A $100,000 donation from 3Com, a national computing firm, will finance a tenfold boost in the core speed of the campus computer network and make it possible for the University of Oregon to join a national visionary effort to push the bounds of high-performance computing.

The Computing Center will use 3Com’s gift to upgrade the campus network from fast ethernet speeds (100 megabits per second) to gigabit ethernet speeds (1,000 megabits per second). A gigabit ethernet is roughly 18,000 times the speed of a home desktop (56K) modem that connects personal computers to the Internet.

"This generous gift will take our campus core network to the next level," says Director Joanne Hugi. "It will allow us to scale up to handle the ever-growing traffic on our network."

While Hugi considers the upgrade to the core campus network both necessary and important, she says the UO also will use the equipment for an even more visionary application.

"The equipment will help connect computers on the UO campus to the Abilene Network," she explains. "Abilene is a nationwide fiber-optic network that researchers are using both to push the bounds of high performance computing on the Internet and to develop the next generation of Internet applications."

The UO is one of about 150 universities participating in the Abilene Network and the associated Internet2 program. 3Com is a corporate partner in the Internet2 program.

"We are delighted with this gift," Hugi says. "3Com’s selection of the university for this highly competitive award reaffirms the direction the university is taking in high performance networking, and gives us an important opportunity to work with state-of-the-art hardware from the industry leader in local area network hardware."

UO participation in the Abilene Network is partially funded by grants from the National Science Foundation with additional funding from Oregon Joint Graduate Schools of Engineering (OJGSE) and Cisco Systems, Inc.

Robert Ellis Smith, a nationally recognized "privacy watchdog" and publisher of the Privacy Journal, cautioned the Class of 1999 to be wary of troubling access and privacy issues and the Internet’s increasingly commercial and manipulative nature in his address during the 122nd spring commencement on June 12.

Approximately 3,700 spring-term degree candidates and fall- and winter-term UO graduates were eligible to participate in the spring ceremonies.

President Dave Frohnmayer announced the awarding of the UO’s highest commendation, an honorary doctorate, to Helmuth Rilling, the Oregon Bach Festival’s co-founder and artistic director for the past 30 years. Because Rilling’s international performance schedule prevented him from attending commencement, he will receive the degree at a special ceremony during the Oregon Bach Festival on Sunday, July 11, following an afternoon Hult Center concert. The honorary degree is only the third conferred by the UO in the past 53 years. The other two recipients were former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and Mark Hatfield, former U.S. senator and Oregon governor.

In addition, the university recognized 15 people for their exemplary service, philanthropic leadership and teaching excellence.

Distinguished Service Awards–Honorees were Brian Booth, partner in the Portland law firm Tonkon Torp LLP; Raymond Mikesell, Economics emeritus; and Mason Williams, a Grammy Award-winning composer, recording artist and television comedy writer.

The faculty annually selects recipients for this award who, through their knowledge and skills, "have made a significant contribution to the cultural development of Oregon or society as a whole."

Presidential Medals–Dave Petrone, a San Francisco area businessman, and John and Robin Jaqua, Eugene law and psychology professionals, received hand-forged solid silver medals for their visionary investments that have helped transform Oregon into one of the "rising stars" of America’s best research and teaching universities.

The Presidential Medal honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to higher education through their long-standing and extraordinary support. Each medal is a replica of the myrtlewood medallion the UO president wears for ceremonial occasions.

Ersted Awards for Distinguished Teaching–Michael Manga, Geological Sciences, and Erica Bastress-Dukehart, History adjunct, were chosen for their extraordinary dedication to teaching.

The Ersted award, established in 1957, encourage and reward exceptional teachers early in their careers. Supported by a trust fund created by the late A.J. Ersted of Atherton, Calif., the award includes a crystal apple and an annual salary increase of $2,000.

Thomas F. Herman Faculty Achievement Award for Distinguished Teaching–V. Pat Lombardi, Biology, was honored for his teaching excellence.

The Herman award, first given in 1995, honors senior faculty members who have achieved outstanding records as teachers. Supported by an Alamo, Calif., business leader and 1962 UO alumnus, the award consists of a crystal apple and an annual $2,000 salary increase.

Charles E. Johnson Memorial Award–Dominick Vetri, Law, was honored for demonstrating exceptional service to the university and its community.

The award, first given by the UO faculty in 1980, traditionally honors a faculty member who has exemplified the principles affirmed by the late UO President. Those principles include that freedom of speech and assembly hold a central position among American constitutional and educational precepts; that a university can and must adapt to accelerating social change while maintaining its basic objective; and that, as Thomas Jefferson said, "…here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it might lead, nor to tolerate error so long as reason is left free to combat it."

Graduate Teaching Fellow Awards–Hilary Hart, English, and James Ashar Nelson, Architecture, received $500 honoraria for excellence in teaching.

GTFs Alexandra Stotts, Philosophy, Kathleen "Kate" Sullivan, English, and Jennifer Firkins, Mathematics, received $100 honorable mention awards.

The university established the GTF teaching awards in 1979 in cooperation with the UO chapter of Mortar Board. Their purpose is to recognize excellence in teaching and academic guidance. This year, 51 graduate students from 25 departments or programs were nominated.

