Campus Connection

Oct. 31, 2011

Nobel Prize Winner in physics to speak at UW-L

2005 Nobel Laureate in Physics Theodor Hänsch will give a public presentation and physics seminar Thursday Nov. 3, and Friday, Nov. 4, at UW-La Crosse.

Screaming Eagles Band wraps up season with a bang

The UW-La Crosse Screaming Eagles Marching Band will wrap up the season with a Review Concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, in Mitchell Hall. Admission is free.

‘Fast Food Nation’ author to speak at UW-La Crosse

The author who wrote the international best-selling book “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal” is coming to UW-La Crosse. Eric Schlosser will speak at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, in the Recreational Eagle Center.

UW-L students hold conference to bridge gap in Hmong community

A conference organized by a UW-L student group seeks to bridge the gap between Hmong children and their parents. Now, through Nov. 16, students are holding a book drive to collect gently-used children's books to send home with parents at the conference.

Annual UW-L Turkey Trot about fitness and fundraising

UW-La Crosse’s annual Turkey Trot rewards for more than the fastest runners. The cost is lower for those who register before Nov. 11.

How to secure your computer system

Weird pop-ups appear on your computer screen. Programs won’t open. The fan is running like it could power a small spacecraft. If your computer is acting this odd or sluggish, you could possibly have a virus. And — you probably could have prevented it.

95th Assembly debate to be cablecast, webcast live

The debate between the two candidates vying for the vacant 95th Assembly District seat from 7-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, will be cablecast and webcast live. The debate, happening at UW-La Crosse’s Hall of Nations Centennial Hall, will be on Charter Cable Access Channel 96 analog, 989 digital and webcast at http://edtech-media.uwlax.edu/UWLMediaSite50/Viewer/?peid=fb46ad4d67c14568a226bd450bb146e61d. Candidates Jill Billings, a democrat, and Dave Drewes, a republican, are running for the seat formerly held by State Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse. The event is free and open to the public. The special election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. The event is sponsored by the UW-L Joint Legislative Committee, Political Science Department and Student Association. [caption id="attachment_7186" align="alignright" width="400" caption="WHPE President Brian Marx, right, presented UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow with a WHPE Citation Award Oct. 18 commemorating UW-L's 25-year partnership with the organization. Keith Bakken, College of Science & Health, left, is WHPE's executive director."][/caption] UW-L partnership with WHPE reaches 25-year milestone President of Wisconsin Health and Physical Education Inc. Brian Marx presented UW-L Chancellor Jow Gow with a WHPE Citation Award  Oct. 18 commemorating UW-L's 25-year partnership with  the organization. Keith Bakken, College of Science & Health, who is the executive director of the organization, says it was important to Marx to present the award and thank the chancellor in person on behalf of the 1,000 plus health and physical educators in WHPE. WHPE, formerly  the Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (WAHPERD), housed its administrative office at UW-Madison until 1986. When UW-Madison was no longer able to house the office there, Jon W. Hisgen, then president of the association, contacted WAHPERD member Keith French who agreed to house it at UW-L. French was UW-L's head of the physical education department. UW-L Emerita Professor A.B. Culver served as the first executive director. "It was a natural to bring the WAHPERD office to UW-La Crosse as the university was the leader of providing cutting-edge pre-service curriculum to our physical educators and health educators," Hisgen says. "This relationship has been critical to the growth of our profession." Hisgen, who now serves as the state consultant for Health and Physical Education at the Department of Public Instruction, calls the move "the most important action of my presidency." Remember to vote for favorite Magnetic Poetry Slam poem by Nov. 1 Students, visit the Writing Center’s Facebook page to “like” your favorite poem from the Magnetic Poetry Slam. The deadline to vote is Tuesday, Nov. 1. If you're one of the poets, tag your photo and poem. The top three “like-getters” will each receive a $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Thanksgiving luncheon planned for Nov. 8; tickets available now Chartwells and UW-L University Centers are hosting “A Thanksgiving Gathering Feast” … a time to give thanks. The holiday luncheon runs from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Purchase a ticket for $7.50 at the Cartwright Center Information Counter. The buffet luncheon includes:

• Carved, roast turkey
• Stuffing
• Whipped potatoes with gravy
• Honey-glazed acorn squash
• Cranberry coleslaw
• Dinner rolls with butter
• Festive pumpkin pie
• Coffee/ice water
• Vegetarian/vegan option upon request

