Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007 Now you know English Department Assistant Professor Greta Gaard is the most recently published faculty member at UWRF.     "The Nature of Home: Taking Root in a Place," was just released by the University of Arizona Press.     The Press notes that, "In 'The Nature of Home,' Gaard shows that the right relationship to place can offer a connection what will sustain us through the most difficult and most exuberant times in life. Being able to define and redefine what home is to each of us is not only imperative to our survival, but also vital in the shaping of our very identities."     "As Gaard investigates environmental concerns such as water quality, oil spills, or logging, she touches on their parallels to community issues such as racism, classism, and sexism, uncovering the dynamic interaction by which 'humans, like other life on earth, both shape and are shaped by our environments.' While maintaining an understanding of the complex systems and structures that govern communities and environments, Gaard’s writing delves deeper to reveal the experiences and realities we displace through euphemisms or stereotypes, presenting issues such as homelessness or hunger with compelling honesty and sensitivity."     The book is available for $17.95 through the UA Press at http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/.          Falcon Daily:          recognized for          excellence by         Submit an item to Falcon Daily Subscribe to Falcon Daily Feedback on Falcon Daily  Visions and Values Web site. Strategic Planning Web site. Academic Affairs: • Excused class absences • Class cancellations • Faculty/staff searches • Retention, promotion, tenure notices • Governance committee meetings • Grants information • Graduate exams UWRF home page UWRF News Source "Perspectives," a column in the River Falls Journal by Chancellor Don Betz. UWS in the News "Polls say Doyle not blamed for budget woes and Dems favored," UW Madison Daily Cardinal, Nov. 14. "Presidential pay is increasing fastest at the largest institutions," Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 13. To see news about the UW System from around the state, visit System’s clip sheet site to read the stories or to subscribe to the daily briefing. On Wisconsin The following is a digest of links to critical news and information sources for UWRF employees: The Wheeler Report. This is a daily listing of all news stories, editorials, and press releases affecting public issues in Wisconsin. WisPolitics.Com State public policy news with a political interpretation. WisconsinEye News. Wisconsin’s version of C-Span, with live coverage of the Legislature, with the State Supreme Court and Executive Branch soon to follow. UW System Board of Regents Audio. The Regents web cast their monthly meetings held on the first Thursday and Friday of each month. UWS/UWRF Budget. A handy index to the UW System executive and legislative advocacy information on our budget proposals, analyses, and maps, charts and graphs to support our positions. Wisconsin Legislature. This site contains legislators’ profiles, committees, bill digests, hearing schedules, and links to Web casts of floor and committee discussions.

"What really matters is what you do with what you have."                                             -- Shirley Lord Syndicated columnist Solomon addresses war issues Nationally syndicated columnist on media and politics, author and media critic Norman Solomon spoke on campus yesterday about issues relating to the Iraq war. He did a book signing, spoke to classes, gave a public lecture and was a guest on the "Let's Talk" radio show. Today he will speak at 9 a.m. in the Kinnickinnic Theatre, UC, about his book "War Made Easy." For more photos by Jens Gunelson, visit http://www.uwrf.edu/photo_archive/ later today. Announcements Annual leave conversion/vacation carry over. Classified employees eligible for sabbatical conversion will be receiving notices in the next few days. These notices must be returned to the HR office by Friday, Dec. 7, to ensure proper allocation. Also, any classified employee wishing to carry over more than 16 hours needs to submit a request to their supervisor. Once approved, the request should be forwarded to HR. Contact Kathy Young at ext. 3247. Several key positions have changed within the Academic Success Center with the retirement of Director Phillip George: *  Jill Moe, former Director of the Upward Bound Program, has become Interim Director of the Academic Success Center and all TRIO programs. *  Tyra Nelson has become Interim Assistant Director of the Upward Bound Program. *  Torrion Amie will serve as Interim Assistant Director of Student Support Services. *  Linda Jordan will serve as an Interim Coordinator in the Student Support Services Program. *  Njia Lawrence- Porter will serve as Interim Assistant Director for the McNair Program. *  Justin Hauer will serve full time as Pre-major advisor. *  Rose Rude will serve as Interim Assistant Director of the Trio Programs. *  Mark Johnson will continue his full time position as Disabilities Coordinator. *  Patsy Lofgren will continue her full time role as Administrative Assistant for the Academic Success Center. *  Linda Alvarez will continue her full time role in the academic component of Multicultural Services. The Last Day for Operation Christmas Child is Thursday, Nov. 15. The Community Action Theater Troupe is completing it's OCC service project. Help them make their goal of 400 boxes! Contact Linda ALvarez at ext. 3842. ITS a tip! Internet browsing, second in a four part series on browsers that will prepare you for rich user experiences on the Internet. Internet Explorer and Firefox, two commonly used browsers on campus offer tabbed browsing. What's a tab? Think of it as your file cabinet...when you open the drawer, you see your files nice and neatly organized with marked tabs in order to find items quickly. Tabs in a browser allow you to view multiple pages easily in organized tabs. If you are like most, when browsing the Internet, you may have multiple pages opened up which creates many little tasks on your windows task bar. It's awkward to change between windows to the site you want to see. So, tabs were developed. With tabs you need only one browser window open with different tabs. Then to navigate to the site you want, just click on the tab. The tabs are easy to see and part of the name of each web site is displayed. You can even save the top five Web sites you use each day as your start page. When you open your browser in the morning all five Web sites come up in tabs and you don't have to type them in! Start using tabs today for a richer browsing experience! Check out our Web site  at http://its.uwrf.edu/support/ie/tabs.php for more information. Upcoming Events Thursday, Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., UC, Gear Up Get Ready Field Trip. A collaborative and interactive community engagement experience fitting pre-service teachers with Saint Paul Public middle school students.  