October 2008

Scenes from Homecoming 2008
A festive parade, including alumni spectators like those above, and a football game victory over UW Oshkosh were some of the highlights of UW-Eau Claire's Homecoming celebration Oct. 3-4. View more photos from Homecoming 2008. One alumnus to return for the weekend was Tom McHugh, right. McHugh, a 1976 biology graduate, has made the trip from his home in Middleton every year since 1986. Full story. (UW-Eau Claire photos by Rick Mickelson and Bill Hoepner)

Former Blugold athletes inducted into Hall of Fame

Patri	White	Saskowski	Molnar
Prasher	Johnson	Merkel	Harrington

Eight former UW-Eau Claire athletes were inducted Oct. 18 into the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Hall of Fame.

The 2008 class includes football players Mitch Patri '80, '91 (MEPD), John White '80, Tom Saskowski '86 and Mike Molnar '88; basketball players Mike Prasher '93, Mike Johnson '93, '01 (MEPD) and Erika (Schmidt) Merkel '97; and volleyball player Marnie (Blau) Harrington '98.

The group represents the 32nd class of men’s inductees and the 19th class of women’s inductees and brings the number of athletes, coaches and administrators who have been honored to 165. Full story.

Also see a related Eau Claire Leader-Telegram story about Prasher and Johnson.

College of Business Bash is Oct. 23 in Minneapolis

Alumni at the 2007 College of Business Bash.

UW-Eau Claire business graduates, don't miss the College of Business Bash from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at Champps in the Butler Square Building, 100 N. 6th St., Minneapolis.

Enjoy complimentary food and beverages, visit with your favorite professors and fellow alums, and be eligible for great door prizes and snacks provided by the UW-Eau Claire College of Business and Alumni Association. Register by completing the online form, sending e-mail to alumni@uwec.edu or calling (715) 836-3266. View invitation.

Alcohol use surveys indicate education efforts paying off
Recent surveys indicate that UW-Eau Claire students have shown a marked reduction in high-risk behaviors relating to alcohol use, said Jennifer Lee, director of the university's Center for Alcohol Studies and Education.

"Clearly our efforts to better educate students about alcohol-related issues and outcomes are paying off," said Lee, who shared survey information with members of the BRIDGE Campus Community Coalition in late September. "While there is still much work to be done, many students are making more responsible choices when it comes to alcohol."

UW-Eau Claire Foundation news

Celebration marks successful campaign conclusion
The UW-Eau Claire Foundation celebrated a successful fundraising year — the second best year in Foundation history — and the conclusion of its Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign during an Oct. 3 reception honoring its Circle of Excellence donors.

Way

The Circle of Excellence includes individuals whose cumulative gifts to the Foundation total $10,000 or more and corporate donors who have given $25,000 or more.

The Foundation ended the 2007-08 fiscal year with $4,040,900 in gifts, with contributions from Circle of Excellence members representing more than 60 percent of the total gifts received for the year, said Kimera Way, Foundation executive director.

Gifts from Circle of Excellence members also represented a significant portion of gifts to the Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign, which ended in December 2007 with nearly $54 million in total commitments, Way said. Full story.

Board of directors names new officers
A retired Illinois businessman was elected president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation board of directors at the board's annual meeting earlier this month.

Sylla

Casey J. Sylla, a 1966 UW-Eau Claire graduate, succeeds Bert Colianni '76, who had served as board president since October 2006.

Also elected as Foundation board officers were Charles Grossklaus '69, vice president; Betsy Kell '73, secretary; and Jo Ellyn DeCesare '84, treasurer. New committee chairs include George Stoebel '74, investment committee; Scott A. Peterson '90, audit committee; Jo Anne Brandes '75, strategic planning; and Pete Fernholz '73, board development and nominating. Full story.

Faculty talks to focus on upcoming elections

Two upcoming presentations by UW-Eau Claire faculty members will address issues pertinent to the upcoming 2008 election:

• Myers

  Peterson

  Dr. Peter Myers, professor of political science, will present "Frederick Douglass: The Original Audacity of Hope," at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 in Room 100 of Schneider Hall. Myers, who recently published a book on Douglass, will discuss how understanding the writings and life of the former slave can enable one to develop a deeper sense of the context of the issues and events of the 2008 political season. Full story.
• Dr. Geoffrey Peterson, associate professor of political science, will present "Countdown to Election '08" from noon-1 p.m. Oct. 30 at Sweetwaters Restaurant in Eau Claire. The talk is part of the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association's monthly "Let's Do Lunch" speaker series. Peterson, director of UW-Eau Claire's Political Science Research Institute, will examine the latest trends for the 2008 election and discuss how information from previous election cycles can help people understand what will happen in November. More information.

