Outlook / the University of Maryland, College Park (2004)

'J&1**> 2(^601

Outlook

Honoring
Gifts of Time

Page 3

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FACULTY AND STAFF WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Volume 20

Number 9 'June 1 5 , 2004

Designing
For, and With,
Children

Researchers gathered from
around the world at a
recent university-hosted
event to share ideas on what the
future holds for computer design
and children during the Interna-
tional Interactive Design and Chil-
dren Conference (IDC).

Over three packed days, posters,
panels and paper sessions offered
a glimpse into how people are
designing technologies to enhance
the learning experience, formally
and informally.

Those attending the morning
session on day two didn't seem to
mind that it ran an hour over time.
A few even hovered around Alan
Keys afterward.

Conference organizer Allison
Druin, though trying to herd peo-
ple back inside for the next session,
understood. "Alan's one of the sem-
inal people in this field," she said.
Keys is president of Viewpoints
Research Institute inc. and senior
fellow at Hewlett Packard Labs. He
spoke as part of a panel in a ses-
sion on play in which researchers
from the United States and London
discussed game concepts and chil-
dren's narrative development.

A faculty member of the Institute
for Advanced Human Studies, the
Human-Computer Interaction Lib
and an assistant professor with the
College of Information Studies,
Druin works with an intergenera-
tional, interdisciplinary design and
research team most recently known
for its creation of the International

See CHILDREN, page 3

Rewarded for Service to Others

The President's Commission on
Ethnic Minority Issues
(PCEMI) recently recognized
faculty and staff members who have
worked on behalf of underrepresented
communities on campus.

Front row, from left: Undergraduate
Student Award winner and Asian
American Student Union President
Amy Wang; Exempt Staff Award winner
Joelle Carter, College of Computer,
Mathematical and Physical Sciences;
Non-exempt Staff winner and
Administrative Assistant II Diana White,
Department of Sociology.

Back row, from left: Graduate
Student Award winner Hugo Najera,

PHOTO BY MONETTE AUSTIN BAILEY

College of Education; Instructional
Unit Award winner Sally Koblinsky,
chair of the Department of Family
Studies; Faculty Award winner and
Associate Professor Scot Reese,
Department of Theatre; Non-instruc-
tional Unit Award winners Johnetta
Davis and Chontrese DosweD, Office of
Graduate Recruitment, Retention and
Diversity; second Exempt Staff Award
winner and Assistant Director Mark
Brimhall Vargas, Office of Human
Relations Programs. Carter also won a
non-instructional unit award for the
Science and Technology: Addressing the
Need for Diversity (STAND) program,
of which she is the director.

Bike to Work Initiative Launched

The Office of the Vice
President for Admin-
istrative Affairs
announces a Bike to Work
Initiative. In conjunction
with the Departments of
Campus Recreation and
Health and Human
Performance (HHP),
the university
offers its
shower and
locker
facili-
ties
free of
charge for
use by facul-
ty and staff
who elect to bike
to work.

You may obtain a
Bike to Work Pass at the
Campus Recreation Center.
Present the pass, along with
university ID, to Campus
Recreation or HHP staff.You

may use the showers,
changing rooms, and lock-
ers (bring your own lock,
towels, etc.). Ritchie Colise-
um will also be available for
this program. Standard facil-
ity policies and charges
are in effect for all-day
or monthly locker
rental, if avail-
able.

This ini-
tiative is
for a
trial
period
through-
out summer
2004. For the
hours of opera-
tion during the sum-
mer, please check with
each facility. For more
information about the initia-
tive, contact Dan Hayes at
(301) 405-0250 or via e-mail
at DHayes@umd.edu.

