Bob Davies appointed assistant vice president for alumni relations
Robert O. Davies has been appointed assistant vice president for alumni relations in the Office of the Vice President for University Advancement and Development.

Davies previously was director of alumni relations at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, and executive director of the Boise State University Alumni Association. He also has served as director of annual giving at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Davies holds an MBA from the University of Oregon and a bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Nielsen elected AMA House vice speaker
Nancy H. Nielsen, assistant dean for student affairs in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and a clinical associate professor of medicine, has been elected vice speaker of the American Medical Association's (AMA) policy-making House of Delegates. The position puts Nielsen in line for the presidency of the AMA.

Nielsen, an internist in private practice in Buffalo, twice has been elected to the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs and sits on its executive committee and Strategic Planning Task Force. She currently serves the AMA on the National Patient Safety Foundation Board of Directors and the Commission for the Prevention of Youth Violence.

The speaker of the House of Delegates of the Medical Society of the State of New York, Nielsen also has served as a SUNY trustee and chief medical officer for the New York State Department of Health's Western Region.

Graham to kick off Wednesdays at 4 PLUS
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jorie Graham will lead off this fall's Wednesdays at 4 PLUS literary series with a reading at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Screening Room, 112 Center for the Arts on the North Campus.

Author of seven books of poetry, Graham received the Pulitzer in 1996 for "The Dream of the Unified Field: Selected Poems 1974-1994." She is Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard University, and also directs the poetry program in the University of Iowa's famed Writers' Workshop. In 1997, she was elected chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.

For further program information, call 645-3810.

Nobel laureate to present Rustgi lecture
"Fractional Charges and Other Tales from Flatland" will be the topic of The Moti Lal Rustgi Memorial Lecture, to be delivered by Nobel laureate Horst Störmer at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in Room 225 of the Natural Sciences Complex on the North Campus.

The lecture is presented by the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

A professor of physics and applied physics at Columbia University and adjunct physics director for Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, Störmer shared the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics with Daniel C. Tsui and Robert B. Laughlin "for their discovery of a new form of quantum fluid with fractionally charged excitations."

For further information, contact the Department of Physics at 645-2017 or www.phy-sics.buffalo.edu, or contact Michael Fuda at fuda@acsu.buffalo.edu.

"UB Today" sets September lineup
Librarian Kathleen Delaney, archivist for the Love Canal project housed in the UB Libraries, will be among the guests on the September edition of "UB Today," the monthly Adelphia Cable television show highlighting UB faculty, staff, students and programs.

The program is sponsored by the UB Alumni Association.

Delaney will discuss the Patricia A. brown Love Canal Collection, which was dedicated earlier this summer at UB.

Other guests for the show will include Robert E. Baier, professor of oral diagnostic sciences and executive director of the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Biosurfaces, who will discuss the shortages of implant devices due to bad publicity and costly litigation; Paresh Dandona, professor of medicine and director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism for UB and Kaleida Health, who will discuss severe muscle weakness experienced due to vitamin D deficiency, and Thomas Kucharski, a UB graduate who heads the Buffalo/Niagara Enterprise, about the agency's current projects and plans for the future.

Each new program runs throughout the month at 6:30 p.m. Sundays on Channel 18 International and Channel 10 in Lancaster, Clarence, Orchard Park and Elma, and at 9 p.m. Mondays on Channel 18 International.

Capaldi to address University Convocation on Oct. 4 in Center for the Arts
The university will honor and recognize members of the campus community at the sixth annual Convocation at 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Center for the Arts Mainstage.

The convocation will open with an academic procession composed of marching faculty and staff led by the chair of the Faculty Senate, the chair of the Professional Staff Senate and the platform party.

Featured speaker will be Elizabeth D. Capaldi, provost and professor of psychology, who will present an address, "Competing with the Best."