Artists Series presents acclaimed pianist Tharaud

Tharaud

Internationally acclaimed pianist Alexandre Tharaud will present an all-Ravel recital Oct. 23 at UW-Eau Claire. The Artists Series concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Gantner Concert Hall of Haas Fine Arts Center.

The pianist will be joined by the University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nobuyoshi Yasuda, for the second half of the program.

"The current It boy of young French pianists is Alexandre Tharaud," wrote the Toronto Star. "At times you wonder how human fingers can achieve such delicate playing." Full story.

International Folk Fair to transform Davies Center
Davies Center will once again be transformed into a miniature world with many nationalities and groups proudly displaying their cultures at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's International Folk Fair, to be held from noon-4 p.m. Oct. 26.

The Folk Fair, coordinated by the Center for International Education, is the largest international festival of its kind in the area. Serving as a cultural exchange between exhibitors and visitors to the fair, it includes educational activities for children, live music, colorful cultural exhibits, dancing, art and craft displays, history, language, culture and a variety of ethnic food. Full story.

Foust

Presentation to address feasibility of supermarket in Eau Claire's Phoenix Park area
Dr. Brady Foust, UW-Eau Claire professor of geography, will present "A Supermarket Feasibility Study for the Phoenix Redevelopment Site" in the next session of UW-Eau Claire's "Ask a Scientist" series at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Acoustic Café in Eau Claire. "Ask a Scientist" talks are geared toward the educated layperson and feature a 30-minute presentation on a scientific topic of current interest followed by a 30-minute discussion period. See the complete fall schedule.

Alumni success stories
Read about the accomplishments of these and other UW-Eau Claire alumni on the Alumni Success Stories Web pages:

	UW-Eau Claire education graduate Doug Chickering '63, executive director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, recently announced his retirement after 45 years in the education profession. Full story.
	Pat (Weber) Binder '73, a UW-Eau Claire art education graduate, on Oct. 30 will receive the Wisconsin Art Education Association outstanding elementary art educator award. Full story. (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram photo by Shane Opatz)
	Recent UW-Eau Claire alumna Elizabeth Schrader '08, a music therapy graduate, and current music therapy student Jenny Morvak will spend six months volunteering at a care center in Cambodia, where they will work with victims of human trafficking. Full story.
	Mixed-media artist Scott Stulen '98, a UW-Eau Claire art graduate, had an exhibit of his works on display in September at UW Oshkosh and was interviewed by the UW Oshkosh Advance-Titan. Full story.
	Kaye (Finne) Nemec '04, a UW-Eau Claire communication graduate, recently placed second in The ABC's Children's Picture Book Competition with her entry, "I Am Twin 1, and I Am Twin 2." More information.
	Elizabeth Willis '83, a UW-Eau Claire English graduate, is the editor of the newly released book “Radical Vernacular: Lorine Niedecker and the Poetics of Place,” published by the University of Iowa Press. Full story.
	Georg Wagner '95, a UW-Eau Claire biology and German graduate and U.S. Secret Service special agent, is the recipient of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's “Honor Graduate of the Year” award. Full story.
	Singer-songwriter Mike Quick '70, a UW-Eau Claire English graduate, recently released his third album. Full story. (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram photo by Andi Stempniak)
	Signe Jorgenson '04, a UW-Eau Claire English and comparative religions graduate, has joined the faculty of Lakeland College. Full story.

Show how much you know about UW-Eau Claire — AND win great Blugold prizes! E-mail your answer to this month's question to the Blugold Trivia mailbox (trivia@uwec.edu). Those sending correct responses to this month's question will be entered in a drawing for a Blugolds baseball cap. The name of this month's Blugold Trivia winner will be published in the November issue of e-View.

October Blugold Trivia question:

In 2007 UW-Eau Claire became part of a nationwide effort among colleges and universities to set climate neutrality as a target, and students since have undertaken a comprehensive study of UW-Eau Claire's carbon emissions. What is the name of the nationwide effort to which UW-Eau Claire is a signatory?

Know the answer? E-mail it, along with your name and class year, to trivia@uwec.edu. You'll be notified by e-mail if you are this month's winner!

September's winner:
Congratulations to Susan (Franke) Barton, a 1984 UW-Eau Claire English graduate! Susan has won the September Blugold Trivia prize in a drawing from among those who correctly answered that UW-Eau Claire art & design faculty members lia Johnson and Scott Roberts had their works featured in the Art Faculty Show in the university's Foster Gallery Sept. 11-Oct. 2.