Campus Connection

 

UW-La Crosse Senior Art Exhibition shows variety of work

This spring’s semi-annual UW-La Crosse senior exhibition features a diverse collection of artwork created by 18 graduating seniors.

UW-L Theatre presents modern telling of a Greek Classic; tickets on sale April 16

“Antigone” by Sophocles will show at 7:30 p.m. April 20-21 and 26-28, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. Sundays, April 22 and 29. Performances are in Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts

International alums reunite in India for wedding

Twelve former international students who are now living throughout the world reunited in India in November to celebrate the wedding of their college friend, UW-L alumnus Tanmaya Singh, of India, and his bride, Priyali Choudhary.

National fire safety groups plan UW-La Crosse visit

Representatives from two nationwide organizations that promote fire safety on college campuses will visit UW-La Crosse to recap the Drake Hall fire.  

Students share research and creativity at annual celebration

[caption id="attachment_11288" align="alignnone" width="770" caption="Undergraduate Kelsey Greenwood, left, explained the research she and Sarah Branson worked on — "That's Not Who I Thought You Were: Stability of First Impressions" — at UW-L's 15th Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creativity April 13 in Cartwright Center. The celebration, held during National Undergraduate Research Week, included presentations from undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines. Photo by UW-L student Mark Fei.  "][/caption]  

Vietnam ambassador visits UW-La Crosse, recognizes UW-L’s Vietnamese Student Association

The ambassador of Vietnam visited campus April 14 to officially recognize the UW-L Vietnamese Student Association on behalf of the embassy in Washington, D.C. Cuong Quoc Nguyen met with student leaders of the group attended the 47th annual International Banquet Saturday, April 14. He is the first ambassador to attend the banquet that features international cuisine and dress. Nguyen recognized UW-L's Vietnamese Student Association, which has thrived on campus for five years. UW-L and UW-Madison began a partnership with the U.S. Committee on Scientific Cooperation with Vietnam in 2002. Since then, more than 100 Vietnamese students have attended classes on campus. At first, most took pre-med classes; now, students are taking courses in a variety of disciplines. Nguyen visited UW-L as part of a trip to UW-Madison to attend a memorial service for Judy Ladinksy, who chaired the U.S. Committee on Scientific Cooperation with Vietnam. Ladinsky played a major role in developing the relationship between Vietnam, UW-Madison and UW-La Crosse. She died Jan. 12. Ambassador Nguyen is a career diplomat with vast experience in foreign affairs. He was appointed by President Triet Minh Nguyen as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the U.S. in early 2011. Before his appointment, from 2008-11 Nguyen was Deputy Foreign Minister and was in charge of relations of Vietnam with European countries, and press and information affairs, along with serving as chief negotiator with the Vatican. See more photos taken by UW-L student Mark Fei of the event at https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=41687dd2e4faf70d&resid=41687DD2E4FAF70D!2704&parid=41687DD2E4FAF70D!2200&authkey=!AGXHG3ftADcuDAI [caption id="attachment_11259" align="alignnone" width="770" caption="More than 50 faculty and staff, along with 20 presenters, discussed iPads, Google, social media, Web streaming and more at the 6th Passport to Technology March 23 in Wing Technology Center. "][/caption]

ITS Technology event a success

More than 50 faculty and staff, along with 20 presenters, discussed iPads, Google, social media, Web streaming and more at the 6th Passport to Technology March 23. Eighty-one percent of participants called the event “very effective and effective.” Director of Academic Technology Services Jim Jorstad says those attending the short sessions walked away with a lot of vital information on the latest in technology. He encourages faculty and staff to attend future educational sessions. Chancellor Gow kicked off the event by telling the audience “It is an exciting time to take stock in what we have in technology.” He challenged the audience to think about “where will go together” with technology? Chancellor Gow continued by saying that while email might now be considered passé, the question before us is if it will get there with lecture capture and see textbooks on tablets. Passport 6 provided a wide variety of technology topics for faculty and staff. “If you missed this year's event, we encourage you and your colleagues to attend next time,” says Jorstad. “The sessions are designed provide the latest advances in technology while giving insight into everyday questions and concerns about devices.” David Mindel, Murphy Library-Digital Collections, won the grand door prize, a new Blu-Ray 3-D player. Find out more about the event at: www.uwlax.edu/its/ats/passport.

