SPECTRUM TODAY’S EDITION

SPECTRUM

TODAY'S EDITION

See page 2 for upcoming-event information.

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY



VOLUME 23 NUMBER 5 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2000

NSF funds Blacksburg Electronic Village study

By Susan Trulove Researchers at Virginia Tech's Center for Human-Computer Interaction have won a two-year, $458,165 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate the use and social impacts of the Blacksburg Electronic Village (BEV), one of the prominent American community networking projects of the 1990s. The principal investigators for the project are John M. Carroll and Mary Beth Rosson. They are professors of computer science; Carroll is also the center director. Carroll and Rosson's "learning in a networked community" (LiNC) project has collaborated on several previous BEV projects, including the NSF-sponsored BEV

HistoryBase, Nostalgia--a joint project with BEV seniors, the NSF-sponsored Virtual School--a joint project with Montgomery County Public Schools, and the Hitachi Foundation-sponsored MOOsburg.

The new project, titled "Interdisciplinary Views of the Blacksburg Electronic Village," includes faculty investigators from Stanford University, the University of Illinois, the Open University in the United Kingdom, Blacksburg Electronic Village, and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as Virginia Tech.

The project will employ several methods, including community surveys, detailed interviews, session logging, a participatory evaluation forum, and a variety of psychological scales. It will address key issues about commu-

nities and community networks such as who participates in community networks, what are the networks used for, how are local business activities and opportunities changed, (and how direct a cause the network is), and in what ways does access to local government information, or to public decision-making change.

Other issues include the consequences for community life, and for community health and well-being, how participation in community life is greater or more diverse, do people feel safer in a community networking context than in the general Internet context, and whether the social capital of the Blacksburg community has increased as a consequence of the BEV.

Researchers on the project include Daniel

(See NSF on 4)

Staff mentoring program schedules second phase

By Clara B. Cox

Newly placed minority classified staff members working in grade 5-

7 office/clerical positions have the opportunity to participate in a mentoring

program designed to provide professional support from mentors in

existing similar positions.

The Mentoring Program for Minority Classified Employees of

Virginia Tech, initiated during the past academic year, will hold a training

program for new participants on October 2, from 1:30-4:30 p.m., in rooms

D and E of Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center. Training

skills will be taught by Kimberly Townsend, a human-development

associate in the Office of Human Resources at Penn State University.

Townsend is responsible for the leadership, development, instruction, and

evaluation of the curriculum areas of leadership, career development, and

personal effectiveness. She will share skills taught at Penn State for a

similar mentoring program.

(See MENTORING on 4)

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

Tech fans express their approval of the team's efforts in Saturday's 49-0 rout of Rutgers. The win, plus

losses by higher-ranked

teams, propelled Tech to

fourth- and fifth-place rankings in the ESPN and AP

polls. (R. Griffiths)

Students discovering advantages of co-op experience

By Susan Trulove Nishant Vaghela, a graduate student in industrial systems engineering, received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and worked for two years in India before coming to Virginia Tech in the fall of 1999. Facing his first summer in the United States, he decided to find a job that would give him experience in a U.S. work environment, and in a big American city. Working with Virginia Tech's cooperative-education program, Vaghela went to work for Freddie Mac in McLean, in the information systems and service department. "It was a beautiful company to work for. We were trained on the software tools, then worked as a team to automate financial applications. My group had two other Virginia Tech co-op students--from management science and information technology, plus a consultant and a technical lead. We also worked with other groups." Freddie Mac is a corporation chartered by Congress to increase the supply of funds available to homebuyers. Vaghela said his work there allowed him to apply concepts

learned in class and to learn new skills and how U.S. business is conducted. "I also had the opportunity to work with people from different countries--Iran, England, and China, as well as the United States."

For an undergraduate student, the cooperative-education program adds one year of work in area of study between freshman and senior years. Graduate students may work one semester or up to a full year once they register for three hours of research. In either case, employment must be full time and the job must be related to the student's field of study.

Graduate-student participation in the coop program is coordinated by Don McKeon, director of ESL and GTA training, and immigration advisor in the Graduate School, since most of the graduate students taking jobs through the co-op program are international students.

"Dr. McKeon has been of immense help to all international students in arranging their coop paperwork quickly and painlessly," said Sanjay Jacobs, who was such a successful employee during the summer term that he received an offer of employment upon graduation.

When McKeon started directing the gradu-

ate co-op program in 1995, about 15 students a year signed up. This summer there were almost 100. Martha Reifsnider, assistant dean of the Graduate School, notes, "Of course, the numbers are high now because of the number of jobs available for technical people."

