Homecoming 2006 Begins Oct. 9

The Student Programming Organization (SPO) is rolling out the red carpet for a movie-themed homecoming week of events Monday through Saturday, Oct. 9-14, at UNO. This year's theme is "Homecoming 2006: The Reel Life!" All events are free.

The weeklong schedule of events is listed below.

Monday, Oct. 9
- Hypnotist Jim Wand
11:30 a.m.
Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC) Ballroom

Tuesday, Oct. 10
- Edmonds Comedy Variety Game Show featuring comedian Grant Edmonds
Noon
MBSC Nebraska Room

Wednesday, Oct. 11
- Voting for Homecoming Royalty
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MBSC south doors

- "Star Wars" Spirit Cup Night
5:30 p.m.
UNO Pep Bowl (grassy area directly south of the Eppley Administration Building)

Thursday, Oct. 12
- Voting for Homecoming Royalty
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MBSC south doors

- Bloody Mary, movie makeup artist
Noon
MBSC Nebraska Room

Friday, Oct. 13
- Voting for Homecoming Royalty
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MBSC south doors

- Scary Movie Night
9 p.m.
William H. and Dorothy Thompson Alumni Center Bootstrapper Hall
Co-sponsored by International Student Services

Saturday, Oct. 14
Homecoming Football Game vs. North Dakota
(Homecoming royalty will be crowned at halftime, and Spirit Cup winners will be announced.)
1 p.m.
Caniglia Field

For more information, contact Erin Cron at ecron@mail.unomaha.edu.

UNO Television Gubernatorial Debate Rescheduled

Who will be sitting in the Nebraska Governor's chair in January 2007?

Voters will gain insight to help them make their decision about who to vote for in the November election as gubernatorial candidates Gov. Dave Heineman, R-Neb.; David Hahn, D-Neb.; and Nebraska Party candidate Barry Richards face off Monday, Oct. 9, in a live debate broadcast across the state.

Sponsored by Omaha radio station KKAR (1290 AM), the hour-long debate will be broadcast from the studios of UNO Television at 7 p.m. on NET1 and KKAR. NET Radio will broadcast the debate in its entirety beginning at 7:30 p.m.

"We're excited about this broadcast from the UNO Television studio. This will be a great opportunity for our student crew to be a part of this campaign's only live, statewide broadcast debate," said Jim Adams, assistant general manager at UNO Television.

The debate will also air on NET2 (Cox 16) at the following times:

- Thursday, Oct. 12
11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

- Saturday, Oct. 14
6 p.m.

- Sunday, Oct. 15
2 p.m.

- Monday, Oct. 16
8 p.m.

The debate can also be seen live via the Internet at http://www.unotv.unomaha.edu and will be archived online at http://www.netNebraska.org.

The debate on NET Television is being broadcast in partnership with KKAR and is produced by UNO Television.

Free UNO Hockey Parking and Shuttle Service Available at inPlay

New this hockey season, free parking will be available for all home UNO hockey games at inPlay, located downtown at 15th and Cuming St.

inPlay is offering free parking and shuttle service from its parking lot to the Qwest Center Omaha for all UNO home hockey games, beginning with the Tuesday, Oct. 10, UNO vs. Manitoba game. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

Shuttle service is available for all UNO hockey fans. A shuttle ticket is required to receive free transportation. Tickets will be available for fans at the counter inside inPlay.

inPlay, the ultimate entertainment complex, offers interactive games, an indoor rock climbing wall and inZone Sports Bar with pool, darts and a full menu.

For more information, contact Bob Flannery, assistant director of athletic marketing, at rflannery@mail.unomaha.edu.

ITS Nerd Social to Host NUCIA Senior Research Fellow Oct. 9

Are you a "nerd"? Do you enjoy "nerdy" things? If so, join the Nerd Social at its next monthly event set for Monday, Oct. 9. 

This month's presenter will be Nebraska University Consortium on Information Assurance (NUCIA) Senior Research Fellow Matt Payne. His Oct. 9 talk will focus on "Hands-on Intro to OVAL and XCCDF using FISMAScout." The discussion will begin at 2 p.m. in the Welcome Center Presentation Room, 111 Eppley Administration Building. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

Topics will be discussed monthly on various "nerdy" things, such as Groovy Language, Adobe Premier, Clickers, Using PHP in a Servlet Container and many others. 

Sponsored by Information Technology Services, the Nerd Social is Community of Practice-organized (CoP, http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/lss.shtml) around technology issues at UNO for the purpose of sharing and learning across the various technology-related disciplines that span the campus.

