The Reporter, April 1982

The Reporter is a publication produced by Western Carolina University featuring news, events, and campus community updates for faculty and staff. The publication began in August of 1970 and continues digitally today. Click on the link in the “Related Materials” field to access recent issues.DEATHTRAP SET FOR APRIL 6 sive wife, Myra, played by Atlanta actress Laura Whyte. Add to that the suspicions of the neighbor, who happens to be very high on ESP, and the performance becomes an evening-long game of hide-and- seek, where every member of the audience becomes a psychic, albeit with on-again, off-again powers. Playwright Levin won a Tony Award nomination for Deathtrap and became widely known for his novel Rosemary's Baby. Other successful works by Levin include the inter­national best-seller The Boys From Brazil and the plays, Critics Choice, Drat! The Cat!, and Veronica's Room. The Hippodrome Theatre, lo­cated in Gainesville, Fla., produces theater year-round on its own stage and takes to the highway once a year with one of its most popular shows. This year's tour of Deathtrap will stop in 30 cities in 10 states. The performance at WCU is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Southern Arts Federation, of which the N.C. Arts Council is a member. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for non-WCU students, and $1 for WCU students with valid identification cards. Admission is free to LCE subscribers. The Hippodrome Theatre of Florida will perform Ira Levin's comedy thriller Deathtrap Tuesday, April 6, at 8 p.m. in Hoey Auditori­um as part of WCU's Lec­tures, Concerts and Exhibi­tions series. Walter Kerr of The New York Times has described Deathtrap as "an absolute knockout of a suspense melodrama...Where most thrillers build structures for concealment—false wigs, transposed identi­ties, hidden weapons—Mr. Levin has brazenly opted for revealing all, showing us the naked machinery, in­viting us to compete in putting the pieces into the jigsaw. And surprised us anyway." New York actor Richard Bowden stars as Sidney Bruhl, the award-winning author of many good thrillers who hasn't had a hit since, as he testily puts it, the days of King Arthur. The desperate victim of writ­er's block, Bruhl snarls bitterly when he receives a play called Deathtrap written by one of his former students. The play, he announces, is absolute perfection. With the mind of a suspense playwright, Bruhl imagines how jolly it would be if he could kill the young man who wrote the manuscript and appropriate the play for himself. And so the suspense begins. Bruhl's remark may be just idle fantasy, but for some rea­son it quickens the nerves of his apprehen- Advance tickets are available the week of the performance in Room 460 UA/MHC. For more information, call ext. 7234. -2- WCU OFFERS LAB STUDIES FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS For several summers, Western has offered laboratory studies in chemistry, computer science, and digital electronics for high-ability high school students with the help of National Science Foundation funds. Al­though the NSF funds are no longer available, WCU will offer the program again this year on a totally self-supporting basis. The five-week program, July 4 through Aug. 6, admits 30 of next year's outstanding juniors and seniors and is designed to pro­vide extensive laboratory experience in three academic areas, to present an inte­grated view of them as career fields, and to give high school students some experi­ence at college before they choose the college they plan to attend. "The project should be fun, but applicants should remember that it is predicated on ability, discipline, and hard work," pro­gram director Hubert Youmans said. Dr. Youmans is a veteran of 18 years of science teaching with nine years of industrial experience in chemistry. "In this project," Dr. Youmans explained, "learning is determined by the initiative of the students in the laboratories and library. The faculty will lecture very little. Instead, students will spend about two hours daily in each of three laborato­ries: digital electronics, computer pro­gramming in BASIC and assembly languages, and chemistry. We will devote an hour seminar daily to problems encountered in the laboratories. "This is not a research project. It is an intensive experience in high level science and technology. Our manuals emphasize discovery. They require ability, initia­tive, and an inquiring attitude. They are not cookbooks, but lead students into ex­perimental design and search for solutions to problems," Dr. Youmans said. The program includes field trips to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the American Museum of Energy, and American Enka's re­search and pilot laboratories. Saturday trips will be basically nature outings— waterfall tours, hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the like. Applications will be accepted until May 1. For application information, contact Dr. Youmans in the department of chemistry (ext. 7260). MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR LIBRARY CLERK PLANNED A memorial service for Gloria N. Evans, an assistant in the Circulation Department of Hunter Library, will be held Tuesday, April 6, at Cullowhee Methodist Church be­ginning at 11:30 a.m. Mrs. Evans died March 24 in a Ruston, La., hospital after an extended illness. She had worked in Hunter Library for 11 years. Surviving are her mother, Mrs. C.O. Nelson, and a daughter, Lynn Farrar, both of Ruston; a sister, Patsy