Vol. 34, No. 42 / February 20, 2003

Lyall, Gottschalk issue statements on Governor's budget plan

A proposal for massive, unprecedented cuts in public funding of the University of Wisconsin System drew strong response Wednesday from UW System leadership. President Katharine Lyall and Regent President Guy Gottschalk noted that, at $250 million, the cuts proposed for the System are equivalent to 38 percent of the total cuts in state spending even though the UW System accounts for just 9 percent of the budget. Gov. Jim Doyle also proposed significant tuition increases which, if approved by the Legislature, would equal $50 million in 2003-04 and $100 million in 2004-05; these additional revenues would still leave the UW System with a $100 million budget cut. Stated Gottschalk, "If the Legislature accepts (the governor's) cuts but denies tuition offsets, they will set us on a path to fiscal emergency and break a trust with Wisconsin citizens that has endured for more than 150 years." For the UW System news release, click http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2003/r030219c.htm. For President Lyall's statement, http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2003/r030219b.htm. For Gottschalk's, http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2003/r030219a.htm.

Students speak out on idea of tuition increases

A small group of students rallied Wednesday on campus to take issue with major cuts in state support of the UW System and corresponding, double-digit tuition increases. Said Matthew Voight, a Student Government Association organizer of the event, "We may not have had the biggest turnout but we did inform some people. Those who are informed can go back and say you know, 'The governor is thinking of raising our tuition 16.7 percent next year.'" Press-Gazette coverage is archived at http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/news/archive/local_8781585.shtml. The News-Chronicle story is at http://www.greenbaynewschron.com/page.html?article=118582.

Statewide reaction

Students on other campuses raised questions Wednesday about the proposed cuts in state support of the UW System. Meanwhile, several legislators contacted by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said, in effect, tough times demand tough measures. Coverage is archived at http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/feb03/119675.asp.

Also, this: An encouraging word from a business friend

Written before this week's budget proposal was made public but interesting reading nonetheless is an essay by Wisconsin businessperson John Torinus. "Brain power is what's necessary to carry the day in a global economy expanding with huge centrifugal forces," he writes. "Low-end manufacturing, the source of many jobs in Wisconsin for many decades, is going away. Only advanced manufacturing is surviving." He also touches upon the trend in declining state support for the UW System, the prospects for higher tuition, and the idea that the UW might need to look more closely at "charter" status, concluding, "In this day and age, we cannot carry the day in the global economy with a weakened university." The piece appeared in the weekend Journal-Sentinel at http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/feb03/118662.asp.

Thomas Aquinas scholar will speak Friday on campus

On Friday (Feb. 21) at 10 a.m. in the Christie Theatre, W. Norris Clarke, S. J. will speak on: "The Human Soul, Meeting Place of Two Worlds: Matter and Spirit." Father Clarke retired from Fordham University in 1985, and is a world-renowned philosopher and scholar of Thomas Aquinas. Prof. Derek S. Jeffreys of the Humanistic Studies academic program arranged the visit and lecture. For information, call ext. 2672.

Reminders: Plenty going on, Friday and Saturday

Friday: Deadline for SASU egg roll orders
Friday: GIS presentation by U.S.G.S. official, MAC Hall
Friday: Italian Luncheon
Friday: Deadline for daffodil orders
Friday: Opening day of Family Weekend, various activities
Saturday: Tracking class, Biodiversity Center and Arboretum
Saturday: Classical accordion concert, Weidner Center

For more details on any of these items, start with last Monday's archived newsletter at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/logarchive/logarchive34/2003feb17.htm.

'Teen Connection' looks at foster care

Foster care is the topic of "Teen Connection" at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 25). According to statistics, close to 600,000 children are in the foster care system today, and many of them are teens facing one of foster care's major hurdles, "aging out." Clips from a 30-minute video produced by NEWIST/CESA 7, "Foster Kids, Our Kids" will be used to illustrate both positive and negative aspects of foster care for today's teens. The show will be broadcast statewide from its studios on the UW-Green Bay campus. For more information visit the "Teen Connection" website, www.wpt.org/teenconnection.

Closing of Pamiro is felt at UW-Green Bay

This week's announcement that Pamiro Opera Company is discontinuing operations is being felt at UW-Green Bay. Many know, of course, that the local company staged many of its critically acclaimed productions at the Weidner Center, and that Prof. Jeff Entwistle was set designer. Perhaps not as widely known is the fact the first Pamiro opera was staged in the University Theatre in 1985, and that, over the years, many UW-Green Bay students and alumni "learned through doing" in roles both backstage and onstage. Entwistle, the Weidner's Joi Brown and former University news director Betty Brown are quoted in a newspaper story at http://www.greenbaynewschron.com/page.html?article=118555.

Faculty/staff members volunteer to teach this Saturday

It's Family Weekend at UW-Green Bay. There's a lengthy list of activity options for visiting parents and families, but especially noteworthy is Saturday's "Touch of Class" lineup arranged by the Office of Student Life. Campus visitors will enjoy 30-minute sessions offering a taste of the campus learning experience. The lineup:

11 a.m. —

Beat Stress: Tips For Survival
Regan Gurung, Assistant Professor of Human Development.
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 107. This session will review some of the main ways we can deal with stress and will demonstrate useful techniques for use in everyday life.
African Dance
Juliet Cole, Institute for Learning Partnership
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 109. This course will introduce participants to the polyrhythmic music of Africa as well as teach some basic, authentic African dance steps that involve the use of every muscle of the body. If you're interested in dance/music and a cross-cultural experience, this class is for you.
Coloring Outside the Lines
Lisa Tetzloff, Director of the Office of Student Life
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 111. Good leaders are creative thinkers. Well, that leaves you out, right? Wrong. All of us were creative once-that is until someone told us to "color inside the lines" and to follow other nonsensical rules. In this session, we will help you to locate and use your creativity in order to become a stronger leader.
Uninvited Guests and What to Do About Them: Arthropods in Your House
Michael Draney, Assistant Professor of Natural and Applied Sciences
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 113. This program will introduce you to some arthropods (insects, spiders, and their kin) that commonly are found in Wisconsin houses. Dr. Draney will discuss where they came from, why they are in your house, what they do, whether it should concern you, and what, if anything, you could or should do about it.

11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. —

What Shall We Tell the Children?
Joan Thron, Associate Professor of Education/Humanistic Studies
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 107. A brief look at some of the recent developments in publishing for children: interesting subjects, experimental formats, and new invitations to experience the world.
Springtime: Love is in the Air and so is Severe Weather
Steve Meyer, Assistant Professor of Natural and Applies Sciences
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 109. Although it is still winter, the severe weather of spring will soon be upon us. Come and learn about the most dangerous types of weather and how they form.
Is Bebop a Rebop? - Current Trends in the United States of Poetry
Denise Sweet, Associate Professor of Humanistic Studies; Chair, American Indian Studies
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 111. What are the roots and sources of current poetic expressions in our society? What is "Spoken Word", "Sonic Slams", and "Hopi Hip Hop"? Who is at the forefront of this quiet revolution of words? Answers to these questions and more.
American Government and Politics: Campaign Commercials
Scott Furlong, Associate Professor and Chair of Public and Environmental Affairs
Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 113. This course examines the history and institutions that make up our government. Time is also spent exploring how citizens interact. We'll spend this session examining the evolution of political campaign commercials during the past 50 years. What is the same? What is different? What messages do they attempt to send us, the voters.

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