In addition, recipients of the SUNY Chancellor's Awards - Frank V. Bright, professor of chemistry; Todd M. Hennessey, associate professor of biological sciences; Deidre Lynch, associate professor of English; Roger W. Mayne, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; Albert D. Price, associate professor of planning, and Bernard A. Weinstein, professor of physics - and faculty members named to the SUNY Distinguished Professor ranks - James E. McConnell professor of geography and William J. Rae, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering - will be honored.

A reception will follow in the Center for the Arts atrium.

Members of the campus community who are interested in marching in the convocation should contact Pat Staebell, convocation coordinator, at 645-6147, ext. 226 or by email at staebell@buffalo.edu by Sept. 11.

Mini-Medical School to focus on latest medical advances
The latest advances in genetics, surgery and chemotherapy will be among the topics presented in the next session of UB's Mini-Medical School, which will begin Sept. 12.

Designed for the general public, the course will be held in Butler Auditorium in 150 Farber Hall on the South Campus.

The new five-session course taught by UB faculty members will be held from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays from Sept. 12 through Oct. 10.

Topics and speakers will be:

- Sept. 12: "Infection, Inflammation and Heart Disease," Robert J. Genco, SUNY Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Oral Biology in the School of Dental Medicine, and "New Concepts Challenging the Lipid Hypothesis," Sebastian G. Ciancio, professor and chair of the Department of Periodontics and Endodontics in the dental school.

- Sept. 19: "Vaccines in the 21st Century," Timothy F. Murphy, professor of medicine and microbiology, and "New Advances in Gene Therapy," John Hay, professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology and associate professor for research

- Sept. 26: "Assuring the Breaths of Life: New Treatment for Lung Disease," Bruce A. Holm, senior associate dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and associate professor of pharmaceutics and pediatrics

- Oct. 3: "History and Recent Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis," Lawrence D. Jacobs, M.D., professor of neurology

- Oct. 10: "The Latest in Research and Treatment of Digestive Disorders," Peter Lance, associate professor of medicine.

The cost of the course is $30 for individuals, $45 for couples, $25 for senior citizens, $40 for senior couples and $20 for students.

A mini-graduation and certificate ceremony will be held at the end of the course.

The registration deadline is Sept. 8.

For more information or to register, call 829-2196.

No "butts" about it: Residence halls now are smoke-free
UB has extended its smoke-free policy to the campus residence halls, according to a memorandum from Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs.

Under a policy effective in August 1994, smoking had been prohibited in all university-owned and -operated buildings and vehicles, with the exception of private living quarters in residence halls. That exception now is eliminated.

"Research continues to present indisputable evidence that smoking not only poses a significant health hazard to smokers, but that exposure to second-hand smoke also is harmful to the health of non-smokers. Increasing concerns about the effects of second-hand smoke and complaints over compliance problems near many building entrances and in loading areas led to review of the policy...," according to the memorandum.

New signage reflecting the extension of UB's smoke-free policy will be placed this fall in the entry areas and loading areas of some buildings and facilities.

Hot-dog roast today to benefit SEFA
The SEFA administrative group will host a hot-dog roast from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. today in Founders Plaza on the North Campus.

The hot-dog roast is open to the university community and will offer the faculty, staff and students the opportunity to meet President William Greiner and Provost Elizabeth Capaldi.

A hot dog, lemonade, chips and a cookie will be available for $2, with all proceeds benefiting the 2000 SEFA campaign. Supplies for the hot dog roast have been donated, in part, by corporate friends that include Wendy's, Salen's, Kaufmann's Bakery and UB's Faculty Student Association.

Emeritus Center to meet on Sept. 12
Members of the Emeritus Center will meet at 2 p.m. Sept. 12 in the South Lounge of Goodyear Hall on the South Campus.

Edward P. Deutschman, executive director, and Gladys Gifford, secretary, both of the Citizens Regional Transportation Corporation, will discuss "Transportation Needs in Western New York." The program is open to the UB community. For more information, call 829-2271.

Fellowships available for study in Germany
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering one-year fellowships for study and research in Germany.

