Vol. 9 CORNELL CHRONICLE No. 2 Thursday, August 11, 1977 Herbster's First Year New Legal Officer $5 Million for Sub-Microns Cook a Women's Delegate Trustees' Summary 2 3 3 3 4 Knapp: Universities Face Difficulties In Next Five Years Universities in this country face an uncomfortable adjustment period in the next five years as they become more competitive for undergraduate students, faculty, money and reputation, according to David C. Knapp, Cornell University Provost. Speaking Aug. 3 in Alice Statler Auditorium, Knapp contrasted this prediction with the past "Golden Age of Universities" — the mid-1950s through 1970 — when institutions experienced tremendous growth in student enrollment, government and foundation supPort, physical size and sophisticated research technology. However, unlike the bounty experienced during the '50s and '60s, universities suffered major economic hardships in the 1970s due to inflation and the energy crisis. Government and foundation support began to slow down when it became apparent that funds invested in the sciences, particularly social sciences, provided no quick and easy returns. "The '70s also brought a change in the universities' future outlook due to a diminishing college age population and a growing feeling among students that a college degree no longer carried economic rewards," Knapp said. He noted that in the northeast the decrease in the college-age population by 1990 Will be about 20 per cent and in New York State, 30 per cent. "Attracting undergraduates and enhancing the quality of the undergraduate environment will ^e major concerns particularly for private universities with exceedingly high tuition costs. Universities will be asked to justify those costs and prove their worth to students and parents," he said. The responses to the decrease in college applicants will vary among institutions, but all will have a major impact on the nature of the institution. Some univeristies will shrink in size; urban institutions will increase their student base by developing lifelong learning programs, and other colleges will dip lower in the talent pool. While Cornell will have less trouble attracting students than other institutions, Knapp said, the degree of selectivity in the admissions policy will be the University's main concern. Knapp also predicted an intense struggle among universities as they compete for recognition as centers for scholarship. "As universities move up in the pecking order, they will seek to attract the best faculty and there will be a constant battle for attention from parents and students and in the national media. It will be a costly battle, but one that cant be avoided if universities are to survive," he said. Competition for funds from state and federal governments, corporations, foundations and private donors will also accelerate in the future, Knapp said, and universities will no longer be able to rest solely on their academic reputations. "These organizations are evaluating universities in terms of overall efficiency of operations and the delivery of an academic product. This will mean a greater danger for the independence of universities than ever before ex- Continued on Page 3 Rhodes Plans 'Visibility' As Cornell's President ft Frank H.T. Rhodes, Cornell's ninth president, is going to be an active campus participant in his job, which he began Monday, Aug. 1. He has started the full schedule of appointments that will follow him throughout his career as a University president. But he's managed already to get out of his office often, a practice he says he will continue. "I've been dropping into other offices, introducing myself," he said in an interview. (In fact he appeared without ceremony in the Chronicle office itself as this was being written.) "One of the impressive things about the place is the commitment of its people. They don't just work here, they serve Cornell — and that's an important distinction." he said. Other first impressions are of a community that is vibrant and dynamic — "even in the middle of summer, when most cam- puses are pretty dead," he noted. "I've been touched, impressed and delighted with the warmth of the welcome we have been given. Rosa and I already feel a part of Ithaca." The Rhodes family was also greeted a week ago by the birth of their first grandchild, a girl. Two of their four daughters still live at home and will attend Ithaca High School this fall. Although the new president possesses many years of ex- perience in higher education, he said, "I've got to take time to listen and to learn, and I mean to do that." Characteristically, this process will take him out of Day Hall. "I'm scheduling a series of visits to each of the colleges, to see Cornell President Frank H.T. Rhodes and his wife, Rosa, are settling in at their new home. 603 Cayuga Heights Rd. Continued on Page 2 Inner City Youngsters Try Out College Life Outside Rockefeller Hall, in 'he shade of a huge oak tree, students rehearse their lines r°rn the play "Ceremonies and °ark Old Men." Inside, a class of ^0 discusses the message "ehind "The Prince" in a course ° n political philosophy. The students, high school 'uniors and seniors, are spending Seven weeks on campus as part °f a summer academic program sPonsored by the Central 8rooklyn Model Cities Administration. All of the 250 participating students live in Central ^ooklyn. Many of them — up until this summer — had never left New York City. The main purpose of the program, according to the directOr Ibrahim Abdul-Malik, is to of'er courses in subjects normally taken in the public school system as well as higher-level courses, and to expose students to standards required for college work. The program is set up to benefit b°th the student who has failed a course and needs to make it UP. as well as the student who nas done well in school and Wants to advance himself," Model Cities students take part in an outdoor seminar on the Arts Quad. Abdul-Malik explained. no matter what level, takes a Reading and writing skills are reading course. Slower students emphasized and each student. learn basic vocabulary skills in remedial reading courses; the more advanced are exposed to difficult novels, learning skills in inference, literary criticism and, as one teacher put it, "reading between the lines." In order to be selected, a student must live within the area served by the Central Brooklyn Model Cities Administration — Brownsville, East New York and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Additionally, students must have a recommendation from the guidance counselor in their high school. This year