n Inside Six faculty members and Dennis Pruitt receive national recognition. Page 3 USC’s JaQuin and Larialmy Allen, right, have a lot to gain by winning The Biggest Loser. Page 8 Columbia T imes January 21 , 2011 A publication for faculty, staff, and friends of the University of South Carolina Aiken Beaufort Lancaster Salkehatchie USC to focus on sustainability research The University will make sustainability research one of its top target areas as part of a new initiative to identify, unite, and promote research across campus. Sustainability is the first in a series of research initiatives that USC will identify, said Stephen Kresovich, vice president of research and graduate education. The rapidly expanding field encompasses many areas, including biology, public health, business and economics, architecture, civil and environmental engineering, earth and ocean science, physical and human geography, and law. “In practical terms, the field recognizes that in a world of limited capital and resources, creative solutions to pressing environmental issues are key, but so are Kresovich economic and societal realities,” Kresovich said. ”Sustainability science is a forwardthinking approach that seeks real-world solutions to real-world problems by bringing together participants who otherwise would seldom communicate with each other.” Brian Helmuth, a professor of biological sciences, will be the special adviser for the sustainability research initiative at USC and work with faculty across campus to advance sustainability research. Continued on page 6 Art waves Rowing Boat, by artist Walter Inglis Anderson, is one of the works in the exhibit, “Everything I See Is Strange and New” at McKissick Museum. Anderson’s work captures the essence of the natural world, literature, and mythology. Sumter Union Upstate Stockwell announces plans to step down after 17 years USC Upstate Chancellor John C. Stockwell will step down in August, following 17 years of leadership resulting in outstanding growth in the academic reputation, student enrollment, capital development, and public/private partnerships of the campus. Since Stockwell’s arrival at USC Upstate in 1994, enrollments have doubled to 5,500 students with a campus community representing 60 nations and a minority enrollment of 30 percent. USC Upstate also has the second highest enrollment of South Carolina undergraduate students among the state’s 10 comprehensive universities. “From a personal perspective, these have been 17 years of challenge and satisfaction. The decision to move on has been most difficult, but I am persuaded now is the time,” Stockwell said. “Having spent more than 40 years in academic life, I am looking forward to other opportunities and to more reading and writing, traveling, and quite frankly, exploring the next phase of my personal and professional life.” Stockwell Perhaps best known for defining USC Upstate’s “metropolitan mission,” Stockwell has emphasized the campus’ increasing academic competitiveness and its partnerships with enterprises across the metro corridor. The campus has developed a vigorous international character, sending students and faculty abroad and attracting international students to the campus. As a product of a strategic pursuit of its mission, USC Upstate has grown from a small commuter institution to a residential Division I university with strong regional connections and an international reach. Stockwell is heralded for the implementation of a multi-year, $184 million master plan that has dramatically increased classroom space, academic support facilities, parking and streetscapes, housing, and athletic and recreational facilities. Additionally, Stockwell collaborated with private donors and the city of Spartanburg to create the George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics in downtown Spartanburg, home to the 850 business majors enrolled at the campus. USC Upstate also has established a significant presence in Greenville, enrolling nearly 1,000 students each year through the University Center. “Dr. Stockwell’s accomplishments at USC Upstate and on behalf of its students have been of extraordinary proportion, by any standard of measurement,” said Jim Smith, chair of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education. “Dr. Stockwell personally developed Upstate’s ‘metropolitan mission,’ recognized nationally as a unique model of academic excellence. He enjoys an extraordinary record of accomplishment and has provided unparalleled leadership, supporting the students, our community, and the Upstate. The image, reputation, and engagements of USC Upstate have been enhanced beyond measure across South Carolina and beyond.” Continued on page 6 Campus tour app launched for iPad and iPhone Prospective students can now take a virtual tour of the University with the touch of their fingertips. USC recently launched a virtual campus tour and information application for the iPad and iPhone. To download the free app, go to Apple’s app store at iTunes.com or the USC Visitor Center Web page at www.sc.edu/visitorcenter. Denise Wellman, director of the Visitor Center, said the new iPhone/ iPad app provides another way for future Gamecocks and other visitors to tour and experience the University. “The official visit to a campus is still the most trusted source by students in choosing a college,” she said. “There is an Wellman emotional reaction to a college the moment you step foot on the campus that technology can’t simulate. “The iPhone and iPad apps are wonderful complements to the campus visit because they let students revisit the campus, exploring it further and strengthening their emotional connection to Carolina.” Michael Huneycutt, a third-year public health major from Charlotte and a University Ambassador who takes campus visitors on tours, was involved in the research and testing for the new app. “I think it is fantastic,” Huneycutt said. “It’s full of information about campus buildings, photos, and insights into what USC has to offer. I have looked at a lot of apps, and USC’s app is great for knowing where things are located. “Prospective students can really get a feel for everything on campus and take a tour similar to the tour I would take them on. It’s also a beneficial tool for freshmen and sophomores who are still learning all the buildings. They can find them, find out what is happening on campus, learn about the history of Carolina, and build pride for knowing that history.” Students will like the app’s flexibility, too. “Students and visitors who use the app are going to like not having to leave the app to visit portions of the sc.edu Web site,” Huneycutt said. “You can easily toggle between the two, checking out something on athletics with the app still running. That may not sound exciting, but wait until you use it. It is someContinued on page 6 Moore named provost at Georgia Southern Georgia Southern University has named William (Ted) Moore its new provost and vice president for academic affairs. Moore, USC’s vice president of finance and planning and chief financial officer (CFO), will join Georgia Southern April 1. “I am honored and proud to be welcomed into the Georgia Southern family,” Moore said. “I look Moore forward to working with President Keel, [Georgia Southern’s] vice presidents and deans, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Universities produce the future, and my wife and I look forward to being part of the bright future that lies ahead for the Eagles.” At USC, Moore is responsible for leading strategic planning for the University system. His responsibilities include oversight of Focus Carolina, a system-wide planning initiative; Business Affairs; Facilities; Law Enforcement & Safety; the Budget Office; Bursar and Controller; and Information Technology. He holds the David and Esther Berlinberg Distinguished Professorship in the Darla Moore School of Business. During his 24 years at USC, Moore has been interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, vice president for planning, vice provost for academic affairs, and associate provost for budget and operations. Moore earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1982 and maintains an active research agenda in areas such as Continued on page 6 Briefly HOST INSTITUTIONS SOUGHT FOR FULBRIGHT SESSION: Feb. 1 is the deadline for U.S. institutions of higher education to submit proposals for the Middle East and North Africa Regional Short-Term Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program in Science and Technology. Five institutions in the United States will be selected to sponsor a total of 25 scholars between Sept. 21 and Dec. 8. Five scholars will be selected for each of the following fields: science and technology, engineering, environmental/earth sciences, agricultural/food security, and information technology.The program is designed to promote faculty development and to build higher education capacity in science and technology fields in the participants’ home countries.The program will lay the foundation for participating scholars and their U.S. sponsors to develop long-term institutional relationships and to identify areas of cooperation that can be sustained after the grant period. Sponsoring institutions will receive $5,000 per scholar for administration of the program and will be reimbursed up to $4,500 per scholar for housing and up to $1,000 per scholar for institutional fees. For instructions on how to submit an institutional proposal, go to the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) Web site at http://www.cies.org/Fulbright/MENA. Upstate forms partnerships with two-year colleges With the demand for higher education in Upstate South Carolina on the rise and the availability of well-educated technicians, scientists, professionals, and managers among the most critical factors in the economic growth of the region, USC Upstate recognizes that partnerships with two-year colleges are important keys to producing more graduates with baccalaureate degrees. USC Upstate recently unveiled its Upstate Direct Connect© initiative, an exclusive opportunity for two-year colleges that guarantees admission to USC Upstate for any student who graduates with an associate of arts, associate of science, or select associate of applied science degree. “USC Upstate is extremely effective in graduating students with baccalaureate degrees and extremely efficient in partnering with two-year colleges,” said John Stockwell, USC Upstate chancellor. “The campus is proud of its track record in enrolling transfer students from Greenville Tech, Spartanburg Community College, and Spartanburg Methodist College. Currently, about 40 percent of USC Upstate’s incoming students enter as transfers, by far the largest percentage among universities statewide. As a consequence, the percentage of enrolled USC Upstate students who graduate each year with the baccalaureate degree is also the highest among the state’s public universities.” USC team is perfect in mock trial tournament ENROLLMENT IS OPEN FOR STATE ORP: Open enrollment for the State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP) is underway and will continue through March 1. Participants can change vendors or, if eligible, can irrevocably elect to join the S.C. Retirement System (SCRS) during this open enrollment period. Any State ORP participant electing to switch from State ORP to SCRS