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Archive
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April 2, 2001
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People
Veteran administrator
Burch to retire after 42 years at UK
Diallo to speak April 5 at UK on son's death, racial
profiling
Louise Stone earns Holmes Award
People
Veteran
administrator Burch to retire after 42 years at UK
Joe Burch, who helped
lead the University of Kentucky through an era of sweeping change and
expansion, retires in June after more than four decades of service. But
he isn't going far. Burch will remain at UK in a post-retirement appointment
with the Alumni Association.
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Over the years,
Burch has led a number of critical campus areas - some during turbulent
times. He's been dean of students, deputy general counsel, assistant
to the vice president for business affairs, acting director of athletics
and acting director of the Tobacco and Health Research Institute.
Currently, Burch is vice president for university relations, which
places him in charge of development, alumni affairs, public relations
and police and parking.
But Burch downplayed
his "go-to" persona, attributing its origin to Richard Wilson, former
reporter for the Courier-Journal, who, in an article circa 1988,
likened Burch to a utility infielder.
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Joe Burch
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"That's the power
of the press," observed Burch, who called his multiple duties for the
University a natural progression of working in an organization. "If I
hadn't moved around, I'd still be an RA."
Burch began his career at UK in 1959 as a resident adviser, or RA, a position
he arrived at through an ironic turn of events. Fresh from the Army and
enrolled in the University, Burch, then 21, asked for and received an
exemption from the University's prohibition of freshmen having cars and
living off campus. Enjoying his freedom from dorm life, Burch settled
into an apartment on Rosemont Garden and, in one semester, ran through
the money he had saved in the military. He turned to the University for
employment and found work as an RA in Donovan Hall. For the next seven
years, he lived in a residence hall.
During
his undergraduate years and throughout UK law school, Burch moved
up the ranks, eventually becoming assistant dean of men. With the
completion of his law degree, he expected to leave the University
and set up practice. But that didn't happen. He was asked to stay
as legal counsel for student affairs and help guide UK as it moved
away from the rigid code of "in loco parentis," meaning in the place
of parents. Prior to the establishment of the student code, the University
had virtually the same powers as a parent and could discipline a student
without much recourse on the student's part.
"It was around then that the University decided that if it was going
to dismiss someone from school, it should perhaps give them a hearing
first," Burch said.
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UK File
Photo
Joe Burch, Cliff Hagan and Robert Zumwinkle, from left, got together
in October 1978 for the opening of the Par Fitness Course, located
where the UK Arboretum is today.
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Burch helped write
the first UK student code, a document many students now take for granted
that was the beginning of the students-rights movement, which grew out
of the civil-rights movement.
That post lasted until 1969, when Burch again was summoned. Antiwar sentiments
were brewing on campus, and administration, feeling it should expand the
Department of Public Safety into a full-fledged police force, tapped Burch
for the job.
"I was chosen because of my background in student affairs and law," he
said.
Events would prove administration right. In 1970, some 40 students were
arrested in probably the most well-known demonstration at UK. Students
were protesting the shooting of four students at Kent State University
in Ohio, and protesters set fire to a campus building. The National Guard
was called in to quell further violence. It was during that period that
Burch was asked to assume the additional responsibilities of assistant
to the vice president for business affairs. His boss was future Kentucky
gubernatorial candidate Larry Forgy.
As that turbulent time gave way to the halcyon days of the mid-1970s,
another shift in responsibility came for Burch. In 1974, he became dean
of students. Four years into his tenure, as the campus was running smoothly,
another politically inspired upheaval taxed Burch's administrative acumen.
In 1978, 12 members of UK's Iranian Student Association and their supporters
were arrested after they refused to stop disrupting a speech by Stansfield
Turner, then CIA director. The protesters accused the CIA of supporting
Iranian secret police, controlled by the Shah of Iran.
It wasn't terribly long before another controversy drew Burch's attention.
This time the activities had their origin closer to home. Burch, by then
deputy general counsel to the University's legal department, took over
as acting athletics director following the resignation of Cliff Hagan,
in connection with an NCAA investigation. In that position, Burch found
himself flying around the nation, conducting interviews concerning the
allegations of irregularities in the men's basketball program.
Once that storm settled, Burch turned his attention to the rezoning of
land that would become Coldstream Research Campus. Following a year's
worth of public hearings and the writing of a development plan, Burch
stepped into his current job as vice president for university relations,
at the request of President Charles T. Wethington Jr.
"To say Joe Burch will be sorely missed is a great understatement," Wethington
said. "He played a major role as the University surmounted many challenges.
He's been steadfast, effective, loyal and honest, and he's always been
concerned about the welfare of UK students."