there were four times more applicants than there were spaces. Since the program is completely funded through Model Cities, students pay nothing to enroll. Instead, Model Cities has entered a financial agreement with Cornell, through its Conference Office, to provide students with dormitory space, meal service, and use of other campus facilities. This is the fourth year Cornell has been selected as a site. The University was host to the program during the summers of 1971, 1972 and 1973. Spending seven weeks on a Continued on Page 2 2 CORNELL CHRONICLE Thursday, August 11, 1977 President Is Also Professor Rhodes Continued from Page 1 what they're doing, to meet the faculty, the staff and the students and listen to their hopes and problems. This is a learning process that will go on as long as I'm here," he said, "but it's going to be particularly important during the first year." One of the first such visits will be to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with a full day touring the college's Ithaca facilities, and a second day at Geneva. Rhodes said he would also visit the Medical facilities in New York City this week. Another priority will be to build "strong relationships and understandings" with each of Cornell's constituencies. "It's a difficult thing to begin to make meaningful contacts with 16.000 students, and several thousand faculty and staff. There's no easy solution, but I'll try everything and see what works." he said. Already he has had an evening with students in Risley, and dinner with Alumni University participants. He plans to meet students at registration and to participate in faculty meetings, formal receptions and informal contacts. "I want to build trust and understanding, not just as a desirable social veneer, but as a major working necessity," he said. Rhodes also hopes to build good relationships with the trustees and alumni. Listing some of Cornell's problems which he expects will occupy large amounts of his attention. Rhodes named the budget first. "Some people think our fiscal problems are not as critical as they were three years ago," he said. "But I don't take that view." Rhodes said he spent part of the summer looking in depth at Cornell's financial situation and "my conclusion is that we face a very serious problem." Other problems Rhodes said would occupy his early attention are the finances of the medical units in New York City, relationships with New York State and the Cornell Campaign, a duty he will share with his predecessor Dale R. Corson, now University chancellor. President Rhodes is also Professor Rhodes — the trustees voted in March to appoint him professor of geology and mineralogy, fulfilling a wish he expressed in his first Cornell appearance as president-elect — "to be allowed in the classroom to give an occasional lecture in geology." He said, "I see myself as a scholar serving the needs of other scholars. "I'm suspicious of the kind of educational leadership that sees administration as separate, or set apart, from the faculty." Although he does not think he will have time to teach in his first year, he hopes to be able to "play a modest role" thereafter. " I give up geology and mineralogy reluctantly, because I love teaching and research — it's been my whole life," he said. New to Cornell — he was last here in 1960 to give the Gurley lecture before visiting again last spring for interviews — Rhodes still views the University with perspective. It is a perspective that speaks well for Cornell. "This is not the easiest time to become a University president, but it's not the worst of times either," he said. "Cornell was founded at a time of adversity, and flourished — flourished because of fine faculty and bold leadership. I don't expect an absence of problems, and I don't think there's an easy road ahead. "But, I am concerned that sometimes we overlook the strengths of the institution, in our concern about it weaknesses. Sometimes the view of Cornell from outside is a view that is more generous toward the University than that held on campus itself." Herbster Sees First Year As One of 'Good Steps' In his first year at Cornell Senior Vice President William G. Herbster hasn't achieved all the goals he set for himself. "But," he said in an interview, "we've taken some steps in the right direction." Herbster wants the Univer- sity's non-academic support ser- vices and operations, which he directs, to become more efficient and provide better services. His first step was to restruc- ture the portion of the central ad- ministration which reports to him, to make clearer relationships and responsibilities—with finances reporting to one vice president, planning to another, business operations to a third, and so forth. Herbster has also taken the lead in introducing personnel performance evaluations on a University-wide basis. He has already begun to measure the performance of the vice presidents who report to him. Herbster said services improved during the year. "The Information and Referral Center in Day Hall has been a great help to visitors and individuals who used to get lost—geographically and bureaucratically," he said. A registration week task force helped smooth the nonacademic aspects of student registration. Several departments, such as public safety, transportation, business operations and legal services, have undergone organizational changes designed to make them more responsive to users. "I think we're working better together," Herbster said. "Offices that used to say 'that's not my responsibility' now are beginning to pitch in to help." Herbster also pointed out that the University has made substantial progress over the past few years in finding new areas William G. Herbster for savings, and that the cost reduction program helped eliminate wasteful practices. The total number of employes has declined, and there have been many cost reductions in individual departments. "Although it would be misleading to say that total University expenditures have been substantially reduced, costs are not going up at the rate of inflation, and we've managed to stabilize things," he said Major financial problems still exist. This year the University faces a deficit in its annual operating costs in spite of income projections that are highly optimistic. Because of fiscal stringencies, Cornell has not fully dealt with problems facing all universities, Herbster said salaries that have lagged behind inflation, the need to fund innovative academic programs, library needs, plant maintenance and continuing cost increases in supplies and materials. Improving the University's