must have a minimum of 12 months but no more than 60 months of participation in State ORP by March 1. State ORP participants hired between Jan. 1, 2002, and March 1, 2006, are eligible to switch from State ORP to SCSC during the open enrollment period. State ORP participants should have received a letter from the Benefits Office that details how to contact State ORP vendors and which forms are required for making changes.To access a copy of the letter, go to hr.sc.edu/ benefits/ORPopenenrollment.pdf. JEWISH STUDIES GRANT DEADLINE IS FEB. 1: The Jewish Studies Summer Travel Grant application is due before noon Feb. 1 to the Study Abroad Office.The grant, a financial award of $2,000, can be used to help fund a May session or summer study abroad program for undergraduate students interested in Jewish Studies. Students who are ineligible to receive a Summer Study Abroad Fellowship or compete for a Passport Travel Grant are qualified to compete for this award. To be considered for the travel grant, applicants must have an established and continuing interest in Jewish Studies, be earning at least three credits for the study abroad program, and be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.00 GPA. For more information, call 7-7557 or go to www.studyabroad.sc.edu. SALKEHATCHIE EVENT FEATURES BOOKS ON SCOTLAND: The Peden McLeod Library on the USC Salkehatchie East Campus in Walterboro will sponsor a Burns Day drop-in from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 30. Burns Day honors the Scottish poet and songwriter Robert Burns and celebrates Scottish culture.The Salkehatchie library will feature more than 100 books on Scottish and Celtic history donated by Milton W. Harden of Kline. Scottish tunes, including songs by Burns, will provide background music. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free and open to the public. RSVP by calling Ed Merwin at 843-549-6314, ext. 327, or e-mailing emerwin@ mailbox.sc.edu.The library, located between the main building and the gymnasium, will remain open after the drop-in for its normal Sunday hours, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parking is available on Sundays in the gymnasium parking lot off Strickland Street. MAGELLAN SCHOLAR PROPOSALS DUE: Proposals for Magellan Scholar undergraduate research awards are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 17 for projects that begin in the summer or fall semester. All USC campuses are eligible. Information on the program and submission guidelines can be found at http:// www.sc.edu/our/magellan.shtml. All students and faculty applying for Magellan funding are required to attend one 30-minute application workshop; dates and times are on the Web site. Student and mentor do not have to attend the same session. Students and faculty members who previously attended a workshop do not need to attend a second workshop. For more information, call 7-1141 or send an e-mail to our@sc.edu. CAROLINA ALERT SYSTEM UPDATED: University students, faculty, and staff will need to update their emergency information and re-subscribe for Carolina Alert messages.To update, go to VIP (vip.sc.edu) and log in. A series of screens will be presented to update information. Do not skip these messages. Enter all available information to ensure information is correct.To receive alert messages via text messaging, text the words JOIN USCSMS to a number presented on the VIP screen.Wait for confirmation to receive text messages from the Carolina Alert system (text messages will come from the number 34292).This upgrade affects only the Beaufort, Columbia, Lancaster, Salkehatchie, and Sumter campuses. For more information, go to www.sc.edu/carolinaalert. For questions about the Alert system upgrade, call the UTS Help Desk at 7-1800 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday. In the event of an emergency, the Carolina Alert system will be used along with other communication including television, radio, newspaper, and Web site announcements. 2 January 21, 2011 Net upset Kim Truett No. 23 Bruce Ellington, a freshman guard from Moncks Corner, helped lead the Gamecocks to an overtime victory, upsetting No. 22 Vanderbilt in the season’s SEC opener Jan. 8. Ellington scored 22 points. The team will be at home again against Kentucky at 6 p.m. Jan. 22. IMBA student wins global business plan competition Marty Bauer, a first-year student in the International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) program of the Darla Moore School of Business, won $1,000 in the Global Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition at the University. Bauer, from Cincinnati, Ohio, developed a concept of commercializing patent-pending intellectual property developed by a biology professor at the University. CarbonForecast, the company she conceptualized as part of the competition, will enable other companies to quantify the carbon reduction effects of specific wetland improvements. More than 20 USC students presented their entrepreneurial ideas and business plans before a panel of judges. The competition, organized by the Moore School’s Faber Entrepreneurship Center, required students to create a business plan for a new enterprise that included concept, projected income and funding, target market, distribution channels, and marketing. Samantha August, a junior from Columbia majoring in international business and entrepreneurship, placed second, and doctoral chemistry students Atria Rungta of Mumbai, India, and Anand Viswanath of Chennai, India, who competed together, placed third in the competition. The students won $750 and $500, respectively. The competition was part of the Moore School’s celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, an annual worldwide observance to unleash new ideas. The competition is among 40,000 events taking place in 100 countries. A team of USC undergraduates won the Mid-South Invitational Mock Trial Tournament held recently at Middle Tennessee State University. The six-member team, all from South Carolina and led by senior Amanda Eskridge, a political-science major from Columbia, bested 65 collegiate teams from the South and Midwest to win the title. The USC squad posted a perfect 8–0 record. Eskridge was named the tournament’s best attorney. “This team is so unselfish and has been working so hard since August that I am thrilled to see them win such a major tournament,” said Don Songer, a professor of political science who has coached the team since its beginning in 1995. Members of the winning team also included junior Monica Bracey, a political-science major from Greer; senior Michelle Fantone, a political-science major from Blythewood; junior John Gulledge, an English major from Columbia; senior Matt Kneece, a political-science major from Lexington; and senior Heath Lanier, a biology major from Blythewood. The winning team members were among 25 students from USC’s College of Arts and Sciences who competed in the tournament, considered one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country. With 66 undergraduate teams competing, the tournament is the largest in the country. USC has a long and successful history in mock-trial competition. The University has won more than eight top titles during its 15 years of fielding a team. For more information about the USC’s mock-trial team, contact Songer at 7-6801. Student and alumnus earn Rotary Scholarships “Service above self” will be the mantra of Robert John “R.J.” May III, a 2009 USC graduate, and J. Emrys McMahon, a USC junior, who are recipients of Rotary International Ambassadorial Academic Year Scholarships. Sponsored by Rotary District 7770, May and McMahon will use the awards, valued at $27,000, in the 2011–12 academic year to study abroad. May graduated in 2009 with a double major of political science and criminal justice. He plans to pursue a master’s in international security and diplomacy in Tel Aviv, Israel, because “an understanding of Middle Eastern cultures, both Arabic and Israeli, is a precursor of peace for the region. It is also imperative that we (the United States) strengthen our ties with our strongest ally in the region,” he said. McMahon is majoring in chemical engineering and has earned a Lieber Scholarship and Magellan Scholar Award at USC. He plans to study at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India, which will offer opportunities to learn about the Indian educational system and its approach to energy and environmental engineering. “As India’s technology develops, it has the opportunity to grow in such a way that provides a solid foundation for an alternative energy economy,” he said. Outside of the classroom, he hopes to teach Indian elementary or middle school students about their responsibility for India’s environmental future. USC has had 81 Rotary Scholars since the 1994 establishment of the Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs. Duke Energy gives $500,000 to Engineering and Computing The Duke Energy Foundation is giving $500,000 to the University to establish the Duke Scholars and Fellows Endowment in the College of Engineering and Computing. Jim Rogers, CEO, chair, and president of Duke Energy Inc., made the presentation to President Pastides while he was visiting USC for a clean energy and jobs forum. “We see this gift to the university as an investment in the economic future of South Carolina,” said Catherine Heigel, president of Duke Energy South Carolina. “Our investment will help develop a pipeline of talent and technology to spur the workforce development and technological innovations needed to fuel the state’s economy.” The money also will enable researchers from USC’s College of Engineering and Computing and Duke Energy to work together on nonproprietary joint energy projects. Scholarships and fellowships are for students majoring in electrical or mechanical engineering or computer science and are open to students with a minor in nuclear engineering. The first awards will be given in 2012. Aiken campaign raises more than $60,000 Faculty, staff, and retirees at USC Aiken have once again led the campus to another highly successful Family Fund campaign, this year raising more than $60,000 in donations. The achievement represents a 91 percent participation rate from the campus’ faculty and staff, which matches last year’s rate—a figure that was the highest ever for USC Aiken and for the USC system. “The 2010 Family Fund campaign was a huge success because of our wonderful staff and faculty who understand the vital role that USC Aiken plays in the community,” said Troy Mothkovich, a 2010 USC Aiken Family Fund co-chair. “Even though these are economically-challenging times for many, including USC Aiken employees, the faculty and staff understand how important it is to support the University’s mission. I hope that our local and state policy makers can match that level of enthusiasm and support for higher education in South Carolina.” Val Lumans, also a Family Fund co-chair and chair of USC Aiken’s Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy, said he, too, was impressed with the response of everyone who participated in the drive, noting that “no pressure was required; our staff and faculty came through like champs. The wonderful campus community and collegiality at USC Aiken is the reason I’ve been here for so long without serious thought of leaving.” Lumans gave credit for