Campus Connection

UW-L’s winter graduation ceremony is Dec. 18

UW-La Crosse graduating senior Krista Hagman plans to share her life philosophy during the student address to about 600 graduates at the ceremony — held for the first time at the La Crosse Center.

UW-L’s Outdoor Connection rents skis, snowshoes and more

The rental service, located inside UW-La Crosse’s Recreational Eagle Center, rents snowshoes, sleds, toboggans, cross-country skis, ice skates and airboards. Staff are also available to help you plan your outdoor winter adventures.

UW-L’s Youth Sports and Fitness Camp is Dec. 27-29

Kids ages 5-12 are invited to stay active this holiday season by signing up for UW-L’s Winter Youth Sports and Fitness Camp, designed to teach kids concepts such as sportsmanship, teamwork, nutrition and fitness. The camp runs from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Dec. 27–29, in UW-L’s Mitchell Hall gymnasium and classrooms.

Students plan medical service-learning trip to aid Buddhist monks, nuns

A group of UW-L students and staff will travel to India and Nepal Dec. 28 – Jan. 20 to establish medical records for monks and nuns and teach about preventative healthcare such as dental care and hand washing. They hope to raise $3,000 before their departure to donate equipment, medical supplies and educational materials to the monks and nuns. So far the group has raised $200. Learn how to help. [caption id="attachment_8356" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Recreation Management student Anna DeMers sat on a toilet near Hoeschler Tower for her final project for several hours Dec. 6 and 9 in temperatures that ranged from 18-24 degrees."][/caption]

Sitting for a cause

Most students study for finals. Anna DeMers took a seat. The Recreation Management student sat on a toilet near Hoeschler Tower for several hours Dec. 6 and 9 in temperatures that ranged from 18-24 degrees. Why? For her final project, a self-portrait in black and white photography. "The toilet represents my life," she explains. "Not at all a crappy life. I have a colon disease called ulcerative colitis. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad. Right now, it's just so-so." DeMers wants to bring awareness to the disease that affects everything she does, whether its eating, camping or traveling. She also hopes to move viewers beyond awareness and encouraged them to share their struggles — oftentimes embarrassing or difficult to talk about — by writing them on a note card and putting them in the tank of the toilet. Her project is "as much about you as it is about me," she says. Next Campus Connection is Jan. 3, 2012 Happy holidays! The next Campus Connection will be published Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. Email information to be included to connectx@uwlax.edu by no later than Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Ceramics Club Pottery sale to be held Dec. 13 and 14

Still looking for holiday gifts? UW-L's Ceramics Club Pottery sale will include a wide selection of hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind ceramic wares with prices starting at only a few dollars. The sale runs from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14 in Port O' Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Student affairs info meeting is Dec. 14 Interested in the student affairs profession? Student Affairs Leaders in Training (SALT) will meet from 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, in 3212 Centennial Hall. This session will focus on preparation for graduate school and summer internships. It will also highlight helpful hints for interviews, cover letters and resumes, as well as appropriate dress and more. For more information, contact Aaron Koepke at akoepke@uwlax.edu), AnDrea Higgins at ahiggins@uwlax.edu or Matt Evensen at mevensen@uwlax.edu.

Album Encounters multimedia light and laser show set for Dec. 16; ‘Winter Wonders’ presented Dec. 17

Visit the university Planetarium in 18 Cowley Hall for UW-L’s Album Encounters at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The multimedia light and laser show features Pink Floyd's “Wish You Were Here” Admission is $3. The Planetarium will also present “Winter Wonders” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Admission is $2 for students and $3 for others. To find out more, contact Bob Allen at allen.robe@uwlax.edu or 785.8669. Find out more about the Planetarium.

Writing Center to add extra hours during finals week

UW-L's Writing Center  will be open extra hours during finals week. The center will be open to help students with papers for any class from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15; 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16; noon–5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17; and 9 a.m.–noon Sunday, Dec. 18. The Writing Center will then remain closed until the spring semester. Students can sign up for appointments through the Writing Center’s webpage. Jeans Day is Dec. 16 UW-L is one of many local organizations that participates in the monthly “Jeans Day” sponsored by the La Crosse Tribune. One or two local charities or organizations are designated each month to receive donations. In return for a $1 suggested donation, UW-L employees may wear jeans to work Friday, Dec. 16. Charities receiving the December contributions are:

• La Crosse Citizen Advocacy – Protect rights, promote interest and support lives of people with developmental and related disabilities.
• Alzheimer’s Association Greater WI Chapter – Works to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through advancing research, provide and enhance support for those affected, and reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

Building contacts:

• Cindy Curran, 212 Cartwright
• Laurie Collison, 4206 Centennial Hall
• Karen Ott, 2004 Cowley Hall
• Carol Beckerjeck, Eagle Hall
• Elizabeth Zuege & Briana Meuer, 115 Graff Main Hall
• Kathy Olson, 203 Mitchell Hall
• Chandra Hawkins, 220 Morris Hall
• Ingrid Iverson, 107 Murphy Library
• Ann Reman, Physical Plant
• Karen Kindschy, Student Health Center
• Vickie Bain, 120 Wimberly Hall
• Josh Kraft, 162 Wing

If there is not a contact in your building, forward your donation to Jeans Day Coordinator Vickie Bain, SBDC, in 120 Wimberly Hall. If you would like to be a building contact, call Bain at 785.8646 or email vbain@uwlax.edu.

