SPO to Host Fine Arts Exposition Jan. 24

The Student Programming Organization (SPO) will host the first annual Fine Arts Exposition Tuesday, Jan. 24, at UNO. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom and Nebraska Room.  It is free and open to the public.

"This will be a large-scale event for the entire campus and the Omaha area," said Eric Hanson, president of the collegiate chapter of the Music Education National Conference (MENC) and SPO member. "At the expo, a stage will be set up for continuous performances by groups and individuals from the theatre, music and UNO Writers Workshop departments. Art will be displayed around the venue, and student performances will demonstrate what our campus has to offer."

There also will be a large number of information booths set up to educate UNO and its community about the fine arts in the metro area. Organizations such as the Omaha Symphony, the Omaha Children's Museum, Johnston Photography and the Omaha Community Playhouse will be present, as well as UNO groups like MENC, the UNO Art Gallery and The Gateway.

For more information, contact Hanson at emhanson@mail.unomaha.edu.

Grand Opening for The Speech Center Jan. 25

UNO and the School of Communication will celebrate the grand opening of its newest resource, The Speech Center, Wednesday, Jan. 25. The open house will take place in 183 Arts and Sciences Hall (ASH) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck will deliver welcoming remarks. Karen Dwyer, School of Communication basic speech course director, and Jennifer Dalbey, UNO Speech Center coordinator, will introduce participants to the center and the services it offers to students, faculty and staff across all disciplines.

For more information, contact Dalbey at 554.3201 or Dr. Dwyer at 554.2253.

"Color Me Human" Diversity Week Begins Jan. 30

Students, faculty and staff at UNO will have an opportunity to learn about cultures other than their own Jan. 30-Feb. 3 during "Color Me Human" Diversity Week.

The fourth annual event, coordinated by the American Multicultural Student Agency (AMS), will feature a variety of presentations, performances and a luncheon.

The public is invited to attend the events, which will be held on the UNO campus. All activities are free, with the exception of the luncheon. The schedule is listed below.

Monday, Jan. 30

Cultural Organizations and Departments Fair 

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC) Nebraska Room and Ballroom

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Poetry Open Mic 

Featuring SPOWkun Word and NCNW

Noon to 1 p.m.

MBSC Nebraska Room

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Barbee Cain

Henna Art Demonstration  

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MBSC Nebraska Room

Thursday, Feb. 2

Jesus "Chuy" Negrete, Latino Musician 

Noon to 1 p.m.

MBSC Nebraska Room 

This event is co-sponsored by the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies at UNO.

Friday, Feb. 3

Color Me Human Luncheon 

Noon to 1:15 p.m.

MBSC Ballroom  

This event will feature a multi-ethnic luncheon and a performance of "Dr. King's Dream" by Mixedblood Theater. Tickets are available in the MBSC Business Office, located on the second floor of the MBSC. They are $3 for UNO students, $5 for faculty and staff, and $7 for the general public.

AMS is a Student Government agency. For more information, contact Erin Cron, AMS adviser, at 554.2711.

UNO Writing Center Offers Online Consultation Service

The UNO Writing Center is reaching out to students, faculty and staff this semester with a new online service two nights a week.

Amanda Linder – a UNO Department of English teaching assistant, an experienced composition instructor and a consultant in the UNO Writing Center – has developed the new service and will offer the consultations, said Connie Eberhart, the center's director.  

The new service is being offered Sundays and Thursdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Online clients can access the service at http://www.unomaha.edu/writingcenter and follow the instructions provided. Consultations will operate through MSNMessenger, a free program that users may download.

Clients will be able to ask a quick question or submit a document online for real-time interaction with the consultant. Online clients will be able to discuss many of the same writing concerns as they would in a face-to-face consultation, such as thesis, focus, organization and content. 

"However, online sessions are limited to 15 minutes, a constraint that will somewhat limit the number and complexity of writing issues that can be discussed. The online consultant will not simply proofread the document and return it to the client – this is not a proofreading service," Eberhart said. "For more extensive work, the client should visit the UNO Writing Center in 150 Arts and Science Hall for a 30-minute or hour session."

