Professor Profile: Dr. Charles Grossman
Michelle Rosmarin
Contributing Writer
Dr. Charles J. Grossman is a Biology professor who also spends his time researching animal behavior. His experience allows him to teach many students on a wide variety of subjects, though his interests extend far beyond the classroom.
Dr. Charles Grossman
What is your favorite part of biology?
It depends on what time of life I’m in. Until about eight years ago I did research in immunology and endocrinology which I found very interesting. Now I’m doing behavioral research on manatees, which is a lot of fun. I work with them at the Cincinnati Zoo doing acoustic studies on how they respond to sound.
Why should students study biology?
There’s a huge amount of things you can do. A lot of students go to medical school or dental school.
You can also do environmental stuff, work with national parks or with the federal government and the Environmental Protection Agency fighting pollution.
You can work in underdeveloped countries helping with food crops or with diseases like malaria. Or you can work for drug companies.
Where did you attend college?
I went to Adelphi University in Long Island, New York. It was very small because it had just changed from a college to a university. After that I went to Stony Brook, which is part of the state system in New York. Then I came here to UC for my advanced degrees.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I do gourmet cooking. I really like to cook French and Chinese food. My wife also cooks, but usually I cook the meals because I like to do it and she doesn’t.
What is your favorite class to teach?
Pretty much all of them. I like teaching Anatomy and Physiology because I get to teach students how things work. I also like Immunology because it’s always new and always changing. I’m also teaching a biology class for non-majors. I like teaching it because it teaches the students to understand things they hear in the media, what’s fact and what’s just hype, and to figure out what’s really happening. Everyone’s going to have to face that.
Do you have any pets?
We have tons of pets. Right now I have five parrots, two dogs and one cat. When we had kids around we had guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles and lots of cats. There were pets all over the place. I have one parrot that talks constantly. She’s an African Grey and I bring her to my classes and she talks to the students.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
That’s really tough. I’d probably take six months off and travel west, visit the Grand Canyon, Colorado, places like that. There’s so much to see in the U.S. I’ve been all around the world presenting research, like Germany and France. I’d also like to visit Canada.
What music do you like to listen to?
Classical. My kids laugh at me because I don’t know half of the new stuff. I really like the Baroque period. It’s very organized and scientific, so it’s nice to follow.
Did you watch the NCAA tournament games?
Yes. I was riveted during the WVU game that went back and forth, I was sure we were going to lose. I was really disappointed we didn’t make it to the Final Four. We’ll make it next year though!
What did you want to be when you were younger?
A physicist, but the math was too much for me. I had one relative who was a famous physicist and one relative who was a famous mathematician, so I wanted to be like them. Now with my manatee research I collaborate with the physics department a lot. I still like working with physics, but I let them do it all.
Do you have any advice for your students?
I know students are very busy, but the best solution for them in classes is to take good notes and make themselves review the material the same day. Not just for my classes, for every class.
I know it’s hard, but when studying for exams it makes it easier because you remember better.
Police Notes
March 25, 7 a.m.– Over the weekend Campus Police received three harassing phone calls from an unknown caller. An investigation is pending.
March 25, 8:36 p.m.– A non-student asking students and employees for money near 1015 Dana Avenue. was arrested for criminal trespassing.
March 25, 9:21 p.m.– Campus Police investigated a dispute/telecommunications harassment between two students.
March 27, 9:55 p.m.– Campus Police investigated a report of a student setting off fireworks in the Village lot.
March 27, 10:43 p.m.– Campus Police and Residence Life responded to a report of an intoxicated underage student in the residence halls. The student was determined to be OK.
March 28, 1:13 a.m.– Campus Police and Residence Life responded to a report of someone smoking marijuana in the residence halls. A room search was conducted, and a small amount of drugs and paraphernalia were confiscated.
March 29, 1:15 a.m.– A student carrying an open container of alcohol near Husman Hall was cited for underage consumption.
