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connectionsA newsletter for the Rutgers-Newark community and neighbors

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SPRING 2003

Sen. Hillary RodhamClinton Honors R-N Pioneerin Women’s Rights by Mike Sutton

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U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, asserting that theJustice Rehnquist-led U.S. Supreme Court is usurpingthe legislative powers of the U.S. Congress and isengaged in a program to roll back the civil rights gainsof the past half-century, kicked off the School of Law-Newark’s new Elizabeth Blume Silverstein LectureSeries March 30 as the inaugural speaker.

Referring to two affirmative action cases involving theUniversity of Michigan taken up by the Supreme Courton April 1, Clinton said, “Affirmative action is essentialto so many things that come after [for minoritystudents] – it is a springboard to opportunity.”

Speaking to a crowd of about 300 composed of stateand federal judges and officials, Rutgers faculty andadministration, Rutgers-Newark law students and invitedguests in the Center for Law and Justice Atrium, Clintonobserved of the Court’s decision, “It is truly thebeginning of a legal struggle over our nation’s valueswhen it comes to diversity” – one that could seelegislative advances in women’s rights, among others,curtailed or eliminated as well.

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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is joined at the reception following her speech

by (l-r) Nathan Silverstein, LarryBathgate II and Dean Stuart Deutsch.

KARIMA BENNOUNEAssistant professor of lawTopic: “To Respect and To Ensure: HumanRights Law, Terrorism and Conflicting StateObligations”“[George] Bernard Shaw wrote that‘when the angel of death sounds histrumpet, the pretences of civilization areblown from men’s heads into the mudlike hats in a gust of wind,’” Bennouneobserved. Bennoune discussed the needfor governments to simultaneouslyensure the protection of their citizensfrom abuses by others while avoiding thecommission of human-rights harmsthemselves in the post-Sept. 11 world.“Faced with a ‘war on terrorism,’ doeshuman-rights law offer solutions?” sheasked rhetorically. “Or are we inevitablyfaced with key principles of human-rights law being, as Shaw warned, blowninto the mud?”

LEE SLATERAssistant professor of earth andenvironmental sciencesTopic: “Studying Subsurface DynamicProcesses with Environmental Geophysics”High-resolution imaging technologies are providing scientists with a greaterunderstanding of what is going on just below the Earth’s surface. These techniques are provingincreasingly valuable in the study ofnear-surface environmental processessuch as groundwater flow and thetransport of contaminants. Slater’s talk demonstrated “how ‘resistivityimaging,’ a tool originally developed for medical purposes, can be used toimage the subsurface environment,” heexplained. This technology can be usedto study peatlands and wetlands, amongother areas, he added.

HUIXIN HEAssistant professor of chemistry Topic: “Nanochemistry”Nanotechnology’s products are so tinythat they are invisible without the aid ofpowerful, specialized microscopes, buttheir effects on science and society willlikely be potent in the coming century.Every cell phone, for example, containslithium batteries that use carbonnanotubes to store energy, and manyproducts and services in the medicalfield also depend on nanotechnology.He’s presentation included descriptionsof her work using biomoleculartemplates to make and study newnanoscale chemical structures.

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Fresh Faces, New Insights are Focus of Provost’sAnnual Research Day By Mike Sutton

New members of the Rutgers-Newark faculty were the focal point of Provost’s AnnualResearch Day when they gathered – along with guest presenters from NJIT, UMDNJ and thePublic Health Research Institute – to share their investigations April 29, 2:30-5:30 p.m., in the University Club in the Paul Robeson Campus Center. These samples of some of thediverse presentations that attendees heard indicate how these new voices are enriching the university community.

During the past two decades, research has blossomed at R-N, elevating the university into a CarnegieDoctoral/Research University-Intensive institution.

Riccucci ReceivesNational Awardfor Body of Workby Mike Sutton

Norma Riccucci, Rutgers-Newarkprofessor of public administration,recently received the highly prestigious2002 Distinguished Research Awardfrom the National Association of Schoolsof Public Administration.

“It’s basically an award for thedistinguished research done over thecourse of one’s career,” said Riccucci,

the youngest person to ever receivethe accolade. Less than two decadesafter leaving graduate school, she has compiled the kind of exemplaryrecord of scholarly investigations andpublications that usually takes twiceas long.

