Featured Articles

Survey to measure campus carbon emissions

Campus campaign participation aided comprehensive campaign's success

Web site celebrates couples' Blugold connection

Alumni authors to make campus stop on book tour

Black History Month events continue

Strategic plan campus forums set for Feb. 25-27

Meetings to gather input for bookstore review

NYSP summer camp to continue under new name

Presidential campaigns visit UW-Eau Claire

Survey to measure campus carbon emissions
A comprehensive survey of UW-Eau Claire's current carbon emissions is under way, an important step in the university's effort to achieve carbon neutrality, said Dr. Kristina Beuning, a member of the campus' Climate Commitment Advisory Team.

During the 2008 spring semester, students enrolled in an advanced interdisciplinary studies in natural sciences course will gather data on energy use (coal, oil, gas and electricity consumption), transportation (commuting, fleet vehicle use, travel by faculty and students for university-related events), waste production and chemical use, said Beuning, an associate professor of biology who is teaching the course.

Beuning encourages all university employees and students to complete the survey, which will be available online until March 1. Full story.

Campus campaign participation aided comprehensive campaign's success
Participation in the Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign by faculty, staff and emeriti was a significant factor in the success of UW-Eau Claire's first comprehensive fundraising effort, UW-Eau Claire Foundation officials have said. Twenty-eight percent of faculty, staff and emeriti participated through the annual Campus Campaign, donating more than $1.5 million. Planned gifts to the campaign from faculty, staff and emeriti totaled more than $4.4 million.

While many challenges were met, the Foundation is continuing to address student needs through special initiatives. UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff can support these initiatives or invest in other teaching and learning opportunities at the university through "Leap at the Chance," the 2007-08 campus campaign. Full story.

Web site celebrates couples' Blugold connection
More than 10,000 Blugold alumni share a connection to UW-Eau Claire with a spouse or life partner. A new Web site celebrates the many Blugolds who've chosen to spend their lives together. Visit the Blugold Bliss Web site to read their accounts of Blugold romance.

Alumni authors to make campus stop on book tour

Erin and Matt Smith

UW-Eau Claire alumni Matt and Erin Smith will return to their alma mater Thursday, Feb. 21, to promote their recently published novel, "TRIALS: the risk/benefit ratio."

Their visit will begin with a book signing from noon-3 p.m. in the University Bookstore, followed by an author talk at 7 p.m. in The Cabin of Davies Center.

Matt Smith, a 1998 biology graduate, said he and his wife, Erin (Roppe) Smith, a 1996 graduate who majored in criminal justice and Spanish, combined their professional knowledge and experiences to pen their thriller.

"We pooled our knowledge base and experience (criminal justice, education, biology, forensic science and pharmaceuticals) to do what writers do: write about what we know," he said. Full story.

Black History Month events continue

Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton	Jesse Dixon Jr.

UW-Eau Claire's Office of Multicultural Affairs continues this week to present activities in celebration of Black History Month. Both of the following events will be held Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Presidents Room, Davies Center:

Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, associate professor of history, will present "1968: The Year that Changed Everything" from noon-1:30 p.m. Her presentation will highlight the civil rights movement, Black Power and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jesse Dixon Jr., director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, will present the final session of a Black History Month Dialogue on Diversity from 2:30-4:30 p.m. The sessions focus on the California Newsreels film series "Race — The Power of an Illusion," and Thursday's session will examine the series' third episode, "The House We Live In." Full story.

Strategic plan campus forums set for Feb. 25-27
The University Planning Committee will host campus information and discussion sessions Feb. 25-27 to review the draft strategic plan. The forums are open to all faculty, staff and students. The committee, joined by the chancellor, will answer questions about the draft plan and welcome comments and suggestions. The forums will be held at the following times and new locations:

• Monday, Feb. 25, 1-2:30 p.m., Tamarack Room, Davies Center
• Tuesday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tamarack Room, Davies Center.
• Wednesday, Feb. 27, 3-4:30 p.m., Nursing Building Room 104.

Copies of the draft strategic plan have been distributed to all faculty and staff. The draft also can be downloaded from the strategic planning Web site.