If the consultant is busy with another client when users contact her, they will be notified of the approximate waiting time.

"Hopefully, clients who are reluctant to visit the UNO Writing Center for a face-to-face meeting will feel comfortable seeking help online. Plus, many of our clients will appreciate the convenient access," Eberhart said. "We encourage anyone in the campus community to try our new online service."

For more information, contact the center at 554.3322, 554.2946 or http://www.unomaha.edu/writingcenter.

Raffle to Benefit Service and Cultural Exchange to Winnebago

Students from Catholic Campus Ministry at UNO will be selling raffle tickets for a Valentine's Day package this week in the Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC). The package includes a Valentine's dinner at Vivace in downtown Omaha and a one-hour carriage ride through the Old Market on Valentine's Day.

Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Tables will be set up on the first floor of the MBSC on the following dates:

Tuesday, Jan. 24

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 26

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Proceeds from ticket sales will help defray the cost of a spring service and cultural exchange to the Winnebago Indian Reservation, which is located in the northern half of Thurston County in northeastern Nebraska. Six to 10 students will be spending their spring break on the reservation.

For more information, call Katie Ranniger at 659.2115.

Entries Sought for Religious Studies Student Essay Competition

Religious Studies at UNO is sponsoring a student essay competition this semester.

The competition is open to all UNO undergraduate students.  Essays should be on a topic in religious studies.  They should be no more than 2,700 words and must be typed (double spaced).  Entries are due in the UNO Religious Studies Office, 205 Arts and Sciences Hall, by April 3 before 5 p.m.

First prize is $500, second prize is $300 and third prize is $100.  The three winning essays will be read by their authors at a special religious studies colloquium set for April 20.

For more information, stop by 205 Arts and Sciences Hall, or visit the Web at http://www.unomaha.edu/religion.

Book Drive Under Way for Troops In Iraq

University Library, in partnership with the local service club Cosmopolitan International, is collecting books, CDs and DVDs to be sent to U.S. troops in Iraq. 

"Books are in short supply there, and the few available are passed around to be read over and over," said Linda Riviera, staff secretary III with University Library. "The library staff has already donated more than 50 items from their personal collections to kick off the book drive."

Donations are being accepted at the library's administrative office or inside the Sapp Fieldhouse Atrium.

Members of Cosmopolitan International will pick up the books, and Offutt Air Force Base will ship the donated items to Iraq. For more information, contact Riviera at 554.2640 or lriviera@mail.unomaha.edu.

Nominations Sought for CCSW Scholarship Award

The Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women (CCSW) is currently accepting applications for the 2005-06 undergraduate scholarship award.

Applicants must:

- Be currently enrolled undergraduate students who will graduate after fall 2006;

- Have made a significant contribution toward addressing gender issues or improving the status of women in their academic work or activities; and/or

- Be academically excellent in fields where women are underrepresented.

The application deadline is Monday, Feb. 20. Applications will be evaluated on how well the applicants complete the application process.

The recipient of the award will receive a $500 scholarship and will be honored at the March 9 CCSW Awards Luncheon. Scholarships may impact financial aid packages. For information on this issue, call 554.2327.

Scholarship applications are available online at http://www.unomaha.edu/ccsw/application.htm. For more information, contact Phyllis Adcock at 554.3484 or padcock@mail.unomaha.edu.

The Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women serves as an advisory council to the chancellor and other university administrators on issues that relate to women faculty, staff and students. The commission's goal is to provide a forum for women at UNO in conjunction with the organization's core themes of A, B, C – Awareness of women's issues, Balance in women's lives, and the Community and women's roles.

January Spotlight on Student Employment

Student Employment Services has selected the student employees from the UNO Undergraduate Admissions Department as the January Spotlight on Student Employment recipients.

"The best thing about my student workers is their great people skills, as well as getting the jobs assigned to them done. They are very dedicated and reliable," said Janette Jones, admissions processing superviser.

The UNO students are:

- Carol Casper, accounting major; Albion, Neb.;

- Benjamin Busboom, biology major; Columbus, Neb.; and

- Kristen Burkhalter, pre-business major; Omaha, Neb.

