IN BRIEF

Gillman Edits Math Literacy Book

Richard Gillman, chair of Valpo’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, is editor of the book, “Current Practices in Quantitative Literacy,” published by the Mathematical Association of America. The book reports on what institutions of higher education nationally are doing to ensure all graduates have the math skills they need.

Maugans Performs in Slovenia

Stacy Maugans, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, performed “Where Morning Dawns and Evening Fades” at the World Saxophone Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, last July. She also performed “A Chase,” with Kenneth Tse.

Meilaender Tackles Problems of the Moral Life

Gilbert Meilaender, Duesenberg professor of Christian ethics, discusses the problems of the moral life using the thoughts of St. Augustine as a guide in his new book, “The Way That Leads There: Augustinian Reflections on the Christian Life,” published by Eerdmans Publishing.

Morris Studies Impact of Pollutants

Gary Morris, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Valpo, was a lead author in the study that used NASA satellites, weather balloon readings and other data to discover the impact that pollutants traveling even thousands of miles can have on local air quality. The study was published Sept. 26, 2006, in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

German Culture in U.S. Subject of New Book

Kevin Ostoyich, assistant professor of history, has written “The German Society of Pennsylvania: A Guide to Its Book and Manuscript Collections,” which presents a wide array of resources available on the influence of German culture on the United States. The book covers German history from the 19th century to the present, and is published by the German Historical Institute.

Owens’ New Book, ‘Devil’s Topographer’

David Owens, associate professor of English, has written a book that traces writer Ambrose Bierce’s experiences during the Civil War and the development of the war story in American literature. “The Devil’s Topographer: Ambrose Bierce and the American War Story” is published by the University of Tennessee Press.

Palumbo Named Jenny Professor

Robert Palumbo ’80, chair and professor of mechanical engineering, has been named the university’s Frederick F. Jenny professor of emerging technology. Palumbo joined the faculty in 1987 and has worked with students on research to convert solar energy into alternative fuels that can be stored and distributed throughout the world. He is leading the project to study the industrial potential of high temperature solar electrolysis over the next five years—four with National Science Foundation support. Palumbo says the goal of the project is “to develop some of the science and technology required to alleviate the impact of climatic change associated with greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the nation’s dependency on
fossil fuels. …”

Startt Co-Edits Three Volumes

James Startt, senior research professor of history, co-edited three volumes in the “History of American Journalism” series. The volumes cover journalism in the 20th century.

Strasser Honored for Use of Technology

Sandra Strasser, professor of information and decision sciences, won the Instructional Innovation Award from the Decision Sciences Institute for creating a business statistics course in which students created and used a Wiki—a collaborative Web site for students that takes the place of a traditional textbook.

‘History Highway’ eBook of Month

“The History Highway: A 21st-Century Guide to Internet Resources,” which was co-written by Dennis Trinkle, chief information officer in Valpo’s Office of Information Technology, was chosen as NetLibrary’s eBook of the Month in September 2006. Trinkle also has been named winner of an EDUCAUSE 2006 Award in Higher Education Information Technology in recognition of his exceptional achievement within the higher education information technology profession.

New Book Written by Patheja Chair

Nelly Van Doorn-Harder, associate professor of theology and Valpo’s Patheja chair of world religions and ethics, has written a new book, “Women Shaping Islam: Reading the Qur’an in Indonesia,” published by the University of Illinois Press. The book focuses on how Muslim women are helping lead religious life in Indonesia.

Two Contribute to ‘Rereading Paul Together’

Richard De Maris, professor of theology and New Testament scholar, and the late David Truemper, who was a professor of theology, have chapters included in “Rereading Paul Together: Protestant and Catholic Perspectives on Justification” (bakeracademic.com). The book is a reassessment of the Pauline doctrine of justification from Protestant and Roman Catholic perspectives and is dedicated to Truemper, who died in 2004, after 40 years of service to Valpo.

Faculty Members Receive Grants

Faculty members were awarded grants from the Committee on Creative Work and Research to support their research projects during the coming year. Arvid Sponberg, professor of English, received the Philip and Miriam Kapfer Endowed Faculty Research Award for his work in documenting factors that contributed to the proliferation of nonprofit theatres in Chicago from 1950 to the present. His research seeks to connect the economic, geographic, public policy, literary and other forces that led to the growth in theatres.

Martin Buinicki, assistant professor of English, and Carmine Polito, assistant professor of civil engineering, were awarded University Research Grants. Buinicki’s grant supports research for a book examining the last 20 years in the life of poet Walt Whitman and the work done to secure Whitman’s literary reputation. Polito will do research that aims to more accurately determine how types of soil will behave during earthquakes and give engineers a better idea of how likely structures are to collapse when experiencing a tremor. He also will develop a more affordable cyclic simple shear machine, which is used to study how soil behaves during earthquakes.