the successful drive to Jamie Raynor, USC Aiken’s director of alumni relations and the annual fund. “Thankfully, USC Aiken is not defined by recessions or budget cuts, but by a generous and committed group of faculty and staff who provide the best education for our students on a daily basis,” Raynor said. “They contribute to the Family Fund to further the opportunities for our students and programs.” Donors designated their gifts to several areas in the campus, including scholarships, staff and faculty development, and departmental and program development. Chamber Innovista, Southern Exposure combine for concert Chamber Innovista and Southern Exposure will join forces to present masterworks by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky in an evening of music, theater, and dance. The concert, set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in the School of Music Recital Hall, will feature the talents of faculty members and students from USC’s School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance. The performance, which is free and open to the public, will focus on several of Stravinsky’s most beloved works. The program will begin with the brief Fanfare for a Picasso drew this famous portrait of the Russian New Theater, composer Igor Stravinsky. performed by James Ackley and Stephen Rushing, trumpets, and will be followed by excerpts from Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka in an arrangement for two pianos by the composer, performed by pianists Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers. Stravinsky’s neoclassic Octet will end the first half, with Jennifer Parker-Harley, flute; Joseph Eller, clarinet; Peter Kolkay and Michael Harley, bassoons; Ackley and Rushing, trumpets; and Brad Edwards and Colt Campbell, trombones. Rebecca Phillips will conduct. After intermission, the concert will conclude with a semi-staged version of Stravinsky’s masterpiece A Soldier’s Tale performed by William Terwilliger, violin; Eller, clarinet; Kolkay, bassoon; Ackley, trumpet; Edwards, trombone; Craig Butterfield, double bass; and Scott Herring, percussion. Phillips will conduct. Special guest artists will be Jacob Will as The Narrator, Victor Holtcamp as The Soldier, Robert Richmond as The Devil, and Ashley Johannsen as The Ballerina. Benicewicz Berger Mactutus Reger Richards Sodetz Six professors named AAAS Fellows Six professors at the University have been named fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society. The six, who are among this year’s class of 503 fellows, are Brian Benicewicz, chemistry and biochemistry; Frank Berger, biological sciences; Charles Mactutus, psychology; Daniel Reger, chemistry and biochemistry; John Richards, psychology; and James Sodetz, chemistry and biochemistry. They will be recognized for their contributions to science and technology at the Fellows Forum to be held Feb. 19 during the 2011 AAAS annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon members by their peers in recognition of their efforts to advance science or its applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. AAAS Fellows have been elected since 1874; the association was founded in 1848 and publishes the journal Science. “Carolina’s faculty are committed to scholarship, research, and teaching,” said President Pastides. “The election of another six Carolina faculty members as prestigious AAAS Fellows proves the quality of our faculty is being recognized throughout South Carolina and beyond.” Stephen Kresovich, USC’s vice president for research and graduate education, hailed the AAAS recognition as an important step toward building the reputation of the University’s research and scholarly community. “The national recognition these six faculty members have achieved for their scholarly contributions is an indicator of the excellence of research at this university,” Kresovich said. “These professors are national leaders, and Carolina is proud and fortunate to have them among its faculty.” Benicewicz was recognized for his contributions to the development of high temperature polymer membranes for fuel cells, and the synthesis and understanding of polymer nanocomposite materials. Berger was honored for contributions to research, education, and outreach on colorectal cancer, including founding of the Center for Colon Cancer Research at USC. Mactutus was recognized for contributions to the field of experimental psychology, particularly for basic and applied studies of animal cognition to neurobehavioral teratology and developmental neurotoxicology. Reger was honored for research on inorganic and supramolecular systems, teaching of introductory chemistry and administrative service to the University. Richards was recognized for contributions to the study of infant attention, with specific reference to work done showing the relation between brain and attention development in young infants. Sodetz was honored for contributions to understanding the molecular structure, function, and assembly of the pore-forming complex of human complement proteins. National student-affairs organization recognizes Pruitt Dennis Pruitt, vice president for student affairs, dean of students, and vice provost at the University, has been recognized as one the nation’s top student-affairs officers. Pruitt will be honored for outstanding service by NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education at the organization’s annual meeting March 15 in Philadelphia. The award is Pruitt’s second from NASPA. “I am honored and humbled by this recognition,” Pruitt said. “Truly, this award and the many other honors our division has received over the years are a testament to our outstanding and dedicated staff and the marvelously talented, caring, and enthusiastic Carolina students we are so fortunate to serve.” Pruitt, who has led the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support since 1983, will receive the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Service as a Dean. The award is NASPA’s highest honor Pruitt for chief student-affairs officers and recognizes commitment to student-affairs administration and innovation in responding to students’ needs. “This is an outstanding and well-deserved honor,” President Pastides said. “In addition to being a wonderful manager, supervisor, and mentor to students, faculty, and staff, Dennis is a very caring person. He constantly strives to ‘not let one student fall through the cracks.’ This motto inspires our campus community to provide the needed support for our students to achieve their maximum academic and personal goals.” NASPA also awarded USC’s Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support three awards of excellence. The University 101 program’s instructor-development initiative won a Grand Silver Medal Award for overall excellence and a Gold Award in a category that recognizes administrative, assessment, information technology, fundraising, and professional-development programs. A publication to help distressed students won a Bronze Award in its respective category for programs dealing with violence education and prevention, crisis management, and campus security. Last year, NASPA Southeast Region honored Pruitt with its John Jones Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer. At Carolina, Pruitt oversees housing, health services, student-engagement initiatives, Healthy Carolina, judicial affairs and academic integrity, disability services, residential learning communities, campus recreation, Greek life, the Russell House University Union, student involvement and leadership programs, multicultural student affairs, parents programs, student government and organizations, alcohol and drug programs, and student media. Pruitt is responsible for coordinating and managing all aspects of academic student-support services, including residential learning communities, academic-integrity initiatives, pre-professional advising, fellowships and scholar programs, University 101, enrollment management, undergraduate admissions, orientation and testing, TRIO, the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, the registrar, the Visitor Center, Veterans Services, financial aid and scholarships, the Career Center, international programs for students, and student-success initiatives. He designed the University’s first enrollmentmanagement plan. Jerry Brewer, associate vice president for student life, said he knew Pruitt would make an indelible mark in higher education and the lives of students when they were both graduate students together at Carolina. He has been working alongside Pruitt ever since. “Each of the past 30 years, Dennis has been awarded increased responsibilities at the University,” Brewer said. “His leadership and influence shape policies and decisions to make Carolina a wonderful learning, teaching, and nurturing environment for students. He is a superb leader and administrator.” Under Pruitt’s supervision, the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support programs have been models for many other programs nationally. Among the programs most emulated are academic learning centers, the Greek housing village, Carolinian Creed, campus recreation, residential learning communities, student-affairs development, and staff-development programs. Pruitt earned his doctorate in education from Carolina. He also has a master’s degree in counseling/student personnel services from West Georgia College and a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Armstrong Atlantic State University. The Oswald Review of student essays celebrates 12th edition The fall 2010 issue of USC Aiken’s The Oswald Review features essays by students at the University of Maryland in College Park, Kansas State University, the University of Southern Indiana, the Open University in the United Kingdom, and Winthrop University. In its 12th year, the review is an international journal of undergraduate research and criticism in the discipline of English. Submissions are screened by an editorial board composed of faculty at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Winthrop University, and the College of Charleston. Tom Mack, G.L. Toole Professor of English at USC Aiken, edits the journal. Each volume of the review is produced with the help of an editorial intern; this year’s editorial assistant is Kevin Kinsey, a senior majoring in English education. For more information, go to www.usca.edu/english/pubs/Oswald/Oswald.html. January 21, 2011 3 January & February Calendar Lectures Miscellany Miscellany Jan. 21 Chemistry and biochemistry, “Excursions on High Dimensional Potential Energy Surfaces: Reaction Dynamics to Hydration,” Joel Bowman, Emory University, 4 p.m., Jones Physical Science Center, Room 006. Refreshments served at 3:45. Jan. 24 Center for Teaching Excellence: Teaching Excellence Workshop, “Energize Your Voice to Influence Your Students,” 1:30–3:30 p.m., Hollings Library Program Room, Thomas Cooper Library. The two-hour workshop will introduce participants to techniques they can use to enhance the use of their voice in the classroom. Practical exercises will focus on breath support, vocal projection, and increasing vocal dynamics (how to vary volume, pitch, tempo, and intonation). Facilitated by Erica Tobolski, associate professor, Department of Theatre and Dance. To register, go online to www.sc.edu/cte/workshops/energizevoice, send