February 2000

Echinacea Expert-Montana Gov. Marc Racicot recently named UM pharmaceutical sciences Professor Rustem Medora to the Wild Medicinal Plants Task Force authorized by the 1999 Montana Legislature. Medora, an expert on the medicinal properties of native plants, will represent the Montana University System on the eight-member committee. The enabling legislation, Senate Bill 178, grew out of concern among legislators and the general public about the overharvesting of echinacea angustifolia, an increasingly popular plant for use as a cold preventive or treatment as well as a tonic for the immune system. The committee will study the problem with respect to echinacea and six other native wild plants threatened with extinction to determine sustainable collecting. They then will recommend legislation if appropriate.

Online Commerce-The e-commerce immersion course recently hosted by UM and the Montana World Trade Center is available at http://www.globalspeak.com at no charge. Just click on the "Featured Webcasts" section and then "Now Showing." The UM Webcast is "E-Business 2000 (Part I): Opportunities, Challenges and Winning Strategies." It features the course's keynote speakers -- who happen to be some of the "leading pioneers in e-commerce," according to MWTC Executive Director Arnie Sherman -- as they share real-life examples about their successes in the e-commerce area.

Griz Greatness-Star quarterback Drew Miller picked up the 1999 Grizzly football team's Most Valuable Player title during the annual Football Banquet of Champions this month. Miller, a junior who transferred to UM last year from Brigham Young University, received the Steve Carlson Award. He was selected for the MVP honor by the Grizzly coaching staff. Miller was named to several All-American squads, was a first team All-Big Sky Conference pick and was the runner-up for the league's offensive MVP award. Three players shared the Terry Dillon Award, given to the team's outstanding back or receiver. Winners are senior receiver Jeremy Watkins, sophomore halfback Yohance Humphrey and sophomore safety Vince Huntsberger. Senior tight end Dallas Neil earned the Tony Barbour Award as the "player who best represents Grizzly football." Offensive tackle Chase Raynock picked up the Paul Weskamp Award for outstanding offensive lineman, while line-backer Adam Boomer and guard Thatcher Szalay claimed Golden Helmet Awards for being the hardest hitters. Defensive tackle D.J. Colter and senior wide receiver/punt returner Travis Walker received the Pat Norwood Award for most inspirational players. Rylan Jollymore was tabbed "Outstanding Linebacker," while special teams players of the year were kicker Kris Heppner and linebacker Ike Mincy.

Greek Kindness-Fraternities and sororities at UM contributed $12,710 to charity in 1999, put in 8,117 hours of community service and donated many boxes of clothing and canned goods. While most of the giving and donations come from small projects, these students also organize special events such as bike-athons and marathon events. About 450 men and women participate in Greek life at UM. Each on average contributed 18 hours toward worthy causes last year.

Housing Help-When the International Choral Festival comes to town July 12-16, Missoula host families will be needed to house all the foreign singers. If you would like to help, contact Ann Boone at 543-8166 or Alayne Dolson at 728-6921.

Spring Break-UM students and faculty will be on spring break the week of March 20-24.

Exhibit Continues-It's not too late to take in the exuberant cafe and cabaret musical culture of Paris between the two world wars. Missoula's exhibit of "The Jazz Age In Paris: 1914-1940" continues through March 23 at the Missoula Public Library. Missoula is among only 28 sites in the United States to host the traveling exhibit, which is based on a large-scale show presented at the Smithsonian Institution in 1997. UM's Mansfield Library is co-sponsoring the exhibit and related events. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Meanwhile in conjunction with the Jazz Age exhibit, the public also is invited to free lectures including "Sidney Bechet's Life" by UM radio-TV Professor Bill Knowles on March 7, "Jazz and Blues Motifs in Sartre's La Nause" by French Associate Professor Chris Anderson on March 9, "Jazz It Up: Jazz and the Cinematographic French New Wave" by French Associate Professor Michel Valentin on March 13 and "Paris and Food" by Visiting Instructor Garry Kerr on March 15. All lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Missoula Public Library.

Moving On-Robert L. Kindrick, UM's provost and vice president for academic affairs, has accepted a top administrative position at Wichita State University in Kansas. Kindrick will assume the post of vice president for academic affairs and research at Wichita State Aug. 1. He has served as UM's No. 2 administrator since 1991 and was named University provost in 1998 in recognition of his responsibilities in the multicampus university. He also has taught courses in UM's English department.

In Touch-Stay current on campus news by visiting the University's Web page at http://www.umt.edu. You also can subscribe to TGIF, UM's e-mail newsletter, from that site.

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