Congressman Visits Campus

Rep, Steny Hoyer attended
a briefing on the universi-
ty's Alternative Uses of Tobac-

Angle, associate dean with AGNR, shows tobacco
plants to Hoyer (center) and President Mote.

co research project recently.
Hoyer has supported the proj-
ect, which involves faculty in
the College of Agriculture and
Natural Resources (AGNR), the
A. james Clark School of Engi-
neering and outside experts
and has received federal fund-

ing for the past three years.
The goal of the project is to
develop economically attrac-
tive alternative
uses for tobac-
co while con-
currently
decreasing
labor and pro-
duction costs.
Promising pos-
sibilities
include using
the plant's sug-
ars, starches
and proteins
to produce
nutritional
supplements,
pharmaceuti-
cals and food
products for human and ani-
mal consumption.

After the briefing, Hoyer
toured the university's new
greenhouse research complex
with AGNR Associate Dean
Scott Angle and University
President Dan Mote.

Dance Department
Chair Takes a Break

Talk about baptism by fire. Short-
ly after Department of Dance
Chair Alcine Wiltz came to work at
Maryland in 1983! his department's
home suffered two fires within
two years. With a regional dance
conference imminent and a lack of
viable venues, Wiltz quickly strate-
gized and successfully pulled off
the event by utilizing rented
spaces on and around campus. He
became affectionately known as
"Smokey the Chair."

After 21 years of putting out
proverbial fires and building up
the dance department, Wiltz will
step down from his position on
June 30 and will rejoin the faculty
in the fall semester of 2005 after a

PHOTO BV MICHAEL ClfSISLSKt

Alcine Wiltz

year of leave. Charles Rutherford,
associate dean for the College of
Arts and Humanities, will serve as
acting chair of the department for
the 2004-2005 academic year.

One of Wiltz's greatest accom-
plishments during his tenure was
helping move his department into
the Clarice Smith Performing Arts
Center at Maryland in 2000.
Department of Dance Professor
and Director of Undergraduate
Studies Anne Warren notes that the
move was a huge undertaking. "Ft
was an incredible amount of work
to transition us from the tempo-
rary buildings or army barracks'
behind the south dining hall.

"We were the first department
to move in, [the School of Music
and Department of Theatre moved
in subsequently] and that present-
ed lots of challenges. He was deter-
mined to develop relationships
with the other departments and
center management. . . It was a
major accomplishment.''

Susie Farr, executive director of
the Clarice Smith Performing Arts
Center, agrees that his commit-

5m WILTZ, page 3

JUNE 15, 2004

dateline
maryland

YOUR GUIDE TO UNIVERSITY EVENTS : JUNE 15 - JULY 21

June 15

9 a.m. -noon, PRD: The Key
to Performance and Produc-
tivity 1 1 01 U Chesapeake
Building. Offered by University
Human Resources, this seminar
is for employees and managers/
supervisors who want to learn
about the University of Mary-
land Performance Review and
Development (PRD) process, ft
is a prerequisite for PRD Train-
ing for Supervisors. Free. To
register, go to www.uhr.umd.
edu and click on "Training Pro-
grams." For more information,
call 5-5651.

10-1 1:30 a.m.. Easy Online
Quiz Creation with Respon-

dus 4404 Computer & Space
Science. Respondus is a simple
tool for creating and managing
exams, quizzes and surveys.
This free workshop is open to
faculty, teaching assistants and
instructional support staff. Reg-
istration is required at www.
oit . umd .edu/ii t/current. html.
For more information, contact
Deborah Mateik at 5-2945 or
zdeb@umd.edu.

Noon-1 p.m., PRD Training
for Supervisors: Managing
and Conducting the PRD
Process 1 101 U Chesapeake
Building. Offered by University
Human Resources, this seminar
teaches supervisors how to
manage the PRD process and
evaluate performance effec-
tively. This course is required
for all supervisors/managers
who are responsible for super-
vising a non-faculty employee.
PRD: The Key to Performance
and Productivity is a prerequi-
site for this course. Free. To reg-
ister, go to www.uhr.umd.edu
and click on "Training Pro-
grams ." For more information,
call 5-5651.

THURSDAY

June 17

9 a.m.-noon, Making Every
Minute Count: Learn How
to Be More Productive and
Less Stressed 1101U Chesa-
peake Building. Participants
will learn practical time man-
agement tools, skills and strate-
gies to be more productive
and less stressed. The cost is
$50. To register, go to www.
uhr.umd.edu and click on
"Training Programs." For more
information, call 5-5651.

