Campus Connection

  World-leading Marxist economist to speak at UW-L Feb. 23 One of the world’s leading Marxist economists will speak about the world’s current economic crisis during a UW-La Crosse presentation.

Find your future career: UW-L’s Career Expo is Feb. 22

Students! Polish up your resume and get ready to make an impression. UW-L’s Spring 2012 Career Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center–Gunning Addition.

What we can learn from Leopold

Environmental Scientist Stanley Temple shares what we can learn from Aldo Leopold's land ethic as part of sustainability-themed events on campus. A love kindled — in plant biology lab

Kyle Burkhamer met the love of his life because of the Green Bay Packers. Missing the Pack on Monday night football caused the young man to rethink his UW-La Crosse class schedule in fall 2008. He changed his plant biology lab to Wednesday evenings and recalls walking into a packed 331 Cowley Hall two weeks into the semester.

Hotline set up for Drake fire investigation

Anyone with info should call 785.5000. A hotline has been set up to help search for answers about the cause of the Jan. 29 fire in Drake Hall. The early-morning fire forced 271 students out of their rooms for the rest of the semester.

State artist sets UW-L talk

Katie Musolff, honored as the Resident Artist at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, gives a public lecture about her work at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in 116 Center for the Arts. Admission is free.

Wis. state justices set UW-L program

Two Wisconsin Supreme Court justices will lead a program at UW-L that will focus on the state’s women leaders.

UW-L grad on ‘American Idol’

By age 2, Reed Grimm was singing and playing air guitar while doing knee slides across the stage with the family band. Today the 26 year old hasn’t lost his spirit or spontaneity as he advances on the hit TV show American Idol.

Grad student report aims to raise awareness about mental illness

A UW-La Crosse student report could change the way people think about mental illness, improve treatment and help prevent it. Tara Delong, who is in UW-L’s Master of Public Health in Community Health Education Program, recently published a report, “The Burden of Mental Illness: A Report on La Crosse and the Surrounding Region,” covering the costs and challenges the La Crosse area faces in tackling mental illness.    

Theatre department's spring production is 'Drowsy Chaperone;' tickets on sale Feb. 20

UW-L's Department of Theatre Arts is “stumbling along” into this season’s musical surprise "The Drowsy Chaperone." Ever wonder what it would be like to have your most beloved Broadway musical burst into life right in your own living room? That’s what happens to a secluded musical fanatic who innocently settles in to enjoy his favorite cast album one day. Surprise! Suddenly the full-fledged musical production catapults into the confines of his home, telling the boisterous ballad of a brazen Broadway starlet seeking to find, and keep, her true love. A tribute to early American musicals of the Jazz Age, "The Drowsy Chaperone" will leave you yearning for an unannounced visit of your own. "The Drowsy Chaperone" will run at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25, and  Thursday through Saturday, March 1-3, with matinee performances at 2 o'clock Saturdays, Feb. 26 and March 4, in Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts. Tickets go on sale at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20. Box office hours are 1-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and one hour before each performance. Tickets are $5 UW-L students, $14 for senior citizens and non-UWL students, and $16 for others. Call  785.8522. If you go— Who: UW-L Department of Theatre Arts What: "The Drowsy Chaperone" Where: Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24-25 and March 1-3 ; 2 p.m. Feb. 24 and March 4

Riley named CSAH dean

Bruce Riley has been named dean of UW-L's College of Science and Health (CSAH). Riley began working at UW-L in 1985 as an assistant professor in mathematics and was promoted to the rank of professor in 1993. He chaired the mathematics department from 1996 to 2009 before being appointed interim dean of CSAH.     [caption id="attachment_9922" align="alignnone" width="700" caption="UW-L's new head volleyball coach, Lily Hallock, was interviewed by a WKBT-TV Ch. 8 reporter during a welcoming reception Feb. 13 in Port O' Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. "][/caption]

