Helping to make the U more accessible
Last year, the University of Minnesota introduced a new scholarship program for incoming first-year students from low-income families. Today, the Founders Opportunity Program extends to transfer students and helps about 175 students with tuition and fees.

World-class short track speed skaters compete at Mariucci
Many of the best speed skaters in the world go head to head in the 2006 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships from Friday, March 31, through Sunday, April 2, at Mariucci Arena on the Twin Cities campus.

Next wave of Transforming the U recommendations
Preliminary recommendations from 10 more strategic positioning task forces formed as part of the University of Minnesota's ongoing initiative to transform the U into one of the top three public research universities in the world have been submitted.

Trails of tiny particles leave physicists beaming
They're so small they can sail straight through the Earth or sun without hitting anything. Known as neutrinos (Italian for "little neutral ones"), the subatomic particles may well have helped shape the universe. They are under intense investigation by physicists, and the University plays a key role in the most precise experiment to capture their essence.

Globe-trotting at the U
As the University of Minnesota continues to carve out its niche as one of the great universities in the world, helping its community become worldlier takes on even greater importance. At the U's recent Training for Global Understanding workshop, "Around the World in 120 minutes," five international and multicultural students offered insight into their cultures and living in the United States.

More than a walk around the track
In 2005, more than 60 teams participated in the Relay for Life of the University of Minnesota, and $105,000 was raised for cancer-related research, programs, and services. This year's event, which runs from 7 p.m. April 21, to 7 a.m. April 22, will again see participants camping out in the Field House and enjoying a party-like atmosphere. The registration deadline is Friday, March 31.

Events at U to examine Darfur genocide
More than 200,000 people have been raped, killed, or driven from their homes in the Darfur region of Sudan. Two upcoming events at the U will help bring attention to what the United Nations calls the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world.

Walk on the wild side
About 30 students spent their spring break learning how to handle black bears and wolves as part of a course. Held at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, the course is a rare chance for students to get hands-on experience with large animals for credit.

Musty archives shed light on democracies at war
Just as his book on military service and the rights of citizenship is published, assistant professor Ron Krebs is embarking on an even more ambitious project. A two-year professorship for young faculty members engaged in critical research will help to make it possible.

Proposed deal with state would increase funding for stadium
The University of Minnesota's quest to build a new on-campus football stadium moved forward March 27 when the Board of Regents approved a new plan that would provide more state money for a stadium in exchange for a parcel of University-owned land at UMore Park being set aside for a state-owned nature preserve.

Women skaters fall just short of three-peat
On the same weekend the University of Minnesota men's hockey team suffered an improbable loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament to unheralded Holy Cross, the Gophers women's hockey team came within a game of winning a third straight national title Sunday at Mariucci Arena.

Built for success
Building regular housing and subsidizing it is a very expensive approach to addressing affordable housing, says U professor Ann Forsyth. On Tuesday, March 28, Forsyth and Harvard University community development expert Nicolas P. Retsinas will examine the meaning of well-designed, sustainable, and affordable housing and discuss what the U and others are doing to meet the demand for low-cost homes, in the Great Conversations' "The Future of Affordable Housing."

Where fish are biting, and more
Minnesota has 158 fish species, 5,500 fishable lakes, and 15,000 miles of angler-friendly rivers and streams. On April 1 at "Classes Without Quizzes," U fisheries expert Ray Newman will share the science behind our plentiful fishing communities and tricks to keep fish on the end of your line. Since 2002, the half-day Classes Without Quizzes has given more than 600 people the latest scoop on U research in agriculture, food, and the environment.

Taking a byte out of mountains of data
The library was packed, and it wasn't even finals week. Close to 200 people from the University and industry attended an open house Thursday at the Digital Technology Center in Walter Library, Twin Cities campus, to tackle the problem of how scientists, businesses, governments, and other entities can "mine" mountains of data for nuggets of usable information.

Understanding unemployment
With the help of U professor Connie Wanberg, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is now more knowledgeable about the people it serves through unemployment claims. Unemployment insurance and workplace retraining programs cost Minnesota and its taxpayers millions of dollars annually.

U of M survey finds consumers willing to pay more to protect against terrorism
A new study released by University researchers shows that, on average, Americans are willing to spend more of their tax dollars to prevent another terrorist act, especially one involving the country's food supply.

A peek at the Arab world
The conflict that rages in the Israel-Palestine region is among the topics tackled in one of the free films appearing in "Cinema and Society in the Arab World," a symposium taking place from March 24 to 26 on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. U researchers and filmmakers are among those who will discuss the history, politics, and art of more than 100 years of Arab cinema.

The Civil Service Committee wants you
Civil service representatives are now being sought to serve on the CSC and in the U Senate beginning July 1, 2006. Deadlines to apply are March 31 (priority) and April 7 (final) for the CSC and April 14 for the senate.

Home by the U
In 2005, the U launched the Wellness and Work/Life initiatives to promote better health and well being among its employees and their families. Programs this year include workshops on financing a home and the benefits of living close to campus.

Spring into action
It's not too late to spring into action with Health Connections, a new approach to wellness. Two U employees talk about their experiences with the UPlan Wellness assessment.

Undergraduates give U high marks on surveys
Students are increasingly satisfied with their experiences at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, according to data presented to the Board of Regents at its March meeting.

Nabbing the thief of memory
The onset of Alzheimer's disease is hard to detect, because normal aging also involves some degree of memory impairment. In a new study, University professor Karen Ashe and her colleagues have found a peculiar form of a protein that may be responsible for subtle changes in brain function that precede the onset of the disease. The protein, known as amyloid-beta or A beta, forms the deposits known as amyloid plaques that are found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. It could become a target for future therapies to prevent the devastation the disease causes.

Forces of nature
The scope of recent natural disasters has shocked even the scientists and engineers most familiar with nature's destructive powers. For many researchers at the University of Minnesota, the events also fortified their resolve to find better ways to manage disasters, improve infrastructures, and save lives.

Lighting up in India
Researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health have found that children in India smoke more tobacco at a younger age, which could indicate a new wave of tobacco use in developing countries. Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world, reports the World Health Organization, and is currently responsible for the death of 1 in 10 adults worldwide or about 5 million deaths each year.

Building humanity through architecture
Designing a storage shed for victims of Hurricane Katrina is one example of the humanitarian architecture projects undertaken by College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture students this semester.

Health care: public pipes in
Do you have an opinion or a concern about health care policies in the United States? If so, join others across the nation in the satellite-linked discussion, "What is Your Health Worth? A National Conversation on Health Care." The free event will take place on Wednesday, March 22, on the Twin Cities campus and at 22 other sites nationwide. Highlights from the conversation will be sent to President Bush.

Blogger transit diary wins public relations award for the U
Blog-speak and a playful creative spin helped U-Pass bus card sales to soar in fall 2005 and also won a public relations award for a U department's marketing team.

Helping plants grow and gardens flourish
When Sue Gooch moved from California to Minnesota, little did she know she would end up sharing gardening tips with more than 375,000 households in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. Gooch is host of "Prairie Yard and Garden," a show produced at the University of Minnesota, Morris, that's ranked the sixth most popular program on Pioneer Public Television out of its 200 regularly scheduled programs.

Regents approve biomedical initiative to move the U among the top 3 public research universities
At the March 10 Board of Regents meeting, the U unveiled an innovative plan to help advance crucial biomedical research, including a request for $330 million in state bonds to construct facilities. It also heard from Morris and Crookston and honored top U faculty, among other business.

Clearing the hurdles
Many students like Christina Fairbanks soon will enjoy better opportunities at the U, thanks to a recent gift from the William W. and Nadine M. McGuire Family Foundation. The gift provides nearly $4 million for scholarships at the University and for advising and mentoring programs to help students succeed.

Beyond teeth-on-a-stick
More. Faster. Better--that's the kind of training School of Dentistry students will receive when a new Simulation Clinic debuts in 2007. Thanks to a $1 million gift from 3M Foundation, the school is well on its way toward raising the $10.5 million it will take to eclipse its competition.

Incentive to give
Just two years ago, the University made raising new gifts for scholarships and fellowships a priority. Nearly 36,000 alumni and friends stepped forward, and by the end of January 2006, a remarkable $111 million had been raised through the scholarship drive, toward a goal of $150 million. And the drive is going strong.

Watching wolves
It's not every day biologists get to watch an ecosystem over a long time period. But during the past 10 years, graduate students in the College of Natural Resources have had just such an opportunity as they've studied the restoration of the gray wolf to Yellowstone National Park. Now, a Colorado philanthropist is making it possible to continue this important work with a $1.4 million contribution to the University of Minnesota and the Yellowstone Park Foundation.

Building the future
Learning communities will be a signature feature of the student experience in General College's successor department in the College of Education and Human Development. Last fall, 18 first-year students took part in a learning community taught by two professors, who linked their courses with a Habitat for Humanity service project.

Digging deeper pays off
In 1963, Donald Baker, a professor of soil, water and climate, placed temperature sensors at three depths in soil on the St. Paul campus. Even at 42 feet, the data show a steady warming of soil over the last three decades. The findings helped convince Baker that global warming is real and set the standard for long-term temperature monitoring. Baker also performed studies that led to wind turbines being installed at Buffalo Ridge and in a demonstration project in Morris.

Another sweet accomplishment
The Honeycrisp apple, developed by University of Minnesota researchers and introduced to the public in 1991, has recently been named one of "25 Innovations That Changed the World."

Zippies at the U
Those people on campus in need of fast, affordable transportation now have alternative to public transportation: Zipcar, a car rental program available to University faculty, staff, and students, is here.

Moving toward the top-three
According to schedule, 11 of 34 task forces working toward transforming the U into a top-three public research university submitted their revised recommendations on February 3.

Get connected, spring 2006
News from the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) for spring 2006.

Saving the past
Students from the University's College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (CALA) are working with UNESCO to help save Icheri Scheher, and ancient city in Azerbaijan that came into its glory in the 12th century.

More than chitchat
Since 2002, nearly 15,000 Minnesotans have attended the College of Continuing Education's Great Conversation series. The living room-like tête-à-tête mesmerizes as a University faculty expert and his or her visionary or inspiring guest shed light on a timely issue.

Book reviews spring 2006
Three books by people with connections to the U.

Watering your houseplants
No two plants are alike. Some need only a sip of water, others a big gulp. So how do you know when and how often to water your plants? Here are some tips from Prairie Yard and Garden, a public television program produced at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Libraries for a new generation
Today's students may be computer savvy, but they often don't know good information from bad. The U libraries are trying to help them be "information literate" while respecting their style.

Growing hope
Before the 1960s, fewer than half the people with cystic fibrosis lived to be more than 3 years old. However, since then, University of Minnesota doctors have been able to extend life for those with the hereditary disease. Cystic fibrosis, the most common type of lung disease in children and young adults, causes mucus that can attain a texture somewhere between Silly Putty and peanut butter and impair lung function.

Letters to the editor
Letters sent to the editor of M involving articles from the winter 2006 issue.

Looks like a home, feels like a home
Many people have a stigma concerning long-term care in America. Elderly people rarely want to be fostered in a nursing home, while few of their relatives want to visit them in such an environment. Now, however, a new alternative to traditional nursing homes has provided seniors with another choice.

U hopes for good bonding experience with legislature
During this spring's legislative session, the University has requested $206.1 million from Minnesota's bonding bill. The majority of the request will go towards building upkeep, while the rest of it will be used to erect two new buildings and make additions to both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses' business schools.

Partnership produces festival
Through Sunday, March 12, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the University of Minnesota School of Music are cohosting the first Contemporary Composers Festival. The event is one of many initiatives resulting from the partnership established in 2005 between the orchestra and the school. This year's festival honors Elliot Carter, who will receive an honorary degree from the U.

Clipping the wings of bird flu
Microbiologist and UMD graduate Terrence Tumpey has helped recover the 1918 flu virus which caused an epidemic that some experts believe took the lives of nearly 50 million people. Using this as a starting point, Tumpey and others hope to discover a vaccine to prevent another catastrophic flu outbreak.

Felons on the fringe
Should states deny people convicted of felonies the right to vote? In some, including Florida, felons lose the right forever. University sociologist Christopher Uggen argues in a new book that punitive disenfranchisement can interfere with the reintegration of former criminals into society, dilute the voting power of ethnic groups, and even swing elections.

U Reads 2006: 10 more books
Since 2002, the U's College of Continuing Education U Reads program has invited University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students to recommend a favorite or unforgettable book. With suggestions in hand, it then produces the U Reads list--10 titles that have the ability to inspire people across the University to pick up books they might not otherwise read.

Newfound genetic mutation may have afflicted Lincoln
University researchers have located the gene that causes a specific type of ataxia, a degenerative disease that affects approximately 1 in 17,000 people, including several of Abraham Lincoln's descendents.

Living close to campus
Faculty and staff can save time and money and get a healthy boost by living close enough to work that they can walk or bike. Architecture faculty member Ann Forsyth will give a free workshop about great places to live close to campus.

Puckett Scholars remember Twins legend
A scholarship program created by the late Kirby Puckett and Tonya Puckett in 1994 will be a lasting legacy from a Minnesota legend to those who receive the scholarship. Since the program started, there have been 45 Puckett Scholar recipients. Minnesota Twins player Kirby Puckett died Monday after suffering a stroke in Arizona.

30 years of hope
In 1975, David Stahl was diagnosed with lymphoma. He was 16, and back then, the word "cancer" spelled death, he says. Fortunately for Stahl, a certain doctor named John Kersey came into the picture. Kersey, who founded the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, gave Stahl his life back with the world's first bone marrow transplant to treat lymphoma.

Review of a mini-conference on the role of student evaluations
How relevant are student evaluations in the practice of teaching? National consultant Raoul Arreola shared his expertise with about 300 faculty and staff members in a campus mini-conference February 23.

Changes coming on sick and bereavement leave policies for P&A employees
CAPA gives an update on its work with the Office of Human Resources toward clarifying policies related to sick and bereavement policies for U of M academic professionals and administrators.

Owls on the move
Owls and why they invaded northern Minnesota in winter 2004-05 are topics of the day at the March 17-19 "Owls On The Move: When, Where and Why" symposium at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Village lights
When University of Minnesota electrical engineering student Patrick Delaney visited people living in a mountainous region in Nicaragua, he found that many of them were getting their light from kerosene-filled soda bottles. Today, Delaney has joined with peers from the U and universities in Nicaragua and Calgary to find a way to get a different kind of light to the people in this remote area.

Bruininks delivers State of the U
The pursuit of a new degree of excellence at the University of Minnesota is already yielding results, and is in the best interest of the state and its economy, President Bob Bruininks said March 2 in his annual State of the U address, which was held for the first time on the University's Morris campus.

Thinking inside the box
The Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, has designed a bio-based containerized house that can be assembled in hours in disaster areas or wherever quick, reliable housing is needed.

Envisioning something big
Charles Casey will be inaugurated as the fourth chancellor of the Crookston campus on March 3. The former veterinarian, U regent, and extension service dean and director talks about northwestern Minnesota and his optimism about UMC.

Revamped U of M bookstore turns three
At 46,000 square feet, the University of Minnesota Bookstores in Coffman Union is the largest independent college bookstore in the region and one of the largest in the United States. The bookstore, which sells everything from lip balm to leather executive desk chairs (with sweater-clad Goldy on the headrest), opened March 3, 2003.

Centers for the artist
A new study from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, "Artists' Centers: Evolution and Impact on Artists, Neighborhoods, and Economies," shows that Minnesota's strong creative economy owes much of its success to the unusual number and quality of dedicated gathering spaces for artists in the state. Minnesota is home to dozens of artists' centers that provide workspace, equipment, and networking opportunities for amateur and professional writers, musicians, and visual and performing artists.

Bruininks signs organ donor card
President Bob Bruininks teamed up with pioneering U transplant surgeon John Najarian and former Gopher football great Keith Fahnhorst on February 23 to call attention to the importance of organ donation.

Oat hulls approved for University steam plant
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has given the University the green light to burn oat hulls at its Southeast Steam Plant. The University could save an estimated $2 million a year, or about 10 percent, on heating the Twin Cities campus by supplementing its fuel mix with oat hulls.

Celebrating 155 years
The University is 155 years old on Saturday and it's celebrating the founding vision by giving away buttons on the Twin Cities campus and by announcing an expanded scholarship to help Minnesota students.

Water will not wait
With surges in populations, global warming, and industrial activity around the world, the abundance and availability of clean fresh water is dwindling. At 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday, February 28, University water researcher Deborah Swackhamer will hold the first of the 2006 Great Conversations, with renowned Canadian water researcher David Schindler, to talk about the situation and what can be done. They will meet in Ted Mann Concert Hall on the Twin Cities campus.

Organize those records
For some people, tax season spells fear. It means having to frantically dig through drawers, pockets, and glove compartments for months-old documents and receipts. University of Minnesota Extension Service educator Glenice Johnson has some tips for creating an organized record-keeping system.

How self-esteem impacts business
In psychology, self-esteem or self-worth includes a person's subjective appraisal of himself or herself. U professor Kathleen Vohs is applying her understanding of psychological science and her research on self-esteem to business issues in order to advance new areas of marketing research.

U to help improve history education in St. Paul schools
A grant from the U.S. Department of Education will enable the University's history faculty to join with St. Paul Public Schools, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the Minnesota Department of Education to help improve the way history is taught to middle and high school students.

U researcher reverses diabetes in monkeys
University researchers have used transplants of insulin-producing islet cells from pigs to reverse diabetes in monkeys. The work suggests that pigs hold potential as islet sources for tens of thousands of people with hard-to-manage diabetes.

SPARK again, this weekend
British sound artist Robin Rimbaud, aka DJ Scanner, will spin his brand of music and talk about the technology behind his work at the U's fourth annual SPARK Festival of electronic music, February 21-26. A host of other performers, including U students and faculty, will also give lectures and play to crowds during the event.

On this day in history
U Founders Day is February 25. This year, the U celebrates 155 years since the signing of its charter during a February thaw in 1851. It has also renewed the founders' commitment to access to all Minnesotans through an expanded scholarship program.

Engineering a better world
More than 30 Institute of Technology engineering students have come together to form Engineers Without Borders-University of Minnesota. The group is the first Minnesota chapter of Engineers Without Borders-USA, which links engineering students and professionals nationwide with developing communities around the world.

UMM students visit India
During winter break, professor Pareena Lawrence played tour guide to 21 U students. Her study abroad course, which examines the effects of globalization on the people in her homeland, India, was the first offered by the University of Minnesota, Morris, to the South Asian country.

Building a financial system for a great university
The new U-wide Enterprise Financial System (EFS) is adding grants, projects, and contracts to its scope pending approval by the Board of Regents--resetting the rollout date to 2008. Project leaders and others talk about how EFS will support U goals, the key role of initiators (almost everybody), financial competencies, and the current phase of the project.

Why Jell-O jiggles and other mysteries, explained
As a young chemistry student, Christy Haynes was frustrated when friends asked her to explain everyday phenomena. Now an assistant professor in her first year at the University, she opens her students' eyes to the marvels of chemistry that allow them to enjoy a chocolate bar, superglue things together, entertain a cat with catnip--come to think of it, do practically anything.

U mathematician offers dose of reality for chances of winning Powerball
Before you buy that Powerball ticket, Doug Arnold, director of the University of Minnesota's Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications, has some sobering information for you. "You have a seven times higher chance of being killed in a car accident if you drive one mile to the store for a ticket and one mile back home than you do of winning this Powerball jackpot," Arnold says.

Eleven task forces submit revised Transforming the U recommendations
The first 11 of 34 task forces working to transform the University of Minnesota into one of the top three public research universities in the world have submitted their revised recommendations.

Planning and politics of epidemics
A conference today at the Minneapolis Convention Center will help businesses deal with a possible influenza pandemic. A second conference tomorrow and Friday in Nolte Center on the Twin Cities campus will examine the social and political forces at work during previous epidemics with an eye to preventing discrimination against the most vulnerable people in society.

Student project could cut St. Paul water complaints
St. Paul city water managers have tried for years to find a way of controlling geosmin, a chemical produced by algae that contributes to the musty taste and odor of water. With the help of a civil engineering graduate student and his faculty advisers, they've finally found a solution.

Lesher sworn in as U regent
Xcel executive Cynthia Lesher was sworn in Friday as the newest member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. After the meeting, the Xcel CEO for North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota spoke about her new responsibilities.

Low-income students get tuition-and-fees guarantee
Under an expansion of the Founders Opportunity Program, the University will now guarantee coverage of tuition and fees for all students from Minnesota who qualify for federal Pell grants. The U will match every Pell grant and provide additional assistance from state, private, and University funds to ease the burden for the majority of students from families earning less than $50,000 a year.

Love in the new millennium
More and more people are using their computers to find love. A U family social science professor will share his latest research at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Jackson Hall on the Twin Cities campus.

The future of affordable housing
Too often, we equate "affordable" with plain or ugly. But it doesn't have to be. Affordable houses, for example, can stand out for being both distinctive in design and friendly to the environment. And this is the future of affordable housing, claims "The HOME House Project" exhibit through April 30 at the Weisman Art Museum.

On romance and context-dependent mating
Valentine's Day is the traditional observance of love among couples. Fond feelings between people bring them together in a mutual relationship of love and respect. Yet according to one University psychologist, this chemistry of attraction might depend more on biology.

Alumnus Norman Borlaug receives National Medal of Science
One of the most honored scientists in the world, University alumnus Norman Borlaug, will receive the National Medal of Science from President Bush Monday. Credited with staving off famine by creating new varieties of wheat, Borlaug is also the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

It's National Pet Dental Health Month
Your dog's or cat's foul breath and yellow-brown teeth are not only unappealing, but they could also indicate serious gum disease. University of Minnesota veterinarian Gary Goldstein has some tips for pet owners.

Going to college while in high school
A new report by the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota analyzes and critiques the first 20 years of the school-choice program in Minnesota.

Remember: turn off the lights
For years, the University of Minnesota has been meticulous about saving energy. And rightly so. The cost of heating its 800 buildings can result in quite a hefty bill. This month, the U has launched a campaign on the Twin Cities campus--complete with a logo and slogan contest--to raise awareness of its energy conservation efforts and to promote greater energy-saving behavior among those in its community.

Ushering in transformational change
As part of the Transforming the U process, the Administrative Service and Productivity Steering Committee released its report on February 6 on how to change the way administrative operations organize, support, and serve the academic enterprise. The committee is inviting comments from the University community through March 6.

Research and travel in the extreme
The work of most people only takes them to office buildings, restaurants, or industrial businesses. For several University professors and researchers, work takes them much farther. The Bell Museum has started "Fire and Ice: Extreme Adventures from the Arctic to the Equator," a lecture series dedicated to those University researchers whose work carries them to exotic and often harsh locales.

Bulldog, Gopher hockey players well represented at Olympics
When the XX Winter Olympics kicks off February 10 in Torino, Italy, several current and former Minnesota athletes will be vying for hockey gold. Sixteen players with ties to both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses, representing six different countries, will be contending in both the men's and women's competitions.

Wave 1 colleges collaborating to create a future in common
Academic professional and administrators from three colleges that will come together in a new college July 1 have begun meeting to plan for their future together.

Eyeing a virtual cure for anxiety disorders
Confronting your fears can help you get rid of them, but if you're afraid of things like flying, public speaking, or storms, you can't just go out and experience them several times a day. Unless, that is, you face your fears with virtual reality simulations like the ones at the Fairview-University Anxiety Disorders Clinic.

Cities within U walls
Real and imaginary cities come to life in the U's Katherine E. Nash Gallery thanks to 10 jaw-dropping creative sculptors, photographers, and painters. Cities runs through February 16, with a discussion to define the meaning of a city on February 9.

Medieval Studies scholars bind schoolchildren for a spell
Two scholars from the U's Center for Medieval Studies (CMS) visited Randolph Heights School in St. Paul on Wednesday as part of an outreach project to teach elementary students about the invention of the bound book in the Middle Ages. Through the program, costumed scholars from CMS present a history on the evolution of books, and the students are later given the chance to create their own books using vellum, quills, gold leaf, and ink donated to the program.

U researchers test pill for gambling addiction
University researchers may have found a way to bring relief to compulsive gamblers. An experimental medication has proven to be effective in curbing gambling urges and behaviors.

Groundhog Day means we're halfway through this--winter?
The roots of Groundhog Day, February 2, reach way back into European history, to farmers anxious to begin planting their crops. Falling near the start of lambing season, it was a day to anticipate a return to the rhythms of life on the land. Today's tradition of Punxatawney Phil, the unofficial national groundhog prognosticator, is a reminder that one way or another, we all depend on successful growing seasons.

"Neverwinter Nights" in the classroom
University of Minnesota professor Kathleen Hansen and Institute for New Media Studies director Nora Paul are exploring the use of computer games as effective learning tools in the classroom.

King remembered
Since 1980, the U has celebrated the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year is no different. There'll be a free concert featuring the U's African Music Ensemble and student a cappella group 7 DAYS on Sunday, February 5.

Reaching the top three
How will the U know when it has reached its goal of becoming a top-three public research university? Metrics and Measurement Task Force chair Al Sullivan talks about the preliminary report and the value of adopting clear goals and measurements.

Gopher tales from a voice of the U
Ray Christensen was the play-by-play announcer for Golden Gopher football for 50 consecutive seasons and announced Gopher basketball for 45 straight seasons. And his recent book, Gopher Tales: Stories From All Eleven University of Minnesota Men's Sports, will be the topic of discussion at the next gathering of the Friends of Eastcliff Book Club on Thursday, February 2.

Is war necessary?
During much of the 20th century, major wars and the threat of war has impelled the military to generate radical new technologies that have boosted the civilian economy. In his new book, Is War Necessary for Economic Growth?, retired U professor Vernon Ruttan makes the case for a new strategy to jump-start the tradition of radical technological progress.

Music to your eyes
Not content with being one of the nation's top chemists, University professor George Barany has put his passion for puzzles into a New York Times crossword, which appeared in local papers Sunday, January 29.

U kicks off legislative advocacy efforts
On January 25, the U held its annual Legislative Briefing--a gala event designed to educate friends and supporters of the University about the U's legislative request. The event included dinnertime music by the University of Minnesota Alumni Band, a presentation of the U's 2006 Capital Request by President Bob Bruininks--aided by faculty, staff, and student stakeholders--and a touch of symbolic magic (a "burning" dollar bill) by the chair of the Department of Chemistry. (The dollar bill survived intact.)

The voice of experience
When University junior Sythong Somsawat got pregnant after she graduated from high school, her family thought her future was ruined. But Somsawat not only held on to her dream of a college education, she helped found the U's Student Parent Association, a support and advocacy group for young students with children.

Color your plate healthy
When you are planning your next meal, think about what you can do to add color to your plate, says University of Minnesota Extension Service educator Mary Schroeder. The concept is a simple, yet fun way to add fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Inhaling theory and practice
The University of Minnesota's Bachelor of Applied Science degree prepares respiratory care practitioners for an evolving workplace--one that demands professionals with excellent clinical, communication, and administrative skills.

A deep look at shallow ponds
For the past three years, University of Minnesota researchers have been studying wetland pockets, or "prairie potholes," so plant and animal life can continue to flourish on the Great Plains.

UMM receives record number of student applications
The University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM), has received a record number of student applications for its fall 2006 incoming class. This year's number of 885 applicants has already surpassed last year's total at this time by 278, an increase of 46 percent.

Nicholson Hall reopens
Historic Nicholson Hall reopened this month in the heart of the Twin Cities campus emerging humanities district--and a grand reopening celebration will be held this Friday from noon-1:30 p.m. Capital bonding allowed the 1890 landmark to be gutted and rehabilitated with stunning results. Four College of Liberal Arts units have moved in and thousands of students are already taking courses in 903 seats in state-of-the-art classrooms.

Patricia Harvey optimistic about the future of University, PreK-12 partnership
Collaboration needs to be the name of the game when it comes to the University's work with the Twin Cities PreK-12 community, according to preliminary recommendations from a U task force. Bringing together researchers and practitioners as equal partners around common problems is one of the ways the University can help shape the direction of education in Minnesota.

No car? No problem
The University of Minnesota is hosting six Zipcars on its Twin Cities campus. The cars are part of a by-the-hour or day car-sharing program that will give U students, employees, and neighborhood residents--especially those who ride the bus or don't own a car--wheels when they want them.

Homemade instruments
Students at the University of Minnesota, Morris, build musical instruments out of salvaged goods from the home and office while learning about the science behind sound and music.

Carlson School survey highlights economic impact of alumni
The Carlson School of Management last week released survey results demonstrating the school's economic impact on the state. Of those surveyed, Carlson School alumni have founded more than 1,800 Minnesota-based businesses that employ more than 110,000 people and generate annual revenues of $21.2 billion.

A few bad men (and women, too)
Shaken by a series of high-profile corporate accounting scandals, we're now more wary of where we invest our savings. Can we tell if a company is a target for white-collar crime? Yes, says U professor Karen Schnatterly. The likelihood of corporate malfeasance can be determined by how a company handles three things: written policies, internal communications, and employee compensation.

Academic professionals get proactive
Representatives of academic and professional staff at eight universities, including four from the U of M, reported progress on vacation carry-over, tuition benefits, and domestic-partner benefits at their annual meeting. They also moved ahead to assess performance and compensation/advancement reviews and to ensure the group's future.

Keillor and gang at the U
"...where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average..." This winter, U alum and radio personality Garrison Keillor will host "A Prairie Home Companion" from the Twin Cities and Morris campuses.

Physicist awaits his piece of Stardust
The University's Bob Pepin has always been fascinated by ideas about how our solar system formed. Since NASA's Stardust mission returned the first samples of material from a comet and interstellar dust January 15, the physics professor has been eagerly awaiting a chance to unearth some of the secrets these particles have carried for billions of years.

Bringing the University Libraries to every citizen
Thanks to a highly successful program called MINITEX, University of Minnesota Libraries sends out more information to people in the Midwest and around the world than any other research library in North America. Last year, 65 percent of those loans were to people in Minnesota--everyone from eighth graders working on science fair projects to college professors developing scholarly articles.

Salt damage on plants
Winter is the season for ice fishing, snowball fights, and snuggling up by the fireplace. But it's also the time when salt reigns. Without it, driving is a pain. With it, though, your plants may die. U plant pathologist Janna Beckerman offers tips on how to diagnose and prevent plant damage.

Smart cookies
It's that time of the year again for Thin Mints and Caramel deLites. Girl Scouts will be taking cookie orders beginning this Saturday, January 14. Last year, a group of Carlson School students helped a Twin Cities-area Girl Scouts chapter get to the bottom of a perplexing cookie problem.

UMM alum Gildea named associate justice
Governor Tim Pawlenty has appointed Lorie Gildea, a 1983 alumna of University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM), as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court--a role that will provide her a new opportunity to share her judicial talents with the people of her home state.

Wildlife in war zones
People aren't the only victims of war. In countries wracked by conflict, wildlife and the ecosystems that support them may also take a beating. Nicole Benjamin-Fink, a graduate student in conservation biology, is researching ways her native Israel and other war-torn countries can build protections into their national policies.

UPlan Wellness introduces Health Connections
UPlan Wellness introduces Health Connections, a multi-year, multi-faceted approach to wellness that offers University faculty and staff a financial reward for health improvement.