N. Hinton of Vancouver, British Columbia; and three granddaughters. Services and burial took place in Ruston, Mrs. Evans's hometown, on March 26. BRAIN EXPERT SPEAKS HERE APRIL 7 A well-known neurologist who has written books on the human brain and how it affects man's behavior will speak at Western Wednesday and Thursday, April 7-8. Richard M. Restak will give a public lec­ture at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, in the Music-English recital hall. His topic will be "Is Your Brain Used or Abused? Applied Aspects of Research on Brain Spe­cialization." The lecture is open to the public free of charge. Dr. Restak also will hold several meetings Wednesday and Thursday with interested students and faculty members. In his book, The Brain: The Last Frontier (Doubleday and Company Inc., 1979), Dr. Restak discusses "the physical functions of the brain as the basis of man's mental and emotional capabilities—and liabili­ties." He explores such probing questions as, "Will an infant deprived of close physical contact develop psychopathic ten­dencies?", "Are behavioral differences be­tween the sexes founded in neurological fact?", and "Can senility be diagnosed be­fore its symptoms appear?" He explores the human mind through psychobiology, which combines brain and behavior sciences. -3- Dr. Restak's first book, Premeditated Man, was selected by The New York Times as one of the "Notable Books of 1975." His current research deals with brain lateralization and specialization. Dr. Restak, who is on the teaching faculty at Georgetown University School of Medicine, is the first in a series of visiting schol­ars to speak at Western as part of a two-year scholarly program on "Critical Issues and Current Trends in Education and Psychol­ogy/ 1 sponsored by WCU's School of Education and Psychology. His visit also is spon­sored by the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. SPIDER EXPERT DONATES BOOK COLLECTION Peter N. Witt, the Swiss-born pharmacolo­gist known worldwide for his pioneering research on the effects of LSD, marijuana, and other drugs on spiders1 web building, has donated his personal collection of spider literature to Western. The collection, valued at more than $2,500, contains about 150 volumes of diverse and rare spider literature published in Germany, France, Britain, and the United States from 1738 to the present. Among the volumes are serials, children's books, and scholarly monographs, including current publications and rare books with hand-painted color plates. Dr. Witt also gave the university about 50 black-and-white photographs of unusually constructed webs spun in his laboratory by spiders under the influence of mind-alter­ing drugs, including caffeine. Each drug produced characteristic changes in the webs. The collection will be housed in Hunter Library's special collections department, to be located on the second floor in the renovated portion of the newly expanded library. Dr. Witt, who recently retired from spider research and a 15-year career as chief of research for the N.C. Department of Mental Health at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, cited several reasons for giving his life­long collection to Western. He said significant spider research is be­ing done at WCU by two arachnologists and personal friends, John McCrone and Frederick Coyle, and he wanted his collection to remain in North Carolina. "I also wanted to get these kinds of stimulating things into a place that's not exactly in the center of academic life like the Research Triangle is," he added. With the Witt collection, WCU joins Har­vard University, Cornell University, and the University of Florida in owning one of the top four university collections on spider literature in the country, said Dr. McCrone, dean of WCU's School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. McCrone met Dr. Witt some 30 years ago when McCrone, then a biology undergraduate at Northeastern University in Boston, was working in a Harvard Medical School laboratory under a cooperative education program. Dr. Witt was doing experiments in the same lab. "Our hope is to have a comprehensive collection on spiders to support research here and to make information available to students and visiting scholars," Dr. McCrone said. The author of more than 150 scientific publications, Dr. Witt is senior editor of a newly released book entitled Spider Com­munication: Mechanisms and Ecological Significance (Princeton University Press, 1982). His contributions to spider re­search, particularly spider behavior, were chronicled in the January issue of Geo Magazine. ANNOUNCEMENTS A TV FEATURE ON WESTERN'S SPIDER RESEARCH is scheduled to air on WLOS-TV (Channel 13) Saturday, April 3, on the program "Main-street Magazine." The show begins at 7 p.m. IF YOU ARE ATTENDING THE PROPOSAL-WRITING workshop at N.C. State April 7-8, you may want to share transportation being provided by the Office of Research Administration. To get the most from the workshop, have your idea partially outlined beforehand. Contact Beth Fields in Research Administra­tion (ext. 7480) if you are interested. TO BUY STATE RETIREMENT SERVICE CREDIT: Under certain conditions, state employees may purchase credit for periods when state retirement accounts are closed. If you are a former employee of another state, a former North Carolina retirement member, or a military veteran, you may purchase credit for the time you were not in the -4- state system. A legislative amendment has extended the time period when you