Spectrum - Volume 20 Issue 20 February 12, 1998 - CALENDAR

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

CALENDAR

Spectrum Volume 20 Issue 20 - February 12, 1998

Events
Thursday, 12
Art Gallery Opening , Armory Gallery, "Nick Davis: Performance/Painting--Esthetic/Ascetic." Through March 6.
YMCA Slide Show , noon, Cranwell Center: "Livestock and Agriculture in Ethiopia," by Gemechu Wirtu.
Science/Technology Studies Discussion , 12:30 p.m., 132 Lane: "A Discussion of `VT.COM@VPI.EDU : The Commercialization of Education at Virginia Tech," by Golde Holtzman.
Women's Basketball , 7:30 p.m.: at St. Joseph's.
VTU Lively Arts Series , 7:30 p.m., Burruss auditorium: "West Side Story."
Natural History Museum Program , 7:30-8:30 p.m., 428 N. Main St.: "Iridescent Colors in Birds, Butterflies, and Minerals," by Paul Ribbe.
Friday, 13
International Club Meeting , 5 p.m., Cranwell Center: "The Ancient Greek Kosmos: A Question of Dance, Chance, or Romance?" by Tyler J. Smith.
Student Recital , 8 p.m., Squires Recital Salon: T.J. Willis, saxophone.
Saturday, 14
Women's Basketball , 2 p.m.: At Temple.
Men's Basketball , 2 p.m., Cassell: Xavier.
VTU Film Series , 7 p.m., Squires: "Boogie Nights" (second show at 9:30 p.m.).
Sunday, 15
Engineers' Week Begins .
YMCA Hike , 1:30 p.m., meet at Y parking lot: Cascades (easy).
Black History Month Program , 2-4 p.m., Black Cultural Center: "Healthier Eating--Healthier Hearts: Nouveau Soul Food and Heart Check-Up Screening."
Student Recital , 3 p.m., Squires Recital Salon: Veeresh Popat, saxophone.
Smyth Lecture , 7:30 p.m., Blacksburg Presbyterian: Marcus Borg.
Monday, 16
President's Day Holiday for Staff .
Smyth Lecture , noon, Blacksburg Presbyterian: Marcus Borg.
YMCA Soup and Substance , noon: Lunch with Marcus Borg at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.
University Council Meeting , 3-5 p.m., 1045 Pamplin.
Smyth Lecture , 7:30 p.m., Blacksburg Presbyterian: Marcus Borg.
Tuesday, 17
Leadership Development Workshop , 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center: "Effective Project Management" (call 1-6727).
Bloodmobile , 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Squires Commonwealth Ballroom.
Faculty Senate Meeting , 7 p.m., 32 Pamplin.
Black History Month Program , 7-9 p.m., Black Cultural Center: "Christiansburg Institute: Continuing a Legacy of Educational Equity into the 21st Century."
125th Anniversary Event , 7:30 p.m., Squires Old Dominion Ballroom: Outstanding Alumni Speakers Series, "The Workplace Glass Ceiling," by Charles "Chip" A. Cartwright, U.S. Forest Service.
Wednesday, 18
Leadership Development Workshop , 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center: "Effective Project Management" (call 1-6727).
YMCA "Mornings," 9:30-11:30 a.m., Luther Memorial Church: African cooking (peanut butter soup).
Bloodmobile , 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Squires Commonwealth Ballroom.
History Talk, 4 p.m., 30 Pamplin: "Why Bosnia? Understanding Ethnic Conflict in Central Europe," by Charles Ingrao, Purdue.
Black History Month Program , 6 p.m., Squires Brush Mountain Room A: "Tribute to Betty Shabazz."
Men's Basketball , 7 p.m., Cassell: Dayton.
"With Good Reason," 7 p.m., WVTF-FM: "By Definition: The Virginia Racial Integrity Act of 1924," with David Smith, Longwood College; Helen Rountree, ODU; and Peter Wallenstein.
