Student NewsLink
January 28, 2009
The News
Chancellor Martin joins effort to encourage federal research investment
Chancellor Carolyn "Biddy" Martin and nearly 50 other higher education leaders and Nobel laureates offered their support earlier this month to a letter to President-elect Barack Obama, arguing that scientific research should be an investment priority in the debate over an economic stimulus package.
UW-Madison awarded grant to address sexual assault, stalking, dating violence
The university has been selected to receive a three-year, $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women to help address the causes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The grant program is designed to encourage institutions of higher education to adopt comprehensive, coordinated responses to the issues.
Graduate student wins chance to perform at the Met
Singers around the world dream of taking the stage at New York's Metropolitan Opera House. On Sunday, Feb. 15, James Kryshak will do just that. A tenor studying with the music program's voice area chair, Julia Faulkner, Kryshak won the Upper Midwest Metropolitan Opera National Council Region Auditions in Minneapolis and will now advance to February's semifinal round at the Met in New York, with a chance to move on to the Grand Finals Concert and win up to $15,000.
Living & Learning
New magazine explores diversity on campus, in Madison
The new magazine Spectrum is a project of the Madison Area Diversity Roundtable, a group of 16 area employers, including UW–Madison, working to improve diversity efforts within their own organizations and the community. Produced by Madison Magazine, the publication is a recruitment and resource guide for new, current and potential residents, showing the cultural diversity, professional opportunities and benefits the Madison area has to offer.
Psychiatrist provides advice on seasonal affective disorder
Did you dread the start of winter? Do you feel like crawling into bed with a package of cookie dough, pulling the covers over your head and not coming out until spring? Plenty of people feel the same way. UW Health psychiatrist Nancy Barklage says that nearly 25 percent of people who live at northern latitudes suffer from at least some symptoms of SAD, the depression that hits during the darkest times of the year. Besides depression, symptoms include low energy levels, overeating, a craving for carbohydrates, weight gain, an increased need for sleep, and a lack of interest in sex and in socializing. Fortunately, since the disorder was documented in the 1980s, an effective treatment regimen has been established.
UW grads create Web business to save consumers cash on groceries
It doesn't take a math guru or an economist to know how to save money buying groceries. Or does it? Maybe you should ask two recent UW alumni who have created a Web business that seeks out the best grocery buys in Madison.
Around Campus
Student Activities Center holds grand opening
The program for this celebration includes tours of the new student space, a performance from the MadHatters and $1000 of free food. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program starts at 6 p.m. Today (Jan. 28), 333 East Campus Mall.
Distinguished Lecture Series presents astrophysicist Tyson
As director of the Hayden Planetarium and the new host of the PBS magazine "NOVA Science NOW," Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the most high-profile astrophysicists in America. He hopes to use the state-of-the-art Hayden to capture the scientific curiosity of a new generation of young people. Tickets are free and available at the Theater Box Office for students, faculty, staff and Union members; remaining tickets will be available for the general public starting Thursday, Jan. 29. 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, Wisconsin Union Theater.
Morgridge Center hosts 'Students in Service Social'
All students involved or interested in service are invited to enjoy free food and drinks with 10,000 Hours Show volunteers, Badger Volunteers, student organizations, Greeks, and other student groups and individuals who are volunteers or are interested in volunteering. 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, TITU Memorial Union.
Take the stage at the Union's Jazz Jam
Jazz Jam is the melting pot of the campus jazz scene, where student musicians can bring their instrument or voice and perform with each other and the house band. Jazz Jam is held the last Thursday of every month. 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, Rathskeller, Memorial Union.
Workshop educates about stalking, university steps to combat it
The University Subcommittee on Sexual Assault and Dating Violence will hold its third annual National Stalking Awareness Month professional development workshop. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, the session will educate about stalking and what the university is doing about it . 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, TITU Memorial Union. Go online to register.
Notable
UW ranks No. 6 in Peace Corps volunteers
For the ninth year in a row, UW-Madison has placed in the top tier of the Peace Corps’ top 25 list of large schools nationwide producing Peace Corps volunteers. With 81 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, UW-Madison is sixth in the rankings. The university has made the Peace Corps’ Top Schools list since the ranking system began in 2001. Since 1961, more than 2,848 alumni have served in Peace Corps, making it the No. 2 university all-time producer of volunteers, surpassed only by the University of California-Berkeley. For more information on applying, contact John Sheffy, a UW-Madison graduate student who served in Togo, at 262-1121 or peacecorps@cals.wisc.edu. Information sessions will be held at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11, March 11, April 8 and May 13 at 6 p.m. in the Red Gym’s first Floor Media Room.
WiscAlerts: Emergency text message system now has 15K users
WiscAlerts has now enrolled more than 15,000 users. WiscAlerts-Text has held several tests and successfully sent its first emergency message on Thursday, Jan. 22, to warn about a gas and water main leak near the Biochemistry Building. The university’s WiscAlerts system relies on a combination of text messages, e-mail, voice and web information to warn about urgent campus situations. Additional details are available at http://www.safeu.wisc.edu. All students faculty and staff are encouraged to enroll, if they haven’t already, by visiting the My UW Portal, http://my.wisc.edu.
Free Karate lessons offered
Explore the fun challenges of traditional Shotokan karate at no cost while improving your fitness and disciplining your mind. The goal of traditional karate is to achieve personal improvement through the study of unarmed combat techniques. Please bring comfortable clothes for workout. No experience necessary. 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, B101 Lathrop Hall.
Registrar: last day to drop classes
Friday, Jan. 30, is the last day to add a first class without the department or the dean's permission, the last day for all students to add courses without departmental approval, and the last day for 100-percent tuition adjustment on dropped classes; and Friday, Feb. 6, is the last day to pay tuition and fees without the $100 late-fee penalty.
Opportunities
Arts Enterprise Symposium offers help for arts careers
The first-ever UW–Madison Arts Enterprise Symposium will help you find your place in a world of information about arts careers. Regardless of artistic discipline, those aspiring to careers in the arts will not want to miss this three-day event of inspiration and guidance. Personal mentoring by arts professionals will be available to symposium attendees, and local and nationally known speakers will be on hand to lead interactive workshops, offer tools you can put to use right now and share inspirational success stories. Friday-Sunday, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Pyle Center. Cost: registration required; full conference is $10 students, $35 faculty and staff, and $50 general.
Spring Career Expo brings students, employers together
Students can start a job or internship search, network, or research careers and companies while connecting with over 100 organizations at the Spring Career Expo. 4:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, Kohl Center.
Two upcoming events cater to job-seeking engineering students
Two events by Engineering Career Services aim to help engineering students with their job searches. The Civil Engineering Job Fair is an opportunity for civil, mechanical and electrical engineers to meet with more than 40 employers seeking intern, co-op and full-time candidates, and it takes place from 1-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Meanwhile, Spring Career Connection 2009 is a two-day event offering a chance to meet with more than 150 employers from around the country, and it takes place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 4 and 5. Both events will be in the Engineering Centers Building Atrium.