UM to hold forum on sexual assault report

UM will hold a community forum from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, to discuss the University's investigation into and report on alleged sexual assaults on and off campus.

The forum will take place in parlors C and D at the Holiday Inn Downtown, located at 200 S. Pattee St. in Missoula. It is free and open to the public.

Former District and Montana Supreme Court Judge Diane Barz, who directed the investigation for the University, completed and delivered the report to UM President Royce Engstrom on Jan. 31. The report was released to the public Feb. 1 and is available online.

The forum will include a report on the investigation from UM President Royce Engstrom, and he will take questions from the public. Engstrom also will discuss the investigation earlier that day at the University Council meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. in University Center Rooms 332-333.

Lecture to explore cultural aspects of U.S.-Arab relations

A leading scholar on the Ottoman Empire, the modern Arab world and Islam in the West will deliver the next installment of the President's Lecture Series at UM.

Ussama S. Makdisi will present "America and the Arab Struggle for Self-Determination" at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, in the University Theatre. The first holder of the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University, Makdisi will discuss missed opportunities for cultural understanding between the United States and Islam, countering notions of an inevitable clash of civilizations.

Makdisi also will give a seminar, "The Origins of Sectarianism in the Modern Middle East," from 3:10 to 4:30 p.m. Monday in Gallagher Business Building Room 123. The seminar is held in conjunction with UM's Philosophy Forum, while his evening lecture also will serve as the University's annual Ezio Cappadocia Memorial Lecture on Politics and History. Both events are free and open to the public.

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Professor to give keynote address at STEM conference

UM College of Technology Assistant Professor Bradley Layton will deliver the keynote address at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Summit held Thursday and Friday, Feb. 9-10, in Bellevue, Wash.

The two-day summit addresses best practices in K-20 education, focusing on innovative teaching and learning in STEM. Layton will present "Energy Technology Education in Efficiency to Engender Energy Independence: Science & Math Lay the Foundation for the Next Generation of Energy Technology Leaders."

STEM has become a focal point in recent years as a segment of education where American students are falling behind their international peers. In his address Layton will highlight portions of a 2008 paper he published in the International Journal of Green Energy, where he presented many technological and economic reasons that led to our nation's current energy insecurity.

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UM announces creation of Retirees' Association

UM recently created its first Retirees' Association. The association will provide all UM retirees the opportunity to remain involved with the University community through a variety of specially designed activities, events and service opportunities.

"The creation of this new association acknowledges the significant contributions retirees have made to The University of Montana and facilitates their active engagement in the campus community," said Amy Kinch, UM faculty development coordinator.

The association is in the process of developing a set of bylaws and will elect its first set of officers in the next two months.

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Mansfield Center hosts Brown Bag Lecture Series

The Spring 2012 Brown Bag Lecture Series hosted by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at UM will begin Tuesday, Feb. 7, with a presentation by Paul Thompson, the W.K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics at Michigan State University.

Thompson will present "What Makes Food Good? Three Problems in Food Ethics" from 11:10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in University Center Rooms 332-333.

All lectures in the series are free and open to the public.

Other lectures in the series will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Mansfield Conference Room, located in the Mansfield Library. Click "read more" for the complete series schedule.

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Suicide prevention training scheduled for Feb. 7 at UM

Counseling and Psychological Services at UM will hold a training seminar Tuesday, Feb. 7, on how to assist someone who is having suicidal thoughts.

Dr. Brian Krylowicz, CAPS director, will lead the free seminar, "Help Someone -- Help Yourself: First Responder Training," from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in University Center Room 329. The seminar is open to all UM students, faculty and staff, and snacks and drinks will be provided.

The seminar also will be offered Friday, March 23, and Thursday, April 12. To reserve a spot, call 406-243-2809.

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Mansfield Library hosts research workshops

The Mansfield Library will offer several research workshops throughout spring semester, starting with "Navigating Copyright for Teaching and Research" from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in Mansfield Library Room 283. RSVPs are requested online.

The library also will hold "Business Resources I: Company Information" from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Mansfield Library Room 283. All workshops are free and open to the campus community, and a complete schedule is available online.  

The most recent edition of the Mansfield Library's faculty newsletter, Snmipnuntn, highlights many other resources the library offers to the campus community. It's available online.

Nominate students for diversity leadership awards

The Diversity Advisory Council at UM invites the campus community to nominate outstanding students for the DAC Student Achievement Awards. DAC will accept nominations until Thursday, March 1.

The awards honor students whose leadership promotes campus diversity. Nominations can be made online.

Student nominees must have attended UM for one full academic semester during the award year and be in good academic standing. Students may receive this recognition more than once. A DAC subcommittee receives all nominations and selects students most worthy of the award.

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Speaker to explore archaeology, history of the Bible

The Religious Studies Program at UM will host Susan Cohen, a field archaeologist and associate professor of religious studies at Montana State University-Bozeman, on Thursday, Feb. 9.

Cohen will present "Archaeology and the Bible: Comparisons and Contrasts" from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Gallagher Business Building Room 123. The event is free and open to the public.

