Loma Linda University News October 21, 1999 Convocation chapel program features mission of University Our Mission: Text of the homily presented by Loma Linda University president B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, at the convocation chapel Monday, October 11, 1999 LLU welcomes new, returning students in Olympic fashion Office of diversity sponsors RAMP program for local students Hispanic Alumni of Loma Linda University holds third annual scholarship banquet on Loma Linda campus Microsystem support service maintains University computers Students for International Mission Service to host international food fair and yard sale New dean appointed for Daniells Hall Convocation chapel program features mission of University The inaugural convocation chapel for the new academic year was held Monday, October 11, in the Loma Linda University Church of Seventh-day Adventists. Chair of the department of education of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Humberto Rasi, PhD, presents B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president, Loma Linda University, with the Medallion of Distinction. Joining in the ceremony are (left) Jan Paulsen, DTh, BD, president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; and Calvin B. Rock, PhD, DMin, chair, Boards of Trustees for LLU and LLUMC, and vice president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Attended by nearly 2,000 Loma Linda University students, faculty, and staff, the convocation featured the mission of the University. Beginning the convocation was a processional featuring members of the University administration, Loma Linda University Board of Trustees, and University faculty. Leading the processional was Ronald L. Carter, PhD, chair, department of natural sciences, Graduate School and head University marshal. Escorting members of the Board of Trustees and University faculty were associate marshals Angela B. Dyjack, MPH, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health, School of Public Health; Johnny Ramirez, EdD, professor of religion, Faculty of Religion; Marilyn M. Herrmann, PhD, professor of nursing, School of Nursing; and J. Lamont Murdoch, MD, professor of medicine, School of Medicine. During the ceremony, Loma Linda University president B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, was honored by the General Conference of Seventh- day Adventists with the Medallion of Distinction. The Medallion of Distinction is presented to selected outstanding Seventh-day Adventist educators by the department of education of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Presenting the award to Dr. Behrens was Humberto Rasi, PhD, chair, department of education, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The citation accompanying the award reads: "In person, cordial, and cheerful. In vision, focused and brilliant. In leadership, committed and creative. That is Dr. B. Lyn Behrens. Under her leadership since 1990, Loma Linda University has grown to a position of prestige as a premier Christian health sciences university in what the Western Association of Schools and Colleges has called ‘a remarkable turnaround and a renaissance of the university.' Loma Linda University faculty and administrators prepare for the convocation held during the Monday morning chapel service in the Loma Linda University Church of Seventh-day Adventists. "Dr. Behrens' significant contributions include the integration of wholeness and learning, substantial diversity and international educational initiatives, emphasis on student-centered learning, distance education, and overall academic excellence. "Under her stewardship, more than 20 new degree programs have been initiated at the master's and doctoral levels–in fields such as ethics, marital and family therapy, public health, physical therapy, psychology, and social welfare. "Dr. Behrens has also led in the establishment of several new research centers on campus such as the Cancer Institute, the Center for Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, the Center for Health Research, and the Center for Leadership, Management, and Philanthropy. Her initiative has led to the building of several new facilities. "Dr. Behrens received her medical education at Sydney University. She has done internships in Australia and the United States. She holds certification in pediatrics and in allergy and clinical immunology. "Her academic appointments include serving as director of the pediatric residency program and dean of the School of Medicine at Loma Linda University. This year she also became president of Loma Linda University Medical Center. Loma Linda University vice president for public affairs W. Augustus Cheatham, MSW, introduces the members of the LLU Board of Trustees to the students, faculty, and staff attending the convocation. "Articulate and hard-working, Dr. Behrens is also a deeply spiritual person who follows the model of our Lord Jesus Christ. "In support of Adventist mission, she has engaged in the broad resources of the University in bringing hope and healing to people in many countries around the world, including China, North Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. "She has also received many awards and distinctions in recognition of her talents as an exceptional educator and leader. Special assistant to the president for spiritual life and wholeness Gerald R. Winslow, PhD, leads out in reading the litany of commitment. "So