March 29, 1:43 a.m.– Campus Police and Residence Life investigated a noise complaint in the Village. A room search was conducted after the odor of marijuana was detected, and a small amount of drugs and paraphernalia were confiscated.
March 29, 11:45 p.m.– A student carrying an open container of alcohol in the Village lot was cited for underage consumption.
March 30, 1:54 a.m.– A student observed urinating in the I lot was cited for underage consumption.
Police Note of the Week
March 29, 8:47 p.m.– Campus Police, Cincinnati Police, and Cincinnati Fire and Rescue responded to a report of an individual lighting a couch on fire in the 1000 block of Dana Avenue after the men’s basketball game.
Meghan Berneking
Campus News Editor
Woodruff lecture
Journalist Bob Woodruff spoke at the Millennium Hotel in downtown Cincinnati about the serious head injury he sustained while covering the war in Iraq and his recovery experience on Tuesday, April 1.
Xavier students were able to watch the talk via webcast in the Schiff Family Conference Center and participated in a discussion panel afterwards. Event coordinator Carol Scheerer, Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department said the goal was to spread awareness about head injuires, especially those sustained by soldiers and journalists serving and working in Iraq.
“Head injury is much more common than people think,” says Scheerer. However, because many head injuries manifest themselves behaviorally instead of physically, they can go unnoticed and the patient’s symptoms can be misunderstood. “We need to work at [having] a better understanding of this population,” says Scheerer.
Woodruff’s presentation was broadcast to several area colleges, including Xavier and NKU. Woodruff’s speech at the Millennium Hotel was part of a fundraiser for the Drake Center, a facility specializing in mental and physical rehabilitation for a range of illnesses once patients have been discharged from the hospital.
Celebrate life
The documentary “The Business of Being Born” will be shown 7- 9 p.m. Wednesday, in Kelley Auditorium. From 11a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, April 3, free goodies and information about resources for women will be available at the Women’s Center. For more info and/or questions, email Kate Raffel at komosjm@xavier.edu.
RSA BBQ
The Resident Student Association executive board is having a BBQ from 4-6 p.m., April 3 on the greenspace. The rain location is right in front of Gallagher. Enjoy free food this Thursday. Contact Lauren Fultz at Fultzla@xavier.edu for more information.
Hospital fundraiser
Alpha Epsilon Delta will be hosting a fundraiser this week for the cancer hospital in El Salvador where Archbishop Oscar Romero spent his last years. At this hospital campus, Romero was assassinated in 1980 by an order from the Salvadoran government. The Hospital Divina Providencia remains a place of pilgrimage for people all over the world, but the hospital is in sever need of financial aid. AED is collecting donations through a competition between the chairs of the biology and chemistry departments. Whichever deparment chair can raise the most money will dye his or her hair blue, if the $1,000 goal is met. To make a donation, stop by Albers Hall this week from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Scholarship Gala
Tickets are now being sold for this year’s Antonio Johnson Scholarship Gala. Ticket Sales will take place in the Office of Multicultural Affairs every day until April 4. There will also be a table from 2-4 p.m. from Wednesday, April 2, until Friday, April 4 in GSC. The Gala is at 6:30 p.m. April 18. Ticket prices are as follows: XU students are $10, other students are $20 and adults are $30. A student table is $80 and other tables are $240. Get your tickets early–this event will be sold out. Contact JaLissa D. Coffee at coffeej@xavier.edu for more information.
Fur Ball
Join XU students who will be assisting special guests Thane Maynard of the Cincinnati Zoo, the “Team Lachey” Choir, Gary Burbank and Shayne Graham at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animal’s 2008 Fur Ball to be held from 6-10 p.m., Saturday, April 12, at the Duke Energy Center. The event is black tie optional. There will be cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, jewelry raffle, dinner and a live auction. Dancing will follow dinner with music by Dr. Dan & The Stray Dogs Band. For information and/or for tickets contact Jo Ann Recker at recker@xavier.edu.
Study abroad
Applications are now available for the Steinberg Memorial Scholarship for Xavier summer study abroad. Contact mcdiarmid@xavier.edu for more information.