For more information on presenting, contact Matt Morton at 554.2283 or mmorton@mail.unomaha.edu. Additional information about the Nerd Social can be found on the Web at https://webapps.unomaha.edu/wiki/display/NRD/Home, or use the RSS feed (https://webapps.unomaha.edu/wiki/spaces/blogrss.action?key=NRD).

"Greening Our Campus - Greening Our Minds" Event Oct. 10

How can individuals make the campus and community more sustainable?  All faculty, staff and students are invited to ask questions such as this and share ideas at a forum titled "Exploring Sustainability - The Next Step" Tuesday, Oct. 10, at UNO. The forum will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Dodge Room.

At the event, survey results will be discussed, and sector action groups will be formed in the following areas:
- Energy;
- Transportation;
- Water use;
- Green building (and smart growth);
- Landscape and maintenance;
- Water use;
- Solid and hazardous waste and recycling;
- Food services; and
- Other areas participants are interested in.

Those planning to attend are asked to fill out a five-minute survey. The survey, which is optional, is available online at http://www.p2ric.org/UNOgreen.

For more information, contact Patrick Wheeler at 554.3921

Fall Convocation Set for Oct. 11

Mark your calendars for the 2006 UNO Fall Convocation. The event will be held Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. in the Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.

Interim UNO Chancellor John Christensen will deliver his state-of-the-university address.  Dr. Christensen's address is titled "A Snapshot in Time: The State of the University, October 2006." All faculty, staff and students are invited to attend.

The University Choir and University Wind Ensemble are scheduled to perform at the convocation. Academic regalia will not be required or practiced as part of this year's convocation event.

The convocation will be immediately followed by a dedication ceremony at University Library at 11 a.m. To culminate the occasion, a reception will be held at the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom following the library event.

Library Dedication Events Set for Oct. 11-13

UNO will celebrate the expansion and renovation of its library Oct. 11-13 with a variety of events, including a dedication and naming program.

"Students, faculty and staff have all had positive, wonderful things to say," said Steve Shorb, dean of University Library.  "This doesn't just update a facility.  This reinvents how our library looks, feels and works.  Our doors are open to all on campus and the surrounding community, and now everything looks and feels tremendously welcoming."

Ground was broken Aug. 8, 2005, on the three-story Dr. Guinter Kahn Addition on the library's north side.  The facility expanded by 31,000 square feet, and renovation work has included improved lighting, technology support, group studies, a student lounge, improved instructional spaces, consolidated services and updated furnishings.  The work was largely completed by the start of the current semester.  

The library now houses a café, which has become a popular meeting and break spot.  "People are just more productive when they can have a cup of coffee and a place to put their feet up," Shorb said.

The total cost of the expansion is $6.9 million. Among the donors for the project, The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Foundation and Dr. Guinter Kahn, a 1954 graduate of UNO, have made lead gifts to the University of Nebraska Foundation. While fundraising for the addition is complete, the NU Foundation continues to seek private gifts for ongoing support of the library.

The dedication and naming program is set for Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m., immediately following the annual UNO Fall Convocation.  Faculty, staff and students, other University of Nebraska personnel and a variety of metropolitan area dignitaries are expected to attend.  The library will be renamed the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library.

"The Criss Foundation and Dr. Kahn and his family have been wonderfully supportive and generous," Shorb said.  "Placing their names so prominently on our campus is an honor."

Jake Strasheim - senior vice president at US Bank, which serves as a corporate trustee of The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Foundation - said the foundation's interest in supporting the library reflects the Criss' commitment to advancing education during their lifetimes and beyond.

"Dr. and Mrs. Criss believed libraries facilitate the discovery of new knowledge and nurture improved individual performance, growth and excellence," Strasheim said. "The foundation saw this project not only as an opportunity to further the Criss' support of education, but as a means to benefit the university community and people of Omaha, as well."

Dr. Kahn made his gift on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his graduation from UNO - then known as Omaha University.

"The library project gave me the opportunity to support my alma mater and recognize the outstanding education I received as I began pursuing a career in medicine," Dr. Kahn said. "It also allowed me to invest in the advancement of knowledge and the library as an information center. I have the highest regard for scholarship and hope the outcomes realized through the expansion of the UNO library help encourage a similar appreciation among today's students."  

Also on Oct. 11, an exhibition of printing and bookmaking from the Yellow Barn Press will officially open in the library at 7 p.m.