9 a.m. 4 p.m., Cyberethics,

Cybersecurity and Cyber-
safety: Implications for K-
12 & Higher Education Ben-
jamin Building. Hosted by Col-
lege of Education and Educa-
tion Technology Outreach
through June 18. Topics
include: property and copy-
right, plagiarism, effective secu-
rity practices and accessibility
issues. See full program at
www.edtechoutreach. umd. edu/
cy berethicsseminar2004 . html .
Reduced fee for faculty, staff
and students. For more infor-
mation, contact Davina Pruitt-
Mende at 4-8202 or
dp 1 5 1 ® umail . umd .edu .

June 18

8:45 a.m. -4 p.m. Introduc-
tory Microsoft Access
Training (OIT) 4404 Comput-
er & Space Science. Students
will learn how to create and
use database objects, including
tables, queries, forms and
reports. Registration is
required at least three days
prior to the class date at
www.training.umd.edu. The
fee is $90. For more informa-
tion, contact Jane 5. Wieboldt
at 5-0443 or oit-training®
umd.edu.

9a.m. -4p.m., Managing
Emotions: Optimizing Per-
formance and Achieving
Flow 1 101U Chesapeake
Building. This workshop is
designed to enhance partici-
pants' skills in actively manag-
ing emotional states so that
their working performance is
maximized. The cost is $100.
To register, go to www.uhr.
umd.edu and click on "Training
Programs." For more informa-
tion call 5-5651.

WEOIIESDAV

June 23

2-4 p.m. Women of Color
Awards Ceremony Multipur-
pose Room, Nyumburu Cul-
tural Center. For more informa-
tion, contact Dianne Sullivan at
5-0805.

T H U R SDAV

june 24

9a .m .-noon. Managing Stu-
dent Staff 1 101U Chesapeake
Building. Learn how to moti-
vate students who may not feel

their assignment is a "real job."
Learn strategies to handle
requests for flexible schedules,
communicate clear expecta-
tions of the job and handle
motivational, performance and
attendance issues. The cost is
$50. To register, go to www.
uhr.umd.edu and cUck on
"Training Programs." For more
information call 5-5651.

june 25

9a.m. -noon. The Right
"Weigh" to Managing Your
Weight for a Lifetime 1 in U'
Chesapeake Building. This
workshop offers a non-diet
approach to managing weight.
Weight management involves
adopting a lifestyle that
includes a healthful eating
plan, a positive attitude, per-
sonal control and regular phys-
ical activity. Instructor: Jane
Jakubczak, nutritionist, Univer-
sity Health Center. Free. To reg-
ister, go to www.uhr.umd.edu
and click on "Training Pro-
grams." For more information
call 5-5651.

june 29

9a.m. -4 p.m.. How to Han-
dle Difficult People in the
Workplace 1101U Chesa-
peake Building. Research
shows that certain individuals
have learned to behave in a
dysfunctional manner to keep
others off-balance. Workshop
participants will discover how
to recognize the characteris-
tics of common difficult behav-
iors, understand why certain
behaviors persist and how to
neutralize them in a positive
and constructive manner. The
cost is $100. To register, go to
www.uhr.umd.edu and click
on "Training Programs." For
more information call 5-5651.

July 4

There's More

PHOTO BY OESAIR BROWN

This summer the universi-
ty Golf Course is extend-
ing its teaching program.
Come online to read more
about what is being offered.

Not only did university
students graduate this
fall, but so did a group of
high school students nur-
tured by some of the univer-
sity's pre-college programs.

