UM, Grateful Nation to dedicate Fallen Soldier Memorial

UM and Grateful Nation Montana will dedicate a memorial to Montana troops who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4.

The Fallen Soldier Memorial, located along historic Memorial Row near the Lindsay Tennis Center on the northeast side of campus, features five larger-than-life bronze statues by Lincoln artist Rick Rowley. The names of the 40 service members from Montana who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will be engraved on granite markers surrounding the memorial.

The unveiling is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow in the Phyllis J. Washington Education Center adjacent to the memorial site.

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$1.25 million grant will fund special education training

UM has received a five-year, $1.25 million grant to provide in-depth preparation and training for special education teachers in the state.

The grant will fund a collaborative project between the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Rural Institute on Disabilities called Training Teachers to Ensure Achievement and Membership for Children and Youth with Low Incidence Disabilities.

It will cover the cost of tuition, books, assistive technology starter kits and stipends for qualifying graduate students while they learn to work with children and youth with various special needs, including those who are deaf, blind, autistic or have physical disabilities.

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Griz players ask fans to donate toys at Nov. 5 game

Players on the Montana Grizzlies football team are leading an effort to give back to the community with the seventh annual Griz for Kids Toy Drive on Saturday, Nov. 5, at UM.

Fans can drop off new, unwrapped toys or cash donations at all entrances to Washington-Grizzly Stadium before the Griz game against Western Oregon University. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Those unable to attend the game can make cash donations at all Missoula Federal Credit Union locations and credit union members can donate online. Cash donations will be used to purchase needed items such as clothing for teens and pre-teens, books and art supplies.

Last year's drive brought in thousands of toys for western Montana children in need during the holiday season. This year, linebacker Jordan Tripp is in charge of organizing the drive. Tripp hopes to top last year's event when Griz fans filled three delivery trucks with bags of toys and contributed more than $3,000 in cash donations.

"Griz for Kids is a great cause that allows the community to give to those less fortunate," Tripp said. "The true gift is that children in need will have a better holiday season because of the fans' generosity." 

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Take Back the Night protests interpersonal violence

The UM Women's Resource Center will host the annual Take Back the Night march, which will begin at 4:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at the Grizzly Bear statue on the UM campus and end with a rally and reception at 6 p.m. in Caras Park. The event is free and open to the public.

Missoula Take Back the Night is part of a worldwide effort to reclaim the streets in protest of interpersonal violence in our communities.

The march will start with a silent candlelight vigil recognizing the survivors of interpersonal violence. Candles, signs, march route maps and chants will be provided. Organizers encourage participants to bring their own signs.

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Help UM 'Can the Cats' during annual food drive

UM's annual "Can the Cats" food drive competition against Montana State University kicks off Saturday, Nov. 5, and runs through Saturday, Nov. 19.

The winner of the competition -- whoever collects the most pounds of food -- will be announced during the Nov. 19 Griz-Cat game in Bozeman. The canned food UM collects will benefit the Missoula Food Bank.

Designated canned food boxes for "Can the Cats" will be located on campus in all residence halls, the University Center, the Mansfield Library, Main Hall and the Davidson Honors College.

This year those unable to drop off food donations at a collection site will be able to make a monetary donation on the Missoula Food Bank website. That option will become available Nov. 5.

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Funding available for student internships, research

 The Public Policy and Leadership Initiative of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at UM is now accepting applications for the Pat Williams Scholarships for internships and research awards.

Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 are available for UM undergraduate and graduate students and will be awarded to projects that fall under the areas of public policy and leadership. Past grants have provided critical assistance for UM students.

Recipients will use the grants during the upcoming Wintersession and 2012 spring and summer semesters. Application criteria are available athttp://www.umt.edu/mansfield and applications are due Monday, Nov. 28. Awardees will be contacted by Dec. 14, and their names also will be posted on the center's website. 

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Enjoy contra dancing at Town & Gown Dance

The UM Folklore Society will host its annual Town & Gown Dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the University Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated to help cover expenses.

The dance will include a variety of traditional American folk dances but will focus on contra, a form of old English country dancing that traveled through France (where it came to be known as contra) and then to the American colonies, where New Englanders modified it to fit into the long, narrow floor spaces of barns. Two long lines of people dance a series of simple figures, continually moving along the line until each person has danced with everyone else.

A beginners' workshop will be held at 7:30 p.m. before the main dance begins, and Bev Young will teach and call dances throughout the evening. Wise River Mercantile, a band that specializes in old-time fiddle tunes, jigs and reels, will provide live music. Dress is casual and eclectic.

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Poet hosts reading, signing at UM

The UM Creative Writing Program will sponsor a poetry reading by Spanish professor Eduardo Chirinos at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in Turner Hall's Dell Brown Room. A book signing and reception will follow.  

Chirinos is an internationally acclaimed voice in Latin American letters and the author of 16 books of poetry, as well as volumes of criticism, numerous essays, translations and children's books. The University of Montana Press will publish a bilingual edition of his "Written in Missoula" poetry collection this fall.

For more information, call Karin Schalm at 243-5267 or email karin.schalm@mso.umt.edu.

Theatre & Dance presents 'Grace, or the Art of Climbing'

UM's School of Theatre & Dance will present "Grace, or the Art of Climbing" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1-5 and Nov. 8-12 in the Masquer Theatre of the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center.

The production is an ambitious and active look at one young woman's path toward peace. The screenplay was developed during the Montana Repertory Theatre's annual Colony 14 summer gathering, which celebrates the writer's craft and launches new plays and playwrights.

The humorous and heartfelt play follows Emm, a young woman who seeks to climb her way -- literally -- out of a deep depression. Her journey takes the audience into her memories, her garage, a Miami climbing gym and, eventually, a renewed sense of self and purpose.

To show appreciation for their long-standing commitment and service to UM, President Royce Engstrom and the School of Theatre & Dance will provide faculty and staff one free ticket to "Grace, or the Art of Climbing." In addition, a second ticket for each performance may be purchased for $9.