After this issue, Transcripts will take a break until spring semester. The next issue will arrive in your mailbox Wednesday, Jan. 30.

UM students are in their final crunch of studying before Finals Week Dec. 10-14. But then they're off for a little over a month -- unless attending Wintersession classes Jan. 2-18. Spring semester classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Our best wishes for the holidays and a happy winter break.

To give students a quiet place to prepare for fall semester final exams, the Mansfield Library will hold extended hours for study from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday-Sunday, Dec. 7-9.

The Curry Health Center's Peers Reaching Out group was recognized as the most outstanding peer education team in the nation at the BACCHUS conference held Nov. 8-11 in Atlanta.

About 800 representatives from more than 150 of the nation's colleges and universities attended the conference to share programs and experiences as peer educators. UM's PRO group was presented with the award for the Most Outstanding Affiliate from schools with more than 12,000 students, and one of their members, Olivia Shjeflo, received the award for Outstanding Peer Educator.

BACCHUS is a network of more than 32,000 student leaders and advisers who work with more than 8 million peers on more than 900 campuses throughout the world to focus on initiatives to actively promote student-based leadership on healthy and safe lifestyle decisions.

UM's PRO students, who come from diverse majors and backgrounds, create fun and interactive programs and coordinate campus events to help peers make better decisions about high-risk behaviors such as drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse and unhealthy sexual practices.

To become a PRO, a student must complete a three-credit training course offered spring semesters. For more information go to the PRO Web site, call 406-243-2809 or e-mail healthed@mso.umt.edu.

UM marketing students recently helped develop strategies to help Karl Tyler Chevrolet in Missoula reach 18- to 25-year olds. In return, Montana's top-selling Chevy dealer was inspired to give $15,000 to the UM School of Business Administration.

Three teams of UM students from Assistant Professor Simona Stan's marketing class met with the dealership's management team, interviewed customers and visited other car dealerships to develop marketing plans. The plans included the dealership's advertising on radio stations that appeal to the young adult market and sponsorship of "Fare-Free Fridays" on Missoula's Mountain Line buses last summer.

Providing hands-on experience in the business world is an important aspect of the UM business school experience, Stan said, and the school welcomes opportunities for students to assist local businesses under faculty supervision.

Following is some important information for students who live in UM residence halls:

All residents must be checked out by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. Students who need exceptions for late flights must go to their residence hall desks to make special arrangements.

Anyone staying at UM for the semester break must make advance reservations with Robin at the Residence Life Office in Turner Hall no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10. The additional cost during semester break will be $16 per day. A processing fee of $30 will be charged for arrangements made after 5 p.m. Dec. 10.

Residence halls open for spring semester Tuesday, Jan. 15. Any arrivals before that date are considered semester break housing and will be charged an additional daily rate.

More information is available online or by calling Rita Tucker at 406-243-2611 or e-mailing rita.tucker@umontana.edu.

UM's Forensics Team sponsors individual and team competition in National Parliamentary Debate on campus and travels to regional competitions. The team recently competed in the quarterfinals at the Trapper Rendezvous Invitational Tournament at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo., where members garnered awards in several debate events.

Any undergraduate student is eligible to compete in forensics events. The UM team is jointly sponsored by the Department of Communication Studies, Davidson Honors College and the Office of Student Affairs, as well as through alumni donations.

No prior experience is required and students from all majors are welcome. The UM Forensics program is housed in the communication studies department, which offers a two-credit course in forensics each semester.

For more information, call team coach Ryan Morton at 406-243-4551 or e-mail ryan.morton@mso.umt.edu.

First Night Missoula, the communitywide annual New Year's Eve alcohol-free celebration of the arts, will showcase more than 100 performances and activities in more than 30 venues from noon until midnight on Monday, Dec. 31. Music, theater, dance, children's programs, visual arts and more highlight this daylong celebration.

Several First Night events are held each year on the UM campus. UM venues are the University Center, Music Recital Hall, Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center and the University Theatre.

Admission buttons that allow entry to all First Night events cost $10 in advance and $15 on Dec. 31. Children 7 and under are admitted free with a button-wearing adult. Buttons will be available during December at several Missoula locations.

Those who volunteer to work a two-hour shift at an event on New Year's Eve will receive a free admission button. To volunteer, call Sara Bruya of the Missoula Cultural Council at 406-532-3240.

A First Night 2008 schedule of events and information about where to purchase buttons is on the Web site.

Thank you for reading Transcripts and for being part of the UM community.

Go Griz!