Additional events are listed below:

Thursday, Oct. 12
All Day
"Tech and Tour Day"
- Free tours will be held to highlight the library's new Satellite Communications for Learning (SCOLA) Language Learning Center and video feed from the Hubble Space Telescope.  SCOLA is a non-profit educational organization that receives and re-transmits television programming from around the world in more than 30 native languages.  Four large flat screens will stream in SCOLA programming to the library.  Audio for the shows will be routed through wireless FM headphones.  The NASA video feed covers a variety of earth and space science topics and is also displayed on a large LCD monitor.

-University archival displays and items from the library's Afghanistan collection will be displayed on the main level.

2 p.m.
The UNO Library Friends will present $25,000 for the library's juvenile collection.  Children from the UNO Child Care Center will be in attendance.

Friday, Oct. 13
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
"Student Appreciation Day Lunch"
A free lunch will be available to all UNO students.

1 p.m.
Members of the Golden Circle Alumni Group (class of 1956) will tour the library.

3 to 6 p.m.
Any member of the community can sign up for a Library Friends membership at no-cost.  The usual cost is $25 per individual.  Not only do UNO Library Friends receive expanded check-out privileges, but they also may use interlibrary loan.

For more information, call 554.3740.

Oct. 11 Parking Restrictions Notice

On Wednesday, Oct.11, parking lots E and M will be reserved for the library dedication. The lots will be closed before 6 a.m. and will not re-open until after 11:30 a.m.

Faculty and staff who usually park in lots E and M before 11:30 a.m. will need to find other available faculty/staff parking. The Crossroads Mall and south campus shuttle services are options, as is the middle level of the parking structure. A Campus Security officer will also be available to let valid faculty/staff and graduate teaching assistant permit holders into lot U, if necessary.

For more information, contact Campus Security at 554.2648.

UNO Theatre Season Continues Oct. 11 with "Man of La Mancha" 

The UNO Department of Theatre season continues Wednesday, Oct. 11, with the beloved Broadway musical "Man of La Mancha" by Dale Wasserman, with lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh.

D. Scott Glasser, assistant professor of theatre in the UNO College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media (CCFAM), will direct the UNO production. All performances will be held at the UNO Theater in the Weber Fine Arts Building. The theatre opens at 7 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. curtain for all evening performances.

Performances will run Oct. 12-14, with a special matinee showing Saturday, Oct. 14, at 3 p.m. The Wednesday, Oct. 11, performance will be ASL-interpreted, and an interactive talk-back session with the director, designers and cast will follow the Friday, Oct. 13, show.

"Man of La Mancha" tells the story of the classic novel Don Quixote as a play within a play, performed by author Miguel de Cervantes and other prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. The production is the story of a knight's romantic and noble journey as he strives to right all wrongs and win the heart of a good woman while dueling windmills along the way. "Man of La Mancha" is the classic comic tragedy of mankind's struggle to defeat all odds to dream impossible dreams.

Ticket prices are $15 for general admission, and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office (located on the first floor of the Weber Fine Arts Building), by e-mail at unoboxoffice@mail.unomaha.edu or by phone at 554.2335. For more information, contact Ron Zank, UNO Department of Theatre Department secretary, at 554.2406.

Pulses Series: Library to Host Oct. 13 Student Appreciation Day

As a student, do you know what services your library has to offer? The following is the fifth in a series of informational articles designed to introduce students to services and activities at University Library. Library staff is providing the Pulses articles. The topic of this week's article highlights the library's upcoming Student Appreciation Day event.

Student Appreciation Day @ Your Library
Student Appreciation Day at the library will be held Friday, Oct. 13, at UNO. Come celebrate the opening of the new Dr. Guinter Kahn Addition at the library, and have a free hot dog and soda at the new library café. 

"We really enjoy our students…they're the real reason we're here, and they make our library a vital part of campus," said University Library Dean Steve Shorb. "We're excited about our new space and our new café; it all is part of increasing our services to our students."

Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the café. Student I.D. will be required.

KU Professor to Present Low Back Pain Lecture Oct. 13

Sara Wilson, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Kansas, will present "Sense and Stability in the Lumbar Spine: An engineer's perspective on low back pain" Friday, Oct. 13, at UNO. 

Her talk will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 200 of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Building. The event, hosted by the HPER Biomechanics Laboratory, is free and open to the public. All interested members of the campus community are invited to attend.

Dr. Wilson teaches in the areas of biomechanical systems and the dynamics of control systems. She leads the Human Motion Control Laboratory within the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Kansas. She currently has received grants from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Whitaker Foundation.