may opt to purchase from three to six years, but it's still less expensive to buy credit within the first three years after you are first eligible. You are first eligible when you have com­pleted 10 years of state service. Within the first three years after this, you pay only the employee share of the state retire­ment for the years you were not in the sys­tem, unless you are buying credit based on prior out-of-state employment, in which case you pay both employee and employer shares. In the next three years, you may still purchase credit by buying both shares (for former employees of other states, it costs a little more after the first three years because of the way it's figured.) So, if you completed 10 years of state service on or after June 30, 1979, and are otherwise eligible to buy some time toward your state retirement, you've got until your anniversary date of 13 years of N.C. state service in 1982 to purchase credit without extra cost. You can still do it at the higher cost if you completed your 10 years of state service on or after June 30, 1976. For more details, call ext. 7218. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE ON CAMPUS FOR History Day Friday, April 9. A presentation on n0ur Appalachian Heritage," a teacher's workshop on teaching American Indian his­tory, and the judging of projects and per­formances will highlight the day. WCU history faculty along with Clyde Ray of CIML and Sam Gray of the Mountain Heritage Center will be involved in the day's activities. A LIMITED SUPPLY OF DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR Six Flags Over Georgia are available for university employees. Come by the Univer­sity Personnel office, 330 UA/MHC, between 8 and 5 weekdays or call ext. 7218. REGION I OF THE N.C. MEDICAL RECORD Asso­ciation will hold its quarterly business and educational meeting Tuesday, April 13, in 102 Moore Hall. The all-day meeting will feature information on advanced cod­ing and new state hospital laws. THE SECOND SPRING READING OF FICTION AND Poetry sponsored by the English department will be held Wednesday, April 7, at 3:15 p.m. in 419 Music-English. Several under­graduates will read their stories and poems along with English faculty members Janis Mercer and Michael White and WCU staff member Elizabeth Addison. A FUND-RAISING CAT-A-THON IS SET FOR Saturday, April 24, at 10 a.m. The Uni­versity Development Office and the Big Cat Club will hold the jog-a-thon to raise funds for the WCU athletic scholarship fund and for participating organizations, with monies being split 50-50. Joggers will earn money by having sponsors pay a certain amount for each lap they run, walk, or jog around WCU's quarter mile track in one hour. Any recognized group or organi­zation may participate. Individuals may participate by jogging for any team or or­ganization they wish. Pick up registra­tion and sponsor forms in 401 UA/MHC. FACULTY PUBLICATIONS James R. Nicholl. "Computers in English Instruction: The Dream and the Reality," in North Carolina English Teacher, 39 (Winter 1982), 1-6. Michael C. White. "Kindling," in Crucible, Spring 1982. Jimmie Cook. "Teacher as Advisor," in Early Years, March 1982. NAMES IN THE NEWS GORDON MERCER (head, Political Science and Public Affairs) conducted a workshop on or­ganizational development for faculty and students at Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, N.C., March 18. The workshop was sponsored by Pi Gamma Mu, an international honor society. STAFF POSITION VACANCIES Apply at the Personnel Office, 330 UA/MHC, within _5 working days from the date of this publication unless otherwise stated. HOURLY CLERK-TYPIST (III), Nursing Depart­ment; hourly rate, $4.45 per hour; high school or equivalency, one year of secre­tarial experience, and be able to pass typing test at 44 Net WPM. Prefer know­ledge of University policies and procedures and a basic knowledge of computer program­ming and terminal operation. NO FRINGE BENEFITS. NON-STATE FUNDED. Th A Weekly Newsletter for the Faculty and Staff of Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina April 9, 1982 HEALTH FAIR SCREENINGS AT WCU APRIL 19 The highly successful Health Fair program with free health screening tests will re­turn to Western Monday, April 19, from noon until 7 p.m. in the Grandroom of Hinds University Center. Last year the WCU site was attended by more people than any site in the 27-county west­ern region and indications are that there will be excellent attendance for Health Fair f82. The Health Fair program, sponsored re­gionally by Asheville's WLOS-TV, is in­tended to alert individuals to possible health problems. The Health Fair tests do not take the place of a physical examina­tion by a doctor. Free screening tests include height, weight, anemia, and vision. There is an optional blood chemistry test for $8 which provides more than $100 of screening. Re­ferral and counseling also are part of the Health Fair free services. Health Fair f82 is open to everyone 18 years of age or older. Those planning to take the blood chemistry tests should re­frain from eating or drinking anything but water or black coffee for four hours prior to the tests. Participants should take regular prescribed medications and bring them to the Health Fair. Western Carolina University will be one of four Health Fair locations in Jackson County. Other locations, dates, and times are the Qualla Civic Center in Cherokee, Friday, April 16, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.; the Community Services Center in