Thursday, 19
Bloodmobile , 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Squires Commonwealth Ballroom.
CEUT Forum , 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center: "Group Interactions for Learning."
YMCA Slide Show , noon, Cranwell Center: "Denmark: Co-Housing, Education, and More (including Iceland)," by Kristine Reid.
Black History Month Program , 4 p.m., Squires Brush Mountain Room A: "Meet Rev. Dr. Michael E. Dyson."
Staff Senate Meeting , 5:30 p.m., 1810 Litton Reaves.
Black History Month Program , 7 p.m., Squires Colonial: Keynote speaker Michael E. Dyson.
Women's Basketball , 7 p.m., Cassell: Duquesne.
Seminars
Thursday, 12
Particle Physics , 3:30 p.m., 2030 Pamplin: "Can't Fix It? Prove It's Broken: Borexino and the Be-7 Flux," by Robert Bruce.
ElectroMagnetics , 4 p.m., 654 Whittemore: "Analysis of Antennas Using Curved Basis Functions," by Eric Caswell.
Entomology , 4-5 p.m., 146 Smyth: "Forensic Entomology," by Boris Kondratieff, Colorado State.
Friday, 13
VISC , noon, 654 Whittemore: "Tools for Rapid Construction of VHDL Performance Models for DSP Systems," by Gail Gray.
MCBB , noon, Fralin auditorium: "Molecular Design in Chemical Biology," by Rich Gandour.
Botany , 4 p.m., 1084 Derring: "Management of the Jefferson National Forest Resources," by Jesse Overcash, U.S. Forest Service.
Monday, 16
Economics , 3:30-5:30 p.m., 3008 Pamplin: "The Impact of Mandates and Tax Limits on Voluntary Contributions to Local Public Services: An Application to Fire Protection Services," by Bill Hoyt, Kentucky.
CSES , 4 p.m., 232 Smyth: "Livestock Waste-Management Strategies," by Eldridge Collins, BSE.
Tuesday, 17
Chemical Engineering , 4 p.m., 331 Randolph: "Industrial Chemical Research--What's It All About?" by John R. Dombroski, Eastman Chemical Company.
Wednesday, 18
CASS , 3 p.m., 303 Davidson: "Molecular Simulations of the Rupture of Polymer/Solid Bonds," by Mark O. Robbins, Johns Hopkins.
Science/Technology Studies , 4 p.m., 132 Lane: "Science or Pseudo-Science: Is There a Difference?" by Henry Bauer.
Thursday, 19
English , 4 p.m., 120 Williams: "English Renaissance Civic Ceremony and the Place of Coriolanus," by Ed Hardin.
Entomology , 4-5 p.m., 220 Price: TBA.
Bulletins
Tech recognizes Eating Disorder Awareness Week
The Women's Center at Virginia Tech, the University Counseling Center, the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Culinary Services, and the Athletic Department will recognize National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, February 22-28, with a visiting speaker and author of "Big Fat Lies: The Truth About Your Weight and Your Health." Glenn Gaesser will speak on February 23, at 7 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum.
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 2:30 p.m. at the Women's Center, there will be a program entitled "Eating Disorders--An Information Session" given by Marshall Tessnear and Laura Penrod of the University Counseling Center. On Thursday, Feb. 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Women's Center and the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley will be having a screening for eating disorders at the Mental Health Association at 126-B W. Jackson Street (next to the Red Cross). Screenings will be free of charge. For more information, call 1-7806.
Women writer's conference February 28
Women's Month 1998 at Virginia Tech will present a writer's conference entitled "Women Writing Through Struggle" Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center.
The featured writer for the workshop is Kim Barnes, the author of In the Wilderness. In a kickoff for the day-long workshop, Barnes will read from her works February 27 at 7 p.m. at Volume Two Bookstore.