Prior to her arrival at Rutgers-Newarklast fall, Riccucci spent 17 years at theUniversity of Albany, part of the StateUniversity of New York (SUNY) system.

“Rutgers-Newark is a good fit,” sheobserved. “Newark and this campusreally capture the essence of diversity.That is very important to meprofessionally and personally. It’s

something that has really contributed to my teaching because I teach onissues of diversity, affirmative actionand similar topics.”

In 2002, she had a new book publishedtitled Managing Diversity in PublicSector Workforces.

“The workplace is now much morediverse,” she noted. “What we need todo is look at how we use that diversityto enhance and promote governmentproductivity. How do we improve publicmanagement organizations so theyimprove the quality of life for citizens?That’s the bottom line.”

FACULTY FOCUS

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Rutgers University Chorusto Tour EnglandThe Rutgers University Chorus (NewarkCampus) will play the role of musicalambassador during a concert tour ofEngland May 14-21.

Highlights of the tour will includeconcerts in Ely and St. Paul’scathedrals, a joint performance inSlough with the Celebration BrassEnsemble of London, and a benefitconcert for the poor in St. Leonard’sChurch in London. This will be thegroup’s fourth international tour.

Prior to departing, the chorus isperforming four pre-tour concerts in New Jersey, starting with a free noon concert in the Center for Law and Justice Atrium April 28. Theremaining three concerts will take placeat St. Mary’s Church in Newark,Prospect Presbyterian Church inMaplewood and Immaculate ConceptionChurch in Montclair.

For more information on the New Jerseyperformances, contact Professor JohnFloreen at 973/353-5119 ext. 28 orjfloreen@earthlink.net.

New Work to Begin on NormanSamuels PlazaA second round of landscaping onNorman Samuels Plaza, scheduled forthis summer, will include atransformation of the now mostlyconcrete eastern section of the Plazainto gently curving brick paths andpublic spaces. The design prominentlyfeatures greenspace dominated bygrassy areas, bushes and trees. Theheavy slab of concrete above the stairsleading up to the Plaza from UniversityAvenue will be replaced with a light,graceful arch bearing the word“Rutgers.”

For a more comprehensive overview of the transformation, go tohttp://rutgers-newark.rutgers.edu/ppnewark/NSPlaza_files/frame.htm.

Conference ExaminesPharmaceutical IndustryThe Prudential Center for BusinessEthics at Rutgers University hosted aconference on business and medicalethics in the pharmaceutical industryApril 21-22 at NJPAC.

Called “The Grand Bargain: ThePharmaceutical Industry and Society in the 21st Century,” the forum tackledissues such as how well clinical drugtrials balance the safety of individualpatients with the desire of companiesto offer new medical therapies. Other panels addressed bioethicalquestions, such as whether advances in genetics, pharmacology and theneurosciences will be used to aid thesick or misused to “enhance sociallydesirable characteristics” and to permitcontroversial screening of patients.

“The conference was entitled ‘The Grand Bargain’ to reflect the specialrelationship that the pharmaceuticalindustry has with society,” said Michael Santoro, associate professor of business environment at Rutgers-Newark and organizer of theconference. “In recent years,politicians, social critics and the media have devoted significantattention to the social responsibilitiesof pharmaceutical companies,” hecommented. The industry is grantedsome latitude in regulation because the anticipated societal benefits of the potential medicines are so great.“We hope that this conference providedan opportunity to assess the strengthsand weaknesses of this specialrelationship,” Santoro added.

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The Rutgers University Chorus (Newark Campus) performs in the Center forLaw and Justice Atrium at a pre-inaugural event for President McCormick.

The existing view of Norman Samuels Plaza from Boyden Hall (l.) contrasts with a drawing of the redesigned space.

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In Memoriam: Dr. Sydney GreenfieldProfessor Emeritus Sydney Greenfield died April 1 at the age of 87. Abotanist, he had officially retired from Rutgers-Newark in 1984 afterteaching at the university for 38 years, but he continued to instructstudents on a voluntary basis until two years ago. His generosity to thecampus included his founding of the Sydney S. Greenfield BotanyFellowship to help aspiring plant scientists.