Her Oct. 13 presentation will focus on how humans control and stabilize motion, and the dynamic behavior of the human body in regard to low back pain.

"One example of her research focuses on how jobs which have a lot of vibration, such as truck driving, can alter the body's control system sensors," said Lisa Holst, project assistant for the HPER Biomechanics Laboratory. "If the body's sense of where the back is at - in relation to objects around it - is altered, that person becomes prone to low back pain. Solutions to this problem are the subject of some of Dr. Wilson's research."

For more information, contact Holst at 554.3075 or lholst@mail.unomaha.edu.

New Maverick Mojo Campaign and Tailgate Event

For many, homecoming is a big deal at UNO. This year's homecoming, set for Saturday, Oct. 14, will - in part - be a showcase designed especially for high school students and their parents who are making higher education decisions.

The UNO Homecoming Open House will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon and will feature UNO campus tours, chats with professors and experts from a variety of departments, a question-and-answer session with current UNO students and tours of campus housing. A free breakfast and lunch will be provided. Parents and students can also take part in sessions on financial aid and the admission process.

The open house will also feature information about "Maverick Mojo," a new campaign at UNO. "‘Maverick Mojo' was created to connect with high school students in the college selection process," said David Cicotello, director of UNO Recruitment Services. "But we believe it also resonates with current UNO students, alumni and the entire community of Maverick supporters." 

While the open house specifically addresses high school students and their parents, additional Maverick Mojo offerings open to prospective students and the public will include a live radio remote with Channel 94.1, free activities and food set up in a large tent in the UNO Pep Bowl near Caniglia Stadium. Free mechanical bull rides will also be available.

Mojo activities will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the UNO vs. North Dakota football game starts at 1 p.m.  UNO Interim Chancellor John Christensen will attend the tailgate event at about 12:30 p.m.

"It's the best tailgate event in Omaha, period," said Tim Kaldahl, interim director of University Affairs at UNO. "We're also showing off an innovative way for students and members of the public to get more information about campus through text messaging.  It's high-tech and very, very cool."

Anyone using a cell phone can now check out UNO by texting the word "Mojo" to 72466. 

"Try it, answer the questions and see what happens," Kaldahl said.  Those who text message will be entered into drawings for an iPod, Mojo gear and UNO hockey tickets.

Ervin & Smith Advertising and Public Relations created a special Web site specifically for UNO's recruiting efforts. The Web site (http://www.beamav.com) features interactive chats, photo galleries and video biographies of real UNO students having real college experiences. The campaign also includes radio, print ads, billboards, direct mail and television.

"It's full day of fun, food and information," Cicotello said.  "And just punch ‘Mojo' into that cell phone. We want to hear from you."

For more information, call 554.3502.

UNO Students Set to Volunteer During Fall Break

About 150 UNO students will be volunteering three days of their time later this month to assist in the renovation of the South Omaha Arts Institute (SOAI).

Students will work during fall break - Oct. 14, 16 and 17 - from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the institute, located at 2630 N St. The project is intended to promote student involvement through the university's Service Learning Academy, which has served 144 community agencies since 1998.

"We hear all the time about service projects, as well as volunteer projects; however, this is not the same," said Arturo Miranda, a coordinator for the project. "This is a multi-disciplinary service-learning project in which students from different disciplines participate by implementing their classroom learning objectives in real action."

Volunteers include students studying engineering, social work, public relations and public administration.  Some of the tasks include weather proofing, cleaning, doing duct work, framing and drywall work, and reorganizing the performance hall. 

The SOAI, also known as "Casa de la Cultura," is a non-profit agency that is devoted to cultural preservation and education for youth and adults interested in Latino arts.  The institute offers classes in music, voice, acting, playwriting, dance, photography, contemporary arts and traditional visual arts.

"We noticed the results and the impact that the South Omaha Arts Institute was making in the life of these kids," Miranda said.  "We realized that these kids were learning life skills in this facility and that the facility needed a lot of improvements.  Therefore, we decided to get involved and help this organization."

Those interested in volunteering can sign up at the information desk in the Eppley Administration Building or at the Service Learning Academy office, located in 220 Arts and Sciences Hall.  For more information, contact

Melissa Kline at 490.8534.

The Yellow Barn Press "A Typographic Adventure" Opens Oct. 11

University Library at UNO will host an exhibition of Neil Shaver's private presswork Oct. 11 through Dec. 15. on the UNO campus.  Since 1978, Shaver has printed more than 30 titles, all of which will be on display.