University Bookstore holds Halloween costume sale, wraps up cancer research pink ribbon fundraiser

Trick or treat on Halloween day at the University Bookstore while wearing a Halloween costume and receive 20 percent off one regular-priced apparel item. Store hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Discounts cannot be applied to promotional items ($14.95 sweatshirts, $14.95 sweatpants, $24.95 polar fleece and Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirts) or clearance items. While there, help wrap up the bookstore's October pink ribbon campaign. The bookstore has been collecting donations for the Susan G. Komen Foundation with a pink ribbon campaign. Customers can purchase pink ribbons for $1 each. Upon purchasing a ribbon, customers can write their name or the name of a loved one affected by breast cancer on the ribbon. The bookstore also has UW-La Crosse National Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirts for sale.  Five dollars of each T-shirt sale is donated to the fundraiser.

Football game at UW-L to raise money for research

UW-L students will play a powder puff football game at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at UW-La Crosse’s Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex to help raise funds for breast cancer research. The game, “Touchdowns for TaTas,” is sponsored by Alpha Phi, a UW-L sorority. Tickets are $2. If you go— What: Powder puff football game Where: Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 Admission: $2

Chronic wasting disease is topic of Distinguished Speakers in Mathematical Biology event

Wisconsin’s bow hunting deer season runs through Nov. 17 and the gun hunting deer season begins Nov. 19. Chronic wasting disease is a major concern affecting hunting in the state. Professor of Biology John Pastor, University of Minnesota, will discuss "Stable Limit Cycles and the Paradox of Enrichment in a Model of Chronic Wasting Disease" at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in 2205 Centennial Hall. Pastor's research and scholarly interests include the structure and function of northern ecosystems, applications of mathematics to ecological problems, and scientific illustration. He teaches courses on mathematical ecology, ecosystems ecology, animal behavior, the biological practitioner and biological illustration. Pastor will show new work on simulating control of chronic wasting disease through hunting policy. For more information, download flier here.

Author's reading to challenge how we think about people with disabilities

Jim Ferris, poet, performance artist and disability studies scholar, will read from his new book "Slouching Towards Guantanamo" at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in 1400 Centennial Hall. His presentation is free and open to the public. In the book, Ferris challenges the way people think about disability and people with disabilities. Ferris is also author of "Facts of Life and The Hospital Poems," winner of the 2004 Main Street Rag Book Award. Ferris has a doctorate in performance studies and has performed at the Kennedy Center and across the U.S., Canada and Great Britain. His performance work includes the solo performance piece "Scars: A Love Story." He is the Ability Center Endowed Chair in Disability Studies at the University of Toledo. This event is sponsored by the English Department, Disability Resource Services, Students Advocating Potential Ability and Communication Studies, and is made available with support from the College of Liberal Studies. For more information and for assistance with disability accommodations, contact the English Department at 785.8295 or mcashion@uwlax.edu.

ITS open house and 'Tech In 20' sessions set for Nov. 4

Attend informational technology sessions at the ITS open house set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in Wing Technology Center. The ITS open house will feature a number of informative "Tech In 20" (20 minutes long) technology sessions and several longer technology open forums. Session topics will include Eagle Apps, desktop printing on campus, iPads, SMART Boards, wireless, security, D2L and much more. There will also be ongoing tours of the Eagle Help Desk and ITS Data Center. Refreshments will be provided. Registration for the open house sessions is requested, but not required. To see the schedule of events and to register online, go to http://www.uwlax.edu/its/openhouse.

ESL students to share 'Sustainability Around the World' presentations Nov. 4

English as a Second Language students from around the world will give presentations about how their home countries are achieving sustainability. The event, "Sustainability Around The World," runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in the Hall of Nations, Centennial Hall. Students will give presentations on four themes: water, food, energy and recycling. Oral presentations include: - Solar power in China - Water conservation in China - Multiple uses of tea leaves in Vietnam - Energy-saving policies in Beijing - China: chemical pollution and cancer villages - Garbage conversion in China - Permaculture in Vietnam - Saudi Arabia: water and solar energy - Recycling habits in some Hmong communities - The many ways China uses corn - Building design and power use in Beijing The event is sponsored by the ESL Institute. Album Encounters multimedia light and laser show set for Nov. 4; November program on ancient observatories runs through Nov. 26 Visit the University Planetarium in 18 Cowley Hall for UW-L’s Album Encounters at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4. The multimedia light and laser show features Trampled By Turtles "Palomino." Admission is $3. The University Planetarium will also present "Ancient Observatories - Legacy In Stone" at 1 p.m. Saturdays Nov. 5, 12, 19 and 26. 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.

