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Georgia Gwinnett College adding faculty
at prodigious clip
By
Jennifer Stephens
Special to GwinnettForum.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., April 3, 2007 -- Colleges simply do not ramp
up as quickly as Georgia Gwinnett College. Typically, hiring 10
or 20 new professors in a year is a quantum leap for even a much
larger university. During the six months prior to opening Georgia
Gwinnett College in the fall for its first freshmen class, the number
of doctor candidacy faculty at GGC will increase from 10 to more
than 100. This is a substantial task for the president, his senior
staff, and the deans of the four-year college.
Kaufman |
GGC President Daniel Kaufman notes that hiring new faculty is among
his most important and pleasurable assignments. "We initially
thought that getting qualified faculty with doctorate degrees in
specific disciplines for this new venture would be an impossible
job. Nothing could be further from our experience.
"The response to our job offers has been remarkable,"
stated Kaufman. "Many are giving up comfortable and lucrative
assignments to come to this fledgling institution. I think we are
all gratified that so many educators want to come and work here."
Kaufman added that his human resources office has received more
than 1,100 resumes with applicants from top colleges and universities
from most of the 50 states and beyond, including the Ivy League.
Dr. Stanley Preczewski, vice president for academic and student
affairs, and who is ultimately responsible for the hiring, states
that most of the applicants want to be a part of GGC because it's
so new. "I think educators want to be teachers first and administrators
or researchers next. We are challenging our new faculty with a different
paradigm for higher education-one that hopefully will produce higher
retention, progression and graduation rates for our students."
Preczewski also says that the unique focus of GGC is an added incentive
to high caliber faculty. "We are fortunate to have some of
the best minds in the nation resident at the college helping us
create solutions in educational success. Our curriculum will use
technology to encourage success; however, the true measure of accomplishment
will be in the ultimate achievement of our students. This is highly
motivating for a teacher."
Drs. Jim Nolan and Candace Timpte, a husband-wife team from the
University of New Orleans, recently accepted new positions at GGC
teaching in the biological sciences. Timpte says: "Building
a college from the ground up and establishing high quality educational
programs is a huge challenge; I want to participate in this amazing
opportunity." She adds that their New Orleans home was inundated
by eight feet of floodwater, and most of their possessions ruined.
Although they were never in danger, they are looking forward to
building a new life and making Gwinnett County their new home.
While Nolan and Timpte both received their doctorate degrees from
Duke University, others come with degrees from Dartmouth, Emory,
William and Mary, Columbia, Washington and Lee, Georgia Tech, UGA
and Vassar.
Dr. Jennifer Wunder, a Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellow at
the Georgia Institute for Technology, feels that accepting a new
position at Georgia Gwinnett College is a "rare and exciting
opportunity." She adds that creating a college with the student
population and community in mind makes "GGC a dream school
for a teacher like me. I couldn't possibly resist!"
Allowing Gonzales to continue could be to
deflect bad news
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 3, 2007 -- The longer it goes on, the more the Alberto Gonzales
affair looks like a smokescreen.
Brack |
With people in both parties questioning the answers that are coming
from President Bush's attorney general, and more questions seeming
to arise by the day, you would wonder why Mr. Gonzales is still
in office. Granted, no president wants to fire his attorney general,
especially when there is a long-term, personal relationship with
him for both the president and his family.
Yet the continuation of the allegations surrounding the firing
of seven U.S. attorneys makes for headlines virtually every day,
and none of them good for the president….nor maybe for the
country.
Why isn't the president taking a stronger position in this matter?
There could be several reasons.
At worst, the staff of the president, or even the president himself,
could be far more involved in these firings than we would want them
to be. If this is the case, it is obviously far more political than
the Bush White House wants to admit. Eventually the real truth will
emerge, which could tarnish the Bush Administration further.
At best, all these "I can't recall" statements may be
100 per cent true, and all the allegations that have been made about
the investigation may be nothing more than a political fishing expedition.
