Purdue News Roundup
Purdue News Roundup
Participants in the third summer institute organized by the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship are from California, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. The Indiana teachers participating are Brian Fultz of Lafayette , Leila Meyerratken of West Lafayette , Alan Selge of Knox, Karen Sosbe of Kokomo, and Mary Lee Webeck of West Lafayette .
Upon completion of the institute, participants will have a custom-made program for teaching citizenship in their schools, plus a $250 grant to help them get started.
During the institute, the teachers will attend seminars conducted by leaders in citizenship education, perform community service, and attend a reception with representatives from community social service agencies to discuss the service needs of the agencies.
Participants in the institute will return to Purdue for four days next April to report on the projects they implemented at their schools and to work with Purdue education students.
The Ackerman Center in Purdue's School of Education was created in 1994 with a $2 million gift from James Ackerman, an Indianapolis cable television executive, and his wife, Lois.
According to Director Lynn R. Nelson, all programs offered by the center are based on the belief that American democracy will survive only if each new generation embraces the core democratic values of individual rights, the common good, justice, equality of opportunity, diversity, truth and patriotism.
In addition to the summer institutes for teachers, the center sponsors workshops and
civic education projects for teachers and students, develops curricula, and serves
as a national resource center for citizenship-education materials.
CONTACT: Nelson, (765) 494-4755; e-mail, lrnelson@omni.cc.purdue.edu
The classes are: Mathematica for Engineers; PowerPoint for Windows; Introduction to Java; Failure Modes and Effects Analysis; Implementing and Managing Change in the Workplace; Windows '95; Using the Internet and the Web for a Competitive Edge: Introductory Techniques; Using the Internet and the Web for a Competitive Edge: Advanced Techniques; Effective Writing for Technical Professionals; Introduction to C and C++ Programming; Oral Skills for Foreign-born Professionals; Memory Zone; Faster New Product Development: An Update; Object-Oriented Programming in C++ for C and C++ Programmers; Metallurgy for the Non-metallurgist; Unix: System Administration; Balance Sheets and Bottom Lines: An Introduction to Corporate Finance; Basics of Life Cycle Costing; Quality Service: Marketing for Customer Retention; Accelerated Reliability; and Life Testing Concepts.
The courses, which are available to the public, vary in length and cost and are presented
in the studios in the Potter Engineering Center at Purdue. They also will be broadcast
to various Indiana sites via the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System. Registration deadline is Aug. 25.
CONTACT: Marsha Nance, (765) 494-7018; e-mail, cee@ecn.purdue.edu; web, http://cee.www.ecn.purdue.edu/cee/
The parking lot immediately south of Mackey Arena and north of Lambert Fieldhouse and Gymnasium has been closed to through traffic between North University Drive and Northwestern Avenue. The cross-through typically is closed in the summer as a safety precaution due to the large number of young people enrolled in various Purdue summer sports camps, which meet nearby.
"This lot has become more of a roadway, a dangerous shortcut for motorists wanting access to Northwestern Avenue," said Purdue police Capt. Steven R. Dietrich. "After reviewing details of a vehicle-pedestrian accident at the exit during the academic year, and receiving numerous complaints from faculty, staff and students, we decided to take this step to enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians alike."
He said the east drive of the lot will be closed by extending the Northwestern Avenue sidewalk through the former exit. The timetable is not yet firm, but Dietrich said he would like the work completed by the time the new academic year begins in late August.
He said the number of parking spaces in the lot will not change. Vehicles in the driveway
along the east side of Mackey Arena will still be able to exit onto Northwestern
Avenue.
CONTACT: Dietrich, (765) 494-8221.
In settling the claim, the university maintained its stance that it was not at fault in the case. For its part, the EPA did not fault Purdue or find any regulatory violation, said Wayne W. Kjonaas, Purdue vice president for physical facilities. As part of the consent agreement, Purdue will make a $20,000 payment to the EPA. The agency initially proposed a $145,000 civil penalty against Purdue and a Lafayette contractor, All Seasons Roofing.
"Over the course of protracted negotiations, we repeatedly indicated that such a figure was excessive, given the circumstances of the incident," Kjonaas said. "We believe the settlement vindicates our position."
In 1993, the EPA claimed a violation of hazardous air-pollution guidelines occurred when asbestos inadvertently was disturbed during roof repairs on Young Graduate House in the fall of 1992. Employees of All Seasons Roofing were removing parts of the roof. As a result of a change in the original scope of the project, some ductwork layered with asbestos paper inadvertently was uncovered by All Seasons Roofing. When Purdue learned that fact, university officials immediately informed the EPA and took appropriate steps to remove the material.
"The fact that we self-reported the discovery, and that the university has an outstanding track record in dealing with asbestos removal in millions of dollars worth of projects were factors that led us to contest the EPA's complaint," Kjonaas said.
He said there never was any evidence that the uncovered asbestos posed any hazard
to Purdue students or employees.
CONTACT: Kjonaas, (765) 494-8000.
Compiled by Amanda Siegfried, (765) 494-4709; e-mail, amanda_siegfried@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