Hallock named head volleyball coach

Lily Hallock has been named UW-L's 10th head volleyball coach in school history. Hallock replaces Sheila Perkins, who following her 18th season as head coach retired from coaching in November 2011 with 392 wins, the most in school history. Along with serving as volleyball coach, Hallock will be an instructor in the Exercise Sport Science Department. Ecumenical Ash Wednesday church services to be held Feb. 22 Ecumenical Ash Wednesday church services will be held at noon and 5 p.m. Feb. 22, at the Roncalli Catholic Newman Center, 1732 State St. The noon service will last 45 minutes to enable students and faculty to attend 1 p.m. classes. The services are sponsored by Crossroads Campus Ministry, Lutheran Campus Ministry and the Roncalli Catholic Newman Center. Chancellor to hold open forum Friday, Feb. 24 Chancellor Joe Gow will hold an open forum for the campus community from noon-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in Port O'Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Bring questions and topics you want to discuss. Gow has granted one hour release time to attend. Work with supervisors to ensure office coverage. Spring wardrobe items on sale at University Bookstore Looking for a deal? The University Bookstore just received some great T-shirts, tank tops and shorts. Fill out your spring break wardrobe with these promotional pieces selling for $7.95 each. Supplies are limited. Next Jeans Day is Feb. 24 UW-L is one of many local organizations that participate in the monthly “Jeans Day” sponsored by the La Crosse Tribune. One or two local charities or organizations are designated each month to receive our donations. In return for a $1 (suggested donation), UW-L employees may wear jeans to work Friday, Feb. 24. You may contribute even if you don’t wear jeans. This is a small way for us to join together and give back big to our local community. Let’s show our community how generous we can be! In December our campus raised $90. The charities receiving the February contributions are: La Crosse Police DARE – Preventing drug and alcohol abuse among elementary and middle school children and developing effective problem solving skills without resorting to violence. La Crosse Symphony Orchestra Inc.– Enhancing the quality of life in the tri-state region by providing excellent symphonic music for the pleasure of the public, educating people of all ages in the symphonic tradition, and encouraging student and professional musicians to develop and share their musical talents and skills. Drop $1 donations off with one of the following building contacts:

• Cindy Curran, 212 Cartwright Center
• Laurie Collison, 4206 Centennial Hall
• Laurie Malloney, Cleary Alumni & Friends Center
• Karen Ott, 2004 Cowley Hall
• Carol Beckerjeck, Eagle Hall
• Pa Moua-Yang, 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 Technology Center

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

Spotlight on 'Lateralus' at Feb. 24 Album Encounters, 'Journey to the Stars' is public program

