Featured Articles

Spring break accident takes two students lives

Mary Jane Brukardt named to strategic planner post

University informed of pending file-sharing lawsuits

Barrett to receive system Women of Color award

Nursing student's research poster receives award

Art student recognized in national competition

Continuing Education receives international honor

'Danceworks 2007' set for March 29-31

Senior BFA exhibit opens this week

40th annual Jazz Festival to run March 30-31

Generous alumni, friends put 2006-07 Telefund on track to success

Preserving family history is 'Let's Do Lunch' topic

Steal 'n Score luncheons set for March 27, April 24

Spring break accident takes two students' lives
A March 16 traffic accident in Georgia claimed the lives of two UW-Eau Claire students traveling to Florida for spring break. The UW-Eau Claire community learned early last week of the deaths of Jason Buchmeier, 21, and Jason Schluter, 23, through all-campus e-mails from the News Bureau and breaking news stories from The Spectator. Obituaries can be read online for Buchmeier, who was a junior geography major from Mauston, and Schluter, who was a senior kinesiology major from Lyndon Station.

Three other UW-Eau Claire students in the vehicle with Buchmeier and Schluter were treated and released from a Georgia hospital: Christopher Wiora, a junior from Mauston; Patrick Senzig, a junior from Lyndon Station; and Ryan Wirth, a sophomore from Appleton. Joe Burns of Lyndon Station also was treated and released. Burns is not a student at UW-Eau Claire.

According to authorities in Georgia, the students were traveling south on Interstate 75 when a tire separated from a tractor-trailer and hit their van.

Mary Jane Brukardt named to strategic planner post
UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich has announced the hiring of a communication professional with extensive experience in strategic planning and higher education communication as his special assistant to the chancellor for strategic planning.

Mary Jane Brukardt, who currently serves as associate to the provost at Eastern Washington University, will begin her new duties at UW-Eau Claire May 1.

In her new position, Brukardt will lead UW-Eau Claire as it develops an inclusive, effective and engaging strategic plan, Levin-Stankevich said.

"Through the strategic planning process, the UW-Eau Claire community will define its priorities, again identify what makes us distinctive and build a plan that creates such an extraordinary level of excellence that others must continue to look to UW-Eau Claire as the standard against which to compare themselves," Levin-Stankevich said. "It's essential that we have someone with Ms. Brukardt's experience leading us through this complex but critical process." Full story.

University informed of pending file-sharing lawsuits
UW-Eau Claire administrators were notified last week that the Recording Industry of America Association has identified 23 computer users at UW-Eau Claire who have illegally downloaded or uploaded copyrighted music on a peer-to-peer file sharing network. RIAA has identified a total of 805 computer users at 36 colleges and universities nationwide. The association has stated that federal lawsuits will be brought against the students that would seek $750 per song unless they settle beforehand for a lesser amount.

RIAA does not know the students' names but has identified them by their Internet Protocol addresses. The association has asked UW-Eau Claire and other UW System schools to send "cease and desist" letters from RIAA attorneys to the students who have been targeted informing them of their option to settle.

UW-Eau Claire will notify the students that they have been identified by the association, and will convey to them the substance of the RIAA letter.

Read a UW-Eau Claire fact sheet released last week outlining the university's ongoing and new activities addressing illegal file sharing and related issues.

Barrett to receive system Women of Color Award

Kimberly Barrett

Dr. Kimberly Barrett, UW-Eau Claire's associate vice chancellor for student development and diversity, is a recipient of the UW System's Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award.

Barrett and 15 other women of color from throughout Wisconsin will be honored for their contributions to their campuses and communities during an April 21 ceremony in Madison.

"Through her efforts on and off campus, Kimberly Barrett has created positive changes that help to improve the lives of women of color," said UW-Eau Claire interim Provost Steve Tallant. "It's satisfying to see those efforts recognized in this meaningful way." Full story.

Nursing student's research poster receives award
A UW-Eau Claire nursing student's research poster was recognized at the 9th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Conference held Feb. 8-10 in Hollywood, Calif. The student received second place in the subcategory of enhancing oncology care delivery.

Junior Jessica Branson, Appleton, received the award based on her research titled "Undergraduate Students and Securing Evidence." At the conference, Branson discussed her project with researchers and advance practice nurses from all over the world. Full story.

Art student recognized in national competition

UW-Eau Claire senior Rick Conlin's winning illustration, above, will be exhibited in New York City May 2-18.

A UW-Eau Claire art student has won a national student competition award from the Society of Illustrators, which will exhibit the student's work at its gallery in New York City May 2-18.

Senior Rick Conlin, Eau Claire, competed against students from more than 61 art schools across the nation. Conlin's work was one of the 119 entries chosen by a jury of professionals from more than 4,000 submissions. In addition to being exhibited in New York, Conlin's work will be published in a catalogue of student winners.