planning capabilities has been another priority for Herbster's first' year. "We need people charged with worrying about where we're headed, par- ticularly in such a large and complex institution. There's a lot of planning going on. but it's not integrated." Herbster said better planning would help Cornell to derive maximum benefit from its human, physical and financial resources. "We have to take the time to look at things in perspective, and that requires people to draw the information together— it doesn't just happen," he said. Commenting on the perception that Day Hall staff had increased in the past year, Herbster said people note additions to staff, but they fail to note the subtractions — partly because these are not as often announced, and partly because people want to believe the central administration is large and unwieldy. "Cornell spends less on central administration than any of its peer institutions," he said. "The average cost in major universities is 10 per cent of total budget—ours is only seven per cent. And when we look at individual activities—whether it's fund raising, student services, or anything else—we find we are spending less and doing as much or more than our peers " Herbster's goals for next year include continuing to improve Cornell's administrative operations. He wants to see better reviews of performance, both of individuals and operations, and better quantitative measures of non-academic operations, "so were all talking that same language." He wants to bring about better managerial cooperation among Cornell's various units— endowed, statutory and the New York City medical units. "This place can be at sixes and sevens," he said, "when it needs to be one." Model Cities Students Take Varied Academic Fare Continued from Page 1 university campus situated among the rolling hills and sweeping valleys of the Finger Lakes Region and meeting college faculty and students will open new experiences for many students, according to AbdulMalik. "The students, all Black or Hispanic, come with experiences that have been limited by the area in which they live. So. the theory behind the program is to give these kids a chance to enjoy the same benefits any college student would have, meet people from different backgrounds and ethnic origins, and in so doing, motivate students in their academic studies." Abdul-Malik said. For Dorian Allen, who will be a senior at Brooklyn Technical High School, the Model Cities program has meant a chance to learn in a more relaxed atmosphere. "We're used to going to school by jumping in trains and buses. Things just aren't as rushed on a college campus. People seem to work better under better conditions. You can also take tough subjects, like physics and gain a better understanding of the subject when school starts in the fall." he said. All students take a reading course, two major academic subjects, instructional physical education and at least one elective. They choose from course offerings in math, English, science, social studies, history, philosophy, music and economics In most cases, students can earn course credits which will carry over in the fall. New York State Regents exams and the New York City Board of Education city-wide exam are given at the end of the seven weeks Students enjoy access to the many campus facilities Cornell has to offer. Allen looks forward to going to the Uris Library Listening Room, where students may listen to the famous speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, or watch a video special on Dr. Spock. Individualized classroom attention is something which Sharon Bates, a student at Bayside High School, appreciates. "If you need extra help, have a question or just want to talk, it's easy to arrange for a meeting with a teacher. And the classes here are nice and small — about 20 kids — not like the 35 or 40 students per class in the city," she observed. A close watch on students progress is maintained by administering weekly tests. Extra help is mandatory, if a teacher thinks it is necessary, and the program allows for a full tutoring schedule. The staff, hired by the Model Cities administration, consists of 20 New York State licensed teachers and five administrators, primarily from New York City. In addition, 40 college aides — juniors and seniors from colleges all over the United States — live with students in the North Campus dormitories. The aides, according to Keith Goffney, a 1977 Cornell graduate who plans to enter Columbia University law school in the fall, function much like "big brothers" or "big sisters." "We help students with homework assignments, advise and rap with them, and always try to provide a good model of behavior. Since most of us have career aspirations, we try to pass these on to the kids. Like the teachers here, we're 100 per cent involved and always on duty, " Goffney said. Career counseling has not been traditionally a part of the Model Cities Summer Academy program. But to Abdul-Malik, a teacher in the New York City school system for 20 years, a former director of the Bank Street College Educational Resources Center, and former curriculum director of the federally funded Center for Urban E d u c a t i o n , career counseling is a must. "We hope to provide specific career counseling for each individual by administering inventory tests which help youngsters identify career interests and by bringing in people from various fields to talk to the students," he explained. The Model Cities staff is working closely with Carolyn Williams, assistant director of Cornell Univeristy's Career Center, to develop a career services program. People from several fields, particularly those in which minorities are underrepresented, will be invited on campus. Contacts are being made with professionals in health services, engineering, and the space sciences. Taking advantage of Cornell's resources will help tremendously in career guidance for students, according to Abdul-Malik. "In addition to working with Ms. Williams, we're arranging with Cornell faculty members to take students on special tours of various colleges where interests coincide with youngsters' interests. While academic education is the major part of the program, various recreational activities and workshops in photography, journalism, singing, piano playing, dancing, arts and crafts, and fashion are offered during the evening hours. Students are now rehearsing for what many consider the grand finale of the program — a three-hour production of "The Wiz," complete with costumes, song and dance. The musical will be presented in the Alice Statler Auditorium