The Reporter, July 2000

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.New Dean Selected For Honors College JUt Dix Ghnassia, associate professor of English and former director of the honors program at the University of Hartford, has been selected as the dean of the Honors College. Ghnassia's appoint• ment, recommended by Chancellor John W. Bardo and approved at the june meeting of the WCU Board of Jill Ghna$slo T~tees, is effective July 311 pending approval by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Ghnassia has taught English at the University of Hartford, located in West Hartford, Conn., since 1985, and served as director of Hartford's honors program from 1994 to 1999. She was on the faculty at North Carolina Wesleyan College froml983 to 1985, and was a Duke University Graduate Fellow from 1974 to 1976. At WCU, Ohnassia also will hold the title of professor of English. A native of Milton, Pa., Ghnassia earned her bachelor's degree in English at Bucknell University in 1969. She continued her education at Duke University, where she earned a master's degree in English in 1972, graduating with distinction, arrd a doctoral degree in Victorian literature, in 1983. Ohnassia is author and co-author of many publications, including three collections of poetry. She is married to Maurice Ghnassia, an author and former correspondent at the White House and the United Nations. Ghnassia succeeds Brian Railsback, Continued on pore l July 17, 2000 News for the Faculty and Staff of Western Carolina University University Health Services Upgrades Services, Equipment ~ ...... ~ Whether it is a cold, the flu, a sprained ankle or an allergy shot, if you are one of the more than 120 patients seen every day at University Health Services, you want the best possible care. Many improvements have been put into place in the last year to provide that quality care and to increase efficiency to handle that volume of patients. An express window allows those needing immunizations, blood pressure checks, allergy shots or over-the­counter medications to quickly access what they need and return to their schedules. Those who are sick and needing more attention are seen through regular channels. A triage system is being implemented, which helps patients get to the person whom they need to see- whether it's the nurse, physician's assistant, or doctor. Facilities have been renovated to handle the increase in the number of patients and to improve the confidentiality of services. From two exam rooms with minimal equipment, Health Services now features ten fully equipped exam rooms. The latest addition to the office's medical facilities is a fully equipped cardiopulmonary resuscitation unit for emergencies. There also is a pulmonary function test that can be administered to determine breathing capacity and the effects of lung disease with regards to smoking and aging. An allergy clinic includes more updated materials to make Health Services more effective in treat­ing allergies and asthmatics. Staffing has improved with the recent addition of a second physician's assistant and a nutritionist. "Plans are to expand more Continued on page 2 Trustees Approve Associate Deans, Faculty Appointments WCU' Board of Trustee approved the appointment of two new as ociate deans during its quarterly meeting in June. The board named William E. Ham, associate professor of human services since 1996, as as ociate dean of Research and Graduate Studies. Ham replaces Valerie Schwiebert, who left the position to return to the human services faculty. - - The trustee also approved the appointment of N. Leroy Kauffman, as ociate professor of accountancy since 1994, as as ociate dean of the College of Business. Kauffman replaces Lynn Heinrich , who returned to teach in the college's Department of Computer Information Systems. Other admini trative appointments approved by the board: • Monica L. Bellon, assistant professor of human services, as head of the Department of Human Services. New Dean continued (rom page I who had served as acting dean of the Honors College since July 1997. Railsback left the Honors College to become head of Western's Department of English. "Dr. Railsback has passed on to me a thriving program," Ghnassia said. "I hope not only to follow in his footsteps, but also to branch out to widen opportunities for the college and, through its students, to reach out to the rest of the campus and neighboring communities." Art Professor Contributes To Look of Cigarette Packing Jon Jicha, coordinator of graphic design and media arts in the Department of Art, is among the contributors to a special section on the subject of cigarette packaging in the June edition of MetTopolis, a national magazine of architecture, culture, and design. For the section "Packaging Heat: Six Designers Think Outside the Box," MetTopolis magazine's editors asked six design teams from across North America to interpret a proposed Canadian law that would display graphic, repellant, anti-smoking images on all cigarette packages. The proposal was based on government research findings that visual warnings are