Falling for physics
Members of the Physics Force go to great lengths, even dropping 20 feet while being shot at by a cannon, to demonstrate the laws of physics to delighted audiences. This week they perform their annual free public show Thursday at 7 p.m. in Northrop Auditorium. They'll also perform every morning for thousands of school-age children.

Rebellious youth
Reports of the death of youth activism have been greatly exaggerated. Not only is it alive and well, but its earnestness, purpose, and breadth make it feel like the revolutionary Sixties finally come of age. Two young activists speak of their struggle.

Let there be light
About 30 new 12-foot-tall street lamps are lighting the way on dark nights for University of Minnesota students living in the Marcy-Holmes and Como neighborhoods. The lights were installed following safety concerns expressed by students and other neighborhood residents.

Kick wax time
Designed by U professor Mel Baughman, the Lone Rock Trail in Rosemount offers 11 miles of cross-country skiing through woodland and agricultural land. And if you're quiet enough, you just might spot a coyote or fox.

A new angle on an old fishing record
This is the story of a really large muskie caught 56 years ago in Wisconsin that was a world's record, then wasn't, then was again. The hallowed record's authenticity is currently being debated, and the University's Doug Arnold has weighed in with some mathematical analysis using projective geometry. Fear not; this geometry lesson is easy.

Designing a new vaccine
Each year, up to 60 percent of the world's population is infected by the parasite, E. histolytica, and 100,000 of these people die of amebiasis, the disease that results from the infection. But a solution is in the works. Two University of Minnesota researchers are developing a vaccine to prevent amebiasis.

Life and learning in the digital age
The difference between analog and digital can be as basic as how to tell time--what does "counterclockwise" mean to a Millennial student, for example? But that difference can also demand very different learning and teaching approaches for the five generations of faculty, staff, and students now on the U campus.

Art of the wild
A certain energy pulses through the works of the late Walter Anderson, who depicted the natural world in kinetic lines and vibrant hues. The Bell Museum is now displaying works by the Mississippi-based artist, who lived a life as much at the mercy of nature as many of his subjects.

U football legends named honorary fundraising co-chairs
The University of Minnesota announced yesterday that Gopher football greats Richard "Pinky" McNamara and Murray Warmath will serve as honorary co-chairs of the "Back to Campus" football stadium fundraising campaign. McNamara is also making a $1.25 million gift to the campaign.

E85 fuels U vehicles
The University of Minnesota was recently named a "MnGreat" and listed among the 100 Best Fleets in North America for its use and promotion of E85. The U has 71 flexible-fuel vehicles and two E85-equipped fueling stations, which serve up a whopping 20,000 gallons of ethanol-based fuel a year.

It's a small world
University of Minnesota researchers are taking nanotechnology beyond improving computer chips and building better golf clubs. They're taking it into our bodies, in hopes of preventing, treating, and curing a plethora of diseases.

Bowl-bound Gophers visit children at hospital
About two dozen Gopher football players brought some smiles last week with their visit to University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview. This week the Gophers are in Nashville preparing for their bowl game against Virginia on Friday, December 30.

Tiny crystals, huge delights
The rare, beautiful pillars of light that appeared in our area December 3 are just one of several phenomena caused by tiny atmospheric ice crystals. Sundogs, sun pillars, and halos also arise from such crystals, but which pheonomena we see depends on the size, location, and orientation of the crystals.

Stadium sponsorship agreement with TCF extended
TCF Financial Corp. and the University of Minnesota announced on December 22 that they have extended the $35 million agreement to name the University's proposed new on-campus football stadium TCF Bank Stadium. The original agreement was set to expire December 31, 2005, and will now be extended to June 30, 2006.

Hollywood blockbuster apes African stories of old
While King Kong is certainly the most famous damsel-abducting great ape around, a University of Minnesota associate professor has uncovered a whole band of gorilla-related abduction stories in Central Africa, some dating back 150 years or more.

UMD alum resurrects and studies killer flu virus
The possibility of an avian flu pandemic has been a hot topic in the news for much of the past year. And Terrence Tumpey, a University of Minnesota, Duluth, biology graduate and senior microbiologist at the Influenza Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is at the forefront of research on the avian flu.

Book of Kells fascinates and delights
So richly and intricately illustrated is the Medieval Book of Kells that even cold-eyed scholars marvel that it was produced by monks, not angels. Designs in the book, a manuscript of the four gospels, ravish the eye with their colors, imagination and sheer perfection. Andersen Library's rare books collection has a viewing copy for anyone prepared to be dazzled.

Scholarships open the door
The Promise of Tomorrow Scholarship Drive was launched in part to help cut down on the hours that students need to work outside of class, and helping them succeed while they're at the U. Here are the stories of two beneficiaries.

3M grant supports diversity in engineering
Faced with a nationwide shortage of engineers, 3M and the U are intensifying programs to increase the number of engineering students and foster more diversity.

Kresge funds green design
Thanks to a planning grant from the Kresge Foundation's Green Building Initiative, the Bell Museum's hoped-for new facility, now in the design phase, will incorporate sustainable building design (or green building), adding dimension to the Bell's mission to deepen understanding of the natural world.

A wake-up call for the U
Vice president for research Tim Mulcahy reported to the regents on the University's ability to compete for federal grant money. His report showed the magnitude of effort needed to become one of the top three public research universities.

Germ hunters go to prison
Find out what University of Minnesota researchers have learned about bacteria and virus survival in alternative wastewater treatment systems.

A gift springs from this water
Every time you buy a 20-ounce bottle of Holiday Pantry Natural Spring Water, the University of Minnesota Cancer Center's coffers grow by a nickel.

The Graduate School is 100
The Graduate School's centennial in 2005 has been worth marking for a look back and, more importantly, for envisioning the future. What will the next 100 years of graduate education be like? New dean and vice provost Gail Dubrow is shaping an administrative plan and an intellectual agenda.

Community input wanted on transforming the U
On Friday, December 16, 11 of the 34 task forces released their preliminary recommendations on how the University can transform itself into one of the top three public research universities in the world within a decade. Now they want to hear what people think about them before they become final recommendations.

Committed to elders
Now pursuing a Ph.D. in social work, Rajean Moone has received the first Shelley Joseph-Kordell Scholarship, given to a student committed to working with seniors.

An energizing collaboration
Norway's Crown Prince Haakon traveled to Minnesota in October to make a gift: $750,000 from the Norwegian government to the University of Minnesota to help fund the Norwegian Centennial Interdisciplinary Chair in genomics and renewable biofuels. The award coincided with the 100th anniversary of Norway's split from Sweden.

Get connected, winter 2006
A compendium of events and opportunities for alumni of the University of Minnesota.

A good judge of character
The honorable Diana Murphy (B.A. '54, J.D. '74) has been on the bench for three decades, currently serving for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Singing for their final grade and the Mississippi River
A University of Minnesota class stages poetry readings and performances on the Washington Avenue bridge for their final project and to raise funds for Mississippi River.

Fortune far from outrageous
At age 23, Santino Fontana has been tapped for the title role in the Guthrie Theater's production of Hamlet, its last before moving to downtown Minneapolis next year. Fontana, who received a BFA from the University in 2004, trained in a University-Guthrie acting program. The prospect of playing the melancholy Dane has him on cloud nine.

Secret student Santas
Christmas is coming early at the Ronald McDonald House, but shh... don't tell the children. Today (December 16), several U students will drop off a bundle of secret Santa gifts for the young residents to open on Christmas Eve.

Polymer potential
In a world of diminishing oil reserves and burgeoning plastics that don't decompose, biologically derived polymers hold great promise. At the University of Minnesota, researchers are working to develop versatile and affordable bio-based plastics.

Letters to the Editor, winter 2006
Letters in response to M, fall 2005

All-nighters, senioritis, and apple crisp for dinner
Follow the thoughts and activities of Adrienne Baker, a University of Minnesota senior, through her online blog.

New alumni chapter in China
In November, University president Bob Bruininks led the education section of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's 200-plus Minnesota delegation to China. While there, he and other U representatives attended the opening of the sixth University of Minnesota alumni chapter on mainland China.

Less is better during the holidays
When it comes to the holidays, some people throw all caution to the wind and go overboard with the food, as well as the storytelling. Here, two U experts offer advice on holiday eating and better holiday writing.

Book reviews winter 2006
Three books written by people with connections to the U are reviewed--essays on the Anoka Sand Plain and oak savanna, a trip planner for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness, and an illustrated history of the 100-year-old Minnesota state capitol.

The benefits of going in circles
Since graduating from the U's Infrastructure Systems Engineering (ISE) master's program, a trio of engineers and self-proclaimed roundabout advocates has been working hard to encourage the use of roundabouts throughout Minnesota.

Tag: you're it
If you have a tollway tag or a remote keyless entry device for your car, you're already using radio frequency identification (RFID). The technology is relatively new in retail, but some predict that it could usurp the ubiquitous bar code. U researchers are examining the costs, benefits, and adoption patterns of the latest RFID systems.

Fighting AIDS in South Africa
Several School of Public Health faculty and staff members are serving as advisors on Project Phidisa, a global effort to determine which antiretroviral drugs and treatments are most effective at managing the spread of AIDS and HIV.

Much more than a half-baked idea
The story of how Betty Crocker came to be, and her impact on the way we view cooking and homemaking in America, has been revealed in a new book, Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food, by College of Continuing Education alumnus Susan Marks. A playful biography and fascinating cultural history, the book actually evolved from Marks' master's thesis on the same subject.

Preparing for change
The CAPA Fall Forum brought a human resources presentation, "The Impact of Strategic Positioning on Employment," prepared for "first-wave" colleges by Carol Carrier and Rosie Barry, to P&A staff systemwide.

Leading the transformation
The Transformational Leadership Project, an innovative partnership of 3M and the U, is preparing 22 U staff members to help make recommended changes into reality.

PG-2006: Parental Guidance Accepted
Since the late 1990s, parents have been increasingly invoved with their children who are in college. A host of factors are influencing this trend, including college students giving more respect to their parents' advice.

Applications to the U up 30 percent
The University projects that it will receive approximately 23,500 applications for the freshman class of 2006-07, making it the fourth straight record year for freshman applications.

Food for thought, rethought
Chunkier students may be one result of middle school practices that encourage consumption of junk food and drinks, says a new University study. To turn the situation around, parents and administrators must rethink why such practices are allowed.

Fresh perspectives in cybernetics
Three University women are not only developing robotics, they are changing the way that the field is perceived by others. Typically thought of as being dominated by males, these graduate students have taught children in the community that robotics is for everyone.

Art from Russia's Silver Age
"Mir Iskusstva: Russian's Age of Elegance" runs through January 8, 2006 at the Weisman Art Museum on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. The Weisman is only one of three museums in the United States to host this exhibit, which features paintings that have never set foot on American soil.

When religion and medicine collide
Jole Shackelford sees nothing contradictory about being a science scholar called to research religious history. A 2006 Fulbright grant to Norway will allow him to search for clues about two 17th-century physicians who engaged in unorthodox practices.

Many ways to heal
To celebrate its 10-year anniversary and a new program called the Purpose Project aimed at aging boomers, the U's Center for Spirituality & Healing will host health and wellness expert and Harvard-trained physician Andrew Weil at St. Paul's Fitzgerald Theater on Thursday, December 8.

Madeleine Albright at the U
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will join Humphrey Institute Senior Fellow Vin Weber for a policy discussion on democracy in the Middle East from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, December 8, at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

McNamara steps down, but his legacy continues
As a member of the Board of Regents, Richard "Pinky" McNamara served the University of Minnesota for four years. But as a student-athlete, benefactor, University of Minnesota Foundation board member, and all-around champion of U causes, his service to the U and legacy of giving span more than a half century.

Survey to show alumni connections and impact
This winter, the U is conducting a major survey to measure how its alumni contribute to the state and the world. The findings will add to that culled from the recent Carlson School of Management and the Institute of Technology alumni surveys.

Career reflections at year end
The end of one year and beginning of the next can be the ideal time to reflect on where your career is going and think about how to take it where you want to go. Rosie Barry provides resources.

Lineman shares love of reading
Erasmus James, a Minnesota Vikings 2005 first-round draft pick and starting defensive lineman, signed autographs at a local Cub Foods store to encourage reading and book donations to General College's African American Read-In literacy initiative.

Catching the wind
Natural gas prices have soared, the Arctic is melting, and winters are losing their bite. The 2005 research symposium of the University's Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment showcased work toward making the state and nation less dependent on foreign oil and issued a call to arms to address the problem before it gets any worse.

Are cities for the birds? Yes and no.
Ever wondered why we see so many pigeons and crows and so few brilliantly colored warblers in urban back yards? University researcher Robert Blair explains some of the factors that keep certain birds from making a home in the city.

More holiday gift ideas from the U
Are you still searching for a gift--perhaps even an unusual or unique gift--for that special someone this holiday season? Check out these varied options with a University of Minnesota flavor.

Evidence at last for the mysterious disappearance of the herons
For years, the disappearance of herons at Lake Peltier in Lino Lakes has mystified the scientists trying to save them. In response to scientific and public concern, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources funded a study conducted by a University of Minnesota graduate student and professor. Their investigation, conducted over the past two nesting seasons, has revealed a shocking clue that may help explain why the beleaguered birds have been forced to flee.

Narrowing the achievement gap
A partnership between the College of Education and Human Development and the Twin Cities chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha--a national black fraternity--has found a concrete way to help students traditionally challenged by standardized tests improve ACT and SAT scores.

Microbiology's niche in farm country
From people to cows... that's how Timna Wyckoff's focus has changed. The University of Minnesota, Morris, professor is studying bacterial antibiotic resistance in conventional and organic dairy cows. It's a timely topic, considering reports that estimate more than 70 percent of the antibiotics produced each year in the United States are used in livestock production--almost eight times the amount given to humans to treat disease.

Bookwork
When it comes to studying, college students come in all sizes: brilliant slackers and not-so-brilliant slackers, industrious types, incorrigible procrastinators, and those maddeningly perfect ones who study hard and play hard. What really counts is finding what works for you in order to make at least a modest success of your college career.

Residents, research, and rhabdomyolysis
If you've ever gone online to try and diagnose an itchy rash or a disquieting lump, you already know the dizzying amount of information a typical search engine will return. At their renovated Morning Report sessions, residents and medical students at the University's Medical School are getting help narrowing down the information.

Community Fund Drive tops $1 million in giving
The Twin Cities campus annual Community Fund Drive topped $1 million for the third time. Lead volunteers celebrated at Eastcliff November 15.

U student named 2006 Rhodes Scholar
Minnesota resident Diana Xuan Fu, an honors student in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, has been named a 2006 Rhodes Scholar.

His crashes helped make ours less dangerous
Former mechanical engineering professor James J. "Crash" Ryan is one of the great University research pioneers. Among his many achievements, he received a patent for the first retractable seat belt, which is estimated to have saved upwards of 200,000 lives.

U makes gains in faculty and staff diversity
Diversity of University faculty and staff is making steady though modest gains, the regents heard in a report Nov. 10. According to data gathered by the Office of Human Resources in 2004, people of color now make up 14 percent of the faculty, an increase of nearly 50 percent since 1994. Statistics on women and other groups and initiatives and ongoing programs were also part of the report.

The heat is on
If you think your heating bill is frighteningly high this winter, just be glad you're not heating the University of Minnesota. Granted, the Twin Cities campus alone has 253 buildings and roughly 19 million square feet of "heatable" space. Which is precisely what makes the rising cost of fuel so chilling.

Three weeks of the condor
A young male California condor came to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center November 8 with a broken wing bone. The rare bird, one of only 274 of his species, is doing quite nicely.

Reliving Minnesota history through Hollywood
A former miner and now a political science major at University of Minnesota, Duluth, David Lislegard was part of the movie North Country. Many of the movie's issues tie in to Lislegard's studies, including the Iron Range's long history of union organizing.

A field in motion
Kinesiology--the study of human bodies in motion--has been called a lot of things in its long history at the University. But one thing it can't be called today is "small." The School of Kinesiology now has the largest undergraduate class enrollment of the College of Education and Human Development's six departments, and it's ranked among the top five American kinesiology programs.

Nicotine vaccine may help smokers
A new vaccine that targets nicotine--not the brain--appears to be safe and well tolerated, and may help some smokers quit. A study involving researchers from the University and other institutions lays groundwork for larger clinical trials to determine whether a vaccine could become a standard, effective treatment for smoking. With November 17 being national Smoke-Out Day, it's a new ray of hope for smokers who want to kick the habit.

Going home to help
Penny Kessler, School of Nursing, responded to a call for medical personnel to help in her native state of Louisiana after hurricanes ripped through.

A global engagement
The U's first Global Engagement Award went to to Josef Mestenhauser, whose career at the U began as an international graduate assistant in 1950 and continues as an international consultant, teacher, and scholar. Mestenhauser has helped to build the U's capabilities and reputation worldwide.

U launches Undergraduate Virtual Library
The University of Minnesota Libraries is launching an online library for undergraduate students this fall. The Undergraduate Virtual Library (UGVL) is the first of its kind in the nation.

Preventing youth violence
U researcher Linda Bearinger (pictured) has identified risk factors that can lead to youth violence. Now Bearinger and her colleague and spouse Michael Resnick are working on using protective strategies to help prevent violent acts among youth in the future.

Marla Spivak breeds a better bee.
University of Minnesota entomologist Marla Spivak is helping protect bees--now crucial for their contribution to agriculture--from a mite called varroa destructor which threatens to destroy their numbers. During the winter of 2004-05, almost half the honeybees in the country died, largely as a result of this mite.

The U leads in China
University president Robert Bruininks is heading the education section of Governor Tim Pawlenty's Minnesota delegation to China from Nov. 11-19. With more than 8,000 Chinese alumni, the University claims the largest Chinese alumni group of any U.S. university.

Death of a Renaissance Man
Rutherford "Gus" Aris had it all: a brilliant mathematical and engineering mind, a gift for languages and classical studies, an impish sense of humor, and a kind and giving nature. When he died last week, the University and the world lost one of its most beloved examples of a scholar and a gentleman.

Examining bone, not teeth
At the U's School of Dentistry, assistant professor Raj Gopalakrishnan studies the biology of bone formation. His research has implications for dentistry, including dental implants and periodontal health, as well as broader applications for the treatment of osteoporosis and possibly bone cancer.

Winter car care
With temperatures dipping and snow not too far away in the forecast (unless you live in Florida), it's time to winterize your car. Tony Bittner of the U's Fleet Services offers some tips on prepping your vehicle for bone- and battery-chilling weather.

Concert accessories: earplugs are in
Recently, University of Minnesota researchers determined that concerts--with their combination of loud music and crowd noise--can damage hearing, and that wearing earplugs can help if people are convinced to wear them. Yes, despite the risk of long-term hearing loss, many of us choose to forgo earplugs.

UMM receives federal funding for biomass development
The University of Minnesota, Morris, (UMM) with its tall prairie grass and blue prairie sky is quickly gaining ground as a place for biomass research. UMM was one of 11--and the only small town, liberal arts college--to snag a grant from the federal government's Biomass Research and Development Initiative.

New music formats create dilemmas
Researchers at the Carlson School of Management have been studying current phenomena in the music industry. Their results suggest that we'll never hear or think about music in the same way again.

Women scholars in the spotlight
The new Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture--named for a 20th century U pioneer--debuts with a 21st century U pioneer at the podium: stem-cell researcher Catherine Verfaillie.

Thalidomide shows potential in fight against ovarian cancer
The drug thalidomide, notorious for causing birth defects in the late 1950s and early 1960s, has shown promise in treating multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. A new study led by University researcher Levi Downs adds ovarian cancer to the list of maladies that may respond to treatments containing the drug.

An artist embedded
Artist Steve Mumford chronicled in paintings and other artwork the life and times of the soldiers and Iraqis as an embedded journalist with U.S. troops. In a special appearance, he will give a presentation of his work and discuss his experiences at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs on the Twin Cities campus from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 9.

U graduate honored for improving nutrition in developing world
The University recently gave alum Paul Sun a distinguished leadership award for his work to bring better vegetable production-and thus better nutrition-to countries in the developing world.

Hmong parents and children lack support for early learning
Social sciences professor Zha Blong Xiong, the first Hmong full-time professor at the University of Minnesota, has produced a groundbreaking study on Hmong children entering kindergarten that found many of them are not ready to learn.

Celebrating El Dia de los Muertos
The ancient festival Day of the Dead--El Día de los Muertos--was celebrated on the Twin Cities campus today with a procession that threaded through the east bank of the campus, from Dinkytown to Coffman Union.

Engaging in public engagement
On October 31, the University hosted a public discussion to explore outreach as a means to help it achieve its goal of being one of the top three public research universities in the world within a decade.

Why the tundra is transforming
The retreat of Arctic sea ice has long been known, but it can't account for rapidly rising summer temperatures over Arctic land masses. Now, a University researcher has helped explain how spreading vegetation, notably shrubs, contributes to an escalating cycle of warming that is profoundly changing the character of the northern polar regions.

On the top perch
Since sixth grade, Bob Zink has been fascinated by the variety of birds that inhabit the globe. This year the Bell Museum's curator of birds won the top award of the American Ornithologists' Union for the best body of published research over the last decade.

Habitat for Humanity chapter grows
Habitat for Humanity volunteers prepare for a night on the Washington Avenue Bridge in an effort to understand what it's like to be homeless.

Road trip to empowerment
Nonviolent resistance walks a path between violent resistance on one hand and compliance on the other. It is the intellectual passion of assistant professor Katy Gray Brown, who organized a course about social change and a trip to key sites in the U.S. civil rights movement. Then, with nine students, she got behind the wheel and made it happen.

Celebrating 20 years of service
The University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration joins with partners around the state and the country to improve community services and social supports for people with disabilities and their families.

Making time for the U
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association honored its top alumni, faculty, staff, and student volunteers at its annual Alumni Volunteer Awards Ceremony on October 7. Learn who the winners were and why it's important for the U to have enthusiastic volunteers.

From ELI to OLLI
Although it has undergone a name change, from ElderLearning Institute to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the 10-year-old University of Minnesota program still serves up fun and intellectually stimulating courses for its retirement-age members.

Open enrollment 2005
New medical plans. Expanded networks. A new prescription-drug program. New family rate structures. Cash benefits for participating in UPlan Wellness programs. Enrollment in medical and dental plans is required to have coverage. These are key changes in U employee health benefits coming up in 2006. Open enrollment runs Nov. 1-30.

Designing a college
What would we get by combining all of the University of Minnesota's highly regarded design disciplines under one roof? A new design college--one that would enhance the University's reputation as a national and international center of design expertise and innovation.

University of Minnesota professor to kick off White House conference on youth
On Thursday, October 27, U pediatrics professor Michael Resnick will assess the threats to healthy youth development during a White House Conference hosted by First Lady Laura Bush on Helping America's Youth. The 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. event will be broadcast on the Twin Cities campus from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

It only takes a moment
The new University of Minnesota Moment radio features give listeners across Minnesota greater insight into current affairs.

Breeding their share of good apples
About 80 percent of the apples produced in Minnesota are varieties that were developed at the University of Minnesota. The U's apple breeding program is nearly a century old, and had at its roots the desire to find a way to develop apple trees that could survive Minnesota's harsh winters.

Teaching Ph.D.s how to teach
Historically, doctoral students were simply expected to know how to teach because they were great students. But new programs are producing better future faculty members and delivering better undergraduate education. PACE--the Program for the Advancement of Classroom Excellence--is a Carlson School of Management initiative showing outstanding results.

Recess: not just fun and games
Trends to cut recess times or eliminate recess altogether frustrate University of Minnesota researcher Anthony Pellegrini. While some people view recess as trivial and unnecessary, such breaks foster children's development, Pellegrini says in his new book, Recess: Its Role in Education and Development.

Be spooked at the Bell
The annual "Oddities and Curiosities of Nature," featuring six-legged animals, heavy-weight sea creatures, and bug-eating children, runs through October 30. 2005.

Wanted: input for transforming the U
As task forces continue with their work this fall to develop recommendations for transforming the University of Minnesota into one of the top three public research universities in the world, one thing is clear: Input from the U community and the general public is welcome.

The digital doorway to the U
The U's portal--MyU--allows users to have the University at their fingertips by making sense of its abundance of information and creating new tools for study, learning, and communication.

New chair will bridge fields of renewable energy and microbial genomics
In a visit to the Twin Cities, Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon announced a gift from his government: $750,000 for an endowed chair in renewable energy and microbial genomics at the University. The announcement came as Norway celebrates its centennial of independence.

Art of mind and wire
What do you get when you craft wire into coats and dresses and suspend them from the ceiling? "Fashion art" that gives the impression of a person hovering in the air. The U's Goldstein Museum is hosting KeySook Geum's ethereal "Mind over Matter, Body Under Art" exhibit through January 2006.

A Dylanesque look at what lies ahead for two colleges:
COAFES dean Chuck Muscoplat and Carla Carlson, assistant vice president for agricultural policy, find that the words and spirit of Minnesota's Bob Dylan capture their feelings for what the University must do to create real change.

Students reflect two cultures
Since spring 2005, nine University of Minnesota students have been collaborating on fashion design and textile art projects with 16 students from Seoul, Korea. The Asian students visited the Twin Cities last week, marking their first face-to-face meeting. Next spring, the students from Minnesota are off to Korea.

People with big hearts
How does a University unit achieve a 90 percent participation rate in annual giving? One team leader for 13 years tells how.

How you cook makes a difference
University researchers find that eating fried, grilled, or barbecued meat or fish that is well-done and burned or charred can increase your risk for pancreatic cancer.

She still loves maroon and gold
The Even Mother Nature Loves Maroon and Gold series returns for a sixth straight year. The image for this year's poster and note cards features Thunbergia mysorensis, a large woody vine from the tropical mountains of southern India.

Feeding the world
Minnesota celebrates Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug on October 16 and, appropriately, the University honors its favorite son-and father of the Green Revolution-- with a food and fund drive to benefit the hungry.

October is U Scholarship Month
President Bob Bruininks has once again declared October as Scholarship Month at the U. In 2003 the University of Minnesota launched "Promise of Tomorrow," the largest scholarship drive in its history. Through August of this year, 31,400 donors have given $84 million toward the drive's goal of $150 million.

Apples for today, tomorrow, and later
Apple season is here! Americans eat approximately 20 pounds of fresh apples annually, according to the Washington Apple Commission. The University of Minnesota Extension Service has some tips on how to keep your apples tempting to the taste buds and appealing to the eyes.

U receives $100,000 for breast cancer research
At the University of Minnesota, researchers are making progress in the fight to prevent, detect, treat, and cure breast cancer. Recently, the U received $100,000 to expand its breast cancer education and treatment programs for recent immigrants and lower-income women.

Swimming in goop nets researchers an Ig Nobel Prize
Every year, the Ig Nobel Prizes honor scientific projects that make you think--once you get through laughing. For answering the eternal question "Will people swim faster or slower in syrup?" chemical engineering and materials science professor Ed Cussler and his former student Brian Gettelfinger won the 2005 Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry. They collected the award October 6 in a ceremony at Harvard University.

Teaching through change
In a retreat October 7-9, the U's Academy of Distinguished Teachers talked about change, from changing students to telling the U's story through times of change.

Metrics and measurements
In meetings Oct. 6-7, the Board of Regents heard a report on developing a set of metrics to assess the U's progress toward becoming one of the top three public research universities in the world. They also previewed the 2006 capital bonding request.

Embryonic stem cells made to produce cancer-fighting cells
In a major breakthrough, U researchers have coaxed human embryonic stem cells to generate "natural killer" cells that are able to treat and fight cancer, especially leukemias and lymphomas. As part of the immune system, natural killer cells normally are present in the bloodstream and play a role in defending the body against infection and against some cancers. The research was done in the laboratory, but it paves the way for future use in humans.

One for the ages
The Golden Gopher football team shocked the Michigan Wolverines, as well as some its own fans, with a 23-20 victory Saturday in Ann Arbor. Now that the Little Brown Jug is back on campus, the Gophers now turn their focus to Wisconsin and recapturing Paul Bunyan's Axe.

Expanded U Senate meets for first time
The University Senate met for the first time for the 2005-06 academic year on September 29. The meeting was the first of the reorganized U Senate, which now includes senators from the Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators (CAPA) and civil service employee groups.

Freshmen shining brighter at the U
The University of Minnesota is attracting more and better-prepared students, as measured by enrollment, high school rank, and ACT scores. Of this year's crop of freshmen on the Twin Cities campus, 73.8 percent were in the top 25 percent of their high school class, and the average ACT composite score was 25.14 out of a possible 36.

Make a night of it: West Bank Arts Quarter Crawl features theatre, dance, and art all on one evening
On one great fall evening, the West Bank Arts Quarter pulls together something for everyone as it inaugurates its first ¿crawl¿ and the anniversaries of the theater and dance departments.

Dodge, duck, dip, and dive
Mullet Removal, a hodge-podge team of people from the University of Minnesota, Morris, snagged top spot in the coed division at the National Dodgeball League's 2005 Dodgeball World Championship September 23-25 in Las Vegas. The team outplayed 22 others from states such as Alaska, California and New York for the title.

A new habitat for biologists
The College of Biological Sciences is beefing up its research facilities at the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, underscoring its commitment to continuing excellence in biology and biology teaching, especially in rural Minnesota K-12 schools.

The little things
They may be vanishingly small, but nanoparticles have become integral components of stain-resistant clothes, pharmaceuticals, solar panels, batteries, and even popcorn. They also pollute the air and may cause serious health problems. At the U of M, 400 nanoparticle scientists came together to get up to speed on the implications of the technology.

U celebrates Disability Awareness Month
The University of Minnesota Disabled Student Cultural Center held an event on Northrop Plaza on Friday, September 30, to kick off the on-campus celebration of Disability Awareness Month in October.

Putting lampreys on the lam
Like salmon, the destructive sea lamprey follows its nose as it migrates from oceans or lakes and up streams to spawn. University of Minnesota researchers have found the odorous attractant that drives them, and hope to turn it into a chemical siren song to lure the fish into traps. Insights gained from this discovery should also prove useful in controlling other unwelcome fish such as carp.

Mapmaking at the U
University departments, government agencies, and private companies have been tapping the U's 40-year-old cartography lab for thematic and general-purpose maps. Lab director Mark Lindberg shares some insights on mapmaking at the U and as a profession.

A genuine alternative
If you truly want an alternative radio station, try tuning in to Radio K (770 AM, 106.5 FM), the student-run station on the campus of the University of Minnesota. It's hip beyond its years; it's guided primarily by enthusiastic, music-adoring students; and it's critically acclaimed, to boot.

Save a seat for the Über Scholar
Look in the dictionary under "lifelong learner" and you'll find Steve Haskin's name. The poet and a freelance journalist has taken more than 20 University of Minnesota Compleat Scholar courses over the years.

Which came first, the seed or the tree?
A new public art piece, "Seed of Knowledge," has sprouted on the Twin Cities campus in St. Paul.

Vicarious pleasure
University senior Adrienne Baker writes a weekly online blog for M readers about the challenges of her last year as an undergrad.

Busting Stress
Stress Busters, an hour of informal meditation, light yoga, and stretching at the Mayo Building on the Twin Cities campus leaves participants feeling physically, emotionally, and intellectually rejuvenated.

Letters to the Editor, fall 2005
Letters in response to M, summer 2005

Alumni wall honors achievement
The new University of Minnesota Alumni Wall of Honor bears the names of more than 1,000 people who have received the Outstanding Achievement Award--the highest award given to University alumni. The structure was unveiled during homecoming festivities last Friday.

