From staff reports
The Rev. Earl Brill, who served as the Episcopal chaplain for Duke University students from 1984 to 1991, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, at his home in Durham. He was 75.
"He was one of the giants of his generation and a hero to a lot of clergy," said the Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, the Episcopal chaplain at Duke since 1992. "He will be missed."
Brill graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951. He obtained his theological degree with honors in 1956 from the Philadelphia Divinity School and became vicar of The Church of the Epiphany in Royersford, Pa. In 1958, he was awarded his master's degree in theology with honors from Princeton University. After obtaining his Ph.D. from American University in 1969, he was appointed assistant professor of history there in 1971. He later became chair of the school's American Studies Program and Center for Liberal Studies.
Brill remained active in the Episcopal Church in the 1990s, serving as director of the Deacon's Training Program for the Episcopal Church Diocese of North Carolina. In addition, he served as trustee of the Episcopal Church Pension Fund from 1988 to 2000.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, who is head of the reference department at Duke's Perkins Library, daughters Lesley and Grace, son Kenneth, and stepsons Andrew and Mark Simpson.
A memorial service will be held in Duke Chapel at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Earl Brill Education Fund, c/o The College of Preachers, 3510 Woodley Road NW, Washington, D.C., 20016.
Employees to receive pins: In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Human Resources is providing U.S. flag pins to campus employees at the Campus Bookstore in the Bryan Center and the Human Resources Office in Trent Drive Hall during regular business hours. The pins will be given free to employees showing their Duke identification.
Forums set to discuss national affairs: In the next three weeks, four forums will focus on the after effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the country's new war on terrorism. The first--set for tonight in the Fleishman Commons at the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy at 7 p.m.--will feature Middle East expert Bruce Jentleson, institute director and former foreign policy advisor to Vice President Al Gore, and international relations scholar Robert Keohane, James B. Duke professor of political science, on the topic of "The New War on Terrorism: Initial Assessments."
Another forum is scheduled Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the Divinity School's alumni commons room on "Christianity, War and Patriotism," featuring Gregory Jones, Divinity School dean and a number of Divinity professors.
Next Tuesday at the School of Law at 7 p.m., a number of law professors, including constitutional law expert William Van Alstyne, William and Thomas Perkins professor of law, and Walter Dellinger, Douglas Maggs professor of law and former acting U.S. solicitor general, will discuss "National Security and Civil Liberties: How to Strike the Balance?"
The final forum, Monday, Oct. 8, "The Terrorism Crisis and the World Economy: What Effects, What Strategies?" will take place at the Fuqua School of Business at 7 p.m. and will feature Doug Breeden, dean of the business school, among other members of the Fuqua faculty.
United Way debuts September 11th Fund: The Council of Foundations and the United Way have created the September 11th Fund to serve as a national conduit for disaster relief donations. Members of the Duke community can donate to the fund, which will provide support to established emergency agencies, such as the American Red Cross, as well as other nonprofit health and human services agencies that are responding to the immediate and long-term needs of the victims and their families as well as all of those affected by the tragedy. The Triangle United Way will forward 100 percent of contributions earmarked for this fund to New York City and Washington, D.C.
The Duke United Way campaign starts Oct. 1. More information on the September 11th Fund and the general United Way campaign is available at http://www.hr.duke.edu/unitedway/.
Fuqua upgrades information technology: Last month, the Fuqua School of Business upgraded its computer network, adding faster computers and more current software. Specifically, the school opened a new information kiosk in the commons room at the Science Drive entrance to the school, including nine televisions and a number of e-mail stations. The school also upgraded its network and server infrastructure and debuted a more user-friendly Fuqua World--a main communications portal for students and faculty.
Founders' Day Convocation to be held Oct. 4: The University will hold its annual Founders' Day Convocation in the Chapel Oct. 4. It begins at 4 p.m. and is open to the public.
The convocation address will be delivered by Margaret Taylor Smith, Woman's College, '47, a 1996 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award and past chair of the Kresge Foundation. She is a founding member of a workplace for handicapped adults and the Legal Aid Society in Oakland County, Mich.
The Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award will go to Peter Feaver, associate professor of political science.
The University Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award, given by the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, will be presented to Stanley Hauerwas, the Gilbert Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School.
Founders' Day celebrates the founding of the University and this year's occasion will mark the 100th anniversary of the first event honoring the Duke family at this institution.
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