Vol. XXXIII No. 35; October 29, 2003
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. Top Stories
Students stage protest in Morrill Hall.
Clerical strike enters second week; second AFSCME unit
files
notice to strike.
2. News and Announcements
Open enrollment deadline is Nov. 15.
November is "Month of Kindness."
3. Campus Events and Information
Free flu shots available.
4. Links
1. Top Stories
VPs MAZIAR, CARRIER, AND BROWN MET WITH STUDENTS staging a protest in Morrill
Hall on Oct. 28. The students, intitially numbering 17 but growing to more than
60, were supporting striking AFSCME clerical workers. VP Brown described the
meeting as cordial and said that U officials listened to student concerns and
reiterated the budget challenges the U is currently facing and how this impacts
contract negotiations.
AS THE STRIKE BY THE AFSCME CLERICAL UNIT entered its second week, the U reported
that 63 percent of the clerical union employees were at work. In addition, the
U has received a notice of intent to strike from AFSCME Local 3260, which represents
170 dental assistants, licensed practical nurses, and other health workers on
several of the U campuses. The first potential date of strike would be Nov. 4.
The mediator has called the parties back for negotiations, which will be held
Nov. 3. Strike
information
can
be
found at http://www.umn.edu/ohr/er/strike.htm
COMMUNITY FUND DRIVE UPDATE: The Minnesota Counts on U Community Fund Drive will
end Oct. 31. So far the drive has raised over $660,000 but still has a ways to
go before reaching its goal of $1 million. For more information, or to make a
pledge, go to http://www.umn.edu/cfd
2. News and Announcements
NOV. 15 IS THE DEADLINE FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT in UPlan. Employees need to complete
an application if they fall in certain categories: if they currently have DeltaCare
dental, have Patient Choice and their care system is changing, want to change
to a different medical or dental plan option, and more. To find out if you need
to complete an application, call the Employee Benefits Service Center at 612-624-9090
or 800-756-2363 and
press option 2, or go to http://www.umn.edu/ohr/eb
NOMINATIONS FOR THE DISTINGUISHED WOMEN SCHOLARS AWARD are now being accepted.
This program honors the accomplishments of distinguished women scholars at the
U. Deadline is Nov. 24. MORE: http://www.grad.umn.edu/faculty-staff/funding/OUW/
THE DISTINGUISHED MCKNIGHT UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIP, the U's midcareer professorship
program, is now accepting nominations. MORE: http://www.grad.umn.edu/faculty-staff/mcknight/distinguished.html
THE SCHOOL OF NURSING HAS BEEN AWARDED a $226,000 first-year grant from the Health
Care Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. The grant aims to address the state's nursing shortage. MORE: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/NewsFiles/nursinggrant101403/
NOVEMBER HAS BEEN DECLARED A MONTH OF KINDNESS, and more than 60 campus organizations,
departments, and student groups are participating in an effort to put kindness
and civility at the forefront of University life. For information on events planned,
go to http://events.tc.umn.edu/search and select "Month of Kindness" from
the second pulldown menu. For more information, or to receive fliers with quotes
about kindness from Kahlil Gibran or Mother Teresa, contact Amy Olson at 612-379-4026
or olson362@umn.edu
CALENDAR FEATURING NORTH SHORE MEMORIES, published by U Sea Grant Program, is
now available for $10. Orders can also be placed by calling 218-726-6191 or by
going to http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/calendar/index.html
3. Campus Events and Information
U-wide events:
EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND BENEFITS FAIRS will be held at the following times and locations:
TC campus, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman Union; Duluth, Nov. 6,
10 a.m.-3 p.m., Kirby Student Center ballroom.
FREE FLU SHOTS, offered as part of the UPlan Wellness Program to faculty and
staff who are members of the UPlan medical options, will be offered on the following
dates and locations.
TC CAMPUS: Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman Union; Nov. 20, 4 -7
p.m. Centennial Hall; Nov. 24, 2-6 p.m., Rec Sports Center; Nov. 25, 4-7 p.m.,
Middlebrook Hall.
ROCHESTER, Nov. 3, 1-4 p.m., University Center Rochester Health Services.
DULUTH: Nov. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Kirby Student Center ballroom.
CROOKSTON: Nov. 12 and 13, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 131 Sahlstrom Conference Center.
MORE: http://www.umn.edu/ohr/eb/event/shots.htm
Crookston:
UMC'S ANNUAL PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AUDIT COMMITTEE (PIAC) DAY will be Oct. 29,
with a noon luncheon at Northland Inn of Crookston. Various PIAC committees will
meet from 2 to 5 p.m. on the UMC campus. UMC's strategic plan includes the implementation
of PIACs to aid in the implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement
of each of its degree programs. The PIAC groups comprise more than 185 professionals
with diverse backgrounds and interests, including representatives from business,
industrial, educational, and health organizations, as well as
UMC faculty.
H. WESLEY PERKINS, one of the originators and foremost leaders of the social
norms approach to substance abuse prevention and health promotion, will present
a free public discussion on his work Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., Kiehle Auditorium. Perkins's
visit is sponsored by a U.S. Department of Educations grant that UMC received
to help prevent high-risk drinking behaviors
of students. MORE: http://www.crk.umn.edu/newsevents/notices03-04/HWPerkins.htm
WINONA LADUKE, internationally renowned political activist; advocate for environmental,
children's, and women's rights; and founder of the Indigenous Women's Network,
will speak Nov. 5, 8 p.m., Kiehle Auditorium. The event is open to the public.