Members of the Black
Faculty and Staff Asso-
ciation invited colleagues
from other universities to the
campus for a conference on
African Americans' achieve-
ments in higher education.

http://outlook.

collegepublisher.com

July 12

9a.m. -4p.m., New Employ-
ee Orientetion 1 1 01 U Chesa-
peake Building. This program
is designed to give employees
an understanding of what the
University of Maryland is all
about: our institutional mis-
sion, our students and our serv-
ices. Lunch is provided. Free.
To register, go to www.uhr.
umd.edu and click on "Training
Programs." For more informa-
tion, call 5-565 1 .

July 13

7 p.m.. Independence Day
Celebration Lot l.nearTawes
Theatre. Bring the family, pic-
nic fare, Frisbees and friends to
enjoy a live band and fireworks
(which begin around 9 p.m.).
Limited refreshments available
on site. Co-sponsored by the
city of College Park. For more
information, call the city office
at (301) 864-5586.

Noon-1 p.m., PRD Training
for Supervisors: Managing
and Conducting the PRD
Process 1 10 1U Chesapeake
Building. This seminar teaches
supervisors how to manage
the PRD process and evaluate
performance effectively. The
course is required for those
who supervise a non-faculty
employee. PRD: The Key to
Performance and Productivity-
is a prerequisite for this
course. Free. To register, go to
www.uhr.umd. edu and click
on "Training Programs." For
more information, call 5-5651.

WEDNESDAY

9 a.m. -4 p.m.. Getting
Through: Techniques for
Powerful Communication

1 101 U Chesapeake Building. In
this interactive workshop, par-

calendar guide

Calendar phone numbers listed as 4-xxxx or 5-xxxx stand for the prefix 314 or 405. Calendar information for Outlook is compiled from a combination
of inforM's master calendar and submissions to the Outlook office. Submissions are due two weeks prior to the date of publication. To reach the

calendar editor, call (301) 405-7468 or send e-mail to outlook@accmail.umd.edu.

1 kip. nits will learn how to get
their messages across, how to
plan for difficult encounters
and how to motivate and influ-
ence others. The cost is $100.
To register, go to www.uhr.
umd.edu and click on "Training
Programs." For more informa-
tion, call 5-5651.

july 16

10a.m. -noon, Re-Examining
the Rules of Investing

1 101U Chesapeake Building.
This seminar will help alleviate
participants' concerns about
the recent market downturn.
The focus will be on strategies
to stay on track, including:
reexamining investment strate-
gy, comparing expenses, saving
more and speaking with TIAA-
CREF about specific concerns.
Free. To register, go to
www.uhr.umd.edu and click
on "Training Programs." For
more information, call 5-565 1 .

WEDNESDAY

July 21

10a.m.-1 1:30a.m.,
Preparing for Your
Retirement: Your
Supplemental Retirement
Plan 1101U Chesapeake
Building. This seminar covers
the three supplemental retire-
ment plans and is intended for
employees who are seven
years or less from retirement.
Participants are encouraged to
bring their most recent state-
ment to the : seminar. Free: To
register, go to www.uhr.umd.
edu and click on "Training
Programs * For more informa-
tion, call 5-5651.

Outlook

Outlook is the monthly faculty-staff
newspaper serving the University
of Maryland campus community.
Online editions of Outlook are
published weekly at http: //outlook.
colkgepublisher.com .

Brodie Remington •Vice
President, University Relations

Teresa Flannery ■ Executive
Director. University
Communications and Marketing

Dianne Burch * Executive Editor

Monettc Austin Bailey ' Editor

Cynthia Mitch el ■ Art Director

Desatr Brown • Graduate Assistant

Letters to the editor, story sugges-
tions and campus information are
welcome. Please submit all material
two weeks before the Tuesday of

publication.

Send material to Editor, Outlook.
2501 Turner Hall, College Park,

ML> 20742

Telephone • (301) 405-4629
Fax* (301) 314-9344
E-mail * oudook@actmaif.umd.edu
http : / /on dook. coliegcp ublishe r.com

OUTLOOK

Notable

Catherine E. Carr, biology
professor, has been elected
the receipt of a Humboldt
Research Award. The honor
recognizes lifetime achieve-
ments in science. In addition,
the awardee is invited to
carry out research projects
of her own choice in cooper-
ation with specialist col-
leagues in Germany.