Clean house for Earth Week; Eagle Help Desk to help with disposal of electronic waste

In recognition of Earth Week, April 16-20, you can do your part to keep UW-L's environment clean and the campus clutter free. Identify obsolete or unused electronic technology in your office or storage areas and contact the Eagle Help Desk for pick up. The Eagle Help Desk now handles surplus of all UW-L electronic technology. This includes: computers, keyboards, peripherals, monitors, printers, CD/DVD players, TVs and more. Simply fill out the online form and the Eagle Help Desk will contact you to arrange a pickup time. Get started. Go to http://www.uwlax.edu/its/helpdesk/electronic_surplus.htm. All items will be recycled and/or disposed of in a secure and environmentally responsible manner by the locally-owned, certified contractor Dynamic Recycling. For more information, call the Eagle Help Desk at 785.8774 or email helpdesk@uwlax.edu. [caption id="attachment_10997" align="alignright" width="134" caption="Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor Seemi Aziz speaks at UW-L April 16 and 17."][/caption]

Expert on Muslim children’s books to speak at UW-L’s Murphy Library

Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor Seemi Aziz, expert on Muslim children’s books, will speak on “Issues Within Children’s Literature that Represent Muslims” at UW-L April 16 and 17. Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor Seemi Aziz will give the presentation three times: 2:10-3:20 p.m. and 4- 6 p.m. Monday, April 16, and 12:40-1:50 p.m. Tuesday, April 17. All programs are in the Alice Hagar Curriculum Center on the 2nd floor of Murphy Library. A reception with refreshments will be held for the first half hour of the 4 p.m. April 16 presentation, with the program at 4:30. All are free and open to the public. The program is sponsored by UW-L’s Murphy Library, Campus Climate and Diversity, and School of Education. For more information see: http://www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/events/childlit12.html If you go— What: “Issues Within Children’s Literature that Represent Muslims” Who: Seemi Aziz, Assistant Professor of Reading and Literacy Education-School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership/College of Education, Oklahoma State University Where: Alice Hagar Curriculum Center, Murphy Library second floor When: 2:10-3:20 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday, April 16 (refreshments 4-4:30) 12:40-1:50 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 Admission: Free

Strength training researcher to present fitness lecture

Andrew Fry, from the University of Kansas, will present “Weight Training for Health and Fitness — Ideas and Insights” at 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, in 1309 Centennial Hall. The public lecture is free.

Environmental fair set for April 18

UW-L's Environmental Health and Human Ecology (HED 335) class is hosting a campus-wide environmental fair  from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in the Cameron Hall of Nations, Centennial Hall. Students will present environmental issues in the "Mobilize the Earth" event. The fair will also feature local organizations that focus on environmental and sustainability issues that students can get involved in. The class wants others to learn about different environmental issues and engage in local organizations to create change within the community. If you go—  Who: UW-L's HED 335 Environmental Health and Human Ecology What: Mobilize the Earth Environmental Fair When: 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 Where: Cameron Hall of Nations, Centennial Hall Why: Learn about environmental issues and connect with community organizations to create change Cost: Free

EEOC rep to speak on campus April 18

Maria Flores, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), will provide an overview of the federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination and will focus on workplace sexual harassment and the hostile work environment. This presentation runs from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in 332 Cartwright Center. For more information, contact Barbara Stewart, 785.5092.

