March 7, 2002
See U of M Happenings for updated events
1. President Bush meets with U leaders, educators
2. U of M sports go 'mad' in March
3. Alumni national board adopts position on athletics
4. McKnight professors honored
5. Blankets for babies
6. Transplanted stem cells reverse stroke damage
7. Dental clinic provides students with hands-on experience
8. U of M Happenings
9. Links
U IN THE NEWS
PRESIDENT BUSH MEETS WITH U LEADERS, EDUCATORS
Education leaders from the University of Minnesota were key participants in a roundtable discussion with President Bush at Eden Prairie High School on Monday, March 4.
"We're honored to have the opportunity to discuss the University's work in teacher preparation and literacy with the president," said Yudof. "President Bush and I share a long-standing interest in promoting reading in the early grades, and the University has outstanding research and practice in this area."
Among the participants in the informal roundtable discussion were Yudof and Steve Yussen, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. They were joined by three teachers, Liz Otteson and Patrick Pelini, English teachers at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis, and Joe Trepanier, a social studies teacher at Harding High School in St. Paul. All three are U of M alumni. Jesse Tejeda, a University of Minnesota mathematics education student-teacher, also participated.
Among other things, Yudof discussed the University's interest in launching a new interdisciplinary initiative to better understand the biology and neuroscience of literacy . The initiative would include using the University's magnetic resonance imaging facility to help assess reading development and understand how reading behaviors are acquired.
"With an outstanding medical school and college of education, the University of Minnesota is uniquely positioned to bring together neuroscientists with experts in child development and literacy to create new, integrated understanding of early literacy," Yudof explained.
Several weeks ago, three neuroscientists and a literacy expert from the University accompanied Yudof to the National Institutes of Health to initiate discussions about how the University and federal funding agencies could collaborate to advance this work.
Following President Bush's visit to Minnesota on Monday, Yudof attended a White House conference on teaching preparation on Tuesday.
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U OF M SPORTS GO 'MAD' IN MARCH
March Madness hits the University of Minnesota with a vengeance this year, as winter athletic teams head into postseason play. President Yudof invites fans to congratulate the many coaches and athletes from all U of M men's and women's teams for their great seasons and wish them well as they embark on tournament competition.
Here's a look at what the Golden Gophers, Bulldogs, Golden Eagles, and Cougars are doing this postseason:
Gophers
The women's basketball team will continue its historic season in the NCAA tournament that begins March 15. It will be the Gophers' first NCAA appearance since 1993.
The women's hockey team, ranked No. 1 in the country, will go for the national championship at the Final Four in New Hampshire March 22-24.
The women's gymnastics team enters the Big Ten Championships at Ohio State March 23 and then the NCAA Regionals April 6. The NCAA Championships will be April 19-21 at Alabama.
The women's swimming and diving team hopes to send competitors to the NCAA Championships March 21-23 in Austin, Tex.
The undefeated No. 1 Gopher wrestling team will defend its national championship title at the national tournament March 21-23 in Albany, N.Y.
The men's basketball team will compete in either the NCAA or NIT tournament starting March 15.
The men's hockey team will be involved in the WCHA Tournament March 15-17 with the hope of advancing to the NCAA Regional Tournament March 22-23, and then the Frozen Four, to be held this year in St. Paul's Excel Energy Center April 6-7.
The men's swimming and diving team, fresh off winning its second straight Big Ten championship, hosts the USS Senior Nationals March 19-23 and hopes to send many athletes to the NCAA Championships March 28-30 in Athens, Ga.
The men's gymnastics team next plays host to the 2002 Big Ten Championships on March 22-23 at the Sports Pavilion.
Duluth Bulldogs
The women's hockey team, defending WCHA Tournament Champs, will head to their third WCHA Play-off tournament March 8 in Blaine.
The men's hockey team opens postseason play March 8-10 with the first round of the best of three WCHA playoffs. The team hopes to advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament March 22-23, and then the Frozen Four, to be held this year in St. Paul's Excel Energy Center April 6-7.
The men's basketball team is heading to the NCAA Division II North Central Tournament, for the first time since the 1996-97 season, March 8-10 at South Dakota State University.
