Campus Connection - Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2009

UW-L unveils eagle mascot name

We have a winner. You can now call UW-L's eagle mascot "Eddie." "Eddie" received 200 of the 712 votes cast and was unveiled during half-time of the men’s basketball game Jan. 24 against UW-Eau Claire. The eagle donned a UW-L jersey with the new name. Other top names were "Screech" and "Talon." As one of the people who voted for "Eddie," Senior Emily Cina won the drawing to receive a life-time ticket to UW-L athletic events, a $100 donation to her favorite UW-L student organization and a $45 gift certificate for Outback Steakhouse in Onalaska.

UW-L "hit a home run," Chancellor Joe Gow said, when the UW System Board of Regents met on campus in December 2008. Senior Audreyona Chavez, left, who was featured in one of the "The Story Behind the Numbers" video presentations shown to the Regents and at the All-University address, spoke briefly at the address last week. She was highlighted in a video on UW-L's award-winning Self-Sufficiency Program.

All-University address bittersweet

Chancellor Joe Gow shared good and challenging news with the campus community Jan. 21 at his All-University Address in Graff Main Hall Auditorium. Challenging news: the budget. The good news: the quality of UW-L faculty, staff and students.

Here's an overview of topics Gow addressed:

  • Two men talking. Signs with
    UW-L faculty and staff kicked off the Chancellor's All-University Address with Awareness through Performance skits. Above, "Respectfully Aware" Joshua Rybaski, Admissions, helped "Blissfully Unaware" Jason Kouba, Study Abroad, use language which was more respectful to various groups.

    Make sure, you're not using offensive language. The Campus Climate Office and Disability Resource Services can help. Visit www.uwlax.edu/campusclimate/ and www.uwlax.edu/drs/index.htm
    The December 2008 UW System Board of Regents meeting at UW-L was "a home run," says Gow.
  • Thomas Harris, multicultural student services, received the Martin Luther King Leadership award on Jan. 19. See: La Crosse Tribune Jan. 19 article: "So much progress, so much yet to do: Obama’s inauguration adds urgency and excitement to King celebration," www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/19/news/00lead.txt.
  • Vickie Sanchez, Admissions, nominated as UW System Outstanding Woman of Color in Education Awards
  • National Conference on Undergraduate Research to be held at UW-L April 16-18. Over 2,000 abstracts were accepted for the NCUR conference, 84 from UW-L. This is the largest number of NCUR presentations that UW-L has had accepted at an NCUR conference. Conference plans are progressing and include a performance by Grammy Award Winner Alumnus Bill Miller. For more on speakers, visit www.uwlax.edu/ncur2009/plenaryspeakers.html.
  • UW-L's Golden Key International Honour Society Chapter wins Golden Key Chapter Help America Vote award. UW-L advisers are Carla Burkhardt, College of Science and Health, and Cecilia Manrique, political science/public administration. The UW-L chapter received a $1,000 national award for demonstrating the most participation. The UW-L chapter recruited 23 UW-L students to participate in the program, most of which were Golden Key members. The students logged over 50 hours of volunteer work on election day.
  • UW-L earned a Top 25 ranking on the annual list of the “Peace Corps Top Colleges and Universities” for 2009.
  • Sixty-five percent of UW-L's students graduate in five years. That's up from 60 percent.
  • Budget concerns. UW-L anticipates cuts of more than $6 million over the next two years. Administrators are unsure how February meetings on UW System proposed stimulus package of $120 million will impact UW-L. Gow says UW-L must take action now and will carefully scrutinize every position. Read more at "UW-L chancellor talks budget cuts," La Crosse Tribune, Jan. 22, www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/22/news/z05gow.txt
  • UW-L is appealing the Science and Health dean lawsuit. Karen McLean's interim status as dean ends the end of summer.
  • The dean search for College of Liberal Studies is proceeding.
  • Forty-four percent of the campus community has given to the Centennial Campaign. Find out more about the campaign at www.uwlax.edu/campaign/.
  • UW-L textbook rental is short on funds. See "UW-L puts hold on textbooks; rental program short on funds," La Crosse Tribune, Jan. 24, www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/23/news/z01books23.txt.
Jim Jorstad at screen with five presenters on screen

Director of Educational Technologies Jim Jorstad, left, wrapped up the Jan. 21 "Passport to Technology 5" sessions with an interactive discussion with five technology experts from around the U.S. via videoconference. It was broadcast on the Web nationwide and is being forwarding to other universities around the world, Jorstad says. Photo by Paul Currier, Educational Technologies.

