New, improved - scum

"Pond scum is beautiful - that's my motto," said Ron Jones, director of the Southeast Environmental Research Center. Laboratory tests indicate that the brown spongy patties of floating algae, when combined with subsurface aquatic plants, could be a final polishing step to make agricultural stormwater clean enough to flow into the Everglades. The "scum" naturally filters the phosphorus that cattails leave behind.

- From The Sun- Sentinel, August 8, 1999

Collision course

"This new scale is very important because we know there are a lot of Earth-crossing asteroids out there, but we need to know which are most likely to hit us," said Florentin Maurrasse, professor of Geology and expert on Earth-asteroid collisions. Maurrasse was commenting on a new rating system developed by leading astronomers, with categories from 0 to 10, which predicts the devastation likely to be caused by a collision between Earth and an asteroid.

- From The Chicago Tribune, July 29, 1999

The proof of history

Commenting on the issue of insurance claims of Holocaust survivors and their families - in which many of Europe's largest companies are insisting upon documents and other proof to pay off claims - Rositta Kenigsberg, executive vice president of the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center, said, "The proof issue becomes ridiculous. …People were not allowed to take their insurance policies with them when they were sent to the concentration camps."

- From The Miami Herald, July 23, 1999

Tax cuts? Not yet…

"If you just ask people, `Do you think taxes are too high?' you get a strong majority that says they are too high," said Hugh Gladwin, director of the Institute for Public Opinion Research, commenting on polls that indicate much of the public is wary of huge federal tax-cutting packages. "But if you ask, `Would you rather have a tax refund or put more money into Social Security or Medicare or to pay off the national debt?' people will generally say, `Invest the money' or `Defer the tax cut.'"

- From The Des Moines Register , July 21, 1999

Meals, wheels and politics

"The nutritional factor for older adults is unacceptably high," said Nancy Wellman, director of the National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging at FIU, commenting on funding struggles to maintain Meals on Wheels programs. "Two out of three are at risk for poor nutrition. For the homebound, it's nine out of 10. If your next meal wasn't until tomorrow, how would you feel?"

- From The Buffalo News, July 18, 1999

Rosenberg named provost and executive VP

In July, after extensive internal and external consultations, the Search and Screen Committee for the Provost recommended that Mark Rosenberg remain as the University's executive vice president and provost.

"The Search and Screen Committee concluded that Dr. Rosenberg's `qualifications, energy, and demonstrated skills make his continuation as provost the clear choice,'" said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. "Additionally, I consulted with Chancellor Adam Herbert, regents, members of the Board of Trustees, deans, faculty and staff who enthusiastically support and are in accord that the University needs Dr. Rosenberg's strengths and leadership."

In June 1998, Rosenberg was appointed provost for a one-year term after former Provost James Mau resigned to become vice chancellor of the State University System. During that time, the University conducted a national search for a new provost. Rosenberg was not a candidate for the position. In February, Rosenberg was named FIU's acting president pending President Maidique's return from an extended medical leave.

Rosenberg, who has been with FIU since 1976, has a long history of leadership as acting dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs and founding director of the Latin American and Caribbean Center.

"I am incredibly grateful to him that he has been able to do his job and also do my job," said Maidique, who returned to his post in July.

Public relations program Ranked one of the nation's best

FIU's undergraduate public relations program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) was named as one of the nation's 23 "premier programs" in a new national directory.

Preparing for a Career in Public Relations profiles 110 of the country's top public relations programs, including each school's curriculum and faculty. The directory - the first evaluative, comparative guide of its kind - was compiled by Bill L. Baxter, a Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) fellow and an associate professor emeritus at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

"We're very proud of receiving this honor, which acknowledges the excellence of our program and the outstanding achievements of our faculty," said SJMC Dean J. Arthur Heise. "In addition, the quality of our students and the accomplishments of our alumni have been instrumental to our success."

Profile information was provided by the schools via questionnaire. A total of 165 programs were surveyed, including 80 accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) and six schools accredited by PRSA. FIU's program is accredited by the ACEJMC.

According to Baxter, the Premier Programs were selected after the credentials and achievements of faculty were examined, and after each program/curriculum was analyzed and compared to the course design recommended by the 1987 Report of the Commission on Undergraduate Public Relations Education.