Jordan Goodman, professor
and chair of the Department
of Physics, received the 2004
Kirwan Award for Undergrad-
uate Education, which recog-
nizes faculty or staff who
have made exceptional con-
tributions to the quality of
undergraduate education at
the university.

The Robert H. Smith School
of Business named Scott
Koerwer as acting executive
director of the school's Ding-
man Center for Entrepre-
neurship and Asher Epstein
as managing director of the
Dingman Center. Koerwer
will continue to serve as
associate dean for executive
education and marketing
comm unications.

The, school also named
Charlie Heller, chairman, of ,
the Dingman Center's adviso-
ry board and former director
of the center, as a Dingman
Center entrepreneur-in-resi-
dence; and has reappointed
John LaPides. president of
Snow Valley Inc., as an entre-
preneur-in-residence. Mark
Grovic, currently deputy
director of the Dingman Cen-
ter, will become the Smith
School's first venture capital-
ist-in-residence and maintain
his positions as adjunct facul-
ty member and managing
director of the New Markets
Growth Fund.

James Lesher, professor of
philosophy, received a
National Humanities Center

fellowship for next academic
year to study "Knowledge
and the Gods: Religious
Aspects of Early Greek Theo-
ries of Knowledge."

President and professor of
mechanical engineering Dan
Mote, Distinguished Universi-
ty Professor Ira Berlin and
Stern Professor of Civic En-
gagement and director of the
Institute for Philosophy and
Public Policy William Gatston
were elected as fellows to
the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences (AAAS).
The university now has 38
members of the academy

Dave Cottle, head coach of
the men's lacrosse team, was
named ACC men's lacrosse
coach of the year.

The College of Computer,
Mathematical and Physical
Sciences Dean's Awards were
distributed as follows:

Dean! Award for

Excellence in Teaching

M. Coleman Miller, astronomy

Outstanding instructor

John W. Merck Jr., geology

Outstanding Teaching Assistant
Kevin M. Conroy, computer
science

Tbehna M. Williams

Advisor of the Year

Grace Deming, astronomy

Exempt Employee Award
Kari W. Aldridge, physics
Jordan E. Landes, computer
science

Non-exempt Employee Award
Anita l. Dahms. mathematics
Janice L, Sc noon over. Insti-
tute for Research in Electron-
ics and Applied Physics

— Prepared with assistance from
Pam Stone, University Relations

Children: Interacting

Continued from page 1

Children's Digital Library
(www. icdlbooks.org).

Presenters at a panel on
multimodal experiences
demonstrated ways they
would like to help children
create a stimulating setting
for learning. Joanne McEtlig-
ott, with the University of
Sunderland in Great Britain,
discussed work she's done
designing toys and computer
games for blind and visually
impaired children.

"So that they can commu-
nicate their inner world of
sound," express their creativi-
ty and "join in the youth cul-

ture," she said.

Wouter Sluis, a develop-
mental psychologist, and Ivo
Weevers, a computer scien-
tist, both from University of
Eindhoven in the Nether-
lands, showcased a reading
tool that asked kids to match
picture cards and word
spellings. Janet Read with the
University of Central Lan-
cashire, also in Britain, talked
less about specific applica-
tions than she did about her
work to determine what was
needed in order to make

See CHZLDJEHN, page 4

Volunteers Recognised

President Dan Mote and his wife Patsy hosted the
RetiredVolunteer Service Corps annual spring
reception recently. Ninety-eight individuals
strong, the group averages six hours per person per
week. Jed Collard, coordinator for the program, estimates
that the combined 19,000 hours they've given over 27
years of service equals $325,000 worth of work.

Awards were given to volunteers to mark five-year
service anniversaries:

PHOTO BY MONETTE AUSTIN BAIIEY

Members and friend of the Retired Volunteer Service Corps attended
the annual spring reception recognizing their work at President Dan
and Patsy Mote's home.

