International showcase UW-Eau Claire senior Erin Flehmer and sophomore Serena Davis take their turn at an Irish dance they were teaching at the Center for International Education’s International Folk Fair Nov. 2 in Davies Center. Students, community organizations and ethnic groups represented nearly 40 countries with food, live music, crafts and educational information. An estimated 4,000 people attended the fair, which was free to the public. (UW-Eau Claire Spectator photo by Butch McCartney)

Regents OK continued progress toward credit transfer plan, approve “Return to Wisconsin” pilot program
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on Nov. 7 approved four action items as part of a plan that will increase opportunities for credit transfer between the UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System. The Regents also approved a three-year pilot “Return to Wisconsin” program, which will offer a 25 percent discount on tuition for nonresident students who are children or grandchildren of UW alumni at participating campuses. Campuses that will participate include UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater. Full story.

State commission approves Phillips Science Hall improvements
The State Building Commission has approved $1.9 million for improvements to Phillips Science Hall at UW-Eau Claire. The commission voted Oct. 15 to approve the request submitted by UW-Eau Claire for the 2003-05 biennium. The funds will be used for a variety of projects, including modifications to a number of classrooms that will accommodate installation and use of new instructional technology; replacement of floor tiles and cabinetry throughout much of the building; replacement of ceiling tiles in the office wing; and upgrades to the heating system that will reduce noise, increase efficiency and allow for improved climate control to protect sensitive scientific instruments. Full story.

New student newspaper debuts on campus
As of Oct. 29, UW-Eau Claire has another student newspaper on campus. The editors of The Flip Side,
who describe their paper as an alternative campus media outlet, plan to publish every two weeks on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters. Full story. Read the current issue, available on The Flip Side Web site, and read an editorial from longtime student newspaper The Spectator welcoming The Flip Side to campus.

Gift funds equipment for athletic training facility
Chippewa Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and the OakLeaf Surgical Hospital, Eau Claire, have made a gift of $50,000 through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation for the purchase of treatment and rehabilitation equipment to be used in UW-Eau Claire’s newly renovated athletic training facility. University funds paid for the renovations to the facility in the McPhee Physical Education Center, which included increasing the size of the treatment and rehabilitation areas and creating a separate, more private evaluation room, said Jeff Oliphant, assistant professor of kinesiology and athletics and director of the university’s athletic training education program. Now, the gift is allowing the university to adequately equip the space, he said. Full story. The gift is recognized as a contribution to the university’s ongoing fund-raising campaign, Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence, which so far has raised $27 million toward its goal of $35 million in private support for the university by July 2005.

Students commit $300,000 to Carson Park turf project

UW-Eau Claire photo by Rick Mickelson

UW-Eau Claire’s Student Senate voted Oct. 20 to commit $300,000 to help pay for the installation of artificial turf and a new scoreboard at the Carson Park football field. The financial commitment represents three of the eight “shares” needed to raise a total of $800,000 in donations to complete the project, which will not receive tax support. The Student Senate action brings total student contributions to Carson Park improvements to nearly $1 million since 1996, including contributions toward the construction of home and visitor locker rooms, restrooms, concession stands and other enhancements. Funds committed by Student Senate come from student segregated fees, which are allocated by the Senate each year to fund a variety of activities, organizations and projects. Segregated fees are separate from tuition, housing and other fees paid by students. Full story.

New Center for Collaborative Leadership in Education announced
UW-Eau Claire’s School of Education recently announced the establishment of a new center on campus: the Center for Collaborative Leadership in Education. The Center is part of an ongoing initiative by the School of Education and UW-Eau Claire to serve the students and programs of area school districts, said Mark Clark, dean of the College of Professional Studies. The Center will identify and secure resources to help promote collaboration among undergraduate and graduate students in education, university faculty and staff and professional teachers and administrators in the region, said Katherine Rhoades, associate dean of the School of Education. Full story.

Web site offers estate planning, planned giving information
Do you have questions about estate planning? Planned giving? Your will? Each month, the UW-Eau Claire Foundation's gift-planning Web site, “Giving Wisely, Changing Lives,” features new articles and interactive features that cover such topics. For example, the recently updated site now features an article on the significant changes to the U.S. Tax Code by the 2003 Tax Act, as well as free e-brochures on such topics as “Appreciated Property: Uncover the Value of Your Appreciated Assets,” “Retirement Income Plans: Ways to Pay You More” and “Questions and Answers About Wills.” To access the articles and e-brochures, click on the site's “gift-planning guide” link. To read stories about alumni and friends who’ve included UW-Eau Claire in their estate plans, click on the site's “planned giving stories” link.

Two emeriti faculty members die
Ruth Johnson — Ruth Johnson, professor emerita of English, died Oct. 7 at the M.B. Syverson Lutheran Home in Eau Claire. She was 102. Johnson joined the UW-Eau Claire English faculty in 1940 and retired in 1961. Full obituary.

John Morris — John Morris, professor emeritus of English and former administrator at UW-Eau Claire, died Oct. 11 at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire. He was 77. Dr. Morris taught in UW-Eau Claire’s English department, rising to the position of vice chancellor under then-Chancellor Leonard Haas and Vice President Dick Hibbard. Morris served as acting chancellor for a time. He retired in 1988 after serving UW-Eau Claire for 32 years. Full obituary.

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ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Alumni, former coach are newest Blugold Hall of Fame inductees

The newest inductees into the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Hall of Fame were honored at a ceremony and banquent Nov. 1. The 2003 inductees included (left to right) Robert Scott, former head men's tennis coach; Tom Peck '75, basketball; Ken Cychosz '83, tennis; and Mike March '84, football. Not pictured is Brenda Dahl-Erickson '88, swimming. Full story. (UW-Eau Claire photo by Bruce Dybvik)