Introduction The Growth Agenda New Mission Advancement Building the Campus Institutional News Sustainability,         Environmental Awareness Weidner Center Phuture Phoenix Diversity International Education Outreach, Community Service Lectures, Cultural Enrichment Intercollegiate Athletics Faculty/Staff Students Transition		Annual Report to the campus, community, and UW System | December 2007 The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Bruce Shepard, Chancellor Lectures, Cultural Enrichment Maintaining leadership as a community resource The story of repositioning of the University’s primary arts and entertainment venue, the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, is told elsewhere in this report.       As important as the Weidner is, however, to the University, Green Bay and the New North region, that story is only part of a much larger tale involving UW-Green Bay’s continuing efforts to bring arts and education to a diverse, far-reaching audience.       Public lectures and presentations at Green Bay’s University of Wisconsin are central to the institution’s mission. And 2006-07 was another noteworthy year. Highlights Historical Perspectives Lecture Series It was the 21st anniversary season for the influential and highly regarded Historical Perspectives Lecture Series. Since its beginning, well over 100 prominent visiting scholars in the humanities and social sciences, as well as journalists and commentators such as David Brooks and E.J. Dionne, have brought diverse views to the University campus. A high point in 2006-07 was the campus visit of prominent conservative scholar and author Michael Novak, an authority on religion, philosophy and public policy. A leading figure with the American Enterprise Institute, he talked about his new book, Washington’s God. Michael Tomasky, editor-at-large of The American Prospect magazine, chose as the topic for his guest lecture, “Finally...A Liberal Moment?” Two speakers had alumni ties. Feminism and motherhood in American culture were addressed by Jill Duquaine-Watson of Women’s Studies at Texas Woman’s University and a 1997 UW-Green Bay grad. Another alumnus, Craig Coenen, Class of 1992 and a New Jersey history professor, returned during football season to discuss his book on the growth of the early NFL and reasons the small-town Green Bay Packers have managed to survive, against great odds. Important topics The ongoing Bellin LifeLines series brought in Tuesdays with Morrie author Mitch Albom for a lecture and book signing during his November appearance on campus. Also appearing through the subscription series were activist Mavis Leno, “Freedom Writers” teacher Erin Gruwell, TV personality Star Jones and journalist Jane Pauley… In March, the Office of Student Life along with the Space Grant Consortium took the lead in welcoming pioneer woman astronaut Eileen Collins, who flew on four Space Shuttle missions, for a speech on “Leadership Lessons from Apollo to Discovery.” ‘Oxford Lecture series,’ and more UW-Green Bay faculty members again opened their lectures to the general public as part of the “Oxford Lecture Series” on a wide range of issues, beginning with “PEM Fuel Cell technology,” a presentation for a general audience and people without an extensive mathematics background… In April, in a program typical of UW-Green Bay faculty outreach in bringing outside scholars to campus, the NAS unit partnered with the local chapter of the American Meteorological Society welcomed a prominent University of Nebraska climatologist for a “Storm Chasing” seminar. Student fine arts and performing arts Student theatre and music ensembles drew appreciative audiences, The Lawton Gallery had an energetic year including solid student shows and the multidisciplinary “Ruins” exhibit, and the Art Agency arranged for a visit by rising, independent filmmakers called Candyeyefactory… The award-winning theatre program enjoyed success with a sold-out, four-show run of the musical “Chicago,” along with other well-received productions including Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Five By Tenn,” an evening of short plays by Tennessee Williams… The student Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band pushed the envelope at times, particularly in a December concert that featured a tribute to classic hard rock music, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix with the selection “Black Dog”… The music program continued its tradition of inviting local high school groups to share concert bills with UW-Green Bay student ensembles, including a show featuring the State Bound High School Honors Band… elite jazz vocalist Sunny Wilkinson headlined the 37th annual Jazz Fest concert in February; the event’s instructional clinic attracted high school bands from across the region… the UW-Green Bay Opera Studio presented an evening of scenes from American operas in April. Stepping up with Sheepshead Sheepshead Review, the UW-Green Bay journal of the arts with poetry, fiction, non-fiction and visual arts took a step forward with a special color insert to showcase visual arts, en route to full color throughout for fall 2007. Also continued was the practice of celebrating the talents of former and future Sheepshead contributors with open-mike readings and “launch parties.” Library introduces ARTstor Arguably a small acquisition, but notable nonetheless as an example of what a university library can bring to a campus and community: in September 2006 the David A. Cofrin Library unveiled a new database called ARTstor. The resource is the result of a non-profit initiative founded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with a mission to use digital technology to enhance scholarship, teaching and learning in the arts and associated fields, and, in this case, make great art more accessible and searchable for the general public. Family fare… and between rock and a harp place The local Heritage Players troupe brought “Waterways — the Lakes and Rivers of Old Wisconsin in Story and Song” to the Union’s Christie Theatre. The script and stories were drawn, in part, from the collections of the University’s own Cofrin Library and Area Research Center… Holiday crafts, pictures with Santa, a continental breakfast, music and story telling were all part of the annual “Tis the Season” gathering at the University Union, open to the community… Perfectly representing the range of musical guests arranged by student and faculty groups during 2006-07 were disparate spring-semester shows: The student Good Times Programming landed a red-hot attraction in the Plain White T’s, rockers who played for a campus and community audience at the nearby Riverside Ballroom, and the music program brought in soprano, harpist and LSU professor Patricia O’Neill for a concert of Irish folk music.   top of page    |     continued . . .
Office of the Chancellor, David A. Cofrin Library, Suite 810 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI  54311-7001 920-465-2207 | E-mail: Chancellor's Web Manager Rev. February 7, 2008