Law school deferred, BOR supports expanded scholarship program

Despite the strong case presented by educators, politicians and students, at its July 15-16 meeting the Florida Board of Regents voted against authorizing new public law schools at FIU and Florida A & M University (FAMU). As an alternative, the regents voted 11-2 to support the recommendations of State University System Chancellor Adam Herbert to expand and improve a scholarship program designed to increase the number of minority attorneys in the state. FIU will have the opportunity to again present its case for a law school to the regents next year.

"While I am personally disappointed that the regents did not approve our proposal for a new law school, we believe we made a good case," said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. "We came closer to approval than ever before. I am particularly thankful to the many community leaders and students who supported our proposal.

"My disappointment, however, extends far beyond my own feelings or my aspirations for FIU. The real disappointment is that so many deserving individuals will not have the opportunity to pursue their dream. ...Nevertheless, I am glad the Regents have recognized the need for minority lawyers and hope that on some future day we will be given the opportunity to expand affordable legal educational opportunities in South Florida."

While the chancellor and the regents agreed with the universities that the state needs more minority attorneys, they decided an expanded program of scholarships and recruitment would be more effective than establishing new law schools. Currently, only 6 percent of Florida bar members are Hispanic and only 2 percent are black.

The chancellor's proposal calls for:

• a new program of pre-law scholarships, mentorships and internships for college juniors and seniors at both public and private institutions which increases minority law school applications by at least 100 percent over the next decade;
  
  
• a law school outreach, recruitment and fellowship program which increases minority law school enrollments by at least 100 percent over the next decade;
  
  
• a plan that designates FAMU and FIU as the lead universities in the pre-law scholarship program, which affords each the opportunity to demonstrate its capability to increase minority applications and admission to law school; and
  
  
• establishment of a Legal Education Advisory Council to assist in these efforts, consisting of representatives from the SUS, Florida law schools, Florida Bar Association, Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Governor.

From FSU to FIU: West named dean of Hospitality Management

Joseph West, chair of the Department of Hospitality Administration in the College of Business at Florida State University, was named dean of the FIU School of Hospitality Management. West's appointment, which became effective in July, followed a national search conducted by a University/community committee chaired by Professor Michael Hurst.

"Dr. West's extensive professional and academic experience ensures continued vigorous leadership in our School of Hospitality Management," said Provost Mark Rosenberg.

West, who grew up in Miami, is a graduate of Columbus High School. He received his B.S. in Hotel Administration from Cornell in 1974, his M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and his Ph.D. in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

West's parents were in the restaurant and hotel business in Atlantic City, and in Miami, which provided him with a familiarity with the industry at an early age.

A 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, West held various posts as chief of food management services in the military. After his retirement, he held several management positions in the restaurant industry, including vice president of operations at the Spring Garden Grill and Bar in Greensboro, North Carolina, before entering academia.

"I decided to teach and found I liked it," commented West, who was an instructor at the University of South Carolina from 1984-87. "I discovered I really enjoyed interacting with students and conducting research."

In 1987, he joined the faculty at Florida State University, initially as an assistant professor, and in 1991 he became chair and associate professor. FSU's program includes eight faculty members and over 150 majors. He has taught courses in "Management of Quality Service in the Hospitality Industry" and assisted in the development of "Resort and Condominium Management."

West has published numerous articles in refereed publications such as the FIU Hospitality Review, the International Journal of Hospitality Management, the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, and the Hospitality and Research Journal. West is the co-author of Strategic Management in the Hospitality Industry, now in its second edition from John Wiley Publishing.

West brings an entrepreneurial approach to his work at FIU. He was instrumental in raising over $7.4 million in contracts, grants, contributions and state matching funds for FSU's hospitality department and, in the process, helped to move the program to a fifth-place ranking in the hospitality industry.

Fund raising made possible a new $14 million, 72,000-square-foot building, attached to the south end zone side of Doak Campbell Stadium, for the department. The facility houses the University Center Club, a member-supported club which offers both fine and casual dining. Students are involved in operating the club, and the department receives a portion of its profits, which last year totaled $50,000.

FIU awarded NSF grant to connect to Internet2

FIU was awarded a $250,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) which will enable the University to connect to Internet2 (I2), the high performance research network and prototype of the next generation Internet.