Manage back-to-school stress
Children are remarkably resilient when it comes to coping with change. But when the change involves returning to school during puberty or a divorce, a child may feel overwhelmed. Although we're a month into the school year, U adolescent health expert Linda Bearinger has year-round advice to ease the transition.

Following the algal trail
Scientists at the U's Natural Resources Research Institute are studying microscopic aquatic life forms, such as algae, for insights into the health of our lakes, streams, and busy waterways.

One size does not fit all
University of Minnesota pharmacy professor Timothy Tracy has published findings that can help expectant mothers get the right dose of medication to manage chronic conditions during each stage of pregnancy.

More than 51,000 alumni give to the U
Nationwide, universities report an alumni-giving growth rate of about 3 to 4 percent a year. Between 2002 and 2005, the University of Minnesota experienced a 20 percent growth. Was there a secret to the rare achievement?

UMC opens new student center
The 80-year-old Bede Hall on the Crookston campus was demolished on March 1, 2004. Today, it stands--revamped with a bookstore, post office, coffee shop, study lounges, and a cool light sculpture--as the campus's new Student Center.

Book reviews fall 2005
Three books by people at the U--on math wars, a battle that stopped Rome, and a vegetarian manifesto for all ages.

U professor wins national award for excellence in biology education
Biology teacher Randy Moore turned down medical school for a career helping students discover the joys of learning about the natural world. Many of his General College students have responded to his concern for them by going on to rewarding careers in science, medicine, law, and other fields.

U rowers set to make a splash
On Saturday, October 1, the winning Gopher women¿s crew takes to the water for the on-campus Head of the Mississippi regatta and opens the fall rowing season.

Teaching smarter
Faculty members systemwide are designing and trying new teaching and technology strategies--and testing their effectiveness--with the support of a three-year Bush Foundation grant.

Get connected, fall 2005
A compendium of events and opportunities for alumni of the University of Minnesota.

Alumni career builder
Far from campus but looking for career connections? The new M Alumni Online can help.

From the pages of history, fall 2005
Moments in University history from the pages of the 104-year-old alumni journal, now called Minnesota.

Beyond the blackboard
After spending 40 years as an engineer, environmental planner, and consultant, Don Brauer knows that a key to a successful career in any field is understanding the big picture. That's why, as a mentor for the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Brauer has made a point of giving students a broad view of their chosen field.

Roots of human civilization may have been just that
The move of our ape ancestors from the rain forest into the savannahs is thought to have spurred a big jump in human evolution. U anthropologist Greg Laden hypothesizes that they were able to survive by eating roots and tubers, also known as underground storage organs (USOs).

Catching a tailwind
It took more than sunlight to power Borealis III to a runner-up finish in the North American Solar Challenge. The car's real firepower comes from a potent mix of student ingenuity and alumni support.

Celebrating the horse and human bond
Jean del Santo, University associate professor of voice, was inspired to create a performance on the Twin Cities campus that's centered on horses and humans during her bout with cancer.

New magic number: 50,000 alumni donors
The University crossed a magical number with the end of its fiscal year in June: more than 50,000 alumni donors in a single year.

Multiple rewards
A number of scholarships gave Rachael Dettmann the opportunity to double major in music performance and applied economics. Little did she know how much those scholarships would change her life.

Helping students succeed
U scholarship drive benefits 1,000 more students compared with two years ago.

All-American student, athlete (and volunteer)
Heather Hamilton is the most decorated athlete in UMD history. She finished her undergraduate years by earning a 4.0 grade-point average and making the dean's list every semester.

Casey is new UMC chancellor
The University of Minnesota, Crookston, is welcoming a new chancellor, while the Morris campus is preparing to say goodbye to its leader of seven years.

A school of the world
As it transforms itself into one of the top three public research universities in the world, the University must continue its tradition of sending students and faculty abroad and increase its efforts to bring international students to its campuses.

Celebrating two peas in a pod
The University of Minnesota's Department of Theatre Arts & Dance celebrates 75:20--75 years of theater and 20 years of dance.

Inventing the future
The University has a proud record of technologies developed by its faculty, staff, and students. Last Tuesday (September 20), the most recent crop of inventors received a big thank-you and a pledge of support.

Blossoming of a billion-year-old tree
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution," a great geneticist once said. Tracing the branches in the evolutionary tree of Earth's diverse life forms is a daunting task, but one that promises rich rewards in efforts to save endangered species, manage pests, and discover new drugs, among many other applications. University researchers are in the thick of an ambitious national project to assemble the Tree of Life by sorting out relationships among a wide range of organisms.

Homecoming: Center Stage
It's one of those things you can always count on--homecoming. The world may change, the stadium may change, the players most certainly will change, but homecoming, with its hoopla, teary-eyed alums, and tipsy freshmen has remained our enduring autumn ritual since 1914.

UMD dedicates Swenson Science Building
Dedication ceremonies for the new $33 million James I. Swenson Science Building at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, were held September 16. The three-level structure contains teaching, research, and administrative space for UMD's biology, chemistry, and biochemistry departments.

Eldercare Initiative kicks off National Work and Family Month
The U WorkLife Effectiveness Program will offer a wide variety of programs in October, National Work and Family Month. The new Eldercare Initiative officially launches Oct. 4.

Rolling up the sleeves
The idea of transforming the U into one of the world's top three public research universities took a concrete step forward on September 16 when task forces charged with making recommendations for the U's future met for the first time.

Not able to leap tall buildings, but he can sure make physics fun
For three years, physics professor James Kakalios taught a Freshman Seminar called “Everything I Know About Science I Learned from Reading Comic Books.” In his forthcoming book, The Physics of Superheroes, Kakalios takes the reader on a fun ride through the fantastic world of comic book superheroes and examines the scientific basis, or lack thereof, of their powers. Learning physics was never so painless. He'll discuss his ideas Friday at 2:30 on 91.1 FM.

UMD to dedicate new James I. Swenson Science Building
Dedication ceremonies for the new $33 million James I. Swenson Science Building at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, are set for 11 a.m. Friday, September 16. The three-level structure contains teaching, research, and administrative space for UMD's biology, chemistry, and biochemistry departments.

University of Minnesota to observe Constitution Day with Law School presentation
The University of Minnesota Law School, on behalf of the entire University of Minnesota system, presents a program on Friday, September 16, from 12:15-2:15 p.m., commemorating the United States Constitution. The two-hour presentation at the Law School (Mondale Hall, Room 25) by members of the Law School faculty will address recent and forthcoming Supreme Court controversies and the nomination of Judge John Roberts to serve as the next Chief Justice of the United States.

Dr. Clarence Dennis, pioneer in open heart surgery, dies
Clarence Dennis invented the first heart-lung machine and performed the world's second successful open heart surgery. He died in July, his place in the history of medicine secure. The University hosted a memorial service and reception Friday, September 16.

Riverbend takes on new name
The Riverbend Commons student housing complex is now the Mark G. Yudof Hall, in honor of the U's 14th president.

Winterizing your lawn
Although the summer gardening season is winding down, the lawn growing season is by no means over. Now's the prime time to seed or reseed your lawn, lay sod, and prepare your perennial plants for winter. U horticulturist Bob Mugaas offers some advice.

Caddisfly catchers
In the disappearing forests of South America, University entomologists are discovering biodiversity and helping to establish water-quality monitoring programs with black lights and bedsheets.

Student farm busts out
On a very visible corner, something new is growing. The University of Minnesota's first student-run farm is the product of one long-running student organization, 13 student interns, several professors, a college, generous donors, and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.

India Inc.
The Carlson School of Management's India Seminar offers University of Minnesota students a look at managing in a global world.

Donors give $180 million to U
In fiscal year 2005, almost 93,000 people made gifts and pledges to the University of Minnesota. The total of $180 million in donations is an increase of 24 percent in giving compared to the previous year.

Operation Minnesota Lifeline
This week, volunteers left the Twin Cities campus for Louisiana as part of Operation Minnesota Lifeline to provide supplies and medical expertise.

Rooms for the learning
The U's Twin Cities campus has 300 classrooms--from small seminar rooms to large auditoriums--in more than 60 buildings. Each semester the Office of Classroom Management is responsible for scheduling about 12,500 course sections into the rooms.

U of M turns telescope on rising stars
Five of the University's most distinguished young tenured faculty have received McKnight Presidential Fellowships. The awards are intended to give them an extra boost as they pursue already brilliant careers.

Getting smarter at getting safer
A U. S. Department of Transportation grant will allow U's Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute to work on teen-focused, in-vehicle technology to prevent accidents among teen drivers--the leading cause of death among 13- to 19-year-olds. Rep. James Obestar was integral in securing the grant.

Emerging leaders take on classroom space challenge
Faced with shrinking resources, the U is making the most of what it has--for example, classroom space and staff talent.

Up and running for 2005-06
The Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators (CAPA) kicked off the 2005-06 year with a retreat and training for new senators, August 26.

Switch wins the cup
Forget the expensive mirrors or prisms; two entrepreneurs have created a technology that allows light in fiber optic cables to travel great winding distances more efficiently. The duo was named Minnesota Cup winners on the Twin Cities campus yesterday (September 8).

Regents pass tuition waiver for hurricane-impacted students
Almost 50 students impacted by Hurricane Katrina have been admitted to the University of Minnesota. Today, the U's Board of Regents approved a resolution that waives tuition for the students.

The chemistry is right: Two professors win top national awards
Every year the American Chemical Society gives approximately 50 awards to the nation's top chemists. This year, the University of Minnesota garnered two. Donald Truhlar and George Barany won not only for the high quality of their work, but for its wide application to such disparate fields as chemical manufacturing, environmental science, and medicine.

Band, Bruininks, and banter bedazzle new freshmen
Northrop Auditorium throbbed with anticipation Tuesday as this year's crop of freshmen awaited the start of Convocation, their official introduction to the University of Minnesota. Highlights were a welcome from President Bruininks and, of course, a rousing performance by the Marching Band.

U opens arms (and doors) for victims of hurricane
As the scope of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina is unfolding, the University of Minnesota community is responding accordingly with a wide range of efforts to provide relief to the storm's countless victims.

Quantum leap
Two historic buildings on the Twin Cities campus have undergone rehabilitation with capital bonding support. Jones Hall reopened Sept. 6; Nicholson Hall will reopen this winter.

Take time to be active
The U-wide fall wellness campaign is a way for employees to start off the new academic year on the right foot, logging 2,005 active minutes by November 30.

Moving-in angels
Since 1990, volunteers have been helping U students move in to residence halls

University of Minnesota Medical Reserve Corps set to deploy to hurricane area
The University of Minnesota Medical Reserve Corps, made up of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, epidemiologists, and other health professionals from the Academic Health Center, is standing by to lend a hand to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.

U program connects K-12 students with adventurers
Now in its fifth year, the University of Minnesota's adventure learning program centers around an interactive, real-time online curriculum that builds connections between K-12 students and arctic expeditions.

Emergency admissions policy to help hurricane-affected students
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, announced today (September 1) an emergency admissions policy to assist students who were enrolled at colleges and universities affected by Hurricane Katrina.

UMC's sustainability squad
Four students at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, are involved in studies that will help lay the groundwork for the campus embracing a culture of sustainability.

Boning up at UMD
University of Minnesota, Duluth, students are learning how to excavate, identify, and prepare dinosaur bones for museum exhibition, thanks to University-administered undergraduate research scholarships.

Beauty in the hive of the beholder
Add one more item to the long list of ways in which bees help us: They collect a plant resin, called propolis, which inhibits the growth of the AIDS virus in laboratory cultures. And U researchers are in the thick of efforts to tap its potential as a source of a new anti-HIV drug.

'Tis the season for back-to-school shopping
This year, parents of U.S. students college-aged and younger expect to spend an average of $573 on back-to-school items, according to a recent poll by MasterCard International. And 37 percent of parents say they'll spend more this year than last. University psychologist Martha Farrell Erickson offers some back-to-school shopping tips.

Beyond animal instincts
A series of clinical exams are helping veterinary students at the University of Minnesota put client skills learned in the classroom into practice.

Minnesota Sea Grant turns 30
Lake Superior has a guardian angel: the University of Minnesota Sea Grant program. Since the 1970s, U researchers and students have scrutinized the lake with submersibles, boats, robots, and satellites to ensure the lake continues to remain a safe and healthy natural resource.

Boosting UMC enrollment
As classes began at the University's Crookston campus Aug. 30, enrollment is holding steady. But if Pamela Holsinger-Fuchs has her way, it will soon be on the rise.

Retaining talented U staff
U Talent Connection is a new program to provide a bridge between U faculty and staff employees and hiring units, especially those impacted by strategic positioning changes.

Yeah, we rock
Turns out that the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, is ranked No. 9 by RollingStone.com in the category of “Schools that Rock,” culling from data in the book Schools that Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide.

Made for the shade
A partnership between the University of Minnesota and the state fair has spawned a seating structure that blends the past and present while offering fairgoers relief from the late summer sun.

Team leaders prepare task force groundwork
Charge letters to five strategic positioning team leaders outline five action strategies and six questions to guide the work of more than 30 task forces.

Not-so-tiny bubbles
Of the thousands of possible things you can do bigger or faster or more of than everyone else (think goldfish consumption and people stuffed in a phone booth), there's a new one on the list--creating the world's largest soap bubble. That's exactly what some folks set out to do on the Twin Cities campus on August 26, aided by some University expertise.

Help for hot flashes
Greg Plotnikoff, associate professor of medicine at the University's Center for Spirituality and Healing, is conducting a study of keishi bukuryo gan, left, a 2,000-year-old Japanese remedy for hot flashes. Women can learn about the study at the state fair, August 27 and 29, and sign up to participate.

Check out this cornucopia of low-carb, fat-free fun at the U building
Maroon and Gold Day at the state fair, this Sunday, August 28, is a crash course on the University, complete with quiz shows, elucidating stage acts, a parade, and music from Radio K. Come see why applications to the U are at an all-time high.

U sets up shop at the Minnesota State Fair
Brains-on-a-stick, dinosaur bones, poetry slammers, and Funky Gumbo are among the hundreds of University of Minnesota attractions at this year's "Great Minnesota Get-Together," Thursday, August 25, to Monday, September 5.

Of blowflies and blown alibis
Dead men (and women) do tell tales, especially if their bodies carry evidence in the form of insect larvae, plant pollen, or other biological material. Bell Museum naturalist Jennifer Menken will explain to state fairgoers how knowledge of insect life cycles and plant biology can help trace the time or place of a crime.

Getting below the surface
A $2.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation will help the University teach graduate students how to measure the forces--biological and physical--which mold the Earth's surface and determine our destinies. A key part is developing a "Goldilocks" knack for measuring things on the right scale, in neither too much nor too little detail.

King of beasts in the line of fire
In Tanzania, lions are killing people at an increasing rate. In response, people are killing lions--a practice that, if unchecked, could devastate populations of the big cats. Lion researcher Craig Packer is leading the charge to curb attacks on people while preserving the king of beasts.

Schuman announces retirement
University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM), Chancellor Sam Schuman announced his retirement today at the UMM faculty and staff convocation. Schuman, who has been chancellor since 2000 and in senior leadership positions at Morris for 11 years, will stay on through June 2006.

U student wins Miss Black USA crown
Celi Dean, a junior at the University of Minnesota, was crowned Miss Black USA on August 7 in Washington, D.C. Dean overcame 23 other challengers in the pageant to win the title and a $5,000 scholarship.

Waging gardens
Since the Great Depression, community gardens have been meeting people's needs for food, beauty, and a sense of belonging. The Twin Cities campus was the site of the 26th annual conference of the American Community Gardening Association August 11-14.

Living wills clarify your values and wishes
"Right-to-die" battles and end of life debates, like those related to Terri Schiavo, have given rise to advance directives--more commonly known as living wills. How do you write one? Or do you even need one? U bioethics expert Dianne Bartels offers some advice.

Genetics at the doctor's office
With the rapid advancement of genetic technologies, genetic tests are becoming a basic part of health care. In a groundbreaking study, a U researcher has documented and established nationally accepted standards to help doctors and nurses navigate the ethical, social, and legal challenges of genetic medicine.

Africa: here and now
Until three years ago, Elizabeth Boyle studied Africans and their way of life in their native communities thousands of miles away. Today, the U professor seeks to understand the acculturation experiences of Africans in the Twin Cities.

Something fishy in biology
Zebra fish research on the Morris campus may be the key to better understanding both the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and why game fish raised for release are easier to catch than their wild cousins.

U at the Great Minnesota Get-Together
For the seventh consecutive year, the University will be celebrating Maroon and Gold Day at the Minnesota State Fair. There'll be old favorites, such as the "Know your U" trivia game, and a host of new offerings, such as the Gophers Guide to the Fair, on that activity-filled Sunday, August 28.

Casey named chancellor at Crookston
The University has named Charles Casey the new chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, pending approval by the Board of Regents in September. To replace Casey, the U also appointed Bev Durgan as the new dean and director for the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Rays of hope
At the U's new Gamma Knife Center, neurosurgeons can now treat tumors deep within the brain without destroying neighboring tissue. The Gamma Knife is really a series of focused beams of radiation converging on a single spot and it provides unprecedented precision.

Fuel for thought
Two professors from the Carlson School of Management discuss what is fueling rising oil prices in the United States and whether or not we should expect to see more pocketbook-friendly gas prices anytime soon.

From backstage to prime time
For a glimpse of the inner workings of the Minnesota Marching Band, check out "Pride of Minnesota: Backstage," a behind-the-scenes look at the band that premieres on Thursday, August 11, at 7 p.m. on TPT-Channel 2.

Goodbye CUFS, hello Enterprise Financial System
The Enterprise Financial System (EFS) project site opened August 3 at Court International near University Avenue and Highway 280. The project will implement a new, Web-based PeopleSoft financial system at the U.

Welcome, 2005-06 CSC members
New members of the Civil Service Committee convened for the first time July 27. Also: Rule Subcommittee preview.

Researching their futures
A 10-week summer program at the University is serving high-ability college sophomores and juniors interested in pursuing graduate studies in the life sciences. Students are paired with faculty mentors and become members of research teams that study such subjects as aquatic environmental sciences, molecular biology, and neuroscience.

Stretching creativity at Design Camp
At Design Camp, the sky's the limit when it comes to creating novel ways to change and explore your environment. Robots, clothes, textiles, and fountains find new ways of being through the adolescent eye.

The truth about bears
This week, a woman in Duluth, Minnesota, survived an attack by a black bear, and she can only speculate about its reason for assaulting her. Unprovoked attacks by black bears are extremely rare, says U bear expert Kristina Timmerman. Here, Timmerman debunks six myths about Minnesota's bears.

U of M alums are a click away
Launched five months ago, the service M Alumni Online is a convenient way for Twin Cities campus alumni to find a job or locate an old University of Minnesota roommate.

Family friendly to stay competitive?
What spurs employers to offer leaves and flex time? Research by Erin Kelly, assistant professor of sociology, finds that public policies have a huge impact on the dynamics of the American workplace.

Good neighbor policy
A trio of Carlson School students help Latino-owned businesses in Minneapolis market their products and services.

Engineering the green revolution
The University of Minnesota's new bio-based products engineering major will help the environment and the economy while creating a bright future for its graduates.

Investing in renewable energy
Renewable energy research is taking off at the U; last month the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment awarded more than $8.5 million to 24 projects involving new or emerging renewable energy technologies.

And then there were five
On August 1, judges named the five finalists for the first-ever Minnesota Cup, a contest to find, support, and promote the state's newest and most innovative business ideas.

Hot days: keeping cool and saving money
Whether you use air conditioning all the time, sometimes, or never, the following tips will help improve your comfort, and perhaps save you a few bucks, on those dog days of our remaining summer.

Family matters
A Carlson School graduate is a key cog in a family-based venture, OurFamilyWizard.com, a subscription-based Web site that helps divorced parents communicate vital information about their children.

Fresh hit on Church Street
The weekly farmers market on the east bank of the Twin Cities campus continues to draw a crowd.

U finishes second in solar car race
The University of Minnesota's Borealis III wound up finishing second today to the University of Michigan's car in the 2005 North American Solar Challenge, a 2,500-mile race for solar-powered vehicles.

Delivering on the promise of e-mail
A team of U communicators and technologists has created an in-house, bulk e-mail system that is saving their units money and increasing the quality of the messages. It will be available free to all U offices and departments soon, and savings and value to the U as a whole will increase dramatically.

A great place to work
Employees stay at the U far longer than the national average. What attracts and retains a strong workforce? Four employees tell why the U is a great place to work for them.

U math institute recognized for international excellence
The National Science Foundation has announced a $19.5 million grant to the University of Minnesota's Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), making IMA the top-funded math institute in the country.

Are you credit worthy?
The information in your credit report can affect your chances of getting a loan, landing a job, and renting an apartment. If you've never seen your credit report or it's been a while since you took a peek at it, now's a good time to request one. A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires nationwide consumer reporting companies to give you a free copy of your report once a year.

New hope for sticky situation
A research team at the College of Natural Resources unglues the challenges posed by recycling paper with "the stickies" or pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Fresh produce on TC campus
On July 13, the University launched its first farmers market along Church Street on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. The weekly market was a hit, and vendors returned yesterday with more fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

Opening doors for students of diverse backgrounds
Every summer for the past 13 years, the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management has given about 30 high school seniors of diverse backgrounds a peek at corporate America in the Twin Cities and life at the University of Minnesota.

The ra(y)ce is on
Borealis III, the University of Minnesota's entry in the North American Solar Challenge, is expected to be among the front-runners of the 2,500-mile "rayce" for solar-powered cars that begins in Austin, Texas, on July 17 and concludes in Calgary, Alberta, on July 27.

U researchers reverse memory loss in mice
U researchers achieved a major breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease investigation by identifying a mutant protein called tau that may be the culprit in memory loss. Because this study involves the manipulation of a human gene, hopes are high that the research will one day translate into helping those who suffer from Alzheimer's.

Religious faith may be genetic
The newest University of Minnesota study on twins finds that degree of religious faith appears to be tied to genetics. Further, it concludes that the genetic influence grows in adulthood.

Mighty and golden
The University of Minnesota women's hockey team, which won its second straight Frozen Four championship in March, was honored yesterday (July 12) in a ceremony with President George W. Bush at the White House.

Public spaces are being added at historic Eastcliff
Eastcliff, the University of Minnesota facility that hosts more than 7,500 guests and 150 events each year, is getting much-needed repairs. Donated to the U in 1958, Eastcliff, as with all houses its age, has things that just don't work any more--like a dilapidated tennis court and a failing retaining wall. Renovations are under way to take out the tennis court and replace it with landscaped green space more suitable for the expanded public uses of Eastcliff.

Year-end CSC report
Departing Civil Service Committee chair Dorit Hafner reviews the year and introduces new chair Matt Bowers.

Farmers market debuts on East Bank
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers will magically sprout along Church Street (east of Northrop mall) on the University's Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis every Wednesday through August. The new market, part of the wellness program, joins local-foods initiatives on all the U campuses.

Carlson School program rated No. 1 in China
With its unique history serving Chinese students, the University of Minnesota is establishing itself as the "go-to" U.S. university in China. The University's Carlson School China executive MBA program was voted the top program of its kind in China, forging closer ties with a country that already as a strong relationship to the University and a growing impact on Minnesota's economy. The University Law School will open a Master of Laws program in Beijing in June 2006.

Volunteer for the state fair
The Minnesota State Fair is coming up, August 25-September 5. Faculty and staff are invited to volunteer for the U at the fair.

U students studying in London unharmed by bombings
According to University officials, all 30 students who are studying in London this summer as part of U-sponsored programs are safe and none were injured in today's (July 7) bombings.

U researchers identify genes that foster blood cell development from stem cells
Umbilical cord blood can save the life of someone with leukemia or lymphoma, but it's often difficult to get enough for effective treatment. U researchers have recently identified the genes that promote blood cell development, paving the way for production of these cells in the laboratory.

Keeping the birds of steel flying
Northwest Airlines CEO offers a U audience a snapshot of the challenges facing his company and other major carriers in the airline industry.

Water bottles: toss them or keep them?
Commercial or store-bought water bottles are designed for one-time use and recycling. But many of us reuse them. That's not the most hygienic practice, warns the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Self-injury: how and if pain is perceived
In 2003, more than 400,000 people were rushed to the emergency room for self-inflicted injury. A U researcher is looking at what might be preventing some people from feeling pain--a possible reason for self-harm.

Cell phone use and driving
University of Minnesota researchers have found that using a cell phone may impair drivers more than alcohol.

Looking at Minnesota school achievement
Minnesota schools are having a more difficult time reaching their reading and mathematics proficiency targets, according to a recent report by the U's Office of Educational Accountability.

U partners with university in Belgium
In June, the University of Minnesota and the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium joined forces to develop joint and collaborating stem cell institutes.

Health coaching
A first in the nation, the University of Minnesota¿s Center for Spirituality & Healing will be the first fully accredited institution to offer a concentration in Health Coaching under its graduate-level certificate in Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices.

Botanicals come alive at Weisman
"Fresh Cut," an international juried exhibit of paintings and drawings by 52 botanical artists, runs through October 9 at the Weisman Art Museum on the Twin Cities campus.

Crookston celebrates a centennial
The Crookston campus--once the Northwest School of Agriculture--marked the beginning of its centennial year last weekend with a reunion of nearly 300 alumni. Crookston CEO Joe Massey spoke of refining the campus's mission as part of the University and said alumni support is integral for building "a legacy for tomorrow."

Good medicine
UMD creates programs to help Native Americans choose and prepare for medical careers while retaining their unique qualities and belief systems. Of more than 800,000 practicing physicians in this country, only 1,175 are American Indian.

U ranked among most socially responsible colleges
Colleges with a Conscience, a new book published by the Princeton Review, recognizes the University of Minnesota as being one of the 81 colleges and universities nationwide that it considers the most socially responsible.

Is that patch of grass taken?
Summertime is the best time to grab a quick bite--from a local eatery, a brown bag, or your little insulated cooler--and head to a patch of campus green space for some sunshine or shade, and some reading or reverie. We've compiled a list of some of our favorite outdoor lunchtime hangouts on the Twin Cities campus.

Easing summertime skin irritations
Summer is finally here, and along with sunshine and heat comes the greater likelihood of sunburns and bug bites. Instead of turning to over-the-counter products to ease those summertime skin irritations, how about trying a natural remedy?

Born to lead?
Are great leaders born or are they molded by the forces around them? According to a U professor, leadership qualities are both inherited and acquired.

Lazy eye in older children
U researchers have found that children ages 7 to 17 with amblyopia or lazy eye--the most common cause of visual impairment in childhood--can also reap the benefits of treatments more commonly used on younger children.

Going global
Students who partake in the U's new global health interdisciplinary program get to take their passion to places in the world that need it most.

If there is room at the table...
A family meal is much less likely to happen if your kitchen layout is wrong or your dining room is uncomfortable. Tasoulla Hadjiyanni, a housing design expert at the U, teaches her students how counter heights, color, and easy access to food and cooking tools can support healthful eating and bind a family together.

Playing hide and seek with the squirrels
Local school children are learning what it takes to conduct scientific studies thanks to a new squirrel-tracking program created by U faculty and staff at the Bell Museum of Natural History.

Being earnest has its moments
Showboat production is rife with witty remarks and farcical antics related to courtship, flirting, and basically, getting what you want despite what others think or say.

Envisioning the future of small towns
Small towns and rural communities face a variety of challenges, but also a future of great possibilities. Envisioning that future was the focus of the Center for Small Towns' "3rd Annual Symposium on Small Towns: Shaping our Future," which was held in Morris last week.

Horses on patrol
Do people behave better around horses? According to Lieutenant Troy Buhta, they do. The Twin Cities campus debuts the U's first mounted police patrol this summer in a partnership with the Minneapolis Park Police.

McGuire Translational Research Facility celebrates grand opening
The U's new Mcguire Translational Research Facility onteh Twin Cities' campus will make it easier for scientists to translate medical and scientific research into useful therapies and treatments for patient care. The building is named for William and Nadine McGuire in recognition of a $10 million contribution from their family foundation.

Civil Service Committee update: June 2005
The first civil service U senators are named; Merit Task Force initiates groups on performance management and merit pay; and more.

Feed your curiosity at one-day camps
This summer you can take an on-campus vacation, and just one day will do. Curiosity Camp is a series of daylong retreats designed to engage your mind and refresh your spirit. All feature prominent University faculty and unique campus resources, and U staff receive a 20 percent discount.

U Board of Regents approves new strategic direction
On Friday, June 10, the Board of Regents voted 11-1 to approve President Bruininks's recommendations for transforming the Univerisity of Minnesota.

Free concerts on the Twin Cities campus
Summertime at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus means a free concert almost daily--with live bands and rhythms that span the earth--on the East Bank and in St. Paul. The 2005 Summer at Northrop season runs Monday, June 13, through July 28. The Thursday concert series at the St. Paul Student Center goes through August 4.

Icon in ecology
At Cedar Creek Natural History Area, University researcher David Tilman conducts groundbreaking research that has made him one of the world's foremost ecologists.

Banish those fabric-eating insects
Warmer temperatures mean lighter clothing. If you're just now starting to store your cold-weather clothes (and who can blame you--Minnesota weather has been pretty darn chilly this month), read on for some tips on how to safeguard your favorite garb from fabric-feeding insects.

Small is powerful
Tiny, potent threats--viruses--are the targets at the U's new Institute for Molecular Virology, which brings together researchers from across the U who conduct virus-related studies.

When a volcano is your lab bench
Scientists are not yet able to predict if eruptions from a volcano will result in a docile sea of lava or violent explosions of molten rock. But they are closer to understanding what causes them both, thanks to studies by researchers such as Martin Saar, the U's new hydrogeologist and volcanologist.

Wilde romantic comedy on the Showboat
On the banks of the Mississippi River this summer, 11 University students and several alums will bring to life Oscar Wilde's timeless comedy of mistaken identities and romantic pursuits gone awry. "The Importance of Being Earnest" runs June 17 through August 27 aboard the Minnesota Centennial Showboat in St. Paul.

A tradition alive in the treads
A stunning collection of textiles--from hair ribbons to over-sized ceremonial tunics--has filled the Goldstein Museum on the Twin Cities campus in St. Paul. The items, which belong to U alum Richard Nelson, provide a window to the world of the indigenous Maya people and their centuries-old tradition of weaving. "Maya Textiles from the Guatemalan Highlands" will run through September 17.

U biennial budget: state funding and public forum
On June 10, President Bob Bruininks will unveil his recommendations for the U's operating budget for the coming year. Based on the U's 2006-07 biennial budget request to the state, a tuition increase might be on the horizon.

One task at a time
Adolescent brains don't develop the ability to multitask until children are in their late teens. Situations such as learning to drive a car, dividing one's time appropriately during final exam time, or navigating a new school schedule might be challenging for young teenagers.

Personal holiday--use it or lose it!
If you are a civil service or bargaining unit (CS/BU) staff member on

Summer health tips for dog
The Veterinary Medical Center, which has served Minnesotans for more than 50 years and is one of the busiest veterinary hospitals in the country, offers ways to keep your dog safe during the summer.

Reducing faculty paperwork
Annual faculty activity reports, required for processes from tenure tracking to college planning, are notoriously cumbersome and time-consuming. Three colleges are leading the way in developing online systems to streamline the process.