At a pre-commencement brunch, the UO Alumni Association bestowed its 1999 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award on 1984 political science graduate Bruce Carey, co-owner of the award-winning Zefiro and Saucebox restaurants in Portland who subsequently earned an interdisciplinary master’s degree in public planning and the arts from Oregon in 1987. The UO Alumni Association in May presented its 1999 Distinguished Alumnus Award to Seattle philanthropist and founder of PageMaker software Paul Brainerd, a 1970 management graduate with a minor in journalism who was unable to attend commencement.

Besides the university-wide exercises on June 12, each school or college–including individual Arts and Sciences departments–held its own ceremony at various campus locations on June 11—12. During these ceremonies, individual recognition was given to master’s and bachelor’s degree candidates.

Among spring term’s 2,691 degree candidates were 2,017 completing requirements for bachelor’s degrees, 16 for certificates, 465 for master’s degrees and 55 for doctoral degrees. On May 16, 138 students received law degrees during the UO Law Commencement.

Others eligible to participate in the spring ceremonies were 573 fall term and 471 winter term graduates. No ceremonies were held those terms.

Faculty participants in July 11 ceremonies conferring an honorary UO degree on Maestro Helmuth Rilling, co-founder and artistic director of the Oregon Bach Festival, should arrange to rent academic regalia from the UO Bookstore before July 1. The university will cover rental costs for the regalia to be worn for the academic processional that will be part of the Rilling ceremony. (Faculty who rented regalia for the June 12 spring commencement may keep them until after the mid-July ceremony.) Rilling will receive the university’s highest honor following the festival’s final performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection") at 4 p.m. in the Hult Center’s Silva Concert Hall. Whether faculty plan to attend just the ceremony or the preceding concert as well, they should contact the President’s Office, 6-3036, to obtain details on times and places to assemble for the processional.

In the spotlight

Paul Frishkoff, Business, and Rhonda Stoltz, UO Bookstore, are serving on the 1999—2000 board of directors for the Emerald Empire Chapter of the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants.

James Hutchison, Chemistry, is recipient of a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award for 1999, one of just 20 young faculty members recognized nationally for their high levels of accomplishment in education and research. As part of the award, Chemistry will receive a $5,000 discretionary grant to enhance undergraduate research experiences.

Mary Hudzikiewicz, Student Life, received the 1999 Jeanne Johnson Alumni Service Award from the UO Alumni Association on April 30 and was one of five local residents honored May 7 by the Older Adult Service and Information System (OASIS) for their volunteer service in Lane County. She was cited for her work with Mortar Board, the Friars, IntroDUCKtion and the Lane County Alumni Chapter, as well as with the American Cancer Society, Junior League, Girl Scouts, Zonta and United Way, among other groups.

Barry Bates, Exercise and Movement Science emeritus, is recipient of the second annual Ruth B. Glasgow Honor Award. Presented by the Biomechanics Academy, it recognizes outstanding contributions to applied research in biomechanics.

On the move

Erin Fahrenkrog, a UO master’s degree graduate last year, is special events coordinator for the UO Development Office. She succeeds Iris Richmond who is returning to Brown University to complete her degree in comparative literature.

Zanne Miller, Admissions, has resigned from her position as assistant director and coordinator of publications, effective June 30. She is moving to Ashland where she will pursue free-lance writing and teaching opportunities.

Thirty-one UO employees with nearly three centuries of service among them were honored June 3 during a retirement recognition reception. Those recognized included Marilyn Bradetich and Mary Lou Van Rysselberghe, Music; Warren Brown, Lundquist Business; Randi Brox, Romance Languages; Harry Clough and Walter Gillingham, Facilities Services; Janet Descutner, Dance; Kenneth Dickenson, University Health Center; Rose Charline Durchanek, Neuroscience; Frances Duryee and Shirley Trimble, Biology; Sally Franzoni, University Counseling Center; Elizabeth Glover and Judith Grosenick, Education; Sharon Yarbrough Gummeson and Jon Jacobson, Law; Carolyn Hoyer, Business Affairs; M. Allan Kays, Geological Sciences; Evelyn Marczuk, English; Bruce Mason and Jane Rimerman, EMU; Mavis Mate, History; Maggie Morris, Research and Graduate School; Gil Osgood, Psychology; Jack Overley, Physics; Theodore W. Palmer, Ken Ross and Charles Wright, Mathematics; Blaine Pruitt, Public Safety; L. Gaye Vandermyn, Communications; and Bernard Wendring, Technical Science Administration. The provost also has approved emeritus/a status for Jacobson and Overley, as well as Mary Lawrence, Law, and James B. Lemert and William B. Willingham, Journalism and Communication.

In Print/On Display

George Andrews, Architecture emeritus, has completed the third volume of a three-volume series, Pyramids and Palaces, Monsters and Masks (Labyrinthos, May 1999).

On the podium/stage

Jack Bennett, Student Retention Programs, GTF Marcy Hunt and undergraduate coordinators Katy Ho and Dan Pierson presented sessions on Freshman Interest Groups during a May 20—23 Seattle conference. The Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education and the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education sponsored "Transforming Campuses Through Learning Communities."

In memoriam

Ivan M. Niven, Mathematics emeritus, died May 9 in Eugene. A member of the UO faculty since 1947, Niven, 83, retired in 1981, the same year he received the university’s Johnson Award. He was a graduate of the University of British Columbia and the University of Chicago. He was president of the Mathematics Association of America in 1983-94 and received the MAA Distinguished Service Award in 1989. A celebration of life was held June 19 at the Unitarian Universalist Church.