Vol. 38, No. 113, May 31, 2007     /     Log Archive

This is the LOG newsletter for Thursday, May 31, 2007. Happy birthday shout-outs today to Broadway Joe Namath (64!), Clint Eastwood (77!) and immortal Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who would be turning 60 if not for that unfortunate regurgitation situation at Jimmy Page's English country house back in about 1980. Nevertheless - and despite Zeppelin's continuing embargo of iTunes - Rock'n'Roll!

Doyle urges support for UW System (and Green Bay, too)
On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Doyle called on the state Legislature to make a significant reinvestment in the UW System, with increased enrollment, better retention of star faculty, full coverage of operating costs and more. UW-Green Bay and Oshkosh were mentioned prominently for their benefits to this part of the state. See http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=138836&ntpid=1

Growth plans are on Joint Finance agenda
Look for news early next week regarding the UW System's growth agenda as the Legislature's budget-writing Joint Finance Committee is scheduled to take up the System operating budget on Tuesday (June 5). We'll keep you posted.

We're No. 1, We're No. 1! (locally)
Sure, it's the kind of harmless fun that doesn't mean all that much, a reader mail-in poll without a whole lot of statistical validity, but here's a thank-you to all those who made UW-Green Bay a 2007 "Best of the Bay" pick in the local college/university category. The results appeared in a May edition of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. (Had we finished, say, sixth, just behind Upper Iowa and the U. of Phoenix, we certainly would have heard more about this.)

UW-Madison brain drain gets big play
A recent Associated Press story shined the spotlight on UW-Madison professors and researchers leaving for other institutions, sometimes taking grant funding and staff members with them. See http://www.twincities.com/wisconsin/ci_6016270

In newspaper Q&A, SIFE leader touts internships, lifelong learning, economics
Did you catch the Monday Conversation feature in the May 28 Green Bay Press-Gazette? Emily Krambs, president-elect of Students in Free Enterprise, gave quite a testimonial. Check the end of this column, or click now at http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070528/GPG03/705280482/1247

More 'Inside' is on the Web
By now, most LOG readers have received their May 2007 issue of the "Inside UW-Green Bay" magazine, the one headlined "What Ever Happened to the Environmentalists?" (It's getting rave reviews from 1970s-era readers and others, incidentally). Anyway, if you want to send a friend to a particular story or the entire issue, it's now online at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/page/inside.htm

'Inside' plus: a 1970s photo gallery
We found so many great old black-and-white photos in the University Archives, we couldn't fit very many into the magazine. So we archived a bunch more at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/page/inside3.htm#top

More 'Inside': the evolution of 'Eco U'
The magazine highlights the revolutionary fervor of the self-described 1970s "eco-freaks" and briefly summarizes the "Sustainability" movement today, but leaves out most everything in between. For that, we refer you to an archived copy of a 25th anniversary piece written in 1995 by Christopher Sampson that describes the maturation of "Eco U." Still good reading, the pdf is at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/photos/covers/07may/wiscoideas.pdf

Still more 'Inside': Oneida elder/jazzy Google guru/dance lover
A couple of other stories that go longer on the Web:
  • Maria Hinton, age 96, works with Prof. Cliff Abbott (additional photos) at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/page/inside2.htm#elder
  • Former UW-Green Bay pep band and jazz star Randy Knaflic is helping Google go global, http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/page/inside2.htm#google
  • College dance standout Teal Peters says Green Bay is hotbed for youth instruction, http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/page/inside7.htm#dance

IT monitoring urged
A committee of the Legislature has approved updates to the way DOA monitors state computer projects, including new policies for all state agencies that begin information technology projects costing more than $1 million. See http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=612937

Be first to get Weidner Center season announcement
If you have not subscribed to the Weidner Wire, the Weidner Center's exclusive e-Newsletter, now's the time to do it. Weidner Center Presents, Inc. will be announcing its 2007/2008 Performing Arts Season in June, and Weidner Wire subscribers will be among the first to get the news. You can sign up by clicking the "Subscribe" button at the Weidner Center website, http://www.uwgb.edu/weidner/

Wildly popular band offers free show June 18 at Weidner
They fill the Meyer Theatre for their once-a-month shows, and now they're taking their act to the UW-Green Bay campus. The 75-member Allouez Village Band will present its monthly free concert, for the first time, at the Weidner Center at 7 p.m. Monday, June 18. The show theme is "Pulling Out All the Stops."

Impressionist/comic Frank Caliendo visits campus Sept. 21
If you've seen Frank Caliendo on Letterman, MadTV and the Fox NFL Sunday show, you might be interested to know that tickets are now available for his Sept. 21 booking at the Weidner Center. Expect to see a lot of football (John Madden, Terry Bradshaw) and political humor (he does drop-dead Bush and Clinton impressions). Tickets are in the mid-$30s. Order by phone, online or at University Ticketing Services.

