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Vol. XXXIV No. 6; Feb. 11, 2004

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. Top Stories
    U hosts "The 2004 State of Students of Color" conference Feb. 12-13.
    Roundtable on health care will be hosted by three U deans Feb. 18.
    Two U presentations at the legislature this week.
2. News and Announcements
    Regents will meet Feb. 12-13.
    U Lobby Day is Feb. 18.
3. Campus Events and Information
4. Links

1. Top Stories

"THE 2004 STATE OF STUDENTS OF COLOR" CONFERENCE at the U will address Minnesota's persistent failure to educate students of color at the same rate as their white counterparts, from kindergarten through college. The conference is based on the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership's second report, which was a collaboration of state educators, including U faculty members. Event participants will include Minnesota education commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke; keynote speaker will be national correspondent Ray Suarez. Feb. 12-13, Coffman Union. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=1153 .

ROUNDTABLE ON THE HEALTH SECTOR'S ROLE in local and global development will be hosted by deans of the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, School of Public Health, and Carlson School of Management, along with regional executives and health leaders. Feb. 18, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=1149 .

U GAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS AT THE LEGISLATURE this week. On Feb. 9, VP Pfutzenreuter testified before the House Higher Education Finance Committee, responding to the governor's budget recommendation for less than half of the U's capital request. On Feb. 10, President Bruininks presented the U's request to the Senate Higher Education Budget Division. He gave an overview of each project in the request and emphasized the broader importance of maintaining the U's infrastructure. In addition, on Duluth Day, Feb. 9, Chancellor Martin and other UMD representatives visited with legislators. President Bruininks and others from across the U continue to meet with legislators on the request and other issues, including Extension. For more information and a schedule of activities, see http://www.umn.edu/urelate/govrel .

2. News and Announcements

REGENTS WILL MEET FEB. 12-13. The U's Plan, Performance, and Accountability Report will be reviewed before going to the legislature. Other topics include a work session on issues around associated organizations, such as the University of Minnesota Foundation and the alumni association, and federal relations plans and priorities for 2004. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/regents/ .

U LOBBY DAY IS FEB. 18, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. This year, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community supporters from all campuses will lobby together. Buses will run between the McNamara Alumni Center and the capitol all day. Because the governor recommended less than half of the U's request for funding, U community members are urged to contact their legislators. To register for lobby day or see the schedule, go to http://www.umn.edu/groots/LobbyDay.php .

THE U IS EXPLORING the need to upgrade the infrastructure necessary to support clinical education, research, and patient care in the Academic Health Center (AHC), in partnership with U of M Physicians and Fairview Health Services. The success of AHC schools and colleges depends on vision and facilities for a clinical enterprise, according to senior VP Cerra. A program manager will be hired soon to keep planning on track and ensure that academic and business questions are addressed. For more information, contact Mary Koppel, 612-624-5100 or koppe006@umn.edu .

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTED GARY CHRISTENSON, director of the Mental Health Clinic at Boynton Health Service, as a psychiatrist member of the State Advisory Council on Mental Health Feb. 3. His term continues until the end of 2006.

3. Campus Events and Information

U-wide:
U CHINA CENTER celebrated its 25th anniversary Jan. 21 with a Chinese New Year celebration attended by 400 people. For more information, see http://www.chinacenter.umn.edu/ .

Crookston:
NEW STUDENT CENTER construction is rescheduled to begin in May and end in summer 2005, in time for the Crookston campus centennial. Roers' Construction, Inc., of Fargo has been selected to serve as general contractor. For more information, see http://www.crk.umn.edu/newsevents/notices03-04/RoersConstr.htm .

FACULTY SEMINAR SERIES features faculty, researchers, extension staff, and occasional guests. Research entomologist Ian MacRae will speak on digital mapping of insect pest populations. Feb. 19, 3-4 p.m., Youngquist Auditorium, Northwest Research and Outreach Center.

Duluth:
"BREAK THE ICE" RECEPTION FOR UMD ALUMNI season ticket holders and Bulldog Club members will be held before the Bulldog vs. Gopher men's hockey game. Feb. 14, 5:30-7 p.m., French River Room, Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. To RSVP, call 218-726-7164 or e-mail alumni@d.umn.edu .

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC presents UMD Vocal Jazz Cabaret, including ensembles Lake Effect and Chill Factor. Feb. 19-21, 7:30 p.m., Weber Music Hall. For more information, call 218-726-8877.

UMD THEATRE presents the 1950s classic Twelve Angry Men. One person's conscience leads the jury into heated debate as they decide the fate of a young man on trial for the murder of his father. Feb. 12-15 and 18-21, 7:30 p.m., 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays, Marshall Performing Arts Center. For tickets, call 218-726-8561.

Morris:
FIFTY PAINTINGS that document the history of the Hmong people, by UMM alumnus and Minnesota state representative Cy Thao, '95, will be displayed in the Humanities Fine Arts (HFA) Center gallery Feb. 12-Mar. 5. Thao will attend an opening reception on Feb. 12, 8 p.m., in the gallery, and give a public lecture, "Stories Without Words: The Hmong Migration," on Feb. 13, 3 p.m., HFA recital hall.

ANNUAL PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE COMMUNITY EXPO will feature representatives from 20 west central Minnesota farms and organizations, a farmers market, a spring meal, and local music. Feb. 17, 2-6:30 p.m. For more information, see http://www.mrs.umn.edu/alumni/universityRelations/news/current.php .

Rochester:
100TH PATENT of UMR faculty member Hal Ottesen was issued Jan. 13. "Method and apparatus for identifying spindle imbalance in a hard disk drive" (US 6,678,108) was the result of continuing disk-drive research between Ottesen and Gordon Smith, a senior technical staff member at IBM in Rochester.

Twin Cities:
A BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION sponsored by the Carlson School of Management provides free help in developing a new business. New Venture Challenge will award $40,000 U of M students and alumni for submitting winning business plans. Deadline is Mar. 22. For more information, see http://www.newventurechallenge.com .

A NEW ART GALLERY IN COFFMAN UNION is located in the theater reception room, overlooking the fountain terrace. First exhibit, "A Breath of Fresh Air," features paintings of graduate student Gregory Rose. Opening reception Feb. 12, noon-2 p.m. For more information, call 612-625-0239 or see http://www.spsc.umn.edu/vac .

TRAINING FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING, a series of sessions for faculty and staff that promote deeper understanding of the U's international community and strategies for crossing cultural barriers in meetings, classrooms, and service settings, begins Feb. 17. Sponsored by International Student and Scholar Services. For more information and a schedule, see http://www.isss.umn.edu .

"DISCOVERING YOUR PLACE" is a student event to promote retention and graduation, sponsored by the Career Development Network and the Academic Advising Network. Students can take a brief interest inventory and find U majors and opportunities that match their interests. Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman Union. For more information, see http://www.ucs.umn.edu/career/discover.html .

MORE EVENTS include the Dance Theater of Harlem (Feb. 11), author Verlyn Klinkenborg (Feb. 16), Learning Abroad Center spring fair (Feb. 18), "A National Perspective on Current Highway Safety Issues" winter luncheon of the Center for Transportation Studies (Feb. 18), and "Service, Struggle, Strength: 150 Years of African American Service in the YMCA," on display at the Andersen Library (through March 10). These and many more events are posted on the Events Calendar at http://events.umn.edu .

Brief is compiled by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Gayla Marty, interim editor; Ann Freeman, managing editor. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to Gayla Marty at marty001@umn.edu . All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

To receive Brief as a text-only e-mail, contact Gayla Marty, interim editor, at marty001@umn.edu .

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