UW-L’s Album Encounters multimedia light and laser show runs at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and features Tool's "Lateralus." Admission is $3. UW-L’s Planetarium Public Program “Journey to the Stars” is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, in 20 Cowley Hall. Admissions is $2 for students, $3 for others. To find out more, contact Bob Allen at allen.robe@uwlax.edu or 785.8669. Find out more about the Planetarium. Most Accessible Award Ceremony is Feb. 27 Winners of the Most Accessible Awards for 2011 will be honored at the 29th annual Most Accessible Awards Ceremony Monday, Feb. 27, in Port O’ Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. A reception with refreshments begins at 4 p.m. Chancellor Joe Gow will provide opening remarks at 4:15 p.m. Guest speaker Patricia Ardonvino, Recreation Management /Therapeutic Recreation, will talk about veterans returning to school. Awards will be presented at 4:40 p.m. A sign language interpreter will be provided. Students Advocating Potential Ability (SAPA) hosts the ceremony annually to recognize faculty and staff who have demonstrated a commitment to helping make UW-L accessible to students with a disability. During the 2010 calendar year, students with disabilities who use services through the Disability Resource Services (DRS) Office nominated a faculty member, a staff person and a department to be honored. Winners will receive a certificate, gift and engraved plaque. To request accommodations, contact SAPA adviser Tom Link at 785.8535 or tlink@uwlax.edu. The event is sponsored by SAPA, DRS and Student Support Services (SSS). Asian-American stereotypes is focus of public Feb. 28 presentation; combating racism in education is topic of Feb. 29 professional development talk [caption id="attachment_9928" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="John Palmer will be on campus Feb. 28 and 29 to talk about stereotypes and racism."][/caption] John Palmer, an associate professor of Educational Studies at Colgate University (New York), will discuss how the mainstream media in the U.S. portrays stereotypes of Asian-Americans. In his public talk, "Karate Chops, Geishas, Nerds, & Asian Invasion: Reflections of a Corean Adopted American," from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition, he discusses how stereotypes damage and limit identity. He also will offer tips on self-empowerment and challenging oppression stemming from stereotypes. From 8:15-10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, Palmer will talk about combating racism in education in a professional development presentation for faculty, staff and community leaders. "Multicultural Anti-Racist Educators in a 21st Century Diverse Globalized Society: Taking on the Resisters, Naysayers and Preaching to the Choir" will be held in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Palmer will address how he, as a professor in the field of social and cultural foundations of education, teaches anti-racism and anti-oppression at a predominantly white and economically privileged U.S. university. He also shares suggestions for developing new policies that aim for a future educational system that encompasses global peace, harmony and empowerment of its students. Admission to both presentations is free. The series is sponsored by the Asian Student Organization; Asian, Latina, African, Native Women; Black Student Unity; Campus Climate & Diversity; Hmong Organization Promoting Education; Latin American Student Organization; Native American Student Association; Institute for Ethnic & Racial Studies; and the Office of Multicultural Student Services and Student Affairs Professional Staff Development Committee. For more information contact Thomas Harris, at tharris@uwlax.edu or 780.7153. For accommodations, contact Tenzin Kunor at kunor.tenz@uwlax.edu or 608.628.4421 or Lejja Dongzhu at dongzhuleji@uwlax.edu.

Karen Hansen retirement celebration rescheduled to March 9

A retirement celebration will be held for Karen Hansen from 2:30-5 p.m. Friday, March 9, in the Ward Room, Cartwright Center. A program will be held at 4:15 p.m. (The event was originally scheduled from 3-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center.)

Deadline to nominate someone for the Academic Staff Excellence Award is March 9

For nearly 20 years, the Academic Staff Council has recognized a non-instructional academic staff member who excels at UW-L and contributes to the La Crosse area. To nominate someone for the 2012 Academic Staff Excellence Award, click here. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, March 9. Chancellor Joe Gow will announce the recipient at the fall 2012 Chancellor's Address. For more information about the Excellence Award nomination process, visit the Academic Staff Council website.

Students to receive survey measuring out-of-class growth via email this week

UW-L students will receive the UniLOA survey via email this week. The survey measures college students' growth, learning and development. The survey typically takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Students will receive an analysis of their responses that can be used to facilitate discussions regarding their personal and professional development. Find out more at www.measuringbehaviors.com. The project was funded by units within the Division of Student Affairs to be administered in 2011-12. Refer questions to Spencer Long, Larry Ringgenberg or Kaye Schendel.

Hate Response Team updates website to provide more transparency, resources

[caption id="attachment_9890" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Assistant Director of the Office of International Education Jason Kouba, left, headed a tour of OIE Feb. 15. for a local Girl Scout Troup. Assistant Professor of Modern Languages Jean Janecki. right, told the girls about Argentina."][/caption]

Girl Scout troups visit OIE for International Thinking Day celebration

A Girl Scout Troop from Emerson Elementary School was on campus Feb. 15 for its "International Thinking Day" celebration. Assistant Director of International Education Jason Kouba gave the girls a tour of the OIE. Then Modern Languages Assistant Professor Jean Janecki talked with them about Argentina, where Janecki's daughter lived and traveled. Area Girl Scouts will be on campus Saturday, March 3, for an International Fair in Cowley Hall.

