Featured Articles

UW-Eau Claire expands its programs that serve children with autism

Marching Band to perform stage show Oct. 25

Author of 'Mad Cow U.S.A.' to speak at UW-Eau Claire

UW-Eau Claire names interim director of Continuing Education

UW-Eau Claire alumna gives $25,000 to Mary Lou and John Gerberich Scholarship Funds

Political campaign activities reminder

Valley Health Plan no longer available

Edwards rallies supporters

UW-Eau Claire expands its programs that serve children with autism

"There is an incredible demand for people in this field. Wisconsin alone could use hundreds of people trained in this area." Kevin Klatt, assistant professor of psychology and coordinator of the autism program

An innovative program that pairs UW-Eau Claire psychology students with autistic children and their families has been so successful that the program has expanded to serve additional children and provide even more university students with real-life experiences.

For two years, UW-Eau Claire has been bringing autistic children and their families to campus for intensive behavior intervention sessions. This summer, the program expanded and now offers in-home services, which involve students working with children and families in their homes for up to 35 hours a week, said Kevin Klatt, assistant professor of psychology and coordinator of the program.

"I'm sure that this is the only program of its kind in the country," Klatt said. "Few university programs are working with autism. And I'm sure we're the only ones with undergraduate students providing services to families on campus and in homes." Full story.

Marching Band to perform stage show Oct. 25

The Blugold Marching Band performed Oct. 3 during halftime at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (Photo by David Joles, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographer and UW-Eau Claire alumnus)

The UW-Eau Claire marching band, directed by Randal Dickerson, music and theatre arts, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 in Gantner Concert Hall of the Haas Fine Arts Center.

The program will begin with traditional songs, including "Liberty Fanfare" by John Williams, "Four in One," arranged by Dickerson, "Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor" by Chuck Mangione and the Blugold Fight Song. It will feature pieces by James Brown, including "Gimme Some More," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "It's a Man's World," "Georgia on My Mind," "I Got You" and "Livin' in America." The second half of the concert will be a collection of the band's favorite special arrangements such as "This Love" by Maroon 5 and "We Like to Party" by the Venga Boys.

In the past few years the Blugold Marching Band has become one of the most enthusiastic and active groups on campus. They have taken their new "funk factory" image to a higher level with a larger colorguard, a larger horn line and bigger sound with even more "move and groove," Dickerson said.

Author of 'Mad Cow U.S.A.' John Stauber to speak at UW-Eau Claire

The founder and executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy will discuss the emergence of mad cow disease in the United States and the spread of the related ailment chronic wasting disease.

John Stauber - investigative writer, democracy activist and author of "Mad Cow U.S.A. " - will be the featured speaker for The Forum lecture series event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, in Zorn Arena.

Stauber has been described by "Fast Food Nation" author Eric Schlosser as "(one) of America 's bravest, finest journalists." Stauber was thrust into the international media spotlight last December when he became known as the man who had predicted the emergence of mad cow disease in the United States in his 1997 book "Mad Cow U.S.A.: Could the Nightmare Happen Here?".

Co-authored by Sheldon Rampton, "Mad Cow U.S.A." revealed how mad cow disease has emerged as a result of modern, intensive farming practices whose true risks are kept hidden by government and industry denials.

"It's not just cows that are mad - so are our so-called 'consumer protectors,'" said radio host Jim Hightower. "You'll be mad as hell too after reading this dynamite book." Full story and ticket information.

UW-Eau Claire names interim director of Continuing Education
Douglas Pearson Jr. has been named interim director of Continuing Education at UW-Eau Claire. He began his new duties Oct. 18.

Pearson, professor emeritus of English, will serve as interim director of the unit until someone is hired to replace Robert Whitcomb, who resigned from the director position. Whitcomb, who came to UW-Eau Claire in 2001, has accepted a job in Alaska.

UW-Eau Claire alumna gives $25,000 to Mary Lou and John Gerberich Scholarship Funds
Anne Waddington, a 1975 UW-Eau Claire College of Business graduate, and her husband, Rick, have made a $25,000 gift to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation in support of two long-standing scholarship funds that honor the memory of her parents, John and Mary Lou Gerberich.

John Gerberich was a professor of biology from 1954-81. He established the university’s department of allied health professions and was instrumental in the creation of the bachelor of science degree program in nursing. Mary Lou Gerberich was an educator and later an advocate on behalf of the aging. John died in 1995 and Mary Lou in 1988.

The Waddingtons' gift is recognized as a contribution to Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence, the UW-Eau Claire Foundation’s comprehensive fund-raising campaign to benefit UW-Eau Claire’s people and programs. Full story.

Political campaign activities reminder
With the presidential election nearly upon us, it's important to remember that the UW System Board of Regents' policy and state law restrict workplace political campaign activities by university employees. All university employees are required to adhere to applicable policies and laws. UW System guidance on political campaign activities is available online.

Valley Health Plan no longer available
Valley Health Plan will no longer be available as of Jan. 1, 2005. To maintain continuous health insurance coverage, employees enrolled in Valley Health Plan must select another plan for 2005. Employees with Valley Health Plan should have received an application with the "It's Your Choice" booklet in campus mail.

Applications are due in Human Resources no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29. If a new application is not submitted by Oct. 29, employees with Valley Health Plan will be required to re-enroll under the Standard Plan (Tier 3).

If you need assistance, contact Human Resources at 836-3871.

Edwards rallies supporters
Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards' visit to Eau Claire on Tuesday, Oct. 19, brought national publicity to the UW-Eau Claire campus. Approximately 3,000 people attended the public rally, which was covered by the The Washington Post and The Miami Herald as well as media from across the Midwest. (Photo by Dan Reiland, Leader-Telegram)

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.