DURHAM -- Daniel Williams, a professor at North Carolina Central University, has become the first black man elected president of North Carolina's American Society for Microbiology.
NCCU will become the first historically black college or university to host the ASM's annual meeting Saturday.
Williams is an assistant professor of microbiology in the biology department. He is investigating the sexually transmitted disease, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which has become increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
This year's ASM conference will address the effects and implications of many pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms. Scientists will discuss recent advances made in fundamental and applied research areas of microbiology.
The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Mary Townes Science Building, Room 1111. Registration is $10 for ASM members and $20 for nonmembers. For information, visit www.asm.org/branch/brnc/.
Russell-McCloud to speak at NCCU
DURHAM -- Patricia Russell-McCloud will speak at North Carolina Central University as part of the school's Centennial Lyceum program Oct. 13.
The lecture -- "Education Upgrade -- Empowering, Energizing and Enlightening" -- will be at 6 p.m. in the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. It is free and open to the public.
Russell-McCloud is an author who writes about encouraging students and faculty to increase their educational opportunities for mainstream opportunities in the public and private sector job markets.
For information, contact Natasha Adams at 530-6932 or nadams@nccu.edu.
NCCU gets new emergency siren
DURHAM -- North Carolina Central University has installed a new emergency siren, which is part of the university's crisis communication plan and emergency notification system.
It targets people outdoors who may not have access to other Eagle Alert notification methods such as e-mail, text messages or the emergency Web site.
NCCU will conduct its first test of the system on Oct. 15, from noon to 3 p.m. When the system is activated, there will be a siren tone, followed by a voice message announcing, "This is a test of the NCCU Emergency Alert System. This is only a test."
When the test is complete, there will be a second siren and an announcement signaling "All-clear. Resume normal activities."
The university police will activate the system periodically for testing and to alert the campus community about immediate life-threatening emergencies such as an armed and dangerous person on campus, a major chemical or biological hazard or a tornado sighting.
The sirens are mounted on three, 40-foot-tall galvanized poles. They are located at the north side of Benjamin Ruffin Residence Hall near the corner of Lawson and Concord Streets; the south side of Alfonso Elder Student Union on Nelson Street by the loading dock driveway; and east of the track by New Residence II and the Leroy T. Walker Complex.
To learn more about the system, visit www.nccu.edu.
-- COMPILED BY NEIL OFFEN
