Purdue Story Ideas

August 31, 2001 JOURNALISTS: Here are story ideas and a list of selected Purdue events during the next two weeks. University to launch Discover Purdue Week A yearlong campaign to help Indiana residents "Discover Purdue" kicks off with Discover Purdue Week, which runs from Friday (9/7) through Friday, Sept. 14. Among the items listed below are several Discover Purdue Week events that will showcase projects to help develop Indiana's economy. There also will be announcements of several significant gifts to Purdue. Foodservice expert to speak on diversity issues Gerry Fernandez, founder and president of Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance, will speak on "Diversity Economics" at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday (9/4) in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. Fernandez has been on loan from his position as national account manager in food service sales for General Mills since 1997. He conducts diversity workshops and gives lectures for many leading companies and organizations in the hospitality industry. The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance is a non-profit organization that promotes the economic benefits of diversity in the hospitality industry. The talk is part of the Executive in the Classroom series sponsored by the hospitality and tourism management department. CONTACT: Maureen Tate, department development coordinator, (765) 494-4735, motate@cfs.purdue.edu. School kids to master Boiler Mazer Fourth-grade students from Wea Ridge Elementary School will practice their navigational skills using the global positioning system when they visit the Boiler Mazer at the Farm Progress Show site, south of Lafayette, Ind. The Boiler Mazer is a five-acre corn maze shaped like Purdue's Boilermaker Special. During a pre-show event on Wednesday (9/5), the 100 students will use GPS equipment to navigate the maze with the help of Purdue Extension specialists and Purdue students. The activities will help the students complete a lab for their school curriculum. About half the elementary students will be at the maze from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The second group will be on-site from noon to 2:30 p.m. The Farm Progress Show site is located off of Tippecanoe County Road 700 S., just west of US 52. The Farm Progress Show will run Sept. 25-27. CONTACT: Brenda Hoffman, research agronomist, (765) 494-8096. President Jischke to address enrollment Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke will talk about the student enrollment process from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday (9/5) during a live call-in radio show on WBAA's "AM920 Magazine." For his second show of the fall semester, Jischke will discuss how Purdue selects students, what policies have changed and how Purdue markets itself to top students. He also will talk about how international students fit into the campus and community culture with Indiana and out-of-state students. Jischke also will address enrollment goals, which include maintaining the number of students at 37,500, raising academic standards for incoming students, increasing diversity, reducing class size and providing more scholarship incentives for top students. Reporters, photographers and videographers are welcome to be in the studio for the broadcast. CONTACT: Dan Skinner, WBAA manager, (765) 494-3960. Deutsche Lufthansa CEO to lecture at Purdue Jürgen Weber, chairman and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, will provide a personal view on the air transport industry during a 4 p.m. lecture Wednesday (9/5) in Fowler Hall. His address, "Trends Influencing Air Transport in the 21st Century," is a William E. Boeing Distinguished Lecture. It is sponsored by Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The media are welcome to cover the lecture. Lighting and flash photography are permitted. CONTACT: Tim Bobillo, (765) 494-9124, Bobillo@ecn.purdue.edu. Lecture explores how people regard nature Peter Kahn, professor of psychology at the University of Washington, will discuss his research on how people forget, from one generation to another, what they have done to the environment. His address, "The Human Relationship with Nature: Structure, Development, and the Problem of Environmental Generational Amnesia," will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday (9/5) in the Child Development and Family Studies Building, Room 203. It is sponsored by the Center for the Human-Animal Bond and the National Science Foundation. Kahn also will highlight his research with Purdue colleagues Alan Beck, professor of veterinary medicine; Nancy Edwards, professor of nursing; and Gail Melson, professor of child development. They are studying the interaction of children and older adults with real and robot dogs. The lecture is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Alan Beck, (765) 494-0854, abeck@purdue.edu. NAACP president to address racial issues Kweisi Mfume (Kwah-EE-see Oom-Foo-may) president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will