Becoming a Fitter You in 2013!

Get fit. Lose weight. Find the new you. To help, Campus Rec will offer a brand new fitness program this New Year called -- Becoming a Fitter You! Participants do not need to be Campus Rec activity card holders to participate. Classes will be held at various times Monday through Thursday in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) building.

The program officially starts today, Jan. 7. The cost is $36 for students/member and $60 for nonmembers.

The schedule is:

- Mondays or Wednesdays: 6:30 a.m. or Noon

- Tuesdays or Thursdays: Noon or 5:15 p.m.

For more information, contact Skyler Brooke at 402.554.3185 or sbrooke@unomaha.edu.

January Blackboard Training Opportunities

The Academic Partnership for Instruction (API), a division of Information Services (IS), has announced multiple opportunities for faculty and staff to learn more about UNO's learning management system, Blackboard.

- Blackboard Drop-In Ask – Jan. 7

Have a quick Blackboard question you'd like to ask? The Blackboard Drop-In ASK? sessions will be held today, Jan. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop by and talk with the API staff in the Teaching and Technology Center, 538 Kayser Hall.  No registration is required; however, these sessions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and are not intended to take the place of full training workshops.

- Getting Started with Blackboard – Jan. 18

Never used Blackboard before, but would like to dive in this semester? Join API on Friday, Jan. 18, at 9 a.m. in 543 Kayser Hall for Getting Started with Blackboard. This hands-on introductory session will show you how to make your course available for students, customize the look and feel, and add content. No previous experience is necessary, but registration is requested. To register, go to http://api.unomaha.edu/calendar.php and click the link in the Register For box.

- Stump the Chump:  Blackboard Edition – Jan. 25

Are you a previous Blackboard user looking for a new experience? Not sure how Blackboard could do X? Join the API staff on Friday, Jan. 25, at 9 a.m. in 543 Kayser Hall for the Stump the Chump:  Blackboard Edition session. Bring your instructional questions or concerns and those in attendance will discuss possible solutions as a group. This interactive session is intended to expose participants to scenarios and advanced tools that they may not have encountered yet. Registration is requested. To register, go to http://api.unomaha.edu/calendar.php and click the link in the Register For box.

Contact IS Customer Services at 402.554.4357 (4.HELP) or unohelpdesk@unomaha.edu for more information on any of these training opportunities.

Holocaust Exhibit Opens at Criss Library

UNO and the Council for Holocaust and Genocide Studies are excited to announce the opening of "Future, Beware," a Holocaust photography exhibit, tonight, Jan. 7, along with three accompanying lectures throughout the month of January.

The exhibit, which features work by Omaha's Ophir Palmon, visually chronicles an exploration of Holocaust sites in Poland and Israel by Jewish-American teens. The photographs will be on display in the Osborne Family Gallery on the first floor of the Criss Library on UNO's Dodge Campus. Read more.

Your Guide to eNotes

Welcome to the spring semester & eNotes, the daily electronic news source for the UNO community. eNotes is published by University Marketing, 113 Eppley Administration Building. Becky Bohan Brown, assistant director of internal communication, is the editor. For those new to campus or those who need a refresher course on using eNotes, visit http://www.unomaha.edu/enotes/aboutus.php#submit.

Safety Notice for On-campus Incidents

With the start of the spring semester, Campus Security staff would like to remind the campus community about emergency procedures at UNO. The following information outlines the university's safety and emergency procedures, along with other services provided by Campus Security.

Incident Reporting
Incidents requiring immediate action include fire, environmental spills, medical conditions, property damage, disruptive behavior and crimes in progress.

Persons involved with or observing these types of incidents should call Campus Security at 402.554.2911. Campus Security will dispatch officers to the scene and, if required, contact 911.

Faculty and staff can call 911 directly, but also should notify Campus Security to help coordinate the response and expedite travel to the emergency scene. Emergency information provided by the caller should include the building, floor, room number, callback number and nature of the emergency.

Evacuations
Faculty and staff should assist with room and building evacuations, and be aware of those needing special assistance. All employees should become familiar with the designated rally points for their buildings, which are listed in the back of the telephone directory under "Emergency Procedures."

Personal Threats and Harassment
Disruptive behavior on campus will not be tolerated. Threats or acts of violence should be reported to Campus Security and to employee supervisors. If the act appears to represent an immediate threat or harm to the individual, it should be reported at once to Campus Security or 911.

