Flag Lowering

The UNO flag will be lowered to half-staff today, Feb. 11, in honor of UNO retiree Cynthia Oberwetter. She passed away Feb. 8 at age 65.

Oberwetter, a library assistant, retired from the university in 2001. She had been with UNO for more than 19 years.

Visitation will be at noon today -- with the funeral services immediately following at 1 p.m. at Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5701 Center St., in Omaha.

'Consider This' Guests to Discuss Unrest in Egypt

Unbelievable images from Cairo as protestors swarm the streets demanding a change in leadership. On the next edition of "Consider This," host Cathy Wyatt and her guests will discuss the unrest in Egypt. 

Wyatt's guest will include Moshe Gershovich, professor of history at UNO, and Hesham Ali, dean of College of Science Information and Technology at UNO.

The program will air today, Feb. 11, at 12:30 p.m. on NET 2.

"Consider This," a production of UNO Television, also airs on the Knowledge Network of Greater Omaha. Check the Knowledge Network website at http://www.tknomaha.org for dates and times..

History Department Instructors to Initiate Film Series Tonight

World Civilizations instructors in the UNO Department of History will screen a series of four films Friday evenings during the spring semester. Each will begin at 6 p.m. in Eppley Auditorium. The first in the series is tonight's screening of "Black Robe," the 1991 film about a 16th century Jesuit priest's journey among Quebec's Algonquin Indians.

After each film, a History Department faculty member will lead an audience discussion of the movie. Other films are scheduled for Feb. 25, March 11 and April 22.  They include "Strawberries and Chocolate," "Europa, Europa" and the 1934 version of "Cleopatra." 

For more information, contact Jo Behrens at (402) 554.2584.

Applicants Sought for Faculty Senate's Paul L. Beck Memorial Faculty/Staff Scholarships

The Faculty Senate is now accepting applications for the Paul L. Beck Memorial Faculty/Staff Scholarships. Both residents and non-residents may apply. Three scholarships are awarded: 

- One $ 1,000 Full-Time Undergraduate Scholarship

- One $ 1,000 Full-Time Graduate Scholarship 

- One $ 500 Part-Time Graduate or Undergraduate Scholarship

Information on the scholarship history, criteria, application process and the application form can found on the Faculty Senate's website at http://www.unomaha.edu/facsen/scholarship/beck_%20scholarship_index.php.

Applications are also available at the Financial Aid Office, 103 Eppley Administration Building, or the Faculty Senate Office, 105 Arts and Science Hall.  The application deadline is Friday, April 1.

Chess Club Starts at Noon This Saturday

The UNO Chess Club is re-establishing its weekly meetings. The club will meet this Saturday, Feb. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC) Gallery Room. Any and all chess players in the UNO community are welcome to attend.  

"Please bring your sets and boards, and a clock if desired," said Joe Knapp, UNO Chess Club president. 

Members will meet every Saturday during the spring semester (except the dates immediately before and after spring break). MBSC locations may change. For details watch eNotes and check the plasma screens placed throughout the MBSC. 

For more information, e-mail at jknapp@unomaha.edu or call (402) 515.0064.

Career Center Offers Feb. 14 Financial Fair for Students

The average college graduate owes about $19,000 in student loan debt, according to a recent USA Today report.

To help college students better their financial future, the UNO Career Center will host an open house to educate students about their finances on Monday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nebraska Room of the Milo Bail Student Center.

The open house, "Plug into Your Financial Future," will consist of five different stations staffed by local financial advisers available to visit with and answer questions from students one-on-one and in small groups.  Read more.

Women's and Gender Studies Colloquia Feb. 25

Robbin Ogle, an associate professor in the UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, will present "Measuring Resistance to Patriarchy" on Friday, Feb. 25, in 311 Arts and Science Hall. The hour-long colloquium starts at noon.

Her presentation will make an argument for bringing patriarchy back into criminological research and identifies its existence in social institutions and how that might be operationalized in research.

Questions? Contact Karen Falconer Al-Hindi at kfalconeralhindi@unomaha.edu.

OPS, UNO Partner to Host Culture Fair on Feb. 27

The UNO) Service-Learning Academy, in partnership with Omaha Public Schools, will host "CultureFest 2011" from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27, in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.

The event will give UNO and Omaha Public Schools students the opportunity to "explore the world" through performances, exhibits, hands-on activities, ethnic food and more, including henna tattoos, Chinese name-writing, drumming, dancing and the sampling of international candies.

The event will allow students of all levels to collaborate on a project that is global in scope. The performances, demonstrations and exhibits will provide opportunities for students to become more immersed in other cultures, and broaden their understanding of the world. For the greater community, it's a chance to discover and celebrate cultures and ethnicities represented in Omaha. Read more.

Peace Corps on UNO Campus Next Week

What do Thailand, El Salvador, Armenia, Ecuador, Uganda, Federated States of Micronesia, Ukraine and Costa Rica have in common?
 