William Mullinix, English editing for

international graduate students, five years

Russell Miller, Gudelsky Veterinary Medical
Center, 10 years

Joseph Goodman, Gudelsky Center, 1 years

John Luttrell, Engineering Learning Center,
20 years

Those recognized who didn't make the ceremony
were: Rev. Jerry Buckner, five years, chaplain, Dept. of
Public Safety; Ralph Vendemia Jr., Health Clinic, five
years;Valerie Kaplan, Clarice Smith Performing Arts
Center and other locations, 10 years: Peter Kriegsmann,
Maryland English Institute, 15 years.

Wiltz: Time to Reconnect

Continued from page 1

ment to collaboration has
been a valuable resource.
"Alcine will be missed," said
Farr. "He is someone who truly
believes in the collaborative
process and has helped realize
many of our goals in our first
years in this building. He regu-
larly attends the performances
of the other academic units to
show his support for their
work. He encourages his stu-
dents to participate fully in
the life of the center through
work with the other academic
units and work with visiting
artists."

Also during Wiltz's tenure, a
master's in fine arts program
and the Lilian certificate pro-
gram were created, helping to
earn the department focal and
national recognition. Laban
,Movement Analysis is a system-
atic observation and analysis
of movement, often utilized by
dancers, athletes, physical and
occupational therapists and
others. In addition, Wiltz taught
beginning and advanced level
technique courses and fos-
tered the guest and visiting
artist programs that allow stu-

dents to work closely with
professional dancers.

Fellow faculty and students
alike praise Wiltz's passion for
dance and his ability to com-
municate."He cares so much
and wants students to move
from a surface understanding
of dance to have a much deep-
er connection to the field — to
find a sense of place for them-
selves in it," says Warren. Jen-
nifer Hart, a 2003 graduate of
the department, said of his
style, "He's always looking for
a new way for students to
understand a concept and get
it into their bodies. . . In his
class, my technique and body
awareness improved. Things
started to click and connect
because of the vivid visual
imagery he used."

Wiltz says that during his
year of leave, he wants "to
explore, through travel and
study, ways to reconnect with
my creative voice. I have had
little time to devote to this
area in recent years." Upon his
return, he looks forward to
spending more time working
directly with students.

In Memoriam

Remembered jot Sharing
Wltat He Loved

William C. "Butch" Reinke's
legacy is the impact he had
on the lives of others. Whether on
the professional or the personal
level, he treated everyone with
respect and kindness. Reinke, exec-
utive director of OIT project man-
agement, passed away on May 27.

Without intruding, he offered
help or encouragement when he
saw one's need for either. He valued
the role of all employees as critical
to the success of the organization.

Bom in 1945, he grew up in the
little south Texas oil town of Refu-
gio. He earned a degree in math
and government from Texas Luth-
em College in 1967 and a master's
in computer science from Texas
A&Min 1972. His professional life
started in education: from 1967 to
1973 he taught two years of high
school math and four years of elec-
tronic data processing at Odessa
College in West Texas.

He worked for the Data Process-
ing Center at Texas A&M University
from 1974 to 1984, first as a pro-
grammer and then from 1 977 as
assistant director for administrative
applications. In 1984 Reinke was
hired as director of the Administra-
tive Computer Center at Maryland.

With the creation of the Office
of Information Technology, he
served first as executive director,
operations and enterprise applica-
tions. Milestones during his tenure
were the implementation of main-
frame computing for the ACC and
fielding major new software appli-
cations that modernized personnel
services and fiscal operations.

Reinke enjoyed playing bridge,
cooking his favorite dinners for
others, playing handball, or sharing
music he loved. He was an avid
sports fan. Listening to music and
reading Larry McMurtry were his
favorite solitary hobbies.

He is survived by Vicky, his wife
of 37 years, and their son Brett.

The family requests that any
donations be made to the follow-
ing charities:

• The Chuck and Judy Sturtz
Scholarship Fund

• The College of Inj^rmation
Studies Alumni Fund yt

• The William Burlingame contri-
bution to History Scholarship Fund

Donations can be sent via cam-
pus mail to Terry Miller, Carlton
Building, Suite 217, Campus 3375;
or postal service to Terry Miller,
7309 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 217,
College Park, MD 20740. (Please
indicate fund and honoree.)