Negotiating family relationships
Ascan Koerner, a professor of communication studies, has identified four family interactions he calls communal sharing, authority ranking, equality matching, and market pricing. In adult life, these same interactions indicate levels of intimacy.

High-tech marriages
U Carlson School marketing expert Rajesh Chandy shows that mergers and acquisitions can spark innovation and offers three lessons for starry-eyed CEOs.

U turf researchers help golf courses stay green
With help from University of Minnesota researchers, golfers may now chase their dreams on winter-hardy, disease-resistant greens using a turf variety developed on the St. Paul campus.

Summer destination: the U near you
U of M campuses are a major tourist destination in Minnesota. Summer is a great time for employees to reconnect with their U campus--or explore a new U location--alone, with friends, or family.

U dental students serve rural Minnesota
The Hibbing Community College Dental Clinic is the first cooperative educational initiative between the U's School of Dentistry and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. Dental and dental hygiene students also volunteer their time in the Migradent program for children of Minnesota's seasonal workers.

Letters to the Editor, summer 2005
Letters in response to M, spring 2005.

Putting generosity in motion
U alum establishes endowed scholarship to help students get the most out of their college experience.

Donor's scholarship guide
Here are are some suggestions on how you can create scholarships for students at the U.

Building for the future
After two years of construction and more than 10 years of planning, the Oswald Visitor Center at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is ready to welcome and inform visitors.

Habitat and humanity
U endowed chairholder works for wildlife, students

From the pages of history, summer 2005
Moments in University history from the pages of the alumni journal, now called Minnesota.

Moving towards vitality
U professor looks at the impact of dance on older adults.

Plump for the pickin'
Nancy Rose, an educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, offers advice on growing your own produce and flowers.

Book reviews summer 2005
Three books by people at the U--an illustrated field guide to churches and synogogues across Minnesota, a study of a Vietnam vet's five stages of healing from tinnitus and trauma, and a book of poems that makes great company for summer travel.

Get connected, summer 2005
Winning fiction, summer in the city, M Alumni Online goes live, a homecoming for scholars

Forging a bright future
President Bruininks's recommendations on how to build a better future for the University in a time of social and economic challenges include consolidtating three colleges on the Twin Cities' campus.

Symbols of service
The lasting legacy of Charlotte (B.A. '48) and Elmer (B.A. '48) Emerson can be found in the basement of the Downer's Grove Township Hall. There, food and clothing await the needy and volunteers organize rides, emergency financial help, and referrals to other agencies for more help.

Class of 2008: making the grade
It's been less than nine months since we introduced you to LynAnne Evenson and Alex Moss, two students from the Twin Cities campus's Class of 2008 with distinctly different personalities and approaches to first-year success.

University researchers discover novel way estrogen affects the brain
Recent University research has found that estrogen acts on particular glutamate receptors in the hippocampus related to learning and memory--but only in female, not in male, rats. This opens the way for developing a no-risk estrogen-like drug for women wanting to improve their cognitive abilities.

A change in the air
Those of us who have lived in Minnesota for most of our lives know something's going on with the weather. According to two University climatologists, there are indeed some emerging patterns.

Shelter from the storm
Researchers at the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, have come up with an innovative, wood-based "containerized" house--dubbed a "rapid response house"--that can offer temporary shelter for victims of disaster and be used for other purposes, as well.

New therapy offers hope for people with bulimia
Recent findings suggest that there's more to bulimia than the desire to be thin at any cost or to control one's life. Although the eating disorder begins as a psychological problem, a University study suggests that in severe cases a physiological component triggers the impulse for people with bulimia to binge and purge.

State bonding bill gives U $111 million
Throughout much of the 2005 session of the Minnesota State Legislature, the University has been monitoring the progress of its biennial budget request, as well as the 2005 version of its 2004 capital request and a bill that would provide state funding for a new football stadium on the Twin Cities campus. Read about how the U fared in each of these areas.

New name for hospital
The name change from Fairview-University Medical Center to University of Minnesota Medical Center reflects the strength of the University's reputation and the success of the Fairview partnership.

Awards and appointments: May 2005
Outstanding Achievement Awards, honorary degrees, national awards in the sciences, American Lung Association's Extra Mile Award to U Fleet Services director, Communicators Forum Maroon & Gold Awards, and more.

No surprise
The College of Human Ecology won the CAPA Unit Award this year for its supportive environment for academic professionals and administrators. It was a welcome recognition to staff, who've known for a long time that CHE has something special.

The next big thing
A decade ago, biology was abuzz about genomics, the study of the structure and function of genes. Today the word to watch is "proteomics"--the field that focuses on proteins and how they alter, and are altered by, other cellular components.

UMD graduate a model of scholarship and courage
When Callie Gospeter walked down the aisle at the University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) commencement ceremonies May 14, she celebrated some stunning accomplishments. She maintained a 3.8 grade point average and graduated magna cum laude in only three years. She was a UMD Best of Class Scholar and a Goldfine Scholar. She also survived cancer.

Weighing in on the plan
On Monday, May 16, the U's Board of Regents held a public forum to discuss President Bruininks's recommendations for changes to the focus and structure of the University, recommendations which will save the University an estimated $25 million over three or four years. Nearly 40 students, faculty, staff, and community members spoke on a range of issues. The regents will act on specific recommendations in June.

Regents to consider information from public hearing
On Monday (May 16), the U's Board of Regents held a public forum to discuss President Bruininks's recommendations for changes to the focus and structure of the University. Nearly 40 students, faculty, staff, and community members spoke on a range of issues. The regents will act on specific recommendations in June.

Flowers in a bucket?
According to the National Gardening Association, the number of people gardening in containers has more than doubled over the last five years to an all-time high of 26 million households. If you want to give container gardening a try this spring, University horticulturist Mary Meyer has some tips.

Coffman wins design award for renovation
Recently, Coffman Memorial Union on the Twin Cities campus was one of eight student union projects around the world honored with an Association of College Unions International facility design award.

The sleep link
Two University of Minnesota professors at the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center were the first to document a rare sleep disorder known as REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD). Now they want to know why so many with RBD go on to develop Parkinson's disease.

Connecting cultures
Psychology professor Richard Lee examines how the development of a positive ethnic identity helps Korean adoptees walk between two worlds.

Keeping watch over Minnesota's resources
The U's Natural Resources Research Institute celebrates 20 years of helping to sustain what the earth has given to the state.

Asking the right questions
Life may be prolonged by innovations in medicine and health care and discoveries in genetics or stem cells. Yet these advances also raise questions that go beyond what is merely medically possible to what is the right thing to do. The U's Center for Bioethics marks 20 years of asking the right questions.

Editors debate Scholars Walk
There's no denying that the new walkway connecting Northrop Mall to the McNamara Alumni Center is a welcome addition on the Twin Cities campus. But whether or not to put an apostrophe in "Scholars Walk" has been a matter of considerable debate, on campus and beyond.

Great expectations and open doors
With about 150 graduate majors on two campuses, the U relies on directors of graduate studies (DGS) and DGS assistants to play a key role in attracting and keeping top student talent. Several of them shared thoughts about highlights and challenges of their jobs.

Teens on the loose
If you have a teen at home, summertime may be worry time. Here are some suggestions to help minimize stress levels at work by increasing the safety of teenagers at home.

Unearthing the Medici mystery
The Medicis were the most powerful family in Tuscany for 400 years and along with their splendor and influence came notorious violence and intrigue. But with the help of a professor from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, the Italians may rewrite the history of the infamous family.

Exploring the frontiers of learning and work
The Department of Work, Community, and Family Education tied for first among vocational and technical graduate education programs in the nation. Its faculty includes experts on issues from career and technical education in high schools to organizational memory in corporations.

A book no backpack could hold
The world's largest book ever made has been donated to the University of Minnesota Libraries and will be unveiled during a special presentation at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 12. It took a roll of paper longer than a football field and more than a gallon of ink to produce the book, Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Himalayan Kingdom.

Civil Service Committee update, May 2005
CSC seats filled; U Senate election in progress; input needed for Merit Task Force, CSC presentation to regents on strategic positioning, and Rules Subcommittee regarding telecommuting and working on call; and more.

President Bruininks releases next step for the future of the U
President Bob Bruininks released the next step of the University's strategic positioning plan today with recommendations to realign academic programs, implement cost-saving administrative reforms, and enhance diversity, writing, and international programs at the University. He also recommends reducing the number of Twin Cities campus colleges by three through merging academic programs.

U night with Aaron Brown
The anchor of CNN's flagship evening newscast, "News Night with Aaron Brown," will be keynote speaker at the University of Minnesota's Alumni Association's 101st Annual Celebration on Tuesday, May 10. Brown, a U alumni, says a tour of a newspaper office ignited his passion for reporting.

Robert Jones talks about General College
Robert Jones, the University's senior vice president for system administration, is also a recognized authority on corn physiology and a national and international leader for diversity initiatives and access to education for students of color. After a short profile, Jones answers questions about the University's proposal to transform General College from a college to a Department of General Developmental Education within a new College of Education and Human Development.

Nils Hasselmo Hall to be dedicated
Tomorrow (May 6) from 4 to 5:30 p.m., the Basic Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Building (BSBE) on the U's Twin Cities campus will be renamed the Nils Hasselmo Hall. Hasselmo, the U's 13th president, launched an initiative to enhance the health sciences, which resulted in the founding of BSBE.

Super Size Me was no fiction
A new University shows that dietary fat can accumulate in the liver, which it isn't supposed to do. The finding implies that eating too much fat may harm the liver and set you up for really serious trouble later on.

Are you overreacting?
One way to prevent hay fever is to stay indoors during the early morning and early evening hours--when pollen levels are highest. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, this "seasonal nuisance" is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States--affecting about 10 percent of the population.

Info kit available for lake home and cabin owners
Minnesota has more than 120,000 seasonal cabin owners and thousands of people who live year-round in a lake home. Recently, the U of M Extension Service unveiled a portable information kit to help these people keep their getaway places in tip-top shape.

Silent plight
A University of Minnesota researcher takes aim at cytomegalovirus infection-a little known but widespread cause of deafness and mental retardation in infants.

Arboretum names visitor center in honor of donor
On May 1, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum named its newly opened visitor center the Oswald Visitor Center. The $20 million center is named for Charles W. Oswald and family, who gave $13.5 million toward its construction.

IT alums spur Minnesota economy
According to a recent survey, 4,150 companies worldwide have been founded by alumni from the U's Institute of Technology--with nearly two thirds of those located in Minnesota. These companies, which span six continents, employ more than 550,000 people and generate about $90 billion in annual revenue.

Women like motherhood but feel underappreciated
A national study led by University of Minnesota researcher Martha Farrell Erickson has found that mothers derive deep satisfaction from motherhood even as they worry about the impact of American culture on their children. However, many mothers also reported that they feel that society does not appreciate them.

When the land of fire and ice meets the land of 10,000 lakes
Icelandic students have been coming to the University of Minnesota for 70 years, but in 1982 the educational exchange between the U and Iceland country became official. Today, the Val Bjornson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship makes it easier for students to experience the land of fire and ice.

Sex and the City author brings her wit--and style--to campus
Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell made an appearance on campus Tuesday night to talk about her career, relationships, and, the stories that have made her famous. Even though she's now married (gasp), she regaled the crowd of mostly female students with a mix of one-liners and advice.

Extension info kit offers advice for lake home and cabin owners
If you can't get away to your cabin this weekend, head to the 2005 Lake Home and Cabin Kit Show in Minneapolis, April 29-30 and May 1. You'll find U of M Extension Service experts there, plus a kit to help keep your getaway in tip-top shape. The kit is also available through the U of M Bookstores.

Ending segregation in public schools
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional, and that public schools must in "prompt and reasonable" fashion discontinue segregation. Then, a year later, in the Brown II decision the Court ruled that schools should be desegregated "with all deliberate speed." The U will mark the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education II with free public lectures on May 2-4, and with two law school conferences on May 5 and May 6-7.

Awards and appointments: April 2005
Spring is award time at the U. This month's update includes the 2005 President's Award for Outstanding Service, honorary degrees and an outstanding achievement award, Breaking the Silence Awards, Duluth and Morris faculty and staff awards, and many more; appointments include a new director for Glensheen Historic Estate.

CAPA elections and award 2005
Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators (CAPA) officers and senators announced; unit-level elections are now under way; and the College of Human Ecology wins the 2005 CAPA Unit Award.

To be an expert and a friend
Michael Dennis Browne, English professor and poet, is revered for passionate commitment to his craft. Here's a profile of one of the 14 winners of the University's highest teaching award in 2005.

Clips for a cure
On Friday, April 22, the University of Minnesota student organization Clips for a Cure will hold a benefit program, 5K run, and concert to benefit the University Cancer Center.

What's in it for Spot and Puff?
As we become more health conscious, we're reading food labels and choosing products carefully. If you have pets, you're probably doing the same with their food. Here are some tips to guide you through the world of pet food labeling.

Challenges for new mothers who work
In the United States, half of all women with infants work away from the home and most will return to their workplaces within three months of childbirth, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. A University of Minnesota researcher is looking at the relationship between family medical leave policies and postpartum health.

Triggering addiction
A University of Minnesota researcher has developed a new way of understanding addiction. Drug addiction, he says, happens when the narcotic hijacks the part of our brain that's responsible for learning about rewards.

Dedicated to the Native American
Since 1960, the University of Minnesota, Morris, has waived tuition for its American Indian students. This population makes up 7.2 percent of students on the Morris campus; nationally, American Indian students comprise only one percent of undergraduate population.

Harvesting new business ideas
Entries are pouring in for The Minnesota Cup, a competition to uncover the next Thomas Edison or Howard Schultz (Starbucks founder). The contest, which was inspired by two U of M alums, ends May 6, 2005.

New wind turbine powers Morris
On Earth Day (April 22) the University formally commissioned a new wind turbine in Morris that symbolizes the coming renewable-energy economy even as it powers and empowers the rural area where it stands.

When modern equals fear
Is globalization just colonialism rebranded? A gathering of movers and shakers asked the hard questions about economic "shock therapy" and the power of people to take control of their own destinies in a rapidly expanding world.

Supporting great teaching
The U's Academy of Distinguished Teachers includes nearly 200 teaching award-winners from all the campuses. Several members share thoughts on its role and importance.

Using e-mail professionally
E-mail is not just for convenience anymore--it's for serious business, from job offers to supervising. Here are some guidelines and tips for e-mail that's professional and works.

Disabled Student Cultural Center launches awareness campaign
Members of the Twin Cities campus's Disabled Student Cultural Center are launching a campaign to raise awareness for students with disabilities. The group has made two giant banners--one hanging from Northrop Auditorium and another on Church Street in front of Murphy Hall. The banners read: SEE 3, See Ability, See Disability, See Me.

Publish or perish
With the prices of annual subscription rates for scholarly journals going through the roof--some increasing more than 300% each year-the academic and scientific world is wide open for new ways to publish. An April 19 conference explores emerging trends and possibilities.

U honors Bruce Dayton with highest award
Bruce Dayton, longtime leader of the Dayton Co. and noted philanthropist, has been awarded the University of Minnesota's honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his service to humanity.

Alexander in Afghanistan
Historian Frank Holt, a specialist on Alexander the Great, will reveal new evidence from Afghanistan about the conqueror's personality and discuss what the U.S. can learn from Alexander's record in the annual Lauritsen Lecture.

Pawlenty praises U plan to become world leader
During an appearance at the University of Minnesota's Health Careers Center, Governor Tim Pawlenty praised the University's goal of becoming one of the top three public research universities in the world in the next decade.

U student wins Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Jonathan DeRocher, a senior majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, has won a Gates Cambridge Scholarship for 2005-06. The scholarship is awarded to only 78 people worldwide (35 in the United States) each year.

Civil Service Committee update, April 2005
The pay plan for 2005-06 is posted, a civil service opening for Senate Disabilities, and more.

Signing on
Thirty-one Distinguished McKnight University Professors and Regents Professors throw their weight behind the University's plan to move its education and research to world-class levels.

U Theatre explores what happened in Laramie
In 1998, a month after University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was beaten and left for dead outside of Laramie, Wyoming, members of the Tectonic Theater Project began interviewing a cross-section of the town's residents. Their resulting play about the actors' experiences, The Laramie Project, is being staged beginning April 8 by students from the U's theatre program.

Stadium agreement with TCF has extra perks
In the agreement reached on March 24 between the University and TCF Financial Corporation--through which TCF will contribute $35 million to a new on-campus football stadium--additional important benefits will come to the U, and its students, in the future.

Pitching in for a beautiful U
On April 21, the University will once again host Beautiful U Day. The eight-year-old tradition will see scores of volunteers armed with garbage bags and wash cloths sprucing up the Twin Cities campus and participating in more that 21 events.

Want that 100-watt smile?
What comes to mind when you think of the actress Julia Roberts? Most people would say her big smile or her teeth. The Hollywood star has pearly whites that many people envy. If you're seeking teeth that sparkle like hers, the two hottest techniques at the dental office are bleaching and veneers.

A stroke of the eye
U researchers have discovered that the magic blue pill used to treat male impotence may contribute to a "stroke of the eye" or permanent vision loss.

UMC turning 100
This summer, the Crookston campus will begin its yearlong centennial celebration. On Wednesday, March 30, school officials unveiled a swanky new logo to commemorate the occasion.

Discussing solutions to water problems
In other parts of the nation and across the globe, there is a serious shortage of clean water. What to do about the situation is the subject of "Envisioning Solutions to the Nation's Water Problems," a free public lecture by Henry Vaux, Jr., at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in the Bell Museum Auditorium.

Life skills 1001
Helping students develop life skills and positive character traits is the mission of the Office of Student Affairs. A pilot project in the Twin Cities Student Unions is helping students document the skills and knowledge they learn from campus jobs.

UMD continuous improvement
When the quest for quality and excellence came to higher education in the early 1990s, UMD was at the forefront. Today, one of its biggest units employs a learning cycle methodology and the Baldrige Criteria to continuously improve and stay competitive in the ever more demanding marketplace of higher education.

Battle of the bands
The School of Music's Jazz Ensembles I and II will feature a swing-era Battle of the Bands on the stage of Ted Mann Concert Hall on the Twin Cities campus April 7 and 8.

Bonding bill agreement reached
On Wednesday, March 30, Governor Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders announced their agreement on an $886 million capital bonding bill for the state of Minnesota. Under the agreement, the University of Minnesota would receive more than $111 million in state funds for construction and renovation projects on its various campuses.

Moving forward
Yesterday, March 30, President Bob Bruininks received recommendations for his consideration on how the University can reshape and reinvigorate itself to become one of the top three public research universities in the world over the next decade. Bruininks will then take his recommendations to the Board of Regents in May.

Faculty and staff: March 2005
Recipients of the Morse-Alumni Awards and the Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education; Distinguished McKnight University Professors; and more.

Hockey team wins second straight national championship
Junior forward Natalie Darwitz scored the game-winning goal with 1:08 remaining in the third period to give Minnesota a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Harvard Crimson on March 27 for its second straight national championship.

How young children manage stress
Scientists believe our ability to manage stress as an adult is formed in childhood through a combination of genes and experiences. U professor Megan Gunnar, who pioneered the field of measuring stress in young children, is looking to lower our risk for poor developmental outcomes early in life.

New fund will support artists in crisis
When Duluth artist John Steffl was diagnosed with life-threatening lymphoma, dozens of fellow artists and friends offered to help. Instead, Steffl asked his friends to set up a fund for other artists in crisis, and the Artists' Relief Trust Fund has been born.

Among the best in the world
For the past seven months, the University has been taking a hard look at what its strengths are and how it will navigate the years ahead. Its best shot for a bright future comes from aiming to be one of the top three public research universities in the world within the next decade.

TCF Financial Corporation gives $35 million for the new, on-campus TCF Bank Stadium
Dreams of football on campus got a boost with the announcement of a TCF Financial Corporation $35 million 25-year corporate sponsorship for a new Gopher stadium.

Green eggs and ham are normal
In Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Sam-I-Am tries to get his friend to eat green-colored eggs and ham. Only after much pestering does he take a bite. He really likes them. Would you try green eggs and ham if offered to you this Easter?

Making friends and influencing learners
A University of Minnesota lecturer has paved the way for future teachers to rack up more classroom experience while helping English as a Second Language students in local schools become better writers.

The floor beneath the Shaq
How do middle-aged, basketball-loving University of Minnesota researchers get court time with the 7-foot-1-inch Shaquille O'Neil? They conduct studies for the manufacturers who build those wood floor surfaces at NCAA- and NBA-sanctioned venues.

A chance to chat about federal issues
Nearly 17 percent of the University's total budget comes from federal sources, and almost 8,000 students on the Twin Cities campus receive federal financial aid. Beginning this month, the U's Legislative Network is hosting a series of informal gatherings to give you a chance to learn how decisions that impact the U are made at the federal level.

U scholarship drive at $62 million
Through February 2005, the U's Promise of Tomorrow Scholarship Drive has reached 41 percent of the $150 million that the University has targeted for the drive, which has a goal of increasing by 50 percent the number of students receiving privately funded scholarships.

Light, ultra-light, and regular cigarettes--all equally harmful
U research shows that despite cigarette manufacturers' claims and advertised low levels of tar, light and ultra-light cigarettes do not reduce the risk of lung cancer.

CAPA celebration 2005
All academic professional and administrative (P&A) staff are invited to attend the annual celebration of the Council for Academic Professionals and Administrators (CAPA) Apr. 18. Meet other P&A staff from across the U, learn more about CAPA, and celebrate the unit award winner, to be announced that day.

A weekend of madness
For fans of Gopher sports, this past weekend's edition of "March Madness" was a dream come true, with Minnesota teams competing at the highest levels in all the major spectator sports.

3-D photo album of Holocaust survivors
A public art project has transformed three floors of the Elmer L. Andersen Library into a giant slide show. "Archiving Memory: The Art of Preservation," which features life-size images projected onto the library's walls and corridors, pays tribute to the men, women, and children who endured the Nazi occupation.

Shining a new light on silicon
If you make silicon particles small enough, it's capable of emitting light. That's the goal of InnovaLight, a start-up company collaborating with the U to produce a super light bulb.

Readers' tips for slowing down
Readers' tips for slowing down

Letters to the Editor, spring 2005
Letters to the editor in response to M, winter 2005

Excellence attracts excellence
In a time of fierce national and international competition for students, faculty, staff, and dollars, the U has vowed to become one of the top three public research universities in the world by the end of the decade.

Brief readers reply
Nearly 2,900 U employees took Brief's reader survey in November 2004, and about 700 wrote comments. The response was positive and satisfaction high among nearly 90 percent of regular readers. Here's a summary of the results.

Design of everyday life
Though it's been more than 30 years since he was a paperboy, Henry Petroski still vividly recalls his particular newspaper folding technique, resulting in a perfect toss. That's when his unflagging curiosity began about why we have the things we do in life, and how these everyday objects change, design-wise, or disappear.

Life after work
Retirement planning means more than finances. Taking account of body, mind, spirit, health care, and independence are part of preparing, too. Seminars are coming up.

Definitely not Darwin...
Twelve contestants spouted theories--original, but sometimes unbelievable--to a jam-packed crowd in the Loring Pasta Bar. Only three earned the right to be called the world's first Scientific Theory Slam laureates.

U receives $5 million, announces new bioinformatics initiative
President Bob Bruininks unveiled a new initiative, the Consortium for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, which will be funded with $5 million in settlement money from Microsoft Corp. and $5 million in matching funds from the University.

U prof combats slavery
Sex trafficking, the sale of children, children forced into the military, child labor, and debt bondage are examples of contemporary slavery. David Weissbrodt and the U.N. Voluntary Trust Fund for Contemporary Forms of Slavery are helping the victims find a better life.

Cooking safely with the crock
After a hard day at work, the inviting smells of beef stew or chicken noodle soup wafting from a slow cooker can be a dream come true. But if this countertop appliance, a.k.a the Crock-Pot, is not used correctly, your meal could leave your stomach churning.

Extending motorists a helping hand
Forget AAA when you're visiting the U's Twin Cities campus. Instead, call MAP, the U's free Motorist Assistance Program, if you need help with your car because it refuses to start or you don't know how to change a flat tire.

Health Talk provides the experts and the answers
What started out as a television program in 1987 is today a radio show, a segment on a morning show, a Web site, and an electronic newsletter.

If you give a moose a forest...
How many moose can a forest support? And can a hungry moose, which can munch as much as 25 pounds of brush a day, change our ecosystem? Since 1985, researchers at the U's Natural Resources Research Institute have studied this rarely seen animal and its effect on Minnesota's forest landscape.

Promise for type-1 diabetes treatment
Insulin shots could be a thing of the past for people with type-1 diabetes if U researchers have their way. A recent study at the U's diabetes institute restored the natural ability of eight clinical trial patients to produce insulin.

Charitable donations: giving to the U
The U has risen to fifth in private support among America's public universities and is by far the top gift-getter in Minnesota higher education.

Raptor Center program reaches out to children
The Raptor Center has joined forces with AmeriCorps to bring educational programs with live raptors to minority and low-income children as part of an effort to close the achievement gap between white and black students.

Women's History Month 2005
U employees tell how they observe International Women's Day, and links to Women's History Month events.

Get connected
UMAA annual celebration, Distinguished Teaching Awards, Legislative Network, Center for Spirituality and Healing

Civil Service Committee update, March 2005
Nominations are sought for 23 new U Senate seats, the CSC, and other committees; Staff Development Award guidelines revised; and more.

Fast food and diabetes
A study by University researcher Mark Pereira found that people who consumed fast food two or more times per week are at increased risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Cool it this summer
UMD offers summer housing for those 55 and older.

Scholarship drive: The Promise of Tomorrow
Through December 2004, the University raised $56 million for student support as part of its Promise of Tomorrow Scholarship Drive.

The emerging uses of biocatalysis
Cleaning up toxic spills is just one of many facets of the emerging scientific field known as biocatalysis. Biocatalysis projects at the U span several colleges and involve multiple faculty members.

Federal and state funding critical to U's strength
The University is working harder than ever in both Washington and St. Paul to make a case for critical federal and state legislative support--support that's needed if the U is to continue as a national leader in research and education.

The faces of Cedar-Riverside
Last fall, 15 University of Minnesota students uncovered and documented historical information about the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on the U's West Bank. Their findings on this more than 100-year-old home to immigrant communities are displayed at the Hennepin History Museum through March 20, 2005.

Finding the right path
Thanks to a scholarship that has made it possible for her to focus on academics and take advantage of opportunities from community service to study abroad, Elizabeth Wilkinson's plans for the future are coming together.

Making the most of a match
Matching dollars have motivated one young alumni couple to create a fellowship now rather than later. AJ and Kevin KleinOsowski recently pledged $25,000 to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, from which they both graduated.

Soccer legend Weah visits Twin Cities campus
For all that he has accomplished on the field, Liberian-born soccer legend George Weah exuded considerable humility and compassion during his visit to the University of Minnesota on February 25.

Drumming up humor and local music
What happens when a drummer wants as much attention as his fellow band members? He becomes the host of a TV comedy show. That's the idea that launched "Nate on Drums," an award-winning program produced by two University of Minnesota alums.

Book reviews spring 2005
We highlight three books by people with connections to the University of Minnesota--Dear Dr. Fisch: Children's Letters to a Holocaust Survivor, art by Robert O. Fisch, Kathleen Cleberg, ed.; Depth Coaching, by Patricia R. Adson; and The Work of Wolves, a novel by Kent Meyers.

A compassionate spirit
During her 30-year career at the University of Minnesota, Gisela Konopka was renowned as a scholar and author in the field of social work. She was also recognized for her clear-headed, compassionate approach to difficult circumstances.

The gift of great teaching
When pianist Wonny Song took first prize at the prestigious Young Concert Artists (YCA) International Auditions in New York in January, he provided further evidence of what can happen when an extraordinarily gifted student meets a world-class teacher.

Class of 2008: Weighing in
M continues to follow two students from the Class of 2008--LynAnne Evenson and Alex Moss--throughout the 2004-05 academic year. In this third segment, they share how they feel about some bigger issues facing students today.

Title IX: Opening doors for female athletes
While proponents and opponents still debate the numbers, there is little doubt that 33 years after it was enacted, Title IX has transformed the landscape of women's and men's athletics at the University and around the country.

Helping tsunami victims in Sri Lanka
Since the tsunami that struck Asia late last year, U doctoral student Gertrude Hewapathirana has been occupied with far more than studies. Many of her relatives died and one is still missing.

Playtime for Law School students
The Theatre of the Relatively Talentless, or TORT, puts on its third annual show this weekend in St. Paul. It's a great chance to see normally serious Law School students at their creative best.

State of the U highlights access, support, and innovation
The 2005 State of the University addressannounces Founders Opportunity Scholarship and urges advocacy and creativity.

Orientation registration goes online
It's not just signing up for summer camp--it's 4,000 students' first interaction with the college they want to attend. Orientation registration for the College of Liberal Arts, Twin Cities, used to take 2-3 weeks on paper, by mail. Now it takes a few minutes online for 95 percent of participants, staff can spend more time with students who need customized help, and everybody's happier.

Body of knowledge
Medical School anatomy students learn from their "teachers"--those who have chosen to donate their bodies after death. The students also learn to treat each cadaver with the respect accorded a living human being.

Read it and reap
Check out the University's Web publication, UMNnews, now celebrating its one-year anniversary. Since its debut in March of 2004, UMNnews has offered a wide range of news and feature stories with a University angle, including the latest on U research, people in the news, and events on campus.

University to host 24th annual MLK Concert
On Sunday, February 27, the Ted Mann Concert Hall will come alive to the Sounds of Blackness performing songs that fueled the civil rights movement and actor T. Mychael Rambo reenacting the activist's speeches during the 24th annual MLK Concert from 4 to 6 p.m.

Germane to the genome
As we continue to decode the human genome, we are discovering more about people's predispositions. But genetic science does nothing to help society decide what to do with this information. A lecture on campus will discuss these issues facing courts, legislative bodies, and workers on the ground.

Houseplants: beating the winter blahs
When the weather outside is frightful, we turn up the heat. Ahh... we're happy, but not our plants. The low humidity level can literally squeeze the green out of them. Here are some winter-blah-beating tips.

Care conference
At University of Minnesota, Duluth, students in medicine, pharmacy, and nursing collaborate to better care for patients.

Possibilities in peat
With help from University peat experts, Koochiching County, Minn., is able to legally and sustainably harvest a portion of its one million acres of Sphagnum peat, the most economically valuable moss.

New and returning regents
Four candidates were elected to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents on February 16: Anthony Baraga, Dallas Bohnsack, Steve Hunter, and David Larson.

CAPA benefits and compensation update
Nonrenewal notification and vacation policy for academic professional and administrative (P&A) staff are just two of the concerns taken up this year by CAPA's Benefits and Compensation Committee.

Faculty and staff: February 2005
Interim co-deans for the Carlson School, UMD associate vice chancellor for academic support and student life, College of Pharmacy's first occupant of the Weaver Endowed Chair, news service director, U faculty members named to United Nations and NASULGC boards, and more.

U figures in top-tech-city ranking for Minneapolis
Popular Science magazine has named Minneapolis the country's "Top Tech City." Its current issue describes wonders like the LRT, the skyways, and Mayor Rybak's Prius, crowning its coverage with sketches of the University of Minnesota's Digital Technology Center (DTC) and Center for Distributed Robotics.

