From the victims of hate crimes or sexual assault to those who are overly anxious, demanding, or potentially violent, distressed students may walk into offices and classrooms at any time. A guide to assist staff and faculty in dealing with such emotionally charged situations was mailed out earlier this year to employees, but in case you need extras, or did not get one, a copy can be secured from Brandon Brod (x4569) in the Office of Student Life. "Referring Distressed Students" was updated and edited by Silvia Ortiz-Benzel of Counseling and Career Services, with assistance from Brod and others.

HONORS & AWARDS

Celesta Billeci, director of Arts & Lectures, was honored earlier this year with a 2002 Independent Theatre Award for commissioning new work and co-presenting with community groups. Usually given for a specific performance or production, the panel of arts journalists made the first-ever award to A&L to acknowledge its role in making "Santa Barbara a more national focus" for performing arts groups.

Sanjit K. Mitra, professor of electrical and computer engineering, has received the 2001 Society Award, the highest award given by the Signal Processing Society, which is the fourth-largest professional society under the umbrella of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

TRANSITIONS

David Siegel, professor of geography, has been named director of the Institute for Computational Earth System Science. He joined the UCSB faculty in 1990, and has most recently served as assistant director of ICESS.

Walter Yuen, professor of mechanical and environmental engineering, began his two-year term as the chair of the UCSB Academic Senate on Sept. 1, 2002. He is the former vice chair of the Senate and joined the campus in 1977.

IN MEMORIAM

Robert Freeman, associate professor of music, died on June 17, 2002; he was 62. He had taken a disability retirement last November after serving the university since 1974. He is survived by two daughters, Angela and Natasha Freeman.

Lt. Col. Richard F. Mitchell, ret., a former director of UCSB's Instructional Resources Department, died on July 16, 2002, after battling cancer for a year. The native Californian was 82. A much-decorated U.S. Army officer with nearly three decades of service, he built a second career in what was, in 1965, called the Department of Learning Resources. He retired from campus in 1990, but visited former colleagues until recently. Betty, his wife of nearly 60 years, a son, a daughter, and a grandson survive him.