June 15, 2001

Play ball Leading baseball-industry experts came to the University May 29 for a one-day conference on "The Economics of Major League Baseball." Sponsored by the University's Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy, the event addressed a range of economic issues impacting the financial future of Major League Baseball. Panelists on hand in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom in Anheuser-Busch Hall were NBC's Bob Costas (upper right), considered by many as the top broadcaster in sports television, and Donald Fehr (lower right), executive director and general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association. At left, Weidenbaum Center Director and conference host and organizer Steven S. Smith, Ph.D. (left), professor of political science and the Kate M. Gregg Professor of Social Sciences in Arts & Sciences, and panel moderator Gerald L. Early, Ph.D. (right), the Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters in Arts & Sciences, visit with Pulitzer Prize-winning panelist George F. Will.

Liam Otten smashes a base hit for public affairs' Staff Day softball team.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton zeros in a pitch.

Food, fun greet employees on Staff Day

The rain held off for the day, providing the perfect atmosphere for more than 1,000 staff members participating in the 26th annual Staff Day May 21.

Events kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with the Staff Service Award and Recognition Ceremony in Edison Theatre, hosted by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and Ann B. Prenatt, executive director of human resources.

"We look forward to Staff Day each year," Prenatt said. "It provides the opportunity to congratulate our colleagues for their many years of service, thank staff members for their hard work and contributions to the University and have some fun."

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Alice Marre of University Communications shows her spirit in a full-length pompom outfit.

Solo Spirit Mission Update

Adventurer Steve Fossett soon will be taking off in Solo Spirit from Kalgoorlie, Australia, on a

mission to become the first person to circumnavigate Earth solo by balloon. WU is serving as mission control for Fossett, a University trustee and alumnus. Follow his quest via the Solo Spirit Web site, http://solospirit.wustl.edu --where you also can register for a mission listserv --or via the telephone hotline, 935-0014.

Fish, waterfowl food for early modern humans

Researchers have reported new evidence that shows early modern man ate significant amounts of fish and waterfowl, not just meat.

Erik Trinkaus, Ph.D., professor of anthropology in Arts & Sciences, and an international team of scientists documented the growing importance of aquatic animals --fish, mollusks and/or birds --in the diets of early modern humans in Europe 20,000-28,000 years ago. Compared with Neandertals living in inland Europe up to 100,000 years earlier, who relied primarily on land animals for their protein, early modern humans supplemented their diets with fish and waterfowl.

The team's report was published May 22 in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and is posted on its Web site, www.pnas.org.

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Community contribution School of Art graduate student Brian Burnett with "Florescent Propinquity," which recently was unveiled at the new Childgarden Child Development Center in the Central West End. Last semester, Burnett won a competition --and a $1,000 stipend --to design the piece, a tribute to Childgarden benefactors Craig and Connie Schnuck. Craig Schnuck is a University trustee. The center is jointly sponsored by Easter Seals and the St. Louis Association for Retarded Citizens.

Holmes Jazz, Gateway Orchestra provide soundtrack to summer

What could be better on hot summer nights than a steady stream of cool, cool jazz?

Now in its fourth year, the University's Holmes Jazz Series kicks off its summer lineup of Thursday-evening performances June 21 with an appearance by saxophonist John Norment.

Other performances include:

Ą June 28 --bassist Dan Eubanks;

Ą July 12 --pianist Reggie Thomas;

Ą July 19 --guitar duo of Farshid Soltanshahi and Tom Byrne;

Ą July 26 --guitarist Dave Black; and

Ą Aug. 2 --Tom Byrne Trio.

All six performances --free and open to the public --are from 8:30-10:30 p.m. in a coffee-house setting in Ridgley Hall's Holmes Lounge. The series is sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Music in Arts & Sciences, Office of Student Activities and Student Life. For more information, call 935-5581.

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Constant vigilance may cause children to develop heart disease

Children of parents with low education and low-status jobs are more likely to perceive ambiguous situations as threatening and thereby place added stress on their hearts, according to a recent study conducted by Edith Chen, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in Arts & Sciences.

The study, which appears in the May issue of Annals of Behavioral Medicine, suggests that these children appear to develop a constant vigilance to protect themselves against frequent external threats, often translating into an added strain on their cardiovascular systems.

Co-authored by Chen and Karen A. Matthews, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, the study may help explain why people who grow up in disadvantaged families are more likely to develop heart disease.

"Over time, this physiological burden may lead to health problems such as hypertension and coronary heart disease, both of which have been associated with low (socioeconomic status) in adulthood," the authors said.

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