SPECTRUM VOLUME 24 NUMBER 16 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2001

TODAY’S EDITIONSee page 2 forcampus activitiesinformation.

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY http://www.unirel.vt.edu/spectrum/

(See RESEARCHER on 2)

Bond package would fund nine Tech buildings totaling $139 million

Researcher worksto reduce useof toxic solvents

Research may produce plants that defend themselves

By Larry HinckerGovernor James Gilmore has

announced a bond initiative for Virginiahigher education totaling $927 million.Virginia Tech will receive funding for ninebuildings totaling $139 million.

“There’s a backlog of need and a hugespace deficit on our campus. This will enableus to invest in the infrastructure required tokeep this university on the educationalvanguard. Quality counts. We must havethe best facilities for students and facultymembers to achieve the quality experienceVirginians expect from a Virginia Techeducation,” President Charles Steger said.

(Editor’s note: See chart on page 3 for alist of building projects and specific fundinginformation.)

Also included were several non-GeneralFund projects (non-taxpayer funds) for aresidence hall, dining facilities, and studentunion facilities. “We’ve worked very hard overthe last year with the state to develop newcapital investments. I am quite pleased to seethese significant investments at Virginia Tech,”said Minnis Ridenour, executive vice presidentand chief operations officer.

“I am very pleased with this strong support.Top-quality labs and facilities are so very

By Sally HarrisUnderstanding the functions of the genes

in the plant Arabidopsis could help with researchin the fields of agriculture, medicine, and energy;and Virginia Tech researchers have received agrant from the National Science Foundation’sArabidopsis 2010 Project Program to helpunderstand those genes.

Asim Esen and Brenda Winkel of biologyand David R. Bevan of biochemistry, along withresearchers at the University of Iowa, havereceived a $2-million NSF grant for three yearsto study the “Functional Genomics ofArabidopsis Beta-glucosidase and Beta-galac-tosidase Gene Families.” Virginia Tech willreceive $1.1 million, which includes a $200,000sub-award to Virginia State University at Pe-tersburg, and the University of Iowa will receive$0.9 million.

A possible future use of this research couldbe the development of plants that can defendthemselves better without pesticides or plantsthat can be used as a source of sugar for foodstocks or for the production of alcohol.

“NSF is excited to begin this importantendeavor of understanding the functions of eachgene in Arabidopsis,” said NSF Director RitaColwell. “While the task is daunting, it is alsoessential to this growing area of biotechnologyresearch and its many applications. Only byunderstanding the fundamental processes of eachgene can we piece together the puzzle of howDNA determines, for example, the rate of growth,resistance to disease, and many other factors inplants.”

The plant Arabidopsis and the 2010 Project

to understand its genes are important tobiologists, the NSF said. “By studying thishumble plant in the mustard family, scientistscan better understand how all sorts of livingorganisms behave genetically, with potentiallywidespread applications for agriculture,medicine, and energy,” the NSF press releasesaid. Arabidopsis is a useful model because itsentire genome consists of a relatively small setof genes that dictate when the weed will bud,bloom, sleep, or seed, the NSF said. Also, thosegenes have counterparts in crop plants withmuch larger genomes.

NSF-funded Research

The Virginia Tech researchers will belooking at a sequence of 125 million nucleotides,or building blocks that make up a gene. “Wepredict there will be about 25,000 genes theirencoding protein,” Esen said. Protein makes upand perfects the functions of our cells. Most ofthe proteins are actually enzymes. The sequenceof protein is encoded in the sequence of thegene. About 25,000 genes in Arabidopsisencode protein, and the purpose of the 2010project is to determine the functions of all the25,000 proteins.

“We know the sequences of all genes,”Esen said, “but that does not allow us to knowwhat each gene does. In some cases, we knowbecause of a similar gene in another organismand can extrapolate its function in Arabidopsis.But we know only about 10 percent of these

genes’ functions directly. For a largepercentage, we can predict the function, butthat then has to be proven. For a substantialnumber, we have no idea what the genes ortheir protein products do. The goal is todetermine that.” Information gained fromArabidopsis can be extrapolated to otherplants such as wheat, corn, cabbage, and soybeans.

