UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 15, Page 1
December 17, 1992
Trustees tap 8 for honors at semiannual fall meeting

     Eight individuals were tapped for University of Delaware honors by the
Board of Trustees at its regular semiannual meeting Dec. 15, including two
who will receive the honorary degree-the highest recognition the University
can bestow.
     Ken Burns, creator of The Civil War, the critically acclaimed PBS
documentary, and the son of a former Delaware anthropology professor, will
receive the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
     Howard E. Simmons, recently retired vice president and senior science
adviser at the Du Pont Co., a member of the National Academy of Sciences
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and recent recipient of the
National Medal of Science, will be awarded the honorary Doctor of Science
degree.
     Three individuals will receive the Medal of Distinction, awarded in
recognition of professional achievements:
     * alumnus Richard Eugene Emmert, a member of the prestigious National
Academy of Engineering and former vice president of the photosystems and
electronic products department at the Du Pont Co.;
     * Chaplin Tyler, former campus lecturer, Du Pont executive, management
and corporate consultant and generous University benefactor; and
     * Arthur R. Ashe Jr., author, consultant and tennis professional who
won both U.S. Open and Wimbledon championships and is a member of the
International Tennis Hall of Fame. Ashe recently announced he contracted
the AIDS virus as the result of a blood transfusion.
     The Medal of Merit, made in recognition of contributions to human
progress through devotion to enduring values and service to others, will be
awarded to three individuals:
     * watercolorist Jack Lewis, an instructor at Sussex Correctional
Institution and the Rehoboth Art League who painted large murals that hang
in Legislative Hall in Dover;
     * Jane P. Maroney, Delaware state representative from Talleyville
known for her support of human services and as an agent of change on
children's issues; and
     * Littleton P. Mitchell, champion of civil and human rights for
minorities in Delaware who has served as president of the Delaware State
Conference of Branches for the NAACP since 1962 and has been president and
vice president of the Wilmington branch of the NAACP.
     The Board of Trustees also passed a resolution honoring former trustee
E. Norman Veasey, who resigned earlier this year, when he was named chief
justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.
     Veasey, who joined the board in 1975, chaired the committees on
Student Affairs and Public Affairs and Advancement, was vice chairman of
the 1989 Trustee Committee to Nominate a President and was a member of the
Committee on Education and Training and the Executive Committee.
     The resolution read, in part, "Chief Justice Veasey is known to
students, faculty, alumni and administrators as a man of compassion and
dedication to learning with a genuine concern for all people." The
resolution expressed "gratitude and appreciation" for Veasey's outstanding
service to the board and the University.
     In other action, the board passed resolutions
     * upgrading the Physical Therapy Program to a department in the
College of Arts and Science;
     * endorsing the need for a laboratory to conduct molecular biology and
biotechnology research on the Newark campus;
     * renaming the Trustee Committee on Student Affairs and Athletics as
the Committee on Student Life and Athletics;
     * renaming the Trustee Committee on the Humanities as the Committee on
the Arts and Humanities;
     * establishing the Lauri Pfeffer Shinn Memorial Fund, in honor of an
alumna who died of cancer in 1990. The fund may be increased by additional
gifts, and the income will be used to support an annual award recognizing a
woman or women for academic success in and/or contributions to computer and
information sciences;
     * approving the University's $8 million capital funds request to the
state for Fiscal Year 1994, in support of the completion of Lammot du Pont
Laboratory; facilities renewal and renovation; an addition to Colburn
Laboratory; and an addition to and renovation of Purnell Hall; and
     * authorizing the president to confer degrees Jan. 9 at Winter
Commencement-the first academic ceremony to be held in the new Bob
Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center.
     Also at the meeting, the trustees heard a report from University
President David P. Roselle, who discussed three priorities for the
University-compensation, scholarships and physical plant-and reported
recent accomplishments of faculty and staff.
     Brief reports also were presented on two major fundraising efforts.
Trustee James F. Kearns said the campaign for the Lammot du Pont Laboratory
has reached $9.2 million toward its $13 million goal from the private
sector. R.R.M. Carpenter III reported that the campaign for private support
of the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center has attracted $6,631,456,
exceeding its original goal, and is now concentrating on funds to cover
additional costs associated with construction.
     Five trustees whose terms were expiring were re-elected: Werner C.
Brown, Hudson E. Gruwell, Edward G. Jefferson, G. Burton Pearson and
Richard B. Taylor.
     Board Chairman Andew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. announced changes in the
chairs of two committees: Sally H. Higgins will chair the Committee on
Education and Training; R.R.M. Carpenter III will chair the Committee on
Student Life and Athletics; and Pearson will continue to serve on the
Executive Committee.
     The Board of Trustees also passed two resolutions expressing
gratitude, one to Alan Southmayd, who recently retired as assistant
treasurer, for his "excellent long-term investment performance" with the
University's endowmen.
     Another resolution was presented for an outstanding season to Coach
Tubby Raymond and the Blue Hen football team, who "have the genuine
gratitude of everyone interested in the University."