"Passport to Technology 5" sessions give educators overview of saving time, money

The Internet didn't exist until the early 1970s. According to the book "Born Digital," when NetGens 2.0 students (those affluent in using Web 2.0 technology) turn 20 years old, they will have spent 10,000 hours online. That's "the amount of practice time someone would need to become a professional cellist," according to the book. "To accumulate that much time at three hours per day would require just over nine years; two hours a day would require nearly 14 years." To help UW-L educators increase their technological savvy, Educational Technologies gave an overview of a myriad of technological tools at "Passport to Technology 5," its fifth annual technology conference, Jan. 21.

To learn more about technology available on campus, visit www.uwlax.edu/edtech/.

See also "Experts: Technology can lower education costs," La Crosse Tribune, Jan. 22, www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/22/news/z07tech.txt.
Two authors talking at reception

UW-L authors are focus of "Celebration of Campus Authors"

UW-L authors Matthew Cashion, English, left, and Patrick T. Randolph, English as a Second Language, were two of the 29 authors featured during the first "Celebration of Campus Authors." Cashion wrote the book "How the Sun Shines on Noise." Randolph wrote "Father's Philosophy: Poems." Murphy Library and the Provost Office hosted the reception Jan. 21 in Special Collections, Murphy Library.

To see photos of the event, see: http://picasaweb.google.com/chilton.gala/UWLFiveYearsOfBooks?feat=directlink. To find out more about the event, the authors and their books, see www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/authors/.

See also "Check out a showcase for local authors at UW-L," La Crosse Tribune, Jan. 23, www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/23/columnists/lang.txt.
Bob Kramer and student setting up computer
Computer science major Sawyer Pence, left, helped Robert Kramer, Career Services, set up his computer in Kramer's new office in the lower level of Cartwright Center (the former bowling alley space) last week. Career Services, and Academic Advising moved there from Wilder Hall in preparation for the new academic building.

Campus offices moved

In preparation for the new academic building, Wilder Hall is being vacated and many people and offices are relocating to new spaces either temporarily or permanently. Offices moved during the semester break include:

  • Campus Climate from 227 Graff Main Hall to 147 Graff Main Hall.
  • The Learning Center from Whitney Center to 256 and 257 Murphy Library.
  • The Research Center for Cultural Diversity and Community Renewal (CDCR) from 270 Murphy Library to 335 Morris Hall.
  • Student Support Services from Wilder Hall to 270 Murphy Library.
  • The Reserve Officer Training Corps program (ROTC) from Wilder Hall to the lower level of Whitney Center.
  • Residence Life from 213 Wilder Hall to 103 Whitney Center.
  • Career Services and Academic Advising from Wilder Hall to the lower level of Cartwright Center (the former bowling alley space).

Other moves set for this spring:

Provost Kathleen Enz Finken and staff, including Karyn Cecele, Bill Cerbin and Bob Hoar; and Terri Thill, Institutional Research; to move from 145 Graff Main Hall to 227 Graff Main Hall during the spring semester. Counseling and Testing will move from Wilder Hall to 170 and 180 Morris Hall the week following final exams at the end of the spring semester.

Campus Climate and Diversity is new UW-L unit

Campus Climate and Diversity is a new unit on campus. It's a sub-division of Student Development and Academic Services and is comprised of the offices of Campus Climate, Disability Resource Services, Multicultural Student Services, Student Support Services, Pride Center and Upward Bound.  Directors and coordinators of these offices are working collectively to develop best practices regarding diversity initiatives, provide leadership and vision to the campus on diversity and campus climate issues and strengthen and support established diversity programs. The unit's first meeting of the spring semester runs from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, in 165 Murphy Library. For more information, contact Associate Dean of Campus Climate and Diversity Barbara Stewart at 785.5092 or stewart.barb@uwlax.edu.

