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.)

Bucky down under
They probably won’t be wearing cheeseheads in Sydney, but a number of Badgers are participating in the Olympic Games. This fall’s finishers include Torrey Folk, who graduated in 1997, finished sixth in rowing, and Eric Mueller “94, rowing, finished fifth in finals on the U.S. four-man boat without coxswain. In the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Mueller’s crew won a silver medal and a homecoming parade for the Cedarburg native. Kirk Penney, a current sophomore, scored two points and grabbed three rebounds as the New Zealand men’s basketball team fell to Italy, 78-66. Penney is completing schoolwork on the road. Other competitors are Suzy Favor Hamilton “91, 1,500 meters, who competed in 1992 and 1996, but has never won a medal; Pascal Dobert “97, 3,000-meter steeplechase, won an NCAA title while a Badger in 1997; and Kurt Borcherding “90, rowing, is a three-time member of the U.S. team making his first trip to the Olympics as an alternate.

Peace Corps: UW means business
UW–Madison leads the nation this year in business school graduates who are volunteering in Peace Corps programs. Seven graduates of the university’s School of Business are serving in business development programs overseas, tops among America’s colleges and universities. The business school alums are among 111 UW–Madison graduates serving in the Peace Corps during 2000. Together they make up the largest current number of Peace Corps volunteers from a single campus. For the past decade UW–Madison has led the nation in the number of Peace Corps volunteers. Almost 2,400 alumni have served in the Peace Corps. Information: http://www.peacecorps.gov/

Artists sought
The Wisconsin Union Galleries are now accepting submissions for solo and group exhibits for the 2001 exhibition season. Submit a resumé, five slides of recent work for a solo exhibit or two slides per artist for a group exhibit, a slide list, an exhibition proposal and a self-addressed reply envelope by Oct. 9 to: Art Committee, 507 Memorial Union. Information: Rina Jorgensen or Bethsaida Baddouh, 262-7592; or Ralph Russo, 262-5969.

Town meetings planned
Academic staff can attend fall town meetings that include a briefing on current governance issues and an opportunity to discuss concerns of academic staff. Two dates are planned: Tuesday, Oct. 17, noon-1 p.m., Union South (bring your lunch); Wednesday, Oct. 18, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 4151 Grainger.

Environmentally friendly
Environmental News Network has found that some American cities stand out for their gifts of nature and spirit of inhabitants. The university figured into both categories as part of Madison’s ranking in ENN’s top 10 released Sept. 11. See the article: http://www.enn.com/features/2000/09/09112000/Topten_30455.asp .

Divers invite Web visitors
Ever wonder what it would be like to be part of a diving team exploring historic shipwrecks? A team of underwater archaeologists is compiling a Web-based chronicle of their investigation of several shipwrecks in Door County. Visit: http://www.shsw.wisc.edu/shipwrecks/notes/.

Backward glance
From Wisconsin Week, Sept. 26, 1990: Enrollment dropped to 43,536, due in part to the smallest first-year class in nine years. … Molecular biologists Sean Carroll and Bruce Thalley have developed safer snake and scorpion anti-venoms. … Library Dean D. Kaye Gapen resigned in the midst of budget and conflict-of-interest controversies.