Student NewsLink
Dec. 5, 2007
The News
'Fair trade' UW apparel now available
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, members of the campus community, parents and alumni can promote fair wages as well as social and environmental production standards and support UW-Madison at the same time. Counter Sourcing, Inc., a Brooklyn-based apparel manufacturer, has been granted an official university license and the University Book Store recently began carrying official UW-Madison apparel manufactured by the company.
Faculty-student planning can reduce textbook costs
Textbook costs continue to grow, and the university can do even more to help students plan for the expenses and learn ways to keep them in check. The finding is the core of a recent study identifying how the university has helped students address textbook costs and how it plans to help in the future.
Living & Learning
Scientists identify an overlooked factor generating Atlantic Hurricanes
UW-Madison scientists have found that the Atlantic organizes the ingredients for a powerful hurricane season to create a situation where either everything is conducive to hurricane activity or nothing is, potentially making the Atlantic more vulnerable to climate change than the world's other hurricane hot spots.
Waistline growth on high-carb diets linked to liver gene
Experts have been warning for years that foods loaded with high-fructose corn syrup and other processed carbohydrates are making us fatter. Now, a UW-Madison study has uncovered the genetic basis for why this is so.
Around Campus
WUD launches new annual hip-hop festival
Thanks to the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the first ever Homegrown Hip-Hop Festival will bring to campus three days of entertainment from Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 6-8. Events begin at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 8 p.m. on Saturday, and all performances are in the Memorial Union's Rathskeller.
Cinematheque hosts annual Polish Film Festival
One of the Cinematheque's most popular events, the Polish Film Festival, returns to campus Friday-Sunday, Dec. 7-9.
A cappella group sponsors food drive at concert
Redefined, a campus a cappella group, is sponsoring a food drive at its fall concert. All non-perishable food items brought to the show will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul's Dane County food shelf, and anyone who brings three non-perishable food items can get a free Redefined CD. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, Memorial Union Theater. Cost: $10 general, $7 students.
Ten Percent Society hosts 'Drag Against AIDS' show
In conjunction with the monthly TPS Dance, the Ten Percent Society and Sex Out Loud host this benefit drag show and silent auction for the Wisconsin AIDS Network. Drag show performers will represent nearly a dozen student organizations. 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, Great Hall, Memorial Union.
Senegalese musician plays Wisconsin Union Theater
Youssou N'Dour, Senegal's foremost mbalax musician, has collaborated with artists such as Peter Gabriel, Sting and Bruce Springsteen. He offers a blend of the country's traditional griot percussion and praise-singing with Afro-Cuban beats, Sufi chanting, talking drum soliloquies and indigenous Senegalese dance rhythms. 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, Wisconsin Union Theater. $34-18 general, $10 UW-Madison students.
Notable
Last chance for drop-in flu shots at UHS
Students can still get a free shot from UHS, but starting in January, it will be necessary to make an appointment. Flu season typically does not peak until January or February, so it is still beneficial to get a shot. Walk-in flu shot clinic hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m., at University Health Services, 1552 University Ave.
GUTS hosts end-of-semester Study Day
The Greater University Tutoring Service's (GUTS) Drop-In Center will have tutors ready to provide last-minute help the day before finals begin. GUTS is providing help for these classes: math up to 632; economics up to 302; all Spanish and French classes; chemistry up to 345; physics up to 322; and psychology up to 202. 2-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, Drop-In Center, first floor, College Library.
Opportunities
10,000 Hours Show hosts December volunteering event
The 10,000 Hours Show is a student organization that works to recruit volunteers throughout Dane County and rewards those who volunteer 10 hours with a ticket to a volunteers-only concert on April 2 in the Wisconsin Union Theater. At this month's 10K event, volunteers will spend the afternoon facilitating various holiday activities for local children while their parents go shopping from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Edgewood College.
Fellowships support undergraduate environmental research
Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships and Holstrom Environmental Scholarships provide $4,000 to the student and $1,000 to the faculty/staff supervisor to help defray the costs of research. Applications are due Feb. 15, 2008.
Wisconsin Idea Fellowships jumpstart service-research projects
Wisconsin Idea Fellowships provide up to $3,000 to the student (up to $5,000 for a group project) for research-service projects involving community organizations under the supervision of a UW-Madison faculty or instructional academic staff member. Applications are due Feb. 15.