University of Wisconsin - Stout News

Harvey Hall renovation plan advances to design phase

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 19, 2011

A project to renovate the second oldest building on the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus has received a crucial approval from the Wisconsin State Building Commission.

The commission Wednesday approved spending money to prepare the design documents to renovate Harvey Hall, built in 1916. The project, which has an estimated cost of nearly $30 million, will split $2.3 million in planning funds with a project on the UW-Oshkosh campus.

“This is a major step in the progress of this important project,” said Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen. “This is our major academic building, and it needs to be brought up to modern standards.”

Harvey Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing building in the Menomonie Downtown Historic District. With four stories, plus a basement, the 101,200-square-foot building is one of the most heavily used academic and office buildings on campus.

Four academic departments and four service offices are housed in Harvey Hall. More than 5,500 students generating 34,000 student credit hours take courses in the building each semester.

The effort to renovate Harvey Hall dates back many years; problems with the building’s infrastructure were identified in the early 1990s.

The project includes replacing and upgrading all mechanical, electrical, telecommunications and life safety systems and improving ADA accessibility. Most portions of the building also would have new HVAC systems installed, and a secondary electrical distribution system would be added.

Other upgrades would include a new roof, restrooms and automatic sprinkler system, updating an elevator and adding a second elevator. Classrooms and offices would be reconfigured and improved to meet current needs and technology demands.

The timetable for the project is uncertain because of the complexity of the project.

The project is the second part of an overall plan that started with a $5.1 million renovation of Harvey Hall Theatre, which has been completed.

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Calendar of Events

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 24, 2011

Tuesday, Oct. 25, Advisement day. No classes.

8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, St. Paul rap and hip-hop band Heiruspecs will perform in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, The UW-Stout Environmental Sustainability Office, along with supporting clubs and organizations, is sponsoring Campus Sustainability Day. All events are free. Contact Sarah Rykal, environmental sustainability coordinator, 715-232-5254, rykals@uwstout.edu.

5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, Trick-or-treating at North Campus residence Halls, sponsored by University Housing.

8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, The UW-Stout Gender and Sexuality Alliance will host the second annual Amateur Drag Show in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Dance party after the show. Free. Contact Julie Miller, LGBTQ coordinator, 715-232-5622, millerjul@uwstout.edu.

3:35-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Jeremy Altschafl, director of Admissions at UW-Madison School of Pharmacy, will speak on "Preparing for Pharmacy School: What to Expect and What You Can Do Now." The event, part of the Applied Science Speaker Series, will be in room 142 of Jarvis Hall Science Wing.

7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Concert & Conversation for LGBTQ Awareness Month, which is October, will be held at Harvey Hall Theatre. It will feature jazz and a panel discussion on the impact of race, religion and ethnicity on LGBTQ identities. Contact Virginia Lea, 715-232-3944; leav@uwstout.edu or Glenda Jones, 715-232-5138, jonesgl@uwstout.edu.

8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Minneapolis Christian rock band Hyland will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, UW-Stout, Mayo Clinic Health System and the American Cancer Society are sponsoring a breast cancer awareness women's volleyball game at Johnson Fieldhouse when the Blue Devils play UW-Oshkosh. Free admission. Contests and raffles.

7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will feature Eduardo Gutierrez, an artist and Hispanic liaison from Metropolitan State University, in room 210 of Applied Arts. Sponsored by Latinos Unidos student organization. Contact Ana-Ramona Gilbert, gilbertan@uwstout.edu.

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, Singer-songwriter Jenn Grinels, from California, will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Opening for her will be Savanna Milbee of Altoona. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

9-10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, The UW-Stout Cabot Executive in Residence program will feature Stephen Marcus, chairman of the board of Marcus Corp., based in Milwaukee, speaking in room 210 of the Applied Arts Building. He also will meet with College of Management staff and university officials.

9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, STEM Career Day, Jarvis Hall. Explore career opportunities through activities and lab tours in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Call 715-232-5263 or register at www.uwstout.edu/stem.

7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, BRILLA (Bringing Latino Leaders Adelante) will feature Evelina Solis, a motivational speaker and life coach, in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Sponsored by Latinos Unidos student organization. Contact Ana-Ramona Gilbert, gilbertan@uwstout.edu.

Through Friday, Nov. 4, The show "Between Spaces" by Patrick Luber of North Dakota will be on exhibit in Furlong Gallery. A reception and talk by the artist will be held from 5-7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 3. Luber will exhibit work from his "Milagro" series and a portion of his "My America" installation project. The gallery, room 178 of the Applied Arts Building, is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Metered parking is nearby on 13th Avenue. Parking in all UW-Stout lots is free after 4 p.m. Call 715-232-2261 or email furlong@uwstout.edu.

Monday, Nov. 7, through Wednesday, Nov. 9, Steven Meyer, director of the documentary gBuried Prayersh will be at UW-Stout. A free film premiere, preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception, begins at about 6:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts in Menomonie. Meyer will visit the Center for Applied Ethics and be available for interviews from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 and speak to students Nov. 9. Contact the ethics center, 715-232-5184; www.buriedprayers.com.

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, Minneapolis duo Jamestown Story will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

6 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, As part of Veterans Day, UW-Stout will read the names of more than 6,200 people who have died in the current war effort. The Remembrance Roll Call will be at Clock Tower Plaza, pausing at 1 p.m. for a national moment of silence. Veterans, active duty personnel, members of the university community and area residents are invited as readers. Sponsored by the Ally Center for Civil Rights and Civic Responsibility, ROTC program and Veterans Club. To volunteer call 715-232-1772.

Through Friday, Nov. 11, The Bowling Green University faculty art exhibit will be at Furlong Gallery, room 178 of the Applied Arts Building. The gallery is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Metered parking is nearby on 13th Avenue. Parking in all UW-Stout lots is free after 4 p.m. Call 715-232-2261 or email furlong@uwstout.edu.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Winter Graduation Fair, 184 Micheels Hall. Go to http://www.uwstout.edu/commencement/2011wintergradfair.cfm.

7-9:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Concert & Conversation for International Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, 205 Main St. Contact Virginia Lea, 715-232-3944; leav@uwstout.edu or Glenda Jones, 715-232-5138, jonesgl@uwstout.edu.

8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, Comedian Tig Notaro, from California, will perform in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving break. No classes.

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, Award-winning poetry slam performer George Watsky will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 15, Fall semester classes end.

Friday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 22, Final exams.

Saturday, Dec. 17, Commencement, Johnson Fieldhouse; 9:30 a.m. College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Management, Graduate School; 2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Graduate School.

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Athletes, mascot help with Menomonie elementary school fundraiser

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 24, 2011

UW-Stout athletes and the Blue Devil mascot pitched in to help a local elementary school raise money.

The Oaklawn Acorn Dash, a fun run, was held Saturday, Oct. 15, in Menomonie to benefit Oaklawn School, on the city’s east side.

Three men’s hockey players and three women’s basketball players attended a school assembly the day before the event, and hockey and women’s gymnastics athletes conducted clinics the day of the event for more than 300 children. The athletes also volunteered along the race course while wearing team gear.

In addition the Blue Devil mascot, unveiled earlier this month, cheered on racers, danced for the crowd and won the Acorn Dash mascot race.

The university donated four items to the event’s raffle: A family membership to the indoor climbing wall and signed hockey, basketball and gymnastics jerseys.

The approximately 450 Blue Devil athletes do community service work throughout the school year, including mentoring and tutoring at elementary schools, clean-up projects, working with Special Olympics and helping nonprofit organizations.

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Women’s volleyball game Friday night to highlight breast cancer awareness

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 24, 2011

UW-Stout, Mayo Clinic Health System and the American Cancer Society have teamed up in the fight against breast cancer. A breast cancer awareness women’s volleyball game will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Johnson Fieldhouse when the Blue Devils take on UW-Oshkosh.

Admission is free. There will be contests between games, prizes and opportunities to donate money to the cause. All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Staff from Mayo and the American Cancer Society will distribute information and answer questions about breast cancer. The American Cancer Society’s Colleges Against Cancer chapter at UW-Stout will sell “I Believe in PINK” T-shirts and raffle tickets.

The shirts were designed by Kate Mikutowski, a member of the Blue Devils volleyball team and an art major concentrating in graphic design. Mikutowski, a junior, is from Stillwater, Minn.

“Our student-athletes are excited to host an event that is not only a lot of fun but raises money for a great cause,” said Jill Jolliff, UW-Stout coach. “This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about a disease that has affected so many of our athletes.”

The Blue Devils’ awareness and fundraising campaign is part of the annual Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference initiative to join the volleyball community together in the fight against breast cancer.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, an estimated 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

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UW-Stout going green for Campus Sustainability Day

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 24, 2011

UW-Stout’s school colors are navy and white. They will be green, in spirit, on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

The school’s Environmental Sustainability Office, along with supporting clubs and organizations, is sponsoring Campus Sustainability Day. It is part of a nationwide event to raise awareness about sustainable practices. All events are free and open to the public.

Events will be held throughout the day. The schedule is:

• 10 a.m. to noon: Garden winterizing Workshop, Child and Family Study Center, 811 6th St. E. Sponsored by the campus Sustainable Agriculture in Education Association.

• Noon to 2 p.m.: Plant sale, first floor Jarvis Hall lounge. Sponsored by SAEA.

• 2-5 p.m.: Recycling workshop with Anna McCabe of Dunn County Solid Waste/TerraCycle, at the Sunken Lounge, Merle M. Price Commons. Sponsored by Greensense, a student group. University Housing will give away “I Love Tap Water” bottles.

• 3-5 p.m.: Bicycle tuning demonstrations with StoutBikes at the Sunken Lounge. StoutBikes is a bicycle rental program for students. Sponsored by the UW-Stout Cycling Club.

• 5-7 p.m.: Invasive species removal at the Outdoor Classroom, south of Johnson Fieldhouse. Sponsored by the Natural Areas Club.

In addition to the events, University Dining Services will post information for customers Tuesday, Oct. 25, about its efforts to use food from Minnesota and Wisconsin in the campus dining halls.

For more information about Campus Sustainability Day, go to www.uwstout.edu/sustainability.

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Marcus Corp. Chairman Stephen Marcus to speak on campus

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 25, 2011

The chairman of a leading national lodging and entertainment company will speak Friday, Nov. 4, at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Stephen Marcus, chairman of the board of Marcus Corp., is this year’s Arthur R. Cabot Executive in Residence, an annual College of Management program that features a corporate leader.

He is scheduled to attend a reception and dinner Thursday, Nov. 3, in Heritage Hall. On Nov. 4 he will speak to students, faculty and staff from 9-10:10 a.m. in room 210 of the Applied Arts Building.

Later that morning and in the afternoon, he will meet with Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen; leaders from student organizations; administrators from the College of Management and School of Hospitality Leadership; and program directors and faculty.

“We’re honored to have a highly successful corporate leader like Stephen Marcus on campus to inspire our students. His visit, I believe, will have immeasurable, long-term ripple effects for COM, so we look forward to hearing his message and meeting with him,” said Abel Adekola, dean of the College of Management.

Marcus, a native of Minneapolis who lives in Milwaukee, earned a bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison in 1957 and a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1960. He has worked for Marcus Corp. of Milwaukee since 1962. He was named president in 1980, CEO in 1988 and chairman in 1991.

Marcus Corp. has two divisions, Marcus Theatres and Marcus Hotels and Resorts. The theater division is the sixth largest in the country; it owns or manages nearly 700 screens in 55 locations around the Midwest. The lodging division owns and manages 18 hotels, resorts and other properties, including ownership of The Pfister hotel in downtown Milwaukee and Four Points by Sheraton in downtown Chicago.

The company was founded in 1935. Its stock is in the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.