Burch's tenure as VP has had its share of challenges. The debate over
community colleges set the tenor early on. Beyond that, many advances
took place. One major fund-raising campaign ended successfully, with the
construction of the William T. Young Library, and another, the University's
$600 million fund-raising campaign, is proceeding on schedule. In addition,
Burch oversaw the transformation of UK Public Relations from a news bureau
to a marketing medium delivering the University's message beyond the boundaries
of state and nation. This switch was partially in response to the Kentucky
General Assembly's mandate that UK become a top-20 public institution
by 2020.
Now, with retirement looming, Burch is looking forward to devoting more
time to his affiliation with the Alumni Association, which, in 1997, honored
him with its Alumni Service Award, given to those generous with their
time and talent in support of UK alumni. Burch said many of his happiest
and most fulfilling moments have come while he was out in the state and
beyond meeting the many community leaders he knew as students.
"You take some satisfaction when you meet a kid you had in school that
is now doing well," he said. "One of my joys is to go to any alumni group
and be called by my old title of dean and talk about the old days."
George Lewis
Diallo
to speak April 5 at UK on son's death, racial profiling
Mother seeks purpose
in death.
Just over two years ago, Amadou Diallo was killed by 41 bullets fired
by the guns of four New Your City police officers. On April 5, his mother,
Kadiatou Diallo, will share with the University of Kentucky community
her feelings on the loss of her son and her views on racial profiling
and police brutality.
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The event, "The
Legacy of Amadou Diallo," presented by the UK Student Activities
Board Multicultural Affairs Committee, will begin at 8 p.m. in Memorial
Hall. It is free and open to the public.
In February
1999, Amadou was killed in the vestibule of his New York City apartment
building in a shower of 41 bullets fired from the guns of four police
officers. The officers mistook the 23-year-old African for a rape
suspect they were pursuing. The officers said they opened fire believing
Amadou was reaching for a gun. However, Amadou turned out to be
unarmed and carrying only a pager and wallet.
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Kadiatou Diallo
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In her presentation,
Kadiatou humanizes racial profiling and police brutality. She manifests
the love for her son as she struggles to deal with her loss and seeks
justice for his death. Kadiatou is a poised and eloquent speaker with
a moving and poignantly delivered message.
"I would hope that Amadou's death will bring people together so they cannot
judge somebody by the color of their skin. I still believe in this country,
and I do not want my son's dream to be just a dream," she said.
"Diallo's presentation has the power to enable the audience to grasp a
deeper understanding of the dynamics of racial profiling. This is a message
that needs to be heard by all, regardless of race," said Ericka Harney
of the Student Activities Board.
For more information, contact Shonta Phillips, Jennifer Mueller or Chris
Rogers in the UK Student Activities Office at 257-8867.
Selena Stevens
Louise
Stone earns Holmes Award
The winner of the
2001 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award is Louise Stone, director of the UK Office
of Experiential Education. She was presented with the award and a check
for $500 during the eighth annual award luncheon March 21 in the Student
Center.
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The annual award
is presented by the UK Women's Forum to honor women working at UK
whose actions promote the growth and well-being of all women. Stone
helped organize the Women's Forum in 1990 and served as the chairperson
of the first Sarah Bennett Holmes Award Committee.
During the luncheon,
all 14 nominees for this year's award and the seven past winners
were recognized for their efforts. The other 2001 nominees are:
-- Anna Allen-Edwards, Chandler Medical Center Office of Minority
Affairs
-- Mary Arthur, Department of Forestry
-- Sylvia Daunert, Department of Chemistry
-- Ruthan Fields, Special Diagnostics Department
-- Lorraine Garkovich, Department of Rural Sociology
-- Connie Johnson, Human Resources Services
-- Cheryl Jones, Department of Nursing Staff Development
-- Sue Nokes, Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
-- Mary O'Brien, Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology
-- Carol Steltenkamp, Department of Pediatrics
-- Sherry Thomas, Learning Services Center of Minority Affairs
-- Eugenia Toma, Martin School of Public Policy
-- Pam Woodrum, University Health Service.
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Kathy Johnson
Monica Mehanna, left, director of communications for the College
of Engineering, nominated Louise Stone, director of the UK Office
of Experiential Education, for the 2001 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award.
Stone received the award at a luncheon March 21. The annual award
is named for the former dean of women at UK, who is pictured in
the portrait behind Stone.
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Holmes served as dean
of women at UK.
Staff report
People
Research and funding
-- Glenn Collins, agronomy, $270,000, cellular and molecular biology
of dark tobacco.
-- A. D. Karathanasis, agronomy, $150,000, on-site wastewater treatment
standards in Kentucky.
-- Kentucky Alternate Portfolio Project, $100,000, CD/Web-based training.
-- Michael Montross, biosystems and agricultural engineering, $200,000,
aeration systems for on-farm grain drying.
-- Sue Nokes, biosystems and agricultural engineering, and Herb
Strobel, animal sciences, $195,000, simplified technologies for enzyme
production with thermophilic anaerobic bacteria.
-- Bruce Webb, entomology, $120,000, polydnavirus genomes.