an e-mail to cte@sc.edu, or call 7-8322. Feb. 1, 8, 5, 22 McCutchen House: Wine 101, 6:30– 8:30 p.m. The cost is $179 per person. For reservations, go to www.mccutchenhouse.sc.edu. Bowman Jan. 24 Chemistry and biochemistry, Faculty Seminar, “Characterization and Chemistry of Oxide-supported Bimetallic Clusters,” Donna A Chen, University of South Carolina, 2:30 p.m., Jones Physical Science Center, Room 006. Refreshments served at 2:15. Jan. 25 Medication Safety and Efficacy/Pharmacy, “Community of Scholars,” Research Colloquia “Implementation of National Health Care Reform: Lessons from Massachusetts’s Experience (2006–2010),” 4–5 p.m., Coker Life Science Building, Room 110. James Maxwell, director of research, JSI Research and Training Institute, a large global public health firm in Boston, Mass. Learn about lessons that can be drawn from Massachusetts’s experience with the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Maxwell, a nationally recognized expert on health insurance and state health care reforms, will present data on the actual implementation practices and results Maxwell in Massachusetts and discuss the implications for national reform. The colloquium is open to all faculty, staff, students, and community members, and refreshments will be available. The CoEE for Medication Safety and Efficacy and the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, S.C. College of Pharmacy, are the event’s sponsors. For more information, contact pweiss@mailbox.sc.edu. Jan. 27 Women’s and Gender Studies, “Swearing and Blaspheming Wretches, The Sounds and Music of Witchcraft in Elizabethan Street Literature and Popular Song,” Sarah Williams, USC School of Music, 3:30 p.m., Williams Brice Building, Room125. Jan. 28 Chemistry and biochemistry, “Renewable resource block polymers,” Marc Hillmyer, University of Minnesota, 4 p.m., Jones Physical Science Center, Room 006. Refreshments served at 3:45. Feb. 3 Physics and Astronomy, Colloquium, ”Life after Physics Department: How to Move to Industry and Survive,” 3:30 p.m., Jones Physical Science Center, Rogers Room. Technology companies around the world employ many former Hillmyer physicists in areas ranging from research and development to sales. The colloquium will feature reallife stories and experiences of people with background in physics who decided to make a career outside academia. Refreshments will be served at 3:15 p.m. For more information, contact Mary Papp at 7-8105 or papp@physics.sc.edu or go to www.physics.sc.edu. Feb. 3 Geography and Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute, “Environmental Hazards, Risks, and Disasters: Calamities from the Past or Portend of the Future?,” Ian Burton, University of Toronto, 3–5 p.m., Russell House Theater. Part of the University-wide Speakers Series. Feb. 4 Chemistry and biochemistry, Daniel R. Gamelin, University of Washington, 4 p.m., Jones Physical Science Center, Room 006. Refreshments served at 3:45. Sports Jan. 22 Men’s basketball: Kentucky, 6 p.m., Colonial Life Arena. Jan. 23 Women’s basketball: Alabama, 2 p.m., Colonial Life Arena. Jan. 27 Women’s basketball: Georgia, 7 p.m., Colonial Life Arena. Jan. 29 Men’s basketball: Auburn, 1:30 p.m., Colonial Life Arena. 4 January 21, 2011 Jan. 25 Center for Teaching Excellence: Teaching Assistant Workshop, “Tips for TAs,” 9:30–10:45 a.m., Center for Teaching Excellence, Thomas Cooper Library, Room L511. The presentation will give an overview of the lecture planning process, discuss methods for engaging students in the classroom, and present course material to make it relevant to students’ lives. The facilitator also will address balancing teaching with scholarship and other academic demands. The workshop will be facilitated by Nancy Chalmers, winner of the 2010 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award and a Ph.D. candidate in statistics at USC. To register, go to www. sc.edu/cte/workshops/ta, send an e-mail to cte@sc.edu, or call 7-8322. Jan. 26 Center for Teaching Excellence:Voyages into the Technology Frontier, “Engaging Students in Larger Classes with Technology,” 2:30–3:30 p.m., Center for Teaching Excellence, Thomas Cooper Library, Room L511. Technology can, when used wisely, enhance larger classes by providing mechanisms for dialog and discussion, individual discovery, and meaningful and interactive relationships with students. The session will address these issues and more through a panel discussion with recipients of the 2010 Improving Larger Classes with Technology Teaching Excellence Grants Program. Each panelist will describe the problem she or he faced in the larger class, the technologies that were explored, and what was learned in the process. Panelists will be Peter Duffy, Allison Marsh, Mindi Spencer, and Debbie Sturm. To register, go to www.sc.edu/cte/seminars/ voyages1, send an e-mail t0 cte@sc.edu, or call 7-8322. Jan. 27 Center for Teaching Excellence: Teaching Excellence Seminar, “Student Engagement in Online Learning,” 11a.m.–12:15 p.m., Center for Teaching Excellence, Thomas Cooper Library, Room L511. The workshop will explore best practices for successful design, development, and implementation of teaching and learning strategies for active learning and engagement in online environments. These strategies are based on the “seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education,” originally framed by Chickering and Gamson in 1986. Workshop participants will examine specific examples of teaching and learning strategies. Jo Ann R. Coe Regan, director of distance education and a clinical associate professor in the College of Social Work, will be the speaker. To RSVP, go to www.sc.edu/cte/ seminars/engageonline, send an e-mail to cte@sc.edu, or call 7-8322. Jan. 28 USC Study Abroad Fair: 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Russell House, Second-Floor Lobby, for students, faculty, and staff interested in international education and to learn more about the opportunities available. Participants can meet USC students who have studied abroad, talk with current international exchange students, speak with program representatives, get info about financial aid, and speak with USC study abroad staff. Representatives from various USC academic departments also will be available to discuss study abroad Global Classroom Programs in their respective academic areas. For more information, call 7-7557, e-mail Sarah Langston at langston@sc.edu, or visit studyabroad.sc.edu. Dance Feb. 9–12 USC Dance Company: “Innovative Works Without Boundaries.” 7:30 p.m. Drayton Hall. The USC Dance Company will premiere three new contemporary works by Helen Pickett, a professional choreographer and former principal dancer with Ballet Frankfurt, and USC award-winning choreographers Thaddeus Davis and Tanya Wideman-Davis. The program also will include David Parson’s “Parson’s Etude.” Ticket prices are $10 for students; $14 for USC faculty, staff, and military; and $16 for the general public. Tickets are available at the Carolina Coliseum box office or by calling 251-2222. For more information, call 7-1001 or go to http://www.cas.sc.edu/dance/. Feb. 2 Career Center: Career Fest and the Science, Engineering, and Technology (S.E.T.) Fair Spring 2011 will be held simultaneously from noon to 4 p.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Students can speak with employers about internships, co-ops, and full-time positions. Career Fest is for students interested in nontechnical internships, co-ops, and full-time positions. For more information, go to www.sc.edu/career/Fairs/CF/student.htm. The S.E.T. Fair is for students interested in technical internships, co-ops, and full-time positions. For more information, go to www.sc.edu/career/Fairs/SET/student.htm. For more information about either fair, contact Erica Lake at 7-3969 or by e-mail at erlake@mailbox.sc.edu. Feb. 2 Center for Teaching Excellence: Teaching Excellence Seminar, “Whole Brain Teaching,” 2:30–3:20 p.m., Center for Teaching Excellence, Thomas Cooper Library, Room L51. The seminar will help faculty with students lacking self-discipline, prerequisite knowledge, and fundamental problem solving skills and show them how to engage these students as active learners. The Whole Brain Teaching approach contends that these students “respond to challenges, enjoy well-designed learning games, and can make, in the proper setting, astonishing educational progress” (Biffle, 1999). The Whole Brain Teaching approach can help faculty to maximize students’ attention spans and engage them as active learners. This pedagogical practice is significant because it draws from an established epistemology that places learners at the center of the education process. Nate Carnes will share his experiences with this approach, helping participants translate Whole Brain Teaching across disciplines. To RSVP, go to www.sc.edu/cte/seminars/wholebrain, send an e-mail to cte@sc.edu, or call 7-8322. Feb. 3 Healthy Carolina: Lactation Support Lunch N’ Learn, “Immunizations,” noon–1p.m., Russell House, Room 348. Helen L. Huber, MSN, CPNP, nurse consultant/nurse practitioner in the Immunization Division at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, will share her expertise on immunizations for children. For more information, send an e-mail to lindstrv@mailbox.sc.edu or call 7-1650. Feb. 4 Center for Teaching Excellence, Moore School of Business, and Department of Sport & Entertainment Management: Teaching Excellence Workshop. “Case Teaching Tips: ‘Little Things Can Make a Big Difference,’” Idalene Kesner, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. The workshop will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Moore School of Business, Daniel Mickel Center, Close Hipp Building, eighth floor, Room A, or from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the School of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, Carolina Coliseum, Blossom Street Level, Room 1015. Case-based learning can prepare students to succeed in complex, real-world scenarios. Faculty can use this teaching tool, which is implementable in any discipline, to engage students and foster critical thinking. Each worshop session will begin with a presentation of techniques to increase in-class participation and to manage effective grading of participation. Register for either the morning or afternoon session online at www.sc.edu/cte/kesner, by e-mail at cte@ sc.edu, or by phone at 7-9552. List your events The Times calendar welcomes submissions of listings and photographs for upcoming campus events. Information should include the title of the event, starting time, location, speaker or presenter and their affiliation, cost to attend, and the host department or program. Send information or direct questions to Jane Jeffcoat at jwj@mailbox.sc.edu or 7-3683. The deadline for receipt of information is 11 business days prior to the publication date of issue. The next publication date is Feb. 3. Online calendar USC Calendar of Events is at http://events.sc.edu. To add events here, contact Cassandra Pope at popecl@mailbox.sc.edu or 7-0019. If you require special accommodations, please contact the program sponsor. The art department’s Alumni Exhibition will feature the works of 12 USC graduates, including Jill Allen, a studio artist and teacher living in Philadelphia who created Vitracounter, top left, and glass works, below left, by Tom Lockart