Jacob, a graduate student in computer science who is from Bombay, is a good example of the demand for skilled students. He received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and worked for a year in information technology at Citicorp in India before coming to Virginia Tech last fall. When he signed up for the co-op program with Career Services, he had a number of offers. After interviewing with several companies, he chose Merrill Lynch in New York City.

"I want to get into banking technology and Merrill Lynch offered an extension of what I had been doing previously," Jacob said. "The organization is well known and offered a chance to enhance my skills in banking technology." He developed financial software and did functional analysis of the huge company's systems.

Like Vaghela, Jacob says the experience

(See STUDENTS on 4)

President's Remarks

For the complete text of President Charles Steger's remarks at Wednesday's Fall Convocation, visit his home page at url http:// unirel.vt.edu/president/ index.html.

Tech sponsors capital-access forum

Lou Dobbs, former executive with CNN and CNNfn, will be the keynote speaker at a capital access forum hosted by Virginia Tech in October. "Virginia Technology Capital Access Forum" will be held October 19-20 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

"The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for high-technology companies to network, solicit investments, and acquire knowledge about accessing capital for their companies," said John Phillips, economic-development officer at Virginia Tech. "Entrepreneurs will learn directly from some of Virginia's leading professionals about the process and expectations for raising outside capital for their growing companies."

The conference is geared toward technology entrepreneurs, venture-capital professionals, angel investors, investment bankers, and business-service providers.

The first day of the conference will be an entrepreneurs' symposium consisting of three tracks. Track one, "Getting Started," is designed to provide entrepreneurs in the seed stage of development and includes insight about how to transform their ideas into a business. Workshops cover topics on business organization, drafting a business plan, and locating the first round of capital. Track two, "Establishing a Business," provides entrepreneurs with the tools to take the next step of business development and covers issues such as intellectual-property protection, business-development assistance, and obtaining the second round of capital. The third track, "Raising Private Capital," is aimed at established business owners who are looking to increase their capital.

The first day's events also include a kick-off address by Mark Warner, managing director of Alexandria-based Columbia Capital Corporation, the largest technologyfocused venture capital fund in the midAtlantic region.

Susan Hardwicke, founder of , the first comprehensive on-

(See TECH on 4)

2 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2000

ACTIVITIES

EVENTS

Saturday, 23

University Open House. Surplus Auction, 9 a.m., Surplus Warehouse. YMCA Hike, 9 a.m., Lancaster House parking lot. Museum of Natural History Program, 11 a.m. 1-3001 to pre-register.

Sunday, 24

University Open House. Deaf Awareness Week Begins (Through 9-30).

Monday, 25

Deaf Awareness Week Activity, 6-8 p.m., Squires Black Cultural Center: 1-4499 for information.

Tuesday, 26

Family/Work/Life Resources Program, noon-1 p.m., DBHCC, Conference Room A.

CEUT, 12:30-2 p.m., Hillcrest large conference room: 16995 for information.

Deaf Awareness Week Activity, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Squires information booth: 1-4499 for information.

Hispanic Heritage Program, 4 p.m., Squires Black Cultural Center: 1-3787/TDD 1-3718 for information.

Engineering Expo, noon-5 p.m., Squires, Owens.

Wednesday, 27

VTU Lively Arts, 7:30 p.m., Burruss auditorium: Jekyll and Hyde.

Engineering Expo, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Squires, Owens.

CEUT, 2-4 p.m., Hillcrest dining hall: 1-6995 for information.

Deaf Awareness Week Activity, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Squires Black Cultural Center: 1-4499 for information.

Study Abroad Information Fair, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Drillfield. Alpine Project Event, 7:30 p.m. Squires Colonial Hall: 15888 for information.

Thursday, 28

DBHCC Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., A Taste of China Buffet: 1-5632 for reservations.

YMCA Slide Show, noon, Cranwell Center: Henry Bauer. Deaf Awareness Week Activity, 6-8 p.m., Squires Black Cultural Center: 1-4499 for information. TA-UT Production, 8 p.m., Squires Studio Theatre: Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha.

Friday, 29

Salary and Wage Paydate. Last Day to Drop. TA-UT Forum, 3:30 p.m., Squires Studio Theatre: 1-5200 for information. Rosh Hashanah Begins, (Sundown). TA-UT Production, 8 p.m., Squires Studio Theatre: Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha.

SEMINARS

Friday, 22

Highlands in Chemistry, 11 a.m., 3 Davidson: Gregory H.

