Vol. 38, No. 57, February 2, 2007     /     Log Archive

This is a bonus late-Friday edition of the LOG newsletter at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where old-timers still recall the Big Freeze of January 1994. It was 25 to 30-below every night and the high on the coldest day was 18-below, then and now a Green Bay record for lowest "high" temperature. Fearing for the safety of clunker-driving students, Interim Chancellor William Kuepper (after Outcalt, before Perkins) cancelled classes not once, but twice, also setting a record. So quit complaining about the cold. You're being a baby. In news today:

We're not ribbin' you: Entrepreneur 'Famous Dave' is coming
UW-Green Bay is a primary host of the community's third annual Green Bay Area Entrepreneur's Connection, celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation, Thursday, Feb. 15 at the KI Center in downtown Green Bay. Dave Anderson, who overcame bankruptcy to found the Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que Franchise, will be the keynote speaker. Dick DuBois, a former UW-Green Bay student and the founder of Jo To Go America, Inc., also will share his story. The conference will include an Elevator Pitch Contest, panel discussions, and information booths for potential entrepreneurs. For more on the conference, click http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007jan.htm#entrepreneur.

SBDC's Trombley is UW-Green Bay contact on conference
Christina Trombley is director of the Small Business Development Center. She's also coordinator and a key planner for this month's big Entrepreneur's Connection conference. Trombley was quoted this week in a Green Bay Press-Gazette article on the event at http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070129/GPG03/701290448/1247.

Remembering UW-Green Bay's oldest graduating senior, Roger Hirst
Just posted on the Press-Gazette Web site today (Friday, Feb. 2) is a news story about the death of Roger Hirst. The Extended Degree alumnus was UW-Green Bay's oldest graduating senior when he received his bachelor's degree at age 77, in the year 2000. Hirst stayed active with the University and in community life (he was a frequent letter-writer to newspaper opinion columns). The P-G story includes wonderful comments from one of his professors, Bill Laatsch, about Hirst in particular and the Adult Degree Program and older learners in general. See http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/GPG0101/70202037/1978.

Oldest alumnus? She's 96
Roger Hirst was the oldest when he received his bachelor's degree, at age 77, but he was of course only one of many second-career, or retirement-age individuals to enroll at UW-Green Bay over the years and receive bachelor's degrees. A check of alumni records reveals that, currently, the "oldest living alumnus" is a 1979 graduate in Communication and the Arts who continues to serve her community as one of the few native speakers fluent in the Oneida Indian language. She is 96. Interestingly, she had a conversation just last week with a student caller as part of the ongoing and annual alumni Phone-a-Thon.

Tuesday is application deadline for faculty Research Scholar program
Just a reminder . . . UWGB Research Scholar Program Call for application deadline is next Tuesday, Feb. 6. Generous support from the Office of the Provost makes possible The Research Scholar Program which will provide a three-credit course release to the successful applicant. We announced all the details previously at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/logarchive/logarchive38/2007jan8.htm#research. Guidelines and evaluation rubric are available from the Research Council Web site, http://www.uwgb.edu/rc.

News from sunny Florence: Campus singers excel
Three UW-Green Bay student vocalists, Jen Natsis, soprano, Melanie Riley, soprano, and Tessa Wegenke, mezzo-soprano, accompanied by Prof. Sarah Meredith, represented the Music Discipline at the 5th VOCALISSIMO in Florence, Italy, last month. They participated in a week of intense Italian language classes as well as singing masterclasses with Maestro Leonardo DeLisi, tenor and professor of voice at the Luigi Cherubini Music Conservatory in Florence. The singers studied Bel Canto repertoire featuring Italian composers such as Bellini, Rossini, Ghiardini, Tosti, Scarlatti, and others. Prof. Meredith presented a well-received lecture/recital at the British Institute on Jan. 17th on "American Vocal Repertoire since 1850." Singers Natsis, Wegenke, and Riley also performed a selection on this recital. The week culminated in a recital presented by the participating masterclass singers, Prof Meredith and Maestro DeLisi at the new Duomo Auditorium, built by the Del Bianco Foundation. This event marked the fifth collaboration of the Music Discipline/VOCALISSIMO with the Del Bianco Foundation in such a project. Plans are for repeat engagement in January 2008.