today, as a tribute to her outstanding contributions to Adventist education and mission around the world, the General Conference education department is honored to present to Dr. Lyn Behrens Adventist education's highest award–the Medallion of Distinction." Following the award presentation, Dr. Behrens presented a short homily on the mission of the University [see text of homily below]. The convocation concluded with a litany of commitment led by Gerald R. Winslow, PhD, special assistant to the president for spiritual life and wholeness, and dean, Faculty of Religion. A prayer of dedication offered by Terry Swenson, MDiv, campus chaplain; and benediction offered by J. Lynn Martel, DMin, vice president for advancement. Our Mission: Text of the homily presented by Loma Linda University president B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, at the convocation chapel Monday, October 11, 1999 I am surely honored this morning to receive this distinction, and I want to acknowledge that it was a team and is a team of wonderfully committed people whose efforts have been blessed by God that has brought us to this point, and I celebrate this award with all of my colleagues. You are wonderful people and we are so grateful that you, our students, have chosen to join us in this community of scholars. LLU president B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, presents her convocation address about the mission of Loma Linda University. As we celebrate today, we celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. Many of our students and many of our faculty have been engaged in education and research since the beginning of July. But today, in a special way, we acknowledge that the new school year has begun and we acknowledge that we stand on the threshold of the 21st century. There are only 81 days left until the year 2000. Listening to the story of the Good Samaritan this morning, I thought about how hope turned to hopelessness for that man on the side of the road going to Jericho. You see, he was faint from his battering and his blood loss, and he was feeling as if he was abandoned. For not only had the thieves taken away his wholeness, but there had been two passersby that day. As he heard their footsteps coming he had at first feared that the thieves and thugs had come back to make sure that he did not survive. But as those footsteps came closer, he realized that it had been a lone traveler. And fear turned to hope, and hope turned to hopelessness as those individuals had chosen to ignore his need. Yet in the blurred vision of that day he had no thought that one was a theologian and one was an academician. And now feeling abandoned, he could only await death. And then hope came, and help came from an unexpected source. If the situation had been reversed, he knew that he would not have helped the Good Samaritan. But this unknowing stranger whose own personal experiences had built within him such a growth of compassion forced this man to engage without thinking in the care of a person who was injured. Risking personal safety, he went to the man. He gave first aid at the scene of the accident, and then he provided transportation to where care could be provided. He then pre-paid for that care. Good Samaritans exist today. On the afternoon when Los Angeles erupted into riots a number of years ago, a Korean businessman was making his way through South-Central Los Angeles. He was the father of two of our students who were enrolled at the time, one in dentistry and the other in medicine. The traffic light ahead turned red, and he along with the rest of the traffic slowed to a stop. As they stopped at the light, a stranger in a car adjacent to him jumped out of the car with a loaded revolver, and at point-blank range, delivered a bullet into this man's head. There was an African-American woman in the car behind. She knew this man's life depended on her actions, and without care for her own safety, she pulled her car to the side of the road, jumped out, raced to the man, pushed him over into the passenger's seat, and raced him to the nearest hospital. Hours of neurosurgery occurred after that, but that man's survival was directly related to the woman–that unknowing woman's actions–a woman who chose to cross cultural and social barriers, a woman who chose to risk her own life to help someone who was in desperate need. Yes, she was acting out of compassion, turning love into lifesaving action. She was a 20th century Good Samaritan. Students, you have come to this University at a time when society is recognizing the change of our century and our millennium. This is a time that we, for all of our community of scholars, recognize that this is a world without a moral compass. When you think about the fact that immorality is glamorized on television, negating and refusing to recognize the lifelong scars that occur when immorality is a choice that people make–scars for individuals and families, and yes, even communities. Scars that occur when sexual activity occurs outside the bonds of marriage. It is a time when violence is glorified. It is a time when even homes, schools, and churches are no longer safe. This is a time when self is the center of most people's thinking. I will challenge all of us today, members of this community of scholars, to remember that we are called to live principled lives in a world without a moral campus. Those principles for living are defined for us in Scripture. Please