Vol. XXXVIII No. 20; June 4, 2008
Editor: Adam Overland, brief@umn.edu

Read Brief on the Web at www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_06042008.html.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--The LRT/Central Corridor and the U.
--Cedar Creek Ecosystem dedication is June 5.
--Experimental U bone marrow transplant appears to be working.
--U President Robert Bruininks is recovering comfortably.
--Stan Sahlstrom, "founding father" of UMC, dies.
--People: Georgios Giannakis named director of Digital Technology Center; Sally Gregory Kohlstedt appointed History of Science and Technology director; and more.

Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston | Duluth | Morris | Rochester | Twin Cities

THE LRT/CENTRAL CORRIDOR AND the U. For the latest news, maps, and information regarding the University's position and ideas for mass transit, light rail, and the Central Corridor, visit the LRT Web site.

THE COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WILL DEDICATE the Raymond Lindeman Research and Discovery Center and Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve with a program and tours June 5, 4 p.m. Cedar Creek, 2660 Fawn Lake Dr., Bethel, Minn. Speakers will be Regents Professor David Tilman, Dean Robert Elde, Regents Professor Peter Reich and Gerald Fischer, president of the University of Minnesota Foundation. Tours of the building and experiment sites will follow the dedication program. For more information, see the news release and Cedar Creek.

A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT performed by U of M doctors on a 2-year-old boy last fall appears to be working. The boy's doctors said Monday they believe they have found a cure for his devastating genetic skin disease using stem cells. To date, there has been no hope for treating the rare and painful disease, which causes the skin to fall off at the slightest touch and inevitably leads to cancer. Most children who have it do not survive to adulthood. For more information, see stem cells.

U PRESIDENT ROBERT BRUININKS IS RECOVERING COMFORTABLY in Washington state from the pulmonary embolism he experienced while on vacation. He is not hospitalized and will be headed back to Minnesota as soon as he is cleared for travel. The president is grateful for everyone's well wishes. For more information, see the news release.

STAN SAHLSTROM, the person affectionately dubbed the "founding father" of UMC, died June 2. He served UMC as provost from 1965 to 1985. Sahlstrom was appointed as director and charged with creating the U's Technical Institute in 1965. His title was later changed to provost. He presided in the ceremony involving the last graduating class of the Northwest School of Agriculture and the first graduating class of the Technical Institute. Sahlstrom led the transition of the campus from the Technical Institute to the Technical College to the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Upon his election to the Board of Regents in March 1985, he resigned from the provost position. He served as a regent for 12 years. For more information, see the news release.

PEOPLE: Georgios Giannakis has been appointed the director of the U's Digital Technology Center; Sally Gregory Kohlstedt has been appointed the director of the Institute of Technology's History of Science and Technology; Peter Olver has been appointed as head of the School of Mathematics. Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

WEBMAIL PRO AND WEBMAIL 3.0 will be decommissioned July 1. GopherMail will continue as a Web-based e-mail application for central e-mail accounts. U of M e-mail accounts will remain the same, and e-mail addresses will not change. Send questions or comments to webmail.

Crookston:

U OF M, CROOKSTON TEAMBACKERS CLUB recently donated $20,000 to support student-athlete scholarships at UMC. The club annually sponsors numerous fund-raisers and plays an integral role in raising dollars and promoting Golden Eagle athletics. For more information, see the news release.

SUMMER CAMPS AT UMC will take place during June and July and cover a wide range of interests, including computer game design, leadership, and athletics. For more information, see the camp schedule.

UMC STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE (SIFE) attained a new level of success at the SIFE National Exposition in Chicago in May. By placing third in their league, the team achieved the highest level in competition of any SIFE team in UMC history. For more information, see the news release.

Duluth:

MARSHALL W. ALWORTH PLANETARIUM offers an introduction to the night sky with "Stargazing Tonight," June 4, 7 p.m. Planetarium staff will give an overview of everything that will appear in the sky during June. Private shows are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more. For more information, see Stargazing.

GLENSHEEN HISTORIC CONGDON ESTATE celebrates its 100th birthday this summer with a variety of events, including specialized tours, a symposium, and the "Glensheen Centennial Fancy Picnic Contest" celebration party. The event features music, artisan demonstrations, period games, and a picnic-packing contest with winners in a variety of categories. June 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., estate grounds. For more information, see Glensheen.

UMD'S KENNETH GILBERTSON AND RAJIV VAIDYANATHAN have been awarded the 2008 University of Minnesota President's Award for Outstanding Service. For more information, see outstanding service.

Morris:

UMM WILL HOST ITS "SUMMER JAZZ EXPERIENCE" for high school musicians June 8-10. The event features UMM jazz musician mentors and international jazz greats, Chris Vadala and Allen Vizzutti. For more information and to register, see Summer Jazz.