New funding opportunity: Grant applications
UW System and WiSys Technology Foundation have announced the availability of funding to assist UW faculty in developing and submitting extramural grant applications. UW System and WiSys will provide each campus with up to $6,000 in funding which will be augmented by a campus match of $1,000. The Provost's Office at UW-Green Bay has agreed to provide the matching funds. The available support will be used to provide release time to allow faculty to prepare grant applications. Please contact Lidia Nonn at the Institute for Research with any questions regarding this opportunity. Application and guidelines to meet the campus deadline of Feb. 23, may be accessed at http://www.uwgb.edu/research.

Gardening conference at UW-Green Bay to focus on native plants
Gardeners will explore the benefits and "how-tos" of gardening in harmony with nature at a one-day workshop Saturday, Feb. 17 at UW-Green Bay. "Successful Gardening with Native Plants," part of the "Thoughtful Gardener" series, addresses alternatives to traditional gardening that are more environmentally friendly, incorporate native plantings, and require the use of less water and chemicals. It's a joint project of the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, the Botanical Garden, and Wild Ones. Look for more in future LOGs or click now at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007feb.htm#garden.

Last call: Nominate your top student employee by Feb. 5
Just a reminder: It is time again to honor our hard-working and oh-so-important student employees. Remember to nominate your exceptional student employee or employees by submitting a nomination form and supporting letter for the 2006-2007 UW-Green Bay Student Employee of the Year Award. The nomination form can be accessed at http://www.uwgb.edu/financialaid/employment/seoty/index.asp. The deadline for applications is Feb. 5. All UW-Green Bay nominees will be recognized and the top employee will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday, April 12. Contact Becky Wendt at 465-2075, or wendtb@uwgb.edu if you have any questions.

More details on Hmong transitions, traditions
We just posted to our news site more details on that late-February Outreach course (taught by Education Prof. Pao Lor) for educators and community members interested in learning more about the Hmong community and traditions. Click http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007feb.htm#Hmong.

Opinions abound on future of Wisconsin-Minnesota reciprocity
As you might expect, the newspaper in Eau Claire (where the local campus boasts a big Minnesota enrollment) editorializes in favor of continuing the tuition-reciprocity agreement. The student newspaper in Madison favors continuation, too, from a student perspective.

See: http://www.leadertelegram.com/story.asp?id=78934
Or: http://www.dailycardinal.com/opinion/reciprocity-revisited.html

Much support, but some questions for so-called 'holistic' admissions
More on last Monday's UW System admissions forum, including a news report and a student column from UW-Madison which offer a sense of what some are saying in opposition to the proposed Regents policy:

News: http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=116884&ntpid=5
Commentary: http://www.dailycardinal.com/opinion/holistic-admissions-devalue-academics.html

Doyle visits Green Bay to talk with middle-schoolers on Covenant idea
The Press-Gazette featured a big story this morning on Gov. Doyle's stop in Green Bay to pose for pictures and meet with students at Franklin Middle School to explain, and discuss, his Wisconsin Covenant proposal. See http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/GPG0101/702020637/1206/GPGnews.

Terrific, terrific quote from a UW-Green Bay grad on MPS issue
Big news in Milwaukee this week involved the mayor, the school board, anybody and everybody opining on what to do in the wake of a "brawl" (opinions differ) at a high school basketball game. While some suggested canceling remaining games, it appears the season will go on, but at least some games will be played with virtually no spectators allowed. Quoted today in the Journal-Sentinel is Tom Diener '82 and '92, boys basketball coach at Milwaukee Vincent H.S., who questions punishing the players and fans (who contributed not at all to the melee originating in the stands). His excerpt: "That would be a huge mistake," longtime Vincent coach Tom Diener told the Journal Sentinel earlier this week. "Extracurricular activities at MPS are saving kids' lives. Whether it's forensics, drama, basketball, these are the programs connecting kids to adults and allowing adults to mentor kids."