Admission
is $2. MORE: http://www.crk.umn.edu/newsevents/notices03-04/WinonaLaDuke.htm
Duluth:
"TOPPING OFF" CEREMONIES WERE HELD OCT. 16 for the James Swenson Science
Building, under construction on the UMD campus. Chancellor Martin and James Swenson,
the building's benefactor, were hoisted up 50 feet to place a U.S. flag atop
a steel beam of the $33 million building, set for completion in Jan. 2005. The
topping off ceremony is a long-standing tradition in the building trades, held
to celebrate completion of the tallest part of a building's construction.
STARTING IN INNOCENCE, A LOCALLY PRODUCED DOCUMENTARY chronicling the
story of UMD theatre students as they produced the award-winning stage play Dear
Finder, has been nominated for a Regional Emmy Award from the National Television
Academy's North Central Chapter. The one-hour play by Dan Woods and Steve Ash
has been
submitted to PBS for national broadcast. In addition, Dear Finder was
selected for performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
in Washington
D.C. It was written by theatre associate professor Tom Isbell.
Morris:
STUDENT DFL GROUP SPONSORED A WELLSTONE MEMORIAL in Oyate Hall on Oct. 23 to
celebrate the memory of Paul and Sheila Wellstone and their dedication to the
people of Minnesota.
CIRCLE OF NATIONS INDIAN ASSOCIATION will sponsor author and activist Wilma Mankiller
Nov. 5, 7 p.m., Edson Auditorium, to commemorate Native American Heritage Month.
Mankiller, a former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, will present "Every
Day is a Good Day," a discussion on the resilience and tenacity of Native
people, particularly women. MORE: http://www.mrs.umn.edu/alumni/universityRelations/news/view.php?id=66
TICKETS FOR THE THEATER AND MUSIC DISCIPLINES FALL MUSICAL, The Mystery of
Edwin
Drood are now on sale in the student center. "Drood" is a musical
comedy murder mystery based on Charles Dickens's final, unfinished novel, where
the audience votes on key plot developments, including the identity of Drood's
killer. Play
runs Nov. 5-8 in the Proscenium Theatre. MORE: http://www.mrs.umn.edu/academic/theatre/season.html
ONE HUNDRED POUNDS OF FOOD AND $1,094 IN CASH were collected for the Stevens
County Food Shelf during the Oct. 17 performance by George Winston. All proceeds
from CD sales that evening were also donated to the food shelf.
VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS SANDY OLSON-LOY has been named to the Land
Stewardship's board of directors. Olson-Loy has developed programs that bring
together the University and rural communities of west central Minnesota. She
has also worked with the Pride of the Prairie regional food program.
Rochester
UMR HOSTED THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF CONSUMER SEMINARS on making better consumer
choices Oct. 25. Flo Sandok, artist, environmental advocate, and
teacher, presented "No Man, or Woman, is an Island" on how to live
in a cleaner, safer home environment.
Twin Cities:
COPYRIGHT PERMISSION REQUESTS FOR SPRING 2004 courses may be submitted to the
Copyright Permissions Center by fax to 612-626-9810, online at http://www.copyright.umn.eduor
by campus mail to 102 Printing Services Building. Course packet citations may
also be dropped off, with originals, at any Printing Services copy center
location. For more information, contact Lois Williams at 612-624-8258 or willi119@umn.edu
HOMECOMING WEEK is Oct. 27-Nov. 1. For a list of homecoming events, go to http://www.homecoming.umn.edu
NEARLY 150 UNIQUE AUCTION ITEMS, from a wine-and-chocolate party at Chocolat
Celeste to a truckload of compost, will be up for bid at the U of M Alumni Association's
first Spirit Night Scholarship Auction on Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m., McNamara Alumni
Center. In addition, on Nov. 1, the UMAA will host a homecoming breakfast, Gopher
Road Show, and Membership Expo from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Sports Pavilion. MORE:
www.alumni.umn.edu/homecoming
SEVEN OF MINNESOTA'S FINEST MYSTERY AUTHORS--Erin Hart, Larry Millett, Monica
Ferris, Margaret Frazer, Victoria Houston, K. J. Erickson and R.D. Zimmerman--will
discuss their works and styles Oct. 30, 2-4 p.m., U Bookstore, Coffman
Union.
A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE $24 MILLION RENOVATION OF KOLTHOFF HALL--which
needs major work such as a new ventilation system and other safety upgrades,
will be held Nov. 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 101 Walter. This project, which aims to
help IT attract and retain the nation's best and brightest scholars, is part
of the U's 2004 legislative request. To register, go to http://www.alumni.umn.edu/ITbriefing by
Nov. 1. Call 612-626-8371 or 800-862-5867 for more information.
COMPUTATIONAL GENETICS LABORATORY GRAND OPENING will be Nov. 13, noon, 138 Cargill
Microbial and Plant Genomics Building. VP Maziar will present a brief keynote
address.
SEE MORE TWIN CITIES EVENTS ONLINE at http://events.tc.umn.edu
4. Links
Minnesota Counts on U 2003 Community Fund Drive:
http://www.umn.edu/cfd
University News Service: http://www.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/home.php
Office of the President: http://www.umn.edu/pres
Government Relations: http://www.umn.edu/urelate/govrel
eNews: Subscribe to eNews, a biweekly e-newsletter
with a mix of U stories, news, and happenings, see http://www.umn.edu/systemwide/enews
Today's News Headlines: To subscribe to Today's
News Headlines, a daily e-mail update of media coverage that
is either about or references the
U, see http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/todaysnews.html
Brief is compiled by University Relations at the University
of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to Jason
Sanford, editor, at sanfo012@umn.edu All
Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar
at http://events.tc.umn.edu
Notice: Brief is the official University of Minnesota staff and faculty weekly news digest, featuring human resource, employee benefit, administrative, legislative and budgetary, event, and other pertinent information. You may choose to unsubscribe from Brief. However, please be aware that if you unsubscribe from Brief, 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/urelate/brief/briefsub.php
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