News and Notes

Kwasi Sarkodie-Mensah, instructional service manager at O'Neill Library, has led service trips to his native Ghana for the last six years. In partnership with World Computer Exchange, founded by Tim Anderson, BC '08, Sarkodie-Mensah and his volunteers have brought more than 100 computers to schoolchildren in the village of Ejisu. The infrastructure to support these systems is often limited, though. Marla DeRosa, an adjunct professor of English who has been on several trips to Ghana, told reporters that solar power presented a solution. "It's so sunny there that it seemed like a pretty obvious solution. Most businesses in the area that require reliable electricity use diesel-powered generators, but those are noisy and polluting."

ON CAMPUS Law school professorship honoring former dean awarded Law professor and tax scholar James Repetti has been named to the Rev. William J. Kenealy, S.J., Professorship, named in honor of a former dean and inagural class member of the law school. "This is a great honor, and it is fitting that it will go to someone of Jim's distinction," law school dean John H. Garvey, told reporters. "I'm very pleased to be the inaugural holder of the Kenealy Professorship," Repetti said. "William Kenealy is a tremendously important figure in the history of the Law School and Boston College." Kenealy was appointed dean of the school in 1939 and oversaw its expansion, including a vote to allow women to enroll.

UNIVERSITIES Thespians at Bryn Mawr search for a stage during renovations

Students at Bryn Mawr had to search for alternative theater spaces this semester after a multi-million-dollar renovation closed the campus theater. Kate Watson-Wallace, an area choreographer, told reporters that she plans to conduct a performance in the backseat of a Volkswagen. Lisa Kraus, performing arts series organizer, said the renovations presented an opportunity to "acquaint our students with the very adventurous art that's happening outside the boundaries of conventional spaces." Students of the performing arts were also inspired by performers in nearby Philadelphia who often find ways to work without the benefit of a conventional stage or space.

Chinese universities attract record international students Chinese universities now attract the fifth-largest number of international students, surpassed only by the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and France. An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education said that the study reflects both the rising importance of China in world affairs, as well as government initiatives that have attempted to enhance the nation's visibility as a study-abroad and college destination. Gerard A. Postiglione, an expert at the University of Hong Kong, told reporters, "China has a plan not only to establish world-class universities, but in the process to internationalize higher education. They realize they can't have world-class universities without recruiting large numbers of international students."

UNDER REPORTED In these times of uncertainty, toilet paper advances give hope

Toilet paper researchers, people who hold actual jobs researching on the very cutting edge of toilet paper technology, have developed a three-ply version of the product. The Georgia Pacific researchers at the company's institute in Neenah, Wis., have developed toilet paper that the company said is softer than the more common two-ply brand. Bill Schmitz, an industry analyst, told reporters that he is unsure of the claims made by the company and said that additional layers generally serve to strengthen, not soften, toilet paper. Georgia Pacific said that they plan to market the product primarily to women 45 and older.