JUNE 15, 2004

00

£

S-i

O

Looking for Good Hosts

The Hubert Humphrey Interna-
tional Journalism Fellowship Pro-
gram is looking for hosts for a
group of international journalists
and communication professionals
who will spend the 2004-2005
academic year at Maryland as part
of a U.S. State Department -funded
exchange program. Hosts are
expected to pick up the fellows
from the airport on Saturday, Aug,
7 and host them until late after-
noon on Sunday, Aug. 8. This year's
group is made up of six women
and seven men.

Those interested in hosting an
international journalist should con-
tact Kalyani Chadha at kchadha®
jmail.urod.edu or (301) 405-2513-

Art and Learning

The summer schedule for classes
at the Art and Learning Center is
now available online and can be
requested by mail. Classes are
offered on ballroom dance, night-
club dance, belly dance, painting,
drawing, knitting, yoga and tai chi.
The darkroom will be available for
a semesterly rate. Special discounts
are given to faculty, staff, alumni
and students.

For more information, call (301)
314-ARTSorgo to www.union.
umd.edu/artcenter/index.html.

Construction Hours

The Engineering and Physical Sci-
ences Library (EPSL) will be under-
going much-needed repairs for
leaks through June. The construc-
tion will affect the current periodi-
cals and individual study areas of
the first floor. Current periodicals
will be temporarily relocated to
the ground floor. On June 15,EPSL
will open at noon so that electrical
work can be done in the lobby. All
other days the library will follow
the scheduled hours. For more
information, call the Information
Desk at (301) 405-9157.

GoHing for Good

The 16th annual Student Affairs
Scholarship Golf Tournament will
be held on Monday, June 21 at 7:30
a.m. at the University of Maryland
Golf Course. This fun-filled, annual
event is for golfers of all skill lev-
els. The cost is $50 for golf, lunch
and scholarship fund donation.
For more information and to
download the registration form,
visit www.studentaffairs.umd.edu/
pubs/SA2004_Golf_RegForm.doc,
or contact Michael Glowacki at
(301) 317-7612 or
mglowack@umd . ed u .

CUSS

You

The Council of University System
Staff (CUSS) consists of staff repre-
sentatives from each of the system
institutions. It advises the chancel-
lor and the Board of Regents. CUSS
members serve a two-year term.

Two seats are open:

(1) Fxempt representative for all
regular and contingent II employ-
ees not in a bargaining unit. To

nominate, be nominated or vote
for this position, you must be
either an exempt employee not in
a bargaining unit or a contingent 1 (
employee.

(2) At-Iarge representative for all
regular employees not in a bargain-
ing unit. To nominate someone, be
nominated or vote for this position,
you must be an exempt or non-
exempt regular employee not in a
bargaining unit.

For more information, contact
Mary Graham-Fisher at (301) 405-
3214 or mkgraham@umd.edu; or
Carol Prier at (301) 405-3869 or
cprier@deans.umd.edu.

Summer Libraries Reminder

To avoid fines, those who are
going to be on vacation or other-
wise absent for more than two
weeks this summer may wish to
make arrangements to have their
mail checked for recall notices by
someone with access to their
library books or materials.

For more information, contact
David Wilt, engineering and physi-
cal sciences libraby, at (301) 405-
9140, or dwilt@umd.edu.

Allies Training Offered

The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexu-
al andTransgender(LGBT) Equity
offers free training for individuals
interested in becoming better allies
to the LGBT community. Upon
completion of the [raining, partici-
pants may become part of a grow-
ing network of dedicated allies.

Training dates are offered in
June, July and August,

For more information and to
register, contact Tricia Slusser at
(301) 405-8720 or SIusserT@aol.
com, or go to www.inform.umd.
edu/lgbt/rain bow. html.