read them daily. Scripture defines how we should live, and our own choices and how we should live with each other, and how we should prepare for service. And in the pages of Scripture are recorded the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. He is the model health professional–the man who treated everyone with dignity and respect. He is the exemplary teacher, the educator, who drew people through questioning to know what they knew and to learn what they didn't. He was the servant-leader, showing all of us how we should treat each other, how we should in humility and dependence upon God fulfill God's will in our lives. But Christ is more than a model. And as you read and study and pray each day, I will invite you to experience Jesus Christ as your own personal Messiah, taking away the sin of your life that victimizes each one of us–being transformed through that relationship and that friendship with God and enabling you, each one of you: students, faculty, our staff, and yes, the Board of Trustees, to live out the mission of this place, to bring health and healing and wholeness to humanity as we further Christ's teaching and healing ministry to make man whole. May God bless every one of you this year as you pursue not only personal and professional excellence, but as you review and center your life on Christ and live a principled life. God bless you. LLU welcomes new, returning students in Olympic fashion Students from the School of Public Health pose for a photo before entering Drayson Center for a welcome back party. Pictured are (from left) Johanna D. Hollingsworth, Teslyn A. Henry, Denise R. Hinds, and Fiona M. Lindo. On Sunday, October 3, Loma Linda University Student Association hosted Olympiad 2000, a welcome back party for new and returning students at Drayson Center poolside. Trini Myers, Student Association president, estimated that five to six hundred students took part in the activities. "I felt our back-to-school party went really well. Everyone seemed to have a great time," Ms. Myers says. Christina A. Bratlund, a School of Allied Health Professions student, proudly displays the cotton candy machine at the Students for International Mission Service booth. Along with a steel drum band, barbeques, and fireworks, students were treated to human foosball, gladiator games, an obstacle course, and prize giveaways throughout the evening. Office of diversity sponsors RAMP program for local students The Research Apprenticeships for Minorities Program (RAMP), which is sponsored by Loma Linda University and Bank of America, brings local high school students to the LLU campus for a six-week intensive program where they work in close cooperation with Loma Linda University faculty and top-level researchers on various research projects. The following are summaries of research results that each student presented at the completion ceremony: Department of biochemistry Student researcher: Lan Dang School: Pacific High School LLU researcher: William Langridge, PhD, professor, biochemistry, School of Medicine Plant transformation has enabled the production of plant vaccines which will hopefully eliminate the necessity of vaccination through needle injection. In the process of plant transformation, the leaf is incubated in the agrobacterium which carries the gene for the plant vaccine. Lan Dang, a student at Pacific High School, worked under the guidance of William Langridge, PhD, professor, biochemistry, School of Medicine, on producing plant vaccines for cholera, rotovirus, toxogenic E. coli, and autoimmune diseases like diabetes. Antibiotics like kanamycin are added in the medium for the leaf to build a resistance that would result in only the desired leaf to survive. Plant hormones like auxin and cytokinin are also placed in the medium to permit plant growth. After three to four weeks, a callus will form on the leaf and a shoot will later be produced to eventually grow roots and become a plant. Currently, the lab is working on producing plant vaccines for cholera, rotovirus, toxogenic E. coli, and autoimmune diseases like diabetes. In order for plant transformation to occur, there must be promoters to cause the gene to be expressed. My project involved the comparison of four different promoters called the P1 and P2 mas promoters, CaMV 35s, and B33. The project was also used to study the behavior of the P1 and P2 mas promoters in Agrobacteria since the P1 mas promoter is found to be weaker than the P2 mas promoter in plants. The CaMV 35s promoter was the strongest promoter and the one that is most used in plant research. The B33 promoter is found in potatoes and is a gene in Patatin, which is a family of proteins. All the promoters contained the luciferase gene to be used as a selection marker. The method that we used to measure the strength of the promoters included both a visual and numerical comparison. We used the low-light imaging machine to capture the photons emitted by the promoters. From the photograph, we could see that CaMV 35s is the strongest promoter, B33 is the second strongest promoter, P1 and P2 mas promoters are both weak, and the control emits almost no photons. The next step was to use the luminometer to measure the promoter activity in light units per 500 µl. We prepared the promoters to be read by the luminometer through the bacterial luciferase assay. We did five trials for each promoter to obtain a rough estimate of the promoter activity. The experiment was repeated