Esen and his colleagues will attempt todetermine the function of beta-glucosidaseand beta-galactosidase genes. In Arabidopsis,about 44 genes encode the beta-glucosidaseenzyme family and about 18 genes encodethe beta-galactosidase enzyme family, Esensaid. These two enzymes catalyze similarreactions. “Enzymes are known for theirspecificity, which is the reason we needthousands of enzymes in cells,” he said.

One well-known function of enzymesis in plant defense. “Plants have to defendthemselves on their own ground,” Esen said.“A way to do that is through toxic materialsthat are activated by some of these enzymes.”For example, he said, the taste of mustard orhorse radish comes from the products ofthese enzymes. “They have a nice flavor tous, but they are toxic or repellant to insectsfeeding on them.” Some enzymes producecyanide when plants are attacked, he said.

As we understand these genes and whattheir product enzymes do,” Esen said,“through genetic engineering, we can produceplants that defend themselves withoutpesticides.”

By Liz CrumbleyIn an attempt to curtail the annual use

of 36 billion pounds of toxic solvents in theproduction of acrylic polymers, the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) isfunding “green-engineering” research byVirginia Tech chemical engineering profes-sor Don Baird.

About six billion tons of acrylic poly-mers are produced each year, primarily foruse by the textile industry in the manufac-ture of fibers. Baird is developing a processto replace the toxic solvents used in produc-tion of acrylic polymers with carbon dioxide(CO2).

Solvents reduce the viscosity of acrylicpolymers during fiber spinning and othershaping operations, Baird explained. Afterthese operations, solvents are removed in aprocess that includes a water bath. The toxicsolvents then must be separated from thewater to prevent environmental contamina-tion.

Although regulations require that manu-facturers take pains to collect the solventsand keep them out of the environment, smallamounts do escape into ground water andrivers, Baird said. Even small amounts ofthe 36 billion pounds of solvents used annu-ally pose a problem that the EPA would liketo eliminate.

Super-critical—or high-pressure—CO2

can be used in place of solvents in

acrylic-polymer production, Baird said, andwould offer distinct advantages. Becausethe gas occurs naturally, it can be taken from

The proposed funding package would include $24.4 million to complete the Bioinformatics Building Phase II. See site map on page 3 for location information.

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○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

The funding package would include $21.8 million to construct the Agriculture and NaturalResources Building, located between the Agriculture Quad and Cheatham Hall.

(See BOND PACKAGE on 3)

2 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2001

ACTIVITIESEVENTS

ISC offering free softwareIn an effort to improve desktop computing security,

Information Systems and Computing (ISC) is offering freeWindows 2000 operating-system upgrade licenses and Internetdesktop security software for all university-owned comput-ers.

The free Windows 2000 and Internet security licensesare available from the Software Distribution Office located in3220 Torgersen. Users may select between BlackIce andZoneAlarm security products. Faculty and staff members whowish to participate in this program may submit an order formavailable at http://www.ita.vt.edu/freesoftware. The recom-mended minimum platform for running Windows 2000 is aPentium 200 with 128K of memory.

Safety-awareness training now availableEmployee safety awareness training is now available on

line through Blackboard, making safety training easy, efficient,and convenient.

Courses are available to anyone required to have certain

Friday, 21Graduation Reception for International Students,

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Cranwell Center.Graduate Commencement, 2:30 p.m., Cassell

Coliseum.Women’s Basketball, 7 p.m.: At JMU.

Saturday, 22Fall Commencement, 10 a.m., Cassell Coliseum.

Monday, 24Christmas Holiday for Faculty and Staff Members.

Tuesday, 25Christmas Holiday for Faculty and Staff Members.

Wednesday, 26“With Good Reason,” 7 p.m., WVTF.

Thursday, 27Men’s Basketball, 7 p.m.: At Florida State.

Friday, 28Pay Date for Faculty and Staff Members.Women’s Basketball, 7 p.m., Lady Luck Classic:

Gardner Webb.

Saturday, 29Women’s Basketball, time TBA, Lady Luck Classic.

Monday, 31New Year’s Holiday for Faculty and Staff Members.

