The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 25, 2006, Page 6, Image 6

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DCSU • CQflTinUCD PRQIU 6 and wishes to double the number of faculty in the research program. “I’m always willing to help faculty with their research — that’s fhe key thing I will be developing,” Desu said. Although he would like the highest caliber students in the engineering school, he feels USC should find a “judicious compromise” between honors and non honors students. “I think everyone wants the best quality students,” he said. “But as a state university, we have an obligation to helping a broad background of people.” He said that the school sends students as “agents” into the world, and the school must equip them with the proper education. Of USC’s current engineering program, Desu said there was nothing he disagreed with and especially liked the College of Engineering’s emphasis on energy. “It’s good that the college is focused on that,” he said. Desu also praised the college’s biotechnology and nanotechnology programs but said he wishes to focus more on environmental work, which he painted as lacking. Applying the college’s work to help the surrounding community would help foster a better reputation, Desu said. He proposed expanding the college’s education capability, organizing research to benefit society and helping economic development. As far as a vision for the engineering college, Desu said he could not create one on his own. “A vision is not one man’s dream, but a collective aspiration,” he said. “I will look at the needs of the state and the unique needs of the college and focus on that.” Tangali Sudarshan, co-chair of the College of Engineering and Information Technology Dean Search Committee, said the committee examined many aspects in selecting its four finalists. “We have looked at their entire ^ record, not just academic,” Sudarshan said. “We looked at their teaching portfolio, scholarly findings and how active they were in their profession.” Sudarshan said other important aspects considered included how the candidates built their departments, their administrational skills and their fundraising capabilities. At UMass, Desu said he doubled fundraising from alumni, enabling him to hire more professors and give out more fellowships. Desu wants to increase the college’s revenue by increasing enrollment, ^receiving research grants and working with alumni and the industry. The dean search began in October 2005 when the committee reviewed applications from more than 50 dean candidates. The other finalists are Michael D. Amiridis, professor and chairman of USC’s chemical engineering department; Christine W. Curtis, a chemical engineering professor at Auburn University; and James F. Ely, chemical engineering department head for the Colorado School of Mines. The candidates will meet with faculty and administrators on the following dates: Ely, Jan. 30-31; Curtis, Feb. 1-2; and Amiridis, Feb. 6-7. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu Ill the Reagan administration. Republicans say he is a perfect choice for the high court. They praise his parrying of Democratic attacks on his judicial record and personal credibility during his confirmation hearings this month. Democrats worry that Alito, along with Chief Justice John Roberts, will push the court to the right and could even overturn major decisions such as Roe v. Wade, the abortion rights case. to the American people that this guy is not King George, he’s President George,” said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Bush should have picked a woman, said Reid. “They couldn’t go for her because she was an independent woman,” Reid said of Miers, whose nomination was withdrawn under conservative criticism. Bush then picked Alito, a 15-year federal appeals judge, former federal prosecutor and lawyer for auto • conunuEDPRomi “We urge the Senate to move forward with a swift up-or-down vote so he can begin serving on our nation’s highest court,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said after the Judiciary Committee advanced Alito’s nomination on a 10-8 party line vote. 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