September 4, 2003

1. Bully research at the U
2. Is your child ready for school?
3. U regents to appeal court decision
4. New date for homecoming
5. Inducting men and women together for the first time
6. An investment in urban schools
7. Tooth loss and cardiovascular disease
8. Top spots for UMM, UMC, and UMD
9. U professor helps draft new human rights standards
10. U of M Happenings
11. Links

U NEWS

Bully research at the U
Ever had your lunch money swiped by a bully? Or your books knocked to the ground? Two University professors are chipping away at the root of bullying to uncover ways to interrupt a bully’s path of destruction.

Educational psychologist Anthony Pellegrini with the U’s College of Education and Human Development has found that preteens use a certain level of bullying to establish their place in the social environment. He observed children enrolled in Georgia public schools (from fifth grade through junior high) in classes, on the playground, and at weekly after-school dances, and examined daily journals the children were asked to keep about incidents of aggression they encountered.

Rates of aggressive behavior rise during tumultuous times, such as when the children made the transition from grade school to junior high. “Kids naturally use bullying as a way to establish dominance when they go into middle school,” Pellegrini says. “Once they show that they’re tough and the pecking order is established, rates of aggression usually begin to go down.”

For more information on the U’s Children, Youth, and Family Consortium, see www.cyfc.umn.edu/welcome.html.

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U regents to appeal court decision

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will appeal the Court of Appeals decision in a case challenging the presidential selection process it used last year. The board will also seek renewal of a court order to protect the confidentiality of certain presidential candidates until the judicial review process has concluded.

“This board is fully accountable to the people of Minnesota for its ultimate choice of University president, and that important responsibility is what led board members to ensure confidentiality for the candidates they interviewed,” says Mark Rotenberg, University general counsel. “Selecting a president is the most important job the board has, and the board believed that the only way it could effectively do that job was to interview the very top candidates, who said they would have dropped out had their names been public at that point in the process.”

Last November, after confidential interviews with candidates recommended by the U’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee, the board announced a finalist who participated in public interviews with members of the University and broader community. Following those interviews, the board met publicly to consider community input and discuss the selection of the president. On Aug. 19, the court ruled that the board’s closed meetings in November violated Minnesota’s open meeting law.

Under the University charter and the Minnesota Constitution, the board has exclusive authority to govern the U. In the case of the presidential search, the board determined that publicly naming finalists would interfere with its constitutional responsibility of finding the best possible leader. According to Rotenberg, the market for university presidents is highly competitive, a factor that influenced the search process.

The U has until Sept. 18, 2003, to file its appeal.

--University News Service

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New date for homecoming
To avoid a potential scheduling conflict at the Metrodome, the University of Minnesota has moved its homecoming football game and related activities to Saturday, Nov. 1.

To avoid a potential scheduling conflict at the Metrodome, the University of Minnesota has moved its homecoming football game and related activities to Saturday, Nov. 1.

The Gophers homecoming game was initially set for Oct. 18 against Michigan State. However, that date, along with the Oct. 11 home game against Michigan, may conflict with the Major League Baseball playoff games involving the Minnesota Twins. “[Rescheduling] was the safe and prudent thing to do,” says U athletics director Joel Maturi. “Homecoming week is very important to the University community.”

Maturi and other U officials have met with Sen. Norm Coleman and representatives from the Minnesota Twins, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, and Major League Baseball to resolve the potential clash of dates. As of this publication, dates for the Michigan and Michigan State games have yet to be determined.

“ Confirming the new date for homecoming this early is good news for our students, parents, alumni, and fans who need to make plans to participate in the events and attend the homecoming game,” says Margaret Towle, director of the U’s Twin Cities Student Unions.

Homecoming 2003, “Once Upon A Homecoming,” runs Oct. 27-Nov. 1 with activities such as the Alumni Association scholarship auction, Homecoming Pancake Breakfast, and Gopher Road Show; a bonfire, and parade. To learn more about events of the week, see www.homecoming.umn.edu.

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Inducting men and women together for the first time
The University of Minnesota Gopher Sports Hall of Fame will induct five men and five women athletes at a public ceremony on Friday, Sept. 19.

“ When the men’s and women’s athletics departments merged, we decided to unite the men’s and women’s Hall of Fame recognition as well,” says Charles Arnold, executive director of the National “M” Club, which represents approximately 6,000 Gopher letter winners. “This is the first year men and women with be inducted together, and we are very proud and excited about that.”

The Hall of Fame inductees are Bill Brask (golf, 1966), Dan Egeland (swimming, 1986), Rickey Foggie (football, 1984), Belmar Gunderson (tennis coach, athletics director, 1964-76), Jill [Halsted] Garver (volleyball, 1979), Debra Hunter (basketball, 1980), Corey Millen (hockey, 1983), Sue Ring-Jarvi (hockey, 1974), Diane [Wallner] Schoeneman (swimming, 1983), and Gordon Watters (hockey, 1951).

The National “M” Club represents approximately 6,000 Gopher letter winners. This is the first year men and women with be inducted together.