Aug. 13, and is open to the Cornell community. A production of "Five on the Black Hand Side" will be shown Aug. 14 in the auditorium. Both shows will start at 2:30 p.m. and admission is free. On Aug. 19. there will be the awards banquet and the next day students will return home. Abdul-Malik hopes that at the end of a rigorous seven-week program, students will be better prepared for dealing with their academic endeavors and will have grown in other, less tangible ways. "An intangible but necessary consequence I'm seeking is that students will be all fired up about going to college. In addition, I am striving to help them develop the ability to budget time, to assign priorities and to make important decisions in a systematic, intelligent fashion. I would hope that at the end of seven weeks they will begin to define themselves, know who they are, where they are going and not dance to somebody else's tune." he said. T h u r s d a y , A u g u s t 11, 1977 Bugliari Gets New CORNELL CHRONICLE 3 NSF Funds Lab Legal Office Job For Creating Tiny Joseph B. Bugliari has been "The creation of the new posi- named by the Board of Trustees tion will allow Mr. Stamp to con- Electrical Devices to fill the newly created position centrate on the growing number A major new facility for the facility. of director of legal services at of major policy issues where it is creating the patterns used in "The technology, for example, Cornell University. critically important that the electronics devices with dimen- allows us to increase the density Bugliari is professor of University have his background sions of less than one micron of components in an integrated agricultural economics in the and knowledge, while insuring (one millionth of a meter) and for circuit by a factor of 10 or more. New York State College of that Cornell remains able to res- investigating the fundamental This means we can get 10 times Agriculture and Life Sciences pond to the growing number of properties of the materials used as much circuitry in the same and professor of agriculture and everyday legal m a t t e r s , " in their fabrication is being built amount of space," he continued. business law in the Graduate Herbster said. at Cornell University with a five- The new facility also will be School of Business and Public "The growing number of year, $5-million grant from the used to train graduate students, Administration. A member of the federal and state regulations, National Science Foundation engineers and scientists in the Cornell faculty since 1961, he and a society which has become (NSF). field and to stimulate innovative will also continue to teach and more litigious, have made major The facility, known as the research on sub-micron struc- have faculty status. legal issues more complex and National Research and Resource tures in physics, chemistry, As director of legal services have increased the number of Facility for Sub-Micron Struc- chemical engineering and related he will be responsible for smaller legal situations. As a tures, is designed to advance the fields as well as among electrical providing legal services in sup- result, the counsel's office is technology for producing pat- engineers who traditionally port of the University's regular overworked, and this kind of terns with features comparable specialize in fabricating such day-to-day activities, such as in- reorganization is sorely needed," suring compliance with govern- he said. to the distance spanned by devices 1,000 atoms. "One reason Cornell may ment regulations, monitoring pa- Stamp has been with Cornell These tiny patterns can be in- have been selected for the sub- tents, personnel relations, con- since 1947, serving in the legal corporated into a wide range of micron facility is the range of tracts and providing legal advice counsels office. In 1959 he electronics devices that ul- faculty here who share an in- to deans and executive officers. became secretary of the corpora- timately will improve com- terest in sub-micron structures," Neal R. Stamp will continue tion and in 1962 was chosen munications, increase the Ballantyne said as University counsel and University counsel. Last year he capacity of computers and make Some 19 faculty members, secretary of the Cornell Corpora- was elected president of the possible advances in the representing the departments of tion. He will concentrate on ma- National Association of College biological sciences and other A p p l i e d and E n g i n e e r i n g jor policy issues which have legal and University Attorneys, a fields. The patterns also can be Physics, Materials Science and implications, serve as chief legal national association of more used to discover the fundamen- E n g i n e e r i n g . C h e m i s t r y , advisor to the Board of Trustees than 750 colleges and univer- tal physics and materials Chemical Engineering and and president, and monitor from sities and 2,000 lawyers. problems that affect or limit the Physics in addition to the School a legal standpoint such areas as the faculty tenure system and dismissal procedures and deal with third parties such as the federal and state governments, foundations and major donors, and relations with outside legal counsel. Both Stamp and Bugliari will report to Senior Vice President William G. Herbster. The new position was created using a vacant budget line for legal counsel Bugliari served as the University's first judicial administrator, from 1969 to 1971. In 1975, he was named chairman of the Safety Division Advisory Committee. In 1976, he received a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Last December, he was named to head a committee to review the campus judicial' system, and a committee report was released last April. Affirmative Action Redefined The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has changed the federal government's standard definitions of race/ethnic categories, and Ramon Rivera, the Cornell application of sub-micron technology. The only national facility for the study of sub-micron structures in the country, the new laboratory will make it possible for researchers from Cornell and other academic institutions — as well as government and industrial laboratories — to expand the technology now available for creating the tiny devices, "We'll be pushing the state of of Electrical Engineering, were involved in formulating the proposal to NSF, and an even larger number are expected to use the completed facility. More than half of the grant funds will be used to acquire electron microscopes. X-ray and other advanced equipment required to fabricate and test