halloween or www.unlvtickets.com Series: Rising Stars of Boys Choir of Harlem. 8pm. Hall of Fame Awards Festival. Sam. Ham Concert ing Kyle Dzapo. Beam Music Knipropetrocsk Chamber Pops Concert. 7pm. Ham Classical Music, Judith Ham Concert Hall. 895-2787 Dinner. 6pm. MGM Grand Events are subject to Hall. 895-3547. Center. 895-3332. Orchestra. 7:30pm. 895-3332. Concert Hall. 895-2787. change/cancellation Ingolffson and the Miami or 739-3267. Ballroom. 895-3362 24 I UN L V M A G A Z IN E FALL 2003 I 25 CLASS NOTES

• 1970s Investor Clubs. He is married with ginia. He previously was vice presi­ Mark G. Tratos, '74 BA Political rights of publicity. He is the author of Joseph V. Baldini, '70 BS Hotel two sons, a daughter-in-law, and one dent of convention sales and services Science, was named a distinguished numerous law review articles and has Explosive Research Administration, is a parts service grandson. for the Baltimore Area Convention graduate by Lewis & Clark Law served as an adjunct professor at the manager in Tacoma, Wash. He previ­ and Visitor's Association and has School. He is the founder of the firm William S. Boyd School of Law and James David Ballard, ously worked for 20 years in the food Gary W. Brown, '73 BS Hotel worked at the Westin, Ritz-Carlton, Tratos & Quirk in Las Vegas, which the William. F. Harrah College of and beverage industry and seven Administration, is vice president of Regent, Hyatt, and Hilton hotel specializes in entertainment law. He Hotel Administration. He is chair­ sociology professor years with the Puget Sound Chapter sales and conference operations for chains. He and his wife, Suzie, have has written legislation dealing with man of the board for the Entertain­ of the National Association of Colonial Williamsburg Co. in Vir- two sons, Tyler and Travis. trademarks, unfair competition, and ment Development Corp. and presi­ dent of the Nevada Intellectual Prop­ or 20 years, James David Ballard worked in erty Law Society. Fthe aerospace and weapons manufacturing industry, making everything from fighter jets to Kenneth W. Fong, '78 BS Business missiles. Now a sociology professor at Califor­ A Winding Road: Douglas Selby, Las Vegas city manager Administration, received the 2002 Certified Property Manager of the nia State University, Northridge, Ballard says, "I ike the rugged trails he enjoys hiking him for the challenges of guiding one of new field of environmental engineering. Year award from the Las Vegas chap­ study the people who use weapons like these Lwhen he can squeeze in some time the fastest growing cities in the nation. Ph.D. in hand, the Clark High School ter of the Institute of Real Estate for violent political gain. I study terrorists:' off, the career path to Douglas Selby's During his senior year at UNLV, Selby graduate returned to Las Vegas to take a Management. He is a partner/manag­ Ballard, '00 Ph.D. Sociology, began job as Las Vegas city manager has been met biology professor Jim Deacon, who job with the Clark County Sanitation Dis­ er of Pong and Associates, which researching violent political behavior while owns and manages shopping centers a circuitous one. specialized in desert fishes. Exposure to trict. Selby subsequently moved to Califor­ and offices in Las Vegas. pursuing his doctorate at UNLV and traveled As a UNLV student, Selby ('75 BS and Deacon's research, which involved a great nia, but eventually felt pulled to return to to Northern Ireland on a Graduate Student '77 MS Biology) anticipated spending his deal of fieldwork, spurred Selby's interest. Southern Nevada- a desire he admits was • 1980s Association grant to do research. He has since entire career doing some kind of environ­ After receiving his master's degree, Selby strengthened by the major San Francisco John Maksimik, '80 BS Hotel become an expert on terrorism and, in partic­ Administration, works for Orgill/ mental biology work. While he did work worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser­ earthquake of October 1989. ular, nuclear and radiological attacks. Singer & Associates in Las Vegas and in that field for years- and enjoyed it­ vice and the California Department of "I always gravitate back to Las Vegas. recently earned the certified risk man­ "As I was planning the Ireland trip, the his career route took a variety of turns Fish and Game before joining an environ­ Other places I lived and worked just didn't ager designation from Certified Risk Oklahoma City bombing happened;' he says. that eventually led to his assuming the mental consulting firm. have the energy and the open-mindedness Managers International. "That changed things. At that time, we were radioactive, which we're all frightened of. It job as CEO of one of the 30 largest cities "I did a lot of field work with endan­ about opportunities." not worried about Al-Qaeda or international would also be part of a large-scale federal pro­ Brian M. Allen, '81 in America. gered fishes - some in Nevada and some His work as engineering director - groups; we were worried about domestic ter­ gram. It's also being forced upon a communi­ BS Hotel Administra­ Of