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.)

Calendar: Nadler talk

Nadler

“Why a Center for the Humanities?” will be the topic for the next Roundtable luncheon for faculty and staff in Tripp Commons, Memorial Union, Tuesday, March 21. Professor Steven Nadler, Department of Philosophy, will talk about the mission of the new Center for the Humanities. Nadler’s most recent book, “Spinoza: A Life” (Cambridge University Press, 1999) recently won the Koret Foundation’s Jewish Book Award for biography. Lunch is served promptly at 11:45 a.m. Cost: $10.50 (make checks payable to “Roundtable”). Reservation deadline: Thursday, March 16, 4 p.m. For reservations: roundtable@union.wisc.edu. Other dates and speakers for Roundtable: Tuesday, April 4, William Farlow, University Opera director, and Tuesday, May 2, Chancellor David Ward.

Governance: Staff meetings
The Madison Academic Staff Association and Academic Staff Executive Committee are co-sponsoring town meetings for all academic staff March 21-22, 4:30-6 p.m., 5120 Grainger Hall. A panel of academic staff leaders will lead discussion at both meetings on ways to improve communication among the academic staff, which now number over 6,000. This topic was the top concern of academic staff surveyed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Staff Issues, described in their report, “Connection through Communication.”

Resources: Benefit seminars
Employee Compensation and Benefits Services is sponsoring free seminars on benefits issues. “What you Don’t Know Can Hurt You – The Importance of Your Benefit Package” explains how to make the most of your benefits throughout your career. Do not wait until retirement to discover the value of your WRS account, sick leave, life insurance and TSA. Learn if there are ways to enroll in benefit programs that you currently do not have. Next session: Tuesday, March 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Memorial Union, check today in the Union. Registration required.

Show seeks artists
The Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee is seeking entrants for the 72nd Annual Student Art Show. Submission guidelines and forms are available in 507 Memorial Union or the Art Department Office, 6th Floor, Humanities. Entrants vie for numerous honors, including cash awards and purchases. Information: Cristy Buss, ccbuss@students.wisc.edu, or Cheryl Hageman, cahageman@students.wisc.edu.

Backward glance
From Wisconsin Week, Feb. 28-March 7, 1990: Women’s educator and feminist Constance Threinen retires after 27 years. … Campus residents have quickly bought up 4,000 of the Wisconsin Union’s new red mugs, meant to save money and materials formerly used for disposable coffee cups. … UW System President Kenneth Shaw predicts higher pay for faculty and academic staff as the labor pool shrinks during the 1990s.

Quote
“Unfamiliar places become the people you love, not just a ‘foreign country.'”

Donna Veatch, international program specialist (see page 6 for more)