The Cabot Executive in Residence program celebrated its 25th year in 2009. It was established in 1984 in honor of Arthur R. Cabot, a successful pet products manufacturer. Cabot’s son, Scott, is a 1978 UW-Stout graduate.

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Students’ safety suit for miners wins international contest

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 25, 2011

Underground mining is considered one of the world’s top 10 most dangerous jobs. Can it be safer?

That’s the question five apparel design and development students at University of Wisconsin-Stout asked themselves. Their answer, after a semester of research, hours of stitching and four prototypes, has been greeted with two thumbs up.

This week the group is being honored in Baltimore with first prize in the international 2011 Safety Products Student Design Challenge. Their creation, the Underground Mine Suit, someday could help prevent injuries and even save miners’ lives.

When team members finished the class last spring and entered the contest “we were very proud of what we did,” said Toni Sabelman, of Peshtigo.

Yet, “I don’t think any of us expected this,” said Jamie Bystrom, of Blaine, Minn.

They and other team members Sarah Furnae, of Menomonie; Alicia Mitchell, of Barron; and Jennifer Whelan, of Poplar, received an all-expenses paid trip to the Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo in Maryland along with $1,500 to share. They will do three presentations on their garment at the conference.

To see some of the team members discuss their award-winning design, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/uwstoutvideos.

This is the second time in three years a UW-Stout team from Professor Gindy Neidermyer’s class has taken first place in the contest.

Students’ use of the latest fabric technology in their suit — a jacket and pants — likely sealed their win, and their decision to address safety issues in mining got the judges’ attention, Neidermyer said.

“The suit is a timely design given the recent mining incidents around the globe,” said Neidermyer, director of the apparel design and development program.

The 2010 summer-fall Chilean mine accident, in which 33 trapped men were rescued, was on the team’s mind when in January it began considering what to develop in the Functional Clothing Design course.

While doing research, the five team members found that most underground miners wear jeans and a T-shirt to work. Often, miners’ jeans rip. They wear steel toe boots and hard hats but typically no other protective clothing.

Key features of the Underground Mine Suit include:

• Both reflective and glow-in-the-dark materials, Reflexite and Energlo, respectively, to keep miners more visible in their dark workplaces

• Foam pads around the knees, shoulders and elbows made of D30, a special material that hardens on impact

• Drawstrings at the elbows and knees that can become tourniquets to stop bleeding in case of a limb amputation

• Lightweight, moisture-wicking material and air vents to keep miners flexible, dry and comfortable

“There’s a lot of technology in fabrics we weren’t aware of until this project. It broadened our horizons about what’s available,” Bystrom said.

“We had binders full of research,” Whelan said.

The students estimate they spent $400 developing the prototypes during the semester-long project, which they said helped them develop important teamwork skills and opened their eyes to the importance of functional clothing.

“I believe they won because their research resulted in innovative technology and a design that not only addresses this problem but can also be transferred to other safety and technical products in the future,” Neidermyer said.

A student from University of Minnesota was runner-up, and a team of students from Colorado State took third place.

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UW-Stout sets enrollment record for 2011-12 academic year

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 27, 2011

The final numbers are in and enrollment at the University of Wisconsin-Stout has set another record.

The official fall 2011 enrollment for Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University is 9,357, compared to the fall 2010 record of 9,339.

Julie Furst-Bowe, provost and vice chancellor for student and academic affairs, said the record enrollment is a continuation of the steady growth at UW-Stout that started in fall 2004. The undergraduate and graduate enrollment then was 7,169, meaning UW-Stout has grown more than 30 percent in seven years.

“Our faculty and staff have worked incredibly hard to make sure that we are offering the kinds of majors that students in today’s economy are looking for,” Furst-Bowe said. “We have added 18 new undergraduate majors and graduate programs since fall of 2005. Our enrollment has gone up because students can get the quality programs they know will lead to good jobs in a challenging economic climate.”

Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen said students and their parents are well aware that students who graduate from UW-Stout find immediate success when looking for their first professional position. The latest annual survey of UW-Stout graduates indicated an employment rate of 98 percent.

“Students want to come to a university where they know what they study will lead to a good job,” Sorensen said. “The word is getting out that UW-Stout graduates have an advantage in the job market.”

The enrollment numbers include a Graduate School enrollment of 1,003. This is the fourth year in a row the Graduate School has exceeded 1,000 students.

Besides the new programs and high employment rate, university officials said the rise in enrollment also could be attributed to:

• Better retention of continuing students. The number of continuing students at UW-Stout increased by 110 from fall 2010 to fall 2011.

• An increase in the number of students transferring from other institutions to UW-Stout. UW-Stout had 702 new transfer students in fall 2011, compared to 649 last year.

• An increase in the number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered online. Currently 18 programs are available online. More information is available at http://www.uwstout.edu/de/index.cfm.

• New facilities on campus. There has been about $90 million worth of recent building projects, including the $43 million Jarvis Hall science building; a remodeled Memorial Student Center (which will reopen in January); remodeled Merle M. Price Commons cafeteria; a new dining hall, fitness facility and remodeled residence hall on north campus; and a remodeled Harvey Hall Theatre.

• The maturity of the e-Scholar program, which provides a complete digital environment on campus. The program provides each undergraduate with a top-line laptop computer, as well as wireless access across campus; mediated classrooms and laboratories; and other provisions.

Furst-Bowe said it’s clear that a number of relatively new majors at UW-Stout have become major draws for students. These include applied science, which prepares students to enter professional programs like medicine, dentistry and pharmacy; computer game design and development; and computer engineering.

Recruiting for the 2012-13 academic year already has begun. Information can be found at http://www.uwstout.edu/admissions/index.cfm.

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Calendar of Events

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 31, 2011

7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will feature Eduardo Gutierrez, an artist and Hispanic liaison from Metropolitan State University, in room 210 of Applied Arts. Sponsored by Latinos Unidos student organization. Contact Ana-Ramona Gilbert, gilbertan@uwstout.edu.

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, Singer-songwriter Jenn Grinels, from California, will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Opening for her will be Savanna Milbee of Altoona. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

9-10:10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, The UW-Stout Cabot Executive in Residence program will feature Stephen Marcus, chairman of the board of Marcus Corp., based in Milwaukee, speaking in room 210 of the Applied Arts Building.

9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, STEM Career Day, Jarvis Hall. Explore career opportunities through activities and lab tours in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Call 715-232-5263 or register by Oct. 31 at www.uwstout.edu/stem.

7-8:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4, BRILLA (Bringing Latino Leaders Adelante) will feature Evelina Solis, a motivational speaker and life coach, in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Sponsored by Latinos Unidos student organization. Contact Ana-Ramona Gilbert, gilbertan@uwstout.edu.

Through Friday, Nov. 4, The show “Between Spaces” by Patrick Luber of North Dakota will be on exhibit in Furlong Gallery. A reception and talk by the artist will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. Luber will exhibit work from his “Milagro” series and a portion of his “My America” installation project. The gallery, room 178 of the Applied Arts Building, is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Metered parking is nearby on 13th Avenue. Parking in all UW-Stout lots is free after 4 p.m. Call 715-232-2261 or email furlong@uwstout.edu.

Monday, Nov. 7, through Wednesday, Nov. 9, Steven Meyer, director of the documentary “Buried Prayers” will be at UW-Stout. A free film premiere, preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception, begins at about 6:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts in Menomonie. Meyer will visit the Center for Applied Ethics and be available for interviews from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 and speak to students Nov. 9. Contact the ethics center, 715-232-5184; www.buriedprayers.com.

Monday, Nov. 7, through Friday, Nov. 11, International Week featuring the following events: trivia, 7 p.m. Tuesday, 208 Heritage Hall; Saudi Arabia Culture and Customs, 3 p.m. Wednesday, 290 Micheels Hall; Pakistan the Real Truth, 4 p.m., Thursday, 131 Heritage Hall; Haiti the Untold Story, 5 p.m. Thursday, 131 Heritage Hall; International Fair exhibits and performances, 3-6 p.m. Friday, Sunken Lounge, Merle M. Price Commons. Sponsored by the International Relations Club and Office of International Education, 715-232-1122, www.uwstout.edu/oie.

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, Minneapolis duo Jamestown Story will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

6 a.m., Friday, Nov. 11, As part of Veterans Day, UW-Stout will read the names of more than 6,200 people who have died in the current war effort. The Remembrance Roll Call will be at Clock Tower Plaza, pausing at 1 p.m. for a national moment of silence. Veterans, active duty personnel, members of the university community and area residents are invited as readers. Sponsored by the Ally Center for Civil Rights and Civic Responsibility, ROTC program and Veterans Club. To volunteer call 715-232-1772.

Through Friday, Nov. 11, The Bowling Green University faculty art exhibit will be at Furlong Gallery, room 178 of the Applied Arts Building. The gallery is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Metered parking is nearby on 13th Avenue. Parking in all UW-Stout lots is free after 4 p.m. Call 715-232-2261 or email furlong@uwstout.edu.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Winter Graduation Fair, 184 Micheels Hall. Go to http://www.uwstout.edu/commencement/2011wintergradfair.cfm.

7-9:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Concert & Conversation for International Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, 205 Main St. Contact Virginia Lea, 715-232-3944; leav@uwstout.edu or Glenda Jones, 715-232-5138, jonesgl@uwstout.edu.

8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, Comedian Tig Notaro, from California, will perform in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, A panel discussion on sand mining, sponsored by Sustainable Dunn, will be held in room 112 of Jarvis Hall Science Wing. Speakers will be UW-Eau Claire Professor Crispin Pierce, retired UW-Eau Claire professor Koshoshek, Menomonie sand mine manager Rich Budinger and DNR water specialist Tom Woletz.

Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving break. No classes.

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, Award-winning poetry slam performer George Watsky will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 15, Fall semester classes end.

Friday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 22, Final exams.

Saturday, Dec. 17, Commencement, Johnson Fieldhouse; 9:30 a.m. College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Management, Graduate School; 2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Graduate School.

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University participating in CollegeWeekLive online fair

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 31, 2011

Admissions counselors at UW-Stout will be reaching out to students across the country and world this week without having to leave Menomonie.

The university is part of CollegeWeekLive, a website that features a fall online college fair Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 2-3. Prospective students anywhere can learn about dozens of universities. They also can chat live 7-9 p.m. both nights with a UW-Stout counselor and get answers to questions about the school. The site is www.collegeweeklive.com.

UW-Stout has a “booth” in the fair. When visitors stop at the site, they see a video of students and professors talking about the advantages of attending UW-Stout. The booth also provides links for more information.

“Prospective students benefit because it’s free and they can compare many colleges side by side from the comfort of their own homes,” said Melissa Perez, marketing coordinator for UW-Stout Admissions. “It’s another way for students to engage with us other than a regular high school visit or college fair.”

This is the third year UW-Stout has participated in CollegeWeekLive. Last year the university enrolled 29 students via the website.

UW-Stout set a record for enrollment this fall with 9,357 students.

Applications are being accepted for the 2012-13 academic year. Plan a campus visit at http://www.uwstout.edu/admissions.

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Student government group releases alcohol awareness video

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Oct. 31, 2011

After nearly a year in the works, the Stout Student Association has released a video that aims to raise awareness about the issue of high-risk alcohol use.

The SSA decided to produce the video after the alcohol-related death last fall of Bradley Simon, a UW-Stout student who died several days after being pushed from a bicycle.

The video, which can be seen at UW-Stout’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/uwstoutvideos, features interviews with UW-Stout men’s golf and hockey coach Terry Watkins, Dean of Students Joan Thomas and University Police Officer Lisa Pederson. They talk about witnessing the personal toll alcohol has taken on students and the students’ families and friends and urge students to think about the ramifications of alcohol use.

“This is an issue we can all agree on. It’s causing a lot of pain and suffering for a lot of kids, a lot of families,” Watkins said. “I think it’s fixable.”