course, Selby didn't move straight in the western rivers of the Colorado first for the Las Vegas Valley Water Dis­ tion, was promoted to rorists like Timothy McVeigh. I looked at Yucca ty, in this case, Nevada, which creates an from a job as field biologist to the helm of River system;' Selby recalls. trict and then for the Southern Nevada director of food and Mountain and reasoned that shipments to this antagonistic environment. Now put those a city with an annual budget of $877 mil­ Eventually he enrolled in the doctoral Water Authority- eventually paved the beverage for the potential facility could be subject to sabotage, things together - this train would make a Hawaii Convention lion. Along the way were a number of jobs engineering program at Utah State Uni­ way for his being selected as deputy city Allen to terrorism from such individuals:' highly symbolic target for those who seek to Center in Honolulu. that each, in its own way, helped prepare versity so that he could enter the then- manager. Then, in September 2002, the Ballard is a team leader for a two-year make a statement against the radioactive He previously served as senior cater­ City Council promoted him to the city's ing sales manager and assistant direc­ NATO project assessing the worldwide vulner­ cargo, or those who oppose the actions of the top managerial post. tor of operations. Prior to joining the ability of nuclear power plants and radioactive federal government, or even as a protest state­ Selby says the job suits him. "I like convention center, he was general waste shipments to such attacks. He's also testi­ ment about how the repository is being sited." being city manager. It's nothing my aca­ manager of Kauai Coconut Beach fied before both houses of Congress and has The general public, Ballard says, has only Resort, director of food and beverage demic background would seem to lead served for seven years as a consultant for the limited information on what types of activities at Royal Lahaina Resort, and Hon­ to, but it has turned out to be a good fit;' olulu Airport manager for Budget state of Nevada on the potential for terrorist could be considered terrorism with respect to he says, adding that his studies at UNLV Rent-A-Car. attacks against Yucca Mountain shipments. these materials. In early 2004, Carolina Acade­ helped prepare him for the perhaps Though he believes that with proper plan­ mic Press will publish Ballard's Nuclear and unlikely turn of events in his career. "My Edward Chaaya, '81 ning the risk of shipping these radioactive Radiological Terrorism: Weapons of Mass BS Hotel Administra­ academic background did give me a basis materials can be reduced, he questions, among Destruction and Mass Victimization, which is tion, is the general for being flexible and adaptable, which is manager for the Holi­ other things, the logic of moving the waste aimed at first responders such as police and important for a city manger. You have to day Inn Resort Safaga along predictable routes from locations prima­ fire personnel. His book Terrorism, Media, and be analytical, too, and UNLV contributed City in Egypt. Previ­ rily east of the Mississippi River to Nevada. Public Policy is due out at the same time from a great deal to that." ously he worked with "Radioactive waste can be thought of like Hampton Press. It deals with how federal agen­ Hyatt International and other hotel money in a bank. We know how to store it cies like the Department of Justice used the Selby says he is pleased to be serving chains in Dubai, United Arab Emi­ as city manager at a time when Las Vegas rates. securely in a vault, but when you take it out of media to advance their own agendas in the is contending with the challenges and that environment and transport it across the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing. changes of growth. "While challenges Mary E. Wells, '82 BS Geology, has country, you make it vulnerable to thieves or He's also published more than 30 profes­ certainly exist, they bring with them been appointed to a five-year term on saboteurs," he says. "Why expose it to any sional papers and about two dozen poems, the New Mexico Board of Licensure tremendous opportunities for success. number of problems on the roadways and rail­ which he says he writes "to get away from the for Professional Engineers and Sur­ I want to work with the mayor and the veyors. She is the office manager of ways of America when it could be interned at violence inherent in this research." His poems City Council to help make the city of Terracon, a geotechnical and envi­ its production site until such time as it is less cover a wide range of topics, including his Las Vegas one of the best-run cities in ronmental engineering firm in Las toxic and less of a symbolic target?" marriage to fellow UNLV graduate Donna the country." Cruces, and is a licensed professional A shipment of nuclear waste will be a tan­ Pattee-Ballard, '98 MFA. engineer in New Mexico and Nevada. -Diane Russell talizing target for terrorists, he says. "It's -Cate Weeks She also holds a master's degree in geological engineering from UNR.