Personal Escorts
The escort service is available 24/7 for individuals on campus. Contact Campus Security to arrange an escort.

Personal Safety Checks
Individuals who may be working alone outside normal working hours are encouraged to contact Campus Security. Security officers will periodically check on individuals' safety while they are on campus.

Personal Property
The university is not responsible for personal property. Individuals are responsible for safeguarding their own property. Loss of personal property should be reported to Campus Security.

Alert System
An on-campus system to help facilitate emergency communications has been installed on the Dodge, Pacific and Center locations. Announcements are distributed from Campus Security to building public address systems or speakers located in building corridors. When announcements are made, strobe lights will flash to notify the hearing impaired to seek assistance.

The system is particularly helpful during tornado warnings. The announcement will alert building occupants to seek shelter and, again later, when the warning has ended. The alert system also can be used to announce university closings, confirm evacuations for fire or chemical release, or other emergency conditions.

Text Messaging System
An off-site text-messaging system provided by e2Campus is also available. The system sends instant alerts directly to registered subscribers' e-mail accounts and mobile phones via text messages. Wireless personal digital assistants and BlackBerry devices can also be used.

The notification system is used to communicate any potential emergency, such as a snow delay or closing, other weather warnings, homeland security advisories, gas leak notifications and fire or crime watches.

This is a voluntary, 'opt-in' capability that requires individual action to subscribe. For more information or to subscribe visit http://www.e2campus.com/my/unomaha/.

U-Tip for Anonymous Text Message
Have an anonymous tip? If so, use U-Tip to report suspicious activities or individuals on campus, such as theft or vandalism. Communication is anonymous, allowing uTipsters to send in tips without the fear or risk of retribution. The message will be sent directly to Campus Security and appropriate action will be taken immediately. All other emergency calls should be made to Campus Security at 402.554.2911 or Omaha Police and Fire at 911, so more information can be gathered from the caller. To use the system simply enter 79516 in the address box. In the text message type UNO911 (your message here).

More information on campus emergency procedures can be found online at http://emergency.unomaha.edu/ or in the UNO Employee Telephone Directory beginning on page 99. For more information about Campus Security procedures related to campus emergencies, contact Stan Schleifer at 402.554.3596 or Paul Kosel at 402.554.2648

Health Risk Appraisal Results and Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who participate in the 2012 Health Risk Appraisal (HRA)! The 2012 results are in and UNO participation increased from 44 to 61 percent. Anyone who filled out the HRA name was placed into a prize drawing. The winners are:

Grand Prize - One Free Night at the Omaha Hilton:  Penny Harmoney

Runner-Up Prize - Two Free UNO Hockey Tickets:  Laura Krueger and M. Susan McWilliams

3rd Place Prize - Two Lift Tickets/Rentals to Mt. Crescent:  Ashley Johnson

4th Place Prize - Free Massage from Mav-Rec Massage:  Debra Wisneski

5th Place Prize - One Fire Extinguisher:  Adam Tyma

Campus breakdown for University of Nebraska responders:

2012
UNK – 72 percent
UNMC – 67 percent
UNO – 61 percent
UNL – 58 percent

2011
UNK – 64 percent
UNMC – 52 percent
UNL – 46 percent
UNO – 43 percent

In the News

Fielding, Student Quoted in Story about The Hobbit

Julien Fielding, lecturer of religious studies, and a religious studies student were quoted in a Dec. 30 article from the Omaha World-Herald about Christian themes in J.R.R. Tolkien's book "The Hobbit," a film adaptation of which opened in theaters on Dec. 14.

Center for Public Affairs Research Credited in Leadership Training Story

The UNO Center for Public Affairs Research was credited as one of several groups that provided leadership training for elected county officials in December. The mention came in a Dec. 26 issue of the Albion News and Dec. 30 issue of the Grand Island Independent.

Immigration Report Mentioned in Midlands Business Journal

A report that measures the economic impact of immigrants in Nebraska and Iowa was mentioned in a Dec. 28 issue of the Midlands Business Journal. The report was coordinated by Lourdes Gouveia of OLLAS, Jerry Diechert of the Center for Public Affairs Research, and Chris Decker from economics. 

UNO Partnership with Google Data Center in Midlands Business Journal

UNO was mentioned in an interview with Chris Russell, operations manager for the Council Bluffs-located Google data center. The story ran as part of the Midlands Business Journal's Dec. 28 issue.

Jan. 8 Website Forum

On Tuesday, Jan. 8, there will be two open forums with an overview of UNO's new website development (Phase I). The new website is scheduled to go live at the end of January.