Note changes in UW System travel policies

Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, employees will not be reimbursed for personal calls home ($5). The current fuel price for the campus personal mileage reimbursement schedule has been updated and takes effect Dec. 12. For more information, contact Beth Naas at 785.8612.

Use these tips to save energy between semesters

Most students and many faculty and staff are off campus after final exams. Save energy between semesters to reduce UW-L's environmental impact and to help lower costs. Conserve energy as much as possible, so long as it doesn’t impact programs or services. UW-L can save energy without radically altering current practices. Facilities Planning and Management staff asks everyone to:

• Turn off computers, monitors, printers, peripherals and other non-essential office equipment. If in use, shut off the power strip rather than each item individually.
• Turn off all table lamps, general room lighting and other electrical items.
• Unplug and clean office refrigerators; block the door slightly ajar to reduce odor buildup.
• Unplug chargers — for cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, cordless tools and other gadgets — when they’re not charging. They draw energy whenever they’re plugged in. Keep chargers unplugged until you need them.
• Close shades, blinds and curtains during unoccupied periods.
• Encourage others to reduce energy use.

Do your part to conserve energy on campus. Click here and the "Saving Energy" link to review more energy-saving tips. Contact Dan Sweetman with comments or questions.

Deadline to submit designs for the WACADA Conference logo contest is Feb. 3, 2012

UW-L is hosting the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA) regional conference in 2012 and the WACADA Conference Publicity Committee needs a logo. Enter a logo design by no later than Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, to compete for a prize and the opportunity to see your design on WACADA materials. WACADA represents multiple areas of advising including administration, counselors and advisers. The conference brings together professionals serving in an advising capacity in higher education. The theme for the 2012 conference is “AdvisingFest: Celebrating Excellence.” The committee seeks a logo that incorporates La Crosse’s rich history of festivals, as well as other UW-L themes, such as sustainability and healthy living and that can be translated into a graphic format. The logo will be used on the conference booklet, handouts and the WACADA Web page. Committee members will vote on their favorite design and contact the winner. To enter the competition, email Kelsey Michels at michels.kels@uwlax.edu with an electronic copy of your design. Sign up now for three-week study tour of Egypt Learn about the Egyptian Revolution through oral history and receive four credits, including one Service Learning Credit,  in UW-L's three-week study tour of Egypt. The tour from May 15-June 5, 2012, includes daily classes as well as visits to Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria and The Red Sea. The fee (airfare not included) is $3,319. There is limited space so contact Heidi Morrison at hmorrison@uwlax.edu or 785.8345 now. This program is sponsored by UW-L’s History Department, Office of International Education and International Studies Program Lalita Hogan, English, published a book chapter, "Agency and Emotion: R.K. Narayan's The Guide," in Analyzing World Fiction: New Horizons in Narrative Theory, edited by Frederick Luis Aldama, University of Texas Press, 2011, pages 109-133. Eric Kraemer, Philosophy, presented "On Kim, Reduction and Reductive Explanation" at the Minnesota Philosophical Society Annual Meeting Nov. 5 at Mankato State University, Mankato, Minn. Rachel Slough, Murphy Library, co-authored the article "Information Literacy for Multiple Disciplines: Toward a Campus-Wide Integration Model at Indiana University, Bloomington" in the journal Communications in Information Literacy, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2011. UW-L therapeutic recreation majors had a 95 percent pass rate for first-time candidates on an exam given by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. The national passing rate for first-time candidates is 72.6 percent.

New employees

Christopher Werner, Associate Lecturer, Music, Nov. 3 Graciela Engen, Associate Institutional Planner, Institutional Research, Dec. 1 Lisa Iverson-Leirmo, Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Professions, Dec. 1 Deanna Kabliska, Assistant Advanced, Human Resources, Dec. 5 Note Murphy Library hours during finals and break Murphy Library offers has special hours during finals week and during semester breaks. Finals week – Dec. 16–21

• Friday, Dec. 16, 7:30 a.m.-2  a.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 17, 7:30 a.m.-midnight
• Sunday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
• Monday, Dec. 19, 7:30 a.m.-2 a.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 21, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

The Reference Desk is open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays only during finals. Other special hours include: Dec.22 -Jan. 2 Thursday, Dec. 22,  9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Friday - Tuesday, Dec. 23-27,  closed Wednesday–Thursday, Dec. 28-29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday–Monday, Dec. 30-Jan. 2, closed Jan. 3-20 Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday closed Sunday 1-5 p.m. Jan. 15-16, Sunday-Monday closed Jan.  22, Sunday, closed The Reference Desk is closed during J-Term. Special Collections has special hours as posted during J-Term. Click here for details or look for the "hours" graphic on the library home page.   Thanks to everyone who came out for the UW-L Employee Morale Retreat Thursday, Dec. 1. More than 200 faculty and staff enjoyed pet, art and massage therapies, Wii sports and more. Beth Naas received the grand prize of a free one-year membership to the Recreational Eagle Center. Mike Durand, Kari Emineth and Sue Knudson won "Taste of UW-L" door prize baskets. Thanks to the offices and departments that donated door prize baskets, including Academic Advising, Alumni Association, Athletics, Bookstore, Campus Activities Board, Career Services, Chartwells, College of Business Administration, REC Sports, Residence Life, Theatre and Wellness Resource Center. The spring 2012 Morale Retreat will be held in the Recreational Eagle Center. Watch for more details here.