'Gazette' schedule

'The Gazette' will not be published on Dec. 20 or Dec. 27. The deadline for calendar and classifieds submissions for the issue of Jan. 3, 2000, is noon on Wednesday, Dec. 22.

Early decision applications up 15 percent over last year

The number of high school seniors applying early decision to Hopkins rose this year, reflecting a trend among the nation's top universities. After the Nov. 15 deadline passed, Hopkins admissions officers tallied a 15 percent jump over last year's applications.

Other prestigious universities with binding early decision policies also saw increases: The University of Pennsylvania's figure rose 18.7 percent, Columbia's 18.2 percent, Cornell's 11.9 percent while Yale's rose 2.7 percent.

Notification of acceptances to Hopkins will be mailed Dec. 15.

Latest United Way tally takes Hopkins campaign over the top

Once more, Johns Hopkins employees have pulled together to help meet the needs of the United Way. The latest tally shows that United Way contributions and pledges for all Johns Hopkins institutions have reached $1,695,202.66, exceeding the goal of $1,684,000. Gifts are expected to top $1,717,000 by the end of 1999.

"This gift will make a significant impact on health and human service programs in Baltimore City and the surrounding counties of Central Maryland," said Judy Peregoff, director of the Office of Faculty, Staff and Retiree Programs, which coordinates the university effort.

Although the official campaign is over, contributions and pledges are welcome all year.

Alice McDermott named Macksey Writer-in-Residence

Alice McDermott, who this semester became a full-time faculty member in The Writing Seminars, was named in November the first Richard A. Macksey Writer-in-Residence.

McDermott, who came to Hopkins as writer-in-residence in 1996, is the author of four novels, including Charming Billy, which won the 1998 National Book Award.

The faculty position, named after the longtime, revered humanities professor, who continues to teach in the schools of Medicine and Arts and Sciences, is being endowed by one of Macksey's former students, Edward T. Dangel III, and his wife, Bonni Widdoes.

One of the nicest things about the endowed position, said Macksey, was that McDermott was chosen for it.

"She's a wonderful teacher," Macksey said. "She teaches a course up in the tower of Gilman Hall, and many times I have sat in the lounge below just to eavesdrop on her classes. I do it just because I like to hear her teach."

Peabody artists to perform at Carnegie/Weill Hall

La Gesse Foundation will present three concerts on Dec. 14, 15 and 16 featuring young artists from the Peabody Conservatory at Carnegie/Weill Recital Hall in New York. Among the performers are pianists, a violinist, a cellist and a soprano.

La Gesse Foundation was founded in 1981 by Princess Cecilia de Medici to promote young American musicians who have proven their brilliance but need assistance in expanding their performing opportunities. The 11 artists appearing in these three recitals have appeared at La Gesse Festival in France.

Tickets are available through CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800.

Alan J. Goldman inaugurates eponymous lecture series

Last spring the Department of Mathematical Sciences established the Alan J. Goldman Lecture Fund to honor Goldman on the occasion of his retirement from full-time status and to support a visit and lecture each fall by a distinguished mathematical scholar in the fields of operations research and optimization.

This talk, relatively nontechnical, will offer some reflections on mathematical modeling and research with particular emphasis on the area of operations research and optimization. Based on the speaker's experiences, these reflections will be organized around the broad themes of variability, tradeoffs, approximation, "conversity" and the tension between generality and efficiency.

One aim is to suggest particular examples of intellectual and/or practical interest, and to offer tentative thoughts on how they might be translated into researchable mathematical problems.

Goldman, now professor emeritus, has agreed to give the inaugural lecture, which will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, in 304 Whitehead, Homewood campus. Refreshments will be served at 3:30 p.m.

SAIS to host conference on business in Indonesia

SAIS and the Japan External Trade Organization will co-sponsor a conference, "Business Prospects in Indonesia under the New Government," on Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A panel of experts on the region from the areas of finance, business, law, academia and government will discuss future business opportunities in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, under the new leadership of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Edward Masters, president of the U.S.-Indonesia Society and former U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, will give the keynote speech, "Has Indonesia Turned the Corner?" Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Indonesian ambassador to the United States, will be the luncheon speaker.

Portions of the conference are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. To register, contact Mitch Kitamura at JETRO New York at 212-819-7747 or kitamuram@jetro.go.jp. Admittance to the luncheon is by invitation only.

The event will be held in Kenney Auditorium of the Nitze Building, 1740 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.