News Briefs

How about a powwow? More than 300 American Indian dancers and 20 American Indian drum groups from around the United States and Canada will participate in the 14th Annual University of Iowa Powwow April 11-13 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Doors open at 5 p.m. on April 11 and at 11 a.m. on April 12 and 13. In addition to music and dance, the powwow will feature American Indian arts, crafts, and food. For more details or ticket information, see www.uiowa.edu/~aisa/powwow. Photo by Kirk Murray.

Sign up for medical school

The Carver College of Medicine will host Mini Medical School, a three-session course focusing on cancer, from 7 to 9 p.m., April 22 and 29, and May 6 in MERF.

Take part in discussions on modern medicine, view laboratory demonstrations, and test your skills as a doctor while visiting with patient-actors.

Tuition is free, but space is limited. To register or for more information, visit www.medicine.uiowa.edu/minimedicalschool or call the Carver College of Medicine, (33)5-8886.

Prepare for college costs

Mike Murray of the University of Iowa Community Credit Union will speak on “Saving for your child’s post high school education or training” at 3:30 p.m. on April 17 as part of the Family Services Office’s Family Financial Series.

The program will help families decide when they need to begin saving for their children’s education and introduce strategies to maximize their financial contribution.

To register, contact Jane Holland at (33)5-1371 or jane-holland@uiowa.edu.

A presidential welcome Former U.S. president Bill Clinton, left, came to campus March 26 to deliver the annual Distinguished Lecture. After an introduction by UI President David Skorton, right, Clinton spoke for nearly two hours to a capacity crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, touching on a wide range of topics—from the war with Iraq to affirmative action to the economy. Photo by Kirk Murray.

Parkin lecturer named

Leonard Hayflick, professor of anatomy, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, will deliver the Joe L. Parkin Memorial Lecture on Aging at 6 p.m., April 8 in A-1110 MERF.

He will speak on “The biology of human aging and longevity determination.”

A reception at 4:30 p.m. in MERF Atrium will precede the lecture. For more information, call Trish Bonica, (33)5-7731.

Spintronics expert to lecture

David Awschalom, professor of physics and director of the Center for Spintronics and Quantum Computation at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will be on campus in April as an Ida Beam distinguished professor.

Among his presentations will be:

• a colloquium: “Manipulating quantum information with semiconductor spintronics,” 3:30 p.m., April 7, 301 VAN;
  
  
• a seminar: “Optoelectronic control of electron and nuclear spin,” 12:15 p.m., April 8, 301 VAN; and
  
  
• a public lecture: “Beyond electronics: Spintronics and quantum computers,” 7:30 p.m., April 8, Lecture Room 1, VAN.

Bel Canto chosen for Johnson County book project

The Center for Human Rights announced last month that it has selected Bel Canto by Ann Patchett to be the subject of the fall 2003 “One Community, One Book—Johnson County Reads” project (formerly “All Johnson County Reads the Same Book”).

The book, a story of terrorism gone awry and the power of music to create unlikely connections between disparate people, won the Pen/Faulkner Award and was a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award. Patchett attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in the 1980s.

In conjunction with representatives from Iowa City, Coralville, and the University, the center will be scheduling book-related events between Sept. 22 and Nov. 15.

For more information, contact project coordinator Dorothy M. Paul at dorothy-paul@uiowa.edu.

King takes the helm of OISS

Scott E. King took over as the new director of the Office of International Students and Scholars on March 17. He succeeds Gary Althen, who retired in June 2002.

King has 24 years of experience in the field of international education and has served as director of similar offices in Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. For the past 11 years, he has served as director of international student and scholar services at Old Dominion University.

“What excites me most about coming to Iowa is that it is one of the schools that already is a leader in providing international education,” King says. “The exciting part about working in this field is to be able to help students get what they truly want out of their educational experience.”

Open forum with Skorton

There will be an open forum for P&S and MSE/C staff with UI President David Skorton from noon to 1 p.m. on April 23 in the Rembolt Conference Room, CDD. Bring questions and your lunch. Drinks will be provided.

RiverFest set

RiverFest 2003 is scheduled for April 25-27 at Hubbard Park. This year’s theme is “Down by the river.”

The annual University celebration features activities for the whole community, including live music, carnival rides, an art fair, and games.

See www.uiowa.edu/%7Erivrfest for a full schedule of events.

Award for enhancing learning

Applications are being accepted for the President’s Award for Technology Innovation, which carries a $3,000 cash prize.

All members of the University community may apply, and projects that enhance any aspect of learning are eligible.

For more information or an application, see www.uiowa.edu/~cot. Deadline is April 11 at the Council on Teaching, 111 JH.

Vanpools are available

The following vanpools have seats available for employees interested in riding to and from work on a permanent basis:

Ainsworth, Cedar Rapids, Columbus Junction, Kalona, Lone Tree, Marengo, North English (p.m.), Riverside, Washington, Wellman, West Branch, and West Liberty.

For more information, see www.uiowa.edu/%7Efuspt/vanpool_communities.html or call Commuter Programs at (35)3-5770.

Mediation service offered to merit staff

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and the UI Mediation Service have developed a joint “peer mediation service” available to merit staff employed at the University.

The goal of the free service is to provide merit employees with an informal, creative means to resolve workplace-related conflicts. The process is voluntary and confidential.

For more information, contact Randall J. Ney, director, at (33)5-2355, mediate@uiowa.edu, or 802 JB.

Iowa Summer Rep selects Tom Stoppard

Iowa Summer Rep 2003 will be a festival of plays by English theatrical wit Tom Stoppard, who won a 1999 Academy Award for his Shakespeare in Love screenplay.

This year’s festival, “Tom-Foolery: Three Comedies by Tom Stoppard,” features plays that have never been produced at the University: Rough Crossing, Travesties, and The Real Thing.

Performances will be June 26 through July 26 in the Theatre Building.

Museum to host print fair

The UI Museum of Art will hold its annual Print Fair, featuring fine art prints on sale from major dealers, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 12. Admission is free.

Prints and drawings from various periods and styles, including works by Paul Gaugin, Pablo Picasso, and Grant Wood, will range in price from $100 to several thousand dollars.

In conjunction with the fair, the museum will offer a 2 p.m. gallery tour of the exhibition Remembering the Family Farm: 150 Years of American Prints.