twice in which one was induced with the plant hormone auxin and the other was not induced. We also took into account the amount of promoters placed into the luminometer by calculating the proteins produced. The results were that the two promoters, CaMV 35s and B33, were stronger compared to the P1 and P2 mas promoters. The P1 and P2 mas promoters were similar in strength proving that they act differently in Agrobacteria. It also indicates that the hormone auxin did not enhance promoter activity in Agrobacteria as it would in plants. Department of microbiology and molecular genetics Student researcher: Cristina Deis School: San Gorgonio High School LLU researcher: Daisy D. De León, PhD, associate professor, physiology/pharmacology, School of Medicine Breast cancer has plagued women for centuries, and has often taken the lives of its victims. Due to an active interest in finding methods to cure this deadly disease, scientists are finding exciting and realistic means to treat and cure patients. Unfortunately, many of the medications, i.e. Tamoxifen, come with harsh and trying side effects such as high blood pressure, headaches, and even an increased chance of uterine cancer. Doctors believed that these side effects were but a small price to pay for a handsome reward: elimination of breast cancer. Now, new alternative drugs are being heavily researched for a "better" cure. New medications that can potentially be used for breast cancer in the future include newer antiestrogens like RaloxifenE. RaloxifenE, though prescribed for osteoporosis, has also been found to control breast cancer while avoiding further problems with the uterus. Cristina Deis, a student at San Gorgonio High School, looks over her notes before presenting her research results. Even though these new drug findings are thrilling and exciting, there are still roads not yet traveled in this field. To aid in the scientific journey, technology has acted as our "protocol book" and opened up doors that would have otherwise remained closed. Methods such as western blots, dot blots, plasmid extraction, and cell culturing are just a few of the techniques I used to answer scientific questions during my five-week experience in Dr. Daisy D. De León's laboratory. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is one of many proteins found in breast tissue. IGFBP-4 is thought to function by modulating the growth-promoting effects of the insulin-like growth factor system (IGF). One of the major techniques I used to detect change in the production of IGFBP-4 protein in tumor vs. normal tissues was running a western blot on a gel. The purpose of this experiment was to see if IGFBP-4 levels were present in higher concentrations in tumors than in normal breast tissue taken from the same patient. When a western blot is preformed to test for the presence of IGFBP-4, we were able to see the outcome on our 10 to 20 percent SDS-page gel by observing the banding pattern formed when the nitrocellulose membrane was incubated with an anti-IGFBP-4 antibody. When the band pattern on a gel is questionable, scientists will run a reduced western. This procedure is very close to a western, except that BME (beta-mercapto ethanol) is added to the loading buffer to try to break any type of bond that IGFBP-4 can form with any other type of protein. Our result was a gel with only one band on it, allowing us to look at the changes in IGFBP-4 specifically in normal vs. tumor tissues. Prior to running a western, researchers use a commassie protein assay to check for the presence and concentration of total protein. Unknown protein concentration from cell conditioned media (CM) can then be inferred by creating a standard curve from a known protein concentration to optical density measurement. In addition to running westerns to visually observe the presence of IGFBP-4 in cells, other methods such as dot blots can be used to quantitatively measure the presence of a specific protein. We used the dot blot to check for the relative production of a growth factor like IGF-II. In addition to running westerns to check for specific protein modulation, the commassie assay to measure total protein concentration, and dot blots to quantitate specific proteins present in low concentrations, we also measured concentrations of bacteria extracted and purified plasmid DNA. The plasmid DNA of interest was inserted and grown in the E. coli. The reason that we wanted to remove a piece of the plasmid DNA was because this plasmid had been specifically modified so that it contained ED, a portion of the binding protein IGFBP-4 gene. This portion was to be used later to probe for the message of IGFBP-4. In order to obtain the plasmid DNA, we performed a mini-plasmid prep by using the plasmid prep protocol, we extracted the plasmid DNA and specked it using a UV spectrophotometer to determine plasmid DNA concentration and plasmid purity. Next, we did an enzyme digest to cut the gene of interest (IGFBP-4) out of the plasmid DNA. Once the plasmid was digested with the enzymes, the mixture was run on a gel to separate out the gene portion from the plasmid portion (seen as two bands). Once the IGFBP-4 gene was identified in the gel, it was cut out under UV light. The IGFBP-4 gene was then extracted out of the gel in order to purify the cDNA. Finally, we specked the cut IGFBP-4 cDNA to measure concentration of the DNA. Our DNA readings came out somewhat low, possibly due to impurities in the solutions, so