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.)

Composer’s work to premiere
The premiere of a commissioned musical work by Scottish-born composer Thea Musgrave will help the School of Music seal the century – and campus sesquicentennial – at a free concert Friday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. in Mills Concert Hall.

Musgrave chose the John Dryden poem, “Song for St. Cecilia’s Day” as the inspiration for her new “Celebration.” The birthday of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, is celebrated in December, and the piece was commissioned for another celebration, the UW–Madison Sesquicentennial.

The Chamber Orchestra and Concert Choir will debut the new piece, “Celebration,” under the guest direction of music professor Beverly Taylor. Works by Respighi, Fauré and Copland will be directed by Chamber Orchestra conductor David Becker.

Hospital traffic rerouted
Expansion projects will change traffic patterns outside UW Hospital and Clinics. Because the construction site will occupy both lanes of traffic between the front of the hospital and the parking ramp next to it, all auto and pedestrian traffic will be routed through the front of the parking ramp to a drop-off area near the main entrance. The clinics entrance will be closed for the majority of the project, which is expected to last for the next two years. The hospital is expanding its pediatric intensive care unit at UW Children’s Hospital and adding new operating rooms.

Retirements feted
A celebration for Tom Sailor, retiring after 15 years as director of Purchasing Services, will be Thursday, Dec. 9, from 3-5 p.m. at the Kohl Center. A similar event is planned for Peg Geisler, director of the Office of Outreach Development, Thursday, Jan. 27, from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Virginia Harrison Parlor of Lathrop Hall, 1500 University Ave.

On the calendar
The UW System Board of Regents holds its regular monthly meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, on the 18th floor of Van Hise Hall. Routine business is scheduled.

Shakashiri sells out
All of the free tickets have been given away for the four scheduled programs of “Once Upon A Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakhashiri,” the ever-popular holiday lectures of Bassam Shakhashiri set for this weekend Dec. 11-12.

The real X-files?
Author and UFO expert Don Schmitt will speak about the mystery surrounding the alleged crash of an extraterrestrial vehicle near Roswell, N.M., and the existence of alien life at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 8, Room 109 Union South.

Backward glance
From Wisconsin Week, Dec. 15, 1989: The Faculty Senate votes to ask the Board of Regents to expel ROTC from campus because the program discriminates against gays and lesbians. … The university unveils plans to convert the Red Gym into “a front door to campus,” providing services to students and visitors. … Frederic Cassidy, still working on the Dictionary of American Regional English, celebrates a half-century on the university faculty.

Quotable
“It was partly because of the beauty queen thing.”

– Kim Santiago, explaining her varied background (see page 4 for full story)