"The best thing about my job on campus is the atmosphere of the office and our ability to accommodate my fluctuating school schedule when needed," Burkhalter said.

Human Resources is featuring student employees from a new department each month through April. Featured departments are entered in a drawing for an end-of-the-year party.

Departments also are featured on the Human Resources Student Employment Job Board on the first floor of the Eppley Administration Building. For more information about the program, contact Emily Muckerheide at emuckerheide@mail.unomaha.edu.

Students seeking work experience during school can gain assistance through Student Employment Services (SES), located in Human Resources, 205 Eppley Administration Building. On-campus student worker, work-study and graduate assistant positions are posted on the SES Job Board on the first floor of the Eppley Administration Building and online at http://careers.unomaha.edu.

Homestay Families Sought for ILUNO Students

The Intensive Language Program at UNO (ILUNO) is seeking homestay families for new Saudi students arriving this month and in February.

The government of Saudi Arabia has granted several thousand scholarships for study abroad. As a result, more than 30 students may pursue undergraduate studies at UNO. Students will begin by studying English as a second language through ILUNO for their first months.

Host families are currently sought for the length of their visit. Options also exist for hosting one or two women for either a few days or one to six months.

To volunteer, contact Lori Arias, Jennifer Stahl or Steve Hoiberg at 554.2293.

Nominations Sought for Faculty Service-Learning Award

Each year, the Service-Learning Academy recognizes one UNO faculty member who exemplifies the effective practice of service-learning in his or her work. To be nominated, a faculty member must:

- Have demonstrated the ability to develop and teach an effective service-learning course;  

- Have been supportive of service-learning at UNO (through attendance at faculty/student presentations, Teaching Circles and by mentoring faculty/students);

- Have demonstrated the capability of developing reciprocal, collaborative relations with community partners and have a thorough understanding and appreciation of community agency issues (professionalism and cultural competency); and

- Hold a full- or part-time teaching appointment with UNO.

The award will be presented at the Faculty Honors Convocation Thursday, April 6, at 7 a.m.

Nomination forms must be delivered to the Service-Learning Academy no later than Wednesday, Feb. 1. You may download a nomination form from the Web at http://avalon.unomaha.edu/servicelearning/. For more information, call Carlynn Hartman-Kurtz at 554.2712. 

Nominations Sought for Student Service-Learning Award

Each year, the Service-Learning Academy recognizes one UNO student who has gone above and beyond the required community engagement in the context of a service-learning class. To be nominated, a student must:

- Have demonstrated and upheld, in an outstanding way, the key principles of effective academic service-learning;

- Have established and maintained a reciprocal relationship with a community partner;

- Have provided a useful and meaningful community service; and

- Have mastered the course's academic objectives as related to the service performed. 

The award will be presented at the Student Honors Convocation Friday, April 7, at 3 p.m.

Nomination forms must be delivered to the Service-Learning Academy no later than Wednesday, Feb. 1. You may download a nomination form from the Web at http://avalon.unomaha.edu/servicelearning/. For more information, call Carlynn Hartman-Kurtz at 554.2712.

Maverick Watch

Go Mavs! Support your Mavericks by attending their home events.

Students are admitted free to all home athletic games with a valid UNO ID and game-day ticket. The spouses, significant others and children of students also are admitted free. At the game, students must present a valid UNO ID to receive a ticket. Tickets do not have to be ordered in advance. Tickets will be available on the day of the game at each home event. For more information, call 554.MAVS (6287).

At home this week…

Thursday, Jan. 26

- Women's basketball vs. St. Cloud State

Sapp Fieldhouse

6 p.m.

- Men's basketball vs. St. Cloud State

Sapp Fieldhouse

8 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 27

- Swimming & Diving vs. Iowa State and Northern Colorado

Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Building Pool

6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28

- Swimming & Diving vs. Northern Iowa and Northern Colorado

HPER Building Pool

9 a.m.

- Women's basketball vs. Grand Canyon

Sapp Fieldhouse

6 p.m.

- Alumni Tennis Match

Hanscom Park, 3200 Ed Creighton Ave.

7 p.m.