Awareness through Performance: Generation Hope encore performance is Nov. 7

The Awareness through Performance (ATP) fall 2011 encore production of Generation Hope is set for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in Graff Main Hall Auditorium. The show is free and open to the public. ATP is an alternative outlet for social activism on campus, with the troupe comprised of students who share a passion for diversity and social justice issues and a desire to further explore the dynamics of how these issues shape the world. Participants hope to positively impact the campus climate by affecting attitudes and behaviors and enhancing cross-cultural awareness. Don’t miss the performance. It’s a great opportunity for personal and professional development. For more information, visit www.uwlax.edu/campusclimate/atp. Awareness through Performance accepting applications for spring 2012 troupe

The Campus Climate Office is accepting student applications for the spring 2012 Awareness through Performance troupe.

Consider applying or spread the word to others who would make a great addition to the team. Apply now. Paper applications are also available in 1120 Centennial Hall. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. Learn more about ATP here.

UW-L’s Murphy Library sets fall book sale

Book readers can get a head start on purchasing reading materials for winter at the UW-La Crosse Murphy Library's Fall Book Sale. The sale runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 9 and 10, in 121 Murphy Library. The sale will feature a large variety of children’s books and paperback fiction, along with a special collector's corner. Thursday books are reduced to $5 a bagful from noon-2 p.m. Remaining books are free from 2:05-3 p.m. Proceeds from the sale go to the Murphy Library Acquisitions and Staff Development Fund. If you go— What: UW-La Crosse Murphy Library's Fall Book Sale When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 9 and 10 Where: UW-La Crosse 121 Murphy Library Ireland hiker sets La Crosse program Nov. 11 An avid hiker who has led numerous tour groups from UW-La Crosse in Ireland will give a slideshow presentation on campus. Maeve Kelly has been leading walking tours in Ireland with now retired Archeology Professor Jim Gallagher for the past 15 years. The tours, sponsored by the UW-L Office of Continuing Education, have taken place throughout Ireland. UW-L Music Professor Gary Walth currently leads the tours from La Crosse, including last July’s trip to Maeve's Dingle Peninsula in southwest Ireland. Kelly’s lecture and presentation at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in 58 Center for the Arts, will highlight recent tours and give information on future hiking tours, including those planned in June and July 2012. The presentation, free and open to the public, is for both those interested in a UW-L-sponsored hike and others. Kelly lives in Cork City and is the owner of the Walking Boots Tour Company. She leads tours throughout Ireland and in other European countries. She has a degree in archeology and Celtic civilizations and is a frequent lecturer on the history of south and western Ireland. See more at: www.walkingbootstours.com If you go— What: Lecture and presentation on hiking in Ireland Who: Maeve Kelly When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 Where: Room 58, UW-La Crosse Center for the Arts Admission: Free

'I didn't see you there' is theme of winter 'The Catalyst' publication

Is being in a university setting inspiring you to see and think in new ways?  Editors of "The Catalyst" ask, "What do you see now, with eyes wide open, staring into the static of everyday life?" Submit original essays, poems, stories, music, photos and/or art dealing with the beauty of life when you open your eyes to be included in the winter 2011 issue of "The Catalyst." Submissions outside of this theme will also be accepted. UW-L students, faculty and staff are invited to submit original works by Wednesday, Nov. 30, to catalyst@uwlax.edu. All photos and artwork should be submitted in jpeg format. Music files are preferred to be submitted in MP3 format. "The Catalyst" is an independent journal and does not discriminate against the views of artists, regardless of race, religion, political affiliation or sexual orientation. Respect the opinions of fellow artists as you would your own views. "The Catalyst" is a publication of UWL’s English Club. Find out more and see past issues here.