JANUARY

Tuesday, 1New Year’s Holiday for Faculty and Staff Members.

Wednesday, 2Men’s Basketball, 7 p.m., Cassell Coliseum:

Connecticut.

Thursday 3Women’s Basketball, 7 p.m., Cassell Coliseum: Clemson.

Saturday, 5Men’s Basketball, noon, Cassell Coliseum: Seton HallWomen’s Basketball, 7 p.m., Cassell Coliseum: Syracuse.

Monday 7International-Student Orientation (Through 1-12).Faculty Development Workshop, 9 a.m. to noon, 1120

Torgersen.Faculty Development Workshop, 1:30 to 2:50 p.m., 1120

Torgersen.

Faculty Development Workshop, 2 to 4:30 p.m., 1120Torgersen.

Tuesday, 8Faculty Development Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, 1120

Torgersen.Faculty Development Workshop, 1:30 to 2:50 p.m.,

1120 Torgersen.Faculty Development Workshop, 2 to 4:30 p.m., 1120

Torgersen.

Wednesday, 9Faculty Development Workshop, 9 a.m. to noon, 1120

Torgersen.Faculty Development Workshop, 1:30 to 2:50 p.m.,

1120 Torgersen.Faculty Development Workshop, 2 to 4:30 p.m., 1120

Torgersen.Women’s Basketball, 7 p.m., Cassell Coliseum: Boston

College.

Thursday, 10Faculty Development Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, 1120

Torgersen.Faculty Development Workshop, 1:30 to 2:50 p.m.,

1120 Torgersen.Faculty Development Workshop, 2 to 4:30 p.m., 1120

Torgersen.Men’s Basketball, 7:30 p.m.: At Connecticut.

BULLETINSawareness-level training, as well as those who would like moreinformation on the topic. To take a course, or enroll employees,(a Virginia Tech PID is required for anyone taking a course)notify Environmental, Health and Safety Services (EHSS) EHSSwill enroll the employee in the course, and they will have amonth (24 hours a day/seven days a week) to log on andcomplete it. Supervisors will receive a progress report at the endof the month.

Currently, the following awareness-level topics areavailable: personal protective equipment, electrical safety,confined space, lockout/tagout, fall hazard, excavation safety,and scaffold safety. Upcoming additional topics include: hazardcommunication, bloodborne pathogens, first aid, hot-workpermits, machine shop safety, welding and cutting safety, andcompressed-gas-cylinder safety.

EHSS also maintains safety-training resources for use bydepartments, including toolbox training materials and anextensive video library. Training on other topics not listedabove, including competent person training on a broad range oftopics, is available on an on-going basis; additional information

on training and support offered by EHSS can be found athttp://www.ehss.vt.edu/ or contact: Robin Miller or TheresaConti, Environmental Health and Safety Services, 459 TechCenter Drive Mail, mail code 0423

Blacksburg Transit posts break scheduleBlacksburg Transit will run on winter-break schedule

from Friday, Dec. 21, through Saturday, Jan. 12. The operatinghours for break schedule are Monday through Friday from 7a.m. until 10:15 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6:15 p.m.,and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 11:15 p.m.

During the break, there will be no service on the Tom’sCreek B route or Oak Lane.

On Monday, Dec. 24, bus service will end at 6 p.m., andthere will be no bus service on Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec.25.

Regular break service will end at 10:15 p.m. on NewYear’s Eve. Blacksburg Transit will be closed for NewYear’s Day, Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Faculty Development workshopsscheduled for spring semester

Einstein’s Dreams workshop scheduled

Starting Monday, Jan. 28 and continuingthrough Thursday, March 14, nearly 60 FacultyDevelopment workshops are scheduled forspring semester, from 10 a.m. to noon or 3 to 5p.m. FDI workshop topics are organized bythemes such as desktop computing skills, webdevelopment, digital-content creation, web-based instruction, web-based research andemerging technologies.

New this semester is Element K, consist-ing of self-paced, on-line modules for hun-dreds of popular programs by Adobe,Macromedia, Microsoft and others. Addition-ally, a three-part series on classroom assess-ment techniques, will also be offered, with anemphasis on on-line course development.

