Writing Center to Host Opening Reception Sept. 21

The UNO Writing Center will host a reception to mark its official opening Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.  UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck will give brief remarks at 1:15 p.m.

"The Writing Center is a campus wide resource for our students, faculty and staff," said Connie Eberhart, the center's director. The center has been open and working with students since the start of the fall semester. "We are here to offer much more than simple proofreading. The focus is on learning at all writing levels; we are not merely a remedial service. We want to help people improve the editing of their own work and help them become confident writers."

Students from any subject are welcome to drop in or make an appointment at the center, located in 150 Arts and Sciences Hall. Faculty and staff also can use the center for help with writing. Office hours run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Nine English graduate teaching assistants and an English department faculty member are on staff.

"The staff act in the role of consultant rather than tutor," Eberhart said. "Our consultants will talk with clients about their writing, provide feedback and coach them through any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to drafting to final editing."

The Writing Center itself is a flexible space that allows for one-on-one consultations but can be converted into a workshop or classroom setting easily. The center's computers are all laptops with wireless Internet connections, and the furniture is modular and mostly on wheels. 

Students can call up their work online in the center or bring in a paper copy. Appointments with the consultants should be made online through the center's Web site at http://www.unomaha.edu/writingcenter.  The phone number is 402.554.2946.

"We aim to be as flexible as our office is," Eberhart said. "A client can make appointments every week of the semester to go over his or her writing regularly with someone. Another client may just wish to drop in occasionally."

The consultants also offer different specific areas of knowledge, such as English as a second language and technical writing. One consultant can help with writing assignments in French, another with writing proposals and another with thesis projects.

Mike Skau, UNO English professor and former chair of the department, spearheaded the effort to create the Writing Center starting four years ago.

"Creating the center is a major first step," Eberhart said. "We challenge ourselves to help writers become more competent and confident. It's great and important work."

For more information, call 402.554.2946.

Writing Center to Offer Fall Workshops

The UNO Writing Center, located in 150 Arts and Sciences Hall, is offering a series of workshops on writing skills during the fall semester. Most sessions include two segments – a 20-minute presentation offering quick tips and a 20- to 30-minute optional session for practicing the concepts presented.  All students are invited to attend.  Reservations are not required.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Sept. 29

Session One: Hmmmmm? What is My Main Point?

Session Two: Developing Effective Thesis Statements

Time: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Presenters: Lisa Kellerby and Dani Bojanski

Wednesday, Oct. 19

Session One: Rein in Runaway Sentences!

Session Two: Comma Splices, Run on Sentences and Fragments

Time: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Presenters: Lynn Ramert and Carol Dillon

Monday, Oct. 31

Session One: Should I Place a Comma Here, or Not?

Session Two: Using Commas Correctly

Time: 1 to 2 p.m.

Presenters: Marni Valerio

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Session One: How Do I Document This Source Using MLA?

Session Two: Documentation

Time: 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.

Presenters: Dora Gerding and Sarah Mandl

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Session One: How Do I Document This Source Using APA Documentation?

Time: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Presenters: Carol Dillon and Amanda Linder

For more information, call 402.554.2946. 

Register Now for UNO Job Fair

Career Exploration and Outreach will host a job fair Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. The event will feature employers who are actively seeking candidates for open positions and internships. Professional interview attire is expected.

Students should pre-register to attend the fair by Friday, Sept. 23.  To register, students must have a profile on the CareerConnect system. Visit http://unoceo.unomaha.edu and click on the CareerConnect link to create a profile and register for the fair.

For more information about the job fair, CareerConnect and other services offered by Career Exploration and Outreach, call 402.554.3672, or stop by 211 Eppley Administration Building.

SOLP to Continue Food Drive During 2005-06 Academic Year

In order to continue to support Omaha families in need, Student Organizations and Leadership Programs (SOLP) is sponsoring a food drive throughout the 2005-06 academic year.

Donations can be dropped off at SOLP on the first floor of the Milo Bail Student Center.  The Omaha Food Bank will collect items weekly.

The following items are sought: breakfast cereals, hot or cold; canned fruits; canned pasta; canned meats (tuna, chicken and ham); peanut butter; jelly; Jello and pudding dry mixes; rice; dry beans; pasta/sauce; and condiments.

Donations of paper products also are needed, including toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, feminine hygiene products, other personal items (deodorant, shampoo and soap) and laundry supplies.

For more information, call Barb Treadway-Janousek at 402.554.2711.

ITS Launches Student Web Design Contest

Attention all Web designers and Web design wannabes – Information Technology Services (ITS) is sponsoring a Web page design contest for students.

Interested students are asked to create a Web page that would function as a "one stop online shop" for technology services at UNO.  The entry deadline is Saturday, Oct. 1, and the prize for the best design is an iPod Shuffle.  

"ITS is always looking for student workers who have good Web development skills," said Bret Blackman, director of administrative information services in ITS.

For more information, visit the Web at http://www.unomaha.edu/contest.php.

UNO Cares: Hurricane Relief Efforts Under Way

Many sectors of the UNO community are helping with various aspects of the relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  A partial listing of these efforts is printed below.  Those interested in volunteering for a specific effort should get in touch with the appropriate contact person.

Project: Collecting for the Red Cross

Contact: Lizabet Arellano,  402.614.5067 or 402.554.2711

The UNO section of the National Council of Negro Women and the Pan African Student Organization will be soliciting donations for the Red Cross on the Henningson Memorial Plaza during the next several weeks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to work the collection buckets on the plaza.  Interested groups or individuals can sign up for one-hour time slots in the Pan African Student Organization cubicle, located on the first floor of the Milo Bail Student Center in Student Organizations and Leadership Programs.

