Thank you, Ed, and good morning.

The tragedy of September 11, and the events that have followed it, have caused a great deal of anxiety all over the country – and our campuses are no exception.  You each received a copy of my recent communication to the Penn State community regarding what we are doing to address any dangers that might confront the University community. 

I think I can say with great assurance that we have done everything we can, within reason, to promote security and to be as certain as possible that our students, employees and visitors are safe.  Many of the precautions are things that we routinely do and some have been added in the face of concerns about terrorism. 

One area that is sometimes mentioned by those with concerns for safety is Penn State’s Breazeale Nuclear Reactor.  I can assure you that we are always vigilant about security at this site, following all Nuclear Regulatory Commission protocols.  The reactor is a highly effective learning tool for Penn State engineering and health physics students, and safety is always emphasized.  Another topic that has been in the media lately is the use of chemicals and biological agents on university campuses.  We have precautions in place to make sure that access to laboratories is limited and we follow all EPA guidelines about the storage and handling of materials.

In the face of recent heightened concerns about terrorism, we have implemented some new procedures, as well.  Most of you are aware of the changes at football games -- no re-entry to the stadium, changed parking and traffic patterns, barring of knapsacks and bags at games, and a "no fly zone" in effect around Beaver Stadium. We also have worked closely with postal authorities to make sure that procedures are in place for handling any suspicious mail, and we have advised employees via our web page and through the Penn State Newswire of steps that should be taken to ensure their safety in dealing with suspicious letters and packages. 

We have also just appointed a Special Response Team, headed by Tom Harmon, Chief of University Police Services, to advise me on handling potential problems or threats.  This team will recommend procedures and safeguards to reduce risks to facilities and employees, prepare guidelines for implementation of safeguards, and establish communications protocols.  I would like to add that our police officers, Hazardous Materials Team, and other security personnel have been working long hours to allow us to provide extra security and to respond to every potential threat. 

In addition to the safety precautions that we are taking, I thought you might be interested in the many ways in which our faculty and other researchers at the University are involved in activities related to national defense and homeland security.  We were recently asked to provide a list of such activities.  You would be amazed at the length and variety of research topics on the list.  Forty-four projects were documented and I am sure there are some that we missed!   I will give only a few examples here.

 Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) performs over $100M of defense-related research annually.  Earlier this month, the U.S. Navy announced that it had awarded ARL an overarching contract which authorizes ARL to conduct individual research and development projects for the Navy for up to $814 million over 10 years.  The contract is the largest and longest ever awarded to ARL in its long-running relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense.  We also have the Institute for Emerging Defense Technology at Penn State, established in 1998, to enable multi-disciplinary collaboration among research units; and the Marine Corps Research University, established in 1999, to provide expertise and training to the Marines across a range of areas.

Penn State researchers are contributing to national efforts on counter-terrorism in a variety of ways.  For example, new ultra-light, high-strength materials developed by ARL have already been incorporated into two U.S. ships, resulting in weight savings of over 20,000 pounds in each case.  Other materials developed within the College of Engineering can be used to minimize flying debris during explosions.  Another research innovation from ARL is a “smart fence” security system that uses sensors to detect intruders who may be trying to climb over or cut protective fences surrounding sensitive areas, such as embassies or airports. 

In a completely different arena, one of our faculty members is working with the Department of Defense to develop new and novel antibiotics that may be effective against a variety of potential biological warfare agents, such as anthrax.  A faculty member from the Department of Entomology has taken a creative approach to the same problem by investigating the effectiveness of microwaves and ultrasound for inactivating bacterial spores.

            Penn State has become a recognized leader, both nationally and internationally, in homeland defense and crisis response, including collaborative relationships with and sponsorship from many federal and national agencies.  During this time of crisis, I am proud to say that faculty at Penn State are eager to serve the national interest in any way possible.

            While serious issues face this country, our students are busy studying and getting ready for the end-of-semester crunch.  They are still finding time to show their Penn State pride and leadership in various ways.

            This year’s homecoming events, ranging from community service projects to “guarding the lion shrine,” all had high participation.   The homecoming parade was the largest and best-attended we have had in my 7 years as president, concluding with a pep rally and fireworks on the HUB lawn and a candle-light vigil on the steps of Old Main.

            Of course, the recent football victories and Joe Paterno holding the record for NCAA Division I-A career victories has given everyone more to celebrate. 

            I know that some of you were on-hand to witness the historic moment in the history of football when Joe broke Bear Bryant’s  record.  It was a wonderful moment for Joe and Sue and for the team, but it was also a great moment for everyone at Penn State because it gave us the chance to honor someone who has given so much more than football to Penn State.

            I thought you might enjoy seeing two short video clips highlighting Joe’s career.  The first is a commentary by John Saunders shown on ESPN; the second is a tribute played at the stadium following the record-breaking win over Ohio State.   [SHOW VIDEO CLIP]

            There is a resolution on the table in front of each of you that you will be asked to vote on today.  The resolution recognizes Joe Paterno for his legendary accomplishments on the football field and acknowledges the support and leadership Joe and Sue have provided for so many areas within Penn State -- the library, the spiritual center, the all-sports museum, professorships, and student scholarships.  Joe and Sue will join us briefly after lunch so that you may have the opportunity to express your congratulations and appreciation.       