Most FDI workshops focus on teachingand learning with technology. The Institute forDistance and Distributed Learning (IDDL) sup-port team will give several workshops on dis-tance teaching. Three workshops will cover

topics related to Blackboard, the university’sweb-course management system.

This year’s workshops range from tech-niques to add narration to Powerpoint presenta-tions for on-line lectures and creating Flashvector graphic animation to designing effectivefeedback questions. New versions of severalcomputer programs will also be featured duringthe spring workshops, such as Adobe’s Pre-miere and Apple’s Quicktime. MacromediaFreeHand is a vector-based graphics programdesigned to simplify the task of vector graphicsfor print media or web sites. Flash is a vector-based program that can replace or enhanceHTML for the creation of dynamic web sites,including simple animations.

Featured in other workshops are updatedversions of familiar computer software, such asAdobe PhotoShop, Real Media, AppleQuickTime VR and Blackboard.

(See FACULTY on 4)

A teaching workshop for using Einstein’sDreams will be held January 10, at 3:30 p.m.,in 1060 Torgersen.

All faculty members who instruct first-year students, including GTAs, are invited toattend. The workshop is being offered as partof the January 10 faculty-development event,“Making Their Own Way,” with Marcia BaxterMagolda. Attendance at the full workshop isnot required. Registration for the full day isavailable at http://www.ceut.vt.edu.

Einstein’s Dreams is the featured text of

the Common Book Project for first-year andtransfer students. The goals of the project in-clude welcoming students to an intellectualcommunity, fostering community among stu-dents and faculty members, and providing inter-disciplinary opportunities with a single text.

The workshop will be a swap session forsuccessful assignments using the book and strat-egies for spring semester. Student assessmentlast year showed that students met the goals ofthe project most often when their faculty mem-bers mentioned the book in class.

the air and then dispelled back into the air afterthe fiber-spinning process is completed. Re-placing solvents with CO2

would significantly

reduce the costs of manufacturing acrylic poly-mers as well as the expense of recovering anddisposing of solvents.

In addition, CO2 does not pose a threat to

the environment. “The gas is non-toxic, non-flammable, chemically inert, completely re-coverable and inexpensive,” Baird said.

The project does pose challenges. To make

the super-critical CO2 suitable for acrylic poly-

mer processing, Baird will have to design achamber that can bring the gas down from thehigh-pressure state to normal atmospheric pres-sure to prevent polymer foaming.

Baird also must develop a method that willenable the CO2

to rapidly interact with the

acrylic polymers during production.The $325,000 grant for Baird’s project

comes from an EPA/National Science Founda-tion environmental research partnership en-titled “2001 Technology for a Sustainable En-vironment.”

RESEARCHERContinued from 1

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2001 SPECTRUM 3

Spectrum, a faculty-staff tabloid, is published eachFriday during the academic year, with the exception ofcertain holidays, exam weeks, and the summer. Copydeadline is noon Friday. No advertising is accepted. Spectrum is a non-profit publication of the Office ofUniversity Relations: Lawrence G. Hincker, associate vicepresident for University Relations; David Nutter, director ofcollege and media relations.

EditorJohn Ashby, 1-6961

Assistant Editor

Production ManagerMelinda Shaver, 1-8524

Business Manager1-8819

Letters to the editor and questions for "Ask Spectrum"should be addressed to the editor, 102 Media Building,Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Electronic Spectrum: http://www.unirel.vt.edu/spec-trum/ Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employ-ees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color,gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran sta-tus, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Any-one having questions concerning discrimination or ac-cessibility regarding the programs described in this news-paper should contact the Equal Opportunity AffirmativeAction Office: 540-231-7500 (v), 540-231-9460 (TTY).

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTEAND STATE INIVERSITY

EMPLOYMENTCLASSIFIED POSITIONS

FACULTY POSITIONSThe following classified positions are

currently available. Position details, specific ap-plication procedures/position-closing dates maybe found on Personnel Services web site http://www.ps.vt.edu. Positions are also listed on theJob Line, a 24-hour recorded message service.For information on all job listings, call 1-5300.Some positions include state benefits. Positionswith numbers beginning with “W” are hourly anddo not include state benefits. Individuals withdisabilities desiring assistance or accommoda-tion in the application process should call by theapplication deadline. Closing date for advertisedpositions is 1 p.m. Monday. An EO/AA employercommitted to diversity.