The writer's conference features concurrent workshops in the morning and afternoon, with participants choosing one workshop from each group. The four morning sessions, which begin at 9:30 a.m., are on writing poetry, novels, and short stories, and writing for performance. After the lunch break, there will be a panel presentation on marketing and publishing. The four afternoon sessions, beginning at 2:15 p.m., are on writing memoir, children's books, erotica, and journals. At 4:15 p.m., participants will have an opportunity to read from their works.
Ann Kilkelley, Virginia Tech professor of theatre, will present the keynote address on women writing through struggle at 9 a.m.
Cost of the workshop is $10 for students and low-income participants and $15 for non-students. Checks should be made payable to Treasurer, Virginia Tech (CEC). Registration will be taken through conference day, but space is limited.

Dyson to be Black History Month keynote speaker
Michael Eric Dyson will be the keynote speaker for Virginia Tech's celebration of Black History Month. Dyson's address will take place in Squires Colonial Hall at 7 p.m., February 19. An informal question-and-answer session will be held with Dyson at 4 p.m. earlier in the day in Squires Brush Mountain room A.
Department of Near Environments announced
The College of Human Resources and Education has announced that the Department of Housing, Interior Design, and Resource Management/Clothing and Textiles is now officially the Department of Near Environments. The name change was recently approved by the University Council. The mission of the Department of Near Environments is to enhance quality of life through the design or management of interior spaces, housing, apparel, personal finances, and other consumer resources. The department has set up Public Relations and Visual Image committees to communicate the new name via alumni newsletters, recruitment materials, and signage.
Kondratieff to present entomology seminar
Boris C. Kondratieff, professor of entomology at Colorado State University, will present a seminar in the Department of Entomology on Thursday, Feb. 12. The topic will be "Forensic Entomology." The seminar will be held in 146 Smyth Hall from 4-5 p.m.
Kondratieff earned his B.S. in wildlife management at Tennessee Technological University in 1976. Kondratieff is also an alumnus of Virginia Tech. He earned his MS and Ph.D. in the Department of Entomology in 1979 and 1982 respectively. He joined the CSU faculty in 1986 and has received the Charles N. Shepardson Meritorious Teaching Award from his college as well as the Jack A. Cermak Outstanding Advisor Award. Most recently, he was awarded the Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Service Award for exemplary service to the university. He is known as an extraordinarily productive and widely published scientist.
"Talking About Race" dialogues announced
Multicultural Programs announces the Continuing the Dialogue Series' spring 1998 schedule. The topic is "Talking About Race." All dialogues will be held at noon in the Multicultural Center, 140 Squires. Following are the dates and topics: February 27, "Does race really matter?"; March 27, "Are the races getting along any better?"; April 16, "Interracial marriages: Is racial blending the answer to racism?"
Interested persons should stop by the Multicultural Center to pick up the reading materials a week before the discussion date. It is essential that participants complete the readings before attending the program. If you are a person with a disability and desire assistance or accommodations, please notify the Dean of Students Office at 1-3787, TDD 1-8718.
TAUT anniversary exhibit opens February 17
In celebration of the founding of Theatre Arts--University Theatre (TAUT) 30 years ago, the School of the Arts and the Theatre Arts Department have gathered a special Anniversary Exhibition. The exhibit will be in the Perspective Gallery in Squires Student Center from Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, March 22.
The exhibit offers a glimpse at how a designer works from initial ideas and sketches to finished products for the stage, the screen, theme parks and more. People who have followed TAUT productions will get the opportunity to ask "Where are they now?" and view some of the professional accomplishments of TAUT alumni designers.
The TAUT 30th Anniversary Exhibit features design work of Virginia Tech graduate and undergraduate alumni from the Department of Theatre Arts. The exhibit will display the accomplishments of costume designers, lighting designers, set designers, scenic artists and technical directors, include such works as actual costumes from Paramount Parks' George Sarofeen, and lighting design plots from New York City lighting designer Amy Appleyard, and clothing swatches, sketches and production photos from costume and makeup designer Jane Snider.
