[Vision2020] The UI Friday Letter

[Tom Hansen]

University of Idaho
Office of the President
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3151
Phone: 208-885-6365
Fax: 208-885-6558

The Friday Letter
A Newsletter for University of Idaho Alumni and Friends
June 4, 2004

Here's the latest news at the University of Idaho:

* Incoming President Timothy P. White was released from Good Samaritan
Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, Ore., Tuesday following open-heart
surgery last Thursday. White had a significant heart attack soon after
entering the hospital last Wednesday. His doctors anticipate a full and
speedy recovery. "White has an excellent prognosis," said Thomas L.
Marker, M.D. "He gives every sign for a full recovery over a six- to
eight-week period of vigorous therapy." The surgery and recovery will
delay the start of White's term as president until Aug. 1. Interim
President Gary Michael has agreed to continue to serve until then.

"I am looking forward to a vigorous and successful presidency at the
University of Idaho," White said. "In the meantime, I will continue to
rely on Provost Brian Pitcher and the deans for strong leadership during
the transition." White also expressed his gratitude to his family, friends
and colleagues. "My wife Karen was very helpful in encouraging me to come
to the emergency room, so I took an aspirin and came in. I am fortunate
to have done so," he said.

* David Atkinson, UI space engineer, is in another world since the Cassini
space mission entered Saturn's planetary system May 18. He awaits the
June 11 milestone photos and data to be transmitted from a fly-by of
Saturn's moon, Phoebe, the planet's largest outer moon. The 2,000-kilometer
fly-by of Phoebe will perhaps capture the nature of the 220-kilometer wide
body.

The Cassini-Huyens probe and cameras also have started to image Titan,
Saturn's largest moon where scientists believe organic matter rains from
hazy skies and seas of liquid hydrocarbons dot a frigid surface. The first
opportunity to view small-scale features on the surface comes during a
217,500 mile fly-by over Titan's south pole July 2, only 30 hours after
Cassini's insertion into orbit around the ringed planet. Next January,
the probe actually lands on Titan; and in February, the Cassini orbiter
will be close enough to Saturn that approach imaging and science can begin.
Atkinson is a co-investigator on a Huygens experiment and chair of a
European Space Agency group working on the probe entry and descent to Titan.
His team oversees the Titan Wind Measurement Experiment for NASA/ESA.

* "Generating power" is on the agenda for 30-50 high school seniors who
will enroll in the July 11-23 Junior Engineering, Math and Science camp
on the Moscow campus. Students from Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Guam
have enrolled in the two-week residential experience; slots are still open.
Application deadline has been extended to June 25. To register, go to
www.uidaho.edu/engr/jems/

* UI's Center for Dance is featured in the June issue of Dance Magazine,
the largest dance magazine in the world. Its focus was on the center's
recent guest artist Henning Rübsam, who came last fall to teach master
classes and set a new work for the coming Fall Dance Concert. Rübsam
performed his one-man show Oct. 17, and did a preview of his new work.
He comes each fall to work with UI dance students for a week. He is a
Julliard graduate and currently is the artistic director of the New York
City-based dance company SENSEDANCE.

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
-Robin Williams