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Last update: 6/19/07

Vol. 38, No. 122, June 13, 2007 / Log Archive

We open this issue with an anecdote from last Saturday's Ed Weidner gathering. Circuit Judge Patrick Madden was recalling his 1970s days as a crusading young Fourth Estate editor. One day, he and associates marched into the chancellor's office, only to have their arguments thoroughly dismantled. Madden says he didn't leave empty-handed, though. On the way out he received friendly advice in the form of a drolly regal putdown from the man he would later treasure as friend and mentor. "Young man," the chancellor quietly counseled, "things generally go better when you know what you're talking about." TouchŽ! In news today:

• New Select Mission
• Project boosts reading by at-risk children, wins attention
• Video on the Web: Ed Weidner on the early years
• Academic Staff Emeritus status
• The retiring Bob Skorczewski

• Gilligan in charge for Sodexho
• Lee accepts new challenge
• More on Sodexho, and a reminder on 'potluck policy'
• Arabic course
• Guitar

• Editorial calls on state to boost funds for UW System
• Marder case in seventh year
• Reconsidering cuts to veterans tuition program
• Heated debate, affirmative action
• Reminder: Kraft on Merens

• Reminder: 'Do Not Go Gently'
• See you Monday

UW-Green Bay seeks approval of new Select Mission Statement
Following extensive campus discussion and review, UW-Green Bay is pursuing Regents approval of the Select Mission's first revision since 1988. The proposal:

"The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay provides an interdisciplinary, problem-focused educational experience that prepares students to think critically and address complex issues in a multicultural and evolving world. The University enriches the quality of life for students and the community by embracing the educational value of diversity, promoting environmental sustainability, encouraging engaged citizenship, and serving as an intellectual, cultural, and economic resource."

The Faculty Senate approved the statement in April. A public hearing will be scheduled before the Regents take final action. For background, http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007june.htm#mission.

Education project boosts reading by at-risk children, earns Oxford honor
A project to improve literacy skills of at-risk children entering kindergarten at Fort Howard Elementary School is receiving international recognition for its promising results. The research project, designed by UW-Green Bay education faculty, involves a partnership among faculty and students, Green Bay Area Public Schools and the Institute for Learning Partnership. An article — "Increasing At-Risk Pre-kindergarten Children's Reading Success: Can It Be Done?" — was published in the most recent edition of "Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table." The work of Patricia Ragan and Linda Tabers-Kwak of Education and Bob Nagy of Business Administration is detailed online at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007june.htm#literacy.

Video on the Web: Reflections from the Founding Chancellor
In November 2004, at the age of 83, Founding Chancellor Edward W. Weidner sat down to reflect on four decades of UWGB history — including his initial inclination in 1966 to decline the chancellor's job, and his vivid memories of the early days when UWGB created a national sensation as an innovative, experimenting university. The interview was conducted by former Weidner adviser Betty Brown, produced by Mike Schmitt's television production class, and digitized this week by webmaster Paula Ganyard. Its highlights are nice snippets of history, archived at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/weidner/video.htm.

Semi-new at UW-Green Bay: Academic Staff Emeritus status
The governance statutes have, apparently for quite some time, allowed for it: the granting of emeritus status to academic staff members who meet certain requirements and have completed at least 10 years of service. Well, the Chancellor and the Academic Staff Committee have recently agreed to a simple and ongoing process for awarding such distinction. It parallels the faculty process. UWGB Chapter 10.01 provides background for potential applicants.

Bob Skorczewski is first alumnus/staffer to gain 'emeritus' title
Congratulations to Bob Skorczewski on his retirement this week after a 32-year career with the Office of Outreach and Extension, and upon his recognition with Academic Staff Emeritus status. A 1975 UW-Green Bay grad, he joins the late theatre professor Sue Kline-Heim as the only other "homegrown" talent to receive emeritus recognition, and longtime Dean of Students Jerry Olson as the only other staff member emeritus (Olson was honored at spring 1996 commencement). Skorczewski has been a leader in facilitating distance learning, lifelong learning, the former associate degree program at GBCI, and credit courses for high schools and Extension. The U.S. Army vet began his campus career as a veterans services counselor. He won Founders Award honors in 1994.

A change at Sodexho: Gilligan to skipper UW-Green Bay account
The campus dining services company, Sodexho, has installed new management at UW-Green Bay. Coming July 2 as the new general manager will be Kevin Gilligan. He'll lead the existing management team that also includes new executive chef Gary Veil, who joined the campus in late May. Gilligan brings five years experience as the general manager of Northwestern University's Norris Center, described as "a very complex and multi-retail outlet operation with six satellite operations and catering under his supervision." Before that, he was assigned to St. Bonaventure University in a retail position.

