News Briefs

Cheer, cheer, cheer for Iowa Hawkeye alumni marching band member John D. Smith sings the “Iowa Fight Song” with University of Iowa men’s basketball players Reggie Evans (right) and Marcellus Sommerville. The basketball team joined the alumni band in sharing tunes, tossing candy, and spreading good cheer during the Sept. 28 Homecoming Parade. There was plenty to cheer about the next day, too, as the Hawkeye football team beat Penn State, 24-18. Photo by Brad Causey.

Retirees handbook now on-line

The University of Iowa Retirees Handbook has been updated and is available on-line at: www.uiowa.edu/hr/benefits/retirement/Retbook.pdf. The handbook identifies benefits and opportunities available to all former employees of the institution. Intended primarily for those contemplating retirement, the publication is also a compendium of all the services and volunteer opportunities available for those who already have retired.

Copies of this handbook were distributed to members of the Emeritus Faculty Association and the UI Retirees Association. Additional hard copies are available in the Office of the Provost as well as in the University Benefits Office.



Porter writes on Ellison

A new book, just published by the University of Iowa Press, explores Ralph Ellison’s writings and views on American culture through the lens of jazz.

Jazz Country: Ralph Ellison in America by Horace Porter, chair of the African American World Studies Program, examines the influences on Ellison, both personal and as artistic inspiration, of jazz musicians and fellow jazz fans.

The book is available at local bookstores or directly from the UI Press at 800-621-2736.



Patents on the web: a lecture

UI Librarians will present a seminar on how to access and search for patents, trademarks, and standards on the Internet.

It will cover official sources such as the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office, World Intellectual Property Organization, and European Patent Office databases, as well as indexes/links to U.S. standards and international standards databases. Academic sources as well as some private sources will be covered.

The seminar will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 22 in the Information Arcade Classroom, Main Library. To register, contact Marsha Forys, (33)5-5301 or marsha-forys@uiowa.edu.



Prepare Our Sons for Life activities focus on acceptance

This year’s Prepare Our Sons for Life program will be held on Oct. 23. Families of University of Iowa staff and faculty are invited to participate.

The event begins with a pizza lunch and a scavenger hunt with members of the UI wrestling team. Following lunch, there will be a short presentation for parents and children by Diane Finnerty of the Office of Affirmative Action. A variety of activities will provide opportunities for younger children to focus on community service, caring for self and others, and conflict resolution. This year’s event is geared toward children from 6 to 11 years old.

A discussion for adults on accepting children’s uniqueness will take place during the children’s activities.

The events are sponsored by UI WorkLife, the Office of Affirmative Action, UI Staff Council, the Office of the Provost, and University Life Centers.

RSVPs must be received by Oct. 12. Register by e-mail at uiworklife@uiowa.edu or call (35)3-2314. For more information visit www.uiowa.edu/hr/worklife/sons/index.html.



Panel examines links between religion, politics, violence

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America raised questions about the connections between religion, politics, and violence. To explore these issues, the School of Religion is hosting a discussion, “Religion, politics, and violence: Toward understanding September 11,” from 7 to 9 p.m on Oct. 8. in the Terrace Room, Iowa Memorial Union.

Brief presentations by faculty will be followed by an hour of questions and discussion. Panelists and their topics include: Reza Aslan, visiting professor of religion, speaking about Islam and the Middle East; Thomas A. Lewis, assistant professor of religion, establishing a framework for understanding relationships between religion, politics, and violence; Fred Smith, associate professor of religion and Asian languages and literature, speaking about religion and politics in India and Pakistan; and Richard B. Turner, associate professor of religion and African American world studies, speaking about Islam in the United States, and in particular among African Americans.



Minority student enrollment exceeds goal for eighth year

Minority students account for 8.8 percent of the total full-time, on-campus enrollment at The University of Iowa this fall. This year marks the eighth consecutive year in which the University’s minority enrollment has exceeded the goal set by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, of achieving a minority enrollment of at least 8.5 percent.

Total minority enrollment for the current academic year is 2,523, down slightly from 2,532 in 2000, but undergraduate enrollments are up.

The number of new minority freshmen increased 13 percent this year, from 329 in 2000 to 372 in fall 2001.



Catalyst Awards to be presented

Members of the University community are invited to attend Honoring Diversity: The 2001 Catalyst Awards Reception from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Oct. 4, in the North Room, Iowa Memorial Union.

The Catalyst Award is presented annually to honor creative initiatives by UI faculty, staff, units, or departments that promote an inclusive, diverse community.

This year’s individual award recipients are Eugene Madison, Department of Mathematics, and Akwasi Agyeman Boateng, UIHC Food and Nutrition Services. The Department of Theatre Arts is the departmental recipient.

For more information, contact the Office of Affirmative Action by phone at (33)5-0705 (voice), (33)5-0697 (text) or by e-mail at affirm@uiowa.edu.



Staff Council offers tuition scholarships

Using a new lottery system, Staff Council awarded $9,335 in Coke funds for fall semester staff tuition scholarships. Twenty-two of the forty-six eligible applicants received funding for one University of Iowa class. Staff Council awards tuition scholarships each fall, spring, and summer semester. The deadline for spring semester scholarship applications is Nov. 1. Go to www.uiowa.edu./~stafcnsl/SCscholarshipInfo.html for an application form and more details.



Hydraulics Lab walk closed

The sidewalk along the south side of the Hydraulics Laboratory on Riverside Drive will be closed through Oct. 28. The closing is to accommodate construction of a water main at the laboratory. Signs are posted for pedestrian access via a designated route.



Radio stations to host first on-air drive

Public radio stations WSUI-AM and KSUI-FM, broadcast from the University of Iowa, will host their first on-air fund drive Oct. 13-19.

The drive is in response to an increasing need for university departments to generate more private donations and become more self-supporting, says John Monick, director of broadcasting.

“Every day our listeners share the experience of public radio; now we’re asking them to step forward and share the expense,” Monick says.

Since this is the first year for the drive, there is no specific monetary goal, he adds. A team of 175 volunteers will be needed to assist the stations’ staff in the drive. Volunteers can sign up to help with drive by calling the studios at (33)5-5730.

Listeners can phone the studios toll-free at (866) 669-9191 during the drive or pledge on-line at http://ksui.uiowa.edu or http://wsui.uiowa.edu.