BULLETINS

Robinson, University of Georgia. MCBB/Biochemistry, 12:20-1:10 p.m., 102 Fralin:

Roland Lill, Marburg University, Germany. Economics, 3:30-5 p.m., 3008 Pamplin: Robert

Rosenthal, Boston University. Communication Studies, 3:30 p.m., Hillcrest honors

conference room: Edward H. Sewell Jr. Philosophy, 4 p.m., 225 Major Williams: Joseph Pitt.

Monday, 25

Horticulture, 4-5 p.m., 409 Saunders: Rich Helm. Economics, 4-5:30 p.m., 3008 Pamplin: Nicholas Yannelis, University of Illinois.

Wednesday, 27

PPWS, 4 p.m., Fralin auditorium: Greg Armel. ESM, 4-5 p.m., 110 Randolph: Daniel Post. Geography, 4 p.m., 136 McBryde: Grigory Ioffe, RU.

Thursday, 28

Geological Sciences, 4 p.m., 4069 Derring: Jinny Sisson, Rice University.

CSES, 4 p.m., 246 Smyth: Rocky Lemus.

Friday, 29

Highlands in Chemistry, 11 a.m., 3 Davidson: Folami T. Lapido, University of Kentucky.

MCBB, 12:20-1:10 p.m., 102 Fralin: Anne Robinson, University of Delaware.

ESM, 4-5 p.m., 110 Randolph: Ashwani Kapila.

ULD offers workplace training programs

University Leadership Development is offering a series of programs for faculty and staff members to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Course descriptions are available on the intranet at . From the Training section, select Department, then University Leadership Development. Registration is required, space is limited, and there is a per-person fee for each course. ISR's or personal checks must be received before the class. For reservations, call Terri Tishman at 1-7627, or e-mail ULD@vt.edu.

CommonHealth medical screenings in October

CommonHealth medical screenings are being offered to employees, retirees, and their family members October 9-18. Medical screenings identify lifestyle-related health risks and consist of two parts: a confidential lifestyle questionnaire and a medical-screening appointment. Screening appointments will be offered in various locations on campus. To request a registration form, contact 1-7810.The cost is $5 per person, or $7 per household. The lifestyle questionnaire will be mailed to participants upon receipt of their registration forms.

Wood-Related event offered

The College of Natural Resources is hosting a one-day event to provide information about a range of wood-related topics on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Activities include speakers, breakfast and lunch, and two local tours. Sample topics include Virginia's non-timber forest products and wood-plastic composites in our daily lives. RSVP by Friday, Sept. 29 to Lynn Davis at davisl@vt.edu.

Banner Users' Group holds first program

The first Banner Users' Group program will be held

September 27, from 10:30 a.m.-noon in Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center, conference rooms D&E. Presentations will be made by both departmental users and central-office staff members on best practices in Banner Finance and Human Resources and general usage of the system. Users will also share shortcuts. Banner Users' Group programs are open to all interested parties associated with Tech. RSVP to srb144@vt.edu, or call 11715.

Graduate Fair showcases opportunity

The Southwest Virginia Regional Graduate and Professional School Day is Tuesday, Oct. 2 in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The event, organized annually by the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA), has been expanded and will be co-sponsored by the GSA and Radford University's Career Services Center. It will be open to students from all regional institutions, as well as all citizens of southwest Virginia.

The event showcases graduate programs in areas such as medicine and health, business, and engineering at approximately 75 universities. There is no admission charge, and professional dress is not necessary. For more information, contact the GSA at gspaula@vt.edu or 1-7919, or visit .

Participants needed for research study

Working women with physical disabilities, preferably those who work in professional positions, are invited to participate in a study about finding appropriate clothing for their work situation. The study will take place in the spring. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Kate Carroll as soon as possible at 961-5305, 1-6832, or kacarrol@vt.edu.

Museum holds Teacher Open House

On Thursday, Sept. 28 from 3-6 p.m., the Virginia Tech Museum of Natural History is holding a Teacher Open House. Participants can bring natural specimens for identification and learn how the museum can support their educational objectives. Refreshments will be provided, and pre-registration is requested. For information call 1-3001.

Adult Day Services holds open house

Adult Day Services (ADS) is having an Open House on September 21 from 3-5 p.m. during National Adult Day Services week, Sept. 18-22. Adult Day Services (ADS) opened in 1992 through the Department of Human Development to serve the New River Valley. Day services for adults include activities such as gardening, music, exercise, cooking, and field trips.