FIU was one of 19 universities that received this grant in 1999. There are only 130 other institutions connected to Internet2. The network, which is linked with fiber optic lines, is more than 100 times faster than the current Internet. NSF chartered the network in 1995 for research and educational purposes and prohibits commercial use.

"This grant brings FIU into the small group of research institutions having access to the most advanced information super-highway technology," said Naphtali Rishe, director of the FIU High Performance Database Research Center (HPDRC), who is the principal investigator of the grant. "This will benefit the entire University - anyone on campus who needs a high performance connection can use the network."

Rishe noted that the grant is composed of two parts: (a) membership in the "exclusive Internet2 club" - permission of the government to connect to Internet2, which links top research universities and research centers; and (b) funding for connection infrastructure and service.

New dean recruited for College of Education

Linda P. Blanton, director of the School of Education at James Madison University in Virginia, became the new dean of the FIU College of Education (COE) in August. She took over for the COE's former dean, Ira Goldenberg, who moved on to direct the Center for Urban Education and Innovation, and for Robert Vos, who served as the interim dean since summer 1998.

Blanton will continue to work toward the goals set forth by the COE, which include a high quality curriculum, a strong faculty, open communication, advanced technological capacity and rich partnerships with the community.

"It will be exciting to work at a dynamic, growing university with clearly articulated goals," said Blanton. "It will also be exciting to work with a diverse group of faculty who share an interest in providing quality educational programs for their students."

A professor of Special Education at James Madison University, Blanton has been director of the School of Education since 1995. Prior to that, Blanton served in a variety of leadership positions at Appalachian State University (ASU): as director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and as professor in the Department of Language, Reading, and Exceptionalities. She has also been coordinator of the Center on Excellence in Teaching and Learning at ASU, and assistant dean and chair of the Department of Special Education.

Blanton holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from ASU, an M.Ed. and Ed.S. from the University of Georgia, and a Ed.D. in Special Education from Indiana University. She also was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, specializing in microcomputer applications for special needs learners.

A nationally recognized expert in the field of teacher education, Blanton has served as president of the Council for Exceptional Children. She was recently awarded the prestigious TED/Merrill Award for Excellence in Teachers Education given annually by the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children and Merrill Publishing. Blanton also is a representative on the NCATE boards.

An author of several publications, Blanton has co-authored numerous books including, Teacher Education in Transition: Collaborative Programs to Prepare General and Special Educators.

Three new degree programs launched in fall

The state Board of Regents gave FIU approval to launch three new degree programs in the fall 1999 semester: master's degree programs in Biomedical Engineering and African-New World Studies, and a bachelor's degree program in Art History.

In addition, the regents authorized FIU to conduct feasibility planning for a master's program in speech pathology, which will focus on cultural, racial and linguistic diversity and gerontological issues. University officials hope the state board will approve implementation of the program in January.

The new Master of Science program in Biomedical Engineering will complement the Biomedical Engineering Institute FIU established earlier this year in conjunction with the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals. The new program will focus on the design of cardiovascular and blood system devices. A certificate program, geared toward working professionals, will also be offered. In addition, the Institute will offer a combined bachelor's/master's degree with the bachelor's in chemical, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering and the master's in Biomedical Engineering.

The biomedical industry is one of the fields stressed in Miami-Dade County's "One Community, One Goal" economic development plan. The Institute is developing a program that in future years will graduate engineering professionals who will: be proficient in clinical and industry environments; understand the full product cycle, from basic research to clinical implementation; and recognize the importance of designing a product with the end-user in mind.

The Master of Arts program in African-New World Studies will provide students with skills, knowledge and resources to work in specific programs and units related to communities of people of African descent. Embracing the geographic areas of Africa, the Caribbean, North and South America, Europe and Asia, the M.A. in Africana Studies will provide interdisciplinary, graduate-level training with three areas of emphasis: education, national and transnational policy analysis, and cultural studies.

The Bachelor of Arts program in Art History reflects the University's rapidly growing focus on the arts and culture, and complements the bachelor's in Fine Arts program.

"I see this as the first step of a growing program," said Carol Damian, chairperson of Visual Arts, who noted that the growth of The Art Museum at FIU and the acquisition of The Wolfsonian have also provided impetus for the growth of academic programs in art. She envisions the creation of certificate programs in museum studies and Latin American art, as well as a master's program in Art History.