we purified the DNA even further by performing a tRNA precipitate. If a laboratory were a human body, then cell culturing would be its heart. The cells we grow in the lab give us the ability to test out hypotheses. The cells we were working with were MCF-7 cells. For the cells to grow, they need food, in this case the food was DMEM/F12 supplemented with phenol red, two percent fetal bovine serum, two percent L-glutamine gentamycin, and a warm incubation area (37°C). In order to resolubolize the cells from the monolayer that they form in culture, it was necessary to add a digestive enzyme like trypsinize which causes cell detachment from the flasks. After pelleting the cells, and resuspending them in fresh media, the cells are now ready to use for experiments such as the Mts growth assay. The Mts growth assay utilizes cells grown in 96 well plates in the presence of different hormones. Cells are plated at the same density, at time 0, and different hormones are added. Cell growth at time x can then be inferred from the standard curve read at six hours. The standard curve is created by plating different concentrations of cells, and creating a standard curve based on color formation at 6 furs. This gave us an idea about the effect of a specific hormone in relation to the cell growth. The dynamic combination of these important components: western, dot blot, plasmid extraction, and cell culturing, are just the beginning of a journey toward the endless search for answers to these plaguing questions. * * * See the next issue of TODAY for more research result summaries by RAMP participants. Hispanic Alumni of Loma Linda University holds third annual scholarship banquet on Loma Linda campus On Sunday October 17, more than 200 faculty, students, and friends of Loma Linda University gathered for the third annual scholarship fundraiser dinner presented by the Hispanic Alumni of Loma Linda University (HALL). The 1999 Hispanic Alumni of Loma Linda University (HALL) scholarship recipients pose with their dean or school representatives after receiving their awards. Eleven students each received a $1,000 scholarship. Eleven Loma Linda University students received $1,000 scholarships during the banquet. Students honored were Cynthia E. Muñoz from the Graduate School; Patricia D. Barcenas from the School of Allied Health Professions; Periza Zaninovic from the School of Dentistry; Wanda Jeanette Abreu, Lily Martorell-Bendezú, Eduardo Juan Nam, Isaac Hernandez Vielma, and Hugo A. Rojas from the School of Medicine; Hadasa Yvette Raya from the School of Nursing; and Gemalli E. deLeón and Jeannine Rios from the School of Public Health. Honored as alumna of the year by the Hispanic Alumni of Loma Linda University was Irma Bachman Vyhmeister, DrPH. Dr. Vyhmeister graduated from La Sierra University with a bachelor of science degree in 1956. In 1958, she received her master's degree in nutrition and dietetics from LLU. She completed her doctoral degree at University of California/Los Angeles in 1974. In 1959, she began her teaching career as an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics. From 1964 to 1977, she served as associate professor. In 1977, she became a full professor of nutrition and dietetics at Loma Linda University. In 1981, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists asked Dr. Vyhmeister to join their health and temperance department. She served for more than four years teaching classes on how to develop and conduct cooking schools. Dr. Vyhmeister's teaching has taken her to many diverse and exotic lands which include the Philippines, Lebanon, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and many African countries, including South Africa. In 1985, she accepted a teaching position at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. In 1986, one year before her retirement, Loma Linda University honored her with the University alumni award–a fitting tribute to her life of service. Receiving HALL's Special Recognition Award were Ruth Weber, EdD, RN, associate professor of nursing, LLU, and Judith Valles, mayor of San Bernardino. Ruth Weber, EdD, RN, associate professor of nursing, LLU, receives a special recognition award for being an outstanding role model for nurses in the Hispanic community. Dr. Weber is a fourth generation Seventh-day Adventist with a family who pioneered the Adventist work in Argentina in the late 1800s. Her educational career started in Puiggari, at the Universidad Adventista del Plata, where she completed her college work as a Bible instructor and elementary teacher. As a child she was inspired by the fiery stories of Elder Halliwell, particularly about the adventures of the Luziero launches on the intriguing upriver of the Amazon. The need for nurses was early ingrained in her mind and led her to fulfill her dreams of becoming a nurse. She attended LLU and completed her BS in nursing science and a master's degree in nursing science in the areas of medical surgical and nursing administration. While contributing in leadership and teaching she recognized the need for advanced education, and pursued a master's degree in management at Claremont Graduate School followed by an EdD degree in leadership and management at LLU. Dr. Weber's commitment to mission and international work has never lagged and has led her into the role of an educator and consultant to numerous sites and universities in the Far East, and Central and Latin America. In addition, her