The service is available five days a week, 50 weeks a year, from 7:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. The facility is licensed to serve 18 adults at a time and currently has 25 full- and part-time enrollees. The cost is up to $41 per day, with Medicaid and Veterans' benefits for those who are eligible.

For more information contact Director Alison Galway at 1-3160 or agalway@vt.edu. Displays will be available at 102 Wallace during national ADS week. Information is also available at .

Anger, stress-management class offered

The Psychological Services Center will offer a 10-week anger and stress-management class beginning on October 3. Weekly group sessions will be held at 3110 Prices Fork Road on Wednesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. The cost is $200. For more information or to register, call 1-6914. Space is limited.

Hispanic heritage

featured

By Clara B. Cox From Hispanic cuisine in Dietrick Dining Center to a special presentation by Pablo Davis, Latin American historian and current assistant dean of students at the University of Virginia, the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Virginia Tech offers a range of events to increase awareness of Hispanic cultural traditions.

(See HISPANIC on 3)

Greenways

conference set

By Lynn Davis The Governor's Conference on Greenways and Blueways will be held on October 1-3 at the Ramada Plaza Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, in tandem with the governor's Virginia Naturally 2000 initiative to promote life-long learning about the state's natural resources. A group of state and national agencies, including the Virginia Department of Conservation and

(See GREENWAYS on 3)

Writers conference

scheduled

By Sally Harris Award-winning author John Casey will be the keynote speaker for the 16th Annual Blue Ridge Writers Conference at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center Saturday, Sept. 30. A native of Worcester, Mass., Casey won the 1989 National Book Award for fiction with his novel Spartina. He was also the recipient of

(See WRITERS on 4)

Falco play produced

By Sally Harris When award-winning writer and Virginia Tech English Professor Ed Falco takes his seat in Squires Studio Theatre for the Friday, Sept. 29, production of his play, Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha, he will have an Emmywinning actress and an award-winning writer/ director as his guests. Falco's family will be there, including his niece, Edie Falco, who stars in the HBO series The Sopranos. She has won one Emmy (and is

(See FALCO on 4)

EMPLOYMENT

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2000 SPECTRUM 3

CLASSIFIED POSITIONS

FULL TIME Animal Care Supervisor, 6998J, Grade 11, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Animal Care Technician B, 496J, Grade 5, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Applications Analyst, 002145L, Grade 0, Web Application Research/Development. Applications Analyst, 001226L, Grade 0, Web Application Research/Development. Assistant Manager, 1033H, Grade 8, RDP/ Dietrick Dining Center. Assistant Manager, 6522H, Grade 6, RDP/ Dietrick Express. Assistant to Director of Annual Giving, 002226L, Grade 6, University Development. Assistant Video Coordinator, 007671J, Grade 7, Athletics. Banquet Manager (Food Operations Manager Assistant), 1118G, Grade 6, DBHCC. Budget Analyst, 006927T, Grade 10, Budget/Financial Planning. Computer Systems Engineer, 6991J, Grade 14, RGS. Computer Systems Engineer, 0180T, Grade 14, Computer Science. Conference Registration Specialist, 006677G, Grade 6, Continuing Education. Contracts Manager (Capital Outlay Program Manager), 2391G, Grade 14, Capital Design/Construction. Development Associate, 2179L, Grade 6, University Development. Dishwash, 2947H, Grade 1, Residential/ Dining Programs/Shultz Dining Center. Editor, Virginia Tech Magazine, 0654L, Grade 12, University Relations/Outreach Communications. Electrician, 7565G, Grade 7, Physical Plant. Equipment Repair Supervisor, 000253G, Grade 9, Motor Pool. Executive Assistant, 004001T, Grade 7, CPES. Executive Assistant, 007672T, Grade 8, VBI. Executive Chef, 0266H, Grade 10, RDP/ Shultz Dining Center. Facility Manager, 007240J, Grade 8, Recreational Sports. Six full-time food-operations positions available; three part-time positions. Grounds Worker, 007334J, Grade 0, Recreational Sports. Grounds Worker Senior, 000303G, Grade 3, PPG/Recycling/Solid Waste.

Housekeeping Lead Worker/Special Projects Crew, 0216H, Grade 2, RDP.

Housekeeping Supervisor, 0824H, Grade 4, RDP.

Housekeeping Worker, 1631G, Grade 1, DBHCC.

Housekeeping Worker, 2846J, Grade 1, Recreational Sports.

Housekeeping Worker, 0278H, Grade 1, RDP.

Housekeeping Worker Senior, 2745H, Grade 3, RDP.

Housekeeping Worker Senior, 6926H, Grade 3, RDP.