patterns with sub-microscopic dimensions. Besides utilizing existing offices and laboratories amounting Cook Is Women's University affirmative action officer, advises all individuals and departments at Cornell to use t h e a r t in s u b - m i c r o n to some 5.000 square feet, the technology." explained Joseph University will provide 7,000 B a l l a n t y n e , professor of square feet of new ultra-clean the new definitions in cor- electrical engineering at Cornell, laboratory space as an addition Parley Delegate respondence concerning affir- who coordinated the preparation to the School of Electrical mative action or when reporting of the proposal and who is Engineering in Phillips Hall, Constance E. Cook. Cornell University vice president for land Celebration Group Seeksgrant affairs, is one of 88 delegates elected to represent Participation from CampusNew York State women at the National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas. Cook was nominated to be a delegate at the New York State Women's Meeting held July 810 in Albany. She was on the of- Knapp Looksficial nominating committee slate and also on a slate sup- At Universitiesported by a coalition of some 30 women's organizations representing a wide range in interests and views More than a thousand delegates, representing each of the states, are expected to attend the national conference in November in order to adopt resolutions which will be considered by Congress and President Carter Cook played a major role at the state meeting. She presided over the final plenary session at CCOHRRNOENLILCLEwhich more than 8,000 women gathered to vote on resolutions, including passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and the right of women, regardless of income, to choose abortion. In addition to chairing the voting session. Cook led a workshop on women in education administration. Enforcement of affirmative action programs and inclusion of women in career ladder and onthe-job training programs were two of several resolutions drawn up by the workshop and adopted by the full conference. Other Cornell women leading workshops or participating in panel discussions included: Judith T. Younger, deputy dean and professor at the Law School; Joan R. Egner, associate director of the Experimental Station and professor of education in the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Barbara M. Wertheimer, associate professor in the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations; Alice H. Cook, professor emeritus. School of Industrial and Labor Relations; and Laura Holmberg. local attorney and Cornell law school graduate of 1961. affirmative action data. The new definitions became effective March 28. The defini- tions and the changes that were made are quoted here from the April 4 issue of the Federal Register: 1. White, not of Hispanic Origin — Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Mid- dle East. Change: Indian Subcontinent deleted. 2. American Indian or Alaskan Native.—Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who main- tain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or com- munity recognition. Change: Italicized wording added. 3. Asian or Pacific islander. — Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands. This area includes, for example, China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, and Somoa Change: Indian Subcontinent added. directing the initial planning of where the facility will be located. Celebration Ithaca 77, spon- should call 272-1713 Ext. 237 sored partly by Cornell University or stop by the Celebration Ithaca and Herbert F. Johnson Museum office in City Hall. of Art, as well as city and county governments and local banks and businesses, is a countywide multiple arts festival with dance, theater, arts and crafts during t h e l a s t t w o w e e k s of Continued from Page 1 September. perienced. We may have to give Dennis Valinski, the sculptor up things in the search for among the four artists called the money," he said. "Celebration Group" has been in Ithaca for the past two weeks. He has been examining various locations on which to build different sections of an environmental sculpture. One section will be built near the lake, another on Libe Slope near the Johnson Museum. On Oct. 1, the final day of the Celebration, the pieces of the sculpture will be brought together on the Ithaca Commons and launched into the night sky. All four of the Celebration Group artists will be here at the Because of declining enrollments, universities are without a strong voting constituency in the state and federal governments to push the interests of academic institutions above other institutions. And Knapp added that the pressures of public accountability will not diminish in the future. "In Washington, D.C., the university is no longer a distinctive institution. Like business and industrial organizations, universities are subject to affirmative action and occupational safety Published weekly and distributed free of charge to Cornell University faculty, students, staff and employes by the Office of Public Information. Mail subscriptions, $13 per year. Make checks payable to Cornell Chronicle Editorial Office, 110 Day Hall. Ithaca, NY. 14853 Telephone 256-4206 Editor, Randall E Shew. Managing Editor, Elizabeth Helmer, Circulation Manager, Barbara Jordan Footbridge Is Closed The suspension foot bridge over Fall Creek is being repainted and new railings are being installed. The bridge will be painted a silver color, selected by the Department of Design and Project Management in consultation with College of Architecture. Art and Planning faculty members and the Campus Planning Committee. The railing change, under the supervision of Cornell architect Tim Martin, is part of a University policy of improving railings on Cornell-owned bridges in order to help prevent accidents. The railing design also has the support of the Campus Planning Committee. beginning of September. Marilyn Wood, dancer/choreographer, will be in residence with the Cornell Dance Department, and Alex Moir will be working in the Landscape Architect Department. The group also includes Robert Wood, musician and instrument maker. Persons with ideas, extra time or materials, or who would like to help in the Celebration, requirements," he said. Despite the gloomy picture painted, Knapp was confident that the problems could be solved. "Universities tend to succeed and to be resilient. They become stronger after they have gone through a crisis. It's going to be uncomfortable to change in the future, but universities have done it before and they're still around," he said. 4 CORNELL CHRONICLE Thursday, August 11, 1977 Chronicle Comment Chronicle Comment is a forum of opinion for the Cornell community. Address comments to Elizabeth Helmer, Managing Editor, Chronicle. 