A Head Start for Students

High school juniors and seniors
can get a running start on study
skills this summer. The Learning
Assistance Service offers individu-
alized programs and group work-
shops in reading, listening and
note-taking, time management and
other skills needed to succeed in
college. The program will be held
Monday through Thursday, June 28
to July 29. Cost: $280 plus parking
(half price for children of faculty
and staff). For more information,
call Shirley Browner at (301) 314-
7702 or sb54@umail.umd.edu, or
go to www.umd.edu/LASRV.

Customer Service and

Satisfaction

This is a two-day (July 20 and 21)
workshop focused on how to bet-
ter meet the needs of internal and
external customers.

Day One; Learn to build rap-
port, determine customer needs
and avoid misunderstandings.

Day Two: Learn practical meth-
ods to solve customer service
problems.

Location: 1 101U Chesapeake
Building. Fee: $200. To register, go
to www.uhr.umd.edu and click on
"Training Programs." For more
information, call (301) 405-5651.

Tools for Empowerment

PHOTO BY MONETTE AUSTIN BAILEY

Peter Sage, yoga monk and instructor with the university, offered work-
shop participants techniques for meditation.

Meditation, mastering personal communication and
career assessment were some of the topics addressed
during the recent 22nd Annual Professional
Concepts Exchange Conference.

During the luncheon, Provost William Desder reaffirmed
the important work of administrative staff, adding to what was
already a day of positive messages for about 200 people.

"You represent the best that the university has to offer,"
he said, adding that it was his assistants over the years that
helped him learn to become an administrator. Also during
lunch, Outstanding Professional Staff Support awards were
given to Gaynor Sale, administrative assistant II with the
Counseling Center, and Bobbi Donley, executive administra-
tive assistant I with the College of Life Sciences.

Children: Designing Media

Continued from page 3

handwriting recognition software
more responsive to children's
need "to write their stories in a
more natural way than with a
keypad" on a computer.

Robert Martin, head of the
Institute of Museum and Library
Studies, summed up the confer-
ence's theme during IDC's clos-
ing panel." [We] need to know all
we can about how people use
resources for learning," he said,
beginning with children of a
"wired world."

Moderated by NPR's David
Kestenbaum, the panel attempted
to address the question, "What
can media teach us about interac-
tion design and children?" With
panelists' expertise in research-
based acquisitions of pre-school
programming, the effects of
media and child psychology, the
challenge was well engaged.

"Children are starting to watch
pre-school programming as
young as one," said Alice Cahnof
Cartoon Network. With that in
mind, producers must look close-
ly at what connects and holds
their formative minds, while
remembering their parents.

"We really concentrate on mak-
ing an amazing show. We think
about what parents think about.
When we do good work, parents
appreciate it," said Alice Wilder,
with the television show "Blue's
Clues," but "we make it for our
audience," the 2- to 5-year-olds.

"Blue's Clues began with a mis-
sion statement. We want to build
the self esteem of pre-schoolers

while making them laugh," she
said.

"Kids get out what writers and
creators put in. Be aware of what
your intention is " warned Wilder.
Henry Jenkins of MIT countered,
"Kids get more than what you
put in."

He used video games as an
example. "Video games, as a medi-
um, have trivialized human expe-
rience ."Jenkins admits, "but even
bad media can be consumed in
very good ways. It requires that
you take emerging media more
seriously."

Jenkins spoke of studies on the
benefits of video games, from
increased vocabulary to an under-
lying sense of history. "The game
is the catalyst to another realm of
learning experience to be built
upon and talked about," he said.
He implored educators to keep
an open mind.

"If children bring in video
knowledge, the teacher shoots
him down. They shut the door on
new knowledge," he said.

Panel members look toward
the future for new developments
in media appreciation and
increasing technology.

As for the future of technology,
the panelists had different expla-
nations for the lack of progress
and future possibilities. They
could only agree on one aspect:
There exists "a history of accom-
plishments as well as a ton of
potential," Jenkins said.

— KaJrtna Altersitz,
graduate journalism student