In Memoriam

In Thy Light …

Since the last VALPO magazine was published, the Valparaiso University community has lost many members of our family—people who have have touched the lives of thousands through their lengthy and exemplary service to the university.
We offer our prayers of condolence to their families.

Professor Emeritus Louis F. Bartelt Jr. ’44, ’47 J.D. died on Jan. 2, 2007. In 1948, Bartelt was appointed professor of law at Valparaiso University. He served as acting dean from 1964 to 1965 and, again, in 1971-’72. He was dean of the School of Law from 1965 to 1969, and held the first Louis and Anna Seegers Chair in the law school from 1982 until 1986, when he retired from teaching, after 38 years of service to the university. Bartelt received the Valpo Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 1985. He served several terms on the Valparaiso Board of Zoning Appeals beginning in 1985. He was a Sterling Fellow at Yale Law School in 1954 and also was named a Rockefeller Research Fellow at the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1959.

Elsie V. Bauer, who was known as one of the pioneers of women’s athletics at Valpo, died on Dec. 11, 2006. Brauer was an assistant professor of physical education at Valpo from 1966 to 1977. She served as volleyball coach for 10 years and also as golf coach in the early 1960s. In 1998, she was inducted into Valpo’s Hall of Fame. Her contributions to women’s sports helped elevate women’s athletics at the university to its current level of quality. Bauer was involved in the Women’s Athletic Association, the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and the Indiana AIAW.

Kalman A. Burnim of Melrose and Spring Hill, Fla., died July 30, 2006. Burnim served Valparaiso as an associate professor in 1958 in the speech and drama department. He also served at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., in the positions of associate professor and director of theater, professor of drama, executive director of theater, Fletcher professor of oratory and drama, chair of the drama department and emeritus professor. Burnim also was a research professor at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., from 1975 to 1976 and 1985 to 1986.

Bernhard Hillila ’87 (honorary), Valpo professor emeritus of education, died Nov. 27, 2006. He was appointed professor of education in 1968 and retired in May 1984. Hillila wrote a number of books, his 10th published in 2003, on the history of saunas. He was of Finnish descent and wrote books pertaining to Finn culture. Hillila was a Lutheran pastor and served congregations in Massachusetts, Ohio and New York. He also served as president of Suomi College in Hancock, Mich.; was dean of faculty at California Lutheran University; and also dean of Hamma School of Theology in Columbus, Ohio, prior to coming to Valpo.

Witness Jani was an adjunct instructor in psychology for the 2004-’05 academic year. He also served as counseling training coordinator for psychology graduate programs for the spring semester 2005. He was appointed assistant professor of psychology for the 2005-’06 academic year, and also for the 2006-’07 academic year. However, due to illness, he was unable to teach in the fall. Jani lived in Chicago. He was a pastor in Zimbabwe for seven years and also served as director of Salem Mission Home in Chicago prior to joining Valpo’s faculty. Jani died on Nov. 21, 2006.

Fred W. Kruger ’44, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, died on Dec. 25, 2006. Kruger joined the university faculty in 1948 and provided leadership and service as professor of mechanical engineering, dean of the College of Engineering, and as vice president for business affairs. Kruger held degrees from Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame. He was a World War II veteran and was involved on several committees at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Kruger was on the Valparaiso City Council for almost 24 years, providing valuable leadership to the city of Valparaiso and its residents.

Alfred W. Meyer ’48, ’50 J.D., Valparaiso University’s Seegers Professor Emeritus and former dean of the Valparaiso University School of Law, died Jan. 28, 2007. Meyer served the School of Law from 1961 until his retirement in 1994, at which time he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Evan Bayh. Meyer was dean of the law school from 1969 to 1977 and 1982 to 1983, and he was a founding faculty adviser to the Valparaiso University Law Review and introduced the Alternative Dispute Resolution to the law school curriculum. He delivered the Louis and Anna Seegers Memorial lecture, a part of the law school’s first annual endowed lecture series. Meyer served on the board of the Valparaiso Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and on the school board at Immanuel Lutheran Church, where he also had served as congregational president.

Walt Reiner, associate professor emeritus of Christ College, died on Dec. 5, 2006. Walt was known for his compassionate service to the Hilltop neighborhood in Valparaiso and the impetus he provided in obtaining health care for those who were underserved in several counties in northwest Indiana. He was called a visionary for his work in housing and race relations, among other issues. Reiner began his career at Valpo as a physical education instructor in 1949 and coached the Crusaders football team from 1957 to 1964. He also directed the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) and the Urban Studies Program. The community center building in Valparaiso bears his and wife Lois’ (Bertram ’52) names in honor of their dedication. He retired as an associate professor in 1989.

Richard W. Scheimann, a professor of philosophy from 1953 to 1982, died Aug. 28, 2006. Scheimann was head of the VU Department of Philosophy from 1958 to 1971. He was elected president of the Indiana Philosophical Association in 1967. Scheimann was a graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.  He served Lutheran churches in Aurora, Ill.; Valparaiso; Michigan City, Ind.; and Wanatah, Ind.