Graduation, retention rates up for Twin Cities campus
Graduation rates at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus are continuing a decade-long steady ascent, and retention rates are on the rise, too. One reason may be that the University has placed a greater emphasis on improving the undergraduate student experience.

In search of happiness
It's intangible, yet something everyone strives to get hold of. It can be found inside them, but people look for it elsewhere. It's free, and yet beyond price. It's happiness, and four University professors, including Valerie Tiberius, pictured, study how to find the often elusive and ephemeral state of being--and ways to keep it.

Music festival with electronic ties
From February 16 to 20, several notables in the world of electronic music will be jamming or getting funky at the West Bank Arts Quarter. The third annual SPARK Festival of Electronic Music promises to educate, entertain, intrigue, and even raise a few eyebrows.

Minnesota: A History of the Land
A TV documentary coproduced by the College of Natural Resources and Twin Cities Public Television shines a spotlight on U research. The project involved 28 faculty and staff members from 10 colleges and units, from Duluth to Waseca. It debuts Feb. 21-22.

New VP for research looks ahead
R. Timothy Mulcahy became the University's vice president for research February 1--a position with statewide impact on all the campuses and research stations. Mulcahy answered questions about his new role, from the special research strengths at the University of Minnesota (uncommonly diverse) to what he likes to do in his precious free time (fly-fishing, for one).

Of chocolates and roses
This Valentine's Day, like in years past, chocolate will fly off the shelves and roses will be plucked from florists' coolers like there's no tomorrow. We bought more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and more than 175 million roses for Valentine's Day in 2004.

Outsourcing: Is sending jobs overseas a good or bad thing?
Twenty Carlson School MBA students studied outsourcing and then went on an extended field trip to India to explore all sides of the issue. They found it wasn't just about labor advantages, but also about making the most of time zones.

Bruininks gives hybrid SUV a thumbs-up
The U's Fleet Services got the state's first Ford Escape hybrid on February 8, and President Bruininks is taking the 33-miles-per-gallon red beauty for a 10-day test drive. So far, he's all for it.

Don't fall victim to identity theft or phishing
Personal information in the wrong hands can mean big financial trouble. So, whenever you're asked for personal information, make it a habit to ask, "Why?" or "What do you need it for?"

On the mend
The University of Minnesota's new Center for Cardiovascular Repair looks to living cells to fix broken hearts.

Completing the picture of Minnesota life
Researchers at the College of Human Ecology are mapping quality of life among families of color in Minnesota.

Happy birthday to U
On Thursday, February 24, the University of Minnesota will celebrate its 154th birthday. Following free cake on the mall, President Bob Bruininks will give the State of the U address, which will highlight connections between the U's past and its future.

Maroon and Gold Day at the Capitol
On February 23, hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and alumni from around the state will descend on the state capitol and urge legislators to support the University of Minnesota's legislative requests. These University advocates will take their case directly to their elected officials just as the budget battle begins to heat up at the legislature.

President Bush proposes tight federal budget
On Monday, President Bush released his budget request for fiscal year 2006. It is one of the tightest federal budget submissions since President Reagan's in 1981. Here's a preview for higher education and the U.

Puppetry cabaret showcases student creations
Between February 11 and 27, puppets will take center stage at the Rarig Center. Seven Twin Cities campus students will share what they've learned about the art of puppetry in ARTiculations: A Puppetry Cabaret, which will include hand puppets, marionettes, and a cameo by the American icon Barbie.

Civil Service Committee update, February 2005
A look ahead to a new role for civil service staff in the U Senate; plus an update on the rules, February meeting, and more.

Oh, you tease! Strength-train your brain with games
Solving puzzles and riddles is a good way to build dendrites--the treelike extensions of brain neurons that receive information and transmit nerve impulses--and help stave off memory loss.

One nation, indivisible, with quality health care for all
A woman having a heart attack is twice as likely to die as a man and African-Americans are one-third more likely than all other Americans to die from cancer. In the next Great Conversation, the U¿s Anne Taylor and her guest Vivian Pinn discuss whether America's women and minorities have been denied equal access to medical care and what needs to be done to balance the scales of treatment.

Confronting the winter blues
College of Human Ecology interior design students are learning how to work with light--both natural and artificial--to help alleviate Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) symptoms.

Breakfast of champions?
University nutrition consultant Carrie Peterson speculates on what the Super Bowl players might eat on Sunday for optimal performance in the game. As for the viewers, she recommends some vegetables and fresh fruits to go along with the sweet and salty snacks.

School of Music alum wins award to launch career
Pianist Wonny Song, who earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in 2004,recently won first-prize in the coveted Young Concert Artists International Auditions. Along with the honor comes a performance at the Kennedy Center and help managing his career.

Innovative asset management
The Office of Asset Management developed and introduced innovative strategies that are now bringing $6 million in increased revenue to the U each year. It's an improvement success story highlighted by the Office of Service and Continuous Improvement, the first in a monthly series.

February finance workshops
Looking for more control over your investments? Free workshops for U employees can help beginners and seasoned investors.

Iraqi elections 101
The Iraqi people go to the polls Sunday to elect a 275-member Transitional National Assembly. Sorting out the election process and the resulting government structure can be difficult. We offer you an election primer.

Hip to be square
In case you've been in a coma the last few years, the news is that LPs are making a comeback. The art of the LP cover comes to the Goldstein Museum, along with a vinyl-spinning opening night party.

Healthy gums, healthy babies?
Eat well, don't smoke, take your vitamins... Pregnant women get plenty of advice on how to give their babies the best start on life. A study led by University researcher Bryan Michalowicz may add yet another, surprising recommendation: Take care of your teeth and gums.

Adding financial resolutions to wedding vows
Studies show that more than half of newly married couples report serious marital problems within a year, and often, financial stress and poor communication contribute to that discord. Couples can help alleviate these problems by adding some financial resolutions to their wedding vows.

Degree program bridges gap between reporters and researchers
With the public talking about such things as infectious disease outbreaks and the rising number of uninsured, health news is increasingly important today but is often a challenge for writers covering the topics. The University's master of arts in health journalism provides mid-career journalists and public health professionals the tools they need to be better reporters and communicators.

U gains foothold for on-campus stadium
The University of Minnesota is one step closer to having its football games played outside and on campus. Both the House and the Senate have now introduced legislation that would give substantial state support for the construction of an on-campus stadium.

Governor recommends $113 million in new funding for the University
Governor Tim Pawlenty has unveiled his biennial budget proposal for 2006-07, and University of Minnesota officials received the answer they were looking for in their 50-50 partnership offer to the state: "Yes." Although Pawlenty's plan does not cover the full request, the University would receive 84 percent of the funding it asked for.

The U digs out
UMD worked its way out from 16 inches of snow that fell over three days for a season total of 67 inches so far. The statewide storm dropped 3-9 inches on the other U campuses.

Recognize your P&A peers
Whether the time is right to enhance a career or provide a fitting capstone, you may find just the honor for that colleague you deeply admire.

New Visitor Center opens at Arboretum
After a decade of planning and two years of construction, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum has opened its new 45,000-square-foot Visitor Center. The center will be the new gateway to the Arboretum's 1,040 acres of display gardens, northern-hardy plant collections, and diverse natural landscapes.

Expect the unexpected
The student-run Xperimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota has a tradition of creating bold programming on a shoestring. And the X offers an alternative to Mainstage productions for the more than 300 theater majors at the U.

Spreading the word
Linda Thrane took over as vice president for University Relations on January 3 with an eagerness to use her expertise in the service of something she believes in--the University of Minnesota.

Faculty and staff: January 2005
A summary of recent university faculty and staff awards, appointments, and other news, including a new dean for IT, a departing dean for the Carlson School of Management, a Minnesotan of the Year from the U faculty, and more.

Mindful living
Meditation can take many forms. University of Massachusetts Medical School professor emeritus Jon Kabat-Zinn's practice of mindfulness is about using every opportunity to pay attention to our senses to foster well-being and health.

Tsunami relief efforts at the U
True to its diverse culture, the U has responded in myriad ways to the challenge of the tsunami disaster on December 26. Departments, colleges, and student groups have been working overtime to aid relief efforts in Southeast Asia, including raising funds through two upcoming benefit concerts.

U Reads 2005 books announced
If your wish is to fill your nightstand, and your mind, with thought-provoking books, look no further. "U Reads," the College of Continuing Education's reading program, has issued its new list of 10 titles highly recommended by some of the leading thinkers at the University.

Flooring it: NRRI partnership benefits automotive industry
The U's Natural Resources Research Institute has teamed up with the Georgia Pacific Superwood plant in Duluth to help create lighter, stronger, less expensive wood products for use in today's SUVs.

Civil Service Committee update, January 2005
There's never been a better time to review your retirement saving plans. Here's a run-down on how the Minnesota State Retirement System works, plus two more easy options for retirement savings open to all U faculty and staff. Also this month: public hearings on rule changes, a call for CSBU staff award nominations, and the January CSC meeting.

Let the sessions begin
The starting gun sounded on January 4 at both the 109th Congress and the 2005 Minnesota Legislature. The word from Washington, as well as St. Paul, is caution. Here's a preview.

Homegrown hero: Steven Miles
The U's Steven Miles is keenly dedicated to helping others live better lives, and you get the impression he thinks everyone else is, too. He is unassuming, driven, and has appropriately been named Minnesotan of the Year by Minnesota Monthly magazine.

Sleeping it off
When the deep freeze sets in, animals use a variety of methods, including hibernation, to survive.

A gift from the past
On Wednesday, January 5, Senior Vice President Frank Cerra had the pleasure of opening a time capsule that was embedded in Jackson Hall in 1911 and discovered about two months ago in the final stage of the building's renovation.

Fighting prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is, after skin cancer, the second most common malignancy in American men. Research at the U's Center for Prostate Cancer may offer new, comprehensive treatment options and a brighter future for patients.

Women at work
Carlson School magazine gathered a group of women graduates and business people for a wide-ranging discussion covering the glass ceiling, balance in work and life, and the outlook for women in the business world.

Cultural compassion
Students in the U's mortuary science program learn about the differences in death among cultures and how to compassionately accommodate people with vastly diverse needs.

Life in the fast lane
Sarah Solfelt isn't happy unless she has her schedule loaded with a whirlwind of activities, athletics, and of course, academics. She also strives to leave a lasting mark on the organizations she gets involved with. The University has honored her efforts with the Donald R. Zander Outstanding Student Leadership Award.

Happier New Year
To help keep those New Year's ambitions alive, don't just make a resolution, make a plan. U psychology professor Marti Hope Gonzales talks about how to be successful in sticking to your goal.

Catching the rays
Two University experiments are searching for the mysterious origin of cosmic rays, some which pack the wallop of a baseball thrown at 100 mph.

Woodland American Indians celebrated in Basque country
A Minnesota contingent representing nine Native nations is participating in a Spanish Basque festival highlighting the history and culture of North American Indians.

Flu vaccine available
Faculty and staff can take advantage of flu shots with vaccine released last week by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Other fans pale in comparison
By the time the first ball was served in Saturday's championship match against the Stanford Cardinal, the Minnesota fan contingent in Long Beach Arena was large, enthusiastic, and decidedly maroon and gold.

Gophers fall to Stanford in NCAA volleyball championship
The University of Minnesota came one step away from its first volleyball championship, but fell to Stanford in the title game Saturday in Long Beach, California.

The changing face of Minnesota
The face of Minnesota is changing in some very perceptible ways--demographically, politically, culturally, and religiously--and not all residents are happy about our current state of affairs, according to findings from the Humphrey Institute's Minnesota Community Project.

CAPA is ready for the next level
The academic professional and administrative (P&A) job class was created at the University in 1980, and in 25 years, it has grown to encompass about 25 percent of the U work force. This year, P&A staff are expected to be represented in the University Senate, pending regents' approval.

U joins organization to reduce, trade greenhouse gas emissions
The University of Minnesota is the newest educational institution to join the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). But sometimes it's good to be green, as CCX members are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Practice safe eggnog
Eggnog is a holiday tradition, and preparing it safely means paying careful attention to the main ingredient.

Long live Minnesota trees
With the new forest genetics lab at the University's research station in Grand Rapids, U researchers can better study how to conserve the genetic variety of Minnesota's trees and increase the quantity and quality of timber yields in the region.

Mushrooms at the U
In the Far East, mushrooms have been valued for medicinal properties for centuries. Chinese and Japanese health care practitioners prescribe them for numerous ailments, including fatigue and respiratory problems. But in the United States, this fungus is popular as a delicacy. University researchers may change that, elevating mushrooms beyond a taste-bud treat.

U community gives to Twin Cities charities
The spirit of giving is alive at the U. For the second consecutive year, the Community Fund Drive has raised more than $1 million, and the 2004 Fill the Bus! event collected enough donated clothing to pack seven U circulator buses.

Spend New Year's Eve with the Gophers
The Gopher football team will play in its third consecutive bowl game for the first time in school history on Friday, December 31. And Creative Charters is offering travel package deals to Nashville for Gopher fans.

You decide; Governor asks for input on state budget
Do you think the state should give more money or less money to different state programs, such as higher education, transportation, and agriculture programs? Now's your chance to tell Governor Tim Pawlenty. His online survey is posted on the U's Legislative Network Web site.

Making it right: Restorative justice a learning experience for U students in trouble
When Tracy got a ticket for underage drinking, she went through a process called restorative justice where she learned about the impact of her actions on the U and the community, and also got the offense cleared from her record.

Faculty and staff: December 2004
A summary of recent university faculty, staff, and college awards and appointments, and other news, including two vice presidents arriving soon, two faculty appointments to the Institute of Medicine, a new U-Hennepin County liaison, the 2004 Siehl Prize recipients, a new canine officer, and more.

Volleyball team headed to Final Four again
The University of Minnesota volleyball team is headed to the Final Four for the second straight year, following a suspenseful five-game win over Ohio State Saturday night in the regional final at the Sports Pavilion.

Extreme stress: not just for grownups anymore
Stress used to be the exclusive domain of the middle-aged. But they now have company. Being "stressed-out" is one of the most common ways college students describe their state of mind.

WIMP patrol
We know that the universe is made up of 23 percent dark matter. Thing is, no one has ever seen it. An experiment by U physicists deep in the Soudan Underground Mine may detect the first WIMPS, or weakly interacting massive particles, that compose dark matter.

Holiday help
An endowed scholarship is something you can give to someone who has everything.

Never too old to give
Two centenarians have established endowment gifts to support U students.

Home run honors
Major League Baseball and 10 major league teams recently honored longtime Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad and his late wife, Eloise, with an endowed scholarship at the U.

Scholarship drive buoys giving
The U received $34 million for scholarships from more than 15,000 donors during fiscal 2004, the first year of its multiyear scholarship fundraising effort.

Stories behind the voices
In fall 2004, three students went on the air with U President Robert Bruininks to draw public attention to the University's drive to raise scholarships gifts. Heres why they did it.

Me Tarzan, you Jane
Former football player and anti-violence activist Jackson Katz looks at the media's role in creating the violent, dominant male.

Get connected
A series of ways to connect to the University of Minnesota Alumni Association

Member profile: Bill Manwarren
The first in his family to go to college, Bill Manwarren now works to raise scholarships.

Stories behind the voices
Three University of Minnesota students recorded radio ads to draw attention the U's need for scholarships.

24-Hour Theater: The Real Question is, Why Not?
With 24-Hour Theater, playwrights, stage designers, and actors have just one whole day to create and produce a play.

Happy 135!: CLA commemorates its age with uncommon goal
The College of Liberal Arts turns 135 years old this year and celebrates that milestone with the goal of creating 135 new scholarships.

Letter of Hope
Half a century ago, a scholarship changed the course of University alumnus Ralph Tillitt's life. Today, he donates to the U so others may also experience his good fortune.

Book reviews winter 2005
We highlight three books by people with connections to the University of Minnesota--Check It While I Wreck It, a study of women in hip-hop culture by Glendolyn Pough; Sleeping On Potatoes, a memoir by Carl Nomura; and Abundant Light, short stories by Valerie Miner.

From the pages of history--winter 2005
Moments in University history from the pages of the alumni journal, now called Minnesota magazine.

Turning memories into poetry
Once a week, at the West Wind Village, a long-term care facility in Morris, Minnesota, UMM creative writing students chat with residents and ask them questions. Then they turn those answers into poems.

Advanced warning: U researchers study new deer avoidance technology
Last year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation sought University expertise in evaluating the effectiveness of a new technology: a standard deer warning sign mounted with a light that would flash when deer were present in the area.

Even Mother Nature loves maroon & gold
The popular Even Mother Nature Loves Maroon and Gold series is back for a fifth year. The image for this year's poster and note cards features Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), the tallest of the prairie grasses native to Minnesota.

Civil Service Committee update December 2004
Lori Nicol and the Rules Subcommittee are moving several rule changes toward approval. They're also planning the first online-only publication of Civil Service Rules, replacing the print edition last published in 2000. Also this month: 1 percent salary increase coming Jan. 5; supporting the U at the capitol; and meetings coming up.

Secret shoppers reward great service
Secret shoppers were the life of the party during Each 1 of Us Counts, a week to reward and promote great customer service provided by employees in Auxiliary Services units on the Twin Cities campus.

U Dance Theatre: Transforming ideas into physical beauty
This weekend offers a great chance to check out student dancers as the University Dance Theatre presents its annual concert--Dance Revolutions--December 10-12 at Rarig Center in the U's West Bank Arts Quarter.

Slow down your life
As the pace of life in America--and around the world--reves up, we are beginning to acknowledge our need for rest to calm our bodies and minds and help us appreciate our days.

Class of 2008: Settling in
M is continuing to follow two students from the Class of 2008--LynAnne Evenson and Alex Moss--throughout the 2004-05 academic year. Hear them describe what it's like to be a freshman at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

State economic forecast: Projected deficit could affect U funding
On December 1, the Minnesota Department of Finance announced its latest economic forecast for the state, which projects a deficit of $700 million for the 2006-07 biennium. How the state's budget situation affects the University's request remains to be seen.

Scholarship winner studies human impact on the St. Croix River
Geology doctoral candidate Laura Triplett won a $78,000 Canon National Parks Science Scholarship that is aimed at developing the next generation of scientists working in the fields of conservation, environmental science, and national park management.

Holiday gift ideas from the U
Gift shopping for that precious someone? Check out these items from the University of Minnesota.

Lillehei Heart Institute continues namesake's legacy
In 1954, U alumnus and faculty member C. Walton Lillehei was part of the team that performed the world's first cross-circulation procedure in open-heart surgery. His legacy of innovation in medicine lives on at the Lillehei Heart Institute on the U's Twin Cities campus.

Corporations partner to mentor U students
Three business big wigs in Minnesota--Allina, 3M, and Best Buy--have teamed up with the U for a new mentoring program for students of color.

Regents approve budget requests to state
The Minnesota State Legislature will consider two important requests from the University when it convenes in January: the 2006-07 biennial budget request and the 2004 capital request.

Art and Commitment: A conversation about the arts and society
In a four-day symposium, December 2-5, presenters, performers, and the public will explore what role the arts should play in contemporary society.

Gopher teams hit the road
The University of Minnesota volleyball team has been awarded the No. 1 seed in the Minneapolis regional of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. Meanwhile, the Bowl-bound Gopher football team will be making its second appearance in three years at the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

December holiday tips
Holiday parties in December--many offices plan them for all kinds of good reasons. But why add to the stress? Holiday parties may be painful for some. And even with the best intentions, any party in December can suffer "seasonal creep"--which means it becomes a Christmas party, excluding those from other traditions. How about January or February? Now that calls for a party!

Nashville, here we come!: Gopher football goes to the Music City Bowl
A Northwestern loss to Hawaii early Sunday morning secured Gopher football's place at the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl in Nashville.

Putting the pieces together: Bruininks reflects on whirlwind trip to China
The University of Minnesota has a 90-year history with China. President Bruininks was part of a University delegation that recently visited that country and he talks about what has stuck with him since his return.

Crookston campus now offers first University of Minnesota online degree
The University of Minnesota, Crookston's Bachelor of Applied Health degree has become the U system's first degree program available online.

Scholars Walk opens
The Scholars Walk opened to pedestrians this month. Its still very much a work in progress, but pedestrians are enjoying a straight-line stroll between Church Street and the McNamara Alumni Center on Oak Street.

Getting the big picture
Academic staff at Big Ten universities now have a stronger, more formalized organization to share information and promote their interests. The Committee on Institutional Cooperation Association of Professional Staff Councils (CIC-APSC) emerged from a meeting in Chicago last month as an organization with a name and formal mission.

Looking for energy answers
The Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) works to develop Minnesota's ample resources, such as wind and agricultural biomass, and to raise the University's profile as a place for renewable energy research and solutions.

Accessibility: Rethinking the way we look at transportation
When it comes to traffic, the focus is usually on congestion, but a recent meeting of the minds, part of U president Bob Bruininks's 21st Century Interdisciplinary Conference Series, explored the larger question of how--and how well--people get where they need to go.

Elmer L. Andersen 1909-2004: long-time servant of the University
On November 15, former governor Elmer L. Andersen died and left a legacy of good works and strong leadership to the University and Minnesota. "I don't think there will be any way to replace Elmer Andersen in the public life of our state," says U president Robert Bruininks.

Vandalism at UMD causes $1 million in damages
An incident of extreme vandalism at the University of Minnesota, Duluth's new science building over the weekend has caused more than $1 million in estimated damages. (Photo courtesy of Bob King, Duluth News Tribune.)

Flu season office etiquette
Hacking cough? Aching muscles? High fever? Sidelong glances from your coworkers? Do yourself and your colleagues a favor--stay at home! In a year with a flu vaccine shortage, find out more about how to prevent colds and flu in the first place, how to tell the difference between the two, and what you can do if you get sick.

From sutures to stem cells
Internationally renowned Korean faculty members visited the University of Minnesota Medical School to talk about their research and celebrate a half-century relationship that helped rebuild Seoul National University after the war.

Wander the Weisman this weekend
The Weisman's Art Expo on the Twin Cities campus gives the community a unique opportunity to visit 10 galleries under one roof and explore their distinct personalities.

Thoughts about tomorrow: James Fallows weighs in on the election
Political journalism superstar, James Fallows, helped his audience at the Cowles Auditorium on the Twin Cities campus make sense of the election and speculated on what might happen next.

Talking turkey
According to the National Turkey Federation, 95 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving, and those Thanksgiving turkeys average 15 pounds. If you're looking for tips on buying and cooking turkey, read on.

Lost in translation
A U professor and a graduate student are looking at ways to ease the challenge of English-Hmong interpretation in mental health counseling.

Growing poinsettias at UMC
Christmas began in September for six students in a horticulture class at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. They're growing 400 pots of poinsettias in a bid to learn what it takes for plants to bloom, and be ready for sale, on our consumer-buying schedule.

Remembering a friend
A scholarship fund created more than 10 years ago in memory of a former University of Minnesota and Patrick Henry High School student has enabled numerous students from the high school to attend the U. Now it's about to help a lot more.

Vital bridge: community service for English majors
Through the Community Learning Internships program, English majors at the U are helping to improve community literacy.

Speaking from the heart; tell your story
When asked, "What makes the U great?" the responses range from "because it created one of the tastiest products ever-the Honeycrisp apple" to "it accommodates many income levels." Letters are pouring in from Minnesotans to the U's Legislative Network office spurred by its latest public campaign.

Open seats on the Board of Regents
There will be four open seats on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents in the coming year-three congressional seats and one at-large. Application forms are due on Monday, December 6.

Reading minds: University research may help those who cannot move
For the two million Americans without the ability to communicate, new University research holds promise.

Mushrooms and medicine
University researchers are teaming up to test whether certain edible mushrooms boost the body's ability to fend off cancer.

Civil Service Committee update, November 2004
This month: supporting the U at the legislature, Senate restructuring and civil service, and an update of civil service rules.

Postelection politics
As political majorities shift around the nation, the University of Minnesota-and higher education in general-will face some new challenges in the coming year.

Studying abroad in challenging times: Students help bring the world together
Each year, more than 1,200 University of Minnesota students study in more than 80 countries on six continents. Since 9/11, students are taking that opportunity to learn more about the world and act as goodwill ambassadors in the process.

Faculty and staff: November 2004
A summary of recent university faculty, staff, and college awards and appointments, including Fulbrights, National Academies, recognition from the Federal Republic of Austria, Carlson School of Management board, and more.

A dance of life and death
The Weisman Art Museum celebrates Chicano culture, including its Day of the Dead, through works by those in the Chicano community.

U-wide GLBT commission appointed
The University-wide Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Commission convened for the first time in a conference call Oct. 21. Appointed by senior vice president for administration Robert Jones, the group will monitor issues and needs of GLBT people on the U's campuses on an ongoing basis. The commission comes just in time to address challenges to GLBT safety and discourse.

How to vote
November 2 is Election Day, and polling places in Minnesota are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here are some tips for finding your polling place and registering on Election Day.

Resting places of the dead
The sight or thought of graveyards and tombstones are morbid to some, but not to University professor John Hamlin. He teaches a freshman seminar on graveyard culture, in which students learn to appreciate the stories that cemeteries can tell.

Why vote?
Need a reason to vote? In what could be the tightest presidential race in history, every vote truly counts. Besides, voting has been a hard-won right, even in the U.S., and millions of people across the globe can only dream of this opportunity we take for granted.

Figuring out fat
U researcher David Bernlohr studies the cells that suck fat from our bloodstream and stash it away in our hips, stomachs, and thighs. In today's overweight world, plenty of folks would like to know how these cells do what they do--and how we can keep them from doing it so darn well.

Don't suffer through a meeting
Ever hosted a meeting where nothing seems to get done? Or perhaps you've been in a meeting where you're constantly eyeing the clock? U of M Extension Service educator Lisa Hinz offers some tips on how you can conduct a more effective meeting or help make the one you have to attend worthwhile.

The U's teaching law firm
Each year U student attorneys provide about 18,000 hours of free legal services through the Law School's clinical education program. In addition to developing their professional skills, students in these law clinics have the chance to explore various types of law and to decide on one, or two, to spend their life pursuing.

Passion for the written word
On November 13, the College of Continuing Education's Community of the Book event will bring book lovers together for camaraderie and thought-provoking discussion.

Morrison works from Tweed on display at new Smithsonian museum
Eleven pieces of Minnesota artist George Morrison's work have been lent by the University of Minnesota, Duluth's Tweed Museum of Art for the yearlong Smithsonian exhibition at the new National Museum of the American Indian.

Minute Clinic opens in Coffman
The Twin Cities campus joins the list of sites where you can get fast screenings and treatments for common ailments, as well as a variety of shots--no appointment necessary. U employees are the priority group for service at the new site.

2004 Elections Project: The latest trends in Wisconsin and Iowa
As it turns out, the presidential race in three Upper Midwest states--Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa--is as tight as anyone could have predicted, which has put the work of the 2004 Elections Project in the spotlight.

Senate votes to restructure
Last month, the University Senate voted to add representatives of academic professional and administrative (P&A) and civil service staff. Pending approval by the president and regents, the Senate will become more inclusive than ever before. CAPA chair Teri Wallace shares her view of the process and prospects for change.

Chancellor Burton resigns
Velmer S. Burton, Jr., has announced his resignation as chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, effective October 21. He plans to return to his academic career at the University of Minnesota.

Choral icon Dale Warland returns to School of Music
After 32 years of success, the Dale Warland Singers gave their last performance in May 2004. This year, Warland returns to the University of Minnesota School of Music to teach choral conducting courses.

A birthday celebration to remember
Gerald McKay may be one of the oldest musicians playing an instrument at this year's homecoming. The active McKay will play his mellophone as part of the alumni band at the homecoming breakfast, and later will ride in the homecoming parade.

Haven for wildlife
At the heart of the new Glacial Ridge wildlife refuge near Crookston is the largest tallgrass prairie and wetland reconstruction project in North America. The diversity of wildlife on the refuge provides ample learning and research opportunities for U students and faculty.

Benefits enrollment is online
No more paper. This year, U employees who need to make changes in their health benefits are completing all the forms by computer. If you don't use a computer, or if you need assistance, work stations are available at locations around the campuses and at the benefits fairs. Get tips for completing your changes by the deadline, November 15.

Take back your time
Despite promises of a coming age of leisure, Americans are working longer hours on the job now than in the 1950s, and mandatory overtime is at near-record levels. But a "slow revolution" is taking root. Take Back Your Time is a major U.S. and Canadian initiative to challenge the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling, and time famine that threatens health, families, relationships, communities, and the environment.

U celebrates Homecoming Week 2004
Almost 90 years old, homecoming at the University of Minnesota still draws in the crowd. This year will be no different. Events include traditional favorites, such as the parade and pancake breakfast, and new events such as the Gopher Idol karaoke competition.

Steps to better health, online from the U
A new online resource from the Center for Spirituality and Healing helps people take charge of their healthcare.

Rock stars and universities share common quest: turn out young voters
This November 2 will be just the 9th time young people aged 18-20 will have the right to help choose the next leader of the United States. And everyone is trying to get them to exercise their power and vote.

Pumpkins and squash galore
Fall means brilliant foliage color, brisk temperatures, and a seemingly endless supply of squash and pumpkins. For some cooking and storing tips, read on.

Bioscience business incubator moves forward
With its $9 million in private fundraising complete, University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) is ever closer to making Minnesota a hub for the biosciences industry. Robert Elde, dean of the College of Biological Sciences, sees UEL as a footbridge to the kind of biosciences industry that has taken root in cities like San Diego and Seattle.

Pro baseball teams give to U
Fans expect lighting-fast pitches and homeruns from their major league teams. They don't expect them to pay for a student's education at the University of Minnesota. But recently, 10 major league teams helped to create a scholarship fund in honor of Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad and his late wife, Eloise.

Go Goldy!: U mascot to battle 12 peers for national title
Goldy Gopher is up against the best for fuzzy sports mascot of the year. Vote early and often!

Civil Service Committee update, October 2004
Each fall, the CSC holds a meeting at a U of M campus outside the Twin Cities. Also: Apply now for professional development funds--applications are considered at each monthly meeting.

2006-07 biennial budget request: U seeks financial partnership with state
On Friday, October 8, President Bob Bruininks presented his legislative request to the Board of Regents. The biennial budget proposal for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 calls for a "50-50 partnership" with the state.

U volunteer center seeks more members
For years, U retirees have been volunteering their time and talents to serve the University community and nonprofit agencies in the greater area. Now they are looking to expand their ranks to people of all ages who have "the well-being of the University at heart."

CSI Minnesota: CBS alumni at the scene of the crime
College of Biological Sciences grads from the University take to the now-popular field of forensics.

Cubicles, copiers, and coffee pots
You're the supervisor of staff in an open environment--sometimes known as cubes. What do you do to help everybody get along? The guy who's really tall and makes others self-conscious every time he stands up? The two hard-working students who also play music too loud? The voice that carries perfectly for vast distances? Last month, a group of University of Minnesota supervisors shared some pet peeves, possible solutions, general guidelines, and resources.

Pumpkins down, apples up: Results from an abnormal crop year are coming in
A strange growing season--with fall-like temperatures in August and summer-like weather in September, along with a flood or two--was bad for some crops and good for others.

A conversation on the media and foreign policy
Through the nationwide conversation forum, "The People Speak: A Discussion of America's Role in the World," world news experts talked with the audience about whether or not the media shapes American foreign policy.