Housing
-- House for
sale: Spacious and gracious townhouse, walk to UK and downtown, three
bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, $199,000. Call Donna at 422-2080, voicemail
294-2281.
-- House for sale: Delightful Lansdowne neighborhood, four miles
from UK, two-story home with large yard; four bedrooms, two-and-a-half
baths baths, office-library, L-shaped living room/dining room, family
room with fireplace and book shelves, large kitchen, Florida room with
vaulted ceiling, partially finished basement, two-car garage, beautifully
landscaped with flowering and fruit trees. Reduced! $299,000. 825 Cahaba
Road. Call 278-2748.
Awards
-- Kim Fender, librarian/director of the Public Library of Cincinnati
and Hamilton County, has been chosen to receive the UK School of Library
and Information Science Outstanding Alumni Award, which will be presented
in October.
-- UK Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute research assistant
Wendy Mager, a doctoral student in clinical psychology, has been
awarded an "Individual National Research Award" from the National Institute
of Mental Health. The research award will support Mager's dissertation
research project, which examines social learning processes in a psychosocial
skills-training program for middle school students. The fellowship provides
a full stipend, tuition and research expenses.
-- Mike Potter, entomology, was presented the leadership award from
Pest Control magazine.
Publications
-- IHDI Executive Director Harold Kleinert and Jacqui Farmer
Kearns, associate director of the Inclusive Large Scale Standards
and Assessment project, have authored the first comprehensive text on
alternate assessments for students with significant disabilities set to
be published next month by Paul Brookes Publishing in Baltimore.
-- Penny Miller, political science, "Following a False Trail: The
Hunt for White Backlash in Kentucky's 1996 Desegregation Vote," State
Politics and Policy Quarterly, inaugural issue, pages 62-80.
Presentations
-- Harold Kleinert and Melanie Tyner-Wilson, IHDI, presented the
session "Parents and Teachers Developing IEPs in Partnerships" at the
15th annual Kentucky Department of Education Parent Professional Conference,
held on March 3 in Lexington IHDI staffers Mike Burdge, Brenda Mullins,
Beth Harrison and Jeanna Mullins also conducted sessions.
-- Sarah Kennedy of the Inclusive Large-Scale Standards and Assessment
project presented a paper at the Pacific Rim Transition Conference in
Honolulu.
-- Rich Lewis, IHDI, traveled to South Carolina on Feb. 12-14 to
present information on natural environments requirements to the Interagency
Coordinating Council. Lewis also conducted two networking sessions at
the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System conference held
Feb. 21-22 in Washington, D.C.
-- Matthew Pelkki, forestry, has been invited to present a seminar,
"Saving the Forests of Western Siberia from an Ecological Disaster," at
the Center for Northern Studies in Vermont.
-- Fred Knapp, entomology, was elected vice president of the American
Mosquito Control Association.
-- Bill Silvia, animal sciences, was appointed to the U. S. Department
of Agriculture's grant review panel for reproductive efficiency section.
Silvia also was appointed to the editorial board of Reproductive Biology,
a new journal.
Activities
-- Paula Burdette of the Mid-South Regional Resource Center conducted
a Virginia Alternate Assessment Steering Committee meeting to update and
seek advice for how to clarify the participation criteria to IEP teams
and advice on the process for revising the implementation manual on Feb.
2-9.
-- Jacqui Farmer Kearns of ILSSA was a guest on Kentucky's Global
Connection, a television program based in Frankfort to discuss her trip
as part of a presidential envoy to Ireland.
-- Richard Labunski, journalism and telecommunications, was interviewed
on March 6 for C-Span's "Book TV" to discussed his recent book, "The Second
Constitutional Convention: How the American People Can Take Back Their
Government." Audience members included invited guests, faculty members,
students and special guests.
-- Sammie Lambert of MSRRC served as an IDEA trainer in Tennessee
Feb. 20-21, as part of a National Education Association Consortium for
Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education.
-- Kentucky Early Childhood staff members Rich Lewis and Jeanna
Mullins attended the Governor's Summit on Transition held March 14.
-- Beth Rous and Iolene Lund attended the Office of Special
Education Projects and National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System
conference held Feb. 21-22 in Washington, D.C. Rous led a roundtable discussion
on preschool standards and accountability.
-- Ken Warlick, ILSSA project director, provided technical assistance
to the Michigan Department of Education regarding its alternate assessment.
-- Maria White of the Including Students with Deafblindness in Large-Scale
Assessment Systems project, traveled to Louisiana to collect data on instructional
practices and to gather assessment results of students in the alternate
assessment system.
Deaths
-- Connie Mitchell James, long-term disability, slide curator in
the art department of the College of Fine Arts, died March 8.
To submit an item the "People" section, e-mail csstev0@email.uky.edu,
fax to 257-4017 or mail 1B Mathews Building, 0047.
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