A 'country queen' is focus of April 20 presentation

Stephen L. Mann, English, will present "'Perfect Example of a Country Queen': Gay American English in the American South" from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, in 113 Wimberly Hall. Mann will focus on the relationship between "sounding gay" and "sounding southern." Findings suggest that listeners who perceive a gay male speaker to be southern may find it more difficult to correctly identify his sexual orientation. Mann will focus on two gay male speaker to explain that the perception does not lead to a complete incompatibility between sounding southern and sounding gay. This event, part of  the English Department's 2011-2012 William J. and Yvonne Hyde Colloquium Series, is free and open to the public. To arrange for disability accommodations, email english@uwlax.edu or call 785.8295. For more information, visit http://rhetor.blogs.com/english.

Free motivational Wednesday lectures planned

UW-L faculty and staff will present lectures on Wednesdays to motivate listeners and to share inspiring life lessons, stories and tips. The one-hour lectures include:

• Paul Heckman, English, 7 p.m. April 18, 1400 Centennial Hall
• Al Gedicks, Sociology, 7 p.m. April 25, 1400 Centennial Hall

UW-L surplus sale to be held April 18-May 2

UW-L will conduct a sale of surplus property in partnership with the online auction site www.wisconsinsurplus.com from Wednesday, April 18, through Wednesday, May 2. Pre-registration and a bidder number is required prior to any bid submittals. For terms and conditions of sale, along with contact information, visit  www.wisconsinsurplus.com.

Chancellor's Open Forum set for April 20

Chancellor Joe Gow will hold an Open Forum for the campus community from noon-1 p.m. Friday, April 20, in 1400 Centennial Hall. Potential topics include: student center update, National Collegiate Athletic Association compliance issues and salary equity challenges. Bring questions or topics to discuss. Chancellor Gow has granted one hour release time to attend this event. Work with supervisors to ensure office coverage.

RAQ Radio Fest to feature music, more

A mid-day event with music, games and food will help raise money for the student-run radio station on campus. The UW-L Broadcast Club will hold RAQ Radio Fest from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, April 20, on the green between Wittich Hall and the Archaeology Center. The fest includes live music featuring local artists including Andy from T.U.G.G., Paulie, Gregg "Cheech" Hall, Derek Ramnarace, Jacob Grippen, Luke Jorgenson, Franky Goo, Sam Slater, and Adam Blatter. There will also be yard games and a bake sale. The event features groups and businesses that support the new college radio station while promoting awareness and raising funds for the station. If it rains, the event will be held April 27. RAQ Radio can be heard on the Internet at live365.com/stations/raq. Students and advisers encourage the campus community to get involved as they work to transform it to a locally broadcast station in the next couple of years. Find out more about the station at: http://www.raqradio.com/

Working with difficult people is topic of April 20 Inclusive Friday presentation

The Inclusive Friday presentation "Working With Difficult People, Part II" will run from noon-1 p.m. Friday, April 20, in 102 Wing Technology Center. Participants will define "difficult," explore common characteristics of difficult people, identify strategies for navigating difficult workplace relationships, and discuss ways to encourage a positive work environment. Barbara Stewart and Matt Evensen, Campus Climate, will present.

Planetarium’s spring program highlights Pluto; Album Encounters features Sublime

The UW-L Public Planetarium Public program highlights Pluto throughout April. “New Horizons-Mission to Pluto” will be shown at 1 p.m. Saturdays, April 21 and 28, in the UW-L Planetarium, 20 Cowley Hall. Admissions is $2 for students and $3 for others. The Album Encounters multimedia light and laser show features Sublime's "Sublime" at 8 p.m. Friday, April 20. Admission is $3. To find out more, contact Bob Allen at allen.robe@uwlax.edu or 785.8669. Find out more about the Planetarium.

History honorary fraternity to hold initiation ceremony April 27

The UW-L History Department chapter of the national history honorary fraternity Phi Alpha Theta will have its annual initiation ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, in the Cameron Hall of Nations in Centennial Hall. The public is invited to see the induction of new members, followed by the presentation "Historian’s Dilemma: Finding the Narrative Arc" by guest speaker Professor Emeritus Bruce Mouser. Mouser is the author of the recently-published book "For Labor, Race and Liberty: George Edwin Taylor, His Historic Run for the White House, and the Making of Independent Black Politics." From a youth and early journalistic career in La Crosse, Taylor became the first African American ticketed as a political party's nominee for president of the U.S. running against Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. A reception will follow the presentation.