FULL TIMEAssistant Director, Development Research,007556S, PB 4, University Development.Athletic Eligibility Analyst/Graduation Ana-lyst, 000013R, PB 2, Registrar.Binding Assistant, 007272G, PB 2, UniversityLibraries.Carpenter, 001109G, PB 3, Physical Plant.Cashier, 000772H, PB 1, RDP.Command Pilot/Safety Officer, 002129F, PB5, ATS.Coordinator of Administrative Affairs,007879R, PB 4, Executive VP’s Office.Customer Service Manager, 001525F, PB 4,Physical Plant.Data Base Administrator, 000862Y, PB 5, ISC.Electrician Supervisor, 002268S, PB 4, PowerPlant.Enrollment Services Specialist, 007902R, PB3, Graduate School.Enrollment Services Specialist, 007903R, PB3, Graduate School.Financial Planning Manager, 007567F, PB 5,BFP.Fiscal Technician Senior, W022963F, PB 3,University Bursar.Food Production Supervisor, 000405H, PB 1,RDP.Graduate School Technical Coordinator,007901R, PB 3, Graduate School.Grounds Lead Worker, 000230G, PB 3, Physi-cal Plant/Grounds.Housekeeping Manager, 006926H, PB 3, RDP.Housekeeping Supervisor, 000269H, PB 2,RDP.Laboratory Specialist, 007707B, PB 3, CE.

Laboratory Specialist, 007860M, PB 3, CVM—BSP.Large Animal Veterinary Technician, 001996M,PB 4, VTH.Meat Processing Facility Manager, 003273M,PB 4, FST.Medical Technologist, 002596M, PB 4, VTH.Multimedia Systems/Applications Specialist,002054A, PB 4, VBS.Office Services Specialist, 006900M, PB 2,CSES.Office Services Specialist, 007283G, PB 2,ECE.Operations Manager, 007121H, PB 4, RDP.Program Support Technician, 005577M, PB 3,APS.Radiologic Technologist, 002394M, PB 3, VTH.Research Specialist, 004201J, PB 4, WSFP.Sous Chef, 000940H, PB 3, RDP.Sous Chef, 007881H, PB 3, RDP.Technology Opportunities Program (Top) Pro-gram Coordinator D, 007906A, PB 4, BEV.Telecommunications Vendor Billing Assis-tant, 000261A, PB 2, CNS.Transportation Planner, 007498F, PB 4, OT.Turbine Operator, 002222F, PB 3, PhysicalPlant.

PART TIMEAnimal Care Technician Large Animal,W020066M, PB 2, VTH.Animal Care Technician/Small Animal,W022675M, PB 1, VTH.Graphic Artist, W020567H, PB 3, RDP.ICU Veterinary Technologist Large Animal,W022218M, PB 2, VTH.

Laboratory Specialist, W023305M, PB 3, APS.Office Services Specialist, W023338J, PB 2,Dean of Students.Research Assistant, W023349J, PB 3, WSFP.Research Assistant, W023351M, PB 3, AAE.Starter Marshall/Shop Attendant, W022113J,PB 1, Golf Clubhouse.Veterinary Technician, W023340M, PB 4, VTH.

OFF CAMPUS4-H Program Assistant, 005845M, PB 2, VCE.4-H Scnep Program Asssitant, 005890J, PB 2,VCE—Hampton City.4-H Scnep Program Asssitant, 007904J, PB 2,Bedford County.Adult Program Assistant, 006602J, PB 2, HNEF.Adult Program Assistant, 006604J, PB 2, PrinceWilliam County.Efnep Adult Program Assistant, 006103M, PB2, VCE—Prince William County.Efnep Adult Program Assistant, 006348M, PB2, VCE.Fiscal Technician, 007407M, PB 3, VCE—SmithMountain Lake 4-H Center.GIS Specialist, 006702J, PB 3, FW.Program Assistant, 007234J, PB 2, HNFE.Program Assistant, 007816J, PB 2, HNFE.Radio Announcer, W020800S, PB 3, UR/WVTF.Research Assistant, 007542B, PB 2, Biology.Research Specialist, 003230M, PB 3, HamptonRoads AREC.Secretary Senior, 002089R, PB 2, NVC.Unit Support Staff, 007905M, PB 2, VCE—Page Unit.Youth Program Assistant, 007464J, PB 2,HNFE.