ARTSmosis: Where the arts collide!
The West Bank Arts Quarter celebrates artistic collaboration for the fourth year in a row. On Friday, October 1, ARTSmosis brings together student artists for an evening of experimental fun.

Avoiding battle scars
Conflicts are inevitable in life, but according to educators at the University of Minnesota Extension Service, disagreements can be resolved or even avoided if you practice patience, and sometimes are willing to give in. Here are 10 tips for handling conflicts.

Converging interests: Germany and Scandinavia
Students are enhancing their career prospects when simultaneously delving into German and Scandinavian literature at the U. The University's Department of German, Scandinavian, and Dutch is the only one in the country with a program that's "not just a German program with Scandinavian icing."

Great minds in conversation
At age 11, her local Little League chose Donna Lopiano as a pitcher, but she was disqualified when she went to pick up her uniform because of a "boys only" rule. Lopiano, executive director of the Women's Sports Foundation, will discuss how Title IX leveled the playing field for women. She is one of five speakers teaming up with U faculty in another season of Great Conversations.

Students with disabilities receive new U scholarship
Thanks to an alum's gift of $100,000, the University has created its first fully endowed scholarship for students with disabilities. Three freshmen are the first recipients; the fund is helping to partially or fully cover their educational expenses for a year.

Running for the University
This weekend, some Twin Cities Marathoners will sport Run for the U T-shirts.

Party and learn: Students, staff, and faculty will gather together to watch the first presidential debate
The presidential debates could play a major role in the outcome of the election. Come watch the first debate Thursday night at Willey Hall on the Twin Cities campus and stay for a moderator-led discussion.

Big Band: Twin Cities campus marching band releases new CD
This year, the University of Minnesota Marching Band is the biggest it has ever been and what's more, it's releasing its first concert recording in a decade.

Work, family, sleep
U.S. employees are working longer hours than ever, and 85 percent have day-to-day family responsibilities caring for children, a spouse or partner, or an aging parent or family member. Hear what U employees are doing to manage work and family demands, and get information about U programs and events during National Work & Family Month.

Gophers beat Northwestern, remain undefeated
The Minnesota Golden Gopher football team trounced Northwestern Saturday in its Big Ten opener, 43-17. The Gophers, who moved up to No. 18 in the Associated Press rankings, are now 4-0 for the season.

Building business cases for the U
Meet Scott Martens, former Navy pilot and director of business transformation for American Express. He's now director of the U's new Office of Service and Continuous Improvement. His charge is to lead in assembling the facts and building the business cases that are needed to improve the U and tell its success stories.

Underdogs no more: U volleyball team ranked number one in the country
When the national rankings came out on September 13, the University of Minnesota volleyball team found itself, for the first time ever, ranked No. 1 in the country. It's the latest leap for a program that has seen considerable recent success.

Possible relief for obsessive compulsive disorder: a new study may help quell fears
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) disturbs about 1 in 50 people with excessive worries and fears. Now a new study at the University uses psychotherapy and an experimental drug to help patients "unlearn" the fears that obsess them.

U in Washington
With the end of the federal fiscal year today (September 30) and adjournment of Congress, the University of Minnesota begins to look toward the 109th Congress and its federal relations staff works to maintain support for the U.

Forces of nature: new MAST laboratory studies how to safeguard structures
The U's new MAST (Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing) laboratory manhandles beams, walls, and other structures up to 25 feet tall to see how they take the worst nature can throw at them.

Fantasy football is reality TV for legions of players
Fantasy football is hardly a new phenomenon; it's been around now for more than 40 years. The "sport" provides a virtual community where people can compete with their office mates... and where "guys can go and be guys and not feel bad for it."

Civil Service Committee update 0904
The Civil Service Committee urges civil staff to serve on a U committee and to support for Community Fund Drive.

Catching the best umn.edu waves
We offer you three University-related Web sites that, according to our resident Web critic, may not be perfect, but have some "really remarkable content and are a lot of fun to poke around in."

Letters to the Editor, fall 2004
Letters received in response to M, summer 2004

Answering the call: In pursuit of work that matters
You don't have to just dream about a career that's satisfying and meaningful. Self-exploration, professional guidance, and old-fashioned research and footwork can help you discover what you love and how to make it part of your life.

Chretien recounts his work in preserving the environment
Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien shared his experiences in preserving the environment at the Humphrey Institute's annual Distinguished Carlson Lecture Series on September 16.

Get connected
Hear U experts appearing around the state, participate in Mentor Connection, attend Fall Fest for Homecoming, and get a discount on arboretum membership.

From the pages of history
A fire in Old Main, the best football tickets, the Cold War, and a delegation to China all span a century of U history.

Sixty years later, a hero's reception
Alumnus Mike Welch (B.A. 1943) saved several lives during the World War II D-Day invasion. On June 6, 2004, he and five fellow crewmen held a reunion and were honored at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Electric exchanges: Great Conversations 2004-05 season
The fourth season of Great Conversations features dialogues on women's sports, the world's perspective on the United States, gender and race in medical treatment, design in everyday life, and the future of southern Africa.

Faster Development
Grateful for her college scholarship, UMD alumna Janet Jasper created an endowment fund to help senior accounting students pay their tuition bills.

Scholarships provide a world of opportunity
University scholarships have allowed U junior Rachel Jamison to participate in extracurricular activities while triple majoring in women's studies, global studies, and history.

UMD alumni give back
UMD alumnus and hockey star Bill Watson is helping his alma mater raise $500,000 for UMD's first endowed hockey scholarship.

Pay it forward: Alum helps fill need for future generations
In 1958, a $300 scholarship influenced Bruce Benson's decision to go to the U. Today, some students can choose to pursue their education at the U thanks to a scholarship fund established by Benson.

Alumni pool gifts to qualify for match
When 2007 comes around, three 1957 grads of the College of Natural Resources hope to have raised $50,000 for a University of Minnesota student scholarship fund. The group is currently canvassing support from their former classmates.

Keeping our food safe
It's 1 a.m., and you've got the munchies. Do you know where those potato chips have been? Reducing the risk of deliberate contamination is the goal of the new National Center for Food Protection and Defense, headquartered at the University of Minnesota.

Book reviews fall 2004
We highlight three books by people with connections to the University of Minnesota--A Measure of Endurance, a riveting personal and legal case history by William Mishler; Grass Angel, a novel for young readers by Julie Schumacher; and Life and Death in a Small Southern Town, a biography of place by Gayle Graham Yates.

Help solve the Jones Hall mystery!
Jones Hall's history is a mystery, and we need your help to solve it.

Balancing act: U program prepares Hmong community for bicultural parenting
The challenges of bicultural parenting will hit the estimated 5,000 new Hmong immigrants arriving from a refugee camp in Thailand. But unlike families before them, they won't have to deal with the challenges alone.

New U ad campaign in full swing
The University is in the midst of a new marketing campaign focused around the tagline: "Only at the U." Those words--illustrated by a host of concrete examples--are meant to capture what sets the U apart from other colleges and universities.

Fall M on the way
Watch your mailboxes this week or next for the fall issue of M, the University's only publication for all alumni. Read about finding your true calling, the U's grape-growing project, ACL injuries in female athletes, and other information on U research and programs. If you currently do not receive M but would like to, e-mail the M editor at coven002@umn.edu.

Playing by the numbers
If you have a child who's struggling with math at school and complains about it a lot at home, U psychologist Martha Erickson offers some tips to help your child discover that numbers really aren't so bad.

Flying safer, higher, and faster
The U's new Hypersonic Research Center aims to help prevent tragedies like the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and to send satellites into space in less time.

October is Scholarship Month
President Bob Bruininks has declared October as Scholarship Month at the U. This announcement follows last year's launch of the largest scholarship drive in the U's history-the University of Minnesota Scholarship Drive: Promise of Tomorrow.

Hi-tech justice
In Courtroom 180 at the University of Minnesota, future lawyers are learning the skills and tools necessary to better defend cases in real situations.

Mane squeeze: Lady lions prefer males with long, dark hair
University of Minnesota researchers have found that good hair for male lions--in this case, a long, dark mane--serves to intimidate other male lions and attract female lions at the same time.

Class of 2008: M follows two students as they navigate the first-year experience
M will be following two students from the Class of 2008--LynAnne Evenson and Alex Moss. You'll hear about the ups and downs, triumphs and travails, of their freshman year at the U.

CAPA prepares for 2004-05
CAPA representatives met at a retreat August 20 to get organized and plan for the year ahead.

Faculty and staff vote for the U
The new Vote for the U campaign moved to U campuses last week after a kickoff at the State Fair. The goal is 10,000 pledges to vote and hold candidates responsible to their promises to support high education.

Happy (healthy) birthday to you!: When a baby is born is a predictor of childhood health
U professor Chap Le has discovered why some babies are more prone to ear and other infections--it has to do with when they were born.

Take back the pleasure: Five ways to recapture the joy of eating
In the days before the obesity epidemic in America, we once ate healthy. Eating was a pleasure--and not a guilty one. A University professor tells us five ways Americans could recapture the pleasures of food and good health.

Hard science meets happy hour: The Bell Museum and its Cafe Scientifique
At Cafe Scientifique, innovative research is always up for debate. University scientists gather with interested citizens at Dinkytown's Kitty Cat Klub to talk about science and popular culture in a new series of conversations from the Bell Museum.

Fresh at the U
On September 7, 2004, the University welcomed about 5,000 new students to its Twin Cities campus. What do they remember from that first day of classes? Eleven freshmen tell us the best and worst things about day one at the University of Minnesota.

Record number of freshmen living on campus
The number of students choosing on-campus housing at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has been steadily increasing for the last several years, and this year nearly 82 percent of freshmen have chosen to live in the dorms.

A warm Minnesota welcome
What will it be like in the winter? Each fall, new faculty and staff members relocating to Minnesota ask this question. On the Twin Cities campus, the Relocation Assistance Program offers support from cold-weather advice to a job-finding workshop for spouses. But it's up to everybody on campus to soften the climate for new U faculty and staff members.

Power to the people: Grassroots Vote for the U campaign kicks off at the State Fair
The new Vote for the U campaign kicked off at the State Fair, garnering pledges to hold candidates responsible to their promises to support high ed.

Twist of fate: Research explores ACL injuries in female athletes
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries in female athletes seem to have reached epidemic proportions, with women suffering significantly more noncontact ACL injuries as men in soccer and basketball. U researcher Elizabeth Arendt has been looking for reasons why women are more susceptible to this knee injury.

Two whole days to get my photos back?!: Bridging the freshman-faculty culture gap
Each year, Beloit College releases its Mindset List to show college faculty just how big the pop-culture gap is between them and that fall's freshman class.

Weeding: the organic way
If you're thinking about weed control strategies for your lawn this year, consider corn gluten meal. This corn-milling by-product can thwart a seed's ability to germinate.

Making sense of a young person's behavior
When does a teenager's behavior count as dangerous risk-taking? When is it healthy experimentation? University researcher Jodi Dworkin's says engaging in new behaviors allows adolescent and young adults to learn their limits and build their foundation of values.

Stadium memories at Heritage Gallery
Memorial Stadium, the one-time campus hub for Gopher football games, lives on in a new exhibit at the University of Minnesota McNamara Alumni Center. Its rise, and later demolition, is captured in a legion of photos, quotes, and memorabilia.

Welcoming new students
The University has officially welcomed new students on the Twin Cities campus since the 1920s. That tradition will continue with this year's festive New Student Convocation to be held on the first day of school, September 7.

Touchdown on Campus
Want a place to gather before Gopher home football games this fall? Check out the plaza in front of Coffman Memorial Union, where "Touchdown on Campus" will offer great food, easy parking, and convenient transportation to the Metrodome.

Morris student crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way
Christina Rettmann, a University of Minnesota, Morris student from Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, was crowned the 51st Princess Kay of the Milky Way by the Minnesota dairy industry.

Great front-door service for continuing education at the U
The U's College of Continuing Education serves about 10,000 students and learners each year and must provide great service to keep them coming back. After CCE adopted a service philosophy, it created an Information Center last December to carry it out. Today, the center's 11 staff members are paving the way in developing standards and continuous improvement.

(Legal) tunes at your fingertips: U brings Rhapsody internet jukebox service to its students
With lawsuits pending across the country involving illegally downloaded music, the U recently signed an agreement with RealNetworks to deeply discount its Rhapsody internet jukebox service for University graduates and undergraduates.

Seeking a cup of the cold-hardy: U enology project helps develop good, native wines
The U's grape breeding program strives to combine the good taste of classic varietals and the cold-hardiness of northern types to produce first-rate Minnesota wines.

Beauty beyond skin-deep
A UMD professor and UMD alum and artist have combined to transform microscopic images of the body into a unique art form.

Dinnertime: Nourishing and nurturing
U of M research has found that adolescents who regularly have dinner with their families have lower risk of drug use, suicidal thoughts, and unhealthy sexual behavior.

Sister act: U students volunteer in Athens
Two U students and sisters traveled to Greece to help with crowd control at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Deep-fried Twinkies and Goldy: U at the State Fair
It's that time of year again for the State Fair--think corn dogs, deep-fried Twinkies, the Turbo Bungee, everything imaginable on a stick, and wall-to-wall Minnesotans trying to take it all in. And the University has its own large stake in the festivities.

The dope on steroids: Why some athletes take the risk
Winning Olympic gold can be a matter of one hundredth of a second or an inch. If steroids could help you get that fraction of time or distance, would you use them? (Even if they shrink your testicles?) Two U experts talk about the pressure to use performance-enhancing drugs.

Women and politics: a Humphrey Institute reading group
Condeleeza Rice and Hillary Rodham Clinton are highly visible leaders, but the male-female ratio in politics is way off balance. A Humphrey Institute-sponsored book club looks at the lives of political women.

Parents, kids, and fits
What would you do if you saw a parent in a store or on the street mistreating his or her child? Many people are unsure, says University psychologist Martha Erickson, and they do nothing.

Looking out for Minnesota's wooden bridges
U researchers are helping the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and county road departments save wooden bridges from rotting with decay-detection tools that could be built into the timber.

U guide to international markets
With the U's new ethnic market guidebook, international students are enjoying the tastes of their home countries more easily in the Twin Cities.

Curbing high school dropout rates
According to the Children's Defense Fund, one high school student drops out every nine seconds. "Check & Connect," a U program designed to improve student engagement, is helping more high school students stay in school.

A tradition continues: U at the State Fair
For the sixth consecutive year, the University will be celebrating Maroon and Gold Day at the Minnesota State Fair. There will be old favorites, such as the "Know your U" trivia game, and a host of new offerings, such as Goldy's Yellow Book Hotline, on that activity-filled Sunday, August 29.

The joy(stick)s of learning, Nintendo-style
Dan Lim and his staff at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC), have created a learning tool that can help students use their Nintendo-generation learning style to more effectively master course material.

One size does not fit all: U leads way in international programs that meet student needs
The University of Minnesota is leading the way in what's called "curriculum integration." It's a trend in which faculty and academic advisers identify high-quality programs abroad that will earn credit for students in their colleges.

Crying wolf?: When and how to alert the public of possible terrorist attacks
The Department of Homeland Security's color-coded alert system doesn't give the public enough useful information, analysts charge. And what's more, the warning may be setting up a "crying wolf" mentality among citizens.

Behind the athlete: U alum served as strength coach for U.S. Olympic athletes
In the summer of 2003, U alum Melissa Lott was looking after the bodies of U.S. athletes bound for national or international competition. Now she'll be rooting for several athletes at Athens that she helped train.

Finding child care
While most U employees are gearing up for a new semester, some are also looking for quality child care. Finding care can try any parent but can be especially overwhelming with a first child. Find out how other U parents have met this challenge, including those who used the U-wide child care resource and referral service, CareQuest.

Civil Service Committee prepares for a new year
The Civil Service Committee is gearing up for the 2004-05 academic year. On July 22, they met at Como Park for a retreat, where they set the agenda for the coming year and laid out plans for each committee.

Forget reaching for those toes; increase your heart rate instead
New research shows that stretching may not necessarily help prevent injuries, and it may actually contribute to them. Incorporating cardiovascular exercise into your routine may be the better bet.

Weisman forced to cancel exhibition of Cuban conceptual art
Owing to difficulties in securing visas for the artists, the Weisman Art Museum has canceled an exhibition of Cuban conceptual art that was four years in the making.

Young patriots: U of M students get involved in the political process
University students find meaning and purpose in politics, with get involved as the common watchwords, no matter what the party affiliation.

Thinking the unthinkable: Imagining bioterrorism at the U
If a bioterrorist group were to release anthrax spores at the University, what would we do? That scenario--and the resulting questions and answers--was the focus of an exercise involving specialists from the University and local, state, and federal agencies.

Family meals and adolescent well-being
Turn off the television and gather your family around the table. According to a recent University of Minnesota study, teenagers are more likely to experience improved health and well-being when they eat regular meals with their family.

Get the most from your garden
Brave the hot, humid weather and spend time gardening this summer, says U horticulturist Deb Brown. Your reward: more vegetables and larger blossoms.

Blossoming in U greenhouses
On August 5, the University received the Employer of the Year award for hiring adults with developmental disabilities to help in its greenhouses.

New treatment for blood cancer
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Cancer Center are creating a treatment alternative for patients suffering from leukemia and lymphoma--blood cancers that killed an estimated 57,500 Americans last year.

Landmark monument to honor alumni
Bulldozers, mounds of dirt, yellow caution tape.... Construction is well underway for a Wall of Fame on the southeast corner of McNamara Alumni Center on the Twin Cities campus.

Maternity spa for cows: An innovative partnership keeps dairy herds healthy
If you think of black and white Holstein cows mostly as decorative salt and pepper shakers, you should see the 400 beauties resting in splendor on the rolling green landscape an hour from St. Paul. Essential to an innovative partnership between a visionary farmer and the University's College of Veterinary Medicine, their care provides high-quality training for future dairy veterinarians.

Treasure trove: University ReUse warehouse holds fall public auction
From the obscure (a saw for removing casts), to the mundane (acres of filing cabinets), to the sublime (an oriental carpet), items in the University 's ReUse warehouse are offered up to the highest bidder during the annual fall auction. Don't miss out on a parking booth (left) or a dentist's chair

Singing in the land down under: new discovery puts songbird origin in Australasia
A recent study by U of M researcher Keith Barker discovered that all songbirds originated in Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and nearby islands) and New Guinea. Until now, it was believed that many had their origins in Eurasia.

Shaping our society
UMD's new Center for Advocacy and Political Leadership will award a masters degree to those who want to make political change happen. Minnesota politics expert, Wy Spano will direct the center.

Of fruit flies and flutes: alumnus and Nobel laureate Edward Lewis dies
U of M alumnus and Nobel prize winner Edward Lewis died on July 21. He was genetic pioneer and a biologist to the core, making discoveries about heredity before DNA made the scene.

Leading from the middle
Thoughts about leadership are changing. The old top-down idea that leaders are defined by position and title is giving way to the idea that each of us shows leadership in various ways. U employees are learning to lead in different ways--up, down, and across their units.

Pauline Boss honored for work with September 11 families
Two New York City labor unions honored College of Human Ecology professor Pauline Boss for her help in dealing with the ambiguous losses of September 11. The event raised more than $100,000 toward the U's new Endowed Chair in Family Stress and Resilience.

Humphrey Survey: The Upper Midwest battleground
The Center for the Study of Politics released the first survey of the 2005 presidential campaign in the Upper Midwest, a battleground for this year's election containing the critical swing states of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Exercising in summer heat
It's shorts season, and the time of the year when we want to be outdoors- gardening, biking, running. But how do you exercise or work safely when the mercury rises? Here are some tips from the U's athletics department to prevent heat-related illness.

Losing Nemo
The Sea Grant program at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, is leading a national campaign against illegal fish dumping.

In the running: Gopher football 2004 preview
High expectations surround the upcoming Gopher football season. The University of Minnesota Alumni Association's Minnesota magazine gives you the lowdown, with insights from head coach Glen Mason and others.

Making better cheddar
A one-of-a-kind metal giant, conceived by a University of Minnesota dairy chemist, is helping Minnesota cheesemakers stay competitive.

Student satisfaction keeps rising
Student satisfaction at the University of Minnesota continues to climb, according to a survey of graduating seniors. The survey found that the most satisfied students were those who began as freshmen and who graduated in four years or less.

Polishing a gem on Pleasant Street
Jones Hall is a beauty of a building and is now being restored to its former glory. Students on the Twin Cities campus walk by it everyday, without knowing that most of its history is a mystery.

Freshman seminars poise first-year students for success
Many first-year students have found that taking a freshman seminar is another great way to ease into college life. Being in a small class with all freshmen, under the guidance of an attentive professor, has been proven to help first-year students acclimate to life at the University and sets them up for success.

From faux chimneys to cement teeth: U tour guides know campus forwards and backwards
An official tour of the Twin Cities campus can yield some interesting information, even to one familiar with the University. From the cement teeth on Coffman Union working backwards to the 26 chimneys on Folwell Hall, there are factoids aplenty.

U researchers discover new breast cancer target
U researchers have found a major hub for breast tumor growth activity. Called translation factor 4F, it's essential for cell viability and growth. However, when its activity becomes unregulated, tumors may form. "What is exciting about this study," says lead researcher Vitaly Polunovsky, right, "is that we've identified a critical target, one that is able to stop other cancer-causing proteins from working up and down the line." Drug development and preclinical testing is expected to begin within the next year.

First U nursing students graduate from Rochester
More than a million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012, but the number of people being trained as nurses is declining. With a new satellite program in the world-renowned medical center of Rochester, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing is working to reverse the trend.

All things must come to an end: The old art building bites the dust
Forty years ago, the University bought a former billboard factory to temporarily house its art department. Students moved to the brand new Regis Center for the Arts in 2003 and last week, the U finally tore down the rodent and bird infested old building. Predictably, colorful memories linger.

Managing at a distance
With staff members at sites across Minnesota, many U supervisors are learning new ways to manage effectively. Flexibility, communication, independence, and mutual trust are some of the key features of good long-distance management--and one result may be increased accountability.

Rip currents hit home: Minnesota Sea Grant at UMD works to prevent deaths
Most people haven't heard of rip currents or, if they have, they associate them only with the ocean. But Great Lakes rip currents can be deadly. The U's Minnesota Sea Grant, located on the Duluth campus, is trying to raise awareness and prevent deaths.

U students fare well in state pageants
Two University of Minnesota students are representing their communities this year as state pageant winners. Elee Vang is the reigning Miss Deaf Minnesota for 2003-2005, and Celi Dean has been chosen the 2004 Miss Teen Minnesota International.

Tom Ridge opens new Center for Food Protection and Defense
On Tuesday, July 6, Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge and Agriculture secretary Ann Veneman came to the Twin Cities campus to formally open the National Center for Food Protection and Defense headquartered at the University of Minnesota.

Safe summer barbecues
Grilling season is upon us, but beware--warm weather is an ideal environment for bacteria growth. The University of Minnesota Extension Service has some tips to ensure that no one leaves your barbecue party with an upset stomach.

If memory serves me right...
Can language be used to help memory problems after a severe brain trauma? Yes, says University professor Mary Kennedy. Acronyms, lists, and anecdotes play their part in holding thoughts in our heads, and patients know best how their thoughts work.

Fiber up--U study compares fruit, grain, and vegetable fiber
What can an apple and a bowl of oatmeal do for you that corn and peas can't? Lower your risk of a heart attack or of dying from coronary heart disease, that's what. According to a recent University of Minnesota study, not all food fiber has equal heart-protection value.

Chemical engineering has formula for success
In the most recent ranking by the National Research Council, the U was number one in chemical engineering. Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report also put the U at number one, in a tie with MIT and UC-Berkeley. One reason the department is so successful is the atmosphere of camaraderie and shared adventure. "This subtle cultural element makes a huge difference," says department head and McKnight professor Frank Bates, above.

U benefits from Microsoft settlement
As part of the Microsoft Corp. antitrust case, the company will give the University of Minnesota $5 million dollars in badly needed funds. IT dean H. Ted Davis says the settlement recognizes the U's role in advancing technology.

More than a cottage industry: U center aids tourism in Minnesota
Tourism is an $8.9 billion industry annually in Minnesota. Since 1986, the University of Minnesota Tourism Center has been working to bolster that industry by conducting tourism research and providing education and outreach programs for the tourism industry, community groups, and students.

Water golf: getting the stream into our consciousness
Try your hand at mini golf and see how water shapes our world, watch bacteria gobble up herbicides, and thread your way through a prairie maze at the Science Museum of Minnesota's Big Back Yard--a learning and playing experience made possible by a partnership between the museum and the University of Minnesota.

Retelling the tale of a madman: U class brings filmmaking to life
Students at the University of Minnesota can experience what it's like to make a movie--from screenwriting and casting actors to filming on location and editing sound effects--by participating in a series of classes offered by U professor Martin Gwinup. For the 2003-04 school year, students are tackling a screenplay adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart.

The big rush: Orientation makes summer a busy time for staff
Most classes are out, but summer is still a busy time on U campuses, as new students and their parents attend orientation. For staff in some offices, summer is the busiest time of year.

Why am I feeling so stressed?
Workplace health impacts personal productivity and health significantly. According to one study, one out of six employees find their workplaces unhealthy, and those workplace environments account for 20 percent of total health care costs. If you are experiencing stress that seems to be coming from an unhealthy work environment, the Employee Assistance Program can help.

Global experience for graduate students
AIDS research in Africa, a medical rotation in a developing country, physical therapy in a nation's only hospital--University of Minnesota graduate students are increasingly looking for international internship opportunities like these. Many search for internships on their own. Now the Global Experience Program provides support for finding internships and integrating them with academic work. This summer, eight graduate students in the health sciences are interning abroad.

Passion for cricket breaks down cultural barriers
The world's second most popular sport--cricket--has found a home on the University's campus. It has also formed the basis for some unlikely friendships.

Toxic shock syndrome on the rise again
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) roared into the news in the late 1970s and early '80s. The potentially fatal infection occured mostly in women using high absorbancy tampons, which were pulled from the market. U researchers have found that TSS is on the rise again, though the reason why is not yet clear.

Traveling with your pet
The U's College of Veterinary Medicine has some tips for travelling with your pet.

Women use more medications
According to a University study, women take a higher-than-expected number of medications and they're unlikely to tell their doctors about them all. The study also concludes that health care providers must spend more time asking about medication usage.

Crime aboard the Showboat
On the Minnesota Centennial Showboat this summer, U students entertain with an English countryside "whodunit" and eight special entr'actes sprinkled with "uff-dahs."

American Indian students reach for the sky: making math and science culturally relevant
Reach for the Sky, an innovative school program on the White Earth Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota, is making science and math more culturally relevant to Anishinabe youth.

CLARION: Trumpeting change
University of Minnesota health care professional students have created an organization to build stronger ties among physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and hospital administrators. CLARION, says its members, is preparing leaders who will redefine our health care system.

Travel opportunities for alumni
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association's 2005 travel program offers 35 destinations with opportunities to connect with every last detail arranged for you.

Elmer Andersen recounts value of books
The University of Minnesota helped celebrate the 95th birthday of former Minnesota governor Elmer L. Andersen with a special event on June 18 at the West Bank library that bears his name.

Benign by design: U researchers look for new, less toxic mosquito repellents
UMD researchers won a $1.4 million grant to look for a less toxic (to humans) insect repellent than the mosquito-killing DEET.

TAKO: Japanese-inspired kites soar at the Weisman
North American artists take Japanese kite making to new heights, putting a Western spin on an ancient tradition.

Feast for the eyes
The University acquired its first public art, a bronze statue of Governor John Pillsbury, in the early 1900s. Since then, its collection has flourished. Public art of all shapes, sizes, colors, and media greet visitors on all of the University's campuses.

Please take your vacation
Jobs can be greedy things, gobbling up all the time we give them. Vacations are an important rest, recovery, and renewal strategy for creating work/life balance, yet a full 25 percent of U.S. employees don't even take the vacation they're entitled to because of job demands.

Keeping minority students in rural Minnesota schools: U of M summit addresses the issue
In many rural Minnesota schools, minorities comprise 40 to 50 percent of the student body in middle grade years, but they tend to disappear as they reach 10th, 11th and 12th grades. However, proper intervention can lead to a successful future for these children.

Hymn by U prof and alum to be performed at funeral of President Reagan
"Pilgrim's Hymn" by U professor Michael Dennis Browne and alumnus Stephen Paulus will be performed for President Reagan's funeral on Friday, June 11. The piece is the finale to Paulus' and Browne's one-act opera "The Three Hermits," which premiered in 1997.

Keeping mildew at bay
Mildew stains are often easy to detect because of their dark color and musty odor. You can prevent this mold from growing rampant in your home this summer-that combination of warm temperature and high humidity is what it craves-with some tips from the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Yanni honored at UMAA annual event
At the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's 100th Anniversary Gala Finale and Annual Celebration on May 6, renowned contemporary instrumental composer Yanni Chryssomallis spoke about his path from Greece to Minnesota and the role the U played in shaping his life.

Celebrating 50 years of "Summer at Northrop"
After five decades, the "Summer at Northrop" concert series is still serving up free entertainment to the public-rain or shine. On Monday, June 14, Louisiana-style dance music and free helpings of cake and ice cream will mark the start of the 2004 series.

Students rub shoulders with the news hounds
In an advanced journalism course at the University, students divide their time between class lectures and working 14 hours for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Predicting a smoker's relapse
University of Minnesota researchers have found that after someone quits smoking, the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and changes in certain hormone levels could predict his or her potential for relapse. They also found that men and women are affected by these factors differently.

Outstanding employees make outstanding departments
The Department of Chemistry may be a good place to work, but, in reality, it is the hard work, smart thinking, and dedication of its faculty, staff, and students that make it so. So says department administrator Stan Bonnema, accepting the 2004 CAPA Unit Award on behalf of 16 P & A employees.

Humphrey Institute gives award to Madeleine Albright
Former U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright was at the University on June 8 to receive one of four 2004 Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards. She spoke with reporters about how America is viewed in the world and the current administration.

Tony Potami, longtime U administrator, dies
Tony Potami served as director of director of the University's Office of Research and Technology Transfer Administration (ORTTA).

Wanted: shelter, safety, and happiness
Unmarried high school mothers at Broadway Community School--many who face homelessness--develop model living environments with the help of College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture faculty.

A laughing matter: Kevin Smith teaches that humor can have a place in health care
Kevin Smith, a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner, has taught at the School of Nursing for nine years. He also happens to be a stand-up comedian. Smith is now teaching health professions students the value of humor as a communications tool.

Pinwheel galaxy may hold secrets
U of M astronomers, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, search for clues to how our own galaxy and others are born, live, and die.

Kerry to visit U on Friday
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will visit the University on Friday, June 4. He will speak at a rally at the Sports Pavilion on the Twin Cities campus at noon.

Robots armed for sophisticated surgery
Minimally invasive surgery--using robotics--is expected to produce better outcomes for patients, including reduced trauma to the body, less anesthesia, smaller risk of infection, shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries, and less scarring.

Supporting a healthier work environment
If we're talking about health care, we're all in it together, says Ruth Rounds, director of the UPlan Wellness Initiative for U employees across the state. The initiative started not long after the University of Minnesota decided to become independent in contracting for health insurance. Trek Across the U is the initiative's first big event, designed to create support for more daily activity but also to raise awareness of staff as a community. Meet some of the people working behind the scenes to make it work.

