UC's new look, new logo

With the new academic year, the University of Cincinnati launched a new look for its publications, Web site and signage. Among the changes is a new UC logo, replacing the "dueling horseshoes" that had marked UC since 1979.

The new look allows university departments and programs to develop distinctive publications and Web pages while remaining consistent across the university. "We have many excellent programs here," said Greg Vehr, vice president for governmental relations and communications, "but without coordination their communications were diluted because everything looked like it came from a different institution. The new system strikes a balance between individuality and consistency."

Vehr noted that two UC marks will remain in use -- the "C-Paw" logo for athletics and the traditional university seal for ceremonial events. "Those marks have appropriate uses and a lot of support," he said.

Assisting UC in the project was the Cincinnati–based branding firm Libby Perszyk Kathman (LPK), headed by CEO Jerry Kathman, DAAP '76.

A year of research indicated that UC has a strong brand, based on a wealth of opportunities, real-world experiences, top-flight research programs and contributions to society. The new look is part of an effort to communicate those strengths successfully.

This issue of "Horizons" reflects some of the changes.

UC goes 3-D with Onyx supercomputer

Thinking of designing your next car or bringing a herd of dinosaurs to life on the silver screen? UC students in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning can help. Their visualization and design capabilities are nearly limitless since the addition of the region's only Onyx supercomputer, now housed in UC's Computer Graphics Center.

Thanks to millions in donations from Silicon Graphics and Alias/ Wavefront, UC's advanced visualization lab is on pace with industry leaders in design and entertainment. Already a hot commodity with automakers, graduates here will now have an even greater edge. The world-class workstations allow UC's progressive faculty and budding designers to build a 3-D 8-foot-long car model, rotate it 360 degrees, switch on the lights and even look under the hood.

With additional applications that range from air pollution modeling to molecular imaging, the Onyx also boosts UC computing power in fields like urban planning and medical research.

Abilities of a lab in a wristwatch-like device

In the not-so-distant future, "blood work" may not require a visit to the doctor's office or hospital. Just strap on a wristwatch-like device being developed by UC associate professor Chong Ahn of the electrical and computer engineering and computer science department.

Working with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, Ahn has demonstrated that micro-biochips can be made from plastic and designed to monitor blood chemistry, whether the patient is in the hospital or on a battlefield. Only a tiny drop of blood, automatically drawn by a painless microscopic needle, is required. Ten to 20 seconds later, the chip produces an analysis that can be read by remote communication.

Ahn, director of UC's Microsystems and BioMEMS Lab, says the department's novel inventions are "putting UC on the map" in the rapidly growing field of MEMS. But he is most proud of the success of UC BioMEMS graduates who are producing scores of professional papers, applying for patents and being sought out by AT&T Bell Labs, Motorola, Samsung and new biotech start-up companies.

More on BioMEMS research

Welcome …

• To the new dean of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, Judith Smith Koroscik. The former head of Ohio State University's College of the Arts has taken the reins from Jay Chatterjee, who stepped down from his post after 19 years as dean and 34 years of service to the college.
  
  
• To the new dean of the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, Karen Gould. The former dean of Arts and Letters at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia has a background in French and women's studies, with a particular interest in French Canadian issues.
  
  
• To the new dean and university librarian, Victoria A. Montavon. The former university librarian for Wright State University hopes to continue UC's impressive record of building outstanding research-level library collections.
  
  
• To the new chairman of the College of Medicine Department of Surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Matthews. Known as a "superstar" in the field, the gastrointestinal surgeon comes to UC from Harvard Medical School with special expertise in diseases of the pancreas, bile ducts and liver.

UC's rowing team: Take a bow

Congratulations go to the University of Cincinnati women's rowing team, winners of several races during its inaugural season as a varsity sport. Thanks largely to Joni Herschede, UC Board of Trustees member who donated $2 million to UC's athletic program, the crew team is now formally funded by the university.

Though their home course is at William Harsha Lake in Clermont County, the UC team has oared its way across glass-calm lakes throughout the nation.

Coach Tim Royalty, Eng '90, MS (Eng) '93, a U.S. Olympic gold medal rower, has already established a winning tradition here. UC won a National Collegiate Rowing Championship under his tutelage as a club sport in 1994. Royalty expects the UC squad to again compete for a championship by 2003.

President Steger honored by CASE

President Joseph Steger flew to San Francisco this summer to accept a prestigious award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

CASE selected Steger as one of only eight people in the country to receive the Chief Executive Leadership Award, an honor extended to presidents, chancellors or system heads across the country who have created a vision, inspired others, established a positive image, increased stature in the community and encouraged both innovation and risk-taking. UC's 17-year president is the 2001 recipient for CASE District V, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio.

"The university's impressive advances under your watch are a tribute to your presidency," wrote Jennifer Hamlin Church, CASE district trustee. "The impact of your leadership has been felt not only within the university but also well beyond your campus, as you have strengthened and extended a solid 'town-gown' partnership."