On Thursday, 200 middle school students from Cleveland Middle and Washington Technology Magnet Middle Schools will be hosted by 45 UWRF undergraduates enrolled in TED 212 and studying to be teachers. The purpose of the trip is for undergraduates to provide information and experiences that support post secondary access and success. Each of six middle school groups will embark upon a unique and specialized journey of pre-planned activities culminating in a shared lunch in the UC with their undergraduate field trip leaders. Friday, Nov. 16, noon - 1 p.m., Room 106, WEB, E-Pedagogy Webinar:  Making the Transition to Online Teaching. Free. Integrating course content, computer technology and the web to create learning experiences outside the traditional classroom with Professor Nadine Connor, Communicative Disorders and Professor Jan Miernowski, French & Italian Renaissance Literature. Sponsored by the Division of Information Technology, UW-Madison. Contact Karen Ryan at ext. 3184. Friday, Nov. 16, 1:55 - 2:55 p.m., Trimbelle Room 231, UC, Information and Instructional Technology Council meeting. The agendas, approved minutes, and more information about the Council and its activities can be found at http://www.uwrf.edu/iitc. Monday, Nov. 19, 2 - 3:30 p.m., Rush River Room, UC, Academic Staff Council  meeting. For more information, contact Mark Kinders at ext. 3771. Don't Forget Wednesday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m., Kinnickinnic Theatre, UC, Coffee With The Times:  Syndicated Columnist and National Media Critic Norman Solomon on "War Made Easy." A conversation series on current issues. For more information on Coffee with The Times, including articles that serve as the starting point for this discussion, visit http://www.uwrf.edu/adp/#Activities. Sponsored by UWRF American Democracy Project, Pi Sigma Alpha, Student Voice, WRFW, and The New York Times. Wednesday, Nov. 14, noon -12:45 pm., Wind River Room 232, UC, Wellness Wednesday:  Kathy Bartelt from Bartelt Acupuncture and Wellness, Inc. (located behind Dairy Queeen) will be speaking on the benefits of acupuncture and her practice as a licensed acupuncturist who also specializes in herbal medicine. Free. Contact jennifer.elsesser@uwrf.edu with any questions. Wednesday - Thursday, Nov. 14 - 15, noon - 6 p.m., Ballroom, UC, UWRF Blood Drive  "Roll up your sleeve and save a life."  Wednesday, Nov. 14, 3:30 - 5 p.m., Rush River Room 325, UC, Faculty Senate  Executive Committee meeting. For details, contact David Rainville at ext. 3654 or david.p.rainville@uwrf.edu. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Room 102 Hagestad Hall, Going Global. Sponsored by Career Services. For details, visit http://www.uwrf.edu/globalconnections. Wednesday, Nov 14, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Kinnickinnic Theater, UC, Film Premier Screening: "Fire and Earth." A film, created by UWRF students, that explores the blackware pottery tradition in Nixi Township, Yunnan Province, China, that has lasted several thousand years. The UWRF students spent a week last summer with a master potter in a traditional Tibetan village as part of the China Exploration and Research Society Internship Program. Students will be able after the screening to discuss their experience. Free. Everyone welcome. Contact Lynn Jermal at ext. 3375. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., Falcons Nest, UC, SURSCA Gala Evening of RSCA.  Everyone is invited to attend this special showcase event which displays student and faculty RSCA from across the campus and throughout the past year. This year’s special Guest speaker is Chancellor Betz. Refreshments will be served. Contact Tim Lyden at ext. 3362. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7 - 8 p.m., Abbott Concert Hall, KFA, Faces of Homelessness. The presentations begins with a short film on homelessness followed by speakers on homelessness. The speakers are people who have in the past or are presently experiencing homelessness. They will share their experience and talk about the troubles and triumphs they have gone through. This is an unforgettable and moving presentation that may change your views on people who are homeless. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 8 p.m., North Hall auditorium, damali ayo Lecture: I Can Fix It! Vol. 1: Racism. Artist and author ayo reached wide-ranging audiences with, "How to Rent a Negro," her trenchant and amusing book on contemporary race relations. Using examples from real life, ayo shows how to improve the handling of race with practical solutions for how to create healthier, more productive racial interactions. Her straightforward and engaging style will open minds and generate dialogue. Cost is $5/general public, $3/age 18 and under, free/students with id. Contact Karyn Wells at ext. 4444. The Falcon Shop in the UC is offering a special Secret Sale item beginning at 9 a.m. today, Nov. 14, when new design crew neck sweatshirts will be sold for $11.95 each or two for $20. Sizes range from XS to XXL. Contact Sherry at ext. 3962. Monday, Nov. 12 - Friday, Nov. 16, National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Students will be sleeping outside in cardboard boxes in front of Hathorn Hall  through Thursday night. Everyone is welcome to join in.