Best wishes to Jeff Lee
Sodexho District Manager Rob Backus shares the following thoughts on changes within the local Sodexho management team.

"After 5 years of dedicated service to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus, Sodexho General Manager Jeff Lee is deciding to continue his career with new challenges within our organization... We are very pleased to announce the selection of Kevin Gilligan as his replacement... (The two men will overlap during a one-month transition period.)... Sodexho wants to acknowledge the service of Jeff and welcome Kevin to the campus as we are moving forward with an exciting renovation and future partnership with the campus."

More on Sodexho, and a reminder on the 'potluck policy'
Sodexho is the university's contracted dining service, and operates numerous retail locations on campus — The Garden Café in the Cofrin Library, Café a la Cart in Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, and The Corner Store and Common Grounds Coffeehouse in the University Union. New in fall in the remodeled Union will be the Marketplace in Cloud Commons and Grill 155 and Freshens on the lower level. Sodexho also provides catering services for campus events. Per their contract with the University, Sodexho has "exclusive rights" to provide dining services in the academic core of the campus which includes all academic buildings and Cofrin Library as well as catered functions at Residence Life and the Kress Events Center. Exclusions to Sodexho's exclusivity relate to "potlucks" and "waivers." The following is quoted directly from the contract between the University and Sodexho:

"Upon approval from the University, University departments shall be permitted to have infrequent 'potlucks' in their departmental areas for only their employees, providing no outside catering or group purchase of food is included and no university-owned equipment is involved. All other non-contractor food events also require prior approval of the C.C.A. and advance notice to the contractor."

Please contact Rick Warpinski, University Union Director and Campus Dining Contact Administrator (C.C.A.) for any and all questions regarding our contracted campus dining services and your options for dining on-campus at: 465-2090, warpinsr@uwgb.edu, or UU 306.

UW-Green Bay to offer Arabic course for students, community
UW-Green Bay this fall will offer an introductory, Modern Standard Arabic 101: Introduction to Arabic Language 1, open to our students, community members, business professionals and students from other universities and high schools. Ilham Ashour is the teacher, and Prof. Jennifer Ham at hamj@uwgb.edu can answer your questions. Or, click http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007june.htm#Arabic.

Ever wanna learn guitar?
Adults and students age 12 and older will have opportunities this summer to learn basic and intermediate guitar skills at UW-Green Bay. A course in beginning guitar is scheduled for July 9-13, and an intermediate course is July 23-25. Mark Kiehn, assistant professor of education and music, is the instructor. For details, http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007june.htm#guitar.

Editorial calls on state to boost funds for UW System
The editorial page of the Wisconsin State Journal today called on the state Legislature to provide the UW System with enough financial backing to ensure the university can continue to perform "at its current world-class level": http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/index.php?ntid=183567&ntpid=1.

Fired prof files new lawsuit, case enters seventh year
Don't want to stir up trouble here — the Marder case involving the dismissal of a professor at UW-Superior has both sympathetic supporters and outraged observers on this campus and across the UW System — but one thing all can agree on is that it has been a long, long process. Seven years, in fact. For the latest twist, click http://www.superiortelegram.com/articles/index.cfm?id=20471§ion=News

'Legislators promise to save graduate tuition waiver for veterans'
The Joint Finance Committee voted this week to place some limits on the blank check (for free tuition) that was promised last year to military veterans enrolling at UW System schools. (A 10-year window and limits on graduate enrollment or multiple degrees, for example.) Well, not so fast. See http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=619026 or http://www.appletonpostcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/APC0602/706130675/1036/APCopinion.

Heated debate on affirmative action results in changes to proposal
A legislative committee investigating affirmative action in Wisconsin withdrew a proposal that would have required the UW System to ignore the race or ethnicity of its applicants unless the applicants can prove they come from economically disadvantaged circumstances. If you missed it last week, a story is archived at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=614502.

Reminder: Prof. Kraft on Ben Merens' radio show
UW-Green Bay Prof. Michael Kraft is a featured guest when Wisconsin Public Radio's Ben Merens hosts "At Issue" in Green Bay from 4 to 6 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, June 14). Click http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/logarchive/logarchive38/2007june11.htm#Kraft.

Reminder: 'Do Not Go Gently' this Thursday
Our friends at NEWIST remind us of the free screening tomorrow night (Thursday, June 14) at the Meyer Theatre, of "Do Not Go Gently." We told you about this previously at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/logarchive/logarchive38/2007june4.htm#documentary.

We'll see you next Monday
The next LOG newsletter will be in your Inbox next Monday afternoon, June 18.

The Log News is a twice-weekly publication e-mailed to all UW-Green Bay faculty, staff and off-campus subscribers on Monday and Thursday afternoons, and to students as news warrants.

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.