Instructional Design Technician, 007669J, Grade 10, Veterinary Medicine.

Interpreter for Deaf, 7472J, Grade 8, Dean of Students.

Key Control Coordinator, 001670H, Grade 5, RDP/Facilities/Services.

Laboratory Specialist, 007668M, Grade 8, Biochemistry.

Laboratory Specialist, 007031M, Grade 8, Veterinary Medicine.

Laboratory Specialist Advanced, 003373M, Grade 11, BSE.

Laboratory Specialist Advanced, 003068M, Grade 11, BSE.

Laboratory Specialist Senior, 7546J, Grade 9, Veterinary Medicine.

Laboratory Specialist Senior, 7302M, Grade 9, Biochemistry.

Medical Technologist, 2596J, Grade 9, Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Medical Technologist (Surgical Ward Technician), 2637J, Grade 9, Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Plumber Steamfitter, 000709G, Grade 7, Physical Plant.

Program Support Technician, 007670J, Grade 6, Athletics--Sports Information.

Program Support Technician, 000883J, Grade 6, Graduate School.

Program Support Technician, 003350M, Grade 6, Fisheries/Wildlife Sciences.

Program Support Technician, 0028T, Grade 6, Scholarships/Financial Aid.

Program Support Technician, 1522T, Grade 6, Political Science.

Program Support Technician, W022876T, Grade 6, Undergraduate Admissions.

Public Relations Coordinator, 6875L, Grade 12, University Relations/Provost.

Recycle Coordinator, 6724H, Grade 2, RDP.

Research Software Developer, 7637T, Grade 14, VBI.

Security Lead Guard (Parking Enforcement Off.), W020119G, Grade 3, Parking Ser-

vices. Security Lead Guard (Parking Enforce-

ment Off.), 007038G, Grade 3, Parking Services.

Security Lead Guard (Parking Enforcement Off.), 7653G, Grade 3, Parking Services.

Sous Chef, 0940H, Grade 8, RDP/ Southgate Bake Shop.

Student Services Specialist, 007648T, Grade 8, University Honors--Provost.

Systems Administrator, 007636T, Grade 16, VBI.

Telecommunications Analyst, 000157A, Grade 8, CNS.

PART TIME Agricultural Technician B, W022203J, Grade 5, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Animal Care Tech B, W022914J, Grade 5, Veterinary Medicine. Animal Care Technician A, W022155J, Grade 3, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Banquet/Setup (Foa-b), W022143G, Grade 2, DBHCC. Enrollment Services Assistant, W022462T, Grade 7, Undergraduate Admissions. Fiscal Assistant, W023128M, Grade 5, Animal/Poultry Sciences. Fiscal Assistant, W022977M, Grade 5, Biochemistry. Fiscal Assistant, W023088T, Grade 5, Women's Center. Highway Equipment Operator C, W023114T, Grade 6, Chemistry. Housekeeping Worker, W020574G, Grade 1, DBHCC. Housekeeping Worker, W022490H, Grade 1, RDP. Laboratory Mechanic A, W023110T, Grade 4, University Registrar. Laboratory Specialist, W023103M, Grade 8, Horticulture. Laboratory Technician Senior, W022934M, Grade 5, Fisheries/Wildlife Sciences. Laboratory Technician Senior, W020117G, Grade 5, EHSS. Office Services Assistant, W022390T, Grade 4, Registrar. Office Services Assistant, W023126F, Grade 4, University Libraries. Office Services Assistant, W022875T, Grade 4, Undergraduate Admissions. Office Services Assistant, W020838J, Grade 4, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Office Services Specialist, W023129F, Grade 4, University Libraries. Pharmacy Assistant A, W020839J, Grade 4, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Pharmacy Supervisor, W022501J, Grade 15, Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Program Support Technician, W023121J, Grade 6, Educational Leadership/ Policy Studies.

Program Support Technician, W023123, Grade 6, RDP/Marketing/Conference Services.

Program Support Technician, W023092F, Grade 6, University Libraries/Digital Library/Archives.

Radiologic Technologist, W022238J, Grade 7, Health Center.

Storekeeper, W022291J, Grade 4, Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Web Designer, W022976H, Grade 8, RDP.

Wildlife Biologist, W023120J, Grade 11, Veterinary Medicine. OFF CAMPUS

Area Information Technologist, 006934M, Grade 7, AHNR Information Technology/Agriculture.

Announcer, W020800L, Grade 8, University Relations/WVTF.

Development Associate, 7663L, Grade 6, EMC/University Development.

Office Services Assistant, 006808J, Grade 4, HNFE.