UC professor named Pew Scholar

Another UC scientist has won distinction as one of the 20 most promising biomedical researchers in the country. Yolanda Sanchez, UC's assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, was recently named a Pew Scholar and granted $240,000 to support her research.

Sanchez is studying how cells respond to DNA damage with hopes that her work may one day lead to better cancer treatment. She is the third UC researcher to receive a Pew Scholars Award in the last decade, an honor reserved for scientists who show outstanding promise in the basic and clinical sciences.

A cap and gown for a clever canine

Graduate Michael Leiterman, A&S '01, just couldn't resist outfitting his Seeing Eye dog, Sandor, in academic cap and gown for UC's June commencement ceremonies.

After all, Sandor attended all the classes his master did, helped him serve as a residential assistant in the dorm and marched with thousands of graduates into Shoemaker Center to hear entertainer Bill Cosby's commencement address.

Leiterman earned his bachelor's in biology with a 3.46 GPA and the honor of serving as one of the marshals for McMicken College at commencement. The determined 25-year-old from Chillicothe says he's not finished yet. This fall he attends law school -- with Sandor at his side.

Medical Center gets high marks

UC Medical Center health professionals in pediatrics, otolaryngology, endocrinology and pulmonary specialties are among the nation's best, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2001 guide to America's best hospitals. Rankings appeared in the July 23 issue.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital ranked as 10th best in pediatrics where "the sickest kids often need the highest technology." UC otolaryngologists and head and neck tumor experts who practice at University Hospital ranked as 18th best in the ear, nose and throat category.

Pulmonary faculty who practice at UH were ranked 29th best in respiratory disorders, and UC endocrinologists who see patients at UH were rated 50th best in the hormonal category.

So many teeth, so little cave

UC anthropologists were aching for answers when they found an unusual cache of animal and human teeth deep inside a cave in southern China. Reporting at a conference in Hawaii earlier this year, assistant professor Lynne Schepartz pointed out that not only was the number of 200,000-year-old teeth overwhelming, most were from very large animals who could not have lived inside the Panxian Dadong cave. After careful investigation, Schepartz and her Chinese collaborators believe they have solved the puzzle. Since there was no stone in the area hard enough for toolmaking, prehistoric peoples probably collected the teeth as they hunted and used them later for simple cutting tasks.

Raymond Walters College makes room for a school

Making room for a new public elementary school on the campus of Raymond Walters College certainly proves UC's community spirit. It also may be the first time such a school, scheduled to open in August 2002, will operate independently on a college campus.

When the Sycamore Community Schools could not find a site for a new 84,870-square-foot elementary building, Raymond Walters' administrators offered space at the southeast corner of their 132-acre campus. In appreciation, the school district is adding an adult-education wing to be used for district teacher development during the day and for college classes on evenings and weekends.

"Creative thinking on the part of all involved will provide continuing opportunities for collaboration," says Dean Barbara Bardes. "Students of all ages are sure to benefit."

Update: Raymond Walter College was renamed UC Blue Ash College in 2011.

Students debut Bearcast radio

How has college music evolved since your radio rocked campus? Listen for yourself.

Now you can tune in to the musical styles today's students prefer, thanks to Bearcast, a Web-based student-run campus radio station out of the College-Conservatory of Music. With the help of adviser John Owens, assistant professor of electronic media at CCM, students are streaming modern rock, hip-hop and talk shows over the Internet from 7 a.m. to midnight.

The Web-based media not only transports the DJs and their music off campus, but also requires less regulation and far less expense than producing a radio signal.

Bearcast radio

Dealing with workplace threats

With U.S. employers spending $4.2 billion each year to handle roughly two million cases of workplace assaults and threats of violence, UC's Department of Psychiatry has formed the Center for Threat Assessment. UC experts from forensic psychiatry, the College of Business Administration and University Police collaborate with the center to comprehensively assist Tristate companies in managing the problem.

Because University Hospital has one of the few psychiatric emergency rooms in the country, as well as a community crisis response team, the university has been long recognized as a leader in evaluating, managing and treating aggressive individuals. Free seminars are available by calling (513) 558-3951.

"Help Available to Avoid Tragic Incidents" (2011)

Retiring dean's image of honor

Although Jeannette Taylor has stepped down from the deanship of the College of Evening and Continuing Education (CECE), her presence remains. An oil painting of UC's first African American female dean hangs as the initial portrait in the college's new gallery of deans.

Among other tributes, university provost Anthony Perzigian calls Taylor the "mother of distance education" at UC. "Jeannette led all the lay committees," he says. "She was the visionary from the get-go, and now other colleges are working to model CECE's success."

The French Hall multipurpose room has been named in Taylor's honor, and UC and CECE have established a Jeannette Taylor Scholarship Fund. Best of all, next year Taylor plans to return to UC as a professor in the School of Social Work.