News in Brief
LEADERSHIP
 As if hoofing it to class in the cold wasn’t enough, university students feel the burn as they occupy all available Recreational Sports exercise equipment at the Natatorium on a recent day. Faculty and staff feeling winter’s paunch also may use the equipment. The Nat is open Monday-Thursday from 6:40 a.m.-10 p.m., with later opening and earlier closing on other days. Schedule: 262-4756. Photo: Jeff Miller
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Piñero to lead workforce diversity
Luis A. Piñero has been named assistant vice chancellor for workforce equity and diversity.
Piñero will also serve as director of the university’s Equity and Diversity Resource Center. He was serving as interim assistant vice chancellor/director of the EDRC prior to his appointment.
“Luis’ experience working on equity and diversity issues at UW–Madison for nearly 20 years clearly positioned him as the best choice for this important campus administrative post,” says Melany S. Newby, vice chancellor for legal and executive affairs.
Piñero joined the EDRC in 1982, when it was known as the Office of Affirmative Action and Compliance. He was appointed associate director in 1991 and previously served as interim EDRC director from May 1994 to August 1995. Piñero holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and a master’s degree from UW–Madison.
The assistant vice chancellor for workforce equity and diversity serves as a campuswide strategic planner and consultant on equity and diversity; oversees the Equity and Diversity Resource Center; and collaborates with academic leaders, employing units and governance bodies to coordinate campus compliance with affirmative action/equal employment opportunity regulations.
UHS search begins
A search committee to find a replacement for Richard Keeling as director of University Health Services has been announced by Paul Barrows, vice chancellor for student affairs. The committee includes Ed Bersu (chair), Linda Oakley, Jeffrey Glassroth, Mariamne Whatley, Paul Evans, Pat Fessenden, Linda Schilling, Cathy Trueba, Rob Sepich, Jennifer Orleans, Chris Opsal, Noah Stein, Tia Henn, and Tina Nerhaugen. Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 31.
ON CAMPUS
Storytellers to gather here
American Indian storytellers from North and South America will gather Feb. 22-23 for the American Indian Studies Program’s third annual American Indian Storytelling Festival.
This event, in collaboration with the Folklore Program and the Latin American and Iberian Studies Program, will feature evening storytelling both nights beginning at 7 p.m. in Morphy Hall, 2320 Humanities.
Storytellers will include Tito Medina and Daniel Morales (both Maya Kiche), Larry Beardy (Ojibwe), Jesse Deiter (Plains Cree), Norma Jamieson (Oneida), Bernadine Talmadge (Ho-Chunk) and Marie Worthington Floring (Menominee).
Conference organizer Roberta Hill, UW–Madison associate professor of English, calls the centuries-old tradition “a vital art in our communities. It has healing power. The festival will be a rare opportunity for members of the larger university and Madison community to take part.”
During the day, educators involved in revitalizing and maintaining Native languages will discuss language preservation strategies in their communities. Members of the Menominee, Navajo and Cherokee nations, among others, will talk about their experiences. Sessions begin at 9 a.m. in the Red Gym, 716 Langdon St.
Information: 263-5501.
Morgan will be artist-in-residence
Clyde Morgan, renowned Afro-Brazilian expert, dancer, choreographer and teacher, returns to Madison as a guest artist-in-residence on campus Feb. 19-26.
His residency is being sponsored by the Elvehjem Museum of Art, Latin American and Iberian Studies Program, School of Music, Dance Program and the Madison Metropolitan School District.
His visit was designed to coincide with the Elvehjem Museum of Art’s new exhibition, “Beads, Body and Soul: Art and Light in the Yorùbá Universe.”
Morgan will conduct master classes, too. Performances in Music Hall are Friday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Series looks at art, government
A five-week lecture series on the relationship between art and government is now under way, sponsored by the UW–Madison La Follette Institute of Public Affairs.
“Art and symbols and expression make up so much of our lives,” says outreach coordinator Shirley Smith. “It includes everything from team logos and mascots to Saturday nights at the movies to web pages on the Internet.”