Crookston Golden Eagles
The women's basketball team concluded its best season ever with a fifth-place finish in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 16-11 record. The men's hoopsters were tied for seventh with a 7-10 overall mark.
On the ice, Golden Eagles enjoyed a strong season. They earned a tie for third in the Midwest Collegian Hockey Association and took second in the post-season tournament.
Morris Cougars
Sophomore wrestler Dante Lewis qualified for his second straight trip to the NCAA II National Wrestling Championships with a fourth place finish at 125 pounds in the NCAA II Midwest Regional Wrestling Championships. Lewis will wrestle in the regionals March 8-9 in Kenosha, Wis.
Morris senior Katie Downing is overseas for a very important international competition at the Uregan International Wrestling Tournament in Russia. Team USA will compete March 9-10.
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ALUMNI NATIONAL BOARD ADOPTS POSITION ON ATHLETICS
All options must be on the table to solve major funding problems in intercollegiate athletics at the U of M, Twin-Cities. That's the position of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association National Board in response to the projected $31 million shortfall in men's and women's intercollegiate athletics over the next five years.
In public hearings earlier this year, the Board of Regents was overwhelmingly urged not to cut any teams or merge the men's and women's athletic departments. But, in a statement adopted Saturday, the national alumni board indicated tough choices "need to be made." It said continuing separate athletic departments and a full complement of teams "may not be feasible."
The resolution by the alumni association national board supports the regents and administration in making fiscally responsible decisions involving difficult choices, as long as the solutions ensure gender equity and academic and competitive excellence. The alumni board statement comes in response to an ad hoc committee of the regents asking for public input on the athletic funding problems. Since its founding in 1904, the alumni association has a long history of advocacy on important issues ranging from athletics to tenure and regent selection. The national board voted after two standing committees of the alumni association studied the athletics report and made recommendations regarding important principles that should guide regent's decision-making on the athletics funding issue.
The regents are expected to discuss solutions to the funding problems at March and April board meetings. To read the complete statement adopted by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association national board, go to www.umaa.umn.edu.
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MCKNIGHT PROFESSORS HONORED
The University has selected 10 recipients of the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship for 2002-04. The winners will be presented to the University Board of Regents Friday, March 8.
The McKnight Land-Grant Professor program was established in 1987 with a grant from the McKnight Foundation. It aims to advance the careers of promising junior faculty at a crucial period in their professional lives. Recipients hold the title McKnight Land-Grant Professor for two years. The award consists of a $25,000 research grant in each year, summer support, and a research leave in the second year. The winners were chosen according to their potential for important contributions to their fields; the degree to which their past achievements and current ideas demonstrate originality, imagination, and innovation; the potential for attracting outstanding students; and the significance of the research and the clarity with which it is conveyed to the nonspecialist.
The winners are:
- Paul Cannan, of the UMD English department, who specializes in the insights that early editions of Shakespeare's poetry offer into his biography, drama, and emergence as the national poet.
- James Druckman, political science department, who specializes in the impact of new media on American democracy.
- Markus Keel, mathematics department, who specializes in harmonic analysis and nonlinear partial differential equations.
- Robert Krueger, psychology department, who specializes in the identification and underlying causes of the high level of co-occurrence among mental disorders.
- David Odde, biomedical engineering department, who specializes in the development of microsystems technologies to create artificial mimics of natural microenvironments to control stem cell behavior.
- Frank Symons, educational psychology department, who specializes in determining if pain is a cause or consequence of chronic self-injurious behavior, based on pathological alterations in the sensory nervous system.
- Valerie Tiberius, philosophy department, who specializes in the reflective life: well-being, virtue and education.
- David Treuer, English department, who specializes in the relationship between Native American languages, late 20th century Native American fiction, and American literature proper.
- Haidee Wasson, cultural studies and comparative literature department, who specializes in the social and cultural significance of noncommercial film exhibition.
- Kevin Wickman, pharmacology department, who specializes in the roles different molecules play in the physiological and behavioral effects of drugs.
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BLANKETS FOR BABIES
University of Minnesota, Morris theater students are blanketing the community with skills they learned in the costume shop. The students have been designing and sewing baby blankets in partnership with the Salvation Army in Morris.
