Vol. 38, No. 124, June 21, 2007     /     Log Archive

If you couldn't be in Wiltshire at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice, what better place to be than at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay? Is not our own Cofrin Library suggestive of some sort of towering prehistoric sundial? Standing quite near the 45th parallel, its imposing shadow falls in turn on adjacent edifices that, certainly not coincidentally, are aligned neatly on precise north-south and east-west axes. Clearly, the work of a highly advanced civilization. (Unlike, on occasion, this newsletter.) Enjoy the rest of the year's longest day! Here now the news:

UW-Green Bay a partner in Teaching American History project
UW-Green Bay will be a key partner in a three-year project aimed at enhancing the teaching of American history in northeastern and central Wisconsin. A grant of $998,158 from the U.S. Department of Education has gone to the Teachers Academy for the Study of American History, which originated with CESA 6 in Oshkosh and UW Oshkosh. The idea is to share dynamic instructional strategies with K-12 teachers in presentations and discussions led by nationally renowned and local historians, archivists and others. It also provides museum tours and arranges opportunities to develop history-rich lesson plans. One-week summer institutes and fall and spring seminars will rotate among Green Bay, Oshkosh and UW-Marathon County, with Green Bay hosting the institute in the project's third year. Humanistic Studies Assistant Prof. David Voelker helped shape the grant proposal, and the Area Research Center is a partner. See http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2007june.htm#history.

Grant renews UW-Green Bay involvement
Announcement of the grant (previous story) marks the second time UW-Green Bay has been involved in the Department of Education's Teaching American History grant program. In 2002, the department supported a three-year project developed by UW-Green Bay Prof. Andrew Kersten of the Social Change and Development academic unit.

New Regent president moves quickly on veterans' tuition controversy
The state Legislature and Gov. Doyle fielded criticism earlier this month from those fearing a retreat from new education benefits promised state military veterans. Well, new UW System Board of Regents President Mark J. Bradley has taken the high ground with the appointment of three Regents — all Vietnam-era veterans of the U.S. armed forces — to serve as the board's special representatives on this issue. They will work with legislative leaders, the Governor, state agency staffs, and fellow veterans to find ways to fund the increasingly popular veterans' tuition remission at UW schools and other institutions of higher education. Read more at http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2007/r070620.htm.

Marriage isn't all hearts and candy, Prof. Bartell says
A recent news story on divorce-rate trends quoted Human Development Prof. Denise Bartell extensively. "The media is a big culprit," she said, "creating the image that there's no work, no maintenance and no negotiating who is going take out the garbage and walk the dogs at night." To see the P-G story, click http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706100578.

Carleton shares take on 8th District in '08
UW-Green Bay political scientist Frances Carleton was quoted as part of a recent Appleton Post-Crescent story on the 8th Congressional District race. Click http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070619/APC0101/706190475/1979.

Deadlock on state budget? Maybe, maybe not
It's anybody's guess as to when, and even if, the Legislature and Governor will finalize the next two-year state budget for the biennium that begins a week from Sunday. A team of Journal-Sentinel reporters offers an analysis at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=622155.

UW-Oshkosh officials defend revenue sharing deal with U.S. Bank
Subject to a critical newspaper story Monday, UW-Oshkosh officials responded by sharing additional details explaining the situation, and by promising to again review an agreement with a local banking institution to confirm students are getting the best services for the best value. From the Oshkosh Northwestern: http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070619/OSH0101/706190364/1128/OSHnews.

But editorial page isn't buying it
The state's largest newspaper appears not to care how the university describes specific aspects of its TitanCard deal and the benefit for students; they've made up their minds the arrangements are "questionable." See today's lead Journal-Sentinel editorial at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=622897.

A tribute to Dr. Weidner from Lary Swoboda
Former state legislator and local educator Lary Swoboda paid tribute to the late Chancellor Edward Weidner in a guest column that appeared recently in the Green Bay Press-Gazette. See http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070619/GPG07/706190554.

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.