Jeremy Ryan, vice president for digital services at Lipman Hearne in Chicago, will be on campus to share the overview and preview of Phase I of UNO's new website. This will be an opportunity to see the new homepage, offer any feedback and to ask any questions you may have:

Open Campus Forum I
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – MBSC Chancellor's Room

Open Campus Forum II
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. – MBSC Chancellor's Room

So, please reserve the time and come to one of these open forums!

UNO Theatre Holds Auditions for Spring 2013 Season

The UNO Department of Theatre is holding auditions for the Spring 2013 Season. UNO students, alumni and actors at large are invited to audition.

Upcoming Mainstage productions include: Caridad Svich's "The Archaeology of Dreams," an imaginative, highly theatrical reflection of icons of the 1960s, directed by Thais Flaitt Giannoccaro, and Steven Gooch's "Female Transport," a powerful and evocative journey of female prisoners on a ship bound for the penal colony of Australia, directed by Dr. Douglas Paterson.

Auditions will be held this Tuesday, Jan. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m., in 333 Weber Fine Arts Building. Two contrasting audition monologues are encouraged; however, monologues and scenes will be available for reading. Callbacks will be held this Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Performances of "The Archaeology of Dreams" run February 19-23, 28 and March 2. Performances of "Female Transport" run April 10-13, and 17-20.

For more information about auditions, contact the UNO Theatre Department Stage Management at alecr389@gmail.com. For more information about UNO's 2012-2013 Mainstage Season contact Sarah Fogarty Campbell at uno.theatre.publicity@gmail.com. Learn more about the UNO Theatre on the web by visiting http://www.unomaha.edu/unotheatre.

KANEKO-UNO Library Wednesday Words: The 2013 Series Begins!

The 2013 Wednesday Words Series begins the New Year with Nebraska Writer and UNO Professor Lisa Knopp this Wednesday, Jan. 9, from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday Words events, which are free and open to the public, are held at KANEKO's KANEKO-UNO Library, located at 1111 Jones Street, in Omaha's Old Market District.

Knopp is the author of five collections of essays, including most recently, What the River Carries: Encounters with the Mississippi, Missouri, and Platte (University of Missouri Press 2012). Her essays have appeared in numerous literary journals, including Shenandoah, Gettysburg Review, Missouri Review, Michigan Quarterly Review and Creative Nonfiction. Six of her essays have received "notable essay" citations in Best American Essays series. Knopp is an associate professor of English at UNO, where she teaches courses in creative nonfiction.

The Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) partnership with KANEKO and the UNO Library continues in 2013 with many new opportunities for the series, so check out the new schedule at this link (http://www.nebraskaartscouncil.org/news_resources/news/events/wednesday_words/wednesday_words_news.html).

Wednesday Words originated in the fall of 2009 as a special reading series featuring award-winning writers from the NAC's Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF) in Literature program. It has developed into an ongoing reading series recognizing accomplished writers from Nebraska, including NAC's IAF honorees. The reading series is brought to you by the NAC, KANEKO-UNO Library, The Backwaters Press and J.D. Hutton.

Fund for Undergraduate Scholarly Experiences Grants Available; Q&A Sessions Jan. 10 & 11

The Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) is pleased to announce the Fund for Undergraduate Scholarly Experiences (FUSE). FUSE grants support faculty-mentored undergraduate student research and creative activity. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013!

If students are interested in applying for FUSE funding, please attend one of two Q&A sessions scheduled in January:

- The first will take place this Thursday, Jan. 10, in the Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC) State Room from noon to 12:45 p.m.

- The second will be held this Friday, Jan. 11, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. in the MBSC Jenkins Room.

Popcorn and light refreshments will be served.

Grants of up to $2,500 per student are available to UNO undergraduates. Faculty need not be tenured or tenure-track to participate as mentors. ORCA encourages students and faculty from all disciplines to participate in this exciting opportunity to promote student involvement in research and creative activity at UNO.

For more information about FUSE, to review the FUSE guidelines or submit your proposal, visit the FUSE page.

Questions should be directed to unofuse@unomaha.edu.

Fidelity Representative Offers Spring Financial Counseling Sessions

Fidelity representative Jason Cronick will be in Omaha this spring semester for individual counseling sessions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on several days.

- Jan. 10 and 25

- Feb. 8 and 27

- March 15 and 28

To make an appointment with Cronick, call 1.800.642.7131.