and Mark Woodham, who founded One Eared Cow Glass Inc. in Columbia. Exhibits Through April 30 Hollings Library: “Beyond Domesticity: U.S. Women Writers, 1770–1915,” Irvin Department Exhibition Gallery. Popular conceptions of women’s literature before the First World War typically derive from works, such as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, that revere home, family, and moral values. But domestic fiction represents only one strand of early American women’s writing. The exhibition features a diverse representation of literary styles, formats, and topics and women writers from all walks of life. In addition to numerous rare books and manuscripts from the Hollings Library, the exhibition features items from the South Caroliniana Library along with an extensive collection of artifacts from the McKissick Museum selected to complement the stories told by the texts on display and to further complicate conventional notions of U.S. women’s rich and diverse accomplishments before World War I. This exhibition was co-curated by Katherine Adams, an associate professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies, and Cynthia Davis, a professor of English. Exhibits Through Feb. 8 Hollings Library: “James R. Mann Memorial Exhibit,” S.C. Political Collections Gallery. Mann represented South Carolina’s Fourth District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 until his retirement in 1979. He is best remembered for his leadership on the House Judiciary Committee as it considered the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. S.C. Political Collections holds his papers. Mann died Dec. 20, 2010. Through Feb. 4 McMaster Student Gallery: Kimberley Bookman Solo Show. For more information, contact Julia Grasso at juliagrasso@hotmail.com. McKissick Museum: “Natural Curiosity: USC and the Evolution of Scientific Inquiry into the Natural World.” The permanent exhibit, which opened in fall 2007, explores man’s relationship with the natural world and features more than 1,000 specimens gathered during the University’s history. Concerts Jan. 22 Chamber music and strings concert: Strings in Silhouette Benefit Concert, 7:30 p.m., School of Music, Recital Hall. For more information, call 7-4280. Jan. 23 Faculty and guest artists concert: Tina Milhorn Stallard, faculty voice recital, 3 p.m., School of Music, Recital Hall. Free. For more information, call 7-4280. Jan. 25 Faculty and guest artists concert: Serena Hill, faculty voice recital, 7:30 p.m., School of Music, Recital Hall. Free. For more information, call 7-4280. Jan. 29 Chamber music and strings concert: Thirdannual S.C. String Teachers’ Association violin/viola choir workshop performance. 6 p.m. The performance is the culmination of the violin/viola workshop with students from beginning to advanced levels. For more information, call 7-4280. Jan. 29 School of Music: Friends of the School of Music annual fundraiser. For more information, call 7-4280. Jan. 31 Faculty and guest artists concert: Brad Palmer, guest artist, trombone recital, 7:30 p.m., School of Music, Recital Hall. Free. Palmer is a trombone professor at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music. Feb. 4 Faculty and guest artists concert: Black History Month performance with guests Denise Myers and Beverly Soll, “The Black Woman’s Experience in America.” 7:30 p.m., School of Music, Recital Hall. Free. For more information, call 74280. Feb. 6 Faculty and guest artists concert: USC faculty brass quintet recital. 3 p.m., School of Music, Recital Hall. Free. For more information, call 74280. Through Feb. 19 McMaster Gallery: Alumni Exhibition, featuring works by 12 artists ranging from recent graduates to veteran professional artists whose academic experiences at USC span three decades. The work in the exhibition represents a variety of disciplines, including printmaking, painting, photography, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture. The McMaster Art Gallery is located in the Department of Art building, 1615 Senate St. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday. The gallery is closed weekends and all University holidays. For more information, contact gallery director Mana Hewitt at 7-7480 or mana@sc.edu. Through Feb. 28 Hollings Library: “Harriet Keyserling Memorial Exhibit,” S.C. Political Collections Gallery. An advocate of the arts, education, and environmental concerns, Keyserling represented Beaufort County in the S.C. House from 1977 to 1993. Keyserling’s personal papers, which reflect her life in and outside of the General Assembly, are held by S.C. Political Collections. The collection stands as the largest in South Carolina of a member of the General Assembly. It documents her expertise and leadership in promoting the arts; addressing education issues, including the passage of the 1984 Education Improvement Act under Gov. Dick Riley; and expressing her concerns about energy and, particularly, the disposal of solid and nuclear waste. Keyserling died Dec. 10, 2010, after a brief illness. Through Feb. 28 South Caroliniana Library: “The Horseshoe: Heart of the Campus,” Lumpkin Foyer. Curated by Katharine Thompson, University Archives. An exhibit examining the development of the original campus and the massive renovation project in the 1970s that gave the historic buildings new life. Through March 26 McKissick Museum: “From Snapshot to Civic Action: Creating Healthy Environments through Community Engagement,” a display of photos about life in some of Columbia’s oldest public housing communities, North Gallery. The exhibit features photographs and corresponding stories from Columbia’s Waverly community residents. Darcy Freedman and Ron Pitner from the USC College of Social Work conceived the project. They recruited participants, equipped them with digital cameras, and charged them with documenting the strengths and concerns of their community. This exhibition is just one outcome. McKissick Museum exhibitions are free and open to the public. The museum is located on the Horseshoe and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed on Sundays and holidays. For more information, call 7-725, or go to www.cas.sc.edu/MCKS/. Frog and Iris, a watercolor by Walter Inglis Anderson, is one of 70 works by the artist in the exhibit “Everything I See Is New and Strange” at McKissick Museum. McKissick exhibits work of Walter Inglis Anderson The University’s McKissick Museum is sponsoring an exhibit, “Everything I See Is New and Strange,” which captures the essence of the natural world, literature, and mythology. The exhibit is the work of Ocean Springs, Miss., artist Walter Inglis Anderson, a creative genius who suffered mental illness and lived in seclusion many years before his death in 1965. The exhibit will run until May 7 and is free and open to the public. The show includes some 70 works of art with 37 of his watercolors, as well as decorated and carved pottery, oil paintings, linocut prints, wooden sculpture, and pen-and-ink drawings. Born in New Orleans and trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Anderson spent most of his life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The painter, watercolorist, and naturalist is recognized for his huge artistic output, the quality of his work, and his ability to evoke a sense of place that is both naturalistically accurate and universal in its poetic and artistic appeal. This sense of place is a key element of the exhibition, which includes quotations from the artist’s works and excerpts from his famous Horn Island Logs journal that describe the barrier islands off the Mississippi Coast. “Everything I See Is New and Strange” is made possible through the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about Anderson and the museum that bears his name, go to www.walterandersonmuseum.org. January 21, 2011 5 Briefly TEST PREP COURSES OFFERED: University Test Prep through the Office of Continuing Education and Conferences will offer test prep courses in GRE, GMAT, and LSAT during the winter and spring. All programs will be held on campus and will be open to the general public. University Test Prep also sponsors free strategy workshops for the GMAT, LSAT, and GRE throughout the semester and can hold a strategy workshop or customize a course for students, organizations, businesses, and departments at their chosen location. Upcoming free strategy workshops and prep courses are: • GRE free strategy workshop, 6 p.m. Jan. 24 • GMAT free strategy workshop, 6 p.m. Jan. 26 • LSAT free strategy workshop, 6 p.m. Feb. 9 • LSAT exam prep,Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30–9:30 p.m. Jan. 11–Feb. 10 • GRE exam prep, Saturday, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Jan. 29_March 5 • GMAT exam prep,Tuesday and Thursday, 6–9 p.m. March 15– April 7. To register or for more information, call 7-9444 or e-mail testprep@mailbox.sc.edu or go to discover.sc.edu. AIKEN FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT MINORITY STUDENTS: The Advisory Council at USC Aiken will sponsor a fundraiser to support leadership programs for minority students from 7 to 11 p.m. Jan. 29.Tickets are $50 per person with a portion of the price being tax deductible.The event, “Leading the Way: A Scholarship Fund Raiser to Support Leadership Programs for Minority Students at USC Aiken,” will take place at the Etherredge Center. The event will include an evening of music and dancing with the group Preston and Weston. A buffet meal will be served along with drinks. The 2010 Inclusion Awards also will be presented. For more information, contact Deidre Martin, vice chancellor for University Advancement, at 803-641-3448 or deidrem@usca.edu. WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH CALLING FOR PROGRAMMING: USC’s annual celebration of Women’s History Month will be in March 2011.Women’s Student Services in the Department of Student Life would like to capture all that is happening in support and celebration of women by publishing a calendar to publicize all of the events going on across campus in March. Faculty and staff can organize an event or add an existing event to the schedule.To have an event published, go to www.sa.sc.edu/wss and register it. All submissions are due by Jan. 26 to be published in the calendars. For more information, contact Stefanie DiDomenico, coordinator of leadership programs and women’s student services, at sdidomenico@ sc.edu or 7-8165. CAREER FEST AND SET FAIR IS FEB. 2: The Career Fest and the Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) Fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Career Fest is for students interested in nontechnical internships, co-ops, and full-time positions. For more information, go to www.sc.edu/career/ Fairs/CF/student.htm.The SET Fair is for students interested in technical internships, co-ops, and full-time positions. For more information, go to www.sc.edu/career/Fairs/SET/student.htm. For more information, contact Erica Lake at erlake@mailbox. sc.edu 7-3969. EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC CLASSES BEGIN JAN. 22: Registration for the spring semester of music classes for young children (birth–age 5) and their caregivers is now open.Weekly classes will be offered by the Children’s Music Development Center beginning Jan. 22. For the schedule and e-registration information, go to http://www.music.sc.edu/Special_Programs/CMDC/index.html. For