Campus Connection

UW-L makes Kiplinger’s 100 Best Values in Public Colleges — again UW-L has once again been named to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance list of 100 best values in public colleges in the country. The ranking cites the top 100 four-year schools that “combine outstanding education with economic value.”

UW-L’s Jazz Fest is Jan. 21

New York jazz artist Wycliffe Gordon and his quartet are the featured performers at the UW-L Jazz Festival Saturday, Jan. 21.

UW-L alum leads team to World Cup on wheels

Chris Finn remembers long afternoons in the 1980s in his Whitefish Bay backyard. The 10-year-old imagined he was Brazilian Football Star Pele winning the World Cup as he kicked a soccer ball against the garage. He dreamed one day he, too, would lead a team to victory in the worldwide soccer competition.

Keeping score — in style; five scoreboards to be replaced at UW-L

Hosting the outdoor track national championship meet in 2013 was a major incentive for UW-La Crosse to acquire new scoreboards — replacing some that were nearly 20 years old and in need of frequent repairs.

Course teaches medical care in the backwoods

What do you do when someone breaks a bone, has an allergic reaction to a bee sting or is bleeding severely in the backwoods — a long distance from 911 services?

Chancellor to give All-University Address Jan. 18, luncheon to follow

[caption id="attachment_8604" align="alignright" width="134" caption="Chancellor Joe Gow"][/caption] Chancellor Joe Gow will give UW-L's All-University Spring Address from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in Graff Hall Main Auditorium. Refreshments are available at 10 a.m. Bring a non-perishable food item to help kick off  UW-L's Organization for Campus Women "A Day of Giving" food drive to UW-L's Helping Our Own food pantry on campus. Items of greatest need are soup, pasta sauce, noodles, cereal/breakfast items and basic hygiene items.

All-U Booyah Bowl planned for Jan. 18

Immediately following the address will be the "2012 Chancellor's Booyah Bowl" luncheon in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. The "Booyah (stew) Bowl" menu includes the choice of three soups — chicken vegetable, cheesy potato or veggie noodle (meatless and dairy- and gluten-free) — garden greens with build-your-own salad toppings; baguette slices and crackers; brownies; and ice tea, milk or coffee. Tickets are $6.75. Download the event flier/registration form here, fill it out  and send it and a check payable to UW-L to Tricia Aleckson, 212 Cartwright Center, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI, 54601. Or purchase tickets in person at 212 Cartwright Center  from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 17. Tickets received by mail will be processed upon receipt; however, tickets will not be mailed. Pick up tickets at the ticket table prior to the luncheon. For more information, call 785.8890.

OCW to host 'A Day of Giving' food drive for UW-L food pantry

UW-L's Organization of Campus Women (OCW) is hosting a "A Day of Giving" food drive for UW-L's Helping Our Own food pantry. Boxes for donations will be available at the Chancellor's All-University. After Jan. 18, boxes labelled "A Day of Giving" will be available throughout campus. OCW members will pick up all donations Tuesday, Feb. 14. Since 2003 UW-L's Helping Our Own food pantry has provided food and other items at no cost to students who are struggling financially. The numbers of students using the service has increased by approximately 100 users each semester. This past semester approximately 449 students used UW-L's food pantry. That's an increase of more than 230 students since fall 2010. Some of the more popular items needed by students include:

• Cereal (any assortment or brand)
• Pasta noodles and tomato sauce
• Quick meals (such as Hamburger Helper) or microwavable dishes
• Peanut butter and Jelly
• Canned fruit
• Desserts and snack foods, such as chips, crackers, pretzels, fruit snacks, jello, pudding
• Toiletries and toilet paper

Last year 541 items were donated from the OCW "Can for a Cookie" drive to help stock the food pantry. The pantry typically gets food each month from the Hunger Task force, but also receives donations from other sources including UW-L faculty and staff, the UW-L volunteer service organization Trick-or-Treat for Cans on Halloween, the Roncalli Newman Catholic Center, Golden Key International Honour Society and Chartwells. The pantry is a confidential service; however, students need to bring a UW-L ID to verify student status. No information is recorded or disclosed. The center is located in the Leadership and Involvement Center, 221 Cartwright Center and is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday while school is in session. For more information and to donate to the pantry, call 785.6600. Helping Our Own is run by Leadership and Involvement Center staff and volunteers. The pantry is always looking for student volunteers to spread the word. Students interested in this volunteer opportunity, should contact the Leadership and Involvement Center by phone, email or by visiting the pantry.