And Blue Collar Comic Engvall is here tomorrow
Tickets remain for the Friday night (June 1) performance by comedian Bill Engvall of "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" fame, the "Here's your sign" guy. Check for availability at http://www.uwgb.edu/weidner/Calendar.htm

Volleyball fans, your day has arrived
Coach Debbie Kirch and members of her Phoenix volleyball team have to be absolutely psyched. Tomorrow and Saturday are big days for their sport, locally, as the USA National Team takes on Japan at the Resch Center. See our previous LOG item at http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/logarchive/logarchive38/2007may10.htm#tickets

Requiem for a Bay Settlement Road grocery store
Interesting article in today's Green Bay Press-Gazette: One of our neighbors, Craanen's Grocery, 3374 Bay Settlement Road, will shut its doors for good at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) after a 125-year run. The owners say changing times and convenience stores are the reason. Click http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070531/GPG03/705310540/1247/GPGbusiness

'Civic Engagement in Graduate Education'
That's the name of the conference scheduled for June 14 by our friends at Wisconsin Campus Compact. The registration fee is only $25. Location is the Friederick Inn & Conference Center on the UW-Madison campus. Keynote speaker is Dr. Kenneth Reardon of Cornell University's Department of City & Regional Planning. For details contact Dr. Pamela Proulx-Curry, at pamela.proulx-curry@uwp.edu or http://www.wicampuscompact.org

Education conference 'Excellence at Work' is June 28-29 in Holmen
Our friends in western Wisconsin invite one and all to a two-day conference titled "Excellence at Work: Using Quality Principles for Breakthrough Improvement in Education." The School District of Holmen is hosting the conference, which promises keynotes and breakout sessions by highly regarded educational consultants and practitioners well-schooled in "Quality" principles. The fee for the June 28-29 conference is $135 per person. Interested? Contact the marvelously named Monika Buggy at her even better e-mail address, bugmon@holmen.k12.wi.us.

Business Q&A with UW-Green Bay student Emily Krambs
Here's the text of this week's Green Bay Press-Gazette article with the president-elect of UW-Green Bay's highly successful chapter of SIFE.

Q. What is Students in Free Enterprise and what led you to become involved with the organization?
A. Students in Free Enterprise is a globally recognized nonprofit organization that promotes the practice of free enterprise. SIFE teams across the country, at four- and two-year colleges, to create and implement service projects that help all ages learn about the value of basic business practices, economics and everyday financial skills. I joined SIFE in the fall of my freshman year after Professor John Stoll mentioned the team in my introductory Micro Economics class. After hearing what SIFE's message and goals were, I felt as though it was the right student organization for me to join. I've now been an active member for three years, and I believe that SIFE has taught me just as much as my classroom studies have.

Q. How is involvement in Students in Free Enterprise helping you prepare for life after school?
A. SIFE allows us to take the skills we are learning in the classroom and use them in the real world as we implement our projects within the community. We learn how to practice the theories we learn in the classroom as we teach the skills to others. The daily business of keeping the team organized and on track is another skill that helps us prepare for life after college as we strive to present ourselves to the community in a professional manner.

Q. Speaking of life after school, what are you and your peers hearing about the hot jobs and industries? Are the available jobs and careers lining up with what students are actually interested in?
A. Graduating students are finding that the job market is extremely competitive right now. Employers are looking for more than just a four-year degree. They are now asking that many of their potential employees have internship experience, which makes it a requirement that students begin thinking about their career choice in their sophomore or junior year of college. Often, students will enter a job right after college that may not fit their interests right away, but they will take the position anyway because of the possibility for advancement or the hope that something better will come along in a few years.

Q. We are told often that math and science are keys to future job security and economic progress. Are those subjects being studied by students today?
A. Those subjects are still being studied as they are key to a thriving economy as research and development has become an important aspect in remaining competitive in the global market. Having said that, I don't believe they are the only subjects that contribute to economic progress. I believe that the diversity in perspectives and education greatly enhances the economy as we then value all sorts of careers, whether it be an engineer or a novelist.

Q. The American economy over the last decade has seen significant amounts of downsizing, outsourcing and job displacement, and we are told this is going to be the state of business from here on. How do you view your future in light of a transitional, volatile economy? Do you feel that college is preparing you to compete and succeed?
A. In my experience, college has been my best preparation for a transitional economy. As more industries are being outsourced, we have been encouraged to seek careers in service industries that will remain essential as the economy shifts. We've also been taught to be flexible and to never stop learning, whether that means pursuing a higher degree or reading to remain knowledgeable about the changes that are occurring in our chosen profession. The key is to work with the evolving economy instead of fighting the changes.

Q. Now that you have some perspective based on experience, what advice do you have for high school students about to enter college?
A. Take as many different subjects as you can during your freshman year! You will be exposed to so many different things that you may find you want change your field of study as you develop a passion for a particular subject.

I never thought I would major in economics, but after taking an introductory course in my first semester, I realized that it was a subject I could see myself pursuing a career in. Also, get to know your professors! They are wonderful resources and many students overlook the opportunities they have to offer.

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.