UW-L 100 seeks teachers

Faculty and staff interested in teaching UW-L 100, “First Year Seminar,” fall 2009 semester should contact Betsy Morgan or Sharie Brunk. The one-credit course dedicated to freshmen's transition to college focuses on “what it means to be an educated person” and is built upon several events common across 13 sections, each co-taught by a faculty member and student affairs person. To find out more about the class, contact Morgan at 785.6885 or Brunk at 785.6951. See also http://www.uwlax.edu/gened/uwl100.htm.

Book discussion on environmental sustainability at UW-L set for Feb. 10

Join faculty, staff and students from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 10 through March 10, in 126 Wing Technology Center to discuss the book "The Natural Step for Communities."

The book presents a framework for achieving environmental/economic sustainability embraced by municipalities (including the City and County of La Crosse), businesses and universities. The group will explore ways the campus can become more energy efficient and reduce its "ecological footprint." The group will be limited to 15 people.
Books will be provided. To join, contact Larry Sleznikow at slezniko.larr@uwlax.edu, Rob Tyser at tyser.robi@uwlax.edu or Alex Wardwell at wardwell.alex@students.uwlax.edu.

Women in Black peace vigils to resume Jan. 29

The weekly peace vigils of Women in Black will resume on campus from 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the north entrance to the Cartwright Center (by the traffic circle). All campus women — students, staff and faculty — are welcome to join for all or part of a vigil. Women in Black is an international network of women who stand in silent vigil to promote peace and advocate nonviolent resolution of conflicts. For more information about the vigils, contact Deborah Buffton at 785.8359 or buffton.debo@uwlax.edu. For information about Women in Black, visit www.womeninblack.org.

Campus-wide review of information technology open forum slated for Feb. 2 and 3

UW-L is undertaking a campus-wide review of information technology to investigate the current state of technology across campus, including need for services, how services are used, how services are organized and how services are funded. The review will be used to develop recommendations for strategic investments in resources and processes and in organizational restructuring most beneficial in enhancing information technology to support UW-L's mission. Forums run from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, and from 2:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Port O' Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. For more information, visit www.uwlax.edu/its/itreview.

kudos

Rafique Ahmed, geography and earth science, with co-author Il-Kon Kim, Geography, Silla University, South Korea, published the article “Probabilistic Estimates of Rainfall Extremes in the Republic of Korea During the Summer Season” in Transactions of the Institute of Indian Geographers, Vol. 30 (2), December 2008.

Gary D. Gilmore, Graduate Community Health Programs, co-authored “A Role Delineation Study of Health Educators in the United States: Methodological Innovations" in the December 2008 issue of Promotion and Education, the official journal of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education. Co-authors included Alyson Taub, New York University; Larry K. Olsen, New Mexico State University; and David Connell, Cambridge Research Associates. Gilmore served as chair of the six-year National Health Educator Competencies Update Project research.

Jim Wiener, River Studies Center, served on a science advisory panel that provided technical guidance to the State of California on a new state-wide program implemented to monitor potentially toxic contaminants in fish in the state’s lakes, reservoirs and coastal waters; San Francisco Estuary Institute, Dec. 16, 2008. Wiener was lead author of the invited paper “The Basis for Ecotoxicological Concern in Ecosystems Contaminated by Historical Mercury Mining” in a special issue of Ecological Applications, a journal published by the Ecological Society of America, December 2008.

human resources

Resignations

Diana Moran, Instructional Program Manager I, Cultural Diversity and Community Renewal, Dec. 29, 2008.

Tracy Gerth, residence hall manager, Residence Life Office, Jan. 15.

In the news

"Fitness Isn't an Overnight Sensation." New York Times, Jan. 22. Carl Foster, an exercise physiologist at UW-L, was amused by ads for a popular piece of exercise equipment. Full article: www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/health/nutrition/22best.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=%22Carl%20Foster%22&st=cseCARL.

"Local university educators use research projects as teaching tools," La Crosse Tribune, Jan. 20. From his science lab in Cowley Hall, Eric Gansen, a UW-L physics professor, researches photons, the smallest particles of light. In the same building, Bernadette Taylor, a UW-L microbiology professor, finds out how much she can stretch a flu vaccine, a good strategy if there ever were a shortage or pandemic ... Full story: www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/20/news/00lead.txt.