The Salvation Army has been using money from a grant to purchase fabric. So far, 35 blankets have been made by students. After finishing touches are put on the blankets, students assemble a layette, which includes the blanket, a sleeper, infant undershirt, shoulder towel, and other essential clothing. The bundle is a gift to each newborn in Stevens County.
Freshman Margaret Dobie, from Mapleton, says the project has been a valuable experience. "It's nice to know that somewhere out there a baby is using a blanket that I have made," she said.
Kristen Kalina, a junior from Alexandria majoring in chemistry and biology, has been sewing since she learned from her grandmother at age six. She, was involved with a similar project when she was in 4-H.
Siobhan Bremer, the costume shop supervisor, says it is a great way to put sewing skills to good use. "This joint project is a great way to connect education with our community."
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TRANSPLANTED STEM CELLS REVERSE STROKE DAMAGE
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Department of Neurosurgery and Stem Cell Institute (SCI) have been able to show that transplanted adult stem cells restore function in laboratory animals with stroke. Stem cells from human bone marrow were transplanted into laboratory rats seven days after a stroke injury to the brain. Before transplantation, rats were unable to properly use forelimbs and hind limbs. Weeks after receiving stem cell transplants, the animals regained proper use of their limbs. The study is reported in the March 2002 issue of Experimental Neurology.
Walter Low, a professor of neurosurgery, was the principal investigator for the study. Other investigators were Li-Ru Zhao, a research associate in the department of neurosurgery; Catherine Verfaillie, director of the Stem Cell Institute; and Morayma Reyes, a medical and doctoral student in the Medical School.
The transplanted stem cells were found to develop into cells that exhibited the characteristics of the major types of cells found in the brain. These findings suggest that stem cells obtained from adult bone marrow may be useful as a source of cells to repair the brain and restore function in patients who have suffered a stroke.
"The ability of bone marrow stem cells to differentiate into cells that are typically found in the brain and restore function in laboratory animals with stroke holds promise for people who have experienced a stroke," said Low. "However, there are many additional studies on these stem cells that need to be conducted before we can consider initiating any clinical trial. The next steps in this research will be to determine how long after a stroke stem cell transplant therapy will be effective. Can stem cells be transplanted one, two, six or twelve months after a stroke and still restore function?"
Verfaillie and her colleagues announced last year that adult bone marrow stem cells can be made to develop into other types of cells that can work in the human body.
The objective of the Stem Cell Institute is to further our understanding of the potential of stem cells to improve human and animal health. The SCI is a part of the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center and is an interdisciplinary center with member faculty representing a diverse group of University schools, colleges, and centers. For online information about the University of Minnesota's Stem Cell Institute, go to www.umn.edu/stemcell.
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DENTAL CLINIC PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
A new regional dental clinic is aiming to provide better long-term dental service to smaller cities and towns in Minnesota. The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) recently opened the Hibbing Community College Dental Clinic. It is the first cooperative educational initiative between the School of Dentistry and the MnSCU system, and marks a significant expansion of the University's Community Oral Health Programs.
"The School of Dentistry has a strong commitment to community outreach," said Peter Polverini, dean of the University's School of Dentistry. "The Hibbing clinic is a full-service clinic designed specifically to reach the thousands of northeastern Minnesota residents who are experiencing problems accessing dental care."
Although the School of Dentistry has sponsored numerous outreach and mini-residency programs in the past, the Hibbing clinic is the first permanent, community-based teaching facility established outside of the dental school's Twin Cities campus location. The dental school's other outreach programs are typically two weeks in duration and involve teams of dental professionals who use portable equipment to provide dental care.
"Patients can come here knowing we'll be here today, next month, and next year," said Jerry Pedersen, local dentist and administrator of the new facility.
Dental services are provided by qualified senior dental students, as well as by graduate students in the University's dental specialist programs, under the guidance of University of Minnesota faculty dentists. Dental hygiene students from the School of Dentistry and dental assisting students from Hibbing Community College help staff the clinic. The clinic is expected to see about 120 patients per week.