The column goes on to say "Diener is absolutely correct that separating students from responsible adult role models and mentors would be disastrous, because not enough of that exists today." For the full column, http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=560583.

Finally, a final word on 'The Speech,' and many mentions of Green Bay
Two previous LOGs this week included several links to news coverage of Gov. Jim Doyle's "State of the State" address. The speech has inspired optimism about the potential for reinvestment in the UW System. It also included several references to Green Bay. As a public service here, we carry the governor's prepared text of key passages:

University of Wisconsin

"Tonight, and in my budget next month, I'll offer a comprehensive education agenda to prepare our kids for the jobs of tomorrow.

We'll start with the Wisconsin Covenant... a promise to every high school student that if you work hard and make the grade, we'll make sure you have a place in higher education, and a financial package to pay for it.

Last fall, I joined with University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly, Wisconsin Technical College President Dan Clancy, State Superintendent Libby Burmaster, and Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President Rolf Wegenke. We signed an historic agreement to make the Wisconsin Covenant a reality.

I don't want any high school kid to think college isn't for them, or that it's only for rich people. I want every boy and girl to know ... with the Wisconsin Covenant, college is within your grasp, just reach for it.

In my budget, I'll provide funding for the Office of the Wisconsin Covenant. And to prepare for the day when the first Covenant scholars walk through the doors of our Universities, I'll propose a major increase in financial aid.

The Wisconsin Covenant will not only make college more affordable, it will make high school more meaningful. But we can go even further. To make sure our kids are prepared to compete in the world ... I urge you to pass my proposal to make a third year of math and a third year of science mandatory for high school graduation."

University of Wisconsin

"Tonight, I propose a new investment in the University to produce more college graduates, more engineers, scientists, and nurses. We need more research, and more support for innovation that will be the cornerstone of our success.This will be a major undertaking for the University and for the state, but the benefits will be wide and far reaching.

We'll expand enrollment from Green Bay to La Crosse to Oshkosh, Superior and River Falls, making the dream of college a reality for thousands more of our citizens. From Parkside to Whitewater, and across the UW system, we'll expand financial aid, recruit more minority students, and provide additional academic help to those who need it.

We'll create a new Health Sciences major at Stevens Point, new opportunities for technical college students at UW-Oshkosh, improve services for adult students at Green Bay, strengthen student retention efforts at River Falls, and expand the liberal arts programs available at Superior. In partnership with the UW-Platteville, we'll expand opportunities at UW colleges as well, like a new mechanical engineering degree at UW-Fox Valley, an electrical engineering degree at Rock County, and opportunities for hundreds more students throughout the state.

It's not only an investment in our students. It's an investment in our economy. We'll train more nurses and teachers in Oshkosh, more engineers in Platteville, and more biologists in Green Bay. We'll fund an innovative partnership between Eau Claire, Stout, and the Chippewa Valley Technical College to produce more graduates in advanced disciplines like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and polymer engineering.

Early next year, we'll break ground on the Institutes for Discovery — without any ideological strings attached. Together, we'll launch a new and exciting era in which the University of Wisconsin-Madison will not only help create thousands of new jobs, but will help unlock cures to deadly diseases through biotechnology and stem cell research.

And at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, we'll make a major new investment in research. We'll recruit top experts from around the country, and build partnerships with the Medical College and leading health care corporations that will strengthen the regional economy. It will cement our status as one of America's leaders in scientific and medical research."

Yes, No. 4 is staying
The big news in Green Bay today? Because it would be a violation of just about every UW System and state of Wisconsin policy to even insinuate that it would be an acceptable use of work time or bandwidth to log on to the video newsconference... we won't give you the link. Instead, we simply share his answer: Yes.

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