speak at Purdue Thursday (9/6). His address, "Race: Exploring America's Agenda," will begin at 7 p.m. in Fowler Hall. The talk will last 75 minutes, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session. Mfume, whose West African name means "conquering son of kings," has served as NAACP president since 1996. His organization's five-point action agenda addresses civil rights, political empowerment, educational excellence, economic development and youth outreach. Before his election to his present post, Mfume represented Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives for 10 years. Mfume's address is sponsored by the Black Cultural Center and Purdue's Office of Human Relations. It is free and open to the public. While members of the media will not be able to arrange individual interviews with Mfume, there will be an opportunity to ask questions during the question-and-answer session after the speech. The use of lights and flash photography by the media is permitted. CONTACT: Renee Thomas, Black Cultural Center director, (765) 494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu. One in Four to speak about sexual assault Four men who met at Central Michigan University will stop at Purdue Thursday (9/6) before they continue a cross-country hike to raise awareness about sexual assault issues. The students call themselves One in Four to reflect the statistic that one in four women in America will become the victim of sexual assault. They will speak about sexual assault prevention at 8 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 206. One in Four also seeks to spur legislative action to provide public funds for rape evidence kits and exams. Their 3,546-mile trek will conclude this fall in Washington, D.C. CONTACT: Jackie Miller, Women's Resource Center, (765) 494-9879, wro@purdue.edu. University announces nanotech center Discover Purdue Week kicks off at 11:30 a.m. Friday (9/7) with the announcement of a new nanotechnology center at Purdue, as well as plans to open Discovery Park, an interdisciplinary complex. The news conference will be in Fowler Hall, Stewart Center State and federal elected officials are planning to be on hand for the announcement, including Gov. Frank O'Bannon, U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh and members of the Indiana State Budget Committee. The announcement will be followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking, which should provide a good photograph or video opportunity. The groundbreaking will be in the North Ballroom of the Purdue Memorial Union. The donation that will fund the nanotechnology center is the largest outright gift in the university's history. B-roll will be provided by satellite from 3-3:15 p.m. that day. The coordinates are: SBS6/06 (74' W) U/L: 14147.500 MHz Horizontal D/L: 11847.500 MHz Vertical Allocated Bandwidth (MHz): 36.000 CONTACT: Jenny Pratt, university news service, (765) 494-2079, jmpratt@purdue.edu. Students to enjoy alcohol-free Friday fun Purdue students are invited to enjoy an alcohol-free night of fun at "All Night at the RSC" on Friday, Sept. 7. The event, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Recreational Sports Center, will feature music from the Clayton Miller Blues Band and DJs. Other activities include cannonball contests in the new Aquatics Center, a two-on-two basketball tournament, soccer, volleyball, weightlifting and demonstrations by student groups, such as the ballroom dance club and archery club. The event is sponsored by the Student Wellness Office, the Division of Recreational Sports, Purdue Athletics, Purdue Student Union Board, Purdue Student Government and University Residences. Its purpose is to educate students about alternatives to drinking alcohol. The first in a series of "Your Choice" events, "All Night at the RSC" is funded by a three-year NCAA grant. For more information, visit the "Your Choice" Web site. The media is invited to cover the event and interview students. CONTACT: Tammy Loew, Student Wellness Office, (765) 496-6780, tfloew@purdue.edu. African-American entrepreneur to speak Shawn A. Taylor, president and CEO of Texas-based of Family EATs Inc., a franchisee of Taco Bell Corp., will speak to Krannert School MBA students Friday, Sept. 7, at the Executive Forum speakers series. Taylor, recruited to Purdue through its pioneering minority Business Opportunity Program from the projects on Chicago's South Side, earned a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1980. After graduation he worked for Arthur Andersen in Dallas for 10 years and left after rising to manager. He then spent five years with American Express as a personal financial planner. Today he is the owner, president and CEO of 33 Taco Bell restaurants in the Houston area. Taylor will give his talk, "Your Life's Passion," at 11:30 a.m. in the Krannert Auditorium. Time can be arranged for journalist interviews. Audio and video of the speech can also be made available via the Internet. CONTACT: Melissa A. Evens, Krannert