The exhibition, The Yellow Barn Press "A Typographic Adventure," will open Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. with a presentation by Shaver, The Yellow Barn Press proprietor, and his collaborator and book collector, Jack Walsdorf.  The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Shaver's connection to UNO started in 1978 when he took his first printing class led by Harry Duncan.  Shaver also produced his first book, Metanoia, during that time.  In 1983, Shaver met wood engraver John DePol, and they began a collaboration that lasted until DePol's death in 2004.  Many of DePol's distinctive wood engravings grace the pages of a number of The Yellow Barn Press books.

Walsdorf, the author of more than a dozen books relating to the history of the printing and bibliography, will reflect on his experiences with Shaver and The Yellow Barn Press.

The Yellow Barn Press, originally based in rural Iowa near Council Bluffs, is significant not only for the high-quality craftsmanship exhibited in the printing, but also for the attention given to printing books about books and printing.  "Neil's craftsmanship makes paper and print a thrilling tactile and visual experience, and that is even before you get to the quality of the content," said Oliver Pollak, a professor of history at UNO.  "He shows that the book arts preserve a half-millennium-old way of communication that is still vital in the age of rapidly developing electronic print technology."

Marvel Maring, fine arts and humanities reference librarian at UNO, also is impressed with the handiwork of the display.  "The Yellow Barn Press books are gorgeous examples of traditional, hand-set letterpress printing produced with a sensitivity to elegant title pages and page layout, paper choice, cover design, illustrations and binding," she said.  "The additions of John DePol's wood engravings add to the richness.  We are fortunate to have this collection and delighted to feature it this fall."

For more information about the exhibition, contact Maring at 554.2992 or mmaring@mail.unomaha.edu.

ITS Cyber Awareness Series Highlights NU Identification

October is National Cyber Security Month. During this time, UNO Information Technology Services (ITS) and other organizations nation wide will be working together to heighten the awareness of personal information security.

UNO's SPIDER security team will be presenting material to the campus community through the SPIDER Web site at http://its.unomaha.edu/spider/. Information detailing cyber security, videos, brochures and a four-part series of articles will be available each week to convey the essence of cyber awareness.

The weekly articles will address phishing, anti-spam and baseline security for Windows XP systems. The first in the series, "NU Identification," is available online at http://its.unomaha.edu/spider/articles/nuid.php.

For more information, contact unohelpdesk@mail.unomaha.edu.

UNO PRSSA to Host Night of Italian Dining Fundraiser

The UNO chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will hold its third annual "Italian Night" fundraiser Friday, Oct. 13, to raise money for student travel, national and regional competitions, and community service projects.

"Italian Night" will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at Apple Creek Clubhouse, 14010 Dorcas Plaza (just north of 1440th Street and West Center Road). A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Omaha Food Bank. The event is open to the public.

All menu items will be provided by Omaha-area Italian restaurants. Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to try Italian specialties such as spaghetti with meatballs, sausage and peppers, spinach cannelloni, other pasta dishes, pizza and garlic bread sticks. Those with a sweet tooth can try desserts like biscotti, gelato and tiramisu.

Proceeds from the event will help send six of the organization's officers to the PRSSA National Conference in Salt Lake City Nov. 10-14. At the event, the UNO Chapter team will conduct a chapter development session on PRSSA and partnerships, one of only eight schools selected. The chapter will also accept a first-place award for the 2006 National Organ Donor Awareness Competition.

The fundraiser will also pay for other students to attend the regional conference in April and compete in the PRSSA 2007 Bateman National Case Study Competition.

Tickets for "Italian Night" will be available for purchase at the door.  The cost is $10 for students or $20 for adults. Tickets are also available for purchase from Karen Weber, PRSSA adviser. For more information, contact Weber at 554.2246 or kweber@mail.unomaha.edu.

UNO Disability Services Accommodations Available

October is Disability Awareness Month. The following is the first installment in a series of informational articles designed to raise awareness of disability-related issues on campus. The articles have been provided by the UNO Department of Disability Services.

Week One: UNO Disability Services Registration Process
A number of UNO students have disabilities and need accommodations in order to have access to their classes and activities. These students can obtain accommodations by completing the registration process at the UNO Disability Services (DS) office. Any student with a physical, medical, psychological, learning or other type of disability may be referred to DS for consultation and assistance. Students who wish to register are asked to follow these steps:

1. The student contacts the DS coordinator, Kate Clark, to indicate their interest.
2. Documentation of a disability is provided by the student.  If a student is unsure about what type of reports to provide, the DS coordinator is available to help clarify the UNO documentation guidelines.
3. The student will meet with the coordinator to discuss accommodation requests and learn about departmental policies and procedures.
4. Instructors are notified of the approved accommodations by the DS coordinator, and the student meets with each instructor individually to discuss their needs.