Youth Program Assistant, 005889J, PB 2,HNFE.Youth Program Assistant, 007233J, PB 2,HNFE.

INSTRUCTIONALNear Environments. Assistant Professor/In-structor. Contact: Dianne Yardley, 103 WarMemorial (0317). Review begins Feb. 1.Computer Science. Assistant Professor. Con-tact: Charmaine Carter, 7054 Haycock Rd., FallsChurch, VA 22043. Review date is Jan. 20.Psychology. Assistant Professor, Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Contact:Roseanne Foti, 5088 Derring (0436). Reviewdate is Feb. 1.

NON-INSTRUCTIONALOffice of International Programs. AssistantDirector, Education Abroad. Contact: LisaMullins, 134 Burruss (0265). Open until filled.VCE. Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Develop-ment. #FA871, Culpeper Co. Contact: RobertRay Meadows, 121 Hutcheson (0437). Reviewbegins Jan. 9.VCE. Extension Agent, Agriculture/NaturalResources. #FA668, Northampton Co. Contact:Steve Umberger, 121 Hutcheson (0437). Re-view begins Jan. 7.Geological Sciences. Research Associate (re-advertised). Contact: Patricia Dove, 4068 Derring(0420). Open until filled.

PROJECT General Fund non-General Fund Total

Bioinformatics, Phase II $24.4 24.4

Biology Building 16.1 4.0 20.1

New Engineering

Facility 17.0 17.0 34.0

Williams Hall renovation 5.2 5.2

Chemistry/Physics Building 19.1 19.1

Agriculture/Natural

Resources Laboratory 21.8 21.8

(Amounts in thousands) (Does not include Auxiliary Enterprises projects.)

BOND PACKAGEContinued from 1

fundamental to top quality teaching andresearch,” Provost Mark McNamee said.

If the General Assembly passes the packageas proposed, the university could start seeingmoney flow for construction sometime in 2002.Approval and funding for the Chemistry/PhysicsBuilding already had been released to theuniversity, but will be included in Gilmore’sdebt-financing package. The proposal includesabout $600 million in funding that would requirevoter approval in November. If approved, monieslikely would become available the followingyear.

HappyHolidays

fromSpectrum

At right is a site map illustrating Phase Iand Phase II of the BioinformaticsBuilding .

BUDGET UPDATEAs Spectrum went to press, Governor

James Gilmore announced his recommendedFY 03-04 budget and modifications for thecurrent year. Operating-budget reductions willbe required of most state agencies, includingcolleges and universities. Details are unavail-able at this time. Look for more completeinformation in the next issue of Spectrum onJanuary 11.

4 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2001

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAIDBlacksburg, VA Permit No. 28

Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061

IN OTHER NEWS

FACULTYContinued from 2

FDI workshops are designed for instruc-tional faculty members, however all work-shops are open to staff members and graduatestudents. Seating is limited per workshop andon-line registration is possible at http://www.fdi.vt.edu/spring/2002/default.html

All workshops held in the FDI Classroom(3060 Torgersen) or New Media Center, (1120Torgersen), unless otherwise indicated.

For more information, contact EdMcPherson at 1-8029, ejay@vt.edu or http://www.fdi.vt.edu.

E-business significant in state, provides opportunities to enhance profitability

Anne CheneyBy Sally Harris

Anne Cheney, associate professor emeritusof English, died Monday, Dec. 17.

Cheney began as an instructor of Englishat Virginia Tech in 1968 and became anassociate professor in 1971. She retired in 2000after 32 years at the university, becoming anassociate professor emeritus of English.