services at Rio de Plata have been invaluable with contributions toward the expansion of a learning laboratory for the School of Nursing. Prior to taking office as mayor in March, 1998, Judith Valles had accumulated more than 40 years of professional experience in the field of education. Her leadership experiences range from budgets, planning, collective bargaining, student affairs, community relations, to strategic planning evaluations. Mayor of the city of San Bernardino Judith Valles was given special recognition for her commitment to serving the Hispanic community. Mayor Valles received her MA in 1970 from the University of California at Riverside; her BA in 1956 from the University of Redlands; was the recipient of a study fellowship in 1960 from Tufts and Harvard Universities; was invited to lecture on gender and leadership issues as a visiting professor at Harvard University's School of Education in 1987; and pursued doctoral studies in higher education at the University of California at Los Angeles. Mayor Valles has been both honored and recognized for her participation in the world of academics. She was selected as one of only two community college presidents to represent the United States to participate in the International University Presidents' Institute. She has been the subject of two doctoral dissertations dealing with leadership, and has been listed in several Who's Who publications. Her awards are numerous. She has been recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives Outstanding Women of the Year Award, California State Women of the Year for the 63rd Assembly District, and Resolutions of Recognition from the California Senate Rules Committee, the California State Assembly, and the U.S. Senate. Most recently, Mayor Valles was honored as a "Woman of Distinction" by The Business Press as one of 50 outstanding women in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Keynote speaker for the evening was José Vicente Rojas, MA, director of the Seventh-day Adventist Youth Ministries for North America, and special assistant to the President of the United States on volunteerism. His address was titled "It Takes Vision–The Future of Health Care." José Rojas was born in east Los Angeles in 1960 shortly after his parents immigrated to California from Mexico. He was surrounded and influenced by the local lifestyle which led to his involvement in the "East LA" gangs in his early years. Providentially, it was also during his childhood that he and his family became drawn to the kindness and giving of the local Seventh-day Adventist Church family. They attended an evangelistic crusade by Pastor Byron Spears and were soon baptized in Van Nuys, California. Mr. Rojas attended Monterey Bay Academy, Pacific Union College, and subsequently Loma Linda University where he completed both his bachelor's and master's degrees. His more recent and inspired intervention in reaching troubled and neglected youth made him a target of gang vandalism in his own home. Throughout his life he has faced endless challenges that with heaven's blessing have served as catalysts to give him an explosive and successful ministry Patty Cabrera, contemporary Christian recording artist, presented a mini-concert for the evening's entertainment. . In 1994 he was called to head the teen and young adult ministries for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, and became the youngest individual to ever hold that position. He was invited to be a member of "The Alliance For Youth"–an initiative organized by General Colin Powell to encourage volunteerism in North America. With the help of many, he has been able to organize 100 tutoring centers in Adventist sites throughout North America. These sites are dedicated to improving the reading skills of underprivileged children. Mr. Rojas' many activities have resulted in his becoming closely involved with the White House and President Clinton. He serves as a consultant to the White House for various domestic policy initiatives including the President's Initiative on Race, Welfare Reform, and Volunteerism. He is currently the most influential Seventh-day Adventist to serve at the White House. Microsystem support service maintains University computers With the exponential growth of computers at Loma Linda University, Y2K looming, and the intense industry-wide demand for qualified end-user support personnel, microsystem support still manages to provide superior support for almost 700 of the computers spread around campus. This relatively new support department was created in 1995 under the leadership of Jim Luke, director of microsystem support and administrator of library systems. Several entities are served by microsystem support, including the Graduate School, Faculty of Religion, University relations, central administration, and ancillary areas. The wide geographical area and the diverse users are supported by four end-user support technicians, a local area network administrator, one intranet developer, one programmer, a secretary, and a handful of student workers. Microsystem support has seen a steady increase in users requesting their support and expertise. Currently, the department is experiencing a ratio of users to support personnel that is nearly twice the industry ideal ratio, yet the department hums along in a collegial and professional manner, for several reasons. Mr. Luke explains that his staff is "blessed with patient users who understand the challenges