News Archive
Sunday, February 25 2007
News
ISU in session Monday
ISU officials anticipate that Iowa State University will be open and classes will be in session Monday, Feb. 26. However, those travelling to campus are urged to put safety first. Faculty and supervisors are asked to accommodate those who cannot attend class or get to work due to travel difficulties. On campus, officials report that streets, sidewalks and parking lots are generally clear, and CyRide is operating.
Weather cancellations, announcements
- Both Feb. 25 performances of Cirque du Soleil have been rescheduled for March 10 (8 p.m.) and March 11 (2 p.m.).Tickets for this weekend's performances will be honored for the new times.
- Library: Officials anticipate Parks Library will be open during regular hours (12:30 p.m. Sunday - 12:30 a.m. Monday).
- Brunnier Art Museum: Gallery Walk (Feb. 25) is canceled.
- Reiman Gardens is closed Feb. 25.
- The Feb. 25 Concert and Symphonic Band concert has been rescheduled for March 2 (7 p.m., Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall).
- The Ames city snow ordinance is in effect. Vehicles on snow routes must be moved.
Geoffroy, Roth on 'Talk of Iowa'
President Gregory Geoffroy and Jim Roth, Distinguished professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, will be guests on the Feb. 27 installment of Talk of Iowa on Iowa Public Radio. The live, call-in show airs from 11 a.m. to noon locally on AM 640.
Iowa State MBAs aim to be Big 12's best
A team of Iowa State MBA students was judged to be one of the two best among Big 12 North Division schools in last weekend's MBA case competition at the Gerdin Business Building. It will now compete in the Big 12 "Final Four" round at the University of Oklahoma March 9-11.
Wanted: High school students to fight off computer hackers
Organizers of Iowa's second High School Cyber Defense Competition are looking for more teams willing to stay up all night to defend their networks from hackers. The competition will be overnight from May 18 to 19 at Iowa State University. See www.iasga.org for more information.
Pruetz
ISU anthropologist's study is first to report chimps hunting with tools
Assistant Professor of Anthropology Jill Pruetz led a study finding chimpanzees in Senegal are regularly making and using spears to hunt other primates -- making it the first to report habitual tool use by non-humans while hunting other vertebrates.
Scott Rodenburg, a freshman in pre-business prepares for the opening of the Barista Cafe.
New student-run cafe offers campus, community more options
Students will hold a grand opening of the new Barista Cafe at 4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26, in Buchanan Hall on campus.
MSNBC to telecast presidential debate at Iowa State
MSNBC will telecast a Republican presidential candidates debate live from Iowa State University Nov. 6, 2007. The debate also will be streamed live on MSNBC.com.
ISU study finds discrimination leads to greater drug use in African-American teens
Research led by psychologists at Iowa State has found that incidents of racial discrimination are the strongest predictors of subsequent drug use among African-American teens.
Welch Avenue to be covered in snow for skiing and snowboarding competition
Iowa State University's Ski and Snowboard Club will cover Welch Avenue with snow and host the 2007 Campustown RailJam Saturday, Feb. 24, from 8 to 10 p.m.
Funds for new endowed chair boost software engineering program
A $1.5 million commitment from Iowa State alumnus Long V. Nguyen and his wife Kimmy of McLean, Va., will create an endowed chair in software engineering in the department of computer science. "Iowa State University is committed to leadership in this exciting discipline," said ISU President Gregory Geoffroy. "This chair will help us recruit an established star in software engineering to support these efforts."
Air Force biological defense expert and veterinarian to speak on bioterrorism Feb. 26
A U.S. Air Force public health officer, who was honored by the former Republic of Zaire for his efforts in controlling their Ebola outbreak, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, in the Sun Room, Memorial Union. Col. Donald L. Noah is an international expert on protecting animals and humans against biological terrorism. He will talk about "The Threat of Bioterrorism: A 'One-Medicine' Perspective."
New facility at Iowa State focuses on student academic success
The Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, a new facility designed to help Iowa State students perform better in the classroom, will officially be dedicated during a ceremony Friday, Feb. 23, at 1:30 p.m.
Douglas Gentile
ISU prof finds laparoscopic surgeons improve speed, accuracy by playing video games
A study co-authored by Iowa State University assistant professor of psychology Douglas Gentile and published in the February issue of the Archives of Surgery found that laparoscopic surgeons who previously played video games made far fewer errors and were considerably faster than their non-playing colleagues when participating in a top laparoscopic training program.
Book chronicles life and times of Iowa State
A new history of Iowa State University offers a detail-rich look at the life and times of a university that will soon turn 150 years old.
In the news
Chimps Observed Making Their Own Weapons
Washington Post
Research led by ISU anthropology professor Jill Pruetz finding that chimpanzees in Senegal have been fashioning deadly spears from sticks and using the hand-crafted tools to hunt small mammals -- the first routine production of deadly weapons ever observed in animals other than humans -- is featured in a story by Rick Weiss.
Hunting chimps may change view of human evolution
Reuters, abcnews.com
Chimpanzees have been seen using spears to hunt bush babies, researchers -- including ISU's Jill Pruetz -- said on Thursday in a study that demonstrates a whole new level of tool use and planning by our closest living relatives.