"Our students will all gain from an opportunity to practice in a real world environment," said Polverini. "Patients will receive comprehensive care and students will learn about the oral health needs of a community, including the impact of public policy, marketplace, and workforce issues. Perhaps more importantly, dental students will have an opportunity to sample life and dental practice in greater Minnesota where access to dental services is deteriorating."
A recent survey by the Minnesota Dental Association indicates there is a shortage of dentists in greater Minnesota. Nearly 40 percent of the state's current dental practices already indicate an inability to treat additional patients. With up to 30 percent of the state's dentists facing retirement within the next 10 years, the problem is expected to worsen.
"We know from experience that dental students who participate in outreach programs as part of their student experience are more likely to consider permanent practice locations in greater Minnesota after graduation," said Polverini.
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U OF M HAPPENINGS
The U of M Cancer Center will hold its seventh annual open house Sunday, March 10, noon-4 p.m. at the Cancer Center Research Building, 425 E. River Rd. on the East Bank. Visitors can learn about the center's latest research through family-oriented, hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and tours. The open house is free and open to the public. For more information, see www.cancer.umn.edu or call 612-625-4441.
Calling all supporters of the U! The U is hosting several legislative calling nights, Monday, March 11 through Wednesday, March 13; and again Monday, March 18 through Wednesday, March 20, approximately 5-9 p.m. in McNamara Alumni Center. Faculty, staff, alumni, parents, students, and anyone who supports the U are needed to come and make phone calls asking other U friends to contact legislators about the importance of higher education. For more information, contact Nicole Bennett at benne069@umn.edu or 612-626-8371.
Classes without Quizzes is an opportunity for people to learn more about gardening, nutrition, the environment, and other agricultural topics. The one-day "mini-college" will be held Saturday, March 16, 8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on the campus in St. Paul. Attendees will have a chance to learn about the latest research at the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences. The topics are of interest to anyone who grows a garden or has an interest in producing, packaging, or consuming food. The cost is $30 for University of Minnesota Alumni Association members and guests, $40 for other adults, and $15 for children. To register, see www.alumni.coafes.umn.edu/forum. For more information, call 612-624-1745.
The University and other partners in the Vital Aging Network will hold the first Minnesota Vital Aging Summit on Tuesday, March 26, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Earle Brown Center on the St. Paul campus. National leaders and Minnesota role models will talk about shaping a new societal vision of what it means to grow old. Registration is $40 and includes lunch and three receptions before and after the conference. For more information or to register on-line, see the alumni association's Web site at www.umaa.umn.edu/umaa/events.
The Great Conversations Series continues with its third and fourth installments. On Tuesday, March 26, 7:30 p.m. in Ted Mann Concert Hall on the West Bank, Catherine Verfaillie, researcher and director of the University of Minnesota's Stem Cell Institute, will be joined by Austin Smith, director of the Centre of Genome Research at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. The two will explain how their discoveries in stem cell research and technology have the potential to affect medical advances worldwide. On April 2, 7:30 p.m. in Ted Mann Concert Hall on the West Bank, Jane Kirtley, director of the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication's Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, and Brian Lamb, CEO and creator and of C-SPAN, will discuss the ethical responsibilities and legal rights of the mass media in a democratic society. Tickets are $25. Discounts are available for faculty, staff, students, and alumni association members. For more information, call 612-624-2345.
UMD will host a conference on "Cultural and Global Perspectives on Terrorism" Friday, April 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Tweed Museum and Kirby Rafters in Duluth. Topics include: "Global Capitalism and Growing Inequality," "Can Religion Help Resolve the Current Crisis?," and "Understanding the Roots of Muslim Resentment." The conference is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Arshira Khan at akhan@d.umn.edu or 218-726-8624.
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LINKS
Hey, Sports Fans! Check out sports news and schedules of the U's teams:
Gophers
Duluth Bulldogs
Morris Cougars
Crookston Golden Eagles
Campaign Minnesota: Learn more about this fund-raising effort to build excellence in every corner of the U.
University of Minnesota Alumni Association: Your membership makes a difference.
U of M Legislative Network: Read about the University's legislative request and how you can help.
University of Minnesota Systemwide Home Page
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