Conlin is the second UW-Eau Claire student to receive this honor since 2004, said Ned Gannon, assistant professor of art and design. Full story.

Continuing Education receives international honor
UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education has received an Excellence in Community Service award from the Learning Resources Network, an international association for lifelong learning.

UW-Eau Claire was honored for its involvement in the Synergy Initiative for West Central Wisconsin. The annual event brings representatives of business and industry, education and government together to work toward sustainable growth for the region.

Continuing Education's award-winning program was selected from more than 100 entries from four countries. LERN will feature UW-Eau Claire's award on its Web site and in the LERN Magazine and newsletters.

'Danceworks 2007' set for March 29-31
UW-Eau Claire's Concert Dance Company will present its annual spring concert, "Danceworks 2007," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 29-31, in Kjer Theatre on the UW-Eau Claire campus.

Under the direction of Dr. Toni Poll-Sorensen, professor of dance in the department of music and theater arts, the Concert Dance Company will present 13 works showcasing the traditions of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern dance.

Tickets, available at the University Service Center, 715-836-3727, are $9 for the public, $7 for those 62 and older, $6 for those 17 and younger and UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff, and $5 for students with a university ID. Full story.

"Thrice," left, a print by Zachary Stensen, and a corporate identity and package design project by Brian Hankes, below, are among the student works on display March 29-April 18 in the Foster Gallery.

Senior BFA exhibit opens this week
Eleven students who are candidates for UW-Eau Claire bachelor of fine arts degrees will display their work in a senior BFA art show. The exhibit will run March 29-April 18 in the Foster Gallery of the Haas Fine Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 31.

The studio art exhibit will include paintings and drawings, ceramic vessels, prints and a large-scale installation. The graphic design exhibit will include photography, posters, booklets, packaging, digital pieces and graphic design pieces. All of the pieces at the exhibit communicate information about the artists and how they see the world. Full story.

40th annual Jazz Festival to run March 30-31
Some of this country's finest jazz musicians will perform at UW-Eau Claire's 40th Annual Jazz Festival Friday and Saturday, March 30-31. The festival will feature jazz greats Kevin Mahogany, Stanley Jordan and Benny Green and the nationally recognized UW-Eau Claire Jazz Ensemble I. College, high school and middle school honor bands will perform with guest artists at the Friday and Saturday evening concerts. Full story.

UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich hosted a lunch recently for some of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation's student Telefund callers. (Photo by Bill Hoepner, LTS)

Generous alumni, friends put 2006-07 Telefund on track to success
The generosity of UW-Eau Claire alumni and friends is keeping the 2006-07 Telefund drive on track to continue its four-year trend of raising more than $500,000 annually in gifts and pledges. The success was celebrated at a recent lunch hosted by Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich for five student Telefund callers who have raised the most pledge dollars for the current Telefund drive.

Thirty-five UW-Eau Claire student callers contact university alumni and friends to update them on the latest news from campus and invite them to support the people and programs at UW-Eau Claire.

"These dedicated students represent the entire student body," said Levin-Stankevich. "They deliver the important message that alumni make a crucial difference in supporting the excellence at UW-Eau Claire especially in the current state fiscal climate." Full story.

Preserving family history is 'Let's Do Lunch' topic
"Preserving Your Personal History Through Family Records Management " will be the focus of the March 28 session of "Let's Do Lunch," sponsored by the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association. Colleen McFarland, UW-Eau Claire head of special collections and university archivist, will speak from noon to 1 p.m. at Sweetwater's restaurant, Eau Claire, about organizing and preserving letters, photos and other historical family documents for use by current and future generations. Reservations are requested. More information.

Steal 'n Score luncheons set for March 27, April 24

Leslie Huntington

The weekly booster luncheons conducted by the UW-Eau Claire athletics program in fall and winter will continue with two spring sessions, Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon has announced.

Steal 'n Score Luncheons featuring Blugold women's softball coach Leslie Huntington are set for noon Tuesday, March 27, and Tuesday, April 24. The luncheons will take place in the Wisconsin Room of the Quality Inn and will be catered by Mancino's. The cost for attendees is $6 per session and includes a sandwich, cookie and beverage. No advance registration is necessary.

Huntington will talk about UW-Eau Claire's nationally ranked softball team, which will play its home opener March 31 against St. Norbert and host the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament May 4-5 at Gelein Field in Carson Park. The Blugolds also have five other home doubleheaders scheduled. They are the three-time defending WIAC regular season champs and are ranked No. 5 in the NFCA preseason poll, coming off a 37-6 record in 2006.

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 Julie Poquette at poquetjm@uwec.edu are encouraged. Faculty/staff news items are published on a space-available basis.