President Neal Peterson said the SSA produced the video because “the message will hit home more if it comes from students rather than the administration.”

“Our message is to be smart, watch out for your friends and make good decisions,” Peterson said. “It’s something student government should endorse — trying to prevent student deaths.”

The video will be played at freshman orientation events, various campus programs and possibly in classes.

The SSA has initiated other efforts to reduce alcohol use among students, such as encouraging more weekend entertainment opportunities and more civic engagement. It also is looking into providing a late-night safe ride program for students, Peterson said.

SSA member Phil Stoeklen, of Birchwood, oversaw completion of the video.

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Freshmen required to complete alcohol assessment program

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 1, 2011

Freshmen have been given a pretty easy assignment this fall at University of Wisconsin-Stout. It takes only 10 to 20 minutes, they won’t be graded — although there will be plenty of feedback — and they have the entire semester to finish the task.

If they don’t do it, however, an incomplete will mean they can’t register for classes next semester. Registration for those classes is under way.

For the first time, UW-Stout is requiring all new freshmen to answer questions about alcohol use.

They will do so via e-Chug, a confidential, online assessment program aimed at college students.

“It’s an educational assessment, a snapshot into where their drinking falls compared to other Stout students,” said Jake Bloom, UW-Stout Alcohol and Other Drug Program coordinator.

E-Chug doesn’t just target students who drink. It also does a good job of informing nondrinkers to help them with peer pressure while living away from home for the first time, Bloom said. “It really provides a lot of education when you take it.”

E-Chug has been used at UW-Stout for more than five years but has become mandatory as a result of stepped-up efforts across the university to reduce high-risk alcohol use.

Although traditional freshmen are not old enough to legally drink alcohol, many already drink, Bloom said. “We know that many high school seniors drink and come in with drinking patterns not too far off from college students. The age of the first drink is getting lower and lower in our country.”

E-Chug asks students various questions about their alcohol use or nonuse and then provides individualized feedback. Students’ tendencies are compared to social norms. Subject areas include risk patterns, level of alcohol tolerance, family risk factors, harm reduction strategies and resources.

“It really helps debunk the myths. Research has shown that e-Chug really reduces dangerous, hazardous behaviors,” Bloom said.

The program was founded by counselors and psychologists at San Diego State University. More than 550 universities in 49 states and three foreign countries use e-Chug. It has been modified to fit UW-Stout’s needs.

Another new program this fall is 21+, an informational marketing effort targeting students who are of legal drinking age. The goal is to reduce risk through information about making smart choices. It addresses issues like living off campus, hosting a party and socializing.

“E-Chug and the 21+ initiatives are education and prevention components of the overall Alcohol Education and Enforcement plan. The initiatives are supported by evidence-based research and national best practice models,” said Dean of Students Joan Thomas. “The main focus of the plan is to make sure alcohol doesn’t get in the way of students achieving their academic, career or personal goals.”

The most serious outcomes of high-risk drinking happen among students 21 or older and among those who have moved off campus, Thomas and Bloom said. “A lot of education and prevention is geared at the under-21 population. We want to reach them when they turn of age and move off campus,” Bloom said.

The 21+ campaign includes various materials with messages such as “You Know Your Limits,” “Stay in Control,” and “Birthday Shots: They Add Up Quickly.”

The materials have been displayed at various campus events and will be on coasters at some city taverns. Also, stickers with the messages will be put on takeout food and beverage items by University Dining Services.

The 21+ campaign logo was created by Christine Pogatchnik, from Big Lake, Minn., an art major with a graphic design concentration.

E-Chug and 21+ are part of the Smart+Healthy campaign and the UW-Stout Campus Alcohol Education and Enforcement Plan 2011-12. To learn more, go to http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/Housing/Smart&HealthyWeb/.

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Chinese university, UW-Stout sign collaboration agreement

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 2, 2011

University of Wisconsin-Stout and China’s Shenzen Tourism College of Jinan University signed an agreement Wednesday pledging that the two institutions will work together in a variety of areas.

The Memorandum of Understanding calls for “academic collaboration” in the areas of research, scholarly activity, student exchanges, faculty exchanges and short-term visits. Specific projects would require follow-up agreements.

Shenzen Tourism College has an academic focus similar to UW-Stout’s School of Hospitality Leadership.

Six officials from Shenzen Tourism College met with several UW-Stout officials, including Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen and Provost Julie Furst-Bowe.

Sorensen and Lin Rupeng, deputy president of Jinan University, signed the agreement and exchanged gifts.

“China is a world power. Collaboration at this level can cement the relationship between your country and this country,” Sorensen told Rupeng, through an interpreter.

Jinan University, founded in 1906, is based in Guangzhou and has campuses in two other cities. It has about 40,000 students from 87 countries. Shenzen Tourism College opened in 1993; it has 1,000 students.

After the agreement was signed, four students from Jinan who are at UW-Stout this fall talked with the group. Three of them are studying hotel, restaurant and tourism management and one is taking golf enterprise management. They spoke positively about their academic, social and cultural experiences, although they said school and living expenses are much higher in the U.S.

The Jinan delegation, which included four associate deans, also toured campus and met with School of Hospitality Leadership directors and Hong Rost, director of the Office of International Education.

UW-Stout has 189 international students this fall. That total includes 28 students from China, a number expected to grow, said Vickie Kuester, Office of International Education associate director.

UW-Stout also has a study abroad program with Minzu University from Beijing, China, and with other foreign universities.

Next week, Nov. 7-11, is International Week at UW-Stout. Programs will be offered each day, culminating with the International Fair from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. The free fair will include cultural exhibits and performances.

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Darlene Frey named Classified Employee of the Month

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 3, 2011

Darlene Frey, financial specialist in University Dining Services has been named Classified Employee of the Month for July at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Frey lives in Cedar Falls.

The individual nominating her stated: “Darlene is very organized, efficient and a hard worker with a high level of dedication to her job. She enjoys innovation and new challenges. As a result, she is always looking for ways to be more efficient with our processes in house and to better service our internal and external customers.” And, “Darlene is definitely a ‘can do’ person. Whenever something new is needed or a challenge presented she is quick to look for solutions, sometimes before anyone even asks for them. She also recognizes the importance of teams and has respect for her peers and their expertise.”

Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen presents each Classified Employee of the Month with a certificate of recognition, a UW-Stout coffee mug and a check for $50.

Nominations can be made by supervisors, fellow employees or students.

The award was established by the chancellor to recognize classified employees at UW-Stout.

‘Inequality, Protest and Democracy’ panel presentation at UW-Stout

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 3, 2011

A panel presentation and discussion on “Inequality, Protest and Democracy” hosted by the Social Science Speaker Series at University of Wisconsin-Stout will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in room 131 of Heritage Hall.

The presentation is open to the public.

Panelists include faculty members Chris Ferguson, economics; Nels Paulson, sociology; and Thomas Pearson, anthropology.

The recent emergence of social movements in the United States from the left and the right raises questions of the problems existing in society. Of particular note is the rise of the 99 percent Movement or the Occupy Wall Street Movement.

The discussion will rest on this and other movements, such as the Tea Party, Madison protests and the Rally to Restore Sanity, from a variety of social science perspectives.

Specific substantive issues like economic inequality and democracy will be discussed, as well as some reflections on the nature of collective mobilization and direct action.

For more information, contact Pearson at pearsont@uwstout.edu.

Opportunity awaits, Marcus Corp. chairman tells students

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 4, 2011

Menomonie, Wis. — Stephen Marcus grew up during a bygone era in the hospitality industry. People used to write letters to hotels to get information about rates, he said. Hotel rooms didn’t have phones. Movie theaters had only one screen.

Marcus, 76, chairman of Marcus Corp., told University of Wisconsin-Stout students Friday that they are poised to take the reins of today’s “high-speed, worldwide economic system.”

“You don’t see people 65 starting technology companies. You’re the next generation of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. The world is ripe for that,” said Marcus, who graduated in 1957 from UW-Madison.

Marcus was at UW-Stout as the Cabot Executive in Residence, an annual College of Management program that features a corporate leader.

The hospitality industry has changed greatly, he said, during the last 20 years. Maids at some Marcus hotels now have an iPod Touch so they know the minute a room is ready to be cleaned. Marcus’ Big Screen Bistro movie houses have tableside service and chef-prepared menu items.

Technology has helped improve the customer experience, and that’s Marcus Corp’s. No. 1 goal, he said. “Taking care of our guests has a tremendous impact on their lives and on our companies. We want to leave them with great memories.”

Milwaukee-based Marcus Corp. is the sixth-largest movie theater company in the country. It also owns and manages 18 hotels and resorts and employs 6,200 people. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Marcus’ father, Ben, emigrated to the U.S. and started the company with a single movie screen in Ripon 76 years ago. Marcus Corp. still owns that theater.

Marcus, named president in 1980, CEO in 1988 and chairman in 1991, cited two key moments in company history. With a law degree in hand and at his father’s behest, he joined the company in 1962 to help it save the iconic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee; it was in a bankruptcy auction and in danger of being torn down.

“My father thought it would be a tragedy for the city,” he said. “Back then people weren’t renovating old hotels downtown. We were ahead of the times.”

Today, the Pfister is a Milwaukee landmark and a downtown anchor.

A highlight of his career, Marcus said, was when he saw a gap in the hotel market and created Budgetel, a groundbreaking chain of midpriced hotels. Eventually the chain changed its name to Baymont Inn and Suites, and Marcus Corp. sold it for $415 million.

Marcus admonished students to keep learning after they graduate and told them that if their measure of success is money then their success will be empty. He urged them to have a passion for excellence, have integrity, give back, have fun and “surround yourself with people you enjoy. It’s hard to soar with eagles if you’re working with turkeys.”

Marcus introduced two UW-Stout alumni who are company executives. Bill Otto, a 1978 graduate, is president of Marcus Hotels and Resorts. Karen Spindler, a 1986 graduate, is corporate director of human resources. “They’re two of the best examples of why Marcus Hotels is so highly regarded in the hospitality industry,” Marcus said.

Overall, Marcus Corp. employs 23 UW-Stout alumni. Many of them are managers, he said.

“We have one of the best hotel, restaurant and tourism programs in the world right here at UW-Stout,” Marcus said. “Your education here will teach you how to manage.”

Along with his address, Marcus met with Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen, leaders from student organizations and administrators from the College of Management and School of Hospitality Leadership. He also was featured at a dinner and reception Thursday night at a student-run restaurant in Heritage Hall; the food was prepared and served by hotel, restaurant and tourism management students.

Marcus was introduced by Scott Cabot, a 1978 UW-Stout graduate. The Cabot Executive in Residence program was established in 1984 in honor of Cabot’s father, Arthur R. Cabot, a successful pet products manufacturer.

Cabot praised Marcus Corp. for the way it gives back to the industry and community, citing nearly 93,000 hours of volunteer work by its employees in 2010 during the company’s 75th anniversary year. “This is a company that understands responsibility,” Cabot said.

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Calendar of Events

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 7, 2011

4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, Fantasy and science fiction author Kelly McCullough of Menomonie will read from his work in Harvey Hall Theatre, sponsored by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Literature Committee, English and philosophy. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Monday, Nov. 7, through Wednesday, Nov. 9, Steven Meyer, director of the documentary “Buried Prayers” will be at UW-Stout. A free film premiere, preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception, begins at about 6:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts in Menomonie. Meyer will visit the Center for Applied Ethics and be available for interviews from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 and speak to students Nov. 9. Contact the ethics center, 715-232-5184; www.buriedprayers.com.