Sylva, Wednesday, April 21, from noon until 7 p.m.; and Blue Ridge School in Cashiers-Glenville, Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL EXPANDS TO ONE WEEK Travel lovers looking for an affordable way to enjoy the native art of Africa, the reggae music of Jamaica, or the exotic cuisine of Singapore have only to look for International Emphasis Week, April 13-17, at Western. International week will feature special one-day programs on Africa, Jamaica, and Asia, complete with films, slide shows, lectures, cultural art displays, and authentic for­eign foods for the sampling. But the highlight of the weeklong gala is Friday's third annual international festi­val which promises to transform the Grand-room of Hinds University Center into a smorgasbord of sights, sounds, and smells from at least 20 foreign countries. People from these countries, who belong to WCU's international community, will don native costumes at the festival and prepare representative dishes to be served at more than 30 display booths. The festival, set from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. April 16, is open to the public free of charge as are all the week's events. Visi­tors, however, may want to bring along their wallets as international crafts and foods will be sold at the festival. As in years past, the festival is sponsored by WCU's International Student Organiza­tion and Office for Student Development. This year, the two groups are devoting a full week to international displays and programs bearing the theme, "Appalachla and the World." "Our main goal is to promote international understanding and feelings of friendship among people of all nationalities at the -2- university and in the local community," said Starlett Craig, WCU international stu­dent advisor. The week's activities begin Tuesday, April 13, with Africa Day. The events of this day, to be held in Killian 104, include a continuous showing of films on Africa from 10 a.m. until noon and a slide presenta­tion entitled "West Africa Today" at 3 p.m. From 4:30 until 5:30 p.m., African students will present a panel discussion on "Growing Up in Africa." At 6 p.m., visitors can sample mafoa njoni or "good food" from Africa. At 7:30, they may see a film, "Black and White in Africa." Another special attraction is an African exhibit on display now through April 17 in Hunter Library. The exhibit features art work, native cloth, pottery, statues, photo­graphs, and letters. Additional sponsors for Africa Day are the Danforth Foundation and WCU's CIML. Wednesday, April 14, will be Jamaica Day. Activities, including special programs, slides, lectures, and exhibits, will be held during the day in the Faculty Lounge on the third floor of the University Center. Activities for Asia Day will be held Thurs­day, April 15, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the UC Grandroom. Following the international festival on Friday, international students at WCU and their host families are invited to a Carifesta, or special banquet and dance, from 6 until 9 p.m. Saturday, April 17, in the Grandroom. The banquet will feature a Jamaican meal planned by Rhoda Evans, a food nutrition major from Jamaica, and pre­pared by the university's cafeteria staff. The Carifesta is sponsored in part by Last Minute Production's Minority Concerns Com­mittee. Countries to be represented during the week include: Gambia, India, Holland, Iran, Jamaica, Cameroon, Santo Domingo, Venezuela, Bahamas, Jordan, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Nigeria, Thailand, Colombia, Vietnam, Argentina, El Salvador, Liberia, Denmark, France, and Spain. For more information on WCU's International Emphasis Week, call Starlett Craig at ext. 7147. NEW SHOW IN CHELSEA OPENS TUESDAY An exhibit of sculpture and drawings by two Gainesville, Fla., artists will open in Western Carolina University's Chelsea Gallery at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 13. The sculpture by Joanna Clark and drawings by Nancy C. Ward will remain on display through May 14. Clark concentrates her three-dimensional forms in wood, often using images from Greek and Roman mythology and Egyptian ar­chaeology. She teaches sculpture, three-dimensional design, and crafts at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville and holds bachelor and master degrees from New Mexico State University. In 1972, she earned a master of fine arts degree from Maryland Institute's College of Art. Ward uses graphite, oils, and colored pen­cil to render her two-dimensional works. Also a teacher at Santa Fe Community Col­lege, she holds bachelor and master de­grees from the University of Florida. In 1966, she did post-graduate studies at the University of New Mexico. According to critics, both artists seem more interested in the formal rather than symbolic aspects of their work, although the end result for both suggests a reality beyond the physical. WCU FACULTY RECEIVE SDIP MINI-GRANTS Nine WCU faculty have been awarded SDIP mini-grants for summer study or internship at other institutional sites. The mini-grants provide up to $2,500 in support for investigating new instructional approaches, expanding knowledge of a discipline, ex­ploring new subject areas, or undertaking other activities that relate to specific teaching objectives. With mini-grant support, LEWIS SUTTON (Modern Foreign Languages) will partici­pate in the University of Misssisippi's Summer Study in Spain Program. He plans to increase his knowledge of the Spanish language and culture by taking a variety of courses