She was the author of Millay in GreenwichVillage; Lorraine Hansberry, considered thedefinitive biography of the playwright; and theLife and Letters of Jesse Hill Ford, which wasnominated for the Pulitzer Prize in biography.She also published two books of poetry, DeadSnakes, Cats and the IRS and The Burg andOther Poems, which included poetry by Cheneyand her students. In 1997, she edited andpublished Ophelia’s Legs and Other Poems byTheresa Gillespie, a memorial collection ofpoems by, for, and about Gillespie.

Cheney was a member of the AmericanCulture Association, the American CultureAssociation in the South, the North Carolina/Virginia College English Association, and theModern Language Association.

Contributions may be made on Cheney’sbehalf to the Humane Society of MontgomeryCounty, Box 287, Blacksburg, VA 24063, or tothe Alan B. Cheney Memorial ScholarshipFund of Birmingham-Southern College, Officeof Development Services, 900 ArkadelphiaRoad, Birmingham, AL 35254.

Special assistantnamed for contract,IP issues

Wegl wins national research award

Programmers place in top 10

OBITUARY

By Sookhan HoVirginia businesses are making significant

use of the Internet, and while increasing Internetuse remains a priority for most of these firms,the challenge is to enhance profitability throughe-business, a new Virginia Tech survey finds.

The survey, “The 2001 Digital DominionStudy,” requested by Governor James Gilmore’sMain Street to e-Street Task Force and sponsoredby Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology(CIT), was aimed at benchmarking Internet usageby Virginia businesses, said Wanda Smith,associate professor of management in thePamplin College of Business and a member ofits Center for Global Electronic Commerce.Smith designed the survey and co-authored thereport to CIT with Chad Miller, economic-

development specialist with the university’sPublic Service Programs.

The survey report defines “e-business” as“conducting some or all aspects of business—buying, selling, transacting, or exchanging in-formation—over the Internet with customers,suppliers, distributors/resellers, and/or employ-ees.”

The survey found that large organizationsare more likely to be conducting e-businessactivity than small and mid-size firms. Smalland mid-size firms, in particular, seldom see theInternet as a means for increased efficiency andcost reduction.

“Their failure to view the Internet as abusiness-process tool may reduce their abilityto compete nationally and globally,” Smith

said. Training programs can help these busi-nesses use the Internet to improve their effi-ciency and profitability, she said.

Of the 623 businesses surveyed, only aquarter reported levels of profitability from e-business, Smith said. Even so, more than 80percent of the companies surveyed indicatedthey planned to increase their e-business activitywithin a year. “Since roughly half the companiesthat plan to increase e-business do not followthrough on these plans,” Smith said, “it is impor-tant to have support organizations and programsto assist and encourage the implementation ofthese plans.”

The most common e-business expansionplans focused on enhancing existing business.Smith expects that as companies become more

comfortable with the changes that the Internetbrings, they will begin to consider new marketsas well as new products or ways to serve exist-ing markets.

The report provides recommendations forpublic and private organizations interested inassisting Virginia businesses

It also examines the policies and practicesof Virginia business regarding Internet privacyand security, as well as the “digital divide,” orregional differences in the use of the Internetfor e-commerce. The report is a publication ofGilmore’s Main Street to e-Street Task Forceand will be available in electronic format on thetask-force web site, www.councils.cit.org/MS2ES/, and on CIT’s web site, www.cit.org.

By Liz CrumbleyAs a Virginia Tech engineering under-

graduate, Diane Wegl conducted research thathas led to a first place in the American Instituteof Chemical Engineer’s (AIChE) 2001 Na-tional Student Paper Competition.

Wegl vied for the national award afterwinning the AIChE Mid-Atlantic Student Pa-per Competition earlier this year.During the AIChE Annual Meeting, held inReno, Nevada, in November, Wegl’s paperdescribing her research at Virginia Tech wasselected as the best of the nation’s 10 regionalaward winners. She received the Edwin O.Eisen Award, sponsored by Omega Chi Epsi-lon, the National Chemical Engineering HonorSociety.

While a sophomore chemical engineeringstudent, Wegl was invited by Associate Profes-sor Kim Forsten to participate in a joint re-search project with the Virginia-Maryland Re-gional College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Virginia Tech researchers are investi-gating the effects of mechanical compression

and hormonal changes on cartilage cells, astudy that could lead to a better understandingof the causes of osteoarthritis. Most osteoar-thritis research has focused on tissue-degenera-tion factors of the disease. Researchers at Vir-ginia Tech are studying the cellular causes ofosteoarthritis.