Small towns, big changes
If you think small towns are those fast-fading places where everybody knows everyone else and nobody locks their doors, you've been watching too much TV. Rural areas and small towns have been growing at a faster rate than urban areas for 20 of the past 30 years. The Center for Small Towns at the University of Minnesota, Morris, is helping small towns adjust to big changes.

Creating a community of women leaders
The Women's Leadership Institute (WLI) is a year-long program for a cohort of 25 women. It's open to women faculty, civil service, P & A, and bargaining-unit staff on all the U campuses. Some are new leaders, and others are reaching the end of successful careers. The Institute is also a way that women already in leadership roles can reach out to support and encourage the professional growth of newer colleagues.

Book reviews
We highlight three books written or translated by people with connections to the University of Minnesota.

The spirit of a champion
Jenny Leuer, U of M senior and member of the award-winning Gopher Dance Team, is a Bailey Nutrition Scholarship recipient.

Starstruck
The Russell Penrose Fellowship in Astronomy helped U graduate student Clay Hogan reach for the stars.

Opening doors of opportunity
Alum Marian Cordiner gives to a scholarship fund to help Native American students.

Letters to the editor, summer 2004
Readers comment on the story "A Hard Pill to Swallow" from the spring issue of M.

Helping children read: the life-changing efforts of the literacy initiative
U of M students tutor nearly 3,000 children through the University Literacy Initiative

To make a gift to the U
teps for giving to the U

Scholarship challenge
Recent Carlson School alums Nick Richardson and Ryan Norine challenged their classmates to begin funding a scholarship now.

One is no longer the loneliest number
According to experts, adults today can expect to spend about 19 years unattached or in a non-cohabitating relationship. They say the rising number of single adults is due to many factors, including people choosing to remain single.

Investing for the future
U alum Herb Hanson credits the Carlson School for giving him his start in the financial world. He recently gave the school a $10 million gift for a new building to serve undergraduates.

Crystal clear: Water is emerging as the commodity of the future
All around the Earth, a dearth of clean, safe water affects billions of people. Even in the Land of 10,000 Lakes--where water is a principal part of our identity--issues such as loss of wetlands, invasive species, and global warming continue to be of pressing concern.

Comparative oncology: pets help people in the fight against cancer
The University of Minnesota is on track to becoming a leader in comparative oncology, a relatively new field that looks at how cancer treatments for companion animals can help humans.

A year of milestones
Throughout 2003-04, the University of Minnesota Alumni Association marked its 100th anniversary in many ways, from the Birthday Party of a Century to new resources for career networking.

Landmark art coming to Gateway Plaza
A landmark work of art will soon grace the southeastern corner of the Minneapolis campus, thanks to the talent of Antoine Predock and the work of the University Gateway Corporation. Predocks work will honor Minnesotas heritage, incorporating iron, the night sky, and inspiration from the cliffs of Lake Superior.

More than a 100th anniversary party
As the University of Minnesota Alumni Association began planning how to mark its 100th anniversary, Executive Director Margaret Carlson (Ph.D. '83) recalls thinking, "This has to be more than a party." And it was. The legacy of the UMAAs century celebration will be found in lasting monuments, in bricks and mortar, in spirit and song, and in student scholarships.

Hope and competition: The U.S. Transplant Games
The U.S. Transplant Games, which are coming to the University this summer, give transplant recipients a chance to compete... and to celebrate the second chance at life with donors, donor families, and friends.

'Coexistence': Helping us understand 'the other'
Ignorance and intolerance led a museum in Israel to strive for change through art. This vision and the resulting exhibit, "Coexistence," is in Minnesota for several weeks this summer.

Food safety for travelers
Food poisoning can occur when you least expect it. The following are some tips to prevent food-borne illnesses when you travel.

Shedding light on genocide and the Holocaust
The U's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies connects Holocaust survivors with students in Minnesota classrooms.

UMD students can learn at the aquarium
Preeducation students at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, can meet half of their 60-hour volunteer teaching requirement at the Great Lakes Aquarium.

Not your childhood tree house
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum takes tree houses beyond the imagination in its new summer exhibit.

University names new chief academic officer
President Bob Bruininks has named E. Thomas Sullivan as the University's new senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. Sullivan will replace Christine Maziar, who has accepted the position of vice president and associate provost at the University of Notre Dame.

CARLA is ten
As the globe gets smaller, language learning gets bigger. In the heart of the Midwest, a cornucopia of research, training, and teaching activities for language teachers and learners across Minnesota is developing tools that will improve second-language acquisition the world over. U faculty, graduate students, and staff members celebrated the tenth anniversay of the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition--CARLA.

Getting the numbers
Academic professionals are an employee group that has mushroomed at major universities in the last 20 years. It's such a diverse group that data to benchmark salaries and other issues is difficult to track. The U's Council on Academic Professionals and Administrators (CAPA) is gearing up for the fourth annual meeting with peer institutions, where representatives plan to address the problem.

Propolis: an ancient remedy may fight AIDS
Propolis--the sticky plant resin that sticks to bee's back legs--has promise as a serious AIDS fighter. U researchers are on the hunt for just why it works and how to get it to the people who need it.

Capstone year abroad
Commencement means the start of an international journey this year for five University grads. Three from the Twin Cities and two from Morris will set off soon for a year abroad as recipients of the U's Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship. They'll study TV broadcasting, medicine and health, and human rights in countries including the Philippines, Denmark, Ecuador, and China.

U walks the talk: faculty and staff plan an eight-week trek to get together and get healthy
Pedometers are popping up all over, from fast-food restaurants to high school health programs. A common goal for good health is 10,000 steps a day. Now University faculty and staff are clipping on their new, free pedometers and joining the nationwide walking movement.

U women's hockey team honored at White House
The national champion University of Minnesota women's hockey team was recognized in a special ceremony with President George W. Bush on May 19 at the White House.

Big chill
Since September 11, 2001, international student enrollments at the University of Minnesota have dropped sharply. Big research universities across the nation are suffering the most as more and more international students stay home or go elsewhere for graduate study. Administrators and leaders are working to understand why, gauge the impact, and stem the tide.

Stalling out: House and Senate adjourn without passing key legislation
The 2004 Minnesota legislative session ended early Sunday morning, May 16, without passage of key bills, including funding for the University's capital request.

Love fest: Garrison Keillor hosts romantic writing festival
Garrison Keillor hosted the first The Green Light at the End of the Dock: Festival of Romantic Writing to discover the best romantic songs (lyrics only) and poems (sonnets encouraged but not necessary) from U students, staff, and alumni.

President Bruininks makes scholarships top priority
On May 13, President Bob Bruininks announced a major multiyear drive to raise private scholarship money for students, which includes a new matching program to encourage more donors.

Regents to act on 2004-05 budget recommendations
President Bob Bruininks presented his operating budget and tuition recommendations for 2004-05 to the Board of Regents on May 14. The board will act on Bruininks's recommendations at its monthly meeting this Friday, June 11.

The accidental pundit: mysterious e-mail solicits U senior to write for Newsweek
Carlson School student Mitch Mosvick writes a regular column for Newsweek on the presidential campaign.

Time to hit the garden centers
Planning ahead is key to shopping at a garden center or nursery. University horticulturist Deb Brown offers some tips.

Curiosity camp: a day's respite from routine
The University's Curiosity Camps, which include discussions and bus tours, give adults an excuse to take some days off to explore new topics.

U researchers find new uses for paper mill waste
We all know the adage "waste not, want not." But is there a way to make the tons of pulp waste generated by paper mills into a want? University researchers think they've found it.

U's first couple lead new book club
Books by an author with a University connection... that's a ground rule for the new Friends of Eastcliff Book Club. And members gather for discussion at the historic Eastcliff, the official residence of the University of Minnesota president and his family.

U president makes scholarships a top priority
The University has launched a drive to raise by at least 50 percent the number of students who receive privately funded scholarships.

Post-9/11 blues at the U
Ready for a 67-day wait? That's the average time it takes right now for international students and staff on F, J, and H visas to get security clearances to reenter the United States if they happen to leave. Not everyone needs a security clearance, but it's impossible to predict who will. Find out what the Department of Chemistry did when 11 people--about ten percent of its teaching assistants--were delayed outside the U.S. over winter break. Learn what your department can do to avoid similar problems this summer.

Extended deployments and coming home: how to cope
Two stress experts with the 88th Regional Readiness Command (RRC) at Fort Snelling--both with University connections--tell of what it's like for soldiers and their families when the return home is delayed, when it finally happens, and during the long anxious time in between.

Really NEAT comet coming
Comet NEAT comes calling in May from distant galaxies. Follow its course through the sky with the linked starchart.

Prom night: The U's Karal Ann Marling weighs in on individuality, culture, and clothes
Prom night can be the stuff of legends or heartbreak, and it has the power to take hold in our consciousness and stick around for the better part of our lives.

Raising the bar: vet school screens students for people skills, business savvy
The College of Veterinary Medicine is raising the bar for incoming students. Not only were this fall's incoming students quizzed on their grades and their GRE score, they were personally interviewed one at a time to assess their communication skills and business savvy.

Firing up for the hot season
Students at the Crookston campus suited up in yellow to get a close look at fires, wild and prescribed. Fires are key components of resource management, so students in natural resources get hands-on training.

Great Service: Printing Services
The scholarship mailing to prospective students used to take a week and the attention of several staff members. With a new product and process from Printing Services, the Twin Cities campus admissions office got a beautiful new scholarship packet and a big savings in staff time.

Bulldog player, coach recognized by Governor Pawlenty
University of Minnesota, Duluth hockey player Junior Lessard and coach Scott Sandelin were presented commendations by Governor Tim Pawlenty Thursday, May 6, at the State Capitol.

This car race was anything but a drag
University of Minnesota students in a kinetic sculpture class got the chance to see if they could create "cars" that were both a feast for the eyes and fast on the streets. They succeeded in memorable fashion.

The U News Service wants your news
Get a glimpse of how the University News Service works and how your department can work with the news service staff to get your stories out.

Healing from violence: Art of Recovery gives voice to survivors
At the U's Larson Art Gallery, four survivors of violence and abuse use art to find healing and hope.

Minnesota wins with quick wit and calm nerves
The University of Minnesota beat the University of Michigan to win the 2004 College Bowl National Championship.

Marriage of iron and fire: Minnesota Iron Pour turns 35
More than 100 sculptures were cast from 2,400 pounds of melted radiator iron during the 35th annual Minnesota Iron Pour on the Twin Cities campus.

Pink no more: Washington Avenue bridge gets paint job
The Washington Avenue bridge was repainted on Beautiful U Day 2004 with a specially formulated color, called University of Minnesota Maroon.

Fear and tolerance in America
The three-year American Mosaic Project looks at race and religion in the U.S. Preliminary results are surprising, like the findings that antisemitism is driven by competition, not religious intolerance, and that more African Americans than whites think discrimination is decreasing.

U named Center of Excellence for food security
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security named the University of Minnesota as one of three Homeland Security Centers of Excellence and gave it a three-year, $15 million grant to help it develop ways to protect the nation's food supply from deliberate contamination or terrorist attack.

"Tweens," working parents, and summer plans
They're not young children anymore and they're not teens, but "tweens"--children between the ages of 8 and 12. University working parents share approaches for planning the summers when their children seem too old for daycare but too young to be home alone.

Legislature considers support for Gopher stadium
The University is asking the legislature to pass a bill in 2004 to support an on-campus Gopher stadium. The bill would enhance the University's ability to raise private funds and begin work on the project.

Graduating actors perform at Guthrie Lab
The first graduating class of the University of Minnesota and Guthrie Theater Bachelor of Fine Arts actor-training program will perform two free plays through Sunday, May 2, at the Guthrie Lab in Minneapolis.

U book becomes national standard for raptor care
The U's Raptor Center has published the Care and Management of Captive Raptors, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently adopted as the authority on using captive raptors in education.

The flip side of "low-carb"
"Low-carb" foods don't necessarily contain less calories and may cost more. University nutritionist Marla Reicks offers a few thoughts for you ponder.

New U center to help patients breathe easier
The University of Minnesota Center for Advanced Lung Disease is seeking new ways to prevent and treat various diseases that can make the simple act of breathing a chore.

Melanoma Monday: free skin-cancer screening
On Monday, May 3, the U's Department of Dermatology will offer free skin-cancer screenings on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis.

Planting a tree in remembrance
A tree was planted in conjunction with the University's Beautiful U Day to honor three students who died in a house fire last year.

More than teeth: University of Minnesota dental students learn alongside their Cuban peers
University of Minnesota dental students learn the ins-and-outs of dentistry through the School of Dentistry's Cuba Educational Exchange.

From Gopher to GigaNet: UMTC network upgrade
It's a fairly routine computer network upgrade for the Twin Cities campus, but it's big, with a big name to match. More than 2,600 switches in nearly 300 buildings are currently being replaced in preparation for the change. The crew is in St. Paul now, coming soon to a closet near you.

Point/counterpoint: embryonic stem cell research
In 2003, the University announced its plan to expand its human embryo stem cell research beyond the federally approved stem cell lines. The Academic Health Center held a public forum, with a point/counterpoint discussion, on April 13 to explore the science behind and the policy implications of conducting this legal, but controversial, research.

Department of Chemistry wins 2004 professional staff award
The 2004 winner of the Outstanding P&A Unit Award is the Department of Chemistry. The department will be honored at a U-wide event April 28.

Bruininks named to Minnesota Business Partnership
Earlier this month, the Minnesota Business Partnership announced that it had chosen President Bob Bruininks to join its exclusive ranks. It's the first time the partnership has included a chief executive from the public sector.

Minnesota sprinters take track world by storm
Gopher seniors Mitch Potter and Adam Steele were on the Team USA 4x400-meter relay squad that won the title at last summer's World Track and Field Championships in Paris. It was an accomplishment that created a worldwide buzz.

The road to biking bliss
It's peak season for biking around the Twin Cities campus. Here are some rules and strategies to make your bicycling experience more pleasant for you--as well as those you encounter.

Trunk tales: U center offers Holocaust teaching tools
Between 1933 and 1945, six million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. How can educators today help middle and high school students fully grasp the significance of this genocidal event? The U's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies offers one solution: Holocaust teaching trunks.

A taste of Italy comes back to Duluth
Italian warmth, kindness, and cuisine will grace Duluth beginning April 16, when more than 100 students and faculty from Palermo, Sicily, will arrive to perform at the Italian American Festival.

UMD alum wins Pulitzer Prize
Cheryl Diaz Meyer, a University of Minnesota, Duluth, alum and senior staff photographer for the Dallas Morning News newspaper, has been awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in breaking-news photography for her documentation of the war in Iraq.

Like mother, like daughter: young female chimps excel in tool use
Female chimps learn from their mothers how to insert sticks into termite mounds and pull out a tasty meal of insects earlier and better than males. Recent University of Minnesota findings imply that sex-based learning differences in humans have an ancient origin-a difference that may date back at least to the last common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans.

University Theatre revives the classic The Rocky Horror Show
Theater, dance, and music students students, a wildly imaginative director, and a critically acclaimed rock band recreate the 1970s cult classic The Rocky Horror Show in the University of Minnesota's West Bank Arts Quarter.

So, who gets my sock monkey?
Conflict can arise between family members from a lack of inheritance planning. U expert Marlene Stum has some tips to help with the "who gets what" decision-making process.

As population ages, U center responds
Researchers at the U's Center on Aging are developing new treatments and improving clinical interventions for a variety of conditions affecting our aging population.

UMD student coaches champs in Belize
While on a teaching assignment in Belize, University student Jill Deidrich found time to lead a team of girls to a national basketball title.

Fermenting revolution: Biocatalysis at the U
There's a revolution quietly fermenting in research laboratories, cornfields, and corporate offices in Minnesota. And the driving force is biocatalysis, which uses enzymes and natural processes like fermentation to turn raw materials--such as corn--into clean energy and biodegradable plastic. Ultimately, biocatalysis could eliminate our dependence on petroleum and revolutionize the way our world operates.

Yanni at UMAA's anniversary finale
Yanni Chryssomallis, U of M alumnus and renowned contemporary instrumental composer, will be the featured speaker at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's (UMAA) 100th Anniversary Gala Finale and Annual Celebration on Thursday, May 6. At the event, Yanni will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his outstanding cultural contributions.

Little press on the prairie
Tickets, wood cuts, chapbooks...Prairie Gate Press has plenty of work for a letterpress that retired from a small-town newspaper. Jim Gremmels, UMM professor emeritus of English, keeps it running.

Jazz lives on in Glenwood at the spring ball
When Glenwood's historic ballroom on Lake Minnewaska went up on a blaze last June, a lot of people thought an era had ended. But the U of M, Morris, Jazz Ensembles will light up the town again--and help raise money to rebuild the landmark.

'The Exonerated' : critically acclaimed play by U alum examines the death penalty
What does it feel like to be wrongly convicted of a crime and sent to death row? To "lose" years of your life? What is our obligation to assure that "justice for all" is justice for all? These are just some of the themes explored or inferred in The Exonerated, a critically acclaimed play written by University alum Jessica Blank and husband Eric Jensen.

Beyond spooning: the challenges of sharing a bed
Sharing a bed isn't easy, but despite the drawbacks, many people continue to do it, says Paul Rosenblatt, University professor of family social science who studies how sleep habits affect relationships.

It may not be 'The Show', but it's the best sideshow in town
University of Minnesota, Morris, grad Rusty Kath was chosen to be a public address announcer for the St. Paul Saints this year. Along with his own comedic touch, he brings a wealth of experience from his days as a PA announcer for Cougar baseball and basketball games.

Starting an exercise program
Spring is a great time to get off the couch and start exercising. The key to a good exercise program is to find an activity that you love and won't get bored doing. It doesn't so much matter what form of exercise you're engaged in as long as you are breathing faster and sweating.

Saving salmon: U researcher helps bring down dams
The Olympic Peninsula's Elwha River once teamed with 10 kinds of native fish, including massive salmon. The two dams that spoiled the river are now coming down with help from a University researcher.

Extreme makeover: University standby gets a new look
The Minnesota Daily--the University's independent student newspaper--has been a fixture on and around campus for 104 years. In February, the daily converted to a broadsheet publication after 65 years as a tabloid-sized newspaper.

Gophers fall in Final Four, but the memories remain
The Gopher women's basketaball team's dramatic run through the NCAA tournament finally came to an end Sunday evening in New Orleans as two-time defending national champion Connecticut beat Minnesota 67-58. But this Gopher team generated unprecedented coverage of women's athletics in Minnesota, and gave us a trunk full of memories in the process.

New world order: is globalization a powerful force for good or a means of exploitation?
Globalization is a wide-scale experiment with free-market capitalism. Depending on your perspective, it expands or contracts opportunities. It saves or destroys the environment. It protects us or opens the world to more threats. It benefits the poor, or it benefits the rich at the expense of the poor. Or it does all of these things and more.

Against the odds: Hmong student success
While studying the effects of part-time work on high school students, U of M researchers discovered that Hmong high school students were succeeding at levels equal to and above their non-Hmong peers, despite such obstacles as early marriage, poverty, and teen pregnancy.

Doing what he loves: U alum now drummer with Blue Man Group
School of Music alum Dave Anania stayed with what loved-drumming- and now plays with the renowned Blue Man Group and writes his own music.

Goin' to Guatemala: Morris women's wrestler going to Pan Am Games
Morris Cougars sophomore Tabithia Ramsey will represent the United States in the Pan American Games in Guatemala May 6-9. She's the fourth individual Morris wrestler to go to the games. But it's a bittersweet victory in the last year of wrestling at Morris.

Cause for hope: U researchers look for new ways to fight AIDS
The first case of AIDS was reported in 1981. Today, more than 42 million individuals worldwide are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and researchers are searching for new and better ways to reduce HIV's impact and slow the spread of AIDS.

Gophers, Bulldogs win big in tournaments
It's been an action-packed few days for fans of hockey and basketball at the University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD). The UMD men's hockey team advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time since 1985; the Gopher women's hockey players won their first NCAA national championship; and the Gopher women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2004 Final Four.

In-store water dispensers: are they safe?
People buy water from in-store dispensers for many reasons. They may not like the taste of their tap water or they don't think their tap water is safe for consumption. If in-store dispensers are the primary source of your drinking water, or if you are considering them as an option, you may want to ask these questions.

Teachers of distinction
Philip Baird starts every class with a smile. "If the students aren't smiling, I make sure they are within the first few minutes, and at least once or twice more during the rest of the class," he says. Baird, an associate professor of natural resources on the Crookston campus, is one of 13 faculty members who will be inducted into the University's Academy of Distinguished Teachers on Monday, April 26.

Norman Borlaug: 90 years strong
On March 25, the University threw a 90th birthday party for one of its most distinguished alums--Norman Borlaug. The guest of honor couldn't be there, so about 100 faculty members, researchers and students celebrated by his statue in front of Borlaug Hall. This week, the Minnesota Legislature also named October 16 "Dr. Norman E. Borlaug World Food Prize Day."

$10 million for new Carlson School center
On Friday (March 26), the University announced that alumnus Herbert Hanson Jr. and his wife, Barbara, would give the Carlson School of Management $10 million to support the expansion of the school's undergraduate program. The gift will be used to construct a new facility adjacent to the existing Carlson School building.

Presidential visits
Since fall 2003, University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks has been hitting the road to talk about the U's value to the state. His community visits to areas outside the Twin Cities are also a chance for Minnesota citizens to share their thoughts about the University directly with the man at the top. Bruininks will visit several towns this spring.

Gopher women are Final Four-bound
For a Minnesota sports fan, the Minnesota-Duke game on March 30 was an event to cherish. The Gopher women beat the Blue Devils 82-75 to advance to the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans.

Banner day for Gopher women
Sunday, March 28, was a memorable day for Gopher women's sports. The University of Minnesota women's hockey team won its first NCAA championship by beating Harvard 6-2 in Providence, Rhode Island. And the women's basketball team continued its run in the Mideast Regional, topping Boston College 76-63 to advance to the Elite Eight against Duke.

Living with less: legislators take the Thrifty Food Challenge
This year, a handful of legislators agreed to live for a week on the same budget as a low-income and food stamp-eligible family. The U's College of Human Ecology and Extension Service Health and Nutrition Programs issued the Thrifty Food Plan Challenge to help more people understand the hardships faced by those less financially fortunate when it comes to buying and preparing food.

Paying it forward: a group of students show how one good act can lead to many more
During spring break, a group of University students traveled across the country "paying it forward" and showing how one good deed can lead to many more.

Running on hydrogen: new reactor will help make Minnesota energy self-sufficient
In February, U scientists unveiled a new reactor that strips hydrogen atoms from a mixture of ethanol and water, producing hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide.

The wanderers align
If you've always wanted to learn which planet is which, here's your chance. In late March and early April, the five planets visible to the naked eye are strung across the sky at nightfall.

She's got game--and she turned us on to the game
Fans who attended the Gopher basketball games in the NCAA tournament last weekend at Williams Arena came to watch Lindsay Whalen and to be a part of something special--a defining moment in women's athletics.

U Reads: children's book leaves a lasting impression
Bill Peet's 1970 classic, The Wump World, left a big impression on speechwriter Dan Gilchrist.

Great service: HealthPartners leader shares best practices
HealthPartners VP Scott Aebisher shared ideas with the U's Great Service Initiative steering committee.

On Haiti: dean of the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs talks of Haiti's past and present
Haiti's back in the news again. Once more we've seen gun-toting rebels, a dazed populous, and a deposed leader sent abroad. It's easy to dismiss the country as "a failed state," but J. Brian Atwood, dean of the U's Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs, urges us not to give up on Haiti.

The vernal equinox: fact and fiction
Saturday, March 20, marks the vernal equinox for those of us in the northern hemisphere. Here are some facts and figures related to that benchmark time of year when daylight begins to reign.

Equal opportunity sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is not just for adult women any more, according to new U research. Aggressors tend to be men who are flaunting their heterosexual masculinity over all forms of femininity and, more than ever, victims of sexual harassment include men and adolescents as well as women.

Tips on refreezing food
The chicken has been thawing in the fridge since yesterday. Roasting it with fresh herbs for dinner tonight sounded like a great idea, but now you're craving takeout pizza. Do you stick the chicken back in the freezer? The following are some tips from Info-U about refreezing foods.

One very smart mannequin
In summer 2003, the University's Academic Health Center brought in SimMan to expose medical students to a variety of emergency situations and real-life health issues. The computer-run mannequin breathes and has a heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure.

Who would govern the country?
The smoke hadn't cleared from the rubble at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center when University alumnus and U.S. political analyst Norm Ornstein turned his fertile mind to a disastrous series of "what ifs" triggered by the terrorist attacks of September 11. The following is edited from "What If?," a story in Minnesota magazine about Ornstein's efforts to address governing succession in the age of terrorism.

Gopher stadium legislation introduced
University officials applauded legislation introduced Monday (March 15) that supports the construction of a Gopher football stadium on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis.

House of healing
Eating disorders affect nearly 10 million Americans, and most recovery programs are outpatient-based. The Anna Westin House in Chaska provides a safe, nurturing, homelike environment for girls and women ages 14 to 40 who are recovering from anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders.

A more perfect union?
Our country faces a push for a Constitutional amendment that, if enacted, would limit the rights of a specific group of people, and therefore be unprecedented in our history. This effort, with its link to gay marriage, has become an election-year flashpoint. Dale Carpenter, associate professor of law at the University of Minnesota and an expert on Constitutional law, agreed to answer a few questions posed by this debate.

Persian Silver: Contemporary Photography from Iran
A new show at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery is the first survey of contemporary Iranian photography in the United States.

Frank Grewe remembered
Frank Grewe, who died unexpectedly on February 24, set standards for e-mail and communication systems that other universities are still trying to match.

The legend just keeps growing
All-American Gopher women's basketball player Lindsay Whalen's latest accomplishment may be the most impressive yet: her bobblehead doll is a fairly hot commodity on eBay.

"Mommy, that man's going to have a baby!
University developmental psychologist Martha Erickson offers some tips on handling inappropriate comments from children.

Holding on to a past: UMM plans for the future
A team of planners and architects, including University students, are working on a plan to preserve the historic aspects of the Morris campus.

Prostate cancer and eating less
Can a man reduce his chances of getting prostate cancer if he cuts calories? University of Minnesota researcher Margot Cleary has undertaken a three-year study that may help answer that question.

No quizzes in this class
Classes Without Quizzes is a halfday series of seminars for the public to learn about the latest research in agriculture, food, and the environment at the University.

Training the next generation of biology teachers
The University of Minnesota has a new mentorship program that pairs its College of Biological Sciences undergraduates with science teachers in northwestern Minnesota.

Lab-based incubator aims to jumpstart biosciences in Minnesota
The U has identified more than 60 technologies that could be the basis for start-ups in the next few years. University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) is a public-private partnership to help start-up companies struggling to survive.

Clothing design senior wins trip to Paris
In winter 2004, the International Textile and Apparel Association awarded University clothing design senior Rachel Carlson Best Wearable Art and Best in Show for a design she submitted to its juried exhibition. Her prize was a month at the Paris American Academy in France.

Premium vodka from the heartland
Shakers is the new, premium vodka taking its place beside top-shelf vodkas from Poland, Russia, and Scandinavia. University alum and master distiller Pat Couteaux determined that America should produce the next world-class vodka and that Minnesota wheat--with its soft and mild character--was the perfect ingredient.

Clarification
Clarification of a portion of the obesity story, M, winter 2004.

From weather to wolves: books with U connections
Reviews of three books with University connections--Leaning into the Wind: A Memoir of Midwest Weather, Slowing Down to the Speed of Love, and Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation.

A perfect match: doubling the impact of endowed scholarships
To encourage new gifts for scholarships, the U recently launched a program that will double the impact of any gift of $25,000 or more for endowed scholarships.

The gift of scholarship
Nancy and Larry Bentson, ('45 and '43), recently converted a $10 million bequest to the U into an immediate gift for undergraduate scholarships to support nearly 100 students a year.

Returning the favor
Lawyer Sarah Landau ('94) received the Fesler Scholarship in her freshman year and other scholarships during her remaining years at the U. Last year, Landau began funding an endowed scholarship at the University.

Not by the book: A gift in honor of an innovative grade-school teacher
To honor her friend and her work, alum Irene Scatliff established the Margaret Virum Fund for School Partnerships in Literacy with $30,000. The endowed fund provides a flexible source of income for literary partnerships between the University and public schools in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.

Putting the gloves back on
After the extremely divisive presidential elections of 2000, many people hoped that Republicans and Democrats would come together for the good of the country. Instead, political warfare and cynicism have reached new levels. Into this minefield steps the University's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs' new Center for the Study of Politics--a place to raise public understanding of politics, serve as a resource to citizens and the media on important policy issues, and show students that politics can be a noble calling.

100 years of alumni advocacy: from toilet soap to regent selection
This feature offers a snapshot of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's 100 years of advocacy.

Centennial Finale May 6
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association will wrap up its centennial year May 6 by honoring instrumental composer Yanni at its 2004 Annual Celebration.

The UMAA makes a difference today
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association plays many roles on the Twin Cities campus. This piece offers some highlights.

A hard pill to swallow: why U.S. drug prices are so high
Prescription drugs in America can cost 85 percent more than they do just north of the border. A secretive industry, legal loopholes, and price-sheltered consumers help keep prices high. University experts Roger Feldman and Stephen Schondelmeyer weigh in on the issue.

Surbhi Madia: U senior does her share to generate warmth
Surbhi Madia and her boyfriend, John Barber, organized a highly successful Winter Warmth from U clothing drive. The rewards were well worth all the hard work of organizing, according to Madia. "In the last six months of [helping coordinate the clothing drive], I have learned more than I did in all of college," she says.

A deficiency of 'D' for patients with pain
Research conducted at the University of Minnesota found that of a group of 150 patients showing "persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain"--meaning vague, sometimes generalized aches and pains--93 percent were deficient in vitamin D.

Sleeping (and dying) on Minnesota streets
Minnesota has more homeless than you might think--an estimated 21,000--and they stand in stark defiance of stereotypes.

Homeschooling without neglecting yourself
University of Minnesota developmental psychologist Martha Erickson has some tips to buy you downtime if you homeschool your children.

Learning from the Irish
University of Minnesota senior Zachery Coelius is one of 12 students selected nationwide to receive the George J. Mitchell Scholarship, which supports a year of study in Ireland.

Teaming for Great Service
Teaming for Great Service

The founders would be pleased: Nicholson construction begins in May
The University was a young 39 years old when Nicholson Hall was built for chemistry in 1890. After decades of wear and tear, capital bonding will support a rehabiliation that will house new classrooms, two academic departments, CLA honors, and a writing center.

Hydrogen from renewable sources within reach
University of Minnesota engineers have invented the first reactor capable of producing hydrogen from a renewable fuel source--ethanol--efficiently enough to hold economic potential.

A reading list from the U
The 2004 U Reads list features 10 books selected by University of Minnesota notables.

Stem cell research Q & A
The University of Minnesota's decision to pursue investigation of embryonic stem cells has received considerable attention. Following is a brief Q & A on some of the main issues surrounding stem cell research at the University.

Reckless behavior or healthy experimentation?
University of Minnesota researcher wants parents to learn the the difference between healthy experimentation and reckless behavior.

Stadium talk builds
When Governor Tim Pawlenty convened a Stadium Screening Committee to solicit and discuss stadium proposals, the University stepped forward as a fully vested player.