26 I UN L V M A G A Z IN E FALL 2003 I 27 CLASS NOTES

Jana Baraks, '95 BS Accounting, is moted to vice president of Landaco the fiscal manager at John Lewis Cof­ Landscaping & Grading in Las In the Pink: Kathleen Hammons, Pocket dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, the Magic 8 Ball, fee Shop, a homeless shelter and non­ Vegas. He has been in charge of pro­ and He-Man figures. profit community development cor­ duction landscaping jobs for area brand manager for Mattei Toys She said she's enjoying learning about the boy-oriented toys poration. She lives in Coal Valley, Ill., homebuilders as well as high-end such as Hot Wheels and He-Man, but confesses to having a with her daughter, Korryn. custom projects. He received his landscape architect license in 1999. athleen "Kitti" Hammons is living life in the pink. The particular fondness for that perky doll with the striking figure. Brian J. Devine, '95 BS Finance, is KUNLV alumna ('96 BS Business Administration) spends her You see, Hammons' affinity for Barbie didn't begin with her a partner with the law firm Seeger Jennifer Brown Hodur, '96 BA days - and sometimes her nights - in the bright pink world of employment at Mattei. As a child growing up in Las Vegas, she Salvas LLP in San Francisco. His law Political Science, is an associate attor­ that most famous of fashion dolls, Barbie. had more than 20 of the stylish dolls - not to mention a full practice focuses on complex com­ ney at Alschuler, Grossman, Stein & For most of her career, Hammons has worked for the toy complement of Barbie's friends and relatives, including Skipper, mercial litigation. Kahn in Los Angeles. She graduated with honors from Loyola Law School company giant Mattei. Ken, Midge, Alan, and Steven. She remembers an Afghan Quincy Moore, '95 MA Educa­ in 2000. She was elected to the Order Her professional introduction to Barbie came after she hound, too, but can't recall its name. tional Foundations and Counseling, of the Coif, a national legal honor earned her MBA from Loyola Marymount University. She was "I probably played with Barbie until I was 12;' the Eldorado was selected as chair of the Ameri­ society, and served as chief produc­ hired at Mattei as a senior financial analyst in the fashion doll High School graduate recounts. "I had the dream house, the can Counseling Association Foun­ tion editor of the Loyola Entertain­ division and was placed on a Barbie cross-function team. swimming pool, and the Winnebago." dation. He is also dean of under­ ment Law Review. graduate studies and student sup­ One thing she remembers clearly from her childhood - and Among the team members devoted to Barbie were a marketing port at West Chester University in Gregory Dye, '96 BS Hotel Admin­ representative, a planner, and three designers- one each for the is finding still to be true today through her 2-year-old daughter Pennsylvania. He previously served istration, was promoted to field doll's face, hair, and clothing. When a job in collectibles mar­ Kira- is, "You can't have too many Barbies. Once you put in a number of positions at Virginia craftsman by Las Vegas Handyman, keting opened up, Hammons was selected. There she was them in the tub and cut their hair, you have to get new ones." Commonwealth University in Rich­ Inc. His duties include residential responsible for marketing about 30 of the Barbie dolls made Kira, whose father is UNLV alumnus and attorney Wally mond. He has published numerous repairs, carpentry, plumbing, electri­ articles on education, mentoring, cal work, and various other services. Hammons ('97 BA Political Science), apparently needn't worry each year for display rather than play. and transcultural counseling. He In her current job as brand manager, she negotiates deals and about running out. ''I'm bad," Hammons confesses. "She received a doctoral degree from the Brandon Berrett, '97 BA Criminal maintains relationships with companies that produce an amaz­ already has about 40. Maybe 25 of those, though, are the col­ University of Iowa and completed Justice, is the human resources man­ ing variety of products bearing Barbie's likeness. Barbie's smil­ lectibles, which are kept in their boxes." post-graduate studies at Harvard ager with the International Rescue ing countenance can be found on linens, clothing, lunchboxes, Kira isn't the only family member reaping the rewards of her University. Committee in New York, N.Y. He is working on a master's degree in mother's job. Hammons' mother-in-law already had amassed and - coming soon - ceramic dinnerware. Mattel takes great Brad Packer, '95 BS Hotel Admin­ urban policy at the New School's care to make sure that its star appears only on high-quality nearly 400 Barbies before Hammons went to work for Mattel. istration, is director of public rela­ Milano School of Management and products manufactured in plants that meet stringent criteria, Now her collection is automatically augmented on every signifi­ tions for Noble House Hotels and Urban Policy. Previously at Cam­ Hammons says. cant gift-giving holiday. Resorts in Miami Beach, Fla. He pre­ bridge University in England, he This year, Hammons' duties were expanded to include "She doesn't even have to ask." viously served in public relations studied organizational development positions with Island Outpost and the economic downturn in the -Diane Russell licensing responsibility for other Mattel toys, including Polly Hotels and The Venetian Resort­ European Union. He lives in Long Hotel-Casino. Island City.