At the ceremony, the club will give “M” letters to more than 100 women athletes who attended the University before Title IX and the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women were established. Student-athletes who won letters 50 years ago will receive “M” pins, and all student-athletes who attended the U 25 years ago will also be recognized during the program.

Brandon Hall, the Gopher football player who was fatally shot last year, will be honored at the event. Football coach Glen Mason and athletics director Joel Maturi will present Hall’s mother, Dorothy, with an honorary “M” letter.

The ceremony, which begins with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. followed by a banquet and program, will be held at Coffman Memorial Union. Tickets are $75 with discounts available for tables of 10, recent letter winners, and students. For more information, call the National “M” Club office at 763-566-5895 or e-mail smiller@synergy-resource.com.

--U of M Alumni Association

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An investment in urban schools
As the school year begins, a spotlight is on the challenges of urban education. A new endowed faculty chair at the University of Minnesota aims to help address this challenge.

The U’s Carmen Starkson Campbell Endowed Chair in Urban Education was created to develop and share knowledge about issues specific to urban schools, such as teacher retention and development, classroom stability, and problems with at-risk children. The position, one of only a few of its kind in the nation, was established as part of a $5 million Campaign Minnesota gift from Carmen and Jim Campbell. It is named in recognition of Carmen Campbell’s career as a teacher in the Minneapolis schools and in honor of her parents who were involved in education in southern Minnesota. “We saw the urban setting changing and realized we wanted to help fine young teachers stay in the profession,” says Carmen Campbell, a 1964 U alum.

“Studies show that having consistent, well-trained teachers is one of the most critical ingredients for children’s success in school, and yet nearly two thirds of all teachers in urban schools are new or on the move,” says Bob Bruininks, University president and former dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “Our goal with this new chair is to help solve this problem by improving teacher retention and development in urban schools.”

The new chair will deepen the expertise already in place at the U’s College of Education and Human Development in the field of urban education. Faculty are currently engaged in projects such as literary research, intervention with at-risk children, special education, school dropouts, and classroom management. The University’s setting between two urban centers creates an ideal environment for the new position, and the college will look for a chair holder who can strengthen partnerships with the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts.

The Campbells’ generous gift has also provided seed money for several programs at the Carlson School of Management. One example is the school’s Enterprise Programs, which give students hands-on experience in managing stock portfolios and other investments and in working with entrepreneurs to start new companies.

Portions of the Campbells’ gift are also designated to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the U of M Marching Band.
To learn more about designating a gift or giving to the U, see the U of M Foundation Web site at www.giving.umn.edu/index.html.

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Tooth loss and cardiovascular disease
Tooth loss caused by gum disease may be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, according to University of Minnesota researchers.

The U researchers examined 711 people--55 and older with no history of heart disease or stroke--to determine if the number of missing teeth correlated with periodontal disease and the amount of plaque in the carotid arteries.

Preliminary findings from the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study have suggested a link between tooth loss and subclinical atherosclerosis, the symptomless buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries or blood vessels that run along the neck and feed the brain, says lead investigator Moïse Desvarieux, an epidemiologist in the U’s School of Public Health. In the past, other studies have proposed a relationship between gum disease and adverse events such as heart attack and stroke.

The U researchers examined 711 people--55 and older with no history of heart disease or stroke--to determine if the number of missing teeth correlated with periodontal disease and the amount of plaque in the carotid arteries. Investigators recorded dental hygiene habits, including the number of times per week participants brushed and flossed, as well as socioeconomic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors. The participants also underwent ultrasound to detect signs of plaque buildup.

Many of the study participants with periodontal or gum disease also have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, poor diet, and low levels of physical activity.

Among those missing zero to nine teeth, 45 percent had carotid artery plaque. And of those missing 10 or more, about 60 percent had the buildup.

The researchers speculate that tooth loss is an indicator of chronic infection or inflammation of the gums. And since tooth removal practices vary, they caution that not all tooth loss may indicate the same severity of gum disease.

Desvarieux says many of the study participants with periodontal or gum disease also have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, poor diet, and low levels of physical activity. Tooth loss may be more than a simple marker for lifestyle, he says, because the relationship between tooth loss and gum disease remained even after other risk factors and cultural factors were accounted for.

As the study continues, the researchers will examine the progression of atherosclerosis, periodontal disease, and tooth loss.
The study is published in the Aug. 1 issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Top spots for UMM, UMC, and UMD
The University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM), is a top three public liberal arts college, according to U.S. News & World Report. And the University’s campuses in Crookston (UMC) and Duluth (UMD) are among the best places in the Midwest to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

UMM, UMC and UMD all placed in the US News & World Report's 2004 Rankings of America's Best Colleges.

UMM is the only public college in the Midwest to place among the magazine’s top 21 public liberal arts colleges in the nation. UMM’s No. 3 spot in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2004 rankings of America’s Best Colleges is a step up from last year’s position. “This ranking says that students interested in a superior liberal arts education owe it to themselves and their budgets to take a serious look at Morris,” says UMM chancellor Sam Schuman. UMM has a student to faculty ratio of 14:1; 98 percent of its faculty are full-time, and 68 percent of the courses it offers have fewer than 20 students.