Recent developments do not point this way, but stranger circumstances
have happened.
However, there may be an entirely different reason why this Gonzales
case had been able to keep festering for weeks on end now. It may
be the aim of the Bush Administration to allow this case to ramify
more and more as the weeks wear on. After all, if the Gonzales affair
is making the front-page and top-of-newcast headlines….. less
is being said about the war in Iraq, in Afghanistan, the mistreatment
that prisoners are getting at Guantanamo, and the wrangling between
the president and the Congress on the conduct of the war.
Cynical? Yes.
Yet we can think of no other reason to let the Gonzales question
continue. By focusing the attention on a relatively insignificant
matter of the firings, it deflects the bad news coming out of the
war zones, the move by the Congress to pull American troops out
of Iraq, and the overall performance by the president.
Letting the Gonzales affair meander on may not be the most popular
or the most reasonable policy. But it may have its own course of
action, guided by a White House under fire from many sides.
Harry Truman had a sign on his presidential desk which read: "The
buck stops here." Should President Bush have a sign on his
desk, it could read: "The buck ricochets here."
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Questions
use of "signing statement" by the President
Editor, the Forum:
Since invading Iraq and starting a war, the Bush Administration
has refused to include in annual budgets the full estimated cost
of the war each year. Instead, it has submitted "emergency"
requests that have made it difficult to do proper oversight of the
war.
Recently, the House and Senate passed military spending bills providing
more money for the war than the president requested, but included
benchmarks and timelines for bringing the troops home. These bills
are the first Congressional challenge to Bush's war making. However,
Bush wants the money without the conditions and has threatened to
veto either bill passed by the Senate or the House of Representatives.
According to a Congressional Research Service, the military has
enough money on hand to finance the Iraq war through most of July,
which challenges Bush's assertions that an infusion of funds is
urgently needed. With congressional approval, the Pentagon could
temporarily transfer money out of other accounts, giving the Army
"almost two additional months" to conduct its regular
operations and the war.
If Bush turns his back on this enormous amount of money with his
first veto, lawmakers would then have to go through a potentially
time-consuming process of re-writing and passing a new war-funding
bill.
Since taking office, Bush has defied Congress and the constitution
by issuing "signing statements" after signing bills. In
these statements Bush spells out provisions in the bills that he
will not honor. Bush has signed more than 100 signing statements
ignoring more than 750 laws. Why would Bush not use a "signing
statement" in this situation?
Deliberately vetoing the needed funds and prolonging the process
could put our soldiers in jeopardy, causing more unwarranted deaths
and injuries. If this happens, the American public should hold Bush
accountable for his actions.
-- Ralph Greene, Snellville
Dear Ralph: The public is mighty weak, it would
appear, to holding Bush accountable, or else he would not have
been re-elected. Getting around vetoes with a "signing statement"
is another manipulation of the process that this Administration
has become known for. --eeb
No passenger line
anywhere in the world makes money
Editor, The Forum:
Did you see the piece about the Brain Train the March 29 AJC
Gwinnett Edition? ("Rail Line Comes Under Criticism",
page J-1) Why on EARTH did the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce get
someone from the Flat Earth Society (aka the ultra-conservative
Georgia Public Policy Foundation) to comment on something that they
know nothing about?
The spokesperson says she's "afraid the project will not make
money." That statement alone tells me she doesn't know a blessed
thing about transportation.
I'll guaran-damn-tee you it WON'T make money as no passenger line,
anywhere in the world, in any mode of transportation, makes a profit
hauling passengers alone without some sort of public subsidy, direct
or indirect. If she knew anything at all about the subject, she'd
know that!
And putting commuter trains on the rail lines emphatically WON'T
put more trucks on the highway. The idea is absolutely absurd. If
that were so, there'd be no intermodal service (trailers/containers
on flat cars) in Chicago (which has hundreds of commuter trains),
and that city just might be the intermodal capital of the world.
