Vol. 37, No. 120, June 15, 2006     /     Log Archive

Did you see this morning's news story about two local senators saying the state's projected $1.5 billion structural deficit for 2007-09 might actually be closer to $2.6 billion? As one of our colleagues here said the other day, it's starting to feel like the movie "Groundhog Day." Same old, same old. At least there's no deficit of news today:

FOCUS snapshots
The last of the FOCUS-Registration and Resource days took place yesterday (June 14). Many thanks to the faculty and staff members who helped advise and register the nearly 1,000 new freshmen and welcome perhaps twice that many parents and family members who accompanied them to campus. For a few snapshots, click http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/page/photo.htm.

Shepard shares views on free tuition for veterans
In case you missed it, UW-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard submitted a guest column this week to the Press-Gazette. He supports the tuition waiver for veterans, but wonders about the fairness of passing on the cost to other students. See http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060613/GPG06/606130481/1269.

UW-Green Bay student chosen for prestigious UCLA research
A UW-Green Bay student has been selected to take part in a prestigious undergraduate research program at UCLA. Angela Roethel, a junior psychology major from Oostburg, will take part in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) at the UCLA Center for Research, Education, Training, and Strategic Communication on Minority Health Disparities. She will work with health psychologist Vickie Mays on ethnic disparities in health. "Only four or five students from the entire nation get picked to participate," notes Associate Dean Regan Gurung. For details, go to http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2006june.htm#research.

LaFollette to speak here on environmental history, next Thursday
Wisconsin Secretary of State Douglas LaFollette will visit campus for a public lecture next Thursday, June 22, speaking at 10:30 a.m. in MAC Hall 221 on the topic "From Black Smoke to Backlash: A History of the Environmental Movement." LaFollette has served as a national board member of the Sierra Club. His visit is sponsored by the Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science academic units. Click http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2006june.htm#lafollette.

Common Grounds, still open, sets summer hours
This just in: "The Common Grounds Coffeehouse will remain OPEN all summer! Stop by for a gourmet coffee, sandwich or salad!"

Hours of Operation: June 19-August 24
Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
(Closed July 3-6 and August 14-17)

Going to Madison? Allow more time
If you are a frequent traveler to the Valley and points southwest including Madison, be advised that our correspondents are reporting bad traffic on U.S. 41 in the Appleton area. One recommendation is to use 441 as a bypass. The local DOT Web site has full details at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/2006/ne-construct.htm#outagamie.

Following the World Cup? Here's what Poitras says
Phoenix men's soccer coach Tom Poitras is sharing his soccer expertise during the month-long World Cup soccer championship as a guest analyst for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Links to his posts are available through the paper, or via the Athletics Web site at http://www.uwgb.edu/athletics/msoccer/061206.asp.

Chancellors' pay hikes average 2 pct. per year
The UW System Board of Regents announced some of the university's administrators would receive pay raises over the next 12 months; UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley said he will return his raises in the form of donations to the university. See http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=87497&ntpid=0.

Walsh and Wiley earn editorial praise
For Regent President David Walsh, it was for coming out squarely in favor of an open-door policy with the media. For UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley, it was for turning back a pay raise after what was widely criticized as a series of mis-steps. The State Journal praises each administrator at http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/index.php?ntid=87461.

More on 'letter of counsel' for Barrows
Regents President David Walsh is considering a request by UW-Madison administrator Paul Barrows to appear before the Board's personnel committee. Click http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=87577&ntpid=2.

Senators claim budget hole will grow to $2.6 billion
Take it with a grain of salt, either as partisan politics or because state Sens. Mike Ellis and Rob Cowles are very often critical of what they see as poor budgeting practices and inaccurate revenue/spending forecasts. Or, take it seriously, because they and others in both parties have often been correct on the magnitude of previous deficits. Either way, it's news this morning that the two are claiming the real "structural deficit" for 2007-09 is not $1.5 billion, but $2.6 billion. Click http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060615/GPG0101/606150565/1207/GPGnews.

State representative praises 'holistic admissions' proposal
State Rep. Robert Turner of Racine likes the idea of campuses taking into account factors other than grades and test scores when determining which applicants should be admitted to UW System institutions. See http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2006/06/13/opinion/iq_4075385.txt.

Will travel-contract verdict affect other state employees?
Will the conviction of state employee Georgia Thompson in the Adelman contract case open the door for more such prosecutions in the future? A Madison newspaper shares some opinions at http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/top/index.php?ntid=87576&ntpid=2.

'Screech' actor: I need your help
Maybe this is of interest only to those employees and alumni of a certain age for whom the TV sitcom "Saved by the Bell" was their generation's "Brady Bunch" or "Leave it to Beaver," but there is a weak UW-Green Bay tie, too, so here goes: Dustin Diamond, the former child actor who played the geeky kid Screech, is in the news again. His Phoenix Room comedy show here about five years ago still ranks among the most memorable student shows (in a strange sort of way) in school annals. Anyway, it seems his comedy is no longer paying the bills. That's where, he figures, you come in. See http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=435980.

You can submit material for inclusion to the Office of Marketing and University Communication at Log@uwgb.edu. Past issues are achived at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/logarchive/logarch.htm.