Monday, Nov. 7, through Friday, Nov. 11, International Week featuring the following events: trivia, 7 p.m. Tuesday, 208 Heritage Hall; Saudi Arabia Culture and Customs, 3 p.m. Wednesday, 290 Micheels Hall; Pakistan the Real Truth, 4 p.m., Thursday, 131 Heritage Hall; Haiti the Untold Story, 5 p.m. Thursday, 131 Heritage Hall; International Fair exhibits and performances, 3-6 p.m. Friday, Sunken Lounge, Merle M. Price Commons. Sponsored by the International Relations Club and Office of International Education, 715-232-1122, www.uwstout.edu/oie.

5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, A panel presentation and discussion on “Inequality, Protest and Democracy” hosted by the Social Science Speaker Series will be held in room 131 of Heritage Hall. Panelists include Chris Ferguson, economics; Nels Paulson, sociology; and Thomas Pearson, anthropology.

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, Minneapolis duo Jamestown Story will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

6 a.m., Friday, Nov. 11, As part of Veterans Day, UW-Stout will read the names of more than 6,200 people who have died in the current war effort. The Remembrance Roll Call will be at Clock Tower Plaza, pausing at 1 p.m. for a national moment of silence. Veterans, active duty personnel, members of the university community and area residents are invited as readers. Sponsored by the Ally Center for Civil Rights and Civic Responsibility, ROTC program and Veterans Club. To volunteer call 715-232-1772.

Through Friday, Nov. 11, The Bowling Green University faculty art exhibit will be at Furlong Gallery, room 178 of the Applied Arts Building. The gallery is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Metered parking is nearby on 13th Avenue. Parking in all UW-Stout lots is free after 4 p.m. Call 715-232-2261 or email furlong@uwstout.edu.

11:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, Teams from west-central and northwestern Wisconsin are scheduled to compete in the FIRST LEGO League regional tournament in Micheels and Jarvis halls. Contact event director Kevin Olson, 715-232-1212, olsonke@uwstout.edu or go to http://fll.uwstout.edu/.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Winter Graduation Fair, 184 Micheels Hall. Go to http://www.uwstout.edu/commencement/2011wintergradfair.cfm.

7-9:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Concert & Conversation for International Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, 205 Main St. Contact Virginia Lea, 715-232-3944; leav@uwstout.edu or Glenda Jones, 715-232-5138, jonesgl@uwstout.edu.

8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, Comedian Tig Notaro, from California, will perform in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, A panel discussion on sand mining, sponsored by Sustainable Dunn, will be held in room 112 of Jarvis Hall Science Wing. Speakers will be UW-Eau Claire Professor Crispin Pierce, retired UW-Eau Claire professor Koshoshek, Menomonie sand mine manager Rich Budinger and DNR water specialist Tom Woletz.

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, Hip-hop artist P.O.S. of Minneapolis will perform at Stout Ale House, 1501 N. Broadway St. Tickets are on sale at http://tickets.uwstout.edu. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving break. No classes.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, through Saturday, Dec. 10, University Theatre presents “The Underpants,” a comic farce by Steve Martin, at 7:30 p.m. each night in Harvey Hall Theatre. Tickets are $12 and are available online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu or 715-232-1431.

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, Award-winning poetry slam performer George Watsky will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 15, Fall semester classes end.

Friday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 22, Final exams.

Saturday, Dec. 17, Commencement, Johnson Fieldhouse; 9:30 a.m. College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Management, Graduate School; 2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Graduate School.

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International Week events feature student presentations, cultural fair

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 7, 2011

Presentations about Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Haiti will be part of International Week this week at UW-Stout.

Events are scheduled each day, culminating with the International Fair from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. The free fair will include cultural exhibits and performances representing at least 15 countries.

An International Trivia contest will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in room 208 of Heritage Hall. Featured presentations led by international students will be:

• Saudi Arabia: Culture and Customs, 3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9, room 290 of Micheels Hall, by Faisal Almodian, Khaled Alateeq and Ali Albulahyi.

• Pakistan: The Real Truth, 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, room 131 of Heritage Hall, by Hammad Khan, Madhu Maheshwari, Kiran Rajput and Iqra Ashraf.

• Haiti: The Untold Story, 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, room 131 of Heritage Hall, by Cleandfee Alexandre.

UW-Stout has 189 international students this fall, according to the Office of International Education, which is co-sponsoring the event with the International Relations Club.

“Our purpose is to promote awareness and to celebrate the international diversity that can be found on campus,” said Vickie Kuester, OIE associate director. “We can improve global understanding through international education and exchange.”

For more information, contact Kuester at 715-232-2132, kuesterv@uwstout.edu.

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Veterans Day roll call to feature names of U.S. victims in Iraq, Afghanistan

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 7, 2011

UW-Stout has joined a nationwide effort to honor American service men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan during the past decade.

On Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, campus and community volunteers at about 180 college and universities in all 50 states will read the names of the 6,200-plus casualties as part of Remembrance Day National Roll Call.

Reading will begin at 6 a.m. at UW-Stout’s Clock Tower Plaza, with a color guard, candle-lighting ceremony and reading of the Military Oath by Master Sgt. Carl Rubin of the ROTC program.

Volunteers will read names in 15-minute increments. The reading, in chronological order, is expected to take about eight hours.

To volunteer as a reader, contact the UW-Stout Student Organization Center, 715-232-1772, or stop by the office, 200 Main St.

At 1 p.m. a simultaneous, nationwide minute of silence will be observed. At UW-Stout, it will be followed by speakers John Bensend, a UW-Stout student and president of the Veterans Club, and Lt. Col. Brian Stout, director of the ROTC program at UW-Stout.

At the conclusion of the reading of names, “Taps” will be played and the colors will be retired.

The event is being organized by Bensend, ROTC and UW-Stout Ally Center for Civil Rights and Civic Responsibility.

Editors: For information, contact Bensend at bensendj@my.uwstout.edu or Mary McManus, Ally Center, mcmanusm@uwstout.edu.

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First LEGO League regional tournament returning to campus

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 7, 2011

A quintessential children’s toy, the LEGO, will be more than fun and colorful this weekend at UW-Stout. Children ages 9 to 14 will use science, engineering and critical thinking skills during the annual FIRST LEGO League regional tournament.

Teams from west-central and northwestern Wisconsin are scheduled to compete Saturday, Nov. 12, in Micheels and Jarvis halls. An opening ceremony will be held at 11:15 a.m., followed by the first round of competition at noon and the closing ceremony at 3 p.m. in room 184 of Micheels Hall.

Children build LEGO-based robots for competition on a closed course. Teams also must prepare a creative research presentation for judges. This year’s theme, “Food Factor,” is designed to teach children about food contamination issues.

Regional winners advance to the state competition, and state winners move on to the world tournament.

Worldwide, about 200,000 children from 55 countries participate in the FIRST LEGO League. About 2,000 participate in Wisconsin.

The tournament has been held at UW-Stout since 2005. About 90 UW-Stout faculty, staff and students are expected to volunteer. The co-sponsor is Xcel Energy.

For more information, contact event director Kevin Olson at 715-232-1212, olsonke@uwstout.edu or go to http://fll.uwstout.edu/.

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Student, mom likes versatility of finishing her degree online

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 7, 2011

Angela Bodzislaw is a young mother who lives in Chetek. She’s working on her bachelor’s degree at University of Wisconsin-Stout but doesn’t have to worry about day care, commuting or making it to class on time.

The reason is that she’s a distance education — or online — student. She takes all of her classes at home and studies when it’s convenient, usually at night after her daughter, a toddler, goes to bed.

“That’s what’s nice about the online program,” said Bodzislaw, 26, whose husband is a disabled veteran. “This is what works for us.”

Since 2010 she has been studying human development and family studies. She expects to graduate in 2012.

Bodzislaw is taking three classes this semester and will take six classes next semester. Her goal, after getting her bachelor’s and then a master’s at UW-Stout, is to become a marriage and family therapist. She also is working on a certificate at UW-Stout on family life education.

National Distance Learning Week is Monday, Nov. 7, through Friday, Nov. 11. To help celebrate, UW-Stout Online is debuting its new Facebook page. Click on the Facebook icon on the UW-Stout Online page, www.uwstout.edu/de.

UW-Stout offers 35 programs online, or at a distance: eight undergraduate and 10 graduate programs, 10 certificate programs and seven certification programs. This fall, 1,379 students from around the state, country and world are enrolled, according to Doug Stevens, director of UW-Stout Online. That number has nearly tripled since 2008.

Students in the bachelor’s online programs typically transfer in with some credits and take core courses and general education courses online. UW-Stout also offers many other online courses not directly related to the online degree and certificate programs.

Bodzislaw acknowledges that taking classes online is much different than being in a classroom. She was a traditional student when she was younger, earning a two-year degree and also taking classes at UW-Barron County before enrolling at UW-Stout.

“I don’t feel like I’m really close to a lot of students in my classes, but it’s where I’m at in my life. I’m more focused on the school aspect rather than the social aspect, so it doesn’t bother me,” she said.

One of her professors at UW-Stout requires students to have a professional Facebook page, so they can interact as classmates. Other professors provide lectures via video. “The professors make you feel like you’re part of a class,” Bodzislaw said.

She chose UW-Stout over other online programs because of its reputation. “I would rather do the online program through a well-known state university. Stout is known for having good programs. They’re trustworthy,” she said.

A recent online graduate student, Loren Rochester, of Sun Prairie, was surprised at the amount of interaction he had with classmates. “One of the things that really struck me is the sense of camaraderie that develops in these classes between people who have never met before, face to face. I think this is very contrary to what most people think,” he said.

Another online student at UW-Stout is Troy Sherven, who works in Madison and lives in the nearby suburb of Oregon. Sherven, 37, expects to graduate in May with a bachelor’s in management. Last summer, Sherven was named to the UW System Board of Regents as the nontraditional student representative.

Many of the distance education students at UW-Stout transfer in to finish their degrees. They pay a $44 application fee and must provide high school and postsecondary school transcripts. The transfer coordinator is Linda Young, 715-232-1787, youngl@uwstout.edu.

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University to receive state award for affirmative action efforts

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 8, 2011

University of Wisconsin-Stout will be honored Thursday for its efforts to help racial and ethnic minority students remain in school.

The State Council on Affirmative Action and the Office of State Employment Relations will present UW-Stout with a Program Achievement Diversity Award during a ceremony in the state Capitol. UW-Stout will be honored for its overall success in improving the retention rates for racial and ethnic minority students.

The award cites the scholarships offered to minority and underrepresented students, resulting in a dramatic increase in retention rates for the recipients. Also cited were UW-Stout’s Math Teaching and Learning Center as well as summer Pre-College programs and Bridge programs. For example, the retention rates for students enrolled in the Bridge programs exceed the general student population by more than 10 percentage points.

“We are working very hard throughout campus to address the serious issue of retaining our racial and ethnic minority students,” said Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen. “We have more work to do, but I am pleased that the state is acknowledging the progress we have made so far.”

“This award is a testament to the dedication of many of our faculty and staff who work with our minority students on a daily basis,” said Julie Furst-Bowe, provost and vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.

The scholarship program cited by the state is partially financed through a $567,000 grant from the National Science Foundation award to Kitrina Carlson and Krista James of the UW-Stout biology department. The scholarships are given to underrepresented minority groups in the applied science program.

The Math Teaching and Learning Center was created in 2004 primarily to help students with first-year math courses. Teachers start daily classroom sessions with a short lecture, then students begin online homework assignments with help from teachers and specially trained peer tutors.

Failure-withdrawal rates have been reduced by 40-55 percent in introductory courses. Under Director Jeanne Foley, the center has received four external grants, including a $450,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The summer Pre-College and Bridge programs, under the direction of Joan Thomas, Dean of Students, and Barb Miller, director of Multicultural Student Services, are designed to help students make the transition to college. For example, the popular Stoutward Bound program lasts two weeks and includes two courses, general psychology and fundamentals of speech, to help students of color prepare for college life, both in and out of the classroom.

Sorensen, Furst-Bowe and other UW-Stout officials will be present Thursday to receive the award.

