Grain & Chaff

In the news

The media frenzy around Tiger Woods is contributing to a gender gap in professional golf, according to Jay Gladden, assistant professor of Sport Studies. "The LPGA has excellent players, but they are basically in Tiger's shadow right now," he told The Detroit News (Aug. 24). "The differences in purses are largely driven by TV's interests, and by corporate interests. ... The problem for the women is that, even with a good economy, there are so many sports entities out there looking for corporate sponsorship. It's a very, very competitive market." ... The Economist (Aug. 26) noted a study co-authored by associate professor of Economics Dale Ballou suggests that the quality of American teachers has more to do with how they are paid, not how much. ... Nutrition professor Ken Samonds' research on canned foods was featured in the Ottawa Sun (Aug. 30).

Old school ties

Former Mechanical and Industrial Engineering professor Bart Nnaji, now at the University of Pittsburgh, was interviewed about Nigeria's emerging democracy on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" last weekend. Nnaji served briefly as Nigeria's minister of science and technology in 1993 until a military coup seized power. The country returned to civilian rule last year.

Worth a thousand words

The Retired Faculty Association is commissioning a portrait of the late former Provost and Chancellor Oswald Tippo. The group has asked Jack Coughlin, retired professor of Art, to create the painting.

Shared expertise

Mary Deane Sorcinelli, associate provost and director of the Center For Teaching, was invited by the National Science Foundation to serve on a review panel for its Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Program held July 24-26 in Washington, D.C..

Around the Five Colleges

Smith College alumna Ruth Ozeki, author of "My Year of Meats," reads from her novel on Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in John M. Greene Hall. ... "Beyond Freedom and Dignity: new paintings and drawings" by David Schutter opens Sept. 1 at the main gallery in the Harold Johnson Library at Hampshire College. An opening reception is scheduled for Sept. 7, 4-6 p.m. The exhibit runs through Sept. 29. ... Rahul Peter Das, professor of Indology at Martin Luther University in Halle, Germany, speaks on the idea and development of medical science (Ayurveda) in ancient India on Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the New York Room of Mary Woolley Hall, Mount Hoyoke College. The lecture is free.

On the air

Football coach Mark Whipple is going to the air. "The Mark Whipple Show" debuted Tuesday night on WHMP 1400 AM and WPNT 1600 AM. The new hour-long live program with the football coach will be broadcast Thursday nights at 6:30 from The Hangar, on University Drive.

Book shelf

Norton has published "Mozart's Letters, Mozart's Life: Selected Letters," translated and edited by Robert Spaethling, a former faculty member in the German Department. Spaethling later transferred to UMass Boston, where he is professor emeritus of German.