UW-L Theatre sets auditions for SummerStage production of 'Footloose'

UW-L's Department of Theatre Arts is holding auditions for the SummerStage 2012 production of the musical "Footloose." Auditions are set for 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, April 23 and 24, in the Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts. Auditions are open to students and the community. Auditioners should come prepared with 16 bars of a contemporary Broadway musical and wear comfortable clothing as a dance routine will be taught on site. Auditioners should plan to be available for both evenings. An accompanist will be provided. "Footloose" centers on Ren McCormack, a regular Chicago guy who just wants to dance. When his father hits the road and Ren and his mother are forced to move in with family in the middle-of-nowhere town Bomont, he hits a roadblock. Due to a tragic accident involving some of the town’s prominent families, dancing and rock music is now outlawed. What happens when Ren goes head-to-head with Reverend Shaw Moore, the regulation’s chief proponent, in an effort to put on a real senior prom with real dancing? Join in this movie-turned-musical fun to find out. Rehearsals will be in the evenings Monday through Friday beginning Tuesday, May 29. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 29, through Saturday, June 30 and Thursday, July 5 through Saturday, July 7, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 1, and Sunday, July 8, in Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts. Tentative remount performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8 and 9. If you go— Who: UW-L's Department of Theatre Arts What: Auditions for SummerStage 2012 production of "Footloose" Where: Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts When: 6 p.m. April 23 and 24

  Kristin Koepke, Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning, and Alex O'Brien, Psychology, had the article "Advancing Pedagogy: Evidence for the Role of Online Instructor Training in Improving Pedagogical Practices" published in the April 2012 (Vol 16, No 2) issue of the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, a Sloan-C publication. Kirsten M. Rosacker, Accountancy, had her co-authored paper “The Role of Governance in Supply Chain Sustainability” presented at the Midwest Meeting of Decision Sciences Institute, March 12-14 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Melissa Wallace, Modern Languages, presented "Team-Based Learning and Worked Examples: Two Teaching and Learning Strategies for the Undergraduate Translation Studies Laboratory" at the Sixth Biennial Conference of the American Translation and Interpreting Studies Association in South Padre Island, Texas, on March 30.  

New employees

• Cheryl Brye, Associate Student Services Coordinator, College of Science and Health, April 1
• Keith Gilbert, Custodian, Residence Life, April 9
• Dang Lor, Custodian, Custodial Services, April 9
• Keith Springer, Custodian, Custodial Services, April 9
• Karen Novak, Custodian, University Centers, April 16

Workshop on Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) basics planned for April 20

As our budgets are continually stretched, if you need to cut back on savings, remember, saving something is better than saving nothing. This workshop is especially intended for new investors and for those not yet in the TSA Program. Those with established accounts will find it beneficial as well. The workshop is on the basics of investing and what to look for when choosing investments. A Roth 403(b) option is now available. In a Roth 403(b) account contributions are included in taxable income in the year they are made, but the account balance and earnings are not taxed when distributed (subject to certain restrictions). Participants can contribute through payroll deduction using the Roth 403(b) option to the same kinds of investments that are in our pre-tax 403(b) Plan. There will be time for questions. No registration is required.

Professor Emeritus George E. Carter remembered

UW-L Professor Emeritus George E. Carter died April 4. Carter began teaching in UW-L's history department in 1970. He taught Colonial and African American history. Carter helped establish UW-L's first Minority Studies Office and Minority Studies Institute. He was the first director of the Minority Studies program. Services were held April 12 in the chapel at the Indiana Veteran's Home in Lafayette, Ind., followed by a military burial. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the American Friends Service Committee, London Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends or the University of Oregon Foundation. See the full obituary here http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fitchburg/obituary.aspx?n=george-e-carter&pid=156904419. Neighborhood rummage sale, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, Cliffwood Lane in La Crosse. Furniture, exercise equipment, baby supplies, girls clothing, women's clothing, books and more.