Bryan Page, '95 BS Hotel Admin­ Jung Hoon Lee, '97 BS Hotel Ron Shratter, '83 BS Hotel Admin­ gaming industry and was recently the Stuart Dean Co., a large building the Financial Advisory Council. He audit and consulting services of the for Qdoba Mexican Grill in Denver istration, is owner of Page Wine Cel­ Administration, is the general manag­ istration, is president of Elite Hospi­ named senior vice president of Park restoration and maintenance compa­ has volunteered with the Arthritis firm. The firm offers accounting and and is part of the management team lar in California's Napa Valley. The er for a Tony Roma's restaurant man­ tality Group, an executive recruiting Place Entertainment Corp:s \!\'estern ny in New York. Foundation and the alumni associa­ business advisory services to growing opening new Qdoba restaurants in vintner's 1999 Page Red Table Wine aged by Sun@Food in Seoul, Korea. firm in Atlanta specializing in the and Mid-South regions. He oversees tion of the UNLV swim team. small- and medium-sized companies. Colorado Springs, Colo. He lives in received a score of 93 in the May Previously he served as a front office hospitality industry. operations of a dozen casino resorts in Sue Davis, '87 BA and '89 MA Agate with his wife, eight dogs, four issue of Wine Enthusiast. While at manager for the Hilton Fort Lee. Nevada, Mississippi, Indiana, and Political Science, is an assistant pro­ • 1990s Christian E. Hardigree, '93 BS horses, four llamas, two cats, two UNLV, he was chef of the UNLV Lee Brucks, '84 BS Hotel Adminis­ Louisiana. He is a member of the Har­ fessor of political science at Denison Wanda Ruth Cherno Sands, '91 Hotel Administration, teaches hospi­ rabbits, and a number of chickens. Wine Club and taught in the Sum­ Carolyn Babcock, '96 BA Environ­ tration, completed his MBA at Rivier rah Hotel College Alumni Board. University in Granville, Ohio. She BA Criminal Justice, received a mas­ tality law, labor management rela­ mer Studies in Switzerland program mental Studies and '98 MA Commu­ College in New Hampshire. He works received her doctoral degree from ter's degree from Northwestern Cal­ tions, and hospitality employment Joseph Miller, '94 BS Hotel Admin­ for two years. nication Studies, is a media and per­ for BAE Systems in the business man­ Andrew Meckler, '86 MS Hotel Emory University. She previously ifornia University in Sacramento, law at UNLV. She was named the istration, is director of business forming arts professor at the Savan­ agement division. He and wife Cathy Administration, was named tavern served as an instructor at Emory and where she is currently working on a hotel management department's development for Infosys Corp. He is Stephanie Rosenthal Shirit, '95 nah (Ga. ) College of Art and Design. have two children, Austin and Caris­ operations director of Timbers Hos­ as an adjunct professor at the Air doctoral degree. The 77 -year-old 2002-03 Professor of the Year. A grad­ a specialist for business-critical appli­ BA Political Science, recently She also holds a doctorate in commu­ sa, and reside in Nashua, N.H. pitality Group, which operates seven Force Special Operations School. also holds a degree from Western uate of the Walter F. George School of cation and infrastructure manage­ launched and is director of market­ nications from the University of Southern Nevada restaurants. Sierra Law School. She lives in Las Law at Mercer University in Macon, ment and currently lives in West ing for Resource Associates, a Utah, where she served as a research Sharon Flax Mars, '84 BS Hotel John C. Futrell, '87 Vegas. Ga., she is also an attorney with Par­ Hills, Calif. recruiting and temporary staff aug­ assistant and teaching fellow. Administration, is the rooms division Timothy Morrissey, '86 BS Hotel BA Psychology, is nell & Associates in Las Vegas. mentation firm. The company manager for the Little Dix Bay Resort Administration, has worked for the president of Futrell Tim Koch, '91 BA Joseph P. Ruggieri, '94 BA Chem­ focuses on technology, engineering, Jeff A. Breeden, '98 BS Account­ in the British Virgin Islands. She also state of Nevada for 10 years. He super­ Financial Manage­ Accounting, was Jarrett Kratchman, '93 BS Hotel istry, is a research specialist for the professional services, construction ing, is in charge of the business valu­ owns and operates Tropix Limited, a vises the Southern Nevada adjudica­ ment, a wealth man­ recently named the Administration, opened the Ritz­ research foundation at the State Uni­ management, geographic informa­ ation and litigation support practice vacation property management com­ tion section in Las Vegas, which is part agement company, managing sharehold­ Carlton New York, Central Park as versity of New York, Stony Brook. He tion systems, and executive recruit­ at the firm of Stewart, Archibald and Futrell pany. The company also provides of the Department of Employment, and is the financial er of Chavez & Koch, director of finance and quality. His uses mass spectrometry to study pol­ ing. She lives in Las Vegas with hus­ Barney in Las Vegas. He holds both location services for photo shoots, Training, and Rehabilitation of the columnist for the weekly In Business an accounting firm first child, Alyson Brook, was born lutants in marine environments and band David Shirit and their son, the certified valuation analyst and Koch commercials, and movies. Employment Security Division. Las Vegas and a financial commenta­ with offices in Las in June. specializes in environmental issues, Mordechai. certified public accountant creden­ tor for KTNV 13. He also serves as a Vegas and San Diego. He is in charge including analytical chemistry and tials. He still regularly plays with the Tony Santo, '84 BS Hotel Adminis­ Greg Schall, '86 BS Hotel Adminis­ speaker for the Las Vegas Executive of the daily operations of the South­ Geoffrey Combs, '94 BS Hotel regulatory compliance. He lives in Kevin Yamashita, '95 Bachelor of Rebel Pep Band at Runnin' Rebel bas­ tration, is a 22-year veteran of the tration, is vice president oflodging for Speakers Bureau and as president of ern Nevada office and oversees the Administration, is training manager Patchogue. Landscape Architecture, was pro- ketball games.

