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FSU wins in art, medicine, technology, taxol, faculty

Sandy D'Alemberte

In an emotional meeting Oct. 1, FSU President Sandy D'Alemberte delivered his last annual state-of-the-university address, wrapping up Florida State's pro-gress since he took over in 1994.

D'Alemberte shared the stage at the fall faculty meeting with Dean of the Faculties Steve Ed-wards, a physicist who plans to retire this year after 50 years at Florida State as professor, dean and historian.

D'Alemberte, 69, in his familiar style of modesty, humor and courtesy, said he hopes he's done a good-enough job as president to make the university appeal to a successor "with better credentials than mine to lead us to much higher levels of achievement."

To attract those better-than-him candidates, D'Alemberte said, he has managed certain achievements for Florida State:
* In the arts-Florida State's arts programs now include the Ringling Museum, where drama, sculpture, painting, architecture and music are performed and studied in Sarasota.

* In international studies-Florida State has expanded the sites and programs abroad.

·* In medicine-Florida State opened a new medical college two years ago.

* In community service-Florida State has a new Center for Civic Education and is steadily increasing habits of service by students and faculty.

* In K-12 education-Florida State has taken on the challenge of teaching schools how to make sure all their pupils learn reading and the rest of the basics. Research at FSU has shown the way for the state and federal campaigns to bring literacy to every child.

* In expanding the campus-Major FSU buildings are completed and more are under construction.
* In technology-Florida State has built a "first-rate technology infrastructure," developed rapidly expanding distance-learning programs, played host to the national magnet lab and bought the world's largest university-owned computer.

* In athletics-Besides championships, FSU athletes have new buildings and equipment, academic oversight "and a Booster organization that is simply the best in the country."

* In faculty-Florida State has acquired 59 named professors in three years. They bring international reputations, exciting research projects and exceptional teaching talent to FSU.

* In money raising-Florida State has launched its first two capital campaigns, raising $250 million in the first one and $346 million already in the second one, which has a goal of $600 million.

* In research-Since 1998, Florida State has almost doubled the contracts and grants to conduct research-from $88 million to $147 million. One of the best known outcomes is the synthetic Taxol that thousands of cancer survivors will never forget.

D'Alemberte, former president of the American Bar Association, said he wasn't sure what he would do next-maybe try practicing law-but he hoped to stay involved in some of his FSU projects.

The faculty responded to D'Alem-berte's speech with a prolonged standing ovation, which he tried without success to end by motioning repeatedly to the audience to sit down.

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