Beverage facility and endowed chair are national firsts

Thanks to a new state-of-the-art building and the first endowed chair of its kind in the country, the art of wine appreciation and the science of beverage tasting and education will soon rise to an unparalleled level at FIU's School of Hospitality Management.

The million-dollar Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, which was dedicated on October 16, will offer students, the beverage industry, and the community an ideal forum in which to learn about wine, spirits and other beverages. The University also established the first Eminent Scholar Chair in Beverage Management Studies in the country, which is named for Harvey R. Chaplin, chairman and CEO of Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc.

"We have worked closely with the University to help provide their students with the tools needed in the study of beverage management, while also contributing to our community," said Chaplin.

The endowed chair, which will attract a renowned expert in the field, will highlight the school's commitment to this important component in the hospitality field. In addition, it will support both teaching and research initiatives and draw attention to the school's continuing partnership with leading members of the industry. The chair is the first and only such eminent scholar chair in the country.

Located on North Campus, the center includes a 76-seat classroom, a tasting laboratory with sinks, air filters and special lighting, and a temperature-controlled wine cellar.

"The center is the most unique facility of its kind in the world. It will provide our students with the best beverage management education available today," said Joe West, dean of Hospitality Management. "The addition of the endowed chair further underscores our commitment to provide the best education in all areas of hospitality management."

The 4,500 square-foot center is named for Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., the largest private beverage distributor in North America, which contributed a portion of the building funds.

Wertheim's new $700,000 Pipe organ Debuted

When the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Center for the Performing Arts at University Park opened its doors in November 1996, it boasted the attractive design and state-of-the-art equipment associated with such a first-class facility, save one feature: a concert hall organ. Recently, that omission was rectified.

A new organ costing nearly $700,000 debuted in May in a special concert honoring the Wertheims. Its acquisition was made possible through a gift from the Wertheims and other University funds. The organ is dedicated to Herbert Wertheim's mother, Sydell Ida Wertheim, who died in 1997.

"This is in memory of the joy she gave," he said. "She was a person who always gave and seldom took. Through this gift her voice will sing forever."

The prestigious 125-year-old Schantz Organ Company took a year to build the organ in its Orrville, Ohio, factory before disassembling and rebuilding it at FIU in April. The 75-rank organ - the largest in Miami-Dade County - is also one of the most technologically advanced in the country. Due to its large number of stops - 55 - it can accommodate virtually every piece of music ever written for the organ, including solo and orchestral works, as well as music written for a variety of other instruments and transcribed for organ.

The instrument features 128 levels of memory, which allow numerous organists to establish their own unique musical settings. For example, the organ's stops - which control pitch, tone, and volume - can be arranged for a particular piece of music and then entered into memory for quick selection at concert time. The stops make possible tuba, violin, English horn, and a multitude of other instrumental sounds. The organ's control panel can accommodate the addition of digital stops, such as chimes and harp. The organ boasts 4,255 pipes and a solid-oak console with four manual keyboards, each consisting of the standard 61 keys and a 32-key pedal clavier (a foot-controlled keyboard).

"The addition of a first-class organ means so much to all of us," said Fredrick Kaufman, director of the School of Music. "It opens up numerous exciting performance opportunities, and we are pleased to bring this new gift to the concert stage."

"We are planning a worldclass organ recital series and look forward to new oratorio, choral, and symphonic possibilities in the future, " Kaufman added.

Dalai Lama delivers message of peace at FIU

His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet welcomes members of the platform party at the April 16 special commencement held in his honor. Seen are (from left) President Modesto A. Maidique; Florida Governor Jeb Bush; the Dalai Lama; and Provost Mark Rosenberg. The event, which welcomed thousands of visitors and the largest media contingent to ever visit University Park, was one of the most special in the history of the University.

Phi Beta Kappa chapter recommended for University

Following a site visit by one of its committees to the University, the Phi Beta Kappa Committee on Qualifications will recommend that FIU be admitted to the oldest and most distinguished of all collegiate honorary societies in the nation.

FIU's bid to establish a Phi Beta Kappa chapter at the University will be up for approval at the organization's Senate meeting in December 1999. If approved, a final vote for creation of an FIU chapter charter would come at Phi Beta Kappa's Council meeting in October 2000.

FIU would become one of only four institutions of higher learning in Florida to join Phi Beta Kappa.