Purdue News
Purdue News
January 17, 1997
Severson's family requested that memorial contributions be used for drug education and counseling at the university.
Severson, a graduate student from Fair Oaks, was shot in his room at Wiley Hall by Jarrod Eskew, a freshman from Crawfordsville. Eskew then shot himself in his room at Wiley.
Severson had reported to Purdue police the night before the shooting that he had seen Eskew with cocaine in Eskew's room. Police were unable to locate Eskew that night.
Checks for the Jay Severson Memorial Fund should be made payable to "Purdue Foundation" and sent to the Development and Alumni Information Services, 1800 Purdue Memorial Union, West Lafayette, Ind. 47907-1800. Contributors should indicate "Jay Severson Memorial" in the memo section of the check.
CONTACT: Joyce Koelzer, director of annual support, (765) 494-2729; e-mail, jkoelzer@purdue.edu
Dorothy Ann Washington began her new job Monday (1/13). She comes to Purdue from Temple University, where she has completed her coursework for a master's degree in African-American studies. She earned a master's degree in library science from Florida State University in 1981. From 1982 to 1995, she served as a librarian for various organizations including Makerere University in Uganda and the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
"I have a keen interest in African-American studies, and this position will provide the opportunity for me to combine my areas of interest," Washington said. "After working in the New York Public Library, I desired to return to a university setting that will allow me to work directly with students and faculty. Also with the new facility, this job will allow me to gain experience in the planning of a new library."
Purdue is in the midst of a campaign to raise $3 million to finance construction of a new Black Cultural Center. The two-story, 18,000-square-foot structure will be almost twice the size of the current center, which was dedicated in December 1970. Purdue has contributed the land and $1 million toward the construction.
"The value of libraries is an essential part of the learning experience," Washington said. "I believe the library within the Black Cultural Center promotes and encourages the entire campus community to learn about the African-American experience. I hope that the Black Cultural Center library will maintain an atmosphere in which our students can become independent, self-directed and lifelong learners."
Renee Thomas, director of the center, said the decision to hire Washington was based on a clear recognition of her leadership abilities and professional competence.
The center's library specializes in materials related to the historical, sociological, political and cultural aspects of the lives of African-Americans.
The library contains more than 6,000 books and subscribes to more than 40 popular magazines, scholarly journals and newspapers. The Black Cultural Center works in cooperation with the universitywide library system to provide information to patrons. The library also has a six-station computer lab available for word processing, Internet access or on-line Purdue library access.
The center serves about 35,000 people each year through its performing arts ensembles, speaker series, tours and other programs.
CONTACTS: Thomas, (765) 494-3091; e-mail, rathomas@hfs.purdue.edu
Washington, (765) 494-3093
The first event, which will focus on tourism, will be from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the RCA Dome/Indiana Convention Center.
Tours of the Convention Center will be combined with presentations by Doug Bennett, a CFS graduate and director of sales for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, and Alastair Morrison, professor of restaurant, hotel, institutional and tourism management.
Cost is $15, which includes hors d'oeuvres. A cash bar also will be available.
"We are looking forward to sharing these interesting and important programs with those in the Indianapolis area," said Dennis Savaiano, dean of CFS. "The programs are designed to showcase the unique contributions of our alumni as well as the expertise of Purdue's faculty."
Other "Boiler Mixers" are:
The cost for each Boiler Mixer is $15. For questions or additional information, contact the CFS Development and Alumni office at 1-800-535-7303 or call Indianapolis "Boiler Mixers" chairwoman Deanna Greve at (317) 630-9250.
CONTACT: Cheryl Altinkemer, CFS director of development and alumni relations, (765) 494-7890; e-mail, altinkemerc@cfs.purdue.edu
The series is held in the South Ballroom of the Purdue Memorial Union. Coffee and tea are served starting at 4 p.m. with the half-hour talks beginning at 4:30 p.m. Each discussion is focused on a different book and led by a faculty or staff member.
The schedule:
Jan. 30 -- Thomas Adler, professor of English, discusses Pat Barker's book, "The Ghost Road."
Feb. 6 -- A.G. Rud, associate dean of the School of Education, discusses Nicholas Megroponte's book, "being digital."
Feb. 13 -- Wendy Flory, professor of English, discusses Hershel Parker's book, "Herman Melville."
Feb. 20 -- Mary Niepokuj, assistant professor of English, discusses Mark Salzman's book, "Lost in Place."
Feb. 27 -- Lisa Anderson, assistant professor of theater and African-American studies, discusses Sarah Louis Delany's book, "Having Our Say."
Persons attending the talks will be eligible for prize drawings. Prizes to be given away each week include a copy of the book discussed, courtesy of Von's Bookstore; a Purdue sweatshirt, courtesy of University Bookstore; and a year's subscription to "The Sycamore Review."
CONTACT: Paul W. White, associate professor of English, (765) 494-8909; e-mail, paulwhit@omni.cc.purdue.edu
-- Carl C. Cowen, professor of mathematics, has received the Mathematical Association of America's Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics. He was one of three mathematicians nationwide chosen for the award, designed to honor people whose teaching effectiveness has had influence beyond their own institutions. Cowen is the third Purdue mathematics professor to receive the award since 1994.
-- Deborah K. Rishel, Lafayette, has received the annual John C. Smalley Memorial Grant. The award was established in 1988 to encourage continuing education among clerical, service and administrative staff in the Housing and Food Services division. It pays up to $125 tuition toward coursework at Purdue or Ivy Tech State College. Rishel is a clerk at Wiley Residence Hall.
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-- The Institute of International Education (IIE) Midwest regional office will award $1,000 grants to U.S. students at Midwest colleges and universities to study abroad during 1997-98. Applications for Purdue students are available at the Programs for Study Abroad Office in Young Graduate House, Room 120, and are due to the IIE in Chicago by March 17.
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Compiled by J. Michael Willis (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu