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Reminiscence Speaker Series features Eva Rogers

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 9, 2011

University of Wisconsin-Stout alumna and Menomonie native Eva Rogers will speak at the next Reminiscence Speaker Series luncheon.

The luncheon will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, on the fourth floor of the Robert S. Swanson Learning Center.

Rogers graduated from Stout Institute in 1946 and started working at the university in the Business Office.

During her 38-year tenure at the university she provided administrative support for some of the most recognizable people in school history. They included presidents Burton Nelson, Verne Fryklund, Bud Micheels and Robert Swanson as well as Clyde Bowman, dean of industrial education, and John Jarvis, who succeeded Bowman and also was vice president and acting president.

Rogers remembers enrollment exploding because of the G.I. Bill during the 1960s. “It was an exciting time with growth in student and faculty numbers,” she said.

She also worked for Wesley Face, who became acting chancellor when Swanson retired.

During Rogers’ years at UW-Stout, the university changed names four times and computers replaced typewriters.

Sponsored by the Stout Historical Association of the Dunn County Historical Society, the Reminiscence Speaker Series features guest lecturers who illuminate the “spirit of Stout.” The original series was held in advance of the university’s centennial in 1991 and made a significant contribution to its oral history. The institution has seen considerable change in the years since and the association has reinstated the series to continue documenting the university’s unique culture and history.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to bring a lunch.

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Connie Galep named August Classified Employee

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 11, 2011

Connie Galep, food and nutrition, has been named Classified Employee of the Month for August at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Galep lives in Colfax.

The individual nominating her stated: “Connie is committed to UW-Stout. Every day she sources and purchases chemicals, food, beverages and spices for the labs. Her knowledge and expertise supports the learning activities in nine laboratories and three classrooms. Thousands of students have benefited from her detailed attention to purchasing anything and everything from kiwis to chemicals.” And, “Connie is a valued member of the university, college and department. She has a positive attitude. Her welcoming and hospitable spirit is respectful and courteous to all she meets. Her humble approach to every day invites faculty and students to join her in daily problem solving.”

Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen presents each Classified Employee of the Month with a certificate of recognition, a UW-Stout coffee mug and a check for $50.

Nominations can be made by supervisors, fellow employees or students.

The award was established by the chancellor to recognize classified employees at UW-Stout.

Calendar of Events

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 14, 2011

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Winter Graduation Fair, 184 Micheels Hall. Go to http://www.uwstout.edu/commencement/2011wintergradfair.cfm.

7-9:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Concert & Conversation for International Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, 205 Main St. Contact Virginia Lea, 715-232-3944; leav@uwstout.edu or Glenda Jones, 715-232-5138, jonesgl@uwstout.edu.

8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, Comedian Tig Notaro, from California, will perform in room 184 of Micheels Hall. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, A panel discussion on sand mining, sponsored by Sustainable Dunn, will be held in room 112 of Jarvis Hall Science Wing. Speakers will be UW-Eau Claire Professor Crispin Pierce, retired UW-Eau Claire professor Ron Koshoshek, Menomonie sand mine manager Rich Budinger and DNR water specialist Tom Woletz.

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, Hip-hop artist P.O.S. of Minneapolis will perform at Stout Ale House, 1501 N. Broadway St. Tickets are on sale at http://tickets.uwstout.edu. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving break. No classes.

Through Nov. 28, The School of Art and Design is sponsoring the annual custom light fixture exhibit “Illuminate” by lighting design students under Julie Peterson’s direction at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts. The exhibit features works designed around specific art and design movements.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, through Saturday, Dec. 10, University Theatre presents “The Underpants,” a comic farce by Steve Martin, at 7:30 p.m. each night in Harvey Hall Theatre. Tickets are $12 and are available online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu or 715-232-1431.

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, Award-winning poetry slam performer George Watsky will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 15, Fall semester classes end.

Friday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 22, Final exams.

Saturday, Dec. 17, Commencement, Johnson Fieldhouse; 9:30 a.m. College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Management, Graduate School; 2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Graduate School.

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Students, patients benefit from health clinic at Stepping Stones

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 14, 2011

A group of UW-Stout students gained experience and area residents know more about their health thanks to a free, six-week clinic that wrapped up last weekend.

More than 30 students in Maleka “Polly” Hashmi’s Advanced Physiology class helped residents by screening for diabetes, hypertension, obesity and other health issues. The clinic was open two hours a day, five days a week at Stepping Stones of Dunn County, a nonprofit Menomonie-based provider of food, shelter and support for the needy.

Most of the students are aiming for careers in medicine or a health-related field, so the experience was as valuable for them as it was for their patients, Hashmi said. “It was the perfect opportunity for students to experience a little of what lies ahead of them. They learned to interact with patients, work in a team environment and learn diplomacy skills.”

Students checked blood pressures, heart rates and glucose levels; tested patients’ lungs and body mass index; and informed patients about breast self-exams and nutrition. The clinic was open to the public but generally served residents who can’t afford preventative health screenings or may not have health insurance.

"These small tests are so easy to do, and some people just don't get them done,” said Lacey Holzer, a dietetics major from Hammond.

The clinic was funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Wisconsin Campus Compact. Hashmi hopes to work with the UW-Stout Pre-Health Society to eventually continue the clinic.

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Instructor explains the magic of 3D in new book for children

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 14, 2011

UW-Stout instructor David Tank thinks of 3D photography as a form of magic. At least that’s how he explains it in his new book for children, “The Magic of 3D Photography.”

The 45-page book takes children on a three-dimensional journey. It provides a history of 3D photography dating to the mid-1800s, explains how 3D tricks the eye into believing things are jumping off the page and tells how 3D is used today, including at the movies.

“Just like any good book about magic, many of the secrets of 3D will be revealed,” he writes in the introduction.

The book teaches children about 3D but has interactive fun along the way. It has plenty of colorful 3D photos (glasses are included), an educational quiz and a turtle that somehow turns its head as you move yours. The cover even has a photo that looks 3D without special glasses.

The book is Tank’s second related to 3D photography, which he has been studying for 20 years. In fall 2010 he published “Wisconsin Wildflowers in 3D.”

Tank has taught at UW-Stout for eight years. He specializes in journalism and mass communications classes and is the faculty adviser to the student newspaper, the Stoutonia.

“The Magic of 3D Photography” sells for $21.95 and is available online at www.magicof3D.com, as well as Amazon, Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts gift shop, The Local Store (Volume One) in Eau Claire and Crossroads Books in Eau Claire. Tank will have a book signing from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at The Local Store.

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Panel discussion on sand mining scheduled Thursday at Jarvis Hall

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 14, 2011

A panel discussion on sand mining, sponsored by the UW-Stout Greensense student organization and Sustainable Dunn, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in room 112 of Jarvis Hall Science Wing at UW-Stout.

Speakers will be UW-Eau Claire Professor Crispin Pierce, retired UW-Eau Claire professor Ron Koshoshek, Menomonie sand mine manager Rich Budinger and DNR water specialist Tom Woletz.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is free in UW-Stout lots after 4 p.m.

Pierce is researching silica dust from sand mines. He will be accompanied by James Fay, a senior environmental public health major. Koshoshek helped negotiate the sand mine agreement for the town of Howard in Chippewa County and has extensive natural resources background.

Panel members each will talk for 15 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer period.

For more information, contact Linda Walsh, president of Sustainable Dunn, at dunnlindawalsh45@hotmail.com.

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Student team qualifies for national technology competition

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 14, 2011

A team of University of Wisconsin-Stout students took a first place last week in a technology competition in Kansas and qualified for the national tournament.

The university’s Technology Education Collegiate Association group won the problem-solving division at the 69th annual Four State Regional Technology Conference at Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kan.

Team members are Justin Hanger, Dickeyville; Jeffrey Martin, Prairie du Chien; and Eric Sabel, Kewaskum.

The first place qualifies them for the International Technology and Engineering and Educators Association national tournament March 15-17 in Long Beach, Calif.

The team also took a second place in robotics and third places in transportation and Quiz Bowl. The two-day event began Thursday, Nov. 10.

“They did a great job representing UW-Stout,” said Sylvia Tiala, TECA adviser and an assistant professor in the School of Education. UW-Stout offers a bachelor’s degree in technology education.

Five other colleges competed: Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State, University of Wyoming-Casper, Wayne State-Nebraska and University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

The conference, one of the oldest of its kind in the nation, included workshops and technology demonstrations. This year’s theme was Advancing Technology Through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Innovation and Imagination.

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Class sees corporate values in action at Phillips Plastics

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 15, 2011

Intangibles, by nature, can’t be seen or touched. Students from University of Wisconsin-Stout, however, saw signs of intangibles all around them during a recent tour of Phillips Plastics.

The 26 students were looking for evidence of core corporate values as part of the People Process Culture class, which studies organizational culture.

Emmy VandenLangenberg, a graduate student originally from Manitowoc, witnessed examples of the company’s values making a positive difference in the workplace.

“Being able to walk the floors of both the Origen Center and the Red Cedar facility gave us a dimensional view of a culture, the people and environment that we previously only saw through writing,” said VandenLangenberg.

She was impressed with what she witnessed: comfortable workspaces, pleasant break areas, cleanliness, music throughout the buildings and employees who genuinely appeared to be enjoying their work. One employee noticed a smudge on a glass wall and promptly wiped it off. Another smiled and waved at the tour group.

“It was very clear that Phillips Plastics appreciates their employees,” said VandenLangenberg, who is seeking a master’s degree in training and development. She is a graduate assistant in the program.

She also saw evidence of another company value: the environment. Water used in plastics production is channeled under the Red Cedar facility’s sidewalks to melt snow and ice in the winter, she said. The facility is part of the state Department of Natural Resources Green Tier program, which promotes environmentally responsible business practices.

“The architecture of the buildings flowed and tied into the landscape,” VandenLangenberg noted.

The tour of Phillips Plastics helped students see “how the entire organization from top down needs to be on board,” she said.

People Process Culture is an endowed program at UW-Stout named for a philosophy used by Bob Cervenka, founder of Phillips Plastics. The program dates to 1997, when Cervenka and his wife, Debbie, donated $1.5 million to UW-Stout.

“Phillips continues to exude core values that have meaning in context of the course,” said Kat Lui, People Process Culture chair and associate dean of the College of Management. “For Bob Cervenka, making long-term investments in people and communities yields more than financial dividends.”

Phillips Plastics has about 2,000 employees and 15 facilities. Most of the plants are in Wisconsin, and several are in Europe.

Phillips employees David Thoreson and Theresa Boettcher conducted the tour.

“The class has provided me with a better understanding of what I should look for in fulfilling my work-life balance,” VandenLangenberg said, adding that she recommends it to any students seeking business-related degrees.

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Two students qualify for national sales tournament

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 16, 2011

Two University of Wisconsin-Stout students have qualified for a national sales competition.

Logan Woller, of Arbor Vitae, and Evan Hoffman, of Green Bay, earned the right to represent the university at the National Collegiate Sales Competition in March in Atlanta.

Woller took ninth place and Hoffman 18th during the annual Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up regional tournament Nov. 10-12 at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

A total of 48 students from 16 colleges and universities competed.

Woller, as UW-Stout’s top finisher, also received a trophy and $150.

Rachael Lundeen, of Lakeville, Minn., took 12th place but will not compete in Atlanta because she graduates in December. Another UW-Stout student, Bre Norgren, of Eden Prairie, Minn., was 22nd.

The students, some of whom are interested in careers in professional sales, participated in sales role-playing events. All are majoring in business administration except Woller, who is majoring in business education.

UW-Stout is coached by Jerry Kollross, who teaches in the business department.

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Be safe when preparing, serving food during holidays

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 16, 2011

Food safety issues cause about 5,000 deaths a year in the U.S. and sicken millions more.