Los Angeles Film Production Designer Howard Cummings has contributed renderings and a photograph from his most recent work with Francis Ford Coppola on John Grisham's The Rainmaker which stars Danny Devito and Jon Voight. He has also contributed renderings for the action thriller The Long Kiss Goodnight directed by Renny Harlin and staring Sam Jackson and Geena Davis.
Other work in the exhibit will highlight the accomplishments of scenic and lighting designer William McNeil Marshall, assistant professor and resident designer at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Kelly J. Ryner who is supervising a team of scenic artists finishing the Universal Studios park in Osaka, Japan, and San Diego designer Jane Hinson La Motte, who in addition to designing sets for San Diego Opera Ensemble's arts education touring company, creates interior displays for Symphony Towers, to give potential tenants ideas on how to use office space.
The Perspective Gallery is open Tuesday-Friday, noon to 10 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m.-10 p.m. The exhibit will be open during the production of Shakespeare, Seen by Scene .
For more information, call 1-5200 or visit http://www.sota.vt.edu/sota/ .
TAUT presents Shakespeare, Seen by Scene
The Virginia Tech School of the Arts and Theatre Arts--University Theatre will present Shakespeare, Seen by Scene , February 19-21 and 24-28 at 8 p.m. and February 22 at 2 p.m. in Squires Studio Theatre.
The Theatre Arts Department strives to teach students about the different theatrical styles, and Shakespeare is its own category. For TAUT's 30th Anniversary, department alumni are returning to Tech to collaborate with current students on the mainstage plays. Theatre Arts faculty members Bob Leonard and Greg Justice have reconstructed various Shakespeare plays into the piece Shakespeare, Seen by Scene. This innovative approach includes plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth and Hamlet provides opportunities for students and alumni to work together, and for the audience to see different works of Shakespeare all at once.
For more information, please call 1-5200. For tickets, call the UUSA Ticket Office at 1-5615.
Discovery Channel program to feature Gustafson
Sigrid Gustafson, associate professor of psychology, will help illuminate reasons people like to ride rollercoasters and other extreme rides on the Discovery Channel's program called "Extreme Rides" February 15 at 9 p.m.
Gustafson was flown to San Francisco to tape a program for Discovery on "Wild Rides II," and the film crew liked her expertise about risk takers so much that they interviewed her for "Extreme Rides" as well. The adventure began with a media request through Profnet, a computer service that matches media needs for expertise with professors across the country who have that expertise.
Nominations sought for Baird Award
The Office of Residential and Dining Programs (a division of Student Affairs) is seeking nominations for the 1997-1998 A. Alan Baird Award. The award honors the student who has contributed the most to the residence-hall program during or culminating in the current academic year. All students are eligible, including those not affiliated with Residential and Dining Programs. Additionally, students' past contributions will be taken into account, culminating with service during the current academic year.
The Baird Award is made possible through the generosity of the family and friends of Alan Baird, who died in March, 1992. Baird was president of the Residence Hall Federation during 1987-1988 when he also was president of the Virginia Association of College and University Residence Halls. He was a student leader who left a permanent mark upon the RHF and the residence-life program.
Nomination forms are available at 109 East Eggleston Hall, the Hokie Passport Office (041 Owens Hall) and the five Area Coordinator Offices (Payne Hall, West Ambler Johnson, Newman Hall, Shanks Hall and Slusher Tower). The deadline for submission is February 20 at 5 p.m. Nominations are to be turned in to 109 East Eggleston Hall, c/o Tom Duetsch (mail code 0128). A web-based nomination will also available: www.rdp.vt.edu/whatsnew/bairdnom.html .
For more information, call Duetsch at 1-5258.