Weapons will stay banned on campus when new state law takes effect Nov. 1

Weapons will continue to be prohibited on the UW-La Crosse campus when Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law goes into effect Tuesday, Nov. 1. Chancellor Joe Gow approved the restriction after all four governance groups on campus supported a resolution banning weapons from UW-L buildings and grounds. Under the law, UW campuses and other organizations can restrict guns, tasers, billyclubs and knives from campus facilities if signs are posted. Signs on UW-L buildings will say “No Firearms or Weapons Allowed in Building.” The signs will be paired with those that say “No Smoking Within 25 Feet of Building.” The new signs will be in place by Nov. 1. UW-L Police Chief Scott Rohde says very little support of allowing weapons on campus was heard during forums by the faculty, staff and student governance groups. “The general consensus was that restricting guns and weapons would make campus a safer learning environment for our faculty, staff and students,” says Rohde. Parking lots cannot have exclusions, so loaded and unloaded weapons may be kept in vehicles of those holding permits. Find out more about concealed carry in the UW System at: http://www.wisconsin.edu/gc-off/news/concealed-carry.htm.

iServiceDesk progress on online work requests continues

Facilities Planning and Management (FPM) is well on its way in using the online entry system of work requests called iServiceDesk. FPM's goal in the upcoming year is to have all non-emergency maintenance requests for work come into the department using this new process. iServiceDesk is available to all staff and faculty via the new online work request link from UW-L's Facilities Planning and Management webpage. The iServiceDesk page includes instructions and FAQ links to assist  order entry. With the rollout of iServiceDesk all requests will be handled electronically except for key requests, estimates and surplus pickups. Those requests will continue to be handled as they currently are because of the special authorization and internal routing that is required. FPM hopes to allow online submission of those types of requests in the future. United Way helps UW-L students, many others Campus campaign underway The Great Rivers United Way is not only a great place for our students to intern and volunteer — it’s also a great place for residents of five counties to get the vital help they need. It’s how to LIVE UNITED! Beyond helping our students, United Way has had a great impact on our community for more than 60 years. There are many in our area whose lives changed because of the United Way and the dollars community members put into this organization. To get a better idea of the lasting impact United Way has had on our community. Great Rivers United Way serves Houston, Trempealeau, Vernon, Monroe and La Crosse residents. Last year, more than 900,000 units of service were provided. With one investment, you can support 70 local programs. Pledge forms were sent through campus mail last week. A convenient option is giving through payroll deduction — spreading out your pledge over the year. Send completed forms to: University Communications, 115 Graff Main Hall. The campaign runs through early November. If you give online, please use your UW-L email address so the university receives credit. Those making pledges are eligible to win a $500 Festival Foods grocery card or a three-day weekend vacation on the river. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED!

Student + Staff Directory available

The new Student + Staff Directory for the 2011-12 academic school year has arrived. The directory is a great reference and provides a wide array of useful information. The pages include administrative, faculty, staff and student information listings. It is also  a resource for academic departments and programs, along with residence halls front desk phone numbers. The directory includes accommodations in La Crosse, as well as a guide for shopping, restaurants and health and beauty. One of the new features of this year’s directory is that the former “yellow” pages are now in color and are easier to read. One section is dedicated completely to coupons for various local businesses and restaurants. Some restaurants list their menu and specials. Copies were mailed through campus mail last week. Additional copies are available at the Cartwright Information Counter or outside the University Communications Office, 115 Graff Main Hall.