U remains accountable
The University's 2004 Plan, Performance, and Accountability Report offers a comprehensive look at the University's accomplishments, challenges, and strategies for improvement.

Midwifery means 'with woman'
Chances are, if you hear the word midwife, you may think it's an old-fashioned word for something that doesn't exist anymore. But midwifery is alive and thriving, serving a wide range of women--high-income as well as newly arrived immigrants--and the University has one of the best programs in the nation.

Q & A on stem cell research at the U
Stem cells--parent cells for all the body's tissues--offer great potential and promise for important medical treatments and cures. But embryonic stem cell use is controversial, and federal funding is prohibited for research on newly donated embryos.

You don't have to be "Minnesota nice"
Most solicitors are not trying to rip you off; they just want you to buy something or support a cause -- but you don't have to be "Minnesota nice." The University's Extension Service has some tips to help you stand firm.

Ancel Keys turns 100
Ancel Keys turned 100 on January 26. For a health and nutrition researcher who adopted a Mediterranean diet nearly 50 years ago, its a suitable milestone.

Facets of agriculture
A new public artwork at University of Minnesota, Crookston, pays tribute to Minnesota's agricultural industry.

3M employees help U students
More than 300 employees from 3M gave to the 3M/Alumni Undergraduate Merit Scholarships, which help the U to attract top undergraduate students majoring in business, engineering, and science-related disciplines.

Painting with fire
With the building of a new wood-fired kiln on campus, University of Minnesota, Morris, (UMM) can now introduce its students to the sensual and artistic magic of this millennia-old process.

Guide to 2004 elections
The University of Minnesota's new Center for the Study of Politics offers timely but nonpartisan commentary and analysis on the 2004 elections. The center was launched in January 2004 to raise public understanding of politics and serve as a resource to citizens and the media on important policy issues.

Indoor tanning and teens
The popularity of indoor tanning among teens spurred two University of Minnesota researchers to take a closer look at the practices and attitudes of those who run and those who patronize the industry.

Legislators and supporters learning of U's request
On Tuesday (February 3), University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks made the case for full funding of the University's capital budget request to the House Higher Education Finance Committee.

Gene(sis) weaves art and science
Gene(sis), an art exhibit that raises questions and provides commentary about the ethical and social implications of genomics, runs through May 2, 2004 at the Weisman Art Museum.

Top 10 reasons to buy a Golden Gopher E-Bike
The Golden Gopher E-Bike is a battery operated scooter that cruises at 15-20 miles per hour and goes 20 miles between charges. Here are 10 reasons you should buy one.

Do you have oniomania?
Compulsive buying is the recurrent failure to resist the impulse to buy needless objects. According to the U's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic, it was called oniomania or "urge to buy" in past medical literature, and today it's a disorder that affects about 1.8 percent of the U.S. population. Do you have it?

U-developed garment to regulate body heat
For the bone-chilling months of winter and the dog days of summer, try the Shortened Liquid Cooling and Warming Garment. This name describes a new suit invented at the U that circulates heated or cooled water to maintain the body temperature of the wearer.

Keeping Minnesota youths busy
University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks is creating a commission to study the role that time away from school plays in a young person's learning and development.

U receives its largest scholarship gift
In 2002, Nancy and Larry Bentson made a $10 million bequest to Campaign Minnesota to fund undergraduate scholarships at the U. Their gift is the U's largest ever for scholarships.

Holiday gift ideas from the U
If you're still looking for that unique gift for someone special, try shopping at the Unversity of Minnesota. The following are our suggestions for holiday gifts.

Alumni and friends show support for the U
After witnessing the effects of the state's $185 million budget reduction on the University of Minnesota, the U's Legislative Network ramped up its efforts this fall.

Seeing inside the breast
University of Minnesota researchers have developed a way that could lead to accurate, non-invasive breast cancer diagnoses.

Another year of Great Conversations
An article about the University of Minnesota's Great Conversations series, which in 2004 will include best-selling authors Gail Sheehy, Richard Florida, and Jared Diamond.

Gifts to U result in MBAs for 38
Thirty-eight executives from the Guangdong Province in China wrapped up a whirlwind 10-day visit to the Twin Cities on Monday with a University of Minnesota graduation ceremony--an event delayed six months by the SARS outbreak in China.

Keeping turkeys and other animals healthy
The University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab helping turkey growers pinpoint and test for diseases.

A drive to fill a bus
A feature story about "Winter Warmth from U" clothing drive.

Marching band: from gridiron to stage
A feature story on the U of M Marching Band.

Petition for the U
The University of Minnesota's Legislative Network launched an online petition campaign to ask Governor Tim Pawlenty to invest in the University.

U offers Asian American minor
The University of Minnesota adds Asian American Studies program.

Tentative agreement ends strike
The University of Minnesota reached a tentative agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) clerical units on Tuesday, Nov. 4, ending a 15-day strike by the union.

Direct support training: toward a national standard
The University's Research and Community Training Center on Community Living has developed an online program to help people find out what it takes to care for someone with developmental disabilities.

Holiday hazards for your pets
Some tips from the University of Minnesota's Extension Service about some holiday hazards for pets.

Making a case for child welfare
The University of Minnesota codeveloped the Child Welfare Research Agenda along with the Department of Human Services to show where research in the field of child welfare was needed the most.

Bring out the pharmacy textbook
According to a University of Minnesota study, when we self-medicate with herbal products, we may unknowingly ingest ingredients and dosages substantially different from those that are recommended.

UMM students studying senior care facilities
Senior Jeff Janca and freshman Amanda Jacobson have been working with the city of Milan and Ben Winchester, coordinator of data analysis and research at UMM's Center for Small Towns, to create a new assisted living facility in Milan, MN

Spirit of giving is alive at the U
The 2003 Community Fund Drive raised about $950,000 and a new event--Winter Warmth for U--resulted in four busloads of donated clothing.

Sun Bowl fan tour
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association is sponsoring the Official Bowl Tour for fans who want to spend New Year's Eve cheering for the Gopher football team at the Wells Fargo Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

U study says on-campus stadium is feasible
A new University of Minnesota study concludes that a new, on-campus stadium for Gopher football may be feasible.

Beating winter blues with houseplants
Houseplants can make drab rooms look brighter or more inviting.

Clicks vs. trips
A University of Minnesota researcher is investigating how technology effects travel.

Winning cheer to debut at UMAA birthday party
The new University of Minnesota musical cheer will be publicly performed for the first time at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's (UMAA) "Birthday Party of the Century" on Friday, January 30

New links to Minnesota lynx
A University of Minnesota research team and the U.S. Forestry Service are using new technologies to learn more about the lynx.

Stadium findings presented to governor's taskforce
The University of Minnesota presented its recommendation for a Gophers only stadium to the governor's stadium task force.

Pain linked to vitamin D deficiency
University of Minnesota researchers have discovered a link between vitamin D deficiency and skeletal pain.

Gophers win Sun Bowl
The University of Minnesota defeated Oregon in the 2003 Sun Bowl.

Getting mental health research into the field sooner
The University of Minnesota's new Center of Excellence in Children's Mental Health will help the newest research reach medical professionals faster.

Black voice on campus
University of Minnesota senior Gladys Mambo started The Griot, a newsletter devoted to black culture and campus news, to give black students a larger voice on campus.

Training new judges
The Judicial SkillsWhen the Judicial Trial Skills Training Program began at the University of Minnesota's Law School, it was one of the first of its kind. The program now prepares hundreds of new judges for the bench.

You can't be too careful
The University of Minnesota Extension Service offers advice on preventing food contamination while cooking.

Assisted living, the virtual way
A new University of Minnesota program, VALUE, could help the elderly have better access to health care services.

Writing a winner
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association unveiled the winner of its new cheer competition.

Inhaling tobacco smoke in public places
Cancer researchers at the University of Minnesota have made new discoveries about second-hand smoke and its effect on nonsmokeers.

Remembering a leader
The University of Minnesota School of Music honored Martin Luther King's legacy with a free concert.

U to study child abuse issues
The University's School of Social Work has received a federal grant to study child abuse and neglect

Minding the business of the U
The University's 2003 Annual Report emphasizes the way it operates and explains why it continues to be a valuable investment.

Money for bricks and mortar
The University of Minnesota is taking its $155 million 2004 Capital Request--designed to preserve its buildings and make important upgrades and expansions--to the Minnesota State Legislature.

UMD Bulldogs become first dynasty in women's hockey
It's quite a routine that the University of Minnesota, Duluth women's hockey team has established over the past three years. Enjoy a successful season. Knock off your archrival when it counts. Skate past your elite competition in the Frozen Four to win the NCAA championship.

Building pride, supporting academic excellence
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association will contribute $1.5 million to an on-campus football stadium and student scholarships. The UMAA National Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution in September to contribute $1 million to a new on-campus stadium.

Football bowl site
With stadium talk buzzing and the Gopher football team playing its best football in years, the alumni association set up a Web site to help Gopher fans follow their team on the road.

Kicking off another stadium drive
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association is helping kick off a stadium drive 83 years after the original Memorial Stadium campaign began.

Giant step for Scholars Walk
The Scholars Walk, a "sacred space" to honor great alumni and the intellectual heart of the University of Minnesota, was approved by the Board of Regents in September and could be completed by next fall.

Party of the century
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA), the UMAA will hold the Birthday Party of the Century in and around the McNamara Alumni Center.

Member snapshot, winter 2004
This UMAA member snapshot is of Jim Clausen, class of 1965.

The Translational Research Facility
Heart disease, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy, and even spinal cord injury--discovering cell-based therapies to treat or even cure these ailments is the goal of Catherine Verfaillie, director of the University's Stem Cell Institute.

Honoring the memory of loved ones
There are many reasons for giving to the University of Minnesota: making a difference, feeling grateful, helping students, assisting faculty, nurturing research. When gifts are generous enough to endow scholarships, fellowships, professorships, or chairs, donors can further enhance their legacies by naming the funds for themselves or in honor of loved ones.

The buck stops here
Alumni may figure that, given the size of the University, any gift they might make really won't make a difference. That is just one of many myths about private support.

Finding a way to make a larger gift
Delos and Shirley Lake Barber aren't wealthy, but they do feel blessed. The met as teenagers at the Minnesota State Fair when they were both in 4-H. After decades of supporting 4-H the Barbers made an extraordinary gift.

Graduating (when some are retiring), then giving back
Fred Wall isn't your average University of Minnesota alum; he earned his degree last spring at age 71. He isn't your average recent grad donor either; shortly after graduating, he made a gift to the U of $1 million.

Annual report on giving
The annual report on giving to the U was presented to the Board of Regents in November by Gerald B. Fischer, president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Foundation, which oversees University fundraising. Gifts to the U were up 42 percent last year.

Continuing the dialogue: 'Great Conversations' returns for third year
The College of Continuing Education's Great Conversations series returns for a third season in 2004 with an exciting range of guest thinkers and topics.

Hearty enthusiasm
Doris Taylor caused a stir in the medical establishment when she and her colleagues at Duke University announced they had repaired damage to rabbits' hearts with cells from the rabbits' thighs. Taylor continues her research at the University of Minnesota as she fills the Medtronic Bakken Chair in Cardiovascular Repair.

Mixing it up at Northrop
Celebrating its 10th year at the University of Minnesota, the Northrop Jazz Season is committed to ensuring that live jazz continues and it has made the Twin Cities a major destination for international jazz artists.

Mother Nature still loves maroon and gold
University of Minnesota alumnus and noted nature photographer Jim Brandenburg has donated another photo for the University's Even Mother Nature Loves Maroon and Gold posters series.

One world, many voices
The U's Culture Corps brings us together.

Saying 'it's Greek to me' for decades to come
Thirty-three fraternity and sorority houses are now officially historic landmarks, unanimously designated as such in October by the Minneapolis City Council. This group of building joins 11 other historic districts in Minneapolis, each following its own guidelines.

What poetry can give
Cedric Bolton helps create community through words

Break the procrastination habit... today?
Putting things off is a habit that you learn and can unlearn--or at least learn to manage, says psychologist Glenn Hirsch, assistant director of University Counseling and Consulting Service. Hirsch offers some tips to help us get out of the procrastination habit.

Is that a nuthatch or a junco?
Dana Gardner and Nancy Overcott have produced Birds at Your Feeder, a handy, laminated, folding guide to backyard birds.

No More Mondays
Former University extension educator and professor LaVonne Misner's new book recreates the world of life at sea. It also reveals Misner's evolving relationship with her husband and their changing views as they encounter the world.

Burton hopes to bring growth to the fertile Crookston campus
The University of Minnesota, Crookston, is going to be bigger and better within five years if Velmer S. Burton, Jr., has anything to say about it. And as the new chancellor of UMC, he most certainly will.

Helping your overweight child
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, associate professor in the School of Public Health's Division of Epidemiology, has found some ways parents can help their overweight children.

Supersizing America
Obesity becomes an epidemic. Six out of every 10 Americans are overweight; nearly one in three is obese. Since 1991, U.S. obesity rates in adults have risen 60 percent.

Safeguard your home from fire
In light of the recent deaths of three University of Minnesota students in an off-campus house fire and in preparation for National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 5-11, the U's Parent Program has compiled some safety tips.

Alumni association provides gift for stadium, scholarships
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) recently announced it will give $1.5 million to the University of Minnesota for scholarships and a new stadium complex.

Racial bias on Minnesota roads?
In 2002, black, Latino, and American Indian drivers were stopped and searched by Minnesota law enforcement officers more often than white drivers, according to a recent University of Minnesota study on racial profiling. But during discretionary searches, illegal substances were more likely to be found on white drivers.

Fall arts festival at the new U quarter
Imagine bee-shaped sculptures the size of your head, glowing molten red and moving inches from your reach. Sculptor Allen Peterson will create dozens of these iron models, and dancers will carry them on 5-foot poles during the Oct. 10-12 grand opening of the University of Minnesota West Bank Arts Quarter.

New scientist joins the U
Finding a way for ailing human hearts to heal themselves. That's essentially what Doris Taylor will do in her new position at the University of Minnesota.

Collaborating to stop the riots
Riots following the 2002 and 2003 Gopher men's NCAA hockey championships outraged administrators, students, and the public and left the University's reputation bruised. But the U is hardly alone in dealing with the issue of out-of-control, seemingly inexplicable violence tied to sporting events.

State of the U address
University President Bob Bruininks will discuss the current condition, challenges, achievements, and future of the U as well as his priorities.

U professor helps draft new human rights standards
On Aug. 13, the United Nations human rights body in Geneva adopted the first set of international human rights norms for transnational corporations. University of Minnesota law professor David Weissbrodt had a hand in writing the standards, which are aimed at fostering greater corporate social responsibility.

Top spots for UMM, UMC, and UMD
The University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM), is a top three public liberal arts college, according to U.S. News & World Report. And the University's campuses in Crookston (UMC) and Duluth (UMD) are among the best places in the Midwest to earn a bachelor's or master's degree.

Tooth loss and cardiovascular disease
Tooth loss caused by gum disease may be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, according to University of Minnesota researchers.

An investment in urban schools
As the school year begins, a spotlight is on the challenges of urban education. A new endowed faculty chair at the University of Minnesota aims to help address this challenge.

Inducting men and women together for the first time
The University of Minnesota Gopher Sports Hall of Fame will induct five men and five women athletes at a public ceremony on Friday, Sept. 19.

New date for homecoming
To avoid a potential scheduling conflict at the Metrodome, the University of Minnesota has moved its homecoming football game and related activities to Saturday, Nov. 1.

U regents to appeal court decision
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will appeal the Court of Appeals decision in a case challenging the presidential selection process it used last year.

Is your child ready for school?
Thousands of Minnesota youngsters are entering kindergarten this month and experiencing school for the first time. Are they ready to learn?

Bully research at the U
Two University professors are chipping away at the root of bullying to uncover ways to interrupt a bully's path of destruction.

For the love of all things American Indian
The American Indian Cultural House, a pilot program at the University of Minnesota aimed at helping American Indian students adjust to campus life, is the first of its kind among Big Ten universities and third in the nation after Harvard and Dartmouth.

Kinship care: grandparents raising grandkids
The concerns of a grandparent raising a grandchild were revealed in a University of Minnesota study released on the 25th anniversary of Grandparents Day Sept. 7.

Fighting skin cancer with topical tea
University of Minnesota researchers are in the early stages of developing a tea-based cream that would minimize the cancer-causing effects of ultraviolet rays.

Mackay: 'Changing the World You Live In'
Vital Speeches of the Day has published the speech delivered by Harvey Mackay at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's annual celebration and 100th Anniversary Kick-Off.

Care for your pet's oral health
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three. If left untreated these problems could lead to heart, lung, liver, and kidney disease.

Bringing Gopher football back to campus
On Sept. 5, the University announced that 1958 alum T. Denny Sanford has proposed a $35 million contribution to create a matching gift fund for the construction of a new Gopher football stadium and field on the Twin Cities campus.

Private donations to U set record
Campaign Minnesota raised nearly $1.66 billion in cash and pledges during its seven-year fund-raising effort, surpassing its original goal of $1.3 billion. It is the second most successful fund-raising campaign of any public university in the nation.

Health problems plague childhood cancer survivors
About 44 percent of childhood cancer survivors face moderate to severe problems with anxiety, pain, regular activity, general and mental health, according to a nationwide study coordinated by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center.

Two servings from new opera director
A pair of seldom-performed operas--a satire and a parody--will mark the University of Minnesota's 2003-04 opera season and second year at the helm for new University opera theatre director David Walsh.

Managing fall leaves
It's time again to don the warm fall jackets and rake the leaves. The following are some tips from the University of Minnesota Extension Service for managing leaves in your yard.

A course for the puppies
With activities like "pass the puppy" and "puppy playtime," the Puppy Classes taught by University of Minnesota veterinary students are so much fun that it's easy to overlook the animal behavior principles that underlie each exercise.

Alumni association hosts homecoming weekend events
Nearly 150 unique items, from a wine and chocolate party at Chocolat Celeste to a truckload of compost, will be up for bid at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's first Spirit Night Scholarship Auction

Quality of entering freshmen on the rise
The University is attracting more and better students, as measured by enrollment, high school rank, and ACT scores.

Bruininks announces academic priorities
In his Oct. 2 State of the University address, University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks spoke about the opportunities facing the University. He identified eight academic areas for focused investment of new and existing resources.

Medical students treat fictional patients at virtual clinic
Almost every Wednesday, University of Minnesota medical students log on to a Web site to see the medical records of fictional patients waiting for treatment in a virtual clinic.

U center offers vocational assessment
What do you want to be now that you're grown up? That's the question the University of Minnesota's Vocational Assessment Clinic has helped individuals answer for the past three decades.

Eating with class
At a recent Etiquette and Image Dinner hosted by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, more than 400 University students learned the following formal dining tips.

Young alumni, unite
If you graduated between 1993 and 2002, you can help the U of M win the challenge by making a gift to the college or program of your choice. It doesn't matter whether your gift is large or small. What does matter is that you participate.

Six months and counting
The final phase of Campaign Minnesota.

Even Mother Nature loves maroon and gold
Noted nature photographer and U of M alum Jim Brandenburg has donated a photo again this year to the University's Even Mother Nature Loves Maroon and Gold poster series. Posters and note cards are available.

Excellence is her bench mark
Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz, alumna and donor, talks about her career in public service.

Teaching and performing with a little help from School of Music friends
Stella Branzburg Sick is the type of School of Music student who benefits from the generosity of donors like Harvey Berneking.

Surprise gift a high note
The University of Minnesota's School of Music received an extraordinary birthday present in its 100th year. An unexpected bequest was left to the school that's expected to total several million dollars.

Passing on the mace
The University will inaugurate its new president while remembering its founding days.

The University helps put U.S. lugers on the international map
White Bear Lake native Tony Benshoof, fresh from a second-place finish in the men's nationals--a title he has won four times--is looking forward to the 2006 Olympic games.

Great Conversations continues
Spring line-up includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

A liberating experience
Why the liberal arts matter.

Mouse tracks, winter 2003
An ongoing selection of some of the University's best Web sites.

The journey that matters
Astronaut and alumnus Duane Carey talks about experiencing the real world. "Life is long," he tells students. "Get out there and experience the real world."

From Moorhead to Oxford
University senior David Simon recently received the world's most coveted scholarship. Simon will join the 100th class of Rhodes scholars at Oxford University in England.

New U research discovers link between obesity and breast cancer
Obesity is considered a risk factor for breast cancer, and women who are obese tend, at the time of diagnosis, to have a more aggressive disease with a poorer prognosis.

More involvement = less action
How mothers can influence their teenagers' sexual activity.

Catching some rays on Route 66
This summer, University students took second place in the American Solar Challenge, racing their car Borealis II against 20 other university teams.

You're On Your Own (but I'm here if you need me)
From the emotional rollercoaster of the pre-freshman-year summer all the way through the anxiety of senior spring, Marjorie Savage's new book helps parents learn to mentor their college-aged children with extremely practical advice.

Letters to the editor, fall 2003
I have to take issue with Mr. Moore's statement that the Twin Cities campus of yesteryear "wasn't a place that catered to incoming freshmen."

Alumni briefs
Alunmi-related updated for M fall 2003

Reunion checkup
When the School of Dentistry's class of 1943 gathered for its 60th reunion, it was a noteworthy milestone, even though most of these classmates see each other every year.

The river runs through it
The University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, which sits just below the Stone Arch Bridge, continually experiences water in the basement--and its occupants are delighted.

Father of U gets a face-lift
A bronze statue honoring the University of Minnesota's first major donor, a man credited with saving the U in its early years, received its first face-lift in more than a century this summer.

Lasting value
The smallest decision can have a big impact on the world. The University benefits greatly from small gifts contributed by a growing pool of loyal donors.

Donors multiply their impact
Adding to the success of Campaign Minnesota were donors like Carol and Wayne Pletcher, who also got extra mileage out of their gift thanks to employer matching funds.

It's Honeycrisp time!
University of Minnesota researchers first developed the Honeycrisp apple in 1960. Thirty years later, in 1991, the Honeycrisp was ready for commercial release.

Retaining a high caliber of safety
The University's Board of Regents in July unanimously voted to ban weapons from all campuses and at all University-related events, including those at the off-campus, public Metrodome.

Chess and intellect
Okay, so your IQ is right in the middle of the pack and you may not be developing the latest breakthrough in stem cell research any time soon, but you still have the potential to be a heckuva chess player.

Women who smoke and why it's harder to quit
Women tend to smoke fewer cigarettes each day, choose brands with lower nicotine levels, and be less likely to inhale deeply. So what makes it harder for women to quit smoking?

Cy Thao
Politics drove the Morris grad to art, and art brought him back to politics.

A scholarship as stepping stone
Having an Alumni Society scholarship as an undergraduate gave Jennifer McNabb a boost when she applied to medical school thanks to gifts from alumni.

Sweet success
Campaign Minnesota exceeds expectations and prepares U for the next century.

High-energy area
The new West Bank Arts Quarter: Dance, theater, and music.

Homecoming spirit bloomed with Memorial Stadium
For nine years, from 1914 through 1922, homecoming failed to fire the imagination of the average alumnus. But on November 17 and 18, 1923, things changed.

Historical recollection
Minneapolis gets a new milling museum.

Best 2003 Ph.D. dissertations
Each year the Graduate School recognizes the University's top recent Ph.D. graduates by presenting "best dissertation" awards.

Check one item off the 'honey-do' list
Ed Cussler has wondered for 30 years what it would be like to swim in a pool of honey. In mid-August, his query and theory were put to the test.

Minnesota covers the century
In January, Minnesota, UMAA's membership magazine, will include a separate 100th anniversary publication, detailing the history and personalities of the century-old organization.

Member snapshot, fall 2003
This UMAA member snapshot is of Norman Ornstein, class of 1967.

Between a rock and a hard place
As state support declines, universities try to make ends meet.

Alumni Career Expo set
As large and broad a career fair as any held on the Twin Cities campus will take place Friday, April 23, in the McNamara Alumni Center.

Don't be shy, contact your legislator
A unique budget proposal, a challenging state budget outlook, and numerous new legislators give University supporters a chance to make a special impact this year. By becoming part of the University of Minnesota Legislative Network, volunteers will be informed of important legislative votes and given tips on making effective contacts.

A summer visit to the U
Summer is a splendid time to visit the U's Twin Cities campus. Here are a few suggestions to help round out your visit.

Greener pastures
St. Paul isn't the only place where U students can ride and research horses. The Crookston campus offers a bachelor's degree in equine industries management (EIM), which prepares students for careers in breeding, racing, and stable management.

Horse sense
A proposal for a new U Equine Center would concentrate horse experts in one state-of-the-art facility.

Choose whole grains and live longer
When it comes to eating well to prevent disease, University of Minnesota research has been leading the way for decades. Lately, advice from U researchers to eat more whole grains (along with more fruits and vegetables) is getting a lot of attention.

Elucidating summer evenings on the Showboat
Have your hearts and minds opened by instructors from the College of Continuing Education's Split Rock Arts Program on the Minnesota Centennial Showboat, moored at St. Paul's picturesque Harriet Island.

University news is just a click away
Get eNews, the U's electronic newsletter for all alumni and friends.

Fellowship supports new degree in health journalism
The Marsha Ellen May Sternberg fellowship establishes a new one-year master's degree program for students in health journalism.

Eat together
According to University of Minnesota research, eating together as a family does make a difference.

Maroon and Gold Day at the fair
Join alumni and supporters of the University from all over the Upper Midwest at Minnesota State Fair Sunday, August 24, for the fourth annual Maroon and Gold Day celebration.

New degrees of excellence
More than 11,000 Faculty and staff give to Campaign Minnesota

Campaign news: Alumni contributing to campaign success
Campaign Minnesota began in 1996 as a defining moment in the U's future. Today, just weeks shy of the campaign's June 30 end date, it's safe to say that the defining taking place is of historic proportions.

Class acts
Leah Curney, Santino Fontana, and Ryan Lindberg played unloved and unlovable, spoiled, lost, and angry twentysomethings in the Minneapolis Guthrie Theater's recent production of Six Degrees of Separation.

U of M opens neighborhood clinic to provide health care to the uninsured
In March, the University opened the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic in one of the poorest areas in Minneapolis with an all-volunteer staff and mostly donated equipment.

Do you still need your 11-year-old to download your digital photos?
Try Tech Talk. It's better than an operating manual and you don't even have to read it.

Facing the challenges
The University and several neighborhood early childhood programs collaborated to create Baby's Space, a groundbreaking program providing infant and toddler care and family support services to parents in one of the most economically distressed neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

Mouse tracks, spring 2003
An ongoing selection of some of the University's best Web sites.

Saving millions for small towns
Local municipalities can spend more than $1 million to build a treatment facility to reduce the levels of arsenic in its water supply to meet federal regulations. But University of Minnesota student Mindy Erickson has found a cheaper, long-term solution for some small towns.

Ginger as an anti-cancer agent
The substance that gives ginger its distinctive flavor appears to inhibit the growth of human colorectal cancer cells, according to research at the University of Minnesota's Hormel Institute in Austin, Minn.

Abuzz with bee research
Spivak's research, supported in part by gifts from alumni and other donors, is no less intriguing. She's working on controlling diseases and the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, which are killing honeybees worldwide in record numbers.

Philanthropy: a critical niche, not a substitute for state support
Private giving is a critical component of the University's overall funding mix, but it cannot replace state support.

A man of many gifts
Steven Snyder remains so appreciative of the psychology program that he and his wife, Sherry Stern, recently endowed a fellowship.

One-stop site for traveling Gopher football fans
What does it take to hit the road and support maroon and gold in enemy territory? Find out on the new University of Minnesota Gopher football fan Web site created by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Stop Me Because I Can't Stop Myself
Jon E. Grant and his colleague, S.W. Kim, both directors of the University's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic, wrote Stop Me Because I Can't Stop Myself, a guide to understanding impulse control disorders.

Strike at the U
On Monday, Oct. 20, negotiations with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) clerical units--representing 1,900 of the University of Minnesota's 18,000 employees on all campuses--broke off and AFSCME announced its decision to go on strike.

Make your bed
University research shows that involving children in daily chores gives them a sense of responsibility, competence, self-reliance, and self-worth that stays with them throughout their lives.

Creature cinema
The Bell Museum is preserving its wildlife film collection with a gift from the National Film Preservation Foundation. Walter J. Breckenridge, a longtime director of the museum and a 1941 U graduate with a Ph.D. in zoology, traveled across the state and made forays into upper Canada and Alaska to capture images of birds in flight, courtship rituals, and animals raising their young.

Books to light the way
Ever wonder what books inspire the University's leading thinkers? The College of Continuing Education asked some of the University's top minds to pick the books that have had the most impact on their thinking. The result--U Reads.

Campus clubhouse returns
The new Coffman is an intriguing blend of past and present--of palatial expanse with up-to-date convenience, of old games and new gadgets, of restored art deco splendor blending into a very modern building.

Letters to the editor, spring 2003
The quotation "All the world's a stage..." is from Shakespeare's As You Like It, Act II, scene vii.

One good gift deserves three others
3M Matching Grant provides scholarships to top undergraduates

Using aspirin to reduce the risk of colon cancer
A daily dose of aspirin can be effective in reducing the risk of colon adenomas, the benign tumors that can develop into cancer if left in the bowel.

Better Than Well
For every reason to dislike yourself--"I hate my nose, sex, hair, voice, life"--there are an equal number of ways to fix what's wrong. Mood-altering drugs. Breast implants. Wrinkle-be-gone Botox injections. The biggest growth industry in health care isn't in actually healing people, but in improving people.

To your health!
Evidence connects wine and other alcoholic beverages to good health.

Smaller communities: the freshman seminar
This freshman seminar and dozens like it transform the nearly 50,000-student University into smaller communities, making the first year at the University less overwhelming.

Harvey Mackay returns to headline alumni celebration
Unfortunately, an attack of kidney stones prevented Mackay from being the headliner that night, but he'll get another chance on May 29, 2003, when the UMAA's Annual Celebration marks the opening of a year of centennial activities.

Help complete our history
As the alumni association turns 100, our thoughts turn to the past--and to a few holes in our historical record.

Alumni centennial year celebrates past, present, future
When an organization has spent 100 years connecting alumni to an institution as grand as the University of Minnesota, the anniversary celebration needs to be big. A year of hallmark events, new songs, and special publications will mark the 100th anniversary of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.

Share your memorable connections
To mark the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's 100th anniversary, the UMAA is asking alumni to share how they make the University of Minnesota connection. For many, it's through Gopher football. Below are some memories and comments gleaned from dozens of e-mails and letters sent to the association.

Split Rock offers creative getaway
The 20-year-old Split Rock Arts Program is a series of weeklong residential workshops led by practicing artists who focus on specific aspects of an art form. Sessions are held on both the University's Duluth campus and at the Cloquet Forestry Center. Among the 38 offerings this summer are workshops on memoir writing, textile arts, wicker basketry, and Drawing for the Truly Terrified. University of Minnesota Alumni Association members like Tyler get a 10 percent discount on course fees. "That was a nice added benefit," she says.

Transforming the freshman experience
For today's exercise in reminiscing, pick a decade, any decade--'70s, '80s, or early '90s. Close your eyes and think of a Bee Gees or Duran Duran song if that will help you float away to a different era.

Discovery links unusual protein to diabetes
Researchers have discovered small variations in a cholesterol transporting protein that may predispose many people of American Indian or Mexican descent to diabetes.