The holiday season can be an especially dangerous time for food-borne illnesses. Specialty foods often are prepared at home, food sometimes is left out at large gatherings for extended periods of time and there are plenty of leftovers.

Most food-related illnesses can be avoided, according to Naveen Chikthimmah, who teaches food science at University of Wisconsin-Stout. “While enjoying holiday food is important, not letting that food become a source of infection is more important, especially if you are the host,” Chikthimmah said.

Food safety is discussed in Chikthimmah’s Food Technology class. As part of the class, students must research a food safety problem, such as whether or not to buy unpasteurized apple cider or whether to use fresh eggs when making homemade egg nog.

Chikthimmah and students from his class have a variety of tips (see attached list) for safely preparing and serving food during the holidays.

For example, it is recommended that turkeys not be stuffed when cooked; cheese and deli meats that have been sitting out for more than two hours should not be consumed; and refrigerated leftovers should be consumed within five days.

While a healthy person may experience minor symptoms after consuming contaminated food, such food can have serious and potentially deadly consequences for children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. “Food should be prepared, stored and served with these risk groups in mind,” Chikthimmah said.

In another course Chikthimmah teaches, Experimental Foods, students examine aspects of food science and food safety. On a recent day, they tested how various cooking methods affect quality and safety of poultry meat. To see a related video, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/uwstoutvideos.

Erin Molzner, a senior from Sheboygan majoring in food systems and technology, is more aware of food safety now when she goes home for the holidays. “People underestimate the power of bacteria,” Molzner said. “If food sits out for too long, for example, it can make a lot of people sick.”

The food systems and technology program at UW Stout has five concentration areas, including food science and food communication. Students integrate a range of disciplines, such as chemistry, engineering, business, nutrition and microbiology. To learn more, go to http://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bsfst/index.cfm.

UW-Stout also offers an undergraduate program in dietetics and a graduate program in food and nutritional sciences.

Holiday Food Safety Tips

Following are holiday food safety tips from Naveen Chikthimmah, assistant professor of food science at UW-Stout.

Turkeys

Thawing: If you buy a frozen turkey, plan for the time it takes to thaw the bird in the refrigerator. It may take up to two days to thaw even a small bird (eight to 12 pounds) in the refrigerator. If you buy turkey from the refrigerated section, consider buying it no longer than two days before cooking.

Stuffing: Buy turkey without the stuffing for enhanced food safety. It also is recommended to prepare stuffing separately to avoid excessive handling of raw poultry and ensure that the bird is cooked to the right internal temperature.

Ready-to-eat foods

Cheese, cold-cut meat trays (including mail orders), fruit and vegetable trays and dips should be refrigerated continuously until the time of serving. Summer sausage and salami are exceptions because they are acidic and have a lower moisture content. If the trays have been left out in the open at room temperature for longer than two hours, then the food should not be saved.

Personal hygiene

Most cases of food-related illnesses in the U.S. are caused by improper handling and cross-contamination from bare hand contact. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before and after handling food during the preparation process.

If you are sick, do not prepare or handle food.

When handling food, tie down your hair and wear a clean apron.

Other tips

Never allow cooked foods to stay in the temperature danger zone (40 to 140 degrees) for more than two hours.

Plan to use leftovers promptly. When in doubt, throw it out. Typically, cooked meats should not be kept in the refrigerator for longer than five days.

Choose pasteurized apple cider over unpasteurized. If making egg nog at home, avoid using shell eggs. Instead, use pasteurized liquid eggs. Store-bought egg nog is sold pasteurized.

Raw oysters are not advised for consumption by the primary risk groups.

Cook food, especially raw meats and poultry, to the minimum recommended internal temperature.

Refer to the Food Safety and Inspection Service website for internal cooking temperatures for various meats, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Seasonal_Food_Safety_Fact_Sheets/index.asp.

The Food and Drug Administration offers holiday food safety tips at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM191812.pdf.

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Choirs present annual Holiday Choral Concert Sunday, Dec. 4

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 21, 2011

The University of Wisconsin-Stout choirs, under the direction of Patrick Liebergen, will present their annual Holiday Choral Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 910 Ninth St.

The Symphonic Singers will begin the concert with the Gregorian chant “Puer Natus in Bethlehem” and Mark Burrows’ “Gaudete!,” featuring soloists Andrew Straub and Isaac Bont.

The choir also will perform “Gloria Fanfare” by Jeffery Ames with trumpeters Nathan Grassl and Cory Halvorson, Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Sicut Locutus Est” from his Magnificat and Norman Luboff’s arrangement of “Still, Still, Still,” with flautist Kristine Haasch.

Percussionist Patrick Hoffman and bassist Kori Sericati along with pianist Karen Wilber will accompany the choir in a performance of John Williams’ “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.” The men will sing “The Boar’s Head Carol” and the traditional favorite “Stouthearted Men.”

Julie McManus, Alyssa Carlson, Straub, Bont, Kevin Roland and Evan Herold will be the soloists in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble’s performance of a variety of holiday arrangements.

Selections will include “Last Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

The Symphonic Singers and Vocal Jazz Ensemble will conclude the concert by performing G. F. Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” and “Peace, Peace” arranged by Fred Bock.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the UW-Stout Service Center in Merle M. Price Commons, 715-232-1122, online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu/ and at the door.

Annual Holiday Band Concert scheduled Sunday, Dec. 4

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 21, 2011

The University of Wisconsin–Stout Concert Band, directed by Aaron M. Durst, will present its annual Holiday Concert 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Menomonie High School auditorium, 1715 5th St. W.

The band will perform traditional selections beginning with the new composition “Ignition” by Todd Stalter. Following, John Zdechlik uses the well-known melody of “The Gift to Be Simple” in the band classic “Chorale and Shaker Dance.”

The lighter selections “Into the Storm” by Robert W. Smith and Brian Balmages’s “Among the Clouds” may inspire picturesque images for the listener. A transcription of Morton Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” for choir is a rich, contemplative work that takes for its inspiration a Matins Christmas chant text used by composers throughout the centuries to celebrate the Nativity.

The concert will close with an arrangement of Mannheim Steamroller’s “Pat-A-Pan” and a medley of traditional carols in Kenny Biershenk’s “A Christmas Celebration.”

In addition, the UW-Stout Brass Quintet will perform “Silent Night” arranged by Zach Smith, and the Saxophone Quartet will perform Bill Holcombe’s arrangement of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Because of the renovation of the UW-Stout Memorial Student Center, the concert will be held at the high school auditorium.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the UW-Stout Service Center in Merle M. Price Commons, 715-232-1122, online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu/ and at the door.

Calendar of Events

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 21, 2011

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, The Food for Thought Film Series, co-sponsored by UW-Stout, continues with the documentary “Lunch Line” in room 100 of Hibbard Hall, UW-Eau Claire. Contact Sarah Rykal, UW-Stout sustainability coordinator, 715-232-5254, rykals@uwstout.edu or go to www.uwstout.edu/sustainability.

Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving break. No classes.

Through Monday, Nov. 28, The School of Art and Design is sponsoring the annual custom light fixture exhibit “Illuminate” by lighting design students under Julie Peterson’s direction at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts. The exhibit features works designed around specific art and design movements.

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, The Food for Thought Film Series, co-sponsored by UW-Stout, wraps up with the documentary “Terra Madre” in Davies Theater, UW-Eau Claire Davies Center. Contact Sarah Rykal, UW-Stout sustainability coordinator, 715-232-5254, rykals@uwstout.edu or go to www.uwstout.edu/sustainability.

7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, The Hope for the Holidays benefit at The Waterfront Bar and Grill, 512 Crescent St., Menomonie, benefits the Bridge to Hope, a Menomonie-based domestic violence shelter. Sponsored by the UW-Stout human development and family studies program. Contact Olivia Schuenke, schuenkeo@my.uwstout.edu.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, through Saturday, Dec. 10, University Theatre presents “The Underpants,” a comic farce by Steve Martin, at 7:30 p.m. each night in Harvey Hall Theatre. Tickets are $12 and are available online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu or 715-232-1431.

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, Award-winning poetry slam performer George Watsky will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 15, Fall semester classes end.

Friday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 22, Final exams.

Saturday, Dec. 17, Commencement, Johnson Fieldhouse; 9:30 a.m. College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Management, Graduate School; 2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Graduate School.

6-8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Evening, part of the Diversity and Dialogue series. Sponsored by the Ally Center, 715-232-2504.

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Jazz from Harvey concert makes campus debut Thursday, Dec. 1

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 21, 2011

The UW-Stout Jazz Band, directed by Aaron M. Durst, will present its first Jazz from Harvey concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in Harvey Hall Theatre.

The band will be joined by the Stout Jazz Combo and Saxophone Quartet to present jazz standards, new compositions and holiday music.

“The newly remodeled Harvey Hall Theatre provides a charming atmosphere and acoustic-rich environment for an enjoyable evening of jazz,” Durst said.

Music will include “All Blues” by Miles Davis; “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla; “A Song for Sarah” by Sarah Vaughan and Sammy Nestico; “Haitian Fight Song” by Charles Mingus; and “Hot Chocolate” from the movie “The Polar Express.”

The repertoire will feature a number of soloists playing in the jazz, ballad, Latin and funk styles, making it a concert to appeal to any listener.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the UW-Stout Service Center in Merle M. Price Commons, 715-232-1122, online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu/ and at the door.

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Federal support ends for national Baldrige program

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 21, 2011

The federal government’s recent appropriations bill ended all support for the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program for fiscal year 2012. UW-Stout in 2001 became the first higher education institution in the country to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

The award was named after Malcolm Baldrige, the 26th secretary of Commerce, and was established by Congress in 1987. The intent was to enhance the competitiveness and performance of U.S. businesses. Since 1988, 86 organizations have received Baldrige awards.

The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program is managed by National Institute of Standards and Technology, working with the private sector.

Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen and Provost Julie Furst-Bowe, two nationally recognized experts on the Baldrige award and program, are available to discuss the impact that the award has had on UW-Stout.

Contact Doug Mell, executive director of communications and external relations, at melld@uwstout.edu or (715) 232-1198 to arrange interviews.

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Experts available on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, food and food safety

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 21, 2011

UW-Stout has many faculty and staff who are available to discuss topics related to the holiday season. Below are some of them. Contact University Communications with further questions.

Thanksgiving: UW-Stout Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen is an expert on the topic of Puritans and Thanksgiving. He received a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., a master’s in history from Michigan State University and a doctorate in American history from Michigan State. To interview Sorensen contact Doug Mell, executive director of communications and external relations, at melld@uwstout.edu or 715-232-1198.

Black Friday, economy: Richard Tyson, associate professor of social science, and Kathleen Cochran, professor of business and retail merchandising management program director, are available to discuss Black Friday and the holiday shopping season; Tyson 715-232-1529, tysonr@uwstout.edu; Cochran, 715-232-1365, cochrank@uwstout.edu.

Food: Philip McGuirk, associate professor in the School of Hospitality Leadership, is available to discuss a variety of food topics, including meal preparation and hospitality; 715-232-2244, mcguikp@uwstout.edu. Peter D’Souza, associate professor in the School of Hospitality Leadership, is not available this week but will be in December to talk about similar topics, in addition to spirits and wine-food pairings; 715-232-1492, dsouzap@uwstout.edu.

Food safety: Naveen Chikthimmah, director of the food systems and technology program, is an expert on safely preparing and serving food; 715-232-5332, chikthimmahn@uwstout.edu. For a list of his holiday food safety tips, go to https://www2.uwstout.edu/news/index.asp?event=news.get&ID=2555.

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Interior design students exhibit custom light fixtures at Mabel Tainter

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 21, 2011

The University of Wisconsin-Stout School of Art and Design is sponsoring the biannual custom light fixture exhibit “Illuminate” at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts.

