June 2000: Vol. 79, No. 3June 2000: Vol. 79, No. 3 |
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Forget snazzy two-pieces or expensive ski gear. When 18 female students left for spring break this year, their travel essentials were sleeping bags and a burning desire to improve other people's lives—even if it meant painting miles of picket fence and shoveling a ton of manure.
 Caitlin Berbich of Atlanta gets some window-washing advice from children at the YMCA in Charlotte, N.C. |
All this self-sacrifice was done on behalf of a shelter for sexually abused teens in Greenville, S.C.—and it was just one of several Alternative Spring Break projects undertaken by UGA's Communiversity organization. In all, more than 100 students ignored the lure of Daytona and Aspen to volunteer for such worthy causes as Habitat for Humanity and boys and girls clubs.
The Greenville shelter houses 16 teenage girls, who receive schooling and therapy, as well as 24-hour supervision.
"It's nice to do something worthwhile over spring break," says Alecia Boese, a junior from Canton in business management, who volunteered at the shelter. "It was good for us to come in and be positive role models for them."
But not much more, according to strict instructions that forbade volunteers from coming within five feet of the shelter residents. Volunteers were also told to count residents' silverware after each meal.
Rules were relaxed long enough for the students and residents to enjoy a field day that included water balloons, hula hoops, and field trips.
But there was always more work that needed doing.
Armed with paint brushes and rakes, the students painted murals and mucked horse stalls. It was like an epsiode of "Road Rules" with a group of students who had never met working together for a common goal.
"I went on the trip because Greenville is my hometown," says Sara Spurr, a senior in advertising. "There is so much that needs to be done at home."
Corey's graduation rap is on the web!
For those of you who weren't lucky enough to hear him deliver it live at commencement exercises in Sanford Stadium on May 13, Corey Stern's "I remember Trebek vs. Regis is J-school headliner
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 Trebek, shown here signing autographs at the journalism school, was in the Atlanta area to tape several episodes of "Jeopardy." |
Popular "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek made a guest appearance at one of UGA's advanced telecommunications classes this spring, and made headlines all over the country with his critical comments about fellow game show host Regis Philbin and his No. 1-rated show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
"You have to wonder about some of the contestants on that program," said Trebek, who then did a whiny imitation of Philbin's voice asking the question, "What is the usual color of Post-Its?" followed by a dim-witted contestant saying, "Uhhhhh."
Trebek also seemed to take took pleasure in mentioning that in two appearances on "Celebrity Jeopardy!" Philbin finished third both times.
Remembering those we lost in 1999-2000
At sunset on May 1, the last day of the academic year, the UGA community came together outside the Chapel to remember 28 students, faculty, and staff who had died since the previous May. As each name was read, the Chapel bell tolled and members of the Arch Society lit a candle (right). Among those 28 deaths were 18 students, six of whom died from a variety of causes in March, shocking the community and leading to the memorial service, which will become an annual observance. Sadly, the death toll rose to 29 the very next day when Peabody Awards director Barry Sherman died (see story on this page).
MBA students win biz plan competition
Three MBA students—Joseph Wagner of Decatur, Ill., John Abernathy of Monroeville, Ala., and Pratush Gupta of Meerut, India—won an international competition with their plan for commercializing a new pharmaceutical technology.
Coached by UGA management professor Charles Hofer, the team was awarded $10,000 for first prize, beating out nine other MBA teams. The victory was UGA's fourth in the past seven InfoUSA competitions.
Developed by H. Won Jun, a professor in UGA's department of pharmaceutical/biomedical sciences, the new technology converts substances that normally exist as solids at room temperature into an oily state without raising the temperature, thus enhancing their ability to penetrate the skin. Jun's research will aid the development of a new class of topically applied medications.
The MBA team would first plan to market a topically applied Ibuprofen product aimed at arthritis sufferers.
Last year, more than 16,000 Americans died from Ibuprofen overdoses; a large percentage of those victims were chronic arthritis sufferers. Based on Jun's research, most of those deaths, as well as other side effects, could be eliminated through the use of an effective, topically applied Ibuprofen product because lower dosages are needed when medication is applied directly to painful joints.
Affirmative action had its place at one time, but it excludes capable students who aren't minorities.
Although the affirmative action policy is a good one, it doesn't solve the problem of diversity. UGA needs to concentrate on making the school more attractive to blacks.
This lawsuit concerning affirmative action is ridiculous. I'm white and female, and I got in with no problem. So many factors are considered; you can't say it was just about race. But diversity is lacking. I see lots of students who are very separatist. It's not a hostile environment, but more interaction is needed.
It's a positive that the school isn't backing down on the policy because there seems to be a domino effect—once one university's policy gets knocked down, the rest are bound to go soon.
There's nothing wrong with affirmative action; UGA needs more minorities. It's not the only way, but it's the best way I know of to increase diversity. Right now, people stick too much to their own cliques. There's not a lot of interaction between people of different races. But increasing the number of minorities on campus would help increase interaction.