Program Support Technician, 6211M, Grade 6, VCE.

FACULTY POSITIONS

INSTRUCTIONAL Pamplin College of Business. Faculty Positions. Contact: Richard Sorensen, 1030 Pamplin (0209). Review begins May 4. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. Assistant/Associate Professor of Food Animal Production Management Medicine. Contact: Craig Thatcher, Phase II (0442). Review begins December 1.

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL VCE. Extension Agent, Agriculture/ Natural Resources. #FA759, Stafford Co. Contact: Steve Umberger, 121 Hutcheson (0437). Review begins October 16. VCE. Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development (re-advertisement). #FA695, Sussex Co. Contact: Robert Meadows, 121 Hutcheson (0437). Review begins October 16. VCE. Executive Director, Virginia 4-H Foundation/Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development. #111854. Contact: Robert Meadows, 121 Hutcheson (0437). Review begins October 16. Software Technologies Laboratory. Software Research Engineer. Contact: Bert Hubbard, STL, 1900 Kraft Dr., Suite 105, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Review begins immediately.

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE INIVERSITY

Spectrum, a faculty-staff tabloid, is published each Friday during the academic year, with the exception of certain holidays, exam weeks, and the summer. Copy deadline is noon Friday. No advertising is accepted.

Spectrum is a non-profit publication of the Office of University Relations: Lawrence G. Hincker, associate vice president for University Relations; David Nutter, associate director for Public Affairs.

Editor John Ashby, 1-6961

Assistant Editor Kimberly Richards-Thomas, 1-8538

Production Manager Melinda Shaver, 1-8524

Business Manager 1-8819

Letters to the editor and questions for "Ask Spectrum" should be addressed to the editor, 105 Media Building, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Electronic Spectrum:

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination or accessibility regarding the programs described in this newspaper should contact the Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Office: 540-231-7500 (v), 540-231-9460 (TTY).

HISPANIC

Continued from 2

The featured event during the month-long celebration, which began September 15 and ends October 15, will be the keynote address by Pablo Davis, UVA's first Hispanic student affairs dean. Davis, who has taught the history and culture of Latin America and comparative history of the Americas at several colleges and universities, will speak on "Not on the Margins: Latino/ Hispanic Culture as World Civilization" on October 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Haymarket Theatre.

An informal discussion will precede the presentation at 4 p.m. in the Black Cultural Center, 126 Squires. A reception will follow the presentation at 8:30 p.m. in the Black Cultural Center. The address and receptions, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by the Hispanic Heritage Month Steering Committee. For additional information, call 1-3787.

Other events during Hispanic Heritage Month include the following, which are free except where noted.

September 26: Ray Plaza, residence director, and the Virginia Tech Lambda Psi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, National Honor Hispanic Society, will co-host a discussion about the book Like Water for Chocolate, written by Laura Esquivel.

The 4 p.m. discussion will be held in the Black Cultural Center. For additional information, call the Dean of Students Office, which sponsors the event, at 1-3787/TDD 1-8718.

October 9: Soup and Substance will feature "The Second Wave: Hispanic Immigration-- Where Are We Headed? Your Casa Is Not My Casa!"

October 10: Dietrick Dining Center will feature authentic cuisine in Copacabana Night Dining and Dancing from 4:30-7 p.m. The meal is hosted and sponsored by Residential and Dining Programs. For more information, call Ray Plaza at 1-3266.

Hispanic Heritage Month was initiated by the United States Congress as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 and expanded to a month in 1989. It was designed to encourage awareness of Hispanic culture among all United State citizens.

Members of the steering committee for the month-long celebration at Virginia Tech include Edwin A. Larroy, chair; Michelle Vignoli, student co-chair; Ray Plaza; Alicia Cohen, Peter McCourt, Iris Andino, and Kimberly Philpott. Student Affairs grants have provided funding support.

For the latest updates on Hispanic Heritage Month visit the Multicultural Programs web site at or call the Dean of Students Office at 1-3787/TDD 1-8718.

GREENWAYS

Continued from 2 Recreation, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Tech Division of Continuing Education are sponsoring the event. Conference speakers will include nationally recognized greenway experts, Dave Crockett , director of Chattanooga Institute for Sustainability, Mark Fenton, editor-at-large of Walking magazine; Randall Arendt, director of Natural Lands Trust; and Peter Labor, director of North American Water Trails. The conference will highlight the importance of greenways and how to create them. A greenway is "an open-space connector linking parks, nature reserves, cultural feature, or historic sites with each other and with populated areas," according to Charles E. Little in "Greenways for America."