The free student exhibit, in the lower level gallery, features works that reflect 18 periods in art and design history. It runs through Monday, Nov. 28.

A total of 24 students are displaying works created in the Lighting Design class taught by assistant professor Julie Peterson. The students are art majors, with an interior design concentration.

The exhibit helps students prepare to “design effective lighting solutions for people within a variety of interior environments. This project truly has them apply what they have been learning about for the first half of the semester,” Peterson said.

The students, their projects and the design periods (in parentheses) that their works represent are:

• Danielle Morley, of Whitelaw, and Katie Oja, of River Falls, “The Barcelona Lamp” (Bauhaus)

• Kelly McDermott, of Eagan, Minn., “The Family Portrait” (Victorian)

• Katie Bilderback, of Brooklyn Park, Minn., “The Metallic Fortress” (Deconstructivism)

• Marty Thorpe, of De Pere, and Jackie Wilz, of Minnetonka, Minn., “Lloyd” (Arts and Crafts)

• Sara Panning, of Burnsville, Minn., and Jenae Quarve, of Shoreview, Minn., “Stilts” (International)

• Nicolette Morgan, of Elk River, Minn., “Ombre” (Futurism)

• Sophie Kjeldgaard, of West Allis, “Blue Coat” (Federal)

• Sarah Melaney, of West Bend, “Indivisible” (18th Century American Colonial).

• Autumn Ash-Bastian, of Eau Claire, “Noor” (Islamic Architecture)

• Robyn Bunnell, of New Glarus, “BrellaChic” (Dada)

• Hannah Ford, of Reedsburg, “Regence” (Roccoco)

• Brittany Kaiser, of River Falls, and Erica Nelsestuen, of Pine Island, Minn., “Meimu” (Minimalism)

• Katrina Knaack, of Menomonie, “Beamer” (Tudor Revival)

• Elizabeth Lewis, of Beldvenville, “Carres” (Art Deco)

• Kelly Madden, of Stillwater, Minn., “Linear Luminescence” (Abstract Expressionism)

• Lauren Mahoney, of Delafield, “De Jardin Chandelier” (Baroque)

• Melissa Nice, of Burlington, and Lorrie Von Ende, of Maple Grove, Minn., “Sfavillio” (Art Nouveau)

• Carmen Rodriguez, of Brazil, “Luxap” (Gothic)

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University Theatre presents the comic farce ‘The Underpants’

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 22, 2011

The comic farce “The Underpants” written by comedian and actor Steve Martin will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 7-10, at Harvey Hall Theatre at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Martin adapted the original play, “Dies Hose,” which was set in 1910 Germany. It involves the hilarious complications — desire, deception and intrigue — resulting from a woman’s bloomers falling down while she is trying to get a glimpse of the king during a parade.

The play is directed by Paul Calenberg, UW-Stout theater director. New faculty member Beth Janetski, speech, making her debut with University Theatre, is in charge of scenic and lighting design. Deb Selvig, Eau Claire, handles costume design.

Calenberg chose the production partly because when he first saw it he had never laughed so much during a play in his life, he said. Also, “It’s a fast-paced comedy that is sure to entertain, and a comic farce is a good play for the holiday season,” he said.

“Steve Martin’s comic genius will ensure the audience leaves delighted and upbeat,” Calenberg said.

The cast of seven students includes Elizabeth “Izzy” Merrill, of Rochester, Minn.; Kevin Roland, of Middleton; Michael Flaherty, of McFarland; Andy Straub, of Marathon; Autumn Ament, of Chaska, Minn.; Isaac Bont, of St. Croix Falls; and John “Jack” Lazorik, of Shoreview, Minn. Merrill and Roland play lead characters Louise and Theo, respectively.

More than 30 students work backstage.

Harvey Hall Theatre, originally called Stout Institute Auditorium, celebrated its 95th birthday this year. It opened May 30, 1916. Also, earlier this year a theater renovation was completed. It included reconstruction of the stage extension, replacement of the stage and house lighting and controls, installation of a new sound system and renovation of the stage rigging, curtains and tracks. Seating was replaced and reconfigured, along with other updates.

“It’s the most state-of-the-art theater in the area now,” Calenberg said.

Tickets are $12 and are available in room 141 of Merle M. Price Commons or online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu/. Call 715-232-1431 for more information.

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Hope for the Holidays wraps up students’ social action projects

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 23, 2011

Social action projects this fall by a class at University of Wisconsin-Stout will conclude with a concert to benefit a local shelter.

Hope for the Holidays, featuring live music, will start at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at The Waterfront Bar and Grill, 512 Crescent St., Menomonie. Proceeds will go to the Bridge to Hope, a Menomonie-based domestic violence shelter.

The Campus Violence Prevention Project is co-sponsoring the seventh annual benefit. It will include speakers, a raffle, bingo at 8:30 p.m. and music at 10 p.m. by Roster McCabe, a reggae-funk band. Bingo cards are $4, and each player will receive a raffle ticket; the prize is a football signed by the Green Bay Packers.

Student Olivia Schuenke, of Delafield, is overseeing the benefit. “We, as a campus and community, are stakeholders in the vital services that the Bridge to Hope provides,” Schuenke said.

A total of 58 people in Wisconsin were victims of domestic violence in 2010, including children, women and men.

“The goal of all our projects is to increase awareness of working toward nonviolence in our communities,” said Susan Wolfgram, associate professor of human development and family studies. “You change one person and you can change a generation.”

The concert is one of six projects coordinated by HDFS students from Wolfgram’s Abuse and the Family class. The other projects and leaders this fall were:

Tyrell’s Dedication; Laura Henning, of Kiel: The Transition Center in Eau Claire helps inmates transition from jail to becoming contributing members of society. Students are building a bookshelf to hold books donated by the library.

The mother of a former center client, who died in a car accident, contributed a cash memorial in honor of her son. Students also are making a plaque in memory of the client and organizing donations of drawing and sketching materials and other books. They worked with Jessica Bryan, center director.

Use Voices not Violence; Heather Kangas, of Menomonie: Students provided domestic violence awareness education in the Dunn County Jail for male and female inmates. They worked with Sherry Berg, jail program director.

Men are Part of the Solution; Houa Lee, of Schofield: Students provided domestic violence awareness education in the Eau Claire County Jail for male and female inmates. They worked with Phil Kuehn, jail program director.

Healthy Teen Relationships; Ashley Jeske, of Eau Claire: Students provided teen dating violence awareness education at New Richmond Middle School and River Falls High School. They worked with Jennifer Kading, Children’s Services coordinator at Turningpoint for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence, of River Falls.

One high school student was thankful for the program, commenting: “I was in an abusive relationship for 6½ months. He beat me and threatened and attempted to kill me. I started crying when you were talking about unhealthy relationships because it was everything I went through. Thanks for coming to talk to us. It really changed me and the way I think.”

Helping Teens Take Control; Natasha Rotar, of Marshfield: Students provided teen awareness education on healthy relationships, with a focus on cyber-bullying and bystander intervention, at Northwest Juvenile Detention Center in Eau Claire. They worked with Casey Velie of the center.

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Calendar of Events

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 28, 2011

Through Monday, Nov. 28, The School of Art and Design is sponsoring the annual custom light fixture exhibit “Illuminate” by lighting design students under Julie Peterson’s direction at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts. The exhibit features works designed around specific art and design movements.

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, The Food for Thought Film Series, co-sponsored by UW-Stout, wraps up with the documentary “Terra Madre” in Davies Theater, UW-Eau Claire Davies Center. Contact Sarah Rykal, UW-Stout sustainability coordinator, 715-232-5254, rykals@uwstout.edu or go to www.uwstout.edu/sustainability.

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, The UW-Stout Jazz Band, directed by Aaron M. Durst, will present its first Jazz from Harvey concert in Harvey Hall Theatre. Tickets are $5 and are available at the Service Center in Merle M. Price Commons, 715-232-1122, online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu/ and at the door.

8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, The Hope for the Holidays benefit at The Waterfront Bar and Grill, 512 Crescent St., Menomonie, benefits the Bridge to Hope, a Menomonie-based domestic violence shelter. Sponsored by the UW-Stout human development and family studies program. Contact Olivia Schuenke, schuenkeo@my.uwstout.edu.

2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, The UW-Stout Concert Band, directed by Aaron M. Durst, will present its annual Holiday Concert at Menomonie High School auditorium, 1715 5th St. W. Tickets are $5 and are available at the Service Center in Merle M. Price Commons, 715-232-1122, online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu/ and at the door.

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, The UW-Stout choirs, under the direction of Patrick Liebergen, will present their annual Holiday Choral Concert at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 910 Ninth St. Tickets are $5 and are available at the Service Center in Merle M. Price Commons, 715-232-1122, online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu/ and at the door.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, through Saturday, Dec. 10, University Theatre presents “The Underpants,” a comic farce by Steve Martin, at 7:30 p.m. each night in Harvey Hall Theatre. Tickets are $12 and are available online at http://tickets.uwstout.edu or 715-232-1431.

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, Award-winning poetry slam performer George Watsky will perform in the Sunken Lounge of Merle M. Price Commons. Free. Sponsored by Blue Devil Productions, 715-232-2432, http://bdp.uwstout.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 15, Fall semester classes end.

Friday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 22, Final exams.

Saturday, Dec. 17, Commencement, Johnson Fieldhouse; 9:30 a.m. College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Management, Graduate School; 2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Graduate School.

6-8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Evening, part of the Diversity and Dialogue series. Sponsored by the Ally Center, 715-232-2504.

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Austrian company donates injection molding machine to plastics lab

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 28, 2011

The plastics program at UW-Stout has added a state-of-the-art machine. Wittmann Battenfeld, based in Austria, recently donated a new EcoPower 55-ton electric injection molding machine. It is valued at more than $100,000.

Additional equipment provided by Wittmann Battenfeld are a TEMPRO plus C Series temperature control unit and a DRYMAX E30 material dryer. The combination of equipment represents a typical turnkey work cell that Wittmann Battenfeld provides customers.

“The generous Wittmann Battenfeld donation means our students will be trained on the latest technology in the industry,” said Adam Kramschuster, plastics engineering program director. “This is the kind of machine students will use as professionals.”

UW-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, began offering a Bachelor of Science in plastics engineering in fall 2008. Along with plastics engineering majors, students majoring in manufacturing engineering, engineering technology and packaging use the plastics lab in Jarvis Hall Technology Wing.

Also, the plastics program recently hosted 12 industry professionals from five states and Mexico for hands-on training. The training was coordinated by RJG, an industry leader in certification, Kramschuster said.

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New and improved: Students honored for hospital gown design

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 28, 2011

The traditional hospital gown, breezy and unattractive, has long been a target of criticism. A team of UW-Stout apparel design and development students has made it better.

The team recently took third place and won $5,000 in the Project Better Gown competition in Minneapolis sponsored by the Park Nicollet Foundation. Teams from the University of Minnesota and Purdue University took first and second, winning $20,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Members of the UW-Stout team are Angela Barron, of Lino Lakes, Minn.; Sara Kjos, of Hamburg, Minn.; Kathleen Magnuson, of Middleton; Carissa Reilly, of Saint Michael, Minn.; and Emily Smigla, of Farmington, Minn.

Features of the UW-Stout design include:

• Drawbridge back to ensure patient modesty while still allowing accessibility for doctors.

• Fasteners in the front so patients can easily get in and out of the gown.

• Dri-lex fabric, which has antibacterial properties to help prevent infections while providing absorption and wicking properties to keep patients comfortable.

Park Nicollet Health Services owns the rights to the award-winning designs and hopes to produce them commercially.

The student design challenge drew 17 entries, including four from UW-Stout. Judges narrowed the field to nine finalists, which included three UW-Stout designs. The top nine were modeled during a fashion show at the Minneapolis Hilton.