28 I U N L V M A G A Z IN E FALL 2003 I 29 CLASS NOTES

Gabrielle Crawford, '98 BS Physi­ recrUitmg, trarnrng and develop­ Beach Resort in Dana Point, Calif. Laura McEwan, '01 MFA, is a 2003 But universities affect the local economy in other ways. cal Education, teaches physical edu­ ment, and communications. He She lives in Aliso Viejo and hopes to graduate of the master of fine arts President's Message cation at Martin Luther King Jr. Ele­ received the company's Chairman's move back to Las Vegas in the future. program at the University of Con­ continued from page 2 Research parks have created knowledge clusters that lead to new mentary in Las Vegas and is working Award for outstanding team per­ necticut at Storrs. The Benton, Con­ industries and new jobs. UNLV's recently approved research and on a master's degree in health pro­ formance in 2002. Geraldine P. Nagazyna Howard, necticut's state art museum, exhibit­ improve the lives of individuals have occurred on university cam­ technology park will be such a location. We hope to attract busi­ motion at UNLV. '00 BA Psychology and Sociology and ed her self-portraits and narrative puses. These discoveries are sometimes global in that they affect nesses that will help diversify the Nevada economy; I predict you Antoinette M. Thomas, '98 BA '02 MSW, is the senior social worker paintings in May. Darrel Kieckhafer, '98 BS Mechan­ Sociology, is a real estate broker, for Family Healthcare Services, a sub­ people throughout the world; they are sometimes local, aimed at will hear more about the successes of this research and technolo­ ical Engineering, is a heating, ventila­ property manager, notary public, and sidiary of Sierra Health Services spe­ David Gibson, '02 helping people in the immediate community. gy park in the years to come. tion, and air conditioner engineer for loan officer in Las Vegas. cializing in services for senior citizens J.D., opened Gibson Let me offer some examples of UNLV research projects with AMEC in Las Vegas. He recently in Las Vegas. She is working on a doc­ Law Offices LLC , a very practical and beneficial goals: Researchers in the science and And finally, major research universities are passed the Nevada Professional Engi­ Brad Mark, '99 BS Hotel Adminis­ torate in social work from LaCrosse full-service litigation engineering colleges are conducting fascinating studies on the in fact recognized as more prestigious. neering Exam. tration, was elected to the board of University. firm practicing fami­ directors for the Las Vegas Speedway ly, business forma­ effects of increased carbon dioxide levels on plant ecology in a As the quality of education improves at UNLV, our academic Gibson Rachel Klem, '98 Bachelor of Children's Charities. Antonio Zavala Blanco, '00 BS tion, personal injury, desert environment, on pollution estimation and detection, and reputation continues to grow; we witness this in a number of Music, is working on a master's Hotel Administration, recently com­ criminal, and landlord/tenant law in on medical imaging to improve diagnostic techniques. They are ways, but it is perhaps most evident in the rise in our ranking degree in music therapy at New York • 2000s pleted basic training at the Marine Henderson. Previously, he was an also examining alternative modes of transportation for the city, among major universities in recent years. I would like to illustrate University. She is an elementary Amy Byro, '00 BS Culinary Arts Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. associate with another local law firm. developing systems to improve pedestrian safety, and exploring the dramatic increase in UNLV's reputation by talking about school music teacher and lives in Jer­ Management, is a pastry chef at the He is married and has two children. sey City, N.J. Rincon Casino & Resort in San Irma Jamin, '01 BS alternative sources of energy. where UNLV was, where it is, and where it aspires to be. Diego. She helped open the resort last Hotel Administration, UNLV researchers are also pursuing answers to some of the When I came to UNLV in 1995, the Carnegie Foundation for Chris Smith, '98 BS Hotel Adminis­ year. Previously, she worked for the was named Employee • In Memoriam most challenging questions in health care, an area that can have Advancement of Teaching ranked the institution in the Master's tration, is the internal communica­ Rio in Las Vegas. of the Year by the Le Robert Appleyard, '75 BS Hotel a powerful impact on all our lives. At UNLV, faculty members College and Universities category, which included more than tions partner in the human resources Meridien Chicago. Administration, died Feb. 7. and students in the Cancer Institute and the School of Dental 600 institutions. In 2000, UNLV was elevated to the Doctoral! department at Harrah's Rincon Casi­ Hanako Nagano, '00 BS Hotel She will represent the no in Valley Center, Calif. He handles Administration, is housekeeping Jam in hotel at a company Shannon L. Buckner, '01 MS Hotel Medicine are doing sophisticated cancer research. Additionally, Research