of end-user support and are willing to work with the department in setting acceptable time frames." The collegial atmosphere has been nurtured by Mr. Luke, who strongly supports team management. Job candidates are interviewed by the entire department team, and the decision to hire is made by the group. Mr. Luke feels this team management approach is microsystem support's greatest strength. "They don't have to waste their time re-inventing the wheel or researching a problem; they can ask each other if they've run into certain problems and then draw on each other's capabilities and knowledge," he says. Billy Carter, a PC technician for microsystem support, works on a computer from one of the many departments at Loma Linda University that microsystem support maintains. A strong resource for Mr. Luke has been the staff of the Del E. Webb Memorial Library. "The librarians know information. They know how to store it and retrieve it. They understand the access issues. And they know how much information is out there." Because of the close working relationship among the library staff working with Mr. Luke, updating the new library cataloging system went smoothly. Students and faculty can now access information about books and journals in the library using innovative interfaces. Even now, the future for microsystem support is being shaped. With the changes in technology and education and the need to integrate the two, Mr. Luke is building an intranet development team to facilitate and support those changes. This team's challenge is to develop appropriate methods for collecting, storing, and retrieving information. Mr. Luke reports that "In the near future, the use of computers will shift from using applications, to knowing how to use information. There is so much information out there that no one can know it all; instead, users will need to know what information to collect, how to store it, and how to retrieve it in such a way that the most current information becomes available when making decisions. That's where I see the future for this department." Several intranet projects are already in the works: developing the ability for students to register on-line, generating on-line rate slips, creating an on-line purchasing system, and building the on-line computer support request process. The paperless campus may be just around the corner, warns Mr. Luke. "We should look at becoming a paperless campus, not just to become paperless, but in ways that increase convenience for the faculty, staff, and students," he says. Over the years, microsystem support has had its challenges, including magnetic fields in office walls which can cause computers to behave erratically, conversion from legacy systems, and educating end-users on realistic technology expectations. According to Mr. Luke, these challenges provide problem-solving strength for his staff, and continuous fascination with computers. "My staff solves problems well together, they back each other up, and they share their technical expertise," says Mr. Luke. The biggest challenge of all, Y2K, is being faced with eagerness by the members of microsystem support. They have checked all workstations and servers for Y2K compliance and updated equipment as necessary. Mr. Luke and his staff are just waiting for January 1, 2000, to see what challenges are presented and what problems can be solved. Mr. Luke predicts that his staff members will be in the office on Sunday, January 2, just to see how the computers and servers are behaving. This is an indication of a department where support is taken seriously. Students for International Mission Service to host international food fair and yard sale For the third consecutive year, Students for International Mission Service (SIMS) will host an international food fair and yard sale. The event will take place on Sunday, November 7, behind Gentry Gymnasium (corner of Anderson and Stewart Streets) on the Loma Linda campus. Loma Linda University student clubs and organizations, as well as local churches, may rent space to sell food in the international food fair for $15. They may begin setting up at 9:00 a.m. inside the gymnasium. Each organization may use the event as a fundraiser for their group. Individuals wishing to participate in the yard sale may rent a space for $10. The yard sale will begin at 7:00 a.m. behind the Gentry Gymnasium. According to J.C. Belliard, MPH, SIMS program director, students, employees, and community members are invited to the event. Proceeds from space rental will benefit SIMS student mission projects. In order to raise additional funds, the SIMS office will sponsor a booth at the yard sale, and is accepting personal donations of household items to sell. For information on the event, or how to donate yard sale items to the SIMS, please call (909) 558-1000, extension 83056. New dean appointed for Daniells Hall Otto "Buddy" Keubler has recently joined Loma Linda University as dean of Daniells Hall. Mr. Keubler, who is in his 15th year of deaning, was previously dean at La Sierra University in Riverside. "Daniells Hall is unique," says Mr. Keubler, "because it's an apartment complex that's run like a residence hall." University | Medical_Center | LLU&MC_home | Search_&_index | News_&_events | Employment | Contact | Our_mission All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. All rights reserved. Revised Tuesday, January 30, 2001 12:10 PM Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu URL: /