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Art instructor invited back as guest on ‘The Martha Stewart Show’

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 28, 2011

For the second time in eight months, a UW-Stout art instructor is getting a chance to shine on “The Martha Stewart Show.”

Kari Tarr, who teaches in the School of Art and Design, is scheduled to be a guest on the Tuesday, Dec. 6, show, which can be seen from 9-10 a.m. on the Hallmark channel.

Tarr was invited to demonstrate how she makes Christmas ornaments using glitter. She was on the program March 30 as a Simply Remarthable contest finalist to explain how to make glitter paintings.

A little self-promotion helped Tarr land her upcoming appearance. After noticing the show recently used images of her glitter paintings in promotional spots, she contacted producers “to let them know that I was honored. I also sent along some new glittered ornament images. They loved the images and pitched my ornaments for a (show) segment,” Tarr said.

The show will be taped Dec. 5 in New York. After it airs, instructions on how to make Tarr’s ornaments will be on her website, www.karitarr.com, and on the show’s website, www.marthastewart.com.

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Education professor co-authors guide to teaching teenagers

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 28, 2011

Some experts believe a person’s course in life is determined by his or her early childhood years.

Amy Schlieve, a University of Wisconsin-Stout School of Education professor and special education program director, thinks otherwise. “The teen brain has as much capability to learn new concepts as when they’re toddlers,” said Schlieve.

Schlieve and Stephen Bavolek have written “It’s All About Being a Teen: 99 Lessons for Developing Nurturing Values and Skills in Adolescents,” a new resource for health teachers, specialists and others who work with teenagers.

Before becoming a university professor, Schlieve taught prekindergarten through high school special education classes and worked with students with learning and emotional problems.

She has seen the capacity for change in the teenage years. “It’s one of the reasons I wrote this,” she said.

Yet, the 99 lessons aren’t just for “children we would consider at risk or troubled but teens in general. We want to build skills, awareness and healthier lives in all teenagers,” Schlieve said.

Schlieve and Bavolek each have more than 30 years of experience in the field. That experience is put to good use in the curriculum they’ve published, but “It’s All About Being a Teen” is based on research by Bavolek’s company, NurturingParenting of Park City, Utah.

Each lesson, or construct, is data-driven and was field-tested with social workers, Schlieve said. “When you can write something based on research it’s far superior to writing something on your own,” she said.

Schlieve did most of the writing and Bavolek the editing. Bavolek was Schlieve’s master’s thesis adviser at UW-Eau Claire before he left to start his research company. Schlieve also taught at UW-Eau Claire before joining UW-Stout in 1998.

“Because I’m an educator myself, I wrote it like I would use it in the classroom,” Schlieve said.

The lessons are in 15 competency areas, such as understanding how the teen brain functions; increasing self-awareness; what it means to be a family; sex and sexuality; understanding risky behaviors; love and dating; and handling peer pressure.

“The lessons are designed to empower teens to develop healthy lifestyles for success,” Bavolek said. “Success in this context is defined as the ability to make positive choices; to break the cycle of dysfunction that has engulfed them; to develop a positive self-identity; and to select peers that are on the same positive path.”

Schlieve and Bavolek also co-authored a K-12 curriculum in the 1990s.

“It’s All About Being a Teen” is sold through www.nurturingparenting.com.

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Reminiscence Speaker Series features Dan Riordan

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 29, 2011

University of Wisconsin-Stout will feature Dan Riordan at the next Reminiscence Speaker Series from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, on the fourth floor of the Robert S. Swanson Learning Center.

Riordan retired in July 2010 after 40 years at the university.

During his tenure, Riordan served as chair of the department of English and philosophy and as adviser to English minors. He also was instrumental in establishing the B.S. and M.S. degrees in technical communication.

He taught a wide range of English offerings, initiating many courses, including Black American Literature, Native American Literature and Writing for Multimedia.

Riordan founded the Nakatani Teaching and Learning Center in 2001 and served as its director until 2010.

He has been recognized as a Fellow of the Association of the Teachers of Technical Writing, an Associate Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication, a recipient of the Jay Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Communication. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication and served as its president.

In 2010, he was recognized with the award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology by The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning at Florida State College at Jacksonville, Fla.

“Loving and respecting your students is the key to all successful teaching,” he said.

For many years, Riordan was UW-Stout’s representative to the UW System Office of Professional and Instructional Development.

Riordan has received numerous grants to study critical thinking and scholarship of teaching and learning topics. His textbook “Technical Report Writing Today” has gone through seven editions; the next edition will appear in 2012. His edited collection of essays received the National Council of Teachers of English Award for Best Collection of Essays in Technical or Scientific Communication.

Riordan has a B.A. from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sponsored by the Stout Historical Association of the Dunn County Historical Society, the Reminiscence Speaker Series features guest lecturers who illuminate the “spirit of Stout.” The original series was held in advance of the university’s centennial in 1991 and made a significant contribution to its oral history. The institution has seen considerable change in the years since and the association has reinstated the series to continue documenting the university’s unique culture and history.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to bring a lunch.

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McNair experiences help students stretch their career goals

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 30, 2011

Lacey Holzer went to North Dakota to help research glucose intolerance. Diana Witcher traveled to New York to study an internationally known artist and sculptor.

Their research projects last summer were valuable in themselves, but the students’ experiences symbolize something greater: The significant strides Holzer and Witcher have made as undergraduate students at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

They had the same goal when they came to campus: Get their bachelor’s degrees and begin their professional careers. Now, having seen new possibilities through research opportunities, they are setting their sights on going to graduate school and becoming researchers and professors themselves someday.

Holzer and Witcher credit their involvement in the McNair scholars program, which is in its third year at UW-Stout. One of the purposes of McNair is to train students to conduct research and prepare them to pursue graduate school.

“It has helped me broaden the view of my career,” Witcher said.

“I never thought I would want to go to graduate school before,” Holzer said.

Her sister’s researcher

Holzer, from Hammond, is a senior majoring in dietetics. She was interested in the glucose intolerance study because her sister, Rachael, 9, has had diabetes for three years.

“Once she was diagnosed, I wanted to do juvenile diabetes research. It’s really hard on her. I’ve seen how it affects our family; I can imagine how it affects other families,” Holzer said.

Holzer worked with Susan Raatz, a University of Minnesota professor, at the Grand Forks (N.D.) Human Nutrition Research Center, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They examined glucose intolerance using different variables.

Holzer learned how to collect and analyze data for a study Raatz was conducting. “It was just a good experience overall for me. The scientists are so smart, so amazing and what they’re doing is so cool,” said Holzer, who plans to pursue her doctorate and do research on juvenile diabetes.

The research experience also opened her eyes to “different fields you can go into that I had no idea existed.”

Designing a career

Witcher, from Menomonie, is a junior majoring in art with a graphic design concentration. She researched sculptor and landscape artist Isamu Noguchi, who died in 1988.

She was under the direction of Alex DeArmond, UW-Stout assistant professor in the School of Art and Design.

The research experience involved studying Noguchi’s landscape and playground works in New York, with the goal of writing an academic paper and adapting it for a mass market publication.

Witcher saw several examples of Noguchi’s works and visited his New York studio, now a museum.

“He stretched the limits of what is possible as an artist. Studying him inspired me,” Witcher said. “He wanted people to understand his art and interact with his sculptures.”

Witcher, part owner of Aquarian Gardens, a sustainable flower garden design business in Menomonie, is excited that doctorate degrees are becoming available in design and design history, beyond the traditional Master of Fine Arts.

“It’s a new field. There’s lots of room for study,” said Witcher, who eventually hopes to write, design, consult and possibly teach.

‘McNair is changing lives’

Along with Holzer and Witcher, six other UW-Stout McNair scholars — there are 25 in all — conducted research in summer 2011, ranging from on campus with UW-Stout professors to working with professors at Michigan State and UW-Madison.

“When students come back they’re completely changed people. They just blossom,” said Richard Tafalla, a psychology professor and McNair program director. “McNair is changing lives and really creating some good students.”

Money from the grant-funded program pays for research experiences, as well as travel to disseminate research and for site visits to graduate schools. Students in McNair also receive academic support. One of their goals is to have their research published.

“It’s no less than a cultural shift. We are saying you can do this, even though they never may have considered it. That’s what McNair is about,” Tafalla said.

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program began nationally in 1989 to bring more first-generation college students and disadvantaged groups into higher education. It is named after McNair, a scholar and astronaut who died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion.

For more information, go to www.uwstout.edu/mcnair.

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Hotel, restaurant and tourism students awarded scholarships

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Nov. 30, 2011

University of Wisconsin-Stout students in the student chapter of American Hotel & Lodging Association have had a busy and profitable November.

The 13 students, all majors in hotel, restaurant and tourism management, received scholarships while attending the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association conference Nov. 11 in Appleton.

Lynne Jones, of New Brighton, Minn., and Sarah Sawasky, of Appleton, were awarded WH&LA scholarships of $500 and $1,000, respectively.

Jones, Kelli Roessler, of Waunakee, and Jennifer Schlitz, of Prior Lake, Minn., were awarded $1,000 scholarships from the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Students also received WH&LA conference scholarships allowing them to attend the educational sessions, recognition luncheon, special student session and trade show.

Jones and Sawasky received conference scholarships as did: Cindy Beans, Ely, Minn.; Molly Borndale, Maplewood, Minn.; Heather Harmeyer, Milwaukee; Maria Aldea, Galati, Romania; David O’Connor, Cross Plains; Kirsten Blyth, Waterloo; Sean Sturman, Green Bay; Anna King, Esko, Minn.; and Amy Eidahl, Eau Claire.

UW-Stout School of Hospitality Leadership faculty members James Buergermeister, Phillip McGuirk and Damian Hanft also attended the conference.

An event attracting 20 UW-Stout alumni from the New York area was held during the conference.

Club Managers Association of America

The UW-Stout student chapter of the Club Managers Association of America recently sent 20 members to the CMAA student conference in Chicago.

One of the students who attended was Anna Jones, of Wild Rose. She also recently toured five Twin Cities-area golf clubs, including Hazeltine, which has held several major U.S. championships.

The UW-Stout CMAA chapter is holding a silent auction from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, on the second floor lobby of Heritage Hall and online. Bidding starts at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8. To bid online go to www.32auctions.com, enter the auction ID name: stoutcmaa11 and the password: futureleaders. With questions, contact cmaa@uwstout.edu or McGuirk, 715-232-2244, mcguirkp@uwstout.edu.

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Schulte-Shoberg named director of Business and Financial Services

ask5000@uwstout.edu (ask5000) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Dec. 1, 2011

Kim Schulte-Shoberg has joined University of Wisconsin-Stout as director of Business and Financial Services effective Thursday, Dec. 1.

Schulte-Shoberg’s duties will include serving as the university controller, managing a variety of financial activities and leading Stout’s Accounting Services, Student Business Services and Procurement and Materials Management units.

Schulte-Shoberg brings extensive financial expertise to the position, including most recently as senior financial analyst and internal control analyst for Mayo Clinic Health System. She also has been a financial analyst for Target and a senior auditor with Minneapolis accounting firm KPMG.

Schulte-Shoberg has previous UW-Stout experience. In 2003, she joined the university as internal auditor. In 2005, she was appointed interim controller and director of Business and Financial Services, serving for three years.

“The university is fortunate to have Kim back on the financial leadership team,” said Ed Nieskes, vice chancellor for Administrative and Student Life Services. “Her knowledge and experience make her a great addition to UW-Stout. She’s the perfect person to help us navigate the current budget concerns and capitalize on opportunities.”

Schulte-Shoberg has an accounting degree from University of Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration from UW-Eau Claire.

Schulte-Shoberg replaces Nieskes, who was appointed vice chancellor in August.

For more information on UW-Stout or the Business and Financial Services department, go to www.uwstout.edu.

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