These are eight countries where UNO alumni are currently serving as Peace Corps Volunteers, making a difference around the globe in various sectors such as health, youth development, environmental protection, education and community development.

UNO has had a total of 74 alumni serving as a Peace Corps Volunteers in 72 countries around the globe. You have an opportunity to continue UNO's legacy abroad upon graduation. The Peace Corps is currently hiring individuals from any academic discipline in sectors such as health, education, youth and community development, agriculture and environmental protection/development, business and information/communication technology.
 
You can learn more about these opportunities by joining Valerie Flynn (China, Education Development), the recruiter for Nebraska, for a General Information Meeting:

- Tuesday, Feb. 15
Milo Bail Student Center
Gallery Conference Room
6:30 to 8 p.m.
 
If you cannot attend the meeting, but are interested in learning more, you can also stop by the Peace Corps Information Table at the Milo Bail Student Center on Tuesday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or contact Flynn directly at vflynn@peacecorps.gov.

For more information, contact Anne West-Leclou at (402) 554.3822 or awest-leclou@unomaha.edu. 

Both events are sponsored by UNO International Studies and Programs.

Still Time to Register for Dance Lessons

This event has been designated a UNO Mav-Rec Wellness event.

What better way to say I love you for Valentine's Day, than to treat your "valentine" to some Dance Lessons? There are still openings for Campus Recreation dance lessons, which start this Saturday, Feb. 13.

Learn it all from Contact Dancing, Waltz, Foxtrot, Meringue, Cha Cha and Salsa. Classes are held in 143 Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Spring lesson dates are: Feb. 13, 20, Mar. 6 and 13.

- Latin/Ballroom lessons will be offered at 3 p.m.

- Swing lessons will be offered at 4 p.m.

More information can be found at: http://www.unomaha.edu/wwwocr/health/instructional.php.

Due to the new computerized class registration system spots can no longer be reserved. To register/pay, by phone at (402) 554.2539 with a MavCard or credit card, or in person at HPER Control Desk with cash, check MavCard or credit card.

The mission of Mav-Rec Wellness, UNO's health promotion program, is to create a culture of health and wellness among all faculty, staff and students. Health goals are encouraged through programming and initiatives that celebrate healthier lifestyle practices within the UNO community. For more information, visit http://www.unomaha.edu/wwwocr/health/wellness.php.

Presentation on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Set for Feb. 17

UNO will host a presentation by a nationally-known scholar of World War One on Thursday, Feb. 17.  Steven Trout will present "Voices from the Tomb: The Unknown Soldier and American Culture, 1921-1941" at 7 p.m. in the W. H. Thompson Alumni Center.

Trout is chair of the Department of English at Fort Hays State University, Kansas.  He has authored Memorial Fictions: Willa Cather and the First World War (2002) and his most recent book, On the Battlefield of Memory:  The First World War and American Remembrance, 1919-1941 (2010).  His presentation at UNO is free and open to the campus community and public.  Read more.

'Spooky Action at a Distance' to Air Fridays This Semester

During the spring semester, UNO's UFO Study Group will broadcast its radio program "Spooky Action at a Distance" live every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Listen to the program on streaming audio at http://MavRadio.com.

Want to attend a meeting and learn more? If so, the group meets every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Jenkins Room and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in 285 Durham Science Center. Anyone with an interest in the UFO phenomenon is encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact John Powers at jcpowers@unomaha.edu.

UNO Sociology Club to Meet Mondays

The UNO Sociology Club (UNOSC) will meet every Monday from noon to 1 p.m. in 344 Arts and Sciences Hall (ASH) this semester. Anyone with an interest in the sociology is encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact John Powers at jcpowers@unomaha.edu.

R&D Partnership Program Deadline March 1

Nebraska EPSCoR supports research and development collaborations between tenure-track or tenured professors and private industry through Nebraska EPSCoR's University-Industry R&D Partnership Program. This program offers up to $25,000 in cost-sharing funds. A call for proposals has been issued with a deadline of March 1.

The program intends to foster new partnerships and strengthen existing partnerships between faculty of Nebraska colleges and universities and its state industries; it requires the participation of one principal investigator from academia and one from industry. 

This EPSCoR program is paid out as a grant, so any faculty applicants have to work with the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (SPR) before submitting. Questions? Contact SPR directly at (402) 554.2286.

The program has two funding tiers: Phase I for new partnerships and Phase II for more mature partnerships. The cost-share funding level for Phase I is up to $10,000; for Phase II, the cost-share is up to $25,000. 

For more information and the request for proposal, visit http://epscor.unl.edu/r&d_partnerships.shtml.

This program is sponsored by Nebraska EPSCoR. EPSCoR is the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, established by Congress to support science, mathematics and technology research, infrastructure, and education in states that receive disproportionately.