Meetings to gather input for bookstore review
UW-Eau Claire students, faculty and staff are invited to attend two town meetings to provide comments and concerns for consideration during the review process for the new University Bookstore contract that will begin July 1. All members of the university community are welcome at the sessions set for 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Alumni Room of Davies Center.

Charles Farrell, director of University Centers, and Candy Wilson, assistant director for business and administration, will host the conversations. Refreshments will be available.

A variety of course-related and general interest reading materials, newspapers, licensed UW-Eau Claire clothing and gifts, and school and office supplies are sold at the University Bookstore on Davies Center's lower level. The bookstore also administers the undergraduate textbook rental program.

NYSP summer camp to continue under new name
The National Youth Sports Program summer camp that has served more than 10,000 area youth at the UW-Eau Claire campus during the past 27 years is getting a new name.

Although the federal government has eliminated funding for the program, UW-Eau Claire has decided to continue it and rename it the Wisconsin Youth Sports Program, said Lisa Schuetz, director of NYSP for the past five years.

"Our camp has been free to all participants, and we are keeping that the same," said Schuetz. "We are looking for sponsors in the Chippewa Valley to fund our program for years to come."

Schuetz said organizers are proud of the long-standing partnerships they have with the Eau Claire Area School District, the Building Bridges program and the Altoona School District, as well as the UW-Health/Family Medicine Clinic in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley Technical College. WYSP also will receive support through local charity events such as the Shamrock Shuffle 5K run/walk on March 9, the Blugold Rock Hard Triathlon on May 3, and the Early Birdie Golf Classic on May 9. Full story.

Presidential campaigns visit UW-Eau Claire As of today, Feb. 18, UW-Eau Claire was the site of three political campaign events ahead of the Feb. 19 Wisconsin presidential primary election. Chelsea Clinton campaigned on behalf of her mother, Democratic candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the university's Blugold Room Feb. 12; Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama held a rally Saturday, Feb. 16, in Zorn Arena; and Republican candidate Mike Huckabee made a Feb. 18 appearance in the Council Fire Room of Davies Center.
	Mike Huckabee speaks in Council Fire Room: A crowd of 600-700 assembled Feb. 18 in UW-Eau Claire's Davies Center to hear a 30-minute speech by Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session with the candidate. See news coverage and a video of Huckabee's speech on the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram Web site. (Huckabee photos at left and below by Bill Hoepner, LTS)
Crowd packs Zorn for Barack Obama rally: UW-Eau Claire's Zorn Arena was packed to capacity Saturday, Feb. 16, for an appearance by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Read Eau Claire Leader-Telegram and Spectator coverage of the rally, and watch a video of the event on the Leader-Telegram Web site.
A crowd of approximately 3,500 people gathered for Obama's rally. Some of those in attendance began lining up outside the arena by 5:15 a.m. The doors opened at 11 a.m. (Photo by Rick Mickelson, LTS)
Obama held up an "EAUBama" T-shirt that supporters gave him at the rally. (Photo by UW-Eau Claire student Michael Vallez)	UW-Eau Claire freshman and Blugold men's basketball player Tommy Calhoun spoke with Obama after the rally. (Photo by Bill Hoepner, LTS)
	UW-Eau Claire freshman Robin Norton of the College Democrats cheered in the stands. (Photo by Rick Mickelson, LTS)
The line for the rally with the Illinois senator snaked all the way to upper campus before the Zorn Arena doors opened. (Photo by Bill Hoepner, LTS)
Chelsea Clinton makes Feb. 12 appearance: At left, the daughter of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton held a question-and-answer session with about 300 students and community members in the university's Blugold Room. Read related Eau Claire Leader-Telegram and Spectator stories. (Photo by Rick Mickelson, LTS)

University Bulletin
Published weekly during the fall and spring semesters by the UW-Eau Claire News Bureau. News items and notices should be sent to the News Bureau, Schofield 201, by 10 a.m. Wednesday to ensure publication in the following week’s issue. E-mail submissions to Julie Poquette at poquetjm@uwec.edu are encouraged. Faculty/staff news items are published on a space-available basis.