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.)

Academic staff town meeting
Open forums for all academic staff to discuss workplace issues and hear from governance leaders are scheduled Oct. 30-31. The first is a brown bag lunch at the School of Nursing conference room, Clinical Science Center, noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30. The second town meeting is scheduled in Grainger, noon-1 p.m. Information: 263-2985, cmccabe@bascom.wisc.edu.

Witnessing and remembering
Faculty members and students plan to do readings selected in commemoration of Sept. 11 events from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in 1100 Grainger. For information, contact Keith Cohen, 262-7999, lkcohen@facstaff.wisc.edu.

Campus on alert
Since the FBI warned the nation’s law enforcement agencies and the general public last week that they should be on the “highest alert” for potential terrorist attacks, the university has received inquiries about what that means for the campus community.

University employees and students are asked to help be the eyes and ears of the campus regarding any potential threats to its security and safety, to report suspicious activity and to make sure that security procedures are carefully followed.

For information on safety and emergency response, visit the following campus Web sites.

• UWPD alert information:

  http://www.uwpd.wisc.edu/ Awareness/Index-awareness.htm

• Tips for handling the mail:

  http://www.uwpd.wisc.edu/ Awareness/Postal.htm

• Hints for keeping buildings and offices secure: http://www.uwpd.wisc.edu/ Awareness/Building.htm
• PDF format emergency procedures guide: http://www.uwpd.wisc.edu/ Awareness/EmRspGuide.pdf

You think it’s cold?
Robert Falcon Scott and his men died on their way back from the South Pole in 1912, victims of an exceptionally severe Antarctic winter. This is the thesis of a recent book that uses data from UW–Madison’s Automatic Weather Station network, placed by a team headed by Charles Stearns, emeritus professor of the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

“The Coldest March,” published by Yale University Press, uses data collected by Stearns’ weather stations since the 1980s, including a weather station about 30 miles from where Scott died. The book shows that the 1911-1912 season was abnormally severe and that no one would have expected the weather that Scott encountered. For more information on automatic weather stations, visit: http://uwamrc.ssec.wisc.edu/aws/awsproj.html.

Another student regent?
A legislative measure introduced by Rep. Rob Kreibich to increase the student representation on the Board of Regents from one to two recently received an 8-2 endorsement by an Assembly committee. One member would be at least 18 years old and recommended to the governor by elected representatives of student government organizations at institutions within the UW System. The proposed additional member would be at least 24 years old and represent the views of nontraditional students.

Backward glance
From Wisconsin Week, Oct. 23-30, 1991: The university is embarking on a campaign to reduce sexual harassment. … The state has approved a 0.27 percent salary increase for faculty and staff. … Tuition increases were 8 percent below the national average for 1990. Total tuition and fees: $2,187.50. … The Faculty Senate will consider changes to the tenure-granting process, including an extended probationary period.