110 Day Hall. Letters submitted for publication in the Chronicle must be typed, double space, with 75 characters to a line, no more than 600 words in length. The Chronicle intends to adhere to this limit because of space and financial restrictions. The deadline is Monday noon at 110 Day Hall. Letters addressed to someone other than the editor, personal attacks against individuals or unsigned letters will not be printed. Endorsement of Mediocrity? Editor: One shudders to envision the effect on our nation's forests of the new performance-appraisal system's thousand-fold hunger for paper. Moreover, it's major premise is worth contention: "Formulating desired and attainable goals relies upon unam- biguous and reasonable position descriptions, because individuals can be held accountable only for job objectives set in advance and agreed to by both supervisor and the employe." Summarily dismissing the possibility that anything new might ever surface in a person's working life, or that an employe might, in the course of events, espy new alternatives and even create from ambiguous beginnings his own challenges and goals, such a "guideline" gives the appearance of a University-wide endorsement of mediocrity. David Monagan Editor, Media Services Where Did the Petunias Go? Editor: A number of us in the Economics Department (4th floor, Uris Hall) have observed that — for the first time since we moved into Uris in May 1972 — there are no petunias in front of Day Hall. There are flowers and other plantings alongside other buildings but none in front of Day Hall. Why? We miss them! (They would have looked nice there when our new President moved in!) Florence Finch Program Secretary Ed. note: Edward L. Kabelac, superintendent of grounds, replies: "The petunia planting in front of Day Hall was deferred this year due to poor performance of the plants the past few years. The bed is scheduled for soil improvement and new plantings this coming Spring. Grid Tickets to Go on Sale Season and individual game tickets for Cornell's five home football games this fall will go on sale Aug. 15 at several area outlets. They will be available in Cornell's athletic ticket office in Teagle Hall and at Mayer's Smoke Shop in Ithaca. Additional ticket outlets will be announced in early September. Cornell has a home schedule this year which includes Colgate on Sept. 24, Rutgers on Oct. 1, Harvard on Oct. 8. Yale on Oct. 29, and Columbia on Nov. 5. Colgate was 8-2 last year and should be as good or better this season. Rutgers, undefeated last year, has the nation's longest winning streak among major colleges, while Harvard is a perennial Ivy League challenger. Yale was a league co-champion last season, and Columbia under Bill Campbell should have its best team since 1970. All reserved seats for Cornell home games will be $6.00. Unreserved seats at $3.00 will be available for the Rutgers and Colgate games. Reserved seat season tickets are on sale this year for $25.00. a savings of $5.00, and the ticket buyer will have the same seat for each home game. All season ticket holders will also get the opportunity to purchase the same seat for the 1978 season. One further addition to the season ticket program thi« year is a special family offer. Any person buying two adult reserved seat season tickets at $25.00 each can also purchase two children's season tickets at half price ($12.50 each). The Teagle Hall ticket office is open every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cornell's Theatricals Will Go Downtown An agreement has been reached under which the Department of Theatre Arts at Cornell will use the Strand Theater in downtown Ithaca to mount some of its productions. Financial arrangements were ratified by the Board of Trustees Executive Committee meeting in New York City in July. The University has agreed to a five-year rental arrangement to use the rehabilitated theatre for up to 50 days a year. The payment will be determined by actual use. The t h e a t r e is being rehabilitated by a local group, the Tompkins County Center for Culture and the Performing Arts Inc.. for use by the community for theatre projects and productions and other cultural activities. Marvin A. Carlson, chairman of the Department of Theatre Arts, said the agreement has several advantages for the department as well as for the University as a whole. "We will, of course, continue to use the Willard Straight Theatre on campus, but the Strand will give our program an added dimension. It is con- siderably larger and, in addition to plays, will accommodate some dance programs and operas we haven't been able to do before. Were thinking of opening there with Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet.' " he said. "It also will provide for an increased contact between Cornell people and the community by taking this University activity downtown. It's interesting that the University Theatre started downtown, in the old Lyceum Theatre, so that, in a sense, this will be a homecoming," he said. Trustee Meeting Summary Journal For the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University held July 19. 1977. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOTE: This summary journal, as released for publication, does not include confidential items which came before the meeting. 1. The Executive Committee ap- proved minutes for Executive Committee meetings held March 17 and April 12. 2. A revised description of the Charles L. Horn Prize at the Medical College was approved. The new description is: The income from this invested fund will be awarded each year to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and service to the medical community." The prize was established in 1955 by action of the Executive Committee. 3. The president presented information concerning a proposed issuance of debt securities through the New York State Dormitory Authority for the heating plant, S Building, "chilled water plant and other utility projects. 4. The president also presented for approval and authorization to transmit to the Board of Trustees of State University of New York appropriation requests for the operating support of the four statutory colleges, the Geneva Experiment Station and general services for the state fiscal year beginning April 1, 1978. These amounts are subject to change during the budget process. Capital budget requests for the statutory colleges were also presented, to be included with the State University Construction Fund. 5. Upon recommendation of the president, the trustees ratified a reorganization of the University's comprehensive fire, casualty and liability insurance coverage. 