[caption id="attachment_9868" align="alignright" width="500" caption="UW-L's Pre-Physical Therapy Club presented a $2,000 donation to La Crosse Special Olympics and Recreation Programs Feb. 6. From left, Special Olympics Athletes Sara Schumacher and Faith Kleinertz, UW-L student and Special Olympics Sports Coordinator for the City of La Crosse Special Olympics and Recreation Programs Jenn Pielhop, and athletes Greg Thompson, Mike Thompson and Michele Drendel. "][/caption]

Physical therapy club donates cash and time to Special Olympics

UW-L's Pre-Physical Therapy Club presented a $2,000 donation to La Crosse Special Olympics and Recreation Programs Feb. 6. Funds were raised through massage sales, T-shirt sales and club dues. The club plans to volunteer at other Special Olympics events and continue fundraising for future donations. Physical Therapy Program Director Michele Thorman says the club is "a spirited group who embrace service and their goals of becoming PTs." The club meets every other week and includes more than 100 undergraduates who want to learn about careers in physical therapy. The current club president is Brianne Wienkers.  John Willson, Health Professions/Physical Therapy, is the club supervisor. Find out more about the club here.

New employees

• Dan King, Associate Instructional Specialist, Office of Field Experience, Jan. 17
• Rebecca Polanowski, Instructional Specialist, Microbiology, Feb. 13

  [caption id="attachment_9783" align="alignright" width="350" caption="UW-L juniors Emily Mitch, left, and Stefanie Berg helped students move out of Drake Hall after the Jan. 29 fire. On Valentine's Day, they helped themselves to homemade treats at UW-L's Organization for Campus Women Bake for Drake event. OCW members baked and shared treats with Drake Hall residents and others. "][/caption]

OCW group thanks campus community with Valentine's Treats

UW-L's Organization for Campus Women shared more than 300 homemade sweet treats with the campus community Valentine's Day at its Bake for Drake event in Port O' Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. "What made the event so rewarding," says OCW President Maggie McHugh, "was watching as Drake students came in and greeted each other with hugs and found out where one another was living for the remainder of the semester." The students were so appreciative of the goodies and — probably more so — of the food and ability to reconnect with one another, she notes. Through its "A Day of Giving" food drive, the OCW collected more than 700 non-perishable food items from the campus community. Drake Hall residents were encouraged to take what they needed. The rest was donated to UW-L's Helping Our Own campus food pantry. Drake Hall resident Leah Piper, who's temporarily living in Reuter Hall, says the event and the campus community support have made the transition easier. "I was just so impressed and delighted to see all of the food and all of the help that went into donating and making the food," Piper says. "The transition has been hard for many, but it is things like this that make it a bit easier on all of us."

OCW Book Club to discuss 'Crossing Antarctica,' author on campus Feb. 21

The OCW Book Club will meet at noon Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Mc Caffrey’s Coffee, 1808 State St., to discuss “Crossing Antarctica” by polar explorer and speaker Will Steger. Steger led the first confirmed dogsled journey to the North Pole — without resupply — in 1986. A reception and booksigning for Steger is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the Ward Room, Cartwright Center. Refreshments will be served. Steger will speak about Arctic preservation at 7:30 p.m. in Valhalla, Cartwright Center, Gunning-Addition. He aims to empower people around the world to take action on global warming solutions. A question-and-answer session follows the presentation. Other OCW dates and book selections for the spring semester are:

• Thursday, March 22 -“Cutting for Stone” by AbrahamVengese
• Tuesday, April 24 – “The Plague Tales” by Ann Benson

Participation is open to all faculty, staff and students.  

Wanted

Experienced 15-year-old female babysitter seeks spring and summer babysitting jobs. References on request. Call 790.5021. To buy or borrow a child's car seat for a 25-pound, 18-month-old child. Contact Kathy at 785.6499.