Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 33 June 13, 1996 - NEWSMAKERS

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

NEWSMAKERS

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 33 - June 13, 1996

Virginia Tech faculty and staff members and students are often the subject of significant national and state-wide news coverage. To better inform the university community about these accomplishments, the Office of University Relations has compiled this monthly report. This report excludes coverage in the Roanoke news-media market. For more information about the articles mentioned, call Julie Kane, university public relations coordinator at 1-9934, or contact your college public relations office.

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle , the Rochester Times Union and WXXI radio (Jan. 96): Diane Zahm , assistant professor of urban affairs and planning, gave a seminar which was described in the article "Seminar Explores Design for Crime Prevention." This was preceded by a one-hour talk show on WXXI.

The Des Moines Register ( January 14 ), and Syracuse Herald-Journal ( February 1 ): Cited Carroll Stephens, assistant professor of management, in a story on the social impact of downsizing.

Central Virginia Public TV ( February ): Carole Cramer , plant pathology, physiology, and weed science associate professor, was featured in a story about tobacco in Virginia on the "Gateways" public affairs program. The program was also broadcast on Northern Virginia Public TV in May.

The Environment Show (March) : James Parkhurst , assistant wildlife sciences professor, discussed the habits of owls. The half-hour program was syndicated to public radio stations across the country.

The Wall Street Journal ( March 4 ): James Littlefield , professor in marketing, was quoted in an article on bankers who start their own banks after being displaced by mergers.

The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel (Mar. 23): The lead story, "Shopping for Values," on the front page of the Living Section quotes Cosby Steele Rogers of family and child development. She discusses how children learn their values from their parents and peers.

Virginia News (Radio) Network ( March 25 ): Physics professor Brian Dennison discussed comet Hyakutake.

WRVA Radio-Richmond ( March 28): Agricultural and applied economics professor David Orden discussed the 1996 farm bill.

TNN (The Nashville Network) ( March 29 ): The TNN "Crook and Chase Show," which is also syndicated to more than 60 local stations, interviewed E. Thomas Garman , professor of housing, interior design, and resource management, about his book Rip-offs and Frauds: How to Avoid and How to Get Away (second edition). Garman also appeared on WSMV-TV (CBS) and WTVF-TV (NBC) while in Nashville.

Richmond's Talking Business ( April ): Christopher Neck , assistant professor of management, was cited in a story on management stress.

Mademoiselle magazine ( April ): An editorial piece titled "Ladies in Waiting" on the It's My Life Department page credits the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University study of restroom usage times for the enactment of "potty-parity" laws in 12 states.

AIAA Student Journal (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Spring 1996 ): An article was published about a recent exchange program coordinated by Pamela Kurstedt , assistant dean of enrichment and international programs for the College of Engineering, as part of the college's four-year exchange agreement with Ecole des Mines de Nantes in France.

Jim Marchman , professor of aerospace and ocean engineering, also was quoted as one of the faculty members who helped conduct the program.

Gazette Virginian ( April 17 ), and The News and Record ( May 3 ): The Pamplin College of Business MBA Program in South Boston was featured in a story. Ron Johnson , associate dean of MBA and International Programs, conducted an information session on the part-time program for 35 prospective students.

The Washington Post (Apr. 22): Cosby Rogers of family and child development is quoted in a Style Plus section feature story about using nature to build living and learning skills in children.

Virginia News (Radio) Network-Richmond ( April 24 ): Agricultural and applied economics professor Wayne Purcell discussed the recent trend by Virginia farmers to sell off their livestock and poultry because of high feed prices.

Voice of America ( April 26 ): History professor William Ochsenwald discussed the PLO's decision to remove the destruction of Israel as a tenet in its charter.

WRVA Radio ( April 30 ): Professor Craig Rogers of the Center for Intelligent Materials discussed bicycle technology and the "Tour de Tech" exhibit in Richmond. WTVR-TV , a Richmond CBS affiliate, covered the event as well.

Mutual Radio Network ( May ): "Why Is It?" the AAAS radio program, syndicated as part of "America in the Morning Science Update," featured three Virginia Tech chemistry professors on various science topics. Paul Deck discussed the science of burning candles, Joseph Merola talked about freezing, and J.W. Viers discussed boiling and atmospheric pressure.

Virginia Engineer ( May ): Rakesh Kapania , associate professor of aerospace and ocean engineering, was cited for his appointment as a 1996 Boeing-A.D. Welliver faculty fellow.

Richmond Times Dispatch ( May 2 ): carried a major feature story, including a front-page photo, about the Tour de Tech held in Richmond the first week of May. The science and engineering education exposition was sponsored by the center for intelligent materials systems and structures and coordinated by mechanical engineering professor Craig Rogers , the center's director.

WRVA Radio-Richmond ( May 6 ): Agricultural and applied economics professor Wayne Purcell discussed the recent trend by Virginia farmers to sell off their livestock and poultry because of high feed prices.

KVMR Radio - Sacramento, CA ( May 6 ): Matthew McAllister , assistant professor in communication studies, gave a 30-minute live interview on the commercialization of American culture.

ESPN ( May 6 ): The sports network's Tour du Pont program and sports highlights programs covered the finish of the 1996 Tour du Pont on the Virginia Tech campus .

Newsweek ( May 9 ): Matthew McAllister , assistant professor in communication studies, was interviewed about popularity of the recent wave of movies and TV shows about science fiction and the occult.

LA Times ( May 10 ): Environmental writer, Marla Cone, interviewed Steve Holladay , assistant professor for biomedical sciences and pathobiology, for a two part series on immunotoxicity.

USA Today ( May 16 ): Communication studies and humanities professor, Marshall Fishwick , was quoted in a story about dolphins.

Washington Post ( May 20 ): The lead front-page story about fraud quoted E. Thomas Garman of housing, interior design, and resource management.

The Washington Times and Washington Post ( May 21 ): Carried stories (with photos) about a protest of a design competition for the construction of National World War II Memorial, to be built on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The protest was organized by Jaan Holt , director of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies' Washington-Alexandria Center. The story quotes Holt and discusses a petition he organized, signed by the deans of architecture schools in 14 states, to change the rules of the design competition.

Richmond Times Dispatch ( May 25 ): Eric Day , manager of the Insect Identification Lab for the Department of Entomology, discussed cicadas for an article in the Business and Technology Section .

Weight Watchers Magazine ( June 1996 ): Janet Walberg Rankin of human nutrition, foods, and exercise was quoted in a sidebar story listing tips for controlling weight gain while on vacation.