Improving warfarin dosing is topic of Jan. 19 bioresearch forum

James K. Burmester from The Center for Human Genetics, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, will present “Improving Warfarin Dosing through Genetic Testing” from 12:15-1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, for the monthly La Crosse BioResearch Forum. Forums are held in the Overholt Auditorium, Gundersen Lutheran. Forums are free and open to the public and are hosted by the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. Those attending should park in the Green ramp (see map) or use valet parking. Use the entrances at the north end and northeast side of the medical center. For more information, contact Cindy Steinhoff at 608.775.9080.

Stockel retirement party set for Jan. 20

A retirement party for Russ Stockel, University Centers, is set for 2:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, in the Ward Room, Cartwright Center. Stockel started at UW-L in 2000 and is the lead custodian in University Centers. He will retire Jan. 20.

Annual aging and film program is Jan. 27

An evening of insights and reflections on aging journeys illuminated through film is featured in the "Fifth Annual Aging and Film: Stories from a Splendid Age." The program runs from 4-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in Port O' Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. A light meal and snacks are provided. Registration is $25 each or register with a friend and pay $20 each. Participants earn .5 CEUs. Early registration is encouraged. Register online here. Or download a registration form here. For more information visit http://www.uwlax.edu/conted/humanservices/agingandfilm.html, call 785.6508 or 1.866.895.9233 (toll-free) or email kdeschepper@uwlax.edu. To request disability accommodations, contact 785.6504 or 785.6508.

Wis Taxpayer's Alliance ranks UW-L one of best in UW System

UW-L is one of the most selective campuses in the UW System, according to a recent report from a state taxpayer advocacy group. UW-L freshmen outperformed their peers and beat national and state averages on college entry exams before being admitted to the university in 2010, the same year the university had the third-most selective acceptance rate in the UW System. The university is also one of the best at retaining and graduating students, according to the report. See the Jan. 5 La Crosse Tribune article here.   Gary L. Willhite, Educational Studies, published a book reivew on  "Using the Brain to Spell: Effective Strategies for All Levels" in the December 2011 issue of Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries.  

Holzem named new director of Human Resources

Madeline Holzem, currently associate director of Human Resources at Florida Gulf Coast University, has been named UW-L’s director of Human Resources. Holzem begins Feb. 13. New employees

• Briana Meuer, Continuing Education & Extension, Jan. 3
• Pa Moua-Yang, University Advancement,  Jan. 3
• Leandra Batien, University Police Services, Jan. 4
• Jeffrey Meyer, University Advancement, Jan. 9

Transfers

• Randy Amundson, to Custodial Services, Jan. 1
• Mary Grattan, to Continuing Education & Extension, Jan. 1
• Dennis Mader, to Custodial Services, Jan. 1
• Natalie Solverson, to Institutional Research, Jan. 3

Resignations

• Edward Malone, Health Professions, Jan. 6
• Wen Lin, Geography & Earth Science, Jan. 13

Retirement

• Karen Hansen, Continuing Education and Extension, March 9

  UW-L's Organization for Campus Women thanks Career Services & Academic Advising and others who contributed to the OCW/Rotary East Salvation Army Toy Drive. Thanks to your generosity $410 of gifts were donated to the Salvation Army to purchase toys.    

For sale

Two-bedroom, two-bath 1,900 sq. ft. waterfront home within National Wildlife Refuge on Brice Prairie (W7655 County Road ZB). Price reduced to $349,000. Call 783.3144. 2000 Toyota Sienna mini van, leather interior, sunroof, towing hitch, 155,000 miles, very good condition. Asking $5,900. Call Brian 780.4366. Oak entertainment center, 7' wide x 6' 2 1/2" high. $250. Oak 42" round table with extra leaf. $195. Both in excellent condition. Pictures available upon request. Call 785.8457 or 781.5006 after 5 p.m.