Featured Articles

Homecoming celebration begins today

UW-Eau Claire Forum Series opens season with 'The Gift

UW-Eau Claire's new diversity Web site goes live

Rhoades receives state award for service-learning efforts

Author and alumna to speak Sept. 30

Roma Hoff Instructional Resource Center to be dedicated Oct. 1

Blugold Marching Band to perform at Packers halftime Oct. 3

Eight artists to create drawing installations with students

Salute to Big Band era dedicated to veterans of World War II

Chancellor Mash speaks at 'Building the New Wisconsin Economy' forum

Win a theme basket and help United Way

UW System president to speak at December commencement

Homecoming celebration begins today
Faculty, staff encouraged to join in the festivities
Homecoming Week, one of UW-Eau Claire’s largest annual events, will be held Sept. 27-Oct. 3 — highlighted by numerous activities, a parade and football game.

With the double theme “River Falls AGAIN? A Blast from the Past" and "Return to the Northwoods," Homecoming is expected to draw thousands of alumni back to Eau Claire to join students, faculty, staff and the public in the celebration.

During the week students will select Homecoming royalty and participate in various activities including window painting, sand sculpture building and competing in games. Here are just a few of the many events that will take place this week:

• Varsity Night Live!, Friday at 7 p.m. in Zorn Arena.
• Homecoming Parade, Saturday at 10 a.m. at Grand and First Avenues.
• Blugold Fever Fest, Saturday at 11 a.m. to Homecoming Kick off in Carson Park.
• Homecoming Football Game against UW-River Falls Falcons, Saturday at 1 p.m. in Carson Park.
• Post-game Blugold Fever Fest, Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Haas Fine Arts Center parking lot.
• "Return to the North Woods" (Alumni Association post-game party), Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Council Fire Room.

Click here for a complete schedule of campus activities.

UW-Eau Claire Forum Series opens season with 'The Gift'
Documentary filmmaker Louise Hogarth will present the first event of the 63rd season of The Forum at UW-Eau Claire Monday, Sept. 27, and Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Her challenging 2003 film, "The Gift," documents the phenomenon of deliberate HIV infection. Hogarth's presentations in Schofield Auditorium will begin at 7:30 p.m. each evening with a screening of her 62-minute documentary. She will then lead a discussion of the issues raised in the film, and talk about the process of creating the documentary.

"The Gift" is not recommended for those under the age of 17, as the documentary explores controversial social and psychological issues and contains frank sexual discussions, some nudity and language that may be offensive. Due to graphic content, viewer discretion is advised. Full story and ticket information.

UW-Eau Claire's new diversity Web site goes live
A new Web site at UW-Eau Claire is a resource for students, faculty, staff, community members and others interested in learning more about issues of difference related to identity and culture.

The Diversity Hub (www.uwec.edu/diversity/index.htm) includes a variety of information relating to diversity and social justice, said Kimberly Barrett, associate vice chancellor of student development and diversity.

In the past, significant information relating to diversity and social justice could be found on the university's Web site but it was scattered throughout the site making it hard to find, Barrett said. The Diversity Hub pulls much of that information together so people can easily find it in one place, she said.

"We hope that people not only view and use the site, but also provide information that can be included in it," Barrett said. "We want this site to be dynamic so we're inviting users - including those on and off campus - to provide information about events and resources that can be added to the Diversity Hub. The more comprehensive the site, the more valuable it will be." Full story.

Katherine Rhoades receives state award for service-learning efforts
Katherine Rhoades, dean of the newly renamed College of Education and Human Sciences at UW-Eau Claire, was one of six Wisconsin educators to receive Service-Learning and Civic Leadership Awards at a joint session of the State Superintendent of Education's Fall Conference on Service-Learning and Citizenship, held in Madison Sept. 22-23.

The award recognizes "extraordinary individuals who have helped spread high-quality service-learning programs and practices throughout the state" by incorporating service-learning into their campuses, schools and communities.

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster has praised service-learning not only for its ability to stimulate students' civic engagement and teach them what it means to be a contributing citizen in a democracy, but also as the most effective educational strategy for applying knowledge learned in school to the real world. Full story.

Author and alumna to speak Sept. 30
Margaret (Mogensen) Nelson, a 1969 UW-Eau Claire political science graduate and veteran journalist, will speak on campus at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, in the Tamarack Room in Davies Center.

Nelson, whose talk is hosted by the College of Education and Human Sciences and the department of communication and journalism, will speak about her book, "Saving Body & Soul: The Mission of Mary Jo Copeland," which was released Sept. 18. A reception will follow in the Skylight Lounge.

The book, with photos by Keri Pickett, chronicles the work of Copeland, who has been called "America's Mother Teresa" for her work with the poor in the Minneapolis area. The book is for sale through the University Bookstore. Nelson will sign books following her talk. Full story.

Roma Hoff Instructional Resource Center to be dedicated Oct. 1
The Roma Hoff Instructional Resource Center at UW-Eau Claire will be dedicated at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 in Room 311 of Hibbard Hall. The dedication will be preceded by an Open House with refreshments, beginning at 2 p.m.