"Students seek solutions to escalating textbook costs," WISC-TV, Jan. 20. The climbing costs of textbooks are convincing some college students to get creative. Instead of turning to the Internet to find used textbooks on the cheap, some students at the UW-Madison are finding another low-cost option. Some students said the price of textbooks is mind-blowing, WISC-TV reported ... Full story: www.channel3000.com/education/18519385/detail.html. Watch: www.c3ktogo.com/news-video/?mgid=20591.

"Wisconsin could get $2.5B from federal stimulus plan," Associated Press, Jan. 21. The federal economic stimulus package making its way through Congress could provide about $2.5 billion to help pay for health care and education in Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget director said today ... Full story: www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090121/OSH0101/301210009/1987\.

Murphy Library

Criminal Justice Database now available

The UW System subscription to Criminal Justice Abstracts has been replaced with a subscription to ProQuest Criminal Justice Periodicals Index. The database can be found in the library list of databases, as well as on appropriate subject resources pages in the library Web site.

Criminal Justice Index is a comprehensive database of U.S. and international criminal justice journals. It provides research support for students interested in careers in criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections administration, drug enforcement, rehabilitation, family law and industrial security. The database includes abstract and indexing for 240 titles with more than 80 available in full text. Representative titles include: American Journal of Criminal Justice, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Journal of Forensic Sciences, and Women Police.

Health care databases

Thanks to a funding partnership with UW-L's physical therapy and occupational therapy departments, a new collection of health databases, Cochrane Collection Plus, is available through Murphy Library. The databases are published by the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions. Six health-care databases are bundled into a single EBSCOhost interface to provide health care information for providers, patients and those responsible for researching, teaching, funding and administrating at all levels of the medical profession.

These databases are temporarily featured on the library home page at www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary. They can also be found on the appropriate subject pages at www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/subject/.

Classified

For sale

Attractive oak media center in excellent condition, beveled glass doors, 58" w x 48" h x 19" d. $75. Oak coffee table in excellent condition, 38" square. $40. Call 788.8012.

Oak crib with mattress and dresser with changing table top; all in very good condition. $75.

For rent

Unique luxury upper unit: two- to three-bedroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, two bath, washer, dryer. Clean unit, new to the La Crosse market. Large rooms, sunny exposure. Appliances, carpet, tile. Sunroom and porch with view. Large closets. Third bedroom/study. Jacuzzi, shower. Tasteful window décor. Attached two-car gar. Central heat/air. Near Trane headquarters. No smoking or pets. Additional storage available. Owner managed. Military/corporate short-term leases invited. Inspection with appointment. Available March 1. $1,125 per month with lease and deposit. Call 608.385.5481 or e-mail rlgkrs@msn.com. See Coulee Region/South, ID#1541 at www.apartmentconnextion.com.

Getting information into the Campus and Eagle Connections

The Campus Connection is published Mondays. The Eagle Connection is published Wednesdays when classes are in session. To submit information for inclusion in the Campus Connection or Eagle Connection, e-mail it to connectx@uwlax.edu. The deadline for the Campus Connection is noon Wednesday for the following Monday's edition. The deadline for the Eagle Connection is noon Mondays preceding the Wednesday edition. Refer students who are interested in writing or shooting photos for the Connections to Editor Sue Lee at lee.sue@uwlax.edu or 785.8497.

To view the Campus Connection online, see: www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/campusconnection/

Or go to the Campus Connection from UW-L's home page. Click on "More News" at the bottom of the page, then click on the Campus Connection link on the Campus News Resources page.

To view the Campus Connection calendar online, see: www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/campusconnection/calendar.html

Or go to the Campus Connection calendar from UW-L's home page. Click on "More Events" at the bottom of the page, then click on the Campus Connection calendar link on the Campus Event Resources page.

To view the Eagle Connection online, see: www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/eagleconnection/

Or go to the Eagle Connection from UW-L's home page. Click on "More News" at the bottom of the page, then click on the Eagle Connection link on the Campus News Resources page.

To view the Eagle Connection calendar online, go to www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/eagleconnection/calendar.html

Or go to the Eagle Connection calendar from UW-L's home page. Click on "More Events" at the bottom of the page, then click on the Eagle Connection calendar link on the Campus Event Resources page.