The lectures will be in room 260 of the Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Topics and speakers are:
- Monday, Feb. 21: “The Arts and Intellectual Property: A Few Problems,” by Mary Layoun, professor and graduate director of Comparative Literature
- Monday, March 6: “European Film vs. Hollywood,” by Tino Balio, chair of Communication Arts and executive director of the UW Madison Arts Institute
- Monday, March 13: “The Folk Arts and Cultural Democracy,” by Jim Leary, professor in the Folklore Program and Scandinavian Studies
- Monday, March 20: “Art, Pornography and Indecency: Do You Know It When You See It?” by Donald Downs, professor in Political Science
Caribbean Night scheduled at the Union South Games Room
Escape the cold and cruise over to the Union South Games Room for “Caribbean Night” Friday, Feb. 25, from 7 p.m.-2 a.m. For $7 per person, you get unlimited bowling, pool and table tennis; free popcorn, complimentary beach flip flops, hot contests and cool prizes. And from 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m., Club 770 in Room 140 will be spinning salsa tunes and offering free salsa dance lessons.
Information: Bob Wright, 263-5181; rcwright@facstaff.wisc.edu.
Health expert to share insights
Exercise expert Russell R. Pate will visit the university to discuss the current status of public policies regarding youth physical fitness, the effectiveness of policies implemented in schools, and the implications for current and future teachers.
Pate will speak on campus Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m. in 1140 Gym-Natatorium.
Pate is the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 1999-2000 Alliance Scholar. His address, “Physical Activity in American Youth: Status, Determinants and Promotion,” is one of his three official presentations as the alliance scholar.
Pate is professor and chair of the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina. He is nationally and internationally known for his expertise in physical fitness, particularly physical fitness in children and adolescents.
COMMUNITY
New system links libraries
A new automated library system allows faculty, staff and students to access the vast resources of libraries throughout the UW System’s 13 universities and 13 two-year colleges. Students and faculty can use the web-based “Voyager” system to view the card catalog, check out books from other campuses and have them delivered to their home campus.
Ed Van Gemert, assistant director at Memorial Library, coordinated the implementation process. Each campus has a library automation manager who guided the effort on campus, working with catalogers, circulation staff and reference librarians to build local systems. The local campus libraries come together electronically to form a collective resource of more than 20 million books, journals, government documents, maps, sound recordings, films and other resources.
Senate passes ‘mini-budget’
A measure approved by the Senate on a party-line vote, 17-16, would increase general fund-supported borrowing for UW System by $1.7 million to enable Wisconsin Public Television to convert to digital television. Because the bill was sponsored only by Senate Democrats and was not sent to the Joint Finance Committee for review, it is unlikely the bill will pass the Republican-controlled Assembly in its current form.
Elsewhere in state government, these hearings of interest to the university have been scheduled:
- The Assembly Tourism Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday, Feb. 22, on a measure (AB 690) that would authorize the State Historical Society of Wisconsin to award grants for the preservation of historic property. 10 a.m., Assembly Parlor, state Capitol.
- Assembly Colleges and Universities meets Wednesday, Feb.23, on AB 554 to cap UW resident undergraduate tuition at 40 percent of instructional costs. Also of interest are AB 709, regulation of athletic agents, and AB 736, study abroad grants. 9:30 a.m., 328 Northwest, state Capitol.
Several newly introduced legislative items would affect university operations:
- Hospital Security Officers: Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, introduced a bill (SB 366) that would classify state security officers for UW Hospitals and Clinics as a protective occupant under the Wisconsin Retirement System. The bill has been referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems.
- Student loans: Rep. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, introduced a bill (AB 725) that would prohibit the state from issuing or renewing a professional or occupational license or other credential to anyone in default on a student loan. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions.
- UW police: Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, introduced a bill (AB 734) that authorizes university system police officers to carry firearms while on duty. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
OBITUARY
Keylon Braxton dies
Keylon Braxton, assistant dean in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, died suddenly from a heart condition Jan. 28.
“Those who had the opportunity to work with Keylon will remember him as a kind and gentle man with great humor and common sense. He was a true friend of students,” says Richard Barrows, CALS associate dean. “He was particularly effective in working with those with academic difficulty or personal problems. We will miss him greatly.”
A campus memorial for Braxton already has been held.