Working with cartilage cells from the stiflejoints of horses, Wegl developed a special ge-latinous environment that prompted the equinecells in the lab to behave as they would in theirnatural state. The environment created by Weglalso provides a flat surface that will enableresearchers at Virginia Tech to conduct com-pression tests on the cartilage cells in a con-trolled fashion.

“Diane’s research was the starting point ofour project,” Forsten said. “The scope andindependence of her work was remarkable foran undergraduate. She developed the enablingtechnology for our continued study of mechani-cal compression of cartilage cells.” The on-going project is now funded by the NationalInstitutes of Health.

By Susan TruloveCarol Roberson will become the new

special assistant for research contract affairs inthe research division, according to Leonard K.Peters, vice provost for research.

Roberson, who has been general counseland director of contracts and corporate secretaryat WPI, joined the research division December17. Her primary responsibilities are to facilitatecontractual and legal issues associated withresearch contracts and grants, Peters said. Shewill develop standard agreement terms andconditions for non-federal grants, review anddevelop terms and conditions for all contracts,review conflict of interest disclosures, and applystate law and federal agency regulations.

“Of course, the university has been carryingout all of these functions and requirements,”Peters said, “but as research activity has grown,the advantages of having this expertise withinthe research division have become apparent, interms of facilitating contracts and grants,protecting intellectual properties and rights topublish, and securing indemnity.”

Roberson will maintain a liaison with theuniversity general counsel to assure compliancewith state laws and policies, and with the assistantvice provost for research compliance on issuesrelated to protection from research risks. Shewill also work with the Intellectual PropertiesCommittee and maintain a liaison with VirginiaTech Intellectual Properties Inc.

Roberson is a magna cum laude graduateof West Virginia University with a bachelor’sdegree in chemistry and biology. Aftergraduation, she was a research technician fortwo years, doing biochemistry research andpublishing her scientific work. She was then achemist and quality-control supervisor for fiveyears at Rockwell International, before returningto WVU to supervise 16 cardiology techniciansand to be responsible for three cardiologylaboratories for the university’s hospital.

She earned a doctor of jurisprudence fromWVU in 1982, with subsequent legal experiencein contract, intellectual property, andenvironmental law. Before joining WPI in 1996,Roberson was an attorney advisor for the EPAin Triangle Park, N.C.; manager of technologytransfer for the U.S. Department of Energy atthe Morgantown, W.Va., Energy TechnologyCenter; and a corporate attorney at MonongahelaPower Company.

By Sally HarrisVirginia Tech placed four computer-

programming teams in the top 10 of the 2001ACM Mid-Atlantic Programming Contestsponsored by IBM.

Virginia Tech teams placed third, fourth,seventh, ninth, and 37th out of 136 teams.Virginia Tech’s third-place team followed onlyDuke University, which placed teams in thefirst and second spots. Other top-10 teams inthe Mid-Atlantic region included MessiahCollege at fifth, the University of North Carolinaat sixth, the University of Virginia at eighth,and George Mason University at tenth. Otherschools competing included the University ofMaryland, James Madison University, JohnsHopkins University, and Wake ForestUniversity.

The regional contest draws student teamsfrom colleges and universities throughout NewJersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware,Maryland, the District of Columbia, WestVirginia, North Carolina, and Virginia. Otherregions hold contests at the same time throughoutthe United States and the world. More than3,000 teams competed from more than 70countries and six continents.

As a test of its computer-science skills,each team tried to solve as many of the eightreal-life programming problems as it could infive hours. The top teams from each district willcompete in the ACM Programming ContestWorld Finals in Hawaii in March 2002. VirginiaTech will be competing in the internationalcontest for the fifteenth consecutive year.

WMH investigationclosed

The Virginia Tech Police Departmenthas closed its investigation into thesuspicious package that was found in alocker recently in War Memorial Hall.

Police officials said theirinvestigation has determined that therewas no intention to create the appearanceof an explosive device.