6. The Executive Committee, upon recommendation of the president and the Buildings and Properties Committee, authorized the administration to proceed with several construction and renovation projects. 7. The Executive Committee approved a presidential recommendation for Cornell to use the rehabilitated Strand Theatre on a contractual basis. (See attached news release.) 8. The Executive Committee approved a reorganization of the Office of University Counsel. (See attached news release.) 9. Chairman of the Board of Trustees Robert W. Purcell presented his recommendations for the assignment of Trustees to various standing committees of the board, the Executive Committee approved the recommendations. Student trustee Roland Foulkes will serve on the Executive Committee; Keith Said, student trustee, will serve on the Investment Committee; Martin D. Robinson, student trustee, will serve on the Academic Affairs Committee. Alumni trustee C.K. Poe Fratt will serve on the Development Advisory Comittee. 10. The Executive Committee elected William D. Jones assistant treasurer, succeeding John S. Ostrom, who was recently named controller. 11 The Executive Committee acted upon a number of personnel items. 12. The president reported that the Department of Consumer Economics and Public Policy in the College of Human Ecology has been renamed the Department of Consumer Economics and Housing, to give the housing aspect of the undergraduate program more visibility 13. The proceedings of the Joint Administrative Board of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center for May 31 were presented for information 14. Upon recommendation from the Committee on Memorials, the president presented for approval, and the Executive Committee approved, naming the newly renovated human nutrition research unit on the fourth floor of Martha Van Rensselaer Hall "The Frances Johnston and Charlotte Young Human Nutrition Research Unit." The action honors the two professors emerita for their devoted service to and support of the college and the field of human nutrition Early Books on Exhibit "The Printed Book in America," an exhibition of fine printing from the colonial period to now, will be on display Aug. 12 through mid-September at Olin Library, Cornell University. The exhibition, which is on a nationwide university tour, was assembled by Joseph Blumenthal. Bulletin Board- Ethics and Values Research The principal goals of the National Science Foundations Ethics and Values in Science and Technology program are to increase understanding and interaction between the scientific and technological communities, other professional communities, and the general public with regard to the following general topics: (1) The ethical problems and conflicts associated with scientific and technological developments, as they affect individual goals and social priorities; (2) The impact of changing ethical and social standards on scientific and technological activities, including the issues raised by choosing particular subjects for research and development work and by regulating the conduct of research and development: (3) The processes which generate value conflicts among scientific and social groups and institutions and the processes that may lead to the resolution of those conflicts. Preliminary proposals are required and may be submitted at any time. A preliminary proposal submitted by Sept 1 would allow a formal proposal by Dec. 1. There are other deadline dates during the year Further information on this program is available at the Office of Academic Funding, 123 Day Hall Deadline Aug. 19 The National Science Foundation recently announced a revised deadline date of Aug. 19 for applications for Undergraduate Research Participation grants during the summer of 1978. Program funding is anticipated to be $2 6 million, which will yield approximately 200 awards, both new and renewals. Several guideline changes have been made since last years competition, including: (a) reducing the number of student participants from 15 to 12; (b) limiting the total project operating costs, including indirect costs, to an amount not exceeding total stipend support; and (c) requiring any proposing department which offers a Master's program to recruit at least 40 per cent of the participants from other institutions. For further details, contact Peter Curtiss in the Office of Academic Funding. 123 Day Hall (X6-5014) Piano Recital Scheduled A piano recital by Elizabeth Ballantyne, age 11, will be held in Barnes Hall at 8:15 p m. Wednesday. Aug. 3 1 . Music by Chopin. Mozart, Debussy and Scarletti will be performed. Literature Guidelines The Literature Program of the National Endowment for the Arts has announced its guidelines and deadlines for the 1978 and 1979 grant calendar There are two categories of funding for which universities are eligible: Residences for writers and assistance to Literary magazines. More information may be obtained from B. Miller, Office of Academic Funding. 6-5014 EXHIBITS Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art: "Dr. and Mrs. Milton L. Kramer Collection". A special showing with emphasis on American art of the 20th century. The collection is partially owned by the museum and partially on indefinite loan from the estate of Mrs. Kramer Through August. "Joseph Cornell Boxes:" A collection of the artists unique assemblages of objects in wooden boxes Joseph Cornell (1903-1974) lent these works to the museum in the early 1970's. but they remain part of his estate. Through August. "The Handmade Paper Object:" A selection of objects constructed with paper pulp by twentyseven contemporary American artists. Through Aug. 14. Gallery Two, Martha Van Renssalear Hall: Exhibit of tapestries by Robin Schiff. Featured tapestry: "Sunrise", woven of raw silk, wool, and goat hair was completed recently in fulfillment of a grant from the Cornell Council for the Creative and Performing Arts Aug. 16 through 19. Message toCornell Employes Special Edition of Cornell Chronicle CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, N. Y. 14853 UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL SERVICES B-12 IVES HALL DlEDRICH K. WlLLERS Director August 15, 1977 Attached are copies of the Summary Annual Report, Form 5500-C, filed with the U.S. Denartment of Labor for benefit plans