Sports information office seeks workers for home events

Enjoy UW-L athletics? The Sports Information Office seeks people interested in working at home events. Knowledge of athletic statistics is preferred. For more information, contact Sports Information Director David Johnson at djohnson@uwlax.edu. Bill Cerbin, Center for Advancing Teaching & Learning, and Psychology, published the book "Lesson Study: Using Classroom Inquiry to Improve Teaching and Learning in Higher Education," Stylus Publishing, LLC. Mark W. Chavalas, History. His co-authored book, "The IVP Bible Background Commentary," (2000) has undergone its 12th printing, bringing the total number of copies to over 55,000. Gary D. Gilmore, Community Health/Public Health, has been appointed chair of Wisconsin Public Health Council. The council advises the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the governor, the legislature, and the public on progress in implementing the Department of Health Services public health plan and coordination of responses to public health emergencies.  Gilmore has been a governor-appointed member of the council since its inception in 2004. Gilmore is also co-principal investigator of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health in administering a three-year $300,000 partnership grant to train community health students at UW-L in behavioral screening and intervention, with a specific emphasis on motivational interviewing. The grant was one of only three authorized during the 2011-12 review cycle. Francine Klein, Modern Languages, presented “Developing Intercultural Skills Through Study Abroad: How Does It Happen?” at the UW System-sponsored Global Education Conference on Internationalization Across the Disciplines, Oct. 13-14, in Madison. Eric Kraemer, Philosophy, presented “The Challenges of Non-Physicalism” and “On an Attempted Revision of the Biostatistical Account of Function” at the Central States Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, Sept. 15-17, in St. Louis. Emeritus Professor Harun Rashid, Geography and Earth Science, has published the following peer-reviewed articles since his 2009 retirement from UW-L: "Media Framing of Public Discourse on Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: Social Amplification of Global Warming vs. Climate Justice for Global Warming Impacts" in Climate Change and Growth in Asia, eds. Hossain, M. and Selvanathan, E. (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar), 232-260. "Interpreting Cyclone Disasters in Bangladesh and Myanmar From Web-based Newspaper Discourse: Media Framing of Cyclone Vulnerability on the Bay of Bengal Coast" in The Arab World Geographer 14 (1), 1-32. "Interpreting Flood Disasters and Flood Hazard Perceptions From Newspaper Discourse: Tale of Two Floods in the Red River Valley, Manitoba, Canada" in Applied Geography 31 (1), 35-45. "From the Ganges-Brahmaputra to the Mississippi Floodplains: How a Passion for Rivers and Flood Studies Shaped a Geographer’s Research Journey" in The Arab World Geographer 14 (3), 283-299. "Community Strategies to Improve Risk Communication and Reduce Social Vulnerability: A Case Study From the Red River Basin, Manitoba, Canada" in Disasters 35 (3), 554-576. "Blending Science and Public Policies for Remediation of a Degraded Ecosystem: Jackfish Bay, North Shore of Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada" in Journal of Great Lakes Research 37 (2), 251-262. "Cyclone Evacuation in Bangladesh: Tropical Cyclones Gorky (1991) vs. Sidr (2007)" in Environmental Hazards 9 (1), 89-101. Steven Simpson, Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation, published the book "Rediscovering Dewey: A Reflection on Independent Thinking." (2011) Bethany, OK: Wood N’ Barnes, 225 pp. KT Willhite, Educational Studies, has been elected as a board member for the Council of Elementary Science International with a three-year term. She is also serving a three-year term as secretary to the North Central Association for Science Teacher Educators. At the organization's October conference in St Cloud, Minn., she presented on choice in learning.   .

New employees

Frederick Kupfer, Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Professions, Nov. 1 Susan Pham-Niedzwiecki, Outreach Specialist, Continuing Education and Extension, Nov. 1  

Read and comment on Murphy Library student blogs

Are you interested in student perspectives of Murphy Library? If so, visit some of the Murphy Library student blogs, where students share their thoughts on exploring, using and even working at the library. The library maintains a permanent link to the blogs on the left sidebar of most library web pages. The direct link to library blogs is: http://www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/socialmedia/index.html. Student blogs include:

• Books, Brains, and Brawn by UW-L student and library worker Kyle Vara.
• Kim's Library Blog by Viterbo student and Murphy Library intern Kim Wrobleski.
• The Murphy Explorer by UW-L student Carly Frerichs.
• Not So Stern Librarian by former UW-L student Brianna Marshall

Recent blogs include information about using universal borrowing to get books, movies and more from any UW-System library in two to four days; using a library iPad to take a physical and virtual tour of the library; finding a great cookbook in the library; and understanding "Type-A library student syndrome." The library invites everyone to read and comment on these student blogs.  

• Roland "Coach Chris" Christensen, a long time UW-L assistant football coach and math faculty member died Oct. 20. Click here to see his obituary.
• Academic Staff Emeritus Gayleen Eilers, who served as a doctor for many years in the Student Health Center, died Oct. 17. Click here to see her obituary.
• UW-L Professor Emeritus Jim Warner died Sept. 29. Warner was a professor of biology and botany at UW-L from 1963-1966. Click here to see his obituary.

For sale

Fifty-eight gallon aquarium with solid wood stand, 21” H, 36” L, 18” D, includes light, lid, filter, heater, gravel, decorative rock/plants and four fish. $175/OBO. Call 782.1833. Ibanez AC30NT Artwood Series acoustic guitar with padded soft case. Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Beautiful and excellent condition. $180. Email cvmaren@mwt.net or call 608.317.9003. Possibly two Wisconsin-Purdue football tickets for 2:30 p.m. game Saturday, Nov. 5. Contact Paul at 785.8971.