            There are also plenty of activities off the field to cheer about.  For example, an impressive effort was organized around the Ohio State game when 200 Penn State and Ohio State students teamed up to work at 15 different sites across the community, such as Shaver’s Creek, the Strawberry Fields mental health facility, and House of Caring, a local hospice.  The students helped with the various needs of these organizations by painting, landscaping, preparing food or doing other odd jobs.  This was the fourth year for that project.

            The fall break in early October also provided students with an opportunity to learn about urban poverty and to lend a hand in improving conditions for inner-city youth and the homeless.  One three-day volunteer experience, known as the Philadelphia Urban Plunge, provided students with the opportunity to interact with children and assist at shelters. These service learning opportunities are helping to transform our students from spectators to engaged citizens.  Last year, more than 10,200 Penn State student volunteers donated about 82,000 hours of community service.  Those are only the reported numbers.  We have countless other students whose volunteer service has not been reported.

            I have talked before about Penn State’s nationally recognized and emulated Newspaper Readership Program. What began in 1997 as a limited program to provide free copies of The New York Times, USA Today and the local paper to students at University Park has now grown into the largest newspaper readership program at any university in the nation.  Twenty Penn State campuses are now part of the program and last year, Penn State students read more than 1.5 million newspapers.

            Being an informed citizen is critical to developing a greater understanding of the world.  Our students are among the best informed on any college campus.  In addition, since the program’s inception, more than 623 tons of newspapers have been recycled and more than $23,000 has been added to the general scholarship fund from this effort.           

            Last month also marked the beginning of several other important projects for the University, including construction of the Life Sciences Building and the Chemistry Building, part of the recently updated, five-year, $769 million capital improvement plan --the largest in Penn State's history.

            In addition, we have started construction on the new IST Building, which will house the School of IST and the Department of Computer Engineering.  You probably noticed the new traffic patterns when turning off of North Atherton and the opening of the Curtin Road entrance to campus.  The closing of Pollock Road, which has been part of our master plan, now makes that core section of campus safer and more pedestrian friendly.  We look forward to the time when the IST building will span North Atherton, providing a vital link between core campus and the developing West Campus and a safer pedestrian crossing at that busy thoroughfare.

            We also are set to launch Phase Three of development at Innovation Park, which involves the remaining undeveloped 75 acres of the 118-acre site.  Innovation Capital Partners is leasing the park’s remaining undeveloped parcel and can develop up to 800,000 square feet in that acreage.  The number and type of buildings developed will depend on tenant requirements.  Currently, there are 41 tenants at Innovation Park employing more than 770 people. Thirty-nine percent of those tenants provide work experience for Penn State students and the same proportion have hired Penn State graduates.

            As part of Penn State’s commitment to renewable energy resources and the environment, we recently signed a contract with Community Energy Inc, a Wayne, Pennsylvania-based firm, to purchase 5 percent of the University Park campus’s electrical needs from wind energy.   This agreement establishes Penn State as a national leader in wind energy and will make Penn State the second largest user of retail wind energy in the United States.  This energy source has no emissions and has the equivalent carbon dioxide benefits of taking 1,130 cars off the road or planting 2,152 acres of trees.

            In other areas aimed at improving the quality of life, in early October Penn State researchers at The Hershey Medical Center successfully performed their first implantation of a heart “jacket” on a 49-year-old Harrisburg man.  The heart jacket is a mesh device that is slipped around a patient’s heart and stitched in place to support the muscle and prevent further enlargement of the heart, halting the progression of heart failure and improving cardiac function. 

            You will recall that we heard a report from Billie Willits, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, in September regarding the many child care programs we have on our campuses.  Today, I am pleased to tell you that child care has just become more accessible to our student parents.  Penn State has been awarded a $1.12 million grant from the U.S Department of Education to provide financial assistance for child care to student parents university-wide over the next four years.  The program will provide undergraduate and graduate student parents with a subsidy that can be used at any licensed child care facility, allowing the students to reach their academic goals while their children receive quality child care.

            Next time you’re in the grocery store, be sure to look for a new item in the produce section -- a hybrid tomato known as the Penn State Cherry Tomato.   Developed by Majid Foolad [Ma geed Foo lad], an associate professor of plant genetics and breeding, the tomato hybrid is expected to save growers millions of dollars and provide incalculable health benefits.  The Penn State Cherry Tomato not only grows on plants that are resistant to diseases that typically ruin nearly a third of Pennsylvania's annual $16 million tomato crop, but it also contains three times as much of the powerful antioxidant compound lycopene as do other cultivated strains of tomatoes.  Research has shown that lycopene in the human diet helps prevent many types of cancer and heart disease.  So – eat your tomatoes, they’re good for your heart!       

            That concludes my report.  I would be happy to answer your questions now.