Cohen's presentation will address the relationship between archaeology, history and the Bible. She will compare and contrast biblical and archaeological evidence for key historical events in the Bible.

In addition to writing numerous articles and field reports on archeological sites in the ancient Near East, Cohen has directed archeological excavations at Tel Zahara and Gesher in Israel. She also is a member of the Governing Board of Trustees for the W.F. Albright School of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem.

UM offers Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

UM will offer the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday through March 10 in Gallagher Business Building Room 209.

VITA-certified UM student volunteers will complete free basic tax returns for those who make $50,000 or less annually. Appointments are not necessary, and tax help will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants should visit the IRS website beforehand for a list of items to bring. For more information call the UM School of Business Administration at 406-243-4831.

UC seeks facilitators for leadership conference

The University Center at UM will host its annual Student Leadership Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, on the third floor of the UC. It is free and open to all UM students and young leaders in the Missoula community, and lunch is included.

The 2012 conference is rooted in the social-change model and will focus on the many faces of leadership. Participants will leave feeling empowered to use their leadership resources to be effective, personal leaders with a global perspective.

Organizers currently are seeking faculty and staff to engage participants on leadership topics such as foundations, leading from the core, leadership in groups and empowered leadership. Proposals are due by noon Thursday, Feb. 9, and can be submitted online. Organizers will contact those who submitted proposals by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13.

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Register now for IT short courses

Registration for spring Information Technology short course training is now available on the IT website.

Each semester IT offers a variety of Banner, Business Services, MS Office, Web and miscellaneous training classes that are free and open to UM faculty, staff and students.

Employees can register for courses by logging onto the system with a NetID. After creating a profile, users can then register for, view or cancel courses.

Staff Senate scholarship applications available

Staff Senate at UM offers multiple scholarships for children of classified staff. Applicants must be enrolled as full-time students for the upcoming academic year at either of the Missoula campuses.

This scholarship is open to incoming freshmen and current, continuing education, graduate and transfer students. Previous recipients are eligible to apply. Awards are based on scholastic ability, campus and community involvement and/or financial need.

To be considered for a scholarship the applicant must complete and submit the official application form, a one-page biographical statement, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts and a Financial Aid Needs Analysis for Scholarships form. All application materials are due Thursday, March 1.

Instructions and more information are available online.

ASUM Transportation breaks ridership record

The campus bus service provided by the Associated Students of UM gave a record number of rides on the first day of spring semester.

Six buses that were on routes gave 3,744 rides on Jan. 23, breaking the old record of 3,246 rides. The average number of rides each day hovers around 2,900. The total number of rides given during autumn semester also broke records at 224,884 rides.

The ASUM Park-N-Ride system is free and open to the public. Parking is free at the Park-N-Ride lots. Lots are located at Benton Street and Higgins Avenue, South Avenue and Higgins Avenue, and on Broadway next to MonTEC.

Buses run every five to 10 minutes. Also, a bus runs from the mountain campus to UM's College of Technology East Campus every 15 minutes.

Music student wins prestigious national award

UM music student Ben Murphy has earned first place in the young artist division of the Music Teachers National Association composition competition.

Murphy is an undergraduate student from Barrington, Ill., studying composition and music technology. He will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Music from UM's College of Visual and Performing Arts. He is the student of UM composition Associate Professor Charles Nichols and Adjunct Assistant Professor Lee Heuermann.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage creativity and self-expression in student musicians through the art of composing. The award is one of the most prestigious national music awards given to university students in the United States.

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R-TV student places ninth in national competition

A UM radio-television student has earned ninth place in the television features category of the national Hearst Journalism Awards.

Emily Foster, a senior from Whitehall, earned the honor with stories on topics ranging from the Undie Run charity event on campus to the Brain Zone neuroscience learning center at spectrUM Discovery Area.

Foster's stories originally aired on "UM News," a program produced by journalism students highlighting happenings on campus. The program airs weekly on KPAX in Missoula and other Montana News Station outlets.

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Main Hall displays contemporary work by artist Oehlen

"FM 38," a 2011 painting by renowned artist Albert Oehlen, currently is on public display in the President's Office reception area in Main Hall at UM.

The painting is on loan to the Montana Museum of Art & Culture through a private collection and will be on display through May 10. The painting can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except during University holidays.

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'Bridge of Dreams' reception, artist talk this week

The University Center Gallery at UM will display works by expressionist action painter Mur Quaglia through Friday, Feb. 24, in an exhibition titled "Bridge of Dreams."

An opening reception for the collection of abstract paintings will be held in the UC Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, with an artist talk starting at 5:30 p.m. Quaglia, a Billings artist, will discuss her work and express what has fueled her artistically for more than 30 years.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located in UC Room 227.

More information is available by calling 406-243-5564 and online.

President Engstrom's office hours

President Engstrom welcomes members of the campus community to meet with him to discuss issues and topics of their choice. Please call 243-2311 or email prestalk@umontana.edu to make an appointment to meet with President Engstrom during these times.

President Engstrom's scheduled office hours for spring semester are:

• Wednesday, March 21: 2-4 p.m.
• Friday, April 27: 10 a.m.-noon