In The News

- A major, Omaha World-Herald front-page story focused on the increasing amount and quality of research being done at UNO. The article also mentioned UNO's recent reclassification as a doctoral research university. Chancellor John Christensen and Senior Vice Chancellor Terry Hynes were quoted along with Scott Snyder, Office of Research and Creative Activity, and Nick Stergiou, School of HPER.

- The Feb. 2 issue of the Lexington Clipper featured an article on food-buying habits among consumers, quoting Tej Adidam, Department of Management and Marketing. The story originally ran in the Omaha World-Herald.

- The Omaha World-Herald ran the complete list of Black History Month events at UNO in its Feb. 4 edition.  Events include a film, speakers and a gospel concert.

- John Kretzschmar, Brennan Labor Institute, wrote an op-ed column for The Omaha World-Herald that ran Feb. 7.  The article focused on state budget issues and unions. 

- Paul Landow, Political Science wrote an op-ed on the recent mayoral recall election that ran in the Feb. 7 issue of the Omaha World-Herald. 

- The Omaha World-Herald previewed the start of the MavRide bus program on Feb. 8.  Local media outlets that covered MavRide launch event later that day included KPTM (Channel 42), KETV (Channel 7) and KFAB (1110 AM).  Associate Vice Chancellor Thomas Wallace spoke at the launch.

- The UNO Aviation Institute's Charles W. Durham Distinguished Guest Lecture received a preview story from The Lincoln Journal Star. George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, is the guest speaker at the Feb. 16 event

If you are a member of the UNO community and have been interviewed by the media - local, state, regional, national or international - we want to know about it. Send an e-mail with the particulars to enotes@unomaha.edu. Please include a contact name and phone number. For more information, call (402) 554.2762.

In Print

- School of Communication Professor Bruce E. Johansen's book, Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Issues: An Encyclopedia (Greenwood, 2004), has been published in Japanese by Akashi Shoten Co, Ltd. of Tokyo.

If you've authored or edited a book, article or other text that's been published recently, we want to know about it. Send an e-mail with the particulars to enotes@unomaha.edu. Please include a contact name and phone number. For more information, call (402) 554.2243.

On Stage

Beatles Tribute Show Coming to UNO
The Strauss Performing Arts Center will host the critically-acclaimed, and widely enjoyed, Beatles tribute show "Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience" on Saturday, Feb. 19.  The concert will benefit Omaha's Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra.  Read more.

Spring Department of Theater Production Dates Announced
Performances of Dark Play or Stories for Boys by Carlos Murillo run from Feb. 23-26 through March 3-5 in the UNO Theatre, located in the Weber Fine Arts Building. The box office opens on Feb. 14. "Dark Play" is directed by Amy Lane.

Play Synopsis: When 14-year-old Nick comes across a naively worded ad from 16-year-old Adam reading, "I want to fall in love," he's blown away. What is this love? Already bored with cyber sex and posting fake online ads, Nick invents the girl of Adam's dreams, Rachel, and Adam and Rachel fall hard. But as the cyber relationship heightens, so do the emotional stakes in the real world, until the two collide with devastating consequences.

Performances of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare run from April 13-16 and April 20-23 in the UNO Theatre. The box office opens on April 4. "Twelfth Night" is Directed by Cindy Melby Phaneuf.

Play Synopsis: This drama is one of the great comedy plays by William Shakespeare. Viola, cross dresses and takes the man's name of Cesario. Viola enters the service of the Duke of Illyria, Orsino. Orsino longs for the love of a neighboring countess. Viola (Cesario) then falls in love with Orsino. To add to the farce Viola's (Cesario) identical twin, Sebastian arrives on the scene. Living in Olivia's household is her uncle, Sir Toby Belch, a merry character. The steward of the household is the conceited Malvolio. The plot illustrates jealousy, mistaken Identity, cross-dressing and features fights and duels. In the end Sebastian and Olivia fall in love and marry. Orsino realizes that it is Viola that he loves and she agrees to marry him. Sir Toby Belch and Maria also decide to marry! Twelfth Night ends and everyone, except Malvolio, is happy and Shakespeare speaks of the madness of love.

Call (402) 554.2406 for discounted season tickets today. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the UNO Theatre. Tickets are free for all UNO students and only $5 for all other students. For tickets visit http://www.unotheatre.com/ or call the box office at (402) 554.PLAY.

If you are a member of the UNO community and are involved in an upcoming performance, we want to know about it. Send an e-mail with the particulars to enotes@unomaha.edu. Please include a contact name and phone number.

On Exhibit

McQueen to Curate Latest Student Art Exhibition, Reception is Next Friday
Omaha curator Brigitte McQueen will select works by UNO undergraduate studio art majors for the Spring 2011 Annual Juried Student Exhibition. More than 40 full-time students will be represented in the show, which opens with a free public reception Friday, Feb. 18, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the UNO Art Gallery.

McQueen has been curator of the Underground Gallery at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and owner of Pulp Gallery in the Old Market. Currently she is establishing a new non-profit that will work to strengthen the creative culture of Omaha by providing services to local artists. 
Read more.