Apparently they didn't get the word.
Take it from someone who has spent 30+ years in the transportation
industry - in railroading and trucking - this woman knows absolutely
nothing about transportation.
Where do they find these people?
-- Robert H. Hanson, Loganville
Dear Bob: We appreciate the expert insight you
provide readers. This is a good example on the anniversary of
the founding of GwinnettForum of why this forum exists, to exchange
views and be that forum of public opinion from a wider community.
Thanks to you and other Feedback authors for your compelling ideas.
--eeb.
Vast openness of Western
state counties is sharp contrast
Editor, the Forum:
That's interesting about Gwinnett being more populated than four
states. What is also amazing is the vast difference in land areas.
Some sparsely-populated Western states have counties larger than
some smaller states. One Colorado county is larger than Delaware.
Congressman Ron Paul's mostly rural 14th Congressional District
in East Texas is larger than a bunch of the smallest states added
together, I believe a total of 21,000 square miles, which is incredibly
large.
One Congressional District in Colorado with no very large towns
had a land area larger than Florida. You usually don't get the effect
of these things with a quick look at an atlas but there are vast
differences in size and population density. USA Today had a story
during football season showing how many states play six and eight
man football.
Look at square mileage figures for some surprises. Idaho just hit
a million population a few years back and is almost twice the size
of Georgia, not noticeable form a casual look at the maps. Idaho
is also very scenic, especially the northern tip, with friendly
folks, and under-publicized as a vacation spot.
-- Marshall Miller, Lilburn
Stations
of the Cross art exhibit at Tannery Row colony
An exhibit featuring 40 fine artists, musicians and writers will
all come together at the Tannery Row Artist Colony in Buford April
14-27. The works will have as a theme the 14 stations of the cross,
the journey of Christ from the Garden of Gethsemane to the tomb.
Artists being exhibited come from throughout Atlanta, and from
three other states.
The exhibit opens April 6 with a reception from 7-10 p.m. On April
14 it will be open from 6-9 p.m. and from April 17-27 the hours
open will be from noon until 4 p.m. The exhibit will be closed Sundays
and Mondays.
In conjunction with Tannery Row Artist Colony, Stone Mill Church
(formerly Sugarloaf Community Church) is sponsoring this event.
It was held last year at the Sugarloaf Church.
Dog lovers' park watch
program to be held on April 12
Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation now has a Park Watch program
just for dog lovers. The Neighborhood Dog Park Watch will have its
first meeting on Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m. in the center of the
dog park at Lenora Park in Snellville. Anyone 18 years of age or
older who is interested in enhancing safety at the County's dog
parks is invited to attend. Dogs also welcome!
The program seeks to enhance the quality of Gwinnett County parks
through an alliance between park patrons, Neighborhood Park Watch
volunteers, Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, and the Gwinnett
County Park Police. By serving as an extra pair of eyes and ears,
members of the Neighborhood Dog Park Watch can help make the parks
safer for park visitors and their pets. The program involves citizens
in the observation, caring, and protection of dog parks in order
to enhance safety in these areas.
Lenora Park is located at 4515 Lenora Church Road in Snellville.
For more information call 770-822-8813 or visit www.gwinnettparks.com
No
watering on Fridays still in effect in metro area
Georgia's water conservation restrictions are still in effect,"
says Frank Stephens of Gwinnett's Water Resources department. With
daylight savings earlier this year, now is a good time to adjust
automated lawn sprinklers to use water only when and where necessary.
The arrival of spring is also a good time to remind residents of
the state's water restrictions. Most outdoor water use is prohibited
statewide all day on Fridays and between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. every
day. Even numbered addresses are allowed to water at other times
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, while odd numbered addresses
can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The rules make exceptions
for businesses that depend on water like landscapers and car washes.