Perhaps more than any other individual, Greenfield shaped theaesthetic landscape of the Newark campus during its growth. Arrivingat R-N in 1946, he actively worked in planning and developing thecampus, insisting that it include more than 40 species of trees, andproviding shady, green spots to study for generations of R-N studentsto come.

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Four students in the Honors College at Rutgers-Newark havebeen awarded academic scholarships by the NJ Nets/DevilsFoundation.

The R-N students were among only 42 across New Jerseychosen this year to each receive a four-year, $4,000

scholarship – a total that will be matched by Rutgers-Newark, raising the complete financial package to $8,000.

The honorees include Christina Chai, Joseph Clark, AbigailPersad and Gary Smirny. Their awards were presented inspecial ceremonies held at Nets and Devils games.

The recipients were chosen for demonstrating an ongoinghistory of community service and on the basis of financialneed, said Dan McNeal, program and grants manager forthe foundation.

John Gunkel, director of the Honors College at Rutgers-Newark, said he wasn’t surprised to see four of the studentsin the program win the scholarships.

“Our [Honors] students are all terribly impressive,” Gunkelsaid. “They’re very motivated, very ambitious, and theypresent themselves very well.”

On The Plaza…from page 3

A Rutgers-Newark student finds a comfortable spot to hit thebooks amid the landscaping pioneered by Greenfield.

Shané Harris, executive director of the NJ Nets/Devils Foundation; John Gunkel, director of R-N’s Honors College; R-N scholarship recipients Gary Smirny and Christina Chai; andPeter McMullen, executive vice president for the New Jersey Devils.

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R-N Honors College Students AwardedNJ Nets/Devils Scholarships by Mike Sutton

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

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Richard McCormick, 19th president of Rutgers, was feted April 8 at a colloquium addressing the critical role of urban research universities in the future development ofmetropolitan America, and at a reception afterwards where he enthusiastically greeted members of the Rutgers-Newarkuniversity community.

The presentations at the colloquium included research topicsas diverse as a history of Newark’s rise and fall and presentrise again, the effects of cocaine use on maternal behavior, the role of race in sexual harassment lawsuits and the activeintervention of the university in mitigating violent crime inNewark. Panel moderator Marc Holzer, chair of publicadministration and head of the executive committee of theJoseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, noted,“The Newark campus is well-positioned for an evolution intoone of the great urban universities of America.”

McCormick agreed. “Once again, I’m reminded of what anextraordinary urban university we have in Rutgers-Newark. I am greatly impressed by the relevance of this research to this city.” He added, “I see the research that we’ve heard here today as a powerful way to connect even more deeply to the state.”

The reception following the colloquium included performancesby the Rutgers University Chorus (Newark Campus) and TheJazz Mosaic.

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Rutgers-Newark Hosts Pre-inaugural Colloquium,Reception for McCormickBy Mike Sutton

NEWARK COLLEGE OF ARTS ANDSCIENCES AND UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE, May 22, 4:30 p.m.,Norman Samuels Plaza

Prior to assuming the state’shighest office in 2002,commencement speaker NewJersey Gov. James McGreeveyhad already assembled animpressive political resume. As mayor of Woodbridge – the state’s sixth largest

municipality – McGreevey demonstratedleadership on health-care issues thatcaught the attention of both PresidentClinton, who appointed him to theNational Cancer Advisory Board, and ofhis peers, who named him chair of theUnited States Conference of MayorsSubcommittee on Health Insurance.Earlier in his career, McGreevey servedas a member of the state assembly and

then of the state senate. During histenure in the legislature, he was a keysponsor of the Pollution Protection Act,and he also penned the legislationcreating a permanent New JerseyCommission on Holocaust Education. Asgovernor, McGreevey has been anoutspoken opponent of sprawl and anadvocate of planned growth in the state.