School speakers and events manager, (765) 494-4392, mevens@mgmt.purdue.edu. Pesticide patents to be donated to Purdue A news conference will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, in Room 116, Roy L. Whistler Hall of Agricultural Research. As part of Discover Purdue Week, an unusual gift will be announced – pesticide patents. The patents promise to have many consumer applications. This is a first for the university and has the potential of being among the largest gifts Purdue has ever received. CONTACT: Jenny Pratt, university news service, (765) 494-2079, jmpratt@purdue.edu. Two donations to be announced On Tuesday, Sept. 11, two announcements will be made as part of Discover Purdue Week. At 9:30 a.m. in the West Faculty Lounge, Purdue Memorial Union, the U.S. Marines Corps and National Science Foundation will announce a gift of electronic equipment for the School of Technology. At 4 p.m. a reception will begin at the Skyline Club on the top floor of the American United Life (AUL) Building, 1 American Square, corner of Ohio and Illinois streets, Indianapolis. At 5 p.m. Purdue will announce a generous gift from a well-known Indianapolis businessperson, who will push the Purdue School of Consumer and Family Sciences past its $10 million fund-raising goal in time for its 75th anniversary. CONTACT: Jenny Pratt, university news service, (765) 494-2079, jmpratt@purdue.edu. Ceremony to honor deceased students Eight Purdue students will be honored Tuesday, Sept. 11, during the traditional Golden Taps ceremony commemorating students who have passed away the previous semester. A short outdoor ceremony is set for 9:30 p.m. at the base of the Purdue Bell Tower. The students are: Ryan David West, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts from Newburgh, Ind.; Benjamin Summers, a junior in the School of Management from Lowell, Ind.; Jeremy Francis, a senior in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences from Bringhurst, Ind.; Katie Ann Burkhart, a student in the Department of Health Sciences from Fort Wayne, Ind.; Ross Edward Eiler, a freshman in the Schools of Engineering from Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Tracy Lynn Rose, a student in the Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision from Lafayette, Ind.; John D. Woods, a senior in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences from Indianapolis; and Yeunkyung Woo, a doctoral student in biological sciences from Seoul, South Korea. Woo's sister, Huo Kyung Woo, also will be recognized. Families and friends of the deceased, as well as members of the general public, are invited to attend the event. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu. Ag school to receive real estate gift The School of Agriculture will announce a gift of real estate Wednesday, Sept. 12, as part of Discover Purdue Week. A news conference will begin at 1 p.m. in a tent in front of Pfendler Hall of Agriculture (formerly Ag Hall). The gift's value will make it the second largest ever given to the Purdue School of Agriculture. B-roll related to the event will be mailed to TV assignment editors early that week. CONTACT: Jenny Pratt, university news service, (765) 494-2079, jmpratt@purdue.edu. Interdisciplinary effort gets financial boost On Thursday, Sept. 13, a major gift to support the largest interdisciplinary effort in the university's history will be announced as part of Discover Purdue Week. A news conference begins at 5:30 p.m., at the Skyline Club, on the top floor of the American United Life (AUL) Building, 1 American Square, corner of Ohio and Illinois streets, Indianapolis. B-roll related to the event will be mailed to TV assignment editors early that week. CONTACT: Jenny Pratt, university news service, (765) 494-2079, jmpratt@purdue.edu. Events wrap up Discover Purdue Week Two gifts to be announced Friday, Sept. 14, will close out the special events during Discover Purdue Week. The first gift will help recruit and retain faculty, while the other will support the $70 million Ross-Ade Stadium renovation project. The media are invited to a reception in honor of the first gift at 1 p.m. Room 118, Purdue Memorial Union. The Ross-Ade announcement will be made later that evening at a private event, but an embargoed story will be released earlier in the day. CONTACT: Jenny Pratt, university news service, (765) 494-2079, jmpratt@purdue.edu. NBC Sports V.P. to discuss media relations Kevin Sullivan, vice president of NBC Sports, will speak to Krannert School MBA students Friday, Sept. 14, at the Executive Forum speakers series. Sullivan will give his talk, "Effectively Dealing with the Media: The Role of Corporate Communications," at 11:30 a.m. in the Krannert Auditorium. Time can be arranged for journalist interviews. Audio and video of the speech can also be made available via the Internet. CONTACT: Melissa A. Evens, manager of Krannert's speakers and events, (765) 494-4392, mevens@mgmt.purdue.edu. Events • Friday, Sept. 21. Board of Trustees meeting. To the Purdue News and Photos Page