Almanac

(Almanac lists facts, figures and miscellany of campus interest. Know something, or want to know? Call us: 262-3846, or e-mail: wisweek@news.wisc.edu.)

Guesswork: Pumpkin nets $60
They finally wrestled that great pumpkin on display at Helen C. White College Library onto the freight scale at Memorial Union. The gargantuan gourd tipped the scales at 223.6 pounds. Security Officer J.D. Rosandick grew the pumpkin at his home in northwestern Dane County, and brought it to campus for a contest to guess the weight. Student John Springer, who guessed 221.9 pounds, won the “Great Pumpkin Scholarship” of $60 donated by College Library staff. Eighty-six students took a guess at the weight, and Library Services Assistant Bruce Broker says most of them were “way off.” So much for higher education.

Services: Flu shots
University Health Services will administer flu shots to students, faculty and staff at the Union South satellite clinic 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8, and Tuesday, Nov. 9. Faculty and staff must pay $11 for the shots, but any registered UW–Madison student can get them for free.

Despite all the benefits of getting a flu shot, some people are reluctant to get immunized because they believe the immunization could make them sicker than the illness. “You cannot get influenza from the vaccine,” says Craig Roberts, UHS community health director. “This is the middle of ‘cold season’ though, so lots of people will be getting respiratory infections during a time when they also get a flu shot. Sometimes people blame it on the shot, but it’s only coincidence.”

Janet Johnson, a registered nurse at UHS, says many people think the flu is a stomach illness, when it really is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache and muscle aches.

Most people experience no serious problems from the shots.

Calendar: Trust fund hearing
The UW System Board of Regents holds its annual hearing on trust fund investments. Thursday, Nov. 4, from 3:30-6 p.m. in Room 21 of the Human Ecology Building, 1300 Linden Drive.

Professional development: Wisconsin Idea seminar
One of the ways for faculty and staff to listen and learn from the citizens throughout the state is through the Wisconsin Idea Seminar. Begun in 1984, the Wisconsin Idea Seminar is a five-day study tour of Wisconsin, designed to introduce and promote the Wisconsin Idea, the commitment to use university expertise and resources to solve the problems of the state. Now in its 16th year, more than 500 faculty and staff have participated in this traveling seminar.

The next Wisconsin Idea seminar will take place Monday-Friday, May 22-26. Nominations may be made by colleagues, department chairs and directors through their dean’s office until March 15. Information: Miriam Simmons, Outreach Development, 262-9970; msimmons@mail.bascom.wisc.edu

Backward glance
From Wisconsin Week, Nov. 1, 1989: Faculty may be asked next month to decide whether or not to expel ROTC from campus because it bars gay men and lesbians from service. … The Genetics Computer Group will soon sever its university ties to become a private company. … The Athletic Board has named a special committee to conduct a broad-ranging review of the football program.

Quotable
“I’m surprised that other scientists aren’t more personally aware of their own actions.”

– Jonathan Foley, on his personal effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions (for more, see page 4)