For more information, contact Lizabet Arellano at 402.614.5067 or 402.554.2711.

This Week's Hispanic Heritage Month Events

September is Hispanic Heritage Month at UNO.  This week's schedule of activities is listed below.

Wednesday, Sept. 21

Pathways to Harmony

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom

The goal of this program is to nurture a harmonious university community characterized by awareness, integrity, cooperation and mutual respect through open and constructive dialogue among all people.  Lunch will be provided. 

Mixer

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Milo Bail Student Center Fireplace Lounge (first floor)

The Student Programming Organization is hosting a mixer with games, snacks and fun.

For more information, call 402.554.2711.

Allen to Speak at Breakfast Forum on Bias in the Media Sept. 23

The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) of the Midlands will host "Bias in the Media" Friday, Sept. 23.  This breakfast forum, part of the NCCJ A.M. Series, will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Park Plaza Regency Lodge, 909 South 107th Ave.

The program will begin with an overview of the issue presented by Chris Allen, associate professor in the UNO School of Communication.  A panel discussion will follow featuring Rose Ann Shannon, KETV-Channel 7 news director; Alan Beckner, KPTM-Fox 42 news director; Amy Adams, WOWT assistant news director; and Ben Gray, host of KETV's "Kaleidoscope."

Tickets for the NCCJ A.M. Series are $15 per person in advance.  Registration and the breakfast buffet begin at 7 a.m.  To register, call 402.557.2006, or send an e-mail to patricia.svajgl@ops.org.

Jewish Literature Discussion Series Begins Sept. 25

University Library is one of 200 libraries nationwide to receive a grant to host "Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination," a free six-part reading and discussion series set for this fall at UNO.

The series, developed by Nextbook and the American Library Association, will explore Jewish literature and culture through scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books that share the theme "Between Two Worlds: Stories of Estrangement and Homecoming."

Leonard Greenspoon, the Klutznick Chair of Jewish Civilization at Creighton University, will lead a discussion of the titles at each session.

The series will kick off Sunday, Sept. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Castle of Perseverance west of University Library. The castle, a sculpture/amphitheater, was designed by internationally renowned sculptor Andrew Leicester.

The klezmer band Tuffy's Klezmorim will perform at the event. Individuals will be able to tour the library and check out or purchase copies of the books that will be used in the series.

Local support for the series is provided by a grant from the Nebraska Humanities Council and several community partners, including The Kripke Jewish Federation Library and the Omaha Public Library System.

The first discussion in the series will be held Sunday, Oct. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. It will explore "Lost in Translation" by Eva Hoffman. Additional discussions on different titles will be held Sundays from 4 to 6 p.m. every two weeks at University Library, and free parking is available. The schedule is listed below.

Oct. 16

"Mr. Sammler's Planet" by Saul Bellow

Oct. 30

"Out of Egypt" by André Acimen

Nov. 13

"The Centaur in the Garden" by Moacyr Scliar

Nov. 27 or Dec. 4 (TBD)

"Kaaterskill Falls" by Allegra Goodman

For more information, contact Marvel Maring at 402.554.2992 or mmaring@mail.unomaha.edu, or visit the Web at http://library.unomaha.eduhttp://library.unomaha.edu.

Maverick Watch

Support your Mavericks by attending their home events!  Students are admitted free to all home athletic games with a valid UNO ID, including hockey.

At home this week...

Sunday, Sept. 25

Soccer vs. Minnesota-Duluth

Ak-Sar-Ben Field

1 p.m.

For more information about UNO Athletics, visit the Web at http://gomavs.unomaha.edu/.

Health Screenings Sept. 20, 22

The Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Exercise Physiology Lab will offer two health screenings this semester. UNO students are invited to participate. The events and dates are as follows:

Free Blood Pressure Screening

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 20

Time: 8 a.m. to noon

Where: HPER Building

Cost: Free

No appointment necessary.

Cholesterol Screening

Date: Thursday, Sept. 22

Time: 7 to 11 a.m.

Where: 103 HPER Building (Exercise Physiology Lab)

Cost: $15

This screening requires a 12-hour fasting period. To schedule an appointment, call 402.554.3221.

Mav Kids Program to Host "Kiss Summer Goodbye" Sept. 23

The UNO Mav Kids Program will host "Kiss Summer Goodbye" Friday, Sept. 23. The event, which is open to children age five to 12, will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Building.

Activities will include swimming, crafts, games, a movie and snacks. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $5 for UNO students and Campus Recreation activity cardholders, and $8 for the general public.

For more information, contact Campus Recreation at 402.554.2539.

Department of Theatre to Screen "Stage Beauty" Sept. 30

In conjunction with its fall production of Jeffrey Hatcher's "SMASH," the UNO Department of Theatre will screen "Stage Beauty" Friday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. in Eppley Auditorium. The event is free and open to interested UNO students, staff, faculty and Theatre Arts Guild members.

The film is based on Hatcher's original play titled "Compleat Female Stage Beauty."

Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is the "most beautiful woman on the London stage" until the king renounces the royal edict that only men can portray women. Enter Maria (Claire Danes), Ned's dresser, who becomes an instant star, leaving Ned to suppress his ardent feminine traits and make a man of himself.

The UNO Department of Theatre's fall production of "SMASH" is set for Oct. 6-8 and 12-15.

For more information, contact Ron Zank at 402.554.2406.