Greenways help to preserve the biological diversity of plant and animal species and other natural resources by providing a buffer between the developed environment and the natural landscape.

The conference is open to the public. For more information and on-line registration go to , or call 1-3237.

4 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2000

IN OTHER NEWS

Sumner named head of food science and technology; Vinson leaving dairy science

By Stewart MacInnis Susan Sumner, a faculty member in the Department of Food Science and Technology for four years, has been named head of that department. Andy Swiger, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), announced the appointment September 15 following a national search for a new department head. The post has been vacant since July 1, when Cameron Hackney left the position to become dean of agriculture at West Virginia University.

MENTORING

Continued from 1

The mentoring program kicked-off its 2000-01 initiatives with a luncheon on August 9. That event targeted those mentors identified by membership in the Office Managers Development Group (OMDG), attendees of the June 13 Mentoring Evaluation Program, and prospective mentors, yielding 12 mentees and 21 mentors. Any additional classified employees interested in joining the program as a mentor or mentee should contact Robin Atkins at atkinsrw@vt.edu or 1-1820 today.

Atkins, Vickie Carroll, Shelia Collins, and Carolyne Dudding form the committee that wrote the original Affirmative Action Incentive Grant proposal for the project. The four women are members of the OMDG and developed and operated the mentoring program.

One of the objectives of the program is to facilitate the development and retention of new minority classified employees to office-manager positions.

Other objectives are to enhance and develop a communication network within the office managers profession, to encourage present staff members in office-management positions to exercise leadership skills, and to provide an opportunity for cross training and shared learning between departments and colleges as a method of improving the quality of service. Organizers have designed and will soon implement a reference handbook for program participants.

"Previously, this type of opportunity was

WRITERS

Continued from 2

a MacArthur Grant in 1992. His most recent novel is The Half Life of Happiness. He resides in Charlottesville, where he is professor of English literature at the University of Virginia. Casey will lead a workshop on writing fiction.

In addition to Casey's talk, this year's conference includes morning and afternoon workshops in a variety of genres with workshop speakers Diane Dawson Hearn, Laurie Kutchins, Simone Poirier-Bures, Hope Miller, and board members Katherine Neville and Don Secreast.

Hearn, from Blacksburg, has been writing stories and drawing pictures for them ever since her childhood in Montclair, N.J. Her books include Dad's Dinosaur Day, Bad Luck Boswell, and Anna in the Garden. She will lead workshop sessions on writing and illustrating children's books.

The conference begins at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome by this year's president, Ann Goette, and is followed by a panel discussion led by the workshop speakers on "How I got my first book published."

Registration costs $60 ($30 for full-time students) and includes morning refreshments, lunch, and attendance at all sessions.

Persons interested in attending can register on line at or call the conference registrar at 1-5182. For more information, call Beverly Turner at 12188.

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S.PostagePAID

Blacksburg,VAPermitNo.28

"Dr. Sumner has impressed both the faculty here and people in the food-processing industry across the state with her knowledge and ability," Swiger said. "She has been an extremely productive faculty member, and she has the leadership skills and vision to carry the department forward on many fronts over the next few years."

Sumner has a program of research, Extension, and teaching in food microbiology. Since joining the Virginia Tech faculty she has conducted research into edible films as microbial barriers and the decontamination of pathogenic

not available at Virginia Tech in a formal capacity," the committee stated in its 2000 proposal. "The program provides a significant opportunity for new minority employees to create or enhance their comfort level and allows the ability to `tap into' an already existing network of experienced office managers."

The committee envisions the program becoming successful enough to evolve into a university program administered on a regular basis by Personnel Services.

The first phase of the program, which received $1,500 in grant support, ended in June "with great success," Atkins said. The first phase successfully matched nine mentors with eight mentees and has received commitments to double those numbers during the second phase, which received full funding of $2,500.

The program is supported by the Office Managers Development Group, University Leadership Development, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Personnel Services, and the dean and staff association of the College of Arts and Sciences.

For more information, contact Atkins at atkinsrw@vt.edu, Carroll at carrollv@vt.edu, Collins at shcolli4@vt.edu, or Dudding at usnavy@vt.edu.

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line student-testing company, will be the guest speaker for the luncheon. The highlight of the forum will be a networking reception and a dinner with keynote speaker Dobbs that evening. After a distinguished career at CNN that included anchor for Moneyline News Hour and Business Unusual, Dobbs founded and is now chairman and chief executive officer of the company. His list of awards and recognitions include the 1999 Horatio Alger Association Award for Distinguished Americans, the George Foster Peabody Award, the Luminary Award, and CableACE, Janus, and Emmy awards.