Rochester:

UMR CONTINUES TO RECRUIT TALENT in many areas. Qualified candidates can view opportunities at employment.

Twin Cities:

THE TCF BANK STADIUM WILL HONOR MINNESOTA'S 87 COUNTIES with custom-made stone signs that will ring Memorial Wall on the exterior of the stadium. A ceremony on May 29 revealed the first 5 of 87 county signs, each weighing more than three tons, created by New Ulm-based American Artstone. The signs symbolize that the future home of the Golden Gophers is a statewide facility, and pay tribute to the support of all Minnesota citizens. To read more about the signs, see webcam views of the stadium, or take a virtual tour, visit the stadium Web site.

THE U OF M CHILD CARE CENTER IS HAVING A RUMMAGE SALE. Children's clothing, toys, books, women's maternity wear, and other items. Proceeds go to support educational and developmental programs at the center. U faculty, staff, and students are welcome. June 7, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m, at two locations (Minneapolis and Golden Valley). For more information, see the flyer.

"2008 SUMMER AT NORTHROP" FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS BEGIN JUNE 11. The summer session kick-off on June 16 will feature popular Twin Cities-based salsa band Salsabrosa. Free ice cream and sandwiches while supplies last, as well as drawings for prizes. All concerts begin at noon and will move inside if it rains. For a list of summer acts, see concerts.

"SEEING MATHEMATICS EVERYWHERE," the next Institute of Technology public lecture, will feature world-renowned mathematician and U professor Doug Arnold. June 12, 7 p.m., Walter Library, Digital Technology Center. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, see Mathematics Everywhere.

"PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS" turns the "dismal science" into performance art at Bryant-Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. U grad student Andrew Cassey performs his once-a-month lecture series twice more, June 24 and July 22, 7 p.m., 810 W. Lake Street. For more information, read the feature story.

TEACHING WITH WRITING 2008 is a five-day seminar for faculty and instructors to focus on strategies for integrating meaningful writing instruction into their courses. Seats available first come, first served, capped at 25. Registration ends Aug. 8 or when full. Participants must commit to the entire session. For more information or to register, see writing.

THE CENTER FOR CHANGING LANDSCAPES (CCL) RECEIVED THE Minnesota chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (MASLA) award of excellence for the center's work on the Minnesota River State Trail. The award, the highest given by MASLA, was presented at the MASLA annual awards dinner, April 18, at the Como Park Zoo Visitors Center. For more information, contact CCL's co-director Mary Vogel.

THE U'S RESPONSE TO THE I-35W BRIDGE COLLAPSE was recognized on May 22 with the 2007 Minnesota Association of Government Communicators Award of Excellence in the category of public information projects: special event. The award recognizes the creative commuting solutions that the U implemented after the collapse. For more information, see commuting.

SUMMER HAPPY HOUR AT THE CAMPUS CLUB is open to all U faculty and staff. Membership is not required weekdays during June, July, and August, 3-6 p.m. Get all the discounts and details at happy hour.

HOURS FOR SOME OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WALK-IN HELPLINE LOCATIONS CHANGED April 28. Walk-in facilities are available to provide technology help and specialized services for U faculty, staff, students, and alumni. For up-to-date locations and times, visit help.

HENNEPIN COUNTY SERVICE CENTER is now located at Coffman Union, ground level, and is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The center provides a range of services, from vehicle registration to hunting, fishing, and marriage licenses, to birth and death certificates. For more information, see service or call 612-348-8240.

THE ABANDONED-BIKE SALE AT THE REUSE WAREHOUSE will take place on June 5, 8 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. More than 200 bikes priced at $35 (plus tax) will be for sale. Cash only. The event is open to the public. 883 29th Ave. S.E. Minneapolis (west of Highway 280 and Como). For more information, see the warehouse.

MORE EVENTS include Nature Tots: Creepy Crawlies (June 5); Field Trip: Wolsfeld Woods (June 8); Conference on the "The Future of Leadership" (June 9); Educational Technologists Forum: The U of M Learning Platform and Digital Campus Initiative (June 11); Salsabrosa (June 12); "Bioblitz 2008" (June 13-14); David Sedaris discusses and signs his new book When You Are Engulfed in Flames (June 13); UMore Park Campus Forums and Open House (June 16); Pamela McNeill (June 17). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS.

Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication. All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu.

Brief is published by e-mail and on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief.html.

Notice: Brief is the official University of Minnesota staff and faculty weekly news digest, featuring human resource, employee benefit, administrative, legislative, budgetary, event, and other pertinent information. You may choose to unsubscribe from Brief, but please be aware that if you do, you will not receive this up-to-date information, compiled and delivered directly to you, in any other University communications. To unsubscribe, visit http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Subscribe.html.