which began on July 1,1975. This information is be\ZProvided to plan participants to meet the reporting and disclosure requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, otherwise known as ERISA. FRTSA applies to employee plans established by the employer for the benefit of the Pmnlovees and their beneficiaries. Such plans include tuition assistance, health, accident and disability benefits Theenclosed summary is designed to provide youwith some financial information concerning your Cornell Benefit Plans. Rppflnse of the delay of the Labor Department in issuing regulations as to how the plan administrator is to proceed in this area, the information contained therein is very sketchy, somewhat outdated and may be of little interest to you. Another Summary Annual Report wm be published on January 30,1978. This report will contain more detailed and salient infnrmatinn for the benefit plans which began on July 1, 1976. Y™ua?e r^eivinga summary of theannual report filed with theLabor Department. The regulations require the following notice: Han participants and beneficiaries may obtain copies of the following more detailed annual report information for a reasonable charge or inspect without rhareT the latest full annual report, including a list of certain party-in-interest Liidigc. MK; -iLta5n a roDV of any documents listed, write to the administrator askinf or exIctS what y o ' / w a n t . V administrator will state the charge for specmclcuments on request, so that youcan find out the cost before ordering All documents listed can be examined at University Personnel Services, B-12 Ives Hall, Ithaca, New York. For the Plan Administrator Diedrich K. WilLers Robert V. Sweetall Deputy Plan Administrator CORNELL CHILDREN'S TUITION SCHOLARSHIP PLAN 1975 SUMMARY AMUAL REPORT FOR 1IC ENDOWED A. NAME AND ADDRESS OFSPONSOR Name o f Sponsor Cornell University Address (nuiber and s t r e e t ) B-12 Ives Hall City or town. State and ZIP Code Ithaca, NewYork 14853 Telephone Nunter (607)256-3983 C. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 1316239478 D. PIAN NUMBER 501 E. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 6934 F. PREMIUMS, CLAIMS, AND OTHEREXPENSES 1 Preraiuns Paid B. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR Name o f Plan Administrator Diedrlch K. M i l l e r s Address (rentier and s t r e e t ) B-12 Ives Hall City o r t o r n . S t a t e and ZIP Code Ithaca, Hew York 14853 Telephone Nuiber (607)256-3983 2. Claims Paid 3. Other Curnyll other Institutions Number of Students •766- 'i'uition Paid BLUE CKOoi/BLUE SHIELD MEDICARE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN ( 3 5 2 6 - 1 ) 1975 SUM-WRY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE ENDOWED COLLEGES A. NAME AND ADDRESS OFSPONSOR Niine o f Sponsor Cornell University Address (nurber and s t r e e t ) B-12 Ives Hall City or town, State andZIP Code Ithaca, NewYork 14853 Telephone Nunber (607)256-3983 C. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 1316239478 D. l'LAN NUMBER 303 E. NoMHER OF PARTICIPANTS 607 F. I'KfflUIE, CULMS, AMD OTHER EXPENSES L. Premiuns Paid Hospitalization •iurfiicai-Medical Claims Paid 1975-76 Hospitalization 1975-76 ...urgical-l'-iedical 3. Otfiur B. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR Name o fPlan Administrator Diedrich K. W i l l e r s Address (nuifcer and s t r e e t ) B-12 Ives Hall City o r toun, S t a t e and ZIP Code Ithaca, few York 14853 Telephone Number (607)256-3983 $36,283.00 Mo.w.uo $30,515.00 :>2fa.5bM.oo August ft. 197? Bali For the^ Plan Administrator Diedrich K. Willers Deputy Plan Administrator, Robert V.Sueetall August 8.1977 Date S~) .Tor ^W/JjUi For Tfie Plan Administrator Diedrich K. Willers Deputy PLsn Administrator. Robert V.Sueetall BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD MEDi:ARE HEALTH PLAN ( 3 5 3 0 - 1 ) 1975 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE ENDOWED era wo?*. A. NAME AND ADDRESS OFSPONSOR time o f Sponsor Cornell University Address (nunber and s t r e e t ) 11-12 I v e s Hall City or town, State and ZIP Code Ithaca, NewYork 14853 Telephone Nunber (607)256-3983 C. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER I3I6239478 D. l'LAN NUMBER 504 E. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 409 F. 1'REMIUMS, CLA1KS. AND OTHER EXPENSES 1. Premiums i'aid Jjfpspi tf^l i z a t i o n Mad left 1 *• &$!$'iHdospitalization i.qTi-76 Surpiciii-riisdifiSiJ 3. Other B. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR Name o fPlan Atkiinistrator Diedrich K. W i l l e r s Address (timber and street) B-12 Ives Hall City or town. State and ZIP Code Ithaca, NewYork 14853 Telephone Nuiber (607)256-3983 SIS.675.00 s-,14. itRP.no $16,091.00 $13,06';. on AIK TKAVliL INSURANCE 1975 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE ENDOWED COLLEGES A. NAME AMD ADDRESS OF SPONSOR Name of Sponsor Cornell University Address (mnber and street) B-12 Ives Hall City o r town, S t a t e and ZIP Code Ithaca, New York 14853 Telephone Nunber (607)256-3983 C. EEMMPPJLOYER I D : : : 13I623947B I1UMBER D. PLAN NUMBER B. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR Name o fPlan Administrator Diedrich K. W i l l e r s Address (nuriier and s t r e e t ) B-12 Ives Hall City or town. State and ZIP Code Ithaca, NewYork 14853 Telephone Nuiber (607)256-3983 E. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS F. PREMIUMS. CLAIKS, AND OTHER EXPENSES 1. Premiuns Paid Gross Premium . nn 2. Claims Paid 3. Other August ft. 1977 Date For a » Plan Administrator Diedrich K. Willers Deputy Plan Adadnlsttator. RobertV. Smatall August 8. 1977 [5^ For the" Plan Administrator Diedrich K. Willers Deputy Plan Administrator, Robert V.Sueetall GK01.U' L I E IR>URA]iC:i PLAN (PKIIDEHTIAL) 1975 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE ENDOWED COLLEGES A- NAME AND ADDRESS OFSPONSOR Name o f Sponsor Cornell University Address (nuttier and street) B_-12 Ives Hall City o r town, S t a t e and ZIP Code I t h a c a , NewYork 14853 Telephone Number 1607)256-3983 B. NAME AND ADDRESS OFPLAN ADMINISTRATOR Name of Plan Administrator Diedrich K. Willers Address (number andstreet) B-12 Ives Hall City or t o n , State and ZIP Code Ithaca. New York 14853 Telephone Nuiber (607)256-3983 WtDYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER J6 PLAN NUMBER .506 NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS R K- t'KEMIUE, CLAIMS, AND OTHER EXPENSES 1. Premiums Paid Employee Contributions wroup Li ie Insurance Premiums paid TersOhai AcciBent Insurance iYemiums Paid $1.527.7'*7.22 11*3 . 2. Claims Paid 1975-76 D