On the second day of the forum, selected entrepreneurs will present their companies' business concepts and financial needs directly to investors. One-on-one discussions will be available in break-out rooms.

"This will provide an exceptional

VirginiaTech Blacksburg,VA24061

microorganisms on fresh produce and poultry. Her Extension efforts have focused on foodsafety education for the food industry. She has been the Extension project leader for the department for the last three years.

Sumner earned her bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University, and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin. Before coming to Virginia Tech, she worked for the National Food Processors' Association and was a faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Merle Pierson, professor of food science and technology, has been acting head of the department since Hackney stepped down. Sumner's appointment takes effect October 1. In other CALS news, W.E. Vinson, head of the Dairy Science Department, has announced that

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complemented his courses. "Virginia Tech has industry-oriented courses, so I could apply what I learned. The job also gave me a clearer sense of direction and my course selection takes into account the skills I will need."

The company appreciated and took advantage of his abilities, he says. "I took the initiative and led a team to completion of a small project. When my manager wrote on my evaluation that I had leadership potential, the company put me on other projects that could benefit from that ability."

He says that positive experience has resulted in a new mindset--a leadership mentality that he tries to apply to all his projects.

McKeon said evaluations from employers are consistently good and often enthusiastic. "They appreciate the skills and energy that students bring to their workplace." For ex-

opportunity to solicit funding directly from the investment community," Phillips said.

A separate training session will be organized in advance to give participants an opportunity to practice their presentations and receive professional evaluations.

The luncheon speaker on the second day will be Mitch Mumma, a general partner with Intersouth Partners out of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, one of the oldest venture funds in the Southeast.

In addition to Virginia Tech, sponsors of the forum include SpaceVest, the Center for Innovative Technology, Wachovia, Wodds, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C., Wireless Valley Communications, Inc., and the Center for Organizational & Technological Advancement.

Conference registration deadline is October 5. For more information, contact Phillips at 19212 or send an e-mail to capitalaccessforum@vt.edu. To register on line, visit .

he will step down from that position November 1 to take up duties as associate dean for research at the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences at West Virginia University.

Vinson was appointed acting department head in 1986, and was subsequently appointed to the position permanently. He joined the faculty at Virginia Tech in 1971.

"Dr. Vinson has made many important contributions to our dairy science program," Swiger said. "He certainly will provide important attributes as the research leader for the programs at West Virginia University."

Charles Stallings, a dairy science professor, will take up duties as acting department head while a national search is conducted for a permanent replacement.

ample, a letter from Qualcom praised a student's exceptional problem-solving skills and significant contributions, and praised him as a productive member of the team.

Jacob's advice to students considering coop employment is, "Focus. Be sure of what you want to get into. Network and gather information on the different kinds of opportunities available. And be a leader; take the initiative. It is a trait that will get you far in the workplace."

The following statistics show the increasing number of graduate students participating in co-op education, especially in this past year, and a generally increasing percentage of Northern Virginia Center graduate students.

NSF

Continued from 1 R. Dunlap, research associate in the Center for Human-Computer Interaction and Ph.D. candidate in science and technology studies at Virginia Tech; Philip L. Isenhour, research associate in the Center for Human-Computer Interaction; Andrea L. Kavanaugh, director of research for the Blacksburg Electronic Village; and Dennis C. Neale, research associate in the Center for Human-Computer Interaction and Ph.D. candidate in industrial and systems engineering at Virginia Tech. Web-site addresses are hci.vt.edu and .

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up for another on September 10) for outstanding performance by a leading actress in a drama series, one Golden Globe Award, and one Screen Actors Guild Award.

Eric Mendelsohn also will be in the audience with the Falco family. Mendelsohn's short film Through an Open Window won universal acclaim at various international film festivals, including the Gold Hugo prize for Best Dramatic Short at the 1992 Chicago International Film Festival and the 1992 Cine Golden Eagle.

The Virginia Tech Department of Theatre Arts will produce Ed Falco's play September 28-30 and October 3-7 at 8 p.m., and October 1 at 2 p.m. David Johnson will direct, with Susanna Rinehart of the Theatre Arts Department in the lead.

Edie Falco and Mendelsohn will conduct a forum for the Theater Arts Department Friday, Sept. 29, at 3:30 in the Studio Theater.

For information about Falco's play or the forum for the theater arts department, call the Theatre Arts Management Office at 1-7623. For information about the reception, call the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center at 1-6795.

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