For  more information, call 554.2872.

Participants Sought for "Healthy Lifestyles" Program

Attention all faculty, staff and students: A new exercise program on campus is seeking participants who would like to become more active.

Dave Daniels, assistant director for fitness/wellness and instructional programs at UNO, and senior exercise science students will lead the "Healthy Lifestyles" program. Nutrition, stress management and physical activity will be covered.

If you answer "yes" to the questions below, Daniels invites you to register for the "Healthy Lifestyles" program:
- Would you like to learn how to become more active?
- Are you interested in eating better?
- Do you want to become more conscious about the foods you eat?
- Could you use a little stress management?

"This program was created by senior exercise science students to help students, faculty and staff lead a healthier life," Daniels said.

The program officially starts Tuesday, Oct. 10, and those who attend will receive a free water bottle.

For more information or to register, contact Dave Daniels at 554.2008 or daviddaniels@mail.unomaha.edu, or Lori Tostenson at 554.3917 or lktotstenson@mail.unomaha.edu.

Calendar Reminder: Fall Break Oct. 16-17

Classes will not be held Monday through Tuesday, Oct. 16-17, in observance of the fall semester break at UNO. All UNO offices and services will remain open. The 2006 fall calendar is available online at http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/registrar/calendar1.php.

Teams Sought for 13th Annual UNO Bell Tower Challenge

The 13th annual UNO Bell Tower Challenge is set for Wednesday, Oct. 18.

At noon, teams of students, faculty and staff will compete to stack as many food cans as possible while the bells of the Henningson Memorial Campanile chime. Awards will be presented to the teams that stack the most cans, the most creative teams (which can include costumes) and the most enthusiastic teams.

The event is sponsored each year by Eta Sigma Gamma, a health education honorary at UNO.

"We would love to set a new record this year," said David Corbin, event founder and a professor in the UNO School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "That means we need to collect more than 5,700 pounds of food."

All canned goods will be donated to the Omaha Food Bank (http://www.omahafoodbank.org). More than 33,000 pounds of food have been collected for the food bank since the event's inception.

Dr. Corbin cited a recent Omaha World-Herald article, which highlighted the Food Banks need for community assistance.  It stated: "The higher energy prices over the past year are forcing more working families to seek emergency assistance from Omaha's food pantries."

The Omaha Food Bank distributes food to about 360 agencies in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, and the demand is up according to the Omaha World-Herald: "During the first seven months of 2005, it (the food bank) had distributed nearly three million pounds of food. Through July of this year, the food bank exceeded that number by more than 300,000 pounds."

The deadline to register for the Bell Tower Challenge is Friday, Oct. 13, at noon. To access the entry form or more details about the event, visit the Web at http://www.unomaha.edu/healthed/BT.html.

For more information, contact Dr. Corbin or Shandalee Ramet, Eta Sigma Gamma representative, at 554.2670 or dcorbin@unomaha.edu.

Maverick Watch HEADLINE

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

Students are admitted free to all home athletic games with a valid UNO ID (MavCard) and game-day ticket. The spouses, significant others and children of students also are admitted free. At the game, students must present their MavCard to receive a ticket. Tickets will be available on the day of the game at each home event. For more information, call 554.MAVS (6287).

inPlay, located downtown at 15th and Cuming St., will offer free parking and shuttle service from its parking lot to the Qwest Center Omaha for all UNO home hockey games, beginning with the Tuesday, Oct. 10, UNO vs. Manitoba game. Shuttle service is available for all UNO hockey fans. A shuttle ticket is required to receive free transportation. Tickets will be available for fans at the counter inside inPlay.

At home this week...

Monday, Oct. 9
- Hockey Media Day
Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St.
2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 10
- Volleyball vs. South Dakota
Sapp Fieldhouse
7 p.m.

- Hockey vs. Manitoba (Exhibition)
Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St.
7:05 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 13
- Volleyball vs. Minnesota Duluth
Sapp Fieldhouse
7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 14
- Swimming and Diving vs. Kansas
Health, Physical Education and Recreation Pool
11 a.m.

- Football vs. North Dakota (Homecoming)
Caniglia Field
1 p.m.

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