more information, call Wendy Valerio at 7-5382. Moore continued from page 1 capital investment analysis, asset pricing and risk measurement, and financial market microstructure. He has won many teaching, research, and outstanding professor awards at USC, including the University’s most prestigious teaching award, as well as the University’s most prestigious award for outstanding research. President Pastides said Moore’s departure is “a loss for the University.” “Dr. Moore helped us stabilize our finances over the worst economic crisis in our history,” he said. “He is a smart, knowledgeable professor and administrator, and he and his leadership will be sorely missed.” Tour continued from page 1 thing very different, very organized, and very cool.” The app, which is updated daily, was developed by USC’s Visitor Center in collaboration with Slicker Interactive, a Charleston-based company that specializes in innovations for the Apple iPhone and iPad. USC’s Visitor Center provides prospective students and visitors an array of resources to learn about the University and coordinates nearly 60,000 tours and appointments for students and their families each year. 6 January 21, 2011 USC among ‘Best Values in Public Education’ The University is among the nation’s best values for public higher education—delivering the best BA for the buck— according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. USC is No. 42 in the February issue’s “Top 100 Best Values in Public Education” ranking, which cites institutions that, “despite shrinking budgets, deliver a stellar education at an affordable price.” “The Kiplinger ‘Best Value’ ranking is one more confirmation that the University of South Carolina is among the best public universities in the nation for academics and affordability,” said Dennis Pruitt, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “Our record number of applicants and enrolled freshmen last fall clearly show that students and their parents recognize that USC is honoring its commitment of offering an outstanding undergraduate education at an affordable cost.” Pruitt said the University’s Gamecock Guarantee, which promises that undergraduate tuition and the technology fee will be covered for up to four years for students who meet the program’s academic, financial, and participation criteria, also is helping to keep the cost of a USC education manageable. The rankings are based on a combination of academics and affordability. Kiplinger’s analyzed more than 500 public, fouryear schools and examined SAT and ACT scores, admission and retention rates, student-faculty ratios, and four- and sixyear graduation rates, along with tuition costs, student debt, graduation, and need-based aid. Among Southeastern Conference schools, USC leads Louisiana State University, the University of Arkansas, the University of Tennessee, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and Mississippi State University. USC also is ranked ahead of major research universities such as Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Rutgers University, and the University of Massachusetts. Black History Month events begin Feb. 1 The University will kick off its annual celebration of Black History Month with an event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 1 on the 17th floor of Capstone. The Student Leadership and Diversity Conference (SLDC) will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Russell House. The SLDC is a one-day regional conference featuring two keynote speakers, workshops sessions, and networking opportunities throughout the day. To register online, go to www.sa.sc.edu/sldc. Registration is $20 for USC Columbia participants. The cost includes lunch and all materials. The conference is sponsored by Leadership Programs and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Department of Student Life. A “Prospective on Integration at USC” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Russell House Theater. A complete list of events will be published in the Feb. 3 issue of Times. Research continued from page 1 “We have real-world problems that have to be solved: we need to create jobs, we need clean sources of power, and we need to feed our nation,” Helmuth said. “However, that doesn’t mean we have to address these issues at the expense of our children and grandchildren by depleting our resources or destroying our environment. Sustainability research searches for new ways of thinking that are both economically sound and environmentally sensible and that will allow us to address the demands of the present without sacrificing the needs of the future.” The focus on sustainability is a natural for USC, which has already earned recognition for its efforts in sustainable management on campus. President Pastides has made sustainability one of USC’s seven major academic initiatives, directing the University to address campus issues related to energy and resource use and climate impacts and to develop a plan to help USC reach carbon neutrality. The University’s Green Quad is internationally recognized as an example of sustainable living on campus. Faculty across campus are already involved in sustainability research, including the areas of alternative energy and fuel cells, complex integrated environmental processes, and climate change impacts, risk assessment, and management, along with other areas. “We have a huge amount of sustainability research on campus already,” Helmuth said. “The Darla Moore School of Business is strong in this area. The School of the Environment is a focal point for sustainability research and teaching. A lot of it is going unrecognized. If, as a university, we can pull all these disparate groups together and recognize and build on what we’ve already been doing, we’ll be known as an international leader in this area.” Kresovich said a faculty committee will develop an inventory of sustainability research.For more information, go to the Office of Research and Graduate Education’s Web site at www.sc.edu/research. Stockwell continued from page 1 Before coming to USC Upstate, Stockwell was provost and chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside; dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the State University of New York-Cortland; chair of the Department of Speech and Theatre at Indiana State University; and director of theatre at California State University-Northridge. Stockwell earned his Ph.D. and master’s degrees in theatre at Bowling Green State University and his bachelor’s degree from Cedarville College. He also is an alumnus of the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management. Stockwell is the founding chair of Spartanburg’s chapter of the Urban League of the Upstate. He is on the Board of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Chamber Board in 2009. He chairs the Vision and Values Committee of “Ten at the Top,” and also is on the boards of the Arts Partnership, the Community Indicators, and The College Hub of Spartanburg County. In October, Stockwell received the 2010 Milliken Medal of Quality Award. The award recognizes South Carolina residents or former residents of vision who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and outstanding achievement in the implementation of quality systems in their organizations and who have been inspirations for others to follow in South Carolina. The first medal went to its namesake, the late Roger Milliken, of Milliken & Company. n Stockwell’s accomplishments • Distinguished USC Upstate as the metropolitan university of South Carolina, acknowledging its fundamental reason for being its relationship to expanding populations along the I-85 corridor • collaborated with the Spartanburg community to build the George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics in downtown Spartanburg • forged alliances to make USC Upstate a viable institution of higher education • implemented a 10-year, $184 million master plan • completed major capital improvements including new housing, University Readiness Center, Louis P. Howell Athletic Complex, Health Education Complex, Susan Jacobs Arboretum, new north quadrangle, Upstate Rotary International Peace Park, and numerous renovations, including the Hodge Arena • secured $50 million in new highway infrastructure • oversaw move of athletic programs to NCAA Division I as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference • implemented a rigorous and sustained strategic planning process • has the second highest rate of South Carolina residents enrolled among the state’s 10 comprehensive universities • has been among the fastest growing universities in the state for the past dozen years • has the largest bachelor of science of nursing program in South Carolina. • increased minority student population from 12 percent to 30 percent • increased international student and faculty growth, now representing over 70 countries • has the highest student full-time equivalency (FTE) at graduation • has the highest percent of incoming transfer students • became the first public university in South Carolina to be named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation • realized a 42 percent increase in grant funding • has led the 40/30 Challenge to increase educational attainment in Spartanburg County. Times • Vol. 22, No. 1 • January 21, 2011 Times is published 20 times a year for the faculty and staff of the University of South Carolina by University Creative Services, Laurence W. Pearce, director. pearce@mailbox.sc.edu Director of periodicals: Chris Horn chorn@mailbox.sc.edu Managing editor: Larry Wood larryw@mailbox.sc.edu Design editor: Betty Lynn Compton blc@mailbox.sc.edu Senior writer: Marshall Swanson mswanson@mailbox.sc.edu Photographers: Michael Brown mfbrown@mailbox.sc.edu Kim Truett ktruett@mailbox.sc.edu Times calendar editor: Jane Jeffcoat jwj@mailbox.sc.edu To reach us: 7-8161 or larryw@mailbox.sc.edu Campus correspondents: Office of Media Relations, Columbia; Preston Sparks, Aiken; Shana Funderburk, Lancaster; Jane Brewer, Salkehatchie; Becky Bean, Sumter; Tammy Whaley, Upstate; Terry Young, Union. The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The University of South Carolina has designated as the ADA Title II, section 504, and Title IX coordinator the Executive Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity Programs. The Office of the Executive Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity Programs is located at 1600 Hampton St., Suite 805, Columbia, S.C.; telephone 803-777-3854. Faculty/staff news Faculty/staff items include presentations of papers and projects for national and international organizations, appointments to professional organizations and boards, special honors, and publication of papers, articles, and books. Submissions should be typed, contain full information (see listings for style), and be sent only once to Editor, Times, 920 Sumter St., Columbia campus. Send by e-mail to: chorn@mailbox.sc.edu. BOOKS AND CHAPTERS Cinnamon Carlarne, law, Climate Change Law and Policy: EU and US Approaches, Oxford University Press. Darcy Freedman, social work, and Carrie Draper, “Review and Analysis of the Benefits, Purposes, and Motivations Associated with Community Gardening in the United States,” Journal of Community Practice. ARTICLES Kenneth Kelly, anthropology, and Heather Gibson, “Caribbean Contradictions: entangled networks, slavery, and the French West Indies,” American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, La., and, same conference, “It had better be more than cannonball typologies: Historical Archaeology as comparative anthropology.” Murray Mitchell, physical education and athletic training, and Pat Hewitt, “K-12 PA Directors Training—Collaborative Paths to Physical Activity, High School Level,” S.C. Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Myrtle Beach. Lynda Nilges-Charles, physical education and athletic training, and Mary Katherine Dombek (USC Ph.D. student), “Using Children’s Literature as an impetus for Intergenerational Physical Activity,” S.C. Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Myrtle Beach. Lighter times John C. Brandon, Thomas Cooper Library, “Reinterpreting the Vital Dates of William Hawes and His Wife Ursula from Their Memorial Brass,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Sara Wilcox, exercise science, D. Lattimore, S.F. Griffin, C. Rheaume, D.M. Dowdy, L.C. Leviton, and M.G. Ory, “Understanding the challenges encountered and adaptations made by community organizations in translation of evidence-based behavior change physical activity interventions: a qualitative study,” American Journal of Health Promotion, and, with D. Hales, K.R. Evenson, and F. Wen, “Postpartum physical activity: measuring theory of planned behavior constructs,” American Journal of Health Behavior. Zach Kelehear, educational leadership and policies, “Pass the crayons: Leadership, art production, and communities of practice,” International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership. J. Mark Davis and Steven N. Blair, exercise science, S.H. Jung, J. Kim, and H.C. Cho, “Association among basal serum BDNF, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in untrained healthy Korean men,” European Journal of Applied Physiology. Ran Wei, journalism and mass communications, and Venhwei Lo (Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Hung-yi Lu, (National Chungcheng University), “The Third-person Effect of Tainted Food Product Recall News,” Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. Russell R. Pate and Marsha Dowda, exercise science, Angela D. Liese, epidemiology and biostatistics, Felipe Lobelo, and Stephen R. Daniels, “Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Clustered Cardiovascular Disease Risk in U.S. Adolescents,” Journal of Adolescent Health. E. Angela Murphy and J. Mark Davis, exercise science, and Martin D. Carmichael, “Immune modulating effects of-glucan,” Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. F. Wayne Outten, chemistry and biochemistry, and A. Saini, D.T. Mapolelo, H.K. Chahal, and M.K. Johnson, “SufD and SufC ATPase activity are required for iron acquisition during in vivo Fe-S cluster formation on SufB,” Biochemistry. Michael W. Beets, exercise science, M. Wallner, and A. Beighle, “Defining standards and policies for promoting physical activity in afterschool programs,” Journal of School Health. John Dawson, chemistry and biochemistry, R. Davydov, R.L. Osborne, M. Shanmugam, J. Du, and B.M. Hoffman, “Probing the oxyferrous and catalytically active ferryl states of Amphitrite ornata dehaloperoxidase by cryoreduction and EPR/ENDOR spectroscopy. Detection of compound I,” Journal of the American Chemical Society. Matthew C. Kostek, exercise science, “Training,” Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. Max A. Alekseyev, computer science and engineering, “On the number of two-dimensional threshold functions,” SIAM Journal of Discrete Math, and, with Shuai Jiang, “Weighted genomic distance can hardly impose a bound on the proportion of transpositions,” Proceedings of 15th-annual International Conference on Research in Computational Molecular Biology. Xuemei Sui and Steven N. Blair, exercise science, Duck-chul Lee, and Enrique G. Artero, “Mortality trends in the general population: the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness,” Journal of Psychopharmacology, and, with Francisco B. Ortega, Duck-chul Lee, Laura D. Kubzansky, Jonatan R. Ruiz, Meghan Baruth, and Manuel J. Castillo, “Psychological Well-Being, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Long-Term Survival,” American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Michael W. Beets, exercise science, L. Rooney, F. Tilley, A. Beighle, and C. Webster, “Evaluation of policies to promote physical activity in afterschool programs: Are we meeting current benchmarks?” Preventive Medicine. Robert F.Valois, public health (health promotion, education, and behavior), Sandra K. Kammermann, medicine (family and preventive medicine), Keith J. Zullig (West Virginia University), and Michael A.Young (New Mexico State University), “Changing Health Behavior in Youth: Plus 40 Years,” American Journal of Health Education, and, with Naomi B. Farber, social work, Michael Carey and Peter Vanable (Syracuse University), Michael Hennessey and Daniel Romer (University of Pennsylvania), Larry Brown and Christie Rizzo (Brown University), and Ralph Diclemente and Laura Salazar (Emory University), “The Impact of Community-Based STI Screening Results on Sexual Risk Behavior in African American Adolescents,” Journal of Adolescent Health. John H. Dawson, chemistry and biochemistry, and R. Perera, M. Sono, R. Kinloch, H. Zhang, M. Tarasev, S.C. Im, and L. Waskell, “Stabilization and spectroscopic characterization of the dioxygen complex of wild-type cytochrome P4502B4 (CYP2B4) and its distal side E301Q, T302A and proximal side F429H mutants at subzero temperatures,” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. PRESENTATIONS Erica Gibson, anthropology and Women’s and Gender Studies, “Tengo la Derecha: Mexican Immigrant Women’s Agency in Prenatal Care Decisionmaking,” American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, La. Teri Browne, social work, “Approaches to overcoming barriers to client self-management of oral medications,” S.C. Office of Public Health Social Work Lunch & Learn Series, Columbia. Sparks named Aiken’s director of marketing Preston Sparks is the new director of marketing and community relations at USC Aiken. Sparks joins USC Aiken’s Office of University Advancement, bringing more than 13 years of experience in the field of journalism as a writer and editor. He most recently was the education editor at the Augusta Chronicle, where he previously held the positions of South Carolina bureau chief, Columbia County bureau chief, and night city editor. Sparks holds a bachelor of English degree from Augusta State University. “We are delighted to have Mr. Sparks leading our marketSparks ing efforts at USCA,” said Deidre Martin, vice chancellor of university advancement. “His background in print journalism, along with his professionalism and enthusiasm, have already made him a valued member of our team.” “I am honored by the opportunity to work for such a wonderful campus and am eager to get the word out about the many great things occurring at USC Aiken,” Sparks said. “Already, in my first month on the job, I have been thoroughly impressed by the dedication and excellence of USC Aiken’s staff, faculty, and students.” New Jewish student chaplain appointed It was the 1980s.We were young researchers. Everyone was experimenting with placebos. John Dawson, chemistry and biochemistry, “A. ornata Dehaloperoxidase: Probing the Mechanism of Halophenol Dehalogenation with Active Site Mutants and the Interconversion of Oxyferrous and Ferric States,” Latin American Meeting on Biological Inorganic Chemistry, Angra dos Reis, Brazil, and, “The His93Gly myoglobin cavity mutant is a versatile scaffold for spectroscopic modeling of heme protein active sites, applications to novel heme transport proteins and oxidative enzymes,” invited lecture, Symposium on Molecular Design in Bioinorganic Chemistry, International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Honolulu, Hawaii. Tammiee Dickenson, education, and Jennifer Young (USC doctoral student), “Evaluation of Reading Intervention Effectiveness Using Growth Models,” American Evaluation Association, San Antonio, Texas, and, same conference, with Heather Bennett, education, Karen Price and Joanna Gilmore (USC doctoral students), “Cognitive Labs to Evaluate Test Items for Use on an Alternate Assessment Based on Modified Achievement Standards (AA-MAS),” and, with Grant Morgan and Joanna Gilmore (USC doctoral students), “Coding Open-Ended Survey Items: A Discussion of Codebook Development and Coding Procedures,” American Evaluation Association, San Antonio, Texas, and, same conference, with Joanna Gilmore and Karen Price (USC doctoral students), “Assessing the Quality of Research Instruments Using Cognitive Lab Methodology: A Practical Discussion and Lessons Learned.” Marius Valdes, studio art, “The Secret Species Project: Characters With Purpose,” Shadowplay: Illustration Research Symposium, Cardiff, Wales. Tomonori Ishikaw,Tammiee Dickenson, Diane Monrad, and Heather Bennett, education, Diana Mindrila (USC doctoral student), Kassie Mae Miller (USC master’s student), and Sarah Gareau (USC alumna), “A Study of the Relationship between Fidelity of Implementation and Achievement Outcomes,” American Evaluation Association, San Antonio, Texas. Michael Gibbs Hill, languages, literatures, and cultures, “Resisting Translation: Esperanto in Early Twentieth-Century China,” International Conference on Asian Translation Traditions, Research Centre for Translation, Chinese University of Hong Kong. John May,Tomonori Ishikawa, Diane Monrad, and Christine DiStefano, education, Diana Mindrila and Karen Price (USC doctoral students), and Sarah Gareau, “The Use of School Climate Data for School Improvement,” American Evaluation Association, San Antonio, Texas. Qian Wang, chemistry and biochemistry, “Controlled assembly of viral nanoparticles as biocompatible scaffold,” International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Honolulu, Hawaii. Richard D. Adams, chemistry and biochemistry, “Rhenium Carbonyl Cluster Complexes containing Antimony and Bismuth Ligands and Applications for Catalysis,” International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Honolulu, Hawaii. Linda S. Shimizu, chemistry and biochemistry, “Porous assemblies of bisurea macrocycles used as confined environments for reactions,” International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Honolulu, Hawaii. Sophya Garashchuk, chemistry and biochemistry, “Adiabatic and non-adiabatic methods in quantum dynamics,” Centre Européen de Calcul Atomique et Moléculaire Workshop, Lausanne, Switzerland. Rabbi Leah Doberne-Schor has been appointed as an associate chaplain at the University. She joins Rabbi Jonathan Case of Beth Shalom Synagogue as a USC University chaplain. Doberne-Schor earned her BA in philosophy at Pomona College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1999, and was ordained as a rabbi in 2005 by the Jewish Institute of Religion of Hebrew Union College in New York. While a rabbinical student, she served congregations in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Williamsport, Pa., and comes to Columbia after serving five years as the associate rabbi at Temple Emanu-El of Westfield, N.J. From 2008 to 2009, Doberne-Schor was selected to participate in the national STAR-PEER (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal/Professional Education for Excellence in Rabbis) leadership program for recently ordained rabbis across the denominational spectrum. She is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Commission on Social Action and the Women’s Rabbinic Network. “Having gone in two years from not having had an ordained chaplain at all, to now having two ordained rabbis on campus, the Jewish Studies Program and the Hillel Student Organization are extremely excited about the immediate prospects for advancing Jewish student life on the Columbia campus,” said Stanley Dubinsky, director of the Jewish Studies Program. Parker promoted at Upstate Jennifer Parker has been promoted from assistant dean to associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USC Upstate. Parker provides leadership to all aspects of the college, including new program initiatives, community partnerships, and faculty and student development. She also is an associate professor of psychology and director of the Center for Child Advocacy Studies at the campus. Parker earned her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and has been at Parker USC Upstate since 2001. She is involved in a number of community initiatives, including the Spartanburg Childhood Obesity Taskforce, Spartanburg Youth Coalition, and Workforce Investment Board’s Youth Council. She is the project director of the Youth Leadership Institute. OTHER Job vacancies For up-to-date information on USC Columbia vacancies and vacancies at other campuses, go to uscjobs.sc.edu.The employment office is located at 1600 Hampton St. Marius Valdes, studio art, had a poster design selected for the 2010 Bio Graphics Competition in Udine, Italy, and a design project selected for Creative Quarterly magazine’s design juried competition. Ran Wei, journalism and mass communications, named a Chang Jiang Scholar by the Chinese Ministry of Education. He is the first USC faculty member and the fifth scholar in the field of communication to become a Chang Jiang Scholar. A USC documentary on the state’s ACE Basin will get its first viewing on campus in late February. January 21, 2011 7 Social Justice Awards presented to University community JaQuin, right, and Larialmy Allen are competing on the NBC weight-loss reality show The Biggest Loser. USC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Committee presented its 2011 Social Justice Awards Jan. 14 to four members of the University community who exemplify the philosophies of King through their acts of community service, social justice, or racial reconciliation. The awards are presented to faculty, staff, and students. The faculty award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in teaching, research or creative work, service, and outreach. Patricia Wilson-Witherspoon, medical director of the Department of Family Medicine, was one of two recipients of the 2011 Social Justice Award for faculty. She trains residents in advocating for their patients. “I like to take care of individual patients because everyone can’t advocate for themselves,” she said. “I am humbled that the work that I do is deemed worthy of this recognition.” Also receiving the 2011 faculty award was Sacoby M. Wilson, an environmental researcher in the Institute for Families in Society. Wilson studies how communities Wilson-Witherspoon are impacted by environmental hazards. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the grandfather of environmental justice, and my work is a continuation of his work,” he said. “I try to bring science into poor communities and show them how to get involved and improve their quality of life.” Andrea Williams, associate director for the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities (IPEHD), received the 2011 staff award. Williams helps develop the career paths of students pursuing degrees in the health professions. “It’s an honor to be recognized as someone who followed the example of Dr. King by helping pave the way for others to succeed,” she said. “It’s a blessing to be able to help others succeed, and that’s what Dr. King was all about.” The 2011 student award was given to Arnold School of Public Health Ph.D. Wilson candidate India D. Rose for her work and commitment to winning equal rights for the gay community. “A right delayed is a right denied, and the rights of the LGBT community have been denied long enough,” she said. Rose is a program facilitator in Atlanta for lesbian and bisexual youth. Staff and student awards recognize outstanding accomplishments in community service, social-justice outreach, and racial reconciliation. Nursing chosen for national study on simulation USC’s College of Nursing is one of 10 nursing education programs across the country chosen by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to participate in a landmark, multi-site study of simulation use in prelicensure nursing programs. Beginning in fall 2011, the NCSBN Simulation Study will monitor incoming nursing students at the study sites throughout their baccalaureate education and into their first year of professional practice. The NCSBN Simulation Study aims to highlight currently known best practices in simulation use; evaluate the learning that occurs with various amounts of simulation substituting for clinical hours; establish key simulation standards and learning experiences in each core clinical course during the study; and evaluate new graduates’ ability to translate educational experiences into the workplace. To achieve these objectives, students from each of the 10 study sites will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: one group will spend up to 10 percent of the time normally spent at clinical sites in simulation; a second group will spend 25 percent of the time normally spent at clinical sites in simulation; and a third group will spend 50 percent of the time normally spent at clinical sites in simulation. “We are excited and honored to be a part of this landmark simulation study. In a time of faculty shortages and clinical site capacity, nursing educators must design and implement quality simulation experiences for our students,” said Peggy Hewlett, dean of the College of Nursing. NCSBN will monitor students from the five associate degree nursing programs and five baccalaureate degree nursing programs; each site will be managed by its own study team. Faculty serving on the USC College of Nursing study team include Expanded use of computer-programmed mannequin simulators like this Susan Poslusny, Erin McKinney, Lonnie could potentially allow nursing schools to educate more students while continuing to provide vital hands-on skills. Rosier, David Hodsen, Katherine Chappell, Joynelle Rivers, and Sabra Smith. All 10 study teams will meet three times over the course of the next six months to learn about facilitating simulation, debriefing techniques, and using assessment tools and ratings. Study teams also will establish the curriculum that all study sites will use during the next two years based on results from a national curriculum survey that was sent to clinicians and nursing schools. The first of these meetings took place in Chicago this past fall. Study teams will monitor students daily, upon completion of each clinical course, after one year in the nursing program, upon graduation, and, finally, one year postgraduation. Research gathered by the study teams will be reported to NCSBN, which will assess nursing knowledge, clinical competence, and student satisfaction with the education they received. It is important for the study to continue one year postgraduation to evaluate how well new graduate nurses are able to apply the knowledge they have acquired during nursing school to their practice as new nurses, providing the missing link that has not been studied in previous simulation studies. Researchers will examine and compare clinical and simulation experiences, competencies, and level of practice. The follow-up of graduates into their first year of practice will focus on retention of new nurses and clinical judgment after graduation. “Our faculty are committed to clinical simulation and fully acknowledge the importance of research and evaluation in order to measure the effectiveness of this type of innovative teaching methodology,” Hewlett said. 8 January 21, 2011 Staff couple attempting to be The Biggest Loser The Red Team wants to lose big and then win big this spring on NBC’s weightloss reality show The Biggest Loser. Too bad there isn’t a Garnet Team on the show, because JaQuin and Larialmy Allen surely would be wearing garnet instead of red. The Allens are USC staff members and Gamecock fans. They also make up one of the 11 teams competing in season 11 of The Biggest Loser, which began January 4. JaQuin is a patient service representative in the School of Medicine Department of Family and Preventative Medicine. He checks in patients as they come into the doctor’s office, takes care of co-payments, and schedules patients’ next appointments. He is the first and last person patients see. He recently lost a friend due to complications from obesity, so he wanted to go on the show for his wife and three-year-old son. “I want to be able to grow old with my wife and be an active part of my son’s life as he grows up,” JaQuin said. “And I want to be a positive example for the obese patients that come into my practice.” Larialmy is a student services program coordinator for the College of Education and School of Music in the Graduate School. She helps admit students to those programs and helps guide them through to graduation. “My motivation for losing weight is to become healthy enough to expand my family, raise healthy children, and take everything I learn back to my family to help them overcome their weight loss battles,” she said. The Biggest Loser airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., with the finale scheduled for May 24. Follow the Allens on their journey to be healthy and show your support for them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Larialmy-Allen-Biggest-LoserSeason-11/126206547441396 and www.facebook.com/pages/JaQuin-AllenBiggest-Loser-Season-11/135760316456913?ref=ts. —Kathy Henry Dowell n S.C. Tobacco Collaborative Healthy Carolina awarded grant The University of South Carolina has received a Community Partnership Grant of $5,600 from the S.C. Tobacco Collaborative to expand secondhand smoke elimination efforts on campus. The grant will support the University’s tobacco policy, which prohibits the use of tobacco products in and within 25 feet of University-owned buildings and vehicles. Healthy Carolina officials intend to place additional no-smoking signs in outdoor areas where tobacco use is prohibited and to employ student ambassadors to remind smokers of the policy and encourage them to take advantage of programs available to help them quit smoking. The S.C. Tobacco Collaborative provides the grants to coalitions and organizations to develop programs and activities designed to reduce the toll of tobacco use in their communities. The grants are awarded to local community-based organizations that support the mission of the collaborative and are designed to invest in projects that address the following policy goals: n prevention of tobacco use n cessation of tobacco use n elimination of a secondhand smoke exposure. For more information, go to www.smokefreesc.org.