COLLEGE OF NURSING,May 22, 1:30 p.m., GoldenDome Athletic CenterCollege of Nursing DeanFelissa Lashley will

address the school’s graduates in herinaugural year in the position. An experton genetics, infectious diseases andHIV/AIDS care, Lashley is widelypublished on these topics and hasreceived numerous accolades, including

the American Journal of Nursing’s Book-of-the-Year Award for Clinical Geneticsin Nursing Practice. At Rutgers-Newark,she has spoken out about the growingshortage of registered nurses and itsimplications for the compellinghealthcare needs of New Jerseyresidents.

RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL-NEWARK AND NEW BRUNSWICK,May 23, 10 a.m., Norman Samuels Plaza

George Abercrombie,president and CEO of Roche North AmericanPharmaceuticalsOperations, will

address Rutgers Business Schoolgraduates. He began his ascent to theleadership of one of the world’s largestpharmaceutical corporations as apharmacist. Abercrombie eventuallybecame senior vice president of U.S.commercial operations at internationalpharmaceutical giant GlaxoWellcome,where his responsibilities included

Clement Price, R-N professor of history, welcomes President McCormick to campus.

Convocation Ceremonies to Feature Distinguished SpeakersFor more detailed information, visit www.newark.rutgers.edu/commencement

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oversight of sales and marketing,electronic commerce, diseasemanagement and late-state clinicaldrug studies. He joined Roche in 2001.He has served on the Johns HopkinsSchool of Hygiene and Public AdvisoryBoard, among others.

GRADUATE SCHOOL AND SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE,May 23, 1:30 p.m., GoldenDome Athletic Center

Richard Langhorne, founder and co-director of the Center for GlobalChange and Governance (CGCG) atRutgers-Newark and professor ofpolitical science, has long been at theforefront of research into the effects of economic and cultural globalizationon international relationships. Prior todeveloping the CGCG, he had beendirector of the Centre of InternationalStudies at the University of Cambridgeand later director and chief executive

of Wilton Park, British Foreign andCommonwealth Office. His most recentbook is A Guide to InternationalRelations and Diplomacy, and he hasbeen a frequent television newscommentator on the war with Iraq.

RUTGERS SCHOOL OF LAW-NEWARK,May 30, 10 a.m., New JerseyPerforming Arts Center

Peter Harvey, who became the first African-American acting NewJersey Attorney General in the state’s history thisyear, will speak at the

School of Law commencement. Prior to his previous role as first assistantattorney general of New Jersey, Harveyprosecuted cases involving organizedcrime, narcotics, bank robbery andcredit-card fraud as an assistant U.S.attorney for the N.J. district. In his later position as special assistant to the state’s attorney general, he took aleadership role in drafting New Jersey’sassault firearms law.

Office of Campus CommunicationsRutgers-Newark249 University Ave.Newark, NJ 07102

www.newark.rutgers.edu

KEEP CONNECTEDConnections is published by the Office of Campus Communications, Rutgers-Newark. Have a great summer!

Helen Paxton, Senior Editor,paxton@andromeda.rutgers.eduMichael Sutton, Managing Editor,msutton@andromeda.rutgers.eduCarla Capizzi, Editor,capizzi@andromeda.rutgers.edu

Room 210, Blumenthal Hall249 University Ave., Newark, NJ 07102phone 973/353-5262 fax 973/353-1050

www.newark.rutgers.edu

Convocation … from page 5P

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Clinton’s trailblazing, unprecedentedtransition from First Lady to U.S.senator in many ways echoes thepioneering efforts of the woman forwhom the lecture series is named.

Elizabeth Blume Silverstein, who atthe precocious age of 18 became amember of the first graduating classof the New Jersey Law School (laterto become the Rutgers School of Law-Newark) in 1911, was the firstwoman to practice law in EssexCounty and one of the first women topractice trial law in the entire state ofNew Jersey.

Her commitment to social causeswasn’t defined solely by gender. In1936, she helped co-found the WorldJewish Congress with husband andprominent New York attorney MaxSilverstein and others.

The new lecture series is endowed byLarry Bathgate II (’64), a Rutgers-Newark law school classmate ofBlume Silverstein’s son, Nathan, anda member of the firm of Bathgate,Wegener & Wolf, PC.

Stuart Deutsch, dean of the RutgersSchool of Law-Newark, commented,“This has been a wonderful beginningto a great new tradition in the lawschool.”

Sen. Clinton … from page 1