News Archive
Thursday, December 9 2004
News
Gilman Hall reopened after minor chemical reaction
Iowa State University Police evacuated Gilman Hall for approximately 45 minutes Thursday afternoon (Dec. 9) as a precaution after a chemical reaction occurred. No injuries or property damage were reported.
The chemical, methyl lithium bromide, was stored in an ether solution, which serves to stabilize the chemical. The chemical is highly reactive to water and air, and can present a flash fire danger if not properly stabilized. There was no explosive danger, ISU Police Commander Gene Deisinger said.
ISU Police, Environmental Health and Safety and the Ames Fire Department were called to room 2631 Gilman Hall after researchers noticed bubbling and changes in the methyl lithium bromide. The chemical was stabilized, placed in a different container, and transported to the chemical waste handling facility at Iowa State.
Gilman Hall was reopened and normal activity resumed at 4:14 p.m.
Iowa student entrepreneurs to compete for business plan cash award Dec. 10
Iowa college students will pitch innovative business plans to a team of professional investors Friday, Dec. 10, as they compete in the Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan competition. Iowa State University has three teams competing. The student presentations will be held in the morning at the Pappajohn Higher Education Building, 1200 Grand Ave., Des Moines. The winning teams will be recognized at an awards luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. The finalists will compete for three, $5,000 cash awards.
Faculty Senate approves college combination
The Faculty Senate narrowly approved a proposal to combine the colleges of Education and Family and Consumer Sciences. While the senate overwhelmingly favored the combination of the two colleges, the narrow vote reflected divisions over the proposed name for the new college. President Gregory Geoffroy is meeting with leaders from the two colleges and the Faculty Senate and will provide his recommendation to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, next week.
Minority Student Affairs office adopts new name
ISU's Office of Minority Student Affairs will now be known as "Multicultural Student Affairs," effective immediately.
Iowa State to Independence Bowl
The Iowa State football team will play Miami University in the Independence Bowl Dec. 28, at 5:30 p.m. The game will mark the Cyclones' fourth postseason bowl appearance in five seasons.
Lee Enterprises, Inc. Supports Greenlee School's "First Amendment Days" Celebration
Iowa-based newspaper publishing company Lee Enterprises, Inc., Davenport, and the Lee Foundation have together pledged $80,000 to support Iowa State University's First Amendment Days events and activities. The celebration is sponsored by the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.
Keep pets safe over the holidays
Holiday hustle and bustle can unleash hazards that put pets in peril, says an Iowa State University veterinarian. Dr. Kim Langholz reminds pet owners about potential risks.
Veishea committees submit final recommendations
Two groups studying Iowa State University's annual Veishea celebration and the relationship among ISU students, the university and the community today submitted their final reports, culminating six months of study and public meetings.
ISU's meat science program is top choice
Iowa State University's meat science program ranks first in the nation, according to Meat & Poultry magazine. ISU was recognized for the quality of its continuing education programs for industry.
ISU education professor examines Ohio school district to trace education disparities between black and white schools
An Iowa State University education professor has written a book revealing how segregated and substandard schools emerged for a generation of black children in Ohio. Patricia Randolph Leigh, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, said "Fly in the Ointment" portrays a microcosm of the educational system in 1950s America. She details the political, racial and monetary issues that resulted in separate schools for black students in the upper valley of Cincinnati.
ISU's Food Safety Answers program offers holiday food-safety tips
With the holiday season approaching, Iowa State University Extension offers tips and online resources for safely
handling
food at the "Ask a Food Safety Expert" (www.foodsafetyanswers.org). The
site contains more than 600 frequently asked food safety questions that cover purchasing, leftovers and everything in
between. ISU Extension and Iowa State's College of Family and Consumer Sciences sponsor the site.
Night lights
Iowa State's Memorial Union basks in the glow of holiday lights.
ISU in the news
Soybean disease finally hits
USA TODAY
Asian soybean rust may be the biggest challenge to U.S. soybean producers in a decade. The disease doesn't make soybeans dangerous for human or animal consumption, but a USDA study says the cost to American farmers could be $1 billion in its first year.
Greg Tylka, professor of plant pathology at ISU, says, "We certainly don't want apathy, but we don't want panic, either. We're trying to get as much science-based information to the growers and to the people who work with growers, so they don't overreact."
Tests show no mad cow disease
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Unlike last year, beef markets were calmer during the latest suspected case of mad cow disease, says Iowa State livestock economist John Lawrence. The USDA conducted two lab tests on the cow tissue and announced Nov. 23 that both were negative.
Reinventing the soybean
The Des Moines Register
Trans fat-free soybean varieties developed at Iowa State have come just in time for food manufacturers, who face new nutrition labeling requirements in 2006. The soybeans are being grown, refined and packaged in Iowa to create a new low-linolenic oil, marketed under the Asoyia brand to food service customers. A group of southeastern Iowa farmers hopes to raise 55,000 acres of the soybeans next year and needs more farmers to raise the crop.