Phi Beta Kappa offers prize for best essay
With the annual John D. Wilson Phi Beta Kappa Essay Contest, the Virginia Tech chapter of Phi Beta Kappa offers a $500 prize to recognize excellence in undergraduate writing. The topic for 1998: Take an issue within some area of specialized or technical knowledge and render the issue comprehensible to a lay reader without oversimplifying it. Persuasively argue the implications and importance of this issue to the non-specialist. Explain convincingly why the average, well-educated lay person should care about this issue within some area of specialized or technical knowledge.
Contest rules and entry forms at three locations: the English Department Undergraduate Programs Office, 126 Williams; the University Honors Program Office, 1st Floor, Hillcrest; and the Newman Library Special Collections Department.
The deadlines for entries is Wednesday, March 25. For more information, call Paul Heilker, director of the first-year writing program, at 1-8444.
Family therapy conference at N. Virginia Center
The Department of Family and Child Development at the Virginia Tech Northern Virginia Center will host a day-long conference titled "Family Therapy: Inspiration for the New Millennium" on Friday, Feb. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference will explore how physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, non-epileptic seizures, and exacerbations of chronic illnesses can be related to family and social relationship problems.
Speakers featured at the conference will be the co-authors of the groundbreaking book, The Body Speaks: Dialogues for Mind-Body Problems , Melissa Elliot Griffith and James L. Griffith. They are also the co-authors of the soon-to-be-released book, Sacred Encounters , which documents how therapy can incorporate a patient's spiritual and religious resources.
To request a brochure with registration information, call 703-538-8467.
Connection Job Fair to be held February 24
Career Services will hold the Ninth Annual Connection Job Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Squires Commonwealth and Old Dominion ballrooms. Representatives from over 100 businesses, industry, and government agencies will be in attendance to recruit Virginia Tech students for co-op, internship, and summer job opportunities. Many employers will be scheduling formal interviews on February 25, with students in whom they are interested.
The Connection Job Fair, formerly known as CO-OP Connection, is directed towards a unique target market of freshman, sophomores, and juniors across diverse majors as well as graduate students who are interested in gaining career-related work experience.
Interested students may stop by Career Services on the third floor of Henderson Hall or visit http://www.career.vt.edu .
CAEE informs about learning support initiatives
The Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence's purpose is to provide academic support for Virginia Tech's undergraduate student body. Open, informed communication between the office and programs and academic departments is essential to provide this support successfully.
To inform and facilitate open lines of communication, CAEE is hosting luncheons designed to inform deans, directors, department heads, and advising faculty members of the programs offered by various offices charged with learning support initiatives.
At the sessions, presentations on learning support and success initiatives will be made by representatives from CAEE, the Student Success Project, the Dean of Students Office, and the University Counseling Center. Two dates are offered to accommodate advising faculty members who may teach during one of the sessions: Wednesday, Feb. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. or Tuesday, March 24, from noon to 1 p.m. Both sessions will be held in 219 Squires.
Lunch will be provided. Each luncheon is limited to 25 spaces and you must register to ensure your space. The registration deadline for the February luncheon is February 13 and the registration deadline for the March luncheon is March 19. Register by calling Elaine Humphrey at 1-8887 or 1-4133 or by sending e-mail to elaineh@vt.edu .
Davis exhibition opens at the Armory Gallery
The Virginia Tech School of the Arts and the Armory Art Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by Nick Davis titled "Performance/Painting--Esthetic/Ascetic." Opening today, the exhibition will be on display through Friday, March 6.
Davis, a Virginia Tech visiting instructor in the Department of Art and Art History, will transform the gallery into his personal studio. Davis intends to execute his paintings at intervals during the exhibition. The show will open with a group of canvases at various stages of development, after which Davis will put himself on display as artist-at-work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m.
The Armory Art Gallery is located at 201 Draper Road, Blacksburg, Virginia, and is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday noon to 4 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. The gallery may also be viewed by special appointment; call 1-5547.