Applicants in all academic fields except dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine are welcome to apply for the fellowships. Applicants should be United States or Canadian citizens and enrolled full-time in a graduate-degree program at UB or be graduating seniors. Foreign nationals may be eligible to apply, although the program is not open to German nationals.

Applicants must have a well-defined research project that makes a stay in Germany necessary and a good command of the German language.

For more information and application forms, contact Georg Iggers, 562 Park Hall, 645-2181 ext. 562 or 836-1216, or by email at iggers@acsu.buf-falo.edu. Deadline for application is Oct. 1.

Adelphia to air seven UB football games
Adelphia's HTTV will air seven of the Bulls' 11 regular season games during the 2000 season. All five of UB's home games and the season-opener at Syracuse will be shown on a tape-delayed basis, and the Bulls' contest at Ohio will be aired live.

The Bulls' home games against Connecticut (Sept. 16), Bowling Green (Sept. 23), Ball State (Oct. 21), Kent State (Nov. 4) and Miami (Nov. 18) each will be aired on Adelphia at 1 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. on the Sunday following the game. Brian Blessing will handle play-by-play duties, with Mark Collins adding color commentary and Gary Pufpaff reporting from the sideline.

UB's season-opener at Syracuse on Saturday also will be aired twice on Adelphia, at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday and at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. In addition, the Bulls' Oct. 7 game at Ohio will be shown live on Adelphia at 7 p.m.

All games will air on Channel 18 for Adelphia International customers, while viewers in Orchard Park, Elma, Clarence and Lancaster will see the Bulls on Channel 10.

Artvoice names WBFO "best radio station" in Buffalo
WBFO 88.7 FM, a National Public Radio affiliate and a major public service of UB, was named Buffalo's best radio station in the July 27 issue of Artvoice, the Buffalo-based weekly alternative newspaper.

Noting that in commercial radio, formats seem to change with the seasons, the article cites WBFO's consistent programming as one of its greatest strengths.

"Public radio - or at least its local incarnation on WBFO - changes little from year to year. Its mix of jazz and classical music, public affairs programming, cultural commentary and quirky syndicated shows...are always exactly where a listener expects them to be on the left of the dial," the article notes.

"Maybe this is what inspires such loyalty in BFO listeners. In a world always looking for 'the next big thing,' public radio is a constant, classical source of reliable information and eclectic entertainment."

Senior Alumni Program to look at 2000 presidential candidates, issues and voters
The 2000 presidential campaign will be the focus of the Senior Alumni Luncheon Program to be held at noon on Sept. 20 in the Center for Tomorrow on the North Campus.

James E. Campbell, professor of political science and a specialist in American elections and campaigns, as well as the science of election forecasting, will discuss the candidates, the issues and the voting groups that will determine the election's outcome.

The cost of the luncheon, designed for UB senior alumni, their spouses and guests, will be $15 per person. For more information or to make reservations, call 829-2608.

Better TMD coursework urged
A UB dental educator has urged dental schools to increase their efforts to teach students how to interpret and evaluate results of research, especially in the area of temporomandibular diseases and disorders (TMD).

Norman D. Mohl, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and chair of the Department of Oral Diagnostics, said that despite the growing research published during the past 25 years, too many clinicians continue to base their diagnosis and treatment for TMD on anecdotal "evidence."

Speaking at a conference on the diagnosis, treatment and immunologic issues of TMD sponsored earlier this month by the Ernest Witebsky Center for Immunology, Mohl said that a lack of scientific-based research on TMD prior to the 1970s led many practitioners to turn to anecdotal material for guidance.

TMD not only is a significant oral-health problem, but also includes a group of clinical problems involving jaw muscles or joints, Mohl said.

A differential diagnosis is especially important, he noted, since TMD's primary symptom-acute or chronic pain in the oral, facial or head-and-neck areas-also may be symptomatic of unrelated diseases and disorders.

Mohl emphasized that scientifically based studies now allow clinicians to pinpoint more accurately the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of not only TMD, but other dental problems as well.