News Archive
Monday, October 11 2004
News
Swedish ambassador named Manatt-Phelps Lecturer; to speak Oct. 26
Jan Eliasson, Swedish ambassador to the United States, will present the third Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science at Iowa State University. He will speak on the European Union and the global economy at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the Sun Room, Memorial Union. The lecture is free and open to the public. Thomas and Elizabeth Phelps, and Charles and Kathleen Manatt established the annual Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science. The lectures focus on significant developments in international political economy during the previous year.
Mardi Gras is theme for second 2004 International Dinner Series Oct. 17
Tickets are on sale now for the second of three international dinners for the 2004-05 academic year. Based on a Mardi Gras theme, the dinner cost is $45 per person and will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17. A cash bar and hors d'oeuvres will be available at 6 p.m. in the lounge of LeBaron Hall, Room 1009. The five-course meal will be in the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, Room 23, MacKay Hall. Iowa State University's College of Family and Consumer Sciences sponsors the dinner.
Comments sought on second draft of stategic plan
The latest draft of Iowa State University's next strategic plan reflects many of the comments that were submitted after the release of the first draft, said Ben Allen, vice president for academic affairs, provost and head of the strategic planning committee. The new draft was released today (Oct. 11) and is available online at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~newplan. Allen encourages the campus community and others to offer comments and suggestions on the second draft of the plan. Those comments should be submitted by Oct. 29 to strategicplan@iastate.edu. (The comments will be posted periodically, without attribution, on the strategic planning web site.)
New home for alumni becomes a reality
Private funding for a new Iowa State University Alumni Center has reached more than 90 percent of its goal and the project is now slated to move forward. Roy and Bobbi Reiman of Greendale, Wis., have provided the lead gift to fund the entire construction cost of the new facility.
Fundraising effort to save Morrill Hall reaches goal
One of the largest grassroots fundraising efforts in ISU history has raised the necessary funding to renovate Morrill Hall. More than 2,700 private donors contributed the majority of the $9 million needed to give new life to the 114-year-old building on central campus.
Math teacher education focus of talk
An international scholar on teaching and preparing mathematics teachers will be the first lecturer in a new speaker series, "Current Issues in Mathematics Education," hosted by the College of Education. Thomas Cooney, professor emeritus at the University of Georgia, Athens, will discuss reform efforts in mathematics teacher education at 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, in the Gold Room, Memorial Union. The series is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Carta
Childhood expert to campus
Judith Carta, a University of Kansas expert on early childhood behavior, will be on campus Oct. 13 - 15. She will discuss strategies for preventing challenging behavior in youngsters at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13, in the Pioneer Room, Memorial Union.
2004 World Food Prize Laureate to visit ISU Oct. 12
Professor Yuan Longping, whose pioneering rice research has transformed China's food security, will visit Iowa State on Tuesday, Oct. 12 -- two days before he receives the prestigious 2004 World Food Prize in Des Moines.
Borlaug lecture is Oct. 13
Catherine Bertini, who transformed the United Nations' World Food Programme into the world's largest humanitarian relief organization, will present the third annual Norman Borlaug Lecture at Iowa State on Oct. 13.
Vet Med professor receives national teaching award
Dr. Holly Bender has received the Teaching Excellence Award for Basic Sciences from the Student American Veterinary Medicine Association. Bender is an associate professor of veterinary pathology. She was honored for her leadership in developing Diagnostic Pathfinder, and innovative clinical instructional software tool.
Iowa Congressman Leach will speak Oct. 13
Iowa Second Congressional District Representative James Leach is the first Robert Stafford Lecturer on Banking for Iowa State's College of Business. He will discuss "Current Topics Facing Today's Banking Industry" Wednesday, Oct. 13, in the Memorial Union. The lecture honors Robert Stafford, longtime president and chairman of First National Bank, Ames.
As part of Homecoming activities, teams of Iowa State student volunteers helped out at the site of Story County Habitat for Humanity's latest "blitz build" at 625 M Ave., Nevada. The home is being constructed for Andrea Detrich and her children.
On the election
ISU in the news
It's the kids killing time
Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald
Most parents don't realize we are living in the third era of the computer game, says Craig Anderson, professor and chair of psychology at Iowa State. First was the "Atari era" --- 1977 to 1985 -- with very little violence in video games. Second was the "Nintendo era" -- 1985 to 1995 -- when violence increased as sales of violent games soared. And now we are in the "Sony PlayStation era" -- marked by games with ever increasingly more realistic depictions of violence and when children are playing at younger ages and for longer periods of time.
Tips on buying a business
The New York Times
"Buyer beware" is as true when buying a small business as it is when purchasing a used car. The savvy buyer will examine existing businesses from all angles, according to Howard Van Auken, professor of finance and entrepreneurship in ISU's College of Business. Is the purchase price consistent with the "value" of the business? Is the inventory current and in good condition? Have the financial statements been audited for at least two years? What is the cash flow of the business and the owner's monthly "draw?"