Veritas, Vol. 29, No. 08, May 1989

              MAY 1989
VOLUME 29 NUMBER 8 FOR THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Commencement exercises are reality for 2,200 grads
For a handful of University staff and faculty, the day will begin early on May 12. Those people will be on the Coral Gables campus by 7 a.m. making last minute preparations for commencement exercises that will bring almost 10,000 people to the University’s main campus.
“It’s a lot like planning a w edding.” says Dayle Wilson, assistant director of university relations. “Most of the work is done months in advance, so when the event finally takes place, it’s wonderful. I’m confident it will be a lovely day—I’m organizing a rain plan just in case.”
Wilson estimates that more than 200 people help prepare for commencement. That figure includes not only the speakers, but the many people working behind the scenes. They will raise tents, pick up litter, spray bugs, and count, set up, and recount the 7,800 chairs that have been ordered for the two-hour morning ceremony
The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Ashe Building. Rain w ould postpone the exercises until 11 a.m.
Faculty Senate honors J. Donald Gass
J. Donald Gass, professor of ophthalmology, was named this year’s Distinguished Faculty Scholar by the Faculty Senate in an award ceremony at Gusman Concert Hall last month.
“The award is given as a University-wide acknowledgement of either a single outstanding achiev ement or sustained contributions through an individual’s career,” says Larry Fishman, chairman of the Faculty Senate’s Nominating Committee for the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award. “Dr Gass has made fundamental contributions to the understanding and management of major ocular disorders.”
Gass has researched, taught, and written about the natural history and treatment of macular diseases and made classic descriptions of a number of previously unrecognized diseases of the retina. He has authored more than 200 articles about ophthalmology and four books about macular diseases and intraocular tumors.
Gass’ professional recognition includes the American Medical Association’s Knapp Award (1966), the American Ophthalmologic Society’s Lucien Howe Medal (1983), and the Retina Foundation’s Award of Merit in Retina Research (1986). He received both his undergraduate and his medical degrees from Vanderbilt University where he graduated with honors. Gass joined UM’s faculty in 1963 and has served as professor of ophthalmology since 1972.
The Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award was established by the Faculty Senate in 1987 in commemoration of the senate’s 25th anniversary. It includes a medal, a citation, a public lecture by' the honoree. and a private reception at the home of President Edward T Foote II.
Last y ear's award honored Eliahu L Jury; professor of electrical and computer engineering.
New global communication service is now available
Faculty and staff now hav e access to a new international communications system through the use erf University computers. The system, called BITNET. makes it possible to transmit information almost immediately, at minimal cost, to universities and institutions around the world.
“ BITNET is becoming a standard for universities around the world,” says Keith Wellman, associate chairman erf the chemistry" department and chairman erf the Arts and Sciences Academic Computing Committee. “Businesses are even using it, as are small colleges. It is an inexpensive and practical way to communicate, and it can be used at work or even at home.”
BITNET, based in the L nited States, interconnects more than 400 member educational institutions with more than 1,300 computers. Direct connections to networks in Europe and Canada and “gateways;” to other networks provide BITNET members with virtually" every' academic network in the world.
“There are so many w onderful uses of this system.” says Richard Gilman, coordinator for academic computing in the College of Arts and Sciences. “One of the greatest conveniences is for faculty members in different locations who are joint-authoring. Through BITNET they are assured easy- exchange and reliability of information and manuscripts.”
The new" service also expands electronic mail at UM. The electronic mail system allows faculty and staff to write and send notes across campus. BITNET makes it possible to send messages across the continent. It even facilitates international mail.
“A new faculty member in the phy sics department was recently hired with the assistance of BITNET” says Gilman. “After a South Florida interview; the candidate returned to Technion University in Israel. The department found it w-as less expensive, more practical, and faster to contact him through BITNET than to use the international postal service.
“Another application is special interest group participation. This is especially useful for academic administrators who have more to read than they" can possibly' find time for With electronic newsletters faculty' and staff have convenient and immediate access to hundreds of information sources,” says Gilman.
A third feature of the University’s new- resource is its microcomputer program library: The library' lends computer programs to members, many' of whom would like to test programs before purchasing them. Some programs are loaned without a fee; others are available at a slight charge.
Anyone with a computer that is connected to the University’s mainframe, through either VAX or an IBM system, may' have access to BITNET There is no additional charge to a department for using BITNET other than the cost of access to UM’s mainframe.
To open a BITNET account or receive more information. contact Ravmond Frost. Computer Center Room 103A, 284-3969-