sixty times more likely to stop or prevent smoking than written ones, according to the magazine. Jicha's contribution is based on the theme of"common sense." His package features a thin line containing type juxtapo ed against the frequently used advertising imagery of the outdoors-mountains, blue sky, and puffy clouds. That thin line contains the words "Cigarettes and other tobacco products are among the most lethal and addictive narcotics. If you begin smoking at an early age ... " The type circles around the side of the packaging to the back, where larger, bolder type provides several arguments against smoking, ending with "common sense." • Daryl L. Hale, associate professor of philosophy and religion, as acting head of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. • Philip L. Little, associate professor of accountancy, as head of the Department of Accountancy. • Henry R. Mainwaring, associate professor of biology and acting head of the Department of Biology, as head of the Department of Biology. • Charles Wallis, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, as acting head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. The board also bestowed professor emeritus status on two recently retired faculty members. Michael M. Jones was designated professor emeritus of philosophy and religion and Allen M. Moore was designated professor emeritus of biology. Health Services continued from page I into wellness and various wellness activities," said Deborah Beck, director of health services. An example will be the availability this fall of the three-shot hepatitis B series for the cost of administering the series of shots, $30. "The regular price would be about $135," said Beck. Other wellness activities include Noonlighting, the brown bag weight-loss support group; and the Walking Club, both coordinated by Karen White, nutritionist. Last week, Health Services sponsored health screenings for heart disease risks. Another screening for faculty, administrators, and staff is being planned for fall. In order to finance this expansion of services and provide funds for further improvement, monies have to be generated. Beck explained that the Health Services budget is largely based on student fees. The center does not receive operating funds from the university; however, the office must pay such expenses as utilities and salaries from the funds it generates. Health Services established a fee-for-service payment system as of]uly 1, 2000. "This was a very detailed decision. We gathered data for almost a year, determining who was using our services, why they were using us, and how best we could treat them," said Beck. Before implementing the new program, Beck explained that the Administrative Council, the Faculty Senate and the Staff Forum were consulted and these groups provided extensive input. WCU is only one of two state universities that make on-campus health services available to faculty and staff. Pembroke State charges a per-semester fee plus a fee-for-service on top of that. Faculty, staff and students pay the same rate at Pembroke. "Health Services is not meant to replace a primary care physician, but to provide basic health care to faculty and staff," said Beck. "We surveyed fees in the area, including those charged by hospitals and physicians, before setting the charges to make sure we have the lowest fees. The fees basically cover the cost of the supplies," said Beck. Beck said she is available to attend departmental meetings to answer questions on Health Services and the new fee-for-service program. Contact her at 22 7-7640. july 17, 2000 • The Reporter w u u July 17~August 13, 2000 Look for regular updates on the university's web site at www.wcu.edu/cal.html Slideshow Spotlight for July-"Com: Milling, Tilling and Stilling," the story of com as used by Native Americans and frontier settlers in the southern Appalachians. MHC. (227-7129) Wednesday, July 19 Performance-Folkmoot, an international festival. (See additional information on this page). Admission: $8 adults; $5 children. 7:30p.m., HA. (227-7242) Thursday, July 20 Summer Lawn Concert Series-Smoky Mountain Drum 'n' Bass (old-time Exhibitions: mountain music mixed with electronic beats). 8 p.m., lawn, UC. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. Rain site: Illusions Dance Club, UC. (227-7206) Wednesday, July 26 Performance-Folkmoot. Admission: $8 adults; $5 children. 7:30p.m. HA. (227-7242) Thursday, July 27 Summer Lawn Concert Series-Lil' Malcolm and the House Rockers. 8 p.m., lawn, UC. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. Rain site: Illusions Dance Club, UC. (227-7206) AUGUST 2000 Slideshow Spotlight for August -"Bells in the Valley," a centennial history ofWCU. MHC. (227-7129) Sunday, August 6 Arti-Facts!-Cultural arts program for kids that links old­time traditions of the past to the present features "Marbling." No admission charge, but reservations required. 2:30-3:30 p.m., MHC. (227-7129) Friday, August II Summer commencement. 7 p.m., Ramsey Center. *~* Now,;,s~~,wing *** ... ,,., .. ,, Palimpsest. Exl:il.b~t Qn p~per works on loan from the artists and from t}le Rutgers Cen.ter for Innovative Print and Paper. 