Universities category that includes 261 institutions. This employee relations issues, benefits, manager at the St. Regis Monarch conference overseas. Administration, died on Feb. 16. faculty members in health sciences are conducting research on category is broken into two groups: Doctoral/Research Universities­ stress reduction to help us more successfully deal with the pres­ Intensive and Doctoral/Research Universities-Extensive. sures of everyday life. Also, a forensics laboratory is being UNLV is currently ranked in the Intensive category, which ·------designed that will assist our whole community in dealing with includes 110 institutions. These institutions typically offer a Or fill out our Class Notes form online at: crime and terrorism. wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed Drop Us A Line www.unlv.edu/News_Bureau/UN LV _Magazine/ And the list goes on and on. With more than 800 faculty to graduate education through the doctorate. There are some members and more than 25,000 students, we are a remarkable excellent institutions in this group: Northern Arizona University, Your classmates want to hear about you! Please fill out the form below completely, type or print clearly, and avoid abbreviations. Information resource, offering careful examination of the many problems we University of Northern Colorado, Idaho State University, Mon­ also can be submitted via e-mail. Please supply home and office telephone numbers so we can reach you if there is a question about your all face. Life for our entire community will be improved because tana State University, University of Montana, and the University entry. We encourage you to submit a head-and-shoulders photograph of yourself to accompany your Class Notes entry. of the programs we create, the services we perform, and the of Central Florida. research we conduct at UNLV. But the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Exten­ Name sive, which includes 151 institutions, is the most transforma­ first maiden last Fourth, major research universities have a direct tional in terms of its effect on the community. It is also the Year Graduated Major Type of Degree(s) and positive effect on a community's economic most prestigious of the categories, and UNLV hopes to achieve (e.g., Physics, English) (e.g., Bachelor of Arts. Master of Science) development and diversification. this ranking by 2010. Many excellent institutions in this region University research creates knowledge that can lead to new are in this category, and you know them well: the University of Address technologies, commercial products, and jobs that have a signifi­ Arizona, Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, E-mail Daytime Phone cant impact on the economy. Some of the most important dis­ University of New Mexico, University of Colorado, University coveries in recent decades have come from university research, of Idaho, University of Nevada, Reno, and University of Utah. News including many agricultural advances, developments in fiber On a national scale, institutions in this category include Colum­ optics and lasers, and advancements in DNA research. bia University, Indiana University, Texas A&M University, I should note that the planned Science, Engineering and UCLA, University of Washington, USC, and the University of Technology Building will contribute significantly to the univer­ California-Berkeley. sity's ability to continue producing sophisticated research and We aspire to join these great institutions because providing promoting the unencumbered exchange of thoughts, ideas, high-quality academic programs and research activities that and opinions among faculty and students of diverse disciplines. directly benefit Nevadans is our paramount concern. We aspire The facility represents a major step in increasing momentum to be a great university because of the rewards that will be for Nevada's economic diversification efforts as well. The build­ reaped by our community and region; we believe we have the ing will showcase a breadth of compelling programs and will capacity to transform our community and, quite possibly, even attract students into high-demand fields such as computer sci­ our nation. And as we work toward that high ideal, we want to ence, environmental science, and electrical engineering. More ensure that our alumni, donors, and friends fully understand importantly, UNLV faculty and student researchers will be our goals and, perhaps more importantly, share in the sense of Send entries to: Cate Weeks, UNLV News & Public Information, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 451012, Las Vegas, NV 89154-1012; fax 702-895-4057; able to increase their levels of collaboration with local industry pride we feel as we achieve them. After all, our accomplishments or e-mail [email protected]. Deadline for the spring issue of UNLV Magazine is Oct. 30, 2003. and create the academic environment sought by technology­ will certainly be shared by all who support us - and the noble based companies. endeavor we pursue. m