About half of the water many homes use during the summer months
goes for outdoor purposes like lawn watering and car washing, according
to Stephens. The state has not relaxed these restrictions from last
year in order to conserve water supplies so there will be enough
for everyone in case of further drought conditions. Most of the
water used by Gwinnett and the Atlanta area comes from the Chattahoochee
River basin.
Several websites contain additional information about water conservation:
www.gaepd.org,
www.georgiadrought.org,
or www.conservewatergeorgia.net.
Snellville to get
ornamental iron fence for cemetery
The City of Snellville has awarded a bid to Sage Brush Metal Art-
Rockmart, Ga. for $49,125 for demolition and installation of new
fencing at the city's Historic Cemetery. The new fence will replace
a wooden fence along some portions of the perimeter of the cemetery
and will be approximately five feet high. The new fence will be
made of ornamental iron, which will be compatible with the existing
fence at the front of the cemetery on Main Street East (U.S. Highway
78).
Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Garraway has been leading this project for
over two years. He raised some $36,000 on the project, with the
difference of $12,950 coming from the Snellville Hotel/Motel Tax.
New Gwinnett health
status report has detailed information
The 2006 Community Health Status Report has been published by Gwinnett
Medical Center and the Gwinnett County Health Department. The report
is a detailed summary of current health information and trends affecting
Gwinnett County and surrounding communities. It is a valuable tool
to evaluate the County's current health status and to identify future
health needs.
Knowing the current health status of the community is essential
when planning health interventions to meet the needs of the County's
residents. The Gwinnett County Health Department and Gwinnett Medical
Center believe that wellness is the reflection of community-wide
efforts to improve the quality of life for our community.
Free copies of the Report are available by calling 678-442-2646.
It's also available online at www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/HSR.
Favorite
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
Edward
Telfair served three terms as Governor of Georgia
One of Georgia's most prominent citizens, Edward
Telfair, served three terms as Georgia's governor in the late
1700s. He was the first governor to serve under the Georgia Constitution
of 1789.
Edward Telfair was born in 1735 on his family's ancestral estate
in southwestern Scotland. He received only an elementary school
education before taking a job with a firm of merchants. In 1758,
when he was in his early 20's, he set sail for the English colonies
in America. Telfair first settled in Virginia, and finally resettled
in Georgia, where he joined his brother William in Savannah in 1766.
Telfair formed a partnership with his brother and Basil Cowper,
another Scotsman, and became one of the most successful merchants
in colonial Georgia. He also acquired substantial holdings in Chatham
and Burke Counties.
Telfair married Sarah Gibbons in 1774. Together they had six children-three
sons and three daughters. Upon her death, their daughter Mary Telfair
bequeathed the Telfair family home on Savannah's St. James Square
to the Georgia Historical Society, which became the Telfair Museum
of Art, the oldest public art museum in the South.
Two years after his arrival in Savannah, Telfair entered the political
arena and was elected to the Commons House of Assembly as a delegate
from St. Paul Parish. Telfair was elected to the Continental Congress
in 1778 and was a member until 1783. While in Congress, he was one
of Georgia's signers of the Articles of Confederation.
In 1786 the Georgia legislature elected Telfair governor for a
one-year term. In 1786 Telfair urged the legislature to take remedial
action to ease the pressure on the treasury occasioned by the state's
indebtedness of nearly $1 million. The solution was the issuance
of paper bills of credit that would serve as legal tender. In May
1791 Telfair took office for a second term as governor. During his
second and third terms as governor Telfair was concerned with balancing
the rights of the states against the powers of the new federal government,
with judicial reform, and with the level of taxation.
Telfair died on September 17, 1807, at his Savannah townhouse.
In the year of Telfair's death, Telfair County was created and named
in his honor.
Master says nothing
remarkable about making music; sure
"There's nothing remarkable about [making music]. All one
has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument
plays itself."
-- Johann Sebastian Bach (1865-1750).
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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