'lthrough August 4. Olelsea Gallery, uc. (227-7206) ' Primitives and Pointeci'Fumlture. August 7 to October 29. The diliibition features aselectionofregionalfurnitute. 8 a.m.~S p.m., weekdays,MHC. (227~7129) Jane PlfJer Retrospective. ;through August 18. Majot.contributor to stUllife paintings from the mid~twentieth century. BelkOallery, BB (227 ·3591) >:: Finely Crc;fted. Through December. Woodworldnghand tools and furniture. 8a.m.#5 p.m., weekdays,. MH(; .. (227·7129) Migrotion of the Scotdt-lri$11 People (permane.n:t exhibition). Information, illustrations, artifucts, and murals; 8 a.m.. .. s p.m., weekdays, MHC. (227~7129) Key: $ • Admission fee; HA - Hoey Auditorium; HFR • H.F. Robinson Administration Building; HS/CF • Hennon Stadium/Childress Field; MHC • Mountain Heritage Center; NSA • Natural Sciences Auditorium; RRAC - Ramsey Regional Activity Center; RH • Recital Hall, Coulter Building; BB • Belk Building; UC • AK. Hinds University Center; UOC • University Outreach Center; WSIBW • Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field July 17, 2000 • The Reporter Monday, August 14 Orientation-~ r new faculry. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., MHC, HFR, UC. (227-7495) Folkmoot Dancers To Perform WCU will host two evenings of international song, dance and cultural heritage in July as part of the 17th annual Folkmoot USA festival. Groups from Ireland, Greece and Azerbaijan will perform on Wednesday, July 19. Groups from Egypt, Poland and Israel will perform on Wednesday, July 26. Both performances will begin at 7:30p.m. in Hoey Auditorium. Advance tickets are available in the music depart­ment office, 253 Coulter Building. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, call the music department at 227-7242. Submissions: Send news items and calendar notices to WCU Calendar, 1601 Ramsey Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, Narth Carolina 28723 are-mail to calendar @wpoff.wcu.edu. Submit items far the university's calendar on the Internet at least one week prior to the event. l"ewsfile • Linda Riouff, assistant dean for student development, was recently appointed to a two-year term as area collegiate operations coordinator for Phi Mu Fraternity. In this capacity, Riouff will be responsible for oversee­ing the operations of forty-one various campus chapters. • Jennie Hunter, head of the Department of Business Computer Information Systems, was named a Sam Walton Free Enterprise Fellow for her work with the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team. There are more than 300 Sam Walton Fellows nationwide who train and motivate more than 30,000 SIFE team members annually. The fellowship was created in 1990 by the Wal-Mart Foundation and is named for Samuel Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart stores. • Sue Swanger, assistant professor of accountancy, has been elected to the board of directors of Folkmoot, the North Carolina International Folk Festival, Inc. • Roger Lirely, assistant professor of accountancy, has been appointed to the Tax Policy Committee of the American Taxation Association and will chair the "Pass-through Entities" subcommittee. • Robert Godfrey, head of the Depart­ment of Art, has been reappointed by Governor Jim Hunt as a member of the North Carolina Arts Council. Godfrey's term will expire June 30, 2003. • Barbara Bell, director of the WCU Reading Center and assistant professor of elementary and middle grades education, was elected a member of the elementary section nominating committee for the National Council of Teachers of English. NcrE is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Robert Godfrey, head of the art department, is among the forty artists from around the world selected for a major international exhibition this summer at the Guemica Museum in Spain. Godfrey's "Until Tomorrow" (above), a charcoal drawing that is part of his "Forty Kisses" series, is on display in the exhibition "Art Toward Reconciliation" through September 30. The exhibition commemorates the 1937 German bombing of the town of Guemica during the Spanish Civil War, an event first brought to the world's attention by Pablo Picasso's now-famous painting "Guemica." The exhibition is designed to illustrate reconciliation rather than capitulation as real victory and to help prevent future wars by reminding us of past ones, organizers say. The Reporter Is published by the Office of Public lnfonnation. Debie Connelly, editor. Mail faculty/staff notes, events, notices, and changes of address to The Reporter, 160 I Ramsey Center, or send them via e-mail to REPOl\TEI\@wPofF.wcv.mu 1,800 copies of this public c1oc:ument were printed at • cost of $329.1 S, or $0.18 per copy. Westem Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Institution. [ ~neporter I NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CULLOWHEE, N.C. PERMIT N0.1 Office of Public Information Publications Umt 160 I Ramsey Center Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723 July 17, 2000 • The Reporte