30 I U N L V M A G A Z I N E FALL 2003 I 31 TIM ELINE

Homecoming Fall Homecoming events offer alumni a trip down memory lane. Above: 1972 Homecoming Queen Efi Papageorge (center), Joyce Mitchell (left), and Donna Crabbe, are escorted off the field at half­ time festivities. Below: Students enjoy the pep rally in 1989. Left: The UNLV mascot salutes the audience at last year's pep rally.

Homecoming 2003 will kick off with a dinner featuring football Coach John Robinson on Oct. 17. The Alumni Association's tailgate party will begin at Sam Boyd Stadium three hours before the game kickoff against Utah on Oct. 18. For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 895-3621 or visit www.unlvalumni.com.

The Lied Library's special collections department houses a vast collection of UNLV and Southern Nevada historical photos and documents. The collections are open to the pub­ lic. For more information, visit www.libraryunlv. edu/speccol!index.html.

32 I U N L V M A G A Z IN E ,- -..v

Friday, October 17 -===- 5:30 pm Cocktail Mixer I Martini----- Bar 7:00 pm Guest Speaker: Coach Robinson Inside the Marietta Tiberti Grand Hall of the Richard Tam Alumni Center Hosted by the Harrah Hotel College Dues Paying Members $30 • Non-members $40 VIP Reserved Table of 8 - $300 (Tabte sponsorship mdudes recognition m program) Saturdav, October 18 Tailgate~for Active Alumni Members • Guests $10 UNLVvs. Utah - GO REBELS! Tickets available call 739-FANS. lfl!' coLONIAL .. . BANK. Monday, October 20 ---- - 12:00 pm Homecoming Golf Tournament at Canyon Gate~ CC Entry Fee: $125 per person. Tee prizes and dinner included• Please RSVP by Monday, Oct. 13- (702) 895-3621.

For more information on this event or to join the Nelghbo

(I)OnATECRISTO RU(I)• ~NREiEL - UNLV -

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Show your RebelPride and support UNLV by purchasinga UNLV REBELLicense Plate. Fundsfrom the sale of UNLVREB EL

plates go backto the school, supporting UNLV's Alumni and Athletic Scholarships. Pickup your UNLVREBE L licenseplates at any NevadaDMV office or call the UNLVA lumni Office at (702) 895-3621for more information. www.unlvalumni.com

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