The event marks the culmination of a two-year process involving many individuals from several campus units as well as Roma Hoff, professor emerita of Spanish, whose major gift contribution helped make the facility a reality. Full story.

Blugold Marching Band to perform at Packers halftime Oct. 3
The Blugold Marching Band will perform at the half-time show for the Green Bay Packers when they face the Giants Oct. 3 in Green Bay. The band is directed by Randy Dickerson of the music and theatre arts faculty.

“The band is really excited,” said Dickerson.“ It’s been a personal goal of mine to get the marching band to the point where they could perform off campus, and since I was a student at the University of Southern Mississippi when Brett Favre was there, having our first performance be for the Green Bay Packers makes it even more special for me.”

More information about the Blugold Marching Band can be found online.

Eight artists to create drawing installations with students

Genesis 2004 by Liz Miller

Eight artists from around the country will come to UW-Eau Claire Oct. 1-7 to create unique site-specific drawing installations with the help of UW-Eau Claire art students. The resulting exhibit, "Proliferate: Drawing in Space, Accumulating in Time," will be on display in the Foster Gallery of the Haas Fine Arts Center Oct. 7-28.

The artists — Nori Pao, Marion Wilson, Liz Miller, Charles Matson Lume, Delanie Jenkins, Renee van der Stelt, Valerie Jenkins, and Laura Vandenburgh — will present a panel discussion: "Proliferate: Expanded Notions of Drawing," at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7. An opening reception will follow at 7 p.m. in the Foster Gallery. Full story.

Salute to Big Band era dedicated to veterans of World War II
The UW-Eau Claire department of music and theatre arts will present "A Salute to the Big Band Era: 60th Anniversary Tributes, 1944-2004 and 1945-2005" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, and 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in Zorn Arena.

This year's event is dedicated to veterans of World War II, and they are especially invited to attend, along with all Big Band lovers, alumni and friends of UW-Eau Claire.

This special afternoon or evening of music and dancing will feature a centennial tribute to Glenn Miller (1904-1944), who left behind a highly successful civilian career to volunteer for the armed services in 1942. He organized the Glenn Miller Air Force Band in 1943, and that band gave more than 800 performances for troops in England. The world lost this innovative and influential musician on Dec.15, 1944, when a transport plane carrying Miller to Paris disappeared somewhere over the English Channel.

Both performances will include a pre-concert social hour, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. for the Friday evening performance and from noon to 12:45 p.m. for the Saturday matinee. Refreshments — cheese and crackers, fruit, various dessert items, and wine, beer, soda or bottled water — will be sold canteen style. At the Saturday matinee, a box lunch also will be available for $6.25 by advance order and payment only. Full story.

Chancellor Mash speaks at 'Building the New Wisconsin Economy' forum in Eau Claire
During the fifth in a series of six "Building the New Wisconsin Economy" forums, Chancellor Donald Mash emphasized the importance of education in today's high-technology economy.

Although people often refer to Wisconsin's "brain drain," more than 80 percent of UW System graduates remain in Wisconsin after graduating, Mash said, at the Sept. 21 afternoon panel discussion on the role of higher education. The problem is that the system enrolls fewer students than it did 20 years ago, he said.

Click here to read the full Leader-Telegram story.

Win a theme basket and help United Way
Drawing Oct. 1
It's not too late to buy raffle tickets for one of these fabulous theme baskets: It's a Dog's Life (Advising, Testing and New Student Orientation), Recreation and Relaxation (University Recreation), No More Excuses — Healthy Habits (Management and Marketing), Family Fun (Student Development and Diversity), Sweet Tooth (Human Resources), Let Us Grill You/Grilling (News Bureau), Down and Dirty/Gardening (Career Services), Leisure Time Activities (Admissions), Packers Football (Facilities and Management), It's Show Time (Publications Office), Comfort Food (Office of Multicultural Affairs), Blugold Basket (Foundation/Alumni Relations) and Let Us Entertain You (Student Services).

Raffle tickets are one for $1 or six for $5. Stop by the respective departments/offices to buy your tickets or look for the baskets in Davies Center Sept. 29-Oct. 1. The drawing will be held Oct. 1. See Calendar.

UW System president to speak at December commencement
Kevin Reilly, the new president of the UW System, will speak at both UW-Eau Claire winter commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 18, in Zorn Arena.

On Sept. 1, Reilly began his tenure as the sixth president of the UW System, which includes two doctoral universities, 11 comprehensive universities, the 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges and the statewide UW-Extension.

Reilly served as Chancellor of the UW-Extension from July 2000 through August 2004. His responsibilities included leading programs in continuing education, Cooperative Extension, distance education, small business development, Wisconsin Public Radio, and Wisconsin Public Television. He served as provost and vice chancellor of Extension from 1996 to 2000.

A native New Yorker, Reilly came to Wisconsin from the State University of New York System, where he was associate provost for academic programs and then secretary of SUNY. He earned his B.A. at the University of Notre Dame, and his M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. Full biography.

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. Monday for publication in the following week’s issue. E-mail submissions to Liz Wolf Green at greenew@uwec.edu are encouraged. Faculty/staff news items are published on a space-available basis.