UMC, for the sixth consecutive year, was ranked among the top three colleges in the Top Public Midwestern Comprehensive Colleges--Bachelor’s category. It bested 324 colleges this year for the No. 3 spot. “This recognition certainly reinforces UMC’s commitment to offering a quality educational experience and acknowledges the work and accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students,” says UMC chancellor Velmer Burton, Jr.

UMD claimed eighth spot in the Top Midwest Public Universities with Master's Degrees category and ranked No. 3 for its undergraduate chemical engineering program. Additionally, Outside magazine named Duluth among the 40 Best College Towns in North America in its September issue. According to the editors, a school that makes their honor roll must, “turn out smart grads with top-notch academic credentials, have a healthy environment ethos, and an A+ sense of adventure.” The magazine also recognized UMD’s Natural Resource Research Institute and Recreational Sports and Outdoor Program.

Editor's note: Also mentioned in the U.S. News & World Report 2004 college rankings are programs on the U's Twin Cities campus--Study Abroad (special recognition) and the Carlson School of Business's management information systems (No. 4), Health Services Administration ( No. 5), part-time MBA (No. 10), executive MBA (N0. 16), and undergraduate business (No. 14) programs. The Twin Cities campus was also ranked No. 2 for chemical engineering and No. 17 for engineering among schools whose highest degree is a doctorate.

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U professor helps draft new human rights standards
On Aug. 13, the United Nations human rights body in Geneva adopted the first set of international human rights norms for transnational corporations. University of Minnesota law professor David Weissbrodt had a hand in writing the standards, which are aimed at fostering greater corporate social responsibility.

“ Given all the news that’s been coming across about Enron, Qualcomm, etc., this is an attempt by the U.N. to provide guidance to companies about what human rights expectations they should fulfill,” says Weissbrodt, a member and former chairman of the U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. “This is said to be the most comprehensive set of standards applicable to businesses.”

The United Nations human rights body in Geneva adopted the first set of international human rights norms for transnational corporations. University of Minnesota law professor David Weissbrodt had a hand in writing the standards, which are aimed at fostering greater corporate social responsibility.

The standards, “U.N. Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with regard to Human Rights,” deal with the right of workers, the quality of goods, and anti-corruption, among other things. It pulls together principles from a wide range of labor, environmental, consumer protection, and anti-corruption treaties, including those by the International Labor Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

While drafting the document, Weissbrodt and the 25 other committee members sought input from many interested parties, such as governments, nongovernmental organizations, transnational corporations, and unions. “There is a large community of people out there with concerns about corporate social responsibility,” he says.
The U.N. standards are useful not only for companies looking to police their own conduct but also for companies in assessing their suppliers or other organizations they may want to do business with, explains Weissbrodt. For consumers, the standards can serve as a checklist for finding socially responsible companies to invest in.

To read a copy of the new U.N. standards, see www.umn.edu/humanrts/links/norms-Aug2003.html.

--University News Service

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U OF M HAPPENINGS

Weisman tribute to its creator
To mark its 10th anniversary, the Weisman Art Museum will host an open house on Friday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (with building tours at 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m.) and present the “Frank Gehry: Designs for Museums” exhibit Sept. 6, 2003 through Jan. 4, 2004. The exhibit, featuring drawings, models, photographs, and videos, will focus on Gehry’s creations before and after the Weisman was constructed in 1993. For general museum information, see www.weisman.umn.edu or call 612-625-9494.

Catch the Japanese Moon
Write haiku poetry on a Japanese paper fan or listen to readings by a campfire at the Japanese Moon Viewing event on Thursday, Sept. 11, 6-8 p.m. at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The event celebrates the autumn moon and the Japanese tradition of telling stories at this time about how the moon watches over children. The event is free; there is no admission fee at the Arboretum on Thursdays after 4:30 p.m. For general information, see www.arboretum.umn.edu.

After the Human Genome Project…
A new approach to biology, including powerful new computational tools for analyzing biological information, will be discussed at a public lecture hosted by the U’s Institute for Mathematics and its Applications. “After the Human Genome Project: Systems Biology and Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medicine” will take place on Monday, Sept.15, at 7 p.m. in 100 Smith Hall on the Twin Cities campus. To learn more, see www.ima.umn.edu/public-lecture/2003-04/hood/index.html.

Meow, meow…
From kitty cats to cats that kill…. “The Art of Cats” exhibit, running Sept. 14 through Dec. 14 at the Bell Museum of Natural History on the Twin Cities campus, will be your chance to learn about feline behavior and evolution through paintings and sculptures. The opening party on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. will include a lecture on “Big Cats: The Food Chain of Power and Glory” by author David Quammen. For tickets to the party ($8 for Bell members and $10 for nonmembers), call 612-624-9050. To learn more, see www.bellmuseum.org/calendar.html#upEvents.

History of eugenics
The U’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies is cosponsoring a free, public lecture by Edwin Black, author of New York Times bestseller IBM and the Holocaust, Thursday, Sept.18, at 4 p.m. in D-2530 Moos Tower on the Twin Cities campus. Black will make references to the history of eugenics while talking about his new book The War Against the Weak, which chronicles an American campaign to create a white, Nordic master race through eugenics.

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