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

Book Arts Exhibition at Cathedral Cultural Center

The beauty of books, both ancient and contemporary, is the subject of an exhibition on display through March 3 at the St. Cecilia Cathedral Cultural Center.

"The Beauty of the Book" is sponsored by the Nebraska Book Arts Center and the Joslyn Art Museum. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, features 80 artifacts that span more than 500 years. It includes 15th century calligraphy on vellum and hand-printed incunabula of the same period; sacred texts on parchment, palm leaves or refined papers; and contemporary artist's books that may continue the literary fine press tradition or make vital new sculptural statements through the techniques of classical bookbinding, said Bonnie O'Connell, director of the Nebraska Book Arts Center and associate professor of art and art history at UNO.

O'Connell served as curator and coordinated the exhibition with Brother William Woeger, executive director of the Cathedral Arts Center. Student interns Frances Osugi and Tammi Owens assisted with the exhibition. Both are enrolled in Artists, Communities and Museums: Service Learning and the Visual Arts, a course developed and taught by Caroline Simpson, assistant professor of art and art history at UNO. 

"The Beauty of the Book" is being held in conjunction with "Illuminating The Word; The Saint John's Bible," which runs through April 16 at the Joslyn Art Museum.

The St. Cecilia Cathedral Cultural Center is located at 701 N. 40th St. behind the cathedral with access on Webster Street. The exhibition will be open according to the following schedule:

Tuesday through Friday

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday

Noon to 4 p.m.

For more information about the exhibition, contact O'Connell at 554.2787.

For more information about the Nebraska Book Arts Center, visit the Web at http://www.unomaha.edu/~nbac/home.html.

UNO Art Gallery Launches New Web Site

Art offerings on campus have a new online showcase. The UNO Art Gallery has kicked off 2006 with the launch of a new Web site at http://www.unoartgallery.org.

The revamped site features information on the gallery's current exhibition, along with general information about the gallery, upcoming exhibitions, opportunities for support, and the UNO Department of Art and Art History.

"The UNO Art Gallery is a vital cultural resource committed to serving the campus, and the residents of Omaha and surrounding communities," said Deborah-Eve Lombard, the gallery's director. "Our new Web site accurately reflects our mission. We're an educational forum for the study, contemplation and critical analysis of works of art."

The launch of the new gallery site is stage one of a five-part revamping of the UNO Department of Art and Art History's online presence and resources, said David Helm, its department chair. The department will unveil its revised site Feb. 1, followed by the launch of a revised site for the award-winning UNO Center for Innovation in Arts Education. In addition, two new sites – an online student gallery and a site featuring the work of alumni from the UNO Department of Art and Art History – are in development.

"Our new online presence will serve to better inform the local and global community of the excellence of our department and affiliated programs, as well as the caliber of our faculty, students and alumni," Helm said.

The gallery's current exhibition, "Saving Faces: Art and Medicine," runs through Feb. 24.

For more information about the gallery, contact Lombard at 554.2796 or dlombard@mail.unomaha.edu.

For questions about the UNO Department of Art and Art History Web sites, contact Jody Boyer at jlboyer@mail.unomaha.edu.

Masters and Music Series Continues Jan. 29

The Masters and Music series at UNO continues Sunday, Jan. 29, with a tribute to the late Kent Bellows.

The event, "Capturing the Human Spirit in Art," will begin at 5 p.m. in the UNO Art Gallery. Tickets are $15 per person, and all proceeds benefit the Friends of Art Scholarship Fund.

Nationally recognized Nebraska artists Keith Jacobshagen, Paul Otero and Stephen Cornelius Roberts will reflect on the life and work of Bellows, one of America's greatest masters of figurative drawing, in a panel discussion. Audrey Kauders, director of the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, will serve as the moderator.

Pete Madsen, coordinator of jazz studies at UNO, will explore the strength and drive of the personal, individual character of jazz as it creates its own life force.

"The power of the human spirit is alive through the work of these extraordinary artists," said Shari Hofschire, coordinator of the series.

Masters and Music is a series blending artistic imagery and musical composition. It is sponsored by Friends of Art, a support group for the UNO Department of Art and Art History. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Hofschire at 554.2402.